The purpose of this article was to examine the performance Simental cattle and crossbreed ongol (CO) in Fattening Beef Cattle Semi Intensive Systems Based Cassava Waste. Research was to use of 10 heifer divided into two groups; simental and crossbreed ongol (CO) strain. Heifer were given feed treated with the main feed ingredient cassava waste of skin and combined with the concentrate. The research that was heifer simental better response in Fattening Beef Cattle Semi Intensive System for the increase of body weight 43.7 kg and average daily gain 0.73 crossbreed ongol (CO) 33.3 kg and 0.59 Average daily gain. In this study Simental cows have a better response in feedlot beef cattle kereman system using cassava peel waste as compared to cow's main food ingredients hybrid ongol. DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v13i1.23961 Bangl. J. Vet. Med . (2015). 13 (1): 53-56


The paper presents an extended Kalman filter-based vehicle sideslip angle estimator, designed by using single-track vehicle dynamics model. Within the vehicle dynamics model, the tire forces have been modeled as random walk stochastic sate variables. The accuracy of such estimator methodology has been investigated by running the estimator algorithm off-line on sets of experimental data recorded on the test vehicle. These data sets include those acquired from a high-precision inertial measurement unit and standard vehicle dynamics sensors. Moreover, major sources of the estimation errors have been identified and practical error compensation procedures have been proposed to significantly improve the sideslip angle estimation accuracy in the case of using the standard production vehicle sensors. In particular, the influence of vehicle roll and road bank angles is analyzed and compensated for.


Monocytes are bone marrow-derived leukocytes that are part of the innate immune system. Monocytes are divided into three subsets: classical, intermediate and non-classical, which can be differentiated by their expression of some surface antigens, mainly CD14 and CD16. These cells are key players in the inflammation process underlying the mechanism of many diseases. Thus, the molecular characterization of these cells may provide very useful information for understanding their biology in health and disease. We performed a multicentric proteomic study with pure classical and non-classical populations derived from 12 healthy donors. The robust workflow used provided reproducible results among the five participating laboratories. Over 5000 proteins were identified, and about half of them were quantified using a spectral counting approach. The results represent the protein abundance catalogue of pure classical and enriched non-classical blood peripheral monocytes, and could serve as a reference dataset of the healthy population. The functional analysis of the differences between cell subsets supports the consensus roles assigned to human monocytes.


Starting from the question of how capitalism can be criticized today, the text categorizes arguments brought forward against capitalism into three lines of reasoning (functional, moral, ethical) and analyzes their argumentative approaches. Furthermore, they are examined as to whether their points of critique discuss specific characteristics of a capitalist economic and social order. Thus, strengths and weaknesses of the different patterns of reasoning are exposed. Last, the paper offers an outlook on how the identified deficits could be resolved by combining the different approaches of critique.


The performance and variability of transistors with nanometer-scale feature sizes is sensitive to their layout style and environment. This paper describes the use of an enhanced MOS array test structure to provide accurate and precise estimates of the impact of layout on transistor characteristics for an advanced 130nm CMOS technology. Enhanced MOS arrays, combined with statistical analysis of the measurements, provide reliable information on the impact of layout on the transistor characteristics. This can then form the basis for technology development, design rule development and modeling.


Abstract Callmander, M. W., P. B. Phillipson & G. E. Schatz (2014). Towards a revision of the genus Vitex L. (Lamiaceae) in Madagascar I : a distinctive new species from North-eastern Madagascar. Candollea 69: 141–147. In English, English and French abstracts. A review of the genus Vitex L. (Lamiaceae) in the context of the "Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar" project has led us to discover a number of probable new species and uncover other necessary taxonomic changes for the genus. One particularly distinctive new species, Vitex lowryi Callm., Phillipson & G. E. Schatz, is described and illustrated in this article, the first of a series in which we envisage presenting the results of our ongoing investigations on Malagasy Vitex. A discussion of the differences between the new species and a group of the morphologically most similar species of the genus in Madagascar is provided, together with photographs showing the key features of each. Finally, a distribution map and a preliminary conservation assessment following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria are provided for the new species.


In specimens of the Indian Cricket Frog Limnonectes limnocharis (BOIE, 1835), originating from the tropics of southern India, age, age at reproduction and rate of bone résorption was studied by means of skeletochronological methods; the relationship between body size, body mass and age was analyzed. One to four growth marks (03 lines of arrested growth) were observed in the cross sections of phalanges in specimens of different body size. In two out of five frogs, the number of growth marks in the phalanges was not paralleled by the number of growth marks in all of their limb long bones i. e. femur, humérus, radio-ulna, and tibio-fibula. However, this deviation from intra-individual homogeneity was observed only in 3 out of 25 cross-sections (= 12 %) suggesting that phalangeal skeletochronology leads to similar results as that of other limb long bones in this species. Back-calculation (comparison of cross-sections of younger and older individuals) indicated that the rate of bone résorption is negligible meaning that the number of growth marks directly depicts the age of the individuals. In three out of four amplectant couples studied, the females were larger in size and possessed a greater number of growth marks (i.e., were older) compared to their male partners. Body size showed poor (r = 0.21) and body mass no (r = -0.04) correlation with the number of growth marks. The results suggest that in the natural population this frog reaches an age of 4 years. Reproductive age of the individuals are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years.


Abstract The study examines sexting among 3,171 Greek university students in the context of different relationship types (i.e. romantic partners, friends, strangers). Participants completed an anonymous online survey, assessing sexting during the last year along with demographic and relationship status information. Sexting was a common practice among participants, with the use of mobile phones and the Messenger application to exchange sexts. Sexting was more common among males and non-heterosexuals. Participants aged 25 and above were more likely to exchange sexts with strangers than those aged between 18 and 24. Romantic partners reported exchanging sexts more often than strangers. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that non-heterosexual males in a long-distance romantic relationship were more likely to participate in sexting, and that non-heterosexual older males who have been single for the last year were more likely to exchange sexual or provocative messages with strangers. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications.


AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA

3209

Topoisomerase I (Top1) functions in DNA replication and transcription by catalyzing changes in DNA topology through a mechanism of transient DNA strand breakage and rejoining. Top1 is also the target of camptothecin (CPT), FDA approved analogs of which are effective new agents in the treatment of human cancers. CPT poisons Top1 by reversibly stabilizing a covalent enzyme-DNA complex. During S-phase, the collision of replication forks with CPT-Top1-DNA adducts produces DNA lesions that signal cell cycle arrest and cell death. Yet, little is known of the interactions with the replication machinery required for the formation of Top1-DNA damage. In yeast genetic screens, we isolated temperature sensitive mutants with enhanced sensitivity to Top1-DNA damage. Our characterization of yeast cdc45-10 and dpb11-10 mutants revealed functional links between the initiation of DNA replication and replication fork progression in mediating cell sensitivity to CPT. Cdc45 and Dpb11 are essential proteins, with well-defined human orthologs, CDC45 and TOPBP1, respectively. Cdc45 functions in pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) formation at origins of replication in G1 phase, and, in concert with Mcm2-7, forms the replicative helicase as forks progress along the DNA in S-phase. Here we show that a decrease in active Cdc45 enhanced yeast and human cell sensitivity to CPT-induced Top1 damage. 2-D gel analyses of origin firing and fork progression in cdc45-10 mutant cells determined that when pre-RCs, formed at 26°C, were shifted to 36°C to complete S-phase, origin firing was delayed relative to wild-type cells, but replication fork progression was unaffected. However, when pre-RCs were formed at 36°C, the replication forks formed in S-phase were extremely unstable. In the presence of CPT induced Top1-DNA adducts, such adverse effects on fork stability would increase the potential for fork collapse and the formation of lethal DNA lesions. To further investigate Cdc45 function, a gene dosage screen isolated suppressors of cdc45-10 sensitivity to Top1 poisons. Increased gene dosage of the SUMO E3 ligase, Siz1, partially restored the CPT resistance of cdc45-10 cells; however, it did not restore the viability of a double cdc45-10 , dpb11-10 mutant. These findings led us to ask if mutating the unique SUMO consensus Cdc45SUMO affected its role in DNA replication. Although cell sensitivity to CPT was unaffected, Cdc45SUMO failed to complement the synthetic lethal phenotype of the cdc45-10, dpb11-10 mutant. These data suggest that SUMO modification of Cdc45 is important for the common essential function with Dpb11. Indeed, SUMO-induced alterations in Cdc45 association with the replication machinery are being investigated in ChIPs. Together, our findings indicate the SUMO-dependent functional interactions of Cdc45 with Dpb11 are distinct from Cdc45's function in maintaining replication fork stability in the presence of CPT.


Obestatin, a 23-amino acid peptide encoded by the ghrelin gene, and the GPR39 receptor were reported to be involved in the control of mitogenesis of gastric cancer cell lines; however, the relationship between the obestatin/GPR39 system and gastric cancer progression remains unknown. In the present study, we determined the expression levels of the obestatin/GPR39 system in human gastric adenocarcinomas and explored their potential functional roles. Twenty-eight patients with gastric adenocarcinomas were retrospectively studied, and clinical data were obtained. The role of obestatin/GPR39 in gastric cancer progression was studied in vitro using the human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cell line. Obestatin exogenous administration in these GPR39-bearing cells deregulated the expression of several hallmarks of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis. Moreover, obestatin signaling promoted phenotypic changes via GPR39, increasingly impacting on the cell morphology, proliferation, migration and invasion of these cells. In healthy human stomachs, obestatin expression was observed in the neuroendocrine cells and GPR39 expression was localized mainly in the chief cells of the oxyntic glands. In human gastric adenocarcinomas, no obestatin expression was found; however, an aberrant pattern of GPR39 expression was discovered, correlating to the dedifferentiation of the tumor. Altogether, our data strongly suggest the involvement of the obestatin/GPR39 system in the pathogenesis and/or clinical outcome of human gastric adenocarcinomas and highlight the potential usefulness of GPR39 as a prognostic marker in gastric cancer.


