We show that, for a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, there exist observables that induce a tensor product structure such that the entanglement properties of any pure state can be tailored. In particular, we provide an explicit, finite method for constructing observables in an unstructured d-dimensional system so that an arbitrary known pure state has any Schmidt decomposition with respect to an induced bipartite tensor product structure. In effect, this article demonstrates that, in a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, entanglement properties can always be shifted from the state to the observables and all pure states are equivalent as entanglement resources in the ideal case of complete control of observables.


© Author(s). In this article we evaluate the application of Polynomial Texture Mapping (PTM), a technique within Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), to a group of preColumbian rock art panels in southern Brazil. Our case study, the Avencal 1 rock art site (Urubici, Santa Catarina state), is one of the largest and most recognised sites in the southern Brazilian highlands. This study is the first detailed analysis of the site since it was recorded five decades ago. The record produced with PTM is more complete when compared with preceding sketches. Furthermore, its utility as a prospection tool is underscored by revealing for the first time the existence of multiple eroded motifs. Interpreting the PTM data, we recognise several new aspects of the panels that have gone unnoticed. Discrepancies between the published plans and the panels are illustrated, as are hypothesised sequences of production for specific panels and multiple techniques of engraving used at Avencal 1. Following our study, it is clear that PTM has applications for both analysis and conservation of preColumbian rock art and beyond. This article is accompanied by the dataset produced from our project in Urubici, which is referred to extensively. The data files are hosted by the Archaeology Data Service.


Arachidonic acid is metabolized by the 15-lipoxygenase-1 pathway to the vasodilatory eicosanoids hydroxy-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid and trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid. We determined the in vitro and in vivo effects of the 15-lipoxygenase-1 metabolites in rabbits infected with adenovirus containing cDNA for human 15-lipoxygenase-1 (Ad-15-LO-1). Forty hours after intravenous adenoviral injection, 15-lipoxygenase-1 expression increased in liver and mesenteric arteries 10-fold and 3-fold, respectively. Expression of 15-LO-1 was limited to the endothelium of mesenteric arteries. Overexpression did not occur in tissues from rabbits infected with a &bgr;-galactosidase containing adenovirus. Trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid and hydroxy-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid synthesis per milligram of tissue increased by 2.1- and 1.5-fold, respectively, in mesenteric arteries from Ad-15-LO-1–infected rabbits compared with normal rabbits. Pretreatment with a 15-lipoxygenase inhibitor BW755C inhibited the synthesis. NO and prostaglandin-independent, maximal relaxations to acetylcholine were greater in mesenteric arteries from Ad-15-LO-1–infected rabbits (98.3±1.7%) compared with normal (60.93±10.5%) and &bgr;-galactosidase containing adenovirus–infected rabbits (68.3±7.7%). Pretreatment with BW755C decreased these relaxations. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate did not differ in Ad-15-LO-1–infected rabbits compared with normal or &bgr;-galactosidase containing adenovirus–infected rabbits. The hypotensive responses to acetylcholine in the presence and absence of inhibition of NO and prostaglandins were greater in Ad-15-LO-1–infected rabbits (−52±2% and −47±2%) compared with normal (−31±3% and −25±5%) or &bgr;-galactosidase containing adenovirus–infected rabbits (−38±2% and −30±3%). Therefore, increased expression of 15-LO-1 increases acetylcholine relaxation in arteries and hypotensive responses in rabbits because of increased hydroxy-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid and trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid synthesis.


This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the biology, epidemiology, and treatment of cancer in children and adolescents, with more than 42 contributing authors who are mostly senior investigators at the National Cancer Institute. The introduction by the editor is helpful and sets the tone of the book. Each chapter has an excellent bibliography. Part 1 deals with the biologic background and consists of four chapters. The first chapter is on the epidemiology of cancer and the second is on ecogenetic origins of cancer. The introduction of the term "ecogenetic" emphasizes the concept of interplay of environmental and genetic factors in childhood cancer. The chapter on the interrelationship between cancer and immunodeficiency is interesting and timely. The fourth chapter on cell kinetics is comprehensive, but some of the principles would be difficult to understand without a background in the area. Part 2, "Evaluation of the Host and His Tumor,"


Background: The objective of this work was to study the preparation and characteristics of zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO), a traditional Chinese oily medicine, loaded with nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Method: Aqueous dispersions of NLC were successfully prepared by melt-emulsification technique using Crodamol SS as the solid lipid, Miglyol 812N as the liquid oil, and soybean phosphatidylcholine (SbPC) as the emulsifier. Properties of NLC such as the particle size and its distribution, the transmission electron microscope (TEM), drug entrapment efficiency (EE), and drug release behavior were investigated, respectively. The Germacrone blood concentration after intravenous administration of ZTO–NLC was determined and compared with that of ZTO-injection. Result: As a result, the drug EEs were improved by adding the liquid lipid into the solid lipid of nanoparticles (SLNs). In vitro drug release experiments indicated that the prepared NLC could enhance the drug release rate over the SLN, and the drug release rate could be adjusted by the liquid lipid content in lipid nanospheres. X-ray and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed that imperfect crystallization occurred in the inner core of the NLC particles. Conclusion: The results suggest that the presented NLC system might be a promising intravenous dosage form of water-insoluble oily drugs.


We theoretically predict a novel phenomenon of the diffraction-free propagation of the paraxial optical beam in the isotropic or cubic linear medium with spatial dispersion. Under the weak spatial dispersion condition, the paraxial wave equation is derived, in which there is the diffraction term with the coefficient Γ that depends on the compensation between the classic diffraction and spatial dispersion. Near the exciton dipole absorption line, we can have Γ = 0, then the beam propagates diffraction-freely, and its shape keeps unchangeable. Discussed are also the physical mechanism and the possible experimental candidates of crystals for the phenomenon.


OBJECTIVES
The study explored clients' understanding and experience of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis.

DESIGN
Four inpatients and one outpatient who received CBT for psychosis were interviewed following a semi-structured format, designed for the purpose of the study.

METHOD
The transcribed interviews were analysed using discourse analytic methods and focused in particular on the way clients positioned themselves in relation to their therapists. The consistencies and contradictions within clients' accounts were also examined.

RESULTS
The following discourses are described: 'This is truly happening', 'I am ill', 'CBT as an educational process', 'CBT as a respectful relationship between equals', 'CBT as a healing process' and 'CBT participation as compliance with the powerful medical establishment'. Three of the participants switched throughout the interview between insisting that their experiences were true and accepting that they were ill and in need of treatment. With one exception, all highlighted the value of the educational component of therapy. Two participants showed an awareness that their therapist was trying to convince them that their experiences were not true but presented this as educational rather than coercive. Most participants emphasized the value of a trusting and respectful therapeutic relationship. One client presented therapy as unhelpful and described it only in terms of his passive compliance with the powerful medical establishment.

CONCLUSIONS
The study throws light on the experience of receiving CBT for psychosis and points to some of the therapeutic process variables worthy of consideration in clinical practice and future research.


We present a method to store additional information in a minimal automaton so that it is possible to compute a corresponding tree node number for a state. The number can then be used to retrieve additional information. The method works for minimal (and any other) deterministic acyclic finite state automata (DFAs). We also show how to compute the inverse mapping.


The effect of oral caffeine ingestion on intense intermittent exercise performance and muscle interstitial ion concentrations was examined. The study consists of two studies (S1 and S2). In S1, 12 subjects completed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) test with prior caffeine (6 mg/kg body wt; CAF) or placebo (PLA) intake. In S2, 6 subjects performed one low-intensity (20 W) and three intense (50 W) 3-min (separated by 5 min) one-legged knee-extension exercise bouts with (CAF) and without (CON) prior caffeine supplementation for determination of muscle interstitial K(+) and Na(+) with microdialysis. In S1 Yo-Yo IR2 performance was 16% better (P < 0.05) in CAF compared with PLA. In CAF, plasma K(+) at the end of the Yo-Yo IR2 test was 5.2 ± 0.1 mmol/l with no difference between the trials. Plasma free fatty acids (FFA) were higher (P < 0.05) in CAF than PLA at rest and remained higher (P < 0.05) during exercise. Peak blood glucose (8.0 ± 0.6 vs. 6.2 ± 0.4 mmol/l) and plasma NH(3) (137.2 ± 10.8 vs. 113.4 ± 13.3 μmol/l) were also higher (P < 0.05) in CAF compared with PLA. In S2 interstitial K(+) was 5.5 ± 0.3, 5.7 ± 0.3, 5.8 ± 0.5, and 5.5 ± 0.3 mmol/l at the end of the 20-W and three 50-W periods, respectively, in CAF, which were lower (P < 0.001) than in CON (7.0 ± 0.6, 7.5 ± 0.7, 7.5 ± 0.4, and 7.0 ± 0.6 mmol/l, respectively). No differences in interstitial Na(+) were observed between CAF and CON. In conclusion, caffeine intake enhances fatigue resistance and reduces muscle interstitial K(+) during intense intermittent exercise.


Emergency diagnostic testing is challenging in pregnancy, whereby some parameters may be modified by the pregnancy and, on the other hand, other laboratory tests are essential for monitoring pregnancy and for diagnosing its potential complications. Owing to a number of physiological adaptations which develop throughout physiological pregnancy, clinically significant changes may develop in the reference ranges of some laboratory tests such blood cell count, urea, creatinine, thyroid hormones, screening hemostasis tests and D-dimer. Reliable evidence is then accumulating that some specific tests may be very useful for diagnosing or ruling out pregnancy-related disorders, especially preeclampsia and even pregnancy-induced hypertension. Therefore, this article aims to provide a concise overview on the significance of emergency diagnostic testing in pregnancy.


