Generalisation of scattering theory to charged particles is presented. It is based on a surface-integral approach. New general definitions for the breakup amplitude in a three-body system valid for both short-range and long-range Coulombic interactions are given.


Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are natural events produced by massive concentration of toxic phytoplankton that can color red, ocher, brown or yellow large extensions of water, its intensity depends on the different species of phytoplankton involved in the proliferation. The spreading of these formations involves an interaction of biological, chemical, meteorological and anthropogenic factors. Several species with potential toxicity have been reported along Mexican coasts, such as Gymnodinium catenatum, Karenia brevis, Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum. The toxic bloom not only causes an impact during the event, it produces negative effects afterward, such as accumulating deposits of organic matter, alterations of benthic community structure and composition, species presence/absence, and bioaccumulation of toxins in organisms such as bivalve molluscs mainly. Poisoning may occur by consuming contaminated seafood or by direct exposure to aerosols of the toxins, which can provoke diarrhea or even death. Due to the impact of this type of event on the economy, environment and public health, strategies for monitoring, prevention, and systematic mitigation have been implemented for the evaluation of HAB effects. The aim of this review was to determine the state-of-the art of HAB, their reports and effects on the environment and public health in Mexico.


This paper addresses the problem of range-rate estimation of narrowband passive sources in multipath environ- ments. Although range-rate can be derived from a sequence of matched-field range-depth estimates, such an approach requires accurate modeling of the phase differences between normal modes which is difficult to achieve in practice. Alternatively, estimation of range rate by resolving the differential Doppler components in a narrowband multipath return requires exceed- ingly long observation times. In this work, robust range-rate estimation is achieved by exploiting the complex temporal fading of unresolved narrowband signals which is a function of differen- tial multipath Doppler spread. Different modal components are modeled as independent processes which makes the estimator robust to environmental mismatch. The performance of the proposed Independent Mode Range-Rate Estimator (IMRE) is shown to compare favorably with the Cramer Rao Lower Bound. IMRE results with real SWELLEX-96 are presented with range- rate estimates made at 20 second update rates which compare favorably with GPS ground-truth measurements.


The purpose of this paper is to explore whether by addressing issues of good governance, it would help the developing countries in the realization of the Education for All (EFA) targets and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The methodology used is mainly a review of current literature in the area of good governance, applying it to developing countries and linking it to critical issues that are likely to affect the realization of the EFA targets and the attainment of the MDGs in developing countries. Based on the literature reviewed and the discussion presented, the following conclusions and recommendations are made: 1) There is clear evidence that governance issues are at the core of realizing the EFA targets and attainment of the MDGs in the developing countries; 2) Realizing the EFA targets and attainment of the MDGs require radical improvement in key factors that are linked to governance. For example, political support from the highest level of government is essential in order to create a momentum for reform and drive the implementation process; 3) In order to realize the EFA targets and attain the MDGs, there is a need to create a broad coalition of support for reform; 4) Significant policy changes are needed to correct the existing structural imbalances which might hinder the realization of the EFA targets and attainment of the MDGs. In particular, it is important to explore new approaches to policy and to be innovative; and 5) Poverty Reduction Strategies need to be pursued more vigorously in developing countries since there is a close link between poverty reduction and the attainment of the MDGs.


GaN films with thickness up to 3 mm were grown by halide vapour phase epitaxy method. Two growth modes were observed: the high temperature (HT) mode and the low temperature (LT) mode. Films grown in HT mode had smooth surface, however the growth stress was high and caused cracking. Films grown in LT mode had rough surface with high density of V-defects (pits), however such films were crack-free. The influence of growth parameters on the pit shape and evolution was investigated. Origins of pits formation and process of pit overgrowth are discussed. Crack-free films with smooth surface and reduced density of pits were grown using combination of the LT and HT growth modes.


Identifying causal relationships between variables remains an essential problem across various scientific fields. Such identification is particularly important but challenging in complex systems, such as those involving human behaviour, sociotechnical contexts, and natural ecosystems. By exploiting state space reconstruction via lagged embeddings of time series, convergent cross mapping (CCM) serves as an important method for addressing this problem. While powerful, CCM is computationally costly; moreover, CCM results are highly sensitive to several parameter values. Current best practice involves performing a systematic search on a range of parameters, but results in high computational burden, which mainly raises barriers to practical use. In light of both such challenges and the growing size of commonly encountered datasets from complex systems, inferring the causality with confidence using CCM in a reasonable time becomes a biggest challenge. In this thesis, I investigate the performance associated with a variety of parallel techniques (CUDA, Thrust, OpenMP, MPI and Spark, etc.,) to accelerate convergent cross mapping. The performance of each method was collected and compared across multiple experiments to further evaluate potential bottlenecks. Moreover, the work deployed and tested combinations of these techniques to more thoroughly exploit available computation resources. The results obtained from these experiments indicate that GPUs can only accelerate the CCM algorithm under certain circumstances and requirements. Otherwise, the overhead of data transfer and communication can become the limiting bottleneck. On the other hand, in cluster computing, the MPI/OpenMP framework outperforms the Spark framework by more than one order of magnitude in terms of processing speed and provides more consistent performance for distributed computing. This also reflects the large size of the output from the CCM algorithm. However, Spark shows better cluster infrastructure management, ease of software engineering, and more ready handling of other aspects, such as node failure and data replication. Furthermore, combinations of GPU and cluster frameworks are deployed and compared in GPU/CPU clusters. An apparent speedup can be achieved in the Spark framework, while extra time cost is incurred in the MPI/OpenMP framework. The underlying reason reflects the fact that the code complexity imposed by GPU utilization cannot be readily offset in the MPI/OpenMP framework. Overall, the experimental results on parallelized solutions have demonstrated a capacity for over an order of magnitude performance improvement when compared with the widely used current library rEDM. Such economies in computation time can speed learning and robust identification of causal drivers in complex systems. I conclude that these parallel techniques can achieve significant improvements. However, the performance gain varies among different techniques or frameworks. Although the use of GPUs can accelerate the application, there still exists constraints required to be taken into consideration, especially with regards to the input data scale. Without proper usage, GPUs use can even slow down the whole execution time. Convergent cross mapping can achieve a maximum speedup by adopting the MPI/OpenMP framework, as it is suitable to computation-intensive algorithms. By contrast, the Spark framework with integrated GPU accelerators still offers low execution cost comparing to the pure Spark version, which mainly fits in data-intensive problems.


Sotos syndrome is a complex genetic disease first described by Sotos' in 1964. The four major criteria in the diagnosis were established in 1994 by Cole and Hughes'. Basing their findings on the systematic assessment of 41 typical cases they characterized this syndrome by: 1. Advanced bone age. 2. Macrocephaly. 3. Characteristic facial appearance: the face is round with an abnormal prominence of the forehead and becomes longer in adolescence. 4. Learning difficulties. This is often associated with delay in walking that can start after 15 months of age and speech delay until 2,5 year of age. Other findings include dolicocephaly, prognatism, hypertelorism, high-arched palate, early eruption of teeth, seizures, scoliosis and congenital heart defects 3-4. Affected patients also show social contact problems and anxious behavior 5. For forty years the diagnosis of Sotos syndrome has been based on subjective evaluation of clinical features. More recently genetic studies showed mutations of gene NSD 1 in almost all the patients. The intragenic mutation of NSD 1 gene causes 60-80% of Sotos syndromes in Europe and USA, whereas 5q35 microdelections encompassing NSD 1 cause 10% of cases 6-7. In contrast, NSDI microdelections are the primary cause of Sotos syndrome in Japan where the incidence the incidence of congenital heart defects seems to be higher 8. The gene NSDI encodes a hystone methyltransferase implicated in chromatin regulation 9. We present a case ofSotos syndrome which underwent regional anesthesia with spontaneous breath sedation for neurological flat foot.


Abstract. We demonstrate a deep-learning-based fiber imaging system that can transfer real-time artifact-free cell images through a meter-long Anderson localizing optical fiber. The cell samples are illuminated by an incoherent LED light source. A deep convolutional neural network is applied to the image reconstruction process. The network training uses data generated by a setup with straight fiber at room temperature (∼20  °  C) but can be utilized directly for high-fidelity reconstruction of cell images that are transported through fiber with a few degrees bend or fiber with segments heated up to 50°C. In addition, cell images located several millimeters away from the bare fiber end can be transported and recovered successfully without the assistance of distal optics. We provide evidence that the trained neural network is able to transfer its learning to recover images of cells featuring very different morphologies and classes that are never "seen" during the training process.


We present the results of theoretical calculations of the structure, diffusion and rotational energies, and the ro-vibrational modes, of the hydrogen molecule in the hexagonal part of 4H-SiC and in 2H-GaN. In both materials, the molecule is stable and aligned along the c-axis. Its rotational barrier is sufficiently large that ortho- and para-forms have almost degenerate ro-vibrational modes. The origin of two modes at 4090 and 4110 cm−1 attributed to molecules observed in multi-transmission FTIR experiments on Mg doped insulating GaN grown by OMVPE is discussed.


