SUMMARY Prolactin (PRL) has, for some years, been considered to be the `juvenile hormone' in amphibians. Recently, growth hormone (GH) has been proposed as another candidate, because in the larval stages the expression of the mRNA GH is high but it is downregulated in the climax stages of metamorphosis or following treatment with thyroid hormone. In the present study, we investigated whether GH promotes the development of one particular larval-type feature of bullfrog tadpole skin in vitro. The amiloride-, acetylcholine- and ATP-stimulated short-circuit current (SCC) is a physiological marker of larval-type bullfrog skin. These types of ligand-stimulated SCC (1) developed when EDTA-treated tadpole skin was cultured with corticoids supplemented with PRL or GH and (2) were not significantly different between skin cultured with PRL and intact tadpole skin. However, the amiloride-induced SCC response in skin cultured with GH differed in its kinetics from that of the intact (control) tadpole. On this basis, PRL seems a better candidate than GH for the juvenile hormone, at least with regard to the development of amiloride-stimulated non-selective cation channels.


This exploratory analysis focuses on current perspectives of rural publics on public land management and posits that demographic shifts in the rural West may be reshaping relationships between rural publics and land managers. Focusing on rural residents in Montana and Idaho (i.e., those living outside of metropolitan or micropolitan counties), this work finds that younger generations and newer residents hold more favorable views of public land managers, compared with the views of older and long-time residents. Interestingly, both support for increasing environmental protections and a history of exposure to vegetation management projects positively predict more favorable views of public land managers. Even for those who favor more preservation of designated Wilderness, exposure to timber harvesting does not negatively affect their views of public land managers, suggesting that rural individuals in the West may now embody a mosaic of values, combining elements of a spiritual preservationist ethic with a pragmatic conservationist approach. This blend of values should provide hope for more fruitful collaborative land management approaches in the future.


In this position paper, we present an overview of recent work on using simulation to evaluate agent architectures. We characterise the kinds of evaluation that can be performed using simulation, and highlight some of the key issues in using simulation for evaluation. Two main trends in recent work are then identified: an increasing adoption of ideas from the 'mainstream' simulation community (particularly parallel discrete event simulation), and an increasing focus on the interoperability of simulators. We characterise the features that distinguish MAS simulation classical parallel discrete event simulation problems and highlight recent work which attempts to address these problems. We argue that, together, these developments point to the emergence of new software engineering methodologies for MAS, in which simulation (and hence evaluation) plays a central role throughout the development process.


Active listening is an important communication skill in a variety of disciplines and professions, including the profession of Educational Development. In our roles as educational developers, we engage in a variety of processes, all of which rely heavily on the practice of active listening. Emerging strategies of active listening praxis have allowed us to highlight the risks involved in applying techniques of active listening while engaging in our day to day practices as educational developers. In this paper, we share a short historical review of theories and approaches to active listening and identify its two inherent orientations: humanism and professionalism. We highlight openness and interpretation as two pillars of active listening and explore ways of maintaining a balance between those pillars as they relate to techniques of humanism and professionalism. We explain aspects of the interactive session we facilitated during STLHE 2015 where, as a group, we named and discussed ways that active listening could go wrong. We explore ways that we, as educators and educational developers, might recognize when we may be foregrounding technique over listening, and how to correct some of these issues.


Background. Indocyanine green (ICG) with near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence is an established method for assessing vascularity in various clinical settings. We hypothesized that parathyroid adenomas, with increased capillary networks, may demonstrate a fluorescence which could aid intraoperative identification and confirmation of the abnormal parathyroid tissue. Methods. This prospective case–control study compared patients with primary hyperparathyroidism undergoing parathyroidectomy (cases) to normal parathyroid in thyroidectomy patients (controls). After exposing the parathyroid gland, ICG was injected and the fluorescence of parathyroid and thyroid was recorded and graded in comparison to the surrounding tissue and vasculature (0 = nonfluorescent and 5 = vasculature). Results. The intensity of parathyroid fluorescence was more in cases (4 ± 2) than controls (2 ± 1) when graded intraoperatively (P = .001). Thyroid fluorescence did not differ (3 vs 3, P = .072); however, parathyroid fluorescence was more intense than thyroid in cases (parathyroid = 4 ± 2 and thyroid = 3 ± 1, P = .018). Conclusions. ICG fluorescence in diseased parathyroid was more intense than normal parathyroid and thyroid, suggesting the ICG/NIR technology may be a useful intraoperative tool for identification of abnormal parathyroid.


Although many wild relatives in the Triticeae tribe have been exploited to transfer stem rust resistance genes to wheat, the derived germplasms have often not been immediately useful in wheat breeding programs. Too frequently, large chromosome segments surrounding desirable genes also harbor deleterious genes that result in unacceptable yield or quality. Recombination between chromosomes of wheat and chromosomes of distant relatives is very rare due to genetic restrictions on chromosome pairing in polyploid wheat. However, chromosome pairing can be manipulated by utilizing mutant stocks that relax this tight genetic control. The ph1b mutant produced by E.R. Sears over 30 years ago is an invaluable chromosome engineering tool, readily employed in the age of high-throughput molecular genetics. Shortened translocations have already been produced for stem rust resistance genes Sr26 and SrR using ph1b-induced homoeologous recombination. We are currently using induced-homoeologous recombination to reduce the sizes of alien chromosome segments surrounding TTKSK-effective genes Sr32, Sr37, Sr39, Sr40, Sr43, Sr47, SrTt3, Sr2S#1 and SrAeg5 to eliminate linkage drag putatively associated with these genes. Additional TTKSK-effective genes Sr44, SrHv6, SrAsp5, and SrAse3 were first targeted for development of compensating translocation stocks and then for shortening the size of each alien segment. Population development is also underway to characterize several potentially new sources of resistance.


Public procurement of innovation (PPI) has recently gained a renewed impetus and interest in most OECD countries as well as in the academic literature. A number of scholarly typologies of PPI instruments has been elaborated to understand better their nature and impacts. However, no unified framework that would help understanding and justifying their variety has been provided in the academic literature on PPI, and their economic justification is rather weak. Consequently, our research question is the following: how could an analytical framework unifying the existing literature in terms of economic justification be built? The research methodology consists in a two-step literature survey: first, a comprehensive review of the general literature on innovation policy in order to identify the various theoretical justifications of PPI instruments and to elaborate an analytical framework; second, an analysis of the specific literature on PPI through this analytical framework. Based on the literature survey, the paper considers three groups of rationales for PPI instruments: those respectively on the demand and supply sides, and those relating to traps in users-producers interactions. By combining them, four justification-based categories of PPI instruments and eight subcategories are defined. This framework allows to unify the various typologies in the literature on PPI, and to link design concerns to economic rationales. Moreover, some PPI instruments appear to be hybrid, i.e. justified by both supply- and demand-side rationales.


Quite a number of challenges have been identified as confronting the effective and efficient practice of the performance appraisal system which includes the effect of managerial decisions, reward and its turnout in commitment and loyalty of employees which triggers productivity within the organization. Therefore, this study concentrates on 'what', 'why' and 'how' as the factors generate extreme dissatisfaction among employees and employers. Descriptive survey design method was adopted with the use of questionnaire distributed to the management and staff of some selected public sectors in Lagos State, South-West, Nigeria out of which 254 representing 85% were valid for the research. The questionnaire was structured into four sections. The study pointed that if managerial decisions are fair and just with equitable reward and promotion for job done, it will increase employees' commitment and loyalty in the organization. In the same vein, if employees were properly motivated with the necessary and adequate training needs, innovation would increase rapidly on the job and this will thereby lead to competitive positioning. In addition to this, employees agreed that if they got regular feedbacks about their performance on the jobs, it could secure competitive positioning for the organization. As this will help them to identify their strengths and weaknesses which could invariably produce opportunities to the organization they are working with and threat to their competitors


We compare the effects of early childhood education on adult criminal behavior across time periods, using administrative crime data that provide significant precision advantages over existing work. We find that improvements in early childhood education led to large (20 percent) reductions in later criminal behavior, reductions that far exceed those implied by estimates of test score gains in prior studies. While the benefits generated account for a large portion of the costs of the education provided, we find substantial relative gains from the targeting of funds to high-poverty areas and areas without existing access to subsidized care. (JEL H75, I21, I26, I28, I32, I38, K42)


The title of the paper by Radford et al. (July 8 1988 JRSM, p. 384) refers to AO type cancellous screws. The well recognized AO abbreviation stands for: Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen or the Association for the Study of Internal Fixation. Manufacturing and sales ofAO surgical instruments and implants are licensed to three firms: Roberts Mathys Company, Bettlach, Switzerland Institute Straumann, Waldenburg, Switzerland Synthes (USA), Paoli, Pennsylvania It has come to our attention that the cancellous screws evaluated in the referenced study were produced by one of our competitors. This competitor is not affiliated with the AO group in any manner. We feel that the reference toAO in the title and the body of the paper creates a gross misconception that the cancellous screws were manufactured by one of the three licensed producers ofAO products. This can cause irrepairable harm to the quality image, integrity, and reputation of the three AO products. The letters should be reserved solely for products that emanate from the AO. J C MORAN Synthes (USA)


Nanopores are abundant in unconventional reservoirs. Understanding the microbehaviors of oil confined at such a small scale is favorable to the enhancement of oil recovery. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the adsorption behaviors and structural properties of n-decane + CO₂ mixtures confined within quartz, calcite, and clay nanopores. First, comparing the peak of n-decane density distribution in the first adsorbed layer and the interactions between rock surfaces and n-decane, we found that the adsorption strength of n-decane on various minerals follows the order calcite > kaolinite > montmorillonite > quartz > illite. Second, the distributions of n-decane on different mineral surfaces were analyzed, revealing that the strong adsorption of calcite is due to the strong interactions between Ca atoms in calcite and n-decane, and the flexible H atoms on the surfaces of quartz and kaolinite make n-decane distribute evenly. Then, the effects of pore size, filling fraction and pressure on the structural properties of n-decane were explored. Results show that the adsorbed layers remained unchanged when the pore size is big enough for n-decane (∼3 nm) to form a bulk region, while the peak in the adsorbed layers and the number of adsorbed layers vary with the pore size when the pore size becomes smaller. The reduction of alkane filling fraction decreases the density of n-decane in the region far from the wall in advance, and then the density in the adsorbed layers. The density of n-decane in the adsorbed layer decreases greatly with the increase of pressure (by adding CO₂), showing good oil displacement by CO₂. This work provides new molecular insights to CO₂ enhanced oil recovery.


