The problem of identification of quasi-periodically varying finite impulse response systems is considered. Neither the number of system frequency modes nor the initial frequency values are assumed to be known a priori. The proposed solution is a blend of the parametric (model based) and nonparametric (discrete Fourier transform based) approach to system identification. It is shown that the results of nonparametric analysis can be used to identify the number of frequency modes and to determine initial conditions needed to smoothly start (or restart) the model-based tracking algorithm. Such a combined nonparametric/parametric approach allows one to preserve advantages of both frameworks, leading to an estimation procedure which guarantees global frequency search, high-frequency resolution, fast initial convergence, and good steady-state tracking capabilities.


Accumulating evidence indicates that the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) mediates the non-genomic actions of estrogen in many different cells and tissues. The selective GPER agonist G-1 (1-[4-(6-bromobenzo[1,3]dioxol-5yl)-3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydro- 3H-cyclopenta[c]quinolin-8-yl]-ethanone) was developed to distinguish estrogen actions mediated by GPER from those mediated by the traditional nuclear estrogen receptors. Our recent data showed that G-1 suppresses the growth of breast and ovarian cancer cells in a GPER-independent manner. However, the mechanisms underlying the suppressive actions of G-1 on cancer cell growth are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore potential mechanisms of G-1 action in human ovarian granulosa tumor cells. The KGN cell line, a cell line derived from a metastatic adult ovarian granulosa cell tumor (aGCT), and the COV434 cell line, a cell line derived from a juvenile granulosa cell tumor (jGCT), were used as cellular models. Cell proliferation and viability were determined by cell number counting and MTT assay, respectively. Cell cycle analysis was monitored by flow cytometry. Key proteins associated with cell cycle progression were analyzed with Western blot. Cell apoptosis was detected by analysis of caspase activity and DNA integrity. Cellular cytoskeleton changes were monitored by fluorescent immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy and in vitro microtubule assembly assays. Consistent with our previous results, the putative GPER agonist G-1 suppressed proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in both KGN and COV434 cells. G-1 inhibited GCT cell growth via suppressing cell viability, which was indicated by a significant decrease in the MTT metabolism, an increase in DNA fragmentation, and an increase in PARP cleavage. G-1 treatment did not affect the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin D2 and cyclin E, suggesting that G-1 treatment had no effect on the early stage cell cycle progression, a result further confirmed by flow cytometry. However, flow cytometry showed that G-1 treatment arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. G2/M phase arrest of KGN cells was confirmed by a significant increase in the phosphorylation of histone H3 after G-1 treatment. Surprisingly, the Western blot analysis showed that G-1 treatment did not affect the activation of mitotic promoting factors (MPF) and had no effect on G2/M entry checkpoint proteins and kinases. Fluorescent immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy showed that G-1 treatment disrupted the segregation of chromosomes during mitosis, an effect that may be attributed to the abnormal assembly of microtubules. In vitro microtubule assembly assays demonstrated that G-1 treatment indeed suppressed tubulin polymerization and thereby inhibited the assembly of the microtubules. In conclusion, our results from the present study demonstrate that G-1, the putative GPER agonist, suppresses GCT cell proliferation and induces tumor cell death via blocking microtubule assembly. The ability of G-1 to suppress tumor cell proliferation and induce tumor cell apoptosis by targeting microtubules makes it a promising candidate drug for the treatment of GCT. Citation Format: Xiangmin Lv, Guohua Hua, Chunbo He, John S Davis, Cheng Wang. G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) agonist G-1 inhibits growth of human granulosa cell tumor cells via blocking microtubule assembly. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: From Concept to Clinic; Sep 18-21, 2013; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2013;19(19 Suppl):Abstract nr B82.


The strain energy in four three-membered rings is calculated by using the appropriate isodesmic reactions. Calculations with and without d functions on the heavy atoms indicate that while these polarization functions tend to reduce ring strain, the addition of d orbitals has little effect on the predicted trends. While introduciton of unsaturation drastically increases the strain in the carbon system (cyclopropane---. cyclopropene), this is not the case for silicon (silacyclopropane--+ silacyclopropene). As a result cyclopropane and cyclopropene are predicted to be the least and most strained rings, respectively. Ring strain is a concept which is frequently used to rationalize instability and reactivity of small cyclic compounds. Recently, a novel quantitative measure of ring strain has been proposed. 1 This method makes use of isodesmic reactions in which the number of bonds of each type is formally conserved on going from reactants to products. The use of isodesmic reactions is particularly useful in quantum chemistry since the effect of correlation error is expected to be minimal in such reactions. As a result, one can use Hartree-Fock-level energy differences with some degree of confidence. In this paper the ring strain in cyclopropane, cyclopropene, silacyclopropane, and silacyclopropene is examined by using ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Cyclopropane and cyclopropene have been studied before1 and are included here for internal consistency. While semiempirical24 and ab initio5 calculations have been carried out on the silicon rings, no attempt has been made to evaluate the strain in these rings or, more importantly, their ring strain relative to the hydrocarbon analogues. In view of the apparent stability of the silicon-containing rings,6 such a comparison is clearly of interest. The methodology used in the calculations is summarized in the Methodology section, while the results of the ring strain calculations are presented and discussed in the Results and Discussion section. To aid the latter discussion approximate quadratic force fields have been generated for the four rings, and these are also presented in the Results and Discussion section.


This is the first paper to report on a high-efficiency two-stage heterojunction-bipolar-transistor power-amplifier monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) for 1.95-GHz wide-band code-division multiple-access (W-CDMA) cellular phone systems. Power amplifiers for W-CDMA systems are required to operate at high efficiency and high linearity over a wide range of output power levels. To obtain high efficiency at low output power (P/sub out/) as well as at the required maximum P/sub out/ and obtain a high linearity at the maximum P/sub out/, we chose near-class-B operation. To improve linearity at a medium P/sub out/ range, we suppressed the gain distortion resulting from near-class-B operation by using an adaptive biasing technique. The MMIC exhibited a power-added efficiency of 42%, the highest ever reported, a gain of 30.5 dB, and an adjacent channel leakage power ratio at a 5-MHz offset frequency of -38 dBc at a P/sub out/ of 27 dBm under a supply voltage of 3.5 V with 3.84-Mcps hybrid phase-shift keying modulation.


OBJECTIVES
Anti-neutrophil antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) comprise different forms of small vessel vasculitis characterised by B-cell driven autoimmune processes and endothelial cell activation. Aim of this study was to correlate markers of B- and endothelial cell activation with clinical manifestations of disease in AAV.

METHODS
Consecutive serum samples of patients fulfilling the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC) and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for AAV and healthy donors were used for the determination of ANCA, B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subset and follow-up analyses were performed in cytoplasmatic ANCA (C-ANCA) or perinuclear ANCA (P-ANCA) positive patients with respect to change in ANCA-titres during the course of disease.

RESULTS
Levels of sVCAM-1 were elevated in all patient groups with vasculitis compared to healthy controls. In contrast, significantly increased levels of BLyS were only observed in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), but not in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (mPAN)/Churg-Strauss-syndrome (CSS). Remarkably, there were no differences in the levels of sE-selectin between the vasculitis groups and healthy controls. In follow-up analysis, a significant correlation was shown for sE-Selectin and P-ANCA titres as well as sVCAM-1 levels. Furthermore, a strong correlation was detected for sVCAM-1 and creatinine levels. Interestingly, sE-selectin levels and C-ANCA titres were negatively correlated.

CONCLUSIONS
Enhanced levels of sVCAM-1 represent a marker for endothelial cell activation in AAV. The observed correlation between sVCAM-1 and creatinine levels might indicate the influence of the vasculitic process on renal function. Signalling pathways for B-cells provided by BLyS could play a significant role in the pathogenesis of WG.


Cytokinesis occurs through the coordinated action of several biochemically-mediated stresses acting on the cytoskeleton. Here, we develop a computational model of cellular mechanics, and using a large number of experimentally measured biophysical parameters, we simulate cell division under a number of different scenarios. We demonstrate that traction-mediated protrusive forces or contractile forces due to myosin II are sufficient to initiate furrow ingression. Furthermore, we show that passive forces due to the cell's cortical tension and surface curvature allow the furrow to complete ingression. We compare quantitatively the furrow thinning trajectories obtained from simulation with those observed experimentally in both wild-type and myosin II null Dictyostelium cells. Our simulations highlight the relative contributions of different biomechanical subsystems to cell shape progression during cell division.


Sonophoresis for transdermal drug delivery(TDD) generally uses relatively low frequency ultrasound (e.g., <100 kHz). The main mechanism of sonophoresis is related to cavitation of bubbles trapped between ultrasound transducer and skin. Thus, enhancement of cavitation can lead to effective TDD. In this presentation, the efficacy of TDD with ultrasound contrast agent(UCA) was tested by animal experiments. FITC(Fluorescein isothiocyanate) — Dextran(the concentration of 1g/80ml, molecular weight of 4k, 20k, 150k) with 0.1% UCA was used as the drug to be delivered through the skin. Two type of UCAs, Sonovue® and Definity®, were used in the experiments at 2.47 MHz and 1.12 MHz, respectively, according to their resonance frequency. Ultrasound is applied on the back of rat whose hair is removed. One spot was always reserved for the control experiment and the other spot was used for three different conditional experiments. The first condition was ultrasound at two different frequencies without UCA, the second condition was 1.12 MHz ultrasound with Definity®, and the third condition was 2.24 MHz ultrasound with Sonovue®, respectively. A pulse of 10 msec with 1% duty cycle was used at the acoustic pressure of 1 MPa for 30 minutes in all the experiments. The efficacy of sonophoresis with 0.1% UCAs was quantitatively analyzed with optical imaging system (IVIS® Spectrum) which was used to count photons emitted from fluorescein at the wavelength of 520nm. Histological analysis of the rat skin exposed to sonophoresis was performed to assess the safety. Application of ultrasound without UCA increases the photon count approximately 20.8%, 13.6%, 17.4% at 1.12 MHz and 6.3%, 22.5%, 22.3% at 2.47 MHz for three different Dextran of 4k, 20k, 150k, respectively. With UCA presence, the increments of photon counts were approximately 53.6%, 47.3%, 47.8% at 1.12 MHz and 48.9%, 50.8%, 44.4% at 2.47 MHz for the same three Dextran, respectively. According to the histological analysis, no damage to the tissue. Sonophoresis for TDD was safely and more effectively conducted with the aid of UCA, even though cavitation is a stochastic event. Optimization of ultrasound parameters such as intensity, duty cycle, concentration of UCA is expected to enhance sonophoresis. We believe sonophoresis with UCA has broad applications for various skin diseases.


