Excessive application of phosphorus (P)-rich manures to agricultural lands often results in P-accumulation in soils leading to water pollution through runoffs and leaching. Use of suitable plant species that can extract and sequester excess P from soil into their biomass is an effective method of remediation of P-contaminated soils. Knowledge on the molecular responses of plants to high P-accumulation and tolerance is lacking. Therefore, a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) strategy was employed to identify and elucidate the pattern of gene expression related to P-tolerance and accumulation in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), a P-accumulator plant. RNA isolated from cucumber grown in high P was used for 'tester' cDNA synthesis and SSH library preparation. A total of 63 cDNAs were identified as showing upregulated expression in this plant in response to high P. No putative function could be assigned to 7 (11%) of the 63 upregulated high P-modulated genes and 11 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) (17%) did not match database entries. The remaining 45 ESTs were grouped into five functional classes. The majority of these ESTs belonged to three groups: 'metabolism', 'protein synthesis/degradation and signaling' and 'cell structure/cell wall'. Only six 'stress/defense'-related ESTs were identified from this library. The results of reverse northern blot analysis was further confirmed and validated through semi-quantitative RT-PCR carried out with representative ESTs identified in this study. The research reported here may contribute to a preliminary understanding of the high P-related gene expression in this P-accumulating plant.


Maize is susceptible to infect pest disease, and early disease detection is key to preventing the reduction of maize yields. The raw data used for plant disease detection are commonly RGB images and hyperspectral images (HSI). RGB images can be acquired rapidly and low-costly, but the detection accuracy is not satisfactory. On the contrary, using HSIs tends to obtain higher detection accuracy, but HSIs are difficult and high-cost to obtain in field. To overcome this contradiction, we have proposed the maize spectral recovery disease detection framework which includes two parts: the maize spectral recovery network based on the advanced hyperspectral recovery convolutional neural network (HSCNN+) and the maize disease detection network based on the convolutional neural network (CNN). Taking raw RGB data as input of the framework, the output reconstructed HSIs are used as input of disease detection network to achieve disease detection task. As a result, the detection accuracy obtained by using the low-cost raw RGB data almost as same as that obtained by using HSIs directly. The HSCNN+ is found to be fit to our spectral recovery model and the reconstruction fidelity was satisfactory. Experimental results demonstrate that the reconstructed HSIs efficiently improve detection accuracy compared with raw RGB image in tested scenarios, especially in complex environment scenario, for which the detection accuracy increases by 6.14%. The proposed framework has the advantages of fast, low cost and high detection precision. Moreover, the framework offers the possibility of real-time and precise field disease detection and can be applied in agricultural robots.


The mismatch negativity (MMN) is considered the electrophysiological change-detection response of the brain, and therefore a valuable clinical tool for monitoring functional changes associated with return to consciousness after severe brain injury. Using an auditory multi-deviant oddball paradigm, we tracked auditory MMN responses in seventeen healthy controls over a 12-h period, and in three comatose patients assessed over 24 h at two time points. We investigated whether the MMN responses show fluctuations in detectability over time in full conscious awareness, or whether such fluctuations are rather a feature of coma. Three methods of analysis were utilized to determine whether the MMN and subsequent event-related potential (ERP) components could be identified: traditional visual analysis, permutation t-test, and Bayesian analysis. The results showed that the MMN responses elicited to the duration deviant-stimuli are elicited and reliably detected over the course of several hours in healthy controls, at both group and single-subject levels. Preliminary findings in three comatose patients provide further evidence that the MMN is often present in coma, varying within a single patient from easily detectable to undetectable at different times. This highlights the fact that regular and repeated assessments are extremely important when using MMN as a neurophysiological predictor of coma emergence.


Genetic parameters were estimated for purebred and crossbred lambs of a local breed using a single trait animal model. The traits recorded were: birth weight (BWT), weight at 30 days (WT30), weaning weight (WWT), average daily gain from 1 to 30 days (ADG1) and average daily gain from 30 to 90 days (ADG2). Five different animal models were fitted for each trait; all including additive direct genetic variance and various combinations of additive maternal and environmental maternal effects. The most appropriate model was chosen based on likelihood ratio tests. Additive maternal and permanent environmental effects were important (P < 0·05) for birth weight in purebred and crossbred lambs, when compared with a model containing only additive direct effects. Inclusion of maternal permanent environmental effects provided a better fit (P < 0·05) for weaning weight in purebred lambs than a model containing only additive direct effects. Estimates of heritability from the model containing additive direct, maternal effects and maternal permanent environmental effects, but not additive direct-maternal correlation, for combined purebred and crossbred lambs were 0·32 for BWT, 0·19 for WT30, 0·24 for WWT, 0·26 for ADG1 and 0·12 for ADG2. Estimates of additive maternal and maternal permanent environmental variances, respectively, as a proportion of phenotypic variance were 0·06 and 0·07 for BWT, 0·05 and 0·02 for WT30, 0·02 and 0·03 for WWT, 0·03 and 0·05 for ADG1 and 0·00 and 0·03 for ADG2. Estimates of direct-maternal correlation in subsequent analyses were significant and ranged from −0·16 to −0·95 for live weights and from −0·73 to −1·0 for daily gains. However, the very large negative correlations probably resulted from undefined non-genetic covariances as well as possible antagonistic genetic effects. These results indicate that it would be possible to improve growth traits in a local sheep breed through genetic selection.


A tissue-equivalent ionization chamber with associated circuitry has been developed for area radiation monitoring in the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The conventional chamber configuration was modified in order to increase the electric field and effective volume thereby achieving higher sensitivity and linearity. Ihe instrument provides local and remote radiation level indications and a high level alarm. Twenty-four of these instruments were fabricated for use at various locations in the experimental area of the IPNS-1 facility.


Sufficient hydrological data has been collected, since 1985 for Imnavait Creek and 1996 for Upper Kuparuk River, to perform water balance calculations on the North Slope of Alaska. Permafrost is continuous under these basins, and sub-freezing temperatures dominate through the annual cycle with the snow-covered season lasting 8-9 months. These two small headwater basins receive about one-third of their annual precipitation as snow and two-thirds as summer rain (occasionally mixed with snow). The snowmelt period is a significant hydrological event each year and often produces the highest annual runoff; the floods of record are rainfall or rain/snow mixed summer events. The highest runoff ratios occur in Imnavait Creek during snowmelt and in Upper Kuparuk River during the summer. The Upper Kuparuk River, besides being 60 times larger, has higher terrain, steeper slopes, extensive bedrock outcrops and a few lakes. Water fluxes leaving Imnavait Creek catchment are about equally split between evapotranspiration and runoff; for the Upper Kuparuk watershed, it is estimated that 64% left as runoff and 36% as evapotranspiration. The quality of the data in these basins is quite good, except during extreme events.


With c-Fos immunoreactivity as a marker for neural activity, we examined whether environmental cues associated with ethanol injection influence the expression of tolerance to ethanol-induced c-Fos activation. Over 24 training days, male Long-Evans rats received ethanol injection (2.5 g/kg) in one environment and saline injection in a different environment. Relative to rats that received ethanol for the first time, ethanol-induced c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the locus coeruleus (LC) was significantly reduced in rats that had received multiple prior ethanol administrations. However, tolerance was partially reversed when ethanol was given in the saline-paired, rather than the ethanol-paired, environment. Results suggest that tolerance to ethanol, as indexed by c-Fos expression in the PVN and the LC, is mediated in part by Pavlovian conditioned responses to cues that predict ethanol administration.


Recovering alcoholic fathers with a positive family history of alcoholism and their 10-15 year-old sons were assessed on a variety of personality measures and compared to a matched group of nonalcoholic fathers with a negative family history of alcoholism, and their sons. Assessment instruments for the sons included the Personality Inventory for Children, High School Personality Questionnaire, Junior Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Comparable questionnaires were administered to the fathers: the MMPI, 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire, Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. No psychopathology or extreme personality variants were observed in either fathers' or sons' groups. However, MANOVAS and linear discriminant functions revealed significant differences on several personality measures between fathers' and sons' groups. Compared to sons of nonalcoholics, sons of alcoholics were relatively more compulsive, insecure and fearful while being more subdued and detached. The recovering alcoholics were more impulsive and regimented than the nonalcoholics. An index resulting from the combination of the best personality discriminators was significantly correlated in father-son pairs. In addition, this index was significantly correlated with key neurocognitive variables from our previous study which assessed the same father-son pairs. This atypical CNS profile, encompassing altered electrophysiology, neuropsychological performance and personality traits, may be useful in identifying those at increased risk for developing alcoholism.


Microbiome-based anaerobic fermentations are promising platform technologies to convert low grade biomass into chemical building blocks. However, systematic investigations on their scalability are scarce. Here, microbiome-based production of medium-chain carboxylic acids from acetate and ethanol was systematically investigated across scales from serum bottles (110 mL) to standard bioreactors (2.2 L) in batch mode. Microbiome cultivation on serum bottle level for high throughput screening led to a considerable total medium-chain carboxylic acids concentration of 843.2 ± 20 C mM with 77.0 ± 2 mM n-butyrate and 89.2 ± 2 mM n-caproate. Introducing agitation significantly enhanced the maximum product formation rates of n-butyrate (rC4,max) and n-caproate (rC6,max) and was identified as a key parameter for further upscaling. The highest total medium-chain carboxylic acids concentration of 977.8 ± 22.8 C mM with 98.5 ± 2.1 mM n-butyrate and 97.3 ± 2.4 mM n-caproate was reached in the 2.2 L standard bioreactor and was only restricted by end-product inhibition. Further, a carbon recovery of up to 94% was independent of the reactor scale proving the transferability of the microbiome and its functions. Based on cloning and sequencing the most abundant microorganisms were closest related to the model organism for microbial medium-chain carboxylic acid formation, Clostridium kluyveri. The current study demonstrates that time and resource efficient screening of functional microbiomes for relevant cultivation conditions on a small scale can be combined with its subsequent upscaling without performance loss.


