Modified bituminous materials can bring real benefits to highway maintenance/construction, in terms of better and longer lasting roads, and savings in total road life castings. This paper present the effect of there novel modifier as Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and two type of nanoclay on rheological properties of bitumen binder. Various blends of modifier and bitumen were selected and empirical rheological test were conducted on short term and long term aging condition. Nanocomposite morphology of bitumen and nanoclay was also investigated by using XRD technique to achieve the best structure. The result show that depends of type, properties and content of modifier, aging resistance improve.


The dissociation pressure of the solid phase CO2 · 5\documentclass{aastex}
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\begin{document}$$\frac{3}{4}$$\end{document} H2O has been measured to 2,000 bars. This dissociation curve rises from 45 bars at 10° C. to 2,000 bars at 19.7° The solid hydrate freezes from immiscible water-rich and rich liquids over this pressure and temperature interval. ΔV of dissociation ranges from 24 cc/mole to 4 cc/mole. The density of the hydrate calculated from the dissociation pressure curve is in good agreement with the density obtained by other investigators from X-ray measurements. The application of the phase relations in the system CO2-H2O to the study of fluid inclusions in discussed.


This paper outlines the Rwandan government's achievements in terms of the execution of its Vision 2020 that was elaborated in 2000. Being 'halfway', the overall picture seems quite promising. Rwanda's economy is thriving with impressive economic growth figures. The country is on track to reach most Millennium development goals in the domain of education and health. The government is applauded for the quality of its technocratic governance and its pro-active policy to create an attractive business climate. However, there are also problematic indicators such as the limited extent of poverty reduction and the huge increase in inequality. This paper argues that the current strategy - one of maximal growth at all cost – is counterproductive to the objective of maximal poverty reduction. A strong economic growth, concentrated in the hands of a small elite, results in a highly skewed developmental path with limited trickle-down potential. As an alternative, the paper pleads in favour of broad-based inclusive growth building upon the knowledge and enhancing the capacities of rural small-scale farmers.


Effective provisioning of next generation distributed applications hosted on diverse middleware platforms incurs significant challenges due to the applications' growing complexity and quality of service (QoS) requirements. An effective provisioning of the middleware platform includes a composition and configuration of the middleware services that meets the application QoS requirements under expected workloads. Traditional techniques for middleware provisioning tend to use non-intuitive, low-level and technology-specific approaches, which are tedious, error prone, non-reusable and not amenable to ease of QoS validation. Additionally, most often the configuration activities of the middleware platform tend to be decoupled from the QoS validation stages resulting in an iterative trial-and-error process between the two phases. This paper describes the design of a visual modeling language called POSAML (patterns oriented software architecture modeling language) and associated tools that provide an intuitive, higher level and unified framework for provisioning middleware platforms. POSAML provides visual modeling capabilities for middleware-independent provisioning while allowing automated middleware-specific QoS validation


We examine the profitability and social efficiency of horizontal mergers in a Cournot oligopoly with decreasing average costs. Assuming the merger allows for a reduction in the total amount of fixed costs, we identify the conditions under which the merger is, respectively, profitable and socially desirable. There exists an admissible parameter range wherein the merger is socially convenient but not profitable. In such a case, the policy maker may induce firms to merge through subsidies financed via a lump sum tax.


First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan Abstract: The treatment of connective tissue disease (CTD) and CTD-related intractable diseases (CTD-IDs) currently depends on the use of steroid therapy. Approximately 20 years have passed since the approval of infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis in 2003. Since then, several biological therapeutics have been marketed and adapted for many CTDs and CTDIDs other than rheumatoid arthritis. Although conventional treatment for patients with these diseases is rarely used because of their poor prognosis, these cases may benefit from biological therapeutics. However, choosing biological therapeutics is difficult because they have different target molecules compared with conventional therapeutics. In this review, we address the current situation of biological therapeutics for CTD-IDs including Behcet's disease, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodyrelated arthritis, and adult Still's disease, as well as the choice of biological therapeutics in clinical practice.


Noxious stimuli are sensed and carried to the spinal cord dorsal horn by Aδ and C primary afferent fibers. Some of this input is relayed directly to supraspinal sites by projection neurons, whereas much of the input impinges on a heterogeneous population of interneurons in lamina II. Previously, we demonstrated that G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are expressed in lamina II of the mouse spinal cord and that pharmacologic ablation of spinal GIRK channels selectively blunts the analgesic effect of high but not lower doses of intrathecal μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists. Here, we report that GIRK channels formed by GIRK1 and GIRK2 subunits are found in two large populations of lamina II excitatory interneurons. One population displays relatively large apparent whole-cell capacitances and prominent GIRK-dependent current responses to the MOR agonist [D-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly-ol5] -enkephalin (DAMGO). A second population shows smaller apparent capacitance values and a GIRK-dependent response to the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen, but not DAMGO. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that GIRK subunits preferentially label type I synaptic glomeruli, suggesting that GIRK-containing lamina II interneurons receive prominent input from C fibers, while receiving little input from Aδ fibers. Thus, excitatory interneurons in lamina II of the mouse spinal cord can be subdivided into different populations based on the neurotransmitter system coupled to GIRK channels. This important distinction will afford a unique opportunity to characterize spinal nociceptive circuitry with defined physiological significance.


Significance Chronic low-grade inflammation plays a causative role in obesity-associated metabolic diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying chronicity of low-grade inflammation remain elusive. Herein, we identify inhibitor of κB kinase epsilon (IKBKE) as a new modulator of chronic inflammation in macrophages. We first show that IKBKE is clinically relevant in distinct tissues associated with metabolic diseases including obesity, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and atherosclerosis. In all cases, IKBKE expression predominates in macrophages and associates with chronic inflammation. In macrophages, IKBKE affects chronicity of inflammation by temporally limiting inflammasome priming. Both global IKBKE ablation and reconstitution with hematopoietic IKBKE reciprocally alters metaflammation in adipose tissue, liver, and the composition of advanced atherosclerotic plaques. These findings establish a nonpathogenic role for hematopoietic IKBKE in limiting inflammasome priming and metaflammation. Obesity increases the risk of developing life-threatening metabolic diseases including cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, diabetes, and cancer. Efforts to curb the global obesity epidemic and its impact have proven unsuccessful in part by a limited understanding of these chronic progressive diseases. It is clear that low-grade chronic inflammation, or metaflammation, underlies the pathogenesis of obesity-associated type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms that maintain chronicity and prevent inflammatory resolution are poorly understood. Here, we show that inhibitor of κB kinase epsilon (IKBKE) is a novel regulator that limits chronic inflammation during metabolic disease and atherosclerosis. The pathogenic relevance of IKBKE was indicated by the colocalization with macrophages in human and murine tissues and in atherosclerotic plaques. Genetic ablation of IKBKE resulted in enhanced and prolonged priming of the NLRP3 inflammasome in cultured macrophages, in hypertrophic adipose tissue, and in livers of hypercholesterolemic mice. This altered profile associated with enhanced acute phase response, deregulated cholesterol metabolism, and steatoheptatitis. Restoring IKBKE only in hematopoietic cells was sufficient to reverse elevated inflammasome priming and these metabolic features. In advanced atherosclerotic plaques, loss of IKBKE and hematopoietic cell restoration altered plaque composition. These studies reveal a new role for hematopoietic IKBKE: to limit inflammasome priming and metaflammation.


The focus of this research is the development of information technology in supporting government communication in the city of Depok, West Java Province, more specifically regarding the website of the Government of Depok City, West Java Province.
There have been several researches on the websites of regional governments, including; 1. Evaluation of E-Government Implementation on Local Government Websites in Indonesia: Content and Management Perspective by Edwin Arief Sosiawan Fisip UPN Yogyakarta in 2008, 2. Quality Evaluation of Local Government Websites Using the Webqual Method (Case Study in Ogan Ilir District) by Candra Irawan UGM Faculty of Engineering Thesis in 2011, 3. Website Representation of Lampung Provincial Government as a Communication and Public Service Media in the Framework of E-Government By Arlyandi Satya Djauhari Fisip Unila in 2016, and 4. Website usability level on the Banten Province Public Relations Bureau website by M. Ervin Kurniawan Fisip Untirta Banten in 2016, which distinguishes this research when compared to the above research are: 1. This research focuses on the development of information technology in this case the website for public services at the City level, Depok City, 2. This research uses the Alvaro Rocha study (2014) published in the Emerlad Journal which is Scopus indexed, the Rocha (2014) study entitled "Framework for a global quality evaluation of a website".
The method in this research is qualitative, in qualitative research with an inductive approach it is easier for researchers to take pictures and describe the facts in the field, then the findings in the field are dissected with various theories that have been prepared. The results of this research are; The Depok City Government has used the website to communicate and provide services to the public, but the website needs some improvements, among others; 1. The renewal of information on the website needs to be improved, 2. Community complaints need to be answered immediately, 3. Depok City Communication and Information Agency needs to be given more authority to gather information spread across several agency 4. Website maintenance needs to be considered because there are several pages that cannot be opened.

Keywords: Public Service, Communication, Website, Information Technology.


