Abstract The contribution describes the circumstances of the implementation of a chemistry project with the main theme "Chemical show - Harry Potter". Project-based learning belongs between the complex teaching methods, where the desired effect can be influenced by many factors, eg student's attitude, student's overall opinion and feelings about the method. The motivation of the researchers was to understand and evaluate the factors present in the realised project. The analysed factors and behavioural schemes can provide a good starting point for the teachers at planning their projects. With the aim to understand the students' reaction the researchers used Q-methodology to identify the different behavioural groups of participating students based on their real opinion. In the presented research the researchers analyse the response of totally 26 students. As a result totally 6 behavioural examples are presented that teachers can meet during implementation of project based learning. The presented categorization collaborates with other formerly publicised types of student's behaviour, eg students of "pleasant surprises" and "disappointing surprises". However, other additional types of behavioural types emerged eg students orienting and concentrating on the theoretical knowledge, students with very strong need for leading and students with the need of several assessment systems. The presented results can provide a wider view for the teachers in preparing and forecasting the flow of their projects and can help them to prepare the project.


Scene text in the wild is commonly presented with high variant characteristics. Using quadrilateral bounding box to localize the text instance is nearly indispensable for detection methods. However, recent researches reveal that introducing quadrilateral bounding box for scene text detection will bring a label confusion issue which is easily overlooked, and this issue may significantly undermine the detection performance. To address this issue, in this paper, we propose a novel method called Sequential-free Box Discretization (SBD) by discretizing the bounding box into key edges (KE) which can further derive more effective methods to improve detection performance. Experiments showed that the proposed method can outperform state-of-the-art methods in many popular scene text benchmarks, including ICDAR 2015, MLT, and MSRA-TD500. Ablation study also showed that simply integrating the SBD into Mask R-CNN framework, the detection performance can be substantially improved. Furthermore, an experiment on the general object dataset HRSC2016 (multi-oriented ships) showed that our method can outperform recent state-of-the-art methods by a large margin, demonstrating its powerful generalization ability.


Background : Thrombocytopenia in the patient on heparin can have various etiologies, including benign reversible causes and serious, potentially life-threatening ones, such as heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Knowledge about the prevalence of and timecourse of thrombocytopenia in heparin-treated patients may be helpful to develop systems of alerting clinicians to possible HIT and determining how frequently to check blood counts to detect thrombocytopenia that may be heralding HIT.

 Methods : The CATCH registry is a prospective registry of inpatients enrolled between March 2003 and April 2004 at over 50 US hospitals in 3 strata: [1] receiving > 96 hours of unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), [2] developing thrombocytopenia (platelets >50% reduction from baseline or <150,000/mm3) in the cardiac care unit and [3] patients on whom HIT tests were ordered. Here we present the data of the prolonged heparin stratum.

 Results : 1,121 and 861 patients received UFH and LMWH, respectively, for > 96 hours. A platelet count decrease of > 50 % from baseline was seen more frequently in patients on UFH than in patients on LMWH (10.7% and 7.9 %, respectively; p = 0.03). The parameters that predicted development of thrombocytopenia in the UHF group were length of heparin therapy, body mass index, and admission to a cardiac service; the only parameter predicting thrombocytopenia in the LMWH group was length of LMWH treatment. Of the patients with decreased platelet count by > 50 % from baseline (for UFH n = 120; for LMWH n = 68), this drop occurred in the UFH group at a median of 3.0 days after initiation of heparin and at a median of 4.0 days in the LMWH group. The difference in timing between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.205). The platelet nadir was reached after a median /mean of 4.0 / 7.4 days in the UFH group, and 8.0 / 11.4 days in the LMWH group. This was statistically significantly different between the 2 groups (p-value = 0.0025).

 Conclusions : A platelet count decrease of > 50 % from baseline occurs frequently in inpatients treated with prolonged heparin. It occurs slightly more frequently on UFH than on LMWH. The median time to onset of thrombocytopenia (> 50 % decrease from baseline) occurs early, at 3–4 days. Daily platelet count checks in the first few days of heparin therapy may be helpful to rapidly discover thrombocytopenia that may then prompt HIT testing.


SMT3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an essential gene encoding a ubiquitin-like protein similar to mammalian SUMO-1. When a tagged Smt3 or human SUMO-1 was expressed from GAL1 promoter, either gene rescued the lethality of the smt3 disruptant. By indirect-immunofluorescent microscopy, the HA-tagged Smt3 was detected mostly in nuclei and also at the mother-bud neck just like septin fibers. Indeed immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Cdc3, one of septin components, was modified with Smt3. Furthermore, the protein level of the Cdc3-Smt3 conjugate was reduced and the septin rings disappeared in a ubc9-1 mutant at a restrictive temperature, where the Smt3 conjugation system should be defective. Thus, we conclude that Smt3 was conjugated to Cdc3 in septin rings localized at the mother-bud neck. Around the time of cytokinesis the Cdc3-Smt3 conjugate disappeared. We discuss the biological significance of this Smt3 conjugation to a septin component.


A previously unrecognized Rickettsia species was isolated in 1976 from a pool of Ixodes pacificus ticks collected in 1967 from Tillamook County, Oregon, USA. The isolate produced low fever and mild scrotal oedema following intraperitoneal injection into male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Subsequent serotyping characterized this isolate as distinct from recognized typhus and spotted fever group Rickettsia species; nonetheless, the isolate remained unevaluated by molecular techniques and was not identified to species level for the subsequent 30 years. Ixodes pacificus is the most frequently identified human-biting tick in the western United States, and as such, formal identification and characterization of this potentially pathogenic Rickettsia species is warranted. Whole-genome sequencing of the Tillamook isolate revealed a genome 1.43 Mbp in size with 32.4 mol% G+C content. Maximum-likelihood phylogeny of core proteins places it in the transitional group of Rickettsia basal to both Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia asembonensis. It is distinct from existing named species, with maximum average nucleotide identity of 95.1% to R. asembonensis and maximum digital DNA-DNA hybridization score similarity to R. felis at 80.1%. The closest similarity at the 16S rRNA gene (97.9%) and sca4 (97.5%/97.6% respectively) is to Candidatus 'Rickettsia senegalensis' and Rickettsia sp. cf9, both isolated from cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). We characterized growth at various temperatures and in multiple cell lines. The Tillamook isolate grows aerobically in Vero E6, RF/6A and DH82 cells, and growth is rapid at 28 °C and 32 °C. Using accepted genomic criteria, we propose the name Rickettsia tillamookensis sp. nov., with the type strain Tillamook 23. Strain Tillamook 23 is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rickettsial Isolate Reference Collection (WDCM 1093), Atlanta, GA, USA (CRIRC accession number RTI001T) and the Collection de Souches de l'Unité des Rickettsies (WDCM 875), Marseille, France (CSUR accession number R5043). Using accepted genomic criteria, we propose the name Rickettsia tillamookensis sp. nov., with the type strain Tillamook 23 (=CRIRC RTI001=R5043).


OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of c-kit receptor(CD117) on the hemopoietic stem/precursor cells of aplastic anemia patients and its role in the genesis of aplastic hematopoiesis failure.

METHODS
c-kit expression on the bone marrow mononuclear cells(MNC) and CD34 positive cells from 11 chronic aplastic anemia (CAA), 9 severe aplastic anemia(SAA), 10 non-aplastic anemia(NAA) patients (5 iron deficiency anemia and 5 autoimmune hemolytic anemia) and 5 healthy controls was measured with flow cytometric immunofluorescence assay and anti-CD117 monoclonal antibody.

RESULTS
The CD117 positive rates of MNC in CAA, SAA, NAA and control groups were (2.08 +/- 1.96)%, (0.89 +/- 0.32)%, (0.67 +/- 0.39)% and (0.45 +/- 0.16)%, respectively, and the rates were significantly higher in CAA and SAA groups than in NAA and control groups(P < 0.05). The CD117 and CD34 double positive cells of MNC in CAA, SAA, NAA and control groups were (0.87 +/- 0.57)%, (0.65 +/- 0.41)%, (0.46 +/- 0.26)% and (0.41 +/- 0.15)%, respectively, and were significantly higher in CAA and SAA groups than in NAA and control groups (P < 0.05). The CD117 positive cells of CD34 positive cells were also higher in CAA[(71.6 +/- 12.4)%] and SAA[(88.9 +/- 23.5)%] groups than in NAA[(41.8 +/- 10.3)%] and control [(46.3 +/- 9.7)%] groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION
Hemopoietic stem/precursor cells of aplastic anemia patients expressed more c-kit receptors than those of NAA patients and healthy controls. The hematopoiesis failure occurred in aplastic anemia is not attributed to low expression of c-kit receptor on the hemopoietic stem/precursor cells.


ABSTRACT. Sato P., Ludtke C.B., Ciocca J.R.P., Dandin T., Lima V., Vilela J.A., Fonseca A.B.M. & Miranda Z.B. [Evaluation of the results of training courses on animal welfare in shackling and meat quality in broiler.] Avaliacao dos resultados dos cursos de capacitacao em bem-estar animal na pendura e na qualidade de carcaca de frangos. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinaria, 37(1):88-92, 2015. Curso de Pos-Graduacao em Medicina Veterinaria, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Vital Brasil, 64, Santa Rosa, Niteroi, RJ 24320-340, Brasil. E-mail: email@example.com This work aimed to conduct a comparative study in 15 slaughterhouses with federal inspection service in Santa Catarina and Parana states, before and after receiving the training course of the National Humane Slaughter Program – Steps from the World Protection of Animals (WPA) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA). The critical points of poultry welfare were evaluated at the shackling stage and their effects on meat quality. For data analysis, Wilcoxon test was applied in order to identify significant differences (p<0.05) between assessments. Several points in non-compliance were verified, such as conditions of birds during shackling and carcass downgrading rate. After being given the training course, improvements were observed mainly in handling and bruises rates. This way, one can infer that the course has enabled great advances in evaluated plants, however, there is need to inspect and to get on with the training by means of the action of multipliers trained in each plant along with an animal welfare program implemented to achieve the ideal standards.


