Background. Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) is a multifactorial process with immunologic and nonimmunologic factors. Because tacrolimus (Tac) has been ascribed a beneficial effect on some of these factors when compared to cyclosporine A (CyA), a randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate whether conversion from CyA to Tac can ameliorate the progression of renal dysfunction in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) with CAN. Methods. Of the 46 patients with biopsy-proven CAN enrolled, 24 were converted from CyA to Tac, whereas 22 patients were maintained on CyA. Serum creatinine (SCrea), lipid profiles and an antihypertensive score (AHS) were determined after 3, 6 and 12 months. AHS is based on the total number and dosages of antihypertensive medications used. SCrea and AHS were additionally evaluated at 36 months. Results. SCrea was decreased in the Tac group (Tacbaseline: 297±67 &mgr;mol/L; Tac6: 261±70 &mgr;mol/L, P<0.001; Tac12: 254±55 &mgr;mol/L, P<0.001; Tac36: 255±78 &mgr;mol/L, P=0.235), whereas a significant increase of SCrea was detected in the CyA group (CyAbaseline: 279±77 &mgr;mol/L, CyA12: 333±98 &mgr;mol/L, P<0.001; CyA36: 317±89 &mgr;mol/L, P<0.001). Compared to CyA therapy, SCrea in the Tac group declined after 12 and 36 months (P=0.011 and 0.048, respectively) as well as AHS (Tac12: 59±13, CyA12: 83±14, P<0.001; Tac36: 60±12, CyA36: 84±14, P<0.001). LDL cholesterol was lower in the Tac group after 12 months (Tac12: 2.5±0.5mmol/L, CyA12: 3.5±0.6mmol/L, P<0.001). Conclusion. Conversion from CyA to Tac in KTR with CAN improves allograft function, lowers blood pressure, and reduces LDL cholesterol. This superior profile may translate into improved long-term graft survival.


Fiber reinforced epoxy based composite materials are widely used in aircraft, marine, and automotive structures to minimize weight and increase performance. Typically, the mechanical performance of a composite part has so far been inspected using destructive testing, which is both expensive and time consuming. The mechanical properties of a composite are influenced by the curing process and its parameters, particularly the mechanical tensile modulus of the polymer, which rises as crosslink density rises and is influenced by curing temperature and holding time. It is, however, critical to manufacture epoxy-based composites with a higher crosslinking density by using the proper and uniform curing temperature. After fabricating the composite part, the most important step is to inspect the mechanical strength. In this study, we have presented a non-destructive quality inspection technique by merging Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy data with supervised learning algorithms to predict the tensile strength of the cured composite sample based on the sample's dielectric state variables. Different samples were made using different curing temperature to ensure variability in tensile strength data. A total of 15 features based on the Dielectric characteristics of the sample has been used in the algorithm. In this case, a classifier algorithm has been utilized, which predicts tensile strength based on which subset it belongs to. Overall, an estimation of the mechanical strength can be obtained by measuring the dielectric characteristic using an AC current frequency sweep which is a time-saving and nondestructive procedure and fitting the data in a supervised learning algorithm.


Pragmatic inferences often subtly depend on the presence or absence of linguistic features. For example, the presence of a partitive construction (of the) increases the strength of a so-called scalar inference: listeners perceive the inference that Chris did not eat all of the cookies to be stronger after hearing "Chris ate some of the cookies" than after hearing the same utterance without a partitive, "Chris ate some cookies". In this work, we explore to what extent neural network sentence encoders can learn to predict the strength of scalar inferences. We first show that an LSTM-based sentence encoder trained on an English dataset of human inference strength ratings is able to predict ratings with high accuracy (r = 0.78). We then probe the model's behavior using manually constructed minimal sentence pairs and corpus data. We first that the model inferred previously established associations between linguistic features and inference strength, suggesting that the model learns to use linguistic features to predict pragmatic inferences.


1 Jakobsen JK, Krarup KP, Sommer P et al. DaPeCa-1: diagnostic accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in 222 patients with penile cancer at four tertiary referral centres – a national study from Denmark. BJU Int 2015; 117: 235–43 2 Sadeghi R, Gholami H, Zakavi SR, Kakhki VR, Tabasi KT, Horenblas S. Accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy for inguinal lymph node staging of penile squamous cell carcinoma: systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. J Urol 2012; 187: 25–31 3 Horenblas S, Jansen L, Meinhardt W, Hoefnagel CA, de Jong D, Nieweg OE. Detection of occult metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis using a dynamic sentinel node procedure. J Urol 2000; 163: 100–4 4 Djajadiningrat RS, Graafland NM, van Werkhoven E et al. Contemporary management of regional nodes in penile cancerimprovement of survival? J Urol 2014; 191: 68–73 5 Brouwer OR, van den Berg NS, Matheron HM et al. A hybrid radioactive and fluorescent tracer for sentinel node biopsy in penile carcinoma as a potential replacement for blue dye. Eur Urol 2014; 65: 600–9 6 Brouwer OR, van den Berg NS, Matheron HM et al. Feasibility of intraoperative navigation to the sentinel node in the groin using preoperatively acquired single photon emission computerized tomography data: transferring functional imaging to the operating room. J Urol 2014; 192: 1810–6 7 Visser O, Adolfsson J, Rossi S et al. Incidence and survival of rare urogenital cancers in Europe. Eur J Cancer 2012; 48: 456–64


Abstract 1661 Most cancer drug developments are focusing either in vitro target-based screening or cell-based phenotypic screening to identify potential compounds. The target-based screenings are powerful screening methods if the cancer relay on a single driver mutation. On the other hand, cell-based phenotypic screenings measure cell phenotypes such as growth inhibitory effect on established cancer cell lines. However, these established cell lines do not recapitulate human cancer in some aspects. For instance, most cell lines have the microenvironment-independent growth ability, while primary cancer cells can not survive in ex vivo culture. In this study, we established a new drug screening system targeting microenvironment-dependent primary lymphoma cells. First of all, we established primary lymphoma xenograft models, including three diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), one follicular lymphoma, one intravascular large cell lymphoma (IVL), and one mantle cell lymphoma. Interestingly, lymphoma cells from the patient with severe extranodal invasion invaded extranodal organ also in mice. And pattern of invasion in tissue such as intravascular tumor invasion of IVL was maintained in the xenograft models. In addition, mRNA expression profiles were similar between primary lymphoma cells and the lymphoma cells obtained from NOG mice. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of primary tumor such as heterogenous expression of CD20 was maintained in the xenograft models. These data suggested that the lymphoma cells propagated in NOG mice kept the original patient9s phenotype. Next, we investigated the microenvironment of lymphoma in primary lymphoma xenograft models. Fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC) and follicular dendritic cell (FDC) are reported to be important to support the survival of lymphoma cells in their microenvironment. In the spleen of DLBCL model mice, lymphoma cells colocalized with FRC, but FDC was not detected in NOG mouse. FRC is known to produce reticular fiber and forms fibroblastic reticular network (FRN). Lymphoma induced reticular fiber production and tumor formation on FRN were also observed in our system. Furthermore, co-culture with FRC cell line, BLS4, significantly enhanced viability of 2 out of 3 DLBCL cells obtained from primary lymphoma xenograft mice and enabled more than three weeks long-term ex vivo culture of them. These results indicated that FRC played an important role for lymphoma cell survival. Finally, we established a new drug screening system using this co-culture system. Primary DLBCL cells transplanted to NOG mice were collected and seeded on pre-seeded BLS4 in 96-well plates (lymphoma cell co-culture). Monoculture of BLS4 in 96-well plates was also prepared. Both lymphoma co-cultured cell and BLS4 monoculture cell were treated by 2613 kinds of pharmacologically active compounds for 72 h. DAPI-stained dead cells of lymphoma cells were counted by image analyzer, and the proliferation of BLS4 was measured by MTT assay. We calculated Drug Effect Index (DEI) by multiplication of dead cell number of lymphoma cells and MTT value of BLS4 and compared. The compound with the highest DEI was pyrvinium pamoate, oxyuricide. Pyrvinium pamoate aborogated the survival of lymphoma cells co-cultured with BLS4 dose-dependently. And subcutaneous tumor of primary lymphoma cells and BLS4 were diminished by single intratumoral injection of 20 mg/kg pyrvinium pamoate. These results indicated that our screening system could be performed in large scale and select drugs with anti-tumor activity to primary lymphoma cells. Screening against primary lymphoma cells sheds new light on lymphoma drug development. Disclosures: Sugimoto: Otsuka Pharmaceutical co ltd: Employment.


For pt. 1 see ibid., p.681-94, (2007). In Part 1, a novel two-dimensional model was presented for multi-axial thermal stresses, elastic strains, creep strains, and creep energy density at the interfaces of solder joints in leadless chip resistor (LCR) assemblies. In this paper, the model is used to characterize the creep performance of SnPb and SAC lead-free solder joints in LCRs. For both the SAC lead-free and eutectic tin-lead solder joints the predicted cyclic stresses and strains exhibit ratcheting behavior, in good agreement with finite-element predictions. The model is also employed to assess the role of ramp rate and temperature variations in accelerated thermal cycling (ATC) tests. The predictions of the present model correlate well with the experimentally measured number of cycles-to-failure using the Coffin-Manson strain-based model for the SnPb solder and energy-based life prediction model for the SAC solder joints.


