CONTEXT
Although recent animal studies have suggested that C1q/TNF-related protein-9 (CTRP9) is more likely to be involved in the regulation of vascular function, more specifically atherosclerosis, in rodents, little is known about whether serum CTRP9 level is associated with atherosclerosis in humans.

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum CTRP9 concentration is associated with atherosclerosis by measuring brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in subjects with type 2 diabetes. In addition, we examined the clinical and biochemical variables associated with serum CTRP9 concentration.

DESIGN AND METHODS
We measured circulating CTRP9 and total adiponectin levels in 278 subjects (169 men and 109 women; mean age of 58.3 years) with type 2 diabetes. Measurements of baPWV were performed in all subjects.

RESULTS
Serum CTRP9 concentration was positively correlated with baPWV. This correlation was significant even after adjusting for total adiponectin levels. In multiple linear regression, serum CTRP9 concentration was independently associated with increased baPWV. Female gender, higher body mass index, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were significantly associated with elevated serum CTRP9 concentration in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS
Serum CTRP9 concentration was significantly and positively associated with arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that CTRP9 might be important in the regulation of arterial stiffness in humans.


The effect of parenteral nutrition on the pancreatic secretion was studied under experimental conditions. Experiments were carried out in 24 mongrel dogs. In all animals pancreatic fistulas were created for collection of pancreatic juice. Subsequently, in three groups (6 dogs in each) parenteral nutrition via a catheter enterostomy was applied in three different segments of their small bowels, while collecting the pancreatic juice. Group IV served as control where no parenteral nutriment was administered. The amount, pH, protein and enzyme levels of the pancreatic juice secreted during 4 hours were studied in all groups. The experiments revealed that parenteral nutrition at the initial segment of the jejunum enhanced pancreatic secretion, while this was not experienced in the other groups. The effect is assumed to be humoral, rather with a secretin-like stimulation. Based on the experimental results, the authors call attention to the fact that, during treatment of acute pancreatitis, if a feeding enterostomy is constructed for calorie intake, it should not be performed within the first metre of the jejunum.


Purpose and background: Bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion is an extremely rare entity, therefore, studies of the natural history of this disease are lacking in the English literature. The purpose of this study is to analyze the natural history and surgical alternatives for patients with bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion. Patient population and methods: Twenty-one patients with bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion were encountered with a mean age of 61 years (range of 48–73 years). Their clinical presentations included eight with hemispheric transient ischemic attacks, three with amaurosis fugax, five with strokes and five with non-hemispheric transient ischemic attack. Diagnosis was confirmed using carotid duplex ultrasound and angiography. The majority of patients had more than one risk factor for atherosclerosis: smoking in 100%. hyperlipidemia in 14/21 (67%), hypertension in 17/21 (81%), coronary artery disease in 15/21 (71%) and diabetes mellitus in 7/21 (33%). In addition to the usual medical treatment, 13 patients underwent surgical intervention: eight had an external carotid endarterectomy, four had a carotid—subclavian bypass (to increase external carotid or vertebral flow for tight stenosis or occlusion of the common carotid or subclavian artery) and one patient had an ascending aorta to innominate artery bypass. At a mean follow-up of 6 years (range 1–11 years), the overall mortality rates were 11/21 (52%). in the surgical group it was 5/13 (38%) and 6/8 (75%) in the medical group. The causes of death included seven myocardial infarctions (four in the surgical group and three in the medical group) and four strokes (one in the surgical group and three in the medical group). In the surgical group, 2/13 (15%) had late neurological deficits (one hemispheric transient ischemic attack and one stroke), in contrast to 6/8 (75%. three strokes and three hemispheric transient ischemic attacks) in the medical group. Conclusions: Bilateral internal carotid artery occlusions have grave prognoses and should be considered a marker for severe systemic disease. Various cerebrovascular reconstructive procedures, if feasible, may be beneficial for some of these patients.


Antipyretic activity of methanolic extract of rhizome of N. nucifera was studied on normal body temperature and yeast induced pyrexia in rats. Yeast suspension (10 ml/kg, s.c.) increased rectal temperature after 19 hr of administration. The extract, in doses of 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg (po) produced significant dose dependent lowering of normal body temperature and yeast provoked elevation of body temperature in rats. The effect produced was comparable with the standard antipyretic drug, paracetamol (150 mg/kg, i.p.).


An analysis of satellite microwave brightness temperatures at 85 GHz (37 GHz) shows that these temperatures sometimes vary by more than 30 K (15 K) within 1 or 2 days at a single location over Arctic sea ice. This variation can be seen in horizontal brightness temperature distributions with spatial scales of hundreds of kilometers, as well as in brightness temperature time series observed at a single location. Analysis of satellite observations during winter shows that such brightness temperature warming frequently occurs in the Arctic Ocean, particularly in regions over which low pressure systems often pass. By comparing the observed microwave brightness temperature warming with ground-based measurements of geophysical variables collected during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic (SHEBA) experiment and with numerical prediction model analyses from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), it is found that brightness temperature anomalies are significantly correlated with clouds and precipitation. This finding raises the possibility of using satellite microwave data to estimate cloud liquid water path and precipitation in the Arctic. Factors contributing to the brightness temperature warming were examined, and it was found that the primary contributors to the observed warming were cloud liquid water and surface temperature change.


1. Currents evoked by elevated intracellular free Ca2+ in Xenopus laevis oocytes were studied using the two‐electrode voltage clamp technique. The elevation in Ca2+ concentration was achieved in three ways: by the use of the divalent cation ionophore A23187; by application of Ca2+‐mobilizing neurotransmitters serotonin and acetylcholine (ACh); by the entry of Ca2+ through voltage‐dependent channels. 2. In most experiments, the membrane was permeabilized to Ca2+ by a 15 min pretreatment with A23187 in a Ca2+‐free solution. Exposure of the ionophore‐treated oocytes to external Ca2+ elicited an inward current (at holding potentials of ‐40 to ‐60 mV). At external Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]) between 0.1 and 1 mM, the current had a time‐to‐peak of at least 10 s, and slowly decayed over tens of seconds. At [Ca2+] greater than 2 mM, the inward current had two distinct kinetic components, a fast and transient one (Ifast) and a slow one (Islow). 3. The main carrier of the Ca2+‐evoked inward current was Cl‐. Several data indicate the existence of a tetraethylammonium (TEA)‐sensitive K+ conductance. No evidence for a Na+ current was found. 4. The two components of the Ca2+‐evoked inward current in ionophore‐permeabilized oocytes, and the two components of the current evoked by ACh and serotonin (the latter in oocytes injected with rat brain RNA but untreated with A23187), were blocked by intracellular injection of the Ca2+ chelator, ethyleneglycolbis‐(beta‐aminoethyl ether)‐N,N,N'N'‐tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The two components of these currents displayed different sensitivity to Ca2+ buffering; higher doses of EGTA were necessary to inhibit the slow component than the fast one. 5. One to two minutes of treatment with 2 mM‐9‐anthracene carboxylic acid (9‐AC) fully blocked Ca2+‐dependent Cl‐ current evoked by Ca2+ influx through voltage‐ dependent Ca2+ channels in intact (untreated with A23187) oocytes. In ionophore‐treated oocytes, block of Ifast was observed at holding potentials at which the current was outward (i.e. due to Cl‐ influx); Islow was inhibited only partially. The block of Ca2+‐evoked Cl‐ efflux by 9‐AC developed much more slowly and was less potent. to explain these results, the existence of two sites of 9‐AC action is proposed. 6. Exposure of the ionophore‐permeabilized oocytes to 0.1‐0.2 mM [Ca2+] strongly reduced the response to higher concentrations of Ca2+. Ifast displayed stronger Ca2+‐dependent inactivation than Islow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


With the wide applications of biomedical images in the medical field, the segmentation of biomedical images plays an important role in clinical diagnosis, pathological analysis, and medical intervention. Full convolutional neural networks, especially U-net, have improved the performance of segmentation greatly in recent years. However, due to their regular geometric structure, the standard convolutions that they use are inherently limited in dealing with geometric transformations while biomedical objects have huge variations in shape and size. In this study, the authors propose the DRU-net, which is a novel U-net with deformable encoder and reshaping upsampling convolution decoder, for biomedical image segmentation. First, deformable convolutional networks are applied and improved to enhance the learning ability of the encoder for geometric transformations. Second, a novel upsampling method named reshape upsampling convolution is proposed for better-restoring resolution and fusion features. Furthermore, focal loss is used to address class imbalance and model overwhelmed problems in biomedical image segmentation tasks. Theoretic analysis and experimental results have shown that the proposed algorithm not only reduces the number of parameters of U-Net, but also achieves produces competitive results compared with the state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of various quantitative measures on Drosophila electron microscopy dataset and Warwick-QU dataset.


The modeling and simulation of lightning discharge are very important for the lightning protection engineering and lightning research. In this paper, with the thundercloud electrostatic model and potential equation in the space, a three-dimensional(3-D) numerical simulation of lightning discharge at 50-m resolution was presented. The dielectric breakdown model(DBM) based on fractal theory and bidirectional leaders independent develop mechanism were employed to simulate the lightning leader progression. The effects of probability exponent η and internal E-field Ein along the channel on the on-ground E-field distribution were analyzed respectively. The results show that the distribution of E-field at the ground level below the stepped leader is similar to Gauss distribution. The peak value of the E-field at the ground level increases with the probability exponent and internal E-field along the channel decreasing.