INTRODUCTION 290 I.THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE LAW 293 A. Television's Impact 295 B. Television's Impact on the Law 299 C. Taking Television Comedy Seriously 303 D. Humor's Potential: Nothing to Be Laughed At ...... 304 E. Television Satire 305 1. Favoring Television Satire 307 2. Disputing Television Satire 309 F. Getting the Joke: The Cognitive Processing of Humor 312 G. Misunderstanding Satire 314 H. Making the Law a Joke: Television Satires of the Law 316 I. Investigating Viewer Interpretation 316 J. Family Guy 318 II.THE STUDY 321 A. The Episodes 321 B. Participants 322 C. Clear Message Episode 322 1. Clear Message Episode: Survey and Viewing .... 322 2. Clear Message Episode: Results 323 3. Opinions About Free Speech and Press Censorship 325 D. Unclear Message Episode 325 1. Unclear Message Episode: Survey and Viewing 325


Background. Bone marrow cells (BMCs) are believed to have the ability to generate functional hepatocytes and have some merits as a therapeutic modality for metabolic liver diseases. However, the appearance of BMC-derived hepatocytes (BMDHs) is low. We hypothesized that early BMC injection would be feasible for creating BMDHs for two main reasons: (1) the liver is a hematopoietic organ in neonatal rats and (2) it may allow sufficient time to generate more BMDHs before severe liver injury occurs. Methods. We used Long Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats as recipients, a model of (1) Wilson disease and (2) liver carcinogenesis. Green fluorescent protein-expressing BMCs were injected into newborn LEC rats through the spleen. The oxidative activity of ceruloplasmin, which is low in LEC rats, was measured to evaluate the treatment. In addition, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization to clarify the origin of the BMDHs and immunohistochemical analysis to confirm whether these BMDHs had malignant potential. Results. At 18 months after injection, we found some green fluorescent protein-expressing areas macroscopically in the liver of treated LEC rats. The oxidative activity of ceruloplasmin increased in treated LEC rats (n=7) and were much higher than that in untreated LEC rats (P=0.015). Moreover, we confirmed that the BMDHs were generated by cell fusion and was not detected in any of the neoplastic lesions or cholngiofibrotic regions. Conclusion. Our results suggest that this novel strategy for creating BMDHs is effective and safe.


The monocytic leukemia zinc finger protein KAT6A (formerly MOZ) gene is recurrently rearranged by chromosomal translocations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). KAT6A is known to be fused to several genes, all of which have histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity and interact with a number of transcription factors as a transcriptional coactivator. The present study shows that the leucine twenty homeobox (LEUTX) gene on 19q13 is fused to the KAT6A gene on 8p11 in a therapy‐related AML with t(8;19)(p11;q13) using the cDNA bubble PCR method. The fusion transcripts contained 83 nucleotides upstream of the first ATG of LEUTX and are presumed to create in‐frame fusion proteins. LEUTX is known to have a homeobox domain. Expression of the LEUTX gene was only detected in placenta RNA by RT‐PCR, but not in any tissues by Northern blot analysis. The putative LEUTX protein does not contain any HAT domain, and this is the first study to report that KAT6A can fuse to the homeobox gene. The current study, with identification of a new partner gene to KAT6A in a therapy‐related AML, does not elucidate the mechanisms of leukemogenesis in KAT6A‐related AML but describes a new gene with a different putative function. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


In this paper, we develop a parallel Fast Multipole Method (FMM) based solution for computing the scattered electromagnetic fields from a Perfect Electrically Conducting (PEC) surface. The main contributions of this work are the development of parallel algorithms with the following characteristics: 1) provably efficient worst-case run-time irrespective of the shape of the scatterer, 2) communication-efficiency, and 3) guaranteed load balancing within a small constant factor. We have developed a scalable, parallel code and validated it against surfaces for which solution can be computed analytically, and against serial software. The efficiency and scalability of the code is demonstrated with experimental results on an IBM xSeries cluster. Though developed in the context of this particular application, our algorithms can be used in other applications involving parallel FMM.


Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) seed was subjected to the hydro‐distillation method to extract its essential oil (NEO). Its main constituents were α‐pinene (20.16%), sabinene (14.45%), and β‐pinene (13.26%) with great antimicrobial and antioxidant actions. A novel edible coating was then fabricated based on the sage seed mucilage (SSM) and NEO, to ameliorate the quality and shelf‐life of beef slices. The NEO‐loaded SSM coating was able to significantly decrease the population of total viable count, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, psychrotrophic bacteria, and fungi. Moreover, lipid oxidation of beef slices was remarkably suppressed upon the application of bioactive NEO‐loaded SSM edible coating, as compared with the control by Day 6. The coated beef sample, especially NEO‐rich SSM coated ones perceived a higher consumer acceptance and firmness than the SSM coated and noncoated samples. The SSM edible coating containing NEO could therefore have the potential to control the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and lipid oxidation, and to improve the color stability and sensory properties of meat and meat products.


Despite Messiaen's position as one of the greatest technical innovators of the twentieth century, his musical language has not been comprehensively defined and investigated. The composer's 1944 theoretical study, The Technique of My Musical Language, expounds only its initial stages, and while his posthumously published Traite de rythme, de couleur, et d'ornithologie contains detailed explanations of selected techniques, in most cases the reader is left to define these more precisely by observing them in the context of Messiaen's analyses of his own works. Technical processes are nevertheless in many cases the primary components of a work or movement. For instance, personnages dominate 'Joie du sang des etoiles' from the Turangalila-symphonie, and in certain cases, such as 'L'echange' from the Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jesus, the process (asymmetric augmentation) is the only structuring element present. Given this reliance on idiosyncratic techniques, clear comprehension of the music is impossible without a detailed knowledge of Messiaen's methods. Gareth Healey charts their development and interconnections, considers their relationship with formal structures, and applies them in refined and extended form to works for which Messiaen himself left no published analysis.


Objectives We aimed to investigate the factors related to prolonged on-scene times, which were defined as being over 30 min, during ambulance transportation for critical emergency patients in the context of a large Japanese city. Design A population-based observational study. Setting Kawasaki City, Japan's eighth largest city. Participants The participants in this study were all critical patients (age ≥15 years) who were transported by ambulance between April 2010 and March 2013 (N=11 585). Outcome measures On-scene time during ambulance transportation for critical emergency patients. Results The median on-scene time for all patients was 17 min (IQR 13–23). There was a strong correlation between on-scene time and the number of phone calls to hospitals from emergency medical service (EMS) personnel (p<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression, the number of phone calls to hospitals from EMS personnel, intoxication, minor disease and geographical area were associated with on-scene times over 30 min. Age, gender, day of the week and time of the day were not associated with on-scene times over 30 min. Conclusions To make on-scene time shorter, it is vital to redesign our emergency system and important to develop a system that accommodates critical patients with intoxication and minor disease, and furthermore to reduce the number of phone calls to hospitals from EMS personnel.


Rich nontrivial topological phases rooted in the interplay between magnetism and topology in the layered antiferromagnet EuCd2As2 have captured vast attention, especially the ideal Weyl semimetal state realized in the spin‐polarized ferromagnetic (FM) structure driven by a moderate external magnetic field. In this work, combining magnetization, magneto‐transport, and structure measurements under high pressure and first principles calculations, this study finds that the pressure can drive the in‐plane antiferromagnetic structure of EuCd2As2 across an intermediate in‐plane FM structure then into the out‐of‐plane FM structure. This study also finds butterfly‐shaped MR and anomalous Hall effect under large pressure, which may support the pressure‐driven FM state. High‐pressure angle‐dispersive X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray absorption near‐edge spectroscopy measurements exclude structure transition and/or change of Eu2+ valence state as sources for the magnetic phase transitions. Alternatively, apparently reduced axial ratio (c/a) and compressed Eu‐layer space distance should play important roles. Interestingly, the calculations unveil that the out‐of‐plane FM structure hosts only one pair of Weyl nodes around the Fermi level, suggesting that pressure can be an alternative way to realize the ideal Weyl semimetal state in EuCd2As2 and will be useful for exploring exotic topological properties in such layered magnetic topological phase with strongly competing magnetic exchanges.


In Japan, the fundamental disaster management plan was modified after a heavy rainfall event in 2015. According to the updated plan, the transfer of flood disaster risk to non-life insurance is promoted by the Japanese government. Thus, the importance of flood risk modeling for the insurance industry has increased.
 Winds are expected to become even stronger, resulting in higher storm surges, when the central pressure of the typhoon is intensified. Furthermore, it is possible for an insurance system to experience peak risk when such damage occurs simultaneously. Hence, refining the assessment method of storm surge risk is very important.
 An insurance company to which storm surge risk is transferred needs to assess not only the infrequent risks, for managing the risk of the company, but also the expected value of the estimated loss, for evaluating the insurance premium. However, only a few studies have assessed storm surges by stochastic approaches.
 In this study, storm surge losses along the coast of Tokyo Bay are predicted using the output of a stochastic typhoon model for 10,000 years. Storm surge losses due to 600 typhoons potentially causing storm surge damage for 10,000 years are calculated. Exceedance probability curves (EP curves) of estimated storm surge loss for each asset are created. Expected loss and the loss of representative return periods are evaluated based on these EP curves. We successfully determined the expected loss with a small calculation load.