INTRODUCTION: The present study evaluated the modulatory effects of diphenylhydrazine induced experimental wistar albino rats and also to assess various biochemical parameters in whole blood and red blood cell lysate. MATERIALAND METHODS: Twenty male albino rats weighing 180-200 gm were selected for the study and divided in two groups; ten phenylhydrazine dihydrochloride (PHZ) induced anemia and ten healthy control. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxide were measured as lipid peroxidation parameter. The antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and enzymatic antioxidants; catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were also assessed. RESULTS: Phenylhydrazine induced anemic rats showed a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation and decrease in the antioxidants as compared to healthy rats. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that phenylhydrazine induced experimental anemic albino rats showed increased oxidative stress than compared with healthy albino rats. Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences Vol. 3, No. 1, 2015: 41-47


Abstract High temperature (HT) stress is one of the most important environmental stimuli, negatively affecting plant survival and crop yield. Basal and acquired thermotolerance (ATT) are two components of plant response to HT, the mechanisms controlling them are not completely known yet. Basal thermotolerance was evaluated in a collection of 47 Triticum turgidum and Triticum durum genotypes, by the cell membrane stability (CMS) test, observing high variability. T. turgidum accessions exhibited the highest CMS values corresponding to higher thermotolerance, while T. durum cultivars (cvs) exhibited lower CMS values. The heat shock response is characterized by the synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs), and variation in HSPs production may be related to variation in ATT. The expression of HSP genes (coding cytoplasmic and plastidial small HSPs and two members of HSP70 family), previously hypothesized to be correlated with thermotolerance, was evaluated in thermotolerant and thermosensitive genotypes grown in the field, in control and HT conditions. The results obtained suggest that the genes coding for the two members of HSP70 family, may be responsible for basal thermotolerance. The overall results suggest that wild genotypes may possess a yet undisclosed variability for alleles involved in thermotolerance.


ABSTRACT In contrast to the synthesis of minus-strand genomic and plus-strand subgenomic RNAs, the requirements for brome mosaic virus (BMV) genomic plus-strand RNA synthesis in vitro have not been previously reported. Therefore, little is known about the biochemical requirements for directing genomic plus-strand synthesis. Using DNA templates to characterize the requirements for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase template recognition, we found that initiation from the 3′ end of a template requires one nucleotide 3′ of the initiation nucleotide. The addition of a nontemplated nucleotide at the 3′ end of minus-strand BMV RNAs led to initiation of genomic plus-strand RNA in vitro. Genomic plus-strand initiation was specific since cucumber mosaic virus minus-strand RNA templates were unable to direct efficient synthesis under the same conditions. In addition, mutational analysis of the minus-strand template revealed that the −1 nontemplated nucleotide, along with the +1 cytidylate and +2 adenylate, is important for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase interaction. Furthermore, genomic plus-strand RNA synthesis is affected by sequences 5′ of the initiation site.


Mr. Hoskier has spent an enormous amount of time and labor to show that B does not always represent the Neutral Text. Volume one is devoted to B and Volume II to Aleph. There is an enormous amount of detail much of which will be of service in the comparison of these manuscripts. Mr. Hoskier seems a bit aroused by some criticisms of Dr. A. Souter, into which it is not necessary to enter. There is, I think, no doubt that Tischendorf shows an excessive fondness for Aleph as Hort does for B. Neither manuscript is an absolute guide for the true text. It is well to have all the data offered by Mr. Hoskier. All that scholars wish is the truth and such a study as this will help towards that end. On page 92 Mr. Hoskier insists on a difference of mood between 7t'apaSOi and 7t'apa&p (Mk. 4:29). Both forms are aorist active subjunctive. A. T. ROBERTSON.


The majority of image generating neural networks have a convolutional architecture, and this architecture has empirically been proven to be efficient at representing natural images. It is widely acknowledged that convolutional neural networks incorporate strong prior assumptions about natural images, sometimes referred to as an inductive or implicit bias. An instantiation of this bias towards simple, natural images, is that an un-trained overparmeterized convolutional network optimized with gradient descent fits a single natural image significantly faster than complex images such as noise. In this paper, we isolate this effect and demonstrate that it is most pronounced if the network incorporates convolutions with a fixed and smooth upsampling kernel. This effect can be understood as the network architecture imposing constraints so that an natural image is closer in parameter space to a random initialization than a highly complex image such as noise.


For many many years much time and effort has been invested to identify, purify, and quantify markers of significant reproductive events. The search for such markers has been recently intensified with the widespread acceptance of IVF and ET as a treatment regimen for the management of certain causes of infertility. Now it is possible to monitor ovarian folliculogenesis and time of ovulation, successful fertilization, and subsequent nidation and the ensuing pregnancy. Following successful fertilization and zygote development, EPF, a protein complex which suppresses in vitro lymphocyte rosette formation can be detected within 24 hours. Shortly after implantation hCG can be measured in the maternal circulation. The developing trophoblastic tissue continues to synthesize and secrete into the maternal circulation many varied proteins including SP1, PAPP-A, and PP5. To date hCG is the mainstay of rapid and early pregnancy diagnosis and is an accepted biochemical marker of successful implantation and trophoblastic activity. Combination of hCG and EPF measurement offers the clinician new insight into his infertile patient for now it is possible to monitor successful fertilization and implantation as separate independent events. Such diagnostic assays should also provide new insight into early embryo mortality rate at the pre- and postimplantation stage and hence indicate the selection pressures acting on an embryo. It is the application of these assays which has led to the definition of subclinical abortions and to the description of biochemical pregnancies. The value of these proteins for the management of compromised early pregnancies has to be more fully examined. Although the differentiation between a normal and abnormal pregnancy is more readily ascertained by serial sampling and analysis of the time taken for circulating levels to double (3). Preliminary data suggest the potential of EPF and PAPP-A measurement in such clinical conditions is enormous. Our studies suggest that PAPP-A, at present, is the only biochemical marker which can predict pregnancy abortion, even in the presence of normal ultrasound scans, many weeks prior to the event, thus implying a vital biological role for PAPP-A in normal pregnancy (52). Despite the need for more intensive evaluation of these early pregnancy indicators the search for that "demmed elusive" marker has more than "Those Frenchies" earnestly looking for him here and there.


Physiology is a fascinating field for historians of gender and of women's place in science and medicine. In the United Kingdom at least, since the late nineteenth century, women's presence as undergraduate students in the field, as medical students and as subject specialists, has been relatively strong compared to their representation in science generally. A large body of public lectures and popular writing in "physiology" was produced by women for women from the 1860s onwards. Much of this would now be labelled as health education or even sex education and dissociated from the academic discipline of physiology and its inseparable partner in Britain, the Physiological Society. Victorian women's exposure to academic physiology was controversial because of the subject's association with animal experimentation. This modest volume is not directly about these broader issues although it does allude to them. Its main purpose is to celebrate the far from modest achievement of a small number of distinguished women physiologists. In the first section, E M Tansey provides a succinct overview of the history of women in the Physiological Society, noting that their admission, in 1915, was controversial, notwithstanding their publication record. Women's presence at the Society's dinners was clearly not welcome to all leading male physiologists of the time, yet they were accepted into the Physiological Society long before many other scientific societies. Section II gives brief biographies and edited extracts from published research for eight women whose contribution to science led to their becoming Dames of the British Empire or Fellows of the Royal Society. Section III provides biographical sketches of others whose distinguished scientific contribution did not attract such public honours. The Afterword raises the questions any analytic historian would ask about any patterns in background, career paths, topic research etc. but has to admit that the small sample precludes satisfying answers. It also attempts comparisons with the current situation of women physiologists. Again, the focus on a few very distinguished women is not necessarily the best foundation for such comparisons. The book achieves its main aims of documenting the achievements of the few well, although, as often seems to be the case, these successful women scientists frustrate the historian by not generally indulging in extensive reflection on their own lives. One would hope that it will encourage others to extend the study of women's place in physiology in and outside academia to answer the broader questions it poses more satisfactorily.


Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (Erk1/2) signaling has been shown to be involved in brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A first-in-human phase I study reported that ravoxertinib hydrochloride (RAH), a novel Erk1/2 inhibitor, has an acceptable safety profile and pharmacodynamic effects. Here, we showed that the level of Erk1/2 phosphorylation (p-Erk1/2) was significantly increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients who developed poor outcomes. In a rat SAH model that was produced by the intracranial endovascular perforation method, western blot observed that the level of p-Erk1/2 was also increased in the CSF and basal cortex, showing a similar trend with aSAH patients. Immunofluorescence and western blot indicated that RAH treatment (i.c.v injection, 30 min post-SAH) attenuates the SAH-induced increase of p-Erk1/2 at 24 h in rats. RAH treatment can improve experimental SAH-induced long-term sensorimotor and spatial learning deficits that are evaluated by the Morris water maze, rotarod test, foot-fault test, and forelimb placing test. Moreover, RAH treatment attenuates neurobehavioral deficits, the blood–brain barrier damage, and cerebral edema at 72 h after SAH in rats. Furthermore, RAH treatment decreases the SAH-elevated apoptosis-related factor active caspase-3 and the necroptosis-related factor RIPK1 expression at 72 h in rats. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that RAH attenuated neuronal apoptosis but not neuronal necroptosis in the basal cortex at 72 h after SAH in rats. Altogether, our results suggest that RAH improves long-term neurologic deficits through early inhibition of Erk1/2 in experimental SAH.


Two definitions of fuzzy sets with Boolean-valued membership functions, introduced by Drossos and Markakis and called by them external and internal Boolean fuzzy sets, are compared with a third, classical definition descending more directly from the original Zadeh's and Goguen's ideas. Under some rather general conditions, internal and classical Boolean fuzzy sets are proved to be equivalent in the sense that there exists a one-to-one mapping to each other conserving the set theoretic operations. On the other side, the space of external Boolean fuzzy sets is richer, so that such a mapping exists only in some rather special cases.


