In human, execution of unimanual movements requires lateralized activation of the primary motor cortex, which then transmits the motor command to the contralateral hand through the crossed corticospinal tract (CST). Mutations in NETRIN-1 alter motor control lateralization, leading to congenital mirror movements. To address the role of midline Netrin-1 on CST development and subsequent motor control, we analyzed the morphological and functional consequences of floor-plate Netrin-1 depletion in conditional knock-out mice (Shh::cre;Ntn1lox/lox mice). Here, we show that depletion of floor plate Netrin-1 critically disrupts midline crossing of the CST, whereas the other commissural systems are mostly preserved. The CST defect results in abnormal but functional ipsilateral projections, and is associated with abnormal symmetric movements. Therefore, our study reveals a new role for Netrin-1 in CST development. It also describes a unique mouse model recapitulating characteristics of human congenital mirror movements, through abnormal CST decussation.


FL is the result of an eeort to design a practical functional programming language based on Backus' FP. This paper provides an introduction to and critique of the FL language. The language eeort is analyzed from several points of view: language design, implementation, and user experiences. Emphasis is placed on the unusual aspects of FL, its strengths and weaknesses, and how FL compares with other functional programming languages.


Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) is the most promising approach for addressing the emerging broadband access network. Quick link setup, high transmission security, large bandwidth and light weight are some of the important features of this system. However, the laser power attenuation due to adverse weather conditions and scattering due to turbulence are to be mitigated. In this paper, a Position Sensing Detector (PSD) and Stochastic Parallel Gradient Descent Algorithm (SPGDA) based control system using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) in a Closed Loop Control Configuration (CLCC) are developed and presented for Aligning, Tracking and Positioning (ATP) the laser beam to improve the performance of the FSOC.


To characterize the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway in human vascular smooth muscle (VSM), contractile responses of isolated internal mammary arteries (IMA) and saphenous veins (SV) were observed after induction of NO synthase by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In IL-1 beta-treated endothelium-denuded rings, contractile responses to phenylephrine were reduced in SV rings only. Maximum phenylephrine-induced contraction was depressed by approximately 50%. This was not modified by the presence of indomethacin, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), or methylene blue (MeB). In LPS-treated vessels, contractile responses were depressed in both SV and IMA rings (40%), and this was not affected by indomethacin. In SV, L-NAME, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, or MeB did not affect the inhibitory effect of LPS, whereas the effect was reversed in IMA by these inhibitors. In LPS-treated IMA, but not in SV, exogenous L-arginine evoked significant vasodilation (20%). We conclude that VSM of the human IMA possesses an L-arginine/NO pathway inducible by LPS. In SV, LPS or IL-1 beta treatment inhibits contraction by an unidentified system that is not dependent on NO synthase or on guanylate cyclase activities.


Nampt is the rate-limiting enzyme in salvage pathway in which NAD is mainly synthesized in mammalian cells. NAD plays very important role in various biological processes, such as energy production, energy consumption, aging, cell death, and DNA damage repair as a coenzyme of redox reactions or as a substrate of Sirtuins or Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases. Besides, Nampt is highly expressed in mature adipocyte and secreted into extracellular. The extracellular Nampt is known to regulate systemic metabolic state. In short, Nampt works as a metabolic sensor and NAD integrates systemic metabolism. Recently, metabolism is thought to be closely related to cell differentiation. However, how NAD metabolism affects to adipogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we generated the adipose tissue specific Nampt knock out mice, Adiponectin-Cre Nampt flox/flox (KO) and conducted targeted-metabolomic analysis to investigate the metabolic effect, employing liquid-chromatograph mass spectrometry and gas-chromatograph mass spectrometry. Interestingly, KO showed resistant against diet-induced obesity (DIO), fed high fat high sucrose diet. Body weight and both inguinal and epididymal fat mass were significantly reduced in KO compared to wild type control mice. On the other hand, we revealed that Nampt-mediated NAD synthesis was up-regulated during differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and the inhibition of Nampt significantly suppressed the differentiation. Our metabolomic analysis and ChIP-qPCR assay showed NAD contributed to the differentiation through the metabolic reprogramming and the subsequent epigenetic alteration to activate the transcription of adipogenic genes. This result indicated Nampt-mediated NAD synthesis regulated differentiation of preadipocytes to mature adipocytes. Together, our data suggested that adipose tissue specific Nampt deletion resulted in the resistance against DIO and it could be partly attributed to the inhibited differentiation of preadipocytes. Disclosure K. Okabe: None. A. Nawaz: Research Support; Spouse/Partner; Astellas Pharma Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Eli Lilly and Company. Research Support; Self; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Research Support; Spouse/Partner; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. S. Fujisaka: None. K. Yagi: None. T. Kado: None. I. Usui: None. T. Nakagawa: None. K. Tobe: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Board Member; Self; Japan Diabetes Society. Research Support; Self; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Funding Japan Society for the Promotion of Science


With an increasing number of large engineering and construction projects being performed in overseas locations, often in remote areas, communications from the design office to the jobsite play an important role in the completion of the project.


Equipment progress include furnace construction and electron microprobe installation. The following studies are underway: phase equilibria along basalt-rhyolite mixing line (olivine crystallization from natural silicic andensites, distribution of Fe and Mg between olivine and liquid, dist. of Ca and Na between plagioclase and liquid), enthalpy-composition relations in magmas (bulk heat capacity of alkali basalt), density model for magma ascent and contamination, thermobarometry in igneous systems (olivine/plagioclase phenocryst growth in Quat. basalt), high-pressure phase equilibria of alkali basalt, basalt-quartz mixing experiments, phase equilibria of East African basalts, and granitic minerals in mafic magma. (DLC)


An Aharonov-Bohm interferometer (ABI) carrying a quantum dot on one of its arms is analyzed. It is found that the Kondo temperature of the device may depend strongly on the magnetic flux penetrating the ring. As a result, mesoscopic finite-size effects appear leading to plateaus in the finite-temperature conductance as function of the flux. The possibility to deduce the transmission phase shift of the quantum dot from measurements of the ABI conductance when it is opened (i.e., is connected to more than two leads) is examined, leading to the conclusion that finite-size effects, when significant, may hinder the detection of the Kondo phase shift.


. The standard mechanism for producing the observed scale-invariant power spectrum from adiabatic vacuum fluctuations relies on first order derivative of fields in the action for curvature perturbations. It has been proven [1] that, under this ansatz, any theory of early universe that matches cosmological observations should include a phase of accelerated expansion (i.e. inflation) or it has to break at least one of the following tenets of classical general relativity: Null Energy Conditions (NEC), subluminal signal propagation, or sub-Planckian energy densities. We extend this proof to a large class of theories with higher (spatial) derivative or non-local terms in the action. Interestingly, only theories in the neigh-borhood of Lifshitz points with ω k ∝ k 0 and k 3 remain viable.


This paper uses a mixer methodology, first with literature review and second with field studies, the theme raised is Islamic Education Cultural Management: History, Conception, and Management of Transformative Islamic Education Actualization, in this paper there are three fundamental questions; first, what is the concept of Cultural Management of Islamic Education in Islam.  Second, what is the history, conception of Islamic religious education management, Islam, transformative culture in Indonesia and third, what is the contribution of Islamic education management in a transformative Islamic culture in the Islamic education space in Islam in Indonesia.  Which is where teacher supervision is a definite process.  Furthermore, culture becomes part of the culture of the local community which cannot be separated from the language of the community. Culture (often called local wisdom) will be passed down through generations through oral stories. Islamic religious education based on truth and nobility, distancing oneself from unreal thoughts, even far from the origins of unpleasant behavior or influence.  Islamic religious leadership education is important for moral (character)/ethics is easy), then the soul (emotional realm) is not only a cognitive and psychomotor realm, but 4) synergizes with culture, Islamic religious education, and tourism, and needs to be developed in a coordinated mannerin Islamic religious education with real regional characteristics.


This study present the preparation of potato starch film with glycerol as a plasticizer through a solution casting technique. The effect of mixing temperature (80°C, 85°C, 90°C and 95°C) on the tensile and microstructure properties of potato starch film was investigated. Results shows that the increase of temperature from 80°C to 85°C caused the increase in tensile strength. Nevertheless, as the temperature increase to 95°C, the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased, with the highest value of 2.6MPa and 15.7mm respectively. Both of tensile strength and elongation at break were recorded for starch film prepared at 85°C. Besides, the microstructure of the starch films showed gradual smoother surface, homogenous and grain growth, as the mixing temperature increased. Overall result shows that mixing temperature significantly influenced the properties of the potato starch films.


2013 Curriculum is known as competency and character based curriculum in which this curriculum applies new instructional models, roles, and rules. Therefore, in this case, it widely requires students to apply the appropriate kinds of strategies to gain the aim of 2013 English curriculum. In this present study, the researcher intended to investigate the kinds of seventh-grade students' learning strategies in 2013 English curriculum at SMPN 1 Malang. In addition, the researcher also investigated the influence of those strategies toward students' achievement in English subject. Those investigations were aimed to finding kinds of language learning strategies that students applied and whether those strategies gave good or bad influence toward students' achievement in mastering English subject. This study applied mix research designs. Quantitative research design provides a beneficial end to the researcher in collecting the data relating to the kind of strategies that students applied in mastering English subject. Meanwhile, qualitative research design would be one of the most appropriate research designs to collect the data relating to influence of learners' strategies on students' achievement in English subjects. The target population of this study was seventh-grade students at SMPN 1 Malang in 2014/2015 academic year. The sample of this study was students of D, E, F, and G Class, which consisted of 32 students for each class. The samples were taken by using purposive sampling procedure. The result of this study showed that there were six kinds of language learning strategies on the observable students; certain language learning strategies appeared frequently rather than the other strategies. The result also showed that strategies that students applied gave good and bad influence toward students' achievement in mastering English subjects. The result was strengthened by score which students achieved in middle test. Some of them could pass the passing grade/ minimum standard criteria (=80) and others could not pass the passing grade. To sum up, the students who could not achieve the passing grade were regarded as ineffective students; meanwhile, students who could achieve the passing grade were regarded as effective students.


