Domestic violence is one of the biggest human rights violations that affect women all over the world regardless of their color, nationality or age. This problem has taken such a form that women appear to be as much at risk of facing violence inside of the home by a husband or partner, as they are outside by strangers. For that purpose, domestic violence is first not limited to acts of physical and sexual violence only, it also encompasses economic and emotional violence acts. Even women themselves often ignore the real meaning of domestic violence, believing that they are being subjected to "normal behavior". The issue of domestic violence is no more considered purely a private personal affair. It is being increasingly recognized as an aspect of human rights jurisprudence. The incidence of domestic violence is a widespread social phenomenon. It pervades across cultures and countries. Hence, violence against women and girls must not be interpreted merely "as an individual fate", but has to be recognized as systematic discrimination. Violence against women is the expression of a historical and traditional hierarchy of social values and unequal power relations between the sexes. Therefore, what is required is not only a strong legal support network but also opportunities for economic independence, essential education, awareness, alternative accommodation, a change in attitude and mindset of society, judiciary, legislature and the most important woman herself. Restructuring society, in terms of power and role relationship while emphasizing the egalitarian values, is the need of the hour. So, considering the inter-connections between the factors responsible for domestic violence a multi-layered strategies and interventions should be designed within a comprehensive and integrated framework


Despite being studied extensively, there are still many knowledge gaps in milk fever prevention and it is still a prevalent disease. Various interventions have been used in its prevention; however, none has proven to be entirely effective. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of high dose vitamin D3 parenteral (intramuscularly) administration and the mechanism of its action by studying blood minerals and biochemical bone markers. Further, we assessed the potential of biochemical bone markers, measured in the close-up dry period, as predictors of clinical milk fever after calving. The study was conducted on 56 high yielding, clinically healthy dairy cows, before their 4th or higher lactation. They were divided into three groups based on season (summer and winter) and administration (vitamin D). The winter group was considered as the control group. Cows (n = 13) were parenterally administered a single dose of 10 million IU of vitamin D3 (DUPHAFRAL® D3) ranging between 10 and 2 days before calving (median = 3 days). Each cow was blood sampled once during four sampling period ranges: ~1 month before calving, 10 to 2 days before calving, 12–48 h after calving and 10–20 days after calving. The samples were analyzed for blood minerals, bone specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx), alkaline phosphatase, and estradiol. Values were compared between samplings and groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and logistic regression were used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of biochemical bone markers in predicting milk fever. In this study high dose vitamin D3 supplementation did not statistically reduced the incidence of milk fever (milk fever incidences were 15.4, 39.1, and 25% in the vitamin D, winter and summer groups, respectively). A significant effect of vitamin D3 administration on blood minerals or biochemical bone markers was not found at any sampling. We found that the use of biochemical bone markers in the close-up dry period to predict clinical milk fever was applicable only in the winter (housed) group. The area under the curve (AUC) for bALP was 0.804 and 0.846 for CTx using ROC analysis. The bALP curve had the best ratio at the cut-off point 13.85 U/L with 90% sensitivity and 64.3% specificity. While CTx had the ratio of 90% sensitivity and 78.6% specificity at the cut-off point 0.149 ng/mL. Close-up dry dairy cows with CTx ≥0.121 ng/mL had a 3.8 times higher chance of succumbing to milk fever. We were unable to prove that high dose vitamin D3 parenteral administration is a viable technique for milk fever prevention. Biochemical bone markers are a promising tool for predicting milk fever; however, further studies are needed to confirm their clinical use.


A 42-year-old man diagnosed to be HIV positive and on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART), presented with double vision and gradual drooping of the left eyelid. He had left 3rd cranial nerve palsy and partial right lower-motor-neuron facial palsy. CT of the PNS revealed soft tissue filling the right maxillary sinus antruin. Further workup showed the mass to be an NK/T cell lymphoma.


In 1990, the federal government created a clearinghouse to track, among other things, all medical malpractice payments made in the United States. Congress created this entity, the National Practitioner Data Bank, as a repository to hold information about individual doctors' malpractice and disciplinary histories. Doctors' NPDB files, while not visible to the public, are available to medical organizations and serve to aid them make better hiring decisions, as well as to prevent incompetent doctors from moving from state to state in the hope of escaping local regulators. The NPDB's existence, though, has become a significant barrier to malpractice claims settlement. Many doctors fear being listed in the NPDB and this has significantly diminished the likelihood of payment when a claim is made (a claim made post-NPDB is only 59% as likely to attract a settlement as a pre-NPDB claim). Fear of being listed in the NPDB has also resulted in a culture of evasion and exploitation of reporting loopholes that weaken the NPDB's data collection efforts.This Article argues that, while the NPDB seeks to protect potential malpractice victims from inept doctors; part of the cost has been borne by actual malpractice victims. These patients are now more likely to go without compensation because payments would create a paper trail of past performance that some doctors are unwilling to allow to exist. This article tells the story of the NPDB – and organized medicine's response to it – and argues for improvements to remove barriers to fair compensation and to improve the NPDB's ability to track malpractice data.


The human body (primarily the intestinal tract, the oral cavity, and the skin) harbours approximately 1,000 different bacterial species. However, the number of archaeal species known to colonize man seems to be confined to a handful of organisms within the class Euryarchaeota (including Methanobrevibacter smithii, M. oralis, and Methanosphaera stadtmanae). In contrast to this conspicuously low diversity of Archaea in humans their unique physiology in conjunction with the growing number of reports regarding their occurrence at sites of infection has made this issue an emerging field of study. While previous review articles in recent years have addressed the putative role of particularly methanogenic archaea for human health and disease, this paper compiles novel experimental data that have been reported since then. The aim of this paper is to inspire the scientific community of "Archaea experts" for those unique archaeal organisms that have successfully participated in the human-microbe coevolution.


Some DFB (distributed feedback) laser diodes have a satellite mode beside a main DFB mode even if FP modes are suppressed. In this paper, the mode partition noise is presented for several DFB lasers operating in multilongitudinal modes. The results show that under modulation at 140 Mbit/s, the mode partition coefficient k2of multimode DFB lasers is very small and at most 0.02 while that of FP lasers biased at the threshold level is 0.03 to 0.12. The numerical evaluation of the mode partition effect in two-mode DFB lasers suggests that a 20- dB suppression of the satellite mode power is enough to achieve a repeater spacing of over 100 km in the 280 Mbit/s fiber-optic transmission system with less than 0.1-dB power penalty.


The van Herk margin formula (VHMF) relies on the accuracy of the convolution method (CM) to determine clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins. This work (1) evaluates the accuracy of the CM and VHMF as a function of the number of fractions N and other parameters, and (2) proposes an alternative margin algorithm which ensures target coverage for a wider range of parameter values. Dose coverage was evaluated for a spherical target with uniform margin, using the same simplified dose model and CTV coverage criterion as were used in development of the VHMF. Systematic and random setup errors were assumed to be normally distributed with standard deviations Σ and σ. For clinically relevant combinations of σ, Σ and N, margins were determined by requiring that 90% of treatment course simulations have a CTV minimum dose greater than or equal to the static PTV minimum dose. Simulation results were compared with the VHMF and the alternative margin algorithm. The CM and VHMF were found to be accurate for parameter values satisfying the approximate criterion: σ[1 − γN/25] < 0.2, where γ = Σ/σ. They were found to be inaccurate for σ[1 − γN/25] > 0.2, because they failed to account for the non-negligible dose variability associated with random setup errors. These criteria are applicable when σ ⪆ σP, where σP = 0.32 cm is the standard deviation of the normal dose penumbra. (Qualitative behaviour of the CM and VHMF will remain the same, though the criteria might vary if σP takes values other than 0.32 cm.) When σ ≪ σP, dose variability due to random setup errors becomes negligible, and the CM and VHMF are valid regardless of the values of Σ and N. When σ ⪆ σP, consistent with the above criteria, it was found that the VHMF can underestimate margins for large σ, small Σ and small N. A potential consequence of this underestimate is that the CTV minimum dose can fall below its planned value in more than the prescribed 10% of treatments. The proposed alternative margin algorithm provides better margin estimates and CTV coverage over the parameter ranges examined here. This algorithm is not amenable to expression as a simple formula (e.g., as a linear combination of Σ and σ). However, it can be easily calculated. For 0.1 cm ⩽ σ ⩽ 0.75 cm, 0 ⩽ γ ⩽ 1 and 5 ⩽ N ⩽ 30, the VHMF underestimates margins by as much as 33%. With the alternative margin algorithm, the maximum underestimate is 7%. These results suggest that the VHMF should be used with caution for hypofractionated treatment and in adaptive therapy.


The study of the task of positioning the working mechanisms of construction and road machines (CRM) of using GPS intensifier was carried out. The analysis of existing researches and publications, in which the main problem is highlighted, namely that the task of positioning the working mechanisms CRM at this time is not enough. As a result of the analysis the purpose of research is set, namely: to increase of functioning efficiency mechanisms CRM with working environment using mathematical models and adaptation algorithm in a limited time decision. The task of monitoring parameters using Kalman or Wiener filters which to take machine vibrations into account, deviations in working operations, changes in weight, etc. have been substantiated. The use of a GPS intensifier makes it possible to predict the work of actuators CRM in real time. The result of the research is algorithm of positioning the working mechanisms CRM: determination of the location of the base CRM in a 3-dimensional coordinate system; filtering measurements; predicting the position of the working mechanism. The originality lies in the fact that the using Kalman or Wiener filters allows to describe the trajectory in the coordinate system of the base machine in accordance with the point measurement, and describe the relationship between changed coordinates, which makes it possible to model and predict the workflow.


