Experiments were conducted with four kinds of flowering plants to compare one-time vs. continuous application of paclobutrazol in subirrigation water. When a crop reached the stage at which it required growth regulator treatment, four concentrations of paclobutrazol were applied via subirrigation either one-time or continuously until the crop was terminated. Based upon regression equations, concentrations resulting in 30% size reduction for one-time applications of paclobutrazol were 0.01 mg.L -1 for Begonia ×semperflorens-cultorum Cocktail Gin', 0.09 mg.L -1 for Impatiens wallerana Hook. Super Elfin White', 0.2 mg.L -1 for Dendranthema ×grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitamura Tara', and 2.4 mg.L -1 for Petunia ×hybrida Vilm.-Andr. Plum Crazy'. Respective optimal values for continuous application were 0.005, 0.02, 0.06, and 0.4 mg.L -1 . Increasing the concentration for continuous application had a greater effect on paclobutrazol efficacy than did increasing the concentration for a single application. In a trial with impatiens Super Elfin Salmon Blush', the paclobutrazol concentration was reduced 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% (single application) for each successive subirrigation event following an initial application of 0.1 mg.L -1 of paclobutrazol. The 50%, 75%, and 100% reduction treatments provided similar levels of size control. Dilution was more important when the reduction rate was less than 50%. Chemical name used: (±)-(R * ,R * )-β-[ (4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-α-( ( 1, 1 -dimethyl) -1/ / -1, 2, 4-triazole-1 -ethanol (paclobutrazol).


The paper presents an application of the Galerkin triangular mesh finite element method using linear approximation, in axisymmetrical and plane geometry, to the design of liquid metal annular induction pumps. The code was tested by comparison with: - analytical calculations in simple geometry cases (15 × 15 square mesh) - test results on pumps constructed. Each calculation is also checked by internal balance of powers. The finite element method is particularly suitable for this application where a practical analytical method is not sufficiently accurate.


17 Background: Abiraterone acetate (AA) has recently been approved for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) following docetaxel chemotherapy. AA inhibits CYP17, reducing androgen production and thereby impacting androgen receptor (AR) signalling. Recent evidence suggests taxanes also impact AR signalling, raising concerns about potential cross-resistance. We have previously shown that docetaxel has no antitumor activity in AA refractory patients. We have now evaluated the antitumor activity of AA post-docetaxel to determine the activity of AA in docetaxel refractory patients.

METHODS
Forty four men with CRPC treated with docetaxel (75 mg/m2 every 21 days) followed by post-chemotherapy AA at the Royal Marsden Hospital were identified. Radiological response by RECIST, PSA response by PSAWG2 criteria and symptomatic benefit were evaluated.

RESULTS
An average of 9 cycles of docetaxel were given (range 3-17); 7 patients discontinued chemotherapy due to progression of disease and 10 for toxicity. Of 40 patients with PSA data available, 26 (65%) had a PSA decline of at least 50%. At commencement of AA, median age was 68 years. Bone, nodal and visceral metastases were present in 38 (86%), 23 (52%) and 6 (14%) of the cohort respectively. An average of 5 months of treatment were delivered and 23 patients continue on AA. Of the 44, 7 (16%) patients had a 50% or greater PSA decline on AA. None of the 7 patients who were docetaxel refractory had a subsequent PSA, radiological or clinical response to AA. Of the 6 patients who received less than 5 cycles of docetaxel due to toxicity, 2 had subsequent PSA response on AA. There was no relationship between length of time on LHRH agonist and PSA response to AA.

CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that patients who are refractory to docetaxel do not respond to AA. Overall, in conjunction with our other evidence that in AA-refractory patients docetaxel has no antitumor activity, these data provide further evidence for cross-resistance between these two agents.


Rationale: Exposure to house dust, containing HDM and LPS, is associated with severity of allergic asthma. We hypothesized that adding LPS to bronchial provocation with HDM amplifies allergic inflammation in asthmatics on maintenance treatment with inhalation corticosteroids (ICS). Aim: To assess the allergic inflammatory response in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid induced by provocation with HDM +/- LPS. Methods: We included 39 mild asthmatic patients with HDM allergy. After 2 weeks run-in with fluticasone 100μg bid, blood was drawn and subjects underwent bronchoscopy for instillation of saline in one lung followed by instillation of HDM +/- LPS in the contralateral lung. Six hours later, blood was drawn and BAL was performed. Statistical comparisons were made by Univariate Analysis. Results: Additional instillation of LPS to HDM resulted in a significant increase in peripheral blood leukocytes and neutrophils, and a decrease of eosinophils. Provocation with HDM+LPS significantly increased total cell numbers, neutrophils, and Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) in BAL fluid (p=0.04), and showed a trend towards an increase in eosinophils. Conclusion: Additional instillation of LPS to a provocation with HDM in mild asthma decreases circulating eosinophils and increases pulmonary eosinophil influx and ECP-release, despite treatment with ICS.


The synthesis and sorption performance of As(V) with a copolymer resin is presented. The resin was obtained via the radical polymerization of a 1:1 mixture of N‐(4‐vinyl benzyl)‐N‐methyl‐D‐glucamine and (4‐vinyl benzyl)trimethyl ammonium chloride using N,N‐methylene‐bis‐acrylamide as the crosslinker. The effect of pH, concentration, and time on the arsenic sorption was studied. The copolymer exhibited good performance over a wide pH range regardless of the initial concentrations. The equilibrium experiments presented better results under alkaline conditions (pH 9.0) compared with acidic conditions (pH 3.0). The kinetic sorption was quite fast, particularly at low arsenic concentrations. In addition, the arsenic anions were eluted with different acid/alkaline reagents, and the acid eluents exhibited the best results. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 1187–1193, 2014


Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity especially in young ages, while over 30 years of neuroprotective agents use for TBI management provided neither any recommended agent for favorable outcome nor less adverse effects in TBI management yet. This review got selected keywords ' search and ran in known international and local databases, with no limitation up to September 6, 2015. Related to the subject, clinical human studies have been selected for the review. Data from 32 studies were classified into 10 subgroups. About 18 studies with a population of 4637 participants were included in 6 topic reviews and meta-analyses. Oxygen use in acute management of TBI to reduce mortality rates could be recommended. Corticosteroid use in solo acute TBI management is prohibited due to increasing risk of mortalities. However, in dual-diagnosed patients (TBI and spinal cord injury (SCI) together), corticosteroid use should be obtained by a Bracken protocol. The use of citicoline in acute TBI is no more supported. The use of cyclosporine-A for ICP control depends on the resources and physician ' s decision. Rivastigmine use for chronic neurocognitive conditions of TBI management had some beneficence in severely impaired participants. However, the use of other agents in TBI has no field of support yet.


The experiment was conducted at ASPEE, Agricultural Research and Development Foundation Lab, Village Nare, Taluka Wada, District Thane, Maharashtra during Rabi 2013-14. In this study the effects of different levels of sugar in pulsing treatments on post harvest quality of gladiolus cv. American Beauty was carried out. For long-distance transportation, an even earlier harvest stage can be recommended, if it is combined with sugar pulsing (20 % for 20hrs.) to ensure proper opening of the flowers at their destination market. The treatment 20% sugar results in a greater number of opened flowers, marketable condition of spike and longer vase life of spike in days for the gladiolus cv. American Beauty. The parameter of vase life was studied indicated that, the sugar levels increased ultimately increasing the greater number of opened flowers per spike over control


ABSTRACT Birds are maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs. The evidence supporting the systematic position of Avialae as a derived clade within Dinosauria is voluminous and derived from multiple independent lines of evidence. In contrast, a paucity of selectively chosen data weakly support, at best, alternative proposals regarding the origin of birds and feathers. Opponents of the theory that birds are dinosaurs have frequently based their criticisms on unorthodox interpretations of paleontological data and misrepresentation of phylogenetic systematic methods. Moreover, arguments against the nested position of Avialae in Dinosauria have often conflated the logically distinct questions of avian origins, the evolution of flight, and the phylogenetic distribution of feathers. Motivated by a Perspectives article with numerous factual inaccuracies that recently appeared in The Auk, we provide a review of the full complement of facts pertaining to the avian origins debate and address the misplaced criticisms raised in that opinion paper.


Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of biopolymers with numerous applications, but the high cost of production has prevented their use. To reduce this cost, there is a prospect for strains with a high PHA production and the ability to grow in low-cost by-products. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate marine bacteria capable of producing PHA. Using Nile red, 30 organisms among 155 were identified as PHA producers in the medium containing starch, and 27, 33, 22 and 10 strains were found to be positive in media supplemented with carboxymethyl cellulose, glycerol, glucose and Tween 80, respectively. Among the organisms studied, two isolates, LAMA 677 and LAMA 685, showed strong potential to produce PHA with the use of glycerol as the carbon source, and were selected for further studies. In the experiment used to characterize the growth kinetics, LAMA 677 presented a higher maximum specific growth rate (µmax = 0.087 h−1) than LAMA 685 (µmax = 0.049 h−1). LAMA 677 also reached a D-3-hydroxybutyrate (P(3HB)) content of 78.63% (dry biomass), which was 3.5 times higher than that of LAMA 685. In the assay of the production of P(3HB) from low-cost substrates (seawater and biodiesel waste glycerol), LAMA 677 reached a polymer content of 31.7%, while LAMA 685 reached 53.6%. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the selected marine strains have the potential to produce PHA, and seawater and waste glycerol may be alternative substrates for the production of this polymer.


