Anomaly detection of multivariate time series is meaningful for system behavior monitoring. This paper proposes an anomaly detection method based on unsupervised Short- and Long-term Mask Representation learning (SLMR). The main idea is to extract short-term local dependency patterns and long-term global trend patterns of the multivariate time series by using multi-scale residual dilated convolution and Gated Recurrent Unit(GRU) respectively. Furthermore, our approach can comprehend temporal contexts and feature correlations by combining spatial-temporal masked self-supervised representation learning and sequence split. It considers the importance of features is different, and we introduce the attention mechanism to adjust the contribution of each feature. Finally, a forecasting-based model and a reconstruction-based model are integrated to focus on single timestamp prediction and latent representation of time series. Experiments show that the performance of our method outperforms other state-of-the-art models on three real-world datasets. Further analysis shows that our method is good at interpretability.


OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the use of gold weights as upper lid implants in the management of lagophthalmos due to facial nerve affection in leprosy patients.

DESIGN
Gold implants of various weights were inserted in the upper eyelids of 12 patients with leprosy. Pre- and post-operative lid closures were recorded and patients were followed up for 1 year.

RESULTS
Despite early satisfactory results with good closure, six out of 12 implants were extruded within the first year. Two more implants had to be removed due to chronic inflammatory reaction.

CONCLUSION
Long term result of gold weight implants in leprosy patient is unsatisfactory and needs further evaluation.


High-level synthesis (HLS) involves the translation of behavioural algorithmic descriptions into an RTL implementation. The parameters to be optimized in high-level synthesis such as power, area and delay are mutually conflicting necessitating trade-offs during the implementation. For complex designs, the design space to be explored is vast. This paper proposes a weighted sum genetic algorithm for optimization of datapaths during high-level synthesis using graded penalty cost function to perform simultaneous scheduling and allocation. GAs being population based, are ideal for searching the large solution space involved. The proposed technique has been evaluated on HLS DSP benchmark circuits like IIR filter and DCT filter and has been found to yield better power aware solutions than a single objective GA, simultaneously optimizing area and delay. The framework provides a large number of alternative datapath designs, all of which meet user design specifications but differ in module, register and interconnect configurations. An average of about 15.7% power reduction on DCT filter and 13% power reduction on IIR filter were obtained.


Lupus related to amiodarone has not previously been described. We report on a patient who developed drug induced lupus (DIL) in association with amiodarone treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of amiodarone induced lupus (CD ROM: Medline, USA National Library: 1966–98).

A 71 year old white woman was admitted because of two weeks of pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea on exertion, and non-productive cough. She had malaise, intermittent fever, arthralgia, and weight loss for more than six months. There was no history of Raynaud's phenomenon, oral ulcers or photosensitivity. She had a six year history of arterial hypertension and atrial fibrillation treated with amiloride, digital and amiodarone (200 mg two times daily) for the past two years.

Physical examination disclosed malar rash, an aortic systolic murmur (grade II/VI), and hypoventilation in both pulmonary bases. Laboratory studies showed an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 90 mm 1st h. Peripheral blood examination revealed a mild normochromic and normocytic anaemia (10 g/dl), normal white blood cells count (4000/μl), …


Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays, with increasing women's awareness of breast cancer, a large number of them are referred for advice because of breast pain. There is often no specific instruction in dealing with it, and it is difficult to balance between the severity of the patient's complaint and the complications of drug therapy. Consultation as a non-pharmacological and uncomplicated method can increase the tolerance of the patient to pain and thereby improve their quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of individual counseling on the quality of life of women cyclic mastalgia.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial study was conducted on 80 women with cyclic mastalgia referring to health centers located in Karaj in 1396. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of 40 intervention and control groups. The intervention was conducted in 4 individual counseling sessions. A diagnostic of cyclic mastalgia with visual analog scale and Cardiff's breast pain. The McGill questionnaire and the quality of life of the World Health Organization were evaluated before and after the consultation. Paired t-test was used to examine the mean of pain quality and quality of life before and after the intervention. To evaluate the quality of pain and quality of life after intervention, covariance analysis was used in two groups.
Results: According to Chi-square test, the two groups were homogeneous in terms of age, marital status, educational level, occupation, husband's education level, husband's job, and history of breastfeeding. After the consultation, the comparison of the mean scores of McGill test between the two groups showed that the highest and lowest scores belonged to the control group 22.100 ± 9.784 and the intervention group was 15.975 ± 6.885, respectively (P = 0.001). After counseling, the mean scores of quality of life between the two groups showed that the highest and lowest scores belonged to the intervention group 67.500 ± 10.289 and the control group 59.206 ± 11.836, respectively, in all dimensions respectively. The difference between the scores of the whole quality of life test and the scores of all dimensions except the mental dimension between the two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.00).
Conclusion: Individual counseling can help improve the quality of pain and quality of life indicators in women and is suggested as a suitable treatment for mild to moderate pain. It is recommended that more research be done on the effect of counseling on the mental dimension of quality of life in affected patients.
Key words: cyclic mastalgia, Individual counseling, Pain quality, Quality of life


Human understanding of many phenomena and appearances depends, first of all, on experience of the self and understanding of the self. Through this starting point we lay the foundations of our attitudes towards the environment. Insufficient analysis of experience (presented in this article as platform perception) can call into question the correctness (by correctness I understand everything that is in tune with objective log-ic, but also something that is useful in a positive (good) sense – a good intention fol-lowed by a good process and a good result) of one's understanding of normality. However, the thing that can be confusing in trying to understand the modern concept of normality is the well-known fact that it covers two different categories – what is usual and what is correct. The usual is not necessarily correct, and the correct is not necessarily usual. The relativizer of normality is the ever-present possibility of its change. Normality and non-normality not only influence each other, but are also con-ditioned by each other. Together they essentially constitute an understood and evalu-ated known physical reality. The changeability of human understanding, needs, atti-tudes, assessments, as well as change of circumstances affect the transformation of normality. The article discusses, among other things, the difference between the nor-mal as a subject and an object. The consideration of these problems was approached from a multidisciplinary aspect, mainly relying on sociological, philosophical and psy-chological sources.


This paper reports on a current cross-national research initiative to study the effectiveness and impact of youth-adult partnerships (Y-APs) on developmental youth outcomes in four countries: the United States, Canada, Portugal and Malaysia. In Western contexts, Y-APs have been conceptualized as youth and adults working collaboratively for program or community action and are characterized by mutuality in teaching and learning as well as in program and organizational decision-making. Y-APs have been utilized as an effective tool for youth leadership development by engaging young people and adults in meaningful participation and working together for the sake of their organizations and communities. As Malaysia continues to move forwards toward its national goal of development and high-income status, there is a need to empower its youth by helping them acquire the needed skills and competences to fulfill their role as partners in national development. This paper puts forward the idea that Y-APs are a promising approach to further this aim, especially among Malaysian youth in the 18-to-25 year-old age group.


Background: Surgical site infections are common in veterinary practice; their prevention is based on the preoperative use of topical antimicrobials at the surgical site to reduce resident bacteria to sub-pathogenic levels. Aim Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and povidone iodine (PI) are the most popular options for preoperative skin preparation in veterinary practice, however increasing bacterial resistance to CHG and PI have been reported; therefore investigation into alternative antimicrobials such as Camellia sinensis (green tea: GT) is required. Method The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used to test the antibacterial activity of four dilutions of CHG, PI and GT on the normal flora of animal skin, represented by S. aureus, S. intermedius, S. uberis and S. pyogenes. Zones of inhibition (ZOI) were measured to assess antimicrobial action. Kruskal-Wallis analyses with Mann-Whitney post-hoc tests determined differences in efficacy between the dilutions of antimicrobials for each bacterium tested. Resul...


This article reflects on the impact of transnational flows of students, pilgrims, and literature from Iran to Indonesia on the shaping of Shiʿa Islam in Indonesia since 1979, with a focus on the post-Suharto era (1998–2012) and the performance of ʿ Āshūrāʾ commemorative rituals. Since the early days of its Islamization, Southeast Asia has featured several literary and ritual practices rooted in a combination of Islamic and local traditions; most notable are those expressing patterns of pre-sectarian devotion towards the ahl al-bayt – drawing a parallel with Marshall Hodgson's framework of ʿAlid piety (1955). Based on ethnographic and archival research, the author suggests that in the decades following the Iranian revolution some of these practices were abandoned in favour of a paradigm of devotion promoted by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The polarization of practices, and the relationship between organizations representative of these two approaches, is illustrated through an analysis of the performative means used to represent the tragedy of Karbala during ʿĀshūrāʾ events in Bandung, Bengkulu (West Sumatra), and Jakarta in 2011. In Bandung the play "Tragedi Karbala" was performed by a Sundanese theatrical group staging a local text; in Bengkulu the traditional Festival Tabot took place following a pattern determined by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture in the early 1970s but now under the sponsorship of the Iranian Embassy; the Jakarta event featured a taʿziya troupe brought from Iran by the Embassy's cultural office.