Background Nursing shortage is a major problem. Strategies have been adopted to contrast it. One is to increase the appeal of nursing profession to young people, to increase the number of new nurses entering the profession. No intervention has considered children in primary school -the period of life when children start fantasizing about what to do when they grow up- as possible target of an information campaign about Nursing. Goal To investigate what perception children have of Nurses and their propensity to become a Nurse when they grow up. Methods Cross-sectional study. Primary school 5thgraders (age 10) were asked to answer a 6-item questionnaire and to draw a Nurse. Results 245 questionnaires and drawings were collected. 60% of children consider the Nurse as the one who "takes care" or "helps" sick people, while 23% say Nurse "helps the doctor". 28% drew a Nurse with a syringe. Only 8% represented a Nurse talking with patient. Many of the drawings representations seem influenced by stereotypes: red cross on the uniform (61%), female nurses with starched white hat, skirt and heels (25%). 17% of children state they want to be a Nurse when they grow up; of them 63% are girls. Discussion The majority of children have a correct idea of Nurses' role, although their image is influenced by stereotypes. Unexpectedly, 1/6 children think of becoming a Nurse. An educational campaign about Nursing directed to primary schooler may correct wrong stereotypes about Nurses and encourage children interested to nursing to cultivate their dream.


Research supervisors' different ways of experiencing their supervision of doctoral students are analysed in terms of the students' questions and problems as they relate to the supervisor's research, and what consequences this connection, or non‐connection, to the supervisor's research has for supervision and the role of supervisor. Thirty supervisors of doctoral students at different faculties at a university in Sweden were interviewed. The results illustrate two supervision structures, called research practice‐oriented and research relation‐oriented supervision. The principal differences between these two ways of structuring supervision consist of whether the supervisor and the doctoral student participate in a common research practice and share objects of research with the same or a related research approach, or whether the doctoral student's research problems and research objects lack a clear connection with the supervisor's research.


Using the nonequilibrium Keldysh Green's function technique, the Fano effect of a parallel-coupled triple Rashba quantum dot system is investigated. The conductance as a function of electron energy is numerically calculated. Compared with the case of a parallel-coupled double quantum dot system, two additional Fano resonance peaks occur in the conductance spectrum. By adjusting the structural parameters, the two Fano resonance peaks may change into the resonance peaks. In addition, the influence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction on the conductance is studied.


We initiate the study of partial key exposure in ring-LWE-based cryptosystems. Specifically, we – Introduce the search and decision Leaky-RLWE assumptions (Leaky-SRLWE, Leaky-DRLWE), to formalize the hardness of search/decision RLWE under leakage of some fraction of coordinates of the NTT transform of the RLWE secret and/or error. – Present and implement an efficient key exposure attack that, given certain 1/4-fraction of the coordinates of the NTT transform of the RLWE secret, along with RLWE instances, recovers the full RLWE secret for standard parameter settings. – Present a search-to-decision reduction for Leaky-RLWE for certain types of key exposure. – Analyze the security of NewHope key exchange under partial key exposure of 1/8-fraction of the secrets and error. We show that, assuming that Leaky-DRLWE is hard for these parameters, the shared key v (which is then hashed using a random oracle) is computationally indistinguishable from a random variable with average min-entropy 238, conditioned on transcript and leakage, whereas without leakage the min-entropy is 256.


Impedance measurement is a simple and adequate method which can provide rapid diagnosis and therefore control of human health. In compensated diseases table method of Y. Nakatani is perspective in diagnosis.


This article describes four of the most widely accepted and utilized Electronic Travel Aids—the Lindsay Russell Pathsounder, the Mowat Sensor, the Sonicguide™, and the C-5 Laser Cane. Current uses and applications of the four aids for specific populations of visually impaired persons are discussed. In addition, a research review provides insight into the issues affecting future use of the devices.


This article examines Western thought in formatting social order based on rasionalism, empiricism, and church. This discussion is significant in tracing the origins on social doctrin in the modern social-ethical system. By bibliographical literatur from classical books, this study describes and analyzes what are being formated in Classical and Medieval Western Tradition about social justice. By that tradition , it is clear that West has tradition of individualism as well as communalism. Both of classical section have being referenced in the world .


We present the multiphase model applied to a set of bulges. This model was first applied to the Solar Neighborhood, and then to the Galactic Disk, by computing the radial dependence of input parameters, which govern the gas accumulation in the disk, and the cloud and star formation processes. These processes result enhanced in the central region due to the volume effect. The evolution of the Galactic bulge was thus directly obtained (Mollá & Ferrini, 1995), with the same set of efficiencies and characteristic collapse time scale defined for the disk. We have also applied the model to a sample of spiral disks, by changing the input parameters according their total masses and Hubble types. With the same approach used for our Bulge, we now extend the model to their bulges (Mollá et al., 2000) The resulting SFR in the central regions shows a intense initial episode in the first Gyr. Surface densities for atomic and molecular gas of later type bulges are higher than those of earlier types. The predicted Galactic bulge mean metallicity, [Fe/H] = −0.17, and the corresponding metallicity distribution, are in excellent agreement with data. Mean stellar abundances are subsolar for all modelled bulges (T ≥ 3), independently of the Hubble type, the arm class and/or the luminosity of their host galaxies, reproducing the estimations from color data. The ratio between past and present SFR and the abundance [Mg/Fe] are correlated with the Hubble type: they decrease for late type bulges. The predicted spectral indices Mg2 and Fe52, computed by evolutionary synthesis models, are also similar to those observed.


Exosomes are important intercellular communicators in the acute radiation stress-response. Here we show that exosomes from head and neck tumor cells confer protective signals to their neighboring cells. This promotes the tumorigenic and radioresistant phenotype of head and neck cancer cells. Isolation of exosomes was performed by serial ultracentrifugation of conditioned medium collected from irradiated or non-irradiated head and neck cancer cell lines BHY and FaDu. Quantification by NanoSight technology indicated an increased exosome release from irradiated compared to non-irradiated cells 24 hours after treatment. To test whether the released exosomes influence the radiation response, exosomes isolated from non-irradiated and irradiated donor cells were transferred on non-irradiated and irradiated recipient cells. We found an enhanced uptake of exosomes, when transferred to irradiated recipient cells compared to the transfer to non-irradiated cells. Functional analyses indicate increased survival of irradiated recipient cells after exosome transfer. These findings mesh with increased DNA double strand break repair that we found after the transfer of exosomes isolated from irradiated cells. Moreover we observed an increased migration and enhanced chemotaxis induced motility after the transfer of exosomes isolated from irradiated cells. To investigate whether differential protein loading into exosomes is responsible for the functional differences we performed proteome analysis of the exosomes. We have identified 679 proteins, of which 39 were up- and 36 were downregulated by irradiation of the donor cells. In a good agreement with our functional assays, the proteome profiling showed that exosomal proteins were mainly involved in wound healing. Exosomes are functional components of the response of tumor cells to therapeutic radiation exposure. In a clinical context these results suggests that radiotherapy modified exosomes may influence the cancer progression, metastasis and therapeutic success. Citation Format: Lisa Mutschelknaus, Omid Azimzadeh, Theresa Heider, Klaudia Winkler, Marcus Vetter, Soile Tapio, Juliane Merl-Pham, Rosemarie Kell, Stephan Huber, Lena Edalat, Vanja Radulovic, Natasa Anastasov, Carsten Peters, Michael John Atkinson, Simone Moertl. Exosomes promote survival and migration in squamous head and neck cancer cells after ionizing radiation: Evidence for a bystander effect [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5849. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5849


Foldback triplex-forming oligonucleotides (FTFOs) that contain an abasic linker, [2-(4-aminobutyr-1-yl)-1,3-propanediol] (APD linker), in the Hoogsteen domain against pyrimidine bases of a C:G and a T:A base pair were studied for their relative stability and sequence specificity of triplex formation. In general, the APD linker has less destabilizing effect against a C:G base pair than a T:A base pair. Incorporation of three APD linker moieties resulted in decreased binding to the target, which was comparable to results observed with three imperfectly matched natural base triplets. The APD linker incorporation did not result in the loss of sequence specificity of FTFOs, unlike in the case of normal triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs). The introduction of a positively charged abasic linker, however, resulted in decreased stability of the triplex, because of loss of hydrogen bonding and stacking interactions in the major groove. The results of a molecular modeling study show that APD linker can be readily incorporated without any change in the conformation of the natural sugar-phosphate backbone conserving overall triple helix geometry. Further, the modeling study suggests a hydrogen bond formation between the amino group of linker and N4 of cytosine mediated by a solvent molecule (water) in the floor of the base triplet in addition to a contribution from the positive charge on the APD linker amino group. Either a direct or water-mediated hydrogen bond between the amino group of the APD linker and the O4 of thymine is unlikely when the linker is placed against a T:A base pair.