Antiserum directed against neuropeptide Y selectively labeled certain amacrine cells in the turtle retina. The cell types, sizes, dendritic stratification, regional distribution, and degrees of immunolabeling were examined. The results indicated that three morphologically distinct cell types were labeled: types A, B, and C. Computer rotation of digitized data from camera lucida drawings was used to study dendritic stratification. The type A somata were large (11.5 μm in diameter), well‐stained, and located in the third tier of the inner nuclear layer. Type A somata gave rise to well‐stained processes which arborized within the inner plexiform layer in strata 1 and 3 and at the border between strata 4 and 5. Processes in stratum 1 were sparse and delicate with small boutons. Processes in stratum 3 were numerous and often coarse, with many large and small boutons. At the border between strata 4 and 5 the processes were frequently numerous but slender, with many small boutons. Occasional immunolabeled processes were found in the ganglion cell layer. The somata of the type B cells were smaller (9.0 μm in diameter) and gave rise to single labeled processes which descended into the inner plexiform layer and divided quickly into two secondary processes. These secondary processes gave rise to lightly labeled dendritic fields which arborized primarily in strata 2 and 4. The type C cells were usually observed at the periphery of the retina and had large somata (12.0 μm in diameter) with simple, but very elongated, dendritic arborizations in strata 1, 4, and 5. Observations also showed that type A and B cells were often found in close proximity to each other and suggested that dendrites of these cells made contact with each other. The labeled neurons were distributed relatively evenly throughout the retina except for the visual streak where they were sparse. This study indicates that neuropeptide Y–like immunoreactivity is found in more than one anatomically distinct class of amacrine cells in the turtle retina.


The dental health of 35-year-old Oslo citizens was investigated in cross-sectional studies applying similar methods in 1973, 1984 and 1993. In the 1993 investigation, a clinical and radiographic examination of dental caries was performed on 121 randomly selected individuals (response rate 68 per cent). DMFT/S scores were used for recording caries experience. Carious surfaces (DS) were related to independent variables organised under the four main categories of health field concept; environment, behaviour, biology and health care. Mean DMFS based on 28 teeth was 40.9 in 1993, compared to 66.5 in 1984 and 68.2 in 1973. DS, MS, FS and DMF values were significantly lower in 1993 compared with those from the previous 1973 and 1984 studies, while only minor differences were detected from 1973 to 1984. High numbers of decayed surfaces (DS) were significantly associated with poor oral hygiene, unsatisfactory economic status and irregular dental visiting habits. The most influential independent variables explained 35 per cent of the variance in carious surfaces (DS).


The cistrons encoding the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) UL37 and UL38 genes are adjacent to one another but are transcribed from opposite strands of the viral DNA. The UL37 gene encodes a 1,123-amino-acid protein of unknown function, while the 465-amino-acid UL38 protein is involved in capsid assembly. Previous work from our laboratory indicated that the transcripts encoding these proteins are expressed with significantly different kinetics in productive infection. In the present communication we confirm the kinetic classes and precisely map the cap sites of the UL37 and UL38 mRNAs. A bifunctional reporter gene vector was used to demonstrate that divergent promoters control the expression of these reporter genes in trans-activation assays. The UL38 promoter is functionally separable from that controlling UL37 in a recombinant virus. We used deletion analysis to demonstrate that as few as 29 bases 5' of the mRNA cap site are adequate for full activity of the UL38 promoter in trans-activation assays. Finally, we analyzed the protein-binding properties of the UL38 promoter; several sites that form complexes containing ICP4, with clear homology to those identified in the HSV-1 gamma 42 promoter, are present. Thus, in general, the properties of this promoter are quite similar to those of other gamma promoters.


In this paper, it is shown that under an extra observability assumption the nonlinear Luenberger observer as introduced recently in a previous publication may have an exponential convergence towards the state of the system. This version is the corrected version of the same paper in [1] in which there is mistake.


This article aimed to find conversational structure and strategies employed by guides in transactional negotiation with foreign guests and find out the best one, which latter becomes standardized conversational structures and strategies in persuading and satisfying customers. This paper examined structures of conversation with regard to Sinclair-Coulthard's Birmingham model. This study is qualitative in nature, attempting to describe data, represented in the form of words. During data collection, utterances were recorded directly by a set of tape-recorders then transcribed into spoken text. Later, the recorded data were analyzed using Sinclair Coulthard analysis model of within or outside classroom discourse. The data were analyzed in terms of the four discourse units: transaction, exchange, move, and acts. Among these four units, exchange and move were mainly focused. The result showed that the structure of guides' conversation in doing transactional negotiation is somewhat the same. Starting from so – called starter which consist of question and answer then transaction which employed question and informing and the last is closing. There were 3 scripts epitomized the result. The script 1 and 2 merely focused on price without explaining the itinerary and car services extensively. The script 3 showed the success of transaction, that is how guide employed strategic communication in transactional negotiation.


According to the writer and translator Hildesheimer, writing and translating are similar and partly coincidental activities. As a translator, Hildesheimer mainly worked on translations from English to German, and his only published work from German to English was Kafka's short story Elf Sohne. Apart from his translating practice, he produced some theoretical annotations that, despite not representing a consistent contribution to the theory and methodology of translation, can be very interesting in order to draw a picture of the author's sober poetics. Hildesheimer's reflections on translating, in fact, can be seen as a corollary to his conception of writing as 'transcendence'. This concept, introduced in his essay The End of Fiction (1975), serves to illustrate the writer's ability to penetrate and give shape to the aspects of reality perceived as authentic


Abstract
In organizational terms train stations were for a long period of time a component of railway transportation. Therefore during the crisis period for railways after the Second World War the stations did not often receive the attention and the resources they deserved. Investments in modernization and refurbishment were the product of assessments made by the railway bodies.
The demand for a fast, environmental-friendly and accessible means of transport has caused railway travel to become more attractive again. The development of stations has fallen out of tune with the increasing number of passengers and with the development of railway technology and the urban transport needs. Some of the station's basic functions have lost their importance while the new functions and new services have emerged within the station and its immediate proximity. Travel tradition and travel culture change, urban and inter-urban transportation develop in areas adjacent to the station, which contribute to the advent of new categories of passenger with varied interests and needs. High number of visitors cause train stations to become increasingly attractive for commercial purposes. All this results in the train stations being transformed into complex communication nodes, meeting places in the city with their own structures and logistics.
The dissimilarity between passenger categories generates variation in movement patterns and flows, differences in demands for services and in choices of means of transport, requirements of reorganization of the railway station space, and more flexibility in designing the links between operate functions and the station buildings, adjacent and track areas. Changes cause the new trends that physically affect the station building and its proximity in the form of extensions of the stops and access points, the design of the station space, the location of station components of the station and their relationships between functions, services and commercial activities.
This thesis "From railway station to Communication Node" is based on a field work of 37 large and medium-size stations in seven countries. Through visits to these places, my own observations on place, and on my own extensive photographic documentation, these stations have been documented in text and imagery. The seven chapters describe and analyze the railway stations with regard to their internal spatial organization, functions, passenger movements and flows through the buildings and adjacent areas i.e. their encounters with the surrounding city.
The purpose of this thesis is to provide a broad understanding of the railway stations' qualities, weaknesses and opportunities in contemporary demands on the station as a communication node in order to develop new prerequisites for planning and the utilisation of space. The intention is that this work will generate a coherent and broad foundation for decisions concerning the alteration of station buildings and give a deeper picture of present day demands regarding the modernisation of stations and their surroundings as well as providing a basis for continued in-depth studies of the various aspects that have been brought to light.


A novel ultrafast diagnostic for determining bulk temperature and phase transitions for polycrystalline metal objects has been developed. The diagnostic consists of a 38-stage Marx bank with a cable-coupled X-ray diode that produces a 35-ns pulse of mostly 0.71 Angstrom monochromatic X rays, and a P-43 fluor coupled to a cooled charge-coupled device camera by a coherent fiber-optic bundle for detection of scattered X rays. The X-ray beam is collimated to a 1deg divergence in the scattering plane with the combination of a 1.5-mm tungsten pinhole and a 1.5-mm diameter molybdenum anode. The X-ray diode, in a needle-and-washer configuration, is heavily shielded in all directions other than the collimated beam. The X-ray diode has a sealed reentrant system, which allows the X rays to be produced inside a vacuum containment vessel, close to the sample under study. The direct correlation between the solid-state structure and the coherent X-ray diffraction pattern from a metal surface allows an unequivocal determination of a phase transition. This correlation has been tested in the laboratory with samples of indium and tin. For both metals, diffraction lines were observed at temperatures just below the melt temperature, along with background consisting of Compton scattering and sample fluorescence. Upon melt, the diffraction lines were observed to disappear; however, the background from Compton scattering and sample fluorescence remained. Flash X-ray diffraction also enables direct ultrafast measurements of the bulk temperature of the sample under study. According to the Debye-Waller theory, the diffracted line intensity reduces as the temperature of the sample increases. The amplitude of the reduced diffracted signal also depends on the Debye temperature of the sample, the scattering angle of the diffracted X rays, and the X-ray wavelength. The feasibility of using the Debye-Waller theory for flash X-ray diffraction measurements of the bulk temperature is currently being studied.


Using an effective sample of 3,453 observations selected from the Taiwanese stock exchange, this study documents and attempts to reconcile divergent outcomes from the extant literature on debt structure (public, bank, and non-bank private debt). Sampled firms from this emerging market generally acquire debt from both public and private sources, with a strong preference for bank debt, suggesting, among other things, that bank debt and public debt compliment each other rather than acting as substitutes. Four interesting alternative explanations are provided in an attempt to reconcile the contra indicative results that arise when modeling the use of public debt.