Background: Mutations in the NPM1 gene are among the most common genetic alterations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). NPM1 mutations predominantly occur in patients with normal or intermediate-risk abnormal cytogenetics, and define a distinct subgroup of AML patients recognized in the 2016 WHO classification. Overall, mutated NPM1 associates with favorable response to induction chemotherapy and relatively favorable overall survival. However, this prognostic impact is modulated by the presence of other gene mutations including FLT3 internal tandem duplications (ITD) and DNMT3A mutations. Recently, Patel and colleagues reported that a high variant allele frequency (VAF) of mutated NPM1 at the time of initial diagnosis associates with unfavorable outcomes in de novo AML (Blood 131:2816-25). This interesting and unexpected observation prompted us to investigate the association between NPM1 VAF and outcomes in a large AML patient cohort.
 Patients and Methods: We studied NPM1 mutated AML patients who had been enrolled on two successive multicenter phase III trials of the German AML Cooperative Group (AML-CG 1999, NCT00266136; AML-CG 2008, NCT01382147) and genetically characterized by amplicon-based targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS, Agilent Haloplex; Metzeler et al., Blood 128:686-98 and unpublished data). All patients had received induction chemotherapy containing cytarabine with either daunorubicin plus thioguanine or mitoxantrone. The minimum VAF for calling of insertion/deletion variants was 0.05, and samples with NPM1 coverage <100-fold (n=17) were excluded. FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) status and FLT3 ITD-to-wild type allelic ratio were determined by PCR and fragment analysis from gDNA.
 Results: We identified 417 NPM1-mutated patients (type A mutations, 316; type B, 28; type D, 35; and other types, 38). Median patient age was 56 years (range, 19 - 86 years), and 31/414 patients (7.5%) with cytogenetic data had abnormal karyotypes. The median NPM1 VAF was 0.43 (range, 0.05 to 1.0). Type A NPM1 mutations had significantly higher VAFs than non-type A mutations (median, 0.43 vs. 0.41; P=.0002), while type B mutations had lower VAFs than non-type B mutations (median, 0.34 vs. 0.43; P=.0025) (Figure A). Age or karyotype did not associate with NPM1 VAF.
 NPM1 VAF, as a continuous variable, did not associate with response to induction chemotherapy (P=.6) or relapse-free survival (P=.22). A higher NPM1 VAF did, however, associate with shorter OS (hazard ratio for an increase in NPM1 VAF equal to the interquartile range, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.30; P=.049). In particular, patients in the lowest quartile of NPM1 allele burden ('low NPM1 VAF') had longer OS than patients with allele burdens above the 25th percentile ('high NPM1 VAF') (median OS, 63.7 vs. 27.0 months; 5-year OS, 51% vs 42%; P=.05; Figure B).
 Patients with high NPM1 VAF had higher leukocyte counts (median, 46000/µl vs. 9300/µl; P<.0001) and bone marrow blast percentages (median, 85% vs. 80%; P=.0004) than patients with low NPM1 VAF. On the genetic level, patients with high NPM1 VAF more frequently had concomitant FLT3-ITD (47% vs. 37%; P=.07), and particularly FLT3-ITD with a high (≥0.5) mutant-to-wild type ratio (33% vs. 17%; P=.007), compared to patients with low NPM1 VAF. DNMT3A co-mutation was also more frequent in patients with high vs. low NPM1 VAF (63% vs. 46%; P=.002). In multivariable analyses adjusting for FLT3-ITD allelic ratio and/or DNMT3A mutation status, only the latter genetic alterations but not NPM1 VAF remained associated with OS.
 Conclusion: Our study confirms the recent report that adult AML patients with high NPM1 mutant allele burden have shorter survival. In our cohort, however, higher NPM1 VAF also associated with higher leukocyte counts and marrow blast percentage, and with prognostically adverse FLT3-ITD and DNMT3A mutations. After adjusting for these confounders, NPM1 allelic burden did not independently predict survival in our analysis. We therefore suspect that high NPM1 VAF may be a surrogate marker of highly proliferative AML subsets, for example those with high allelic ratio FLT3-ITD, rather than a novel independent prognostic factor.
 Figure. Figure.

 Prassek: Jannsen: Other: Travel support; Celgene: Other: Travel support. Subklewe:Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Hiddemann:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; F. Hoffman-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Metzeler:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy.


HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a disabling chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with similarities to multiple sclerosis (MS). To date, the lack of a suitable small animal model has hindered our quest to understand the immuno- and neuropathogenesis of HTLV-1 in an in vivo system. Previous work from others have established that host immune response plays a critical role in the outcome of HTLV-1 infection, which could be better tested in the context of humanized (hu) mice. Thus, we employ here the Rag1 as well as Bone marrow-Liver-Thymic (BLT) mouse models for engraftment of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and followed HTLV-1 infection. Flow cytometry and histological analyses revealed reconstitution of Rag1 and BLT mice with human immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells and B cells. Proviral load (PVL) was determined in the peripheral blood, spleen, and other organs of neonatal and adult Rag1 and BLT hu-mice by droplet digital PCR. Tax showed peak expression at 14 wpi in Rag1 mice with continued expression until 16 weeks. Within blood, PVL and viral protein Tax was detected as early as 2 wks post-infection (wpi) in Rag-1 and BLT hu-mice. Successful infection was followed by immune activation and Tax expression within lymphoid organs. Moreover, lymphocytic infiltration with concomitant Tax expression and resulting myelin disruption were observed in the spinal cord of the infected mice. These data represents the first attempt to establish HTLV-1 neuropathogenesis in the context of RAG1 and BLT mice suggesting possibility of developing a small animal model of HAM/TSP in humanized mice.


Four-photon laser scattering spectra of bidistilled water and aqueous solutions of biopolymers (proteins and DNA), carbon nanotubes and hydrogen peroxide have been measured in the range ±10 cm-1. The spectra show rotational resonances of H2O2, ortho-H2O and para-H2O molecules. The resonance contribution of the H2O rotational spectrum to the four-photon scattering signal in the solutions of the biopolymers and hydrophobic nanoparticles is an order of magnitude larger in comparison with water, which points to free rotation of the water molecules near the surface of such particles. This effect is due to the formation of water depletion layers near hydrophobic nanoparticles, as predicted in earlier theoretical studies.


Storytelling can play a critical role in the success of modern video games. Unfortunately, it can often be quite difficult for storytellers to directly craft content for games, typically
requiring them to work with programmers to implement story elements. This needlessly complicates the development process, straining scarce resources while potentially hampering
creativity and story quality at the same time. As a result, supports and tools are necessary to enable storytellers to generate story content for games directly, with minimal programming or programmer assistance required, if any.

This paper introduces a Reusable Scripting Engine to automate the generation of cinematics and cut-scenes in video games. This approach allows storytellers to provide their
stories in a well-defined, structured format, which is then interpreted by our engine, along with supplemental graphic and audio content, to produce an animated presentation of the story in an automated fashion. This paper presents the design of our Reusable Scripting Engine, and discusses a prototype implementation of this design, as well as initial experiences with using this prototype system to date.


Abstract Background: Autoimmune diabetes mellitus (CPI-DM) caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) is rare- occurring in approximately one percent of patients exposed to this form of cancer immunotherapy. Typically, this immune related adverse event occurs after treatment with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. It is characterized by abrupt insulinopenia leading to acute hyperglycemia. Beta cell autoantibodies are positive in approximately half the cases. DKA is common at the time of diagnosis. Recovery of beta cell function has been reported in only two case reports. In one case, spontaneous resolution occurred following cessation of CPI therapy and in the other the patient was treated with infliximab for concurrent inflammatory arthritis prior to resolution of CPI-DM. Clinical Case: A 50-year-old woman was started on adjuvant pembrolizumab for stage IIIC melanoma following surgery. She had no prior history of diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, or other autoimmune disease. Pre-infusion random blood glucoses (RBG) were 84 - 105 mg/dL. After 36 weeks, she developed hypothyroidism (TSH 17.5 (0.5-4.1 mIU/L), FT4 6 (10-18 ug/dL)) and started levothyroxine. Pembrolizumab was continued. For nine weeks following her diagnosis with CPI- hypothyroidism, her pre-infusion RBG ranged from 102-133. At 45 weeks (15 cycles) after initiating pembrolizumab, her RBG was 260. She was not on glucocorticoids and had no other signs of inflammation or stress. Pembrolizumab was continued. Just prior to her 17th cycle, 48 weeks after initiating adjuvant pembrolizumab, her RBG was 482 with a normal anion gap and HCO3, and her A1c was 8.9%. Her last dose of pembrolizumab was held. She started metformin and liraglutide. In just three weeks, a random c-peptide was inadequate at 1.7 (0.8-3.5 ng/mL) with a recent RBG of 220 and A1c of 10.3%, showing the acuity and extremity of her hyperglycemia. Over the course of the year, she has achieved excellent glucose control (A1c 6.3-7.1) on this regimen with preservation of insulin production (c-peptides 1.4-1.8 with matched RBG 92-129). She never required insulin. Her beta cell autoantibodies are negative. Clinical Lessons: This is a case of CPI-DM in which the patient did not have complete loss of beta-cell function. The acuity of her hyperglycemia is not consistent with new onset type 2 diabetes. At diagnosis, her c-peptide was inadequate suggesting insufficient insulin production rather than insulin resistance. Therefore, her hyperglycemia is more consistent with CPI-DM than type 2 diabetes. Atypically, she did not progress to fulminant beta cell failure, which could have been due to cessation of pembrolizumab (which is not unique to this case), initiation of liraglutide and metformin, or other unknown immunologic responses that inhibited full beta cell loss. This case raises the possibility of preventing fully insulin dependent CPI-DM if hyperglycemia is caught and treated early.


Recently, AI has been used in industry for very precise quality control of various products or in the automation of production processes through the use of trained artificial neural networks (ANNs) which allow us to completely replace a human in often tedious work or in hard-to-reach locations. Although the search for analytical formulas is often desirable and leads to accurate descriptions of various phenomena, when the problem is very complex or when it is impossible to obtain a complete set of data, methods based on artificial intelligence perfectly complement the engineering and scientific workshop. In this article, different AI algorithms were used to build a relationship between the mechanical parameters of papers used for the production of corrugated board, its geometry and the resistance of a cardboard sample to edge crushing. There are many analytical, empirical or advanced numerical models in the literature that are used to estimate the compression resistance of cardboard across the flute. The approach presented here is not only much less demanding in terms of implementation from other models, but is as accurate and precise. In addition, the methodology and example presented in this article show the great potential of using machine learning algorithms in such practical applications.


