Abstract Background Development of equine platelet concentrate (PC) would aid management of cases requiring transfused platelets (PLTs), where adminstration of whole‐blood or platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) might be contraindicated. Objectives To test and validate a method for production of an equine PRP‐PC product. Animals Six healthy Thoroughbred geldings from a research herd. Methods In this prospective experimental study, whole blood was collected and processed through multiple centrifugation steps to yield 120 mL of PC. The PC was stored at 22°C and gently and continuously agitated. Measurements of PLT count, pH, and concentrations of glucose, lactate, electrolytes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide were performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. Platelet aggregometry and bacterial culture were also performed. Results The PC always had a PLT count of ≥550 × 103 cells/μL. Aggregometry graph amplitude (P < .0001) and area under the curve (P < .05) significantly decreased over time. Sodium, chloride, lactate (P < .0001), and oxygen (P < .01) concentrations significantly increased over time. pH (P < .001), glucose and bicarbonate concentrations (P < .0001) significantly decreased over time. There was no significant difference in potassium concentration, PLT count, LDH and AST activities and no bacterial growth from culture. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The described technique yielded a PC that meets the standards of the American Association of Blood Banks for human PC.


Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of several common treatment options on the long-term survival of patients with early-stage esophageal cancer and to construct nomograms for survival prediction. Method This study was performed using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (2004–2015) on patients with early-stage (pT1N0M0) esophageal cancer who underwent endoscopic local therapy (ET), radiotherapy (RT), esophagectomy (ES) or neoadjuvant therapy (NT). Multivariate Cox regression was used to explore which factors influenced patient survival, and these factors were then incorporated into propensity sore matching (PSM) and the construction of nomogram plots. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare whether there was a difference in long-term survival between the other three treatments and esophagectomy. Result Data from 4184 patients were included in this study. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, grade, marital status, and treatment method were independent factors affecting survival. After matching, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the ET group had better CSS than the ES group, but no difference in OS, while the NT and RT groups had worse OS and CSS than the ES group. In the nomogram prediction model, the c-indexes of the training and validation cohorts were 0.805 and 0.794, respectively. Additionally the ROC curve (5-year AUC = 0.877) and DCA curve showed that the model had a good predictive effect. Conclusion For early-stage esophageal cancer, the results of this study showed that ET is not inferior to ES. Based on the independent factors affecting prognosis identified in the study, we constructed and validated a predictive model for predicting long-term survival in patients with early-stage esophageal cancer.


In this paper an ultra-low power two stage improved operational trans_conductance amplifier based on folded cascode is designed. The proposed operational trans_conductance amplifier operates in weak inversion region. The use of two folded branches in the signal amplification path for the first stage and the new feed_forward compensation path with low bias current on the second stage in this proposed amplifier increases the DC gain, unity gain frequency, slew rate and decreases the input referred noise. The simulation results in a TSMC 0.18μm CMOS technology it shows that the proposed operational trans_conductance amplifier has unity gain bandwidth of 117 KHz, and consumes 195 nW power from a 0.6 V supply voltage with DC gain of 101.4 dB.


In order to enhance the reliability of electroen-cephalogram (EEG) signal source analyses, utilizing EEG lead field matrices obtained by field analyses in custom-made real head models is effective technique. Custom-made models are usually constructed from voxel models derived from magnetic resonance (MR) images using a variety of image-processing techniques. We have improved one of the techniques that select threshold levels dividing signals and noises based on the EM (expectation-maximization) algorithm. This technique contributes to rapid and high-quality voxel model acquisition. We demonstrate the following operations: (a) voxel model construction, (b) lead field calculation, and (c) simulation of EEG electrode voltage measurement induced by an equivalent current dipole (ECD), which is set in the primary motor cortex by considering application of brain-machine interfaces. The proposed technique is compared with other techniques based on the voltage differences caused by the constructed model-shape differences.


In light of the racial‐ethnic and poverty composition of the United States population and the distribution of syphilis morbidity across population subgroups, it is important to determine how race‐ethnicity and poverty jointly and independently affect transmission dynamics of syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases. Populations of minority race ethnicity and populations of poverty are both marked by youthful age composition and relative scarcity of men, and both populations live in areas of high poverty concentration. Sexually transmitted disease morbidity, particularly syphilis morbidity, is concentrated in these populations, which are neither purely racial‐ethnic groupings nor purely economic groupings. This social context creates potential sex partner pools of high risk and high sexually transmitted disease prevalence, which carry a higher probability of exposure to infection for each sex act. The combined effects of poverty, minority race‐ethnicity, and geographic clustering apparently contribute to persisting syphilis morbidity, particularly in the southeastern United States.


Full mouth rehabilitation includes a promising treatment planning and execution thus fulfilling esthetic, occlusal, and functional parameters maintaining the harmony of the stomatognathic system. Crown lengthening procedures have become an integral component of the esthetic armamentarium and are utilized with increasing frequency to enhance the appearance of restorations placed in the esthetic zone. Crown lengthening plays a role to create healthy relationship of the gingiva and bone levels so as to gain access to more of the tooth which can be restored, if it is badly worn, decayed or fractured, below the gum line. This paper highlights the full mouth crown lengthening procedure performed on a patient with amelogenesis imperfecta.


Controversies still exist regarding the surgical treatment of gastric cancer. The therapeutic value of lymphoadenectomy (staging or curative) and the amount of the stomach exeresis for the lower third location are particularly debated. The authors discuss about their experience on 247 patients with gastric cancer of which 148 treated with exeresis (total and subtotal gastrectomy). In the greater number of patients (130 cases) a R2/R3 lymphadenectomy was performed. The global 5-years survival rate was 26.5%. Concerning the lower third localization the 5-years survival rate was 33.5% for total gastrectomy and 24.5% for subtotal gastrectomy with no significant difference (chi-square test: p = .6235). In 31 patients in which there was N2 involvement the 5-years survival rate was 19.2%. They conclude that this result confirm the opportunity to perform a R2/R3 lymphoadenectomy whose value can be considered curative in the cases with N2 involvement and of staging in the N3 positive. They underline that the possibility to perform a less aggressive lymphoadenectomy (R1/R2) in the early gastric cancer, must be considered after an objective evaluation of the depth of tumor invasion in the gastric wall.


The thermal conductivity and the electrical conductivity of Cr 75 Fe x Mn 25-x (x=16,18) alloys have been measured over the temperatures range from 77K to 300K. The change of slope on thermal conductivity-temperature curve and the maximum on electrical conductivity-temperature curve have been found near the transition temperature of spin density wave type antiferromagnetism, which is related to the opening of the energy gap. Both alloys exhibit a rise in the phonon thermal eonductivity with decreasing temperature as being characteristic of umklapp processes.


Based on the first-principles density functional theory combined with the non-equilibrium Green's function method, we have studied the spin-polarized and thermospin-polarized transport properties of phthalocyanine (Pc) dimer based molecular junction with different transition metal (TM = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) atoms. Our results show that the spin-polarized and thermospin-polarized transport properties can be effectively tuned by changing the central TM atoms, and only the MnPc dimer system exhibits perfect spin/thermal-spin filtering and sizeable giant magnetoresistance (GMR)/thermal-GMR effects. Meantime, the MnPc dimer system reveals a low-bias negative differential resistance effect under the parallel magnetic configuration. These findings suggest that the MnPc dimer system has great potential in developing the high-performance multifunctional spintronic and spin caloritronic devices.


Background: A novel LC-MS/MS method was developed for the estimation of blonanserin (BLN) in spiked human plasma. Methods: Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) technique was adopted for the extraction of BLN from human plasma and chromatographic separation was performed on a waters symmetry shield, C18 (4.6mm id x 50 mm) analytical column using 7 Mm ammonium formate and acetonitrile (30:70) v/v as mobile phase. Positive ion mode was selected to obtain the product ion m/z 367.24 → 296.19 for BLN and m/z 326.8 → 269.07 for clozapine as internal standard (IS). Results: Calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.01 to 5 ng/ml. Developed method was satisfactory validated as per US-FDA guidelines for the bioanalytical study because it exhibits excellent intra and interday accuracy with % nominal 90 → 98.4 %, precision %CV ≤ 2% in all quality control levels, shows acceptable % extraction recovery (95.15 % → 97.04 %), demonstrated excellent matrix and analyte selectivity (% interference=0), matrix effect (matrix factor 0.981 at LQC and 1.02 at HQC level) and satisfactory stability study results in all types (% nominal 93.91 % → 99.58 %). Along with pharmacokinetic study rabbit plasma samples also analysed for one batch of accuracy, precision, matrix effect and rationalized the suitability of the developed method in other preclinical sample species Conclusion: Present method was successfully optimised, validated and applied favorable for the pharmacokinetic study of marketed formulation in rabbit blood samples in single oral human equivalent dose. The applicability of the developed method undoubtedly can further extend during preclinical and clinical trials. Key words: Blonanserin, LCMS/MS, Validation, Plasma, Pharmacokinetic.


Threshold electrons and photoions have been measured in the vicinity of the Ar 2p-13p-1 nl shake-up region using a coincidence technique. The threshold electron spectrum exhibits conjugate shake-up structures due to dipole transitions on the lower energy side of normal shake-up structures due to monopole transitions. The shake-up structures are identified with the aid of multiconfigurational Dirac-Fock energy calculations. The Ar3+ photoions in coincidence with threshold electrons are observed with significant intensities at the shake-up states. It is proposed that the Ar3+ formation is promoted by two-step decays besides Auger shake-off decays from the shake-up states.