ABSTRACT We explored whether engineering of T cell specificity and effector function improves immunotherapy of solid tumors. Although IL-12 can enhance cancer immunity, a strategy of safe IL-12 delivery without toxicity is currently lacking. We engineered T cells to express IL-12 controlled by the NFAT promoter responsive to TCR stimulation, or by the Tet-On promoter responsive to doxycycline. In vivo, NFAT-engineered T cells caused lethal toxicity, while Tet-engineered T cells were safe in the absence of doxycycline. Combining gene transfer of the melanoma-specific TRP2-TCR with Tet-IL-12 engineering revealed that temporal induction of IL-12 was essential to inhibit the growth of B16F10 melanoma tumors. Induced IL-12 increased the number of tumor-infiltrating T cells and also prevented the down-modulation of the TRP2-TCR and the associated up-regulation of the PD1 marker that was observed in the absence of IL-12. In addition, temporal induction of IL-12 expression also increased the number of plasmacytoid DC in the tumor micro-environment. We show that repeated induction of IL-12 can be used to enhance control of tumor growth without encountering systemic toxicity. The observation that TCR engineering combined with Tet-regulated IL-12 expression can achieve tumor immunity without the side effects that are usually associated with the in vivo use of IL-12 warrants translation of this concept into the clinic.


CARBOHYDRATES provide a substantial proportion of the total caloric content of our diet. The dietary carbohydrates of quantitative importance are the polysaccharide starch and the disaccharides sucrose and lactose. Hydrolysis of each of these to monosaccharide form is necessary before significant absorption can occur.
 The principal product of starch digestion by amylases of the salivary glands and pancreas is maltose, a disaccharide in which two glucose units are joined by 1-4 α linkages. The other products are oligosaccharides including the disaccharide isomaltose, in which 1-6 α linkages are present.
 Further hydrolysis of maltose and oligo 1-6 glucosides, produced from starch, and the hydrolysis of sucrose and lactose ingested as such, is dependent on enzymes of the small intestinal mucosa, the disaccharidases.
 Figure 1 summarizes the sequence of digestion of the common dietary carbohydrates.
 For many years, clinicians have recognized that diarrhea in some patients is related to the ingestion of certain forms of carbohydrate. Recent years have seen an increasing interest in the detection of such patients, and the application of new techniques to their investigation.
 The development of instruments for intraluminal biopsy of the small intestinal mucosa was a notable advance, since it allowed specimens of this tissue to be obtained and some of its digestive capacities, including those concerned with disaccharide digestion, to be studied directly.
 By these means, it has been established that deficiency of one or more of the intestinal disaccharidases is often the basis of disaccharide intolerance.
 The terms "disaccharide intolerance" and "disaccharidase deficiency" are frequently used in this article, but have rather different meanings, so that a preliminary discussion of the sense in which each is used seems warranted.


Background: Chronic asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of zileuton on bronchial hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and airway smooth muscle (ASM) remodeling. Methods: Two experimental groups of brown Norway rats sensitized and repeatedly challenged with aerosolized ovalbumin (OA) were given oral zileuton (OA-zileuton group) and oral saline only (OA-saline group). A third, control group was sensitized and challenged by saline. The rats were anesthetized and paralyzed. Pulmonary function tests were performed at baseline and after varying doses of acetylcholine. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues were examined. Results: Zileuton had beneficial effects on pulmonary function, airway inflammation and ASM remodeling in the OA-zileuton group compared to the OA-saline group. Zileuton inhibited an OA-stimulated increase in ASM by inhibiting hypertrophy, hyperplasia and increased extracellular matrix via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, thereby reducing cyclin D1 expression and attenuating bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Conclusion: OA increases airway inflammation and ASM mass. Zileuton effectively prevents bronchial hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and ASM remodeling in sensitized rats through the PI3K/Akt pathway, which reduces cyclin D1 expression.


Direct and sensitive detection of multiple illegal additives in complex food samples is still a challenge in on-site detection. In this study, an ultrasensitive immunochromatographic assay (ICA) using magnetic Fe3O4@Au nanotags as a capture/detection difunctional tool was developed for the direct detection of β2-adrenoceptor agonists in real samples. The Fe3O4@Au tag is composed of a large magnetic core (~160 nm), a rough Au nanoshell, dense surface-modified Raman molecules, and antibodies, which cannot only effectively enrich targets from complex solutions to reduce the matrix effects of food samples and improve detection sensitivity, but also provide strong colorimetric/surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual signals for ICA testing. The dual readout signals of the proposed ICA can meet the detection requirements in different environments. Specifically, the colorimetric signal allows for rapid visual detection of the analyte, and the SERS signal is used for the sensitive and quantitative detection modes. The proposed dual-signal ICA can achieve the simultaneous determination of two illegal additives, namely, clenbuterol hydrochloride and ractopamine. The detection limits for the two targets via colorimetric and SERS signals were down to ng mL−1 and pg mL−1 levels, respectively. Moreover, the proposed assay has demonstrated high accuracy and stability in real food samples.


In her article "Anciens et nouveaux heros", included in L'Herne collection of texts by and on Simone de Beauvoir, Beauvoir elucidates the birth of the metaphysical novel and protagonists typical to it against the backdrop of the French psychological novel. Beauvoir's descriptions shed light on the post-war literary scene in France as well as on her own stylistic ideals. Protagonists of the metaphysical novel are, according to Beauvoir, defined by their attitudes towards basic metaphysical problems rather than by their temperament or social position.


Are student attitudes toward science-technology-society (TSS) affected by visitation to science-technology museums? The purpose of this study was to determine whether such visitations affected student STS attitudes, and in what ways particular factors of the visitation impacted these attitudes. Factors examined included prior classroom experience with STS, instructional methodology employed by teachers, grade level, socioeconomic status, school type (public or private), and gender. The subjects involved in the study were 194 Kansas students in grades 6-8, and their 13 classroom teachers. Data were collected via a pretest-posttest control group design by using study-specific questionnaires and the Moore-Sutman Scientific Attitudes Inventory. Results indicated that significant differences in attitudes were present between visiting and nonvisiting students and between grade levels. No significant differences were found between other factors. One possible conclusion is that sound pedagogy should be used prior to and during museum visitations as well as in the classroom.


We investigate existence and nonexistence of stationary stable nonconstant solu- tions, i.e., patterns, of semilinear parabolic problems in bounded domains on Riemannian manifolds, satisfying Robin boundary conditions. These problems arise in several models in applications, in particular in mathematical biology. We point out the significance both of the nonlinearity and of geometric objects such as the Ricci curvature of the manifold, the second fundamental form of the boundary of the domain, and its mean curvature. Special attention is given to surfaces of revolution and to spherically symmetric manifolds, where we prove refined results.


BACKGROUND
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can be transmitted through blood, vaginal secretion, infected semen, breast milk as well as blood containing saliva, vomitus and urine. Health care workers (HCWs) are at risk of HIV infection; and standard precautions is a guideline to be followed by HCWs to prevent it.

OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude and practice on standard precautions for prevention of HIV infection; and its associated factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 clinical year medical students from a public university in Malaysia. The clinical year medical students were arranged into strata according to year of study and were randomly selected via stratified random sampling. Each respondent were provided a selfadministered questionnaire. There were four sections in the questionnaire to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice on standard precautions. Both descriptive and analytical analyses such as Chi-squared test were performed.

RESULTS
A total of 162 respondents participated in this study, contributed to the response rate of 81%. The study demonstrated that there was no significant association between level of practice with socio-demographic characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, age, religion, year of study and total family income. However, there was a significant association between level of practice with level of knowledge and attitude (p<0.05). For every one year increase in age, the respondents were 1.7 times (p=0.001) and 1.5 times (p=0.012) more likely to have knowledge score between 50th and 75th percentile and above 75th percentile compared to below 50th percentile, respectively.

CONCLUSION
It could be interpreted from the findings, that there is a need for further improvement in the knowledge and attitude level among the respondents; which will eventually improve their practice.


Growing amounts of intermittent renewable generation capacity substantially increase the complexity of determining whether sufficient energy will be available to meet hourly demands throughout the year. As the events of August 2020 in California and February 2021 in Texas demonstrate, supply shortfalls can have large economic and public health consequences. An empirical analysis of these two events demonstrates that similar supply shortfalls are likely to occur in the future without a paradigm shift in how long-term resource adequacy is determined for an electricity supply industry with significant intermittent renewables. An alternative approach to determining long-term resource adequacy that explicitly recognizes the characteristics of different generation technologies is outlined and its properties explored relative to current approaches.


OBJECTIVE: To systematically review biopsies of Childhood primary small vessel CNS vasculitis (SVcPACNS) patients and inflammatory and epilepsy controls and to determine characteristic features defining the diagnosis of SVcPACNS.
BACKGROUND: SVcPACNS is an increasingly recognized inflammatory brain disease with high morbidity and mortality mandating an elective brain biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
DESIGN/METHODS: A previously developed, standardized brain biopsy review instrument was applied to consecutive full thickness brain biopsies of pediatric cases and controls collected at a single center. Standardized stains including Hematoxyllin & Eosin, histochemistry of immune cell subsets plus electron microscopy. Nine North American expert neuropathologists were blinded reviewed to the patient's presentation, diagnosis and therapy. All biopsies were de-identified and scored independently by two reviewers. Univariate analyses compared variable between groups; correspondence analysis determined the multi-dimensional relationship of histological variables and patient diagnoses.
RESULTS: A total of 31 brain biopsy specimens of children with SVcPACNS, 12 with epilepsy and 11 with non-vasculitic inflammatory brain disease controls were included. Correspondence analyses revealed distinct clusters of the three diagnoses based on dimensions of location of infiltrate and subtype/ severity of inflammation. Significant histological characteristics found to set apart SVcPACNS from controls included angiocentric (p<0.01) and/or perivascular infiltrates (p=0.04), evidence of endothelial cell activation (p<0.01) and inflammation in both grey and white matter (p<0.01). The infiltrate was found to be primarily T-cell mediated (CD3+ 86[percnt], CD8+ 90[percnt]) only 27[percnt] of SVcPACNS biopsies had evidence of B cells. Features reported in adult PACNS including granulomas, necrosis or fibrin deposits were absent in all biopsies. Leptomeningeal inflammation was non-diagnostic.
CONCLUSIONS: Distinct histological features were identified on brain biopsies of SVcPACNS and may help define the disease. These were absent in biopsies of children with epilepsy and non-vasculitic inflammatory brain diseases and allow for the development of diagnostic criteria. Disclosure: Dr. Nabavi Nouri has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tyrrell has nothing to disclose. Dr. Twilt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dropol has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sheikh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Benseler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hawkins has nothing to disclose.


