AIM
Cell adhesion molecules may serve as markers of endothelial cell activation, and they may well have a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular disease in diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
a cross sectional, comparative study.

SETTING
a teaching University Hospital. Patients and controls. A cohort of diabetic patients with absent peripheral arterial pulses but no history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease i.e. asymptomatic (n=29), median age 68 (36-80) years, (range), diabetes duration 10 (1-43) years and HbA1c 7.7% (4.8-9.6). They were compared to 12 age and sex matched normal non-diabetic controls.

INTERVENTION
none.

MEASURES
soluble cell adhesion molecules intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin levels measured by ELISA methods.

RESULTS
The 29 patients with diabetes, as a whole, were found to have significantly higher median plasma sICAM-1 and sE-selectin of 283 ng/ml (154-1000) (range), and 65.8 ng/ml (20.6-145) vs 237 (147-312.4) and 37.7 (19.8-46.6) respectively, Mann Whitney U test p<0.02, and p<0.002. In the diabetic group, E-selectin correlated with ICAM-1, age and HbA1c: r=0.524 p<0.01, r=0.385 p<0.05 and r=0.393 p<0.05 respectively (Spearman correlation coefficient).

CONCLUSION
These results confirm that elevated levels of adhesion molecules, E-selectin and ICAM-1 occur in Type-2 diabetes early in the course of asymptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and this is related to glycemic control. This suggests that adhesion molecules may have a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular disease in diabetes.


Typical rated slip for most induction motor applications lies below 15%, and the concern about their torque-speed curve, when existing, refers to slips of only up to 100%, and then usually with somewhat loose requirements (like minimum or average starting torques). However, for two-speed lift motors, a very reliable determination of the T-n curve is necessary, especially at the extremely high slips of up to 300% appearing in their working cycle. Therefore a precise determination of leakage reactance together with an accurate analysis of bar current displacement and end-ring current distribution become unavoidable. A systematic investigation is made on four gradually more sophisticated steady-state models (the first three of them rather well known to specialists) used to predict the T-n curve from machine design data. The comparison of all model results with the T-n curve measured in more than 30 industrial lift motors makes evident, and allows a clear appreciation of, the limitations and range of validity of each model when faced with such a demanding application and, at the same time, confirms the suitability of the proposed fourth model.


Following extensive analysis of the relationships between the transient instability behaviour of large-scale power systems and the corresponding prefault operating states, a novel heuristic method based on fuzzy reasoning is proposed in the paper for the fast evaluation of the power system transient stability level (TSL). A notable feature of this method is that it does not rely on the step-by-step simulation process and only system load-flow data under normal operating conditions are used for the assessment. A generalised critical clearing time (GCCT) is defined that can be predicted by the proposed method to describe the TSL. Digital simulations based on two power systems show that the proposed method provides broadly conclusive and decisive real-time information about the stability states of the studied power systems.


The aim of the present paper is to study the variation of amino acid content during the ripening of semi-hard cheese (type Holland), after adding in the milk, used for the coagulation, of a proteolytic enzyme - papaina - and the comparison with the data obtained from the analysis of a witness cheese (without enzymes added) obtained and ripen in the same technological conditions. For investigations were collected and analyzed samples at different times during ripening.


This study evaluated the scoring systems of Goodenough and Harris (1963) and Koppitz (1968) for using human figure drawings to assess the intellectual abilities of children. Drawing scores of 125 children, aged 5 to 15, were compared to their performance on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), while the drawing scores of a separate group of 74 children, aged 5 to 12, were compared to their performance on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Form L-M. While Both drawing systems correlated significantly with the WISC-R as well as the Stanford-Binet, the longer and more detailed Goodenough-Harris had a significantly higher correlation with Performance IQ on the WISC-R than did the Koppitz. Neither drawing system had a pattern of significantly different validity coefficients for children of varying ages or IQ levels.


Currently, many teenagers in modern times generally do not want to eat vegetables and fruit. They tend to prefer to eat fast food. In fact, eating fast food has a negative impact on the health of the body. Meanwhile, fruits and vegetables contain lots of vitamins, proteins, and fats which are very useful for the body. The purpose of this service is to provide an understanding of the ingredients found in vegetables and fruit, as well as their benefits for the health of adolescents in maintaining body stamina. The method used in the service is the lecture method with presentation techniques, followed by a question-and-answer discussion. The results of the community service activities which were attended by 90 students of MAN 2 Sleman grades X-XII showed that before the activity, many students did not like vegetables, but after receiving the material many said they liked it because they did not know the benefits and the taste was not good. In addition, they will try to eat fruit even if their parents don't peel it and prepare it at the dinner table, especially for young women so that their skin looks fresh.


Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

Pancreatic malignancies are the fourth leading cause of all cancer-related deaths of both men and women in the United States. Each year, approximately 32,000 new patients are diagnosed with this disease and nearly the same number die from it. A majority of patients with pancreatic malignancies, including both pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) present with advanced disease due to a lack of specific symptoms and current diagnostic limitations, making this disease extremely difficult to detect. The combination of poor prognosis and late presentation of pancreatic cancer patients highlights the urgent need for the development of effective, early detection strategies for this disease. Our laboratory has established a comprehensive biomarker discovery initiative whose objective is to identify proteins present in urine of cancer patients, to determine whether their presence might be relevant to disease status and stage and to validate their diagnostic and prognostic efficacy in large scale clinical trials. In the current study, our goal was to determine whether ADAM12 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease 12) could be detected in the urine of patients with pancreatic malignancies and whether ADAM12 levels might serve as an independent predictor of disease status. Retrospective analyses of urine samples (n=130) from PDAC and pNET patients as well as age- and sex-matched controls were conducted. Urinary ADAM12 levels were determined using a monospecific ELISA system. In addition, ADAM12 protein expression in tumor and normal pancreatic tissues was analyzed via immunohistochemistry (IHC). Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that, when controlling for age and sex, urinary ADAM12 could serve as significant independent predictor for distinguishing PDAC (P<0.001) and pNET (P<0.008) patients from healthy controls. Kaplan-Meier analysis of estimated patient survival stratified by urinary ADAM12 levels indicated a significantly shorter patient survival time for PDAC patients with high ADAM12 levels (P=0.015) compared to patients with lower urinary ADAM12. In addition, IHC analysis indicated that ADAM12 protein expression was upregulated ∼4-fold in Grade I-III PDAC compared to normal pancreatic tissue. Taken together, our results suggest that the measurement of ADAM12 levels may have diagnostic value in detection and/or clinical monitoring of disease status in patients with pancreatic malignancies. [Supported by: The Advanced Medical Foundation]

Citation Format: Roopali Roy, David Zurakowski, Matthew Kulke, Marsha A. Moses. Urinary ADAM12 levels detect the presence of pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 891. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-891


The recently founded Max Planck PostdocNet brings together postdoctoral researchers (or postdocs) from the Max Planck Society (MPS), provides representation for the postdoctoral community across all Max Planck Institutes (MPI) and associated institutes, and advocates for their interests on their behalf. At the 2019 founding meeting, MPS postdocs quickly raised their concerns about their employment situation and their associated social and working conditions. Subsequently, the PostdocNet conducted the first survey targeting exclusively postdoctoral researchers to gather information on their demographics, employment situations and social conditions. This report presents the results of this survey, providing a thorough characterization of the postdoc demographics as well as the working conditions experienced by the postdoctoral community of the MPS. Remarkably, the survey analysis revealed a number of disparities in the access to employment type, wage level and social benefits. These results will guide future and present MPS postdoctoral researchers and their employers at the MPS to thrive for equality and fairness. Moreover, these results should be of help to the MPS to establish, improve and maintain optimal working conditions for MPS postdocs.


The molecular imprinting technique is a quickly developing field of interest regarding the synthesis of artificial recognition elements that enable the specific determination of target molecule/analyte from a matrix. Recently, these smart materials can be successfully applied to biomolecule detection in biomimetic biosensors. These biosensors contain a biorecognition element (a bioreceptor) and a transducer, like their biosensor analogs. Here, the basic difference is that molecular imprinting-based biosensors use a synthetic recognition element. Molecular imprinting polymers used as the artificial recognition elements in biosensor platforms are complementary in shape, size, specific binding sites, and functionality to their template analytes. Recent progress in biomolecular recognition has supplied extra diagnostic and treatment methods for various diseases. Cost-effective, more robust, and high-throughput assays are needed for monitoring biomarkers in clinical settings. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensors are promising tools for the real-time and quick detection of biomolecules in the past two decades A quick, simple-to-use, and cheap biomarkers detection technology based on biosensors has been developed. This critical review presents current applications in molecular imprinting-based quartz crystal microbalance biosensors for the quantification of biomarkers for disease monitoring and diagnostic results.


Infant rearing and feeding practices of 500 rural mothers in western Orissa were studied. Though all mothers accepted breastfeeding of babies as a matter of tradition, initiation was delayed in the majority of cases. 24.2%, 56.2%, and 13.6% of mothers began breastfeeding on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days respectively postdelivery. Diluted cow's milk (31.2%), boiled water (20.8%), sugar water (17%), and honey (8.6%) were used as prelacteal feeds. 94.2% of mothers breastfed their babies for more than 1 year and 65.4% for 3 or more years. Natural cessation of breast secretions (80.4%) and subsequent pregnancies (11.6%) were reasons for stoppage. Semisolids were introduced at 13-18 months in the majority of cases (53.2%). Rice, rice flakes, and puffed rice were preferred semisolids and mothers had strong beliefs concerning hot and cold foods.


