eHealth technologies play a role in the development of integrated care models for people living with Parkinson disease by improving communication with their health care teams and support self-care practices in a personalized way. This article presents a co-design approach to designing an eHealth technology, the eCARE-PD platform, that addresses the needs and expectations of people living with Parkinson disease, generates tailored care tips, and recommends actions for managing care priorities at home. We use a co-design approach involving four main iterative phases: (1) preparation, (2) mapping, (3) testing and using, and (4) co-producing solutions and requirements. This approach uses several methods to engage people directly to design this technology. The study allowed us to identify design principles to be integrated in the development of the eCARE-PD platform. These principles incorporate the expectations of future users, which were expressed during the iterative phases of the co-design process: (a) six key design features based on users' needs and expectations, (b) six main issues users raised during a test at home and key features for improving the design of the eCARE-PD platform, and (c) collective solutions to design an interactive, meaningful, tailored, empathic, and socially acceptable technology. The results of the successive phases of the co-design process allow us to underline the progressive constitution of a technology defined over successive iterations as a digital companion supporting the self-care process at home and having the capacity to generate tailored digital health communication.


This book shows how colloquial Bedouin poetry remains a vibrant art that has manifold modern functions: commenting on world affairs (such as the Arab-Israeli wars, the Gulf War, the American invasion of Iraq); criticising the domestic policies of Arab states; and, highlighting poverty, discrimination, the corrupt practices of officialdom, and compliant local media. Each of the forty-one poems presented within this book is transliterated and translated into English verse, with historical and contextual annotation. The tone is sometimes bitter, sometimes satirical, sometimes scurrilous, and often amusing. The poems are prefaced by an essay on the practice of modern Bedouin poetry. This book is completed by appendices containing the Arabic script versions of the poems, extensive language notes, and a glossary of the vocabulary.


Annually within the European Union, there are over 40,000 road accident fatalities and 1.6 million other casualties and the majority of these are either the occupants of cars or are in collision with a car. The European Commission now has competency for vehicle-based injury countermeasures through the Whole Vehicle Type Approval system. As a result of this, the Commission has recently recognised that casualty reduction strategies must be based on a full understanding of the real-world accident data in conditions broadly representative of the European Union and that vehicle safety countermeasure effectiveness must be properly evaluated. To this effect, a new study known as PENDANT (short for Pan-European Co-ordinated Accident and Injury Databases) commenced in January 2003. This study is developing a co-ordinated set of targeted, in-depth crash data resources to support European Union vehicle and road safety policy. Over the course of the next three years, around 1100 investigations of crashes involving injured car occupants will be conducted in eight EU countries to a common protocol. The data will be further enhanced by the linking of hospital and police information to provide additional data on the trends and injury patterns of over 60,000 road users of all types. This paper describes the methodology and purposes of the study and expected impact within the European Union. It is expected that the end result of the study will be a co-ordinated system to inform European vehicle safety policy in a systematic integrated manner. Furthermore, the results of the data analyses will provide new directions to develop injury countermeasures and regulations. For the covering abstract see ITRD E825082.


Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin widely distributed in a variety of food commodities and exhibits strong toxicity toward multiple tissues and organs. However, little is known about its neurotoxicity and the associated mechanism. In this study, we observed that brain integrity was markedly damaged in mice after intragastric administration of AFB1 (300 μg/kg/day for 30 days). The toxicity of AFB1 on neuronal cells and the underlying mechanisms were then investigated in the neuroblastoma cell line IMR-32. A cell viability assay showed that the IC50 values of AFB1 on IMR-32 cells were 6.18 μg/mL and 5.87 μg/mL after treatment for 24 h and 48 h, respectively. ROS levels in IMR-32 cells increased significantly in a time- and AFB1 concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with the upregulation of NOX2, and downregulation of OXR1, SOD1, and SOD2. Substantial DNA damage associated with the downregulation of PARP1, BRCA2, and RAD51 was also observed. Furthermore, AFB1 significantly induced S-phase arrest, which is associated with the upregulation of CDKN1A, CDKN2C, and CDKN2D. Finally, AFB1 induced apoptosis involving CASP3 and BAX. Taken together, AFB1 manifests a wide range of cytotoxicity on neuronal cells including ROS accumulation, DNA damage, S-phase arrest, and apoptosis—all of which are key factors for understanding the neurotoxicology of AFB1.


Keratomycosis is a significant cause of mono-ocular blindness, especially in tropical regions. Fungal keratitis developing in corneal incisions is very rare. We report the experience of treating two patients diagnosed with recalcitrant candida keratitis post-phacoemulsification with anterior chamber washout and deep debridement. The first patient was a 68-year-old woman who underwent left eye phacoemulsification nine months ago with a postoperative best corrected visual acuity of 6/6. The second patient was a 73-year-old man who had uneventful right eye phacoemulsification six months prior with a postoperative best corrected visual acuity of 6/9. Both patients used topical steroids postoperatively for more than three months and noted a drop in vision. Both patients had deep stromal infiltration and endothelial plaque at the primary corneal wound. They were unresponsive to topical, intracameral, and systemic antifungal therapy. Both patients underwent anterior chamber evacuation of hypopyon and endothelial plaque removal. Evacuation of hypopyon and removal of endothelial plaque was done with a 23G vitrectomy cutter using a low-powered vacuum controlled at 200 mmHg. The fluid inside the tubing was sent for culture analysis. We used viscoelastic coating on the endothelium to minimize the damage during the operations. Intracameral amphotericin B 15 µg/0.1 ml was given at the end of the operation. Postoperatively, both patients had clear corneas. The first patient's visual acuity improved 6/18, and the second patient's visual acuity improved to 6/9. Both cultures isolated Candida parapsilosis sensitive to amphotericin. These patient cases highlight that evacuation of the anterior chamber infiltration in recalcitrant fungal keratitis and intracameral injection of amphotericin B can be an effective adjuvant therapy.


Polish philology at the Daugavpils University – yesterdays and present  In 1991, in the Daugavpils Pedagogical Institute was opened the first group of Polish. This was the beginning of the studies of Polish language not only in Daugavpils, but also in the Second Republic of Latvia. Students of the first groups had possibility to receive a diploma of specialist teaching Polish language from Polish and Russian, as well as Russian literature. In 2005 was created the program "Bachelor of Polish philology with a second foreign language". After receiving a bachelor's degree in Polish philology students have possibility to continue their education at two-year master's degree. Currently, the "Polish Studies" among the universities of Latvia proposes only Daugavpils University. Every year Polish language institution is organizing an international conference "Polish-Baltic cultural associations", which involved researchers from the Polish and Baltic countries. In 2010 at the Daugavpils University was opened Centre of Polish Language and Culture, which functions as a center for education and research. Polish philology at the Faculty of Humanities of the Daugavpils University support Polish Embassy, Foundations "Semper Polonia" and "Pomoc Polakom na Wschodzie" and the Association "Wspolnota Polska".


This research is concerned with microwave ablation analyses using a 2.45 GHz four-tine (4T) antenna for hepatic cancer tissue. In the study, three-dimensional finite-element models were utilized to examine the tissue temperature distributions during and after MW ablation. A preliminary study was first carried out with regard to the specific absorption rates along the 4T antenna insertion depths and the temperature distributions inside the solid and porous liver models with either 3 cm-in-diameter tumor or 5 cm-in-diameter tumor. Based on the preliminary results, the porous models were further examined for the effect of varying blood flow velocities (0–200 cm/s) with a 1 cm-in-diameter blood vessel next to the antenna and also for the effect of vessel-antenna locations (0, 0.8, and 1.3 cm) with a constant blood flow velocity of 16.7 cm/s. All scenarios were simulated under temperature-controlled mode (90°C). The findings revealed that the blood flow velocity and vessel location influence the ablation effectiveness and that increased blood flow inhibits heat transfer to the vessel wall. At the nearest and farthest vessel-antenna locations (0 and 1.3 cm), approximately 90.3% and 99.55% of the cancer cells were eradicated except for the areas adjacent to the vessel. In addition, total tissue thermal displacement is 5.9 mm which is 6.59% of the total length of the overall model.


The present study evaluated the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) in vitro and in a rat model of mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO). Rat BMMSCs were isolated then treated with CGRP or CGRP antagonist (CGRP8-37). The proliferation and migration ability of BMMSCs was determined using 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine and Transwell assays, respectively. Osteogenic-related gene expression was analyzed with reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. For the in vivo analysis, thirty MDO rats were randomly assigned to control, CGRP or CGRP8-37 groups. To evaluate the mobilization of BMMSCs, nestin and stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) were detected by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Rats were sacrificed following 14 days and new bone formation was assessed by histological and micro-computed tomography analysis. In the in vitro results, the CGRP group demonstrated significantly higher migration and proliferation, as well as enhanced alkaline phosphatase and runt-related transcription factor 2 expression compared with the control. In the in vivo experiments, bone mineral density of the newly formed bone in the CGRP group was significantly higher than controls. The nestin and SDF-1 expression in the CGRP group was also significantly upregulated. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that CGRP administration increased new bone formation, possibly via enhancing BMMSC migration and differentiation in MDO rats.


ABSTRACT Liu, Z.; Ling, M.; Zhu, T., and Xu, D., 2020. Safety analysis of shrinkage monitoring equipment in marine resource exploration. In: Hu, C. and Cai, M. (eds.), Geoinformatics and Oceanography. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 105, pp. 242–245. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Encryption equipment in modern society is becoming increasingly popular; the existence of leaking analysis technology in marine resource exploration is also becoming a threat for protection of and leakage of resources. More and more oceanographic probes are using field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based parallel computing devices. Leaks of detection information can lead to the loss of national marine resources or even malicious exploitation. Stochastic approach and template attack are traditional methods to execute safety attack subjected to FPGA equipment; however, misalignment and noise among the leaking traces limit attacking efficiency. This paper, based on experimental studies combined with shrinkage denoising methods, provides ways to improve signal-to-noise ratio and the practical efficiency for attacking.


