Queueing systems with feedback are well suited for the description of message transmission and manufacturing processes where a repeated service is required. In the present paper we investigate a rather general single server queue with a Markovian Arrival Process (MAP), Phase-type (PH) service-time distribution, a finite buffer and feedback which operates in a random environment. A finite state Markovian random environment affects the parameters of the input and service processes and the feedback probability. The stationary distribution of the queue and of the sojourn times as well as the loss probability are calculated. Moreover, Little's law is derived.


: Female heroes of the Great Irish Hunger and its aftermath (1845–1852) have received little attention in popular culture and historiography. Extant portrayal of women of this period is to this day dominated by stereotypical tropes of passive victimization and suffering. This article links this phenomenon to the notion 'feminization of famine' (Kelleher 1997) and examines how contemporary literature challenges archival absences of alternative female roles through different manifestations of nineteenth-century female heroism. Proposing to interpret literary fiction as both an agent of alternative cultural archive and a source of cultural conceptions of the heroic, the article zooms in on Emma Donoghue's novel The Wonder (2016). A close reading of its female characters reveals that contemporary literature subverts female imagery based on victimization and suffering. Instead, it promotes heroic figures that foster hunger relief and defy expected gender roles in hunger crisis scenarios. Supplementing the analysis with recent representations of female heroes in new digital Famine archives, the article concludes that future cultural production will be increasingly interested in potential parallels between nineteenth-century female heroism and recent crises such as the global pandemic.


The IEC standard WIA-PA is a communication protocol for industrial wireless sensor networks. Its special features, including a hierarchical topology, hybrid centralized-distributed management and packet aggregation make it suitable for large-scale industrial wireless sensor networks. Industrial systems place large real-time requirements on wireless sensor networks. However, the WIA-PA standard does not specify the transmission methods, which are vital to the real-time performance of wireless networks, and little work has been done to address this problem. In this article, we propose a real-time aggregation scheduling method for WIA-PA networks. First, to satisfy the real-time constraints on dataflows, we propose a method that combines the real-time theory with the classical bin-packing method to aggregate original packets into the minimum number of aggregated packets. The simulation results indicate that our method outperforms the traditional bin-packing method, aggregating up to 35% fewer packets, and improves the real-time performance by up to 10%. Second, to make it possible to solve the scheduling problem of WIA-PA networks using the classical scheduling algorithms, we transform the ragged time slots of WIA-PA networks to a universal model. In the simulation, a large number of WIA-PA networks are randomly generated to evaluate the performances of several real-time scheduling algorithms. By comparing the results, we obtain that the earliest deadline first real-time scheduling algorithm is the preferred method for WIA-PA networks.


This paper develops a theory-practice view of administrative and organizational decision making. Its goals are to improve administrative decision-making processes, facilitate organizational change through faculty involvement, and increase the potential for success in education reform efforts. The first sections discuss the nature of theory and examine the relationship between theory and practice. The three major properties of a theory include generalization, analysis, and prediction. Limitations of theory and the requirements of validity and reliability are discussed. Rather than serving as objective maps of reality, it is concluded that theories provide a "guide to action." In theory and practice, organizational decision making as a social enterprise is viewed as a four-phase process: (1) recognizing the problem and developing a plan; (2) generating interactions among people involved; (3) negotiating; and (4) producing consequences. Organizational stability, however, is not possible or desirable, because people and situations change. Finally, several examples of ways to use the new paradigm are presented, including organizational decision making by Japanese automakers, policy analysis and action for governments, curriculum change in a school, and school restructuring. Recommendations for further study are offered. One figure is included. (LMI) **********.:************************************************************ Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. *********************************************************************** FACILITATING ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION-MAKING AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE VIA A DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AS SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Wise decision-making comes from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions. Anonymous U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION at PPSedu r arkr3 DrOve,0001 r in A TIONAt RF SOUE.d.. T S INFORMATION (.1 NTI P PIC. r, On, ,011001 as oee., fewoduce4:1 as 0,11 ,1 flow 'he optsr, or Organilabon ,kanges have t.rer, mace to an;),0,,e Qua.' r Pc..orr, ocnons Sliel.43.n15,5C/OCu mpnl d. nr.l ne,essar,$, 0c,reSent omna 11 wlsr.o, or Dcncr Arthur S. Shapiro William F. Benjamin John J. Hunt Assisted by Sue Shapiro -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE, AND SIGNIFICANCE A major trend surfacing recently in the American educational reform agenda consists of restructuring schools, particularly with site-based management or building-based administrative approaches. And, since restructuring essentially comprises a process to reshape large organizations into smaller units, this proves to be a complex and difficult enterprise. Another side of this coin focuses on enhancing teacher effectiveness. The third side of the coin involves efforts toward teacher empowerment. Unfortunately, teachers often are handicapped in restructuring and empowerment efforts since they usually are strangers wandering in the rarified lands of administration, of the administrative decisionmaking process, and of the consensus decision-making process. The purpose of this narrative was threefold. The first was to develop a theory/practice of administrative and organizational decision-making to improve administrative decision-making, the heart of administration (Barnard, 1938; Wolf, 1972; Griffiths, 1959). The second goal was to facilitate organizational change by promoting faculty involvement. The third objective was to increase the potential for success in reform efforts (TQM, site-based management, middle schools) with an effective decision-making


Silvestrol, a cyclopenta[b]benzofuran lignan present in the fruits and twigs of the tropical tree Aglaia foveolata Pannell (Meliaceae), is toxic to human cancer cell lines in culture with a potency similar to those of FDA approved anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. We report here that silvestrol has a mean GI50 of approximately 3 nM in the 60 cell-line panel of human cancer cell lines maintained at the National Cancer Institute. Furthermore, silvestrol is at least as effective as FDA-approved anticancer agents in the treatment of human cancer cells in vivo when tested in the hollow fiber assay or the inhibition of human tumor xenograft tumors propagated in immunedeficient mice. Others as well as our group have reported that silvestrol inhibits protein biosynthesis specifically without affecting the cellular production of either RNA or DNA. Pelletier and colleagues have shown that silvestrol impairs the ribosome recruitment step of translation initiation by affecting the composition of the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4F complex. In the present study, we test the hypothesis that disruption of protein synthesis by silvestrol can impact cell signaling pathways upstream of translation. Human colon cancer cells designated HT-29 were exposed to silvestrol at concentrations as high as 100 nM for as long as 48 h prior to harvest and evaluation by immunoblot. Protein signaling molecules known to regulate the protein synthesis machinery were evaluated for their abundance and state of phosphorylation as a function of silvestrol exposure. We observed down-regulation of the p110α catalytic subunit of PI3K, which phosphorylates PIP2 to PIP3. PIP3 then recruits PDK1 and AKT to the plasma membrane, where PDK1 can phosphorylate AKT. A decrease in the amount of PDK1 protein and a significant decrease in phosphorylation of AKT at ser 473 occurred. Moreover, a decrease in both the abundance and phosphorylation of mTOR was evident, which is a key component of mTORC2. Consistent with these findings, phosphorylation of AKT at thr 308 was significantly reduced. Finally, silvestrol exposure resulted in a decrease in phosphorylation of the S6 ribosomal protein serine 235/236. These data indicate that silvestrol treatment can disrupt key signaling pathways leading to protein synthesis production in human cancer cells. This work was supported by NIH grants U01 CA52956 and P01 CA125066. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2815. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2815


We use a cross-polarized pump–probe technique and 1-psec pulses at 596 nm to measure a two-photon absorption coefficient of 0.1 cm/GW in BaTiO3. A long-lived absorption is also observed and is shown to be consistent with free-carrier absorption and charge redistribution between two separate impurity levels. We also observe an anisotropic transient energy-transfer process in which the p-polarized pump is scattered into the s-polarized probe. The energy transfer occurs when the c axis of the crystal is oriented along a grating vector equal to the difference between the pump- and probe-wave vectors.


Cheilymenia laevispora sp. nov. is described and illustrated as a new coprophilous species collected in alpine zone. The distinct cellular structures composing the layers of the flesh and the smooth spores, confirmed by SEM pictures, place this species in the section Villosae J. Moravec. The new series Brevipilae is proposed to take into account the peculiar nature of the hairs


Case teaching is a teaching method that involves students' making diagnosis and decisions from integrating what they have learned while imitating the real situation so as to enhance their abilities of analyzing and solving problems. This paper, viewed from Commercial English and combined with the author's teaching practice in Commercial English in recent years, tries to probe the case teaching on its features, procedures and essential problems that should be paid attention to so as to give beneficial enlightenment to College Commercial English teaching in china.


Multi-view 3D object detection is becoming popular in autonomous driving due to its high effectiveness and low cost. Most of the current state-of-the-art detectors follow the query-based bird's-eye-view (BEV) paradigm, which benefits from both BEV's strong perception power and end-to-end pipeline. Despite achieving substantial progress, existing works model objects via globally leveraging temporal and spatial information of BEV features, resulting in problems when handling the challenging complex and dynamic autonomous driving scenarios. In this paper, we proposed an Object-Centric query-BEV detector OCBEV, which can carve the temporal and spatial cues of moving targets more effectively. OCBEV comprises three designs: Object Aligned Temporal Fusion aligns the BEV feature based on ego-motion and estimated current locations of moving objects, leading to a precise instance-level feature fusion. Object Focused Multi-View Sampling samples more 3D features from an adaptive local height ranges of objects for each scene to enrich foreground information. Object Informed Query Enhancement replaces part of pre-defined decoder queries in common DETR-style decoders with positional features of objects on high-confidence locations, introducing more direct object positional priors. Extensive experimental evaluations are conducted on the challenging nuScenes dataset. Our approach achieves a state-of-the-art result, surpassing the traditional BEVFormer by 1.5 NDS points. Moreover, we have a faster convergence speed and only need half of the training iterations to get comparable performance, which further demonstrates its effectiveness.


