From a high throughput RNAi screen of the human druggable genome targeting the KMS11 cell line, we identified the suppression of the vacuolar H+- ATPase (V-ATPase) family as cytotoxic to myeloma cells. In the screen, two oligos against each gene for the V-ATPase subunits ATP6V1A and ATP6V1B1 resulted in suppression of cell growth (50% and 60% inhibition of cell viability respectively). We further confirmed this result using both lentiviral shRNA knockdown and two small molecule inhibitors specific for V-ATPase. Silencing of ATP6V1A by lentiviral shRNA knock-down in KMS11 and in OPM1 myeloma cell lines caused 75–80% reduction of cell viability at 5 days post infection (measured by MTT assay). Consistent with this result, the V-ATPase specific inhibitors, bafilomycin A1 and REATA 203, both inhibited the growth of a genetically heterogeneous and standardized panel of 14 human myeloma cell lines in vitro with an IC50 ranging from 2.2 – 8.9 nM (mean 5.25 nM) for bafilomycin A1 and 46–1594 nM (mean 542.5 nM)) for REATA 203. We further demonstrated that patient samples (n=10) were sensitive to 20nM bafilomycin A1 which induced a mean of 58% of MM cells to undergo apoptosis (range 10% to 93%) after 24 hours of treatment. Similar to bafilomycin A1, treatment of primary patient-derived MM cells with 500 nM REATA 203 for 72 hours resulted in a mean 69% apoptosis (range 24% to 97%). In contrast, non-myeloma cells (the CD138- fractions of the bone marrow samples) were less sensitive - mean 9% apoptosis (range from 0% to 34%) under the same treatment conditions. Of high interest, however, unlike most drugs we have studied in pre-clinical myeloma models, the cytotoxicity induced by bafilomycin A1 in MM cell lines is abrogated by co-culture with patient bone marrow stromal cells but is not affected by IL-6 or IGF-1 treatment. Dexamethasone- or melphalan-resistant MM cell lines were also highly sensitive to both bafilomycin A1 and REATA 203. In a xenographic JJN3 mouse model, bafilomycin A1 suppresses and delays growth of tumor in a dose-dependent fashion. Gene expression analysis of normal-donor bone marrow plasma cells ( n =19), primary tumor samples from MM patients ( n =107) and normal somatic tissues demonstrates ubiquitous expression of most subunits of V-ATPase, however, some subunits are preferentially expressed in myeloma cells compared with normal plasma cells, including ATP6V1F (84% vs. 11%), ATP6V1E1 (29% vs. 5%), ATP6V1G2 (17% vs. 0%) and ATP6V0E 2 (36% vs. 16%). In conclusion, our data indicate that vacuolar H+-ATPase inhibitors are of interest as potential therapeutics for MM.


An elementary optical Givens rotation device is disclosed comprising a monolithic integrated optical circuit including crossed waveguides, interdigitated electrode means associated with the crossed waveguides at their crossing point, and electro-optic phase shifter means lying upstream and downstream of the interdigitated electrode means with respect to one of the waveguides. Two mutually coherent, transverse magnetic input light signals are guided simultaneously into each waveguide. A voltage applied to the interdigitated electrode means induces a diffraction grating thereby forming transmitted and diffracted light waves in output sections of the respective waveguides. Phase shifter means include means for applying voltages to each phase shifter which are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign so that the transmitted and diffracted waves combine in phase in one waveguide and combine 180° out of phase in the other waveguide. The device is useful for matrix triangularization by arranging arrays of these devices in a parallel or pipelined architecture on a substrate.


In this work an influence of cold spray nozzle displacement parameters on the properties of copper-silicon carbide cold spray deposits is considered. In particular the influence of nozzle traverse speed and distance between deposited tracks on the coating porosity and behavior during compressive tests was analyzed. It was shown that cold spraying at low nozzle traverse speed leads to formation of thick tracks with quasi-triangular cross-section. As a consequence, the particle impact angle on the sides of spraying track increases that. Thus, the particle deformation at impact on the track periphery becomes insufficient and local porosity value rises. Increase of nozzle traverse speed allows increasing coating density and mechanical properties due to amelioration of particle deformation conditions. Compressive tests revealed significant anisotropy of mechanical properties of copper-silicon carbide cold spray deposits. In particular, compressive strength measured in vertical direction (perpendicular to the substrate) was significantly higher than one measured in horizontal plane (parallel to substrate). This anisotropy could be explained by the orientation of particle deformation pattern during impact.


A skin detection approach based on combination of the statistics of multiple sources is presented. As long as the scarcity of available training data (with ground truth) is very common considering practical applications, such a fusion offers a much better classification of skin pixels compared to the state-of-the-art methods. Experiments on a renowned dataset result in a similar decision.


In May 2011, a girl aged 8 years from a rural county in California was brought to a local emergency department (ED) with a 1-week history of progressive sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and weakness. After she developed flaccid paralysis and encephalitis, rabies was diagnosed based on 1) detection of rabies virus-specific antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 2) a compatible clinical syndrome in the patient, and 3) absence of a likely alternative diagnosis. The patient received advanced supportive care, including treatment with therapeutic coma. She was successfully extubated after 15 days and discharged from the hospital 37 days later to continue rehabilitation therapy as an outpatient. The public health investigation identified contact with free-roaming, unvaccinated cats at the patient's school as a possible source of infection. Several of these cats were collected from the school and remained healthy while under observation, but at least one was lost to follow-up. A total of 27 persons received rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for potential exposures to the patient's saliva. No further cases of rabies associated with this case have been identified. Rabies prevention efforts should highlight the importance of domestic animal vaccination, avoidance of wildlife and unvaccinated animals, and prompt PEP after an exposure.


Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (MX2, M = Mo, W; X = S, Se) hold great potential in optoelectronics and photovoltaics. To achieve efficient light-to-electricity conversion, electron-hole pairs must dissociate into free charges. Coulomb interaction in MX2 often exceeds the charge transfer driving force, leading one to expect inefficient charge separation at a MX2 heterojunction. Experiments defy the expectation. Using time-domain density functional theory and nonadiabatic (NA) molecular dynamics, we show that quantum coherence and donor-acceptor delocalization facilitate rapid charge transfer at a MoS2/MoSe2 interface. The delocalization is larger for electron than hole, resulting in longer coherence and faster transfer. Stronger NA coupling and higher acceptor state density accelerate electron transfer further. Both electron and hole transfers are subpicosecond, which is in agreement with experiments. The transfers are promoted primarily by the out-of-plane Mo-X modes of the acceptors. Lighter S atoms, compared to Se, create larger NA coupling for electrons than holes. The relatively slow relaxation of the "hot" hole suggests long-distance bandlike transport, observed in organic photovoltaics. The electron-hole recombination is notably longer across the MoS2/MoSe2 interface than in isolated MoS2 and MoSe2, favoring long-lived charge separation. The atomistic, time-domain studies provide valuable insights into excitation dynamics in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides.


Introduction:
 The compulsive craving and consumption of non-food substances, known as pica, is a well-documented symptom associated with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Olfactory cravings associated with IDA are a recently described phenomenon known as desiderosmia. In our practice we observed a subset of patients with IDA who report specific tactile cravings associated with mastication.
 Methods:
 This study included patients from the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) and Ankara Training and Research Hospital (Ankara, Turkey) Hematology practices who self-reported tactile mastication cravings during initial evaluation for IDA between 1/1/18 and 6/30/19. Information including sociodemographics, substance craved, values of hemoglobin (Hgb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and ferritin before and after iron replacement therapy, and symptom resolution after treatment were recorded.
 Results:
 We observed 12 patients with IDA who self-reported chew cravings during initial evaluation. All patients were female and the median age was 41.5 years (33-59). Of these 12 patients, median baseline Hgb, MCV, and ferritin were 9.4 g/dL (6.6-12.9), 73.7 fL (59.1-95.1), and 6 µg/L (2-21), respectively. Tactile cravings included chewing gum (3), mastic gum (2), ginseng (1), dry oats (1), crackers (1), pickles (1), chips (1), sawdust (1), and knitting rope (1). Many patients reported the frequency and satisfaction of these cravings resulted in jaw pain as well as the persistence of cravings despite this discomfort. Only 16.7% (2/12) reported concurrent ice pica.
 In total, 9 patients proceeded with observed treatment of their IDA with clinical follow-up and laboratory confirmation of iron repletion. Oral (ferrous glyconate or ferrous fumarate) and intravenous (ferric carboxymaltose, iron sucrose, or low molecular weight iron dextran) iron replacement were used in 33.3% (3/9) and 66.7% (6/9) patients, respectively. Post-treatment median laboratory values include: Hgb 12.7 g/dL (10.8-14.7), MCV 80.1 fL (76.1-91.7), and ferritin 98 µg/L (24-398). Overall, 88.9% (8/9) reported resolution of chew cravings after iron repletion. The lone patient with persistent symptoms had a baseline ferritin of 10 µg/L, improved to 398 µg/L after replacement, and settled back at 42 µg/L three months later.
 Discussion:
 Our patient experience provides suggestive evidence that oral tactile craving symptoms, distinct from ice pica, exists in a subset of patients suffering from IDA. For this, we propose the term "desideromastica" derived from the Latin words "desiderare" for desire and "mastica" for chew. "Desidero" can also be indicative of a reduction in iron, which relates to iron deficiency. Our hope in naming this relatively unexplored symptom associated with IDA will encourage additional clinicians to share their experience and guide future investigation.

