Radioisotope tracer experiments were carried out on sediments recovered from DSDP Leg 95 Holes 612 and 613 to test for viable microorganisms having geochemical significance. Positive indications of anaerobic bacterial activity (sulfate reduction, acetate oxidation, and methanogenesis) were found in sediments recovered from maximum sub-bottom depths of 46.1 m at Site 612 and 134.6 m at Site 613. Further work is needed to identify the organisms responsible for geochemical processes in these sediments. INTRODUCTION Sediments recovered during DSDP Leg 95 (New Jersey Transect) were incubated with radiolabeled substrates under anaerobic conditions in order to test whether anaerobic microorganisms might be capable of carrying out specific biogeochemical processes. These experiments were carried out to determine if in situ microbiological activity occurring at depth might be responsible for the presence of methane and the depletion of sulfate often observed in rapidly deposited DSDP sediments rich in organic matter (Rice and Claypool, 1981; Whelan et al., in press). The rationale and methodology have been described in detail (Whelan et al., in press) for similar experiments carried out during DSDP Leg 96 (the Mississippi Fan). Whole-round sediment cores were subsampled as the cores were brought on deck, and the samples were treated with radiolabeled substrates (C methylamine in one set of experiments and 2-C acetate plus S sulfate in another). The samples were incubated under anaerobic conditions and the evolution of radiolabeled products was followed over an 8to 21-day period. The formation and increase in radiolabeled products during an incubation time series would indicate that microbiological processes were occurring in these sediments. The results reported here are preliminary; the experiments were carried out primarily to determine if any anaerobic microbial activity was present in these sediments. There was no opportunity in this initial work to analyze replicate samples (insufficient core material was available) or to optimize the time/temperature/substrate concentrations, all of which must be done in future work. Poag, C. W., Watts, A. B., et al., Init. Repts. DSDP, 95: Washington (U.S. Govt. Printing Office). 2 Addresses: (Tarafa and Whelan) Chemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543; (Oremland) Division of Water Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA 94025; (Smith) Division of Water Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES The DSDP Leg 95 sediment samples tested for microbiological activity are summarized in Table 1. Those labeled H were recovered with the hydraulic piston corer, which is capable of obtaining a relatively undisturbed sample. The samples labeled X were taken with the extended core barrel and in general also represent relatively undisturbed sediment recovered from more lithified sections. In contrast, rotary cores (indicated by R) can be highly disturbed, particularly in surface sections. Intervals from which cores were obtained without continuously coring are indicated by W (wash cores). The R and W core samples for this study are generally very disturbed and are the sections most likely to contain surface sediments carried into deeper sections by the drilling process. In contrast, fine bedding and other sedimentological features are usually preserved in the H and X cores, and surface caving and contamination are expected to be minimal. Details of the procedure for the microbiological experiments are described in detail by Whelan et al. (in press). After the core arrived on deck and was cut into sections, subsamples were taken for the microbiological experiments. Adjoining sediment sections were subcored by inserting plastic syringes (20 cm, hub end removed) parallel to the core liner. In this way, 20-cm subsamples were obtained from the top and bottom of adjoining 1.5-m core sections. Each sample depth given in this report (Table 1, Figs. 1-3, and text) corresponds to the depth of the cut between the two sampled sections. Depths for samples obtained from wash cores are given as the depth range of the wash core. Care was taken in placing the sampling syringes near the center of the core section, so as not to sample sediments that were in contact with the core liner. The sediment sample ( — 20 cm) was placed in a roundbottom flask (volume ~ 50 cm) that was continuously flushed with gas. The flushing gas was high-purity nitrogen passed through an indicating oxygen trap (J & W Scientific). The flask was sealed with a rubber stopper and further flushed with oxygen-free nitrogen for 10 min. by inserting the gassing and venting syringe needles through the rubber-stoppered sample flasks. To avoid contamination by non-indigenous flora, all materials were sterilized by autoclaving before use, and aseptic techniques were used for subsequent manipulations. Each sample flask then received either C methylamine (0.5 ml, 5 μCi, 46 mCi/mmol) or 2-C acetate (0.5 ml, 5 μCi 55 mCi/mmol), together with S sulfate (0.5 ml, 5 μCi, carrier-free S sulfuric acid), all radiolabeled substrates purchased from New England Nuclear Co.). The flasks were incubated at room temperature (~ 15°C) for periods up to 21 days. During those periods, bacterial activities in individual flasks were arrested by addition of 10 N sodium hydroxide (2 ml), followed by storage at 20°C . This "killing" procedure did not produce radiolabeled products (CO2 and CH4 in the case of methylamine and CO2, CH4, and SH2 in the case of sulfate and acetate), in the absence of microbiological activity. This was confirmed by shore-based experiments using San Francisco Bay surface mud (Whelan et al., in


This thesis sets out to explain the limited representation of English players in Premiership football. As a nation, England appears to be producing an insufficient number of players who are believed capable of playing at the highest level of the game. Available data has suggested that less than 40% of footballers who started Premier League games in recent years are English. Why then are foreign players preferred to their English counterparts? One explanation to this question may be found in the historical development of the English game. As well as being a game, football is a form of cultural expression. From the earliest forms of 'folk football' played in the fourteenth century, a range of social forces have either independently or inter-dependently helped to promote a game largely based upon fitness and physicality. However, during the twentieth century, the football being played in other countries began to improve markedly; football began to shift from a traditional to a technical game. Following the formation of the Premier League in 1992, Premiership clubs began to recruit foreign players in increasing numbers, many of whom possessed the technical ability required to compete at the highest levels of the game. Much of English football, in contrast, has continued to promote a manly and physical game rather than a game based upon the development of technical skills. Unless a greater number of English players acquire a similar level of technical ability then the influx of foreign players is likely to continue.


In south‐eastern Alberta, the Oxfordian Swift Formation comprises two unconformity‐bounded sequences. Sequence 1 consists of the shale member. It unconformably overlies Bathonian calcareous shale of the Rierdon Formation and consists dominantly of shale with uncommon hum‐ mocky cross‐stratified siltstone. The shale member comprises up to four parasequences that show a subtle upward‐fining stacking pattern, suggesting overall deepening in a storm‐dominated fully marine basin. Deposition of the shale member was terminated by a fall in relative sea‐level, which in turn initiated sequence 2. During lowstand, a network of north‐east‐ to south‐west‐trending meandering channels incised the top of sequence 1. Despite the preserved morphology of these channels, observations in core suggest that lowstand deposits are absent. These strata were most likely thoroughly reworked by ravinement processes associated with the ensuing transgression and are recorded only by a thin chert pebble lag. Also associated with transgression were significant changes in the physical and ecological conditions in the local Swift basin. These changes were related to modifications in basin configuration and the development of a low‐energy strait, which probably formed as a result of uplift of the Sweetgrass Arch. Within this newly configured basin, brackish‐water conditions prevailed, and sedimentation was dominated by suspension deposition of mud. Bed‐load sediment, composed mostly of very fine and fine sand, made up only a small part of the total sediment flux into the area and was transported principally by low‐energy combined flows with variable‐speed microtidal currents and a low‐energy oscillatory component related to storm waves. Sand was generally deposited in the form of small, discontinuous sand ridges that developed locally throughout the study area – it is these features that form the principal hydrocarbon reservoir bodies in the Swift Formation in the study area. After initiation, ridges built upwards and migrated laterally in response to transport and preferential local deposition of bed‐load sediment. Although common near the unconformity along the top of sequence 1, sand ridges also occur at several higher stratigraphic levels in sequence 2. These latter ridges, however, are not associated with regionally correlatable discontinuities but, instead, were initiated by local bed irregularities, possibly related to breaking internal waves, and were supplied with new sediment transported into the study area. The origin of these sand ridges is therefore not related to changes in relative sea‐level but, instead, to intrabasinal processes in a low‐energy strait.


ABSTRACT Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68, or MHV-68) is a genetically tractable, small animal model for the analysis of gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis. The γHV68 genome is colinear with the genomes of other sequence gammaherpesviruses, containing large blocks of conserved genes interspersed by a number of putative genes without clear homologs in the other gammaherpesviruses. One of these putative unique genes, the M1 open reading frame (ORF), exhibits sequence homology to a poxvirus serine protease inhibitor, SPI-1, as well as to another γHV68 gene, M3, which we have recently shown encodes an abundantly secreted chemokine binding protein. To assess the contribution of the M1 ORF to γHV68 pathogenesis, we have generated a recombinant γHV68 in which the M1 ORF has been disrupted through targeted insertion of alacZ expression cassette (M1.LacZ). Although M1.LacZ replicated normally in tissue culture, it exhibited decreased splenic titers at days 4 and 9 postinfection in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice. Despite decreased levels of acute virus replication, M1.LacZ established a latent infection comparable to wild-type (wt) γHV68, but exhibited an approximately fivefold increase in efficiency of reactivation from latency. M1.LacZ also caused severe vasculitis of the great elastic arteries in gamma interferon receptor (IFN-γR)-deficient mice with a frequency comparable to wt γHV68, but did not cause the mortality or splenic pathology observed with wt γHV68 infection of IFN-γR-deficient mice. Restoration of M1 ORF sequences into M1.LacZ (M1 marker rescue, or M1.MR) demonstrated that M1.LacZ phenotypic alterations in growth in vivo and latency were not due to the presence of additional mutations located elsewhere in the M1.LacZ genome. Generation of a second M1 mutant virus containing a deletion at the 5′ end of the M1 ORF (M1Δ511), but lacking the LacZ expression cassette, revealed the same latency phenotype observed with the M1.LacZ mutant. However, M1Δ511 was not attenuated for acute virus replication in the spleen. We conclude that (i) the induction of arteritis in γHV68-infected IFN-γR-deficient mice can occur in the absence of splenic pathology and mortality, (ii) replication during acute infection is not the primary determinant for the establishment of latent infection, and (iii) the M1 ORF, or a closely linked gene, encodes a gene product that functions to suppress virus reactivation.