A wireless sensor node is self-assured by a processor, local memory, sensors, radio, battery and a base station accountable for receiving and processing data collected by the nodes. They carry out cooperative activities due to limited resources and nowadays, the applications of these networks are copious, varied and the applications in agriculture are still budding. One interesting purpose is in environmental monitoring and greenhouse control, where the crop conditions such as weather and soil do not depend on natural agents. To control and observe the environmental factors, sensors and actuators are necessary. Under these conditions, these devices must be used to make a distributed measure, scattering sensors all over the greenhouse using distributed clustering mechanism. This paper reveals an initiative of environmental monitoring and greenhouse control using a sensor network. The hardware realization shows periodic monitoring and control of greenhouse gases in an enhanced manner.


It has been proposed that single skin entrance exposure values be recommended for specific radiographic examinations. Numerous factors, however, contribute to large excursions in the measured skin entrance exposure (ESE) received by patients even in idealized conditions. Excluding the obvious effects of generator miscalibration, suboptimal film processing, film/screen spectral mismatches, et cetera, large variations in ESE are observed, even though clinically satisfactory radiographs are obtained. In particular, variations in ESE can be attributed to: selection of the film/screen combination, use of grids, patient thickness and tissue composition, kVp settings and the filtration employed. Data were taken at our institution for several representative examinations under various conditions. Lithium Fluoride TLD ribbons were placed on a series of patients undergoing PA and Lateral chest radiographs and PA abdomen radiographs with barium for Upper GI series. The patient ESE data observed at our institution, together with data taken with an anthropomorphic phantom will be presented. These data will be used to demonstrate that although a single ESE guideline may be appropriate under a specific set of conditions, a single value may be either too restrictive for a slower system or excessive for a faster system.


The paper empirically investigated the relationship between profitability, bank loans, age of business and the size of small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. Using fixed-effects regression model, the paper was based on a balanced panel data of 115  SMEs of existing firms that have taken loans or currently have active loans, randomly selected in Ondo State, Nigeria. The equation specified profitability as dependent variable and loans, sales, age of business, size of business and interest rate as independent variables. All the data except interest rate have been derived from the primary source/field survey. The results demonstrate that there is interdependence between the SMEs profitability and bank loans, and a significant relationship between profitability and the size of business. For high profitability, increased loans and growth in size of business remain important. The paper recommends that the government should formulate policies that will compel commercial banks to relax their restrictive regulations and operations which discourage borrowing, and offer more credit facilities for SMEs. Finally, the government should empower the SMEs to access and get credits from the commercial banks through formal and informal entrepreneurship education.

 Key words: Profitability, bank loans, entrepreneurship education, fixed-effect.


Y2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) have become great promising products for numerous applications in nanoscience especially for biomedical application, therefore increasing the probability of human exposure and gaining wide attention in biosecurity. It is well known that rare earth (RE) materials are deposited in the bone and excreted very slowly. Nevertheless, the effect of Y2O3-based NPs on bone metabolism has not been exactly known yet. In the present study, the effects of Y2O3 NPs on bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and bone metabolism in mice after intravenous injection were studied. The results demonstrated that Y2O3 NPs could be taken up into BMSCs and localized in acidifying intracellular lysosomes and underwent dissolution and transformation from Y2O3 to YPO4, which could lead to a break in the intracellular phosphate balance and induce lysosomal- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathways. Furthermore, after being administered to mice, a higher concentration of yttrium occurred in bone, which caused the apoptosis of bone cells and induced the destruction of bone structure. However, the formation of a YPO4 coating on the surface of Y2O3 NPs by pretreatment of Y2O3 NPs in lysosome-simulated body fluid could observably decrease the toxicity in vivo and in vitro. This study may be useful for practical application of Y2O3 NPs in the biomedical field.


This paper develops a single-phase ZVS bidirectional AC-link converter to interface batteries of Electric Vehicles (EVs) to the electric grid. A parallel Link inductance charges from the input (grid/battery). Then, the inductance partially resonates with the help of a parallel capacitance. After that, it discharges to the output (battery/grid). Furthermore, during charging mode, the power is fed into the output through a series inductance. Hence, the proposed converter has a continuous power flow capability. Therefore, its output current is very smooth and doesn't deteriorate the grid. Moreover, the single-phase feature enables interfacing small to medium Battery systems-at a smooth output fed current-to single-phase mains. The, the proposed converter is designed in MATLAB Simulink and is tested in a real time dspace environment. Both of simulation and real time results show that the proposed converter attains a satisfactory performance.


Identification of novel molecular targets is critical in development of new and efficient cancer therapies. Kinases are one of the most common drug targets with a potential for cancer therapy. Cell cycle progression is regulated by a number of kinases, some of which are being developed to treat cancer. Cdc7 is a serine-threonine kinase originally discovered in budding yeast, which has been shown to be necessary to initiate the S phase. Inhibition of Cdc7 in cancer cells retards the progression of the S phase, accumulates DNA damage, and induces p53-independent cell death, but the same treatment in normal cells does not significantly affect of less than viability. Low-molecular-weight compounds that inhibit Cdc7 kinase with an IC50 10 nM have been identified, and shown to be effective in the inhibition of tumor growth in animal models. Thus Cdc7 kinase can be recognized as a novel molecular target for cancer therapy.


The main criticism against fat reinjection procedures is related to whether it is possible to graft adipocytes or not. The ideal solution would be to perform biopsies a few months after the operation to check the evolution of the grafted tissue, but such an approach would be difficult to accept for our patients. To overcome this difficulty the authors have compiled all the arguments that plead in favor of adipocyte grafts when Coleman's technique is used. Peer demonstrated in animal studies that it is possible to graft fatty tissue and that more resorption occurs when the fragments are large in size. The histologic studies have shown that the different stages of Coleman's technique do not alter the viability of the adipocytes. A disorganization of the architecture of the lobules is observed, but this does not compromise the theory of adipocyte grafting. An MRI study, performed on ten patients, demonstrated that the reinjected fat cells persist several months after the procedure. These fat cells presented the same characteristics as the patient's native fat in the surrounding area. This impression was confirmed by histological analysis of the reinjected fatty tissue 18 months after the graft. Finally, the clinical results obtained on over 200 patients treated for various indications in plastic and cosmetic surgery lead us to believe that it is possible to perform grafts of fatty tissue.


A Chebyshev collocation method has been presented to solve nonlinear integral equations in terms of Chebyshev polynomials. This method transforms the integral equation to a matrix equation which corresponds to a system of nonlinear algebraic equations with unknown Chebyshev coefficients. Finally, some examples are presented to illustrate the method and results discussed.


In this work, we have derived amplitude and frequency determining equations using complex conjugate terms of electric field and polarization in Maxwell's equation. It is observed that the derived basics equations are different from the original equations derived by Lamb and his coworkers. The derived additional terms have physical significance related to the lasing action in Fabry-Perot type and Zemann laser cavities


Effective cancer treatment needs both, passive and active targeting approaches, to achieve highly specific drug delivery to the target cells while avoiding cytotoxicity to normal cells. Protein drugs are useful in this context because they can display excellent specificity and potency. However, their use in therapeutic formulations is limited due to their physical and chemical instability during storage and administration. Polysaccharides have been used to stabilize proteins during formulation and delivery. To accomplish both, stabilization and targeting simultaneously, the apoptosis-inducing protein cytochrome c (Cyt c) was modified with the polysaccharide hyaluronic acid (HA) because its corresponding receptor CD44 is overexpressed in many cancers. Cyt c-HA bioconjugates were formed using low and high molecular weight HA (8 kDa and 1 MDa) with a resultant Cyt c loading percentage of 4%. Circular dichroism and a cell-free caspase assay showed minor structural changes and high bioactivity (more than 80% caspase activation) of Cyt c, respectively, after bioconjugate formation. Two CD44-positive cancer cells lines, HeLa and A549 cells, and two CD44-negative normal cell lines, Huvec and NIH-3T3 cells, were incubated with the samples to assess selectivity and cytotoxicity. After 24 h of incubation with the samples, cancer cell viability was reduced at least 3-fold while CD44-negative control cell lines remained minimally affected. Fluorescence imaging confirmed selective internalization of the Cyt c-HA construct by CD44-positive cancer cell lines. These results demonstrate the development of a drug delivery system that incorporates passive and active targeting which is essential for cancer treatment.


We investigated the surface morphology and the change of Ag concentration for SnAg electrodeposits according to the current density using labmade and commercial plating solutions. The concentration of Ag in the SnAg electrodeposits decreased with increasing the current density. The Ag concentrations at the conditions of over 50 mA/cm2 were below 3 wt% and the surface was relatively smooth. Cu pillar bump was fabricated by using SnAg electroplating, and it was reflowed at 240oC for 90 sec. The cross-sectional microstructure was investigated by using EBSD measurement and it was found that the grain size of SnAg became smaller by increasing the number of reflow treatments.


