A number of economic models have been applied to analyse the Common Agricultural Policy. The partial equilibrium models CAPRI, ESIM, AGLINK, AGMEMOD and CAPSIM and the general equilibrium models GLOBE and GTAP are currently integrated in a modelling platform for Agro-Economic Policy Analysis in the premises of the Joint Research Centre in Seville in close collaboration with Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Each of the models included has a specific focus, enlarging the capacity for complex policy analysis within this platform. This can be done by comparing the results of different models or by linking them, where several methodological options are available. This paper gives some insights on current applications in the field of model integration for agricultural policy analysis.


The major mutagenic base lesion in DNA caused by exposure to reactive oxygen species is 8-hydroxyguanine (8-oxo-7, 8-dihydroguanine). In bacteria and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this damaged base is excised by a DNA glycosylase with an associated lyase activity for chain cleavage. We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed a human cDNA with partial sequence homology to the relevant yeast gene. The encoded 47-kDa human enzyme releases free 8-hydroxyguanine from oxidized DNA and introduces a chain break in a double-stranded oligonucleotide specifically at an 8-hydroxyguanine residue base paired with cytosine. Expression of the human protein in a DNA repair-deficient E. coli mutM mutY strain partly suppresses its spontaneous mutator phenotype. The gene encoding the human enzyme maps to chromosome 3p25. These results show that human cells have an enzyme that can initiate base excision repair at mutagenic DNA lesions caused by active oxygen.


In a segmented peer-to-peer video-on-demand system the video file is split into a number of segments and the downloading of the video file proceeds in a more or less sequential manner from one segment to another (i.e., in stages). We present an analytical fluid model for such systems. Notably, for this model we derive an explicit condition when the system has a unique positive steady-state solution and that the viewing quality is acceptable. The analytical results are complemented with extensive simulations from the corresponding stochastic model, as well as traces from a more realistic BitTorrent simulator.


During pretraining, the Pre-LayerNorm transformer suffers from a gradient magnitude mismatch: gradients at early layers are much larger than at later layers. These issues can be alleviated by our proposed NormFormer architecture, which adds three normalization operations to each layer: a Layer Norm after self attention, head-wise scaling of self-attention outputs, and a Layer Norm after the first fully connected layer. The extra operations incur negligible compute cost (+0.4% parameter increase), but improve pretraining perplexity and downstream task performance for both causal and masked language models ranging from 125 Million to 2.7 Billion parameters. For example, adding NormFormer on top of our strongest 1.3B parameter baseline can reach equal perplexity 24% faster, or converge 0.27 perplexity better in the same compute budget. This model reaches GPT3-Large (1.3B) zero shot performance 60% faster. For masked language modeling, NormFormer improves fine-tuned GLUE performance by 1.9% on average. Code to train NormFormer models is available in fairseq https://github.com/pytorch/fairseq/tree/main/examples/normformer .


In order to analyze the gas decomposition products under partial discharge by quality and by quantity, designed a 126kV AC industrial frequency power supply, a GIS partial discharge testing platform and a gas detection system, simulated the fault model of ground discharge, used pulse current method on discharge intensity monitor, concluded the characteristic of the concentrations of decomposition as well as its change in concentrations over time. The experimental results indicate that: SF6 gas decomposed into SOF2, SO2, S2OF10; SOF2, SO2 under partial discharge, this procedure has positive correlation with PD duration and partial discharge severity, adsorbent also has effects to the decomposition products. Keywords-partial discharge; SF6; decomposition components; gas analysis; defect


Abstract. The probability of heavy rains and river floods is expected to increase with time in the Northern Caucasus region. Densely populated areas in the valleys of small mountainous watersheds already frequently suffer from catastrophic peak floods caused by intense rains at higher elevations. This study aimed at assessing the flood characteristics of several small basins in the piedmont area of the Caucasus Mountains adjacent to the Black Sea coast including ungauged Cemes River in the Novorossiysk city. The Deterministic-Stochastic Modelling System which consists of hydrological model Hydrograph and stochastic weather generator was applied to evaluate extreme rainfall and runoff characteristics of 1% exceedance probability. Rainfall intensity is shown to play more significant role than its depth in formation of extreme flows within the studied region.


It is important implications to understand correctly hydrogeology characteristics of aquifers and aquifuge in unconsolidated layers bottom for reasonable retainment of safe coal rock pillar. In this paper, by means of drilling data statistics, X-ray diffraction(XRD), soil test and pumping test, aquifers and aquifuge Hydrogeology characteristics in Cenozoic unconsolidated layers bottom of SunTuan coal mine 102 mining area are comprehensively analyzed. It draw the conclusion that impermeability of "3rd-aquifuge" is good; "4th-aquifer" is weak permeable aquifer. These results have guiding significance for extending the upper extraction limit of mining area, and provide important protection for green exploitation of shallow seam covered with thin bedrock.


Consequences of Navie-Sticks and Lame-Dyuamel-Neiman linearized equations are received on the base of mathematical analogy of methods of viscous and elastic mediums models construction. At the same time the components of curl's vectors satisfy diffusion equation independently of condensability properties of viscous medium in frame of using in work the linearized formulation of physical-mathematical model of viscous medium. Received equations include both as adiabatic as isothermal processes, which can conduct mechanical interactions depending on meanings of parameters characterized medium, and, consequently, can be used as for isoentropic (in case of reversible processes adiabatic) as for isothermal processes.


Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis belong to an autoimmune mediated, civilizing diseases having a rise of incidence. The cause of both disease is still unknown with undoubted importance of diet, a lifestyle and using ofantimicrobial drugs in the last fifty years. The rational therapy is based to use the drugs with high anti-inflammatory efficacy. The choice of therapy is driven due to disease course in individual patient. The integral part of patients follow up are activities directing to minimize of drug's side effects.


Thermodynamic conditions (first of all, temperature) are the main dynamic factors in the transformation process of ferrous to ferric iron (TFFI). TFFI usually takes place within a temperature range of 473–843 K (most active at temperatures above 673 K) and does not require presence of the oxidizing agents above 673 K. Analysis of the chemical composition of different rocks and minerals indicates that only for some sedimentary rocks is the relative content of ferrous iron oxide less than its value in magnetite, and this value is minimal for oceanic sediments. The relative content of ferrous iron oxide in oceanic magmatic rocks exceeds this value in continental magmatic rocks and depends on the rate of rock cooling. An investigation of the role of the titanium oxide content of different rocks on stability of ferrous iron oxide against its transformation to ferric iron oxide shows that a significant correlation (r = 0.79) does exist between the relative content of ferrous iron oxide and ratio of TiO2/Fe2O3. Temperature within the solar nebula at location of the Earth was within the temperature range of the TFFI. During the Earth accretion and its early evolution, ferric iron oxide was unstable and most likely did not exist. The first magnetic minerals containing ferric iron could have appeared only after the Earth's surface had cooled below ∼843 K. The formation of the first Algoma-type banded iron formations could be used as a marker of the Earth's surface cooling below ∼843 K.


Innovative therapies for solid tumors are urgently needed. Recently, therapies that harness the host immune system to fight cancer cells have successfully treated a subset of patients with solid tumors. These responses have been strong and durable but observed in subsets of patients. Work from our group and others has shown that epigenetic therapy, specifically inhibiting the silencing DNA methylation mark, activates immune signaling in tumor cells and can sensitize to immune therapy in murine models. Here we show that colon and ovarian cancer cell lines exhibit lower expression of transcripts involved in antigen processing and presentation to immune cells compared to normal tissues. In addition, treatment with clinically relevant low doses of DNMT inhibitors (that remove DNA methylation) increases expression of both antigen processing and presentation and Cancer Testis Antigens in these cell lines. We confirm that treatment with DNMT inhibitors upregulates expression of the antigen processing and presentation molecules B2M, CALR, CD58, PSMB8, PSMB9 at the RNA and protein level in a wider range of colon and ovarian cancer cell lines and treatment time points than had been described previously. In addition, we show that DNMTi treatment upregulates many Cancer Testis Antigens common to both colon and ovarian cancer. This increase of both antigens and antigen presentation by epigenetic therapy may be one mechanism to sensitize patients to immune therapies.


Compilers use control flow graph (CFG) representations of low-level programs because they are suited to program analysis and optimizations. However, formalizing the behavior and metatheory of CFG programs is non-trivial: CFG programs don't compose well, their semantics depends on auxiliary state, and, as a consequence, they do not enjoy a simple equational theory that can be used for reasoning about the correctness of program transformations. Lambda-calculus-based intermediate representations, in contrast, have well-understood operational semantics and metatheory, including rich equational theories, all of which makes them amenable to formal verification.
This paper establishes a tight equivalence between (a variant of) Levy's call-by-push-value (CBPV) calculus and a control flow graph machine whose instructions are in static single assignment (SSA) form. The correspondence is made precise via a series of abstract machines that align the transitions of the structural operational semantics of the CBPV language with the computation steps of the SSA form.
The target machine, which is derived from the CBPV language, accurately captures the execution model of control flow graphs, including direct jumps, mutually recursive code blocks, and multi-argument function calls, and the closure-free subset is similar to the SSA intermediate representations found in modern compilers such as LLVM and GCC. The definitions of all the language/abstract machine semantics and the theorems relating them are fully verified in Coq.