 No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


A major goal of recent research in aging has been to examine cognitive plasticity in older adults and its capacity to counteract cognitive decline. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether older adults could benefit from brain training with video games in a cross-modal oddball task designed to assess distraction and alertness. Twenty-seven healthy older adults participated in the study (15 in the experimental group, 12 in the control group. The experimental group received 20 1-hr video game training sessions using a commercially available brain-training package (Lumosity) involving problem solving, mental calculation, working memory and attention tasks. The control group did not practice this package and, instead, attended meetings with the other members of the study several times along the course of the study. Both groups were evaluated before and after the intervention using a cross-modal oddball task measuring alertness and distraction. The results showed a significant reduction of distraction and an increase of alertness in the experimental group and no variation in the control group. These results suggest neurocognitive plasticity in the old human brain as training enhanced cognitive performance on attentional functions. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02007616


A new full-swing BiCMOS dynamic carry look-ahead (CLA) circuit with carry skip is presented. The test circuit with a 3.3 V supply has been implemented in a BiCMOS technology featuring 0.8 /spl mu/m design rules. It shows an operation speed about 3 times higher than that of the CMOS one. Moreover, the circuit has no problems of static power dissipation, race, and charge redistribution. >


Developing design strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is limited by our nascent understanding of how cell populations "self‐organize" into multicellular structures on synthetic scaffolds. Mechanistic insights can be gleaned from the quantitative analysis of biomolecular signals that drive multicellular patterning during the natural processes of embryonic and adult development. This review describes three critical layers of signal processing that govern multicellular patterning: spatiotemporal presentation of extracellular cues, intracellular signaling networks that mediate crosstalk among extracellular cues, and finally, intranuclear signal integration at the level of transcriptional regulation. At every level in this hierarchy, the quantitative attributes of signals have a profound impact on patterning. We discuss how experiments and mathematical models are being used to uncover these quantitative features and their impact on multicellular phenotype.


Here we report a 3D printable polymer that retains uniform mechanical strength after printing and can be used with a conventional fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer. To achieve this, a synthetic polymer containing dynamic Diels–Alder functionality was blended with commercially available polylactic acid (PLA). This new polymer contains cross-links that are reversible at the temperatures typically used for FFF 3D printers. By increasing the cross-link density of the polymer system, we were able to dramatically improve both ultimate strength and toughness along the interfilament junctions of the printed material up to ∼290% and ∼1150% respectively. The final achieved ultimate strength and toughness values for the optimized system are isotropic within error along the three representative print directions X, Y, and Z. Self-healing studies on the Z print direction of the optimized blend showed a 77% recovery of the ultimate strength vs. control PLA having only a 6% recovery, further proving the advanced interfilamentous adhesion via the fmDA dynamics.


The pace of modern life forced continuous high readiness and proper condition of motion systems on human beings. The techniques used in medicine and orthopaedics enable treatment of even highly complicated injuries and pathological states. One of them involves the use of bone scaffolding - the technique being intensively developed, which seems to have a promising future. Based on a numerical modelling, it is possible to match that type of implant to the needs of individual patient, with consideration for both biomechanical factors (patient weight, bone size and its defects) and the applicable implantation techniques. Vast possibilities are offered by the application of the finite element method as a technique enabling verification of an implant with the individually matched geometry and material. The paper presents the procedure aimed at generating the bone scaffold structure that enables the stresses created in the contact places of implant with the surrounding bone tissue to be reduced. High stresses may lead to local damages to the tissue and, in extreme cases, to the destruction of a scaffold. The present procedure is based on the theory of genetic algorithms and, due to several models widely known in biomechanics, allows stresses in places of bone contact with implant to be significantly reduced.


Abstract With the emergence of modern techniques of environmental analysis and widespread availability of accessible tools and quantitative data, the question of environmental determinism is once again on the agenda. This paper is theoretical in character, attempting, for the benefit of drawing up research designs, to understand and evaluate the character of environmental determinism. We reach three main conclusions: (1) in a typical pattern of research design, studies seek to detect simultaneous shifts in the environmental and archaeological records, variously positing the former to have influenced, triggered or caused the latter; (2) the question of determinism involves uncertainty about the justification for the above research design in particular in what comes to biologism and the concept of environmental thresholds on the one hand and the externality of the drivers of transformation in human groups and societies on the other; (3) adapting the concepts of the social production of vulnerability and the social basis of hazards from anthropology may help to clarify the available research design choices at hand.


We studied the effect of exogenous prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) on airway smooth muscle contraction caused by parasympathetic stimulation in 22 mongrel dogs in situ. Voltage (0-30 V, constant 20 Hz) and frequency-response (0-25 Hz, 25 V) curves were generated by stimulating the cut ends of both cervical vagus nerves. Airway response was measured isometrically as active tension (AT) in a segment of cervical trachea and as change in airway resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) in bronchial airways. One hour after 5 mg/kg iv indomethacin, a cumulative frequency-response curve was generated in nine animals by electrical stimulation of the vagus nerves at 15-s intervals. Reproducibility was demonstrated by generating a second curve 7 min later. A third frequency-response curve was generated during active contraction of the airway caused by continuous intravenous infusion of 10 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1PPGF2 alpha. Additional frequency-response studies were generated 15 and 30 min after PGF2 alpha, when airway contractile response (delta RL = +2.8 +/- 0.65 cmH2O X 1(-1) X s; delta Cdyn = -0.0259 +/- 0.007 1/cmH2O) returned to base line. Substantial augmentation of AT, RL, and Cdyn responses was demonstrated in every animal studied (P less than 0.01 for all points greater than 8 Hz) 15 min after PGF2 alpha. At 30 min, response did not differ from initial base-line control. In four animals receiving sham infusion, all frequency-response curves were identical. We demonstrate that PGF2 alpha augments the response to vagus nerve stimulation in tracheal and bronchial airways. Augmentation does not depend on PGF2 alpha-induced active tone.


Rotational stall is an unstable flow phenomenon that reduces the performance of centrifugal pumps, usually occurring under partial load conditions. It causes instability in the flow resulting in intense vibrations and noise under certain flow conditions. In this study, the one−equation Wray–Agarwal (WA) turbulence model, which was recently developed, is employed to numerically simulate the internal flow field of a centrifugal pump under the deep stall condition. The aim of this study is to examine the prediction accuracy for stall by using the WA turbulence model. The method based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been widely applied for investigation of complex flow patterns in pumps by solving Reynolds−averaged Navier−Stokes (RANS) equations. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) experimental results were compared with simulations predicted using the WA, renormalization group (RNG) k−ε, shear stress transport (SST) k−ω, and realizable k−ε turbulence models and large eddy simulations (LES). The comparisons indicated that the WA turbulence model can accurately predict the flow separation and has a good agreement with the PIV data. The WA model adds a cross−diffusion term and a blending function to the eddy viscosity R equation, so that this model could be expressed as a one−equation k−ω model or one−equation k−ε model as needed by using the switching function. The results show the strong potential of the WA model for accurately computing the stall in rotating fluid machinery. The outcomes of the study are useful in development and optimization of fluid machinery with a low calculation cost and a high accuracy.


This paper discusses the development of embedded controllers on a reconfigurable multiprocessor system using field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology. The system is reconfigurable in hardware and software in the sense that certain components may be reused in different applications, hence allowing rapid development of embedded control systems. Concurrent real-time operation can be achieved by utilising hardware and software modules consisting of dedicated hardware cores and real-time operating systems. For demonstration purposes, we discuss the development of a system consisting of a network-enabled master processor that handles two slave processors each controlling a mechatronic system. The user interface is implemented using an internet browser through the master processor which allows monitoring and supervisory control of the individual systems. A multi-threaded real-time operating system runs on each of the softcore processors which allows flexibility and modularity in software design whereas pre-designed hardware modules on the FPGA chip can be utilised for building comuting hardware for control applications. Experimental results are presented for illustrating how control applications can be developed and deployed using modular components and the hardware/software environment.


The study was conducted during 2018-19 in three districts (Mandya, Chikkaballapur and Tumakuru) of Karnataka where two taluks were selected to assess the resource management of assured, protected and rainfed farming situation farmers, 180 respondents were selected using purposive random sampling method. Data was collected using structured interview schedule through personal interview method. The collected data was tabulated and analyzed using percentages, correlation and regression. Ex-post facto research design was employed for the study. The fi ndings revealed that farmers in protected farming situations had obtained relatively higher mean indices (0.0515) followed by rainfed farming situation (0.0151) and assured farming situation (0.0109) respectively. In dimension wise Natural resource management, protected farming situation obtained highest index (0.0388) than the pooled sample (0.0346) followed by rainfed (0.0362). Independent variable farming experience (r=0.339) had positive and highly signifi cant relationship with resource management at one per cent level in assured farming situation. Independent variables viz., farming experience, farming commitment, achievement motivation, mass media exposure, innovativeness, scientifi c orientation, extension participation, extension agency contact, time management, land holding, decision making ability, cosmopoliteness and annual income had signifi cantly contributed to the resource management of farmers


On 19 December 2014, the Centre for Economic Policy Research and the Bank of England hosted a discussion forum based around Thomas Piketty's book, Capital in the twenty-first century, with a number of economists from academia, public sector bodies and private sector institutions. Four speakers presented research on various issues relating to inequality, including: access to education; wealth and taxation policy; and the role of governance and institutions. This article presents each speaker's key arguments, and includes a summary of the open-floor debate that followed.


From Seattle Mama Doc blogger, pediatrician, and mom Wendy Sue Swanson comes this great resource, which is a collaboration of blog posts on parenting, work-life balance, vaccines, and prevention. This insightful book will support parents and provide a sense of relief when making decisions in parenting while also detailing Wendy Sue's experience as a mother and pediatrician.