Here we report on the results of histopathological analysis of several organs of 5 foetuses and 2 newborn infants with cystic fibrosis. They were examined with HE, PAS, AB, HID and "Stains-all" techniques on paraffin sections. We concluded that there were significant differences in the epithelial mucin composition of several organs of the effected foetuses compared to 6 controls as early as the 17th week of gestation. An increase in the amount of neutral and acidic mucins was observed in the acini of the pancreas, bronchi and the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract accompanied with a well defined decrease of sialic acid rich components of pharyngeal submucosal glands.


Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has a massive impact on human health, causing sudden lifestyle changes. As it affects health, determining the lifestyles of university students related to smoking has gained importance. This study aims to provide evidence of change in smoking behavior among university students in Turkey during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted via an electronic questionnaire between 2020-2021 among university students in Turkey. The study comprised a structured questionnaire that inquired demographic information; and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. The questionnaire was distributed randomly to university students; it required 6 minutes to complete. Results: A total of 749 respondents have been included in the study, aged between 19 and 35 years (54,8% females). Of 749 participants, a total of 571 health science students (medicine, pharmacy dentist, etc) completed the survey. The pre-pandemic and Covid-19 pandemic mean nicotine dependence scores were 3,03 and 2,97, respectively. A difference was seen prepandemic (p = 0.002) and during pandemic (p = 0.005) for those studying in health departments and other departments. Students who have middle socio-economical status had significantly higher nicotine dependence scores pre-covid-19, compared to during the UN CO RR EC TE D PR OO F pandemic. (p=0.027). Compared to pre and during the pandemic, the mean score of dependence was significantly lower in students whose parents were non-smokers during the pandemic. Discussion and Conclusion: In this study, we have provided the first data on the Turkish university student's nicotine dependence changes during the COVİD 19 lockdown. The nicotine dependence level may change based on various factors including behavioral changes. Crucial times like pandemics can affect individuals, thus smoking addiction can increase. Behavioral support for quitting smoking such as digital platforms, the internet, and television programs should also assist to support smokers quitting successfully during this supreme time.


Radiologic visualization of calcification within lung cancer is uncommon and may cause confusion and misdiagnosis. For this reason, we reviewed CT records of 353 patients undergoing initial evaluation of lung cancer for the presence of calcification within the tumor, both to document this finding and to estimate its prevalence. Twenty patients (6%) whose records indicated that CT showed calcification were identified, and their chest radiographs and CT scans were analyzed. Patients were included in the study if calcium was seen within the tumor on noncontrast pretreatment CT scans and if pathologic data were available. There were 15 lung and five mediastinal tumors. Fourteen were 5 cm or greater in diameter; three were between 3 and 5 cm, and three were 2 cm or smaller. Cell types of the tumors included small-cell carcinoma (eight patients), squamous cell carcinoma (seven patients), adenocarcinoma (four patients), and undifferentiated carcinoma (one patient). Patterns of calcification were amorphous (eight patients), punctate (10 patients), and reticular (two patients). Extent of tumor calcification and distribution (central, peripheral, or diffuse) did not correlate with cell type or size of the lesion. The visualization of calcium on chest radiographs and CT scans does not alone exclude the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma.


Background An anastomotic leak (AL) after colorectal surgery is one major reason for postoperative morbidity and mortality. There is growing evidence that AL affects short and long term outcome. This prospective German multicentre study aims to identify risk factors for AL and quantify effects on short and long term course after rectal cancer surgery. Methods From 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2010 381 hospitals attributed patients to the prospective multicentre study Quality Assurance in Colorectal Cancer managed by the Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg (Germany). Included were 17 867 patients with histopathologically confirmed rectal carcinoma and primary anastomosis. Risk factor analysis included 13 items of demographic patient data, surgical course, hospital volume und tumour stage. Results In 2 134 (11.9%) patients an AL was diagnosed. Overall hospital mortality was 2.1% (with AL 7.5%, without AL 1.4%; p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis male gender, ASA-classification ≥III, smoking history, alcohol history, intraoperative blood transfusion, no protective ileostomy, UICC-stage and height of tumour were independent risk factors. Overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter for patients with AL (UICC I-III; UICC I, II or III - each p < 0.0001). Disease free survival (DFS) was significantly shorter for patients with AL in UICC I-III; UICC II or UICC III (each p < 0.001). Rate of local relapse was not significantly affected by occurrence of AL. Conclusion In this study patients with AL had a significantly worse OS. This was mainly due to an increased in hospital mortality. DFS was also negatively affected by AL whereas local relapse was not. This emphasizes the importance of successful treatment of AL related problems during the initial hospital stay.


Fiber tracts should use space and energy efficiently, because both resources constrain neural computation. We found for a myelinated tract (optic nerve) that astrocytes use nearly 30% of the space and >70% of the mitochondria, establishing the significance of astrocytes for the brain's space and energy budgets. Axons are mostly thin with a skewed distribution peaking at 0.7 μm, near the lower limit set by channel noise. This distribution is matched closely by the distribution of mean firing rates measured under naturalistic conditions, suggesting that firing rate increases proportionally with axon diameter. In axons thicker than 0.7 μm, mitochondria occupy a constant fraction of axonal volume—thus, mitochondrial volumes rise as the diameter squared. These results imply a law of diminishing returns: twice the information rate requires more than twice the space and energy capacity. We conclude that the optic nerve conserves space and energy by sending most information at low rates over fine axons with small terminal arbors and sending some information at higher rates over thicker axons with larger terminal arbors but only where more bits per second are needed for a specific purpose. Thicker axons seem to be needed, not for their greater conduction velocity (nor other intrinsic electrophysiological purpose), but instead to support larger terminal arbors and more active zones that transfer information synaptically at higher rates.


Two new limonoids, named xylomexicanins C and D, were isolated from a dichloromethane extract of the seeds of Xylocarpus granatum cultivated in Hainan, China, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR (including 1H, 13C-NMR, DEPT, 1H-1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Xylomexicanin C exhibited antiproliferative activity against human breast carcinoma cells (KT).


Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare types of maternal auditory–visual input about word referents available to children with cochlear implants, children with normal hearing matched for age, and children with normal hearing matched for vocabulary size. Although other works have considered the acoustic qualities of maternal input provided to children with cochlear implants, this study is the first to consider auditory–visual maternal input provided to children with cochlear implants. Design: Participants included 30 mother–child dyads from three groups: children who wore cochlear implants (n = 10 dyads), children matched for chronological age (n = 10 dyads), and children matched for expressive vocabulary size (n = 10 dyads). All participants came from English-speaking families, with the families of children with hearing loss committed to developing listening and spoken language skills (not sign language). All mothers had normal hearing. Mother–child interactions were video recorded during mealtimes in the home. Each dyad participated in two mealtime observations. Maternal utterances were transcribed and coded for (a) nouns produced, (b) child-directed utterances, (c) nouns unknown to children per maternal report, and (d) auditory and visual cues provided about referents for unknown nouns. Auditory and visual cues were coded as either converging, diverging, or auditory-only. Results: Mothers of children with cochlear implants provided percentages of converging and diverging cues that were similar to the percentages of mothers of children matched for chronological age. Mothers of children matched for vocabulary size, on the other hand, provided a higher percentage of converging auditory–visual cues and lower percentage of diverging cues than did mothers of children with cochlear implants. Groups did not differ in provision of auditory-only cues. Conclusions: The present study represents the first step toward identification of environmental input characteristics that may affect lexical learning outcomes of children with cochlear implants. Given that children with cochlear implants demonstrate slower rates of lexical growth than children with normal hearing, the findings from this study provide an important direction for further investigation of how environmental factors affect lexical outcomes for this population. If mothers can provide auditory and visual cues to increase the salience of a relevant object in word-learning contexts, they may be able to facilitate the language growth of their children.


Plankton diversity and physico-chemical parameters are an important criterion for evaluating the suitability of water for drinking and other purposes. In the present paper a comparative study of Physico-chemical parameters and plankton diversity between river Tons and Asan in Dehradun was conducted for a period of one year from April 2011-March 2012. Water samples were taken from three sampling stations of both the rivers every month during the course of study. The samples were analysed for both Physico-chemical attributes and plankton diversity. In the present study the data collected on various physico-chemical parameters of both the rivers showed wide site fluctuations having a direct effect on plankton populations. The physico-chemical attributes of both the rivers were investigated by measuring the degree of correlation with the plankton diversity. Our findings highlighted the deterioration of water quality of both the rivers due to industrial, commercial and anthropogenic activities. The status of plankton diversity of river Asan was so low indicating that the river is highly polluted and the water chemistry have direct effect on plankton diversity. However the water quality of river Tons was good to some extent but needs urgent effective restoration and management strategies for its conservation


For federal policy makers, the devastating 1994 Northridge and 1995 Kobe earthquakes were powerful and costly reminders of the need for an effective national earthquake strategy. This need is further supported by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that the population in the most seismically active regions of the United States will double by the year 2010.

