An analytical survey was conducted of animation cels in the Walt Disney Animation Research Library (ARL) collection, made for animated films from 1929 to 2003, that addressed three main topics: (1) characterization of cel polymers and plasticizers; (2) assessment of cel degradation in storage; and (3) assessment of cel degradation and microenvironments in passe-partout mounts. FTIR was helpful in differentiating the main polymer types: cellulose nitrate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, and polyester. The majority of the cels were made from cellulose diacetate before 1981, and cellulose triacetate thereafter. Pyrolysisgas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) identified a number of distinct plasticizer mixtures–primarily triphenyl phosphate mixed with phthalates–in the diacetate and triacetate cels. Estimates of the acetyl content by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, which assessed the degree of substitution in the cellulose acetate cels, revealed that few cels showed evidence of hydrolysis. Levels of acetic acid vapor produced by cels in storage vaults at the ARL, as measured by A-D Strips, confirmed that few cels were at risk. Finally, the concentration of acetic acid vapor in passe-partout mounted cels for traveling exhibition, as measured by GC/MS and A-D Strips, was minimal. Animation cels represent a unique and important cultural legacy of the 20th century. This study revealed that cellulose acetate cels have a range of compositions, which ultimately may affect their stability. Further research is needed to find optimum storage environments that reduce the rate of hydrolysis of the cellulose acetate without damaging the ink and paint layers.


Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes fetal brain malformations in ruminants when the fetuses are infected transplacentally in mid-pregnancy. In both cytopathic and non-cytopatic virus infections, viral lytic infection in actively replicating cells and interruption of vascular integrity have been suggested as the pathogenesis, but functional disturbance of infected neural developing cells has been unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of infection with non-cytopathic BVDV2 on the differentiation of neural stem/precursor cells isolated from the bovine fetus. In the process of differentiation to three types of neural cells, neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, virus infection significantly and selectively inhibited the differentiation of neural stem/precursor cells into the astrocytic lineage. This inhibition is possibly important for the pathogenesis of congenital brain malformations associated with non-cytopathic BVDV infection.


A method is described for searching protein sequence databases using tandem mass spectra of tryptic peptides. The approach uses a de novo sequencing algorithm to derive a short list of possible sequence candidates which serve as query sequences in a subsequent homology-based database search routine. The sequencing algorithm employs a graph theory approach similar to previously described sequencing programs. In addition, amino acid composition, peptide sequence tags and incomplete or ambiguous Edman sequence data can be used to aid in the sequence determinations. Although sequencing of peptides from tandem mass spectra is possible, one of the frequently encountered difficulties is that several alternative sequences can be deduced from one spectrum. Most of the alternative sequences, however, are sufficiently similar for a homology-based sequence database search to be possible. Unfortunately, the available protein sequence database search algorithms (e.g. Blast or FASTA) require a single unambiguous sequence as input. Here we describe how the publicly available FASTA computer program was modified in order to search protein databases more effectively in spite of the ambiguities intrinsic in de novo peptide sequencing algorithms.


The present research deals with the analysis of the relationship between corporate governance, income smoothing and financial reporting quality in the listed companies in Tehran Stock Exchange during the years 2008-2012. The sample includes 114 companies. In order to compute income smoothing degree, the two indexes of Tucker and Zarwin (TZ) (2006), and Albert and Richardson (AR) (1990) have been used. The index of financial reporting quality and informing in this research is the relationship between the profit of current period and subsequent cash flows. Data analysis has been performed by using multiple linear regression by compositional data. The results of the present research determine the weak relationship between corporate governance and income smoothing degree because among all corporate governance mechanisms, only quality and disclosure score and total stockholders' percentage had positive significant relationship with the level of income smoothing. In the level of "net income", income smoothing could not cause increasing the relationship between the profit of current period and subsequent cash flows positively in any of the two methods of AR and TZ, which shows that income smoothing has not caused informing in this level.


In this paper, the inverse problem on source term identification in convection-diffusion equation is transformed into an optimization problem. To reduce the computational cost and improve computational accuracy for the optimization problem, a new algorithm, chaos real-coded hybrid-accelerating evolution algorithm (CRHAEA), is proposed, in which an initial population is generated by chaos mapping, and new chaos mutation and simplex evolution operation are used. With the shrinking of searching range, CRHAEA gradually directs to an optimal result with the excellent individuals obtained by real-coded evolution algorithm. Its convergence is analyzed. Its efficiency is demonstrated by 15 test functions. Numerical simulation shows that CRHAEA has some advantages over the real-coded accelerated evolution algorithm, the chaos algorithm and the pure random search algorithm.


This paper briefly reviews a number of fundamental measurements that need to be made in order to characterize turbulence in space plasmas such as the solar wind. It has long been known that many of these quantities require simultaneous multipoint measurements to attain a proper characterization that would reveal the fundamental physics of plasma turbulence. The solar wind is an ideal plasma for such an investigation, and it now appears to be technologically feasible to carry out such an investigation, following the pioneering Cluster and MMS missions. Quantities that need to be measured using multipoint measurements include the two-point, two-time second correlation function of velocity, magnetic field and density, and higher order statistical objects such as third and fourth order structure functions. Some details of these requirements are given here, with a eye towards achieving closure on fundamental questions regarding the cascade rate, spectral anisotropy, characteristic coherent structures, intermittency, and dissipation mechanisms that describe plasma turbuelence, as well as its variability with plasma parameters in the solar wind. The motivation for this discussion is the current planning for a proposed Helioswarm mission that would be designed to make these measurements,leading to breakthrough understanding of the physics of space and astrophysical turbulence.


Author(s): Matsuno, Emmie | Advisor(s): Israel, Tania | Abstract: Parental support plays a vital role in protecting trans youth from mental health risks including depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide (Olson, Durwood, DeMeules, a McLaughlin, 2016; Simons, Schrager, Clark, Belzer, a Olson, 2013). Additionally, parents of trans youth experience distress themselves when learning their child is transgender and may experience worry, anxiety, guilt, and grief (Dierckx, Motmans, Mortelmans, a T'sjoen, 2016). This study examined the acceptability and feasibility of the Parent Support Program, an online intervention aimed at 1. decreasing parental distress and feelings of isolation, 2. increasing knowledge about gender diversity and empathy towards transgender youth, and 3. increasing intentions and self-efficacy to engage in transgender affirming behaviors. The intervention was developed based on previous research on the experiences and needs of parents of trans youth, theories of behavior change, and feedback from two focus groups with parents of transgender youth and experts in transgender mental health. The Parent Support Program includes three modules with psychoeducational text, affirming images, educational videos, videos of parents and trans youth, writing activities, and interactive quizzes. The pilot study found that the intervention was highly acceptable and provided helpful information on how to improve the feasibility of the intervention and conducting a larger efficacy study. Improvements include making the intervention more tailored and changing the online platform to decrease technical issues. Additionally, recruitment strategies will be adjusted to increase the credibility of the program and reach parents with less pre-existing support. Implications for future research andpractice with this population are discussed.


The articles in this special issue survey comparatively the shape of power and finance. The introduction sketches the history of the study of the political role of financial markets and examines the reasons for the comparative neglect of the subject by the discipline of political science.


CONTEXT
Elderly persons with psychiatric disorders are less likely than younger adults to be diagnosed as having a mental disorder and receive needed mental health treatment. Lack of access to care is 1 possible cause of this disparity.

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a nurse-based mobile outreach program to seriously mentally ill elderly persons is more effective than usual care in diminishing levels of depression, psychiatric symptoms, and undesirable moves (eg, nursing home placement, eviction, board and care placement).

DESIGN
Prospective randomized trial conducted between March 1993 and April 1996 to assess the effectiveness of the Psychogeriatric Assessment and Treatment in City Housing (PATCH) program.

SETTING
Six urban public housing sites for elderly persons in Baltimore, Md.

PARTICIPANTS
A total of 945 (83%) of 1195 residents in the 6 sites underwent screening for psychiatric illness. Among those screened, 342 screened positive and 603 screened negative. All screen-positive subjects aged 60 years and older (n=310) and a 10% random sample of screen-negative subjects aged 60 years and older (n=61) were selected for a structured psychiatric interview. Eleven subjects moved or died; 245 (82%) of those who screened positive and 53 (88%) of those who screened negative were evaluated to determine who had a psychiatric disorder. Data were weighted to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders at the 6 sites.

INTERVENTION
Among the 6 sites, residents in 3 buildings were randomized to receive the PATCH model intervention, which included educating building staff to be case finders, performing assessment in residents' apartments, and providing care when indicated; and residents in the remaining 3 buildings were randomized to receive usual care (comparison group).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Number of undesirable moves and scores on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), a measure of depressive symptoms, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), a measure of psychiatric symptoms and behavioral disorder, in intervention vs comparison sites.

RESULTS
Based on weighted data, at 26 months of follow-up, psychiatric cases at the intervention sites had significantly lower (F(1)=31.18; P<.001) MADRS scores (9.1 vs 15.2) and significantly lower (F(1)=17.35; P<.001) BPRS scores (27.4 vs 33.9) than those at the nontreatment comparison sites. There was no significant difference between the groups in undesirable moves (relative risk, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0. 44-2.17).

CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the PATCH intervention was more effective than usual care in reducing psychiatric symptoms in persons with psychiatric disorders and those with elevated levels of psychiatric symptoms. JAMA. 2000;283:2802-2809


B104 Breast cancer patients with HER2/neu overexpressing tumors have a decrease in disease free survival and overall survival. It remains to be understood, what the etilology of HER2/neu overexpressing breast tumors is in African American and Latina women. These groups generally have a poorer outcome from their breast cancer compared to Caucasian and Asian women. The purpose of this study is to understand the clinical significance of activated Akt expression in breast tumors from African American and Latina patients with corresponding tissue HER2/neu over-expression. Cellular and molecular studies have shown that activation of the cell signaling PI3-kinase/Akt cascade via the HER2/neu and other receptor tyrosine kinases induce cell proliferation. A total 234 African American and Latina patients were selected retrospectively. From this group, 120 tumor tissue samples were analyzed for tissue pAkt by immunohistochemistry. This cohort consisted of 59 HER2/neu positive and 61 HER2/neu negative tumors and these numbers gave the study 80% power with 95% confidence limit. The predictive value of activated tissue Akt in relation to HER2/neu over-expression for disease free survival was determined. Our results demonstrate that increase in pAkt was significantly associated with HER2/neu positive and estrogen/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) negative breast tumor. The activation of Akt was associated with positive lymph nodes. These patients were less responsive to tamoxifen and/or chemotherapy. Activation of Akt significantly reduced DFS in both HER2/neu positive and negative groups. However, the DFS was similar between HER2/neu-positive/pAkt-negative and HER2/neu-negativer/pAkt-positve groups. In summary, our data suggest that there may be differences in tumor phenotypes within the HER2/neu over-expressing breast cancer patients. The over-expression of pAkt may be a powerful prognostic marker for breast cancer relapse.


Introduction: Haplophyllum tuberculatum, belonging to the Rutaceae family, is distributed in south-eastern regions of Iran, particularly in Baloochestan. This study was aimed to investigate and collect scientific reports such as morphological characteristics, phytochemical compounds, ecology, biotechnology and evaluation of the therapeutic properties of this valuable medicinal plant.Methods: In order to gather the information the keywords Haplophyllum tuberculatum, botany, genetic, biotechnology, therapeutic, and pharmacology were searched until 2016 from journals accessible in databases such as Scopus, EBSCO, Science Direct, Medline, PubMed, Embase, SID and Iran Medex.Results: The results in this study revealed various pharmacological properties including anti-cancer, antioxidantant, uterus-relaxing, anti-bacterial and anti-HIV activities for this plant which are probably due to the presence of aromatic compounds such as two alkaloids named haplophytin-a and B, and essential oils.Conclusion: Haplophyllum tuberculatum possesses various pharmacological properties and the bioactive molecules of this plant play an important role in human health, hence, it might be used for different drug productions.


Nosocomial or hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) is an illness contracted during a hospital stay, generally with onset 48 hours or more after admission to hospital, or within 14 days of discharge from hospital. HAP is divided into subgroups: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), accounting for 86% of hospital acquired pneumonia, and stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP). The incidence of SAP in neurological intensive care units (NICUs) is 4.1-56.6%, in medical intensive care units (MICUs) it is 17-50%, in stroke units it is 3.9-44% and in rehabilitation it is 3.2-11%, whereas in intensive rehabilitation following severe cranial trauma, the reported incidence of HAP is between 3.9 and 12% of cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cases of HAP occurring in a continuous series of patients with severe acquired brain injury (sABI) admitted to intensive rehabilitation units. The data collected can help evaluate the growing complexity of early rehabilitation of these patients, starting from how lung infections interfere with hospital stays and rehabilitation outcomes. This prospective observational cohort study evaluates, from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2015, for patients with sABI on first admission to intensive neurological rehabilitation, the frequency of HAP and its impact on patient outcomes and complexity of care. A total of 61 patients were enrolled: 39 males and 22 females, average age 59.5 years (17-88 yrs, SD 3.53), coming from critical care (n=52), medical units (n=5), neurosurgery (n=3) and surgical units (n=1). The aetiology of hospital admission was haemorrhagic in 36% of cases, traumatic in 36%, anoxic in 13.1%, infectious in 6.5%, ischaemic in 4.9%, and other causes in 3.2%. Among the patients, 93.44% had received antibiotic therapy in their unit of provenance, and in 61.27% of cases a multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterium was isolated. On enrolment, 26 patients presented respiratory insufficiency, 29 subjects were in oxygen therapy, and 4 under invasive mechanical ventilation. There were 54 tracheostomized patients, 33 patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes, and 23 with nasogastric (NG) tubes. In 2015, among these subjects admitted to neurological rehabilitation, the incidence of HAP was 13.1%. For these 8 pneumonia cases, it was possible to isolate the bacterium in 62.5% of cases, and the detected microorganisms were K. pneumoniae (n=2), P. aeruginosa (n=1), P. mirabilis (n=1), S. maltophilia (n=1), E. cloacae + MRSCoN (n=1). Compared to the literature data, the results of the first year of monitoring show a slight increase in HAP cases (13.1%) in severe brain injury patients on first admission to neurological rehabilitation. These preliminary results need to be further confirmed and monitored over time. The findings moreover confirm the criticality and complexity of care for these patients admitted to neurological rehabilitation units.


Almost all cases of insulation degradation in high voltage cables are due to partial discharge (PD) activity. To date, wavelet based analysis has been widely used to extract PD pulses from noisy environments. This paper explores the use of time domain features, namely short-time energy and short-time zero-crossing counts, to detect the presence of partial discharge signals prior to de-noising the signal for further investigation. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of short-time energy and zero-crossing counts to identify PD signals embedded in noise, these features are tested with laboratory data. To further verify these results, real data was collected from a substation and the overall results demonstrate that these two time domain features are very effective in identifying PD pulses and are computationally efficient such that they can be considered for use in online PD monitoring.


1. Small time errors in the biological clocks of pigeons appear to have no effect on their navigation. 2. An error of 2 h seems to shift the pigeons9 orientation as predicted by a suncompass hypothesis, but 6 h shifts gave initial orientation that was too scattered to analyse. 3. Alteration of the apparent sun altitude with mirrors at the loft was without effect on navigation. 4. The administration of 30% D 2 O in the pigeon9s drinking water combined with a random light schedule and holding at a westerly point had no effect on the pigeon9s homing. 5. We conclude that the pigeon9s navigation is probably not based on either the sun or on accurate sense of time at the home loft.


Smart homes are powered by numerous programmable IoT platforms. Despite tremendous innovations, these platforms often suffer from safety and security issues. One class of defense solutions dynamically enforces safety and security policies, which essentially capture the expected behavior of the IoT system. While many proposed works were built on this runtime approach, they all are under-vetted. The primary reason lies in their evaluation approach. They are mostly self-evaluated in isolation using a virtual testbed combined with manually orchestrated test scenarios that rely on user interactions with the platform's UI. Such hand-crafted and non-uniform evaluation setups are limiting not only the reproducibility but also a comparative analysis of their efficacy results. Closing this gap in the traditional way requires a huge upfront manual effort, which causes the researchers turn away from any large-scale comparative empirical evaluation. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a highly-automated uniform evaluation platform, dubbed VetIoT, to vet the defense solutions that hinge on runtime policy enforcement. Given a defense solution, VetIoT easily instantiates a virtual testbed inside which the solution is empirically evaluated. VetIoT replaces manual UI-based interactions with an automated event simulator and manual inspection of test outcomes with an automated comparator. We developed a fully-functional prototype of VetIoT and applied it on three runtime policy enforcement solutions: Expat, Patriot, and IoTguard. VetIoT reproduced their individual prior results and assessed their efficacy results via stress testing and differential testing. We believe VetIoT can foster future research/evaluation.


Set in the 1920s amid the suffocating heat and exotic landscapes of India, this penetrating novel juxtaposes one womans search for passion and independence against the social constraints of proper British behavior. A profound and powerful novel, winner of the Booker Prize.. Set in colonial India during the 1920s, Heat and Dust tells the story of Olivia, a beautiful woman suffocated by the propriety and social constraints of her position as the wife of an important English civil servant. Longing for passion and independence, Olivia is drawn into the spell of the Nawab, a minor Indian prince deeply involved in gang raids and criminal plots. She is intrigued by Nawabs charm and aggressive courtship, and soon begins to spend most of her days in his company. But then she becomes pregnant, and unsure of the childs paternity, she is faced with a wrenching dilemma. Her reaction to the crisis humiliates her husband and outrages the British community, breeding a scandal that lives in collective memory long after her death. Olivias story is told by her step-granddaughter, who travels to India fifty years later. The narrator becomes absorbed in Olivias story through the dead womans letters and through conversations with villagers who remember the scandal. Gradually absorbed by Olivias state of mind, she embarks on a parallel journey of sensuality and spiritual challenge, amid the heat and exotic landscapes of this eternally fascinating country.


