In recent years, U.S. banks have increasingly relied on deposits from financial intermediaries, especially money market funds (MMFs), which collect funds from large institutional investors and lend them to banks. In this paper, we show that intermediation through MMFs allows investors to limit their exposure to a given bank (i.e., reap gains from diversification). However, since MMFs are themselves subject to runs from their own investors, a banking system intermediated through MMFs is more unstable than one in which investors interact directly with banks. A mechanism through which instability can arise in an MMF-intermediated financial system is the release of private information on bank assets, which is aggregated by MMFs and could lead them to withdraw en masse from a bank. In addition, we show that MMF intermediation can also be a channel of contagion among banking institutions.


A distinguished diplomat, scholar and statesman has said: "It is too much the habit of men who have more education than experience, more culture than perception, to desire to mold the policy of the future by avoidance of all cases of trouble in the past." This logic can be well applied to-day in medical research. I come before you not to present anything specially new, but to call your attention briefly to some of the clinical features of malaria as seen in the Mississippi Delta. I shall not attempt a dissertation on the life history of the parasites outside the body, nor to theorize on the relationship which exists between malaria and the much talked-of mosquito. We have been taught much about acute malaria. The biology of the parasites causative of the various forms of malarial fevers has been heralded to us from all quarters of the globe, by men


Background: There are conflicting data about bone density alterations in type 2 diabetic patients. Regarding the role of adipokines in glucose metabolism, they may have metabolic effects on bone mineral density (BMD) changes. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between circulating visfatin, adiponectin and the visfatin genotype with BMD in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: Thirty-two patients with T2DM participated in this cross-sectional study. Laboratory measurements were included FBS, HbA1C, lipid Profile, fasting serum visfatin and adiponectin. Hip and spine BMD were measured using DEXA. Genotyping for visfatin gene SNP (rs2110385) was performed by using the PCR- RFLP method. Results: Genotype distributions of GG, GT and TT were 37.5%, 43.8% and 18.8%, respectively. Prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with GG genotype was 33.3%; whereas, not observed in other two genotypes.  Hip BMD and Z-score were significantly lower in GG genotype. We found significant correlation between circulating visfatin and hip BMD (r=-0.31). Circulating adiponectin and visfatin levels had significant correlation with hip BMD independent of BMI and age. Conclusion: Our results suggest that adipokines may contribute to BMD changes in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Genotype variations may explain inconsistent BMD changes among these patients.


Objective To observe the effects of hydroethyl starch (HES 130/0.4) on serum interleukin-8, endothelin-l(ET-1) and myocardial myeloperoxidase activity (MP0) in rabbits subjected to ischemia-reperfusion, and to explore its possible mechanism. Method Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: lac-tated Ringer's solution group (group A, n= 12), 5% human albumin group (group B, n= 12) and 6% hy-droethyl starch group (group C, n= 12) Hie myodardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) model was established by clamping left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for 180 minutes. Fifteen minutes prior to reperfusion, animals of these 3 given groups were ifused vis right internal jugular vein with 6 ml/kg lactated Ringer'solution, 5% human albumin and hydroethyl starch, respectively. Blood samples were obtained before occlusion (I_0),30 minutes after occlusion (I_1), 60 minutes (R_1) and 180 (R_2) minutes after reperfusion to determine the activities of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), serum interleukin-8(IL-8) and endotheun-1 (ET-1).The size of myocardial infarction (MI),myocardial water content and myoloperoxidase activity (MPO) were examined as well.Statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS 12.0 software. Multiple comparisons were analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance (SNK- qtest). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The serum IDH, CPK,IL-8 and ET-1 weregradually increased after reperfusion, however, 180 min after reperfusion all serum biomarkers in 6% hydroethylstarch group (group C) were significantly lower than those in Iactated Ringer's solution group (group A) [(181 ±17) U/lvs. (334±39) U/L; (1927±205) U/L vs. (2987±326) U/L; (5.03±1.16) ng/L vs. (6.96±1.21) ng/L; (380±78.4) ng/L vs. (667.2±82.1) ng/L. all P <0.05], and than those in 5% human albu-min group (group B) [(181 ±17) U/L vs. (320±38) U/L; (1727 ±205) U/L vs. (2218 ±290) U/L; (5.03 ±1.16) ng/L vs. (5.90±1.03) ng/L; (380.9±78.4) ng/L vs. (615.6±80.2) ng/L, all P <0.05]. Theactivity of MPO of ischemic area in group C (0.20 ± 0.09 ng/L) was significantly lower than that in group A(0.48±0.15 ng/L) and in group B (0.37 ±0.12 ng/L) (P < 0.05). Myocardial water content and infarct sizeof heart found in group C were significantly smaller than those in both group A and group B (P < 0.05). Conclu-sions The 6% hydroethyl starch exhibits its protective effects on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by pre-venting the production and release of serum IL-8 and ET-1, decreasing neutrophil infiltration capillary permeabilityand improving microvascular circulation.

Key words:
Hydroxyethyl starch; Reperfusion injury; Interleukin-8; Endothelin-1; Myeloperoxidase


Abstract. The high-spectral-resolution Atmospheric Lidar (ATLID) on the Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE)
provides vertically resolved information on aerosols and clouds with unprecedented accuracy. Together with the Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), the Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI), and the Broad-Band Radiometer (BBR) on the same platform, it allows for a new synergistic view on atmospheric processes related to the interaction of aerosols, clouds, precipitation, and radiation at the global scale.
This paper describes the algorithms for the determination of cloud top height and aerosol layer information from ATLID Level 1b (L1b) and Level 2a (L2a) input data. The ATLID L2a Cloud Top Height (A-CTH) and Aerosol Layer Descriptor (A-ALD) products are developed to ensure the provision of atmospheric layer products in continuation of the heritage from the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO). Moreover, the products serve as input for synergistic algorithms that make use of data from ATLID and MSI. Therefore, the products are provided on the EarthCARE joint standard grid (JSG).
A wavelet covariance transform (WCT) method with flexible thresholds is applied to determine layer boundaries from the ATLID Mie co-polar signal.
Strong features detected with a horizontal resolution of 1 JSG pixel (approximately 1 km) or 11 JSG pixels are classified as thick or thin clouds, respectively. The top height of the uppermost cloud layer together with information on cloud layering are stored in the A-CTH product for further use in the generation of the ATLID-MSI Cloud Top Height (AM-CTH) synergy product. Aerosol layers are detected as weaker features at a resolution of 11 JSG pixels. Layer-mean optical properties are calculated from the ATLID L2a Extinction, Backscatter and Depolarization (A-EBD) product and stored in the A-ALD product, which also contains the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) of each layer, the stratospheric AOT, and the AOT of the entire atmospheric column. The latter parameter is used to produce the synergistic ATLID-MSI Aerosol Column Descriptor (AM-ACD) later in the processing chain. Several quality criteria are applied in the generation of A-CTH and A-ALD, and respective information is stored in the products. The functionality and performance of the algorithms are demonstrated by applying them to common EarthCARE test scenes. Conclusions are drawn for the application to real-world data and the validation of the products after the launch of EarthCARE.


To investigate the postnatal risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), we analysed demographic and clinical data abstracted from the medical records of 425 premature babies who were examined for ROP between January 1994 and December 1998 at Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, Korea. ROP developed in 20.7% of the cases studied. A gestational age (GA) of < or = 28 weeks and birthweight (BW) of < or = 1000 g were the most significant risk factors. Ventilator care for > or = 48 h, apnoea, and use of surfactant independently increased the incidence of ROP. Furthermore, frequent apnoeic attacks increased the progression of pre-threshold ROP to threshold ROP. Therefore, as well as GA and BW, apnoea, prolonged use of a ventilator, and surfactant therapy are significant independent risk factors for ROP. In addition, apnoea may not only increase the risk of developing ROP, but may also worsen pre-existing ROP.


The unit selection problem aims to identify a set of individuals who are most likely to exhibit a desired mode of behavior, which is defined in counterfactual terms. A typical example is that of selecting individuals who would respond one way if encouraged and a different way if not encouraged. Unlike previous works on this problem, which rely on ad-hoc heuristics, we approach this problem formally, using counterfactual logic, to properly capture the nature of the desired behavior. This formalism enables us to derive an informative selection criterion which integrates experimental and observational data. We demonstrate the superiority of this criterion over A/B-test-based approaches.


Self-management program is vital for supporting, educating and improving patients' self-efficacy with stoma. Aim of the study: was evaluated the effect of a self-care management program on self-efficacy of patients with colostomy. Hypothesis: self-management program had a positive effect on self-efficacy among patients with colostomy. Design: Quasi-experimental research design was used. Setting: The study was conducted at Benha Teaching Hospital, oncology unit in the general surgical department and outpatient Clinic. Subjects: A purposive sample of 30 patients from both genders. Tools: four tools were designed to collect data; stoma- related knowledge sheet, which was developed to assess Patients` knowledge about colostomy care. Self-care performance checklist, Ostomy Skin Tool to assess the extent and severity of peristomal skin complications and Stoma care self-Efficacy Scale. Results: mean score of age was 55.7± 8.56, 63.3% was mal, 80% was married, and 73.3% had bowel cancer. Mean score of total knowledge pre-program was 10.700±1.022, which increased to 24.70± 1.441 post program. 66.7% of patients had severe peristomal skin complications preprogram which decreased to 60% post program, while in follow up 56.7% of patients had mild peristomal skin complications. Related to stoma care self-efficacy there was statistical significant differences between three phases (p=.000). Conclusion: there was highly significant statistically improvement in all items of knowledge, practices and self-efficacy pre/post program of self-care management regarding colostomy patients. Recommendations: assessment of patients' self-care performance during first six months after operation considered as evidence to his educational needs and concern.