. We have measured the temperature dependence of the spectral features near the direct bandgap of a Zn 0 : 88 Mg 0 : 12 S 0 : 18 Se 0 : 82 film, grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a . 001 / GaAs substrate, in the temperature range between 15 and 300 K using contactless electroreflectance. The parameters that describe the temperature variations of the energy and broadening function of the band-edge exciton have been evaluated.


The complexity of biological signaling networks, especially the uncertainties associated with the model parameters, present challenges for understanding the behavior of such networks and hence hamper the translation of the modeling study into drug development process. Sensitivity analysis can help to determine which parameters are the "key drivers" of the model's output. How to tailor the sensitivity study under drug perturbation based on the knowledge of available existing or potential drugs are considered in this paper. The goal is to evaluate the drug effect on the signaling pathway modeled by kinetic rate changes. Through an example simulation study of the response of NF-κB pathway to two drugs, it is observed that new or modified sensitivity analysis methods may be necessary for the purpose of drug effect study. In addition, the new method may also help us determine whether combination therapy can yield significant synergism when compared to their individual drug effect.


OBJECTIVE
Dental problems are rarely mentioned in the training of medical students or physicians in travel medicine, and there are little data on dental problems of travellers in the literature. We studied the epidemiology of dental problems amongst trekkers in Nepal to develop strategies for preventive care during/before travelling and propose a curriculum for dental First Aid training.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
We undertook a prospective, cross-sectional questionnaire and clinical dental survey of Trekkers at Manang (3550 m, Annapurna Circuit, Nepal). The questionnaire was developed based on published literature and clinical experience (exploring: availability of dental kits, dental history, current dental problems, and nutritional behavior). Dental examination included: dental status, papillary bleeding index (PBI), and plaque index (Quigley and Hein; QH). Questionnaire and clinical findings were compared to data of the Annapurna Conservancy Authority about the number of days of trekkers in the region to estimate the incidence of dental problems of trekkers.

RESULTS
None of the 309 participants carried a dental first aid kit. Dental problems, potentially treatable with a dental first aid kit, were reported by 50/309 (16.5%). Oral hygiene en route was significantly worse than home hygiene practice; overall increased plaque indices were found (Median QH: 2.25 in women; 2.36 in men). Participants who visited a dentist ≤6 months before departure had significantly fewer problems, and had lower PBI [males 0.07 (IQR 0.0 to 0.29), females 0.0 (IQR 0.0 to 0.11)]. Combining our findings with data of the park authorities on person days in the region (2007), we found a risk of dental problems as follows: any dental problem 1:23.7 trekking days; gingival bleeding 1:37.7 trekking days; dental pain 1:145.2 trekking days; lost fillings 1:339 trekking days; fractured teeth 1:509 trekking days.

CONCLUSIONS
Dental problems can pose significant discomfort for anybody travelling in regions with low/missing infrastructure. Improved awareness regarding dental first aid is essential and physicians counseling travellers in preventive strategies should advise a dental checkup pre-departure. Dental first aid and emergency treatment in the field should be included in the training curricula in travel medicine for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.


Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells were characterized in cross section using electron beam induced current (EBIC) and synchrotron based x-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurements. Samples with varying gallium ratios and growth methods were compared. A correlation was observed between the compositional gallium grading profile from XRF and carrier activity seen in EBIC through the thickness of the CIGS layer. Samples with steep back grading showed carrier activity isolated near the CIGS/CdS interface, whereas a more uniform grading resulted in carrier activity seen throughout the absorber layer. `Notch' grading showed only slight variation in EBIC profile compared to a back graded sample with similar gallium ratios.


Ni, Fe and NiFe alloy thin films were electrodeposited at a polycrystalline Au surface using a range of electrolytes and potentials. Coulometry and EQCM were used for real-time monitoring of electroplating efficiency of the Ni and Fe. The plating efficiency of NiFe alloy thin films was computed with the aid of ICP spectrometry. In general, plating efficiency increased to a steady value with deposition time. Plating efficiency of Fe was lower than that of Ni at -0.85 and -1.0 V but the efficiency approached to the similar plateau value to that of Ni at more negative potentials. The films with higher content of Fe showed different stripping behavior from the ones with higher content of Ni. Finally, compositional data and real-time plating efficiency are presented for films electrodeposited using a range of electrolytes and potentials.


Although Newtonian jet stability has been the object of numerous experimental and theoretical studies, the total problem of jet disintegration is by no means solved. Theories available in the literature are only applicable to low-speed laminar jets in stagnant air. In practice, the stability of a liquid jet may be influenced by the ambient medium, turbulence in the nozzle, and the extent of development of the velocity profile. None of these factors has received adequate study. This work presents the beginning of a systematic evaluation of the role played by these factors in the destabilization of a liquid jet. Correlations are presented for predicting the stability of both turbulent and high-speed laminar jets in stagnant air.


This study seeks to reveal the use of religious symbols (Islam) and reveal the meaning of the use of these symbols in the context of society in the regional elections (2015) in Banjarmasin. Therefore, the author uses Roland Barthes's semiotic theory to reveal the ideological meaning of symbols in relation to certain people's culture or habits. This research proves that the meaning of religious symbols appears as an effort to represent the piety of the candidates. Thus, these ideological symbols also exploit knowledge and regional history and religiosity.


Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the factors affecting parathormone (PTH) response induced in patients with low serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. The patients whom serum 25(OH) vitamin D and PTH levels were examined together were included in our study in Istanbul in Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital between 2015 and 2019. Patients with 25(OH) vitamin D values lower than 30 ng/mL were included in the study. The patients 17 years and under; the patients with abnormal creatinine, albumin, calcium and phosphorus levels and the patients with PTH levels lower than 12 pg/mL were excluded from the study. Age, sex, seasonal hospital admission, serum 25(OH) vitamin D and PTH levels were examined. Results: The mean age of the 334 patients included in the study was 49.1±17.7 years. The mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D level was 14.5±7.6 ng/mL and the mean PTH level was 49.3±26.5 pg/mL. 34.4% of the patients had severe 25(OH) vitamin D deficiency, 37.4% of the patients had 25(OH) vitamin D deficiency and 28.1% of the patients had 25(OH) vitamin D insufficiency. Hyperparathyroidism was found in 6.3% of all cases. Hyperparathyroidism was found to be significantly more frequent in patients with severe 25(OH) vitamin D deficiency. There was a negative correlation between serum PTH and 25(OH) vitamin D levels. There was a positive correlation between age and serum PTH levels. There was no relationship with 25(OH) vitamin D level, gender and seasonal distribution. Conclusion: Low 25(OH) vitamin D induced PTH elevation is not only dependent on vitamin D levels, but also age. PTH levels were found to be higher in patients with low vitamin D while age increased.


Seismic data acquired in hardrock environment are demanding for processing. Frequently occurring lack of clear coherent events hinders imaging and interpretation. Additional difficulty arises from the presence of significant amount of cultural noise (e.g. associated with exploration and processing of ore) which corrupt the data. For this purpose we demonstrate our noise attenuation approach based on 2D Discrete Curvelet Transform (DCT) by applying it to 3D post-stack seismic data from active mining camp. DCT introduce minimal overlapping between coefficients representing signal and noise in the curvelet domain, hence being well-suited for data denoising. Forward DCT is applied in sequences to inline, crossline and time slice sections. 3D DMO volume after curvelet denoising is much easier to interpret, e.g. it's easier to follow diffracted energy originating at ore lenses. We believe that the presented approach of running 2D DCT for 3D data might be also a sufficient substitution for a more expensive 3D DCT.


Chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), which subjects a male mouse to repeated social subordination by an aggressor male mouse, results in the onset of depression-like behaviors. CSDS in rodents is a useful model for studying the mechanisms that underlie anxiety and depression. We investigated the effect of CSDS on expression of tight junction (TJ) components in colon in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice to address the correlation of CSDS and the development of inflammatory intestinal disease associated with epithelial barrier dysfunction. After 10 consecutive days of CSDS, BALB/c mice displayed highly social aversive behavior compared to C57BL/6J mice, which was accompanied by the suppression of intestinal Claudin-1 expression. These observations suggest that increased susceptibility to CSDS in BALB/c mice was caused by the downregulation of Claudin-1. The CSDS model with BALB/c mice is a potentially useful system for evaluating food components for psychological stress control. Discipline: Food Additional key words: claudin, elevated plus-maze test, social interaction test Present address: 8 Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Obihiro, Hokkaido 0808555, Japan). * Corresponding author: e-mail email@example.com Received 2 November 2017; accepted 26 February 2018


In parsing with Tree Adjoining Grammar (TAG), independent derivations have been shown by Schabes and Shieber (1994) to be essential for correctly supporting syntactic analysis, semantic interpretation, and statistical language modeling. However, the parsing algorithm they propose is not directly applicable to Feature-Based TAGs (FB-TAG). We provide a recognition algorithm for FB-TAG that supports both dependent and independent derivations. The resulting algorithm combines the benefits of independent derivations with those of Feature-Based grammars. In particular, we show that it accounts for a range of interactions between dependent vs. independent derivation on the one hand, and syntactic constraints, linear ordering, and scopal vs. nonscopal semantic dependencies on the other hand.


