The maximal rate of rise (Vmax) of the embryonic chick ventricular action potential increased about 2-fold from 112 ± 6 V/sec and 113 ± 5 V/sec on the 4th and 6th incubation days, respectively, to 217 ± 7 V/sec on the 12th incubation day. Neither the steady state inactivation (hx) of Vmax, the temperature-dependent shift of hx, nor the time constant for recovery (TReC) of Vmax changed significantly when Vmax had doubled. Inhibition of Vmax by tetrodotoxin (TTX) was the same in hearts from the 4th, 6th, and 18th incubation days. The relation between Vmax and TTX concentration could be described by a one-to-one binding curve with an apparent dissociation constant of 2 × 10−8 M. The increase of Vmax a valid measure of the early inward Na+ current (iNa) during the rising phase of the cardiac action potential, can be attributed to an elevated maximal Na+ conductance (gNa) during ontogenesis. These results indicate that the physicochemical properties of the gNa unit responsible for the rapid rising phase of the action potential and of the TTX binding site associated with it may remain constant during a period of embryonic development when gNa increased significantly. Circ Res 44: 358-367, 1979


Purpose - This paper aims to provide a stakeholder analysis of the environmental management strategies and a two-dimensional (economic and environmental) performance of an Australian energy company that seeks environmental excellence. Unlike the dominant largely positivistic studies which seek an association between environmental and financial performance, the paper aims to use the richness of a case study methodology to gain a deeper understanding of how environmental concerns are handled and what outcomes in terms of environmental and economic performance are achieved. Design/methodology/approach - An in-depth case study approach involving interviews, archival material and site visits is used in this paper. It starts with a brief engagement with the largely positivistic literature, highlighting the major deficiencies of this scholarship and then presents a more interpretive empirical analysis using an Australian energy company. Findings - The paper finds that there are socio-political processes that are enlisted to control, monitor, and instil discipline in the organization's pursuit of its social initiatives, which help to improve both its financial and environmental performance. Practical implications - The paper provides evidence that environmental and economic performance are not always mutually exclusive, and corporate entities can excel in both simultaneously. The paper also provides evidence that the environmental strategies may be overt attempts at pushing the socio-political agenda of the dominant stakeholder group. What seems like a win-win situation may only represent a political-ethical attempt to promote environmentalism in the Australian energy sector. Originality/value - This paper uses a two-stage investigation process to extend one's understanding of the relationship between corporate environmental and financial performance. First, evidence of improving environmental and financial performance of an energy company is provided, and then the paper explores why and how this relationship exists in the second stage of the analysis. The mainstream and critical accounting literature is bridged by focusing on issues that are largely the domain of one sub-literature with a differentiated case study that is largely encouraged in the other.


Analysis of the antibody response to mycobacterial extracts has identified a limited set of proteins that are recognized as immunodominant in the BALB/c strain of mice. Detailed characterization has revealed that several of these antigens are homologues of proteins known to be induced in response to environmental stress stimuli in other prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell types. It is proposed that differential gene expression may play a role in determining which antigens are recognized during infection and that highly conserved stress proteins could be involved in generation of autoimmune responses.


Background This study aimed to evaluate the effects of several mouthwashes containing nanoparticles on discoloration of dental enamel, and compare the results with that of 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX). Material and Methods Sixty intact premolars were randomly assigned to six groups. A spectrophotometer was used to measure the color of the teeth (T1) according to the CIELAB system. The specimens in groups 1 to 4 were then immersed in colloidal solutions containing nanoTiO2 (Group 1), nanoZnO (Group 2), nanoAg (Group 3) and nanoCuO (Group 4). In groups 5 and 6, a 0.2% CHX mouthwash and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. After 24 hours of immersion, color determination was repeated (T2). The third color assessment was accomplished after brushing (T3). The L, a, and b values were recorded and the color change (?E) between different stages was calculated. Results ANOVA revealed significant between-group differences in the color change between T1 and T2 stages, as well as between T1 and T3 time points (p<0.05), whereas the color change between T2 and T3 was not significantly different among the study groups (p=0.09). ?ET1-T3 was significantly lower in the specimens immersed in distilled water or CHX as compared to the nanoparticle-containing mouthwashes (p<0.05). The highest ?E value pertained to the specimens immersed in nanoZnO-containing solution. The TiO2 nanoparticles caused the lowest staining among the tested nanoparticles. Conclusions The mouthwashes containing nanoparticles produced comparable or even greater enamel discoloration compared to CHX. Brushing had little effect on removal of induced stains. Key words:Nanoparticle, mouthrinse, mouthwash, staining, enamel, discoloration, chlorhexidine.


Chemical cues are essential for many ecological interactions. Previous studies of chemically mediated multitrophic interactions have typically focused on responses to cues from plants or herbivores above‐ground. It is increasingly clear, however, that below‐ground cues and those produced by organisms at higher trophic levels also have ecological importance. Prey animals often avoid predator odours to improve survival, and previous research has documented enhanced plant resistance following contact with below‐ground natural enemies, though the ecological basis was unknown. Here, we investigated plant and insect responses to chemical cues from below‐ground natural enemies and explored the ecological significance of these cues for multitrophic interactions. More specifically, we examined the influence of odours emitted by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), a natural enemy of insect herbivores, on the performance and behaviour of their insect prey and the defence responses of nearby plants. Our findings revealed that EPN‐infected insect cadavers emit a characteristic blend of volatile compounds with bioactivity in plants and insects. EPN chemical cues influenced both performance and preference of a specialist herbivore, Colorado potato beetle (CPB, Leptinotarsa decemlineata), feeding on its host plant, potato (Solanum tuberosum). CPB larvae consumed less leaf tissue and gained less mass feeding on plants exposed to EPN cues compared to control plants. Female CPBs laid fewer eggs on plants with EPN cues than on controls, indicating deterrence by EPN cues or EPN‐altered plant defences. Plant defences were enhanced by exposure to live EPNs or EPN chemical cues. Potato plants exposed to EPN infective juveniles induced higher amounts of the defence hormone salicylic acid (SA) and had higher expression of the pathogenisis‐related gene PR‐1(PR4) in foliar tissue. Exposing plants to EPN cues primed induction of SA and jasmonic acid in response to feeding damage by CPB larvae. These findings suggest that herbivores avoid cues from their EPN natural enemies and plants respond to the beneficial nematodes by enhancing systemic defences that reduce herbivore performance. This work has important implications for the chemical ecology of tritrophic interactions as we report that the third trophic level can play direct and indirect roles in plant defence. A plain language summary is available for this article.


The basic underlying theory for the strength, toughness and thermal shock resistance of brittle multiphase clay ceramics, together with the measurement procedures to determine these parameters, are first outlined. Published experimental data obtained for test bars containing different types of temper and fired to a range of temperatures are then compared both with theoretical predictions and between themselves. The results confirm that to produce pottery with high strength requires high firing temperatures and low temper concentrations. Conversely, to produce pottery with high toughness and thermal shock resistance requires low firing temperatures and high temper concentrations, with platy or fibrous temper being most effective. There is no convincing published evidence that strength and toughness requirements were a significant factor in determining the technological choices (clay type, temper type and concentration, and firing temperature) in the production of pottery used as containers for transport and storage. In contrast, the routine use of high temper concentrations and low firing temperatures in the production of cooking pots suggests that the requirement for high thermal shock resistance was a factor that at least influenced technological choice in this case. In addition, there is some evidence that limestone and shell were, on occasions, deliberately chosen as temper in cooking pots. The need to take into account the crucial role that the full range of environmental, technological, economic, social, political and ideological factors have in influencing technological choice is also emphasized. This review highlights the fact that our current understanding of the factors determining strength, toughness and thermal shock resistance of clay ceramics is still far from complete. Further systematic measurements of these parameters, together with the establishment of a systematic database of the range of technological choices associated with the production of cooking pots, are therefore to be encouraged.


Cryptography—the art of code‐making—has a long history of military and diplomatic applications, dating back to the Babylonians. In World War II, the Allies' feat of breaking the legendary German code Enigma contributed greatly to their final victory. Nowadays, cryptography is becoming increasingly important in commercial applications for electronic business. Sensitive data such as credit card numbers and personal identification numbers (PINs) are routinely transmitted in encrypted form. Quantum mechanics is a new tool for both code‐breakers and code‐makers in their eternal arms race. It has the potential to revolutionize cryptography both by creating perfectly secure codes and by breaking standard encryption schemes.


DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation are key features in the regulated cell death of higher animal cells. Nuclear death also occurs as part of a developmentally programmed process during the sexual life cycle of the unicellular organism Tetrahymena. We examined the regulation of nuclear death and the relationship between DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation in this model system. Nuclear death is accompanied by DNA digestion to low-molecular-weight oligonucleosomal-length fragments, in agreement with a previous study, indicating an endonuclease-like activity typical of apoptosis in higher organisms. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide block DNA digestion as well as nuclear condensation suggesting that nuclear death is under genetic regulation. DNA digestion is completely blocked by aurin, a general nuclease inhibitor. In addition, when DNA fragmentation is blocked, nuclear condensation also fails to occur. Moreover, a kinetic analysis of DNA breakdown, using agarose gels, shows that some DNA digestion occurs before nuclear condensation has taken place. Thus the initiation of DNA digestion may provide conditions necessary for nuclear condensation. Temporary inhibition of nuclear death aborts the death program since after removal of inhibitors cells revert to a vegetative pathway without having eliminated the old or developed the new macronucleus. Zn2+ and EGTA, both of which inhibit apoptosis in some cell types, fail to prevent nuclear condensation or DNA digestion in Tetrahymena, suggesting a requirement here for an endonuclease which is Ca2+-independent and Zn2+-insensitive. With the TUNEL assay, DNA breakdown is detected exclusively in the condensed macronucleus (and occasional micronuclei identified as degenerating haploid products of meiosis), but not in precondensed macronuclei. These studies show that apoptotic-like DNA fragmentation occurs after condensation of the degenerating macronucleus. However, early DNA digestion may be critical for nuclear condensation and subsequent degeneration.


