Purpose

From the commitment–trust theory angle, this study aims to understand why members of social network sites (SNSs) are willing to build a relationship commitment with hospitality SNSs, engage in online word-of-mouth (WOM) and show a willingness to repurchase. This paper proposes a model to express the relationship commitment and gender as a moderator in the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The interviews of a formal survey were selected by a purposive sampling method, and an online questionnaire survey was conducted in Taiwan. This study used the partial least square method to conduct structural equation modeling analysis.

Findings

The findings suggest that trust and perceived playfulness of the hospitality community have positive influences on relationship commitment, and also that the relationship commitment has a positive influence on online WOM and willingness to repurchase. This analysis provides strong support for the view that gender exerts a significant moderating role on our model relationships.

Practical implications

SNSs aspiring to stand out in the highly competitive internet environment must cultivate consumers' trust and relationship commitment, and develop strategies to retain community members, as well as strengthen the safeguard personal information and the playfulness of activities. SNSs that launch relationship marketing activities should encourage community members to spread positive WOM through various activities.

Originality/value

This study combined the commitment–trust theory and technology acceptance model. It aimed to develop a theory-based model of relationship commitment in the hospitality SNSs' context. Both trust and perceived playfulness are positively related to commitment; they are essential and important elements of successful hospitality SNSs. The gender difference plays a vital role in determining individuals' behavior intention in the hospitality SNSs, as females and males have different decision-making processes.


We investigated three procedures that may lead to rapid and accurate assessment of epigaeic arthropod biodiversity. They are: (1) the identification of taxa whose diversity is correlated with that of others: (2) the identification of times and methods of sampling that produce estimates of diversity representative of more intensive sampling; and (3) the use of morphospecies inventories generated by non-specialists. Ants, beetles, and spiders were sampled from four forest types, in three seasons, using two collecting methods: pitfall trapping and extraction from litter. Specimens were sorted by a non-specialist to morphospecies and by specialist taxonomists to species. Richness (α-diversity) and turnover (β-diversity) were compared for different sampling regimes using morphospecies and species inventories. We found no significant positive correlations between ant, beetle, and spider species richness but there was a strong negative correlation between ant and beetle richness. For beetles alone, richness within the families Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, and Pselaphidae (i.e, avoiding taxonomically problematic families) was significantly correlated with richness within all other families. Assessment of turnover revealed that: (1) the four forest types contained significantly different assemblages of ants and beetles but not spiders and 92) the four forests were less clearly discriminated using species from the three beetle families Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, and Pselaphidae when compared to species from all beetle families pooled. Analyses of single sampling periods and methods revealed that summer and spring pitfall samples were most representative of more intensive sampling. That is: (1) the richness of ants and beetles in these samples was significantly positively correlated with the richness of all other samples and 92) turnover of beetles and ants among the four forests revealed by summer pitfall samples was similar to turnover using all samples. The three beetle surrogate families recorded by pitfall samples in spring, and to a lesser extent summer, showed significant correlations in richness with all other beetle species recorded in the same samples. However, the assessment of turnover was less accurate when only surrogate families were used. The most accurate and cost-effective assessment of turnover was generated by a summer pitfall sample in which data for ants, carabid, and scarab beetles were combined and analyzed as a single data set. Results were largely consistent regardless of whether species or morphospecies were used, which suggests that monitoring and assessment of terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity may be achieved by the careful use of morphospecies. Our results also suggest those invertebrate taxa, sampling methods, and sampling periods that yield the most consistent and reliable assessment of epigaeic invertebrate biodiversity in Australian temperate hardwood forests. However, empirical studies that follow the protocols discussed in this paper are urgently required in different environments. These studies may point the way to more representative monitoring and assessment of terrestrial biodiversity.


Double-wall panels are known for their superior sound insulation properties over single wall panels as a sound barrier. The sound transmission phenomenon through a double-wall structure is a complex process involving vibroacoustic interaction between structural panels, the air-cushion in between, and the secondary acoustic domain. It is in this context a versatile and a fully coupled technique based on the finite-element-boundary element model is developed that enables estimation of sound transfer through a double-wall panel into an adjacent enclosure while satisfying the displacement compatibility across the interface. The contribution of individual components in the transmitted energy is identified through numerical simulations.


Educating Rita is a play written by Willy Russell, an English playwright from Liverpool. It was voted 'Best Comedy of the Year' when performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980. By 1983 it had risen to be the fourth most popular play on the British stage. In the same year it was transformed into a film and won the BAFTA Best Film Award as well as Academy Award nominations, proving its appeal and popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. This paper aims at introducing Willy Russell's work to fresh audience, especially students who are looking for reasons to acquaint themselves with English literature and teachers whose interests lie in finding materials that will help answer their students why we need such liberal education as literature. The study gives an overview analysis of the interplay between society and literature exposed in the story of Rita's education. It also explores the possibilities of adapting the literary allusions in the play into real-life education, with the all-presumptive assertion that 'If Rita can do it, so can we.' The exploration looks first into Rita's working-class background and its effects on her education and then into means by which Rita's ways of education, liberal education, can benefit students of all social backgrounds. * Dr.Usa Padgate is currently an English instructor in Department of English, Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University.


Light pollution modelling and monitoring has traditionally used zenith
sky brightness as its main indicator. Several other indicators (e.g.
average sky radiance, horizontal irradiance, average sky radiance at
given interval of zenith distances) may be more useful, both for general
and for specific purposes of ecology studies, night sky and
environmental monitoring. These indicators can be calculated after the
whole sky radiance is known with sufficient angular detail. This means,
for each site, to integrate the contribution in each direction of the
sky of each light source in the radius of hundreds of km. This approach
is extremely high time consuming if the mapping is desired for a large
territory. Here we present a way to obtain maps of large territories for
a large subset of useful indicators, bypassing the need to calculate
first the radiance map of the whole sky in each site to obtain from it
the desired indicator in that site. For each indicator, a point spread
function (PSF) is calculated from the whole sky radiance maps generated
by a single source at sufficiently dense number of distances from the
observing site. If the PSF is transversally shift-invariant, i.e. if it
depends only on the relative position of source and observer, then we
can further speed up the map calculation via the use of fast
Fourier-transform (FFT). We present here examples of maps for different
indicators. Precise results can be calculated for any single site,
taking into account the site and light sources altitudes, by means of
specific inhomogeneous (spatially-variant) and anisotropic (non
rotationally symmetric) PSFs.


Opportunities exist for significantly increasing the efficiency with which energy is used in the United States. This paper discusses such opportunities for (a) the transportation sector (shifts from energy-intensive modes to energy-efficient modes, increased use of existing equipment, and technological changes to increase vehicle energy efficiency) and (b) the household sector (additional building insulation, electric heat pumps rather than electric-resistance heating, energy-efficient air conditioners, and addition of insulation to water heaters). Such energy efficiency improvements may require institutional and social changes, but technologies are generally available to implement such strategies. The benefits to the nation in terms of energy conservation, reduced reliance on energy imports and improved balance of payments, reduced adverse environmental impacts, lower dollar costs, and a return to a more conservative resource-use ethic are potentially large. Policies to achieve such goals would involve some life-style changes and important institutional decisions, but they do not imply a return to "caves and candles."


Gravitational waves can constitute a unique probe of the very early universe. We discuss here the gravitational wave signal from a primordial first order phase transition occurring at high energy scales. The gravitational waves are produced by the collision of broken phase bubbles and by the magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the primordial plasma stirred by the bubble collision. We show how the shape and amplitude of the gravitational wave power spectrum can be predicted by general arguments based on the source properties, such as its time evolution and space structure. The parameters describing the characteristics of the phase transition (for instance, its duration and strength), which enter in the determination of the gravitational wave spectrum, can be evaluated in the context of specific models of the first order phase transition. We present here two examples of first order phase transitions which lead to a gravitational wave signal falling in the frequency range of detection of the future space-based interferometer eLISA.


An abandoned land after tin-mining activities are degraded lands with undulating and destructed land scape and low soil fertility status. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of organic amendments on the soil properties, growth, and grain yield of corn (Zea mays L.) on abandoned tin-mining areas in Bangka Island, Bangka Belitung Archipelago. The field experiment was conducted at the abandoned tin-mining areas in Cambai Village, Bangka Belitung Archipelago. Five treatments of organic amendments were applied and replicated three times and laid out in a Randomized Completely Block Design. All treatments were applied with the recommended rate fertilizer of 135 kg N ha-1, 72 kg P2O5 ha-1, and 120 kg K2O ha-1.  The treatments were T1= 20 Mg chicken manure ha-1;T2= 20 Mg cattle manure ha-1; T3= 20 Mg rice straw compost ha-1; T4 : 10 Mg of chicken manure ha-1 + 10 Mg rice straw compost ha-1; and T5= 10 Mg cattlemanure ha-1 + 10 Mg rice straw compost  ha-1. Application of organic amendments (chicken manure, cattle manure, and rice straw compost) on abandoned tin-mining land improved soil fertility due to the increasing of soil pH and nutrient availability, especially available-P and -K, and exchangeable bases. Application of chicken manure and cattle manure were significantly better than rice straw compost to improving soil fertility, nutrient uptake, growth and yield of maize. Application of cattle manure gave the highest yield of maize, namely 6.24 Mg ha-1.