The aim of this paper is to assess the importance of Water Demand Management (WDM) strategy to the improvement of water supply and sanitation in Nigeria. Persistent water supply shortages and poor sanitation have since remained important features of the Nigerian urban and rural communities. Most often governmental solution to these problems has been to develop and exploit the available water resources and the level of sanitation for the people. This predominant approach which is also known as augmentation method is supply driven with the primary purpose being how best to meet the perceived water and sanitation demand. One of the major disadvantages of this approach is the huge financial involvement associated with it. Conversely, quite recently water resource managers have begun to direct attention on how consumers can be motivated to regulate the amount and manner in which they use and dispose water to alleviate pressure on freshwater supplies. This new approach is known as water demand management. It is demand driven in that consumers determine their own water need. Employment of WDM by consumers especially in water scarce areas as was discussed in the paper will decrease the amount of water use, thereby limiting unnecessary financial expenditure in exploiting new sources to meet the ever increasing demand.


EBM is "the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research." EBM is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best evidence into the decision making process for patient care. The practice of EBM is usually triggered by patient encounters which generate questions about the effects of therapy, the utility of diagnostic tests, the progriosis of diseases, or the etiology of disorders. The best evidence is usually found in clinically relevant research that has been conducted using sound methodology. Evidence-based medicine requires new skills of the clinician, including efficient literature-searching, and the application of formal rules of evidence in evaluating the clinical literature. Evidence-based medicine converts the abstract exercise of reading and appraising the literature into the pragmatic process of using the literature to benefit individual patients while simultaneously expanding the clinician's knowledge base. This review will briefly discuss about concepts of evidence medicine and method of critical appraisal of literatures. (Korean J Nucl Med 200135:224-230)


The synthesis and mesomorphic (liquid crystal) properties of new binuclear dihalocopper(II) complexes derived from N- and ring-substituted salicylaldimine Schiff bases are reported, together with the mesomorphic properties of their monomeric precursor complexes. With just N-substituents both the dichlorodicopper(II) binuclear complexes and their mononuclear analogues are waxy solids with melting points that increase with their N-chain length. However, with both N- and ring-substituents in the 4-positions, the mononuclear and binuclear complexes are each liquid crystalline or mesogenic, except in case of the mononuclear complexes where the N-substituent is straight chain alkyl. The other mononuclear complexes exhibit a variety of liquid crystal phases: smectic A, C, and E (SA, SC, and SE, respectively). The liquid crystal phase SA is observed in the binuclears with shorter chain N-substituents p-R-O-C6H4- and shorter chain ring-substituents. The chain lengths were increased until the phase behavior expanded to a further form SC in the case of an N-substituent p-C14H29O-C6H4- and a -OC12H25 ring substituent. This points the way toward achieving multiphase behavior with these binuclear systems. The Cu-Br analogues of the binuclear complexes behave similarly but with significant qualitative differences, specifically lower mesophase stability and higher melting temperatures. The structures of the nonmesogenic binuclears ([Cu(N-dodecylSal)X]2, X=Cl, Br) were determined with the aid of X-ray crystallography. These are prototypes for the structures of the binuclear complexes and especially for the shape of the central Cu2O2 X2 core in the binuclears: distorted planar coordination about the copper with distortion toward tetrahedral measured by a characteristic twist angle tau (0 degrees planar; 90 degrees tetrahedral). The binuclear complexes also show magnetic coupling which can be used to estimate the geometry. For [Cu(N-dodecylSal)X]2 tau>36 degrees, which corresponds to weaker coupling than observed in the mesogenic binuclears where a stronger magnetic coupling indicates a geometry closer to planar (tau=25 degrees). The mesophases were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and optical polarized microscopy.


This paper forms the second chapter in the book "Definition in the Criminal Law" to be published by Hart Publishing in September 2004. It builds on the richer notion of legal doctrine identified in chapter 1 and the different perspectives of orthodox and heterodox scholars introduced in that chapter. Its own subject matter is to take seriously the heterodox or critical perspective on the criminal law, as a preliminary to studying in subsequent chapters the workings of the process of definition within the criminal law. The first section examines as influences on the critical perspective, CLS, Critical Theory and Postmodernism. The importance of emancipatory reflective thinking for Critical Theory and deconstruction as an instrument of Postmodernism are considered with particular reference to the work of Benhabib and Derrida. In both cases the need for a capacity to employ the practice alongside its use as a merely intellectual technique is recognised, in order to avoid the phenomenon of exit reflexivity (the endless revision of critical reflection that makes any resolution of practical problems impossible). The second section focuses on the specific relationship between the critical approach and the criminal law by investigating their underlying premises. Two extreme forms of this relationship are rejected - the extreme critical perspective that all criminal conduct is caused by oppressive forms of social life, and the eliminative ideal which assumes that all social wrongs can be attributed to individual criminal conduct - in favour of a broader critical approach which recognises human failing as a common occurrence within the two premises. This approach offers the opportunities to use the criminal law as a critical resource as well as subjecting it to critical scrutiny, and avoids the inflexible dogmatism of the two extreme approaches which have been rejected. A developing theme in these first two sections is the centrality of a sense of community or a vision of society to an effective critical perspective. This is explored in greater detail in the third section, with a number of implications being drawn. First, the importance of a social vision unites rather than divides heterodox and orthodox scholars. Secondly, the well documented disappointments with the impact of CLS on the criminal law can, at least partially, be attributed to a failure to give sufficient attention to the need for a positive vision of society to complement the negative deployment of critical techniques. This point is reinforced by contrasting the greater success of feminist critical approaches which have harnessed a specific vision of society. Thirdly, in picking up the earlier examination of critical techniques, the need for a prior commitment to those deeply held values which inform one's vision of society is observed in the discussion by Brown and Halley of the energising role of critique for left political projects. The fourth section explores more deeply the differences between orthodox and heterodox viewpoints over values, legitimacy, and the technical capability of the criminal law. The earlier approach to critical techniques is tested further by consideration of two potential problems. The first is Kennedy's attempt to retain hardline scepticism with a radical activism through replacing deeply held values with political sentiment. The switch is not on closer examination sufficient to conceal a prior commitment to a preferred vision of society. The second is the use of critical techniques to attack the well-formed notion of law. This turns out to be an artificial target which distracts attention from a proper consideration of the actual practice of the criminal law. The paper concludes by suggesting that disagreements over the sort of society we want to live in, and the role of the criminal law in supporting a particular vision of society, cannot be understood or debated by adopting general theoretical positions but must be grounded on a detailed examination of the workings of the criminal law - prominent among which is the practice of definition in the criminal law.


The enhanced Craig–Bampton (ECB) method is a novel extension of the original Craig–Bampton (CB) method, which has been widely used for component mode synthesis (CMS). The ECB method, using residual modal compensation that is neglected in the CB method, provides dramatic accuracy improvement of reduced matrices without an increasing number of eigenbasis. However, it also needs additional computational requirements to treat the residual flexibility. In this paper, an efficient parallelization of the ECB method is presented to handle this issue and accelerate the applicability for large-scale structural vibration problems. A new ECB formulation within a substructuring strategy is derived to achieve better scalability. The parallel implementation is based on OpenMP parallel architecture. METIS graph partitioning and Linear Algebra Package (LAPACK) are used to automated algebraic partitioning and computational linear algebra, respectively. Numerical examples are presented to evaluate the accuracy, scalability, and capability of the proposed parallel ECB method. Consequently, based on this work, one can expect effective computation of the ECB method as well as accuracy improvement.


Abstract We propose a testing-based procedure to determine the number of common trends in a large nonstationary dataset. Our procedure is based on a factor representation, where we determine whether there are (and how many) common factors (i) with linear trends, and (ii) with stochastic trends. Cointegration among the factors is also permitted. Our analysis is based on the fact that those largest eigenvalues of a suitably scaled covariance matrix of the data corresponding to the common factor part diverge, as the dimension N of the dataset diverges, whilst the others stay bounded. Therefore, we propose a class of randomized test statistics for the null that the pth largest eigenvalue diverges, based directly on the estimated eigenvalue. The tests only requires minimal assumptions on the data-generating process. Monte Carlo evidence shows that our procedure has very good finite sample properties, clearly dominating competing approaches when no common trends are present. We illustrate our methodology through an application to the U.S. bond yields with different maturities observed over the last 30 years.


Many fields of study have grappled with the challenge of decelerating the effects of aging. Physical exercise plays a vital role in attenuating the impact of the aging process. While many exercise‐induced chemical signaling pathways are not fully understood, AMP‐activated protein kinase mediates many beneficial adaptations to exercise training. AMPK is activated by the accumulation of AMP (and ADP) during muscle contraction‐induced ATP breakdown. The prodrug AICAR mimics AMP accumulation and leads to AMPK activation by increasing the concentration of the AMP analog, ZMP. The primary purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of chronic (31 days) AICAR treatment on muscle anabolic signaling in old (24 mo.) mice. AICAR improved treadmill running performance and attenuated muscle atrophy in the aged mice. Surprisingly, given AICAR's known acute effects on anabolic signaling, AICAR treatment increased the skeletal muscle concentrations of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 and apelin, both of which are known to activate anabolic signaling through the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Accordingly, ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation was also elevated in AICAR‐treated muscles. Our results suggest that in addition to its other well‐established metabolic effects, chronic AICAR treatment may enhance anabolism in sarcopenic muscle and potentially in other muscle‐wasting conditions.