Most developing countries depend heavily on agriculture; the effects of global warming on productive croplands are likely to threaten both the welfare of the population and the economic development of the countries. Tropical regions in the developing world are particularly vulnerable to potential damage from environmental changes because the poor soils that cover large areas of these regions already have made much of the land unusable for agriculture. Although agronomic simulation models predict that higher temperatures will reduce grain yields as the cool wheat-growing areas get warmer, they have not examined the possibility that farmers will adapt by making production decisions that are in their own best interests. A recent set of models examines cross-sectional evidence from India and Brazil and finds that even though the agricultural sector is sensitive to climate, individual farmers do take local climates into account, and their ability to do so will help mitigate the impacts of global warming.


Objective: To investigate the optimal pulse sequences of commonly used 1.5-tesla MRI for identifying the red nucleus (RN) to aid targeting of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Methods: Forty-six healthy adults were enrolled for this prospective study. All subjects underwent MR studies of 5 sequences: diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), T1-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T1IR), fast spin echo T2-weighted imaging (FSE-T2WI), T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2FLAIR) and T2*-weighted gradient-echo (T2*-GRE) sequences. The clearness of the RN contour was analyzed. Results: Overall, the RN was identified in 98% subjects without gender and age differences. The RN was demarcated on a 5-mm slice relatively better in T2FLAIR (93.5%), followed by FSE-T2WI (78.3%), T2*-GRE (65.2%) and DWI (43.5%) sequences, but was completely invisible on the T1IR image. Generally, the signal intensity in all MR sequences decreased mildly on 2-mm slices with a similar identifying power. The detecting power on 5-mm slices was in favor of T2FLAIR with 94% sensitivity, 10% specificity, and 1.89 odds ratio compared to FSE-T2WI. In addition, the scanning time of T2FLAIR was longer in comparison to the FSE-T2WI study. Conclusion: T2FLAIR is an alternative to FSE-T2WI that can readily demarcate the RN to help target the STN.


The paper presents the construction of an automatic
applicator of active substance that removes causes of the disturbances in the
fluid flow in a system that is under the control. In a particular case, it can
be applied to the removal of disturbances in the blood flow in vessels caused
by a thrombus formation (e.g. post-operative or due to dialysis treatment). The
presented applicator automatically releases the active substance into the
system while detecting in real time the abnormal fluid flow. It allows mixing
the active substance (e.g. anticoagulant drug) with the controlled medium
outside the substance container (e.g. serum) while offering the possibility
of the repeated usage.


In the last twenty-five years negotiation has become widely recognized both as a topic of serious research and as an essential, frequently used set of skills. Organizations currently spend tens of billions of dollars annually on training, and mounting evidence suggests that training in interpersonal and problem-solving domains typically has a significantly positive effect.But little systematic research has been conducted concerning the actual effectiveness of negotiation training.This article reviews the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of negotiation training using four levels of outcome measurement. While far less prevalent than one would wish, existing evidence suggests that negotiation training can have positive effects. In this article, I review the specific effects of different teaching methods, and recommend additional research.


The threshold of toxicological concern (TTC), i.e., the dose of a compound lacking sufficient experimental toxicity data that is unlikely to result in an adverse health effect in humans, is important for evaluating extractables and leachables (E&Ls) as it guides analytical testing and minimizes the use of animal studies. The Extractables and Leachables Safety Information Exchange (ELSIE) consortium, which consists of member companies that span biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries, brought together subject matter expert toxicologists to derive TTC values for organic, non-mutagenic E&L substances when administered parenterally. A total of 488 E&L compounds from the ELSIE database were analyzed and parenteral point of departure (PPOD) estimates were derived for 252 compounds. The PPOD estimates were adjusted to extrapolate to subacute, subchronic, and chronic durations of nonclinical exposure and the lower fifth percentiles were calculated. An additional 100-fold adjustment factor to account for nonclinical species and human variability was subsequently applied to derive the parenteral TTC values for E&Ls. The resulting parenteral TTC values are 35, 110, and 180 μg/day for human exposures of >10 years to lifetime, >1-10 years, and ≤1 year, respectively. These parenteral TTCs are expected to be conservative for E&Ls that are considered non-mutagenic per ICH M7(R1) guidelines.


Providing the first comprehensive overview of the method of crystal growth in gels, Professor Henisch reviews the field, covering the underlying physics as well as the empirical experience of growth techniques accumulated over the past century. In addition, the book discusses the phenomenon of periodic precipitation, which often governs the distribution of crystal in laboratory growth systems. For the first time, computer techniques are brought to bear on the subject, the diffusion equations being solved numerically, in association with the conditions governing precipitations and crystal growth.


Objective. Identify the presence of West Nile virus in horses and mosquitoes in eight municipalities of the Department of Meta. Materials and methods. The research was supported by the Bioethics Committee of the University of Los Llanos. 613 samples of Creole and quarter-mile equine horses, intended for sports and work activities, with an age range of 2 to 15 years, were analyzed using serological and molecular tests in the transects: Villavicencio-Restrepo-Cumaral, SanmartínCastilla la Nueva-Granada and Puerto López-Puerto Gaitán, analyzed in 62 pools and 213 mosquitoes. The pool of sera of horses and mosquitoes were analyzed by ELISA and PCR. Results. No seropositive animals were found by the ELISA test and molecular tests were also negative. Conclusions. Although in this study the presence of IgM antibodies was not evidenced by the Elisa technique, and molecular tests (RT-PCR) were also negative for viral circulation, in the municipalities under study, it is important to indicate that the molecular detection in sera, it requires representative levels of viremia and that the animal is in the acute phase of the disease. Although it is possible that the equine population remains free of contact with the virus, epidemiological surveillance should be maintained against this important pathogen for human health, especially due to the outbreak of other zoonotic viruses such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Encephalitis Venezuelan Equine in the departments of Meta and Casanare, adjacent to this.


The state of ripeness at harvest is a key piece of information for growers as it determines the market price of the yield. This has been traditionally assessed by destructive chemical methods, which lead to low-spatiotemporal resolution in the monitorization of crop development and poor responsiveness for growers. These limitations have shifted the focus to remote-sensing, spectroscopy-based approaches. However, most of the research focusing on these approaches has been accomplished with expensive equipment, which is exorbitant for most users. To combat this issue, this work presents a low-cost, hand-held, multispectral device with original hardware specially designed to face the complexity related to in-field use. The proposed device is based on a development board (AS7265x, AMS AG) that has three sensor chips with a spectral response of eighteen channels in a range from 410 to 940 nm. The proposed device was evaluated in a red-grape field experiment. Briefly, it was used to acquire the spectral signature of eighty red-grape samples in the vineyard. Subsequently, the grape samples were analysed using standard chemical methods to generate ground-truth values of ripening status indicators (soluble solid content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA)). The eighteen pre-process reflectance measurements were used as input for training artificial neural network models to estimate the two target parameters (SSC and TA). The developed estimation models were evaluated through a leave-one-out cross-validation approach obtaining promising results (R2 = 0.70, RMSE = 1.21 for SSC; and R2 = 0.67, RMSE = 0.91 for TA).


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objectives: Multicenter data on the characteristics and outcomes of children hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 are limited. Our objective was to describe the characteristics, ICU admissions, and outcomes among children hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 using Society of Critical Care Medicine Discovery Viral Infection and Respiratory Illness Universal Study: Coronavirus Disease 2019 registry. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Society of Critical Care Medicine Viral Infection and Respiratory Illness Universal Study (Coronavirus Disease 2019) registry. Patients: Children (< 18 yr) hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 at participating hospitals from February 2020 to January 2021. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome was ICU admission. Secondary outcomes included hospital and ICU duration of stay and ICU, hospital, and 28-day mortality. A total of 874 children with coronavirus disease 2019 were reported to Viral Infection and Respiratory Illness Universal Study registry from 51 participating centers, majority in the United States. Median age was 8 years (interquartile range, 1.25–14 yr) with a male:female ratio of 1:2. A majority were non-Hispanic (492/874; 62.9%). Median body mass index (n = 817) was 19.4 kg/m2 (16–25.8 kg/m2), with 110 (13.4%) overweight and 300 (36.6%) obese. A majority (67%) presented with fever, and 43.2% had comorbidities. A total of 238 of 838 (28.2%) met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and 404 of 874 (46.2%) were admitted to the ICU. In multivariate logistic regression, age, fever, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and pre-existing seizure disorder were independently associated with a greater odds of ICU admission. Hospital mortality was 16 of 874 (1.8%). Median (interquartile range) duration of ICU (n = 379) and hospital (n = 857) stay were 3.9 days (2–7.7 d) and 4 days (1.9–7.5 d), respectively. For patients with 28-day data, survival was 679 of 787, 86.3% with 13.4% lost to follow-up, and 0.3% deceased. Conclusions: In this observational, multicenter registry of children with coronavirus disease 2019, ICU admission was common. Older age, fever, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and seizure disorder were independently associated with ICU admission, and mortality was lower among children than mortality reported in adults.


