Background: Cutaneous melanoma is a very common and lethal subtype of skin cancers. It is associated with certain risk factors, like exposure to UV radiation that can be avoided. It therefore essential to increase public awareness about this malignancy in order to either avoid this cancer altogether or at least be able to diagnose it in its earlier stages. Method: This is a retrospective review of the Tumor Registry at University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville during the period between the January 1, 1995 and the December 31, 2007. Data was collected on various clinic-pathological variables including the date of registration, age, race, staging and anatomic distribution with special focus on the gender distribution of cutaneous melanoma in our patient population. Anatomic locations were classified into 4 groupings: head and neck, trunk (consisting of the sub regions of the chest, abdomen, groin, upper back, lower back, and buttocks), upper extremities (upper arms, forearms and elbows, and hands), and lower extremities (thighs, lower legs and knees, and feet). Categorical data were analyzed using Chi-square testing. Results: Data analysis from the past 12 years revealed a total of 323 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma with 63% (205) men, and 37% (118) females. Median age was 56 years (age range, 14-87 years). Mean age was 55 with SD +/- 16.8, women were younger than men with a mean age at diagnosis of 50 and 57 years respectively (p <.05). Patients under the age of 35 accounted for 16% of cases. 317 patients were classified as white (98%) and 6 were African American (2%). Mean age was 54 and 58 years for Caucasian and African Americans respectively with p= 0.035. Among men, 25% of the melanomas were on the head and neck, 31% on the trunk, 23% on the upper extremities and 12% on the lower extremities. For women, 17% of the melanomas were on the head and neck, 29% on the trunk, 24% on the upper extremities, and 24% on the lower extremities. The primary tumor was predominantly located on the trunk in 60% of the patients, in men (31%) and in women (29%) with P= 0.029. Significant results are tabulated in the tables listed below. Conclusion: To our knowledge this is the first study on malignant melanoma from our institution in Jacksonville, Florida. There were more male patients than women, supporting a sex distribution difference of almost 2 to 1.


A simple and specific test for alcohol in body fluids is described and its specificity has been demonstrated. Specimens of blood and urine may be preserved for at least a month. For blood, use sodium fluoride, and urine, benzoic acid. The importance of the test lies in its ability to confirm a diagnosis of drunkenness for medicolegal purposes, as well as to give valuable information in differential diagnoses. A preliminary survey of persons injured or killed in auto accidents suggests that alcohol may be a greater factor in such accidents than statistics indicate, and shows the importance of a nation-wide survey of the relationship of alcohol to automobile accidents. The chemical test for alcohol in body fluids will be an important factor in arriving at conclusions concerning the intoxicating ability of certain beverages. Language: en


Dr. Lampl-de-Groot belongs to a small group of psychoanalysts who served their apprenticeships in Vienna in the 1920's. They entered the Vienna Society when scientific life there was at its height. When this society terminated, they dispersed all over the world to found new analytic institutes elsewhere. She founded the Dutch Analytic Institute. The title of this book is misleading as it actually covers the contributions of this perceptive psychiatrist between 1927 and 1964. Some papers appear in English for the first time, and a few had never been published before. Unfortunately, they are presented in chronological order and in the original form. In recent years the author has reformulated some of these ideas and deemphasized a few of her earlier concepts. The author has made no original modification of Freud's conceptualizations. She was one of the first psychoanalysts to confirm the importance of the early developmental stages of infantile


For the first time in the latest Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), water has been the focus of dedicated chapters in both Working Group 1 (Chapter 8) and 2 (Chapter 4). Nevertheless, we argue here that water has not yet received the full attention it deserves from both scientists and policymakers for several reasons. Firstly, the historical focus on temperature change has been further increased with the use of global warming levels motivated by an aim to be consistent with current policy framings. Secondly, an increasing attention paid to extreme weather has sometimes overshadowed longer time-scale changes such as the aridification of an increasing fraction of arable land and the increasing variability of the water cycle from month to month, season to season, and year to year that also yield cascading impacts on all water use sectors. Thirdly, a stronger focus is needed on understanding the effectiveness of current and future adaptation strategies in reducing water-related climate risks. Finally, the role of water has not been adequately recognized in the assessment of mitigation strategies although the compliance with the Paris Agreement and the current pledges all require a massive deployment of land-based strategies whose feasibility and efficiency heavily depend on water resources. It is thus essential to develop a more integrated approach to water and climate change, that would allow scientists and policymakers to "close the loop" between mitigation options, water cycle changes, hydrological impacts and adaptation.


Increased intestinal permeability has been advocated as one of the likely causes of various pathologies, such as allergies and metabolic or even cardiovascular disturbances. Thus, the aim of the present study was to test a symbiotic preparation containing microbial lysates (KC-1317, Named, Italy) against stress-induced derangement of gut mucosa permeability. Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into control (n=20) and stress (n=20) group. Stress was implemented by 1h of water avoidance stress daily for 10 days. Body weight, food and water intake and passage of stool pellet during stress session were recorded throughout the experiment. On the 11th day, fluorescent iso-thiocyanate dextran solution was injected into small intestinal loops. One hour after the injection, rats were sacrificed. Jejunum and ileum were taken for histopathology. Blood was collected from the abdominal aorta to measure intestinal permeability. In stress group, stool pellets during stress session was significantly higher than control group (p < 0.01). Villus height (p < 0.01), crypt depth (p < 0.01), number of goblet cells in villus (p < 0.01) and crypt (p < 0.05) decreased significantly in jejunum as compared to control. These phenomena were significantly prevented by KC-1317 (p < 0.05). Ileum also showed atrophy but villus height and the number of goblet cells in the villi did not significantly differ. Plasma-concentration of brain-gut peptides (substance P, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, cholecystokinin and motilin) were affected by stress (p < 0.001) and this effect did not change during supplementation with KC-1317. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil counting was significantly higher in stress group as compared to control (p < 0.01) but this phenomenon was abolished in the ileum (p < 0.01) or partly but significantly reduced by KC-1317 supplementation (p < 0.05). Accordingly, intestinal permeability was significantly enhanced in stress group as compared to control (p < 0.01) and prevented by KC-1317 (p < 0.01) in both intestinal segments examined. While confirming that chronic mild stress in rats compromises small intestinal morphology and permeability, we showed that a symbiotic microbial lysate can partly counteract this phenomenon.


The effect of continuous, intensive grazing by cattle in the 1st alfalfa growth cycle on larval densities of the alfalfa weevil, Hyera postica (Gyllenhal), was evaluated in "Alfagraze' and "Apollo' alfalfa, which are tolerant and not tolerant to grazing, respectively. In small-cage exclusion trials, grazing reduced larval numbers in 1991 by 65% in Alfagraze and by 32% in Apollo. Larval numbers in 1992 were low (< or = 0.6 larvae per stem) and were not reduced significantly by grazing. Grazing and use of early insecticide treatments of permethrin or carbofuran at low rates with < or = 7-d grazing restrictions to suppress larval numbers before grazing also were examined in large-plot exclusion trails in 1993 and 1994. Grazing reduced larval densities by 60% in 1993 and 45% in 1994 during a 3-wk period beginning 3 wk after grazing was initiated. However, alfalfa weevil larvae caused moderate leaf injury in 1993 and severe injury in 1994 before grazing reduced larval numbers. Use of permethrin at 0.11 kg (AI)/ha or carbofuran or chlorpyrifos at 0.28 kg (AI)/ha effectively reduced larval numbers and prevented leaf injury before grazing began. Therefore, a combination of an early application of an insecticide treatment with a short grazing restriction followed by continuous grazing will control alfalfa weevil larvae while allowing cattle to graze and directly use forage of grazing-tolerant alfalfa.


The treatment of cancer of the tongue is of vital importance to the medical profession, because of its frequency and virulent character. Some authorities place it next in frequency to cancer of the uterus, and others assign it to third and fourth place. While the disease occurs most frequently in men, it is not uncommon in women. A point that should be emphasized is that the disease does occur in the second and third decade, and great care should be taken not to be influenced too much by the apparent youth of the patient. It would seem that the disease is becoming more frequent in younger persons, and while more accurate diagnosis is undoubtedly being made, this certainly cannot account for the increase noted in younger persons. There is probably no disease in which the causative factor and the precancerous lesions are more important, because of the serious nature of


This essay discusses the life stories of four radical nationalists. It is based on life story interviews as well as information gathered through a year of fieldwork. This includes conversations with all forty participants of the Norwegian radical nationalist subculture in 1993-94, and in-depth interviews with all the leading activists, except one. Elsewhere I have analysed the identities of these young people in terms of group membership, ideology and gender issues. In this essay, I highlight the radical nationalists' lives prior to their entrance into the radical nationalist underground. I focus on the way they relate to common interpretations of them by outsiders, and the way they themselves argue in order to bring reason into their choice to join a group which is condemned by most people. I look for the common features we can find in these life stories, and in the mechanisms of recruitment described by these four men.


Nowadays the sawmill industry is in possession of sophisticated measurement equipment, which is the key to the successful running of the wood transformation process. New technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) scanners are becoming more and more common in Swedish sawmills. These scanners are used for sorting sawlogs according to different criteria such as diameter, length, or quality. They also perform the automatic scaling of the sawlogs that is the basis for estimating volume. Both scaling and sorting are done on bark, i.e., before debarking the logs. Specific functions for the double bark thickness are used to estimate the diameter under bark of the logs. However, these functions do not take into account the eventual missing/damaged bark from the surface ofthe logs. The errors caused by this lack of precision negatively affect the quality of both scaling and sorting procedures. In this study, with the aid of a simulation technique and field tests, questions regarding the size of these errors and how missing bark affects the measurement procedure when using a 3D log scanner are tackled. Finally, a new system for bark deduction is proposed, implemented, and evaluated in a Swedish sawmill. The results show that paying more attention to missing bark when scaling and sorting sawlogs can considerably increase the accuracy of these operations, thus leading to improvements in the forestry-wood chain.


