The impact of N on HfAlON dielectrics has been extensively studied in devices with TaN metal and poly-Si gate electrodes. A similar trend of the N effects was observed in both TaN and poly-Si devices in terms of equivalent oxide thickness, gate leakage current, threshold voltage (V th), transconductance, and subthreshold swing. However, compared to the HfAlON with TaN metal gate, a severe V th instability induced by charge trapping was generally observed in the poly-Si/HfAlON devices. In addition, the incorporation of N in the HfAlON films was found to play an opposite role in the V th instability between the TaN and poly-Si devices: In the TaN metal gate devices, the charge-trapping-induced V th instability in the HfAlON was slightly degraded by increasing the N concentration, whereas the V th instability was remarkably improved by increasing the N concentration in the poly-Si gate devices. The degradation of the V th instability observed in the TaN metal gate devices is believed to be due to the increase in preexisting bulk traps that is caused by incorporating N into the gate dielectric. The significant improvement on the V th instability in the devices with poly-Si gate could be mainly attributed to the remarkable suppression of electron trapping at oxygen vacancies by adding N into the high-K gate dielectric.


For improvement of control performance or new control demands of mechatronics devices using particle type ER fluids, it will be needed to further investigate a response time of the fluids. It is commonly said around 5-mili seconds, however, the formula structure of that delay has not been clear. This study aims to develop a functional damper (attenuators), that can control its viscous characteristics in real time using ER fluids as its working fluid. ER dampers are useful to accomplish high precision positioning not to prevent high speed movement of the motor. To realize the functional damper that can be manipulated according to situations or tasks, the modeling and control of ER fluids are necessary. This paper investigates time delay affects of ER fluids and makes an in-depth dynamic model of the fluid by utilizing simulation and experiment. The mathematical model has a dead-time and first ordered delays of the fluid and the high voltage amplifier for the fluid.


Vision is a picture of what a leader wants their organization to become. It focuses on an end result, but not necessarily how to get there. A vision is achieved if it is built on a foundation of core values and beliefs, a purpose, mission and goals. Where there is no vision, the people perish . . ." Proverbs 29:18 It is time for first-line supervisors and mid-level managers to jump on the vision bandwagon. Vision is the buzzword of the '90s; a subject included in nearly every management or leadership training course. The captains of industry have been told to envision the future of their companies. Books and articles abound on the subject. Vision, however, has usually been considered the purview of senior management, after all, they are the only ones who have the authority to set a vision for the company - at least that is what we've been led to believe. We have failed to create managers with vision because we have dealt with vision on a much higher plane. We have concentrated on the vision of CEOs and corporate vice-presidents. Where vision is truly needed is at the critical lower levels of management. Vision need not be confined by organizational boundaries. Vision is a tool of the leader and leaders can and should exist throughout an organization. Vision provides one of the major distinctions between leaders and managers at any level. A leader who has no vision can be nothing more than an organizational caretaker. A leader without a vision operates only at a resource level. "We have here one of the clearest distinctions between the leader and the manager. By focusing attention on a vision, the leader operates on the emotional and spiritual resources of the organization, on its values, commitments, and aspirations" (Bennis & Nanus, 1985, p. 92-93). Simply said, managers administer while leaders innovate. Managers take a short-term view while leaders are concerned also with the long term. Some writers have equated visionary leadership with position, contending that leaders are only found at "the top" of the organization. A cliche that attempts to describe the difference between management and leadership says that management is knowing how to climb the ladder while leadership determines if the ladder is against the right wall. This statement leads one to conclude that it is only at the top where direction can be questioned. This may be so when the questioning involves the fundamental direction of the company as a whole, but there is no reason why any leader cannot question the direction of his or her own department. After all, it is the sum of the parts that make the whole. The manager/leader must realize that his or her vision has a direct impact on the entire enterprise. While the direction of a particular department may already be in consonance with the company as a whole, the processes that take place in the department are often ripe for improvement and innovation. Regardless of where it originates, vision is a picture of the future. It is the result of looking beyond what is, to what could be. Innovative vision is appropriate regardless of the placement of an organization within an overall hierarchy. While many managers profess to have goals for their organization, goals are only the intermediate steps toward achieving a vision. A vision focuses on an end result but not necessarily on how to get there. Goals focus on the how, while visions focus on the why. Martin Luther King espoused a vision in his "I Have a Dream" speech in which he described a world of freedom and brotherhood for all. President John F. Kennedy espoused a vision when he said that the United States should put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Both of these articulations involved an end result in the future. Visions can be powerful tools in the hands of a leader. This powerful tool can lose its power if it becomes static and set in concrete. Although most vision statements can stand the test of time, there are sometimes environmental changes that can cause a vision to become outdated. …


In this paper, we consider an incremental relaying protocol based on an amplify-and-forward transmission in conjunction with the best relay selection scheme over non-identically distributed relay channels. In order to satisfy the spectral efficiency and the bit error rate (BER) requirements, adaptive modulation is applied to our proposed scheme. We derive the average spectral efficiency, average BER and outage probability for the performance analysis of our proposed scheme. For a more tractable analysis, we start with an upper bound for the combined signal-to-noise ratio at the destination and provide closed-form expressions for independent non-identically distributed Rayleigh fading conditions. Our analytical-based numerical results are validated by some computer-based simulations. These results show that our proposed scheme leads to a considerable improvement in the performance of cooperative diversity systems.


This writing to see problem of real income, inflation, and interest rate in money demand function. There are some perception similarities that money demand largely depends on the income or GNP (Gross National Product), besides other factors involved, like interest and inflation rates. However, to make and estimation about money demand in and economic system, it will involved some interrelated problems. (I) The definition of the most suitable money, (2) argumentation about money demand function, (3) the stability of the function statistically from period to period. The writer persons a study model from M. Semudram with OLS (Ordinary Least Square) method towards function in the form of log linear where the variable inserted is the demanded sum of nominal money, consumers price index, nominal GNP, interest rate, and inflation rate.


Enamel hypoplasias, deficiencies in enamel thickness resulting from disturbances during the secretory phase of enamel development, are generally believed to result from nonspecific metabolic and nutritional disruptions. However, data are scare on the prevalence and chronological distributions. of hypoplasias in populations experiencing mild to moderate malnutrition. The purpose of this article is to present baseline data on the prevalences and chronological distributions of enamel hypoplasias, by sex and for all deciduous and permanent anterior teeth, in 300 5 to 15-year-old rural Mexican children. Identification of hypoplasias was aided by comparison to a published standard (Federation Dentaire Internationale: Int. Dent. J. 32(2):159-167, 1982). The location of defects, by transverse sixths of tooth crowns, was used to construct distributions of defects by age at development. One or more hypoplasias were detected in 46.7% (95% CI = 40.9-52.5%) of children. Among the unworn and completely erupted teeth, the highest prevalence of defects was found on the permanent maxillary central incisors (44.4% with one or more hypoplasias), followed by the permanent maxillary canine (28.0%) and the remaining permanent teeth (26.2 to 22.2%) Only 6.1% of the completely erupted and unworn deciduous teeth were hypoplastic. The prevalence of enamel defects on the permanent teeth was up to tenfold greater than that found in studies of less marginal populations that used the FDI method. The prevalence of defects in transverse zones suggests a peak frequency of hypoplasias during the second and third years for the permanent teeth, corresponding to the age at weaning in this group. In the deciduous teeth, a smaller peak occurs between 30 and 40 weeks post gestation. The frequency of defects after three years of age is slightly higher in females than males, suggesting a sex difference in access to critical resources.


The aerodynamic flight characteristics of the Magellan spacecraft in the Venus atmosphere are computed at a nominal altitude of 140 km over a wide range of incidence angles and roll angles. Computational methods are described that can be used to simulate flowfields in the transition and free-molecule domains over vehicles of arbitrarily complex geometry. Values of the drag, lift, and transverse forces and of the pitch, yaw, and roll moments are given for incidence angles of-60 to 60 deg and roll angles of 0 to 360 deg. Transitional-flow effects are quantified and shown to be small, but not negligible and should be accounted for if high accuracy is required.


This study investigated how a large foodservice organization successfully adopted the Six Sigma quality system from other industry applications in their foodservice environment. In addition, the study explored how different levels of the organization had contributed to the application and the perceived importance of such system within the organization. Review of the recent foodservice literature suggested that quality service research is important because it is directly linked to customer satisfaction and return patronage behaviors. However, the literature also revealed that there was little theoretical understanding of quality systems and applications in the foodservice industry that would be akin to Total Quality Management (TQM) and that such systems were mainly to be found in other service and manufacturing organizations e.g. banking, insurance and electronics industries. The study also revealed that here was a lack of systematic quality measures in existence in foodservice operations, although exceptions did exist such as in fast food like operations and more recently at a hotel group. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and assess how a Six-Sigma-hybrid quality system was adapted and introduced in a typical foodservice operation. In this study, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's introduction of the Six Sigma-type quality initiatives called the 'Journey Toward Excellence' or JTE, were assessed and analyzed.


We show here that the lin-11 LIM homeobox gene is expressed in nine classes of head, ventral cord, and tail neurons and functions at a late step in the development of a subset of these neurons. In a lin-11 null mutant, alllin-11-expressing neurons are generated. Several of these neurons, however, exhibit neuroanatomical as well as functional defects. In the lateral head ganglion, lin-11 functions in a neural network that regulates thermosensory behavior. It is expressed in the AIZ interneuron that processes high temperature input and is required for the function of AIZ in the thermoregulatory neural network. Another LIM homeobox gene, ttx-3, functions in the antagonistic thermoregulatory interneuron AIY (Hobert et al., 1997). Thus, distinct LIM genes specify the functions of functionally related antagonistic interneurons within a neural network dedicated for thermoregulatory processes. Both ttx-3 andlin-11 expression are maintained throughout adulthood, suggesting that these LIM homeobox genes play a role in the functional maintenance of this neural circuit. We propose that particular LIM homeobox genes specify the distinct features of functionally related neurons that generate patterned behaviors.