The present status of the Bonn–Gatchina partial wave analysis of the photoproduction and pion induced data is presented. An observation of signals which can be associated with new baryon resonances and possible interpretations of the baryon spectrum is discussed.


Objective: To evaluate the effect of iodinate contrast agent (ICA) on the formation of DNA double-stand breaks (DSBs) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes during computed tomography (CT) examinations. Methods: Peripheral venous blood (16 ml/person) of 36 volunteers were collected during the period of February to May 2016. Each blood sample was divided into 8 tubes and 4 groups on average, which were marked as groups of A, B, C, D randomly. 25 μl ICA was respectively added into one tube of each group and the groups of B, C, D accepted the same CT scan for once, twice and three times. The lymphocytes in these blood samples were separated by using density-gradient centrifugation, fixed and immunostained with γH2AX antibody. The average number of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX) foci per lymphocyte was counted under a fluorescence microscopy. Results: The numbers of γH2AX foci were increased approximately 82.9% ((0.064±0.025) vs (0.035±0.010) foci/cell) if ICA was simply added into the blood. With the increase of CT radiation, the foci numbers of the groups of B, C, D would increase and the samples containing ICA could have a more amount of foci numbers than those without ICA (B: (1.217±0.158) vs (0.774±0.258); C: (2.128±0.185) vs (1.569±0.201); D: (3.812±0.490) vs (2.938±0.480) foci/cell). The more radiation it had, the more significant the difference of foci numbers would be ((0.489±0.323), (0.549±0.278), (0.692±0.462) foci/cell). Conclusion: The ICA itself can lead to an increase of the DSBs level and the application of ICA can amplify the DNA damage as assessed with γH2AX foci formation during diagnostic X-ray procedures.


BACKGROUND
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is often refractory to existing treatments. Treatment of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) using monopolar pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), which is a non- or minimally neurodestructive technique, is not efficacious in all patients.

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to determine the safety and clinical efficacy of bipolar high-voltage, long-duration PRF on the DRG in PHN patients.

STUDY DESIGN
Self before-after controlled clinical trial.

SETTING
Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.

METHODS
Ninety patients diagnosed with PHN for > 3months were included. Bipolar high-voltage, long-duration PRF at 42°C for 900 seconds was applied after the induction of paresthesias covered the regions of hyperalgesic skin. The therapeutic effects were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the 36-item Short Form health survey (SF-36) before treatment and one, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after PRF.

RESULTS
The VAS scores at one, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after PRF treatment were significantly lower than before treatment (P < 0.001). The SF-36 scores, which included physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social function, emotional role, and the mental health index, were significantly improved up to 12 weeks after PRF treatment (P < 0.001). No serious adverse effects were identified following treatment. The main adverse reactions included pain, tachycardia, and high blood pressure (especially when the field strength was enhanced).

LIMITATIONS
Single center study, relatively small number of patients, lack of a control group.

CONCLUSION
Bipolar high-voltage, long-duration PRF on the DRG is an effective and safe therapeutic alternative for PHN patients. This treatment could improve the quality of life of PHN patients.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
NO ChiCTR-OCS-14005461.


This paper deals with the causal determination of phenomena (briefly causality) as a tool for empirical analysis in economics. Although is the causality difficult to grasp, they are built on the basis of many scientific theories, including economic theory. Causality is very hot topic today, both in philosophy and economics. The causality is used in many multi-sectorial disciplines and the concept of causality is different in various disciplines. In economics, we encounter many assertions that connect cause and effect, but causal relationships are not clearly expressed. At first glance, there may be confusion between cause and effect and the phenomena studied can then be viewed in terms of causality and vice versa. The causality plays very important role in econometric and economics. The paper focused on using of causality in economics and econometric studies. The paper begins with a brief overview of theoretical definition of the causality. Then, the empirical approaches to causality in economics and econometric and selected tools of causality are presented and discussed and the case study of possible using of Granger Causality Test is shown. At the end of the paper we discuss the significance of the Grander Causality Test in economics. The aims of this paper are following: to define the different approaches to causality and describe a short history of this term, to analyse selected econometric methods in interaction with causality and to show on the example of Granger Causality Test using of causality in empirical analysis in economics.


An important tool in environmental management projects and studies due to the complexity of environmental systems, environmental modeling makes it possible to integrate many variables and processes, thereby providing a dynamic view of systems. In this study the bacteriological quality of the coastal waters of Fortaleza (a state capital in Northeastern Brazil) was modeled considering multiple contamination sources. Using the software SisBaHiA, the dispersion of thermotolerant coliforms and Escherichia coli from three sources of contamination (local rivers, storm drains and submarine outfall) was analyzed. The models took into account variations in bacterial decay due to solar radiation and other environmental factors. Fecal pollution discharged from rivers and storm drains is transported westward by coastal currents, contaminating strips of beach water to the left of each storm drain or river. Exception to this condition only occurs on beaches protected by the breakwater of the harbor, where counterclockwise vortexes reverse this behavior. The results of the models were consistent with field measurements taken during the dry and the rainy season. Our results show that the submarine outfall plume was over 2 km from the nearest beach. The storm drains and the Maceió stream are the main factors responsible for the poor water quality on the waterfront of Fortaleza. The depollution of these sources would generate considerable social, health and economic gains for the region.


This thesis describes and evaluates methods for the model-based engineering of Systems of Systems (SoSs) where constituents comprise both computational and physical elements typical of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs). Such Cyber-Physical Systems of Systems (CPSoSs) use sensors and actuators to link the digital and physical worlds, and are composed of operationally and managerially independent constituent systems that interact to deliver an emerging service on which reliance is placed. The engineering of CPSoSs requires a combination of techniques associated with both CPS engineering and SoS engineering. Model-based SoS engineering techniques address organisation and integration of diverse systems through the use of disciplined architectural frameworks and contractual modelling approaches. Advances in model-based CPS engineering address the additional challenges of integrating semantically heterogeneous models of discrete and continuous phenomena. This thesis combines these approaches to develop a coherent framework for the model-based engineering of CPSoSs. The proposed approach utilises architectural frameworks to aid in the development of rich abstract models of CPSoSs. This is accompanied by the specification of an automated transformation process to generate heterogeneous co-models based on the architectural description. Verification of the proposed engineering approach is undertaken by its application to a case study describing the control of trains over a section of rail network, in which the (cyber) behaviour of control infrastructure must be considered in conjunction with the (physical) dynamics of train movements. Using the proposed methods, the development of this CPSoS uses architectural descriptions to generate an executable model to enable the analysis of safety and efficiency implications of the implemented control logic. The utility of the approach is evaluated by consideration of the impact of the proposed techniques on advancing the suitability and maturity of baseline technologies for the engineering of CPSoS. It is concluded that the proposed architectural framework provides effective guidance for the production of rich architectural descriptions of CPSoSs, and that the conversion between architectural and executable models is viable for implementation in a suitable open tools framework.


The hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) system, created to prevent disease hazards caused by food and to provide food safety, has gained increasing importance in food companies. This part of the food industry can benefit at economic and human levels from the establishment and the effective management of such system. The article first reviews the concepts and explains the methodology underlying the HACCP system. The different steps necessary to set up an efficient HACCP system in food industries are outlined. In the concluding part of the article, an exemplary implementation of the system in a frozen fruit company is described.


This paper studies the estimation of latent group structures in heterogeneous time-varying coefficient panel data models. While allowing the coefficient functions to vary over cross-sections provides a good way to model cross-sectional heterogeneity, it reduces the degree of freedom and leads to poor estimation accuracy when the time-series length is short. On the other hand, in a lot of empirical studies, it is not uncommon to find that heterogeneous coefficients exhibit group structures where coefficients belonging to the same group are similar or identical. This paper aims to provide an easy and straightforward approach for estimating the underlying latent groups. This approach is based on the hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC) of kernel estimates of the heterogeneous time-varying coefficients when the number of groups is known. We establish the consistency of this clustering method and also propose a generalised information criterion for estimating the number of groups when it is unknown. Simulation studies are carried out to examine the finite-sample properties of the proposed clustering method as well as the post-clustering estimation of the group-specific time-varying coefficients. The simulation results show that our methods give comparable performance to the penalised-sieve-estimation-based classifier-LASSO approach by Su et al. (2018), but are computationally easier. An application to a panel study of economic growth is also provided.


Summary. A surface protein of Bordetella bronchiseptica was purified in one step by affinity chromatography with bovine submaxillary mucin coupled to agarose. The purified protein, with a mol. wt of 200 kDa and an iso-electric point of PI 6.5, showed haemagglutinating activity for bovine erythrocytes. This haemagglutinin (HA) inhibited the adherence of B. bronchiseptica to a rat lung cell line (L2) and was able to bind to N-acetylneuraminic acid. These findings suggest that the HA of B. bronchiseptica is an adhesin.