A straightforward synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl-annulated cyclo[b]carbazoles has been developed via SnCl4-mediated one-pot arylation, cyclization and aromatization reaction sequence from 3-acetyl/aroyl-2-pivaloyloxymethylindoles. The starting material is easily accessible from commercially available 2-methylindole via Friedel-Crafts acylation, bromination and pivaloylation. Remarkably, electron withdrawing/donating aroyl units including heterocyclic systems are well tolerated in the present domino reaction protocol. Furthermore, this methodology could be extended to the synthesis of dibenzofurocarbazole via bis-annulation of 2,5-bis(2-pivaloyloxymethyl)pyrrole.


Aim: To study colon polyps in childhood, classify them according to histology and investigate the significance of colonic mucosal eosinophilia as a possible factor in the pathogenesis of juvenile polyps. Methods: The records of 128 consecutive children with colon polyps diagnosed in our endoscopy unit from 1987 to 2007 were reviewed. Polyps were classified according to location and histological characteristics. The association between juvenile polyps and mucosal eosinophilia was studied. Results: The mean age for polyp diagnosis was 5±3.2 years. One-hundred and twenty-one children (94.53%) had a solitary juvenile polyp, 3 juvenile polyposis coli (3.34%), 3 (3.34%) multiple adenomatous colonic polyps, and one Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Polyps were more prevalent in the rectosigmoid. Simultaneous colonic biopsies were taken in 92 children. Among children with juvenile polyps 73 (82.95%) had prominent eosinophilic infiltration of the polyp and 67 children (76.14%) eosinophilic infiltration of the colonic mucosa. Eosinophilia correlated inversely with patient's age (p < 0.01) and positively with the size of the polyp (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In our series most colonic polyps in children are juvenile and solitary. The prominent eosinophilic infiltration of both the polyp and the adjacent colonic mucosa may support an allergic aetiology in the pathogenesis of colon juvenile polyps.


Business Process Management (BPM) is a collection of methods, techniques, and tools to optimize organizational performance. In the case of higher education institutions (HEIs), BPM is usually implemented to provide a standard business process. Implementation of Data Governance (DG) is often based on the desire for good Data Quality (DQ), to help an organization carry out its strategies and achieve its objectives. Previous research has proven that DG would improve data quality and safety and trigger a better standard. While data and information are essentially connected, BPM and DG have been addressed separately in the process of obtaining high quality data and information. This study conducts a literature review to investigate the relationship of BPM in the development of DG in HEIs. Articles related to BPM, DG, and DQ are collected from relevant databases. The articles are filtered and perused further to obtain 23 articles that are analyzed and synthesized to answer the research question. Based on these articles, a conceptual model is developed, depicting relationship in the application of BPM and DG. The first relationship identified from previous work is that the successful implementation of BPM influences DG planning and implementation success. Second, a good BPM implementation influences the process of obtaining a good DQ. Finally, implementing a good DG influences the acquirement of a good DQ. This study also found that BPM, DG, and DQ implementation at HEIs was fewer than that at other sectors or case studies, which open up opportunities for further studies.


Flight delay is a nondeterministic problem. Modeling and estimating flight delay is very important in the flight delay research. It is also the precondition to calculate delay propagation. A new Bayesian Network structure learning algorithm, named Target-fixed Stochastic-ordered K2(TSK2), has been proposed in this paper. After using this new algorithm to build the Bayesian Network of flight delay, TSK2 has been proved to be suitable to modeling flight delay, and the trained models can use to estimate the delay of arrival and departure flights reliably.


A modified multi-step SIR-based down-link power control method is proposed The main idea is to predict the variation of Rayleigh fading from the received signal-to-interference ratio and then to track it in time. A computer program is included to simulate the performance of this new method and the original multi-step SIR-based method. Simulation results show that, of the two methods, the former performs better than the latter.


Image composition is an important operation in image processing, but the inconsistency between foreground and background significantly degrades the quality of composite image. Image harmonization, which aims to make the foreground compatible with the background, is a promising yet challenging task. However, the lack of high-quality public dataset for image harmonization, which significantly hinders the development of image harmonization techniques. Therefore, we contribute an image harmonization dataset iHarmony4 by generating synthesized composite images based on existing COCO (resp., Adobe5k, day2night) dataset, leading to our HCOCO (resp., HAdobe5k, Hday2night) sub-dataset. To enrich the diversity of our dataset, we also generate synthesized composite images based on our collected Flick images, leading to our HFlickr sub-dataset. The image harmonization dataset iHarmony4 is released at https://github.com/bcmi/Image_Harmonization_Datasets.


Peer-to-Peer computing is nowadays the application platform which utilizes a novel distributed computing paradigm. It allows any number of participants to exchange and coordinate their resources with minimum overhead through centralized servers/services. This paradigm is also gaining ground in mobile computing environments. By merging the wireless and the static worlds of Peer-to-Peer applications, new services emerge. As Peer-to-Peer networks have nowadays become the basis for efficiently sharing data among users (both wireless and static) this work elaborates on the design of a new simulation framework via which, a mobility-based scenario can be utilized using the Bittorrent protocol. The framework uses a structured-based overlay for the static peers, and unstructured for mobile peers. Many parameters were introduced for the diffusion process and the seeding techniques that are utilized by the Bittorrent simulation framework. By using the Object Oriented design paradigm the proposed simulation framework is developed to be highly scalable being capable to potentially host new components. The simulation tool can encompass a scenario with partial mobility characteristics in a Peer-tracker and a Peer-to-Peer communication enhancement scheme. The proposed simulation framework can evaluate effectively the scalable mobility and can estimate the availability of requested resources of each individual user (both mobile and static). Finally the created simulation framework and the designed modules take into consideration the active intercluster peer participation and evaluate a degree of participation while resources are being exchanged.


Abstract Stroke is a common and serious disorder and will probably occur with increasing frequency due to an aging of the population. Acute therapies aimed at reversing the effects of acute ischemic stroke are limited to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator administered intravenously within 3 hours of stroke onset. Neuroprotective agents and acute anticoagulation with agents such as heparinoids and heparin are not effective in most cases. Poststroke medical complications such as infection and venous thromboembolism are common but are largely preventable. A variety of medical therapies such as antiplatelet agents, warfarin, statins, and ACE inhibitors can reduce the risk of a recurrent stroke. A key aspect of management for stroke is selection of the proper treatment regimen for each patient.


Growth rate coefficients estimated for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, emerald shiners Notropis atherinoides, freshwater drums Aplodinotus grunniens, river carpsuckers Carpiodes carpio and saugers Stizostedion canadense collected in 1996-1998 from nine river sections of the Missouri and lower Yellowstone rivers at two life-stages (young-of-the-year and age 1 + years) were significantly different among sections. However, they showed no river-wide latitudinal trend except for age 1 + years emerald shiners that did show a weak negative relation between growth and both latitude and length of growing season. The results suggest growth rates of fishes along the Missouri River system are complex and could be of significance in the management and conservation of fish communities in this altered system.


A 1993 die‐off of common loons (Gavia immer) in the coastal waters of North Carolina was investigated with emphasis on comparing mercury, selenium, arsenic, and lead between birds from the epizootic and reference specimens. Die‐off specimens were emaciated but contained no ingested foreign bodies and no lesions suggestive of infectious disease. Results of bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and botulism testing were unremarkable. The geometric mean concentrations (wet weight) of liver mercury (10.9 ppm), and arsenic (0.96 ppm) did not differ between specimens from the die‐off and reference loons from the same area that died of other causes. The geometric mean liver selenium concentration of die‐off specimens (10.4 ppm) was significantly higher than that of reference loons. Liver lead concentrations were < 0.20 ppm in all but one sample (5.83 ppm). The geometric mean mercury concentration in the primary remiges of die‐off specimens (5.44 ppm dry weight) was significantly lower than in reference birds. Liver mercury significantly correlated with liver selenium on a molar concentration basis. We interpret the range of liver mercury concentrations in birds from the epizootic, similar liver mercury concentrations in reference loons, and higher mercury concentrations in reference loon feathers as evidence that factors other than mercury were primarily responsible for the emaciation diagnosed as the cause of mortality.


747 Abstract— The Goal of Position-based Opportunistic Routing (POR) is to solve the problem of delivering data packets for highly dynamic mobile adhoc networks in a timely manner. The protocol (POR) takes the property of Geographic routing. Here, the data packets are sent out from the source node and some of the neighbor nodes will be the forwarding candidates, if the best forwarder did not forward the packet in a particular period of time; the forwarding candidates will forward the packets. By using Virtual Destination-based Void Handling (VDVH) Scheme, the communication hole is avoided. In the existing system, the geographic routing property is used, the problem of delivering data packets for highly Dynamic mobile adhoc networks is solved. But there is a limitation that the nodes that is selected as the best forwarder is not checked whether it is secured or not. To overcome this problem a Security-efficient routing is proposed in which the nodes which have the higher trust value is considered as the best forwarder. The Selfish and normal nodes is differentiated by using the RREQ algorithm. The Selfish nodes do not forward the request. It will check the trust value, whether it is friend or stranger or acquaintances. In this approach, From the RREQ algorithm, Xrf, Xra, Xrs are the threshold values set for friends, acquaintances and strangers, as per the requirements of the application software. Random waypoint model is chosen as the movement.