This paper presents background, implementation, and feasibility findings associated with planning and conducting an after-school intervention program in an alternative education setting designed to prevent the initiation and escalation of violence and substance abuse among urban African American youth at high risk for life-long problem behaviors. Evolving from earlier preventive interventions implemented in clinic and school settings, the program, entitled The Village Model of Care, consisted of structured group mentoring, parental support, and community outreach services administered to alternative education students and their primary caregiver(s) during the school year. Over a two-year intake period, 109 youth participated in the present process evaluation study. Findings from the study not only provided relevant demographic information on the characteristics of youth likely to be included in such programs but also indicated the importance of including the family in the rehabilitation effort and the need for school administrative system support for the underlying alternative education approach. The information presented in this report has a direct bearing on the planning of future prevention efforts conducted in similar settings that are aimed at reducing problem behaviors and promoting positive lifestyles among high-risk youth.


Administration of non-selective beta-blocker propranolol prevented the stress-activated action whereas the alpha-agonist isoprenaline enhanced the effect of immobilisation stress on the rat mast cells. beta-antagonists or agonists exerted no effect on the heparine secretion by the mast cells. ACTH activated the secretion in the absence of stress.


to be caused by the retrograde motility of the esophagus as other investigations were normal. We cannot be certain whether the peristaltic abnormality existed before sclerotherapy. Esophageal motility disorders occurring after sclerotherapy for varices is well documented though the pathogenesis is poorly understood (2– 4). Low-amplitude contractions, simultaneous contractions, and nonprogressive contractions are the most frequently observed. Literature is unclear whether these abnormalities occur or persist several months after sclerotherapy. Similarly, therapeutic interventions are ill defined.


The content validity of marketing performance measurement metrics in China is reported. Based on the respondents in the research, the statistic analysis of relative importance, and the frequencies of use of marketing metrics are given. It is shown that the marketing metrics are consistent with market orientation, sectors and the role of managers, that affect the way in measuring marketing performance. The investigation results provide certified basis for developing marketing performance assessment systems in Chinese enterprises.


We propose a five-layer hierarchical space-time model (HSTM) for representing and searching human actions in videos. From a features point of view, both invariance and selectivity are desirable characteristics, which seem to contradict each other. To make these characteristics coexist, we introduce a coarse-to-fine search and verification scheme for action searching, based on the HSTM model. Because going through layers of the hierarchy corresponds to progressively turning the knob between invariance and selectivity, this strategy enables search for human actions ranging from rapid movements of sports to subtle motions of facial expressions. The introduction of the Histogram of Gabor Orientations feature makes the searching for actions go smoothly across the hierarchical layers of the HSTM model. The efficient matching is achieved by applying integral histograms to compute the features in the top two layers. The HSTM model was tested on three selected challenging video sequences and on the KTH human action database. And it achieved improvement over other state-of-the-art algorithms. These promising results validate that the HSTM model is both selective and robust for searching human actions.


Chitosan (CS) is a natural polysaccharide, widely studied in the past due to its unique properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability and non-toxicity. Chemical modification of CS is an effective pathway to prepare new matrices with additional functional groups and improved properties, such as increment of hydrophilicity and swelling rate, for drug delivery purposes. In the present study, four derivatives of CS with trans-aconitic acid (t-Acon), succinic anhydride (Succ), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA) and acrylic acid (AA) were prepared, and their successful grafting was confirmed by FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopies. Neat chitosan and its grafted derivatives were fabricated for the encapsulation of fluticasone propionate (FLU) and salmeterol xinafoate (SX) drugs, used for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), via the ionotropic gelation technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs demonstrated that round-shaped microparticles (MPs) were effectively prepared with average sizes ranging between 0.4 and 2.2 μm, as were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS), while zeta potential verified in all cases their positive charged surface. FTIR spectroscopy showed that some interactions take place between the drugs and the polymeric matrices, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibited that both drugs were encapsulated in MPs' interior with a lower degree of crystallinity than the neat drugs. In vitro release studies of FLU and SX exposed a great amelioration in the drugs' dissolution profile from all modified CS's MPs, in comparison to those of neat drugs. The latter fact is attributed to the reduction in crystallinity of the active substances in the MPs' interior.


For any reservoir engineering issue or manage production from the petroleum reservoir, it is required to have seismic characterizations in quantitative manner, rather than qualitative geological interpretations. Herewith, seismic inversion could assist reservoir engineer as the technique to transform seismic data to quantitative rock properties. General steps in interpretation of seismic data preparing for porosity estimations consist of seismic structural interpretation, inversion procedure and attributes analysis. Since there is no direct measurement for the lithological parameters, they are to be computed from other geophysical logs or seismic attributes. This process also requires repeated intervention of the experts for fine tuning the prediction results. Standard regression methods are not suitable for this problem due to the high degree of the unknown nonlinearity. The problem is further complicated because of uncertainties associated with lithological units. In this context, Artificial Neural Network is considered to be useful tools to establish a mapping between lithological and well log properties. In this study, a strategy is presented for defining 3D seismic reservoir porosity model based on advanced method of artificial intelligence (AI) concept. This strategy then would be applied on a complex and heterogeneous oil reservoir which is a relatively symmetrical anticline whose trend is N-S. Required input data was prepared by seismic attribute and the velocity was modeled by vertical seismic profiling data. The general characterization strategy followed by initial inversion model construction for acoustic impedance of total cube for the target formation. Consequently, initial inversion model for effective and total porosity of the target formation was obtained. Acoustic impedance logs were used for neural network training and the genetic algorithm were used for calculation. High correlation values around 86% in cross plots, confirm accuracy of the porosity estimation by the AI method. This model then was used to precise the geological and geometrical properties of the reservoir for well location proposal.


The Sun is the primary source of energy responsible for governing both the weather and climate of Earth. Changes in the amount and type of energy Earth receives alter its weather and climate. The variability of the solar flux during the solar cycle occurs mainly in the ultraviolet and especially at wavelengths below 250 nm where it may exceed 3% and even 20 to 40% in the far UV (FUV). This spectrum does not reach the surface: it is completely absorbed by stratospheric ozone and oxygen, playing an important role in the stratosphere where it modifies the fields of temperature, pressure and wind and therefore the conditions of propagation of atmospheric waves that couple the lower and upper layers of the atmosphere. A Space Weather and Ultraviolet Solar Variability microsatellite (SWUSV), is proposed to monitor UV and FUV (Lyman-Alpha 121.6 nm, 200{220 nm Herzberg continuum) in imaging and irradiance (radiometers). This for early precursor Flares and CMEs detection in Lyman-Alpha for Space Weather awareness, and to have information on the physical causes of the changes of irradiance observed, to identify the causes of these changes and measure their parameters according to solar magnetism: what only an imaging instrument of the whole disc, with a fair spatial resolution and a good rate of observation, can do. The nature of the variations of Lyman-Alpha will help to directly interpret the variations of ozone, on short and long terms. An overview and the objectives of the SWUSV program is presented as well as the FUV imaging telescope (an evolution of SODISM/PICARD), and instrumentation for solar spectral irradiance (radiometers' ensemble: evolution of the LYRA/PROBA-2 experiment), thermal plasma measurements and magnetometer (evolution of PROBA-2 instruments), and Earth radiative budget (SERB) to complete stratospheric information. The program is Franco-Egyptian, presently in definition phase, but extension to Belgium, Switzerland and other partners is expected soon.


Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a cause of mild to severe respiratory viral infection. There are few descriptions of infection with HMPV in pregnancy. We present two cases of HMPV infection occurring in pregnancy, including a case of superimposed bacterial pneumonia in a pregnant woman after HMPV infection. In the first case, a 40-year-old woman at 29 weeks of gestation developed an asthma exacerbation in association with a positive respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) for HMPV infection. She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for progressive respiratory failure. In the second case, a 36-year-old woman at 31 weeks of gestation developed respiratory distress in association with a positive RPP for HMPV. A subsequent sputum culture was positive for beta-lactamase producing Haemophilus influenzae raising concern for superimposed bacterial pneumonia. HMPV can be an important cause of severe respiratory illness in pregnant women and may predispose pregnant women to superimposed bacterial pneumonia. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2019;8(4):107-110 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo573


AIM OF THE STUDY
to investigate associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs499818 (6p24.1), rs619203 of ROS1 gene (6q22), rs10757278 rs1333049 (9p21.3), rs2549513 (16q23.1), rs4804611 of ZNF627 gene (19p13.2) with myocardial infarction in subjects of young age. The group of patients with MI (n=99) aged less than 45 years and the control group (n=111) did not differ significantly by sex (=0,617), age (=0.291), arterial hypertension (=0.766), diabetes mellitus (=0.395), hypercholestolemia (=0.696), excessive body mass and obesity (=0.361), abdominal obesity (=0.831) and history of smoking (=0.400). There was significant difference between groups by burdened heredity (<0.001). Genomic DNA was obtained from venous blood by phenol-chloroform extraction. Genetic testing was performed by real time polymerase chain reaction using 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System according to manufacturers protocol. We found significant association between rs1333049 and rs10757278 and myocardial infarction (MI). Odds ratio (OR) of development of MI in carriers of risk allele rs1333049 was 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24 to 4.65), in carriers of G rs10757278 allele - 2.00 (95%CI 1.05 to 3.80). Association of risk alleles rs 1333049 and G rs10757278 with MI remained significant after adjustment for burdened family history (OR 4.25, 95%CI 1.39 to 12.99, and OR 3.04, 95%CI 1.09 to 8.52, respectively). Presence in the genotype of both risk alleles rs1333049 and G rs10757278 was associated with OR of MI development 2.40 (95%CI 1.20 to 4.82) which was not different from that associated with carriage of allele rs1333049 only. Possibly in our population both SNPs belong to one linkage block and correspondingly it is sufficient to genotype one SNP. No significant associations with MI were found for variants rs4804611, rs2549513, rs499818, rs619203. SNPs rs1333049 and rs10757278 of 9p21.3 locus are predictors of MI in young individuals not dependent on both traditional risk factors and presence of burdened family history.