The Internet's capacity for 'space flows' and 'timeless time' has emerged as a new multi-functional communications technology. Its everyday use reveals intriguing ways contemporary societies connect in its sphere to (re)configure their identities. A virtual community's discussions of ukuthakazela on the Internet demonstrates how this primordial oral genre interfaces with this 'new' media form in the (re)construction of (post)modern negotiated cultural identities. Arguably, the Internet has allowed to surface perceptions of (dis)continuities regarding contemporary social organisations, with one end of the debate drawing attention to how the Internet is conceptualised on the discourse of rationalities and social control, as in the modernist sense, and with the other, pointing to social diversification, as in the postmodernist thinking. This paper adds to these debates through a consideration of izithakazelo (used mainly by the Zulu linguistic group to refer to honorific clan names), and highlights the meanings of nostalgia brought about by intersectional 'space flows' afforded by the Internet and surfed by clans to (re) construct lost or muddled up genealogies. This discussion is set against the canvass of South Africa's post-1994 attempt at nation building where certain forms of memory, nostalgia and memorialising are (dis)allowed for the greater demands of an ideologically induced national formation.


No single animal model for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) reproduces all aspects of the human disease. Young inbred mice support SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) replication in the respiratory tract and are available in sufficient numbers for statistical evaluation. They are relatively inexpensive and easily accessible, but their use in SARS research is limited because they do not develop illness following infection. Older (12- to 14-mo-old) BALB/c mice develop clinical illness and pneumonitis, but they can be hard to procure, and immune senescence complicates pathogenesis studies. We adapted the SARS-CoV (Urbani strain) by serial passage in the respiratory tract of young BALB/c mice. Fifteen passages resulted in a virus (MA15) that is lethal for mice following intranasal inoculation. Lethality is preceded by rapid and high titer viral replication in lungs, viremia, and dissemination of virus to extrapulmonary sites accompanied by lymphopenia, neutrophilia, and pathological changes in the lungs. Abundant viral antigen is extensively distributed in bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar pneumocytes, and necrotic cellular debris is present in airways and alveoli, with only mild and focal pneumonitis. These observations suggest that mice infected with MA15 die from an overwhelming viral infection with extensive, virally mediated destruction of pneumocytes and ciliated epithelial cells. The MA15 virus has six coding mutations associated with adaptation and increased virulence; when introduced into a recombinant SARS-CoV, these mutations result in a highly virulent and lethal virus (rMA15), duplicating the phenotype of the biologically derived MA15 virus. Intranasal inoculation with MA15 reproduces many aspects of disease seen in severe human cases of SARS. The availability of the MA15 virus will enhance the use of the mouse model for SARS because infection with MA15 causes morbidity, mortality, and pulmonary pathology. This virus will be of value as a stringent challenge in evaluation of the efficacy of vaccines and antivirals.


The objective of this study was to investigate whether prediction of fermentation potential (FP) of dry and high-moisture (HM) corns could be improved by using a concept of effective (e) mean particle size (MPS). A set of FP standards was created by processing a single lot of Reid Yellow Dent (RYD) corn to achieve MPS of 3,778, 2,786, 2,282, 1,808, 1,410, 806, 586, 378, 308, 226, and 105 μm. In vitro gas production of RYD standards was measured, and peak absolute rate (PAR) of gas production (mL/0.2 g of DM/h) was used to establish a standard relationship between PAR and MPS. To identify factors other than MPS affecting FP, the MPS and nutrient composition of 36 diverse samples of dry (n=18) and HM (n=18) corns were determined. Composition included dry matter (DM), crude protein, soluble crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, starch, NH₃-N, prolamin protein, and fat. In vitro gas production of undried, unground dry and HM corns was measured, and PAR, time of peak absolute rate (h), maximum cumulative gas production (mL/0.2 g of DM), gas production fractional rate (h⁻¹), and lag (h) were determined. Nonlinear relationships between MPS, defined as the dependent variable, and PAR, as an independent variable, were used to identify FP deviations unexplained by MPS. When no variation in nutritional composition was present (RYD standards), the relationship between PAR and MPS was described by an exponential decay model [RYD_MPS=9,006 × e((-0.452 × PAR)); R²=0.96]. For diverse dry and HM corn populations, the variation in MPS explained by PAR was diminished (R²=0.50). To investigate factors that diminish the relationship between MPS and PAR in diverse corns, relative residual (rr) MPS was determined [rrMPS = (MPS - RYD_MPS)/MPS], where RYD_MPS was predicted from the PAR of diverse dry and HM corn. The rrMPS was most highly related to prolamin protein [rrMPS(dry)=0.58-0.15 × (prolamin protein, % of DM); R²=0.43] and NH₃-N [rrMPS(HM)=0.21+0.08 × (NH₃-N, % of total N); R²=0.46] for dry and HM corns, respectively. An eMPS was calculated as eMPS = MPS - MPS × rrMPS, where rrMPS was predicted from prolamin protein or NH₃-N concentration in dry and HM corn, respectively. The natural logarithm of eMPS accounted for 84% of the variability in PAR and 53% of the variability in the fractional rate of gas production. Calculating eMPS by adjusting the MPS of dry corn for prolamin and HM corn for NH₃-N concentration improved the assessment of industry corn FP.


ischaemic deficit and vasospasm, and the reasons for its variability. In several chapters detailed summaries of much of the relevant literature are given, and in fact comprise the bulk of the text. This has resulted in very large sections on some topics, and it would have been preferable to have organised the material under more detailed sub-headings. For example, sixteen columns of text on paediatric patients or twenty on timing of surgery and outcome, without a single sub-heading, makes much of the material inaccessible and detracts from its potential value as a source of advice and references. Although a collection of extensive literature reviews can be useful (and these are very comprehensive) it does not always make for stimulating reading. This format also results in considerable repetition, as for example in the descriptions of similar treatments of vasospasm in several papers in the literature. More importantly, the author sometimes fails to give his own views the prominence they deserve; they are often confined to a single sentence at the conclusion of an extensive literature summary. For this reason, and because of the comprehensive scale of the book, a reader seeking answers to specific questions will need to be prepared to set aside a fair amount of time. The illustrations are all informative and of high quality; those in the chapter on anatomy are especially good. This book will be a valuable acquisition for a departmental library, and it should be considered for individual purchase for the sake of the chapters on anatomy, physiology and vasospasm. Extensive description of original papers in books such as this will become less necessary in the future as local access to computerised reference databases become easier and cheaper.


Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and histone deacetylation are known to contribute to the malignant transformation of cells by silencing critical genes. Drugs that inhibit DNA methyltransferases or histone deacetylases were shown to have the potential to reactivate silenced genes and induce differentiation or apoptosis of malignant cells. The most intensively studied class of such agents is DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, including 5-azacytidine (azacitidine) and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine). In 2004, azacitidine was approved for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome on the basis of phase II and III studies that showed a response rate (complete and partial responses) of 15%. Azacitidine is also being evaluated in clinical trials for other malignant diseases. Decitabine has response rates of 17-49% in myelodysplastic syndrome in multiple phase II and III studies and also activity in acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Histone deacetylase inhibitors belong to another class of epigenetic modifying agents that include depsipeptide, butyrate derivatives, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid and valproic acid. No agent in this class has been studied in a phase III trial, but several agents have been or are being studied in phase II trials. Further research is needed to determine the appropriate patient selection and dosing schedules.


Background. Several studies suggest that many patients with schizophrenia have pre-morbid neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This study examines how behavioural abnormalities are associated with mild psychotic symptoms and later schizophrenic illness. Methods. Maternal ratings on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) of the early behaviour of 155 subjects were obtained at entry to the Edinburgh study of people at high risk of schizophrenia. These maternal ratings were compared in those with and without psychotic symptoms and used to predict the later onset of psychosis. Results. The CBCL syndrome scores for the children prior to age 13 did not distinguish any of the study groups at entry to the study. In the ratings made for the subjects when aged from 13 to 16, delinquent behaviour and 'other problems' were weakly associated with these symptoms. However, with the exception of somatic symptoms and thought problems, the age 13–16 scales were significant predictors of later schizophrenic illness. This was true also for some of the ratings prior to age 13. Conclusions. Various behaviours, in particular, withdrawn and delinquent–aggressive behaviour in adolescents at risk of schizophrenia may predict later onset of the illness. These behaviours, however, are far less predictive of isolated psychotic symptoms prior to psychosis onset.


G-CSF is the most widely used agent in the clinical setting to induce the mobilization of HPC. Several recent studies have shown that G-CSF treatment results in decreased SDF-1 protein expression in the bone marrow (BM). Moreover, functional expression of CXCR4 on HPC mobilized into the blood by G-CSF is reduced relative to HPC in the bone marrow. Given its importance in regulating HPC trafficking in the bone marrow, these data suggest that disruption of SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling is a key step in G-CSF induced HPC mobilization. In addition to G-CSF, there are many other cytokines that can induce HPC mobilization. Though the cellular targets and biological activities of mobilizing cytokines are diverse, it is possible that disruption of SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling is a common shared mechanisms of HPC mobilization. To test this hypothesis, we characterized SDF-1 and CXCR4 expression in mice treated with flt-3 ligand or stem cell factor (SCF), two cytokines that induce HPC mobilization in both mice and humans. C57BL/6 mice (n=6–8, each) were treated with human flt-3 ligand (10 mg per day x 7 days) or pegylated-rat SCF (200 mg/kg/day x 7 days). As previously reported, both cytokines induced robust HPC mobilization [number of CFU-C per ml of blood ± SEM: 17,000 ± 795 (SCF); >40,000 (flt-3 ligand); 138 ± 63 (saline)]. At the time of peak mobilization, mice were sacrificed and SDF-1 protein in the bone marrow measured by ELISA. Both flt-3 ligand- and SCF-treated mice showed significant reduction in SDF-1 protein compared with untreated controls [percent reduction ± SEM: 64% ± 12% (flt-3 ligand), 79% ± 10% (SCF)]. We next determined whether SDF-1 expression in the bone marrow during flt-3 ligand and SCF induced mobilization is primarily regulated at an mRNA level, similar to G-CSF. Isolated femurs were directly flushed with Trizol and SDF-1 mRNA was measured using a real time RT-PCR assay. The amount SDF-1 mRNA with respect to beta-actin mRNA was reduced in both flt-3 ligand- and SCF-treated mice compared with the untreated controls [percent reduction ± SEM: 79% ± 8% (flt-3 ligand), 60% ± 24% (SCF)]. Finally, we determined whether functional CXCR4 expression of mobilized HPC decreased during flt-3 and SCF induced mobilization. A transwell migration assay was used to measure the percentage of BM and blood HPC that migrated in response to SDF-1. As reported previously, the percentage of blood HPC that migrated to SDF-1 was significantly decreased compared with BM HPC in G-CSF treated mice [percent migrated ± SEM: 9.6 ± 3.0% (blood) and 16.2 ± 1.2% (BM)]. A similar trend was observed in flt-3 ligand treated [5% ± 4% (blood) and 32 ± 9% (BM)] and SCF treated mice [2.0 ± 2% (blood) and 21 ± 8% (BM)]. Collectively, these data show that during flt-3 ligand and SCF induced HPC mobilization SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling is disrupted. Similar to G-CSF, both of these agents primarily regulate SDF-1 expression in the BM at an mRNA level. In addition, functional expression of CXCR4 on mobilized HPC is decreased. These data suggest the hypothesis that disruption of SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling may be a common mechanism by which all hematopoietic cytokines induce HPC mobilization.