IoT is considered as one of the key enabling technologies for the fourth industrial revolution that is known as Industry 4.0. In this paper, we consider the mechatronic component as the lowest level in the system composition hierarchy that tightly integrates mechanics with the electronics and software required to convert the mechanics to intelligent (smart) object offering well defined services to its environment. For this mechatronic component to be integrated in the IoT-based industrial automation environment, a software layer is required on top of it to convert its conventional interface to an IoT compliant one. This layer, which we call IoT wrapper, transforms the conventional mechatronic component to an Industrial Automation Thing (IAT). The IAT is the key element of an IoT model specifically developed in the context of this work for the manufacturing domain. The model is compared to existing IoT models and its main differences are discussed. A model-to-model transformer is presented to automatically transform the legacy mechatronic component to an IAT ready to be integrated in the IoT-based industrial automation environment. The UML4IoT profile is used in the form of a Domain Specific Modelling Language to automate this transformation. A prototype implementation of an Industrial Automation Thing using C and the Contiki operating system demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.


The unique structure of cholesterol and its role in modulating lipid translocation (flip-flop) were examined using sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS). Two structural analogues of cholesterol--cholestanol and cholestene--were examined to explore the influence of ring rigidity and amphiphilicity on controlling distearoylphosphocholine (DSPC) flip-flop. Kinetic rates for DSPC flip-flop were determined as a function of sterol concentration and temperature. All three sterols increased the rate of DSPC flip-flop in a concentration-dependent manner following the order cholestene > cholestanol > cholesterol. Rates of DSPC flip-flop were used to calculate the thermodynamic activation free energy barrier (ΔG(‡)) in the presence of cholesterol, cholestanol, and cholestene. The acyl chain gauche content of DSPC, mean lipid area, and membrane compressibility were correlated to observed trends in ΔG(‡). ΔG(‡) for DSPC flip-flop showed a strong positive correlation with the molar compression modulus (K*) of the membrane, influenced by the type and concentration of the sterol added. Interestingly, cholesterol is distinctive in maintaining invariant membrane compressibility over the range of 2-10 mol %. The results in this study demonstrate that the compression modulus of a membrane plays a significant role in moderating ΔG(‡) and the kinetics of native, protein-free, lipid translocation in membranes.


Clustering is an effective microarchitectural technique for reducing the impact of wire delays, the complexity, and the power requirements of microprocessors. In this work, we investigate the design of on-chip interconnection networks for clustered superscalar microarchitectures. This new class of interconnects has demands and characteristics different from traditional multiprocessor networks. In particular, in a clustered microarchitecture, a low intercluster communication latency is essential for high performance. We propose some point-to-point cluster interconnects and new improved instruction steering schemes. The results show that these point-to-point interconnects achieve much better performance than bus-based ones, and that the connectivity of the network together with effective steering schemes are key for high performance. We also show that these interconnects can be built with simple hardware and achieve a performance close to that of an idealized contention-free model.


A new rehabilitation (New-RH) program including respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics (RMSG) was developed to alleviate post-coronary artery bypass grafting pain (PCP). Effects on respiratory muscle function, pain, activities of daily living (ADL), mood and exercise capacity were investigated. Subjects were 16 consecutive patients undergoing median full sternotomy coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and were randomly divided into equal New-RH (S-group) and conventional therapy (C-group) groups. Rib cage dominant breathing was observed postoperatively in both groups. With preoperative tan deltaVrc/deltaVab, increases at 1-week postoperatively and decreases at discharge for S-group tended to exceed those of C-group (p > .05). Decreased maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure status for functional residual capacity and percent forced expiratory volume in one second at discharge again only tended to be smaller for S-group (p > .05). S-group displayed significantly reduced pain around both scapulas at discharge (p = .049), and increased mean overall ADL and profile of mood states (POMS)/Vigor scores (p = .031 and p = .018, respectively). POMS/Tension-Anxiety scores at discharge for S-group were significantly smaller than those preoperatively (p = .025), and S-group displayed significantly increased distance walked over 6-minutes at discharge than C-group (p = .029). New-RH improves patient participation in exercise therapy and increases exercise capacity by reducing PCP, relieving anxiety and tension, and improving ADL.


Abstract Tumor targeting pharmaceuticals will play a crucial role in future pharma pipelines. The targeted thorium conjugate (TTC) therapeutic platform could provide real benefit to patients, whereby targeting moieties like monoclonal antibodies are radiolabelled with the alpha-emitting radionuclide thorium-227 (227Th, t1/2 = 18.7 days). A potential problem could be the accumulation of the long-lived daughter nuclide radium-223 (223Ra, t1/2 = 11.4 days) in the drug product during manufacturing and distribution. Therefore, the level of 223Ra must be standardized before administration to the patient. The focus in this study has been the removal of 223Ra, as the other progenies will have a very limited stay in the formulation. In this study, the purification of TTCs labeled with decayed 227Th has been explored. Columns packed with a strong cation exchange resin have been used to sequester 223Ra. The separation of TTC from 223Ra has been evaluated as influenced by both formulation and process parameters with a design of experiments (DOE) study; including citrate or acetate buffer, pH, buffer concentration, presence or absence of pABA + EDTA, resin amount and sodium chloride concentration. The aim was to achieve a separation with high sorption of 223Ra and accompanying low TTC sorption. The results were analyzed by multivariate analysis. Four regression models of TTC and 223Ra sorption from citrate and acetate buffered formulations were developed. The predictive accuracy of sorption in the four statistical models was given by standard deviations and confidence intervals. The TTC sorption in citrate and acetate buffered formulations was affected by the identical variables and the variation in TTC sorption was comparable for the two models. However, the DOE variables had a significantly stronger impact on the 223Ra sorption in citrate buffered formulations than the 223Ra sorption in acetate buffer. An optimal separation with a TTC sorption below 25% and 223Ra sorption above 90% can be achieved in both citrate and acetate buffered formulations. Stability studies of radiochemical purity (RCP) indicated that the measured 227Th values may be partly due to free 227Th and not TTC, but the results indicate that TTC stability may be controlled by optimizing formulation parameters. Hence, the sorption data and the regression models presented must be reviewed and further explored with regard to what is known about the stability of the TTC in the different buffered formulations.


Sustainable development principles have brought forth the imperative to harness renewable energy sources to conserve our fragile ecosystems. Among the various renewable energy options, ocean wave energy has garnered significant global interest and is now poised as a leading contender. However, current wave energy collection methods suffer from limitations and technical immaturity, thereby necessitating the need for a more advanced and innovative solution. This paper presents a concept for the development of a floating wave harvester, which aims to convert the energy of ocean waves into usable electrical energy. The focus of this document is to outline the methodology behind the design and construction of the harvester's buoys, which play a crucial role in determining the overall effectiveness of the system. The buoy shape and material choice are critical to the harvester's dynamic behavior, energy absorption capacity, and the ability to transform wave kinetic energy into direct and indirect electrical energy. The primary objectives of this ongoing research project are to define the system requirements and specifications and to implement these through practical application. The development of this floating wave harvester holds the potential to significantly contribute to the renewable energy landscape and make significant strides in sustainable development.


INTRODUCTION
The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new technique for microlaparoscopic-assisted gastrostomy (MAG) in children and infants by using a 1.9-mm scope only. In this paper, we report our early experiences with this method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
In a prospective study, MAG was performed on 12 children (7 boys and 5 girls) after a primary percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure was considered not feasible or unsafe. The median patient age at the time of surgery was 1.2 years (range, 4 months to 4 years). A 1.7- or 1.9-mm 0-degree scope was introduced at the umbilicus. A 5-mm port was placed over the stomach at the designated site for the tube placement. The stomach was grasped and exteriorized. The gastrostomy was opened, and a balloon gastrostomy tube was placed.

RESULTS
In 12 children, the procedure was successfully completed without conversions. Mean operative time was 19 minutes (range, 13-35). No intraoperative complications occurred. Feeds were instituted 5 hours postoperatively and quickly advanced the following day in 11 of 12 children. The procedure may be performed as day surgery.

CONCLUSIONS
In our opinion, MAG is a feasible, safe procedure in children. Technically, it is a simple method, particularly in cases where percutaneous tube placement is not feasible. It combines the advantages of microlaparoscopy and open surgery. It is easy to perform in children and allows a primary gastrostomy tube placement. Parents and nursing staff also seem satisfied.


Islet replacement therapy, pancreatic islet transplantation, is considered as a potential option for curing T1DM. However, the significant loss of implanted islets after islet transplantation prevents it from becoming a mainstream treatment modality. Due to the lack of reliable noninvasive real-time imaging techniques to track the survival of the islets, it is impossible to discover the specific causes for the loss of implanted islets, not to mention taking interventions in the early stage. Current achievements in molecular imaging has provided with several promising techniques, including optical imaging, PET and MRI, for noninvasive visualization, quantification and functional evaluation of transplanted islets in experimental conditions. Optical imaging seems to be the most convenient and cost-efficient modality, but the limited penetration distance hinders its application in large animal and human studies. PET combined with target-specific tracers is characterized by high specificity and sensitivity for detection of islet grafts, but observation time is rather short (i.e., several hours). MRI stands out for its long-term visualization of transplanted islet grafts with the aid of contrast agents. However, quantification of islets remains a problem to be solved. A novel technique, microencapsulation, provides a new perspective in multimodal imaging by optimizing the strengths of several modalities together. Although the application of molecular imaging in clinical settings is still limited, significant success and valuable information is achieved in the basic and clinical trials. However, islet transplantation still remains an experimental procedure, with ongoing researches focusing on islets availability, appropriate sites for implantation, new methods using biomaterials (e.g. microencapsulation), immune modulation and more.


