Amatoxins are cyclic peptides which can be purified from the carpophores of various mushroom species. Since they were first recognized as potent inhibitors of the nuclear RNA polymerases of most eukaryotes these peptides have served as important tools in the study of transcription. The presence of unusual amino acid residues in these peptides has provided opportunities to attempt a variety of semisynthetic modifications. We describe several new amatoxin derivatives that were prepared by selective modification of an aldehyde group which can be generated by periodate oxidation of 6'-O-methyl-alpha-amanitin. The derivatives which resulted from sodium cyanoborohydride-mediated coupling to the toxin of ammonia, glycine, and L-proline exhibited Ki values for calf thymus RNA polymerase II of 1.7 x 10(-7) M, 2.5 x 10(-7) M and 7.0 x 10(-6) M, respectively. Treatment of the aldehyde with sodium chlorite or hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid converted the amanitin aldehyde to the corresponding carboxyl or nitrile compounds with Ki values of 1.0 x 10(-7) M and 3.0 x 10(-9) M, respectively. Difficulties which were encountered in the preparation of these derivatives are discussed relative to peculiarities in the chemical behavior of the amanitin aldehyde.


The impact of the many initiatives undertaken by OUM to provide learning accessibilities through various
aspects must be assessed from the perspective of its learners. Feedback through the tracer study conducted to
learners who will be graduating is appropriate because they have gone through the entire cycle of learning. The
feedback allows OUM to assess its performance in the provision of services to its learners. An online tracer
study conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Malaysia, in collaboration with all local universities,
colleges and polytechnics was carried out via a set of standard questionnaire is, in part, to evaluate the responses
from Malaysian graduates on the performance of their alma maters. This paper presents the results of the study
conducted on a total of 4911 respondents of the 2013 batch of OUM graduates. It is gratifying to note that 2013
OUM graduates are generally satisfied with the services provided by the university and that the level of
satisfaction in almost all aspects have improved over the past five years. The aspects covered in this study
include: curriculum, assessment system, career guidance, teaching and learning, facilities, and knowledge and
skills. In another aspect, the results showed that OUM study programmes have had a high impact on the holistic
development of graduates, in terms of self-readiness such as maturity, reliance and teamwork. On comparing the
2013 data with that of the 2008 data, the result showed that there are significant improvements in the graduates'
satisfaction on all aspects, except for the English language skills. This implies that the many initiatives that have
been instituted over the last five years towards improving the quality of education has paid off as evidenced by
the positive differences in satisfaction in the items covered in this tracer study. (Abstract by authors)


We have previously shown that vaccination of chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) patients with CMLVAX100 (a mixture of 5 p210-b3a2 breakpoint derived peptides) plus GM-CSF was able to induce an evident and durable peptide-specific CD4 + T cell response in the majority of patients. Peptide-specific CD4 + T cell proliferation was measured by standard [3H] thymidine incorporation assay and this response was mainly mediated by a 25 mer long breakpoint peptide (b3a2-25) included in the vaccine. In this pilot clinical trial we showed that about 60% of 28 CML patients vaccinated while on imatinib, showed a reduction of their long lasting molecular residual disease after immunization (first 6 vaccinations) and about 25% of them achieved in addition a complete molecular response. To investigate the contribute of this peptide specific CD4 + T cell response in antitumor activity, we further characterize peptide-induced proliferating CD4 + cells. Briefly, in 10 CMLVAX100 vaccinated patients in which a strong b3a2-25 specific CD4 + proliferation was previously observed, we freshly isolated peripheral blood CD4 + T cells and we cultured them 4 days only in the presence or not of b3a2-25 vaccine peptide or control PR-25 peptide. Afterwards, each culture condition was analyzed both for the co-expression of CD25, perforin and FOXP3 molecules and for standard [3H] thymidine incorporation assay. As expected all patients showed a strong b3a2-25 specific CD4 + proliferation (mean stimulation index 43 -range 19–81-). When flow cytometric analysis was performed, we observed a consistent increase of two main CD4 + T cells subsets only in the b3a2-25 stimulated CD4 + T cells, not in "no peptide" or "control peptide" stimulated CD4 + T cells. a "small-size" CD4 + /perforin + T cell population (raising from a median of 1.06% (range 0.21–5.2) to 2.32% (range 0.49–6.2) with very likely cytotoxic activity a "large-size" CD4 + /CD25 + /FOXP3 + T cell population (raising from 0.29% (range 0.03–0.66) to 5.65% (range 0.71–9.5) with potential regulatory function. Since the large size of these cells and their high proliferative activity would argue against a regulatory features and considering that the immunophenotypic profile of Tregs in human is not yet fully defined we performed a functional test to measure a potential regulatory activity of these vaccine-induced T cell population. Thus, we evaluated the ability of b3a2-25 specific CD4 + T cells to inhibit the growth of CFSE labelled normal subjects naive CD4 + T cells stimulated with autologous CD3-depleted APCs and antiCD3 MoAb. In our experimental conditions, naive CFSE CD4 + T cells equally proliferated in the presence of b3a2-25 specific CD4 + cells, "no peptide" CD4 + cells or PR-25 control peptide CD4 + cells from vaccinated patients and the rate of proliferation was similar to the one observed in co-culture. experiments with allogeneic normal CD4 + cells. Our data suggest that the immune response induced in CML patients by CMLVAX100 vaccinations, consists of an increase of peptide-specific cytotoxic CD4 + T cells and a much more evident augment of CD4 + /CD25 + /FOXP3 + T cells that despite resembling a Treg phenotype display apparently no suppressive activity. The exact role of this peptide-specific CD4 + T cells subset in the context of CMLVAX100 mediated immune response needs to be further elucidated.