Abstract This paper is concerned with the influence of fly ash (pozzolanic) on the stabilization of a dispersive soil commonly found in northeast Thailand. The effect of various proportions of fly ash on the rate of erosion, dispersiveness, strength and frictional properties and the compaction and consolidation characteristics, are discussed. It is noted that in general the addition of fly ash not only inhibits erosion and dispersiveness but also contributes to a significant improvement in strength and deformation characteristics. Nevertheless, excessive quantities of fly ash (>8%) generate diminishing returns and in fact promote segregation (erosion) of the stabilized soil again due to insufficient cohesion. Mineralogical studies based on X-ray diffraction analysis indicate that the reduction in the rate of erosion of the blended soil is associated with fine particle flocculation. The long term properties, however, are directly linked with the self-hardening nature of fly ash which contributes to time-dependent strengthening of the stabilized soil.


Clostridium perfringens is one of the five major food borne pathogens in the western world (expressed as cases per year). Symptoms of C. perfringens food poisoning are caused by an enterotoxin, which is released when ingested cells sporulate in the intestines. To increase knowledge on this bacterium, it was tried to optimize sporulation of a variety of strains, but only strain dependent effects were noted. Since many media are available to isolate C. perfringens from foods, a selection of these media was compared and it was shown that these media performed equally well. Cooling and storage of food are often the cause of gastro enteritis. Therefore, the behavior of this microorganism was studied at low temperatures and a model was designed to predict the effect of various cooling procedures applied to food on growth of C. perfringens . The model can be used to set up Good Manufacturing Procedures (GMP).


BACKGROUND/AIM
The JAMAR-Dynamometer and the Martin-Vigorimeter are frequently used tools in a hand surgeon's daily routine. This survey is primarily concerned with the establishment of valid conversion factors for measured values of both instruments, as well as the investigation of influence of anatomical characteristics and age and sex on maximal measured grip strength.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We registered anamnestic data and specific anatomical conditions in 339 patients, maximal grip strength was measured using all notches of both instruments.

RESULTS
We found moderate to very high correlation comparing all 28 settings in both instruments. The influence of the hand's anatomy on the grip strength was greater using the JAMAR-Dynamometer than it was using the Martin-Vigorimeter.

CONCLUSION
The high reproducibility allowed us to calculate multiplying factors for the conversion of measured data for all settings of both tools. Therefore, the amount of data for meta-analyses relating to hand surgical issues can be significantly increased.


PurposeThis study aims to explore the components of eco-service quality at hotels and to cluster hotel customers based on their eco-service quality perceptions.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was adapted, and a survey study was performed on Russian tourists staying at the hotels located in Antalya, Turkey. Factor analysis results showed that the eco-service quality variable contains the dimensions of equipment, practice and staff and food. These factors were used to cluster hotel customers, and two groups were obtained as sensitive customers to eco-services and apathetic customers to eco-services. Cluster-based differences were identified by a series of cross-tabulations and regression analyses.FindingsSome socio-demographic and travel choice-related differences were obtained between the customer groups. The results of regression analyses showed that the most important determinant of sensitive customers' overall satisfaction was equipment, which was followed by staff and food and practice. The only significant determinant of apathetic customers' overall satisfaction was equipment.Practical implicationsHotel customers, who have different socio-demographic characteristics, are identified to have also distinct perceptions on the quality of eco-friendly equipment or services. Hence, hotel managers are suggested to develop proactive and value-generating environmentally friendly practices that appeal to different market segments. However, hotel managers should decide on prior areas and prefer low-cost options when "going green", as some customer-groups do not notice such efforts.Originality/valueFrom the theoretical point of view, this study is original in showing the dimensional structure of the eco-service quality construct and the impact of each dimension on hotel customers' overall satisfaction. Both theoretically and practically, the findings offer valuable implications about the behavioural tendencies of Russian tourists towards eco-hotel practices.


We have succeeded in preparing amorphous carbon disulphide (CS2) by depositing its vapour on a cold substrate at 10 K. Complete formation of the amorphous state has been confirmed by neutron diffraction and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The amorphous sample crystallised at ca. 70 K, which is lower than the hypothetical glass transition temperature (92 K) estimated from the DTA data of the (CS2)x(S2Cl2)1 − x binary mixture. CS2, a symmetric linear tri-atomic molecule, is the simplest of the amorphised molecular substances whose structural and thermal information has been reported so far. Comparison of the static structure factors S(Q) has shown that the orientational correlation of CS2 molecules may be much stronger in the amorphous state than in the liquid state at higher temperature.


Superconductivity is a rare example of a quantum system in which the wave function has a macroscopic quantum effect, due to the unique condensate of electron pairs. The amplitude of the wave function is directly related to the pair density, but both amplitude and phase enter the Josephson current: the coherent tunneling of pairs between superconductors. Very sensitive devices exploit the superconducting state, however properties of the condensate on the local scale are largely unknown, for instance, in unconventional high-Tc cuprate, multiple gap, and gapless superconductors. The technique of choice would be Josephson STS, based on Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy (STS), where the condensate is directly probed by measuring the local Josephson current (JC) between a superconducting tip and sample. However, Josephson STS is an experimental challenge since it requires stable superconducting tips, and tunneling conditions close to atomic contact. We demonstrate how these difficulties can be overcome and present the first spatial mapping of the JC on the nanometer scale. The case of an MgB2 film, subject to a normal magnetic field, is considered.


Over the recent 25 years Russia has experienced economic transformations that significantly have changed the impact of business activities on the state, structure, quality and use of natural resources: an annual decrease in the sizes of agriculturally used areas, reduction of soil fertility, destruction of the amelioration system, etc. Certainly, all this affects the economy and makes it necessary to investigate these interrelated processes in the context of an ecologicaleconomic system. The article presents a multilateral statistical analysis of the eco-economic system of Russia, offers recommendations for improvement of the indicator system, analytical methodologies as well as proposals for implementation of the international standards into Russian statistics. It is emphasized that the asset value accounting philosophy should be developed on the basis of the specific nature of Russian statistics with application of the international practices. The article offers to start developing the macroeconomic accounts from the municipal level and then to aggregate the information at the level of a region and the country.


The chemical composition of the essential oils from the fruits of Daucus carota var. sativus (yellow carrot) and var. boissieri (red carrot) was determined using GC/FID and GC/MS. Altogether; 29 and 32 compounds were identified accounting for 96.58 and 96.72 % of the total detected components in the hydrodistilled yellow and red carrot oils, respectively. Carotol constituted the major component in both oils (~66-68 %). The antioxidant activity was assessed using both diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH • ) and 2- deoxyribose degradation (2-DR) assays. Both oils reduced DPPH • and inhibit 2-DR with IC50 values of 12.71, 14.15, mg/ml and 87.15, 88.75 µg/ml for the yellow and red carrot oils, respectively. Inhibition of both 5- lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzyme and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production were used to assess the anti- inflammatory activity. Yellow carrot oil showed better activity towards inhibition of 5-LOX (IC50 of 37.53 µg/ml). The cytotoxicity of both oils was determined against both MCF-7and HepG-2 cancer cell lines using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The highest cytotoxic activity was observed against HepG-2 cell with IC50 values ranging from 163-172 μg/ml for both oils. These results indicate promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of both oils and provide a rationale for their uses in many skin diseases.


Abstract Background To our knowledge, data on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on clinical symptoms and metabolic profiles in patients with endometriosis are limited. This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on clinical symptoms and metabolic profiles in patients with endometriosis. Methods The current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 patients (aged 18–40 years old) with endometriosis. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups (30 participants each group) to receive either 50,000 IU vitamin D or placebo each 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Results Vitamin D supplementation significantly decreased pelvic pain (β − 1.12; 95% CI, −2.1, −0.09; p=.03) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (β − 0.29; 95% CI, −0.57, −0.008; p=.04) compared with the placebo. Moreover, vitamin D intake led to a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (β − 0.64 mg/L; 95% CI, −0.97, −0.30; p<.001) and a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (β 47.54 mmol/L; 95% CI, 19.98, 75.11; p=.001) compared with the placebo. Conclusions Overall, our study demonstrated that vitamin D intake in patients with endometriosis resulted in a significant improvement of pelvic pain, total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio, hs-CRP and TAC levels, but did not affect other clinical symptoms and metabolic profiles.


Information about the physical association of proteins is extensively used for studying cellular processes and disease mechanisms. However, complete experimental mapping of the human interactome will remain prohibitively difficult in the near future. Here we present a map of predicted human protein interactions that distinguishes functional association from physical binding. Our network classifies more than 5 million protein pairs predicting 94,009 new interactions with high confidence. We experimentally tested a subset of these predictions using yeast two-hybrid analysis and affinity purification followed by quantitative mass spectrometry. Thus we identified 462 new protein-protein interactions and confirmed the predictive power of the network. These independent experiments address potential issues of circular reasoning and are a distinctive feature of this work. Analysis of the physical interactome unravels subnetworks mediating between different functional and physical subunits of the cell. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of the network for the analysis of molecular mechanisms of complex diseases by applying it to genome-wide association studies of neurodegenerative diseases. This analysis provides new evidence implying TOMM40 as a factor involved in Alzheimer's disease. The network provides a high-quality resource for the analysis of genomic data sets and genetic association studies in particular. Our interactome is available via the hPRINT web server at: www.print-db.org.


The development of a plasma discharge at low voltage (200-600 V) in saline solution is characterized using fast and standard CCD camera imaging. Vapor formation, plasma formation, and vapor collapse and subsequent pressure wave propagation are observed. If, with increasing voltage, the total energy deposited is kept approximately constant, the sequence and nature of events are similar but develop faster and more reproducibly at the higher voltages. This is attributed to the slower temporal evolution of the vapor layer at lower voltages which means a greater sensitivity to hydrodynamic instabilities at the vapor-liquid interface.