The DVCS Hall A/JLab experiments aim at providing data relevant to the '3-D structure of the nucleon' exploration by measuring precise absolute cross sections in the Deep Exclusive domain. Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering off the nucleon is the simplest process which is sensitive to the Generalized Parton Distribution functions. Currently, the DVCS in Hall A program is articulated in three steps. The first generation of experiments showed the power of precise measurement of absolute cross sections to test factorization of the DVCS amplitude. The second generation of experiments (data under analysis) will separate (at twist-2 order) all of the terms making up the unpolarized cross section. And the third generation of experiments (data to be taken with the 12 GeV beam at JLab) will provide measurements over an extended kinematic range. In this conference proceeding, the status of the DVCS in Hall A/JLab program is reviewed.


The spatio-temporal evolution of filamentary discharge in dielectric barrier dis charge at atmospheric pressure is studied. A two-dimensional model was solved wi th uniform initial conditions. The simulation results reveal that the breakdowns take place continuously at different positions and gradually spread all over th e discharge space. It is found that under certain conditions the splitting and u niting of filaments can occur, which has been observed in experiments. The split ting of filaments leads to the generation of new filament and the uniting reduce s the number density of filaments in discharge space. The simulation shows that the charges on barrier surface play a dominant role in determining the global sp atio-temporal evolution of filamentary discharge.


All molecular traffic between nucleus and cytoplasm occurs via the nuclear pore complex (NPC) within the nuclear envelope. In this study we analyzed the interactions of the nuclear transport receptors kapalpha2, kapbeta1, kapbeta1DeltaN44, and kapbeta2, and the model transport substrate, BSA-NLS, with NPCs to determine binding sites and kinetics using single-molecule microscopy in living cells. Recombinant transport receptors and BSA-NLS were fluorescently labeled by AlexaFluor 488, and microinjected into the cytoplasm of living HeLa cells expressing POM121-GFP as a nuclear pore marker. After bleaching the dominant GFP fluorescence the interactions of the microinjected molecules could be studied using video microscopy with a time resolution of 5 ms, achieving a colocalization precision of 30 nm. These measurements allowed defining the interaction sites with the NPCs with an unprecedented precision, and the comparison of the interaction kinetics with previous in vitro measurements revealed new insights into the translocation mechanism.


A new single-axis gas thermal gyroscope without proof mass is presented in this paper. The device was designed, manufactured and experimentally characterized. The obtained results were compared to numerical simulation. The working principle of the gyroscope is based on the deflection of a laminar gas flow caused by the Coriolis effect. A bidirectional hot air flow is generated by alternating activation of two suspended resistive micro-heaters. The heated gas is encapsulated in a semi-open cavity and the gas expands primarily inside the cavity. The thermal expansion gyroscope has a simple structure. Indeed, the device is composed of a micromachined cavity on which three bridges are suspended. The central bridge is electrically separated into two segments enabling to set up two heaters which may be supplied independently from each other. The two other bridges, placed symmetrically on each side of the central bridge, are equipped with temperature detectors which measure variations in gas temperature. The differential temperature depends on the rotational velocity applied to the system. Various parameters such as the heating duty cycle, the type of the gas and the power injected into the heaters have been studied to define the optimal working conditions required to obtain the highest level of sensitivity over a measurement range of around 1000°/s. The robustness of the device has also been tested and validated for a shock resistance of 10,000 g for a duration of 400 µs.


Trichodesmium, a major diazotroph in tropical and subtropical oceans, provides a significant amount of bioavailable nitrogen in oligotrophic oceans. Remarkably, the cyanobacteria carry out nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis simultaneously under high light (HL) conditions. Here, we hypothesize that nickel superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) protects the nitrogen fixation process from oxidative stress generated in photosynthesis under high solar radiation conditions. We found that the variations in nitrogen fixation rates closely corresponded to Ni availability under HL conditions. The expression of NiSOD and two representative photosynthetic proteins also corresponded to variations in both nitrogen fixation rates and Ni availability under HL conditions. Trichodesmium collected in the field had a high Ni quota and elevated SOD activity. The evidence supports the conclusion that NiSOD protects nitrogen fixation in Trichodesmium from oxidative stress. The ability to utilize NiSOD may be a major advantage for Trichodesmium under high solar radiation conditions.


Thebes during the early Islamic period provides an excellent opportunity to study the work of Coptic scribes in the main village in the area, Djeme (Medinet Habu). Not only is there a vast amount of written material dating to the 7th and 8th centuries, many documents are signed, allowing the study of the dossiers of individual scribes. At the time of their original publication, some of these scribes were not identified. This includes the men who wrote P.KRU 34 and 55. Re-examination of these papyri corrects this situation, enabling the two men responsible – Paulos son of Kabiou and Shenoute son of Elias – to be added to the growing number of known scribes and writers from this region. This study includes new editions, commentaries, and the first published images of both documents.


Demineralized bone matrices (DBMs) have been used in a wide variety of clinical applications involving bone repair. Ideally, DBMs should provide osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties, while offering versatile handling capabilities. With this, a novel fiber technology, LifeNet Health-Moldable Demineralized Fibers (L-MDF), was recently developed. Human cortical bone was milled and demineralized to produce L-MDF. Subsequently, the fibers were lyophilized and terminally sterilized using low-dose and low-temperature gamma irradiation. Using L929 mouse fibroblasts, L-MDF underwent cytotoxicity testing to confirm lack of a cytotoxic response. An alamarBlue assay and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated L-MDF supported the cellular function and attachment of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, L-MDF demonstrated BMP-2 and 7 levels similar to those reported in the literature. In vivo data from an athymic mouse model implanted with L-MDF demonstrated the formation of new bone elements and blood vessels. This study showed that L-MDF have the necessary characteristics of a bone void filler to treat osseous defects.


Abstract. We study catastrophic filter divergence in data assimilation procedures whereby the forecast model develops severe numerical instabilities leading to a blow-up of the solution. Catastrophic filter divergence can occur in sparse observational grids with small observational noise for intermediate observation intervals and finite ensemble sizes. Using a minimal five-dimensional model, we establish that catastrophic filter divergence is a numerical instability of the underlying forecast model caused by the filtering procedure producing analyses which are not consistent with the true dynamics, and stiffness caused by the fast attraction of the inconsistent analyses towards the attractor during the forecast step.


We present results of a search for bright Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at 1.5 ⩽ z ⩽ 2.5 in the GOODS-S field using an NUV-dropout technique in combination with color selection. We derived a sample of 73 LBG candidates. We compare our selection efficiencies to BM/BX and BzK methods (techniques solely based on ground-based data sets), and find the NUV data to provide greater efficiency for selecting star-forming galaxies. We estimate LBG candidate ages, masses, star formation rates, and extinction from fitting PEGASE synthesis evolution models. We find that about 20% of our LBG candidates are comparable to infrared-luminous LBGs or submillimeter galaxies which are thought to be precursors of massive elliptical galaxies today. Overall, we can show that although BM/BX and BzK methods do identify star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 2, the sample they provide biases against those star-forming galaxies which are more massive and contain sizeable red stellar populations. A true Lyman break criterion at z ∼ 2 is therefore more directly comparable to the populations found at z ∼ 3, which does contain a red fraction.


Background Reineckia carnea is commonly used to treat cough, pneumonia and other diseases in China. In our previous study, it was found that the ethanol extracts of Reineckia carnea have a strong inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cells. Here, we isolated gracillin from ethanol extracts for the first time. Purpose Clarify the antiproliferation effect of gracillin on A549 cells and further explore its mechanisms via the mitochondrial pathway. Methods Gracillin was isolated and purified by silica gel, D-101 macroporous resin and preparative RP-HPLC, then identified by NMR and HR-MS. The inhibitory effects of gracillin on the proliferation of A549 cells were detected by the MTS method. Its mechanisms were further explored by flow cytometry and Western blot. Results A steroid saponin, gracillin, was isolated and identified from Reineckia carnea for the first time. In a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner, gracillin significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells with an IC50 value at 2.54 μmol/L and induced morphological changes. The results of flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptosis rate of A549 cells was significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the cells proportion was obviously arrested in S phase. The concentration of intracellular calcium was raised (p < 0.01), and the mitochondrial membrane potential was greatly decreased (p < 0.01). In addition, the expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, and cytochrome C were dramatically up-regulated while Bcl-2 was down-regulated (p < 0.05) in A549 cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that gracillin has a significant antiproliferative effect on A549 cells. Gracillin could induce the apoptosis of A549 cells through the mitochondrial pathway, which might be associated with regulation of the concentration of intracellular calcium, the mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, and cytochrome C.


Chronic liver diseases are long-term pathologies affecting a wide range of people nowadays. They can be caused by multiple factors including viral infection, alcohol overconsumption, metabolic disorders or genetic factors to which are added the impact of our lifestyles and environmental exposures. These diseases have become an important public health problem, but the impact of our environment is difficult to determine give the diversity of factors involved and the dynamics of these exposures. This internship project aims to identify environmental exposure factors associated to the occurrence of chronic liver diseases. The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) is used as an information source. This database describes exposure events at several levels of associations (chemical-gene, chemical-disease and gene-disease associations). The conversion of the CTD tabulated chemical-gene interactions file into the BioPAX format (Biological Pathway Exchange) thanks to the development of a Python CTD-to-BioPAX converter allows to standardize it in accordance to Semantic Web standards. The obtained BioPAX file can be used as an input of the CadBiom application developed by the DYLISS and Dymec teams in order to build large-scale biological dynamic networks based on guarded transitions. The generated models could be analyzed thanks to reachability queries in order to identify environmental exposures causal signatures associated to the occurrence of chronic liver diseases.