A scheme of teleportation of a tripartite state via W state is suggested. The W state serves as quantum channels. Standard Bell-state measurements and Von Neumann measurements are performed. After the sender operates the measurements and informs the receiver her results, he can reconstruct the original state by the corresponding unitary transformation. The probability of the successful teleportation is also obtained.


This paper examines the motivation for intergenerational transfers between adult children and their parents, and the nature of preferences for such giving behaviour, in an experimental setting. Participants in our experiment play a series of dictator games with parents and strangers, in which we vary endowments and prices for giving to each recipient. We find that preferences for giving are typically rational. When parents are recipients as opposed to strangers, participants display greater sensitivity to the price of giving, and a higher relative proclivity for giving. Our findings also provide evidence of reciprocal motivations for giving, as players give more to parents who have full information regarding the context in which giving occurs.


This review is to summarize three new QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) methods recently developed in our group and their applications for drug design. Based on more solid theoretical models and advanced mathematical techniques, the conventional QSAR technique has been recast in the following three aspects. (1) In the fragment-based two dimensional QSAR, or abbreviated as FB-QSAR, the molecular structures in a family of drug candidates are divided into several fragments according to the substitutes being investigated. The bioactivities of drug candidates are correlated with physicochemical properties of the molecular fragments through two sets of coefficients: one is for the physicochemical properties and the other for the molecular fragments. (2) In the multiple field three dimensional QSAR, or MF-3D-QSAR, more molecular potential fields are integrated into the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) through two sets of coefficients: one is for the potential fields and the other for the Cartesian three dimensional grid points. (3) In the AABPP (amino acid-based peptide prediction), the bioactivities of peptides or proteins are correlated with the physicochemical properties of all or partial residues of the sequence through two sets of coefficients: one is for the physicochemical properties of amino acids and the other for the weight factors of the residues. Meanwhile, an iterative double least square (IDLS) technique is developed for solving the two sets of coefficients in a training dataset alternately and iteratively. Using the two sets of coefficients, one can predict the bioactivity of a query peptide, protein, or drug candidate. Compared with the old methods, the new QSAR approaches as summarized in this review possess machine learning ability, can remarkably enhance the prediction power, and provide more structural information. Meanwhile, the future challenge and possible development in this area have been briefly addressed as well.


Using the MIT bag model, the masses of the q3q3 S-wave mesons are found. These q3q3 mesons couple directly to both baryon-antibaryon and triple meson states. Many of the calculated states are below baryon-antibaryon threshold, but none are found below triple meson threshold. The dissociation calculations for the q3q3 states with nucleon-antinucleon content are performed. Some brief comments about the relationship of the states to experiment are made.


Abstract News organizations are increasingly exploring how the use of newsbots can enhance journalism by enabling novel ways to disseminate news and engage with audiences in social media environments. While newsbots have begun to draw attention in journalism studies, little consideration has been given to how audiences perceive and respond to newsbots. Through the lens of human–machine communication (HMC), this article presents a case study of a newsbot interacting with Twitter users who shared news articles from the New York Times (NYT). In particular, we analyzed the Twitter users' perceptions and responses to the newsbot using qualitative analysis. We found that Twitter users perceived the newsbot in several degrees: from ignoring it, to addressing the content curated by the newsbot, to responding to newsbot itself. Moreover, we found that Twitter users offered a range of opinions, personal experiences, facts, counter-arguments, and affective displays when they addressed the content or the newsbot. We discuss how newsbots can be effective tools to enhance news engagement, the obstacles that they face when they interact in online environments, and reflect on the range of communicative roles that newsbots play with online audiences.


This secondary analysis of the first U.S. acamprosate trial (N = 601) for alcohol dependence examines the effects of subsyndromal psychiatric symptoms or history of severe psychopathology on alcoholism treatment outcomes and any mitigating effects of acamprosate. Psychiatric antecedents were documented using a protocol-specific interview. Current psychiatric symptoms were assessed using Hamilton Anxiety and Depression (HAM-A, HAM-D) rating scales. Predictors of good response, defined as abstinence for > or =90% of trial duration, were identified using logistic regression. Subsyndromal anxiety (as determined by HAM-A "Anxious Mood" item) and the presence of > or =1 psychiatric antecedent were significant negative predictors of good response. Lower pretreatment drinking intensity, baseline motivation to have abstinence as a goal, and treatment with acamprosate were significant positive predictors of good response. No significant interactions among predictors were detected, indicating that they are independent, additive factors. Thus, the beneficial effects of acamprosate treatment in combination with motivational therapy may offset the liabilities for alcoholism recovery that are associated with current anxiety symptoms and/or a significant past psychiatric history. (Am J Addict 2010;00:1-8).