The research that will be carried out is (1) To describe the physical component of the shooting ability at the Kotabaru Spartax Fc football club. (2) To describe the strength of the shooting ability at Spartax FC Kotabaru football club. (3) To describe the balance of shooting skills at the Spartax FC Kotabaru football club. (4) To describe the eye-foot coordination of the shooting ability at the Kotabaru Spartax Fc football club. Qualitative descriptive research method, because in a qualitative descriptive approach. The population is all football players Spartax Fc Kotabaru. The samples used were 25 players of Spartax Fc Kotabaru. The sample determination technique is to use the Saturated Sample technique. The variables involved in this study were the independent variable physical components and the dependent variable shooting ability. The test instrument used is the physical component consisting of strength, balance, and eye-leg coordination, while the shooting ability uses the kick test towards a predetermined target 3 times. The data analysis technique used is the percentage descriptive analysis, and the Pearson product moment (r) correlation coefficient analysis at the significant level α = 0.05. The results showed that 1) the physical components of the football player Spartax Fc Kotabaru with an average score of 0.560 in the medium category; 2) The shooting ability at the Kotabaru Fc Spartax football club with an average score of 0.191 in the low category; 3) There is a significant relationship between the physical component and the shooting ability at the Spartax Fc Kotabaru football club with an r value of 0.159 in the low category; 4) There is a significant correlation between the physical component and the shooting ability at the Spartax Fc Kotabaru football club with an r value of 0.210 in the low category (P


Forests are easily available renewable natural resources in the world that directly and indirectly provide socio-economic benefits to the people living in and around the forests and also environmental protection and ecological balance to the global people. In Nepal, traditionally people's participation in forest protection and sustainable management was very popular through many informal traditional and indigenous forest management committees. But, unfortunately, there was a huge lost of forests in quantity, quality and density due to some unfavorable socio-economic and political situations. So, the government has formally, legally and gradually shifted from centralized to decentralized protection and management of forests since mid of 1970's through various forest plans, policies, acts, regulation and guidelines. The major aims of people's participation are to get basic forest products, socio-economic development, and overall improvement of forest resources. Moreover, the role of I/NGOs and other stakeholders should be as partner, advisor, facilitator and more technical supporter for effective participation of people. However, the major challenges of people's participation is how to make meaningful involvement of local people in better forest protection, management and sustainable development so that they will get sustainable economic benefits for livelihood, environmental protection and ecological balance. Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 17 & 18 No. 1-2 (2014) Combined Issue; Page: 175-186


A 78-year-old man was hospitalized on February 29, 2000 because of dyspnea. A chest radiograph showed diffuse bilateral interstitial shadows associated with pulmonary volume loss. We could not obtain histological evidence of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) because of his advanced age and severe respiratory dysfunction. IIP was diagnosed on the basis of radiographic findings and clinical symptoms. The patient was intubated and mechanical ventilation was performed. After one course of pulsed cyclophosphamide (CPM) and methylprednisolone therapy, the hypoxemia improved and it became possible to wean the patient from the ventilator. After five courses of pulsed CPM therapy, the dose of oral corticosteroid was tapered. CPM was administered safely without any severe side effects. Pulsed CPM therapy appears to be a viable alternative method of treatment for IIP.


Background

Tonsillitis is the third most frequently diagnosed infection in the pediatrics age group around the world. It causes significant morbidity and loss of school attendance in children. The emergence of drug resistance in bacterial tonsillitis is getting higher every year. However, data on the drug resistance profiles of bacterial causes of tonsillitis among children within five years of age is not available in Somaliland.Therefore; this study determined the bacterial causes of tonsillitis and their antimicrobial resistance profiles among children within five years of age at Hargeisa Group of Hospital, Somaliland.
Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2020. A total of 374 children within five years of age were included using convenient sampling method. Throat swabs were collected from children, processed and bacterial species were identified using standard bacteriological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility was done using disc diffusion method. Data on demographic variables and clinical profiles were collected using structured questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was computed to identify factors associated with bacterial tonsillitis. P-values < 0.05 were taken as statistically significant.
Results

The median age of children included in the study was 4 years. Overall, 120(32.1%)(95% CI 27.4–36.8%) of children had culture confirmed bacterial tonsillitis. Of them,23(19.2%) had mixed infections.The most frequent bacterial isolates were Streptococcus pyogenes 78(55%), Staphylococcus aureus 42 (29%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae 10(7%). Isolates revealed 83.3–100 % rate of resistance to ampicillin. S. aureus was resistant to clarithromycin (38%) while 60% of S. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to gentamicin. The overall multidrug resistance (MDR) was 50.4% and 52.6% of S.pyogenes and 60% of S.pneumoniae were MDR. History of tonsillitis(AOR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.06–0.21), difficulty of swallowing(AOR = 6.99; 95% CI = 3.56–13.73), weight loss (AOR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.186–0.597) and attending school (AOR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.64–5.42) were found to be associated with tonsillitis among children within five years of age.
Conclusions

Bacterial tonsillitis with high degree of ampicillin resistance, mixed infections and MDR isolates are major concerns in children within five years of age at Hargeisa, Somaliland. Therefore, treatment of cases should be guided by regular culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing to prevent disease consequences and critical drug resistance.


971 Normal gastric mucosa shows little or no expression of the intestinal mucin MUC2. In intestinal metaplasia, a preneoplastic lesion of the stomach characterized by the transdifferentiation of the gastric mucosa to an intestinal phenotype, there are alterations in the mucin expression pattern including de novo expression of MUC2, mostly in goblet cells. Thirty percent of gastric carcinomas, including all carcinomas of the mucinous type, also aberrantly express MUC2 intestinal mucin. - In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the absence of MUC2 expression in normal stomach and its de novo expression in intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma we analyzed the methylation levels of nine CpG sites of MUC2 promoter in mucinous gastric carcinomas and in normal gastric mucosa. Our results suggested that MUC2 expression in gastric cells is regulated by promoter methylation and further indicated that two specific CpG sites could play a particularly important regulatory role. Because activating protein-2 (AP-2) putative binding sites were found around these two CpG sites our aim was to establish the role of methylation of these AP-2 binding sites in the regulation of MUC2 expression in gastric cells. To this end, we carried-out electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) studies with oligonucleotides corresponding to methylated and unmethylated AP2-binding sites in order to see if the binding of this transcription factor to the CpG sites in the MUC2 promoter is methylation-dependent. - Recently we have also demonstrated direct involvement of the Cdx-2 homeodomain protein in the transcriptional regulation of the MUC2 gene in gastric carcinoma cells. We observed a higher transactivation effect of Cdx-2 on the MUC2 promoter construct comprising nucleotides -947 to +27. This construct contains the two Cdx-2 binding sites present in the smaller construct -371/+27, but includes an additional 576 nucleotides. Transfection experiments indicated that the -947/-372 region is essential for transcriptional regulation of MUC2 in gastric carcinoma cell lines. Additional work is thus being done to determine if other transcription factors with putative binding sites in the -947/+27 region, such as NF-kB, are participating in MUC2 regulation in gastric cells, similarly to what has been shown in tracheobronchial epithelial cells.


Abstract BACKGROUND: Leuprorelin (Enantone®) is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue used worldwide to treat central precocious puberty (CPP). This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of leuprorelin in treating Chinese CPP children. Methods: This is the first, prospective, open-label, and multicenter study conducted from 2015 to 2018, in China. As a large interventional study, it included a four-week screening period, a 96-week treatment period, and a four-week safety follow-up period. Eligible subjects were treated with leuprorelin subcutaneously once every four weeks for 96 weeks. At the beginning of the study, subjects whose body weight ≥20 kg received a dose of 3.75 mg and those <20 kg received a dose of 1.88 mg and then the dose was allowed to be adjusted during the study based on subject's condition and investigator's judgment. The primary endpoint was the incidence of adverse events during treatment, and the secondary endpoint was the percentage of subjects who had regression or no progression in Tanner stage at Week 96 compared with baseline. Results: A total of 307 CPP patients from 11 Chinese medical centers received leuprorelin, of which 305 (99.3%) were girls and 2 were boys (0.7%), with a mean (±SD) age of 7.95±0.982 years and a mean height of 133.68±7.108 cm. Two hundred eighty-three (92.2%) patients completed the 96-week treatment period. Two hundred fifty-two patients (82.1%) reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs)—most of which (79.5%) were mild to moderate. Only 33 (10.7%) patients experienced TEAEs that were considered related to leuprorelin. The most frequent (>2%) drug-related TEAEs were injection site induration (4.6%, 14/307) and vaginal bleeding (2.3%, 7/305). After the 96-week treatment period, 83.5% female subjects had regression or no progression in Tanner stage compared with baseline (95% CI: 78.68%, 87.62%) and the 2 male subjects had progression of 1 point in Tanner stage genital score occurred at Week 12 and then remained stable throughout the study. By the end of the treatment period, the majority of subjects had decreased GnRH stimulated peak LH and FSH, as well as reduced sex hormone levels and bone age/chronological age ratio compared with baseline. The subjects also had increased predicted adult height and BMI after treatment. Conclusions: This Chinese study demonstrated that CPP was effectively treated in most patients who received leuprorelin (Enantone®) for nearly two years. Any drug-related adverse events were reported with low incidence (<5%) and were consistent with the known safety profile of leuprorelin. Leuprorelin was shown to be well tolerated and effective in the management of CPP in Chinese patients.


T here has been scant empirical evidence linking associational membership to general trust and trustworthiness. This study explores urban youth clubs in Mali and asks: is membership in these groups associated with greater trust and trustworthiness toward society? It leverages 18 months of fieldwork, including 375 group surveys, 2,525 individual surveys, over 1,300 trust games, and transcripts from 66 focus groups. We use propensity score matching to analyze how members and nonmembers play the trust game with strangers. Members are more trustworthy; they return 12% more to their partners than nonmember peers. We do not find a systematic effect of membership on trust. Trustworthiness in the game is also positively correlated with self-reported trust and tolerance as well as real-world behaviors including volunteering and helping friends. Focus group data highlight five mechanisms by which membership fosters general trustworthiness: bonding among diverse members, bridging, public goods provision, socialization, and psychological support.


The mainstream approach to image quality assessment has centered around accurately modeling the single most relevant strategy employed by the human visual system (HVS) when judging image quality (e.g., detecting visible differences, and extracting image structure/information). In this work, we suggest that a single strategy may not be sufficient; rather, we advocate that the HVS uses multiple strategies to determine image quality. For images containing near-threshold distortions, the image is most apparent, and thus the HVS attempts to look past the image and look for the distortions (a detection-based strategy). For images containing clearly visible distortions, the distortions are most apparent, and thus the HVS attempts to look past the distortion and look for the image's subject matter (an appearance-based strategy). Here, we present a quality assessment method [most apparent distortion (MAD)], which attempts to explicitly model these two separate strategies. Local luminance and contrast masking are used to estimate detection-based perceived distortion in high-quality images, whereas changes in the local statistics of spatial-frequency components are used to estimate appearance-based perceived distortion in low-quality images. We show that a combination of these two measures can perform well in predicting subjective ratings of image quality.