The problem of this study is whether the quality of service which consists of reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and physical evidence of a significant effect on customer loyalty, and of the five variables examined which has the most dominant and significant influence on customer loyalty at Cafe D 'Puncak in Samarinda. Marketing management is the analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring of programs aimed at causing exchanges with target markets with a view to achieving the company's goals. The first hypothesis of this study is the quality of service which consists of reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and physical evidence of a significant effect on customer loyalty at Cafe D'Puncak in Samarinda and the second hypothesis is the reliability ( reability ) has the most dominant influence and significant customer loyalty at Cafe D'Puncak in         Samarinda. The population of this study is that consumers Cafe D'Puncak, while the sample is the smallest part of the population that is considered representative or may represent respondents overall. In this study, researchers took 50 samples. The sampling technique using nonprobability sampling that the incidental technique. Where sampling by coincidence, that anyone who by chance met with researchers can be used as a sample if the person who happened to be found are considered suitable as a source of data. The data that has been collected in an analysis using multiple linear regression. The formula used to calculate the linear regression is: Y = a + b1x1 + b2X2 + b3X3 + b4X4 + b5X5 + e. The author using SPSS. Based on the analysis and discussion, showed that the quality of services such as reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and physical evidence of a significant effect on customer loyalty. These findings support the first hypothesis. Variables are dominant and significant effect is variable physical evidence. These findings reject both hypotheses


Abstract Background: Silent sinus syndrome is characterised by spontaneous enophthalmos and hypoglobus, in association with chronic atelectasis of the maxillary sinus, and in the absence of signs or symptoms of intrinsic sinonasal inflammatory disease. Traditionally, correction of the enophthalmos involved reconstruction of the orbital floor, which was performed simultaneously with sinus surgery. Recently, there has been increasing evidence to support the performance of uncinectomy and antrostomy alone, then orbital floor reconstruction as a second-stage procedure if needed. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 23 cases of chronic maxillary atelectasis managed in our unit with endoscopic uncinectomy and antrostomy alone. All patients were operated upon by the same surgeon. Results: Twenty-two of the 23 patients had either complete or partial resolution. One patient had ongoing enophthalmos, and was considered for an orbital floor reconstruction as a second-stage procedure. Conclusion: Our case series demonstrates that dynamic changes in orbital floor position can occur after sinus re-ventilation. These findings support the approach of delaying orbital floor reconstruction in cases of silent sinus syndrome treated with sinus re-ventilation, as such reconstruction may prove unnecessary over time.


: Synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) with the Tour method has been studied. In this procedure, phosphoric acid was mixed with sulfuric acid in the ratio of 1:9, and then potassium permanganate and graphite with the ratio of 6:1 was added in an ice bath at the variation of oxidation times of 1, 7 and 24 h and temperatures of 40, 50 and 60 °C. The GOs were characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The results show that the GO oxidized at 40 °C for 7 h (GO-7-40) has been successfully formed indicating that GO-7-40 is the most efficient GO. The GO-7-40 is characterized by a peak at 2θ = 10.89° in the XRD diffractogram, resulting calculation of the average distance between graphene layer (d) of 0.81 nm. The average number of graphene layers (n) is 4, the oxidation level (C/O) is 1.50 according to EDX data, λ max at 226 nm attributes to π→π* transitions of C=C bond in UV-Vis spectrum, and the functional groups such as O-H, C=C, C-OH, and C-OC are observed in FT-IR spectrum.


ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) on respiratory function in seven- to 16-year-old children in the post-operative phase of cardiac surgery. Method A randomized, controlled trial with 50 children who had undergone cardiac surgery with median sternotomy. After extubation, patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: control group (n=26), which received instructions regarding posture, early ambulation, and cough stimulation, and CPAP group (continuous positive airway pressure; n=24), which received the same instructions as the control group and CPAP=10 cmH20 twice daily for 30 minutes from the 1st to the 5th post-operative day (POD). As a primary outcome, lung function was evaluated before and on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th PODs with measures of respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV), slow vital capacity (SVC), inspiratory capacity (IC), minute volume (MV), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). As secondary outcomes, the time of hospitalization and intensive care were recorded. A mixed, linear regression model and z-test were used to analyze respiratory function, considering p<0.05. Results All variables, except RR and MV, showed a significant drop on the 1st POD, with gradual recovery; however, only MIP had returned to pre-operative values on the 5th POD in both groups. The RR showed a significant increase on the 1st POD, with a gradual reduction but without returning to baseline. In the intergroup analysis, significant improvement (p=0.04) was observed only in PEF in the CPAP group on the 1st DPO. The length of hospitalization and intensive care showed no significant differences. Conclusion NIV was safe and well accepted in this group of patients, and the protocol used was effective in improving PEF on the 1st DPO in the CPAP group.


Abstract Jakobshavns Isbræ (69 °10′ N, 49 °59′ W) drains about 6.5% of the Greenland ice sheet and is the fastest ice stream known. The Jakobshavns Isbræ basin of about 10 000 km2 was mapped photogrammetrically from four sets of aerial photography, two taken in July 1985 and two in July 1986. Positions and elevations of several hundred natural features on the ice surface were determined for each epoch by photogrammetric block aerial triangulation, and surface velocity vectors were computed from the positions. The two flights in 1985 yielded the best results and provided most common points (716) for velocity determinations and are therefore used in the modeling studies. The data from these irregularly spaced points were used to calculate ice elevations and velocity vectors at uniformly spaced grid points 3 km apart by interpolation. The field of surface strain rates was then calculated from these gridded data and used to compute the field of surface deviatoric stresses, using the flow law of ice, for rectilinear coordinates, X, Y pointing eastward and northward, and curvilinear coordinates. L, Τ pointing longitudinally and transversely to the changing ice-flow direction, Ice-surface elevations and slopes were then used to calculate ice thicknesses and the fraction of the ice velocity due to basal sliding. Our calculated ice thicknesses are in fair agreement with an ice-thickness map based on seismic sounding and supplied to us by K. Echelmeyer. Ice thicknesses were subtracted from measured ice-surface elevations to map bed topography. Our calculation shows that basal sliding is significant only in the 10–15 km before Jakobshavns Isbræ becomes afloat in Jakobshavns Isfjord.


Abstract:During the past decade, increased research attention has brought female sexual function to the forefront as one of the side effects of cancer. A similar level of information is needed for a subpopulation of women, that is, sexual minority women with cancer. To make the needed information available, we review the literature regarding sexual functioning in SMW after cancer and explore reasons why it may differ from that of heterosexual women. Sparse, available data suggest that there are some similarities and differences between sexual minority and heterosexual women with cancer. There are tentative suggestions that sexual minority women may enjoy less disruption in their sexual relationship, fewer sexual problems such as lubrication, achieving orgasm, better body image, and more understanding and supportive partners compared with heterosexual women. Areas of greater vulnerability and risk for sexual minority women survivors compared with heterosexual survivors are some maladaptive coping and problems obtaining information and support from medical professionals with respect to sexual functioning. Sexual functioning may be worse among subgroups of sexual minority women. We identify critical areas that merit further clinical and research attention and point to methodological challenges for future research on sexual functioning in sexual minority women.


To evaluate long-term medical therapy in patients with Barrett's esophagus, six patients were studied before and after long-term therapy with cimetidine for a mean period of 11.7 months. Some patients also received bethanechol. All had severe symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux resistant to intensive antacid therapy, specialized columnar epithelium by biopsy, and endoscopic evidence of severe inflammation. Esophageal manometry documented a hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter in three patients and low peristaltic amplitude in the distal esophagus in four. Treatment was begun with cimetidine, 300 mg orally four times daily. If symptoms did not totally abate, bethanechol, 25 mg orally four times daily, was added. Cimetidine completely relieved or dramatically reduced symptoms in all patients. Adding bethanechol produced further symptomatic improvement in three of four patients. After initial dilatation in the two patients with strictures, there was no recurrence. Endoscopic evidence of inflammation resolved completely in four patients and was markedly improved in two. Treatment with both drugs was well tolerated by all patients. The abnormally placed squamo-columnar junction did not regress during follow-up.


This case study offers a pastoral psychotherapuetic context for dealing with sexual abuse, using a poetry therapy process adaptation of Hynes & Hynes-Berry's (1994) four-stage model of biblio/poetry therapy.


The ability of the calcium ionophore A23187 to release slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRA-A) from human leukocytes was studied. About 25 times more SRS-A activity was released from aliquots of leukocytes by ionophore stimulation than by antigen stimulation, although comparable amounts of histamine were released. Cell separation studies revealed that granulocytes other than basophils were also capable of releasing SRS-A. The contractile activity released after challenge with ionophore appeared physicochemically identical to the SRS-A of rat or human origin released by antigen challenge in terms of its stability to base hydrolysis, inactivation by arylsulfatase, and chromatographic behavior on silicic acid and Sephadex LH-20 columns. We suggest that some mediators of allergic reactions previously associated, in man, only with antigen-IgE antibody interaction on mast cells or basophils may be released by other stimuli and from other cell types.