Increasing development of information technology and competition among tertiary institutions, analysis quality of academic services in the competitive era such as now is an important thing for university to do. The purpose of this research is to build a web-based computer system for analyzing alumni satisfaction with the quality of academic services at CIC University, the sample data used were 31 Alumni CIC University who graduates in 2019. The analytical method used was Importance Performance Analysis method, this method is an analysis technique which is used to find out which attributes have a big influence on satisfaction, where the measured attributes will be grouped in 4 quadrants. The results of this research is alumni satisfaction analysis systems for academic services at CIC University with Importance Performance Analysis method. The results of the system test of 31 alumni sample data assessing 9 attributes of academic services at CIC University, obtained 33.33% or 3 attributes included in Quadrant I which means that attributes are recommended to be improved. 11.11% or 1 attribute included in the Quadrant II, it mean that attribute has succeeded in satisfying the Alumni and its performance must be maintained. 22.22% or 2 attributes are in the Quadrant III category, it mean that atrributes have a low priority to be improved. While in Quadrant IV there are 33.33% or 3 attributes, it mean that these attributes have good performance, but are not considered important by Alumni


People who receive the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, particularly perimenopausal women who are on birth control or postmenopausal women who take estrogen supplements, may experience thrombosis and thrombocytopenia. Estrogen and the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine both have the potential to cause thrombus in different ways. Some postmenopausal women who are also taking estrogens may develop thrombosis and thrombocytopenia after receiving the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. Therefore, women are encouraged to stop taking drugs containing estrogen before receiving this vaccine. Furthermore, consuming fish oil can help reduce the risk of developing blood clots among women who are in the luteal phase and, thus, have high estrogen levels. In addition, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19's side effects in young women could be mitigated by administering it during the follicular phase.


A nonlinear equivalent circuit model for RF power MOSFETs is given. The model extraction uses cold S-parameter measurements. Pulsed drain current measurements are taken with the junction at the RF operating temperature. A method of thermally characterising the MOSFET is described. An equation is developed to represent accurately the drain current characteristics. The methods given are easily applied to devices which operate at up to 400 MHz with power ratings in the 1 W to 100 W range. The accuracy of the modelling procedure is verified by large-signal RF and DC measurements.


The mechanisms responsible for the uptake and cellular processing of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide are not well understood. We propose that anandamide uptake may occur via a caveola/lipid raft-related endocytic process in RBL-2H3 cells. Inhibitors of caveola-related (clathrin-independent) endocytosis reduced anandamide transport by ∼50% compared with the control. Fluorescein derived from fluorescently labeled anandamide colocalized with protein markers of caveolae at early time points following transport. In this study, we have also identified a yet unrecognized process involved in trafficking events affecting anandamide following its uptake. Following uptake of [3H]anandamide by RBL-2H3 cells, we found an accumulation of tritium in the caveolin-rich membranes. Inhibitors of both anandamide uptake and metabolism blocked the observed enrichment of tritium in the caveolin-rich membranes. Mass spectrometry of subcellular membrane fractions revealed that the tritium accumulation observed in the caveolin-rich membrane fraction was not representative of intact anandamide, suggesting that following metabolism by the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), anandamide metabolites are rapidly enriched in caveolae. Furthermore, HeLa cells, which do not express high levels of FAAH, showed an accumulation of tritium in the caveolin-rich membrane fraction only when transfected with FAAH cDNA. Western blot and immunocytochemistry analyses of RBL-2H3 cells revealed that FAAH was localized in intracellular compartments distinct from caveolin-1 localization. Together, these data suggest that following uptake via caveola/lipid raft-related endocytosis, anandamide is rapidly metabolized by FAAH, with the metabolites efficiently recycled to caveolin-rich membrane domains.


An efficient and practical route for the preparation of highly substituted fluorenones and analogues via solvent-free ruthenium trichloride mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes and alkynes has been developed. This green chemistry approach involves a solventless and atom-economical catalytic process to generate densely functionalized fluorenones and related derivatives of high synthetic utility.


Cough is known to be the major respiratory side effect of treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI). Recently, ACEI have been implicated in drug-induced lung disease. We report a new case of diffuse pneumonitis which occurred during treatment with ACEI. A 73-year-old man was admitted for cough, dyspnea at rest, fever and weight loss. The patient had been treated with the ACEI pirindopril during 6 months for systemic hypertension. Chest radiographs showed reticular infiltrates in the upper lung fields. A CT scan confirmed the infiltrates and showed pleural thickening and airspace opacities. White blood cell counts showed 15,700/mm3 leucocytes with 940 eosinophils/mm3. Transbronchial biopsy was consistent with infiltration of the lung with eosinophils. There was no evidence for another etiology. Once the drug was withdrawn, clinical and radiological abnormalities improved but steroids were required to control symptoms. This report suggests that pirindopril, as captopril, can induce the picture of drug-induced pulmonary disease.


A Web browser is an important component of every computer system as it provides the interface to the Internet world. Browsers facilitate the web users through online services like email, banking and shopping. The new unforeseen functionalities may be added to the web browsers in the form of extensions. The extensions have access to sensitive browser APIs and untrusted web page content, which may result in browser attack like Man-in-theBrowser attack. The major target of this attack is customers of Internet banking. This paper makes two major contributions. First, it presents the threat model for Man-in-the-Browser (MITB) attack. This model identifies various threats and point of attacks used by MITB attack. The major cause of MITB attack is malicious extensions and vulnerabilities found in benign-but-buggy browser extensions. In our study we find that the current browser security model is not secure enough to protect against MITB attack. Second, this paper presents the possible security attack scenarios for MITB threat model. The aim of adopting scenario based approach is to generate possible test cases for MITB attack and show how the system will react on these test cases. Keywords—Threat model, Browser extensions, Vulnerabilities, Browser attack, Security attack scenarios


A new concept for receive front end circuits is presented, which proposes the use of the low noise amplifier (LNA) in a second role as an amplifier of the local oscillator (LO) signal. Based on this concept, much of the complexity of the active array signal distribution networks (calibration and LO) can be reduced. It is shown that the danger of saturation, intermodulation and noise degradation can be overcome by using an unbalanced active mixer circuit which requires an LO-power level compatible with the limitations of modern LNAs.


The authors analyze two intertwined and fundamental issues concerning computer-to-human communication in the multimodal interface; the interplay between sound and graphics, and the role of object persistence. The observations lead to metawidgets as abstract entities capable of manifesting themselves to users as image, as sound, or as various combinations and/or sequences of the two media. The authors show examples of metawidgets in action and discuss mechanisms for choosing among alternative media for metawidget instantiation. Two experimental microworlds implemented to explore these ideas are described.<<ETX>>


There is considerable interest in delineating the molecular mechanisms of action of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), considered as central player in a plethora of human conditions, including cancer, fibrosis and autoimmune disease. TGF-β elicits its biological effects through membrane bound serine/threonine kinase receptors which transmit their signals via downstream signalling molecules, SMADs, which regulate the transcription of target genes in collaboration with various co-activators and co-repressors. Until now, therapeutic strategy for primary Sjӧgren's syndrome (pSS) has been focused on inflammation, but, recently, the involvement of TGF-β/SMADs signalling has been demonstrated in pSS, although TGFβ family members seems to have ambiguous effects on the function of pSS salivary glands. Based on these premises, this review highlights recent advances in unravelling the molecular basis for the multi-faceted functions of TGF-β in pSS that are dictated by orchestrations of SMADs, and describe TGF-β/SMADs value as both disease markers and/or therapeutic target for pSS.


Background : Anticancer brings side effect in normal cells especially high
proliferating cells such as gastrointestinal cells. It causes mucositis in
gastrointestinal signed by decreament of villi height and crypt depth. This study
intent on proofing whether electroacupuncture at Zusanli and Neiguan can
accelerate mucosal recovery.
Methode : 24 male Wistar rates, 3 months old, 130-200 gr, were devided into 4
groups including K, P1, P2 and P3. K was injected with 2 ml NaCl intraperitoneal
on the 1
st
day and sacrificed on the 7
th
day. P1, P2 and P3 were injected with 150
mg/kg 5- Fluorouracyl (5-FU) intraperitoneal on the 1
st
day. P1 was sacrificed on
the 3
rd
day and P2 on the 7
th
day. P3 got EA at acupoint Zusanli and Neiguan
everyday began on the 3
rd
day until sacrificed on the 7
th
day. EA was set on 2 Hz
and 10 mA, given for 15 minutes until appear muscles contraction. Ileums were
biopsied to made into histological preparation with Hematoxilin-Eosin
pigmentation. Recovery of Ileum mucous was determined by summed villi hight
and crypt depth (v+c) measured with micrometer under light microscope.
Result: Mean of villi height for K;P1;P2;P3 are 51,56; 43,22; 54,75; 58,49 µm
and mean of crypt depth are 18,5; 13,38; 17,11; 17,9 µm. Mean of (v+c) are
70,06; 56,77; 71,86; 76,43 µm. Acceleration of villi, crypt and ileum mucous
recovery are significantly different between P1 and K, P2, P3. No significant
different between K and P2, P3 also between P2 and P3.
Conclusion: Electroacupuncture at acupoint Zusanli and Neiguan had no effect on
recovery of ileum mucosal damage consequence of 5-fluorouracyl administration
Keyword : Electroacupuncture, Mucositis, Ileum


Hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid carcinoma is rare. The natural history of this neoplastic disease is poorly understood for the extremely small number of cases reported in literature. The Authors observed three cases and discuss the clinical features illustrating how to recognize and treat this neoplasia.