We present a study of the stellar populations in the central ∼200 pc of a large and homogeneous sample comprising 79 nearby galaxies, most of which are Seyfert 2s. The star formation history of these nuclei is reconstructed by means of state-of-the-art population synthesis modelling of their spectra in the 3500‐5200 A interval. A quasar-like featureless continuum (FC) is added to the models to account for possible scattered light from a hidden active galactic nucleus (AGN). We find the following. (1) The star formation history of Seyfert 2 nuclei is remarkably heterogeneous: young starbursts, intermediate-age and old stellar populations all appear in significant and widely varying proportions. (2) A significant fraction of the nuclei show a strong FC component, but this FC is not always an indication of a hidden AGN: it can also betray the presence of a young, dusty starburst. (3) We detect weak broad Hβ emission in several Seyfert 2s after cleaning the observed spectrum by subtracting the synthesis model. These are most likely the weak scattered lines from the hidden broad-line region envisaged in the unified model, given that in most of these cases independent spectropolarimetry data find a hidden Seyfert 1. (4) The FC strengths obtained by the spectral decomposition are substantially larger for the Seyfert 2s which present evidence of broad lines, implying that the scattered nonstellar continuum is also detected. (5) There is no correlation between the star formation in the nucleus and either the central or overall morphology of the parent galaxies. Ke yw ords: galaxies: active ‐ galaxies: Seyfert ‐ galaxies: statistics ‐ galaxies: stellar content.


Abstract Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) serve as immunoregulatory antigen-presenting cells that play a role in various inflammatory, viral, and malignant conditions. Malignant proliferation of pDCs is implicated in the pathogenesis of certain hematologic cancers, specifically blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) and acute myelogenous leukemia with clonal expansion of pDC (pDC-AML). In recent years, BPDCN and pDC-AML have been successfully treated with targeted therapy of pDC-specific surface marker, CD123. However, relapsed and refractory BPDCN remains an elusive cancer, with limited therapeutic options. CD303 is another specific surface marker of human pDCs, centrally involved in antigen presentation and immune tolerance. Monoclonal antibodies directed against CD303 have been studied in preclinical models and have achieved disease control in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus. We performed a comprehensive review of benign and malignant disorders in which CD303 have been studied, as there may be a potential future CD303-directed therapy for many of these conditions.


Introduction: The data on the use of dual biologics are scant, but a topic of current interest. Case Study: In this report, the treatment regimen of a patient with two T helper 2 pathway-related comorbidities, severe asthma, and chronic spontaneous urticaria, was presented. Results: Both urticaria and asthma symptoms of the patient could not be controlled entirely with monotherapy while both diseases could be controlled after omalizumab-mepolizumab dual treatment. No adverse events were observed after 6 months of dual biologics use. Conclusion: This report supports other publications in the literature involving the use of dual biologics and provides a summary of the literature.


A simple method to produce a clock transition with purely optical means by modulated pumping is described. The field-independent ground state resonance of /sup 87/Rb atoms using sinusoidal modulation of the injection current of an AlGaAs laser diode emitting at 780 nm (FM modulation) is observed. The 6.835 GHz resonance with a subharmonic modulation frequency of 1.139 GHz is detected. A high-contrast resonance peak is observed and a condition for zero light shift is found. The linewidth is 3 kHz (at 6.835 GHz) in this preliminary experiment, due to the small size of the light beam ( approximately 2 mm diameter) and the low buffer gas pressure (680 Pa) that was used. A theoretical model that explains the main features of the experiment is described. >


Myelodysplastic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of hematological diseases, characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis with risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia.
They can be associated to autoimmune manifestations in 10-30% of patients, appearing before, during or after the diagnosis of the hematological disorder. The prevalence of relapsing polychondritis as a paraneoplastic phenomenon is 0.7-5.4%, occurring simultaneously in the majority of cases. Other associated autoimmune processes include: systemic vasculitis, seronegative polyarthritis, neutrophilic dermatosis, immunomediated cytopenias, presence of autoantibodies and cryoglobulinemia. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman, with no previous medical history, who presented with recurrent polychondritis and systemic vasculitis associated with myelodysplasia.


Basal TSH levels are known to rise during the evening, but the mechanism by which this rise occurs is poorly understood. The rise in TSH in response to dopamine (DA) receptor blockade with metoclopramide in the morning in normal subjects and hypothyroid patients has provided evidence for a tonic inhibitory role for DA in the control of TSH secretion. We have tested the hypothesis in normal, euthyroid volunteers (14 females, aged 20--40 yr; 12 males, aged 22--45 yr) that the nocturnal elevation of serum TSH levels might result from a reduction in DA action on the thyrotroph, in which case a reduced TSH response to metoclopramide would be expected. We found, however, that the TSH response to DA receptor blockade with metoclopramide (10 mg, iv) was significantly greater at 2300 h than at 1100 h [net incremental response over 120 min, 14.9 +/- 2.5 vs. 6.7 +/- 1.6 mU/liter (mean +/- SE); P < 0.001], indicating greater DA inhibition of TSH release at night. Thus, the nocturnal elevation of TSH is not due to decreased DA action on the thyrotroph; rather, increased DA tone is present and may limit the TSH response to other as yet unknown factors. Thyroid hormone levels also rose significantly after metoclopramide at both 1100 and 2300 h compared with control values after placebo [incremental difference (in nanomoles per liter) between 0 and 120 min values (mean +/- SE): 1100 h, T3, 0.24 +/- 0.09 vs. -0.05 +/- 0.08 (P < 0.02); T4, 19.4 +/- 6.1 vs. -1.8 +/- 2.5 (P < 0.01); 2300 h, T3 +/- 0.53 +/-0.07 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.07 (P < 0.01); T4 20.9 +/- 5.6 vs. 2.8 +/- 3.2 (P < 0.01)]. Incremental thyroid hormone and TSH responses to metoclopramide were directly related (T3 vs. TSH, r = 0.59 and P < 0.001; T4 vs. TSH, r = 0.41 and P < 0.01), suggesting that the thyroid hormone responses were mediated by TSH and illustrating the sensitivity of the thyroid gland to even small increases in endogenous TSH levels.


We have confirmed our previous observations that the tumor-promoting agent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) enhances transformation induced by low doses of X-rays. We report here that TPA exerts its effect primarily on actively proliferating cells and has little promoting effect once the cells have reached confluency. However, previously irradiated cells seeded at low density, allowed to reach confluency and then reseeded at low density maintain the capacity to respond to TPA treatment during this second round of proliferation. These results indicate that: (a) as in vivo, TPA is effective even when treatment begins a long time after exposure to the initiating agent; (b) the enhancement of expression of X-ray transformation by TPA is not due to a simple stimulation of cell proliferation; (c) TPA enhancement does not result primarily from the conversion of premutational lesions in DNA to mutations; and (d) the promotional effects of TPA are probably not related to an effect on a DNA repair process.


Abstract : Theory is formulated for effects of an internal explosion on the dynamic response and behavior of the earth-bermed roof of box-shaped ammunition storage magazines. The theory considers the ratio of charge weight to magazine volume, scaled vent area of the magazine, depth and density of soil cover, characteristics of the roof slab, and the net explosive weight of storage. Predictions from theory are correlated with experimental data derived from field tests in which HE charges were detonated inside small-scale, box-shaped ammunition magazines. Test variables were depth of soil cover, soil density, and net explosive weight. Excellent agreement was found between the measured and predicted response of the roof over the entire history of response. Theory is translated into design criteria for the minimum depth of soil cover required over the roof of a box magazine in order to mitigate the debris hazard and/or contain explosion effects from an inadvertent explosion. Problem solutions are presented to illustrate applications of the theory and design criteria. Results have positive implications in the future design and siting of ready service and special weapons magazines and missile test cells which typically have a small ratio of net explosive weight to magazine volume. Further, results offer a rational basis for designing physical security and survivability attributes into construction standards which deviate from established standards without degrading the level of explosives safety.


This research had the objective of evaluating the performance and nitrogen balance of commercial laying hens between 25 and 44 weeks of age, fed diets containing different levels of digestible lysine (0.700, 0.800 and 0.900%) and combined with digestible threonine (0.500, 0.550 and 0.600%). The diets contained 16% crude protein. A randomized experimental design was used in a 3x3 factorial scheme (three levels of lysine x three levels of theronine), with five replicates. The experiment unit consisted of a cage with eight hens. Data were submitted to analysis of variance using the statistical software SAS. The different levels of lysine and theronine did not influence (p > 0.05) production, weight of the eggs and nitrogen balance. An interaction was verified between the levels of lysine and theronine (p < 0.05) in the diets regarding feed conversion (kg kg-1). The levels of 0.800 and 0.550% of digestible lysine and threonine, respectively, enhanced the feed conversion (kg kg-1) in diets of hens.


Outcome-based reimbursement models can effectively reduce the financial risk to health care payers in cases when there is important uncertainty or heterogeneity regarding the clinical value of health technologies. Still, health care payers in lower income countries rely mainly on financial based agreements to manage uncertainties associated with new therapies. We performed a survey, an exploratory literature review and an iterative brainstorming in parallel about potential barriers and solutions to outcome-based agreements in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and in the Middle East (ME). A draft list of recommendations deriving from these steps was validated in a follow-up workshop with payer experts from these regions. 20 different barriers were identified in five groups, including transaction costs and administrative burden, measurement issues, information technology and data infrastructure, governance, and perverse policy outcomes. Though implementing outcome-based reimbursement models is challenging, especially in lower income countries, those challenges can be mitigated by conducting pilot agreements and preparing for predictable barriers. Our guidance paper provides an initial step in this process. The generalizability of our recommendations can be improved by monitoring experiences from pilot reimbursement models in CEE and ME countries and continuing the multistakeholder dialogue at national levels.