Summary Venous thromboembolism [TE] is a multifactorial disease, and protein S deficiency [PSD] constitutes a major risk factor. In the present study the prevalence of PSD and the clinical presentation at TE onset in a cohort of children is reported. In 367 unselected paediatric patients with TE (age 0.1–18 years) recruited between July 1996 and December 2013, a comprehensive thrombophilia screening was performed along with recording of anamnestic data. Thirty of 367 paediatric patients (8.2 %) derived from 27 families had PSD. Mean age at first TE onset was 14.5 years (range 0.1 to 18). Thrombotic locations were cerebral veins (n=8), calf vein TE (n=3) deep veins (DVT) of the leg (n=12), DVT & pulmonary embolism (n=5) and intra-cardiac veins (n=1) or purpura fulminans (n=1). PSD co-occurred with the factor 5 mutation at rs6025 or the homozygous factor 2 susceptibility variant at rs1799963 in one case each. The Heerlen polymorphism detected in five children presented with milder PSD. In 18 patients (60 %) a concomitant risk factor for TE was identified. A second TE event within primarily healthy siblings occurred in three of 27 PSD families (11.0 %). In this cohort of children with symptomatic TE, the prevalence of PSD adjusted for family status was 7.4 %. Given its clinical implication for patients and family members, thrombophilia testing should be performed and the benefit of medical or educational interventions should be evaluated in this high-risk population.


The identification and quantitative evaluation of lung tumors in mouse models is challenging and an unmet need in preclinical arena. In this study, we developed a noninvasive contrast-enhanced microCT (μCT) method to longitudinally evaluate and quantitate lung tumors in mice. Commercially available μCT contrast agents were compared to determine the optimal agent for visualization of thoracic blood vessels and lung tumors in naïve mice and in non-small-cell lung cancer models. Compared with the saline control, iopamidol and iodinated lipid agents provided only marginal increases in contrast resolution. The inorganic nanoparticulate agent provided the best contrast and visualization of thoracic vascular structures; the density contrast was highest at 15 min after injection and was stable for more than 4 h. Differential contrast of the tumors, vascular structures, and thoracic air space by the nanoparticulate agent enabled identification of tumor margins and accurate quantification. μCT data correlated closely with traditional histologic measurements (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.995). Treatment of ELM4-ALK mice with crizotinib yielded 65% reduction in tumor size and thus demonstrated the utility of quantitative μCT in longitudinal preclinical trials. Overall and among the 3 agents we tested, the inorganic nanoparticulate product was the best commercially available contrast agent for visualization of thoracic blood vessels and lung tumors. Contrast-enhanced μCT imaging is an excellent noninvasive method for longitudinal evaluation during preclinical lung tumor studies.


The synchronization of the spin Hall nano-oscillator (SHNO) device driven by the pure spin current has been investigated with micromagnetic simulations. It was found that the power spectra of nanowire-based SHNO devices can be synchronized by varying the current flowing in the heavy metal (HM) layer. The synchronized signals have relatively high power and narrow linewidth, favoring the potential applications. We also found that the synchronized spectra are strongly dependent on both the number and length of nanowires. Moreover, a periodic modulation of power spectra can be obtained by introducing interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (iDMI). Our findings could enrich the current understanding of spin dynamics driven by the pure spin current. Further, it could help to design novel spintronic devices.


Abstract While large, international enterprises have developed/adopted state-of-the-art business practices and knowledge management systems, in SMEs (small and medium enterprises) individual competences usually represent the cornerstone of a firm's intellectual capital and a key determinant of organizational performance. The increasingly fierce competition deriving from globalization and ICT has challenged this approach calling for new ways to develop, diffuse and retain knowledge in SMEs. Starting from the assumption that SMEs' core capabilities and intellectual capital are deeply rooted in personal knowledge, and building on competence modelling and development research, this article identifies a cross-firm competence model for middle managers working in SMEs in north-eastern Italy and relates it to these companies' core capabilities. The article presents the results of a two-year field study on the individual skills and competences of 310 middle managers in the manufacturing, product design and accounting departments of 46 SMEs. It also draws some managerial implications in terms of competence-based human resource management systems in SMEs.


Robust and good  tracking  control of  the  speed and  the  tension  in  web  handling  systems  in  spite  of changes  of  set  point  is  surely  one  of  the  important challenges  in  the  web  transport  systems  future development.  In  this  paper,  the  authors  experimentally demonstrate  the  real  applicability  of  a  decentralized robust  control  to  a  multi‐span  web  transport  system, which  is  composed  of  twelve  guide  rollers,  four main sections  mutually  interconnected  with  each  other.  The overlapping  methodology  has  been  applied  for  the system decomposition. The  experimental  results  carried  out  using  the  robust decentralized  control  show  an  excellent  velocity  and tension tracking in each controlled section of the system.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) represents a highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin malignancy with 46% 5 year disease-associated mortality making it 3x as lethal as melanoma. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), a recently discovered viral agent related to SV40, is clonally integrated into ∼80% of MCC tumors. MCPyV produces T Antigen (T-Ag) oncoproteins that are persistently expressed, necessary for survival and proliferation of most MCCs, representing an optimal target for immunotherapy. An HLA A*2402-restricted T-Ag epitope recognized by autologous CD8+ T-cells was identified in a patient with MCC. The presence of a small endogenous population (0.1% of CD8+ T-cells) of MCC-specific CD8+ T-cells failed to prevent new metastases, and responses may have been impaired by MHC class I down-regulation observed in the patient's tumor. As adoptively transferred antigen-specific T cells (CTL) have demonstrated clinical benefit in other tumor settings, we set out to examine the safety, in vivo persistence and anti-tumor effect of CTL targeting MCC. Autologous polyclonal antigen-specific CD8+ T cells targeting the HLA A*2402-restricted epitope of the MCPyV T-Ag oncoprotein were generated for this patient. Ex-vivo cultures were supplemented with the γc-chain cytokine IL-21, which has been demonstrated to promote less terminal differentiation of cultured cells as a means to increase CTL in vivo survival. To induce tumor MHC class I up-regulation with minimal confounding therapeutic effect, the patient received a single intra-lesional injection of 3.3 x 106 IU IFNβ 1B to 1 of 3 measurable metastatic lesions 24h prior to a first infusion of 1010/m2 of polyclonal multimer sorted MCPyV-specific CTL. Four weeks later, a single 8Gy dose of radiation to detectable disease was followed 24h later by a second T cell infusion. Both infusions were followed by low-dose IL-2 (500,000 IU/m2 s.c. x 14 days). The patient experienced no treatment-associated side effects. Four weeks after the first infusion, the metastatic lesion infused with IFNβ 1B regressed by 40% whereas the non-infused lesions increased by an average of 32%. Eight weeks after the second infusion, all lesions had regressed by an average of 62% with complete disappearance of the metastatic lesion previously infused with IFNβ 1B, and no development of new systemic lesions. Infused CTL peaked at 8% of total CD8+ T cells 7 days after infusions and persisted at ≥1% for at least 6 weeks. Infused CTL remained polyfunctional (secretion of IFNγ, TNFα and IL-2 in response to cognate antigen) over the observed period. Overall, this first-in-human trial suggests infusion of IL-21 derived polyclonal CTL targeting MCPyV is safe, and combined with up-regulation of tumor MHC class I, promotes in vivo tumor regression. Plans are underway to extend this investigational treatment to MCC patients with a broader array of MHC-restricted viral epitopes.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-430. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-430


Sorting is a well-known problem frequently used in many aspects of the world of computational applications. Sorting means arranging a set of records (or a list of keys) in some (increasing or decreasing) order. In this paper, we propose a graph based comparison sorting algorithm, designated as RKPianGraphSort, that takes time Θ(n2) in the worst-case, where n is the number of records in the given list to be sorted.


Neuropsychological function was assessed before and after carbamazepine monotherapy in children with newly diagnosed complex partial epilepsy. Simultaneous video-electroencephalographic monitoring examined the influence of subclinical abnormal electrical discharges on performance. Total and unbound plasma carbamazepine concentrations were examined in relation to changes in performance at low (carbamazepine level, less than or equal to 32 mumol/L [less than or equal to 7.5 mg/L]) and moderate (carbamazepine level, greater than 34 mumol/L [greater than 8.0 mg/L]) drug levels. The data suggest a mild beneficial effect of carbamazepine on speeded eye-hand coordination and, at low drug levels, more rapid processing of items in memory. Efficiency of learning new information and memory-scanning rate displayed a concentration-dependent relationship with carbamazepine level, with poor performance significantly associated with higher carbamazepine plasma concentrations. Carbamazepine free levels were equivalent to total levels in predicting cognitive side effects.


