Hill cipher is a classical cipher which is based on linear algebra. In this method, matrices and matrix multiplication have been used to combine the plaintext. Heuristic search is a search techniques. The methods of HS are: (GA, SE, EP, MA, TS). Genetic algorithms are one of Heuristic search, it is search techniques which is used natural selection. GAs select optimal solution through three operations, they are : selection, crossover and mutation. The parameters are kept in memory and the best values of fitness have been selected to represent next generation. Memetic Algorithm is one of Heuristic search , a memetic algorithm is an extension of the traditional genetic algorithm. It uses a local search technique to reduce the likelihood of the convergence, to reach the best solution. This paper focuses on using MA and GA to find optimal solution to cryptanalyse Hill cipher. Then comparing two methods of crossover to see which one has best solution, and comparing between GA and MA to see which one has best solution. MATLAB is used as M-FILE.Theresults ofcryptanalysis cleared as following:1- Without genetic algorithms: The number of correct letters for the key was 1 out of 9. 2- Using genetic algorithms: two methods are used, and they have been compared of crossover, they are single and multi- crossover points randomly. After (250) generation, the number of correct letters was 4 out of 9 when single crossover point is used. The number of correct letters was 8 out of 9 when multi crossover point are used. So multi crossover point have best solution. Genetic algorithms are applied successfully. 3- Using Memetic Algorithms. After (100) generation, the number of correct letters was 8 out of 9. So MA is better than Genetic algorithms. 4- the number of correct letter was 9 out of 9 when the MA is used.


Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have suggested new molecular mechanisms in vascular cells driving atherosclerotic diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS). Nevertheless, a major challenge to develop new therapeutic approaches is to spatiotemporally manipulate these GWAS-identified genes in specific vascular tissues in vivo. YAP (Yes-associated protein) and TAZ (transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif) have merged as critical transcriptional regulators in cells responding to biomechanical stimuli, such as in athero-susceptible endothelial cells activated by disturbed flow (DF). The molecular mechanisms by which DF activates while unidirectional flow (UF) inactivates YAP/TAZ remain incompletely understood. Recent studies demonstrated that DF and genetic predisposition (risk allele) of CAD/IS locus 1p32.2 converge to reduce phospholipid phosphatase 3 (PLPP3) expression in vascular endothelium. Restoration of endothelial PLPP3 in vivo, although remains challenging and unexplored, is hypothesized to reduce atherosclerosis. We devised a nanomedicine system integrating nanoparticles and Cdh5 promoter-driven plasmids to successfully restore PLPP3 expression in activated endothelium, resulting in suppressed YAP/TAZ activity and reduced DF-induced atherosclerosis in mice. Mechanistically, our studies discovered a molecular paradigm by which CAD/IS GWAS gene PLPP3 inactivates YAP/TAZ by reducing lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced myosin II and ROCK in endothelium under UF. These results highlight a new mechanistic link between GWAS and YAP/TAZ mechano-regulation and moreover, establish a proof of concept of vascular wall-based therapies employing targeted nanomedicine to manipulate CAD/IS GWAS genes in vivo.


Voluntary attentional orienting is the foundation of the capacity to highlight relevant stimuli and suppress competing distractions. It plays a role in the scholastic skills. This study investigated the changes in the orienting skills in 630 schoolchildren (age range: 5.7–10.2 years old), who attended the first (N = 205, M = 6.1, SD = 0.4), third (212 children, M = 8.2, SD = 0.6), and fifth grade (213 children, M = 10, SD = 0.4) of four primary schools in Italy. Simple attentional orienting, choice attentional orienting on written stimuli, double attentional orienting (auditory and visual), and re-orienting were investigated. The tasks required pressing a key in response to some target stimuli. The stimuli were digits, images of objects, written words, letters, geometric forms, and auditory verbal stimuli. Results showed that attentional orienting improved with age. The children's performances depended on the type of stimuli and activities required for the task. The accuracy of re-orienting with written verbal stimuli did not improve during primary school. With increasing age, children became faster but not more able to focus on written verbal stimuli when shifting of attention was required.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

Objective: Raman spectroscopy is a unique optical vibrational spectroscopic technique that is capable of noninvasively probing biomolecular changes associated with cancerous transformation. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a novel imaged-guided Raman endoscopy system developed for distinguishing cancer lesions from the non-cancerous tissues in the human stomach in vivo.

Materials and Methods: A fiber-optic Raman endoscopy system was utilized for tissue Raman spectroscopic measurements at 785 nm laser excitation. A total of 20 in vivo gastric Raman measurement sites were used in this study, in which 15 sites were from 10 patients who underwent gastroscopic inspection, and 5 were from the suspicious lesion sites of 5 patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound procedure. The histopathogical examinations on the biopsied tissues from the Raman measurement sites showed that 15 were non-cancerous and 5 were cancers. Multivariate statistical algorithms including principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were employed to determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

Results: High-quality in vivo gastric Raman spectra in the range of 800-1800 cm−1 can be collected in less than 1 second, together with the simultaneous utilization of white-light reflectance imaging modality for guiding the Raman endoscopic probe to the suspicious tissue sites. Raman spectral shapes were significantly different between non-cancerous and cancers, particularly in the spectral ranges of 850-900 cm−1, 1000-1090 cm−1, 1200-1305 cm−1 and 1600-1800 cm−1 which contain signals related to hydroxyproline for collagen, phenylalanine, amide III, amide I and C=C stretching of lipids. The Raman technique together with PCA-LDA-based analytic algorithm yielded diagnostic sensitivity of 96.1% and specificity of 100% for detection of cancer from the non-cancerous gastric tissues in vivo.

Conclusion: This study illustrates for the first time that the image-guided Raman endoscopy technique has promising clinical potential for rapid in vivo diagnosis of cancer tissues in the stomach.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1165.


In this project we have developed reactive instruments for performance. Reactive instruments provide feedback for the performer thereby providing a more dynamic experience. This is achieved through the use of haptics and robotics. Haptics provide a feedback system to the control surface. Robotics provides a way to actuate the instruments and their control surfaces. This allows a highly coordinated "dance" between performer and the instrument. An application for this idea is presented as a linear slide interface. Reactive interfaces represent a dynamic way for music to be portrayed in performance.


A small-scaled qualitative pilot study, using a multiple case-study design, was carried out with three primary mainstream schools within the West Midlands to explore how emotional understanding is taught to pupils with autism. Research questions focused on identifying strategies and/or programmes utilized to teach emotional understanding and priority areas for teaching. Data was garnered from interviews and documentary analysis of teaching resources. Findings indicated that emotional understanding was mainly targeted through whole-classroom approaches, the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL), or Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS), and through mixed small-group social skills programmes. Schools also drew on principles and strategies, outlined by autism-related literature. While all areas in emotional understanding were being addressed, expression and management of own emotions were considered as priority areas. Future directions for research indicated the importance of extending this pilot study into a major study, and examining the effectiveness of whole-school and social skills programmes adopted by schools in improving the emotional understanding of pupils with autism. The teaching of emotional understanding to pupils with autism is clearly an area which needs to be explored further by researchers, which is ideally done alongside teaching staff so as to impact upon practice within schools.


The epidemiology of tuberculosis in this country is changing because of a combination of biological and social factors. The recent use of DNA fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using restriction-fragment-length polymorphism analysis has suggested that nearly one-third of new cases of tuberculosis being reported in a large metropolitan city is a result of recent infection. The immunosuppression of individuals with the human immunodeficiency virus and the prevalence of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis has resulted in a renewed interest in the epidemiology and prevention of this disease. To determine the magnitude of the problem in the U.S. Navy enlisted population, a computer search of more than one million inpatient hospitalization records from January 1980 to December 1994 was performed. Total first hospitalization rates for all cases of tuberculosis during this period ranged from 2.2 per 100,000 person-years at risk in white females to 27.5 per 100,000 person-years in males, race "other" (includes mostly Filipinos and Asian-Americans). First hospitalization rates across all cases of tuberculosis declined during this period from a high of 8.7 per 100,000 in 1980 to a low of 2.2 per 100,000 in 1994.


Maker movement is emerging in Shenzhen which is seen as one of the catalysts in facilitating mass entrepreneurship and mass innovation. Because of its rich resource in Hardware, Shenzhen attracted lots of makers and startup teams to start their businesses. This is timing that Shenzhen heads to another phase of city development which is related to creative industry and innovation. However, used to be city of Shanzhai products, the city benefited a lot from Shanzhai ideology which is seen a successful migrant entrepreneurship model by some scholars. This significant social movement provided some strategies could be used as guidance for improving the maker movement later. Current maker movement in Shenzhen represents the national culture which mainly focus on manufacturing production instead of incubating innovation. Highly connected to production chain makes it lose the essence of doing for fun spirit. Under the pressure of employment base shift, migrants especially workers are gradually leaving the city center even the city. Thus inclusive urban innovation development will defiantly deserve discussion on how migrants could build up a new model of entrepreneurship based on maker movement to achieve self-empowerment. How could Urban village where 50% of migrants live spatially, economically and socially contribute to the incubate social economical innovation instead of only a collective property waiting to be redeveloped. This essay will discuss how a model learned from Shanzhai Movement is used a strategy to revise current maker movement towards inclusive urban redevelopment and empower migrant entrepreneurs. During the last decade, Chinese Shan Zhai mobile phones have steadily and deliberately evolved from an informal economy to a formal one. We draw on institutional entrepreneurship to study this evolution, focusing in particular on how informal Chinese entrepreneurs pursued change and the transition to a formal economy. We emphasize three strategies—framing, aggregating, and bridging—Chinese entrepreneurs employed to mobilize support, garner resources, and increase their amount and level of legitimacy. We also discuss implications for research on informal economies and institutional entrepreneurship. This shanzhai model provided a basic for discussing about the possibility of implementing Maker Movement in Urban Village, which could be seen as an opportunity for new migrant economy. A dramatic paradigm shift over the last few years from top=down planning, physical construction and industrial development towards a new wave of experimentalism that attempts to tackle contemporary urban complexities, develop holistic social growth and steer new social values not solely dependent on economic metrics. In urban village, the urgency of discussing informal development should go beyond the physical structure of the urban village and needs to include the understanding of an intangible network of communities across the entire city.