Fibulin-2, an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expressed in normal epithelia, is a kind of fibulin which is associated with basement membranes (BM) and elastic ECM fibers. The role of fibulin-2 has been recognized as an oncogene. The upregulation of fibulin-2 correlates with cancer development and progression. Furthermore, the upregulation of fibulin has been detected in ovarian cancer and stomach adenocarcinoma. However, the downregulation of fibulin has been detected in different intestinal and respiratory tumor cells. Additional studies have revealed that the role of fibulin-2 in carcinogenesis is context dependent and is caused by the interaction of fibulin proteins such as cell surface receptors and other ECM proteins, including integrins and syndecans. The present study summarizes the role of fibulin in carcinogenesis and its underlying molecular mechanism.


To achieve acceptance for use self consolidating concrete, SCC in prestressed concrete bridge girders, this study was conducted on T-beams fully prestressed SCC of 9m length. The girders were designed based on the Iranian bridge code of practice. Different types of electrical gauges were attached on the steel, prestressed strands and concrete surface at different sections. In the numerical study, 3-D ANSYS modelling was performed. The load-deflection and load strain diagrams for transfer and service conditions of two methods were plotted for different sections. The comparison of experimental and numerical results is performed and a very good agreement is available.


This paper proposes a deep learning approach to overcome the impacts of communication failures on the performance and convergence rate of the distributed optimal frequency control (DOFC) for power systems. Novel features of the proposed framework are fourfold. First, the nonlinear model of the DOFC is developed to consider for nonlinearities of power flows. Second, the long short-term memory (LSTM) algorithm is used for dynamic model estimation during communication failures. Next, the LSTM-based DOFC method is introduced to cope with the impact of communication failures on the performance of the distributed control strategy. Finally, we prove the convergence of LSTM-DOFC and show that the algorithm has superior performance compared to the linearized prediction methods, such as autoregressive–moving-average models. Simulations on two real-world power systems are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.


The defensive secretion of Acilius sulcatus contains a number of pregnane derivates: cortexone, 20alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, together with the unusual delta4,6 dienes, 6,7-dehydrocortexone, 20alpha-hydroxy-4,6-pregnadien-3-one and 4,6-pregnadien-3,20-dione. The synthesis of all these steroids except cortexone is described. Complete separation of the steroids of Acilius can be achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography on the reversed-phase column system. During biosynthesis of the Acilius steroids from cholesterol, introduction of the delta4 and delta6 bonds involves elimination of the 4beta and 7beta hydrogens, respectively. Possible mechanisms of formation of the delta4,6 steroids are discussed.


Aim  To examine the degree to which area, isolation, environmental conditions and time since first settlement explain variation in language richness among islands.

Location  Pacific islands ranging east–west from Rapa Nui to Indonesia and north–south from Hawaii to New Zealand.

Methods  We constructed a dataset of 264 Pacific islands that support 1640 languages (c. 24% of the world's languages). We examined possible predictors of language richness using three different types of models: linear regression models, linear mixed models that included random effects for language phylogeny and simultaneous autoregressive models. We tested whether the following variables, alone or in combination, predict language richness: island area and isolation, climate (rainfall, temperature), mean growing season, soil fertility, habitat heterogeneity (elevation, number of ecoregions), time since first human settlement.

Results  We identified two optimal models (delta Akaike information criterion < 2). One (R2= 0.52) included area, with 86% of remaining variation accounted for by random effects for phylogeny. The other (R2= 0.56) included a spatial component, area and a suite of other variables (of which isolation and settlement scale were significant). Of the hypotheses tested (mean growing season, ecological risk, habitat heterogeneity, climate, time since settlement, area–isolation theory), area–isolation performed best, alone explaining 44% of variation in language richness.

Main conclusions  Language diversity relates strongly to island area, and, after controlling for area, with variables linked to isolation (e.g. distance to continent, time since settlement). The influence of environmental productivity may be scale and context dependent. Although environmental productivity may shape language diversity patterns at a global scale, it plays little role on Pacific islands. Approximately half the variance in language richness remains unexplained. Unlike other taxa, for which area, isolation and environmental conditions explain up to 90% of variation in richness, human diversity patterns appear to also be influenced by other variables (e.g. economic, political and social factors).


Communication is very important position, especially in terms of educational leadership. The purpose of this research is to describe and obtain information about communication approach and its implementation in education leadership in SD Muhammadiyah Kleco, Kotagede, Yogyakarta. This research was conducted by using qualitative descriptive approach because it needed deep and accurate data and can describe clearly and detail. Subjects of this study were principals, teachers, and employees. Data collection was done by observation and interview. The result of the research shows that the approach of communication in the leadership of education in SD Muhammadiyah Kleco, Kotagede, Yogyakarta,  the principal implements the approach of structure and function of organization, human relations approach, communication approach as organizing process, and organization approach as culture. From various leadership communication approaches in the education, leaders are able to master their communication skills and utilize existing resources to overcome limitations and compose and deliver messages that provide guidance, direction, and motivation to others to act. Keywords: communication, educational leadership


Fibre optics optical fibres and communications optical fibre communication technologies and systems fibre optic gratings optical fibre amplifiers non-linear effects in fibre optics solitons sources, modulators, and detectors for fibre optic communication systems fibre based couplers, isolators, MUX and deMUX micro-optics based components for networks semiconductor optical amplifier and wavelength conversions fibre optic communications links (telecommunications, data communications, and analogue) time domain multiplexed (TDM) networks wavelength domain multiplexed (WDM) networks optical fibre sections infrared fibres.


Context. Observations of the Sun tell us that its granular and subgranular small-scale magnetism has significant consequences for global quantities such as the total solar irradiance or convective blueshift of spectral lines.
Aims. In this paper, properties of the small-scale magnetism of four cool stellar atmospheres, including the Sun, are investigated, and in particular its effects on the radiative intensity and flux.
Methods. We carried out three-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations with the CO5BOLD code in two different settings: with and without a magnetic field. These are thought to represent states of high and low small-scale magnetic activity of a stellar magnetic cycle.
Results. We find that the presence of small-scale magnetism increases the bolometric intensity and flux in all investigated models. The surplus in radiative flux of the magnetic over the magnetic field-free atmosphere increases with increasing effective temperature, Teff, from 0.47% for spectral type K8V to 1.05% for the solar model, but decreases for higher effective temperatures than solar. The degree of evacuation of the magnetic flux concentrations monotonically increases with Teff as does their depression of the visible optical surface, that is the Wilson depression. Nevertheless, the strength of the field concentrations on this surface stays remarkably unchanged at ≈1560 G throughout the considered range of spectral types. With respect to the surrounding gas pressure, the field strength is close to (thermal) equipartition for the Sun and spectral type F5V but is clearly sub-equipartition for K2V and more so for K8V. The magnetic flux concentrations appear most conspicuous for model K2V owing to their high brightness contrast.
Conclusions. For mean magnetic flux densities of approximately 50 G, we expect the small-scale magnetism of stars in the spectral range from F5V to K8V to produce a positive contribution to their bolometric luminosity. The modulation seems to be most effective for early G-type stars.


Chile, as a country with a long history of strong seismicity, has a record of both a constant upgrading of its seismic design codes and structural systems, particularly for bridges, as a result of major earthquakes. Recent earthquakes in Chile have produced extensive damage to highway bridges, such as deck collapses, large transverse residual displacements, yielding and failure of shear keys, and unseating of the main girders, demonstrating that bridges are highly vulnerable structures. Much of this damage can be attributed to construction problems and poor detailing guidelines in design codes. After the 2010 Maule earthquake, new structural design criteria were incorporated for the seismic design of bridges in Chile. The most significant change was that a site coefficient was included for the estimation of the seismic design forces in the shear keys, seismic bars, and diaphragms. This article first traces the historical development of earthquakes and construction systems in Chile to provide a context for the evolution of Chilean seismic codes. It then describes the seismic performance of highway bridges during the 2010 Maule earthquake, including the description of the main failure modes observed in bridges. Finally, this article provides a comparison of the Chilean bridge seismic code against the Japanese and United States codes, considering that these codes have a great influence on the seismic codes for Chilean bridges. The article demonstrates that bridge design and construction practices in Chile have evolved substantially in their requirements for the analysis and design of structural elements, such as in the definition of the seismic hazard to be considered, tending toward more conservative approaches in an effort to improve structural performance and reliability for Chilean bridges.


A new equitable score is developed for monitoring precipitation forecasts and for guiding forecast system development. To accommodate the difficult distribution of precipitation, the score measures the error in 'probability space' through use of the climatological cumulative distribution function. For sufficiently skilful forecasting systems, the new score is less sensitive to sampling uncertainty than other established scores. It is therefore called here the 'Stable Equitable Error in Probability Space' (SEEPS). Weather is partitioned into three categories: 'dry', 'light precipitation' and 'heavy precipitation'. SEEPS adapts to the climate of the region in question so that it assesses the salient aspects of the local weather, encouraging 'refinement' and discouraging 'hedging'. To permit continuous monitoring of a system with resolution increasing in time, forecasts are verified against point observations. With some careful choices, observation error and lack of representativeness of model grid‐box averages are found to have relatively little impact. SEEPS can identify key forecasting errors including the overprediction of drizzle, failure to predict heavy large‐scale precipitation and incorrectly locating convective cells. Area averages are calculated taking into account the observation density. A gain of ∼2 days, at lead times of 3–9 days, over the last 14 years is found in extratropical scores of forecasts made at the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). This gain is due to system improvements, not the increased amount of data assimilated. SEEPS may also be applicable for verifying other quantities that suffer from difficult spatio‐temporal distributions. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society


A 37-mm-diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus was used for impact loading tests to determine the effects of the relative density and moisture content on the dynamic properties of coral sand. The stress–strain curves in the uniaxial strain compression state were obtained for different relative densities and moisture contents under strain rates between 460 s−1 and 900 s−1. The results indicated that with an increase in the relative density, the strain rate becomes more insensitive to the stiffness of the coral sand. This was attributed to the variable breakage-energy efficiency at different compactness levels. Water affected the initial stiffening response of the coral sand, and the softening was correlated with the strain rate. Strength softening due to water lubrication was more significant at higher strain rates due to the higher frictional dissipation. The volumetric compressive response of the coral sand was investigated by determining the yielding characteristics. The form of the constitutive model has to be changed to the exponential form, and different stress–strain responses should be considered. We discuss the effects of the relative density and water content on the dynamic mechanical properties of coral sand and clarify the correlation with the strain rate.


