We investigated the hemodynamic effect of synthetic atrial natriuretic factor Auriculin A (ANF) and its influence on arterial baroreflex control of heart rate, systemic blood pressure, and perfuslon pressure in the hind limb (perfused at constant flow) in rabbits anesthetized with α-chloralose and urethane. The neural mechanisms underlying these effects were also studied. In the intact animal, a 45-minute constant infusion of ANF (2 μg/kg prime, 0.2 μg/kg/min) significantly reduced mean blood pressure and increased mean perfusion pressure, while heart rate did not change. Comparable data were obtained with lower (0.5 μg/kg + 0.05 μg/kg/min; 1 μg/kg + 0.1 μg/kg/min) or higher (4 μg/kg + 0.4 μg/kg/min; 8 μg/kg + 0.8 μg/kg/min) doses of ANF. In addition, ANF enhanced brady-cardic reflex responses to phenylephrine i.v. bolus administration, while it did not change baroreflex-mediated responses to nitroglycerin i.v. bolus administration and to 30-second bilateral carotid occlusion. The specificity of the influence of ANF on arterial baroreflex responses was confirmed by the observation that no significant change in reflex responses to phenylephrine or carotid occlusion was detectable during a comparable decrease in blood pressure induced by a constant infusion of nitroglycerin. Bilateral vagotomy prevented both the fall in blood pressure and the increase in perfusion pressure induced by ANF, while cholinergic blockade (atropine, 0.5 mg/kg i.v.) or adrenergic blockade (propranolol, 0.3 mg/kg i.v. + phentolamine, 0.3 mg/kg i.v.) did not modify the hemodynamic response to ANF observed in the Intact animal. The ANF-induced enhancement of the reflex bradycardic response to phenylephrine-induced rise in blood pressure was prevented by both vagotomy and atropine. In conclusion, our data suggest that in this experimental model an increase in parasympathetic tone is involved in the blood pressure lowering effect of synthetic ANF as well as in the potentiation of the reflex bradycardie response to phenylephrine-induced arterial baroreceptor loading caused by the peptide.


This scoping review aimed to summarize the application scenarios, effectiveness and safety of CDSS in diabetes management. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and conference databases were searched from 1985 to 2022. There were 11,145 studies identified, and 72 articles and 8 abstracts were included, involving 137,710 subjects. Most CDSSs (77%) were knowledge-based, while the non-knowledge-based systems have been increasing in recent years. CDSS was mainly utilized in treatment recommendations (Table 1). Most CDSSs significantly improved outcomes (Table 2) without increase of hypoglycemia risk. The results demonstrated the value of CDSS as a reliable assistant in diabetes management especially in primary care with limited resources, and advanced software is needed to improve CDSS functionalities.

 S.Huang: None. Y.Liang: None. J.Li: None. X.Li: None.

 Beijing Medical Award Foundation (2019-1585)


Sixty-six cows and heifers (Holsteins and Jerseys) were assigned to one of three treatments at 60 d before anticipated calving. Treatment 1 consisted of 100 IU/d of supplemental vitamin E during the dry period and 100 IU/d during the first 30 d of lactation. Treatment 2 was 1000 IU/d of vitamin E during the dry period and 500 IU/d during lactation. Treatment 3 was 1000 IU/d of vitamin E during the first 46 d of the dry period, 4000 IU/d during the last 14 d of the dry period, and 2000 IU/d during lactation. Plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol decreased at calving for cows fed dietary treatments with low or intermediate concentrations of vitamin E, but not for cows fed the high vitamin E treatment. High dietary vitamin E increased concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in blood neutrophils at parturition, but no difference was found for the other two treatments. The percentage of quarters with new infections at calving was not different (32.0%) between cows receiving treatments that contained low and intermediate concentrations of vitamin E but was reduced (11.8%) in cows receiving the high vitamin E treatment. Clinical mastitis affected 25.0, 16.7, and 2.6% of quarters during the first 7 d of lactation for cows receiving the low, intermediate, and high vitamin E treatments, respectively. Cows with plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol < 3.0 micrograms/ml at calving were 9.4 times more likely to have clinical mastitis during the first 7 d of lactation than were cows with plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol > 3.0 micrograms/ml.


Fertilizer studies were carried out with guar in the field and greenhouse over two seasons. Response to N was found in terms of plant growth and bean yield. With very low available soil P, fertilizer P increased the P concentration in guar plants but not bean yields. Zinc increased yields in the greenhouse only on the soil with the lowest available Zn.


Ecosystem services and land-management policies in urban and peri-urban areas are topics of growing interest, because they maintain biodiversity and the production of ecosystem goods, such as food, wood and cultural/recreational values. The aim of the project is the monitoring and the analysis of management policies in the metropolitan context of natural park of Turin, recognized in 2016 as CollinaPo, UNESCO MAB (Man and the Biosphere programme). Since its establishment (1990), the Natural Park of Po Torinese encouraged connections between public and private territorial subjects. This action focused on forestry, wildlife management and planning network of public enjoyment. In order to identify the best strategies, cultural, agricultural and livestock best practices were analysed. The number and types of farms involved during the last 25 years were evaluated. The study analyses the management activities coordinated by natural Park Authority, by listing and quantifying significant actions to systemic governance of high natural values areas. The results showed the important role of urban farms for ecosystem services management, confirmed by the increasing of numbers and types of stakeholders that signed collaboration with natural Park Authority. These results address new models in agricultural and natural planning of green infrastructure of Turin. Therefore, it identifies strategic assets to develop urban governance models, bridging all the territorial actors. This approach will connect agricultural outputs and touristic inputs, promoting circular economy.


Evanescent wave tracking (EWT) has provided a new and effective method for analyzing high-frequency trapped mode propagation in longitudinally homogeneous open dielectric waveguides. It has therefore been suggestive to extend EWT so as to account for mode field leakage when the waveguide is curved. A circularly bent two-dimensional guiding structure has served as a prototype in the present study. Even in this canonical configuration, direct generalization of the EWT procedure, attempted first, has not been achieved so as to bridge the transition from the predominantly evanescent to the predominantly radiating regime as the observer moves away from the guide axis on the convex side. Therefore, the problem has been analyzed alternatively by complex ray tracing (CRT) that involves continuation of initial conditions, boundaries, etc., into a complex coordinate space. This approach, structured around the complex ray congruences generated by a complex caustic, has been successful. By self-consistent closure of ...


A combination of extracts from chamomile, silverweed, licorice, angelica, blessed thistle and wormwood, Gastritol® Liquid, is registered for the use of indigestion and gastrointestinal spasmodic complaints. To gain data on the experience in practice, a non‐interventional open study was conducted in ambulatory patients including diabetics which were treated for 2 weeks. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by medical examination and evaluation of typical symptoms by patients. A total of 149 patients was enrolled, 90 without and 59 with diabetes. The treatment led to relevant improvements in all symptoms in both study groups. The most notable improvements were seen for the symptoms vomiting (−66.7%; diabetics: −63.9%) and retching (−52.2%; diabetics: −53.6%). An overall improvement was rated by about 90% in both study groups. In seven patients adverse events had been reported (5 times temporary nausea after intake, one time gastric spasm and one time oral burning sensation), all of them of mild nature. The global tolerability was assessed as good or very good in more than 80% by practitioners and patients. Under the conditions of this open study method Gastritol® Liquid had been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of mild gastrointestinal disorders, including diabetic patients. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The relocation of unionacean mussels is commonly used as a conservation and management tool in large rivers and streams. Relocation has been used to recolonize areas where mussel populations have been eliminated by prior pollution events, to remove mussels from construction zones and to re-establish populations of endangered species. More recently, relocation has been used to protect native freshwater mussels from colonization by the exotic zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha. We conducted a literature review of mussel relocations and evaluated their relative success as a conservation and management strategy. We found that 43% of all relocations were conducted because of construction projects that were forced to comply with the Endangered Species Act 1973 and that only 16% were monitored for five or more consecutive years. Most (43%) relocation projects were conducted from July to September, presumably a period when reproductive stress is relatively low for most species and the metabolic rate is sufficient for reburrowing in the substrate. The mortality of relocated mussels was unreported in 27% of projects; reported mortality varied widely among projects and species and was difficult to assess. The mean mortality of relocated mussels was 49% based on an average recovery rate of 43%. There is little guidance on the methods for relocation or for monitoring the subsequent long-term status of relocated mussels. Based on this evaluation, research is needed to develop criteria for selecting a suitable relocation site and to establish appropriate methods and guidelines for conducting relocation projects.


A higher risk for a variety of cancers is among the major complications of posttransplantation immunosuppression. In this part of a continuing series on cancers posttransplantation, this review focuses on the hematologic cancers after solid organ transplantation. Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs), which comprise the great majority of hematologic cancers, represent a spectrum of conditions that include, but are not limited to, the Hodgkin and non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. The oncogenic Epstein‐Barr virus is a key pathogenic driver in many PTLD cases, through known and unknown mechanisms. The other hematologic cancers include leukemias and plasma cell neoplasms (multiple myeloma and plasmacytoma). Clinical features vary across malignancies and location. Preventive screening strategies have been attempted mainly for PTLDs. Treatments include the chemotherapy regimens for the specific cancers, but also include reduction of immunosuppression, rituximab, and other therapies.


OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of this study was to establish Turkish smoothed centile charts and LMS tables for four-site skinfold thickness based on a population-based sample and secondary purpose was to elaborate a reference for the percentage of body fat.

DESIGN
A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted between January and May 2017. Triceps, biceps and subscapular, suprailiac skinfold thickness were measured using Holtain skinfold caliper. Age and gender specific percentile values were determined with the LMS method, and body fat percentage was calculated using the Westrate and Deurenberg equation.