A measurement technique based on micro-PIV that allows a non-intrusive, non-tactile determination of the topography and shear stress distribution on endothelial cell cultures with a super-cell resolution is presented. The cells are grown in microfluidic perfusion chips where constant steady flow is applied. The expression of shear responsive gene KLF2 of individual cells is measured simultaneously with the shape and shear stress distribution of the same cell. Due to the super-cell resolution of the technique we can study the correlation of the measured quantities in different parts within the cell such as the nucleus or the cytoplasm. Results on human and chicken endothelial cells are shown.Copyright © 2008 by ASME


This paper proposes, from a semiotic perspective on cognition and working towards a cognitive perspective on semiosis, an analysis of the inter-semiotic translation processes (Torop, 2002) surrounding the maguey and other cacti, ancestral plants that now decorate public spaces in Mexico City. The analysis involves three semiotics, Peircean semiotics, bio-semiotics, and cultural semiotics, and draws from other disciplines, such as Biology, Anthropology, and Sociology, in order to construct a dialogue on a transdisciplinary continuum. The maguey and other cactus plants are resources that have a variety of uses in different spaces. In rural spaces, they are used for their fibers (as thread in gunny sacks, floor mats, and such), for their leaves (as roof tiles, as support beams, and in fences), for their spines (as nails and sewing needles), and their juice is drunk fresh (known as aguamiel or neutli ), fermented (a ritual beverage known as pulque or octli ), or distilled (to produce mescal, tequila, or bacanora ). In urban spaces, cacti are used as an element of identity in the Mexico City coat of arms, as decorative plants, and as plant/objects for everyday uses – coat-hooks, trash receptacles, and as refuge for street vendors (underemployment). Cacti are also used with religious significance, at the feet of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who protects passers-by. Cacti are plants that grow naturally in Mexican rural spaces – ideal environments and habitats for them – but which are planted and cared for by human hands in urban spaces – creating a socio-cultural landscape. This transition from rural to urban spaces is what we consider to be the inter-semiotic translation from rural to urban, from natural to cultural, from biological to socio-cultural (artistic, literary, cinematic, and pictorial). We arrive at the interesting conclusion that in Mexico, these plants hold importance today (in the 21 st century) because they are inscribed in a biological/natural/rural – human/cultural/urban responsive and cyclical process, with all the biological, sociological, anthropological and economic meaning that is produced in that cycle.


461 MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 43 • JUNE 2018 • www.mrs.org/bulletin T is a book for crystal chemistry lovers. It is beautifully produced and is comprised of seven chapters. The first four are a useful introduction to the topic, and the remaining three delve into different ways of looking at structures, with an emphasis on the concepts of the author and some colleagues (in particular, Michael O'Keeffe, Bruce Hyde, and Sten Andersson). All of the figures are available on the Internet if you show proof of purchase of the book. Chapter 1 begins with the polyhedral approach to structure building, which is familiar to chemistry undergraduates. This leads to building blocks, cubes, and unit cells. The chapter clearly explains simple cubes, body-centered cubes, face-centered cubes, the seven crystalline systems, and the idea of interstitial sites and radius ratios. Chapter 2 describes symmetry, space groups, and miller indices. This is a good introduction for the following chapters. A discussion of various common structures begins in chapter 3, starting with rutile. The description includes the joining of polyhedra and the calculation of bond distances. The author is somewhat dismissive of computer programs, and there is no mention of Crystallographic Information Files (CIFs). The latter omission is surprising, as they are required by most publications that include new structures. Today's students need to understand the fundamentals, but also modern methods of crystal chemistry. There is also no mention of TiO2 polymorphs, anatase and Crystal Chemistry: From Basics to Tools for Materials Creation


Specific immunotherapy is a clinically effective causative treatment for allergic conditions. However, the reagents used for immunotherapy are crude extracts, prepared from natural sources, and as such may cause potential life-threatening anaphylactic side effects. Our increasing knowledge of mechanisms that lead to allergy and of the mechanisms of successful immunotherapy have introduced new ideas for the treatment of allergic diseases. Techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology have made it feasible to design novel therapeutic approaches for improved and safer forms of allergen-specific immunotherapy. The purpose of this review is to examine different approaches in designing novel allergen formulations for specific immunotherapy. These include chemically modified forms of allergens, genetically modified allergens (hypoallergens), hybrid allergens and allergens bearing immunostimulatory molecules, or adjuvants, which foster Th 1 immune responses. There is great interest in newly designed allergens and their derivatives to improve the efficacy and safety of allergen immunotherapy. A better understanding of immunological mechanisms and further clinical trials utilizing new allergen formulations are needed.


PURPOSE
Polymeric micelles have been used for solubilization of insoluble drugs and as carriers for drug delivery applications. Here we evaluated an application of the synthetic polymeric micelles in experiments designed to improve the handling and stability of membrane proteins targets.

METHODS
Particle sizing by dynamic light scattering was performed in a Zeta Plus Photon Correlation Spectrometer at 532 nm. UGT1A1 activity has been measured in fluorescent assay using scopoletin as a substrate. COX-2 activity has been measured in a fluorescent assay using Amplex Red. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) was monitored using either 463 nm excitation wavelength (the emission range 500-600 nm) or 395 nm excitation wavelength (the emission range 500-600 nm).

RESULTS
Incorporation of membrane proteins into PreserveX-QML polymeric micelles resulted in improved homogeneity and stability of the preparation and in reduced light scattering. Stabilization of the biological activity of micelle-incorporated membrane proteins, such as the human UGT1A1 and COX-2 both during extended incubations at room temperature and during multiple freeze/thaw cycles, has been achieved.

CONCLUSION
PreserveX-QML polymeric micelles help to homogenize and disperse membrane proteins preparations and stabilize the biological activity of the proteins making it more suitable for pharmaceutical assays and applications.


Interaction between evaporating (growing) droplets in binary arrays and large random clusters of droplets of different sizes is analyzed in a quasi-steady approximation using the modified method of expansion into irreducible multipoles. Evaporation and condensation of binary arrays and clusters of droplets (i) composed of volatile components and ( ii ) composed of a volatile and a nonvolatile component was studied. The analytical and numerical results of the investigation are presented in terms of heat and mass correction factors. Solution of the transient problem is obtained, and the evaporation rate is determined. It is shown that for droplets of ideal solution with different compositions, Nusselt and Sherwood numbers depend on the concentration of components inside each droplet. When dense cloud contains both pure droplets and droplets containing soluble nuclei, interactions between temperature and concentration fields causes growth of some droplets in a cluster and evaporation of the other droplets. It is shown that inside an evaporating large cluster of multicomponent droplets composed of volatile components, recondensation occurs whereby evaporating droplets act as mass sources and heat sinks and growing droplets act as mass sink and heat sources. The results of this study are of relevance in the analysis of dynamics of droplet size distribution in clouds, artificial modification of clouds and precipitation, in-cloud pollutants scavenging, and in the analysis of evaporation and combustion of multicomponent (blended) liquid fuels.


Objectives Admission rates have increased in China, despite the fact that accessibility to primary care is improving. Hospital care could be cost-inefficient, and little is currently known about the appropriateness of admissions to tertiary hospitals in China. This study aims to measure the extent of inappropriate admissions in the cardiology and orthopedics departments of a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, to explore the factors associated with inappropriateness for each department, and to identify the causes of inappropriate admissions. Methods The records of inpatients discharged on randomly sampled two days each week during March 2013 to February 2014 from the two departments were extracted. Two reviewers were recruited to assess the records according to the Chinese version of the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (C-AEP). Demographic, socio-economic, and other admissions-related variables were collected. Logistic regression analysis was adopted to determine the associated factors of inappropriateness. Results 35.0% (N = 120) of the 343 admissions and 38.7% (N = 179) of the 463 admissions of the cardiology and orthopedics departments were not justified by the C-AEP, respectively. Age (OR = 0.717), self-pay (OR = 3.752), admission via outpatient sector (OR = 5.332), and readmission (OR = 2.501) were identified as factors affecting the appropriateness of admissions in the cardiology department. Age (OR = 0.930), self-pay (OR = 2.597), admission during 12:00–17:59 (OR = 3.211), and admission via outpatient sector (OR = 7.060) were determined to be associated with appropriateness of admission in the orthopedics department. The main reason for inappropriateness was premature admission for both departments. Conclusions The magnitude of inappropriate admissions was considerable in the departments. To improve appropriateness, the results suggest that further interventions should be focused on both external and internal factors.


A pilot plant process was developed for the production of pepperoni as a fully dry, fermented sausage. The process included: (a) aging in which salted (3% NaCl) meat was held for 10 days at 5°C to encourage the growth of micrococci and lactobacilli; (b) fermentation at 35°C and 85% relative humidity (RH) during which the lactobacilli fermented the sugar and lowered the pH, and the micrococci reduced nitrate to nitrite; and (c) drying at 12°C and 65% RH to about 50% of starting weight. Chemical analyses of the commercial pepperoni yielded the following data: (1) pH ranged from 6.1–4.7: (2) moisture. from 17.0–30.9%: (3) fat, from 38.1–5–2.5%; (4) water activities ranged from 0.87–0.80; and (5) all had moisture/protein (M/P) ratios < 1.6/1.0, the maximum recommended for pepperoni. The microflora of commercial samples varied, both in bacterial count and type. Pilot plant products had lower moisture and fat contents than commercial products, pH values of 4.7–4.9, and viable microflora almost exclusively lactobacilli. The M/P ratios of the pilot plant products were also < 1.6/1.0.


Cathode plasma expansion into a vacuum gap is one of the major physical mechanisms affecting the relativistic magnetron (RM) performance and causing so-called RF pulse shortening. This paper will show how the development of new cathode technologies has led to a significant enhancement of the RM efficiency and power. We have conducted a series of experiments with various cathodes intended for use in RM's. A primary objective in this research was to determine how the cathode geometry and type of emission surface would influence major characteristics of the L-band high-power RM in a rising-sun configuration. In these experiments, the magnetron operated at a fixed frequency of 1.3 GHz, voltage of 100-500 kV, total electron current of 2-8 kA, and total microwave peak power of 100-700 MW depending on operating conditions and type of cathode used. It was found that the geometry (smooth cylindrical, series of disks, pins) and the type of cathode emission surface (stainless steel, velvet, carbon fibers) affected the magnetron performance. This process resulted in a variation of the maximum microwave power of /spl sim/30%. The cathode end caps, which have been mostly abandoned after transition from classic to RM's, were shown to be able to increase the microwave power and RM efficiency by /spl sim/80% without facilitating the pulse shortening effect. This result was achieved through the implementation of cathode design principles that are compatible with the operation of RM's. A maximum total efficiency of 24% was achieved with a velvet cathode with end caps, determined as the ratio of peak power to input electrical power.