Given the immense cost of earthquakes and other natural disasters, both the Clinton Administration and Congress have been considering ways to improve this country's current strategy. Last fall, both the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) released reports on this issue, and FEMA released its first ever national mitigation strategy for all natural hazards. In addition, Congress has begun to consider legislation to revise the existing National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and retool...


Visual cryptography schemes have been introduced in 1994 by Naor and Shamir. Their idea was to encode a secret image into $n$ shadow images and to give exactly one such shadow image to each member of a group $P$ of $n$ persons. Whereas most work in recent years has been done concerning the problem of qualified and forbidden subsets of $P$ or the question of contrast optimizing, in this paper we study extended visual cryptography schemes, i.e. shared secret systems where any subset of $P$ shares its own secret.


Phthalates are the common plasticisers used around the globe. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a ubiquitous, extensively used in cosmatics and frequently present in the aquatic environment. Therefore, toxic effects of DBP were evaluated in term of oxidative stress and biochemical biomarkers. For this reason, a 21 day exposure was conducted by exposing grass carp with graded concentrations of DBP (1, 10, 100 and 1000 µg/L). After 21days, stress biomarkers:, lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT) activity, glutathione-S-transferases (GST) activity and level of reduced glutathione was evaluated in liver, kidney and gills. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), urea and creatinine were evaluated in liver and kidney homogenates respectively. Moreover, effect of DBP on all biomarkers were evaluated through integrated biomarker response (IBR). Exposure of fish to DBP resulted in oxidative stress in grass carp as evidenced by an increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in antioxidant enzymes. DBP exposure also resulted in increased liver's ALT and AST levels. Urea and creatinine were also significantly increased in kidney after exposure to DBP. The IBR showed bad scores as the DBP concentration increased, with the highest one (1000 µg/L) presenting a score >250x the value for the control treatment. Additionally, the IBR/n showed that the most impacted organ was the kidney, followed by the liver and the gills. The obtained results show the need for deeper research into the effects of DBP on fish and their impact on different organs.


The Author discusses a recent paper by Del Gaudio concerning the problem of Latin and Protoromance borrowings in Protoslavic and Old Church Slavonic. He appreciates Del Gaudio's attempt to illustrate the historical frame of Latin/Romance – Slavic linguistic contact in a deeper and more insightful way, but criticizes several statements regarding mainly: a) certain methodological issues concerning Protoslavic and his reconstruction; b) linguistic relations between the Slavs and other ethno-linguistic groups within the Indo-European family; c) some controversial phonological questions involving lexical items borrowed by the Slavs; d) the treatment of eleven Old Church Slavonic lexical items allegedly directly borrowed from Latin.


The Introduction to this volume outlines the frequent demonization of Roman homosexuality as lewd and basely sensual in tandem with the valorization of 'Greek love' as noble and sexless in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the period in which a recognisably 'modern' homosexual identity is usually agreed to have begun to take shape. However, in contrast with such public apologetic attempts to disown or censure the frankly physical aspect of Roman homosexuality, it was possible in more ʽprivate' contexts to embrace Rome and thereby challenge the sanitized version of homosexuality (both contemporary and ancient) found in other writings of the period. This chapter explores a non-canonical text of the late Victorian age which subverts contemporary responses to sex in antiquity: the anonymous pornographic novel Teleny (1893). This text suggests that 'Greek love' can hardly be separated from sex; moreover, it turns the contemporary condemnation of Rome on its head by using Roman (rather than Greek) models to portray a loving, long-term relationship between adult males. Significantly, it does not depict a Greek-style erastes/ eromenos relationship, the configuration in which male desire usually appears in the period. Furthermore, Teleny demonstrates a detailed knowledge of Roman discourse on sex and sexuality, and it uses this to challenge Roman ideas and ideals of masculine behaviour. My conclusion briefly explores a modern gay novel which perceptively responds to Teleny's reception of Roman homosexuality, Alan Hollinghurst's justly acclaimed 1988 debut, The Swimming-Pool Library. Like much of Hollinghurst's work, this novel is deeply concerned with gay history and gay histories, and it riffs on Teleny and its portrait of gay men who look back to ancient Rome to see images of their own desires. It thereby effectively dramatizes the difficulties that face the would-be interpreter of Roman homosexuality, and emphasizes the inscrutability of ancient desires for modern audiences


Pulse electron paramagnetic resonance measurements of nanometer scale distance distributions have proven highly effective in structural studies. They exploit the magnetic dipole-dipole coupling between spin labels site-specifically attached to macromolecules. The most commonly applied technique is double electron-electron resonance (DEER, also called pulsed electron double resonance (PELDOR)). Here we present the new technique of laser-induced magnetic dipole (LaserIMD) spectroscopy based on optical switching of the dipole-dipole coupling. In a proof of concept experiment on a model peptide, we find, already at a low quantum yield of triplet excitation, the same sensitivity for measuring the distance between a porphyrin and a nitroxide label as in a DEER measurement between two nitroxide labels. On the heme protein cytochrome C, we demonstrate that LaserIMD allows for distance measurements between a heme prosthetic group and a nitroxide label, although the heme triplet state is not directly observable by an electron spin echo.


Development of a new calcium phosphate cement (CPC) system as an alternative to that commonly used, basically consisting of tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate self-setting mixtures, could be of interest in achieving special properties of the product. Powder mixtures of Ca(OH)(2) and KH(2)PO(4) were studied to assess their potential for the precipitation of apatite-like phase with the use of potassium phosphate salt solution as the cement liquid. X-ray diffraction and infrared (IR) spectroscopy studies and pH and setting time measurements were performed. The set cement was revealed to consist of a low crystalline carbonate-substituted apatite-like phase. The setting time of the cement was about 5 min. Its dissolution in distilled water led to an increase in solution pH to about 11.5, the pH slowly decreasing to 10.2 at day 10. The results showed the cement to be of an increased carbonate substitution ability compared to the tetracalcium phosphate-dicalcium phosphate anhydrous cement.


The aim of the work is to determine the best landmark for its use in tasks such as precise positioning of AGVs or mobile robots in front of loading/unloading areas. The work developed aims at determining the precision that can be achieved with different pattern landmarks, of use in positioning systems, based on computer vision. Different computer vision algorithms have been tested from the images acquired from different camera configurations and bending angles with respect to the vertical axis. As a result of the evaluation of these errors, we extract the recommendation of the most favourable bicolour pattern to be used, as well as the bounding errors obtained from the segmentation and recognition methods most frequently used.


CIRKOVIC, M., N. MILOSEVIC, M. MARKOVIC and A. POTKONJAK, 2010. Brain myxoboliasis of common carp. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 16: 263-265 The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) originating from Serbian fish ponds was examined for presence of Myxobolus encephalicus. The spores of M. encephalicus were present in blood vessels and meningeal layers. Its presence has been noted in 32-days old carp fingerlings, where in brain blood vessels predominate plasmodium parasites shape. Although, plasmodium does not effect blood vessels obturation as it is in the spore's case, clinical signs which were similar to those in trout, occurred in the 15-30 days old carps. Fingerlings growth rate and conversion ranged normally. Blood test results in fingerlings with high number of spores in brain had similar values to those in unaffected fingerlings. The morbidity percentage was higher for carps up to the one-month old cultured in the ponds serving for older carp winter storage.


This paper reflects upon the issue of statelessness, Palestinians and a recent evolution of Belgian caselaw. When seeking to apply the definition of a 'stateless person', as found in art 1 of the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons to Palestinians, judges are confronted with specific challenges. Since 2016, divergent standards are developing as to the question of whether, and in which circumstances, Palestinians may be stateless for the purposes of international law. This evolution takes place in a national landscape characterised by a statelessness determination procedure that falls short of standards set out in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Handbook on Protection of Stateless Persons in a number of areas, while a growing number of asylum seekers originating from Palestine are registered over the period 2016–19. This paper exposes, anno 2020, the protection gaps left open by the remarkably divergent approaches to this question taken by the different national actors involved.


A formula for calculating mutual coupling between diversely routed, horizontal earth-return conductors that measure grounding system impedance is derived by using the complex ground plane concept used to approximate the Carson equation. Each potential conductor section is approximated with equal-length segments that parallel one of the current conductor sections. By repeating the parallel segmentation of each potential conductor section with each subsequent current conductor section and summing the segment mutuals, overall mutual couplings between diversely routed conductors is obtained. This process is useful for calculating mutual to the potential conductor and for comparing possible potential conductor routings so as to minimize the overall mutual coupling. >


Proceedings of the 2002 Hydraulic Measurements and Experimental Methods Conference, held in Estes Park, Colorado, July 28-August 1, 2002. Sponsored by the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of ASCE; International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research. This collection contains 114 papers that discuss established and developing technologies for hydraulic measurements and new experimental methods. New developments in the practice of hydraulic research and experimentation are being driven by two factors: first, an explosion of new instrumentation technologies, particularly in the fields of acoustics and particle-image tracking and, second, an expansion of international collaboration resulting from due to the efforts of professional societies and the ease of information exchange created by the Internet and related technologies. Topics include: analysis techniques for acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data; applications of acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADVs) to sediment measurements; measurements in air-water mixtures; open channel flows; hydraulic structures and instrumentation; ADCP discharge measurement applications; ADVs in field an laboratory applications; innovations in river discharge measurement; laboratory applications of Doppler profiling technology; developments in current metering; new methodologies in quantitative imaging; measuring sediment transport parameters using acoustic profilers; field and lab methods for sediment measurements; three-dimensional quantitative imaging techniques; measuring tidally affected flows using acoustic methods; measuring turbulence characteristics with ADCPs; measurements in lakes and reservoirs; quantitative imaging techniques applied to two-phase flows; field and lab methods for surface velocity measurement; turbulence measurement with ADVs; index velocity applications; quantitative imaging techniques for bed load and bed form flows; discharge measurements using ADVs; acoustic measurement applications; micromodels; turbulence measurements; and innovations in flow measurements.