Six local varieties of olives were selected to study their oils and fatty acid composition, with the aim to determine one or several discriminating markers of the botanical origin. The relative percentages of fatty acids were well balanced, conferring to these oils high nutritional quality, characterized by important oleic acid content. The results showed the strongest effect of variety comparing to crop year and region which were less significant. We noticed that 80% of the fatty acids present clear differences between the various varieties population. Samples which present the highest level of oleic acid and mono-unsaturated fatty acids were Grosse du Hamma of first year with respective percentages of 79 and 85% and Azeradj for the same year with 77 and 78% respectively. Whereas, unsaponifiable minor components were present in very small quantities(ppm), but are sufficient to characterize and draw Nutritional and organoleptic olive oil profile. This is perfectly confirmed with principal component analysis results. Azeradj variety, in the four areas presented the highest rates of total tocopherol with averages between 251 and 271 ppm, tocopherol profile shows prevalence ofalpha tocopherol (95% of total fraction).

 Key words: Olive oil, fatty acids, oleic acid, tocopherols, unsaponifiable.


Integration of India into the global economy and the contagious spread of financial crisis across countries has resulted in the financial restructuring of many industries. Textile industry, one of the major contributors of India's GDP and exports, changed their capital structure post financial crisis. Capital structure theories in the literature explain that the firm characteristics like size, profitability, tangibility, NDTS and growth affect the financing decision of the firm. In this study, t test was performed to prove that there is a significant change in the borrowing pattern before and after global financial crisis 2007-08 with the major influence on bank and financial institution borrowing. Further, TOBIT analysis was performed to find the influence of global financial crisis on firm's capital structure along with firm characteristics and industry groups as control variables. As a result, financial crisis impacts capital structure and the impact vary across different industry groups.


It has recently been shown that the structured surface of a perfect conductor can support surface-plasmon-like modes [Pendry, Science 305, 847 (2004)10.1126/science.1098999]. Such structures have a thickness of at least the order of the wavelength. Here, using microwave wavelength radiation incident beyond the critical angle of a wax prism, we quantify the surface-plasmon-like dispersion for a metamaterial surface with a thickness very much smaller than the incident wavelength.


Wikipedia plays a crucial role for online information seeking and its editors have a remarkable capacity to rapidly revise its content in response to current events. How did the production and consumption of political information on Wikipedia mirror the dynamics of the 2016 U.S. Presidential campaign? Drawing on systems justification theory and methods for measuring the enthusiasm gap among voters, this paper quantitatively analyzes the candidates' biographical and related articles and their editors. Information production and consumption patterns match major events over the course of the campaign, but Trump-related articles show consistently higher levels of engagement than Clinton-related articles. Analysis of the editors' participation and backgrounds show analogous shifts in the composition and durability of the collaborations around each candidate. The implications for using Wikipedia to monitor political engagement are discussed.


Snow cover in the Himalayan–Tibetan region is highly variable in space and time, and influences the hydrology and climate at regional and global scales. Monthly MODIS snow cover and land surface temperature (LST) data have been analysed for the period 2000–2011. The details of the snow cover pattern during accumulation and ablation has been studied for the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins. These river basins have shown a unique pattern of snow accumulation and ablation. The Indus and Ganga Basins have shown high snow cover percentage than the Brahmaputra during ablation period. The maximum snow cover for the three basins altogether is approximately 85% of the total geographic area which reduces to approximately 10% during ablation. Accumulation and ablation variations are clearly depicted by the LST variations of the respective basins. However, the Indus Basin has shown a unique increasing trend in snow cover, whereas the Ganga and Brahmaputra Basins have shown no significant trend in this decade. Snow cover for Tibetan region during March (accumulation) and September (ablation) months have not shown either increasing or decreasing trend from 2000 to 2011. Analysis of monthly average basin LST data has shown that Indus Basin experiences subfreezing conditions and delay in rise of peaks in comparison to Ganga and Brahmaputra which shows high LST during accumulation. This study shows that the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra Basins have shown different patterns in the snow cover variations during the last 12 years.


In the hydrometallurgical zinc production processes, important amount of
 hazardous solid extraction residue containing unextractable Zn and Pb is
 generated. Due to increasing demand of metals and the depletion of high grade
 natural resources, these types of wastes are gaining great importance in the
 metallurgical industries. In this study, selective leaching and leaching
 kinetics of Pb and Zn from zinc extraction residue were investigated. For
 this purpose; the effects of NaOH concentration, contact time, stirring speed
 and temperature on the Pb and Zn recovery from the residue were studied. The
 shrinking core model was applied to the results of the experiments. Leaching
 results showed that 85.55% Pb and 21.3 % Zn could be leached under the
 optimized conditions. The leaching of Pb and Zn were found to fit well to
 shrinking core model with ash layer diffusion control. Activation energy
 values for Pb and Zn leaching were calculated to be 13.645 and 22.59 kJ/mol,
 respectively.


This paper considers a number of deterministic conceptions that occupy a central position in current thinking about the process of grammaticalization, both in formal and functional theories of grammar. After a general discussion of the way the phenomenon of grammaticalization is dealt with from the point of view of grammar change and language change, and the explanatory value of these two rather different approaches, the paper turns to an examination of determinants considered to playa role in grammaticalization, i.e. the principle of unidirectionality, the idea of conceptual chains (grammaticalization as a semantically driven process), of grammaticalization as a mechanism or cause in itself, and the so-called parameters of grammaticalization. These assumptions will be critically examined with the hclp of two case studies, i.e. the grammaticalization of the infinitival marker to and of semimodal have to in the history of English. In addition, other factors will be lookcd at of an essentially synchronic nature, which may interact in this diachronic process, such as iconic factors and the synchronic state of the grammar/language. Both of these play an important part in the way grammaticalization proceeds. The paper concludes that certain tendencies can indeed be discerned in grammaticalization, but that the process is first and foremost steered by the shape of the synchronic language system. The conclusion also offers some thoughts on how the synchronic factors that steer grammaticalization may yet set off a longterm development through the impiicational properties of the structure that is grammaticalizing.


We present a lattice calculation of the mass difference between neutron and proton, for which we find $ M_n - M_p = 1.73(69) \, \text{MeV}$. This is obtained at 1st order in the $QED$ coupling $\alpha_{EM}$ and in the mass difference between $u$ and $d$ quarks $\frac{m_d-m_u}{\Lambda_{QCD}}$. We adopt a purely hadronic scheme to renormalize the theory and provide a prescription to separate the $QED$ and strong $IB$ contributions. The simulation is carried out using the ETMC gauge configurations with $N_f=2+1+1$ dynamical quarks. We extrapolate among $3$ values of the lattice spacing and pion masses in the range $M_\pi \simeq 200 - 450 $ MeV.


A new commercial strain of oyster mushroom (was developed by hyphal anastomosis, and was improved byhybridization between a monokaryotic strain derived from Pleurotus ostreatus ASI 0635 (Gonji 7ho) and a dikaryotic strain derived from P. ostreatus ASI 0666 (Mongdol). The optimum temperatures for mycelial growth and fruiting body development were 25~30oC and 12~18oC, respectively. When PDA (potato dextrose agar medium) and MCM (mushroom complete medium) were compared, mycelial growth was faster in MCM. Similar results were observed with the control strain P. ostreatus ASI 2504 (Suhan 1ho). Analysis of the genetic characteristics of the new cultivar ('Gosol') showed a different DNA profile from that of the control ASI 2504 strain, when RAPD (raurpDNA) primers URP1, 2, 3, and 7 were used. Fruiting body production per bottle was approximately116 g based on a production performance test. In addition, yields from a farm field trial were stably achieved in an inadequate production enviro. The color of the pileus was blackish gray, and the stipe was long and thick. Therefore, we expect that this new strain will satisfy consumer demand for high quality mushrooms.


Understanding irradiation effects is crucial for risk management in space science as well as technological development in material processing, imaging, and radiotherapy. The single-particle event is a stepping stone to this complicate, multiscale problem, which finds relevance in low-dose irradiation where long-term effects are usually concerned. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the responses of crystalline silicon carbide nanowires under single-Ga-ion irradiation. It turns out that the channeling mode is more probable compared to focusing for crystalline surfaces at a normal angle of incidence. We find that the surface of nanowires plays a dual role as sites for both defect nucleation and annihilation, leading to notable diameter-dependent responses to the irradiation. The defects created in a single-ion event are localized within a few nanometers, and there exists a critical diameter for nanowires to be minimally damaged. These results allow quantitative assessment of the irradiation damage of nanostructures and guide their design for irradiation-resistant applications.Understanding irradiation effects is crucial for risk management in space science as well as technological development in material processing, imaging, and radiotherapy. The single-particle event is a stepping stone to this complicate, multiscale problem, which finds relevance in low-dose irradiation where long-term effects are usually concerned. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the responses of crystalline silicon carbide nanowires under single-Ga-ion irradiation. It turns out that the channeling mode is more probable compared to focusing for crystalline surfaces at a normal angle of incidence. We find that the surface of nanowires plays a dual role as sites for both defect nucleation and annihilation, leading to notable diameter-dependent responses to the irradiation. The defects created in a single-ion event are localized within a few nanometers, and there exists a critical diameter for nanowires to be minimally damaged. These results allow quantitative assessment of the irradiation dam...