AIM
Our previous study indicated that Aβ-induced Retinal Pigment Epithelial (RPE) cell senescence may be associated with chronic inflammation in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The present study was designed to explore whether Aβ deposition and RPE senescence could be found in the senescence-prone mouse strain 8 (SAMP8), which is an animal model for AMD.

METHODS
Eyes of both SAMP8 and age-matched SAMR1 (SAM resistant) mice were examined in vivo by fundus photography and electroretinography (ERG). Retinal morphological features were assessed using light and electron microscopy. Aβ deposition and p16-positive senescent RPE cells were traced using immunofluorescence labeling. P16 expression was detected using western blot. Expressions of IL-6 and IL-8 in RPE/choroid were analyzed using RT-PCR.

RESULTS
In fundus of SAMP8, age-dependent increase of drusen-like lesions and the increase of granular autofluorescent spots were respectively detected using IR (near-infrared) and AF (autofluorescence) imaging of confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. The amplitude of the ERGs declined with age in SAMP8 and these changes were paralleled with the significant changes in retinal morphological features examined by funduscopy. Histopathological analysis found significant loss of photoreceptor outer segments (OS) and abnormal localization of RPE cells in aged SAMP8 mice. Degenerative changes in RPE cells of aged SAMP8 mice, including massive vacuoles, thickened Bruch's membrane (BrM), and loss of basal infoldings were further confirmed by electron microscopy. Increased Aβ deposits in OS layer and p16-positive senescent RPE cells were observed using immunofluorescence microscopy. Western blot confirmed that P16 expression was significantly increased in RPE cells of aged SAMP8 mice. Expressions of proinflammatory IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly upregulated in RPE/choroid of aged SAMP8 mice.

CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that aged SAMP8 mice developed ocular pathology similar to some features of human AMD. In this AMD mouse model, Aβ deposition and RPE senescence may be associated with AMD development, and RPE senescence is likely a mechanistic link between Aβ deposition and inflammation.


Background: Febrile seizures are the most predominant neurological disorders in children between 6 months-5 years, at the same time iron deficiency anaemia is one of nutritional insult that implicated as risk factor for occurrence of febrile seizures.

Objective: To estimate the role of iron deficiency as a risk factor for febrile seizures in children aged 6 months -5 years, western Iraq.

Patients and methods: A case control study has been conducted in AL Ramadi maternity and children teaching hospital during January to October of 2016. All children with history of febrile seizures aged 6 months-5 years were involved as cases group, others with febrile illness and no seizures were considered as control group. Data from 58 child of each group were collected. The data include age, sex, temperature, causes of febrile illness, Hb, haematocrit and s. ferritin levels. The data were subjected to statistical analysis run under IBM SPSS ver. 23.

Results: Means age ± SD were 27.48 ± 14.83 and 23.24 ± 14.37 months in cases and control groups respectively with no significant difference between them. Most of the children (65.52%) of those with febrile seizures were less than 3 years old. Mean temperature of cases group (38.86°C) was found to be significantly greater than that of the control group (38.52°C) at p-value<0.01. Mean Hb level, PCV%, s. ferritin level were significantly lower in cases group than in control group. Proportion of iron deficiency anaemia was significantly higher in febrile seizure group (65.52%) than in control group (31.03%) at p-value<0.01.

Conclusion: Occurrence of IDA in cases group is found to be more than 2 times of that in the control group. Early detection and proper treatment of IDA can play a prominent role in limitation the prevalence of febrile seizures among children below 5 years.


We propose a new Bayesian Neural Net (BNN) formulation that affords variational inference for which the evidence lower bound (ELBO) is analytically tractable subject to a tight approximation. We achieve this tractability by decomposing ReLU nonlinearities into an identity function and a Kronecker delta function. We demonstrate formally that assigning the outputs of these functions to separate latent variables allows representing the neural network likelihood as the composition of a chain of linear operations. Performing variational inference on this construction enables closed-form computation of the evidence lower bound. It can thus be maximized without requiring Monte Carlo sampling to approximate the problematic expected log-likelihood term. The resultant formulation boils down to stochastic gradient descent, where the gradients are not distorted by any factor besides minibatch selection. This amends a long-standing disadvantage of BNNs relative to deterministic nets. Experiments on four benchmark data sets show that the cleaner gradients provided by our construction yield a steeper learning curve, achieving higher prediction accuracies for a fixed epoch budget.


As optical fiber networks grow there will be an increasing need for switching high-rate digital signals. Both electronic and optical technologies are considered candidates for application in these future systems. We review progress in the fabrication of dense arrays of switches using electronic technologies with emphasis on CMOS technology.


: High main memory consumption is a significant cost factor for in-memory database systems. Tiering, i.e., placing parts of the data on memory or storage devices other than DRAM, reduces the main memory footprint. A controlled data placement can assign rarely accessed data to slow devices while frequently used data remains on fast devices, such as main memory, to maintain acceptable query latencies. We present an automatic data placement decision system for the in-memory database Hyrise. The system organizes the memory and storage devices in a tierless pool, with no fixed device class categorization or performance order. The system supports data placement use cases, such as minimizing end-to-end query latencies and making cost-optimal purchase recommendations in cloud environments. In this paper, we introduce an efficient calibration process to derive cost models for various storage devices. To determine data placements, we introduce a linear programming-based approach, which yields optimal configurations, and an efficient heuristic. With a set of main memory and SSD devices, we can reduce the main memory consumption for base table data of the TPC-DS benchmark by 74 percent when accepting a workload latency increase of 52 percent. In a comparison of data placement algorithms and cost models, we find that simplistic algorithms (e.g., greedy algorithms) can present viable alternatives to optimal linear programming algorithms, especially under cost prediction inaccuracies.


Purpose: This study was done to examine the relationship among knowledge, health belief, and preventitive behavioral intention related to venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with lower-limb musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This transversal descriptive study looked at 145 adult patients with lower-limb musculoskeletal disorders, who were hospitalized in C hospital in G city. Data were collected from September 29 to October 6, 2012. Knowledge, health belief and preventitive behavioral intention were measured by structured questionnaires. Date were analyzed by descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation, using the SPSS program. Results: The mean score of knowledge related to VTE was low. The mean scores of health belief and preventitive behavioral intention related to VTE were moderate or higher than average. Preventitive behavioral intention positively correlated with knowledge, perceived benefit, and health motivation. Whereas, there was a negative correlation between preventitive behavioral intention and perceived barriers. Conclusion: These results suggest that developing a health care program which is able to enhance knowledge, perceived benefit, and health motivation related to VTE and reduce perceived barriers, is essential in order to promote preventitive behaviors.


We developed a cost-effective Three-wheeled surveillance robot using an Arduino NANO microcontroller and a Smartphone running in Android Operating System. Surveillance robots typically consist of a Internet Protocol(IP) camera, Arduino and Wi-Fi module. We are using Arduino software to interface the Wi-Fi module with Arduino. An Android based application, Wi-Fi module is used to control in this spy robot. This robot can be controlled with the help of Android phone via moving the robot upward, backward, left and right side by using android application through Wi-Fi or Internet. Arduino based microcontroller is used for instruction processing and giving proper instructions. Wi-Fi technology is used to interface between Arduino and Android. An IP camera is used for live video streaming and is used to observe any object & movement of robot. This robot can move to any place and perform smartly through internet and also with in the Wi-Fi network range.


SIR, A recent paper on senescence and sunscreens.' in our opinion, provides misleading and potentially harmful information for patients exposed to UV light. It is suggested that the daily use of a sun protection factor (SPF) 2 sunscreen will reduce the risk of skin cancer more effectively than those products with a high SPF value. This has no basis in fact. In one of the studies cited^ both an SPF 2 and an SPF 1 5 product were tested and the results showed that the SPF 2 product reduced skin cancer as expected, while the SPF I 5 product eliminated the risk entirely. In every other study conducted to date high SPF sunscreens were more effective in preventing photoinduced skin cancer. The author mistakenly assumes that the application of a high SPF sunscreen will force users to increase their UV exposure. This assumption is contrary to the demographic data, which shows that individuals who intentionally expose themselves to long periods of sunlight in order to tan tend to use lower SPF sunscreens or no sunscreen at all. Conversely, sun-concerned individuals avoid excess sun exposure and use high Si'F sunscreens. The statement that sunscreens 'usually act as UVB (280J15 nm) filters' is incorrect. The SPF is a measure of the sunscreen product's effectiveness in preventing UV-induced erythema caused by hoth UVB and UVA. It is, in fact, impossible to develop a high SPF sunscreen 0=15) by only blocking UVB. Sunscreens with SPF values up to 45 have been developed which block most of the UVB and UVA spectrum. The professional readership of the journal must give reliable information to their patients, and it would be irresponsible to suggest that less UV protection is better in the face of clear evidence to the contrary.