The application of fuzzy Petri Nets to the development of intelligent systems has received an increasing attention recently. However, the fuzzy production rules are rather limited if the determination of certainty factor for each proposition is subjective. Unfortunately, this is the case for many existing fuzzy Petri nets. This paper proposes a generalized associative Petri net model with associative degree and knowledge representation of a rule-based system. Based on the generalized associative Petri net model, an efficient reasoning algorithm is proposed. The ontology mapping and the associative reasoning algorithm are described formally in details. An example of malicious email reasoning is also included as an illustration.


Herpes simplex infection remains the third most common cause of esophagitis following gastric reflux disease and candida infection. This disease usually occurs in immunocompromised individuals; however, it has been frequently reported in healthy individuals. We present a case of a 39-year-old man who presented to the ER with symptoms unusual of herpes esophagitis. He was presumed to be immunocompromised due to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and chronic alcohol use. Endoscopy revealed features in favor of candidiasis; however, histopathology displayed characteristic features of herpes infection. Herpes esophagitis should thus be suspected in immunocompromised patients with an independent underlying pathology and treated early with antiviral agents like acyclovir to prevent impending complications.


Weaver (2014a; 2014b), among other researchers, states that ethnicity is a common topic in humour research. Davies (1998) mentions that most ethnic minorities become the butt of ethnicity-centred jokes. In the Romanian context, most ethnicity-centred humorous discourses target the Hungarians and the Gypsies (Popescu 2011). Jokes are, usually, told from the perspective of the Romanians as a central group, while the butts (i.e., the minorities) represent the peripheral one. In the case of Gypsy jokes, the peripheral group (i.e., the Gypsies) is named in various manners. The paper illustrates the ethnonyms and other means of calling this group that were found in the corpus, when presenting the portray of the Gypsy in humorous discourses. When the relationship existing between two ethnic categories is interpreted in the humorous discourse, I use the label of "interethnic jokes". Interethnic jokes mirror intercultural relationships existing among ethnic groups which live together in Transylvania (the region where the corpus was collected). The perspective and the presence of the joke-teller (as the representative of the central group – i.e., Romanian/Transylvanian) is marked in the discourse by linguistic tools. This research shows that the presence of the central group may be explicitly stated via ethnonyms or may be implied through lexical or grammatical means. Lexically, the use of lexemes referring to (1) occupations/professions, (2) a person in general, or (3) proper names are the most frequent representations. Grammatically, the use of pronouns and verbs (1st and 2nd person, singular or plural) are widely used tools.


Oblique deposition was used to fabricate two metal electrodes separated by a gap of less than 10 nm on a SiO2 substrate. By sweeping voltage between these electrodes, a negative resistance change of several digits was observed in vacuum. In this work, electrodes made of Au, Pd, Pt, and Ta were fabricated, and their electric properties were measured in vacuum. The negative resistance was observed for all of the four metals. The result of the measurements clearly shows the correlation between the voltage at the minimum resistance and the melting point. Also, the calculated temperature rise shows a correlation with the melting point. These facts support the effect that the thermal change of the electrode metal has a considerable effect on the electric properties of the nanogap switch (NGS).


Abstract We report on a conceptual replication of Révész (2012) in order to investigate the idea whether learners provided with recasts do engage in different kinds of behavioral engagement as a function of their working memory and if/how this engagement comes to bear on performance on different measures. Engagement with recasts was measured through a coding method categorizing responses to the recasts running the gamut from: (1) no opportunity, (2) opportunity, but did not repeat, (3) repeated the recasted form, (4) negotiated the response, to (5) used the recasted form later in the discourse. Consistent with Révész (2012), though with lower effect sizes, the results showed that recasts were most conducive to gains on an oral task and less so on a written description task, but non-effective on a grammaticality judgment task. Furthermore, it was revealed that learners with a high phonological short-term memory were more prone to recast-induced engagement on an oral production task, whereas those enjoying a higher reading span were considerably less so. We propose that learner engagement be deemed more important in future interaction research.


The results of a 10-year experience with application in a neurological clinic of modern non-invasive thermovision and ultrasonic methods are described. Some 5000 patients with various distrubances in the central and peripheral nervous system, and 1000 nonneurological patients were examined with a view to detect subclinical forms of cerebrovascular insufficiency. Recommendations are given for improving technical characteristics of the Soviet thermovisors.


M YER et al.1 have suggested that the presence of a positive T wave in lead V1 of amplitude greater than that of T in V6 is a useful index of early left ventricular hypertrophy among hypertensive subjects. Apparently independently, Arustamov,2 Weyn and Marriott,3 and Nikitin,4' 5 have employed the TV1 > TV0 syndrome for early diagnosis of left ventricular "overload" or early myocardial ischemia. A great deal of evidence exists about the significance of low, flat, and eventually negative T waves in left chest leads in otherwise healthy men6 7 but the new syndrome would clearly be of interest if it provided an earlier clue to myocardial involvement, albeit nonspecific. Unfortunately, the frequency of the syndrome in normal subjects is nowhere adequately considered by its proponents, and its diagnostic discriminative power is thus not at all certain. This study presents evidence about the distribution of the syndrome in clinically healthy subjects and in several categories of cardiac disease with detailed consideration of age, sex, body weight, and "<electrical" heart position.


The scattering of electrons by atomic hydrogen is studied for incident electron energies 1.02, 1.10 and 1.21 Ryd by extending the 15-state R-matrix calculation of Pathak et al. (1988, 1989). Results are presented for n=2 excitation, including differential cross sections and angular correlation parameters. Comparisons are made between the present calculation with the experiments and the most recent theoretical calculations.


Numerous catastrophic wildfires in Greece have demonstrated that relying on fire suppression as the primary risk-management strategy is inadequate and that existing wildfire-risk governance needs to be re-examined. In this research, we used simulation modelling to assess the spatial scale of wildfire exposure to communities and cultural monuments in Chalkidiki, Greece. The study area typifies many areas in Greece in terms of fire regimes, ownership patterns and fire-risk mitigation. Fire-transmission networks were built to quantify connectivity among land tenures and populated places. We found that agricultural and unmanaged wildlands are key land categories that transmit fire exposure to other land tenures. In addition, fires ignited within protected lands and community boundaries are major sources of structure exposure. Important cultural monuments in the study area had fairly low exposure but higher potential for fires with moderate to high intensity. The results show how the spatial diversity of vegetation and fuels, in combination with vegetation management practices on private and public tracts of land, contribute to transboundary risk. We use the results to motivate a discussion of integrating transboundary risk assessments to improve the current wildfire-risk rating system and begin the process of reforming risk governance in Greece.


The study concerned here examined students' perceptions of death penalty existence for corruptors. Corruption is a significant problem that captures the attention of the wider public. Corruption has a vast, systematic, and complex impact so that it could be classified as an extraordinary crime. Despite that classification, it turns out that the public considers corruptors' punishment in Indonesia still too light and has not met the public's expectations regarding justice. The people still feel the disparity in a penalty for corruption. The public believes capital punishment to a punishment option that could cause a deterrent effect. The majority of the public wants corruptors to be sentenced to death, but there is opposition to the death penalty on the grounds of upholding human rights. This study was conducted by students of the Pendidikan Pancasila dan Kewarganegaraan (PPKn) or Department of Pancasila and Citizenship, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan. It is found in the study that students agree on the death penalty for corruptors, that they do not see human rights as an excuse for rejecting the death penalty. Moreover, the death penalty is to be viewed as a breakthrough in combating corruption in Indonesia.


Lameness in sheep induced by infectious agents can cause problems regarding animal welfare, diagnosis and treatment. Individual lame animals and lameness caused by systemic disease, but especially flock problems due to infectious causes of lameness, such as foot rot, can for various reasons pose a problem for veterinary treatment. The causes of lameness in sheep are described with a special focus on infectious flock problems, and the different treatment options such as foot trimming, foot baths and local and systemic antibiotic therapy as well as vaccination are discussed based on a review of recent international research. The limited choice of drugs licensed for use in sheep in Germany is highlighted. Treatment, therefore, often requires off-label use or the import of footbathing agents licensed in other European countries. The legal consequences of this lack of nationally licensed veterinary products in dealing with a "minor species" are discussed, with a final call for political solutions that will help improve this unsatisfactory situation.


Post-synthetic modification of histone proteins in chromatin architecture plays a central role in the epigenetic regulation of transcription. Histone acetylation and methylation are the two major modifications that function as a specific transcription regulator in response to various cellular signals. Albeit the mechanism of action of these modifications in transcription is not well understood, recent discovery of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and methyltransferase (HMT) activities within transcriptional regulators has an important implication for histone modification to be a key player for the precise regulation of transcription processes. Here, we discuss recent advances made on histone acetylation and methylation as a fundamental process to modulate gene transcription, with a particular emphasis on their combinatorial effects in transcriptional control.


Angiogenesis is required for a variety of normal and pathological, proliferative processes. Numerous regulators of angiogenesis have been identified and characterized over the last decades. Among these, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A appears especially important in normal development and in disease processes. Several VEGF inhibitors have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of tumors or the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. This article examines the molecular and biological characteristics of VEGF and also discusses preclinical and clinical studies with VEGF inhibitors and the lessons learned from these studies.


In the last decade, students of Critical Security Studies (CSS) have been increasingly studying and understanding the concept of security in negative terms. The way they choose to analyse security instils a one-sided understanding, which revolves around totalizing the material and ideational power of the state. This paper aims to discuss how students of CSS can avoid essentializing the meaning of security by extending its analytical scope beyond security professionalism and state-centrism. It will be argued that it is possible to inquire 'what is good about security' by examining the experiences of the most victimized through a study of the pluralism of politics of security. The argument will be illustrated through a discussion of ideas and practices of the Yugoslav anti-war feminist movement between 1989 and 1994.