As osteomyelitis (OM) induces the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines and IL-1 mediates bone resorption by osteoclasts we determined if there is an association between certain common polymorphisms of the genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1 alpha and beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha) and OM in adults. The IL-1 alpha (-889) TT genotype was significantly more frequent among 52 OM patients than in 109 healthy controls (13/52, [25.0%] vs. 9/109, [8.3%], P = 0.0081, chi(2) = 7.01, OR = 3.7, 95% CI, 1.35-10.34). Patients who were homozygous for the T allele were younger than the rest of the OM patients (mean age 35.7 +/- 11.5 vs. 58.1 +/- 18.6 years, P = 0.001). IL-1 beta TT (+3953) polymorphism was also more frequent in OM patients (P = 0.014, chi(2) = 5.12, OR = 5.1, 95% CI, 1.21-52.14), but IL-1 beta is in linkage disequilibrium with the IL-1 alpha *T (P < 0.001). Route of infection, chronicity of the infection, type of microorganism isolated, and frequency of relapses were similar in patients with and without the IL-1 alpha TT genotype. There were no associations between OM and polymorphisms of other cytokines genes. IL-1 alpha serum levels were significantly increased in all the OM patients independently of their IL-1 genotype compared to the controls (P = 0.021). Although IL-1 alpha serum levels were not significantly higher in patients with the IL-1 alpha (-889) polymorphism, this does not exclude a difference in production of IL-1 alpha by osteoclasts or other inflammatory cells at the site of infection.


Background: Traditional herbal preparations for addressing human diseases and ailments have been applied in Yilmana Densa and Quarit Districts, Ethiopia, for generations. However, the medicinal knowledge of the community and the plants are subjected to loss without being scientifically documented due to anthropogenic factors. Hence, this study aims at providing a comprehensive documentation on medicinal plant knowledge of the people to conserve the knowledge and medicinal plants of the areas.Methods: Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, field observation and market survey were used to collect ethnobotanical data. All semi-structured interviews were followed by independent walk in the woods exercises. Field observations were performed with the help of local guides. The data analysis methods were informant consensus factor and fidelity level, frequency and cultural significance indices, preference and direct matrix ranking exercises. Results: A total of 112 medicinal plants were reported. Fabaceae was represented with highest species. Leaves were the primary source of remedy. Most remedy was prepared by pounding and administered orally. Miscellaneous, central nervous and digestive system diseases were recorded with highest informant agreements while Dodonia angustifolia, Dovyalis abyssinica, Hagenia abyssinica, Nigella sativa and Urtica simensis were recorded with highest healing potential for malaria, tapeworm, cough, stomach ulcer respectively. Phytolacca dodecandra, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Carissa spinarum and Croton macrostachyus were recorded with highest frequency, use, and cultural values respectively. Verbascum sinaiticum was the most preferred to treat blood pressure Conclusion: The study indicated that indigenous knowledge on medicinal plant use is still rich and active in the Districts. Species with recorded highest consensus for curative role are a useful pool for further phytochemical and pharmacological validation for better utilization. Declining medicinal flora of the area calls for implementation of a coordinated complementary in situ and ex situ conservation strategy.


This article is a literature study, concerning the interpersonal communication role in conjunction with technical dental and oral health care conducted by the dentists towards the patient individually. In addition, interpersonal communication means to be synergic communication among dentist and the patient. In relation with the verbal or non verbal dental care process, the effectiveness of interpersonal communication is identified through the perception of the messages and it's translated by recipient perception, and it will be the same meaning as the messager's perception. In this case, the dentist and the patient will be capable to send or accept mutual messages as messanger and message recipient. In conclusion, in the dental and oral medical care on the procedure point of view, the similar perception determines very much the successfulness of the wholedental and oral health care process toward diagnosis, determination therapy plan, treatment and post treatment process.


Criminial investigation procedure of our country carries the characteristics of authoritarianism,even super-authoritarianism, which needs reforming and improving. From the view of contents and nature, this proposes that investigation procedure is both administrative and judicial. After reflecting the current situation of investigation procedure in its nature,this paper puts forward that the main disadvantage of Chinese criminial investigation procedure lies in the lack of judiciality,in particular,the serious lack of the rule of law. The author of this paper thinks that construction of investigation legalization should be strengthened; "investigation without law" and the investigation right of procuratorial organ should be established. Meanwhile,it is necessary to strengthen the supervision right of procuratorial organ. Criminial investigation and custody should be departed from each other. These methods would improve our country's criminial investigation procedure and make it legal and resonable.


The present paper compares the bias and scatter of the Weibull shape parameter as estimated with the Maximum Likelihood method (ML) and four Linear Regression techniques (LR). For small data sets the bias and scatter can be very significant. It is found that ML and weighted LR give similar results. LR requires to select a plotting position. The effect of the plotting position is shown. Two changes may be used for the revised IEEE guide: plots with expected plotting positions and re-evaluation of ML and LR.


Background There is wide international variation regarding food allergy knowledge among restaurant staff. Further, attitudes towards food allergy remain under-researched. Insights into the independent determinants of knowledge and attitudes are limited due to lacking mutual statistical adjustment for determinants/confounders in the vast majority of prior studies. In this study we aimed to contribute novel data on the food allergy knowledge and attitudes among restaurant staff in Germany whilst also examining potential determinants of both outcomes using multivariable approaches. Methods We collected data face-to-face from 295 staff members in restaurants in Düsseldorf, Germany. Knowledge was assessed by asking participants to name three common food allergens and to answer five true/false-statements. Seven items assessed attitudes. A total of 16 potential determinants were examined using logistic regression models with backward selection. Results Only 30% (n = 89) of the respondents correctly named three food allergens and 41% (n = 120) attained a perfect score on the true/false statements. The vast majority expressed positive attitudes toward the need for cooperation and shared responsibilities for food-allergic customers. However, the expressed attitudes towards serving customers with food allergies and validity of customer-reported food allergies were unfavorable. Determinants of food allergy knowledge (e.g. the type of restaurant, professional roles, or levels of school education) and of unfavorable attitudes (e.g. gender) were identified. Conclusions Food allergy knowledge was suboptimal among restaurant staff and attitudes towards customers were rather poor. While we identified some determinants, additional studies are needed to systematically examine potential determinants for targetting educational interventions in the future.


Introduction: ERM is a cellular proliferation on the inner retinal surface and possesses contractile properties which leads to variable visual symptoms.
Method: Thirty-four patients affected with epiretinal membrane were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent standard three port pars plana vitrectomy using standard 23-gauge instruments. Both ERM and ILM peels were performed in a circumferential pattern around the fovea. Patients were followed for 6 months. The visual outcome measures included postoperative logMAR visual acuity. The anatomical outcome was measured as decrease in foveal thickness on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Perioperative factors including duration of symptoms, preoperative visual acuity, etiology, membrane type and leakage on fundus fluorescein angiogram were correlated with the final visual outcomes.
Results: The mean age of the patients in this study was 60.25  17.5 years with a range of 16 to 80 years. 19 patients (56%) were males. 33 patients had a unilateral ERM and 1 patient had an ERM in both eyes. Diminution of vision was the most common symptom in 34 patients, distortion of vision (metamorphopsia) was seen in 20 (58.8%) patients. The mean pre-operative log MAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.4±0.77 and the mean post-operative log MAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.9 ±0.63. Out of 34 patients in our study, 31 (91.2%) had improvement in VA, and the remaining 3 (8.82%) patients had no improvement and none of the patients had decreased vision. 16 patients had ≥2 lines of improvement in visual acuity. 15 patients had less than 2 lines of improvement.
Conclusion: ERMs pose a significant risk to compromise the vision and affect varied age groups. ERM removal through standard three port pars plana vitrectomy offers an effective and safe procedure with better post operative visual outcomes.


A simple binary synthetic approach with variable [HCOOH]/[Th(IV)] ratios and the addition of water resulted in the self-assembly of six novel thorium formate complexes with well-controlled structures ranging from 0D clusters and 2D layered networks to 3D frameworks. Specifically, small [HCOOH]/[Th(IV)] promoted the formation of the hexanuclear Th6O4(OH)4(HCOO)12 core, a secondary building unit for the construction of 3D [Th6Na(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4(HCOO)14]·[NH2(CH3)2]·(DMF)3(H2O)5 (Th-SINAP-1), 2D [Th6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4(HCOO)12(DMF)2]·(H2O)10 (Th-SINAP-2), and 0D [Th6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4(HCOO)12(H2O)6]·G (Th-SINAP-3). The large [HCOOH]/[Th(IV)] inhibited the olation/oxolation reaction, affording 3D frameworks of [Th2(HCOO)9]·[NH2(CH3)2]·(DMF)(H2O)2 (Th-SINAP-4), [Th2(HCOO)9]·[NH2(CH3)2]·(DMF)(H2O)4 (Th-SINAP-5), and [Th2(HCOO)8(H2O)(DMF)]·(H2O)3 (Th-SINAP-6) with monomeric Th(IV) cations as the metal nodes. The addition of water not only affected the hydrolysis of Th(IV) to form nucleophilic hydroxo/oxo-aquo Th species, but also influenced the overall solid-state packing via the competition between H2O, HCOO−, OH−/O2−, and DMF for coordination with Th4+ cations. This unexpected structural complexity of thorium formates opens a new avenue for the targeted design and synthesis of atypical coordination polymers, e.g. open-framework materials of actinides, for applications in diverse fields such as radionuclide adsorption.