Traditional blacksmith workshops (Majdani) are one of the examples of businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina that have existed in their authenticity for more than five centuries (Geographical coordinates: 44º10'09.01''N, 18º27'52.79''E, elevation: 797). It is a specific way of producing a wide range of wrought iron products using resources from the immediate environment. Iron production has been a strategic issue since the beginning of human civilizations, both for the individual and for all levels of the social communities to which he belonged.
The exploitation of iron ore, as well as its processing, was always strictly supervised and controlled by the very top of a social community (emperor, king, political and military top of the state).


The adsorption of sucrose on FAU type zeolites was measured depending on the ratio of Si/Al and the solvent composition (ethanol–water). The maximal loading was found to be 1 sucrose molecule per α-cage. The adsorption can proceed from water on strong dealuminated zeolites and from an ethanol water mixture on aluminum rich zeolites. To recover sucrose the zeolite can be treated with ethanol–water. Alternatively the liquid is first mixed with an alcohol, sucrose is adsorbed on a hydrophilic zeolite and desorbed by the addition of water. An application is reported for the desugarization of sugar-beet molasses and process liquids of a beet sugar factory. The adsorption obeys the Langmuir isotherm and is selective compared with other saccharides. The effective diffusion coefficient of sucrose inside the zeolite pores was measured.


With interest we read the article by Limongelli et al. about cardiac involvement (CI) in 32 patients with mitochondrial disorders (MIDs). The study raises concerns. Exercise limitation was found in 24 patients and was exclusively regarded as a cardiovascular symptom. Since 14 patients had exercise intolerance and progressive muscle weakness, since 17 developed muscle fatigue during a metabolic exercise test, and since easy fatigability is generally a dominant phenotypic feature of MIDs, it is conceivable that exercise limitation was at least in part or exclusively attributable to the oxidative defect or weakness of the striated muscles and not exclusively to CI. Although dyspnoea is a frequent manifestation of cardiac disease it can also be a manifestation of affected respiratory muscles. Since eight patients had mitochondrial myopathy, 12 mitochondrial myopathy with ophthalmoplegia, two Kearns–Sayre-syndrome and seven MELAS-syndrome, it cannot be excluded that the respiratory muscles were also affected. Did all patients undergo spirometry to assess the muscular component of dyspnoea? Left ventricular non-compaction, also known as left-ventricular hypertrabeculation, is frequently found in patients with neuromuscular disorders and MIDs. The definition of non-compaction, however, is under debate. According to which criteria was noncompaction diagnosed, and did the patient develop ventricular tachycardia or cardiac embolism, frequent complications of non-compaction? Phenotypic expression of mtDNAmutations largely depends on the relation between the amount of mutated and wildtype mtDNA. What were the mutation rates of the A3243G, A8344G, G9952A, 12294-tRNA, 11232-tRNA, and mtDNAdeletions? Which nucleotide-exchange was associated with the 12294and 11232tRNA-mutations? The A8344G mtDNA-mutation has not been described as the cause of a neuropathy, ataxia, and retitintis pigmentosa (NARP)phenotype. Was this patient also tested for the T8993G/C mutations, which usually cause NARP? Although mitochondrial tRNAmutations may cause chronic progressive ophthalmoplegia it has not been reported together with the 11232 tRNA-mutation. Were these mutations also found in other family members? What was the mutation rate? Did the NARP-patient also develop features of MERRF-syndrome, which is most frequently due to the A8344G mutation? To conclude that life-threatening cardiovascular complications occur rarely is not justified with regard to the number of investigated patients, the duration of follow-up, previous reports about death from CI in MIDs, and the few studies available which address this question. Overall, patients with MIDs need to be closely followed-up for CI, since the rate and frequency of progression is largely unknown and it is unclear if patients profit from preventive measures (CRT/ICD-devices) at an early stage of CI.


Much current policy analysis assumes that in order to build theory on vocational education and training (VET) policy evaluation, it is useful to explore evaluation from the perspectives of its stakeholders. However in practice this does not always happen. This thesis addresses the limitations that arise in policy analysis on VET when stakeholders' perspectives are ignored or assumed. Industry Training in New Zealand is used as an example of a VET policy that has experienced increasing participation by stakeholders, but limited evaluation that largely ignores stakeholders' views. Taking an inclusive, qualitative approach, this research seeks to unearth how different stakeholders in the state and tourism sectors evaluate the impact of Industry Training and how value is created for each from Industry Training engagement. Fifty semi-structured interviews were completed with a cross-section of stakeholders representing policy makers, various industry interest groups, as well as employers/managers and trainees from four state and tourism sector organisations. Secondary data, where available, were also analysed, in order to improve the level of data triangulation. An analytical framework was developed from the VET, human capital, human resource development, critical human resource development and policy evaluation literatures. This framework consists of two broad paradigms of evaluation: (1) The Strategic HRD/VET policy logic of skills investment equals increased socio-economic prosperity. This views the outcomes of VET policy as largely value-free, quantifiable facts that are mutually beneficial to all stakeholders, and which exist separately from these stakeholders; and, (2) The Critical HRD/Stakeholder logic that views the outcomes of VET policy as value-laden, not necessarily mutually beneficial to all stakeholders, nor existing separately from its stakeholders. Responses from interviewees were compared against these paradigms and among different stakeholder groups to answer the main research question: How do stakeholders evaluate the impact of a VET policy? The main research outcome is the development of a new framework and theory of VET policy evaluation, based on a comparative understanding of value creation from multiple stakeholders' perspectives.


The study was conducted to know the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in clinical infections and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern to commonly used antibiotics in a tertiary care teaching hospital. We received 897 relevant clinical isolates among, which 203 was P.aeruginosa. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion method with first line and second line antibiotics. Results – Among the first line antibiotics the isolate displayed an increased resistance to Ciprofloxacin (28.57%) followed by Levofloxacin (25.61%), and the least was towards Amikacin (14.77%), whereas most of the second line antibiotics such as Polymyxin B and Colistin exhibited a high sensitivity (99.02 %.). Conclusion-The ability of the opportunistic pathogen P.aeruginosa to rapidly develop resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics during the course of treatment makes it important to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern. As the pipeline of new drugs continues to diminish, it is critical that we look for new strategies to combat the threat of antibacterial resistance.


Abstract Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) results in complex endocrine and metabolism alterations including thyroid dysfunction. There is many mechanisms explained the link between thyroid and kidney disease, both of them affect each other, plus both consider as an independent factor for cardiovascular disease. Aims: We investigate the prevalence of morphological and functional discarder in CKD maintained on hemodialysis and it relation to dialysis duration. Study design and method: A cross section study included 60 CKD patient maintained on HD and 40 control subjects. All subject investigated with thyroid ultrasound and thyroid hormone screen including serum thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronin (T3), Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T3, free T4, Thyroglobulin antibodies (TG Ab) and Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO Ab). Results: HD patients had a higher prevalence of diffuse goiter than control subjects (26.7% versus 10%, p=0.045), we compared the prevalence of thyroid function disorders between the two group which showed significant high frequency of low T3 syndrome in HD group. The mean duration of hemodilaysis was not significantly correlated with mean thyroid volume and TSH level (r=-0.06, r=0.13) respectively. While there was positive correlation between TSH level and mean thyroid volume among HD patients (r=0.25 p<0.05). Conclusions: We concluded that CKD patients maintained on HD were associated with higher prevalent thyroid function and morphology disorders in compared with healthy subjects.


To the Editor:The paper "Cerebral, Umbilical, and Uterine Resistance Using Doppler Velocimetry in Postterm Pregnancy" by Brar et al 0 Ultrasound Med 8:187, 1989) describes abnormal cerebral resistance in a significant precentage of postterm fetuses who experienced adverse pregnancy outcome. However, all of these fetuses with poor outcome had abnormal routine antepartum tests. It would also be helpful to know how many of the fetuses with normal cerebral resistance and abnormal routine antepartum testing experienced a poor outcome at birth. This would serve to provide us with a sensitivity of the cerebral resistance indices. The authors also described "one patient (3.1%) and two patients (7.3%) with abnormally low cerebral SfD ratio and low cerebral placental resistance ratios, respectivel~ in the normal antepartum testing groups." They did not, however, mention the outcome of these fetuses at birth. It would certainly be beneficial to know whether these fetuses had poor outcome at birth in spite of their otherwise normal antepartum testing, because this would indicate that the cerebral resistance ratio should be performed in all postterm fetuses regardless of the findings on routine antepartum surveillance tests.


The development of a High Sensitivity Scanning Stress Microcalorimeter for the study of martensitic phase transformations in beta phase CuAlNi single crystal tensile specimens is described. The design of this system is discussed with reference to an earlier version. The values of calorimetric sensitivity reported for the new system represent a significant improvement over the prototype and a comparison is made. More significantly, the new sensitivity values compare directly with those reported for stress free instruments employing similar detectors indicating that many of the problems associated with calorimetric measurements under stress have been considerably reduced.