This Corchorus olitorius L. is known to be a medicinal plant widely consumed in the Eastern Mediterranean region and has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Breast cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among all cancers. Therefore, the main aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of C. olitorius plant on viability of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. C. olitorius leaves first extracted with ethanol, then LC-MS/MS analysis was done for identification of phytochemicals. MTT assay was used for assessment of cell viability of MCF-7 cells. Cells were treated with C. olitorius extracts at five concentrations (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 µg/ml) and four different incubation periods (24, 48, 72, 96 h). LC-MS/MS analysis identified seven phytochemicals in the extract, mainly quercetin and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives. MTT results showed that the extract was only slightly effective in terms of reduction of cell viability at 50 and 100 µg/ml doses which were incubated for 24 and 48 h. Lower concentration doses did not show any effect in cell viability of MCF-7 cells. Longer incubation periods tend to increase cell viability of breast cancer cells. Quercetin identified within the extract might interfere with ER and promote MCF-7 cell proliferation. Therefore, in ER positive breast adenocarcinoma, quercetin intake and doses should carefully be monitored. More studies regarding the relationship between C. olitorius , quercetin and breast cancer should be done for further clarification of the topic.


Appendiceal endometriosis is a rare condition that remains difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Herein, we present a case of appendiceal endometriosis presenting as a neuroendocrine tumor. A 34-year-old Caucasian woman was found to have an appendiceal mass with a small fluid collection on routine transvaginal ultrasound. The patient denied any symptoms. Features were consistent with those of a neuroendocrine tumour of the appendix. Laparoscopic appendectomy followed by histopathology revealed endometriosis with negative cytology for malignant cells. Preoperative characteristics of appendiceal tumours in women of childbearing age should be further investigated. Establishing clinical and surgical guidelines is the key to avoid invasive procedures and related adverse outcomes.


A 31-year-old male patient with ectodermal dysplasia and acanthosis nigricans is described. Clinical findings included hypotrichosis, hypohidrosis, palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, nail dystrophy, early onset loss of permanent dentition, mental retardation, and acanthosis nigricans. The findings suggest the diagnosis of Lelis syndrome, as described on the basis of seven unrelated cases. A review concerning this condition is also presented.


In2O3 doped with rare-earth element yttrium shows improved optoelectronic efficiency. Here the structural properties and electronic structures of Y-doped In2O3 are investigated by using a first-principles approximation. For In1.9375 Y0.0625 O3, the d site is the more stable site. The Yi3+ interstitial has a low formation energy and is a possible interstitial defect, which would lead to shallow and abundant donors without sacrificing optical transparency. Since defects are universally distributed in In2 O3 or doped In2 O3, complex defect configurations are also calculated.


The development of medium and small sized enterprises involves not only scientific and strict routine management but also far sighted strategic thought among which financial strategy is of great importance for them.Upon analyzing the business capacity,outer environment and financial characteristics,this paper discusses some basic train of thoughts on the financial strategy of medium and small sized enterprises.


Large computer networks are too large to emulate or actually reproduce in conventional lab environments. Graph generation/reduction techniques have been a valuable tool to solve this limitation. However, current techniques focus on local features (e.g. router out-degree, clustering coefficient, traffic difference between edges for building a hierarchy) that do not preserve router-level backbone geographical/hierarchical features or the end-to-end delay between any arbitrary points. This letter proposes a geographical-based reduction mechanism that enables emulation in lab settings while preserving the global features of typical backbone networks. The performance evaluation is based on six inferred ISP backbone maps.


In this article, the task is to consider the effect of the piston bending in an axial- piston pump under the action of hydraulic force on the kinematics of the pump. The change in kinematics due to the elastic deformation of the piston is estimated by the axial displacement of the piston face. The study takes into account the bias of the plunger in the gap, the elastic bending deformation of the plunger, the contact deformation of the plunger and the cylinder block. The task is considered on three models: a rigid piston in a rigid cylinder block; deformable piston in a rigid cylinder block; deformable piston, block, shoe, and disk. The values of the displacement of the piston, caused by elastic forces and misalignment in the gap depending on its position were obtained for the first time as a result of the analysis. The problem is solved both analytically and numerically using the finite element method. In the analytical solution of the problem, the piston is represented as a beam supported by pin and roller at the points of contact of the piston with the walls of the cylinder block. The three-dimensional model of the pump is applied to solve the problem by the finite element method, the contact deformation of the piston and the block is considered. According to the simulation results, the displacement of the piston is obtained depending on the position of the piston. The results of modeling an analytical model are presented in the form of a smooth function, and the results of numerical simulation using the finite-element method obtained for several points are interpolated by a smooth function. The conclusions suggest that the greatest deformations are achieved in the piston located at the bottom dead center, and the gap between the piston and the sleeve and the overall stiffness of the contact parts have the greatest effect. The results of the work can be used to correct the geometrical parameters of a heavily loaded aviation axial-plunger pump to reduce flow and pressure pulsations caused by the kinematics of the pump.


This article describes the emergence of health policies targeted at the unhealthy school employee by examining how these are manifest in a Nevada school district. The analysis draws on the work of Foucault, specifically his writings on governmentality. The purpose of this critical appraisal is to problematize school-sponsored health policies by suggesting possible ramifications for these kinds of activities. It is salient for educational scholars and practitioners to consider how these policies, advocated in the name of health, work to construct certain ideologies and correspondingly, how these constructions affect the ways in which school work is managed and regulated.


Hamilton-Jacobi theory provides a natural starting point for a covariant description of the gravitational field. Using a spatial gradient expansion, one may solve for the phase of the wavefunction by using a line-integral in superspace. Each contour of integration corresponds to a particular choice of time-hypersurface, and each yields the same answer. In this way, one can describe all time choices simultaneously. In an interesting application to cosmology, I compute large-angle microwave background anisotropies and the galaxy-galaxy correlation function associated with the scalar and tensor fluctuations of power-law inflation.


The astonishing diversity in the observed planetary population requires theoretical efforts and advances in planet formation theories. Numerical approaches provide a method to tackle the weaknesses of current planet formation models and are an important tool to close gaps in poorly constrained areas. We present a global disk setup to model the first stages of giant planet formation via gravitational instabilities (GI) in 3D with the block-structured adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) hydrodynamics code ENZO. With this setup, we explore the impact of AMR techniques on the fragmentation and clumping due to large-scale instabilities using different AMR configurations. Additionally, we seek to derive general resolution criteria for global simulations of self-gravitating disks of variable extent. We run a grid of simulations with varying AMR settings, including runs with a static grid for comparison, and study the effects of varying the disk radius. Adopting a marginally stable disk profile (Q_init=1), we validate the numerical robustness of our model for different spatial extensions, from compact to larger, extended disks (R_disk = 10, 100 and 300 AU, M_disk ~ 0.05 M_Sun, M_star = 0.646 M_Sun). By combining our findings from the resolution and parameter studies we find a lower limit of the resolution to be able to resolve GI induced fragmentation features and distinct, turbulence inducing clumps. Irrespective of the physical extension of the disk, topologically disconnected clump features are only resolved if the fragmentation-active zone of the disk is resolved with at least 100 cells, which holds as a minimum requirement for all global disk setups. Our simulations illustrate the capabilities of AMR-based modeling techniques for planet formation simulations and underline the importance of balanced refinement settings to reproduce fragmenting structures.


A comparison of derivatization step influence on the method extraction of mercury species has been carried out. Experimental design generated by using central composite design was used to optimize the extraction parameters. Signal response of targeted analytes, which accounts as sum of peak areas has shown maximum response (y = 276920, in-matrix derivatization) slightly higher compared to on-fiber derivatization (y = 274883). In both cases, two variables namely the concentration of solution and exposure time contribute significantly (ANOVA, p < 0.05). The time required for in-matrix derivatization to reach equilibrium is 0.9 min, slightly lower than on-fiber but similar value required for concentration of solution (1.4% m/v) and depth of fiber (49 mm) placed during extraction. Recovery for all species detected varied from 76-84% for in-matrix derivatization and 80-84% for on-fiber derivatization. For inorganic mercury trace level, analytical figure of merit namely recovery, repeatability and reproducibility better for on-fiber derivatization in the method extraction, as compared to in-matrix derivatization.


To study the relationship of Glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchored proteins (GIP-Pr) and apoptosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) cells, we isolated peripheral granulocytes from 10 patients with PNH and 10 normal controls and measured apoptosis induced by serum starvation. The FCM analysis of phosphotidylserine (ps) externalization in granulocytes was determined using Annexin-V-FLUOS labeling. After the cells were induced for apoptosis in serum-free medium for 20 hours, the percentage of externalization was 78.6% in normal control cells but 39.5% in PNH cells. The results of FCM analysis of PI stained granulocytes showed that the PI positive rate was 51.5% in control cells and 30.2% in PNH cells. The gel electrophoresis analysis of DNA fragmentation all indicate that PNH granulocytes were relatively resistant to apoptosis as compared with normal controls. This resistance to apoptosis might not be related to the percentage of CD59 deficient granulocytes.


Background—Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is a familial disorder in 25% to 50% of patients, but the genetic basis in the majority of cases remains unknown. Genes encoding desmosomal proteins, currently regarded as synonymous with another disorder, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, are known to cause left ventricular dysfunction, but their importance in unselected patients with unequivocal dilated cardiomyopathy is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of mutations in 5 desmosomal protein genes in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results—We studied 100 unrelated patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy consecutively referred to a dedicated cardiomyopathy unit. Patients underwent clinical evaluation, ECG, echocardiography, exercise testing, 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring, and mutation screening of 5 genes implicated in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: plakoglobin, desmoplakin, plakophilin-2, desmoglein-2, and desmocollin-2. Of the 100 patients (mean age at evaluation, 46.8±13.8 years; range, 17.0 to 72.8 years; male sex, 63%), 5 were found to carry pathogenic desmosomal protein gene mutations. An additional 13 patients had sequence variants of uncertain pathogenic significance and were excluded from further comparative analysis. Patients harboring desmosomal gene mutations had a phenotype indistinguishable from the 82 noncarriers, with the exception of exercise-induced ventricular ectopy, which was more frequent in the desmosomal mutation carriers (P=0.033). None of the 5 carriers of desmosomal mutations fulfilled current diagnostic criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, but 1 had fibrofatty change in the left ventricle at autopsy. Conclusions—Heart failure caused by a dilated, poorly contracting left ventricle and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy have been considered distinct clinicopathologic entities. This study suggests that both clinical presentations can be caused by mutations in desmosomal protein genes.