Exposure to ambient air pollution and its threat to human health is a global concern, especially in the elderly population. Therefore, more in-depth studies are required to understand the extent of the harmful effects of particulate matter (PM) based on duration and levels of exposure. An investigation was conducted to determine the association between short- (1–14 days), medium- (1, 3, and 6 months), and long-term (1, 2, and 3 years) exposure to air pollutants (PM2.5 and PM10) and cognitive function among Koreans (4175 participants, mean age 67.8 years, 55.2% women) aged over 50 years. Higher levels of PM2.5 exposure for short to long term and PM10 exposure for medium to long term were found to be associated with decreased cognitive function, as indicated by lower scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination adopted in Korean (K-MMSE). There were significant effect modifications by sex, age group, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and smoking status in the association between long-term PM2.5 and PM10 exposure and cognitive function. These findings, which underscore the importance of the efforts to reduce the exposure levels and durations of air pollutants, especially in the vulnerable elderly population, provide evidence for establishing more stringent policies for air pollution regulations.


Context: Ultrasonography is a non-invasive, inexpensive and safe imaging modality for diagnosing ocular pathologies, which aids in diagnostic accuracy and patient care. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the pattern of ocular pathologies using ultrasonography at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital. Settings and Design: This is a retrospective and descriptive study on sonographic pattern of various ocular pathologies. Materials and Methods: A total of 290 patients with various ocular pathologies were retrospectively reviewed within the study period from January 2017 to July 2018, in whom fundal examination was not possible due to media opacities and/or intraocular haemorrhage. Statistical Analysis Used: The data generated were analysed using SPSS version 21.0 program (SPSS Inc., Illinois, USA). Results: Cataracts were the most common ocular pathology detected sonographically, accounting for (45.5%) followed by vitreous haemorrhage (14.8%) and then retinal detachment (7.9%). Cataract has the highest frequency in all age groups with the highest frequency (34.1%) in 61–75 years of age group, while retinal (39.1%) and vitreous detachments (66.7%) have the highest frequency in the 16–30 and 61–75 years of age groups, respectively. The retinal detachment (52.2%) was more frequent in females, while cataract (54.5%) and vitreous haemorrhage (74.4%) were more frequent in males. Retinoblastoma (60%) and endophthalmitis (100%) were seen more on the right side, but the retinal detachment, cataract and vitreous haemorrhage were seen more on the left side. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is an important tool in the diagnosis of various ocular pathologies.


ABSTRACT Journalism professionals and media experts have traditionally used normatively formed criteria to evaluate news quality. Although the digital news media environment has enabled journalists to respond at unprecedented speed to audience consumption patterns, little academic research has systematically addressed how audiences themselves perceive and evaluate news, and even less has focused on audio-visual news. To help fill this research gap, we conducted in-depth group interviews with 22 online news video consumers in the UK to explore their perceptions of online news videos—an increasingly popular news format. Thematic analyses suggest audiences evaluate online news videos using a complex and interwoven set of criteria, which we group under four headings: antecedents of perceptions, emotional impacts, news and editorial values and production characteristics. Some of these criteria can be positioned clearly in relation to the literature on news quality in general, while our documentation of the others contributes new, format-specific knowledge. Our findings offer journalists practical insights into how audiences perceive and evaluate a host of characteristics of online news videos, while our conceptual framework provides a foundation for further academic research on audience evaluations of online news videos, and even audio-visual news more generally.


Mobile crowdsourcing applications often run in dynamic environments. Due to limited time and budget, developers of mobile crowdsourcing applications usually cannot completely test their prototypes in real world situations. We describe a data integration technique for developers to validate their design in prototype testing. Our approach constructs the intended context by combining real-time, historical and simulated data. With correct context-aware design, mobile crowdsourcing applications presenting crowdsourcing questions in relevant context to users are likely to obtain high response quality. Author


Tuberculosis of the Gluteal Bursa.-V. H. ELLIs, F.R.C.S. Tuberculosis of the great trochanter of the femur may arise in two ways: haematogenous infection of the bone, and extension to the bone from the overlying gluteal bursa. In children the first is more frequent, in adults the second. The appearance of the two conditions is dissimilar radiologically. In tuberculosis of the gluteal bursa there is absorption of the trochanter without the signs of tuberculous disease, i.e. general rarefaction, a woolly outline, and increased differentiation between cortex and deeper bone.


Cold spaghetti and thirty two ounces of Coke at midnight supper. A littered foursome, in which the first announced another hit to work up. The embittered second stabbed his plastic tray with a pen. The third intern shuffled through a stack of index cards. His wife's father in Johnstown had just died of cancer. The last attacked a stale Portuguese roll with his fork. Gears grinding, motors turning, but nothing happening. The ozone-like smell of stale work. Did they suffer from sleep deprivation? Thirty-six on, twelve off. What a sublime method of learning the value of time.


BACKGROUND
Gastrostomy can be performed with a percutaneous fluoroscopic technique, a percutaneous endoscopic technique, or open surgery. Since all three methods are in use at our hospital, we made this retrospective study to compare indications, complications, and outcomes for the different techniques.

METHODS AND RESULTS
During the period January 1990 to December 1994, 147 patients admitted to Lund University Hospital required gastrostomy. The records of these patients were retrospectively studied. Six patient records could not be found, and these patients were therefore excluded. Of the remaining 141 patients, 94 had undergone fluoroscopic percutaneous gastrostomy, 12 percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), and 35 gastrostomy at open surgery. The 30-day overall mortality was 15% in the fluoroscopy group, 17% in the endoscopy group, and 29% in the open surgery group. The 30-day mortality as related to the procedure was 3.2% in the fluoroscopy group, 0% in the PEG group, and 2.9% among the patients with open surgery. The morbidity related to the procedure was 16%, 8%, and 20%, respectively. For the 30-day overall mortality and for the procedure-related mortality there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (P = 0.2019, P = 0.8215). For the percutaneous procedures the indication was nutrition in most patients. For the patients receiving gastrostomy at open surgery drainage was the main indication. Even though the complication rate was higher in this group, most complications were minor, and there was only one procedure-related death. Gastrostomy at open surgery is often performed in severely ill patients. Despite this, it does not seem to cause more complications than the percutaneous techniques in our study.

CONCLUSION
The study shows that gastrostomies are safe procedures, with few complications and a low procedure-related mortality independent of the technique being used.


Online purchase, in the clothing industry of Pakistan, is on a historical high. There are various factors that affect the brand trust of online consumers. This research is aimed to find the correlation between security and privacy of personal information, name of the brand, word-of-mouth, prior online experience and information quality on the one hand and the online brand trust of consumers on the other. The study is conducted in relation to a single brand, named Gul Ahmed. The sample for this study contained 387 respondents. The results of the study show that all these factors have a significant relationship with online brand trust. Word of mouth however, has been found to have the strongest correlation with the online brand trust.


In this paper, we further develop the local discontinuous Galerkin method to solve three classes of nonlinear wave equations formulated by the general KdV-Burgers type equations, the general fifth-order KdV type equations and the fully nonlinear K(n, n, n) equations, and prove their stability for these general classes of nonlinear equations. The schemes we present extend the previous work of Yan and Shu [30, 31] and of Levy, Shu and Yan [24] on local discontinuous Galerkin method solving partial differential equations with higher spatial derivatives. Numerical examples for nonlinear problems are shown to illustrate the accuracy and capability of the methods. The numerical experiments include stationary solitons, soliton interactions and oscillatory solitary wave solutions.The numerical experiments also include the compacton solutions of a generalized fifthorder KdV equation in which the highest order derivative term is nonlinear and the fully nonlinear K (n, n, n) equations.


Abstract Exposing seeds to a high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) may influence the performance of herbivores and improve the germination rate by inducing biological and physiological changes in plants. In the current study, an age-stage, two-sex life table was established to evaluate the effects from directly exposing seeds to HVEFs on the performance of apterous Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) reared on winter wheat. We treated the wheat seeds by exposing them to an HVEF for 20 min at three intensities: 2, 4, or 6 KV/cm. Controls received no treatment (0 KV/cm). The results indicated that the parameters of the net reproductive rate (R0), the intrinsic rate of increase (r), and the mean generation span (T) of S. avenae were significantly reduced by HVEFs through multiple generations. In addition, the age-specific survival rate (lx) and comparison with the results of a Weibull equation analysis suggested that S. avenae had the shortest life span when seeds were exposed to an HVEF at 4 KV/cm. Overall, these findings indicated that direct exposure of wheat seeds to an HVEF at 4 KV/cm could adversely affect the performance of S. avenae.


Abstract. The purpose of the study was to investigate the application of mind mapping models to improve reading comprehension skills of elementary school students. This research is Classroom Action Research with two cycles. The subjects of this research were students of the 3th students at SD Negeri Totosari Surakarta in the 2019/2020 academic year, totalling 30 students. This research uses data collection techniques in the form of interview, observation, field notes, tests, and documentation with data analysis of content validity and triangulation. This data was obtained from the pre-test and post-test results by applying the mind mapping learning model during the learning process. To conduct a statistical analysis of the study, using an assessment guideline adopted from one expert. The results show that the mind mapping learning model has a significant impact on improving reading comprehension skills of elementary school students. The findings of this study can provide a reference for teachers to apply mind mapping learning models into the learning process according to the material to be developed. Keywords: Mind mapping,Reading chomprehensif , elementary school


and different campus partnerships have been created. The second article in this issue, "Library Space Assessment: Focusing on Learning," discusses the analysis of library space and its critical connection to student learning. Lippincott, associate executive director at the Coalition for Networked Information, and Duckett, associate head of digital technologies and learning in Research and Information Services at North Carolina State University Libraries, show the importance of collecting meaningful data that supports the creation of new or renovated learning spaces. They suggest that libraries approach an assessment process using a broader perspective by asking key questions such as "what elements of the library renovation and newly configured services would support student success?" This article is a good companion to Space Toolkit Finally, the authors conclude that the connection between student learning and library spaces needs further exploration and research to provide a deeper understanding of the inherent value of library learning spaces.