Change Across Cultures: A Narrative Approach to Social Transformation By Bruce Bradshaw Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2002, 264 pp., paper, $24.99 Reviewed by Darrell Whiteman Bruce Bradshaw, currently Assistant Professor of Economics and Business at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas, draws on his many years as director of transformation development research and training for World Vision International, to give us a helpful book on the whole gospel and holistic ministry and the implementation and consequences of change across cultures. Working with the phrase "managing change across cultures," Bradshaw argues, convincingly, that the goal of mission is to introduce into every culture the story of God's redemptive relationship with creation. He believes that when people understand and experience this redemptive story, their own community narrative will be transformed. He argues for the narrative approach to introducing change because cultures change when values change, and since "values are transmitted through stories, the values won't change unless the stories change" (9). Bradshaw begins by demonstrating the value of a narrative approach for understanding the ethical dimensions of culture change. He then practices what he preaches by beginning each chapter with an illuminating story illustrating various aspects of culture change and holistic mission. Recognizing that culture change and development must be holistic to be lasting, he gives a chapter each to the following areas that must be the focus of community transformation: Scripture, culture, environment, religious practices, the powers, gender equality, economics, science and religion, reconciliation, and, finally, community. He shows how each of these areas can be changed when seen from the perspective of God's redemptive relationship with creation. The book will be useful to anyone in crosscultural ministry but especially to those in community development work. The bibliography is a gold mine of resources, but the index could have been more thoroughly developed. Some readers may flinch at some of Bradshaw's nontraditional interpretations of familiar Bible passages, but this book moves us further along in our practice of holistic mission, and for that I heartily recommend it.


Waste heat recovery (WHR) is expected to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions from trucks. Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems show the highest potential for this application, but still lack efficient small-scale expansion devices, in practice. A novel turbogenerator (TG) supported on gas-lubricated bearings is presented in this paper. The device combines a single-stage radial-inflow turbine and a permanent-magnet machine in a single rotating part supported on aerodynamic bearings, lubricated with the working fluid (R245fa). The oil-free expander was tested within a dedicated ORC test setup. It was driven up to its nominal speed of 100 krpm, generated up to 2.3 kW of electrical power, and reached a peak overall efficiency of 67%. Although the prototype was not actively cooled, the mechanical losses of the rotor shaft and the iron loss of the electrical machine reached their nominal levels. Only the copper loss was at a part-load level. The electromechanical efficiency of the TG reached 91% and is expected to increase while testing the device at higher load. This proof of concept confirms the high-speed and low-loss potential of gas-lubricated bearings for small-scale dynamic expanders.


In this paper, we review the literature and present some new data to examine the occurrence and photophysics of the diverse hypericin‐like chromophores in heterotrichs, the photoresponses of the cells, the various roles of the pigments and the taxa that might be studied to advance our understanding of these pigments. Hypericin‐like chromophores are known chemically and spectrally so far only from the stentorids and Fabrea, the latter now seen to be sister to stentorids in the phylogenetic tree. For three hypericin‐like pigments, the structures are known but these probably do not account for all the colors seen in stentorids. At least eight physiological groups of Stentor exist depending on pigment color and presence/absence of zoochlorellae, and some species can be bleached, leading to many opportunities for comparison of pigment chemistry and cell behavior. Several different responses to light are exhibited among heterotrichs, sometimes by the same cell; in particular, cells with algal symbionts are photophilic in contrast to the well‐studied sciaphilous (shade‐loving) species. Hypericin‐like pigments are involved in some well‐known photophobic reactions but other pigments (rhodopsin and flavins) are also involved in photoresponses in heterotrichs and other protists. The best characterized role of hypericin‐like pigments in heterotrichs is in photoresponses and they have at least twice evolved a role as photoreceptors. However, hypericin and hypericin‐like pigments in diverse organisms more commonly serve as predator defense and the pigments are multifunctional in heterotrichs. A direct role for the pigments in UV protection is possible but evidence is equivocal. New observations are presented on a folliculinid from deep water, including physical characterization of its hypericin‐like pigment and its phylogenetic position based on SSU rRNA sequences. The photophysics of hypericin and hypericin‐like pigments is reviewed. Particular attention is given to how their excited‐state properties are modified by the environment. Dramatic changes in excited‐state behavior are observed as hypericin is moved from the homogeneous environment of organic solvents to the much more structured surroundings provided by the complexes it forms with proteins. Among these complexes, it is useful to consider the differences between environments where hypericin is not found naturally and those where it is, notably, for example, in heterotrichs. It is clear that interaction with a protein modifies the photophysics of hypericin and understanding the molecular basis of this interaction is one of the outstanding problems in elucidating the function of hypericin and hypericin‐like chromophores.


1. Control of body volume has been studied in closely related freshwater and saltwater mosquito larvae ( Aedes aegypti and A. detritus ).

2. In A. aegypti osmotic inflow of water is equal to the rate of extrusion in urine and is less than the rate of production of Malpighian tubule fluid. Some of this fluid conveyed to the rectum by intestinal peristalsis dependent on adequate hydrostatic pressure in the pyloric chamber, the rest is conveyed to the midgut by retroperistalses and is resorbed into the haemolymph.

3. Retroperistalses are normally partly inhibited by nervous control probably involving the stomatogastric system and stretch receptors in the body wall. When inhibition is stopped (by interruption of the anterior part of the nerve cord) pressure in the pyloric chamber stays low, intestinal peristalses and hence urine production are curtailed, and the larvae swell.

4. In A. detritus urine production is apparently independent of the slow osmosis and is balanced normally by drinking. Larvae with the mouth sealed shrink in consequence of urine output. Toleration of shrinkage is probably advantageous when the larvae are in concentrated brine.


When is a person with a cold contagious? A couple of friends, who are put off when I keep my distance from their sneezing and coughing, insist one is only contagious a week or so before symptoms appear. In the back of my memory is the idea that one remains contagious until a few days *after* primary symptoms disappear. I'm not usually so concerned about this, but I'm coping with a couple of other annoying health problems and want to try to avoid adding a cold or flu, to boot. I do the usual things news shows recommend ? eat well, wash hands frequently. But when should one avoid others who have colds, or when should one stay isolated at home when one has a cold (or flu)?


Upon oxidation at a platinum electrode, (7,12-diphenyl)benzo[k]fluoranthene (1) undergoes intermolecular dehydrogenative coupling to form bis-4,4'-(7,12-diphenyl)benzo[k]fluoranthene (2). Further oxidation of this product results in a much slower intramolecular coupling reaction that yields dibenzo{[f,f']-4,4',7,7'-tetraphenyl}diindeno[1,2,3-cd:1',2',3'-lm]perylene (3). 2 can be synthesized via bulk electrolysis of 1 and also by the chemical coupling of 4-bromo-7,12-diphenylbenzo[k]fluoranthene (4) with a nickel catalyst. Compounds 1-3 are capable of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL), and their coupling reactions have been detected and followed using this technique. Cyclic voltammograms of 1 have been digitally simulated to provide mechanistic and kinetic insight into the initial intermolecular oxidative coupling reaction. Evidence supports an EC(2)()EE mechanism, in which the coupling of radical cations of 1 is the rate-limiting step. A second-order rate constant of k = 7500 M(-)(1) s(-)(1) has been determined for the dimerization process by fitting experimental data to theoretical working curves.


Purpose: New techniques are needed to speed-up the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of bacteria associated with bloodstream infections. Alfred 60/AST (Alifax®, Polverara, Italy) performs AST by light scattering directly from positive blood cultures. Methods: We evaluated Alfred 60/AST performances for 4 months. Each new episode of bacteraemia was included and AST were compared to either our rapid automated AST (Vitek® 2) or disk diffusion method. The discrepancies were investigated using Etest®. The time-to-result (TTR) was evaluated by comparing the blood volume inserted into Alfred 60/AST, i.e. 2 versus 7 blood drops. Taking into account the TTR, the workflow of positive blood cultures and the availability of AST results was studied in order to optimize the implementation of Alfred 60/AST. Results: A total of 249 samples and 1108 antibiotics for AST were tested. After exclusion of unavailable results, 1008 antibiotics were analysed. 94.9% ( n = 957/1008) of the antibiotics showed categorical agreement. There were 14 very major errors (VME), 24 major errors (ME) and 13 minor errors (mE). The VME were mostly related to clindamycin (64.3%) whereas meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam constituted the major part (37.5% and 61.5%) of ME and mE respectively. Results were highly reliable for Enterobacterales and enterococci. The mean TTR ranged between 4.3 and 6.3 h and was statistically 20 min faster when applying the 7 blood drops protocol. We showed that Alfred 60/AST could give relievable results within working hours for positive blood culture which are flagged the same day between 12:00 am and 12:00 pm. Conclusion: Our study confirmed that Alfred 60/AST gives reliable AST results in a short period of time, especially for Enterobacterales and enterococci. AST could thus be easily obtained the same day of a positive blood culture. Clinical impact studies are mandatory to validate a 24/24 working.


MIMO detector is the key component of modems used in multi-carrier wireless devices for LTE-A and 5G networks. The complexity of the detector is usually higher than for most other parts of the system. Therefore, it is considered as the most critical modem part. Maximum Likelihood (ML) detector is known to give the optimal solution, but at the expense of exponential complexity. Thus, it is mostly used only as a reference algorithm but not as an implementable component. The main target of this MIMO detector study is to find an optimal tradeoff between performance and complexity. Analytical derivations defining a new efficient MIMO detection scheme named MMSE-K Best are presented in the paper. Proposed detector design demonstrates performance approaching ML while its complexity remains close to relatively simple linear detectors, such as Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE).


INTRODUCTION
As of 1.1.2013, out of 24,811 persons awarded the status of Righteous Among the Nations, 245 (1%) were physicians and 31 were medical students. They were active in helping and saving Jews in various ways: surgery for hiding signs of Jewish identity, hospitalizations, smuggling medical supplies into the ghettos, providing false documents, hiding people and active fighting. We must remember them and pay them homage. We are equally obligated to the Jewish physicians, who saved the lives of other Jews during the Holocaust, at the risk of their own lives.