A Field Programmable Analog Arrays (FPAA) architecture, which is dedicated to analog signal processing, is introduced. It is based on a simple current-mode primitive which allows for operation at high frequencies and low voltage, and can be implemented in a digital CMOS process. An architectural solution to avoid using excessive number of programming devices in the signal path is proposed. We have demonstrated through simulations that the proposed FPAA can be programmed to operate over two decade (from several tens of kHz to a few MHz). Experimental results, which demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method, are included.


In this paper, we investigate a multiple relay selection scheme for two-way relaying cognitive radio networks where primary users and secondary users operate on the same frequency band. More specifically, cooperative relays using Amplify-and- Forward (AF) protocol are optimally selected to maximize the sum rate of the secondary users without degrading the Quality of Service (QoS) of the primary users by respecting a tolerated interference threshold. A strong optimization tool based on genetic algorithm is employed to solve our formulated optimization problem where discrete relay power levels are considered. Our simulation results show that the practical heuristic approach achieves almost the same performance of the optimal multiple relay selection scheme either with discrete or continuous power distributions.


Right heart and pulmonary artery pressures were measured in 28 patients with inferior acute myocardial infarction, 12 of whom also had ECG evidence of right ventricular involvement (RVI). Those with RVI had significantly higher mean right-sided filling pressures 9.3 mm Hg, SD +/- 4.5 than those without RVI, 4.3 mm Hg, SD +/- 1.9. A steeper relationship between right ventricular enddiastolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures was seen in patients with RVI in contrast to those without, where no marked rise in right-sided filling pressures with increasing mean pulmonary artery pressures was seen.


Development of building information modelling for dredging process has been studied. In dredging area different 3-D guidance and control systems have been used already over 15 years. However, the information transfer process from early initial data acquirement phase through design and further to construction phase has suffered from information delivery gaps, undetermined modelling and information delivery methods. In the paper, a new specification for initial data modelling, BIM based design process and BIM based as-built measurement and quality control procedures are to be introduced. Most essential in the process model is to transfer the information, which is binding the parties. This will be done electrically using 3D information models throughout the total operation chain. An important result of the project is also the documentation of the current dredging work process in Finland that has not been done in the past. The new models were tested using Novapoint software as a BIM design tool and two different construction projects (Rauma and Helsinki, Finland) were used for the experiments. Future work will be also described.


The rapid adoption of distance learning means that significant lecture video content is available on-line. However, access from mobile devices is hampered by low bandwidth and small screen size. In this paper, we address these issues by manipulating two key elements of lecture videodisplayed slides and laser pointer gestures. Displayed slides need to be very crisp compared to background content. Fortunately, the needed data is available from the presentation slides, and we describe a method for splicing them into the video on the client side, increasing fidelity, and reducing bandwidth needs. This operation removes laser pointer gestures, which are often lost due to compression, and are hard to see on the small screens of mobile regardless. But these gestures are part of what makes watching lecture video different than simply looking at the slides. Hence we interpret the laser pointer gestures as we analyze the videos, creating representations that can be transmitted at a low cost. These representations can then be iconified on the client side and displayed clearly.


The Klatskin tumor is a neoplasy of the proximate main biliary duet whose initial manifestation, and most of the time, the single one, consist in the appliance of an obstructive nature jaundice. This usually coincides with the spreading of the tumor beyond the walls of the tumors that have reached this state with a usually intraoperating made diagnosis, certain palliative technical surgery solutions could still exist. The author submits to your attention a retrospective survey on 85 tumors out of which only 3 were removable. For the remaining 82 he performed only exploratory laparotomy. Of these biopsy was made for 11 cases and palliative surgery for the other 71 (biliodigestive derivations on one or both liver lobes, or Huguet, Terblanche or Kehr tube surgery prosthesis operations). If the patient's living conditions are very good, his survival chances might be extended from 2 to 18 months, with no appearance of jaundice or pruritus. There is no doubt that if the pre-operations imagery testing results in the diagnosis "inoperable medical condition", the retrograde endoscopic transtumoral surgery prosthesis operation or the transparietal liver one, is recommended.


Computer networks and Logistics systems are two very rich fields of study that have grown almost entirely separately since they deal with entirely different entities – information packets vs. packages. However, driven by extensive automation and infusion of information technology into distribution logistics and need to improve efficiency and sustainability of the operations, the logistics has attempted to adopt the cyber Internet principles. In this paper, we specifically consider the distribution of perishable commodities such as fresh food, perishable pharmaceuticals, blood, etc. in this context and thereby introduce the notion of Internet of Perishable Logistics (IoPL). We propose a layered architecture model for IoPL modeled after the cyber Internet and show how it can be useful in a systematic and hierarchical modeling of perishable logistics operations, which are extremely complex. We also show the synergies between IoPL and the cyber Internet and discuss a number of research issues inspired by such synergies. We also show how the layered model can be exploited to construct a simplified analytical framework for studying some basic tradeoffs between the delivered quality of the perishable product, transportation efficiency (in terms of unused carrier space), and the number of active carriers (which translates into cost and carbon footprint of the transportation service). The paper also points out a number of future research challenges and directions for a smarter IoPL.


Purpose Commensal microbes are impacted by stressor exposure and are known contributors to cognitive and social behaviors, but the pathways through which gut microbes influence stressor-induced behavioral changes are mostly unknown. A murine social stressor was used to determine whether host–microbe interactions are necessary for stressor-induced inflammation, including neuroinflammation, that leads to reduced cognitive and social behavior. Methods C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to a paired fighting social stressor over a 1 hr period for 6 consecutive days. Y-maze and social interaction behaviors were tested following the last day of the stressor. Serum cytokines and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) were measured and the number and morphology of hippocampal microglia determined via immunohistochemistry. Intestinal mucous thickness and antimicrobial peptide expression were determined via fluorescent staining and real-time PCR (respectively) and microbial community composition was assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. To determine whether the microbiota or the LBP receptor (CD14) are necessary for stressor-induced behavioral changes, experiments were performed in mice treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail or in CD14−/− mice. Results The stressor reduced Y-maze spontaneous alternations, which was accompanied by increased microglia in the hippocampus, increased circulating cytokines (eg, IL-6, TNF-α) and LBP, and reduced intestinal mucus thickness while increasing antimicrobial peptides and cytokines. These stressor-induced changes were largely prevented in mice given broad-spectrum antibiotics and in CD14−/− mice. In contrast, social stressor-induced alterations of social behavior were not microbe-dependent. Conclusion Stressor-induced cognitive deficits involve enhanced bacterial interaction with the intestine, leading to low-grade, CD14-dependent, inflammation.


: Serum antibodies to thyroid tissue antigens were tested by enzyme immunoassay and the thyroid hormonal status was analyzed in 80 liquidators of the Chernobyl accident consequences. Antibodies to thyroglobulin in concentration of 160.7 +/- 10.5 IU/ml were detected in 11 (13.7%) subjects 11-12 years after the accident. Antibodies to thyroperoxidase were detected in this cohort: the reaction was positive in 2.5% cases and weakly positive in 5%. Groups of liquidators with changed thyroid functional activity in the T3-T4-TTH system were identified. Immunochemical screening for thyroid hormones and antibodies is an affective method for the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases in liquidators.


Thorough knowledge and understanding of root canal anatomy and morphology are crucial to achieve a successful endodontic treatment. However, the variation of the root canal morphology presents clinical difficulties that might lead to unfavorable outcomes. This case report describes endodontic management of a mandibular second premolar having three root canals of 26-year-old Saudi female. An axial view of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) revealed the presence of two fused roots and three root canals, the main canal trifurcated into three root canals at the middle third then merged in the C-shape canal. The configuration is called Sert and Bayirli's canal classification Type IX (1:3). The use of CBCT, in this case, contributed markedly through the diagnosis and endodontic management thereafter. In conclusion, the practitioner should be aware of unusual root canal anatomy in mandibular premolars and utilized all the appropriate armamentarium in diagnosing and treating these cases.


Pompe disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by alpha-glucosidase deficiency. The disease is characterized by accumulation of glycogen in the lysosomes. The accumulation has unique ultrastructural features which enable a prenatal diagnosis by electron microscopy. We describe prenatal electron microscopic testing in a fetus of a mother whose previous child died of Pompe disease. The disease in the affected child was diagnosed by a decrease in alpha-glucosidase activity of his skin fibroblasts. Electron microscopy of the chorionic villus sample and amniocytes revealed normal findings, thus predicting an unaffected fetus. The study was confirmed by the birth of a normal neonate who was still healthy at the age of 12 months. Electron microscopy is useful in the first and second trimesters to exclude Pompe disease prenatally. This test can be use prenatally and provides families with reassurance.


A detailed theoretical study is presented on wavelength conversion using cross-gain modulation in SOAs, employing counter-propagation of the input and the probe signals. The Fabry-Perot resonances caused by the residual facet reflectivities of the device are considered. Theoretical and experimental results on the performance of the converter, in terms of extinction ratio, crosstalk and conversion bandwidth, are presented and discussed. Good agreement between theoretical and experimental results has been observed. The concatenation performance of a simple WDM optical cross-connect architecture employing this type of wavelength converter is experimentally investigated using a re-circulating loop. Penalty-free concatenation of 25 such nodes has been demonstrated.