Today, the importance of providing safety and stability while pay attention to the ride comfort and providing road holding is of paramount importance. This issue has become more important due to the many accidents related to vehicle rollover. In this article, an attempt has been made to reduce the risk of rollover prevention of the vehicle while pay attention to the needs of the occupant and the road. In this research, an attempt has been made to reduce the overall acceleration of the GT vehicle by using a series of active variable geometry suspensions and by using a variety of control strategies such as Fuzzy PID, LQR, Sliding mode. In previous works, PID and Skyhook controllers have been used. However, in this study, the choice of the controllers is based on attention to accuracy and optimization while pay attention to control aims. This study was performed in conditions of severe asymmetric roughness and cornering maneuvers. The examination of the results shows an improvement of more than 20% for the goal of vehicle stability while providing other suspension goals. This performance improvement occurs with the effect of suspending variable geometry along with the use of a suitable controller. It should also be noted that the improvement achieved by consuming energy is far less than other suspensions, which is the strength of the research.


Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is an increasing health problem in human immunodeficiency virus‐positive (HIV+) individuals. However, a considerable proportion of HIV+ patients manage to overcome acute hepatitis C (AHC) spontaneously. In the present study, we analyzed the role of natural killer (NK) cells in modulating the course of AHC in HIV+ patients. Twenty‐seven HIV+ patients with AHC (self‐limited course: n = 10; chronic course: n = 17), 12 HIV+ patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), 8 HIV monoinfected individuals, and 12 healthy controls were studied. NK cells were phenotypically analyzed by flow cytometry. Interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) secretion, degranulation (CD107a), and anti‐HCV (= inhibition of HCV replication) activity of NK subpopulations were analyzed using the HuH7A2HCVreplicon cell system. NK cell frequency did not differ significantly between HIV+ patients with chronic and self‐limited course of AHC. However, we found NK cells from patients with self‐limiting infection to be significantly more effective in inhibiting HCV replication in vitro than NK cells from patients developing CHC. Of note, antiviral NK cell activity showed no significant correlation with NK cell degranulation, but was positively correlated with IFN‐γ secretion, and blocking experiments confirmed an important role for IFN‐γ in NK cell‐mediated inhibition of HCV replication. Accordingly, NK cells from patients that spontaneously cleared the virus displayed a stronger IFN‐γ secretion than those developing chronic infection. Finally, we observed high expression of NKG2D and NKp46, respectively, to be associated with self‐limiting course of aHCV. Accordingly, we found that blocking of these NK cell receptors significantly impaired antiviral NK cell activity. Conclusion: Our data suggest a strong IFN‐γ‐mediated antiviral NK cell response to be associated with a self‐limited course of AHC in HIV+ patients. (Hepatology 2014;59:814–827)


ABSTRACT The impacts of professional sporting culture and institutional discourse on coaching practices and ideologies have largely been unconsidered and undiscussed. Understanding coaching practice from a social perspective can provide insights into the prevailing culture that coaches are immersed within, pointing to patterns of discourse, norms and values that govern coaches' actions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential for (mis)alignment between coaches' ideological beliefs and the instituted philosophy of the professional football academy at which they worked. Thirteen male football coaches (M = 36.23 years) were observed coaching on three separate occasions, equating to 2584 min of footage (M = 66.26 min). Each recorded session was analysed using a computerised version of the Coach Analysis Intervention System (CAIS). All participants were interviewed twice (before first observation and after final observation). Coaches were questioned about the academy philosophy and their personal behavioural profiles. Data were subjected to thematic analysis and placed within a theoretical framework utilising concepts of Pierre Bourdieu. Findings highlighted that coaches' interpretations of the academy philosophy were impacted by their prior socialisation and position within the status hierarchy. The data also demonstrated 'philosophy' being used as a 'buzzword' throughout the academy, derived from loose interpretations, but offered few specific suggestions regarding how coaches 'should' behave. Coach interactions were used as forms of social control rather than addressing pedagogical concerns, with coaches' personal dispositions proving extremely strong and ultimately prevailing. It is worth questioning, therefore, the extent to which the academy 'philosophy' can be displaced, and the mechanisms required to ensure collective acceptance to an instituted coaching approach.


. Let K denote a simply connected compact Lie group and let G denote its complexification. It is known that there exists an LK -biinvariant probability measure on a natural completion of the complex loop group LG . It is believed that there exist deformations which are positive line bundle valued and reproduce the unitary structure for (projective) positive energy representations of LK . These are notes which supplement lectures I have given on these measures, explaining a number of conjectures concerning how these measures are characterized, how they are computed, and how they are potentially useful for formulating quantum sigma models.


This paper is concerned with individual responses of four dental practitioners to stress. The subjects were chosen on the basis of age, sex, length of time in practice and whether or not they practised solo or in a group. Responses were measured against ten stressor variables that were previously found to have occurred commonly among dentists. From these responses stressor ratings of the four subjects were obtained and compared. These ratings, which seem to be idiosyncratic and unpredictable, reflect wide differences between the respondents. The findings suggest the possibility that these differences may be attributable to personality factors and differences in coping styles, and tend to support the hypothesis that stress is a unique, perceptual and experimental phenomenon.


Following transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into a new host, cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage play a central role in host invasion and viral replication. In particular, macrophages survive infection and support long-standing viral replication, contributing to viral persistence within the host and representing a viral reservoir in vivo. On the other hand, HIV Nef protein is a small though versatile molecule that plays an unquestioned key role in viral pathogenesis. In macrophages, Nef is able to modulate cell surface receptor expression, to intersect intracellular signaling pathways and to augment the release of pro-inflammatory and chemotactic molecules. In addition, Nef can alter macrophage phagocytic capacity, autophagy machinery and metabolism. Altogether, these Nef activities support viral replication and persistence in this cell type while at the same time favor viral dissemination. Here, we will review the newest findings describing how monocytes/macrophages natural pathways are altered by Nef protein, highlighting how viral and host biology are perturbed in consequence.


The aim of the research was to investigate the relationship and/or occurrences in and between chemical composition information (tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide), market information (brand, manufacturer, price), and public health information (class, health warning) as well as clustering of a sample of cigarette data. A number of thirty cigarette brands have been analyzed. Six categorical (cigarette brand, manufacturer, health warnings, class) and four continuous (tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide concentrations and package price) variables were collected for investigation of chemical composition, market information and public health information. Multiple linear regression and two clusterization techniques have been applied. The study revealed interesting remarks. The carbon monoxide concentration proved to be linked with tar and nicotine concentration. The applied clusterization methods identified groups of cigarette brands that shown similar characteristics. The tar and carbon monoxide concentrations were the main criteria used in clusterization. An analysis of a largest sample could reveal more relevant and useful information regarding the similarities between cigarette brands.


Today at a time of globalization in which the whole planet become look like a small village and transport information through it with a push button in keyboard and at a time of huge evaluation in the digital world and for the millions of users to international net and some application importance, let us to use both cryptography and steganography as a means to protect the information from hacking and interlopers. Combinations of steganography and cryptography have been made in this paper to increase the level of security and to make the system more complex to be defeated by attackers. This paper presents a method of ciphering and hiding information into a cover of audio wave file. In the first step, the text is converted to its equivalent ASCII code. Text is scrambled using DES (Data Encryption Standard) technique according to secret key then the cipher text is embedded inside a cover audio wave file using time and frequency domain. The modeled system builds of a secret key steganographic system, which embeds certain text after scrambling into random positions inside audio wave file and the other technique used in this paper to analyze the cover audio into its frequency components is wavelet transform using Haar filter as a basis function. Tests were carried out to evaluate the performance of the modeled algorithm and results in successful hiding. From the simulation results on the time domain, it is noticed that value of Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) will decrease as the number of bits in the audio wave file to be replaced by the message increase and noticed that the value of SNR in frequency domain is higher than in time domain, so hiding in frequency domain is better than hiding in time domain.


A novel method to pump fluid in lab on chip devices with velocities up to tens of micrometer per second is introduced. A focused laser beam locally heats up an electrolyte. A net charge tends to accumulate in the heat-absorbing area, due to unequal tendencies of positive and negative ions to move in the presence of the temperature gradient. An external electric field then exerts a net force on the accumulated charge and consequently on water. This causes flow of water, with velocities up to tens of micrometer per second, for a simple NaCl+water solution. The method lets us change direction and amount of fluid pumping, simply by replacing the focal area.


This is an ethnographic case study examining how discussions of multicultural young adult literature among a group of white, rural teachers and researchers were shaped by sociopolitical contexts and participants' constructions of racial identity. Focusing on the interactions of three teachers and ourselves, we used performance theory to help us understand how our ways of performing the self were shaped at the macro level by institutional and societal ideologies and the micro level by professional affiliations and identities. In analyzing data, we used qualitative coding procedures to arrive at key and illustrative events. These events were then analyzed using the tools of discourse analysis, which helped us to focus on the ideological underpinnings of the discourse. Our analyses revealed that as participants attempted to engage with the literature and bond with one another, we enacted personal, professional and group affiliations that served to sustain particular norms of whiteness even as we attempted to disrupt them.