Shipyards working under contracts for the United States Maritime Commission employed, during the war emergency period, about one million persons in yards located on the perimeter of the United States. Soon after the true magnitude of the shipbuilding program became apparent the Maritime Commission and the United States Navy, realizing the need to increase production, adopted a set of "Minimum Requirements for Safety and Industrial Health in Contract Shipyards." 1 These requirements were designed to conserve manpower and promote the physical welfare, health and safety of employees. One of the basic precepts was the mandatory establishment of preplacement physical examination procedures in each of these contract shipyards (par. H-6.1, ref. 1). Consequently all shipyards of the Gulf and East Coast regions and some of those in the Great Lakes region which had not previously required such examinations developed necessary facilities and plans to include them in their employment procedure. Shipyards


Dementia with Lewy bodies is the second most common type of neurodegenerative dementia, and identification at the prodromal stage—i.e., mild cognitive impairment due to Lewy bodies (MCI-LB)—is important for providing appropriate care. However, MCI-LB is often underrecognized because of its diversity in clinical manifestations and similarities with other conditions such as mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD). In this study, we propose a machine learning-based automatic pipeline that helps identify MCI-LB by exploiting balance measures acquired with an insole sensor during a 30-s standing task. An experiment with 98 participants (14 MCI-LB, 38 MCI-AD, 46 cognitively normal) showed that the resultant models could discriminate MCI-LB from the other groups with up to 78.0% accuracy (AUC: 0.681), which was 6.8% better than the accuracy of a reference model based on demographic and clinical neuropsychological measures. Our findings may open up a new approach for timely identification of MCI-LB, enabling better care for patients.


Nd:YAG-laser associated to a photoabsorber, in the reduction of artificial caries in enamel was evaluated. Eighty bovine specimens with 6mm diameter and 2mm high were obtained and a half of the surface of each was protected as a control. Microdurometer and FTIR were performed initially and 8 groups (n=10) were obtained according to treatments: G1(- control): no-treatment; G2(+control): fluorophosphate; G3(Nd:YAG 60mJ/pulse, 10Hz, 48J/cm2, non-contact); G4(photoabsorber + Nd:YAG 60mJ); G5(Nd:YAG 80mJ/pulse, 10Hz, 64J/cm2); G6(photoabsorber + Nd:YAG 80mJ); G7(Nd:YAG 100mJ/pulse, 10Hz, 80J/cm2); G8(photoabsorber + Nd:YAG 100mJ). De-remineralization cycle were performed for induction of artificial caries and to interferometer, microdurometer and FTIR. Microhardness data were submitted to 2-way ANOVA and Tukey/Dunnett tests 5%. Statistically differences were obtained in the photoabsorberfactor individually and in the interaction between laser and photoabsorber. There was a lower percentage of microhardness loss in the groups with photoabsorber; G8 presented microhardness similar to G2. FTIR data were submitted to T-test 5%. Compared with G2, higher concentrations of carbonate were found in G4, G6 and G8; phosphate in G8; lower Amide-I concentration at G8 and higher Carbonate/Phosphate ratio at G4 and G6. The interferometry results were submitted to 3-way ANOVA of repeated measures 5%. There were statistically differences in the photoabsorber-factor individually and in the time-factor. Photoabsorber decreased the demineralization; Nd:YAG-laser without photoabsorber were less effective than fluoride; Nd:YAG-laser 100mJ with photoabsorber was as effective as fluoride and; the Nd:YAG-laser, associated or not to the photoabsorber, was no more effective than fluoride in the reduction of artificial decay.


The Bransfield Basin is a young (∼4 Ma) back‐arc basin related to the remnant subduction of the Phoenix Plate that once existed along the entire Pacific margin of the Antarctic Peninsula. Based on a recently deployed amphibious seismic network, we use ambient noise tomography to obtain the S‐wave velocity structure in the Central Bransfield Basin (CBB). Combining with the stress field inverted from focal mechanisms, our images reveal that the CBB suffers a significant extension in the northwest‐southeast direction. The extension is strongest in the northeastern CBB with associated mantle exhumation and weakens to the southwest with decoupled deformations between the upper crust and lithospheric mantle. Such an along‐strike variation of extension can be explained by slab window formation and forearc rotation, which are associated with the Phoenix Plate detachment during the ridge–trench collisions at the southwest of the Hero Fracture Zone.


The effect of demographic stochasticity, in the form of Gaussian white noise, in a predator-prey model with one fast and two slow variables is studied. We derive the stochastic differential equations (SDEs) from a discrete model. For suitable parameter values, the deterministic drift part of the model admits a folded node singularity and exhibits a singular Hopf bifurcation. We focus on the parameter regime near the Hopf bifurcation, where small amplitude oscillations exist as stable dynamics in the absence of noise. In this regime, the stochastic model admits noise-driven mixed-mode oscillations (MMOs), which capture the intermediate dynamics between two cycles of population outbreaks. We perform numerical simulations to calculate the distribution of the random number of small oscillations between successive spikes for varying noise intensities and distance to the Hopf bifurcation. We also study the effect of noise on a suitable Poincaré map. Finally, we prove that the stochastic model can be transformed into a normal form near the folded node, which can be linked to recent results on the interplay between deterministic and stochastic small amplitude oscillations. The normal form can also be used to study the parameter influence on the noise level near folded singularities.


The crystal structure of ADP-ribosylated yeast elongation factor 2 in the presence of sordarin and GDP has been determined at 2.6 Å resolution. The diphthamide at the tip of domain IV, which is the target for diphtheria toxin and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A, contains a covalently attached ADP-ribose that functions as a very potent inhibitor of the factor. We have obtained an electron density map of ADP-ribosylated translation factor 2 revealing both the ADP-ribosylation and the diphthamide. This is the first structure showing the conformation of an ADP-ribosylated residue and confirms the inversion of configuration at the glycosidic linkage. Binding experiments show that the ADP-ribosylation has limited effect on nucleotide binding affinity, on ribosome binding, and on association with exotoxin A. These results provide insight to the inhibitory mechanism and suggest that inhibition may be caused by erroneous interaction of the translation factor with the codon-anticodon area in the P-site of the ribosome.


Abstract Lachenaud, O., L. Zemagho & B. Sonké (2020). A synopsis of the Sabicea floribunda group (Rubiaceae) from Central Africa, including three new species. Candollea 75: 115–143. In English, English and French abstracts. This paper presents a taxonomic revision of the Sabicea floribunda K. Schum. group (Rubiaceae). Eight species are recognised, of which three are newly described: Sabicea couteronii O. Lachenaud, Zemagho & Sonké (Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo), Sabicea dichrosepala O. Lachenaud, Zemagho & Sonké and Sabicea rubiginosa O. Lachenaud, Zemagho & Sonké (both endemic to Gabon). One subspecies is also described: Sabicea sanguinosa subsp. viridis O. Lachenaud, Zemagho & Sonké and two varieties: Sabicea floribunda var. anisostegia O. Lachenaud, Zemagho & Sonké and Sabicea floribunda var. paludosa O. Lachenaud, Zemagho & Sonké. Lectotypes are selected for Sabicea floribunda var. paucinervis Wernham, Sabicea nobilis R.D. Good, Sabicea segregata Hiern and Sabicea henningsiana Büttner. All species are illustrated with photographs, and the three new ones also with line drawings; distribution maps and IUCN conservation status assessments are also presented for all taxa.


The violent, racially motivated events of the Charlottesville rally unleashed demons that many Americans believed were long buried. Old Jim Crow-inspired racism came straight through the front door. Yet critics of colorblind policies were not surprised. For them, such an eruption of racial hatred manifested what they had repeatedly argued: colorblind policies neither alter racial predispositions nor affect the unequal treatment of minorities in the United States. In fact, colorblindness has given rise to a modern, latent type of racism. This Article empirically investigates this claim in an unexplored context — the media's colorblind, crime-related coverage policies. Utilizing a novel dataset spanning ten years of crime coverage under the media's colorblind policy contrasted with national and state-level crime statistics, this longitudinal study complicates the controversy around colorblindness. First, while explicit racial references in crime reports declined, they were replaced by implicit racial cues, primarily by the use of visuals. Second, racial schemas in the criminal context prevailed with unbalanced representations of black and white perpetrators compared to real crime statistics, both at the local and national level. Through these findings, this Article adds a new dimension to the scholarship on the indivisibility between race and crime in an era of colorblindness. It offers the incognizant liberal trap as a conceptual framework to engage with these findings, and an explanation for the failure of liberal news outlets to combat racially distorted narratives. This Article calls for an "affirmative action" in crime coverage to combat institutional inertia and to allow counter-stereotypical racial schemas to take hold. More broadly, this Article sheds light on the potential links between crime reports and persistent inequalities in the criminal justice system.


This paper examines the relationship between foreign presence and market concentration and thus competition in the Malaysian manufacturing sector by looking at the determinants of foreign presence and market concentration respectively. Using a panel of aggregate 5-digit Malaysian manufacturing industries for 2001-04, different extents and proxies of foreign presence are utilized to test the hypothesis that higher foreign presence leads to more concentrated market. The single equation results show that foreign presence, in terms of fixed assets share, has no significant impact on increasing the level of market concentration, while higher foreign presence in an industry, in regards to both value added and employment shares, significantly contributes towards more concentrated markets. On the other hand, a highly concentrated market is also one of the significant determinants for all proxies of foreign presence. In both instances, the extent of foreign shareholdings does not matter as much as the types of proxy used to measure foreign presence. However, a system of four equations, including market concentration (under the StructureConduct-Performance framework) and foreign presence, estimated using Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) with fixed effects shows no significant evidence to support the existence of simultaneity between market concentration and foreign presence.


Investigations carried out on a coaxial copper vapor laser showed that, on varying the excitation frequency from 0.5 to 6.0 kHz, the energy deposited in the discharge increased from 10 to 70% of the storage capacitor energy. There were two serious limitations to increasing the pump power, imposed by constriction of the discharge and by the generation of heat in the active medium. It was shown that the use of a coaxial geometry for the active zone in copper vapor lasers, with both longitudinal and transverse discharges, made it possible to increase the ultimate pump power substantially without changing the average temperature of the gas in the active zone and so to increase the ultimate lasing pulse repetition frequency. Estimates showed that the ultimate pump power, for a ratio of the wall radii of the coaxial active medium of ~ 1.3, can exceed by an order of magnitude the ultimate pump power for a tube.