Background Studies of cancer prevalence have produced conflicting results concerning the relative risk of overall and specific sub-types of cancer in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Contemporary controls and information on tobacco use and alcohol consumption are generally missing from previous studies. Objectives To evaluate lifetime cancer prevalence in a large cohort of MS patients relative to appropriate controls. Methods We conducted a case-control study, using a postal survey of a cohort of MS patients. Of the 1574 questionnaires sent, 1107 could be used for statistical analysis. Data from 1568 controls were prospectively collected using the same self-administered survey among consecutive out-patients in a single neurology department. Propensity scores matched on age, gender, and history of smoking and alcohol consumption were calculated. Results Among the MS patients, 7.32% had ever presented with a cancer, whereas 12,63% of the controls had, leading to a bootstrap matched odds ratio (OR) of 0.63; 95% CI 0.57–0.70. Although only exploratory, the use of DMT (immunomodulators or immunosupressants) did not appear to increase this risk (p = 0.42). The disease course also did not affect cancer prevalence. Conclusion MS was associated with a reduced overall cancer risk.


Sucrose intake rate and percent effort (a variable which describes the amount of energy an insect uses to feed on a liquid) was quantified for Solenopsis invicta Buren. In other words, how much energy does the insect gain and how much energy is lost in the feeding event? In order to understand this more closely, two variables important in liquid feeding, viscosity and sucrose concentration, were controlled independently. Three series of solutions were prepared to test these variables separately: base series (BS, no alteration to sucrose solutions), constant viscosity series (CVS, multiple sucrose concentrations all with the same viscosity as a 50% sucrose solution), and constant concentration series (CCS, 30% sucrose solutions with increasing viscosities). Viscosity seemed to affect the solution intake rate of S. invicta more than sucrose concentration of the solution. Percent effort increased with increasing sucrose concentration in the BS and CCS ranging from 17.53 to 95.8% and 40.09 to 100%; however, the sucrose intake rate decreased dramatically in the CCS to less than 2 μg sucrose/min at the highest viscosity level. Levels of solution and sucrose intake rate and percent effort were stable. This information on how viscosity and sucrose concentration affect feeding behavior in ants may assist in future formulations of baits for the control of these pests.


Leonardo da Vinci was the last artist/scientist to make lasting contributions to scientific knowledge, before science broke away from Natural Philosophy. The scientific method, introduced in this breakup, was a strategy for a new way of knowing, involving quantification through the synthesis of simple phenomenological models and measurement. After 300 years of scientific success, we have run out of simple models, and are back with da Vinci at recognizing the importance of the qualitative in addition to the quantitative. Stock market crashes, flash mobs, power grid failures, earthquakes, forest fires, heart attacks, urban growth and even citations, are all exemplars of the ubiquitous complexity that characterize the signature events in our lives. The simplifying assumptions of normalcy, linearity, continuity, stability, ergodicity, and many others, central to modern science, are no longer tenable and require re-examination. A number of attempts have been made to develop new ways of doing science, which are respectful of the complexity of the phenomena being studied. Examples of such efforts that come to mind include Cybernetics, Systems Theory, Catastrophe Theory, Complexity Theory, Nonlinear Dynamics and their subsequent generalizations. The common element of these and other such efforts is the recognition that complex phenomena, whether natural or artificially constructed, ought to be treated as a whole and not selectively dissected and once understood, stitched back together. This talk does not seek to accomplish this Herculean task, but has the more modest goal of juxtaposing a few of the disparate contributions, made by a number of gifted scientists, into a single strategy for gaining understanding and acquiring a new kind of knowledge; one in which the qualitative can be, and often is, as important as the quantitative. This strategy is an application of da Vinci's approach to understanding and it forms the basis of Tomorrow's Science (a new book by the speaker), which in reality is five centuries old. Just as Newton's calculus replaced the geometric description of mechanical phenomena, a more general calculus is necessary to replace the fractal geometry of complex phenomena and this requires a new way of thinking. The fractal trajectories of complex dynamics are non-differentiable, and averages over ensembles of such trajectories are described by fractional derivatives of probability densities, in space, in time, or both.  The fractional calculus has developed in a number of significant ways in the recent past. Sokolov et al  maintain that this calculus was restricted to the field of mathematics until the last decade of the twentieth century, when it became very popular among physicists as a powerful way to describe the dynamics of a variety of complex physical phenomena. For example, anomalous diffusion was described using fractional diffusion equations; viscoelastic materials were modeled using fractional Langevin equations; and complex dynamic systems could be governed using fractional control. In the last decade the concept of fractional dynamics has gained further attention in the statistical and chemical physics communities. Fractional differential equations have also been successfully applied to neural dynamics and ecology as well as to traditional fields of engineering. Herein we provide an alternative interpretation of these extensions that involves the notion of a fluctuating trajectory and interpreting the fractional models as averages over an ensemble of these trajectories on the strange attractor. This view is consistent with one proposed as an extension of conservative Hamiltonian systems to fractional systems. This generalization of classical mechanics is based on a randomization of chronological or clock time in the traditional phase space using the notion of operational time and subordination. Without going into the details of the extension of Hamilton's equations of motion to fractional form it suffices to note that fractional derivatives in chronological time are interpreted as averages of a particle's displacement and momentum over the fluctuating operational time. Consequently, the dynamics of a single fractional harmonic oscillator, for example, is considered to be an average over an ensemble of harmonic oscillators. Stanislavsky emphasizes that each oscillator differs slightly from every other oscillator in frequency because of subordination. The phase space trajectories rather than being level energy curves instead spiral into the origin and the fractional oscillator "demonstrates a dissipative process stochastic by nature." For the more general dynamical systems considered herein there is no Hamiltonian with which to generate the equations of motion. The solution to the fractional phase space equation is an inverse power-law probability density function, which describes all the phenomena mentioned earlier and many more. However, rather than focusing on mathematical formalism, this talk addresses the meaning of the mathematics and attempts to answer the question: Why is the fractional calculus entailed by complexity?


The gut-brain axis is of great importance in the control of energy homeostasis. The identification of uroguanylin (UGN), a peptide released in the intestines that is regulated by nutritional status and anorectic actions, as the endogenous ligand for the guanylyl cyclase 2C receptor has revealed a new system in the regulation of energy balance. We show that chronic central infusion of UGN reduces weight gain and adiposity in diet-induced obese mice. These effects were independent of food intake and involved specific efferent autonomic pathways. On one hand, brain UGN induces brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, as well as browning and lipid mobilization in white adipose tissue through stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. On the other hand, brain UGN augments fecal output through the vagus nerve. These findings are of relevance as they suggest that the beneficial metabolic actions of UGN through the sympathetic nervous system do not involve nondesirable gastrointestinal adverse effects, such as diarrhea. The present work provides mechanistic insights into how UGN influences energy homeostasis and suggests that UGN action in the brain represents a feasible pharmacological target in the treatment of obesity.


We study the convection of magnetic fields in the presence of Lagrangian chaos, i.e. when nearby fluid elements diverge exponentially in time. We show that the magnetic field is of a multifractal nature as a consequence of the spatial fluctuations in the exponential growth of the field. We provide numerical and theoretical evidence that the magnetic fields can concentrate in small domains of a fluid with weak Lagrangian chaos. Moreover, these properties are relevant also for the study of the case of small but nonzero magnetic diffusivity.


A 52-year-old man was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma in the left upper lobe (c-T1bN0M0). Preoperative bronchoscopy revealed a displaced anomalous B(1+2) arising from the left main bronchus. Multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography showed that the displaced B(1+2) was located behind the left main pulmonary artery, and the interlobar fissure was largely fused. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) left upper lobectomy was performed successfully. The "no-touch fissure" technique was efficient not only for avoiding accidental cutting of the displaced bronchus but also post-operative air leakage. This is the first reported case of VATS lobectomy for lung cancer associated with a displaced B(1+2).


As a complex team sport, success in soccer relies on individuals' performance, collective performance, and most importantly on team performance. In soccer, players are usually assigned to a specific position based on the demands of the position and the corresponding qualities of the players. The performance factors are varied and interrelated. As such, whether speed, change-of-direction-speed (CODS) and repeated sprinting ability (RSA) are used to discriminate different position players is not well-established. The purpose of this study was to examine how different position players are different against these parameters. The study participants included 88 soccer players at the Ethiopian National Soccer League classified into six playing positions such as centerbacks, fullbacks, holding-midfielders, attacking-midfielders, outside-midfielders and strikers. The participant players speed, CODS and RSA were measured weekly for about five weeks. The authors analyzed the collected data using one-way ANOVA and Games-Howell multiple comparisons. Results indicated that the position discriminating power of the three measures, including speed, CODS and RSA was found minimal. Among the different position players, only outside-midfielders were significantly higher performers with these qualities measured. Therefore, it was concluded that the performance difference in speed, CODS and RSA among the six position players is not a good discriminator, except for outside-midfielders, who outperformed all other position players (excluding the fullbacks) with the studied parameters.