SETTING
Afyonkarahisar province in Turkey.

PARTICIPANTS
This study was conducted on 4565, 6-18 years old students.

RESULTS
The triceps, biceps, and subscapular skinfolds of the girls were higher than the boys. From the age of seven, the sum of four skinfold thicknesses of the girls was more than those of the boys. This difference became more evident after the age of 12. Although fat percentages of girls showed a fluctuating change, it decreased with the age in boys. Westrate and Deurenberg equation fat percentages of girls until adolescence were lower than boys, but increased after 12 years of age and exceeded that of boys.

CONCLUSIONS
This study has provided sex and age specific reference values for skinfold thickness, and has shown that obesity in girls is higher than in boys in schoolchildren in Afyonkarahisar. This study has also shown that skinfold thickness measurements are a valuable tool for screening obesity in children.


This study explores the relationship between such student classroom incivilities as disrespectful disruptions and insolent inattention and sudent's sense of their liklihood of finding a group of students with which they share in common goals, values and beliefs. A negative relationship between these two forms of classroom incivilities and communal potential was found. Implications for practice are presented.


Coronaviruses can be divided into two groups due to pathogenicity The first group causes mild upper respiratory tract infections The second group includes highly pathogenic coronaviruses, which are the cause of severe pneumonia In December 2019, the emergence of a new 2019-nCoV coronavirus was reported in the human population, which caused a pandemic Cases of pneumonia have been reported in patients Complications included: acute respiratory distress syndrome, anaemia, acute myocardial injury, secondary infections and in severe cases - death of patients Viral factors and host immune responses were important in the development of infection The course of the disease also depended on: initial viral load in the respiratory tract, comorbidities and the age of patients Younger people experienced milder symptoms, and older people had more severe disease Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and renal failure were the most frequently mentioned comorbidities The therapeutic problems concerned the need to develop effective CoV treatment regimens Late diagnosis is often the cause of a complex situation that requires intervention in intensive care units There are still no approved antiviral drugs and vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV infection One of the therapeutic solutions is to change the purpose of various approved medicines used in other diseases Another problem is the transmission of infection, which occurs between people as a result in close and direct contact Rules for protection against infection have been introduced Personal protective equipment has been used: gloves, aprons, protective masks and glasses In addition, the transmission of the infection in indirect contact with contaminated objects is of great importance Monitoring the epidemiological situation and providing timely information is very important to ensure the safety of the public during and after the pandemic The purpose of this article is to present the characteristics of the new 2019-nCoV coronavirus and its ability to multiply in the human body Pathogenic types of coronaviruses, current infection, symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment and infection transmission, and psychological effects of quarantine are discussed


We present an algorithm for coupled-cluster through perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] based on a t1-dressed Hamiltonian and the use of density fitting (DF) or Cholesky decomposition (CD) approximations for the construction and contraction of all electron repulsion integrals (ERIs). An efficient implementation of this algorithm is then used to explore whether preoptimized density fitting basis sets [specifically, the (aug-)cc-pVXZ-RI series designed for DF-MP2 computations] are suitable for DF-CCSD(T) computations and how they compare to the CD representation of the integrals. The code is also used to systematically explore the accuracy and efficiency of DF/CD combined with frozen natural orbitals (FNOs) to reduce computational costs. The mean absolute errors due to DF/CD in the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ interaction energies of 11 van der Waals dimers are only 0.001 kcal mol(-1) for the preoptimized RI basis set and only 0.002 and 0.001 kcal mol(-1) for CD with cutoffs of 10(-4) and 10(-5), respectively. The very similar performance of the aug-cc-pVDZ-RI auxiliary set is a bit surprising considering that the numbers of CD vectors using these thresholds are, on average, 28% and 73% larger than the dimension of the RI set. When FNOs are coupled with DF/CD, the DF/CD error is roughly an order of magnitude less than the FNO truncation error (at a conservative FNO occupation cutoff of 10(-5)). Utilizing t1-dressed three-index integrals, which remove the explicit dependence of the doubles residual equations on the t1-amplitudes, results in a moderate performance acceleration for the CCSD portion of the algorithm. Moreover, the t1-dressing results in a simpler code which will be more amenable to parallelization. Utilizing both CD and FNO techniques, we observe a speedup of four times for the evaluation of the three-body contribution to the interaction energy for the benzene trimer described by an aug-cc-pVDZ basis set; the error incurred by the CD and FNO approximations in the three-body contribution is only 0.002 kcal mol(-1).


Agro-industrial waste are seen as potential precursors in the development of adsorbents for the removal of phenolic compounds, which exhibit a harmful effect to human health due to their high toxicity. This work evaluated the use of coal prepared from coconut tree agro-industrial waste, for the adsorption of phenol in aqueous solutions. Three coal samples were prepared as follows: carbonized only (Cb), activated with synthetic air (Cair) and activated with CO2 (CCO2). Based on the results of characterization, it was observed that these adsorbents are mesoporous, with a predominantly amorphous structure. The CCO2 demonstrated the highest thermal stability. Based on pHPZC, it was found that after the activation process, the surface of the material became positively charged at a higher pH range of the solution; therefore, favouring the adsorption of phenol. In the kinetic study the pseudo-nth order model obtained the best adjustment to the experimental data. The intra-particle diffusion model indicated that the adsorption processes are controlled by various steps. The experimental data of the equilibrium adsorption study were also evaluated; with no significant difference being found between the models that were better adjusted (Fritz-Schlunder, Redlich-Peterson, RadkePrausnitz and Sips) according to the F-test at a 95% confidence level. The maximum adsorptive capacity for Cb, Cair and CCO2 were of 32, 41 and 56 mg g-1, respectively. In this study, the coconut tree straw, an abundant agro-industrial residue that has not been previously evaluated as a precursor for the preparation of coal was valued being used as an adsorbent in the removal of phenol.


Deals with unconstrained receding horizon control of nonlinear systems with a general, non-negative terminal cost. Earlier results have indicated that when the terminal cost is a suitable local control Lyapunov function, the receding horizon scheme is stabilizing for any horizon length. Jadbabaie et al. (2001) show that there always exist a uniform horizon length which guarantees stability of the receding horizon scheme over any sub-level set of the finite horizon cost when the terminal cost is identically zero. In this paper, we extend this result to the case where the terminal cost is a general non-negative function.


This paper presents an approach to combine competent crossover and mutation operators via probabilistic model building. Both operators are based on the probabilistic model building procedure of the extended compact genetic algorithm (eCGA). The model sampling procedure of eCGA, which mimics the behavior of an idealized recombination---where the building blocks (BBs) are exchanged without disruption---is used as the competent crossover operator. On the other hand, a recently proposed BB-wise mutation operator---which uses the BB partition information to perform local search in the BB space---is used as the competent mutation operator. The resulting algorithm, called hybrid extended compact genetic algorithm (heCGA), makes use of the problem decomposition information for (1) effective recombination of BBs and (2) effective local search in the BB neighborhood. The proposed approach is tested on different problems that combine the core of three well known problem difficulty dimensions: deception, scaling, and noise. The results show that, in the absence of domain knowledge, the hybrid approach is more robust than either single-operator-based approach.


A long-term experiment into plant community responses to elevated carbon dioxide and nitrogen yields surprising results. Many common plant species, such as prairie grasses, have evolved traits for the efficient capture and use of two key resources that limit terrestrial productivity: nitrogen (N) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Over the past 60 years, human activity has vastly increased the availability of these resources. Atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased by 40%, and N availability has more than doubled. These changes are likely to have important consequences for species interactions, community structure, and ecosystem functioning. On page 1399 of this issue, Reich investigates one important consequence, biodiversity loss, based on a long-term elevated CO2 and nitrogen fertilization experiment (1).


A thermodynamically consistent model to simulate the electromechanical response of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) beams has been developed based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. Appropriate assumptions have been made and suitable forms for the Helmholtz free energy and the rate of dissipation have been chosen. The governing equations, describing the actuation and sensing behavior of IPMC strips in air, have been formulated using a set of kinematic assumptions, the power theorem, and the maximum rate of dissipation hypothesis, neglecting inertial effects. The model has been extended to solve for large deformations in IPMC cantilevers with certain loading conditions. The model has been shown to simulate the electromechanical responses of both Nafion and Flemion based IPMC strips. This includes the initial overshoot followed by a gradual back-relaxation observed in the tip deflection measurements of Nafion based IPMC strips under the application of a step voltage. It has been shown that a coupled convective heating term in the rate of dissipation function is crucial for simulating this overshoot and the back relaxation.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


Milgrom has proposed that, the appearance of discrepancies between the Newtonian dynamical mass and the directly observable mass in astronomical systems could be due to a breakdown of Newtonian dynamics in the limit of low accelerations rather than the presence of unseen matter. Milgrom's hypothesis, modified Newtonian dynamics or MOND, has been remarkably successful in explaining systematic properties of spiral and elliptical galaxies and predicting in detail the observed rotation curves of spiral galaxies with only one additional parameter-a critical acceleration which is on the order of the cosmologically interesting value of cH(o). Here I review the empirical successes of this idea and discuss its possible extention to cosmology and structure formation.


In this work, we present and study a training set-up that achieves fast policy generation for real-world robotic tasks by using massive parallelism on a single workstation GPU. We analyze and discuss the impact of different training algorithm components in the massively parallel regime on the final policy performance and training times. In addition, we present a novel game-inspired curriculum that is well suited for training with thousands of simulated robots in parallel. We evaluate the approach by training the quadrupedal robot ANYmal to walk on challenging terrain. The parallel approach allows training policies for flat terrain in under four minutes, and in twenty minutes for uneven terrain. This represents a speedup of multiple orders of magnitude compared to previous work. Finally, we transfer the policies to the real robot to validate the approach. We open-source our training code to help accelerate further research in the field of learned legged locomotion.