Binding of lithocholic acid, bilirubin, and gossypol to glutathione S-transferase B (ligandin or transferase YaYc) was compared using four methods. Tryptophan quenching revealed a single high affinity site for bilirubin and gossypol but could not be used for lithocholic acid. Both displacement of the fluorescent probe, 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate, and spectral changes induced by bilirubin binding demonstrated a common high affinity site for which all three ligands compete. Similar results were obtained by equilibrium dialysis. The dissociation constants for the binding of both bilirubin and lithocholic acid were comparable with the various methods (range 0.2-0.7 microM). Thus, lithocholic acid and bilirubin share a high affinity binding site on gluthathione S-transferase B that appears to be separate from the binding site for substrates.


This study focused on valuation of the mangrove (Avicennia marina) sediments organic carbon stock for naturally occurring mature mangrove in all defined habitat types (Intertidal, Shoreline, Salt Plains) distributed along Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea in two marine protected areas (Nabq and Ras Mohammed) in South Sinai, Egypt, results were compared with soil organic carbon in sediments from 10 years old planted mangrove, non-mangrove mud flats and the hypersaline ecosystem of Salt Lake in Ras Mohammed National Park. Furthermore, the study estimated the potential of these ecosystems in the process of atmospheric CO2 sequestration using the lowtemperature loss on ignition ( o C 375/17 hrs.), sediment samples were also analyzed for dry bulk density (DBD) and percentage of soil organic carbon (SOC) at a depth interval 10 cm to the maximum reached depth. Change in mean DBD of intertidal mangrove soil was increasing gradually passing from uppermost layer to deeper layer but converse pattern obtained in the hypersaline ecosystem while in the rest of studied habitats change in soil DBD with depth did not follow a distinct pattern. SOC for the six studied habitats showed the following descending order 34.4, 25.7, 14.51, 7.24, 5.74 and 3.58 g C kg -1 for intertidal mangrove, hypersaline ecosystem, salt plain mangrove, shoreline mangrove, planted mangrove and non-mangrove mud flats respectively. Only 10 years old mangroves had a carbon stock in sediments equal 44.19 % of these mature intertidal mangrove so mangrove plantation is an efficient action for mitigation of climate change especially if it is conducted on previously depleted mangrove sites (restoration) than transplantation in non-mangrove sits. Mangrove of intertidal habitat is contributed with 95% of carbon sequestration process of Sinai mangrove, the overall carbon sequestration potential of Sinai and Egypt mangroves are 116.89 and 1207.5 t C year -1 respectively considering that all Egypt's mangroves have similar sequestration potential to studied Sinai mangrove.


This article deals with the linear ordinary differential equations for one or several coupled oscillators. Emphasis is placed on the separate notions of the frequency matrix (as a kinematic entity) and the impedance matrix. The latter matrix is explicitly introduced in this article, and its time dependence is shown to be responsible for parametric excitation and for nonconcervation of adiabatic invariants.


: In this study, an experimental investigation was performed in order to determine the effects of Jet-A1(A100), diesel fuel and Jet-A1/diesel fuel blends (A25, A50, A75) including 25% Jet-A1/75% diesel, 50% Jet-A1/50% diesel and 75% Jet-A1/25% diesel by volume respectively on combustion and engine performance in a single cylinder, direct injection diesel engine. For this purpose, the test engine was run at four different brake torques (7.5, 11.25, 15 and 18.75 Nm) at maximum brake torque engine speed (2200 rpm). The variation of cylinder pressure, heat release rate, ignition delay, combustion duration and exhaust emission were investigated in a naturally aspirated direct injection diesel engine fueled with diesel-Jet-A1 fuel blends. The test results showed that ignition delay time decreased with the increase of brake torque. Maximum in-cylinder pressure was retarded versus crank angle with the increase of brake torque. NO x emissions decreased with the increase of amount of Jet-A1 in the test fuels, but CO and soot emissions increased. It was also found that combustion duration increased when Jet-A1 (A100) fuel was used compared to A25, A50, A75 test fuels. In conclusion, Jet-A1 aviation fuel can be utilized via mixing with diesel fuel in diesel engines.


With the development of human society and the progress of science and technology, land resources are increasingly exhausted, people's understanding of the ocean is becoming more and more profound, and the concept of marine culture is gradually becoming popular. The rise of China also benefits from the expansion of marine culture, that is to say, the rapid economic growth since China's reform and opening-up policy cannot be separated from the factors of marine culture. In other words, as a stable system form, marine culture has had a lasting and profound effect on China's economic growth. This paper holds that China's opening-up to the outside world starts from the southern coast, and is gradually promoted from the regions to the industries through language evolution that official languages with marine cultural ideas bring changes in folk languages, thereby making the generation of public policy discourse represented by marine culture-oriented political reports of the Party Congress. By establishing an analytical framework of culture-linguistics-institution-economic growth, this paper constructs static and dynamic panel data models that match economic growth, and incorporates the expansion of marine culture into an economic system in three dimensions. And it abstracts a variable from the expansion of marine culture to measure, and introduces it into an econometric model. Then it uses OLS and GMM empirical analysis methods to estimate the impact of the expansion of marine culture on the rise of China. It shows that opening-up to the outside world has raised the status of marine culture, brought about full expansion of marine culture, changed the whole social language ecology, facilitated a new system of public policy, promoted the change of the socialist market economic system with Chinese characteristics, and improved the economic growth of China through the gradient and level effects, so as to realize the rise of China. The econometric model also shows that, after controlling the related variables, the expansion of marine culture has significantly positive effects on economic growth, and the static and dynamic test results are consistent. The robust test also supports this conclusion, indicating that the conclusion of this paper is reliable. Of course, the expansion of marine culture may also produce some negative effects. To this end, we should strive for countermeasures appropriate to the national conditions: to resist the western maritime cultural hegemony and build marine culture with Chinese characteristics so as to make it an inexhaustible driving force for economic growth. We should cultivate the spirit of Chinese marine culture, foster its cohesive force and stimulating function, promote the continuous innovation of ocean culture, construct Chinese-style ocean discourse, and enhance the soft power of Chinese marine culture. This paper attempts to go deep into the cultural level, try to connect marine culture with economic growth, discuss the internal logic of China's rapid economic growth, and discuss the path dependence of China's rise from a new perspective. It hopes that in the new era of the ocean century, China will quickly realize the dream of a powerful maritime power and push forward all-round construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.


Mandibular corpus shape variability was investigated in seven families of both extant and extinct mammalian carnivores using two-dimensional landmarks and geometric morphometric methods. The landmark configuration represents the position of the fourth premolar relative to the canine and the lower carnassial, plus related features of the corpus profile. Between families, the corpus manifests differences in shape and allometry. Additionally, families differ in the relationship between the angle α (a carnassial trait proxy for hypo-hypercarnivory) and mandibular corpus shape. When phylogenetic relatedness is taken into account using five different phylogenies as covariates, interspecific scaling is still present but the relationship between α and corpus shape is no longer significant. This suggests that the allometric relationship reflects the physical constraints of mastication, resulting in relatively increased corpus depth with higher loads. In contrast, the angle α is related to corpus curvature and this relationship is phylogenetically constrained by the reduction of the molar battery in large feliforms early during the carnivore radiation. In summary, large fissiped carnivores show extensive functional convergence in mandibular corpus shape although the evolutionary routes leading to such functional convergence are different. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154, 832–845.


CoFe2O4/ZnFe2O4 bilayers were deposited by the pulsed laser deposition on amorphous fused quartz substrate at substrate temperature of 350°C and in oxygen pressure of 0.16 mbar. The films were studied after ex-situ annealing for 2 h in air at various temperatures up to 650°C. The magnetic properties of the bilayers were studied at 300 K and at 10 K. Ferromagnetic resonance was carried out at x-band frequencies at room temperature. It was found that as a result of annealing, the diffusion between Co ferrite and Zn ferrite starts around 350°C and leads to a large line width system having magnetization, which remains undetected by Ferromagnetic resonance.


Of the 6,060 consecutive live births delivered at the University Maternity Unit of Guadeloupe (French West Indies) during a 30-month period, 635 newborns (10.4%) presented with meconium stained (MS) amniotic fluid, of which 595 (94%) received bacteriological screening at birth (light MS, n = 543; thick MS, n = 52). Thirty (5%) of MS newborns had a bacteraemia (n = 13, group B streptococcus, GBS), and 128 (21.5%) a bacterial positive gastric aspirate (n = 54, GBS). Sixty-six newborns among MS babies needed tracheal suctioning (11%) in the delivery room for meconium inhalation. Among these 595 screened MS newborns, 286 (48%) presented clinical signs of postmaturity at birth, having therefore an explanation for their MS condition. For the other MS newborns without the postmaturity explanation, we experienced twofold increased risk of neonatal sepsis (OR 1.88 for bacteraemia and 2.61 for external carriage p < 0.02, Chi square) as compared with their MS postmature counterparts. We conclude that when meconium stained deliveries are associated with postmaturity signs, one may not need to initiate prophylactic antibiotic treatment at birth unless they present with other traditional risk factors for neonatal sepsis such as intrapartum fever and prolonged rupture of membranes.