SUMMARY: Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae impaired in the biosynthesis of carbamoyi phosphate were obtained. Genetical, physiological and enzymic studies of these mutants showed the existence in this organism of two independent enzymic systems which catalysed the synthesis of carbamoyl phosphate from HCO3
-, glutamine, ATP and Mg2+. One system provides carbamoyi phosphate for the arginine pathway, the other plays a similar role for the pyrimidine pathway. Carbamoyl phosphate from one pathway is freely available for the other. The mutations have been mapped in three unlinked loci. Two loci determine the argininespecific carbamoyl phosphate synthesizing system. The third locus corresponds to the pyrimidine-specific system. Mutations in either of the two genes concerned with the arginine pathway lead to a deficiency in the activity of that pathway to synthesize carbamoyl phosphate. Crossing a mutant deficient in one of the two arginine loci with a mutant deficient at the other produces a diploid in which complementation occurs. Also, in vitro activity may be partially regained by combining the cell-free extracts of the two single mutants. The physiological significance of the two enzymic systems is established by the study of their regulation. The carbamoyl phosphate synthesizing activity of the arginine pathway was repressed to 10% of its value in minimal medium by addition of excess of arginine to the growth medium. The activity corresponding to the pyrimidine pathway was only slightly repressed by uracil but was subject to feed-back inhibition by uridine-5'-triphosphate. These results are compared with the data available for other micro-organisms.


Myocardial involvement and serious electrocardiographic abnormalities are rare in patients with facioscapulohumeral (FSH) muscular dystrophy. We reported a case of FSH muscular dystrophy complicated with complete A-V block. The case was that of a 48 year-old male with the complaints of exertional dyspnea. His chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly, and the electrocardiogram recorded on admission showed complete A-V block. On the His bundle electrogram, complete A-H block and prolongation of H-V intervals were noted. Therefore, a permanent pacemaker was implanted, and he has been doing well for over 10 years after implantation. Although it is well known that serious electrocardiographic abnormalities are not infrequently associated with Duchenne's progressive muscular dystrophy (DMD), there are few reports about pacing therapy for patients with muscular dystrophy. Because the daily activity of patients with rapidly progressive type of muscular dystrophy such as DMD is at a very low level, they do not require pacing therapy. Whereas in patients with the FSH type of muscular dystrophy, which is a slowly progressive type, their daily activity is maintained at a high level. Therefore, pacing therapy should be recommended if the FSH type of muscular dystrophy is accompanied with serious bradyarrhythmias.


A tyrosine protein kinase activity has been detected in the mitochondrial fraction purified from human fibroblasts. By enzymatic and sedimentation analysis this activity appeared to be localized in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Mitochondrial tyrosine phosphorylation was strictly dependent on the presence of Mn2+ ions. An inverse relationship between cell proliferation and mitochondrial protein phosphorylation on tyrosine residues has been found: a marked increase in the mitochondrial tyrosine kinase activity occurred when a significant reduction in the growth rate followed serum step‐down. In mitochondria purified from resting cells, a protein band with apparent molecular weight of 50 kd appeared to be phosphorylated on tyrosine.


Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe grisea has been recognized as the most serious disease, causing epidemic worldwide. The fungal pathogen is capable of infecting many grass species but individual isolate exhibit a limited host range. There are several features that make M. grisea an ideal subject for genomic studies. In present study, 30 monosporic blast cultures were isolated from rice cultivars and grasses from different areas of Chattisgarh. One of the blast pathogen was isolated from banana which is the first report in India. Variability studies on M. grisea were carried out following morphological as well as molecular markers analysis. The lesion morphology varied on different hosts, coalescing lesions on the host tissue. Variation in individual spores and culture morphology was observed. Despite apparent clonality in M. grisea, a high level of genetic variability was observed through PCR based RAPD analysis of M. grisea from different non-rice and rice hosts. A total of 131 polymorphic markers were scored using 16 selected random decamer primers. The similarity degree value for the isolates ranged from 0.51 to 0.89. Cluster analysis reveals, isolates from same location grouped together regardless of whether they were isolated from rice or grass.


ABSTRACT Physical fitness assessments for tactical occupations (e.g., military, law enforcement, and emergency services) can include predictive tests of anaerobic power, cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, muscular power, strength, agility, and/or simulated occupational tasks. Not only can these tests be used to assess the ability of someone to undertake the job role but they can be used to determine injury risk, training failure, and/or general health. This review discusses different uses for physical fitness assessments and considerations for their use in tactical populations.


We present new hybrid motion segmentation method. A comparison with classical morphological and motion field segmentation methods shows that it has a better rate-distortion performance when it is used to segment start regions for a region optimization algorithm. Improvements by re-segmentation and a more accurate approximation of the start regions for initialization of the optimization procedure are investigated.


Ro 15–1788, a benzodiazepine antagonist, has been advocated as a new treatment for hepatic encephalopathy. This drug is extensively metabolized by the liver in normal subjects. In the present study, we examined Ro 15–1788 disposition in eight healthy controls (Group I), eight cirrhotic patients with moderately impaired liver function (Pugh score >10, Group II) and eight patients with severe liver dysfunction (Pugh score > 10, Group III). The subjects of each group were age and sex matched. After an intravenous infusion of 2 mg Ro 15–1788 over 5 ḿin, blood samples were taken at fixed intervals up to 7 hr after the infusion. Plasma levels of the drug were determined by capillary gas chromatography. In controls, Ro 15–1788 had a high plasma clearance [16.3 ± 2.6 ml per min per kg (mean ± S.D.)], a short half‐life (45.7 ± 8.5 min), a large volume of distribution (0.62 ± 0.09 liter per kg) and a low plasma protein binding (45 ± 6%). Plasma clearance was reduced markedly in both groups of cirrhotic patients (‐57 and −74%, respectively); the volume of distribution was unchanged in Group II and moderately increased in Group III (+37%). The elimination half‐life was markedly prolonged in Groups II and III (+66 and +210%, respectively). Plasma clearance and Pugh score were highly correlated in cirrhotic patients (r = 0.830, p < 0.001). The plasma protein binding of Ro 15–1788 was lower in cirrhotics, resulting in a significant increase in the free fraction of the drug (+16% in Group II; +44% in Group III). These findings emphasize the need for adjustment of Ro 15–1788 dosage in cirrhotic patients, particularly in those with severe liver failure.


Following Meade (1978), we reconsider issues in the design of taxes on corporate income. We outline developments in economies and in economic thought over the last thirty years, and investigate how these developments should affect the design of taxes on corporate income. We consider a number of tax systems which have been proposed, distinguishing them in two main dimensions: the definition of what is to be taxed, and where it is to be taxed.


We present, Window-Shaping, a tangible mixed-reality (MR) interaction metaphor for design ideation that allows for the direct creation of 3D shapes on and around physical objects. Using the sketch-and-inflate scheme, our metaphor enables quick design of dimensionally consistent and visually coherent 3D models by borrowing visual and dimensional attributes from existing physical objects without the need for 3D reconstruction or fiducial markers. Through a preliminary evaluation of our prototype application we demonstrate the expressiveness provided by our design workflow, the effectiveness of our interaction scheme, and the potential of our metaphor.


The work presented here involves the design of a Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP) based classifier for recognition of handwritten Bangla alphabet using a 76 element feature set Bangla is the second most popular script and language in the Indian subcontinent and the fifth most popular language in the world. The feature set developed for representing handwritten characters of Bangla alphabet includes 24 shadow features, 16 centroid features and 36 longest-run features. Recognition performances of the MLP designed to work with this feature set are experimentally observed as 86.46% and 75.05% on the samples of the training and the test sets respectively. The work has useful application in the development of a complete OCR system for handwritten Bangla text.


Considering that in El Salvador the digital signature law was approved just over two years ago in order to grant it the same legal power as the handwritten signature, the application developed with the Bouncy Castle API was created to help and facilitate the process of sign and verify documents, and generate certificates to provide services of authentication, data integrity and non-repudiation. The application is divided in two parts, the first, a desktop software built in Java Swing to generate the private-public key pair and uses the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), due to smaller keys needed, and the hash function SHA3 for digital fingerprint, the second is, a web application in JSP for generating digital certificates that simulates the tasks of a Certification Authority (CA) as a certificate provider, where users can request them and these are sent to the applicant's mail, the root certificate auto-signed as part of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is used to sign the certificates generated to other users. A CA provides its certification services that guarantees to third parties, which trust their certificates, the relationship between a user's identity and his public key.


A reply Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Green and Kumar's letter. If we apply our method to their data, we would only include what they have described as 'randomised control trial' and 'clinical trial' and exclude the rest. Thus it would appear that the four journals in question have published a total of 49 articles of this type of anaesthetic research in the last 10 years, which amounts to slightly more than one article per journal per year. This seems to support our assertion that the reduction in the publication of original research in the anaesthetic journals we surveyed in detail cannot be explained by a significant diversion of research to other major medical journals. Green and Kumar are right to point out the large increase in the number of anaesthetic journals, although it is not clear whether they have included the rapidly increasing number of 'electronic' journals which may increase the total number even further. However, the distribution of submissions of original research from UK authors appears relatively well established, and we found no evidence of an increased submission of such articles to other newer journals. According to our method, we found the total number of research publications world wide to be relatively constant over the ten year period in the journals surveyed. Whilst it may be true that 'the actual amount of original literature produced in the field of anaesthesia continues to grow year on year' our study of original research emanating from UK authors could find no evidence of this, and much to the contrary.