Background: Perineural cysts formed within the nerve-root sheath at the dorsal root ganglion. They are most commonly located in the arachnoid covering the junction of the dorsal ganglion and nerve root. They are usually asymptomatic, incidental findings, usually located in the lumbar and sacral region of the spinal canal. It is important to consolidate the imaging findings of this rare disease so clinicians can become more clinically relevant in the evaluation of these cysts. Case: Herein we report a case of perineural cyst misdiagnosed with hydrosalpinx by pelvic ultrasonography and finally diagnosed with magnetic resonance image. Conclusion: Perineural cyst should be considered, in the presence of bilateral adnexal masses separated from the ovaries in pelvic sonography.


Jamming of voice communication systems is a very ungrateful task and ``brute force'' jammers have to be used, while other systems, such as radar, can be jammed effectively using low power but sophisticated jammers. Geographical situation is very much against the jammer, particularly in ground-based mobile communication systems. The propagation of ground wave is such that a rapid increase of jamming power is required, as the ratio of distances of the jammer to the desired transmitter increases. The jammer is never certain whether or not the communication network is jammed and is never actually able to jam the communications completely. It can only limit the operating range of the system. Different modulation systems are considered and the necessary power density for jamming of each system is discussed. It is concluded that effective jamming of FM systems and other systems with threshold systems is easier than that of AM and, particularly, the SSB systems. However, for nuisance jamming, the opposite is true. Finally, the jamming of the SSB systems is considered in more detail and it is proven that the so-called reduced-carrier SSB systems are not easier to jam than systems with a completely suppressed carrier.


The effect of roasting of Plukenetia huayllabambana seeds on the fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, and phenolic compounds was evaluated. Additionally, the oxidative stability of the seed during roasting was evaluated through free fatty acids, peroxide, and p-anisidine values in the seed oil. Roasting conditions corresponded to 100, 120, 140, and 160°C for 10, 20, and 30 min, respectively. Results indicate that roasting temperatures higher than 120°C significantly affect the content of the studied components. The values of acidity, peroxide, and p-anisidine in the sacha inchi oil from roasted seeds increased during roasting. The treatment of 100°C for 10 min successfully maintained the evaluated bioactive compounds in the seed and quality of the oil, while guaranteeing a higher extraction yield. Our results indicate that P. huayllabambana seed should be roasted at temperatures not higher than 100°C for 10 min to obtain snacks with high levels of bioactive compounds and with high oxidative stability.


Retroperitoneal liposarcoma is a rare solid tumour of mesenchymal origin with an incidence of 2.5 per million population. We report what is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case in the English literature of retroperitoneal liposarcoma in an adult patient with Down syndrome. The tumour was surgically resected with no use of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. No recurrence was found at follow-up 2 months postoperatively. Clinicians should consider retroperitoneal liposarcoma in the differential diagnosis of abdominal distention in adult patients with Down syndrome.


Background Although Northern Ireland can, after 30 years of violence, be described as a 'post-conflict' society it remains intensely segregated with over 15 km of concrete and metal barriers ('Peace-lines') erected to reduce the inter-communal tension at so-called interface areas. To date there has been no exploration of the health of the communities at these interface areas. Objectives This study aims to use the consumption of antidepressant and anxiolytic medication as proxy indicators of mental health to determine if living close to or very close to a peace-line affects mental health. Design Data relating to the consumption of antidepressant and anxiolytic medication over the 2 year period October 2008 to September 2010 was provided by an electronic prescribing database covering the entire population. Peace-lines were mapped using geographic information system techniques. Individuals were deemed to be living very close to or close to a peace-line if one passed through their Census Output Area (average population 336) or Super Output Area (average population 1900) of residence. Logistic regression analysis with adjustment for area deprivation was carried out and multi-level modelling to adjust for clustering within General Practitioner (GP) practices. Results Peace-lines are predominantly located in the most deprived areas with 87% in the most deprived quintile. Overall, 19% of those not close to a peace-line received an antidepressant over the study period compared to 27% of individuals living close or very close to a peace-line. After adjustment for age and sex, the likelihood of receiving an antidepressant increases in areas with proximity to a peace-line, OR=1.67 (95% CI 1.58 to 1.77) and OR=1.76 (95% CI 1.63 to 1.91) for those living close and those living very close a peace-line respectively, compared to the rest of the population. Further adjustment for deprivation attenuated but did not eliminate the relationship; OR=1.14 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.21) and OR= 1.18 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.27). The findings for anxiolytic drug uptake were very similar. Conclusion The residents of areas near to the peace-lines appear to have worse than expected mental health. However, as these data are cross-sectional it is not possible to determine whether the peace-lines are contributing to or ameliorating health status. This record linkage methodology could be used to examine the effect of selective migration in producing these patterns and any future erection or demolition of these walls.


Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to objectively evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy of an in-office bleaching system using a titanium dioxide impregnated bleaching gel in conjunction with an 810 nm diode laser as opposed to a conventional in-office bleaching system. Settings and Design: The study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics, PMS College of Dental Science and Research, Vattapara. The study is an observational study of experimental design. Materials and Methods: Ten subjects were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Resin dam was applied onto the gums and the teeth are isolated. Opalescence boost bleach gel is applied onto two quadrants of each patient, one with titanium dioxide and exposed to 810 nm GaAlAs diode laser and the other quadrant with conventional in-office bleaching using the same agent in trays. Comparison and assessment of degree of whitening between quadrants (and thereby techniques) was done using a Vita Shade guide. The dentinal hypersensitivity was assessed by means of air stimulus. Statistical Analysis Used: Non-parametric test (Wilcoxon signed test), was used to compare the effect of laser bleaching and conventional in-office bleaching based on visual analog score (VAS) score. To compare the shade difference McNemar test was used. Results: Statistically significant value, Z = 2.831 was obtained which proved that laser bleaching had significantly less sensitivity compared to conventional in office bleaching. McNemar test obtained a P value 1, showed that there is absolutely no difference in the brightness obtained by both laser bleaching and conventional in-office bleaching. Conclusions: Laser energy is able to effect physicochemical changes in enamel this is affected by crystalline changes within hydroxyapatite crystal and by the removal of the organic content or carbonate in the intercrystalline areas. Such changes also protect against the harmful effects due to extensive penetration of hydroxyapatite. Diode laser 810 nm has been shown to have effected such changes in bleaching settings.


Optimization is undoubtedly one of the most important and developed fields of applied mathematics. Getting familiar with this field can be overwhelming for the engineer who is looking for simple and effective solutions to a given problem. On the other hand, the pure theoretician is often dealing with highly specialized classes of optimization problems and he is mostly interested in providing convergence analysis. As a consequence of this admittedly caricatured dichotomy, it is not uncommon to observe practitioners making relatively poor choices of solvers. Furthermore, it is also quite rare to find optimization-related literature presenting a balanced trade-off between theoretical developments and more pragmatical approaches. In this thesis, we tend to occupy this in-between research area. Through a series of well-known applications, originating from diverse engineering fields such as computer vision, machine learning and electrical power generation, we adopt a practical point of view and aim at designing specialized algorithms for these problems, based on advanced optimization techniques. The applications we study present several challenges including: - piecewise smooth and non-differentiable objective functions ; - non-linearly constrained admissible sets ; - multimodal landscapes. We resort to derivative-free techniques, exploration heuristics, optimization on manifolds and nonsmooth methods. Finally, we combine these techniques with ideas coming from the meta-heuristics community to design hybrid solutions, providing global exploration of the search space, while ensuring robust local convergence properties.


An actinomycete that developed sporangia containing four spores in a single row at the ends of short sporangiophores on branched aerial hyphae was isolated from subtropical forest soil. The isolate contained menaquinone MK-9(H(4)), glutamic acid, alanine and meso-diaminopimelic acid as cell-wall amino acids and madurose in the whole-cell hydrolysate. The 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the isolate formed a monophyletic cluster with Planotetraspora mira. On the basis of morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness data, a novel species of the genus Planotetraspora is proposed, Planotetraspora silvatica sp. nov. (type strain, TT 00-51(T)=NBRC 100141(T)=DSM 44746(T)).


TThe aim of the study is to analyse teachers' opinion about the development of emotional intelligence in students who have special educational needs in inclusive schools. The method of the questionnaire survey was chosen to achieve the research aim. The study employed two developed questionnaires based on the principle of Likert scale (1-5). The questionnaires were developed for teachers according to the parts of the structure of trait emotional intelligence for students aged 7 to 12 and 13 to 17 years. Questionnaires potentially reveal teachers' opinion about several aspects of emotional intelligence development: how and how often teachers assess, organize targeted and non-targeted educational activities for individual parts of the structure of students' emotional intelligence and promote awareness of their importance. After conducting the research, it was found that the development of parts of the structure of emotional intelligence was carried out differently depending on students' age. Differences were recorded both between the developed parts of the structure and between applied educational activities. Both statistically significant and insignificant research data were obtained and it was found that the development of emotional intelligence for younger students was more oriented to their inner self-knowledge; while for older students, to the aspects of socialization.


OBJECTIVES
High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) use has increased in patients with bronchiolitis, with the majority of use restricted to the ICU. Broadening HFNC to the wards may have substantial economic implications. This study compares the cost of a standardized clinical pathway that permits HFNC use in the wards for patients with bronchiolitis with an ICU-only HFNC care model.

METHODS
We constructed a decision analytic model to simulate 2 options for treating bronchiolitic patients: one in which HFNC is used in the wards (ward HFNC) and one in which HFNC is restricted to the ICU (ICU HFNC). The model inputs were based on patients admitted with bronchiolitis without major comorbidities between 2010 and 2015. 1432 patients were included for analysis. We simulated 10 000 patients for 5000 trials to assess parameter variability and sampling uncertainty, respectively. The primary outcome was average admission cost per patient. The secondary outcome was average length of stay (LOS) per patient.