Cesarean section is associated with significant postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tramadol versus bupivacaine administration at wound closure on postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing cesarean section. Sixty women undergoing cesarean deliveries were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% (n = 30) or 50 mg of tramadol in 10 mL of normal saline (n = 30), both as local wound infiltration prior to skin closure at the end of operation. Postoperative pain was evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS: 0-10) at 1, 2 and 6 hours after operation. Time to first analgesic administration and analgesic consumption in 24 hours after operation were recorded and compared between the two groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 15 and p < 0.05 was considered significant. The VAS score did not differ significantly between the two groups at 1 and 2 hours after cesarean section, but it was higher in bupivacaine group than tramadol group 6 hours after operation (p < 0.05; Fisher exact test). Postoperative consumption of analgesic was higher in bupivacaine group than tramadol group but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05; Fisher exact test). No side effects were reported in either group. This study showed that subcutaneous administration of tramadol provided analgesic effect equal to bupivacaine with longer pain relief after cesarean section.


Utah faces serious earthquake risk from the alignment of its major population centers with the historically active Wasatch fault. This paper identifies the origins and traces the life history of the Utah Seismic Safety Advisory Council, paying special attention to the partisan political shift which contributed to its 1981 legislative failures and organizational demise.


This work aims to assess the impact of maintenance-oriented design on a production line in the pharmaceutical industry, which includes operations in a clean room. The case study analyses the downtimes of a production line of large volume parental solutions. The results obtained at the end of an appropriate period of observation were used to identify the main problems, in terms of maintenance time. Some of the critical issues were overcome by requiring that part of the production line be redesigned by a company specialized in the design of clean room lines. In this context, the focus of the case study is not on the technical aspects of maintenance-oriented design application, but its consequences in terms of the increase in performance. The performance of the new production line was analysed and compared with that obtained in the first phase of the study. This comparison allowed us to estimate and quantify the achieved improvements referring to system availability and consequently to a production increase quantified at more than 110,000 units per year. The impact of the maintenance-oriented design was also evaluated from an economic point of view. In particular, the production increase obtained and the corresponding economic advantages were evaluated. Through this comparison, it was possible to estimate the payback period for the investment of redesign, quantified in less than six years.


This article sets out to explore the relationship between alcohol and intimate partner violence. This research will explore the role that alcohol contributes to intimate partner violence and how it influences such a phenomenon. The empirical research is based on 12 semi-structured interviews with professionals who deal with or have dealt with victims and/or offenders of intimate partner violence. The professionals range from academics to social workers in the North East region within the United Kingdom. By adopting a qualitative approach, this research found that alcohol was used as an excuse in intimate partner violence cases. The data presented herein only give an insight into the discourses of professionals in relation to this topic rather than the views of the victims and offenders themselves. This research stipulates that alcohol is not causal in relation to intimate partner violence but it does offer the offender a 'shield', which allows them to identify themselves not as a 'violent abuser' but rather as someone whose drinking can lead them to do things they otherwise would not do.


The lighting industry has been comprehensively developed and deployed during recent decades, especially with the rise of LED technology. As a related technique field, lighting control system has also draw more and more attention; therefore intelligent lighting control systems are needed. Nowadays, several famous lighting companies are working on a next generation of lighting control system, which apply not only a distributed network structure but also wireless communication. Rather than controlling by a single node, a distributed system will finish controlling operation in different control units. This guarantees the distributed system to be more robust and efficient. Wireless technology is also essential for a system because it is infeasible to connect distributed devices with cables. Of all the wireless communication standards, the zigbee protocol is regarded as the best solution for a lighting control system. This is because the zigbee protocol has features of low-rate and low-cost, which perfectly fit the features of a sensor network. However, this application also leads to a problem which cannot be ignored, the coexistence problem with other wireless protocols. Because both of the zigbee and other wireless protocols operate in the ISM 2.4 GHz frequency band, the coexistence problem happens. With different modulation and frequency spreading methods, different protocols will not detect each other correctly, for example if there are two different protocol packets being transmitted, a packet collision will happen. This problem is much more serious for the zigbee service, because the interference from wifi devices will be unacceptable for a zigbee transmission. How to solve this coexistence problem between zigbee and wifi devices in an indoor lighting environment is the main research question of this thesis. In this thesis, several solutions for the coexistence problem between zigbee and wifi are proposed and analyzed. With their different advantages and drawbacks, each of these methods has its own application scene. After comparing, the "Transmission Time Reservation" method has been proved to be a feasible solution as to the assumed problem, which has also been tested by simulations. Within this method, a gateway node between the zigbee and wifi network is designed cooperatively. Whenever there is a zigbee request, this node is programmed to do the reservation operation with the wifi AP node. The results of NS3 simulations and comparative tests have also shown that this method is effective to solve the coexistence problem in an indoor environment.


Various modes of therapy, alone or in combination, have had little effect in improving the survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Recently, in a pilot study, 34 patients with glioblastoma were treated by fast-neutron-beam irradiation of the whole brain. Following treatment, the patients became steroid-dependent and pursued a gradual downhill course with increasing obtundation. Although there was no improvement in the length or quality of survival of these patients, neuropathological studies in the 13 patients who came to autopsy showed the following: 1) extensive coagulative necrosis of much of the tumor mass; 2) dense infiltration by collagenous connective tissue; 3) minimal phagocytic reaction; 4) marked reduction in the amount of viable tumor; 5) abnormal astrocytic proliferation, which may represent either astrocytoma or a radiation-induced bizarre gliosis, and 6) areas of gliosis and white matter degeneration in the brain stem, remote form the tumor site. These observations suggest that continued efforts to further refine this mode of therapy for glioblastoma are warranted.


Angiotensin II and aldosterone are key hormones regulating sodium and water balance. Investigations of the taste system in rat have shown that the amiloride-sensitivity of the taste nerve responses to NaCl is enhanced by aldosterone treatment over a time course of several hours. A recent study further revealed that angiotensin II suppresses the amiloride-sensitivity of the mouse gustatory NaCl responses and enhances sweet taste sensitivity within one hour, without affecting umami, sour and bitter responses. These results suggest the presence of a reciprocal regulatory mechanism of salty taste sensitivity by angiotensin II as an acute suppressor and aldosterone as a slow enhancer in peripheral taste organs, which may play an important role in maintaining sodium homeostasis. Moreover, the possible cross-talk between salty and sweet taste modulation by angiotensin II signaling may optimize sodium and calorie intake.


This article documents the underlying principles of scenario planning considered best practice in its application. These principles have been learned directly over the past 15 years from the first- and second-generation pioneers of the scenario method. In this article, human resource development professionals wishing to gain expertise in the discipline of scenario planning will encounter a way of thinking about this work, some key processes having a track record of success, and an outline of the knowledge skills they need to develop to become competent practitioners. The first part identifies a number of key phenomena that led to the birth of scenario-based strategy as a method.The second part describes some of the essential process elements, their origins, and the competencies needed for facilitation and execution.The goal of this article is to provide a set of reliable "handrails" for practitioners and guidelines for identifying useful further learning resources.


This paper documents the impact of the U.S-China trade war on firms worldwide and disentangles the transmission channels involved. Based on a quarterly and up-to-date panel of thousands of listed firms in 40 countries, I establish that firms with export exposure to China have had a decline in revenue, profits and capital stocks since the trade war began, while export exposure to the U.S. has been beneficial. Export exposure to China has been particularly damaging to producers of intermediates and capital goods, signaling a slowdown in Chinese demand for goods that form part of supply chains or that are more sensitive to the business cycle and to policy uncertainty. There are signs that firms across the world have been able to substitute Chinese exports to the U.S. in industries targeted by U.S. tariffs but no signs that they have benefited from Chinese tariffs. These impacts have been highly heterogeneous across geographic regions as well as across firms of different sizes.


Tumoral calcinosis is a rare syndrome characterized by massive subcutaneous soft tissues deposits of calcium phosphate near the large joints. We report herein a 20 old boy with calcified lesions bilaterally involving the soft tissue over the greater trochanter. The serum calcium, phosphate and urea were normal.


Visual examination of the mandibular organ (MO) from the lobster, Homarus americanus, disclosed two distinct morphological regions: a fan-folded region along one edge of the gland, and a smooth, unfolded region comprising the rest of the gland. Because MOs produce methyl farnesoate (MF), the MF content of both regions was measured. In freshly dissected glands, more than 95% of the MF was found in the fan-folded region of the gland. In MO sections incubated with [3H-methyl]methionine (a radiolabeled precursor of MF), more than 90% of MF synthesis was found in the fan-folded region. Eyestalk ablation, a procedure that increases MO activity, caused the MF content of MOs to increase more than 130-fold, but had little effect on the regional distribution of MF. Histological observations indicated that these two regions had different cellular compositions. The fan-folded region contained two cell types (A and B). The A cells were mitotically active and appeared to be undifferentiated. The B cells contained a large number of small vacuoles. The unfolded region was largely composed of a third cell type (C). The C cells were large and morphologically complex, containing many mitochondria and large vacuolar-like structures. They contained relatively few small vacuoles. On the basis of appearance and location, B cells appear to be the likely site of MF synthesis. The physiological importance of C cells is unknown.


Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is one of the most serious infectious diseases and represents a major global health issue worldwide. It can be transmitted vertically and horizontally through contact with infected blood or body fluids. More attention to HBV infection in pregnancy is needed due to high risk of chronicity when transmitted to infants during delivery. Objectives: A comprehensive review of the HBV prevalence rate in pregnant females taking into account different geographical areas and socio-economic status is still lacking. This would be of crucial importance for HBV prevention and control programs. As such, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted focusing on HBV prevalence rate in pregnant females from different parts of the world. Methods: Different electronic databases, including Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and ISI/Web of Science were searched from January 1st 2000 to July 31st 2016, using relevant keywords, such as "prevalence" or "seroprevalence" or "epidemiology" and "pregnancy" or "pregnant" or "antenatal" in combination with "hepatitis B virus" or "HBV" with no language restrictions. The study protocol of this systematic review was deposited at the "International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews" and registered as CRD42016041985. Results: After scrutinizing all the extant scholarly literature from 2000 to 2016, this study found 222 relevant articles. The overall HBV prevalence rate in pregnant females worldwide was estimated using a random-effect model, giving a value of 3 (95 confidence interval or CI 2 - 4). Heterogeneity between studies was significantly high (I2 = 99.9, P < 0.0001). The clinical and epidemiological burden was higher in developing countries. Conclusions: This suggests that despite the recent scientific advancements and the clinical progress that has occurred in anti-viral therapy, HBV still represents a major issue worldwide, especially in underdeveloped countries. The key strategies for preventing transmission from pregnant females to their fetuses are through early birth dose and infant vaccination, as well as by the use of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the screening and diagnosis of mothers at high risk and the subsequent use of anti-viral agents during pregnancy in order to reduce maternal DNA concentrations down to undetectable concentrations. Health authorities should effectively implement these approaches to better control HBV in pregnancy. © 2018, Hepatitis Monthly.


Phaeocystis globosa has formed intensive blooms in the South China Sea and even around the world, causing huge social economic losses and environmental damage. However, little is known about the formation mechanism and dynamics of P. globosa blooms. 19′-Hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (hex-fuco) is often used as the pigment proxy to estimate Phaeocystis biomass, while this is challenged by the giant-colony-forming P. globosa in the Beibu Gulf, which contains only 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (but-fuco) but not hex-fuco. ABSTRACT The giant-colony-forming haptophyte Phaeocystis globosa has caused several large-scale blooms in the Beibu Gulf since 2011, but the distribution and dynamics of the blooms remained largely unknown. In this study, colonies of P. globosa, as well as membrane-concentrated phytoplankton samples, were collected during eight cruises in the Beibu Gulf from September 2016 to August 2017. Pigments were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The pigment 19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (hex-fuco), generally considered a diagnostic pigment for Phaeocystis, was not detected in P. globosa colonies in the Beibu Gulf, whereas 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (but-fuco) was found in all colony samples. Moreover, but-fuco in membrane-concentrated phytoplankton samples exhibited a similar distribution pattern to that of P. globosa colonies, suggesting that but-fuco provided the diagnostic pigment for bloom-forming P. globosa in the Beibu Gulf. Based on the distribution of but-fuco in different water masses in the region prior to the formation of intensive blooms, it is suggested that P. globosa blooms in the Beibu Gulf could originate from two different sources. IMPORTANCE Phaeocystis globosa has formed intensive blooms in the South China Sea and even around the world, causing huge social economic losses and environmental damage. However, little is known about the formation mechanism and dynamics of P. globosa blooms. 19′-Hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (hex-fuco) is often used as the pigment proxy to estimate Phaeocystis biomass, while this is challenged by the giant-colony-forming P. globosa in the Beibu Gulf, which contains only 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (but-fuco) but not hex-fuco. Using but-fuco as a diagnostic pigment, we traced two different origins of P. globosa blooms in the Beibu Gulf. This study clarifies the development process of P. globosa blooms in the Beibu Gulf, which provides a basis for the early monitoring and prevention of the blooms.


Against a historical and contemporary backdrop of queer sexualities in India, this paper discusses certain approaches towards agenda setting using the Multiple Streams policy framework (Kingdon, 1984; Zahariadis, 1999) to change Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises non-normative sexual activities. The paper attempts to map the path of legal challenge to Section 377 and focus on the process of agenda setting as a crucial step in the campaign towards social policy change. It then examines some of the current trends and developments that, if used efficaciously through agenda setting, may result in a unique policy window opportunity.


Buying a new house or apartment is one of the most difficult decisions most people face in their life, and one they generally only make a few times. A residential location decision considers the dwelling type, the attributes of the location and the tenure type. It is consequently no surprise that the modelling of these decisions has received growing attention by choice modellers over the last few years. A key issue however remains the availability of the right type of data. Efforts based on stated preference data are prone to hypothetical bias and an oversimplification of the real complexity of the choice people make. A number of authors have looked at using household survey data that incorporates a residential location dimension, but such data generally limits an analyst to study the choice of a specific residential area rather than a dwelling level context. Furthermore, a key issue arises in defining the set of available alternatives. An analyst will not generally know what other properties would have been available to the decision maker at the time he or she made their choice. Analysts have to a certain extent ignored this issue and focussed instead on choice set generation, i.e. recognising that it is not likely that each household will consider all alternatives and will form their own limited choice set. One way analysts have inferred the choice set is by way of ruling out alternatives that vary greatly in terms of price, dwelling structure or location from the observed sale. The resulting set of alternatives is known as the evoked set (Rashidi, et al., 2012), but the process does sill not reveal the choice set. Further refinement of the assumed choice set for modelling may employ the two stage probabilistic model developed by Swait and Ben-Akvia (1987). This approach models choice set generation via a constraint-based non-compensatory process and then employs utility maximisation compensatory process for the actual choice. Kaplan, et al. (2011) provide an example of such an approach in a residential choice context wherein they use real-estate website search behaviour to identify threshold which are used to determine which alternatives are retained in generation potential choice sets. A key question we ask is how these efforts at choice set generation are affected by or mask the issues in the data in relation to the global choice set. This availability set is all houses on the market for a period of time in which the household is examining the market. Our inquiry into housing choice makes use of a complete set of transactions on residential properties for the city of Perth, Western Australia for the period of September 2015-September 2016. The data contains almost 8,000 observations of the selling price, date of transaction, attributes of the land and dwelling. The important feature of the data set is that we have the average time on the market for each of 380 suburbs of Perth, permitting a reasonable assumption on which houses were on the market at the time of the purchase as well as the changes in the availability set in the period leading up to the sale. Furthermore, the data set is enhanced by spatial characteristics of the built, social and natural environment. Our analysis tracks the availability set over a series of time windows leading up to the date of the observed transaction and test robustness of the assumptions made in terms of availability. As is generally the case, the advantages of our data are also offset by some limitations in that we do not know the characteristics of the household or where they are moving from. An additional component of our work is thus to test the impact of assumptions about choice set formation (i.e. subset of the overall choice set). In this context, we are particularly mindful of endogeneity issues as our only potential insights into the preferences of the household (which can then act as a proxy for their search criteria) is the actual choice they have made. As with other studies, we also do not observe cases where someone searches for a property but does not make a purchase. As a final component in our work, we contrast the insights we gain from the choice models to results from spatial hedonic regressions. Kaplan, S., Bekhor, S., & Shiftan, Y. (2011). Development and estimation of a semi-compensatory residential choice model based on explicit choice protocols. The Annals of Regional Science , 47 (1), 51-80. Rashidi, T. H., Auld, J., & Mohammadian, A. K. (2012). A behavioral housing search model: Two-stage hazard-based and multinomial logit approach to choice-set formation and location selection. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice , 46 (7), 1097-1107. Swait, J., & Ben-Akiva, M. (1987). Incorporating random constraints in discrete models of choice set generation. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological , 21 (2), 91-102.


To investigate the effect of delta opioid receptor agonist (D-Ala2, D-Leu5) enkephalin (DADLE) on the permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Thirty four male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned randomly into three groups: sham group (group Sham, n=10), artificial cerebrospinal fluid group (group ACSF, n=12), and DADLE group (group DADLE, n=12). Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion was performed to induce permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Then, the animals in group DADLE and group ACSF were treated with DADLE or ACSF by an intracerebroventricular injection at 45 min after ischemia. Neurologic deficit scores were assessed according to the Garcia criterion at 24 h after ischemia. Infarct volume was determined using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining method. The histological analysis was used to evaluate the extent of cerebral injury. Compared with the control group, the Garcia scores were significantly higher (P=0.000) and the infarct volumes (P=0.018) were significantly smaller in the DADLE treatment group at 24 h after ischemia. These neurologic changes were closely correlated with the outcome of the infarct volumes. In addition, the histological examination showed more intact neurons in rats treated with DADLE than those treated with ACSF at 24 h after ischemia (P=0.000). DADLE by intracerebroventricular administration at 45 min after ischemia can improve neurologic outcome and mitigate cortical neuronal injury induced by permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats.


Sinelobus stanfordi is a tanaidacean of worldwide distribution of considerable significance within coastal ecosystems. The aim of this research was to provide essential information on the poorly-known population biology of this species. Benthic samples were taken seasonally from winter 2005 through summer 2007 along 155 km of shoreline within the Río de la Plata Estuary, Argentina. The density of this tanaidacean was higher in vegetated than in bare sediments. The smaller individuals flourished in spring and summer, whereas the larger mature members prevailed in the cooler seasons. Females were always twice as abundant as males. Copulatory females, with 18 ± 8 eggs each, were collected during all the seasons. Five cohorts were distinguished by the von Bertalanffy growth function. This research represents a baseline investigation for future studies on the population dynamics of S. stanfordi both in this estuary and in other places where this species is found.