The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the snake-directed antipredator behavior of rock squirrels; (2) to assess whether rock squirrels distinguish nonvenomous gopher snakes from venomous rattlesnakes; (3) to compare antisnake behavior in a snake-rare urban site and a snake-abundant wilderness site as a means of assessing whether natural selection or experience has generated population differences in behavior; (4) to assess snake densities in the two study sites; (5) to compare the antisnake behavior of rock squirrels with that of their closest relatives, California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi), a species that appears to differ from rock squirrels in exhibiting marked sexual-size dimorphism; and (6) to gather additional data on sexual size dimorphism in these two ground squirrel species. We tethered nonvenomous gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) and venomous western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) in the field near burrows of marked squirrels and videotaped the ensuing interactions. Rock squirrels from both urban and wilderness populations confronted snakes while waving their fluffed tails from side to side, throwing substrate at the snakes, and even attacking snakes on occasion. Survey data confirmed large differences in snake densities between the two sites. Squirrels from the snake-abundant wilderness site distinguished rattlesnakes from gopher snakes, but squirrels from the snake-rare urban site did not. Since these squirrels show similar evidence of selection from snakes, as revealed by their equivalent physiological resistance to rattlesnake venom, we attributed these behavioral differences to the effects of snake experience. Rock squirrel antisnake behavior was very similar to that of California ground squirrels. Where the two species' behavior was dissimilar, the differences may be due in part to the interspecies variation in sexual size dimorphism confirmed in this study, and to the greater number of rattlesnake species that rock squirrels encounter.


InGaN quantum dot is a promising optoelectronic material, which combines the advantages of low-dimensional and wide-gap semiconductors. The growth of InGaN quantum dots is still not mature, especially the growth by metal–organic–vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE), which is challenge due to the lack of itin-situ monitoring tool. In this paper, we reviewed the development of InGaN quantum dot growth by MOVPE, including our work on growth of near-UV, green, and red InGaN quantum dots. In addition, we also introduced the applications of InGaN quantum dots on visible light emitting diodes.


In this paper, we study the numerical solutions of the multi-dimensional spatial fractional Allen-Cahn equations. After semi-discretization for the spatial fractional Riesz derivative, a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations with Toeplitz structure is obtained. For the sake of reducing the computational complexity, a two-level Strang splitting method is proposed, where the Toeplitz matrix in the system is split into the sum of a circulant matrix and a skew-circulant matrix. Therefore, the proposed method can be quickly implemented by the fast Fourier transform, substituting to calculate the expensive Toeplitz matrix exponential. Theoretically, the discrete maximum principle of our method is unconditionally preserved. Moreover, the analysis of error in the infinite norm with second-order accuracy is conducted in both time and space. Finally, numerical tests are given to corroborate our theoretical conclusions and the efficiency of the proposed method.


In this research, new fractal compression technique is introduced. It is based on using moment features to index the zero-mean range on domain blocks. The moment features have been used to speed up the iterated function system (IFS) matching stage. These features are used to determine the block descriptor "moment's ratio index", which in turn is utilized to classify the image blocks in both domain and range pools. During the encoding stage the block moment ratio descriptor of each range blocks is used to filter the domain blocks and keep only those blocks whose moment descriptor is suitable to be IFS matched with the tested range block. The data of the color components (R,G,B) are transformed to (Y,U,V) component, to take the advantage of the existing spectral correlation and gain more compression. The results of the tests conducted on Lena (256 times 256) pixel, resolution 24 bits/pixel) image showed a lower encoding time (4.82 sec) with appropriate PSNR (30dB). The time speeding is about (96%) in comparison with that for traditional method.


The development of modern medicine is based on the development of high-tech treatment methods. One of such methods includes the application of genomic research that in Russia is not inferior, but in many ways superior to the achievements of Western scientists. However, legal regulation, or rather lack of such regulation in our state prevents comprehensive application of advanced techniques in practice. In order to solve this issue, it becomes relevant to study the experience of foreign countries in order to take into account their flaws and gaps in legal regulation to deal with the debate over problems that may be associated with the application of advanced techniques. The paper considers the use of genomic technologies in the UK in the field of embryology and artificial fertilization as one of the most open areas for genomic editing in modern medicine. The paper elucidates the issue of obtaining and withdrawal (revoking or suspending) of the license by organizations that provide medical services in the field of embryology and artificial human fertilization. The authors also deal with the issue of the formation of specialized bodies, e.g. appeals committees in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Department, dealing with narrow issues. The authors have chosen legal regulation of the issue under consideration in Britain because it appears to be the most liberal regulation as compared with the regulation applied in the other States and even under international law. This, in turn, creates grounds for fears, disputes and discussions in the expert community, which is also of particular interest to the forthcoming Russian law-making and law enforcement. For the purposes of the study, the authors analyze the provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act in terms of their applicability both in the UK and in Russia and examine expert opinions regarding the issues under consideration. Based on the work done, the authors propose to implement the model of legal regulation under which both children who appeared as a result of genomic editing and donors are to be informed of the application of this method.


It is shown that large negative threshold voltages and high leakage currents can occur in n-channel polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors during the plasma hydrogenation process. This is a result of sodium contamination, with the sodium ions residing in both the silicon dioxide and the grain boundaries of the polycrystalline silicon, close to the silicon-silicon dioxide interface. The sodium ions in the grain boundaries act like donor centres, and a strong electron channel is formed in the device. It is essential that film transistors are passivated against sodium ions before studying the effects of plasma hydrogenation on device characteristics.


Abstract. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) is one source of carbohydrates, and is widely used for food, as well as industrial raw materials. In Indonesia, cassava is the second largest food crop production after rice. Lampung is the largest cassava producing province in Indonesia. Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) fungi cause wilt disease in plants, one of them is cassava, so it is necessary to control biological disease by using superior varieties that are resistant to Fo. Fusaric acid (AF) is a toxin produced by Fo fungi and is widely used in in vitro selection of plants. Disease resistance can be obtained by Induced Resistance. The objectives of this study were (1) to know and analyze the specific expression characteristics of plantlets including analysis of total dissolved carbohydrate content, (2) to analyze the pattern of DNA bands of cassava plantlets produced by induced resistance to Fusarium oxysporum compared to controls. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) of one factor, namely the concentration of AF, consisting of 5 levels: 0 ppm, 20 ppm, 40 ppm, 60 ppm, and 80 ppm in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Quantitative data from each parameter was analyzed using Analysis of Variance, with a real level of 5%. The results showed (1) an increase in total dissolved carbohydrate content with increasing concentration of AF, (2) The presence of new (specific) DNA bands in cassava plantlets which were resistant to Fo, with sizes of 550 bp (OPA_1) it can be predicted as a Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker candidate for the resistance of a cassava plant against Fo.
Keywords: carbohydrates, cassava, DNA pattern, Fusarium oxysporum, in vitro


Activation of cytotoxic T cells in human requires specific binding of antigenic peptides to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules. HLA is the most polymorphic protein in the human body, currently 1814 different alleles collected in the HLA sequence database at the European Bioinformatics Institute. Most of the HLA molecules recognise different peptides. Also, some peptides can be recognised by several of HLA molecules. In the present project, all available class I HLA alleles are classified into supertypes. Super - binding motifs for peptides binding to some supertypes are defined where binding data are available. A variety of chemometric techniques are used in the project, including 2D and 3D QSAR techniques and different variable selection methods like SIMCA, GOLPE and genetic algorithm. Principal component analysis combined with molecular interaction fields calculation by the program GRID is used in the class I HLA classification. This thesis defines an HLA-A3 supermotif using two QSAR methods: the 3D-QSAR method CoMSIA, and a recently developed 2D-QSAR method, which is named the additive method. Four alleles with high phenotype frequency were included in the study: HLA-A*0301, HLA-A*1101, HLA-A*3101 and HLA- A*6801. An A*020T binding motif is also defined using amino acid descriptors and variable selection methods. Novel peptides have been designed according to the motifs and the binding affinity is tested experimentally. The results of the additive method are used in the online server, MHCPred, to predict binding affinity of unknown peptides. In HLA classification, the HLA-A, B and C molecules are classified into supertypes separately. A total of eight supertypes are observed for class I HLA, including A2, A3, A24, B7, B27, B44, CI and C4 supertype. Using the HLA classification, any newly discovered class I HLA molecule can be grouped into a supertype easily, thus simplifying the experimental function characterisation process.


Multi-class cell nuclei detection is a fundamental prerequisite in the diagnosis of histopathology. It is critical to efficiently locate and identify cells with diverse morphology and distributions in digital pathological images. Most existing methods take complex intermediate representations as learning targets and rely on inflexible post-refinements while paying less attention to various cell density and fields of view. In this paper, we propose a novel Affine-Consistent Transformer (AC-Former), which directly yields a sequence of nucleus positions and is trained collaboratively through two sub-networks, a global and a local network. The local branch learns to infer distorted input images of smaller scales while the global network outputs the large-scale predictions as extra supervision signals. We further introduce an Adaptive Affine Transformer (AAT) module, which can automatically learn the key spatial transformations to warp original images for local network training. The AAT module works by learning to capture the transformed image regions that are more valuable for training the model. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperforms existing state-of-the-art algorithms on various benchmarks.


The aims of this research to found the Discovery Learning system affect of Science concept understanding in fifth grade of SDN Pinayungan I District Telukjambe Timur. The approach of this research is is quantitative. The subject of this research are the fifth grade semester 2 students of SDN Pinayungan I in period 2018/2019. By choosing two of the four classes as a research sample, this is VD as the experiment class and VC class as the control class, which amounted to 27 students in each class. 5 question essay tests which uses as the instrument of eliciting data. The data analysis is to try the hypothesis with statistic descriptive calculation that is category medium score and category deviation. The result of understanding Science consept validity test showed that the 5 question is valid. The results of reliability test obtained a value of 0.76. From the hypothesis test, showed significant affect between before and after apply the Discovery Learning system of Science concept understanding level. This obtained rcount as big as 0.791 ≥ rtabel 0.344 with significant 0.05 and n = 27 then the hypothesis are accepted. From this research indicates that affect of Science concept understanding with apply Discovery Learning system in fifth grade that obtain a significant affect.