Residential rehabilitation for alcohol and other drug dependence aims to provide a structured environment for people to break addiction and reintegrate into society within a community rather than in outpatient or other settings. This Evidence Snapshot aimed to identify the community impacts of residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation services. Ten studies were reviewed, seven of which were from the US and two from Australia. A consistent theme across five studies examining community perceptions and impact was that initial concerns around the potential impacts of drug treatment facilities, including residential rehabilitation, were largely unfounded or did not materialise in the long term. Studies also reported a number of positive impacts on communities as reflected by participation in events at community rehabilitation centres, residents making contributions to communities through volunteering, and longer-term employment and associated economic impacts stemming from successful reintegration into the community following rehabilitation. Three studies examining impacts on property values reported mixed findings. One study reported negative impacts, however two studies demonstrated either no effect or higher sales in houses close to sober-living houses over time. A large study examining crime rates showed that drug treatment centres had similar crime rates to areas around liquor stores and lower rates than near corner and convenience stores. A US-based study of economic impacts reported positive impacts. The review findings raise a number of important considerations. Initial community concerns are not based on lived experience of residential rehabilitation in their area and appear to diminish once the centres are established. A number of gaps in the evidence - including a dearth of studies; lack of exploration of community knowledge; and potential under-measurement of complex outcomes such as community attitudes and sentiment – should be borne in mind when interpreting review findings.


We investigate the dynamic response of single cells to weak and local rigidities, applied at controlled adhesion sites. Using multiple latex beads functionalized with fibronectin, and each trapped in its own optical trap, we study the reaction in real time of single 3T3 fibroblast cells to asymmetrical tensions in the tens of pN x microm(-1) range. We show that the cell feels a rigidity gradient even at this low range of tension, and over time develops an adapted change in the force exerted on each adhesion site. The rate at which force increases is proportional to trap stiffness. Actomyosin recruitment is regulated in space and time along the rigidity gradient, resulting in a linear relationship between the amount of recruited actin and the force developed independently in trap stiffness. This time-regulated actomyosin behavior sustains a constant and rigidity-independent velocity of beads inside the traps. Our results show that the strengthening of extracellular matrix-cytoskeleton linkages along a rigidity gradient is regulated by controlling adhesion area and actomyosin recruitment, to maintain a constant deformation of the extracellular matrix.


In recent years there have been numerous studies of changes in electrical potentials recorded from the central nervous system during conditioning. Detailed reviews may be found in John' and Morrel1. 2 In some of these studies it has been reported that during conditioning, there is an increase in similarity of wave shape of macropotentials recorded from diverse anatomical regions.?" The similarities in wave shape appear to be most pronounced when the animal is correctly performing to the conditioned stimulus and are less pronounced or absent in the incorrectly performing animal. These data suggest that similarity of macropotential wave shape may have functional significance. This paper discusses techniques for analyzing large sets of evoked potential wave forms recorded from diverse anatomical sites, with the particular purpose of investigating changes in similarity among the wave forms. Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings are obtained from cats with chronically implanted electrodes, in response to a repetitive stimulus. These data are initially processed by a four-channel Average Response Computer (Mnemotron CAT 400). The resulting wave shapes are then converted to punch cards and further processed on the University of Rochester's IBM 7070 computer. The operation of the Average Response Computer (ARC) has been described in detail elsewhere.' The use of the ARC implies that the EEG signals recorded during repetitive stimulation can be roughly described as repetitive evoked potentials, of the same periodicity as the stimulus, plus incoherent "ongoing" activity. The averaging process suppresses the incoherent signal and the result is a detailed description of the time course of the coherent portions of the potentials evoked by the iterated stimuli.


To estimate the potential contribution of ethological and ecological parameters to the mechanisms of species formation and species isolation in the Palearctic cicada genus Tibicina, we constructed a molecular phylogenetic hypothesis of extant Tibicina species. Seven mitochondrial genes and a fragment of a nuclear gene were sequenced (3046 bp). Mitochondrial genes included 547 informative sites but the nuclear gene was too conserved to be included in the analysis. The tree was characterized by a basal polytomy indicating that Tibicina species arose rapidly. Such rapid radiation might explain the low divergence in the acoustic communication observed between species. Parameters describing habitat selection and acoustic communication were mapped onto the tree. A shift in habitat selection accompanied by acoustic changes might have contributed to one speciation event. The stochastic distribution of the same acoustic characters on the other branches of the tree implies, however, that the subtle acoustic differences between species could be the result of previous speciation events and independent evolutionary histories, rather than having contributed themselves in the speciation and isolation processes. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 91, 611–626.


In this study, the thermal performance of latent heat thermal energy storage system (LHTESS) prototype to be used in a range of thermal systems (e.g., solar water heating systems, space heating/domestic hot water applications) is designed, fabricated, and experimentally investigated. The thermal store comprised a novel horizontally oriented multitube heat exchanger in a rectangular tank (forming the shell) filled with 37.8 kg of phase change material (PCM) RT62HC with water as the working fluid. The assessment of thermal performance during charging (melting) and discharging (solidification) was conducted under controlled several operational conditions comprising the heat transfer fluid (HTF) volume flow rates and inlet temperatures. The experimental investigations reported are focused on evaluating the transient PCM average temperature distribution at different heights within the storage unit, charging/discharging time, instantaneous transient charging/discharging power, and the total cumulative thermal energy stored/released. From the experimental results, it is noticed that both melting/solidification time significantly decreased with increase HTF volume flow rate and that changing the HTF inlet temperature shows large impacts on charging time compared to changing the HTF volume flow rate. During the discharging process, the maximum power output was initially 4.48 kW for HTF volume flow rate of 1.7 L/min, decreasing to 1.0 kW after 52.3 min with 2.67 kWh of heat delivered. Based on application heat demand characteristics, required power levels and heat demand can be fulfilled by employing several stores in parallel or series.


Artificial synthesis of DNA molecules is an essential part of the study of biological mechanisms. The design of a synthetic DNA molecule usually involves many objectives. One of the important objectives is to eliminate short sequence patterns that correspond to binding sites of restriction enzymes or transcription factors. While many design tools address this problem, no ade-quate formal solution exists for the pattern elimination problem. In this work, we present a formal description of the elimination problem and suggest efficient algorithms that eliminate unwanted patterns and allow optimization of other objectives with minimal interference to the desired DNA functionality. Our approach is flexible, efficient, and straightforward, and therefore can be easily incorporated in existing DNA design tools, making them considerably more powerful.


Abstract Mutation is the primary determinant of genetic diversity in influenza viruses. The rate of mutation, measured in an absolute time-scale, is likely to be dependent on the rate of errors in copying RNA sequences per replication and the number of replications per unit time. Conditions for viral replication are probably different among host taxa, potentially generating the host specificity of the viral mutation rate, and possibly between highly and low pathogenic (HP and LP) viruses. This study investigated whether mutation rates per year in avian influenza A viruses depend on host taxa and pathogenicity. We inferred mutation rates from the rates of synonymous substitutions, which are assumed to be neutral and thus equal to mutation rates, at four segments that code internal viral proteins (PB2, PB1, PA, NP). On the phylogeny of all avian viral sequences for each segment, multiple distinct subtrees (clades) were identified that represent viral subpopulations, which are likely to have evolved within particular host taxa. Using simple regression analysis, we found that mutation rates were significantly higher in viruses infecting chickens than domestic ducks and in those infecting wild shorebirds than wild ducks. Host dependency of the substitution rate was also confirmed by Bayesian phylogenetic analysis. However, we did not find evidence that the mutation rate is higher in HP than in LP viruses. We discuss these results considering viral replication rate as the major determinant of mutation rate per unit time.


SDO/HMI observations reveal a class of solar flares with substantial energy and momentum impacts in the photosphere, concurrent with white-light emission and helioseismic responses, known as sunquakes. Previous radiative hydrodynamic modeling has demonstrated the challenges of explaining sunquakes in the framework of the standard flare model of `electron beam' heating. One of the possibilities to explain the sunquakes and other signatures of the photospheric impact is to consider additional heating mechanisms involved in solar flares, for example, via flare-accelerated protons. In this work, we analyze a set of single-loop RADYN+FP simulations where the atmosphere is heated by non-thermal power-law-distributed proton beams which can penetrate deeper than the electron beams into the low atmospheric layers. Using the output of the RADYN models, we calculate synthetic Fe I 6173 A line Stokes profiles and from those the line-of-sight (LOS) observables of the SDO/HMI instrument, as well as the 3D helioseismic response and compare them with the corresponding observational characteristics. These initial results show that the models with proton beam heating can produce the enhancement of the HMI continuum observable and explain qualitatively generation of sunquakes. The continuum observable enhancement is evident in all models but is more prominent in ones with $E_{c}\geq$500 keV. In contrast, the models with $E_{c}\leq$100 keV provide a stronger sunquake-like helioseismic impact according to the 3D acoustic modeling, suggesting that low-energy (deka- and hecto-keV) protons have an important role in the generation of sunquakes.