This paper deals with demographic characteristics of former Obrovac Municipality that existed as such until 1993. Like most of the municipalities in Dalmatian hinterland, this municipality was also affected by depopulation processes. The purpose of this paper is to determine the intensity of these processes by analyzing the various aspects of population structures. The analysis includes population trends, age-sex structure, educational structure, economic and ethnic composition. This mostly rural area has always been underdeveloped with depopulation processes dating from 1970s that particularly intensified during and after the Croatian War of Independence.


A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, motile bacterial strain, designated GD-2T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Strain GD-2T grew at a temperature range of 37-55 °C (optimum, 45-50 °C), a pH range of 5.5-11.0 (pH 7.0-7.5) and a NaCl concentration range of 0-4.0 % (0 %). The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that strain GD-2T represented a member of the genus Thauera within the family Zoogloeaceae. Strain GD-2T was closely related to Thauera linaloolentis 47LolT with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95.5 %. The whole genomic average nucleotide identity value for GD-2T and 47LolT was 75.3 %. The predominant cellular fatty acids of the strain were C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), C10 : 0 3-OH and C12 : 0. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified aminolipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone 8. Genome sequencing revealed that the genome size of GD-2T was 3 059 321 bp with a G+C content of 63.57 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain GD-2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Thauera, for which the name Thauera hydrothermalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GD-2T (=NBRC 112472T=CGMCC 1.15527T).


Being one of highest growth packages, QFN (Quad Flat No-lead) always facing a lot of challenges in maintaining high equipment efficiency in production mode. A lot of hypothesis was made on the root causes, and mostly blaming on frequent machine change-over or device conversion. This seems to be difficult to fix, simply due to the fact that QFN needs to maintain high flexibility in production. A comprehensive study was conducted to verify any possibility of equipment efficiency improvement. The study utilized systematic Six Sigma DMAIC methodology in deriving and optimizing all the major process elements, including people factor, leadframe variations, wafer robustness, machine hardware, measurement system analysis (MSA), auto recipe implementation, and optimum machine utilization. With total of 13 factors, respective evaluations revealed a lot of new knowledge and information. In the evaluations of people factor, there were a lot of findings on knowledge and skill of key technical personnel in supporting production. The comparison study was made by collecting performance data from each technical personnel, and then comparing to ideal technical setup guidelines and time allocation for each task. Despite the comparison, findings like mistakes or improper setup could be utilized in setting up more proper training material, and roll out to all other technical personnel. The other factor was regarding to MSA, whereby all relevant machine down time codes and data were being analyzed in details. With comparison using manual method, local machine statistics and on-line efficiency data, any discrepancy could be identified easily. For QFN wire bonders with capability of implementing auto recipe, advantage of minimizing human dependency might become disaster. The auto recipe implementation should not ignore any single details including machine hardware differences, if not, and then it should not be utilized at all. With the DMAIC study, all significant factors were able to be optimized systematically, resulting in significant increment in machine efficiency performance. Together with advanced optimizations, new process window could also withstand any flexible effect of new product introduction in QFN packages, making production machines really robust and stable.


A number of future space missions require liquid helium for cooling scientific payloads. These missions will require the long term storage and resupply of liquid helium at temperatures of 1.4 2.1 kelvin. In addition, some of the proposed instruments will require refrigeration to temperatures as low as 50 mK. A variety of liquid helium based refrigerator systems could provide this subkelvin cooling. The status of helium storage and refrigeration technologies and of several alternative technologies is presented here along with areas where further research and development are needed. (Helium resupply technologies are the topic of another presentation at this symposium.) The technologies covered include passive and dynamic liquid helium storage, alternatives to liquid helium storage, 3He refrigerators, 3He/ He dilution refrigerators, and alternative sub-kelvin coolers.


This essay examines commitment and abandonment structured as two binary opposites informing For Whom the Bell Tolls. The intention behind this structuring is to highlight Hemingway's message of the novel, set forth by the epigraph by Donne; everyone is part of mankind and every death diminishes everyone equally. The consistent structuring of characters can be seen by the fact that everyone who is committed, loyal and honest is punished while the reverse is true for people who abandon, desert and betray. The one exception to this is Pilar who, because of the role as a liberated woman given to her by Hemingway, is not included in this general categorization.


Abstract Pollen analyses of surface sediment samples collected from the coastal mangrove swamps of Dongzhai and Qinglan, situated in northern Hainan Island, China, were undertaken in order to reveal the relationship between modern pollen deposits and their source plants, and to provide a basis for reconstructing the Holocene history of mangrove ecosystem dynamics. Six transects (Transects 1–6) from the Dongzhai and Qinglan mangrove swamps were established to examine local plant zonation pattern along intertidal zones. Four transects (Transects 1, 2, 5, and 6) were sampled for pollen analysis. Surface pollen spectra show close linkage between pollen and local vegetation. Mangrove pollen taxa are roughly arranged by vegetation zones along the intertidal flat. Notably, Rhizophora, Ceriops, Bruguiera, and Avicennia are well represented and localized. Nevertheless, our results also suggest that other common mangroves are poorly represented by their pollen in the surface sediments, including species of Excoecaria, Aegiceras, Clerodendrum, Kandelia, Xylocarpus, and Scyphiphora. Exotic palynomorphs are also present in most of the samples; however, the dominant types are from local mangrove sources. We conclude that mangrove pollen has a local and limited distribution. Our results provide a basis for interpreting paleoecological analyses of below-surface pollen samples from the same mangrove swamps, and are crucial for further paleoecological and paleoenvironmental studies in tropical marshes.


Heavily polluted wastewater from sanitary landfill presents the leachate characteristics that need special treatment and disposal. Concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), heavy metal and other pollutant content are often larger than standard requirement after applying biological/physico-chemical treatment.Thus, the combination of coagulationflocculation and chemical oxidation treatment has been investigated. Using the jar-test procedure and stirrer, the physico-chemical conditions were optimized. It concerns the most effective coagulant between ferric chloride (FeCl3) and poly-aluminum chloride (PACl), the optimal pH and the H2O2 as the most effective chemical oxidant. The optimum pH and dosage of PACl and FeCl3 were obtained as 7 and 2.0 g/L, 5 and 1.0 g/L respectively. Iron salts were proved to be more efficient than aluminum ones, resulting in COD reduction (up to 59%) whereas the corresponding values using alum was lower (50%). The optimum pH and dosage of PACl and ferric chloride for optimum oxidation process was; 300 mg/L at pH7 and 300 mg/L at pH 6 respectively. Oxidation process gave significant effect to the removal of suspended solids and turbidity (up to 94%) using supernatant contain with ion Fe3+ at pH 7.


Weight loss and wasting are significant contributors to morbidity in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The approach to the patient with HIV and weight loss needs to be proactive and comprehensive, as early intervention may be beneficial and the weight loss may be multifactorial. Evaluation for weight loss needs to be directed at any apparent contributing cause and can include dietary evaluation, treatment of intercurrent complicating infections or malignancies, and maximization of HIV therapy. Some patients will also benefit from an evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract to document malabsorption and/or opportunistic enteric infections. It is also prudent to evaluate testosterone levels in male patients. Interventions in the patient who is not able to take in sufficient calories should include dietary advice and/or nutritional supplements, as well as the use of appetite stimulants. Megace (Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ) has been shown to effectively increase appetite, oral intake, and body weight. For the patient with malabsorption and/or diarrhea, treatment of enteric infections should be attempted. These patients may benefit from the replacement of some dietary fat with medium-chain triglycerides, either in a nutritional product or to replace cooking oils. Other patients may benefit from the use of anabolic agents such as growth hormone, nandrolone, testosterone, or oxandrolone, which are all effective at increasing lean body mass. For select patients, agents such as thalidomide might be of benefit, although its mechanism of action is not clear. There are few data from prospective, controlled trials of combinations of these agents, but these studies are underway. It is likely that the optimal interventions for patients will be combinations of agents to improve oral intake and add lean body mass, which will permit a reduction in morbidity from weight loss and an improvement in quality of life for the HIV-infected patient.


Robin Veder's The Living Line is a radical reconceptualization of the development of late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century American modernism. The author illuminates connections among the histories of modern art, body cultures, and physiological aesthetics in early-twentieth-century American culture, fundamentally altering our perceptions about art and the physical, and the degree of cross-pollination in the arts. The Living Line shows that American producers and consumers of modernist visual art repeatedly characterized their aesthetic experience in terms of kinesthesia, the sense of bodily movement. They explored abstraction with kinesthetic sensibilities and used abstraction to achieve kinesthetic goals. In fact, the formalist approach to art was galvanized by theories of bodily response derived from experimental physiological psychology and facilitated by contemporary body cultures such as modern dance, rhythmic gymnastics, physical education, and physical therapy. Situating these complementary ideas and exercises in relation to enduring fears of neurasthenia, Veder contends that aesthetic modernism shared industrial modernity's objective of efficiently managing neuromuscular energy. In a series of finely grained and interconnected case studies, Veder demonstrates that diverse modernists associated with the Armory Show, the SocieteAnonyme, the Stieglitz circle (especially O'Keeffe), and the Barnes Foundation participated in these discourses and practices and that "kin-aesthetic modernism" greatly influenced the formation of modern art in America and beyond. This daring and completely original work will appeal to a broad audience of art historians, historians of the body, and American culture in general.


A novel register, in which MTJ device is centered, is proposed in this paper. Based on the demand of MTJ's reading and writing process, some additional devices have been integrated with the MTJ device to compose the actual structure. It has been simulated using Hspice and the simulated result shows that it can be operated as a register in the circuit. Moreover, the layout of the register based on 0.5µm CMOS process has been finished.