Stepwise deposition of Li atoms onto hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) monolayer on Ir(111) is investigated by means of valence-band photoemission spectroscopy and low-energy electron diffraction. Sequential Li deposition progressively shifts the band structure of hBN to higher binding energies due to the induction of a variable electric field originating from electronic charge donation by alkali atoms. At small coverages, Li atoms preferably intercalate under the hBN layer, where they are highly charged and give rise to a large initial shift of the band structure. Additionally, intercalated Li atoms effectively decouple hBN from the substrate and consequently reduce its moire corrugation. As the deposition progresses further, Li atoms also adsorb on top of hBN, and the average charge of both intercalated and adsorbed Li atoms progressively diminishes due to the Coulomb repulsion penalty. This gives rise to a saturation of the respective electric field and the band structure shift, and elaborates on the pathways and limitations of chemical functionalization of epitaxial hBN systems with charge donating species.


The purpose of this study was to evaluate the superiority of ultrasound examination of the neck in comparison with palpation in patients operated on and irradiated because of the larynx cancer. Close follow up by means of ultrasonography all patients after initial operation is essential to detect recurrence early, while surgical salvage is still feasible. Scars, oedema and anatomical changes due to prior surgery and radiotherapy make the clinical examination very difficult. Apart from demonstrating non palpable nodes, ultrasound may also depict nodal size, multiplicity, relation to the surrounding vessels, invasion of the carotid artery and malignant extension in the salivary glands or thyroid. 12 pictures of ultrasound were presented.


"Nutraceuticals" are food-derived products largely used for their presumed healthpromoting or disease-preventing effects. In the recent years, many efforts have been aimed at assessing nutraceutical efficacy and safety, but these factors are difficult to address because of the complex chemical compositions and multiple mode of actions. Thus, the study of nutraceutical ingredients poses several challenges for the medicinal chemistry field, some of which are related to extraction and chemical characterization, some to in vitro and in vivo bioactivity evaluation, and some to the bioavailability and interaction of these natural mixtures with organs and microbiota. Furthermore, because of their nature as medicinal and food products, these nutraceuticals can also be considered as a valuable source of new "lead compounds", creating the opportunity to discover new classes of therapeutic agents. This review provides information on these themes, showing the new challenges that comprehensive medicinal chemistry research is called to answer in the field of nutraceuticals.


We examine the compensation strategies of commercial bank holding companies (BHCs) over the period 1992-2000 to assess the impact of some fundamental changes in their business activities. In particular, we seek to determine whether CEO compensation is more closely tied to the presence of growth options and to risk than has been revealed by earlier research. We also specifically examine whether BHC entry into investment banking has influenced their compensation policies. Our evidence shows a stronger link between the presence of growth options and CEO compensation in the 1990s than observed in earlier studies and that pay-for-performance sensitivities are substantially larger for BHCs that have entered the underwriting business. We also find that BHC leverage and variability in returns have significant, positive effects on CEO incentive pay. Finally, we find some evidence supporting the hypothesis that pay for performance sensitivities decline generally at BHCs as return variability increases, as agency theory predicts.


Neutrophil emigration in the lung differs substantially from that in systemic vascular beds where extravasation occurs primarily through postcapillary venules. Migration into the alveolus occurs directly from alveolar capillaries and appears to progress through a sequence of steps uniquely influenced by the cellular anatomy and organization of the alveolar wall. The cascade of adhesive and stimulatory events so critical to the extravasation of neutrophils from postcapillary venules in many tissues is not evident in this setting. Compelling evidence exists for unique cascades of biophysical, adhesive, stimulatory, and guidance factors that arrest neutrophils in the alveolar capillary bed and direct their movement through the endothelium, interstitial space, and alveolar epithelium. A prominent path accessible to the neutrophil appears to be determined by the structural interactions of endothelial cells, interstitial fibroblasts, as well as type I and type II alveolar epithelial cells.


In course of doing business, sensitive data must be handed over to trusted third parties. The owner of the data is called Distributor and supposedly trusted third parties as the agent. Some of distributor's data may be leaked and found at unauthorized place. Our goal is to detect the distributor's sensitive data have been leaked by agents and identify the agent who leaked the data. We have used the fake objects which are realistic but fake records, are added to original data, which helps in identifying the guilty agents (the agent who leaked the data). We have used Sample data request allocation strategy for data distribution and we have implemented probability distribution system, to identify the guilty agents and leaked data.


Brain stem and cerebellar irradiation was found to affect brain stem conditioned lumbar cord flexor and extensor monosynaptic reflexes. The preconditioning extensor and flexor monosynaptic reflexes were either both inhibited or both facilitated. The conditioned reflex was affected conversely; i.e., the flexor tended to be facilitated while the extensor was inhibited. Radiation appeared to affect a balance of brain stem level interaction on the descending systems to the spinal cord. The cerebellum seems to take part in the mediation of this balance since decrebellates did not show an effect of radiation.


The results of studies in animals indicate that in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and early heart failure, vasodilative-natriuretic mechanisms effectively antagonize vasoconstrictive-anti-natriuretic systems; this balancing effect contributes to preservation of circulatory and renal function. Progression to overt heart failure is characterized by a shift of this balance, with dysfunction of vasodilator systems and activation of vasoconstrictor systems. In patients, neurohumoral activation is observed early in asymptomatic LV dysfunction and is related to the severity of LV dysfunction in the progression of the syndrome. Neurohumoral activation precedes overt heart failure, and it has independent prognostic value for the development of heart failure. Activation of the renin-angiotensin system and of the sympathetic nervous system, as well as the possible stimulation of vasopressin secretion, may contribute to the transition from LV dysfunction to heart failure and may, therefore, provide targets for early pharmacological intervention.


Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the levels of cultural intelligence (CQ) of principals and teachers influence Latino students' achievement. The study first tested the applicability of Ang and Van Dyne's (2008) Cultural Intelligence Questionnaire (CQS) for the measurement of principals and teachers' CQ levels by construct validating this instrument. Later, it investigated whether the CQ levels of principals and teachers explain the achievement levels of Latino students in mathematics and language arts.

Design/methodology/approach

A naturalistic relational research design was used to study the relationships between the study variables. Participants included a cluster random sample of 86 principals and 311 teachers in a southern state. The convergent validation was used to establish the construct validity of the CQS by correlating CQS subscale scores with several measures of principal and teacher multicultural exposure. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association between the principal and teacher CQS subscale scores and the Latino student achievement scores on state standardized tests.

Findings

The four-factor structure of the CQS scale was found to be valid in the educational settings. Principals' level of CQ significantly predicted Latino students' achievement scores of eight grade math and eight grade language arts. On the contrary to the expectations, there was no evidence to suggest that teacher-level CQ as measured by the CQS is predictive of Latino student achievement. Further analyses showed that multicultural exposures of teachers, such as being multilingual and visiting other countries, significantly predicted Latino students' language arts performance.

Originality/value

This study has policy and research implications toward understanding and eliminating achievement gaps of Latino student populations. It sheds empirical light on whether this gap can be explained with the multicultural intelligence levels of principals and teachers, the two most influential actors in schools. By construct validating CQS, the study methodologically contributed to the pertinent educational research, which lacks instruments for the measurement of CQ levels of educational workforce.


Increasing numbers of walkers in mountain areas have led to
concern about the deterioration of footpaths through the
erosion of vegetation and soil. Sites were established to monitor path erosion by repeated measurements of cross sections. Results demonstrated that although many sites were stable over a two year period, some deteriorated rapidly. Erosion by human agency and surface water run off proved equally effective under favourable conditions. Comparisons of air photographs (1947-72) suggested that footpath erosion was not a new phenomenon, but also reinforced the trends measured over the two years. A survey was made to examine relationships between footpath morphology and environmental/recreation site conditions. Results suggested that in the variation of path width, of the extent of bare soil and the depth of gullying, much could be accounted for by corresponding variation in the path gradient and the degree of recreation pressure. The altitude, and certain vegetation and soil types proved relevant, but of less
importance. Among the paths surveyed, the extremes of erosion measured were localised, but occurred on most paths. Signs of active processes were observed on about one third of the sites, and appeared on most paths with a slope of more than 17 degrees. Experimental work on a purposely created path demonstrated the efficacy of trampling as an erosive agent, especially in combination with wet weather and waterlogged soil.


Low voltage transformers are the most important and expensive assets in a power distribution system. The life time of a mineral-oil-immersed transformer is decreased by raising the Hottest Spot Temperature (HST) in peak hours. This paper assesses the effect of load shaping through households' appliances scheduling on lifetime of a distribution transformer. An IEEE standard transformer is used to estimate transformer aging. This paper provides Demand Response (DR) optimization models to mitigate the thermal stress of transformers caused by overloading. Three smart home management strategies based on DR are compared and evaluated; In the first scenario smart home management is based on preference of customers, then real time pricing is taken into account , and finally the Loss of Life (LOL) of transformers are considered as an objective. To validate the three management approaches, realistic data for household load curves and device parameters are employed. Case studies and results reveal the significant impact of appliances' scheduling strategies on the expected lifetime of distribution transformers.