We consider an efficient AVA stochastic inversion algorithm which performs inversion of equal angle offset volumes to volumes of Vp, Vs and density. Exact solution of Zoeppritz equations is used in order to determine reflection coefficients. Using combination of Simulated Annealing and Metropolis-Hasting sampler, we generate a set of equiprobable high-resolution volumes of elastic properties which are consistent with seismic data, well measurements and reproduce detailed geological features. Stochastic realizations generating process is constrained to reproduce seismic data, well data, low-frequency elastic trends, 3D variograms for elastic parameters, estimates of probability distributions of (Vp,Vs,Den), estimates of vertical alteration of elastic properties, etc. The multi-trace approach and extensive use of a priori geological knowledge greatly reduces influence of seismic noise on the inversion results for each of the solutions obtained. Multiple grid approach is used to properly treat large-scale variograms features. For reproduction of vertical alteration of elastic properties we use multi-point statistics. The training dataset is formed from log-derived properties. This eliminates the need for building an artificial training model. Application of multi-point statistics has a greater potential for ensuring more accurate account of vertical variations of acoustic properties, for obtaining geologically valid inversion solutions and for decreasing the uncertainty degree. The seismic inversion algorithm has been efficiently parallelized. It uses a shared memory computer and inverts simultaneously different 1D models on different processors preserving spatial correlation of elastic properties. AVA stochastic inversion results are used for cascaded stochastic simulation of lithology and fluid units, for simulation of reservoir properties, uncertainty analysis. Based on Bayesian approach we can take into account of existing uncertainties, in particular, uncertainties caused by inaccuracy of the mathematical model that relates elastic parameters and reservoir properties, and uncertainties caused by non-uniqueness and inaccuracy of seismic inversion results.


In this paper a theoretical model for the design of high efficient SOPA power amplifiers is deducted. Switching type power amplifiers do not suffer the efficiency decay with the crest factor compared with linear type amplifiers. Using the describing function analysis, an analytical model has been derived to cope with the hard non-linear specifications of a switching type amplifier. This speeds up the design time for a high linearity, high bandwidth SOPA line driver. A CMOS implementation is used to verify the obtained insights. The designed line driver is processed in a .35µm CMOS technology. The line driver can handle ADSL signals with an MTPR over 55 dB and VDSL downstream signals with a 8.6 MHz bandwidth. The power consumption of the complete chip is 213mW for a 100mW output power.


Despite the legislation targets set by several governments of a full electrification of new light-duty vehicle fleets by 2035, the development of innovative, environmental-friendly Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) is still crucial to be on track toward the complete decarbonization of on road-mobility of the future. In such a framework, the PHOENICE (PHev towards zerO EmissioNs & ultimate ICE efficiency) project aims at developing a C SUV-class plug-in hybrid (P0/P4) vehicle demonstrator capable to achieve a -10% fuel consumption reduction with respect to current EU6 vehicle while complying with upcoming EU7 pollutant emissions limits.Such ambitious targets will require the optimization of the whole engine system, exploiting the possible synergies among the combustion, the aftertreatment and the exhaust waste heat recovery systems. Focusing on the first aspect, the combined use of innovative in-cylinder charge motion, Miller cycle with high compression ratio, lean mixture with cooled EGR and electrified turbocharger will enable a highly diluted combustion process capable to achieve a peak indicated efficiency of 47% and, at the same time, to minimize the engine out emissions. Numerical simulations were intensively exploited to reduce the engine calibration time and to preliminary assess the benefits of the abovementioned technologies. In particular, 3D-CFD simulations highlighted the capabilities of the SwumbleTM intake ports to produce an increase of about 50% of the Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE), while 1D-CFD models showed possible further enhancements of the brake thermal efficiency through the use of the new turbocharger (+2%) and of an aggressive Millerization of the cycle (+1.1%).Finally, a preliminary experimental campaign, performed on the first engine prototype, confirmed the encouraging results of the simulation activity. With an AFR = 1.43 and an EGR ratio close to 5%, the PHOENICE engine showed a further improvement in the BTE up to 4% and a simultaneous reduction of the NOx emissions of more than 70% in comparison with conventional stoichiometric, undiluted operation.


We describe a family of representations of $\pi_1(\Sigma)$ in PU(2,1), where $\Sigma$ is a hyperbolic Riemann surface with at least one deleted point. This family is obtained by a bending process associated to an ideal triangulation of $\Sigma$. We give an explicit description of this family by describing a coordinates system in the spirit of shear coordinates on the Teichm\"uller space. We identify within this family new examples of discrete, faithful and type-preserving representations of $\pi_1(\Sigma)$. In turn, we obtain a 1-parameter family of embeddings of the Teichm\"uller space of $\Sigma$ in the PU(2,1)-representation variety of $\pi_1(\Sigma)$. These results generalise to arbitrary $\Sigma$ the results obtained in a previous paper for the 1-punctured torus.


Objective To evaluate the efficacy of pentaglobulin in reducing the rate of exchange transfusion among neonates with immune hemolytic anaemia. Method An observational prospective study that was conducted over two year's period starting from January 2010 to January 2012. Pentaglobulin was given in a dose of 1 gm/Kg/day for all newborns with the following criteria: immune hemolytic anaemia; high or rising level of bilirubin approaching exchange transfusion. Phototherapy was used in conjunction with pentaglobulin. Results The total number of newborns who received pentaglobulin over that period of time was 85 infants. None of them required exchange transfusion. Ten newborns required top up transfusion. The duration of phototherapy application ranged from 48 to 72 hours. Conclusion The study shows that early use of pentaglobulin in immune hemolytic anaemia reduces the risk of exchange transfusion and the duration of phototherapy application. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to verify the results of our observations.


In order to ensure the data rate, ship detection within short coherent integration time (CIT) is an operational requirement for over-the-horizon radar (OTHR). However, the resulting low Doppler resolution of short CIT brings difficulties in discrimination of the ship target peak and the powerful ocean clutter. To solve this problem, high resolution spectrum estimation techniques have been used to replace the conventional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) for Doppler spectrum analysis. In this paper, a new spectrum estimation algorithm is proposed for ship detection by OTHR, which has higher Doppler resolution compared with the conventional method. In addition, in case that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is low or the Doppler frequency of the target is close to that of the first-order ocean clutter Bragg peak, the presented algorithm can still effectively be used for ship detection for OTHR. The superiority of the proposed algorithm is illustrated by simulated OTHR data.


This paper describes an attempt to develop a computer-based system of speech-training aids for the deaf. Some of the problems associated with the speech of the deaf are briefly reviewed. Reasons for attempting to apply a digital computer to the problem of speech training are given. The system and its display capabilities are described. The importance of evolving such a system through a close interaction of developers and users is stressed.


The alfalfa leafcutting bee (ALCB), Megachile rotundata F. (Megachildae), was accidentally introduced into the United States by the 1940s. Nest management of this Eurasian nonsocial pollinator transformed the alfalfa seed industry in North America, tripling seed production. The most common ALCB management practice is the loose cell system, in which cocooned bees are removed from nesting cavities for cleaning and storage. Traits of ALCBs that favored their commercialization include gregarious nesting; use of leaves for lining nests; ready acceptance of affordable, mass-produced nesting materials; alfalfa pollination efficacy; and emergence synchrony with alfalfa bloom. The ALCB became a commercial success because much of its natural history was understood, targeted research was pursued, and producer ingenuity was encouraged. The ALCB presents a model system for commercializing other solitary bees and for advancing new testable hypotheses in diverse biological disciplines.


Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, fatal disease of early infancy. The familial form of this disease was originally described by Farquhar and Claireaux (1952) and overlooked for several years. Janka (1983) detailed the main features of familial HLH in a comprehensive clinical review. Autosomal recessive inheritance has been demonstrated for familial HLH (Gencik et al, 1984). As only a limited proportion of cases have documented familial recurrence, despite similar presenting features and outcome, the term HLH is commonly used to indicate the disease in both familial or apparently sporadic cases. Its incidence has been estimated to be 0 ́12 per 100 000 children in a retrospective Swedish study (Henter et al, 1991a). A similar incidence was later found in a British study (cited in Henter et al, 1998). In a recent Italian study, the estimate of the incidence of HLH in the whole country over the last 25 years was 0 ́006 per 100 000 children per year, but in the Southern part of Italy the disease was three times more frequent than in the Northern and Central areas. Owing to the improvement in detecting HLH cases, the observed frequency of the disease has increased over time, reaching the value of 0 ́118 per 100 000 children per year in the last period (1990±99) (unpublished observations). The main features of HLH include persistent fever and hepatosplenomegaly. Central nervous system involvement varies (ranging from irritability to overt meningoencephalopathy), and lymphadenopathy and skin rash may also be observed (Janka, 1983; AricoÁ et al, 1996, Haddad et al, 1997; Henter et al, 1998). Evidence of anaemia and thrombocytopenia may suggest the existence of acute leukaemia which can easily be ruled out by bone marrow examination. The above described clinical picture, the absence of malignant cells together with the possible association with active haemophagocytosis (which may be already evident at presentation or at repeated examinations during the disease course, in the bone marrow or in the spleen, lymph nodes or cerebrospinal fluid cells; Favara, 1989; Ost et al, 1998) are highly suggestive of HLH. Biochemical alterations largely overlap with those characteristic of the macrophage hyperactivation syndrome (Ravelli et al, 1996) and include hypertriglyceridaemia, hypofibrinogenaemia, hyponatraemia, elevated ferritin and lactase dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis is common. Plasma levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (CD25) are also increased (Komp et al, 1989; Henter et al, 1991b). Clinical and laboratory markers of associated infection were reported in 50 of the 122 (41%) children reported to the HLH registry. Of these, 25 had a positive family history of HLH and their features were not significantly different from the other 25 nonfamilial ones, or from the 72 children (34 familial) without evidence of associated infection at presentation. The spectrum of reported infectious agents mirrored that of common pathogens, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), adenovirus, parvovirus, hepatitis B virus, herpes and Coxsackie (AricoÁ et al, 1996; Henter et al, 1993). Histological examination of involved organs typically shows infiltration by histiocytes and lymphocytes, with haemophagocytosis (Akima & Sumi, 1984; Favara, 1989; Ost et al, 1998); spleen biopsy may also provide evidence of haemophagocytosis, but because of possible complications it should be applied with caution; liver biopsy is often less informative, showing a hepatitis-like lymphocytic infiltration. Thus, repeated bone marrow aspirations appear to be the best approach for the documentation of haemophagocytosis. Differently from the more common Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, bone and adjacent soft tissues are not involved in HLH (Favara et al, 1997; AricoÁ & Egeler, 1998). The spontaneous course of the disease is invariably fatal, as illustrated by the median survival of 6 months and no more than 10% probability of survival beyond 3 years reported in the historical series collected by the International HLH Registry (AricoÁ et al, 1996). Initial therapeutic approaches showed that etoposide, with or without steroids and intrathecal methotrexate, can induce disease remission (Ambruso et al, 1980; Fischer et al, 1985). On this basis, the HLH study group of the Histiocyte Society started an international prospective therapeutic trial named HLH-94 (Henter et al, 1997). The preliminary results of this study showed that combined immunochemotherapy with dexamethasone, etoposide and cyclosporine was effective in achieving control of the disease manifestations within a few weeks, and also in prolonging the survival (J. I. Henter personal communication). The increased incidence documented in Italy, together with current availability of such an effective treatment, probably resulted in the marked reduction of cases of HLH who died in an early stage of the disease owing to uncontrolled progression. This may provide an opportunity for a patient in good clinical condition to proceed to bone marrow transplantation (BMT). After an initial report by Fischer et al (1986), BMT from matched related donors was successfully applied (Todo et al, 1990; Blanche et al, 1991). As most patients lack a familial donor, alternative sources for haemopoietic stem