Disentangling the effects of selection and drift is a long-standing problem in population genetics. Simulations show that pervasive selection may bias the inference of demography. Ideally, models for the inference of demography and selection should account for the interaction between these two forces. With simulation-based likelihood-free methods such as Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC), demography and selection parameters can be jointly estimated. We propose to use the ABC-Random Forests framework to jointly infer demographic and selection parameters from temporal population genomic data (e.g. experimental evolution, monitored populations, ancient DNA). Our framework allowed the separation of demography (census size, N) from the genetic drift (effective population size, Ne) and the estimation of genome-wide parameters of selection. Selection parameters informed us about the adaptive potential of a population (the scaled mutation rate of beneficial mutations, θb), the realized adaptation (the number of mutation under strong selection), and population fitness (genetic load). We applied this approach to a dataset of feral populations of honey bees (Apis mellifera) collected in California, and we estimated parameters consistent with the biology and the recent history of this species.


Because radiative transfer cuts across many scientific disciplines with applications including remote sensing, climate, atmospheric chemistry, and photobiology, there is a need for comprehensive books on this subject that can appeal to a wide readership. While Atmospheric Radiative Transfer takes strides toward filling this niche by addressing a broad range of topics, it is dry reading and suffers from lack of detail. The book was based on a graduate-level course taught at the University of Sciences and Technologies in Lille, France, and indeed, the text reads much like an expanded outline perhaps derived from lecture notes.

Part one deals with general radiative transfer, and part two covers Earth's radiation budget, the climate system, and remote sensing techniques. The radiative transfer equation and solutions for absorbing and scattering atmospheres are discussed as are the details of absorption, such as energy levels, line strengths, line intensities, equivalent widths, and weak- and strong-line limits.


Resources for students in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at Pasadena City College No date or initials (noted 08/2017)


Members of the class of exchangeable apolipoproteins possess the unique capacity to transform phospholipid vesicle substrates into nanoscale disk-shaped bilayers. This reaction can proceed in the presence of exogenous hydrophobic biomolecules, resulting in the formation of novel transport vehicles termed nanodisks (NDs). The objective of this study is to describe the structural organization of NDs and evaluate the utility of these complexes as hydrophobic biomolecule transport vehicles. The topics presented focus on two distinct water insoluble drugs, amphotericin B (AMB) and all trans retinoic acid (ATRA). In vitro and in vivo studies reveal that AMB–ND display potent anti-fungal and anti-protozoal activity, while ATRA–ND show promise in the treatment of cancer. The versatility conferred by the presence of a polypeptide component provides opportunities for targeted delivery of ND to cells.


Object Relations Brief Therapy combines practical techniques with the depth of object relations theory, the wisdom of previous brief therapy writers, and, most notably, an emphasis on the unique therapeutic relationship. Often, therapists despair of doing any meaningful work in brief therapy. To this, Michael Stadter suggests the following pragmatic approach, "think dynamically, address some underlying issue(s) and do what you can." Specifically, the book emphasizes the depth of understanding of human experience that comes from an object relations perspective; the insight and experiential vitality of attention to the therapeutic relationship including its real, transferential, and countertransferential elements; the impact of the psychodynamic techniques that have been carefully studied and delineated by brief therapy writers such as Davanloo, Horowitz, Malan, Strupp, and Binder; and the flexibility of an eclectic approach that thoughtfully and selectively incorporates non-psychodynamic interventions. Therapists do not have to "escape" managed care, according to Stadter. Rather, they need to learn how to deal with it in a way that preserves their integrity and enables them to practice the kind of healing psychotherapy they know how to do. In today's health care climate, Object Relations Brief Therapy is a much-needed guide for committed therapists.


One of the most intriguing questions in life science is how living organisms develop and maintain their predominant form and shape via the cascade of the processes of differentiation starting from the single cell. Mathematical modeling of these developmental processes could be a very important tool to properly describe the complex processes of evolution and geometry of mor- phogenesis in time and space. Here, we summarize the most important biological knowledge on plant development, exploring the different layers of investigation in developmental processes such as plant morphology, genetics, plant physiology, molecular biology and epigenetics. As knowledge on the fundamentals of plant embryogenesis, growth and development is constantly improving, we gather here the latest data on genetic, molecular and hormonal regulation of plant development to- gether with the basic background knowledge. Special emphasis is placed on the regulation of cell cycle progression, on the role of the signal molecules phytohormones in plant development and on the details of plant meristems (loci containing plant stem cells) function. We also explore several proposed biological models regarding regulating plant development. The information presented here could be used as a basis for mathematical modeling and computer simulation of developmen- tal processes in plants.


Coded caching scheme is a technique which reduce the load during peak traffic times in a wireless network system. Placement delivery array (PDA in short) was first introduced by Yan et al.. It can be used to design coded caching scheme. In this paper, we prove some lower bounds of PDA on the element and some lower bounds of PDA on the column. We also give some constructions for optimal PDA.


In badminton, power production can be enhanced through the fundamental practice of a dynamic warm-up with resistance conditioning activity to induce a post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) effect. The use of heavy resistance exercise in the form of heavy weights to induce PAPE during competition is not logistically practical in the badminton arena. Thus, there is a need to investigate the use of easily available alternative preconditioning stimuli to induce a similar potentiating effect in badminton-specific performance. This study adopted a repeated-measures design of three warm-up conditions: control (CON), weighted wearable resistance (WWR), and resistance band variable resistance (BVR). Fourteen badminton players from the national training squad (11 males, 3 females, age 18 ± 1 y) completed the experimental sessions in random order. Change of direction speed (CODS) and smash velocity (SV) tests were performed at five timepoints—baseline test after the warm-up and at the end of each of the four exercise blocks of a simulated match play protocol. CODS was significantly faster under the two resistance warm-up conditions (WWR and BVR) compared to the CON condition at baseline (−0.2 s ± 0.39 and −0.2 s ± 0.46, p = 0.001 and 0.03, g = 0.47 and 0.40, respectively), but there were no differences at the other timepoints (all p > 0.05). SV was significantly faster for all the four exercise blocks than at baseline under all three warm-up conditions (p = 0.02), but there were no differences in SV between the three warm-up conditions across all the five measured timepoints (p = 0.15). In conclusion, implementing resistance (~10% body weight) in sport-specific plyometric exercises using WWR or BVR during warm-up routines may induce PAPE effects on the change of direction speed but not smash velocity, in well-trained badminton players, as compared with the same warm-up exercises using bodyweight (i.e., CON condition). The positive effects of CODS were, however, observed only at the start of the match and possibly lasted for up to between 5 and 10 min of match play.


To the Editor. —The article by Dr Weiner 1 impels the following comments. Weiner shows in his Table 2 that HMO staffing for psychiatry in the seven Kaiser plans and Kaiser Portland at 3.8 per 100 000 population and 4.8 per 100 000 population, respectively. The same table shows the 1992 US supply of psychiatrists at 12 per 100000 population. This, of course, documents a significant oversupply of psychiatrists. However, it is important to recognize that managed care generally, and HMOs particularly, are thought to significantly underutilize psychiatrists. This is done by limiting utilization of the mental health benefit to "acute conditions." In some areas, this is permitted by state statute. The sickest patients with psychiatric disease and the most expensive to care for have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and/or multiple psychiatric diagnoses, including substance abuse and medical comorbidities. These disorders tend to be chronic, intermittent, and/or relapsing. Management of care


Segmentation plays a vital role in medical imaging. Segmentation of an image is the partition or separation of the image into disjoint regions of similar feature. We propose a method that integrates Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering and marker controlled watershed segmentation algorithm for medical image segmentation. The use of the usual watershed algorithm for medical image analysis is common because of its advantages, such as always being able to construct a complete division of the image. However, its downsides include over-segmentation and sensitivity to false edges. We concentrate on the downsides of the usual watershed algorithm when it is applied to medical images by using Fuzzy C-Means clustering to produce a primary segmentation of the image before we apply marker controlled watershed segmentation algorithm to it. The Fuzzy C-Means clustering is an unsupervised learning algorithm, while the marker controlled watershed segmentation algorithm makes use of automated thresholding on the gradient magnitude map on the initial partitions to reduce the number of false edges and over-segmentation. The proposed algorithm is compared with conservative watershed method.


Researches data indicate that the search for cybersecurity professionals to protect industrial control systems (ICS) in Brazil is increasing, mainly because of the rise in cyber-attacks directed at the industry. However, we observed a deficiency of professionals with the required competence in ICS cybersecurity, which involves technology-information fields (IT) and operational technology (OT). On the other hand, there is a lack of educational institutions with the right strategies for training professionals who master the technologies for ICS protection. This paper presents a strategy through procedures to address this lack by evaluating scenarios of practices for the development of competencies in ICS cybersecurity through the problem-based learning (PBL) methodology. The scenarios combine theory and practice involved in solving ICS cybersecurity problems, using PBL with the support of SENAI CIMATEC's 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Plant (AMP).