[206] Experience with 2,000 intramuscular injections of neoarsphenamine in neurosyphilis.-A. GORDON. Amer. Jour. of Syphilis, 1927, xi, 525. THE author considers that intramuscular injections of 0-15 grm. of neoars,ohenamine, dissolved in 1 c.c. of fresh sterile (listilled water and repeated either daily or on alternate days, constitute the ideal method of administering arsenical drugs in neurosyphilis. The cure is progressive, neural reactions are not encountered, and unpleasant sequele such as haPmoclastic crises and venous thromboses are not possible. When small doses are injected into the muscles overlying the scapula with a fine needle the treatment is practically


to school and the full range of factors that might affect mode choice. With data from Gainesville, Florida, a multinomial logit model was estimated to explain school mode choice for a sample of K–12 students. Students with shorter walk or bike times to school proved significantly more likely to walk or bike. If confirmed through subsequent research, this finding argues for neighborhood schools serving nearby residential areas. Students traveling through areas with sidewalks on main roads were also more likely to walk. If confirmed, this finding argues for "safe routes to school" sidewalk improvements. As noteworthy as the significant factors are those that did not prove significant. School enrollment was not significant after controlling for travel time between home and school. Larger schools may draw students from larger areas and thereby indirectly affect mode choices. But school size does not appear to have a direct effect on mode choices. Land use variables such as density and mix also were not significant. The travel behavior literature emphasizes the importance of such variables in travel decision making. Apparently, school trips are different. They tend to be unlinked to other activities, and thus reduce the need for proximity to other land uses. They are mandatory; thus the walking environment may be less important than it is with discretionary travel. And school trips involve children, who may be less sensitive to walking conditions than are their adult counterparts.


Sts (suppressor of T-cell receptor signalling)-1 and Sts-2 are HPs (histidine phosphatases) that negatively regulate TCR (T-cell receptor) signalling pathways, including those involved in cytokine production. HPs play key roles in such varied biological processes as metabolism, development and intracellular signalling. They differ considerably in their primary sequence and substrate specificity, but possess a catalytic core formed by an invariant quartet of active-site residues. Two histidine and two arginine residues cluster together within the HP active site and are thought to participate in a two-step dephosphorylation reaction. To date there has been little insight into any additional residues that might play an important functional role. In the present study, we identify and characterize an additional residue within the Sts phosphatases (Sts-1 Arg383 or Sts-2 Arg369) that is critical for catalytic activity and intracellular function. Mutation of Sts-1 Arg383 to an alanine residue compromises the enzyme's activity and renders Sts-1 unable to suppress TCR-induced cytokine induction. Of the multiple amino acids substituted for Arg383, only lysine partially rescues the catalytic activity of Sts-1. Although Sts-1 Arg383 is conserved in all Sts homologues, it is only conserved in one of the two sub-branches of HPs. The results of the present study highlight an essential role for Sts-1 phosphatase activity in regulating T-cell activation and add a new dimension of complexity to our understanding of HP catalytic activity.


The vision of ubiquitous and continuous communications for a mobile user entails several emerging mobility types, which pose new requirements, for location management. In this paper, we present an integrated approach for advanced location management towards supporting all kinds of mobility types. After a justification of our approach, we describe our architectural considerations on a uniform network architecture accommodating various mobility scenarios. We propose integrated mobility servers for Mobile IP and SIP (session initiation protocol) to take advantage of their complementary features in supporting mobility. We also discuss the two major tasks of location management: location updates and paging using optimised signalling to reduce overheads and delay.


While Lithuania is among the countries with the highest at-risk-of-poverty rates in the European Union, povertyresearch has so far been dominated by cross-sectional poverty analysis. This paper is aimed at contributing to better understandingof poverty as a dynamic process in Lithuania by examining poverty risk persistence, transitions and triggers. Theanalysis is based on the longitudinal component of the Survey on Income and Living Conditions. The longitudinal at-risk-ofpovertyrate within the four-year panels is estimated to be at around a third of the Lithuanian population within a period of2005–2012. Poverty risk in Lithuania proved to be both widely spread and persistent. The major role of income events forpoverty risk entries and exits highlights the importance of activation into work, especially as concerns secondary householdearners and better income protection in Lithuania. While no robust evidence of poverty penalty was found for poverty exits,the incidence of poverty re-entries within the initial three-year period after poverty exit substantially exceeds poverty entryrates in the general population.


Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the elderly population. Rehabilitation in a general sense aims to return a person to their activities of daily living. Therapeutic exercises are important for the maintenance of joints. When a joint is immobilized for long periods of time is likely to suffer severe damage. In this paper, a new robotic mechanism that allows circular movements to the lower limbs rehabilitation is proposed. The system consists of 5 DoF to perform combined movements to the lower limbs. The kinematics of the leg and the robotic mechanism are shown in detail. The simulations were performed using MATLAB. The leg trajectories are circular in 2D and 3D. In conclusion, this new robotic mechanism performs new circular exercises to the leg, which are difficult to perform manually by the therapist.


An aerial survey was conducted to estimate the abundance of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) on their wintering ground in West Greenland in March–April 2006 and 2008. The survey was conducted as a double platform aerial line transect survey, and sampled approximately 17% of the total survey area of ca. 125 000 km2. The abundance of belugas was 10 595 (95% confidence interval 4904–24 650). The largest abundance was found at the northern part of Store Hellefiske Bank, at the eastern edge of the Baffin Bay pack ice, a pattern similar to that found in eight systematic surveys conducted since 1981. A clear relationship between decreasing sea-ice cover and increasing offshore distance of beluga sightings was established from all previous surveys, suggesting that belugas expand their distribution westward as new areas on the banks of West Greenland open up earlier in spring with reduced sea-ice coverage or early annual ice recession. This is in contrast to the relatively confined distribution of belugas near the coast in limited open areas in the early 1980s, when sea-ice cover was greater. However, the effects of the changes in coastal availability of belugas can also be observed with the correlation between catches from the local Inuit hunt and sea-ice cover, where the catches increased significantly with increasing sea-ice coverage during the period 1954–2006. These results, based on nearly 30 years of dedicated survey effort, are among the first available evidence showing a shift in distribution of an Arctic cetacean in response to changes in sea-ice coverage.


Summary

Atmospheric pollution has increased worldwide during the last decades affecting forest ecosystems. Thermal power plants give off high levels of contaminants, which can damage forest health. Bioindicators can be helpful tools used for evaluating environment changes by giving an accurate measure of the extent of pollution. The focus of this study was to analyse fungal mycoflora in Pinus sylvestris stands near a thermal power plant and the possible correlation between the presence of the fungi and the air quality as measured by lichens and mosses. Fungi associated with pine needles were selected as subjects of this study because of their phytopathological importance and association with the pine trees' decline. Samples for this study were selected from eight plots in close proximity to a thermal power station in northern Spain. Symptoms of decline were previously observed in all the plots before sampling was performed. Lichens were used as bioindicators of environmental quality in two ways, first using the Index of Atmospheric Purity and second through categorization of lichen species based on their sensitivity. In addition, botanical quality was measured regarding the presence or absence of mosses. With two seasonal samplings (autumn and spring) and the use of four types of pine needle plant material (green needles, dried needles, half–green, half-dried needles and fallen needles), both endophytes and epiphytes present in the needles were isolated and observed. Thirty fungal species in total were identified of the 1095 isolates obtained. Furthermore, significant differences in fungal isolates were observed between seasons and among the different plant material. Results showed that both environmental air quality and botanical quality were negatively correlated with the relative isolation frequency of fungi. The higher number of isolates was attributed to a possible infection produced by fungi, which could be a leading factor in the trees' decline.


The aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of methotrexate (MTX) resistance in the human osteosarcoma cell line, Saos-2/MTX4.4, and to evaluate various methods of overcoming the resistance to this chemotherapeutic agent. MMT assays were performed to determine the resistance of the primary (Saos-2) and resistant (Saos-2/MTX4.4) cell lines to MTX, cisplatin [cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II (DDP)], ifosfamide (IFO), Adriamycin (ADM), epirubicin (EPI) and theprubicin (THP). The Saos-2/MTX4.4 cells exhibited a low resistance to IFO, ADM, EPI and THP; however, no resistance to DDP was identified. Overall, the Saos-2/MTX4.4 cells exhibited a greater resistance to all the chemotherapeutic agents investigated compared with the Saos-2 cells. Rhodamine 123 (R123) fluorescence was measured in the Saos-2/MTX4.4 and Saos-2 cells 30 and 60 min after the addition of R123, and R123 plus verapamil (VER). VER administration increased the intracellular accumulation of R123. In addition, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) in the two cell lines. Although the Saos-2/MTX4.4 cells were more resistant to the chemotherapeutic agents than the Saos-2 cells, no significant difference was identified between the relative mRNA expression levels of MDR1 in the Saos-2/MTX4.4 and Saos-2 cells (0.4350±0.0354 vs. 0.3886±0.0456; P>0.05).