The paper is devoted to the policy of transnational corporations in telecommunications in subSaharan Africa (SSA). The main goal of the work is to study the main competitive strategies and their importance in the activities of telecommunications TNCs in SSA countries. Methods. The work uses systemic and institutional approaches, as well as methods of complex analysis. The state and development of telecommunications markets in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as strategies and statistics of transnational corporations are analyzed. the main results of the work: the article reveals the features of the telecommunications market in sub-Saharan Africa, examines the political and competitive risks when entering the market, identifies the main strategies for the functioning of telecommunication TNCs in developed countries on the African continent, formulated the main proposals and recommendations to Russian telecommunication companies for entering this market and improving their competitiveness on it. the main conclusion. When implementing and complying with the formulated proposals and recommendations, Russian telecommunications companies will be able to acquire a large share of the telecommunications sector of the region under study. Everything is determined by the strategy.


This website promotes and supports the Year of the Volunteer 2005 and the Billion Minutes Volunteering Campaign. It contains helpful advice and information for those wanting to become volunteers, the volunteering sector and how to play a part in the Billion Minutes campaign.


The recent increase in the migratory flows of Syrian asylum-seekers has drawn attention to the causes and, more fundamentally, to the consequences of such mobility patterns in both the European Union and in Turkey. In this paper we explore the healthcare system in Turkey and, particularly, Syrians' access to healthcare services. Bringing together the literature on healthcare and on mobility from conflict zones, this paper advances our understanding of the challenges in access to healthcare facilities faced by a vulnerable population – namely displaced persons from Syria living in Turkey. Based on an analysis of secondary literature and social policies, we observe three main challenges faced by Syrians in Turkey in accessing healthcare services: registration procedure, navigation of the system and language barriers.


Royal inscriptions often have no real function, but are used only to spread royal propaganda. As such, they are very subjective and I don't consider them to be a sufficient source for extensive and objective research of any reign. In this thesis I gathered 284 royal inscripitons form Early Dynastic city – state of Lagas and described in as much detail as possible each of three elements of royal ideology I found important.
 First element is constituted of two royal titles, lugal and ensi2. As shown previously, they, except in their names, don't differ at all. The most important tasks any Early Dynastic ruler of Lagas has to do is build monumental temples, palaces and canals and to win as much wars and territory as possible. Considering the spatiotemporal restrictions and inability to exactly date inscriptions, it is not possible to conclude if rulers use both titles in the same time. No ruler uses two different titles (reffering to himself) in a single inscription, but Ur Nase and Eannatum use both titles throughout their reigns, and they do so for no apparent reason. Ur Nanse mostly uses the lugal title, while Eannatum mostly uses the ensi2 one. Both Akurgal and Eannatum's heirs use the ensi2 title, except for Urukagina, who uses the lugal title, but is also an usurper. Also, rulers mostly address their predeccessors with the same title they use on a given inscription, except for Akurgal, who, despite using the ensi2 title, addresses his father, Ur Nanse, as lugal. The same differentiation is visible in one of Enmetena's inscriptions. Foreign rulers' titles often depend on a current political situation and inter-city relations, but, again, they are often given the same title a given Lagashite ruler uses himself. Rulers of Umma usualy carry the ensi2 title or are simply addressed as lu2, which isn't a title at all (it translates as "a man, person"). Mesilim, an earlier ruler of Kis, is always addressed as lugal, and so is an unnamed ruler of Aksak. Also, gods are always given the lugal title.
 Second element is constituted of royal epithets, additions to the title used by rulers to demonstrate legitimacy of their reign and connection to the gods of Sumerian pantheon. In this thesis, I divided the epithets into four groups, depending on their content. Groups include patronimics, epithets that attest temple building activities, epithets that connect a ruler with the gods and epithets about ruler's character. I consider patronimics to be an evidence of inheritance of the throne. Urukagina doesn't use any patronimics, hence, he is an usurper (which is also attested in other sources). Epithets that directly connect ruler to a certain god sometimes refer to the ritual of "sacred wedding". Inscriptions show a strong connection to the gods, but there still is no deification of rulers and rulers don't yet consider themselves gods. Some even claim they have personal gods, Sul-MUSxPA being one of those gods, who act as mediators between rulers and gods.
 Third element is depiction of rulers on royal inscriptions. Despite being rare, they are very standardized. Rulers are shown as bald, half – naked figures, wearing only long skirts. They often have arms and hands positioned in praying manner. Sometimes they are followed by goddesses (i.e. Nanse follows Ur Nanse). They are also the largest depicted figures, second largest being "normal" Sumerians and the smallest being goddesses. The only variation is represented in Eannatum's Vulture stele, where the ruler is depicted also as a warrior – king, riding chariot and wearing one shoulder dress.
 All in all, Early Dynastic rulers of Lagas seem to be autocrats. They are the most important, highest ranked figures in society, close to the gods (even take over their function as protectors of cities), but they're still not divinized. Also, they supervise everything that happens in Lagas, Girsu or Nigin, build monumental temples and canals, even supervise priests and religious rituals. Even though they use two different royal titles, they exhibit no real changes in their governance.


In this correspondence, we present a computationally simple semi-closed-form solution to the problem of designing distributed beamformer for two-way (bi-directional) multi-relay networks. In such a network, the relay nodes use amplify-and-forward relaying protocol to help two transceivers exchange information in a bidirectional manner. We consider a total power minimization approach to optimally find the relay beamforming weights and the transceiver transmit powers. This approach is based on the minimization of the total transmit power, consumed in the whole network, subject to SNR constraints at the two transceivers. We show that as far as the relay beamforming weight vector is concerned, this minimization problem is equivalent to the minimization of the total transmit power for a one-way relay network where the target SNR of the receiving transceiver is equal to the sum of the target SNRs of the two transceivers in the original two-way relay network. Based on this observation, we show that the relay beamforming weight vector can be obtained in a closed from given that an intermediate parameter, namely the transmit power of the transmitter in the equivalent one-way relay network, is available. This intermediate parameter is shown to be the solution to a one-dimensional optimization problem, and thus, it can be obtained using a simple bisection method. Our semi-closed-form solution not only reveals the structure of the optimal beamforming weight vector, but also leads to a one-dimensional search regardless of the number of relays. This provides the computational advantage over the gradient based numerical method of Havary-Nassab , where the gradient dimension reflects the number of relays.


Discovery, evaluation, and understanding the biological relevance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their associated phenotypes is relevant to many applications, including human disease diagnostics, pathogen detection, and identification of genetic traits impacting agricultural practices, both in terms of food quality and production efficiency. Validation of putative SNP associations in large-scale cohorts is currently impeded by the technical challenges and high cost inherent in analyzing large numbers of samples using available SNP genotyping platforms. We describe in this report the implementation of the 5'-exonuclease, biallelic PCR assay for SNP genotyping (TaqMan) in a nanofluidic version of a high-density microplate. System performance was assessed using a panel of 32 TaqMan SNP genotyping assays targeted to human polymorphisms. This functional test of the nanoliter fluidic SNP genotyping platform delivered genotyping call rates and accuracies comparable to the same larger volume reactions in microplate systems.


The reductive unfolding of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) induced by dithiothreitol (DTT) is investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The resolution of the S-S Raman band into both protein and oxidized DTT contributions provides a reliable basis for directly monitoring the S-S bridge exchange reaction. The related changes in the protein secondary structure are identified by analyzing the protein amide I Raman band. For the reduction of one S-S bridge of BSA, a mean Gibbs free energy of -7 kJ mol(-1) is derived by studying the reaction equilibrium. The corresponding value for the HSA S-S bridge reduction is -2 kJ mol(-1). The reaction kinetics observed via the S-S or amide I Raman bands are identical giving a reaction rate constant of (1.02 +/- 0.11) M(-1) s(-1) for BSA. The contribution of the conformational Gibbs free energy to the overall Gibbs free energy of reaction is further estimated by combining experimental data with ab initio calculations.


Is it significant, as the Conclusion suggests, that the Sorbonne is located between the Panthéon and the Préfecture de Police? French philosophy is associated with greatness and exercises considerable influence through the education system and grant funding, but in the wrong hands it could be an instrument of state control. The proximity of religious buildings to the Sorbonne also suggests that their influence has not been vanquished by the scepticism that characterized French philosophy from Descartes onward. The history of the French state has been driven by debates and fundamental questions about non-religious foundations of legitimacy. The history of French philosophy is marked by similar traits.


There is information available on calcareous microfossils found in the pre-Quaternary section of the Pelotas Basin. However, there is relatively sparse palynological data, since palynological studies only started to be systematically conducted in the last years. This paper presents palynological results regarding 20 samples collected between depths of 262-145 m in the 2-CA-1-RS well, which is located in the onshore portion of this basin, in the Rio Grande do Sul state. Five samples showed rich and diverse associations of palynomorphs and fifteen samples showed a predominance of amorphous organic matter or phytoclasts. Species of spores, pollen grains, dinoflagellate cysts, as well as microforaminiferal linigs, scolecodonts, acritarchs, Chlorococcales algae (Botryococcus) and fungal spores were also identified in this study. Quantitative analysis on the distribution of particulate organic matter along the section allowed the identification of two palynological assemblages. The results indicate marine paleoenvironments, varying from the bottom to the top, for the studied section. Assemblage 1 (262 - 248 m) is interpreted as distal marine environment in open ocean, whereas Assemblage 2 (190 - 160 m) is associated with proximal marine environments. The stratigraphic range of certain species of dinoflagellate cysts indicates ages ranging from the Miocene to the Quaternary.