In this paper, the control of a single-phase cascaded H-bridge neutral-point clamped inverter is investigated. The grid-tied inverter is employed to interface Photovoltaic (PV) panels to the utility grid. A MPC and a classical controller are presented and their effectiveness is illustrated by being compared in terms of several quantitative and qualitative performance indices. The computation burden of the microprocessor, dynamic response and THD compliance with the international standards are some of the considered quantitative characteristics. On the other hand, ease of control development, adaptability to different operating conditions, neutral-point potential balancing along with independent control of each inverter cell are some of the qualitative indices to be investigated. The performances of both controllers are validated by extracting power from two PV strings.


Codimerization of ethylene with styrene takes place in the presence of the RuCl 2 (MeCN) 2 (cod)/MAO catalyst at room temperature to yield 3-phenyl-1-butene accompanied by formation of 1,3-diphenyl-1-butene as a by-product. The reaction with molar ratio of [styrene]/[Ru]/[Al] = 10000/1/300 resulted in 83% conversion of styrene and 93% selectivity of 3-phenyl-1-butene after 2 h. RuCl 2 (MeCN) 2 (cod)/Et 2 AlCl also catalyzes the hydrovinylation of styrene, and the reaction produces 3-phenyl-1-butene and 1,3-diphenyl-1-butene in 71:29 ratio after 30 min. 1 H NMR spectroscopy of the reaction mixture for a longer period revealed that 1,3-diphenyl-1-butene, the byproduct, was converted to 3-phenyl-1-butene, probably via Ru-catalyzed metathesis reaction of 1,3-diphenyl-1-butene with ethylene. RuCl also promotes hydrovinylation of norbornene and 1-phenyl-1,3-butadiene to give exo-2-vinylnorbornane and ( E )-5-phenyl-3-methyl-1,4-pentadiene, respectively.


Abstract The linear mean gradient model (or K-theory closure) is applied to the diffusion of a pair of particles passively advected by an inhomogeneous, nonstationary ensemble of velocity fields. The central result is a differential equation satisfied by a model joint probability density function of the particle positions, approximating that of the real ensemble. Phenomenologically determined coefficients appear in the equation. One of these is the one-particle effective eddy diffusivity tensor while the other is a tensor quantity representative of the correlation between the motions of the particles. Conditions an the tensor coefficients are found to ensure that the one-particle model is properly embedded in the two-particle model. The separation into a center-of-mass diffusion model and a relative diffusion model is accomplished. Corresponding diffusivity tensors are derived and specialized to the case of homogeneous turbulence. An application to the problem of showing the initial appearance of small-sc...


One hundred years in the making, the Equal Rights Amendment is the only proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that has met the requirements of Article V of the Constitution but has not been added to the Constitution due to a congressionally imposed ratification deadline. The amendment guarantees that "[e]quality of rights shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex," like gender equality guarantees in most constitutions around the world. This chapter exposes the unique trajectory of the Equal Rights Amendment to shed light on the process of feminist constitutional change and the evolution of substantive feminist legal aspirations. The revival of the ERA ratification process, decades after Congress's deadlines, has generated transgenerational public meanings for a new body of gender equality law and public policy.


The authors studied 14 patients with epileptic seizures occurring from one to about 20 daily despite monitored pharmacological treatment. Two pairs of silver, properly insulated electrodes were applied to the subtentorial surface of both cerebellar hemispheres through burr-holes. The cerebellar surface was stimulated once daily for 30 min to 1 hour with electrical current at 10 Hz, 1 msec, 1-7 V during 10 to 16 days. During that time epileptic seizures disappeared completely in 5 cases, in 6 patients their frequency was reduced to one seizure every several days, in 2 cases the improvement was slight and one patient failed to improve. After cessation of electrostimulation and removal of electrodes in most cases the seizures increased again in frequently gradually. Twelve months after the procedure in only 4 cases a significant improvement remained. The authors believe that this method of cerebellar cortex stimulation should be regarded as a trial before making decision about chronic implantation of cerebellar electrostimulator for selecting patients responding well to this treatment. This group amounts to about 30% of such drug-resistant cases.


This article is a report of a study that examined three cross-age peer-tutoring dyads in order to identify important factors in the tutor-tutee interaction that might explain previous research showing benefits of peer tutoring for tutors and tutees. The subject area was math with seventh grade tutors and third grade tutees. The study found that when there is successful interaction between tutors and tutees, achievement of both is enhanced through peer tutoring.


In order to improve the correctness and validity for three coordinate vision measurement using a light-pen,the origin,mathematic model and its correctness and validity of"six-point perspective problem"are studied.According to the classical"N-point perspective problem"theory,the universal mathematic model is established for three coordinate vision measurement using a light-pen.On the basis of analyzing and studing the solutions of the above universal mathematic model,a conclusion is drawn that"six-point perspective problem"has a unique solution and can be solved linearly in three coordinate vision measurement using a light-pen,and the mathematic model for"six-point perspective problem"is established.Finally,the experiment measuring system for"six-point perspective problem"is developed,and the comparing measuring experiment is conducted on the Coordinate Measuring Machine(CMM).The comparing measurement result shows that the maximum difference value between the measuring data of the"six-point perspective problem"experiment system and CMM is 0.06mm,0.07mm and 0.09mm in 300mm measuring range along the X,Y,Zaxis respectively,which meets the requirement of the measuring accuracy basically on spot.


The maximum attainable pressure in a multi-anvil type of high-pressure apparatus (MAA) is limited to about 27 GPa when using tungsten carbide (WC) as anvil material. Recently a remarkable innovation has been made for the MAA by adopting sintered diamond (SD) as anvil material. So far pressures up to 49 GPa has been confirmed in SD anvil assembly without any reduction of the specimen volume. Therefore, phase equilibrium and melting experiments of Earth materials have been extended to conditions deep into the lower mantle. The results will substantially advance our understanding of the structure of the lower mantle and the state of Earth early in its history.


Distributed continuous media server (DCMS) architectures are proposed to minimize the communication-storage cost for those continuous media applications that serve a large number of geographically distributed clients. Typically, a DCMS is designed as a pure hierarchy of centralized continuous media servers. RedHi, a Redundant Hierarchical topology for DCMS networks, can result in higher utilization and better reliability over pure hierarchy. We focus on the design of a resource management system (RMS) for RedHi that can exploit the resources of its DCMS network to achieve these performance objectives. Our RMS is based on a fully decentralized approach to achieve optimal scalability and robustness. The major drawback of a fully decentralized design is the increase in latency time and communication overhead to locate the requested object. However, as compared to the typically long duration and high resource/bandwidth requirements of continuous media objects, the extra latency and overhead of a decentralized resource management approach become negligible. Moreover, our RMS collapses three management tasks (object location, path selection and resource reservation) into one fully decentralized object delivery mechanism, reducing the latency even further. Decentralization of the resource management satisfies our scalability and robustness objectives, whereas collapsing the management tasks helps alleviate the latency and overhead constraints. To achieve a high resource utilization, the object delivery scheme uses our proposed cost function, as well as various object location and resource reservation policies to select and allocate the best streaming path to serve each request. The object delivery scheme is designed as an application-layer resource management middleware for the DCMS architecture to be independent of the underlying telecommunication infrastructure. Experiments show that our RMS is successful in realization of the higher resource utilization for the DCMS networks with the RedHi topology.


Medical devices that are inserted in blood vessels always risk eliciting thrombosis, and the surface properties of such devices are thus of major importance. The initiating step for surface-induced pathological coagulation has been associated with adsorption of fibrinogen protein on biomaterial surfaces and subsequent polymerization into an insoluble fibrin clot. This issue gives rise to an inherent challenge in biomaterial design as varied surface materials must fulfill specialized roles while also minimizing thrombotic complications from spontaneous fibrin(ogen) recruitment. We have aimed to characterize the thrombogenic properties of state-of-the-art cardiovascular biomaterials and medical devices by quantifying the relative surface-dependent adsorption and formation of fibrin followed by analysis of the resulting morphologies. We identified stainless steel and amorphous fluoropolymer as comparatively preferable biomaterials based on their low fibrin(ogen) recruitment, in comparison to other metallic and polymeric biomaterials, respectively. In addition, we observed a morphological trend that fibrin forms fiber structures on metallic surfaces and fractal branched structures on polymeric surfaces. Finally, we used vascular guidewires as clotting substrates and found that fibrin adsorption depends on parts of the guidewire that are exposed, and we correlated the morphologies on uncoated guidewires with those formed on raw stainless-steel biomaterials.


This paper describes the in vitro cultivation of the 3rd-larval stage (L3) of Anisakis simplex to adulthood in a much simpler and easier to prepare medium than those described to date. The adult males obtained are between 3.8 and 6.5 cm long and the females between 4.5 and 8.0 cm. Some individually cultivated females laid eggs which had an average size of 44.4×50.5 μm. The culture conditions were as follows: medium RPMI-1640 supplemented with 20% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum and 1% commercial pepsin, at pH 4.0 and a temperature of 37 °C, and in air atmosphere with 5% CO2. The pepsin was found to be the key to the success of the culture. The average survival of the worms in the culture increased from 50 to 88 days, due to the fact that the survival of the adults practically doubled (increasing by 1.9 times). Furthermore, the number of worms that completed the 4th moulting (M4) increased by 4.2 times, from 22.9 to 95.6%. This culture medium may facilitate, due to its simplicity, the study of anisakids, or at least of A. simplex, constituting another step towards achieving a complete in vitro life-cycle for these parasites.