Smart grids systems generate a large amount of data. Big Data which is an essential element for improving the reliability, stability, and efficiency, and in decreasing the cost of energy use. Reliable operation of smart grid depends on the utilization of various real-time information related to monitoring, communications, control and management systems. This paper gives a common understanding of how big data can impact the reliability and stability of power grid, and investigates in detail a smart grid communication network architecture. In addition, the paper explores and collates the smart energy subsystem, the smart information subsystem, and the smart communication subsystem. This conceptual lens provides deep insights into the reliability challenges and effective solutions toward reliability issues in smart grid to reveal the big data role during the transition, and how it can fuel the organic growth of smart grid.


DNA double strand break (DSB) repair is essential to meiotic chromosome segregation. Rad51 and Dmc1 are DNA strand exchange proteins that cooperate in meiotic homologous recombination. Both proteins share very similar capabilities in vitro, but are functionally differentiated in vivo. Dmc1 is the catalytic recombinase; Rad51 plays a non-enzymatic accessory role, promoting Dmc1 assembly and directing recombination partner choice. The molecular architecture underlying this cooperation and functional differentiation is unknown. To better understand the mechanistic relationship between these meiotic recombinases, the structures of Rad51 and Dmc1 complexes were extensively characterized cytologically.
Rad51-Dmc1 co-foci commonly occur in pairs, separated by distances of up to 400 nm. Observations from spo11 hypomorphic tetraploids, spo11 mutants heterozygous for a VDE cut site, cytologically marked DSB hotpots, and spatial simulations suggest that a pair of Rad51-Dmc1 co-foci represent a single meiotic DSB. Co-focus pairing occurs at distances similar to that which separates sister chromatids but requires neither strand exchange nor synapsis. These results suggest that: 1. both Rad51 and Dmc1 co-occupy both ends of a meiotic DSB and 2. the two ends of a DSB are spatially separated.
Super-resolution direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) reveals that Rad51 and Dmc1 filaments are extremely short and clustered in vivo. Meiotic Rad51 and Dmc1 super-resolution (sr) foci are little more than 100 nm long, corresponding to filaments a mere 40 protomers long or shorter. Additionally, multiple Rad51 and Dmc1 filaments likely occupy a single ssDNA tract. Careful controls demonstrated that these structural attributes are not artifacts of the imaging procedure and led to the correction of an artifact generated during super-resolution image reconstruction. These results suggest that multiple, short Rad51 and Dmc1 filaments co-occupy a single tract of ssDNA.
In an effort to observe DNA recombination complexes in living cells, Rad51, Dmc1, and Rad52 were fused to fluorescent proteins or tetracysteine tags. The functionality of these proteins was characterized in mitotic and meiotic cells. Comparison of different cytological preparations suggests that the majority of recombination complexes are too small to be observed above background fluorescence in live cells. These results call into question the "recombination factory" paradigm and provide tools for future live cell imaging studies.


Hydrocarbons occur in the subsurface in four modes: (1) continuous-phase oil or gas; (2) isolated droplets of oil or gas; (3) dissolved hydrocarbons; and (4) hydrocarbons associated with kerogen-bearing rocks. Any of these modes of occurrence can result in a subsurface hydrocarbon "show." Each type of show has strongly different implications for exploration and must be differentiated as the first step in show interpretation. Only continuous-phase occurrences of oil and gas indicate that a trapped and potentially producible accumulation of hydrocarbons has been discovered. Free oil or gas recovery from the formation, or subsurface hydrocarbon saturations of greater than 50%, indicate a continuous-phase occurrence. Continuous-phase shows can be interpreted quantitatively. The static hydrocarbon column downdip from a continuous-phase occurrence can be calculated from one well bore if the subsurface oil or gas saturation, capillary properties, hydrocarbon-water interfacial tension, oil density, and water density of the reservoir are known. Producing wells are by definition continuous-phase oil or gas, and estimates of oil-water or gas-water contacts from this type of analysis can be useful in orderly and profitable field development. Continuous-phase oil or gas can extend either updip or downdip from a commercial reservoir. Continuous-phase shows can also be interpreted quantitatively to determine how large an oil or gas column is required downdip to explain the show. By this method it can be determined whether an exploratory well penetrated the updip waste zone or downdip transition zone of an oil or gas field. Field studies indicate that quantitative interpretation of a noncommercial show can provide reliable estimates of the downdip hydrocarbon column. This type of data can be used in a systematic manner to explore for subtle stratigraphic and combination traps. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2468------------


Stable porous ionic liquid-water gel induced by inorganic salts was created for the first time. The porous gel was used to develop a one-step method to synthesize supported metal nanocatalysts. Au/SiO2, Ru/SiO2, Pd/Cu(2-pymo)2 metal-organic framework (Cu-MOF), and Au/polyacrylamide (PAM) were synthesized, in which the supports had hierarchical meso- and macropores, the size of the metal nanocatalysts could be very small (<1 nm), and the size distribution was very narrow even when the metal loading amount was as high as 8 wt %. The catalysts were extremely active, selective, and stable for oxidative esterification of benzyl alcohol to methyl benzoate, benzene hydrogenation to cyclohexane, and oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde because they combined the advantages of the nanocatalysts of small size and hierarchical porosity of the supports. In addition, this method is very simple.


Abstract The mixture effect of the long-term variations is a main challenge in single channel singular spectrum analysis (SSA) for the reconstruction of the annual signal from GRACE data. In this paper, a nonlinear long-term variations deduction method is used to improve the accuracy of annual signal reconstructed from GRACE data using SSA. Our method can identify and eliminate the nonlinear long-term variations of the equivalent water height time series recovered from GRACE. Therefore the mixture effect of the long-term variations can be avoided in the annual modes of SSA. For the global terrestrial water recovered from GRACE, the peak to peak value of the annual signal is between 1.4 cm and 126.9 cm, with an average of 11.7 cm. After the long-term and the annual term have been deducted, the standard deviation of residual time series is between 0.9 cm and 9.9 cm, with an average of 2.1 cm. Compared with the traditional least squares fitting method, our method can reflect the dynamic change of the annual signal in global terrestrial water, more accurately with an uncertainty of between 0.3 cm and 2.9 cm.


INTRODUCTION: Leptospirosis ,a zoonosis, caused by spirochete,that belongs to genus
leptospira.Uveitis is an important late complication of systemic illness.It
is a water - borne disease. It has a specific pattern for spread, can occur as
epidemic or endemic. Leptospirosis is worldwide distributed; more common in tropical
rural countries. India is a tropical country and with majority of
agricultural and rural population. Hence, leptospirosis is widely spread in
India. Several major epidemic out breaks have been reported in India. The
southern Indian city, Madurai and Its surrounding agricultural land is a
known endemic place for Leptospirosis. To learn the epidemiological
pattern of the Leptospiral uveitis in a hospital based population of this
district, Geographic Information System is used as a tool in this study.
In this study, we have applied GIS in mapping and analyzing the
pattern of leptospiral uveitis in Madurai district in the period of 2001-
2005. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM: BASICS OF GIS:
GIS is a computer system designed for capturing, storing, integrating,
analyzing and displaying data from a geographic perspective
The term "Geographic Information Systems" (GIS) has been added
to mesh in 2003, a step reflecting the importance and growing use of GIS
in health and healthcare research and practices. GIS have much more to
offer than the obvious digital cartography (map) functions. From a
community health perspective, GIS could potentially act as powerful
evidence-based practice tools for early problem detection and solving2
"A new wave of technological innovation is allowing us to capture,
store, process and display an unprecedented amount of information about
our planet and a wide variety of environmental and cultural phenomena.
Much of this information will be 'geo-referenced' – that is, it will refer to
some specific place on the Earth's surface. The hard part of taking
advantage of this flood of geospatial information will be making sense of
it, turning raw data into understandable information. Former American
Vice President Al Gore. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To study the epidemiological correlates of leptospiral uveitis in a
hospital based population belonging to Madurai district
Inclusion criteria
Patients with leptospiral uveitis belonging to Madurai district who
attended uvea dept, Aravind eye hospital, Madurai in the 5 yr period from
January 2001 – December 2005.
Exclusion Criteria
1) Patients with a history of recent migration outside Madurai district
during the acquisition of leptospirosis.
2) Patients initially considered to have leptospirosis in differential
diagnosis and later diagnosed to have some other specific disease
based on the investigation and clinical behaviour of the disease.
ANALYSIS USING GIS: Distribution of leptospiral uveitis patients in each taluk of Madurai
district was analyzed using GIS.Out of 145 cases,135 cases are taken for
GIS analysis,since the address of these 10 cases are incomplete and the
exact location of taluk they belong to could not be made out. Madurai
district is divided into following seven taluks. Madurai corporation is
included in Madurai south taluk.The following are the name of the
taluks(Map 1):
1. Madurai North
2. Madurai South
3. Melur
4. Vadipatti
5. Peraiyur
6. Thirumangalam
7. Usilampatti
DISCUSSION: Descriptive study is usually the first phase of an epidemiological
investigation. This study is concerned with observing the distribution of
the disease or disease related characteristics in human population and to
identify any associated characteristics.
This study describes the disease of interest-Leptospiral uveitis in
following headings:
•Person distribution –Age, Gender, literacy, Occupation,
Socio-economic status.
•Place distribution-Taluk-wise, village wise distribution,
Comparison with water bodies and animal distribution.
•Time distribution—comparison with year- wise rainfall
distribution. CONCLUSION: Though Madurai district as a whole is an endemic area for
leptospirosis, variations in density distribution of patients among different
taluks of Madurai have been observed in this study. It concludes that
leptospiral uveitis occurs more common in rural and agricultural
population and in places with more ratio of animal to human population.
It occurs less frequently in places where Urban and literate population
predominate. Map patterns using GIS being physically compact highlight
these correlations and provide an added dimension to this study. GIS is a
useful decision support tool for analyzing multiple themes simultaneously
and in locating the places of need. Based on the results of this study,
health education and preventive measures could be focused on the needy
places. This study could be extended for analyzing the occurrence of
systemic leptospirosis or similar other waterborne illness.