Processible conjugated polymers can be used to fabricate a range of thinfilm diodes which can be designed to show good characteristics both as electroluminescent diodes and also as photoconductive diodes. We consider here the present understanding of the operation of a range of semiconductor devices. Field-effect transistors are readily fabricated, but are limited by low carrier mobilities. However, these can be improved by ordering the polymer films. For light-emitting diodes we highlight the improvement to the electroluminescence efficiency that can be produced by the use of two polymer layers selected so that the heterojunction between the two layers is able to confine charge and thus bring about electron-hole capture to generate excitons at this interface. Photon absorption produces excitons which are considered to be bound at room temperature. Charge generation requires ionisation of these excitons, which can be achieved efficiently at heterojunctions between layers with different electronegativities, and we discuss how this can be achieved at the interfaces between interpenetrating networks of electron- and hole-accepting polymers.


For pt.2 see ibid., p.2730-4. Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) can offer large voice capacity for voice service and support high-speed data for Internet access and multimedia services. We evaluate the air interface capacity for voice, data and integrated voice and data services in UMTS. We present our analytical and simulation models for the reverse link only; the forward link analysis is presented in part 2. In our analytical model, different varying factors in a CDMA system are considered, such as the interference level, power control errors, soft handoff, required signal-to-interference ratio for different rates, etc. We propose a new approach to model the inter-cell interference under multiple cell condition. Furthermore, we apply different approximation methods to calculate the capacity based on voice and/or data traffic loading. Finally, we derive close form expressions of Erlang capacity for a single type of traffic and mixed types of traffic. We also develop a static system level simulator to evaluate capacity and coverage for UMTS. By comparing our analytical results with simulations, we show that our analytical approach has a very good match with simulations.


BACKGROUND
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) provide circulatory support to assist the damaged left ventricle in patients with end-stage heart failure. Implantation of an LVAD is sometimes a last resort for patients with end stage heart failure who are ineligible for heart transplantation (destination therapy). First-generation LVADs used pulsatile pumps to mimic the natural pulsing action of the heart. Implanted second-generation LVADs use a rapidly spinning rotor to produce a continuous flow of blood into the systemic arterial system.

OBJECTIVES
Our objectives were to: Determine the clinical effectiveness of LVADs for destination therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure who are ineligible for heart transplantationEstimate the cost-effectiveness of destination-therapy LVAD for patients with end-stage heart failure who are ineligible for heart transplantation and to estimate the potential budget impact for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care over the next 5 years.

METHODS
We performed a narrative review of the clinical and economic literature for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and a budget impact analysis from the perspective of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. We did not conduct a meta-analysis of the clinical evidence owing to differences in the type of LVADs included in the studies.

RESULTS
Three systematic reviews and one observational study contributed to the clinical evidence. Three economic reviews contributed to the economic evidence. There is moderate quality evidence that treatment with continuous-flow LVADs improves survival but has higher adverse events rates compared with drug therapy. Low quality evidence suggests treatment with a continuous-flow LVADs improves quality of life. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio associated with destination-therapy LVAD over optimal medical management is relatively high and exceeds the traditionally accepted thresholds ($50,000 to $100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year). The estimated net budget impact is $13.6 million in 2015, $20.7 million in 2016, $27.8 million in 2017, $35.8 million in 2018, and $45.0 million in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS
For patients with end-stage heart failure who are ineligible for heart transplantation, permanent treatment with continuous-flow LVADs is effective at improving survival and quality of life compared with drug therapy. However, permanent continuous-flow devices have higher adverse event rates than drug therapy. Although it improves survival and quality of life, the device itself and the surgery to implant it are very expensive.


In contrast to Oldenburg's concept of «library – the "third place"» the article presents its role as the «second place», i.e. the place for study and work, on the examples of music and art schools libraries, (music schools/CAS) of St. Petersburg. These establishments meet the specific needs of library users (students and teachers) that occur in the process of educational activities on pre-service programs in various types of art. The peculiarity of these libraries permit them to preserve their own niche in the general library and information space and in each concrete institution of additional education. The article examines social functions, goals and tasks of DMSH/DSHI libraries, their normative-legislative regulations, financial and acquisition questions, work of referencesearch apparatus, forms of servicing users. Possible ways of their development are designated: creation of the special Model standard; transformation of libraries into educational information centers on art in the educational environment of schools with the appropriate technical and technological equipment and the Internet access; active mastering of social networks. All this will allow DMSH/DSHI libraries to develop and implement additional forms of service.


Tired of the same 'ole networking chatter? Do you think anyone is really listening to what you have to say? Wish you were somewhere else? If you have to network to grow your business and find yourself spending money going to events, meeting as many people as possible and returning to the office with a handful of business cards without the results you want, you can benefit from the strategies presented in '42 Rules for Effective Connections.' For anyone who wants to improve communication, get better results in any networking environment and alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes from building a business where you have to go out to meet potential customers this book is a must-read. The author provides a broad range of strategies that make the difference between networking that is 'hit and miss' versus networking that hits the bull's eye. If you are serious about growing your business and simply are missing the mark on how to make your behavior stand out, or if you are achieving success already and want to step up your game, this book will open the door to new possibilities. There are literally thousands of networking organizations available for anyone wanting to participate. This book is not about which meeting to attend; this book is about how to get better results when you get there! In this book you will learn: How to position yourself in a crowded marketplace? How to start conversations? What to say to make yourself memorable? How to insure that others will want to do business with us? What can we do to improve our performance? Author, Bonnie Ross-Parker has a background in franchising and network marketing. For more than two decades, she has attended countless networking meetings and events and constantly witnesses the same scenario -- individuals pushing their card in your hand and asking you to call them when you need the service they offer! With all the business books that have been written, all the emphasis on building relationships, there is still a total misunderstanding of what it takes to build one's business. Relationships are key. Building rapport is key. Being a good listener is key. Read this book to learn more and be a better networker.


Large-scale storage systems often hold data for multiple applications and users. A problem in such systems is isolating applications and users from each other to prevent their workloads from interacting in unexpected ways. Another is ensuring that each application receives an appropriate level of performance. As part of the solution to these problems, we have designed a hierarchical I/O scheduling algorithm to manage performance resources on an underlying storage device. Our algorithm uses a simple allocation abstraction: an application or user has a corresponding pool of throughput, and manages throughput within its pool by opening sessions. The algorithm ensures that each pool and session receives at least a reserve rate of throughput and caps usage at a limit rate, using hierarchical token buckets and EDF I/O scheduling. Once it has fulfilled the reserves of all active sessions and pools, it shares unused throughput fairly among active sessions and pools such that they tend to receive the same amount. It thus combines deadline scheduling with proportional-style resource sharing in a novel way. We assume that the device performs its own low-level head scheduling, rather than modeling the device in detail. Our implementation shows the correctness of our algorithm, imposes little overhead on the system, and achieves throughput nearly equal to that of an unmanaged device.


BACKGROUND The nine-center Prognostic Assessment of Life and Limitations After Trauma in the Elderly consortium has validated the Geriatric Trauma Outcome Score (GTOS) as a prognosis calculator for injured elders. We compared GTOS' performance to that of the Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS) in a multicenter sample. METHODS Three Prognostic Assessment of Life and Limitations After Trauma in the Elderly centers not submitting subjects to the GTOS validation study identified subjects aged 65 years to 102 years admitted from 2000 to 2013. GTOS was specified using the formula [GTOS = age + (Injury Severity Score [ISS] × 2.5) + 22 (if transfused packed red cells (PRC) at 24 hours)]. TRISS uses the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), dichotomizes age (<55 years = 0 and ≥55 years = 1), and was specified using the updated 1995 beta coefficients. TRISS Penetrating was specified as [TRISSP = −2.5355 + (0.9934 × RTS) + (−0.0651 × ISS) + (−1.1360 × Age)]. TRISS Blunt was specified as [TRISSB = −0.4499 + (0.8085 × RTS Total) + (−0.0835 × ISS) + (−1.7430 × Age)]. Each then became the sole predictor in a separate logistic regression model to estimate probability of mortality. Model performances were evaluated using misclassification rate, Brier score, and area under the curve. RESULTS Demographics (mean + SD) of subjects with complete data (N = 10,894) were age, 78.3 years ± 8.1 years; ISS, 10.9 ± 8.4; RTS = 7.5 ± 1.1; mortality = 6.9%; blunt mechanism = 98.6%; 3.1 % of subjects received PRCs. The penetrating trauma subsample (n = 150) had a higher mortality rate of 20.0%. The misclassification rates for the models were GTOS, 0.065; TRISSB, 0.051; and TRISSP, 0.120. Brier scores were GTOS, 0.052; TRISSB, 0.041; and TRISSP, 0.084. The area under the curves were GTOS, 0.844; TRISSB, 0.889; and TRISSP, 0.897. CONCLUSION GTOS and TRISS function similarly and accurately in predicting probability of death for injured elders. GTOS has the advantages of a single formula, fewer variables, and no reliance on data collected in the emergency room or by other observers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic, level II.


The Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus announced the new diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus on 23 July 1997. The most notable change in the new criteria is a reduction in the cut-off point for fasting plasma glucose to that of 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL). The present criteria have evolved through many years of intensive research and discussions. We intend to trace the path that leads to this latest recommendation so as to understand the evolution of the present criteria and its implications.