MPV (mean platelet volume) is one of the determinants of the platelet function which is situated in the routine complete blood count tests and was shown to be inversely correlated with inflammation. We aimed to evaluate MPV values in patients with peritoneal dialysis and in acute peritonitis attacks. 37 patients with PD and 42 healthy subjects were included in the study. 42 peritonitis attacks of the patients were recorded. C reactive protein (CRP) levels and complete blood count tests were analyzed. Mean MPV values were significantly higher in patients with PD in the stable period compared with the control group (p <0.001). Mean MPV values were significantly lower and CRP values were significantly higher in peritonitis attack periods, compared with the stable period of the same PD patients, both (p <0.001). In the correlation analysis, MPV levels in the peritonitis attack were negatively correlated with CRP levels, hospitalization day, peritoneal fluid and plasma leukocyte count (r= -0.751, p<0.001); (r= -0.355, p=0.002, ; ( r= -0.851, p<0.001) ; (r= 0.579, p<0.001) respectively. In conclusion, our results suggest that assessment of MPV in acute peritonitis in PD patients may indicate systemic inflammation. MPV may be used as an hepler marker to predict the severity of acute peritonitis.


The influence of quenched disorder on the critical behavior of superfluid He is studied by confinement of the helium to the pores of three diflerent porous media: Vycor, xerogel, and aerogel glasses. In each case a well defined power-law behavior for the superfluid density is observed as the transition temperature is approached. In Vycor the superfluid critical exponent is bulklike, whereas striking-ly diff'erent critical exponents are seen in the other two media.


Among the representatives of the Actinidia Lindl. genus, Actinidia kolomikta (Siebold et Zucc.) Planch. is valued as the most winter-hardy variety with high taste and dietary properties. The Federal Horticultural Research Centre for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery has a live collection of Actinidia , which includes more than a hundred cultivated forms and varieties. In this study, ash content in Actinidia kolomikta fruits of 10 varieties and collection samples was studied by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy using an analytical scanning electron microscope JEOL JSM6090 LA. A decreasing series was established for the accumulation of ash elements in the fruits of the studied samples: Ca> K> P> Mg> Mo> S> Se> Zn> Fe> Co> Si> Na. In terms of accumulation of useful macro- and micronutrients, the most valuable varieties were identified. The total accumulation of macronutrients in the fruit ash ranged from 28.6 to 45.3 wt%. This indicator was the highest in the fruits of Dolgovechnaya, Uslada and Vinogradnaya (42.068–45.638 wt%). The fruits of the Uslada variety were distinguished by a high content of phosphorus (5.89), silicon (0.504), sulfur (1.34) and potassium (23.596 wt%). In terms of micronutrient accumulation, the Pamyati Kolbasinoj variety (4.904 wt%) showed the highest levels of molybdenum (3.804) and selenium (0.801 wt%). Iron accumulated more readily in the fruits of the Uslada variety (0.161), cobalt — in Nadezhda (0.157), zinc — in Vinogradnaya (0.247) and Chempion (0.195). A statistically significant positive correlation (r > 0.7) was revealed in the accumulation of the following pairs of ash elements: sodium — sulfur (r = 0.70), phosphorus — potassium (r = 0.75), silicon — iron (r = 0.76), as well as molybdenum with phosphorus (r = 0.84), sulfur (r = 0.83) and potassium (r = 0.71). A statistically significant negative correlation was observed only for the accumulation of phosphorus and calcium (r = -0.71). According to the results, the fruits of the Actinidia kolomikta varieties under study can be an additional or alternative source of dietary minerals in functional food products.


The benchmarking process highlights the need for the cardiology profession to create industry-accepted indicators to measure clinical and nonclinical effectiveness in cardiology programs.


The authors describe the use of a modified surface impedance boundary condition (IBC) for solving eddy current problems. An approximate expression for the surface impedance at sharp edges of any angle has been derived for TM conduction problems. The validity of the expression is tested by using the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) to solve selected problems with the use of IBC and in the full region (i.e. without the IBC). These results show that significant improvement in terms of accuracy can be achieved as compared with the classical IBC. By using the modified surface impedance, one can determine the distribution of power loss, forces, etc., along the conductor boundaries with excellent accuracy. >


The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the application of reflective learning journals online. It evaluates the effectiveness of reflective learning online using a five point level reflection scale. The purpose of applying reflective journals was to develop critical thinking, help students to integrate theory, practice and experience and to relate presented theoretical knowledge to real life situations. As a consequence, students gained deeper understanding of the material learnt, managed to contextualise it and developed meaningful professional relationships with their teacher.


The carriers in InAs-GaSb double quantum wells are hybrid "electron-holes" . We study the magnetotransport properties of such particles using a two-component Keldysh technique, which results in a semi-analytic expression for the small-field current. This approach is necessary for calculating the zero-temperature current, which is large even when the Fermi energy lies within the hybridization gap (in a semiclassical (Boltzmann) approach this current vanishes). Magnetic-field dependence of the conductance is also affected significantly by the hybridization of electrons and holes.


Jin Chung Sa is located Daeyoli, Jigogmyen, Saesangun, Choongchungnamdo, there are equipped a portrait scroll of Jung Chung Sin. And top of the town hill live in his 13th grandson, Jung Jong Sul. There are his portrait scroll and command flag and a suit of mail. According to say, remains was stollen at 1975 and it found again. But helmet thrown in the sea at the present time lceave only photo. Also, Chung Ryul Sa is located Anrakdong, Dongraegu, Pusan city, there are portrait scroll of died at the Dadaepo and Pusan Jin Sung and Dongrae Sung. Same memorial center is display mail of vice-envoy and inspector. Thus, this copy is refer to mail of Jung Chung Sin and Chung Ryul Sa, besides we will study mail production of Chung Ryul Sa possession. Even if they are bad to condition, I found court rank of mail through it. I hope, in the future, at that find a good data.


One of the standardized procedures used in the design of floating systems and their mooring and production lines is the so-called short-term design approach where the system is analyzed for some specific extreme environmental conditions. Along with this procedure, a nonlinear time-domain coupled dynamic analysis, considering the floater and its risers and mooring lines, can nowadays be incorporated as a feasible part of the design practice. One very important and challenging aspect of this process is concerned with the estimation of the characteristic short-term extreme values of the system response parameters based on the sampled time-series. In this paper a common procedure used to establish these extreme values for floater system response parameters, which is based upon a Weibull distribution model for the peaks of the time-series, is reviewed in the light of a recently proposed approach based on a general parametric model for the average conditional exceedance rate of peaks. It is shown that the former model corresponds to a particular case of the latter one. Numerical results are presented for the response parameters of a turret-moored Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit considering a short-term coupled analysis of the whole system under an extreme environmental condition of wind, wave, and current. Specifically, the extreme response of surge motion, top tension of the most loaded mooring line, and Det norske Veritas (DnV) codes utilization factor for the most critical section of an 0.20 m outer diameter SLWR (steel lazy wave riser) are investigated.


Agricultural biodiversity has a great potential to contribute to positive change and strengthening of smallholder farmers' livelihoods. The Resilience and Development Programme (SwedBio) was commissioned by the Dutch development NGOs Hivos and Oxfam Novib to undertake a study to identify existing constraints to release this potential, with the specific aim to provide a background for the further development of a Knowledge Programme on agricultural biodiversity for improved livelihoods and resilient food systems. A theoretical framework based on resilience thinking was developed, focussing on factors crucial for positive adaptation and transformation in the social-ecological systems of agricultural landscapes. Consultations with key actors were carried out through a written survey and interviews, revealing a broad range of successful cases showing how agricultural biodiversity in different ways – through the actions and management of smallholder farmers and their organisations – has contributed to increased wellbeing and strengthened livelihoods as well as more resilient ecosystems. In addition, the survey pointed out key factors behind less successful interventions, barriers to change. An important observation was that knowledge constraints stressed by respondents refer only to a limited extent to the lack of technical knowledge. Main constraints refer instead to observations that farmers' knowledge and experiences related to agricultural biodiversity have not (yet) been translated sufficiently into policies and strategies relevant to development organisations working in the South. A related constraint was that existing policies are often perceived as inadequate or even conflicting. We argue that it would be possible to address some of these constraints by focussing on the windows of opportunity for positive change, and promoting knowledge for empowerment and catalysing transformation. Overall, applying social-ecological systems' and resilience thinking as a means of visualising reality can be a useful tool in the context of governance and management of agricultural biodiversity. One approach that will be explored in the Knowledge programme is Resilience assessments and tools for integration of resilience-thinking in the knowledge networks.


ABSTRACT Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects food intake as the disease progresses. The assessment of nutritional status is essential to identify early nutritional deficits. Objective: To investigate the nutritional status and food intake of patients diagnosed with PD. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, and quantitative study. A structured questionnaire with restricted questions was applied to identify the sociodemographic profile and anthropometric measurements were taken. To evaluate the disease stage, the modified Hoehn & Yahr scale was used. Food intake was evaluated using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The acquired information was organized in the Microsoft Office Excel 2010 program and statistical analysis was performed using the BioEstat 5.3 program. Results: The research was carried out with 40 patients; the majority was male (60%), over 60 years old (52.5%), single (55%), with a high school degree (42.5%), retirees (80%), and receiving one minimum salary (42.5%). Most were classified with eutrophic (42.5%) and overweight (42.5%). About food consumption, the most common foods were banana (60%), fish (52.5%), acerola (45%), and orange (32%). Among the high-risk foods, red meat (82.5%), fried foods (30%), heavy cream (25%), and filled sandwich cookies (25%) were the most common. Conclusions: Most patients had a high consumption of red meat and processed foods, with relevant consumption of some fruits and low consumption of grains and oilseeds. The disease stage was not associated with nutritional status.