Abstract Carers of people experiencing a first episode of psychosis are at an increased risk of developing their own physical and mental health problems. Psychoeducation has been found to improve carer wellbeing and reduce distress. However, few psychoeducation interventions have considered the resource constraints on mental health services and the impact that these can have on the implementation of any such interventions. The present service evaluation aimed to evaluate an abbreviated version (sole session) of a previously tested psychoeducation intervention (three sessions) that targets less adaptive illness beliefs (n = 17). Pre–post effect sizes reveal that all of the carers' illness beliefs changed in the desired direction, with four out of the 10 illness beliefs associated with large to moderate improvements. When compared with the outcomes obtained in our evaluation of the more intensive, three-session version of the intervention, the between-group effects largely favoured the three-session version but were mostly small. Moderate to large effects in favour of the three-session version were found for two of the 10 illness beliefs. These findings support the further investigation of the sole session psychoeducation intervention as part of a randomised controlled trial. Key learning aims (1) To evaluate the impact of a sole-session psychoeducation intervention on illness beliefs.(2) To compare the outcomes of the sole-session psychoeducation intervention to the previous, more intensive (three-session) version of the same intervention.(3) To consider the value of research approaches to evaluating psychoeducation interventions for carers of people with psychosis.


Objective To perform primary culture of glomerular mesangial cells, identify them from a mouse model of spontaneous lupus nephritis model and explore the optimal conditions for these procedures. Methods Nine control ICR mice and nine model MRL/lpr mice with spontaneous lupus nephritis were tested for autoantibodies using ELISA and urine protein was detected by bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay at 12, 14 and 18 weeks of age. HE and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes of mice with lupus nephritis. Glomeruli were isolated using a cell sieve, while primary culture of glomerular mesangial cells was performed using the eugenic selection method. Glomerular mesangial cells of the MRL/lpr mice were identified based on cell morphology and immunocytochemical staining of α-smooth muscle actin and nephrin. Results In the model group, levels of anti-nuclear antibody and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies significantly increased. Urine protein levels also increased significantly at 14 and 18 weeks of age. HE and masson staining of kidney tissue revealed pathological changes associated with lupus nephritis in the MRL/lpr mice from 12 weeks of age. Twenty-five days after seeding of the glomerular mesangial cells, those from the MRL/lpr mice gradually covered the bottom of the culture flasks, appearing star-shaped and fusiform by phase contrast microscopy. Immunocytochemistry showed that these cells were α-smooth muscle actin-positive and nephrin-negative, thus ruling out other glomerular intrinsic cells. Conclusion The primary culture of glomerular mesangial cells from mice with spontaneous lupus nephritis is developed and characterized.


We use Bayesian methods to estimate a medium-scale closed economy dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model for the Philippine economy. Bayesian model selection techniques indicate that among the frictions introduced in the model, the investment adjustment costs, habit formation, and the price and wage rigidity features are important in capturing the dynamics of the data, while the variable capital utilization, fixed costs, and the price and wage indexation features are not important. We find that the Philippine macroeconomy is characterized by more instability than the U.S. economy. An analysis of the several subperiods in Philippine economic history also reveals some quantitative evidence that risk aversion increases during crisis periods. Also, we find that the inflation targeting (IT) era is associated with a more stable economy: the standard deviations of the technology shock, the risk-premium shock, and the investment-specific technology shock have significantly lower variability than the pre-IT era, with the last two shocks being reduced by a factor of 5.6 and 2.3, respectively. The IT era is also associated with lower risk aversion. We also find that the adoption of inflation targeting is associated with interest rate smoothing in the monetary reaction function. With a more inertial reaction function, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) had achieved greater credibility and consequently, it was able to manage the expectations of forward-looking economic actors, and thereby achieved greater responses of the goal variables to the policy rates, even if the size of interest rates changes are smaller. However, we also find that BSP`s conduct of monetary policy appears to be more procyclical than countercyclical, particularly during the Asian financial crisis, and the recent global financial and economic crisis.


South Korea's urban renewal policy emphasizes resident participation and multidimensional activities. This study identifies the determinants of resident satisfaction with five urban renewal projects implemented in South Gyeongsang Province, Changwon, Gimhae (Gaya, Jangyu), Sacheon, and Miryang. Multiple regression analysis was utilized for survey data from these five areas. Results reveal that the resident satisfaction was positively influenced by 1) the level of the resident's opinions reflected in the project, 2) the expectations for improving the local economy, 3) the level of satisfaction with living environments, 4) the importance of improving neighbourly relations, and 5) the level of satisfaction with public hearings/discussions in the decreasing order of severity. Meanwhile, the 1) the need for urban renewal projects, 2) the importance of tourist visits, 3) the importance of improving living environments, and 4) the level of satisfaction with recreational/sports facilities negatively affected resident satisfaction with urban renewal projects in the decreasing order of severity. The aforementioned factors have significant implications to promote practical resident participation in the establishment of renewal strategies tailored to the regional contexts of South Gyeongsang Province.


Using radioactive manganese-54, it was shown that appreciably more manganese was lost from Chlorella cells in the light than in the dark under conditions which did not permit aeration nor the addition of carbon dioxide. Exposure of Chlorella cells to (1) pure nitrogen, (2) 5% CO2 in nitrogen, (3) air without CO2, and (4) 5% CO2 in air indicated that the loss of manganese was due mainly to the absence of CO2 and not to a deficiency of oxygen.


We studied the ultrafast dynamics of 40 aromatic cation based ionic liquids (ILs) by means of femtosecond Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy. The low-frequency Kerr spectra (ca. 0.3–700 cm−1) of the ILs were obtained from the Kerr transients by Fourier-transform deconvolution analysis. The low-frequency Kerr spectra in the frequency range less than 200 cm−1 coming mainly from the intermolecular vibrations for the ILs were discussed in terms of (i) anion dependence, (ii) imidazolium cations vs. pyridinium cations, (iii) alkyl group dependence, and (iv) effect of methylation in aromatic cations. Several liquid properties, such as density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, and surface tension, of the present sample ILs at 293 K were also estimated in this study. We clarified that the aromatic cation based ILs show a different relation of the first moment of the low-frequency spectral band to the bulk liquid parameter, which is the square root of surface tension divided by liquid density, from aprotic m...


On a national scale, there has been a call for improved instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at all educational levels. In addition, claims have been made regarding the lack of a viable STEM workforce in certain critical areas. Consequently, many resources have been devoted to encouraging and motivating students in the secondary levels to pursue a STEM-related career. This paper is centered on the efforts of an inquiry-based, STEM educational program that uses the conception, design, production, and deployment of rockets as a way to teach and improve students STEM-related workforce skills. The target population included high school students in one state in the southern region of the United States. Program evaluation data were collected via a student questionnaire grounded on two theories: Social Career Cognitive Theory (SCCT) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Based on program data collected during the 2014-2015 academic year, this paper will examine the effectiveness of the program in motivating students to pursue a STEM career, using the theoretical lens of Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). The following research question will be addressed: which factors help predict student intentions to pursue a STEM career upon graduation of high school? A stepwise multiple regression model was established to predict students' inclination to choose a STEM career. Findings suggest a viable model which accounted for the most amount of variability in students' inclination to pursue a STEM career, R = .40, F (4, 444) =20.885, p < .01. The predictors within this model were focused on teamwork, overall student evaluation of the program, and problem solving.


Herein we present the synthesis and polycondensation of monoand di-N-protected, bis-substituted tri(benzamide)s with the aim to create large, tubular helices. We synthesized 2,4-dimethoxy and 2,5-bis-TEGylated aminobenzoic acid derivatives as bent and linear monomers and introduced p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) amide protecting groups to the oligobenzamide backbone. An iterative coupling strategy allowed for sequence control, giving rise to oligomers consisting of one bent and two linear monomers. The resulting meta-parapara-linked aromatic trimers carried either one or two PMBprotecting groups. With high organosolubility and flexibility, this synthetic strategy generated suitable precursors for subsequent polycondensation reactions. After polymerization, treatment with acid triggered the cleavage of the N-protecting groups. We hypothesize that the hydrogen bonding pattern generated along the polyaramide backbone could lead to the formation of a helical polymer. A drastic change in hydrodynamic volume was observed by gel permeation chromatography and dissolution in a chiral solvent lead to the observation of a circular dichroism signal for this polymer. The results of the polycondensations of N-protected oligobenzamides are reported herein. The formation of macrocycles as well as polymers could also be observed, giving a highly interesting insight into the underlying mechanism of the polycondensation of flexible, oligobenzamide-based oligomers. VC 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 00,


Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) is used to monitor the progression of simulated caries lesions on occlusal surfaces and image the lesions underneath composite sealants. The polarization-sensitive system, recording images in both the parallel and perpendicular axes, is useful for enhancing the image contrast of the artificial caries and minimizing the interference of the strong reflections at surface interfaces. Using the perpendicular-axis signal, the mean reflectivity increase from day 0 to day 14 is 5.1 dB (p<0.01, repeated-measures analysis of variation, Tukey-Kramer). For imaging lesions underneath the sealants, the mean reflectivity of the enamel underneath 250, 500, 750, and 1000 microm of composite is calculated for demineralized and control samples. The artificial lesions can be detected under 750 microm of visibly opaque sealant, with a 5.0-dB difference from the control samples (t-test, p<0.001). Tooth colored sealants allow deeper imaging depth. The artificial lesions could be detected under 1000 microm of sealant, with a 6.6-dB difference from the control samples (t-test, p<0.001). This study demonstrates that PS-OCT can be used to track lesion progression on occlusal surfaces nondestructively with or without sealants.