Event-triggered control (ETC) methods can achieve high-performance control with a significantly lower number of samples compared to usual, time-triggered methods. These frameworks are often based on a mathematical model of the system and specific designs of controller and event trigger. In this paper, we show how deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithms can be leveraged to simultaneously learn control and communication behavior from scratch, and present a DRL approach that is particularly suitable for ETC. To our knowledge, this is the first work to apply DRL to ETC. We validate the approach on multiple control tasks and compare it to model-based event-triggering frameworks. In particular, we demonstrate that it can, other than many model-based ETC designs, be straightforwardly applied to nonlinear systems.


This study is using Chen and Starosta's Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS hereafter) to assess the intercultural sensitivity (ICS hereafter) level of postgraduates of Grade 2016 majoring in English from the College of Foreign Studies in Guangxi Normal University (GXNU hereafter) and try to discover what individual factors, such as Work Experience, Work Types and so on, influence their ICS level. The research questions are: 1) what is the postgraduates' ICS level like? 2) What individual factors influence the postgraduates' ICS?

By analyzing the 102 copies of valid questionnaires, this study gets the following findings. 1) The subjects' general ICS level is moderate for their mean ICS total score is 88.63, within the range of 80-100. 2) Among the five factors of ICS, the value of Respect for Cultural Difference is the highest while Interaction Confidence is the lowest. 3) Among the subjects' individual factors, Work Experience, Having Friends from Different Cultures and Having Passed TEM8 exert significant influence on the subjects' ICS level, while factors such as Work Types, IC Courses Offered during the Undergraduate Study, Working as Volunteers, and Work Length, have no significantly statistical effect on the subjects' ICS level.

The above findings successfully answer the two research questions. Then, based on the subjects' real situations, this study analyzes the underlying causes for the findings from two perspectives. Firstly, Chinese students are greatly affected by the collectivism-oriented cultural value. Secondly, the subjects lack chances of intercultural practice and experience. In the end, four tentative suggestions are put forward to improve the subjects' ICS level and intercultural communication competence.


This case study describes a project at the University of Portsmouth library to create a sustainable web-based tool to help undergraduate students with the thorny issue of academic referencing of their sources for written work, using a hierarchical selection tool, backed up by an optional search facility. It is intended to encourage them to think analytically about their sources. The selection tool needed to be user-friendly and easy to manage by librarians who are not also web designers. The project went live with APA style referencing and has been expanded to cover OSCOLA (law) referencing, with Vancouver style in the pipeline.. Although intended for Portsmouth students, among whom its use is growing rapidly, others have linked to it, including the Intute website. This case study describes a project at the University of Portsmouth library to create a sustainable web-based tool to help undergraduate students with the thorny issue of academic referencing of their sources for written work, using a hierarchical selection tool, backed up by an optional search facility. It is intended to encourage them to think analytically about their sources. The selection tool needed to be user-friendly and easy to manage by librarians who are not also web designers. The project went live with APA style referencing and has been expanded to cover OSCOLA (law) referencing, with Vancouver style in the pipeline.. Although intended for Portsmouth students, among whom its use is growing rapidly, others have linked to it, including the Intute website.


With the formulation of the gauge group as a Banach-Lie group of suitable Sobolev type, the Cauchy problem for the Yang-Mills equation in physical space-time reduces rigorously to the case of the temporal gauge. In this gauge there exist spatially global strong solutions for given data for field and potential that are L(2) together with one or two derivatives (respectively). Regarding global existence in time, there is strong unicity, strong existence unless the potential becomes unbounded, and existence of a quasi-solution for arbitrary finite-energy Cauchy data. The variety of solutions of the equations is endowed with a canonical symplectic structure. This structure is degenerate to an extent precisely reflecting gauge-invariance and is conformally invariant.


It is analyzed the authors' experience regarding the drainage of urinary tracts using autostatic ureteral stents, a widespread therapeutic method for a large variety of dysfunction. There were used double J stents 5 and 7 Ch, with variable length (22, 24, 26 cm) in 314 cases suffering the following dysfunction: renoureteral lithiasis--243 cases, obstructive anuria--37 cases, reconstructive surgery after congenital dysfunction--11 cases, acquired dysfunction--23 cases. In 216 cases (68.7%) double J stents were used before applying mini invasive therapeutic methods: ESWL, NPL, URSR, URSA. There are also mentioned some of the encountered complications: ureteral perforation, intrapelvic and intraureteral bend, spontaneous elimination at women, ascending in ureter, lithiasis of a loop and the resolving methods.


Anger expressers and targets often experience anger as an unpleasant and potentially damaging emotion. However, emerging social functional perspectives on workplace anger suggest that anger expressions can promote valued dialogue, facilitating the airing of differences that can lead to improved working relationship and movement toward organizational goals and beneficial change. While supervisors typically express work-related anger with impunity, subordinate anger may be challenged and sanctioned more frequently. Hypotheses tested status (supervisor vs. subordinate) and role (expresser vs. target) effects on perceived outcomes. Findings indicate a significant main effect for status and significant interaction with role such that subordinates who are targets of supervisor anger, reported significantly more negative outcomes from anger expression than any other type of anger interaction. We also found that existing strong relationships between supervisors and subordinates contribute to outcomes that are more favorable following anger expressions at work.


Background/aim Hospitalised newborns are highly exposed to nosocomial odorous substances (OS) triggering possibly the intranasal trigeminal subsystem. Irritation of the nasal mucosa can induce pain and activations in pain processing areas in adults We aimed to evaluate cortical activation in trigeminal/olfactory and pain areas following OS exposure in newborns. Methods Forty-four newborns (17 full-terms, 12 preterms at term PMA and 15 preterms <33 weeks PMA when tested) were exposed in controlled conditions (silent room, active sleep, randomised order) to three odours presented on a Q-tips: – water (control); – a hand rub (DES60®) diluted to match the odour's intensity released by hands; – an adhesive remover (Convacare®). We recorded bilaterally cortical activation in orbito-frontal gyri (OFG), prefrontal (PFC) and somatosensory (S1 and S2) cortices during 40s (10s-baseline, 10s-presentation, 20s-post-stimuli) by multichannel-NIRS. HbO2 changes were analysed from baseline (ANOVA) and by subgroups (Kruskall-Wallis). Results In the whole population, we observed: – no activations for water. – cortical activations (HbO2 increase) for DES60® (p < 0.001), unilaterally in OFG, PFC, and bilaterally in S1 and S2; whereas only in S1 (unilaterally) for Convacare® (p < 0.001). We noticed significant profiles of response for all infant's subgroups, in at least one olfactory and one pain processing areas. The average magnitude of HbO2 increase from baseline was higher in full-terms vs both subgroups of preterms: 8.5(2.8–12.6) µmol/l vs 5.9(2.6–10.4) and 5.7(1.8–9.2) µmol/l for DES60® (p < 0.001). Conclusion Full-term and preterm newborns can perceive OS at a cortical level. Exposure to OS can activate trigeminal/olfactory and pain processing areas and may induce discomfort/pain in newborns.


The influence of changes in physicochemical parameters on the biomechanics of articular cartilage is investigated using relaxation tests in healthy rabbit cartilage. A mathematical model is established. An increase in ionic strength and osmolarity, as well as a rise in temperature lead to an increase in the compliance of cartilage. The majority of these phenomena are nonlinear and in most cases so characteristic that they can be associated with particular molecular processes in the cartilage matrix. The experimental results allow an insight into the functioning of articular cartilage and put another pathogenetical factor of arthrosis up for discussion by demonstrating the lability of the ideal mechanical condition.


BBR is a new congestion control algorithm and is seeing increased adoption especially for video traffic. BBR solves the bufferbloat problem in legacy loss-based congestion control algorithms where application performance drops considerably when router buffers are deep. BBR regulates traffic such that router queues don't build up to avoid the bufferbloat problem while still maintaining high throughput. However, our analysis shows that video applications experience significantly poor performance when using BBR under deep buffers. In fact, we find that video traffic sees inflated latencies because of long queues at the router, ultimately degrading video performance. To understand this dichotomy, we study the interaction between BBR and DASH video. Our investigation reveals that BBR under deep buffers and high network burstiness severely overestimates available bandwidth and does not converge to steady state, both of which results in BBR sending substantially more data into the network, causing a queue buildup. This elevated packet sending rate under BBR is ultimately caused by the router's ability to absorb bursts in traffic, which destabilizes BBR's bandwidth estimation and overrides BBR's expected logic for exiting the startup phase. We design a new bandwidth estimation algorithm and apply it to BBR (and a still-unreleased, newer version of BBR called BBR2). Our modified BBR and BBR2 both see significantly improved video QoE even under deep buffers.


Heterocyclic molecules represent the most utilized scaffolds for the discovery of novel synthetic drugs. As reported in recent communications, the pyrrole moiety can be found both in natural and synthetic pharmaceutical products. Pyrroles have been reported to play an important role as antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent. An efficient synthesis by Microwave assisted process of pyrrole derivatives by the Paal-Knorr Condensation of benzoin with primary aromatic amines in refluxing ethanol resulted in the formation of α-amino ketone intermediates, which were condensed without isolation, with Malononitrile. Various derivatives such as 2-amino-4, 5-diphenylpyrrole-3-carbonitriles (1a-1d) were prepared. The synthesis of pyrrole derivatives are formed by direct reaction of a heterocyclic compound with substituted anilines using microwave irradiation. This optimized method was used for the synthesis of a series of four substituents of pyrrole derivatives. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of synthesized compounds was analyzed by using spectroscopic quantification by protein denaturation method. The synthesized compounds were confirmed through spectral characterization using IR and polymorphism study. The synthesized pyrrole derivatives show promising in vitro anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity.