This paper emphasizes the role that trust plays in the success of B2B relationships providing a model and contributing to improve the relationship between buyers and suppliers in the sector of automatic storage and retrieval systems. Relationships between a large global manufacturer and supplier of storage and retrieval systems and their major Portuguese references are studied. A questionnaire has been applied and the opinion of administrators/buyers of such systems, directors and logistics managers and finally supervisors and managers of the logistics or production system were collected in order to obtain the necessary information to assess whether trust contributes to the success of B2B relationships. The results introduced new determinant factors for success in B2B relationships and gave rise to a new model that resulted from the exploratory factor analysis. The authors conclude that trust is associated with confidentiality, as well as with the assistance provided by the supplier which is highly valued in a B2B relationship and contributes to improving the relationship between buyers and suppliers. Little research has been done in the area of B2B relationships, in what concerns to the specific role that trust plays in the success of B2B relationships in the sector of automated storage and retrieval systems. This paper emphasizes the role that trust plays in these types of relationships, by providing a model and contributing to improve the relationship between buyers and suppliers. Keywords ASRS; WMS; B2B; Trust; Benevolence; Honesty; Competence; Success of B2B relationship; Satisfaction; Purchase intention. Paper type Research paper


Objective: To investigate the effects of surgical versus non-operative treatment on the physical function and safety of patients with lumbar disc herniation. Data sources: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, EBSCO, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched from initiation to 15 May 2017. Methods: Randomized controlled trials that evaluated surgical versus non-operative treatment for patients with lumbar disc herniation were selected. The primary outcomes were pain and side-effects. Secondary outcomes were function and health-related quality of life. A random effects model was used to calculate the pooled mean difference with 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 19 articles that involved 2272 participants met the inclusion criteria. Compared with non-operative treatment, surgical treatment was more effective in lowering pain (short term: mean difference = −0.94, 95% confidence interval = −1.87 to −0.00; midterm: mean difference = −1.59, 95% confidence interval = −2.24 to −9.94), improving function (midterm: mean difference = −7.84, 95% confidence interval = −14.00 to −1.68; long term: mean difference = −12.21, 95% confidence interval = −23.90 to −0.52) and quality of life. The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey for physical functions (short term: mean difference = 6.25, 95% confidence interval = 0.43 to 12.08) and bodily pain (short term: mean difference = 5.42, 95% confidence interval = 0.40 to 10.45) was also utilized. No significant difference was observed in adverse events (mean difference = 0.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.28 to 2.38). Conclusion: Low-quality evidence suggested that surgical treatment is more effective than non-operative treatment in improving physical functions; no significant difference was observed in adverse events. No firm recommendation can be made due to instability of the summarized data.


The influence of growth factor receptors on cancer progression as both early promoters as well as drivers of late-stage invasion and metastasis has been thoroughly studied over the last several decades. Overexpression and activating mutations of several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are commonly detected in most cancer types. Despite this, there still remains a great deal not fully understood about RTK expression and regulation that may reveal novel strategies for therapeutic targeting. In particular, c-Met is an RTK whose downstream signal transduction can promote both mitogenic and motogenic phenotypes in cancer cells and whose expression is correlated with poor prognosis and resistance to therapy. c-Met is activated by either autocrine or paracrine ligand stimulation. Alternatively, receptor overexpression allows for ligand-independent dimerization and therefore constitutive activation.

In addition, multiple reports have identified the enzyme fatty acid synthase (FASN) as being commonly overexpressed in prostate cancer, and that this aberrant expression is an early event that becomes more pronounced with aggressive androgen-independent and metastatic disease. FASN is the sole enzyme responsible for de novo synthesis of the 16-carbon saturated fatty acid palmitate. In cancer, de novo lipids are more selectively partitioned into lipid rafts as phospholipids as well as utilized for post-translational acyl-modifications of signaling proteins. Previous findings have led us to identify a novel mechanism by which FASN activity regulates c-Met expression. Our work has determined that inhibition or shRNA knockdown of FASN results in a post-translational downregulation of already synthesized c-Met protein. This downregulation is prevented by the addition of exogenous palmitate.

Based on these findings we have subsequently acquired convincing data that the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase is palmitoylated and that this palmitoylation regulates its stability. Inhibition of palmitoylation reduces the expression of c-Met in multiple cancer cell lines. This protein loss occurs post-transcriptionally and is associated with accumulation of c-Met in Golgi compartments. Using inhibitors to a number of internalization pathways, as well as surface biotinylation studies, confocal microscopy, and metabolic-ortholog labeling we determined that inhibition of palmitoylation reduces the stability of newly synthesized, c-Met as opposed to inducing internalization and degradation. Moreover, both an acyl-biotin exchange technique and a click-chemistry based palmitate-labeling protocol suggest c-Met itself is palmitoylated. Observing palmitoylation kinetics has provided evidence that c-Met is palmitoylated in the ER prior to cleavage of the 170kd c-Met precursor into its mature 140kd form. Taken together, these findings suggest inhibition of palmitoylation or FASN activity could be a novel target for preventing invasion and metastasis driven by c-Met overexpression.

Citation Format: David T. Coleman, James A. Cardelli. c-Met requires palmitoylation for proper stability and trafficking in cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A83.


Since all learners learn best when they are motivated, the way to ensure their success in higher education is to know what motivates and sustains them in the learning process. Guided by the Social Model of Disability (SMD), this study investigated the motivational factors and expectations behind women with disabilities' decisions to participate in higher education. The study was conducted at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) where 22 women students with disabilities regardless of their type of disability, degree programme and background were involved in the study. The study employed a qualitative approach and specifically a case study design. Semi-structured interviews were deployed in collecting data for the study. The data collected were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings of the study show that women with disabilities were highly motivated to participate in higher education due to various factors obtainable in the family, community and institution. The study recommends that, women with disabilities need to have reasons or motivational for successful participation in higher education. Keywords : Gender in higher education, motivation for learning, women disability


AİM: To determine the frequency, demographic and clinical features of
the heterotopic gastric mucosa (inlet patch). MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This retrospective study involves 244 patients who applied to the
gastroenterology outpatient clinic with different symptoms between
September 2016 and December 2019, and who were diagnosed with inlet
patch in elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy. All endoscopic procedures
were performed by the same clinical endoscopist. All medical records of
patients including demographic and clinical features and endoscopy
findings were reviewed. RESULTS: Considering 2823 patients who underwent
elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the same study period, inlet
patch was detected in 224 (8.6%). 56.6% of the patients diagnosed with
inlet patch were male and there was no statistical difference between
the two genders. The mean age of the patients was 37.73 ± 13.01 years.
83.6% of the patients had only one lesion, and 58.2% had a lesion
larger than 1 cm, with the largest one being 4.5 cm. Size of the
smallest lesion was 0.3 cm. All of the lesions were in the proximal
esophagus. 54 patients (22.1%) had at least one supraesophageal or
upper esophageal symptom. The most common symptom was globus sensation
(64.8%). Patients with large lesions were more likely to experience
symptoms (28.2% vs. 13.7%, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Careful examination
of the proximal esophagus may increase the chance of detecting inlet
patch and may explain persistent symptoms in patients without a specific
cause. Further understanding of the clinical significance of the disease
may also prevent unnecessary diagnostic interventions.


PURPOSE
The purpose of this retrospective, pilot study was to assess changes in dizziness, pain and function in subjects undergoing an outpatient rehabilitation program focusing on cervical pain.

METHODS
Fifteen subjects with chronic cervical myofascial pain and concurrent dizziness of suspected cervical origin completed a retrospective questionnaire. Improvement in pain, dizziness and function were recorded on a visual analog scale (VAS) in response to a non-standardized rehabilitation program involving modalities, stretching, strengthening, trigger point injections and aerobic conditioning.

RESULTS
Subjects reported an average VAS improvement in dizziness of 59% (±29%), pain 69% (±21%) and function 71%(±19). Seven subjects experienced reproduction of their dizziness and pain during trigger point injections. Overall, twenty seven percent reported no further episodes of dizziness. All subjects experienced a decrease in the frequency of episodes of dizziness. There was a correlation between dizziness and pain (r = 0.58), dizziness and function (r = 0.60), and pain and function (r = 0.74).

CONCLUSION
Subjects with dizziness and cervical myofascial pain of suspected cervical origin may experience symptomatic and functional improvement through a rehabilitative program addressing their cervical pain. Future prospective, randomized controlled studies are needed to address which intervention is the most effective.


We describe a new species of small chelid turtle from perennial streams in the Araguaia River subbasin near Serra das Andorinhas State Park, São Geraldo do Araguaia, Pará, Brazil. It is morphologically distinct and the smallest known member of the genus Mesoclemmys, with an average straight-line carapace length (CL) of 144 mm and maximum recorded CL of 170 mm. The species has a moderate head width of approximately 20% of CL. The carapace and dorsal soft parts are blackish, the plastron is light brownish yellow with a blackish brown central plastral figure, and the ventral soft parts are pale yellow. It has the largest femoral scutes of any Mesoclemmys and its plastral contact formula is Intergular > Anal > Humeral > Femoral > Abdominal > Pectoral > Gular. We describe the shell and skull morphology of the new species and performed genetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase, subunits I [COI] and 16S) to build a phylogenetic tree for the genus, which placed the new species as sister to M. vanderhaegei.