Wireless sensor networks have gained much attention these last years thanks to the great set of applications that accelerated the technological advances. Such networks have been widely investigated and many books and articles have been published about the new challenges they pose and how to address them. One of these challenges is node mobility: sensors could be moved unexpectedly if deployed in an uncontrolled environment or hold by moving object/animals. Beyond all this, a new dimension arises when this mobility is controlled, i.e. if these sensors are embedded in robots. These robots cohabit with sensors and cooperate together to perform a given task collectively by presenting hardware constraints: they still rely on batteries; they communicate through short radio links and have limited capacities. In this book, we propose to review new challenges brought about by controlled mobility for different goals and how they are addressed in the literature in wireless sensor and Robot networks, ranging from deployment to communications.


High cycle fatigue tests in rotating bending loading were carried out in extruded AZ31 magnesium alloys with two kinds of grain size (about 30mm and about 50mm). Effects of microstructure and grain size on fatigue behaviors such as fatigue strength, crack initiation and propagation behaviors were discussed. As the results, there were no clear difference in the fatigue strength, the crack initiation and propagation behaviors in the both alloys. There showed a clear bending point in the relation between crack propagation rate da=dN and the stress intensity factor range K at about K 1⁄4 3MPa ffiffiffiffi


The white rats exposed to 60 and 100 day hypokinesia showed a substantial and progressive decline in the tolerance to a maximum physical load. This was accompanied by disorders in the regulation of the oxygen balance: during load oxygen requirements were mainly met by the oxygen debt. The above changes that followed a 100 day hypokinesia returned to the normal two months later.


Behavioral characteristics of supplemented (S; 23% crude protein, 3.41 mcal DE/kg) and nonsupplemented (N) ewes grazing native New Mexico rangeland were monitored from December 1983 to August 1984. Four marked ewes were observed per treatment group. Behavioral data were collected by simultaneous observations of both treatment groups by 2 observers starting 0.5 hour before sunrise, and continuing until 0.5 hour after sunset. Trials were conducted during the winter breeding season while ewes grazed dormant forage, during spring lambing that coincided with the onset of active forage growth, and during summer lactation, during both a quiescent period and active forage growth. Supplement was not fed during the summer. Total grazing (min/day) was less (P=0.01) in winter, equal in spring, and greater (P=0.01) in summer for S than N ewes. Mean daily periods of loafing for S ewes was greater (P=0.01) in winter; equivalent in spring, and less (P0.01) in summer than for N ewes. Daily travel time did not differ between S and N ewes during the winter; however, S ewes traveled more (P=0.02) in spring and less (P=0.01) in summer than N ewes. Supplemented ewes tended (P=0.06) to weigh less after the winter breeding season, and weaned similar, but slightly heavier, lambs (P=0.14) than N ewes. There were no differences (P>0.22) in ewe live weights during the remainder of the study. Mean fleece weights were not different (P=0.52) between S and N ewes. Supplemental feeding of range ewes, under the conditions of this study, did not appear to improve overall production by S ewes. Slower weight gains for S ewes during breeding may have resulted from reduced grazing time noted for this period.


Abstract : Blood Pressure, Light Massage, Hypertention . The impact of hypertension leads to heart attack, renal failure and stroke if the blood pressure is not controlled. Light massage is a complementary therapy for blood pressure control of patients with primary hypertension. Light massage can cause a relaxation response and reduce stress. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of light massage on the decrease in blood pressure. Research design is pre experimental. The number of respondents in this study were 16 respondents. Sampling technique used is purposive sampling. The study was conducted by measuring blood pressure before and after light massage therapy. Blood pressure measurement using digital tensimeter. Test the difference in blood pressure before and after intervention using Wilcoxon test. The results showed a significant difference in blood pressure before and after treatment in the group receiving light massage therapy (p value 0.035). Light massage affects the decrease in blood pressure in patients with primary hypertension. Keywords: Blood Pressure, Light Massage, Hypertention LINK OJS 3 ARTIKEL "PENGARUH LIGHT MASSAGE TERHADAP TEKANAN DARAH PENDERITA HIPERTENSI PRIMER DI KABUPATEN BANYUMAS"


We review recent progress in developing a theoretical treatment of the dissociative recombination (DR) process for the LiH+ molecule, in which a low energy electron is captured and causes the molecule to dissociate into neutral fragments. This e+LiH+ system is prototypical of the indirect class of DR processes, in which the incident electron destroys the molecule through Rydberg capture pathways. The conventional mechanism characteristic of most species with a high DR rate, which normally involves direct capture into a dissociative resonance potential curve, is entirely absent here. We have adopted ab initio multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) and a rovibrational frame transformation based on Siegert pseudostates to calculate indirect dissociative recombination for this simple diatomic ion. It is based on a set of ab-initio quantum defects as functions of the internuclear distance, which have been calculated using the R-matrix approach. The calculated DR rate coefficient is found to agree with recent experimental data [1].


Pharmacoeconomic data are widely used along drug life cycle for supporting decision-making processes on research and development, pricing and reimbursement, and market access. In this context, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is the gold standard of either cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) or cost-utility analyses (CUAs) of pharmaceuticals and health technologies. However, the widespread use of confidentiality clauses in the agreements between pharmaceutical companies and the payers may affect the reliability of ICER value based on transparent price. The aim of this article is to evaluate a case study and simulate the impact of price confidentiality and other managed-entry agreement conditions on the ICER value. The case study was conducted selecting a CEA submitted to the Health Economic Evaluations Office of the Italian Medicines Agency by the pharmaceutical company, which specifically compared two alternative options reimbursed by the Italian NHS using confidential managed-entry agreements. So, a real model was used to collect the output of ICERs generated by the simulation model, considering price inputs of alternative options ranging from the transparent prices to the confidential net price. The simulation showed that price confidentiality may affect the estimated value of the ICER of a new medicine and, consequently, its interpretation. From a different point of view, the published ICER values may also give a completely false economic evidence if non-disclosure agreements are not taken into account. A proposal for editors of pharmacoeconomic journals to improve reliability of CEA is also discussed.


Volunteering is now a regular feature of health and social care service provision with volunteers working in diverse contexts such as day care centres, 'after school' clubs, hospitals and hospices. The promotion of the idea of an active civil society by successive UK governments has led to the professionalisation of some voluntary work as the product of a partnership between the voluntary sector, government and business. More standardised working practices and semi-formalised aspects of voluntary work have changed the experience of volunteering because, as Morrison (2000: 109) argues, 'there is a particular and very significant tension between a professionalised managerial approach and a more traditional volunteering ethos'. Volunteers have a well-established place in palliative care, particularly in the hospice setting. Using a case study approach, this paper discusses the diverse roles of volunteers in palliative care highlighting the increasing importance of their work to the successful delivery of hospice services. Issues such as volunteer motivation, training, support, accountability and ethical concerns regarding establishing and maintaining boundaries, are considered. Evidence from the case study suggests that 'being valued on a professional level' and 'doing something useful' are key motivating factors. The emotional burden of this volunteer work is explored and points to the need to establish personal and social boundaries to help maintain resilience in this sensitive care setting. Whilst there is a high level of commitment by volunteers to the work of hospice, evidence points to the need to nurture these contributions that cannot be taken for granted.


Logic gates are devices that can perform logical operations by transforming a set of inputs into a predictable single detectable output. The hybridization properties, structure, and function of nucleic acids can be used to make DNA-based logic gates. These devices are important modules in molecular computing and biosensing. The ideal logic gate system should provide a wide selection of logical operations, and be integrable in multiple copies into more complex structures. Here we show the successful construction of a small DNA-based logic gate complex that produces fluorescent outputs corresponding to the operation of the six Boolean logic gates AND, NAND, OR, NOR, XOR, and XNOR. The logic gate complex is shown to work also when implemented in a three-dimensional DNA origami box structure, where it controlled the position of the lid in a closed or open position. Implementation of multiple microRNA sensitive DNA locks on one DNA origami box structure enabled fuzzy logical operation that allows biosensing of complex molecular signals. Integrating logic gates with DNA origami systems opens a vast avenue to applications in the fields of nanomedicine for diagnostics and therapeutics.


Many countries are considering the option of importing genetically modified (GM) foods to reduce food shortage. However, its planned introduction in Nigeria has been trailed with controversy due to its possible health consequences. This article reviewed the possible health effects of GM foods to clear the controversy surrounding its introduction. The Google search engine was used to retrieve information on the subject from reliable sources on the internet such as PubMed, Google Scholar, among others. Studies funded by various governments reported no safety issue with GM foods, while independent researchers say GM foods can cause allergies, cancer, antibiotic resistance and toxicity. Some scientific studies implicating GM foods in serious health consequences have appeared in reputable journals in the past, but were later withdrawn, allegedly due to pressure from governments and companies. Policy makers in Nigeria are therefore advised to carry out short and long term studies of possible health effects of GM foods and put in place palliative measures before introducing them.


Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC

Despite overt clinical success of anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) agents, such as Avastin, for cancer patients, increasing evidence shows that prolonged treatment of anti-VEGF therapy results in tumor resistance. In order to understand how tumor cells become resistant to anti-VEGF therapy, we developed a mouse Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell line, which was resistant to a potent VEGF blocker, VEGF-Trap. The cell line was established through five rounds of VEGF-Trap treatment and selection in vivo. In each round, C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with LLC cells and subjected to VEGF-Trap or PBS treatment. Tumors grown from treated mice were harvested and the isolated cells were injected to a new batch of mice for the next round of treatment. It was found that tumor cells became insensitive to VEGF-Trap in vivo after five rounds of VEGF-Trap treatment, i.e., VEGF-Trap no longer inhibited tumor growth. In contrast, VEGF-Trap remained efficacious to the LLC cells which underwent five passages in mice but treated with PBS. The resistance phenotype was maintained in LLC cells after the tumor cells were expanded for a number of passages in vitro, indicating that the resistance was due to inherited alterations in tumor cells. To gain insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the resistance to anti-VEGF therapy, we compared transcriptome profiles of the resistant and non-resistant tumor cells using mRNA-seq. The next generation sequencing reads were aligned to mouse genome; gene transcripts were assembled and calculated for relative abundance for individual gene. Results showed that 644 genes were differentially expressed with statistically significances, 317 up-regulated and 327 down-regulated in the resistant tumor cells. Interestingly, VEGF-C was significantly up-regulated in the resistant tumor cells (fold change = 4.91), which was further verified by real-time PCR analysis. Given the stimulatory effects of VEGF-C on both angiogenesis and lymphatic angiogenesis, it is possible that VEGF-C over-expression plays a role in the development of LLC tumor resistance to anti-VEGF therapy.

Citation Format: Dong Li, Kun Xie, Guitao Ding, Hongwen Li, Xuejing Yao, Cizhong Jiang, Jianmin Fang. Transcriptome analyses of the tumor cell line resistant to anti-VEGF therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1611. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1611


SEESKIN, Kenneth. Jewish Messianic Thought in an Age of Despair. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. 222 pp. Cloth, $90.00-- Kenneth Seeskin's book is an important and brilliant phenomenological analysis of the messianic idea in Jewish thought. This conclusion is based, first of all, on what the book is not: it was neither written as a historical enquiry, nor was it meant to break new ground in intellectual history. The first chapter, for instance, which focuses mainly on the bible and the Rabbinic literature, does not contribute new knowledge to scholars in these fields. The second chapter on Maimonides offers no insights not known to Maimonides scholars. In the following chapters, Judaism is represented mainly by Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, and Emmanuel Levinas. At times the book gives greater weight to the ethical and historical thought of Kant and Hegelian dialectical history than to Jewish thinkers. The reader therefore cannot but assume that Seeskin seeks the essential dimension of Jewish messianism. According to the phenomenology of religion, the various theologies are an expression of the essence of religion; thus Maimonidean rationalism and Kabbalah, for instance, are merely different expressions of the same essence of Judaism. Seeskin attempts to examine the standing and validity of the messianic idea in Judaism, chiefly in light of the events of the twentieth century. A problematic aspect of the book, in my opinion, lies in the manner of selecting these conceptions. To take a minor, but representative, example: the author writes that, according to Gershom Scholem, the internalism of Hasidism is a response to Sabbateanism. He did not mention that a series of scholars, notably Isaiah Tishby and Moshe Idel, differed from Scholem and spoke of externalistic messianic dimensions within Hasidism. Seeskin himself acknowledges the existence of two central approaches in Jewish thought. On the one hand, there is the apocalyptic and mythical approach, which is concerned with a fantastic messianic world that replaces the existing world. On the other hand, there is the naturalistic, that is, internalistic and rational, which is oriented to worldly and personal redemption. Seeskin's phenomenological analysis is not based on sources that tend toward apocalyptic and mythical messianism, and indirectly, it is depreciative of them. But the presence of the apocalyptic and mythical sources is no less, and even more, powerful than the naturalistic and internalistic ones. Even if Seeskin, following Jacob Neusner, is correct when he states that the Mishnaic and Talmudic sources did not afford significant place to messianism, the apocalyptic literature that was composed in that same period and that was based on the same Mishnaic and Talmudic figures gave pride of place to messianism without question. …


A new class of benzodioxocycloalkane-based (C8–C10) liquid crystals were prepared. The impact of ring (C8–C10) as end group was investigated. The 8–9 membered ring derivatives, 3a–3b, exhibited the nematic phases (N). The mesomorphic behaviors were weakened with increasing the size of the ring. For the ?uorinated medium ring (C8–C10) 3d–3f, it was found only the fluorinated ten membered ring 3f showed the LC phases behaviours. Modification of the ring size with different length alkyl groups and variation of the alkyl to polyfluoroalkyl markedly influenced the properties of these compounds.


The Wasserstein distance between two probability measures on a metric space is a measure of closeness with applications in statistics, probability, and machine learning. In this work, we consider the fundamental question of how quickly the empirical measure obtained from $n$ independent samples from $\mu$ approaches $\mu$ in the Wasserstein distance of any order. We prove sharp asymptotic and finite-sample results for this rate of convergence for general measures on general compact metric spaces. Our finite-sample results show the existence of multi-scale behavior, where measures can exhibit radically different rates of convergence as $n$ grows.


Pay day lending has become controversial as activists, such as the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), attempt to restrict its growth. A review of information maintained by the Oklahoma regulatory authority reveals that CRL misrepresents data in order to further its reform agenda. As a component of alternative financial services, payday loans represent a Secondary Financial Market through which borrowers unable, or unwilling, to access the Primary Financial Market can obtain credit. Regulation of payday lending is a more pragmatic approach than prohibition.


In this chapter, the governing flow equations for oneand two-dimensional unsteady flows that are solved in the diffusion hydrodynamic model (DHM) are presented along with the relevant assumptions. A step-by-step derivation of the simplified equations which are based on continuity and momentum principles are detailed. Characteristic features of the explicit DHM numerical algorithm are discussed.


Abstract Abstract We present a specimen preparation procedure for atom-probe tomography using SemGlu from Kleindiek Nanotechnik, an adhesive that hardens under electron beam irradiation. The SemGlu adhesive is used in place of focused-ion-beam-induced deposition of organo-metallic Pt, W, or C to form a bond between the sample and the substrate during the specimen preparation procedure. We demonstrate the utility of this adhesive-based specimen preparation technique with a correlated atom-probe tomography-scanning transmission electron microscopy study of the iron-nickel alloy kamacite (ferrite, ɑ-iron) in the Bristol iron meteorite and two steel specimens.


Leaf and twig dieback of Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) was observed since 2006 in two orchards in Zhejiang Province (China). A gram positive bacterium was frequently isolated alone or in combination with Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae from naturally infected twigs of field-grown pears. Inoculation of twigs with this bacterium resulted in the death of leaves and petioles as well as in twig dieback. The bacterium was identified as a Bacillus species (possibly Bacillus pumilus) by a polyphasic approach, including physiological and biochemical properties, carbon source utilization profile, fatty acid methyl esters and analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence. This is the first report of the possible involvement of B. pumilus in leaf and twig dieback of Asian pear in China.


OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of cystomanometry alone in the diagnosis of periurethral detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in patients with suprasacral spinal cord lesion. METHODS: Cystomanometry and selective electromyography were performed to evaluate the periurethral sphincter of 40 patients (16 female and 24 male; mean age 46.6 years) with suprasacral spinal cord injury diagnosed by neurological evaluation. RESULTS: The pre-test probability of having dyssynergia was 0.45. The post-test probability, with cystomanometrically demonstrated hyperreflexia, was 0.58. The likelihood ratio utilizing cystomanometry alone was 1.69. CONCLUSION: Cystomanometry alone is not useful in the diagnosis of periurethral detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in patients with suprasacral spinal cord injury. Periurethral electromyography should be used in combination with the foregoing technique.


BACKGROUND
Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition characterised by marked thickening of the aortic wall, peri-aneurysmal and retroperitoneal fibrosis, and dense adhesions of adjacent abdominal organs. The pathogenesis of IAAA remains an enigma. The main aim of invasive or surgical therapy of AAAs is prevention or correction of aortic rupture. Prevention or treatment of AAA rupture by open or endovascular repair is proven by numerous studies published in the literature. Treatment of IAAA poses a different challenge to surgeons compared with traditional atherosclerotic AAA because of the potential for iatrogenic injury in open repair or, alternatively, potential increased inflammatory response to endoprosthesis implantation.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of elective endovascular versus open repair for inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms.

SEARCH METHODS
The Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group Trials Search Co-ordinator (TSC) searched the Specialised Register (April 2015) and the Cochrane Register of Studies (CRS) (2015, Issue 3). The TSC searched trial databases for details of ongoing and unpublished studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We sought all published and unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs and controlled clinical trials comparing results of elective endovascular or open repair of IAAAs without language restriction.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Both review authors independently assessed studies identified for potential inclusion in the review. We planned to conduct data collection and analysis in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Review of Interventions.

MAIN RESULTS
We identified no studies that met the inclusion criteria.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
We found no published RCTs, quasi RCTs or controlled clinical trials comparing open repair and elective endovascular repair for IAAA, assessing immediate (30-day), intermediate (up to one-year follow-up) and long-term (more than one-year follow-up) mortality or complications rates. High-quality studies evaluating the best treatment for inflammatory abdominal aneurysm repair are required.


Acceptance testing is highly dependent on the formulation of requirements, as
 the final system is tested against user requirements. It is thus highly
 desirable to be able to automate transition from requirements to acceptance
 tests. In this paper we present a model-driven approach to this issue, where
 detailed use case models are transformed into test cases. Importantly, our
 approach facilitates synchronising functional test cases with other types of
 tests (non-functional, domain logic, user interface) and introducing test
 data. This leads to a unified approach where requirements models of various
 kind drive the acceptance testing process. This process is parallel to the
 development process which also involves automatic transformations from
 requirements models to software development artefacts (models and code). To
 show validity of the approach we present a case study which uses a new tool
 called ReDSeT, that transforms requirements formulated in the Requirements
 Specification Language (RSL) into tests in a newly proposed Test
 Specification Language (TSL).