Tissue-engineered human allogeneic skin grafts retrieved from a deceased donor play an important role in the therapy of extensive and deeply burned patients. However, there is a vital deficit of allogeneic skin donors, and the reserves of human allogeneic skin grafts are not sufficient. The goal of this work was to analyze the level of knowledge and attitudes of Polish society in the field of transplantation, with particular emphasis on allogeneic skin transplantation. The study used a self-made questionnaire comprised of 23 questions. 1000 respondents took part in this research. The respondents were a diverse group in terms of age, sex, education, and place of residence. The obtained results show a general positive attitude of the respondents towards the idea of transplantology. However, people with lower education presented a more negative attitude towards the donation of tissues and organs. Additionally younger people were not able to clearly declare readiness for organ procurement. What is more data analysis revealed certain gaps in more detailed knowledge and surprising attitudes. In that respect, the lack of awareness about the criteria for determining brain death could be mentioned. There was also a lack of acceptance for skin procurement in specific population groups. It can therefore be concluded that a key role in the success of the idea of transplantation in Poland is the broad and systematic education of the society.


Artists Cheri Gaulke and Sue Maberry's feminist activism learned at the Woman's Building, combined with their lesbianism, radicalized them to create ongoing documentation of their family. This article examines how Gaulke has intertwined her domestic, private imagery and narrative with her artistic, public work in a way that reveals a useful mode for her to examine the range of experiences as lesbian, parent, and artist. Thus, these two bodies of work co-exist and inform each other in her oeuvre and in her art with partner Maberry. They have created a kind of sexualized display sometimes inverting heteronormative conventions while other times presenting the family as a single unit, transgressive in its happiness and unity.


An estimate method that used a parameter written Co is proposed in this paper.� It's possible to estimate the damping performance by using the parameter Co between different size structures.� Because the parameter Co is dimensionless, the size of the structure is irrelevant to estimate.� The applicability of this method was proven to be high by using the observed data.� In addition, this paper proposes a method to presume the parameter of the proportional damping equation considering the scale effect.� And, the characteristics of the proposed equation and the relationship with Co were identified.


Social network analysis (SNA) in natural resource management has received much attention in recent literature, where different characteristics of social networks have been revealed to serve various functions to demonstrate effective collaboration in the governance of natural resources. In this paper, we consider a Bayesian model selection approach for exponential random graph models (ERGMs), which is based on the posterior distribution. We use a combination of Bayesian and MCMC techniques, which circumvents the need to calculate the normalising constants. This method is illustrated using a cross-sectional network of five types of relational ties and influence as an actor's attribute in the context of local collaboration practices of natural resource management in two rural communities of Amani Nature Reserve in Tanzania. Based on the positive values of parameters related to network structural characteristics in the competing models, our results provide an overall understanding of actors perceived as influential, and the contributions of their attributes and network structures in explaining influence nominations. Keywords: actor attributes, Bayesian model selection, Bayes factors, exponential random graph models, local collaborative practices of natural resource management, network ties, social networks


East Asia, for long the epitome of successful engagement in trade, faces serious challenges: technological change that may threaten the very model of labor intensive industrialization and a backlash against globalization that may reduce access to important markets. A detailed analysis of the evolution of East Asia's trade and trade policy in goods and services leads to the conclusion that how East Asia copes with these global challenges will depend on how it addresses three more proximate national and regional challenges. The first is the emergence of one East Asian country, China, as a global trade giant—accounting for nearly one-seventh of global exports and one-tenth of global imports -- which is fundamentally altering the trading patterns and opportunities of its neighbors. The second is the asymmetric implementation of national reform -- remarkable openness to goods trade and investment coexists with relative restrictiveness of services policies -- which is affecting the evolution of comparative advantage and productivity in each country. The third is the divergence between the relatively shallow and fragmented agreements that regulate the region's trade and investment and the growing importance of regional and global value chains as crucial drivers of productivity growth.


Dorsal root fibers were labelled with cobalt and their terminals were identified in an oval-shaped area and in its lateral extension of the dorsal horn. These areas receive mainly cutaneous afferents. A number of labelled terminals exhibited either an electron lucent and swollen, or an electron dense and shrunken form of degeneration. The majority of the labelled terminals could be classified into three groups. Type A terminals were small, less than 2 microns in diameter, and lightly stained. Type B terminals were larger and neurofilaments and an electron dense material resulted in a dark staining of the bouton. Type C terminals contained medium size granulated vesicles. The type A and type B terminals were frequently found in postsynaptic positions. The presynaptic profiles contained spheric or elliptic vesicles, or they exhibited the structural characters of presynaptic dendrites. Preterminal dorsal root fibers, identified on account of their cobalt label, were also found in postsynaptic positions to the same kinds of presynaptic profiles. It is concluded that cobalt labelling is sufficiently selective for a reliable identification of dorsal root terminals. No correlation was found between the different forms of degeneration and the different types of terminal boutons. The possible functional significance of the postsynaptic relation of dorsal root fibers and terminals to a variety of presynaptic profiles is discussed.


Abstract Fibroids (uterine leiomyomas) are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive tract. Steroid hormones, growth factors, and cytokines have long been implicated in fibroid growth; however, research suggests that changes in the extracellular matrix and mechanical signaling play a critical role in fibroid growth and differentiation. Studies have shown that growth of fibroids is related to the change in the volume and composition of extracellular matrix with increased deposition of abnormal collagen, glycoproteins, laminins, fibronectins, and an increased osmotic stress. These changes generate mechanical stress which is converted to chemical signals in the cells through mechanotransduction and eventually affects gene expression and protein synthesis. Current studies also suggest that mechanical signaling in fibroid cells is abnormal as evidenced by decreased apoptosis of abnormal cells and deposition of a stiff extracellular matrix promoting fibrosis. Understanding and defining these mechanisms could help design new therapies for the treatment of fibroids.


We study the differential cross section in the unpolarized $\pi^- N$ Drell-Yan process, using transverse momentum dependent factorization up to next-to-logarithmic order of QCD and extract the nonperturbative Sudakov form factor for the pion in the evolution formalism of the unpolarized TMD distribution function, by fitting the experimental data collected by the E615 Collaboration at Fermilab. With the extracted Sudakov factor, we investigate the Sivers asymmetry in the pion-induced single polarized Drell-Yan process in the theoretical framework of the transverse momentum dependent factorization up to next-to-leading logarithmic order of QCD. Within the TMD evolution formalism of parton distribution functions, the extracted nonperturbative Sudakov form factor for the pion distribution functions as well as the one for the Sivers function of the proton are applied to numerically estimate the Sivers asymmetry in the $\pi^- p$ Drell-Yan at the kinematics of the COMPASS at CERN.


A patient, CAL, with gamma heavy chain disease is presented who has had a complete remission lasting over 2 yr with combination chemotherapy consisting of pulsatile cyclophosphamide and prednisone. The patient exhibited many features of an atuoimmune process including a vasculitis, low serum complement levels, a positive antiglobulin (Coombs) test, Raynaud's phenomenon, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The CAL paraprotein was found to have several previously undescribed characteristics. It reacted with antisera to Fd, Fab, and Fab', suggesting that most of the Fd portion of the molecule was intace. CAL protein consists of two polypeptide chains of molecular weight 49,000 covalently linked to form a dimer of 95,000 molecular weight. The covalent linkage suggests that the hinge region of this gamma heavy chain is intact.


Abstract In order to improve understanding of spatial and temporal variations of stable isotopes in atmospheric precipitation, snow cover and glacier meltwater in different regions of China, samples were collected for isotopic analysis in four areas: Yulong mountain, Yunnan Himalaya (temperate-glacier area); Samdain Kangsang mountain, Nyainqêntanglha Shan (subpolar-glacier area); the headwater area of the Ürümqi river, Tien Shan (subpolar-glacier area); and Muztag mountain, Pamirs (polar-glacier area). Sampling was undertaken in both summer and winter between 2000 and 2003. The δ18O values show a 'temperature–altitude effect' in new winter snow on Yulong mountain, reflecting the condensation and fractionation processes associated with the winter monsoon, but a different, more complex pattern in residual snow deposited during the summer monsoon; this old snow is influenced by the 'precipitation amount effect', solar radiation and evaporation, and the water content of the snowpack. The summer precipitation at Samdain Kangsang mountain is associated with the summer monsoon. There is a marked precipitation amount effect during the long passage of the southwest/India monsoon from the distant moisture source to Samdain Kangsang mountain, and the summer precipitation is strongly depleted of the heavy isotope. Above 6000 m, the high radiation flux causes much evaporation from the snow surface. The associated 1 8O enrichment of the snow is reflected in a 'reverse altitude effect'. The δ18O values in the summer snowpack of the Tien Shan and Muztag mountain decrease with increasing altitude and decreasing air temperature, indicating a temperature–altitude effect. Post-depositional processes cause isotopic changes during the transformation of snow/firn/ice to meltwater; the effects are much stronger at temperate than at polar glaciers. Moreover, changes in the isotopic signal at both temperate and polar glaciers can result from evaporation, sublimation, ablation and drifting.


A central composite rotatable design was used to investigate the interactions between hydrogen peroxide concentration, slurry volume, initial contaminant concentration, and soil organic carbon content in the catalyzed hydrogen peroxide remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Two separate experimental matrices were investigated: (1) high slurry volumes and low peroxide concentrations, and (2) low slurry volumes with high peroxide concentrations. The time required for the high volume/low concentration system to proceed to completion was approximately three weeks; the low volume/high concentration reactions were complete within three days. The results showed that the soil organic carbon content was an insignificant variable in the catalyzed peroxide treatment of diesel-contaminated soils. However, significant interactions were found for the remaining three variables. The data were analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation and treatment stpichiometry. Although both systems could achieve equal levels of treatment, the stoichiometry of the high volume/low concentration system was significantly more efficient; therefore, the high volume/low concentration was determined to be the most economical system for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soils.