Simulations describing the spin physics underpinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy play an important role in the design of new experiments. When experiments are performed in the solid state, samples are commonly composed of powders or glasses, with molecules oriented at a large number of angles with respect to the laboratory frame. These powder angles must be represented in simulations to account for anisotropic interactions. Numerical techniques are typically used to accurately compute such powder averages. A large number of Euler angles are usually required, leading to lengthy simulation times. This is particularly true in broad spectra, such as those observed in EPR. The combination of the traditionally separate techniques of EPR and magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR could play an important role in future electron detected experiments, combined with dynamic nuclear polarization, which will allow for exceptional detection sensitivity of NMR spin coherences. Here, we present a method of reducing the required number of Euler angles in magnetic resonance simulations by analytically performing the powder average over one of the Euler angles in the static and MAS cases for the TEMPO nitroxide radical in a 7 T field. In the static case, this leads to a 97.5% reduction in simulation time over the fully numerical case and reproduces the expected spinning sideband manifold when simulated with a MAS frequency of 150 kHz. This technique is applicable to more traditional NMR experiments as well, such as those involving quadrupolar nuclei or multiple dimensions.


The objective of the present study was to develop buccal bilayered controlled release tablets in order to overcome the poor oral bioavailability of valsartan. They were prepared by direct compression. Various types and amounts of mucoadhesive polymers were investigated. The tablets were evaluated for weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, surface pH, mucoadhesive strength, swelling index, in vitro drug release, and permeation to optimize the formulation. The tablets containing carbopol 934, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), sodium alginate in the ratio of 3:2:1, respectively, exhibited a promising mucoadhesive bilayer tablets. They had acceptable physical properties, maximum mucoadhesive strength of 62.68 ± 0.91 g/cm2, and a zero order controlled release over long period of time in comparison to oral marketed valsartan tablets. The in vitro permeation studies revealed that the strength of the three dimensional network gel structure formed on the surface of the backing layer played a major role in the drug release. Combining sodium alginate with carbopol-934 created a weak gel structure that enhanced the drug release, whereas, the combination of HPMC with carbopol-934 created a strong gel structure that retarded the drug release. FTIR and DSC studies confirmed the postulated intermolecular interaction between the drug and the polymers which controlled the gel strength and consequently the drug release.


This study monitored the anti-spike-receptor-binding domain (RBD) and neutralizing antibodies induced by the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine in a cohort of 163 healthcare workers aged ≤60 years. We have taken advantage of two study groups, both of whom received the first two doses in the same time window, but Group 1 (54 HCWs) received the third dose 2 months before Group 2 (68 HCWs) did. The cohorts were monitored from the 12th day after the first vaccine dose up to 1 month after the third vaccine dose for a total of eight time points and about 1 year of surveillance (T1 = 12 days after the first dose; T2 = 10 days after the second dose; T3 = 1 month after the second dose; T4 = 3 months after the second dose; T5 = 4 months after the second dose; T6 = 5 months after the second dose; T7 = 7 months after the second dose; T8 = 1 month after the third dose for Group 1; T8* = 9 months after the second dose for Group 2; T9 = 1 month after the third dose for Group 2). The mean value of anti-spike antibodies decreased faster over time, but at T7, its decline was significantly slowed (T7 vs. T8*). After the third dose, the anti-spike titer rose about 34-fold (T7 vs. T8 and T8* vs. T9) and the booster improved the anti-spike titer by about three times compared with that of the second dose (T3 vs. T8 and T3 vs. T9), and no difference was noted between the two groups. The neutralizing titer was evaluated at T3, T7, T8, and T9. Anti-spike and neutralizing antibodies were found to be strongly correlated (r2 = 0.980; p < 0.001). At T3, 70% of the participants had a neutralizing antibody titer >91% of total anti-spike antibodies that increased to 90% after the third dose (T8 and T9). However, when the anti-spike titer reached its lowest value (T7), the neutralizing antibody levels decreased even further, representing only 44% of total anti-spike antibodies (p < 0.0001). Our findings show that the third vaccine dose improves the humoral response, but the wane of the anti-spike and neutralizing antibody titers over time is more marked in the neutralizing antibodies.


Abstract—Synthesis of the aortic pressure waveform by application of a transfer function to the radial pulse allows the estimation of aortic systolic blood pressure and aortic augmentation index, an index of pressure wave reflection derived from the early systolic component of the waveform. The accuracy of this approach for determining the aortic augmentation index has been questioned, however, and it may be possible to derive similar information without using a transfer function. We compared aortic systolic blood pressure and the aortic augmentation index obtained from carotid and radial arteries with the use of transfer functions. We examined the correlation between the aortic augmentation index and a radial augmentation index obtained without use of a transfer function. Arterial tonometry (Sphygmocor) was performed in 84 subjects including healthy volunteers (n=30), subjects with essential hypertension (n=30), and patients with coronary artery disease (n=24). Effects of nitroglycerine and norepinephrine on aortic and radial augmentation index were examined in 12 healthy volunteers. Values of aortic systolic pressure obtained from radial and carotid arteries by using transfer functions were in acceptable agreement (R =0.98, difference=−0.9±4.6 mm Hg; mean±SD, n=84), but those of aortic augmentation index differed especially in control subjects (R =0.47, difference=−3.8±12.4%). Aortic augmentation index was, however, closely correlated with radial augmentation index (R =0.96, n=84). Nitroglycerine and norepinephrine produced parallel changes in the aortic and radial augmentation index. Our findings question the use of a transfer function to obtain the aortic augmentation index but suggest that similar information on central pressure wave reflection can be obtained directly from the radial pulse.


The paper describes the model and methods used to calculate electromagnetic forces which are used to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of the stator windings in the end-region of turbogenerators. Integration methods are applied to obtain the magnetic field due to the coils and ferromagnetic bodies. The results presented compare the nodal forces with and without the ferromagnetic influence under transient conditions.


This case report discusses the clinical presentation and management of a patient presenting to substance misuse services reporting chewing fentanyl patches in addition to wearing them transdermally. The patient was successfully titrated onto methadone 30 mg. Only one previously reported case of an individual chewing fentanyl patches was found in the literature; no case reports were found where treatment involved titrating the patient onto methadone. The pharmacology and illicit use of fentanyl are also considered.


An attempt has been made in this paper to present performance analysis of a Hammerstein model for system identification area. Hammerstein model block structure is formed by cascade of linear and nonlinear parts. This study different from the studies in literature, focuses on the performance of Hammerstein block model that Second Order Volterra (SOV) Model is preferred instead of Memoryless Polynomial Nonlinear (MPN) as nonlinear part. In simulations, different systems are identified by proposed Hammerstein model which is optimized with classical and heuristic algorithms. Also, its performance is compared with different models.


Accurate optical modeling is important for the design and characterisation of current and next-generation experiments studying the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Geometrical Optics (GO) cannot model diffractive effects. In this work, we discuss two methods that incorporate diffraction, Physical Optics (PO) and the Geometrical Theory of Diffraction (GTD). We simulate the optical response of a ground-based two-lens refractor design shielded by a ground screen with time-reversed simulations. In particular, we use GTD to determine the interplay between the design of the refractor's forebaffle and the sidelobes caused by interaction with the ground screen.


This study aims to: (1) find out how the Principal's Managerial Competence at MTsN 16 Jombang (2) to know how the Professionalism of Teachers at MTsN 16 Jombang (3) to find out how Teacher Performance at MTsN 16 Jombang (4) how the influence of Principal Managerial Competence and Teacher Professionalism on Teacher Performance at MTsN 16 Jombang. This research is a quantitative study with a research sample of all teachers at MTsN 16 Jombang, totaling 36 teachers. Data collection techniques by observation, spread out questionnaires, documentation, and unstructured interviews. Data analysis used descriptive analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS version 20.0 for Windows. The results showed: (1) The managerial competence of madrasah principals was in the high category with a percentage of 50% with an average of 110.05. (2) Teacher professionalism is in the medium category with a percentage of 36.1% with an average of 90.88. (3) Teacher performance in the high category with a percentage of 50% with an average of 111.08. (4) There is an effect of managerial competence of madrasah principals and teacher professionalism on teacher performance shown by a simultaneous significance test (F test) with the results of the Fcount value of 19.812 greater than Ftable 3.28 with a sig value of 0.000 less than 0.05 and the coefficient of determination. (R2) is 51.8% while the remaining 48.2% is explained by other variables that are not studied such as work motivation, work climate, and others.


Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working aged‐adults in westernised countries. Diabetic macular oedema (DMO) is a manifestation of diabetic retinopathy and is the leading cause of the visual impairment that occurs with diabetic retinopathy. There are multiple ways of classifying DMO; however, none appear to be wholly satisfactory. DMO occurs more frequently in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and appears to be more prevalent as the duration of diabetes increases, and as the severity of diabetic retinopathy worsens. There are multiple risk factors in common with diabetic retinopathy, such as hyperglycaemia, hypertension and dyslipidaemia; however, specific factors such as the presence of renal disease appear to be more significantly associated with DMO. Whereas the gold standard for diagnosis of DMO is via clinical examination, there is considerable variability involved, and hence, this has led to the advent of more objective methods of quantifying the degree of retinal thickness, such as optical coherence tomography. Laser photocoagulation appears to be the only universally acceptable treatment of choice to date; however, this is a destructive therapy, and its side effects coupled with the suboptimal efficacy has led to the advent of potential new therapies which will undoubtedly compliment the existing approaches, in the future management of a patient with DMO.