Ba4ZnzCo2_zFe36O60 hexaferrites with Z = 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.0 were prepared by a citrate sol-gel process.The complex dielectric constant and complex permeability of hexaferrite-paraffin wax composites were measured in the range from 0.1 to 6.0 GHz. Measured results showed that both the complex dielectric constant and the dielectric loss exhibited no significant change as the measuring frequency increasing except for the sample with Z = 0.0. The real part of permeability decreased with increasing frequency for all samples in the whole measuring frequency range, and the natural resonance phenomena were observed in allμ' spectrum but Co2U. The results also indicate that the content of zinc closely affects the microwave properties of Ba4ZnzCo2_zFe36O60 felTites, and the greater the zinc content, the lower the natural resonance frequency is.


In the pursuit of obtaining largest graphs of given maximum degree Δ and diameter D, many construction techniques have been developed. Compounding of graphs is one such technique. In this article, by means of the compounding of complete graphs into a bipartite Moore graph of diameter 6, we obtain a family of large graphs of the same diameter. For maximum degrees Δ = 5, 6, 9, 12, and 14, members of this family constitute the largest known graphs of diameter 6. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009


Abstract. The Accademia Pilot Project concerns one of the lesser known buildings of Hadrian's Villa, the Accademia, which is still in private property and is not open to the public. One of the most significant and unique features of this building – and of the whole Villa – is a network of subterranean service corridors, which was seldom studied. For the first time we used Geophysics at Hadrian's Villa, to explore the subterranean tunnels of the Accademia and reconstruct their layout. The survey was done by archaeologist Anna Maria Marras for her Master thesis in Geo-technology (Marras, 2008) and gave very interesting results.


To obtain the best taste of woodland strawberries (Fragaria vesca) at the moment of consumption, it is essential to analyse the dynamics of sugar accumulation during ripening transition stages and explore how to control sucrose reserves after harvest. For this purpose, we analysed the accumulation of major sugars, sucrose-related olygomers and the expression of homologues genes involved in sucrose metabolism in attached strawberries at different ripening stages and after harvest. Measurements were taken during early and late phases of low temperature storage (LT) with and without CO2 pretreatment and further shelf-life at 20 oC (SL). Our results show an increase in major sugars and sucrose in dark red (DR) strawberries associated with up-regulation of FvSPS1 and down-regulation of FvVINV2. The CO2-treated fruit showed high levels of sucrose, an FvSS1 up-regulation together with a modulation of homologues of FvVINV. Moreover, fruit treated with CO2 during SL (LTC) revealed a reduction in FvVINV homologue expression maintaining the sucrose reserves. High amounts in fructose and myo-inositol at LTC were observed, following a similar trend to that found in DR strawberries. We suggest that CO2 pre-treatment promotes a carbohydrate conserving state which has important implications for reducing weight loss and preserving sweetness.


A new calibration method related to a twin-type microcalorimeter is proposed for high-frequency power sensors. This method is based on intrinsic compensation of feeding line losses, operation that results in a unitary-gain microcalorimeter, whose mathematical model becomes similar to that of the lossless ideal system. Moreover, the time-consuming procedure required for a proper and autonomous microcalorimeter calibration, based on short or open-circuit load, is not necessary, and the microcalorimeter mount-dismount operation between raw measurements and microcalorimeter calibration steps disappears. The overall measurement time becomes about two times shorter when this system is used for the effective efficiency calibration of power sensors.


The continuous proliferation of churches in Nigeria has steered up concerns among adherents of religious faiths, onlookers and scholars alike. Nigerian society today is experiencing significant constant proliferation of churches which has brought not only changing values, but also source of solutions to people's problems. The origin of this phenomenon could be traced to Martin Luther's 95 theses which sparked off religious revolution in 16th century Europe. This reform gave rise to the formation of the Lutherans, the Anglicans, Methodist and the Presbyterians. The Pentecostals and the independent churches which proliferated at last also joined. In Nigeria some of them started to show up towards the end of the 19th century. Proliferation of churches means multiplicity of Christian religious groups with each founder claiming divine origin of his or her ministry. However, this paper has established other factors rather than divine call for church proliferation. The paper also tried to explore church proliferation in Nigeria pointing out its negative effects and solutions were suggested on how to curtail the trend to avoid it being blown out of proportion.


Highlights in the development of administrative roles for medical technologists have been reviewed. The profession of medical technology advanced through successive increments of education, responsibility, and authority. At the national level the active participation on Boards and agencies led to recognition and respect for the profession. Early in their history, medical technologists were given responsibility for teaching, then for educational administration. Not until the 1940s were medical technologists given roles as laboratory supervisors. After World War II, technology burgeoned, and in the 1950s and 60s articles indicated the extent to which medical technologists were delegated administrative roles at all levels. In the 1960s bachelor's degree and advanced degree programs recognized the need to prepare graduates for roles in management. This preparation in turn set the stage for greater participation in administrative activities.


Cyanobacteria are a group of bacteria that obtain their energy by photosynthesis and play a significant role in the breakdown of herbicides in nature. In this study, experiments were performed for a period of 15 days with 12 cyanobacteria obtained from different aquatic environments and three herbicides commonly used in agriculture {2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), Trifluralin and Linuron}. The herbicides were pipetted at certain concentrations into BG11 broth. The herbicide resistance of the 12 cyanobacteria was determined by using Chlorophyll-a measurement, rate of growth assessment, the probit analysis and the results of the lethal concentration test (LC 10;50). According to the LC10 values at day 15; the Synechocystis sp. strain number 6 in the 2,4-D environment, the Synechococcus sp. strain number 41 in the Trifluralin environment, and the Chroococcus sp. strain number 4 in the Linuron environment, were determined to be resistant to the concentrations of herbicide. According to the day 15 values, the Synechocystis sp. strain number 6 was determined to be resistant to three different herbicide concentrations in the 2,4-D, Trifluralin and Linuron environments. Since it is a study that contributes to the protection of the environment, we intended for this study to set a new precedent for other studies.


The article analyzes data from a Contingent Valuation survey that we conduced in 2014 among 402 households in low-income settlements of Abidjan in order firstly, to identify the determinants of stated demand for an informal waste collection service and secondly, to evaluate the benefits of using this service on different impact variables linked to human development. Indeed, households are exposed to negative externalities (odours, insects, health risks, loss of quality of life) that could lead them wish to offset the loss of utility with an individual investment in the informal service. The article contributes to the academic literature and gives recommendations in terms of economic policy applied to the waste sector in Africa. Firstly, our study identifies the determinants of stated demand for the informal service and the ability of households to finance an improved service. Secondly, the article evaluates the beneficial effects of using the informal service by the propensy score method. We evaluate the impact of the use of the informal service on the monthly amount that households are willing to pay for the improved service. We quantify the benefits in terms of socioeconomic and human development.


BACKGROUND: There are multiple genetic routes to colorectal cancer, including chromosomal instability, mismatch repair dysfunction, and global hypermethylation. Few consider the possibility that multiple pathways are synchronously active. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that multiple synchronous carcinogenic pathways would result in an enhanced neoplastic phenotype. SETTING: This study took place during outpatient screening colonoscopy. PATIENTS: Patient were included who were undergoing colonoscopies for average and familial risk for colorectal cancer. DESIGN: Adenomas were evidence of chromosomal instability or DNA mismatch repair dysfunction, and serrated polyps of CpG island hypermethylation. Patients with 1 or 2 polyps were compared with those with >2 polyps, with polyps more than 10-mm diameter (advanced) as the end point. RESULTS: There were 1408 patients: 524 at average risk (41%) and 884 (59%) with a family history. Polyps were found in 47.7% of the average-risk patients and in 45.9% of patients with a family history. Adenoma detection rates were 33.8% and 30.4%, and serrated polyp detection rates were 24.8% and 23.9%. There were more advanced polyps in all patients with >2 polyps than in those with 1 or 2 (36.2% vs 13.6%, P < .002), as well as in the subgroup of patients having average-risk screening (50% vs 11.1%, P < .001). Having a combination of >2 adenomas and serrated polyps in the same colon increased the risk of finding advanced polyps compared with adenomas or serrated polyps alone (serrated polyps, 12.7%; >2 adenomas, 17.7%; both, 27.1%; P = .02). LIMITATIONS: Serrated polyps were not subclassified by histology. CONCLUSION: Coexistence of serrated and adenomatous polyps reflects a colon prone to advanced polyps, and potentially cancer.


The article is devoted to senoman-kelovey groundwater complex chemical composition and quality changes investigation in Kyiv on the basis of mathematical-statistical methods and GIS-technologies using. Regularities of groundwater chemical composition changes in Kyiv at quantitative and qualitative level were revealed, city typification on the basis of geomorphology indication was implemented.


This five-layered model consisting of 180 neurons is aimed at simulating some elementary functions of primary visual cortex of mammals in form detection. Its main achievements are: 1. Detection of points, lines, simple geometric figures in the V1 2. Abstraction of 19 different qualities of geometric figures 3. Simulation and rational explanation of processing of peripheral stimuli in the V1, explanation of mechanism of origin of visual ERPs, including P300 wave 4. Simulation and explanation of the nature and build up of the cognitive function within V1 and its possible relation to long-term memory 5. The model is based partly on Hebb-type synapses, illustrates the role of neuronal assemblies , sheds light on the functional relationship of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, in their conformity with special tasks of different cortical layers.