The correlation between glomerular podocytes and renal tubular cells involved in handling of leaked proteins and the level of proteinuria was evaluated. Retrospective 22 cases of clinical proteinuria in patients with various glomerulopathies were retrieved and analyzed. Glomerulopathies in the concerned patients were pathologically diagnosed through light and electron microscopic examination of the submitted renal biopsies. Three cases with protein levels in urine within the acceptable normal range were additionally analyzed as controls. Electron microscopic examination of the glomerular podocytes and immunofluorescence of the renal tubular epithelium in the relevant cases constituted the base for the present study. Among the studied cases, it was found that the greater the number of glomerular podocytes with reabsorbed intracytoplasmic proteins and the higher score of tubular protein immunofluorescence, the lower the level of proteinuria. Comparatively, cases with fewer number of podocytes with reabsorbed proteins and lower score of tubular protein immunofluorescence had higher levels of proteinuria. The present study aims to pay the attention to the correlation between morphologically recognizable glomerular podocytes and renal tubular epithelium with reabsorbed proteins and the level of proteinuria in patients with various glomerulopathies. The current study may serve as a base for the future research work concerned with the structural changes of glomerular podocytes and renal tubular epithelium as a compensative mechanism in cases of proteinuria.


This study investigated the effect of weaning age on carcass characteristics of crossbred piglets reared up to 70 kg body weight (BW) under intensive system. A total of 24 piglets were used in a completely randomized design. The experiment comprised three treatments: piglets weaned at 21, 28, and 35 days of age with four replicates each with two piglets (castrate and female). At 70 kg BW two piglets (castrate and female) were randomly selected from each replicate and sacrificed for carcass evaluation. Hot carcass weight (HCW) was measured and thereafter dressing out percentage was calculated. Carcasses were chilled at 7 0C for 24 hours to determine cold dressed weight (CDW). Carcasses were cut into the left and right halves along the median line. The left half of the carcass was used to measure carcass length (CRLTH), average backfat depth and longissimus muscle area (LMA) at the 10th rib, while the right half of the carcass was physically dissected into bone, muscle and fat and thereafter tissue ratios calculated. Longissimus muscle was removed at the 10th and 11th ribs from the left half of the carcass for chemical composition analysis. Data were analysed using General Linear Model. Weaning age had no influence (p greater than 0.05) on HCW, dressing percentage, CDW, CRLTH, average backfat thickness, average backfat depth, LMA and carcass lean percentage. No significant differences (p greater than 0.05) were observed on average percentages of bone, muscle and fat tissue and their tissue ratios. Weaning age did not influence (p greater than 0.05) moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of the meat. In addition, weaning age had no (p greater than 0.05) effect on carcass characteristics, physical and chemical body composition of meat. These results indicate that piglets can be weaned at 21, 28 and 35 days of age without detrimental effects on carcass characteristics, physical and chemical body composition of pork.


Velocity and displacement time histories which are derived by integrating acceleration time histories of nuclear-explosion-induced earth tremors usually end in values that are obviously too large. It can be demonstrated that small errors, which are within the range of error one would expect from field-recorded data, could cause such unacceptable velocities and displacements. Assuming that such errors do exist but realizing that they cannot be determined exactly, two "correction" procedures are presented which adjust the acceleration data so that it is more rational. The two procedures are the least-mean-square-velocity technique (by G. V. Berg and G. W. Housner and used extensively with seismic data), which is based on the criterion of minimizing the mean of the velocity squared, and the end-time-zero technique, which depends on boundary conditions at the beginning and end of the tremor. The end-time-zero technique is recommended for use with nuclear-explosion-induced data.


In order to clarify the functional relationship between thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormones, hypothyroidism was induced by administration of thiuoracil in adult male and female rats, and the effects of hypothyroidism on the adrenal and the gonadal axes were investigated in the present study. 1. The functional relationship between thyroid and adrenal hormones: Adrenal weights and corticosterone were lowered, whereas the secretion of ACTH, corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) increased in hypothyroid rats compared to euthyroid rats. These results indicate that hypothyroidism causes adrenal dysfunction directly and results in hypersecretion of CRH and AVP from the hypothalamus. 2. The functional relationship between thyroid and gonadal hormones: The pituitary response to LHRH was lowered, whereas the testicular response to hCG was not changed in hypothyroid rats. Hypothyroidism suppressed copulatory behavior in male rats. These results suggest that hypothyroidism probably causes dysfunction in gonadal axis at the hypothalamic-pituitary level in male rats. In adult female rats, hypothyroidism inhibited the follicular development accompanied estradiol secretion, whereas plasma concentrations of progesterone and prolactin (PRL) increased in hypothyroid female rats. Hypothyroidism significantly increased the pituitary content of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) though it did not affect dopamine synthesis. These results suggest that hypothyroidism increases pituitary content of VIP and this increased level of VIP likely affects PRL secretion in a paracrine or autocrine manner. In female rats, inhibition of gonadal function in hypothyroid rats mediated by hyperprolactinemia in addition to hypersecretion of endogenous CRH.


An
intramuscular injection (IMI) is an injection given directly into the central area of a
specific muscle. Certain medicines need to be administered by the gluteal
route for these to be effective. The aim of this study was to determine the
influence of body mass index (BMI), subcutaneous fat, and muscular thickness
of the dorsogluteal IMI site among healthy Japanese women. There were 39
healthy female subjects who volunteered and met the criteria. Their ages
ranged from 40s to 60s (50.82 ± 6.04). With the data collected using the
B-mode ultrasound images of the dorsogluteal site, it was found that the distance
from the epidermis to the under-fascia (DEUF) of the gluteus maximus was
dissimilar between the subject's right and left buttocks. It was found that the
distance from the epidermis to the iliac bone (DEI) was significantly more on
the right than on the left buttocks. In the case of an adult Japanese woman
with a BMI of 21 or more, the DEUF of the
gluteus medius was found to be about 30 mm, and the DEI was approximately
50 mm or more. Based on these findings, it is recommended that a needle length
of 38 mm (1.5 inches) can be safely used to administer IMIs to the gluteus
medius muscle to effectively and efficiently deliver medications through the IMI
route.


Tropical mathematics is used to establish a correspondence between certain microscopic and macroscopic objects in statistical models. Tropical algebra gives a common framework for macrosystems (subsets) and their elementary constituents (elements) that is well-behaved with respect to composition. This kind of connection is studied with maps that preserve a monoid structure. The approach highlights an underlying order relation that is explored through the concepts of filter and ideal. Particular attention is paid to asymmetry and duality between max- and min-criteria. Physical implementations are presented through simple examples in thermodynamics and non-equilibrium physics. The phenomenon of ultrametricity, the notion of tropical equilibrium and the role of ground energy in non-equilibrium models are discussed. Tropical symmetry, i.e. idempotence, is investigated.


[Read before the American Surgical Association at its late annual meeting in Cincinnati, May 31st, 1883.] Chronic suppurative pleuritis with an imperfect fistulous outlet, either external or bronchial, is not an uncommon result of gun-shot or other penetrating wounds of the thoracic cavity; and it is no secret that the resources of surgery have not heretofore offered much encouragement to the unfortunate sufferers. In the majority of such cases there is contraction traction or sinking in of the injured side, a constant discharge of fetid pus, persistent cough, irritative or septic fevers, and more or less rapid exhaustion of strength, terminating usually in death within a few months, or a year or two at the farthest. Two main difficulties are encountered in the treatment of such cases: 1st, imperfect drainage, upon the correction of which the life of the patient depends; and, 2nd, permanent separation of the lung from the


The concept of Pareto optimality is applied to the study of choice tradeoffs between reflectivity and thickness in the design of multilayer microwave absorbers. Absorbers composed of a given number of layers of absorbing materials selected from a predefined database of available materials are considered. Three types of Pareto genetic algorithms for absorber synthesis are introduced and compared to each other, as well as to methods operating with the weighted Tchebycheff method for Pareto optimization. The Pareto genetic algorithms are applied to construct Pareto fronts for microwave absorbers with five layers of materials selected from a representative database of available materials in the 0.2-2 GHz, 2-8 GHz, and 9-11 GHz bands.


The transgenerational transmission constitutes in relevant aspects for understanding families during a time period and identifying the influences transmitted through generations. These may perpetuate or change behavior and nowadays they are strongly noticed in the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy. This study is the result of a survey that aims to investigate transgenerational aspects of teenage pregnancy in young people, from twelve to nineteen years old, and their mothers, with the criterion that both have had their first pregnancies during adolescence. We performed a semistructured interview with three pairs of mothers and daughters, in the municipal districts of Parobe and Taquara (RS, Brazil). Later, the collected content was analyzed according to Bardin's analysis system (1977). The results of this research showed that the transgenerational aspects were found in the pregnancy of these adolescent girls and their mothers, through the models and repetitive behavior both experienced and also by their search for different experiences. This study showed that family and partner support is an important foundation for the growth of these adolescent girls and their children. This support has passed over generations and it has shown itself in various ways. The study shows that the respondents have a positive and optimistic perception about their condition and their future, indicating that pregnancy has changed the way they perceive the world and themselves. Key words: adolescence, pregnancy, transgeneration.