Abstract: Two Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) from central Italy were found with severe cyclocoelid trematodosis associated with airsacculitis. The birds were submitted with severe respiratory distress; one died shortly after hospitalization, while the second bird was euthanized. At necropsy, a massive presence of cyclocoelid flukes was observed in the coelomic cavity and air sacs of both birds. The air sacs were diffusely opaque, thickened, and covered by scant fibrinous exudate mixed with numerous parasites. Histologically, the air sacs showed diffuse and severe oedema with fibrinous exudate. Diffuse mononucleated and heterophilic infiltration mixed with multiple granulomas contained degenerated trematodes. Morishitium polonicum was identified using morphologic keys and molecular analysis of extracted DNA. Infections caused by M. polonicum are poorly documented in blackbirds and the findings in these birds support the pathogenic role of this trematode as a potential cause of death in blackbirds in Italy. Extended epidemiologic surveys are required to properly assess the potential importance of M. polonicum as a life-threatening pathogen in Blackbird populations.


Over the past decade, online social media have become extraordinarily popular for both private purposes, and as a platform for marketing. Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook currently totally involve estimated more than two billion users worldwide. In response to the increasing numbers of online users, Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology and Acta Neuropsychiatrica is now expanding its online presence by allocating further resources into its social media presence, and as an attempt to better engage the readers. For all accepted papers, we therefore now offer the possibility to publish a video abstract on the social medias attached to the journal. Video and multimedia content is increasing in its popularity and use across academia and the world of practice. Submitting a video abstract is an important way to raise the online profile of your paper. A video abstract is an audiovisual recording in which an author briefly outlines the purpose, methodology, originality and results of their research paper. Video abstracts are published and connected to the textual version of the paper so that readers can access both versions. Video abstracts offer authors an alternative way of engaging with their audience. They are useful as a promotional tool and could help readers to grasp the concept of the research more quickly and easily. We hope that the readers and authors in Acta Neuropsychiatrica will embrace this new possibility for disseminating and discussing the research published in the journal, as seen by the already available abstracts (1–12). We encourage all readers to stay tuned and follow us on the social media.


This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Nasal Alar Bases suture (N.A.B.S.) and V-Y lip suture (V-Y.L.S.) in the maintenance of the distance between the nasal alar bases (N.A.B.) and the red lips display (R.L.D.) in patients operated for correction of crossbite with maxillary atresia. We evaluated 9 patients, 4 who received the above mentioned sutures, and 5 who received simple sutures. It was evaluated the measures N.A.B. and R.L.D. in the preoperative phase, postoperative, and after 7 and 450 days. Measurements of N.A.B. were stable throughout the experimental period in N.A.B.S. and V-Y.L.S. group, while the group receiving simple sutures there was an increase of this measure in the postoperative period and a decrease after 450 days. The N.A.B.S. and V-Y.L.S. group showed a significant increase in R.L.D. in immediate postoperative period, reducing slightly after 7 days, and presenting a significant loss in the final assessment, showing an even lower value than the mean preoperative. N.A.B.S. was effective in the short and medium term in controlling unwanted nasal enlargement in patients undergoing E.M.C.A. In the immediate postoperative period, there is an increased R.L.D., but long-term reduction of the R.L.D. occurs in all E.M.C.A. patients, regardless of the type of suture used.


This paper describes reinforcement method of reinforced earth wall near the abutment. The excessive displacement of a case affected by reduction of bearing capacity due to macro-environment condition like a coast. That is, the front displacement of reinforced earth wall has been happening continuously due to strength reduction of foundation ground. The micro pile is applied to reinforcement method, in order to secure a bearing capacity and global slope stability of reinforced earth wall. The results of numerical analysis confirmed that reinforcement method based on micro pile can secure a stability of structure, while the reconstruction of reinforced earth wall is impossible by construction and macro-environment condition.


The exposure to bio physical and socio-economic impacts of climate change are largely affecting the coastal community, owing to the very nature of their high dependency on marine resources makes the community more vulnerable. However, the poor understanding of the range of possible impacts of climate change by the community is a limiting factor to take up adaptation and mitigation options and to make the community more resilient. Hence, this study is to assess the level of awareness of the community on different features of climate "ceived: 15/10/2016 change in the two selected vulnerable coastal villages of Aaeptea:10/12/2016 Ernakulam district, namely Ochanthuruth and NjaraM, using comprehensive interview schedule, was administered across 300 households. Perception analysis and Carett ranking were employed to evaluate the scenario. The results revealed that 97 percent of the sample opined that the temperature is the most significant visible feature of climate change. Substantial reduction in income with a score of 94.44 and reduction in fish catch witha score of 73.04 were found to be the major problems perceived by respondents in relation to climate change. Keyword% However, their awareness on climate change seems to be very *ange.Vu'nerabilim shallow as they could not properly delineate their climate Fishers, Awareness, Perception change problems from others.


Introduction: Leptomeningeal collaterals maintain arterial perfusion in acute arterial occlusion but may fluctuate subject to arterial blood pressure (ABP). We aim to investigate the relationship between ABP and collaterals as assessed by CT perfusion in acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke patients with CT perfusion from 2009 to 2014. Collateral status using relative filling time delay (rFTD) determined by time delay of collateral-derived contrast opacification within the Sylvian fissure, from 0 seconds to unlimited count. The data were analyzed by zero-inflated negative binomial regression model including an appropriate interaction examining in the model in terms of occlusion location and onset-to-CT time (OCT). Results: Two hundred and seventy patients were included. We found that increment of 10mm Hg in BP, the odds that a patient would have rFTD equal to 0 seconds increased by 27.9% in SBP (P=0.001), by 73.9% in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P 0.05). Conclusions: In acute ischemic stroke, higher ABP is associated with improved leptomeningeal collaterals as identified by decreased rFTD.


ethics. This range means that the collection can be read in two main ways. First, it can be read simply for factual information. In this respect, perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the contributions that are predominantly medicine-based and law-based that are generally the most useful. Secondly, the book can be read for clarification of the ethical issues surrounding reproductive technology. Here, the reader is immediately confronted by a catholicity of the concepts of ethics. For example, ethics refers sometimes to what appears on the agenda of a hospital ethics committee (in Richard West's contribution), to a specific moral or religious stance which is commended to practitioners (in the contributions of Richard Lilford and Jack Mahoney), and sometimes to a branch of academic philosophy (in Anne Fagot-Largeault's contribution). This catholicity does of course represent the wide range of opinion in medical ethics, but in a single collection it inevitably poses a problem. Despite the convenient grouping of the book according to substantive topics, the sheer range of approaches makes it difficult for the reader to identify the precise points at which different contributors would agree or disagree. The discussions go part of the way towards such an identification, but, like most conference discussions, they reveal a fair amount of mutual misunderstanding between contributors. It is probably for these reasons that the most successful part of the book is where withholding neonatal care is examined first by Alexander Campbell as a paediatrician and, in response, by Jennifer Jackson as a philosopher. Here, and in the usefully delimited discussion that follows, genuine debate is discernible, taking the level of analysis beyond that of mere juxtaposition of diverse views.


The Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) on the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) will demonstrate technologies and methods for high-contrast direct imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanet systems in reflected light, including polarimetry of circumstellar disks. The WFIRST management and CGI engineering and science investigation teams have developed requirements for the instrument, motivated by the objectives and technology development needs of potential future flagship exoplanet characterization missions such as the NASA Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx) and the Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR). The requirements have been refined to support recommendations from the WFIRST Independent External Technical/Management/Cost Review (WIETR) that the WFIRST CGI be classified as a technology demonstration instrument instead of a science instrument. This paper provides a description of how the CGI requirements flow from the top of the overall WFIRST mission structure through the Level 2 requirements, where the focus here is on capturing the detailed context and rationales for the CGI Level 2 requirements. The WFIRST requirements flow starts with the top Program Level Requirements Appendix (PLRA), which contains both high-level mission objectives as well as the CGI-specific baseline technical and data requirements (BTR and BDR, respectively). Captured in the WFIRST Mission Requirements Document (MRD), the Level 2 CGI requirements flow from the PLRA objectives, BTRs, and BDRs. There are five CGI objectives in the WFIRST PLRA, which motivate the four baseline technical/data requirements. There are nine CGI level 2 (L2) requirements presented in this work, which have been developed and validated using predictions from increasingly refined observatory and instrument performance models. We also present the process and collaborative tools used in the L2 requirements development and management, including the collection and organization of science inputs, an open-source approach to managing the requirements database, and automating documentation. The tools created for the CGI L2 requirements have the potential to improve the design and planning of other projects, streamlining requirement management and maintenance. The WFIRST CGI passed its System Requirements Review (SRR) and System Design Review (SDR) in May 2018. The SRR examines the functional requirements and performance requirements defined for the system and the preliminary program or project plan and ensures that the requirements and the selected concept will satisfy the mission, and the SDR examines the proposed system architecture and design and the flow down to all functional elements of the system


This dissertation research designed, implemented, and evaluated a Web-based Dynamic Voting Tool for small group decision-making in a collaborative environment.
In this dissertation, the literature on voting tools in current GDSS research is presented. Various voting theories and methods are analyzed, and the advantages and weaknesses are compared, so as to gain a better understanding of how to apply these different voting methods to diverse decision-making situations. A brief overview of scaling theories is also given, with an emphasis on Thurstone's Law.
The basic features of some web-based voting tool implementations are reviewed along with a discussion of the pros and cons of Internet voting. A discussion of Human Dynamic Voting (HDV) follows; HDV allows multiple voting and continuous feedback in a group process. The Dynamic Voting Tool designed and developed by the author (i.e., Zheng Li) integrated multiple scaling and voting methods, and supported dynamic voting. Its features, user feedback, and future improvements are further discussed.
A controlled experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the Dynamic Voting Tool (along with the List Gathering Tool by Yuanqiong Wang) interacting with small group process. The design and procedures of the experiment, and the data analysis results extracted from 187 student subjects from New Jersey Institute of Technology are reported. While the System Survey yielded very positive feedback on the voting tool, the hypotheses tested by the Post-Questionnaire and expert judgments showed no major positive significant results. This was probably due to the complexity of the task and procedures, lack of motivation of the subjects, bad timing, insufficient training, and uneven distribution of subjects, etc.
Several field studies using the Social Decision Support System (SDSS) Toolkit (List Gathering Tool + Dynamic Voting Tool) are presented. The SDSS system worked well when the subjects were motivated. The field studies show that the toolkit can be used in course evaluations, or other practical applications.
Finally, it is suggested that future research can focus on improving the voting tool with true dynamic features, exploring more issues on SDSS systems design and experimentation, and exploring the relationship of voting and GSS.