After conquering one of the biggest empires the world has ever seen, Alexander the Great died prematurely in 323 B.C., without leaving a suitable heir to the throne. During the next decades his generals, thenceforth known as the Diadochoi or Successors, unremittingly fought over the king's inheritance. The balance of power which ultimately resulted from their struggle would determine the course of events in the eastern Mediterranean for centuries to come. Despite its historical importance many aspects of the age of the Successors remain underexplored. Written by leading international specialists, the 24 contributions to this book help in remedying that situation by addressing new issues or shedding fresh light on old questions. They not only explore the written and material evidence for the epoch, the Successors' armies and military campaigns, their political ambitions and relationships with Greek cities, but they also address several social, economic, religious, numismatic, art-historical and urbanistic issues. They will significantly enhance our knowledge of the creation of the Hellenistic kingdoms as well as on the then prevailing dynastic ideas and practices. The book is of interest to students of Hellenistic history and archaeology, and Greek historiography.


This paper describes a multi-UAV firemen monitoring mission carried out in the framework of the AWARE Project. Several firemen were located in an area in front of a simulated building assisting injured people and moving equipment. The objective of the user was to have an estimation of the location of the firemen on the map and also images of their operations. Two autonomous helicopters were available and ready on the landing pads for this mission. The techniques adopted to compute the required waypoints for the observation of the firemen from the UAVs are described in the paper. The detailed description of a firemen monitoring mission used to validate the approach is also provided.


DC motor is a representative electric motor commonly utilized in various motion control fields. However, DC motor-based motion control systems suffer from degradation of position precision due to nonlinear static friction. In order to enhance control precision, friction model-based compensators have been introduced in previous researches, where friction models are identified and counter inputs are added to control inputs for cancelling out the identified friction forces. In this paper, a static friction compensator is proposed without use of a friction model. The proposed compensation algorithm utilizes internal state manipulation to generate compensation pulses, and related parameters are easily tuned experimentally. The proposed friction compensator is applied to a DC motor-based motion control system, and results are presented in comparison with those without a friction compensator.


Abstract. SAR (synthetic aperture radar) and PolSAR (polarimetric synthetic aperture radar) images fulfill a fundamental role in Earth observation, due to their advantages over optical images. However, the presence of speckle noise hinders their automatic interpretation and unsupervised use, rendering traditional segmentation tools ineffective. For this reason, advanced image segmentation models are sought to overcome the limitations that make an adequate treatment of speckled images difficult. We propose a procedure for SAR and PolSAR image classification, based on texture descriptors, that combines fractal dimension, a specific probability distribution function, Tsallis entropy, and the entropic index. A vector of local texture features is built using a set of reference regions, then a support vector machine classifier is applied. The proposed algorithm is tested with synthetic and actual monopolarimetric and polarimetric SAR imagery, exhibiting visually remarkable and robust results in coincidence with quantitative quality metrics as accuracy and F1-score.


Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) has vast possibilities that are just beginning to emerge as the medium is being utilized by more and more institutions nationwide. The new educational software industries have the potential to meet the educational needs of a large and increasingly diverse student population. The purpose of the present study is to compare achievement among remedial college algebra students in classes where predominantly computer-aided instruction was used to that of students in classes using traditional lecture instruction. The researcher aimed to identify key aspects that may translate into student success and achievement in remedial college algebra classes. Theoretically, CAI should enhance learning according to well-known principles of behaviorism and constructivism. In reality, studies of learning outcomes using CAI report mixed results about whether the use of CAI actually provides educational benefit beyond that of traditional instruction. This study was a comparative study using an ex-post-facto design. Class sections were randomly assigned to instructional methods. Students, although not randomly assigned to sections, were blind to instructional methods when registering for classes. The study evaluated student performance using scores on individual semester tests, a comprehensive final exam, and overall course grade. Regardless of whether achievement is measured in terms of single semester test, comprehensive final exam, course average, or test performance across the semester the iii results presented here indicate that students perform better in traditional classes than in CAI classes regardless of the CAI curriculum used. Moreover, despite instructional method, students perform better on tests at earlier and later points in the semester than in the middle. Comparison of the two CAI curricula used in this study indicated that student test performance is better for students using Thinkwell CAI than those receiving the MyMathLab CAI curriculum. These results have implications for math educators considering how best to use CAI to teach remedial college algebra.


: The influenza A M2 protein is a 97-residue integral membrane protein involved in viral budding and proton conductance. Although crystal and NMR structures exist of truncated con-structs of the protein, there is disagreement between models and only limited structural data are available for the full-length protein. Here, the structure of the C-terminal juxtamembrane region (sites 50–60) is investigated in the full-length M2 protein using site-directed spin-labeling electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in lipid bilayers. Sites 50–60 were chosen for study because this region has been shown to be critical to the role the M2 protein plays in viral budding. Continuous wave EPR spectra and power saturation data in the presence of paramagnetic membrane soluble oxygen are consistent with a membrane surface associated amphipathic helix. Comparison between data from the C-terminal juxtamembrane region in full-length M2 protein with data from a truncated M2 construct demonstrates that the line shapes and oxygen accessibilities are remarkably similar between the full-length and truncated form of the protein.


Rice is an important food supply for a large part of the world population and its consumption rates are very high. Microbial diseases are one of the main causes that provoke low yields and low-quality spotted grains. Although fungi, bacteria and viruses are mostly the responsible for these losses, fungal diseases strike more frequently. Among fungi, Pyricularia grisea, the blast fungus is responsible for up to 100% of reduction in yields, being the blast the most important rice disease in Latin America. To control this pathogen, a strategy of sustainable agriculture might be developed, combining accurately chemical and biological products. PGPB based bioproducts have been considered as an eco-friendly alternative, which favours environment preservation. This work was aimed to approach the current status and outlook of the use of rhizobacteria in the biocontrol of Pyricularia grisea on rice. Main diseases attacking rice, most beneficial PGPB and its mechanisms of action will be discussed too in this review.


The investment potential of warm-season grasses is compared with that of cool-season grasses, with special emphasis on hill-land beef production. In addition to evaluating relative costs and returns for various grazing systems, a sensitivity analysis is conducted. The results are then illustrated for a representative hill-land farm in West Virginia, and both an optimal and a set of quasi-optimal solutions are generated within the linear programming framework. In general, warm-season grasses are found to be a superior investment alternative for hill-land beef producers.


Jawi is an old version of Malay Language Writing that need to be preserved. Therefore, it is important to develop tools for teaching kids about Jawi characters and Speech-To-Text (STT) application can serve this purpose well. Unlike English, Jawi uses special characters similar to Arabic Characters. However, its pronunciations are in Malay Language. This uniqueness makes STT development a challenging task. In this paper, we investigate the applicability of Linear Predictive Coding to extract important features from voice signal and Neural Network with Backpropagation to classify and recognize spoken words into Jawi Characters. A total of 225 samples of words in Jawi Characters are recorded from speakers with over 95% accuracy. Jawi Characters Speech-To-Text Engine aims to help students to read Jawi document accurately and independently without the need for close monitoring from parents or teachers.


Existing deep learning-based change detection methods try to elaborately design complicated neural networks with powerful feature representations, but ignore the universal domain shift induced by time-varying land cover changes, including luminance fluctuations and season changes between pre-event and post-event images, thereby producing sub-optimal results. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end Supervised Domain Adaptation framework for cross-domain Change Detection, namely SDACD, to effectively alleviate the domain shift between bi-temporal images for better change predictions. Specifically, our SDACD presents collaborative adaptations from both image and feature perspectives with supervised learning. Image adaptation exploits generative adversarial learning with cycle-consistency constraints to perform cross-domain style transformation, effectively narrowing the domain gap in a two-side generation fashion. As to feature adaptation, we extract domain-invariant features to align different feature distributions in the feature space, which could further reduce the domain gap of cross-domain images. To further improve the performance, we combine three types of bi-temporal images for the final change prediction, including the initial input bi-temporal images and two generated bi-temporal images from the pre-event and post-event domains. Extensive experiments and analyses on two benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness and universality of our proposed framework. Notably, our framework pushes several representative baseline models up to new State-Of-The-Art records, achieving 97.34% and 92.36% on the CDD and WHU building datasets, respectively. The source code and models are publicly available at https://github.com/Perfect-You/SDACD.