It has been shown that calcium content of myocardium is increased in uremia and calcium overload has been implicated in the genesis of uremic myocardial disease. To determine whether verapamil (V) may prevent the development of myocardial lesions in uremic rats, the left ventricular myocardium has been examined with an electron microscope (EM) in 4 groups of Wistar male rats: 1) subtotally nephrectomized (SNX, n = 10); 2) SNX treated by V, 1.5 mg/kgx2/day (SNX-V, n = 8); 3) sham-operated (Sh, n = 5); 4) Sh treated by V (Sh-V, n = 5). EM examinations were performed after 13 weeks of uremia and V treatment. Serum urea and creatinine were similar in SNX and SNX-V rats and were higher in SNX and SNX-V than in Sh and Sh-V rats. The mitochondria of the myocardium in SNX rats showed damage of varying degree, starting from disrupted cristae to very dense mitochondrial structure with barely visible cristae. Myofibrils appeared disorganised with marked clear intermyofibrillar spaces. The myocardial ultrastructure of Sh, Sh-V and SNX-V rats was normal. It may be concluded that V seems to prevent the development of myocardial damage in the uremic rats.


Breast cancer human cells culture as spheroids develop autophagy and apoptosis, which promotes Trastuzumab resistance in HER2 overexpressing cells. Our aim was to study the association of the hostile environment developed in 3D with the breast cancer stem cells population and the HER2 modulation. Human mammary adenocarcinoma cell lines were cultured as spheroids using the hanging drop method. We generated hypoxia conditions by using a hypoxic chamber and CoCl2 treatment. Breast cancer stem cells were measured with mammosphere assays, the analysis of CD44 + CD24low population by flow cytometry and the pluripotent gene expression by RT‐qPCR. HER2 expression was evaluated by flow cytometry and Western blot. MTS assays were conducted to study cell viability. Hostil environment developed in spheroids, defined by hypoxia and autophagy, modulated the response to Trastuzumab. In HER2+ cells with acquired resistance, we observed an increase in the breast cancer stem cell population. In BT474 spheroids, Trastuzumab induced the acquisition of resistance, along with an increase in breast cancer stem cells. Also, in 3D culture conditions we determined a modulation in the HER2 expression. Moreover, breast cancer stem cells showed enhanced HER2 expression. Finally, cells without HER2 gene amplification cultured as spheroids were sensitive to Trastuzumab, diminishing HER2 expression and cancer stem cells. Our findings show that 3D architecture is able to modulate breast cancer stem cell population and HER2 distribution, modifying the cell response to Trastuzumab.


The aim of this study was to evaluate right atrial (RA) volume in corrected Tetralogy of Fallot (cTOF) and assess its correlation with the occurrence of supraventricular (SV) arrhythmia. Cardiac magnetic reso- nance imaging (CMR) and 24-h Holter were performed in n = 67 consecutive cTOF patients (age 30 ± 11.3 years). The CMR protocol included standard HASTE, SSFP cine, and blood flow measurements. Correlations between ar- rhythmia in ECG, heart volume, and functional parameters were investigated by negative binominal regression. Pa- tients' characteristics (mean ± SD) included mean RA volume of 49 ± 19 ml/m2 (HASTE sequence), mean right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume of 98 ± 27 ml/m2, mean pulmonary valve regurgitation fraction (PR) of 21 ± 19 %, BMI of 25 kg/m2, and heart rate of 75/min.
Twenty-eight out of 67 patients experienced SV arrhythmia including SV couplets or bigeminus or longer non-sus- tained SV tachycardia (SVT) episodes. RA volume index was identified as an independent risk factor for different degrees of SV arrhythmia (SV couplets/bigeminus p <0.001, SVT p <0.001). Further risk factors for SV arrhythmia were male gender (p = 0.023) and decreased left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) (LV EF p < 0.001). RA volume is increased in adult patients with cTOF with larger RA volumes relating to higher incidence of SV arrhythmia. SV arrhythmia also appeared more often in male patients and those with decreased LV EF. Risk stratification according to these parameters could help to optimize early prevention and adjusted individual therapy to improve patient outcome and quality of life.


Crop response to carfentrazone–ethyl can be affected by environmental conditions. Field research was initiated to determine the effect of irrigation and light intensity prior to herbicide treatment on crop response to carfentrazone–ethyl. Wheat, corn, and soybean response was evaluated in 1996 and 1997, 2 yr that differed significantly in rainfall. It was difficult to distinguish differences in visible crop injury between irrigated and nonirrigated crops within the same year; however, injury was much higher in 1996 than in 1997. In 1996, the study area received timely rainfall prior to treatment of each crop, but in 1997, no precipitation was recorded during the treatment period. Overall, irrigated plants appear to be slightly more sensitive than nonirrigated plants. In contrast, crop injury was significantly higher in response to low light intensity prior to herbicide treatment. Soybean plants covered with 80% shade cloth for 5 d prior to carfentrazone–ethyl application were injured 24 to 41% more than nonshaded plants. Corn was relatively insensitive to either condition. Soybean plants were very sensitive to carfentrazone–ethyl and were highly influenced by both light intensity and irrigation. Wheat response to carfentrazone–ethyl was not influenced within 1 yr by irrigation, but injury in 1996 was four times higher than in 1997. Light intensity prior to treatment influenced wheat response to carfentrazone–ethyl, where shading before treatment increased visible injury in wheat, but by less than 10%. The risk of crop injury increases when carfentrazone–ethyl is applied to irrigated plants or to crops following several cloudy days. Nomenclature: Carfentrazone–ethyl; corn, Zea mays L. 'Pioneer 3655'; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. 'Conrad'; spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L. 'Blanca'. Additional index words: Herbicide selectivity, membrane disruptors, protoporphyrin IX; protoporphyrinogen oxidase, shading; triazolinone. Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment; PPFD, photosynthetic photon flux density; PPIX, protoporphyrin IX; Protogen, protoporphyrinogen IX; Protox, protoporphyrinogen oxidase; RH, relative humidity.


A clinico-morphologic study of epididymis cysts was made in 52 patients at mean age 39.4 years, observed over a period of 2 ys. 4 mos. In approximately half of the cases (49.2 per cent) the cysts were localized in the left epididymis. Four types of histologic structure were distinguished: 1. smooth outlines of the lumen, filled with spermatozoa, and wall built up of fibrous tissue and different proportion of smooth- muscle, elastic and reticular fibers, and lined with one-row ciliary columnar or cubic epithelium; 2. similar to the former structure, but without spermatozoa in the lumen; 3. stellate-outlined lumen without spermatozoa in it, with a wall built up of connective tissue and lined with one-row ciliary columnar epithelium; 4. the wall is stellate-folded, built up of loose connective tissue and lined with one-row cubic epithelium, forming micropapillary structures, without presence of spermatozoa. Considerable difficulties are pointed out in determining the types of cysts according to the nature of their epithelial lining and the structure of their wall. Precise classification is possible when thorough clinico-morphologic parallel is used.


Positron lifetimes in commercial poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (Teflon) were measured as a function of 60Co gamma irradiation of the polymer in air and in vacuum. The rates of decrease with respect to dose in both τ3 and I3 were observed to be faster when irradiated in air than in vacuum. Conversion of o-Ps occurs due to the free radicals formed under irradiation. The decrease in τ3 is due to quenching of o-Ps by the free radicals formed. The faster decrease in I3 (compared to that in τ3) with dose is ascribed to a combined effect of free-radical quenching and decrease in the amount of o-Ps formation due to increased crystallinity and/or Ps compound formation.


The need for security has gained more importance in this information intense society. Cryptography is the design and analysis of mathematical structures that enable secure communications in the presence of malicious adversaries. Side channel attacks are a recent class of attacks that is very powerful in practice. By measuring side channel information, the attacker is able to recover very sensitive information. This paper shows the survey on different possible side channel attacks and the possible measure to overcome the attack.


The present study has attempted to discuss the association between corporate hedging theories and the usage of foreign currency loans by companies listed in India. A total of 349 non-financial companies were selected, and the data for the financial year ending 31st March, 2018 were considered for the analysis. The descriptive statistics indicate that 55% of the sample companies had borrowed funds in foreign currency. The companies were highly levered and maintained adequate short-term assets to honor short-term obligations. A logit model was employed for analyzing the cross-sectional data. The dependent variable being binary ('0' for non-user of foreign currency loans and '1' for foreign currency loan user), the study found the variable 'industry type' to have a significant association with usage of foreign currency loans. Companies from the manufacturing sector were likely to use foreign currency loans than companies from the services sector. Debt to net worth, export to sales, revenue (log of revenue) were the variables that significantly influenced the likelihood of companies raising foreign currency loans. Interest coverage ratio had a negative influence on the likelihood of companies opting for foreign currency loans. Hosmer and Lemeshow test showed that the model is a good fit indicating 73% accuracy in predicting the users of foreign currency loans as 'foreign currency loan users'. Theories such as financial distress, size, and extent of international operations explain why companies raise foreign currency loans.


Although electric vehicles are attracting increasing interest from consumers and automakers, the disadvantages associated with limited range and the current scarcity of public recharge stations have played a key role in limiting their large scale adoption. In this paper, we explore how information technologies might be used to mitigate `range anxiety' and further strengthen the potential of electric vehicle integration with the renewable energy generation and storage. We motivate several mobile applications/services which would improve the ownership experience of electric vehicles and flexibility for energy providers. Our work leverages a previously proposed sensor platform for collecting travel-time and energy-usage data for a road network by a community of electric car drivers. Travel-time and energy-usage on a given road segment may exhibit substantial variability due to environmental and temporal factors, e.g., congestion, road's grade, AC on/off, etc. Such variability in turn, makes it difficult to accurately predict travel-times as well as the feasible range of a car given its current energy reserves. However, by collecting statistical data using cars/mobiles as probes one can quantify such uncertainty and develop complementary algorithms to counter the anxiety and time waste associated with such uncertainty. This paper develops the necessary (routing) algorithms to support these new classes of applications/services for electric vehicles.