2a,4-Disubstituted 2,2a,3,4-tetrahydro-2-phenyl-1H-azeto[2,1-d][ 1,5]benzothiazepin-1-ones, as well as 2-substi-tuted 2,3-dihydro-3-phenylacetyl-2-styryl-benzothiazoles and 4a,6-disubstituted 3- .benzyl-4a,5-d/hydro-2-phenyl-1H,6H-[1,3]oxazino[2,3-d][1,5]benzothiazepin-1-ones, were obtained from the reaction of 2,4-disubstituted 2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepines with phenylacetyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. The mechanism for the formation of 4a,5-dihydro-1H,6H-[1,3]oxazino[2,3-d][1,5]benzothiazepin-1-ones, 2,3-dihydro-1,3-oxazin-4-one derivatives, was suggested.


As information and its methods of storage and transmission continue to expand dramatically, it becomes more important than ever to understand copyright law. Since continuing education means providing current knowledge, educators are in a position to find copyright law the means to that end or the grounds for legal action against them.


Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is not only responsible for numerous pregnancy-related processes, but can affect the cardiovascular system as well. So far, however, information about any direct effect elicited by hCG on cardiac function, perfusion, and the mechanisms involved has remained scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the primary in vivo effect of hCG on cardiac contractility and coronary blood flow and the involvement of autonomic nervous system and nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, in coronary endothelial cells (CEC), the intracellular pathways involved in the effects of hCG on NO release were also examined. In 25 anesthetized pigs, intracoronary 500 mU/ml hCG infusion at constant heart rate and aortic blood pressure increased coronary blood flow, maximum rate of change of left ventricular systolic pressure, segmental shortening, cardiac output, and coronary NO release (P < 0.0001). These hemodynamic responses were graded in a further five pigs. Moreover, while blockade of muscarinic cholinoceptors (n = 5) and of α-adrenoceptors (n = 5) did not abolish the observed responses, β1-adrenoceptors blocker (n = 5) prevented the effects of hCG on cardiac function. In addition, β2-adrenoceptors (n = 5) and NO synthase inhibition (n = 5) abolished the coronary response and the effect of hCG on NO release. In CEC, hCG induced the phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase through cAMP/PKA signaling and ERK1/2, Akt, p38 MAPK involvement, which were activated as downstream effectors of β2-adrenoceptor stimulation. In conclusion, in anesthetized pigs, hCG primarily increased cardiac function and perfusion through the involvement of β-adrenoceptors and NO release. Moreover, cAMP/PKA-dependent kinases phosphorylation was found to play a role in eliciting the observed NO production in CEC.


Part of the Oxford Library of Psychology, the Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Work examines what positive psychology offers to our understanding of key issues in working life today. Drawing on the disparate literatures from positive psychology, management, I/O psychology, and human resources, the volume begins with a consideration of the changing world of work that sets the context for the rest of the book and then moves into a specific consideration of work issues from the perspective of positive psychology. Chapters focus on such topics as strengths, leadership, human resource management, employee engagement, communications, well-being, and work-life balance. The volume will be a core resource for both researchers and practitioners interested in the application of positive psychology to work.


The term ``violent relaxation'' was coined by Donald Lynden-Bell as a memorable oxymoron describing how a stellar dynamical system relaxes from a chaotic initial state to a quasi-equilibrium. His analysis showed that this process is rapid, even for systems with many stars, and that it leads to equilibria which may plausibly be related to bounded isothermal spheres. I review how numerical simulations have improved our understanding of violent relaxation over the last thirty years. It is clear that the process leads to equilibria which depend strongly on the initial state, but which nevertheless have certain common features. A particularly interesting case concerns objects formed in an expanding universe through dissipationless hierarchical clustering from gaussian initial conditions; these may correspond to galaxy clusters or to the dark halos of galaxies. While such objects display a wide range of shapes and spins, the distributions of these properties depend only weakly on the cosmological context and on the initial spectrum of density fluctuations. Halo density profiles appear to have a universal form with a singular central structure and a characteristic density which depends only on formation epoch. Low mass halos typically have earlier formation times and thus higher characteristic densities than high mass halos.


This article demonstrates that exaggerated risk aversion may comprise a rational form of strategic behaviour in the face of asymmetric information. Unlike some other forms of strategic behaviour analysed previously, this behaviour confers a benefit in the form of higher ex post consumption (not merely higher expected consumption or expected utility) and whether or not markets are perfectly competitive.


Abstract Background Vaccines that are shelf stable and easy to administer are crucial to improve vaccine access and reduce severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission around the world. Methods In this study, we demonstrate that an oral, adenovirus-based vaccine candidate protects against SARS-CoV-2 in a Syrian hamster challenge model. Results Hamsters administered 2 doses of VXA-CoV2-1 showed a reduction in weight loss and lung pathology and had completely eliminated infectious virus 5 days postchallenge. Oral immunization induced antispike immunoglobulin G, and neutralizing antibodies were induced upon oral immunization with the sera, demonstrating neutralizing activity. Conclusions Overall, these data demonstrate the ability of oral vaccine candidate VXA-CoV2-1 to provide protection against SARS-CoV-2 disease.


In this chapter, we pointed some relevant results obtained by protein-ligand docking simulations in the context of insecticide and herbicide resistance performed by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), a detoxifying superfamily enzyme. We present here some in silico evidences of GST binding against chemical insecticides in the malaria and dengue vectors ( Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes) and against chemical herbicides used on rice ( Oryza sativa ) culture. Our findings suggest that some members from epsilon class (GSTE2, GSTE5) can metabolize some insecticide compounds and that a tau class member (GSTU4) can metabolize some herbicides. The results reinforce the importance of docking studies for enzyme activity comprehension. These information can allow in the future the implementation of new strategies for mosquito control and herbicide man-agement on rice culture through biotechnological improvements designed to specific GST targets. Induced mutations on catalytic binding sites of GSTU4 could improve rice herbicide resistance and minimize produce damage, while rational compounds can be designed to inhibit GSTE members to decline insecticide resistance on mosquito control. In both cases, biotechnological tools could be developed focusing on GSTs that would reduce environmental impact by the use of insecticide and herbicide.


In recent years, a growing attention, both by the authorities as well as the companies of the electricity sector, had been dedicated to energy production from renewable energy sources. Solar energy is assumed to have more favorable technical and economic perspectives. In this paper will be treated monitoring of a photovoltaic plant with installed power of 1.5kWp. The system will be used for practical exercises in the framework of the course on Photovoltaic Systems and for research of the influence of outdoor conditions on its behavior. The plant was installed on the roof of the building of Faculty of Electrical Engineering. To achieve continuous monitoring, the plant is connected to the grid with a grid inverter. Results obtained from the monitoring of this system will be use the following for further study of the possibility and potential of electricity production from solar energy in Albania.


Negative images of Samin community until now is still felt by a small community in Central Java. This is not completely true because the people of Samin also has ethical values in their life. This study is a library research, with the moral values of Samin community as material object and ethics as formal object. The purpose of this study was to explore the ethics of Samin community. The results of this study confirm that there are two ethics in the local wisdom of Samin community, namely theological and deontological ethics. Theological ethics rooted in the book of the Religion of Adam Jamus Kalimasada, associated with nobleness of soul and character. Deontological ethics, as obligations contained in the teachings of Samin, such as: aja srei drengki, tukar padu, dahpen kemeren, and mbadhog colong. This principles are categorically imperative which must be implemented in daily life that also affect the harmony of the universe.


Protein crystallization can function as an effective method for protein purification or formulation. Such an application requires a comprehensive understanding of the intermolecular protein–protein interactions that drive and stabilize protein crystal formation to ensure a reproducible process. Using alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus brevis (LbADH) as a model system, we probed in our combined experimental and computational study the effect of residue substitutions at the protein crystal contacts on the crystallizability and the contact stability. Increased or decreased contact stability was calculated using molecular dynamics (MD) free energy simulations and showed excellent qualitative correlation with experimentally determined increased or decreased crystallizability. The MD simulations allowed us to trace back the changes to their physical origins at the atomic level. Engineered charge–charge interactions as well as engineered hydrophobic effects could be characterized and were found to improve crystallizability. For example, the simulations revealed a redesigning of a water mediated electrostatic interaction ("wet contact") into a water depleted hydrophobic effect ("dry contact") and the optimization of a weak hydrogen bonding contact towards a strong one. These findings explained the experimentally found improved crystallizability. Our study emphasizes that it is difficult to derive simple rules for engineering crystallizability but that free energy simulations could be a very useful tool for understanding the contribution of crystal contacts for stability and furthermore could help guide protein engineering strategies to enhance crystallization for technical purposes.


Abstract Attention to performance monitoring of Australian drug law enforcement (DLE) agencies has increased in recent years. Yet history has shown efforts often come to nothing. Indeed the status quo — where there are undefined goals and scant reliable indicators of performance — has been maintained, despite 25 years of calls for improvement. The purpose of this article is to refocus attention from how Australian DLE performance monitoring ought to be measured, to the impediments to and prospects for reform. By critically examining the historical and policy drivers underpinning Australian DLE performance monitoring, five impediments to reform are put forward, including political unwillingness to expose the true capacities of DLE. This article contends that: while violating best-practice principles, the under-measurement of DLE suits various institutional and political rationales; and unless these drivers are addressed efforts to improve performance monitoring will continue to fail or fall short. Strategies for facilitating reform are outlined, including targeted advocacy.