The cutaneous eruption which results from the ingestion of the salts of bromide and iodide is by no means rare. However, an eruption produced by the halogen group on the mucosa is unusually rare. So far as we can ascertain, there are only two references pertaining to this subject. In 1904, Dr. Lotta Wright Myers1reported the case of an infant, aged 6 months, who developed a very unusual bromide eruption after the ingestion of a small quantity of potassium bromide. The interesting feature in this case is the fact that the child developed a bromide lesion on the tongue. Dr. Myers stated that while a few cases simulating hers, from the cutaneous point of view, have been reported, there had not been any instances up to that time of a bromide eruption occurring on the mucous membrane from one of the bromide salts. Dr. Arthur Hall, cited by Dr. Lotta


Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is an effective therapy for hematologic malignancies through T cell-mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects, but allogeneic T cells often lead to severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Cell metabolism plays pivotal roles in T-cell activation, differentiation, and function. However, understanding of T cell-metabolism is still superficial, and even less is known how metabolism regulates T-cell response to alloantigens and GVHD induction after allo-HCT. In this study, using a high-throughput liquid-and gas-chromatography-based metabolic approach, we compared the metabolic process of allogeneic versus syngeneic T cells at day 4 (early preclinical stage), day 7 (preclinical stage), and day 14 (clinical stage) post bone marrow transplantation (BMT), with naive T cells as additional controls. Over 180 metabolites were identified and quantified. T cells after being transferred into pre-conditioned recipients were undergoing metabolic reprogramming reflected by attenuated levels of metabolites involving anabolic pathways of lipids, amino acids, nucleotides and carbohydrates in allogeneic and syngeneic T cells compared to those in naive T cells. In comparison with syngeneic T cells, allogeneic T cells exhibited increased oxidative stress, reflected by higher levels of eicosanoid, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase-oxidized eicosanoids, and decreased levels of antioxidant compounds such as glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG). To obtain biomass for robust proliferation followed by alloantigen stimulation, allogeneic T cells further increased pentose phosphate and polyamine synthesis by day 7 post-BMT. We also observed that allogeneic T cells and syngeneic T cells expressed comparable levels of metabolites in fatty acid and glutamine oxidized in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which was much lower than those of naive T cells. Importantly, allogeneic T cells exhibited higher levels of metabolites in glycolysis as compared to syngeneic T cells regardless of time points. Consistently, using Seahorse approach, we also found that allogeneic T cells significantly increased aerobic glycolysis as compared to syngeneic T cells post-BMT, whereas oxidative phosphorylation was similar. Moreover, blocking glycolysis with 2-deoxyglucose remarkably inhibited donor T-cell proliferation, expansion and Th1 differentiation after allo-BMT. Thus, aerobic glycolysis rather than mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is the preferential metabolic process required for the optimal expansion and activation of allogeneic T cells. Given mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays an essential role in controlling T-cell metabolism particularly in glycolysis, we hypothesized that targeting mTOR would prevent GVHD by inhibiting glycolytic metabolism. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we unequivocally demonstrated that mTOR, especially mTORC1, was essential for T-cell glycolytic activity and for GVHD induction. Mechanistically, mTORC1 promoted T-cell activation, expansion, Th1 differentiation, and migration into GVHD target organs, but inhibited the generation of induced T regulatory cells. In conclusion, the current work provides compelling evidence that allogeneic T cells utilize glycolysis as a predominant metabolic process after BMT. Furthermore, we validate glycolysis or its key regulator, such as mTORC1, to be a valid therapeutic target for the control of GVHD. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


NOWHERE do I read of the rights or status, or even of the existence, of the clinical faculty. Having been a clinical professor for 15 years, I set down my own experience, which relates to appointments at several medical schools that shall remain nameless. I do it in writing because in my experience that is the only way that the clinical faculty can communicate with deans. I never met my deans, either before or while I was a clinical professor. Of course, my experience might be only a small, poor sample and not be representative of that of other readers who participate in clinical teaching. What do I understand a "clinical" appointment to be? I consider it to be an action by a dean of a medical school that confers the right to teach and the right to use a title. Of course, the right to teach is a magnificent


The goal of compressed sensing is to learn a structured signal $x$ from a limited number of noisy linear measurements $y \approx Ax$. In traditional compressed sensing, "structure" is represented by sparsity in some known basis. Inspired by the success of deep learning in modeling images, recent work starting with~\cite{BJPD17} has instead considered structure to come from a generative model $G: \mathbb{R}^k \to \mathbb{R}^n$. We present two results establishing the difficulty of this latter task, showing that existing bounds are tight. First, we provide a lower bound matching the~\cite{BJPD17} upper bound for compressed sensing from $L$-Lipschitz generative models $G$. In particular, there exists such a function that requires roughly $\Omega(k \log L)$ linear measurements for sparse recovery to be possible. This holds even for the more relaxed goal of \emph{nonuniform} recovery. Second, we show that generative models generalize sparsity as a representation of structure. In particular, we construct a ReLU-based neural network $G: \mathbb{R}^{2k} \to \mathbb{R}^n$ with $O(1)$ layers and $O(kn)$ activations per layer, such that the range of $G$ contains all $k$-sparse vectors.


Introduction and objectives Cough is generally considered a protective airway reflex, however emerging evidence suggests chronic coughing is provoked by noxious sensations from the airway and serves to relieve these sensations. We have found patients with unexplained chronic coughing identify sensations of irritation, tickle (throat) and the urge to cough (UTC) as important sensations provoking coughing. We hypothesised that inhaling low dose tussive agents would evoke similar sensations and could provide a model for investigating chronic cough. Methods Twelve chronic cough patients (mean age 61.4 yrs, 75% female, median cough duration 7 yrs) and 10 healthy volunteers (mean age 48.8 yrs, 40% female) inhaled increasing concentrations of citric acid from a dosimeter (0.01–4 M, 18 ascending concentrations). Following each inhalation subjects rated irritation, tickle, UTC and taste on 100 mm visual analogue scales (VAS; 0mm = none and 100 mm = worst). The experiment continued until subjects coughed at least twice on any concentration of citric acid (C2). Somatosensory amplification score (SSAS) and State Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) were also collected. For the analysis, VAS data were aligned by the C2 concentration and sensation VAS scores compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. STAI scores were also compared with Mann-Whitney U tests and SSAS with an independent T test. Results The chronic cough patients had a much lower C2 than healthy controls (median 0.094 vs. 0.5M, p = 0.009). The UTC VAS and coughs evoked were similar at C2 and for the preceding concentrations in both groups, Figure 1. However, tickle, irritation and taste were rated more highly in healthy volunteers compared with chronic cough patients at C2 and for several preceding concentrations. For example, at C2, irritation VAS was significantly higher in healthy controls (dp = 0.035) and tickle VAS was borderline significant (p = 0.052) compared with chronic cough patients, however taste differences were not significant (p = 0.29). SSAS, STAI state and trait were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.23, p = 0.096 and p = 0.62 respectively). Conclusions These data suggest that as well as differences in cough threshold, chronic cough patients exhibit heightened urge-to-cough rather than other sensations in response to low level tussive agents. Abstract S30 Figure 1


This paper presents a two-staged, pilot-scale vertical flow engineered wetland-based septage treatment system (VFEWs), which was designed and constructed in Curtin University Sarawak Campus to determine the system efficiency in treatment of septage. The treatment system consists of storage tanks, vertical flow wetlands, and a network of influent and effluent distribution pipes. The first stage of the VFEWs treatment system consists of three vertical flow wetlands placed in parallel to provide pre-treatment to raw septage to reduce solids and organic matters mainly by physical filtration and sedimentation processes. The percolate from the first stage is then further treated in the second stage, with four vertical flow wetlands, each with variation in operational regime and substrate (filter) type. The influences of various system and application-related parameters such as substrate material, presence of plants and plant types, and septage feeding practices (solid loading rate (SLR), batch and intermittent loading, and frequency of daily feeding) on pollutant removal efficiency were studied. Results from the first stage wetlands indicate that the removal of total solids and organic matter (BOD and COD) from the raw septage is promising (> 80%) at both SLR of 100 kg TS/m2.yr and 250 kg TS/m2.yr, respectively. However, a higher SLR decreased the average NH3-N removal efficiency. The findings on bed clogging assessment during the study period are also presented in this paper. Validation and expansion of these results are carried out with ongoing assessments on the system performance.


There is increasing evidence that NF-κB is a major, if not the major transcription factor regulating inflammation and immunity. While this implies that blocking NF-κB might be therapeutically beneficial, it raises clear questions regarding the balance between efficacy and safety. In this brief review we discuss the effects of NF-κB blockade in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation and immunity, and consider possible therapeutic targets within the NF-κB family.