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

Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and is most prevalent in developed countries. The androgen signaling pathway plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of the prostate gland and is hyper-activated in prostate cancer. Additionally, gain of function mutations in the PI3 kinase pathway is associated with progression of this disease. Using the prostate-specific Pten -deleted mouse model of cancer, we show that these two pathways are distinct for tumor growth and disease progression. Depletion of androgens by either surgical or chemical castration significantly inhibits tumor growth without altering the activation of Akt and mTOR. We demonstrate that inhibition of mTOR with ridaforolimus or inhibition of Akt with MK-2206, combined with androgen deprivation (bicalutamide), results in additive anti-tumor effects in vivo when compared to single agent treatment. In this model, we also demonstrate that Akt inhibition does not block mTOR kinase activation, and that inhibiting both Akt and mTOR kinases together significantly enhances anti-tumor efficacy. Our data suggest that the combination of an anti-androgen with an mTOR inhibitor and/or Akt inhibitor may be more effective than standard therapies in treating androgen-dependent prostate cancer patients with an activated PI3 kinase pathway.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-284.


Blood parasites rupture mature red blood cells and so reduce haemoglobin concentration and hence the potential activity levels of infected males. We examined blood parasites and haemoglobin concentration in the superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) across three years and six locations in South Australia. We tested the prediction that males in nuptial plumage have more blood parasites and hence lower haemoglobin concentration than males in eclipsed plumage. Of 188 birds, 20 (10.6%) had blood parasites (Haemaproteus spp). We found that (1) there was an effect of season and sex on haemoglobin concentration; (2) there was no effect of haemoglobin concentration on prevalence of blood parasites or intensity; and (3) males in nuptial plumage had more blood parasites but higher haemoglobin concentration than eclipsed males.


ABSTRACT Screening of a library of Enterococcus faecalis insertional mutants allowed isolation of a mutant affected in tyramine production. The growth of this mutant was similar to that of the wild-type E. faecalis JH2-2 strain in Maijala broth, whereas high-performance liquid chromatography analyses showed that tyramine production, which reached 1,000 μg ml−1 for the wild-type strain, was completely abolished. Genetic analysis of the insertion locus revealed a gene encoding a decarboxylase with similarity to eukaryotic tyrosine decarboxylases. Sequence analysis revealed a pyridoxal phosphate binding site, indicating that this enzyme belongs to the family of amino acid decarboxylases using this cofactor. Reverse transcription-PCR analyses demonstrated that the gene (tdc) encoding the putative tyrosine decarboxylase of E. faecalis JH2-2 is cotranscribed with the downstream gene encoding a putative tyrosine-tyramine antiporter and with the upstream tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase gene. This study is the first description of a tyrosine decarboxylase gene in prokaryotes.


Internal contamination of personnel preparing 99mTc labeled radiopharmaceuticals was confirmed by detection of radioactivity in urine. Observation of work habits, whole-body scanner studies, nose swabs, and wipe tests in the hot laboratory demonstrated that: (a) contamination of the laboratory coat occurred during radiopharmaceutical preparation; (b) the degree of personnel contamination appeared to be higher among the short in stature; and (c) no gross evidence was found to indicate that internal contamination took place through an air-borne route. While the calculated internal radiation dose is minimal, even this could be avoided if particular precautionary practices are observed.


Senescence is a stable cell cycle arrest that is either tumor suppressive or tumor promoting depending on context. Epigenetic changes such as histone methylation are known to affect both the induction and suppression of senescence by altering expression of genes that regulate the cell cycle and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. A conserved group of proteins containing a Jumonji C (JmjC) domain alter chromatin state, and therefore gene expression, by demethylating histones. Here, we will discuss what is currently known about JmjC demethylases in the induction of senescence, and how these enzymes suppress senescence to contribute to tumorigenesis.


This work consists of developing a strawberry plant-based product, an anti-glycemic gelatin. The selected product is a vegan origin gelatin containing sinapic acid, extracted from the strawberry leaves. A Chemical Product Design (CPD) approach was used to satisfy the customers' needs with a new product. The main purpose of this gelatin is to value the strawberry leaves' wide variety of health properties, mainly its anti-glycemic property. After the definition of the production process, it was concluded that using the total amount of about 133 tons of dry strawberry leaves available per year in Portugal, it was possible to produce up to 26 million gelatin packets yearly. Finally, an economic analysis was performed to evaluate the product viability, resulting in profits from product sales from the third year forward. The net present value (NPV) and the internal rate of return (IRR) were also calculated, resulting in about 15 million euros and 30 %, respectively.


The existing social network privacy protection method mostly aims at the individuals of the social network, which cannot protect effectively the sensitive relations in the social network. Therefore, this paper proposes a new personalized K_L model. This model requires each sensitive relation with the sensitive relational point have l at least, and also the point with the same requirement has k at least. Thus, the attack has been resisted during the protection of the sensitive relations. Through seeking the most figure of merit sequence and considering individual sensitive attribute, the L-diversity method is applied so as to guarantee the least side and reduce the anonymous cost. Through the data set experiment, this paper proposes new personalized model K_L, which has the high anonymous quality and can effectively protect user's privacy in the social network.


Vapor compression systems (VCS) cover a wide range of applications and consume large amounts of energy. In this context, previous research identified the optimization of the condenser fans speed as a promising measure to improve the energy efficiency of VCS. The present paper introduces a steady-state modeling approach of an air-cooled VCS to predict the ideal condenser fan speed. The model consists of a hybrid characterization of the main components of a VCS and the optimization problem is formulated as minimizing the total energy consumption by respectively adjusting the condenser fan and compressor speed. In contrast to optimization strategies found in the literature, the proposed model does not relay on algorithms, but provides a single optimization term to predict the ideal fan speed. A detailed experimental validation demonstrates the feasibility of the model approach and further suggests that the ideal condenser fan speed can be calculated with sufficient precision, assuming constant evaporating pressure, compressor efficiency, subcooling, and superheating, respectively. In addition, a control strategy based on the developed model is presented, which is able to drive the VCS to its optimal operation. Therefore, the study provides a crucial input for set-point optimization and steady-state modeling of air-cooled vapor compression systems.


Ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) is extremely rare in the pediatric age group. Sarcomatous tumors causing EAS are even rarer. We report a 9 year-old girl presenting with Cushing's syndrome caused by ectopic ACTH production by a Ewing's sarcoma. This case illustrates that rapid appearance of Cushingoid symptoms, absence of growth retardation and the presence of hypokalemia are suggestive clues for ectopic ACTH production as the source of Cushing's syndrome.


The authors point out that the main advantage of the proposed multilevel placement algorithm ML-Germinal is a high convergence speed. It is based solely on the Dynamic Clouds Method. When compared with TimberWolfSC-4.2, the method improves the wiring cost by 18% and decreases the CPU time by a factor of 36 to 108 times. A second version yields wiring costs smaller than TimberWolf by 21%.<<ETX>>


Islamic novel literature has become a new commodity in Indonesia. This paper examines the Islamic creative and cultural industry in recent development in Indonesia, exploring the Islamic publication through its exploitation of storytelling method as a means of production and consumption of Islamic commodities. As an object of analysis, it focuses on Islamic novel Ayat-Ayat Cinta . It particularly argues that Islamic publication has extended its capacity as a medium for transmitting religious ideas to producing and consuming economic commodities. It further argues that storytelling appears to be an effective method for both the transmission of Islamic teaching and the production and consumption of Islamic commodities. It maintains that positive responses from the market are not only in the form of purchasing the product of Islamic novel literature, but also in the form of following up the essence of cases in life exploited in stories developed in such an Islamic novel literature.


【Objective】The effects of glyphosate on agronomic characters and physiological indexes of glyphosate-resistant soybean seedlings under phosphorus deficiency stress were ascertained to provide theoretical references for the rational use of glyphosate in glyphosate-resistant soybean field under phosphorus deficiency stress. 【Method】The glyphosateresistant soybean RR1 was used as the research objective and the solution culture experiment under phosphorus deficiency stress at the true leaf stage was conducted. Glyphosate at 4.98 m L/L was sprayed at the two-trifoliolate leaf stage. Physiological indexes were analyzed 5 days after the glyphosate spraying,and agronomic characters were measured 10 days later.【Result】In normal phosphorus condition,glyphosate decreased the leaf areas,total root length,taproot length,shoot fresh weight,root fresh weight,ratio of root/shoot,and phosphorus content in RR1,but enhanced plant height,SOD activity and MDA content in leaf,however,the differences between glyphosate and water treatment were not significant(P0.05). The leaf area,total root length,shoot fresh weight,root activity,phosphorus content in leaf,and phosphorus content in root of RR1 treated by 4.98 m L/L glyphosate were decreased under the phosphorus deficiency stress,but the plant height,root fresh weight, ratio of root/shoot,SOD activity and MDA content in leaf were higher than those treated by water under normal phosphorus conditions. And the change of SOD activity was significant(P0.05). 【Conclusion】Spraying glyphosate under phosphorus deficiency can enhance the root fresh weight,ratio of root/shoot,root fresh weight,MDA content and SOD activity in leaf, but decrease the leaf area,shoot fresh weight,phosphorus content in root and phosphorus content in leaf in glyphosate-resistant soybean seedlings.