▪ ABSTRACT: This paper deals with different aspects of the mythological concept of femininity in the Russian philosophy and culture in the end of XIX and XX centuries. Special attention is paid to clarification of the culture-forming significance of mythological, ideal femininity in Russian culture. The author considers the peculiarities of femininity nature expression in the Russian culture and philosophy of the Silver age. The analysis revealed that Russian thinkers managed to unite, in the concept of femininity, the philosophical, religious and esthetic notions concerning the female principle as an ideal image that requires adoration and has the ability to inspire creation. The paper describes the basic mechanisms of myth, the process of creation and realization of a mythological image of femininity in the culture of the Silver age. It was established that romantic interpretation of myth played a pivotal role for the representatives of Russian culture of the early XX century. It is noted that mythologization of the concept of femininity allowed Russian thinkers to combine vivid particular content and the sublime elitism of an absolutely abstract form. It is shown that the representatives of Russian philosophy and culture used the syncretic image of "the Eternal Femininity" as a cornerstone of myth formation, simultaneously establishing its new conceptual limits and defining it as an ideal of the epoch. The specific feature of the Russian cultural tradition is developing the phenomenon of femininity in the process of creation through correlation of masculine and feminine principles based on the ideal androgynous nature. It is concluded that the development of the concept of femininity depends on the process of formation of new cultural values.


PICALM (Phosphatidyl Inositol Clathrin Assembly Lymphoid Myeloid protein) is a ubiquitously expressed protein that plays a role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. PICALM also affects the internalization and trafficking of SNAREs and modulates macroautophagy. Chromosomal translocations that result in the fusion of PICALM to heterologous proteins cause leukemias, and genome-wide association studies have linked PICALM Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) to Alzheimer's disease. To obtain insight into the biological role of PICALM, we performed gene expression studies of PICALM-deficient and PICALM-expressing cells. Pathway analysis demonstrated that PICALM expression influences the expression of genes that encode proteins involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and lipoprotein uptake. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) studies indicated that loss of PICALM increases cellular cholesterol pool size. Isotopic labeling studies revealed that loss of PICALM alters increased net scavenging of cholesterol. Flow cytometry analyses confirmed that internalization of the LDL receptor is enhanced in PICALM-deficient cells as a result of higher levels of LDLR expression. These findings suggest that PICALM is required for cellular cholesterol homeostasis and point to a novel mechanism by which PICALM alterations may contribute to disease.


AIM
To investigate the impact of the degree of coronary atherosclerosis evaluated by the SYNTAX scale on the early and late results of endovascular revascularization in elderly and middle-aged patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
The investigation enrolled 327 consecutively admitted patients with STEMI and multivessel coronary bed disease, who had received revascularization within the first 12 hours after disease onset via primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The clinical, demographic, and angiographic characteristics of the patients, as well as the specific features of chosen revascularization strategies and treatment outcomes were compared in two groups of 103 elderly patients (≥65 years of age) and 224 middle-aged patients (≤64 years) in relation to the severity of coronary bed lesion according to the SYNTAX scale.

RESULTS
By and large, severe coronary atherosclerosis (≥23 SYNTAX scores) was related to reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and clinical manifestations of acute heart failure in all the analyzed patients regardless of their age and this was most markedly associated with the risk factors of cardiovascular events in the elderly patients. The elderly patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis (≥23 SYNTAX scores) were noted to have the lowest frequency of successful PCIs and higher 30-day mortality rates after primary PCI.

CONCLUSION
The SYNTAX scale is of high prognostic value in the patients with STEMI, by determining the results of endovascular revascularization in elderly and middle-aged patients. The elderly patients with STEMI and severe coronary atherosclerosis are at very high risk for poor outcome within 30 days of follow-up after primary CPI, which necessitates a search for optimal revascularization strategies for this category of patients.


In this paper, we investigate the effect of period numbers of unit cells surronding a defect layer on absorption spectra in a graphene-based one-dimensional photonic crystal. Assuming the period numbers of unit cells before and after the defect layer m and n, respectively, it is shown that the absorption tends to be improved by increasing n for each m, at the position of defect mode. Moreover, achieving enhanced absorption in the structure requires the use of low m besides higher n.


Halobacterium salinarum displays four distinct kinetic forms of M-intermediate in its bacteriorhodopsin photocycle. In wild-type, there are mainly two species with time constants near 2 and 5 ms. Under various kinds of stress, two other species arise with time constants near 10 and 70 ms. We show that these four species are interconvertible. Increases in membrane hydrophobicity convert the slower to faster forms. Perturbations caused by Triton X-100 or mutations convert faster to slower forms. The fastest form requires a hydrophobic membrane environment near a ring of four charged aspartate residues in the trimer, namely Asp36, Asp38, Asp102, and Asp104 in the cytoplasmic loop regions. Interconversions of the 2-ms and 5-ms species of the wild-type are accomplished by pH-changes. The potential significance of these findings is discussed.


Guanine deaminase, a key enzyme in nucleotide metabolism, catalyzes the hydrolytic deamination of guanine to xanthine. The first guanine deaminase crystal from Bacillus subtilis was grown in the absence or presence of the inhibitor hypoxanthine in 30% polyethylene glycol 4000, 0.2 M ammonium acetate and 0.1 M sodium citrate pH 6.5. The crystals belong to space group C222(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 84.91, b = 90.90, c = 80.19 angstroms, with one dimer per asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract X-rays to beyond 1.2 angstroms resolution and an initial atomic model has been built based on selenomethionyl multiwavelength anomalous data at 2 angstroms resolution. Unexpectedly, this is the first domain-swapped structure in the cytidine deaminase superfamily.


Twenty Holstein heifer calves at 138 d of age and 118 kg of BW were assigned randomly to one of four treatments in a factorial design. Heifers were fed for low (0.7 kg/d) or high (> 1.0 kg/d) gain during two periods. Period 1 was from start to 200 kg of BW, and period 2 was from 200 kg of BW to slaughter, which occurred in the middle of the luteal phase following the third estrus. Calves on the high plane of nutrition during period 2 were heavier at the end of trial and gained more BW between puberty and the end of trial. Those calves also had heavier mammary glands, which had more fat and dry fat-free tissue. Heifers that had been raised on the low plane of nutrition throughout the trial had greater concentrations of DNA and RNA but did not have greater protein in the dry fat-free tissue. Low plane of nutrition during either period increased DNA and RNA concentration in the dry fat-free tissue. Total mass of DNA and RNA did not differ among treatments. Protein mass was increased by the high plane of nutrition during period 2. This study indicated that dietary manipulation affects mammary dry fat-free tissue, protein, and adipose mass in the period up to and including puberty.


An idea to make up the vibrating body of ultrasonic motor with anisotropic composite is proposed and a linear piezoelectric motor is developed in this paper. Relative problems such as actuating mechanism, resonant frequency are discussed theoretically. According to the feature that impulse exists between the elastic body of composite ultrasonic linear motor and the base, an impulse analysis is presented to calculate the motor's friction driving force and frictional conversion efficiency. The impulse analysis essentially explains the reason why the ultrasonic motor has great driving force, and can be applied to analyze the non-linear ultrasonic motor.


This paper describes LIMSI's submissions to the shared WMT'13 translation task. We report results for French-English, German-English and Spanish-English in both directions. Our submissions use n-code, an open source system based on bilingual n-grams, and continuous space models in a post-processing step. The main novelties of this year's participation are the following: our first participation to the Spanish-English task; experiments with source pre-ordering; a tighter integration of continuous space language models using artificial text generation (for German); and the use of different tuning sets according to the original language of the text to be translated.


The activation of nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathways in hypothalamic neurons plays a key role in the control of GnRH secretion that is central to reproductive function. It is unknown whether NO directly modulates the firing behavior of GnRH neurons in the preoptic region of the mature brain. Using patch-clamp recordings from GnRH neurons expressing green fluorescent protein in adult mice brain slices, we demonstrate that the NO precursor, L-arginine (Arg), or the NO donor, diethylamine/NO, induced a robust and reversible reduction in the spontaneous firing activity of GnRH neurons, including bursting activity. The effects of L-Arg were prevented by the NO synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-Arg methyl ester hydrochloride. Histochemical studies revealing a close anatomical relationship between neurons producing NO and GnRH perikarya, together with the loss of the L-Arg-mediated inhibition of GnRH neuronal activity via the selective blockade of neuronal NO synthase, suggested that the primary source of local NO production in the mouse preoptic region was neuronal. Synaptic transmission uncoupling did not alter the effect of NO, suggesting that NO affects the firing pattern of GnRH neurons by acting at a postsynaptic site. We also show that the NO-mediated changes in membrane properties in the GnRH neurons require soluble guanylyl cyclase activity and may involve potassium conductance. By revealing that NO is a direct modulator of GnRH neuronal activity, our results introduce the intriguing possibility that this gaseous neurotransmitter may be used by the sexual brain to modulate burst firing patterns. It may set into phase the bursting activity of GnRH neurons at key stages of reproductive physiology.


Acute degeneration or necrosis of the liver is a relatively infrequent condition at any age and is extremely rare in early infancy. It is most commonly designated as acute yellow atrophy, a term which is a misnomer and is neither explanatory nor descriptive of the condition, which is not atrophy but necrosis. Other synonyms which have been used are the following: icterus gravis, malignant jaundice, acute parenchymatous hepatitis and parenchymatous degeneration of the liver. The designation acute degeneration of the liver or acute necrosis of the liver seems the most appropriate. The condition was first described about the sixteenth century. It has been estimated that in about 50 per cent of all cases it occurs in the third decade and in 80 per cent between the ages of 10 and 40 years. Rolleston and McNee1in 1929 collected 42 cases in which it occurred in children under 10 years


Purpose: This study was performed to determine the perception and attitude of emergency medical staff by the presence of family members while performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Methods: Data were collected from June and August in 2010 using questionnaire. The participants were 187 doctors and nurses who were working at emergency medical centers located at eight hospitals. Results: Approximately half of the medical emergency staff had previous experience of having requests from a patient's family members to remain present at the time of performing CPR. Most of the subjects did not know that the 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) guideline recommended including willing family members' during CPR. Doctors were more likely than nurses to recognize that the positive effects of family members being present during CPR. Conclusion: This study indicates that health professionals are not aware of the AHA guidelines for including family members during CPR of a patient and further that more doctors than nurses recognized the value of including willing family members during CPR.