Our governmentpsilas whitepaper ldquoChina Spaceflight from 2006rdquopointed out that the large GEO multimedia satellites and broadband multimedia technology should be developed urgently. Satellites system can provide a high quality broadband communication services for subscribers especially in the internet access and disaster recovery. The development of satellite communication is reviewed; some design issues of Satellite system have been discussed. Based on the analysis and discussion a novel design concept for Multimedia Satellite System is proposed from internet point of view. A possible deign scheme has also been proposed which adopt the DVB-S2 and DVB-RCS from ETSI.


Abstract This study investigated the potential genotoxic effects of the fungicide Tango® Super using methods of conventional cytogenetic analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and detection of DNA fragmentation in bovine lymphocytes. After exposure of two donor cell cultures to several concentrations of fungicide (0.5, 3.0 and 15.0 mg.ml-1 for conventional cytogenetic analysis; 0.5 and 3.0 mg.ml-1 for FISH) we detected the insignificant occurrence of chromosome and chromatid breakages. In both donors we observed a significant decrease in mitotic index (MI) percentage with increasing concentrations of fungicide (P < 0.01; P < 0.001), which indicated a cytotoxic effect of the preparation. Electrophoretic analysis of DNA fragmentation in lymphocytes exposed to increasing concentrations (0.5; 1.5; 3.0; 6.0 and 15.0 mg.ml-1) of this preparation showed its ability to induce formation of fragments, which is a characteristic manifestation of the last stage of apoptosis.


The human body, like any other, is an intermediate component of the nitrogen cycle in nature. Consuming nitrogen from the external environment in the form of various compounds, the body processes it into ammonia - one of the final products of exchange of nitrogen-containing substances [1], which is removed from the body in the form of urea. The most active ammonia producers are organs with high exchange of amino acids and biogenic amines - nerve tissue, liver, intestine, and muscles. In a state of nitrogen equilibrium, the adult body consumes and releases about 15 g of nitrogen per day, temporary or permanent disruption of nitrogen balance results in a great number of physiological conditions and diseases, and the need to stabilize it is well known. However, despite a huge number of studies on the role of nitrogen metabolism and its compounds in the clinic, to date we have not been able to find any conciliation document in the world literature on the classification of ammonia-ammonium levels in human blood and approaches to the correction of hyperammonemia, which was the basis for the emergence of this consensus.


The value and feasibility of performing routine twohour blood glucose determinations on all admissions to a general hospital was studied in 2,472 patients. A high percentage (13%) of positive results was obtained with more than half of these showing carbohydrate intolerance after glucose tolerance test. The number of positive reactions increases markedly with age. New criteria are needed for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in the inactive, sick, or aged patient, but the carbohydrate intolerance demonstrable on two-hour postprandial blood glucose tests appears to be of value in discovering the asymptomatic potential diabetic. The glucose tolerance test should be performed if diabetes mellitus is clinically suspected, even though the two-hour postcibum test is normal. Clinical acumen was rewarded with evidence of diabetes mellitus in 25% of suspects with normal postprandial glucose levels.


An approach to the design of non-Gaussian filters which retain the computationally attractive recursive structure of Kalman filters and can approximate exactly a minimum variance estimate was successfully proposed and used by Marsreliez and Martin (1977) to construct different non-Gaussian (and robust) filters under independence of state and noise vectors. In this paper the authors extend the technique to solve the estimation problem with dependent state and noise vectors when both of them may be non-Gaussian simultaneously. Application to design of different optimal (and stable) estimation algorithms is illustrated.<<ETX>>


Approximate solutions of Einstein's vacuum field equations in the type N, twisting and diverging case are investigated. In this context, it is shown that the field equation determines a function of integration at any order and so can be satisfied. The field equation and other conditions for solutions to be type N are explicitly shown to have a first- and second-order approximate solution which is non-singular. It is argued that an approximate solution at any finite order can be calculated without the occurrence of singularities.


This thesis is an enquiry into the importance and influence of interaction in architecture, the importance of which is observed through different modes of interaction occurring in various aspects of architectural discourse and practice. Interaction is primarily observed through the different use of software within architectural practice and in the construction of buildings, facades and systems. In turn, the kind of influences software has on architecture is one of the underlying questions of this thesis.

Four qualities: Concept, Materiality, Digitization and Interactivity, are proposed as a theoretical base for the analysis and assessment of different aspects of computational architecture. These four qualities permeate and connect the diverse areas of research discussed, including architecture, cybernetics, computer science, interaction design and new media studies, which in combination provide the theoretical background. The modalities of computational architecture analysed here are, digital interior spaces, digitized design processes and communicational exterior environments. The analysis is conducted through case studies: The Fun Palace, Generator Project, Water Pavilion, Tower of Winds, Institute du Monde Arabe, The KPN building, Aegis Hyposurface, BIX Facade, Galleria Department Store, Dexia Tower, and also E:cue, Microstation, Auto-Cad, Rhino, Top Solid and GenerativeComponents software.

These are important for discussion because they present different architectural concepts and thoughts about interactivity within architecture. The analytical processes used in the research distinguished and refined, eight modes of interaction: (1) interaction as a participatory process; (2) cybernetic mutualism; (3) thematic interaction; (4) human-computer interaction during architectural design production; (5) interaction during digital fabrication; (6) parametric interaction; (7) kinetic interaction with dynamic architectural forms; and (8) interaction with facades. Out of these, cybernetic mutualism is the mode of interaction proposed by this thesis.


Background Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease that causes an inappropriate inflammatory immune response to dietary gluten. Telomere length is a marker of biological ageing and is reduced in several autoimmune conditions. This observational study measured salivary telomere length (TL) in gluten-free diet (GFD) treated CD individuals to determine if CD, and length of time on a GFD, is associated with salivary TL. Methods Clinical and demographic information was collected from CD individuals currently treated with a GFD and healthy non-affected controls. Only participants aged under 35 years at recruitment were included. Relative telomere length was measured using quantitative PCR in oral mucosa collected from saliva. Linear regression was used to determine whether salivary TL was associated with CD, or length of time on a GFD, adjusting for age and sex. Results This study included 79 participants, 52 GFD-treated CD and 27 non-affected controls. No significant difference in salivary TL between individuals with treated CD and controls was found. Within CD individuals, salivary TL was associated with length of time on a GFD, with individuals who started a GFD ≤3 years ago having shorter salivary TL compared to those who started a GFD > 3 years ago (0.37±0.05 vs 0.50±0.04; p=0.002). Conclusion Our findings indicate that salivary TL shorten while CD is untreated, however following treatment on a GFD, they appear to recover to those seen in unaffected controls. This highlights the importance of early diagnosis and initiation of GFD to minimise mucosal damage and telomere shortening, to enable TL to recover.


Urbanization in Central and Western China has attracted increasing attention in the advent of new-type urbanization in China and the age of 'Global Urbanism'. Although land urbanization is at the epicenter of Chinese urbanization, its process and driving forces in counties beyond the Eastern coastal areas are less known. This paper therefore seeks to investigate the spatial expansion and driving forces of land urbanization in Feixi county, a relatively advanced county neighboring Hefei city proper in Anhui province in Central China. Based on the land-use change survey data, remote sensing interpretation data, and statistical yearbook data of Feixi county from 2002 to 2016, it is revealed that the overall scale of urban land in Feixi county increased remarkably, though with obvious temporal and geographical variants. The year 2009 appears to be the cutting line between quantity-based land urbanization and quality-based land urbanization. Land urbanization rate is sensitive to both geographical distance and traffic accessibility to Hefei city proper. Driving forces of land urbanization in Feixi county are summarized as: (1) central city expansion, (2) government-led industrial park construction, and (3) large industrial projects along traffic corridors. A better understanding of urbanization in Feixi county cannot be fulfilled without taking into account the wider spatial process in Hefei city and the Yangtze River Delta city-region.


Statement of problem: "Power Bleaching" which is a new an in-office whitening technique with a combination of a whitening agent (peroxide) and an auxiliary (plasma-Arch light), has been claimed to be an effective and fast method in tooth bleaching. What is more important in using this method is the maintenance of the pulp health after tooth whitening.  Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the human pulpal response after bleaching with H 2 o 2 38% and plasma-Arc light. Materials and method: Eighty seven sound first premolars from 27 patients were selected and divided into 3 groups of 29, based on the time intervals of histologic evaluation. In each group 9 teeth were considered as a control. Vitality tests were done before bleaching (base line) and in four intervals of 2, 7, 30 and 60 days, but histologic evaluation was performed in three intervals 2, 7 and 60 days. Immediately after extraction, apical one third of the roots were sectioned off and each specimen was placed in 10% buffered formalin solution for pulpal fixation. EDTA was used for decalcification and sections were prepared from each specimen and stained with H&E and subsequently assessed microscopically for the following criteria: Irregularities in the odontoblastic layer, the presence of inflammatory cell, vasodilatation and pulpal fibrosis. Data was analyzed using Friedman test and Wilcoxon test (α= 0.05). Results: There were significant differences between the 2 and 60 days groups and between 7 and 60 days groups with respect to inflammatory responses and vasodilatation (p<0.05). Comparison of the control and experimental groups of the 2 and 7 days revealed statistically significant differences in inflammation and vasodilatation (p<0.05). No patient had experienced sensitivity, after different bleaching periods. Conclusion: Bleaching of teeth with H 2 o 2 38% and plasma-Arc light might cause slight to moderate pulp reactions after 2 and 7 days confined to the coronal pulp. However, the observed histological changes did not affect the overall health of the pulp tissue permanently. Key words: Power Bleaching- Pulpal response- Human teeth


Bleomycin (BLM) and Pepleomycin (PEP), two antineoplastic drugs, strongly inhibited PHA-triggered DNA-synthesis of human lymphocytes when present during the culture period. Preincubation of lymphocytes with BLM or PEP for 3 days, however, only reduced the subsequent PHA-stimulations at very high drug concentrations. This differential sensitivity of resting and activated lymphocytes made it possible to inactivate subsets of mitogen or MLC reactive lymphocytes with a high grade of selectivity.