Immune complex-induced activation of neutrophils through cell surface FcRs plays a central role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. These diseases are often modeled using genetically modified mice. However, in contrast to the number of studies on human cells, the identity of FcRs involved in immune complex activation of murine neutrophils is at present unknown. Furthermore, little is known about the cellular functions mediated by the recently identified murine FcγRIV. In this study, we tested the identity of FcRs involved in the activation of neutrophils by plate-bound immune complexes, using various knockout mouse strains, function-blocking mAbs, or the combination of both approaches. Activation of murine neutrophils by immobilized IgG immune complexes was abrogated in FcR γ-chain-deficient cells, but not by the single or combined deficiency of the γ-chain-associated FcγRI and FcγRIII, or by blocking Abs against either FcγRIII or FcγRIV alone. However, treatment of FcγRIII-deficient neutrophils with FcγRIV-blocking Abs or simultaneous blocking of FcγRIII and FcγRIV in wild-type cells completely inhibited the immune complex-induced cellular responses. In parallel studies, activation of human neutrophils by immobilized immune complexes was abrogated by blocking Abs against either FcγRIIA or FcγRIIIB alone. Taken together, neutrophil activation by immobilized immune complexes requires the murine FcγRIII/FcγRIV or the human FcγRIIA/FcγRIIIB molecules. Although both of the two human receptors are required for this response, the two murine receptors play overlapping, redundant roles. These results promote our understanding of autoimmune diseases and identify an IgG-dependent cellular function of FcγRIV.


Abstract Mothers of preterm and term infants frequently experience breast-feeding problems that make it necessary for them to use supplemental or complementary feedings. Although bottle feeding is used most frequently, alternatives to bottle feeding are frequently recommended to avoid nipple confusion. This report reviews the evidence of a relationship between exposure to artificial nipples and the development of nipple confusion. It also examines the effects of alternative feeding methods such as cup feeding, finger feeding, spoon feeding and gavage feeding on physiological responses of infants and long-term breast-feeding outcomes. This report recommends further research before alternatives to bottle feeding are routinely implemented. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company


The interference pattern technique (IPT) consists of the coherent addition of the direct and reflected global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) signals in the receiving antenna. The detected power oscillates (fading), and the amplitude of these oscillations is very sensitive to the soil reflection coefficient at the specular reflection point. Therefore, variations of the reflection coefficient can be mapped, and thus dielectric constant variations, from which soil moisture can be retrieved. This work extends the use of the IPT technique from vertical polarization (V-Pol) to horizontal polarization (H-Pol). Moreover, the IPT equations are reformulated to facilitate the combination of dual-polarization retrievals. Simulations of the interference patterns at V- and H-Pol are presented for different soil moisture conditions. An upgrade of the SMIGOL GNSS-R instrument for dual-polarization observations is presented. This instrument was deployed in a flat, dry grassland in Yanco, Australia, in order to validate the proposed concepts. Finally, a comparison between the data retrieved from the SMIGOL instrument and the ground-truth soil moisture data is presented showing a good agreement between them and rainfall information.


This short demo description presents an extension to the Konduit tool for visual programming for the semantic desktop. Previously, Konduit required users to define filter components by manually specifying a SPARQL CONSTRUCT query. With the current work presented in this demo, we are exploring ways of building such queries visually, and aiding the use in doing it. We hope that this will make it easier to work with Konduit, which will thus appeal to more users.


We identify a cell type–specific modification of HLA-I using lamprey VLR antibodies as a new class of research reagents. Memory B cells and plasma cells are antigen-experienced cells tasked with the maintenance of humoral protection. Despite these prominent functions, definitive cell surface markers have not been identified for these cells. We report here the isolation and characterization of the monoclonal variable lymphocyte receptor B (VLRB) N8 antibody from the evolutionarily distant sea lamprey that specifically recognizes memory B cells and plasma cells in humans. Unexpectedly, we determined that VLRB N8 recognizes the human leukocyte antigen–I (HLA-I) antigen in a tyrosine sulfation–dependent manner. Furthermore, we observed increased binding of VLRB N8 to memory B cells in individuals with autoimmune disorders multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Our study indicates that lamprey VLR antibodies uniquely recognize a memory B cell– and plasma cell–specific posttranslational modification of HLA-I, the expression of which is up-regulated during B cell activation.


In the present work, we analyze the evolution of the scalar and tensorial perturbations and the quantities relevant for the physical description of the Universe, as the density contrast of the scalar perturbations and the gravitational waves energy density during the Bose-Einstein condensation of dark matter. The behavior of these parameters during the Bose-Einstein phase transition of dark matter is analyzed in details. To study the cosmological dynamics and evolution of scalar and tensorial perturbations in a Universe with and without cosmological constant we use both analytical and numerical methods. The Bose-Einstein phase transition modifies the evolution of gravitational waves of cosmological origin, as well as the process of large-scale structure formation.