Development of therapies for diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) requires a precise knowledge of signaling aberrations essential for tumor development. In normal B cells, the B cell receptor (BCR) initiates intracellular signals crucial for the survival and proliferation and may contribute to pathogenesis. Previous studies identified PKCbII, PKD1 and PKD3 as key DAG regulated downstream targets of BCR induced signaling and many refractory DLBCL tumors exhibit elevated expression of PKCbII. This correlates with activation of the PKCbII-NF-kB signaling cascade; and inhibition of PKCbII blocks the survival of these tumors in vitro. In this study, we show PKD2 is the predominant PKD family protein that is expressed and activated in response to BCR engagement in normal and malignant human B cells. Following BCR engagement in naïve B lymphocytes, activated PKD2 initially co-localizes with the BCR and then shuttles from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. We show using immunohistochemistry that localization and activation of PKD2 in DLBCLs correlates with the level of PKCbII expression. Using several models, we show that while PKCbII is not required for BCR-mediated PKD2 phosphorylation, increased expression of PKCbII promotes both PKD2 activation and class II HDAC phosphorylation. Finally, we show that PKD2 and a key substrate for PKCbII in B cells CARMA1, synergize to drive antigen receptor-triggered NF-kB transcriptional activity. Together, our data imply that PKD2 and PKCbII may work in concert to control transcriptional events regulating B cell survival.


The author describes how the commitment by Midlands Electricity plc to protecting the environment has resulted in an intensive programme of bund wall construction around our primary substation power transformers. These walls are designed to contain any oil leak and so avoid the pollution of any adjacent water course, canal or public drainage system. Midlands Electricity is also committed to eliminating any nuisance to their customers caused by noise from transformers. All noise complaints are thoroughly investigated and acoustic enclosures or screens, are provided where necessary. >


Background Portable autorefractors can estimate refractive error in remote locations, but sphero-cylinder comparison and donated-spectacle dispensing are not yet simple. Methods Normal astigmats determined best corrected acuity, then degraded 1 logMAR (Grade A), 3 logMAR (Grade B), and 6 logMAR (Grade C) to determine limits of astigmatism axis and power at these levels. The cylindrical refraction was vector transformed with J0 on the abscissa and J45 on the ordinate. Results Ten subjects produced multiple refractions at the interfaces of Grades A, B, and C representing ovals on the J0 and J45 coordinates. When rotated, the vertical axis represented 45° or 135°, the horizontal long axis was 1.6× the short axis. The size of the ovals positively correlated with cylinder power. Given a target refraction, the comparability of a candidate lens was demonstrated on our interactive database yielding a simple A, B, C, or worse grade for cylinder, spherical equivalent, and pupillary diameter. Conclusion(s)/Relevance Inputting a remote autorefraction, pupillary diameter and age as target and a donated spectacle as the candidate with a "B" grade similarity would be expected to attain 20/40 acuity (3 logMAR degrade) if best corrected visual acuity was 20/20. This practical Excel database could facilitate widespread remote lay dispensing of the cylinder as well as spherical spectacles. The grade similarity can also compare refracting tools such as photoscreeners and hand-held autorefractors. Clinical Trials Registry NCT04297969.


The comparative evaluation of thyroid pathology in different regions should include biopsy and autopsy examination. Morphological research (cytological and histological methods) implies 3 steps: preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative. The results of cytological and histological examination should be properly used by clinicians. For successful comparative ecological research it is necessary to use reliable methods of investigation of thyroid goiter and thyroid tumours. These methods provide evaluation of real morphofunctional state of thyroid pathology in different regions.


A theory is developed that shows the effect of cross-relaxation processes on the operation of a single-frequency gas laser oscillator. The influence of one type of cross relaxation, that due to radiation trapping, is shown to depend not only on the diameter of the gas discharge tube, but also on the diameter of the laser beam. The theory is used to calculate the saturation parameter for the 6328-A He:Ne laser line using values of the cross-relaxation rate found from previous measurements of the cross-relaxation parameter. The calculated values are in good agreement with earlier experimental measurements. The theory is also used to compute values of the two decay rates used to fit Lamb-dip measurements, and very good agreement is obtained with the Lamb-dip results reported by Dietel.


Determination of the creatinine concentration of the amniotic fluid was undertaken between the 25th and 40th week of gestation in 114 patients. The normal serum creatinine level was simultaneously determined in 43 of these patients. The aim of this study was to examine whether this parameter of fetal renal function allows a conclusion to be drawn with respect to fetal maturity and the length of gestation. With increasing length of gestation a marked increase in the amniotic fluid and the maternal serum creatinine concentration was observed (p less than 0.01). The large scatter of the values made it impossible to relate any particular creatinine concentration to a certain week of gestation. However, if the concentration of creatinine in the amniotic fluid has reached a value of 2 mg% or more, a mature baby can be predicted in most cases. A tendency to raised levels of creatinine was seen in cases of EPH gestosis and latent diabetes mellitus. The determination of creatinine in the amniotic fluid can be recommended with certain reservations as an additional method to assess fetal maturity.


The literature on otitis media and complications for 1963 was enriched by the publication of the papers and panel discussions of the Second Workshop on Reconstructive Middle Ear Surgery held in Chicago. The 20 articles and panel discussions on chronic infective ear disease were published in the September and October numbers of the Archives of Otolaryngology and deserve prolonged study by otologists, and, since they are readily available, only a few will be reviewed. Acute Otitis Media Wilson 1 (Dublin) stated that children from poor living conditions were more prone to ear infections, which were more severe and had more complications. One interesting case was a child with typical cholesterol granulomatosis who was not operated on because of a cardiac condition. The posterosuperior tympanic perforation and profuse discharge were treated conservatively, and five years later the drum was found to be dry, intact, and with almost perfect hearing. Comment. —Many


Synthetic polymers often pose environmental hazards due to low biodegradation rates and resulting accumulation. In this study, a selection of wood-rotting fungi representing different lignocellulose decay types was screened for oxidative biodegradation of the polymer polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). Brown-rot basidiomycetes showed PSS depolymerisation of up to 50 % reduction in number-average molecular mass (Mn) within 20 days. In-depth investigations with the most efficient depolymeriser, a Gloeophyllum trabeum strain, pointed at extracellular hydroquinone-driven Fenton chemistry responsible for depolymerisation. Detection of hydroxyl radicals present in the culture supernatants showed good compliance with depolymerisation over the time course of PSS degradation. 2,5-Dimethoxy-1,4-hydroquinone (2,5-DMHQ), which was detected in supernatants of active cultures via liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, was demonstrated to drive the Fenton processes in G. trabeum cultures. Up to 80% reduction in Mn of PSS where observed when fungal cultures were additionally supplemented with 2,5-dimethoxy benzoquinone, the oxidized from of 2,5-DMHQ. Furthermore, 2,5-DMHQ could initiate the Fenton's reagent-mediated PSS depolymerisation in cell-free systems. In contrast, white-rot fungi were unable to cause substantial depolymerising effects despite the expression of lignin-modifying exo-enzymes. Detailed investigations with laccase from Trametes versicolor revealed that only in presence of certain redox mediators limited PSS depolymerisation occurred. Our results indicate that brown-rot fungi might be suitable organisms for the biodegradation of recalcitrant synthetic polymeric pollutants.


To divide replicated chromosomes equally between daughter cells kinetochores must attach to microtubules emanating from opposite poles of the mitotic spindle. Two mechanisms, namely, error correction and 'spindle assembly checkpoint' work together to facilitate this process. The error correction mechanism recognizes and detaches erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachments, and the spindle assembly checkpoint delays the onset of anaphase until all the kinetochores are properly attached. Kinases and phosphatases at the kinetochore play a key role in proper functioning of these two mechanisms. Here we present a stochastic model to study how the opposing activities of kinases and phosphatases at the kinetochore affect error correction of kinetochore-microtubule attachments and checkpoint signaling in budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that error correction and biorientation of chromosomes occurs efficiently when the ratio between kinase activity of Ipl1 and the activity of an opposing phosphatase is a constant (balance point), and derive an approximate analytical formula that defines the balance point. Analysis of the coupling of the spindle assembly checkpoint signal to error correction shows that its strength remains high when the Ipl1 activity is equal to (or larger than) the value specified by the balance point, and the activity of another kinase, Mps1, is much larger (approximately 30 times larger) than its opposing phosphatase (PP1). We also find that the geometrical orientation of sister chromatids does not significantly improve the probability of their reaching biorientation, which depends entirely on Ipl1-dependent microtubule detachment. Author summary The kinetochore, the master regulator of chromosome segregation, integrates signals from different chromosome attachment states to generate an appropriate response, like the destabilization of erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachments, stabilization of correct attachments, maintenance of the spindle assembly checkpoint signal until all kinetochores are properly attached, and finally silencing of checkpoint when biorientation is achieved. At a molecular level the job is carried out by kinases and phosphatases. The complexity of the interactions between these kinases and phosphatases makes intuitive analysis of the control network impossible, and a systems-level model is needed to put experimental information together and to generate testable hypotheses. Here we present such a model for the process of error correction and its coupling to the spindle assembly checkpoint in budding yeast. Using the model, we characterize the balance between kinase and phosphatase activities required for removing erroneous attachments and then establishing correct stable attachments between kinetochore and microtubule. We also analyze how the balance affects the strength of the spindle assembly checkpoint signal.


THE USE OF AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE TUTORIAL FOR CAMERA OPERATORS AT BYU BROADCASTING Andrew D. Schmidt Department of Instructional Psychology and Technology Master of Science This report describes the purpose, analysis, design, development, and evaluation of a web-based tutorial to train student television camera operators for BYU Broadcasting at Brigham Young University. The report includes the results from audience and needs analyses, the rationale for the instructional approach, reviews of existing instructional materials, and reviews of instructional theory and practice literature. It also describes multiple evaluation activities for the tutorial and a critique of the project. The audience and needs analyses found that an interactive, web-based tutorial would be an appropriate delivery method for the instruction. The instructional literature review supports the project's instructional and evaluation methodologies, especially its extensive use of rapid prototyping. The evaluation report describes multiple iterations with paper and electronic prototypes and a field test with 11 target audience members. This report describes how testing and revision iterations led to multiple improvements in the product, and a preand posttest administered during the field test demonstrated a significant increase in the intended learning outcomes. The projects exemplified many strengths and pleased the stakeholders, although further improvements in the instruction, assessment, and evaluation could have been implemented with more time and resources.