Activation of T helper cells is a prerequisite for the function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and the maturation of the B cell response. Because epitopes recognized by each of these cells may overlap, we scanned the E2 protein of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 to identify the T helper cell epitopes. Four major T helper cell epitopes (mapping between aa:s 11-25, 141-155, 191-205 & 231-245) and adjacent human B cell epitopes were found. The first peptide-defined epitope (RLNV) 11CQDKILTHYENDSTD25 overlapped five putative HLA-I (A1, A2, A0205, A3 & A11) binding motifs (CQDKILTHY, RLNVCQDKI, NVCQDKIL, RLNVCQDK & RLNVCQDK). This epitope is also part of an N-terminal alpha-helix which may form four HLA-II (DR2, DR4, DR7 & DR8) specific agretopes for structures recognizable by the T cell receptor (e.g. KILT). The second epitope 141EEASVTVVEGOVDYY155 (GLYY) overlapped the putative HLA-A1 & HLA-Bw37 binding motifs (VVEGQVDYY/QVDYYGLYY and EEASVTVV), and two HLA-II (DR1 & DR3) specific agretopes. The third and fourth epitopes were not associated with more than one putative CTL epitope each. Only the first epitope shared considerable aa-homology with corresponding regions of other genital HPV types.


The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of patients with healthcare associated infections, the topographic location of those infections in the heart surgery postoperative period, and identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of those infections. This retrospective study was performed with 460 heart surgery patients of a teaching hospital in Minas Gerais state. The data were collected from the hospital infection report forms and patients' records. The incidence of patients with healthcare associated infections was 24.3% and respiratory tract infection had the highest rates (20.6%). Intubation time, permanence time of central venous catheter and indwelling urinary catheter were independent predictors. The findings point at the need to implement protocols for the care and maintenance of these invasive devices with the purpose of preventing and controlling healthcare associated infection in heart surgery. Descriptors: Cross Infection; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Perioperative Nursing.


KM 60301 FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT 3 Credit Hours (Slashed with KM 80301) This course covers an introduction to: historical roots for knowledge and knowledge management; theories/definitions of knowledge; theories, applications tools and practices of KM; Knowledge Management Life-Cycle Framework and Models; significant issues in KM-best practices, culture, economics, strategy, intellectual capital, sustainable innovation. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Schedule Type: Lecture Contact Hours: 3 lecture Grade Mode: Standard Letter


OBJECTIVE
The authors evaluated the histological effects of the 2-μm thulium laser on meningioma tissue, comparing them to the results obtained using bipolar forceps and an ultrasonic aspirator.

METHODS
The authors analyzed nine samples of intracranial meningiomas. Four slices were obtained for every sample, and one incision was performed on each slice. Two incisions were made with a 2-μm thulium laser (one set to a 6 W and another set to a 12 W power level). One incision was made using a bipolar forceps and the other using an ultrasonic aspirator. Tissue was addressed and analyzed. Upon microscope analysis, three zones of laser action were identified: (A) a central crater; (B) a vaporized zone; and (C) a shrunken layer. These three layers were measured and compared.

RESULTS
When addressed with the laser, all nine meningiomas presented a crater having an average depth of 1 mm. Three layers were clearly distinguished and measured: A (average depth: 0.8 mm at 6 W and 1.24 mm at 12 W); B (average depth: 0.32 mm at 6 W and 0.72 mm at 12 W); and C (average depth: 0.39 mm at 6 W and 0.44 mm at 12 W). On slices treated with bipolar forceps incisions, only zones B and C were identified. Ultrasonic aspirator incisions showed a deeper A zone (average depth: 2.93 mm), no B zone, and a tiny C zone (average depth: 0.16 mm).

CONCLUSIONS
Thulium laser can be safely used for the surgical removal of intracranial meningiomas; beyond 2 mm under the surface of action, no tissue alterations were found. The lesions produced on meningiomas were characterized by vaporization and shrinking. When compared with bipolar forceps, the thulium laser offers cutting precision and vaporization of the tissue. When compared to the cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA), the laser offers shrinking and coagulation of small vessels.


This article traces the beginnings of critical Qur'anic Studies to the nineteenth-century scholars of the so-called Science of Judaism school (Wissenschaft des Judentums). Until the 1930s, when the rise of the Nazis violently suppressed Jewish scholarly activities in Germany and elsewhere, generations of scholars such as Abraham Geiger, who is better known as an early leader of the Jewish Reform Movement, dedicated their lives to the study of the Qur'an and established a new discipline: Qur'anic Studies. These scholars, in many ways pioneers in their fields, authored a series of significant studies that contextualized the foundational documents of Islam with Rabbinic literature and were the first to undertake an unbiased study of early Islamic writings.


Magnetotransport measurements have been performed on Fibonacci lateral superlattices (FLSLs) -- two-dimensional electron gases subjected to a weak potential modulation arranged in the Fibonacci sequence, LSLLSLS..., with L/S=tau (the golden ratio). Complicated commensurability oscillation (CO) is observed, which can be accounted for as a superposition of a series of COs each arising from a sinusoidal modulation representing the characteristic length scale of one of the self-similar generations in the Fibonacci sequence. Individual CO components can be separated out from the magnetoresistance trace by performing a numerical Fourier band-pass filter. From the analysis of the amplitude of a single-component CO thus extracted, the magnitude of the corresponding Fourier component in the potential modulation can be evaluated. By examining all the Fourier contents observed in the magnetoresistance trace, the profile of the modulated potential seen by the electrons can be reconstructed with some remaining ambiguity about the interrelation of the phase between different components.


The contamination of groundwater by sediment-derived arsenic threatens the health of millions of people worldwide and a large number of drinking water treatment units have been employed to prevent this toxicity. This study aims at evaluating the influence of organic matter on groundwater arsenic treatment practice and proposing the modifications related to this issue. The arsenic removal efficiency was found to be decreased even in the presence of a low concentration of organic matter, 5 mg/L as TOC (total organic carbon), and gradually deteriorated with higher concentrations. Nevertheless, a high concentration of bioleached arsenic, above 130 μg/L, was noticed in the inoperative condition of the treatment unit. A simple modification in the treatment process, using an additional iron-matrix layer, substantially increased, 12% more, the arsenic removal efficiency even in the presence of high concentration of organic matter. Strategies were proposed to combat the bioleaching of arsenic in the treatment process. This study revealed that organic matter would significantly impede the arsenic removal process for drinking water and hence safe remediation strategies were imperative.


At a time when the question of the management of capital flows and the usefulness of controls is once again on the agenda, this article revisits the key drivers of capital account policy since 1970. The structural push towards liberalisation in the 1980's and 90's and the different timing across countries cannot be solely explained by a clear-cut scientific consensus on the benefits of free capital movements, nor by structural transformations in the global financial system. This article points notably to the crucial role of multilateral frameworks on capital flow management such as those of the EU, the OECD and the IMF in influencing countries' courses. It also emphasizes the cyclicality of debates about the costs and benefits of liberalisation over time and argues that a long-run historical perspective provides a useful critical background to on-going debates. Classification JEL : F20, F21, F30, F32.


Sri Lanka is known for different kind of iron-ore deposits in the Precambrian basement. Among them, hydrated iron ores are predominant in the south-west region. This study describes geochemistry, weathering, alteration and provenance of hydrated iron-ore deposit and examine different chemical processes associated iron-ore generation. Field surveys were carried out at forty four (44) localities around Dela and X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) was used to obtain concentrations of forty (40) major and trace elements from ore samples. Selected samples were also analyzed by Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectrometer (FTIR) aiming at identification of weathering and alteration effects. The average concentration of Fe2O3 in the deposit is 88 wt% indicating a high grade iron-ore. Conversely, all the other major oxides (MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, MnO, CaO and TiO2) concentrations are not significant. Based on geochemical discrimination the deposit falls in to Phanerozoic iron stones indicating igneous intrutions to the Precambrian basement. The deposit can be conceded as detritus-free when originated since minute concentrations of trace elements are reflected in the samples. Major oxides of the study show residual enrichment of Fe2O3 due to effective leaching of mobile phase. Lower abundances of immobile trace elements may reveal lack of commonly known heavy minerals within the iron bearing formation. The FTIR spectrum of the iron-ore samples clearly demarcate chemical weathering processes as imposed by the deposit such as formation of secondary minerals (limonite), silicate oxidation and phosphorous decomposition.