COVID-19 took the world by storm in early 2020 which rapidly escalated to a pandemic of unprecedented proportions. Containment of the outbreak requires a robust public health system of surveillance, contact tracing and laboratory preparedness. Technological advancement in molecular diagnosticshas helped identify patients in the initial stages of the outbreak. RT-PCR remains the gold standard in COVID-19 testing. However, as the pandemic continues, there is need for rapid and point of care tests (POCT) for mass screening and rapid decision making. Current serological tests and POCT have high sensitivity but need to be interpreted with caution. This review aims to discuss current laboratory tests available for the diagnosis of COVID-19.


The authors are concerned with the problems of reconstructing surfaces from stereo images for large scenes having large depth ranges. They present an approach to acquiring coarse structural information about the scene in the vicinity of the next fixation point during the current fixation and utilizing this information for surface reconstruction in the vicinity of the next fixation point. The approach involves the processing of peripheral low-resolution parts of the current images away from the image center, in additive to accurate surface estimation from the central high-resolution parts containing the fixated object. The processing of the low-resolution parts yields coarse surface estimates to be refined after the cameras have refixated and the parts of the scene around the new fixation point (currently at low resolution) are imaged more sharply. The coarse estimates are obtained from both stereo and focus. The choice as to which estimate is actually used depends on which is determined to be more accurate in the given situation. Experimental results demonstrate that the approach may be well suited for active data acquisition and surface reconstruction by an autonomous stereo system.<<ETX>>


This paper looks for empirical evidence on spillovers occurring between central cities and their suburbs, both on the fiscal side and on the growth of population and output. To test these hypotheses we specify a dynamic model with population and output both in the central city and in the suburbs as endogenous variables and with fiscal variables in the central city and in the suburbs as covariates. The model is estimated with a panel of data of twenty-eight metropolitan areas in Spain for the period 1992-2001.The main findings are that the capital stock in the central city promotes growth both in the city and in the suburbs. Also, higher growth in the central city translates into higher long run growth in the suburbs. These results are indicative of the potential welfare gains of both, concentrating financial resources in the central city, and of the implementation of existing proposals of metropolitan consolidation.


Brain size varies greatly among vertebrates. It has been proposed that the diversity of brain size is produced and maintained through a balance of adaptations to different types and levels of cognitive ability and constraints for adaptive evolution. Phylogenetic comparative studies have made major contributions to our understanding of brain size evolution. However, previous studies have nearly exclusively focused on mammalian and avian taxa and almost no attempts have been made to investigate brain size evolution in ectothermic vertebrates.In my thesis, I studied brain size evolution in two groups of fish with extreme diversity in ecology, morphology and life history, Cichlidae and Syngnathidae. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, I investigated four key questions in vertebrate brain size evolution; cognitive adaptation, sexual selection, phenotypic integration and energetic constraints.I have demonstrated i) that phenotypic integration can link functionally unrelated traits, and this may constrain independent evolution of each part involved or promote concerted evolution of an integrated whole, ii) that brain-body static allometry constrains the direction of brain size evolution, even though the static-allometry showed ability to evolve, allowing evolution of relative brain size under allometric constraints, iii) that the energetic constraints of development and maintenance of brain tissue is an important factor in forming the diversity in brain size in cichlids and syngnathids, both at macroevolutionary and microevolutionary time scales, and iv) that adaptation for feeding and female mating competition may have played key roles in the adaptive evolution of brain size in pipefishes and seahorses. To conclude, my thesis shows the strong benefit of using fish as a model system to study brain size evolution with a phylogenetic comparative framework.


Enterprise competency refers to knowledge that describes the skills and abilities possessed by a particular enterprise. This paper proposes a new framework for intra-enterprise competency modelling. First, formal definitions of enterprise competency and related aspects (i.e. resource, activity, and knowledge) are presented. Second, conceptual subcategories (i.e. capability, cross-functional co-ordination, and cross-functional integration) are discussed for the purposes of capability and competency modelling. The framework is illustrated by developing a competency knowledge base for a bicycle plant with two sectors. The competency knowledge base provides information important to decision-making, and can act as an indicator for an enterprise's willingness to engage in robust collaboration.


We report on a randomized, placebo-controlled prospective examination of adult subjects with long-term type 1 diabetes who received 2 bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine doses 4 weeks apart and were studied for up to 5 years. All enrolled subjects had disease >10 years duration without complications. Starting after year 3 of follow-up, only BCG vaccinated subjects had lowered HbA1c for 1 year (Year 05 data: BCG-treated HbA1c 6.18+/-.34 [n=9], placebo 7.07+/-.41 [n=3], reference subjects with type 1 diabetes 7.22+/-.17 [n=34, p=0.02]). Continuing follow-up of 6 subjects who have been followed for a total of 8 years, 4 years after the first documented lowering of HbA1c (Phase 1 trial participants), confirms the ability of repeat BCG vaccination to maintain lowered HbA1c levels without hypoglycemia in long-term disease (BCG-treated HbA1c 6.65+/-.26 vs. placebo 7.22+/-.38, p=0.0002) for a total of 5 continuous years. For all BCG-treated subjects, the stable reductions in HbA1c were not associated with hypoglycemia. BCG-treated subjects had no change in their enrollment use of insulin pumps and none utilized a CGM device. The apparent stable and long-lasting impact of BCG on blood sugars in humans with type 1 diabetes appears to be the result of a novel mechanism, as documented with metabolomics, mRNAseq, and epigenetic methods; namely, a systemic shift in glucose metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis, a state of high glucose utilization on cellular levels. BCG via epigenetics also resets T-regulatory genes for genetic reprogramming of tolerance. Trials are being designed to confirm the value of BCG for blood sugar control in humans. The identification of a novel mechanism for blood sugar lowering with BCG opens the door for future trials in both type 1 and 2 diabetes with a safe, novel and affordable approach. Disclosure W. Kuhtreiber: None. L. Tran: None. S.E. Janes: None. A.A. DeFusco: None. H. Zheng: None. D.L. Faustman: None.


Lipoic acid is an essential cofactor for GCS and 2-oxoacid dehydrogenases, and α-lipoic acid has been utilized as a medicine and attracted attention as a supplement due to its antioxidant activity. The biosynthesis pathways of lipoic acid have been established in Bacteria and Eucarya but not in Archaea. Although some archaeal species, including Sulfolobus, possess a classical lipoyl synthase (LipA) gene homolog, many archaeal species, including T. kodakarensis, do not. In addition, the biosynthesis mechanism of the octanoyl moiety, a precursor for lipoyl group biosynthesis, is also unknown for many archaea. As the enzyme identified in T. kodakarensis most likely represents a new group of lipoyl synthases in Archaea, the results obtained in this study provide an important step in understanding how lipoic acid is synthesized in this domain and how the two structurally distinct lipoyl synthases evolved in nature. ABSTRACT Lipoic acid is a sulfur-containing cofactor and a component of the glycine cleavage system (GCS) involved in C1 compound metabolism and the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenases that catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxoacids. Lipoic acid is found in all domains of life and is generally synthesized as a lipoyl group on the H-protein of the GCS or the E2 subunit of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenases. Lipoyl synthase catalyzes the insertion of two sulfur atoms to the C-6 and C-8 carbon atoms of the octanoyl moiety on the octanoyl-H-protein or octanoyl-E2 subunit. Although the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis seemed able to synthesize lipoic acid, a classical lipoyl synthase (LipA) gene homolog cannot be found on the genome. In this study, we aimed to identify the lipoyl synthase in this organism. Genome information analysis suggested that the TK2109 and TK2248 genes, which had been annotated as biotin synthase (BioB), are both involved in lipoic acid metabolism. Based on the chemical reaction catalyzed by BioB, we predicted that the genes encode proteins that catalyze the lipoyl synthase reaction. Genetic analysis of TK2109 and TK2248 provided evidence that these genes are involved in lipoic acid biosynthesis. The purified TK2109 and TK2248 recombinant proteins exhibited lipoyl synthase activity toward a chemically synthesized octanoyl-octapeptide. These in vivo and in vitro analyses indicated that the TK2109 and TK2248 genes encode a structurally novel lipoyl synthase. TK2109 and TK2248 homologs are widely distributed among the archaeal genomes, suggesting that in addition to the LipA homologs, the two proteins represent a new group of lipoyl synthases in archaea. IMPORTANCE Lipoic acid is an essential cofactor for GCS and 2-oxoacid dehydrogenases, and α-lipoic acid has been utilized as a medicine and attracted attention as a supplement due to its antioxidant activity. The biosynthesis pathways of lipoic acid have been established in Bacteria and Eucarya but not in Archaea. Although some archaeal species, including Sulfolobus, possess a classical lipoyl synthase (LipA) gene homolog, many archaeal species, including T. kodakarensis, do not. In addition, the biosynthesis mechanism of the octanoyl moiety, a precursor for lipoyl group biosynthesis, is also unknown for many archaea. As the enzyme identified in T. kodakarensis most likely represents a new group of lipoyl synthases in Archaea, the results obtained in this study provide an important step in understanding how lipoic acid is synthesized in this domain and how the two structurally distinct lipoyl synthases evolved in nature.