The seeds of high-yielding and earlier-maturing cowpea cultivars, IT83E-761, TVNu-72, TVx3236 and Ife Brown were compared for their pods resistance to Callosobruchus maculates , a cosmopolitan field-to-store pest and principal post-harvest pest of cowpeas. Parameters used for comparison were mean number of eggs laid on each cultivar, mean percent egg hatched, mean percent larval mortalities, mean percent pupal mortalities, mean percent emerging adult mortalities, mean percent adult emergence, developmental periods and percent weight loss of seed. TVNu-72, Tvu 3236 and TVu 3000 demonstrated significant resistance to C. maculates compared to IT83E-716 and Ife brown with pods showing more resistance than seeds. These cultivars caused both larval mortalities and significant deterrence to oviposition. In comparison, C. maculates showed significant preference for Ife brown and IT83E-716 compared to others as significantly more eggs were laid on the former than the latter (cultivars). It is suggested that pod wall hairiness and thickness, seed coat oviposition deterrent factor(s) and cotyledonal antibiotic factor(s) are involved in conferring polygenic resistance on TVNu-72 and Tvx 3236 cultivars. Keywords : Callosobruchus maculates, Vigna unguiculata , cultivar Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 12(1) 2006: 35-40


The United Kingdom has a free health-care system, the National Health Service, which was started in 1947 by Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister at the time. Many changes have occurred since then: the population has increased from around forty-six million to almost sixty million (according to government figures), and medicine has evolved dramatically so that many more conditions can now be prevented, diagnosed, investigated, and treated both medically and surgically. These developments have been paralleled by an increase in people's expectations. As the population has increased, so has the number of doctors. Although the United Kingdom has increased its doctor-to-population ratio over the last ten years, the increase is less than that in mainland Europe and North America. Currently, there are 1453 consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeons and 700 orthopaedic trainees in the United Kingdom.

Following graduation from medical school, all doctors complete two six-month preregistration house jobs: one in surgery (occasionally within a broad surgical specialty, such as orthopaedics and trauma or cardiothoracic surgery) and one in medicine. These jobs are the broad equivalent of internships in the United States. The trainee will then apply for a basic surgical training rotation, which involves several six-month posts in different surgical specialties, such as general surgery, trauma and orthopaedic surgery, urology, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, etc. Most often, basic surgical training lasts between two and three years, during which time the trainee is expected to gain Membership in one of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (MRCS). The MRCS examination, which has replaced the old fellowship examinations (FRCS), comprises multiple-choice questions, essays, oral examinations, and clinical examinations in aspects of surgery in general.

Following successful completion of basic surgical training, the trainee can then apply for a specialist surgical training post. Specialist surgical training has become more structured over the past eight years. …


In this paper, we propose a locally optimum detection (LOD) scheme for detecting a weak radioactive source buried in background clutter. We develop a decentralized algorithm, based on alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), for implementing the proposed scheme in autonomous sensor networks. Results show that algorithm performance approaches the centralized clairvoyant detection algorithm in the low SNR regime, and exhibits excellent convergence rate and scaling behavior (w.r.t. number of nodes). We also devise a low-overhead, robust ADMM algorithm for Byzantine-resilient detection, and demonstrate its robustness to data falsification attacks.


The genus of Nocardiopsis is a new source of antibiotics, chemicals, and enzymes. Here we reported the development of a vector and host system in moderately halophilic Nocardiopsis via an oriT-mediated conjugation. By screening about 80 Nocardiopsis strains, 6 of them harbored 8 plasmids (18-80 kb). The complete nucleotide sequence of pSQ10 consisted of 18,219 bp, with 71.9% G + C content, encoding 17 open reading frames, 5 of them resembled those of Streptomyces plasmids. A rep locus (iteron within the gene) was identified for replication in Nocardiopsis sp. YIM 90083, and rep protein bound to its iteron sequence. This system may be useful for gene cloning and expression in Nocardiopsis.


BACKGROUND
The timing and practice used for umbilical cord clamping of neonates are controversial internationally as well as in Norway. We therefore wished to investigate routines and practices for umbilical cord clamping of neonates in Norway.

MATERIAL AND METHOD
A web-based questionnaire was sent to heads of departments of all maternity wards in Norway (n = 52). They were asked about their practice with regard to umbilical cord clamping of neonates and whether written routines had been prepared for this purpose. We defined early umbilical cord clamping as immediate or within 30 seconds and late clamping as ≥ 1 minute or not until pulsation in the umbilical cord had ceased.

RESULTS
Fifty (96%) of the maternity institutions returned a completed questionnaire. Twelve institutions (24%) reported to clamp the umbilical cord of full-term neonates early, and 38 (76%) reported to practise late clamping. Nineteen maternity wards (38%) followed written routines for umbilical cord clamping of full-term neonates, and among these, early umbilical cord clamping was practised in nine (47%). In the 31 maternity wards that had no written routines, early umbilical cord clamping was practised in three (10%). Twenty-seven of the maternity wards reported that the child is placed on the maternal abdomen before clamping of the umbilical cord, 14 reported that the child commonly is held below the introitus before umbilical cord clamping, and the rest did not report any consistent practice.

INTERPRETATION
There is wide variation in the practice for umbilical cord clamping in Norwegian maternity wards, many of which have no written guidelines. We argue that national guidelines for umbilical cord clamping of neonates should be established.


SUMMARY Toscana virus (TOSV) is an emerging Phlebovirus of growing interest as a human pathogen in the Mediterranean Basin. In Portugal, however, little is known about the prevalence of TOSV infection. The aim of this work was to perform a seroprevalence study in patients with requests for laboratory diagnosis of vector-borne viruses. A total of 538 patients with and without neurological signs from 2004 to 2008 were studied by in-house indirect immunofluorescence assay and commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. A prevalence of 4·2% for IgG antibodies was found in the group of patients with neurological signs. Five (3%) of these had recent infections. In the group with no neurological signs, the IgG prevalence was 1·3%. Two samples, belonging to two patients, were also confirmed with plaque reduction neutralization tests with the TOSV ISS. Phl.3 Italian strain. This work showed that TOSV is present and causing disease from north to south in Portugal. The probable circulation of different phlebovirus serotypes in Portugal emphasizes the need for further studies.


This paper addresses recent developments of circular line-scan imaging system for applications of 3D scene visualization and/or reconstruction. Such an imaging system is characterized by rotating linear sensors capturing one image column at a time respectively. This allows for accurate mappings onto a cylindrical image surface and very high image resolutions paid by motion distortions in dynamic scenes. These images can be used, for example, for stereo visualization and 3D reconstruction in the VR applications where extremely high image resolution is of benefit (for static scenes). The paper elaborates the basic geometry, the geometric analysis, and the design and control of imaging parameters to ensure high-quality 3D data acquisition.


Güvenç O, Çimen D. A rare situation in acute rheumatic carditis: Involvement of all four valves. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 497-500. Acute rheumatic fever continues to be an important health problem, especially in countries that are socioeconomically underdeveloped. Carditis, which develops in approximately half of the patients, is responsible for both early-stage mortality as well as late-stage surgical treatment due to heart valve insufficiency or stenosis. The most frequent and severe valve involvement is with the mitral valve, while the aortic valve has the second highest incidence of involvement. Pulmonary and tricuspid valves are rarely involved. The literature cites a few adult cases in which all four valves are affected by rheumatic carditis; however, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no acute-stage rheumatic carditis pediatric cases reported. This article presents a 13-year-old male patient of Syrian origin who escaped to Turkey from the war in his country, and who was in the acute stage of rheumatic carditis in which all four valves were involved.


This paper considers inference in heteroskedastic linear regression models with many control variables. The slope coefficients on these variables are nuisance parameters. Our setting allows their number to grow with the sample size, possibly at the same rate, in which case they are not consistently estimable. A prime example of this setting are models with many (possibly multi-way) fixed effects. The presence of many nuisance parameters introduces an incidental-parameter problem in the usual heteroskedasticity-robust estimators of the covariance matrix, rendering them biased and inconsistent. Hence, tests based on these estimators are size distorted even in large samples. An alternative covariance-matrix estimator that is conditionally unbiased and remains consistent is presented and supporting simulation results are provided.


Researchers have analyzed stadiums as an urban redevelopment tool for two decades but little work has studied what effect sports facilities have on gentrification. This article attempts to fill that void in the literature, using a multicity panel study to understand how minor league baseball stadiums affect the immediately surrounding areas on measures of redevelopment and gentrification. Regression results show that census tracts near a new minor league baseball stadium saw significant increases in the median income and slower growth in the share of minorities, but no change in the median rent or the overall rate of residential turnover. These findings indicate that minor league baseball stadiums create elements of both economic growth and demographic change, an outcome that deserves consideration when planning similar projects in the future.


The UK left the European Union's single market on 1 January 2021. A Withdrawal Agreement made special provision for Northern Ireland. However, 'grace periods' concerning supply of goods were agreed, delaying full application of the new rules. The Northern Ireland NHS is heavily reliant on supplies from Great Britain. If these supplies are disrupted, the quality of care offered to patients will diminish. This article shows the legal details of applicable law once the 'grace periods', which are currently securing supply, cease to apply. It reveals significant costs and uncertainties associated with supply of products to the NHS in Northern Ireland. The direction of travel, unless something changes, is that new products will reach patients later than in Great Britain, and there is a real possibility that some products become difficult or impossible for the NHS in Northern Ireland to source. The result will be reduced quality of patient care.