The efficient utilization of lignin-containing biorefinery residues for fungible products has emerged as one of most important research areas in lignocellulosic biorefining. However, lignin degradation and conversion is quite complicated due to the inherent complexity and recalcitrance of lignin. The development of effective lignin bioconversion will heavily depend on the molecular and systems level understanding of lignin degradation and conversion. We hereby aim to review recent advances in systems biology analysis of lignin-degrading microorganisms for lignin and lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) conversion. In particular, omics analysis have been broadly applied to study how microbes deconstruct and metabolize lignin, and to identify the genes, enzymes, pathways, and networks for lignin bioconversion. Potential strategies to enhance the lignin bioprocessing toward valued products have also been developed in some studies based on the molecular mechanisms of lignin bioconversion using multi-omics techniques. These systems biology techniques provided promising approaches for improving the bioconversion performance of lignin containing biorefinery residue into valuable products.


In today's world, when there is a rapid surge of biomedical publications, maintaining research integrity of articles is of prime importance. It is expected that the submitted work is genuine of submitting authors'. Ease in the availability of these digitally published biomedical papers and pressure to publish for academic and professional advancement had resulted in numerous novice scientists and students falling into unethical practice of plagiarizing others' work to get the job done quickly. Plagiarists are continuously in search of finding new and easy ways to plagiarize someone else's work, currently seen as different forms of plagiarism. Hence, this narrative review intends to help young and upcoming researchers to understand plagiarism, its type, the reason for plagiarists getting involved in that, and possible ways to detect and prevent it.


Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate quality of sleep and to assess the factors that influence quality of sleep in surgical ICU. Methods: The subject of the study were consisted 109 adult patients who admitted to surgical ICU. The data were collected from May 20 to December 10, 2007 by structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed with descriptive analysis, paired t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The score of quality of sleep was 4.57 point. The main sleep disturbance factors related to quality of sleep in surgical ICU inpatient were sleep time, machinery alarm and noise(adjusted =33.2). Conclusion: Based on the finding of this study, it is needed to develop a nursing intervention program that including to promote quality of sleep and to decrease machinery alarm and noise in surgical ICU.


Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra's Iggeret ha-Shabbat is a short, three chapter polemical work devoted to refuting calendrical heresies. A prologue describes the fantastic circumstance of its composition: the Sabbath Day appeared to Ibn Ezra in a dream and delivered a poetic lament castigating him for contributing to heretical desecration of the Sabbath. Voluminous scholarship has been devoted to the question of whether the heretical work refuted is the Commentary of R. Samuel ben Meir (Rashbam). This literature is reviewed in toto, with a focus on Samuel Poznański's seminal 1897 study identifying the heresy with the obscure Mishawite sect. The importance of the earliest known manuscript is first noted; copied in Lleida in 1382, it served as a basis for a little-known 1840 edition. The authenticity of the fantastic prologue – previously published separately, appended to various Rabbinic volumes – had already been questioned in the 18th century. Manuscripts that Samuel D. Luzzatto (Shadal) wrote and corrected by hand in preparing his first edition are reviewed. A previously unpublished note of his addresses a responsum by R. Hai Gaon, paraphrased by Ibn Ezra or his students in two different works, regarding tequfot superstitions, magical forces associated with the solstices and equinoxes.


As transistor feature sizes continue to shrink intothe sub-90nm range and beyond, the effects of process variationson critical path delay and chip yields have amplified. A commonconcept to remedy the effects of variation is speed-binning, bywhich chips from a single batch are rated by a discrete range offrequencies and sold at different prices. In this paper, we discussstrategies to modify the number of chips in different bins andhence enhance the profits obtained from them. Particularly, wepropose a scheme that introduces a small Substitute Cacheassociated with each cache way to replicate the data elementsthat will be stored in the high latency lines. Assuming a fixedpricing model, this method increases the revenue by as much as13.8% without any impact on the performance of the chips.


In this report, we describe a simple packaging method which can be used to preserve either normal or salt-agar plates during prolonged incubation. In our search for halophilic microorganisms from Indonesian "Pindang," consisting of boiled and salted fish (S. Iljas and L. J. Ronsivalli. Fishery Ind. Res., in press), it was evident from the literature (2) that prolonged incubation might be necessary to achieve primary isolation. A modified skim milk, 20% salt-agar described by Lochhead (1) was prepared, plated, and inoculated by surface spreading. The plates were then placed into a Mylar bag (3M Co., Minneapolis, Minn.) containing a moist pad of tissue paper, and open ends were heat sealed, leaving an air pocket in the bag. The packaged salt-agar plates, along with nonpackaged salt-agar plate controls, were incubated at 35 to 37 C for 72 days. The packaged salt-agar plates showed few visible signs of agar desiccation, except for one bag which had not been properly sealed, whereas the controls showed definite signs of desiccation after 1 week, with pronounced salt crystallization by the second week (see Fig. 1). This method of packaging might be useful when long incubation periods are required. As we expected, in view of the boiling process, no halophilic microorganisms were observed on any of these salt-agar plates. To verify the usefulness of this method, surface inoculations of a mixture of aerobic, mesophilic microorganisms were made on prepoured Eugonagar (BBL) plates, 10 plates per dilution, and half of the plates were packaged as described above. Counts made after 24and 48-hr incubations (35 to 37 C) were identical on packaged plates and unpackaged controls. The packaging


The dependency on carbon‐based materials and energy sources and the emission of greenhouse gases have been recognized as major problems of the 21st century. Companies are central to the effort to grapple with these issues due to the large material flows they process and their capabilities for technological innovation. It is important, on the one hand, to determine the individual stake companies have in these issues and, on the other, to measure companies' performance. Since the results of studies thus far have been ambiguous, we define four comprehensive and systematic corporate carbon performance indicators: (1) Carbon intensity is physically oriented and represents a company's carbon use in relation to a business metric. (2) Carbon dependency illustrates the change in physical carbon performance within a given time period. (3) Carbon exposure reveals the financial implications of using and emitting carbon. (4) Carbon risk estimates the change in financial implications of carbon usage within a given time period. On the basis of these general definitions, we specify the indicators for a standardized application that can support two important stakeholders in their decision making: policy makers, who can include such information when evaluating current climate policies and formulating future ones, and investors and financial institutions, which can compare companies with respect to their carbon performance and corresponding financial effects.


ABSTRACT Background: In aphasia, impairments affecting stages after lexical access have been subdivided into three types: 1. impairments specifying a sequence of phonemes after lexical access (the reproduction variety of conduction aphasia, CA); 2. impairments holding on to these representations during articulatory planning (the short-term memory (STM) variety of CA); and 3. Impairments specifying integrated articulatory/motor plans for clusters of phonemes (apraxia of speech, AoS). Models of speech production, however, suggest more articulated possibilities (i.e., different subtypes of articulatory impairments). Aims : We investigated the impairment in a person with aphasia whose preliminary assessment revealed mixed speech characteristics, combining features typically used to identify CA – phonological errors across tasks and repeated attempts at the target – with features typically used to identify AoS – phonetic errors and word dysfluencies (phoneme elongations and syllabifications). Our preliminary hypothesis was that there was a difficulty transferring information from an (intact) phonological output buffer to articulatory planning. Slow/noisy transfer would predict dysfluencies, errors selecting motor programs, but also repeated attempts (RA) at revising the output in the face of intact feedback and intact original representations. This hypothesis also predicts effects of position and phonological complexity. Method and Procedure: We tested CS's word and nonword repetition, word reading, and picture naming. We quantified lexical and non-lexical errors, repeated attempts, phonetic errors, and syllabifications. We assessed effects of word frequency, word length, phoneme position, and syllabic and phonological complexity. Results: CS made similar errors across tasks, consistent with a post-lexical impairment. His RAs most often built up a correct target from fragments and/or previously incorrect attempts, similar to a conduite d'approche. He also produced more errors in later positions, and more repeated attempts on longer words. However, inconsistent with decay from an output buffer, phonological errors did not increase with word length. Finally, frequency mattered, consistent with easier/faster access to simpler/more practiced motor plans. Conclusions: CS's speech characteristics and anatomical lesion are consistent with transfer limitations between phonology and articulatory planning. However, CS has more difficulties in computing articulatory plans than in selecting and retaining phonological representations, as commonly attributed to CA. CS's case suggests that different varieties of phonological and articulatory disorders need to be distinguished, beyond a strict dichotomy AoS/CA (e.g., involving transfer limitations and difficulties in computing, selecting, and/or initiating articulatory plans).


Global warming and climate change are closely related to the amount of CO 2 in the air. Forest ecosystem plays very important role in the global carbon cycle; CO 2 from the atmosphere is taken up by vegetation and stored as plant biomass. Therefore, quantifying biomass and carbon sequestration in tropical forests has a significant concern within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), Kyoto Protocol and Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program for the purpose of the improvement of national carbon accounting as well as for addressing the potential areas for carbon credits, basis for payment for environmental services. The aim of research is to estimate biomass and carbon stocks in tropical forests using remote sensing data for dry forest of central highlands of Vietnam. This result showed that from satellite images of the SPOT, satellites could build the land cover map, carbon map and biomass map of Yok Don National Park, Central Highlands of Vietnam. Through which also the biomass (above ground biomass and below ground biomass) of each type of forest can be calculated. For instance the biomass of the dry forest (Dry Dipterocarp Forest) is 153.49 tones x ha -1 , biomass of rich forest is 343.35 tones x ha -1 , biomass of medium forest is 210.34 tones x ha -1 and biomass of poor forest & scrub are 33.56 tones x ha -1 .