A study was carried out to assess the effect of Stress Coat® on slime production in goldfish (Carassius auratus) and koi (Cyprinus carpio). The study also investigated histological changes that might be associated with slime producing cells, and wound healing in koi. Several formulations of Stress Coat® were investigated and the results showed that polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), also known as povidone, an ingredient of Stress Coat®, when used alone, showed significantly higher slime production in goldfish than salt and Stress Coat® without PVP after 25 h. The results also showed that koi treated with compounds containing PVP showed better wound healing than those not exposed to PVP. Histology results showed no difference between compounds tested with regards to density and number of slime producing cells.


Individuals of the diatom Coscinodiscus have been treated hydrothermally in the presence of lime and carbon dioxide with the result that they have been pseudomorphed by calcite. The silica of the original diatoms has been replaced while the intricate reticulations of the alveoli have been preserved down to submicroscopic detail.


The Turkish crisis of November 2000, while not entirely unexpected, caught the world by surprise. It was only 10 months into an IMF supported disinflation program, which was working generally well despite several shortcomings, and the political backing for the program was stronger than anything Turkey could hope for. But the crisis hit violently, with interest rates breaking world records, and much earlier than experienced in other "exchange rate-based" stabilization programs. The crises cost Turkey the most severe contraction of its modern history since the 1940s.


A simple neural-based A/D converter employing only CMOS inverters is considered. Its structure based on a neural network with feed-forward and nonsymmetrical connections. A formal neuron model can easily be implemented by the use of CMOS inverters. Weights for synapses are given as fixed numerical values of channel conductances of pull-up PMOS and pull-down NMOS transistors of CMOS inverters. A 6-bit A/D converter is realized with 2 /spl mu/m CMOS process employing MOSIS service, and measured for confirming a behavior of the proposed structure.


Recently it was found, in a broad class of models, that the dark energy density may change its sign during the evolution of the universe. This may lead to a global collapse of the universe within the time tc ~ 1010–1011 years. Our goal is to find what bounds on the future lifetime of the universe can be placed by the next generation of cosmological observations. As an example, we investigate the simplest model of dark energy with a linear potential V() = V0(1 + α). This model can describe the present stage of acceleration of the universe if α is small enough. However, eventually the field rolls down, V() becomes negative, and the universe collapses. The existing observational data indicate that the universe described by this model will collapse not earlier than tc  10 billion years from the present moment. We show that the data from SNAP and Planck satellites may extend the bound on the `doomsday' time to tc  40 billion years at the 95% confidence level.


In a glasshouse trial, pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) was grown in a Vertisol from the Darling Downs, Qld. The experimental design included two rates of inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi (nil and inoculated), three rates of phosphorus (P) application and two of zinc (Zn), and inoculation (nil and inoculated) with a recently discovered pathogen of pigeonpea, Phytophthora drechsleri Tucker (Pdr). lnoculation with the pathogen was included in the factorial design to investigate any effect of VAM on root rot. Plants responded to inoculation with VAM fungi, showing that the growth of pigeonpea is highly dependent upon mycorrhizal colonization of its root system. The mycorrhizal plants yielded, on average, 3.3 times the dry weight of the non-mycorrhizal plants. Shoot dry weight and Zn concentration of the shoots were both exponentially related to per cent VAM colonization of the root length (R~ values of 0.904 and 0.644 respectively) and P concentration was linearly related to VAM colonization (K' = 0.888). VAM increased P concentration, P uptake, Zn concentration, Zn uptake and P/Zn ratio, indicating enhanced growth through improved P and to a lesser extent Zn nutrition. Zinc fertilizer (15 mg kg-' soil) without Phytophthora inoculation was fungitoxic to the mycorrhizae, decreasing per cent VAM colonization and depressing plant growth. lnoculation with Pdr did not result in infection and root rot symtoms. However, it did overcome the Zn toxicity, possibly through organic chelation effects, and thereby enhanced VAM colonization. Greatest VAM colonization and best plant nutrition and growth were obtained with the combination of VAM inoculation, Pdr inoculation, Zn (15 mg kg-') and P (10 mg kg-'). Our results indicate the importance of maintaining adequate levels of VAM fungi in soil through appropriate agricultural practices in order to maximize pigeonpea growth.


Background Dysfunction of kidney correlates with multiple renal diseases, for instance, chronic kidney disease. However, monitoring the changes of indexes related to renal function may help to early find the potential patients with renal diseases. Methods A cohort of 14,716 participants (8,148 males and 6,568 females) was recruited from the Health Examination Center at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and was followed up since 2012 to 2018. Four indexes related to renal function, including creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), cystatin C (CysC) and urea nitrogen (UN) were selected to monitor the kidney function. Results Levels of CysC, Cr were reduced, and expression of UA was increased in all the participants since 2012 to 2018 overall. In addition, levels of CysC, UA, Cr and UN were higher in males than those in females, and expression of the four indexes was up-regulated in the elderly population compared with those in the younger population since 2012 to 2018 overall. Conclusions The findings suggested that some preventive action may be adopted early and more attention can focus on the health-examination population.


Differential Petri nets are a new extension of Petri nets. Through the introduction of the differential place, the differential transition, and suitable evolution rules, it is possible to model concurrently discrete-event processes and continuous-time dynamic processes, represented by systems of linear ordinary differential equations. This model can contribute to the performance analysis and design of industrial supervisory control systems and of hybrid control systems in general.


. As one of the most important part in one research, an abstract should be written as well as possible to make the readers be capable of comprehending and assessing whether its quality is good or not. Based on Koopman (1997: 1) and Owen D Williamson (2007: 3) that one of the criteria of good abstract is that it should have the complete abstract structure, that is Introduction, Objective or Aim, Methodology, Findings/Results and Conclusion written within 5 (five) paragraphs. In fact, not all abstract written by Ph.D students have those 5 (five) aspects and format. Referring to the problem stated above, this research is aimed at finding and describing some variations of writing format and abstract structure written by Ph.D students of State Universities in Surabaya. Meanwhile, the methodology employed in this research was descriptive qualitative. The data were taken from 15 dissertation abstracts written by Ph.D Students: 8 abstracts taken from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Planning/FTSP-ITS and the 7 others were from Medical Science of Airlangga University Surabaya. The data collected were the writing format dealing with the number of paragraphs of each abstract and its abstract structure. Furthermore, having been analyzed and discussed, among those 15 abstract texts, it was found that the writing format and its variations of abstract structure of dissertation was: [a] in accordance with the number of paragraphs: 6 texts (40%) written in 3 paragraphs, 4 texts (26,66%) written in 5 paragraphs, 3 abstracts (20%) written in 4 paragraphs, 2 texts (13,33%) written in 1 paragraph; [b] Meanwhile in accordance with the number of abstract structures: most of the abstracts: 9 abstract texts (60%) were not completed with ' conclusion ' , 5 texts (33,33%) with no ' objective ' , only 4 texts (26,66%) were completed with 5 abstract structure, 4 texts (26,66%) were not supported with the 2 abstract structure: ' objective and conclusion ' and 1 text (6,66%) did not have an ' introduction ' . Finally, it was found that there were several variations dealing with the writing format of dissertation abstracts both in line with the number of paragraphs and and its abstract stucture. You should leave 8 mm of space above the abstract and 10 mm after the abstract. The heading Abstract should be typed in bold 9-point Arial. The body of the abstract should be typed in normal 9-point Times in a single paragraph, immediately following the heading. The text should be set to 1 line spacing. The abstract should be centred across the page, indented 17 mm from the left and right page margins and justified. It should not normally exceed 200 words.


In this study, we presented the method for calculation the absolute dose in the Monte Carlo simulation following the prescription of Popescu et al for the 6 MV photon energy. The BEAMnrc was used to simulate 6 MV photon beams from a Siemens Primus M5497 linear accelerator at DongNai general hospital. The DOSXYZnrc was then used to calculate the dose distribution in a homogeneous phantom (in form of CT images). The absolute dose obtained from the MC and TPS were compared with measured ones using an ion chamber (Farmer Type Chamber FC65-P, IBA). The average doses discrepancy between the simulated and measured dose was 0.53±0.37% and between the simulated and TPS was 1.00±0.51%. Results showed good agreement between simulated, measured and calculated dosed on a homogeneous phantom. Keywords—Linear accelerator, Monte Carlo simulation, EGSnrc, Absolute dose


This thesis considers the long distance motion of waves in a random medium. Using the geometrical optics approximation and a stochastic limit theorem, we find evolution equations for rays and for energy correlations, in two and three dimensions. Our equations are valid on a long distance scale, well after the focusing of rays has become significant. We construct asymptotic expansions of the two point energy correlation function in two and three dimensions. In two dimensions we numerically solve the partial differential equation that determines the two point energy correlation function. We also perform Monte-Carlo simulations to calculate the same quantity. There is good agreement between the two solutions. We present the solution for the two point energy correlation function obtained by regular perturbation techniques. This solution agrees with our solution until focusing becomes significant. Then our solution is valid (as shown by the Monte-Carlo simulations), while the regular perturbation solution becomes invalid. Also presented are the equations that describe energy correlations after a wave has gone through a weakly stochastic plane layered medium.


The symmetry of CaFex Ti1-x O3-x /2 perovskites (0 x 0.40) has been studied by means of room temperature and high temperature x-ray powder diffraction. At room temperature the perovskites undergo at least two displacive phase transitions with increasing Fe content: from the CaTiO3 Pbnm structure to the tetragonal I 4/mcm polymorph at x = 0.205±0.017 followed by transformation to the cubic Pm 3m structure at x = 0.251±0.029. A strain analysis of the unit cell demonstrates that the orthorhombic to tetragonal transition is first order in character while the tetragonal to cubic one is second order. An in situ high temperature XRD study on compositions with x = 0.109 and x = 0.188 shows that both samples undergo the same set of phase transitions at high temperature as found in the CaFex Ti1-x O3-x /2 samples with increasing Fe content at room temperature. The transition temperatures indicate that the phase boundaries in the temperature-composition phase diagram may be non-linear.