ABSTRACT Background: Since the end of 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak rapidly became a pandemic. The psychological state of people during the COVID-19 pandemic has gained interest. Our aim was to study the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to September 20, 2020. Reviewers independently assessed full-text articles according to predefined criteria. Stata14/SE was used to calculate the prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of anxiety, depression, and stress among college students from different countries. A random effects model was adopted. The Egger test was used to determine publication bias. Results: A total of 280 references were retrieved, and 28 papers met our inclusion criteria, for a total of 436,799 college students. Thirteen studies involved non-Chinese college students, and 15 studies involved Chinese college students. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress was 29% (95% CI, 19–25%), 37% (95% CI, 32–42%), and 23% (95% CI, 8–39%), respectively. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative psychological effect on college students, and the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among Chinese college students is lower than among non-Chinese college students.


Stock market has been associated with economic growth through its role as source for new private capital. On the other hand, economic growth may be the catalyst for stock market growth. Thus, the purpose of this paper was to explore causal relationships between stock market and the economy using formal tests of causality developed by C. J. Granger and yearly Malaysia data for the period 1977-2006. Results show that stock market Granger-caused economic activity with no reverse causality observed. The longest significant lag length observed from the results was two years.


Abstract : In general, the particles comprising the earlier generation of obscurants were spherical. Nonspherical particles have, in some cases, been shown to possess more desirable properties, such as broader spectral effectiveness and more obscuration per unit mass. However, the theoretical problem of predicting the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with a particle of arbitrary size, shape, and index of refraction has not been solved for particles with a size on the order of the wavelength of the radiation. Thus, it is difficult to predict or interpret data from experiments conducted on nonspherical particles. The work reported herein addresses this problem with a phenomenological approach. An electrodynamic balance was built that stably suspends individual micron-sized particles. Individual spheres and nonspheres were suspended and photomicrographs were made of the particles while their scattering cross sections were measured in two orthogonal directions. The photographs and cross sections were then analyzed in a search for correlations between particle size and shape and the scattering cross section. This report is organized as follows. Section II contains a description of the experimental apparatus. Photographs of the particles, measurement methodology, and resulting size parameters are presented in Section III. Differential scattering cross-section plots are shown in Section IV and analysis and results described in Section V. Finally, results and conclusions are summarized in Section VI.


Gynecological emergencies may be encountered in postmenopausal ladies like that of ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the reproductive age group. We report a case of ruptured granulosa cell tumor in a 70-year-old woman who presented with acute abdomen and hemoperitoneum.


To prepare lomustine-iohexol thermosensetive compound liposomes, and evaluate the properties and in vitro release behaviors of two drugs enveloped. Lomustine-iohexol thermosensetive compound liposomes were prepared by reverse evaporation method, HPLC assays for determination of lomustine and iohexol in vitro were developed, and their release property was studied by using dislysis method. The mean diameter of thermosensitive liposomes was 266.4 nm, Zeta potential was -21.8mV, and phase-transition temperature was 4l℃. The HPLC assays developed were specific, rapid and reliable, which can be used to determine lomustine and iohexol in vitro accurately. In vitro release tests showed that lomustine and iohexol were released more entirely at 4l℃. The release profile of iohexol from liposomes at 4l℃ fitted to First-order kinetics model with the equation of ln(100-Q)=-1.066t-0.0498 (r=0.9993), whereas the release profile of lomustine from liposomes at 4l℃ fitted to Weibull model with the equation of lg[-ln(100-Q)]=1.1069lgt-0.0976 (r=0.9923). The formulation and preparation method can be successfully prepared lomustine-iohexol thermosensitive compound liposomes with good thermal-sensitive release behaviors of both drugs.


Abstract Science and technology play a key role in economic development; and Universities have a direct stake in this process. A knowledge-based economy requires scientific and technological expertise that is strongly influenced by the strength of training in science and technology. However, in Uganda not many students opt for science subject at higher levels, and subsequently in the University. Therefore, there is need to encourage and motivate students to study science subjects in order for this to be successful. This can be achieved through introduction of stimulating subjects such as astronomy in the university curriculum. Astronomy is considered as the most appealing subject and an excellent tool for conveying scientific knowledge to young students. In this paper, the role that astronomy has played to motivate and interest students to study physics in Mbarara University of Science and Technology, in Uganda, is discussed.


Abstract:This essay analyses the role of public opinion in the formation of US and Turkish policy toward the conflict in Syria. The United States and Turkey were chosen because they are key players in the Syrian conflict. In both countries, public opinion played a role in the formation of foreign policy. As North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies, they could be expected to act along similar lines. Moreover, despite seemingly different contexts, public opinion in both the United States and Turkey was reluctant to support a more intense involvement in the Syrian conflict. However, there was a visible shift in public opinion after the involvement in Syria started to be framed as a fight against terrorism, mostly referring to the so-called Islamic State and, in Turkey's case, Kurdish groups.


Nurses may, and often do, experience moral distress in their careers. This is related to the complicated work environment and the complex nature of ethical situations in everyday nursing practice. The outcomes of moral distress may include psychological and physical symptoms, reduced job satisfaction and even inadequate or inappropriate nursing care. Moral distress can also impact retention of nurses. Although research has grown considerably over the past few decades, there is still a great deal about this topic that we do not know including how to deal well with moral distress. A critical key step is to develop a deeper understanding of relational practice as it pertains to moral distress. In this article, exploration of the experience of moral distress among nurses is guided by the key elements of relational ethics. This ethical approach was chosen because it recognizes that ethical practice is situated in relationships and it acknowledges the importance of the broader environment on influencing ethical action. The findings from this theoretical exploration will provide a theoretical foundation upon which to advance our knowledge about moral distress.


A new tetradentate, monoanionic, mixed N/O donor ligand (BNPAPh2O-) with second coordination sphere H-bonding groups has been synthesized for stabilization of a terminal FeIII(OH) complex. The complex FeII(BNPAPh2O)(OTf) (1) reacts with O2 to give a mononuclear terminal FeIII(OH) complex, FeIII(OH)(BNPAPh2O)(OTf) (2), both of which were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, UV-vis, 1H and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance, 57Fe Mössbauer, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies. Treatment of 2 with carbon radicals (Ar3C·) gives Ar3COH and the FeII complex 1, in direct analogy with the elusive radical "rebound" process proposed for nonheme iron enzymes.


A survey was conducted to investigate investment style and drivers of socially responsible investment (SRI) among institutional investors. Respondents were 60 professionals working as SRI or non-SRI investors in 19 different Swedish banks, pension funds, or mutual fund companies. The results showed that non-SRI investors perceived market regulations to be a strong driver of SRI, while SRI investors perceived others' behavior to be a strong driver. No differences were found between SRI and non-SRI investors with respect to short-term versus long-term or active versus passive investment styles.


Aim To replace an adequate bone volume for the implant placement in presence of a severe maxillary atrophy reducing intraoperative times and postoperative morbidity. Materials and methods After a diagnostic waxing up aimed at identifying the bone volumes to be regenerated for implant placement, a stereolithographic model (obtained from a computed tomography) was used for adapting an iliac crest allogeneic block. The 6-part division of the block was performed using templates. The obtained bone blocks were shaped to obtain an ideal morphology, at the closest contact possible with the receiving atrophic bone crest. Six months later eight implants were placed at second-stage surgery and a fixed complete denture was made after 4 months. Results At the second-stage surgery, the mean overall bone ridge horizontal increase was 4.8±0.2 mm, whereas the mean bone blocks resorption was of 0.9±0.1 mm (18.75%). A follow-up three years later revealed that the implants survival was 100% and the patient did not have any major complaint. Clinical, radiographic and histologic results confirm that allogeneic bone graft may be a valid alternative to autologous bone graft. Conclusions Allogeneic bone blocks may represent a viable alternative for ridge restoration in presence of severe atrophy of the jaws. Nevertheless, various factors including suitable blood supply, the thickness and quality of the receiving bone crest and the perfect closure of the soft tissues, are to be taken into account regarding graft integration.


Improvement of production capacity of cattle in terms of increasing the production of milk, milk fat and number of calves, greatly depends on phenotype and genotype variability, heritability and correlation between desirable traits, as well as on the production level of the cattle population. Heritability, as a value expressing and measuring average additive gene effect, is one of the major characteristic of quantitative traits from the point of view of creating genetically high-value cattle populations. Knowledge of the heritability is necessary in the estimation of the beeeding value of cattle and has significant impact on the selection of breeding method. Genetic correlations are very important in indirect selection where changes in one trait are induced through selection of other traits between which a genetic correlation exists. Genetic correlations can be determined in all cases where heritability coefficient can be calculated. This research included 3.461 first calving Simmental cows under control, with lactation concluded within one year. All first-calvers were reared on individual farms in the territory of Republic of Serbia. In this study, heritability and genetic correlations between the the following milk and fertility traits were investigated: duration of lactation (days)- DL, milk yield in standard lactation (kg)- MY, milk fat content in standard lactation (%)- MFC, milk fat yield in standard lactation (kg)- MFY, yield of 4% FCM in standard lactation (kg)- 4%FCM, age at first calving (days)- AC and duration of service period (days)- DSP.