The emergence of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, in particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, has necessitated the search for alternative therapy by either introducing new agents or renewing interest in old agents. This study compares the in vitro activity of tigecycline (TIG), recently introduced to Egyptian market, to other potentially active antimicrobials as Colistin (COL), imipenem (IPM), levofloxacin (LEV), and piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZ) against 67 Gram-negative clinical isolates obtained from El- Meery Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt. El-Meery Hospital is a 1,500-bed tertiary teaching hospital where TIG has not been previously used. Based on MIC(90)s, TIG was found to be a comparator to IPM and COL (MIC(90)= 8 μg/ml). LEV and PIP/TAZ were less active than TIG exhibiting high MIC(90)s. TIG inhibited 100% of Escherichia coli and K. pneumoniae and 60% of Ps. aeruginosa and A. baumannii isolates. In time-kill studies against IPM-resistant isolates, TIG showed bactericidal activity after 6 hours of contact against the Enterobacteriaceae isolates and after 3 hours for the tested Ps. aeruginosa isolates at 4× and 8× MIC. Against A. baumannii, TIG exerted a bacteriostatic effect. TIG demonstrated variable ability to suppress biofilm formation affecting mainly E. coli and A. baumannii isolates. These results point TIG to be a promising agent in treatment of infections caused by strains for which adequate therapy has been limited. As far as we know, this is the first report evaluating the in vitro activity of TIG against Egyptian clinical isolates.


Since its introduction in the 90's, TCAS II, presented as a straightforward and very reliable technological tool, has significantly reduced the risk of collision. Paradoxically, the introduction of this system has been accompanied with numerous incidents and one major accident in 2002, mainly due to unclear rules, poor air-ground cooperation and poor human decision. In order to investigate these potential human factors issues, a part-task air-ground simulation was conducted: 10 pilots and 10 controllers were involved in the simulations of 4 scenarios containing TCAS occurrences. Data collected included video camera recordings for behavioral analysis, Heart Rate (HR) for stress evaluation, questionnaires and debriefings for perceived risk levels and situational awareness assessment. The observations and errors were analyzed through the CREAM methodology. The debriefings were led through a self-confrontation technique, together with pilots and controllers. Results show that the simulations of TCAS situations were able to produce a significant physiological stress response with significant increase of HR when a resolution happens. Questionnaires and debriefings show that, in most of the observed cases, aircrew, and controllers are not sharing the same mental picture of the involved traffic and the risk of collision. This raises important issues in terms of cooperation between controllers and aircrews in such demanding occurrences. This should allow identifying risky situations and the related generic causes. The results will be discussed, aiming at a potential improvement of the system, in terms of Human Machine Interface, training and consistency of procedures.


This paper wishes to explore the use of the concept of "international competition" in the rhetoric of the Ghent cotton barons in the long nineteenth century. The aim is to analyse the arguments, and not so much to compare the discourse with a historical reality. The employers' discourse (analysed on the basis of parliamentary speeches, brochures and petitions) ceaselessly referred to a genuine peril from foreign competition, in order to obtain a solid or subtle intervention from the governments, particularly aiming at protective actions. Up to the 1850s, the cotton barons managed to eliminate most of the contradictions between managers and owners of spinning and weaving mills, as well as they managed to obtain the workers' support. In the second half of the nineteenth century, however, internal differences and more harsh relations with the workers, led to diverse discourse and strategies of the employers. Nevertheless, the persisting panic-like discourse of the employers not only aimed at conducting a particular customs policy, but it was also meant to influence directly the industrial relations. Hence, the alarm screams of the cotton barons, with or without actual grounds, had a real effect.


This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of polyphenol extracted from black garlic. Black garlic polyphenol (BGP) was extracted from black garlic. The in vitro antioxidant activities of BGP were determined using DPPH·, OH and O2– radical scavenging assays. The in vivo antioxidant activities were determined by detecting the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in mice. Results showed that, the DPPH· radical inhibition rate of 200 and 250 μg/mL BGP was equivalent with Vc (P > 0.05). With concentration of 400 and 500 μg/mL, the OH radical inhibition rate of BGP was slightly lower than Vc (P > 0.05). The O2– radical inhibition rates of 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 μg/mL BGP were significantly lower than Vc (P < 0.05). In the groups treated with BGP with suitable dose, the serum MDA content was significantly decreased compared with model group (P < 0.05), and the serum SOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly increased (P < 0.05). BGP has obvious DPPH· and ·OH radical scavenging activities, and can significantly decrease the serum MDA content in mice with oxidative damage, and increase the serum SOD and GSH-Px activities.


Genetic crosses between mutants defective in the known pre-early genes of T5 and BF23 and the detection of putative N-terminal fragments have allowed the determination of the order of genes along the initially transferred 8% section of DNA of these phages.


In standard models, economic activity fluctuates symmetrically around a "natural rate" and stabilization policies can dampen these fluctuations but do not affect the average level of activity. An alternative view—labeled the "plucking model" by Milton Friedman—is that economic fluctuations are drops below the economy's full potential ceiling. If this view is correct, stabilization policy, by dampening these fluctuations, can raise the average level of activity. We show that the dynamics of the unemployment rate in the US display a striking asymmetry that strongly favors the plucking model: increases in unemployment are followed by decreases of similar amplitude, while the amplitude of the increase is not related to the amplitude of the previous decrease. We develop a microfounded plucking model of the business cycle. The source of asymmetry in our model is downward nominal wage rigidity, which we embed in an explicit search model of the labor market. Our search framework implies that downward nominal wage rigidity is consistent with optimizing behavior and equilibrium. In our plucking model, stabilization policy lowers average unemployment and thereby yields sizable welfare gains.


Introduction: Internal evaluation as a systematic process for improvement of education or research is a necessity in universities. The aim of this study was investigation of status of internal evaluation in Departments of Basic Science in Mazandaran University of Medical Science. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Departments of Basic Science in Mazandaran University of Medical Science in 2015. At first, data was gathered by checklists and questionnaires which were based on eight standards. The results of this study were processed by use of descriptive tests by SPSS 16 software. Results: Results showed that a total of 100 points, school of medicine with a score of 56% , in a relatively good state, Faculty of Pharmacy with a score of 70%, in a relatively good state, school of Dentistry with a score of 48%, in disadvantage state, Nursing and Midwifery with a score of 59%, in a relatively good state, School of Public Health with a score of 64%, in a relatively good state, Faculty of paramedical with a score of 55%, in disadvantage state, were. Conclusion: By considering the total scores of internal evaluation conducted by the groups of schools, it is suggested that to improve the quality of education, all educational groups develop clear strategic objectives and action plan appropriate to the needs of their groups.


An acute administration of MCI-2016 at the doses of 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg (p.o.), and 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg (i.p.) produced a slight CNS depression in rats, such as, sedation, ptosis, decrease in motor activity and systemic muscle relaxation. In a direct physical dependence test, rats were fed the MCI-2016-admixed food together with drinking water ad libitum for 24 hours daily for 51-71 days (mean MCI-2016 intake 29.9-210.7 mg/kg/day), on the gradedly increased dosage schedule with a dosage level of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/g food to 4 mg/g food. In a natural withdrawal following administration of MCI-2016, no significant withdrawal signs were observed in any group. In a naloxone-precipitation test the rats that were treated with MCI-2016-admixed food did not show any withdrawal signs. In a substitution test in either morphine or barbital dependent rats, no suppression of withdrawal signs or maintenance of dependence were observed by cross-administration of MCI-2016. In conclusion, MCI-2016 was considered to have no physical dependence potential.


Abstract The Danish postwar social housing developments originally epitomized the dawning welfare state, promoting ideals of equity and community. Today, a number of these neighborhoods have come to occupy the reverse role and are publicly represented as "parallel societies," "ghettos" or even "holes in the map of Denmark," thus perforating the welfare state as a socially coherent space. Based on a media analysis and field studies in the so-called "hard ghettos," this paper relates current media representations of disadvantaged Danish neighborhoods to architectural and residential ways of coping with territorial stigma. We argue that media representations of these housing developments contribute to rendering them spatially and socially detached from the surrounding society and that the architectural attempts to open up these housing developments may, in some cases, reinforce the stigma, further perforating the neighborhoods. Residents contest the stigma, yet those who can do so tend to detach themselves from the stigmatized neighborhoods.


The purpose of the study is to check the relationship between the occurrence of Harris lines and the morphological differentiation of the long bones of the human skeleton as an indicator of living conditions. The bone material (233 adult individuals, including 120 males and 113 females) was collected at a medieval burial ground in Cedynia, Poland. Recommended methods were applied to estimate the sex and age of the individuals (Ferembach et al 1979; Buikstra & Ubelaker 1994). The results obtained indicate that there is no clear relationship between metric characteristics of the studied long bones and the occurrence of Harris lines. Adverse environmental factors, which triggered the occurrence of Harris lines did not strongly affect the growth of long bones and did not change their morphology. Regardless of the phase of ontogenetic development in which the arrested growth lines (HL) formed, no effect of this fact on the final length of bones was observed. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were found in the proportions of bones between individuals reacting to adverse living conditions with the formation of Harris lines and those, whose bones were free of Harris lines. One may assume that Harris lines are of significance in epidemiological research and when assessing the general health profile of a population, but they are less useful in research on morphological reactions of individuals to living conditions.


Children benefit from high quality relationships with their fathers in a number of ways. However, little is known about the origins of father-child relationships. Here, identity theory and data from the Fragile Families dataset are used to investigate associations between mothers' and fathers' fathering identities at the time of the child's birth and nine years later, and the father-child relationship as reported by children at age nine. Neither mothers' nor fathers' role identity standards at birth were associated with father-child relationship quality, but greater father status centrality and not having considered abortion were associated with better father-child relationships. The association between abortion consideration and relationship quality was mediated by whether parents were romantically involved at Year 9. Implications for theory, policy, and practice are discussed.