Summary The shrimp Palaemonetes argentinus Nobili 1901 inhabits freshwater streams, lakes and brackish coastal lagoons in the warm temperate regions of southeastern South America. Larvae and adults tolerate a wide range of salinities, exhibiting a well developed osmoregulatory capacity already from hatching. Nevertheless, effects of salinity on the embryos of P. argentinus have not been studied yet. In the present investigation, freshly layed eggs were removed from ten females and, from the time of extrusion to larval hatching, exposed in vitro to four salinities (1, 15, 25, 32 PSU; all incubated at 20°C). This technique allowed the comparison of salinity effects on embryos of the same brood, excluding maternal effects as potentially confounding sources of variation. Initial egg size and duration of embryonic development under identical conditions varied significantly among broods from different females, but showed no significant relationships with female body size. Development was most successful in eggs incubated at salinities of 1 and 15 PSU, with average hatching rates of 72% and 79%, respectively. In contrast, 20% hatched at 25 PSU, and only three individuals (1.5%) in seawater (32 PSU). Egg mortality increased consistently near the end of the developmental period, especially at 25 and 32 PSU. Larvae hatching at these relatively high salinities retained a greater quantity of yolk, while many were deformed, suggesting that hyperosmotic stress interfered with metabolic energy mobilization and morphogenetic processes. The mean time from spawning of the eggs to larval hatching was similar at 1 and 15 PSU (ca. 24 d), but lasted significantly longer at 25 and 32 PSU (26–27 d, respectively). During the first ca. 10–12 days of embryonic development, the volume of the eggs decreased slightly at 25 and 32 PSU, while an increase was observed at lower salinities (maximum: 20% at 1 PSU). During the final period of development, an increase in egg volume occurred in all treatments, being significantly stronger at low salinities (≤15 PSU). The first zoeal stage of P. argentinus can also in complete absence of food successfully develop from hatching through the moult to the zoea-II stage; this trait (facultative lecithotrophy) was not affected by salinity. Our results suggest that successful reproduction of P. argentinus in freshwater and brackish habitats with highly variable conditions of salinity and food availability is based on an early appearance of osmoregulatory functions during the embryonic phase and/or a low permeability for ions of the egg membrane, while yolk reserves persisting from the egg allow for food-independent development through the first larval stage.


Starvation and cell density regulate the developmental expression of Myxococcus xanthus gene 4521 . Three classes of mutants allow expression of this developmental gene during growth on nutrient agar, such that colonies of strains containing a Tn 5 lac V 4521 fusion are Lac 1 . One class of these mutants inactivates SasN, a negative regulator of 4521 expression; another class activates SasS, a sensor kinase-positive regulator of 4521 expression; and a third class blocks lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen biosynthesis. To identify additional positive regulators of 4521 expression, 11 Lac 2 Tn V.AS transposon insertion mutants were isolated from a screen of 18,000 Lac 1 LPS O-antigen mutants containing Tn 5 lac V 4521 (Tc r ). Ten mutations identified genes that could encode positive regulators of 4521 developmental expression based on their ability to abolish 4521 expression during development in the absence of LPS O antigen and in an otherwise wild-type background. Eight of these mutations mapped to the sasB locus, which encodes the known 4521 regulators SasS and SasN. One mapped to sasS , whereas seven identified new genes. Three mutations mapped to a gene encoding an NtrC-like response regulator homologue, designated sasR , and four others mapped to a gene designated sasP . One mutation, designated ssp10 , specifically suppressed the LPS O-antigen defect; the ssp10 mutation had no effect on 4521 expression in an otherwise wild-type background but reduced 4521 developmental expression in the absence of LPS O antigen to a level close to that of the parent strain. All of the mutations except those in sasP conferred defects during growth and development. These data indicate that a number of elements are required for 4521 developmental expression and that most of these are necessary for normal growth and fruiting body development.


Introduction The risks of routine preoperative biliary drainage in pancreatic cancer patients without cholangitis and bilirubin <250μmol/L are established. However, access to early resection without prior biliary stenting is challenging in most UK hepatobiliary (HPB) centres. We evaluated adherence to the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines (ESGE 2012) and reviewed clinical and stent outcomes in patients referred through the East Midlands Cancer Network. Methods Patients with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer during 2014 were identified and cross-referenced with our HPB surgical database. We examined patient demographics, diagnostic modality, tumour site and type, whether pre-operative drainage was performed with endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography (PTC) and stent choice. Clinical outcomes included ERCP and surgical technical success as well as re-intervention rates. Results 135 pancreatic cancer cases (70 men; mean age 69±8 years, 65 women; mean age 72±7 years) were identified. Pathological diagnosis from EUS-FNA (n = 42), EUS-FNB (n = 34) or brush cytology (n = 24) was adenocarcinoma (n = 95), adenosqamous carcinoma (n = 2), mucinous adenocarcinoma (n = 2), neuroendocrine tumour (NETs; n = 9), squamous carcinoma (n = 2) and 25 radiological diagnosis alone. 50/135 (37%) patients underwent ERCP with technical success in 29/50 (58%): 14 plastic stents; 10 fr (n = 10), 7 fr (n = 4); and 15 self-expanding metal stents (SEMS); 10 mm fc-SEMS; 4 cm (n = 2), 6 cm (n = 2), 8 cm (n = 2); 10 mm uc-SEMS; 4 cm (n = 3), 6 cm (n = 5) were inserted. ERCP failure was due to either unsuccessful CBD cannulation and stenting (15/21; 71%) or duodenal obstruction (6/21; 29%) and 16/21 (76%) of these had PTC, were resected 2/21 (9%) or palliated 3/21 (14%). Re-intervention following ERCP stenting was required in 8/29 (28%): plastic stents 6/8 (75%) obstruction/cholangitis, SEMS 2/8 (25%) distal migration. 10/15 (67%) with SEMS inserted died <4 months after ERCP. 27/135 (20%) cases underwent surgery: complete resection 10/27 (R0; 37%), incomplete resection 7/27 (R1; 26%), palliative bypass 7/27 (26%) after a mean delay of 26 d (adenocarcinoma) and 90 d (NETs). 3/27 (11%) developed disease recurrence. In patients with biliary obstruction (9/27 who underwent surgery), 5/9 (55%) had surgical resection without attempted pre-operative drainage, with mean bilirubin 144μmol/L. Conclusion Following diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, few patients had surgical resection without prior drainage and overall <10% achieved cure. Success in ERCP biliary drainage should be improved and EUS-guided biliary access explored. Although patency rates are higher with SEMS, a high proportion died <4 m, suggesting better case selection for SEMS is required. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Ryerson University's Prior Learning and Competency Evaluation and Documentation (PLACED) program is funded by the Government of Ontario to engage internationally educated professionals (IEPs), employers, and regulatory/occupational bodies in the use of competency-based practices. In 2008, the authors created a self-assessment tool for IEPs that would build a portfolio reflecting an individual's knowledge and skills while introducing him or her to aspects of the Canadian workplace and labour market. The authors felt that this tool would be useful to assist IEPs in considering their career options and wanted to create an online workshop that would provide flexibility to users whose priorities were most likely work and family obligations. This short project description will capture a) why the self-assessment tool was developed; (b) how we fostered participants' self-efficacy; c) how we used Blackboard; (d) what the participants gained from the workshop; and (e) how the workshop has evolved based on facilitators' observations, participants' feedback, and an external organization's request for customizing the workshop. In working together to design the online workshop, IEPs' Self-Assessment and Planning, we focused on two main concepts: self-assessment and career planning. With that in mind, we set out in the workshop to bolster self-discovery, self-efficacy, individualized research skills, action planning, and ongoing professional development. The learning platform was Blackboard, which is used across Ryerson University in both classroom and online learning.


Cereals and pulses are consumed as a staple food in low-income countries for the fulfillment of daily dietary requirements and as a source of micronutrients. However, they are failing to offer balanced nutrition due to deficiencies of some essential compounds, macronutrients, and micronutrients, i.e., cereals are deficient in iron, zinc, some essential amino acids, and quality proteins. Meanwhile, the pulses are rich in anti-nutrient compounds that restrict the bioavailability of micronutrients. As a result, the population is suffering from malnutrition and resultantly different diseases, i.e., anemia, beriberi, pellagra, night blindness, rickets, and scurvy are common in the society. These facts highlight the need for the biofortification of cereals and pulses for the provision of balanced diets to masses and reduction of malnutrition. Biofortification of crops may be achieved through conventional approaches or new breeding techniques (NBTs). Conventional approaches for biofortification cover mineral fertilization through foliar or soil application, microbe-mediated enhanced uptake of nutrients, and conventional crossing of plants to obtain the desired combination of genes for balanced nutrient uptake and bioavailability. Whereas, NBTs rely on gene silencing, gene editing, overexpression, and gene transfer from other species for the acquisition of balanced nutritional profiles in mutant plants. Thus, we have highlighted the significance of conventional and NBTs for the biofortification of cereals and pulses. Current and future perspectives and opportunities are also discussed. Further, the regulatory aspects of newly developed biofortified transgenic and/or non-transgenic crop varieties via NBTs are also presented.


Objective To find and analyze early descriptions of restless legs syndrome (RLS). Methods Databases and textbooks were searched to document the current knowledge on the history of RLS and to identify additional early descriptions of RLS. Results Two recently discovered early descriptions of RLS are presented together with a review of the current knowledge on the history of RLS. Conclusions The French physician Jean Astruc described an RLS-like condition in 1736. In his Treatise of the Venereal Disease, he speaks of a minor but frightening kind of pain "wandering all over the Tibia" and leading to "restlessness and tossing of the Feet." This text was well-known to authors in the 18th and 19th century, but apparently fell into oblivion later on. In his description of "anxietas tibiarum" or "Wadenunruhe," Melchior Adam Weikard refers to earlier authors. As a dedicated Brunonian physician, he classified it as an asthenic condition and recommended treatment with diluted liquor.


The present invention relates to a system and a process for addressing a central processing unit (20) of a multi-device appliance, as well as to a corresponding appliance. The addressing system comprises a processing module (13), which receives control information and transmits it selectively to the central processing unit, and a dynamic filtering memory (14) containing at least one set of transmission indicators for the control signals. The processing module selects the control information to be transmitted as a function of the transmission indicators of the current set of the memory. Each set is associated with at least one operating state of the central processing unit and the indicators correspond to some of the control information, the so-called transmission information. The addressing system also comprises a dynamic filtering module (21), designed to identify the transmission information accepted and/or rejected by the central processing unit and to dynamically modify accordingly in the memory the transmission indicatoors.