In the late 17th century, several hundred people were tried for the crime of practicing witchcraft in Salem Village, Massachusetts. Twenty-four people died before the Superior Court of Judicature dismissed the remaining cases and Governor Phips pardoned and granted amnesty to all of the accused and convicted. The evidence used to convict a person of being a witch included spectral evidence confessions, and apparent proof of that person's alleged supernatural abilities. Also used as evidence were skin lesions characteristic of what were termed "devil's marks" or "witch's marks." It was believed that the devil would confirm his pact with a witch by giving her or him a mark of identification. Devil's marks included a variety of skin lesions described as flat or raised, red, blue, or brown lesions, sometimes with unusual outlines. Witch's marks were most probably supernumerary nipples. It was believed that familiars (agents of the devil, usually in animal form) would receive sustenance by being suckled. In the Salem witchcraft trials, a variety of skin lesions were used as confirmatory evidence that the accused person had made a pact with the devil, but there is no indication in the trial transcripts that anyone was convicted based on this evidence alone.


A suture anchor is a medical device commonly used in rotator cuff repair surgery to attach tendons to the greater tuberosity of the humerus. Patient- and device-related factors, such as structural designs and poor bone density, can cause unsatisfactory clinical results. In this study, a new suture anchor design with four distinctive parameters was proposed, and the structural performance was optimized in a full factorial experimental design using finite element analysis. Two types of bone blocks—normal and osteoporotic bone—which received screw implants, were simulated to investigate the parametrical effects on various bone qualities. The prescribed motion at a constant removal velocity was used to evaluate the pullout strength. The von Mises criterion was employed in a force control simulation for topology optimization. Moreover, mechanical tests guided by ASTM-F543-17 were conducted for validation. This paper demonstrates the comprehensive process for developing a suture anchor with sufficient mechanical integrity for clinical use and clarifies the contributions of each distinctive design parameter in this application.


The 982 cases of women with uterine scar after cesarean section were analyzed. Clinical criterion of uterine scar consistency is the "maturity" uterine cervix and greater response of uterine cervix to the delivery preparation. Characteristics of vaginal delivery after cesarean section clinical progress are the following: spontaneous labor onset (95,5 %), abnormal labor (11,9 %), premature rupture of membranes (46,4 %). Induction of labor caused increased the frequency of dystocia by a factor of 2, whereas risk of repeated cesarean section increased 2.3. Frequency of the uterine rupture in these labor cases was 0,73 %.


The winterschool aimed at introducing young physicists, mainly from the Nordic countries and with some affiliation to nuclear physics, to current ideas about nuclear structure and nuclear reactions. The interplay between nuclear reactions and nuclear structure formed a central theme for a major part of the activity. Many of the topics were covered by a collaborating pair of lecturers. Dasso and Vaagen gave introduction to surface excitations and nucleon-transfer in heavy-ion induced quasi-elastic and deeply inelastic collisions, with a pedagogical and rather pedestrian reminder on simple classical aspects and concepts related to collision phenomena. In a consecutive set of lectures Randrup gave a rather comprehensive description of transport theory for damped nuclear reactions. Further elucidation of medium-energy and reactions at higher energy were given by Bondorf (notes not included). The reaction program was rounded off by a discussion by Strottman on hydrodynamical and relativistic heavy-ion collision. Various developments in nuclear structure of current interest were presented. While Lipas discussed the basis for and implication of the interacting boson model, Kuo and Osnes gave a detailed introduction to microscopic nuclear structure theory with emphasis on giant resonances. Blomqvist discussed two topics--the new developments on collective Gamow-Teller transitions (notes not included) andmore » a survey of the shell model applied to the [sup 146]GD region. A status report on the particle-rotor model, including the most recent developments, was presented by Engeland. Spectroscopy for fast spinning nuclei formed the theme for the lectures given by Bengtsson and Garrett. Separate abstracts were prepared for the ten chapters of the book.« less


We study the distributional effects of globalization within a model of heterogeneous agents where both managerial talent and knowledge of the local economic environment are required in order to become a successful entrepreneur. Agents willing to set up a firm abroad incur a learning cost that depends on how different the foreign and domestic entrepreneurial environments are. In this context, we show that globalization fosters FDI and raises wages, output and productivity. However, not everybody wins. The steady state relationship between globalization and income is U-shaped: high- and low-income agents are better off in a globalized world, while middle-income agents (domestic entrepreneurs) are worse off. Thus, consistently with recent empirical evidence, the model predicts globalization to increase inequality at the top of the income distribution while decreasing it at the bottom.


Arons responds to what he considers to be Glenn's misrepresentations of the tone and content of Short Route To Chaos. He writes that Glenn "appears to be attempting to construct the book's message into just one more salvo fired in the endless school wars. It is anything but....Reading Glenn's review, one is left with the impression that the book is a Christian-bashing, left-leaning, work of communitarian fuzziness in which a legal scholar unaccountably refuses to confine himself to ... technical explication of existing constitutional doctrine." In his response, Arons affirmatively sets out some of the book's main themes of political /cultural conflict over standardized schooling, corrects some of what he sees as Glenn's misunderstandings, and notes that the book itself invites readers to eschew partisanship and recognize that there are deep structural problems in American public education. In closing, Arons uses an example of Glenn's partisan misunderstanding that leads Arons to recommend to the reader that it would be better to read Short Route to Chaos for oneself.


Copper and iron in standard reference materials of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) have been simultaneously determined. Bovine Liver was ashed with a mixture of HNO_3-HCIO_4, and Tomato Leaves with HNO_3-HClO_4-HF. Copper and iron in biological samples were extracted into organic phases of small volume as acetylacerone(AA) chelates. The chelates were then separated on a COSMOSIL 5C_18 column with an eluent of CH_3OH-H_2O-CH_2CI_2-AA (59:37:4:0.5) and detected at 330nm. This method permitted the separation and determination of copper, iron and palladium. Interference from foreign ions was investigated with various cations, anions, acids, reductants and oxidants. The μg/g levels of copper and iron in samples were determined, the results showing good agreement with the certified NBS values.


A 78 year old woman had suffered ten spontaneous bone fractures, the first occurring when she was 57 years old. She is now wheel-chair bound. After 21 years, the underlying osteomalacia due to oligosymptomatic celiac disease with malabsorption was diagnosed. The treatment consists of a gluten free diet and substitution of calcium and vitamin D until there is a normalisation of calcium, vitamin D and alkaline phosphatase. Any spontaneous fracture deserves a careful search for metabolic bone disease. An elevation of alkaline phosphatase indicates osteomalacia rather than osteoporosis.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
According to the acquired preparedness model, personality traits, such as impulsivity, may influence the learning process, contributing to heightened expectations surrounding risky behaviors (i.e., alcohol use, sexual risk-taking). As bisexual women demonstrate heightened risk for hazardous alcohol- and sex-related behaviors, the present study examined a sequential pathway, whereby the relation between impulsivity and sexual risk-taking is mediated through sex-related alcohol expectancies and alcohol use.

METHODS
Data were collected from 225 self-identified cisgender, bisexual women between the ages of 18 and 30 years (M = 22.77, SD = 3.45), who participated in an online survey. Participants reported on impulsivity, sex-related alcohol expectancies, alcohol use, and experiences of sexual risk-taking.

RESULTS
Results revealed that sex-related alcohol expectancies and alcohol use sequentially mediated the relation between impulsivity and sexual risk-taking. Thus, greater impulsivity was related to greater sexual risk-taking through heightened sex-related alcohol expectancies and elevated alcohol use.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this study highlight mechanisms associated with risky drinking and sexual behaviors among this at-risk population. Such information could aid the development of more efficacious prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing consequences associated with alcohol use and sexual risk-taking among bisexual women.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE
Bisexual women are at heightened risk for alcohol-related problems, including sexual risk-taking. Findings from the current study identify impulsivity and sex-related alcohol expectancies as independent and integrative predictors of such risky behaviors. Incorporation of these constructs may aid in the development of more efficacious clinical methods aimed at bettering health outcomes among bisexual women.


The tropical, warm, and humid conditions that are favorable to the growth and development of mycotoxigenic fungi put the Philippines at a high risk of mycotoxin contamination. To date, seven mycotoxigenic Aspergillus species, four Fusarium species, and one Penicillium species have been isolated from various agricultural crop commodities in the country. There are five mycotoxin groups (aflatoxin, fumonisin, ochratoxin, nivalenol, and zearalenone) that have been detected in both the raw form and the by-products of major crops grown in the country. Since the first scientific report of aflatoxin contamination in the Philippines in 1972, new information has been generated on mycotoxins and mycotoxigenic fungi, but little has been known of other mycotoxins until the last two decades. Further, despite the increase in the understanding of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in the country, very limited knowledge exists on practices and measures that control both the fungi and the toxins. This paper reviews the current literature on mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in the Philippines with emphasis on the last two decades and on other mycotoxins.