RESULTS
In the model, the average admission cost per patient for the ward HFNC group was $7020 (95% confidence interval [CI] $6840-$7194) compared with $7626 (95% CI $7427-$7839) in the ICU HFNC group, with a net difference of $606 (95% CI $408-$795). The average LOS for the ward HFNC group was 2.29 days (95% CI 2.24-2.33) compared with 2.61 days (95% CI 2.56-2.66) in the ICU HFNC group, with a net difference of 0.32 days (95% CI 0.27-0.37).

CONCLUSIONS
Using HFNC in the ward for bronchiolitis may be cost-effective and may decrease LOS compared with ICU-only HFNC.


Blue emitting GaN‐based light emitting diodes (LEDs) show a distinct spectral behavior with respect to temperature and injection current density. Operating LEDs with short current pulses of 500 ns provides a steady state situation, which allows investigating the emission behavior of LEDs at a certain device temperature thereby maintaining thermal equilibrium. The LEDs were examined in a temperature range between 4.2 and 400 K and in a current density range between 2 and 50 A cm−2. Low temperature investigations showed a blue shift of the electroluminescence spectra (EL) with respect to junction temperature, which is assigned to the radiative recombination of localized excitons. In the elevated temperature region a distinct red shift due to energy gap shrinkage was observed. Further, we expect an exciton lifetime reduction at 4.2 K. Additionally, the influence of the driving parameters (pulse injection current or direct current (DC)) in the presence of piezoelectric fields is discussed and separated into band filling effect and occurrence of fields, which screen the quantum confined Stark effect. Low temperature investigations indicate that band filling is mainly responsible for the blue shift of the EL spectra with respect to the injection current.


Palaeoscolecidans represent an extinct class of vermiform organisms with a prominent annulation ranging from the Lower Cambrian to the Upper Silurian. Since the first descriptions in the 1950s, they have been attributed to different groups, but recently they have been linked to the priapulids (Conway Morris, 1997). Palaeoscolecids are mainly considered to represent members of Ecdysozoa. Their position within this clade is still under discussion, but cladistic analyses indicate that they are either close relatives of nematomorphs (Hou and Bergström, 1994) or part of an extinct sister clade to the priapulids (Wills, 1998; Dong et al., 2004). The outer cuticle of palaeoscolecidan segments possesses microelements mineralized by calcium phosphate, which are often found isolated in the conodont collections obtained from carbonates after acid treatment. Kraft and Mergl (1989), van den Boogaard (1989b), Hinz et al. (1990), and Müller and Hinz-Schallreuter (1993) clearly showed the evidence that these isolated sclerites originate from certain palaeoscolecidan taxa. The specimens documented in this paper represent such fragmented material from the Manitou Formation of west-central Colorado. Extensive taxonomic and morphologic reviews of the palaeoscolecidans were provided by Müller and Hinz-Schallreuter (1993), Conway Morris (1997), Wrona and Hamdi (2001), and Ivantsov and Wrona (2004).


Motional heating of ions in microfabricated traps is one of the open challenges hindering experimental realizations of large-scale quantum processing devices. Recently, a series of measurements of the heating rates in surface-electrode ion traps characterized their frequency, distance, and temperature dependencies, but our understanding of the microscopic origin of this noise remains incomplete. In this work we develop a theoretical model for the electric field noise which is associated with a random distribution of adsorbed atoms on the trap electrode surface. By using first-principles calculations of the fluctuating dipole moments of the adsorbed atoms we evaluate the distance, frequency, and temperature dependence of the resulting electric field fluctuation spectrum. Our theory reproduces correctly the d{sup -4} dependence with distance of the ion from the electrode surface and calculates the noise spectrum beyond the standard scenario of two-level fluctuators by incorporating all the relevant vibrational states. Our model predicts a regime of 1/f noise which commences at roughly the frequency of the fundamental phonon transition rate and a thermally activated noise spectrum which for higher temperatures exhibits a crossover as a function of frequency.


Photo-activated Adhesive Workholding (PAW) technology is used to hold workpieces for manufacturing processes. This paper proposes a critical irradiance criterion that can be used to determine whether a curing light system is capable of curing a PAW adhesive joint at its maximum rate. It describes a series of experiments that were conducted to investigate the plausibility of this criterion for adhesive joints comprised of a commercially available adhesive mixed with various concentrations of carbon black and at varying thicknesses. Lastly, it provides experimental evidence that indicates that the addition of small concentrations of carbon black to a modified acrylic adhesive does not change its asymptotic, maximum strength. Furthermore, adhesive joints that are exposed to radiation that satisfies the critical irradiance criterion cure at a maximum rate.


Objective: To explore whether clinical variables and initial cognitive abilities predict or moderate (far) transfer treatment outcomes of cognitive training. Method: A total of 98 children (aged 8-12 years) with ADHD were randomly assigned to Cogmed Working Memory Training or a new cognitive training called "Paying Attention in Class." Outcome measures included neurocognitive assessment, parent and teacher rated questionnaires of executive functioning behavior and academic performance. Predictor/moderator variables included use of medication, comorbidity, subtype of ADHD, and initial verbal and visual working memory skills. Results: Parent and teacher ratings of executive functioning behavior were predicted and moderated by subtype of ADHD. Word reading accuracy was predicted by subtype of ADHD and comorbidity. Use of medication and initial verbal and visual spatial working memory skills only predicted and moderated near transfer measures. Conclusion: Cognitive training can be beneficial for certain subgroups of children with ADHD; individual differences should be taken into account in future trials.


The World Health Organization (WHO) considers Female Sexual Dysfunctions (FSDs) to be a public health issue. There are a multitude of disorders such as female sexual arousal disorder, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, orgasmic disorder, dyspareunia, and vaginismus. FSDs are detected in 67.9% of the women in the world and are present in 50% of Asians, in 30-50% of Americans, and in 30% of Brazilians. Objective: To systematically review the literature on the different physiotherapy techniques used in the treatment of FSDs. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the databases EMBASE, PEDro, and MedLine in data as recent as June 2013, by combining words and descriptors of physical therapy treatments and female sexual dysfunctions. Excluded from review were articles concerning male sexual dysfunction, pilot studies, multicentric papers of projects, and those which were either not available in their entirety or were duplicated in another database. After the selection of studies was complete, the randomized clinical trials were scored on the PEDro Evaluation Scale. Results: Eleven articles were included, six of which went on to be qualitatively evaluated on the PEDro scale. The present study followed the methodological structure of PRISMA (Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies). All studies found used questionnaires to assess the effects of physical therapy on FSDs. A total of five different types of interventions were verified: kinesiotherapy (Kegel exercises and pelvic floor muscle training PFMT), Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback, electrotherapy (transcutaneous electrical stimulation TENS, and therapeutic ultrasound US), and manual therapy. The limitations found in this systematic review were related to the unavailability of the articles in full and the low methodological quality of the studies. Conclusion: All studies showed improvements in sexual function after physical therapy intervention. There is no consensus on any intervention with better results; however, kinesiotherapy using PFMT proved to be advantageous because of its easy application, low cost, easy learning curve, and lasting results achieved in a short period. However, there are methodological shortcomings that still need to be dealt with to determine the most suitable physical therapy treatment for FSDs, as well as defining the best dosage, the protocol to be followed, and the duration of therapy, as well as the best cost-benefit.


Many fault detection, optimization, and control logic methods rely on sensor feedback that assumes the system is operating at steady-state conditions, despite persistent transient disturbances. While filtering and signal processing techniques can eliminate some transient effects, this paper proposes an equilibrium prediction method for first-order dynamic systems using an exponential regression. This method is particularly valuable for many commercial and industrial energy system, whose dynamics are dominated by first-order thermo-fluid effects. To illustrate the basic advantages of the proposed approach, Monte Carlo simulations are used. This is followed by three distinct experimental case studies to demonstrate the practical efficacy of the proposed method. First, the ability to predict the carbon dioxide level in classrooms allows for energy efficient control of the ventilation system and ensures occupant comfort. Second, predicting the optimal time to end the cool-down of an industrial sintering furnace allows for maximum part throughput and worker safety. Finally, fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) methods for air conditioning systems typically use static system models; however, the transient response of many air conditioning signals may be approximated as first-order, and therefore, the prediction model enables the use of static fault detection methods with transient data (a need that has not been addressed in over 20 years of air conditioning FDD research). In this paper, the equilibrium prediction method's performance will be quantified using both Monte Carlo simulations and case studies.


The definition, terminology and possible forms of homogeneous expansion of copulas are given. The methodology that provides homogeneous expansions with a proof of their existence is presented. Numerous examples illustrating the usage of the main theorem for valuation of the expansions are indicated.


In the last three decades, several measures of complexity have been proposed. Up to this point, most of such measures have only been developed for finite spaces. In these scenarios the baseline distribution is uniform. This makes sense because, among other things, the uniform distribution is the measure of maximum entropy over the relevant space. Active information traditionally assumes a finite interval universe of discourse but can be extended to other cases where maximum entropy is defined. Illustrating this is the purpose of this paper. Disequilibrium from maximum entropy, measured as active information, can be evaluated from baselines with unbounded support.


Although there have been several recent papers published on the results of day case surgery in children, little has been written on hospital-based day care for medical problems; in spite of this lack of information we believe many paediatric units provide this service. This paper describes our attempts to organize medical day cases on a general paediatric ward, and analyses some problems encountered. It is written in the hope that it will stimulate others to report their experience in this field.