The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we estimate forward looking risk and return characteristics of a theoretical commercial real estate portfolio employing real world hedonics with the goal of seamlessly integrating the asset class into a total portfolio risk management system. Because a factor model is at the core of the model's analytics, the model is additive and we are able to calculate estimates at both the property and portfolio-levels. Second, we create liquid instrument portfolios that mimic the portfolio's performance in order to hedge the portfolio's risk or simply to gain exposure in the form of direct or collateralized investments in instruments such as stock and bonds whose characteristics would otherwise be unknown if investors were to rely solely on appraisals or index-based risk models. The paper hopes to show, not only what drives real estate risk and return, but also ask the fundamental question about ownership. If liquid synthetic portfolios can be efficiently built with a desired set of risk and/or return characteristics, why own the bricks and mortar? That is the fundamental question that all investors need to both ask and answer


The Netherlands had been considered a key example of a 'unitary' rental market in which social and private rental sectors are in direct competition with each other. This unitary market has been more recently undermined however, by changes in the status of housing associations, the privatization of social housing stock and the promotion of home ownership. Indeed, since the 1990s, the Dutch housing system has undergone dramatic change featuring a fundamental reorientation in its housing tenure structure. This contribution considers the reorientation of the housing system with an empirical focus on the urban context of Amsterdam. Drawing on a geospatial analysis of neighbourhood level data and the biennial 'Living in Amsterdam' surveys, we illustrate how the unitary rental market, which helped establish Amsterdam as an iconic 'just city', is unraveling.


In carefully selected diagnostic problem cases prenatal CT of the fetus was performed. In three of five cases anatomic or physiologic information was obtained that proved useful in the management of the pregnancy.


The songs of the U.S. Air Force flyers during the Vietnam War, written in the cryptic language of pilots and navigators, aloft in their "beasts" a dozen "angels" up in the sky, uniquely reflect the stark emotions and black humors of that ill-fated war. Veteran navigator Joseph F. Tuso spent fifteen years collecting the lyrics for more than a hundred songs written or sung by U.S. Air Force flyers from about 1966 through 1969. Many of the songs' authors are unknown. But their lyrics, even such jarring lines as those of "Chocolate-covered Napalm," often are set to popular melodies, such as "The Wabash Cannonball." Some songs have original tunes as well. Twenty-five of the 148 songs whose lyrics are included here were written by Dick Jonas, the premier songwriter of the Vietnam era Air Force. Many other songs appear in print for the first time. "Singing the Vietnam Blues "begins with a personal overture that sets the stage for a play of war-evoked emotions and lines that are less than sacred, more than profane, and sometimes poignant. Some songs, such as the "Phu Cat Alert Pad," are based on historical events, while others have their origins in popular myths, such as "Wolf Pack's Houseboy." Whatever the direct source of the songs, it is the daily combat, rescue, or transport missions; the possibility of death; and the fear, bravado, and competition between pilots, navigators, planes, and enemy flyers or "bandits" that generated the lyrics. Most songs are preceded by Tuso's explanation of each song's origin, other versions, references to current events or "inside jokes," and sometimes personal insights and memories. A glossary is also included.


As cannabinoid CB2 receptors (CB2R) possess various pharmacological effects—including anti-epilepsy, analgesia, anti-inflammation, anti-fibrosis, and regulation of bone metabolism—without the psychoactive side effects induced by cannabinoid CB1R activation, they have become the focus of research and development of new target drugs in recent years. The present study was intended to (1) establish a double luciferase screening system for a CB2R modulator; (2) validate the agonistic activities of the screened compounds on CB2R by determining cAMP accumulation using HEK293 cells that are stably expressing CB2R; (3) predict the binding affinity between ligands and CB2 receptors and characterize the binding modes using molecular docking; (4) analyze the CB2 receptors–ligand complex stability, conformational behavior, and interaction using molecular dynamics; and (5) evaluate the regulatory effects of the screened compounds on bone metabolism in osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The results demonstrated that the screening system had good stability and was able to screen cannabinoid CB2R modulators from botanical compounds. Altogether, nine CB2R agonists were identified by screening from 69 botanical compounds, and these CB2R agonists exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on cAMP accumulation and good affinity to CB2R, as evidenced by the molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Five of the nine CB2R agonists could stimulate osteoblastic bone formation and inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption. All these findings may provide useful clues for the development of novel anti-osteoporotic drugs and help elucidate the mechanism underlying the biological activities of CB2R agonists identified from the botanical materials.


Objective To report the phototoxicity effects of a novel photosensitizer ZnPcS4-BSA on photodynamic therapy (PDT) towards human U251 glioma cells in vitro. Methods The cellular uptake of ZnPcS4-BSA by U251 glioma cells was quantified by UV-spectra to determine the optimal incubation time. Human U251 glioma cells were incubated with ZnPcS4-BSA of various concentrations and received laser irradiation of different energy densities. Cell survival rates were measured by CCK-8 assay.Flow cytometer was used to detect apoptosis.Gene expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by Real-Time PCR in the U251 cells after PDT and β-actin was used as an internal standard. The normal U251 cells severed as controls. Results The uptake of ZnPcS4-BSA by U251 glioma cells reached the maximum after incubation for 4 hours.ZnPcS4-BSA of different concentrations without laser irradiation had no significant effects on cell survival rates (P>0.05).Without ZnPcS4-BSA incubation,compared with 0,25,50,100,200 J/cm2 groups, the cell survival rate of the 400 J/cm2 group was significantly lower (P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was found between any other two groups. When the U251 glioma cells incubated with 30 μ mol/L ZnPcS4-BSA for 4 hours underwent laser irradiations of 25,50,100,200 J/cm2,the cellular survival rates significantly decreased with the increased energy densities (P<0.05). When the U251 glioma cells incubated with ZnPcS4-BSA of 20,40,60,80,100 μ mol/L for 4 hours underwent laser irradiation of 200 J/cm2, the cellular inhibition rates significantly increased with the increased concentrations (P <0.05). Compared with controls, the cellular apoptosis and VEGF expression significantly increased in the U251 glioma cells incubated with ZnPcS4-BSA of 20 μmol/L after laser irradiation of 100 J/cm2 (P<0.05). Conclusion The novel ZnPcS4-BSA is a good photosensitizer for PDT towards U251 glioma cells,because the ZnPcS4-BSA-mediated PDT can induce effective apoptosis of the targeted cells.

Key words:
ZnPcS4-BSA; U251 glioma cells; Photodynamic therapy


AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common solid malignancy in the world and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The age-adjusted worldwide annual incidence is between 5.5 and 14.9/100,000, resulting in approximately 600,000 to 1,000,000 deaths annually. The burden of HCC has been increasing in Egypt with the incidence rate doubling in the past 10 years, and HCC is now the second highest cause of cancer incidence and mortality in men. The high HCC rates in Egypt are attributed to the high prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) rates have declined after the introduction of the vaccine in 1992. Recent studies have shown that aberrant DNA methylation may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Liver biopsy tissue is the current gold standard for detecting methylation events; however, imaging techniques often suffice for diagnostic purposes making tissue samples increasingly scarce. Large-scale epidemiological and molecular studies are needed to understand the role of methylation in carcinogenesis, so non-invasive detection techniques are urgently needed to feasibly conduct these studies. The efficacy of conducting DNA methylation studies using plasma DNA is still unknown. The objective of this study was to compare the tumor methylation profile in tumor tissues and plasma to test the concordance between the two types of samples from the same HCC patient. The methylation profiles for the following tumor suppressor genes were compared: APC, FHIT, p15, p16, and E-cadherin. Twenty eight HCC cases with matching tissue and plasma DNA were recruited from an ongoing case-control study in Garbiah, Egypt. Concordance between the tissue and plasma were statistically significant in all five genes: APC (P=.001), FHIT (P=.001), p15 (P=.045), p16 (P=.037), and E-cadherin (P=.0008). The average specificity was: 90%, 86%, 96%, 86%, 100%, for the 5 genes respectively. No difference in methylation status was observed by viral status. In conclusion, plasma DNA can be reliable for testing the methylation profile in liver cancer patients. Future studies on a larger sample size should investigate the methylation profile in populations with higher rates of HBV, HCV, and other risk factors. Supported by R-25 CA112383 grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 1014.


This paper analyzes food and agriculturally-related knowledge production and transfer for 114 top-tier U.S. research universities from 1993 to 2015, to understand the role of the Land-Grant universities in promoting commercial innovation and regional economic development in this sector. We utilize two empirical methods: (1) a panel analysis of the knowledge production function (KPF) for research productivity and (2) an analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the role of the Land-Grant universities in such knowledge production. Output of research publications exhibits decreasing returns to scale for all sub-fields, but cost advantages and mean research (gestation) lags vary by sub-field. The mean number of research publications by the Land-Grant universities is much higher than non Land-Grant universities, especially in the Central region of the U.S. These results demonstrate how specialization by Land-Grant universities in agricultural R&D contributes to commercial innovation within a diffuse yet regionalized industry. Moreover, the main context and results of this paper would suggest some important implications to the study of the system of food and agricultural R&D and commercial innovations in Korea.


Statins are powerful lipid-lowering drugs, widely used in patients with hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease. It was found, however, that statins appear to have a pleiotropic effect beyond their lipid-lowering ability. They exert anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and antioxidant effects, increase nitric oxide production and improve endothelial dysfunction. The aim of our study was to examine the effect of chronic and acute treatment with simvastatin on the contractile function of the isolated perfused rat heart after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Contractile function was measured on isolated rat hearts, perfused according to Langendorff under constant pressure. The hearts were subjected to 20 min of global ischemia, followed by 40 min of reperfusion. To investigate the acute effect, simvastatin at a concentration of 10 micromol/l was added to the perfusion solution during reperfusion. In chronic experiments the rats were fed simvastatin at a concentration of 10 mg/kg for two weeks before the measurement of the contractile function. Acute simvastatin administration significantly increased reparation of the peak of pressure development [(+dP/dt)(max)] (52.9+/-8.2 %) after global ischemia, as compared with the control group (28.8+/-5.2 %). Similar differences were also observed in the time course of the recovery of [(+dP/dt)(max)]. Chronic simvastatin was without any protective effect. Our results reveal that the acute administration of simvastatin during reperfusion, unlike the chronic treatment, significantly reduced contractile dysfunction induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury. This supports the idea of possible cardioprotective effect of statin administration in the first-line therapy of the acute coronary syndrome.