The ability of a human being to extrapolate previously gained knowledge to other domains inspired a new family of methods in machine learning called transfer learning. Transfer learning is often based on the assumption that objects in both target and source domains share some common feature and/or data space. If this assumption is false, most of transfer learning algorithms are likely to fail. In this talk we propose to investigate the problem of transfer learning from both theoretical and applicational points of view.
First, we present two different methods to solve the problem of unsupervised transfer learning based on Non-negative matrix factorization techniques. First one proceeds using an iterative optimization procedure that aims at aligning the kernel matrices calculated based on the data from two tasks. Second one represents a linear approach that aims at discovering an embedding for two tasks that decreases the distance between the corresponding probability distributions while preserving the non-negativity property.
We also introduce a theoretical framework based on the Hilbert-Schmidt embeddings that allows us to improve the current state-of-the-art theoretical results on transfer learning by introducing a natural and intuitive distance measure with strong computational guarantees for its estimation.
The proposed results combine the tightness of data-dependent bounds derived from Rademacher learning theory while ensuring the efficient estimation of its key factors.
Both theoretical contributions and the proposed methods were evaluated on a benchmark computer vision data set with promising results. Finally, we believe that the research direction chosen in this study may have fruitful implications in the nearest future


Background
 Fitusiran is a once-monthly subcutaneously administered investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic targeting antithrombin (AT) to enhance thrombin generation (TG) and rebalance hemostasis in patients with hemophilia A (HA) or hemophilia B (HB) with or without inhibitors. Phase 1 and 2 data show dose-dependent lowering of AT, increased TG, and a decrease in the frequency of spontaneous and traumatic bleeds on fitusiran. Given AT knockdown with fitusiran, bleed management guidelines supporting the use of low-dose and reduced-frequency factor or bypassing agent (BPA) were developed and implemented to manage breakthrough bleeds in subjects participating in clinical trials of fitusiran (Table 1).
 Aim
 To report the available results on the management of breakthrough bleeding events in subjects on prophylactic therapy with fitusiran using low-dose and reduced-frequency factor or BPA.
 Methods
 The ongoing Phase 2 study includes subjects with HA or HB with or without inhibitors who were previously exposed to fitusiran in the Phase 1 study. Subjects received monthly fixed doses of fitusiran 50 mg or 80 mg subcutaneously. To assess the effectiveness of the bleed management guidelines, analyses of 11 months of available data on breakthrough bleeds and treatment after the implementation of the guidelines were performed. Presented are data from an interim ad hoc analysis of a Phase 2 open-label extension study.
 Results
 Of the 26 subjects included in this study population, 20 have HA (with inhibitors, n=10; without inhibitors, n=10) and 6 have HB (with inhibitors, n=2; without inhibitors, n=4). Fifteen subjects had ≥1 bleed and 12 subjects (80%) were compliant with the bleed management guidelines. A total of 107 bleeding events evaluable for compliance with the guidelines at the time of data cutoff in 14 subjects required treatment with factor or BPA. A single reduced dose of factor or BPA was sufficient to manage 62 of 107 bleeds (60%) requiring treatment (HA with inhibitors, 21 of 27 bleeds [78%]; HA without inhibitors, 23 of 25 bleeds [92%]; HB with inhibitors, 17 of 51 bleeds [33%]; HB without inhibitors, 1 of 4 bleeds [25%]). Of the 28 bleeds in 5 subjects requiring repeat dosing, 15 (54%) were treated according to the recommended dose and frequency of factor or BPA (HA with inhibitors, 1 of 5 bleeds [20%]; HA without inhibitors, 2 of 2 bleeds [100%]; HB with inhibitors, 9 of 18 bleeds [50%]; HB without inhibitors, 3 of 3 bleeds [100%]).
 Updated data reflecting additional (≥9 months) exposure to fitusiran will be presented at the time of the meeting.
 Conclusions
 Bleed management guidelines were implemented to support the management of breakthrough bleeding events in subjects on prophylactic therapy with fitusiran. Since implementation of the bleed management guidelines, all treated bleeding events in subjects with HA or HB with or without inhibitors have been successfully managed with factor or BPA, and most have been managed using reduced and less frequent dosing of factor or BPA in accordance with the guidelines.
 Study funded by Alnylam and Sanofi.

 Pipe: Spark Therapeutics: Consultancy; Freeline: Consultancy; Shire: Consultancy; BioMarin: Consultancy; HEMA Biologics: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Catalyst Bioscience: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; uniQure: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Apcintex: Consultancy. Ragni:Spark Therapeutics: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Sangamo: Research Funding; Alnylam/Sanofi: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; BioMarin: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Bioverativ/Sanofi: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; OPKO: Research Funding; Shire/Takeda: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding. Négrier:Shire/Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Spark Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Alnylam (Sanofi): Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sobi: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Freeline: Research Funding; LFB (laboratoire français du fractionnement et des biotechnologies): Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Octapharma: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Patents: Patents & Royalties: Patents related to FVIII and FIX; Catalyst Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding. Yu:Sanofi: Employment. Bajwa:Sanofi: Employment. Caminis:Sanofi: Employment. Mei:Sanofi: Employment. Andersson:Sanofi: Employment.


Aim: Previous studies have found strikingly different geographical patterns of phylogenetic diversity of gymnosperms and angiosperms, which have been suggested to result, in part, from the greater age of the former. To assess the effects of clade age on phylogenetic structure, we assessed phylodiversity patterns of pteridophytes (lycophytes and ferns), which combine ancient and modern lineages, across China.
Location: China.
Time period: Present day.
Taxon: Pteridophytes.
Methods: We divided China into 66 regions and collated species lists of pteridophytes for each region. We then related taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, and their related metrics, to six climatic variables for pteridophytes as a whole and for different evolutionary clades. We examined the effect of spatial autocorrelation among regional floras on the results.
Results: We found that when all pteridophytes or ferns were considered, the patterns resembled those of gymnosperms, presumably reflecting the effects of several ancient global mass extinctions and the relict distribution of old families. In contrast, when we considered only the modern Polypodiales radiation, which accounts for three-quarters of current fern diversity and is about as old as the angiosperm radiation, we found a pattern similar to that of angiosperms. This pattern is consistent with the tropical niche conservatism hypothesis and suggests that both major groups of land plants have a broadly similar evolutionary trajectory, with most families originating
in tropical conditions and few families adapting to cold and arid conditions.
Main conclusions: Our study shows that the phylogenetic structures of more recently evolved and diversified clades of pteridophytes are fairly consistent with the tropical niche conservatism hypothesis, suggesting that the age of the taxon, its physiological adaptations and the global climatic changes that it experienced during its evolutionary history are reflected in the composition of current plant assemblages.


CONTEXT AND PURPOSE
Uterine cervical ectopy (cervical erosion) is today considered to be a physiological condition, but there still seems to be a strong tendency towards treating it. The purpose of this study was to review the medical literature for evidence regarding benefits from treating cervical ectopy.

METHODS
The following databases were reviewed: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) and Cochrane Library databases. In addition, six medical textbooks were consulted.

RESULTS
The review showed that: 1) there is probably an association between ectopy and higher risk of Chlamydia trachomatis, human papillomavirus and human immunodeficiency virus infection; 4) there is probably an association between ectopy and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; 5) there is an association between ectopy and mucous discharge and nocturia; and 6) there is no evidence of an association between ectopy and cervical cancer, or of protection against cervical cancer associated with ectopy treatment.

CONCLUSIONS
1) No data were found in the medical literature to support routine treatment for ectopy; 2) Treatment could be recommended for symptom relief, but more symptoms are attributed to ectopy than could be demonstrated in a controlled study; 3) Further studies to test the hypothesis of protection against cervical cancer associated with treatment are necessary.


We demonstrate formation of allylamine (Mm) and acrylic acid (Mc)-functionalized colloidal silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) exhibiting near-infrared (NIR) luminescence and immobilization of the NCs on substrates via covalent bond. The surface functionalization is confirmed by IR absorption spectroscopy and specific binding property of functionalized NCs. Atomic force microscope observations reveal that AAm- and AAc-functionalized Si NCs are chemically immobilized on self-assembled monolayers via covalent bonds. The functionalized Si NCs exhibit photoluminescence in a NIR region (1.5–1.6 eV), which is not significantly affected by the functionalization.


The author examines the problems and opportunities provided by the recent introduction of the teaching of the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution into the South African secondary education curriculum from a practical theological perspective. The Darwinian theory is described and the pros and cons of the evidence that supports it discussed. The various Christian attitudes towards neo-Darwinian evolution are used as a springboard to provide suggestions to aid educators teach what the curriculum demands whilst remaining within the parameters of their interpretation of the Genesis account and at the same time enabling learners to think intelligently about the faith and science in modern society.


Various 2- and 4-substituted 6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisquinolines were synthesized and evaluated as substrates and inhibitors of catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT). In addition, these compounds were tested for their ability to release norepinephrine-3H from mouse hearts in vivo. Methyl substituents in the 2 and/or 4 positions of 6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline had little effect on the interaction of these molecules with COMT. In general, the substrate kinetic (Km, Vmax) and inhibitory kinetic (Kis) properties toward COMT were similar for each of these compounds. In contrast, norepinephrine depleting activity showed more strict structural requirements. Methyl substituents in the 2 or 4 positions of the parent compound, 6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, eliminated the norepinephrine depleting activity. The interesting exception was 6,7-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinium iodide, which was found to be more active than the parent molecule as a depleter of norepinephrine from mouse hearts.