The growth of larval Diaprepes abbreviatus L. was measured after rearing them on roots of rutaceous seedlings for 35 or 42 days. Larvae were fed on seedlings of two common citrus rootstocks, two new hybrids that are under development as rootstocks, and one citrus relative. Live weights of larvae reared on Carrizo or Swingle rootstocks for 42 days increased an average of 10.3and 10.2-fold, respectively; weight increases on the citrus hybrids HRS-802 and HRS-896 for 35 days averaged 7.6and 6.1-fold, respectively; and weight increase on Glycosmis pentaphylla Retzius for 42 days averaged 2.5-fold. A bioassay to test for potential phytochemical sources of resistance against the larvae was developed by incorporating finely milled roots into larval diet. Milled root samples were incorporated into a standard semi-defined diet at 5% concentrations (w/v), and growth of larval weevils was recorded following a 32-day feeding period. Roots collected from uninfested control seedlings in the previous experiment were used. On diet containing no roots, mean larval weight increased 16.8-fold, while weights increased 13.9-fold on diet containing roots of Carrizo, 12.0fold on Swingle, 15.1-fold on HRS-802, 12.3-fold on HRS-896, and only 5.5-fold on G. pentaphylla . Both tests indicate that G. pentaphylla may represent a source of root resistance to D. abbreviatus , and the diet-incorporation tests indicate potential phytochemical or microbial sources of resistance.


The present study aims at enhancing the wear resistance of Ti–6Al–4V by laser surface nitriding. Laser surface treatment has been carried out by melting of the sand blasted Ti–6Al–4V substrate using a high power continuous wave Diode laser with nitrogen as shrouding environment (at a gas flow rate of 5 1/min). Laser surface nitriding led to formation of dendrites of titanium nitrides. The microhardness is improved to a maximum of 900–950 VHN (Vickers hardness number) in laser surface nitriding as compared to 260 VHN of the as-received substrate. Surface nitriding increased primary potential for pit formation (Epp1) as compared to Ti–6Al–4V. Biocompatibility behavior showed a better cell viability due to surface nitriding as compared to the as-received Ti–6Al–4V.


Background: Work environment has a direct effect on general as well as oral cleanness and gingival health conditions. Bakery industry deals primarily with flour which may affect the oral cleanness and gingival health conditions of workers. Aim of study: To assess and compare oral cleanness and gingival health conditions (PlI, CAlIand GI)of groups of workers producing bakery products, and control group of workers not concerned with flour. Materials and methods: Study group consisted of thirtybakery workers in Karbala city. A matching control group of thirty workers in non-production lines in the same factories were selected. Plaque index of Silness and Loe, calculus index of Ramfjord, and gingival index of Loe and Silness were used for recording oral hygiene status. Results: The finding revealed that the bakery group had higher mean values of plaque and calculus and gingivalindices than the control group with statistically non-significant differences. Conclusion: This study showed that bakery workers had higher levels of gingivitis, dental plaque and calculus. It was assumed that these findings were attributed to closer exposure of flour dust in addition to the low education.


CEBAF, the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, is a 5-pass, recirculating, superconducting rf linac designed to provide exceptional beam quality at 4 GeV up to 200 {mu}A CW. It is made up of an injector, two 400-MeV linacs, and 9 recirculation arcs having a total beamline length of more than 4.5 km. On Nov. 5, 1995, CEBAF delivered a 4 GeV, 25-{mu}A CW electron beam to the first of 3 experimental halls and the experimental physics program was started 10 days later. Accelerator availability during the first month of the experimental run exceeded 75%. Beam properties measured in the experimental hall to date are a one sigma momentum spread of 5 x 10{sup -5} and an rms emittance of 0.2 nanometer-radians, better than design specification. CW beam has been provided from all 5 passes at 800 MeV intervals. Outstanding performance of the superconducting linacs suggests a machine energy upgrade to 6 GeV in the near term with eventual machine operation at 8-10 GeV. Results f rom commissioning and operations experience since the last conference are presented.


rather than with the advertising itself," This portion of each chapter takes the dealer step-bystep through the responsibilities of scheduling, coordination of advertising effort, keeping his sales staff informed of the program, record keeping and obtaining proper credit. At the end of the book the author presents a summary in which he sets forth the responsibilities of both manufacturer and dealer and points out that the success of cooperative advertising "depends on the type and amount of cooperation given to the dealer by the manufacturer and the type and amount of cooperation given the manufacturer by the dealer." The author has presented his material clearly and concisely and has organized it in a logical manner. For the dealer this book presents a rather complete guide to the handling of cooperative advertising. The manufacturer will find it is an excellent guide and reference work. However, it fails to cover the subject of control methods for dealers. Well developed plans for controlling expenditures and timing can materially influence the profitability of cooperative advertising. F. R. CAWL, JR. Hearst Advertising Service


BackgroundEndurance athletes have a high incidence of orthostatic intolerance. We hypothesized that this is related to an abnormally large decrease in left ventricular enddiastolic volume (LVEDV) and stroke volume (SV) for any given decrease in filling pressure. Methods and ResultsWe measured pulmonary capillary wedge (PCW) pressure (Swan-Ganz catheter), LVEDV (two-dimensional echocardiography), and cardiac output (C2H2 rebreathing) during lower body negative pressure (LBNP, −15 and −30 mm Hg) and rapid saline infusion (15 and 30 ml/kg) in seven athletes and six controls (V˙o2max, 68 ± 7 and 41 ± 4 ml/kg/min). Orthostatic tolerance was determined by progressive LBNP to presyncope. Athletes had steeper slopes of their SV/PCW pressure curves than nonathletes (5.5 + 2.7 versus 2.7 + 1.5 mI/mm Hg, p < 0.05). The slope of the steep, linear portion of this curve correlated significantly with the duration of LBNP tolerance (r = 0.58, p = 0.04). The athletes also had reduced chamber stiffness (increased chamber compliance) expressed as the slope (k) of the dP/dV versus P relation (chamber stiffness, k = 0.008 ± 0.004 versus 0.031 ± 0.004, p < 0.005; chamber compliance, l/k = 449.8 + 283.8 versus 35.3 ± 4.3). This resulted in larger absolute and relative changes in end-diastolic volume over an equivalent range of filling pressures. ConclusionsEndurance athletes have greater ventricular diastolic chamber compliance and distensibility than nonathletes and thus operate on the steep portion of their Starling curve. This may be a mechanical, nonautonomic cause of orthostatic intolerance.


The interest in alternative therapeutics use has increased over the past few decades. Valerian, also known as "plant Valium," is a popular choice as a natural remedy for insomnia or anxiety. In order to ensure patient safety, clinicians need to be knowledgeable about commonly used alternative therapeutic products, their mechanisms of action, and potential pharmacological interactions. We present an unusual case of encephalopathy due to the combination of Valerian root, a plant with putative sedating properties, along with a natural "γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplement." This case highlights the importance of thoroughly exploring alternative therapies when evaluating encephalopathy as well as the importance of being educated on the commonly used agents.


STUDY OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of cabergoline, a dopamine-receptor agonist with a long half-life, in restless legs syndrome (RLS).

DESIGN
A 2 month, single blind, open labeled clinical trial. Patients were evaluated with polysomnography at baseline (B), following 1 week of placebo (T0), and after 1 week (T1) and 2 months (T2) of cabergoline treatment. The clinical global impression was assessed using International RLS Study Group Rating Scale and nocturnal actigraphy.

SETTING
Sleep Disorders Center.

PATIENTS
Twelve patients with moderate to severe RLS (mean age 56.6 years) who were naive to treatment with dopaminergic agents.

INTERVENTIONS
Upward titration of cabergoline (from 0.5 mg to 2 mg) in a single evening dose.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS
Ten patients completed the study (mean dose, 1.1 mg), and all showed an improvement of RLS symptoms. The results from the International RLS Study Group Rating Scale showed similarities between B (24.3+/-2.9) and T0 (23.1+/-5.9; P=0.6), with significant improvement at T1 (12.5+/-6.0; P=0.01 vs B and T0) and T2 (9.8+/-6.9; P=0.001 vs B and P=0.005 vs T0). The mean nocturnal activity value measured by actigraphy during week 1 decreased from T0 (19.8+/-9.3) to T1 (13.6+/-6.4) and dropped significantly at T2 (8.5+/-5.3; P=0.05). Nine patients continued the treatment up to 12 months with consistent efficacy, few side effects, and no augmentation.

CONCLUSIONS
Low doses of cabergoline showed effectiveness and safety in patients with moderate to severe RLS, with no appearance of augmentation phenomenon. Double blind, crossover, polysomnographic studies are necessary to confirm this preliminary data.


We report the discovery of Balmer broad absorption lines (BALs) in the quasar LBQS 1206+1052 and present a detailed analysis of the peculiar absorption line spectrum. Besides the Mg II λλ2796, 2803 doublet, BALs are also detected in the He I* multiplet at λλ2946, 3189, 3889 Å arising from the metastable helium 23S level, and in Hα and Hβ from the excited hydrogen H I* n = 2 level, which are rarely seen in quasar spectra. We identify two components in the BAL troughs of Δυ ∼2000 km s−1 width: One component shows an identical profile in H I*, He I* and Mg II with its centroid blueshifted by −υc ≈ 726 km s−1. The other component is detected in He I* and Mg II with − υc ≈ 1412 km s−1. We estimate the column densities of H I*, He I*, and Mg II, and compare them with possible level population mechanisms. Our results favor the scenario that the Balmer BALs originate in a partially ionized region with a column density of NH ∼ 1021 − 1022 cm-2 for an electron density of ne ∼ 106 − 108 cm-3 via Lyα resonant scattering pumping. The harsh conditions needed may help to explain the rarity of Balmer absorption line systems in quasar spectra. With an i-band PSF magnitude of 16.50, LBQS 1206+1052 is the brightest Balmer-BAL quasar ever reported. Its high brightness and unique spectral properties make LBQS 1206+1052 a promising candidate for follow-up high-resolution spectroscopy, multi-band observations, and long-term monitoring.