Objectives To examine healthcare utilisation patterns in a sample of young people with self-reported experiences of self-harm and/or suicidal behaviours. Methods A national survey examining mental health in a nationally representative sample of young Australians aged 12–17 years, linked to routinely collected healthcare and dispensing data. For respondents that self-reported experience of self-harm, suicidal ideation, suicidal plan and/or suicide attempt, we assessed attendance at a Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) subsidised MH service or non-MH general practitioner (GP) attendance at three time periods: 1) ever, 2) in the 12 months prior to completing the survey and 3) after completing the survey until 31 Dec 2015. We also assessed correlates associated with attendance and non-attendance at a MH service. Results The study included 311 young people. MH services were attended in the 12 months before the survey by 38.3% with attempted suicide, 28.7% with a suicidal plan, 28.9% with suicidal ideation and 29.4% with self-harm. MH treatment administered by a GP was the most common MH service (25%); followed treatment by psychologist (15%) and psychiatrist (5%). Attendance at a MH service was observed highest alongside more severe self-reported depression. Conclusions Potential underutilisation of MBS MH services by young people with self-harm and/or suicidal behaviours.


The objective of this study was to establish an effective method of artificial reproduction and larval rearing to improve the fry production of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Thus, a hormonal treatment using ovaprim was used to induce maturity in males and females. Two breeding trials were first conducted on captive populations by crossing a male and female Senegalese strain (♂ss/♀ss), and a male and female Beninese strain (♂bs/♀bs). A third reproduction test was carried out by crossing ♀ss/♂bs and ♂ss/♀bs but for this test, the ♀ss and ♂ss are wild breeders that were collected from the natural environment. For the first two breeding tests (♂ss/♀ss and ♂bs/♀bs, respectively), fertilized eggs either did not hatch or some hatched but the fry did not survive. Although the number of broodstock used in these first two breeding tests is small, this lack of hatching and poor larval survival may reflect inbreeding depression. The third breeding test was successful as females and males, respectively, produced large quantities of eggs (13g of eggs for ♀ss and 32g of eggs for ♀bs) and sufficient quantities of sperm to fertilize the eggs (approximately 12g for the Benin strain and 5g for the Senegal strain). Hatching rates of 90% and 60% were obtained for the ♀ss/♂bs and ♀bs/♂ss breeding's, respectively, after incubation of fertilized eggs on water hyacinth (natural substrate) and pompon (artificial substrate). Comparisons of growth rates of larvae fed two different diets (combination of natural and artificial food, and artificial food alone) showed that artificial food alone was more effective for growth, especially after one month of rearing. The high larval mortalities recorded especially at the end of the experiment were mainly due to poor water quality. Thus, this study provided a better understanding of the conditions in the hatchery and larval culture systems that are critical to the success of artificial reproduction and optimal growth of C. gariepinus fry.


A post-permeation method is constructed for fabricating bulk-heterojunction hybrid solar cells. Porous CdTe film is prepared by annealing the mixture solution of aqueous CdTe nanocrystals and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, after which the post-permeation of polymer is employed. By this method, kinds of polymers can be applied regardless of the intermiscibility with the nanoparticles. The inorganic nanocrystals and the polymer can be treated under respective optimized annealing temperatures, which can facilitate the growth of nanocrystals without damaging the polymers. A high power conversion efficiency of 6.36% in the polymer/nanocrystals hybrid solar cells is obtained via systematical optimization.


The post-tectonic Younger Granite plutons of Egypt are products of a single magmatic episode 603 to 575 m.y. ago which marked the end of a "cratonizing process" and the beginning of truly anorogenic activity in the Egyptian Red Sea Hills exposure of the Nubian-Arabian Shield. Prior to Younger Granite magmatism, the region is interpreted as having been the locus of island-arc, small ocean-basin development with later compressive coalescence of arcs and basins. This early period was characterized by the formation of deformed eugeosynclinal sediantary and volcanic rocks, ophiolites, and orogenic batholiths. A tectonic environment including the deposition of terrigenous sediments in isolated, fault-bounded basins and intermediate to felsic volcanism followed the culmination of orogenic activity. The Younger Granites intrude all of these earlier units. After the time of Younger Granite intrusion and prior to Red Sea rifting, magmatism was limited to minor alkaline volcanism and intrusions ranging from early Paleozoic to Tertiary in age. The Egyptian Younger Granites occur as three petrologic-geochemical groups, but all three are post-tectonic and epizonal. Other characteristics common to all groups are homogeneity and an absence of tectonic foliation and pegmatites. Younger Granite quartz veins occur in place of pegmatites, which are common in older, orogenic plutons. The modal abundances of quartz, plagioclase, and alkali-feldspar in the Younger Granites classify them as true granites with a few granodiorite samples among the least differentiated group III plutons. Group I granites have been extensively albitized and silicified, resulting in the modification of original hypersolvus quartz-feldspar fabrics. Group III rocks are strictly subsolvus and contain larger proportions of plagioclase (other than hydrothermal-metasomatic albite) and mafic mineral phases than do groups I or II. Group II granites are similar to group I but are less albitized and have higher mafic contents. The eighteen plutons studied range from peraluminous to slightly peralkaline granitic rocks. Group III plutons are the most mafic, with high MgO, total Pe, CaO, TiO 2 , A1 2 O 3 , and Sr contents. Group I granites are very siliceous (to 80% SiO 2 ) and also contain the most Rb, Y, Nb, and U, all reflecting their hydrothermal alteration, Group I and, to a lesser extent, group II are very depleted in MgO, TiO 2 , and Sr relative to "calc-alkaline granites." Taken as e whole, the analyzed Younger Granite groups are not as rich in large ion lithophylic (LIL) elements as similar post-tectonic plutons from other areas. Egyptian Younger Granites typically have low 87 Sr/ 86 (0.701 − 0.7025) and are not associated with mafic differentiates nor with other diverse rock types often found in many post-tectonic alkali granite provinces. From the available data, the Younger Granites can be considered as low-temperature products of a eutectic partial-melting process that took place in depleted upper mantle or lower crustal material. The postulated geologic history of the region prior to Younger Granite intrusion indicates that the source of the granite melts was probably "cratonized" oceanic, continental margin, or intra-oceanic are and basin material. The chemistry and tectonic setting of the Younger Granites strongly demonstrates their anorogenic character and tends to argue against their derivation from subduction-zone activity.


A major challenge for next generation mobile communication is capturing the system architecture's complexity with all its internal and external dependencies. Seamless integration of heterogeneous environments in all system parts is a key requirement. Moreover, future systems have to consider the different evolution cycles of individual system parts. Among those, services are expected to change the fastest. With respect to these considerations, we propose an overall architecture for next generation mobile communication systems. It covers all system parts from wireless transmission to applications including network and middleware platform. Our approach focuses on adaptability in terms of reconfigurability and programmability to support unanticipated system evolution. Therefore, we consider abstraction layers which consist of adaptable cooperating components grouped by open platforms rather than rigid system layers. In addition to that, we introduce cross-layer cooperation allowing an efficient use of the available resources. Specific scenarios illustrate the feasibility of our approach.


This work investigates the effects associated with training initiatives consistent with formative assessment to enhance teaching among science teachers in Saudi primary schools. The programme comprised training sessions that were ongoing for a period of two months, which emphasised the strategic skills of adopting the formative assessment. The researcher adopted an experimental approach centred on the design of the control and experimental groups to establish the overall efficiency of the suggested training programme in the development of knowledge among teachers in the field of formative assessment strategy skills. The sample comprised 33 primary school science teachers who were based in Sakaka in the Al-Jouf region; the sample was randomly divided into an experimental group (16 teachers) and a control group (17 teachers). The findings indicate the success of the proposed program, in which the experimental group was more a function of the control group in the telemetric measurement. Moreover, classroom observations were applied by the researcher, in which the science teachers were assessed with the aim to determine whether a form of formative assessment was used following the completion of the programme. The findings suggest that the science teachers adopted various strategies of formative assessment, including sharing learning goals, open questions, assessment-based evidence, and teacher– child classroom dialogue.


Deccox is a feed additive intended for the control of coccidiosis, a debilitating protozoal infection in poultry. In common with a number of other coccidiostats the additive is due for re-evaluation to comply with statutory requirements agreed at a EU-level. The European Commission asked the EFSA to evaluate the product Deccox and advise the Commission on its efficacy and safety. This task was allocated to the Scientific Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel). The data provided in the dossier proved insufficient to give conclusive answers to the several of the questions raised by the European Commission.


The present article deals with the development of a generalized body of knowledge in project management. In this paper, a set of processes of this generalized body of knowledge is formed. The set of processes is created on the basis of standard PMBOK by using the standard ISO 21500, plan-driven methodology PRINCE2, SWEBOK Guide as well as Agile methodologies SCRUM, XP, and Kanban. Activities of PRINCE2 and SWEBOK, practices of XP and Kanban were represented as processes. The generalized body of knowledge also includes the processes proposed by the experts. All processes of the generalized body of knowledge were distributed over ten knowledge areas and eight processes groups. Process tables were formed.