The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic value of 24-hour ambulatory esophageal manometry and pH-metry for patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP), but no reflux symptoms. Twenty-four hour ambulatory esophageal manometry and pH-metry was performed on 34 patients with NCCP, but no reflux symptoms. The pressure transducers were located 3, 8, and 13 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the pH probes were located 5 and 20 cm above the LES. An event marker was triggered by the patient for chest pain. Only 17 patients (50%) had at least one pain episode (total 81 episodes, range 1-19 episodes per person) during a 24-hour recording. Twenty-one chest pain episodes (26%) occurred during abnormal motility, whereas 4 episodes (5%) were associated with pH < 4, and 10 episodes (12%) had both abnormalities. The majority of chest pain episodes, 46 out of 81 events (57%), did not have any association with motility or pH abnormalities. Five of 7 patients (71%) with reflux-related chest pain and 8 of 11 patients (73%) with dysmotility-related chest pain had symptom association probability > 95%, indicating a significant association between chest pain and esophageal dysfunction. Our conclusion is that ambulatory esophageal manometry and pH-metry is a useful tool in the evaluation of NCCP, but only a few additional patients with reflux-related chest pain could be found in patients without reflux symptoms.


This paper analyzes the rural to urban migration opportunities and challenges in the study area. Primary data of this paper is collect from manvi taluk of Raichure district, here we find that 95% of the labourers are migrating because of seasonal unemploment, 98.2% labourers were revealed that poverty is the reason to migrate and most of the migrants belong to the marginalized group of the society. Most of the respondents fall into the young age group between 15 to 30 years, 99.6% migrant labourers income has increased due to seasonal migration. The expenditure of every migrant increased whereas 92.0% labourers savings have also increased. And the volume of debt has decreased due to increase in their income. - See more at: http://journalijar.com/article/1994/rural-to-urban-migration-opportunities-and-challenges/#sthash.Q9SXoYDU.dpuf


Targeting energy efficiency while meeting user Quality of Service (QoS) is one of the most challenging problems in green wireless networks. In this paper, we propose an optimization model based on finding a tradeoff between reducing the number of active radio cells and increasing the transmit power of base stations (BSs) to better serve all users in the system. The main contribution of the paper is the formulation of a multiobjective optimization problem that jointly minimizes the network power consumption and the sum of the network user transmission delay. Our proposed problem is solved using an exhaustive search algorithm to obtain the optimal solution. Solving the optimization problem at hand is very challenging due to the high computational complexity of the exhaustive search. Therefore, we run simulations in a small network to give insights into the optimal solution. Specifically, we study different cases by tuning the respective weights of the power and delay costs. This is a distinctive and important feature of our model allowing it to reflect various decision preferences. Regarding these preferences and under various spatial distribution of users, results show that our solution allows the optimal network configuration to be selected in terms of power consumption while guaranteeing minimal delay for all users in the network.


Abstract. The amount and spatial extent of Greenland Sea (GS) sea ice are primarily driven by the sea ice export across the Fram Strait (FS) and by local seasonal sea ice formation, melting and sea ice dynamics. Maximum sea ice concentration (SIC) variability is found in the marginal ice zone and 'Odden' region in the central GS. In this study, using satellite passive microwave sea ice observations, atmospheric and a coupled ocean-sea ice reanalysis system we show that both the atmospheric and oceanic circulation in the GS act in tandem to explain the SIC variability in the GS. Anomalous low/high sea level pressure (SLP) over the Nordic Seas is found to strengthen/weaken the Greenland Sea Gyre (GSG) circulation. The large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern associated with this GSG variability features North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) like SLP pattern with its northern center of action shifted north-eastward from its canonical position. During anomalous low SLP periods, northerly wind anomalies reduce the sea ice export in the central GS due to westward Ekman drift of sea ice. This in turn decreases the freshwater content and weakens ocean stratification in the central GS. At the same time, the associated positive wind stress curl anomaly strengthens the GSG circulation which recirculates warm and saline Atlantic water (AW) into this region. Under a weakly stratified condition, the subsurface AW anomalies can reach the surface to inhibit new sea ice formation, further reducing the SIC in the central GS. Thus, this study highlights combined influence of atmospheric and oceanic circulation in the central GS SIC variability.


Because most cytokines are utilized, catabolized, or excreted shortly after they are produced, it has been difficult to directly measure in vivo cytokine production. Consequently, it has been necessary to infer in vivo cytokine secretion levels from the results of ex vivo assays of cytokine secretion, assays that measure tissue levels of cytokine mRNA, or assays that stain tissues for cytokine protein levels. Results of these assays provide important and useful information, but do not necessarily reflect in vivo cytokine secretion. To better determine in vivo cytokine production, the in vivo cytokine capture assay (IVCCA) was developed. IVCCA facilitates measurement of cytokines in serum by increasing their in vivo half‐lives. This increases the sensitivity of measurement of in vivo cytokine production 30‐ to 1,000‐fold. The first protocol described in this unit is for luminescence‐based ELISA, while the second is for an absorbance‐based method.


Our previous study has demonstrated that CD146 molecule is a biomarker on vascular endothelium, which is involved in angiogenesis and tumor growth. However the mechanism behind is not clear. Here we have for the first time developed a novel CD146 blockade system using CD146 siRNA to study its function on endothelial cells. Our data showed that CD146 siRNA specifically blocked the expression of CD146 on both mRNA and protein levels, leading to the significant suppression of HUVEC proliferation, adhesion and migration. These results demonstrate that CD146 plays a key role in vascular endothelial cell activity and angiogenesis, and CD146 siRNA can be used as a new inhibitor for anti-angiogenesis therapy.


A passive adaptive control problem is studied for a class of multi-input multi-output(MIMO) nonlinear systems with unknown parametric uncertainties. The design methods of passive adaptive controllers for the class of systems are discussed respectively when unknown constant parametric matrixes of control input are positive definite and general matrixes. The passive adaptive controllers and parameter adaptive laws are presented under two kinds of conditions. Under certain assumption conditions, the controller designed can render the closed-loop system composed of the original system and controllers designed passive. It is proved that adaptive controllers proposed can guarantee the stability of the class of systems via Lyapunov method. In the end, a simulation example is given to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method.


Purpose: To develop mucoadhesive patches for buccal administration of metoprolol succinate and to evaluate their in vitro and in vivo bioadhesion. Methods: The mucoadhesive buccal patches were prepared by solvent casting technique using two different mucoadhesive polymers. The formulations were tested for in vitro drug permeation studies, buccal absorption, in vitro drug release studies, moisture absorption as well as for in vitro and in vivo bioadhesion. Results: The peak detachment force and work of adhesion for MC5 (sodium carboxymethylcellulose, i.e., Na CMC) patch were 0.87 N and 0.451 mJ respectively and the corresponding values for CH5 (chitosan) were 5.15N and 0.987 mJ. Formulation CH5 (prepared with chitosan) showed 67.1 % release, while MC5 (Na CMC) showed drug release of 81.9 % in 6 h. Basic pharmacokinetic parameters such as C max , T max and AUC total varied statistically (p < 0.05) when given by the buccal route compared with that of the solution given by the oral route. Conclusion: The results indicate that formulation of suitable bioadhesive buccal patches with the desired permeability is feasible. The development of bioadhesive buccal formulation for metoprolol succinate with a lower dose and few side effects may be attainable. Keywords: Mucoadhesive, Buccal patches, Metoprolol succinate, Sodium carboxymethylcellulose, Chitosan, Bioavailability


Addition of Eco RI fragment 6 of the Escherichia coli sex factor F to pSC101 increases the frequency of its transmission by RI-19 and ColVB. Transmission frequencies of pSC101 and two pSC101 chimeras are also increased after the putative transposition of drug resistance element Tn3 from RI-19. These increases may result from addition of an origin of conjugatinal transfer to the plasmids.


Eolian mineral dust is an active agent in the global climate system. It affects planetary albedo and can influence marine biological productivity and ocean‐atmosphere carbon dynamics. This makes the understanding of the global dust cycle crucial for constraining the dust/climate relationship, which requires long‐term dust emission records for all major dust sources. Despite their importance, the sources of atmospheric dust deposited in the Southern Ocean remain poorly constrained. Eolian dust in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean is generally assumed to originate from Australia, with minor contributions from New Zealand. Here, we present a high‐resolution elemental record of terrestrial inputs for the past ∼410 kyr from marine sediment core PS75/100‐4 recovered from east of South Island, New Zealand. Sediment grain size is slightly finer than that of loess deposits from South Island, New Zealand, and is coarser than that of marine sediments in the Tasman Sea to the west of New Zealand, which indicates that the dust originated mainly from New Zealand and not only from Australia. Core PS75/100‐4 records lithogenic mass accumulation rates ranging from ∼0.01 to 0.69 g/cm2/kyr (∼0.20 g/cm2/kyr average), with variations over a factor of ∼3–4 over glacial versus interglacial timescales for the past 410 kyr. Our geochemical data correlate well with the Southern Ocean and Antarctic eolian dust records and suggest a westerly wind‐supplied dust signal from New Zealand. Our findings, therefore, suggest that New Zealand should be considered an important long‐term regional dust source in global dust cycle models.