The forward link capacity of a CDMA system has not been extensively studied. A Monte Carlo simulation is used to investigate the effect of base station antenna height and cell radius on the forward link capacity. Key features of CDMA, including soft hand off and power control are implemented in this simulation algorithm. Practical considerations, such as log-normal fading and in-building penetration loss, are also incorporated into the simulation model. Preliminary results indicate that the forward link capacity can be noticeably impacted by the variations discussed in this paper. It is also shown that under certain conditions, the forward link can be the limiting link, and the forward link capacity should be studied more carefully during a CDMA system design.


The Wind River basin contains more than 60 oil and gas fields, located chiefly on structural traps that developed during Laramide deformation in latest Cretaceous and early Tertiary times. Seventeen different sedimentary formations are petroleum bearing. Principal reservoirs are the Pennsylvanian Tensleep Sandstone, Permian Park City Formation, and Cretaceous Cloverly, Thermopolis (Muddy Sandstone Member), and Frontier Formations. Until latest Cretaceous time, central Wyoming was part of the foreland that sloped gently westward toward the Cordilleran geosyncline. Because (1) the regional dip of strata was westward, and (2) the overburden pressures always were greater toward the west, fluids tended to migrate as far eastward in the present basin area during the pre-Laramide period as structural and individual reservoir conditions permitted. Regional stratigraphic and structural relations suggest that some primary accumulation of hydrocarbons took place at or near presently known oil and gas fields before Laramide folding began. Pronounced subsidence of the central basin area during the Laramide orogeny induced a secondary migration of fluids updip toward structural traps that developed contemporaneously along the basin margins. However, facies changes, unconformities, and porosity and permeability barriers within many of the pre-latest Cretaceous reservoirs tended to inhibit wholesale flushing of oil and gas formerly trapped in the central basin area. Therefore, unexplored stratigraphic traps possibly exist downdip from the present margins of the basin, especially where related to basinward-plunging anticlinal structures. Exploratory drilling has not tested the Frontier and older Mesozoic rocks in about 3,500 sq mi of the central, structurally deepest part of the Wind River basin; Paleozoic rocks are untested in an area of 4,500 sq mi. The common reservoirs lie less than 15,000 ft below the present ground surface in approximately 2,000 sq mi of the untested areas. End_of_Article - Last_Page 219------------


In 1931, in collaboration with Dr. E. Muskatblit, I offered a preliminary report on a newly conceived method for the determination of the fungicidal property of chemicals. In place of the usual procedure for effecting fungistasis by the direct contamination of growth mediums with the chemicals to be tested, or of that for effecting fungicidity by the momentary immersion of fungus masses in solutions of these chemicals, we incorporated the chemicals in collodion and lined culture tubes with a thin film of the collodion which had been thus impregnated. After this film of collodion had thoroughly dried, the culture medium was poured into the tube and allowed to solidify in a slant. The surface of the medium was then seeded with a fungus mass and the culture allowed to grow at room temperatures. Under these conditions the chemicals to be tested were, at the outset at least, brought into touch


Liquid hydrogen has been studied for use in vehicles. However, during the charging process, liquid hydrogen is lost as gas. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate and reduce this loss and simulate the charging process. In this study, the initial charging process of a vehicle liquid hydrogen tank under room temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions was numerically investigated. A transient thermal-fluid simulation with a phase-change model was performed to analyze variations in the volume, pressure, mass flow rate, and temperature. The results showed that the process could be divided into three stages. In the first stage, liquid hydrogen was actively vaporized at the inner wall surface of the storage tank. The pressure increased rapidly, and liquid droplets were discharged into the vent pipe during the second stage. In the third stage, the mass flow rates of liquid and hydrogen gas at the outlet showed significant fluctuations, owing to complex momentum generated by the evaporation and charging flow. The temperatures of the inner and outer walls, and insulation layer, decreased significantly slower than that of the gas region because of its high heat capacity and insulation effect. The optimal structure should be further studied because the vortex, stagnation, and non-uniform cooling of the wall occurred near the inlet and outlet pipes.


For the past ten years, the author, who is a university professor in the United States, has been leading service-learning trips with college students to Jamaican orphanages and children's
homes. Five years ago, she created a developmental assessment instrument specific to institutionalized young children in Jamaica.She has used this instrument annually in measuring the cognitive, emotional, physical and social development of children in one specific children's home.The undergraduate and graduate students who accompany the author on the service learning trips conduct the assessments with her supervision and
oversight.The author then meets with the home's director to discuss each child, noting changes that may have occurred since the previous year's assessment.By completing these annual assessments, the author has been able to assist the home's director in recognizing the needs of the children and assisting in planning for their long-term placement.This paper discusses the process in which the author developed this collaborative project with university students in the United States and social services in Jamaica.She identifies the pathways for creating a trusting relationship with service providers and explains how to engage university students in meaningful global service learning.She will also highlight how she tailored the intervention to the specific cultural and situational characteristics of the children served.


To date, T1 and T2 proton relaxation times in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance have not been widely studied in thyroid disorders. In an earlier study, we compared 99mTc and histological data with T1 and T2 relaxation times. We found that nodules heterogeneity affect NMR results. This should therefore be taken into account when interpreting magnetic resonance images. The purpose of the present study was to compare T1 and T2 in thyroid tissues according to the diagnosis and the different histological components which had been quantitative defined by histomorphometric methods. 71 samples from 43 patients were examines: 35 euthyroid multiheteronodular goitres, 5 hot nodules, 2 papillary carcinomas, 1 Basedow's disease. The results show that image interpretation according to histology is difficult.


We show that name-induced stereotypes affect the investment choices of U.S. mutual fund investors. Managers with foreign-sounding names have about 10% lower annual fund flows, and this effect is stronger among funds with investor clienteles more likely to be suspicious of foreigners. Foreign-named managers experience lower appreciation (greater decline) in flows following good (bad) performance. Following 9/11, flows to funds with managers with Middle-Eastern-sounding names declined abnormally. In an experimental setting in which skill differences are absent, individuals allocate 11% less money to an index fund managed by a foreign-named manager. This gap widens following the Boston marathon bombings.


We analyse a model in which bank deposits are insured and there is an exogenous cost of bank capital. The former effect results in bank overinvestment and the latter in underinvestment. Regulatory capital requirements introduce investment distortions which are a constrained optimal response to these market imperfections. We show that capital requirements which are constrained optimal for national banks result in underinvestment by multinational banks. The extent of underinvestment depends upon the home bank's riskiness, the extent of international diversification, and the liability structure (branch or subsidiary) of the multinational. Capital requirements for international banks should therefore reflect these effects. We relate our findings to observed features of multinational banks and we discuss the possible existence of a multinational bank channel for financial contagion.


Purpose of review The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent published literature on HIV/AIDS Kaposi's sarcoma in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We attempted to update readers on the epidemiology of Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus infection and HIV Kaposi's sarcoma in SSA, as well as clinical features, therapy and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome associated with HIV Kaposi's sarcoma. Recent findings Seroprevalence rates of Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus differ across SSA; it is low in South African children as compared to endemic areas like Uganda. The major route of transmission in SSA is horizontal rather than sexual. The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma has increased exponentially with the HIV/AIDS pandemic with a shift in trend demonstrating a dramatic increase in females and occurrence in younger individuals. Kaposi's sarcoma specific therapy is underutilized due to poor access to highly active antiretroviral therapy and financial constraints in SSA. As highly active antiretroviral therapy becomes available, clinicians treating HIV/AIDS in SSA need to have a high index of suspicion of Kaposi's sarcoma immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome events. Summary Kaposi's sarcoma is a public health concern in SSA. More studies appropriate to therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma in resource-poor environments like SSA are imperative. We are hopeful that with the increased availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the incidence of HIV Kaposi's sarcoma will decrease and management will improve, as it has in the West.


Abstract Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) not only produces severe pain, tingling, and numbness sensation in the involved limbs, but also limits physical function due to loss of sensation. There are no recommended methods for clinical situations to measure these signs and symptoms. Studies with high methodological quality use the modified Brief Pain Inventory for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic pain (mBPI-DPN) scale and the short form Screening of Activity Limitations and Safety Awareness (sSALSA) scale for measuring these symptoms in DPN population. In order to capture a real change in the variables of interest, the psychometric properties of that measure should be within acceptable limits. As these two measures were not assessed for all of the psychometric properties, there was a need for further evaluation. Methods: Data were collected (n = 38 patients) in a longitudinal cohort study. Test–retest reliability (0–4 weeks) and Responsiveness- Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) (0–12 weeks) were calculated between two sessions. Convergent validity was assessed (between mBPI-DPN pain interference and sSALSA scale). Results: Both measures demonstrated acceptable test–retest reliability (mBPI-DPN scale: ICC = 0.61, SEM = 12.92; the sSALSA scale: ICC = 0.81, SEM = 4.88) and convergent validity (Spearman's correlation coefficient r = 0.62). The computational methods used in different methodologies to calculate MCID for the mBPI-DPN and the sSALSA scale were varied, hence the magnitude of derived MCID scores also varied. Conclusions: Our study have provided evidence to add to the scientific basis surrounding the use of mBPI-DPN and sSALSA scales in DPN population, but standardization of these measures in a larger population is required


A questionnaire survey of Danish hospitals showed that 70% of patients admitted for acute ischaemic heart disease were served the ordinary menu during their stay at the hospital. About 10% had a diabetic menu, while 20% had different kinds of lipid lowering diets. The ordinary menu contained 17 energy percent (E%) protein, 38 E% fat, and 46 E% carbohydrate. The amount of fibre was 3.1 g/MJ, the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (P/S) was 0.4, and the total energy in a day's menu was 8.1 MJ. The ordinary high-fat hospital diets differ markedly from diets believed to be cardioprotective, contrast with the dietary counselling given during admission, and should be replaced by lipid lowering diets in most cases of acute ischaemic heart disease for educational and therapeutic reasons.