Background. Robotic cholecystectomy is safe, feasible procedure. Initial studies showed significant set up time and operating time but no clear clinical advantage of the robotic involvement. We have investigated the learning curve, advantages and limitation of the procedure. Material and methods. We reviewed all (n 51) robotic cholecystectomies performed between July 2004 and December 2005. The surgery was performed using the da Vinci system. We recorded operative time, setup time of robotics instrumentation, conversion to laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy and complication of the procedure. Results. Forty-eight of the 51 procedures (94%) were completed robotically. We did not experience any significant complications directly related to robotics surgery. The mean SD operating time was 77 22.3 min. The mean setup time for robotics (from incision until robot was in place, including draping the robot) was 24 8.8 min. However, the setup time significantly improved as we gained more experience: from 30.6 10.7 min (first 16 cases) to 18.3 4.0 min (cases 33‐48). The mean robotic time was 34 16.1 min. We observed no significant improvement in robotic procedure time. Conclusions. Robotic cholecystectomy offers significant advantages such as three-dimensional view, easier instrument manipulations and possibility of remote site surgery. We observed some shortcomings of robotic surgery such as need for larger and additional ports, and need for undocking the machine in case of cholangiography or change of patient position. Our data shows that the learning curve is between 16 to 32 procedures to significantly decrease the setup time


Graphene modified Li4Ti5O12 composites (G-LTO) were prepared via a sol–gel assisted molten salt synthesis process. The product was fabricated by controlled hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate in the presence of graphene oxide, glacial acetic acid and LiCl–KCl molten salts in a mixed solvent of ethanol and water, followed by calcination treatment and a washing process. For comparison, pure LTO and carbon modified LTO were also synthesized by the same process without graphene oxide addition and with urea, respectively. The results reveal that pure LTO has a decreased particle size, and primary particles aggregation and agglomeration is effectively avoided by this method. Besides, the introduction of graphene sheets leads to the most uniform distribution particle size of LTO, and enhances the conductivity between the adjacent LTO particles. Hence, G-LTO composites present an improved rate performance (111.3 mA h g−1 at 10C) and cycling stability (the capacity loss of 11.9% after 500 cycles at 1C). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) well explain the electrode kinetics. The charge transfer resistance at the LTO active substance/electrolyte interface is reduced from 316.9 Ω to 151.8 Ω. The Li+ diffusion coefficient in the G-LTO electrode is 7.83 × 10−11 cm2 s−1, which is larger than the 5.49 × 10−11 cm2 s−1 of the P-LTO electrode. The results could be attributed to the smaller particle size, reduced aggregation and improved electronic conductivity as a result of the improved synthetic method and the presence of graphene sheets.


Abstract This paper provides an overview of established approaches for function integration in additive manufacturing and critically compares their capabilities. One of the decisive factors is how functions and structures are addressed. This is necessary because function integration - among many others - affects material decisions and the manufacturing process chain. It is one of many reasons to rethink the product architecture and a way to support the design of resource-efficient products. Various strategies for function integration exist. However, there are currently no approaches in additive manufacturing that provide systematic support for early function integration. A systematic literature review identified 21 unique approaches. All approaches were categorized according to their abstraction level within a product architecture and their design type to be supported. They were then compared on the basis of their categorization, design objective and strategy for function integration to allow for a better understanding of when to use the approaches in research and practice. Key findings and considerations for adapting function integration approaches to early design stages are presented. In addition, several research gaps were identified.


There have always been new towns throughout history. However, since after the Industrial Revolution and the increasing problems of bustling metropolises, these new towns have been paid more attention in order to solve the population and economic problems of metropolises. In our country, creation of new towns was proposed to make balance and help decentralization of big cities.Now after a couple of decades, irregularities and problems observed have made us unsure or hesitant about continuing creating new towns because the past experiences of new towns show that, except in a few cases, the goals and objectives of these settlement centers have fundamentally changed.This paper seeks to answer the key question: what are the most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of past experience of New Towns in Iran? On the one hand, this paper focuses on strategic analysis of various factors involved in the process of creating and building new towns in Iran, and on the one hand it attempts to answer the essential question of this research.This study has been conducted with qualitative method and SWOT technique. SWOT analysis, is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project. It involves specifying the objective of the project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective. Four new towns in Iran including Baharestan, Shahinshar, Puladshahr, Majlesi new towns in Isfahan have been selected as cases of this research. These new towns were studied in eight dimensions consisting of region and spheres of influence in the town, environment and geography, urban management, population and social factors, economic and urban activity, spatial and quality of accommodation, urban infrastructures and facilities, movement and access network.Based on the research findings, the main strength of new towns is that the prices of land and housing in them are lower than in metropolises. The main weaknesses of the new towns are inattention to environmental potentials in locating, fragmentation of urban management, and absence of participation of public in urban development plans, lack of population absorbing centers, limited employment opportunities and low diversity of jobs and so on. Feasibility to review experiences of massive urban development projects and feasibility to coordinate both public and private sectors are the biggest opportunities of new towns. Inconsistency of new towns with the goals expected for them is the main threat facing the new towns in Iran. Environmental sustainability, livability, identity creation and competition admission are the main criteria for projects and programs of new towns in Iran.


We present definitive detection statistics for 12.2 GHz methanol masers toward a complete sample of 6.7 GHz methanol masers detected in the Methanol Multibeam survey south of declination −20°. In total, we detect 250 12.2 GHz methanol masers toward 580 6.7 GHz methanol masers. This equates to a detection rate of 43.1%, which is lower than that of previous significant searches of comparable sensitivity. Both the velocity ranges and the flux densities of the target 6.7 GHz sources surpass that of their 12.2 GHz companion in almost all cases. Eighty percent of the detected 12.2 GHz methanol maser peaks are coincident in velocity with the 6.7 GHz maser peak. Our data support an evolutionary scenario whereby the 12.2 GHz sources are associated with a somewhat later evolutionary stage than the 6.7 GHz sources devoid of this transition. Furthermore, we find that the 6.7 GHz and 12.2 GHz methanol sources increase in luminosity as they evolve. In addition to this, evidence for an increase in velocity range with evolution is presented. This implies that it is not only the luminosity but also the volume of gas conducive to the different maser transitions that increases as the sources evolve. Comparison with GLIMPSE mid-infrared sources has revealed a coincidence rate between the locations of the 6.7 GHz methanol masers and GLIMPSE point sources similar to that achieved in previous studies. Overall, the properties of the GLIMPSE sources with and without 12.2 GHz counterparts are similar. There is a higher 12.2 GHz detection rate toward those 6.7 GHz methanol masers that are coincident with extended green objects.


This paper deals with the collision avoidance of the cooperative robots using the learning through imitation. Each physical robot acts fully independently, communicating with corresponding virtual prototype and imitating her behavior. Each physical robot reproduces the motion of her virtual prototype. The estimation of the collision-free actions of the virtual cooperative robots and the transfer of the virtual joint trajectories to the physical robots who imitate there virtual prototypes, are the original ideas. We tested the present strategy on several simulation scenarios; involving two virtual robots that each must cooperate with other and estimating collision-free actions. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is discussed by theoretical considerations and illustrated by simulation of the motion of two cooperative manipulators. It is shown that the proposed collision-free strategy, while tracking the end-effector trajectory, is efficient and practical.


The current understanding of the physical fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and chemical kinetic processes which occur in the combustion chamber of aeropropulsion systems is based on many years of empirical research and experimental experience. Successful gas turbine engines and other propulsion systems are the result of many years of research and development on the various engine components, especially the combustor. Now as we enter the age of the computer and the laser, new tools are emerging that show promise in greatly improving this understanding. With the component requirements becoming more severe for future engines, the current design methodology needs these new tools to obtain the "optimum" configuration in a reasonable design and development cycle. Research efforts in the last few years have been encouraging but in order to achieve these benefits much further research is required into the fundamental aerothermodynamic processes of combustion. There is much in combustion science that remains to be researched and understood. Research must continue in the areas of flame stabilization, combustor aerodynamics, heat transfer, multi phase flow and atomization, turbulent reacting flows, ana chemical kinetics. Associated with each of these engineering sciences is the need for research into computational methods to accurately describe and predict these complex physical processes. This paper highlights researCh needs in each of the above areas.


NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME, EC 126.96.36.199) catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of malate to pyruvate, producing CO2 and NADPH. We have examined regulatory properties of a 2.8-kb promoter-leader fragment of a bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) NADP-ME gene (PvME1) predicted to encode a cytosolic form of the enzyme by expression analysis of promoter-[beta]-glucuronidase fusions in transgenic tobacco plants. The PvME1 promoter directed strong expression in stems, which was confined to vascular and pith tissues, and was also active in floral and reproductive tissues. Wounding caused a marked induction of promoter activity, which was further strongly enhanced upon application of stimuli related to pathogen defense. Glutathione (reduced form) was the strongest inducer, but oxidized glutathione, fungal elicitor, cellulase, catalase, ascorbic acid, and NADPH were additional potent promoter-stimulating agents. Responsiveness to reduced glutathione was also shown at the level of PvME1 mRNA accumulation in bean plants. The putative contributions of NADP-ME gene expression to the plant defense response and possible mechanisms of defense gene regulation by conditions of oxidative stress as well as by H2O2 and antioxidant levels are discussed.


ABSTRACT Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) causes apoptotic deletion of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes, a phenomenon that has been linked to immune dysfunction and poor survival during sepsis. Given the abundance of thromboxane-prostanoid (TP) receptors in CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes and in vitro evidence that thromboxane A2 (TXA2) causes apoptosis of these cells, we tested whether enhanced generation of TXA2 plays a role in LPS-induced thymocyte apoptosis. Mice injected with 50 μg of LPS intraperitoneally displayed a marked increase in generation of TXA2 and prostaglandin E2 in the thymus as well as apoptotic deletion of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes. Administration of indomethacin or rofecoxib inhibited prostanoid synthesis but did not affect thymocyte death. In contrast, thymocyte apoptosis in response to LPS was significantly attenuated in TP-deficient mice. These studies indicate that TXA2 mediates a portion of apoptotic thymocyte death caused by LPS. The absence of an effect of global inhibition of prostanoid synthesis suggests a complex role for prostanoids in this model.