Materialism and social comparison are important issues, especially in a Chinese context, and especially amongst adolescents. In this paper a theoretical model of the endorsement of materialistic values and social comparison by adolescents was proposed and tested. A survey of secondary school students in Hong Kong revealed normative peer influence and peer communication were positive predictors of social comparison with friends. In addition, motivation for advertisement viewing was a positive predictor of social comparison with media figures. Social comparison with friends and with media figures were both positive predictors of materialism. The implications are discussed, with recommendations for further research.


In the present study, the relationship between the addition ratio of palatinose in feed and body fat accumulation was investigated in mice. Thirty eight-week-old male mice (C57BL/6CrSlc) were divided into three groups : a 0% palatinose group (control group), a 18% palatinose group, and an 40% palatinose group. The 3 groups were then fed their respective diets for 8 weeks. Following the conclusion of the feeding period, fat tissues in the perirenal, periepididymal, and perimesenteric regions were removed to determine their wet weight. The weight of the visceral fat was clearly lower in mice of groups fed with feed containing palatinose than in the mice of the control group. In particular, the weight of perirenal fat was significantly lower in the 40% palatinose group than in the control group (p<0.05).


Summary Hypsipyla grandella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is found throughout Central and South America, except in Chile. Damage caused by this pest in native trees of the subfamily Swietenoideae (Meliaceae) is so intense and severe that it makes industrial forestry with those species unfeasible. It also may damage fruits and seeds of those trees. Damage to reproductive structures may compromise natural regeneration and impair seedling production. Management tactics for this pest include the use of resistant exotic Meliaceae, such as the Australian red cedar (Toona ciliata M. Roem.) and the African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis). The objective of this work was to report, for the first time, damage to K. ivorensis fruits and seeds by H. grandella in Brazil. The study was carried out in a plantation for sawwood production, with about 73,000 trees of K. ivorensis in 175 ha in Corinto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ripe and almost ripe bored fruits were collected from the soil beneath 8-yr-old trees in May 2018. The total number of fruits and seeds damaged, the numbers of larvae, pupae, and adults of H. grandella per fruit, the presence of other species, and behavior of this pest were observed. Ten fruits bored by H. grandella were collected. The fruits were damaged internally by larvae of this pest, and half of them had exit holes. Each fruit had, on average, 33.6 seeds, with 99.4% of the seeds damaged, plus 4.2 H. grandella at different development stages. Some fruits did not have the borer, but they were damaged and had the characteristic exit holes of this species. The average number of larvae per fruit was 3.4, with up to 13 larvae in a single fruit. The damage in African mahogany shoots reported in 2016, and the current damage on fruits and seeds show that resistance of K. ivorensis to H. grandella has been broken, probably due to selective pressure over the large area planted with this tree in Brazil. African mahogany plantation viability in Brazil will be affected.


In the year 2006, a first operational version of a new Java-based Software Interlock System (SIS) was introduced to protect parts of the SPS (Super Proton Synchrotron) complex, mainly CNGS (CERN Neutrinos to Gran Sasso), TI8 (SPS transfer line), and for some areas of the SPS ring. The SIS protects the machine through surveillance and by analyzing the state of various key devices and dumping or inhibiting the beam if a potentially dangerous situation occurs. Being a part of the machine protection, it shall gradually replace the old SPS Software Interlock System (SSIS) and reach the final operational state targeting LHC (Large Hadron Collider) in 2008. The system, which was designed with the use of modern, state-of-the-art technologies, proved to be highly successful and very reliable from the very beginning of its existence. Its relatively simple and open architecture allows for fast and easy configuration and extension to meet the demanding requirements of the forthcoming LHC era.


Does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction to hear controversies between a state and the United States? Although the Supreme Court has asserted this power, commentators have puzzled over the question for decades. Because Article III does not enumerate controversies between a state and the United States, many scholars have concluded that the Court's exercise of this power is illegitimate, or at least atextual. This Article argues that the Constitution's text does give the Supreme Court the power to hear such controversies, but to understand why it is necessary to understand the way that the framers would, for the sake of brevity, combine several concepts into a single phrase, what this Article terms "collapse textualism." The framers combined two heads of jurisdiction ("controversies between the United States and a State" and "all other controversies involving the United States") into a single grant of jurisdiction over "Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party." Thus, because the Court has original jurisdiction over those controversies "in which a State shall be a Party" it therefore has original jurisdiction over "controversies between the United States and a State."


Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the major physiological inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). An increase in the plasma concentration of PAI-1 has been proposed as a risk factor in thrombotic disease and elevated PAI-1 is associated with a poor prognosis in a variety of cancers. These observations have led to numerous studies addressing the physiological and pathophysiological role of PAI-1 and to the proposal that manipulation of PAI-1 activity presents a new therapeutic target. Recent experimental studies with anti-PAI-1 antibodies and low molecular weight inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in both arterial and venous thrombosis models. These studies have confirmed the potential clinical benefit of reducing PAI-1 activity. As it is now possible to manipulate PAI-1 activity in vivo, future studies should be aimed at confirming the importance of PAI-1 as a major therapeutic target.


Electrospinning (ES) is one of the most useful techniques to form nanofibers in a diameter of several hundred nanometers (Doshi & Reneker, 1995, Buchko et al., 1999, Huang et al., 2003). The diameter of the nanofibers produced by ES is at least one or two orders of magnitude smaller than those of conventional fiber production methods like melt or solution spinning. As a result, the electrospun nanofibers have high specific surface area (Yamashita, 2007). These nanofibers are well-suited to be used as chemical reaction fields (Nakane et al., 2005, 2007). Much attention has been paid to the formation of both organic polymeric nanofibers and inorganic nanofibers using ES (Ramakrishna et al., 2005). Many kinds of inorganic nanofibers (SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, NiCo2O4, and so on) have been obtained by calcination of organic-inorganic hybrid precursor nanofibers formed by ES (Guan et al., 2004, Shao et al., 2004, Chronakis, 2005, Panda & Ramakrishna, 2007, Krissanasaeranee et al., 2008). The formation of TiO2 nanofibers have been also reported by several research groups. Li and Xia formed anatase-type titanium oxide (TiO2) nanofibers by the calcination of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)-Ti tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) hybrid nanofibers at 500°C in air (Li & Xia, 2003). The TiO2 nanofibers obtained would be a useful material for a photocatalytic reaction, but their usage has not been investigated. Ethanol has been used as the solvent of the spinning solution to form the hybrid precursor nanofibers. Therefore, a spinneret could be stopped up by a solid material because ethanol will evaporate from the tip of the spinneret during the spinning. Furthermore, TTIP is very easily hydrolyzed, and thus a water-free condition is required for the use of TTIP on ES. Another groups also formed TiO2 nanofibers by calcination of TiO2-PVP and TiO2-poly(vinyl acetate) precursors which were formed by ES using organic solvents such as ethanol and dimethylformamide (Kim et al., 2006, Nuansing et al., 2006, Kumar et al., 2007, Ding et al., 2008). Li and Xia reported the formation of TiO2 hollow-nanofibers (nanotubes) by ES of two immiscible liquids (TTIP-PVP ethanol solution and heavy mineral oil) through a coaxial, two-capillary spinneret, followed by selective removal of the cores and calcination in air (Li & Xia, 2004). The TiO2 nanotubes with uniform and circular cross-sections were obtained by the method. Kobayashi et al. reported the preparation of TiO2 nanotubes using the gelation (self-assembly with a rodlike fibrous structure) of an organogelator (It is not ES.) (Kobayashi et al., 2000, 2002). The organogelator is a cyclohexane derivative that was specially Source: Nanofibers, Book edited by: Ashok Kumar, ISBN 978-953-7619-86-2, pp. 438, February 2010, INTECH, Croatia, downloaded from SCIYO.COM


This position article reflects on the ambiguous relationship between discourses of apocalypse and collapse, focusing on some contemporary writers who are concerned with theorising the unfolding crises (climatological, ecological, energy, economic and resource) and consequent collapse of global industrial civilisation. First, it is asked whether collapse theorists can be characterised as apocalypticists, particularly in so far as they tend to resist utilising the language of eschatology, soteriology and theology, endeavour to advance a robust evidential and scientifically modelled basis for their claims and stress that collapse is (probably) not the end of the world and/or human history. Secondly, through a reading of Pignarre and Stengers' Capitalist Sorcery (2011), an argument is advanced that collapse theorists ought to embrace the rhetoric of apocalypticism. It is noted that, while the end of capitalism has become notoriously difficult to imagine, Pignarre and Stengers elaborate a new pragmatics, wherein activism might be sustained beyond singular socio-political events, albeit only once one begins to think that 'another world is possible.' The proposal advanced here is for collapse theorists to risk a pragmatic apocalypticism specifically as a means of messaging collapse more effectively, affecting socio-political change and resisting the worst possible outcomes of collapse.


While the history of the term 'biblical archaeology' shows that it has no single meaning, debates on the disciplinary status of biblical archaeology point towards its long-standing struggle to define itself as a scholarly discipline. A critical discussion of these two aspects results in a rejection of the recent trend to define biblical archaeology as a subsidiary of biblical studies. Instead, it is suggested that biblical archaeology should be defined as a subspecies of general archaeology. This argument finds support in three features of general archaeology: the impetus Of new archaeology, the nature of archaeological scholarship and its interdisciplinary features.