BACKGROUND: The incidence of brain metastases (BM) is tenfold higher than that of primary brain tumors. BM predominantly originate from primary lung, breast, and melanoma tumors with a 90% mortality rate within one year of diagnosis, posing a large unmet clinical need to identify novel therapies against BM. The goal of this work is to uncover the molecular factors that drive the formation of BM and investigate whether we can slow down and ultimately block BM formation.
 METHODS: The Singh lab has generated a large in-house biobank of patient-derived BM cell lines that are established from BM patient tumor samples. We use these BM cell lines to generate murine orthotopic xenograft models of BM and interrogate the biological processes that lead to BM. These models have successfully recapitulated all the stages of their respective BM cascades and additionally captured a "pre-metastatic" population of BM cells that have just seeded the brains of mice before forming mature, clinically detectable tumors. Pre-metastatic cell populations are impossible to detect in human patients but represent a therapeutic window wherein metastasizing cells can be targeted and eradicated before establishing clinically detectable and difficult to treat brain tumors.
 RESULTS: RNA sequencing of pre-metastatic BM cells revealed a unique deregulated transcriptomic profile that is specific to pre-metastatic cells despite the tumor of origin. Subsequent Connectivity Map analysis revealed compounds that we biologically characterized in vitro for selective anti-BMIC phenotypes. This effort led to a lead compound that exhibits anti-BM activity in vitro, while remaining ineffective against normal brain cell controls. Preliminary in vivo work has shown that following both orthotopic and intracardiac injection of BM cells, treatment with this lead compound reduces the tumor burden compared to mice being treated by a vehicle control, while providing a significant survival advantage. Ongoing mechanistic investigations aim to delineate the protein target of this compound in the context of the observed selective anti-BM phenotype.
 CONCLUSION: Identification of novel small molecules that target premetastatic BM cells could slow or prevent the formation of BM and dramatically improve the prognosis of at-risk cancer patients.
 Citation Format: Agata Kieliszek, Blessing Bassey-Archibong, Chitra Venugopal, Sheila Singh. Interrogating the pre-metastastic gene signature to block brain metastases [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 976.


BACKGROUND Spindle cell oncocytoma (SCO) of the pituitary gland is an extremely rare nonfunctional World Health Organization grade I tumor. SCOs are often misdiagnosed as nonfunctional pituitary adenomas on the basis of preoperative imaging. They are often hypervascular and locally adherent, which increases hemorrhage risk and limits resection, leading to increased risk of recurrence. The authors report a case of SCO treated at their institution and provide a review of the current literature. OBSERVATIONS SCO of the pituitary gland can be a rare cause of progressively growing pituitary tumors that presents similarly to nonfunctional pituitary adenoma. Endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of the tumor by a multidisciplinary team allowed total resection despite local adherence of the tumor. Postoperatively, the patient's visual symptoms improved with persistence of secondary adrenal insufficiency and secondary hypothyroidism. LESSONS Careful resection is needed due to SCO's characteristic hypervascularity and strong adherence to minimize local structure damage. Long-term follow-up is recommended due to the tendency for recurrence.


Innovations have acquired a key-role in the growth and competition strategies of manufacturing industries today. They are regarded as an essential instrument to stimulate growth and enable manufacturing industries to master the competition brought about by the forces of globalization. Innovations are guarantee of enterprises sustainable development. Enterprises' Innovation and Sustainable Development (EISD) need a good inner environment and a good infrastructure. In this paper, an infrastructure frame is proposed which is comprised by three parts, Enterprise Culture (EC), Product Mix Adjustment (PMA), R&D platform (R&Dp). Their effects and relationship are discussed: EC is the core element of EISD, and PMA is the guarantee of EISD, product life cycle theory can be used to direct PMA; R&Dp is the foundation of EISD.


E-commerce is one of the fastest and most effective ways to trade in e-space. The leading role in the development of the digital economy and e-commerce belongs to the EU countries that use e-commerce to achieve the goals of sustainable development. The main target of e-commerce companies is to ensure the flexibility and adaptability of the e-commerce development management system. Purpose: to research of the state and prospects of e-commerce development in the EU countries, as well as the content and components of e-commerce development process management. Methods: systematization, generalization, comparative analysis, correlation analysis to build a correlation matrix. Results. The state of e-commerce in the EU countries is studied (according to the following indicators: the share of e-commerce in the total retail sales of individual EU countries, the share of the population shopping online, turnover from e-commerce in small businesses in the EU, etc.). A correlation analysis of the main indicators used to assess the market of electronic trade in the EU, the results of which proved that there is a direct relationship between the dynamics of these indicators and the dynamics of operating profits of enterprises in the EU.


This article analyzes the theoretical underpinnings of producer willingness to pay (WTP) for new inputs. In addition to conceptualizing the producer WTP function, we derive its comparative statics and show how these properties can be used to estimate quantities demanded or supplied and price elasticities. We also discuss implications of the comparative statics.


This paper presents calculated and measured results for the input impedance and radiation performance of probe-fed printed annular ring antennas. Geometries featuring stacked rings as well as shorting posts are considered. A numerical model is presented that is based on a full-wave spectral-domain moment-method solution. In this solution, a specialized attachment mode-expansion function is used to model the connection between the probe feed and the printed ring. Measured results are presented and compare well with the theory. Annular rings are found to have certain advantages over circular and rectangular microstrip antennas.


A primary concern of contractors and owners dealing with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Lead Exposure in Construction regulation is ensuring that they meet the administration`s rules for worker training, which can be divided into two major types: general worker training and competent person training. This month`s column briefly reviews what OSHA requires in general worker training (that is, training of workers who perform lead paint abatement tasks but have few or no hazard-identification or supervisory responsibilities). It also outlines several factors employers must consider when deciding how to implement that training.


Purified cotton and wood pulp were hydrolyzed in 3.5 N HCl for 4-120 hours at 30°. The hydrolyzed products were nitrated with the mixtures of H3PO4-HNO3-P2O5 at 0° for 6 hours. Acetone solutions of the nitrates were fractionally precipitated with ligroin, and chain length distribution curves were plotted. These curves show no positive proof of the presence of the weak bonds which split 5000 times faster than the usual glucosidic bonds. These are well explained with the submicroscopic structure of cellulose.


BACKGROUND: The burden of headache may impede sufferers from adhering to a routine of physical activity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of headache in a health club population. METHOD: One hundred attendees of a health club were interviewed. They all were regular attendees for the previous 12 months and practiced aerobic exercises no less than 3 times a week. A questionnaire with characteristics of headache was applied to all who had a headache attack during the previous 12 months. MIDAS questionnaire was used as well. RESULTS: 57 men and 43 women were included. Eighty subjects had a headache attack, which was pulsatile in 63% of the sufferers. MIDAS was lower than 5 days in 83% of the subjects. CONCLUSION: Although retrospective and based on recall, this study suggests that most of the regular exercise practitioners presented clinical characteristics of migraine. It is uncertain whether the regular practice of physical exercise has a role in reducing the impact life or those suffering less are the ones who practice exercise.


This study analyzes the effect of including molybdate in the elution buffers used in DEAE cellulose chromatography on the fraction of glucocorticoid receptor which elutes as the transformed species. Inclusion of molybdate leads to a significant decrease in the fraction of receptor eluting as transformed; samples which appear to be nearly 50% transformed if eluted in the absence of molybdate were found to be less than 10% transformed when analyzed using a buffer which contained 5 mM molybdate. This decrease was not caused by loss of receptor or a reversion of transformation. DEAE cellulose accelerates receptor transformation. It is concluded that DEAE cellulose should not be used to quantitate transformation unless molybdate is included in all buffers.


Africa is home today to only a single breeding species of penguin, Spheniscus demersus (black-footed penguin), which is endangered with extinction. Spheniscus demersus has been the only breeding species of penguin to share African coastlines with humans over the last 400 000 years. Interestingly, African penguin diversity was substantially higher before the evolution of archaic humans. The fossil record indicates that a diverse assemblage of penguin species inhabited the southern African coasts for much of the Neogene. Previous excavations have identified four distinct species in Early Pliocene coastal marine deposits. Here we extend this pattern of high diversity and report the oldest record of penguins from Africa. Seventeen penguin specimens were identified from the Saldanha Steel locality, revealing the presence of at least four distinct species in South Africa during the Miocene. The largest of these species reached the size of the extant Aptenodytes patagonicus (king penguin), whereas the smallest was approximately the size of the smallest extant penguin Eudyptula minor (little blue penguin). Recovery of Miocene penguin remains is in accordance with earlier predictions of multiple pre-Pliocene colonizations of Africa and supports a higher level of ecological diversity amongst African penguins in the past. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London


We describe in more detail than before the reference model for role-based access control introduced by Nyanchama and Osborn, and the role-graph model with its accompanying algorithms, which is one way of implementing role-role relationships. An alternative role insertion algorithm is added, and it is shown how the role creation policies of Fernandez et al. correspond to role addition algorithms in our model. We then use our reference model to provide a taxonomy for kinds of conflict. We then go on to consider in some detail privilege-privilege and and role-role conflicts in conjunction with the role graph model. We show how role-role conflicts lead to a partitioning of the role graph into nonconflicting collections that can together be safely authorized to a given user. Finally, in an appendix, we present the role graph algorithms with additional logic to disallow roles that contain conflicting privileges.