Carbon scaffolds with a directional patterned surface were obtained by pyrolysis of the sea rush Juncus maritimus. The structure of the scaffolds was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry and interferometric profilometry. X-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence were the techniques used for their chemical characterization. The alignment and differentiation of pre-osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1 cell line) incubated on the patterned scaffolds were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and by the quantification of the phosphatase alkaline activity and the osteocalcin synthesis. It was found that pyrolysis at 500 °C preserved and even enhanced the natural macro- and micro-patterning of the plant. The results obtained for porosity and chemical composition validated these structures as viable scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Finally, the patterned surface was confirmed to promote the oriented growth of the pre-osteoblasts MC3T3-E1, not only after short periods of incubation (hours) but also after longer ones (several weeks). The quantification of the cell differentiation markers together with the evaluation of the cell layer morphology up to 28 days of incubation confirmed the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells to osteoblasts.


Images are characterized by a complex system of attributes. One of the most elusive properties of an image is its emotiveness – the ability to trigger an emotional reaction in the viewer. Prior research has demonstrated that users react to image emotiveness, yet to date there is little theoretical understanding and scarce empirical evidence as to the role played by emotiveness in the image retrieval process. Our study aims to fill this gap and investigates how users perceive the emotional content of the image-seeking task; explicate this emotional content in search keywords; and react to image emotiveness in selecting relevant images. Using a multimethod approach that combines quantitative and qualitative analyses, we performed three experiments where participants searched for images, both within the predefined set of images and in an open Web environment. Our findings suggest that although seekers rarely explicate image emotiveness in search keywords, their decision to select relevant images is largely dependent on their perception of the emotional content of the task and images. We discuss implications for research on emotions in image retrieval, as well as practical implications for designers of search systems.


The Chilostomata from the same localities were dealt with in vol. xlvii. (1891) p. 1 of this Journal. It is always unsatisfactory to describe Cyclostomata, as there are so few characters that can be employed in classification, nor are we yet sure as to the relative importance of those used. The difficulties are much increased by the vast number of named species based upon some slight difference in the mode of growth, and in some cases the individual state of preservation has been the ground of a new species. I have before me a list of 424 names of Tertiary Cyclostomata, which no doubt could be increased to nearly 600, but we are certainly within the mark when we say that of these more than 200 could not be recognized again, while many are known to be only synonyms. In the Tertiaries Hornera, Idmonea, Filisparsa, and Entalophora are by no means sharply-defined genera, and seem to run into one another. The most interesting species dealt with is a new one, which I have called Diastopora brendolensis. It has a tubule to most zoœcia, but differs from the living species D. obelia, which also has tubules; for in the fossil they run up more by the side of the zoœcium, whereas in D. obelia they are on the front of the zoœcium, about the middle. The zoarium is usually erect, formed by very compressed branches with zoœcia on both sides; but there are, besides, some incrusting specimens having similar small zoœcia


Background. Fibrinogen is an acute phase protein synthesized in the liver and its increased plasma level may reflect the inflammatory condition of the vascular wall and thus may be related to cardiovascular risk. Human fib− rinogen is composed of three pairs of polypeptide chains: α, β, γ coded by three different genes. A common poly− morphism in α−chain fibrinogen (FGA) gene leads to an amino acid substitution from threonine to alanine at codon 312 and occurs within the carboxy−terminal end of α−chain. Objectives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of the Thr312Ala polymorphism in FGA gene with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Polish population. Material and Methods. We studied group of 147 white Caucasians including 74 angiographically documented CAD patients aged 46.5 ± 6.2 years and 73 healthy blood donors aged 35.2 ± 9.8 years. The Thr312Ala polymor− phism was detected using polymerase chain reaction and restriction digestion with RsaI enzyme. Results. We found higher frequency of A allele of Thr312Ala polymorphism in patients group with coronary artery disease than in controls (p = 0.049, OR = 1.78). Carriers of A allele (TA+AA genotypes) appeared also significantly more often in cases compared to control group (p = 0.031, OR = 2.10). Number of carriers of A allele was espe− cially high in subgroup of male, hypertensive and overweight patients. Conclusions. Present study suggests association between Thr312Ala polymorphism in FGA gene and coronary artery disease in Polish population (Adv Clin Exp Med 2005, 14, 3, 445–449).


Over the last two decades, the Pleistocene sites of the Sierra de Atapuerca (Spain) have provided two extraordinary assemblages of hominin fossils that have helped refine the evolutionary story of the genus Homo in Europe. The TD6 level of the Gran Dolina site has yielded about one hundred remains belonging to a minimum of six individuals of the species Homo antecessor. These fossils, dated to the end of the Lower Pleistocene (800 kyr), provide the earliest evidence of hominin presence in Western Europe. The origin of these hominins is unknown, but they may represent a speciation event from Homo ergaster/Homo erectus. The TD6 fossils are characterized by a significant increase in cranial capacity as well as the appearance of a "sapiens" pattern of craniofacial architecture. At the Sima de los Huesos site, more than 4,000 human fossils belonging to a minimum of 28 individuals of a Middle Pleistocene population (ca. 500–400 kyr) have been recovered. These hominins document some of the oldest evidence of the European roots of Neanderthals deep in the Middle Pleistocene. Their origin would be the dispersal out of Africa of a hominin group carrying Mode 2 technologies to Europe. Comparative study of the TD6 and Sima de la Huesos hominins suggests a replacement model for the European Lower Pleistocene population of Europe or interbreeding between this population and the new African emigrants.


Abstract This paper aims to show, in the light of an Austin-inspired speech-act theoretical framework, that there is a fundamental difference in the absurdity that occurs when one utters either the belief or the knowledge version of Moorean sentences (whose linguistic form amounts to "p, but I don't believe/know that p") and that this difference lies in the kind of speech act norms that their utterance overtly violates. To do so, I will consider the conversational patterns in which the two versions might emerge and, in particular, what linguistic reactions they might elicit in the audience. I will show that, while it is possible to imagine conversational patterns in which someone asserts something and also says that she cannot believe it to be true (although they seem to occur very rarely), the same cannot be said for the knowledge version. I shall argue that while in both cases, a speech act norm appears to be overtly violated, these violations regard different kinds of speech act norms, and thereby result in two different kinds of absurdity.


A 4 year series of field, light-microscope and ultrastructural observations is presented to illustrate biological aspects of the annual cycle of natural Microcystis populations enclosed in Lund tubes. Nine morphological stati, all referable to M. aeruginosa f. aeruginosa , feature at various stages of the cycle. Summer bloom-forming populations originate from vegetative colonial stock that overwinters on the bottom sediment each year, but there is no mass transfer of these colonies to the water column: intensive growth from individual cells in the old colonies leads to the formation of new infective colonies, being stimulated when the bottom water approaches anoxia and light penetrates to the bottom sediments. Growth is slow but the developing populations sustain only minor losses through grazing and settling out, eventually becoming dominant over other species. Allelopathy possibly contributes to this effect. In postmaximal populations, several mechanisms can contribute to net buoyancy loss and a (usually) rapid recruitment of vegetative colonies to the sediments is observed. Hypotheses are advanced to account for the observed behaviour, and some of these have been tested in the laboratory. The apparent physiological flexibility of Microcystis seems well suited to growth and survival in the microenvironments encountered in eutrophic lakes.


With the advent of iMedia, the traditional content component was extended with a behavioral component (i.e. software). The development of this behavioral component using traditional software development techniques is cumbersome because of the extreme deadlines and extremely short time-to-market situation. We propose a new development approach that provides the media producer with sufficient control to define and change the product in very short time frames. The system is based on existing technologies like generative programming, transformation systems and domain engineering. Since the iMedia domain is in continuous flux, and these technologies are mostly designed for stable domains, the evolution of the implementation was a crucial problem hampering its successful application. Solutions and mechanisms are presented that ameliorate the modularity and consequently the evolution.


The current study represents the first investigation into feigned Miranda abilities using an inpatient population. We investigated the use of a very generic measure (i.e., the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology, or SIMS) as well as two specialized forensic feigning measures: the Miranda Quiz (MQ) and Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK). With a quasi-random assignment, 82 acute inpatients were evenly distributed to "feigning" and "genuine" groups. The recommended SIMS cut score > 14 performed poorly, misclassifying three-quarters of the genuine group as feigning. In general, sensitivities on the specialized scales were constrained by the general lack of severe decrements for the feigning group. However, specificities were strong to outstanding. In particular, the MQ floor effect showed some promise but was limited by its small number of items. The strongest potential was observed for the revised ILK scales, especially the Revised Clinical ILK (RC-ILK). When using single-point cut scores on two prior correctional samples, the RC-ILK produced excellent sensitivities (0.94 and 0.96) and outstanding specificities (0.98 and 0.99). Methodological issues and professional implications were discussed in the context of feigned Miranda abilities.


The article is devoted to communicative training as a means of forming the readiness of the linguistic personality for speech interaction. Revealed the relevance of the work, which is the development of special training tools for intercultural communication. Achieved work goal. The main type of preparation for intercultural communication, focused on practical interaction with another culture, is training. Prospects for further research lie in the development of methodological foundations of communication trainings in order to shape the readiness of the linguistic personality to speech interaction.

The communicative training consists of stages such as task setting; actualization of students' language experience; the formation of the representation of the Indonesians about the scenarios of Ukrainian etiquette interaction, familiarization with etiquette forms that function in Ukrainian culture, with the common strategies and tactics of speech behavior in a variety of etiquette situations; recognition and analysis of etiquette formulas in authentic texts; training the ability to correct the speech behavior; reflection. In the article we give examples to the stages of communicative training the work on the genre of compliment.