The rise of the 'fast food' concept as it is understood in the 21st century is the result of a series of calibrations enacted over decades by business, society and technology. The expansion of fast food franchising has paralleled social and environmental change, particularly since the middle of the 20th century. Its origins may be seen as modernism's response to unease with the processing of food under industrial conditions; yet its development as a 'system' has mirrored or inspired innovation in service delivery, construction and social expectation over the last century. Many of these are connected to the rise of the automobile and the expansion of low-density suburbia. Fast food's planning history has gone largely undocumented. The fast food outlet is so ubiquitous that while critics might decry its products as a negative influence on health, the outlet might nonetheless be said to be hiding in plain sight: in the guise of just one more manifestation of automobile-led change. This paper explores the community effects of fast food chains as a wider built environment phenomena, first in the early 20th century US and then as translated into Australia in from the late 1960s onwards. It considers - in what regard has urban planning evolved to accommodate fast food restaurants; and how have such places impacted on urban form? How have communities responded (including the case of conflict in Tecoma, Victoria) to the local emergence of global fast food outlets, and what can community responses tell us about the history and future of fast food chains?


Background: Ileal perforation is a surgical emergency. It has very high morbidity and also mortality. As patients are commonly presented with peritonitis and fecal contamination, wound infection rate is very high. Wound infection is major issue in such condition, where related complications are frequently seen. If wound infection is controlled then many complication related to it could be prevented. And it finally affects the morbidity of patient.
Objectives: To compare a role of negative pressure closure versus simple closure of laparotomy wound of ileal perforation.

Materials and methods: 60 cases, in period of Nov 2012 to June 2013 at SMIMER hospital, Surat presented with ileal perforation were included in the study. After a surgical treatment of all cases, they were divided in two groups. One group A closed with Negative pressure closure (By putting subcutaneous Negative Suction Drain) at the time of laparotomy wound closure and other group B with simple closure. And the outcome compared in the form of wound infection, hospital stay, second surgery and morbidity. Total 10 cases were expired within 3 day after surgery, excluded from study (6 from group A and 4 from group B).

Results: In study average rate of wound infection (SSI-Surgical Site Infection) was 25% (8/24) in group A and 57.7% (15/26) in group B. Average hospital stay for group A was 12 day and 18 day for group B. Second surgery needed in 4 cases in group A and for 8 cases in group B. Second surgery was in form of secondary suturing of wound or wound dehiscence and burst abdomen repair. Mortality in group A was 6 and in group B was 4 but it was not related to SSI because all death occurred within 3 days after surgery mainly due delay presentation and to poor general condition pre-operatively. Overall morbidity was less with Negative pressure closure in compare to simple closure and it highly affects the morbidity and somehow mortality also.

Conclusion: One of the common complications of typhoid is typhoid ulcer and perforation. There is more chance of wound infection in such laparotomy wound because of highly contamination of the peritoneal fluid with fecal material. Such wound constantly leads to serous discharge and bacterial colonization. But negative pressure closure removes that collection and avoids wound infection. And it helps in reducing hospital stay and morbidity.


We have studied the temperature-dependent and barrier-strength-dependent Andreev reflection tunnelling spectroscopy with point contacts consisting of the newly synthesized half-metallic alloy NiFeSb and a Nb tip. By fitting the data to the generalized Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk theory, a spin polarization P = 0.52 has been obtained.


Intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma was first reported by Ibarz in 1927. The frequency of intra-parotid schwannomas range from 0.2% to 1.5%. Facial nerve schwannoma can occur at any point along its course from the cerebello-pontine angle to its peripheral branches. Its typical presentation is a slow growing, painless mass mimicking a pleomorphic adenoma. Because of its low prevalence and very few clinical and radiological signs associated with it, pre-operative diagnosis of intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma is generally difficult. There is great potential of misdiagnosis and mismanagement when detected intra-operatively with the worst consequences of facial nerve palsy. In this case a 58 years old male had a parotid mass with a prolonged history of sixteen years with sudden increase in size. Preoperative work up of imaging modalities and fine needle aspiration cytology was not conclusive. Intraoperatively mass couldn't be separated from the facial nerve, so total parotidectomy for the tumor with transection of facial nerve was done resulting in postoperative facial nerve paralysis. The diagnosis of schwannoma was offered only after histopathological examination. Parotid nerve schwannomas are extremely rare and routine investigations are not very helpful in diagnosis. Whenever a facial nerve is seen involved by a clinically benign appearing lesion, intraparotid schwannoma should be thought of as a diagnostic possibility to avoid radical surgery and prevent complications like facial nerve palsy.


The results of the theoretical and experimental study of the Zn+, Cd+, Tl+ and In+ ion levels population, gain and laser output power dependencies on the variation of hollow cathode discharge (HCD) parameters are presented. Pumping of excited metal ion levels goes through the thermal energy charge-transfer (CT) reaction between ground state buffer gas ions and neutral metal atoms, and second-kind collisions of HCD slow plasma electrons and atoms with excited metal ions, in redistributing the population amongst excited levels. A detailed kinetic model for negative glow plasma of HCD is based on affirmation that the total CT pumping rate for all metal levels is equal to buffer gas ionization rat and does not depend on CT cross section. Model uses the metal ion levels partial CT cross-section values which calculated based on Landau-Zener theory and Vigner spin rule and corrected accounting the experimental data, and uses the calculated transition probabilities in the Zn+, Cd+, Tl+ and In+ spectra in Coulomb approach taking into account the resonant trapping. The numerical calculations were made for the typical electron temperature (0,2...1eV) and density (0...1016 cm-3), and other discharge parameters of the HCD laser plasma. The results of calculations for known laser transitions are in a good agreement with the experimental data and predict the laser action and laser parameters values at cw and pulsed regime of HCD for 7 new Zn+ laser transition (0,317...13,7 μm) in He-Tl mixture, for 15 new Cd+ laser transition (0,53...1,92 μm) in He-Cd mixture, for 45 new Tl+ laser transition (0,318...18,83μm) in He-Tl mixture and for 27 new In+ laser transition (0,294...11,08μm) in Ne-In mixture.


Monitoring urban growth and change is an important task for urban planning and disaster management. While several change detection approaches have been proposed to deal with growing urban areas, their performances are usually limited due to outliers in Satellite Image Time Series (SITS). In this study, in order to discriminate urban growth from the other changes, we exploit spatial connectivity of the changed pixels. To do so, we first stack SITS to a single synthetic image whose pixel values denote the temporal variability along the series. Then, we propose to rely on efficient and well-established spatial filtering by means of the max-tree image representation, leading to a novel approach for detecting changes in urban areas, and more precisely focusing on the spatial extent of such changes in relationship with the urban growth. Experimental results obtained on Landsat imagery of Dar es Salaam showed that our approach helps to remove outliers from the change map and provides satisfactory accuracy.


Despite all recent advances in symptomatic therapy of Parkinson's disease (PD), the underlying neurodegenerative process cannot yet be slowed and the long-term clinical picture is characterized by severe motor as well as nonmotor disability, loss of independent function and premature death. This has a major and increasing social and economic burden on ageing populations. There is a pressing unmet need for developing therapies capable of not only providing symptomatic relief, but that can also modify or slow down the progression of disability in PD. In this article we discuss our own experience of the long-term effects of fetal cell transplantation used as experimental restorative treatment in PD, and we consider these observations in relation to the long-term clinical course of PD as we currently comprehend it in the era of symptomatic treatment.


The evolution of electronic technology and digital signal processing is making competitive methods and devices for the design and the development of measurement transformers for high-voltage (HV) systems deeply different from those based on the traditional electromagnetic principle. Several advantages are offered by these new solutions: higher metrological characteristics, cost effectiveness, compact size, and lack of the typical problems of the traditional electromagnetic transformers (magnetic core saturation, magnetic resonance, bandwidth limits, etc.). In this paper, the design criteria adopted for the development of a prototype of a novel HV electronic combined transformer are presented. Its architecture permits the implementation of both voltage and current protective and measurement functions. The starting point is the employment of a mix of well-tested traditional technologies (like those used for the voltage capacitive divider and for the current sensor) and very sophisticated electronics. In particular, the electronic devices and the employed system architecture, beyond what is conceived for obtaining high measurement performances, are also oriented to provide advanced ancillary functions such as autodiagnosis, fault tolerance, autocalibration, etc. The developed combined measurement transformer features a rated primary voltage of 145/√3 kV and a rated primary current of 1000 A. Moreover, it is fully compliant with IEC 60044-7 and IEC 60044-8 standards, assuring 0.1 measurement precision class and satisfying also 5P and 3P protection classes for current and voltage sections, respectively.


For multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications systems employing spatial multiplexing at the transmitter, we have recently been studying the advantages and disadvantages of genetic algorithm (GA)-based detection vs. the maximum-likelihood (ML) detection and linear detection, for various channel fading assumptions, e.g., Rayleigh and Rician fading, fixed and random azimuth spread (AS) and Rician K-factor, and various ranks of the channel matrix mean. In this paper, we step away from comparing their performance and complexity and focus instead on the selection of GA parameters, such as population size, P, generation number G, and mutation probability, pm, for the GA in MIMO detection. Thus, we employ a meta (or outer) GA to optimize P, G, and pm values for the inner GA employed for MIMO detection. The empirical distributions of the selected parameter values are then compared for various channel fading assumptions. It is found that the optimum GA parameter values for MIMO detection are directly affected by fading type, AS and K distribution, and especially by the rank of the channel matrix mean. The meta-GA approach helps reveal that the parameters of the inner GA should be tuned in order to achieve maximum performance for the lowest numerical complexity. Future work will seek efficient methods.