We propose a model for a priori prediction of the solubility of gases in flexible polymers. The model is based on the concept of ideal solubility of gases in liquids. According to this concept, the mole fraction of gases in liquids is given by Raoult's law with the total pressure and the vapor pressure of the gas, where the latter may have to be extrapolated. However, instead of considering each polymer molecule as a rigid structure, we estimate the effective number of degrees of freedom from an equivalent freely jointed bead-rod model for the flexible polymer. In this model, we associate the length of the rods with the molecular weight corresponding to a Kuhn step. The model provides a tool for crude estimation of the gas solubility on the basis of only the monomer unit of the polymer and properties of the gas. A comparison with the solubility data for several gases in poly(dimethylsiloxane) reveals agreement between the data and the model predictions within a factor of 7 and that better model results are achieved for temperatures below the critical temperature of the gas. The model predicts a decreasing solubility with increasing temperature (because of the increasing vapor pressure) and that smaller gas molecules exhibit a lower solubility than larger ones (e.g., CH4 has a smaller solubility than CO2), which agrees with the experimental data. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 701–706, 2003


Lysosome membranes contain diverse phosphoinositide (PtdIns) lipids that co-ordinate lysosome function and dynamics. The PtdIns repertoire on lysosomes is tightly regulated by the action of diverse PtdIns kinases and phosphatases. Specific roles for PtdIns in lysosomal function and dynamics are currently unclear and require further investigation. PIKfyve, a lipid kinase which synthesizes PtdIns(3,5)P2 from PtdIns(3)P, controls lysosome "fusion-fission" cycles dynamics, autophagosome turnover and endocytic cargo delivery. We have recently characterized a role for INPP4B, a PtdIns phosphatase which hydrolyses PtdIns(3,4)P2 to form PtdIns(3)P, in the regulation of lysosomal biogenesis and function. To gain a better understanding of PtdIns homeostasis on lysosomes, we investigated the consequence of disrupting PIKfyve in Inpp4b-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Surprisingly, simultaneous inhibition of Inpp4b and PIKfyve functions impair lysosome "fission" dynamics and thereby exacerbate lysosome enlargement, inhibit autophagic flux. Further examination into the underlying processes that may explain exaggerated lysosome enlargement revealed elevated levels of lysosome associated PtdIns(3)P as contributing factors that control lysosome morphology in cells where Inpp4b and PIKfyve are disrupted. Overall, our study suggests that lysosomal functions are regulated by Inpp4b, through a paradoxical role in suppressing the induction of PtdIns(3)P production. SUMMARY STATEMENT In this study we identify a novel crosstalk between Inpp4b and PIKfyve. This crosstalk regulates lysosome membrane phosphoinositide composition and lysosomal homeostasis. Our data demonstrate that Inpp4b restricts VPS34-dependent induction of PtdIns(3)P levels, which is activated upon apilimod-mediated PIKfyve inhibition. Through this mechanism, Inpp4b contributes to the regulation of lysosomal membrane dynamics and homeostasis.


HUMAN GENOME PROJECTCOLD SPRING HARBOR, NEW YORK-- Meeting in a closed session here last week, leaders of a dozen scientific teams endorsed an international plan to complete a "working draft" of the human genome by the spring of 2000 and polish it into a "highly accurate" version by 2003. They say they're doing this to satisfy researchers who want sequence data as soon as possible. But there's another objective: to stay ahead of a commercial rival--Celera Genomics of Rockville, Maryland--which announced in 1998 that it intends to sequence the entire human genome by 2001 and patent many genes ( Science , 15 May 1998, p. [994][1]).

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/280/5366/994


Nonprofit organizations and movements geared toward suicide prevention, a somewhat taboo subject in American culture, are oftentimes confronted with the dilemma of lacking adequate funding to meet their goals. This essay focuses on the expansion of one such movement, the Love Out Loud Campaign, which took shape at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2011, in hopes of encouraging open communication and positivity to dissuade those at risk for suicide from taking their own lives. The campaign began as the senior project of a group of students who graduated in June of 2011. Unfortunately, the movement lost steam after the awareness event took place in February. This paper discusses the opportunity for Love Out Loud—and any nonprofit in a similar situation—to turn to the Internet to achieve its goals. It also evaluates the ways in which common public relations practices can be utilized by nonprofits to reach their target audiences on the web, thereby having a farther-reaching impact than a localized event is capable of.


In this lively work, Beatrice K. Otto takes us around the world in search of one of the most colorful characters in history - the court jester. These quick-witted, quirky characters crop up everywhere, from the courts of ancient China and Mughal India to those of medieval Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. A cornucopia of anecdotes, jokes, quotations, epigraphs, and illustrations (including flip art) brings to light little-known jesters, highlighting their humanizing influence on the head honchos of history, and shining a more idiosyncratic, intimate light on figures of power and position. Written with wit and humor, "Fools Are Everywhere" is the most comprehensive look at these roguish, vital personalities, who risked their necks not only to mock and entertain but also to fulfill a deep and widespread human and social need.


We consider optimal power-flow calculations based on statistics (means and variances) of wind-power that are assumed known hour ahead. In real-time, adjustments of these calculations to the true wind power amounts have been proposed using affine control and chance constraints on generation and transmission [1]. We study how correlated wind power sources affect the optimized power plan and cost. We also explore how the errors in wind forecasting statistics, due to real-time control actions to limit wind oscillations (ramping) or just simple misinformation, affect costs. There are direct extensions to the case where random/flexible demands/loads are correlated and similarly predictable. Keywords-optimal power flow; wind power; correlation; estimation error.


This paper addresses the downlink resource allocation problem in pre-5G (LTE-B) networks. At each time slot, the problem is to share the radio resources between users in order to maximize a given objective function. We expressed this problem considering the LTE standard constraints, which are rarely considered in the literature. Mainly, for any given user, the base station is constrained to transmit with a single Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS). We show that this problem is NP-Hard, and therefore, we propose a generic approximation algorithm which covers a large variety of objectives. This algorithm is composed of three routines that enable an effective resource sharing procedure. The first routine computes a solution for a relaxation of our main problem, while the second routine selects the most suitable MCS for each user. Finally, the last routine effectively distributes the unallocated resources. For the Max Rate policy, simulation results show that our algorithm outperforms other existing algorithms in terms of capacity, and remains close to the optimal. Under the Proportional Fairness policy, our solution also provides a very good fairness while maintaining a near-optimal capacity.


We present a detailed description of a search for anomalous production of missing ET (6ET), jets, leptons (e; ; ), b-quarks, or additional photons in events containing two isolated, central (j j < 1:0) photons with ET > 12 GeV. The results are consistent with standard model expectations, with the possible exception of one event that has in addition to the two photons a central electron, a high-ET electromagnetic cluster, and large 6ET. We set limits using two speci c SUSY scenarios for production of diphoton events with 6ET. PACS numbers 13.85Rm, 12.60.Jv, 13.85.Qk, 14.80.Ly 4


Microparticles, also called microvesicles, are submicron extracellular vesicles produced by plasma membrane budding and shedding recognized as key actors in numerous physio(patho)logical processes. Since they can be released by virtually any cell lineages and are retrieved in biological fluids, microparticles appear as potent biomarkers. However, the small dimensions of microparticles and soluble factors present in body fluids can considerably impede their quantification. Here, flow cytometry with improved methodology for microparticle resolution was used to detect microparticles of human and mouse species generated from platelets, red blood cells, endothelial cells, apoptotic thymocytes and cells from the male reproductive tract. A family of soluble proteins, the secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2), comprises enzymes concomitantly expressed with microparticles in biological fluids and that catalyze the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. As sPLA2 can hydrolyze phosphatidylserine, a phospholipid frequently used to assess microparticles, and might even clear microparticles, we further considered the impact of relevant sPLA2 enzymes, sPLA2 group IIA, V and X, on microparticle quantification. We observed that if enriched in fluids, certain sPLA2 enzymes impair the quantification of microparticles depending on the species studied, the source of microparticles and the means of detection employed (surface phosphatidylserine or protein antigen detection). This study provides analytical considerations for appropriate interpretation of microparticle cytofluorometric measurements in biological samples containing sPLA2 enzymes.


Author(s): Abadjian, Marie-Caline Z. | Abstract: The work is divided into four parts : (1) MRI contrast agents are designed to enhance T₁ relaxivity by coupling them to dendrimers, the precise structure of which can be controlled through synthesis. Cyclen is used as a starting scaffold for the synthesis of bifunctional Gd-DOTA and Gd- DOTMA analogues. One unique side chain on the macrocycle contains an azide moiety that can be clicked to an alkyne- containing core, making a first-generation dendrimer with the potential to improve MRI efficiency. (2) PET tracers are designed to specifically coordinate ⁶⁴Cu, a positron source, while containing clickable side arms. A functionalized cross-bridge tetraazamacrocycle with two identical azide-bearing side arms can be clicked to alkynyl amino acid, which provides several advantages with respect to applications. (3) Using the results of part 1, MRI-fluorescence imaging agents are constructed. Preliminary tests determine their efficiency as bimodal agents. (4) My contributions to a separate project to investigate the fate of water oxidation catalysts under acidic conditions are described. We have synthesized and characterized four novel bifunctional MRI imaging agents to date. Preliminary studies show successful clicking of these complexes to form dendrimers. We are also currently synthesizing and optimizing a unique bifunctional PET tracer. Future work includes, but is not limited to, optimization of syntheses, full characterization of the bifunctional PET tracer, theoretical calculations of expected T₁ relaxivities of bifunctional MRI contrast agents, imaging cells in tissue-like matrices for MRI- fluorescence agents, and designing more robust water oxidation catalysts


Background: Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) pose the most difficult form of cancer metastasis to treat and portend a poor prognosis. Standard treatment has yet to be established, and intrathecal chemotherapy and whole- brain radiotherapy are administered on an empirical basis. Case Description: We report on a 46-year-old woman with LM from human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. She was suffering from intractable headaches, severe nausea and vomiting, and cerebellar ataxia. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed diffuse enhancement of the meninges, mainly in the posterior cranial fossa, and compression of the cerebellum by the profoundly thickened meninges. The first step in the treatment was decompression of the posterior cranial fossa to relieve intracranial hypertension. After surgery, her symptoms immediately improved. The second step was treatment with lapatinib at 1250 mg and capecitabine 1200 mg, which dramatically improved her symptoms and disappeared diffuse abnormal signal enhancement on MRI. Conclusion: We treated a patient with LM from primary HER2-positive breast cancer who responded well to lapatinib plus capecitabine.