Psidium guajava (guava) is recognised as the third most important invasive alien plant species in the moist savanna biome of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. The cost of initial clearing of alien plants reaches up to R3 000-00 per ha, therefore the application of correct control methods is essential for cost-effective reduction of the spread. The aim of this study was to test the cost effectiveness of applying various herbicides to guava in the Swaziland Sour Bushveld. Four plots were selected for standing plant treatments, five for cut stump treatments and two for controls. Within each of these plots, five sub-plots were randomly located and the number of plant stems, base diameter, maximum height, and crown diameter was recorded before application of the herbicides. Picloram, fluroxypyr, bromacil, tebuthiuron and imazapyr were used either alone or in combinations. Eleven months after herbicide application, the treated plants were measured again. Bromacil/tebuthiuron liquid soil application gave the best results in terms of cost (0.09 c/stem) for standing plant treatments. The picloram/fluroxypyr cut stump treatment (4.5% concentration) cost the least to apply (0.05 c/stem), and no resprouting was observed. Results from this study can be used as baseline figures for managers planning to control guava.

 Key words: Alien plant control, herbicides, picloram, fluroxypyr, bromacil, tebuthiuron, imzapyr.


This paper reports on the measurement and analysis of the coherence function for broadband emitters such as superluminescent diodes (SLDs) and novel broadband laser diodes (BLDs) from self-assembled InGaAs/GaAs quantumdot (QD) and InAs/InP quantum-dash (Qdash) structures that emit at center wavelengths of 1150nm and 1650nm, respectively. Using the fiber-based spectral interferometry system, coherence lengths in fiber of 23 μm and 48 μm have been measured from the QD and Qdash BLDs. Larger spectral bandwidth of 137 nm and 78 nm have been measured from the QD and Qdash SLDs that yield coherence lengths in fiber of 3 μm and 10 μm, respectively. The coherence function of both BLDs and SLD reveals negligible secondary coherence subpeaks and sidelobes indicating the possibility of using these broadband sources to produce low artifacts optical coherence tomography (OCT) images.


Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory follicular skin disease that frequently affects the apocrine gland-bearing skin of the axillary, inguinal and anogenital regions. HS has a significant impact on the psychosocial health and quality of life of patients. Diagnosis of HS is typically clinical, and reliant on the ability of physicians to recognize the signs of HS. However, lesions may present at the dermal and subcutaneous skin layers, which cannot be diagnosed by clinical examination alone. Further, the complexity of the clinical presentation of HS can lead to misdiagnosis and delay of diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Imaging is an important tool that can address these issues by detecting inflammatory activity and the early subclinical and dermal features of HS, and accurately characterizing lesional morphology, thereby informing on optimal therapeutic strategies. Overall, imaging is a key tool that can be used in conjunction with clinical examination to improve the management of HS by providing additional information to physicians, and thus optimize clinical decision-making. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the general role of imaging in the management of HS, and we illustrate HS-specific applications of two pertinent imaging modalities, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Finally, based on the literature, we summarize their uses in HS and provide considerations relating to standardizing the practice of US and effectively implementing the use of imaging in the management of HS.


At the first International Workshop on Advanced Software Development Tools and Techniques, four emerging trends in academic tool building were evident. First, tools are increasingly constructed on the basis of external code, reusing, for instance, existing frameworks and integrated development environments. Second, researchers often choose dynamic languages such as Smalltalk to implement prototype tools. Third, Web-based tools are starting to incorporate Web 2.0 technologies to improve user interaction. Finally, increasing computational resources allow tools to tackle larger, real-world code bases.


The proton extrusion mechanisms of Leishmania promastigotes were studied in terms of electrogenic movements of protons and anions (Cl− and HCO3−). Changes in membrane potential (Vm) and intracellular pH (pHi) were monitored fluorimetrically with the potential sensitive dye bis-oxonol and the pH-sensitive dye tetraacethoxymethyl 2′,7′-bis-(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein, respectively. In nominal bicarbonate-free medium (pH7.4, 28°C), Vm and pHi of Leishmania promastigotes were maintained at −113 ± 4 mV and 6.75 ± 0.02, respectively. In Cl− free (gluconate-based) medium, cells underwent a time-dependent acidification (0.3 pH units) and a long term membrane hyperpolarization (7-10 mV), both of which were greatly enhanced in the presence of the anion blocker, 4,4′-diisothiocyanodihydrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (H2DIDS). Cells in Cl−-free medium underwent a marked depolarization upon treatment with the H+-ATPase inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), but hyperpolarized after repletion with Cl−. In Cl−-depleted cells, replenishment of Cl− led to a H2DIDS-sensitive cytoplasmic alkalinization and a small initial hyperpolarization. Cells exposed either to DCCD or to the H+ uncoupler carbonylcyanide chlorophenylhydrazone caused a marked cytoplasmic acidification and membrane depolarization. In the presence of 25 mM HCO3−, promastigotes maintained an almost neutral cytosol, irrespective of H+ pump action or ionic composition of the medium. The present observations provide evidence for the operation of a DCCD-sensitive electrogenic H+-ATPase which contributes to the maintenance of a highly hyperpolarized plasma membrane in Leishmania promastigotes. H+ pump activity required a parallel pathway of Cl− ions in order to dissipate the pump generated electrical potential. In nominally CO2-free media, the two electrogenic systems are implicated in the maintenance of cell pH and indirectly in electrochemically driven nutrient uptake. In physiological CO2/HCO3−-containing media, the H+ pump and Cl− channel play a role only secondary to that of HCO3− in pHi homeostasis.


We investigated the effect of brown-rice vinegar (BRV) ingestion after strenuous Wingate tests on en-ergy substrates during a 2 hr recovery period. For this, seven healthy male adolescents were chosen as subjects. They performed 3 Wingate tests to induce fatigue, after which they ingested brown-rice vinegar (BRV) drink and/or water as a control (CON) after 15 min of the test. Blood was obtained pre-exercise and 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min post-exercise, and blood glucose, lactate, free fatty acids, ammonia, and cortisol were analyzed. After 120 min of recovery period, the 4th Wingate test was con-ducted to calculate the power recovery ratio of the 3rd and 4th trials. Breathing frequency, oxygen saturation, and heart rate did not show significant changes. Blood glucose level was lower in CON than BRV after 120 min of recovery, and blood lactate and ammonia levels were lower in BRV at 60 and 120 min. The higher free fatty acids were found at 60 and 120 min in BRV. In addition, Wingate power recovery ratio of peak power and peak power/body weight was significantly higher in BRV compared to CON. These results suggested that BRV ingestion after strenuous exercise facilitates fa-tigue recovery. Therefore, BRV might be effectively used as an ergogenic aid for events in which com-petitors compete two or more times a day. Keywords : Brown-rice vinegar, Wingate test, fatigue recovery, energy metabolism


Summary form only given. Remote plasma sources have traditionally been used in semiconductor processing applications such as dry removal of photoresist, where the capability of delivering a large flux of atomic oxygen into a semiconductor process chamber, with little of the associated plasma used to dissociate the oxygen, has made them attractive. With the development of fluorine-compatible remote plasma sources, a range of new application opportunities has opened up. In remote cleaning of CVD chambers, the remote plasma source is positioned before the process chamber, and a stream of atomic fluorine from the source is flowed into the chamber, where it can effectively clean a wide variety of materials such as SiO/sub 2/, Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/, and W. The cleaning process is purely chemical, with no associated in-situ plasma which can cause degradation of the process chamber. In exhaust gas abatement, the remote plasma source is located between the outlet of the etch or deposition process chamber and the mechanical pump. By adding appropriate gases, the exhaust stream from the chamber can be converted to a form which can be managed more readily. Using an robust toroidal plasma source design, the ASTRON/sup TM/ remote plasma source has been used to address both of these areas.


Objective To obtain the perception of nurses on the use of Facebook as a learning tool. Materials & methods We conducted a pilot observational study in which data were collected through a detailed course evaluation and feedback survey questionnaire. Twelve stroke care nurses were enrolled in a stroke course specifically designed to provide participants with information and knowledge about stroke unit nursing care. Firstly, a closed Facebook group consisting of the participants and facilitators was created. An activity in accordance with the course content was posted in the group daily. Before the start of the course, a pre-course test was conducted. The four-week course culminated in a graded written examination. Its results were compared with the pre-course test. A detailed feedback questionnaire was given to the participants at the end of the course, which was specifically designed to elicit perceptions of nurses about the use of Facebook as a learning tool. Results Of the 12 enrolled nurses, 10 completed the certification and the post-course feedback evaluation. Facebook was used by all participants as a platform to view and study the course contents. The timing of the course activities was rated "very good" by three and 'good' by six of 10 participants. However, one of the major issues faced by five participants was problematic internet access. The overall rating of the course was "very good" by five participants, "good" by three, and "satisfactory" by two of 10 participants. The post-course test showed that nine of 10 candidates passed with scores >70% compared to only two candidates getting scores >50% in the pre-course test. Conclusion Facebook use enabled participants to study the material when their schedule permitted them. The online teaching and facilitation were ideal for our full-time stroke unit nurses as reflected by their improved post-course test results.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