This study investigated library resources and services use by part time undergraduates at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. A survey research design of ex-post-facto was adopted. Interviews and a validated questionnaire with a (Cronbach alpha reliability of 0.72) were used to collect data for the study. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 250 part time undergraduate respondents for the study. The questionnaire was administered to 250 part time undergraduates but only 200 copies were returned and found usable. The findings indicated that library resources such as, textbooks, reports, monographs, reference materials and so on were available and accessible to the students. Library services such as book loan services, reference service, Internet services and so on were also available and accessible. However, part time undergraduates considered textbooks, dictionaries and encyclopedia as the most relevant of the library resources. Furthermore, dictionaries, newspapers, magazines and textbooks were found to be the most accessible of all the library resources surveyed. In view of this, an integration of teachable information literacy into academic curricula of part time learners, use of ICT and social media tools and aggressiveness in resources and services provision and functions of the library and librarians were recommended, amongst other suggestions. It was concluded that part time learners should have timely and quality access to scholarly information resources and services.


Introduction: The months of excitement and expectation and planning magnifying the devastating incomprehension of giving birth to a baby bearing no signs of life. Stillbirth has been recognized as one of the most neglected areas of public health while millions of women are suffering from aftermath of its occurrence. Exploring root causes of malpractice, myth, attitude and misperception helps to focus on meaningful, contextual and evidenced based interventions. However there is no any documented research specifically addressing experience of mother with still birth in the study area. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore mothers' lived experiences related to still birth Method and materials: Qualitative study design with hermeneutic phenomenological approach was conducted in Eastern Ethiopia, January 2019. The snow ball sampling technique was used to pick and interview four mothers who had delivered still birth in the last 12 months using local language. Nvivo version 11 software and steps of Colaizzi's were used for data analysis after members were checked the congruence of given report and thematized results. Findings: the data were saturated at four in-depth interview and emerged themes were:: 'Shanfa': a fetus as a tax given to God, 'Allatti': a shadow of a bird as cause for fetal death, 'Mijawiru': getting offensive nick name, Feeling accused to happiness, 'Mana Kitaaba' as a prevention or treatment, powerlessness on self-determination, Challenge in getting facilities, being fatigue and ignorance, Oxygen Hunger in ambulance, and Partner support. Conclusion and recommendations: There are lots of unspeakable myth and challenges that a specific mother are experiencing due to still birth. Some are helpful for better coping and some are hiding issue from getting proper attention and management. As part of global and national response to perinatal mortality, mothers experience need to be explored with multi-site, high tech investigation to identify problem and make proper planning to solve the challenges.


An evolutionary perspective on economic geography requires a dynamic understanding of change in networks. This article explores theories of network evolution for their use in geography and develops the conceptual framework of geographical network trajectories. It specifically assesses how tie selection constitutes the evolutionary process of retention and variation in network structure and how geography affects these mechanisms. Finally, a typology of regional network formations is used to discuss opportunities for innovation in and across regions.


One characteristic of the erythroid terminal differentiation is hemoglobin expression and enucleation. In the present study, by using real-time cultured Friend Virus Anemia-inducing (FVA) cells, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), immunofluorescence combined with laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), the FVA cells induced by Erythropoietin (EPO) for were used for: 1) to study the shape and proportion of cells at different differentiating stages, enucleation process, the formation of blood islands, and engulfment of nuclei by macrophages in real time, 2) to quantitatively analyze erythroid cell surface markers including CD71 and Ter119, and cytoskeletal-associated proteins (stathmin, septin8 and RBBP4). The results of real-time monitoring of enucleation indicated that it took about 7 to 8 hours to extrude the nuclei from karyopyknosis (polychromatic erythroblasts). It further showed that the macrophages engulfed the expelled erythroid nuclei. SEM showed a variety of shapes of the nascent reticulocytes. In the process of erythroid differentiation, expressiosn of both the transferring receptors CD71 and Ter119 were higher than that of adult blood cells, whereas, cytoskeletal-associated proteins (stathmin, septin8 and RBBP4) decreased gradually. Therefore, systematic observation of the process of differentiation and enucleation will provide a deeper understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms for erythroid differentiation and carcinogenesis.


Many anecdotal reports state that seborrhoeic dermatitis is more common in immobile patients. The Spinal Injury Unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital specializes in the care of patients immobilized due to cervical cord injury. We undertook a prospective study to observe the incidence and temporal relationship of seborrhoeic dermatitis to spinal injury. Twenty newly injured patients were examined on admission and then regularly for 4 months. No patient had clinically significant seborrhoeic dermatitis on admission, or had a past history of it; six patients did report dandruff in the past. During the study 13 patients (65%) developed typical seborrhoeic dermatitis mainly on the face and upper chest. All of these developed the eruption within 7 weeks of injury and 10 patients within the ist month. The remarkably high incidence of seborrhoeic dermatitis in this group of patients is probably due to factors in addition to obligatory recumbency. It cannot be due to sebum excretion rate alone as this has been shown to be increased below the level of the cord lesion.' Two observations may be of particular relevance. As a result ofthe need to keep spinal movement to a minimum following a recent injury, hair is not washed and facial cleansing is by gentle bed bathing only. The greasy nature ofthe patient's unwashed hair and the possible accumulation of sebum and scale on inadequately scrubbed skin, could promote the overgrowth of Pityrosporum ovale,


The authors hypothesized that donor primordial germ cells (PGC) are useful as vehicles of gene transfer in birds. The PGC have been identified in the blastula prior to incubation. They have been isolated from the Stage 7 germinal crescents, Stage 17 blood, and Stage 30 gonads. The percentages of PGC in these three embryonic sources were 2, .003 and 1.5%, respectively. The isolated PGC have been used as antigens to produce specific antibodies that have served as major tools in identification, isolation, and forming enriched in vitro cultures of PGC. Sterile hosts for normal donor PGC have been induced by use of ultraviolet irradiation, treatment with the chemical busulfan, and crossing rooster with female quail to form a sterile host termed "quickens." Micromanipulator technology, along with refinement of techniques to avoid trauma, will allow 80% hatchability. Integration of all the above biotechnology has led to successful use of PGC as vehicles of gene transfer and production of autogenic quail.


This paper presents a feasibility study on the application of pattern analysis techniques to classify load change transients and incipient abnormalities in an underground distribution cable lateral. The data were collected using an on-line monitoring system installed in a residential area in Dallas. A set of features obtained from wavelet packet analysis was evaluated. Methods of dimensionality reduction were employed to overcome the curse of dimensionality while preserving a good classification rate. The classification results using k-nearest-neighbor (KNN) classifiers show that the proposed methodology can be used to classify load change transients and incipient abnormalities.


Callers to telephone helplines often seek advice beyond the authorisation of those staffing the service. On health helplines, this poses a problem to the call-taker. How do they manage the dilemma between, on the one hand, exceeding their competence and authority to give medical advice, and, on the other, leaving the caller unsatisfied with the service? We offer a framework in which to set newly identified practices along with those identified in previous studies. Using a set of calls to a medical helpline run by Parkinson's United Kingdom, we show that the call-taker manages the problem by (i) only suggesting courses of action highly marked for impersonality or contingency (displaying a 'low deontic stance', Stevanovic and Peräkylä 2012), and (ii) limiting the interactional risks of tailoring the advice to callers' personal circumstances. We show how our suggested framework of 'advising without personalising' may guide research into the difficult job of delivering advice where the service provider must observe a limit on what they can say.


We present a single-determinant approach to three challenging topics in the chemistry of excited states: double excitations, charge-transfer states, and conical intersections. The results are obtained by using the Initial Maximum Overlap Method (IMOM) which is a modified version of the Maximum Overlap Method (MOM). The new algorithm converges better than the original, especially for these difficult problems. By considering several case studies, we show that a single-determinant framework provides a simple and accurate alternative for modeling excited states in cases where other low-cost methods, such as CIS and TD-DFT, either perform poorly or fail completely.


This research aimed to explore the effect of artificial aging temperature variations on toughness, hardness, microstructure, and fault morphology in AlMgSi. 120°C, 150°C, and 180°C with 6 hours of holding time were used as the variations. Impact tests used the ASTM E23 standard, and showed an increase in specimen toughness given artificial aging that peaked at 180°C with 0.0649 kg/mm2. Microstructure exhibited a sparse precipitate in the specimen with artificial aging. The fault morphology showed that specimens with artificial aging had brittle and ductile fractures.


The current study describes experimental and computational works on the passive control of the steady and unsteady condensation shock waves, which are generated in a transonic nozzle. The bleed slots are installed on the contoured wall of the transonic nozzle in order 10 control the magnitude of the condensation shock wave and its oscillations. For computations, a droplet growth equation is copuled with two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation systems. Computations are carried out using a third-order MUSCL type TVD finite-difference scheme with a second-order fractional time step. Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model is employed to close the governing equations. An experiment using an indrafi transonic wind tunnel is made to validate the computational results. The current computations represented well the experimental flows. From both the experimental and computational results it is found that the magnitude of the condensation shock wave in the bleed slotted nozzle is signi ficantly reduced, compared with no passive control of solid wall. The oscillations of the condensation shock wave are successfully suppressed by a bleed slot system.