Context: The thyroid gland is the first endocrine organ to evolve in the vertebrates. It has right and left lobes and connected by narrow median isthmus which lies over the second, third and fourth tracheal rings. A conical pyramidal lobe often ascends towards the hyoid bone from isthmus or the adjacent part of either lobe. It measures about 1.25 cm transversely and vertically. Its size and site vary greatly. Isthmus is topographically related with some important anatomical structures. So this study was carried out to determine the incidence of presence & variation in anatomical position of isthmus of thyroid gland of Bangladeshi people of different age groups to establish a normal standard. Study type: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and period of study: Department of Anatomy, Mymensingh Medical College. from October'2004 to February'2005. Materials: The study was carried out on 60 cadavers of different age groups age ranging from 11 to 70 years. Thyroid glands were collected from unclaimed dead bodies autopsied in Forensic Medicine Department of Mymensingh Medical College. Methods: The collected specimens were divided into age group A (upto 18 years), group B (18 to 45 years), group C (above45 years). All specimens were examined morphologically by fine dissection method. Result: In the present study isthmus was present in 41 (68.33%) cases. In those thyroids which were devoid of isthmus, lobes were found to be merged with each other in the midline but in one case two lobes were found completely separated from each other. It was evident that the posterior relations of isthmus were widely variable. In only 18% cases it was found at its usual position- against the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tracheal rings. In the present study more frequent location of isthmus was found at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 2nd, 3rd, 4th tracheal rings. In both cases their incidences were 18.3%. Conclusion: The present study will help to increase the information pool on the anatomy of thyroid gland of Bangladeshi people. To establish a normal standard for Bangladeshi people, further studies with large samples from different zones of the country are suggested. Key Word- Isthmus; Human Thyroid gland; Incidence; Posterior relation; Bangladesh DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.3329/bja.v9i1.8144 Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy January 2011, Vol. 9 No. 1 pp 26-29


The scope of protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict has continued to expand since the issue was first introduced on the international agenda in the 1970s. Today, it is recognized that the environment is a prima facie civilian object and as such it is entitled to the same layers of protection during an armed conflict as any civilian person or object. Thus, there is a legal obligation to prevent environmental harm in armed conflict, before the event. Given the magnitude of environmental damage that can be anticipated in relation to armed conflict, the obligation to prevent such damage in the first place is critical. In this regard, it is important to note that the legal obligation to prevent environmental harm originates from international environmental law. Furthermore, the obligation to prevent harm is an ongoing obligation. This article illustrates that the general preventive obligations found in international environmental law can shed much-needed light on the general preventive obligations already established under the law of armed conflict, in furtherance of environmental protection.


The treatment of tuberculous osteitis, osteomyelitis or bone tumors by filling the cavity with plaster of Paris implants after complete removal of the focus or tumor tissue by curettage is a method, nearly 100 years old, practised successfully again and again but little noted. Finally Richter et al. gave an account of 25 cases of tuberculous osteitis, osteomyelitis and bone tumors treated by this method. We have practised this method since 1984 in the treatment of enchondroma. Careful scraping-out with a sharp curette, milling the sclerosed wall and rinsing the cavity with dehydrated alcohol is followed by immediate reconstruction, filling the cavity with a gamma-ray-sterilized CaSO4-paste mixed with the local antibiotic Nebacetin siccum. As observed by other authors, this implant clearly stimulates osteogenesis. It is not necessary to take spongiosa fragments out of the iliac crest and we need no general anaesthesia. There were no complications and no tumor recurrences thus far.


We present a case of a 62-year-old woman with a 3-year history of a red indurated plaque on the right ala of the nose, which did not respond to therapy for rosacea. A skin biopsy showed a conglomerate of thick walled vessels with a wide variation of the vessel wall diameter and a cobblestone appearance. Furthermore there were some small infiltrates with eosinophilic granulocytes. The diagnosis of ALHE was made and the patient was referred to a plastic surgeon for excision of the tumour.
ALHE is a rare entity mostly found around the ears. ALHE on the nose is even more rare and could be misdiagnosed as phymatous rosacea. Misdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary treatment with antibiotics and delay of appropriate therapy.


Diffuse Lipomatosis is a dermatological lesion consisting of a poorly circumscribed, infiltrative overgrowth of mature adipose tissue that usually affects the trunk and the extremities. The lesions in the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) are usually hamartomatous in nature, but lesions arising from adipocytes are rare. There are only three previous reports of association of TSC with diffuse lipomatosis. Herein we present a case series of diffuse lipomatosis in three subjects with TSC and proceed to review the literature for any other reported cases. On the basis of the three index cases and identification of three more cases in the literature, we believe that there is an association of diffuse lipomatosis with TSC that has not been appreciated until now. We believe that this association in some selected cases will serve to improve diagnosis, surveillance, and management..


Abstract This article argues that Carl Orff's Catulli Carmina – a five-movement cantata comprising a selection of Catullus' Latin poems framed by neo-Latin text written by Orff himself – occupies an ambiguous space within the cultural environment of National Socialism, especially in portraying ideals of contemporary masculinity. In its overt theatrical displays of male and female sexuality, Catulli Carmina invites association with the perceived 'decadence' of pre-war cabaret in France and Germany's Weimar Republic. Yet, through tendentious selection and ordering of the poems, Orff's cantata also 'corrects' Catullus' emblematic triviality and erotic abjection in an era which prized productive masculinity as a symbol of the good health of the nation. Orff's motivations in engaging with Roman culture were very different from Nazism's own fetishising of Greco-Roman antiquity, yet in this chapter Catullus provides a surprising case study for demonstrating how Orff's artistic values were often 'compatible' with those of the Nazi regime.


A geographic survey of 14 south-west Tasmanian sedgeland-heaths revealed that soil organic matter is related to: water content: total nitrogen (N): total and exchangeable sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg); exchangeable potassium (K) cation exchange capacity; and total exchangeable bases. However, total and available phosphorus (P), total K and Iron (Fe), pH level and percentage base saturation were found to be Independent of organic content. Most of the soil nutrient capital is contained In the A0 horizon, the depth of which was found to be positively related to the time elapsed since the last fire. There is no clear relationship between rock type and soil fertility, but there is evidence of soil-vegetation interaction. The sedgeland-heath species have lower concentrations of P, Ca and Mg in their foliage and are more efficient In the withdrawal of P and K upon tissue senescence than the surrounding scrub and forest species. Over a vegetation transition from sedgeland-heath to forest on uniform geology there was a change in soil type. The forest was found to have more fertile soils and a higher concentration of nutrients in the above-ground biomass than the adjacent sedgeland-heath. The ecotone was burnt between 20–30 years prior to sampling, but the fire did not kill all the forest trees, and the structural differences suggest a mare rapid recovery of forest species. Soil fertility appears to be an important factor in controlling the rate of recovery and succession following a fire, especially if the nutrient-rich organic layer is burnt.


Importance of the field: Drug combinations have been the standard of care in the treatment of cancer for > 50 years. Typically, combination chemotherapy uses agents with non-overlapping toxicities which are escalated to their maximum tolerated dose. However, emerging evidence indicates that this approach may not be providing optimal efficacy depending on the drug ratios to which the tumor is exposed. Combined drugs can be synergistic whereas other ratios of the same agents may be antagonistic or additive. Areas covered in this review: In this review, we examine the importance of drug ratios in cancer therapy. We describe how manipulation of the lipid membrane and internal buffer composition maintains synergistic ratios of irinotecan and floxuridine (CPX-1), daunorubicin and cytarabine (CPX-351) or cisplatin and irinotecan (CPX-571). For polymer-based nanoparticles, prodrug hydrophobicity was exploited to coordinate the release of gemcitabine and the more hydrophobic paclitaxel. We present preclinical data for liposomal drug combinations which demonstrate that the most efficacious formulation is not always the highest dose of both agents. What the reader will gain: An insight into the use of liposomes and polymer-based nanoparticles to deliver synergistic drug combinations to the tumor site and avoid antagonistic drug–drug interactions. Take home message: The ability to control and maintain drug ratios in vivo through the use of nanoscale delivery vehicles results in a significant improvement in therapeutic activity.


The dosimetric accuracy of a 3D treatment planning system (TPS) for conformal radiotherapy with a computer-assisted dynamic multileaf collimator (DMLC) was evaluated. The DMLC and the TPS have been developed for clinical applications where dynamic fields not greater than 10×10 cm2 and multiple non-coplanar arcs are required. Dosimetric verifications were performed by simulating conformal treatments of irregularly shaped targets using several arcs of irradiation with 6 MV x-rays and a spherical-shaped, tissue-simulating phantom. The accuracy of the delivered dose at the isocentre was verified using an ionization chamber placed in the centre of the phantom. Isodose distributions in the axial and sagittal planes passing through the centre of the phantom were measured using double-layer radiochromic films. Measured dose at the isocentre as well as isodose distributions were compared to those calculated by the TPS. The maximum percentage difference between measured and prescribed dose was less than 2.5% for all the simulated treatment plans. The mean (±SD) displacement between measured and calculated isodoses was, in the axial planes, 1.0±0.6 mm, 1.2±0.7 mm and 1.5±1.1 mm for 80%, 50% and 20% isodose curves, respectively, whereas in the sagittal planes it was 2.0±1.2 mm and 2.2±2 mm for 80% and 50% isodose curves, respectively. The results indicate that the accuracy of the 3D treatment planning system used with the DMLC is reasonably acceptable in clinical applications which require treatments with several non-coplanar arcs and small dynamic fields.


This review aims to consolidate scattered literature on thermally sprayed coatings with nonionizing electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption and shielding over specific wavelengths potentially useful in diverse applications (e.g., microwave to millimeter wave, solar selective, photocatalytic, interference shielding, thermal barrier‐heat/emissivity). Materials EM properties such as electric permittivity, magnetic permeability, electrical conductivity, and dielectric loss are critical due to which a material can respond to absorbed, reflected, transmitted, or may excite surface electromagnetic waves at frequencies typical of electromagnetic radiations. Thermal spraying is a standard industrial practice used for depositing coatings where the sprayed layer is formed by successive impact of fully or partially molten droplets/particles of a material exposed to high or moderate temperatures and velocities. However, as an emerging novel application of an existing thermal spray techniques, some special considerations are warranted for targeted development involving relevant characterization. Key potential research areas of development relating to material selection and coating fabrication strategies and their impact on existing practices in the field are identified. The study shows a research gap in the feedstock materials design and doping, and their complex selection covered by thermally sprayed coatings that can be critical to advancing applications exploiting their electromagnetic properties.