Delayed access to health care in terms of diagnosis and treatment has unforeseen health and cost implications on the patients and the public health system in general. Thus, the study examines patients' waiting time in accessing health care services. The study employs a convenience sampling technique in collecting data from a sample of 350 Outpatients using a questionnaire. The main analytic tools used in the study are the paired sample t-test, binary logistic regression and SmartPLS structural equation modelling. Results from the study show that the actual waiting times of patients are generally higher than the expected times. Furthermore, the probability of a patient's waiting time being rated as unacceptable is affected by the Day of attendance, Arrival time of patients, Large number of patients or long queue, Long registration time, Type of diagnosis, and Type of treatment sought. Finally, the study also establishes that there is no relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and unacceptable waiting time, as well as no relationship between hospital factors and unacceptable waiting time. Additionally, the study shows that unacceptable waiting time does not have any influence on overall patients' satisfaction. However, a strong positive relationship between process factors and unacceptable waiting time was established. The study recommends that there is the need for health care policy formulators to adopt more efficient strategies, like use of computer modelling to help assign appointment time to patients, so as to significantly reduce the time patients spend waiting at the hospitals.
Citation: Kunu, E. K. and Agbede, P. S. (2021). Statistical Analysis of Patients Waiting Time in Accessing Health Care Services in Ghana: A Case Study of University of Cape Coast Hospital. International Journal of Technology and Management Research. Vol. 6, Issue 1: 14-27.
Received: October 23, 2020Accepted: March 30, 2021


Abstract This paper reports a calibration of the residue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) unit at the Fushun Petrochemical Company No. 2 refinery to find the weak link in production. For the purpose of investigating the ability of unit's processing and its performance, with the condition of the handling capacity of the unit is at 4800 t · d−1, several properties have been checked, including the properties of feedstock oil, reduced crude, and vacuum residue.


According to the Energy Strategy of Ukraine for
the period up to 2035, the priority direction of domestic energy
development is renewable energy sources. Biogas is one of the
most promising renewable energy sources, whose potential in
Ukraine is significant. The distribution of biogas plants will
also contribute to the improvement of the ecological situation
in the country. The implementation of a biogas plant at the
yeast production enterprise is shown in the work. The biogas
plant is based on an anaerobic digestion process. The payback
period of the biogas plant is less than three years.


In this paper, energy storage system(ESS) operation algorithm for economics considering battery degradation properties is proposed. Hourly electricity charge according to real-time pricing (RTP) and battery properties are analyzed for high profit through ESS operation. Especially, hourly electricity charge of Illinois State is analyzed. Characteristics of battery accounts for a high percentage of ESS configuration. Thus, degradation properties of the battery for the price considering the loss of battery usage is considered. The algorithm is proposed for the highest profit through analysis of the battery degradation properties and electricity charge, and the proposed algorithm is verified by mathematical analysis.


To date, one of the major tasks in effective energy is to increase the wind energy's share in the world energy balances. It is expected that, by 2020, this share will be increased up to 12%. In the energy supply of rural and remote regions, the small wind energy systems can play a very important role. In order to further enable this ecologically-friendly type of energy, which is mainly focused on private customers, the energy efficiency of wind turbines needs to increase, and the cost of production of stable energy, needs to decrease, even at moderate winds. In order to achieve these goals, we propose a new material for the manufacture of turbine blades, where the reinforcing is achieved by hybrid structures containing carbon, basalt and other type of fibers. In addition, we propose modified epoxy resins to be used as matrix, containing amplifying fillers with a high modulus of elasticity in the form of ultra-dispersive powders. This presentation demonstrates the physical, mechanical and deformation characteristics of new material, as well as the results of its testing in atmospheric conditions (dry climate zone, subtropical type). The proposed time extrapolation of a wind turbine in atmospheric conditions estimated for 35 years, causes the reduction of the coefficient of operating condition of composites being considered in present work up to 0.70 °C 0.85.


ABSTRACT A group of 1,623 ovine fecal samples recovered from 65 geographically distinct mutton sheep and prime lamb properties across New South Wales, Australia, were screened for the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) virulence factors (stx1, stx2,eaeA, and ehxA). A subset was cultured for STEC isolates containing associated virulence factors (eaeAand/or ehxA), which were isolated from 17 of 20 (85%) and 19 of 20 (95%) tested prime lamb and mutton sheep properties, respectively. STEC isolates containing stx1,stx2, and ehxA were most commonly isolated (19 of 40 flocks; 47.5%), and this profile was observed for 10 different serotypes. Among 90 STEC isolates studied, the most common serotypes were O91:H− (22 isolates [24.4%]), O5:H− (16 isolates [17.8%]), O128:H2 (11 isolates [12.2%]), O123:H− (8 isolates [8.9%]), and O85:H49 (5 isolates [5.6%]). Two isolates (2.2%) were typed as O157:H−. A total of 78 of 90 STEC isolates (86.7%) expressed Shiga toxin in Vero cell culture and 75 of 84ehxA-positive isolates (89.3%) expressed enterohemolysin on washed sheep blood agar. eaeA was observed in 11 of 90 (12.2%) ovine STEC isolates, including serotypes O5:H−, O84:H−, O85:H49, O123:H− O136:H40, and O157:H−. Although only 2 of 90 isolates were typed as O157:H−, the predominant serotypes recovered during this study have been recovered from human patients with clinical disease, albeit rarely.