BACKGROUND
Milford Care Centre is a major centre for specialist palliative and gerontological care in the Mid-West of Ireland. In August 2008, a Librarian was employed to support the information, research, teaching and professional development needs of staff and students. In planning associated with this role, it was necessary to undertake an analysis of the information needs of staff.

OBJECTIVES
(1) To understand the information needs of staff with regard to the new Library and Information Service. (2) To identify current access to and levels of skill in information literacy and ICT. (3) To ascertain the need for training in those skills.

METHODS
A web-based questionnaire was disseminated in November by email and printed copies were left at other locations.

RESULTS
Assistance with obtaining journal articles was rated most highly by respondents as being an important service. Eighty-three per cent indicated that they did not have access to online health databases. Small group classes were considered the preferred method of providing training. Afternoons were also considered more convenient for visiting the library.

CONCLUSION
The results will be used to plan the development of the library with a better insight of users needs and assist us to utilise resources more effectively.


OBJECTIVES
Perivalvular abscesses with destruction of the aortomitral junction (AMJ) are a severe complication of infective endocarditis (IE) and are associated with high mortality and complex management. The Hemi-Commando procedure is a mitral valve (MV) sparing alternative to the Commando procedure in suitable patients with complex IE and paravalvular destruction. This study reviews the mid-term outcomes in patients undergoing the Hemi-Commando procedure for treating IE with destruction of the AMJ.

METHODS
The clinical outcomes of patients with IE and AMJ involvement who underwent the Hemi-Commando procedure between 2015 and 2021 at the Leipzig Heart Center were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 1-year survival. Secondary outcome was 1-year freedom from reoperation.

RESULTS
A total of 22 patients underwent the Hemi-Commando procedure during the study period. The patients' mean age was 59.8 ± 18.3 years. The study population was predominantly male (86.4%). Preoperative-sepsis was present in 6 (27.3%) patients, and the median EuroScore II was 28.5%. Almost two-thirds (N = 14; 63.6%) of the patients presented with native IE. Streptococci were the most common pathogens (N = 8; 36.4%). Paravalvular abscess was found intraoperatively in 16 (72.7%) patients. The 30-day mortality was 13.6%. The estimated 1- and 3-year survival rates were 77.5% and 66.4%, respectively. The estimated freedom from reoperation at 1 and 3 years was 92.3%.

CONCLUSION
The Hemi-Commando procedure offers an acceptable mid-term survival chance with low reoperation rates and is, therefore, a reasonable MV-sparing alternative to the Commando procedure in suitable patients with extensive IE and perivalvular involvement.


Abstract Variants in genes encoding synaptic adhesion proteins of the neuroligin family, most notably neuroligin-4, are a significant cause of autism spectrum disorders in humans. Although human neuroligin-4 is encoded by two genes, NLGN4X and NLGN4Y, that are localized on the X-specific and male-specific regions of the two sex chromosomes, the chromosomal localization and full genomic sequence of the mouse Nlgn4 gene remain elusive. Here, we analyzed the neuroligin-4 genes of numerous rodent species by direct sequencing and bioinformatics, generated complete drafts of multiple rodent neuroligin-4 genes, and examined their evolution. Surprisingly, we find that the murine Nlgn4 gene is localized to the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) of the sex chromosomes, different from its human orthologs. We show that the sequence differences between various neuroligin-4 proteins are restricted to hotspots in which rodent neuroligin-4 proteins contain short repetitive sequence insertions compared with neuroligin-4 proteins from other species, whereas all other protein sequences are highly conserved. Evolutionarily, these sequence insertions initiate in the clade eumuroidea of the infraorder myomorpha and are additionally associated with dramatic changes in noncoding sequences and gene size. Importantly, these changes are not exclusively restricted to neuroligin-4 genes but reflect major evolutionary changes that substantially altered or even deleted genes from the PARs of both sex chromosomes. Our results show that despite the fact that the PAR in rodents and the neuroligin-4 genes within the rodent PAR underwent massive evolutionary changes, neuroligin-4 proteins maintained a highly conserved core structure, consistent with a substantial evolutionary pressure preserving its physiological function.


The topological classification of hermitian operators is solely determined by the presence or absence of certain discrete symmetries. For non-hermitian operators we in addition need to specify the type of spectral gap. They come in the flavor of a point gap or a line gap. Since the presence of a line gap implies the existence of a point gap, there is usually more than one mathematical classification applicable to a physical system. That raises the question: which of these gap-type classifications is physically meaningful?
To decide this question, I propose a simple criterion, namely the choice of physically relevant states. This generalizes the notion of Fermi projection that plays a crucial role in the topological classification of fermionic condensed matter systems, and enters as an auxiliary quantity in the bulk classification of photonic and magnonic crystals. After that the classification is entirely algorithmic, the system's topology is encoded in (pairs of) projections with symmetries and constraints. A crucial point in my investigation is the relevance of diagonalizability. Even for existing topological classifications of non-hermitian systems diagonalizability needs to be assumed to ensure that continuous deformations of the hamiltonian lead to continuous deformations of the spectra, projections and unitaries.


Effects of d-amphetamine and dopamine on rat brain cortical slices respiration were estimated to assess whether these drugs might modify membrane (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in intact cells as they do in isolate enzyme systems. d-Amphetamine, 10(-5) M (140%), 10(-6) M (123%) 10(-7) M (131%) and 10(-7) M (129%). These results may be related to estimates of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in subcellular systems. In an incubation medium containing calcium, 10(-4) M ouabain does not modify brain slices respiration, but fully antagonizes oxygen consumption increases induced by d-amphetamine or dopamine, which might thus be mediated by membrane ATPase activity. Either phenoxybenzamine, oxprenolol or halo-peridol, nullify those metabolic effects of d-amphetamine and dopamine, by means of unspecific mechanisms rather than by a specific interaction at drug receptor sites. It is suggested that cell respiratory control is the final resultant of mechanisms which might be separately, and oppositely, modified by drugs.


ABSTRACT The essay examines the integration of psychological expertise into the planning of the post-war children's hospital in England. Its main objects of analysis are the Platt Report (1959), which conceptualized the child's emotional needs and fears as distinct from those of adults, and the Nuffield Foundation's study Children in Hospital (1963), one of the earliest attempts to develop a scientific methodology for integrating subjective experience into an architectural brief. The children's hospital was conceptualized in relation to the familiar environments of the home and the school, to maintain their emotional stability in an unfamiliar social and technological environment. In the ways in which it sequenced admittance, treatment, recovery and discharge, the spatial organization of the children's hospital not only reflected new ways of thinking about children and their emotions, but also promoted new desires, expectations, and truths regarding the relationship between children, parents, medical personnel and the state.


2014 We have studied the shear impedance of two smectics-A when the propagation of the shear wave is along the normal to the layers. We observed that the real part and the imaginary part of the shear impedance differ significantly, indicating a relaxation process. We analysed our results on the basis of a coupling between the director fluctuations and the shear flow. LE JOURNAL DE PHYSIQUE LETTRES TOME 38, 1 er OCTOBRE 1977,


Nitric oxide (NO˙) is a short-lived, endogenously produced gas that is highly diffusible across cell membranes and acts as a signaling molecule in the body. The redox state and chemistry of NO˙ facilitate its interaction with various proteins thus regulating various intracellular and intercellular events. One of the key mechanisms by which NO˙ regulates the function of various target proteins is through the coupling of a nitroso moiety from NO-derived metabolites to a reactive cysteine leading to the formation of a S-nitrosothiol (SNO), a process commonly known as S-nitrosylation. S-nitrosylation signaling events within the cell have led to the discovery of many other physiological functions of NO˙ in many other types of cells including cancer cells. Only recently are the diverse roles of S-nitrosylation in cancer beginning to be understood. In the present review we discuss the recent evidence for the diverse roles of NO˙/SNO-related mechanisms in cancer biology and therapy, including the participation of NO˙ in the pathogenesis of cancer, its duality in protecting against or inducing cancer cell death and the contribution of NO˙ to metastatic processes. In addition, NO˙ can be therapeutically used in the reversal of tumor cell resistance to cytotoxic drugs and as a sensitizing agent to chemo- and radiotherapy. Finally, recent studies providing evidence for NO-related mechanisms of epigenetic gene expression regulation will also be discussed. Undoubtedly, new exciting results will contribute to this rapidly expanding area of cancer research.


Within the scope of this study, silicon carbide (SiC) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) powders were added as reinforcement into zinc-aluminum (ZA40) matrix powders, and the powder metallurgy (PM) method, which is an advanced technique in material production, was used to fabricate ZA40/SiC/h-BN hybrid composites. In the milling process, the as-received powders were mechanically milled at 400 rpm under a protective argon atmosphere for 2 h at room temperature. The hybrid composite powders were consolidated under 700 MPa pressure at 515 ◦ C for 3 h by hot pressing. Weight losses, friction coefficients, and wear rates were calculated by traveling 100 and 200 m at 250 rpm in a ball-on-disc abrasion test setup under 5 and 10 N loads. According to the results, it was seen that SiC and increased h-BN reinforcement changed the mechanical and physical properties of the composites and made significant contributions to the wear resistance and load-carrying capacity.