E-business successes in traditional organizations have prompted much interest among researchers in many disciplines such as strategic management, information systems, and economics. However, the complexity of e-business implementation process has been overlooked, and it remains unclear. This paper investigates causal relationships among strategic initiative, information technology (IT)-related resources, and e-business capabilities; and their roles in the implementation process. From the resource-based view (RBV) of a firm and e-business strategic standpoint, we propose a model of e-business implementation process. We divide the process into four stages, and 11 hypotheses are developed in seeking relationships among six proposed constructs. Drawing from a sample of 56 enterprises within Hubei Province in China, we provide theoretical support for a critical causal link from e-business strategic initiatives to utilization of IT-related resources, and consequently, creating distinctive e-business capabilities. We find that information sharing capabilities are intermediate and transferable forces that help translating IT-related organizational resources into the collaborative process capabilities. The causal relationships expand our understanding of the dynamics of organizational transformation enabled by the Internet. The practical implications offer managers guidelines to the roles played by strategy, resource, and capabilities for e-business success. It helps in recognizing the value of their potential contributions to the organization as a whole.


OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE:We present a case of transient signal alterations along the brainstem path of the trigeminal nerve after microvascular decompression in a patient with trigeminal neuralgia. Such signal changes have been previously reported to represent infarction, but in our patient, they seemed to represent reactive neural and nuclear changes attributable to operative manipulation. CLINICAL PRESENTATION:A 43-year-old woman presented with gradually increasing, medically refractory recurrent trigeminal neuralgia 16 months after initial successful microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. Repeat microvascular decompression resulted initially in complete pain relief; however, her pain suddenly returned on the 3rd postoperative day. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of this recurrent pain revealed new signal alterations along the brainstem path of the trigeminal nerve. Other than marked reduction in her trigeminal neuralgia, the patient had no postoperative alterations of trigeminal sensory or motor function. INTERVENTION:The patient's residual postoperative trigeminal neuralgia was successfully treated with carbamazepine. Because of the absence of worrisome signs and symptoms corresponding to the MRI signal alterations, no additional therapy was elected. Follow-up MRI in 1 month revealed near-complete resolution of the postoperative signal alterations along the brainstem path of the trigeminal nerve. CONCLUSION:MRI signal alterations along the brainstem path of the trigeminal nerve after microvascular decompression may be only reactive and do not always represent infarction. Depending on the clinical picture, observation may be all that is necessary in such cases.


This paper mainly deals with applying a general class of preconditioners to accelerate the convergence speed of some iterative schemes for solving multi-linear systems whose coefficient tensors are strong -tensors. Theoretical results are established to analyse the performance of a general class of preconditioners extracted from the majorization matrix associated with the coefficient tensor. Brief discussions are included in using a Krylov subspace method based on the Hessenberg process to solve the mentioned problem. For the sake of generality, we consider multi-linear systems with multiple right-hand sides. Numerical experiments are reported to illustrate the validity of the presented theoretical results.


Binaural hearing aids (HAs) can potentially perform advanced noise reduction algorithms, leading to an improvement over monaural/bilateral HAs. Due to the limited transmission capacities between the HAs and given knowledge of the complete joint noisy signal statistics, the optimal rate-constrained beamforming strategy is known from the literature. However, as these joint statistics are unknown in practice, sub-optimal strategies have been presented. In this paper, we present a unified framework to study the performance of these existing optimal and sub-optimal rate-constrained beamforming methods for binaural HAs. Moreover, we propose to use an asymmetric sequential coding scheme to estimate the joint statistics between the microphones in the two HAs. We show that under certain assumptions, this leads to sub-optimal performance in one HA but allows to obtain the truly optimal performance in the second HA. Based on the mean square error distortion measure, we evaluate the performance improvement between monaural beamforming (no communication) and the proposed scheme, as well as the optimal and the existing sub-optimal strategies in terms of the information bit-rate. The results show that the proposed method outperforms existing practical approaches in most scenarios, especially at middle rates and high rates, without having the prior knowledge of the joint statistics.


By modern standards Bacon's writings are striking in their range and diversity, and they are too often considered a separate specialist concerns in isolation from each other. Dr Jardine finds a unifying principle in Bacon's preoccupation with 'method', the evaluation and organisation of information as a procedure of investigation or of presentation. She shows how such an interpretation makes consistent (and often surprising) sense of the whole corpus of Bacon's writings: how the familiar but misunderstood inductive method for natural science relations to the more information strategies of argument in his historical, ethical, political and literary work. There is a substantial and valuable study of the intellectual Renaissance background from which Bacon emerged and against which he reacted. Through a series of details comparisons and contrasts we are led to appreciate the true originality and ingenuity of Bacon's own views and also to discount the more superficial resemblances between them and later developments in the philosophy of science.


Objectives: The present study seeks to examine the perception of the graduate students and pensioners of some selected localities of Kolkata about the importance of ATMs as a branch surrogate, impact of the ceiling on withdrawals from ATMs, and the strategies to win over the capping for the customers as well as for the banks to retain them. Participants and Data collection: It obtained primary data from 200 respondents consisting of 140 graduate students and 60 pensioners using different non-probability sampling techniques through schedule and personal interviews. Research Methods: Different statistical tests like factor analysis, Mann Whitney U test, students t-test, regression analysis, and descriptive statistics were performed to assess support for the hypotheses. The reliability of the questions and sample adequacy test was also carried out. Through factor analysis, five major factors viz. perceptions about ATM- an avatar for banks, customers satisfaction in ATM services, customers repercussion on capping, financial planning for withdrawals, and strategies for customers to avoid charges and for banks to retain them were extracted. Results: The results of the study suggest that youth prefer to use ATMs which has become indispensable and provide diversified financial services that leads to customers satisfaction, but withdrawing now requires some planning as customers need to visit branches to avoid fees. To retain the customers the banks should encourage the use of more electronic cards and net banking, should not charge for withdrawing own funds, allow them to access even the non-home branch ATMs close to the their locality, should reduce the minimum average floor balance to enjoy free unlimited access of home bank ATMs and keep currency of higher denomination to reduce the number of transactions.


Another important survey in the Notable Scientists series, A to Z of Physicists focuses not only on the lives and personalities of those profiled, but also on their research and contributions to the field. A fascinating and important element of this volume is the attention paid to the obstacles that women and minority physicists have overcome to reach their personal and professional goals. Through incidents, quotations, and photographs, the entries portray something of the human face which is often lost in books on science and scientists. A to Z of Physicists features 150 entries and 50 black-and-white photographs. Culturally inclusive and spanning the whole range of physicists from ancient times to the present day, this is an ideal resource for students and general readers interested in the history of physics or the significant aspects of the personal and professional lives of important physicists.


We propose a novel visual tracking scheme that exploits both the geometrical structure of Grassmann manifold and piecewise geodesics under a Bayesian framework. Two particle filters are alternatingly employed on the manifold. One is used for online updating the appearance subspace on the manifold using sliding-window observations, and the other is for tracking moving objects on the manifold based on the dynamic shape and appearance models. Main contributions of the paper include: (a) proposing an online manifold learning strategy by a particle filter, where a mixture of dynamic models is used for both the changes of manifold bases in the tangent plane and the piecewise geodesics on the manifold, (b) proposing a manifold object tracker by incorporating object shape in the tangent plane and the manifold prediction error of object appearance jointly in a particle filter framework. Experiments performed on videos containing significant object pose changes show very robust tracking results. The proposed scheme also shows better performance as comparing with three existing trackers in terms of tracking drift and the tightness and accuracy of tracked boxes.


The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between religious affiliation and obstetric outcome. We reviewed 1,919 records of patients whose infants were born at a university medical center. Data obtained from maternal and newborn records included demographic information, prenatal history, labor and delivery records, and religious affiliation. Maternal complications and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions were lowest for mainline Christians (11%, 11%), intermediate for evangelical Christians (17%, 12%), and highest for patients with no religious preferences (21%, 18%). After controlling for possible confounders, the association of religious affiliation and lower NICU admission rates remained. Mainline Christians had a lower frequency of maternal complications. Patients with a religious affiliation had better obstetric outcome than those without. Most of the association seems to be due to a lower risk social profile, but a small positive influence of religion persisted.


A dilute, particle-laden turbulent flow in a square cross-sectioned duct with a 90° bend is modeled using a three-dimensional Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. Predictions are based on a second-moment turbulence closure, with particles simulated using a Lagrangian particle tracking technique, coupled to a particle-wall interaction algorithm and a random Fourier series method used to model particle dispersion. The performance of the model is tested for a gas-solid flow in a horizontal-to-vertical duct, with predictions showing good agreement with experimental data. In particular, the consistent use of anisotropic and fully three-dimensional approaches throughout yields predictions that result in fluctuating particle velocities in acceptable agreement with data. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012


The base vacuum level achieved before loading the discharge gas is known to be an important parameter that affects both the address and sustain discharge characteristics in an AC plasma display panel (PDP), as a higher base vacuum level improves the discharge characteristics. Accordingly, the vacuum sealing method, which can enhance the base vacuum level, is adopted to enhance the MgO characteristics by reducing any residual gas impurity. The resulting changes in the address and sustain discharge characteristics, including the secondary electron coefficient, firing voltage, and dynamic voltage margin, are then compared with the results when using conventional atmospheric-pressure sealing for a 42-in ac PDP with a high Xe (11%) content. The vacuum sealing method was found to improve the secondary electron emission coefficient, lower the firing voltage, particularly under MgO cathode conditions, and increase the dynamic voltage margin. However, the vacuum sealing was also found to deteriorate the visible transmittance of the dielectric layer in the front panel. Nonetheless, the vacuum sealing process enabled the use of a higher Xe content, which is up to 17%, under a stable dynamic margin voltage, thereby improving both the luminance and luminous efficiencies of the AC PDP.