We develop a nonparametric test of productive efficiency that accounts for the possibility of errors-in-variables. The test allows for statistical inference based on the extreme value distribution of the L?? norm. In contrast to the test proposed by Varian, H (1985): 'Nonparametric Analysis of Optimising Behaviour with Measurement Error, Journal of Econometrics 30, 445-458, our test can be computed using simple enumeration algorithms or linear programming. An empirical application for the Dutch electricity sector illustrates the proposed test procedure.


Introduction: Cytosolic and mitochondrial intermembrane adenylate kinase isoforms, AK1 and AK2, comprise an integrated metabolic monitoring system facilitating mitochondrial ATP export and delivery to cellular ATPases. Hearts with AK1 deficiency have compromised metabolic response to stress while AK2 transgenic mice have not been studied yet. Hypothesis: Here we tested hypothesis that stress metabolomic profiling of AK1 and AK2 genetic deficiencies will reveal alterations and biomarkers of compromised intracellular energetic communication and metabolic signaling. Methods: We have employed HPLC, GC/MS and 18 O-assisted 31 P NMR techniques to obtain metabolomic profile of plasma and heart extracts of AK1−/− and AK2+/− transgenic mice. Results: We generated AK2+/− transgenic mice while homozygous AK2−/− deficiency was embryonically lethal. Metabolic profiling revealed that WT and AK1−/− mice although have different basal plasma metabolic phenotype it diverge much more after treadmill exercise (Figure). Similarly AK2+/− mice have different plasma metabolic profile at baseline and separates further from WT after treadmill exercise (Figure). Among most significant plasma metabolites critical in the discrimination between AK1 and WT were β-hydroxybutyrate and amino acids such as tryptophan and lysine. AK1−/− mice hearts had lower βATP and βADP and higher G6P 18 O-labeling rates as well as higher levels of G6P, Fr1,6P and Pi. Among most significant plasma metabolites critical in the discrimination between WT and AK2+/− phenotype were adenosine, tyrosine, tryptophan and hypoxanthine. In AK2+/−hearts ATP depletion and AMPK activation during ischemia was greater compared to WT. Conclusion: Adenylate kinase AK2 isoform is vital for cell energetics and metabolic signaling and its deficiency causes embryonic lethality. Stress metabolic profiling reveals more significant differences in metabolic phenotype between WT and AK1−/− and AK2+/− transgenic mice.


In the paper issues related to the production and utilisation of waste-derived fuel (alternative fuel) in Poland are presented. Alternative fuel comes from dry residue of waste, mostly municipal, and is treated as a waste. In European Waste Catalogue waste-derived fuel is marked with 191210 code despite their municipal, industrial or mixed origin. The production and utilisation of alternative fuel were analysed with the data from sixteen polish voivodships' annual reports. The total amount of waste-derived fuel produced in Poland exceeds 3 million tonnes annually. It means there is no balance be-tween the amount of production and possibility of energy recovery in Poland. In 2018 only 1,54 million tons was recovered in R1 recovery process which is only half of the waste-derived fuel produced. In addition, the entire amount of fuel is used in the cement industry. In 2018 in the cement industry 1,46 millions tons of alternative fuel was used. It is estimated that the potential use of alternative fuel by cement plants in Poland is about 1.5-1.8 million tonnes. This means that greater use of alternative fuel in the cement sector is significantly limited. The difference between in the amount of fuel produced and the amount of fuel used for energy recovery in 2018 is around 1.67 million tons. This situation has a significant impact on the economy of waste management in the field of combustible waste production.


General Game Playing (GGP) aims to develop agents that are able to play any game with only rules given. The game rules are encoded in the Game Description Language (GDL). A GGP player processes the game rules to obtain game states and expand the game tree search for an optimal move. The recent accomplishments of AlphaGo and AlphaZero have triggered new works in extending neural network approaches to GGP. In these works, the neural networks are used only for optimal move selection, while the components dealing with GDL still use logic-based methods. This motivates us to explore if a neural network based method would be able to approximate the logical inference in GDL with a high accuracy. The structured nature of logic tends to be a difficulty for neural networks, which rely heavily on statistical features. Inspired by the recent works on neural network learning for logical entailments, we propose a neural network based reasoner that is able to learn logical inferences for GDL. We present three key contributions: (i) a general, game-agnostic graph-based representation for game states described in GDL, (ii) methods for generating samples and datasets to frame the GDL inference task as a neural network based machine learning problem and (iii) a GNN based neural reasoner that is able to learn and infer various game states with a high accuracy and has some capability of transfer learning across games.


The hypothesis was tested that expression of bcl-2 could provide protection against apoptosis induced by cytotoxic drugs via a mechanism which was different from the classical determinants of drug resistance. Sensitivity and resistance to inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (EC 2.1.1. 45) were chosen for study since these drugs have a well-defined and quantifiable locus of action with similarly well defined biochemical sequelae resulting from enzyme inhibition. Human lymphoma cells transfected with the vector alone readily underwent apoptosis after a 36-h exposure to various drugs. For example, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (0.1 microM) induced 67% apoptosis in vector control cells 24 h after removal of the drug. In contrast, cells treated under identical conditions, but which expressed the bcl-2 protein, showed only basal levels of apoptosis (8%), with no significant fall in viability. Similar results were obtained using two quinazoline-based inhibitors of thymidylate synthase, N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717) and ICI M247496. Determinants of resistance to these three drugs were investigated. Analysis of the cell cycle, thymidylate synthase levels, and activity showed these to be unchanged by expression of bcl-2. Addition of the drugs brought about equivalent inhibition of proliferation in the presence or absence of bcl-2 expression. 5-Fluorodeoxyuridine treatment reduced TTP synthesis, induced strand breaks in nascent DNA, measured by alkaline elution, and increased the synthesis of thymidylate synthase; these changes preceded the onset of apoptosis and were identical in the vector controls and bcl-2 transfectants. Resistance to thymidylate stress in bcl-2-expressing cells therefore occurred by a mechanism different from those which classically define resistance to this type of cytotoxic drug.


Standard therapy for patients with hypothyroidism is replacement with synthetic thyroxine (T4). However, thyroxine plus triiodothyronine (T3) replacement therapy resulted in marked improvements in several items of the Profile of Mood States and in a few indices of psychometric function and quality of life. The adequacy of thyroxine alone versus thyroxine plus triiodothyronine to treat hypothyroidism has yielded conflicting results. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of all included published, randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of thyroxine alone or thyroxine plus triiodothyronine replacement therapy for hypothyroidism. We electronically searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and China National Infrastructure. We also manually searched the Chinese Journal of Isotopes, Radiologia pratica, and the Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. A total of 10 randomized, double-blind trials (six crossovers, four parallel trials) were identified. Pooled analyses were suggestive of a statistically significant increase of free and total triiodothyronine, significant decrease of serum-free and total thyroxine in patients treated with thyroxine plus triiodothyronine, weighted mean difference (WMD) 0.03, −31.25, 2.19, 3.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.14 to 0.20, −47.04 to −15.47, 0.46–3.92, 1.64–4.36, respectively. Thyroxin alone indicated significant benefits for psychological or physical well-being in terms of the General Health Questionnaire-28 (WMD: −2.90; 95% CI: −3.18 to −2.63), general health (WMD: −0.38; 95% CI: −0.71 to −0.05), physical component summary (WMD: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.53–0.87), and mental component summary (WMD: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.25–0.75); physical functioning (WMD: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.29–1.90), role–physical test (WMD: 3.60; 95% CI: 2.66–4.54), bodily pain (WMD: 2.50; 95% CI: 2.11–2.88), role–emotional (WMD: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.17–2.99), mental health (WMD: 1.30; 95% CI: 0.97–1.64) in items of the Short Form-36 Health Survey; general well-being in items of the Thyroid Symptom Questionnaire (WMD: −1.90; 95% CI: −2.48 to −1.32); better performance in the Letter Number Sequencing-working memory test in items of cognitive performance scores (WMD: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.08–2.13), significant treatment effect for blurred vision, aches, and pain (WMD: −4.66, −0.80; 95% CI: −5.339 to −4.00, −1.34 to −0.26, respectively). However, T4 plus T3 replacement improved cognitive performance (WMD: −0.49; 95% CI: −0.90 to −0.08). No significant statistical differences were found in biochemical variables, mood states clinical variables, adverse effects, and drop-out. In subgroup analysis, two included studies examined the relationship between mental improvement and causes of hypothyroidism, autoimmune, and nonautoimmune hypothyroidism, respectively. T4 alone suggested significantly higher total T4 (autoimmune and nonautoimmune thyroid, WMD: 4.5, 3.7; 95% CI: 2.24–6.76, 1.66–5.74, respectively), and significantly decreased thyroid-stimulating hormone (WMD: −0.05; 95% CI: −0.09 to −0.01). Statistically significant improvement occurred in pairs correctly recalled in the Digit Symbol Test for T4 plus T3 replacement (WMD: −1.60; 95% CI: −2.97 to −0.23) for nonautoimmune thyroid. In conclusion, on the basis of data from recent studies, we conclude that combined T4 and T3 treatment does not improve well-being, cognitive function, or quality of life compared with T4 alone. T4 alone may be beneficial in improving psychological or physical well-being. According to the current evidence, T4 alone replacement may remain the drug of choice for hypothyroid patients.