A direct spectrophotometric method for the determination of chlordiazepoxide and diazepam in the presence of their degradation products is presented. The method is based on the use of the combined polynomial method. Thus, the coefficient, pw, of the combined polynomial, Pw, calculated over the wavelength ranges 230–318 nm at 8-nm intervals and 272–360 nm at 8-nm intervals for chlordiazepoxide and diazepam, respectively, in 0.1 N hyrochloric acid, is independent of the degradation products and is reproducible, with relative standard deviations of 0.46 and 0.19%, respectively. The mean recoveries for mixtures of each drug with the respective degradation products were 100.2 ± 1.2 and 100.2 ± 0.7%. When applied to commercial tablets, the results were in good agreement with the BP method. Plots of logarithm of concentration against time for a solution in 6 N hydrochloric acid gave straight lines with slopes of –0.0728 and –0.0250 d–1 for chlordiazepoxide and diazepam, respectively. The proposed method is a stability-indicating method.


PURPOSE: We have previously reported results of a pilot study in patients with locally advanced breast cancer receiving primary systemic chemotherapy (PST) showing that a decrease in tumor choline concentration ([tCho]) measured one day after starting treatment was associated with clinical response based on MRI. In this follow-up study with a larger cohort, we assessed whether early changes in [tCho] were associated with clinical response, based on both MRI and pathology, and survival. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Women with locally advanced breast cancer scheduled for PST were scanned using a high-field MRI/MRS protocol prior to treatment, day 1 after treatment, and at the end of the first course of chemotherapy. MRI/MRS was performed on a 4 T Varian system with unilateral transmit/receive breast coils. MRI consisted of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted 3D gradient echo scans with one-minute temporal resolution. A single-voxel MR spectrum was acquired from the index lesion after MRI, and the concentration of total choline compounds ([tCho]) was quantified using water as an internal reference. Clinical response was assessed using RECIST criteria for measuring the longest diameter (LD) of the index lesion, and by pathologic complete response (pCR) at definitive surgery. Overall survival (OS) and invasive disease free survival (IDFS) were assessed by retrospective review of clinical records and the social security death index. The associations of change in [tCho] with pCR/LD response and with IDFS/OS were assessed using logistic/Cox regression, respectively, adjusted for node positivity and pCR status. RESULTS: Of the 74 women enrolled in the trial, 51 women (ages 28–71, median 47 years) were scanned at all time points and included in the final analysis. Of these, 17 subjects had a partial or complete imaging RECIST response based on a ≥30% decrease of the LD of the index lesion. Pathologic complete response, defined as no detectable invasive disease in the breast, was observed in 13/51 overall subjects and in 6/35 hormone receptor positive (ER+ or PR+) subjects. Median follow-up time for survival analysis was 64 months (range 11–102 months). Linear models showed no significant association between change in [tCho] and either pCR or RECIST response. An increase in [tCho] between the pretreatment scan and day 1 after treatment was found to be associated with reduced likelihood of both OS and IDFS. We found no association between pCR status and either OS or IDFS when considering all subjects and in the HR+ cohort (see Table 1). No results could be reported for the HR- group (14 subjects) due to an insufficient number of events. CONCLUSION: Compared to our previous study, we did not confirm that changes in [tCho] were associated with RECIST responses. However, increased MRS-measured [tCho] after 1 day of treatment was associated with reduced OS and IDFS independent of pCR. We conclude that increases in [tCho] might be a negative predictor of chemotherapy benefit. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-14-11.


The aim of this study was to examine the suppressive effect of simvastatin on intramural coronary arterial lesions in cholesterol-fed rabbits. In one experiment, six groups of rabbits were fed laboratory chow alone or with added 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.5% or 1.0% cholesterol for 16 weeks. In another experiment, four groups of rabbits were fed a 0.5% cholesterol diet and treated with simvastatin at 1, 3, or 5 mg/kg/day or placebo. In each rabbit, the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) were determined at 1-week intervals to calculate the integrated values. The lesion induction ratio was defined as the ratio of intramural coronary arteries 50-150 μm in diameter with arterial lipoidosis to the total number of arteries of the same diameter. In the two experiments, there were positive correlations between the lesion induction ratio and integrated TC (r=0.785, P < 0.0001 and r=0.763, P<0.0001, respectively). The slopes of the regression lines for integrated TC obtained in the two experiments were similar, but the lesion induction ratio in the simvastatin-treated group was always lower, by about 14%, in comparison with that in the nonsimvastatin-treated group. These findings suggest that simvastatin induces lesion reduction not only by reducing the levels of circulating cholesterol but also by directly suppressing the development of lipoidosis.


The antineoplastic agent bryostatin-1 (bryo-1) possesses powerful immunomodulatory properties and can function as a biological response modifier in vivo. However, there is currently little information regarding the effects of bryo-1 on cells of the monocytic lineage. In this study, we demonstrate that bryo-1 can potently induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from human peripheral blood monocytes. Stimulation of monocytes with subnanomolar concentrations of bryo-1 significantly upregulated the constitutive levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA and induced the expression of IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-6 mRNA in a time and dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, secretion of all four proinflammatory cytokines was induced after monocyte exposure to bryo-1. Furthermore, we showed that bryo-1 selectively synergized with IL-2 in triggering monocyte activation, and this effect seemed to be dependent, at least in part, on the ability of bryo-1 to upregulate IL-2Rgamma chain expression. Finally, we demonstrated that the responses of monocytes to bryo-1 could be blocked by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors staurosporine and UCN-01, indicating a role for PKC in monocyte activation by bryo-1. These results show for the first time that bryo-1 is a powerful activator of human monocytes and suggest that stimulation of monokine secretion by bryo-1 may represent at least one of the mechanisms responsible for the in vivo antitumor activity of this drug.


The hazard ratio is routinely used as a summary measure to assess the treatment effect in clinical trials with time-to-event endpoints. It is frequently assumed as constant over time although this assumption often does not hold. When the hazard ratio deviates considerably from being constant, the average of its plausible values is not a valid measure of the treatment effect, can be clinically misleading and common sample size formulas are not appropriate.
In this paper, we study the hazard ratio along time of a two-component composite endpoint under the assumption that the hazard ratio for each component is constant.
This work considers two measures for quantifying the non-proportionality of the hazard ratio: the difference $D$ between the maximum and minimum values of hazard ratio over time and the relative measure $R$ representing the ratio between the sample sizes for the minimum detectable and the average effects. We illustrate $D$ and $R$ by means of the ZODIAC trial where the primary endpoint was progression-free survival.
We have run a simulation study deriving scenarios for different values of the hazard ratios, different event rates and different degrees of association between the components. We illustrate situations that yield non-constant hazard ratios for the composite endpoints and consider the likely impact on sample size.
Results show that the distance between the two component hazard ratios plays an important role, especially when they are close to 1. Furthermore, even when the treatment effects for each component are similar, if the two-component hazards are markedly different, hazard ratio of the composite is often non-constant.


Context. Increasing the area on the sky over which atmospheric turbulences can be corrected is a matter of wide interest in astrophysics, especially when a new generation of extremely large telescopes (ELT) is to come in the near future.
Aims. In this study we tested if a method for visual representation in three-dimensional displays, the weighted nonnegative tensor factorization (WNTF), is able to improve the quality of the atmospheric tomography (AT) reconstruction as compared to a more standardized method like a randomized Kaczmarz algorithm.
Methods. A total of 1000 different atmospheres were simulated and recovered by both methods. Recovering was computed for two and three layers and for four different constellations of laser guiding stars (LGS). The goodness of both methods was tested by means of the radial average of the Strehl ratio across the field of view of a telescope of 8m diameter with a sky coverage of 97.8 arcsec.
Results. The proposed method significantly outperformed the Kaczmarz in all tested cases (p ≤ 0.05). In WNTF, three-layers configuration provided better outcomes, but there was no clear relation between different LGS constellations and the quality of Strehl ratio maps.
Conclusions. The WNTF method is a novel technique in astronomy and its use to recover atmospheric turbulence profiles was proposed and tested. It showed better quality of reconstruction than a conventional Kaczmarz algorithm independently of the number and height of recovered atmospheric layers and of the constellation of laser guide star used. The WNTF method was shown to be a useful tool in highly ill-posed AT problems, where the difficulty of classical algorithms produce high Strehl value maps.


Cloud Computing (CC) became a new milestone in era of information technology. Almost unlimited possibilities for the storing information, data processing and virtual machine creation discovered unique per- spectives. However, new technologies bring new threats, risks and serious consequences.


The concrete structures in Metropolitan city are usually exposed to carbonation and corrosion of embedded steel occurs due to the carbonation. In inspection and diagnosis of concrete structures, carbonation depth in sound concrete is mainly evaluated and service life for concrete structure is predicted based on the result. Generally, however, mass concrete structures such as columns have construction joint for suitable placing and also have cracks in early-age. In this study, carbonation depth in RC columns used for 20 years in metropolitan city is evaluated and also analyzed by considering the local conditions like sound, cracked, and joint area. The carbonation depth in cracked and joint area is more rapid than that in sound area, and it is thought to be more desirable to consider this effect in concrete structures with small cover depth. Furthermore, the technique for carbonation prediction in cracked concrete is derived in terms of crack width and the results from this technique are verified by comparing those from previous research.


Two young adults with impending gangrene due to persistent Raynaud's vasospasm were studied by sequential intra-arterial (IA) infusion of three vasodilatory drugs while arterial pressure and plethysmographic digital pulse volume were continuously monitored. The results of the IA infusion accurately predicted relief from vasospastic symptoms by oral drugs of the same class. This method may be useful in selecting the most effective vasodilator for patients with severe vasospasm.