The first stage of the training is to inform students about the topic of the lesson and the teacher's message about the notion of "compliment" and the national specificity of the compliment in Ukrainian culture. The second stage is the formation of the students presentation about the rules of using the compliment in the Ukrainian culture. The third stage of the training is the solution of communication tasks and exercises built on the basis of authentic texts, for example, the teacher can use the broadcast recordings of participants of radio and television programs, heroes of feature films, spoken speech of the speakers of the language. The fourth stage of the communicative training is the organization of reflection, which consists of reflection, self-observation, the desire to understand their own feelings and actions.


The South Pacific Nactus pelagicus complex (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) consists of several genetically distinct but morphologically conserved lineages of N. multicarinatus, and a unisexual lineage, N. pelagicus, which is a hybrid of two N. multicarinatus lineages. A few discrete morphological differences occur between lineages of the N. pelagicus complex, but that is all that is known regarding this complex. This complex has been poorly studied and little is known about the general biology and ecology of N. pelagicus and N. multicarinatus. We analyzed the reproductive morphology using histochemistry in populations of N. multicarinatus and N. pelagicus from the Vanuatu Archipelago in the South Pacific, the only series of islands where the two species overlap, in order to determine if interspecific differences in reproductive patterns exist and to gather additional knowledge regarding the reproductive ecology of these species. Our findings indicate that both species carry one clutch during the dry season, however there is temporal variation in reproductive activity, with N. pelagicus ! Corresponding Author: Email: email@example.com, School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, USA Mallory E. Eckstut, Alison M. Hamilton, Christopher C. Austin et al. 296 exhibiting particular histochemical states one and a half to two months prior to N. multicarinatus. Furthermore, we found that N. multicarinatus, the bisexual lineage, does not store sperm with eggs in utero, which has only been observed in one other species of lizard (a skink). These previously unrecognized differences in Nactus reproduction provide a foundation for further study of the evolutionary transition to unisexual reproduction and supply additional data on the ecology of this poorly studied gecko complex.


This paper aims to review recent developments in the field of doped fiber-based optical amplifiers and serve as a reference for promising optical signal amplification techniques that may be useful for practical implementation in high-capacity and cost-efficient telecommunications systems. The main focus is put on different rare-earth dopant elements, double-clad fibers, and optical couplers for cladding-pumping technique. It is found that codoped double-clad fiber-based amplifiers currently have attained the main research interest and show possible application also in multichannel fiber optical transmission systems. Additionally, we have compared different free space and waveguide construction optical coupling techniques suitable for doped double-clad fiber amplifiers.


X-ray imaging methods such as micro-computed tomography (XCT) are essential techniques to reveal and quantify internal defects in materials, particularly in polymers and composites. Conventional absorption-based contrast (AC) provides information on the attenuation of the X-ray beam intensity and is an invaluable tool in various domains, e.g. medicine and materials science. In the last decade however an important innovation in X-ray technology has emerged by the introduction of Talbot-Lau grating interferometer XCT. This method provides three complementary characteristics in a single scan of the specimen: a) the attenuation contrast, b) the differential phase contrast (DPC), and c) the dark-field contrast (DFC). DPC is related to the index of refraction and DFC reflects the total amount of radiation scattered at small angles, e.g. caused by microscopic inhomogeneities represented by cracks and pores. Using a novel Talbot-Lau grating interferometer XCT system (TLGI-XCT) for laboratory applications we visualize crack-like defects in carbon fiber reinforced laminates that were subjected to impact forces up to 20 Joules. Using DFC we were able to detect cracks in samples that were subject to low impact forces whereas these defects are merely detectable using AC. Specimens were scanned at isometric voxel sizes between 5.7 and 22.8 μm. TLGI-XCT results are compared to ultrasonic examinations. Secondly, we investigate polypropylene test specimens that were cyclically loaded in tensile testing experiments until final failure. Lower grey levels near the fracture surface in the AC and DPC images indicate pores. Due to increased scattering in these regions DFC images provide a high signal intensity even though the defects are smaller than the spatial resolution. For all samples high-resolution reference measurements were carried out using an industrial XCT system. Due to the fact that DFC delivers morphological information in the sub-pixel regime depending on the local scattering power, dark field imaging delivers information that may otherwise be inaccessible using conventional XCT. Using a Talbot-Lau XCT we show that dark field images yield a high contrast and a strong signal at interfaces, e.g. for cracks and pores.


The research is on the quality assessment of Sokoto water distribution networks. Sample coordinates of the study area were taken using GPS, the experiments were carried out at different consumer locations with thirty (30) samples of water collected weekly for four (4) weeks, to determine various purification parameters that are related to both bulk (kb) and wall (KW) reactions coefficients for Sokoto water distribution pipe network, these include residual chlorine, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature and conductivity. pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and conductivity have average values ranging from 6.7 to 7.5; 1.1 to 6.5ppm; 310 to 520 μs/cm respectively and conform to the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ), except temperature which has the average values between 29 oC, and 32.6oC, and the individual values between 26 oC, and 38.4oC, chlorine residual average values obtained, ranging from 0.11mg/l to 0.26mg/l with the lowest individual value obtained being 0.011mg/l. The age of water supply from the treatment plants in the distribution network is 6 hours and both first and second-order decay reactions were ascertained from the graph and first-order decay having the highest number of occurrences was used in Epanet 2.0 water quality modeling. The kb values ranged from 0.0025 to 0.013md-1. A total of 86 out of the 120 samples, which constitute 71.7% were straight lines which indicate first-order and thus, the average kb was determined to be 0.006/day (0.144/hour).  It was observed that of all the 120 samples examined in the study, chlorine reaction with natural organic matter (NOM) was small. The average kw for Sokoto WDS was deduced to be 0.078m/h, considering, the following steel pipe conditions used in the network area. kW (ft/h), -α =-38.5, H-W C=150, kW = 38.5/150 = 0.257ft/h = 0.078m/h (-0.078m/h).


Background and Purpose: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women aged 20–59 years in developed countries, with similar mortality trends, observed among women in Croatia. Breast cancer detection usually relies on mammography, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, thermography is a noninvasive, reliable and applicable diagnostic procedure for early detection of breast disease that has attracted interest in this field. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency and characteristics of pathological thermographic signs in female patients, who were operated on malignant breast lesions. In addition, the authors offered a simplified description and interpretation of pathological thermographic signs, based on published literature. Matherial and Methods: The seventy four female patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer were included in the study. In all patients breast cancer was diagnosed using standard protocol which have included clinical examination, mammography, ultrasound and for selected patients MRI and/or fine needle aspiration (FNA). Thermographic imaging has been conducted 1 to 14 days before scheduled surgical procedures. Results: Mean tumor size positively correlated with number of pathological thermographic signs (IR 3 vs. IR 5, p < 0.05). Mean number of pathological thermographic signs per patient was 3.5±1, 72 (range 1 to 8). The most frequently noted singular signs were heat in area of finding and vascular signs, as well. Conclusion: The simplified description could offer a suitable clinical tool for standardization of pathological thermography signs in malignant breast lesions, taking into account the learning curve of medical teams involved and ethical aspects, as well.


Birds are characterized by pneumatization of their skeletons by epithelial diverticula from larger, air—filled cavities. The diverticula—or 'air sacs'—that invade the postcranium result from outgrowths of the lungs; postcranial pneumaticity has been very well studied. Much more poorly understood are the air sacs that pneumatize the skull. Study of craniofacial pneumaticity in modern birds (Neornithes) indicates the presence of two separate systems: nasal pneumaticity and tympanic pneumaticity. The lacrimal and maxillary bones are pneumatized by diverticula of the main paranasal cavity, the antorbital sinus. There are five tympanic diverticula in neornithines that pneumatic the quadrate, articulare and the bones of the braincase. The pneumatic features of the following six genera of Mesozoic birds are examined: Archaeopteryx, Enaliornis, Baptornis, Parahesperornis, Hesperornis and Ichthyornis. Despite the 'archaic' aspect of most of these birds, many of the pneumatic features of neornithines are found in Mesozoic birds and are considered primitive for Aves. The phylogenetic levels at which most of the avian pneumatic features arose within Archosauria are uncertain. Until the phylogenetic levels at which homologous pneumatic features arose are determined, it is unwise to use most pneumatic characters in the discussion of avian origins. Within avian phylogeny, Ornithurae and Neornithes are well–supported by pneumatic synapomorphies. There is a trend towards reduction of craniofacial pneumaticity within Hesperornithiformes. Within Neornithes, four derived pneumatic characters suggest that the Palaeognathae (ratites and tinamous) is monophyletic.


Demand controlled ventilation (DCV) can reduce the energy use significantly compared to a constant air volume (CAV) system. However, there is still a large uncertainty about the real energy savings and the ventilation efficiency. Furthermore, control and operation of the system are more complex. To formulate answers to these questions, measurements on a DCV system in a university building in Ghent, Belgium provide insight in the system operation and performance and the air distribution in the classrooms. Monitoring is carried out in March and May 2015. During the measurements the VAV operation related to the set points was analysed. The active power demand for the fan and the thermal power demand for the heating coil was monitored. Furthermore, the CO 2 concentration was measured at five positions in the classroom to determine the ventilation efficiency at maximum and reduced air flow rate. The results for the operation of the air handling unit (AHU) show that DCV is able to control the indoor set points for both CO 2 concentration and room temperature. When there is no occupancy in the classroom the DCV system operates at 32% of the time at a minimum air flow rate during operating hours, which decrease the active power demand for the fan. The CO 2 concentration was measured at five positions in the classroom to characterise the ventilation efficiency. The measurements show that at a high air flow rate the lowest concentrations were found for the position in the middle of the classroom. Comparing a high and low air flow it was found that during a low air flow the difference in CO 2 concentrations for the five positions is at maximum 150 ppm. For a high air flow the position in the middle of the classroom has a maximum difference of 500 ppm lower compared to the front and back of the classroom. Furthermore, it was found that the room sensor did not deliver representative results especially in case of low air flow rates.