We would like to thank Professor Cha for reading our manuscript and for providing valuable comments on the study. In our manuscript published in volume 31, issue 2 of Endocrinology and Metabolism, we reported that resveratrol (RSV) can improve insulin resistance through a mechanism that might be associated with mitochondrial activity of brown adipocyte [1]. RSV increased the number of brown adipocytes in both standard diet (SD) and high fat (HF) diet-fed Otsuka Long Ev-ans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, which are a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, only the HF diet-fed OLETF fats presented the increased mitochondrial activity demonstrated by increased expression of uncoupling protein 1 and phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase. These results are in agreement with those of a previous study showing that RSV had various biological activities affecting the improvement of obesity and diabetes [2]. Professor Cha commented on two major findings in our manuscript. One is the discordant effect of RSV on brown adipocytes according to the classification of diet, SD or HF. RSV accelerated the mitochondrial activity of brown adi-pocyte only in HF diet-fed OLETF rats. The other was on the increased expression of estrogen receptor (ER) α in brown adi-pocytes after treatment with RSV. The fat concentration in HF chow could be a factor in the discordant effects of RSV on brown adipocytes of SD-and HF-fed OLETF rats. In this study, we used an HF diet consisting of 41% fat, which was relatively lower than those in other studies (60% to 70%). Because brown adipocytes are activated in phys-iologic conditions of over-nutrition [3], HF diet and RSV might have a synergic effect on activation of brown adipocytes in this animal model. We evaluated the expression of both ER-α and-β in brown adipocytes before and after RSV treatment. In brown adipo-cytes, ER-α was prominent, and there was minimal expression of ER-β. Furthermore, RSV treatment did not change the expression of ER-β. ER-α,-β, and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1/G protein coupled receptor 30 have important roles in regulating the stimulus-secretion system associated with E2, especially in metabolic syndrome [4]. Considering that RSV is a natural polyphenol and has phytoesterogenic effects, further studies evaluating the effect of RSV on each ER subtype in various endocrine organs will be important in investigating the effect of RSV on metabolic syndrome. I would like to again thank Professor Cha for the insightful and comprehensive review of our manuscript. This …


The mechanism of early generation stability (EGS) in rice was studied via genetic analysis. Three types of crosses were made, namely between EGS varieties, EGS and conventional rice variety, and conventional rice varieties. The genetic analysis was based on the stable lines in F2 population. The stable lines may appear from some combinations of EGS rice crossing with each other and EGS rice crossing with conventional varieties at different frequencies, but stable lines didn't appear in conventional varieties crossing with conventional varieties. Genetic analysis results indicated that the EGS phenomena should just exist in special rice materials, and the frequency of stable lines was closely related to the EGS traits of parents. The EGS traits were neither qualitative nor quantitative traits, and they were controlled by neither dominant genes nor recessive genes. The EGS traits might be inherited by F1 single plant, and the traits of F3 and F4 were corresponded to those of F2 population, i.e. F3 and F4 lines derived from non-segregating F2 showed uniform agronomic traits, and those from segregating F2 did not. The agronomic traits of EGS lines were consistent with those of F1 single plant. On the other hand, when EGS lines occurred, the segregating lines in Mendelian manner were also observed in all F2 population of the same combination. It was suggested that the reason why the stable strains occurred might be a special factor to control (open/close) gene at the beginning of cell division in zygote, resulting in closing mitosis and opening somatic reduction. The somatic reduction of zygote resulted in recombination and homozygosity forming in F1 single plant, and some lines with uniform agronomic traits were observed in some lines of F2 population.


The CO2 geological storage assessment in the Cambrian saline aquifers in west Lithuania is considerably improved by 3D seismic survey of the Gargždai Elevation and Syderiai Uplift. The CO2 storage capacity of the Syderiai site is assessed as large as 56.7 Mt (area 62 km2) owing to the high reservoir properties (average porosity 17 % and permeability 400 mD) of the Middle Cambrian saline aquifer of 50 m thick and 1458-1508 m deep. The tectonic uplift is controlled by the large-scale Telšiai strike-slip fault. The Syderiai site was initially considered as the potential UGS site. The acreage of the Gargždai Elevation, comprising six depleting oil fields, is assessed 133 km2 and the storage volume is evaluated 31.3 Mt. The main challenging parameter is a poor average porosity (7 %) and fractured type of reservoir (permeability about 10 mD) about 70 m thick and 2200 m deep. A residual oil zone (ROZ) assessment suggests are very high protentional for CO2 combination in west Lithuania which is the only prospective site known in the Baltic region of this kind.


In this paper, we consider sequential regression of individual sequences under the square-error loss. We focus on the class of switching linear predictors that can segment a given individual sequence into an arbitrary number of blocks within each of which a fixed linear regressor is applied. Using a competitive algorithm framework, we construct sequential algorithms that are competitive with the best linear regression algorithms for any segmenting of the data as well as the best partitioning of the data into any fixed number of segments, where both the segmenting of the data and the linear predictors within each segment can be tuned to the underlying individual sequence. The algorithms do not require knowledge of the data length or the number of piecewise linear segments used by the members of the competing class, yet can achieve the performance of the best member that can choose both the partitioning of the sequence as well as the best regressor within each segment. We use a transition diagram (F. M. J. Willems, 1996) to compete with an exponential number of algorithms in the class, using complexity that is linear in the data length. The regret with respect to the best member is O(ln(n)) per transition for not knowing the best transition times and O(ln(n)) for not knowing the best regressor within each segment, where n is the data length. We construct lower bounds on the performance of any sequential algorithm, demonstrating a form of min-max optimality under certain settings. We also consider the case where the members are restricted to choose the best algorithm in each segment from a finite collection of candidate algorithms. Performance on synthetic and real data are given along with a Matlab implementation of the universal switching linear predictor.


BACKGROUND
Neurinomas of the vestibulocochlear nerve unrelated to neurofibromatosis in children are extremely rare. Only 20 cases in children under the age of 16 are reported in the literature. Progressive unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and neurological deficits due to cranial nerve or brainstem compression are clinical signs.

PATIENT AND RESULTS
We report on the case of a 12-years-old girl with an unilateral hearing loss, progressing to total deafness. Otoacoustic emissions were normal. In the MRI a large cerebellopontine angle tumor was found, identified as schwannoma of the vestibulocochlear nerve.

CONCLUSIONS
The importance of MR Imaging in children with progressive unilateral hearing loss is demonstrated in this case.


This article applies the tenets of bureaucratic incorporation theory to an investigation of bureaucratic decision making in labor standards enforcement agencies (LSEAs), as they relate to undocumented workers. Drawing on 25 semistructured interviews with high-level officials in San Jose and Houston, I find that bureaucrats in both cities routinely evade the issue of immigration status during the claims-making process, and directly challenge employers' attempts to use the undocumented status of their workers to deflect liability. Respondents offer three institutionalized narratives for this approach: (1) to deter employer demand for undocumented labor, (2) the conviction that the protection of undocumented workers is essential to the agency's ability to regulate industry standards for all workers, and (3) to clearly demarcate the agency's jurisdictional boundaries to preserve institutional autonomy and scarce resources. Within this context, enforcing the rights of undocumented workers becomes simply an institutional means to an end.


Abstract This paper presents an interview study aiming to understand the state of the art of how ergonomics designers work in the vehicle development process within the Swedish automotive industry. Ten ergonomic designers from seven different companies participated in the interview study. Results report the ergonomics designers' objectives, workflow, tools, challenges, and ideal work performance tool. We identify four main gaps and research directions that can enhance the current challenges: human behavior predictions, simulation tool usability, ergonomics evaluations, and integration between systems.


Haemorrhoidal disease is one of the commonest anorectal disorders. Treatment options are dependent upon the severity of symp- toms and the extent of haemorrhoidal prolapse with up to 10% of patients requiring surgical intervention. The traditional surgical treatment for haemorrhoids is excisional haemorrhoidectomy. The Milligan Morgan technique, first described in 1937, is the most popular technique and remains the gold standard for surgical intervention. However haemorrhoidectomy is recognised as a painful procedure with a risk of significant complications and remains unpopular with the general population. Using advances in medical equipment and an understanding of the pathophysiology of haemorrhoidal disease new approaches to the surgical treatment of haemorrhoids have now been developed. Stapled haemorrhoidopexy reduces haemorrhoidal tissue prolapse by excising a ring of the prolapsed anal mucosa above the dentate line, using a specific circular stapling device. Haemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL) uses a Doppler transducer to identify haemorrhoidal arteries which can then be ligated, reducing haemorrhoidal venous plexus pressures and haemorrhoidal artery ligation with recto anal repair (HAL-RAR) combines HAL with a procedure to plicate and draw up prolapsing haemorrhoidal tissue. This article reviews the evidence for the different surgical techniques; focussing on treatment outcomes including rates of recurrent disease and post operative complications.


The populations of seahorses (genus Hippocampus ) have been impacted in different ways by humans. For this reason, measures have been implemented to mitigate the decline of populations, as their inclusion in the list of CITES, which regulates in part the trade between countries. However, other measures must be taken to ensure the conservation of these species. Aquaculture is presented as an opportunity that can bring benefits in different ways: supplying capture from natural environments, repopulating water bodies whose populations are impacted and generating awareness among the population through environmental education. From the beginning of this century, relevant information has been generated about the culture conditions of different species of seahorses, from the physico-chemical parameters of water and other physical conditions such as types and sizes of tanks, to issues related to survival, diet, growth, maturation and the reproductive process. This paper presents a collection of this information, putting some emphasis on information related to species in the Americas, without neglecting the most important research with other species.


Articulated total wrist arthroplasties have been used in the United States since 1974. In the 1980s the CFV wrist was developed in an attempt to reduce the incidence of imbalance, loosening, and bone resorption that has been seen in the early implants, and also to eliminate the use of bone cement. Since 1988, we have implanted 15 of these wrists. To date, nine patients are satisfied because of pain relief and motion; however, there have been 6 failures: 2 for infection, 3 because of a loose distal component, and 1 because of balance. Other problems that have been observed are flexor tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a balancing problem.