Against the background of current activities towards administrative modernization based on the digitalization of processes, the usage and integration of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software into public administration work processes can significantly improve their efficiency, reduce process costs and provide better services for citizens. This paper presents and investigates the concept of RPA and discusses the particular potential and challenges of RPA in the public administration context. Furthermore, it demonstrates an application example of a new cognitive RPA approach for automated data extraction and processing that is used in a trade tax assessment scenario using deep convolutional neural networks (CNN). Based on the findings it can be concluded that RPA has considerable potential for the improvement of the efficiency of administrative work processes and for administrative modernization in general.


The aging process of the skin of the hand continuously progresses from mature to advanced age. With age, the skin of the hand becomes pigmented, dry, wrinkled with an emphasized skin pattern, the tone of the skin of the hand decreases, thinning and atrophy of adipose tissue are noted, skin elasticity is lost with the formation of an excess of hypoelastic thinned dermis. In recent years, smooth thread implants have been used to correct involutional changes in the skin of the back of the hand. The aim of the study was a morphological evaluation of the effectiveness of the correction of involutional changes in the skin of the back surface of the hand with thread implants based on polycaprolactone and poly-L-lactic acid (PCL-PLLA) with notches. Using light and electron microscopy, we studied the reaction of cells and intercellular substance to the introduction of biodegradable filaments into the subcutaneous space. It was found that implantation of PCL-PLLA filaments increases the reparative potential of tissues. 3 months after implantation, stimulation of neocollagenesis and angiogenesis in the dermis and hypodermis was noted. The functional and proliferative activity of cells increased. Mitotic activity of cells in the basal layer of the epidermis led to an increase in its thickness. A clinically confirmed effect was noted after 3 months and persisted for 18 months after implantation. Long biodegradation of the threads (1.5-2 years) helps to slow down the aging process of the skin of the back surface of the hand, prolonging the processes of tissue revitalization.


A Girls Empowerment Programme held in 2010 in Lesotho, sub-Saharan Africa, focused on HIV/AIDS risk reduction and prevention, life skills, and entrepreneurial training (income-generating activities). Entrepreneurial training was a crucial part of equipping the camp attendees with basic skills to help them develop sustainable livelihoods. Such skills and financial independence are essential to enable rural girls to complete their secondary schooling (in a fee-based educational system) and to pursue a career, as well as to further help them be less susceptible to transactional sex and its significant risks. The results of a brief process evaluation with some nested supporting data showed considerable improvement in the girls' knowledge about income-generating activities. In addition, almost half of the camp attendees participated in further entrepreneurial training and about half of these girls went on to develop small businesses. Replication of this model of camp training is recommended and being explored in other African countries.


Background:The use of HAART during pregnancy is now standard care to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in developed countries. There is controversy about its impact on low birth weight. Objective:To evaluate the impact of antiretroviral therapy during the pregnancy on birth weight, length and head circumference. Methods:The study was performed in uninfected infants born to HIV-1-infected mothers, enrolled from 1990 to 2006 in the Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA French Perinatal Cohort CO1. We excluded mothers who used illicit drugs during pregnancy or had no prenatal care before the third trimester, twins and stillbirths. We used Z-scores adjusted for gestational age and sex. Results:In 8192 mother–infant pairs, the mean birth weight Z-scores increased between 1990 and 1997 and then remained stable until 2006. There was no significant relation between the type of antiretroviral therapy and the proportion of small for gestational age (birth weight Z-score ≤ −2SD), which was 4% overall. Infants exposed to HAART compared with monotherapy had a lower mean birth weight Z-scores (difference −0.09, 95% confidence interval −0.15 to −0.02); however, there was no difference between HAART exposure in 2005–2006 and monotherapy in 1999–2004, which corresponded to standard care during each period, respectively. Length or head circumference Z-scores were not associated with antiretroviral therapy exposure. Among pregnancies with HAART, there was no relation between the duration and type of therapy and the anthropometric parameters. Conclusion:Our findings in a large cohort suggest that HAART during pregnancy does not increase the incidence of infants who are small for gestational age.


I studied 22 cases of Paget's disease of the breast in the Ibos who live in West Africa and compared the findings with those reported among 29 Hebrew women from the Middle East. It was concluded that there are important epidemiologic similarities such as the youngest age. This attribute and others are worthy of concerted epidemiologic research internationally.


EPR experiments have been carried out on irradiated KBr crystals doped with ReO4- ions at 4.2K. They indicate the formation of ReO42- (5d1, 2E ground state) subjected to an E(X) epsilon -type Jahn-Teller distortion. Uniaxial stress experiment show that the ReO42- ion reorientates locally and the spin Hamiltonian parameters are unaltered by the application of the stress. A quadratic stress coupling term cannot be neglected. A model based on the approach of M.C.M. O'Brien is proposed to explain the experimental results.


Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) develop diabetes at much higher rates than those with able bodies. Glycemic effect of SCI is exaggerated in those with higher level of injury (LOI) (e.g.: tetraplegia [TP]) compared to those with lower LOI (e.g.; paraplegia [PP]) . We hypothesized that prevalence and incidence of diabetes is higher in those with higher LOI among SCI patients. In a retrospective cohort study of veterans with spinal cord injury, from 20to 2021, electronic record data on weight, height, gender, ethnicity, level of injury (TP vs. PP) , glucose and A1C levels, and antidiabetic medications were obtained. Diabetes was defined by random glucose >200 mg/dl and HbA1C>6.5%. A total of 9persons with SCI were identified (440 TP/ 471 PP,48 F/863 M, age (22-90) , BMI (13.1-51.4)) . The prevalence of diabetes at the first visit among those with TP and PP was similar (21vs. 20%) . Among 728 nondiabetic subjects with SCI, 1 (34%) with TP vs. 127 (34%) with PP developed type 2 diabetes over a median period of 40m (18-93) vs. 39m (15-75) (p=0.3) . Groups were similar for age and gender distribution, but PP had greater BMI compared to TP (p<0.01) . Despite similar A1C and plasma glycemia between the 2 groups at their first encounters, PP subjects had higher glycemic control estimated by A1C at the time of DM conversion or their last encounter (6.4± 1.7% vs. 6.0± 1.1%, p<0.05) . Of note, a larger number of diabetic patients in this cohort did not receive any antidiabetes medications (76% in TP/ 65% in PP, p=0.09) . At the end of 20-year study period, there were a total of 72 deaths in TP patients with diabetes compared to 60 deaths in PP patients with diabetes (61% vs. 47%, p<0.05) . Our findings indicate that despite greater amount of innervated lean muscle mass and lesser impaired autonomic nervous signaling in persons with PP compared to TP, rate of diabetes development and glycemic control are relatively similar among those with the high and low LOI. However, among SCI patients with diabetes those with TP had worse survival rate than PP.

 M.Trbovich: None. R.Dimas: None. M.J.Mader: None. M.Salehi: None.


BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) reduces intubation and mortality in patients with COPD exacerbation who present with respiratory failure, and the type of mask may affect its success. Our objective was to compare the performance of 3 different NIV masks in a lung model. METHODS: We set the lung simulator mechanics and respiratory rate, and tested a small oronasal mask, a total face mask, and a large oronasal mask. We added CO2 at a constant rate into the system and monitored the end-tidal carbon dioxide. We used a mechanical ventilator to deliver NIV in 8 different combinations of inspiratory effort, pressure support, and expiratory positive airway pressure. We measured end-tidal carbon dioxide mask leakage, tidal volume, trigger time, time to achieve 90% of the inspiratory target during inspiration, and excess inspiratory time. RESULTS: We presented the mean ± SD of the 8 simulated conditions for each mask. The mean ± SD leakage was higher for the total face mask (51 ± 6 L/min) than for the small oronasal mask (37 ± 5 L/min) and for the large oronasal mask (21 ± 3 L/min), P < .001; but end-tidal carbon dioxide and tidal volume were similar. The mean ± SD 90% of the inspiratory target during inspiration was faster for the small oronasal mask (585 ± 49 ms) compared with the large oronasal (647 ± 107 ms) and total face mask (851 ± 105 ms), P < .001, all other variables were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In this model, we found that the type of mask had no impact on CO2 washout or on most synchrony variables.


5-[1-(Aryl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]-4-phenyl-2,4-dihydro[1,2,4]triazole-3-thione derivatives 1a-c were reacted with chloropropanol, chloroacetone, chlorodiethyl ether and epichlorohydrine to afford the corresponding acyclonucleosides 2a-c-5a-c, respectively. Also, compound 1c was reacted with formaldehyde and 4-chloroaniline or piperidine to give the corresponding Mannish products 6 and 7, respectively. In addition, 1c was reacted with acrylonitrile or benzoyl chloride to give N-triazole derivatives 8 and 9, respectively. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, MS spectral data and elemental analysis. All the compounds were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities and they showed high activity compared with Ciprofloxacin and Fusidic acid as positive controls. The compounds 2b, 3b, 5b, 6 and 7 were screened for their anticancer activities against breast carcinoma (MCF7) and cervix carcinoma (HELA) human cell lines compared with Doxorubicin positive control. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic data, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of some synthesized compounds were reported.