Advances in underwater viewing can be expected by employing powerful blue-green dye lasers as illumination sources. For minimum transmission losses, the spectral characteristics of the seawater must coincide with the laser action spectral region. Propagation of light through the ocean environment is discussed. Presently available blue-green laser systems are briefly reviewed. It was concluded that a commercially available dye laser, operating at the seawater transmission window, provides the best near term-solution. Such a dye laser is capable of delivering up to about 3 joules per pulse at a rate of 10 to 50 Hz. A synchronized video camera takes pictures of the illuminated area. In the future, a powerful blue-green illumination source can be obtained by operating the dye laser with improved (high-efficiency) laser dyes.


Reactive powder concretes (RPCs) were developed through careful design and control of the composite microstructure. Enhanced properties were achieved through optimization of the gradation and arrangement of the inert particles, as well as through designing the reactive components (e.g., coarse-ground oil-well cement and silica fume) to govern the hydration product morphology. Recently, a process has been developed for synthesis of cement with nanometer-scale particle sizes with tailorable chemical compositions. The addition of nanocements to RPCs is unique because it influences the early hydration reaction of the cement in RPC for nano-sized hydration products. The replacement of a small fraction of the conventional cement with these nano-sized reactive particles reduces the induction period in cement hydration and initiates a faster conversion to the hydration products. Integration of nanocements may also lead to a denser product microstructure with higher ultimate compressive and tensile strengths. Potential also exists to reduce the permeability of the RPC and to strengthen the interfacial transition zones within the material. With such improvements, nanocement can serve as a means to optimize RPC systems for enhanced properties and may further enhance the durability of RPC.


This paper presents preliminary results towards the development of digital twin models for Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) factories in a partially automated and cost-effective manner. In many cases it is desirable to obtain a 3D model of a factory floor and machinery, that can be used for visualization of Digital Twin models. Current commercial 3D reconstruction solutions involve the use of high-end LiDAR sensors which increase the cost of the 3D scanning process and suppose a barrier for SME factories on their path towards Industry 4.0. The paper presents a comparison of 3D reconstruction results using low-cost sensors including a Zenfone AR mobile phone, an Intel RealSense ZR300 and a Kinect v2. The small size and weight of the sensors make it possible to be mounted on small unmanned aerial vehicles and enable future 3D reconstruction in an autonomous manner. The data was processed using an open source Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) library RTAB-Map. The results were compared with a professional 3D scan using a GeoSLAM LiDAR. Experimental results from a scanning of a university research lab with a small simulated production line and two UR3 industrial manipulators is presented. The obtained 3D model was used to generate a simple Digital Twin model that can be visualized using a VR headset.


In this paper, we develop a fast nested pseudoskeleton approximation algorithm to generate a low-rank $\mathcal{H}^{2}$-matrix to represent electrically large surface integral equations (SIEs). The algorithm only uses $O(NlogN)$ entries of the original dense SIE matrix of size $N$ to generate the $\mathcal{H}^{2}$-representation. It also provides a closed-form expression of the cluster bases and coupling matrices using original matrix entries. The resultant $\mathcal{H}^{2}$-matrix is then directly solved for electrically large scattering analysis. Numerical experiments have demonstrated the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.


Models with event risk (the possibility of sudden large price movements) have proven important for option pricing (e.g., Bates (1996))and optimal portfolio selection (e.g., Liu, Longstaff and Pan(2003)). However, most of the existing studies ignore transaction costs which are prevalent in almost all of the financial markets. How investors should trade in the presence of event risks and transaction costs remains an important but unanswered question. In this paper, we consider the optimal trading strategy for a CRRA investor who derives utility from terminal wealth and can continuously trade in a riskless asset and a risky asset. The risky asset, whose price follows a jump diffusion, is subject to proportional transaction costs. We show that the optimal trading strategy is to maintain the fraction of wealth invested in the risky asset between two bounds. In contrast to the case without jump risk, this fraction can jump outside the bounds which implies a discrete transaction back to the closest boundary and thus a greater transaction cost payment. We characterize the value function and provide bounds on the trading boundaries. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that an increase in transaction costs may increase trading frequency. Our numerical results suggest that event risk significantly reduces stock holdings and decreases trading frequency. We also show that the boundaries are affected not only by jump sizes but also by the uncertainty about jump sizes. Furthermore, we examine how the optimal transaction boundaries vary through time for investors with deterministic horizons.


RAPD analysis was used to verify the varieties in an in vitro germplasm collection of lilac Syringa vulgaris L. RAPD patterns were obtained with 16 decanucleotide primers for 46 accessions (microclones and corresponding reference varieties). The RAPD patterns of a microclone and the corresponding reference variety often differed in composition; consequently, it was infeasible to verify the accessions by direct comparison of the RAPD patterns. Hence, evaluation of the relative genetic distances between accessions (microclones) and known varieties was proposed as a method to verify lilac in vitro germplasm collections.


Any model for the action of extracistronic suppressors'-3 that involves the mistaken reading of a codon appearing often in the genome, predicts that if the efficiency of suppression is high, the suppressor would be lethal. We have found strains in which this "oversuppression" can be brought about by an external agent, streptomycin (Sm). This Sm-induced oversuppression appears to be the combined result of two suppressors of the same defect. These strains result from a second suppressor mutation in a Sm-suppressible (conditional Sm-dependent, CSD) parent. The CSD strains require either a growth factor or Sm for growth and have been demonstrated4 to contain a competent Smr mutation and a defect in a structural gene, whose suppression is Sm-dependent. In vitro experiments5 have provided support for the suggestion that Sm acts in the CSD strains to cause specific mistakes in the genetic code. We shall describe here the strains that contain the two suppressor functions, and show that in the presence of Sm their combined effect, although increasing the level of the suppressible defective enzyme, decreases the levels of other enzymes in the cell and inhibits growth. We propose to call this phenomenon "oversuppression." Isolation and Characterization of the Mutants.B4S-7SD is a CSD-arginine mutant containing a suppressible defect in the ornithine transcarbamylase structural gene (OTCsD) and a streptomycin-activated suppressor.4 Spontaneous revertants to arg+ were isolated (frequency 10-7) from a histidine-requiring derivative of this strain by spreading the cells (about 108 cells/plate) on solid minimal medium A6 + his + glucose. It was expected that the revertants would be Smr like the original Smr parent of these strains. However, 4 out of 38, when tested with the standard concentration of Sm (500 jig/ml) appeared sensitive. One of these mutants is B4S-71. The sensitivity of these mutants is different from the wild-type sensitivity. In minimal medium + histidine, 75 per cent of a growing culture of B4S-71 survives a one-hr exposure to 500 ,g/ml Sm at 37°. In rich medium the survival is 10 per cent, whereas that of the standard Sms strain is less than 0. 001 per cent in both media. B4S-71 is slow-growing in minimal medium + histidine as compared with the original prototrophic parent, B4S-7 (OTC+ Smr) (Table 1). Addition of arginine to the medium restores wild-type growth rate. When small amounts of Sm are added, the growth rate decreases sharply. The upper limit of Sm concentration permitting a measurable growth depends on the composition of the medium: in minimal medium, with or without arginine, this limit is 12 Ag/ml; in enriched medium, 50 ,4g/ml (Table 1). Mutants of B4S-71 resistant to high levels of Sm were isolated (approximate frequency 10-6) by spreading the cells on solid enriched medium + Sm (500 jig/ml). All 358 mutants examined were CSD mutants indistinguishable from the original B4S-7SD his-. This suggests that the revertant phenotype had been the result of a suppressor mutation affecting both the OTCSD and Smr characteristics.


Personality traits reveal characteristics and patterns of an individuals environmental observations, thinking processes, and coping strategies. They exert long-term effects on adaptation and personal identity. The author presents a case study of a patient with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) who suffered from suicidal ideation, intense mood swings, all-good/all-bad thinking patterns, and poor job performance. An assessment is offered of the patient's physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual characteristics based on his subjective reports, interview records, and behavioral observations. Three primary nursing diagnoses were identified: a) potential for self-directed violence, b) ineffective coping mechanisms, and c) personal identity disturbance. A stable therapeutic relationship was formed over an 18-month period, including the establishment of coping skills, a support system, and crisis intervention training for both the patient and his family. The treatment was successful in reducing the patient's self-mutilating behavior, increasing his stress management skills at his workplace, and developing appropriate social behaviors leading to a more stable personal identity.


The security is an important aspect in our daily life whichever the system we consider security plays vital role. The biometric person identification technique based on the pattern of the human iris is well suited to be applied to access control and provides strong e-security. Security systems having realized the value of biometrics for two basic purposes: to verify or identify users. In this paper we focus on an efficient methodology for identification and verification for iris detection, even when the images have obstructions, visual noise and different levels of illuminations and we use the CASIA iris database it will also work for UBIRIS Iris database which has images captured from distance while moving a person. Efficiency is acquired from iris detection and recognition when its performance evaluation is accurate.