Progressive Depolarization Defibrillation Hypothesis Experimental studies of defibrillation have burgeoned since the introduction of the upper limit of vulnerability (ULV) hypothesis for defibrillation. Much of this progress is due to the valuable work carried out in pursuit of this hypothesis. Tbe ULV hypothesis presented a unified electrophysiologic scheme for linking the processes of defibrillation and shock‐induced fibrillation. In addition to its scientific ramifications, this work also raised the possibility of simpler and safer means for clinical defibrillation threshold testing. Recent results from an optical mapping study of defibrillation suggest, however, tbat the experimental data supporting the ULV hypothesis could instead be interpreted in a manner consistent with traditional views of defibrillation such as the critical mass hypothesis. This review will describe the evidence calling for such a reinterpretation. In one regard the ULV hypothesis superseded the critical mass hypothesis by linking the defibrillation and shock‐induced fibrillation processes. Therefore, this review also will discuss the rationale for developing a new defibrillation hypothesis. This new hypothesis, progressive depolarization, uses traditional defibrillation concepts to cover the same ground as the ULV hypothesis in mechanistically unifying defibrillation and shock‐induced fibrillation. It does so in a manner consistent with experimental data supporting the ULV hypothesis but which also takes advantage of what has been learned from optical studies of defibrillation. This review will briefly deseribe how this new hypothesis relates to other contemporary viewpoints and related experimental results.


This paper addresses the problem of representing the speech signal using a set of features that are approximately statistically independent. This statistical independence simplifies building probabilistic models based on these features that can be used in applications like speech recognition. Since there is no evidence that the speech signal is a linear combination of separate factors or sources, we use a more general nonlinear transformation of the speech signal to achieve our approximately statistically independent feature set. We choose the transformation to be symplectic to maximize the likelihood of the generated feature set. In this paper, we describe applying this nonlinear transformation to the speech time-domain data directly and to the Mel-frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCC). We discuss also experiments in which the generated feature set is transformed into a more compact set using a maximum mutual information linear transformation. This linear transformation is used to generate the acoustic features that represent the distinctions among the phonemes. The features resulted from this transformation are used in phoneme recognition experiments. The best results achieved show about 2% improvement in recognition accuracy compared to results based on MFCC features.


Considered in tandem, The Bloomsbury Companion to Dance Studies, edited by Sherril Dodds, and Futures of Dance Studies, edited by Susan Manning, Janice Ross, and Rebecca Schneider, comprise just over a thousand pages. Read together, the two volumes remind one of the Roman deity Janus: The Bloomsbury Companion casts its gaze backward to take stock of the field of dance studies as it currently stands in sixteen chapters written by some of the most well-respected names in the field. Futures, on the other hand, looks ahead to offer an audacious prognosis, with twenty-eight essays written by a cohort of postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have already established themselves not just as emergent scholars but as leaders within the field of dance studies. Edited anthologies such as these have become a mainstay of academic publishing in dance. It is unsurprising, therefore, that both volumes are impeccably researched, insightful, and timely. They offer fresh perspectives on well-worn subjects, introducing readers to entirely new sites and modes of conducting dance research, while eschewing geographical and chronological constraints. Their pairing, however, also amplifies the challenges of curating—never a neutral endeavor—and archives the need for further critical analysis and, more importantly, change. Within the larger ecosystem of academic publishing, edited anthologies such as these ensure the privileging and circulation of certain ideas and of certain curatorial agendas, and facilitate the possibility of their reification and eventual canonization. As such, any twenty-first-century anthology of dance studies must be evaluated not only for the rigor of its scholarship or for its turn of phrase, but for its engagement with anti-racist epistemologies and the related work of decolonization. In a field as disparate, decentralized, and even at times disembodied as dance studies, any work that aims to give "an absolute account of the field" (xiii) as The Bloomsbury Companion to Dance Studies editor Sherril Dodds writes, "presents an impossible task" (1). Yet Dodds, with her self-deprecating humor and scholarly commitment to popular dance, seems to be one of the few people who could have pulled it off in a way that offers, as she writes in her acknowledgments, an illustration—in a single volume— of "dance as a subject of intellectual enquiry" (xiii–xiv) and as it stands during a specific point in time. Dance studies, as it exists within the United States, has historically centered scholarship produced in the United States to the exclusion of scholarship and perspectives from elsewhere. Dodds, who trained in the UK but now works in the United States, succeeds in redressing this imbalance, at least insofar as the Englishspeaking world is concerned. Contributions from UK-based scholars such as Sarah Whatley (writing on "Digital Dance") and Anna Pakes ("Dance and Philosophy") take their rightful place among American scholars such as Mark Franko ("New Directions") and Susan Manning ("Dance History"). The book is organized into chapters that investigate a "substantial body of research that has emerged as a distinctive area of enquiry in the field," such as "Dance and Politics," "Practice-asResearch," "Dance Ethnography," and "Screendance," among other "ideas and interests" (xiii) that characterize the field in the early twenty-first century. They each offer an overview of key developments or themes within a subfield of dance studies, generally followed by


This study investigates the conditions under which delayed parenthood emerges. We combined micro and macro-data to explore the timing of parenthood for women who entered adulthood during the 1990s and 2000s over a wide range of 19 post-socialist countries. Postponement was associated with higher educational attainment, but the educational composition of the population accounted for little variation in the average timing of parenthood among countries. Postponement was also associated with a more positive economic environment and accounting for the economic context absorbed over half of the variation among countries. The strength of the economy's influence varied across educational levels, but a poorer economic context was consistently linked to earlier parenthood across all educational levels. We interpret this finding as evidence that postponement does not become widespread when there is little reason to expect improved financial circumstances. The postponing influence of economic performance also appeared to wane when women entered their late 20s and early 30s, which may be evidence of age norms or deadlines.


In a recent paper, we introduced the Reves volume modeling algorithm [Wrenninge 2016]. Pixar's latest animation film, The Good Dinosaur, was the first production to use the system, and this submission aims to show the tool in practical use. Although Reves is designed to produce temporal volumes, it is a flexible and powerful volume modeling tool for static volumes as well. Two key aspects of Reves are its use of an intermediate rasterization representation (microvoxels), and is its scalability. The microvoxel representation means that a wide variety of input primitives can be handled, with efficient SIMD execution of shaders. The scalability provides consistent behavior to the user: at low resolutions feedback is fast and small primitives antialias consistently, and at high resolutions memory use is well controlled. This, together with robust shader and coverage antialising, means that the system can be relied on to produce consistent results at any given output resolution. For the user, it means fast interactive feedback that closely matches final quality.


are quite helpful, although a clearer explanation of the role of a chancellery in a European government might have helped Americans better understand Nabokov's position. One can always quarrel with translations, but this one seems quite good and readable. (Who can argue" with a translation corrected by the author's own son when that son was the famous author and English stylist, Vladimir V. Nabokov?) The Nol'de article is not as well done, and the first paragraph contains that nightmare of translators, the negative which did not get translated.


An ever‐increasing number of companies are recognising the reputational risks and opportunities that corporate responsibility brings, and for these companies aligning corporate behaviour with stakeholder expectations is an ongoing business priority. Communication, however, often remains the missing link in the practice of corporate responsibility. The information requirements of a range of opinion leader and mass stakeholder audiences are not currently being satisfied by many companies, so they are not getting full credit for their responsible corporate behaviour. Of course, there are specific challenges in communicating corporate responsibility – including scepticism towards company messages and potentially hostile reactions from the media, campaign groups and others. The diverse information requirements of different stakeholder groups also present special communication challenges, and these requirements are examined in turn. Using MORI's British opinion research to illustrate the case, this paper first examines communication to opinion leader audiences (such as legislators, business press, investors and non‐governmental organisations), and in particular the opportunities and limitations of the social report. It then goes on to address communication of corporate responsibility to the general public and the need to trigger wider consumer engagement in this topic. Lastly, it covers the communication opportunity presented by companies' own employees and the internal communication challenges surrounding corporate responsibility. The paper suggests, in conclusion, that effective communication of corporate responsibility depends on a clear strategy which evaluates both the opportunities and the risks to the brand, and which tailors messages to different stakeholder groups. It calls for a coordinated approach, which ideally embeds corporate responsibility messages into mainstream communications. The paper also identifies internal communication as an under‐utilised and potentially powerful channel for enhancing a company's reputation for responsibility among its key stakeholders.


This paper focuses on lot release control and scheduling problems in a semiconductor wafer fab producing multiple products that have different due dates and different process flows. For lot release control, it is necessary to determine the type of a wafer lot and the time to release wafers into the wafer fab, while it is necessary to determine sequences of processing waiting lots in front of workstations for lot scheduling. New dispatching rules are developed for lot release control and scheduling considering special features of the wafer fabrication process. Simulation experiments are carried out to test the dispatching rules. Results show that lot release control and lot scheduling at photolithography workstations are more important than scheduling at other workstations. Also, it is shown that new dispatching rules work better in terms of tardiness of orders than existing rules such as the EDD (earliest due date) rule and other well-known dispatching rules for multimachine scheduling.


Vinase anaerobic treatment is a one alternative process to treating vinasse. Microaeration is a one of process modification in anaerobic vinasse digestion that can improve the acidogenic performance. In this paper presents the influence microaeration in anaerobic vinasse treatment in kinetics aspect. The kinetics aspect was develop to approach and quantifying the effect of microaeration in anaerobic vinasse treatment systematically. Extract of cow dung was used as inoculums and vinasse 100 ppm as a substrate. Laboratory experiments using 4L vertical reactor (UASB) was conducted in 28 days and performed in batch recirculation mode. During the experiment, dosing air in different concentrations was injected in the slurry phase into different anaerobic digesters once a day. The variation of air concentrations are 0 L air/L feed; 0.5 L air/L feed; and 100 L air/L feed. As the result, the addition of 0.5 Lair/L feed could increase biodegradability (k=-5.7239) and accelerate acidogenesis phase (μm1=2.03/day) that can be proven by the percentage of VS removal reaching up to 77% and cuts the lag phase (λ=1.028 days) and HRT making it shorter.