Consequences from a slowdown or collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could include modulations to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and development of the Pacific Meridional Overturning Circulation (PMOC). Despite potential ramifications to the global climate, our understanding of the influence of various AMOC and PMOC states on ENSO and global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remains limited. Five multi-centennial, fully-coupled model simulations created with the Community Earth System Model were used to explore the influence of AMOC and PMOC on global SSTs and ENSO. We found that the amplitude of annual cycle SSTs across the tropical Pacific decreases and ENSO amplitude increases as a result of an AMOC shutdown, irrespective of PMOC development. However, active deep overturning circulations in both the Atlantic and Pacific basins reduce ENSO amplitude and variance of monthly SSTs globally. The underlying physical reasons for changes to global SSTs and ENSO are also discussed, with the atmospheric and oceanic mechanisms that drive changes to ENSO amplitude differing based on PMOC state. These results suggest that if climate simulations projecting AMOC weakening are realized, compounding climate impacts could occur given the far-reaching ENSO teleconnections to extreme weather and climate events. More broadly, these results provide us with insight into past geologic era climate states, when PMOC was active.


The current study determines the sound levels observed in the engineering laboratories at the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. The objective of the study was to measure sound-levels of different engineering laboratories during specified time periods and compare them with OSHA standards. The sound-level parameters were investigated in five of the main laboratories. The time weighted average (TWA) and equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) values were observed at different times and compared with the OSHA standards. The TWA in all the laboratories was estimated to be 65.75 dBA which are within the international OSHA standards for noise however a considerable number of sound-levels in different laboratories were slightly higher than the accepted standards. More studies should be undertaken, as background noise and noise coming from the laboratory equipment can not only cause hearing problems but may also lead to miscommunication and difficulties in performing routine laboratory tasks.
Keywords: Noise, Sound-level, Polymer, OSHA, Standards, Laboratory, TWA, Leq.


Reliability has been incorporated in many pavement design procedures to account for the effects of inputs variabilities and uncertainties on predicted performance. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) mechanistic empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) computes the reliability of pavement sections with the assumption that the variability of predicted distresses follows normal distribution. This approach does not account for the systematic contribution of each design input variability on the overall output variance. This paper evaluates a two-component reliability analysis methodology for pavement application. The two-component reliability analysis methodology uses a response surface method (RSM) for a surrogate model generation and the first order reliability method (FORM) for reliability computation. Three different response surface methods (central composite, Box–Behnken and Doehlert designs) were implemented and statistically verified for their suitability for surrogate model generation. The two-component reliability analysis methodology was further utilized for the generation of partial safety factors for the development of a load and resistance factor design (LRFD) procedure for pavement applications. Field pavement sections with a wide range in design inputs and target reliabilities were used to evaluate the proposed reliability analysis methodology. The results have shown that the three RSM can be used effectively for pavement reliability problems.


Mutual eye contact is a key aspect that accompanies any social interaction. Through mutual gaze we establish a communicative link with another person and inform him/her of our goals and motivations. While much attention has been directed to studying the mechanisms of perception / classification of gaze direction, we know very little on the temporal aspects of mutual gaze. We have all likely experienced instances of uncomfortable eye contact, while for example speaking with a stranger or standing in front of someone in an elevator. Here we studied in a very large subject pool (>400 participants) what constitutes a preferred time of mutual eye contact and how these estimates of preferred mutual gaze relate to participant eye behaviour. Participants viewed movies of actors (4 female, 4 male) establishing eye contact with them for variable amounts of time. At the end of each movie participants classified the period of mutual gaze as being "uncomfortably short" or "uncomfortably long", thus yielding an estimate of "preferred" time of mutual gaze. We also collected ratings on a set face traits of the actor viewed in the clips. We found that the preferred period of mutual eye contact varied as a function of subjective ratings of actor threat, trustworthiness & attractiveness. Threatening faces were associated with lower periods of preferred eye contact, while conversely trustworthy faces were associated with longer periods of preferred mutual gaze. Analysis of patterns of eye fixations showed that fixations tend to be more concentrated in the actor's eye region in participants exhibiting longer preferred periods of mutual gaze, suggesting that these participants are more likely to reciprocate the eye behaviour of the actor. Finally we also observed that the concentration of fixations in the actor's eye region was also associated with higher dominance ratings. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.


Anomalous heating of ions has been observed in the EXTRAP-T2 reversed-field-pinch (RFP) plasma. Ions are heated primarily in the parallel direction (with respect to the magnetic field), resulting in an appreciable anisotropy of the ion temperature. This observation suggests that the magnetohydrodynamic fluctuations are dissipated primarily by the ion viscosity.


The great influence of motivation in the learning process is widely acknowledged since it plays a key role in any learning context. However, as educational realities change, researchers are assailed by new questions that must be resolved. Through this research we intended to know the motivations that lead university students to enrol in EMI (English-medium Instruction) courses instead of choosing courses in their L1, BMI (Basque-medium Instruction) or SMI (Spanish-medium Instruction). A total of 455 students from the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU completed a questionnaire in which they were asked about their motivations towards EMI, taking Dörnyei's (2005) L2MSS as theoretical framework. The statistical analysis revealed that the majority of students showed motivations related to the Ideal L2 Self and to personal preferences, while they did not feel pressured by their tutors or by the university itself for studying in English (the Ought-to L2 Self). The innovative nature of this study lies in the fact that students' choices included both a minority language (Basque) and a majority one (Spanish), which has allowed us to identify students´ motivations to choose EMI over BMI  or SMI in a multilingual university context in which three different languages are used as MOI.


A series of novel modifiers for bismaleimide, bearing propenyl and phenoxy functional groups has been synthesized. Structural information of the monomers was obtained through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Polymerization characteristics demonstrate that all four systems prepared have a cure temperature below 210°C. This remarkably lower cure temperature compared to that of other polymerization reactions involving diallyl bisphenol A and bismaleimide (DBMI) originates from propenyl groups being present in the structures as well as their larger free volume. The rheological behaviors leading to low melt viscosities and the wide process window of the prepolymer are particularly suitable characteristics for the production of performance resin-based composite materials via resin transfer molding processes. The dynamic mechanical analysis of the materials reveals glass transition temperatures in a range between 260°C and 293°C. Thermal stabilities show a 5% weight loss at temperatures ranging from 363°C to 428°C with the production of char ranging from 38.5% to 57.6% at 800°C under nitrogen. The latter is a clear indication for the excellent thermal stabilities featured by the cured resins. Furthermore, the dielectric properties exhibit a significantly lower dielectric constant and dissipation factors of the propenyl-modified cured systems compared to those of DBMI resins at 10 GHz. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


When considering whether to pursue an evaluation for any medical problem, the basic question is: Does the benefit of knowing the diagnosis outweigh the risk of pursuing it? The latter includes the cost not only to the healthcare system, but also to the individual, family, and provider. This is particularly true when the disorder in question involves cognitive impairment. Given the unparalled importance and complexity of cognitive function, screening for impairment is a simple first step to assist in making this critical risk–benefit assessment. The alternative —to relegate the evaluation of cognition to what is obvious —is indefensible. The default assessment of mental status, "A, Ox3′′ (alert and oriented to person, place, and time), is not only inadequate, but also misleading, implying that an individual is cognitively intact. To be alert requires only the ability to keep one's eyes open (see Terri Schiavo). Criteria for orientation vary widely, are often insensitive, and are of no localizing value neurologically. Worse, orientation often is assumed to be intact and reported as such in an individual who appears to be normal. Dementia in older adults is almost invariably the result of progressive, terminal brain disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease (AD)). Affected individuals are often unaware of the severity of their symptoms and appear normal in appearance, speech, and affect. Therefore, dementia, especially in its mild and moderate stages, is frequently an occult disease. Even when recognized, individuals and families may choose to believe that symptoms are part of "normal" aging and fail to report them. A provider may have little reason to suspect problems when none are reported and the individual appears to be a healthy older adult. A careful review of medications, appointments, and other individual contacts, such as telephone calls and unscheduled visits, may identify potential concerns, but the process is time consuming, and any problems identified are only indirect evidence of possible cognitive impairment. Furthermore, individuals and families, fearful of a diagnosis, may choose to wait until the provider raises concerns. It is not unreasonable that families may expect a provider to recognize symptoms and signs of a common, serious disease. A clinic visit at which the question of cognitive integrity is never addressed may be interpreted as an indication that symptoms or signs are not troubling. The effect of unrecognized cognitive impairment for someone who is mildly impaired may seem trivial. Safety concerns may be minimal, and there may be no substantial effect on overall health. Still, symptoms can be ignored only so long before cognitive impairment will become evident, and the sentinel event may be upsetting if not devastating. The likelihood of a misadventure on the job or while driving, managing medications or finances, or using tools increases as someone becomes more cognitively impaired, and early recognition and intervention has the potential to avert catastrophe. The more pernicious risks of unrecognized cognitive impairment may be the frequently attendant social isolation and poor health habits. Although such problems may not be apparent to the healthcare provider, the ever-shrinking world of the individual with dementia— particularly when unrecognized—may be a breeding ground for boredom, lack of exercise, poor diet, sleep disruption, agitation, irritability, depression, paranoia, and other undesirable outcomes. Recognizing and diagnosing cognitive disorders, particularly early in the course of terminal dementia, empowers individuals and families to address predictable needs and potentially live their lives differently, should they so choose. Failure to recognize and diagnose not only robs them of this opportunity, but may also tie them to a more-limited, unhappy existence. Brain function, and specifically cognitive function, is the most-complex and -important biological function. Unfortunately, there is a common misconception among providers that, if cognition were significantly impaired, they would recognize it. In fact, primary care providers have considerable difficulty identifying mild dementia and are generally poor at documenting dementia in the medical record. Even individuals with moderate dementia, several years into progressive dementia, may appear cognitively normal during a typical office visit. This cannot be overstated. From the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System and the Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota.