Grapevine irrigation is becoming an important practice to guarantee wine quality or even plant survival in regions affected by seasonal drought. Nevertheless, irri- gation has to be controlled to optimise source to sink balance and avoid excessive vigour. The results we present here in two grapevine varieties (Moscatel and Cas- telao) during 3 years, indicate that we can decrease the amount of water applied by 50% (as in deficit irrigation, DI, and in partial root drying, PRD) in relation to full crop's evapotranspiration (ETc) (full irrigated (FI) vines) with no negative effects on production and even get some gains of quality (in the case of PRD). We report that in non-irrigated and in several cases in PRD vines exhibit higher concentra- tions of berry skin anthocyanins and total phenols than those presented by DI and FI vines. We showed that these effects on quality were mediated by a reduction in vigour, leading to an increase on light interception in the cluster zone. Because plant water status during most of the dates along the season was not significantly different between PRD and DI, and when different, PRD even exhibited a higher leaf water potential than DI vines, we conclude that growth inhibition in PRD was not a result of a hydraulic control. The gain in crop water use in DI and PRD was accompanied by an increase of the d 13 C values in the berries in DI and PRD as compared to FI, suggesting that we can use this methodology to assess the inte- grated water-use efficiency over the growing season.


Multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles have gained ample attention in the field of nanomedicine in recent years. Here, novel superparamagnetic core-shell manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MFNP)-encapsulated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSMFNPs) loaded with anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) for the combined application of hyperthermia and chemotherapy were developed and tested in vitro. Our results indicate that DOX-MSMFNPs achieved a favorable hyperthermic response in an alternating magnetic field in addition to cancer cell-specific cationic DOX release due to the cleavage of amide bonds under acidic pH, and synergistically contributed towards an enhanced tumoricidal effect.


In considering how I might offer some sociological observations which could be useful to this conference, I thought of at least three perspectives from which a modern society might be analyzed: 1) from the standpoint of the institutional structure and the way in which institutions are linked to form the social structure; 2 ) from the standpoint of the role and sets of roles a person plays in his lifetime, which also can be viewed as positions which a person fills in the institutional structure; and 3) from the standpoint of the expectations, definitions, or interpretations which a person holds concerning other people and the social groups and situations of which he is a member and with which he interacts. These interpretations, expectations, and definitions often provide the context in which a person makes crucial decisions about his role behavior, in such diverse situations as deciding to go to medical school, choosing where to live after retirement, or considering whether to leave an old neighborhood which is changing in its ethnic character. Let us examine each of these three sociological perspectives-institutions, roles, and social expectations-in relation to some of the interests and concerns of those present at this conference and the organizations which they represent.


One frequently hears statements about the damage done to the 'international community' by disagreements about the invasion and occupation of Iraq. It is clear from the general nature and frequency of its use that the term 'inter-national community' has an important political function in generating legiti-macy for those who act in its name. It is also clear from its popular usage that 'international community' means very different, and often quite opposed, things to different people. Why is the strong term 'community' chosen when 'inter-national society' might be more useful? Longstanding debates within political theory and the English school provide helpful insights into why people use this term in the ways that they do. This article will argue that international community implies a deep and robust sharing of identity, and that in relation to the Iraq war, the most important meaning of it equates broadly with the West. The authors look at the effect of the war on the western international com-munity through its impact on NATO, the EU, the UN, the WTO and public opinion. They further argue that the evidence from these sources does not yet suggest that the western international community has been fatally damaged.


Informal e-waste recycling activities have been shown to be a major emitter of organic flame retardants (FRs), contributing to both environmental and human exposure to laborers at e-waste recycling sites in some West African countries, as well as in China and India. The main objective of this study was to determine the levels of selected organic FRs in both air and soil samples collected from areas with intensive informal e-waste recycling activities in Karachi, Pakistan. Dechlorane Plus (DP) and "novel" brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were often detected in high concentrations in soils, while phosphorus-based FRs (OPFRs) dominated atmospheric samples. Among individual substances and substance groups, decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) (726 ng/g), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) (551 ng/g), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) (362 ng/g), and triphenyl-phosphate (∑TPP) (296 ng/g) were found to be prevalent in soils, while OPFR congeners (5903-24986 ng/m3) were prevalent in air. The two major e-waste recycling areas (Shershah and Lyari) were highly contaminated with FRs, suggesting informal e-waste recycling activities as a major emission source of FRs in the environment in Karachi City. However, the hazards associated with exposure to PM2.5 appear to exceed those attributed to exposure to selected FRs via inhalation and soil ingestion.


There are only 33 records of rodents of the subfamily Caviinae Fischer de Waldheim, 1817 (Hystricognathi: Caviidae) infested by hard ticks in South America, where the subfamily is established. Caviinae is formed by three genera: Cavia Pallas, 1766, Galea Meyen, 1833 and Microcavia Gervais and Ameghino, 1880. Records of Amblyomma pictum Neumann, 1906, A. dissimile Koch, 1844 and A. pseudoparvum Guglielmone, Keirans and Mangold, 1990 are considered doubtful. Bona fide records are all for localities south of the Amazonian basin in Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Brazil. Thirteen records are for A. tigrinum Koch, 1844, four for A. triste Koch, 1844, three for A. parvum Aragao, 1908 (larvae and nymphs of these three species), one for A. cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (nymph), four for Ixodes longiscutatus Boero, 1944 (females, nymphs and larvae) and one record for I. loricatus Neumann, 1899 (female). Rodents of the subfamily Caviinae are vital for the life cycle of A. tigrinum and A. parvum and probably for A. triste and I. longiscutatus. It is hypothesized that Ixodidae precedes Caviinae in establishment in South America (Neotropical), therefore this host-relationship is relatively recent measured in evolutionary times starting in late Miocene or afterwards. Rodents of the subfamily Caviinae appears to be relevant for the life cycle and speciation of hard ticks in South America as shown by studies carried out in Argentina and Uruguay. This role has been hidden presumably because this type of hosts was ignored in most ecological tick studies performed in South America.


Crop losses caused by microbial infections are a significant global issue, especially in tropical regions. The development of novel antimicrobial agents, particularly antifungal agents, has been explored from various perspectives, including chemical synthesis. However, conventional approaches typically involve synthesizing new and potent compounds on a small scale (a few milligrams), making the scale-up of the reaction a major challenge. In this manuscript, we present a method for the synthesis of new and active (against Fusarium oxysporum) benzofuranyl acetic acid amides. Our strategy allows us to synthesize the key precursor on the gram scale, enabling the production of sufficient quantities of other active compounds within short timeframes for conducting biological studies. All the reactions used in this manuscript are recognized by their industrial application.


At the current situation of continuous utilization of heavy metal contaminated upland for agricultural purpose in Korea, minimizing transport of heavy metals from soil to crops is important for securing safety of human health. The present study (in field scale) examined the efficiency of several soil amendments (dolomite, steel slag, lime, zeolite, and compost) on reduction of phytoavailable heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in soil through comparison with no amendment treatment and clean soil cover treatment. For determination of the phytoavailability, 1 M NH4NO3 extraction and red pepper cultivation were introduced. Among the amendments, in general, dolomite and steel slag were the most effective in reduction of metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) phytoavailability resulting in less accumulation of these metals in shoot and fruit of red pepper. However, dolomite and steel slag treatment was not as effective as clean soil cover treatment which showed the least metal accumulation in red pepper fruit. Nevertheless, with taking into account the cost, treatment of dolomite or steel slag can be competitive method because the current study showed that dolomite or steel slag treatment reduced accumulated heavy metal concentration effectively in both shoot and fruit of red pepper compared to those from control soil and the concentration in fruit was within the standard value (<0.2 mg kg -1 for both Cd and Pb).


This article looks at the shifts in cultural promotion of craft as a result of a particular political conjuncture in the region of Flanders (Belgium). In 1991, as a consequence of Belgian federalization, the promotion policies for craft in Flanders passed from being answerable to the Belgian state to being answerable to the regional Flemish government. This political change brought about cultural consequences. Industrial design entered the promotional channels that until then had been preserved for craft, and became a dominant referent that dictated its further evolution. Before this, craft had been a site for diversity of material discourses in which the decorative, the figurative and the minimalistic coexisted. In the late 1990s however, this diversity was lost and craft offered a homogeneous sight, characterized by the minimalistic and non-figurative. This article argues that non-creative aspects turned out to be decisive in this struggle between craft and industrial design. More specifically, the fact that promotional policies of craft and industrial design became answerable to economic institutions from the Belgian federalisation onwards enhanced the importance of industrial design and reduced the relevance of craft. This research utilizes a historical politico-aesthetic perspective to analyse the relationship between political and ideological superstructure, and cultural and artistic practices to explain the changes in the aesthetic and stylistic appearance of craft.


BACKGROUND
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is widely used to produce insertions into plant genomes. There are a number of well-developed Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods for dicotyledonous plants, but there are few for monocotyledonous plants.

METHODS
Three hydrolase genes were transiently expressed in Brachypodium distachyon plants using specially designed vectors that express the gene product of interest and target it to the plant cell wall. Expression of functional hydrolases in genotyped plants was confirmed using western blotting, activity assays, cell wall compositional analysis and digestibility tests.

KEY RESULTS
An efficient, new, Agrobacterium-mediated approach was developed for transient gene expression in the grass B. distachyon, using co-cultivation of mature seeds with bacterial cells. This method allows transformed tissues to be obtained rapidly, within 3-4 weeks after co-cultivation. Also, the plants carried transgenic tissue and maintained transgenic protein expression throughout plant maturation. The efficiency of transformation was estimated at around 5 % of initially co-cultivated seeds. Application of this approach to express three Aspergillus nidulans hydrolases in the Brachypodium cell wall successfully confirmed its utility and resulted in the expected expression of active microbial proteins and alterations of cell wall composition. Cell wall modifications caused by expression of A. nidulans α-arabinofuranosidase and α-galactosidase increased the biodegradability of plant biomass.