The elasticity of soft tissues has been widely considered as a characteristic property to differentiate between healthy and vicious tissues and, therefore, motivated several elasticity imaging modalities, such as Ultrasound Elastography, Magnetic Resonance Elastography, and Optical Coherence Elastography. This paper proposes an alternative approach of modeling the elasticity using Computed Tomography (CT) imaging modality for model-based feature extraction machine learning (ML) differentiation of lesions. The model describes a dynamic non-rigid (or elastic) deformation in differential manifold to mimic the soft tissues' elasticity under wave fluctuation in vivo. Based on the model, three local deformation invariants are constructed by two tensors defined by the 1st and 2nd order derivatives from the CT images and used to generate elastic feature maps after normalization via a novel signal suppression method. The model-based elastic image features are extracted from the feature maps and fed to machine learning to perform lesion classifications. Two pathologically proven image datasets of colon polyps (44 malignant and 43 benign) and lung nodules (46 malignant and 20 benign) were used to evaluate the proposed model-based lesion classification. The outcomes of this modeling approach reached the score of area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristics of 94.2% for the polyps and 87.4% for the nodules, resulting in an average gain of 5% to 30% over ten existing state-of-the-art lesion classification methods. The gains by modeling tissue elasticity for ML differentiation of lesions are striking, indicating the great potential of exploring the modeling strategy to other tissue properties for ML differentiation of lesions. Keywords— Elasticity, deformation, affine transformation, invariant, texture, classification. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________


OBJECTIVE
To study the protective effect of propofol precondition against glutamate (Glu) neurotoxicity to neonatal rat cerebrocortical slices.

METHODS
Brain slices of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were cultured in vitro and observed the morphologic changes. Brain slices were randomly divided into three groups: blank control group, Glu injury group (1 mmol/L Glu for 0.5 hour), propofol precondition group (20 mg/L propofol for 24 hours), each n=12. Changes in pathological and ultra-structure of cells were observed using microscope. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate was measured. Meanwhile, the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was detected by immunohistochemical technology, then the positive cell were counted.

RESULTS
Cultured brain slices of cell were intact and survived well. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, electron microscopy and LDH test results showed that cerebral film neuron severely damage, gliosis, edema, LDH leakage rate in Glu injury group were significantly more severe compared with blank control group [(68.5±2.0)% vs. (16.0±2.5)%, P<0.01]. Reduce the brain slice of the propofol pretreatment group of neuronal cell jury, cell shape recovery significantly reduced LDH leakage rate compared with the Glu injury group [(38.5±2.4)% vs. (68.5±2.0)%, P<0.05]. Immunohistochemical detection of GFAP expression of Glu injury group glial cell body swelling, producing increase in the number of GFAP positive reaction strong, the number of positive cells compared with blank control group was significantly increased (50±5 cells/HP vs. 10±3 cells/HP, P<0.01). The recovery of propofol pretreatment group glial cell morphology, cell processes slender GFAP positive reaction decreased the number of positive cells compared with the Glu injury group was significantly decreased (30±4 cells/HP vs. 50±5 cells/HP, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
Propofol pretreatment has protective effect against Glu injured rat cerebrocortical slices.


Cases of enterovirus infection and enterovirus infection with severe complications occur each year in Taiwan and mainly among children under 5 years of age. According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control, the case number of enterovirus infection with severe complications showed an increase in the first quarter of 2008. In order to understand caregivers'understanding of enterovirus, the preliminary symptoms of enterovirus infection with severe complications, the seriousness of the disease, confidence in hand-washing, hand-washing behavior, and in seeking medical assistance. This investigation uses telephone interviews through the NIIS. A total of 911 effective questionnaires were completed and with 95% confidence limits, the sampling error±3.3%. 61% of the interviewees expressed themselves to be parents of children under 5 years of age and 76% of the interviewees understood the fact that children under 3 years of age contracted with enterovirus infection with severe complications may lead to neurological sequela or even death. 78% of the interviewees have known about the enterovirus warning of this year within the last month. The information was mostly received (multiple choice) through the news (69%), followed by other persons (16%), and propaganda ads (15%). 87% of the interviewees could correctly identify one or more symptoms of enterovirus. 70% of them could identify the symptoms of fever and rash or small blisters on hands and feet as symptoms of enterovirus, with 51% knowing that sore throats were one of the symptoms. 79% of the interviewees were able to identify correctly one or more symptoms of enterovirus infection with severe complications. 60% had knowledge that vomiting was one of the symptoms followed by knowing the decrease of activity (55%), drowsiness (53%), and spasms (47%). Over 88% of the interviewees were confident that they remembered to wash their hands each time before holding the child, feeding the child, and after returning home. 74% answered that they washed their hands before coming in contact with the child; however, only 63% washed their hand correctly. After showing enterovirus symptoms, the order in which the caregivers sought medical assistance started with clinics (58%), followed by hospitals (40%). 82% of the interviewees chose pediatrics. 57% of the interviewees chose local hospitals in seeking medical assistance when the child showed suspected enterovirus infection with severe complications. News reports were the main source of information for the interviewees which is lacking in information of the symptoms of enterovirus infection with severe complications. Caregivers' have changed and become more alert to the preliminary signs and symptoms of enterovirus infection with severe complications. However, there are still 17% who seek medical assistance in clinics. Therefore, primary medical personnel should be continually instructed in order to elevate awareness of the disease. It is recommended that health Taiwan Epidemiology Bulletin June 25, 2008 448 facilities continue to promote news reports on how to wash your hands correctly and emphasize the importance of lathering a least 20 seconds and drying your hands.


Snakes are a particularly threatened vertebrate taxon, with distributions of many species and populations becoming increasingly fragmented. At present, little is known about the degree of genetic differentiation that exists between isolated populations even though such information may be critical to their survival and conservation. As an example of how recently developed RAPD genetic markers can be used in conservation genetics, we present preliminary results from a study which used these DNA‐based markers to assess population divergence in two threatened Canadian snakes, the black rat snake (Elaphe o. obsoleta) and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus). We present information on the levels of variation and reliability of amplification for fragments generated from five primers. We then use a recently developed analytical technique to estimate levels of nucleotide diversity within populations and sequence divergence between populations. Our results show that intrapopulation levels of divergence as estimated by the methods of Clark & Lanigan (Molecular Biology and Evolution 1993, 10, 1096–1111) approximate those found for mtDNA in vertebrates and that diversity between snake populations is small and non‐significant when tested using randomization procedures. Thus, our study provides an example of how RAPDs can be applied to conservation genetic studies of vertebrates and suggest that the snake populations we examined have only recently become isolated and maybe considered genetically equivalent from a conservation perspective, although this conclusion needs to be confirmed with other DNA‐based markers.


The positive relationship between marriage and subjective well-being is a robust finding in the academic field. There is, however, a growing demand for contextualization of this relationship. It is for instance suggested that the influence of marriage on well-being varies across cultures. Although an understanding of these cross-cultural variations is lacking, existing research does provide indications of what cultural trait might play a role in these variations: national collectivism. Since authors remain ambivalent when it comes to pinpointing what role collectivism plays exactly in the well-known relationship between marriage and subjective well-being, this study aims to fill this gap. Based on a thorough review of relevant literature, this study proposes two ways in which the role of collectivism can be understood, to explain why collectivism either strengthens or weakens the wellbeing-effect of marriage. First, a cultural interpretation based on the normative nature of marriage is proposed based on sociological literature on social norms and conformity. Second, adopting a different theoretical approach, marriage is interpreted as a source of social support, resulting in a structural interpretation of the role of collectivism. The role of collectivism and both proposed interpretations are empirically tested using all available rounds (2002-2012) of the European Social Survey (N = 212,683). Multilevel analyses reveal that the relationship between marriage and wellbeing is weaker in collectivistic countries, demonstrating the importance of taking cross-cultural variations into account. The analyses also show that neither of the proposed interpretations can sufficiently explain the dampening role of collectivism. Therefore, an alternative interpretation of the findings is offered in the conclusion, to serve as a stepping stone for future research.


The project PHAROS (Project on a Multi-Hazard Open Platform for Satellite Based Downstream Services) designs and implements a multi-hazard open service platform which integrates space-based earth observation, satellite communications and navigation (Galileo/GNSS) assets to provide sustainable (pre-operational) services for a wide variety of users in multi-application domains, such as prediction/early detection of emergencies, population alerting, environmental monitoring and crisis management. While the service platform is designed to be multi-hazard, the specific developments for the pre-operational system and pilot demonstration will be focused on the forest fire scenario. The platform will integrate data from EO satellites and in-situ sensors process it and provide the results to a series of key services for disaster management in its different phases. One of the main concerns is to provide fire hot spots as an input for the PHAROS Simulation Service.
These fire hot spots (thermal anomalies) are derived automatically and in near real time (NRT) from MODIS data. The MODIS data are available in a high (1d) temporal and in a medium (250m – 1000m) spatial resolution. For the detection of high temperature events (HTE) the MOD14 algorithm is used. The algorithm is based on the shift of the radiances/reflectance to shorter wavelengths (middle infrared) with an increasing surface temperature. MOD14 is well documented and tested in operational services and guarantees comparability and reproducibility as well as a standardized international acknowledged product. The thermal information is collected at 1000 m spatial resolution twice daily by each sensor (Terra and Aqua) providing up to four thermal observations daily. The MODIS images used for fire detection are acquired from two direct broadcast receiving stations from DLR located in Oberpfaffenhofen and Neustrelitz (Germany).
This Poster will give an overview of the processing chain from the reception, the processing and derivation of the fire hot spots to the dissemination in the Pharos system.


Despite careful attention, implants occasionally are placed at less than ideal angles. A combination of techniques can be implemented in the laboratory to correct malalignment. The "thread-timed impression" technique to assist with these restorations is described.


Extant research confirms the importance of cocreating value with customers in service marketing, yet little is known about the impact of service agents' work experiences on customers' service perceptions. This research examines how service agents' workplace ostracism from different sources (supervisors versus coworkers) influences customers' perceived coproduction value, perceived service performance, and actual purchases. Three laboratory experiments and one survey reveal a double-edged sword effect of workplace ostracism and its contingency such that (1) supervisor ostracism reduces customers' perceived control value in customer–agent coproduction through threatening service agents' efficacy needs when the agents experience low servicing empowerment; (2) coworker ostracism enhances customers' perceived relational value in coproduction through threatening service agents' relational needs when they expect a long-term relationship with customers; and (3) customers' perceived control and relational values increase their perceived service performance, and customer relational value also increases the amount of purchases. Our findings reveal that service agents' workplace ostracism may actually help or harm customers' service perceptions, depending on the source of ostracism. The results provide significant implications for how organizations can better manage employees' perceived ostracism in the workplace and strategically improve customers' experience in service coproduction with excluded agents.