Technology is a valuable tool for the treatment of autism in children. It can enhance the therapy, providing a new social channel of interaction in a friendly and controlled environment. This paper proposes an integral technological platform based on two main elements. The first one is a robot, specifically designed to collaborate in the intervention process eliciting pro-social behavior, and a tablet application program, explicitly intended to complement the intervention activities with the robot, giving at the same time administration support to the therapist offering information about the statistical performance of the child during the intervention. On the other hand, fuzzy logic systems are implemented in the technological platform to increase the performance in the robot and the tablet. Fuzzy logic includes an inference system based on linguistic rules that help therapist to interact with the children when they are taking the integral therapy because the inference system can cover different social situations in automatic way. This paper shows the complete design of the robot and tablet application as the main supported tools. The social skill therapy is designed and implemented to different children with autism. Moreover, fuzzy logic demonstrated that is a robust system for dealing with uncertainties so that the robot can generate a correct response according with the input signal from the child. Finally, the preliminary results give a good insight about the potential of this proposed integral therapy. In addition, fuzzy logic is a principal component for designing the therapy.


A model-free robust/adaptive decentralized controller for nonlinear uncertain robot manipulators is presented. The proposed controller consists of a PD controller, a robust/adaptive controller and dynamic compensator. The dynamic compensator is online up-dated based on the Taylor expansion in terms of the historical information of the individual local inputs to the system. The result obtained from the dynamic compensator is used to cancel the nonlinearity and uncertainties within the system to be controlled. The robust/adaptive controller is used to handle the effect of the residual dynamics, which is the difference of the dynamics of the system and the estimated one. The stability analysis of the closed-loop system is performed based on a modified version of Lyapunov's theory. Experimental results on the tracking control of a 3-DOF direct drive robot are presented for illustration.


Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is related to increased cardiovascular risk, and requires thorough dyslipidemia control. Statin therapy is expedient for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders in CKD patients. The opportunities are reviewed for the use of statins in these patients, efficacy and safety at different stages of CKD, the need for dosage correction and choice of the exact drug. The comparison performed, benefits and misconveniences discussed of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in CKD.


Questions: Primary plant succession is expected to be driven by habitat filtering and competitive exclusion. However, such findings typically come from experimental or single- site case studies. As a result, we lack field studies that investigate the functional community structures across successional series with differing site conditions. Here, we address the following question: how do plant trait patterns and functional diversity change along two chronosequences with distinct bedrocks? Methods: We established two soil chronosequences with contrasting bedrock types (siliceous vs calcareous) in the Swiss Alps spanning a terrain age gradient of 13,500 years. We analysed plant ecological strategies at 40 plots per glacier foreland relating six functional traits to terrain age using RLQ analysis. We used the variation in plant ecological strategies revealed by RLQ analysis to calculate indices of functional diversity and analysed their temporal development with terrain age. Results: The RLQ analysis revealed that canopy height and dispersal type were significantly associated with terrain age. In both glacier forelands, functional richness (FRic) increased with terrain age, suggesting similar development of niche differentiation along the chronosequences, irrespective of bedrock types. In addition, we observed a decrease of functional evenness (FEve) and functional divergence (FDiv) in both sites, indicating an overall trend to habitat filtering. Conclusions: The results support the idea of a similar development of functional com munity structure along the two chronosequences, underlining the deterministic model of functional structure during succession. The functional approach of this study improves knowledge of the adaptive strategies of plant communities colonising glacier forefields and highlights the potential of comparing successional series with differing site condi tions to gain a deeper understanding of successional drivers and underlying mechanisms.


Deciphering and visualizing proteomics data are a big challenge for high-throughput proteomics research. In this work, we develop a free interactive web software platform, MixProTool, for processing multigroup proteomics data sets. This tool provides integrated data analysis workflow, including quality control assessment, normalization, soft independent modeling of class analogy, statistics, gene ontology enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis. This software is also highly compatible with the identification and quantification results of various frequently used search engines, such as MaxQuant, Proteome Discoverer, or Mascot. Moreover, all analyzed results can be visualized as vector graphs and tables for further analysis. MixProTool can be conveniently operated by users, even those without bioinformatics training, and it is extremely useful for mining the most relevant features among different samples. MixProTool is deployed at the public shinyapps io server.


We used dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to study changes in estimated volumetric bone mineral density (EstVBMD) of the lumbar spine after gastrectomy. The study group comprised 41 men and 32 women. When EstVBMD was compared according to sex among patients younger than 60 years of age, patients 60 to 69 years of age, and patients these three groups in men (0.185 g/cm3, 0.187 g/cmペ0.187g/cm3, respectively). In contrast, EstVBMD was s耶iificantly lower in women 60 to 69 years of age (0.157 g/cm3) and those 70 years of age or older (0.159 g/cm3) than in women younger than 60 years (0.200 g/cm3) (P<0.01). When the relation between EstVBMD and the number of months after gastrectomy was studied according to sex in patients younger than 70 years, EstVBMD negatively correlated with the interval after operation in men (r= -0.365, P<0.05), whereas there was no correlation between these variables in women. These results suggest that after gastrectomy bone mineral density decreases gradually in men younger than 70 years, but not in women. The lack of a consistent change in bone mineral density after gastrectomy in women is apparently caused by the marked effect on bone metabolism of decreased female hormone levels after menopause. Introduction Gastrectomy is often performed in the field of gastroenterological surgery. This procedure isassociated with various types offunctional and organic sequelae. Functional impairment includes conditions such as dumping syndrome, malnutrition, lactose intolerance, and diarrhea. Organic disturbances include reflux esophagitis, afferent loop syndrome, and disturbed bone metabolism. Among these sequelae, disturbed bone metabolism after gastrectomy has recently received attention because of the increasing numbers of long-term survivors after gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. Many problems have interfered with attempts to study the effects of gastrectomy on bone. A Present address: Kiyotaka Yabuki, 1129 Nagaoka, lzunagaoka-cho, Tagatagun, Shizuoka 410-2211, Japan 索引用語。 胃切除術後骨障害, dualenergy X-ray absorptiometory (DXA)法,単位体積当たりの骨密度


Creating new business models, products or services is challenging in fast-changing unpredictable environments. Often, product teams need to make many assumptions (e.g., assumptions about future demands) that might not be true. These assumptions impose risks to the success and these risks need to be mitigated early. One of the principles of the Lean Startup approach is to identify and prioritize the riskiest assumptions in order to validate them as early as possible. This helps to avoid wasting effort and time. In the literature there are several different methods for identifying and prioritizing the riskiest assumptions reported. However, only little research exists about the practical application of these methods in practice and how to teach them. In this paper, we present and empirically analyze a workshop format that we have developed for teaching the prioritization of Lean Startup assumptions. We aim at raising the awareness for assumption thinking among the participants and teach them through group work how to prioritize assumptions. The results of the analysis of a multitude of conducted workshops show that the applied method did lead to reasonable results and accompanying learning effects. In addition, the participants got aware of assumption thinking and liked learning in a practical way.


Sexual reproduction in multicellular organisms requires the separation of the germline from the soma. In flowering plants, the formation of spore mother cells (SMCs) marks the somatic-to-reproductive cell fate transition in floral organs. The female SMC differentiates at the apex of the ovule primordium, as a single, large, and elongated subepidermal cell. However, this singleness rule is not very robust: several SMC candidates develop in some Arabidopsis accessions and mutants. Yet, the basis of this plasticity is not understood. Here we investigate whether ovule primordium growth and overarching cellular architecture serve as an instructive cue to channel the formation of a single SMC. Combining quantitative analyses of 3D cell-based information, cell cycle reporters, and 2D growth simulations, we provide a comprehensive analysis of cell proliferation and growth events that shape ovule primordium development and SMC formation. This reveals that SMC characteristics emerge earlier than previously thought, and often for more than one cell. Thus, developmental constraints gradually canalize the fate of these cells, so that a single SMC enters meiosis ultimately. Among these constraints, we explore the contribution of dynamic cell division patterns and localized cell growth anisotropy. Consistent with 2D computational simulations, the reduction of anisotropy in katanin mutants leads to altered ovule shape and cell division patterns. Such disturbance of ovule morphology is sufficient to delay SMC canalization, as multiple cells express reproductive fate markers in katanin mutant ovules. In conclusion, we show that ovule growth and shape channel SMC fate for a single cell. Highlights SMC singleness emerges from a canalization process mediated by KATANIN. Anisotropic cell growth and local, biphasic cell divisions patterns explain ovule primordium shape. 2D-mechanical growth models relate ovule growth and SMC emergence. A 3D image resource of developing ovule primordia at cellular resolution.


Abstract : Solar thermal propulsion offers a unique combination of high thrust and high specific impulse levels that can provide competitive advantages relative to traditional satellite propulsion systems. In order to enhance the functionality of this technology, thermal storage combined with a means of thermal-to-electric conversion is suggested, with the idea of providing a dual-mode power and propulsion system based on thermal energy. A system including silicon (moderate performance) or boron (high performance) phase change material for storing energy, an insulating containment system consisting of boron nitride, carbon bonded carbon fiber, and vacuum gap insulation is proposed, with thermophotovoltaics used for electrical conversion. A laboratory solar concentration system has been constructed and experiments to directly heat small quantities of candidate materials have begun, so that the nature and challenges of this system can be evaluated. A modeling effort to optimize the solar receiver/absorber/converter system is also underway and will be discussed.


ABSTRACT We compared foraging behavior of Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola Linnaeus) and Common Loon (Gavia immer Brünnich) on eight lakes in harvested and unharvested boreal mixedwood forest in northern Alberta, Canada. For one summer before (1996) and two summers after (1997, 1998) forest harvesting around three of the eight lakes, we recorded the duration of Bufflehead and Common Loon dives. After logging, forested buffer strips 100 m-wide separated cut-blocks from lakes ('harvested lakes'). 'Unharvested lakes' were surrounded by ⩾450 m of undisturbed forest throughout the study. There were no detectable differences in dive duration between harvested and unharvested lakes for Bufflehead or Common Loon. Correlations between environmental variables (water clarity, fish biomass, depth) and the duration of Common Loon dives were not significant. However, the duration of Bufflehead dives differed between lakes, unrelated to forest harvesting. The duration of Buffle-head dives was negatively correlated with water clarity but was not significantly correlated with fish biomass. While our study shows that the foraging behavior of Buffle-heads was affected by lake conditions, the utility of aquatic birds as indicators of the effects of forestry on western boreal lakes remains unproven.