Humans are constantly exposed to environmental carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through cigarette smoke, diesel exhausts, charcoal-broiled meats, etc. Cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) enzymes play important roles in the activation of PAHs such as 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) to carcinogenic DNA-binding metabolites. The resulting DNA adducts may lead to mutations of tumor suppressor genes such as p53, thereby leading to tumorigenesis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that CYP1A1 and 1A2 have reciprocal roles in PAH-mediated tumorigenesis. Eight week-old female wild type (WT) (A/J) mice or mice lacking the gene for CYP1A1 or CYP1A2 on the A/J background were treated with a single dose of MC (40 µmol/kg), benzo[a]pyrene (BP), or vehicle (corn oil), and liver and lung tumors were studied after 28 weeks. While 100% of WT or Cyp1a2-null mice exposed to MC showed lung tumors after 28 weeks, about 80% of the Cyp1a1-null mice showed lung tumors. However, there were striking differences in the Cyp1a1-null and Cyp1a2-null in regard to lung tumor multiplicities and sizes of tumors. The WT mice treated with MC had about 15 lung tumors/animal. On the other hand, the Cyp1a2-null mice displayed about 40 lung tumors/animal, while the Cyp1a1-null mice showed about 2-3 tumors/mouse. Also, the tumor sizes were much larger in the Cyp1a2-null mice, compared to the much smaller sizes in the Cyp1a1-null mice. Although BP was less potent in inducing lung tumors in the WT mice compared to MC, it was similar to MC In that tumors were suppressed in the Cyp1a1-null mice and augmented in the Cyp1a2-null mice. Immunohistochemical studies showed that CYP1A1 was overexpressed in the tumorous portions of the lung in the Cyp1a2-null or WT mice, compared to non-tumorous regions, These results suggest that CYP1A1 contributes to the formation of tumorigenesis by PAHs, while CYP1A2 plays an important role in the protection against carcinogenesis mediated by PAHs, presumably through it role in PAH detoxification. In conclusion, our results strongly suggest that CYP1A1 and 1A2 could be novel candidates for cancer prevention and therapy though either inhibition of CYP1A1 or induction of CYP1A2. Thus, CYP1a1-null and Cyp1a2-null mice could be developed as novel animal models for future cancer prevention and/or therapeutic intervention in humans exposed to environmental PAHs. (Supported by NIH grant ES009132.)

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3471.


In the era of high-speed trains, it is very important to ensure the safety and stability of rail tracks under adverse conditions including seasonal freezing and thawing. Freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) affecting the engineering performance of coarse-grained soil (CGS) is one of the major reasons for track deterioration. The reported results of a number of static freeze–thaw triaxial tests on the shear behaviour of CGS are analysed herein. It was observed that confining pressure (σ3) and FTCs have a significant influence on the shear behaviour of CGS. In this paper, an empirical mathematical model has been proposed to capture the dilatancy of CGS subjected to FTCs during shearing. The empirical constants a, b, and c proposed in the model are a function of σ3 and FTCs. The results of the model have been compared with the laboratory experiments and are found to be in good agreement.


Abstract Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) relies on the strong T2 signal from stationary liquids, in this case bile, to generate images. No contrast agents are required, and the failure rate and risk of serious complications is lower than with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Data from MRC can be summated to produce an image much like the cholangiogram obtained by using ERCP. In addition, MRC and conventional MRI can provide information about the biliary and other anatomy above and below a biliary obstruction. This provides information for therapeutic intervention that is probably most useful for hilar and intrahepatic biliary obstruction. Magnetic resonance cholangiography appears to be similar to ERCP with respect to sensitivity and specificity in detecting lesions causing biliary obstruction, and in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. It is also suited to the assessment of biliary anatomy (including the assessment of surgical bile‐duct injuries) and intrahepatic biliary pathology. However, ERCP can be therapeutic as well as diagnostic, and MRC should be limited to situations where intervention is unlikely, where intrahepatic or hilar pathology is suspected, to delineate the biliary anatomy prior to other interventions, or after failed or inadequate ERCP. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) relies on the properties of flowing liquids to generate images. It is particularly suited to assessment of the hepatic vasculature and appears as good as conventional angiography. It has been shown to be useful in delineating vascular anatomy prior to liver transplantation or insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt. Magnetic resonance angiography may also be useful in predicting subsequent variceal haemorrhage in patients with oesophageal varices.


Background: Bone metastasis-specific genes in breast cancer have been reported without considering the significant differences in ER status between bone and non-bone metastases. The aims of this study were to validate genes that had been reported as bone metastasis-specific genes using our data set and to identify bone metastasis-specific genes on the basis of biological differences between ERpositive and ER-negative breast cancers. Patients and Methods: We used Affymetrix GeneChip arrays to analyze tumor samples obtained from 365 primary invasive breast cancer patients who underwent surgery from 1999 to 2008. We excluded patients with HER2−positive breast cancer (normalized HER2 mRNA expression [probe set 216836_s_at] > 12.54). We classified the samples into 3 cohorts according to first metastatic site: bone, non-bone, or no metastasis. Differential expression of genes between bone and non-bone cohorts that were differentially expressed was identified using the Cox proportional hazards model, and gene sets was assessed using gene-set analysis. Results: Of the 365 patients, 34 (9.3%) were included in the bone cohort and 32 (8.8%) in the non-bone cohort. Two hundred fourteen (58.6%) had ER-positive and 151 (41.4%) had ER-negative breast cancer. First, we performed gene-set analysis using 5 gene sets that had been reported to be associated with bone metastasis. One gene set, which had been detected using an ER-negative breast cancer cell line, was validated as predicting bone metastasis in ER-positive breast cancer. None of the 5 gene sets predicted bone metastasis in ER-negative breast cancer. We then determined the levels of individual genes associated with bone metastasis by ER status using all 16,712 probe sets filtered by average gene expression level. When we analyzed all patients without any stratification by ER status, as in previous studies, 592 probe sets were significantly overexpressed in the bone cohort compared with the non-bone cohort, with a false discovery rate of ≤0.05. However, when we analyzed ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancers separately, no genes were found with significant differences between bone and non-bone cohorts. Finally, we used 2,246 functionally annotated gene sets assembled from Gene Ontology to examine possible biological differences between bone and non-bone cohorts. In the bone cohort, 151 and 125 gene sets were significantly overexpressed in ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancers, respectively ( P ≤ 0.05). Ppathways related to Cellular growth and proliferation, and intracellular and second-messenger signaling were overexpressed in ER-positive breast cancer, whereas pathways related to nuclear receptor and cytokine signaling were overexpressed in ER-negative breast cancer. Most bone-metastasis-related pathways were different in ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancers (91.4% and 89.6% of the gene sets, respectively). Discussion: No genes were found that can predict bone metastasis. ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancers have different biological potentials for bone metastasis. Therefore, we need to assess the prediction model of bone metastasis based on the biological features for each ER status separately. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-16-02.


Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels are growth hormone (GH) dependent and reflect the endogenous GH secretion. Two hundred and forty-four healthy children were evaluated for serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels and then the age-defined normal values for Thai children were constructed. The results showed that the serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were age dependent, gradually increased from birth and reached the peak values around the age of 14-16 years. In addition, we studied the IGF-I and IGFBP-3 values in 28 GH deficient children and 26 normal variant short stature (NVSS) by using our normal constructed values as the reference. To minimize the influence of age, both IGF-I and IGFBP-3 values were transformed to standard deviation score (SDS). In clinical practice, we recommend using the IGF-I SDS and IGFBP-3 SDS of -1 and -1.3 respectively as a cut-off point to discriminate between GH deficiency and NVSS to avoid risky GH provocative tests and unnecessary GH replacement with the sensitivity of 71 per cent and the specificity of 92 per cent.


With the development of current society,and the rising of the public standard of living,the level of education and the awareness on the art,people's aesthetic judgment is keeping on developing.Modern art and design are the products of the new era,and the art and design can not be separated.Landscape design is the most comprehensive art in the modern times;it has a necessary link with the modern art forms.Nowadays,the urban landscape design has been rapidly developing,and the art design has also flourished in the field of arts.In this paper,the author briefly defined the meaning of urban landscape design with the methods of consulting the documents and analyzing the cases.The relationship between the urban landscape design and the modernart has been described,and the urban landscape design that has been influenced by the modern art has been analyzed from the aspects of the pieces of landscapes,sculptures,plants and others.


Aim: To establish the Prevalence of insomnia in patients suffering fromstroke. Methods: By the consent of patients or their attendants we piloted a cross-sectional study among90 stroke patients at different hospitals of Lahore. A modified Sleep Centre Interview wasconducted from the participants regarding their sleeping pattern, day time effects and its effecton their life. Results: The study included 90 stroke patients of those 56 were males and 34 were females. Outof 90, 27(30%) patients had sleep disturbance of them 16 were male and 11 were male.Therefore the prevalence of insomnia was found to be 30%. There were 33.3% patients reportedthat they woke up at least 2 time at night while 25.9% woke up 3 times at night and only 18.5%woke up once at night. 48.4% patients reported that they follow the same sleep pattern for 3-4. days per week while 44.4% followed the sleep pattern for 2-3 days a week 74% reported that ittakes them 2-3 hours to sleep while 22.2% reported that it takes them 4-5 hours to sleep once awaked. Conclusion: The study concluded that sleep disturbances as insomnia and hyper insomnia arecommon among stroke fighters. Insomnia was associated with increased level of anxiety anddisability after stroke. Physical therapy and psychotherapy will improve patient's level of cognition,energy level, and mood and give them better sleep. Keywords: insomnia, sleep disturbances, stroke, sleep initiation and maintenance disorder,


This paper introduces locomotion modes for the planetary rover Sherpa1. The rover's locomotion system consists of four wheeled-legs, each providing a total of six degrees of freedom. The design of the active suspension system allows a wide range of posture and drive modes for the rover. Self-locking gears in the suspension system allow to maintain the body height without the need of actively driving the actuators. Thus, energy-efficient wheeled locomotion and at the same time high flexibility in ground adaption and obstacle negotiation are possible, as well as high payload capabilities. Furthermore, the rover will be equipped with a manipulator arm explicitly designed to be used for locomotion support. Thus, all degrees of freedom of the system can be used to enhance the locomotive capabilities. This paper gives an overview of the mechanical design of the rover, kinematic considerations for movement constraints on the wheel contact points are presented. Based on these constraints, the wheel motions due to the commanded velocities of the platform can be calculated, taking into account the flexible posture of the rover. A first set of possible locomotion modes for the rover is presented in this paper as well.