The paper provides an anticipatory legal analysis of the implications of a Free Trade Area of the Americas for Guatemala's socio-economic and indigenous peace accords.


The United States currently holds the highest incarceration rate per capita of all western nations. There are over two million men and women incarcerated in the U.S., and over 1,500 more are being locked up weekly. Prisons are such a fundamental part of criminal justice today that it is hard to imagine our society without them. The Encyclopedia of American Prisons is a comprehensive reference work covering the full gamut of the American penal system. From the early Pennsylvania and Auburn models, both of which drove many prisoners mad, to limited contemporary efforts to privatize prisons, this book covers the entire history of prisons in America. Entries include important figures such as famous and infamous wardens, notable prisoners, prisons, escapes, prison riots, fires, prison society, convict labor, scandals and triumphs, reformers, terminology, and much more. The Encyclopedia of American Prisons also covers key social issues connected to prisons such as overcrowding, mistreatment of prisoners, and the cost of maintaining prison programs. Subjects covered include: - Abuse and torture in prison - George V. Bennett - David Berkowitz (aka Son of Sam) - Disease in prison - Dorothea Dix - Capital punishment - Good-time credits - Juvenile delinquency - Mentally ill inmates - Ed Morell, tortured convict and reformer - Punishments and prisons in Colonial America - Recidivism - Women's prisons.


Managers need information to manage the ethics of their organizations. This article proposes that periodic surveys examining organizational ethics can be used to obtain this information. It presents the design and results of a study of U.S. public servants that demonstrates the value of surveys as an instrument to support effective ethical leadership. Surveys can reveal the extent and possible consequences of unethical behavior in organizations and illuminate the characteristics of ethical leadership. A brief agenda for further research is provided.


AIMS
The purpose of this study was to evaluate unexpected positive cultures in total hip arthroplasty (THA) revisions for presumed aseptic loosening, to assess the prevalence of low-grade infection using two definition criteria, and to analyze its impact on implant survival after revision.

METHODS
A total of 274 THA revisions performed for presumed aseptic loosening from 2012 to 2016 were reviewed. In addition to obtaining intraoperative tissue cultures from all patients, synovial and sonication fluid samples of the removed implant were obtained in 215 cases (79%) and 101 cases (37%), respectively. Histopathological analysis was performed in 250 cases (91%). Patients were classified as having low-grade infections according to institutional criteria and Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) International Consensus Meeting (ICM) 2013 criteria. Low-grade infections according to institutional criteria were treated with targeted antibiotics for six weeks postoperatively. Implant failure was defined as the need for re-revision resulting from periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and aseptic reasons. The mean follow-up was 68 months (26 to 95).

RESULTS
Unexpected positive intraoperative samples were found in 77 revisions (28%). Low-grade infection was diagnosed in 36 cases (13%) using institutional criteria and in nine cases (3%) using MSIS ICM 2013 criteria. In all, 41 patients (15%) had single specimen growth of a low-virulent pathogen and were deemed contaminated. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and anaerobes were the most commonly isolated bacteria. Implant failure for PJI was higher in revisions with presumed contaminants (5/41, 12%) compared to those with low-grade infections (2/36, 6%) and those with negative samples (5/197, 3%) (p = 0.021). The rate of all-cause re-revision was similar in patients diagnosed with low-grade infections (5/36, 14%) and those with presumed contaminants (6/41, 15%) and negative samples (21/197, 11%) (p = 0.699).

CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that the presumption of culture contamination in aseptic revision hip arthroplasty may increase the detection of PJI. In this cohort, the presence of low-grade infection did not increase the risk of re-revision. Further studies are needed to assess the relevance of single specimen growth and the benefits of specific postoperative antibiotic regimens. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6):1070-1077.


ABSTRACT: Obesity and its indices including BMI, WHR, and fat% are related with cardiovascular diseases and also involved in endothelial dysfunction and endothelium-dependent dilation. However, the correlations of these indices with endothelial function, especially in older women remain very poorly defined. The aim of this study was investigation on the relationship between some of the obesity indices with vascular endothelial function after a period of combined circuit training in older women. Subjects were 24 healthy and enable to do physical activity old women from Shahrekord (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiary province, Iran) retirement home (age=74.22±4.46). Subjects were randomly divided to two groups including experimental (n=12) and control (n=12). Obesity indices (Fat%, WHR, and BMI) and endothelium-dependent dilation of brachial artery were measured in both experimental and control groups, just before the training protocol starting. Then Experimental group was participated in 12 week (three times a week) combined circuit training program. All of mentioned measurements repeated at the end of 12th week. The obtained results showed that 12 week combined circuit training program has significant effect on reduction of old women obesity Indices (P≤0.001). Also, a diverse relationship was observed between age, BMI, WHR and Fat% with FMD (flow-mediated dilation) in experimental (BMI: P=0.45, r=-0.24, WHR: p=0.10, r=-0.49, Fat%: p=0.69,r=-0.12, age=0.87, r=-0.05) and control groups (BMI: P=0.18, r=-0.41, WHR: p=0.62, r=-0.15, Fat%: p=0.75,r=-0.1, age=0.757, r=-0.1). It seems that use of 12 week combined circuit training has positive effects on obesity indices and improvement of endothelial function in Iranian old women. Anthropometric measures of obesity indices may help refine estimations of endothelial health and atherosclerotic state. BMI and WHR were most consistently associated with endothelial dysfunction. Thus, using regular training through the reduction in obesity indices could improve endothelial function and body composition and eventually reduce atherosclerosis and CVD occurrence in older women.


Context: One of the most important ways to strengthen the medical education at content delivery level is to assess student perception about teaching- learning methodology. Numerous teaching-learning methods are practiced throughout MBBS course, to increase involvement, participation and interest of students, so that learning is facilitated and it appeal to students with different learning styles. Aim: To study student preferences about teaching learning methods used in Physiology sessions during first year MBBS course. Method: This is an observational study conducted in Shri Vasantrao Naik, Govt. Medical College, Yavatmal, from September 2015 to December 2015.After all permission and approval from Institutional ethical committee, the data was collected by administering a pre-designed & pre-validated questionnaire regarding open and close-ended questions pertaining to student (II semester) preferences about various  teaching-learning methods practiced by Physiology faculty during teaching sessions conducted in I semester. Results: O out of total 130 participants, 59(45.4%) students preferred Lecture, while Tutorial was preferred by 28 (21.5%), Group Discussion by 36(27.7%) and Symposium by 7(5.3%) students. About the ideal duration of a lecture, out of 130 students, 76(58.4%) opined for 45 minutes. The best teaching-learning method, out of 130 students, 58 (44.6%) preferred blackboard. The preferred time slot of lectures, most of the students108 (83%) preferred lectures to be conducted between 9 to 11 am. Conclusion: Students are more interested in conventional mode of learning through lectures with use of blackboard for about 45 minutes during morning hours. For better interpretation and results which could be applied at university, state or national level, we recommend a wide spread multi-centric study in medical colleges all over the country, having representation from all strata of students, faculty and policy makers. Key Words: Preferences, teaching learning media, I MBBS students


and the degree to which the editors have selected contributions without too many diversions from the main theme. Chapters on ethics and cuts (actually 'Retrenchment and Values in a Health Organisation') and on Hungarian Health Care are particularly topical and relevant. Sadly it takes the Hungarian contributor to point out that health slogans are empty words when billions are starving, millions face death from starvation, while power and energy are wasted on weaponry. At this point some of the debate seems self-indulgent. The weakness of the book's structure and content is its lack of depth. There is a re-run of familiar themes such as the definition of health, the idea of 'need' as a value (not a fact) or QALYs (quality adjusted life years) but this is not the book you would choose to study these issues. Surprisingly there is no exploration ofdistributive justice, or indeed ofjustice as a value at all, except in so far as it is subsumed under 'social autonomy'. Even in a collection that does not aim to be comprehensive this is a strange omission. The structure and content of this book have much of interest but are undermined by the poor literary style. Take this example: 'The moral principle prescribing responsibility for the weaknesses of others is to be explained by reference to the basic constraint of human communal life.' The meaning is actually simple and requires no technical jargon: it is rendered almost incomprehensible. And there is lots of it. One looks forward to the promised future volumes, but pleads that they will be more readable.


Through the kindness of Mr James Marshall, lessee of the salmon fishings, Dumfries, I am enabled to exhibit the magnificent series of red-deer horns now on the table. The specimens were obtained from the bed of the River Nith at Kirkconnel in the year 1886. They were brought up by the salmon nets after a shifting of the bed of the river due to the action of a flood on the enormous sand deposits of the locality. The specimens shown consist of (1) a complete pair of antlers attached to the frontal bones. The breadth from point to point is over three feet. The specimen is what is know as a ‶Royal.″ One of the antlers shows a peculiar malformation evidently caused when the horn was in the velvet. (2) Four separate horns of large size. Besides these specimens, Mr Marshall has found other two complete sets of horns: one pair being now in the possession of Lord Herries at Eveningham Park, York; and the second is in the hands of R. M. Witham, Esq., Kirkconnel. Single horns are said to be very numerous, and cause much damage to the salmon nets each time there is a change of the river course; a by no means uncommon incident.


Paediatric gynaecology is an emerging discipline. Since 2000, there has been an advanced training programme in paediatric gynaecology available for obstetric and gynaecology trainees; additionally, a set of clinical standards 1 for the care of paediatric and adolescent patients has been developed by The British Society of Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology (BritSPAG). BritSPAG is a multidisciplinary group of professionals including gynaecologists, paediatricians, paediatric urologists and endocrinologists. Girls with gynaecological conditions are often seen in general paediatric services; it is important that those assessing them are confident in identifying patients who require more specialist care. Despite this, gynaecology does not appear in the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health curriculum. This article aims to increase the knowledge base and confidence of paediatricians in dealing with common paediatric and adolescent gynaecological conditions.