Objective: This study aimed to examine the predictors of indoor play behaviors using cluster analyses. Methods: Data from 963 children (age 4 years) who participated in the phase of the Panel Study of Korean Children, their parents, and their teachers were analyzed using K-means clustering analyses, F-tests and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results: The clustering analyses revealed three distinctive profiles: positive-theme oriented, general-exploratory/manipulative, and negative-exploratory/manipulative groups. Child characteristics, including cognition, language, and social level, and teachers` age were significantly associated with the groups in a different way; the clusters were partially different in the gender and creativity of children, interaction level of teachers` interaction, classroom environment, and program types that children attended. Conclusion: Findings revealed three clusters of play behaviors and highlighted the importance of the ecological variables that determined the clusters.


Employing a generalized resistive-capacitive shunted junction model for Josephson junctions (JJs), the nonlinear wave propagation in the series-connected discrete Josephson transmission line (DJTL) is investigated. A DJTL consists of a finite number of unit cells, each including a segment of superconducting transmission line with a single array stack, or generally a block including an N identical lumped JJ element. As the governing nonlinear wave propagation is a system of nonlinear partial differential equations with mixed boundary conditions, the method of the finite difference time domain is used to solve the equations. By this numerical technique, the behavior of wave propagation along the DJTL can be monitored in time and space domains. Cutoff propagation, dispersive behavior, and shock-wave formation through the DJTL is addressed in this paper.


Objective To evaluate the role of prenatal chronic hypoxia on myocardial ischaemia /reperfusion injury in adult rabbits' offspring and explore the relevant mechanism. Methods The pregnant New Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into normoxic (n=8) and hypoxic (12% O2 from days 10 to 28 of gestation, n=8) groups. One male offspring of each maternal rabbit was randomly selected to study. The offspring rabbits were subjected to heat stress (42°C for 15 min) at 6 months of age. After 24 h, left anterior descending branches were excised and subjected to ischaemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 120 min. Cardiac histopathological observation was performed by light microscope and electron microscope. The expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in myocardium was detected by immunohistochemistry. Myocardial enzyme activity, apoptotic index and caspase−3 activity in myocardium were examined as well. Results Ischemia-reperfusion after heat stress pretreatment increased myocardial enzyme activity, apoptotic index and caspase−3 activity in prenatal chronic hypoxia rabbits (4720.31±744.39 IU/l, 1849.13±416.58 IU/l, 40.43±5.03%, 12.43±1.77 unit, respectively) when compared with control (3388.95±532.43 IU/l, 1435.13±92.08 IU/l, 34.40±4.66%, 10.58±1.42 unit, respectively). Heat stress pretreatment induced HSP70 significant expression in left ventricular myocardium was not observed in prenatal chronic hypoxia rabbits but in normoxic control rabbits. Conclusions Prenatal chronic hypoxia inhibits HSP70 synthesis in the heart of adult offspring in response to body heat stress, which might insult cardioprotection against ischaemia-reperfusion injury.


In this study, the diuretic activity of powdered cherry stalk was evaluated in 13 healthy volunteers by means of their water balance. In addition to biochemical parameters, such as urinary electrolyte concentration, osmolality and any adverse reaction were determined. The capsules of cherry stalks were administered at an equivalent dose of 2.0 grams of the plant per person. Urinary biochemical determination was made of concentration of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium), urinary volume and osmolality by standard laboratory procedures. Statistical evaluation was performed by Student's-t and Wilcoxon rank tests. After administration of cherry stalk, the mean of urine calcium, sodium, chloride, and urine volume increased, but the amount of urine potassium and urine osmolality did not change. No adverse reaction was observed. Powdered C. avium stalk increased mild urine volume confirming thus the claimed diuretic effect of the herb. Administration of cherry stalk caused urinary sodium and chloride rising less than loop diuretics but higher than the others. Because of rising calcium excretion, it should be used with cautious in those with urolithiasis.


COVID-19 pandemic is posing an unprecedented sanitary threat: antiviral and host-directed medications to treat the disease are urgently needed. A great effort has been paid to find drugs and treatments for hospitalized, severely ill patients. However, medications used for the domiciliary management of early symptoms, notwithstanding their importance, have not been and are not presently regarded with the same attention and seriousness. In analogy with other airways viral infections, COVID-19 patients in the early phase require specific antivirals (still lacking) and non-etiotropic drugs to lower pain, fever, and control inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol (PAC) are widely used as non-etiotropic agents in common airways viral infections and hence are both theoretically repurposable for COVID-19. However, a warning from some research reports and National Authorities raised NSAIDs safety concerns because of the supposed induction of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels (the receptor used by SARS-CoV2 to enter host airways cells), the increased risk of bacterial superinfections and masking of disease symptoms. As a consequence, the use of NSAIDs was, and is still, discouraged while the alternative adoption of paracetamol is still preferred. On the basis of novel data and hypothesis on the possible role of scarce glutathione (GSH) levels in the exacerbation of COVID-19 and of the GSH depleting activity of PAC, this commentary raises the question of whether PAC may be the better choice.


Muscle wasting affecting a subgroup of patients with COPD, is a predictor of health related quality of life and survival. These patients have a further reduction in exercise capacity and evidence of decreased limb muscle oxidative capacity. We hypothesise that a further decrease in mitochondrial density occurs in patients with muscle wasting and may contribute to a lower oxidative capacity of the muscle. Mitochondrial ultrastructure was analysed using transmission electron microscopy in the vastus lateralis of seventeen COPD patients, ten with low fat free mass index (FFMI) (COPD L ) (FEV 1 33±4.3 %pred, FFMI 15±0.2 Kg.m -2 ), seven with preserved FFMI (COPD N ) (FEV 1 47±7.3 %pred, FFMI 19±0.6 Kg.m -2 ) and compared with nine age and gender-matched healthy sedentary subjects (C) (FEV 1 96±4.0 %pred, FFMI 20±0.9 Kg.m -2 ). Mitochondrial density was reduced in COPD L in comparison to COPD N (1.82±0.25 % and 2.72±0.34 % respectively, p L showed a reduction in mitochondrial least diameter (0.15±0.0µm and 0.13±0.00 µm respectively, p Mitochondrial density correlated with parameters of lung function, muscle function, exercise capacity and exacerbation frequency. Only exacerbations frequency remained independently related to mitochondrial density in a multiple regression analysis. We conclude that peripheral muscle of COPD L patients have a reduced mitochondrial density that is likely to contribute to a decreased oxidative capacity of the muscle. Supported by Chief Scientist Office (CSO) Scotland 06/S1103/5 and The British Lung Foundation (Trevor Clay, Tc07/09). SG was supported by an ERS long term research fellowship.


This paper presents the application of fuzzy-neuro method to investigate transformer inrush current. Recently, the frequency environment of power systems has been made more complicated and the magnitude of second harmonic in inrush current has been decreased because of the improvement of cast steel. Therefore, traditional approaches will likely mal-operate in the case of magnetizing inrush with low second component and internal faults with high second harmonic. The proposed scheme enhances the inrush detection sensitivity of conventional techniques by using a fuzzy-neuro approach. Details of the design procedure and the results of performance studies with the proposed detector are given in the paper. Performance studies' results show that the proposed algorithm is fast and accurate


Ribose methylation is a widespread type of nucleotide modification in rRNA. In order to map the methylation sites of rice 25 S rRNA, a series of primers complementary to both yeast 28 S and rice 25 S rRNA simultaneously were synthesized. Primer extensions at different dNTP concentrations were carried out to detect the methylation sites of both yeast and rice rRNAs. The data showed that over 80% of the methylation sites in yeast 28 S rRNA was also detected in rice. In addition, compared with the known methylation sites of Arabidopsis 25 S rRNA, other 54 sites probably methylated in rice were found in Arabidopsis. Thus, there are 85 methylation sites detected altogether; the distribution of the methyl sites in rice 25 S rRNA was determined. The results show that most of the sites are conserved among different species, especially between closely related species. And remarkably, there are much more ribose methylation sites in plant rRNA, and the propinquous methylation sites in plants are more frequent than those in other eukaryotes. Moreover, the data provide the most important clue for searching new box C/D snoRNAs.


Soil suppression of Fusarium wilt disease has been proven to be linked with the local microbial community. However, the contribution of endophytic microbes to disease suppression in wilt-suppressive soils remains unclear. ABSTRACT Members of the microbiotas colonizing the plant endophytic compartments and the surrounding bulk and rhizosphere soil play an important role in determining plant health. However, the relative contributions of the soil and endophytic microbiomes and their mechanistic roles in achieving disease suppression remain elusive. To disentangle the relative importance of the different microbiomes in the various plant compartments in inhibiting pathogen infection, we conducted a field experiment to track changes in the composition of microbial communities in bulk and rhizosphere soil and of root endophytes and leaf endosphere collected from bananas planted on Fusarium-infested orchards in disease-suppressive and disease-conducive soils. We found that the rhizosphere and roots were the two dominant plant parts whose bacterial communities contributed to pathogen suppression. We further observed that Pseudomonas was potentially a key organism acting as a pathogen antagonist, as illustrated by microbial community composition and network analysis. Subsequently, culturable pathogen-antagonistic Pseudomonas strains were isolated, and their potential suppressive functions or possible antibiosis in terms of auxin or siderophore synthesis and phosphate solubilization were screened to analyze the mode of action of candidate disease-suppressive Pseudomonas strains. In a follow-up in vivo and greenhouse experiment, we revealed that microbial consortia of culturable Pseudomonas strains P8 and S25 (or S36), isolated from banana plantlet rhizosphere and roots, respectively, significantly suppressed the survival of pathogens in the soil, manipulated the soil microbiome, and stimulated indigenous beneficial microbes. Overall, our study demonstrated that root-associated microbiomes, especially the antagonistic Pseudomonas sp. components, contribute markedly to soil suppression of banana Fusarium wilt. IMPORTANCE Soil suppression of Fusarium wilt disease has been proven to be linked with the local microbial community. However, the contribution of endophytic microbes to disease suppression in wilt-suppressive soils remains unclear. Moreover, the key microbes involving in Fusarium wilt-suppressive soils and in the endophytic populations have not been fully characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that root-associated microbes play vitally important roles in disease suppression. Root-associated Pseudomonas consortia were recognized as a key component in inhibiting pathogen abundance associated with the host banana plants. This finding is crucial to developing alternate strategies for soilborne disease management by harnessing the plant microbiome.