Abstract: After the up rise of 4G wireless mobile technology takes place; researchers, mobile operator industries representative, academic institutions have started to look into the advancement (technological) towards 5G communication networks due to some main demands that are meliorated data rates, better capacity, minimized latency and better QoS (Quality of Service). To established the 5G mobile communication technological foundation, various research works or projects entailing main mobile infrastructure manufacturers, academia and international mobile network operators have been introduced recently. Nevertheless, 5G mobile services to be made available for use, their architecture, and their performance have not been evidently explicated. In this paper, we represent thorough overview of 5G the next generation mobile technology. We mainly throws light on 5G network architecture, 5G radio spectrum, ultra-dense radio access networks (UDRAN), traffic offloading of mobile, cognitive radio (CR), software defined radio (SDR), software defined networking (SDN), mixed infrastructure, and 5G network impact on the society. Keywords: 5G wireless technology, evolution from 4G to 5G


Process improvement is the most value-adding activity in the BPM lifecycle. Despite the mature body of knowledge related to process improvement, there is a lack of prescriptive knowledge that takes a single-process/multi-project perspective, covers a broad range of improvement opportunities, and accounts for the characteristics of the process in focus. Against this background, we propose a decision model that helps determine an optimal process improvement roadmap in line with the principles of project portfolio selection and value-based management. A process improvement roadmap is a set of improvement projects scheduled to multiple planning periods, each of which enhances the performance of the process in focus. The decision model particularly considers process characteristics that reflect how work is performed and organized. These characteristics are inspired by established industrialization strategies, i.e., automation, sourcing, flexibility, and standardization. As for evaluation, we report on feature comparison, an expert interview, prototype construction, and a demonstration example.


This paper aims at presenting the 3D models of respective geological settings, deformation structures and geochemical distributions, in terms of better understanding of the related ore-genetic processes and exploration potential. Since the beginnings of mining industry the challenge of mineral exploration is to approach new exploration targets. In that direction, 3D and 4D modelling are the new exploration tools that can help the mineral explorers to visualise, interpolate and interpret geological data, which are critical timeand money-saving methods. In this study 3D-models had been constructed for several Macedonian CuAu polymetallic deposits Kadiica, Plavica, Kazan Dol and Borov Dol. Our 3D models were built by mapping geochemical variations in the Move software by Midland Valley for Kadiica Cu-porphyry deposit and Borov Dol Cu-Au porphyry deposit (gives the opportunity to the user to create slices of the 3D grid and take a closer look to the spatial variation of an assay) as well as in Target 3D for ArcGIS system for Cu-Au highsulphidation epithermal Plavica deposit and Cu vein type deposit Kazan Dol.


How successful have emerging powers been at increasing their representation within the secretariats of international organizations (IOs)? We examine the representation of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN) System, including the UN Secretariat, over the last two decades. The analysis reveals four major findings. First, some redistribution of staff positions from established to emerging powers has taken place, but it has been relatively minor. Second, nationals from emerging powers are still strongly under-represented in international secretariats in comparison with those from established powers. Third, emerging powers' representation at the IMF and WTO increased more than in the UN, where it actually declined. Fourth, there is strong variation between emerging powers: India appears to be the most successful emerging power in sending its nationals to the secretariats of IOs, Brazil's and China's records are mixed, and Russia has fared poorly. We interpret our findings in light of international relations theories and theories of institutional path dependence. The results suggest that staffing patterns are only loosely related to shifts in economic size and are subject to strong independent institutional dynamics.


Much of the hazards literature on information transfer focuses on how individuals passively acquire hazards information by monitoring what comes across their desks and computer screens. This paper highlights a complementary information search strategy in which individuals pull or actively seek out the information they need. This research examines the affiliations of those who have been proactive in contacting the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center over a 20-year span. Until 2000/2001 requests from university-affiliated individuals exceeded those from people with other affiliations. There has been an increase in the number of information requests from unaffiliated individuals and from people outside the United States. A survey of a subset of those who have requested information from the Hazards Center highlights the importance of knowledgeable personal contacts and the World Wide Web for identifying the center as a source for information. It is vital for organizations committed to the distribution of timely, appropriate hazards-related information to effectively service the needs of a proactive, amorphous assemblage of hazards information seekers.


Some guidelines recommend immediate care for women with fasting plasma glucose level (FPG) ≥5.1 mmol/L in early pregnancy (early-diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus: eGDM). As diagnosis and care of hyperglycaemia can be delayed later in pregnancy, we assessed whether immediate vs. no immediate care for eGDM is associated with pregnancy outcomes. We retrospectively selected the women without known diabetes seen in our department (2012-2016) with a FPG level between 5.1 and 6.9 mmol/L before 22 weeks of gestation (WG) and separated them into two groups: (i) 255 who had immediate care; (ii) 268 who did not and performed an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after 22 WG, with subsequent care if hyperglycaemia was present. We compared the occurrence of multiple outcomes including a composite adverse pregnancy outcome (large for gestational age infant, shoulder dystocia, preeclampsia). Among women without immediate care for eGDM, 134 had hyperglycemia after 22 WG. Women receiving immediate care were more likely than women with no immediate care to be insulin-treated (58.0 vs. 20.9%, p Disclosure E. Cosson: None. E. Vicaut: Consultant; Self; Abbott, Boston Scientific, Celgene, Pfizer Inc. N. Berkane: None. C. Baudry: None. T. Ciunganu: None. P. Valensi: None. L. Carbillon: None.


Over the last couple of years, online social networks such as Facebook have tremendously grown in popularity, especially among students. The technological advancements proceed faster than the understanding of the psychological factors behind this development. While motivations and gratifications related to Facebook usage have been investigated thoroughly, this study additionally focuses on the influence of underlying personality factors. However, instead of the commonly used Big Five, the characteristics narcissism, shyness and loneliness are investigated among undergraduate and graduate students. The results indicate that a high score on narcissism causes a higher Facebook usage and that the sub construct uniqueness/entitlement is the most important. The results also indicate a negative influence of loneliness on Facebook usage, while shyness seems irrelevant.


Abstract I discuss how printing affected the practice of scholarship by examining the working methods of Conrad Gessner (1516–65), a prolific humanist, bibliographer, and natural historian. Gessner supplemented his revenue as city physician in Zurich through his publishing activities. He hailed printing, along with libraries to preserve the books, as crucial to the successful transmission of learning to the distant future. Gessner also used printing as a kind of social media: to reach readers rapidly all over Europe, in order to solicit contributions to his research projects underway, to advertise forthcoming books, and to develop his own thinking through multiple iterations.


We present a review on the determination of the primordial helium abundance, Yp, based on the study of hydrogen and helium recombination lines in extragalactic H II regions. We also discuss the observational determinations of the increase of helium to the increase of oxygen by mass Delta Y/Delta O, and compare them with predictions based on models of galactic chemical evolution.


If the patient is seen immediately after the burn in a first-aid situation, the burn should be wrapped in clean towels or sheets except for the face, which is left exposed, and no attempt should be made to remove clothing. A chemical burn should be bathed with copious amounts of water. Time should not be lost by attempting to find or mix neutralizing agents. In the severe burn, morphine or meperidine (Demerol) should be given intravenously, owing to the possibility of cumulative effect in patients in shock. The area of the body surface burned almost universally has been estimated by the use of Berkow's rule of nines or a modification thereof. The head and neck are represented as 9% of the total body surface, each arm 9%, each leg 18% (2×9), the anterior trunk 18%, the posterior trunk 18%, and the perineum 1%. The burn which is pink or mottled


Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) of the prostate is a microscopic proliferation of small acini that may be mistaken for adenocarcinoma. Although some data suggest that AAH is associated with adenocarcinoma arising in the transition zone, the clinical significance of this lesion is uncertain. Therefore we studied the DNA ploidy pattern and immunophenotype of AAH as compared with nodular hyperplasia and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in 23 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, whole-mounted retropubic prostatectomies. Representative sections were immunostained for keratin 34β-E12, chromogranin, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, ki67-MIB1, and factor VIII (microvessel density). DNA ploidy was determined by image analysis and Feul gen-stained sections. There were rare scattered immunoreactive cells for chromogranin, bcl-2, and c-erbB-2 in nodular hyperplasia and AAH (mainly in the basal cell compartment) and in carcinoma. The ki67-MIB1 labeling index was different between nodular hyperplasia and AAH (p<0.001) and carcinoma (p=0.003) but not between AAH and carcinoma (p=0.203). Microvessel density was different between AAH and carcinoma (p=0.001) but not between nodular hyperplasia and AAH (p=0.105) or carcinoma (p=0.0820). All foci of nodular hyperplasia, AAH, and carcinoma were diploid. Ploidy status and our selected panel of antibodies did not discriminate among these 3 entities reliably.