MCBEND 10 is the latest release of the general radiation transport Monte Carlo code from the ANSWERS Software Service of Serco Assurance. MCBEND is developed within a Nuclear Code Development (NCD) partnership between Serco Assurance and BNFL. The ANSWERS vision is 'to provide easy-to-use software that meets the current and emerging needs of the user community'. In the case of MCBEND, this vision focuses on the key areas of accuracy, understanding of uncertainties, efficiency and user-friendliness. MCBEND 10 is a major launch of the code with many new and enhanced features. New developments in MCBEND 10 include automatic splitting mesh generation, point energy adjoint for neutrons, calculation of uncertainty in the results due to material cross section uncertainties and a unified source facility. Enhanced features include improved temperature treatment, extended scoring of sensitivity to geometry perturbations, geometry improvements, extensions to formulae and improved user guide image. The user-friendliness of the MCBEND code has been further enhanced by recent developments to the visualisation tools, VISAGE and VISTA-RAY. Developments have been made to the three-dimensional visualisation tool, VISTA-RAY, to simplify the detailed checking of a model, with the option to use a mouse-pointer to select regions of interest for further detail and to visually highlight incorrectly defined areas. A further development to VISTA-RAY is the inclusion of the capability to overlay a representation of a user-designated set of results from a MCBEND analysis on the model. Improvements have also been made to the graphical user interface LaunchPad for submitting and controlling calculation submission, with a common user-image across all the systems. Recent enhancements to LaunchPad include a job-scheduler to simplify processing multiple tasks. A selection of the new developments in MCBEND 10, VISTA-RAY and LaunchPad will be described in this paper.


OBJECTIVE
To study neuroendocrine cells and nerves in vestibular glands of patients with vestibulitis.

STUDY DESIGN
Substance P chromogranin, serotonin and neuron-specific enolase immunoreactivity was studied in vestibular gland tissue. Electron microscopic analysis was performed on vestibular duct tissue.

RESULTS
Neuroendocrine cells containing immunoreactive serotonin and chromogranin were demonstrated in a vestibular gland duct of a patient with vestibulitis. Substance P immunoreactive axons were found in submucosal nerves, and rare, positively staining axons were seen in the duct epithelium. In another patient neuroendocrine cells with closely applied intraepithelial axons were demonstrated by electron microscopy in the duct of a vestibular gland.

CONCLUSION
Intraepithelial axons are present in ducts of vestibular glands, where they are closely applied to serotonin-containing neuroendocrine cells. This close association and the presence of substance P immunoreactivity in local nerves may play a role in the symptomatology of vestibulitis.


Abstract. Electrical capacitance volume tomography (ECVT) is a recently-developed technique for real-time, non-invasive 3-D monitoring of processes involving materials with strong contrasts in dielectric permittivity. This paper is the first application of the method to visualization of water flow in soil. We describe the principles behind the method, and then demonstrate its use with a simple laboratory infiltration experiment. 32 ECVT sensors were installed on the sides of an empty PVC column. Water was poured into the column at a constant rate, and ECVT data were collected every second. The column was then packed with dry sand and again supplied with water at a constant rate with data collected every second. Data were analyzed to give bulk average water contents, which proved consistent with the water supply rates. Data were also analyzed to give 3-D images (216 voxels) allowing visualization of the water distribution during the experiments. For infiltration into the soil, wall flow, progress of the unstable wetting front, and the final water distribution showing air pockets are clearly visible. Result of this study showed that the normalized dielectric permittivity distribution of the water and the saturated soil is 1.0 and around 0.9, respectively.


Aims—To investigate the role of CD34 positive stromal cells, namely dendritic interstitial cells, in the desmoplastic stroma formation of malignant epithelial neoplasms the distribution of CD34 positive stromal cells was examined in human colorectal adenocarcinomas, peritumoral inflammatory tissue, and normal tissue. Methods—Forty one surgically resected human colorectal adenocarcinomas and their corresponding peritumoral inflammatory and normal tissues were examined. To distinguish CD34 positive stromal cells from vascular endothelial cells, immunostaining for both CD34 and CD31 was performed. The distribution of myofibroblasts was also analysed immunohistochemically, and double staining with CD34 and α smooth muscle actin (ASMA) was performed. Results—Most of the stromal cells in the normal colorectal submucosa, muscularis propria, subserosa, and perirectal tissue were positive for CD34. In contrast, the peritumoral inflammatory tissue and the tumour stroma had no CD34 positive stromal cells. The distribution of myofibroblasts was almost the same as in the aforementioned series. No stromal cells double positive for CD34 and ASMA were detected in the peritumoral inflammatory tissues. Conclusions—Most stromal fibroblasts are CD34 positive stromal cells (dendritic interstitial cells). In colorectal adenocarcinomas, a lack of CD34 expression in stromal cells is associated with desmoplastic reaction.


Derivatives 3, 5 and 7 having aldehyde groups at their periphery have been designed and synthesized. Interestingly, all three derivatives formed aggregates in aqueous media and served as reactors for facile synthesis of spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver nanorods at room temperature in aqueous media without the addition of any external reducing agents, stabilizing agents or shape directing additives. Interestingly, in situ generated AgNPs by aggregates of derivatives 3, 5 and 7 exhibit high catalytic degradation of industrially important organic dyes such as rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO) and eriochrome black T (EBT).


Turbocharger matching is a rather difficult task during design of highly rated diesel engines, especially for marine application. The sequential turbocharging (STC) technique is used to improve the performance of highly rated diesel engines in particular at part loads, the paper introduces the working principle of the sequential turbocharging system. To improve the performance of the TBD234V12 diesel engine, a STC system of four turbochargers and two unequal turbochargers for the diesel engine was designed. Experimental research was done on this improved marine diesel engine. Then, a 3-phase STC system is presented by analyzing and comparing the test result and the switching boundary of this system is confirmed. The test results show that the part-load performance is improved obviously by using of four turbochargers and two unequal turbochargers STC system.


The temperature-dependent DC characteristics of InGaP-GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors with and without sulfur treatment are systematically studied and demonstrated. Due to the use of sulfur passivation, the series resistance of base-emitter junction of studied device can be effectively reduced. In addition, the device with sulfur treatment can be operated under ultra low collector current regimes (I/sub C//spl les/10/sup -11/ A). Experimentally, a long-time sulfur treatment is not appropriate. In this work, the studied device with sulfur treatment for 15 min is a good choice. Furthermore, at measured temperature (298 K-398 K), the studied device with sulfur treatment can reduce collector-emitter offset voltage and the impact of emitter size effect. Moreover, as the temperature is increased, the device with sulfur treatment will exhibit higher DC current gain and more stable temperature-dependent performances. This will extend the application regimes of the studied device in low-power and communication systems.


The effect of the plant ecdysteroid-containing preparation of Leuzea extract on the metabolism and productivity of barrows (three-breed crossbreeds Landrace × large white × Duroc) during fattening on low-protein diets enriched with essential amino acids from 130 to 212 days old was studied for the first time. In the control and experimental groups, a low-protein barley-wheat diet with the addition of essential amino acids contained (g / kg) crude protein - 108 g, metabolic energy - 12.5 MJ, lysine - 7.6 g, threonine - 5.4 g, methionine - 5.2 g. In the experimental group, liquid extract of leuzea was introduced into the feed, at the rate of 190 mg / kg. Feeding the barrows during the fattening period of the leuzea extract contributed to an increase in the efficiency of the use of nutrients in biosynthetic processes in animals. In the barrows of the experimental group, the concentrations of total protein (P≤0.05), albumin (P≤0.05), creatinine (P≤0.05), lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase activity at a lower level were statistically significantly higher urea (16.1%, P≤0.05) and glucose (P≤0.05). In the experimental group, during the period of fattening, the average daily gain in live weight was higher (by 10.2%, P≤0.05), the yield in the carcass of muscle tissue (P≤0.05), the indices of lean and meatiness, and lower the cost of feed (P≤ 0.05), crude protein (P≤0.05) and exchange energy (P≤0.05) per 1 kg of gain in live weight, output of subcutaneous adipose tissue and internal fat in comparison with the control. It was concluded that the use of a leuzea extract containing phytoecdysteroids, while feeding low-protein diets enriched with lysine, methionine and threonine, corrects metabolic processes, stimulating the biosynthesis of meat components, and thereby contributes to an increase in the productivity of barrows during fattening.