The means and standard deviations of standard scores on the new Vineland vary considerably from age group to age group in the standardization sample. As a consequence, different standard scores may reflect the same level of performance in terms of distance from the mean, and conversely, the same standard score may reflect different levels of performance. The problem is particularly significant for the assessment of mentally retarded individuals.


Introduction The intestinal barrier plays a crucial role in distinguishing foods from toxins. Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is one of the lipid-derived autacoids synthesized from cell membrane-derived arachidonic acid. We previously reported that pharmacological stimulation of PGD2 receptor, D prostanoid 1 (DP1) attenuated the symptoms of azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis and ovalbumin-induced food allergy in mouse models. These observations suggested that DP1 stimulation protects the intestinal barrier. The present study aimed to uncover the effects of DP1 stimulation on intestinal barrier function and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods Intestinal permeability was assessed in mice by measuring the transfer of orally administered fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (40 kDa) into the blood. The DP1 agonist BW245C (1 mg/kg) was administered 10 min prior to dextran administration. The intestinal permeability was confirmed using the ex vivo everted sac method. Tight junction integrity was evaluated in vitro by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) in the human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2. Mucus secretion was assessed by observing Alcian Blue-stained intestinal sections. Results Pharmacological DP1 stimulation reduced intestinal permeability both in vivo and ex vivo. Immunohistochemical staining showed that DP1 was strongly expressed on the apical side of the epithelial cells. DP1 stimulation did not affect TER in vitro but induced mucus secretion from goblet cells. Mucus removal by a mucolytic agent N-acetyl-l-cysteine canceled the inhibition of intestinal permeability by DP1 stimulation. Conclusion These observations suggest that pharmacological DP1 stimulation decreases intestinal permeability by stimulating mucus secretion.


Background

This study aimed to investigate and identify the characteristics of peripheral natural killer (NK) cells of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who infected with hepatitis B virus.
Methods

Flow cytometry was utilized to identify the frequency and receptors of NK cells, in the meantime, to analyze the killing ability and cytotoxicity of NK cells of patients of which embraced 36 cases of HBV-associated HCC, 34 individuals who suffered in HBV-associated cirrhosis (LC) and 30 non-liver dysfunction healthy individuals as control (HC).
Results

Cell counts for NK and CD56dimNK were reduced in patients with HCC, however, there was no statistically significant. The count of CD56brightNK cells in the HCC subpopulation was remarkably higher than the subset of the HC (P < 0.05). The counts of activated receptors of NKG2D/p30 were elevated in patients with HCC, as well as the NKp44 and the NKp46. There was no statistically meaningful difference of inhibitory receptor expressions such as CD158a/b on peripheral NK cells of patients with HCC and LC and those with HC (P > 0.05). Following an IL-12 stimulation, the production of INF-γ/-α of patients with HCC was less than those produced by HC (P < 0.05). However, killing activity and cytotoxicity, as the primary responsibilities of the natural killer cells, were upregulated in HCC individuals. HBV associated individuals were found lower counts and capability to produce cytokines of natural killer cells. Nevertheless, the killing capacity and cytotoxicity of NK cells were stronger than those of the HC group. This may be associated with the increased activating receptors expression of NK cells.
Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the activating receptors expression and the cytotoxicity of NK cells in the blood were independent predictors of development in HCC patients, and the recovery of NKG2D+CD56dim NK cells could increase the prognostic value.


This paper addresses significant sources of electromagnetic noise in Hall effect imaging. Hall effect imaging employs large electrical pulses for signal generation and high sensitivity ultrasonic probes for signal reception. Coherent noise arises through various coupling mechanisms between the excitation pulse and the probe. In this paper, the coupling mechanisms are experimentally isolated and theoretically analyzed. Several methods of shielding the probe from electromagnetic interference are devised and tested. These methods are able to reduce the noise to levels below the random thermal noise, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio in HEI by two orders of magnitude.


Both gallium nitride (GaN) and hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites such as methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) have significantly influenced modern optoelectronics. Both marked a new beginning in the development of important branches in the semiconductor industry. For GaN, it is solid-state lighting and high-power electronics, and for MAPbI3, it is photovoltaics. Today, both are widely incorporated as building blocks in solar cells, LEDs and photodetectors. Regarding multilayers, and thus multi-interfacial construction of such devices, an understanding of the physical phenomena governing electronic transport at the interfaces is relevant. In this study, we present the spectroscopic investigation of carrier transfer across the MAPbI3/GaN interface by contactless electroreflectance (CER) for n-type and p-type GaN. The effect of MAPbI3 on the Fermi level position at the GaN surface was determined which allowed us to draw conclusions about the electronic phenomena at the interface. Our results show that MAPbI3 shifts the surface Fermi level deeper inside the GaN bandgap. Regarding different surface Fermi level positions for n-type and p-type GaN, we explain this as carrier transfer from GaN to MAPbI3 for n-type GaN and in the opposite direction for p-type GaN. We extend our outcomes with a demonstration of a broadband and self-powered MAPbI3/GaN photodetector.


The usual explanation for the rapid growth of Japan in the postwar decades relies on the dualistic mechanism -- the cheap labor supplied by the low-wage sector to the more modernized sector which importing new technologies from the West is able to supply cheap industrial products in the international markets. While recognizing that dualistic theory maybe part of the explanation for the postwar growth of Japan (which was four times more rapid in terms of per capita GNP and total factor productivity that in the prewar decades), there is much more to said. This paper argues that the demilitarization and democratization policies initiated by the Allied Occupation Powers, modified, extended and implemented by the Japanese cannot be ignored by economists in attempting to explain the faster pace of growth of postwar over prewar Japan. Accordingly, the major portions of the paper describe the institutional changes brought about by the destruction of the authoritarian structure in agriculture and the rural sector, in industrial organization and industrial relations, in social and political structure and speculate about how these institutional changes affected the growth of postwar GNP.


Ewing9s sarcoma family tumors (ESFT) are aggressive bone and soft tissue tumors that are most commonly diagnosed in childhood and adolescence. Unfortunately, drug-resistant relapse is not uncommon and is associated with very poor outcomes. No clinical or pathologic features currently exist that reliably predict chemosensitivity or relapse in newly diagnosed patients. In this study we used whole genome expression microarray profiling to identify potential markers of drug resistance and relapse in ESFT. Affymetrix human exon (HuEx) arrays were used to profile a highly drug resistant case of primary, localized ESFT before and after induction therapy. Comparison of gene summarized data from pre- and post-therapy samples with 10 chemosensitive tumors identified 309 genes to be differentially expressed in the resistant case at diagnosis (fold change>2). Of the 309 differentially expressed genes at diagnosis, 130 demonstrated an even greater change in expression post-induction therapy suggesting that these genes might be markers of the most highly drug-resistant cells. Intriguingly, two stem cell associated genes, PROM1 (prominin 1) and LGR5 (leucine-rich-repeat containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5), were included in the list of putative chemoresistance markers. Expression of PROM1 and LGR5 were 18-fold and 17-fold higher, respectively, at diagnosis and 31-fold and 21-fold higher post-induction therapy in the drug resistant case. To determine if either gene is associated with chemoresistant disease or relapse in ESFT we next evaluated whether their expression correlated with outcome in a large cohort of institutional and Children9s Oncology Group patients. Clinical correlates analysis of HuEx gene expression data obtained from 53 tumors revealed no correlation between PROM1 expression and outcome. In contrast, increased expression of LGR5 was associated with worse event-free (p=0.008) and overall survival (p=0.046). Variable but detectable expression of LGR5 in ESFT tumors and cell lines was validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Finally, LGR5 expression in ESFT cells was compared to human embryonic and somatic stem cells and fibroblasts. Significantly, LGR5 was found to be highly expressed by neural crest stem cells but not by bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, differentiated neural crest cells, or embryonic fibroblasts. These data suggest that LGR5 might be useful as a predictor of outcome in ESFT and implicate a primitive neural crest stem cell phenotype in the developmental origins of drug-resistant and relapsed disease. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4640.


The first goals in the treatment of septic shock are to preserve life and to sustain organ function while beginning definitive treatment. The immediate management of septic shock includes three essential steps. A five-step treatment program is described in detail.


Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is a part of parasympathetic nervous system and it can be also entitled as an anti-inflammatory reflex. It consists from terminations of vagal nerve into blood, acetylcholine released from the terminations, macrophages and other cells having α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR), calcium ions crossing through the receptor and interacting with nuclear factors, and erythrocytes with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) terminating the neurotransmission. Stopping of inflammatory cytokines production is the major task for the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway. The pathway can be pharmacologically influenced by agonizing respective antagonizing on α7 nAChR or by inhibition of AChE. This review is focused on cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway regulation by drugs. Compounds that inhibit cholinesterases like huperzine, rivastigmine, galantamine and distinguishing between types of inhibitors and impact on cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is discussed and survey of actual literature is provided.


The paper will present the results of a field study accomplished during the course 2004- 2005 at Spanish school libraries (2005), where the search main purpose was to gather and analyze data on seven dimensions: its role in the school; installations: equipment and technologies; collection; staff; management and operation; uses and users; evaluations. The study concludes that, since the last report, school libraries have improved in equipments and collection but this improvement does not match with a bigger and better employ. Another aspect to point out is the scarce use of non-printed material and, specially, Internet.