Fungal infections are a growing global health and agricultural threat, and current chemical antifungals may induce various side-effects. Thus, nanoparticles are investigated as potential novel antifungals. We report that nanoparticles' antifungal activity strongly depends on their binding to fungal spores, focusing on the clinically important fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus as well as common plant pathogens, such as Botrytis cinerea. We show that nanoparticle-spore complex formation was enhanced by the small nanoparticle size rather than the material, shape or charge, and could not be prevented by steric surface modifications. Fungal resistance to metal-based nanoparticles, such as ZnO-, Ag-, or CuO-nanoparticles as well as dissolution-resistant quantum dots, was mediated by biomolecule coronas acquired in pathophysiological and ecological environments, including the lung surfactant, plasma or complex organic matters. Mechanistically, dose-dependent corona-mediated resistance occurred via reducing physical adsorption of nanoparticles to fungal spores. The inhibitory effect of biomolecules on the antifungal activity of Ag-nanoparticles was further verified in vivo, using the invertebrate Galleria mellonella as an A. fumigatus infection model. Our results explain why current nanoantifungals often show low activity in realistic application environments, and will guide nanomaterial designs that maximize functionality and safe translatability as potent antifungals for human health, biotechnology, and agriculture.


Author Affiliations: Department of Surgery, Western University, London, Canada (Welk); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Ontario, Canada (McArthur, Hayward); Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, Canada (Morrow, MacDonald); Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, Canada (Leung, Lum). Corresponding Author: Blayne Welk, MD, MSc, Department of Surgery and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Urology and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, Room B4-667, St Joseph's Health Care, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada (email@example.com). Author Contributions: Dr Welk and Mr McArthur had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: All authors. Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Welk, McArthur, Morrow, MacDonald. Drafting of the manuscript: Welk. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors. Statistical analysis: McArthur. Administrative, technical, or material support: Morrow, MacDonald, Hayward. Study supervision: Welk, Lum.


Social connections are crucial for an individual's health, wellbeing, and overall effective functioning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, one major preventative effort for reducing the spread of COVID-19 involved restricting people's typical social interactions through physical distancing and isolation. The current cross-sectional study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, explored the relationship among fear of COVID-19, social connectedness, resilience, depressive symptomologies, and self-perceived stress. Participants (N = 174) completed an anonymous, online questionnaire, and results indicated that social connectedness mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing. In contrast, the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing was not mediated by resilience. These findings highlight the important role that social connections and resilience play in buffering against negative psychological wellbeing outcomes, especially during a pandemic.


The Panopticon, designed by Jeremy Bentham in 1787, is an architectural device based on isolation of people and surveillance knowledge focused in places of power. The Panopticon was influential as an architectural paradigm, easily adapted to varied uses. Bentham as did other utilitarian eighteenth century philosophers believed the built environment could fabricate virtue. The techniques of the Panopticon were applied to the central task of fabricating normality, rather than the peripheral task of rectifying abnormality. Michel Foucault brought the moral engineering to the fore and showed that it was put in place to conduct 'normatively self-disciplining subjects.' As normative control methods became more prevalent methods of privacy protection developed in parallel. The notion of sensibility the personal consciousness required to guarantee a preferred normative response emerged as one method to ensure privacy and protect social appearances. This thesis will develop a language for architecture analogous to sensibility. Just as all people remain ultimately unknowable, the thesis will highlight false truths hypocrisy, defiance and conformity and balance opposites. The vehicle used to explore the tenuous line of sensibility is a Planned Parenthood facility in Charleston, SC. The site is an abandon eighteenth century jail, which is representative of the eighteenth century prison reform movement. The ironic pairing of program and site, combined with the security concerns creates an opportunity to decipher the subtle language of subversion.


The 840 km lava field of the Isle of Mull, Scotland, represents only a small part of the North Atlantic Tertiary Igneous Province. The cause of this igneous activity at approximately 60 Ma, was the arrival and decompression melting of a hot plume. Previous work on the Mull lavas has focused on the whole rock geochemistry. The aim of this study is the analysis of olivine-hosted melt inclusions by Laser-Ablation Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Melt inclusions are small aliquots of melt trapped by growing crystals (i.e. olivine, plagioclase) during magma evolution prior to and during eruptions. Therefore, melt inclusions analysis can provide valuable information on crystallisation temperatures, the sequence of phase changes in the host magma during cooling, cooling rates, the composition and volatile content of the host magma and liquid lines of decent. In the context of Continental Flood Basalts, melt inclusions also have the potential to provide information on the timing, extent and geochemical effects of crustal contamination. Whole rock data indicated that the parental magmas of Mull Plateau Group lavas represent 4 to 13% melting of a depleted mantle source, located in the spinel-garnet transition zone. Whereas, melt inclusion data show that these parental magmas are mixtures of partial melts of between 2 and 20%, and that the whole rock values only reflect the mean extent of melting. These parental magmas rose through the lithosphere, with little interaction, before ponding near the lithospheric-crust boundary. Fractionation of spinel, olivine and clinopyroxene occurred concurrently with contamination of up to 8% Lewisian granulite by both Assimilation during Turbulent Assent and Assimilation during Fractional Crystallisation processes, with the hottest, most voluminous mantle melts suffering the greatest contamination. Many of the MPG lavas contain olivine phenocrysts enclosing decrepitated melt inclusions, which decrepitate in response to a drop in pressure, but without a corresponding drop in temperature. Therefore, the parental magmas of the MPG lavas rose rapidly from the lower crust, before being emplaced on Mull.


This paper reviews the efficacy of nutrition interventions to prevent or treat impaired fetal growth. Searches were made for Cochrane systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials published before October 2002. Balanced protein energy supplementation reduced the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) by 30% (95%CI: 20% to 43%) while one trial conducted in New York, U.S., reported a negative effect of high protein supplementation on SGA (RR 1.58; 95%CI: 1.03-2.41). Calcium supplementation protected against low birth weight (RR 0.83; 95%CI: 0.71-0.98). Micronutrient supplements did not affect birth weight, except for magnesium supplementation, which reduced the risk of SGA by 30%. This finding, however, needs or be interpreted with caution because of methodological issues in the data analysis. Programmatic recommendations can be made only for intervening with balanced protein energy supplements, especially in population with a high prevalence of undernutrition. Research is needed to determine the efficacy of multiple micronutrient supplementation and the effect of single micronutrients supplementation on specific growth outcomes such as fetal organ and bone growth. In addition, the public health relevance of these outcomes and their relation to morbidity need to be evaluated.


In Southern California coastal regions, morning fog is often acidified by the presence of nitric acid (HNO3). Peak exposure to ozone (O3) usually occurs in the afternoon and evening, after the fog has dissipated. To determine whether fog containing HNO3 might enhance pulmonary responses to O3, we studied a group of healthy, athletic subjects selected for lung function sensitivity to O3. On 3 separate days, the subjects exercised for 2 h in atmospheres containing HNO3 fog (0.5 mg/ml), H2O fog, or clean, filtered air. After a 1-h break, they exercised for an additional 3 h in an atmosphere containing 0.20 ppm O3. Surprisingly, the mean O3-induced decrements in FEV1 and FVC were smaller after exercise in each fog-containing atmosphere than they were after exercise in clean, filtered air. The mean (+/- SEM) O3-induced decrements in FEV1 were 26.4 +/- 5.3% after air, 17.1 +/- 3.7% after H2O fog, and 18.0 +/- 4.3% after HNO3 fog, and in FVC they were 19.9 +/- 4.7% after air, 13.6 +/- 2.8% after H2O fog, and 13.6 +/- 4.2% after HNO3 fog.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


This dissertation explores how body maps served as a
site for theoretical, experimental, and cultural entanglements
between "Chinese medicine" and "biomedicine." It explores how body
atlases produced under varying social and cultural conditions
involved similar ontological questions with diverging social and
cultural implications. These ontological questions set into motion
disparate theories about the body that continue to destabilize
contemporary medical practice. I explore the fate of maps that
medical practitioners in China and Britain traced on paper and on
people. Rather than representing what could be directly observed,
these maps made visible what could be felt. Body maps offer a
unique approach to transnational histories of science and medicine
because they existed as meticulously crafted artifacts of visual
perception and material evidence that carried social and political
currency. In particular, I follow how Chinese physiologists
re-presented meridian paths for acupuncture moxibustion practice
and the conceptual friction that these maps introduced once they
were compared with sensation maps that British neurologists
produced to identify peripheral nerve clusters and distinct areas
of pain. Amidst state-building efforts in the early twentieth
century, medical practitioners in China reproduced meridian maps to
emphasize the technical and systematic virtues of acupuncture
moxibustion. Yet, meridian maps presented an ontological problem,
as standardizing its paths required fixing locations along courses
that shifted in living bodies. This dissertation picks up where
political historians leave off, examining transformations in
medical theory and tracking how individuals concerned with
constructing the legacy of medicine in China eventually came to
resurrect abandoned neurophysiological maps produced in late
nineteenth century Britain. Through a careful excavation of image
and text, I demonstrate how efforts to locate shifting areas on the
surface of the body conflicted and cohered with discourses of
science. I argue that "intimate cartographies," or maps based on
individual encounters of the body, challenged standards of
visualizing and describing unseen physiological systems. These maps
sat at the intersection of epistemic practices, where the
circulation of images, ideas, and individuals contributed to the
complex convergence of body maps across regimes of
knowledge.


BACKGROUND
The long protocol has been recognized as the gold standard in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). However, the full dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) under the prolonged protocol has become increasingly popular in China. This study sought to compare pregnancy outcomes among the following 3 groups: a long protocol group, and 2 types of improved prolonged protocol groups.

METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 550 patients undergoing fresh embryo transfer (ET). Patients were treated either with the improved prolonged protocol in the follicular phase (Group 1; n=288) or the mid-luteal phase (Group 2; n=143), or the long protocol (Group 3; n=119). The clinical and laboratory outcomes of the 3 groups were compared.

RESULTS
The general characteristics of the women in the 3 groups were comparable. On the day on which gonadotropin (Gn) was first administered and on the day on which human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered, the luteinizing hormone (LH) levels of patients in both Groups 1 and 2 were lower than those of patients in Group 3. The number of oocytes retrieved, fertilized, and cleaved, and the number of high-quality embryos in the 3 procedures were similar. However, the number of transferred embryos, the rate of blastocyst progression, and the rate of implantation differed. The clinical pregnancy rates (CPRs)were significantly higher in the prolonged protocol groups (62.5% and 61.5%) than the long protocol group (48.7%). Further, statistically significant differences in the live-birth rates (LBRs) (56.9% vs. 57.3% vs. 42.9%) were observed. However, no differences in early abortion rates were found.