Most of our current knowledge about cellular phenotypes related to neurological diseases was gathered from studies performed in brain tissue collected post-mortem. These samples often represent the end-stage of the disease process and may not represent a fair picture of how the disease developed over time. furthermore, under these conditions, the pathology may as well be a secondary effect of the disease process or even due to the poor tissue condition and may not represent an authentic cellular phenotype. Likewise, animal models not always recapitulate the pathology from human disorders. in this article, i will present a critical view on the recent advances obtained from disease modeling using human pluripotent stem cells. The focus on cellular reprogramming as a tool to generate patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells is justified by the great experimental potential, not only for disease modeling, but also as a biotechnological tool for future drug-screening platforms and personalized medicine. KeywoRds: Pluripotent stem cells, Cellular reprogramming, Neurological diseases, Drug-screening.


A new design of in situ liquid cells is demonstrated, providing the first nanometer resolution elemental mapping of nanostructures in solution. The technique has been applied to investigate dynamic liquid-phase synthesis of core-shell nanostructures and to simultaneously image the compositional distribution for multiple elements within the resulting materials.


The problem of resonant interaction between an electromagnetic radiation field and a vibronic system, such as a molecule or a localized electronphonon system, is considered. The vibronic coupling is assumed to result from displaced and distorted potential energy surfaces for the vibrational motion in the electronic quantum states involved in the resonant interaction with the radiation field. Furthermore, the vibrational energy relaxation is taken into account without assumptions about Markovian-type relaxation. In order to study correlation properties of higher than second order in the electric field strength of the light emitted a method of calculation of the expectation value of an arbitrary product combination of effective time evolution operators of the vibronic system is developed. The calculations are performed by utilizing Feynman's disentangling and operator ordering techniques and yield closed solutions in the low-temperature limit. The theory is used for studying the intensity and the normally ordered intensity correlation function of the resonance fluorescence light from a two-atom molecule excited by a relatively weak laser field, which undergoes phase fluctuations. It is shown that the vibronic coupling can give rise to an anticorrelation effect which is substantially stronger than in the case of resonance fluorescence from an atom. For the case of small vibrational damping a general formula which directly connects the asymptotic long-time behaviour of the normalized intensity correlation function with the vibrational relaxation in the molecule is deduced. It should be convenient for the determination of very small vibrational decay rates.


There are 5 different types of alcoholics and 4 phases of process of alcoholism. In the Federal Republic of Germany 1,2--1,5 million people are alcoholics, among them about 30 per cent women and 10 per cent adolescents not older than 25 years. Three factors: alcohol, individuum, and environment play a part in the development of alcoholism.


tested, but not justifiable that the best be condemned for the performance of the worst. It is true that some of the most publicized trials have been statistically flawed because of high rates of " loss to follow-up," but the reservations this should occasion in our assessment of their results are by no means so sweeping as Dr. Hawkins suggests. Most recent trials, conducted in developing countries, have assessed results on the more correct basis of sample home follow-up studies, where the probabilities of important selection factors in untraced patients is very much lower than in consulting-room studies. These trials have yielded results in all ways comparable to those of Tietze's co-operative statistical programme.' While not necessarily the last word, the W.H.O. Scientific Group statement on infection,2 " in general, pelvic infection is not a significant problem," represents an informed judgement of the information available in 1968. Incidences of pelvic inflammatory disease " up to 8% " are found only in studies where incidences of this order occur even in the absence of I.U.D.s or when extremely dubious definitions of inflammatory disease are used. The same consideration applies to menstrual disorder, where the incidence depends almost wholly on the criteria of definitiorr employed. Minor menstrual changes, especially increased flow, are undeniably extremely common, especially in the first months of use. In assessing the safety and acceptability of I.U.D.s, our attention must be confined to the severe or persistent disturbances. The survey of deaths and critical illnesses' offers a further illustration of this point, for no definition of critical illness was included in the inquiry. This study in fact revealed only four deaths attributable to the I.U.D., with three doubtful associations and three quite unlikely ones. May I, in passing, correct the figure of perforations of the uterus, which is given in the report as 192, not 207. It is of interest for the assessment of clinical impressions and case reports to note that each of the deaths reported to the authors of the survey was reported by several physicians, and one case of perforation with intestinal obstruction was reported by no fewer than 21 doctors. I find it regrettable that Dr. Hawkins has resurrected some of the old material which was used to " kill " the Grifenberg ring. The 17 deaths reported in the 7ournal of the American Medical Association' are something of a medical mystery. In that journal they are all attributed to a practitioner named Rust, and said to be the result of general peritonitis or septicaemia. In 1938, in an article by Howard Clark,5 they appear again, now attributed to Reist, and the result of perforation. Did these women ever die ? Were they in fact wearing Grifenberg rings ? We shall never know. No one will claim that I.U.D.s are entirely devoid of potential hazards. The extent of these hazards is under continuous careful scrutiny by persons skilled in the evaluation of data and wary of the traps of statistical analysis. Case reporting has its part to play in this process, but must not be allowed to derange our judgement. Sufficient data has been collected and analysed for us to be content that expulsion rates in the first yearF with accepted devices do nt exceed 10% nor pregnancy rates 3 %, and that threat to life is of extreme rarity. Let us base our judgements on such sober figures.-I am, etc.,


The return of interstate war in Africa after the end of the cold war and global awareness of predatory economic motivations for war raises the question of whether African states are reviving early modern European methods of building states. This study of Uganda's intervention in Congo reveals that this is not so. Uganda's peripheral position in the world economy, coupled with its relations with creditors, gives its leaders unexpected capabilities to plunder a neighbouring country's resources. Creditors remain surprisingly willing to tolerate this behaviour, while providing debt relief. Uganda's leaders exploit creditor anxieties about growing disorder among highly indebted countries and fears that chaos will undermine creditor efforts to manage uncollectable debt. Nonetheless, warfare, plunder and manipulation of creditor interests does not result in stronger institutions. The predatory behaviour of the Ugandan military resembles that of their state-building counterparts. But contemporary plunderers form their own ties to the world economy. Uganda's leader faces greater obstacles to consolidating control over violent commerce, and private interests of plunderers actually weakens existing central political control as Uganda's leaders and its creditors become even more tied to new loans to maintain short-term order.


In order to receive controlled pain medications for chronic non-oncologic pain, patients often must sign a "narcotic contract" or "opioid treatment agreement" in which they promise not to give pills to others, use illegal drugs, or seek controlled medications from health care providers. In addition, they must agree to use the medication as prescribed and to come to the clinic for drug testing and pill counts. Patients acknowledge that if they violate the opioid treatment agreement (OTA), they may no longer receive controlled medications. OTAs have been widely implemented since they were recommended by multiple national bodies to decrease misuse and diversion of narcotic medications. But critics argue that OTAs are ethically suspect, if not unethical, and should be used with extreme care if at all. We agree that OTAs pose real dangers and must be implemented carefully. But we also believe that the most serious criticisms stem from a mistaken understanding of OTAs' purpose and ethical basis.


Employee theft is generally regarded as a serious offense not only by those responsible for assuring organizations operate as efficiently as possible, but by social scientists studying this phenomenon. Futhermore, in most modern settings, it is defined as criminal and subject to punishment. Although usually classified as deviant, theft is in many instances also a reaction to what employees consider is deviant behavior on the part of their employer. Consequently, a theory of social control, rather than a theory of crime, is more appropriate in explaining such theft by employees. This paper suggests that theft, as a mode of social control, is most likely among employees who occupy marginal positions in organizations, including those at the bottom of the organizational hierachy, those with little tenure, and those with few social lies. Ways of reducing employee theft consistent with this hypothesis are explored. It is concluded, however, that theft by employed members of organizations is in many cases inevit...


Abstract A framework is proposed for generative models as a basis for digital twins or mirrors of structures. The proposal is based on the premise that deterministic models cannot account for the uncertainty present in most structural modeling applications. Two different types of generative models are considered here. The first is a physics-based model based on the stochastic finite element (SFE) method, which is widely used when modeling structures that have material and loading uncertainties imposed. Such models can be calibrated according to data from the structure and would be expected to outperform any other model if the modeling accurately captures the true underlying physics of the structure. The potential use of SFE models as digital mirrors is illustrated via application to a linear structure with stochastic material properties. For situations where the physical formulation of such models does not suffice, a data-driven framework is proposed, using machine learning and conditional generative adversarial networks (cGANs). The latter algorithm is used to learn the distribution of the quantity of interest in a structure with material nonlinearities and uncertainties. For the examples considered in this work, the data-driven cGANs model outperforms the physics-based approach. Finally, an example is shown where the two methods are coupled such that a hybrid model approach is demonstrated.