ABSTRACT Viral myocarditis is an important human disease, and reovirus-induced murine myocarditis provides an excellent model system for study. Cardiac myocytes, like neurons in the central nervous system, are not replenished, yet there is no cardiac protective equivalent to the blood-brain barrier. Thus, cardiac myocytes may have evolved a unique antiviral response relative to readily replenished cell types, such as cardiac fibroblasts. Our previous comparisons of these two cell types revealed a conundrum: reovirus T3D induces more beta-interferon (IFN-β) mRNA in cardiac myocytes, yet there is a greater induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in cardiac fibroblasts. Here, we investigated possible underlying molecular determinants. We found that greater basal expression of IFN-β in cardiac myocytes results in greater basal activated nuclear STAT1 and STAT2 and greater basal ISG mRNA expression and provides greater basal antiviral protection relative to cardiac fibroblasts. Conversely, cardiac fibroblasts express greater basal IFN-α/β receptor 1 (IFNAR1) and greater basal cytoplasmic Jak1, Tyk2, STAT2, and IRF9, leading to a greater increase in reovirus T3D- or IFN-induced nuclear activated STAT1 and STAT2 and greater induction of ISGs for a greater IFN-induced antiviral protection relative to cardiac myocytes. Our results suggest that high basal IFN-β expression in cardiac myocytes prearms this vulnerable, nonreplenishable cell type, while high basal expression of IFNAR1 and latent Jak-STAT components in adjacent cardiac fibroblasts renders these cells more responsive to IFN and prevents them from inadvertently serving as a reservoir for viral replication and spread to cardiac myocytes. These studies provide the first indication of an integrated network of cell-type-specific innate immune components for organ protection.


Phytohormones function as signal molecules that regulate physiological processes to protect plants from environmental stresses, including aphids' attack. We studied the pattern within the defense mechanisms of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. "Nam Dan"] regarding the signaling pathways of salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA) in response to cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch). With infestation by cowpea aphid, SA was the first to accumulate and reached high levels 24 hours post-infestation (hpi). An accumulation of SA in the early response of soybean probably triggers inducible specific defense reactions. Following SA, JA was later induced and continuously increased to high levels 96 hpi. An accumulation of JA in the later response may be a critical step in the signaling of the downstream defense cascade. In addition, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 188.8.131.52) and benzoic acid 2-hydroylase (BA2H), enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of SA, and lipoxygenase (LOX, EC 22.214.171.124), an important enzyme in the JA biosynthesis pathway, were also induced by cowpea aphid. The changes in the enzymatic activity of PAL, BA2H and LOX, and expression of gene encoding PAL were closely associated with the accumulation of endogenous SA and JA, respectively. The variations in the levels of these defense-related compounds were strongly connected with density and the duration of cowpea aphid infestation. Different accumulations of SAand JA-signaling pathways may contribute to a coordinated regulation leading to the formation of resistant lines in the defense mechanisms of G. max cv. "Nam Dan" against A. craccivora.


Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is a rare pigmented pediatric tumor seen at craniofacial sites with the most common site being maxilla. This tumor arises from neural crest origin with a polyphenotypic expression of epithelial, neuroblastic, and melanotic markers. It is a locally aggressive tumor with rapid, expansile, and destructive growth. The tumor has fairly high chances of recurrence and malignant transformation, if not diagnosed and treated with time. There is no standard protocol for management owing to its rarity. Hereby, we present one such case of a 2-month-old male child with rapidly enlarging upper jaw swelling. The patient was treated with wide local excision, followed by two cycles of chemotherapy. The patient is in follow-up and doing well with no evidence of any local recurrence or metastasis till date.


RT-PCR of RNA from CHO cells with nonsense mutations in the hprt gene frequently detects minor hprt mRNA species lacking one or more exons. Many nonsense mutants also contain greatly reduced concentrations of the major, normally spliced hprt mRNA. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that exon-deleted mRNAs are normal constituents of CHO cells, but are not detected in wild-type parental cells and most missense mutants because their amplification is suppressed by relatively high concentrations of normally spliced hprt mRNA. A protocol designed to specifically detect exon-deleted mRNAs was conducted using RNA from parental cells and identified all the exon-deleted species typical of nonsense mutants. Quantitative analysis of parental cell RNA measured these exon-deleted mRNAs at < or = 0.7% of the abundance of the full-sized species. Nonsense and missense mutants had comparable amounts of exon-deleted mRNAs, which varied both above and below parental concentrations. The relative concentrations of particular exon-deleted species could be explained by the location of nonsense mutations remaining in the mRNA or by structural effects of mutations on splicing. Exon-deleted mRNAs were detected by RT-PCR when the concentration of the most abundant exon-deleted species was > or = 2% of the full-length mRNA. This occurred for mutants with nonsense mutations in internal exons. RT-PCR conditions were shown to suppress the amplification of exon-deleted species 40-fold when full-length mRNA was abundant, which occurred for parental lines and missense mutants. Our results verify that RT-PCR conditions can produce an artifactual association between nonsense mutation and exon-skipping when minor, exon-deleted mRNA is relatively enriched.


PITTSBURGH In this communication I shall touch briefly and somewhat empirically on certain conclusions arrived at as a result of my work with the morphinist. Some of these, I believe, are not generally noted in writings on the subject of drug habit, In dealing with the morphinist, we find an individual very different from the alcoholic. For while we may fall back on the neuropathic constitution to explain many cases of alcoholism, if we attempt to apply the same argument in morphinism it will be found not to work in nearly so many instances. Unlike the poet, the morphinist may be made, not born such; there need be neither special neuropathologic constitution nor hereditary taint. I am inclined to say that some neurotic element is necessary for the evolution of the well-developed inebriate; but this original, native nervous feature is by no means always present in the morphinist; it is


IMPORTANCE
No endovascular devices are commercially available in the United States to treat high-surgical risk patients with aneurysms extending to visceral arteries. Treatment options are even further limited for symptomatic patients in need of urgent treatment.

OBJECTIVE
To describe a successful urgent endovascular repair of a juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with contained rupture.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
A hybrid suite using a surgeon-modified fenestrated endovascular graft and advanced 3-dimensional imaging workstation. The patient was an 82-year-old veteran taking clopidogrel and aspirin for coronary stents with significant cardiopulmonary comorbidities including multiple prior abdominal surgeries and a single functional left kidney.

INTERVENTION
Surgeon-modified fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic improvement.

RESULTS
The patient was discharged 5 days after an uneventful postoperative course. On short-term follow-up, the patient had an early return to his baseline functional status. The excluded aneurysm sac shrank with patent visceral branches and there was an absence of endoleak on 3-month and 6-month surveillance computed tomography angiography.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Surgeon-modified fenestrated stent grafts may be a viable option for selected high-surgical risk patients with symptomatic complex abdominal aortic aneurysms.


Rural people's food security, livelihood and employment depend on the development of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences to fulfill the requirement of nourishment for human being. The vegetables, gardening fruits, animals mostly consumed as broiler, buffalo, goat, sheep meat and milk are the main reasons to make good health if those are pure. Otherwise, impure and contaminated foods and fruits may inflict the human body. As the milk is said to be the most complete food and the majority of families in Pakistan consume it as fresh, boiled, processed and powdered as in conversion to products taste yoghurt, lassi, cheese, ice cream, butter, ghee, sweetmeats, confectioneries etc. The agriculture sector provides raw material for industry and create efficient demand for industrial goods. Besides, excessive use of pesticides however, has caused resistance in many types of pests in various crops including cotton as well as a serious contamination of environmental pollution which ultimately effects to human beings and other animals much attention is strained to the need for rational use of safe management.


We examine the minimum mean-square error (MMSE) turbo equalization of turbo-coded and dual-polarized broadband wireless signals for frequency selective channels. Severe multipath dispersion, represented by a long channel impulse response between each polarization state and receive sensor, makes impossible the direct application of trellis-based turbo equalizers. For this reason, we propose a computationally efficient turbo receiver that employs a soft-information aided MMSE space-time equalizer at its front-end for each polarization direction. Because the dual-polarization modulator takes the outputs of a turbo encoder, the space-time MMSE equalizer is coupled with a turbo decoder at its back-end. Therefore the proposed receiver performs a doubly-iterative operation: an outer equalization iteration for each polarization signal and an inner decoding iteration within each outer loop.


Intraspecific ploidy variation is an important component of angiosperm biodiversity; however, this variation is rarely considered in conservation programs. This is of particular concern when conservation activities include augmentation, reintroduction or ecological restoration because there are potentially negative consequences when ploidy variants are unintentionally mixed within populations. We surveyed regional ploidy variation in the Lepidosperma costale Nees species complex (Schoeneae: Cyperaceae) in the South West Australian Floristic Region, an international biodiversity hotspot. Several L. costale sensu lato populations are threatened by iron-ore extraction, including the rare L. gibsonii R.L.Barrett, and these populations are the subject of ecological restoration programs. The DNA ploidy of 2384 individuals from 28 populations across the range of the species complex was determined and four DNA ploidy levels were discovered, namely, diploid, triploid, tetraploid and pentaploid. Diploids and tetraploids were the most common cytotypes and were largely geographically segregated, even at an exhaustively studied contact zone. Triploids were found at a low frequency in two populations. The rarity of triploids suggests substantial interploidy sterility, and that mixing of ploidy variants should, therefore, be avoided when restoring L. costale s.l. populations. These data provide a guide for L. costale s.l. germplasm collection and suggest that polyploidy may be an important driver of diversification in these sedges.