The terminology of the memetic refers to "meme". The meme is a part of natural information of the individual population and this information can be transmitted among the individual of the population. The memetic algorithm (MA) uses the evolutionary concept based on the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and is combined with a local search feature. Thus, as in GA, MA employs the basic steps such as selection, crossover, and mutation with additional components a local search to improve the solution of candidates. The major challenge of this algorithm is how to develop a good local search operator that can do a good exploration of the entire population. Several methods have been proposed and we have studied several parallel methods implemented on MA (PMA) to increase the efficiency of processing time. The parallel method is included in cluster computing, and that is a part of high-performance computing systems. In this work, we proposed the two new models of the memetic algorithm that run in a high-performance computing system (HPCMA) environment by utilizing the multi-threads feature of processor, so-called HPCMA1 and HPCMA2 model, to process fingerprints image dataset. The result shows that the HPCMA1 model runs with high inconsistency data caused by its overlaps in the macro-process and to address the problem from the HPCMA1 model we use the HPCMA2 model.


One hundred thirty-two asthmatic patients with bronchial asthma were studied by 20 independent investigators during this 49-day study. One hundred sixty-four patients entered into this study, and up to 132 were judged evaluable for statistical purposes. Criteria for entry included current q 12-hour therapy with an available theophylline product (eg, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, etc). Use of beta-agonist aerosols PRN was permitted, as was use of steroid aerosols for short periods of time. Chronic treatment with oral corticosteroids or other oral bronchodilators was prohibited. Baseline peak and trough serum theophylline concentrations (STCs) and performance of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were determined during q 12-hour treatment. Patients were then switched within one dosing interval to an equivalent single daily dose of Theo-24 and maintained on this therapy for the duration of the study. STC and PFT measurements were repeated on days 8, 21, and 49 of the Theo-24 study period. Throughout the 49-day study, patients measured their peak expiratory flow rate at home, at 8 AM, and at 8 PM using a Mini-Wright Peak Flow Meter. These data, along with asthma symptomatology and frequency of inhaled bronchodilator aerosol usage, were recorded daily in diary form. Three days after the start of Theo-24 treatment, the mean peak STC (11.18 micrograms/mL) was not significantly different from the mean peak STC with q 12-hour treatment (11.4 micrograms/mL) in 121 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


This essay reads the life writing of major French fashion designer Christian Dior as an extended meditation on the challenging relationship between public persona and intimate selfhood for a celebrity fashion designer. Dior works through the tension between public and private by referring it to a complex nexus of space and time; his narration of his life through the lens of his childhood homes suggests not only a spatial orientation but a fraught relationship to the past. Dior's characteristic reflections on space and time reveal him to be a nostalgic subject, but by theorizing nostalgia as a creative mnemonic mode, we challenge understandings of him as excessively conservative in his tastes and designs. Ultimately, Dior's constellation of space and time points to new methodological tools for understanding fashion designers and their celebrity.


Municipalities and regions are often used as an object of tourism analysis at the subnational level. This occurs because administrative borders are used to implement tourism policies and collect statistical information. However, administrative boundaries may not always be suitable for studying tourism destinations at a local level. Sometimes, particularly in high-density tourism destinations, several differentiated tourism areas occupy a single municipality; tourism areas may, and often do, extend beyond municipal boundaries and tourism destinations may not occupy the whole of the municipal area. As such, a new level of analysis is often required: the micro-destination. There are few tourism concepts as imprecise as that of the destination. Therefore, the process of identifying and establishing the boundaries of a micro-destination is by no means a straightforward one. This paper presents six criteria for establishing the boundaries of this type of tourism area. Of these six, the two primary criteria used are: the concentration of tourism establishments; and tourism typologies and supply characteristics. These criteria have been applied as part of a pilot study in the Canary Islands. Statistical information for nine micro-destinations is generated using the geolocation of tourism establishments together with information obtained from both supply-side and demand-side surveys.


We report on a newborn with a severe salt-wasting crisis due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) with 21-hydroxylase deficiency, in spite of prenatal diagnosis of CAH and awareness of this diagnosis by the parents and the gynecologic and pediatric practitioners. Due to the diagnosis of CAH in the older sister, prenatal treatment with dexamethasone (Dexa) was initiated. Prenatal diagnosis showed an affected male fetus and the prenatal treatment was stopped. The parents and the involved physicians were informed about the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and possible complications. Amniotic infection led to preterm delivery in another hospital. Due to perinatal asphyxia, the male newborn received Dexa during mechanical ventilation. Neonatal CAH screening was unsuspicious. An acute salt-wasting crisis with metabolic acidosis at the age of 3 weeks finally led to the correct diagnosis. This experience emphasizes the need to obtain a careful medical history. Furthermore, this case illustrates that neonatal screening for CAH is falsely negative in the event of neonatal Dexa treatment.


We have been developing a laser-Compton X-ray source using an optical enhancement cavity. We have studied 1um pulse laser storage in optical cavity and use for the experiments. Usage of 10 um laser for optical enhancement cavity will increase the X-ray energy region of one laser-Compton X-ray source, so that we decided to develop the optical cavity for CO2 laser. We have designed external optical cavity for CO2 laser commercially available optics and verified the enhancement of CO2 laser in external enhancement optical cavity, and measured fundamental parameters such as finesse, matching efficiency, and enhancement factor. We have already achieved 475 of finesse, 43 of enhancement, and tested non-planer cavity, which storages two circular polarization separately. In this conference, we will report the design and experimental results of CO2 laser storage cavity and also some future prospects.


The microstructure of carbonate rocks experiences substantial changes under reactive processes, in particular chemical dissolution and deposition, including dissolution-released-fines migration occurring during acidizing. A better understanding of such changes at the pore scale and their influences on rock properties is of great value for the effective design and implementation of reactive processes in carbonate reservoirs. In this work, we demonstrate the use of X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to quantitatively investigate the local porosity changes in a meso-/ microporous carbonate core sample during chemical dissolution. A reactive flooding experiment in a core sample by a nonacidic solution is designed such that changes in pore space from before to after the reactant injection could be imaged in exactly the same locations with micro-CT at a resolution of less than 5 lm. A methodology with three-phase segmentation and 2D histograms of image intensity is used to quantify distributions of the evolution of each image voxel. This technique allows the incorporation of microporosity into the calculation of the evolution regions, including the migration of fines, to accurately quantify the evolution scenarios. The micro-CT images reveal a quasiuniform dissolution pattern and allow characterizing the accompanying migration of fines within the core sample. The 3D pore networks are derived from the image data, which quantify changes in network structure and the pore geometry. The 2D histograms of image intensity derived from the preand post-dissolution images show quantitatively how macroand micropores are enlarged by dissolution close to the inlet, whereas the deposition of fines mainly occurs in pores far from the inlet boundary. These results can explain why permeability of the sample initially decreases and then increases when injection time increases. Pore-surface area between each region is computed on the basis of the spatially resolved voxel evolution scenarios. This allows calculation of local distribution of reactive surface area, which, in turn, will assist in the prediction of local reaction rates in reactive flow simulators.


A removable, self-expanding plastic stent (SEPS) has recently been approved in the United States for management of refractory benign esophageal strictures (RBES), but data on its use are quite limited. Five Patients with RBES (two anastomotic, one radiation-induced, one caustic, one peptic) underwent placement of a SEPS at our institution. All five patients developed complications related to SEPS placement. Three patients had distal stent migration, one patient had localized esophageal perforation at the proximal margin of the stent and, following stent placement, one patient developed severe chest pain associated with ulceration at the proximal stent margin. While placement of a removable SEPS is a conceptually attractive option for management of REBS, our initial results reveal a high rate of short-term complications. Modifications in stent design may prevent complications and allow adequate time for stricture remodeling.


A whistleblower is accusing a former Duke University researcher, her former supervisor, and the university of including fraudulent data in applications and reports involving more than 60 grants worth some $200 million. If successful, the suit—brought under the federal False Claims Act (FCA)—could force Duke to return to the government up to three times the amount of any ill-gotten funds, and produce a multimillion-dollar payout to the whistleblower. The Duke case "should scare all [academic] institutions around the country," says attorney Joel Androphy of Berg & Androphy in Houston, Texas, who specializes in false claims litigation. It appears to be one of the largest FCA suits ever to focus on research misconduct in academia, he says, and, if successful, could "open the floodgates" to other whistleblowing cases. Although relatively few FCA cases have targeted research universities, that9s changing. And although recent court rulings suggest public universities may have some protection from FCA suits because they are government entities, private institutions do not. Eleven private universities, including Duke, are among the top 25 academic recipients of federal research dollars in recent years.


Context: Human beings, in order to adjust themselves in the modest era, have been compelled to become fast and mechanical. This is the reason why they can't give proper attention to daily and seasonal regimes, exercise and diet. This change in lifestyle is responsible for Agnimandya. According to them Mandagni is Root cause of every disease. Agni plays the key role in the process of bio-transformation. Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the role of Trikatu (Pippali, Maricha and Shunthi) as appetite stimulent (Agnivardhan). Methods and Material: This was a prospective randomized active control trial. A total of 60 participants showing classical symptoms of Agnimandya between 20 and 60 years of age were randomly assigned to receive treatments. One group received Trikatu churna while another group received Agnitundi Vati. Both groups practiced supervised intervention for 3 weeks. The signs and symptoms like Avipak, Prasek, Kshudhamandya, Shirogaurav, Amashay Pradeshi gaurav, Antrakujan, Pravahan were graded and interpreted at the end of the trial. Results: The result was found effective for treating Avipak, Prasek, Kshudhamandya, Shirogaurav, Amashay Pradeshi gaurav, Antrakujan, Pravahan of Agnimandya in the group treated with Trikatu Churna. The results for the above criteria for the assessment was found statically highly significant. Conclusions: Trikatu Churna is highly effective in treating Agnimandya.