The experimental results of an ultra-wideband high-efficiency power amplifier (PA) in GaN technology are presented. The active device is a HEMT with 1 mm of gate periphery. The realised PA operates from 0.8 to 4 GHz, showing a drain efficiency greater than 40% with an output power higher than 32 dBm in the overall bandwidth.


In this paper, we propose an underwater sensing method by using an omni-directional stereo camera system. When observing objects in water through a camera contained in a waterproof housing or observing objects in an aquarium tank filled with preserving liquid, we should solve a problem of light refraction at the boundary surfaces of refractive index discontinuity which gives image distortion. The proposed method uses two omni-directional cameras that have wide field of view to measure underwater environments. A ray tracing technique solves the problem of image distortion caused by refractive index discontinuity. Experimental results show the validity of the proposed method.


Bone loss associated with aging is associated primarily with a decline in bone formation. To try and further understand the nature of this process we have used a biochemical approach which relies on the fact that osteoid is susceptible to enzymatic degradation whereas calcified collagen is protected by the mineral phase against proteolytic digestion. Our findings show a statistically significant inverse relationship between osteoid and age (r = 0.70 female, r = 0.47 male). A closer relationship was observed when age was related to the ratio of osteoid to bone (r = 0.73 female, r = 0.56 male). In both cases, the observed linear decline begins at an early age and becomes marked with advancing age. Histologic observations illustrate these findings showing decreased osteoid and osteoblasts in the older vertebral specimens compared to the younger ones. Even though the mechanism for osteoid calcification seems to remain unimpaired, the decline of a calcifiable matrix in the presence of normal bone turnover could lead to bone loss.


Study Design. In vitro study using isolated human intervertebral disc (IVD) cells. Objective. To investigate the effects of prostaglandin (PG)E1 and its orally available derivative limaprost on the regulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) expression and to compare their actions with other prostanoids using interleukin (IL)-1-stimulated human IVD cells. Summary of Background Data. We previously reported that a selective COX-2 inhibitor enhanced, whereas PGE2 suppressed the induction of NGF by IL-1 in human IVD cells, and proposed that PGE2 can suppress NGF expression by a negative feedback mechanism. Methods. Isolated human IVD cells were stimulated with IL-1 in the presence or absence of increasing concentrations of PGE2, PGE1, limaprost, PGI2, PGD2, or PGF2&agr; (10–10,000 nM). For some experiments, an E-series prostanoid receptor (EP)4 antagonist (L-161,982) was added prior to the stimulation. NGF expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and its protein level was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. PGE2, PGE1, and limaprost inhibited the IL-1-mediated induction of NGF in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 9.9, 10.6, and 70.9 nM, respectively. PGI2 also suppressed NGF expression but to a much less extent. PGD2, on the other hand, significantly enhanced NGF expression, whereas PGF2&agr; had no effect. Protein expression levels of NGF mirrored its mRNA levels. The suppression of NGF expression by PGE2 and PGE1 was partly reversed by L-161,982. Conclusion. PGE1 and limaprost exhibited a novel pharmacological action that suppresses NGF expression in human IVD cells, and other prostanoids differentially regulated NGF expression. Limaprost has been used to treat patients with lumbar spinal stenosis in Japan and was proved to be effective in relieving symptoms. Our in vitro results may explain, in part, the mechanism of action of limaprost for low back pain. Level of Evidence: N/A


The article is devoted to the study of the content of the model of constitutional jurisdiction proposed by H. Kelsen, which at one time actually became the theoretical basis of the modern European system of constitutional justice. It is stated that the model formulated by a well-known Austrian law theorist not only envisaged instrumental-institutional proposals for the creation of a new public authority, but also embodied the definite concept of common sense of law defined by Kelsen, which was based on the ideas of a hierarchical legal system acts of the Constitution as the law of the highest legal force. It is substantiated that the model proposed by H. Kelsen substantially outstripped the existing legal reality and was used almost in its purest form by most European countries, and in particular was directly reflected in the domestic model of constitutional jurisdiction.
It is noted that, according to Kelsen's concept in a number of papers, in particular in the Judicial Review of Legislation: A Comparative Study of the Austrian and American Constitutions, the constitutionality of legislation can be ensured in two separate ways, both of which were enshrined in the Austrian Constitution of 1920: the responsibility of the body that issued the unconstitutional norm and the non-application of the unconstitutional norm. Non-application of a constitutional rule could be achieved by giving law enforcement authorities the power to review the constitutionality of a rule they must apply in a particular case and refuse to apply it in that particular case, if there is reason to consider such a rule unconstitutional. A similar mechanism has actually been introduced in the United States. The fact that a law enforcement authority recognizes a general rule as unconstitutional and does not apply it in a particular case meant that that authority was empowered to revoke the general rule for a particular case, and only for a specific case, since the general rule as such (normative act) remains applicable and may be applied in other specific cases. The disadvantage of this fuse is that different law enforcement agencies may have differing views on the constitutionality of a law, whereby one authority can apply it as it considers constitutional, while another authority will refuse to apply it because it will see signs of unconstitutionality. The lack of unanimity in deciding whether a law is constitutional, that is, whether a constitution is violated, carries great danger for the authority of the constitution.
In most European countries, it is stated that H. Kelsen's concept was used almost in its purest form, with one exception: the powers to directly protect constitutional rights and freedoms were given to a separate judicial authority. The extension of the appropriate model of judicial constitutional control and the formation of constitutional courts fell in the second half of the twentieth century, when the need to prevent the return of Nazism caused a qualitatively new level of attention to the phenomenon of constitutional justice. The formation of new post-war constitutional-democratic regimes in Germany, Italy, Austria, and later in Spain and Greece, provided for the creation of a mechanism by conferring on the constitutional courts powers to protect constitutional rights and freedoms from usurpation of public power.


The usual primary requirement of a good mix in its green state is its workability and in harden state strength. These parameters are directly related to the size, shape and quality of materials i.e. coarse and fine aggregate, cement etc. The procurement of good material is materialized through thorough investigation. Fine aggregate (sand) the important ingredient of a mix is used as filler to reduce the amount of cement paste, also its presence provides greater volume stability than alone cement paste, therefore, maximizing the amount of fine aggregate to certain extent improves the quality and economy of mix.The research "Assessment of suitable source of fine aggregate to be used in Khuzdar for artificial stone" explores the properties of this important ingredient and presents the testing results of three sources generally used in Khuzdar and vicinity for preparing mortar and concrete. The recommendation of this study suggest the appropriate source among all after comparing and confirming standard.


Three surveys of cattle for bluetongue (BLU) antibody were conducted over the years 1978-1980 in coastal areas of New South Wales. In each survey the samples were identified by age. The prevalence of BLU-group antibody, demonstrated in a gel diffusion precipitin test, was highest in the north and decreased progressively to the south. Antibody prevalence increased with age. However, according to variations in prevalence by age and region, it was concluded that the activity of relevant viruses was highly variable between years and was geographically discontinuous. Evidence is presented that much of the antibody found, especially in animals less than 4 years old, failed to persist from one year to another. Factors likely to contribute to more persistent reactions in older animals are discussed. Neutralizing antibodies to bluetongue virus serotypes 1 and 21 were demonstrated and prevalence of these was associated with location and age, as was that of group-specific antibody.


A blind, randomized, cross-over trial was conducted to determine the degree of psychomotor/cognitive impairment and the recovery profile produced by combinations of subanesthetic concentrations of isoflurane and nitrous oxide in healthy volunteers. In the experiment, subjects (n = 10) inhaled 100% oxygen-placebo, 30% nitrous oxide in oxygen, and 0.2% and 0.4% isoflurane in oxygen, alone, and in combination with 30% nitrous oxide, in different seesions. Dependent measures included psychomotor and cognitive performance. Impairment was profound with the combination of inhaled anesthetics, and from an analysis of control conditions (the anesthetics alone), it appeared that isoflurane produced more impairment than did nitrous oxide. The time course of recovery was extremely rapid, with subjects returning to control-level functioning 5 min after cessation of the drug inhalation. The drug combination of isoflurane and nitrous oxide appears to be a promising candidate for conscious sedation procedures, although its analgesic and mood-altering effects need to be studied more systematically. (Anesth Analg 1996;82:153-7)


Electrocatalytic gas sensors belong to the family of electrochemical solid state sensors. Their responses are acquired in the form of I-V plots as a result of application of cyclic voltammetry technique. In order to obtain information about the type of measured gas the multivariate data analysis and pattern classification techniques can be employed. However, there is a lack of information in literature about application of such techniques in case of standalone chemical sensors which are able to recognize more than one volatile compound. In this article we present the results of application of these techniques to the determination from a single electrocatalytic gas sensor of single concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Two types of classifiers were evaluated, i.e. linear Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and nonlinear Support Vector Machine (SVM). The efficiency of using PLS-DA and SVM methods are shown on both the raw voltammetric sensor responses and pre-processed responses using normalization and auto-scaling.


Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells (TREM) family receptors modulate responses of a variety of leukocytes. We found that TREM-like 4 (TREML4) mRNA is elevated in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced coronary artery calcification (CAC) and that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs2803496, tracks with the level of TREML4 mRNA in these patients. In an effort to elucidate the mechanism through which TREML4 in peripheral blood could affect CAC, we began by determining what cells express it. Monocytes and lymphocytes of donors with this SNP expressed very low levels of TREML4 mRNA whereas their neutrophils (PMNs) were strongly positive. Consistent with its association with CAC, we found variation in the levels of TREML4 mRNA in PMNs that correlated rs2803496, and a second SNP rs2803495. Unlike murine Treml4, which has the typical TREM family structure, human TREML4 has a noncanonical leader, lacks a portion of the transmembrane domain (TM) and has no cytoplasmic tail. Characterization of the Treml4 cDNA suggests that this truncated TM domain is sufficient to anchor the protein in the plasma membrane but that the TREML4 native leader sequence is ineffective. Lastly, immunostaining of human atherosclerotic plaques shows TREML4 in macrophage-rich regions, as well as on the endothelium. Together our findings suggest that TREML4 may play an important role in atherosclerosis and CAC but that it is unlikely to function as a typical, DAP12-coupled TREM.


Background: Metals can interfere with hormonal functioning by binding at the receptor site and through indirect mechanisms; thus, they may be associated with hormonal changes in premenopausal women. Objectives: We examined the associations between cadmium, lead, and mercury, and anovulation and patterns of reproductive hormones [estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone] among 252 premenopausal women 18–44 years of age who were enrolled in the BioCycle Study in Buffalo, New York. Methods: Women were followed for up to two menstrual cycles, with serum samples collected up to eight times per cycle. Metal concentrations were determined at baseline in whole blood by inductively coupled mass spectroscopy. Marginal structural models with stabilized inverse probability weights and nonlinear mixed models with harmonic terms were used to estimate the effects of cadmium, lead, and mercury on reproductive hormone levels during the menstrual cycle and anovulation. Results: Geometric mean (interquartile range) cadmium, lead, and mercury levels were 0.29 (0.19–0.43) μg/L, 0.93 (0.68–1.20) μg/dL, and 1.03 (0.58–2.10) μg/L, respectively. We observed decreases in mean FSH with increasing cadmium [second vs. first tertile: –10.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI), –17.3% to –2.5%; third vs. first tertile: –8.3%; 95% CI, –16.0% to 0.1%] and increases in mean progesterone with increasing lead level (second vs. first tertile: 7.5%; 95% CI, 0.1–15.4%; third vs. first tertile: 6.8%; 95% CI, –0.8% to 14.9%). Metals were not significantly associated with anovulation. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that environmentally relevant levels of metals are associated with modest changes in reproductive hormone levels in healthy, premenopausal women.


In recent years, several paradigms have emerged for interactive storytelling. In character-based storytelling, plot generation is based on the behaviour of autonomous characters. In this paper, we describe user interaction in a fully-implemented prototype of an interactive storytelling system. We describe the planning techniques used to control autonomous characters, which derive from HTN planning. The hierarchical task network representing a characters' potential behaviour constitute a target for user intervention, both in terms of narrative goals and in terms of physical actions carried out on stage. We introduce two different mechanisms for user interaction: direct physical interaction with virtual objects and interaction with synthetic characters through speech understanding. Physical intervention exists for the user in on-stage interaction through an invisible avatar: this enables him to remove or displace objects of narrative significance that are resources for character's actions, thus causing these actions to fail. Through linguistic intervention, the user can influence the autonomous characters in various ways, by providing them with information that will solve some of their narrative goals, instructing them to take direct action, or giving advice on the most appropriate behaviour. We illustrate these functionalities with examples of system-generated behaviour and conclude with a discussion of scalability issues.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Various clinical subtypes of patients presenting with sudden-onset ischemic stroke have been recognized, but classification of those types is not simple. We identified various patterns of perfusion-weighted MR imaging and MR angiographic findings in hyperacute ischemic stroke with relation to clinical outcomes.

METHODS
Twelve patients with symptoms of acute ischemic stroke due to middle cerebral artery occlusion underwent perfusion-weighted MR imaging and MR angiography within 6 hours after the onset of symptoms. Perfusion-weighted imaging was performed with a conventional dynamic contrast-enhanced T2*-weighted sequence, and cerebral blood volume (CBV) maps were then created. CBV maps and MR angiographic findings were compared with 99mTc-HMPAO brain SPECT scans, short-term outcomes, and follow-up imaging findings.

RESULTS
The combined CBV and MR angiographic findings were classified into three patterns: arterial occlusion and decreased CBV (n = 8), arterial occlusion and increased CBV (n = 2), and no arterial occlusion and normal CBV (n = 2). These three patterns were strongly related to SPECT findings, short-term outcomes, and follow-up imaging findings. Perfusion on SPECT decreased markedly in the affected regions in all patients with the first pattern, decreased slightly in the second pattern, and was normal in the third pattern. Symptoms were not significantly changed at 24 hours after onset in any of the patients with the first pattern, but resolved completely in all patients with the latter two patterns. Follow-up imaging showed large infarctions in all patients with the first pattern. Initially, no infarction was seen in the second pattern, but watershed infarction developed later in one of these patients.

CONCLUSION
Hyperacute ischemic stroke may be differentiated into three imaging patterns with different clinical outcomes. The combined use of perfusion-weighted MR imaging and MR angiography may play a substantial role in guiding the choice of treatment of this disease.


Leaf rust disease of wheat, caused by Puccinia triticina, is one of the most severe fungal diseases on wheat leaves and it causes severe yield losses in Egypt. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of some eco-friendly materials like waste agriculture extracts in order to reduce uses of chemical fungicides and to maintain sustainable development. Three experiments were conducted in the Laboratory, Greenhouse and Field. Neem cake, orange peels and rice straw were used to obtain eco-friendlynaturalfungicides while Sumi-8 was used as a chemical fungicide and as a control. Three species from wheat cultivars, T.S.S, Morocco and Misr1 were used. Eco-friendlynaturalfungicides were applied as soak, foliar and applied together at the same time. Greenhouse and field experiments data showed that all natural extracts inhibited spore germination. Maximum inhibition reached to 100% by using neem cake and rice straw extracts followed with orange peels extract. In field experiments data showed that wheat yield was the highest using neem extract as soak + foliar application. The increase in wheat yield reached to 41.3% compared to Sumi-8 fungicide as healthy control. Also the results showed an increase in the percentage of carbohydrates, proteins, and wheat gluten, which is one of the main characteristics of the wheat quality. In conclusion these extracts can be used instead of chemical fungicide to cost effective, use safe and non-polluting environment.


As a new type of green environmental protection material for outdoor use, the water resistance of bamboo scrimber composite (BSC) is crucial—the primary reason for a decrease in water resistance being bonding interface failure. From a bonding interface structure perspective, the influence mechanism of the resin content and density on the water resistance of BSCs remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, BSCs were prepared using Moso bamboo and phenol-formaldehyde resin, and the changes in the macroscopic and microscopic bonding interfaces before and after 28-h water-resistance tests were observed and analyzed. The results showed that the water resistance of the BSC increased with increasing resin content, with higher thickness swelling rates (TSRs) observed at higher densities. Obvious cracks were found at the macroscopic interface after 28-h tests, with higher resin contents leading to fewer and smaller cracks. With increasing density, the longitudinal fissures due to defibering process decreased, having an effect on width swelling rates (WSRs). Furthermore, porosity measurements revealed changes in the microscopic bonding interface; the difference in porosity before and after testing (D-value) showed the same trend as water resistance. Generally, we conclude that the macroscopic and microscopic bonding interface structures are closely related to BSC water resistance.


Abstract A Landau free energy expansion has been developed in a first attempt to describe the Pm 3̄ m ↔ I4/mcm octahedral tilting transition in perovskite across a complete binary solid solution, CaTiO3- SrTiO3 (CST). Only two parameters, the critical temperature and the coefficient, λ4, for coupling between the order parameter and the tetragonal strain are given a composition-dependence. The best match between observed and calculated variations of the tetragonal strain as a function of temperature in CaTiO3 (CST0) and as a function of composition at room temperature is found for a model of the solid solution in which the transition is close to tricritical for the composition range CST0 to ~CST90. The change in transition character from second order (246 potential) to tricritical is accounted for by an increase in |λ4| between SrTiO3 (CST100) and ~CST90. The Landau potential is used to calculate the variations of single-crystal and bulk elastic constants through the Pm3̄ m ↔ I4/mcm transition as functions of both pressure and composition. This model for the CST solid solution permits the classical softening effects of strain/order parameter coupling to be separated quantitatively from the much larger superelastic softening observed for twinned crystals of tetragonal SrTiO3 and CST. Data from the literature for relative changes of elastic properties measured at low frequencies have been rescaled to absolute values for comparison with calculated values of Young's modulus. These appear to show that, below the temperature for domain wall pinning, some 5.10% of softening of the isotropic Young's modulus could still be due to the effects of twin wall movements.


Development of an effective tuberculosis (TB) vaccine has suffered from an incomplete understanding of the correlates of protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, recent work has shown that compared to standard intradermal Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination, intravenous (IV) BCG vaccination provides nearly complete protection against TB in rhesus macaques. While studies have focused on cellular immunity in this setting, the antibody response elicited by IV BCG vaccination remains incompletely defined. Using an agnostic antibody profiling approach, here we show that IV BCG drives superior antibody responses in the plasma and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL). While IV BCG immunization resulted in the broad expansion of antibody titers and effector functions, surprisingly, IgM titers were among the strongest markers of reduced bacterial burden in the plasma and BAL of BCG immunized animals. Moreover, IgM immunity was also enriched among animals receiving protective vaccination with an attenuated Mtb strain. Finally, a LAM-specific IgM monoclonal antibody reduced Mtb survival in vitro. Collectively, these data highlight the potential importance of IgM responses as a marker and as a functional mediator of protection against TB.