Duloxetine is a newly licensed drug treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women. It is a combined noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake inhibitor and its adverse-effect profile can be attributed to its pharmacological action. It has clinically important interactions with other drugs including warfarin and antidepressants. Duloxetine is believed to act by increasing sphincter activity in the storage phase of the micturition cycle. A meta-analysis of phase II and III double-blind placebo controlled trials involving 1913 women (aged 22-83 years) with stress urinary incontinence symptoms demonstrated a highly significant difference in reduction of diary reported incontinence episodes per week, mean increase in time between voids and quality of life. However, we feel that first-line therapy remains physiotherapy. The availability of duloxetine in primary care should not deny referral and assessment for surgery for those women who would benefit.


In HV substations, thermal effects of temperature and resulting heating losses have a profound impact on the life of substation equipment. In order to efficiently detect these irregular heating patterns occurring in substation, a non-intrusive infrared thermography (IRT) based technique is suggested for detecting these abnormal heat variations in the electrical .substation equipment. In order to analyze thermal images of the substation, manual analysis may consume a lot of time and efforts and also there is every possibility of human errors in detection of faults. Thus to automate process of thermography, image processing techniques have to be opted for. In this paper, the process of image processing methodology consisting of feature vector extraction and image classification based algorithm are proposed here. Initially, two of the intelligent image processing techniques i.e. feature vector extraction techniques, K-means clustering and Fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering, are proposed here and their results will be compared with each other with respect to their performance and efficiency. Then the substation equipment condition will be further evaluated and classified using Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier to classify thermal images into two categories as normal or abnormal. The programming of the above mentioned techniques is done using MATLAB software. The proposed classifier technique results indicate higher accuracy above 90%.


In 2010 the World Health Organization released revised recommendations for adult and adolescent HIV treatment. This technical brief provides HIV policy makers and program managers with a point of reference as they adapt and implement revised national HIV treatment guidelines. Approaches that worked well challenges and lessons learned from Sub-Saharan Africa Latin America and South-East Asia are highlighted. Links to key resources for countries revising guidelines and implementing revisions are also provided.


The profit a company makes is dependant of its employees which means that their competence is important for the company to perform well. The middle manager has a central position in the organization and is expected to take on different roles. This probably puts a lot of demands on the middle managers and their competence. We want to contribute with a comprehension of how learning, competence and needs for competence can look at a middle management level. Furthermore we also want to find out what kind of strategy for competence development the middle managers want the company to use so their competence development can be facilitated. We used a qualitative method and got our result from nine different interviews. All the interviews were made at middle management level. Our study has showed that the organizational culture is offering the middle managers great opportunities for informal learning. The company also offers possibilities for formal learning, but a lack of clear strategy when it comes to this seems to be in the way of the competence development for the middle managers. These wishes for strategies could be obliged with, for example mentorship or creating a manual for the managers. The competencies that are demanded by the middle managers' positions are for example social competence, competence in communication, leadership competence and the ability to build networks. We have found that there is a need for further competence development within these aspects of competencies.


The classical function of Vitamin D, which involves mineral balance and skeletal maintenance, has been known for many years. With the discovery of vitamin D receptors in various tissues, several other biological functions of vitamin D are increasingly recognized and its role in many human diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular, and autoimmune and dermatological diseases is being extensively explored. The non-classical function of vitamin D involves regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, we discuss and summarize the latest findings on the non-classical functions of vitamin D at the cellular/molecular level and its role in complex human diseases.


The supercritical antisolvent (SAS) precipitation process as a "green" alternative to specialty particles recrystallization was successfully used to generate poly(L-lactide) acid (L-PLA) from dichloromethane (DCM) solution using CO2 as antisolvent. The influence of main operating parameters on the synthesis of L-PLA particles in the SAS process was methodically examined. In particular, antisolvent addition rate (30, 40, 50, and 60 g/min), temperature (35, 40°C, 45°C, and 50°C), solute concentration (50, 75, 100, and 150 mg/10 ml), and solution addition rate (1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 ml/min). These parameters could be tuned to give a mean particle diameter of 0.62 μm. It was found using scanning electron microscopy and laser diffraction that increasing the antisolvent addition rate and the solution addition rate, while decreasing the temperature and solute concentration, led to a decrease in the L-PLA mean particle diameter. Furthermore, a unimodal particle size distribution was obtained at the higher solution and antisolvent addition rates. Spherical-like primary particles have been obtained in all the experimental runs; thus, no change of particle morphology with the process parameters has been noticed. These results manifested that SAS recrystallization process is a valuable technique to generate reproducibly polymer particles with controlled size and size distribution. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers


New results on the effect of TiO2 on Pd/La2O3-CeO2-Al2O3 systems for catalytic oxidation of methane in the presence of H2O and SO2 have been received. Low-temperature N2-adsorption, XRD, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, EPR and FTIR techniques were used to characterize the catalyst. The presence of Ce3+ on the catalytic surface and in the volume near the lantana was revealed by EPR and XPS. After aging, the following changes are observed: (i) agglomeration of the Pd-clusters (from 8 nm to 12 nm); (ii) transformation of part of the TiO2 from anatase to larger particles of rutile; and (iii)—the increase in PdO/Pd—ratio above its optimum. The modification by Ti of the La2O3-CeO2-Al2O3 system leads to higher resistance towards the presence of SO2 most likely due to the prevailing formation of unstable surface sulfites instead of thermally stable sulfates. Based on kinetic model calculations, the reaction pathway over the Pd/La2O3-CeO2-TiO2-Al2O3 catalyst follows the Mars–van Krevelen mechanism. For evaluation of the possible practical application of the obtained material, a sample of Pd/La2O3-CeO2-TiO2-Al2O3, supported on rolled aluminum-containing stainless steel (Aluchrom VDM®), was prepared and tested. Methane oxidation in an industrial-scale monolithic reactor was simulated using a two-dimensional heterogeneous reactor model.


We propose a reproducible variant of the unblocked LU factorization for graphics processor units (GPUs). For this purpose, we build upon Level-1/2 BLAS kernels that deliver correctly-rounded and reproducible results for the dot (inner) product, vector scaling, and the matrix-vector product. In addition, we draw a strategy to enhance the accuracy of the triangular solve via iterative refinement. Following a bottom-up approach, we finally construct a reproducible unblocked implementation of the LU factorization for GPUs, which accommodates partial pivoting for stability and can be eventually integrated in a high performance and stable algorithm for the (blocked) LU factorization.


Communication is a fundamental requirement that is done by humans in their daily activities. Each interaction is accompanied by a communicative practice that occurs at the Mata Najwa show in the form of oral, verbal and non-verbal conversation. Hosts and informants communicate using formal and informal languages (vernacular/colloquial) in order to feel familiar and without distance. Hosts and informants have their own communicative intention and purpose. Communicative actions that arise such asexplorative, informative, evaluativequestions and statements. This research uses descriptive qualitative method because the data analysis and data collection are described by words (phrase or sentence) not by numbers. The results of the study are words and espressionsthat contain SPEAKING elements according to Hymes (scene, participants, ends, act sequences, key, instruments, norms, genres).


The Arctic is one of the least studied regions in the world and large changes in marine ecosystem dynamic are expected here because of the increasing air and ocean temperature. The central Arctic Ocean has for a long time been considered as a very low productive ecosystem, but recent estimates of primary production gives relatively high values. The shelves surrounding the Arctic Ocean are highly productive areas, especially the Barents Sea region, and a large part of arctic primary production occurs in these seasonally ice-covered regions. The relevance of small cells in arctic ecosystems has received increased attention the last two decades, and it is now accepted that the microbial food web play an important role also in the Arctic. To increase the knowledge on primary production and the relevance of small autotrophic and heterotrophic cells in the Arctic different field studies were conducted. Spring bloom dynamics (nutrients, phytoplankton, protozoans and in situ primary production) were investigated in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard) in April and May in 2002. During the multidisciplinary CABANERA-project three field campaigns in 2003-2005 to the marginal ice zone of the northern Barents Sea were conducted. Primary production was measured in situ for 24 hours at different stages of ice-edge blooms. Primary production and chlorophyll a measurements were fractionated in small ( 10μm). During an expedition across the Arctic Ocean in August and September 2005 different biological parameters were measured (chlorophyll a, biogenic silica, particulate carbon and nitrogen, few zooplankton samples) together with the distribution of autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial biomass. Bacteria abundance was estimated using flow-cytometry and protists abundance was analyzed by epifluorescence microscopy after staining with DAPI. Protists were divided in different size categorize: < 2μm, 25μm, 5-10μm and 10-20μm. A seasonally study (January-September) of bacteria community structure and activity was conducted in a cold high latitude fjord (Balsfjord, northern Norway) in 2009 using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with microautoradiography (micro-FISH). In Kongsfjorden we found that the onset of the spring bloom was linked to the hydrographical situation during the sea ice break up. The peak of the spring bloom was found to vary between different years in both timing and intensity but will most probably occur between the middle-end of April and the middle of May. Primary production in 2002 persisted for a long time due to mixing with nutrient rich water masses. The ice edge phytoplankton bloom in the marginal ice zone of the northern Barents Sea was very heterogenic and no patterns in integrated primary production could be assigned to stages or latitudes. Subsurface (20-60m) primary production contributed with 24% to the total integrated primary production during ice edge blooms in the marginal ice zone, illustrating the importance of sampling in subsurface maxima. Small cells contributed with 46% to total primary production during ice edge blooms underlining the important role small cells can play as primary producers. Picoplankton (<2μm) abundance was high in the Arctic Ocean, and in the central part heterotrophic cells dominated (72%). Bacteria abundance was very low in the central part of the Arctic Ocean, but it is unknown whether this was caused by low growth rates or by high predation pressure. Bacteria were found to be highly active during summer in the Balsfjord underlining the important role they play in carbon turnover in the ocean. Bacteria belonging to Roseobacter were very active in assimilating DOM but they were not very abundant. This suggests that species specific predation may regulate the abundance of active bacteria. The main conclusion from the work included in this synthesis is that small cells are an important component of arctic food webs. Small cells need to be considered as important primary producers, also during spring blooms and ice edge blooms. We also found that bacteria need to be studied on single cell level to understand the underlying reasons for the dynamics that are observed on community levels.