Because there have been major advances in the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease during the past 20 to 30 years, a review of this topic is both timely and warranted. This book includes material from 31 contributors, many of whom are recognized authorities in the field. The book is divided into four parts: (1) general concepts in valvular heart disease, (2) diagnostic methods, (3) specific syndromes, and (4) surgical interven tion and management. The initial chapter, by Dr. Bruce Waller, is a well-written, clinically oriented, fact-laden de scription of the pathologic features of valvular heart disease. The chapter incorporates many of Waller's previous landmark contributions to the field of valvular heart disease. It contains 194 references and numerous tables, illustrations, and photographs of pathologic specimens. The chapter by Stapleton entitled "Natural History of Chronic Valvular Disease" is an ele gant compilation of diagnostic insights and obser vations provided by an experienced clinician. The chapter is replete with practical clinical pointers— for example, the significance of a murmur charac teristic of aortic insufficiency detected along the right sternal border. The section on noninvasive methods includes a classic review of phonocardiographic and echocardiographic correlates by Shaver and Salerni. The chapter on the scintigraphic assessment of patients with valvular heart disease by Iskandrian and Hakki is extremely well referenced and emphasizes the role of radionuclide techniques in the evaluation and management of valvular regurgitant lesions. The section that describes changes in left ventricular volumes and systolic function during exercise and the associated impli cations for the timing of surgical intervention in patients with aortic regurgitation is especially pertinent and timely. Certain specific syndromes, such as mitral valve prolapse, endocarditis, acute mitral and aortic regurgitation, and aortic and mitral valve disease in elderly patients, are dis cussed in individual chapters. The final section is a comprehensive, detailed, in-depth review of surgical intervention and man agement, including chapters on the timing of operations for mitral and aortic valve regurgita tion, the selection of a prosthetic valve, the current status of valve surgical procedures in children, and the long-term outcome after valve procedures. The chapter on tricuspid valve operations by Cobanoglu and Starr describes in detail the tech niques of the De Vega and Carpentier tricuspid annuloplasties. Obviously, books of this type cannot be allencompassing. Nevertheless, I believe that cer tain clinical problems, such as the details of anticoagulation therapy for patients with mitral stenosis and the role of electrocardioversion in such patients, receive inadequate attention in this book. As with any multiauthored text, the individ ual writing skills vary, and some overlap of infor mation and repetition are evident. In addition, the role of Doppler echocardiography, although ac knowledged as a major advance in noninvasive diagnostic testing, is not adequately emphasized. This book will be appreciated primarily by cardiologists and internists who have a specific interest in valvular heart disease.


Objective: to describe the experiences of undergraduate nursing students when integrating the extension project Challenges of accessibility at the UFSC's university campus: transforming reality and the process of formulating and implementing this activity. Method: An experience report based on perceptions experienced by scholars. Results:The data revealed that the concept of disability for scholars was immersed in social and cultural stigmas distant from the concept of human diversity, as well as it became evident that only physical measures of adaptation were considered accessible, suppressing any other social or behavioral measure. Conclusion: Bearing in mind that disability is a complex phenomenon that requires collective interventions to remove barriers from the environment and society, it is believed that it is essential to encourage discussions in this regard.


The knowledge of surface geological formations over the metropolitan French territory is very much heterogeneous: sometimes well represented for their contours and descriptions, sometimes absolutely absent when they can be observed on the field. The implementation of systematic and continuous acquisitions programs at appropriate scales all over the territory cannot be intended considering vastness of the country. Therefore, finding solutions to help the mapping of subsurface geological objects in order to increase the knowledge is likely to be a relevant strategy in which the BRGM has been committed for some years. One of the research approach consists in defining methodologies for predictive mapping by image processing and analysis with validation through field feedbacks. As part of the cartographic identification of alluvial formations, we developed a methodology based on the Digital Elevation Model (25m precision from IGN (French geographical service)) and its declinations (curvature, slope, its difference with base level etc.). The implemented workflow provides a predictive map representation of morphological terrace levels as well as the colluvium from the valley bottom or lower hillside. We developed this methodology of semi-automatic mapping by topography analysis on a selected test area in the Pyrenean foothills (sub-watershed of the Gave de Pau). A field campaign on the basins of Baise and Ousse rivers allowed us to compare the results of the predictive cartography and the geological reality. The first results show that the proposed analysis is relevant at the scale of a multi-kilometer catchment, not affected by faults. The methodology provides valuable support for the mapping of these superficial formations, in particular by significantly saving time when drawing the map. It was noted that the estimation of the alluvial system base level was a key point in our modeling, then several interpolation methods were compared. The development of a graphical interface allowing all the catchment analysis to be carried out in a single application will make it possible to produce predictive maps quickly and to help with the cartographic identification of alluvial stepped formations


The Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo method has been combined with the connectivity altering osmotic Gibbs ensemble to study water solubility and clustering in decane and polyethylene. We show that the presence of oppositely charged ion pairs that have fixed positions in the hydrocarbon matrices leads to an order of magnitude increase in the water solubility. This is important to a wide range of technical applications, since the uptake of the water leads to an increase in volume--or expansion--of the hydrocarbon phase which, in the case of polyethylene, may change the polymer properties and lead to water treeing. The increase in solubility is largest when the ions are sufficiently close so that rod-shaped clusters of water molecules form between the ions.


We consider second quantized homogeneous Bose gas in a large cubic box with periodic boundary conditions, at zero temperature, and in the grand canonical setting (the chemical potential µ is fixed, the number of particles can vary). We investigate upper bounds on the infimum of the energy for a fixed total momentum k given by the expectation value at one-particle excitations over a squeezed state. We show that the results of the Bogoliubov approach (usually derived heuristically) coincide with the results of the first iteration of our method (which leads to rigorous upper bounds).


A novel device - the quantum-dot infrared phototransistor (QDIP) - is proposed and considered theoretically. The QDIP utilizes intersubband electron transitions from the bound states. The dark current and sensitivity are calculated using a proposed analytical model of the QDIP. It is shown that the QDIP can exhibit low dark current, high photoelectric gain and sensitivity surpassing the characteristics of other intersubband photodetectors.


Hashimoto's encephalopathy is a rare steroid-responsive disorder in which neuropsychological and neurological symptoms are associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Recently, it has gained attention in the differential diagnosis of encephalopathy of unknown origin, although its pathogenesis is poorly understood. The diagnosis of Hashimoto's encephalopathy rests upon the association of autoimmune thyroiditis and neurological symptoms after excluding more common diseases, but is a serious challenge in atypical cases. We here present a patient with isolated ocular disorder as presenting and unic feature of Hashimoto's encephalopathy that resolved with steroids therapy. Brain MRI showed non-specific white matter abnormalities; EEG and an extensive neurophysiological investigation were normal. The diagnosis in this euthyroid patient was supported by the presence of serum anti-thyroid antibodies and the identification in the CSF of anti-dimethylargininase-I and aldehyde reductase-I autoantibodies. The description of atypical cases of this rare but certainly underestimated condition is clinically important and adds relevant information for the clinical practice.


PURPOSE
A homeless patient with tuberculosis (TB), who had often quit his TB treatment in mid-course and then gone homeless again, succeeded in completing his treatment for over 10 months through on-the-street DOTS ("Bluesky DOTS" is another expression). Based on the analysis of this case, we have discussed how to provide effective countermeasures to non-compliant TB patients.

METHOD
An episode of a successful on-the-street DOTS for a 70-year-old homeless man with sputum smear positive pulmonary TB was qualitatively analyzed, with a view toward patient's empowerment.

RESULT
The patient had had human-relations problems in his life, and trouble with medical and welfare service staff. During his hospital admissions, he repeatedly self-discharged or was forced to discharge due to violent behavior against staff. Public health nurses at Shinjuku public health center visited the patient frequently at the hospital, and tried to build a good relationship with the patient from the beginning of the treatment. Following a two and half month interruption of the TB treatment after he disappeared from the hospital, he was discovered staying outside at a canal side in the area, and on-the-street TB treatment was carried out, with good cooperation with the hospital and social welfare office. Directly observed TB medication was given to him by a public health nurse and another health center staff member for 293 days, at the park near his living place. The patient often rejected the medication, particularly when he was hungry, but offering lunch to him was a very effective incentive. Through comprehensive supports to the patient, he gradually changed his attitude, and on his own came to consider his health and his future.

DISCUSSION
We have analyzed a successfully treated case of a homeless TB patient who had difficulties in maintaining a social life and had not been cooperative in complying with the medication. The level of independence improved during the course of on-the-street DOTS with incentive and other supports. He became receptive to TB treatment and became self-supportive during the course of DOTS, with food as an incentive. This indicates that on-the-street DOTS was successful not only for the treatment completion but also contributed to empowering the TB patient. This approach of adjusting the service to the patient's needs fostered a positive relationship with all stakeholders.


Assistive technology (AT) and AT services enable children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs to participate in society and are increasingly a part of service provider practice. It is not clear how professional preparation programs are meeting the challenge of preparing service providers to provide AT/AT services. An electronic survey was sent to the program directors for occupational therapy, physical therapy, special education, and speech-language pathology programs in the United States (n = 959) to determine the extent to which AT/AT services were included in the curriculum. The results (n = 153) showed that nearly all of the programs that responded covered AT/AT services in their curriculum, used similar types of faculty and teaching method patterns, and were generally satisfied with the amount of time they spent on the subject. The programs differed, however, in terms of the time spent and emphasis of content specific to their program type. Gaps existed in the extent to which programs covered the influence of culture on the use of AT and addressing the requirement to discuss AT/AT services at every Individualized Education Program meeting. These gaps and emphasis on specific topics within program types indicate that service providers may leave programs with a narrow scope of knowledge about AT/AT services. Information from this survey suggests that to promote contemporary practice in the areas of AT/AT services, entry-level curricula should be enriched or expanded to comprehensively present AT information instruction in this growing service area.


The aim is to characterize of some clinical and epidemiological indicators of influenza in the Krasnodar Territory over a fve-year follow-up period (2014–2018). Materials and methods. The results of the monitoring of 2014-–2018 were used. for the circulation of influenza viruses in the form of selective studies of influenza viruses in biological material using the polymerase chain reaction, virological method on cell culture, as well as the state of anti-influenza immunity in serological reactions. The clinical characteristic of the flu was carried out according to the annual reports of the infectious diseases hospital. Results. An increase in the incidence of influenza in the Krasnodar Territory in the period under review was established. Monitoring of the circulation of the pathogen shows the presence of serotypes A and B in the region of influenza viruses. Among hospitalized adult patients, young people, women, with a moderate course of the disease predominate. The highest incidence and severity of influenza was observed in 2016, when pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09 virus prevailed. There has been an increase in the complicated course of the flu since 2016, despite the diversity of the dominant species of the virus. The leading position among the complications is pneumonia. Conclusion Epidemiological monitoring is the basis of anti-epidemic and preventive measures. In connection with the marked tendency to an increase in the incidence and an increase in the complicated course of the flu, its rapid diagnosis in the outpatient setting for early etiotropic treatment is necessary.