Pancreatic β-cells couple nutrient metabolism with appropriate insulin secretion. Here, we show that pyruvate kinase (PK), which converts ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) into ATP and pyruvate, underlies β-cell sensing of both glycolytic and mitochondrial fuels. PK present at the plasma membrane is sufficient to close KATP channels and initiate calcium influx. Small-molecule PK activators increase β-cell oscillation frequency and potently amplify insulin secretion. By cyclically depriving mitochondria of ADP, PK restricts oxidative phosphorylation in favor of the mitochondrial PEP cycle with no net impact on glucose oxidation. Our findings support a compartmentalized model of β-cell metabolism in which PK locally generates the ATP/ADP threshold required for insulin secretion, and identify a potential therapeutic route for diabetes based on PK activation that would not be predicted by the β-cell consensus model. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT The consensus model for β-cell glucose sensing supports a dominant role for OxPhos. This model doesn't fully explain the observed metabolic and electrophysiologic oscillations associated with glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Lewandowski et al. challenge this model by mechanistically connecting the anaplerotic PEP cycle to the electrically silent triggering phase, and OxPhos to the electrically active secretory phase. Here, the allosteric recruitment of pyruvate kinase directs metabolic traffic between the two cycles and identifies potential therapeutic strategies for diabetes based on pharmacologic pyruvate kinase activation. HIGHLIGHTS Compartmentalized pyruvate kinase (PK) activity underlies β-cell fuel sensing Membrane-associated PK closes KATP channels and controls calcium influx By lowering ADP, PK toggles mitochondria between OxPhos and PEP biosynthesis Pharmacologic PK activation increases oscillatory frequency and amplifies secretion


Existing quantitative studies use various measurements and methods to examine Bourdieu's theory of cultural reproduction in the field of education. Yet, most studies either misunderstand the concepts involved or only test part of the theory. This article addresses these gaps by using the 'structure-disposition-practice' (SDP) framework to develop an integral model of cultural reproduction and it constructs a more precise measurement of habitus. It aims to provide an in-depth empirical understanding of the interrelationships between social position, parents' and students' dispositions, practices and field. Using the Chinese Educational Panel Survey (CEPS) the authors apply a structural equation model (SEM) to test their theoretical framework. They compare the cultural reproduction processes for cognitive development and academic achievements of eighth-grade students. The results suggest parents' and students' habitus plays a more crucial role than family's social position in the cultural reproduction process. The study also finds that families' social position is more important in reproducing students' cognitive development than in academic achievements in China. The findings provide a quantitative understanding of the cultural reproduction process with relational thinking.


Background: Aim: To identify the prognostic factors for the locally advanced cancer cervix patients treated with weekly cisplatin based concurrent chemoradiation. Subjects and Methods: We have analyzed 57 women with FIGO stage IB2-IIIB cervical cancer treated in the Oncology outpatient department of a tertiary care center between May 2014 to December 2016.Inclusion criteria includes patients treated with Radical Radiotherapy with cisplatin 30mg/m2.Median total dose to point A was 72Gy. Data regarding age, performance status, stage, histology, grade, tumour size, pretreatment haemoglobin level, radiological imaging details, pelvic nodal involvement, compliance to treatment, no. of chemotherapy cycles, total duration of radiotherapy and toxicity profiles are reviewed from medical records. Primary endpoints were to assess the prognostic factors that affects the tumor response and progression free survival and disease free survival. Survival analysis was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, to estimate the hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals using IBM SPSS statistical software. Results: The median follow-up time was 18 months. The 2 year overall survival was 31.6% and PFS is 29.8%. In univariate analysis presence of pelvic node, tumor size, radiotherapy treatment duration, no. of chemotherapy cycles were significantly associated with overall survival and progression free survival. In multivariate analysis, only tumour size and radiotherapy treatment duration significantly affected the overall survival and progression free survival. Conclusion: Bulky tumour and prolongation of treatment duration were poor prognostic factors for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Chemotherapy with a high cumulative dose of cisplatin tended to result in better survival.


Objectives
To investigate the prevalence and transmission of 16S rRNA methylase genes among Salmonella isolates from food animals in China.

Methods
A total of 310 Salmonella isolates collected from food animals in seven provinces of China during 2016-17 were screened for 16S RMTase genes. The clonal relationship of the 16S RMTase-producing isolates and their plasmid contents were also characterized.

Results
rmtB and armA were respectively identified in 12 and 1 Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana (Salmonella Indiana) isolates from farmed ducks. These 13 isolates concurrently expressed high-level resistance to amikacin, cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. They were assigned to seven distinct PFGE patterns and the high similarity among 10 of the 12 rmtB-carrying isolates suggests clonal expansion. The rmtB gene was co-transferred with blaCTX-M-27-qepA and qepA in eight and two of the isolates, respectively, and was located on F2:A1:B1 plasmids with sizes of 135 and 100 kb, respectively. These 10 rmtB-bearing plasmids showed four restriction patterns with a high similarity. Four representative rmtB-bearing plasmids were fully sequenced and they exhibited remarkable similarity and possessed typical FII backbones. The primary differences were located in the region between blaTEM-1 and ycgA. Furthermore, a novel MDR region (13.5 kb) was identified that contained qepA, rmtB and blaCTX-M-27.

Conclusions
This is the first report, to our knowledge, of the prevalence and complete sequences of plasmids simultaneously containing rmtB, qepA and blaCTX-M-27. These findings underscore a major public health threat posed by epidemic F2:A1:B1 plasmids bearing qepA-rmtB-blaCTX-M-27 that are circulating in XDR Salmonella Indiana clonal isolates from waterfowl husbandry.


A new generation of segmented gamma-ray scanners has been developed at Los Alamos for scrap and waste measurements at the Savannah River Plant and the Los Alamos Plutonium Facility. The new designs are highly automated and exhibit special features such as good segmentation and thorough shielding to improve performance.


In the present paper we study a new function called as R-function [6], which is an extension of the generalized Mittag-Leffler functions. We derive the relations that exist between the R-function and Saigo-Maeda fractional calculus operators. Some results derived by Kumar and Kumar [6], Kilbas [4], Kilbas and Saigo [5]; and Sharma and Jain [23] are special cases of the main results derived in this paper.


In 3D seismic surveys, common offset data often involve an irregular distribution of midpoints. In such a situation, common offset Kirchhoff migration cannot be correctly performed by means of a mere discrete diffraction stack algorithm. Such an algorithm indeed corresponds to an inconsistent numerical integration formula. To overcome this difficulty, genuine numerical integration formulas (yielding a consistent approximation of the continuous diffraction stack) have to be used, e.g. numerical integration formulas based on polynomials leading to the so-called Lagrange or Hermite interpolations. A numerical integration formula based on Lagrange interpolation can cope with irregularly sampled midpoints provided that the density of midpoints involved in the common offset gather is sufficient. Besides, Hermite interpolation, more accurate in theory than the former, also provides relative improvement in the images at the vicinity of the migrated event,. Both techniques can be implemented by means of a simple preprocessing (adequate scaling) of the data. Thus they are quite easy to implement in any existing diffraction stack code. In addition, they can be used in combination with filters to prevent aliasing of the migration operator. The additional computation cost is negligible compared with the cost of running the diffraction stack itself.


The authors describe the integration of low-loss optical waveguides with lab-on-a-chip structures to produce an integrated optical-microfluidic platform for time-correlated single-photon counting of fluorescent molecules. Waveguides were fabricated using electron beam densification of planar silica on silicon, eliminating any requirement for depositing upper cladding silica layers. Microfluidic channels were dry etched directly through the waveguides and the device was sealed using a poly(dimethylsiloxane) gasket. Time-resolved fluorescence lifetime measurements of the fluorophore nile blue were used as a model system to demonstrate the operation of the microfluidic device, with dye concentrations as low as 1.5nM (equivalent to <6000molecules) being measured.


In this paper, we explore how a familiarly shaped object can serve as a physical proxy to manipulate virtual objects in Augmented Reality (AR) environments. Using the example of a tangible, handheld sphere, we demonstrate how irregularly shaped virtual objects can be selected, transformed, and released. After a brief description of the implementation of the tangible proxy, we present a buttonless interaction technique suited to the characteristics of the sphere. In a user study (N = 30), we compare our approach with three different controller-based methods that increasingly rely on physical buttons. As a use case, we focused on an alignment task that had to be completed in mid-air as well as on a flat surface. Results show that our concept has advantages over two of the controller-based methods regarding task completion time and user ratings. Our findings inform research on integrating tangible interaction into AR experiences.


A family brought their 61-year-old mother to the emergency department because for 4 days she had been confused, incoherent, and somnolent. She also had dysphagia, dysarthria, diplopia, and had fallen out of bed. She had been in the hospital 3 weeks earlier for atrial fibrillation and an exacerbation of congestive heart failure. She also carried a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and used an albuterol inhaler. She was obese (BMI of 45); and had adult-onset diabetes mellitus. She had a 43 pack-year history of cigarette smoking but had recently quit. Soon after arriving in the emergency department, she had an ECG (Figure);.


Garnierite from near Riddle, Oreg., is an inhomogeneous material that has three general modes of occurrence. An orderly variation in the physical properties and chemical composition of eight analyzed specimens is a significant field guide for economic geologists examining nickel-silicate deposits. The NiO content of the specimens ranges from 2.6 to 37.0 percent. In general, the garnierite specimens rich in nickel are darker green than those poor in nickel and have a higher specific gravity, higher mean index of refraction, and different X-ray and differential thermal analysis patterns. Laboratory evidence supports the conclusion that the eight specimens are not variations of a single mineral but are mixtures of two or more hydrosilicates.


12 13 The Barcelona test (BCN) is an alternative method to characterize the post-cracking 14 behaviour of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC). Given its simplicity, the reduced scatter 15 of the results and low material consumption, the BCN may represent a suitable method 16 for the quality control of FRC. For that, a correlation between the results of the BCN 17 and the bending test is currently required since the latter is considered the reference for 18 the characterization of the material and for deriving the constitutive design equations. 19 The objective of this paper is to propose such correlation following an approach that 20 takes into account the intrinsic variability of FRC. An experimental program involving 21 21 mixes of conventional and self-compacting FRC with either steel or plastic fibres 22 was performed. Several analyses were conducted both for selecting the most relevant 23 parameters and for maximizing the degree of correlation between the tests. The highest 24 correlation coefficient between tests was obtained for the mixes with plastic fibres. In 25


textabstractMy favorite children's book was (and still is) Matilda, by Roald Dahl. The story is about
Matilda Wormwood, an extraordinarily clever and sweet five year old girl who loves
to learn and read. Unfortunately, her unpleasant parents are contemptuous of her inquisitiveness
and talent, as is the headmistress of her school, Miss Trunchbull. While
Matilda's parents force her to eat microwave dinners and watch loud game shows on TV,
the child-hating Miss Trunchbull sows fear by locking children up in a device called
the Chokey (a claustrophobic closet with spikes perforating the walls) or launching
them across the schoolyard after swirling them around by their braids. Then, Matilda
finds out she has psychokinetic powers and decides to use them to teach her parents
and headmistress a lesson. The magic of this book was that it made me feel like being
drawn away from reality and into Matilda's world: I could feel her eagerness to learn
and her frustration with her parents, I could see her father's face and hear him shouting
when she super-glued his hat to his head, and I envisioned what it looked like when
she used her special powers to make crayons fly and write messages on a chalkboard to
scare the life out of Miss Trunchbull. How is this possible? How can abstract symbols
such as letters and words on a page come to life, engage you, create vivid images, and
make you feel like you experience the described events yourself?