CONCLUSIONS
This newly developed approach is a quick and efficient technique for expressing genes of interest in Brachypodium plants, which express the gene product throughout development. In the future, this could be used for broad functional genomics studies of monocots and for biotechnological applications, such as plant biomass modification for biofuel production.


This study examined the possible relationship between Iranian female intermediate EFL learners' personality traits and their vocabulary learning strategies. The participants in this study comprised of 90 female intermediate English language learners. To ensure the homogeneity of the group, all the participants were made to appear in the Oxford Solution Placement Test. Vocabulary Learning Strategies and Eysenck Personality questionnaires were administered to the participants. The results showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between Iranian intermediate EFL learners' personality type and their use of vocabulary learning strategies. However, it appeared that introverts tended to have higher use of memory, cognitive, and metacognitive strategies while extroverts were found to achieve higher mean scores on determination and social strategies. The highest degree of the relationship was found between social strategy and personality types. In contrast, lowest correlation was found between metacognitive strategy and personality types.


Author(s): Gotlib, Oren | Advisor(s): Talke, Frank E | Abstract: Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is a significant problem. Interdisciplinary teams have coordinated to address this problem, yet there is still a need for an adequate solution. Indwelling urinary catheters are at the root of prevalence of CAUTI. Urinary catheters with surfaces that are defenseless against the growth of infectious microorganisms, such as bacteria, are a risk to patients with urinary incontinence. This Master's thesis describes the design and investigation of a passive electricidal urinary catheter surface. This entails a discussion of methods to prevent CAUTI with catheter coatings, in addition to methods used to formulate and adhere coatings. The design of composite coatings using polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), with active materials zinc, silver, and/or silver oxide powders is disclosed, thereafter. These coatings are designed so that the active materials are well adhered and allowed to react in the presence of bodily fluids. The oxidation reduction reactions that occur between the dissimilar metals in solution has the capability to create an environment at the catheter surface that includes electric fields, microcurrents, changes in pH, and generation of heavy metal ions and hydrogen peroxide. This environment is similar to that of a zinc-silver galvanic cell, and has been found to alter the adhesion and proliferation of bacteria on surfaces and their ability to form dangerous biofilms. The composite coatings made in the lab were tested to determine their reactivity and biocidal effects. Methods used to quantify the generation of hydrogen peroxide, electric potentials, changes in pH, and inhibition of planktonic bacteria and biofilm in synthetic urine are discussed. The results of these tests show that the coatings are able to generate potentials and hydrogen peroxide in synthetic urine. Coatings containing combinations of zinc and silver oxide or silver and silver oxide have the greatest antimicrobial effects compared to controls. These coatings also inhibited biofilm as good as, if not better than, commercially available antimicrobial specimens.


Researchers used to think that inflammation, one of the body's key reactions to infection and injury, gradually faded out once the triggering stimulus was removed. But scientists have now discovered a group of molecules that actively end inflammation. These so-called proresolving molecules include four groups of lipids—lipoxins, protectins, maresins, and resolvins—as well as proteins and other types of compounds. Proresolving molecules counteract several of the steps involved in inflammation, including movement of immune cells into the injured tissue. They also promote healing, quell pain, and may be essential for recovery from infectious diseases. Researchers are now working to put these molecules to use. Clinical trials have already evaluated proresolving molecules' ability to soothe eye and skin inflammation. Trials under way or about to start soon will test their powers against postsurgical eye inflammation and gingivitis, a type of gum inflammation that can lead to tooth loss.


Agriculture is the
vital economic activity of rural society in nearly all of Pakistan. The Winder-Sonmiani area located at the Makran coast near the city of Hub in Pakistan is
economically very promising. Cropping, horticulture, fruit farming and animal
husbandry are the common land use activities in the area while fishing along
the coast is an important economic activity. Owing to the use of the Satellite
Remote Sensing technique (SRST), the triangular basin shape structure of
the Winder area has been found to be spatially very promising for agricultural activities. Positive change in the use of agriculture land was detected from the Satellite
images of different periods. Use of modern technology and incentives provided
by the government have advanced improvement in agriculture.


Addressing the interest in missional theology and responding to the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, this research developed an apocalyptic missional theology for our time Whilst the Second World War inspired an exploration of the eschatological dimensions of mission, it was argued that apocalyptic theology adds a much needed perspective on mission In addition to replying to the pandemic, apocalyptic missiology proved to be well suited to speak about the challenges for the Church in South Africa, and introduces African modes of thinking to missiology This study comprised a qualitative literature research method that traced the history of eschatology and apocalyptic in missional thinking (summarised apocalyptic theology), demonstrated that apocalyptic theology contributes to current missiology, and finally developed an apocalyptic agenda for the mission The research found that apocalyptic offers new ways of speaking about God that challenges contemporary powers and power structures, and presents prophetic and ethical ways for the church to participate in the Missio Dei Apocalyptic extends a more universal future that includes all peoples and creation, and it provides believers with a new identity and comfort in our time In conclusion, apocalyptic theology was found to enrich missional thinking, contributing hope and joy to the Christian message Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article suggested that apocalyptic theology adds new dimensions to missional theology, enriching the traditional discourse It used the insights of biblical and religious studies, and applied it to missiology, as well as to systematic and practical theology © 2020 The Authors Licensee: AOSIS


A thymoma in the neck region is a rare diagnosis involving a solitary neck nodule that moves with deglutition and is contiguous with the thyroid gland. The authors report an unusual case of a thymoma that accumulated both Tc-99m pertechnetate and Tc-99m MIBI. This is probably the first reported case of a benign neck thymoma concentrating these two radiopharmaceuticals. Thymoma should be added to the gamut of false-positive findings in the neck for thyroidal (with Tc-99m pertechnetate) and malignant (with Tc-99m MIBI) tissue.


This article presents an ethnography of makeshift worship space for the minority Muslim community of a university campus and neighborhood in a Midwestern city in the United States. It uncovers how Muslim congregational worship is conducted in this provisional site, which bears competing symbols of Christian worship, to explore how the body plays an active role in perceiving space through rearrangement, reorientation, and auditory inscription. It explores how space is zoned to correspond with boundaries of (im)purity toward the symbolic maintenance of the sacred. In addition, it discusses the play of distance in space along the center to the periphery as spatial markers that correspond with positions of authority and membership. Finally, this article discloses how a lack of ownership of space conditions the disposition of a minority religious community within the larger secular and national landscape.


This paper presents a novel power conversion topology for systems, which include a boost and bidirectional converters to control the power flows between sources, batteries, and ultracapacitors. The proposed system (multimode single-leg power converter) substitutes the boost converter and bidirectional converter with a multifunctional bidirectional converter and has cost effectiveness and fault tolerance, preserving the same energy conversion functionalities of the conventional energy conversion system. To verify the performance of the proposed system, its operations are categorized and explained to four different modes. Then, each mode of the proposed system is simulated and implemented experimentally using a prototype test bed. The results present that the proposed conversion system is feasible and applicable for a wide range of applications including alternative/renewable power systems and electric vehicles (EVs).


Twenty-nine patients treated for malignant blood diseases developped CMV infection. Their clinical and laboratory features were studied. The results indicated that this infection apparently did not influence the prognisis of the underlying disease. The main hematological feature was pancytopenia. The data of viremia suggested active infection. A marked increase of CMV CF antibodies were observed in 27/29 patients, and the peak titers of 42% of our cases were greater than 1:1024. Homogenous Ig were detected in 7/29 patient's serum.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
The observation that patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) may relapse following stem cell transplantation because of Philadelphia positive cells contaminating the graft have led to a variety of strategies to reduce this contamination. This study investigate the feasibility of collective, Ph-re cells from patients with CML in chronic phase.

DESIGN AND METHODS
A total of 18 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase who had responded to varying degrees to treatment with interferon-a (IFN) were subjected to mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors and peripheral blood progenitor cell collection. Nine patients were in complete cytogenetic remission (CCR) and nine were partial responders. IFN was stopped 2 to 4 weeks before the procedure. G-CSF was given by subcutaneous injection once daily at a dose of 10 microg/kg.

RESULTS
Five patients underwent one collection procedure only, 10 underwent two procedures and 3 patients had three collections. The median number of nucleated cells (NC) per patient collected was 10.2 x 10(8)/kg (4.4-19.7) and the median number of CD34(+) cells was 2.5 x 10(6)/kg (0.4-9.4). Analyzable cytogenetic data were available for 26/34 (76%) leukapheresis procedures. The median percentage of Ph- negative metaphases for patients in CCR was 100% (73-100). Patients not in CCR had a higher level of Ph-positive cells in their collections (median 23%, range 0-79%, p=0.01). Of the nine patients in CCR, 8 had at least one apheresis from which progenitor cells were 100% Ph-negative; conversely, patients not in CCR had detectable Ph-positive cells in every collection. Four patients have undergone autologous stem cell transplantation.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS
It was possible to collect sufficient Ph negative progenitor cells from patients in CCR but collections from other patients contained significant numbers of Ph-positive cells.


The need to implement e-learning in the nursing degree has been detected. This research applies instructional design to the learning process of a professional care model, centred in the competences to be developed by students. Knowledge is sequenced through the Elaboration Theory and Content Analysis Technique taking competences as a starting point. Moreover, based on these elements, a range of activities are designed focused on Task Analysis Technique and Simplifying Conditions Method (SCM). Furthermore, a learning object has been designed and created through EASA pattern of GLO Maker software. In addition, the five principles of Dave Merril are considered to instruccional formulation and design. All the above is oriented towards constructivist learning and instructional virtual learning.