&NA; To correct velopharyngeal incompetence, a new treatment concept was proposed in Distraction Osteogenesis for Lengthening of the Hard Palate: Part I (using lengthening of the hard and soft palate by distraction osteogenesis). Cephalometry and computed tomography showed successful elongation of the posterior hard palate with gradual calcification. Here the sequential use of fluorochrome markers (oxytetracycline, xylenol orange, DCAF [2,4‐bis‐N‐N'‐dicarboxymethyl aminomethyl fluorescein], and alizarin complexone) during the distraction and retention period is reported together with the histologic investigations using light and laser scan microscopy without prior demineralization. The experimental gap showed de novo osteogenesis in all dogs. The new bone was always in continuity with the original anterior and posterior palatal bone margins. It either bridged the experimental gap fully or left a small central zone of fibrous tissue, in which eventual ossification occurred. Several distinct zones could be distinguished: A small central zone was found with parallel strains of collagen fibers, oriented longitudinally in the direction of the distraction. Next to this zone a layer of undifferentiated mesenchymal precursor cells was seen in direct contact to newly formed bone. The next zone was coarse woven bone, showing a transition to mature lamellar bone through remodeling. No evidence of endochondral bone formation was found, i.e., all dogs showed exclusively intramembranous bone formation. The soft tissues showed no signs of alteration; in particular, there was no necrosis or scar formation. The soft tissues were not thinned but appeared to have followed the longitudinal displacement. In conclusion, gradual distraction osteogenesis of the hard palate could be a possible method for lengthening the palate to treat velopharyngeal incompetence. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 100: 1648, 1997.)


Microscopy of direct smears for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) remains the common method for the laboratory diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in most laboratories in our setting. The bleach microscopy method has been introduced and evaluated in different settings as an alternative to direct smear microscopy. However, this approach is yet to be evaluated in a typical government owned/public health laboratory in our setting thus the need for this study. This study was conducted in two Family Health International (FHI) supported health facilities in North West Nigeria. A total of 1075 sputum specimens were collected for the study, comprising of new and follow up cases, regardless of age group and sex. The sputa were examined by two methods, direct smear microscopy and household bleach and centrifugation method. Out of the 1075 sputum specimens, 171 specimens (40.3%) were positive for AFB by direct microscopy and 253 (59.7%) were positive for AFB by the household bleach method. There was a significant increase in the number of AFB positive specimens by the household bleach method (p < 0.05). The bleach method significantly increase tuberculosis (TB) case detection compared to direct smear microscopy. The National TB and Leprosy Control Program could consider supporting the use of this method.


Recent studies to improve reinforcement of structures have developed stiff type Polyurea by using highly polymized compound Polyurea, but the reinforcing effect of it appears to be merely good. To find the proper usage of Polyurea as structural reinforcement, stiff type Polyurea has developed by manipulating the ratio of the components that consist flexural type Polyurea and the developed stiff type Polyurea shows higher hardness and tensile capacity. The reinforcement effect evaluation of has been performed by the polyurea applied RC slab specimens, and the reinforcement effect of the combination of fiber sheet and polyurea has been tested. The results shows that the Polyurea applied specimens have significant improvement on hardness and ductility compare to those of unreinforced. Also, the specimens that stiff type Polyurea is sprayed on fiber sheet reinforcement has higher reinforcing effect than only sheet reinforced specimens. However, the specimens that and fiber sheet attached after polyurea applied on showed that the high toughness of fiber sheet restrains the ductile behavior of Polyurea due to the high ductility, thereby the specimen suffers the concentration of load, which leads the brittle fracture behavior.


Author after having given account of the importance of traumatology is dealing with the present situation of trauma care in Budapest and in the country side. The need of increasing the number of beds for trauma care is pointed out. Establishing regional centers would mean the up to date advancement in the management of injured. Out-patient treatment, instrumentation and postgraduated teaching is dealt with. Finally special profiles of trauma surgery are detailed the furthering of which seems especially important: intensive care, neurotraumatology, hand injuries and burns. As a final question the septic complications are mentioned meaning a problem not only for the traumatologist.


To increase luminosity in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider's (RHIC's) polarized proton 250 GeV operations, we are considering reducing β * to 0.65 m at the interaction points (IPs), and increasing bunch intensity. The new working point near the 2/3 integer will used on the ramp to preserve polarization. In addition, we plan to adjust the betatron-phase advances between IP6 and IP8 to (k+1/2)*π so to lower the dynamic beta-beat from the beam-beam interaction. The effects of all these changes will impact the dynamic aperture, and hence, it must be evaluated carefully. In this article, we present the results of tracking the dynamic aperture with the proposed lattices.


The main purpose of this study is to define an optimum slope of the roof that demands minimum cooling load of the building, when the roof is affected by the solar and wind energy. Two different roof shapes were chosen: hip, gabled. The cooling load of building having those roof shapes was calculated through the computer simulation, using DOE program. For the simulation, the angle of the roof and angle of the orientation was changed. In the conclusion of this paper, an optimum slope of the roof which causes minimize cooling load is presented according to the roof shape and orientation. The result of this study could provide a practical design guideline for determining the roof angle for various climatic conditions.


The creation of multiattribute health utility systems requires design choices that have profound effects on the utility model, many of which have been documented and studied in the literature. Here we describe one design choice that has, to the best of our knowledge, been unrecognized and therefore ignored. It can emerge in any multiattribute decision analysis in which one or more essential outcomes cannot be described in terms of the multiattribute space. In health applications, the state of being dead is such an outcome. When the remaining health is conceptualized as a multidimensional space, determining the utility of the state of being dead requires using the interval-scale properties of cardinal utility, combined with elicited utilities for the state of being dead and the all-worst state, to produce a utility function in which the state of being dead has a utility of 0 and full health has a utility of 1 (i.e., the quality-adjusted life-year scale). Although previously unrecognized, there are two approaches to accomplish that step, and they produce different results in almost all cases. As a corollary, the choice of approach determines the proportion of states rated as worse than dead by the system. For example, in the Health Utility Index 3 (HUI3), the method used classifies 78% of the 972,000 unique health states in the classification system as worse than dead, and that proportion increases to 85% when the HUI3 is recalculated using the alternative approach. Studies of populations with significant morbidity are the most likely to be sensitive to the design choice. Those who design utility measures should be aware that they are using a researcher degree of freedom when they decide how to scale the state of being dead.


A method is given for parallelizing the problems of directed graphs on a single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) machine model that uses only nearest-neighbor connections for communication and has no facility for local indirect addressing. Each vertex of the graph is assigned to a processor in the machine. Rules for labeling are introduced that support the use of a simple algorithm for movement of data along the edges of the graph. Additional algorithms are defined for addition and deletion of edges. Modifying or adding a new edge takes the same time as parallel traversal. This combination of architecture and algorithm defines a system that is relatively simple to build and can do fast graph processing. All edges can be traversed in parallel in time O(T), where T is empirically proportional to the average path length in the embedding times the average degree of the graph. An extension to the above method is presented which allows for enhanced performance by allowing some broadcasting capabilities.<<ETX>>


We investigated the compound 1T-CuxTa1−xS2 with respect to its synthesis, homogeneity range, structure and electronic properties. The average structure of 1T-CuxTa1−xS2 resembles that of the high-temperature phase of the layered transition metal dichalcogenide 1T-TaS2 in which tantalum is partially substituted by copper. 1T-CuxTa1−xS2 readily decomposes at elevated temperatures and can only be prepared and stabilized by a sufficiently high amount of sulfur excess. XPS and NEXAFS measurements reveal that copper has the oxidation state  +I in 1T-CuxTa1−xS2, which is supported by quantum chemical calculations. The disorder introduced by copper doping causes an Anderson-type localization of the conduction electrons as manifested by a strong increase of the electrical resistivity and a Curie-type paramagnetism at low temperatures as in other doped systems 1T-MxTa1−xS2 with higher valent metals. Quantum chemical calculations support this interpretation.


Corpus luteum (CL) undergoes growth and regression during each estrous cycle; these processes are accompanied by growth and regression of the luteal vascular bed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main regulator of angiogenesis, inducing endothelial cell proliferation, migration, vascular permeability, and vessel lumen formation. VEGF presents several isoforms that are produced by alternative splicing of the same mRNA transcript. We determined by real time RT‐PCR the expression patterns of VEGF isoform and receptor mRNAs, as well as the VEGF protein levels in pig CL throughout a whole estrous cycle. Four novel VEGF isoforms (VEGF144, VEGF147, VEGF182, and VEGF164b) were found for the first time in swine and the seven identified isoforms can be grouped in four different patterns of expression. The most expressed splice variants were VEGF120 and VEGF164. All isoforms showed their highest mRNA levels in newly formed CLs (day 1), followed by a decrease during mid‐late luteal phase (days 10–17), except for VEGF182, VEGF188 and VEGF144 that showed a differential regulation during late luteal phase (day 14) or at luteolysis (day 17). VEGF protein levels paralleled the most expressed and secreted VEGF120 and VEGF164 isoforms. The VEGF receptors mRNAs showed a different pattern of expression in relation to their ligands, increasing between day 1 and 3 and gradually decreasing during the mid‐late luteal phase. The differential regulation of VEGF isoforms may suggest specific physiological roles for some of them, particularly in angioregression occurring during the apoptotic structural luteolysis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


STUDY DESIGN
Laboratory study, repeated-measures design.