Background: We aimed to establish and externally validate a nomogram to predict the 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) of gastric cancer (GC) patients after surgical resection and explored the roles of cardia and chemotherapy.Methods: A total of 6543 patients diagnosed with primary GC during 2004-2016 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. We grouped patients diagnosed during 2004-2012 into a training set (n=4528) and those diagnosed during 2013-2016 into an external validation set (n=2015). A nomogram was constructed after univariate and multivariate analysis. Performance was evaluated by Harrell's C-index, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), decision curve analysis (DCA), and calibration plot.Results: The multivariate analysis identified age, race, location, tumor size, T stage, N stage, M stage, and chemotherapy as independent prognostic factors. In multivariate analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) of non-cardia was 0.762 (P<0.001), and that of chemotherapy was 0.556 (P<0.001). Our nomogram was found to exhibit excellent discrimination: in the training set, Harrell's C-index was superior to that of the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM classification (0.736 vs 0.699, P<0.001); the C-index was also better in the validation set (0.748 vs 0.707, P<0.001). The AUCs for 3- and 5-year OS were 0.806 and 0.815 in the training set and 0.775 and 0.783 in the validation set, respectively. The DCA and calibration plot of the model also shows good performance.Conclusions: We established a well-designed nomogram to accurately predict the OS of primary GC patients after surgical resection. We also further confirmed the prognostic value of cardia and chemotherapy in predicting the survival rate of GC patients.


The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of the application of oxytocine in the early stage of the oestrous cycle on the levels of serum progesterone and plasma vitamin A and §-carotene during the cycle. Five Swiss-Brown cows were used during two oestrous cycles. Blood samples were collected during the first cycle starting after synchronization and then a total daily dose of 100 I.U. oxytocine was applied subcutanously as a half dose at 12 hour intervals on days on 4, 5 and 6 of the second cycle. During the same cycle, blood samples were again collected, from which serum and plasma were extracted. The levels of serum progesterone and plasma vitamin A and §-carotene were determined from each sample and the correlations between these parameters were investigated. A statistically significant negative correlation was present between serum progesterone and plasma §-carotene levels during the second cycle in cows (P 0.05). It was concluded that the application of oxytocine during the early stage of the oestrous cycle has no effect on the length of the cycle, or serum progesterone, plasma vitamin A or §-carotene levels.


Counselling as a profession helper, the root of every profession helper lies in the nature of man himself must be understood by the counselor. The counselor must have the knowledge, skills, and support experience and personality. The counselor must have the competence that is built on a philosophical foundation of human nature, with all its potential, strengths and weaknesses in his life as a creature of Allah  Almighty. Academic competence and professional counselors are integrated to build the integrity of the pedagogical, personality, social and professional. Based on the view of human nature, the nature of counseling, not independent and is associated with human nature itself, as a counseling service that helps resolve the problems faced by individuals. If the individual was not able to finish it, then there is a way one way to find a solution, is through counseling.


Hydroxyapatite (HAp) having chemical formula Ca10 (PO4)6(OH)2 is the main chemical component of human bone tissue (70%), to cope up with the bone response as a bio active material. In this study Ni doped HAp powder with triclinic phase was synthesized by sol-gel method, by doping Ni of different concentrations (0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08). The various properties due to different concentration of Ni in HAp were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform spectroscopy (FT-IR). The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA-DTA) was also carried out to evaluate the stability of the synthesized HAP powder. Antibacterial activity of compounds against microbial pathogens was done using well diffusion method. High antibacterial activity was observed for Ca0.98 Ni0.02 (PO4)(OH)2. The transmission electron microscopic analysis confirms the presence of the spherical shape morphology of the prepared hydroxyapatite nanoparticle with the particle size of around 20 to 100 nm.


Nanosized metal oxides dispersed polymer composites constitute a fascinating class of polymer composite materials. Synthesis of such composite materials through solvent casting enhances the polymer synthetic technology. Solvent casting method was used to prepare Cobalt oxide (Co3O4) dispersed Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nano composite. X-ray diffraction tool is used to know the structural behavior composite Development of the crystallinity in the composite film is observed. Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) tool is used for morphololical study of the sample. The fine dispersion of the cobalt oxide particles is observed in the composite image. Bonding nature in the pure PMMA and composite materials are studied by FT-IR tool. This study shows the shift in some peaks and disappearance of some peaks reveals the formation of composite between PMMA and cobalt oxide. Thermal behavior of the composite is also well studied.


The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of chitosan-based edible coatings with lemon grass extract on the physical properties and overall acceptability of cucumber fruits stored at ambient temperature (28 ± 2°C) and 85 to 90% relative humidity for 14 days. Blends of chitosan (C) and lemon grass extract (E) were formulated as 0.5% C + 0.5% E, 0.5% C + 1% E, 1% C + 0.5% E and 1% C + 1% E. Fresh cucumber fruits were treated with the blends, while the untreated cucumber was used as the control. Physical quality parameters (weight loss, fruit firmness, colour using chromameter, and diameter) of the fruits were assessed on weekly basis during storage. The fruits were subjected to sensory evaluation after 14 days of storage using 20 member preference panel. After 14 days, weight loss was 1% for cucumber fruits treated with 1.0% C + 1.0% E, and 4% for control untreated fruits. No significant difference ( P < 0.05) was observed in the firmness of all the treated cucumber fruits after 14 days, while the untreated significantly reduced by 4%. External colour analysis of L*a*b* parameters showed no significant change in L* (lightness) and a* (green to red) with the storage time (14 days) in treated fruits. However, values of b* (blue to yellow) changed significantly ( p < 0.05) after 14 days in untreated control cucumber fruits. All fruits significantly decreased in diameter with days of storage; except for 1.0% C + 1.0% E treated cucumber fruits, which showed no further decrease after 7 days of storage. No significant difference was observed in the taste, pulp and peel colour, texture, flavour as well as the overall acceptability of stored cucumber fruits but the control sample was rated higher in overall acceptability. In this study, the combination of chitosan and lemon grass extract, especially 1.0% C +1.0% E as an edible coating, has proved to have great potential to preserve the physical characteristics of cucumber fruits at ambient temperature 28 ± 2°C peculiar to tropical countries. This combination gave better physical parameter results. Keywords: Edible coatings, cucumber, lemon grass extract, chitosan, physical properties, overall acceptability


Background

To validate a predictive scoring system for 1-year mortality among psychogeriatric inpatients admitted for acute psychiatric care.
Methods

Computerized data were extracted from the District Health Board Database for a university affiliated general hospital. A geriatric risk scoring system developed in the USA was employed to validate mortality within 1-year of hospital discharge.
Results

Among 125 psychogeriatric inpatients who were discharged in 2017, [mean age 82.8 (± 8.9) years, 82 (65.6%) women] 33 (26.4%), [mean age, 87.7 (± 11.1) years, 25 (75.7%) women] died within 1-year. Levine's mortality index predicted death. A post hoc probit analysis found two factors significantly associated with predicted mortality: metastatic cancer and discharge to care.
Conclusions

A geriatric1-year mortality scoring system accurately predicted mortality among psychogeriatric inpatients. Predicting psychogeriatric mortality should be considered a guideline for ensuring quality of care and appropriate discharge and advanced care planning.


Finding efficient methods for supporting top-k relational queries has received significant attention in academic research. One of the approaches in the recent literature is query-mapping, in which top-k queries are mapped (translated) into equivalent range queries that relational database systems (RDBMSs) normally support. This approach combines the advantage of simplicity as well as practicality by avoiding the need for modifications to the query engine, or specialized data structures or indexing techniques to handle top-k queries separately. However, existing methods following this approach fall short of adequately modeling the problem environment and providing consistent results. In this article, the authors propose a cost-based range estimation model for the query-mapping approach. They provide a methodology for trading-off relevant query execution cost components and mapping a top-k query into a cost-optimal range query for efficient execution. Their experiments on real world and synthetic data sets show that the proposed strategy not only avoids the need to calibrate workloads on specific database contents, but also performs at least as well as prior methods.


Abstract Sand dunes are found in a variety of shapes in deserts and coasts and also on the planet Mars. The basic mechanisms of dune formation could be incorporated into a continuum saltation model, which successfully reproduced the shape of the barchan dunes and has been also applied to calculate interaction of barchans in a field. We have recently extended our dune model to investigate other dune shapes observed in nature. Here, we present the first numerical simulation of the transformation of barchan dunes, under the influence of vegetation, into parabolic dunes, which appear frequently on coasts. Further, we apply our model to reproduce the shape of barchan dunes observed on Mars, and we find that an interesting property related to the martian saltation is relevant to predict the scale of dunes on Mars. Our model can also reproduce unusual dune shapes of the Martian north polar region, like rounded barchans and elongated linear dunes. Our results support the hypothesis that these dunes are indurated.