We demonstrate that periodic lattice arrays can be formed by interferometry patterns. An advantage of this system is the possibility of change different geometries of periodic lattice arrays only varying the mirror of the experimental setup. The patterns can be recorded in a special film emulsion and we studied the photonic band-gaps for different geometries


Internal solitary waves (hereafter ISWs) are stable nonlinear waves propagating in regions of strong density gradients common in geophysical flows. The purpose of the present work is to describe the generation of internal solitary waves at the interface of a two layer fluid, by the periodic oscillation of a topography. This academic configuration is inspired by oceanic observations. Direct numerical simulations, using the numerical model Symphonie-NH, are used to give insights into the physical parameters controlling the generation of these high amplitude interfacial waves in the primary generation case. The dynamics of the propagating ISWs is successfully compared with a simple Korteweg-de Vries scheme, showing that primarily generated ISWs propagate in an unimodal manner, and confirming that their stability relies on the balance between nonlinear and dispersive effects. Finally, the role of the topography in the primary generation process is quantitatively described by varying its shape. We show the existence of a topographic control of the primary generation of ISWs. A nondimensional parameter based on the ratio of the interfacial wavelength and the typical topography width is introduced to describe this spatial selection criterion.


Abstract This reflection examines the context of philosophical-ethical research and its preceding and continuing particular geopolitical framework in the central zone of Central Europe in the case of the national and state revival of the Czech nation. It focuses on the work and endeavour of František Palacký and its interpretive development by Thomas Garrigue Masaryk, which resulted in the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic. In this context, it finally outlines the significance of the dramatic Central European affairs since the turn of 1989 to the Russian war on Ukraine.


Results of mechanical properties of high-pressure die-casting AZ91 magnesium alloy are presented. Performed examinations allowed to determine influence of plunger velocity in the first and second stage and intensification pressure on the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), elongation (A5 and Agt), Brinell hardness (HB) and impact strength (IS) of samples cast on 320 tone cold chamber machine. Obtained results revealed the highest properties at median used parameters and also the most powerful effect of plunger velocity in the first stage. The maximum values of mechanical properties obtained from the performed experiments were: UTS 250 MPa, YS 160 MPa, A5 7%, 70 HB, IS 7 J.


Background Vibrio vulnificus infection is a highly fatal disease resulting from the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood and exposure to seawater containing the organism. It has been a nationally notifiable disease since 2000 in Korea. The aims of this study were to assess the trends in the incidence of V. vulnificus infection and its case fatality rate and to determine the epidemiologic characteristics to effectively prevent infection and lower mortality. Methods We analyzed the incidence trends of V. vulnificus infection by year, month, and region in 913 cases reported to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC, currently Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) by the National Infectious Disease Surveillance System from 2001 to 2016. We analyzed the number of patients with V. vulnificus infection who were under the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and whose coastal seawater temperature data were provided by the Korea Oceanographic Data Center of the National Institute of Fisheries Science. Epidemiological investigations were followed up and analyzed for 761 patients from 2003 to 2016. A total of 152 patients who were not followed up were excluded from the analysis. The case fatality rate was analyzed for 325 cases reported to the KCDC from 2011 to 2016. Results The mean incidence of V. vulnificus infection was 0.12 per 100,000 people, and the highest incidence was reported in September (41.1%) during the study period. The incidence rate per 100,000 people was the highest in Jeonnam (8.23). The number of patients who claimed to the NHIS was the highest in September (105 patients). The average seawater temperature was the highest at 24.1°C in August, and the average seawater temperature from August to October, when many cases occurred, was 22.4°C. The male-to-female ratio was 6:1, and 96.4% of the patients were aged ≥ 40 years. Of the patients, 96.1% had underlying diseases, the most common of which was liver cirrhosis (56.3%). The case fatality rate was 48.9%. Conclusion The occurrence of V. vulnificus infection showed distinct seasonality, with a large number of cases occurring in the months when the seawater temperature was high; there were also distinct geographical characteristics. The incidence of V. vulnificus infection and mortality rates have not decreased for decades, and it is still an important public health problem with a high fatality rate.


Manganiferous iron ore from Karnataka state was investi-gated to upgrade the iron content with lowering of mang-anese in concentrate. Mineralogical studies show that it is comprised of microplaty hematite, martite, goethite, pyrolusite, cryptomelane and minor amount of quartz and kaolinite. The sample contains about 51.4% Fe, 4.75% Mn with 8.5% SiO2 and 2.8% Al2O3. The crushed to 1mm and 3mm samples were subjected to reduction roasting using produ-cer gas. The reduction roasting converts the hydrated iron oxide mineral into more magnetic materials which facilita-tes the magnetic separation at low intensity leaving manganese minerals in non-magnetic. The reduced products were subjected to magnetic separation at very low magnetic field to recover magnetite. The final concentrate contain-ing 64.1% Fe and 2.3% Mn is achieved with a yield of 73.5% from -1mm sample. This product can be blended with the low Mn- hematitic concentrate with 65% Fe to generate a pellet feed.


This study retrospectively compared nedaplatin and irinotecan hydrochloride (NDP/CPT) combination therapy with cisplatin and irinotecan hydrochloride therapy (CDDP/CPT) for efficacy and adverse events in the treatment of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary (CCC) and recurrent ovarian carcinoma. A total of 115 patients were included in the present study. NDP/CPT was administered intravenously every 4 weeks (NDP, 60 mg/m(2) on day 1; CPT, 50 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8 and 15). CDDP/CPT was also administered intravenously (CDDP, 60 mg/m(2) on day 1; CPT, 60 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8 and 15). Patients with primary CCC were treated with NDP/CPT in 29 cases and CDDP/CPT in 20 cases. Patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma were treated with NDP/CPT and CDDP/CPT in 33 cases each. No significant difference was observed in the 5-year overall survival (OS)/progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with primary CCC, with the exception of those patients with stages Ia and Ic(b) who underwent NDP/CPT and CDDP/CPT treatments (OS: 58%, PFS: 40% and OS: 53% and PFS: 47%, respectively). No significant differences were found in the response rates to NDP/CPT and CDDP/CPT in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma (27 and 18%, respectively). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the 5-year OS and PFS of patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma treated with NDP/CPT or CDDP/CPT (OS: 15%, PFS: 3% and OS: 18%, PFS: 6%, respectively). In terms of the hematological toxicity of grade 3 or above and non-hematological toxicity of grade 2 or above in patients treated with NDP/CPT and CDDP/CPT, respectively, neutropenia was 23 and 56%; anemia, 1, and 20%; thrombocytopenia, 0 and 5%; nausea, 20 and 52%; diarrhea, 14 and 25%; and fever, 2 and 11%. Accordingly, NDP/CPT indicated mild toxicity, and was therefore equally effective and less toxic than CDDP/CPT in the treatment of primary CCC and recurrent ovarian carcinoma.


Summary As a finite and non‐renewable resource, phosphorus (P) is essential to all life and crucial for crop growth and food production. The boosted agricultural use and associated loss of P to the aquatic environment are increasing environmental pollution, harming ecosystems, and threatening future global food security. Thus, recovering and reusing P from water bodies is urgently needed to close the P cycle. As a natural, eco‐friendly, and sustainable reclamation strategy, microalgae‐based biological P recovery is considered a promising solution. However, the low P‐accumulation capacity and P‐removal efficiency of algal bioreactors restrict its application. Herein, it is demonstrated that manipulating genes involved in cellular P accumulation and signalling could triple the Chlamydomonas P‐storage capacity to ~7% of dry biomass, which is the highest P concentration in plants to date. Furthermore, the engineered algae could recover P from wastewater almost three times faster than the unengineered one, which could be directly used as a P fertilizer. Thus, engineering genes involved in cellular P accumulation and signalling in microalgae could be a promising strategy to enhance P uptake and accumulation, which have the potential to accelerate the application of algae for P recovery from the water body and closing the P cycle.