Advanced cancer cells infiltrate and colonize new organ microenvironments through transformation of the dynamic metastatic niche. In bone, tumor cells secrete soluble factors that distort and manipulate normal bone remodeling leading to osteolytic lesions and inflammation. Clinically, primary high-grade bone sarcomas and secondary metastatic cancers exhibit elevated levels of murine double minute 2 (Mdm2), the principal cellular antagonist and E3 ubiquitin ligase of tumor suppressor p53. We demonstrate a novel function of mdm2, independent of p53, to drive osteolytic disease influenced by the signaling cascade of RANKL, ICAM1, and RANTES. To elucidate the direct influence of Mdm2 in cancer cells on osteoclast differentiation, several cell lines were created to overexpress or silence Mdm2. We found that osteoblast-like osteosarcoma (MG63, Saos2) and metastatic breast cancer cell lines (MDA468, MDA231, TMD-231, T47D, and BT474) lead to significant increased osteoclast differentiation, proliferation, and bone resorption. Co-cultures of Mdm2 over-expressing cancers and normal monocytes resulted in increased numbers of osteoclasts. In cancer cell lines where Mdm2 is silenced, we observed lower number of osteoclasts. The presence of Mdm2 in cancer cells also increased osteoclast resorption in an in vitro organ model. To determine the effects of ICAM1, we used an ICAM antibody to block ICAM1 in the media and showed a decrease in osteoclastogenesis. Understanding the role of Mdm2 in osteoclastogenesis may be amendable to translational benefit in disease models of advanced bone resorption and bone metastases. Citation Format: David J. Olivos, Lindsey D. Mayo. MDM2 regulates intracellular pathways in TNBC and osteosarcoma that affect osteoclastogenesis. [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 5109.


OBJECTIVE
To observe the correlation between the decline of cognitive function and the level of plasma homocysteine in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS
Thirty six AD patients were selected from hospitals in Tianjin. The enrolled patients were in accord with the diagnosis criteria. Thirty two control subjects were corresponding patients without AD in the period. Blood samples were extracted from each subject to determine the levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and folate. Cognitive status was evaluated by the mini- mental state examination (MMSE) and clinical dementia rating scale (CDR).

RESULTS
The mean value of serum Hcy concentration [(17.51 +/- 5.62) micromol/L] of AD group was higher than that of control group [(12.38 +/- 4.25)micromol/L]. The serum [(5.17 +/- 1.76) microg/L] and diet folate [(206.94 +/- 44.51) microg/d] concentration of AD group were lower than those of control group [(7.92 +/- 2.22) microg/L, (259.74 +/- 41.92) microg/ d]. The incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia in AD group (64%) was higher than that in control group (22%). A significant relation between Hcy concentrations and the CDR was observed. With the increase of Hcy concentrations the CDR raised, and with the increase of Hcy concentrations the MMSE decreased.

CONCLUSION
Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the risk factors inducing the onset of AD. There is a significant negative correlation between Hcy levels and cognitive levels in AD group. Folate deficiency is an important reason to cause elevated Hcy levels in AD.


The article is pioneering the possibility of infusing the philosophical aspects of Ubuntu in the Zimbabwean university curriculum so as to impart the correct values and norms in the graduates.


Patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia have a hemostatic imbalance, the mechanisms of which are still elusive. Hemorrhagic tendency usually manifests in patients with high platelet count and reveals the clinical and laboratory features of acquired von Willebrand's disease. In most patients, however, the increased risk of arterial and venous thromboses constitutes the main therapeutic challenge. Data from large retrospective studies have recently allowed us to reassess the clinical epidemiology of these manifestations. Erythromelalgia and other peculiar microcirculatory disturbances are selectively sensitive to aspirin. This finding, and the thromboxane A2 hyperproduction existing in polycythemic and thrombocythemic subjects, provide the rationale for the use of low-dose aspirin in these patients. The efficacy and safety of this treatment in patients with polycythemia vera is being tested in a large scale, randomized trial. Appropriately designed clinical studies are also needed for defining the neoplastic risk of commonly used chemotherapic agents and the antithrombotic efficacy of alternative cytoreductive strategies.


A major puzzle in observational cosmology is the physical origin of a significant excess population of blue galaxies in the cores of distant rich galaxy clusters. This 'Butcher-Oemler'effect is now known to be a widespread starburst-related phenomenon. We test whether various spectral and photometrically-defined galaxy classes might represent different stages within a single cycle of star-formation. We compare the numbers of galaxies in various categories for three z = 0.31 clusters, AC103, AC114, and AC118, with evolutionary models generated according to the Bruzual & Charlot (1993) isochrone spectral synthesis code, assuming that some fraction of the model cluster population is viewed either before or during a secondary burst of star formation. We find good agreement between the model predictions and the number density of spectroscopically-confirmed members in the Hδ versus B — R plane for a cluster population in which 30 per cent of the member galaxies have undergone secondary bursts of star formation within the last ~ 2 Gyr prior to observation. As an additional check, we analyse a larger K n-limited sample from newly-acquired infrared images and find good agreement between the models and the data in the U — I versus I — K n plane for the same active cluster fraction. We conclude that the unusual galaxy population in distant clusters can be explained by a. single cycle in which about 30 per cent of t he cluster population experienced a secondary burst of star-formation within the last ~ 2 Gyr.


The design of a microprocessor based power system stabilizer operating through excitation control is described. The stabilizer draws all necessary information from sampled values of voltage and current It provides the desired modulating action for damping of machine oscillations by operation of optically isolated switching of taps in an autotransformer interposed in the feedback from potential transformers to the automatic voltage regulator. Included are derivations of algorithms for power and slip used in stabilization control, and demonstration by simulation of the effectiveness of the device.


Objective To determine the pattern of extraocular muscle (EOM) paresis in incomplete vasculopathic third nerve palsies (3NP) that have normal pupillary function. Methods A retrospective study in a private practice and academic neuro-ophthalmic practice. Patients diagnosed with vasculopathic 3NP within 4 weeks of symptom onset were identified. The chart of each patient was reviewed to determine pupillary function and the pattern and degree of EOM and levator palpebrae paresis at the time of presentation. Results Of 55 patients with vasculopathic 3NP, 42 (76%) had normal pupillary function. Of these 42, 23 (55%) demonstrated an incomplete EOM palsy, defined as partially reduced ductions affecting all third nerve–innervated EOMs and levator (diffuse pattern) or partially reduced ductions that involved only some third nerve–innervated EOMs and levator (focal pattern). Twenty (87%) of these 23 patients showed a diffuse pattern of paresis; only three (13%) showed a focal pattern of paresis, one that affected only the superior rectus and levator muscles (superior division weakness). Conclusions Based on our series, most patients with EOM/levator involvement in pupil-sparing, incomplete 3NP of vasculopathic origin have a diffuse pattern of paresis. In contrast, our review of the literature suggests that pupil-sparing 3NP of aneurysmal origin usually have a focal pattern of paresis. We propose that distinguishing these two patterns of EOM paresis may be helpful in differentiating between vasculopathic and aneurysmal 3NP. Future studies will be needed to confirm the clinical utility of this hypothesis.


The emission spectrum of MoN between 13 200 and 18 400 cm-1 has been recorded by means of a microwave discharge and a Fourier Transform spectrophotometer (FTS). The transition A4Πr → X4Σ- has been rotationally analysed. Spin-orbit coupling constants have been determined for the A4Πr state. A number of states were studied by the multiconfiguration self consistent field (MCSCF) method with linear response (LR) technique and with account of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) as a perturbation. Besides that the multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) + SOC matrix has been diagonalized. Deviation from an equidistant splitting of the A4Πr state and the large spin-sublevel splitting of the ground state have been qualitatively explained as due to second-order SOC.


Equations are proposed which relate spin density to intensity ratio and width of interatomic shake-up satellites in the 2p region in ESCA spectra of Cu(II) compounds. In a number of cases these equations are followed. In other cases two distinct satellites appear in the 2p1/2 as well as in the 2p3/2 region.


Purpose. The paper aims to identify the factors that can affect the quality of horizontal information flows at top management level and suggest a method for their removal. Methodology. From a theoretical perspective that draws from studies on managerial information systems, on top management horizontal communication and on total quality management, a method (narrative action research method, NARM) has been proposed, which is based on the direct involvement of the participants in the flow, in this specific case top managers. The method has been tested on 18 large organizations. Individual interviews of top managers and collective meetings with them were set up to assess their degree of satisfaction in relation to the quality of the flow. Findings. This method has allowed to find that the factors which the quality of the information flow depends on are mainly organizational-relational in nature, thus highlighting the circular causality relationship between the quality of the information flow and organizational well-being. Research implications. From a theoretical-conceptual viewpoint, this study has focused on the issue of the strategic information flow and its problems from a relational perspective that appears to have received less consideration in literature. Practical implications. The method has proved effective in improving the quality of the process, with benefits in terms not only of decision-making capacity but also of organizational climate. Originality. The method is the result of the original combination of the action research principles of change promotion and narration and problem solving techniques, which are respectively at the base of role-playing and quality circles.