Background: Based on our experience, a noticeable number of migraineurs without history of epilepsy disclose mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) on their brain MRI. Objective: This prospective study was conducted to assess the frequency of MTS in migraineurs and also determine the ratio of unilateral and bilateral cases. Material and Methods: In this cross sectional study, the frequency of MTS in MRI of 84 migraine patients, who had symptoms for at least 2 years, assessed. Brain MRI was done with T1 and T2 weighted protocols. Two radiologists separately interpreted findings, defining MTS as presence of any of hippocampal atrophy, increased T2 signal of hippocampus, decreased T1 signal of hippocampus or loss of internal architecture. Patients who radiologists had not agreement on their diagnoses excluded. Stat analysis done using 'N - 1' chi squared test. Results: Eleven patients were excluded due to non-accordant interpretation of MRI findings by the two examining radiologists. MTS was detected in 14 out of 73 patients (19%). Bilateral involvement of mesial temporal lobe was seen in 6 (8%) patients (M 67%, F 33%). Five cases (7%) had unilateral left MTS (M 67%, F 33%) while 3 (4%) were affected with right-sided MTS (M 33%, F 67%). These findings highly suggest association of MTS and Migraine (P-value <0.0001). Conclusion: While MTS is a prevalent finding in migraineurs, incidental finding of MTS in MRI should suspect physicians of migraine as well as temporal lobe epilepsy. MTS can be proposed as an etiology of migraine but most likely, consequence of it.


The negative effects that corruption has on both individual nations and the global society as a whole are known and well documented. Still, an estimated one trillion US dollars (US $1.000 billion) is paid each year in bribes worldwide and both individuals and organizations testify to engaging in corrupt behavior.

The interest in fighting corruption has grown significantly in recent years, both in individual nations and within the international community. Compliance with the American legislation on bribery and corruption, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), has become one of the most important compliance issues for multinational companies, both US and non-US, and one of the most prioritized parts of due diligence in relation to mergers and acquisitions. The FCPA is designed to deter improper inducements to foreign officials in connection with business activities and in doing so it consists of two major components namely, the accounting and record-keeping provisions and the anti-bribery provisions. The anti-bribery provisions apply to both physical and juristic persons and criminalize corrupt payments of foreign (non-US) government officials for the purpose of obtaining business. The United Kingdom recently enacted a reconstructed anti-bribery law, the Bribery Act 2010 (Bribery Act), with far-reaching exterritorial effects. The Bribery Act introduces a specific offence applicable to corporations failing to prevent acts of bribery committed by employees or agents. The basic provisions on bribery and corruption in Swedish law are found in the Penal Code of 1962 (Penal Code), where passive bribery and active bribery are separated as two different offences, listed in different chapters of the Code. Swedish anti-bribery law may soon be subject to change as an Inquiry has been appointed by the Swedish government to investigate and evaluate Swedish law in the area of anti-bribery and corruption. The Inquiry recently presented a report containing proposed changes of the bribery provisions of the Penal Code and a Code on Gifts, Rewards and Benefits in the Business Sector.

The overlying purpose of the proposed changes of the Swedish Penal Code presented by the Inquiry is to update Swedish anti-bribery law making it clearer and easier to understand and to apply. In order to do so, the Inquiry proposes structural change, organizing the bribery offences in one single chapter of the Penal Code - namely current chapter 10 with the proposed title of "On Embezzlement, Other Breaches of Trust and Bribery". However, the structural arrangement proposed by the Inquiry is misleading as it puts a disproportionate focus on breach of trust. As analyzed in this thesis there are a number of advantages to be obtained by regulating bribery in a separate law or in a separate chapter of the Penal Code.

Among a number of material changes, the Inquiry proposes that the key element of improper reward is to be replaced by improper influence. However, the problem of what is to be considered improper remains. The Inquiry has to some extent made interpreting the bribery provision and its key elements easier, by providing for sub-sections. The sub-sections highlight that there are different interests protected by the provision on bribery. However, to fully eliminate the problem a clearer separation of the different sets of interests protected by the provisions on bribery is required. The different aspects taken into consideration when determining what is to be deemed as improper should be reflected in the statutory language of the bribery provisions. Even though the change proposed by the Inquiry is important since it is indeed the effects of a given reward that are improper and unwanted not the reward itself, the proposed change does not make it easier to differentiate a proper reward from an illicit bribe.

The purpose and the field of application of the Code on Gifts, Rewards and Benefits in the Business Sector, proposed by the Inquiry, need not only be clarified but analyzed and questioned. The code is intended to provide for a buffer for the corporations and organizations that choose to follow it, as the provisions of the code are stricter and reach further than the provisions of the Penal Code. Corporations who choose to implement the code and be in compliance with it, are intended to be able to feel fairly confident that they are not offending the bribery provisions of the Penal Code. It is unclear however, what the consequences will be if a corporation, accidentally or intentionally, offends the provisions of the code. Self-regulation and ethical rules are indeed very welcomed as part of maintaining good business practice and there should be incentives for corporations and organizations to put forward and adhere to ethical standards. But when linking these ethical rules and standards to the law, one should do so with care. There is a risk of developing a notion that what is unethical consequently is unlawful, which would undermine the purposes of self-regulated codes such as the Code on Gifts, Rewards and Benefits in the Business Sector, discouraging corporations from voluntarily committing to ethical standards higher than the ones provided for by law.

The Bribery Act, when it comes into force, will have a significant impact on multinational corporations. The Bribery Act applies to all corporations incorporated in the UK and in terms of the offence failure of commercial organizations to prevent bribery to all bodies or partnerships that carry on a business or part of a business in any part of the UK. Thus its exterritorial jurisdiction is broad. Two important questions in regards to the offence failure of commercial organizations to prevent bribery are (i) what "carrying out part of a business in the UK" really means and (ii) what "an associated person" will come to mean and thus whose actions a corporation is responsible for. Employees, agents and subsidiaries will most likely be presumed to be associated with a corporation, for the purpose of this offence, but what other business associates, performing services for or on behalf of a corporation, will come to be included? These questions are analyzed in this thesis.

Unlike the Bribery Act and the Swedish Penal Code, the FCPA provides for an affirmative defense for reasonable and bona fide business expenditures related to certain company promotions. The Bribery Act sets itself apart from both American and Swedish anti-corruption regulation in that it is not necessarily a defense to state that the illicit payment was permitted under the written laws of the country where the act took place. In theory one can be held liable for bribery, under the Bribery Act, even if the written laws of the jurisdiction where the act took place permitted the act. These as well as other differences between the respective laws are analyzed in this thesis.

Swedish, British, American and multinational corporations and organizations with some form of connection to either of these countries are all affected by the anti-corruption regulations presented in this thesis. Accordingly, being aware of the jurisdictions an organization is exposed to and making sure that the organization is in compliance with the anti-bribery and corruption laws of those jurisdictions is of the utmost importance. If not, both organizations and individuals risk facing considerable sanctions such as several years of imprisonment, unlimited fines, considerable legal costs, debarment from public procurements and a damaged reputation. A well crafted compliance program does not only provide for sound corporate conduct preventing acts of corruption from taking place, but will also serve as a vital component when trying to limit or cut off liability as well as arguing for a reduced sentence when acts of corruption have taken place. As a corporation can be found liable for the acts of subsidiaries, agents and other business partners, it is also important to perform adequate due diligence before entering into these types of business relations. The basic components of a compliance program include top level commitment, risk assessment, clear and accessible policies and procedures, effective implementation, monitoring and review as well as performing due diligence of business partners and middlemen.

Successful action against corruption is impossible without the combined efforts of governments, individual organizations, corporations and people. And a corporation choosing to be in compliance with anti-bribery and corruption law does so, not only to the benefit of social justice and global and national economic growth but also to the benefit of its own profitability.


Objectives Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with an increased risk of HIV transmission, and intravaginal practices (IVP) are an important risk factor for developing BV. The relationship between IVP, BV and HIV lower genital shedding, responsible for HIV transmission, has not been examined in women receiving antiretrovirals in Zambia. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Community Health Center in Lusaka, Zambia. Participants and methods Participants were HIV-infected women receiving antiretroviral therapy and engaging in IVP (n=128). Participants completed audio computer-administered self-interviews to assess IVP and underwent a vaginal examination. BV was diagnosed using Nugent criteria. HIV-1 lower genital shedding was assessed by measuring HIV-1 RNA in cervicovaginal lavages. Results Most women engaged in IVP daily (114, 89.0%) and 81 (63.3%) of the participants had BV. HIV-1 genital shedding was detected in 18 (14.2%) participants. BV was associated with daily use of IVP (prevalence ratio, PR=4.58, CI 1.26 to 16.64, p=0.02) and weekly use of traditional medicines for IVP (PR=1.33, CI 1.05 to 1.68, p=0.02). The only factor associated with HIV-1 lower genital shedding was plasma viraemia (PR=4.61, CI 2.02 to 10.54, p<0.001). Neither IVP nor BV were associated with HIV shedding. Conclusions Despite the frequency of IVP and high prevalence of BV, plasma viraemia was the primary factor associated with HIV lower genital shedding. These findings support early initiation of antiretrovirals as an HIV prevention tool. Given adverse health outcomes associated with BV, the association between frequent IVP and BV, and the powerful local norms and traditions encouraging IVP, there is a need for studies assessing culturally tailored interventions to decrease BV in high-prevalence settings.