Abstract Objective To determine longitudinal changes in psychopathology in a cohort of patients 30–43 years after their first cardiac surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in childhood, to compare outcomes of the 30- to 43-year follow-up with normative data, and to identify medical predictors for psychopathology. Methods This study is the third follow-up of this cohort. The first and second follow-ups of this same cohort were conducted in 1990 and 2001, respectively. At all three follow-ups, psychopathology was assessed with standardised, parallel questionnaires. In 2011, subjective health status was assessed by the Short Form-36. Medical predictor variables were derived from medical examinations and medical records. Results In this third follow-up, a total of 252 patients participated. Of these, 152 patients participated in all three follow-ups. Over a 30-year period, proportions of patients showing psychopathology decreased significantly. At the 30- to 43-year follow-up, overall outcomes on psychopathology for the CHD sample were similar or even better compared with normative groups. Subjective health status was also better compared with normative data. No differences were found between cardiac diagnostic groups. Medical variables that predicted the course of psychopathology over time were as follows: the scar, as judged by the patient, results of the first cardiac surgery, and the number of hospitalisations. Conclusions Over a 30-year period, psychopathology decreased in patients with CHD. Levels of psychopathology in these patients, who are now aged between 30 and 54 years, were comparable or even better than normative data.


Perhaps the Most far-reaching technological achievement over the last 50 years has been the steady march toward ever smaller transistors, fitting them more tightly together, and reducing their power consumption. And yet, ever since the two of us started our careers at Intel more than 20 years ago, we've been hearing the alarms that the descent into the infinitesimal was about to end. Yet year after year, brilliant new innovations continue to propel the semiconductor industry further.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements in lung adenocarcinoma, and the clinical therapy and prognosis of the patients.

METHODS
Clinicopathological data of 34 cases of ALK-positive patients treated in the Beijing Chest Hospital from 2005 to 2014 were reviewed. The expression of ALK proteins in the resected tumors was detected by immunohistochemistry, and EGFR mutations were examined by polymerase chain reaction and a direct DNA sequencing method.

RESULTS
Among the 34 patients, 20 were male and 14 were female, the median age was 49, and 11 were smokers and 23 were never smokers. The clinical stages of the patients were stage IA in 5 patients, IB in one patient, IIA in two patients, IIIA in 16 patients, IIIB in 5 patients, IV in 4 patients, and one patient of unknown stage. ALK-positive tumors showed strong granular staining in cell cytoplasm by immunohistochemistry. Forteen patients were solid predominant subtype with mucin production, 10 of acinar predominant subtype, 6 of papillary predominant subtype, 3 of micropapillary predominant subtype, and one was of colloid variant. There were 18 cases with mucin production, 6 cases had signet-ring cell morphology, and 10 cases showed cribriform pattern. Only one patient had coexistence of ALK rearrangement and EGFR mutation (L858R at exon 21). Of the 34 patients, 24 patients were followed up. The median follow up of the 24 patients was 11.0 months (1.7-48.7 months).

CONCLUSIONS
ALK-positive tumors as a molecular subtype of lung adenocarcinoma have distinct clinicopathological features. The histological findings of ALK-positive tumors are characterized by solid predominant subtype with mucin production, acinar predominant subtype, signet-ring cells and cribriform structures. They were rarely co-mutated with EGFR mutation.


Gas nitriding is a common surface treatment practice to improve the wear resistance of AISI H13 hot extrusion die cavities. However, due to the presence of complex and sharp features of die cavities, it has been observed that non-uniform nitride layer develops in these regions. Moreover, the formation of compound layer in the surface vicinity of nitrided surfaces leads to the development of transformation-induced stresses. The present work presents the application of the phase field method in predicting the evolution of the nitride layers and associated residual stresses during the gas nitriding of AISI H13 tool steels. Nitriding process is modeled and simulated in line with experimental set-up which uses automated two-stage controlled nitriding process. Some representative samples having commonly used geometric features are manufactured and nitrided for validation purpose. Both experimental and numerical results are found in close agreement in terms of nitrogen concentration and corresponding micro-hardness profiles. The results show that high stresses are induced at the surface due to formation of the nitride layers and these stresses are found to be higher at the sharp corners. In view of the current results, some process and design strategies are suggested for improved and more effective nitriding treatment of hot extrusion dies used in the industry.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Abstract:Introduction. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), accounting for one in every four U.S. deaths, has had a devastating impact on Mississippi's African American population. Seeking innovative mitigation models, this study assesses CVD prevalence and reach via barbershops to rural Mississippi African Americans. Methods. Data was collected from barbershop clientele who consented to be screened and contacted for referral to clinical care if blood pressure was found to be elevated. Results. Most participants were African American (97.7%, n=2,756) and male (54.4%). Descriptive findings revealed more than one-third of participants (34.2%) had elevated blood pressure at screening. Factoring in those with hypertension in control, we found lower rates of hypertension in the male population (males 51.4% vs. females 57.8%), a sharp contrast to national rates. Conclusion. Evaluation findings suggest CVD prevalence in rural Mississippi is comparatively high but that barbershop partners were able to successfully reach and screen the target population.


The pseudomeningocele is a rare entity usually described in the literature as complication of lumbar surgery. We hereby report a case of a giant dorsolumbar pseudomeningocele arising after fracture-dislocation of the dorsolumbar spine. Keywords: Pseudomeningocele, spine, trauma, surgery.


ABSTRACT This article describes the conception, goals, design, and evaluation of a 3-week study abroad program in the Dominican Republic for preservice teachers at New York University to address cultural diversity in teacher education. Taking a critical approach to teacher education and drawing on four interrelated areas of research—second language acquisition, study abroad, culturally responsive pedagogy, and intercultural competence—the program sought to deepen teachers' understanding of their students' cultures, develop empathy toward language learning, and promote culturally responsive pedagogy. Program evaluation revealed that participants developed more critical understandings of the Dominican language, culture, and education system, which they could harness to practice culturally responsive pedagogy.


Molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remain unclear yet TGF-β-induced differentiation and proliferation of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts are recognized as primary events.

We investigated the role of PI3K/Akt pathway in TGF-β-induced proliferation of human lung fibroblasts and their differentiation into myofibroblasts. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of all PI3K class I p100 isoforms (α, β, δ and γ). By using selective inhibitors, we also dissected the functional role of these isoforms.

Ex-vivo human lung fibroblasts were stimulated with TGF-β in the presence or absence of PI3Ks pan-inhibitor LY294002 as well as of selective inhibitors. Cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counts and WST-1 proliferation assay. Western blot analysis and the Sircol assay were used for assessing a-Smooth Actin (SMA) expression and collagen production, respectively. RNA messenger and protein levels of p100 isoforms were evaluated by Q-RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively.

Here we show that LY294002 was able to abrogate the TGF-β-induced increase in cell proliferation,α-SMA expression and collagen production besides to inhibit Akt phosphorylation, thus demonstrating the central role of PI3K/Akt pathway in TGF-β-induced lung fibroblast proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, we show that PI3K p110δ and p100γ are functionally expressed in human lung fibroblasts, in addition to the ubiquitously expressed p100α and p110β. Finally, we demonstrate a major role of p110γ and p100α in the fibrotic process.

Overall, these results suggest that specific class I PI3K isoforms can be pharmacological targets in IPF.


As predicted by the USA National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) report to the President of the United States in1999, nanotechnology has revolutionized how science views physical properties of matter and thus has revolutionized commerce by offering new products and ways to package and transport those products that seemed like science fiction a century before. Heralding a fourth industrial revolution, nanotechnology in everything from mascara lipstick, packaging, instant clothing, 3D printed housing, nanomedicine and meat grown in laboratories in outer space has impacted health rights and health care from cosmetics to the cosmos. Nanotechnology increasing travel in global commerce may, if unfettered by nanoregulation, present civil society with unacceptable levels of risk. Nanotechnology and nano-enabled medicines also make possible rapid telehealth communication at home, in-home ehospital monitoring, transfer of data in remarkably large quantities, implementation of new risk communication models and galvanize scientific collaboration without regard to borders or geographic differences.


Abstract To assess the opinion and the level of satisfaction of patients concerning analgesia during external cephalic version (ECV), we present the results of a survey of 120 women undergoing ECV at term during a randomised controlled trial (July 2012 to February 2013) comparing remifentanil and nitrous oxide. Overall, 110 (91.7%) women said they would repeat the procedure and 111 (92.5%) that they would recommend it to another pregnant woman, with no significant differences by type of analgesia. The administration and sense of comfort were rated better in the remifentanil group (p < .01). In conclusion, the use of analgesia during ECV is associated with a high rate of willingness among women to repeat the procedure and recommend it to other pregnant women. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? ECV is commonly a painful manoeuvre for the woman. This pain triggers maternal reactive abdominal muscle contraction and involuntary abdominal tensing, reducing the likelihood of successful version and causing some women to reject the technique. What do the results of this study add? The use of analgesia during ECV is associated with a high rate of willingness among women to repeat the procedure and recommend it to other pregnant women. The sense of comfort during ECV was also significantly better in the remifentanil group, probably because of its greater analgesic power and greater comfort during its administration. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? ECV should be carried out under analgesia, when available, not only to decrease pain but also to encourage wider adoption of the technique and enable more women to benefit from it.