We review experiments carried out at Stony Brook during the past three years on (de-)excitation and ionization of highly-excited hydrogen atoms by microwave electric fields. These include single-frequency experiments in both the low- and high-scaled-frequency regime and two- frequency experiments in the low-scaled-frequency regime. We compare these experimental results with "3-d" atoms to the rapidly expanding body of calculations using both classical and quantal theory. We offer a brief comparison of laser- and microwave-ionization experiments with free atoms.


Context. LS 5039 is a Galactic binary system emitting high and very-high energy gamma rays. The gamma-ray flux is modulated on the orbital period and the TeV lightcurve shaped by photon-photon annihilation. The observed very-high energy modulation can be reproduced with a simple leptonic model but fails to explain the flux detected by HESS at superior conjunction, where gamma rays are fully absorbed. Aims. The contribution from an electron-positron pair cascade could be strong and prevail over the primary flux at superior conjunction. The created pairs can be isotropized by the magnetic field, resulting in a three-dimensional cascade. The aim of this article is to investigate the gamma-ray radiation from this pair cascade in LS 5039. This additional component could account for HESS observations at superior conjunction in the system. Methods. A semi-analytical and a Monte Carlo method for computing three-dimensional cascade radiation are presented and applied in the context of binaries. The cascade is decomposed into discrete generations of particles where electron-positron pairs are assumed to be confined at their site of creation. Both methods give similar results. The Monte Carlo approach remains best suited to calculation of a multi-generation cascade. Results. Three-dimensional cascade radiation contributes significantly at every orbital phase in the TeV lightcurve, and dominates close to superior conjunction. The amplitude of the gamma-ray modulation is correctly reproduced for an inclination of the orbit of ≈40 ◦ . Primary pairs should be injected close to the compact object location, otherwise the shape of the modulation is not explained. In addition, synchrotron emission from the cascade in X-rays constrains the ambient magnetic field to below 10 G. Conclusions. The radiation from a three-dimensional pair cascade can account for the TeV flux detected by HESS at superior conjunction in LS 5039, but the very-high energy spectrum at low fluxes remains difficult to explain in this model.


Inspired by the unique characteristics of living cells, the creation of life-inspired functional ensembles is a rapidly expanding research topic, enabling transformative applications in various disciplines. Herein, we report a facile method for the fabrication of phospholipid and block copolymer hybrid bi-microcompartments via spontaneous asymmetric assembly at the water/tributyrin interface, whereby the temperature-mediated dewetting of the inner microcompartments allowed for exocytosis to occur in the constructed system. The exocytosis location and commencement time could be mediated by the buoyancy of the inner microcompartment and temperature, respectively. Furthermore, the constructed bi-microcompartments showed excellent biocompatibility and a universal loading capacity toward cargoes of widely ranging sizes; thus, the proliferation and temperature-programmed transportation of living organisms was achieved. Our results highlight opportunities for the development of complex mesoscale dynamic ensembles with life-inspired behaviors and provide a novel platform for on-demand transportation of various living organisms.


Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a worldwide pest of stone fruit trees, and an important quarantine target in China. Its occurrence, damage, and potential expansion in this country should be seriously concerned. Host plant volatiles, the species-specific attractants of C. pomonella, have attracted extensive attention. This paper reviewed the researches on the interactions between host plant source volatiles and C. pomonella, with the focus on the effects of the volatiles on the behaviors of C. pomonella, e.g., host orientation, courting and mating, and spawning, etc., the changes of the volatile components released by the host plants after fed by C. pomonella larvae, and the impacts of the volatiles on the sex pheromone of C. pomonella. The research progress and field application of plant source pear ester were also introduced, aimed to provide a reference for the prevention and control of C. pomonella in China.


Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is highly aggressive and metastatic neuroendocrine lung cancer with a dismal 5-year survival. While a majority of patients is initially responsive to chemotherapy, chemoresistant tumors rapidly recur. There are no approved targeted therapies for SCLC. We used a systematic drug-repurposing computational approach querying a large number of gene expression datasets to identify new candidate FDA-approved drugs that may be used to treat SCLC. This analysis identified tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and related molecules as possible inhibitors of SCLC. Indeed, these compounds potently induce apoptotic cell death in chemonaive and chemoresistant tumor cells in culture, in a genetically engineered mouse model, and in human SCLC tumor cells transplanted into immunocompromised mice. Imipramine and Promethazine, the two top candidate drugs, activate stress pathways and induce apoptosis and necrosis in SCLC cells, in part by blocking autocrine survival signals involving neurotransmitters and their receptors (GPCRs). The candidate drugs inhibit the expansion of other neuroendocrine tumors, including pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. These experiments underscore the power of bioinformatics-based drug-repositioning approaches to rapidly repurpose FDA-approved drugs and identify a novel class of candidate molecules to treat patients with SCLC. In addition, our experiments highlight the importance of autocrine mechanisms promoting the growth of neuroendocrine tumor cells. Citation Format: Nadine Jahchan, Dudley Joel, Pawel Mazur, Joel Neal, Purvesh Khatri, Atul Butte, Julien Sage. A drug repositioning approach identifies tricyclic antidepressants as inhibitors of small cell lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer; 2014 Jan 6-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2014;20(2Suppl):Abstract nr IA02.


Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous premalignant condition characterized by cytopenia, ineffective hematopoiesis, dysplastic marrow, and risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Cytogenetic abnormalities, including del(3q/5q/7q/11q/12p/20q), monosomy 5/7, trisomy 8/19, i(17q), and -Y, are the indicators of diagnosis and risk stratification. The present case with bicytopenia detected with highly complex chromosome rearrangements with variability in numerical and structural combinations. Chromosome analysis was carried out following unstimulated marrow culture and G-banding. In addition to known MDS-aberrations, der(9p), der(12) dic(12;?19), +15, -18, and ring and marker chromosomes were recorded having, at least, nine abnormal chromosomes/cell. To our knowledge, this is the first case with all MDS-aberrations in one single individual. The case has been discussed in relevance to current MDS research. In the present case, i(17q)/-17, der(12p), del(5q26), del(7q36), and del(20q11) indicate possible alterations in TP53, ETV6, IDH2, EZH2, and SRSF2 genes, which are responsible for pathomechanism, genetic instability, clonal evolution, and advancement of disease condition.


The review aims to provide a contemporary view of the pathogenesis and treatment of the most common duodenum diseases – duodenal ulcer disease (DUD) and functional dyspepsia (FD). Due to its unique structure and functions, the duodenum that anatomically represents the initial section of the small intestine differentiates itself from others. The prevalence of DUD is declining in many Western countries due to the widespread introduction of effective anti-Helicobacter therapy and a significant decrease in the prevalence of H pylori infection. However, the ideas about the poly-biological nature of DUD persists and additional risk factors continue to be studied. DUD is manifested by pain/burning feeling in the epigastric region, as well as by symptoms such as early satiety, epigastric filling after eating in the absence of obvious organic changes in the digestive system. The diagnosis of FD is based on the Rome IV criteria. The duodenum plays an important role in its pathogenesis (disorders of gastric accommodation, motor and visceral hypersensitivity). Most patients with FD have microscopic signs of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the postbulbar part of the duodenum - an increased amount of intraepithelial lymphocytes, eosinophils, and signs of increased permeability of the mucous membrane. In all likelihood, these changes are provoked by infection and / or nutritional factors, as well as by exposure to hydrochloric acid. Proton pump inhibitors (prokinetics in postprandial distress syndrome) form the basis of treatment of peptic ulcer and epigastric pain syndrome; all patients with DUD and dyspepsia syndrome infected with H. pylori receive antihelicobacter therapy. Rabeprazole that is characterized by a long and powerful effect and minimal interaction with the cytochrome 2C19 system stands out from the proton pump inhibitors. Conclusion: acid aggression plays a very important role in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcers diseases and FD; proton pump inhibitors form the basis for the treatment of such patients both in the form of monotherapy and as part of eradication regimens.


Development of water-soluble ore deposits is associated with the necessity to preserve water blocking strata (WBS), which separate aquifers from the mine gob. One indicator of the rate of man-induced load on WBS layers is subsidence of the earth surface, which defines the character of shift trough formation of the earth surface. The greatest threat of WBS discontinuity is posed by the areas located at the edges of a shift trough.From the perspective of Upper Kama deposit of potassium and magnesium salts, by means of mathematical modelling methods authors demonstrated that in the capacity of threat indicators of WBS hole destruction it is possible to use the following parameters of a shift trough: edge length scaled to the depth of mining operations and maximum  subsidence of the earth surface. Critical combination of these factors is responsible for the discontinuity at the edges of water blocking strata. These parameters of a shift trough can easily be controlled by instrumental procedures and can be included in the basics of a general monitoring system of WBS state at potash mines.In order to protect the mine from the inrush of fresh water, it is necessary to form softening zones at the edges of mined-out areas near permanent or temporary borders of mining operations. Authors review different options of softening zone formation. Numerical tests have demonstrated that the most efficient way to protect water blocking strata is the formation of softening zones by means of backfilling the stopes of the workable seam or its exclusion from mining operations.