Circuit and system design and measured performance are here reported for the first experimental chaos radio system using Frequencymodulated Differential Chaos Shift Keying (FMDCSK). The 500 kb/s system operates at the 2.4 GHz ISM band using a radio bandwidth of 17 MHz. The experimental performance is shown to verify the theoretical predictions. The multi-path performance for a realistic indoor radio channel has been tested and shown to follow the theoretical predictions for an ideal two-path channel.


The paper presents a study of a six-phase wind energy conversion system (WECS) with series-connected dc-links. The structure of the generation system requires the dc-link voltages to be balanced at the generator's side. To achieve this, it is shown that a dc-link voltage balancing controller can be realised by exploiting the extra degrees of freedom provided by the xy plane of the six-phase machine. To facilitate the controller's implementation, an alternative modified transformation matrix is also suggested. The feasibility of the studied system, including the operation of the dc-link voltage balancing controller, is verified using Matlab/Simulink simulations.


Based on the results of the phase III PROWESS trial, recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in severely septic patients. Concerns regarding rhAPC's inconsistent effects, incomplete understanding of its mechanism of action, and its safety in particular subgroups were raised during the FDA's evaluation. This study attempts to assess the cost-effectiveness rhAPC by comparing its effects during recent clinical use to its prior phase III trial testing and by considering other potentially less expensive treatments with effects that may overlap those of rhAPC. In patients with similar numbers of injured organs, mortality rates may be higher with rhAPC during clinical use compared with the phase III trial. There may also be an increased risk of hemorrhage and other adverse events that necessitate early discontinuation of treatment. Many of the patients receiving rhAPC during clinical use may have otherwise been excluded from its phase III trial testing. Data from several recent phase III trials as well as a recent meta-analysis suggest that heparin and physiologic dose steroids offer substantially less expensive alternatives to rhAPC. Further phase IV testing will be required to confirm such possibilities.


In this case report a 73-year-old male with liver-metastatic colon cancer was admitted to hospital due to severe abdominal pain merely four days after receiving chemotherapy including epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors. An acute computed tomography revealed gas-filled liver metastases with two possible diagnoses of either a rapid tumour response resulting in tumour necrosis or severe bacterial infection involving liver metastases. Moreover, the patient had an anaerobic infection with Clostridium septicum, and despite relevant treatment he died within 12 hours after admission.


Background:
 Increased augmentation index has been considered a marker of arterial stiffness and a predictor of cardiac events.

 Objective:
 To identify clinical and vascular parameters associated with increased augmentation index (Aix) in treated hypertensive patients.

 Methods:
 A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate hypertensive patients on stable drug therapy over at least 4 weeks, both genders, aged 30
 -
 74 years. Blood pressure (BP), macro and microcirculation parameters were evaluated using high-resolution ultrasonography for brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), EndoPat 2000 for peripheral arterial tonometry and Sphygmocor to obtain Aix and other central hemodynamic parameters. The vascular age was also calculated after estimating Framingham risk score for general cardiovascular disease. Patients (n=177) were distributed into three equal groups (n=59 each) according to augmentation index values: 1st tertil (T1) AIx37%.

 Results:
 The mean age was not different among the groups (55±11 vs 57±10 vs 58±8 years). Although similar diastolic BP was noted in the three groups (87±11 vs 90±13 vs 92±15 mmHg), T3 presented significant increase in brachial systolic BP (139±17 vs 145±17 vs 151±22 mmHg, p<0.006), aortic systolic BP (126±16 vs 138±17 vs 148±24 mmHg, p<0.001), and aortic pulse pressure (41±10 vs 49±14 vs 60±21 mmHg, p<0.001). Aix obtained in microcirculation by EndoPat (14±13 vs 30±19 vs 30±18 %, p<0.001) and vascular age (71±16 vs 77±13 vs 78±12 years, p=0.019) were significantly greater in T2 and T3 comparing to T1. There was no significant differences in endothelial function evaluated by brachial FMD (7.5±5.1 vs 8.9±5.5 vs 9.2±6.7 %) and through reactive hyperemia index by EndoPat (1.9±0.5 vs 2.2±0.7 vs 1.9±0.4 units). Aix was not correlated to age, but there was a significant correlation of Aix with vascular age (r=0.22, p=0.005), brachial systolic BP (r=0.208, p=0.006) and with aortic systolic BP (r=0.404, p<0.001).

 Conclusion:
 In this population of treated hypertension, increased vascular stiffness characterized by an elevated augmentation index was associated to increased vascular age and raised brachial and aortic systolic BP but not with worsening of endothelial function.


Transactional stream processing engines (TSPEs) differ significantly in their designs, but all rely on non- adaptive scheduling strategies for processing concurrent state transactions. Subsequently, none exploit multicore parallelism to its full potential due to complex workload dependencies. This paper introduces MorphStream, which adopts a novel approach by decomposing scheduling strategies into three dimensions and then strives to make the right decision along each dimension, based on analyzing the decision trade-offs under varying workload characteristics. Compared to the state-of-the-art, MorphStream achieves up to 3.4 times higher throughput and 69.1% lower processing latency for handling real-world use cases with complex and dynamically changing workload dependencies.


Abstract 2212 Poster Board II-189 Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) has shown an outstanding progress while new understanding of the disease has increased significantly. Nevertheless in the era of targeted therapy, Sokal index remains a dominant prognostic determinant of newly diagnosed CML patients. Our study has aimed to identify novel prognostic indicators to improve both an initial assessment and subsequent monitoring of CML patients. Initially, we have found that the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP1, that has a tumour suppressor activity, may play an important role in the resistance to imatinib treatment. We applied gene profiling and proteomic bidimensional electrophoresis to compare the differential pattern of gene and protein expression between KCL22s (imatinib-sensitive) and KCL22r (imatinib-resistant) cell lines. We found SHP1 to be one of the most differentially expressed genes. By ESI-TRAP MS technique, we found that one of the main interactors of SHP1 is SHP2, a protein phosphatase well known as positive regulator of oncogenic pathways, including the Ras/MAPK pathway. Gain-of-function mutations in SHP2 gene, have been described in various haematopoietic neoplasias and myeloproliferative disorders including Juvenile Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia. This protein is regulated throw phosphorylation on 542- and 580-Tyr, and unlike SHP1, acts as a positive regulator of the same oncogenic pathways. We found that KCL22r cell line, that has low SHP1 levels, showed complete phosphorylation of both SHP2 tyrosine residues, while these residues are not phosphorylated in the KCL22s line, which could explain an important mechanism for imatinib sensitivity. Consistently with this hypothesis, knock-down of SHP2 phosphatase in KCL22r by a specific shRNA resulted in 60% inhibition of KCL22r proliferation. Furthermore, the KCL22r SHP2- cells showed significant reduction in STAT3 (60%) and ERK1/2 (70%) phosphorylation. Our initial results from CML patients (Esposito et al , ASH 2008 Abs 1106) have suggested a differential expression of SHP1 in patients with different response to imatinib treatment. To further explore the role of SHP1 as a determinant of imatinib sensitivity we evaluated the expression of SHP1 in 93 newly-diagnosed CML patients enrolled into the TOPS trial investigating 400mg versus 800mg imatinib (Cortes et al, EHA 2008). The results of this study indicate that the mRNA levels of SHP1, as assessed by QPCR in peripheral blood of patients at the time of enrolment, are significantly different between patients who do or don9t achieve Major Molecular Response (MMR) by 12 months (7.9±4.0 vs. 5.9±3.4; p=0.01). Logistic regression was used to estimate regression coefficients and corresponding odds ratio using MMR by 12 months as outcome variable in our model. Since the 25 th and 75 th percentiles of SHP1 were 4.3 and 8.4, respectively (resulting in an interquartile range of 4.1), statistical analysis shown that a value of 4.1 or more in SHP1 is associated with almost 2-fold odds of achieving MMR by 12 months (OR=1.92; 95% CI=1.12, 3.29; p=0.018). Moreover, in a contingency table, chi-square analysis has been shown a high risk of not achieving MMR by 12 month in those patients with either low SHP1 expression and high Sokal score, when compared with patients with high-intermediate SHP1 expression and low-intermediate Sokal score (p=0.0068). In conclusion, these results suggest that, measuring expression levels of SHP1 could be of value in assessing newly diagnosed CP-CML patients and estimating treatment response, which could help optimizing Gleevec treatment, or recommending patients to more potent TKIs. Supported by Novartis Oncology, Clinical Development, TOPS Clinical Correlative Studies Network Disclosures: Saglio: Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Pane: Novartis: Research Funding; Ministero dell9Universita/PRIN: Research Funding; Regione Campania: Research Funding; Ministero della Salute/Progetto integrato Oncologia: Research Funding.


Background: The identification of the pathogens in pleural effusion has mainly relied on conventional bacterial culture or single species polymerase chain reaction (PCR), both with relatively low sensitivity. We investigated the efficacy of a commercially available multiplex bacterial PCR assay developed for pneumonia to identify the pathogens involved in pleural infection, particularly empyema. Methods: A prospective, monocentric, observational study including 194 patients with pleural effusion. Patients were evaluated based on imaging, laboratory values, pleura ultrasound and results of thoracentesis including conventional microbiology studies during hospitalisation. Multiplex bacterial PCR (Curetis Unyvero p55) was performed in batch and had no influence on therapeutic decisions. Results: Overall, there were 51/197 cases with transudate and 146/197 with exudate. In 42% (n = 90/214) there was a clinical suspicion of parapneumonic effusion and the final clinical diagnosis of empyema was made in 29% (n = 61/214) of all cases. The most common microorganisms identified in the cases diagnosed with empyema were anaerobes [31] followed by gram-positive cocci [10] and gram-negative rods [4]. The multiplex PCR assay identified more of the pathogens on the panel than the conventional methods (23.3% (7/30) vs. 6.7% (2/30), p = 0.008). Conclusion: The multiplex PCR-based assay had a higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional microbiology when only the pathogens on the pneumonia panel were taken into account. A dedicated pleural empyema multiplex PCR panel including anaerobes would be needed to cover most common pathogens involved in pleural infection.