Adverse effects of first-line combination chemotherapy performed with paclitaxel (PTX) and carboplatin (CBDCA) (TJ regimen) on 15 ovarian cancer patients who had had no prior chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) were reviewed retrospectively according to National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria. The M group (M) consisted of 7 patients treated with a total of 45 courses of the M-TJ regimen. Every 3-4 weeks, PTX was administered as a 3-hour infusion at the average dose level of 175 mg/m2/course on day 1 and CBDCA (targeted AUC = 6) was also administered on day 1. The W group (W) consisted of 10 patients who received a total of 49 courses of the W-TJ regimen. They were treated with PTX (80 mg/m2, 1 h, average dose level = 203 mg/m2/course) on day 1, 8 and 15, and with CBDCA (targeted AUC = 5) on day 1 every 4 weeks. Adverse events with grade 3 or above hematologic toxicity were oligochromemia (M: 24.4%, W: 22.4%), leukopenia (M: 55.6%, W: 40.8%), neutropenia (M: 84.4%, W: 61.2%) and thrombocytopenia (M: 17.8%, W: 8.2%). Grade 3 or above nonhematologic toxicity was not found in the W group, and anorexia (2.2%), nausea (2.2%), diarrhea (2.2%) and arrhythmia (2.2%) were developed only in the M group patients. Toxicity grades for neutropenia, arthralgia, myalgia and neuropathy were significantly lower in the W group. Based on the collected data, the W-TJ regimen is considered to be more effective than the M-TJ regimen for reducing the grade and occurrence of adverse events in ovarian cancer patients.


Invasive fungal diseases are rare in individuals with intact immunity. This, together with the fact that there are only a few species that account for most mycotic diseases, implies a remarkable natural resistance to pathogenic fungi. Mammalian immunity to fungi rests on two pillars, powerful immune mechanisms and elevated temperatures that create a thermal restriction zone for most fungal species. Conditions associated with increased susceptibility generally reflect major disturbances of immune function involving both the cellular and humoral innate and adaptive arms, which implies considerable redundancy in host defense mechanisms against fungi. In general, tissue fungal invasion is controlled through either neutrophil or granulomatous inflammation, depending on the fungal species. Neutrophils are critical against Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. while macrophages are essential for controlling mycoses due to Cryptococcus spp., Histoplasma spp., and other fungi. The increasing number of immunocompromised patients together with climate change could significantly increase the prevalence of fungal diseases. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Immunology, Volume 40 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


. Epoxy fibers with different diameters were prepared by hot drawing and their mechanical properties were measured under tension. The stiffness, strength, ultimate strain, and toughness revealed substantial scale-dependent effects as they all significantly increased with a decrease in size. Compared to bulk epoxy, an intrinsically brittle material, thin epoxy fibers displayed a highly ductile behavior under tension. A drop in stress observed immediately beyond the yield point was followed by the development of a stable necking region propagating through the entire fiber length, then by strain-hardening up to final rupture. Necked fiber segments tested in tension were found to have even higher strength and modulus compared to the initial as-prepared fibers. Possible reasons for the highly ductile mechanical behavior and the size effects of epoxy fibers are discussed. Size effects for the strength of epoxy can be elucidated in principle either by means of a classical fracture mechanics argument (strength ~ 1/ d 1/2 ), or via a stochastic model argument (strength ~ 1/ d 1/β , where β is a function of the material and is generally larger than 2). In both models the presence and size of critical defects play a key role. However, defects cannot explain the colossal ductility (plastic deformation) seen in our experiments, nor can the presence of defects justify a size effect in an elastic property, namely Young's modulus. Only scarce evidence exists in the literature for similar (milder) size effects in epoxy fibers but without any structural justification. We find here that highly cross-linked necked epoxy fibers exhibit partial macromolecular anisotropy which likely explains the observed high mechanical characteristics.


Microalcifications can be found in both benign and malignant breast lesions and their composition can indicate the disease state. Type I microcalcifications are composed of calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) and are associated mainly with benign tissue, whereas hydroxyapatite (HAP) can be present in both tissue types. As current practices such as mammography and histopathology examine the morphology of the specimen, they can not reliably distinguish between the two types of calcification, which frequently are the only mammographic features that indicate the presence of a cancerous lesion. Analysis of tissue by Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR) allows biochemical information to be achieved from the sample. Spectral maps have been carried out on paraffinized sections of breast tissue from 9 patients of different pathology types containing calcification. The chemical composition of the calcifications and surrounding tissue has been analysed and correlated with tissue pathology. This preliminary study has demonstrated the ability to conduct FTIR in paraffinized sections of breast tissue, and initial observations show a correlation between HAP carbonate substitution and tissue pathology. It is hoped that this and further studies will give insight into how the calcifications are linked to the disease process and will give an increased understanding of the significance of calcifications in breast tissue. If type II microcalcifications can be differentiated in benign and malignant tissue by spectroscopic techniques, this may have positive implications in early diagnosis if the techniques can be applied in vivo and spectroscopy of paraffin sections enables biochemical information to accompany histopathology of the sample.


In a recent article in this journal, Canner, Mankiw and Weil (CMV) argue that in general popular investment advice, and in particular the investment advice of four investment advisors, is inconsistent with modern portfolio theory and is irrational. As CMV state, since portfolio theory is so well known and easy to implement, finding irrationality here has serious implications for the assumption of rationality throughout economics. As part of their analysis, CMV assert that investment advice can only be viewed as rational if the ratio of bonds to stocks either remains constant or increases as the investor seeks higher return (takes on more risk). As evidence of advisor irrationality, CMV point out that investor advisors frequently advocate decreases in the ratio of bonds to stocks to obtain higher returns. They state, "Although we cannot rule out the possibility that popular advice is consistent with some model of rational behavior, we have so far been unable to find such a model."1


A 66-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the treatment of refractory multiple myeloma with thalidomide. He had a history of an interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology two months before admission. Eight days after starting 200 mg/ day of thalidomide, he developed dyspnea and fever, followed by a macropapular rash in the trunk. The dyspnea got worse and a CT scan revealed interstitial pneumonia 16 days after the treatment. He required mechanical ventilatory support. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed eosinophilia, suggesting a thalidomide-induced interstitial pneumonia. Thalidomide was discontinued and methylprednisolone (1000 mg/d x 3 days) was started, and the pneumonia and rash markedly improved within six days. After that the patient contracted MRSA pneumonia and died of MRSA septicemia.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse and compare the changing of clinical feature, pathogenic bacteria, and so is diagnosis and treatment of bacterial liver abscess up date.

METHODS
Retrospective study of forty-eight patients over 10 years in PUMC hospital.

RESULTS
Compared with the patients in 1960s, the complication and mortality of this disease decreased remarkably. The main clinical manifestations and signs became less typical. Cholelithes and tumor of biliary tract instead of biliary ascariasis became chief pathogenic factor (29.2%). Patients with diabetes mellitus complicating bacterial liver abscess tended to increase (8.3%). The case with negative bacterial culture has increased (52.1%). Ultrasonography should be the first choice for diagnosis, the confirmed diagnosis rate is 79.2%. Percutaneous drainage of the abscess and combined using antibiotics are the effective treatment method. Septic shock was the chief complication causing death.

CONCLUSIONS
This disease becomes less typical and difficult to early diagnosis attention should be paid to clinical medicine.


The reason why we can see stereoscopic impression from 3D(three-dimensional) video is that the left eye image and right eye image are different, which generates the visual parallax. Research shows that a large number of 3D information hidden in 2D(two-dimensional) video. One of the important information is depth of field information, but the depth of field information hidden in the 2D frame images. Bilinear interpolation is able to effectively improve the performance of depth of field. Combining this algorithm and using parallax reinforcement technology to process the original 2D video can produce 3D video.


In this paper, a new classification method for production water is proposed, based on so real-time measured parameters. The classification method consists of three steps: 1) An initial classification of the Water Quality Index is computed using the method proposed by KUMAR; 2) Feature selection based on random forest (specifically based on the method varSelRF); and 3) Training of classifiers using different configurations of heuristic decision trees. A total of 4 datasets (5090 instances of 8 features each) representative of water samples from Portugal, Canada, Mexico, and Romania were used for method validation. The dataset was group in two families of different classes: binary (good and regular water) and multiclass (good, regular and bad water). Final classification accuracy reached 94.85% for the binary family and 91.73% for the multiclass family. The contribution consists of a continuous monitoring system to detect (in real time) dramatic changes in water quality and provide tools for historical studies behaviour in strategic points.


Micronutrient availability can be affected by the increase of the soil pH due to surface liming. A field trial was carried out on a loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Hapludox at Ponta Grossa, Parana State, Brazil. The main objective was to evaluate the effects of surface liming and re-liming on the availability of micronutrients [copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn)] for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropped under a no-till system. A randomized complete block design was used in a split-plot arrangement. The main plots received surface lime applications (2, 4, and 6 Mg ha-1) in July 1993. In the subplots, surface lime (3 Mg ha-1) was applied again in June 2000. In 2003, before the wheat sowing, soil samples were taken at 0-5, 5-10, and 10-20 cm layers. Soil cationic micronutrients concentrations using different extractants (DTPA-TEA, Mehlich-1, HCl, and Mehlich-3) and solution/soil ratios were determined. Application of lime increased soil pH at 0-5, 5-10, and 10-20 cm. The increase in soil pH by liming did not affect soil organic carbon content. The Mehlich-3 solution had a greater capacity in extracting soil micronutrients. Increasing solution/soil ratio of the DTPA-TEA, Mehlich-1, and HCl solutions generally increased the extraction of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. Liming and re-liming caused a decrease in Mn concentration in the wheat leaves. Leaf concentrations of Cu, Fe and Zn were not affected by liming treatments. The solutions of DTPA-TEA, Mehlich-1, HCl, and Mehlich-3 were ineffective to predict the soil cationic micronutrients availability for a wheat crop after surface application of lime.