Audit activity is a variety of service industries, and cannot be developed independently of the major trends in this area. A strategicdirection in the development of audit is creation of the international market of auditing services with unified rules and standardsregulating audit, and creation of uniform quality criteria. This article examines the concept of quality audit service, analyzes themain problems of legislative and methodological character in the area of external and internal audit control in Latvia, and considersopportunities and ways of improvement based on international experience. The research results can be applied to construction anddevelopment of the systems of external and internal audit control, which will be providing the most reliable information about thestate of business of companies-customers, their performance and prospects for sustainable development. The financial stability ofa company, confirmed by the independent, objective opinion of an auditor, increases the growth of investments, the price of shares,improves the company's reputation in the financial market and ultimately contributes to the stable development of a region. Keywords: quality system of audit, quality requirements, criteria, internal and external quality control. DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/ 10.15181/rfds.v11i3.627


Gene chip technology was employed to study gene expression in Tamarix androssowii under NaHCO3 stress. cDNAs from T. androssowii treated with NaHCO3 solution and that from control group were labeled with fluorescent dye CyS and Cy3 respectively. The two fluorescent cDNA probes were mixed and hybridized to gene chips containing T. androssowii genes, and the chips were scanned using biochip scanning system. Differential expression of genes was analyzed through calculation of the ratio of Cy5 to Cy3 signal intensities. Total of 89 genes differentially expressed were identified, among them, 27 showed down regulated expression and 62 showed up regulated expression. Blastx analysis showed that the function of the differentially expressed genes could be grouped into some categorizations such as photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species eliminated, regulation of osmotic potential, regulation of gene expression and signal transduction, metabolism, development, ribosomal protein, protein breakdown and recycling, transporter, water channel proteins and so on. Based on this research, some function-unknown or novel unreported genes that respond to salt stress were also identified, and these genes may have important functions in salt resistance of T. androssowii. Some important pathways of salt resistance in T. androssowii are revealed, and the gene expression profiling of T. androssowii under salt stress and without stress is obtained in this study.


This paper is devoted to the investigation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure regulation process and its possible connection with countries' competitiveness as an integral part of countries' Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSER) poliсy. ESG disclosure regulation criteria were examined according to their classification on Pension Fund Regulation, Stewardship Code, Government Corporate ESG disclosure, and Non-Government Corporate ESG disclosure by UNPRI in 2016 and for developed countries and developing and emerging countries separately. In order to find the relationship between ESG disclosure and the countries' competitiveness (describing by Global Competitiveness Index), variety of statistical tests was applied (Student's t-tests, ANOVA analysis, Mann-Whitney tests, simple average analysis and regression analysis with dummy variables). Research hypotheses about statistically significant differences in ESG disclosure regulation between developed countries and developing and emerging countries and the influence of ESG disclosure regulation on the overall competitiveness of the country were proved. ESG disclosure regulation became an effective instrument of countries CSER policy and tools for increasing their competitiveness.


Small monomeric G-proteins of the plant ras (rat sarcome oncogene product) related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (RAC)/Rho of plants (ROP) family are molecular switches in signal transduction of many cellular processes. RAC/ROPs regulate hormone effects, subcellular gradients of Ca2+, the organisation of the actin cytoskeleton and the production of reactive oxygen intermediates. Therefore, we followed a genetic bottom-up strategy to study the role of these proteins during the interaction of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with the fungal biotrophic pathogen Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei (Bgh). We identified six barley RAC/ROP proteins and studied their gene expression. Five out of six Rac/Rop genes were expressed constitutively in the leaf epidermis, which is the site of interaction with Bgh. None of the genes showed enhancement of mRNA abundance after inoculation with Bgh. After microprojectile mediated transformation of single barley epidermal cells with constitutively activated mutant RAC/ROP proteins, we found an RAC/ROP-specific enhancement of pathogen accessibility, tagging HvRACB, HvRAC3 and HvROP6 as host proteins potentially involved in the establishment of susceptibility to Bgh. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of green fluorescent protein (GFP):HvRAC/ROP-transformed cells revealed varying strengths of plasma membrane association of barley RAC/ROPs. The C-terminal CAAX motif for presumable prenylation or the C-terminal hypervariable region (HVR), respectively, were required for membrane association of the RAC/ROPs. Proper intracellular localisation was essential for HvRACB and HvRAC3 function. Together, our data support the view that different paths of host signal transduction via RAC/ROP G-proteins are involved in processes supporting parasitic entry into epidermal host cells.


An investigation of the parametric amplification and its coherent control in a semiconductor micro-cavity is presented. The time and angle resolved pump and probe experiments show that several ps after pumping parametric scattering is still phase coherent. The experimental data are in qualitative agreement with the numerical data obtained from a relatively simple theoretical model based on three polarisation components, pump, probe, and idler. This model also predicts that under particular circumstances, the polaritons can scatter back from the signal and idler to the pump.


This advanced undergraduate and graduate text has now been revised and updated to cover the basic principles and applications of various types of stochastic systems, with much on theory and applications not previously available in book form. The text is also useful as a reference source for pure and applied mathematicians, statisticians and probabilists, engineers in control and communications, and information scientists, physicists and economists.


OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that maternal diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk for mortality, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and major complications of prematurity. METHODS: Analysis of prospectively collected (1995–2007) Israel National Very Low Birth Weight Infant Database. Maternal DM was recorded as pregestational or gestational. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent effect of maternal DM status on infant mortality, RDS, and other complications of prematurity. RESULTS: Infants of mothers with pregestational (n = 120) and gestational (n = 825) DM were similar, and their data were pooled for analyses. Mothers with DM were more likely to have received a complete course of prenatal steroids than control mothers. Infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) had a slightly higher gestational age and birthweight than non-IDM's. Distribution of birthweight percentiles and the mean birthweight z scores were similar. Apgar scores were statistically higher in the IDM group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of delivery room mortality, RDS, and other major complications of prematurity. Total mortality and bronchopulmonary dysplasia rates were significantly higher in the nondiabetic group. The adjusted odds ratios for mortality, RDS, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, and patent ductus arteriosus were not significantly increased in the IDM group. CONCLUSIONS: With modern management and adequate prenatal care, IDM born very low birthweight do not seem to be at an excess risk of developing RDS or other major complications of prematurity compared with non-IDM.


Abstract We report the results of one of the first intrageneric analyses to simultaneously survey mitochondrial, Y-chromosomal, and autosomal loci from the same individuals representing the same taxa. Phylogenetic trees were constructed for each of these genetic systems from a pool of 63 macaques, representing all 19 recognized species in this genus, and eight outgroup taxa. The mitochondrial locus analyzed here (1.5 Kb) spans the 3′ end of 12S rDNA, tRNA-VAL, and the 5′ end of 16S rDNA; the Y chromosome dataset (3.1 Kb) consists of the genes SRY and TSPY; the two autosomal datasets include IRBP intron 3 (1.6 Kb) and the 5′ half of C4 "long" intron 9 (3.3 Kb). A total of 1.35 million bases were read, revealing 682 variable sites within the genus Macaca. With regard to earlier unresolved issues of macaque evolution, a comparison of topologies reconstructed from each of the three genetic systems suggests: (1) four monophyletic species groups; (2) an initial bifurcation among Asian macaques between the silenus group progenitor and a M. fascicularis-like taxon, with the latter representing the probable common ancestor to all non-silenus group Asian macaques; (3) a possible hybrid origin of M. arctoides from proto-M. assamensis/thibetana and proto-M. fascicularis; and (4) contemporary introgression between M. mulatta and M. fascicularis in Indochina. Inferences 3 and 4 are of particular interest, because episodes of reticulate evolution often go undetected in analyses employing a single genetic system. Finally, divergence calculations suggest that, in female-philopatric taxa, mitochondrial bifurcations may typically predate Y-chromosomal divergences at the same node.


The eddy covariance method was applied to measure net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) at a subarctic black spruce forest in interior Alaska during 2003 and 2004. To clarify the budget of CO2, we divided photosynthesis and respiration by applying the Carbon Budget Analysis Tool, in which the potential photosynthetic rate, the light use efficiency, and the suppression factors on photosynthesis were evaluated. The potential photosynthetic rate and the light use efficiency were related with the understory leaf area index. The determined optimal temperature of photosynthesis was higher than 15 ◦C, which was higher than that of other boreal forests. Drought in midsummer of 2004 suppressed both photosynthesis and respiration, but the suppression was more effective in photosynthesis, resulting in a slightly decreased NEE. Cumulative respiration and photosynthesis were 2.29 and -2.50 kg CO2 m-2 in 2003, and 2.37 and -2.44 kg CO2 m-2 in 2004, resulting in calculated annual CO2 sink budgets of -210 and -70 g CO2 m-2 in 2003 and 2004, respectively.


This paper focuses on social dilemma games where players may or may not meet the same partner again in the future. In line with the notion that contagion of cooperation is more likely the higher the likelihood of being re-matched with the same partner in the future, both a novel experiment and a meta-study document higher cooperation rates if this likelihood is sufficiently high.


A new generation of poets flourishes during the politically turbulent years,
 1810–1824. The chief names are Byron, Shelley, and Keats. They are associated with
 rebellion, solitary genius, lyricism and dying young, but this is an
 oversimplification. More recent perspectives emphasize social networks, with the
 journalist and poet Leigh Hunt a key figure. That the second generation can be
 represented by three names is challenged by the diversity of poets writing during
 this period, and the variousness of the poetry written. Poetry was at the centre of
 cultural life.


The safe realization of railway traffic requires a safe railway route. The intersection of railway tracks, which is one of the railway road elements is operated by railway drive. Therefore, the article has been devoted to modern railway drives, which take a significant role in the realization of safe railway transport. The evolution of further technical solutions of railway drives is forced by a continuous increase of expectations in relation to ensuring the safety and railway transport quality.