UNLABELLED
The aim was to find an objective indicator in order to evaluate white coat effect (WE). The first hour average values after placing an ambulatory blood pressure recorder (15 mn intervals) were compared to those of the 4 following hours of diurnal activity. A first hour systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP 1H) increase of 10 mmHg or more was considered as an ambulatory WE positive (AWE+) and was compared to clinical WE (CWE). CWE+ was observed in 78 pts and AWE+ in 72 among a group of 172 unselected pts referred for hypertension.

RESULTS
the correlation between AWE and CWE is weak (r = 0.49) but significant (p < 0.001). There was no difference between the two groups in age, sex, clinical blood pressure, heart rate or ambulatory BP after the first hour (table). There was a significant difference in SBP between the 2 groups (p < 0.001) during the first hour only. [table: see text]

CONCLUSION
Ambulatory blood pressure recording is able to recognize and evaluate the white coat effect. We suggest to consider independently the first hour of each recording and to compare it with the mean pressure measured during the period of diurnal activity.


Abstract The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is an important mite pest worldwide. It often leads to reduced crop yields or poor marketability of the produce and has already developed resistance to many acaricides. In this study, the pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Acremonium hansfordii, to T. urticae and its side effects on the predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri were compared. The toxicity of A. hansfordii was evaluated on T. urticae at 1.0×104, 1.0×106, 1.0×108 conidia/mL concentrations and predatory mite N. barkeri at 1.0×108 conidia/mL under experimental conditions at 25±1°C, 75±5% RH and 16L: 8D photoperiod. The effects of EPF on the development of the F0 and F1 generation of predatory mites were also assessed at 1.0×108 conidia/mL concentration. The results showed that the corrected mortality of T. urticae at three tested concentrations were 36.67%, 53.67% and 66.33% within 11d, and the median lethal time were 14.39 d, 9.84d and 7.99d, respectively. The corrected mortality of N. barkeri was only 3.9% after 11d at 1×108 conidia/mL concentration. Some hyphae of A. hansfordii were detected on the surface of treated T. urticae but not on N. barkeri body after 7d. After N. barkeri females were treated with 1.0×108 conidia/mL, the preoviposition period of the F0 generation was prolonged 1.56 times and the other life history parameters have no significant differences; similar patterns were also shown in the F1 generation. A. hansfordii showed strong pathogenicity against T. urticae but did not significantly adversely influence N. barkeri. Therefore, the combination of A. hansfordii and N. barkeri has the potential to be used for the control of T. urticae in the future.


Electrical resistance tomography (ERT), which is a non-invasive and robust measurement technique, was employed to visualize, in three dimensions, the concentration field inside a cylindrical mixing vessel equipped with a radial-flow Scaba 6SRGT impeller. The ability of ERT to work in opaque fluids makes this technique very attractive from an industrial perspective. An ERT system with a 4-plane assembly of peripheral sensing rings, each containing 16 electrodes, was used to measure the mixing time in agitation of xanthan gum solution which is a pseudoplastic fluid with yield stress. An image reconstruction algorithm was used to generate images of the tracer distribution within the sensing zone. In this study, the effect of impeller speed, fluid rheology, power consumption, and Reynolds number on the mixing time was investigated.


In order to solve the gap and accuracy in the analytical methods of the resilience of a regional agricultural water resources system, a suitable evaluation index system based on the optimal index model was introduced and applied to the 15 farms in the Jiansanjiang Administration of Heilongjiang Province of China. An improved support vector machine (SVM) was used to analyze the resilience level of each farm for the selected time period. The test results showed that the indicator optimization model had the advantage of eliminating redundant indicators and ensuring the maximum content of screening indicators. The indicator system reflected all original information by 34% of initial indicators. The results showed that the particle swarm optimization-support vector machine (PSO-SVM) model had higher accuracy for the evaluation of agricultural water resource resilience through the analysis of stability and reliability of each model. The spatial pattern of resilience over selected farms was generally characterized by 'low in the southwest and high in the northeast'. The research achievements may provide technical and theoretical support for solving problems of index optimization and analysis methods of system resilience, and have an important theoretical and practical significance for promoting the sustainable development of regional agricultural water resources systems.


Boron (B) toxicity is observed in some citrus orchards in China. However, limited data are available on the molecular mechanisms of citrus B-toxicity and B-tolerance. Using cDNA-AFLP, we identified 20 up- and 52 down-regulated genes, and 44 up- and 66 down-regulated genes from excess B-treated Citrus sinensis and Citrus grandis roots, respectively, thereby demonstrating that gene expression profiles were more affected in the latter. In addition, phosphorus and total soluble protein concentrations were lowered only in excess B-treated C. grandis roots. Apparently, C. sinensis had higher B-tolerance than C. grandis. Our results suggested that the following several aspects were responsible for the difference in the B-tolerance between the two citrus species including: (a) B-excess induced Root Hair Defective 3 expression in C. sinensis roots, and repressed villin4 expression in C. grandis roots; accordingly, root growth was less inhibited by B-excess in the former; (b) antioxidant systems were impaired in excess B-treated C. grandis roots, hence accelerating root senescence; (c) genes related to Ca2+ signals were inhibited (induced) by B-excess in C. grandis (C. sinensis) roots. B-excess-responsive genes related to energy (i.e., alternative oxidase and cytochrome P450), lipid (i.e., Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 9 and citrus dioxygenase), and nucleic acid (i.e., HDA19, histone 4, and ribonucleotide reductase RNR1 like protein) metabolisms also possibly accounted for the difference in the B-tolerance between the two citrus species. These data increased our understanding of the mechanisms on citrus B-toxicity and B-tolerance at transcriptional level.


OBJECTIVES
In 2015 and 2016 Poland recorded rapid proliferation of New Delhi MBL (NDM)-producing Enterobacterales, with at least 470 and 1780 cases, respectively. We addressed the roles of the Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 NDM-1 outbreak genotype, already spreading in 2012-14, and of newly imported organisms in this increase.

METHODS
The study included 2136 NDM-positive isolates identified between April 2015 and December 2016, following transfer of patients with K. pneumoniae ST147 NDM-1 from Tunisia to Warsaw in March 2015. The isolates were screened by PCR mapping for variants of blaNDM-carrying Tn125-like elements. Selected isolates were typed by PFGE and MLST. NDM-encoding plasmids were analysed by nuclease S1/hybridization, transfer assays, PCR-based replicon typing and PCR mapping.

RESULTS
The organisms were mainly K. pneumoniae containing the Tn125A variant of the ST11 epidemic lineage (n = 2094; ∼98%). Their representatives were of the outbreak pulsotype and ST11, and produced NDM-1, encoded by specific IncFII (pKPX-1/pB-3002cz)-like plasmids. The isolates were recovered in 145 healthcare centres in 13/16 administrative regions, predominantly the Warsaw area. The 'Tunisian' genotype K. pneumoniae ST147 NDM-1 Tn125F comprised 18 isolates (0.8%) from eight institutions. The remaining 24 isolates, mostly K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli of diverse STs, produced NDM-1 or NDM-5 specified by various Tn125 derivatives and plasmids.

CONCLUSIONS
The K. pneumoniae ST11 NDM-1 outbreak has dramatically expanded in Poland since 2012, which may bring about a countrywide endemic situation in the near future. In addition, the so-far limited K. pneumoniae ST147 NDM-1 outbreak plus multiple NDM imports from different countries were observed in 2015-16.


This article presents the results of a patient questionnaire on response to minor oral surgery carried out under local anaesthetic and intravenous sedation. The predominantly favourable response of the respondents leads the author to suggest the use of IV sedation as a means of reducing patient anxiety, and so increasing dental attendance.


We evaluate the average expansion rate of a universe which contains a realistic evolving ensemble of non-linear structures. We use the peak model of structure formation to obtain the number density of structures, and take the individual structures to be spherical. The expansion rate increases relative to the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker value on a timescale of 10–100 billion years, because the universe becomes dominated by fast expanding voids. However, the increase is not rapid enough to correspond to acceleration. We discuss how to improve our treatment. We also consider various qualitative issues related to backreaction.


This document describes the Licklider Transmission Protocol (LTP)
designed to provide retransmission-based reliability over links
characterized by extremely long message round-trip times (RTTs) and/or
frequent interruptions in connectivity. Since communication across
interplanetary space is the most prominent example of this sort of
environment, LTP is principally aimed at supporting "long- haul"
reliable transmission in interplanetary space, but it has applications
in other environments as well. In an Interplanetary Internet setting
deploying the Bundle protocol, LTP is intended to serve as a reliable
convergence layer over single hop deep-space RF links. LTP does ARQ of
data transmissions by soliciting selective-acknowledgment reception
reports. It is stateful and has no negotiation or handshakes. This
document is a product of the Delay Tolerant Networking Research Group
and has been reviewed by that group. No objections to its publication
as an RFC were raised.


Most business processes today can be easily modelled and controlled by advanced business process management systems. When it comes to processes, that are driven by outside events and require fast reactions to contingencies in order to stabilize them, e. g., transport or production processes, business process management systems often seem to reach their limits. In this paper we introduce a robustness model which is based on a business process model of an undisturbed transport process and extends it by a generic contingency detection model. We employ a hierarchical organization for deriving corrective actions with least possible modifications to the original transport process.


Effective intercultural communicative competence goes beyond a good command of the foreign language and an insight into the foreign culture. What real-life intercultural communication often calls for is an ability to present one's own cultural identity in the foreign tongue. Are our learners empowered to face this challenge and how can the foreign language teacher cater for this need? The aim of this paper, which was developed on the basis of the author's presentation at the 4th conference of the Educational Role of Language network "From theory to practice, from practice to theory", is to outline the contemporary understanding of the essence of intercultural communicative competence underpinning the need for language teachers to devote equal attention to both the target and the local culture and language in order to prepare competent language users who can function as efficient mediators in the process of intercultural communication. In an answer to some of the deficiencies identified in educational practice, some practical ideas are also shared on how to exploit the rich affordance of language classes to enhance both the language command and the intercultural communicative competence of the learners.