Numerous research found a significant role of emotion in problem solving. However, how emotionsshape collaborative problem solving remains an open question. In this study, we sought to determinerelationships between emotions shared by problem solvers and collaborative processes involved. Twenty-two participants were randomly assigned to same-sex pairs and asked to complete a problem solving task.At any time, participants could voluntarily share their emotions with their partner, using a reporting tool.Their speech was transcribed and categorised into a series of meaningful collaborative categories. Twochi-square tests of independence (due to test constraints, only positive emotions were considered)confirmed a relation of dependency between collaborative processes and positive shared emotions, bothbefore sharing emotions (χ2(96) = 218.41, p<.001) and after (χ2(96) = 131.14, p<.01). Results underlinethat problem solvers do not randomly display positive emotions during collaboration. Rather, certainemotions appear, more than chance, in conjunction with certain collaborative processes. Adjustedstandardized residuals (showing which associations are the source of the statistically significant chi-square tests) were calculated and strongest associations identified. For example, acceptance ofproposition increases while outside activity decreases, both significantly, before the sharing of theemotion interested. We propose three main hypotheses concerning the potential role of shared emotionsin collaborative problem solving, namely sharing one's own mindset about task achievement, clarifyingmessages and initiating new stages in the collaboration. Future perspective, especially the considerationof negative shared emotions and relational processes, are developped to gain a finer understanting intocollaborative problem solving dynamics.


The church means many things to many people. Some would describe it as a culture, network, organization, or family. The purpose of this study is to understand of the role of the church in providing social support to individual church members and to uncover meanings prescribed by individuals about the nature of social support in the church. I analyze the context in which church practices are embedded, the processes of creating social support, and the meanings of church-related activities and gatherings that contribute to social support. The study examines how the health-related needs of church members are not only physiological but also accounted for in emotional, psychological and social terms. By using metaphor as a framework for interpretation of members' meanings, my analysis of social support is broadened to include religious contexts. This study adds to growing literature on the connection between religion, communication and health.


This paper presents a model of direct delta-sigma receiver (DDSR) and methodology for theoretical transfer function (TF). The theoretical analysis is carried out by modeling the key elements of the DDSR, including the N-path filter, down-conversion mixer, baseband delta sigma modulator (DSM) and FIRDACs in order to optimize the loop filter coefficients. The contribution of different noise sources and the impact of the nonlinearities are also analyzed. The obtained simulation results show the accuracy of the proposed models and method. This top-down approach allows the designer to determine the key parameters for DDSR in terms of noise contributions, nonlinearity impacts, filtering effects as well as gain distribution and thus enables the optimization of the whole receiver. Although this methodology was applied to the conventional DDSR, but it can be used for any receiver architecture based on DDSR.


Microstructure of die-upset Nd-Fe-Co-Ga-B magnet was investigated with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution and analytical transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM and ATEM). Inside the original melt-spun flakes in the magnet, the typical texture consists of fine platelet Nd2(Fe,Co)14B grains surrounded continuously by a thin grain boundary (GB) phase with 2–3 nm in thickness. The GB phase has an amorphous structure of which the chemical composition is Nd44Fe39Co10Ga7. It was found that high fluidity of the Ndand Ga-rich GB phase contributes to produce a high crystallographic c-axis alignment of Nd2(Fe,Co)14B grains. Near the interfaces of the original flakes, morphology of the Nd2(Fe,Co)14B grains changes from platelet to globular involving the deterioration of c-axis alignment. Many Nd-oxide (NdO and fcc-(Nd,Fe)Ox) grains and a large amount of fine Nd3Co precipitates are formed near the interfaces, and then the composition of GB phase changes to Nd36Fe50Co9Ga5. The insufficiency of Nd in the GB phase and the existence of Nd-oxide particles prevent the anisotropic growth of Nd2(Fe,Co)14B grains, and then lead to the inhomogeneous GB phase and the low c-axis alignment. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.M2011180]


Aquaporins (AQPs) constitute an ancient and diverse protein family present in all living organisms, indicating a common ancient ancestor. However, during evolution, these organisms appear and evolve differently, leading to different cell organizations and physiological processes. Amongst the eukaryotes, an important distinction between plants and animals is evident, the most conspicuous difference being that plants are sessile organisms facing ever-changing environmental conditions. In addition, plants are mostly autotrophic, being able to synthesize carbohydrates molecules from the carbon dioxide in the air during the process of photosynthesis, using sunlight as an energy source. It is therefore interesting to analyze how, in these different contexts specific to both kingdoms of life, AQP function and regulation evolved. This review aims at highlighting similarities and differences between plant and mammal AQPs. Emphasis is given to the comparison of isoform numbers, their substrate selectivity, the regulation of the subcellular localization, and the channel activity.


In selected mammalian tissues, long chain fatty acid transporters (FABPpm, FAT/CD36, FATP1, and FATP4) are co-expressed. There is controversy as to whether they all function as membrane-bound transporters and whether they channel fatty acids to oxidation and/or esterification. Among skeletal muscles, the protein expression of FABPpm, FAT/CD36, and FATP4, but not FATP1, correlated highly with the capacities for oxidative metabolism (r ≥ 0.94), fatty acid oxidation (r ≥ 0.88), and triacylglycerol esterification (r ≥ 0.87). We overexpressed independently FABPpm, FAT/CD36, FATP1, and FATP4, within a normal physiologic range, in rat skeletal muscle, to determine the effects on fatty acid transport and metabolism. Independent overexpression of each fatty acid transporter occurred without altering either the expression or plasmalemmal content of other fatty acid transporters. All transporters increased fatty acid transport, but FAT/CD36 and FATP4 were 2.3- and 1.7-fold more effective than FABPpm and FATP1, respectively. Fatty acid transporters failed to alter the rates of fatty acid esterification into triacylglycerols. In contrast, all transporters increased the rates of long chain fatty acid oxidation, but the effects of FABPpm and FAT/CD36 were 3-fold greater than for FATP1 and FATP4. Thus, fatty acid transporters exhibit different capacities for fatty acid transport and metabolism. In vivo, FAT/CD36 and FATP4 are the most effective fatty acid transporters, whereas FABPpm and FAT/CD36 are key for stimulating fatty acid oxidation.


Estimates of outcrossing in four groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties belonging to different botanical types were made from a rectangular crossing design where the normal plants were surrounded in all directions by a 'Krinkle' dominant leaf marker. In a three year study conducted during the 1983-84 postrainy season and 1984 and 1985 rainy seasons at ICRISAT Centre, the percentage of outcrossing on individual plants ranged from 0.0 to 5.35 across seasons and genotypes. A marked increase in outcrossing was noticed during the postrainy season compared to the rainy season. The Spanish and Valencia types showed slightly greater outcrossing than the Virginia types. The levels of outcrossing at various locations in groundnut are reviewed and possible ways of utilising outcrossing in groundnut improvement are discussed.


Rabbit eyes were irradiated by an ultraviolet laser beam in with to investigate its effects on the corneal endothelium, thickness of the cornea, and lens. An Excimer laser beam (gas; XeCl) with wave length of 308 nm and with energy intensity of 0.02, 0.07, 0.2, 0.6, 1.7, 3.0, 4.0, or 5.1 J/cm2 was irradiated to the right eye using 3 rabbits for each energy intensity (24 rabbits in all) in order to examine changes occurring in the right eye compared with the left eye from immediately after irradiation to 32 days thereafter. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Corneal thickness UV laser beam irradiation at 0.02, 0.07, and 0.6 J/cm2 caused immediate thickening of the cornea (p less than 0.01). The cornea thickness returned to normal 14 days later. Irradiation at 3.0 and 4.0 J/cm2 resulted in remarkable thickening, which returned to normal 28 days after irradiation. By irradiation at 5.1 J/cm2, the corneal thickness increased markedly (0.333 +/- 0.019 mm in control eyes and 0.405 +/- 0.05 mm in irradiated eyes) immediately after irradiation. It tended to gradually return to normal and was reduced to the pre-irradiation thickness on the 32nd day after irradiation. 2. Corneal endothelial area and morphology (the number of angles) The area of the corneal endothelium increased after irradiation. However, no significant differences were noted at any energy intensity, because of the larger scattering of the values in the control eyes. The ratio of hexagonal cells tended to decrease even by energy intensities above 0.7 J/cm2. However, no significant differences were found at any energy intensity level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The majority of wars are fought in impoverished countries with often devastating and transformative impacts on their urban spaces. Nevertheless, the relationship between acts of terror and development is under-explored and little focus is placed on the impact on cities of the global South. In the wake of 9/11 the critical gaze has been trained firmly on terrorism in the global North, including its impact on cities: New York, Madrid, London. Defining terrorism in terms of acts of terror the paper recognises that urban centres are most susceptible to this form of political violence because of the likelihood of greater impact and visibility afforded by cities. Eschewing a 'developing'/'developed' dichotomy this paper nevertheless demonstrates that while terrorism has levelled risk across cities of the North and South, vulnerabilities in developing country cities are far greater. It is here that the link between terrorism and development can be most tightly drawn. It is further suggested that the incidence of urban terror is greatest in cities of less developed countries and that urban terrorism is helping define a shift from 'peasant wars of the 20 century' to the 'urban wars of the 21 century', a shift not divorced from encompassing global forces. Introduction The collapse of New York's Twin Towers on 11 September 2001 dramatically demonstrated the susceptibility of cities to terrorist attacks. Two and a half years later, on the 11 March 2004, bombs were detonated on packed commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 and injuring over 1,500 people, extending an amplified sense of urban vulnerability to cities in Europe. This was reinforced by the London bombings in July 2005, which again targeted ordinary city dwellers going about their daily lives. Subsequent analyses, contributing to the burgeoning literature on the 'war on terror' that grew up in the wake of 9/11, have examined the consequences of targeted urban terror campaigns in cities of the global North (Cutter et al, 2003; Glaeser and Shapiro, 2001; Graham, 2004). However, what Appadurai (1996: 152-3) called the 'implosion of global and national conflicts into the urban world' (Appadurai, 1996, pp. 152-3) is a phenomenon that cannot ignore cities of the global South. On the contrary, cities absorb much of the impact and fallout from contemporary conflict and war, both directly and indirectly, with consequences both for development and governance at the local and national levels. Moreover, many large cities of 1 For ease of expression, I use inter-changeably the terms 'North' and 'South' on the one hand and developed and developing countries, on the other, to refer respectively to industrialised and lowand middle-income countries.