Beamforming structures with fixed beam codebooks provide economical solutions for millimeter wave (mmWave) communications due to the low hardware cost. However, the training overhead to search for the optimal beamforming configuration is proportional to the codebook size. To improve the efficiency of beam tracking, we propose a beam tracking scheme based on the channel fingerprint database, which comprises mappings between statistical beamforming gains and user locations. The scheme tracks user movement by utilizing the trained beam configurations and estimating the gains of beam configurations that are not trained. Simulations show that the proposed scheme achieves significant beamforming performance gains over existing beam tracking schemes.


This thesis is concerned with statistical aspects of credit scoring, the process of determining how likely an applicant for credit is to default with repayments. In Chapters 1-4 a detailed introduction to credit scoring methodology is presented, including evaluation of previous published work on credit scoring and a review of discrimination and classification techniques.

In Chapter 5 we describe different approaches to measuring the absolute and relative performance of credit scoring models. Two significance tests are proposed for comparing the bad rate amongst the accepts (or the error rate) from two classifiers.

In Chapter 6 we consider different approaches to reject inference, the procedure of allocating class membership probabilities to the rejects. One reason for needing reject inference is to reduce the sample selection bias that results from using a sample consisting only of accepted applicants to build new scorecards. We show that the characteristic vectors for the rejects do not contain information about the parameters of the observed data likelihood, unless extra information or assumptions are included. Methods of reject inference which incorporate additional information are proposed.

In Chapter 7 we make comparisons of a range of different parametric and nonparametric classification techniques for credit scoring: linear regression, logistic regression, projection pursuit regression, Poisson regression, decision trees and decision graphs. We conclude that classifier performance is fairly insensitive to the particular technique adopted.

In Chapter 8 we describe the application of the k-NN method to credit scoring. We propose using an adjusted version of the Eucidean distance metric, which is designed to incorporate knowledge of class separation contained in the data. We evaluate properties of the k-NN classifier through empirical studies and make comparisons with existing techniques.


Background: Breast cancers are traditionally viewed as immunologically silent. However, recent research has demonstrated that the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HER-2 positive (HER2) are capable of stimulating the immune system. In contrast, the most commonly diagnosed subtype, the luminal A (hormone receptor positive (HR+)/HER-2 negative), is associated with a lower degree of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and low expression level of immune checkpoint regulators such as programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1). Cryoablation, the destruction of cells by ultra-low temperatures, has been used to treat benign breast disease and clinical trials have been conducted to determine its utility for invasive breast cancers. The primary endpoint has been the rate of complete tumor ablation with no assessment of immunological responses. We hypothesized that neoantigens released during cryoablation might be sufficient to trigger immune responses that could aid in the prevention/reduction of metastatic spread and relapse of breast cancers.In this pilot study we evaluated biopsy material, cryoablated specimens and sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) from patients enrolled in the ACOSOG Z1072 trial at Lankenau Medical Center (LMC) [N=18] with cancers < 2 cm. Responses were compared to patients treated with surgical resection.Methods: After obtaining IRB approval for retrospective analyses of specimens from the ACOSOG Z1072 trial, immunohistochemical staining of archival specimens was performed. An on-going biomarker study protocol was amended to include immune markers and used to select control patients of similar age and tumor characteristics. Per trial protocol, tumors had to be be surgically removed within 28 days of cryoablation, but the exact time was left to the surgeons discretion. Participating surgeons at LMC preferred to remove tumors on average 24.7 days after ablation resulting in an average time from diagnosis to surgical removal of 43.3 days (range 25- 56 days). Although most breast surgeries are performed within two weeks of diagnosis; some patients defer their surgery for personal reasons. This allowed us to identify patients (N=26) with a comparable average time from diagnosis to surgery of 37 days (range 21 - 66 days). Sections were stained for CD4, CD8, CD20, CD21, and CD1c to assess possible changes in immune repertoire due to cryoablation. We also evaluated presence of immune check-point regulators such as PD-L1 and CTLA-4 in biopsy, surgical material and SLN together with the immune modulator IDO1 using commercially available antibodies and standard techniques. Results: Cryoablation transformed tumors in patients into a gelatinous mass surrounded by a fibrotic capsule. The ACOSOG trial demonstrated an effective cryoablation-induced destruction of ER+ invasive ductal carcinoma lesions in 92% of patients (N=86). Sections from cryoablation patients displayed a necrotic core and infiltrating lymphocytes in the microenvironment. These masses had a slightly higher presence of CD8+ lymphocytes compared to CD4+. The inverse relation was observed in non-cryoblated specimens. SLNs from cryoablated patients had an elevated presence of CD20+ B cells compared to patients treated by surgery. Follicular dendritic cells (CD21+) were also present at higher numbers in SLNs from cryoablated patients. We detected positive staining for both PD-L1 and IDO1 among surgical and cryoablated patients. Sporadic presence of CTLA-4 was identified with a slight preference for cryoabalted patients. Conclusion: Cryoablation of breast cancer lesions can induce immune responses in vivo with possible anti-tumor activity in immunologically silent tumors such as HR+ breast cancers. All local cryo patients in the clinical trial are currently disease-free (F/U 5 - 13years), while 1 surgical patient is alive with late recurrence (11 years post-surgery).
 Citation Format: Margaretha Wallon, Jonah D Klein, Zachary Aukers, Nolan Metz, Vibha Ahudja, Laura Mandik-Nayak, Vincenzo Ciocca, Vlasta Zemba-Palko, Robin M Ciocca, Jennifer L Sabol, Ned Z Carp. Development of unique immune responses triggered by cryoablation of breast cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-04-05.


The t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) translocation that occurs uniquely in a subset of multiple myeloma tumors results in ectopic expression of wild-type FGFR3 and enhanced expression of MMSET, a gene that is homologous to the MLL gene that is involved in acute myeloid leukemias. Wild-type FGFR3 appears to be weakly transforming in a hematopoietic murine model, whereas FGFR3 that contains kinase-activating mutations is strongly transforming in NIH3T3 cells and the hematopoietic model. The subsequent acquisition of FGFR3 kinase-activating mutations in some tumors with t(4;14) translocations confirms a role for FGFR3 in tumor progression. However, it remains to be proven if and how dysregulation of FGFR3 or MMSET mediates an early oncogenic process in multiple myeloma.


Spirocyclic diketones with chiral all-carbon quaternary stereocenters constructed via a semipinacol rearrangement of vinylogous α-ketol cocatalyzed by a cinchona-based primary amine and Bronsted acids such as N-Boc-phenylglycine can be obtained with good enantiocontrol. Two different catalytic systems including cinchona-based primary amine/N-Boc-L-phenylglycine and cinchona-based primary amine/N-Boc-D-phenylglycine can lead to the same major products but with different enantioselectivities. To uncover the detailed reaction mechanism of the semipinacol rearrangement, the roles of catalysts and the origin of enantioselectivity, quantum mechanical calculations were performed. The reaction pathways investigated show that the reactions proceed via the steps of complexation, nucleophilic addition, dehydration, carbon atom migration, enamine–imine tautomerization, imine hydrolysis, Walden inversion and catalyst regeneration. Analyses of noncovalent interactions and quantum theory of atoms in molecules were employed to elucidate the intermolecular interactions occurring between the catalysts and reactants and their roles. The distortion/interaction models were used to reveal the origin of enantioselectivity by analyzing the transition state in the enantioselectivity-determining step of carbon atom migration. The results show that the cinchona-based primary amine plays a crucial role in determining the enantioselectivity while the Bronsted acid additives influence the enantioselectivity to some extent. It is expected that the results would shed light on the organocatalytic semipinacol rearrangement, the roles of the co-catalytic system and the origin of enantioselectivity.


Recently, many optical systems are employing lasers (indoor and outdoor) to sense objects at considerable ranges over large fields of regard. These can involve powerful wide field-of-view flash LIDAR systems or less powerful, very narrow divergence lasers scanned over the field of regard. Despite the fact that Z136.1 does not directly address scanning laser systems directly (except in a few appendices), there are ways to apply the random periodic exposure standards to various types of scanned systems to determine eye safety and hazard ranges. These can range from some simple approximations all the way to very detailed models. These apply to both pulsed and continuous-wave scanned laser systems. Naturally, the laser wavelength and laser power are critical, but the scan pattern also has a very large effect. Several example calculations taken from actual systems are shown.Recently, many optical systems are employing lasers (indoor and outdoor) to sense objects at considerable ranges over large fields of regard. These can involve powerful wide field-of-view flash LIDAR systems or less powerful, very narrow divergence lasers scanned over the field of regard. Despite the fact that Z136.1 does not directly address scanning laser systems directly (except in a few appendices), there are ways to apply the random periodic exposure standards to various types of scanned systems to determine eye safety and hazard ranges. These can range from some simple approximations all the way to very detailed models. These apply to both pulsed and continuous-wave scanned laser systems. Naturally, the laser wavelength and laser power are critical, but the scan pattern also has a very large effect. Several example calculations taken from actual systems are shown.