Transthoracic fine-needle biopsy (TFNB) is a valuable method of recognizing changes in lungs, especially suspected of cancer. Such operations are cheap, don't demand expensive instruments and are possible to perform in each pneumonology ward, especially if they are an ideal supplement for bronchofibroscoping examination. The possibility of quick and effective performance of transthoracic biopsy shortens the diagnostics considerably. From January 1997 to April 1999 there were performed 406 operations of TFNB. There were 334 people operated on (294 men--74.5%; 85 women--25.5%), average age for the whole group of patients--62.8 (+/- 10.4 years). The patients were divided into two groups considering hospitalization places: I--patients from (not transported for operation)--135 (40.4%), II--patients transported for operation from another hospitals--199 (59.6%) The examination was performed under control of rtg apparatus (7600 OEC Medical System with mobile x-ray tube on a C-arm and laser localizer). The usual complication was an pneumothorax--52 cases (12.8%); drained--16 cases (3.9%). An average depth of inserting in an early pneumothorax is 6.56 (+/- 0.73), in a late pneumothorax--8.6 cm (+/- 1.75), (p = 0.0015). An average depth of inserting in a drained pneumothorax was 8.9 cm (+/- 2.17), in a non-drained pneumothorax 7.7 cm (+/- 1.3) (p = 0.024). Patients that had to be transported for the operation had pneumothoraxes that needed to be drained considerably more often: 14 cases in 199 comparing to 2 in 135 among patients not demanding to be transported (p = 0.02). Pneumothoraxes appeared more often after indicating tumors of smaller size, from 3 cm--21.6%; 3.1-6 cm--13.3% (p = 0.036). From another complications one could notice: hemoptysis--4 cases; subcutaneous emphysema--1 case; fever and shivers--1 case; hypotonia--2 cases; cough--1 case. Those complications were treated symptomatically or vanished themselves.


The aim of this work is to show the effective way for the formation of optical MEMS switches by applying seamless integration technology (SeaiT) as a first step toward LSI integration. The fabrication process of the optical MEMS switches in this work consisted of electrode fabrication, mirror fabrication, and packaging. A 6-inch-diameter bulk-Si and SOI wafers are used for the fabrication of electrodes and mirrors, respectively.


Community detection in complex networks has been addressed in different ways recently. To identify communities in social networks we can formulate it with two different objectives, maximization of internal links and minimization of external links. Because these two objects are correlated, the relationship between these two objectives is a trade-off. This study employed harmony search algorithm, which was conceptualized using the musical process of finding a perfect state of harmony to perform this bi-objective trade-off. In the proposed algorithm an external repository considered to save non-dominated solutions found during the search process and a fuzzy clustering technique is used to control the size of repository. The harmony search algorithm was applied on well-known real life networks, and good Pareto solutions were obtained when compared with other algorithms, such as the MOGA-Net and Newman algorithms.


This paper studies two MIMO architectures for single-carrier CDMA system employing block spreading, namely Layered Space-Time Block Spread CDMA (LST BS-CDMA) and Space-Time Coded Block Spread CDMA (STC BS-CDMA). It is shown that under low mobility conditions, the proposed systems are virtually free from Multiple User Interference (MUI) and the block processing technique used leads to considerable reduction in the overall processing complexity. Extensive simulation was performed to study the impact of the spreading factor and Doppler frequency on the proposed systems. A new parameter called channel coherence ratio (CCR) is introduced as a key parameter in determining the performance of MIMO BS-CDMA.


The current study involves in identification and molecular levels characterization of optimal size and concentration of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Stable, gold nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The concentration and size dependent effects of the gold nanoparticles on proliferation of pre-osteoblast cells MC3T3-E1 was evaluated employing MTT cell proliferation assay. The results revealed that 30 nm diameter gold nanoparticles at a concentration of 10(-11) ppm were the most effective in promoting cell proliferation. Assay for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and ALP staining were also used to confirm the effect of gold nanoparticles on osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of the osteogenic genes Runx2, ALP, OCN and OPN as response gold nanoparticles. The data demonstrated that 30 nm gold nanoparticles at a concentration of 10(-11) ppm was the best combination of size and concentration to promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, as indicated by an increase in the ALP activity and expression of the osteogenic genes Runx2, ALP, OCN and OPN. Collectively the results of this study suggest that gold nanoparticles can promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and could be used effectively in treatments promoting bone regeneration.


Objective This paper describes the impact that the different COVID-19 related restrictions have had on the mental health and wellbeing of 57 Central American and Caribbean immigrants stranded in Mexico due to the pandemic. Methods Ethnographic data was obtained through the application of in-depth interviews centered on topics such as migration history, personal experience with COVID-19 and beliefs about the pandemic. This information was further analyzed through a narrative approach and Atlas Ti. Main findings US Title 42 and the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) have stranded thousands of individuals in the US-Mexico border region, a situation that has overcrowded the available shelters in the area and forced many of the immigrants to live on the streets and in improvised encampments. Thus, exposing them to a higher risk of contagion. Furthermore, the majority of the interviewed Central American and Caribbean immigrants consider that Mexico is more lenient when it comes to the enforcement of sanitary measures, especially when compared to their countries of origin. Finally, vaccination hesitancy was low among the interviewees, mainly due to the operative aspects of the vaccination effort in Mexico and the fear of ruining their chances to attain asylum in the US. These findings are backed up by the discovery of five recurring narratives among the interviewees regarding: (1) The pandemic's psychological impact. (2) The uncertainty of being stranded in Mexico and the long wait. (3) Their fear of violence over the fear of contagion. (4) The perceived leniency of Mexico with the pandemic when compared to their countries of origin, and (5) their beliefs about the pandemic and vaccines. Key finding The mental health of stranded Central American and Caribbean immigrants in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic is mostly affected by their inability to make it across the US-Mexico border using legal means.


Fear and aggression are among the most prominent behavioural problems in dogs. Oxytocin has been shown to play a role in regulating social behaviours in humans including fear and aggression. As intranasal oxytocin has been found to have some analogous effects in dogs and humans, here we investigated the effect of oxytocin on dogs' behaviour in the Threatening Approach Test. Dogs, after having received intranasal administration of oxytocin (OT) or placebo (PL), showed the same reaction to an unfamiliar experimenter, but OT pretreated dogs showed a less friendly first reaction compared to the PL group


Introduction: Meningitis remains a common and serious problem in children worldwide. One million instances of meningitis are assessed to happen in children worldwide each year. In Africa, where outbreaks are common 70% of meningitis cases are diagnosed in children under the age of five (5) years. Though in most cases, doctors diagnose early and adequate treatment started, 5% to 10% of patients still succumb during the 24 - 48 hours after onset of clinical features. In 2009, the mortality rate in Africa was four thousand deaths. Study Objective: This study describes the predictors of bacterial meningitis among children aged 0 - 5 years admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital (K.N.H.) paediatric wards. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. It was carried out in K.N.H. paediatric wards. Data were obtained from consenting parent or guardian and healthcare workers (nurses and registrars). Study participants were selected by convenient sam-pling method. A total of 104 study participants were included in the study sample. In-depth interviews of key informants were conducted on 7 health workers; 5 nurses from the paediatric wards and paediatric emergency unit and 2 paediatric registrars. Ethical consideration included full disclosure to participants, confidentiality, security of health records and informed consent. Data were collected by use of researcher administered semi-structured ques-tionnaire and desk reviews of patients' files were also used. Qualitative data from the interviews were audio-taped. Logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis. Quantitative data were cleaned, entered and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results were displayed by utilization of tables, pie charts. Qualitative data were transcribed, grouped in themes and analysed manually. Study Results: The majority of the children (55.8%) were female. The highest percentage of the children (53.8%) was aged less than one year. The highest proportion of the parents (39.4%) was within the age group of 26 - 30 years. Neonatal sepsis (37.5%), neonatal jaundice (25.0%) and for observation (25.0%) were the common reasons for admission to NBU. Children admitted and managed in the nursery unit were significantly 2.7 times more likely to have bacterial meningitis compared to those children never admitted to the nursery [OR = 2.75; 95% CI = 1.08 - 7.00; P = 0.031]. Streptococcus pneumonia was the main (51.2%) causative agent of bacterial meningitis among the children. Children who were taken to hospital in delay after illness were 1.740 times more likely to exhibit meningitis than those taken to hospital immediately. Children whose parents had higher levels of income were two times less likely to exhibit meningitis than those with lower. Majority (62.5%) resided in mid urban and slum areas. Most lived in a one (1) bed-roomed house and most houses (60.6%) had more than five people living in it. The main co-existing illnesses among the children were pneumonia (53.8%) and heart disease (22.9%). Conclusions: Streptococcus pneumoniae was the common causative agent of meningitis among the study population. The enviromnetal factors such as living in overcrowded areas, inadequate exposure to health education contributed to contracting and developing meningitis. Financial contraints among caregivers posed a hindrance to the participants in seeking medical attention early. A previous upper respiratory tract infection more often led to contracting meningitis.


We introduce a new visual analytic approach to the study of scientific discoveries and knowledge diffusion. Our approach enhances contemporary co-citation network analysis by enabling analysts to identify co-citation clusters of cited references intuitively, synthesize thematic contexts in which these clusters are cited, and trace how research focus evolves over time. The new approach integrates and streamlines a few previously isolated techniques such as spectral clustering and feature selection algorithms. The integrative procedure is expected to empower and strengthen analytical and sense making capabilities of scientists, learners, and researchers to understand the dynamics of the evolution of scientific domains in a wide range of scientific fields, science studies, and science policy evaluation and planning. We demonstrate the potential of our approach through a visual analysis of the evolution of astronomical research associated with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) using bibliographic data between 1994 and 2008. Implications on methodological issues are also addressed.