OBJECTIVES
To quantify differences in sciatic and tibial nerve biomechanics (strain and excursion) during common variations of the straight leg raise (SLR) test.

BACKGROUND
Hip flexion and ankle dorsiflexion are the primary movement components of the SLR. It has been suggested that the nervous system is loaded differently when ankle dorsiflexion is added before or after hip flexion. There are, however, no data to either support or refute this suggestion.

METHODS
Strain and excursion in the sciatic and tibial nerve were measured in the hip, knee, and ankle regions during 2 movement sequences for the SLR test in 10 embalmed cadavers. The proximal-to-distal sequence consisted of hip flexion followed by ankle dorsiflexion; the distal-to-proximal sequence consisted of ankle dorsiflexion followed by hip flexion.

RESULTS
In the SLR end position, strain and excursion were comparable for both sequences for the sciatic and tibial nerve at the knee (P>.24). Strain in the tibial nerve at the ankle was greater with the proximal-to-distal sequence (P = .008), but the actual difference was small (0.8%). The pattern of strain increase and nerve excursion varied between sequences (P≤.009), with nerve strain increasing earlier and being maintained longer in regions closest to the joint that was moved first in the movement sequence.

CONCLUSION
Varying the movement sequence does not substantially impact excursion and strain in the end position of the SLR. Therefore, if neurodynamic test sequencing is useful in the differential diagnosis of neuropathies, it is not likely due to differences in strain in the end position of testing.


Abstract The goal of this paper is to report on the SERVQUAL gap which causes unsuccessful service delivery at a satellite campus of a University of Technology in South Africa. Using a quantitative research design, the study adopts a SERVQUAL model adapted to a tertiary environment containing 5 dimensions of service quality (tangibles, responsiveness, empathy, assurance and reliability). A convenience sampling technique was applied, the data was collected from 99 respondents at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and the results and discussion are presented. The findings reveal that, on average, customers had high expectations in assurance, responsiveness and reliability dimensions and their highest perceptions were found in the empathy dimension. This paper will benefit management of higher education institutions in identifying cost-effective ways of reducing service quality gaps with particular reference to satellite campuses.


Piezoelectric polymer sheets traditionally have metallic electrodes that increase considerably the stiffness of the sheet and correspondingly decrease its piezoelectric response, whether as an actuator or a sensor. We have developed methods for applying electrodes of the conducting polymer poly(ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) to sheets of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). Our most recent method involves printing the PEDOT onto the PVDF. PEDOT electrodes of reasonable thickness have considerably higher resistance than metal electrodes, so we have calculated the response of the voltage and current as a function of position on the electrodes of a single electroded PVDF sheet. We have done this both for a rectangular sheet with an ac voltage applied at one end, and for a semicircular sheet with ac voltage applied to a small semicircular metal tab at the center of the circle. In this way we find the response as a function of frequency, and determine the necessary electrode thickness for various applications. We have made bimorphs of two such electroded sheets that are glued together to give a bending response. We have also constructed actuators made of two bimorphs attached together at both ends. Better response is achieved than for similar actuators constructed from sheets with metal electrodes.


Title: This paper is a review of all papers published during 2005-2015 concerning antibacterial resistance in Kuwaiti hospitals as ascertained by a literature search.
Background: Antibiotic resistance in hospitals is a serious problem worldwide, resulting in increases in morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. This review was intended to derive an up-to-date picture of the situation in Kuwaiti hospitals, with the expectation that this might provide some guidance to authorities and involved medical and scientific workers in these institutions.
Methods and Findings: The PubMed database was searched using the following terms: antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic stewardship, prevalence, epidemiology, mechanism of resistance and Kuwait.
Prevalence of resistant E. coli in Kuwait appears to be very high in Kuwait, with the figure of 77% being quoted in a 1990-2011 review. Resistance was higher in hospital-acquired (HA) urinary infections than in communityacquired (CA), with 2007 figures for cefotaxime being 17% in CA and 26% in HA and for gentamicin 15% and 26%. A 2010 analysis covering eight hospitals reported a range of 7.5% to 29% for third generation cephalosporin resistance and 14% to 40% for ciprofloxacin resistance. A 2002-2005 study found a prevalence of 11.7% ESBL-producing E. coli at one hospital, while figures for another hospital were 62%. The major strain of ESBL has been CTX-M-15 (90% of ESBL in a 2005-2006 study; 65.5% in a 2008 analysis). Carbapenem resistance was reported in E. coli in 2011.
Resistance in K. pneumonia is also prevalent in Kuwait, with a figure of 36.2% in the 1990-2011 review. A 2002-2005 study found 13.3% of clinically significant isolates from blood cultures to be ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae. At another hospital in 2010, 82.1% of K. pneumonia isolates were ESBL-producers. The predominant ESBL has again been CTX-M-15 (91% of ESBL in a 2005-2006 study). Outbreaks due to this clone were recorded in 2006 and 2008. The first reported finding of an OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae (which hydrolyses carbapenems as well as penicillins) from the Arabian Peninsula was from a Kuwaiti patient in 2011. In the same year, the finding of a qnrA gene (conferring fluoroquinolone resistance) among ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae was first reported. A recent study reported qnr genes in 15.6 % of isolates from three major Kuwaiti hospitals.
The 1990-2011 literature survey revealed a comparatively low prevalence of 16.7% of resistance in A. baumannii. In the 2005-2007 survey of uropathogens, while resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid increased from 54% to 77% in CA and 76% to 86% in HA, to cefotaxime from 65% to 88% in CA and 81% to 95% in HA, resistance to amikacin decreased from 12% to 4% in CA and 40% to 27% in HA, to ciprofloxacin from 15% to 4% in CA and 67% to 35% in HA, to cotrimoxazole from 12% to 8% in CA and 56% to 19% in HA, to gentamicin from 12% to 4% in CA and 57% to 22% in HA, and to piperacillin/tazobactam from 12% to 8% in CA and 55% to 32% in HA. A 2006-2007 outbreak of a carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii in an ICU unit was controlled with tigecycline but a 2011 study showed 13.6% resistance to tigecycline. Multidrug- resistant (MDR) A. baumannii isolates are frequently carbapenemase producers (42.6% in a 2012 study). The diversity of such isolates is shown by the detection of 20 different sequence types in an analysis of 33 MDR isolates in a major hospital from 2011 and 2012, but bla (OXA-23) has become dominant, not only in Kuwait (85% in this series) but also through the Gulf Cooperation Council states (107 of 117 isolates in a 2011-2013 study).
CTX-M-15 type ESBL has also been documented in both S. enterica serotype typhi and nontyphoid Salmonella (2008), while the gyrA gene was found in S. enterica serotypes typhi and paratyphi A in 2010.
An analysis of 1,846 S. aureus isolates from 13 Kuwaiti hospitals during 2005 found 32% of these to be MRSA. Two outbreaks of MRSA in neonatal units in 2007 and 2011 were due to unusual strains not found in other hospitals, possibly indicating independent acquisition, especially given the diverse genetic backgrounds found in the latter instance.
Resistance prevalence in S. pneumoniae in Kuwait is very high, varying from 64% in one hospital to 54.5% in another.
Conclusions: Resistance is obviously a serious problem in Kuwaiti hospitals. This review gives some idea of the scope of the problem but there are many gaps and some anomalies. Some trends are apparent but the overall impression is of a constant state of flux. The extent to which the findings can be generalised to any particular hospital is limited. These factors make constant surveillance (including by molecular methods) by each hospital, as well as nationally, imperative. This, combined with well-instituted antibiotic stewardship, will assist in lessening the impact of resistance on morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs.


On December 4, 2003, the 1299th conference of the judicial commission of Supreme Peoples Court passed Interpretation Relating to Certain Questions Concerning the Application of Law to The Hearing of Person Damage Compensation Cases, of which the 4th article establishes the legal system for joint dangerous behavior in the civil law of new China for the first time. People often confuse joint dangerous behavior with other joint infringement of rights because they have little known about it. A thorough study on its origin and the developmental conditions is advantageous to explain the establishment significance and the development rules of this legal system; meanwhile, a thorough analysis of its constituents is advantageous to grasp its essence and finally differentiate it from other joint infringement of rights, which is of great significance to clarifying the misunderstanding of theory and guiding judicial practice.


This research examines the impact of the interactions of women's gender and cultural identities on their leadership development process. This study uses an intersectionality-informed qualitative methodology to collect and analyze data from ten participants at the University of
Melbourne. The main findings show that depending on the gender stereotypes in their own culture and equivalent in a new culture, women evaluate their own capabilities and the opportunities available to
them differently, and this affects their ascension into leadership roles. This research makes the first step in demonstrating that there are under-researched problems faced by women from more genderintegrated
cultures working in Australian organizations in their path to attaining leadership roles. The practical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.