Variable clustering is one of the most important unsupervised learning methods, ubiquitous in most research areas. In the statistics and computer science literature, most of the clustering methods lead to non-overlapping partitions of the variables. However, in many applications, some variables may belong to multiple groups, yielding clusters with overlap. It is still largely unknown how to perform overlapping variable clustering with statistical guarantees. To bridge this gap, we propose a novel Latent model-based OVErlapping clustering method (LOVE) to recover overlapping sub-groups of a potentially very large group of variables. In our model-based formulation, a cluster is given by variables associated with the same latent factor, and can be determined from an allocation matrix A that indexes our proposed latent model. We assume that some of the observed variables are pure, in that they are associated with only one latent factor, whereas the remaining majority has multiple allocations. We prove that the corresponding allocation matrix A, and the induced overlapping clusters, are identifiable, up to label switching. We estimate the clusters with LOVE, our newly developed algorithm, which consists in two steps. The first step estimates the set of pure variables, and the number of clusters. In the second step we estimate the allocation matrix A and determine the overlapping clusters. Under minimal signal strength conditions, our algorithm recovers the population level clusters consistently. Our theoretical results are fully supported by our empirical studies, which include extensive simulation studies that compare LOVE with other existing methods, and the analysis of a RNA-seq dataset.


Intracranial aneurysms of the pediatric population are rare, but giant fusiform aneurysms (GFAs) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) are common within this cohort of patients. These aneurysms are difficult to treat and often require advanced microsurgical skills, as they are usually not amenable to direct clipping. Here, we report the successful treatment of a recurrent GFA of the MCA with three telescoping Pipeline Embolization Devices 6 months after attempted clip reconstruction in a pediatric patient.


In a world more and more connected, new and complex interaction patterns can be extracted in the communication between people. This is extremely valuable for brands that can better understand the interests of users and the trends on social media to better target their products. In this paper, we aim to analyze the communities that arise around commercial brands on social networks to understand the meaning of similarity, collaboration, and interaction among users. We exploit the network that builds around the brands by encoding it into a graph model. We build a social network graph, considering user nodes and friendship relations; then we compare it with a heterogeneous graph model, where also posts and hash-tags are considered as nodes and connected to the different node types; we finally build also a reduced network, generated by inducing direct user-to-user connections through the intermediate nodes (posts and hashtags). These different variants are encoded using graph representation learning, which generates a numerical vector for each node. Machine learning techniques are applied to these vectors to extract valuable insights for each user and for the communities they belong to. In the paper, we report on our experiments performed on an emerging fashion brand on Instagram, and we show that our approach is able to discriminate potential customers for the brand, and to highlight meaningful sub-communities composed by users that share the same kind of content on social networks.


Accessing the medullary space of the bone, offers a rapid, effective, and reasonably foolproof alternative to IV access. Newly introduced adult intraosseous (IO) technologies have been suggested as one means to improve success rate of emergency vascular access. The National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine Report recommends IO infusion as the preferred initial vascular route for combat casualty care.


Esophageal cancer ranks as the sixth most deadly cancer and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the sixth most common cause of cancer deaths in males in worldwide. Therefore, it is important to identify molecular markers for clinical diagnosis. Homeodomain-only protein X (HOPX)-β is a tumor suppressor gene and its promoter methylation is shown to be frequent in human cancer. Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a transmembrane mucin that is highly expressed in various cancers and correlates with malignant potential. In addition, the degree of whole genome methylation decreases as the lesion progressing from a benign proliferation of cells to an invasive cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate HOPX-β and MUC1 promoter methylation status and global methylation level in different stages of ESCC patients. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) revealed that the methylation rate of HOPX-β was 26.5% (27/102) in tumor samples and only 9% (9/100) in paired non-tumor samples (p<0.05). In HOPX-β promoter hypermethylation samples, the frequency of lymph node invasion and tumor metastasis was increased about 3-fold and 2-fold, respectively. Furthermore, HOPX-β promoter methylation frequency was increased about 3-fold in advanced stage. On the other hand, the methylation frequency of MUC1 was 90.7% (97/107) in paired non-tumor samples while the methylation frequency was decreased to 53.3% (57/107) in tumor samples. 78.5% (84/107) of tumor samples showed significantly decline in the degree of methylation compared with paired non-tumor samples (p<0.0001). We found a decrease tendency in methylation frequency of MUC1 correlated with clinical stage (early/advanced), the frequency of lymph node invasion and metastasis. Importantly, the methylation rate of MUC1 was inversely related with the tumor size (p=0.0105). The level of global long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1) methylation in ESCC tissues (mean 65.8%) was significantly lower than paired non-tumor samples (mean 79.5%). However, there is no relation between the level of global LINE-1 methylation and tumor stage or survival rate. Our findings indicate that LINE-1, MUC1 methylation level and HOPX-β hypermethylation in ESCC are useful markers in clinical diagnosis.

Citation Format: Yu Chun Kao, Sheng Hsiung Lin, Chun Chieh Yu, Ruei Nian Li, Ming Tsang Wu. Aberrant promoter methylation of HOPX-β, MUC1 genes and global methylation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr C12.


Faster evolution of X chromosomes has been documented in several species and results from the increased efficiency of selection on recessive alleles in hemizygous males and/or from increased drift due to the smaller effective population size of X chromosomes. Aphids are excellent models for evaluating the importance of selection in faster-X evolution, because their peculiar life-cycle and unusual inheritance of sex-chromosomes lead to equal effective population sizes for X and autosomes. Because we lack a high-density genetic map for the pea aphid whose complete genome has been sequenced, we assigned its entire genome to the X and autosomes based on ratios of sequencing depth in males and females. Unexpectedly, we found frequent scaffold misassembly, but we could unambiguously locate 13,726 genes on the X and 19,263 on autosomes. We found higher non-synonymous to synonymous substitutions ratios (dN/dS) for X-linked than for autosomal genes. Our analyses of substitution rates together with polymorphism and expression data showed that relaxed selection is likely to contribute predominantly to faster-X as a large fraction of X-linked genes are expressed at low rates and thus escape selection. Yet, a minor role for positive selection is also suggested by the difference between substitution rates for X and autosomes for male-biased genes (but not for asexual female-biased genes) and by lower Tajima's D for X-linked than for autosomal genes with highly male-biased expression patterns. This study highlights the relevance of organisms displaying alternative inheritance of chromosomes to the understanding of forces shaping genome evolution.


The purpose of the study is to investigate the performance characteristics of a pinhole SPECT system based on a newly developed modular camera with a pixelated NaI(Tl) crystal with 1.2 mm pixels and 1.4 mm pitch and a 5" R3292 PSPMT. The characteristics are compared to that based on a standard GE AC/T 400 camera with continuous crystal using the same set of tungsten apertures with pinhole diameters of 1.0,1.5 and 2.0 mm. The system spatial resolution and sensitivity were characterized as a function of source-to-pinhole distance and pinhole diameter from the measurements of point spread function (PSF) using /spl sim/150/spl mu/m /sup 99m/Tc point sources. A microSPECT phantom was used to access the system resolution in SPECT imaging and a /sup 99m/Tc-MDP mouse bone SPECT imaging from the modular camera based system was demonstrated. The projection data from the phantom and mouse studies were reconstructed using a 3D OSEM pinhole reconstruction algorithm with geometrical misalignment correction. In general, the modular camera based microSPECT system shows slightly poorer spatial resolution as compared to the GE 400 AC/T camera based system using the same set of pinhole apertures. The phantom study indicates that using the same pinhole aperture of 1 mm the modular camera based system can clearly resolve 1.6 mm rods while the GE 400 AC/T camera based system can well resolve 1.2 mm rods. Reconstructed mouse images demonstrate that high image quality can be obtained with the modular camera based pinhole SPECT system despite its slightly poorer system resolution as compared to that based on a standard camera. In conclusion, the modular camera fitted with a shorter pinhole collimator can achieve high-resolution for high quality small animal imaging. With continuous improvements in detector technology, system design and image reconstruction method, modular camera can be an important component of a high-resolution small animal SPECT imaging system.


BACKGROUND
In living related liver transplantation (LRLT), reconstruction of the hepatic vein (HV) by end-to-end anastomosis has been reported to be associated with acute or late outflow block.

METHODS
We reviewed 42 patients who underwent LRLT from January 1996 to September 1998.

RESULTS
In 7 (27%) of the 26 donor grafts obtained from left lateral segmentectomy or extended lateral segmentectomy and in 9 (56%) of the 16 grafts obtained from left lobectomy, venoplasty was required. In the remaining 26 grafts, 1-orifice left HV was obtained. In addition to the division of the duct of Arantius, the left inferior phrenic vein was divided routinely in 16 patients, which contributed to reducing the venoplasty rate from 46% to 25% (P =.1704). In all 42 patients, HV was reconstructed successfully by end-to-end anastomosis. The median ratio of the diameter of the recipient's HV to that of the graft's HV was 1.2 (range, 0.8-2.1). The grafts were fixed to the abdominal wall by using the falciform and round ligaments at a site where Doppler ultrasound showed sufficient flow in the respective vessels. Three patients developed late-onset HV obstruction and required balloon dilatation either by means of a venous route or a transhepatic route: 1 patient received a new liver on the 232nd postoperative day, 1 patient died of sepsis without outflow block, and the last patient is doing well.

CONCLUSIONS
In LRLT, the division of the duct of Arantius and the left inferior phrenic vein followed by extensive clamping of the common trunk contributed to obtaining a 1-orifice HV. This facilitates anastomosis of the HVs of the grafts to the recipients' HVs, and fixation of the grafts by using the falciform and round ligaments prevents rotation of the grafts and subsequent acute outflow block.