Sir, I read with interest the article by M-I Hsu and H-W Lin. Although the hypothesis is plausible, the methodology is seriously flawed, making the results meaningless. The diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) was made based on the women's medical history, clinical features at presentation, findings on bimanual palpation, findings of ultrasound scanning, culture of vaginal samples and laboratory data. The authors stated that they ensured the validity of the PID diagnosis by including only women who had at least two consensus diagnoses of PID. In addition, they excluded those who are younger than 13 years and older than 45 years of age, assuming they are at lower risk of PID. The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) guidelines for the management of PID emphasise that the PID symptoms (e.g. bilateral lower abdominal pain) and signs (e.g. bilateral lower abdominal tenderness and pyrexia) are all suggestive of the diagnosis but not confirmatory. The clinical symptoms and signs lack sensitivity and specificity. The positive predictive value of a clinical diagnosis could be as low as 65% when compared with laparoscopic diagnosis. Furthermore, laboratory tests such as elevated ESR or C-reactive protein may support the diagnosis but are not specific. Even the presence of endocervical or vaginal pus cells is non-specific, with a poor positive predictive value of only 17%. The diagnosis of PID can only be confirmed with a positive bacteriological testing for lower genital tract infection such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia. Having two consensus diagnoses of PID based on non-specific features does not improve the validity, nor could the diagnoses be achieved with certainty in the context of a retrospective study based on reviewing a database. Moreover, the authors relied on vaginal swabs, which mainly diagnose Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobes. None of the women included in this study underwent endocervical swabs for Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoea. It is understandable when the suspicion of PID is raised that empirical antibiotic treatment should be considered, particularly in sexually active women <25 years old to avoid complications, but this is another issue. Therefore, I believe that the reported weak association between PID and colorectal cancer cannot be trusted, and the only way to suggest such association would have been by including only women with a bacteriological diagnosis of PID. This would have reduced the sample size but produced results that are far more credible.&


We consider a nonlinear elliptic–parabolic system modelling induction heating processes when a sinusoidal electromagnetic field is applied at the boundary of the inductor. The magnetic field satisfies an elliptic equation whereas the temperature equation is parabolic. These equations are coupled together due to the conductivities and the Joule effect. We show the existence of a weak solution to the corresponding problem and under additional assumptions, we study the uniqueness of the solution.


Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of magnification-assisted subinguinal varicocelectomy (MASV) with testicular delivery in children with severe varicocele. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 23 children 15 years or younger (mean age, 12.3±1.8 years) who underwent MASV with testicular delivery and ligation of all collateral veins except arteries and deferential veins between January 2010 and January 2014. All patients had grade 3 varicocele on the left side. Varicocelectomy was decided upon due to scrotal hypotrophy (n=14, 60.9%), the existence of mass (n=6, 26.1%, including 1 recurrent case), and discomfort (n=3, 13.0%). The preservation of internal spermatic artery (ISA) was successful in 8 patients (34.8%). The mean follow-up time was 10.8±6.6 months. Results The surgical success rate of varicocelectomy was 100%. The overall symptom resolution rate was 91.3%. The scrotal mass and discomfort disappeared, but testicular catch-up growth did not occur in 2 among 14 patients with scrotal hypotrophy. The left testis volume increased from 6.5±4.3 mL to 10.6±7.5 mL (p=0.003). There were no significant inter-group differences in terms of the surgical success rate, symptom resolution, and catch-up growth between the ISA preservation group and the ligation group. None of the subjects demonstrated testicular atrophy or hydrocele after surgery. Conclusions MASV with testicular delivery is an effective and safe method for children with severe varicocele.


Background Epidemiological studies focused on primary healthcare needs of persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) are often based on data from specialist homeless healthcare services. Aim To explore the presentation of PEH, coding of homelessness, and associated health conditions in mainstream primary care general practices in England. Design & setting EMIS electronic database search of medical records was conducted across 48 general practices in a clinical commissioning group (CCG), representing one of the most socioeconomically deprived regions in England, which also lacks a specialist primary healthcare service for PEH. Method Key terms and codes were used to identify PEH, their respective diagnoses across 22 health conditions, and prescribed medications over the past 4 years. Results From a population of approximately 321 000, 43 (0.013%) people were coded as PEH, compared with a homelessness prevalence of 0.5% in the English general population. Mental health conditions were the most prevalent diagnoses among the PEH registrants (56.6%); the recorded prevalence of other common long-term conditions in PEH was lower than the levels observed in PEH registered with specialist homelessness health services. Conclusion In a population with approximately four times higher rate of statutory homelessness, PEH representation in mainstream general practices was under-represented by several folds. As homelessness overlaps with mental health, substance misuse, and long-term health conditions, consistent coding of homelessness in medical records is imperative in order to offer tailored support and prevention actions when patients present for services.


This paper explores the universal principles of Islamic propagation (dakwah) according to the holy Qur?an. In doing this, the paper employs the thematic approach by collecting the Quranic verses that speak of da?wah, and interpret them analytically. Specific attention will be given to the verses that are rooted in the Arabic word da?a, which means ?to call?, and balagha, which means ?to convey?. Other verses that have to do with the activity of da?wah will be touched briefly. The paper argues that the concepts of ?calling? and ?conveying? constitute the most important and central notion of da?wah in Islam. Together the two represent the holistic Islamic idea of not only spreading out Islam, but also of building a community based on religiosity. Islamic concept of da?wah is universal because it targets not only Muslim but also all human being based on understanding, tolerance and harmony.


Complex, interactive ecological constraints regulate species distributions, and understanding these factors is crucial for predicting species persistence. We used occupancy analysis, which corrects for imperfect detection, to test the importance of abiotic and biotic habitat and landscape factors on probability of occupancy by Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata (Agassiz, 1850)) tadpoles. We hypothesized that hydropattern and predators are primarily important because they affect desiccation and predation risk and can interact in ways difficult to predict. We surveyed 62 wetland sites across an elevational gradient in Colorado, USA, and modeled patterns in P. maculata occupancy. Tadpoles were most frequently present in intermediate-length hydropattern systems with lower desiccation risk and no predatory fish because of occasional drying. Pseudacris maculata occupancy had a strong negative relationship with fish presence, while tadpoles, odonate larvae, and Barred Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium mavortium Baird, 1850) frequently co-occurred. Dry seasonal conditions will likely result in fewer intermediate-length hydropattern ponds available for amphibian breeding. We hypothesize that this will force P. maculata to breed in habitats with fish. As habitats shrink, predators that co-occur with P. maculata are expected to concentrate in the remaining habitat and increase predation risk for developing tadpoles (assuming predators are similarly constricted in their habitat use as amphibians are).


The lower extremity performance in elderly female patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (PD; n = 12) and controls (n = 16) was compared. Isometric dynamometry and force-plate measurements were used. PD patients had lower (p < .05) bilateral (BL) maximal isometric leg-extension force (MF), BL isometric MF relative to body mass, and maximal rate of isometric force development than control participants. BL strength deficit was greater (p < .05) in PD patients than in controls. A significantly longer chair-rise time and lower maximal rate of vertical-ground-reaction-force development while rising from a chair was found in PD patients than in controls. These findings suggest that elderly women with PD have lowered voluntary isometric force-generation capacity of the leg-extensor muscles. Reduced BL leg-extension strength might contribute to the difficulty of individuals with PD to rise from a chair.


Testosterone and its derivatives have been in clinical use for the past four years, during which time their value in the treatment of testicular deficiency has become firmly established. The dramatic effects produced in eunuchs and eunuchoid patients have been reported by numerous investigators.1It is now recognized that these synthetic hormones have little effect in the presence of adequate testicular function and they are of value only as substitutive therapy for patients whose testicles are secreting an insufficient amount of hormone.2The etiology of the testicular deficiency may be one of many; viz., lack of proper pituitary function, inherent underdevelopment of the testicle, surgical and traumatic injuries to the testicle or its blood supply, and senility. The symptoms and physical characteristics of testicular deficiency have been fully described in previous publications. The method of administration of these valuable hormones has been a major problem. Early studies revealed


Abstract In the first part of the review the selected examples of title rotaxanes are shown, among them those containing thiophene and acridane units, as well as those of the dendrimeric structure. In the second part the rotaxanes with electrostatic or steric barriers, incorporated for increase of lifetime of their metastable state, are presented. The third part of the review deals with rotaxanes investigated in the aspect of their secondary structure, and in the fourth part rotaxanes containing a modified tetracationic cyclophane ring are described.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the perspectives of vision care providers (VCPs) on inquiring about driving among their older adult patients.

METHODS
We surveyed a stratified random sample of 500 VCPs, 404 of whom completed the survey (response rate, 80.8%), who had been identified using membership lists of the Michigan Optometric Association and the Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. The survey assessed VCPs' attitudes and behaviors in addressing driving concerns with older patients. Ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associations between provider or practice characteristics and survey responses.

RESULTS
More than 80% of VCPs are confident in their ability to determine whether their patients' vision is adequate for safe driving. The VCPs cite liability risk (for reporting [24.2%] and for not reporting [43.6%]) as a barrier to reporting unsafe drivers. Almost two-thirds report routinely inquiring about their older patients' driving, and 86.3% consider that counseling patients about driving is their responsibility. Almost 60% (57.2%) worry that reporting patients negatively influences the physician-patient relationship, and 43.1% consider that reporting is a breach of physician-patient confidentiality. Attitudes and behaviors in discussing driving varied by VCP characteristics, particularly provider type. More than one-third of VCPs (35.6%) report sometimes, often, or always communicating concerns about patients' driving to their primary care physician. Resources endorsed by VCPs as helpful or very helpful include driving assessment guidelines (80.5%), clinical screening instruments (70.1%), and patient self-assessment tools (59.9%).

CONCLUSION
While VCPs view that advising patients about driving is an important responsibility, further attention should be given to addressing barriers, providing resources, and devising communication strategies between VCPs and other members of the health care team.