Despite growing water scarcity, communities in many parts of the developed world often reject technically and economically sound options for water augmentation. This paper reports findings from a study investigating risk perceptions associated with a proposed Managed Aquifer Recharge scheme in Australia. Q-Methodology was used to compare decision-making frameworks of lay community and "technical expert" participants. Technical expert participants were also asked to approximate the decision-making framework of a "typical" community member. The emerging contrasts between lay community frameworks and those approximated by technical experts suggest that there are prevailing yet errant assumptions about lay community attitudes towards new technologies. The findings challenge the characterisation of the lay community and technical experts as being in entrenched opposition with one another.


The speed-accuracy trade-off of fast movements acts inversely and as such is known as Fitts's law. The aim of this study is to determine how the instep kick (IK) speed grading instructions affect instep kick speed and accuracy. The primary hypothesis assumes that a complex motor task such as IK has an inverse relation between speed and accuracy, and the secondary hypothesis assumes that the applied speed grading instructions are sensitive. The research involved 13 male players, with an average age of 15 (±1.6). The experimental protocol included the execution of IK at five different speeds, determined by verbal instructions to the participants. For the assessment of kicking accuracy, we observed the following dependent variables: mean radial error (MRE), bivariate variable error (BVE), and centroid radial error (CRE). A comparative analysis has shown that higher accuracy (reduced MRE) and kicking consistency (reduced BVE) are achieved under lower kicking speeds, but these effects were not achieved in regard to CRE. Subsequent analyses have shown that MRE has a tendency towards a significant difference between the slowest and fastest kicks (p=0.068-0.075), while in the case of BVE it has been found that there are differences between the slowest and all other speed levels (p≤0.05). The main findings of this study have indicated a partial existence (two of three variables) of an inverse relationship between speed and accuracy in complex motor tasks such as IK.


ABSTRACT Objective: Regular physical activity is associated with better asthma control; however, little is known of the determinants of physical activity in a population of adults with asthma. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify important sociodemographic, health and lifestyle correlates of physical activity among adults with asthma. Methods: Data from adults with asthma aged 18–44 years (n = 2740) from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2011–2012 annual component were used for analysis. The main outcome was Daily Energy Expenditure (DEE). This variable was based on frequency and duration of leisure activities in the past 3 months. Self-reported sociodemographic (age, sex, total household income, highest education level, and ethnicity), health-related (body mass index (BMI), self-perceived health, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and asthma symptoms/attacks, past year) and lifestyle (type of smoker, sedentary time, fruit and vegetable consumption) variables were assessed as correlates for DEE. Data were analysed using linear regressions. Results: In the final model, sociodemographic correlates accounted for 4.2% of the variation in DEE. Adding health correlates increased the R2 to 12.1%. Finally, adding lifestyle correlates increased the R2 to 17.6%. Conclusions: In adults with current asthma, the main correlates of physical activity are age, total household income, BMI, self-perceived health, anxiety disorder, sedentary time, and fruit and vegetable consumption. These data are important for informing education and exercise interventions for adults with asthma. Future research is needed to determine asthma-specific correlates of physical activity.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Background: Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs complicates the treatment of cancer patients. The extracellular matrix protein osteopontin (OPN) plays multiple roles in the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. We therefore attempted to determine whether OPN expression correlated with drug resistance. Methods: OPN expression in the HCT 116 colon cancer cell line was inhibited by an OPN-short interfering RNA (siRNA). We determined the cytotoxic effect (IC50) of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) on these cells. Patients with recurrence or colorectal cancer or harbored residual tumor cells were treated with S-1-based chemotherapy. The levels of OPN mRNA expression in the tumors were determined and compared with the patients' responses to chemotherapy. Results: The IC50 of 5FU for HCT 116 cells transfected with the OPN-siRNA was 32.9 μM. In contrast, the IC50 values for cells transfected with a negative control siRNA, mock-transfected cells, or untreated cells were 6.58 μM, 7.08 μM, and 6.76 μM, respectively (P<0.001). The level of OPN mRNA expression in the S-1 non-responder group was significantly lower than that of the responder group (P = 0.0387). Survival analysis revealed no significant difference between the responder and non-responder groups (P = 0.8737). Conclusions: The level of OPN expression plays a role in the resistance of colorectal tumor cells to 5FU.

Citation Format: Go Nakajima, Hidekazu Kuramochi, Masakazu Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Hayashi. Osteopontin gene expression is associated with 5-fluorouracil drug resistance in colon cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 779. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-779


The computational model we propose deals with the measurement of image distortion in such a way that the comparison of a pair of images is performed by matching the corresponding integral features registered within the same fixation point which a spatial sensitivity function directs about the images. An integral feature refers to the resultant of recombining the separable representations (color, form, brightness, etc) at stimulus locations with focal attention. The computation of a spatial sensitivity function determines the stimulus locations in the original image. These locations are processed serially in order to measure distortion between the corresponding conjunction of features in the image pair.


Changes in the relationship between myocardial high-energy phosphates and oxygen consumption in vivo occur during development, implying that the mode of respiratory control undergoes maturation. We hypothesized that these maturational changes in sheep heart are paralleled by alterations in the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), which are in turn related to changes in the expression of this gene. Increases in myocardial oxygen consumption (MV˙o 2) were induced by epinephrine infusion in newborn (0-32 h, n = 6) and mature sheep (30-32 days, n = 6), and high-energy phosphates were monitored with 31P nuclear magnetic resonance. Western blot analyses for the ANT1 and the β-subunit of F1-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) were performed in these hearts and additional ( n = 9 total per group) as well as in fetal hearts (130-132 days of gestation, n = 5). Northern blot analyses were performed to assess for changes in steady-state RNA transcripts for these two genes. Kinetic analyses for the31P spectra data revealed that the ADP-MV˙o 2 relationship for the newborns conformed to a Michaelis-Menten model but that the mature data did not conform to first- or second-order kinetic control of respiration through ANT. Maturation from fetal to mature was accompanied by a 2.5-fold increase in ANT protein (by Western blot), with no detectable change in β-F1-ATPase. Northern blot data show that steady-state mRNA levels for ANT and β-F1-ATPase increased ∼2.5-fold from fetal to mature. These data indicate that 1) respiratory control pattern in the newborn is consistent with a kinetic type regulation through ANT, 2) maturational decreases in control through ANT are paralleled by specific increases in ANT content, and 3) regulation of these changes in ANT may be related to increases in steady-state transcript levels for its gene.


Nanoparticles are ubiquitous and co-occur with microbial life in every environment on Earth. Interactions between microbes and nanoparticles impact the biogeochemical cycles via accelerating various reaction rates and enabling biological processes at the smallest scales. Distinct from microbe-mineral interactions at large, microbe-nanoparticle interactions may involve higher levels of active recognition and utilization of the reactive, changeable, and thereby "moldable" nano-sized inorganic phases by microbes, which has been given minimal attention in previous reviews. Here we have compiled the various cases of microbe-nanoparticle interactions with clear and potential benefits to the microbial cells and communities. Specifically, we discussed (a) the high bioavailabilities of nanoparticles due to increased specific surface areas and size-dependent solubility, with a focus on environmentally-relevant iron(III) (oxyhydr)oxides and pyrite, (b) microbial utilization of nanoparticles as 'nano-tools' for electron transfer, chemotaxis, and storage units, and (c) speculated benefits of precipitating 'moldable' nanoparticles in extracellular biomineralization. We further discussed emergent questions concerning cellular level responses to nanoparticle-associated cues, and the factors that affect nanoparticles' bioavailabilities beyond size-dependent effects. We end the review by proposing a framework towards more quantitative approaches and by highlighting promising techniques to guide future research in this exciting field. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


A complete approximate symmetry classification of a class of perturbed nonlinear wave equations is performed using the method originated from Fushchich and Shtelen. Moreover, large classes of approximate invariant solutions of the equations based on the Lie group method are constructed.


Discontinuation of maintenance therapy against toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) for individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are receiving successful anti-retroviral therapy is considered safe. Nevertheless, there are few published studies concerning this issue. Within the setting of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, this report describes a prospective study of discontinuation of maintenance therapy against TE in patients with a sustained increase of CD4 counts to > 200 cells/microL and 14% of total lymphocytes, and no active lesions on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to clinical evaluation, cerebral MRI was performed at baseline, and 1 and 6 months following discontinuation. Twenty-six AIDS patients with a history of TE agreed to participate, but three patients (11%) could not be enrolled because they still showed enhancing cerebral lesions without a clinical correlate. One patient refused MRI after 6 months while clinically asymptomatic. Among the remaining 22 patients who discontinued maintenance therapy, one relapsed after 3 months. During a total follow-up of 58 patient-years, there was no TE relapse among the patients who had remained clinically and radiologically free of relapse during the study. Thus, discontinuation of maintenance therapy against TE was generally safe, but may fail in a minority of patients. Patients who remain clinically and radiologically free of relapse at 6 months after discontinuation are unlikely to experience a relapse of TE.


This report describes the methodology and results from the analysis of climate scenarios and their impact on hydrometeorological variables in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile (MRS). Using a downscaling methodology for future scenarios A2 and B1, according to IPCC, temperature, precipitation and secondary variable trends were estimated for the time-window 2045-2065. The main results predict that Santiago will be a dryer and hotter city in the near future, with a high number of days with extreme temperatures. Due to lower precipitation rates, decreasing magnitudes in the streamflow of the two main rivers, Maipo and Mapocho, are expected. The presented data provide a basis for the ClimateAdaptationSantiago (CAS) project as the aim of that project is to elaborate, evaluate and prioritize adaptation measures to the climate change in the MRS.