An improved MOS device model is derived based upon a first-order model for the dependency of MOS surface mobility on surface field and lateral drain field. A comparison with experimental data shows that a consistent set of physical parameters can be used to describe both long-channel nMOS devices and short-channel devices. The model can form the basis for improved compact MOS models for circuit analysis.


The goal of this project was to lay the groundwork for Oregon to be prepared to lead in the implementation of a connected vehicle/cooperative systems transportation portfolio, and/or to avoid being caught by surprise as developments in this area evolve quickly. The project assessed Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT's) internal mechanisms for addressing connected vehicle/cooperative systems, scanned, reviewed and assessed the technical maturity of potential connected vehicle/cooperative system applications, developed preliminary goals, linked to prospective connected vehicle/cooperative systems applications, and refined/ranked/prioritized those that fit with potential ODOT role in advancing/leading these initiatives. The project identified opportunities for linking ODOT's current programs with national and international connected vehicle/cooperative system research, testing and deployment initiatives, and recommended a final shared vision and "road map" for Oregon's priority connected vehicle/cooperative system applications. This volume summarizes the results of a detailed internal-only assessment and inventory of current technical and "cultural" status of ODOT activities and gain sense of interest and readiness for potential alignment with potential applications and the future of connected and automated vehicles. A survey was distributed to agency staff in order to gauge perception of connected and automated vehicle technology. The empirical results of the survey are described in detail. In general, most respondents had heard of these technologies and were in favor of their application. However, many had concerns about cyber security and system failure having catastrophic consequences. Likewise, many voiced concerns about ODOT's preparedness for connected or automated vehicles. ODOT and other agencies can use these findings to help prepare for a better future of connected and automated vehicles.


We recently saw a 12 year old girl whose complaint was fecal incontinence since birth. Her combination of anomalies was unique in our experience, and a search in the literature has failed to reveal any report of a duplicate condition. The rarity of the abnormality and the success of the treatment devised to remedy the distressing incontinence make it worthy of report. REPORT OF A CASE C. L. H., a 125/12 year old school girl, was referred to one of us (W. E. L.) in the summer of 1942 with the complaint of fecal incontinence from birth. The child was born at the Providence Lying-In Hospital, Providence, R. I., at full term by normal delivery. Her weight at birth was 7 pounds 6 ounces (3,348 Gm.). The infant was of good color, and there were no postnatal disturbances. On the third day after birth she was first noted to have


The present study consisted of 124 patients with bronchial asthma or chronic asthmatic bronchitis due to immediate hypersensitivity (Type I allergy). A total of 329 bronchial challenges with house dust, grass pollen, cat and dog danders were performed in these patients who were randomly selected and the specific IgE antibodies in the serum to the same allergens were quantitatively determined (serum RAST). Of 329 bronchial challenges, 147 positive and 109 negative bronchial challenges correlated with intracutaneous tests and disease history (77.8%). In the group of 147 "positive correlating bronchial challenges" (positive challenges, positive skin tests, positive histories), 29.9% showed as positive serum RAST while 50.3% were RAST plus doubtful. In the group of 109 "negative correlating bronchial challenges" (negative challenges, negative skin tests, negative histories), negative serum RAST was found in 51.4% cases. The over-all correlation between the serum RAST and the "correlating bronchial challenges" (chi 2 = 5.19; d.f. = 2; 0.05 less than p less than 0.10) as well as the correlation for the individual allergens were found to be non-significant. It is concluded that bronchial challenges with allergens, being an in vivo parameter, are of a greater value for the diagnostic confirmation of the allergic component due to the immediate hypersensitivity (Type I allergy) in asthmatics than the serum RAST, being only a useful in vitro supplementary parameter. Serum RAST cannot substitute the bronchial challenges generally, only in some special cases.


Tube Feeding in US Nursing Home Residents With Advanced Dementia, 2000-2014 Over the last 2 decades, research has failed to demonstrate benefits of tube feeding in patients with advanced dementia.1,2 Expert opinion and position statements by national organizations increasingly advocate against this practice.3 This study was conducted to describe feeding tube insertion rates from 2000-2014 among US nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Racial disparities were examined because black race has been strongly associated with greater feeding tube use.4


The ability to update predictive relationships and adjust behavior accordingly is critical for survival. Females take longer to update expectancies under conditions of outcome omission. It remains unknown whether that is also the case under conditions when outcomes are delivered such as in overexpectation. Here we examined whether male and female rats are able to learn from overexpectation using the same learning parameters. Our data show that males but not females learn from overexpectation when given just a single day of compound training, whereas both sexes learn when given extended 2 days of overexpectation training. These data provide important insight into sex differences that link with prior work and thus open an avenue for the study of how conflicting memories interact in the male and female brain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).


Rapid 20th Century and early 21st Century retreat of cirque glaciers in the western European Alp has revealed extensive forelands across and onto which a variety of thermal, slope and fluvial process operate. These effect a transition from a subglacial to a proglacial landsystem, by reworking sediment and reorganising drainage networks. The landsystem achieves a state of preservation once no more adjustment is possible due to buffering by channel network evolution, channel armouring, vegetation growth, and (rarely) sediment exhaustion. We find that no consistent trajectory of change across all sites. Rather, paraglacial responses in the cirque environment show differences from the classical valley-glacier landscape response model, involving variable slope-channel coupling. Reasons for diverse and site-specific behaviour include inherited landforms of deglaciation (glacier ice core survival and degradation), scale and gradient, and surface materials (bedrock, fine till, and/or blocky till). At some cirques, these are anticipated to restrict the downstream propagation of a paraglacial "signal" of diffusion of fluvial-transported sediment through the catchment. At others, such a signal may be propagated from the headwater basin. However a high proportion of glacial material generally remains within the glacier foreland, due to some combination of (1) formation of proglacial basin sediment traps; (2) inefficiency of disorganised fluvial networks, (3) armouring of cirque floors by coarse melt-out-tills, and (4) locking of streams into rock-controlled channels. These effects appear to be more pronounce for the early 21st century paraglacial landsystems than they were for the post-"Little Ice Age" maximum landsystems of the late 19th Century at the same sites. The long-term preservation potential of most recent primary glacial deposits and within-cirque paraglacial landforms appears to be high. These landform assemblages represent the dramatic termination from the long-term advanced glacier positions of the Little Ice Age.


Autoantibodies are disease markers of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Antinuclear antibodies, smooth muscle antibodies, antibodies to liver/kidney microsome type 1, and perinuclear antibodies to neutrophil cytoplasm constitute the ''conventional'' battery of autoantibodies, while an emerging interest to evaluate new autoantibodies as diagnostic or prognostic markers, such as the anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies, is detectable (ASCA). This paper focuses mainly on the findings and the potential role of ASCA in AIH. These antibodies are present in 5-6.3% of blood donors and in the gastrointestinal setting, ASCA have been found most often in Crohn's disease and with lower frequency in the course of ulcerative colitis and celiac disease. Furthermore, they have been described, to a lesser extent, in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis and in AIH. ASCA occur in 20-30% of patients suffering from AIH with a statistically significant increase observed only for IgG ASCA in type 1 AIH. This probably indicates collateral immune reactivities to the primary pathogenic process. The outcome of hepatitis is not influenced by the presence of ASCA. In conclusion, ASCA positivity does not imply that there exists a distinct subgroup of patients with AIH and these autoantibodies are not involved in the pathogenetic mechanism of AIH.


The effects of municipal biosolids on nitrogen-fixing bacteria were assessed in a three month soil incubation study. Treatments included reference agricultural soils, soil amended with municipal biosolids or manure, and biosolids without soil. Nitrogen-fixation rates in reference and manure-amended soil were similar, and lower than in biosolids treatments; respiration rates showed similar trends. At test termination there was no difference between soil treatments for nitrogen-fixation, but some enhanced respiration in the biosolids-amended soils. Community structure was assessed using Biolog EcoPlates™ and denaturing gradient gel electrphoresis with a nitrogen-fixing gene (nifH). EcoPlate™ carbon utilization patterns corresponded with activity measures, with no difference among soil treatments at test termination. Nitrogen-fixing gene patterns showed a potential shift in community structure of biosolids-amended soils three months post-amendment. In general, the effects on the activity and structure of nitrogen-fixing communities were largely temporary; however, this study evaluated a one-time biosolids application. The potential for cumulative effects requires further investigation.


Yesterday we learned that our collective support for Holden is coming to an end. The demise of "Australia's Own" has been on the cards for years. After all, this country is one of the most expensive places in the world to produce cars. We are not alone or even the biggest subsidisers of car manufacturing, of course. National economies as different as China, Japan, France and the USA have always offered incentives to keep cars rolling off assembly lines. But public funding for private enterprise runs deep in Australia – and it has never been just a matter of economics.