Abstract Objective  Although guidelines exist regarding optimal interpregnancy interval (IPI) after live birth, both optimal IPI and counseling regarding recommended IPI (rIPI) after stillbirth or neonatal death is not well established. Our goal was to describe the counseling bereaved parents receive regarding IPI, parents' reactions to that counseling, and actual IPI after loss. Study Design  Bereaved parents who had a previous pregnancy result in stillbirth or neonatal death participated in a web-based survey. Questions included demographics, details of stillbirth or neonatal death, IPI counseling, and pregnancy after loss. Demographic information, rIPI, and ac'tual IPI were reported using descriptive statistics. The Wilcoxon's rank sum test was used to test the association between rIPI and mode of delivery. The Spearman's correlation was used to test the association between rIPI and maternal age. Results  A total of 275 surveys were analyzed. Mean gestational age of stillbirth delivery was 33.1 (standard deviation: 6.6) weeks. A total of 29% delivered via cesarean. Median rIPI was 6 (interquartile ratio [IQR]: 2–9) months, with the primary reason for IPI reported as the need to heal (74%). Delivery via cesarean was associated with longer rIPI, 9 versus 4.2 months ( p  < 0.0001). Maternal age was not associated with rIPI. Of 144 people who pursued pregnancy again, median time until attempting conception was 3.5 (IQR: 2–6) months. Median actual IPI was 6 (IQR: 4–10) months. Conclusion  Bereaved parents receive a wide range of counseling regarding rIPI. The majority receive rIPI and pursue actual IPI shorter than current national and international recommendations for optimal IPI. Key Points There is variation in IPI recommendation after stillbirth/neonatal death. Cesarean birth is associated with longer IPI recommendation, but maternal age is not. Median IPI after stillbirth or neonatal death was short: 6 (IQR: 4–10) months.


The transformation of leaf protein into insect tissue can be distilled grossly into four serial steps: consumption of protein, digestion of protein into small peptides and free amino acids, absorption of these fragments across the gut epithelium, and construction of tissue from the absorbed fragments. We examine these steps in caterpillars, with emphasis on determining which, if any, process is limiting and how digestive events influence-and are influenced by-the rate of consumption. Five competing hypotheses are (1) the steps are matched, (2) consumption is limiting, (3) digestion is limiting, (4) absorption is limiting, and (5) post-absorptive processes are limiting. For conditions appropriate to each of the five hypotheses, we use a chemical reactor model to predict the concentration profiles of protein and protein breakdown products along the midgut. We test the predictions in two ways. First, based on midgut morphology and rates of digesta flow and protein breakdown estimated from in vitro experiments, we calculate the axial concentration profile of protein in the midgut of fifth instar Manduca sexta. This calculation suggests that protein breakdown occurs primarily in the anterior midgut, thus excluding the hypotheses that feeding and digestive processes are matched or that digestion is limiting. In addition, caterpillar feeding responses to reduced concentrations of protein are not consistent with the hypothesis that consumption is limiting. Second, we review published studies that show midgut concentration profiles of protein and breakdown products, one supporting the hypothesis that absorption across the midgut epithelium is limiting and the other suggesting that post-absorptive processes are limiting. Consequently, we interpret compensatory feeding by larval M. sexta as a mechanism for maintaining saturated rates of protein absorption or of tissue construction. Arch. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


OBJECTIVE. Prophylactic vaccination of 16- to 23-year-old females with a quadrivalent human papillomavirus (types 6, 11, 16, 18) L1 virus-like particle vaccine has been shown to prevent type-specific human papillomavirus infection and associated clinical disease. We conducted a noninferiority immunogenicity study to bridge the efficacy findings in young women to preadolescent and adolescent girls and boys, who represent a primary target for human papillomavirus vaccination. METHODS. We enrolled 506 girls and 510 boys (10–15 years of age) and 513 females (16–23 years of age). Participants were vaccinated on day 1, at month 2, and at month 6, and serology testing was performed on day 1 and at months 3 and 7 on blinded samples. Neutralizing antibody concentrations were determined using type-specific immunoassays and summarized as geometric mean titers and seroconversion rates. Vaccine tolerability also was assessed. RESULTS. By month 7, seroconversion rates were ≥99% for all 4 human papillomavirus types in each group. By month 7, compared with women, anti–human papilloma virus geometric mean titers in girls or boys were noninferior and were 1.7- to 2.7-fold higher. Most (>97%) injection-site adverse events were mild to moderate in intensity. Significantly more boys (13.8%) and girls (12.8%) than women (7.3%) reported fevers ≥37.8°C within 5 days of vaccination. Most (96.4%) fevers were mild (<39°C). CONCLUSIONS. Noninferior immunogenic responses to all 4 human papillomavirus types in the quadrivalent vaccine permit the bridging of efficacy data that were generated in young women to girls. The results in boys lend support for the implementation of gender-neutral human papillomavirus vaccination programs. This vaccine generally was well tolerated.


Community volunteering is an under-utilized, at least under-researched, strategy to supplement existing treatment for affective disorders. We present findings from a feasibility study incorporating community volunteering into clinical treatment for depression and anxiety among adolescents and young adults. This exploratory pilot study had four aims: to investigate recruitment feasibility; to describe participants' experiences with volunteering; to explore psychosocial assets by which volunteering might decrease depressive and anxiety symptoms; and to document preliminary changes in mental health outcomes before and after the volunteering intervention. Interviews and surveys were employed with participants (N = 9; ages 14–20, Mage = 16 years old; eight women and one man) newly diagnosed with: mild to moderate depression (single episode), mild to moderate anxiety, or adjustment disorder. Recruitment was feasible overall, successes and challenges are discussed. Experiences with volunteering were very positive. Qualitative findings revealed perceived positive effects of volunteering on mood and well-being such as helping with social anxiety and being a positive distraction. Qualitative findings revealed several psychosocial assets that improved related to volunteering (e.g., sense of purpose/meaning and sense of community). On average, participants reported a 19% decrease in depressive symptoms from the pre-survey (before volunteering) to the post-survey (after volunteering). Although more research is warranted, the implication of this study for practicing psychologists treating adolescents and young adults for mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety is that they may wish to consider incorporating community volunteer activities into treatment. Volunteering was a desirable activity for interested participants in treatment for affective disorders.


Metastatic carcinoma to the optic nerve has infrequently been reported in the ophthalmic literature. 1-8 In most of the cases, the nerve has become secondarily involved by extension of tumor from metastatic lesions in adjacent choroid or meninges. However, isolated metastasis to the optic nerve does occur. Carcinoma of the breast accounts for 60% to 70% of ocular metastases, an incidence higher than the relative prevalence of breast carcinoma among malignant tumors. Although metastases from this tumor are most common in the choroid and are found far less frequently in the optic nerve, breast carcinoma accounts for most of the optic nerve lesions which have been reported. Primary tumors of the lung are next in frequency with sporadic cases from other primary sites. Two cases of pancreatic carcinoma were described by Sniderman. 8 In both instances, the optic nerve involvement was secondary to extensive metastases in the orbit. This is


Most of the information we have about the internal rotation of stars comes from modes that are weakly affected by rotation, for example by using rotational splittings. In contrast, we present here a method, based on the asymptotic theory of Prat et al. (2016), which allows us to analyse the signature of rotation where its effect is the most important, that is in low-frequency gravity modes that are strongly affected by rotation. For such modes, we predict two spectral patterns that could be confronted to observed spectra and those computed using fully two-dimensional oscillation codes.


Unsaturated fatty acid alpha-butylglucoside esters were prepared by enzymatic esterification of alpha-butylglucoside in nonaqueous media. Conditions were firstly optimized using oleic acid as acyl group. Synthesis was possible in several solvents but the presence of water co-product in the medium limited the reaction to a thermodynamic equilibrium corresponding to a maximal conversion yield of 62%. In pure molten substrates, the removal of water under reduced pressure enabled yields superior to 95% to be obtained. Product profiles depended on enzyme origin : whatever the support, immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica proved to be far more regioselective for the primary hydroxyl group of glucose than immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei. Results obtained could be easily transposed to the acylation of alpha-butylglucoside with a commercial mixture of unsaturated fatty acids containing more than 60% of linoleic acid. The biocatalyst could be recycled more than ten times without any significant activity loss.


A total of 40 catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were exposed for 96 h to natural BOD (biological oxygen demand) levels of the wastewater treatment lagoons of a swine farm (control lagoon, 1.3 mg/L; lagoon 1, 719 ± 94 mg/L; lagoon 2, 190 mg/L; lagoon 3, 57 ±19 mg/L). After exposure, the gills, liver, spleen and kidney were examined and scored for lesions. Gill alterations included congestion, hemorrhage, basal cell hyperplasia, fusion of secondary lamellae and necrosis. Gill lesions were found to be highest in fishes exposed to the highest BOD level, which produced 100% mortality within 14 h. The lesions appeared to be consistent with that of acute tissue response to hypoxic and toxic conditions. Few to no lesions were observed in the gills of fish exposed to lower BOD levels. The liver of fishes at the highest BOD level showed congestion, hemorrhage, fatty degeneration, cloudy swelling, increased granularity of the cytoplasm and necrosis. Lower BOD levels, on the other hand, elicited less severe cellular changes. The kidney and spleen showed considerable changes at the highest BOD level. In the kidney, congestion, hemorrhage, vacuolation and necrosis were observed whereas necrosis and an increase in the number and size of melanomacrophage centers were found in the spleen. Results of the study revealed an increasing lesion score with the rise in the BOD level, which is suggestive of the deleterious effects of high BOD levels on these organs. Key words: Biological Oxygen Demand, BOD, catfish, swine farm, wastewater


Multi-robot systems have the potential to exceed the performance of many existing robotic systems by taking advantage of the cluster's redundancy, coverage and flexibility. These unique characteristics of multi-robot systems allow them to perform tasks such as distributed sensing, gradient climbing, and collaborative work more effectively than any single robot system. The purpose of this research was to augment the existing cluster space control technique in order to demonstrate effective gradient-based functionality, specifically, that of tracking gradient contours of specified concentration levels. To do this, we needed first to estimate the direction of the gradient and/or contour based on the real-time measurements made by sensors on the distributed robots, and second, to steer the cluster in the appropriate direction. Successful simulation, characterization, and experimental testing with the developed testbed have validated this approach. The controller enabled the cluster to sense and follow a contour-based trajectory in a parameter field using both a kayak cluster formation and also the land based Pioneer robots. The positive results of this research demonstrate the robustness of the cluster space control while using the contour following technique and suggest the possibility of further expansion with field applications.