The authors investigated treatment outcome in elderly suicidal and non-suicidal patients with recurrent major depression. Patients without suicidal ideation in the current episode (Non-Ideators; n=150) were compared with 30 patients who expressed suicidal ideation (Ideators). Patients received combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy during acute and continuation treatment. Ideators had higher numbers of lifetime suicide attempts and reported significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness before starting treatment. Ideators and Non-Ideators had almost identical remission rates (77% vs. 78%), but Ideators had higher relapse rates during continuation treatment (26% vs. 13%) and were more likely to receive augmentation pharmacotherapy. Anxiety and use of adjunctive medication, but not suicidal ideation, were negatively related to both remission and relapse. Our data suggest that elderly suicidal patients have an overall favorable treatment outcome. However, treatment response may be more brittle and may require the continuing use of adjunctive medications to prevent early relapse.


System development is a process in which communication plays an important role. Requirements must be elicited from various stakeholders. But stakeholders also make decisions and must understand the consequences thereof. Different viewpoints must be reconciled, and agreements reached. An important assumption we make is that all actions in the development process are (or should be) based on rational decisions. The quest for rationality is a driving force behind the communication that takes place within the development process, because it raises issues that may otherwise have remained in the subconsciousness of stakeholders. We zoom in on the role of vagueness in communication, and argue that there are good reasons not to try and formalize things too soon in the development process. The purpose of this paper is to position our ongoing research, encourage discussion about the assumptions we make, and inspire novel approaches to system development. We work towards a comprehensive theory of rational system development, in which due attention is paid to development processes, communication, and the representations used therein.


The Trainer - Delco Tap - Mickleton 220-38 kilo-volt transmission lines are carried across the Delaware River by two 332-foot high steel latticed towers each founded on a man-made foundation island structure. Each island structure is comprised of four interconnected cellular sheetpile structures. One island, suffered a severe partial failure due to long-term scour in the Delaware River, near Chester, Pennsylvania. The other island exhibited early symptoms of potential failure, also due to scour. The client was the Philadelphia Electric Company, now known as PECO, acting on behalf of the owner, the Atlantic Electric Company (AECO). The author served as project manager and principal investigator for AECOM (formerly Earth Tech, formerly TAMS). The paper describes the failure investigation, including the structures before and after failure, the original installation (1959-1960), the condition survey of each island, condition of the failed sheetpiles, divers' findings of an underwater survey, hydrographic studies, scour and loss of sheetpile embedment. Also described are the subsurface investigation, soils laboratory testing, the soil/rock profile, the probable cause(s) of failure, the sequence comprising the failure mechanism, metallurgical findings, circumferential stress analysis and brittle failure of the sheetpile panels outside the interlocks. Remedial measures are described and the design and construction of the selected restoration/stabilization solution via a crushed stone buttress is presented. The author established the construction sequence and provided technical liaison to PECO during the underwater staged construction, which included geo-instrumentation and hydrographic monitoring of an 80,000 cubic yard crushed stone and riprap protected circumferential stabilizing buttress, over 50 ft high, placed around the failed island in the Delaware River. The failure investigation, the design and the restorative construction occurred during 1991-1994, yet the lessons learned from this case history are as aptly important today.


In recent years, many paradigms concerning central nervous system (CNS) immunology have been challenged and shifted, including the discovery of CNS-draining lymphatic vessels, the origin and functional diversity of microglia, the impact of T cells on CNS immunological homeostasis and the role of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. In parallel, antigen presentation outside the CNS has revealed the vital role of antigen-presenting cells in maintaining tolerance toward self-proteins, thwarting auto-immunity. Here, we review recent findings that unite these shifted paradigms of microglial functioning, antigen presentation, and CNS-directed T cell activation, focusing on common neurodegenerative diseases. It provides an important update on CNS adaptive immunity, novel targets, and a concept of the microglia T-cell equilibrium.


Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease, and ALS incidence is increasing worldwide. Patients with ALS have respiratory failure at the disease's end stages, leading to death; thus, the lung is one of the most affected organs during disease progression. Tissue stiffness increases in various lung diseases because of impaired extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis leading to tissue damage and dysfunction at the end. According to the literature, oxidative stress is the major contributor to ECM dysregulation, and mutant protein accumulation in ALS have been reported as causative to tissue damage and oxidative stress. In this study, we used SOD1G93A and SOD1WT rats and measured lung stiffness of rats by using a custom-built stretcher, where H&E staining is used to evaluate histopathological changes in the lung tissue. Oxidative stress status of lung tissues was assessed by measuring glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione s-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) levels. Western blot experiments were performed to evaluate the accumulation of the SOD1G93A mutated protein. As a result, increased lung stiffness, decreased antioxidant status, elevated levels of oxidative stress, impaired mineral and trace element homeostasis, and mutated SOD1G93A protein accumulation have been found in the mutated rats even at the earlier stages, which can be possible causative of increased lung stiffness and tissue damage in ALS. Since lung damage has altered at the very early stages, possible therapeutic approaches can be used to treat ALS or improve the life quality of patients with ALS.


Redox reaction is one of difficult concept to be understood. It is coused mainly by existing reaction redox balancing methods that give students some difficultness. For that case, this paper was meant to discuss about modifying reaction redox balancing method so that it can be acquired more easily. Algebra mothod is too mathematical. The more complex the reaction is, the more diffcult its solution is. The complexity of rule of half reaction method on balancing redox reaction brings difficult under-standing on studens also. Even, on a particuler condition, balanceing process lead to break the rules. Half rection method modification can simplity the rule students have to rote. Simplifying the method will reduce student bourdon.. By this modification method, students neet just to remember that in every conditon. OH and H ion is used to balance O and H atom respectively.


We describe three new strategies for determining heterogeneous reaction rates using photomicroscopy to measure the rate of retreat of metal surfaces: (i) spheres in a stirred solution, (ii) microscopic powder in an unstirred solution, and (iii) spheres on a rotating shaft. The strategies are applied to indium-mediated allylation (IMA), which is a powerful tool for synthetic chemists because of its stereoselectivity, broad applicability, and high yields. The rate-limiting step of IMA, reaction of allyl halides at indium metal surfaces, is shown to be fast, with a minimum value of the heterogeneous rate constant of 1 × 10(-2) cm/s, an order of magnitude faster than the previously determined minimum value. The strategies described here can be applied to any reaction in which the surface is retreating or advancing, thereby broadening the applicability of photomicroscopy to measuring heterogeneous reaction kinetics.


Abstract Studies on the compatibility between Bulinus truncatus and Schistosoma haematobium from various areas in the Senegal River basin (SRB) were carried out, to investigate the role of B. truncatus in the epidemiology of urinary schistosomiasis in Senegal. The results show that B. truncatus from the Lower Valley is not compatible with S. haematobium from the Middle Valley. Interestingly, the study reveals that B. truncatus from the Upper Valley is compatible with S. haematobium from the same area, and that S. haematobium from the Middle Valley is compatible with B. truncatus from the Lower Valley. Bulinus truncatus naturally infected with S. haematobium have been collected from the Upper Valley of the SRB. These results indicate that B. truncatus is involved in the urinary schistosomiasis in Senegal.


Objective This study aimed to investigate the associations between general health expectations and patient satisfaction with treatment for the two common spine surgery procedures diskectomy for lumbar disk herniation (LDH) and decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Design Register study with prospectively collected preoperative and 1-year postoperative data. Setting National outcome data from Swespine, the national Swedish spine register. Participants A total of 9929 patients, aged between 20 and 85 years, who were self-reported non-smokers, and were operated between 2007 and 2016 for one-level LSS without degenerative spondylolisthesis, or one-level LDH, were identified in the national Swedish spine register (Swespine). We used SF-36 items 11c and 11d to assess future health expectations and present health perceptions. Satisfaction with treatment was assessed using the Swespine satisfaction item. Interventions One-level diskectomy for LDH or one-level decompression for LSS. Primary outcome measures Satisfaction with treatment. Results For LSS, the year 1 satisfaction ratio among patients with negative future health expectations preoperatively was 60% (95% CI 58% to 63%), while it was 75% (95% CI 73% to 76%) for patients with positive future health expectations preoperatively. The corresponding numbers for LDH were 73% (95% CI 71% to 75%) and 84% (95% CI 83% to 85%), respectively. Conclusions Patients operated for the common lumbar spine diseases LSS or LDH, with negative future general health expectations, were significantly less satisfied with treatment than patients with positive expectations with regard to future general health. These findings are important for patients, and for the surgeons who counsel them, when surgery is a treatment option for LSS or LDH.


Objective: To test the hypothesis that resuscitative mild hypothermia (MH) (34°C) or breathing fractional inspired oxygen (FIo2) of 1.0 would prolong survival time during lethal uncontrolled haemorrhagic shock (UHS) in mechanically ventilated rats. Methods: Forty Wistar rats were anaesthetized with halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen (70/30%), intubated and mechanically ventilated. UHS was induced by volume-controlled blood withdrawal of 3 ml/100 g over 15 min, followed by 75% tail amputation of its length. The animals were randomly divided into four UHS treatment groups (10 rats in each group): group 1 was maintained on an FIo2 of 0.21 and rectal temperature of 37.5°C. Group 2 was maintained on an FIo2 of 0.21 and induced MH. Group 3 was maintained on an FIo2 of 1.0 and 37.5°C. Group 4 was maintained on an FIo2 of 1.0 and MH. Rats were observed otherwise untreated until death. Results: During the initial blood withdrawal, mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased to 40 mmHg, and the heart rate (HR) increased up to 400 beats/min. The induction of MH increased MAP to 60 mmHg and increased survival time. Moreover, it reduced the HR to 300 beats/min but did not increase bleeding. Ventilation with an FIo2 of 1.0 did not influence MAP, blood loss or survival time, but increased arterial oxygen tension. The mean survival time was 62, 202, 68 and 209 min in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Blood loss from the tail was 1.0, 1.2, 0.9 and 0.7 ml, respectively, in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4. Conclusion: MH prolonged the survival time during UHS in mechanically ventilated rats. However, an FIo2 of 1.0 did not influence the survival time or blood loss from the tail.