DNA repair pathways are being intensively investigated as targets for chemotherapeutic interventions. Despite the immense interest in this area, few whole-cell screens for the discovery of DNA repair inhibitors have been described. We have developed an automated, whole-cell, high-throughput assay for the unbiased discovery of inhibitors of the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination HR) repair pathways, the two primary pathways that ameliorate DNA double-strand breaks. Our assay enables indirect measurement of DNA repair activity by monitoring the kinetics of γH2AX and 53BP1 foci resolution after treatment with ionizing radiation (IR) and candidate DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitor. We also have developed a unique platform of secondary assays to rank-order the potency of lead compounds and gain insights into their mechanism of action. In addition to hit validation and rigorous exclusion of false-positive hits, our follow-up platform includes orthogonal assays for measuring mutagenic NHEJ and HR repair activity, as well as high-throughput assays for quantitative analysis of cell viability and cell cycle. Notably, both our primary and secondary assays are fully-automated and may be applied to screen large libraries of compounds. We validated our high-throughput assay using known DDR and DNA damage checkpoint inhibitors, and applied this screen toward the evaluation of 2,366 structurally-diverse small molecules with known bioactivity. Vorinostat and quercetin, compounds known to possess DDR inhibitory activity, were identified in the screen, supporting the sensitivity of our approach. Notably, the screen also lead to the identification of cardiac glycosides, natural products in clinical use for the treatment of heart failure and atrial arrhythmia, as potent inhibitors of DNA double-strand break repair. Many studies have noted the anticancer properties of the cardiac glycosides, but the basis of this activity has remained a "black box". Our data suggest an explanation for this long-standing unsolved problem, and argue that this activity should be taken into consideration when evaluating other clinical applications of these agents. Because these compounds are already approved for use in humans, we believe they are excellent candidates for repurposing as chemo and radiosensitizers. Citation Format: Yulia Surovtseva, Vikram Jairam, Ranjini Sundaram, Ranjit Bindra, Seth Herzon. A high-throughput, high-content assay for the discovery of new inhibitors of DNA double-strand break repair. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2174.


The compatibility of elastomeric compositions of known resistance to aircraft fuels was tested for potential use in Jet A type fuels obtainable from alternate sources, such as coal. Since such fuels were not available at the time, synthetic alternate fuels were prepared by adding tetralin to a petroleum based Jet A type fuel to simulate coal derived fuels which are expected to contain higher amounts of aromatic and hydroaromatic hydrocarbons. The elastomeric compounds tested were based on butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber, a castable Thiokol polysulfide rubber, and a castable fluorosilicone rubber. Batches of various cross-link densities of these rubbers were made and their chemical stress relaxation behavior in fuel, air, and nitrogen, their swelling properties, and response to mechanical testing were determined.


Professor Varona and Mr. Layton write about the impact United States v. Morrison will have on Congress's efforts to enact hate crimes laws. Specifically, they look at the 106th Congress's changes to the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA), which seeks to enable federal assistance and prosecution of hate motivated crimes perpetrated on gays, women, and the disabled. Morrison, which invalidated the federal civil remedy enacted as part of the Violence Against Women Act, presents a hurdle to these efforts by restricting Congress's Commerce Clause jurisdiction as well as its power under the Fourteenth Amendment. The authors detail how Morrison, along with United States v. Lopez and Flores v. City of Boerne, is indicative of a legal shift in congressional authority jurisprudence. The authors conclude with an argument supporting the constitutionality of LLEEA even under the shifting seas of Morrison.


Over the last fifty years, rich finds of gold objects have been uncovered in China's northeastern Liaoning province. These tombs belonged to a tribe of steppe nomads called the Murong Xianbei who settled north of the Great Wall during the Han dynasty and established a succession of short-lived states called Yan that ruled parts of Northeast Asia during the third to fifth centuries CE. Until now, the history of the Murong and the rapidly emerging field of Murong archaeology have been published almost exclusively in Chinese. This dissertation seeks to rectify the lack of Western scholarship about this unique border population and their cultural identity as expressed though gold personal adornments. The gold objects in Murong tombs are typically decorated with some combination of openwork and pendant gold leaves attached by wires, some taking the form of trees or antlers. These were probably affixed to fabric caps and have been associated with ornaments described in the Chinese histories as buyao ("step-sway") ornaments because their thin sheet gold leaves tremble and sway with each step the wearer takes. However, leaf-covered gold crowns and headdresses excavated from tombs across Central Asia, Western Asia, and the Mediterranean have also been proposed as prototypes. This dissertation considers the existing textual and visual data supporting arguments for local and western origins and arrives at new conclusions concerning the relationships between Murong artisans and their counterparts in China, Central Asia, and the Near East though the careful study of the visible traces of the manufacturing process. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group East Asian Languages & Civilizations First Advisor Nancy S. Steinhardt Second Advisor Victor H. Mair Third Advisor Annette Juliano


Inclusion of AgI and CuI ions by the preorganized cylindrophane cage compound 1 provides the first examples of bis(η6) sandwich complexes of these metals. Locked in a trigonal-planar heteroatom ligand field, the guest ions are shown by NMR spectroscopy to withdraw electron density from the aromatic rings. A statistical study of η6 coordination in the solid state supports the description of arene-metal contacts between 2.5 and 3.5 Å as bonds.


Visible light communication (VLC) uses huge license-free spectral bandwidth of visible light for high-speed wireless communication. Since each VLC access point covers a small area, handovers of mobile users are inevitable. In order to deal with these handovers, developing fast and effective resource allocation algorithms is a challenge. This paper introduces the problem of mobility-aware optimization of resources in VLC networks using the T-step look-ahead  policy and employing the notion of handover efficiency. It is shown that the handover efficiency can correlate the overall performance of the network with future actions based on the mobility of users. Due to the stationary nature of indoor optical wireless channels, future channel state information (CSI) can be predicted by anticipating the future locations of users. A resource allocation algorithm is thus proposed, which uses CSI to dynamically allocate network resources to users. To solve this mathematically intractable problem, a novel relaxation method is proposed, which proves to be a useful tool to develop efficient algorithms for network optimization problems with a proportional fairness utility function. The resulting algorithm is extremely faster than the previous method and awareness of mobility enhances the overall performance of the network in terms of rate and fairness utility function.


Herzberg (1959) identified two factors namely; Hygiene and Motivator, which is widely used to measure job satisfaction of employees in the work place. Hygiene factors include company (reworded as university) policy and administration, supervision, interpersonal relationship, salary, working conditions, personal life, status and security, while Motivator factors are represented by opportunities for advancement (promotion), achievement, responsibility, recognition, Growth and value of work itself. Objectives of the study were to find out the job satisfaction and motivational level of university teachers regarding the Hygiene and Motivator factors as identified by Herzberg and to find out the effect of fulfillment of Hygiene and Motivator factors on motivation of university teachers. The population comprised all university teachers who were working in public sector universities in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (Pakistan). A sample of 300 university teachers was selected from four sampled universities using proportional allocation technique. On the basis of theoretical framework of Herzberg, A self developed questionnaire comprising two parts was used as an instrument. Mean, Standard Deviation and simple linear Regression were used as statistical methods for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that university teachers were satisfied with both Hygiene and Motivator factors while university teachers' motivation is more dependent on the fulfillment of Hygiene factors. It was concluded that the university teachers were well pleased with the fulfillment of Hygiene factors and consider them a source of job satisfaction as well as motivation. It was recommended that administrators and management may give due consideration to the fulfillment of Hygiene factors of the university teachers to improve their performance.


There are a large and increasing number of students with learning disabilities at Pre-K-12 schools in North America. Policymakers, researchers, advocates, service providers, and parents have been pushing for improved identification of students who are eligible for special education services for years. Both the United States and Canada have tried to implement regulations that call attention to academic standards and achievement outcomes, including requiring students with learning disabilities to partake in state/province-wide and district-wide assessments with proper accommodations and adaptations if needed. Therefore, the examination of the issues in assessing special education students in both North American countries has important educational implications. This paper includes two major sections. The first section describes the current special education assessment laws, policies, and regulations in each country. The second section discusses issues, concerns, and implications for both research and practice in the field of assessing special education students.


The concept of neuroprotection relies on the principle that delayed neuronal injury occurs after ischemia. The phenomenon of the "ischemic cascade" has been described, and each step along this cascade provides a target for therapeutic intervention. In animal models of global and focal cerebral ischemia, numerous preclinical studies have demonstrated various agents to be neuroprotective at different steps along this cascade. A wide variety of drugs has also been studied in humans. Ten classes of neuroprotective agents have reached phase III efficacy trials but have shown mixed results. They include calcium channel antagonists, NMDA receptor antagonists, lubeluzole, CDP-choline, the free radical scavenger tirilizad, anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) antibody, GM-1 ganglioside, clomethiazole, the sodium channel antagonist fosphenytoin, and piracetam. In the future, clinicians may have an armamentarium of treatments for acute ischemic stroke at their disposal, with a combination of agents directed at different sites in the ischemic cascade being the ultimate goal.


Mobile crowd sensing is the process of sensing, carried out on behalf of the task provider by the user capable of completing the task. The user with their smart gadgets involves in the sensing process. This sensing process includes various applications geo-publicly supporting, monitoring, smart systems, etc. Since large number of users involved in crowd sensing process there is a threat for security both for the users and the data. In concern with the users both the task provider and the participant, issue a task or carry out the task issued based on the trust between each other. To pick up the task and carry out the task the participant must share their private details which may cause privacy issue to the participant. Whereas with the data the participants report at the completion of the task may be a false data or incomplete data. This cause a situation where the truthiness of the data is affected. This makes the complete process useless. These security issues like privacy, truth and trust must be addressed. In order to provide a clear idea of Crowd sensing network a taxonomical approach is followed to classify the network based on the data involved and various participants. Based on the various participants, the malicious users in the crowd sensing network is classified and the security issues caused by them are addressed.