Ontologies have a place in knowledge sharing with their ability to capture real world information in a machine readable environment. Their application varies from any approach structured on ontological commitment to meta-level ontologies serving for variety of purposes. This variety continues also in methodologies for constructing the ontologies. There are wide range of ontologies differing in size and complexity that are created with different design criteria. The main point with the ontologies is their structure and ability to serve for the intended purpose. This is only granted with the continuous evaluation of ontologies in the construction process, and also before release or reuse of the ontology. Ontology evaluation methods cluster around two concepts such as verification methods that ensure the structure of the ontology, and validation methods that examine their applicability in real world. In light of these, different approaches as quantitative and qualitative methods are depicted in literature from tools to evaluations by experts all of which investigate different characteristics. Objectives of this study are to underline the importance of ontology evaluation and to present an employed validation method used during ontology development for delay analysis. In this context, first; literature review on ontology evaluation is presented. Second, a delay analysis ontology is introduced with its basics to lay the foundations of the study. Cases taken from the Turkish construction industry are exemplified to explain the utilized ontology validation process. Comparison of the concepts in the constructed ontology and expert reports written for each case is used to evaluate the ontology. Furthermore, alternative validation techniques are discussed as well as possible attempts to keep it responsive and up-to-date.


SUMMARY The enhanced dexterity and manipulability offered by master–slave teleoperated surgical systems have significantly improved the performance and safety of minimally invasive surgeries. However, effective manipulation of surgical robots is sometimes limited due to the mismatch between the slave and master robots' kinematics and workspace. The purpose of this paper is first to formulate a quantifiable measure of the combined master–slave system manipulability. Next, we develop a null-space controller for the redundant master robot that employs the proposed manipulability index to enhance the performance of teleoperation tasks by matching the kinematics of the redundant master robot with the kinematics of the slave robot. The null-space controller modulates the redundant degrees of freedom of the master robot to reshape its manipulability ellipsoid (ME) towards the ME of the slave robot. The ME is the geometric interpretation of the kinematics of a robot. By reshaping the master robot's manipulability, we match the master and slave robots' kinematics. We demonstrate that by using a redundant master robot, we are able to enhance the master–slave system manipulability and more intuitively transfer the slave robot's dexterity to the user. Simulation and experimental studies are performed to validate the performance of the proposed control strategy. Results demonstrate that by employing the proposed manipulability index, we can enhance the user's control over the force/velocity of a surgical robot and minimize the user's control effort for a teleoperated task.


In recent years, the use of biodegradable fluids as liquid insulation for distribution and power transformers is spreading. The main biodegradable fluids used are natural and synthetic esters, although biodegradable hydrocarbons have been recently proposed. Biodegradable fluids have a much lower environmental impact than mineral oil, limiting the risk of soil contamination in leaks, which makes them a suitable solution for applications such as offshore transformers or railway transformers. Additionally, these fluids have a higher flash point than conventional mineral oils, which dramatically reduces the risk of fire and collateral damage derived from explosion and fire. Despite these advantageous factors, there are still some aspects that hinder the broadening of their use, such as the difference in thermal properties or the lack of accepted maintenance procedures for transformers that use them as liquid insulation. This paper presents the current status of biodegradable insulating fluids, analyzing some of their properties and discussing the aspects that are still to be investigated in order to make them a real alternative to petroleum-based fluids.


The effect of hypothyroidism on potassium adaptation (shown by increased potassium secretion in response to potassium loading) and on the action of aldosterone on potassium secretion and sodium fluxes was examined in the rat distal colon. Potassium adaptation, particularly the response to an acute potassium load, was impaired by hypothyroidism which also considerably reduced the rise of transepithelial electrical potential difference (p.d.) of total and transcellular (active) lumen-to-plasma sodium fluxes and of potassium secretion normally produced by aldosterone. These changes were, in part, corrected by a short period (3 days) of tri-iodothyronine replacement. Moreover in aldosterone-treated hypothyroid rats, amiloride in the lumen was considerably less effective in reducing the p.d. and sodium fluxes than in aldosterone-treated normal rats. The intracellular sodium transport pool was greater in the hypothyroid than in the normal rats (5.0 +/- 1.1 (S.E.M.) nmol/mg dry weight compared with 2.9 +/- 0.2 nmol/mg dry weight; P less than 0.02). Aldosterone increased the pool in the normal but not in the hypothyroid rats while amiloride had little effect on the pool in the aldosterone-treated hypothyroid rats but almost abolished it in aldosterone-treated normal rats. Aldosterone plays a major part in the adaptation of colonic sodium and potassium transport to sodium depletion or potassium excess; these adaptations were much impaired in hypothyroid animals. The present results are consistent with a deficiency in aldosterone induction of potassium- and amiloride-sensitive sodium pathways in the apical membrane of colonic epithelial cells in hypothyroid rats, a deficiency which limits the stimulant effect of aldosterone on sodium and potassium transport.


The idea of finding similar news across Arabic and English sources is that to provide the audience with multiple views of the broadcasted news because reading the news from a single source may not always reflects on what happening around the world due different background, cultures and opinions of the readers and writers. To achieve this goal there are many techniques have been used to cluster the documents with similar themes. In this paper, we analyze the similarity of the views on the news written in the news translations form Arabic and English texts using self-organizing map (SOM). However, we have found there are some difficulties in SOM that affect its performance. In order to improve the problems of performance, we have used a growing hierarchical self-organizing map (GHSOM). The main advantage of such a mapping is the ease by which a user gains an idea regarding the structure of the data by analyzing the map. Thousands of news documents have been collected from Arabic and English news sources from the Web in order to train both algorithms. Form experiments, the results show that using GHSOM is better in terms of clustering documents with the same opinions.


Sudden changes in the load on the electric power system will cause a dynamic disturbance. This interference causes the generator stability to be disrupted because the generator does not respond to the interference quickly. This causes oscillations in the generator in the form of frequency oscillations and rotor angles. One additional control equipment that can improve the stability of a generator is the Power System Stabilizer (PID). When there is a disturbance oscillation on the generator, the PID provides an additional signal to the excitation equipment to provide additional attenuation to the generator. The use of PID is needed to coordinate the determination of the right parameters to achieve good performance control for the system. In the application, the determination of PID parameters still uses the trial & error method, this method is very difficult to get the right parameters. To solve this problem, here the author uses one of the computational techniques (soft computing) artificial intelligence, namely the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm to optimize the tuning of the PID parameters. From the simulation results, the optimal PID parameters obtained are P (Proportional) of 53.4899, I (Integral) of 14.6551, and D (Derivative) of 10.5383. With optimal tuning, the SMIB frequency response is perfect compared to the system without PID trial error control and control, this is indicated by the system response that has improved, where the controller is able to provide stability so that the overshoot oscillation can be muted, and the settling time performance is faster for the system goes to steady-state condition. By tuning the right PID parameters, Overshoot that occurs in this system can be muted that is equal to -0.0002609 up to 0.0001954.


This academic thesis is the result of the bibliographic review research to elaborate the final work of conclusion of the specialization course MBA on Business Strategy postgraduate degree. The objective was to map studies carried out in the area of hospitality, with a cut in the segment of small and medium-sized hotel companies in the State of São Paulo. Information and data on this sector were also raised, which allowed to delineate a panorama of its current situation. The result of the research and the systematization of the data found will make it possible to indicate and subsidize future researches necessary in this field, especially on the adequacy of the sector to the existing hotel market. Existing Means of Lodging were surveyed according to hotel segmentation and current segmentation practices in the State of São Paulo, according to data from the Tourism Regionalization Program of the Ministry of Tourism. They include 28 consolidated macro tourist regions that have adopted the following parameters: geographical proximity, attractions and specific local tourist characteristics. These have been the basis for the development of programs and projects by the Government of the State of São Paulo. The data obtained and the literature review allowed to evaluate the current situation of the positioning of these companies. The results indicate that the adequacy and improvement of strategic positioning should be practiced for the improvement of its M arket Share and, consequently, for the increase of the sales in order to keep them competitive in the market and aiming, mainly, the confrontation of modalities of Disruptive marketing.


The importance of ongoing refinement of measurement tools is illustrated by describing the methodology for further development of an Interpersonal Conflict scale. A third dimension, that of Sexual Need, was defined and added to the original sub-scales of Interaction Need and Emotional Need. Thirty-one Sexual Need items were formulated and incorporated into the original scale and the revised list was submitted to a sample of 212 subjects. The methods used to study content and face validity are discussed; factor analytic techniques for assessing construct validity and reliability of the Sexual Need dimension are presented. Six alternate forms of approximately equal reliability were developed for repeated measurements over time. The overall analyses are discussed within a framework of the relationship between fulfillment of psychosocial needs and marital conflict.


In the allosteric aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase) from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Thermotoga maritima, the catalytic and regulatory functions, which in class B ATCases are carried out by specialized polypeptides, are combined on a single type of polypeptide assembled in trimers. The ATCases from T. maritima and Treponema denticola present intriguing similarities, suggesting horizontal gene transfer.