The Echellette Spectrograph and Imager (ESI) for Keck 2 is a versatile Cassegrain instrument which will take data in 3 independent modes. In the echellette mode, it is a medium- dispersion prism cross-dispersed spectrometer featuring a 20- arcsec slit height, 11.5 km/sec/pixel average resolution and full coverage of the (0.39 to 1.09)-micron spectral range in a single exposure. In the prism-only mode, it is a low- dispersion multi-slit spectrometer which covers a 2.0-arcmin- wide field area with an 8.0-arcmin height perpendicular to dispersion. Prismatic resolution is roughly linear with wavelength, ranging from about 62 km/sec/pixel at 0.39 microns to 285 km/sec/pixel at 0.80 microns. In direct-imaging mode, the aforementioned 16.0 sq arcmin field area is reimaged directly unto the CCD detector at a resolution of 0.153 arcsec/pixel. ESI contains an on-axis reflecting collimator which accommodates an off-axis field of view. Cross dispersion is provided by an Ohara BSL7Y prism used in double-pass, followed by a second prism of the same material used in single-pass. The camera is a 10-element all-spherical Epps lens which services a single flat (2048 by 4096 by 15-micron) CCD. The same camera and detector are used for all 3 operating modes without modification. The ESI mechanical design is based upon the 'space-frame' concept which was used successfully for the Keck telescope(s) mechanical structure(s). This results in large weight reduction relative to more typical Cassegrain spectrographs, with the added expectations of very high stiffness and sub-pixel image stability during long exposures. ESI is funded by a grant from CARA and the project has been under way for about 27 months. Most of the mechanical design work is finished and construction is in progress. Electronics, data reduction and user-interface software are nearing completion. All of the optics (including coatings) have been completed and delivered. A thinned science-grade MIT/Lincoln Laboratory CCD for ESI has also been delivered. It is anticipated the ESI may be operational toward the end of 1998.


The mechanisms by which amorphous intermediates transform into crystalline materials are still poorly understood. Here we attempt to illuminate the formation of an amorphous precursor by investigating the crystallization process of zinc phosphate hydrate. This work shows that amorphous zinc phosphate (AZP) nanoparticles precipitate from aqueous solutions prior to the crystalline hopeite phase at low concentrations and in the absence of additives at room temperature. AZP nanoparticles are thermally stable against crystallization even at 400 °C (resulting in a high temperature AZP), but they crystallize rapidly in the presence of water if the reaction is not interrupted. X-ray powder diffraction with high-energy synchrotron radiation, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and small-angle X-ray scattering showed the particle size (≈20 nm) and confirmed the noncrystallinity of the nanoparticle intermediates. Energy dispersive X-ray, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and optical emission spectrometry as well as thermal analysis were used for further compositional characterization of the as synthesized nanomaterial. (1)H solid-state NMR allowed the quantification of the hydrogen content, while an analysis of (31)P{(1)H} C rotational echo double resonance spectra permitted a dynamic and structural analysis of the crystallization pathway to hopeite.


To study the global quality of life (QOL) of spouses of chronic stroke patients, and to determine its most pertinent factors, we assessed nine stroke patients and their spouses, using the Barthel index, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI), and a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate spouses' QOL. Correlation analysis was performed with the Spearman rank correlation analysis. Mean age of spouses was 53.6 +/- 11.3 years (male:female ratio, 8:1). The mean interval from stroke was 17.6 +/- 10.6 months. The spouses' median QOL score was 4.9, with a significant correlation between spouses' QOL scores and patients Barthel index scores, FIM global scores, and FIM locomotion scores. Spouses complained of the physical burden, but psychological, social, economic and marital consequences of the stroke were also reported. This study confirms the constant impact of stroke on the QOL of the spouses, and demonstrates the role of patients' physical disability. However, the VAS allows only a global approach. A self-administered composite index, exploring the consequences of the stroke on the spouses' daily life, would be a useful complement.


Objective Exploring the associations of regional differences in infant mortality with selected socioeconomic indicators and ethnicity could offer important clues for designing public health policy measures. Methods Data included perinatal and infant mortality in the 79 districts of the Slovak population in 2004. Linear regression was used to analyse the contribution of education, unemployment, income and proportion of Roma population on regional differences in perinatal and infant mortality rates. Results All the explored socioeconomic indicators and ethnicity individually contributed significantly to both perinatal and infant mortality, with the exception of income. In the model exploring the influence of all these variables together on perinatal and infant mortality, only the effect of the proportion of Roma population remained significant. This model explained 34.9% of the variance for perinatal and 36.4% of the variance for infant mortality. Conclusions Living in Roma settlements indicates an accumulation of socioeconomic disadvantage. Health literacy, health-related behaviour and many other factors might contribute to the explanation of the differences in infant mortality, and a better understanding of these processes might help us to design tailored interventions.


To avoid wildlife-human conflict
several solutions are used, like electrical fences, the most expensive
solution. Nowadays, technology enables alternative and cheaper approaches for
conservation projects. A technological device was developed to detect
elephants, moving on their habitat, and predict and react by avoiding
confrontation with man. The devices were tested in field experiments, and
proved to be efficient in capturing floor vibration, and air-sound signals.
Collected data also enabled the estimation of the vibration-source by calculus
(using triangulation), revealing the importance of the methodology for
real-time location and tracking of high mass animals (e.g. elephants). Building
up a mesh of devices, separated 25 m from each other, is estimated as possible
to monitor and identify different animals (by discriminating patterns) in an
area, like a virtual fencing system. Though the devices may be effective for
animal behaviour research, or even animal communication analysis, or other
Biology field, other applications outside Biology are possible for them, like
monitoring of: rock-falling, micro seismic railway, infrastructures, and people
movements.


Objectives:To estimate HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence within the general population of Mysore district, and to examine differences in the distribution of risk factors associated with HIV prevalence stratified by sex. Methods:A community-based study was conducted in Mysore, Karnataka state, southern India, between October 2005 and November 2006; final sample size 4653. A face-to-face interview was conducted, and blood and urine specimens collected to measure HIV and STI prevalences. Risk factors for HIV among men and women were examined using weighted and clustered logistic regression. Results:Weighted HIV prevalence was 0.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52–1.09] overall and 0.7% (0.35–1.08) and 0.9% (0.51–1.37) in rural and urban populations, respectively. The prevalence of syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection was 2.8% for men and 1.8% for women. In multivariate analysis, higher HIV prevalence was associated with ever having used a condom [odds ratio (OR) 2.75, 95% CI 1.01–7.47] and number of lifetime partners for men (OR 6.9, 95% CI 2.18–21.91). For women, HIV infection was associated with condom use at last sexual intercourse (OR 10.51, 95% CI 2.05–53.79), number of lifetime partners and reporting 'don't know' for whether ever had anal sex (OR 9.10, 95% CI 1.14–72.34). Conclusions:HIV prevalence in the general population of Mysore was found to be comparable to recent prevalence estimates for Karnataka state, and also similar to recent prevalence estimates from antenatal clinic attenders for the district. Few modifiable risk factors for HIV infection were identified. There is evidence from this study that high-risk behaviour may have been underreported, but the prevalence of STI was generally low.


An 11-year-old Toy Poodle underwent a computed tomography examination with contrast (iohexol) enhancement under anesthesia. Heart rate and R-wave amplitude on electrocardiogram (ECG) increased 2.5 min after iohexol administration, and end-tidal carbon dioxide decreased to 12 mmHg. A progressive ST segment depression was observed on ECG. Subsequently, the ECG waveform changed to ventricular fibrillation. However, spontaneous circulation returned following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Myocardial ischemia or anaphylactic shock was suspected in the dog, which explains the ST segment depression observed on ECG. When performing radiological examinations with a contrast agent, the ECG waveform changes, such as an increase in heart rate, R-wave amplitude, or ST segment depression, should be carefully monitored. This might enable early detection of cardiac dysfunction and the ensuing cardiac arrest in dogs.


As a solution to high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) problems in vector coding (VC) systems, phase control based methods such as selected mapping and partial transmit sequence have been investigated. In this paper, a phase sequence blind estimation method is presented for PAPR reduction based on phase control in multi-input multi-output (MIMO) adaptive modulated vector coding systems, where Turbo code is employed. On the receiver side, the phase sequence component is estimated using a maximum likelihood method which selects the most likelihood sequence among all candidate ones by exploiting soft-output information of the decoder. Computer simulation results show that when the number of candidate sequences in SLM is M = 16, instantaneous power of the transmit signal at the CCDF of 10−6 can be reduced by about 4.5dB and 3.4dB for SISO and MIMO cases as compared to case without PAPR reduction, while almost the same block error rate (BLER) performance and the same throughput performance as case of the prefect phase sequence estimation are achieved in attenuated 6-path Rayleigh fading condition.


In recent years, there has been an expansion in the development of simulators that use virtual reality (VR) as a learning tool. In surgery where robots are used, VR serves as a revolutionary technology to help medical doctors train in using these robotic systems and accumulate knowledge without risk. This article presents a study in which VR is used to create a simulator designed for robotically assisted single-uniport surgery. The control of the surgical robotic system is achieved using voice commands for laparoscopic camera positioning and via a user interface developed using the Visual Studio program that connects a wristband equipped with sensors attached to the user's hand for the manipulation of the active instruments. The software consists of the user interface and the VR application via the TCP/IP communication protocol. To study the evolution of the performance of this virtual system, 15 people were involved in the experimental evaluation of the VR simulator built for the robotic surgical system, having to complete a medically relevant task. The experimental data validated the initial solution, which will be further developed.