Nurses have a key role in improving the client's health and their lifestyle is effective in representing services to the patients and client. This study aims to investigate the nursing students' perception about the effective factors on their healthy lifestyle. This study was done qualitatively with the content analysis approach and through 20 semi-structured and deep interviews with undergraduate nursing students of Tehran city. The participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and reviewed. Also, codes were extracted. Based on centrality, codes were put in a sub-category and then by reviewing sub-categories again, they were put in categories and finally, a theme was determined. During the process of content analysis, theme on the effective factors on nursing students' healthy life style was revealed. The theme included 9 categories: ``the perception of effective factors on health promotion'', ``having enough time'', ``inner factors'', ``work-related factors or activity'', ``environmental factors'', ``knowledge and awareness'', ``individual factors'', ``social factors'', and ``perceived priorities''. The participants believed that various and widespread factors affected their health promotion level. The extension of these factors demands the complete attention to different health dimensions and how to improve it by person, family, and community. Hosseini M, Ashktorab T, Taghdisi MH, Esmaeili Vardanjani SA. The explanation of effective factors on the healthy lifestyle of the nursing students' view: A qualitative study. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):5558-5567] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 825


Using a PDP-11 minicomputer, a system was developed for real-time acquisition of fetal breathing, body movement, and heart rate data. Analogue event pulses were input electronically to a DR-11 16 channel A/D, D/A interface and the event times were measured using an AR-11 real-time clock. Event times were stored for comprehensive off-line analysis and useful data summaries were also provided on-line. The on-line printouts enabled investigators to examine the quality of the data at the time of the study. The system has resulted in faster data acquisition and analysis and greater accuracy of measurement.


As the only surface water source for Beijing, the Miyun Reservoir and its catchment (MRC) are a focus for concern about the degradation of ecosystem services (ES) unless appropriate payments for ecosystem services (PES) are in place. This study used the contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate the costs of two new PES programs, for agriculture and forestry, and to further calculate the economic value of ES in the MRC from the perspective of local rural households' willingness to accept (WTA). The results of Logit model including WTA and the variables of household and village indicate that the local socio-economic context has complex effects on the WTA of rural households. In particular, the bid amount, location and proportion of off-farm employment would have significant positive effects on the local WTA. In contrast, the insignificance of the PES participation variable suggests that previous PES program experiences may negatively impact subsequent program participation. The mean WTA payments for agriculture and forestry PES programs were estimated as 8531 and 8187 yuan/ha/year, respectively. These results consistently explain the differentiated opportunity costs on both farmland and forestry land. Meanwhile, the differentiated WTA values in Beijing vs. the surrounding Hebei Province follow the interest differences and development gaps between jurisdictions. Finally, the total economic value of ES in the MRC area was estimated at 11.1 billion yuan/year). The rational economic value of ES for the restoration priority areas reaches 515.2 million yuan/year. For the existing budget gap (299 million yuan/year), the study proposed that decision makers increase the water tariff by 0.08 yuan to raise the funds needed. The study also concluded that these results are not only financially and politically feasible but also cost-effective. This study has policy implications for improving the implementation efficiency and providing quantified supports for PES programs in megacity source water area.


This paper sets out to establish an empirical link between education and property rights. The analysis is based on a new index of property rights derived from a set of commonly used indicators. As expected, education has a generally positive impact on property rights. But the relationship is not linear. The effect also depends on level of income. More education might not always be good for property rights in lowincome countries. Instrumental variable estimation demonstrates that the schooling of the least educated 60 percent population is better identified to measure the impact of human capital on property rights than mean years of schooling. The dynamic panel estimation of the relationship reveals that it takes some time before an increase in the human capital of the least educated 60 percent population bears a positive impact on property right institutions. The independent influence of education on property rights is found to be stronger than that of income in most specifications.


Summary A prospective, randomized study was conducted at two Nepalese hospitals to compare the mean reduction in Blood Pressure (BP), Pulse Rate (PR) and Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) caused by amlodipine and enalapril. Thirty-six patients each in amlodipine and enalapril group were followed at 0, 1, and 4 weeks. Median age of the patients was 46.5 years and only 40% had schooling. Overall, 50% were either current or past smokers, 5.56% diabetic and 26.39% had family history of hypertension. Systolic/diastolic BP reduction in enalapril group was significant after 1 week (P = 0.000, 0.000) and insignificant after 4 weeks (P= 0.131, 0.271). In amlodipine group systolic/diastolic BP reduction was significant after 1 week (P = 0.000, 0.000) and after 4 weeks (P = 0.000, 0.008). BP reduction with enalapril was statistically insignificant (P = 0.618, 0.289). Enalapril decreased PR significantly (P = 0.004) after 1 weeks and insignificantly after 4 weeks (P = 0.803). Amlodipine decreased PR insignificantly after 1 and 4 weeks (P = 0.071, 0.556). PR reduction was more in enalapril group and was significant (P = 0.041, 0.025). Dry cough, nausea and dizziness were major ADRs with enalapril; whereas, peripheral edema, nausea and shortness of breath with amlodipine. More number of ADRs was experienced with amlodipine and 2 patients needed a change in drug therapy due to ankle edema. Both drugs were equally effective in terms of BP reduction and enalapril was better tolerated.


This study demonstrates how ductile strain measurements can determine the tectonic evolution of a large and long-lived subduction wedge. We provide a synthesis of the geology of the South Island of New Zealand, with an emphasis on a wedge tectonics perspective that contrasts with a traditional view that interprets New Zealand geology in the context of terrane collision and accretion. We argue that the Otago subduction wedge evolved in a steady fashion throughout its 290 to 105 Ma history in response to accretion of trench-fill and abyssal-plain sediments, and slow erosion of a subaerially-exposed forearc high. Maximum temperatures for rocks in the flanks of the forearc high were no greater than 150 to 300 °C, with solution mass-transfer active as the dominant ductile mechanism. The 54 studied samples provide information about the absolute ductile strains acquired all along their flow-path, from the site of accretion to exhumation in the forearc high. We use tensor-averages to estimate strain at a regional scale. These show plane-strain uniaxial flattening, given that the tensor-averages for Sy and Sx are close to one. On average, Sz is approximately 0.77, and this is balanced by a mass loss of about 23 percent. The average Z direction is sub-horizontal in the prowedge and moderately plunging in the retrowedge, a difference attributed to spatial variations in the mode of accretion. We infer that rocks presently in the pro-side of the Otago high were sourced by frontal accretion, and those in the retro-side were underplated. This result highlights the important role of accretion in determining the style of within-wedge deformation, and also demonstrates the benefit of using a tensor-averaging approach to examine regional strain.


THOUGH ocular hypertension is one of the fundamental symptoms of glaucoma, we have as yet little clinical evidence for an evaluation of its pathological significance and real severity. The only elements at our disposal are those inferred by the study of the pressure curve both spontaneous and after miotic drugs. These studies show that at the onset of the disease the basic pressure may still be normal, in spite of a certain degree of instability; during the course of the disease the tension rises with diurnal phasic variations of wide range; in the late stages of the disease these diurnal variations become smaller and the basic pressure rises to a very high level. Leydhecker (1952) recently employed the usual provocative tests (waterdrinking, lability, mydriasis) to define the changes responsible for this symptom and evaluate its severity. His attempts led to uncertain conclusions, because our knowledge of the function primarily impaired, and of the exact mechanism of the tests employed is uncertain. In fact, the possibility of solving this problem depends upon the exact knowledge of the pathogenesis of hypertension as well as of the mechanism of action of the tests employed. With regard to the pathogenesis of the symptom, our views are confined to-day to two hypotheses which may be considered complementary. The first, elaborating the old conception of Priestley Smith (1879, 1891), maintains that hypertension is caused by an anatomical obstacle to the outflow of the aqueous. This obstacle is to be sought, according to Ascher (1949), in the aqueous veins, and, according to Goldmann (1948), in the trabeculae of the anterior chamber. An anatomical obliteration in the anterior aqueous drainage channels would, however, lead to a blocking of circulation, which makes it hard to explain the clinical behaviour of intra-ocular pressure. A mechanical obstacle present at a certain hour of the day cannot possibly be absent at another hour of the same day, when tension falls (DukeElder, 1952). Thomassen (1948) suggests a functional hindrance to the aqueous outflow caused by increased pressure in the episcleral venous vessels, into which the aqueous flows. A second hypothesis put forward by one of us (Cristini, 1951a) postulates the vascular nature of hypertension. It would result from a rise in the hydrostatic pressures in the uveal capillary-