Within the nonlinear theory of generalized functions introduced earlier by the author a number of existence and regularity results have been obtained. One of them has been the first global version of the Cauchy-Kovalevskaia theorem, which proves the existence of generalized solutions on the whole of the domain of analyticity of arbitrary analytic nonlinear PDEs. These generalized solutions are analytic everywhere, except for closed, nowhere dense subsets which can be chosen to have zero Lebesgue measure. This paper gives a certain extension of that result by establishing an algebraic necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of generalized solutions for arbitrary polynomial nonlinear PDEs with continuous coefficients. This algebraic characterization, given by the so-called neutrix or off diagonal condition, is proved to be equivalent to certain densely vanishing conditions, useful in the study of the solutions of general nonlinear PDEs.


Synthetic acrylic resins have a long, clinically proven history of use for dentures since they exhibit adequate physical, mechanical, and esthetic properties; however, they are susceptible to microbial adhesion, leading to denture stomatitis, which is the most common infectious disease affecting the palatal mucosa, and is highly prevalent in denture wearers . Polymeric biomaterials have an inherent advantage in their capacity for modification. Negatively charged denture base materials have been suggested to prevent adhesion of Candida and to reduce the development of denture induced stomatitis. Incorporation of metahacrylic acid in PMMA denure base resins prevents adherence of Candida albicans.Taking all the above factors into consideration the present study, was done to "compare and evaluate flexural strength of negatively charged polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) with different concentrations of methacrylic acid.


Background
The presence of air leak following lung resection remains a frequent problem, which may prolong hospital stay and increase hospital costs. In the past, some studies documented the efficacy of soft and flexible chest tube in patients who underwent thoracic surgery. Nevertheless, safety in case of post-operative large air or liquid leak remains questionable. The objective of this study was to verify through a multicentre study the safety and the effectiveness of the coaxial chest tube in a consecutive series of selected patients who underwent anatomical pulmonary resection and with an active and large air leak.

Methods
Between October 2016 and September 2017, data from patients submitted to anatomical lung resection with curative intent and operated in two Department of Thoracic Surgery of two different were prospectively collected. The inclusion criteria consisted in the presence of an air leak greater than 50 mL/min measured with a digital drainage system during the 3 postoperative hours. A descriptive statistic was used to report the incidence of complications assumed to be associated with the use of the coaxial drain.

Results
Forty-eight consecutive patients (27 males) submitted to lobectomy (37 patients: 77%) or anatomic segmentectomies (11 patients) were included in the analyses. Thirty-four operations (71%) were performed by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The median duration of chest tubes was 13 days [interquartile range (IQR), 4-19] and the median duration of air leak was 9 days (IQR, 2-17.5). No patient had undrained postoperative pleural effusion judged to require an additional chest tube placement. There were 12 (25%) cases of clinically or radiologically significant surgical emphysema; in none of these patients any additional procedure or re-operation was required, and they were treated conservatively by increasing the level of suction.

Conclusions
Our experience with this novel Coaxial Drain was satisfactory with no clinically relevant complication caused using this drain, no need to insert additional drain or replace the existing one with another drain a duration of air leak and chest tubes as well as the incidence of subcutaneous emphysema that was in line with what observed in the daily practice in similar highly selected patients with large air leak.


Multiplanar image reconstruction involves the reconstruction of sagittal, coronal or oblique views form a series of transverse computerized tomography images without exposing the patient to more radiation. The technique, especially when used in conjunction with high-resolution scanning, is invaluable in the diagnosis of lesions within the orbit. This paper deals with the clinical application of this new technique.


Background: The main purpose of this study was to assess the disparity of cervical cancer (CerCancer) mortality rates change through time between Black and Caucasian women residing in Alabama and the US. Methods: The CerCancer behavioral risk factors and utilization of screening tests data were obtained from CDC9s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) database. Baseline data and target objectives of utilization of CerCancer screening and mortality rates were obtained from Healthy People 2020. The CerCancer mortality rates data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). Mortality rates, percentage difference, percentage change and annual percentage change for trends were calculated and compared with the US baseline. Data were stratified by age, gender, race, and geography, using SEER*Stat version 8.4.1 in conjunction with Linear Trendlines analysis to model the racial changes of CerCancer mortality rates through time in Alabama and the US. Results: Our results depicted in general, that although Blacks had higher CerCancer mortality rates at all times, a decreasing trend in CerCancer mortality rates was noted for both races. However, the degree of disparities in mortality rates fluctuated over time and differed by age. In Alabama, Blacks aged 65 years and older have not experienced significant decline in CerCancer mortality rates in recent years, despite a high screening rate compared to Whites. In contrast, between 2002 and 2012, Whites in Alabama and the US made a significant progress toward the Healthy People 2020 goal. Conclusions: Conclusively in Alabama, a disparity still exists for the high CerCancer mortality rates in Blacks despite the higher rates of screening for CerCaner as would otherwise be expected. Additionally, the state has not yet achieved the Healthy People 2020 goal. Thus, although the gap in mortality rates in Alabama has narrowed, however the disparity remains, but if the dismal narrowing is sustained, it will reduce the racial disparities in CerCancer mortality though at a very slow rate. Therefore, Public health officials should monitor progress toward reduction and/or elimination of these disparities. Citation Format: Ehsan M. Abdalla. A comparison study of the disparities of cervical cancer excess mortality between Black and Caucasian women in Alabama and the US. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1778.


In Victoria the usual diluent for deep frozen bull semen consists of a mixture of egg yolk, sodium citrate and glycerol. The semen is equilibrated in this mixture for 17 hours prior to freezing. O'Dell and Almquist (1957), and Amman and Almquist (1957) found that survival of spermatozoa as assessed by motility was increased when the semen was diluted with a mixture of glycerol, fructose and skim milk instead of egg yolk-citrate diluent. When diluted with this mixture best survival of spermatozoa was obtained with a very short period of equilibration. The purpose of the present observations was to obtain information on the relative conception rates as distinct from spermatozoa1 motility with the two types of diluents, and to determine whether dilution with the skim milk mixture could be adapted to facilitate the processing of semen at a commercial centre, in this case the Victorian Artificial Breeders' Co-operative, Bacchus Marsh.


OBJECTIVE
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is uncommon in men and data on its characteristics and severity are limited. The current study was undertaken to determine whether the clinical characteristics and the spectrum of this disorder are similar in men and women.

METHODS
Forty men with FMS were matched with 40 women by age and educational level. All subjects were asked about the presence and severity (assessed by visual analog scale) of FMS symptoms; a count of 18 tender points was conducted by thumb palpation, and tenderness thresholds were measured by dolorimetry. Psychological status was assessed by the anxiety and depression subscales of the revised Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales. Quality of life was evaluated by two scales, QOL-16 and SF-36, and physical function was measured by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.

RESULTS
Men with FMS reported more severe symptoms than women, decreased physical function, and lower quality of life. Women had lower tender thresholds than men; however their mean point counts were similar.

CONCLUSION
Although FMS is uncommon in men, its health outcome in our study population was worse than in women. Further studies in larger samples and in diverse ethnocultural populations are needed to confirm this observation.


Abstract Background Anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy is frequently used to treat breast cancer. However, not all patients respond to chemotherapy due to naturalor acquired chemo-resistance. Glutathione S-transferase P1(GSTP1), which belongs to the family of phase II metabolic enzymes, has been reported to function in detoxifying several anti-cancer drugs by conjugating them with glutathione. Methods We identified GSTP1 as a drug-resistance-related factor by microarray. Then, we used cell apoptosis and immunofluorescence staining to confirm the ability of GSTP1-containing exosomes in conferring drug resistance. And the knockdown of GSTP1 gene was performed to found the influence of drug-resistance. Furthermore, the role of GSTP1 and its relationship with exosomes was proved by analysed 40 pairs of breast cancer tissues by IHC. Then, the levels of GSTP1 in serum exosomes were detected in 28 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC). Results By microarray data, we found that GSTP1, which located in extracellular exosome, is higher in Adriamycin(ADR)-resistant cell line compared with its parental cell line. Then, we also confirmed a higher expression of GSTP1 protein in ADR-resistant cells by immunofluorescence staining and western blot. Moreover, the addition of GSTP1-containing exosomes can increase the resistance to ADR in sensitive cells. Also, we found that a higher expression GSTP1 in the PD/SD group than in the PR/CR group in 40 paired samples collected before and after chemotherapy. Similar results were obtained for the exosomal marker tumor susceptibility gene 101 protein (TSG101), which also increased in the cytoplasm after chemotherapy. We further explored the levels of GSTP1 in serum exosomes of 28 patients treated with anthracycline/taxane-based NAC, and discovered that the levels of GSTP1 in exosomes from patients in the PD/SD group were higher than those in the PR/CR group. Conclusions GSTP1-containing exosomes appeared to be essential in conferring resistance to anti-cancer drugs. We explored the predictive role of GSTP1 in circulating exosomes as a biomarker for chemo-sensitivity in patients treated with anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy. Legal entity responsible for the study Jinhai Tang. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


Massive reorganization in the healthcare industry has created a new series of high-level, multi-talented managers. Many have risen from the ashes of change, taking new positions and shifting from positions with a single focus to managing complex administrative matrices. Seven who have been through the reorganization process comment on where they have come from and what they learned from their experience. Their distilled advice: take advantage of further schooling, OJT, hospital association seminars and workshops. Delegate; communicate; don't be afraid to admit you don't have all the technical knowledge at your fingertips. Above all, remember you are to direct the work, not do the work itself.