Experimental Townsend primary ionization coefficients are concisely presented for 24 gaseous hydrocarbons starting with methane. Applying the traditional Townsend formula for the primary ionization coefficient enables the saturation ionization constant, A, and the inelastic barrier constant, B, to be obtained for each hydrocarbon. Making use of the Lewis formula for B allows this constant to be further analysed in terms of available excitation and ionization potentials and total electron‐molecule collision cross‐sections, and enables the as‐yet unknown‐except for methaneinelastic collision cross‐sections to be found for each hydrocarbon. Using the inelastic collision cross‐section data for methane, the only hydrocarbon for which this is available, vindicates for the first time the Lewis formula and shows that the vibrational cross‐sections have to be included in the inelastic one for these molecular gases. Inserting the ionization coefficients and/or constants into Townsend's sparking criterion allows Paschen characteristics to be presented up to 500 kV. Each of these sets of data is linked in turn to the number of hydrogen atoms/carbon‐hydrogen bonds rather than the carbon number and thus this electrical classification differs from the chemical one. This is further corroborated by the hydrogen molecule being the natural precursor to methane in its electrical characteristics and by the total collision cross‐section in the relevant electron energy range being determined by the hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon molecule. For the alkanes tested, propane is the first member of the series; for the 1‐alkenes, propene‐1 is, while for the methyl‐alkenes, ethene‐1 is the first.


This paper applies the Artificial Intelligence technique called Genetic Algorithm (GA) to perform analog integrated circuits design, synthesis and optimization in order to reduce the development time and increase precision of this kind of circuits. In this work an accurate method to determine the device sizes in an analog integrated circuit on the basis of genetic algorithm is presented. To evaluate algorithm, an example in both time and frequency domains for a two-stage CMOS Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA) is presented in 0.18 µm process. The simulation results confirm the efficiency of GA in determining the device sizes in an analog circuit.


Direct seeding of rice and transplanting are the two common methods of rice establishment. Transplanting method is more popular among farmers due to higher yield and less weed growth as compared to direct seeded rice. Transplanting of paddy completely depends on manual labour in India. Rice transplanting is done manually and requires about 306 man-h/ha, which is roughly 42% of the total labour requirement of rice production. A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of eight row self-propelled rice transplanter at ICAR-National Rice Research Institute. The field capacity, field efficiency of self-propelled rice transplanter were 0.234 ha h-1, 75.16% respectively. It was observed that, the percentages of missing, floating and buried hills were 9.5%, 3.0% and 2.0% when self-propelled rice transplanter working in the field. The depth of transplanting was 6 cm. At the time of operation depth of standing water was 2.5-3 cm. The number of seedlings per hill was 2-3.


Phalangeal and metacarpal fractures with severe comminution and/or soft tissue compromise can present a challenge for the orthopedic surgeon. Maintaining viability of the soft tissues while providing rigid fixation of bony injuries is the goal when treating these injuries. Commercially available mini external fixators can help to achieve these goals. However, these devices are costly and are not always available when the surgeon needs them. In this technique study, we discuss the implementation of a mini external fixator using readily available implements in the operating room that is efficient, cost effective, and easy to apply.


Objective: To assess the effect the therapeutic effect of CTHepaB capsules on nude mice carrying human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC) infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Method: Nude mice after HCC transplant Hep3B infected with HBV on the right thigh, appeared a tumor on the thigh on the 14th day of transplantation, had an average size of 74,6 ± 14,3 mm3), randomly divided into 2 groups of 15 rats each and randomly divided into 3 lots (5 mice / lot): in the control group, drink 0.9% NaCl solution; Treatment, oral dose of CTHepaB 0.96g / kg / 24h; Reference batch, oral dose of 5FU 10mg / kg / 24h.Give the rats the drug according to the above division for 4 weeks. Group 1 used to evaluate the effect of research drugs on tumor size, survival / death rate; Average lifetime of the mouse. Group 2, used for splenectomy to evaluate the density of some immune cells and the HBV-DNA quantification of tumor cells. Results: CTHepaB capsules reduced the average tumor size compared to the control group, equivalent to that of the group using 5FU at dose of 10mg/kg/24h; Limiting the death rate of mice at the evaluation points 70, 76, 85, 90 days after taking the drug compared to the control group and on 85, 90 days, compared with the reference group; increases average survival time of mice; Increased number of NK cells, Macrophage cells and DC cells in mouse spleen; Reduces the amount of HBV-DNA in mouse tumor cells. Conclusion: CTHepaB capsule with dose of 0.96g/kg/24h has good therapeutic effect, in nude mice carrying HCC infected with HBV.


An unusual case of homicide is reported. A driver of an excavator killed his foreman by using the scoops of his machine and tried to feign an industrial accident. The man was convicted by the autopsy findings because his testimony could not explain the severe injuries.


Abstract Ms. Broms begins by defining the nature of collaboration and then describing the various elements that affect the process. The bulk of her paper is devoted to surveying the type of collaborative projects undertaken by AALL chapters from around the country. She divides these endeavors into a number of categories and discusses the rewards and problems of each.


This research is about the exhaust gas and driving performance test which are for CNG-Diesel dual fuel engine. The CNG-Diesel dual fuel engine converted from 2500cc diesel has two steps of injection systems; small amount of diesel is injected to mixture CNG in cylinder to ignite before CNG is injected into each intake manifold to form mixture. The amounts of output power and emission in duel fuel consumption were measured by engine dynamometer and exhaust gas analyzer. Over 90% of diesel consumption reduction, similar driving performance to current diesel engine and reduced emission on CO2 and PM, respectively, were indicated through the measurements. The two steps of system were applied to vehicle to investigate exhaust gas characteristics and driving performance via NEDC mode and real driving test. Additional oxidation catalyst was applied to reduce emission on the test vehicle and the NEDC mode test showed the reduction of Co, CO2, Pm and THC.


We consider the problem of the lifetime of a metastable atomic state in a nonequilibrium plasma. We have obtained a region of parameters, in which metastability breakdown by the Langmuir turbulence spectrum is a very important agent capable of leading to observed effects under laboratory and astrophysical conditions.


This book explores the new types of political organization that emerged in Western Europe and the United States during the nineteenth century, from popular meetings to single-issue organizations and political parties. The development of these has often been used to demonstrate a movement towards democratic representation or political institutionalization. This volume challenges the idea that the development of 'democracy' is a story of rise and progress at all. It is rather a story of continuous but never completely satisfying attempts of interpreting the rule of the people. Taking the perspective of nineteenth-century organizers as its point of departure, this study shows that contemporaries hardly distinguished between petitioning, meeting and association. The attraction of organizing was that it promised representation, accountability and popular participation. Only in the twentieth century did parties reliable partners for the state in averting revolution, managing the unpredictable effects of universal suffrage, and reforming society. This collection analyzes them in their earliest stage, as just one of several types of civil society organizations, that did not differ that much from each other. The promise of organization, and the experiments that resulted from it, deeply impacted modern politics.


The eggs took 58-85 hrs to hatch. All the events except the fecundity rate had positive correlation with air temperature. The average duration of five larval instars varied from 3-8 days and is against temperature related. The highly temperature sensitive pupal development took 7-20 days. The insect overwintered as pupa. There were 8 or 9 generations per year and the length of the generations (26-59 days) varied with temperature. The overwintering generation took 159-167 days. The effect of precipitation on the developments of the insect was not evident. Mortalities were high at the early and late stages of the life cycle with a break in the middle. Some of the mortality factors were identified. Degree days to predict phenological changes were worked out. A formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis, Bactospeine, was found highly effective in controlling the pest. The insect infested many citrus varieties with differential preferences.


The term teaching styles has had different meanings depending on the use that scholars have given it, therefore, its use has been polysemic, an issue that is common with many other terms on all of the social and human sciences. This article presents some explanations about teaching styles, as well as assumes a possible conceptualization and presents some variables and issues that can be useful in identifying teaching styles.


A new algorithm for efficient key management for secure group communication in P2P network is presented. The protocol avoids the escrow problem in identity-based cryptosystem and the secure delivery of private keys. The security of protocol is based on some underlying problems closely related to the Bilinear Diffie-Hellman Problem are computationally hard.


This paper is an extension of Magnus (2002, Econometrics Journal 5, 225–236) to multiple dimensions. We consider estimation of a multivariate normal mean under sum of squared error loss. We construct the efficiency bound (the lowest achievable risk) for minimax shrinkage estimation in the class of minimax orthogonally invariate estimators satisfying the sufficient conditions of Efron and Morris (1976, Annals of Statistics 4, 11–21). This allows us to compare the regret of existing orthogonally invariate shrinkage estimators. We also construct a new shrinkage estimator which achieves substantially lower maximum regret than existing estimators.


Silicon carbide reinforced aluminum alloy matrix composites offer excellent thermo-mechanical properties and are thus attractive for applications limited by thermal stresses. Open porous silicon carbide preforms are fabricated in this work using polymer wax as pore formers. Two different waxes with different particle size were used to fabricate preforms with different pore structures. Wax content was varied to introduce open porosities up to 64 vol%. Structural characterization was carried out using scanning electron microscopy and micro computed tomography, whereas ultrasound phase spectroscopy was used to determine three longitudinal and three shear elastic constants. The amount of porosity increases with the amount of total wax used. Uniaxial pressing prior to isostatic pressing flattens the pores and as a result the preforms behave transverse isotropically with respect to the press direction. For the same total wax content, while the mixture ratio of two waxes has a minor influence on total porosity, the mixture ratio strongly influences the elastic constants. Optimum elastic constants along all directions are obtained with a mixture of two wax types with a higher content of the larger wax particles.