Applying a benchmarking approach to conflict resolution problems is a hard task, as the analytical form of the constraints is not simple. This is especially the case when using realistic dynamics and models, considering accelerating aircraft that may follow flight paths that are not direct. Currently, there is a lack of common problems and data that would allow researchers to compare the performances of several conflict resolution algorithms. The present paper introduces a benchmarking approach that can provide researchers with common problems, in order to compare the performances of several conflict resolution algorithms. A comparison between three resolution methods is drawn over several problems and highlights assets and weaknesses for each of them.


The structure and membrane interaction of the internal fusion peptide (IFP) fragment of the avian sarcoma and leucosis virus (ASLV) envelope glycoprotein was studied by an array of biophysical methods. The peptide was found to induce lipid mixing of vesicles more strongly than the fusion peptide derived from the N-terminal fusion peptide of influenza virus (HA2-FP). It was observed that the helical structure was enhanced in association with the model membranes, particularly in the N-terminal portion of the peptide. According to the infrared study, the peptide inserted into the membrane in an oblique orientation, but less deeply than the influenza HA2-FP. Analysis of NMR data in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelle suspension revealed that Pro13 of the peptide was located near the micelle-water interface. A type II beta-turn was deduced from NMR data for the peptide in aqueous medium, demonstrating a conformational flexibility of the IFP in analogy to the N-terminal FP such as that of gp41. A loose and multimodal self-assembly was deduced from the rhodamine fluorescence self-quenching experiments for the peptide bound to the membrane bilayer. Oligomerization of the peptide and its variants can also be observed in the electrophoretic experiments, suggesting a property in common with other N-terminal FP of class I fusion proteins.


Levels and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in various tissues of hens foraging near an electronic wastes stack spot in Taizhou, China, were studied. With high‐resolution gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry analysis, 37 PBDE congeners from di‐ to hepta‐brominated and BDE 209 were identified and quantified in the liver, heart, skin, fat, intestine, muscle, blood, oviduct, ovum, gizzard, spleen, and kidney tissues of hens. Based on lipid weight in all analyzed tissues, muscle exhibited the highest PBDE concentrations (17,977 ng/g lipid wt), BDE 209 was the dominant congener, and the sum of quantified PBDEs followed the order muscle > fat > intestine > heart > liver > oviduct > gizzard > blood > skin > ovum. Principal component analysis results indicated that the hen muscle tissue was characterized by BDE 32, 209, 28, and 75 congeners; hen intestine, heart, and blood tissues were characterized by BDE 153, 99, 183, 138, 154, 47, and 100 congeners; and hen skin, liver, oviduct, ovum, gizzard, spleen, kidney, and fat tissues had a similar PBDE congener profile. The present study also indicated that the PBDE congeners were persistent enough to accumulate through the human food chain and that deca‐BDE might be potential risk to ecoenvironment.


[1] Airborne observations made on 8 July 2002 over five locations in Virginia and Maryland revealed the presence of two discrete layers of air pollution, one of a smoke plume between ∼2 and 3 km above mean sea level advected from Quebec forest fires and another, underlying plume from fossil fuel combustion. Within the smoke layer, large increases were observed in submicrometer particle numbers, scattering, and absorption as well as ozone (O3) and CO (but not SO2) mixing ratios. The single-scattering albedos (ω0) in the layer between ∼2 and 3 km (mean value at 550 nm = 0.93 ± 0.02) were consistently smaller than those below (mean value at 550 nm = 0.95 ± 0.01). Aerosol optical depth in the lower 3 km of the atmosphere was determined at each of the five locations, and the value at 550 nm varied between 0.42 ± 0.06 and 1.53 ± 0.21. Calculations of clear-sky aerosol direct radiative forcing by the smoke plume using an atmospheric radiative transfer code indicated that the forcing at the top of the atmosphere was small relative to the forcing at the surface. Thus atmospheric absorption of solar radiation was nearly equal to the attenuation at the surface. The net effect was to cool the surface and heat the air aloft. A morning subsidence inversion positioned the smoke in a dense enough layer above the planetary boundary layer that solar heating of the layer maintained the temperature inversion through the afternoon. This created a positive feedback loop that prevented vertical mixing and dilution of the smoke plume, thereby increasing the regional radiative impact.


Nonpolio enterovirus (NPEV) infections are known to cause a wide range of illnesses in the neonatal period. In most cases, NPEV is presumed to be contracted during birth. Intrauterine NPEV infections occur infrequently. A case of intrauterine echovirus 11 infection with pneumonia, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, and purpura fulminans is presented.


1.The concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride and dry mass were measured by electron-probe X-ray micro-analysis in 1 μm thick frozen-hydrated sections from Calliphora rectum in 5 different states of absorptive function. 2.In all cases the average concentrations of sodium + potassium + chloride was consistently higher in the fluid in the lateral intercellular spaces than in the cytoplasm, the average ratio being 2:1 in water-fed flies and higher in water-deprived flies. 3.The highest concentration of electrolytes was found in the extracellular channel of complex lateral membrane stacks, which is consistent with the histochemical localization of major cation pumps at these sites (Berridge & Gupta, 1968). This concentration exceeded the electrolyte concentration in other tissue compartments by some 80 m-equiv/1 H 2 O in water-fed flies and about 700 m-equiv/1 H 2 O in water-deprived flies. The potassium and sodium concentration ratio of this extracellular fluid was nearly 1:1 in water-fed flies, 3:1 in water-deprived flies with KC1 in the rectal lumen, and 0·5:1 with NaCl in the rectal lumen. 4.Results suggest that the extracellular fluid is generated in membrane infoldings along the intercellular channels, and that this fluid gains water and sodium, but loses a variable amount of potassium and chloride, as it passes to the haemolymph, thus supporting the idea of local osmosis and ion recycling.


In understanding complex algorithms, the notions of encapsulation and modularization have played a key role. An algorithm is broken into several parts or modules, and understanding of each part is independent of others. In addition, each part contains details that are not needed by other parts and so can be hidden from them.
Programming languages provide support for encapsulation and modularization in many different forms. Early programming languages provided the procedure and function as a means for modularization. Later, files were introduced as a means of modularizing programs. More sophisticated mechanisms were then introduced, like modules, packages, structures, and classes. In all these cases, the interface to a module remained the procedure or function call. Programs that use such modules contain calls to functions and procedures for communicating with a module. Ideally, using the operations that are provided by a module should be done in exactly the same way as using operations of primitive types of the programming language. Primitive operations of the language and operations provided by modules should be easy to intermix. In addition, substituting one module for another that has the same functionality but different implementation should involve a minimal amount of effort.
Recently, a new programming language, Polya, has been designed, which attempts to support modularization and at the same time incorporate the operations that are provided by the modules in the programming language itself. This is done by a sophisticated type-definition facility and a mechanism for transforming programs at the source-program level.
This thesis studies mechanisms for program transformation at the source program level, in the context of Polya. Program transformation is based on a set of transformation rules that prescribe how a part of a program is to be transformed, and a set of directives that prescribe which program variables are to be transformed.
We first give an algorithm for processing program transformations as described by the transform construct. The algorithm constructs a coordinate transformation of an abstract program based on a set of transforms and transform directives for transforming program variables. We then study the problem of transforming expressions that have compound types. Both the type constructor and the component expressions of the original expression may be transformed. No extra rules need be added to the bodies of transforms that transform the type constructor and the component expressions.
In the sequel we investigate the problem of transforming procedures and functions that have parameters that need to be transformed. Finally, the problem of transforming program-transformation rules is studied.
The program transformation techniques are applied to two well-known algorithms. The algorithms are source programs, which are subsequently transformed to programs of conventional programming languages, and then compiled and run.


The purpose of this paper is to open some eyes to the way infrastructure research has traditionally been conducted and how the methodology must change for the future. It stresses the fact that things are changing. Business is no longer conducted as it was in the past. Organizations can no longer survive by conducting business as usual. In the area of infrastructure research, projects are done piecemeal. There is virtually no critical mass of research. Programs are not organized and managed. This paper, after describing the traditional approach to infrastructure research, suggests that an integrated systems approach be taken toward it. Project management techniques for research management are proposed. A prototype system is suggested.


We examine the performance of compact fuzzy rule-based classification systems that consist of a small number of simple fuzzy rules with high comprehensibility. Those fuzzy systems are designed in a heuristic manner using rule selection criteria. We first describe fuzzy rule-based classification. Next we describe heuristic rule selection criteria using the terminology in data mining: confidence and support. A small number of fuzzy rules are extracted from numerical data based on each rule selection criterion. Then we examine the classification performance of extracted fuzzy rules through computational experiments on a number of benchmark data sets from the UCI ML Repository. Our results should be viewed as the lowest benchmark performance of fuzzy rule-based classification systems because fuzzy rules are extracted using a simple heuristic method with no optimization or tuning procedures. Nevertheless our results on some data sets are comparable to reported results by the C4.5 algorithm in the literature.


Net primary production (NPP) quantifies vegetation growth. It reflects the impact of biotic and abiotic factors over an ecosystem and is an important ecological variable for monitoring the impact of human activity on ecosystems. Though conceptually simple, NPP can be very difficult to measure accurately. In this paper, different temporal and spatial NPP products are compared, improving our understanding of the accuracy of these methods for measuring NPP in small forested areas of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Pinus pinaster Ait. stands. The Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) NPP products were compared with NPP values obtained from FOREST-BGC (a well-known ecophysiological model) and field measurements. The paper also examines the possibility of estimating the leaf area index (LAI), a key FOREST-BGC input, using remote sensing techniques. The results indicate that the most accurate estimates were achieved using the FOREST-BGC model, which is normally applied at the stand level. Since LAI can be estimated from remotely sensed data, this ecophysiological model may now be regarded as suitable for use at the regional and global scales. The results also showed that, although average NPP values are similar to field measurements, MODIS NPP products are inefficient for identifying extreme NPP values.