Walter Dunn reports - for the first time in English - the details of a battle on the Eastern Front that was perhaps the largest of all time and certainly one of the most significant of World War II. Nearly three million soldiers (two million Soviets and almost a million Germans) participated in a campaign in which five Soviet breakthroughs advanced 275 kilometers in two weeks over bad roads and marshy terrain, destroying 50 German divisions and capturing 50,000 German troops - an event celebrated by marching the prisoners of war ignominiously through the streets of Moscow. Hitler would never again have the wherewithal to launch a major offensive in the east. "Soviet Blitzkrieg" demonstrates convincingly that by the summer of 1944 the Red Army had mastered the German style of warfare and was capable of turning the tables on the Germans. Using recently declassified Soviet Orders of Battle and his own monumental files of German and Soviet unit histories, Dunn traces each of the Blitzkrieg offensives from the initial breakthrough to stalemate.


The regulation of blood pressure is dependent on multiple interacting mechanisms that influence body fluid volume, sodium balance, and vascular function. Impairments in kidney function can lead to activation of the renin- angiotensin system and inappropriate sodium and fluid retention leading to hypertension. The heme-heme oxygenase sys- tem is a recently identified antihypertensive regulatory mechanism. Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the conversion of heme to biliverdin, free iron and carbon monoxide (CO). Biliverdin is converted to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase and is an endogenous antioxidant. In this review, we discuss the role of HO in regulating kidney function and blood pressure in normal conditions and during hypertension. CO modulates renal vascular tone and salt transport. CO exerts renal vasodila- tory effects causing an increase in renal blood flow. Induction of HO also alters expression and activity of renal heme en- zymes that regulate renal hemodynamics and renal function. While HO inhibition causes an increase in blood pressure, renal HO induction attenuates the development of hypertension in several models of hypertension suggesting an important role for HO in regulation of renal function and blood pressure.


The bead-spring model for star chains (Rouse–Ham model) is a fundamental model for the polymer dynamics. Despite the importance of this model, its dynamics under the stress-controlled condition was not analyzed so far. For completeness of the model, the equation of motion of the Rouse–Ham chain was solved to derive an analytical expression of the orientation function S(n,t) for the stress-controlled creep process. This expression indicated that the segments near the free end of the star arm exhibit overshoot of their orientational anisotropy to compensate for the slow growth of the anisotropy near the branching point and that the distribution of the anisotropy along the arm contour becomes more heterogeneous with increasing arm number f. This correlation/interplay of the segments at different locations along the arm, not seen under the strain-controlled condition, is a natural consequence of the constant-stress requirement during the creep process. The corresponding interplay was noted also for respective Rouse–Ham eigenmodes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3501–3517, 2006


Exposure of adult rainbow trout to low pH (pH 4.3) in soft water (Ca2+ = 223 μequiv/1) caused a substantial ionic disturbance which arose primarily because of large net losses at the gills. In contrast, renal ion losses were low initially and declined even further because of a pronounced reduction in urine flow. A net influx of H+ occurred across the gills but this was not sufficient to cause a blood acid-base disturbance or a renal response. Although branchial ion and H+ fluxes declined with time, blood ion levels did not return to normal and many of the fish died. Further reduction in water calcium (Ca2+ = 69 μequiv/l) provoked a higher mortality and a more substantial ionic imbalance. These results contrast sharply with the effects on trout of acid exposure in hard water (Ca2+≥ 1600μequiv/l), where net ion losses and mortality are reduced and H+ uptake increased. A preliminary model for the interaction of low pH and calcium is proposed and evidence for adaptation to acid stress and for the origin of acid lethality is discussed.


Introduction: Supraglottic airway devices are newer safer alternative devices to endotracheal intubation during General Anaesthesia. The Baska mask is a novel third generation Supraglottic Airway Devices (SADs) with an added advantage of silicon self-recoiling, non inflatable cuff. Postgraduate trainees will need hands on training in all available airway securing devices and have experience in using the Baska mask and also complications associated with it. Aim: To assess the successful insertion of Baska mask by postgraduate trainees, and its placement in 50 low-risk female patients posted for breast surgeries, and also to determine the correct placement using fibreoptic bronchoscope. Materials and Methods: The present study was an observational study conducted at Kidwai Cancer Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India from January 2019 to January 2020 in which a total of 50 study participants were selected, and Baska mask was inserted by postgraduate trainees in all patients. The placement of the mask was assessed by fibreoptic bronchoscope using Brimacombe scoring. Ease of insertion, time required for insertion and attempts required for the insertion of the mask was assessed along with postoperative complications. Student's t-test and Chisquare test were used to study the parameters on continuous scale and categorical scale, respectively. Results: The mean age of the study population was 46.9±7.8 years. The overall success rate for device insertion was 96%, while the success rate for the first insertion attempt was 60%. The device was 'easy' to insert among 48% of patients, and mean time required for insertion was 20.54±10.7 sec. The mean airway leak pressure was 39.17 cmH2 O. Postoperative complications were notably less with sore throat seen in 20.8%, and the incidence of other side-effects like laryngospasm was nil. Conclusion: Baska mask can be successfully and safely used by postgraduate trainees as a tool for securing the airway. As learning curve for Baska mask is short, it can be used safely for training postgraduate trainees and to improve their expertise in using the Baska mask.


New catalytic materials have been prepared by immobilisation of a protease, the trypsin, on a carboxylic cation exchange textile and carbon tube matrixes. In both cases the catalytic activity decreases in time like the soluble enzyme. Then, it takes a value nearly constant beyond 20 or 30 days and the materials keeps until 40% of its activity. In the case of the soluble enzyme this activity was losted continually during time. The Michaelis constants, Vm and Km of the immobilized enzyme were lower than that of the soluble enzyme due to the less accessibility of the substrate to the enzyme active sites. i›™ 2006 Trade Science Inc. - INDIA


The COVID-19 pandemic causes psychological trauma in the whole society, thus investigation of the epidemiology of psychiatric symptoms is an outstanding research field during this period. Fear of infection, exposure to updated data on death figures, social isolation, adaptation to new restricting rules, existential crisis, reduction of health care availability poses dangers for mental health. Currently published papers focus on the acute effect of first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, however, further studies on long-term consequences can make this picture more complex and sophisticated. In this review a summary is provided on the most important results concerning frequency of psychiatric symptoms during the first lockdown of COVID-19. In light of the results it can be stated that psychiatric patients showed more common and more intensive symptoms, the number of relapses is increased and the adherence is reduced. Notably, more than the half of the general population produced measurable psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, a worrying portion of frontline healthcare workers started manifesting mental symptoms. The overall picture suggests that the mental health state shows a global decline on the level of the general society which highlights the urgent need for targeted and complex mental support programs.


A discrete-event approach, which has already been shown to give a cause-and-effect explanation of many quantum optics experiments, is applied to single-neutron interferometry experiments. The simulation algorithm yields a logically consistent description in terms of individual neutrons and does not require the knowledge of the solution of a wave equation. It is shown that the simulation method reproduces the results of several single-neutron interferometry experiments, including experiments which, in quantum theoretical language, involve entanglement. Our results demonstrate that classical (non-Hamiltonian) systems can exhibit correlations which in quantum theory are associated with interference and entanglement, also when all particles emitted by the source are accounted for.


Of or relating to pharmacy or to drugs, including theoretical and practical training in pharmaceutical analysis, product formulation and manufacturing, microbiology, toxicology and life sciences.


morals in official circles. The line between venality and veniality, so sternly drawn in t);e early days, was now indulgently wiped out. The community of interest between big business and big politics was paraded with a brazenness which only the Harding Administration was ever to equal. Yet even in so indifferent a milieu, it was by a combination of trickery and mysterious personal magic that Blaine managed to retain the semblance of respectability. Despite all this, until the day of his death he was the perennial leader of the Republican Party, truly the idol of the rank and file. What was the secret of Blaine's powerhis ability to hold primacy in the face of a burden of scandal which would have swept most men from even the humbler fringes of public life? It is a question for which his biographers have been singularly inept in finding an answer; and Professor Muzzey is


In this paper, we propose a network-based distributed antenna array approach, in which a bit-interleaved rectangular parity-check coded modulation with an iterative demodulation scheme is used. Different from the conventional multiple-array systems, this distributed array employs a pair of physically separated identical receiving nodes. These nodes receive the transmitted signal through independent channels. The each node demodulates and decodes the received signal in an iterative manner. At each iteration, the pair of nodes exchange the reliability measure of a small portion of the symbols to obtain spatial diversity. Simulation results show that significant diversity gain can be achieved at much lower traffic cost than maximal ratio combining.


Effective removal of apoptotic cells, particularly apoptotic neutrophils, is essential for the successful resolution of acute inflammatory conditions. In these experiments, we found that whereas interaction between vitronectin and integrins diminished the ability of macrophages to ingest apoptotic cells, interaction between vitronectin with urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) on the surface of apoptotic cells also had equally important inhibitory effects on efferocytosis. Preincubation of vitronectin with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 eliminated its ability to inhibit phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Similarly, incubation of apoptotic cells with soluble uPAR or Abs to uPAR significantly diminished efferocytosis. In the setting of LPS-induced ALI, enhanced efferocytosis and decreased numbers of neutrophils were found in bronchoalveolar lavage obtained from vitronectin-deficient (vtn−/−) mice compared with wild type (vtn+/+) mice. Furthermore, there was increased clearance of apoptotic vtn−/− as compared with vtn+/+ neutrophils after introduction into the lungs of vtn−/− mice. Incubation of apoptotic vtn−/− neutrophils with purified vitronectin before intratracheal instillation decreased efferocytosis in vivo. These findings demonstrate that the inhibitory effects of vitronectin on efferocytosis involve interactions with both the engulfing phagocyte and the apoptotic target cell.


Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a biological process of new bone formation. It could be used as an alternative treatment method for the correction of mandibular hypoplastic deformity. Modern distraction osteogenesis evolved primarily from the work of Gavriel llizarov. DO has been first applied to craniofacial region since McCarthy et al. In this case report, the patient was 17 years old male with bird face deformity due to hypoplasia of mandible resulted from bilateral TMJ ankylosis due to the fracture of both condyle at the age of 4 years. Patient's intraincisal opening was absent 1 year back. He underwent condylectomy in both sides to release the ankylosis and to increase intraincisal opening. His mandibular length was markedly short. To increase his mandibular antero-posterior length, mandibular body distraction was done in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department, BSMMU. Through this procedure length of the body of mandibule was increased by 10 mm, occlusion was edge to edge and his lower facial appearance increased markedly. Mandibular body distraction osteogenesis was considerably effective when performed in a hypoplastic mandible to facilitate post-operative functional and esthetic restoration. Long term follow-up is necessary to evaluate relapse and complications. DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v3i2.7061 BSMMU J 2010; 3(2): 103-106


Despite advances in emergency response and critical care, good neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest is difficult to achieve, and interventions during the resuscitation phase and treatment within the first hours after the event are crucial. Although recommended by organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA) and the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), implementation of induced mild therapeutic hypothermia for survivors of cardiac arrest in the United States has been slow, at least in part, because of the perception that this therapy is technically difficult, especially at the community level. In this chapter, we review the pathophysiology, cooling techniques, clinical evidence and uses (including costs), and effectiveness of induced mild therapeutic hypothermia in adult patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, using any cooling method applied within six hours of arrest. Neurologic outcome, survival and adverse events are the main outcome parameters outlined here. In addition, we also include a discussion of the applicability of mild therapeutic hypthermia for both academic health centers and community hospitals, as well as areas of uncertainty, guidelines, and recommendations.


ScS–S differential travel times have contributed to reveal heterogeneity in the lower mantle. However, azimuthal anisotropy has not been fully considered probably due to insufficient azimuthal coverage. Recent increase of large scale seismic arrays and networks improves the coverage. Here we collected the seismograms from NECESSArray (Northeastern China), F-net (Japan), INDEPTH (Tibet), a seismic network in Thailand, whose ScS bounce points are located beneath Philippine with various azimuths. Observed ScS–S differential travel time residuals with respect to PREM show a large scattering with a standard deviation of about 2.6 s and significant apparent azimuthal variation. When a cos 2a (a is a propagation azimuth of the seismic ray) curve is fitted by least squares, we find that the fastest azimuth is about 103° measured from the north in clockwise and the amplitude of the azimuthal variation is about ± 1.4 s. However, it is quite difficult to recognize that the azimuthal variation truly reflects the anisotropy in the lower mantle due to the large scatter of the travel time residuals. To reduce the scattering of the data, we corrected for 3D mantle S-wave velocity structure models (e.g., S16U6L8, SB4L18, SH18CEX, S40RTS, SEMUCB-WM1). Unfortunately, the large scattering is not fully improved by using any models probably due to a poor resolution in the upper and uppermost lower mantle. However, if we use the 3D P-wave velocity model GAP-P4 (Obayashi et al., 2013) with an assumption of dlnVs/dlnVp=1.7, the scattering is significantly reduced (the standard deviation is about 1.3 s). After this mantle correction, the amplitude of the cos 2a function becomes ±0.4 s. However, the fastest direction is about 105°, which is almost same as in the case of the original data.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the nasolabial symmetry in smile and resting position in individuals with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and compare with Class I individuals without cleft lip and palate (CLP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Frontal photographs of 40 individuals with UCLP (mean age 14.30 ± 0.25 years; 20 female, 20 male) and 40 skeletal Class I individuals without CLP (mean age 14.60 ± 0.34 years; 20 female and 20 male) were examined. Bland-Altman Levels of Agreements, Mann-Whitney U test, independent sample t-test were conducted, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for statistical analysis.

RESULTS
Differences in the transverse lip distance (d-d') and vertical lip height at crista philtri (e-e') were lesser in the UCLP group at smile (P = .001; P = .005, respectively). When comparing the differences in these measurements at rest between control and UCLP groups, vertical lip height was longer at crista philtri (e-e') (P = .014), crista philtri was more laterally located (f-f') (P = .002), and the transverse lip distance was greater (d-d') (P = .004) in the UCLP group. Distance of the crista philtri to the midline of the face (f-f') (P = .007) were higher in the UCLP group during smiling compared to control group.

CONCLUSIONS
Nasolabial region asymmetry in smiling and rest position in individuals with UCLP was significantly different from the control group. However, the asymmetry in the nasolabial region, which is more evident in the resting position in individuals with UCLP, decreases during smiling.


Ever since it was discovered that CEA, as member of the CEA-gene family, is part also of the Ig-supergene family, to which molecules involved in cell interactions like cell adhesion or cell recognition belong, great efforts were made to prove that CEA is also an adhesion molecule. At present this seems to be an accepted fact. In the present study we advance a different theory which is based on the expression pattern of CEA during ontogeny and in malignancy and which is suggestive of CEA functioning more as a signal protein prohibiting further cell/cell contact rather than as an adhesion molecule. In the malignant state the expression of this molecule on the surface of tumor cells would facilitate migration and motility, i.e., metastases formation. Furthermore it would prevent a tight contact between cytotoxic effector cells and CEA expressing target cells.


The objective of this work is to review state of art practices and potential in diesel engines using greener fuels. Biogas with jatropha bio-diesel as ignition source was tested in a compression ignition diesel engine at six different loads under dual fuel mode. With a simple modification, the base engine was qualified to a dual fuel operation. For all the loads evaluated, dual fuel mode achieved a possible bio-diesel substitution of about 65%. In addition, it consumed lesser friction power as compared to the diesel mode during the operation. There were reductions in thermal efficiency, cylinder peak pressure and combustion noise under the dual fuel operation than the diesel mode due to lower burning velocity of biogas together with a longer pilot delay. However, this operation registered extremely lower NOx levels at all loads along-with reduced CO emissions at medium and higher loads. While significant increases in hydrocarbon emissions were observed.


A novel learning framework is presented. The framework enables final-year students to capture their workplace experiences and share them with their peers. Based on the success of the initial pilot run on software engineers, the framework is introduced to electrical and electronics engineering students and staff.


Lucanthone (miracil D) is reported to be carcinostatic and a radiosensitizer. But in our study lucanthone alone (70 mg/kg body weight) had no lasting effect on the Ehrlich carcinoma in mice. Based on mitotic studies, 4-day old ascites tumor was not sensitized to X-rays when pretreated with lucanthone. Tumor growth, evaluated as the average weight of solid tumors or the number of tumor cells in ascites bearing mice, was not significantly different between the group treated with X-rays only and the one treated with lucanthone plus X-rays. Thus lucanthone seems to enhance the radiosensitivity of certain cell types but not of the tumor tested. The orobable mechanism of action of the drug leading in some cases to enhanced radiosensitivity is presented.


Talent cultivation is the priority of China's talent strategy, which necessitates the education of interdisciplinary innovative talents that meet social needs. This paper presents the possible participation of Anhui University undergraduates in various research training programs and discusses recent exploration of the implementation of Student Research Training Program. It deals with a program management system that conforms to development of Anhui University and describes its effect by tracking employments of the students involved in the program.


During the wars of the 1990s that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia, narratives of collective victimhood served to underpin violent ethnic-nationalist agendas. In Franjo Tudjman's Croatia, a revisionist approach to history justified national resentment and continued to prevent self-critical assessment of Croatian involvement in the conflict, compounding Croatia's international isolation. Since Tudjman's death in 1999, however, there has been a gradual "Europeanization" of memory; today, with Croatia set to become a full member of the European Union in 2013, the government declaredly bases its history policy on "European memory standards". Yet does it succeed in meeting these standards and, more to the point, is the Europeanization of memory synonymous with an objective and self-critical approach to historical crimes both suffered and committed?


Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) immunoreactive peptides occur in high concentration within rat ventral prostate and human semen. To extend these observations to human reproductive organs, tissue fragments from human prostates undergoing benign hypertrophy were obtained by transurethral resection or open surgery. Human prostate, seminal vesicles, testes, and epididymis were also obtained from cadavers within 24 hours postmortem. After tissue extraction, the total TRH immunoreactivity (TRH IR) was measured by TRH radioimmunoassay. The total TRH IR in autopsy seminal vesicles was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) than in all other autopsy reproductive tissues. The mean autopsy TRH IR of prostate was not significantly different from that measured in prostatic tissue obtained at surgery. High pressure liquid chromatography of extracts of autopsy seminal vesicles, prostate, and testis revealed multiple peaks of TRH IR. The two major peaks corresponded to the two TRH-homologous peptides of human semen and one of the minor peaks cochromatographed with synthetic TRH. The distribution of TRH IR in human reproductive tissues appears to be very different from that in the rat, where ventral prostatic TRH IR levels exceed that of any other reproductive tissue by one to two orders of magnitude.


The reaction of benzyl lithiums is an important aspect in organic and organometallic synthesis. Reported herein are detailed insights into the reactivity of benzyl lithiums as regulated by intermediate structures. By discussing the carbometalation of allylamines and the reaction of the formed benzyl-lithium compounds with electrophiles, the influence of the metal as well as the solvent on the electronic structure of the intermediate is described. This molecular structure strongly influences the reactivity of these intermediates. By choosing the appropriate reaction conditions, the regioselectivity of reactions with electrophiles can be regulated. With trimethylchlorosilane in n-pentane a selective reaction at the para-position takes place. In contrast, selective reaction at the benzylic position, with trimethylchlorostannane in tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent, is accomplished.