The present study aimed to verify the association between psychosocial aspects (social capital) and food patterns in adult women. A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted with a representative sample of 1,128 women, aged 20 to 69 years, living in the urban area of the municipality of São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2015. The food patterns were identified based on the frequency of food intake and classified as: healthy (fruits, vegetables, and whole foods), at-risk (ultraprocessed foods), and Brazilian (rice and beans), while social capital was evaluated using a collective efficacy scale. It was observed that 18.9% of the sample was classified with high collective efficacy. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, a 44% higher probability was observed for adherence to the healthy pattern (PR [prevalence ratio] = 1.44; 95%CI [95% confidence interval]: 1.01-2.03; p = 0.040) and 71% higher for the Brazilian pattern (PR = 1.71; 95%CI: 1.18-2.47; p= 0.004) among women with a higher level of collective efficacy, when compared to those with a low level of collective efficacy. Thus, this study verified a significant relationship between psychosocial aspects and food intake in women.


We study stability of solutions for a randomly driven and degenerately damped version of the Lorenz '63 model. Specifically, we prove that when damping is absent in one of the temperature components, the system possesses a unique invariant probability measure if and only if noise acts on the convection variable. On the other hand, if there is a positive growth term on the vertical temperature profile, we prove that there is no normalizable invariant state. Our approach relies on the derivation and analysis of nontrivial Lyapunov functions which ensure positive recurrence or null-recurrence/transience of the dynamics.


ACooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower" represents an historical first. Never before have the maritime forces of the United States—the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard—come together to create a unified maritime strategy. This strategy stresses an approach that integrates seapower with other elements of national power, as well as those of our friends and allies. It describes how seapower will be applied around the world to protect our way of life, as we join with other like-minded nations to protect and sustain the global, inter-connected system through which we prosper. Our commitment to protecting the homeland and winning our Nation's wars is matched by a corresponding commitment to preventing war. Our citizens were involved in development of this strategy through a series of public forums known as the "Conversations with the Country." Three themes dominated these discussions: our people want us to remain strong; they want us to protect them and our homeland, and they want us to work with partners around the world to prevent war. These themes, coupled with rigorous academic research, analysis and debate, led to a comprehensive strategy designed to meet the expectations and needs of the American people. A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower binds our services more closely together than they have ever been before to advance the prosperity and security of our Nation. The demands of an uncertain world and the enduring interests of the American people require nothing less.


Author(s): Zimmerman, Robert Allen | Advisor(s): Tartakovsky, Daniel M | Abstract: Advective-diffusive transport of passive or reactive scalars in confined environments (e.g., tubes and channels) is often accompanied by diffusive losses/gains through the confining walls. Furthermore, transport through bifurcating networks drives a myriad of biological and geophysical phenomena. Our analysis is motivated by oxygen transport in arteriolar blood vessels and oxygenation of the surrounding tissue, but is equally applicable to a large number of other biological and engineered systems. We develop transport solutions for the arteriolar vascular tree assuming that the arteriolar tree bifurcates in fractal patterns. In particular we focus on the effects of changing hematocrit (Hct) on the rate of circulatory oxygen delivery (DO2) to the micro-circulation. Hct affects blood's oxygen carrying capacity (CaO2) and blood viscosity, these two properties oppose each other in relation to DO2. We studied the effects of transfusing 0.5 - 3.0 units of packed red blood cells (pRBC, 300 ml/unit, 65% Hct) to anemic patients. Our results show that maximal DO2 occurs in the anemic range where Hct l 39%. A portion of this work is applicable to non-biological systems that are relevant to diffusion-reaction solutions for composite materials. Common examples include thermal insulation problems and hydrolysis. We consider both linear and non-linear reaction rates in combination with Fickian diffusion. More specifically, this application may better quantify hydrolysis rates in high explosive components of stockpile weapons. Conventional approaches to analyzing such systems often included employing numerical programs. While useful, these solutions are computationally expensive and cannot easily provide physical insight into simpler geometries. The analytical solutions documented herein can provide physical insight and provide a verification metric, or, trial solutions for more complex schemes. In certain instances, they may even provide upper or lower bounds to effectively certify weapon components. Solution-bounding can thereby sidestep the need to compute expensive numerical solutions to full weapon system geometries. Finally, we emphasize that our transport solutions are generally capable of handling a variety of boundary conditions and do not require re-derivation. For this reason, these solutions are easily integrated to create models for far more complex systems. All of these models are one dimensional and are used as approximations of two dimensional models with minimal error.


Objective Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to multiple adverse health outcomes. This study examined the association between ACEs and cancer diagnosis. Methods Data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey were used. The BRFSS is the largest ongoing telephone health survey, conducted in all US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and provides data on a variety of health issues among the non-institutionalized adult population. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to derive components for ACEs. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to provide adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between ACE components and overall, childhood and adulthood cancer, adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, educational status, marital status, and insurance status. Results Approximately 62% of respondents reported being exposed to ACEs and about one in ten respondents reported ever having been diagnosed with cancer. Component 1, which had the sexual abuse variables with the highest weights, was significantly associated with adulthood cancer (adjusted OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.03–1.43). Conclusion The association between ACEs and adulthood cancer may be attributable to disease progression through association of ACEs with risk factors for other chronic diseases. More research should focus on the impact of sexual abuse ACEs and adverse health outcomes.


AIM
Loss of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity is a defining biochemical feature of asthma. However, mechanisms for the reduced activity are unknown. We hypothesized that loss of asthmatic SOD activity is due to greater susceptibility to oxidative inactivation.

RESULT
Activity assays of blood samples from asthmatics and healthy controls revealed impaired dismutase activity of copper-zinc SOD (CuZnSOD) in asthma. CuZnSOD purified from erythrocytes or airway epithelial cells from asthmatic was highly susceptible to oxidative inactivation. Proteomic analyses identified that inactivation was related to oxidation of cysteine 146 (C146), which is usually disulfide bonded to C57. The susceptibility of cysteines pointed to an alteration in protein structure, which is likely related to the loss of disulfide bond. We speculated that a shift to greater intracellular reducing potential might account for the change. Strikingly, measures of reduced and oxidized glutathione confirmed greater reducing intracellular state in asthma, compared with controls. Similarly, greater free thiol in CuZnSOD was confirmed by ~2-fold greater N-ethylmaleimide binding to C146 in asthma as compared with controls.

INNOVATION
Greater reducing potential under a chronic inflammatory state of asthma, thus, leads to susceptibility of CuZnSOD to oxidative inactivation due to cleavage of C57-C146 disulfide bond and exposure of usually unavailable cysteines.

CONCLUSION
Vulnerability of CuZnSOD influenced by redox likely amplifies injury and inflammation during acute asthma attacks when reactive oxygen species are explosively generated. Overall, this study identifies a new paradigm for understanding the chemical basis of inflammation, in which redox regulation of thiol availability dictates protein susceptibility to environmental and endogenously generated reactive species.


High quality thin films of high temperature superconducting La/sub 1.85/Sr/sub 0.15/CuO/sub 4/ have been grown using pulsed laser deposition on LaSrAlO/sub 4/ buffer layers on [100] SrTiO/sub 3/ substrates. An ozone/oxygen mixture was used during the cooling of the films from the deposition temperature. The zero-resistance superconducting transition temperature T/sub c/ was 39 K and the critical current density J/sub c/ was over 10/sup 6/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 4.2 K for 800 /spl Aring/ thin films. The resistivity was found to depend linearly on temperature with a resistivity ratio /spl rho/(300 K)//spl rho/p(50 K) of 4.5 and an intercept at T=0 of /spl sim/30 /spl mu//spl Omega/cm.


The magnetic properties of the cubic helimagnet MnSi are governed by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction which in the bulk stabilizes a helical ground state below 29 K with a spin-helix wavelength of 18 nm and a propagation vector along the [111] direction. Recently, MnSi has attracted a lot of attention after a skyrmion lattice had been discovered in the so called A-phase. We have prepared thin MnSi films on Si(111) substrates by codeposition of Mn and Si. Two films with a thickness below and above the spin helix length have been investigated using SQUID magnetometry. In comparison to bulk material, the films show an enhanced magnetic ordering temperature of 45 K. Magnetoresistance measurements performed on the films reveal a decrease of the resistivity with increasing field. They show together with the magnetic characterization that the critical fields describing the transition from the helical to a conical spin phase and from the conical phase to a parallel spin alignment are dependent on the film thickness and enhanced in comparison to single crystalline MnSi. The form anisotropy which prefers a spin alignment in the film plane is suggested to be the origin for the enhancement of the critical fields.


THE HEALTH Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-484) was intended to decrease the role of the foreign medical graduate (FMG) in American medicine and to increase the production and availability of American physicians. However, certain hospitals and the communities they serve have developed a dependence on FMGs. That US medical graduates, group practitioners, or middle-level health professionals can replace these FMGs does not appear real, at least in the near future. To avoid any substantial disruption of health services during the transition period, Congress included a waiver for those purposes in Public Law 94-484. This was originally administered as a blanket waiver and now apparently will be extended on a case-by-case basis until 1980 in accordance with Public Law 95-83. Plans beyond 1980 are unclear. According to a recent study by the American Medical Association, 23% of house staff positions surveyed were filled, as of July 1977,


A new injection-locked frequency divider (ILFD) using a standard 0.18 mum CMOS process is presented. The ILFD is based on a differential Colpitts voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with a direct injection MOSFET for coupling an external signal to the resonators. The VCO is composed of two single-ended VCOs coupled with two transformers. Measurement results show that at the supply voltage of 1.4 V the divider's free-running frequency is tunable from 4.77 to 5.08 GHz, and the proposed circuit can function as a first harmonic injection-locked oscillator, divide-by-2, -3, and -4 frequency divider. At the incident power of 0 dBm the divide-by-2 operation range is from the incident frequency 7.7 to 11.5 GHz and the divide-by-4 operation range is from the incident frequency 18.9 to 20.2 GHz.