As an inherited disorder characterized by severe pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis (CF) could be considered a comorbidity for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)1. Instead, CF seems to constitute an advantage in COVID-19 infection2-5. To clarify whether host factors expressed by the CF epithelia may influence COVID-19 progression, we investigated the expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor and coreceptors in primary airway epithelial cells. We found that angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression and localization are regulated by cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channels. Consistently, our results indicate that dysfunctional CFTR channels alter susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in reduced viral infection in CF cells. Depending on the pattern of ACE2 expression, the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein induced high levels of Interleukin (IL)-6 in healthy donor-derived primary airway epithelial cells but a very weak response in primary CF cells. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that CF condition is unfavorable for SARS-CoV-2 infection.


Continuous-wave (CW) power performance of a room-temperature, broadly tunable intracavity frequency-doubled Cr/sup 4+/: forsterite laser is described. Intracavity doubling was achieved by using a 2-cm-long periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. At the PPLN crystal temperature of 188/spl deg/C, orange-red radiation could be obtained between 613 and 655 nm by using gratings with different poling periods. Experimentally measured temperature tuning data of the PPLN crystal was further found to be in very good agreement with theoretical predictions based on temperature-dependent Sellmeier data. With an incident pump power of 6.8 W at 1064 nm, the Cr/sup 4+/: forsterite laser produced 245 mW of CW output power at 1260 nm and intracavity doubling yielded 45 mW of second harmonic output at 630 nm.


Abstract Chlorarachniophytes are marine amoeboflagellate protists that have acquired their plastid (chloroplast) through secondary endosymbiosis with a green alga. Like other algae, most of the proteins necessary for plastid function are encoded in the nuclear genome of the secondary host. These proteins are targeted to the organelle using a bipartite leader sequence consisting of a signal peptide (allowing entry in to the endomembrane system) and a chloroplast transit peptide (for transport across the chloroplast envelope membranes). We have examined the leader sequences from 45 full-length predicted plastid-targeted proteins from the chlorarachniophyte Bigelowiella natans with the goal of understanding important features of these sequences and possible conserved motifs. The chemical characteristics of these sequences were compared with a set of 10 B. natans endomembrane-targeted proteins and 38 cytosolic or nuclear proteins, which show that the signal peptides are similar to those of most other eukaryotes, while the transit peptides differ from those of other algae in some characteristics. Consistent with this, the leader sequence from one B. natans protein was tested for function in the apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, and shown to direct the secretion of the protein.


Cystic echinococcosis (CE) are commonly found in the viscera of affected hosts. There were different methods of treatment of CE. Surgery is one of these methods by using different scolicidal agents for inactivation of protoscoleces, but they have side effects. Natural herbal extract are safe and have many pharmacological uses in different fields. Nigella sativa may be a standout amongst these natural extricate. Those exhibit contemplate meant should assess viability about nigella sativa Possibly alone alternately done mix with Albendazole What's more At they stacked around Chitosan nanoparticles once murine hydatid growth. Swiss pale skinned person mice were utilized within this consider Furthermore arranged under eight aggregations. The pill might have been administrated two months post spoiling to in turn two months span. After sacrifaction the appraisal of size and weight of the cysts were finished. The effects of this contemplate uncovered that, there were noteworthy viability altogether dealt with Assemblies p <0. 05 and profoundly critical for Assemblies stacked for chitosan nanoparticles in examination to control gathering. Clinched alongside conclusion, nigella sativa need beneficial impact to hydatid growth treatment Possibly alone alternately in mix. Stacking for pills on chitosan nanoparticles expanded those pills viability with the goal chitosan nanoparticles have possibility impact to help.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the background and an evaluation of a new health and social care leadership programme. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes a three‐stage programme design methodology. First, participants were asked to narrate their stories of implementing change at a series of in‐depth interviews. Second, the dialogue was continued with these managers and others based around their stories of change to establish that their meanings of change and their support needs had been understood. Finally, their expressed needs and practical suggestions were analysed with the help of MacIntyre's virtue ethics schema. MacIntyre's schema was used for two reasons. First, because it is based on the notion of a narrative underpinning to social reality and to informing our moral standards, and second because strong resonance between the managers' narratives and the schema's underlying thesis of ethical conflict in modern institutions was found. Findings – The finding was that the programme exceeded expectations by influencing the participants' courage to lead change despite the complexity of their working environment. At the start of the programme many of the participants had reported feelings of powerlessness in face of central and local imperatives for reforms to their services. During the course of the six‐month programme their narratives changed from "mission impossible" to "mission possible". Research limitations/implications – The main limitation is that this was a pilot study. However, the encouraging findings do support the view offered by Moore and Beadle that MacIntyre's thesis offers rich concepts for the furtherance of managerial and organisation studies and imply that a wider education programme based on this methodology and theorising would be worthwhile. Practical implications – The enthusiasm with which this pilot programme was received implies that public sector leadership education needs to pay more attention to narrative constructions of change, ethical conflict and engaging managers in concert with their constructed needs in the face of those conflicts. Originality/value – The study contributes a design methodology for health services leadership education informed by a narrative research methodology and a virtue ethics theoretical framework.


In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), one of the most severe and frequent genetic diseases in humans, dystrophic muscles are prone to damage caused by mechanical stresses during eccentric contractions. Eccentric contraction during walking on level ground likely contributes to the progression of degeneration in lower limb muscles. However, little is known about how the amount of muscle eccentric contractions is affected by uphill/downhill sloped walking, which is often encountered in patients' daily lives and poses different biomechanical demands than level walking. By recreating the dynamic musculoskeletal simulations of downhill (−9°, −6°, and −3°), uphill (+3°, +6°, and +9°) and level walking (0°) from a published study of healthy participants, negative muscle mechanical work, as a measure of eccentric contraction, of 35 lower limb muscles was quantified and compared. Our results indicated that downhill walking overall induced more (32% at −9°, 19% at −6°, and 13% at −3°) eccentric contractions in lower limb muscles compared to level walking. In contrast, uphill walking led to eccentric contractions similar to level walking at low grades (+3° and +6°), but 17% more eccentric contraction at high grades (+9°). The changes of muscle eccentric contraction were largely predicted by the changes in both joint negative work and muscle coactivation in sloped walking. As muscle eccentric contractions play a critical role in the disease progression in DMD, this study provides an important baseline for future studies to safely improve rehabilitation strategies and exercise management for patients with DMD and other similar conditions.


Wikidata is a publicly available, crowdsourced knowledge base that contains interlinked concepts structured for use by intelligent systems. While Wikidata has experienced rapid growth, it is far from complete and faces challenges that prevent it from being used to its full potential. In this paper, we propose a novel method for improving Wikidata by engaging undergraduate students to contribute previously missing knowledge via concept mapping assignments. Rather than allow students to edit Wikidata directly, we describe a workflow in which knowledge is constructed by students and then reviewed by an expert. We present a case study in which we deployed a workflow in a large undergraduate course about sustainability, and find that it was able to contribute a substantial number of high quality statements that persisted in and contributed previously missing knowledge to Wikidata. This work provides a preliminary workflow for improving Wikidata based on classroom assignments, as well as recommendations for how future educational projects could continue to improve Wikidata or other public knowledge bases.


1,8-[1,8-Naphthalenediylbis(4',4-biphenyldiyl)]naphthalene, a very stable strained cyclophane, has been synthesized in moderate yield using the copper-catalyzed coupling of 1, 8-bis(4-(tributylstannyl)phenyl)naphthalene. The X-ray analysis of the titled compound discloses bent p,p'-biphenylylene chains with splayed naphthalene rings, and the p,p'-biphenylylene chains located face-to-face indicate a fairly strong pi-pi interaction.


OBJECTIVE
To study the early effects of fetal development and remote sequalae of mental development of infants after intrauterine human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.

METHODS
Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) were used for screening HCMV antibodies in the serum of 1419 pregnant women. HCMV DNA were examined by PCR in maternal blood, amniotic fluid and/ or umbilical blood for those with serum HCMV-IgM positive and some with HCMV negative. According to the results, group A (n = 53) included women with positive serum HCMV-IgM and HCMV DNA, and also positive HCMV DNA in amniotic fluid and/or umbilical blood: group B (n = 87) were women with positive serum HCMV-IgM and HCMV DNA but negative HCMV DNA in amniotic fluid and/or umbilical blood: group C (n = 34) served as control with all negative. The above 174 cases were carefully monitored for fetal development. Baley scales of infant development (BSID) were used to test both mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) at 2-30 months after birth for babies in group A and C.

RESULTS
The occurrences of fetal intrauterine death, congenital malformation, fetal growth retardation and neonatal asphyxia were significantly higher in group A than that in group B and C (P < 0.05) and the average birth weight and height were also significantly lower in group A (P < 0.05). The mental development of infants in group A were remarkably slower than that of group C (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION
Active HCMV intrauterine infection may cause congential infection, birth defects and mental retardation in childhood.


A novel method of converting binary-level electrical pulses into multi-level optical pulses using only a conventional traveling-wave optical modulator is presented. The method provides low inter-pulse interference due to the counter-propagating pulses, low amplitude noise, and a timing jitter determined chiefly by the quality of the optical pulse source. The method only requires one electrical drive per modulator and provides low-jitter variable-amplitude optical pulses that are suitable for shaping into a wide variety of modulation formats using a programmable optical filter.