Hybrid materials have attracted tremendous attention because of their potential for achieving satisfactory lithium storage properties, which are promising to meet the growing demand of the powering market and consumer. In this study, we designed an effective strategy to synthesize a Co3V2O8@NiCo LDH composite with a 3D hierarchical structure based on the assistant of PVP. With PVP-modified Co3V2O8 as templates, NiCo LDH grew on the surface of Co3V2O8 successfully and uniformly. As anode materials for LIBs, the obtained composite Co3V2O8@NiCo LDH delivered remarkable capacity properties (1329.4 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 500 cycles), cycle stability and rate ability (893.1 mA h g−1 at a high current density of 5 A g−1 after 950 cycles). The outstanding lithium storage properties might be attributed to the complex three-dimensional structure, the combination of different components and the synergistic effect of hybrid materials.


Background: Sensors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) are increasingly used by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the reaction of the glucose oxidase-based sensor technologies to potentially interfering nutritional, endogenous, or pharmaceutical substances is barely understood. We have developed an in-vitro test method for continuous and dynamic CGM interference testing and explored the sensitivity of the Libre 2 sensor to a panel of 68 individual substances.
 Method: In each interference experiment, three sensors were exposed to substance gradients from zero to supra-physiological concentrations generated by HPLC-pumps at a fixed glucose concentration of 200 mg/dL. YSI Stat 2300 Plus was used as the glucose reference method. Interference was assumed if the CGM sensors showed a mean bias of more than ±10% from baseline with a tested substance at any given substance concentration.
 Results: Interference was seen with the following substances: xylose (difference from baseline: +178%), galactose (+134%), mannose (+130%), hydroxyurea (+84%), ascorbic acid (+48%), dithiothreitol (+46%), methyldopa (+16%), ibuprofen (+14%), red wine (+12%), N-acetyl-cysteine (+11%), icodextrin (+10%), while no interference was seen with the other substances. Suspected sensor fouling, in that the needle sensors subsequently ceased to operate after exposure to a substance, was not observed with Libre 2.
 Conclusions: Our standardized dynamic interference testing protocol identified several nutritional and pharmacological substances that substantially influenced the Libre 2 signal. Clinical trials are now necessary to investigate, whether our findings are of relevance for routine care.

 H.Jensch: None. N.Thomé: None. G.Srikanthamoorthy: None. L.Weingärtner: None. S.J.Setford: Employee; LifeScan Scotland Ltd. E.H.Holt: Employee; LifeScan Inc. M.Grady: Employee; Lifescan. C.Kuhl: None. A.Pfützner: Consultant; Novo Nordisk A/S, Research Support; LifeScan Diabetes Institute, Speaker's Bureau; AstraZeneca, Stock/Shareholder; Lifecare A/S, Diakard.

 European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (951933); LifeScan Global Corporation


Dose-related changes of the reduced glutathione were evaluated in forebrains from male Wistar rats aged 10 months after chronic i.p. treatment for two months with the ergot alkaloids dihydroergocristine and dihydroergocriptine. The results indicate that, within a specific dose-range, the concentration of the cerebral reduced glutathione may be modified by exogenous intervention.


Investigation of the possible use of solar energy for domestic water heating is conducted for seven representative Ethiopian cities. In this study, the transient performance of the system is computed using a numerical heat transfer model of a flat-plate collector from the input of average annual climatic data and collector parameters. From the annual contribution of solar energy to the heating load and the estimated investment cost, the pay back period of the heating system for each city is calculated. The research result indicates that domestic water heating by solar energy as a viable alternative to electric water heating.


Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain worldwide. Although several studies have tried to investigate effects of delayed appendectomy, robust recommendations on this topic are still lacking. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the correlation between delayed surgical treatment in acute appendicitis and postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: A 5-year retrospective study was conducted including all patients aged >15 years who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. Groups were categorized according to the time of in-hospital delay (IHD) (time from hospital admission to surgical incision) as Group A: Early appendectomy (IHD <8 hours) and Group B: Delayed appendectomy (IHD ≥8 hours). Demographics and clinical characteristics, operative time, appendicitis grading score according to disease severity score, and clinical outcomes were considered for analyses. Results: A total of 290 patients were included for statistical analysis: 145 patients (50%) in Group A and 145 patients (50%) in Group B. Patients' baseline characteristics were similar between groups. There were no statistically significant differences between groups A and B in terms of operative time (72.60 minutes versus 72.47 minutes, P = .061), use of drain (53.8% versus 46.2%, P = .731), postoperative complications (47.4% versus 52.6%, P = .812), and length of hospital stay (2.39 [1-24] versus 2.79 [1-12], P = .645). There were no 30-day readmissions in both groups. Overall mortality was 0.3%. Conclusion: Our results suggest that an IHD of ≥8 hours does not significantly increase the risk of complicated appendicitis, the incidence of perioperative complications, postoperative length of stay, or mortality.


A novel and effective method for the preparation of monodisperse CdS quantum dot-polymer microspheres was proposed. The monodisperse hollow polymer microspheres were firstly swelled in chloroform. Then, the reaction precursor composed of CdO and sulfur, was impregnated into the hollow polymer microspheres. Subsequently, the CdS quantum dots were synthesized directly within the polymer microspheres by thermal decomposition. The morphology, structure, and fluorescence properties of CdS quantum dot-polymer microspheres were studied by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, fluorescence microscope, and flow cytometry. The results indicate that the fluorescent CdS quantum dots are successfully synthesized in the monodisperse hollow polymer microspeheres, which provide very strong fluorescence intensity, and offer excellent photostability due to the compact structure of the polymer matrix. These CdS quantum dot-polymer microspheres have potential applications in biotechnology and biomedicine.


Tree foliage has to withstand m any environmental - especially climatic - stresses, but does not show symptoms of stress readily. Nevertheless it may react invisibly. This paper presents evidence that trees are particularly prone to SO 2 effects before or without the appearance of visible symptoms of injury. Of the various factors that affect tree sensitivity to SO 2 only six are mentioned: increased wind velocity in the huge crowns, longevity of foliage, sulphur uptake, supply of nutrients and water, genetic variability and pollution regime. Biological indications such as direct effects of SO 2 on trees may be expressed either quantitatively or qualitatively. The economic point of view often considers only the quantitative aspect: the immediate effect on growth or wood production. This depends on CO 2 uptake, which in turn is influenced by SO 2 . Growth - for example ring width or root weight - is affected in consequence. There may also be effects on buds and generative organs, increased susceptibility to abiotic (snow, frost, etc.) or biotic factors (insects, fungi, etc.), and metabolic changes. The last include increased need for detoxification, changes in enzyme activity or in amounts of organic compounds and increased membrane permeability; all are expressions of an increased risk.


Let p be a prime number and Z/p be a cyclic group of order p '. We choose BZ/p, the classifying space of Z/p, as the colimit of the lens spaces L(p), It is well known that K(BZ/p) =0Z^ by Atiyah [1], Atiyah-Segal [2], and K^-^BZ/p*} =®Z/p°° by Vick [9] (and the groups of other degrees are trivial) . We consider the connective X-theory k. Using the Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence, connective K(co) homology group of BZ/p is a subgroup of periodic K(co) homology group of BZ/p. And the Atiyah Hirzebruch spectral sequence also shows that k2n-i (BZ/p ) is a finite group for any n. Moreover, the Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence determines its order. The purpose of this paper is to calculate the additive structure of


Abstract : It is known that small relative perturbations in the entries of a bidiagonal matrix only cause small relative perturbations in its singular values, independent of the values of the matrix entries. In this paper we show that a matrix has this property if and only if its associated bipartite graph is acyclic. We also show how to compute the singular values of such a matrix to high relative accuracy. The same algorithm can compute eigenvalues of symmetric acyclic matrices with tiny component-wise relative backward error. This class includes tridragonal matfices, arrow matrices, and exponentially many others.


Infant rats (10-16 days) and weaned animals (older than 18 days) were treated with drugs inhibiting beta-adrenergic activity and were sacrificed 4 days later. 6-Hydroxydopamine acts on postsympathetic nerve fibres, and guanfacine stimulates alpha 2-receptors. Both drugs caused a rise in plasma cholesterol and a decrease in hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase activity in infant but not in weaned animals. The activity of acylcholesterol acyl CoA transferase, on the other hand, was decreased after drug administration. Thus, both antihypertensive drugs may cause changes in cholesterol metabolism, especially in infant animals.


Mobile station (MS) localization often suffers from hybrid line of sight (LOS), one-bound (OB) and multiple-bound (MB) non-line of sight (NLOS) propagation in multipath environments. Due to the unknown propagation path, accurate position estimate of MS is challenging through using the measured angle of departure (AOD), angle of arrival (AOA), and time of arrival (TOA) of signal between MS and base station (BS). To address this problem, a new weighting localization algorithm based on LOS and OB NLOS identification is proposed in this paper. For each propagation path, by utilizing the geometric relation between AOD and AOA, a theoretic threshold is derived to decide whether it is LOS or NLOS propagation. Moreover, in order to further discriminate OB or MB NLOS propagation, an effective cost function is formulated and an iterative OB NLOS identification method is proposed to discard MB NLOS propagation paths. Finally, a weighting localization algorithm is applied for fusing the measured data of LOS and OB NLOS propagation paths. Simulation results demonstrate that simulation of LOS identification method is consistent with theoretic one, and the proposed algorithm can greatly improve the localization accuracy of MS in different multipath environments, especially when LOS path is available. KeywordsLocalization, Line of sight (LOS), One-bound (OB), Multiple-bound (MB), Weighting.


Abstract Background Mental health literacy is important as it relates to understanding mental illness, increasing help-seeking efficacy, and reducing mental illness-related stigma. One method to improve the mental health literacy of young people is a digital video intervention. Aims A scoping review was conducted to map existing research in the area of digital video interventions for mental health literacy among young people. Methods The scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. All results were screened based on our inclusion criteria. Results Seventeen studies were selected for analysis. In most studies (n = 14), a digital video was the only intervention whereas three studies took a multi-intervention approach. Only two of the digital video interventions were co-created with people with mental illness or university students. All studies showed positive results in favor of digital video interventions in at least one component of mental health literacy or compared to one of the comparison conditions. Conclusions Digital video interventions represent effective tools for enhancing mental health literacy. However, there is a need for active involvement of end-users in co-creation and to attend to the production quality so that the digital video intervention is as relevant, informed, and effective as possible.