We present in this paper a design of a high gain antenna for radar-based non-contact measurement systems in the k-band frequency. The proposed antenna consists of a slot on a multi-grooved metal structure (flange) and a frequency selective surface (FSS) acting as a flat lens. Often, grooved (or corrugated) surfaces and frequency selective surfaces are used to enhance antenna gain features. The combination of these two techniques could provide more gain with a small size antenna. In this sense, dimensions of both grooves and FSS are optimized to reach the maximum gain without increasing the size of the antenna. All simulations and optimizations are carried out using electromagnetic full-wave tools. Next, a prototype of the proposed antenna is manufactured and characterized. More than 15 dB of gain is obtained over the whole bandwidth with a peak gain of about 17.5 dB is measured around the frequency 24.5 GHz.


Abstract. Hardjo PH, Susanto DPS, Savitri WD, Purwanto MGM. 2019. Shoot multiplication of Pogostemon cablin var. Sidikalang and patchouli oil profile. Nusantara Bioscience 11: 123-127. Pogostemon cablin Benth. is a plant producing patchouli oil, which mostly consists of patchouli alcohol compound. Patchouli oil has great potentials in the world market because of its stability and high price. In this study, in vitro multiplication of Sidikalang variety of Acehnese patchouli shoots was done on solid and liquid Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium. This study aimed to determine the effect of cytokinins in various combinations of shoot multiplication and to compare the patchouli oil yield of in vitro and ex vitro culture. In vitro multiplication of Acehnese patchouli shoots by using solid MS medium with addition of 0.2 ppm benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and 0.2 ppm Kinetin resulted in shoot explants with an average growth index of 82.198 ± 0.690. Patchouli oil extraction was done on 7 weeks old in vitro shoot explants cultured on solid MS medium + 0.2 ppm BAP + 0.2 ppm Kinetin using water distillation method. In vitro shoots yielded 2.5% patchouli oil and contained ± 35% patchouli alcohol compound, whereas ex vitro shoots produced 4% patchouli oil and contained ± 25% patchouli alcohol compound. The qualitative analysis by using thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed that there were similarities in the number of spot and Rf value for each spot of ex vitro and in vitro patchouli oil.


This thesis presents studies of the role of disorder in non-equilibrium quantum systems. The quantum states relevant to dynamics in these systems are very different from the ground state of the Hamiltonian. Two distinct systems are studied, (i) periodically driven Hamiltonians in two dimensions, and (ii) electrons in a one-dimensional lattice with power-law decaying hopping amplitudes. In the first system, the novel phases that are induced from the interplay of periodic driving, topology and disorder are studied. In the second system, the Anderson transition in all the eigenstates of the Hamiltonian are studied, as a function of the power-law exponent of the hopping amplitude. In periodically driven systems the study focuses on the effect of disorder in the nature of the topology of the steady states. First, we investigate the robustness to disorder of Floquet topological insulators (FTIs) occurring in semiconductor quantum wells. Such FTIs are generated by resonantly driving a transition between the valence and conduction band. We show that when disorder is added, the topological nature of such FTIs persists as long as there is a gap at the resonant quasienergy. For strong enough disorder, this gap closes and all the states become localized as the system undergoes a transition to a trivial insulator. Interestingly, the effects of disorder are not necessarily adverse, disorder can also induce a transition from a trivial to a topological system, thereby establishing a Floquet Topological Anderson Insulator (FTAI). Such a state would be a dynamical realization of the topological Anderson insulator. We identify the conditions on the driving field necessary for observing such a transition. We realize such a disorder induced topological Floquet spectrum in the driven honeycomb lattice and quantum well models. Finally, we show that two-dimensional periodically driven quantum systems with spatial disorder admit a unique topological phase, which we call the anomalous Floquet-Anderson insulator (AFAI). The AFAI is characterized by a quasienergy spectrum featuring chiral edge modes coexisting with a fully localized bulk. Such a spectrum is impossible for a time-independent, local Hamiltonian. These unique characteristics of the AFAI give rise to a new topologically protected nonequilibrium transport phenomenon: quantized, yet nonadiabatic, charge pumping. We identify the topological invariants that distinguish the AFAI from a trivial, fully localized phase, and show that the two phases are separated by a phase transition. The thesis also present the study of disordered systems using Wegner's Flow equations. The Flow Equation Method was proposed as a technique for studying excited states in an interacting system in one dimension. We apply this method to a one-dimensional tight binding problem with power-law decaying hoppings. This model presents a transition as a function of the exponent of the decay. It is shown that the the entire phase diagram, i.e. the delocalized, critical and localized phases in these systems can be studied using this technique. Based on this technique, we develop a strong-bond renormalization group that procedure where we solve the Flow Equations iteratively. This renormalization group approach
provides a new framework to study the transition in this system.