CONCLUSIONS
As a result of pituitary downregulation with GnRH-a, the prolonged groups had better CPRs and LBRs than the long protocol group. The prolonged protocol in the mid-luteal phase was equally effective as that in the early follicular phase in fresh in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) cycles. High LH levels on the day of hCG may be a predictor of adverse clinical outcomes.


Tumour-seeking agents, such as hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD), in combination with laser radiation provide new possibilities for cancer tumour detection and treatment. The fluorescence emission from tissue irradiated with UV light is used for tumour localization. The development of techniques for maximum discrimination between tumours and normal tissue is of particular interest. Natural tissue fluorescence as well as fluorescence due to injected HPD will be discussed. Results from studies on rats and mice are reported. The use of fluorescence for identifying atherosclerotic plaque in human vessels is also illustrated. The development of clinical instrumentation for point measurements and imaging is discussed.


CONTEXT
Human granulosa cells (GC) acquire LH receptor (LHR) expression during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Currently, the precise follicular stage is unknown, and specific roles of LH in the follicular development are not fully understood.

OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to measure LHR gene expression on GC and cumulus cells (CC) from normal human follicles with diameters form 3-20 mm.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS
At a university hospital, GC, CC, and the corresponding follicular fluid (FF) were collected from patients undergoing fertility preservation by having one ovary frozen and patients undergoing infertility treatment.

INTERVENTIONS
Cells and fluids were isolated from surgically excised ovaries or from aspirated preovulatory follicles.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
We evaluated gene expression of LHR, FSHR, androgen receptor (AR), aromatase (CYP19a1), and AMHR2 normalized to the GAPDH expression and associated with FF levels of anti-Mullerian hormone, inhibin-B, and steroids.

RESULTS
LHR expression was maximal in GC from preovulatory follicles before ovulation induction. A majority of 150 antral follicles (3-10 mm in diameter) showed LHR expression at approximately 10% of the maximum, and LHR expression showed significant associations with FSHR, AR, CYP19a1, and AMHR2 and with FF estradiol and progesterone. Levels of FSHR continued to decline in GC as the follicular diameter increased.

CONCLUSIONS
The LHR gene is expressed in GC of human antral follicles throughout the follicular phase and is significantly associated with expression of the CYP19a1 gene and with the corresponding FF concentrations of estradiol and progesterone. LH appears to affect human follicular development during most the follicular phase in normal women.


The aim of the present study was to determine the accuracy of postnatal gestational age assessment of babies using three different methods. Two hundred women attending the university obstetric unit of North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka whose expected date of delivery (EDD) by early ultrasonography fell within a week of EDD by dates were included in the study. Postnatal assessment was performed within 24 h of birth. Two co-researchers performed Dubowitz and Parkin methods separately without prior knowledge of menstrual gestation. Data was analysed using EpiInfo 6 and SPSS packages. The mean difference between menstrual gestation and Dubowitz physical criteria was -0.45 weeks; between menstrual gestation and classical Dubowitz method, +2.18 weeks; and between menstrual gestation and Parkin's method, +0.34 weeks. It was concluded that postnatal assessment of gestational age by the Parkin's method is much closer to menstrual gestation than the classical Dubowitz method and is also easier and quicker to perform.


Ia mpleased to respond to Harold Davis's insightful article on Fromm and postmodernism. Like Harold, I believe that Fromm's work merits discussion in the contemporary psychoanalytic context and is of direct relevance to the current debate over postmodernism. My discussion will essentially take up where Harold's article ended. At first glance, the juxtaposition of Fromm and postmodernism may seem rather odd. Fromm, after all, died in 1980, and to my knowledge never directly addressed the growing postmodernist movement in his last years. Indeed, a colleague told me that he offered to address students protesting at Columbia University in 1968 but was rebuffed (Nat Stockhammer, personal communication). The 1968 student protests are often linked with the emergence of postmodernism. The students, however, apparently had no interest in hearing what he—or anyone of his age group—had to say. Yet, as Harold points out, Fromm and the existential–phenomenological tradition with which he was often allied have direct relevance for the current debate over postmodernism in psychoanalysis. I will examine both of these topics in turn. Fromm may seem like a largely forgotten figure today. He was a founder of the William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and Psychology, a sociologist turned psychoanalyst, a writer of books that sold well, but someone who perhaps never fully made his mark on the practice of psychoanalysis. And yet?


This study on ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) presents baseline thermal conductivity data on as-deposited 7-8 wt.% YSZ and a paired-cluster rare-earth oxide doped YSZ, prepared using air plasma spray (APS). The thermal diffusivity for each coating was measured up to 1100°C using the laser flash method, and from these values, the thermal conductivity was calculated. The maximum benefit for thermal conductivity reduction in TBCs with a (GdO2, Yb2O3)-doped YSZ composition was highest for APS dense, vertically macrocracked microstructures, whereas in the case of low density APS TBCs, the reduction in conductivity was found to be more strongly influenced by horizontally-oriented, sub-critical defects and porosity within the coating microstructure.


This study was conducted to investigate the effect of various natural ingredients for manufacturing meat products on the D value and relative radiation sensitivity (RRS) of foodborne pathogens inoculated into ground beef. The pathogens used for this study were Salmonella Typhimurium (KCTC 1925), Escherichia coli (KCTC 41682), Listeria monocytoges (KCTC 3569), and Staphylococcus aureus (KCTC 11764), and the natural ingredients added into ground beef were garlic, onion, black pepper, hot pepper, ginger, green onion, carrot, and red wine. The D of E. coli was decreased significantly by 5% of garlic addition (RRS=1.460), and the addition of carrot (RRS=1.086) and red wine (RRS=2.864) also showed similar results. Most natural ingredients were effective in increasing radiation sensitivity of L. monocytogens, but only garlic, onion, hot pepper, carrot, and red wine were effective against S. aureus. In particular, the addition of red wine to ground beef showed the greatest increase of radiation sensitivity for 3 pathogens tested in the present study, except for S. Typhimurium. Results indicate that the use of certain natural ingredients for manufacturing processed meat products may have effects in the increase of radiation sensitivity of pathogens. This increased radiation sensitivity can reduce the target irradiation dose for obtaining the same level of safety, resulting in lowering the adverse quality changes caused by a high-dose irradiation process.


When multiple mobile sensors and actuators share a common wireless mesh backbone network of defence systems, the channel allocation mechanism must guarantee the heterogeneous link requirements under conditions of uncertainty. In this paper, a robust channel allocation mechanism is proposed by exploiting partially overlapped channels for directional multi-channel wireless mesh networks. The approach relies on a chance-constrained optimization problem, in which the objective is to minimize the spectrum usage of the network, and the constraints are the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio requirements of links with uncertainty. We convert the proposed integer non-linear optimization problem into a mixed-integer convex problem by using efficient transition and approximation. The optimal channel allocation is obtained by solving the proposed optimization problem which adapts to the heterogeneous link and robustness requirements. The simulation results show that the proposed method ensures the heterogeneous link requirements under uncertain conditions while minimizing the spectrum usage of the network.


Abstract: This paper presents a collaborative solution for knowledge management, implemented as a semantic content management system (CMS) with the purpose of knowledge sharing between users with different backgrounds. The CMS is enriched with semantic annotations, enabling content to be categorized, retrieved and published on the Web thanks to the Linked Open Data (LOD) principle which enables the linking of data inside existing resources using a standardized URI mechanism. Annotations are done collaboratively as a social process. Users with different backgrounds express their knowledge using structured natural language. The user knowledge is captured thanks to an ontologic approach and it can be further transformed into RDF(S) classes and properties. Ontologies are at the heart of our CMS and they naturally co-evolve with their communities of use to provide a new way of knowledge sharing inside the network. The ontology is modeled following the so-called DOGMA (Developing OntologyGrounded Methods and Applications) paradigm, grounded in natural language. The approach will be demonstrated on a use case concerning the semantic annotation of anatomical data (e.g. medical images).


Little is known about the interrelationships between maternal and infant erythrocyte-DHA, milk-DHA and maternal adipose tissue (AT)-DHA contents. We studied these relationships in four tribes in Tanzania (Maasai, Pare, Sengerema and Ukerewe) differing in their lifetime intakes of fish. Cross-sectional samples were collected at delivery and after 3 d and 3 months of exclusive breast-feeding. We found that intra-uterine biomagnification is a sign of low maternal DHA status, that genuine biomagnification occurs during lactation, that lactating mothers with low DHA status cannot augment their infants' DHA status, and that lactating mothers lose DHA independent of their DHA status. A maternal erythrocyte-DHA content of 8 wt% was found to correspond with a mature milk-DHA content of 1·0 wt% and with subcutaneous and abdominal (omentum) AT-DHA contents of about 0·39 and 0·52 wt%, respectively. Consequently, 1 wt% DHA might be a target for Western human milk and infant formula that has milk arachidonic acid, EPA and linoleic acid contents of 0·55, 0·22 and 9·32 wt%, respectively. With increasing DHA status, the erythrocyte-DHA content reaches a plateau of about 9 wt%, and it plateaus more readily than milk-DHA and AT-DHA contents. Compared with the average Tanzanian-Ukerewe woman, the average US woman has four times lower AT-DHA content (0·4 v. 0·1 wt%) and five times lower mature milk-DHA output (301 v. 60 mg/d), which contrasts with her estimated 1·8–2·6 times lower mobilisable AT-DHA content (19 v. 35–50 g).