Winter wheat cultivars for organic farming have to be adapted to highly variable environments. Yield and yield stability, the nutritional value and the bread making quality are here of major importance. Particularly, seed quality, tillering capacity, regeneration ability after harrowing, weed suppression ability, resistance or tolerance against diseases and improved nutrient use efficiency (NUE) under limited nutrient conditions need to be improved by specific breeding efforts (Kunz et al., 2006; Loschenberger et al., 2008).
Ten winter wheat cultivars were grown in 2007 in two organic systems of the DOK long-term experiment in CH-Therwil.
Eight of these cultivars were tested in 2008 at three organic farms in different pedo-climatic environments in Switzerland to observe genotype x environment interactions under different organic conditions. In contrast to the DOK site on a fertile loess soil, the on-farm sites were located on sandy or sandy-loamy sites with lower inherent yield potential. We assessed grain yield, yield components and parameters related to baking quality and NUE. Grain yield at the on-farm sites ranged between 2.2 t ha-1 and 2.8 t ha-1 and was much lower than at the DOK sites ( 3.7 t
ha-1 to 4.2 t ha-1) (Hildermann et al., 2009). Cultivars and sites significantly affected grain yield. Genotype x environment interactions were significant across the three on-farm sites; however they were not significant across all five organically managed sites. Calculated across the on farm sites, there was a tendency towards higher yields of the organically bred cultivars. This effect was statistically significant at the lowest yielding site, where yield of the organically bred cultivars was 14% higher than yields of the conventionally bred cultivars. However, at the DOK sites and averaged across all five organic sites, the organically bred cultivars could not outperform the conventionally bred cultivars.
Similar to the grain yield, the total gluten content increased from the on-farm sites to the DOK sites. Irrespective of the site, the gluten index of the cultivars Scaro, Antonius and Caphorn was stable. In contrast, the gluten index of the cultivars Sandomir, CCP and Titlis highly varied between the tested environments. Yield was significantly correlated with grain N yield (r = 0.93) and nitrogen (N) utilization efficiency (NUtE) (r = 0.72). Genotype x environment interactions were not significant for grain N yield, however strongly significant for NUtE (p < 0.01). The conventionally bred cultivars strongly responded to environmental conditions and showed a low NUtE under at low N supply. In contrast, NUtE of the organically bred cultivars Scaro and Sandomir was stable across all test environments.
Beside high yields, cultivars suitable for organic farming should achieve high baking quality and nutrient use efficiency under nutrient limited conditions. Among the tested cultivars, the organically bred cultivar Scaro revealed such a performance across all tested sites.


BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to gain understanding of existential longing in health and suffering as experienced by persons who have been affected by a cancer disease. The theoretical perspective of the study is K. Eriksson's theory of Caring Science.

METHOD
Qualitative interviews with nine women with cancer were transcribed and interpreted using Gadamer's ontological hermeneutics.

RESULTS
Four perspectives of longing when suffering from cancer are presented: Longing as a source to call upon for survival, Longing for the life prior to the illness, Longing directed towards deeper relations in everyday life, and Transcending longing moves towards the ultimate fulfilment.

INTERPRETATION
The overall interpretation led to the following thesis about the dimension of longing in the human being: Longing is becoming in a movement towards reconciliation of life, and, Longing is becoming in a movement towards transcending life.

CONCLUSION
The results show that there seems to be a dynamic power in longing that can transform suffering and create health.


Antiangiogenic gene therapy is a promising approach to inhibit neovascularization via angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. In recent years, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as one of the suitable targets for antiangiogenic approaches due to its high neovascularization. On the other hand, ultrasound (US) is believed to be a novel and effective tool to locally deliver gene into target tumors. US can temporarily change the permeability of cell membrane and thus enhance the delivery of naked DNA into cells. In this study, the efficiency of gene transfection in tumor was compared by changing the US contrast agent (UCA) concentration and sonication time. Luciferase and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) plasmids mixed with SonoVue® were injected intratumorally (IT), and US was applied at 20% duty cycle and 2 W/cm2 in intensity. Finally, the efficacy of employing US to deliver genes encoded with an antiangiogenic factor, endostatin (ED), to suppress the growth of a preclinical HCC, which was inoculated subcutaneous (SC) tumor model, is evaluated. Our results show that weekly intratumoral injection group led to a 74% inhibition in HCC growth. In summary, the present study revealed the efficacy of US as a nonviral technology to efficiently deliver genes to tumors by weekly IT treatment approach, and to deliver angiogenic inhibitors to HCC in particular.


Purpose Recent study demonstrated that visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure was strong predictor of stroke. However, the role of visit-to-visit variability as a risk factor of subclinical atherosclerosis has not been well established. The authors aim to investigate whether and to what extent visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure is associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese population. Methods The authors measured the levels of traditional risk factors including blood pressure among 1985 residents from Beijing community in 1992, 2002 and 2007, respectively. Visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure was expressed as SD and coefficient of variation (CV). Two carotid ultrasound examinations were conducted among 1245 subjects in 2002 and 2007. Finally, the authors analysed the association of visit-to-visit blood pressure variability with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque among 1074 subjects. Results The mean level of SD of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in patients with increased IMT was higher than that in subjects with normal IMT (12.2±5.3 mm Hg vs 11.0±5.2 mm Hg, p=0.001); the mean level of SD of SBP in patients with carotid plaque was higher than that in subjects without plaque (12.1±5.3 mm Hg vs 11.3±5.2 mm Hg, p=0.02). However, no significant differences in mean levels of CV of blood pressure were found between subjects with and without carotid atherosclerosis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjustment for other traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the odds ratios of SD in systolic blood pressure for increased IMT and common carotid plaque was 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.06; p=0.005) and 1.05 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.09; p=0.008); the odds ratios of CV in systolic blood pressure for increased IMT and common carotid plaque was 1.05 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.08; p=0.01) and 1.06 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.12; p=0.02). Conclusion Visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure was associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, but this relationship was merely found between systolic blood pressure and common carotid artery.


Unresolved inflammation is associated with several widely recurrent aging-associated diseases such as arthritis, periodontitis, metabolic disorders, atherosclerosis, and neurodegeneration. Endogenous mechanisms that curtail excessive inflammation and prompt its timely resolution are of considerable interest. In recent years, previously unrecognized chemical mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids were identified as endogenous specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPM) that control both the magnitude and duration of acute inflammation and activate resolution. Lipoxins (LX), resolvins (Rv), protectins (PD), and maresins (Mar) are possess distinct chemical structures, bind to specific G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in a stereospecific manner, and regulate biological pathways to promote resolution in several pre-clinical experimental settings of age-related inflammatory diseases. This review highlights the biosynthesis of SPM and cellular mechanisms that underscore their beneficial bioactions in the regulation of acute inflammation in age-related diseases. The elucidation of these mechanisms operating in vivo to keep acute inflammation under physiologic boundaries and stimulate resolution opened many new opportunities in resolution pharmacology to target aging-associated chronic inflammatory pathologies.


It is generally agreed that the existence of government in an economy is to promote societal welfare. In order to properly organize and manage the use of resources to achieve desired goals and objectives, governments normally initiate economic frameworks, blueprints, roadmaps or plans which guide and coordinate economic activities within the economy. Thus, between 1960 to date, Nigeria has initiated several plans, frameworks, policies and strategies which, though well intended, have not significantly met the aspirations of her citizens. Presently, the desire of the country is to be among the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020. The major concern of this paper is that since the present distortions in the Nigerian economy which the Vision 20:2020 seeks to address do not exist in historical vacuum, a re-assessment of the forces that held back Nigeria in the past is essential. Thus the paper attempts an evaluation of the various distortions that have impeded the efficacy of Nigeria"s previous development strategies. Ensuing, we take a review of the various (major) economic strategies designed and adopted in the country till date. The paper identifies instability of the roadmaps –a fallout of the spirit to always do something new, frequent change of operators of the roadmap, reducing development to politics, poor implementation, non-implementation or outright sabotage, lack of good leadership, among others, as some of the factors that have kept us dancing in a vicious cycle of backwardness. In view of these, we articulate the challenges and prospects of achieving the Vision 20:2020.


AIM
To determine the distal intramural spread (DIS) margin of rectal cancer.

METHODS
Sixty-one p53-positive specimens of rectal cancer were used. After conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, the DIS margin of rectal cancer in large specimens was examined by immunohistochemistry. The patients were divided into A, B, C, and D groups. After a long-term follow-up, the survival curves of the four groups were estimated using the life table.

RESULTS
Fifty-one of the sixty-one cases (83.6%) had DIS. The extent of DIS ranged 0.11-3.5 cm; meanwhile the mean of DIS measured by H&E staining was 0.13 cm. The significant difference was found between the means (t=5.622, P<0.0001). Only 1 of 51 patients had DIS greater than 3 cm. The DIS was less than 1.0 cm in most rectal cancer patients. The long-term results indicated that the survival rate of the patients whose DIS was greater than 1.0 cm was lower than that of the patients whose DIS was less than 0.5 cm.

CONCLUSION
Rectal cancer patients with DIS greater than 1.0 cm have poor prognosis.


Abstract Nanoparticles of Cd1-xZnxS (x = 0–0.8) were prepared in neat 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, a halide-free and low-cost room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) via a simple heating method. The nanoparticles were investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy techniques. The diffraction patterns demonstrate that the prepared nanoparticles in the RTIL have smaller size relative to the samples prepared in water. The photocatalytic activities of the nanoparticles towards photodegradation of methylene blue were evaluated under UV and visible irradiation. The results indicate that the nanoparticles prepared in the RTIL have greater photocatalytic activity relative to the samples prepared in water. The reaction rate constant under visible light irradiation on the nanoparticles prepared in the RTIL is at least six times greater than for the samples prepared in water.


The guidelines are intended to provide an outline of major issues which need to be addressed in the process of developing legal instruments for protected areas at national and sub-national level. The Guidelines have been written for legal drafters and other participants in the legislative process who are reviewing, revising, or creating protected areas legislation.


A growing number of research groups are now including older minimally verbal individuals with autism spectrum disorder in their studies to encompass the full range of heterogeneity in the population. There are numerous barriers that prevent researchers from collecting high-quality data from these individuals, in part because of the challenging behaviors with which they present alongside their very limited means for communication. In this article, we summarize the practices that we have developed, based on applied behavioral analysis techniques, and have used in our ongoing research on behavioral, eye-tracking, and electrophysiological studies of minimally verbal children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Our goal is to provide the field with useful guidelines that will promote the inclusion of the entire spectrum of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in future research investigations.