This article briefly summarizes historical developments in fundamental research related to the structure and biosynthesis of cellulose. Major advances concerning the structure of cellulose include the discovery of a new suballomorph of cellulose I, the lattice imaging of glucan chains showing no fringe micelle structure, parallel chain orientation in cellulose I, and the discovery of nematic ordered cellulose. Major advances in biosynthesis include the discovery of the terminal synthesizing complex, the isolation and purification of cellulose synthase, the in vitro synthesis of cellulose I, and synthetic cellulose assembly. This article focuses on recent advances in molecular biology with cellulose, including the cloning and sequencing of cellulose synthase genes from bacteria, cyanobacteria, and vascular plants; proof of the terminal synthesizing complex as the site of the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase; cellulose and callose synthase expression during growth and development; and phylogenetic aspects of cellulose synthase evolution. This article concludes with thoughts about future uses for the accumulating genetic information on cellulose biosynthesis for textiles and forest products and discusses possibilities of new global resources for cellulose production. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 487–495, 2004


An exact solution of the problem of two two-level atoms with degenerate twophoton transitions interacting with one-mode coherent radiation fleld is presented. Asymptotic solutions for system state vectors are obtained in the approximation of large initial coherent flelds. The atom-fleld entanglement is investigated on the basis of the reduced atomic entropy dynamics. The possibility of the system being initially in a pure disentangled state to revive into this state during the evolution process for model considered is shown. Conditions and times of disentanglement are derived.


Abstract In this article, the authors review and analyse two key processes conducted by the Chilean state over the past 50 years. The first process consists of the development of specific planning instruments for the particular realities of metropolitan areas. The second process consists of the successive legislative attempts to work towards a definition of a new form of institutionality for cities with metropolitan profiles. These attempts have either failed or solely become bills of law. Both processes suggest a political and technical resistance throughout history, to substantially modify institutionality, as well as planning instruments, in order to make them more appropriate and consistent with the needs of growing metropolitan areas in Chile.


Query processing of high dimensional data with huge volume of records, especially in non-spatial domain require efficient multidimensional index. The present versions of DBMSs follow a single dimension indexing at multiple levels or indexing based on the formation of compound keys which is concatenation of the key values of the required attributes. The underlying structures, data models and query languages are not sufficient for the retrieval of information based on more complex data in terms of dimensions and size. This paper aims at designing an efficient indexing structure for multidimensional data access in non-spatial domain. This new indexing structure is evolved from R-tree with certain preprocessing steps to be applied on non-spatial data. The proposed indexing model, NSB-Tree (Non-Spatial Block tree) is balanced and has better performance than traditional B-trees and has less complicated algorithms as compared to UB tree. It has linear space complexity and logarithmic time complexity. The main drive of NSB tree is multidimensional indexing eliminating the need for multiple secondary indexes and concatenation of multiple keys. We cannot index non-spatial data using R-tree in the available DBMSs. Our index structure replaces an arbitrary number of secondary indexes for multicolumn index structure. This is implemented and feasibility check is done using the PostgreSQL database.


The high-spin states in Bi-197 have been studied with the The high-spin states in Bi-197 have been studied with the


The availability of bacteria that are able to interact with electrodes presents opportunities for conversion of organic compounds into electricity. While the obvious application of this phenomenon involves power generation, it also implies new routes to biological sensing and control of oxidative or reductive biocatalytic reactions. A combination of the standard fuel cell and poised-electrode approaches is the use of potentiostats to perform analyses such as cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy on mature microbial biofilms, which can demonstrate the presence of redox-active proteins or mediator pools on or near electrodes. While devices used for the study of electrode-reducing bacteria are typically custom-constructed to meet the needs of the experiment or organism being studied and procedures are continually evolving to obtain higher current densities or allow voltammetry measurements, some sample experimental protocols that illustrate issues of sterility and anaerobic technique are provided in this chapter. By combining microbial physiology with an understanding of electrical and chemical engineering, an equally rich spectrum of devices that are able to study and control the growth of electrode-reducing bacteria can be imagined and should be explored.


Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) from fibrils embedded in a fixed, thin section of tissue includes contributions from the fibrils; the polymeric matrix surrounding the fibrils; other constituents of the tissue; and cross-terms due to the spatial correlation between fibrils and neighbouring molecules. This complex mixture severely limits the amount of information that can be extracted from scattering studies. However, availability of micro- and nano-beams has made possible measurement of scattering from very small volumes which, in some cases, may be dominated by a single fibrillar constituent. In those cases, information about the predominant species may be accessible. Nevertheless, even in these cases, the correlations between the positions of fibrils and other constituents have significant impact on the observed scattering. Here, we propose strategies to extract partial information about fibril structure and tissue organization on the basis of SAXS from samples of this type. We show that the spatial correlation function of the fibril in the direction perpendicular to the fibril axis can be computed and contains information about the predominant fibril structure and the organization of the surrounding tissue matrix. It has significant advantages over approaches based on techniques developed for x-ray solution scattering. We present examples of the calculation of correlation in different types of samples to demonstrate the kinds of information that can be obtained from these measurements. Synopsis The availability of micro- and nano- x-ray beams is making possible measurement of scattering from very small volumes, opening possibilities for deriving in situ structural information on fibrillar constituents in complex materials and tissues. This work outlines a set of strategies for confronting the formidable technical obstacles to extracting useful structural information from scattering derived from these materials.


This paper demonstrates that EU-27 meat exports underwent structural changes following the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States (2003) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in the European Union (2006). The two diseases caused short-term (11-month) drops in beef meat and poultry demand but increased export demand for pork meat, beef offal, pork offal, and other meat. These results—except for a decline in U.S. beef offal exports—are similar to those found by modeling U.S. meat export demand after the BSE incident of December 23, 2003. By 2012, U.S. beef meat exports had recovered and exceeded their pre-BSE levels, but EU beef meat exports were still 31 percent lower than in 2003.


As investments in power additions are under scrutiny, the viability and sustainability of generation projects are increasingly challenged by planners, and the debate about the most appropriate primary energy and prime mover is renewed with a sharper focus. Faced with limited forecasts on future growth, today's power generators are looking cautiously at power addition blueprints and placing increased emphasis on equipment versatility and fuel flexibility in a move to eliminate single fuel reliance. Heavy duty gas turbines (HDGTs) can mitigate the uncertainty about operation factor and plant capacity thanks to versatile and modular installation schemes; in addition, they open the door to large clusters of alternative primary energies. In this context, it is important to note that liquid fuels are making a comeback in the power generation scene. This is due to the tactical advantages inherent to liquid fuels such as multiple sourcing, ease of transportation, and existing infrastructures. Liquid fuels as primary energies cover a wide product range from Super Light Hydrocarbons (naphtha, gas condensates and natural gas liquids) to ash forming fuels through aromatic cuts (BTEX, C9+), heavy distillates, synfuels, gasification derivatives (methanol & dimethyl ether: DME) and biogenic fuels (ethanol, biodiesel). This paper stresses the importance of fuel flexibility as a requirement for plant versatility and offers a review of the main liquid fuels that are accessible to gas turbines.© 2010 ASME


The first commercial radio station in the United States aired its initial broadcast from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the Fall of 1920.1 Since those early days of radio, broadcasters have not been liable to record companies for the public transmission of copyrighted sound recordings aired as part of their programming. There are two primary reasons why radio broadcasters have been able to escape liability. First, the right to the public performance of sound recordings did not exist until 1971.2 Second, when Congress finally recognized an exclusive right in the public performance of sound recordings in 1995, it limited that right to the public performance of sound recordings by means of a digital transmission. The newlycreated liability was mainly for Internet-based interactive subscription services and did not affect FCC-licensed radio stations. 3 By 1998, Congress had broadened the exclusive right in sound recording to include protection against illegal transmission by certain non-interactive nonsubscription services, known as "webcasters," because a large number of FCC-licensed ra-


Khazanehei, H., Li, S., Khafipour, E. and Plaizier, J. C. 2015. Effects of dry period management on milk production, dry matter intake, and energy balance of dairy cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 433-444. Effects of dry-period management on milk production, feed intake, and energy balance were determined in 11 second-parity (PAR 2) and 15 third or later parity (PAR 3+) cows. Cows were paired based on expected calving date, and randomly assigned to treatments including a conventional 60-d dry period with a 39-d far-off and a 21-d close-up diet (CONV), and a short 40-d dry period with only a close-up diet (SHORT). Treatment did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) and energy balance across the 6 wk before calving and the 4 wk after calving. Across the first 16 wk of lactation, cows on the short treatment had lower milk yield compared to cows on the CONU treatment that was mostly due to the lower production in PAR 3+ cows. Also, PAR 3+ cows on the SHORT treatment had lower milk protein yields and higher somatic cell counts than the other cows. In general, PAR 2 cows on the SHORT treatment had similar DMI, fat corrected milk yields, and protein and fat yields and percentages compared to cows in both parity groups on the CONV treatment. This suggests that the SHORT treatment may be suitable for PAR 2 cows, but not for older cows.