Fifth phase of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) is the principal framework for coordinated climate modeling experimentation supporting the preparation of the IPCC 5 Assessment Report to be released in 2013. About 20 modeling groups from around the world are undertaking the CMIP5 experiments and model data is being hosted on the Earth System Grid which consists of international data nodes and gateways (see http://cmip-pcmdi.llnl.gov/cmip5/). The CMIP5 experimental design features a standard set of model simulations consisting of simulations based on historical concentration and emission changes, simulations along potential future pathways to 2100, and a range of idealised experiments to understand climate sensitivity and to quantify key feedbacks. Projections of future climate are based on the new generation of emission scenarios, which were developed by the research community (Moss et. al., 2010). The CMIP5 experimental protocol provides four emission scenarios based on the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), which are identified with their amounts of net radiative forcing input into the Earth's climate system at the end of the 21 Century. They include following scenarios: • A "no policy" RCP8.5 W/m; • Two "stabilization" RCP6 W/m and RCP4.5 W/m; • A "peak and decline" RCP2.6 W/m. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence (QCCCE) are contributing to this international project using the CSIRO-Mk3.6 Atmosphere Ocean Global Climate Model (AOGCM). The Mk3.6 climate model is a substantial upgrade from its recent predecessors Mk3.0 and Mk3.5, which were used to contribute to CMIP3. Upgrades included addition of an interactive aerosol scheme, which explicitly treats sulfate, dust, sea salt and carbonaceous aerosol. It also includes an updated radiation scheme and other changes to the atmospheric physics component. The CSIRO Mk3.6 climate model has been used to perform most of the long-term simulations which include the "core" experiments plus a number of "tier1" and "tier2" experiments specified by the CMIP5 experimental protocol (Taylor et al., 2011a). This paper shows selected results from historical simulations for the period 1851 to 2005 using various combinations of radiative forcing (both natural and anthropogenic) and results from climate change projections for the period 2006 to 2100. The analysis quantifies the relative contribution of various radiative forcing factors to the simulated changes in mean annual surface temperature during the 1981 to 2005 period. Results from the analysis show that simulations with natural forcing only resulted in small changes in the surface temperature, whereas the simulations with all forcing show statistically significant changes in the surface temperature over most of the Earth surface and these changes have magnitude comparable to observed changes. Furthermore, the rate of warming is greatest in the experiment with greenhouse gases only, where the cooling impact of anthropogenic aerosols is not accounted for. Model simulations show continuing warming and drying in subtropical land areas during the early part of 21 century.


Typical procedures for the isolation of triiodothyronine (T3) receptors from mammalian nuclei involve extraction of nuclei with buffers containing divalent cations and 0.40M KCl. However, when applied to tadpole erythrocyte (RBC) nuclei, this method gave low yields of relatively unstable T3 receptors. The use of EDTA (10 mM) and 0.4M KCl in a sucrose-Tris buffer resulted in the extraction of 90% of the specifically bound [125I]-T3 from RBC nuclei. It was also found that 5 mM thiol reagent (DTT, GSH, or beta-mercaptoethanol) was required for maximal stability of the receptor. Fractionation of labeled RBC nuclear extracts on a Sephadex G-100 column yielded only one peak of specific T3 binding activity. The T3 receptor peak eluted at the same position as bovine serum albumin (BSA), with an estimated mol wt of 68 kDa. Specific T3 binding activity was destroyed by protease digestion but not by DNAse or RNAse. Scatchard analysis of the fractions from the receptor peak supported the existence of one class of T3 binding sites, with an estimated Kd (about 7 pM) comparable to the Kd reported for the intact RBC. Using the same methods, T3 receptors from the nuclei of chick embryo RBCs were also isolated, again with a Kd (7 pM) similar to that for the intact RBC. The chick receptor also eluted from the Sephadex G-100 column at the same position as BSA. The estimated mol wt of the T3 receptors from both sources is comparable to those reported for T3 receptors from other sources. The results show that T3 receptors derived from both tadpole and chick RBC nuclei could be isolated in a soluble and stable form with no apparent change in Kd.


Transcriptional regulation of the GFAP gene is intimately connected with astrocyte function: its initial activation marks the differentiation of astrocytes, and its up‐regulation accompanies the reactive response to CNS injury. Studies of GFAP transcription should thus provide insights into multiple regulatory pathways operating in these cells. In addition, they should identify DNA elements that could be used to direct synthesis of other proteins to astrocytes in transgenic animals, permitting creation of disease models, and the testing of cause and effect relationships. This review describes several GFAP cDNA and genomic clones that have been isolated, including homology comparisons of the encoded RNAs and proteins. Cell transfection studies by several laboratories are summarized that have identified a DNA segment immediately upstream of the RNA start site that is essential for transcriptional activity, but which have yielded conflicting results concerning the importance of other segments located both further upstream and downstream of the RNA start site. Two procedures are recounted that have led to the successful expression of GFAP‐transgenes in astrocytes in mice. One of these incorporates the transgene into the first exon of a fragment spanning the entire GFAP gene, while the other links it to a 2 kb 5′‐flanking segment. Results already produced by GFAP‐transgenic studies include demonstration of a neurotoxic effect of the HIV‐1 gp120 coat protein, and creation of a hydrocephalic mouse model.


In this paper it proposes the method to establish the autonomous learning intelligent platform based on BOT FRAMEWORK, by researching and developing the intelligent chatting robot based on BOT FRAMEWORK and comprehensively utilizing the new generation of information technology such as cloud computing and mobile internet etc, to establish an autonomous learning intelligent platform supporting the voice chat, to effectively inspire students interest on study and greatly improve their autonomous learning effect accordingly.


Using a histochemical method, moderately strong glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity can be demonstrated in the macula densa of the distal tubules in the normal rat kidney. In rats rendered hypertensive by overdosage with cortexone (DOC) and saline, this enzymatic activity was found to decrease almost to zero within 4 weeks. This change was more marked in unilaterally nephrectomized animals than in intact rats. Measured by bioassay, the renin content of kidney extracts from the same animals was found to decrease simultaneously with the loss of enzymatic activity in the macula cells. The reverse effect, a marked increase in activity of the macula densa, was obtained in adrenalectomized animals. It is suggested that both the macula densa cells and the juxtaglomerular apparatus are parts of a system which respond similarly to changes in sodium balance and which may be related to the formation of renin.


Consumers increasingly consider ethical and sustainable attributes of products in their purchasing decisions, in particular with reference to food consumption. Among agri-food products, coffee is a pioneering food for sustainability and ethical certification, such as organic and Fair Trade, whose success depends significantly on consumers' willingness to pay a premium price for these attributes. This study uses a choice experiment (CE) to investigate the attitudes towards organic and Fair Trade coffee among Italian consumers. The results show considerable heterogeneity among respondents, the majority of whom tend to be more interested in organic coffee than Fair Trade coffee, even if a large group of them are willing to pay a premium price to consume Fair Trade coffee.


The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is abundant in a number of regions in Spain and one of the most commonly hunted small game species in the country. Partridge hunting generates substantial income in rural areas where agriculture is less profitable. A traditional hunting method, reclamo hunting, is currently under revision by the European Commission's (EC) Birds Directive because hunting may fall within the reproduction period of the species. So far, only limited data on the reproductive phenology of the species exist to inform a policy change. In this study, we present reproduction data for red-legged partridges from 9 hunting estates in Andalusia during 1 year, and over 3 consecutive seasons from a control estate. We used direct nest and partridge chick covey observations to estimate 165 egg-laying dates. We found significant differences between sites related to altitude during reproduction periods. Using our pooled data, we showed that reproduction occurred between the last 10 days in January and the middle of February; beyond 31 January we observed an exponential increase in birds reproduction. According to these data and current EC legislation, reclamo hunting should not extend beyond 31 January. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.


This study was to investigate the use of a special high dielectric constant (Hi-DK) material for embedded passives in a Bluetooth system module. The stack structure of the module substrate was comprised of three kinds of material; Hi-DK, low loss-tangent and general organic material. Both experimental circuit and embedded passives can be implemented in this substrate for normal printed wiring board (PWB) lamination processing. The embedded capacitor electrode area can be reduced considerably by taking advantage of the Hi-DK material. After consideration of carefully simulated electrical characteristics, SMT matching network inductors could be replaced with a solenoid or spiral embedded layout structure. With embedded passives built into a Bluetooth substrate, this design can shrink the area by at least 14%, 38%. Area reduction was also realized by a double-side package layout design.


The spatial heterogeneity and temporal variation of soil moisture and surface heat fluxes are key to many geophysical and environmental studies. It has been demonstrated that they can be mapped by assimilating soil thermal and wetness information into surface energy balance models. The aim of this work is to determine whether enhancing the spatial resolution or temporal sampling frequency of soil moisture data could improve soil moisture or surface heat flux estimates. Two experiments are conducted in an area mainly covered by grassland, and land surface temperature (LST) observations from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) mission are assimilated together with either an enhanced L-band passive soil moisture product (9 km, 2–3 days) from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission or a merged product (36 km, quasi-daily) from the SMAP and the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission. The results suggest that the availability of soil moisture observations is increased by 41% after merging data from the SMAP and the SMOS missions. A comparison with results from a previous study that assimilated a coarser SMAP soil moisture product (36 km, 2–3 days) suggests that enhancing the temporal sampling frequency of soil moisture observations leads to improved soil moisture estimates at both the surface and root zone, and the largest improvement is seen in the bias metric (0.008 and 0.007 m3 m−3 on average at the surface and root zone, respectively). Enhancing the spatial resolution, however, does not significantly improve soil moisture estimates, particularly at the surface. Surface heat flux estimates from assimilating soil moisture data of different spatial or temporal resolutions are very similar.