A simple fabrication of copper conductive film was accomplished in one step at low temperature under an air atmosphere. The strategy for solving the problem was the use of both aminediol and OH-based solvent for self-reducible copper complex inks.


Psoriasis is the most common chronic skin inflammation in adults which affects 2-4% of the world population. Keratinocytes are the key structural cells in epidermis which hyperproliferate and undergo aberrant differentiation in psoriasis. Keratinocyte-derived cytokines and chemokines are essential in maintaining the vicious auto-inflammatory loop in psoriasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs (22-25 nucleotides) which regulates gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In this thesis, we explored the functional role of miRNAs/ cytokine networks in psoriasis. Paper I: A strong protective association of SNP (rs2910164-CC) of miR-146a to early onset of psoriasis was observed in HLA-C*06-negative patients. In addition, miR-146a deletion in mice led to earlier onset, more severe inflammation and impaired healing of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation. Therapeutically, miR-146a mimic injection prevented psoriasiform skin-inflammation in WT mice, suggesting an anti-inflammatory role of miR146a. Paper II: Here we explored the landscape of miRNAs in psoriatic keratinocytes. We identified several miRNAs, which were not identified in psoriasis before and their expression was altered in keratinocyte. In addition, upregulation of miR-1307-3p and human-specific miR-941 was validated with qRT-PCR. Paper III: MiR-149 was found to be downregulated in psoriatic keratinocytes compared to keratinocytes from non-lesional or healthy skin. In vitro studies revealed that the downregulation of miR-149 is mediated by IFN-γ/JAK/STAT axis. Functionally, miR-149 targeted the inflammatory and JAK/STAT pathway genes in resting as well as in IFN-γ treated keratinocytes. Moreover, miR-149 inhibition potentiated IFN-γ responses in keratinocytes. Paper IV: Here we outlined a new mode of action of tofactinib, a JAK inhibitor with effects on psoriasis in clinical trials. We showed that JAK proteins that are targets of tofacitinib are expressed by keratinocytes and tofacitinib had a robust impact on IL-22regulated transcriptome in keratinocytes. Our results imply that effects of tofacitinib are not just limited to T-cells as previously thought but can also be observed in keratinocytes.


To clarify the suppressant action of diphenylhydantoin (DPH) on digitalis-induced arrhythmias we studied effects of DPH and digoxin, alone and in combination, on contractile force, sodium-potassium adenosinetriphosphatase (Na+-K+ ATPase) activity, and potassium (K+) balance in dog hearts perfused with Krebs-Ringer's solution. Neither control perfusion nor DPH alone (3 × 10−5M) altered Na+-K+ ATPase activity or produced K+ loss; DPH alone depressed contractile force. Digoxin alone (10−6M) caused a 59% rise in contractile force at the onset of arrhythmia along with a net rate of K+ loss (K+ efflux) of 50 ± 12, μmoles/min and a decrease in Na+-K + ATPase activity from 13.8 to 5.2 μmoles phosphorus/mg protein hour−1 (P< 0.001). Perfusion with combined DPH and digoxin delayed toxicity by 13 minutes (or 82%), at which time contractile force was higher (92% above base line, P<0.05), K+ efflux was greater (87 ± 20 μmoles/min), and Na + -K+ ATPase activity was lower (2.6 μmoles/mg hour−1, P<0.05) than they were with digoxin alone. Combined DPH and digoxin perfusion lasting only until the time toxicity appeared with digoxin alone, however, yielded higher Na+-K+ ATPase activity (7.7 μmoles/mg hour−1, P<0.02) and less rise in contractile force (25% above base line, P<0.05). Thus, DPH appeared to retard digoxin-induced inhibition of Na+-K+ ATPase activity. Nevertheless, digoxin in the presence of DPH ultimately produced greater inhibition of Na +-K+ ATPase activity, greater increase in contractile force, and greater K + efflux prior to toxicity than did digoxin without DPH. These findings suggest that the antiarrhythmic effects of DPH cannot be attributed solely to prevention of inhibition of Na+-K+ ATPase activity or to diminution of K + efflux, two changes characteristically accompanying digoxin administration.


BACKGROUND
The aging process is complex comprising various contributing factors influencing late life conditions and eventual occurrence of chronic diseases that generate high financial and human costs. These factors include genetic proneness, lifestyle conducted throughout life, environmental conditions, as well as dietary aspects, among others, all together modulating precise pathways linked to aging, making longevity a multidimensional event.

SUMMARY
Compelling evidence support the concept that nutritional determinants have major impact on the risk of age-associated non-communicable diseases, as well as on mortality. Nutrition research has turned in recent years from considering isolated nutrients or foods to focusing on combinations of foods in dietary patterns in relation to their associations with health outcomes. This narrative review focuses attention on dietary patterns that may contribute to healthy or unhealthy aging and longevity with examples of traditional dietary patterns associated with healthy longevity and reviewing the association of healthy plant-based and unhealthy ultra-processed diets with frailty, a condition that may be considered a hallmark of unhealthy aging.

KEY MESSAGES
There is currently accumulated evidence confirming the key role that dietary patterns mainly of plant origin may exert in modifying the risk of age-associated chronic diseases and healthy longevity. These types of dietary models, unlike those in which the use of ultra-processed food is frequent, are associated with a reduced risk of frailty and, consequently, with healthy aging.


This paper reviews the role of ICT‐based assessment in the light of the growing use of virtual learning environments in universities. Issues of validity, efficiency, type of response, and scoring are addressed. A major area of research is the automated scoring of text. Claims for automated formative assessment are queried, since the feedback of scores and marks alone is not truly formative: feedback of comments about good features of the work/performance, and what needs to be done to improve is needed to enhance learning. It seems likely that the use of 'simple' computer‐assisted assessment (with multiple‐choice and short‐answer responses) will continue to develop, as will the use of multi‐media materials for assessment tasks. The use of ICT to record student responses, to capture material produced and to convey feedback will grow as the use of virtual learning environments grows. Alongside this, students are likely to be encouraged to make use of online peer and collaborative assessment. The sociocultural implications of using ICT in assessment (as in teaching) are significant and this is a key field for the work of social scientists alongside learning technologists.


Abstract Osteoporosis is a worldwide epidemic, affecting an average of 30% to 50% of those over 50 years of age in Latin America. Resulting from it is another epidemic, that of fragility fractures, which adversely affects morbidity and mortality of this population. Increasing in their incidence, fragility fractures are expected to occur in 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50years of age during their lifetimes. Currently, there are diagnostic and management guidelines for fragility fractures in Latin American countries, especially those for hip and spine fractures. In general, in Latin America, the quality indicators and standards for the care of these fractures vary greatly according to the health system, being suboptimal in many situations. The organization of health services is different in the different countries throughout Latin America. Common underlying characteristics, however, include the distinctions that exist in care between public and private medicine and the lack of economic resources directed to public healthcare systems from the national levels. Several important changes have been implemented in recent years, with the collaboration between national organizations and international associations such as the Fragility Fracture Network and the International Osteoporosis Foundation, aimed at improving quality standards in care and rates of morbidity and mortality in patients treated thorough fragility fracture programs. The underregistration in these programs and absence of formal national registries also contribute to a lack of recognition of the size, scope, and severity of the problem.


Yellow-eyed penguins, Megadyptes antipodes, are endangered species with a sharp decline in the numbers of breeding pairs over last 2 decades. Diphtheritic stomatitis, characterized by a thick fibrinopurulent exudate in the oral cavities and symptoms, including inanition and significant weight loss, is responsible for significant mortality among the young chicks. ABSTRACT Yellow-eyed penguins, Megadyptes antipodes, are an endangered species that are endemic to New Zealand. Outbreaks of diphtheritic stomatitis have caused significant mortality for this species, especially among young chicks. In this study, we isolated 16 Corynebacterium sp. isolates from the oral cavities of 2- to 14-day-old chicks at a range of infection stages and sequenced the genomes to understand their virulence mechanisms. Phylogenomic and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) characterization indicate that these strains belong to a novel Corynebacterium species. A simple multiplex PCR-based diagnostic assay has been developed to identify these strains rapidly and reliably. Similar to other corynebacteria, genomic islands and prophages introduced significant diversity among these strains that has potentially led to minor functional variations between the two lineages. Despite the presence of multiple corynebacterial virulence genes and a spaDEF-type pilus gene cluster among these strains, the survival rate was much higher in Galleria mellonella larvae than in those inoculated with Corynebacterium ulcerans NZRM 818 and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis NZRM 3004. Therefore, these strains are opportunistic pathogens causing high mortality among young penguin chicks due to a less-developed immune system. IMPORTANCE Yellow-eyed penguins, Megadyptes antipodes, are endangered species with a sharp decline in the numbers of breeding pairs over the last 2 decades. Diphtheritic stomatitis, characterized by a thick fibrinopurulent exudate in the oral cavities and symptoms, including inanition and significant weight loss, is responsible for significant mortality among the young chicks. These chicks are treated with antibiotics, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid or enrofloxacin, but do not always recover from the infection. The pathogen causing these infections and the mechanism of pathogenesis are unclear. This study has identified a novel Corynebacterium species to be associated with diphtheritic stomatitis in yellow-eyed penguins with potential virulence genes that are likely involved in pathogenesis. Importantly, a gene encoding an exotoxin, phospholipase D, is present among these strains. The inactivated form of this enzyme could potentially be used as an effective vaccine to protect these penguins from infection.