This article studies robust nonlinear control for gas exchange valves in ship diesel engines, with the use of the derivative-free nonlinear Kalman filter. Robust control of gas exchange valves is important for improving the efficiency in the operation of diesel engines. Due to the relatively wide range of typical internal combustion engine operating conditions imposed on a variable valve timing actuator, the control scheme must compensate for model uncertainties, parametric variations and rapid external disturbances. By applying differential flatness theory, the initial nonlinear model of the system is transformed into the linear canonical (Brunovsky) form. For the latter model, it is possible to design a state feedback controller that enables accurate tracking of the valve's reference setpoints. To estimate the non-measurable state variables of the model and the unknown external disturbances, the derivative-free nonlinear Kalman filter is used as a disturbance observer. The derivative-free nonlinear Kalman filter consists of the standard Kalman filter recursion on the linearized equivalent model of the valve and of computation of state and disturbance estimates using the diffeomorphism (relations about state variables' transformation) provided by differential flatness theory. Evaluation tests are performed for assessing the performance of the proposed control scheme.


Background: The incidence of myoma associated with pregnancy is reported about 0.3–5%. As the maternal age increase, so the incidence of myoma. Myomectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed during cesarean section. Many obstetricians are reluctant to perform this combined procedure as they are worried about the potential morbidity and mortality rates due to uncontrollable bleeding. Objectives of this case series is to investigate the success of myomectomy in cesarean section at Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta. Methods: Four cases of leiomyoma with pregnancy underwent myomectomy during cesarean section. The indications for cesarean, the average surgery time, the amount of blood loss, the need of transfusion and intensive care, postoperative complications and length of stay were recorded as outcome. Results: The average time taken for surgery was about 100 minutes, average blood loss was approximately 300 ml to 1000 ml, more than usual cesarean section. There were no need of transfusion and intensive care, longer of stay or postpartum hemorrhage in any of the cases. Conclusions: Myomectomy at the time of caesarean section may be a safe and feasible procedure. Caesarean myomectomy, if done in well-equipped centers by an experienced obstetrician is a definite and safe option.


Geoelectrical resistivity surveys were carried out in Al Quwy'yia area, located  at the centeral part of Saudi Arabia, to map the acquifer and estimate the groundwater potentiality. The acquired vertical electrical sounding (VES) data sets have been collected along three longitudinal profiles trending East-West, perpendicular  to the basement/sedimentary contact. The data sets have been analysed using 1D to obtain the initial figure out of the resistivity layers along the areas. Then, the data were inversion resistivity section using 2D inversion scheme. Information from two boreholes were incorporated during the processing to enhance the results and constrain the resistivity models with geological layers. The results revealed mainly two geoelectric layers which represent mainly the basement and sedimentary rocks. The basement rocks dip generally east ward, where the sedimentary section increases in this direction. The depth to the basement is about 50 m in the western part of the area and can not be reached from the acquired data in the eastern part. The contact boundaring between the basement complex and sedimentary rocks can be determined. The static water table is coincident with the limestone rock of Khuff formation as indicated from the comparison between the individual resistivity models and the two wells located at the study area. The thickness of the aquifer is increasing in the north eastern direction where the possibility of the groundwater potentiality is increasing.

 Key words: Vertical electrical sounding (VES), arid environment, Al Quwy'yia, 2D resistivity.


M.A. Crawford reinterpreted the existing theory of evolution, which considers the important role of the natural selection and accidental mutations in evolution, and suggested that the development of life and subsequent evolution of living organisms was determined by the availability of proper substances to build the organisms, in the environment. The driving force of evolution is the determination of physical and chemical conditions present in the environment. They are the predictive force of evolution.


It has been shown that when [14C]benzene is incubated with rat liver microsomes in the presence of a NADPH-generating system, metabolites which irreversibly bind to biomacromolecules are formed. This binding occurs mainly to microsomal protein rather than ribonucleic acids. The addition of 2 mM reduced glutathione or cysteine to the incubation mixture prevented 90-95% of the binding but had only a small effect on the formation of phenol, the main metabolite of benzene and rearrangement product of the putative reactive intermediate benzene oxide. The rate of phenol formation was approximately the same when fully deuterated benzene and normal benzene were used as substrates. This is compatible with phenol formation via benzene oxide and not possible if the C-H cleaving of a direct insertion reaction were the rate-limiting step. The decrease in binding in presence of reduced glutathione was accompanied by a corresponding increase in the amount of water soluble metabolites. In contrast to the situation with metabolically activated benzene, the putative reactive metabolite benzene oxide led to negligible binding and reduced glutathione had no effect on the formation of water soluble metabolites, i.e., the spontaneous conjugation of benzene oxide and reduced glutathione was practically zero at the physiological pH of the experiments. However, when [3H]-phenol was incubated with rat liver microsomes and a NADPH-generating system, effects similar to those with benzene were observed in that marked irreversible binding occurred and this binding was prevented by reduced glutathione. The extent of binding was much greater when using phenol. These results are compatible with the assumption that an immediate metabolite of phenol rather than of benzene is responsible for the binding. This assumption is supported by the fact that addition of uridine-diphosphate-glucuronic acid to incubations with [14C]benzene decreased the amount of both phenol and the irreversibly bound metabolites. Metabolism of benzene to 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxybenzene was observable, but only when pure epoxide hydratase was added in amounts greatly exceeding those already present in the microsomes. Increased formation of this diol upon addition of homogeneous epoxide hydratase is unequivocal proof for the metabolic formation of benzene oxide, which has so far eluded isolation. The observations (i) prove that reactive metabolite(s) which irreversibly bind to microsomal protein are formed during microsomal metabolism of benzene and that this binding is prevented by low molecular weight nucleophiles such as glutathione or cysteine; (ii) exclude benzene oxide as the metabolite predominantly responsible for this binding; and (iii) strongly indicate that a secondary metabolite of benzene, namely a metabolite of phenol, is mainly responsible for this binding.


The effect of silica fume on the compressive and uniaxial direct tensile strength of portland cement paste and mortar is reported. Sixteen and 25% of the cement used in the paste and in the mortar, measured by mass, was replaced by silica fume. Four different W/C ratio mixtures were tested: 0.22, 0.25, 0.28, and 0.31. The super-plasticizer content was adjusted for each mixture to provide a sufficient amount for efficient dispersion of the cement and silica fume particles, but also to make sure that there would be no excess of this additive that might lead to effects such as bleeding. Results show that the partial replacement of cement by silica fume increases the compressive strength of mortar but has no effect on the compressive strength of paste. Results also show that the partial replacement of portland cement by silica fume decreases the tensile strength of both paste and mortar. The reduction in the strength of paste was greater than the reduction in the strength of mortar. Results were verified by statistical analysis using hypothesis testing at a 95% confidence level. The uniaxial tensile strength results were obtained using the cementitious composites axial tensile technique (CCATT). The relation between the tensile strength and compressive strength of materials with and without silica fume was obtained. The ratios of tensile to compressive strength of paste and of mortar were decreased with increasing silica fume content.


BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, this study is the first to focus on the potential role for death-associated protein 3 (DAP3) in human breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: mRNA expression of DAP3 in breast cancer tissues (n = 127) and normal background tissues (n = 33) were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and were correlated with clinico-pathological data accumulated over a 10-year follow-up period. Furthermore the effects of DAP3 knock down in breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were investigated. The cells were subjected to conventional growth, adhesion and invasion assays. In addition to the above, electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) assay and annexin V/propidium iodide binding apoptosis assay were performed. For the apoptosis assay, the cells were subjected to 48 to 72 hours of serum hunger (depending on cell line) before being analyzed using a flow cytometer. RESULTS: The expression of DAP3 mRNA was demonstrated to decrease with increasing Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI2 vs. NPI3, p = 0.036), TNM stage (TNM1 vs. 3, p = 0.07), and tumour grade (grade 1 vs. 3, p = 0.08). Lower DAP3 expression levels were significantly associated with local recurrence (p = 0.013), distant metastasis (p = 0.0057) and mortality (p = 0.019). Kaplan-Meier plot analysis suggests that patient with higher levels of DAP3 expression had better overall survival compared to patients with lower levels of DAP3 expression (p = 0.075). DAP3 knock down strains in both cell lines demonstrated increased growth and migration compared to controls during ECIS. In addition, DAP3 knock down strains of MCF-7 appeared more resistant to serum hunger when compared to controls during the apoptosis assay. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates an inverse association between DAP3 mRNA levels and tumour stage and clinical stage in breast cancer. This is in keeping with the role of DAP3 as a pro-apoptotic protein. The in vitro evidence lends further credence to this hypothesis. The role of DAP3 may require further investigation to better understand the role of apoptosis in breast carcinogenesis, and may potentially serve as a prognostic marker for human breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P6-02-02.


Granseth et al. argue that vesicle retrieval at hippocampal synapses is fully accounted for by a single mode of endocytosis. However, their assay focused on readily releasable pool vesicles (RRP), not RRP + reserve pool vesicles in tandem, and therefore cannot detect pool-dependent changes in vesicle-retrieval kinetics during a stimulus train. Using a probe similar to theirs, we observed rapid vesicle retrieval consistent with Kiss-And-Run fusion.


Microfabricated thin-film inductors for high-frequency DC-DC power conversion at high currents and low voltages with fast transient response have been fabricated and tested. Inductors with a Co-Zr-O thin-film core and a copper conductor have been fabricated in a silicon substrate. Prototype inductors have been characterized and applied in a 3.3-V-to-1.1-V, 8-A, 5-MHz DC-DC converter and have been shown to exhibit efficiency of up to 89% and power density up to 96 W/cm2  of substrate area. The inductors discussed in this paper emerge as strong candidates for high-efficiency, high-power-density DC-DC converters for advanced digital systems such as microprocessors wherein the fast transient response of the microfabricated inductors can result in significant reduction in the converter's output capacitance