The purpose of this study is to develop a model of mathematics achievement based on adjustment among students in teacher training institutes in Malaysia. The structural equation model by partial least squares equations was used to measure goodness of items in terms of validity and reliability. Then, the model of academic adjustment was developed in this study. The data were obtained by distributing a questionnaire to 100 students of the Preparatory Programme Bachelor of Teaching (PPISMP) majoring in Mathematics Education in teacher training institutes. The items were translated and adapted from the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ). The statistics result depending on the outcome measure revealed that academic adjustment emerged as the best predictor in influencing student mathematics achievement. In contrast, this study also found that the variance value for academic adjustment was most influenced by social adjustment. Therefore, the findings gained and the model developed from this study could be used by the administrators of Teacher Education Division, Institute of Teachers' Training, lecturers and students as a reference in improving students' mathematics achievement.


We report the direct high-voltage poling of the chromophores 4-methoxy-4'-nitrostilbene (MNS) and 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (MNA) in a 1.2 mm thick polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) host. The DC fields used to pole the guest-host system varied in strength from 58 to 67 Vμm−1, and the presence of chromophore orientation in the poled samples was subsequently analyzed via Maker fringe analysis. We observed values of the SHG coefficient d33 of 0.7 to 1.75pm/V at 532nm.


The beneficial effects of steroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome are rarely disputed. On the other hand, there are contrasting ideas on the usefulness of this therapy in some forms of glomerulonephritis (GN) such as rapidly progressive GN and membranous GN with nephrotic syndrome. Many observations suggest that methylprednisolone pulse and/or plasma exchange associated with cyclophosphamide may significantly improve the natural course of rapidly progressive GN. Moreover, our treatment schedule consisting of methylprednisolone and chlorambucil alternatively given for 6 months significantly increases the chances of a complete remission of the disease in patients with membranous GN and nephrotic syndrome.


Serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) concentrations were measured by competitive ligand-binding assay in normal subjects and patients with a variety of abnormalities of thyroid hormone production or TBG production. The mean serum TBG concentration in 73 normal adults was 3.4 +/- 0.6 mg/100 ml. No correlations with age, sex or serum thyroxine (T4) or triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations were found. Serum TBG concentrations were normal in patients with hyperthyroidism. They were significantly elevated in hypothyroid patients, and fell to normal with thyroxine treatment. In pregnant women, serum TBG concentrations were markedly increased, being 7.1 +/- 1.2 (mean +/- SD) mg/100 ml in women in their first trimester, 9.0 +/- 1.0 mg/100 ml in the second trimester and 8.9 +/- 1.6 mg/100 ml in the third trimester. There was a positive correlation between serum TBG concentration and both serum T4 and serum T3 concentrations in pregnant women. Competitive ligand-binding assay is a simple and reliable method for TBG asay and yields results similar to those of electrophoretic saturation techniques.


Sporopollenin, a resistance material previously found only in algae, fungi, pollen grains, and in some plant spores, has been found in four species of Myxococcus. Sporopollenin was isolated from vegetative cells and myxospores of the myxobacteria tested but it was not detected in any of the other bacteria tested.


Inclusions were found in protein bodies in cotyledons of seeds of each of five legume species (Acacia conferta, Cassia artemisioides, Clianthus formosus, Glycine max, Vicia faba). They were studied by a number of techniques: thin sectioning of fixed, embedded tissue; freeze-fracturing of unfixed tissue; chemical analysis of P, K, Mg and Ca content; and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis of both sections of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue and freeze-dried tissue powders. The results of the studies presented in this paper, combined with a critical evaluation of the published research on legume protein body structure, lead us to believe that globoid crystals are a frequent occurrence in legume protein bodies. EDX analysis results indicate that electron-dense globoid crystals are rich in phytin and that phytin may also be present throughout the proteinaceous matrix portions of some legume protein bodies.


Does competition influence patterns of coexistence between closely related taxa? Here we address this basic question in ecology by analyzing patterns of range overlap between related bird species ("sister pairs") distributed along a Neotropical elevational gradient. We explicitly contrast the behavioral dimension of interspecific competition (interference competition) with similarity in resource acquisition traits (exploitative competition). We find that behavioral interactions are generally important in setting elevational range limits and preventing coexistence of closely related species. Specifically, close relatives that defend year-round territories tend to live in non-overlapping elevational distributions, while close relatives that do not defend territories tend to broadly overlap in distribution. In contrast, neither similarity in beak morphology nor evolutionary relatedness was associated with patterns of range limitation. Our main result is that interference competition can be an important driver of species ranges at the scale of entire diverse assemblages. Consequently, we suggest that behavioral dimensions of the niche should be more broadly incorporated in macroecological studies.


It remains a grand challenge to prepare anisotropic crystal superstructures with sensitive optical properties in polymer science and materials field. This study demonstrates that semicrystalline polymers develop into anisotropic hollow spherulitic crystals spontaneously at interfaces of liquid drops. In contrast to conventional spherulites with centrosymmetric optics and grain boundaries, these anisotropic spherulitic crystals have vanished boundary defects, tunable aspect ratios, and noncentrosymmetric, orientation-sensitive birefringence. The experimental finding is elaborated in poly(l-lactic acid) crystals and is further verified in a broad class of semicrystalline polymers, irrespective of molecular chirality, chemical constitution, or interfacial modification. The facile methods and general mechanism revealed in this study shed light on developing new types of optical microdevices and synthesis of anisotropic semicrystalline particles from liquid emulsions.


The differential AC magnetoresistance and differential AC susceptibility of three amorphous FeNi re-entrant spin glasses have been examined as a function of temperature at the so-called paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition under static magnetic fields up to 70 Oe. It is shown that the static field tends to nullify the effect of the ferromagnetic component and the results indicate the presence of spin-glass freezing in both the magnetoresistance and susceptibility which takes place simultaneously with the establishment of the ferromagnetic phase at the Curie temperature. The composite nature of the transition appears to be a general feature of re-entrant spin glasses.


Cosmetic Dermatology has garnered tremendous interest all over the world. With the advent of modern technologies and developments, demand for non-surgical aesthetic procedures is on a rise. The purpose of the study is to know the types of cosmetic consultations and procedures being done in a General Dermatology setup. Patients who visited outpatient dermatology department of a multi-speciality, Nidan Hospital, Lalitpur, between May 2017 to April 2018 were included. Details of patients' demographic profile were filled in a preset performa. Other information related to cosmetic consultation including dermatological diagnosis, awareness of cosmetic procedures and cosmetic procedures etc were also included. 160 patients attended the dermatology outpatient during the study period. Seventy four percent of them were females. Thirty six percent of the cases were between 26 years and 35 years. Forty three percent of the cohort were working. Majority of them had Bachelors degree (57%). Twenty six patients who attended the OPD wanted cosmetic consultation. The type of cosmetic consultation, majority sought for was wrinkles (37%). Among the cosmetic procedures performed, chemical peeling was done in 59%, mesotherapy in 16%, mole removal in 12% and remaining 13% underwent topical treatment. Statistical significance was seen between Cosmetic consultation and economic status (p=0.000) and between cosmetic consultation and employment status (p=0.007). Almost a quarter of patients attending a general dermatology OPD sought cosmetic consultation. Females, young adults who are employed, well-educated and from good socio-economic status seek cosmetic services. 1Department of Dermatology, Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital, Attarkhel, Gokarneshwor-8, Kathmandu, 2Nursing superviser, Nidan Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal Corresponding author Dr. Deeptara Pathak Department of Dermatology, Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital, Attarkhel, Gokarneshwor-8, Kathmandu, Nepal Email: email@example.com ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1602-415X


This study investigates the impact of abnormal audit fees on audit quality. An abnormal audit fee is the difference between the actual fee paid by the auditee to the external auditor and the normal fee. If the actual audit fee is above the normal audit fee, it is called a positive abnormal audit fee (premium) and if the actual audit fee is below the normal audit fee, it is called a negative abnormal audit fee (discount). The samples for this study were 3,694 selected companies from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand. Data were analyzed using regression analysis and it was found that positive abnormal audit fees could decrease the audit quality. This is because of the economic arrangement between the auditors and the clients as the auditor will be more tolerant towards the earnings management carried out by the client. On the other hand, negative abnormal audit fees have an insignificant relationship with the audit quality, which means if auditors are paid below the normal fees, they have no incentive to compromise the audit quality. Because audit fees can affect audit quality, regulators need to make policies so that audit fees paid to the external auditors should not be more than the normal fees.
Keywords: audit quality, audit fees, negative abnormal audit fees, positive abnormal audit fees, abnormal working capital accruals


Chromosome of Opisthorchis viverrini was observed by air-drying and C-banding techniques. The chromosome number was 2n=12 and n=6 consisting of one large-sized metacentric, one medium-sized metacentric, one small-sized metacentric, one small-sized submetacentric or subtelecentric, one small-sized subtelocentric or acrocentric and one small-sized acrocentric. The relative lengths of the chromosomes were 32.02 +/- 2.52, 23.28 +/- 1.98, 15.24 +/- 3.40, 13.39 +/- 3.11, 10.18 +/- 1.56 and 5.82 +/- 0.59% respectively. After C-banding treatment, two of the small-sized chromosomes showed a remarkable constitutive heterochromatin.