Reducing of cardiovascular risk, morbidity and mortality is considered as one of the main aims of modern cardiology, which should help increase life expectancy. Oral anticoagulants are the basis for the cardioembolic stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, which is common in patients with coronary artery disease. According to statistics, about a quarter of patients with atrial fibrillation have to perform percutaneous coronary intervention at some point in their life. This is due to stable angina or acute coronary syndrome, which is accompanied by difficulties with antithrombotic therapy. This article discusses the main clinical data and recommendations on the optimal use of combination antithrombotic therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.


Upon heating pentacarbonyl(3-dimethylamino-1-ethoxypropenylidene)chromium complexes 1 with 1,5-dien-3-ynes 2 in pyridine at 80 °C, benzene-annelated cyclopentenones 8 and their regioisomers 9, resulting from a sequence of cocyclization, 6π-electrocyclization and hydrolysis, were isolated in 12–75 % yield (13 examples). The more flexible the alkenyl substituents were in the dienynes 2, the longer were the reaction times needed to achieve good chemical yields. This new cascade reaction of Fischer carbene complexes provides a direct route to trindanone analogues under milder conditions than traditional methods, and is compatible with more functionalities. Compounds 14 and 15 with steroid-like skeletons were thus prepared in 54–77 % yields (4 examples) from complex 1-iPr and the bicyclic alkyne 2. Hexacycles 17 and 18 were accessible with high diastereoselectivity in the triquinane moiety by the same method in 45 % yield, (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)


: Traumatic false aneurysm of superficial temporal artery is infrequent. About 21 cases were published during these last fifty-three years (1932-1985) in medical literature. The authors report a case of traumatic false aneurysm in a 50 y. o. woman, having had a frontal trauma one month before. They discuss the physiopathologic mechanism of this rare lesion. False aneurysm is always secondary to an arterial wall rupture. This rupture may be complete in arterial wound or partial with disruption of intima and media in simple contusion. It depends not only on the nature and the intensity of the trauma but also on the particular topography of the artery which is prone to such a complication.


All respondents who were suitable for the inclusion criteria would automatically include into the study. Respondents must be a caregiver for one of his family members who underwent dialysis treatment in the center and signed informed consent for the study enrollment. Caregiver burden was assessed using standardized questionnaire based on Zarit Burden Scale and The Montgomery Borgotta Caregiver Burden Scale which consists of 39 questions. There were 40 respondents who included into the study with following results, the statistical analysis has been proved that significant relationship of gender and knowledge level was evident in the study with the high CB (p-value < 0.05) while age, education level, and treatment duration was not associated with CB in the study. The linkage between those risk factors must be considered in every circumstance for patient well-being since its relationship with higher CB was evident through the study


Weight loss has been reported in patients treated with peginterferon alpha (Peg-IFN-") and ribavirin, however, the pathophysiological mechanism of this weight loss is unclear. We prospectively evaluated the nutritional status, body composition and dietary intake of 10 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with Peg-IFN-" and ribavirin, before, at the end of and at 6 months after treatment. Nutritional status and body composition were evaluated by using anthropometric analyses and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) with a body composition analyzer. Body weight, body mass index and total energy intake were significantly (p<0.05) reduced at the end of treatment compared with before treatment, however, at 6 months after treatment, they were recovered to before-treatment levels. In anthropometric analyses, percent Triceps Skinfold Thickness (TSF%) which represents body fat mass was significantly (p<0.05) decreased at the end of treatment compared with before treatment, whereas, percent Arm Muscle Circumference (AMC%) which represents body muscle was not. In the BIA, body fat mass was also significantly (p<0.05) decreased, whereas, skeletal muscle mass was not. There were no significant changes in grip strength and serum albumin level. Decreased TSF% and body fat mass were also recovered to before treatment values at 6 months after treatment. The body weight loss observed during Peg-IFN-"-2b and ribavirin was attributable to body fat mass decrease rather than skeletal muscle mass decrease. Decreased body weight and decreased body fat mass were recovered to before treatment values at 6 months after treatment without body composition change.


Background The androgen receptor (AR) plays important roles in the development of male phenotype and in different human diseases including prostate cancers. The AR can act either as a promoter or a tumor suppressor depending on cell types. The AR proliferative response program has been well studied, but its prohibitive response program has not yet been thoroughly studied. Methodology/Principal Findings Previous studies found that PC3 cells expressing the wild-type AR inhibit growth and suppress invasion. We applied expression profiling to identify the response program of PC3 cells expressing the AR (PC3-AR) under different growth conditions (i.e. with or without androgens and at different concentration of androgens) and then applied the newly developed ChIP-seq technology to identify the AR binding regions in the PC3 cancer genome. A surprising finding was that the comparison of MOCK-transfected PC3 cells with AR-transfected cells identified 3,452 differentially expressed genes (two fold cutoff) even without the addition of androgens (i.e. in ethanol control), suggesting that a ligand independent activation or extremely low-level androgen activation of the AR. ChIP-Seq analysis revealed 6,629 AR binding regions in the cancer genome of PC3 cells with an FDR (false discovery rate) cut off of 0.05. About 22.4% (638 of 2,849) can be mapped to within 2 kb of the transcription start site (TSS). Three novel AR binding motifs were identified in the AR binding regions of PC3-AR cells, and two of them share a core consensus sequence CGAGCTCTTC, which together mapped to 27.3% of AR binding regions (1,808/6,629). In contrast, only about 2.9% (190/6,629) of AR binding sites contains the canonical AR matrix M00481, M00447 and M00962 (from the Transfac database), which is derived mostly from AR proliferative responsive genes in androgen dependent cells. In addition, we identified four top ranking co-occupancy transcription factors in the AR binding regions, which include TEF1 (Transcriptional enhancer factor), GATA (GATA transcription factors), OCT (octamer transcription factors) and PU1 (PU.1 transcription factor). Conclusions/Significance Our data provide a valuable data set in understanding the molecular basis for growth inhibition response program of the AR in prostate cancer cells, which can be exploited for developing novel prostate cancer therapeutic strategies.


In this study we mean to outline a brief pharmacoeconomic review of fluvoxamine, considering only its antidepressant use. Essential objective is to highlight all the variables of cost effectiveness, tolerance and safety that can lead some types of differential costs. This study analyses the epidemiology and the economic burden of depression and a pharmacoeconomic profile of fluvoxamine, with its characteristics of effectiveness, tolerance, safety and handiness. The pharmacoeconomic evaluation is conducted according to the cost minimization analysis (CMA), considering fluvoxamine, Selective Serotonine Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and antidepressant tricycic as native treatments. Fluvoxamine differs from the others SSRI far the purchase cost and it's more convenient than the antidepressant tricycic treatment, especially for long term therapy. Economic benefits can be distributed in a balanced way between the Italian national healthcare system (NACS), the society and the patients.


The opposition of translation into the mother tongue (L1 translation) vs.translation into the foreign language (L2 translation),with its clear relationship of superiority/inferiority in translation circles,is just one of a series of binary oppositions prevalent in the literature with an apparently similar relationship.These include principally (i)target language vs.source language,and (ii) original texts vs.translated texts.This paper examines what implications such oppositions might have for the L1 translation vs.L2 translation issue,particularly within the developing field of corpus linguistics,subsequently taking a look at some L1 and L2 translations and reflecting upon their degree of acceptability or unacceptability in the light of the discussions proposed .


If your community is looking for more committed and competent leaders, what type of educational intervention will get the best results? U-Lead, the University of Minnesota Extension's community leadership program, engages with organizations and communities to strengthen leadership. As the educational provider of U-Lead, Extension has a responsibility to provide quality programs as well as honor time and resource constraints. The primary question of this study is: what impact, if any, does the program duration have on participant outcomes? Key Observations include (a) the longest duration programs consistently had the most improvements in skills and knowledge, (b) after completing programs, more people are committing to leadership positions. This does not appear to correlate to program duration, (c) using evaluation data for modifying programs and starting additional programs leads to more significant participant change, and (d) community leadership theory and measurement can lead to better programs with greater results.


The climate-trade nexus gains increasing attention as governments are taking great efforts to forge a post-2012 climate change regime to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. This raises the issues of the scope of trade-related measures and of when and how they could be used. This paper discusses how far trade-related measures should be incorporated in that context. Drawing on an analogy to the Montreal Protocol and comparing developing country's climate mitigation and adaptation needs with the funding available, the paper argues that such measures should initially be applied only among Annex I or II countries. To discipline the use of unilateral trade measures at the international level, the paper emphasizes a need to define comparable climate efforts. Moreover, the Lieberman-Warner bill in the U.S. Senate - taken as a proxy for future U.S. climate legislation - is assessed, and found to be neither effective nor likely to be WTO-consistent. The paper is concluded by arguing that, in order to encourage developing countries to do more to combat climate change, developed countries should focus on carrots. Sticks can be incorporated, but only if they are credible and realistic and serve as a useful supplement to push developing countries to take actions or adopt policies and measures earlier than would otherwise have been the case.


The article states possible complications in long-term nutritional support. Doctors rarely think of schedules and dosages of fatty emulsions especially in infants. They frequently forget about such important components of nutritional support as microelements especially calcium and phosphorus. The article clarifies schedules and dosages of fatty emulsions, vitamins and microelements in newborns and infants.


This article comments on a method of within‐field yield prediction from IKONOS data published in this Journal (International Journal of Remote Sensing, 25, 377–388). The authors propose what they call a new matrix approach, which solves a system of linear equations relating actual yield to expected yield in four classes defined based on spectral characteristics and the relative areas for these classes as measured by remote sensing. The authors use five observations to estimate four unknown parameters, and they propose that generally p+1 observations could be used to estimate p parameters. This article shows that this approach will lead to very unreliable predictions of class yield. The problem is shown to be a standard multiple regression problem. It is argued that sample size must be considerably larger than the number of classes in order to obtain reliable yield estimates for the classes. Due to the very nature of the regressor variables, the relative areas of the classes, multicollinearity is expected to be a severe problem. Therefore, it may be useful to reduce the number of regressor variables using standard model selection procedures.