We define mechanistic interaction between the effects of two variables on an outcome in terms of departure of these effects from a generalized noisy-OR model in a stratum of the population. We develop a fully probabilistic framework for the observational identification of this type of interaction via excess risk or superadditivity, one novel feature of which is its applicability when the interacting variables have been generated by arbitrarily dichotomizing continuous exposures. The method allows for stochastic mediators of the interacting effects. The required assumptions are provided in the form of conditional independencies between the problem variables, which may relate to a causal-graph representation of the problem. We also develop a theory of mechanistic interaction between effects associated with specific paths of the causal graph.


We present results on tagged particle diffusion in a mesoscale lattice model for sheared amorphous material in athermal quasistatic conditions. We find a short time diffusive regime and a long time diffusive regime whose diffusion coefficients depend on system size in dramatically different ways. At short time, we find that the diffusion coefficient, D, scales roughly linearly with system length, D∼L^{1.05}. This short time behavior is consistent with particle-based simulations. The long-time diffusion coefficient scales like D∼L^{1.6}, close to previous studies which found D∼L^{1.5}. Furthermore, we show that the near-field details of the interaction kernel do not affect the short time behavior but qualitatively and dramatically affect the long time behavior, potentially causing a saturation of the mean-squared displacement at long times. Our finding of a D∼L^{1.05} short time scaling resolves a long standing puzzle about the disagreement between the diffusion coefficient measured in particle-based models and mesoscale lattice models of amorphous plasticity.


The angular (polar) asymmetry of ejection of a photoelectron produced in a negative ion multiphoton detachment process in a linearly polarized bichromatic electromagnetic (EM) field consisting of coherent superposition of the fundamental laser field frequency and its second harmonic is studied theoretically and the physical mechanism underlying this phenomenon is explained in the frame of perturbation theory for EM interaction. Two model potentials, both the simplest one-dimensional zero-range potential and a three-dimensional nonlocal separable Yamaguchi potential, are used for description of the detached electron interaction with its parent residual atomic core. For either of both exactly solvable models used it is shown that in general, in such an asymmetric (with respect to the replacement e-e of the EM field polarization vector) bichromatic field the ejection of detached photoelectrons is also asymmetric with respect to the replacement p-p of the detached photoelectron momentum. The degree of this asymmetry of photodetachment depends mostly on the relative phase shift between the harmonics and the ratio of their electric field strengths and it does not vanish even for = /2 or 3/2, i.e., even when the bichromatic field is symmetric.


Unfavorable general demographic indicators are to a large extent predetermined by a demographic situation in some population groups. Therefore, in order to achieve a more sustainable demographic development at the country level and develop an adequate response from relevant population policies, it is necessary to measure the scale of demographic differentiation and identify population groups at risk. This requires reliable population-level data and innovative methods for measuring demographic differentials. The main aim of this work is to present advantages and capabilities of methodology for development of census-linked databases based on the linkages between census and demographic records. This study provides selected empirical examples and new scientific data on socio-economic and socio-demographic differences in mortality, first divorces, and births in Lithuania. These data can be further used for improving population policies in Lithuania and performing comparative analyses with other countries.


The paper presents the implications of farmer-owned processing cooperatives for pricing in the catfish industry and tests hypotheses about the nature of price transmission in the catfish industry. The results of the linear feedback model indicate that causal relationships exist between farm and wholesale prices in the catfish industry. The direction of causality for both frozen and processed whole catfish run from farm to wholesale level.


A cephalometric study was conducted on 34 complete denture wearers to examine the relationship between the area of the mandible and the skeletal facial form, the area of the mandible and the gonial angle, and the area of the mandible and the length of the mandible. No significant correlation was found between the area of the mandible and the skeletal facial types or the gonial angle. A statistically significant correlation (P < 0.0028) was found between the length of the mandible and the area of the mandible. Residual resorption of the mandible appears to be independent of skeletal facial form and the gonial angle.


Background Bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are pluripotent stem cells with potent self-renewal and differentiation ability that are widely used in transplantation of cell therapy. But the mechanism on microRNA (miRNA) regulating stem cell differentiation is complicated and unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether miR-199b-5p is involved in differentiation of cardiomyocyte-like cells and identify potential signal pathways in BMSCs. Material/Methods Mouse BMSCs were treated with 5-azacytidine and transfected by miR-199b-5p mimic and inhibitor, respectively. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-199b-5p in BMSCs, 5-azacytidine treated BMSCs, and neonatal murine cardiomyocytes. The expression of cardiac specific genes and the HSF1/HSP70 signal pathway were examined by qRT-PCR or western blotting. The proliferation and migration of BMSCs were evaluated by CCK-8 assay and wound-healing assay. Results The expression of miR-199b-5p decreased gradually in the process of differentiation of BMSCs toward cardiomyocyte-like cells. The expression of cardiac specific genes and HSF1/HSP70 were increased in the miR-199b-5p inhibitor group; however, the miR-199b-5p mimic group presented an opposite result. Both the miR-199b-5p inhibitor group and the miR-199b-5p mimic group had no influence on BMSCs proliferation and migration. Using lentivirus vectors bearing HSF1 shRNA to silence HSF1 and HSP70, the anticipated elevated expression effect of cardiac specific genes induced by miR-199b-5p inhibitor was suppressed. Conclusions Downregulation of miR-199b-5p induced differentiation of BMSCs toward cardiomyocyte-like cells partly via the HSF1/HSP70 signaling pathway, and had no influence on BMSCs proliferation and migration.


We introduce neutrosophic choice functions, the neutrosophic counterpart of the Axiom of Choice, prove some results, and discuss how it effects the foundations of mathematics in a neutrosophic setting.


Oftentimes we look at titration as a one-way street where the techs increase pressure until the patients exhibit acceptable or normal range AHI (<5/hour). Depending on the diagnosis, CPAP is usually the first line of defense to addressobstructive sleep apnea(OSA). While this the gold standard for OSA, advancement in technology continually evolve and offer more dynamic modes that can further increase adherence to therapy due to comfort and varying pressure requirements. The other related hurdle to optimized therapy is the transfer of settings from in-lab titrations to home-care devices. Settings are sometimes changed or modified per physicians' approval in order to fulfill prescription orders even if the complete settings and sub-settings that optimized the titrations in-lab (and experience of the patients) are not fully transcribed due to manufacture differences and/or the limitations of the DME inventory. This article is of two-folds, one-to look at titration in and outside of the lab for long-term therapy adherence; and two-utilizing technology as additional standard of practice.


The mechanism by which TPGS (alpha-tocopheryl succinate esterified to polyethylene glycol 1000 [PEG 1000]) delivers tocopherol (vitamin E) was studied in human fibroblasts and erythrocytes and a human intestinal cell line, Caco-2. The total cellular tocopherol content of saponified samples of fibroblasts or Caco-2 incubated for 4 h with TPGS (4 mumol/L) increased 10-fold without an increase in the free tocopherol content of nonsaponified samples. A 24-h incubation resulted in a free tocopherol content of approximately 20%, suggesting that intracellular hydrolysis of ester bonds had occurred. The increase in total tocopherol content after a 4-h incubation with TPGS was temperature dependent; no change was measurable at 4 degrees C. Addition of metabolic inhibitors during incubation with TPGS at 37 degrees C did not prevent the increase. [14C]TPGS (synthesized from [14C]PEG 1000) was taken up by Caco-2 cells but [14C]PEG 1000 was not. The intracellular total tocopherol (pmol) equaled the [14C]TPGS (pmol), unequivocally demonstrating uptake of the intact TPGS molecule.


To the Editor:We report a case of unusual toxicity represented by initial acute rhabdomyolysis during erlotinib treatment in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer. The EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitor erlotinib is an accepted option in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer1 and its toxicity profile is mainly represented by non-hematological toxicity, especially cutaneous and gastrointestinal. Most of the adverse events are ofmild intensity and generally are well manageable and reversible. Other common adverse events include transient elevation of transaminases and serum bilirubin. The incidence of grade 3-5 toxicities for erlotinib is reported to range from 1% to 19% and fatigue was reported in 19% of patients in a trial by Shepherd et al. and represents the prevalent toxicity2. EGFR mutant patients may be treated in first-line treatment with EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and the analysis of unusual toxicities related to such treatment deserves more attention. A 70-year-old female patient was diagnosed in 2008 with a stage IV lung adenocarcinoma and treated with first-line chemotherapy (carboplatin and gemcitabine for 6 cycles from October 2008 to January 2009). At disease progression in October 2009, the patient started second-line treatment with erlotinib, 150 mg/day. At the start of this therapy no comorbidities were present and no concomitant medications were given. The Karnofsky performance status was 100. Kidney, liver and bone marrow function were normal. No major toxicity was observed during the first 2 months of treatment. At the end of the thirdmonth the patient suddenly developed severe weakness, asthenia andmyalgia. Blood chemistry showed the following values: myoglobin 581 μg/L (normal value <90 μg/L), serum creatine kinase (CK) 274 mU/mL (normal value <170mU/mL) and serum creatinine 2.76mg/dL (normal value <1.2mg/dL). Erlotinib was immediately withdrawn and after adequate hydration and intravenous bicarbonate infusion all values returned to the normal ranges. The patient was discharged after 6 days with recovery of all serological values and reduction of myalgia. Rhabdomyolysis is the rapid lysis of skeletal muscle tissue and has been frequently described in association with the use of lipid-lowering agents, alcohol and drugs, but it is an uncommon complication of antineoplastic treatment. Cases of rhabdomyolysis have been described in patients treated with bortezomib, imatinib, interferon-alpha, interleukin-2 and other chemotherapeutic drugs3-5. During rhabdomyolysis an increase in serum CK activity greater than 5 times the normal value is an accepted criterion for diagnosis6. In this case we did not observe such an increase but only a rapid rise in CK levels in a few hours, probably because the phenomenon was at the very beginning. The prompt aggressive hydration probably avoided anyworsening of symptoms and further elevation of CK andmyoglobin levels. Up to now, only one case of rhabdomyolysis related to the administration of erlotinib but in combinationwith simvastatin has been described in the literature7. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of rhabdomyolysis following treatment with erlotinib alone. Our suggestion is to monitor the levels of CK and myoglobin in patients who develop symptoms, such as myalgia, during treatment with tyrosine-kinase inhibitors.