Product software export can be an attractive option for small and medium sized IT-companies operating in small local markets. In practice however, little support is offered for specifically those type of companies to support strategic preparation and to enable thorough export planning. The central aim of this paper is to present a Product Software Export Planning Method (PSEPM) that supports the decision making of management of product software companies to enter foreign markets. The method builds upon existing insights from the success factors of software export and strategic planning. It facilitates systematic export planning through strategic country analysis, i.e. a systematic comparison between the companies' home country and the export country of interest. A similarities/differences and opportunities/ threats (SDOT) analysis is the other key part of the method. Through the identification of opportunities and threats, the specific challenges of entering the foreign market can be identified. The method has been applied to a case study at a Dutch product software company specialized in workforce planning applications. In addition, an expert validation was conducted by interviewing (former) board members of IT-companies. The method turned out to be useful for supporting export planning of small and medium size product software companies.


Computational comparison is presented of several integrators for the Riccati differential equation for the one-dimensional quantum mechanical bound state problem. The computational method for the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi equation for stationary states is briefly reviewed. An interpolation formula for the quantum momentum function is proposed for the evaluation of the phase integral. The Mobius integrator, the R-matrix propagation method, the log derivative method, and the symplectic integrator can accurately pass through singularities in the solution. These four integrators are actually Mobius transformations with different coefficients. Analytical analysis and numerical results demonstrate that the classical momentum is a good choice for the initial condition to obtain the bound state solution of the Riccati differential equation as long as the starting point of the propagation is far enough from the origin. The computational comparison is demonstrated for the harmonic oscillator. The numerical results indicate that the symplectic integrators achieve highest accuracy, and the simplicity of these algorithms shows an advantage over the other methods. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008


INTRODUCTION
Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer revealed in this case only after its ovarian metastasis, a Krukenberg tumor.

CASE REPORT
A 60-year old woman was hospitalized for jaundice. Her medical history included a hysterectomy eight months earlier for a Krukenberg tumor. The primary tumor had never been found. Physical examination showed isolated cholestatic jaundice. Blood tests revealed cholestasis and cytolysis. Hepatobiliary ultrasound showed dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Abdominal computed tomography confirmed that dilatation stopped at the hilar plate. Transparietal cholangiography findings suggested cholangiocarcinoma. Surgery discovered an extensive unresectable tumor of the proximal principal bile duct. The surgeon took tissue samples and placed a T-drain for decompression. The histology study found adenocarcinoma of the bile duct, and concluded that the Krukenberg tumor was secondary to this cholangiocarcinoma.

DISCUSSION
Hilar cholangiocarcinoma quickly invades adjacent structures, such as the liver, gallbladder, lymph nodes, blood vessels and local nerves. Remote metastases have been reported in the lungs, spleen, adrenal gland, and peritoneum. Ovarian metastasis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma is very rare.


Akkermansia muciniphila is a probiotic inhabiting host intestinal mucus layers and displays evident easing or therapeutic effects on host enteritis and metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. The outer membrane protein Amuc_1100 of A. muciniphila is likely to play a crucial role during the interaction with the host. 5-HT is a neurotransmitter and a key signal molecule regulating the gastrointestinal tract functions and other organs, which is involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes. This study demonstrated that Amuc_1100 could promote the expression of the 5-HT synthesis rate-limiting enzyme Tph1 in RIN-14B cells and reduce the expression of the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) in Caco-2 cells through direct interaction with TLR2, thereby improving 5-HT biosynthesis and extracellular availability. Using antibiotic-treated mice as animal models, we found that after gavage with A. muciniphila or Amuc_1100, Tph1 expression increased and SERT expression decreased in colon tissues. The 5-HT concentrations in colon tissues and blood were markedly elevated simultaneously. We also found that A. muciniphila or Amuc_1100 improved the gastrointestinal motility function and restored gut microbiota abundance and species diversity in antibiotic-treated mice. These results suggest that A. muciniphila can regulate the host intestinal 5-HT system via its outer membrane protein Amuc_1100 and TLR2. This mechanism represented an important approach through which A. muciniphila interacts with the host and further influences 5-HT-related physiological functions. These results advance the understanding of interplay mechanisms between the gut microbiota and the host, which could be the basis for new intervention strategies for related diseases.


Background:The sites of action and cellular mechanisms by which spinal cord stimulation reduces neuropathic pain remain unclear. Methods:We examined the effect of bipolar electrical-conditioning stimulation (50 Hz, 0.2 ms, 5 min) of the dorsal column and lumbar dorsal roots on the response properties of spinal wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in rats after L5 spinal nerve injury. The conditioning stimulation intensity was set at the lowest current that evoked a peak antidromic sciatic A&agr;/&bgr;-compound action potential without inducing an A&dgr;- or C-compound action potential. Results:Within 15 min of the dorsal column or root conditioning stimulation, the spontaneous activity rate of WDR neurons was significantly reduced in nerve-injured rats. Conditioning stimulation also significantly attenuated WDR neuronal responses to mechanical stimuli in nerve-injured rats and inhibited the C-component of the neuronal response to graded intracutaneous electrical stimuli applied to the receptive field in nerve-injured and sham-operated rats. It is noteworthy that dorsal column stimulation blocked windup of WDR neuronal response to repetitive intracutaneous electrical stimulation (0.5 Hz) in nerve-injured and sham-operated rats, whereas dorsal root stimulation inhibited windup only in sham-operated rats. Therefore, stimulation of putative spinal substrates at A-fiber intensities with parameters similar to those used by patients with spinal cord stimulators attenuated established WDR neuronal hyperexcitability in the neuropathic condition and counteracted activity-dependent increase in neuronal excitability (i.e., windup). Conclusions:These results suggest a potential cellular mechanism underlying spinal cord stimulation–induced pain relief. This in vivo model allows the neurophysiologic basis for spinal cord stimulation–induced analgesia to be studied.


Thermoplastic materials (TMs) are composites (co-polymers) that possess the quality of flexibility. They were introduced in dentistry in the 1950s as an alternative to acrylics. TMs have the following characteristics: no residual monomer, no toxic or allergenic additives, high biocompatibility and the ability to keep their shape. At present, the following groups of TMs are used for the fabrication of flexible removable dentures: acetylates, polyamides, thermoplastic acrylic resins, polyolefins and polyesters. These are all nonmonomer, high-molecular compounds from different chemical elements with different properties. TMs are made of linear or less branched chains, they can soften during heating and solidify upon cooling.


Eco-gelled coal gangue materials (EGCGMs) are usually produced using coal gangue, slag, and fly ash in a highly alkaline environment. Herein, to improve the mechanical properties of such materials, polypropylene fibers were uniformly mixed with them. An unconfined compressive strength test and a three-point bending test of the fiber-reinforced EGCGMs under different conditions were conducted. Based on the performance degradation control technology of the fiber structure, the interface mechanism of the composite materials was analyzed from the micro level using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In the mechanical test, the 28 d UCS and flexural properties of the fiber-reinforced EGCGMs were analyzed using the Box–Behnken design response surface design method and orthogonal design method, respectively. The order of significance was as follows: sodium hydroxide, fiber length, and fiber content. Within the scope of the experimental study, when the NaOH content is 3, the fiber content is 5 ‰, and the fiber length is 9 mm, the mechanical properties are the best. Based on the microscopic equipment, it was discovered that the amorphous ecological glue condensation product formed by the reaction of slag and fly ash in the alkaline environment was filled between the coal gangue particles and the fibers, and several polymerization products accumulated to form a honeycomb network topology. The distribution of fibers in the EGCGM matrix could be primarily divided into single embedded and network occurrences. The fiber inhibits the crack initiation and development of the matrix through the crack resistance effect, and improves the brittleness characteristics through the bridging effect during the failure process, which promotes the ductility of the ecological cementitious coal gangue matrix.The results presented herein can provide a theoretical basis for improving the mechanical properties of alkali-activated geopolymers.


In medical image diagnosis, pathology image analysis using semantic segmentation becomes important for efficient screening as a field of digital pathology. The spatial augmentation is ordinarily used for semantic segmentation. Images of malignant tumor are rare, and annotating the labels of the nuclei region is a time-consuming process. An effective use of the data set is required to maximize the segmentation accuracy. It is expected that augmentation to transform generalized images influences the segmentation performance. We propose a synthetic augmentation using label-to-image translation, mapping from a semantic label with an edge structure to a real image. This paper deals with the stain slides of nuclei in tumor. We demonstrate several segmentation algorithms applied to the initial data set that contains real images and labels using synthetic augmentation in order to add their generalized images. We compute and report that a proposed synthetic augmentation procedure improves the accuracy indices.


The study comprised 53 patients with side effect history to local anesthetics. The reasons for the occurrence of adverse reactions to local anesthetics was analyzed, and the frequency of their occurrence in dental practice was studied. It was found that in most patients (85%) with 'allergic reactions' to local anesthetics the diagnosis was unreasonable and incompetent. In most cases psychosomatic reactions were mistaken for an immediate allergic reaction. The prevalence of adverse reactions to local anesthetics was 1 case per 448 injections (1:448), true allergic reactions was documented in 0.1% cases.