"In some ways we are so obsessed with the delight and advantage of discovery of new things that we have no proportionate regard for the problems of arrangement and absorption of the things discovered," Sir Josiah Stamp stated in his address as president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1936. 1 The facts and theories which are here presented are long established and should be better known and made a part of one's thinking about disturbances of ocular motility. 1a The anatomy of the parts concerned in ocular movements is well known. Attention is here called only to some anatomic facts which throw light on the widespread erroneous idea that in most cases heterophoria is due to weakness of one or more of the extra-ocular muscles. The strength of a muscle depends on its cross-section. The amount of its shortening depends on its length. The ocular


I appreciate being here in this role, remembering those, including my teachers, who have stood here before me, and remembering the role of the AAS in providing the commonality from which all Asianists benefit, the freemasonry of shared learning. Most of us prefer to work individually as scholars, but none of us really works or writes alone. We are sustained by our links, in print and in person, with generations of fellow scholars. That vital nexus is greatly enhanced through our common enterprise in the Association, and we owe it and its dedicated staff a profound debt. This is our fortieth annual meeting, and we have much to celebrate: our sound organizational and financial position and—the object of all our collective efforts—a vigorous community of scholars of Asia.


Antigen expressed as MHC Class I glycoprotein (pMHCI) complexes on dendritic cells is the primary driver of CD8+ T cell clonal expansion and differentiation. As we seek to define the molecular differences between acutely stimulated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effectors and long-lived memory T cells, it is essential that we understand the duration of in vivo pMHCI persistence. Although infectious influenza A virus is readily cleared by mammalian hosts, that does not necessarily mean that all influenza antigen is totally eliminated. An exhaustive series of carefully controlled adoptive transfer experiments using 3 different carboxy fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester–labeled T cell receptor–transgenic CTL populations and a spectrum of genetically engineered and wild-type influenza A viruses provided no evidence for pMHCI persistence over the 30–60-d interval after virus challenge. Molecular profiles identified in antigen-specific T cells at this time may thus be considered to reflect established immunologic memory and not recent CTL activation from a persistent pMHCI pool.


Background: Carbamazepine, a commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drug, is potentially hepatotoxic. This laboratory-based experimental study was designed to observe the toxicity of Carbamazepine and the ameliorative effects of Vitamin E on liver tissue.
Methodology: A total of 54 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A was the control; group B was given oral Carbamazepine, and group C was given Carbamazepine with Vitamin E daily for 6 weeks. At the end of the study period, animals were sacrificed, their liver was preserved, and tissue was stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin.
Results: The mean final body weights of Carbamazepine treated group B (147.27 ± 13.72 gm) and Carbamazepine + Vitamin E protected group C (164.43 ± 10.73 gm) were decreased significantly in comparison to control A (194.03 ± 14.87 gm). Mean absolute and relative liver weights were increased significantly in groups B & C as compared to group A. Histological examination of liver in group B showed disturbed architecture of hepatic lobules including congested central vein, dilated sinusoids, pyknotic nuclei, steatosis, portal vein dilatation, hemorrhages, and mononuclear infiltration in the portal triad and around the central vein. These changes were reduced in group C. Micrometry confirmed the histological findings, with a significant decrease in mean hepatic cell count and mean hepatocyte nuclear diameter of group B as compared to control group A (6.00 ± 1.41 & 5.62 ± 0.69 µm respectively), and a significant increase in mean hepatocyte diameter of group B in comparison to group A (17.44 ± 1.29 µm).
Conclusion: This study showed that Carbamazepine caused hepatotoxicity while Vitamin E was helpful in its amelioration.


Efficient contact tracing and isolation is an effective strategy to control epidemics. It was used effectively during the Ebola epidemic and successfully implemented in several parts of the world during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. An important consideration in contact tracing is the budget on the number of individuals asked to quarantine -- the budget is limited for socioeconomic reasons. In this paper, we present a Markov Decision Process (MDP) framework to formulate the problem of using contact tracing to reduce the size of an outbreak while asking a limited number of people to quarantine. We formulate each step of the MDP as a combinatorial problem, MinExposed, which we demonstrate is NP-Hard; as a result, we develop an LP-based approximation algorithm. Though this algorithm directly solves MinExposed, it is often impractical in the real world due to information constraints. To this end, we develop a greedy approach based on insights from the analysis of the previous algorithm, which we show is more interpretable. A key feature of the greedy algorithm is that it does not need complete information of the underlying social contact network. This makes the heuristic implementable in practice and is an important consideration. Finally, we carry out experiments on simulations of the MDP run on real-world networks, and show how the algorithms can help in bending the epidemic curve while limiting the number of isolated individuals. Our experimental results demonstrate that the greedy algorithm and its variants are especially effective, robust, and practical in a variety of realistic scenarios, such as when the contact graph and specific transmission probabilities are not known. All code can be found in our GitHub repository: https://github.com/gzli929/ContactTracing.


Since the introduction of imatinib for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, several oncogenic mutations have been identified in various malignancies that can serve as targets for therapy. More recently, a deeper insight into the mechanism of antitumor immunity and tumor immunoevasion have facilitated the development of novel immunotherapy agents. Certain targeted agents have the ability of inhibiting tumor growth without causing severe lymphocytopenia and amplifying antitumor immune response by increasing tumor antigenicity, enhancing intratumoral T cell infiltration, and altering the tumor immune microenvironment, which provides a rationale for combining targeted therapy with immunotherapy. Targeted therapy can elicit dramatic responses in selected patients by interfering with the tumor-intrinsic driver mutations. But in most cases, resistance will occur over a relatively short period of time. In contrast, immunotherapy can yield durable, albeit generally mild, responses in several tumor types via unleashing host antitumor immunity. Thus, combination approaches might be able to induce a rapid tumor regression and a prolonged duration of response. We examine the available evidence regarding immune effects of targeted therapy, and review preclinical and clinical studies on the combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for cancer treatment. Furthermore, we discuss challenges of the combined therapy and highlight the need for continued translational research.


We test extensions to the standard cosmological model with weak gravitational lensing tomography using 450 deg$^2$ of imaging data from the Kilo Degree Survey (KiDS). In these extended cosmologies, which include massive neutrinos, nonzero curvature, evolving dark energy, modified gravity, and running of the scalar spectral index, we also examine the discordance between KiDS and cosmic microwave background measurements from Planck. The discordance between the two datasets is largely unaffected by a more conservative treatment of the lensing systematics and the removal of angular scales most sensitive to nonlinear physics. The only extended cosmology that simultaneously alleviates the discordance with Planck and is at least moderately favored by the data includes evolving dark energy with a time-dependent equation of state (in the form of the $w_0-w_a$ parameterization). In this model, the respective $S_8 = \sigma_8 \sqrt{\Omega_{\rm m}/0.3}$ constraints agree at the $1\sigma$ level, and there is `substantial concordance' between the KiDS and Planck datasets when accounting for the full parameter space. Moreover, the Planck constraint on the Hubble constant is wider than in LCDM and in agreement with the Riess et al. (2016) direct measurement of $H_0$. The dark energy model is moderately favored as compared to LCDM when combining the KiDS and Planck measurements, and remains moderately favored after including an informative prior on the Hubble constant. In both of these scenarios, the dark energy parameters are discrepant with a cosmological constant at the $3\sigma$ level. Moreover, KiDS constrains the sum of neutrino masses to 4.0 eV (95% CL), finds no preference for time or scale dependent modifications to the metric potentials, and is consistent with flatness and no running of the spectral index. The analysis code is publicly available at https://github.com/sjoudaki/kids450


Chicken egg shells are food waste that is usually produced from household activities, which has an impact on environmental pollution. Chicken egg shells are known to have a high calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content that can be utilized. The purpose of this study was to determine the pH and turbidity of food industry waste water and to determine the best mass of chicken eggshell flour as a filter media. This research was conducted in a filter column where the wastewater samples that entered the filter column would pass through the prepared chicken egg shell filter media with several mass variations, namely 50 g, 100 g, 150 g, 200 g, and 250 g


This paper discusses a hierarchical online fault-adaptive control approach for Advanced Life Support (ALS) Systems. ALS systems contain a number of complex interacting subsystems. To avoid complexity in the models and online analysis, diagnosis and fault-adaptive control is achieved by local units. To maintain overall performance, the problem of resource management for contending concurrent subsystems has to be addressed. We implement a control structure, where predefined setpoint specifications for system operation are used to derive optimizing utility functions for the subsystem controllers. We apply this approach in situations where a fault occurs in a system, and once the fault is isolated and identified, the controllers use the updated system model to derive new set point specifications and utility functions for the faulty system.


In this paper, I further develop Rodolfo Kusch's concept of 'negation'. I argue that it is an affirmative tool that enables us to sense and feel the other sides or domains of what we call reality and allows us to approach a plateau negated as a horizon of possibilities for conviviality and coexistence. Kusch's concept of negation brings forth an image of the emotions as being intimately interconnected to the values and ethos that form the basis of our behaviours. This paper also argues that Kush's concept of negation must be considered together with Kusch's development of 'estar' as a philosophical concept which underpins 'América profunda' ways of being in the world (or the multiverse). Finally, I propose that this 'estar' requires a 'corazonar' of our ways of bringing forth ourselves and our territories to life.


Non-parametric estimates of technical efficiency of Russian banks are considered for each quarter in the period of 2002–2006. Two types of DEA estimates CCR (Charnes, Cooper, Rhodes, 1978) and BCC (Banker, Charnes, Cooper, 1984), are compared with parametric SFA estimates. Semiparametric bootstrap (Simar, Wilson, 2007) is used to study statistical properties of DEA estimates. Spearman rank correlation between CCR and BCA estimates vary from 0.72 to 0.89 and between DEA and SFA from 0.56 to 0.91, hence estimates are robust. Foreign banks are more efficient than domestic banks in all quarters with the only exception of 2004Q2, which could be explained by so-called "crisis of confidence" (bank crisis in Russia in that period). Since 2006 Moscow banks are less efficient than the regional banks.