The adsorption behavior of Eosin Y on activated carbon (AC) in batch system was investigated. The adsorption isotherm could be well fitted by the Langmuir adsorption equation. The kinetics of adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model. The temperature variation was used to evaluate the values of free energy (), enthalpy () and entropy (). The positive value of enthalpy change for the process confirms the endothermic nature of the process and more favourable at higher temperature, the positive entropy of adsorption reflects the affinity of the AC material toward Eosin Y and the negative free energy values indicate that the adsorption process is spontaneous. With the increase of the amount of AC, removal efficiency of Eosin Y was increased, but adsorption capacity was decreased. And adsorption capacity was increased with the decrease of particle size. With the increase of the amount of AC, removal efficiency of Eosin Y was increased, but adsorption capacity was decreased. And adsorption capacity was increased with the decrease of particle size.


【Adrenal insufficiency during the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is a troublesome condition and can at times be lifethreatening if untreated. Rifampin is one of the most widely prescribed anti-tuberculosis agents. Furthermore, rifampin has been known to be capable of affecting the metabolism of various medications, including glucocorticoids. In this paper, a case of recurrent adrenal insufficiency induced by rifampin during the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is reported. The patient was a 63-year-old man who was diagnosed with Addison's disease 17 years earlier and had been undergoing glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Five months before, the patient manifested pulmonary tuberculosis and was immediately given anti-tuberculosis medication that included rifampin. After one week of medication, general weakness and hyponatremia occurred. Despite the increased dose of the glucocorticoid medication, the adrenal insufficiency recurred many times. Since the substitution of levofloxacin for rifampin, the episodes of adrenal insufficiency have not recurred so far.】


The reduction of the effects of mechanical vibration fall into the of vibration isolation, design for vibration or vibration control (de Silva, 2000). The vibration control is subdivided into two group: passive control and active one. The core of the vibration control is to detect the level of vibration in a system and to counteract the effects of the vibration, so it needs two devices. Hence, the passive devices do not require external power for their operation. Hence, passive control is relatively simple, reliable and economical. But it has limitations namely, the control force depends entirely on the natural dynamics and it may not be adjust on line. Furthermore, in a passive device, there is no supply of power from an external source. It leads to the incomplete control, particularly in complex and high-order systems. The shortcomings of passive control can be overcome using an active one. In this case, the system response is directly sensed on line and on that basis, the specific control actions are applied to any locations of the system. But the active control needs external power, namely to apply control forces to vibrating system through actuators and to measure vibration response using sensors. Two different types of actuators can be applied (Shimon et al., 2005). The first, inertial actuators, make up a piezoelectric material to vibrate large masses. Their vibrations are used to counteract the vibrations of the structure (Jiang et al., 2000). The advantages and disadvantages are enumerated in above reference. The second type of actuators is a layer of smart or intelligent materials. The sensors also belong to these materials; together they are well−known as piezoelectric elements (Tylikowski & Przybyłowicz, 2004). It was shown that these elements can offer excellent potential for an active vibration reduction of the structure vibrating with low frequencies (Croker, 2007; Fuller at al, 1997; Hansen & Snyder, 1997; Kozień, 2006; Przybyłowicz, 2002; Wiciak, 2008). As a general, piezoelectric elements are glued to the host structure. It makes the advantage, namely their incorporating into the structure is that the actuating mechanism becomes part of the structure. Both sensors and actuators are relatively light, compared to the structure, and can be made in arbitrary shape. The disadvantage is that they once bonded and they cannnot be used again. In recent years the measure of the vibration with the sensors are replaced by touch less measures. For this reason, hereafter in research the sensors are omitted and only second type actuators will be considered. Nowadays actuators


Detection of traffic sign is quite important in autonomous driving and driver assistance systems. In this study, Faster R-CNN as a very powerful object detection system is integrated with a feature extractor Inception Resnet V2 system, and it is evaluated and tested for detection and recognition of traffic sign. In addition, to enhance the effectiveness of this presented architecture, a new procedure of preprocessing the image to augment the detection performance of a traffic sign detector is also proposed. This new image preprocessing is introduced to reduce noise by blurring statistically some regions in an image, in which existence possibility of a traffic sign is lower. Hence, a more efficient training of object detector approach is presented. In the experiments, the publicly available Faster R-CNN Inception Resnet V2 model pre-trained on Microsoft COCO dataset is imported from Tensorflow model zoo on Github and is trained again on German Traffic Sign Detection Benchmark dataset. Also, to recognize detected traffic signs, German Traffic Sign Recognition Benchmark is used to train a CNN classifier. The experimental study illustrates the effectiveness of the presented approach while benchmarking with existing methodologies.


Antibiotics are the most important bioactive and chemotherapeutic compounds to be produced by microbiological synthesis, and they have proved their worth in a variety of fields, such as medicinal chemistry, agriculture, and the food industry. Interest in antibiotics has grown in parallel with an increasingly high degree of productivity in the field of analytical applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop chromatographic procedures capable of determining various drugs simultaneously in the shortest possible time. Micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) is an RP-HPLC technique that offers advantages over conventional HPLC as far as sample preparation, selectivity, and versatility are concerned. Its main advantage is that samples can be injected directly into the chromatographic system with no previous preparation step. This paper mainly focuses on the results of the authors' own recent research and reports the chromatographic conditions for determination of various antibiotics (penicillins, quinolones, and sulfonamides) in different matrixes (pharmaceuticals, biological fluids, and food). The work of other authors on MLC-based antibiotic determination has been included.


Machine learning systems based on deep neural networks (DNNs) have gained mainstream adoption in many applications. Recently, however, DNNs are shown to be vulnerable to adversarial example attacks with slight perturbations on the inputs. Existing defense mechanisms against such attacks try to improve the overall robustness of the system, but they do not differentiate different targeted attacks even though the corresponding impacts may vary significantly. To tackle this problem, we propose a novel configurable defense mechanism in this work, wherein we are able to flexibly tune the robustness of the system against different targeted attacks to satisfy application requirements. This is achieved by refining the DNN loss function with an attack sensitive matrix to represent the impacts of different targeted attacks. Experimental results on CIFAR-10 data set demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed solution.


Cross-border conversions may be considered as an achievement of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU, Court) since its case law paves the way towards acceptance of such cross-border operations in all Member States. In the Polbud case, the CJEU clarified the scope of the freedom of establishment in regard to cross-border conversions. That judgement should give an impulse to those Member States whose law remains silent on the issue, lacks regulation or is not in line with the provisions on the freedom of establishment, to take appropriate legislative measures. However, a creation of a legal framework at the European level is still needed to provide a commonly-accepted procedure for such operations, to secure protection for vulnerable constituencies of a company, to prevent abusive practices and to regulate cooperation between the states which are involved in cross-border conversions.


INTRODUCTION
In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the vibration response imaging (VRI) as the second-line test in preoperative evaluation of the patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in prediction of the predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (ppo FEV1).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 31 patients scheduled for surgery underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs), VRIxp and quantitative lung perfusion scintigraphy (LPS) in order to predict postoperative lung functions. PFTs and VRI were repeated between 4th and 6th postoperative weeks and FEV1 and FEV1% values were compared with preoperative VRI and ppo-FEV1 calculated with perfusion scintigraphy. Statistical analysis of 31 patients under postoperative follow-up was performed in two parts. In the first part, two preoperative prediction methods (ppo based on perfusion and ppo calculated with VRI), and in the second part, estimated values and postoperative actual values (considering postoperative spirometric values as standard) were compared.

RESULTS
An agreement rate of 52% was found between the ppo values calculated with VRI and with perfusion. This rate was low, although respective predictive values for ppo VRI and ppo perfusion were 84% and 47%, suggesting that ppo VRI was more significant than LPS for prediction of the 1st month postoperative value in the patients included in this study.

CONCLUSIONS
VRIxp has a high-accuracy rate in prediction postoperative FEV1. It is seemed as an alternative to quantitative perfusion scintigraphy for preoperative evaluation, because it can be easily applied at the bedside as a radiation free and non-invasive method.


This study shows that traditional current-based phase-selection (TCPS) schemes are not applicable to wind power systems, and subsequently proposes two improved phase-selection schemes. On the basis of the practical TCPS criteria, derivations of the essential conditions for correct phase selection, which show that the positive-to-negative sequence current branch coefficient (PNSCBC) ratio at the relay location should be within a certain range, are presented. Wind power generation systems are weak-infeed systems; consequently, the PNSCBC ratio on the wind power side is approximately equal to the negative-to-positive sequence impedance (NPSI) ratio of the wind power system. However, the authors' theoretical and simulation analysis results show that the NPSI ratio of a wind power system may exceed the range required for reliable phase selection; therefore, TCPS schemes are not applicable to wind power systems. Thus, they propose improved phase-selection schemes based on sequence current fault components and phase current difference fault components. In the proposed schemes, the PNSCBC ratio is obtained using the backside system impedance measured by the relay, and it is then used for compensating the TCPS criteria. Simulation results and field fault test data verify the efficacy of the proposed schemes.