BSF solar cells are fabricated using B-doped wafers cut from Czochralski Si(100) single crystals. The effect of unintentional impurities of oxygen and carbon atoms on the solar cell performance parameters have been studied. The presence of carbon atoms gives an improvement in all parameters, particularly the short-circuit current whereas oxygen produces an adverse effect.


The illicit trade in human trafficking, drug smuggling, toxic waste disposal, blood diamonds and the like may not match that of other legitimate sectors traded, yet it is morally objectionable. Using the limited data in the public domain from non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations, the news media and the limited academic sources, this chapter seeks to demonstrate the nature and extent of these questionable international businesses. It finds that governments share responsibility for failing to uphold national or international laws against such trades, let alone sometimes facilitating and participating in them. Through shared global supply chains, legitimate corporations may be culpable in the perpetuation of socio-economic injustice in many developing economies. Despite the challenges, the moral imperative remains for business academics to highlight and work against such exploitation of unfortunate individuals, groups, even whole societies. Most advocacy against the dark side of trade comes to us through investigative journalism in the mainstream news media, rather than the business media. Formal research on these dubious trades is lacking and what little is done is primarily by non-government organizations (NGOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), not academic institutions. Within academia, research on the phenomenon is published primarily by researchers from the humanities and social sciences, even the physical sciences, rather than those in business and management, with the possible exception of economists who have done some amoral research on the arms trade. Using limited secondary data on the extent of the trade and its consequences, this chapter aims to show why corporations cannot ignore such matters of global socioeconomic justice.


Abstract A method using direct flame ionization detector (FID) measurement was developed to study total volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions during thermal degradation of polymers. This method was used to estimate organic emissions from different polymers, such as low-density polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and commingled postconsumer streams, such as recycled carpet residue and auto shredder residue (ASR). The effects of process parameters, such as temperature, heating rate, and residence time, were also studied. Significant VOC emissions were observed at normal processing temperatures, particularly from recycled polymers. Each polymer showed a distinct evolution pattern during its thermal degradation. The kinetics of VOC emissions were also studied using a nonisothermal technique. The kinetic parameters were in agreement with data from the literature.


Present work describes the development and characterization of a new class of hybrid polymer composites consisting of Polyether-ether-keton (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Bronze and MoS2. The effects of various contact temperatures on the tribological properties of PTFE/PEEK composites were studied under dry as well as wet friction conditions. Moreover, the influence of various pressures on the friction and wear behaviors of the PTFE/PEEK composites was investigated. PEEK is a semi-crystalline polymer used as special engineering plastic due to its excellent mechanical capacity, good chemical and thermal stability. PEEK composites are often used as compressor piston rings or valve slices for their outstanding mechanical and thermal performance at high temperature conditions, where PTFE composites may fail to service. However, high friction coefficient and wear rate of pure PEEK limit its wider use many researchers found that PEEK is good in mechanical characteristic but less good performances of tribological properties. However PTFE shows better performances of tribological properties. The effect on the friction and wear behaviors of PEEK polymer composites has been improved, with addition of PTFE at room temperature. There are various operation performed in industry by different machine parts such as high pressure compressor, bearings, impeller etc. which causes wear due to heavy loading conditions and at ambient temperature. The objective of this work is to study the friction and wear properties of PEEK filled with different filler material at heavy loading conditions and at ambient temperature to enhance tribological behavior of PEEK without loss of mechanical properties. KeywordsComposite, friction, PEEK, PTFE, wear. __________________________________________________*****_________________________________________________


The objective of this work is to investigate the salt water effects on fatigue degradation, and stress-life relationship. A series of reversed fatigue experiments were conducted on (carbon+ glass) / PMMA of salt water environments. Results indicate that the composite degrade during cycling. Exposure to salt water (salt water is used to simulate the sea water) provides the most significant reduction in fatigue life. The corrosion environment reduces the fatigue strength by 61% compared to dry fatigue. Based on previous damage model [16], corrosion – fatigue nonlinear damage model is presented in this paper, which contains one material constant; the inverse slope (α) of the S-N curve. Six specimens of two levels loading of composite material were used to verify the present model; the results showed that the predicted life is in good agreement with the experimental results.


The formulation of inhalation agents is a major challenge for the pharmaceutical technologist. The innovative inhalation formulations mean a new area of indication for active pharmaceutical ingredients. Among pulmonary preparations, dry powder inhalers (DPIs) can ensure stability, a high payload and patient convenience. Our aim was to develop a carrier-based, crystalline co-spray-dried DPI product containing the low-solubility meloxicam (MX). Instead of the classical approach based on micronization to prepare drug particles followed by blending with a carrier, co-spray-drying of the MX/mannitol (M)/additives was performed in a one-step process. The product parameters were optimized with PVA, PVP, TWEEN and LEU as additives in order to improve the drug deposition in the lung. The mean particle size in the M-based systems was in the required range (2-5 microm). The particle dimensions, morphology and physical-chemical properties of the microcomposites were suitable for the pulmonary administration of DPI formulations based on the applicability of efficacy and safety. We investigated the influence of temperature and relative humidity on the physical-chemical properties with a view to optimization of the analytical methods, with the expiration date as a limiting parameter. The most important parameters of the DPI are the particle size, the particle size distribution, the morphology, the crystallinity of the drug and the dissolution rate. The DPI quality is assessed by the determination of aerodynamic properties such as the aerodynamic the particle size distribution, the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and the fine particle fraction (FPF). Critical parameters were determined by thermoanalytical studies (TG), X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and laser diffraction. The chemical stability of the components was tested by FT-IR spectroscopy. The in vitro aerosol performance was tested by using the multistage Andersen Cascade Impactor.


There is no more rewarding moment for roboticists than when they first see their creations begin to twitch with a glimmer of life. For me, that moment of paternal pride came a year ago this month, when my artificial fly first flexed its wings and flew. It began when I took a stick-thin winged robot, not much larger than a fingertip, and anchored it between two taut wires, rather like a miniature space shuttle tethered to a launchpad. Next I switched on the external power supply. Within milliseconds the carbon-fiber wings, 15 millimeters long, began to whip forward and back 120 times per second, flapping and twisting just like an actual insect's wings. The fly shot straight upward on the track laid out by the wires. As far as I know, this was the first flight of an insect-size robot.


This paper proposes a methodology to design and optimize the footprint of miniaturized 3-dB branch-line hybrid couplers, which consists of high-impedance transmission lines and distributed capacitors. To minimize the physical size of the coupler, the distributed capacitors are placed within the empty space of the hybrid. The proposed design methodology calls for the joint optimization of the length of the reduced high-impedance transmission lines and the area of the distributed capacitors. A prototype at S-band was designed and built to validate the approach. It showed a size reduction by 62% compared with the conventional 3-dB branch-line hybrid coupler while providing similar performance and bandwidth.


This paper studies the Balassa-Samuelson hypothesis (BSH) in the context of two areas with strong differences in economic development, twelve OECD countries and twelve Latin American economies, taking the USA as the benchmark. Applying panel cointegration techniques, we find that while the first stage of the hypothesis, which links productivities and prices, is satisfied in each group of countries, the second stage, which relates relative sector prices with the real exchange rate, only holds in the Latin American area. The failure of the latter in the OECD countries as a whole is reflected in departures from PPP in the tradable sectors.


It is widely accepted that glaciers are retreating throughout the world and that their decline causes serious impacts on many societies. Knowledge of glacier distribution and quantification of glacier changes is crucial to assessing the impact of glacier shrinkage on the transboundary hydrological cycle and related issues, such as irrigation, energy production, and natural hazard prevention. Therefore, glacier monitoring is vital to the development of sustainable adaptation strategies in regions with glaciated mountains. Baseline documentation is needed to assess the current status of glacier monitoring. The aim of this study is to assess the status of national implementations of the international monitoring strategy developed by the Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G) to make the data easily accessible to a broader audience, to identify gaps in the monitoring setup, and to guide countries in improving their monitoring schemes. We developed a standardized procedure to evaluate existing glacier data from international data repositories; these freely accessible data on glacier distribution and changes (as of 2015) for all glacierized countries and regions form the basis of this study. The resulting country profiles are analyzed in relation to the existing GTN-G monitoring strategy. Gaps between the current implementation of glacier monitoring and implementation targets are compiled in a solid gap analysis, which allows countries to be categorized as having poorly developed monitoring, needing improvement, or having well-developed monitoring. Three pilot cases (Kyrgyzstan, Bolivia, and Switzerland) are presented in detailed country profiles.