Abstract Objectives Initial therapy for the management of prolactinomas has long been maintained to be medical, consisting of a dopamine agonist. These therapies may have troublesome side effects, and some prolactinomas are resistant to medical therapy regarding lowering prolactin levels or shrinking the tumor. These issues have revived interest in surgery for prolactin-secreting adenomas as an early therapeutic option. We report our analysis of surgery for prolactin microadenomas in women, using the transsphenoidal endoscopic approach. Design We reviewed a contemporary series of 33 women (mean age = 31.8 years) with microprolactinomas who underwent early surgical intervention, which was a three-dimensional transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic operation. Setting The study was conducted at a tertiary academic referral center for pituitary tumors. Main Outcome Measures Preoperative and postoperative prolactin. Results Overall, 28 patients had received preoperative dopamine agonists, 24 of these experienced a variety of drug-related side effects, and 4 had tumors that were resistant to lowering prolactin or tumor shrinkage. Preoperative prolactin levels averaged 90.3 ng/mL (range = 30.7–175.8 ng/mL). We observed a 94% normalization rate in postoperative prolactin (mean = 10.08 ng/mL, range = 0.3–63.1 ng/mL). During the follow-up (mean = 33.9 months), five patients had elevated prolactin; four required reinitiation of medical therapy, two had surgical reexploration, and none received radiation therapy. Complications included syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (n = 3), transient diabetes insipidus (n = 1), postoperative epistaxis (n = 1), and fat graft site infection (n = 1). Conclusion This review supports the consideration of transsphenoidal surgery as an early intervention for some women with prolactin-secreting microadenoma. Indications include significant side effects of medical therapy and tumors that do not respond to standard medical management.


AMD3100 (AMD) is a bicyclam compound that rapidly mobilizes hematopoietic progenitor cells into circulation by inhibiting stromal cell derived factor-1 binding to its cognate receptor CXCR4 present on CD34 + cells. Preliminary data in healthy donors and cancer patients show large numbers of CD34+ cells are mobilized following a single injection of AMD3100. To determine whether AMD3100 mobilized cells would be suitable for allografting, we performed a detailed phenotypic analysis using 6 color flow cytometry (CYAN Cytometer MLE) of lymphocyte subsets mobilized following the administration of AMD3100, given as a single 240mcg/kg injection either alone (n=4) or in combination with G-CSF (n=2: G-CSF 10 mcg/kg/day x 5: AMD3100 given on day 4). Baseline peripheral blood (PB) was obtained immediately prior to mobilization; in recipients who received both agents, blood was analyzed 4 days following G-CSF administration as well as 12 hours following administration of AMD3100 and a 5 th dose of G-CSF. AMD3100 alone significantly increased from baseline the PB WBC count (2.8 fold), Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC: 2.5 fold), absolute monocyte count (AMC: 3.4 fold), and absolute neutrophil count (ANC: 2.8 fold). Subset analysis showed AMD3100 preferentially increased from baseline PB CD34+ progenitor counts (5.8 fold), followed by CD19+ B-cells (3.7 fold), CD14+ monocytes (3.4 fold), CD8+ T-cells (2.5 fold), CD4+ T-cells (1.8 fold), with a smaller increase in CD3 − /CD16 + or CD56 + NK cell counts (1.6 fold). There was no change from baseline in the % of CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell expressing CD45RA, CD45RO, or CD56, CD57, CD27, CD71 or HLA-DR. In contrast, there was a decline compared to baseline in the mean percentage of CD3+/CD4+ T-cells expressing CD25 (5.5% vs 14.8%), CD62L (12.1% vs 41.1%), CCR7 (2.1% vs 10.5%) and CXCR4 (0.5% vs 40.9%) after AMD3100 administration; similar declines in expression of the same 4 surface markers were also observed in CD3+/CD8+ T-cells. A synergistic effect on the mobilization of CD34+ progenitors, CD19+ B cells, CD3+ T-cells and CD14+ monocytes occurred when AMD3100 was combined with G-CSF (Figure). In those receiving both AMD3100 and G-CSF, a fall in the % of T-cells expressing CCR7 and CXCR4 occurred 12 hours after the administration of AMD3100 compared to PB collected after 4 days of G-CSF; no other differences in the expression of a variety activation and/or adhesion molecules on T-cell subsets were observed. Whether differences in lymphocyte subsets mobilized with AMD3100 alone or in combination with G-CSF will impact immune reconstitution or other either immune sequela (i.e. GVHD, graft-vs-tumor) associated with allogeneic HCT is currently being assessed in an animal model of allogeneic transplantation.


Sweitenia mycrophylla gum was chemically modified via carboxymethylation and utilized as a binder in drug formulation. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Physicochemical characteristics of the native and carboxymethyl gum such as viscosity, solubility and swelling power were also determined. The modified gum with the degree of substitution 0.24 had higher physicochemical properties than the native gum. The carboxymethyl gum granules pocessed better flow properties with hausner ratio of 1.09 to 1.29 and carr's index of 8.9 to 22%. Tablet prepared with 4-8%w/w gum had hardness  5kg while tablets prepared with 6-8%w/w  binders had friability of less than 1% comparable to that prepared with 4% w/w gelatin BP and gum Arabic. The disinstegration time of the tablets was less than 15minutes. The tablets had fast dissolution in 45 minutes. The result showed that chemical modification via carboxymethylation may improve the viscosity, solubility and swelling power of gum which may result in higher efficacy for effective utilization in pharmaceutical formulations.  Key words : Carboxymethyl groups, Sweitenia mycrophylla, gum, excipient, FTIR,NMR,


This study set out to assess a new instrument designed to measure the perceived frequency that teachers use fear appeals (communicated value messages that focus on avoiding failure) prior to a high-stakes examination and their appraisal as a challenge or a threat. Data were collected from two samples of students preparing for their high-stakes school exit examinations. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a three-factor structure of message frequency, challenge, and threat appraisal. Challenge appraisal positively correlated with value, academic self-efficacy, and engagement. Threat appraisal negatively correlated with academic self-efficacy and engagement. Message frequency was unrelated to value, academic self-efficacy, and engagement. The critical factor in determining relations with antecedents and outcomes is not the message frequency but how it is appraised.


The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused pronounced strain on global healthcare systems, forcing the streamlining of clinical activities and conservation of health resources. There is a pressing need for institutions to present discipline-specific strategies for the management of COVID-19 patients. We present the comprehensive considerations at the National University Hospital, Singapore from the surgeon's and anesthetist's perspectives in the performance of spinal surgery in COVID-19 patients. These are based on national guidelines and overarching principles of protection for the healthcare workers (HCWs) and efficiency in surgical planning. The workflow begins with the emergency department screening that has been adapted to the local epidemiology of COVID-19 in order to identify suspected/confirmed cases. If patient history cannot be obtained, demographic, clinical, and imaging data are used. Designated orthopedic "contaminated teams" are available 24/7 with an activation time of <30 minutes for review. In cases where sub-specialty spine surgeons were required, these professionals were inducted into the "contaminated team" and quarantined until cleared to return to work. Indications for emergency spine surgery were determined pre-emptively. Preoperative surgical considerations included the minimization of manpower, limited dissection, reduced operative time, and judicious use of equipment, leading to reduced aerosolization. Anesthesia considerations include preoperative screening for COVID-19–related concerns that influence surgery, operating room process planning and induction, intraoperative, reversal, recovery, and resuscitation considerations. Focused multi-disciplinary preoperative briefing facilitates familiarization. Surgical, anesthetic, and postoperative workflows were designed to reduce the risk of transmission and protect HCWs while effectively performing spinal surgery. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated paradigm shifts in healthcare planning, hospital workflows, and operative protocols. The viral burden does not discriminate between surgeons and physicians, and it is crucial that we, as medical professionals, adapt practices to be malleable and fluid to address the ever-changing developments.


Introduction: Suicide attempts double death by suicide rates. To date it remains the only behavior that predicts more harmful future reattempts or deaths from suicide. However, few studies have analyzed the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of older adults who have suffered selfinflicted injuries or attempted suicide. Objective: To assess which sociodemographic and clinical variables are more predictive of a high-lethality or definitive future suicide reattempt in older adults who have suffered self-inflicted injuries or previous suicide attempts. Method: Digital data logged by emergency departments on people aged 50 and overadmitted for self-inflicted injuries or suicide attempt were collected. Results: The binary logistic regression analysis revealed the group of variables most predictive of suicide attempt as being female (OR = 2.70; 95% CI), aged between 61 and 90 years (OR = 6.99; 95% CI), widowed (OR = 3.12; 95% CI), with a pre-existing depressive condition (OR = 3.95; 95% CI) and physical pathologies (OR = 4.98; 95% CI), resorting to single methods (OR = 4.72; 95% CI), and usually discharged from emergency departments (OR = 6.89; 95% CI). Conclusions: There is an urgent need for specific healthcare protocols designed to prevent suicide attempts, adapted to the psychosocial characteristics of this age group. Improvements to social and healthcare warning actions for older adults exhibiting suicide risk profiles also need to be made.


Summary: In order to determine whether the mobilization of intracellular triglycerides observed in cultured human adipocytes is associated with changes in the activities of acid and neutral lipases, the activities of both enzymes were measured weekly on cultured adipocytes for several months. The activity of acid lipase was initially very low, but rose to levels 40 times the original activity within 3 months. The activity of neutral lipase decreased rapidly within the first 2–4 weeks and remained at approximately 25% of original levels thereafter.Speculation: There is increasing evidence that the human adipocyte is highly specialized and that it is derived from a stromal precursor present in the adipose tissue. The cell has the capacity to acquire in culture the properties of the precursor, as evidenced by the appearance of acid lipase and disappearance of neutral lipase. We submit that the low level of acid lipase in the adipocyte is related to its lipid storage function. It remains to be proven that it is not primary to the differentiation of the adipocyte from its precursor. Furthermore, we speculate that a direct biochemical relationship exists between the neutral lipase and intracellular triglyceride stores in the adipocyte.