The oligomaric azo dye based on 3-amino-phenol-Formaldehyde (APF) polymer was prepared by diazotization of Aniline and coupling with 3-amino-phenol-Formaldehyde(AP) resin. The AAPF was then treated with 5-chloromethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline hydrochloride in the presence of a THF in conc. NaOH (PH 9-10) at room temperature for 7 hrs. The resultant oligomaric ligand designated as azopolyphenol-Formaldehyde-5-chloromethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline (AAPFHQ) was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectral studies, and thermogravimetry. The polymeric metal chelates of AAPF-HQ with Cu2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, UO2 2+ and Co2+ metal ions were prepared and characterised by metal:ligand ratio, IR and reflectance studies, magnetic properties, thermogravimetry and microbicidal activity. The AAPF-HQ sample was also monitored for its chelating and ion-exchanging properties. Batch equilibration method has been adopted, for evalution of ion-exchange properties.


Vitamin B12 and folate are substrates and cofactors for various enzymes involved in one carbon metabolism, which is important for DNA/RNA synthesis, amino acid interconversions and the methylation cycle. Two enzymes, methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase (MS) play pivotal roles determining the direction of one carbon flow. MTHFR catalyzes the intracellular synthesis of 5-methyl-THF from 5, 10-methylene-THF. MS is one of two B12-dependent mammalian enzymes and catalyzes the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine and the concurrent demethylation of 5-methyl-THF to THF. MTHFR knockout mice show a variable phenotype with reduced survival. The MS knockout is early embryonic lethal. MTHFR/MS double knockout mice survive and have similar phenotypes as MTHFR null mice, which proved that the MS null mice die from extreme folate deficiency due to a methyl-folate trap. The common phenotypes shared by the MTHFR null and MS/MTHFR double null mice include retarded growth, hyperhomocysteinemia and a significantly low SAM/SAH ratio. Histological studies revealed cerebellum neuropathology and impaired male reproductive system in knockout mice. Microarray analysis showed that the expression of many genes was altered in MTHFR null and MS/MTHFR double null mice. Several subsets of induced or repressed genes encoded proteins involved in iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, SUMOylation, growth hormone/IGF pathway, stress responses, etc. We also studied some of the consequences of vitamin B12 deficiency in wild type, MTHFR null and MS heterozygous mice. B12 deficiency resulted in increased plasma homocysteine, elevated plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride, and significantly up-regulated hepatic ApoC1 and ApoC3 expression in wild type and MS heterozygous mice. MTHFR null mice maintained lower plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, repressed hepatic ApoC1/C3 expression on both B12-deficient and sufficient diets, despite their very high plasma homocysteine, which indicated that the elevated homocysteine was not responsible for the changes in blood lipid profiles found in B12-deficient wild type or MS heterozygous mice. Both folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency can result in megaloblastic anemia, but the latter also causes subacute combined disease (SCD), a chronic demyelination disease, but its underlying mechanism is not understood. Although SCD occurs in B12 deficient humans and other primates, it has never been observed in rodents placed on B12-deficient diets. In animals with defective MS or MTHFR, the effects of B12 deficiency on myelin turnover were quantitatively studied by measuring the kinetics of synthesis and turnover of galactocerebroside (GalC), a myelin lipid, using a GC/MS stable isotope method. Vitamin B12 deficiency significantly decreased initial myelination rates in MS heterozygote and young wild type mice, and significantly inhibited remyelination after cuprizone-induced demyelination in adult MS heterozygotes and wild type mice. The MTHFR null mouse had a lower apparent remyelination rate compared with MS heterozygote and wild type mice, but remyelination in the MTHFR null was not affected by vitamin B12 deprivation. We also investigated the effect of replacing folic acid with 5-methyl-THF in mice null for both MTHFR and MS. In this artificial methyl folate trap situation, MS/MTHFR double null mice developed megaloblastic anemia, and some of them showed a mild myelin defect with increased expression of TNF-alpha and NF-kappaB. The existence of megaloblastic macrocytic anemia and an early-phase neuropathy in MS/MTHFR double null mice fed on 5-methyl-THF implies that the accumulation of methyl-folate that occurs in the methyl folate trap plays a direct mechanistic role and is at least partly responsible for the development of both symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. The final part of my study focused on differences in folate-related biochemical metabolites in inbred mouse strains and the identification of genes variants or modifier genes associated with these differences. Mouse brain and liver SAM and SAH, plasma homocysteine and cysteine, liver and plasma total folate were measured. Some showed significant differences among inbred mouse strains. Genomic loci associated with metabolite differences were identified by quantitative trait loci analysis and are now available for further scanning for modifier gene polymorphisms.


Older athlete age is a non-modifiable risk factor for groin pain in athletes; however, these studies are usually in adult populations. Underage athletes have been shown to pose approximately double the risk of adults in an Australian Rules football population.1 Developmental anatomy may be related to this increased risk, but this is still somewhat unknown. Maturation is related to age, gender, race and the environment,2 with injury rates increasing throughout the adolescent period.3 This indicates that the imposed environment's interplay with the developmental changes in puberty should be carefully monitored to reduce the risk of injury. Those who get …


Background: The negative value of the D-dimer test has been widely used to rule out thrombotic disorders such as Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT). Aims: The present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the D-dimer cut-off values based on the patients' medical history, symptoms, clinical diagnosis, age and gender, and to correlate the D-dimer value with the necessity of utilizing cost-effective investigations for diagnosing suspected thrombotic disorders. Materials and Methods: Prospective study of 352 patients over 3 consecutive months was conducted. Results: Overall 57.7% of patients had positive D-Dimer values out of which 20.7% were presented with chief complaint of chest pain, 14.8% with Shortness of breath, 7.7% complained of dizziness, 4.5% presented with extremity pain, 4.3% with abdominal pain, 4.3% with flu-like symptoms and cough, and 1.4% presented with alcohol intoxication with non specific complaints. Majority of patients were ultimately diagnosed with non specific chest pain, CHF, respiratory disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, etc. Only 3.125% of patients with positive d-dimer values were diagnosed with either PE or DVT. Conclusion: Low sensitivity and low positive predictive value have strongly suggested an elevated D-dimer neither indicates a specific disease nor has a strong correlation with the clinical severity of the disease. Slight elevation of D-dimer can be justified based on race, age, gender, medical history, initial presentation of patient and clinical diagnosis, and should not cloud the clinical judgment, exposing the patient to redundant and costly investigations.


We propose a theory which describes the mechanical behaviour of magneto-sensitive elastomers (MSEs) under a uniform external magnetic field. We focus on the MSEs with isotropic spatial distribution of magnetic particles. A mechanical model is used in which magnetic particles are arranged on the sites of three regular lattices: simple cubic, body-centered cubic and hexagonal close-packed lattices. By this we extend our previous approach [Ivaneyko D. et al., Macromolecular Theory and Simulations, 2011, 20, 411] which used only a simple cubic lattice for describing the spatial distribution of the particles. The magneto-induced deformation and the Young's modulus of MSEs are calculated as functions of the strength of the external magnetic field. We show that the magneto-mechanical behaviour of MSEs is very sensitive to the spatial distribution of the magnetic particles. MSEs can demonstrate either uniaxial expansion or contraction along the magnetic field and the Young's modulus can be an increasing or decreasing function of the strength of the magnetic field depending on the spatial distribution of the magnetic particles.


AIM
To evaluate an otitis media with effusion (OME) pilot screening programme carried out in a low socioeconomic status population.

METHODS
The evaluation methodology involved a literature review, key informant interviews and evaluation of the programme according to standard screening criteria. Operational analysis was carried out in which inputs, outputs and costs were analysed.

RESULTS
731 children were screened. The proportion of the target population screened was 91.2%. Forty nine point seven percent (363) of children tested had bilateral OME on at least one occasion, of whom 25.3% (92) were referred to otorhinolaryngology (ORL). The average cost of screening each child was $46.10, of detecting a case of bilateral OME $92.85, and of detecting a case requiring referral $117.03.

CONCLUSIONS
The programme demonstrated that a low socioeconomic status population can be successfully screened; that the high rate of spontaneous resolution of OME should be taken into account when designing screening protocols; that screening has significant impact on secondary services; and, screening is likely to have other benefits arising from more frequent contact with children and parents. The operational success of the pilot gives no indication, however, concerning the long term outcomes of tympanometry screening. The authors conclude that further research is required to establish the long term benefits of OME screening, and resource requirements.


Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are behaviourally defined syndromes where the etiology and pathophysiology are not very well understood. If the child has been diagnosed with autism, parents already face special behavioural challenges. What makes ASD even more difficult, are the many other medical health issues that often arise in this population.The purpose of this article is to summarise the latest understanding of autism's commonly associated physical and mental health conditions.Methods: An analysis of relevant literature, sources from the internet and published literature, personal experience and observations of the author.Recent findings: Autism is a disorder of the whole body. It is often in co-morbidity with: epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders, neuro-inflammation and immunological disorders, asthma, eczema, sleep disturbances, eating and feeding disorders, food allergies, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), headaches, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Fragile X syndrome, intellectual disability, nonverbal learning disorder, motor clumsiness, Tourette syndrome, sensory problems, tuberous sclerosis, oxidative stress, acquired mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities. Many of the issues outlined here can overlap each other.Conclusions:Improved understanding of the underlying pathology of ASD and associated conditions, and the development of a common purpose across multiple treating sites, can improve the consistent and coordinated healthcare of children with autism. There is need for the development of improved strategies for delivering effective health education and healthcare to this large population. Improving the ability of these persons to lead relatively independent lives has a great economic impact.


An impact of temperature, light and relative humidity were studied on root colonisation by mycorrhizal fungi and on pine seedling growth. Moderate and high light intensities favoured mycorrhizal colonisation and seedling growth. Pine seedlings inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius compared to other fungi attained maximum growth. Survival of pine seedlings was higher under moderate light intensity than low and high light intensity. Seedling growth and mycorrhizal colonisation was better at 25°C than 10°C. Variation in humidity did not show much difference in mycorrhizal colonisation and seedling growth. However, seedling survival was greater at high than at low humidity. Pine seedlings showed best survival with 0.5 P level (46.153 mg P/kg soil) of phosphorus at 25 °C temperature and under moderate light intensity. Among the mycorrhizal fungi used P. tinctorius was the most effective endophyte and was followed by Laccaria laccata, Rhizopogon luteolus and Collybia radicata under various physical factors.