This study highlights how COVID-19 has affected small and medium enterprises, drawing on newly released World Bank Enterprise Surveys in 13 countries. The study shows that firms of all sizes are severely affected in multiple dimensions; however, firm size matters for the intensity of the different channels of transmission and firms'responses. Small and medium enterprise sales shrink by more and their cash drains faster than large firms in the same sector and country. Among them, faster growing firms experience the demand shock somewhat less severely, but they are more exposed to international trade disruption, supply, and finance shocks. Yet, a range of firm responses to the downturn seem to be out of reach. Fewer small and medium-size enterprises, for example, start remote work, leaving their workers exposed to health risks. To make it through the pandemic, the majority of smaller firms do not turn to banks for loans; they need grants. Although development finance is not enough to fill the financing gap, development finance institutions are relevant -- in investment mobilization, demonstration, and know-how -- as economies move toward recovery and rebuilding. Delivering these requires rapid efforts to build partnerships and gather information in places where development finance has been limited in the past.


Study Objective: The objective of the study was to identify factors associated with negative patient experiences with Essure. Design: This was a retrospective cohort study and follow-up survey. Setting: The study was conducted in an academic setting. Patients: Patients included women who had an Essure placed between 2002 and 2017. Methods: The hospitals' database was queried to identify subjects and charts were reviewed to confirm medical information. Subjects were invited by mail, e-mail, or phone call to participate a survey regarding symptoms and satisfaction with Essure. A comparison was made between women who reported a negative experience with Essure versus those who did not. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify subject or procedural characteristics associated with any negative experience with Essure sterilization. Results: Two hundred eighty-four women underwent Essure sterilization between 2002 and 2017, 42.3% of whom responded to the follow-up survey. Satisfaction with Essure was reported by 61.9% of respondents. Thirty-three percent of the respondents have undergone removal or desire removal of the device. The most frequent symptoms attributed to Essure were pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and vaginal bleeding. Forty-eight percent of the respondents were identified as having any negative experience with Essure. Factors associated with negative experiences with Essure included young age at placement (odds ratio [OR] 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79–0.94; P < .001), high gravidity (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14–1.71; P = .002), and absent history of abdominal surgery (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.12–1.00; P = .049). Conclusion: Young age at placement, high gravidity, and absent history of abdominal surgery are factors associated with negative patient experiences following Essure sterilization. A negative experience with Essure is common, although dissatisfaction with the device is not always attributable to symptoms. This information could be considered when counseling women who plan removal of Essure. Implications Statement: Our study provides new follow-up data with respect to hysteroscopic sterilization. This research is the first to examine any cause for negative patient experiences with Essure. Understanding factors associated with negative patient experiences could improve patient counseling regarding the extent to which symptoms could be attributed to Essure as well as counseling women who want to undergo removal of the device. These factors could in turn prove to be predictors for successful resolution of symptoms after removal of Essure. Results of this study could also be used for developing future hysteroscopic sterilization techniques.


In recent years, transportation planners have devoted more attention to the goal of increasing the non-motorized trips of children and adults. Non-motorized trips are considered important as a mean of reducing motorized trips as well increasing physical activity. Indeed, lack of physical activity has been identified as a major public health problem for both adults and younger people (Center of Disease control (CDC), 2005; Sallis, et al., 2004). A CDC report from 2002, for example, reports that about a third of the teenagers are not physically active enough (CDC, 2002). The lack of physical activity among children is, in part, associated with travel behavior and urban form (Ewing et al, 2003, Handy et al, 2002; Martin-Diener et al, 2005): children living in auto-oriented areas in the U.S. use walking and biking as modes of transportation to nearby destinations to a limited extent and less than in the past (Sallis et al, 1993; Sallis et al 2000). Their high level of auto use is, of course, tied to a high level of auto use among their parents, particularly their mothers (McMillan, 2007). For children, much discussion has focused on the journey to school, though researchers are now addressing non-school travel as well. According to McDonald (2006), who studied children's travel patterns based on the National Household Travel Survey, only 12% of the trips to sport activities are made by bike. The NHTS data do not allow a full estimate of non-motorized trips taken alone, versus trips taken with a parent, but it is reasonable to assume that use of bikes is even lower when parents are involved in the trip. Copperman and Bhat (2007) analyzed the determinants of children's weekend physical activity participation using data from the 2000 Bay Area travel survey. Their models correlate socio-demographic and land use variables with active and passive travel (i.e. non-motorized and motorized) and with physically active and passive activities. Their findings suggest that children (ages 5 to 17) rarely use non-motorized modes to get to places where they engage in physical activities, and that individual and household demographics, along with environmental factors, affect the level of physical activity. One place where children might be expected to use non-motorized modes to get to after-school activities is Davis, CA, well-known as a bicycle-friendly community. In Fall 2006, the Davis chapter of the American Youth Soccer Organization (Davis AYSO) set out to increase bicycling to soccer games through a two-pronged approach. First, the organization adopted a new approach to scheduling games, spreading them to fields throughout Davis rather than scheduling as many games as possible at three centralized fields. For most games, at least one team (and often both) was scheduled for a field within their neighborhood. In addition, Davis AYSO undertook a promotional program to encourage families to bike to games, including distribution of "Bike to AYSO" bike stickers, the creation of a special web site that included a Davis Bike Map, and e-mail announcements to almost all families about the "Bike to AYSO" effort. To evaluate the effectiveness of this program in encouraging players and their families to bike more frequently, Davis AYSO worked with researchers at the University of California, Davis. This report describes the methods used in that effort and summarizes the results.


The behavior of forming layers near the electrode surface is an important topic for the energy storage with ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to study the behavior of surface active ionic liquid (SAIL) electrolytes near positive electrodes. With the increase of electrode surface charge density, a V-type conformation of the anion [AOT]- for energy storage was shown. The V conformation is easier to replace the latent voids, which is like wedging ions into the layer near the electrodes. Meanwhile, after a rapid charge/discharge circle, there would be more V-type anions appearing in this optimized electrolyte. It is a significant point for the mechanism of nanoscale and microscale energy storage, which provides a theoretical basis for the optimization of efficient IL electrolytes and the design of related experimental research.


Drug reaction with eosinophila and systemic symptoms (DRESS) was coined by Bocquet in who described a condition induced by drug reaction which was characterized by fever, rash, and lymph node enlargement, hematological, hepatic and other systemic involvement. A 38 year old pregnant patient presented with fever, rash and other systemic manifestations. Clinical work up was done to evaluate amongst various differential diagnosis. Patient was finally diagnosed as DRESS and successfully managed with good maternal and fetal outcome.


Introduction: Platelet integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signaling is crucial for platelet adhesion and aggregation, and contributes to atherogenesis. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been implicated as a protective factor against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), particularly atherosclerosis. However, whether CoQ10 attenuates atherosclerosis through inhibiting platelet function and αIIbβ3 outside-in signaling is unknown. The aim of this study was to explore whether CoQ10 affects platelet function and αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling and thus inhibiting the progress of atherosclerosis in vivo and the underlying mechanisms in vitro.
 Methods: In vitro study, The murine platelet rich plasma (PRP) from C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice or human PRP and gel-filtered platelets were incubated with different concentrations (1, 10 or 100 μM) of CoQ10 or the vehicle control for 50 min. Platelet aggregation, spreading on fibrinogen (Fg) and clot retraction were determined. In addition, the effects of CoQ10 on platelet integrin αIIbβ3 inside-out signalling (e.g., talin-1 and kindlin-3 binding to integrin β3) were determined by immunoprecipitation, and outside-in signalling (e.g., phosphorylation of sarcoma tyrosine-protein kinase (c-Src), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and β3 cytoplasmic tail, myosin light chain (MLC)) were determined by Western blotting. The levels of platelet ATP and cAMP were measured by ELISA assays. In vivo study, male homozygous apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mice (C57BL/6 genetic background) were fed either a standard normal AIN-93G diet (NC group), a Western-type diet (HFD group) or a Western-type diet supplemented with CoQ10 (1800 mg/kg diet) (CoQ10 group) for 12 weeks. Platelet aggregation, granule secretion, platelet spreading, clot retraction, integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling, platelet-leukocyte interactions and carotid artery plaque area were also examined. In our randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 101 hypercholesterolemic subjects were randomly administrated to 120 mg CoQ10 or placebo daily for 24 weeks. Platelet intracellular CoQ10 levels, platelet aggregation in PRP, platelet platelet factor 4 (PF-4) and C-C motif ligand 5 (CCL5) release, and platelet integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling were also evaluated before and after 24 weeks of intervention.
 Results: We found that CoQ10 inhibited human and WT mouse platelet aggregation, platelet spreading, granule secretion, and clot retraction in vitro and apoE-/- mice on a high fat diet. CoQ10 also reduced atherosclerosis and platelet-monocyte aggregation in apoE-/- mice. The inhibitory effects of CoQ10 is mediated by attenuated αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling pathway (e.g., attenuation of phosphorylation of c-Src, FAK, and β3 cytoplasmic tail, and MLC in thrombin-activated platelets or platelets exposed to immobilized Fg), which requires up-regulation of the cAMP/PKA pathway, where CoQ10 inhibited phosphodiesterase 3A activity and activated the A2A adenosine receptor. However, CoQ10 did not affect platelet integrin αIIbβ3 inside-out signalling pathway, platelet cellular ATP, or platelet apoptosis (the mitochondrial membrane potential and phosphatidylserine exposure). Moreover, our clinical trial in dyslipidemic patients demonstrated that CoQ10 supplementation attenuated platelet aggregation, which was positively correlated with the increased platelet CoQ10 concentrations, inhibited αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling and decreased platelet PF-4 and CCL5 secretion.
 Conclusions: We present new data to suggest that CoQ10 plays a novel role in attenuating platelet function and integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling though targeting cAMP/PKA signalling cascade and thus inhibiting the progress of atherosclerosis. CoQ10 is therefore a promising agent for the prevention and/or treatment for cardiovascular disease.