With aging of the HIV-infected population, non-AIDS conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) now account for substantial mortality and morbidity. While myocardial infarction is the major outcome of interest in the field of HIV and CVD, cerebrovascular disease remains understudied, especially in the Southeastern United States. We determined the incidence and clinical features of cerebrovascular events (CVE) in a large HIV clinical cohort in North Carolina (NC). A total of 2,515 HIV-infected adults contributed a median of 4.5 years (IQR: 2.0, 7.8) of follow-up. Fifty-three CVEs were adjudicated for an incidence rate of 3.87 per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: 2.90, 5.06). The ischemic stroke incidence was 2.26 per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: 1.53, 3.21), approximately 1.5 times the rate of a population-based cohort in NC. At the time of CVE, the median age was 48 years (IQR: 42, 55). Of ischemic strokes 76% resulted from large artery atherosclerosis or small vessel (lacunar) disease. In multivariable analyses, age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, recent CD4(+) cell count ≤200 cells/mm(3), and recent HIV RNA >400 copies/ml were associated with an increased risk of CVE. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was not associated with the risk of CVE. We concluded that in the post-ART era, HIV-infected individuals appear to be at moderately increased risk of stroke. Prevention of CVEs in this population will require modification of traditional CVD risk factors and early, effective treatment of HIV infection.


The authors of the present study have developed a mathematical model of dropwise condensation on the underside of horizontal and inclined surfaces [1-2]. The model is general enough to deal with a variety of fluids ranging from water to liquid sodium. The condensation process is seen to be quasi-periodic, starting from nucleation to growth and coalescence, followed by the movement of unstable drops that initiates fresh nucleation on exposed portions of the substrate. From the distribution of drops of various sizes, the instantaneous surface averaged heat transfer coefficient and wall shear stress are computed. Heat transfer rate is high through small drops and small under large drops. The largest drop diameter achieved depends on gravitational stability with respect to the interfacial forces at the three-phase contact line. Drop instability controls the periodicity of the condensation process and as a result, the heat transfer coefficient and wall shear stress. The developed model (i) simplifies drop shapes as spheroidal and (ii) assumes droplet coalescence process as instantaneous. Including additional details in the multi-scale condensation model makes it computationally intractable. To examine the consequence of these two simplifications on the overall dropwise condensation process, the sensitivity of the heat transfer coefficient and wall shear stress to drop deformation and coalescence has been studied in the present work. The shape of the drop on the underside of an inclined surface has been determined using a software tool based on the principle of minimization of potential and surface energies. Velocity and timescales of droplet coalescence are determined from high speed imaging. With the drop shape correctly determined, results show that improved wall shear stress and heat transfer coefficient are both smaller but the overall integrated predictions are not severely sensitive to these additional details. With coalescence, large heat fluxes attained for short time duration do not contribute much to the surface-averaged value. On the other hand, large shear stresses are momentarily created and these can impact the life of surface coatings.


Polyamine contents in the regenerates were determined at various stages after amputation of the forelimbs of the adult female Xenopus laevis. Putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and sym-homospermidine were detected in all the specimens examined. Cadaverine was detected only in a limited number of samples. At 5 days after amputation of forelimbs, well before the formation of regenerates, the putrescine content in the stump tissues increased, followed by the increase in spermidine content. The putrescine level in the forelimb regenerates was highest between 30 and 50 days after amputation, and then decreased. The spermidine concentration in the regenerates was about 20 times greater than that in intact forelimbs all throughout the experiments. The concentration of spermine was initially lower than that of both putrescine and spermidine and further decreased soon after amputation. The concentration of sym-homospermidine was originally very low and increased slightly during regeneration. The significance of these results, with respect to the function of polyamines in forelimb regeneration of Xenopus laevis, is discussed.


Abstract Aims The randomized, controlled EAST-AFNET 4 trial showed that early rhythm control (ERC) reduces the rate of a composite primary outcome (cardiovascular death, stroke, or hospitalization for worsening heart failure or acute coronary syndrome) by ∼20%. The current study examined the cost-effectiveness of ERC compared to usual care. Methods and results This within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis was based on data from the German subsample of the EAST-AFNET 4 trial (n = 1664/2789 patients). Over a 6-year time horizon and from a healthcare payer's perspective, ERC was compared to usual care regarding costs (hospitalization and medication) and effects (time to primary outcome; years survived). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated. Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were constructed to visualize uncertainty. Early rhythm control was associated with higher costs [+€1924, 95% CI (−€399, €4246)], resulting in ICERs of €10 638 per additional year without a primary outcome and €22 536 per life year gained. The probability of ERC being cost-effective compared to usual care was ≥95% or ≥80% at a willingness-to-pay value of ≥€55 000 per additional year without a primary outcome or life year gained, respectively. Conclusion From a German healthcare payer's perspective, health benefits of ERC may come at reasonable costs as indicated by the ICER point estimates. Taking statistical uncertainty into account, cost-effectiveness of ERC is highly probable at a willingness-to-pay value of ≥€55 000 per additional life year or year without a primary outcome. Future studies examining the cost-effectiveness of ERC in other countries, subgroups with higher benefit from rhythm control therapy, or cost-effectiveness of different modes of ERC are warranted.


Parkinson's disease (PD) primarily manifests as loss of motor control through the degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. The microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) locus is highly genetically associated with PD, wherein the H1 haplotype confers disease risk and the H2 haplotype is protective. As this haplotype variation does not alter the amino acid sequence, disease risk may be conferred by altered gene expression, either of total MAPT or of specific isoforms, of which there are six in adult human brain. To investigate haplotype-specific control of MAPT expression in the neurons that die in PD, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from H1/H2 heterozygous individuals were differentiated into dopaminergic neuronal cultures that expressed all six mature isoforms of MAPT after six months' maturation. A reporter construct using the human tyrosine hydroxylase locus was also generated to identify human dopaminergic neurons in mixed cultures. Haplotype-specific differences in the inclusion of exon 3 and total MAPT were observed in iPSC-derived dopaminergic neuronal cultures and a novel variant in MAPT intron 10 increased the inclusion of exon 10 by two-fold. RNA interference tools were generated to knockdown total MAPT or specific isoforms, wherein knockdown of the 4-repeat isoform of tau protein increased the velocity of axonal transport in iPSC-derived neurons. MAPT knockdown also reduced p62 levels, suggesting an impact of tau on macroautophagy, likely through altered axonal transport. These results demonstrate how variation at a disease susceptibility locus can alter gene expression, thereby impacting on neuronal function.


Pseudomonas sp. strain MWU15-20650 was isolated from wild cranberry fruit surfaces in the Cape Cod National Seashore. The draft genome is 6.2 Mbp, with a G+C content of 59%, and contains predicted genes for type VI secretion systems and an N-acyl-homoserine lactone acylase. The closest known relative is Pseudomonas haemolytica. ABSTRACT Pseudomonas sp. strain MWU15-20650 was isolated from wild cranberry fruit surfaces in the Cape Cod National Seashore. The draft genome is 6.2 Mbp, with a G+C content of 59%, and contains predicted genes for type VI secretion systems and an N-acyl-homoserine lactone acylase. The closest known relative is Pseudomonas haemolytica.


- Recently, as one of the policies for carbon free operation method of independent power system replacing diesel generator with renewable energy such as wind power and photovoltaic(PV) system has been presented. Therefore, this paper proposes an operation algorithm and modeling of independent power system by considering CVCF(constant voltage constant frequency) ESS(energy storage system) for constant frequency and voltage, LC(load control) ESS for demand and supply balancing and SVC(static var compensator) for reactive power compensation. From the simulation results based on the various operation scenario, it is confirmed that proposed operation algorithm and modeling may contribute stable operation and carbon free in independent power system.


Purpose of Study:The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), folk medicine, and other nontraditional therapy use by the elderly population. Primary Practice Setting:For all case managers who coordinate health care for the elderly as they transition from one setting to another and participate in health promotion and prevention activities. Methodology and Sample:A computerized database search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, ProQuest, and PsycINFO was completed before writing the integrative review. Six hundred ninety-seven abstracts were identified. Forty-five articles were further screened. Twenty-five articles met the criteria for inclusion. Results:The integrative review is composed of 25 articles. Support for folk medicine and CAM use by older adults is located at Levels 5 and 6 of Melynk and Fine-Overholt's Hierarchy of Evidence. Implications for Case Management Practice:Folk medicine and CAM are used by the elderly for self-care purposes. A combination of both nontraditional and traditional medical interventions is used by the elderly. Although the choice to use folk medicine and CAM seems to transcend culture, the specific therapies chosen often emerge from the individual's cultural or ethnic heritage. Traditional health care providers may be unaware of elders' use of CAM or folk medicine alternatives. Case managers as coordinators of care across the health continuum are in a unique position to encourage, support, and enhance the use of folk medicine and CAM that complements traditional medical interventions for the elderly.


Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much interest in the fields of gas separation and storage, catalysis synthesis, nonlinear optics, sensors, luminescence, magnetism, photocatalysis gradation and crystal engineering because of their diverse properties and intriguing topologies. A Cu-MOF, namely poly[[(μ2-succinato-κ2O:O'){μ2-tris[4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenyl]amine-κ2N:N'}copper(II)] dihydrate], {[Cu(C4H4O4)(C24H18N10)]·2H2O}n or {[Cu(suc)(ttpa)]·2H2O}n, (I), was synthesized by the hydrothermal method using tris[4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenyl]amine (ttpa) and succinate (suc2-), and characterized by IR, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), luminescence, optical band gap and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (VB XPS). Cu-MOF (I) shows a twofold interpenetrating 4-coordinated three-dimensional CdSO4 topology with point symbol {65·8}. It presents good photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation. A photocatalytic mechanism was proposed and confirmed.


Prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) was introduced in 1942 as a high pressure capacity conduit for water transmission. The principal element of the design and construction that imparts high-pressure capacity to the concrete pipe is the high-strength prestressing wire. The FIP - type test, as adapted, is recommended as an annual qualification test for wire manufacturers, to preclude wire with high HE sensitivity from being used in manufacture of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe.


Handheld computers will become an increasingly compelling choice of technology for K-12 classrooms because they will enable a transition from occasional, supplemental use to frequent, integral use. Early evaluations suggest teachers and students respond to handhelds favorably. At the same time, these devices will become communication enabled, through wireless technologies such as infrared beaming or radio-based local area networks. This current research base, however, is insufficient to unlock the value of wireless Internet learning devices (WILDs). An important issue, hinted at but not fully explored in prior work, now must become our central focus of attention. The issue is the nature of the coupling between social and informatic worlds, and within the social and informatic worlds. We articulate three coupling issues: (1) curricular activity spaces versus personal learning connections; (2) integrated vs. synchronized educational databases; and (3) broad vs. narrow technological mediation of discourse.


Microstructure and magnetic properties of BiMnO3 and BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3 films, prepared by rf magnetron sputtering on LaAlO3 (001) single-crystalline substrate, are investigated. The selected-area electron diffraction analysis allows us to identify the crystal structure of the BiMnO3 film as orthorhombic, while the BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3 film has a hexagonal lattice symmetry. High-resolution electron microscopy study reveals the presence of strip-domain phase with a periodic spacing of about 3c in both films. Magnetic measurements show that in addition to the basic paramagnetic phase the films exhibit Griffiths phase behavior in a wide temperature range. We argue that the observed weak ferromagnetism is due to the strip-domain layered inclusions, rather than intrinsic physical origin of the films. VC 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4709440]


Background Dendritic cells (DC) determine initiation, type and location of immune responses and, in adults, show decreased Toll-like receptors and some increased cytokine levels on ageing. Few studies in children have characterised DC or explored DC-related mechanisms producing age-related immune changes. Results The pDC marker BDCA2 (but not CD123) was absent in pre-pubertal children and numbers of pDC decreased with age. Blood and colonic DC were more mature and activated in adults. Decrease in pDC numbers correlated with reduced GM-CSF levels with aging, but increasing IL-4 and IL-8 levels correlated with a more activated DC profile in blood. CXCL16 levels decreased with age. Methods Blood and colonic DC phenotypes were determined in healthy adults and children by flow cytometry and correlated with aging. Blood DC were divided into plasmacytoid (pDC) and myeloid (mDC) while only mDC were identified in colon. Serum cytokine levels were determined by multiplex cytokine assays and correlated with DC properties. Conclusions In children, lack of BDCA2, a receptor mediating antigen capture and inhibiting interferon induction, may be immunologically beneficial during immune development. Conversely, reduced pDC numbers, probably secondary to decreasing GM-CSF and increasing cytokine-induced maturation of DC are likely to determine deteriorating immunity with ageing.


Analysis of Flood Disaster Management in Batang Merao River at Sungai Penuh Regional Disaster Management Agency. Flooding is an event where land which is usually dry (not swampy areas) becomes inundated by water, this is caused by high rainfall and topographic conditions in the form of lowlands to sunken areas. In addition, the occurrence of flooding can also be caused by runoff which overflows and its volume exceeds the drainage capacity of the drainage system or river flow system. The occurrence of flood disasters is also caused by the low ability of soil infiltration, so that the soil is no longer able to absorb water. Flooding can occur due to rising water levels due to rainfall above normal, changes in temperature, embankments / dams that break, fast melting snow, obstructed water flow in other places. The purpose of this research is to find out how the Flood Disaster Management in Batang Merao River in Sungai Penuh City Regional Disaster Management Agency. This study uses a qualitative approach that examines an object of research by studying in its entirety and in depth rather than looking at the relationship of two or more variables, where the results of the study will be processed based on the interpretive researcher and described in a descriptive form. Data obtained through field interviews with 7 informants namely 1 key informant and 6 ordinary informants. Flood mitigation consists of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, emergency response and rehabilitation and reconstruction. Based on the existing work program, all activities have been carried out by the Sungai Penuh City Regional Disaster Management Agency in flood mitigation in Sungai Merao River Sungai Penuh which is guided by Law Number 24 Year 2007.


Direct numerical simulation, facilitated by a spectral element method, is used to predict a multi-phase fluid flow through a channel at a shear Reynolds number of 300. Following validation of single-A nd multi-phase flow results against other DNS predictions available in the literature, a channel flow is simulated utilising a Lagrangian particle tracker to model 300,000 particles with a diameter of 100 'Ým, having a density ratio equivalent to that of water to glass, and a particle volume fraction of approximately 0.01%. This flow is calculated using multiple levels of coupling between the particles and the flow; one-way, two-way and four-way. The mean streamwise velocity of the fluid and the particles, along with the shear and normal stresses, are compared for the different coupling methods, with the differences between them analysed and, although small, they are found to be consistent across the channel. A second set of runs is performed using in excess of 2 million particles in order to facilitate a tenfold increase in the particle volume fraction, to 0.1%, with the particles expected in this case to have a greater impact upon the properties of the fluid. The statistics of the fluid and particles in these simulations are then compared with those from the simulation with a lower concentration of particles in order to determine the magnitude of the effect the particles have on the fluid in this flow. The effects of the different couplings on the flow are much greater in this case due to the increased number of particles affecting the flow. Also, the presence of the particles is seen to increase the turbulence levels of the fluid, especially in the streamwise direction. The accuracy of the simulations clearly increases with the level of coupling. However, the speed of the simulations decreases. One way of achieving decreased run times, for both volume fraction cases, is to use a faster stochastic version of the particle tracking code for four-way coupling. This is tested, replacing the Lagrangian collision mechanics in the four-way coupled simulations with a probabilistically-determined mechanistic model. For the lower volume fraction, the normal stresses of the particles are exaggerated somewhat using the stochastic method. The simulation time is decreased compared to the Lagrangian approach, although the results presented suggest that the stochastic method requires further refinement.


Grammatical aspect captures ways in which a language uses grammatical markers to describe the temporal structure of an event. An event-related potential experiment was conducted to investigate event-related potential correlates of agreement violations of Chinese grammatical aspect. Participants read sentences containing either aspect agreement violations, semantic violations, or no violations. Semantic violations elicited an N400, whereas aspectual violations elicited a 200–400 ms posterior and left central negativity, followed by a P600, instead of left anterior negativity or N400, suggesting that left anterior negativities may not reflect a general, rule-governed, syntactically compositional process, and that grammatical aspect processing is at least not completely semantically driven. The negativity mostly reflects a failure to bind aspect markers or the detection of aspectual errors.


Since 1989, when radiofrequency ablation was introduced into clinical practice for pediatric patients with supraventricular tachycardias, radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques have evolved as the treatment of choice for many forms of tachycardia in young patients. This review discusses the current status of ablation therapy for the four most common forms of supraventricular tachycardias in children, including tachycardias based on accessory atrioventricular pathways, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, atrial ectopic tachycardia and the permanent form of junctional reciprocating tachycardia. In addition, the report will focus on the current status and limitations of ablation therapy of ventricular tachycardias and atrial reentry tachycardias in patients after surgical correction of congenital heart defects.


Biological invasions by agricultural pests can have serious negative impacts, including decreases in crop yield and economic losses. The MT-1 and MT-8 genotypes of the wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella) (hereafter 'WCM' refers to these two genotypes) are globally distributed pests of wheat and maize that have not been recorded in South Africa. This study examined whether WCM could be introduced to, and establish in, South Africa. Trade data were used to determine whether viable pathways of introduction are present. A species distribution model and data on wheat and maize production were used to determine whether WCM could establish where its hosts are grown. WCM is most likely to be introduced to South Africa as a contaminant of maize from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and USA; on live plant imports from China and Germany; and on seed imports from Brazil and Australia. Some of these pathways are not currently prominent, but could increase in the future. Parts of South Africa were predicted by the species distribution model to be climatically suitable for WCM, and within some of these areas the host crops are grown. Therefore, if WCM is introduced, it is likely to establish and cause extensive damage to agriculture. We recommend that WCM be considered for inclusion in South Africa's import conditions as a quarantine pest.


Leeches were used in the treatment of many pediatric conditions until relatively recently. Many physicians prescribed leeches, especially in the treatment of the purported symptoms caused by teething. William Moss,1 for example, advised applying two or three leeches at one time on the foot or heel of teething infants where "bleeding is a remedy much to be depended on when the symptoms of heat, fever, drowsiness, and startings are urgent."
 The following is an excellent description of the indications for leeching in children, as given by Dr. James Kennedy in 1825:
 Leeching, so as to abstract blood from a particular part sustaining inflammation, fulness, or pain, is very useful in many diseases especially those of children. . . . When the leech is of the right or medicinal kind, its body has a blackish brown colour, marked on the back with six yellow spots, and edged with a yellow line on each side:—these spots, however, as well as the lines, grow faint and almost disappear at certain seasons. . . . The mouth forms, as it were, the body of a pump and its tongue the sucker; and, by the working of this . . . mechanism, the blood is made to rise up into the conduit which conveys it to the animal's stomach. . . .
 Leeches may be employed in every case where topical bleedings are required, or where venesection cannot be performed. Before applying them, all the parts should be carefully washed;—first, with hot water and soap, for the purpose of removing, as much as possible, the particles of the cutaneous excretion which the leech instinctively dislikes, especially if impregnated in any degree with the odour of medicine;—and secondly, with milk and water as warm as can be endured, with the object of stimulating the superficial vessels and filling them with red blood.