The goal of this presentation is to report the results on morbidity and continence of 20 consecutive patients who, from January 1985 to December 1988, underwent bladder reconstruction after cystectomy for bladder cancer. In ten cases the neo-bladder was a classic ileocystoplasty and in the ten others it was a "low pressure neo-bladder". We compared the two groups although they were not randomized. There was no stadification difference in tumors nor in clinical status. The clinical results were described. There have been four temporary urinary fistulas in the group of low pressure bladder (LPB), and four in the group of classic ileocystoplasty (CI). In the group of LPB, 7 from 8 patients were completely dry day and night and voided every two for three hours while among the 9 patients with CI, 4 were continent day and night.


The aim of this study is investigating the efficiency of educational intervention based on PRECEDE model on promotion of osteoporosis prevention behaviors in women. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 200 women registered in two health centers of Fasa city, Fars province, Iran in 2017 to 2018. A questionnaire including items evaluating demographic information and PRECEDE model constructs was used for measuring nutrition and walking performance of studied women in osteoporosis prevention before and 12 months after intervention. Bone mineral density (BMD) was recorded at the lumbar spine and femur before and 12 months after intervention. One year after intervention, the intervention group showed a significant increase in knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, reinforcing factors, enabling factors, nutrition, and walking performance compared to the control group. Also, the value of lumbar spine and hip BMD T-Score of the intervention group was increased, while this value was reduced in the control group. Our findings showed that educational interventions based on PRECEDE model can positively affect prevention behaviors from osteoporosis by improving subjects' knowledge, attitude, enabling factors (resources such as health care access and services that can provide motivation for prevention behaviors from osteoporosis in women), self-efficacy, and reinforcing factors.


The experiment was conducted during July–December, 2019 in the Agricultural Research Farm Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. One hundred and twenty-two F3 rice populations from the cross made between IC277332 (susceptible parent)×IC277275 (moderately resistant parent) were evaluated against sheath blight disease under field conditions. The area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values categorized rice population into four groups viz., moderately resistant (24), moderately susceptible (38), susceptible (40), and highly susceptible (20). A moderate resistance level to the disease was identified during the study in 24 lines (19.6%) with a mean Percentage Disease Index (PDI) of 12.22%−36.6%. Furthermore, 38 individuals showed moderate susceptibility with AUDPC values (1012−1446 day-1). The maximum PDI and AUDPC value were 76.11 and 2325.56, and the minimum PDI and AUDPC values were 22.78 and 622.22, respectively. The principal component (PCA) biplot analysis showed 71.62% and 12.05% variation, respectively. Unweighted Pair Group Method of Arithmetic Means (UPGMA) cluster analysis grouped the 122 individuals into two major clusters, A and B and sub-clusters. These findings indicated that no rice line resistant to sheath blight had been identified. However, few population lines exhibited moderate resistance, which can be utilized as donor lines to generate sheath blight-resistant rice cultivars. These findings will provide a solid basis for our future breeding and screening activities at the institution.


On July 23, 2014, an execution in Arizona lasted nearly two hours, with the inmate struggling to breathe and gasping over 600 times, according to a local reporter witnessing the execution. This was the third example of a botched execution in seven months. The Supreme Court last evaluated the constitutionality of execution by lethal injection in 2008, but did not provide a clear standard for evaluating risks. Since that time, the lethal injection landscape has transformed. States are using entirely new drugs and drug combinations, and sometimes obtain these drugs from questionable sources, making it hard to predict what will happen in any given execution. The Court has now granted certiorari to examine the constitutionality of Oklahoma's lethal injection protocol in the case of Glossip v.


ABSTRACT Biodiesel being one of the most promising renewable biofuels has seen rapid increase in production capacity due to high demand for diesel replacement; along with oversupply of its by-product, crude glycerol. Developing new industrial usage for glycerol is essential to defray the cost and sustainability of biodiesel industry and to promote the biodiesel industrialization. One of the approaches is by the transformation of glycerol into a liquid, referred as bio-oil through pyrolysis technology. Bio-oils produced by pyrolysis processes can be upgraded to produce transportation fuels or for power generation. However, current state of pyrolysis technologies are still major hurdles their development with respect to its commercial applications. Recently, microwave technology has attracted considerable attention as effective method for significantly reducing reaction time, improving the yields and selectivity of target products. Hence, this review strives extensively towards addressing the application of microwave-assisted technology applied to the pyrolysis process as a way of cost-effective and operationally feasible processes to directly utilize crude glycerol. The present review will focus on the pyrolyzed liquid product (bio-oil) derived by employing the microwave-assisted pyrolysis method. This review concludes that microwave-assisted glycerol conversion technology is a promising option as an alternative method to conventional glycerol conversion technology. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


Silicon microring resonators are widely used as optical biosensors because of their high sensitivity and promise of low-cost mass-manufacturing. Usually, they only measure the adsorbed molecular mass via the refractive index change they detect. Here, we propose and demonstrate a silicon microring biosensor that can measure molecular thickness and density as well as electrochemical activity simultaneously, thereby enabling quantification of the conformation of sur-face-immobilized biological and molecular layers in real time. Insight into the molecular conformation is obtained by recording the resonance shift from two geometrically distinct ring-resonators connected to a single access waveguide. The resonant cavities both support a single TE polarized optical mode but have different widths (480 and 580 nm); thus the penetration depth of their evanescent fields is very different providing different depth-resolution of the interaction with the adlayer on the sensor surface. By combining the optical shift from these two measurements, we demonstrate unambiguous quantification of the thickness and the refractive index of a molecular layer assembled on the waveguide. The precision of the technique is 0.05 nm and 0.005 RIU in the molecular layer thickness and refractive index, respectively. We demonstrate the cascaded electrophotonic ring resonator system using two exemplar systems, namely a) physisorption of a bovine serum albumin monolayer and b) an electroactive DNA oligonucleotide hairpin, where we uniquely show the ability to monitor electrochemical activity and conformational change with the same device. This novel sensor geometry provides a new approach for monitoring the conformation and conformational changes in an inexpensive and miniaturized platform that is amenable to multiplexed, high-throughput measurements.


Suspended sediment exports from the Richmond River catchment were examined during 2 hydrological years (1994–96). On a yearly basis, the Richmond River catchment produced 93% of the suspended sediment load, while sediment exports from the Bungawalbin Creek subcatchment always remained low due to its flat topography and extensive forest coverage. Suspended sediment hysteresis patterns exhibited a clockwise response for 2 steep and less forested subcatchments and an anti-clockwise response for relatively low gradient and more forested subcatchment during all flood events. Land use changes in the Richmond River subcatchments indicate a possible increase of suspended sediment load of about 6-fold from their pristine condition. SR 041 Sus ed sedi i opient S.os et .


This article explores the analytic valuation of American-style fixed strike Asian option or average rate option based on the continuous arithmetic average in the Black-Scholes framework. Because there is no closed-form exact valuation formula for the average rate option with the arithmetic average, a very well-approximated arithmetic average density function is used for the valuation. The optimal exercise boundary and the values of American average rate options are compared with those of American plain vanilla options. Especially, this article shows that American average rate option can have two different optimal exercise boundaries depending on the parameters. Numerical experiments are also performed to demonstrate the influence of the component factors on the values of American average rate options and to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the valuation formula.


We have conducted high-resolution spectroscopic observations of a sample of both classical and weak-line T Tauri stars embedded in the Taurus-Auriga molecular cloud using the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory's 188 cm telescope equipped with HIDES (HIgh Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph). Utilizing the ratios of equivalent widths of specific lines, we efficiently eliminated the effects of "veiling" and determined the atmospheric parameters individually for each object. Eight pairs of temperature-sensitive line-ratios were selected to derive the effective temperature with high precision and reliability. As for the surface gravity, we have developed a new method to determine the value. The method was first tested on observed spectral standards, and the derived surface gravities had a less than 5% deviation from the values in the literature. The derived surface gravities are well within the range of the assumed values for T Tauri stars.


OE-MRI is an emerging technique for identifying, mapping and quantifying tumour hypoxia. Current analysis is based on combining data with a perfusion map and categorising each voxel absolutely as hypoxic, normoxic or necrotic. In this study we use bootstrap analysis to map the uncertainty on the biomarker pOxy-R. We investigate how this performs in synthetic tumour data before applying the method to data from 9 patients with rectal cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy. Bootstrapping enabled estimates of confidence intervals for change, thus identifying those patients who exhibited hypoxia modification on therapy.


The Childrens Cancer Study Group conducted four therapeutic studies on a total of 1006 children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia from 1972 to 1983. This report describes the therapeutic strategies of these studies and examines trends in induction rates and long‐term outcome over this period. The remission induction rate has changed from 58% in 1972 to 1975 to 80% for the period 1980 to 1983, and the induction mortality dropped from 20% to 6%. Four‐year survival probabilities from time of diagnosis have almost doubled from 19% to 36%. Few deaths occurred more than 5 years after diagnosis: children surviving in first remission beyond 5 years had a 92% survival rate and an 86% relapse‐free survival rate over the next 5 years. In contrast, median survival after a marrow relapse was less than 6 months and the 6‐year survival probability was 4%. The leukocyte count was a significant prognostic factor, and although the mortality for infants was high initially, long‐term survival was not decreased.