Due to the small size, sensitivity, real time detection, and ultra-low power demands, nanowire sensors are being investigated for detection of a wide range of chemical and biochemical species. However, techniques used to fabricate these nanowire sensors have drawbacks of limited controllability and manufacturability. Reliable and controllable nanowire fabrication remains a significant challenge. In this work, we have developed a fabrication technique that is potentially capable of producing arrays of individually addressable nanowire sensors with controlled dimensions, positions, alignments, and chemical compositions and are in the process of fabricating sensor arrays to detect gases, and biochemicals. Fabrication of single Pd nanowires with diameters from 70 nm to 300 nm and up to 7 µm in length will be presented. These nanowires are used to sense hydrogen gas at concentrations as low as 0.02% and show a response time of 300 msec with an operating power of 350 nW. We also recently demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating single polypyrrole and polyaniline nanowires and their application as DNA sensor (1 nM). Currently, we are investigating single nanowire field effect transistors (SNWFET) for possible applications which include label-free DNA detection, early detection of disease signatures, and environmental monitoring.


Abstract Language play is playing with the rules of language for fun. This article is one of the first attempts at providing an overview of the traditional genres and current trends of language play in and with Chinese, a topic that has received relatively little attention in English. We explore the specific aspects of the Chinese language that are susceptible to play, and discuss a number of conventional formulas of Chinese language play. We also examine the affordances of new media and what we call translanguaging language play that involves mixing different named languages and scripts as well as mixing linguistic with other semiotic resources. The motivations and effects of language play are discussed, giving particular attention to the socio-political dimensions of language play. Throughout the discussion, we provide historical as well as contemporary examples to illustrate the ways in which Chinese language users play with language for specific purposes.


Reintroduction of plants has become an increasingly important restoration tool as more natural landscapes are impacted by urban development. Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) is an early successional plant growing in foredunes throughout the Great Lakes, U.S.A. This species is sensitive to trampling and recreational use and currently is endangered in Indiana. We reintroduced 350 plants into seven reintroduction sites (50 plants/site) in three locations at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU) in 2008. Experimental design at each site comprised of ten, 1 m2 quadrats grouped into five blocks, with each block consisting of a quadrat without supplemental watering and a quadrat with supplemental watering three times/week. We transplanted five plants into each quadrat. To decrease transplant mortality from sand burial, we installed sand barriers windward of each transect. By the end of October, 56 (16%) plants survived. We used logistic regression with backwards stepwise elimination to analyze effects of predictor variables (watering treatment, percent open canopy, distance from lake, foredune/blowout, plant stem length, and precipitation) on probability of survival. Supplemental watering, closer proximity to the lake, and longer stem length were associated with higher rates of survival. Quadrats with supplemental watering had higher percent soil water than non-watered quadrats, and sand barriers decreased sand accretion near transplants. We recommend initiating future reintroductions with more mature transplants on lower foredunes and in blowouts. Blowouts can also act as refuges from stochastic events such as high lake or ocean water levels related to climate change.


In May 2005 the ITU-T approved ITU-T G.722.1 Annex C. This Annex extends the G.722.1 codec from 7 kHz audio bandwidth to 14 kHz, 1 octave better than the current ITU-T wideband algorithms. It is a low-complexity audio codec operating at 24, 32, and 48 kb/s. Like the main ITU-T G.722.1 recommendation, its main application is videoconferencing. This article presents the standardization stages from the definition of the foreseen applications and specification of the requirements to the performance evaluation. The adaptation and design of new software tools (included in the ITU-T software tool library, STL), and the utilization of ITU-T P-series recommendations (dealing with transmission characteristics and performance characterization of telephone transmission quality) are also presented.


An accurate method to analyze the joint effect of clipping, quantization and thermal noise in the analog-to-digital conversion in high-speed orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receivers is presented. The model provides information about the spectral properties of the distortion noise, which allows the analytical characterization of the signal-to-noise distortion ratio at the input of the demodulator. Oversampling, filtering, uniform, and optimal nonuniform quantization effects are taken into account. The optimal automatic gain control working point is evaluated for each parameter configuration. The differences from the results obtained by the classical pseudo-quantization noise model are highlighted showing that, due to the spectral characteristics, the gain introduced by oversampling is generally a few decibels lower than what foreseen by the classical theory. Moreover, the impact of these effects on the OFDM receiver performance degradation is evaluated and the validity of simplified approximations is discussed


As the atmosphere warms, the air will hold more water. This change, researchers expect, will cause extreme precipitation events to become both stronger and more frequent. A rainfall event that is now considered a 50-year storm will become more common over the course of the current century. How exactly extreme precipitation events will change, including their regional and seasonal variability, is the focus of much ongoing research.


Anorectal incontinence is a symptom of a complex multifactorial disorder involving the pelvic floor and anorectum, which is a severe disability and a major social problem. Various causes may affect the anatomical and functional integrity of the pelvic floor and anorectum, leading to the anorectal continence disorder and incontinence. The most common cause of anorectal incontinence is injury of the sphincter muscles following delivery or anorectal surgeries. Although the exact incidence of anorectal incontinence is unknown, various studies suggest that it affects ∼2.2–8.3% of adults, with a significant prevalence in the elderly (>50%). The successful treatment of anorectal incontinence depends on the accurate diagnosis of its cause. This can be achieved by a thorough assessment of patients. The management of incontinent patients involves conservative therapeutic procedures, surgical techniques, and minimally invasive approaches.


For purposes of classification, diagnosis, and treatment, future revisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) will subdivide anorexia nervosa into two subgroups: binge eating and severe food restriction. More appropriate treatment modalities may now be developed, based on the differences in personality characteristics and behaviors of each subgroup.


The results of endogenous renal clearances of 3-methylhistidine and histidine in twelve patients with normal and decreased renal functions are reported. Differences in the renal handling of the amino acids have been established. 3-methylhistidine showed a hyperbolic relationship between serum concentration and inulin clearance: histidine a linear relationship. The percentage tubular reabsorption of 3-methylhistidine was found to be about half that of histidine. The possible use of the measurement of serum 3-methylhistidine concentration as an index of renal insufficiency is discussed.


This paper discusses an organisation's experience using the SERVQUAL instrument to measure service quality over a four year longitudinal study. The aim of the study was to validate the SERVQUAL instrument as a way to track changes in the organisation's standard of service quality, as well as to test the adaptability of the instrument for usage outside the United States and in a government service organisation. Results of the data analysis indicated that SERVQUAL is not a reliable instrument. Only three dimensions were found to be consistent and reliable.


Recent research has shown that exercise can improve post-concussion symptoms. It might be because exercise-induced human growth hormone enhances the brain function and recovery. Exercise under blood flow restriction (BFR) and cooling triggers physiologic responses at a relatively low intensity that might be beneficial to individuals with PCS and requires further investigation. Therefore, our ongoing study is to examine the outcomes of aerobic exercise with (experimental) or without (control) BFR and cooling. Twenty-three participants with PCS less than 1 year were randomly assigned to the control or the experimental groups. Both groups rode the recumbent bike (NuStep) for 30 minutes at 60% of the predicted heart rate while only the experimental group exercised under BFR and cooling (Vasper system) twice a week for 6 weeks followed by 6 weeks of no intervention. In addition to the aerobic exercise, each participant received the standardized physical therapy as part of the 6-week intervention. A post-concussion Symptoms/Signs checklist was filled daily by the participant for 12 weeks. To examine the symptoms fluctuations, the variances of checklist scores for each participant during the intervention period and over the 6 weeks of no intervention were calculated. Mann-Whitney U test showed that variability of the overall symptom severity was significantly less in the experimental group (p = 0.01) during the intervention period, and the overall concussion load remained significantly stable in the experimental group (p = 0.02) after the intervention ended. These preliminary results have demonstrated that aerobic exercise with BFR and cooling enhances the recovery of PCS. Aerobic exercise alleviated the post-concussion symptoms of individuals with PCS less than 1 year. More stable recovery was found in the individuals who exercised at 60% of predicted maximum heart rate under BFR and body cooling as compared to the individuals without body cooling and BFR.


This study aimed to examine the effect of a hotel's cause-related marketing(CRM) on the hotel's brand image and customers' behavior intention. Based on a review of related literature, a structural model among the three constructs were developed. The model suggested that the CRM of a hotel might make positive impact on the hotel's brand image and the customers' behavior intention. It also proposed that a hotel's brand image might be positively associated with the customers' behavior intentions. Data were conveniently collected from 422 customers who visited five-star hotels in Seoul on October 2010. Results of a structural equation model analysis empirically verified the positive relationship between the CRM and brand image. It also confirmed the positive relationship between the brand image and customers' behavior intention. However, the relationship between the CRM and customers' behavior intention did not fit the data. Based on the findings of this study, practical implications and future research directions were discussed.


Abstract The article describes the analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among people and animals from the selected rural households in the Lublin province. To identify the potential sources of infection, parasitological and/or PCR examinations of the samples of water, soil, cats' faeces, and meat eaten by the household members were carried out. The study indicated high percentages of seropositive results among the household members (N=57) and domestic animals (N=94) - 61.4 % and 53.2%, respectively. In two households, the parasite was detected in drinking water. The study results seem to confirm the possibility of family character of toxoplasmosis, and point at the environmental conditions leading to the infection in rural environment.