Recent observations at the National Institute of Standards and Technology indicate that the Ar I wavenumbers reported by Whaling et al. [J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. 107, 149 (2002)] are systematically too large. To investigate the source of this problem, selected lines of Ar I and Ar II were remeasured in the same spectra used by Whaling et al. The measurements show that the Ar I wavenumbers of Whaling et al. are systematically shifted with respect to the Ar II wavenumbers previously reported by Whaling et al. [J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer 53, 1 (1995)] based on the same spectra. The Ar I wavenumbers can be corrected by a constant multiplicative correction of 0.999 999 933.


Rigging is a process for creating skeletons used to animate articulated characters. In conventional computer‐animation software, this process must be performed manually. Although several automatic rigging algorithms have been proposed, these methods still require user intervention. This paper proposes an automatic algorithm that generates an inverse kinematic skeleton for a character by locating an appropriate template skeleton on the extracted curve skeleton of the input 3D character model. After the curve skeleton is extracted, it is analyzed and classified into an appropriate category. The classification conditions are developed from the characteristics of each kind of real animal. We also develop an algorithm to extract the anatomical meaning of each skeleton segment. On the basis of the classification result, a suitable template skeleton is retrieved from the database. Each bone of the template skeleton can then be located on the appropriate skeleton segment of the input skeleton graph by using the extracted anatomical meanings. In contrast to previous methods, the algorithm does not require the input 3D character models to have certain poses or orientations. Moreover, all processes can be completed without user intervention. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Two methods for the investigation of different types of beer by capillary zone electrophoresis are presented. The first separation system described in this work allows the quantitative analysis of beers with respect to their contents of low molecular mass anionic components using indirect ultraviolet detection as well as conductivity detection, providing relative standard deviation between 0.5 and 6.6% for the peak areas and excellent limits of detection (LOD) ranging from 0.02 mg L(-)(1) for chloride to 0.41 mg L(-)(1) for phosphate. The second method offers the possibility of fast determination of amino acids in beer samples without the necessity of any sample pretreatment. LODs obtained for the investigated solutes were found to be strongly dependent on their spectroscopical properties and in the range of 0.5-50 mg L(-)(1). Despite this restriction, this analytical method can be regarded as a suitable tool for the screening of beers with respect to their amino acid patterns.


More than 90% of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have the chromosomal translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11), while 5-8% of patients have complex variant translocations that have previously been thought not to affect the efficacy of imatinib therapy. The present study reports a patient with CML in B-lymphoid blast crisis who had a rare three-way Philadelphia (Ph) variant t(3;9;22)(p21;q34;q11), in addition to isodicentric Ph chromosomes. The patient was initially treated with imatinib for >2 months with a very poor response. When no T315I or F317L mutations in the ABL proto-oncogene 1 region were detected, the patient received dasatinib treatment (140 mg daily) and achieved a complete hematologic response. Following allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the patient displayed clinical, hematological and cytogenetic remission, with complete molecular response and complete donor chimerism, and stopped taking dasatinib at the last follow-up. The present data suggest that BCR-ABL gene amplification may be associated with imatinib resistance, which can be overcome with dasatinib. The present analysis suggests an alternative therapy strategy for CML involving isodicentric Ph chromosomes.


In this paper, we investigate robust resource allocation algorithm design for multiuser downlink multiple-input single-output (MISO) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication systems, where we account for the various uncertainties that are unavoidable in such systems and, if left unattended, may severely degrade system performance. We jointly optimize the two-dimensional (2-D) trajectory and the transmit beamforming vector of the UAV for minimization of the total power consumption. The algorithm design is formulated as a non-convex optimization problem taking into account the imperfect knowledge of the angle of departure (AoD) caused by UAV jittering, user location uncertainty, wind speed uncertainty, and polygonal no-fly zones (NFZs). Despite the non-convexity of the optimization problem, we solve it optimally by employing monotonic optimization theory and semidefinite programming relaxation which yields the optimal 2-D trajectory and beamforming policy. Since the developed optimal resource allocation algorithm entails a high computational complexity, we also propose a suboptimal iterative low-complexity scheme based on successive convex approximation to strike a balance between optimality and computational complexity. Our simulation results reveal not only the significant power savings enabled by the proposed algorithms compared to two baseline schemes, but also confirm their robustness with respect to UAV jittering, wind speed uncertainty, and user location uncertainty. Moreover, our results unveil that the joint presence of wind speed uncertainty and NFZs has a considerable impact on the UAV trajectory. Nevertheless, by counteracting the wind speed uncertainty with the proposed robust design, we can simultaneously minimize the total UAV power consumption and ensure a secure trajectory that does not trespass any NFZ.


This paper presents a new observability estimate for parabolic equations in .0;T/, whereis a convex domain. The observation region is restricted over a product set of an open nonempty subset ofand a subset of positive measure in .0;T/. This estimate is derived with the aid of a quantitative unique continuation at one point in time. Applications to the bang-bang property for norm and time optimal control problems are provided.


Aims Medicine is an undoubtedly challenging degree but studying medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has posed added challenges for medical students across the UK. With teaching being moved online, practical exams cancelled, and final year students being fast-tracked onto the NHS frontline, there has been a dramatic change in how traditional medicine is being taught- with a 'hands-on' approach being swapped for video calls and remote teaching. This study will highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical students, how they have coped through what has been an unprecedented two years and what can be done to support them through their medical training. Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed on medical students at University College London. This involved a combination of face-to-face interviews and an online survey. They were asked about the impact on their overall mental well-being, as well as what the most challenging aspect of studying medicine during the pandemic was. They were also asked how optimistic they feel about their future in the medical profession. The data gathered were then analysed. Results There were 30 responses, which were a combination of face to face and an online survey. Students unanimously agreed that the most challenging aspects were loneliness, lack of face-to-face teaching and minimal social interaction. 60% stated that their mental health has suffered significantly, and everyone felt that they have missed out on certain aspects of teaching during the pandemic, namely cadaveric dissections, time on wards and gaining vital communication skills. However, the benefits of online teaching included learning at their own pace and being able to take breaks to avoid burnout. Conclusion There are limited studies looking at the long-term effect of COVID-19 on medical students in the UK. This survey highlights the detrimental impact of the pandemic on medical training and the mental health of these students. To address the possibility of burnout before they start their medical career, more resources could be signposted by medical schools to students during this challenging time. As we are transitioning out of the pandemic, we should be mindful not to forget the cohort of students who studied medicine alone in their homes. Most importantly, we must ensure this generation of doctors is well supported as they begin to care for members of the public.


Conventional behavior is behavior engaged in because of, or due to, convention. There are two senses of "due to": the convention explains my behavior by actually causing it; or the convention explains my behavior by providing reasons I have for engaging in this behavior. Either way, behaviors cannot be explained by conventions unless the conventions exist; and conventions cannot provide me with (conscious) reasons for engaging in my behavior unless I know what they are. I argue that, far from causing behavior, conventions are the results of behavior: conventions exist, in the sense in which they may be said to exist at all, only retrospectively. Moreover, as natural language speakers, we are ever at best in the position of thinking we know what the conventions are. But thinking one is acting conventionally is not the same thing as acting conventionally. Claims about the role of convention in linguistic competence interestingly both mirror and differ from claims about the role of genes in evolutionary theory, as I briefly point out by way of conclusion.


Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable hematologic malignancy mainly due to its cytogenetic abnormalities. It is important to establish permanent malignant MM cell lines as effective tools to develop more effective therapies.
Results

We established and characterized a new multiple myeloma (MM) cell line CZ2 from the pleural effusion of a 70-year-old man. Using nephelometry and flow cytometry, cells with typical plasma cell morphology but not classical plasma cell phenotype were found to be non-immunoglobulin-secretary cells. FISH analysis of cells revealed a unique characteristic that there is only gain of 1q21 region(1q21+), while no other common cytogenetic abnormalities of multiple myeloma such as deletion of 17p(17p-), deletion of 13q(13q-) and translocation of IgH. In addition, the original cell line maintains its single cytogenetic abnormality. Meanwhile, CKS1B, an adverse prognostic gene which is located in 1q21 region was highly expressed in CZ2 using western blotting. Knockdown of CKS1B could reduce cell viability in addition that cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase3 would be decreased.
Conclusions

Therefore, CZ2 provides a suitable material for cellular and molecular studies of multiple myeloma with only 1q21 abnormality. The cell line characterized by gain of 1q21 and high expression of CKS1B is an important model for studies of myeloma cell growth and drug resistance during therapy.


This article examines Tanzania's ability to domestically prosecute international crimes following its ratification of the Rome Statute. The Article also analyses the possibility of relying on the provisions of customary international law to prosecute these crimes in the absence of domestication of the Rome Statute. The article probes into the reasons for the non-domestication of the Statute, highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the current legal framework to prosecute international crimes, and proffers a set of recommendations for the identified legal flaws. It finds that although Tanzania is a State Party to the Rome Statute, it has not yet domesticated the Statute. Despite the absence of a direct legal obligation to domesticate or nationally incorporate the provisions of the Rome Statute, the articles states that it is fundamental that Tanzania indicates its ability and willingness to prosecute international crimes within its domestic legal framework. While there are two approaches to prosecuting crimes of the Statute at the national level, this article has discussed the effectiveness of Tanzania's legal framework to prosecute those crimes through the ordinary crimes approach. It contends that while some of the core crimes can be prosecuted domestically and through customary international law, the current domestic legal framework in Tanzania is incapable of prosecuting the Statute's core crimes effectively in the absence of domestication or adoption of serious legal amendments in the relevant domestic legislation. Keywords: Customary International Law - International Crimes - International Crimes Approach - Ordinary Crimes Approach - Penal Code - Rome Statute