A novel design of active coil shielding is proposed to reduce the magnetic field generated by the currents flowing into the coils of a wireless power transfer (WPT) system for charging the batteries of an electric vehicle (EV). The main idea is to divide the traditional active loop used to shield a source in two separate shielding coils so as not to adversely affect the WPT performance. This concept is applied to shield the WPT coils, and, therefore, in the proposed design, there are active coils placed on the ground parallel to the primary coil of the WPT and some others on board below the vehicle, planarly located with the secondary coil. The currents on the active coils are optimized in order to minimize the magnetic field in the most critical zone accessible from humans, i.e., region besides the EV and in the cabin.


During the 2020 first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, general practitioners (GPs) represented the first line of primary care and were highly exposed to the pandemic risks, with a consequent risk of developing a wide range of mental health symptoms. However, scant data are still available on factors associated with a worse outcome. The aim of the present study was to investigate mental health symptoms in 139 GPs in the aftermath of the first COVID-19 national lockdown in Italy, detecting groups of subjects with different depressive, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptom severity. The impact of the mental health symptoms on quality of life and individual functioning were also evaluated. A cluster analysis identified three groups with mild (44.6%), moderate (35.3%), and severe psychopathological burden (20.1%). Higher symptom severity was related to younger age, fewer years in service as GPs, working in a high incidence area for the pandemic, having a relative at risk of medical complications due to COVID-19, besides more severe global functioning impairment, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. The present findings showed that GPs, forced to perform their professional activity in extremely stressful conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, were at high risk of developing mental health problems and a worse quality of life.


Two patients with painless hypertrophy of one calf had clinical and myelographic features compatible with an S-1 radiculopathy. Electromyographic studies revealed intermittent spontaneous discharges (bizarre repetitive potentials) in the affected extremity. Several patients have previously been described with S-1 radiculopathy and calf hypertrophy with or without spontaneous electrical activity. The hypertrophy in the two present cases could have been caused by continuous stretching (both patients were very active), by the abnormal electrical activity, or by a combination of the two. A neurogenic lesion must be excluded in patients with isolated hypertrophy of a calf muscle, even in the absence of radicular pain.


Objectives: While there is extensive management and academic literature on the topic area of high performance management practices (HPPs) internationally, research on HPPs in the Australian context is limited. Furthermore, research on HPPs has focused predominantly on large organisations and is largely a new direction for research in SMEs. This study attempts to fill some of the gaps in existing studies by considering a wide range of HPPs in Australian SMEs, with particular focus on owner managed SMEs. The objective of this paper is to examine the extent and nature of HPPs in owner managed Australian SMEs and the impact of certain organisational characteristics on these practices.

The research questions under examination include: What is the prevalence of HPPs in owner managed Australian SMEs?; and what is the impact of firm size, the presence of a HR manager, and the existence of a strategic plan on HPPs in SMEs?

Prior work: Undertaking this research is justified on the basis of: there is a gap in the theory relating to HPPs in SMEs and in particular owner managed SMEs, owing to the fact that most studies on HPPs are based in large organisations; globalisation and the pace of economic change are forces that are driving the need for greater understanding of HPPs (Burke 2002); and there are high expectations for growth and performance of SMEs in the economic growth and development plans for the Asia Pacific and Australian region (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 2002).

Approach: A survey questionnaire was sent out to 4000 Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (35% response rate). A Dun and Bradstreet database was used and a stratified sample employed. A chi-square analysis was employed to determine whether there were significant differences in relation to high performance practices in small vs. medium organisations, SMEs with and without a HR manager; and organisations with and without a strategic plan.

Results: The results of this study indicate that the overall picture regarding the incidence of high performance practices in Australian owner managed SMEs looks quite bleak. Significant positive relationships were found between demographic variables and HPPs in SMEs.

Implications: Large firm solutions may not be appropriate. A more balanced approach to prescribing and researching management solutions in SMEs is needed; an approach with a greater emphasis on the SME sector.

Value: This paper will provide an improved understanding of HPPs in Australian SMEs which will help the sector to better meet performance expectations.


A comparative study of wavelet and polynomial models for non-linear Regime-Switching (RS) systems is carried out. RS systems, considered in this study, are a class of severely non-linear systems, which exhibit abrupt changes or dramatic breaks in behaviour, due to RS caused by associated events. Both wavelet and polynomial models are used to describe discontinuous dynamical systems, where it is assumed that no a priori information about the inherent model structure and the relative regime switches of the underlying dynamics is known, but only observed input-output data are available. An Orthogonal Least Squares (OLS) algorithm interfered with by an Error Reduction Ratio (ERR) index and regularised by an Approximate Minimum Description Length (AMDL) criterion, is used to construct parsimonious wavelet and polynomial models. The performance of the resultant wavelet models is compared with that of the relative polynomial models, by inspecting the predictive capability of the associated representations. It is shown from numerical results that wavelet models are superior to polynomial models, in respect of generalisation properties, for describing severely non-linear RS systems.


Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a malignant tumor of smooth muscle cells and comprises 5-24% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Although the most frequent symptoms are vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain, the symptoms are generally associated with dimensions and localization of the tumor. The current study presents a case of uterine leiomyosarcoma that metastasized to the rectus abdominis muscle, which has only been previously reported in two cases in the literature. A 57-year-old multigravid patient presented with a palpable mass in her abdomen. The patient's past medical history revealed a hysterectomy performed in another center seven years ago with a postoperative histopathological report of leiomyosarcoma. A myomatous mass was detected, which was localized at the distal part of the right rectus muscle during operation. The mass was completely excised. The case was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma according to the histopathological findings. Any mass in a skeletal muscle should be suspected to be metastasis in patients with a prior history of aggressive gynecologic malignancy such as LMS.


Abstract Rationale: Tumors in the heart are rare. Myxomas, rhabdomyomas, and fibromas are the most common benign cardiac tumors. Hamartoma of mature cardiomyocytes (HMCM) is another benign cardiac tumor, are very rare and have only been reported in a few literatures. Patient concerns: We report a case of 41-year-old male who suffered short of breath for 3 years, and lower limbs edema for 2 years. Diagnoses: Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) showed a large amount of pericardial effusion and confirmed a mass of 18 × 14 mm on the superior vena cava near the outer edge of right atrium. The patient was first diagnosed as pleural mesothelioma. Surgery was performed to relieve the symptoms and confirm diagnoses. However, during surgery, we found the right atrium is apparently thicken with rough and uneven surface. Histology of right atrium mass indicated it as hamartoma of mature cardiomyocytes. Intervention: We resected the thicken atrial wall completely, reconstructed right atrium with bovine pericardial patch, and resected the pericardium. Outcomes: Patient was discharged 9 days after surgery, and remained asymptomatic during 9 months follow up. Lessons: Hamartoma of mature cardomyocytes is a rare benign cardiac tumor. There were 26 cases reported until now. The conclusive diagnosis depends on pathological sections. For patients with symptoms, surgery is an effective treatment for HMCM.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

The transcriptional activity of NFκβ is in part regulated by nitric oxide (NO) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Previously we demonstrated that low doses of ionizing radiation (IR) activate constitutive, Ca2+ dependent NO Synthases (NOS) and the generation of RNS, resulting in protein Tyr nitration and/or Cys s-nitrosylation. Previous studies in our lab demonstrated that nitration of IκBα is critical for the IR-induced activation of NFκβ whereas others have shown that s-nitrosylation of the p65 subunit leads to the inhibition of NFκβ. Here we show that exposing MCF-7 cells to 5Gy IR results not only in Tyr nitration of IκBα but also Cys s-nitrosylation of NFκβ both with a maximum at 30min. post IR. One explanation for the discordant results is that NOS activity is uncoupled, resulting in the production of increased levels of superoxide anion as opposed to NO. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a necessary cofactor that stabilizes the enzyme and allows the generation of NO through oxidation of L-arginine. However, if BH4 levels become limiting as found in chronic inflammatory or oxidative conditions, electron transfer is instead shuttled to molecular oxygen resulting in the production of superoxide anion, a scenario in which NOS is described as "uncoupled." When NOS is uncoupled the resulting increase in superoxide can lead to enhanced levels of peroxynitrite formation, resulting in enhanced IκBα Tyr nitration and NFκβ activity. This evidence has led to the hypothesis that by altering cellular levels of BH4, the levels of Tyr nitration and Cys s-nitrosylation can be manipulated, leading to changes in NFκβ activity. To determine the effects of exogenous BH4 on IκBα nitration in MCF-7 cells, cells were treated with varying concentrations of cell permeable sepiapterin (SP), a precursor of BH4, and exposed to 5Gy IR. The results show that between 100nM-500nM IκBα nitration is all but completely eliminated, resulting in decreased NFκβ activity as assessed by luciferase assay. Initial experiments looking at the effects of SP on p65 s-nitrosylation have been variable. At a minimum, levels of s-nitrosylation remain the same as untreated cells; however, enhancement of s-nitrosylation is seen in some experiments. Studies are ongoing to clarify SP's effects on p65 s-nitrosylation as well as studies to determine SP's effects on tumor cell survival post IR.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1324.