For the zonula adherens (ZA) to be established by linear arrangement of adherens junctions (AJs) in epithelial sheet cells, critical for the epithelial cell sheet formation and intercellular barrier function, myosin-2 is supposedly integrated into the ZA with the result of overlapping localization of E-cadherin/actin/myosin-2. Here, we immunofluorescently showed that myosin-2 failed to be integrated into the ZA in cultured epithelial-type ZO1(ko)/2(kd) Eph4 cells lacking ZO-1 and -2 (zonula occludens-1 and -2) by knockout and knockdown, respectively. Instead, a linearized but fragmented arrangement of AJs was formed in the way that it was positive for E-cadherin/actin, but negative for myosin-2 (designated prezonula-AJ). Transfection of full-length ZO-1 or ZO-2, or ZO-1 lacking its PDZ (PSD-95/discs large/zonula occludens-1)-1/2 domains (but not one lacking PDZ-1/2/3) into ZO1(ko)/2(kd) Eph4 cells restored the junctional integration of myosin-2 with prezonula-AJ to establish the ZA. Transfection of dominant-active RhoA or Rho-kinase (ROCK), as well as administration of lysophosphatidic acid or Y27632, which activates RhoA or inhibits ROCK, respectively, suggested that RhoA regulated the junctional integration of myosin-2 into ZA in a manner such that ROCK played a necessary but not-sufficient role. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analyses revealed that spatiotemporal Rho-activation occurred in a ZO-1/2-dependent way to establish ZA from primordial forms in epithelial cells.


One of the major contributions of geographical information systems (GIS) is their ability to efficiently manage geographical information. Geographical information can be represented and stored in a variety of ways, each with its advantages. Thus, a challenging problem facing GIS is their ability to effectively utilize the various types of geographic data. The process by which these different information sources are merged in order to yield a more comprehensive dataset is referred to as conflation.
Currently, conflation is performed manually whereby a cartographer has to overlay two maps and painstakingly match geographical features. This arduous process is highly subjective and prone to error. Therefore, our objective in this research is to develop a methodology for automating this process.
Our approach is to simulate the cognitive and intuitive processes that a cartographer uses in performing feature matching. Based upon observation, we have identified three criteria that a cartographer uses when performing this process. They are spatial, nonspatial, and topological. Thus, the major challenge is to develop innovative techniques whereby these characteristics can be utilized in automating the conflation process.
In this research, we expect to address the issues concerning this problem and develop practical solutions as to how the problem can be solved. Our goal is to significantly improve the way this process is currently performed. Furthermore, we intend to perform extensive tests in order to substantiate our hypotheses.


CONTEXT
The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC) has been the only medical school in the state since its inception in 1955 (until the 2008 establishment of the William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine, yet to graduate its first class). Recruiting out-of-state physicians is difficult in Mississippi, and stakeholders frequently talk of "growing our own" physicians, especially challenging with a single public medical school.

PURPOSE
This study investigates: (1) the proportion of a recent (1990-1999) cohort of UMC graduates practicing in Mississippi, (2) the proportion of all practicing Mississippi physicians who are UMC grads, (3) whether UMC graduates are more likely to practice in rural, small towns, or geographically isolated areas than other physicians, and (4) whether UMC graduates are more likely to recommend Mississippi as a practice location to new medical school graduates.

METHODS
Using Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure data (2009) and Mississippi Medical Doctors survey data (2007-2008), we employ GIS, logistic regression, and multinomial logistic regression models. We also use qualitative methods to examine interviews from purposefully sampled minority and/or female Mississippi physicians from the Mississippi Medical Doctors survey.

FINDINGS
Approximately 56% of UMC 1990-1999 cohort grads are practicing in Mississippi. Moreover, UMC graduates--of any year--constitute about 58% of Mississippi's practicing physicians. UMC graduates are not more likely to practice in rural, small towns, or geographically isolated areas in Mississippi than physicians who graduated elsewhere. Controlling for other factors, UMC grads are not more likely to recommend practicing in Mississippi than physicians trained elsewhere.

CONCLUSION
Health educators and policy makers should consider broadening UMC's enrollment policies, and greater emphasis should be placed on recruiting physicians.


Since a spectrum of hydrological and geomorphological conditions produce flood pulse environment in a riverine or a deltaic system, it is essential to have the knowledge on spatial and temporal distributions of river flow and dependent processes for environmental flow requirements, ecosystem maintenance, water resources management, and hydrological forecasting among others. Such systems being complex as the exchange of flows between the main channel and the flood plains are not well understood, flow partitioning dynamics between the various channels on large water bodies are often difficult to represent even with sophisticated models. In view of this, an attempt has been made to apply a short-term stochastic forecasting model-an Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) aided by Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to partition flows into the downstream tributaries, viz.: Lopis and Gadikwe channels from the Khiandiandavhu-Maunachira (K-M) Junction Junction (the main river channel) river system of the iconic Okavango delta in Botswana. As such, observed monthly flow data between October 2005 and September 2008 at the K-M Junction, and the two downstream tributaries were used to test the performance of these hybrid models for the complex deltaic system. It was found that the partitioned flows at Lopis and Gadikwe agree very well with observations when using a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) ANN (i.e. an inverse variant of the widely used Multi Input Single Output (MISO) ANN architecture) and an ARIMA (1,1,1) model. The Mean Squared Errors (MSEs) in the forecasts were also minimal, thus giving some hope on the use of such a hybrid mode for the rest of the branched river networks of the whole Okavango delta.