Despite the apparent fluidity that characterizes this historical moment as well as this moment in legal scholarship, this paper argues that there is also an enduring rigidity in the persistence of a modernist conception of law. In the way that the important questions raised for legal scholars in the current moment are identified as questions for legal theory, they are also already 'framed' in terms of a particular approach to the relationship between legality and legitimacy. This is revealed in debates over post-national constitutionalism which, even as they purport to transcend the nation-state, fail to escape some form of reinscription of the relation between law and a centralized sovereign authority. The author suggests that an alternative, more capacious approach to re-imagining law in the transnational might be found in a turn to legal pluralism, understood as a metaphor or style of thinking about law.


1. THE FOUR ' REQUISITES ' IN GUHASENA'S GRANT DATED 248. In the " Archaeological Reports of Western India," vol. 3, pi. lix., we have a grant of the Yallabhi King Guhasena, dated in the year 248 ( = 567 A.D.), which is transliterated by Professor Biihler on p. 94. He gives in line 7 the reading: GraaacchadanasayanasanaghanabhashajySdi, etc. These must be the ' four requisites' (catupaccayd) of a Bhikshu. It is true that they are usually given in the Pali texts as clvara, pindapdta, sendmna, and gildna-paccayabhesajja (see Majjhima Nikaya, I. 33, etc.). But we find at Digha Nikaya, I I . 35, ghdsacchddana for the first two (compare ghdsacchddo at Puggala Paftnatti, IV. 19=Anguttara, IV. 85. 2). I t is clear therefore that the reference is to the " four requisites." We must read, of course, bhaishqjyadi, though the engraver of the plate has merely bha, quite plainly. It is worthy of notice that the Pali idiom has invariably, in this connection, ghasa; and the ordinary Sanskrit as invariably grdsa (reserving ghasa for the sense, not of " food," but of " fodder ") . I have not as yet noticed the expression at all in Buddhist Sanskrit, which has often enough the more usual words given above from the Pali (see, for instance, Divyavadana, p. 143). T. W. RHYS DAVIDS.


Multidrug resistance, mediated by members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins superfamily, has become one of the biggest obstacles in conquering tumour progression. If the chemotherapy outcome is considered successful, when the primary tumour volume is decreased or completely abolished, modulation of ABC proteins activity is one of the best methods to overcome drug resistance. However, if a positive outcome is represented by no metastasis or, at least, elongation of remission-free time, then the positive effect of ABC proteins inhibition should be compared with the several side effects it causes, which may inflict cancer progression and decrease overall patient health. Clinical trials conducted thus far have shown that the tested ABC modulators add limited or no benefits to cancer patients, as some of them are merely toxic and others induce unwanted drug–drug interactions. Moreover, the inhibition of certain ABC members has been recently indicated as potentially responsible for increased fibroblasts migration. A better understanding of the complex role of ABC proteins in relation to cancer progression may offer novel strategies in cancer therapy.


The early 1990's saw the introduction of a new innovation in component placement technology. By the mid-90's the electronics industry was moving towards complex circuit boards and continuously accelerate through the 90's, but at the start of the new millennium came the most dramatic downturn for the electronics industry. While at present, the electronics market is still subdued; the automotive sector electronics continues to grow steadily. The automotive product spectrum is very wide, but where component placement and assembly processes are concerned this put the focus firmly on quality and process control. In this paper, we discuss the problems encountered by the electronics industry because of its sudden downturn and suggests some solutions to cope with the problems.


We study the complexity of two fundamental problems in the testing of finite-state machines. 1) Distinguishing sequences (state identification). We show that it is PSPACE-complete to determine whether a finite-state machine has a preset distinguishing sequence. There are machines that have distinguishing sequences, but only of exponential length. We give a polynomial time algorithm that determines whether a finite-state machine has an adaptive distinguishing sequence. (The previous classical algorithms take exponential time.) Furthermore, if there is an adaptive distinguishing sequence, then we give an efficient algorithm that constructs such a sequence of length at most n(n/spl minus/1)/2 (which is the best possible), where n is the number of states. 2) Unique input output sequences (state verification). It is PSPACE-complete to determine whether a state of a machine has a unique input output sequence. There are machines whose states have unique input output sequences but only of exponential length. >


BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that there is a small subset of cells, called cancer stem cells (CSC), that are responsible for cancer initiation, development, metastasis and treatment resistance. Although CD133 and CD44 are thought to be the putative markers to characterize CSC of various solid tumors such as brain cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer, the link between expression status of CD133/44 and the clnical future of resected gastric cancer tissues after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy has not yet studied. We evaluated CD133/44 expression status in resected gastric cancer issue after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 32 cases were selected from advanced gastric cancer specimens of patients who underwent neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (S-1 and cisplatin or irinotecan and cisplatin or S-1 monotherapy) and surgical resection between 2001 and 2007 at the National Cancer Center Hospital. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD133 and anti-CD44 antibody were performed with these specimens. Immunopositive cells were counted from 10 fields in the representative section and expressed as a percentage. The specimen with necrosis or disappearance of the tumor cells in more than 1/3 of the whole lesion was defined as positive histological response specimen. Correlation of immunoreactivity with clinicopathological variables was evaluated and survival curves were compared between CD133/CD44 positive and negative cases. RESULTS: Patient characteristics: median age 57 years (range 31-74); male/female 22/10; histological type diffuse-type/intestinal-type 25/7. CD133 and CD44 expression (positive cells: 0% CONCLUSION: CD133 and CD44 were frequently expressed in gastric cancer tissues after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This study had limited numbers of patient sample and we were unable to study the CD133/44 status before treatment. Further study to identify the usefulness of CD133 and CD44 to predict the prognosis in gastric cancer patients is warranted. 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 3364.


In this study, we investigated the function related to the adjustability of grasping force (AGF) of elderly people and the effectiveness of concurrent visual feedback in learning tasks that require AGF. The young and elderly groups were measured for simple visual reaction time and a 100g AGF task that reflected the difference between desired performance and actual performance, and the main learning task was tested and practiced using concurrent visual feedback. Performance improved from pre-test to retention test in both groups, but the elderly group failed to reach the level of the young group. In addition, the retention test performance was associated with age and pre-test performance. In the elderly group, the initial performance of the practice was associated with the difference between desired performance and actual performance. In the latter half of the exercise, it was associated with visual-motor speed. The results of this study show that concurrent visual feedback is effective for learning tasks that require AGF. Indicatively, the improvement in performance during practice is insufficient, and the learning effect is reduced in elderly people who have a significant difference between desired performance and actual performance or whose visual-motor speed is slow.


The purpose of this review was to analyze the studies that investigated the behavior of the kinetics and kinematics of human gait and posture control during pregnancy, and to verify the occurrence of falls. For this, a search was made for references in Portuguese and English, using search engines: PubMed, Sciencedirect, Scopus, and Pubmed Pubmed Central. Original papers published from 1990 to 2009 (july) were considered when the main subject of discussion was the topic of interest. Overall significant changes are observed on the kinetic and kinematic variables of gait and balance from the third trimester of pregnancy during this period the incidence of falls is also larger. There are many factors related to these changes, but the increase in body mass is the most important of these.


Introduction: Pregnant women are a susceptible population to emerging infections. Recent published data have shown evidence of possible transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2. However, at present there are not enough data to determine its effect on the fetus. This study aims to determine the outcomes of infants born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: A retrospective descriptive institution-based study using data collected from medical records of infants born to confirmed COVID-19 mothers delivered from April to June 2020. Results: Of the 47 neonates, none of them were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. Majority were born full-term, mean gestational age of 37 weeks, weight of 2867 grams, appropriate for gestational age, good APGAR score, and delivered through cesarean section. Symptomatic neonates (27.7%) had tachypnea and vomiting as the most common manifestation, 13.3% had lymphopenia while pneumonia was the predominant radiologic finding. There was a significant association between the presence or absence of symptoms among mothers and neonates (p=0.037). Conclusion: The neonatal outcome in this study was good with 98% survival at 2 weeks of life. There was note of 2.1% morbidity and mortality. Given that the clinical data in newborns are very limited and the possibility of a vertical transmission is still uncertain, it is crucial to closely monitor neonates with increased risk of COVID-19 infection.


DNA vaccination was employed to study immune responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins. As an immunizing strategy, we studied immune responses of BALB/c (H-2d) and C57BL/6 mice (H-2b) to HCV genes delivered intramuscularly as a polycistronic construct capsid/E1/E2/NS2/NS3 (pRC/C-NS3) encoding 5 structural and nonstructural proteins. We also evaluated canarypox virus containing the same HCV genes as a means for potentiating immune responses to naked DNA. Our results indicate that mice that received a polycistronic pRC/C-NS3 with canarypox booster had enhanced antibody and cellular responses to HCV proteins. Immunodominant CD8(+) T cell responses to several HCV structural and nonstructural proteins, characterized by cytotoxicity and interferon (IFN)-gamma production or IFN-gamma production without significant cytotoxicity, were observed in both strains of mice. The combination of naked DNA with a nonreplicating canarypox booster encoding HCV polycistronic pRC/C-NS3 genes appears to diversify and enhance T cell responses to HCV proteins.