 No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


A general approach for measuring correlation in non-normal populations is presented. Two ways of tackling the problem are considered. The first relies on an explicit parametric model and some non-elementary notions from probability theory. The second, which relies on a wide class of bivariate laws of which the bivariate normal one is a special case, is very simple to put into practice.


Melanoma, a popular cancer found in humans is a base for modern research. Strands of this cancer can be isolated and cultured for study using different inhibitors of proteins related to the production of proteins and cell defense systems. Targeted gene expression could be regulated from an external source by treatment of inhibitors on proteins associated with these functions. Cultures treaded with various combinations of Suicide inhibitors were examined to better understand the role that these proteins have in melanoma tumor growth and development.  Targeted proteins were: Heat Shock Protein (Hsp90) and it's relationship with protein folding and function within the signal cascade of many cells. This relationship allows for the regulation of specific proteins that are weakened or over taken by cancer cells. Heme-Oxygenase (Hsp32) is an enzyme that in recent years has been found in abnormal concentrations in active tumor cells. It plays a vital role in Oxidative stress and Heme degradation in functioning cells, but it seems to be upregulated in cancer cells. This experiment coupled Hsp90 inhibitors and Hsp32 inhibitors on A375 melanoma cells. Hsp90 inhibitor used was NMS E973 and Hsp32 inhibitor used was SnMP.


Little is known about the conformations of newly synthesized polypeptide chains as they emerge from the large ribosomal subunit, or how these conformations compare with those populated immediately after dilution of polypeptide chains out of denaturantin vitro. Both in vivo and in vitro, partially folded intermediates of the tailspike protein from Salmonella typhimurium phage P22 can be trapped in the cold. A subset of monoclonal antibodies raised against tailspike recognize partially folded intermediates, whereas other antibodies recognize only later intermediates and/or the native state. We have used a pair of monoclonal antibodies to probe the conformational features of full-length, newly synthesized tailspike chains recovered on ribosomes from phage-infected cells. The antibody that recognizes early intermediates in vitro also recognizes the ribosome-bound intermediates. Surprisingly, the antibody that did not recognize early in vitro intermediates did recognize ribosome-bound tailspike chains translated in vivo. Thus, the newly synthesized, ribosome-bound tailspike chains display structured epitopes not detected upon dilution of tailspike chains from denaturant. As opposed to the random ensemble first populated when polypeptide chains are diluted out of denaturant, folding in vivo from the ribosome may begin with polypeptide conformations already directed toward the productive folding and assembly pathway.


This paper sought to unravel the contributions of academic libraries in Nigeria towards science and technology development for the building of smart Nigerian cities basedon the Nigerian Smart City Initiative (NSCI). The paper proposed a new model that shows the linkage between academic libraries, science and technology development and smart city development. A review of the state of the art of academic libraries in Nigeria indicated their failings in their expected rolesin stimulating science and technology development for the building of smart Nigerian cities. To revitalize Nigerian academic libraries, the paper advocated for developmental efforts by the government, university and research communities to utilize the IPST (infrastructure-People-Systems-Technology) approach. The study concluded that while academic libraries in Nigeria have the potential for providing tremendous support for the transformation of Nigerian cities into smart cities, however, at the moment, if suggestions in this paper are not adopted and/or adapted, the realization of the goals of the Nigerian Smart City Initiative maybe far-fetched.


A crystallographic study by Weissenberg photographs of the hydration and dehydration of hewettite and metahewettite is reported. The formula may be taken as CaO.3V 2 O 5 .nH 2 O, with n varying from 3 to 9, depending on the humidity. It was found that one structure (space group P2/m, Z = 1) persists from 9H 2 O to almost 5H 2 O, at which stage a discontinuous transition to a new structure (A 207, Z = 2) takes place, and these are designated hewettite and metahewettite respectively. The changes are reversible, with the hewettite structure regained after hydration. The relationships between the structures and the Na-analogue of metahewettite are considered.


Abstract Background The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist reduces morbidity and mortality after surgery, but uptake remains challenging. In particular, low-income countries have been found to have lower rates of checklist use compared with high-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of educational workshops on Surgical Safety Checklist use implemented as part of a quality improvement initiative in five hospitals in Ethiopia that had variable experience with the Surgical Safety Checklist. Methods From April 2019 to September 2020, each hospital implemented a 6-month surgical quality improvement programme, which included a Surgical Safety Checklist workshop. Statistical process control methodology was used to understand the variation in Surgical Safety Checklist compliance before and after workshops and a time-series analysis was performed using population-averaged generalized estimating equation Poisson regression. Checklist compliance was defined as correctly completing a sign in, timeout, and sign out. Incidence rate ratios of correct checklist use pre- and post-intervention were calculated and the change in mean weekly compliance was predicted. Results Checklist compliance data were obtained from 2767 operations (1940 (70 per cent) pre-intervention and 827 (30 per cent) post-intervention). Mean weekly checklist compliance improved from 27.3 to 41.2 per cent (mean difference 13.9 per cent, P = 0.001; incidence rate ratio 1.51, P = 0.001). Hospitals with higher checklist compliance at baseline had the greatest overall improvements in compliance, more than 50 per cent over pre-intervention, while low-performing hospitals showed no improvement. Conclusion Surgical Safety Checklist workshops improved checklist compliance in hospitals with some experience with its use. Workshops had little effect in hospitals unfamiliar with the Surgical Safety Checklist, emphasizing the importance of multifactorial interventions and culture-change approaches. In receptive facilities, short workshops can accelerate behaviour change.


In the determination of sound power level of a big sized machinery, sound intensity measurements can be carried out according to the international standard ISO 9614-2: 1996 – "Acoustics Determination of sound power levels of noise sources using sound intensity. Part 2: Measurement by scanning". Some problems often occur if the intensity tests take place in environments with high not stationary background noise. To solve these problems, the standard ISO 9614 recommends using noise barriers to protect the test area from background noise. About the barriers to be used, the standard gives only general suggestions. Another main problem arises during intensity tests when barriers do not protect the whole machine extension because of the high dimensions of the source. These criticalities have been explored and solved by the authors that have recently made a series of sound intensity measurement campaigns on big sized machineries.


Septal perforation from intranasal cocaine abuse is well recognised. We present a case of progressive septal as well as palatal perforation. Progression from septal perforation to palatal perforation occurred after cessation of intranasal cocaine abuse. This patient had a weakly positive cytoplasmic antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (C-ANCA) but no histologic evidence of Wegener's Granulomatosis. The differential diagnosis for septal and palatal perforation is reviewed. This case represents the fifth reported case of palatal perforation secondary to cocaine abuse in the literature, and the second associated with positive C-ANCA.


【This was written based on the type and structure of korean man's waist belt in the early and middle era of the Chosun era. The waist belt was excavated from the Mokdaldong in the Daejeon city. The types of korean man's waist belt in the Chosun era were classified into Wondahae (i.e., round shape belt) and Gwangdahae. The Wondahae consist of two types which are circle shaped and straight types. The circle shaped wondahae contain one fringe in the main body of the belt and its joint part is decorated with a small network such as lacing decoration with the size about 1 cm around. The shape of the Wondahae has been changed from the circle shaped into the straight types and also has a tendency to be wider and longer as time went by. The standard form of the Gwangdahae is straight with about 2-3 cm width and elaborated by lacelike fringe as well. This also has a tendency to be wider starting from the 1600s show. The structure of this belts were divided into braid and ornament parts. The ornament part was constructed with the lacelike netting and fringe parts. The sophisticated craft techniques have a great decorative beauty. Through an analysis of FT-IR, the materials of those three belt are known which are made of the silk and the core thread was filled with cotton. Moreover, it can be confirmed that the glitter material of the ornament part were designed with gold foil and has been analyzed with SEM-EDX.】


This paper examines the extent of pass-through of exchange rate and tariff changes into import prices using sectoral panel data (at the 2-digit SITC level) for the post-reform period in India (1990-2001). After having controlled for unobserved effects that might have an impact on the import prices by using sector dummies, we find that on average exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) is a dominant effect compared to tariff rate pass-through (TRPT) in explaining changes in India's import prices. The sectoral panel results suggest that the pass-through of exchange rates and tariff rates varies across products. ERPT into import prices is significant in 12 industries, whereas TRPT is significant only in 6 industries, with full pass-through. However, ERPT is incomplete only in 4 industries, but TRPT is incomplete in 36 industries, which means that firms exporting to India more frequently adopt strategies to maintain their market share against tariffs than against exchange rate changes. The sectoral differences in pass-through seem to be related to the sector's share in total imports and the sector's effective protection rate. Hence India's relatively high levels of protection have an impact on the behaviour of foreign exporters.


The board games The aMAZEing Labyrinth (or simply Labyrinth for short) and Enchanted Forest published by Ravensburger are seemingly simple family games.
In Labyrinth, the players move though a labyrinth in order to collect specific items. To do so, they shift the tiles making up the labyrinth in order to open up new paths (and, at the same time, close paths for their opponents). We show that, even without any opponents, determining a shortest path (i.e., a path using the minimum possible number of turns) to the next desired item in the labyrinth is strongly NP-hard. Moreover, we show that, when competing with another player, deciding whether there exists a strategy that guarantees to reach one's next item faster than one's opponent is PSPACE-hard.
In Enchanted Forest, items are hidden under specific trees and the objective of the players is to report their locations to the king in his castle. Movements are performed by rolling two dice, resulting in two numbers of fields one has to move, where each of the two movements must be executed consecutively in one direction (but the player can choose the order in which the two movements are performed). Here, we provide an efficient polynomial-time algorithm for computing a shortest path between two fields on the board for a given sequence of die rolls, which also has implications for the complexity of problems the players face in the game when future die rolls are unknown.