A series of synthetic peptides derived from the corresponding regions of the gag, pol, and env proteins of human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I (HTLV-I) and II (HTLV-II) were used in an enzyme immunoassay to map the immunodominant epitopes of HTLV. Serum specimens from 79 of 87 (91%) HTLV-I-infected patients reacted with the synthetic peptide Gag-1a (amino acids [a.a.] 102 to 117) derived from the C terminus of the p19gag protein of HTLV-I. Minimal cross-reactivity (11%) was observed with serum specimens from HTLV-II-infected patients. Peptide Pol-3, encoded by the pol region of HTLV-I (a.a. 487 to 502), reacted with serum specimens from both HTLV-I- and HTLV-II-infected patients (94 and 86%, respectively). The antibody levels to Pol-3 were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis than in either adult T-cell leukemia patients or HTLV-I-positive asymptomatic carriers. None of the other peptides studied demonstrated significant binding to serum specimens obtained from HTLV-I- or HTLV-II-infected individuals. While Gag-1a did not react with serum specimens from normal controls, Pol-3 demonstrated some reaction with specimens from seronegative individuals (11.4%). The antibodies to Gag-1a and Pol-3 in serum specimens from HTLV-I-infected patients could be specifically inhibited by the corresponding synthetic peptides and by a crude HTLV-I antigen preparation, indicating that these peptides mimic native epitopes present in HTLV-I proteins that are recognized by serum antibodies from HTLV-I- and -II-infected individuals.


To clarify the resistibility against Theileria sergenti infection in Holstein and Japanese Black cattle under controlled conditions in artificial environmental chambers, those breeds of calves were infected with T. sergenti by infestation with the same number of infected ticks. No apparent differences between the two breeds were observed in the feeding numbers and feeding periods of ticks infested. The level and duration of parasitemia were clearly less and shorter in Japanese Black than those in Holstein calves. With progress of parasitemia, packed cell volume (PCV) and erythrocyte number decreased in both breeds. However, the minimum PCV and erythrocyte number recorded in Japanese Black were higher than those in Holstein calves. These results suggest that the Japanese Black shows solider resistance to T. sergenti infection than the Holstein breed does under experimentally controlled condition without external factors.


The paper focuses on athletes' use of chewing gum as an ergogenic aid in their sports engagements. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. Four each of research questions and hypotheses were raised to guide the study. A sample of 276 (164 males and 112 females) was purposively drawn from a population of athletes that participated during NUGA preliminaries in 2006. A self-structured validated questionnaire was used for the collection of data. The data collected were descriptively and inferentially analyzed. The findings revealed that: Athletes perceive chewing gum as an efficacious psychological means of adjusting to sports stress and conditions. The level of use of chewing gum by athletes as a psychogenic aid is dependent upon the importance attached to the sports engagement, the less the importance the less the use. Assorted reasons are projected by athletes for using chewing gum as a psychogenic aid. The use of chewing gum as a psychogenic aid favours female athletes more than their male counterparts. The degree of use of chewing gum by athletes as a psychogenic aid discriminates among various sports types.


Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH), a common clinical problem characterized by increased pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, is frequently triggered by hypoxia. Key mediators of cellular hypoxia responses are hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF)-1 and -2, the activity of which is regulated by prolyl-4-hydroxylase domain (PHD) proteins, with PHD2 being the main oxygen sensor that controls HIF activity under normoxia. Although both transcription factors are expressed in the lung, little is known about their cell type-specific roles in the pathogenesis of PH. Methods and Results Here we used a genetic approach to investigate the role of endothelial PHD2/HIF axis in the regulation of PA pressure. Endothelial cell specific HIF activation was achieved by crossing Vecadherin (Cdh5)-Cre transgenics to Phd2 floxed mice (ePhd2), while the contribution of each HIF isoform was assessed by generating double mutants lacking Phd2 and Hif-2 (ePhd2Hif2) or Phd2 and Hif-1 (Phd2Hif1). Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was measured via insertion of a 1.4F Mikro-tip catheter transducer into a surgically exposed right internal jugular vein. ePhd2 mice showed activation of HIF-signaling as shown by immunoblot analysis of lung tissue for HIF-1 and HIF-2. These mice developed spontaneous PH (RVSP, ePhd2: 54.3±6.9 vs Cre-: 24.8±2.2 mm Hg, P=0.005), which was associated with right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) (Fulton Index, ePhd2: 0.52 vs Cre-: 0.28, P=0.0004) and early mortality. While morphologic analysis of ePhd2 lungs did not demonstrate plexiform or lumen-obliterating lesions, enhanced muscularization of peripheral PAs was detected in mutants compared to controls, as indicated by an increase in the number of arteries with diameters <100 µm that stained positive for αSMA (22.1±1.6 vs. 7.6±1.5 muscularized vessels/10 hpf, P<0.0001). The PH phenotype was maintained in ePhd2Hif1 mutants but was reversed in ePhd2Hif2 mutants. To assess the contribution of endothelial HIF-2 in hypoxia induced PH, endothelial Hif2 single mutants or Cre-littermates were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (10% O2) for 4 weeks. In contrast to controls, eHif2 mutants were protected from development of PH and RVH. Bone marrow transplantation studies showed no contribution from hematopoietic HIF-2 in hypoxia induced PH. Because hypoxia regulates endothelin 1 (EDN1), a potent vasoconstrictor but also apelin (APLN), a vasodilatory peptide acting through binding to the apelin G-protein-coupled receptor (APLNR), we assessed the role of endothelial HIF-2 axis in the regulation of these molecules. Endothelial deletion of Phd2 resulted in 6.4-fold induction of pulmonary Edn1 mRNA (P=0.029), but not Apln mRNA. In contrast, Aplnr was downregulated by 2.5-fold in ePhd2 mutants (P=0.037). A similar pattern of expression was detected in ePhd2Hif1 mice, whereas simultaneous deletion of Hif2a and Phd2 reversed these changes. To investigate the differences between acute and chronic hypoxia, we examined the effects of acute HIF activation on Edn1 and Apln/Aplnr gene expression in vivo. To model acute hypoxia, we subjected WT mice to 8% O2 for 48 hrs and maintained controls in room air. Acute hypoxia resulted in a 4.3-fold and 1.6-fold up-regulation of Edn1 and Apln transcripts respectively (P=0.0011 for Edn1, P=0.08 for Apln) while Aplnr was reduced by 4.3-fold (P=0.0005). We observed similar gene expression changes in mice treated with a prolyl-4-hydroxylase inhibitor (PHI) that results in global HIF activation. Conclusions Our studies identify endothelial HIF-2 as a key transcription factor in the pathogenesis of PH and suggest that HIF-2 regulates PA pressure by modulating the expression of vasoactive molecules. Our findings identify the PHD2/HIF2 axis as a potential target for PH therapies.


The Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards (CIMAH) regulations was introduced in 1996 to regulate workplaces with hazardous chemicals in their facilities. The Regulations provide a minimum standard to ensure precautionary measures related to major hazard risks are taken. Although the Regulations have been enforced for more than two decades in Malaysia, there have been limited efforts to review related information, trends and data since its inception. The study aimed to provide an overview of the position of CIMAH regulations after two decades of being enacted in Malaysia. Data were extracted from the published and unpublished reports and documentations by Department of Occupational Safety and Health of Malaysia (DOSH), as well as available publications from literary journals. Analysis of the contents revealed three categories of data: i) CIMAH regulations' administrative governance changes; ii) major hazard industries–categorization and registration trends; and iii) CIMAH regulations' punitive activities. The findings provide an overview of relevant trends and data related to CIMAH regulations in the past two decades, and may provide stakeholders such as policymakers, practitioners, and researchers a groundwork for improvement initiatives.


The intersection point of the characteristic magnetic field line (CMFL) crossing the anode boundary with the discharge channel wall, and its influence on thruster performance and the energy and flux of ions bombarding the channel wall, have been studied numerically. The simulation results demonstrate that with the increase in distance from the crossover point of the CMFL with the channel wall to the bottom of the thruster channel, the ionization rate in the discharge channel gradually increases; meanwhile, the ion energy and ion current density bombarding the channel wall decreases. When the point of the CMFL with the channel wall is at the channel outlet, the thrust, specific impulse, and efficiency are at a maximum, while the ion energy and ion current density bombarding the channel wall are at a minimum. Therefore, to improve the performance and lifetime of the thruster, it is important to control the point of intersection of the CMFL with the channel wall.


The Friedel sum rule is extended to express the electron number accumulated within an asymmetric potential well in terms of the phases of transmission and reflection amplitudes of a double-barrier potential, in the presence of a bias voltage and charging effects. It is applied to study non-equilibrium transport properties in asymmetric double-barrier systems. The current-voltage characteristics depends on the sign of the bias voltage, which is caused by the different accumulation of charges in the quantum well. Our self-consistent calculation shows the hysteresis in the current-voltage characteristics which agrees with the experimental observation.


Osteogenesis imperfecta is an inherited connective tissue disorder. Aortic root dilation, aortic insufficiency and mitral valve prolapse are uncommon cardiovascular manifestations of osteogenesis imperfecta. Cardiac surgery in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta involves a high risk of complication rate. We report a case of coronary artery dissection induced by coronary angiogram in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta and severe aortic regurgitation. In this case, the dissection of a coronary artery was not completely sealed by coronary stenting, and followed by successful combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting on an emergency basis. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.


The paper contains the proof of the statement that the component of the sum of weighted powers with natural bases and equal parameters, dependent on weight coefficients, is equal to the sum of products of binomial and weight coefficients. It is proved also, that the component of this sum, independent of weight coefficients, is the algebraic sum of products of binomial coefficients and powers of natural numbers. Explicit combinatorial representation of the sum of the weighted equal powers contains the magnitudes taken from proved equalities.