Drought is a natural phenomenon that has great impacts on the economy, society and environment. Therefore, the determination, monitoring and characterization of droughts are of great significance in water resources planning and management. The purpose of this study is to investigate the spatial drought characterizations of Seyhan River basin in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. The standardized precipitation index (SPI) was calculated from monthly precipitation data at 12-month time scale for 19 meteorological stations scattered over the river basin. Drought with the largest severity in each year is defined as the critical drought of the year. Frequency analysis was applied on the critical drought to determine the best-fit probability distribution function by utilizing the total probability theorem. The sole frequency analysis is insufficient in drought studies unless it is numerically related to other factors such as the severity, duration and intensity. Also, SPI is a technical tool and thus difficult to understand at first glance by end-users and decision-makers. Precipitation deficit defined as the difference between precipitation threshold at SPI = 0 and critical precipitation is therefore more preferable due to its usefulness and for being physically more meaningful to the users. Precipitation deficit is calculated and mapped for 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month drought durations and 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50- and 100-year return periods at 12-month time scale from the frequency analysis of the critical drought severity. The inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation technique is used for the spatial distribution of precipitation deficit over the Seyhan River basin. The spatial and temporal characteristics of drought suggest that the Seyhan River Basin in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey experiences quite mild and severe droughts in terms of precipitation deficit. The spatial distribution would alter greatly with increasing return period and drought duration. While the coastal part of the basin is vulnerable to droughts at all return periods and drought durations, the northern part of the basin would be expected to be less affected by the drought. Another result reached in this study is that it could be common for one point in the basin to suffer dry conditions, whilst surrounding points in the same basin experience normal or even humid conditions. This reinforces the importance of spatial analysis over the basin under investigation instead of the point-scale temporal analysis made in each of the meteorological stations. With the use of spatial mapping of drought, it is expected that the destructive and irreversible effects of hydrological droughts can be realized in a more physical sense.


The nation-states have been attempting large number of policy measures to institutionalize contract farming as a solution to the problems of agricultural development. This paper examines the role of the Thai state in the promotion of contract farming for agricultural development. After a review of the literature on the role of contract farming, it analyses the role of the Thai state in contract farming and finds that although the state intervened intensively in contract situations, and contracting is widespread across crops and regions, contracting has not led to desirable consequences and remains a predominantly farmer—company relationship with the intermediation of middlemen. The paper concludes with lessons for contract farming policy with focus on the nature and quality of the role of the state.


The Emergence of Television as a Conservative Media Revolution: Historicising a Process of Remediation in the Post-War Western European Mass Media Ensemble This article claims that the emergence of television in the 1950s must be interpreted as a conservative media revolution. It aims at revisiting some of the popular narratives about the emergence of television as a revolutionary moment in media history and questions the newness of television in the European mass media ensemble. Focusing on a set of privileged sites of negotiation where the tensions between the conservative and modernising agencies of the medium became most visible or explicit, the article emphasizes the ambiguous and contested nature of television as a new medium. Finally, the author pleas for an integral approach to media history that studies the intermedial relationships and interdependencies between television and other mass media.


Sodium bicarbonate cotransporter 1 (NBC1) mediates 80% of bicarbonate reabsorption by the kidney, but the molecular determinants for activity, targeting, and cell membrane stability are poorly understood. We generated truncation mutants involving the entire NH(2) (DeltaN424) or the entire COOH (DeltaC92) terminus and examined the effects of these truncations on targeting, cell membrane stability, and NBC1 activity. DeltaN424 and DeltaC92 targeted to the plasma membrane of HEK293 cells or to the basolateral membrane of opossum kidney (OK) cells at 24 h but did not display NBC1 activity. Unlike the NBC1 wild-type and the DeltaN424, DeltaC92 expression was significantly decreased in the basolateral membrane at 48 h and yet the total DeltaC92 expression in the cell was constant. We found that decreased DeltaC92 expression in the basolateral membrane was due to increased endocytosis and mistargeting to the apical membrane. Increased endocytosis was prevented when both DeltaN424 and DeltaC92 were cotransfected together and more stable expression of DeltaC92 was observed. Immunoprecipitation studies using NBC1 antibody specific for the COOH epitope were able to detect the COOH truncated NBC1 when probed with NH(2) epitope-specific antibody or vice versa. Similar findings were observed with Ni-NTA pull-down assay. Cotransfection of both mutants partially restored NBC1 activity. In summary, NBC1 targets to the basolateral membrane of OK cells by a default mechanism and the COOH terminus plays a role on NBC1 stability in the basolateral membrane.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an update of the Special Issue's field of research, give the structure of the Special Issue and introduce the papers in the collection, including management issues. Design/methodology/approach – A review of the Call for Papers and further research and a presentation of papers in the Special Issue paying attention to original contribution, research and management recommendations. Findings – This Special Issue is making a solid contribution to the field in not only addressing ageing and the ageing generation, but focusing strongly on the way both the ageing generation and other generations such as Gen Y and Gen X affect organisational dynamics, structure and career management. Originality/value – Original research brought together in a multi-faceted way outlining the challenges as well as management agendas for the organisation.


QUESTION
Can information literacy (IL) be embedded into the curriculum and clinical environment to facilitate patient care and lifelong learning?

SETTING
The Australian School of Advanced Medicine (ASAM) provides competence-based programs incorporating patient-centred care and lifelong learning. ASAM librarians use outcomes-based educational theory to embed and assess IL into ASAM's educational and clinical environments.

METHODS
A competence-based IL program was developed where learning outcomes were linked to current patients and assessed with checklists. Weekly case presentations included clinicians' literature search strategies, results, and conclusions. Librarians provided support to clinicians' literature searches and assessed their presentations using a checklist.

MAIN RESULTS
Outcome data showed clinicians' searching skills improved over time; however, advanced MEDLINE searching remained challenging for some. Recommendations are provided.

CONCLUSION
IL learning that takes place in context using measurable outcomes is more meaningful, is enduring, and likely contributes to patient care. Competence-based assessment drives learning in this environment.


Serotonin syndrome (SS) is a life-threatening adverse reaction that can result from the therapeutic use of serotonergic drugs or accidental drug interactions. Tramadol is a drug that is widely prescribed because of its low abuse potential, but physicians need to be aware of its significant potential to cause SS because it inhibits serotonin reuptake. Ziprasidone is an atypical antipsychotic that can also cause dangerous interactions to cause SS because it is not only a potent 5-HT1A agonist but also has been reported to inhibit serotonin reuptake with an affinity similar to tricyclic antidepressants, in addition to inhibiting reuptake of norepinephrine. We are describing the clinical characteristics of a gentleman with bipolar disorder and Parkinson disease who presented with SS, despite having a deep brain stimulator in the subthalamic nucleus, which decreases central serotonin levels, and a discussion of the factors that contributed to his presentation.


With the proliferation of cloud computing, security becomes a key issue. Code obfuscation is a promising approach in that domain. It has been proposed to make an adversary confused about understanding the program, thereby making attacks more difficult. In this paper, we propose a novel method which exploits multi-core processing to substantially increase the complexity of programs, complicating the original ones. At basic block level, this method automatically partitions any serial thread into an arbitrary number of parallel threads. Moreover, the program semantics are preserved through using guards, guaranteeing that one basic-block be active at a time. Our method allows for $m^n$ possible combinations for a given program, for $m$ threads and $n$ basic-blocks, which significantly complicates the execution state, as well as changes the layout of basic blocks in memory. We provide a proof of correctness of the algorithm, as well as an implementation within the LLVM framework. For a naive implementation, a slow down of 10-130 is measured depending on the communication distance among threads, while code similarity (as a measure of complexity) is less than 2% in most cases. We further explore the effect of a thread affined loop assignment on performance; promising results indicate a maximum of three times slowdown, with negligible change in complexity.


This Diabcare-Asia project was initiated to study the status of diabetes care and prevalence of diabetic complications in Asia and this study was done to evaluate the above in primary private healthcare in Malaysia. A total of 49 private clinics participated in this study from which a total of 438 patients were included and analysed. The majority of patients (96.5%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus and 81.4% had BMI > or =23 kg/m2. Only 12.0% of the patients had their HbA1c measured in the preceding 12 months. As for glycaemic control only 20% of the patients had HbA1c <7% and 11% had FPG < 6.7 mmol/L. As for lipid levels, only 12.3% of the patients had total cholesterol < 4.8 mmol/L; 30.9% had HDL-cholesterol > 1.2 mmol/L and 49.8% had triglycerides < 1.7 mmol/L. Despite the high proportion of patients having dyslipidaemia. only 12.4% of the patients were on lipid lowering therapy. As for blood pressure, 55.9% of the patients had systolic pressure > or =140 mmHg and 40.9% had diastolic pressure > or =90 mmHg. However, only 32.4% of the patients were on antihypertensive medication. Only 37.4% of the patients admitted to adhering to diabetic diet regularly and 32.0% exercised regularly. As for glucose monitoring only 6.9% of the patients did home blood glucose monitoring and 6.2% did home urine glucose. There was also a high complication rate with the commonest being neuropathy (30.1%) followed by background retinopthy (23.5%), albuminuria (22.9%) and microalbuminuria (20.4%). In conclusion, the majority of diabetic patients treated at the primary care level were not satisfactorily controlled and this was associated with a high prevalence of complications. There is an urgent need to educate both patients and health care personnel on the importance of achieving the clinical targets and greater effort must be made to achieve these targets.