We report on the results of an atomistic, discrete-lattice calculation of positron surface states on the three principal surfaces of Al and Cu. We are able to (i) accurately reproduce the observed values and anisotropy of the binding energies, and (ii) predict the surface state life times. Furthermore, we calculate (iii) the positron lateral diffusion constant, and find it considerably enhanced over the bulk value. We also investigate (iv) the positron trapping at surface vacancies, and (v) the effect of ordered chemisorbed monolayers of oxygen. We find that the oxidation lowers the binding energy and makes the surface state unstable with respect to positronium emission on Al (100) and Al (111). Implications to surface studies are discussed.


The paper introduces manually annotated test sets for the task of tracing diachronic (temporal) semantic shifts in Russian. The two test sets are complementary in that the first one covers comparatively strong semantic changes occurring to nouns and adjectives from pre-Soviet to Soviet times, while the second one covers comparatively subtle socially and culturally determined shifts occurring in years from 2000 to 2014. Additionally, the second test set offers more granular classification of shifts degree, but is limited to only adjectives.
The introduction of the test sets allowed us to evaluate several well-established algorithms of semantic shifts detection (posing this as a classification problem), most of which have never been tested on Russian material. All of these algorithms use distributional word embedding models trained on the corresponding in-domain corpora. The resulting scores provide solid comparison baselines for future studies tackling similar tasks. We publish the datasets, code and the trained models in order to facilitate further research in automatically detecting temporal semantic shifts for Russian words, with time periods of different granularities.


We present a high-resolution dark matter reconstruction of the z = 0.165 Abell 901/902 supercluster from a weak lensing analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope STAGES survey. We detect the four main structures of the supercluster at high significance, resolving substructure within and between the clusters. We find that the distribution of dark matter is well traced by the cluster galaxies, with the brightest cluster galaxies marking out the strongest peaks in the dark matter distribution. We also find a significant extension of the dark matter distribution of Abell 901a in the direction of an infalling X-ray group Abell 901 alpha. We present mass, mass-to-light and mass-to-stellar mass ratio measurements of the structures and substructures that we detect. We find no evidence for variation of the mass-to-light and mass-to-stellar mass ratio between the different clusters. We compare our space-based lensing analysis with an earlier ground-based lensing analysis of the supercluster to demonstrate the importance of space-based imaging for future weak lensing dark matter 'observations'.


The problem of autonomous driving and aided navigating has received increasing attention in recent years. INS/GPS integrated navigation for intelligent vehicles is developed.This system is made of GPS and INS,it is the core algorithm to make information fusion using Kalman filter.With INS aided,the navigation system has the fault-tolerant ability.Simulaton results show that the system can satisfy the needs of vehicles position and navigation.


Children walking to school, people cycling to the shops or work and neighbours chatting in the street, these are some of the gauges of an active and healthy community that can be achieved through utilising good design principles. But are these principles being applied in urban developments or are policy-makers following a 'path dependent' trajectory that severely limits the best practice outcomes sought? This review examines current research on path dependence to determine how this concept advances our understanding of barriers to change in the built environment, active transport and healthy communities. An online database search of scholarly bibliographic records identified 22 relevant articles for a critical review of studies that evaluated path dependence in the urban and built environment literature with a focus on transport, urban planning and health. A thematic analysis of the articles showed that different types of path dependence have contributed to the dominance of policies and designs supporting car-based transport to the detriment of public transport and active transport modes, leading to sub-optimal development patterns becoming 'locked-in'. However, the outcomes for active transport and physical activity are not all dire, and path dependence theory does provide some guidance on changing policy to achieve better outcomes. This review suggests that path dependence is one of the best theoretical frameworks to help health promoters understand barriers to change and can provide insights into developing future successful public health interventions. Future studies could focus further on active transport, local neighbourhood development and physical activity.


Follicular lymphoma is often seen as an indolent disease with a reasonable medium-term survival. We have used the information in the Scotland and Newcastle Lymphoma Group database to devise an index which is easily calculated and differentiates patients into poor, intermediate and good prognostic groups with 5 years survivals of 24%, 61% and 86% respectively. The key factors at presentation are age, ECOG performance status, stage and the presence or absence of B symptoms or gastro-intestinal tract involvement. The use of such an index permits early identification of patients with a poor prognosis for whom more intensive treatment could be offered.


An idealized eddy-resolving numerical model and an analytic three-layer model are used to develop ideas aboutwhatcontrolsthecirculationof Atlantic WaterintheArctic Ocean.The numericalmodelisforced with a surface heat flux, uniform winds, and a source of low-salinity water near the surface around the perimeter of an Arctic basin. Despite this idealized configuration, the model is able to reproduce many general aspects of the Arctic Ocean circulation and hydrography, including exchange through Fram Strait, circulation of Atlantic Water, a halocline, ice cover and transport, surface heat flux, and a Beaufort Gyre. The analytic model depends on a nondimensional number, and provides theoretical estimates of the halocline depth, stratifica-tion, freshwater content, and baroclinic shear in the boundary current. An empirical relationship between freshwater content and sea surface height allows for a prediction of the transport of Atlantic Water in the cyclonic boundary current. Parameters typical of the Arctic Ocean produce a cyclonic boundary current of Atlantic Water of O (1 2 2Sv; where 1Sv [ 10 6 m 3 s 2 1 ) and a halocline depth of O (200m), in reasonable agreement with observations. The theory compares well with a series of numerical model calculations in which mixing and environmental parameters are varied, thus lending credibility to the dynamics of the analytic model. In these models, lateral eddy fluxes from the boundary and vertical diffusion in the interior are important drivers of the halocline and the circulation of Atlantic Water in the Arctic Ocean.


The ability of robots to estimate their location is crucial for a wide variety of autonomous operations. In settings where GPS is unavailable, measurements of transmissions from fixed beacons provide an effective means of estimating a robot's location as it navigates. The accuracy of such a beacon-based localization system depends both on how beacons are distributed in the environment, and how the robot's location is inferred based on noisy and potentially ambiguous measurements. We propose an approach for making these design decisions automatically and without expert supervision, by explicitly searching for the placement and inference strategies that, together, are optimal for a given environment. Since this search is computationally expensive, our approach encodes beacon placement as a differential neural layer that interfaces with a neural network for inference. This formulation allows us to employ standard techniques for training neural networks to carry out the joint optimization. We evaluate this approach on a variety of environments and settings, and find that it is able to discover designs that enable high localization accuracy.


Overuse of antibiotics has selected new strains of bacterial pathogens that are resistant to the very antibiotics used to combat them. Many plants have been used for centuries by traditional healers and may have antibacterial properties.it used in northern Nigeria in the treatment of ulcers, ring worm and other parasitic skin diseases. In cultures, the leaf extracts of the plant showed anti-bacterial activity. Antiviral activity, particularly against Newcastle disease virus and Vaccinia virus. Ciprofloxacin used as standard reference. Our research aim was to determine whether methanolic extracts obtained from the plant's shoot could inhibit growth of gram-positive bacteria and gram- negative bacteria. The methanolic extracts were obtained using the soxhelet apparatus.


Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM).1 In patients with RA or PsA disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, including methotrexate (MTX), may exert protective metabolic effects conducive to reduced incidence of DM. 2 Whether MTX alters metabolic risk factors in non-diabetic RA and PsA patients has not been determined unequivocally. Objectives To assess metabolic parameters during the first six months of MTX therapy in MTX-naïve patients with newly diagnosed RA or PsA. Methods Newly diagnosed RA (2010 ACR/EULAR criteria) and PsA (CASPAR criteria) patients were included between December 2012 and June 2013. Patients with DM or hypothyroidism were excluded. The initial assessment included DAS28ESR, BMI, fasting plasma glucose and insulin, HbA1c, TSH, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and urate. Disease activity and the metabolic parameters were followed regularly by the same physician 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after MTX initiation. Uninterrupted MTX treatment with dose escalation according to the treat to target approach was required. HOMA-IR (glucose (mM) x insulin (μU/ml)/22.5), HOMA-B (20 x insulin (μU/ml)/[glucose (mM)-3.5]) and QUICKI ([log10glucose (mg/dl) + log10insulin (μU/ml)]–1) were used as surrogate indices of insulin sensitivity and β-cell function. ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by an appropriate post hoc test was used to establish statistical significance. Results Inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 16 RA and 10 PsA patients (16 female, 10 male). Mean age was 52.5±12.2 (range: 27-76), BMI 28.4±4.8 kg/m2 (range: 19.7-39.4) and the initial DAS28ESR 5.23±1.27 (range: 2.95-7.71). Fourteen patients had normal insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR<2.5). Remission or low disease activity (DAS28ESR<3.2) was achieved in 76% after 6 months. Overall, MTX (± methylprednisolone) therapy did not alter BMI, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol or urate levels. Conversely, HbA1c (%) decreased in a time-dependent manner from the baseline value of 5.80±0.29% to 5.55±0.31% (n=26, P=0.017) at 6 months. HbA1c (%) was reduced in 17 out of 26 patients. The decrease in HbA1c (%) was especially pronounced in patients with normal insulin sensitivity at inclusion (5.82±0.35% vs. 5.42±0.32%, P=0.013). HbA1c was reduced in 12 out of 14 cases in this patient group. HOMA-IR, HOMA-B and QUICKI remained unaltered in patients receiving MTX or MTX and methylprednisolone, indicating co-therapy with methylprednisolone did not impair insulin sensitivity. Conclusions MTX reduces serum HbA1c in non-diabetic RA or PsA patients during the initial 6 months of treatment. HbA1c is an established predictor of CV risk in diabetic patients, a marker of prediabetes and, according to recent data an independent CV risk predictor in non-diabetics.3 Taken together, our findings support a possible role of MTX in reducing DM and CV risk in RA as well as PsA patients. References Solomon DH et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010; 69:2114–17. Solomon DH et al. JAMA. 2011; 305:2525-31. Schneider KT et al. PLoS ONE. 2012;7:1-7. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.2995