Background

Medicines with a stereogenic center (asymmetric carbon) mainly presents as racemates with a mixture of equal amounts of enantiomers. One enantiomer may be active while the other inactive, alternatively one may produce side-effects and even toxicity. Worldwide there is no mandatory regulatory requirement to enforce the development of new chiral medicines as exclusively pure active single enantiomers. This has contributed to the existence of both single enantiomers and racemates on the market. Moreover, literature shows the tendency of regulatory approval of medicines towards the development of pure single enantiomers 60%, only 5–10% racemates and 30–35% as achiral. This status has not been established particularly in African countries including Tanzania. Therefore, we aimed to establish the chirality status of registered medicines in Tanzania.
Methodology:

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing all human medicines registered in Tanzania for the past 15 years from 2003 to 2018. Data were extracted from TMDA-IMIS database to Microsoft excel for analysis. Medicines were assessed to determine if they were chiral (racemates or single enantiomers) or achiral.
Results

A total of 3,573 human medicines had valid registration. Most of these medicines 2,150 (60%) are chiral and 1,423 (40%) are achiral. Out of the chiral medicines, 1,591 (74%) and 559 (26%) were racemates and single enantiomers, respectively. The percentage of chiral medicines for anti-infective (35%) was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than other pharmacological groups. A high proportion of chiral medicines within pharmacological groups were observed in systemic hormonal preparations (excluding reproductive hormones and insulin) 97.3% (36/37) and anti-infectives 80% (753/941).
Conclusion

The study revealed the existence of both chiral and achiral registered human medicines with chiral medicines predominating. The proportion of racemates within chiral medicines was significantly higher than that of single enantiomer medicines. The use of these racemates may cause harm to the public and may also contribute to antimicrobial resistance due to the potential existence of inactive and toxic enantiomers. In order to protect public health, regulatory bodies need to strengthen the control of chiral medicines by including an analysis of enantiomeric impurity.


A survey to obtain potential antagonists of pome fruit tree diseases yielded two yellow epiphytic bacterial isolates morphologically similar to Pantoea agglomerans, but showing no biocontrol activity. Whole-cell MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and analysis of 16S rRNA gene and gyrB sequences suggested the possibility of a novel species with a phylogenetic position in either the genus Pantoea or the genus Erwinia. Multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) placed the two strains in the genus Erwinia and supported their classification as a novel species. The strains showed general phenotypic characteristics typical of this genus and results of DNA-DNA hybridizations confirmed that they represent a single novel species. Both strains showed a DNA G+C content, as determined by HPLC, of 54.5 mol% and could be discriminated from phylogenetically related species of the genus Erwinia by their ability to utilize potassium gluconate, potassium 2-ketogluconate, maltose, melibiose and raffinose. Whole-genome sequencing of strain EM595T revealed the presence of a chromosomal carotenoid biosynthesis gene cluster similar to those found in species of the genera Cronobacter and Pantoea that explains the pigmentation of the strain, which is atypical for the genus Erwinia. Additional strains belonging to the same species were recovered from different plant hosts in three different continents, revealing the cosmopolitan nature of this epiphyte. The name Erwinia gerundensis sp. nov. is proposed, with EM595T ( = LMG 28990T = CCOS 903T) as the designated type strain.


Objectives: We have not only examined telemedicine scenario but also applied IPSec(AH, ESP) algorithms under VPN(Virtual Private Network) for performance evaluation of telemedicine system's security and transmission. Methods: In this study, we applied IPSec(AH, ESP) algorithms under VPN(Virtual Private Network) protocol when transmit healthcare data through Satellite Network. At that time, we evaluated performance of telemedicine system through RTT(Round Trip Time), Jitter, Bandwidth that indicate to QoS(Quality Of Service). Results: It is possible to transfer remote healthcare data over Satellite Network under provided image of 15 frame and bio-signal of 10 kbps and RTT(Round Trip Time) of 774.53ms, Jitter of 25.2ms. But applying IPsec(AH, ESP) under VPN(Virtual Private Network), it is frequently happened distortion of image data affected SHA-1 and 3DES algorithm. Conclusion: In this study, it is possible to use telemedicine system for Secure Satellite Network, but demand to be based QoS(Quality Of Service) limited. We expected that it is possible to use the designed system in the disaster area.


In this paper the authors propose an algorithm for texture defects detection, which doesn't use supervised classification. The algorithm can be simply applied in an automatic visual inspection system. For localization of texture defects features calculation of each non-overlapping region of an image via the singular value decomposition (SVD) and image processing techniques. In next step the algorithm uses the fuzzy c-means clustering (FCM) to classify each region into two clusters. Finally the authors define a distance between centres of defective and non-defective clusters using some threshold value chosen empirically


A novel LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 cathode with a predominant, partially-disordered lithiated-spinel structure has been prepared by a 'low temperature' (LT) synthesis. Li/LT-LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 cells operate between 5.0 and 2.5 V with good cycling stability, yielding a capacity of 225 mA h g-1, principally by redox reactions on the nickel ions on distinct voltage plateaus at ∼3.6 V and ∼4.6 V.


The paper presents a numerical model that solves the thermodynamical problem of lava flowing in channels of complex geometry. The paper presents the differential equations of the problem, the time and space discretization, the numerical tests, the application to a real case study and release the Matlab code and related files. The paper is well-structured but the exposition is not rigorous and I found the reading not fluid and suitable only for very specialized readers. Moreover in the text you come across changes in the names of the functions/parameters used, and often authors use the same letter to indicate different parameters (h is for mesh and height, p is for polynomial degree and pressure..). This makes reading the article very annoying. Nevertheless, I suggest the publication of the paper after minor revision. In the following, my comments. It is not clear whether the proposed method is an adaptation


In this review, we have discussed pulmonary hypertension including definition, classification, pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of each class of PH as per latest available data and guidelines. Pulmonary hypertension is defined as an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure of ≥ 20 mmHg at rest. The clinical classification of pulmonary hypertension (as per world health organization) includes five different classes constructed on the basis of clinical causes of pulmonary hypertension. The main pathophysiology involved in the development of pulmonary hypertension of all types is prolonged pulmonary vasoconstriction caused by multiple factors which ultimately leads to pulmonary vascular remodelling (structural as well as functional). The primary treatment of pulmonary hypertension comprises of correction/control of underlying cause of pulmonary hypertension. The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension is increasing in developed as well as developing countries and thus its awareness is important for timely diagnosis and management of this chronic condition. The main aim of our review is to provide all the necessary information regarding pulmonary hypertension in one document. KEYWORDS Pulmonary Hypertension, Chronic Thromboembolism, Left Heart Disease, Lung Disease, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension


Deep neural networks for object classification have been used to build a map of low-dimensional object space in the primate IT cortex to describe images of general objects. Corresponding responses of IT cells to these objects show that single IT cells project them onto axes of this space [1]. Through a similar process, it has been found that single cells are tuned to specific face axes that describe specific facial features [2]. In this work, we use deep neural networks to build a common space for both faces and non-face objects. By generating images along axes in this space that would cause the maximal response of cells, we aim to answer the question of whether the encoding scheme of face cells could be used to encode non-face objects and produce meaningful code for general objects


When disrupted by stimuli such as herbivory, pathogenic infection, or mechanical wounding, plants secrete signals such as root exudates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The emission of VOCs induces a response in the neighboring plant communities and can improve plant fitness by alerting nearby plants of an impending threat and prompting them to alter their physiology for defensive purposes. In this study, we investigated the role of plant-derived signals, released as a result of mechanical wounding, that may play a role in intraspecific communication between Arabidopsis thaliana communities. Plant-derived signals released by the wounded plant resulted in more elaborate root development in the neighboring, unwounded plants. Such plant-derived signals also upregulated the Aluminum-activated malate transporter (ALMT1) responsible for the secretion of malic acid (MA) and the DR5 promoter, an auxin responsive promoter concentrated in root apex of the neighboring plants. We speculate that plant-derived signal-induced upregulation of root-specific ALMT1 in the undamaged neighboring plants sharing the environment with stressed plants may associate more with the benign microbes belowground. We also observed increased association of beneficial bacterium Bacillus subtilis UD1022 on roots of the neighboring plants sharing environment with the damaged plants. Wounding-induced plant-derived signals therefore induce defense mechanisms in the undamaged, local plants, eliciting a two-pronged preemptive response of more rapid root growth and up-regulation of ALMT1, resulting in increased association with beneficial microbiome.


We report on two cases of aortoduodenal fistula. The patients underwent the positioning of an aortic stent 1.9 and 5 yearly before, respectively. They complained of fever and abdominal pain and were admitted to the hospital. A stent infection was suspected and an angio-CT confirmed the suspicion. Each patient was brought immediately to the operating room, where the fistula was individuated and resected, with closure of the aortic wall and excision of a part of the ulcerated intestinal loop involved. The infected stent was removed and an extra-anatomic bypass was performed. The patients survived and were discharged from hospital 38 and 29 days after the surgery, respectively, with no postsurgical sequelae and in good health. These patients are alive and in good health respectively 18 and 19 months (mo) after the procedure. If performed immediately upon diagnosis, this technique permits achievement of an optimal result.


: Purpose: To determine the demographic characteristics, clinical profile and outcomes of neonatal tetanus. Study design: A case series. Place and duration: In the Pediatric Unit-II of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi for one-year duration from April 2019 to April 2020. Material and methods: The study included records of patients with a clinical diagnosis of neonatal tetanus meeting the standard case definition. Data from the patient files were recorded on the proforma. Data were analyzed using an appropriate statistical test. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data from 394 patients were analyzed. The mean age and body weight at the time of reporting were 8.99 ± 4.54 days and 2.77 ± 1.27 kg, respectively. There were 270 males (68.5%) and females 124 (31.5%). The majority (77.92%) were delivered at home and on an untrained podium. Three hundred and forty-six mothers (87.82%) were unvaccinated, while 12.8% were partially vaccinated against tetanus. The most common symptom was the jaw lock (84.26%) and spasm (88.57%). Total mortality was 29.19%, while 54.31% of patients improved and were discharged home. In mechanically ventilated patients, the mortality was 21.5%. Preterm babies with tetanus fared the worst, 98.4% died out. Conclusion: Neonatal tetanus (NT) remains a major health concern and a major contributor to infant and infant mortality in Pakistan. Unimmunized mothers, home deliveries, and cutting the umbilical cord with unhygienic instruments were the main contributors to neonatal tetanus. The Demographic Characteristics, Outcomes Of