Electrons at the van Hove point of a two-dimensional band model are studied in the weak-coupling limit as the condensation of the AF mode is approached from the paramagnetic phase. The interaction with fluctuations is treated in the one-loop approximation. It is found that for underdamped fluctuations the quasi-particle peak at the Fermi level is preserved down to the transition point, i.e. the van Hove singularity is not suppressed by the pseudogap, in contrast to what was found previously in the adiabatic approximation. However, the strength of the peak vanishes quadratically with the frequency of the AF mode when the latter is small.


We present a case of 53-year-old man with an extremely rare malignant neoplasm, minor salivary gland epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the hard palate. The lesion was detected incidentally by a dentist, and the patient was successfully treated with surgical excision and postoperative irradiation. The patient has remained asymptomatic and free of disease for 4 years after diagnosis.Minor salivary gland epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma is an extremely rare and potentially aggressive tumor. The favorable outcome in the present case encourages the use of combined surgical excision and postoperative irradiation with curative intent.


The energy levels of systems whose classical motion is multiply periodic are accurately given by the quantum conditions of Einstein, Brillouin & Keller (E. B. K.). We transform the E. B. K. conditions into a representation of the spectrum in terms of a 'topological sum' involving only the closed classical orbits; the theory applies equally to separable and non-separable systems; stability parameters are not involved. Significant contributions come from complex closed orbits which however have real constants of the motion. Clustering of levels on different scales is demonstrated by smoothing the spectrum using the formal device, due to Balian & Bloch, of adding a variable imaginary part to the energy. The topological sum is shown to agree very well with exactly-computed spectra for circular and spherical potential wells with repulsive core.


Complex application systems based on very high-speed networking are found in control systems, telecommunication management and transportation management. Such systems interact with a large and distributed environment that must be monitored, and have to process vast amounts of data within deadlines. The overall development of these applications must minimize costs and integrate different problem-solving techniques to deal with environmental changes. Our framework is based on a library of components that participate in the development of such applications. A distributed architecture is defined, with three agent categories: environment agents that represent the environment behavior, complex agents that process environment events, and supervisor agents that delegate the processing between the complex agents. The library of architecture components contains a family of scheduling techniques from which the best is selected according to the environment's behavior. Our approach is based on experiments at the design phase to generate a rule base that associates suitable scheduling techniques with environment behaviors. During the complex system's run-time, each significant environment behavioral change triggers the generated rule base in order to select and plug in the most suitable scheduling technique. The complex agent architecture components and behavior are reusable for complex applications development. Abstract classes of actions that compose the main architectural components are common to these applications and can be instantiated differently by application-dependent actions.


Benzodiazepine (BZA)-5B, a CAAX farnesyl-transferase inhibitor, was previously shown to block the farnesylation of H-Ras and to reverse the transformed morphology of Rat1 cells expressing oncogenic H-RasV12. Non-transformed Rat1 cells were not affected by BZA-5B, suggesting that they produce a form of Ras whose prenylation is not blocked by this compound. The likely candidate is K-RasB, which differs from H-Ras primarily in the terminal 24 amino acids. In the current study we examined the effect of BZA-5B on the prenylation of a chimeric oncogenic Ras protein designated H/K-RasBV12, consisting of the first 164 amino acids of H-RasV12 followed by the last 24 amino acids of K-RasB. BZA-5B failed to block the prenylation of this chimera and was thus unable to reverse the transformed morphology of Rat1 cells in which it was expressed. Another potent inhibitor of H-Ras farnesylation, L-739,749, also failed to block prenylation of H/K-RasBV12. Similar results were obtained in transfected cells expressing a widely used version of K-RasBV12 containing a 10-amino acid extension at its NH2 terminus. Neither BZA-5B nor L-739,749 reversed the transformed morphology of cells expressing H/K-RasBV12. The resistance of K-RasB to farnesyltransferase inhibition provides a likely explanation for the resistance of nontransformed cells to the growth inhibitory effects of BZA-5B and L-739,749.


Surgical resection is the main curative avenue for various cancers. Unfortunately, cancer recurrence following surgery is commonly seen, and typically results in refractory disease and death. Currently, there is no consensus whether perioperative epidural analgesia (EA), including intraoperative and postoperative epidural analgesia, is beneficial or harmful on cancer recurrence and survival. Although controversial, mounting evidence from both clinical and animal studies have reported perioperative EA can improve cancer recurrence and survival via many aspects, including modulating the immune/inflammation response and reducing the use of anesthetic agents like inhalation anesthetics and opioids, which are independent risk factors for cancer recurrence. However, these results depend on the cancer types, cancer staging, patients age, opioids use, and the duration of follow-up. This review will summarize the effects of perioperative EA on the oncological outcomes of patients after cancer surgery.


The need to replace foreign-language medical terms with indigenous terms has prompted researchers to search for indigenous equivalents of the foreign medical terms. This study which focused on the dearth of standard anatomical terminologies in Yorùbá language was an attempt to examine the adoptability of butchers' terminologies as descriptive anatomical terms for human abdomino-thoracic organs. Practising butchers in the South West Nigeria were interviewed on their terminologies for cow's abdomino-thoracic organs and the basis for each terminology. The butchers' terminologies, in Yorùbá language were critically appraised for adoptability as anatomical terms for human abdomino-thoracic organs. The study observed that cow's abdomino-thoracic organs were grossly similar to those of humans. Majority (65%) of the cow's abdomino-thoracic organs are named by the butchers' in traditional Yorùbá terminologies. The butchers' terminologies were etymologically derived based on pre-existing concepts similar to the modern terminologies derived from the ancient Greek and Latin words. About 25% of the butchers' terminologies were the same with some human anatomical terminologies which were in use by the health care professionals. The terminologies concur with the cultural attitudes of the Yorùbá with reference to the private parts of the human body and majority (80%) of the butchers' terminologies is simple  and familiar to the people. Given these characteristic features, we concluded that the butchers' terminologies are strongly adoptable as descriptive anatomical terms for human abdomino-thoracic organs and may resolve the dearth of standard anatomical terminologies in Yorùbá language. The  findings may form a baseline for future studies on the translation of anatomical terminologies to Yorùbá language.
Key words: Anatomical terms; Butchers terms; Abdomino-thoracic organs; Yorùbá language.


Cement production is responsible for a significant portion of manmade CO2 emissions. This motivates the development of cementitious binders with a lower carbon footprint. Considering the emissions in a longer perspective, the durability of concrete structures is absolutely essential. Most degradation of concrete structures is closely related to both moisture transport and ion transport. Many studies have investigated these areas under saturated conditions. Owing to varying exposure conditions and self-desiccation, most concrete structures undergo large variations in moisture state during their service life. The coupling between ionic transport and moisture transport in cementitious materials under partially saturated conditions is still poorly understood. This project aimed to contribute to the knowledge in this area.Service life models can be used to predict the performance of the material over time, but fundamental understanding of the underlying physical and chemical relations is critical for the development of accurate models. In this project, these physical relations of unsaturated ion transport were studied experimentally. The moisture dependency of ionic diffusion and ionic convection was investigated in two studies. The experimental investigations were performed on mortars with two water to binder ratios (0.38 and 0.53) and with four binders (OPC, 95% OPC + 5% silica fume, 60% OPC + 40% GGBFS, and 30% OPC + 70% GGBFS). In the diffusion study, resistivity measurements and the Nernst-Einstein equation were used to evaluate the moisture dependency of the chloride diffusion coefficient, i.e., DCl(RH) and DCl(S). Desorption isotherms were determined using a gravimetric box method, and the conductivity of pore solutions was evaluated in two different ways. First, a simplified method was used. The limitation of this method is that it can only assess the pore solution composition for the OPC mortars. Second, a thermodynamic modeling tool, GEMS, was used to assess the pore solution composition and the chloride diffusion coefficient for all mortars. It was found that DCl(S) is independent of w/b, but the relation differs between binders, and for the individual binders, there seems to be a relation between DCl(RH) and the desorption isotherm.Convective ion transport is more complicated to study because it is difficult to decouple ionic transport from moisture transport. For cementitious materials, it is difficult, or maybe impossible, to design an experimental setup where the ionic species are affected by convective transport only. Cementitious materials are by definition reacting with water, and therefore, there will be interactions between the solid phases and the pore solution, especially under non-saturated conditions. Wick action experiments in combination with measurements of material properties were chosen for the investigation of convective ion transport. Chloride profiles and moisture profiles were evaluated with microXRF and 1H NMR relaxometry, respectively. The measured profiles were discussed in relation to the moisture dependent material properties, such as chloride diffusion coefficients, moisture diffusion coefficients, chloride binding capacities, and desorption isotherms. It was concluded that there is a large variation in moisture dependency of the moisture diffusion coefficient, and that the variation cannot be related to the desorption isotherms. It was also shown that the composition of the binder is the key factor affecting the chloride penetration depth. The measured material properties are important parameters for prediction of chloride ingress and all are strongly affected by the binder composition. (Less)