The paper presents thematic analyses relating to migration processes, situated between the Legacy of the Past and Challenges of the Future. The authors focus on a complex migration process referring to key factors that characterise it as well as dominant concepts in host societies: segregation and integration. The theoretical considerations undertaken in the text are primarily oriented towards presenting the diverse situation of Migrant Children and Youth "On the Move" as a category of the young generation affected by migration processes. The text is an attempt to reflect on the functioning of migrant backgrounds in the context of children's and adolescents' integration with the new place of residence. Particular attention was drawn to fragile areas generating distance, social exclusion and consequently hindering the process of integration.


ABSTRACT This study aims to alleviate some of the mixed findings throughout the literature on racial disparities in sentencing outcomes by utilizing propensity score matching and multilevel modeling to assess racial drug sentencing disparities in state courts from 2000–2012. The findings illustrate the effect of race on sentencing varies significantly across states, and aggregate factors impact this relationship. Specifically, although differential offending, minority population, and arrests do not alleviate disparities, they are moderators that explain variance across states. Finally, aggregate socioeconomic factors such as poverty and education are also significant moderators that indicate the importance of structural disadvantage in sentencing outcomes.


The present report describes a case of disseminated histoplasmosis with involvement of the prepuce. Phimosis resulting from histoplasma posthitis is exceedingly rare and hence being documented.


Background Risk factors of severe COVID-19 have mainly been investigated in the hospital setting. We investigated pre-defined risk factors for testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and cardiovascular or pulmonary complications in the outpatient setting. Methods The present cohort study makes use of ambulatory claims data of statutory health insurance physicians in Bavaria, Germany, with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test confirmed or excluded SARS-CoV-2 infection in first three quarters of 2020. Statistical modelling and machine learning were used for effect estimation and for hypothesis testing of risk factors, and for prognostic modelling of cardiovascular or pulmonary complications. Results A cohort of 99 811 participants with PCR test was identified. In a fully adjusted multivariable regression model, dementia (odds ratio (OR) = 1.36), type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.14) and obesity (OR = 1.08) were identified as significantly associated with a positive PCR test result. Significant risk factors for cardiovascular or pulmonary complications were coronary heart disease (CHD) (OR = 2.58), hypertension (OR = 1.65), tobacco consumption (OR = 1.56), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR = 1.53), previous pneumonia (OR = 1.53), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR = 1.25) and type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.23). Three simple decision rules derived from prognostic modelling based on age, hypertension, CKD, COPD and CHD were able to identify high risk patients with a sensitivity of 74.8% and a specificity of 80.0%. Conclusions The decision rules achieved a high prognostic accuracy non-inferior to complex machine learning methods. They might help to identify patients at risk, who should receive special attention and intensified protection in ambulatory care.


Study Objectives: Three of the most commonly used agents for conscious sedation in the Emergency Department (ED) are ketamine, fentanyl/versed, and propofol. In this study, we measured and compared the total times spent in the ED with each of these agents. Our objective was to determine whether the use of propofol for conscious sedation was associated with a shorter length of ED stay as compared to the other two agents. Methods: This was a consecutive case series. All patients who required procedural conscious sedation who presented to the ED at University of California, Irvine Medical Center from January 2003 through April 2004 were included in the study. The attending ED physician evaluated the patient and determined which medication(s) would be administered. All patients underwent procedural sedation according to the ED's standardized sedation protocol. The times and dosages of administered medications and the sedation/consciousness level (SCL) scores were recorded by ED nurses at 3–5 minute intervals. Data was abstracted prospectively. The time to sedation (first dose of agent to SCL score of 2 or less) and time to recovery (last dose of agent to SCL score of 4) of the different regimens were then analyzed and compared. Results: Thirty-eight patients received propofol, 38 received ketamine, and 14 received fentanyl/versed. The mean times to sedation (minutes) were: propofol 4.5 (95% CI: 3.3–5.7), ketamine 10.6 (95% CI: 5.8–15.4), fentanyl/versed 11.5 (95% CI: 3.5–19.4). The mean times to recovery were: propofol 21.6 (95% CI: 16.1–27.1), ketamine 55.4 (95% CI: 46.2–64.5), fentanyl/versed 59.9 (95% CI: 20.3–99.5). Propofol had a statistically significant shorter time to sedation than both ketamine (p<.001) and fentanyl/versed (p=.022). Propofol also produced shorter recovery times than both ketamine (p<.001) and fentanyl/versed (p=.002). Conclusion: In this study, sedation and recovery times were shorter with propofol than with ketamine or fentanyl/versed. The use of propofol for conscious sedation in this non-randomized study was associated with a shorter ED length of stay.


Introduction • Computational methods for solving stochastic variational problems require (first) a discretization of the underlying probability distribution induced by a numerical integration scheme for the approximate computation of expectations and (second) an efficient solver for a (large scale) finite-dimensional variational problem.


Introduction Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) comprises 31% of non-Hodgkin9s lymphomas (NHL), making DLBCL the most common form of NHL. DLBCL typically presents as a rapidly expanding abdominal or neck mass but can also present as extranodal disease. This case is an example of an unusual site for extranodal presentation of DLBCL. Case Presentation A 39-year-old white female presented to an outside facility with a breast mass that was rapidly growing. She stated that the mass had been stable and present for the previous 5 years with just a minimal increase in size. The mass measured approximately 9.0 × 3.6 × 7.9 cm. Following several core needle biopsies and a right total mastectomy with conflicting pathology, removal of a mass in the surgical incision site yielded the diagnosis of DLBCL. The patient had a normal LDH and staging revealed disease confined to the breast. The patient was subsequently started on cyclophosphamide, vincristine, Adriamycin, prednisone, and rituximab (CHOP-R.). Discussion DLBCL is the most common form of NHL. Primary extranodal disease arising from the breast has been documented but remains an uncommon site of initial disease. A plausible explanation of the initial benign nature of this patient9s mass is an initial low-grade lymphoma with subsequent conversion to a high-grade lymphoma. At present, there is a lack of randomized trials for the treatment of primary breast lymphoma. Conclusion Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma can present in unusual manners and arise from a previously benign-appearing lesion. Difficulty obtaining a diagnosis can lead to a delay in treatment and potentially more advanced stage of disease at the time of initiation of treatment. An appropriate index of suspicion and thorough evaluation may expedite diagnosis and prevent a delay in treatment.


Pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) refers to meat that is pale in color, forms soft gels, and has poor water-holding ability. Most frequently used in reference to pork, this defective meat is being seen with increasing frequency in turkey and broiler processing plants. It has been estimated that this PSE-type meat represents 5 to 40% of meat that is produced in the poultry industry. With the increased production of further-processed products, this PSE problem has become more apparent in the turkey industry. It has been estimated that due to the high incidence, a single turkey processing plant could be losing $2 to 4 million per year, resulting in a loss in excess of $200 million dollars by the turkey industry alone.


We calculate the level statistics by finding the eigenvalue spectrum for a variety of one-dimensional many-body models, namely the Heisenberg chain, the t-J model and the Hubbard model. In each case the generic behaviour is GOE, however at points corresponding to models known to be exactly integrable Poisson statistics are found, in agreement with an argument we outline.


Antenatal diagnosis and appropriate management of pheochromocytoma complicating pregnancy offers a reduction in mortality for both mother and fetus. We have presented the successful management of such a case, emphasizing the close collaboration between obstetricians, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, surgeons, and internists that is mandatory for a successful outcome.


When Adriatic offshore acreage first was opened for exploration, only part of it was known geologically. The northern part of the sea was known to be an extension of the prolific gas producing Po basin. The central and southern parts were known only as the transition between the Apennine and the Dinarids orogenic belts. Seismic reconnaissance in the Northern Adriatic revealed structural and stratigraphic features similar to the onshore portion of the Po basin. These structures are, in fact, now producing gas from 5 new offshore fields. The geology of the central-southern part of the Adriatic revealed a more complicated geologic pattern. The Tertiary clastic cover had good seismic response and a very prominent seismic horizon, C, indicated several large structures on top of the Eocene-Cretaceous limestone. The reflections below the C horizons were very poor and affected by multiples. All the wells located on the horizon C features were dry, despite the presence of good oil and gas shows. The second stage of exploration was begun in 1971. Improved seismic techniques showed disharmonic behavior in the structures below horizon C, which is a morphologic paleorelief horizon below the Miocene transgressive deposits. New structures located in the Mesozoic section show convergence of the pre-Miocene horizons. Also, it appears that alongside the Triassic evaporitic basin, younger Yugoslav evaporitic basins of Jurassic and Cretaceous age undergo a facies change in Italian waters. In Italy the sediments are basinal or biostromal with indications of reef development in the transitional belt and porous, prolifically gas-bearing calcarenite along the coast. This new understanding of the geology leads to highly encouraging possibilities for large accumulations in the Eocene and Meso oic carbonates. End_of_Article - Last_Page 649------------


A 38-year-old grand multiparous pregnant woman in the United Arab Emirates presented to a secondary hospital in active labor at 38 weeks and two days of pregnancy. She visited the antenatal clinic just once during her entire pregnancy. Antenatally, her venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment score was 2, and she was not started on thromboprophylaxis. Postnatally, she was due to receive a dose of low molecular weight heparin at eight hours postpartum; however, just four hours after delivery, the patient had a cardiac arrest, and it was found by imaging studies that she had a pulmonary embolism. The patient was also found to have disseminated intravascular coagulation, which led to multiorgan failure. The patient passed away two days later. Factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, short inter-pregnancy intervals, and COVID-19 infections could be taken into consideration when screening for VTE risk.