In models of siliciclastic sequence stratigraphy, the sequence boundary in distal marine environments, where the strata are mudstone dominated, is usually considered a correlative conformity—the seaward extension of a subaerial unconformity. Despite its wide usage in the literature, objective recognition criteria of a correlative conformity remain lacking, largely due to the limited number of case studies directly examining the characteristics of sequence boundaries in offshore mudstone-dominated environments. This study focuses on the mudstone-dominated transitional interval between the Tununk Shale Member and the Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale Formation exposed in south-central Utah to extend our understanding of the characteristics of a sequence boundary developed in the distal shelf environment of a ramp setting. An integrated sedimentologic, petrographic, and sequence stratigraphic analysis was conducted to characterize the sequence boundary that separates the Tununk from the Ferron depositional system (hereafter referred to as the T-F sequence boundary) and its lateral along-depositional-strike variability.
 Although manifest as a mudstone-on-mudstone contact, the T-F sequence boundary in all three measured sections is a subtle unconformity, characterized by erosional truncation below and onlap above, and marks a distinct basinward shift in facies association. The T-F sequence boundary also marks the change from the Tununk offshore mud-belt system to the Ferron Notom delta system, and therefore represents a surface that divides two genetically different depositional systems. Based on two distinct marker beds that bracket the T-F sequence boundary, the T-F sequence boundary can be traced across the study area with confidence. The lateral variability in the characteristics of the T-F sequence boundary along depositional strike indicates that it was produced by an allogenic base-level fall.
 Offshore shelfal mudstone strata may contain a significantly higher incidence of subtle unconformities analogous to the T-F sequence boundary than currently appreciated. Careful sedimentologic and petrographic analyses, combined with lateral correlations constrained by reliable chronostratigraphic marker beds, are essential for identifying subtle unconformities in shelf mudstone successions. The accurate recognition of subtle unconformities in mudstone strata is critical to apply the sequence stratigraphic approach appropriately to distal shelf environments, as well as to better constrain the timing and cause (allogenic vs. autogenic) of relative changes of sea level recorded in these rocks.


Background: Uterine fibroids are the most common tumour in women of reproductive age. By the time they are 50-years-old around 80% of women will have developed one. Of these, around half will experience symptoms which will impact negatively on their quality of life. Hysterectomy is the traditional treatment for women with symptomatic fibroids. For women who do not wish to undergo a hysterectomy, two invasive treatments are commonly available: myomectomy or uterine artery embolization (UAE). Design: FEMME is a pragmatic, randomised, open, multi-centre trial examining the quality of life menstruating women with symptomatic fibroids experience after treatment with UAE or myomectomy. Methods: After providing informed consent, 216 women with symptomatic fibroids from 43 NHS Hospital Trusts and Health Boards across the United Kingdom will undergo randomisation by a centralised computer system to treatment by either UAE or myomectomy. A minimisation algorithm will be used in order to balance the groups with respect to the following three parameters: the longest dimension of the largest fibroid, the number of fibroids present, and whether the woman currently desires pregnancy. Using validated questionnaires the women ' s quality of life will be compared between groups at six months, one year, two years and four years post-procedure, taking into account pre-procedure scores. An economic evaluation will be conducted alongside the trial to determine the cost-effectiveness of UAE compared with myomectomy. Validated diaries will also be used to compare menstrual blood loss at the same time-points. The plasma concentration of Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which will act as a proxy measurement of ovarian reserve, will be recorded before the woman has her procedure and then again at six weeks, six months, and twelve months afterwards. Re-intervention rates will be recorded. Discussion: The FEMME trial ' s primary outcome is the quality of life women with symptomatic uterine fibroids experience two years after they have been treated with either UAE or myomectomy, as measured by the disease-specific Uterine Fibroid Symptom Quality-of-Life (UFS-QoL) questionnaire.


The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented crisis across the world, with many countries struggling with the pandemic. In order to understand how each country is impacted by the virus and assess the risk on a global scale we present a regression based analysis using two pre-existing indexes, namely the Inform and Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index, in conjunction with the number of elderly living in the population. Further we introduce a temporal layer in our modeling by incorporating the stringency level employed by each country over a period of 6 time intervals. Our results show that the indexes and level of stringency are not ideally suited for explaining variation in COVID-19 risk, however the ratio of elderly in the population is a stand out indicator in terms of its predictive power for mortality risk. In conclusion, we discuss how such modeling approaches can assist public health policy.


To address historical and current fire regimes in the Hayman landscape, we first present the concepts of "historical range of variability" and "fire regime" to provide the necessary conceptual tools for evaluating fire occurrence, fire behavior, and fire effects. Next we summarize historical (pre-1860) fire frequency and fire effects for the major forest types of the Colorado Front Range, to illustrate and emphasize the key point that the ecological role of fire is dramatically different in the various forest types that are found in and around the area burned by the Hayman Fire. We consider the magnitude by which these different kinds of fire regimes in the Colorado Front Range have been altered (or not altered) by human actions, notably 20 century fire exclusion. Finally, we focus on the Hayman Fire itself, to evaluate the extent to which this large, severe fire can be regarded as either a "natural" or an "unprecedented" event in this ecosystem. Because future Front Range fires will likely occur outside the Hayman area, and because one purpose of this report is to provide a scientific basis for developing fire management policy, we believe it is important to place our assessment of the Hayman Fire into a broader context. For this reason, we discuss the role of fire in some forest types that actually are uncommon within the Hayman Fire perimeter per se (for example, spruce-fir), recognizing that the next big Front Range fire may well occur in these other kinds of ecosystems. Moreover, an understanding of the fire ecology of other ecosystems adjacent to the Hayman area helps clarify some of the unique features of the Hayman landscape. Thus, our treatment moves from basic concepts of fire and landscape dynamics in general, to a description of broad fire and landscape patterns in the Colorado Front Range, to a specific analysis of fire and landscape history within the specific area where the Hayman Fire occurred. "Historical Range of Variability" (HRV)


Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of developing hand eczema (HE). This can be exacerbated by hygiene measures related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Using mild skin cleansers and emollients or moisturizers is central in the prevention of HE—especially with increased COVID-19 hygiene regimes. Aims This study aimed to assess parameters important for the acceptance of a skincare concept in HCWs. Methods In this proof-of-concept user trial, HCWs were provided ad libitum with hand wash oil and hand cream during the 6-month period, when occupationally acquired COVID-19 infections among HCWs were peaking in Germany and then surveyed about acceptance of the products using questionnaires. Results Of 135 HCWs, 115 (85%) responded. Skin tolerance of the hand wash oil and the hand cream was rated very good by 63% and 52% of the 115 participants, respectively. Of the 115 participants, 58% and 57% were very satisfied with the hand wash oil and the hand cream, respectively. Conclusions Acceptance of skin cleansing and skincare products in HCWs seems influenced by parameters such as self-assessed skin tolerance and self-reported overall satisfaction. It must be assumed that products are only used as recommended if they are well-accepted. Employers might survey employees about acceptance of products using the parameters identified to adjust concepts if necessary to sustainably contribute to the prevention of HE.


Cardiac catheterization data from eight patients with severe chronic obstructive lung disease and pulmonary hypertension at rest (greater than 25 mm Hg) were compared with those obtained from 14 patients with mild to moderate disease whose pulmonary artery pressure was within the normal range at rest (mean 15 (SEM 1) mm Hg), but increased with exercise (30 (2) mm Hg). We obtained lung sections from necropsy material from the group with severe disease, and from surgical specimens in the group with mild to moderate disease, and compared the structure of the vasculature in these groups with that obtained from surgical specimens in a non-smoking control group of seven patients. Oxygen administration either at rest or during exercise did not greatly affect the pulmonary arterial pressures. When cardiac index was plotted against pulmonary artery pressure at rest and during exercise and extrapolated to the axis there was no evidence for a critical closing pressure in either group. The vessels in the groups with mild to moderate and severe chronic obstructive lung disease showed intimal thickening (each 19% (SD 0.5%)) by comparison with the non-smoking group (16% (0.5%]. The group with severe disease, in addition, had medial hypertrophy (27% (0.5%) versus 24% (SD 1%) in the non-smoking group). These data are consistent with the idea that the diseased vessels are distorted and rigid. The lack of effect of breathing oxygen on the vascular response at rest and during exercise suggests that hypoxic vasoconstriction has a minimal role in the pulmonary hypertension of chronic obstructive lung disease. The data suggest that the intimal changes could narrow the vessel calibre in those patients with mild to moderate disease, and that the thickened media present in the vessels from patients with severe disease may act in concert with the enlarged intima to produce more severe vascular obstruction.


KSHV vFLIP is a potent activator of NFκB signaling and an inhibitor of apoptosis and autophagy. Inhibition of vFLIP function and NFκB signaling promotes viral reactivation. Here we provide evidence for a novel function of vFLIP in promoting NFκB signaling through inhibition of the DUB activity of the negative regulator, A20. We demonstrate interaction of vFLIP with the Itch/A20 ubiquitin editing complex. We have identified a SUMO interaction motif in vFLIP that is required for NFκB activation. We observed a decrease in vFLIP induced NFκB when the SIM in vFLIP was mutated. Small molecule inhibition of SUMOylation resulted in a dose dependent increase lytic reactivation and virus production. Our results suggest a role for SUMO in mediating vFLIP function and provide evidence for vFLIP modulation of the negative regulation of NFκB signaling by A20. Our results provide further insight into the function of vFLIP and SUMO in the regulation of NFκB signaling and the latent lytic transition.


ABSTRACT Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) provides valuable information to participating countries by allowing them to compare the performance of their students with the performances of students in other countries. When making such comparisons, the construct being measured should be the same across groups at the item and test levels. The purpose of this study was to examine the responses of students to 16 dichotomously scored science items in PISA 2015 for item bias using statistical procedures at the item level. Student data in three Latin American countries (Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico) were used to run the differential item function (DIF) analyses across cultural groups. About 25% of the items for each country pair were detected as DIF items with large effect sizes. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the possible item bias effect on the validity of the interpretation and the use of PISA 2015 science test results should be considered while comparing the test results across the cultures investigated in this study.