The influence of different modifiers, P2O5, K2O, Al2O3, SiO2, CeO2, and ZrO2, on the optical properties and photostability of rutile titanium dioxide was studied. The research was aimed at obtaining pigmentary rutile titanium dioxide with the enhanced photostability. The optical properties such as brightness, white tone, and gray tone were improved when titanium dioxide samples were modified with zirconium instead of cerium. Titanium dioxide products modified additionally with Al2O3 displayed improved optical properties by comparison with appropriate titanium dioxide products lacking introduced aluminum. In comparison with unmodified material (∆E* = 21.8), a considerable increase of the photostability of modified titanium dioxide was observed. The lowest photoactivity, in the range of ∆E* = 0.96–2.45, was measured for the TiO2-PKAlSiCe series. A selective leaching method and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were used to determine the distribution of modifiers in titanium dioxide materials. It was concluded that the differences in both photoactivity and optical properties of modified titanium dioxide depend on its phase composition.


Abnormal network traffic has a very great harm to the network, so we need to quickly detect abnormal traffic. However, the existing detection methods take a lot of computational overhead, which will make it hard to meet the real-time requirement. This paper presents a distributed network traffic anomaly detection algorithm based on sliding window, which uses decomposable principal component analysis to handle network traffic signals. Through sliding time window, traffic anomaly detection will be limited to the specified scope of time. This significantly reduces the amount of data analysis to improve the speed of anomaly detection. Using the dataset from real network to simulate, we validate that the proposed algorithm is effective and feasible.


Brick kiln industry is an unorganised and seasonal industry in India. Brick workers live in unhygienic conditions. Brick kiln industry is a place full of hazards. Brick workers are directly and indirectly affected with hazards. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Bijainagar and Bandanwara area. This paper examined the socioeconomic status of workers, their living conditions, types of work, duration of work, job satisfaction, welfare facilities, reason of working in kiln, health status, and awareness among workers to identify the factors associated with safety of workers. Simple random sampling was used to select participants from each selected brick kiln. A total of 100 workers with at least one-year experience were selected for the study. The data were collected through face-to-face interview from structured questionnaire. The results revealed that maximum age group of workers were found in 26–35 years. Muscular pain and breathing problem were generally found among brick kiln workers. The working hours of workers were nearly 12 h. Their wages were distributed according to their activities in brick kiln. They have no health insurance, not aware about health. Poverty is the main reason to join brick kiln industry. Brick workers suffered from unhygienic living environment and unsafe work environment. Keywords: unhygienic conditions, random sampling, muscular pain, breathing problem Cite this Article Agarwal V, Dutta S. Health-related Issues among Brick Kiln Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Bijainagar and Bandanwara Area, Ajmer, Rajasthan. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Health Professions . 2019; 9(2): 1–7p.


The NSW Soil Knowledge Network (SKN) is a small group of senior ex‐government soil scientists concerned that more needs to be done to improve soil management and stem land degradation with on‐ground extension and training workshops. Widespread attendance and positive feedback from SKN training courses and workshops indicate their extension success and confirm a strong demand for practical independent soil management advice aided by government‐based databases to enhance on‐site workshops. We argue that effective soil knowledge transfer requires interaction and discussion between soil scientists and land managers. This can bridge the gap between data and useful knowledge about soil and land management. The workshop format, where specific soil management issues of specific interest, such as soil acidity, nutrient management or soil sodicity, are discussed between land managers and soil scientists, has been a useful approach. A major concern is that soil scientists with knowledge and practical experience are getting older and fewer in number but few replacements are being appointed in private or government agencies. Also, despite soil electronic data and information being freely available, many land managers and advisors have difficulties accessing and translating soil data into relevant land management decisions. Dialogue with SKN members helps solve this problem because of their hands‐on and face‐to‐face approach with their audiences. The combination of data with effective soil knowledge transfer is successfully exhibited at SKN workshops for advisory groups and the 'pits and kits' field days as shown in the paper.


1. Young rats were offered to appetite a semi-synthetic diet either alone or containing the β2-selective agonist clenbuterol (4-amino-α[t-butylamino) methyl]-3, 5-dichlorobenzyl alcohol). 3. Male rats (starting weight 53 g) received clenbuterol at a daily oral dose of 200 pg/kg body-weight per d. Animals were slaughtered after 0, 4, 8, 11, 18, 21 and 25 d of treatment. At 4, 11, 21 and 25 d muscle protein synthesis was measured by the method of Garlick et al. (1980). Although clenbuterol increased the rate of protein and RNA accretion in gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, protein synthesis was not increased. 4. The results suggested that the drug had a rapid, perhaps direct, inhibitory effect on protein degradation. It is concluded that the growth-promoting effect of clenbuterol may be specific to muscle and that the drug may act in a novel manner which circumvents the physiological mechanisms responsible for the control of muscle growth.


This article is a critique of the broad ensemble which we identify as `learning discourse' and its pervasive ideological content which determines learning as a `good thing for all'. We consider how the signifier `learning' works as a nodal point which constitutes (legitimizes and sustains), yet glosses over, antagonistic and contradictory organizational and social practices. With our critique we endeavour to go beyond a simple rebuke or rebuttal. We, rather, point out the problematic nature of the truths engendered in `making the social' and constituting the promise of a learning society whose ambit encompasses learning in general, the learning organization and the political economy of the `knowledge economy'. By doing so we expose the political character of the learning discourse which, we argue, works as the surface of intelligibility pro-posing the reality of work, self-hood, citizenship and society. We antagonize its `no alternative' trope by questioning the equivalence it creates between social inclusion, competitiveness, employability, empowerment and personal development. Our critique makes explicit how it is possible, and why it is important, to be `against learning'.


Diarylethene-based photoswitches have become very popular over the last few decades for potential applications in chemistry, materials science, and bio-technology due to their unique physical and chemical properties. We report the isomeric separation of a diarylethene-based photoswitchable compound using high-performance liquid chromatography. The separated isomers were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and mass spectrometry confirmed the isomeric nature of the compounds. The isomers were purified by preparative HPLC, providing fractionated samples to study the isomers individually. A total amount of 13 mg of an isomer of interest was fractionated from a solution of 0.4 mg/mL of the isomeric mixture. Because the preparative HPLC method required large quantities of solvent, we explored the use of supercritical fluid chromatography as an alternative separation mode which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first time this technique is used to separate diarylethene-based photoswitchable compounds. Supercritical fluid chromatography provided faster analysis times while maintaining sufficient baseline resolution for the separated compounds and consuming less organic solvent in the mobile phase compared to HPLC. It is proposed that the supercritical fluid chromatographic method be upscaled and used in future fractionation of the diarylethene isomeric compounds, becoming a more environmentally benign approach for compound purification. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


The soft X-ray photoabsorption and total photoion yield spectra of atomic Cu have been determined in the range of the L-edges. At the L2 and L3 thresholds there are clearly visible jumps in the absorption cross section. Superimposed on this step-like increase are weak but in part surprisingly sharp structures. The atomic data are compared both to Hartree-Fock calculations and the soft X-ray absorption of copper metal.


In the present work, we investigate the efficiency of TiO2 photoelectrode layers on boron doped diamond foil (BDDF) in comparison with a classic conducting glass (FTO) back contact. Crystalline thin TiO2 layers were prepared on the substrates by two different methods: (i) deposition of metallic Ti thin films followed by thermal oxidation to form TiO2 (TO-TiO2), (ii) reactive sputter deposition of TiO2 thin films and crystallization of these layers (SP-TiO2). Optimized layers show that TO-TiO2 films on BDDF deliver a significantly higher incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) compared to directly sputtered SP-TiO2 layers and these layers on BDDF also outperform conducting glass (FTO) as a back contact. We ascribe this beneficial effect of the BDDF back contact to the formation of an intermediate conductive phase of Ti-carbides at the TO-TiO2/BDDF interface.


Resource allocation is a fundamental but challenging problem due to the complexity of cluster computing systems. In enterprise service computing, resource allocation is often associated with a service level agreement (SLA) which is a set of quality of services and a price agreed between a customer and a service provider. The SLA plays an important role in an e-business application. A service provider uses a set of computer resources to support e-business applications subject to an SLA. In this paper, we present an approach for computer resource allocation in such an environment that minimizes the total cost of computer resources used by a service provider for an e-business application while satisfying the quality of service (QoS) defined in an SLA. These QoS metrics include percentile response time, cluster utilization, packet loss rate and cluster availability. Simulation results show the applicability of the approach and validate its accuracy.


This study was conducted to investigate the nutritive values and secondary metabolites of some selected forage species (Diallium guinensis, Calopogonium mucunoides and Terminalia catappa) consumed by small ruminants. Results obtained showed significant (P < .05) variability in the values of Dry matter (77.56 – 84.53g/100g) in Terminalia catappa and Diallium guinensis, Moisture content (15.64 – 21.48 g/100g) in Diallium guinensis and Terminalia catappa, Crude protein (13.57 – 16.63 g/100g) in Terminalia catappa and Calopogonium mucunoides and Ash (4.51 – 7.16 g/100g) in Terminalia catappa and Calopogonium mucunoides respectively. Diallium guinensis had highest (4.10%) oxalate value while the least (P < .05) was noticed in Terminalia catappa (1.97%). Calopogonium mucunoides recorded highest NDF, ADF, ADL, Cellulose and hemicellulose (59.41, 45.38, 20.48, 24.9 and 14.03%) respectively among the selected forages. NDF ranged from 41.22% in Terminalia catappa to 53.69% in Diallium guinensis. This study showed that selected forage species are rich in the nutrient contents and have tolerable secondary metabolites which could be used as supplements to grasses during the raining and dry seasons to enhance the efficiency of small ruminant performance throughout the year.