This work presents a framework to address the problem of designing discrete-time LTI (linear and time-invariant) multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) filters, aiming to optimize the performance of a system when model uncertainty is considered. Additionally, we present an interesting application to control design for disturbance rejection under model uncertainty. To account for this uncertainty we employ coherent measures of risk, which are a family of measures in theory of risk. We particularly discuss which measures are suitable by comparing the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) to other three common designs. Using a scenario approach, we derive a convex optimization problem based on linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), whose solution minimizes the risk of falling into poor $\mathcal{H}_{\infty}$ performance. Finally, we present an application to multiple-input and single-output (MISO) control design under model uncertainty in the auto-covariance function of the output noise, comparing approaches minimizing different notions of risk.


In a locally recoverable or repairable code, any symbol of a codeword can be recovered by reading only a small (constant) number of other symbols. The notion of local recoverability is important in the area of distributed storage where a most frequent error-event is a single storage node failure (erasure). A common objective is to repair the node by downloading data from as few other storage nodes as possible. In this paper, we bound the minimum distance of a code in terms of its length, size, and locality. Unlike the previous bounds, our bound follows from a significantly simple analysis and depends on the size of the alphabet being used. It turns out that the binary Simplex codes satisfy our bound with equality; hence, the Simplex codes are the first example of an optimal binary locally repairable code family. We also provide achievability results based on random coding and concatenated codes that are numerically verified to be close to our bounds.


Objectives Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 (ABCA1) and G1 (ABCG1) mediated cholesterol efflux initiate reverse cholesterol transport and play a pivotal role in keeping lipid homeostasis of macrophage. Accordingly, we investigated the ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression and function in cholesterol efflux from macrophages of cigarette smoke exposure in coronary artery disease patients. Methods This is a randomised, prospective and parallel controlled study. All the subjects, including 17 healthy non-smokers, 35 healthy chronic smokers and 32 CAD smokers, were recruited in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) (Beijing, China). Smoking subjects eligible for this study included individuals aged 40–80 years who smoked regularly for at least 10 years with at least 10 cigarettes/day. Smoking subjects were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either smoking cessation subgroup or continued smoking subgroup. Smokers randomised into smoking cessation subgroup were asked to stop smoking for at least 90 days. CAD smokers were asked to stop statin therapy for at least 2 weeks before randomised into subgroups. Cotinine concentration in urine and the carbon oxidises (CO) of expiration were tested to insure the compliance of study. There were 14 healthy smokers and 13 CAD smokers finished 90 days smoking cessation. Blood samples were collected from all subjects. Peripheral blood monocyte cells were differentiated into macrophages, real time PCR and immunoblots were performed and cellular cholesterol efflux were tested to evaluate ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression and function in macrophages from subjects. Results We found that ABCA1 expression, as well as its function in mediating cholesterol efflux to apoA-1, was decreased in macrophages from both healthy and CAD smokers compared with those from non-smokers at the baseline. There was no obvious difference in ABCG1 expression in all three subgroups. Both HDL-cholesterol and apoA-1 levels were substantially lower in plasma from smoking subjects compared with that in non-smokers. ABCA1 expression and its function in mediating cholesterol efflux were reversed by 3 months smoking cessation in CAD subgroup. In contrast, ABCA1 expression and function were not apparently improved in healthy smoking subjects after 3 months tobacco cessation. ABCG1 expression did not change after smoking cessation in each group. ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression was disturbed by nicotine, rather than carbon monoxide. Mecamylamine which is a selective antagonist of α-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) abrogated nicotine induced inhibition of ABCA1. Conclusions ABCA1 mediated intercellular cholesterol efflux is attenuated by chronic cigarette smoking. ABCA1 expression as well as its function could be reversed by 3 months tobacco abstinence in CAD patients. Nicotine induced down-regulation of ABCA1 expression can be abrogated by Mecamylamine.


The extent of molt of primary feathers was studied in relation to the status and to the duration of the interval between breeding attempts in the Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans). The replacement of primaries lasts for more than one season, birds showing a typical wave molt with one to three foci occurring on a wing. Molt never occurs on the breeding grounds. In breeding as in nonbreeding individuals, males invariably renew more feathers than females. Breeding males and females renewed each year an average of 8.3 and 7.3 primaries per wing, respectively. The extent of primary molt of breeders was directly related to the duration of the interbreeding period in females but not in males. Males and females breeding for the first time had fewer new feathers than did experienced birds. When they visited the nesting colonies, immature birds had fewer new feathers than did breeding birds of the same sex. In immature birds, the extent of molt was related to the body condition (mass) of males but not of females. The extent of molt was inversely related to mass gain from one season to the next in nonbreeding males. These results suggest that molting in the Wandering Albatross is probably an important constraint that could compete with breeding, particularly in females. Possible reasons for sex-specific differences in molt extent are discussed.


Our company adopts a cylinder-bore which is composite plated for weight saving and high output characteristics of the motorcycle engines. The composite-plated-cylinder has good wear resistance in an efficient performance while there are some problems to control the composite plating solution since this solution contains particles which make filtration and electrolysis difficult. Therefore we need to renew the solution within the stated periods, which brings about high cost and environment impact. Thus we developed a recycle and reuse system by the used composite-plating-solution. This method will cut costs by 50% approximately and reduce environment impact by reducing waste of plating solution.


Abstract One of the most important and famous historical documents from the English legal and constitutional legacy is the Magna Carta Libertatum. Signed and sealed in the year 1215 the Magna Carta is further on viewed as the sole inception of the idea of limiting the power of the ruler trough legal rules. That limitation is to be made with legal rules that are binding for everyone, even the monarch. Therefore, the Great Charter is viewed as the first document signed by a monarch with which, the principle of supremacy of the law is set out. That supremacy of the law has been further on developed by eminent scholars and practitioners, eventually leading to the development of the concept of rule of law. Rule of law, as a concept, means that the royal authority (or the executive branch of power) is going to be inferior to the law. However, this concept means a lot more than simply that. Unlike the principle of legal state, the rule of law is closely linked to justice, separation of powers and legal certainty. All of these concepts are actually prerequisites for its existence. That is why each of them is separately examined and elaborated. Furthermore, as one of the most important principles the rule of law had a great influence on the constitutional (and legal) systems around the world. Since the Republic of Macedonia strives to become a democratic state where the rule of law is established and developed it is important to elaborate the influence of this principle in it. Therefore, the research gravitates over the principle of rule of law in the Republic of Macedonia.


OBJECTIVE
The role of neck dissection following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer is an area of active debate. Patients who have a complete radiographic response may not need dissection, and the extent of neck dissection necessary for those patients with residual disease is unclear.

DESIGN
Retrospective review of data from a prospectively collected database of patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer treated as part of a phase 2 study of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent CRT. The results of post-CRT neck computed tomography (CT) imaging and pathologic analysis of the neck dissection specimens were compared to evaluate correlation between radiographic and pathologic response.

RESULTS
Forty-nine patients underwent 61 hemineck dissections. Overall, 209 neck levels were dissected. Radiologic complete response in the neck was achieved in 39 patients, all of whom had pathologic specimens negative for tumor cells. Ten patients (20%) had a total of 14 neck levels with residual disease on CT imaging. Five (50%) of these 10 patients were found to have residual tumor cells on pathologic analysis. Tumor cells were contained only to those levels found positive on CT imaging; they were present in 7 (50%) of the 14 positive levels.

CONCLUSIONS
Neck levels with residual disease on post-CRT CT imaging warrant removal. However, neck levels without evidence of disease on post-CRT CT imaging are unlikely to harbor cancer, which lends further support to the concept of basing neck dissection on post-CRT staging and performance of limited neck dissections for patients with limited residual disease.


Janus
nanoparticles have applications in many fields. Particularly, the oil industry
is interested in applying them for enhanced oil recovery. Within this context,
there is a need to understand the influence of the factors involved in the
formulation of crude oil type emulsions over their properties and rheological
behavior. In this contribution, spherical SiO2 Janus nanoparticles
of two different sizes were synthesized and used as surfactants for the
formulation of aqueous emulsions with two model oils: namely, squalane and
vacuum gas oil. Factorial experiments were designed and made to analyze the
effects of the particle size of the Janus nanoparticles, the water content, the
emulsification energy, and of the second and third order interactions between
these variables over the droplet size distributions, polydispersity, and
rheological profiles of the emulsions. On the one hand, it was found that the
used Janus nanoparticles produced either water in oil (for vacuum gas oil) or
oil in water (for squalane) depending on
the chemistry of the oil phase. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that
non-additive factors play an important role over the properties of the
emulsions; especially in the case of the water in oil ones. These effects also
implied non-additive correlations between the droplet size distributions of the
emulsions and their rheological behavior. Therefore, this work demonstrates
that simpler linear relationships do not suffice for finding the best
conditions for formulating crude oil type emulsions aimed for applications such
as enhanced oil recovery.