Physical motion features that cause a difference in the perceived rhythmic sense of a dancer were identified. We compared the rhythmical movements of Latin American and Japanese people to find such features. A 2-D motion capture system was used to measure rhythmical movement, and two motion features were identified. The first was the phase shift of the rotational angles between the hips and chest, and the second was the phase shift between the hips' rotational angle and horizontal position. A psychophysical study demonstrated whether these features affected the perceived rhythmic sense of a dancer. The results showed that both motion features significantly affected perceived sense, and one of them also affected how a viewer guessed the home country or area of a dancer. Consequently, the rhythmic sense of a virtual character can be controlled easily by adding and removing features to and from the character's synthesized motion.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the time of onset, overall efficacy, and safety of fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) for noncancer-related breakthrough pain (BTP) in opioid-tolerant adults over 12 weeks.

DESIGN
A novel 12-week study that mimicked clinical practice with dose titration to effective dose, open-label treatment, and three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-crossover periods at weeks 4, 8, and 12. For each double-blind period, study patients received nine doses (FBT = 6, placebo = 3) in a randomized sequence.

SETTING
Twenty-one study centers in the United States.

POPULATION
Opioid-tolerant adults with noncancer-related chronic pain and BTP.

OUTCOME MEASURES
The primary outcome was the sum of the pain intensity differences (PID) 5-60 minutes post dose (SPID₆₀) during the final double-blind period. Secondary outcomes included pain relief (PR), meaningful PR, and proportion of episodes with a PID of ≥33% and ≥50%.

RESULTS
Of 148 patients who entered the titration phase, 105 (71%) achieved a successful dose and 81 (55%) participated in all three assessment periods in the study. The final RCT assessment period results demonstrated continued efficacy of FBT vs placebo (P < 0.05) for SPID₆₀ (mean [SD]: 7.7 [6.2] vs 4.6 [4.7]). The average onset of PR began at 5 minutes, with meaningful PR by ≤10 minutes. The proportion of episodes with ≥33% improvement in PI was 7% with FBT vs 3% with placebo at 5 minutes and with ≥50% was 17% vs 10% at 15 minutes. All periods showed similar results. Adverse events and patient discontinuations were generally typical of clinical opioid use.

CONCLUSIONS
FBT showed continued clinically important analgesic effects and was generally well tolerated over 12 weeks of treatment.


Background: Although chemotherapeutics have proven to be effective in treating metastatic breast cancer, their limited target selectivity has resulted in adverse side effects, rendering them unsuitable for long-term usage. Alternatively, certain natural extracts provide a promising strategy to selectively target cancer while being safe to consume. Specifically, paradise tree (Simarouba glauca) has shown potential anti-tumour activity; however, its efficacy against cancer, mechanism of action, and interaction with standard chemotherapies have not been investigated. Method: We have demonstrated the anti-tumour activity of ethanolic paradise tree extract (PTE) in triple-negative and ER-positive breast cancer cell lines and its interaction with chemotherapeutics when used in combination. The anti-tumour efficacy of PTE was evaluated through the expression of apoptotic biochemical markers as well as changes in cell morphology. For mechanistic studies, fluorogenic dyes were used to quantify reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial membrane potential destabilization. Results: Our results have shown that PTE selectively triggers apoptosis in breast cancer cells while having limited effects on noncancerous cells. Importantly, we have found that PTE enhances the anti-tumour efficacy of chemotherapeutics, cisplatin and Taxol, when given in combination, while reducing their toxicity in noncancerous cells. Furthermore, PTE inhibits growth of human tumour xenografts in immunocompromised mice. Importantly, PTE in combination with Taxol and cisplatin had the best anti-tumour effect. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PTE could be a safe and effective treatment for breast cancer. Most importantly, as a supplement to chemotherapeutic regimens, it could enhance anti-tumour effects and reduce chemo-related toxicity.


Mitochondria are critical modulators of cell function and are increasingly recognized as proximal sensors and effectors that ultimately determine the balance between cell survival and cell death. Volatile anesthetics (VA) are long known for their cardioprotective effects, as demonstrated by improved mitochondrial and cellular functions, and by reduced necrotic and apoptotic cell death during cardiac ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury. The molecular mechanisms by which VA impart cardioprotection are still poorly understood. Because of the emerging role of mitochondria as therapeutic targets in diseases, including ischemic heart disease, it is important to know if VA-induced cytoprotective mechanisms are mediated at the mitochondrial level. In recent years, considerable evidence points to direct effects of VA on mitochondrial channel/transporter protein functions and electron transport chain (ETC) complexes as potential targets in mediating cardioprotection. This review furnishes an integrated overview of targets that VA impart on mitochondrial channels/transporters and ETC proteins that could provide a basis for cation regulation and homeostasis, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) emission in redox signaling for cardiac cell protection during IR injury.


This manuscript describes purification of sulfotransferase III (STIII), the major hepatic glucocorticoid sulfontransferase of male rats, 77.8 +/- 16 fold from cytosol. This represents a probable 250--345 fold enrichment, compared with homogenates. Purified STIII has a molecular weight of 61 500 +/- 2500 from Sephadex G-100 chromatography. It is markedly activated by 5 mM divalent Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Mg, Mn, and Ni salts; inhibited stronlgy by 5 mM divalent Zn and Cd; and unaffected by 8 mM ADP, ATP, and AMP. Comparison of the ability of purified STIII to sulfate equimolar cortisol, estradiol-17beta, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone suggests that the enzyme may sulfate glucocorticoid preferentially. However, its cortisol sulfotransferase activity is inhibited by a variety of steroids. Of these, dehydroepiandrosterone, dexamethasone, and progesterone were tested extensively. They were found to be competitive inhibitors. STIII has a sharp pH optimum at pH 6.0 +/- 0.1. However, it is routinely assayed at pH 6.8, as explained in the text. It exhibits a sequential mechanism and Km values of 6.82 +/- 1.2 and 6.28 +/- 0.64 micron for cortisol and 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate, respectively. It also possesses essential sulfhydryl groups, as shown by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate inhibition studies.


Abstract In this article we present a novel linguistically driven evaluation method and apply it to the main approaches of Machine Translation (Rule-based, Phrase-based, Neural) to gain insights into their strengths and weaknesses in much more detail than provided by current evaluation schemes. Translating between two languages requires substantial modelling of knowledge about the two languages, about translation, and about the world. Using English-German IT-domain translation as a case-study, we also enhance the Phrase-based system by exploiting parallel treebanks for syntax-aware phrase extraction and by interfacing with Linked Open Data (LOD) for extracting named entity translations in a post decoding framework.


The thesis deals with issues related to solar energy systems, or more specifically, the electric systems of photovoltaic (PV) installations. Initially aspects of planning and estimating the performance of a PV-installation are considered. As the test site showed to have poor energy yield due to shading, a decentralised converter system was suggested for that and similar systems which result in a higher shading tolerance. The operation of single-phase inverters connected to the grid is investigated, especially the nature of hysteresis (bang-bang) controlled inverters and their interaction with the grid and other inverters. A novel switching method is suggested with similar features as of the hysteresis technique. The impact on harmonics on the grid from many inverters is investigated and showed to be decreasing with the increasing number of inverters. The design and construction of a 110 W, single-phase PV-inverter is presented and discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of a common ac-bus compared with a common dc-bus are treated. Voltage variations are discussed, for a low-voltage network with an extensive amount of photovoltaic generators or other types of embedded generation like fuel cells or microturbines. A number of analytic expressions are derived for the voltage profile of a feeder in these networks. Examples are given where the overvoltage on the grid due to active power injection is severe. However, allowing the inverters to inject or consume an amount of reactive power dependent on the local rms voltage is shown to eliminate this potential problem. A simple algorithm for this reactive power control is proposed and tested.


Herein, a new hydrophilic and antibacterial polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) flat MF membrane was fabricated via a low-cost and simple preparation method in which chitosan (CS) was crosslinked with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) using epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a cross-linker followed by in situ chimeric SiO2 nanoparticle adhesion. The surface of the modified membrane had decreased C and F contents, and a large number of hydrophilic groups appeared. The treated membrane had good hydrophilicity and antibacterial properties. Moreover, the PTFE-modified membrane had high separation efficiency and antifouling property for oil-in-water emulsions. Finally, the hydrophilic stability of the PTFE membrane was studied by subjecting it to continuous water rinsing and soaking in solutions of different pH values. The present study demonstrates that this modified membrane has potential practical applications in industrial wastewater recovery.


Objective: To determine outcomes of intra-articular corticosteroids injection versus physiotherapy for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis using mean pain score on the visual analogue scale.
Study Design: Comparative prospective study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Orthopedic outpatient department, Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur from Jan to Jun 2021.
Methodology: A total of 120 cases having adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) were included in the study according to inclusion criteria. Non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used for the selection of cases. Patients were divided into two groups, group-A and group B, each containing 60 cases. Patients in group-A were given intra-articular steroid injection (2ml triamcinolone 40mg ± 2ml of bupivacaine). Patients in group B received ten sessions of physiotherapy by a welltrained physiotherapist under the supervision of an orthopaedic surgeon on alternate days. After six weeks, outcomes were measured in terms of pain score using a visual analogue pain scale.
Results: Significant improvement was seen among patients in group-A with mean pain score from 7.32 ± 0.89 measured initially to 5.44 ± 1.37 measured after six weeks (p<0.001). No significant improvement was found among patients in group B with a mean pain score of 7.58 ± 0.94 measured initially to 7.12 ± 0.88 measured after six weeks (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Significant improvement in pain relief can be achieved using intra-articular steroid injection administered in the shoulder as compared to supervised sessions of physiotherapy among patients with adhesive capsulitis.


Many intellectual property mega cases concerning allegedly infringing goods imported into the United States end up in front of the United States International Trade Commission. Past investigations include billion dollar tech cases between global powerhouses like Nokia, Qualcomm, RIM, Samsung, LG, Sharp, HP, and many others. Despite the economic significance of these cases, there is a relative dearth of statistical analysis of recent trends. This article seeks to supply such information by an analysis of every section 337 complaint filed in the calendar year 2009 (the most recent year for which most investigations have been resolved).