Multilayer coatings have been designed for peak reflectivity at 182.2Å and 45° angle of incidence. An optimizing computer code was used to find the best layer thicknesses and total number of layers in the structure. Silicon was chosen as the spacer material and molybdenum for the absorber. Mirrors were produced both by sputtering and by electron-beam evaporation in ultra-high vacuum (UHV). The mirrors fabricated by sputtering were made from high-purity source materials by moving a substrate table over the sources. The UHV evaporated samples were produced in a silicon/metals MBE system with a base pressure of 5X10-11 torr. The layers were formed by alternately opening shutters over the two electron-beam evaporators. The deposition rates were feedback stabilized and the shutter timing was computer controlled. The substrate was rotated to produce uniform layers and heated to 200°C for one sample. Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning tunneling. microscopy (STM) were used for characterization. Synchrotron radiation from SURF-II was used to measure the reflectivity as a function of wavelength in the design region. All of the mirrors have amorphous Si layers and polycrystalline Mo layers. The measured reflectivity at 45°, scaled for 10096 S-polarized light, ranges from 29% for a sputter-deposited mirror to 47% for the mirror produced in the MBE system at a substrate temperature of 200°C.


Background: Malaria remains a serious cause of under-five mortality and morbidity worldwide and Uganda inclusive. This burden can be minimized by promptly seeking health care. In Uganda, however, studies around malaria health-seeking behaviors for under-five children in the most malaria prevalent areas are very few. This study aimed at determining the factors influencing caregivers' health-seeking behavior for malaria treatment of children under five years in Busia Municipality, Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used with a structured questionnaire to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22 to establish relationships between the variables. Results: The results showed that the current health-seeking behaviors of the caregivers of under-five children in Busia municipality are associated with caregiver education level (p= 0.008), the health worker's behavior towards the client (p=0.015), the severity of fever (p<0.001), the severity of last malaria episode (p<0.001), waiting time (p=0.001), the quality of health services (p= 0.001) and age of caregiver (p<0.001). Traditional medicine and home remedies are the most utilized means of malaria management in under-five children in Busia Municipality. Conclusions: Caregivers need to be sensitized about the proper health-seeking behaviors for the management of malaria in children under-five years through radio shows, television, community engagement meetings among others to enhance the knowledge and understanding of communities about the recommended malaria treatment-seeking practices. There is a need to continuously train medical workers on client engagement skills to promote a good relationship with patients and encourage their return.


Drastic changes were made to the Bankruptcy Law of Hong Kong after the British colony of Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the revised law came into operation in 1998. This article explains the various issues and processes of liquidation of companies and the Corporate Rescue proposal known as "Provisional Supervision" under the Companies Bill of 2001 in Hong Kong. When the company is under liquidation the creditors' actions will be limited to the extent of realization of the property that is under charge to the secured creditors. But, in the case of "Provisional Supervision", all the creditors will be bounds by a moratorium for an initial period of 30 days and it may extend to six months. The employees of the insolvent company are entitled to priority of wage claims pursuant to Sec. 265 of the Companies Bill. The liquidator of the company is empowered to sell the real and personal property of the company by public auction or private contract under Sec. 198 and Sec. 199(2)(a) of the Companies Bill. The purchasers of the corporate assets should take the necessary precautions to minimize their risks.


Discovering meaningful directions in the latent space of GANs to manipulate semantic attributes typically requires large amounts of labeled data. Recent work aims to overcome this limitation by leveraging the power of Contrastive Language-Image Pre-training (CLIP), a joint text-image model. While promising, these methods require several hours of preprocessing or training to achieve the desired manipulations. In this paper, we present StyleMC, a fast and efficient method for text-driven image generation and manipulation. StyleMC uses a CLIP-based loss and an identity loss to manipulate images via a single text prompt without significantly affecting other attributes. Unlike prior work, StyleMC requires only a few seconds of training per text prompt to find stable global directions, does not require prompt engineering and can be used with any pre-trained StyleGAN2 model. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method and compare it to state-of-the-art methods. Our code can be found at http://catlab-team.github.io/stylemc.


We investigated the ras p21 membrane localization and the expression and activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in activated ras oncogene–containing tumors and assessed whether these events were related to tumors growth. We used 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene–initiated and 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate–promoted SENCAR mouse skin tumors, which were shown to contain Ha‐ras oncogene activated by point mutation at codon 61, as an in vivo model for these studies. Compared with levels in epidermis, highly elevated levels of membrane‐bound Ha‐ras p21 were observed in growing tumors, which also showed strong expression and membrane translocation of PKC ζ and βII and weak expression of PCK α. However, when ras p21 membrane localization was blocked in vivo in growing tumors by lovastatin, opposite results were evident. Compared with saline‐treated animals, in which tumor growth continued, lovastatin‐treated animals had significantly inhibited tumor growth, which led to tumor regression with concomitant inhibition of Ha‐ras p21 membrane localization. These regressing tumors from lovastatin‐treated animals also showed a decrease in the expression and membrane translocation of PKC ζ and βII but increased expression of PKC α. Taken together, our results indicate that ras p21 membrane localization and the expression and activation of PKC ζ, βII, and α may be the critical events in the regulation of the growth of tumors that contain activated ras oncogenes. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss Inc.


Globalisation and the resulting increase in competition have forced organisations to seek unique ways to gain a competitive advantage over their competition. One of the strategies successfully adopted is transforming/extending operations into service industry by the manufacturing organisation. This servitisation as packages or 'bundle' of customer focused combination of goods, services, support, self-service and knowledge adds value to core product offering. The focus of service sector marketing is supported by the fact that regarding world gross domestic product (GDP), the share of services increased from 59% in 1985 to 71% in 2011, underlying the major shift in paradigm. In manufacturing industry, this shift, termed as servitisation, has enabled organisations to achieve better profits and financial stability and has also offered them the opportunity to understand their customers better.


HOW DO THOSE who are living with a difference most effectively cross the cultural divide and explain themselves to mainstream society? This is a central question raised by Yvonne Pitrois in her biography of Helen Keller, titled Une nuit rayonnante: Helen Keller [A Shining Night: Helen Keller]. Helen Keller responded to Pitrois' book in a fascinating letter that I discovered at the library of the American Foundation for the Blind. Although I focus primarily on these two texts, my article goes beyond these initial works and the conflict they reveal to indicate, albeit somewhat briefly, Keller's and Pitrois' respective views on living with disability and the personality and cultural differences that influenced their divergent opinions. At the time that Pitrois' biography of Keller was published (1922), Helen Keller (1880-1968) was known worldwide as an extraordinary deaf-blind American writer, activist, and socialist. She had already written and published The Story of My Life (1902-1903), an autobiographical portrait of her early years; The World I Live In (1908), a world she described as shaped by sensations of touch; and Out of the Dark (1913), a book of socialist writings. Yvonne Pitrois (1880-1937), although relatively unknown today, was almost equally renowned in her country, France, and, in fact, throughout Europe during her lifetime for her social service and her biographical studies. By 1912 Pitrois had already launched her bimonthly magazine, La Petite Silencieuse [The Little Deaf Girl], which provided articles and counseling for deaf women and short biographical sketches of unknown deaf heroes of her age. She had already written numerous longer biographical studies, including Nobles Vies. Abraham Lincoln, le liberateur des esclaves [Noble Lives. Abraham Lincoln, Liberator of the Slaves] (1911), and her most famous work, her life of the first committed educator of deaf people in France, La vie de l'Abbe de l'Epee [The Life of the Abbe de l'Epee] (1912). The two authors had become acquainted through the Cosmopolitan Correspondence Club, established in 1912 by Mrs. James Muir, a deaf woman from Australia. Muir's goal was to encourage deaf citizens worldwide, particularly artists and men and women of letters, to communicate with one another, form friendships, and support one another in their creative endeavors. Pitrois was uniquely qualified to chronicle Helen Keller's life. As a fellow literary artist, she understood the particular challenges deaf writers faced. In spite of their talents, writers are often burdened by the need to create in isolation. They may also feel a responsibility to serve as role models for and to sustain in other ways those who share the same difference. They may feel a particular charge to create a dignified life worthy of emulation. Pitrois' biography of Keller sets forth the deaf writer's burdens and challenges beautifully. Pitrois was also a singularly good choice in that she herself became both deaf and blind at the age of seven, probably as the result of sunstroke. She can consequently be considered Keller's French counterpart. Although Pitrois regained her sight, she remained deaf her entire life. She never forgot the years without vision, however, and reflected throughout her career a passionate desire both to chronicle and to serve her deaf and deaf-blind contemporaries. Her biography of Helen Keller, in particular, reflects this empathy for and understanding of the issues that those with disabilities need to address. She focuses chiefly on the tension between self-definition and isolation and the need for the person with a disability to reconnect in an appropriate way with the larger society. The empathy that comes from a similar experience of disability is reinforced by a similarly positive attitude toward challenge. Certainly Helen Keller's often-stated belief that obstacles exist so that we can overcome them was shared by Pitrois. Both believed that we define ourselves and connect to others through education, hard work, and willpower. …


Abstract Objective To determine how patients with breast cancer want their doctors to communicate with them. Design Qualitative study. Setting Breast unit and patients' homes. Participants 39 women with breast cancer. Main outcome measure Patients' reports of doctors' characteristics or behaviour that they valued or deprecated. Results Patients were not primarily concerned with doctors' communication skills. Instead they emphasised doctors' enduring characteristics. Specifically, they valued doctors whom they believed were technically expert, had formed individual relationships with them, and respected them. They therefore valued forms of communication that are currently not emphasised in training and research and did not intrinsically value others that are currently thought important, including provision of information and choice. Conclusions Women with breast cancer seek to regard their doctors as attachment figures who will care for them. They seek communication that does not compromise this view and that enhances confidence that they are cared for. Testing and elaborating our analysis will help to focus communication research and teaching on what patients need rather than on what professionals think they need.