ANOREXIA NERVOSA (AN) often coexists with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). The standard psychological therapy for AN frequently fails in PDD, suggesting a different psychopathological background. We describe successful olanzapine treatment of AN in a patient with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Informed written consent was obtained. A 17-year-old girl with a 1-year history of anorexia was referred to Sapporo Medical University Hospital. She skipped meals and ate only small amounts of rice and salad; consequently, her weight had decreased from 54.0 to 29.0 kg (151 cm in height). She repeatedly expressed excessive fear of weight gain or obesity and had been amenorrheic for 8 months. No psychotic symptoms were observed. She met the DSM-IV criteria for restricting-type AN. Initially the patient refused all treatment, but finally agreed to take only one medicine without water for her insomnia. Olanzapine, orally disintegrating tablet, was started at 2.5 mg and increased to 5 mg after 2 weeks. Approximately 6 weeks later, weight gain without adverse effects began and 5 months later her weight reached the standard (body mass index, 20.3 kg/m). Four months later her abnormal eating habit gradually remitted. The patient had no substantial delay in motor or language development. She exhibited difficulty with social interaction and tended to enjoy solitary activities, while she did well academically. Behavioral rigidity and a tendency to impose routines were noted. She was often preoccupied with particular books, and has an unusual sensitivity to noises but the criteria were not met for a specific PDD. These findings led us to diagnose PDD-NOS according to the DSM-IV definition. Previous studies have used olanzapine to treat AN. Because weight gain is a common adverse effect of olanzapine, it is unsurprising that olanzapine restores weight in anorexic subjects. Despite many studies, the mechanism underlying olanzapine-induced weight gain remains unclear. Many anorexic patients have comorbid PDD. AN and PDD share obsessive and compulsive traits. PDD involves the triad of impaired social interaction, communication, and imagination, with a rigid, repetitive pattern of behavior. The objects of preoccupation could be food, calorie intake, or weight. Hypersensitivity to smell or taste might limit the choice of meals. These symptoms could cause abnormal eating behavior. The DSM-IV symptom-based diagnosis might produce a heterogeneous group of AN patients including some with PDD. Although all patients with AN verbalize intense fear of weight gain or obesity, those with comorbid PDD might have a different underlying psychopathology compared to conventional AN. Previous studies have indicated the efficacy of olanzapine in weight restoration in some anorexic patients. The result might reflect the fact that use of olanzapine is restricted to AN with PDD. Further clinical studies on subgroups of AN in the presence and absence of comorbid PDD are recommended.


The numerical impact modeling of some external effects on devices based on AlGaN/GaN heterostructures (HEMT) was carried out. The mathematical model was created that allowed to predict the behavior of the drain current depending on condition changes in the heterostructure in the buffer region and to start the process of directed construction optimization of the devices based on AlGaN/GaN HEMT with the aim of improving their performances.


Horizontal good technology is one of the recent methods in the drilling and exploitation of geological formations in the best and optimal ways, because of the many and comprehensive advantages that these wells enjoy with the most important measurement and prediction index called productivity index. Which is equivalent to several times higher than the vertical well productivity index, if the field is invested by drilling vertical wells only.The current research focuses on calculating the productivity index by proposing the development point of view of the reservoir formation in the Burgan oil field through the production of oil from the production units approved in the formation (MB21, MC1, MC2) by using of horizontal good technology and comparing it with the value of the productivity index of vertical wells in the same production units.Well-known published methods adopted in the case of steady state and pseudo steady state were used in the calculations of the productivity index, and by comparison with the standard observed results, it was found that the Joshi method was closer than others in the calculations of the productivity index for both steady and pseudo steady state cases. Then the calculations were completed taking into account all conditions and factors that have a significant role in the value of the calculated productivity index.The obtained results revealed that PI increases with [well length, isotropy ratio (Kv/Kh), well thickness vs. well length] increase, while it was decreased with [ drainage area] increase in the case of steady state conditions. Also, the PI increase with length increase in the case of Pseudo steady state condition for all the studied methods, and both of Kuchuck and Economides methods seem to be close in obtained results, but Economides is the closest one to the reality and importance in application with the present case. Completion configuration has an effluence on the PI, and it is increasing with the increase of well opening to the production for such well length.Also, all the results indicated that the use of this type of technology in the field development is good and promising, and gave valuable, excellent, and optimistic results for the future production of the field in a profitable manner.


Using composted biosolid waste as a soil amendment for turfgrass is becoming a common method for disposing of municipal waste. This study was conducted to evaluate turfgrass seed and sod establishment on subsoil amended with various rates of biosolid compost. To a soil that had its A-horizon removed, biosolid compost derived from sewage sludge was incorporated at rates of 0, 132, 270, and 402 yard3/acre. A fi fth treatment included a single application of fertilizer at time of sowing. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) was seeded immediately after treatment application. The treatments were repeated on an adjacent area using kentucky bluegrass sod. For 1.5 years, turfgrass percent cover, color, density, and weeds were evaluated. Overall, the compost performed well as a soil amendment for turfgrass. A 2to 3-inch depth of compost appeared to be the best incorporation rate for the soil and compost used in this study. High salinity and excessive ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) levels in the compost-amended soil at the time of establishment caused a 2to 3-week delay in seed and sod establishment. After the 2 to 3 weeks, the compost-amended plots outperformed the one-time fertilized plots in turfgrass color and density. Turf managers may want to account for the delay in establishment when incorporating a 60-day-cured compost.


The gene encoding the actin‐related protein Arp3 was first identified in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and is a member of an evolutionarily conserved family of actin‐related proteins. Here we present several key findings that define an essential role for Arp3p in the functioning of the cortical actin cytoskeleton. First, mutants in arp3 interact specifically with profilin and actin mutants. Second, Arp3 localizes to cortical actin patches which are required for polarized cell growth. Third, the arp3 gene is required for the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton during the cell cycle. Finally, the Arp3 protein is present in a large protein complex. We believe that this complex may mediate the cortical functions of profilin at actin patches in S. pombe.


Single crystal of Cr4+-doped LiGaSiO4 was shown recently to be promising active medium of solid-state lasers tunable within 1.2-1.4 mum. This crystal demonstrates intensive broadband fluorescence with the lifetime 15 musec. The substantial evolution of the optical absorption spectrum after devitrification had been observed in the range of 600-800 mum. The formation of grains of chromium doped crystalline alpha-LiGaSiO4 phase, responsible for this fluorescence, was proved also by XRD and SEM measurements.


Abstract Buerki, S., T. Gallaher, T. Booth, G. Brewer, F. Forest, J.T. Pereira & M.W. Callmander (2016). Biogeography and evolution of the screw-pine genus Benstonea Callm & Buerki (Pandanaceae). Candollea 71: 217–229. In English, English abstract. This study investigates the biogeography, evolution and systematics of Benstonea Callm. & Buerki (Pandanaceae) based on six plastid DNA regions and 54 specimens representing 36 species (60% of species generic diversity). Our maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic inferences support the monophyly of Benstonea and its close relationship with the speciose Pandanus Parkinson. Benstonea is subdivided into three clades exhibiting contrasting species diversities. Clades I and II have seven species each, whereas most of the species diversity occurs in clade III with 21 species. None of the sections defined by Stone in Pandanus subgenus Acrostigma (Kurz) B.C. Stone (now Benstonea) are retrieved monophyletic by our analyses. Biogeographical inference supports the origin of Benstonea on the Sunda shelf during the Miocene and shows several subsequent exchanges between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Species in Indochina and the Indian continent originated in Peninsular Malaysia and all belong to clade I. Wallacea was colonized at least twice from Borneo sometimes during the Miocene and no back-dispersals were inferred. The Sunda shelf was colonized once, most likely from Halmahera. Finally, our analyses suggest that the Fijian endemic Benstonea thurstonii (C.H. Wright) Callm. & Buerki dispersed from either Australia or New Guinea during the Pleistocene. Received: on May 30, 2016. Accepted: on July 7, 2016. First published online: on August 2, 2016.


Without an appropriate scheduling scheme for subscriber stations (SSs) in an outage situation, the opportunistic feedback protocol degrades the system performance and it does not achieve the desired capacity and fairness trade-off. In this paper, we propose a new downlink multiuser scheduling scheme to balance a trade-off between capacity and fairness with one-bit information. In particular, we propose a high successful-feedback SS selection (HSSS) scheme using one-bit information to provide the flexible trade-off in an outage situation. As a result, the proposed scheme not only reduces a significant feedback overload but also considers scheduling in the outage situation. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme achieves the flexible trade-off between capacity and fairness in the outage situation.


To identify the main issues midwives reportedly counsel pregnant women on, the influence of counseling on pregnancy outcomes and the implementation gaps.

 Mixed method design was used. Quantitative data included interviews with 299 pregnant women above 27 gestational weeks randomly recruited from five hospitals in Ghana who had four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits. Their maternal health record books were reviewed for documented counseling sessions. Where half of the recommended topics were discussed, it was considered as adequate counseling (AC). Binary logistic regression was modeled in STATA to estimate the unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of AC on pregnancy outcomes. For the qualitative data, in-depth were conducted with 15 midwives and exit interviews with all the women and analyzed thematically.

 According to the women, the most discussed topics were usage of insecticide-treated nets (60.5%), personal/environmental hygiene (57.5%) and breastfeeding (52.3%). Conversely, the midwives documented discussing mostly nutrition/anaemia (37.6%), danger signs in pregnancy (30.1%) and birth preparedness/complication readiness (29.9%). Most women disliked group counseling and cited non-tailoring of advice. Main implementation gaps were heavy work schedules, inadequate staff, limited time for counseling and hefty documentation. The 45% who were adequately counseled significantly reduced their likelihood for poor dietary intake (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.90), incidence of malaria (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06–0.78), preeclampsia (OR: 0.25 CI: 0.06–0.99) and need for neonatal intensive care (OR: 0.29 CI: 0.09–0.94) while increasing the newborn's birth weight (OR: 1.85 CI: 1.08–3.19).

 Strengthening ANC, training midwives to counsel effectively using different skills in varying situations and adopting peer counsellors would facilitate client-centred nutrition education and empower women to take healthier actions, thus promoting behaviour change.

 None.