Entrepreneurial ecosystem is a geographic framework that indicates that a person is supported by which factors for becoming a businessman. Effective factors on this issue include 22 E. Jafari Sangari, S.M. Alvani, M. Mousakhani, A. Davari, M. Khoonsiavash social, cultural, political and economic structures that should be considered in the context of different regions. In our research, we are going to identify not only international and national factors affecting entrepreneurship but also factors that will affect on the entrepreneurship of the region. The statistical sample includes 100 entrepreneurship development policymakers, entrepreneurs, and owners of knowledge-based companies. The data gathering tool of the interview was based on a closed questionnaire and the validity and reliability of this research were confirmed after the assessment. Based on the findings of this study from the descriptive aspect, this conceptual model has been appropriate for experts and entrepreneurs. Analysis of the main goals of the research shows that there are a number of factors on the region that the ecosystems of entrepreneurship are affected by them, which include geographic, demographic, institutional factors, and regional infrastructure.


Discusses an inverse dynamics problem and proposes a trajectory generation method for wire-suspended mechanisms. The wire-suspended mechanisms are classified into two types, which are completely restrained type mechanisms and incomplete by restrained type mechanisms. For the incompletely restrained type mechanisms, consideration of dynamics is important, because the motion of this mechanism is governed by its dynamics and kinematics, whereas the motion of the completely restrained type mechanism is determined by only its kinematics. The paper discusses mainly the incompletely restrained type mechanisms from the viewpoint of dynamical properties. The incompletely restrained type wire-suspended mechanism has a merit that it enables three dimensional positioning and orientating of suspended object with simple mechanism using a small number of wires. However it also has a drawback that the manipulated object is easy to swing as seen in overhead crane which as a simple incompletely restrained type mechanism. To overcome the problem, inverse dynamics for general incompletely restrained type wire-suspended mechanism is discussed, then a condition on desired trajectory of manipulated object is presented on the basis of the inverse dynamics analysis. Using the desired trajectory, an online trajectory modification method for the control of manually operated overhead crane is proposed.


The Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase/Fludarabine phosphate (ePNP/Fludara) suicide system has several drawbacks, such as side-effects and the low efficiency of ePNP expression. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor effects of the dual-specific 8HSEs-hTERTp-ePNP/Fludara suicide system under hyperthermia in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase activities from the 8HSEs-hTERT and CMV promoters were compared using the dual luciferase assay in SW480 (high hTERT expression) and MKN74 cells (hTERT-negative) in the presence and absence of hyperthermia. Then, we investigated the effects of overexpressing the suicide gene ePNP using 8HSEs-hTERT-driven lentiviral vectors with Fludara on in vitro cell viability, side-effects, apoptosis, cycle distribution, colony formation and in vivo xenograft tumor growth. At 43°C, luciferase activity from the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter was significantly increased in SW480 cells, but not in MKN74 cells. Importantly, luciferase activities from the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter were much higher than from the CMV promoter in hTERT-expressing SW480 cells under heated conditions. The in vitro quantitative analysis showed a 4-fold higher ePNP protein expression from the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter at 43°C than at 37°C in SW480 cells and the ePNP mRNA expression in SW480 cells at 43°C was also higher than at 37°C. Conversely, ePNP mRNA and protein expression were low, almost absent, in hTERT-negative MKN74 cells with or without hyperthermia. After Fludara addition, cell cytotoxicity assays showed that the significant inhibitory effect of the 8HSEs-hTERTp-ePNP on SW480 cells was dose- and time-dependent with hyperthermia. The 8HSEs-hTERTp-ePNP/Fludara suicide system significantly inhibited SW480 cell viability, colony formation, cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis in vitro, but also induced significant bystander effects, especially under the heated conditions. At the protein level, the suicide system significantly promoted Bax, caspase-3 and p53 expression and suppressed Bcl-2 expression. In sections from mouse xenografts, TUNEL assays showed that the suicide system reduced xenograft growth and induced SW480 apoptosis. These results indicated that the combinatorial cancer- and heat-specific promoter system has great potential for improving the efficacy of cancer treatment with hyperthermia. The 8HSEs-hTERTp-ePNP/Fludara system may serve as a powerful strategy for cancer gene therapy combined with hyperthermia.


We present a comprehensive numerical investigation of the polarization dynamics of dissipative-soliton-resonance (DSR) pulses in a passively mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser with a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM). In our simulations, the NOLM's saturable absorption effect is modeled by its transmission function. Depending on the strength of cavity birefringence, various types of vector DSR pulses, including the polarization-locked DSR (PL-DSR), the polarization rotation-locked DSR (PRL-DSR), and the group velocity-locked DSR (GVL-DSR) states are obtained in the laser cavity. The characteristics of these vector DSR pulses are shown. We also analyze the polarization evolution and internal polarization dynamics of PRL-DSR pulses within the cavity. Our simulation results offer insight into the vector nature of DSR pulses in polarization-insensitive mode-locked fiber lasers.


Recent experiments at ASDEX Upgrade demonstrate the compatibility of ELM mitigation by magnetic perturbations with efficient particle fuelling by inboard pellet injection. ELM mitigation persists in a high-density, high-collisionality regime even with the strongest applied pellet perturbations. Pellets injected into mitigation phases trigger no type-I ELM-like events unlike when launched into unmitigated type-I ELMy plasmas. Furthermore, the absence of ELMs results in improved fuelling efficiency and persistent density build-up. Pellet injection is helpful to access the ELM-mitigation regime by raising the edge density beyond the required threshold level, mostly eliminating the need for strong gas puff. Finally, strong pellet fuelling can be applied to access high densities beyond the density limit encountered with pure gas puffing. Core densities of up to 1.6 times the Greenwald density have been reached while maintaining ELM mitigation. No upper density limit for the ELM-mitigated regime has been encountered so far; limitations were set solely by technical restrictions of the pellet launcher. Reliable and reproducible operation at line-averaged densities from 0.75 up to 1.5 times the Greenwald density is demonstrated using pellets. However, in this density range there is no indication of the positive confinement dependence on density implied by the ITERH98P(y,2) scaling.


First experiments were performed in order to obtain a polynuclear iron(III) complex with pullulan, which could be applied in therapy of sideropenic anemia. Complete synthesis of the complex can be realized with oligomers of depolymerized pullulan at an average molar mass 8000-10,000 g.mol-1. Maximum iron contents of 51.4 mg.cm-3 is effected by pullulan depolymerizates (Mw approximately 9000 g.mol-1, [eta] = 0.085 dl.g-1) at 130 degrees C for 240 min, at pH = 10.5 and at an initial mass ratio Fe/ligand of 1:3. The effected concentrations and complex stability respond to requirements of pharmacological application of parenteral antianemic preparations.


The palm oil sector is facing short-run as well as long-run challenges. The short-run challenges focus on the ability of the sector to counter the economic cycle, whereas the long-run challenges are associated with fundamental issues pertinent to the sector. Both short-run and long-run challenges are products of biological factors of the oil palm and its products, as well as the behaviour of substitute oils, vegetable and/or mineral. The Malaysian palm oil sector has little control over the economic cycle as the cyclical behaviour depends heavily on other substitutes used as vegetable oils or biofuels. The long-run challenges of the sector are the slower rate of improvement in oil palm yields than other oilseeds, low labour productivity mostly due to problems in the mechanization of the harvesting operation, functional obstacles to palm oil usage in temperate countries due to its lipid composition, and the non-tariff barriers against palm oil by the importing nations, particularly the European Union (EU) and USA. Some possible solutions are proposed.


While recent advances in computer vision have caused object recognition rates to spike, there is still much room for improvement. In this paper, we develop an algorithm to improve object recognition by integrating human-generated contextual information with vision algorithms. Specifically, we examine how interactive systems such as robots can utilize two types of context information--verbal descriptions of an environment and human-labeled datasets. We propose a re-ranking schema, MultiRank, for object recognition that can efficiently combine such information with the computer vision results. In our experiments, we achieve up to 9.4% and 16.6% accuracy improvements using the oracle and the detected bounding boxes, respectively, over the vision-only recognizers. We conclude that our algorithm has the ability to make a significant impact on object recognition in robotics and beyond.


One of the most important and challenging problems in coding theory is to construct codes with the best possible parameters. Quasi-cyclic (QC) and the larger class of quasitwisted (QT) codes have been proven to contain many good codes (with best-known parameters). In this paper, we review some open problems concerning these codes, introduce generalizations of QT codes, and suggest some constructions involving QT codes. We also present some new and good quaternary codes.


The Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) has proved to be a valuable and powerful standard for a structured exchange of clinical documents between heterogeneous software systems like a Hospital Information System and a Physician Office System. In this paper we want to show how the CDA can additionally be used in order to enhance the Hospital Information System's functionality: each patient related document contained in or generated from the HIS can be converted to a CDA/XML document. With the XML/XSLT-based transformation methods, those documents can be device-specifically transformed. We use this method to display HIS-content on mobile devices like Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) by extracting the respective data fields from the HIS database, converting them to a CDA/XML document, which is transformed and sent to the mobile devices using a wireless intranet connection. Preliminary results and users' comments are promising, but further evaluation will be necessary. Our approach shows a generic model how clinical data can be dis-played on different devices independently from the underlying HIS using CDA.