According to Roger Scruton, it is not possible for photographs to be representational art. Most responses to Scruton's scepticism are versions of the claim that Scruton disregards the extent to which intentionality features in photography; but these cannot force him to give up his notion of the ideal photograph. My approach is to argue that Scruton has misconstrued the role of causation in his discussion of photography. I claim that although Scruton insists that the ideal photograph is defined by its 'merely causal' provenance, in fact he fails to take the causal provenance of photographs seriously enough. To replace Scruton's notion of the ideal photograph, I offer a substantive account of the causal provenance of photographs, centred on the distinctive role of 'the photographic event'. I conclude that, with a proper understanding of the photographic process, we have good reason to re-open the question of photography as a representational art.


Endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy (ECPM) is a safe and minimally invasive technique that is used to treat patients whose esophageal inlet fails to open because of specific diseases, such as Wallenberg's syndrome and neuromuscular diseases. The present study described the performance of a new, safe and simple ECPM using a curved rigid laryngoscope, which is used for endoscopic laryngopharyngeal surgery for patients with dysphagia due to pharyngeal residue after swallowing. The patient was an 80-year-old woman with laryngeal palsy caused by lower cranial nerve palsy after cranial base schwannoma surgery. ECPM was performed with a curved rigid laryngoscope. The postoperative course was good; postoperative rehabilitation eliminated the residue after swallowing a thickened solution and mealtimes were shorter than before surgery. This procedure allows the hypopharynx to be widely expanded and it is possible to develop a wider surgical field than when using a direct laryngoscope. In addition, this procedure appears to be relatively easy to perform if the surgeon is familiar with the curved rigid laryngoscope technique.


Diabetic Ketoacidosis commonly presents with hyponatremia, but hypernatremia is a rare entity. We report a unique case of a 50-year-old woman admitted with altered sensorium with blood glucose 979 milligrams/deciliter, serum osmolarity 363 mOsm/kilograms, and serum sodium 144 milliequivalents/liter. Patient was given initial bolus of isotonic saline and continued on half isotonic saline for correction of hypernatremia along with insulin infusion therapy. Patient was successfully treated with intravenous fluids, insulin infusion, and the altered sensorium was resolved without any sequelae. This case illustrates a teaching point in the use of intravenous fluids for the treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis with hypernatremia.


Storm events are one of the most destructive natural hazards which affect low lying coastal areas and they are responsible for urban coastal flooding and damages in ports and coastal structures. Storm analysis and classification is fundamental for understanding these extreme and violent coastal processes especially nowadays when the frequency and the severity of coastal storms are increased due to climate change and climate variability. In this work an extended analysis of storm events in Rethymno, city of Crete Island, is attempted, for wave climate projections of 1960 to 2100, under the frames of PEARL (Preparing for Extreme And Rare events in coastaL regions), an undergoing EU funded project. Based on the methodology of Dolan-Davis and Saffir-Simpson for storm and hurricane classification, the aim of this work is firstly to present an integrated analysis of storm events and their thresholds thus enhancing the storm definition for this location and secondly to classify them by means of clustering methods. A storm is usually considered as a violent hydro-meteorological phenomenon which can cause damage to the surrounding coastal zone; it starts when the significant wave height exceeds a given minimum threshold and it remains above this for a certain duration. However, the thresholds for the wave height, the duration and the calm phase between two successive storms vary depending on the area of interest. Investigating extreme historical storm events and their future projections, the thresholds' selection is examined, checking also the independence between of two successive events. Consequently, the definition of a storm is created for this region and the storm events are classified into five classes, depending on their severity. The classification is accomplished with cluster analysis based on the storm energy and the storm period. The different clustering algorithms and methods (hierarchical, k-means, partitioning around medoids and fuzzy clustering) are validated via appropriate indices and the results are presented, checked after all the wave propagation and the variation of significant wave height close to the port structures.


Looking at the issues of low efficiency, poor control performance, and difficult access control of the traditional role-based access control model, an artificial intelligence technique-based power information system access control model has been designed. The detector is designed by artificial intelligence technology, combining artificial neural network, and artificial immune algorithm, which provide the basis for checking the access request module. It has been proved that the design model can effectively support the access and modification of legitimate users and prevent illegal users from accessing, and the control accuracy is high. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the power sector is now reaching emerging markets, where it may have a critical impact, as clean, cheap, and reliable energy is essential to development. Artificial intelligence can be proven very efficient for resolving the control and decision-making issues in high complex systems.