Purpose

This paper examines the acceptance, of a group of 79 students, of an educational forum, used for mobile and distance learning, that has been modified to include empathic characteristics and affective principles.

Design/methodology/approach

With this study is proposed that the introduction of empathic and affective principles in educational forums is a useful and effective way to increase students' participation and motivation in educational contexts. After an analysis of existing literature and research on the subject of empathic technology, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was used as a framework for the research model. The analysis of their acceptance is done via an extended version of the UTAUT that focuses on the use of the variable attitude toward technology and uses gender, age and experience as moderators. A partial least square technique has been used to test the nine hypotheses.

Findings

The results confirmed three of the nine hypotheses: performance expectancy and effort expectancy had a positive influence on the students attitudes towards empathic forums, while the effect of social influence and facilitating conditions was considered insignificant; social influence had a positive influence on the students' behavioral intention to use emphatic forums, while attitude toward technology, performance expectancy, facilitating conditions and effort expectancy were considered not relevant.

Originality/value

The focus of this study was the influence of attitude toward empathic forums, used for mobile and distance learning, and the results establish the grounds for future research on attitude as an important determinant of technology acceptance.


Tissue engineering is a medical science dealing with reproduction of biological tissues and organs. This area of medicine opens avenues for creation of organs and tissues using biomaterials and nanostructures to sustain their development, maintenance and function repair in a living organism. The scope of tissue engineering is an artificial recreation of tissues at the fi nest structural level. Prerequisite requirements are a cell source (a donor), artificial extracellular matrix and growth factor. The first organ, which was extracorporally created and successfully introduced in medical practice, is skin. Recent years have witnessed a major leap in 3D technology for reproduction of biological structures. Increasing attention is being paid towards controlled design and production of 2D–3D structures consisting of biological materials and viable cells, the procedure defined as bioproduction or bioprototyping. Skin substitutes obtained with the bioprototyping technology possess a wide range of medical applications, primarily to compensate for resident skin deficiency in wound healing.


Abstract. Ice nucleating particles (INPs) increase the temperature at which supercooled
droplets start to freeze. They are therefore of particular interest in
mixed-phase cloud temperature regimes, where supercooled liquid droplets can
persist for extended periods of time in the absence of INPs. When INPs are
introduced to such an environment, the cloud can quickly glaciate following
ice multiplication processes and the Wegener–Bergeron–Findeisen (WBF)
process. The WBF process can also cause the ice to grow to precipitation size
and precipitate out. All of these processes alter the radiative properties. Despite their potential influence on climate, the ice nucleation
ability and importance of different aerosol species is still not
well understood and is a field of active research. In this study, we
use the aerosol–climate model ECHAM6-HAM2 to examine the global
relevance of marine organic aerosol (MOA), which has drawn much
interest in recent years as a potentially important INPs in remote
marine regions. We address the uncertainties in emissions and ice
nucleation activity of MOA with a range of reasonable set-ups and
find a wide range of resulting MOA burdens. The relative importance
of MOA as an INP compared to dust is investigated and found to
depend strongly on the type of ice nucleation parameterisation scheme
chosen. On the zonal mean, freezing due to MOA leads to relative
increases in the cloud ice occurrence and in-cloud number
concentration close to the surface in the polar regions during
summer. Slight but consistent decreases in the in-cloud ice crystal
effective radius can also be observed over the same regions during
all seasons. Regardless, MOA was not found to affect the radiative
balance significantly on the global scale, due to its relatively
weak ice activity and a low sensitivity of cloud ice properties to
heterogeneous ice nucleation in our model.


Objective: To assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on learning of undergraduate medical students ofKarachi.
Study Design: A cross-sectional, observational study.
Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted at conducted at the different public and private medicalcolleges, Karachi, from Mar to Apr 2020.
Methodology: Google survey form based cross-sectional study conducted at the different public and privatemedical colleges, Karachi from March till April 2020. Non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used.This questionnaire consisted of 13 items which focused on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the learning ofundergraduate medical students from Karachi.
Results: The study was conducted on 110 undergraduate students. Out of which, majority of the participantswere from third year 45 (41%) and second year of MBBS 25 (23%). It was found that almost 71% of the undergraduate students had less likely to remember and understand material taught in online class and 60% had less likely to get answers to their queries as compared to regular classes. The results also showed that 49% of the undergraduate students were disturbed by technical issues during online classes. Furthermore, it was also found that learning of 54 out of 110 undergraduate students was always affected due to loss of clinical rotations. Strong association were also found in between online satisfaction and stressful condition due to online classes.
Conclusion: It was concluded that COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the learning of the undergraduatemedical students and have negatively impacted their satisfaction level towards their studies.


Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) ontogeny is accompanied by dynamic changes in gene regulatory networks. We performed RNA-Seq and histone mark ChIP-Seq to define the transcriptomes and epigenomes of cells representing key developmental stages of HSC ontogeny in the mouse. The five populations analyzed were embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) endothelium and hemogenic endothelium from the major arteries (dorsal aorta, umbilical and vitelline), an enriched population of pre-hematopoietic stem cells (pre-HSCs), fetal liver HSCs, and adult bone marrow HSCs. We observed dynamic and combinatorial epigenetic changes that mark regulatory DNA sequences including gene promoters and enhancers. Using epigenetic signatures, we identified enhancers for each developmental stage. Only 12% of enhancers are primed, and 78% are active, suggesting the vast majority of enhancers are established de novo at the developmental stages where they are required to control their target genes, without prior priming in earlier stages. We constructed developmental-stage-specific transcriptional regulatory networks during HSC ontogeny by linking enhancers and predicted bound transcription factors to their target promoters using a novel computational algorithm. Our computational analyses predicted known transcriptional regulators for the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition, validating our overall approach, and identified putative novel transcription factors whose regulon activities correlate with the emergence of pre-HSCs. We validated roles for the broadly expressed transcription factors SP3 and MAZ in arterial hemogenic endothelium. Our data and computational analyses provide a useful resource for uncovering regulators of HSC formation.


The paper explores entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in SMEs in the Middle Eastern state of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. We hypothesise that emerging market context and unique UAE business structures will impact the expression and effects of the five dimensions of EO. Using OLS and GMM techniques, our study shows that innovation, risk-taking, pro-activeness and competitive aggressiveness do not correlate positively with performance, but autonomy does. By studying EO in a unique region and amongst SMEs we contribute to the implementation and development of theory in alternative business contexts. We suggest the EO dimensions co-depend, with autonomy a capstone dimension in SMEs upon which the others rely. At a local level, we suggest policy might take steps to encourage autonomy by reducing ownership restrictions, and improve the institutional environment to facilitate risk-taking and, in turn, the other EO dimensions.


This research develops and tests the hypothesis that role ambiguity strengthens the positive relationship between role overload and innovative work behavior, whereas role clarity (i.e. less role ambiguity) weakens this relationship. Furthermore, it is presumed that role overload is positively related to stress regardless of the level of role ambiguity. The results of a survey study, involving 101 employees of a Dutch healthcare insurance company, showed that role overload was indeed positively related with innovative work behavior when employees experience a high level of role ambiguity, whereas this relationship did not occur when employees experienced the role clarity. In addition, role ambiguity did not appear to have a moderating influence on the positive relationship between role overload and stress. The results are discussed in the context of the Job Demand-Control-model and recent findings in literature on innovation.


The author reports on the behaviour of clocks and light pulses behind the event horizon of a uniformly accelerated reference frame. Only algebra and the Lorentz transformation are required.


Islam now claims 1.5 billion adherents around the world and up to 3 million Muslims in the United States. As Islam grows social institutions are developing that conform to Shariah law and principles. Among them are Islamic banks and Islamic financial products which are becoming  recognized as legitimate options to conventional banks. Since economic and business systems around the world are increasingly integrated and businesspersons from the United States will most likely be interacting at some level with Muslims, it is important that U.S. businesspersons understand Islam and Islamic finance. To be salt and light and to interact in Christlike ways with Muslims, Christians need to know what Muslims believe, and especially what Muslims believe about Jesus. In this paper the authors first describe Islam by giving its history and principal theological doctrines. Then several important features of Islamic finance and various financial products are described. Finally, there is a description of Christian missions to Muslims.


The Arctic Oscillation(AO),though basically is a zonal symmetric phenomenon,also shows zonal asymmetric variation.The dynamics of this zonal variation is considered here from the point of view of the planetary propagation on the earth sphere.Based on the linear barotropic vorticity equation,the planetary wave ray path is calculated in the winter January.It shows that NAO(North Atlantic Oscillation),AO and North Pacific could be linked through the planetary wave propagation,which acts as the atmospheric bridge.The zonal symmetric and asymmetric structures both have association with these Rossby wave activities.


The general decrease in the quality of anamnesis and clinical gynecological examination and the use of expensive complementary examinations lead us to redefine the bases of the gynecological outpatient consultation. The anamnesis and clinical examination have been detailed in the precedent issue of the Revue Médicale de Liège. The present article will explain the commonly performed complementary examinations during gynecological explorations.


SUMMARY: Flavobacterium F24 metabolized both stereoisomers of phenylglycine and enzyme studies revealed that l-phenylglycine was transaminated by a constitutive enzyme while the d-stereoisomer was oxidized by a phenazine-methosulphate-dependent d-amino-acid dehydrogenase. This latter enzyme was not induced during growth on l-phenylglycine. Phenylglyoxylate formed in the reactions was decarboxylated by an inducible enzyme to benzaldehyde, which was oxidized mainly by an inducible phenazine-methosulphate-dependent benzaldehyde dehydrogenase not described earlier. Benzoate was further metabolized via 3-hydroxybenzoate to gentisate, which in turn was further degraded through a glutathione-dependent pathway.