ABSTRACT Grapes are one of the most commonly consumed fruit, in both fresh and processed forms; however, a significant amount is disposed of in the environment. Searching for a use of this waste, the antigenotoxic, antimutagenic, and antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts from organic and conventional Vitis labrusca leaves were determined using V79 cells as model. The antigenotoxic activity was analyzed by the alkaline comet assay using endonuclease III and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase enzymes. The antimutagenic property was assessed through the micronucleus (MN) formation, and antioxidant activities were assessed using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●) radical scavenging, as well as with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity assays. In addition, phenolic content and ascorbic acid levels of both extracts were determined. Data showed that both organic and conventional grapevine leaves extracts possessed antigenotoxic and antimutagenic properties. The extract of organic leaves significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in V79 cells, and displayed greater ability for DPPH● scavenging and higher SOD and CAT activities than extract from conventional leaves. Further, the extract from organic leaves contained higher phenolic and ascorbic acid concentrations. In summary, extracts from organic and conventional grape leaves induced important in vitro biological effects.


The Bhatia–Thornton (BT) correlation functions namely the number–number, concentration–concentration and number-concentration correlation functions in liquid binary melts are important parameters for understanding the complexities in binary liquids. In this paper, the microscopic BT correlation functions of liquid Al–Cu alloys are investigated using square well (SW) potential under mean spherical model approximation. These correlation functions are linearly related to the Ashcroft–Langreth type partial structure factors. Thermodynamically important microscopic function i.e. concentration–concentration correlation function in the long-wavelength limit, SCC(0) is analytically calculated, which is well-known in BT formalism and is often used to characterized the mixing behavior in binary melts. The Warren–Cowley chemical short range order parameters, as function of Cu concentration is also computed in the liquid Al–Cu alloys through structural studies in the long wavelength limit, which gives valuable information regarding ordering in melts. The compound forming behavior in Al–Cu alloys is evidenced by the results obtained for the value of SCC(0) and . Further, transport properties in binary mixture have been determined by using BT-correlation functions and its long wavelength limit values. Kinetic as well as thermodynamic factors were taken care in the computation of dynamic properties of alloys.


A new method is presented for calculating dispersion relations for waves with wavelengths of the order of hundreds of nanometers propagating in rectangular waveguides with imperfectly conducting walls.


This paper presents a novel photovoltaic (PV) based three-phase three-level grid-interactive inverter. The proposed system consist of a DC/DC converter, and a three-phase three-level inverter. In order to ensure maximum power point tracking, incremental conductance (IC) technique is used. In addition, to meet international standards for all operating modes, three-phase three-level inverter has been designed and controlled by PI plus grid voltage feed-forward control technique. The proposed system can also operate in various modes to meet smart grids requirements: (1) active power mode in a day time, (2) active and reactive power mode in a day time, (3) reactive power mode at night. To support grid voltage regulation during the day, Mode 1 and Mode 2 are used. These three operation modes bring some benefits such as efficient operation, and reactive power support capability. The proposed system is designed and simulated in Matlab&Simulink software. The simulation results show that the proposed system has an excellent performance under different operating modes.


The recent advent of atypical antipsychotics has provided new clinical options and set higher expectations for the treatment of schizophrenia. Such agents might more effectively prevent relapse because they are more effective against the full spectrum of schizophrenic symptoms, as well as having improved tolerability and leading to improved medication compliance. Quetiapine fumarate ('Seroquel') is a new dibenzothiazepine antipsychotic agent with a greater affinity for serotonin receptors than for dopamine receptors and with a lower propensity for producing extrapyramidal symptoms or increasing prolactin levels. It has recently been approved for the treatment of psychotic disorders; however, the long-term efficacy and safety of quetiapine for treating treatment-refractory schizophrenia is still being investigated. We present a case of a 58-year-old man suffering from chronic therapy-resistant schizophrenia, with both positive and negative symptoms, who was successfully treated with quetiapine for 5 years. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such long beneficial use of quetiapine in a hospital clinical practice. (Int J Psych Clin Pract 2000; 4:77-80)


The Levinson–Durbin algorithm is a method for finding the solution to a system of linear equations defined by a Toeplitz matrix (with constant diagonal elements).

Keywords:

Toeplitz matrix;
spectral analysis;
filter design;
linear prediction;
autoregressive time series;
cardiovascular signals


In today's global markets, characterized by extremely fast changes in technology and customer's demand, and by product life cycle getting shorter and shorter, a single firm has not the ability to be competitive if it is not included in a network that, operating as a single entity, is able to react to demand dynamism and volatility. Therefore, existing supply chains, structured in a global sourcing view, are highly vulnerable to perturbations resulting from a strong dependence on other network's players, such as suppliers or logistics providers. In this complex and competitive context, properly assessing and managing risks connected to the different stages of the value chain, as well as external and not directly controllable risks, means being able to ensure continuity in supply. This paper focuses on the particular field of the fashion retail industry since its highly unpredictable demand and extremely short life cycle make it very important to analyse risks connected to the supply chain. The particular case we are referring to is represented by a fashion company that manages an extended network of wholesalers, direct operated stores, franchising mono-brand stores and factory outlet stores main aim of the presented work is to prioritise the list of identified risk factors by adopting the Analytic Network Process approach. This method is, in fact, more suitable for real complex problems that cannot be completely represented through a simple hierarchical structure. The obtained results show that supply chain efficiency, in terms of correct management of both material and informative flows, is considered the most crucial part also for a demand-driven supply chain as the fashion industry one which, in addition, is constantly seeking for customer tastes and always changing trends.


The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is a tyrosine kinase that dimerizes in response to ligand binding. Ligand-induced dimerization of the extracellular domain of the receptor promotes formation of an asymmetric dimer of the intracellular kinase domains, leading to stimulation of the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor. We recently monitored ligand-promoted conformational changes within the EGF receptor in real time using luciferase fragment complementation imaging and showed that there was significant movement of the C-terminal tail of the EGF receptor following EGF binding (Yang, K. S., Ilagan, M. X. G., Piwnica-Worms, D., and Pike, L. J. (2009) J. Biol. Chem. 284, 7474–7482). To investigate the structural basis for this conformational change, we analyzed the effect of several mutations on the kinase activity and luciferase fragment complementation activity of the EGF receptor. Mutation of Asp-960 and Glu-961, two residues at the beginning of the C-terminal tail, to alanine resulted in a marked enhancement of EGF-stimulated kinase activity as well as enhanced downstream signaling. The side chain of Asp-960 interacts with that of Ser-787. Mutation of Ser-787 to Phe, which precludes this interaction, also leads to enhanced receptor kinase activity. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that Asp-960/Glu-961 represents a hinge or fulcrum for the movement of the C-terminal tail of the EGF receptor. Mutation of these residues destabilizes this hinge, facilitating the formation of the activating asymmetric dimer and leading to enhanced receptor signaling.


Moringa isothiocyanate (MIC-1) is the main active isothiocyanate found in Moringa oleifera, a plant consumed as diet and traditional herbal medicine. Compared to sulforaphane (SFN), MICs are less studied and most work have focused on its anti-inflammatory activity. The purpose of this study is to better understand the Nrf2-ARE antioxidant activity of MIC-1 and its potential in diabetic nephropathy. MIC-1 showed little toxicity from 1.25–5 μM. MIC-1 activated Nrf2-ARE at similar levels to SFN. MIC-1 also increased gene expression of downstream Nrf2 genes NQO1, HO-1, and GCLC. Protein expression of HO-1 and GCLC was elevated in MIC-1-treated cells versus control. MIC-1 suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated macrophages. MIC-1 reduced levels of reactive oxygen species in high glucose (HG)-treated human renal proximal tubule HK-2 cells. RNA-seq was performed to examine the transcriptome in HK-2 cells exposed to HG with or without MIC-1. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of RNA-seq on HK-2 cells exposed to HG identified TGFβ1 and NQO1 regulation as potentially impacted and treatment of HG-exposed HK-2 cells with MIC-1 reversed the gene expression of these two pathways. Results implicate that the transcriptional regulator TGFβ1 signaling is activated by HG and that MIC-1 can inhibit HG-stimulated TGFβ1 activation. In summary, MIC-1 activates Nrf2-ARE signaling, increases expression of Nrf2 target genes, and suppresses inflammation, while also reducing oxidative stress and possibly TGFβ1 signaling in high glucose induced renal cells. Taken together, it appears that one potential therapeutic strategy for managing DN and is currently under development in clinic is Nrf2 activation.


Implant-supported restorations have become very popular in the management of the partially or completely edentulous patient. Success depends on attentive treatment planning and coordinated teamwork between the surgeon and the restoring dentist. Implants placed in the anterior maxilla require special attention due to esthetic considerations. This article describes the management of a severely resorbed anterior maxilla using principles of guided bone regeneration followed by implant-supported restorations. This case illustrates some of the problems that can arise during the course of treatment.


The "panel method" is used as a means for preventive aerodynamic examination and evaluation of the shape of a vehicle. Also, with inviscid flow some useful considerations may be extrapolated; for instance, the influence of shape changes in the forebody may be evaluated. Obviously, for a complete analysis, viscous corrections may be introduced.


Herein, we report investigations embodying the first example of reversal of the native regioselectivity in the reaction of allenols with electrophiles. The effortlessness of C-C bond formation, mild reaction conditions, neither catalysts nor light irradiation, exquisite selectivity, both in terms of functional group tolerance and chemo-, site-, and stereo-selectivity, converts this trifluorosulfonylation sequence into an appealing protocol for the preparation of novel functionalized enones. The synthetic utility of this method has been validated by the conversion of the initially prepared bis(triflyl)enones into a variety of bis(triflyl)-functionalized molecules such as 1,3-dienes, allylic alcohols, pyrroles, pyrazoles, and chromenes. Besides, DFT calculations have provided a reliable understanding of observed selectivity.