In experiment on 20 rabbits a diffuse biliary peritonitis was simulated, using intraabdominal injection of a laboratory culture of E. coli suspension and a medicinal bile. In 24 h on background of peritonitis on excluded loop of a small bowel in accordance to method of Roux, using a high frequency electric welding with the help of apparatus Patonmed EKB3-300 a one-layered everting cholecystoenteroanastomosis and enteroenteroanastomosis was formated. In a 6 mo postoperatively a connection line was not revealed from outside or from inside, the signs of stenosis were absent. In environment of a diffuse biliary peritonitis a welding technologies have permitted to form a hermetic and competent biliodigestive and interintestinal anastomoses, the processes of a welding suture regeneration postoperatively have a typical course. Using a high frequency-electric welding it is possible to perform a one-staged reconstructive interventions in environment of a pronounced inflammation of tissues due to subsequent precise conjunction of mucosal sheets of connected organs, preventing the anastomotic stricture formation.


Abstract Objectives: To analyse quantitatively for the secondary injury to the perihematoma region of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients by functional MR imaging technique. Methods: 35 ICH patients were recruited and performed T1, T2, perfusion weight imaging (PWI), diffusion weight imaging (DWI) and FLAIR sequence scanning. Hematoma volume and edema volume of perihematomal area as well as parameters of blood volume [regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV), mean transit time (MTT)] alteration were calculated. Results: Varied blood flow decline was detected in the patients on the perihematoma sides, compared with the corresponding area of the opposite sides. There was significant difference of rCBV and MTT (p=0.00) and mild negative correlation between rCBV and hematoma volume (p=0.00) among groups; edema volume of perihematoma region and hematoma volume showed a linear correlation (p=0.00). Moreover, positive correlation between edema intensity and rCBV was detected, (p=0.00); the most significant perihematoma edema was in the group of day 10 to day 14; the lowest rCBV occurred in the early stage. (days 2–5 from symptom onset). Conclusion: We have concluded that rCBV and MTT of perihematoma region decreased remarkably compared with the contralateral side, and the decline would last over 3 weeks. Quantitative research suggested edema intensity is closely related with rCBV. We believe that the reduced regional blood flow of perihematoma contributes to the secondary ischemic injury of perihematoma tissue. However, the peak of edema would appear later than the onset of the peak of ischemia, it suggests that edema surrounding the hematoma is not only the result from the single ischemic factor, but also results from multiple disadvantage mechanisms.


The ephrin (Eph) receptors have been sought as therapeutic targets in liquid and solid tumors. Eph receptors are a subcategory of receptor tyrosine kinases and play vital parts in cell survival and function. Recently, monoclonal antibodies have been designed to bind to the ligand-binding cavity, that block ephrin to bind to ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2). The potential clinical importance has been demonstrated in lymphomas, and the ability of the antibody to reduce proliferation and induce apoptosis (Goldgur et. al 2014). Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a disease with dismal outcomes and new therapeutic targets have been explored. EphA2 has been described to be critical for the survival in EphA2-positive mouse leukemia models and not essential for normal hematopoiesis. Thus, we examined cell surface expression of EphA2 in peripheral blood, and bone marrow samples from AML patients. We screened 30 primary AML samples and 5 normal samples and assessed their expression of EphA2 using flow cytometry using the lymphoma cell line (Raji) as a positive control, as reported to express EphA2. The EphA2 expression was evaluated under culture conditions as well as without culture. Prior to culture, 22 (73.3%) of 30 samples were EphA2 positive in more than 90% of blasts. The mean cell surface expression of EphA2 in blasts was 95.4% (range: 64.4-99.7%) with a mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of 201.5 (range: 18.4-675.0) with a MFI of 4.4 for isotype control. Interestingly, we observed 13.3% increase in EphA2 expression post-culture, bringing the proportion of EphA2-high samples from 73.3% to 86.6% of total samples. In addition to the increase of EphA2-high population, the average MFI of this cohort was also increased by 47.6% post-culture relative to pre-culture. Furthermore, we saw a more significant increase in the CD34+ population and little or no change in the CD34- population. These data shows that many AML express EphA2, and that culturing with cytokines can induce robust EphA2 expression. After validating EphA2 expression in leukemia cells, we have tested a set of single-chain antibodies (scFv) against EphA2 that have shown activity against Raji cells (Goldgur et. al 2014). We tested two single-chain variable fragments (G2 or D2) on samples with low or high expression of EphA2. The samples were incubated in the serum free IMDM medium supplemented with cytokines. The scFv antibodies were tested at 0.5ug and 1.0ug and evaluated after 24hr- or 72hr-culture. We found that exposure to D2 resulted in a significant decrease in cell number after 72 hr-culture, 52.6% and 99.3% relative to vehicle control treatment for 0.5ug and 1.0ug respectively in EphA2-high AML cells. These data suggests that the scFv antibodies against EphA2 are lethal to AML cells that express high level of EphA2. Taken together, our data suggests that more than 70% of AML cells highly express EphA2 and can be targeted using scFv antibodies specific to EphA2. Citation Format: Michael Albert, Mayumi Sugita, Hongliang Zong, Juha Himanen, Monica L. Guzman. scFv antibodies against EphA2 receptor as a therapeutic strategy for AML. [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 3834.


Background. Climate conditions in the northwest of Spain are from the rest of the country, and the pollen sensitisation rates and allergens involved are different. The present study aimed to investigate the sensitisation profile of patients with grass pollen allergy and the interference of other sensitisations in respiratory symptoms. Methods. A total of 959 Spanish patients with seasonal respiratory symptoms and a positive skin prick test (SPT) to Phleum pratense pollen were studied. Patients were classified as having rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma. A battery of SPTs, including common weeds and tree pollens, profilin, polcalcin, moulds, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Lepidoglyphus destructor, and cat and dog dander were performed. Serum specific IgE (sIgE) to Phl p 1 and Phl p 5, adding sIgE to Phl p 7, Phl p 12 and house dust mites (HDMs) or other pollens in selected cases were measured. Results. The majority (89.8%) of the patients were polysensitised according to SPT. HDM co-sensitisation was the most prevalent (62.3%). Profilin and polcalcin rendered a positive result in 25.9% and 18.7% of the patients, respectively. A higher proportion of patients recognized sIgE to Phl p 1 (88.7%) with respect to Phl p 5 (59%). Phl p 1-sIgE levels were higher than Phl p 5-sIgE levels, and no differences were found in patients with rhinitis and/or asthma. However, total serum IgE was higher in patients with asthma. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that only sIgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (after adjusting by sIgE to Phl p 1, Phl p 5 and Lepidoglyphus destructor) was associated with a greater risk of asthma. Conclusions. Phl p 1 is the most relevant allergen in patients with grass pollen allergy in the northwest of Spain. Sensitisation rates against panallergens are low. Even in patients with grass pollen allergy, HDM sensitisation plays a relevant role in asthma.


This community based participatory research study was conducted in Oso, WA. Ten survivors of the 2014 mudslide participated in a focus group and discussed their experiences before and after this natural disaster. Findings revealed that the majority of participants had feelings of confusion/redundancy and were still processing feelings of grief and loss at the time of the focus group. Another finding was the strong sense of community expressed by all participants and the high level of support participants provided to each other during and after the mudslide. The study also highlighted the need for mental health resources to be part of any disaster relief plan because survivors need emotional support. Finally, findings demonstrated the importance of outside relief organizations seeking input from community members prior to implementing disaster relief; findings highlighted the significance of utilizing the high level of knowledge regarding area landslides expressed by members of the Oso community.


We propose a new technique for sidelobe suppression in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Sidelobe suppression is an essential technique to design OFDM based overlay system. The proposed technique is based on the combination of the multiple choice sequence (MCS) with the conventional windowing of OFDM signal in time domain. The MCS is choosing the one sequence which has lowest power in sidelobes from the produced set of sequences. The main advantage of proposed technique is that it fully utilizes the available bandwidth to transmit data. Simulation results show that by combining MCS with conventional windowing technique, the sidelobes in OFDM system can be significantly reduced


In order to meet the specifications of the blast furnace process for steel production regarding trace elements content, upgrading steps can be required. Flotation has become increasingly important to process intermediate- and low-grade iron ore in an attempt to harmonize iron ore high-grade exhaustion and market demand of production in Brazilian sites.
Following the Brazilian production expectation by 2020, the amount of flotation chemical will rise significantly. From a sustainable point of view, starch could have an issue of concern related to the availability, where industrial application for flotation process and the growth of population demand the same raw material.
The scope of the present work is to develop a depressant with better selectivity than starch to achieve an upgraded pellet feed product from intermediate- and low-grade iron ores. A synthetic biopolymer, called XMC, was developed out of the food and feed chain with better selectivity index than starch. Therefore, the present investigation deals with the objective of increasing metallic recovery values by improving the process of reverse cationic flotation selectivity at competitive cost. For that, two different underflow iron ore samples after desliming stage were evaluated.
Results show that at the same SiO2 level (about 1%), new biopolymer was able to foster a completive cost/benefit compared to the starch application on the cationic reverse flotation. The approached strategies were: a) increasing the metallic recovery and b) decreasing the SiO2 content for intermediate- and low-grade iron ore. For both iron ore samples, it was demonstrated that XMC requires significantly lower collector dosages than starch to achieve SiO2 values below 1% in the concentrate. This new depressant is an option for cleaning iron ore concentrates aiming at the production of concentrate products with SiO2 < 1%. Furthermore, friendly made down and application with lower Capex/Opex were expected, since XMC is already in gel form.