Cisplatin is one of the most effective chemotherapy drugs, and has been widely employed for more than four decades in the treatment of different forms of human tumors. In recent years, various examples of metal complex-based compounds have been used for medicinal purposes. In this context, the novel palladium(II) complex, [Pd(non-dtc)(bpy)]NO3, (non-dtc = nonyldithiocarbamate and bpy = 2,2′- bipyridine) has been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and electronic spectroscopy studies. The 50% cytotoxic concentrations (Ic50) of this Pd(II) complex (0.53 mM) and cisplatin (154 mM) against human cell tumor line (K562) indicates its interaction with DNA of cancer cell at quite low concentration. Thus, binding characteristics of this compound to calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been investigated by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence spectra. The exciting observation of this work in the UV–visible studies was that the Pd(II) complex exhibit two or more types of interaction with CT-DNA. Such properties have rarely been observed in the literature. This complex cooperatively binds with DNA and denatures it too. Fluorescence studies proved the intercalation mode of binding and the other modes seems to be hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Binding parameters and thermodynamics of the interaction with CT-DNA are also described. Finally, multifunctional interactions of [Pd(non-dtc)(bpy)]NO3 make it suitable to interact with DNA of cancer cell at quite low concentration and if it is used as anticancer agent, very low doses will be needed which may have fewer side effects.


By David W. Shenk Scottdale, PA: Herald Press /994.229 rr.. paper. $10.95 Reviewed by Donald R. Jacobs "Missionary blood" flows in David Shenk's veins. Born and raised in rural Tanzania of missionary parents. his life was cradled in mission. As a Mennonite missionary himself in Somalia and Kenya. Shenk wrestled with issues facing modern missions. particularly the challenges of religious and cultural pluralism. This hook represents Shenk's developing and deepening understanding of God's persistent "call to missions." In this slim volume. Shenk presents a winsome. convincing. well-presented case for the relevance of the gospel for a variety of cultures. including Islamic. trnditional, and secular cultures. Because of the limitations of space. Shenk does not deal exhaustively with any of them. hut using his skills to weave life illustrations. biblical principles. and personal experiences. he asks penetrating questions of each religion and ideology. His approach is refreshingly disarming and candid. He welcomes dialogue hut seeks to introduce everyone to Jesus Christ. Western secular culture with its emphasis on "subduing the earth" does not escape Shenk's scathing hut compassionate analysis. He notes a linkage between the bankruptcy of Western culture and the economic and ecological imbalance which plagues our planet. In his present positions as administrator of missions and as teacher. Shenk ponders the mcgatrcnds in the church and in societies. This is reflected in his writing. He rejoices in the fact that the gospel now almost covers the earth. but sees that as a new challenge. not a time to relax. The picture he paints of the potential for good in the global church is hreathtaking. Even though Shenk tackles tough theological questions of our times. particularly the christological ones. the book is not a weighty tome. but a delightfully lucid and fast-moving drama. Shenk Book Reviews 349


This article examines two distinct, but related hypotheses. First, as the total LSAT takers decline, we expected to see a decline in the number of new attorneys admitted to the patent bar. Second, as the number of new patent attorneys continues to shrink and the number of women pursuing engineering degrees continues to grow, we expected that the patent bar will become more female. In order to test these hypotheses, we gathered and analyzed data from the Law School Admission Counsel (LSAC) regarding students taking the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and the American Bar Association (ABA). Using this aggregation of publicly available data, we extrapolated some disturbing trends that have never been seen before. The data establishes that the first hypothesis is true, but that the second one is false. That is, the number of new entrants to the patent bar will drop precipitously. By 2018, new entrants will number one half of what they were in 2008. However, the number of female patent attorneys compared to the number of male patent attorneys will not change in this same time period. That is, even though the patent bar will shrink, the patent bar will not become more female as the ratio of men to women will not change. Women will continue to make up about 30% of the patent bar.Therefore, this article indicates that policy makers need to respond to the impending severe shortage of patent attorneys. Further data is provided to show that while intellectual property grew at a very rapid pace in the last two decades, we are now seeing a remarkable decline in interest by students. This fact should again reshape the law school landscape as it responds to market realities. Considering interest in patent law by prospective students, we are clearly entering a time of a "burst bubble." This will ultimately lead to a severe shortage of people to do the very work that the America Invents Act encourages. It will lead to more expensive patenting, and it will chill the ability of Americans' ability to compete internationally.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the molecular mechanism of propofol-induced apoptosis in oligodendrocytes.

METHODS
Fortyfive neonatal (7 days old) SD rats were randomized into 3 groups (n=15) for a single intraperitoneal injection of saline (control), long chain fat emulsion, or propofol (50 mg/kg). Eight hours after the injection, the rats were examined for mRNA and protein expressions of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 in the brain tissues using qPCR and Western blotting, and the expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA and P-PI3K/P-PAkt were also detected.

RESULTS
Compared with those in the control group, the neonatal rats with propofol injection showed significantly up-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 in the brain tissue (P<0.05) with significantly down-regulated expressions of NGF mRNA and P-PI3K/P-PAkt (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
Propofol induces apoptosis in oligodendrocytes by activating the caspase family protein members involved in triggering cell apoptosis and inhibiting the anti-apoptosis mechanism.


Racemic dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) was found more efficient than the meso-isoform in enhancing the removal of mercury in rats. However, racemic-DMSA has recently been found more toxic. The efficiency of combined oral treatment with the two isoforms of DMSA for removal of mercury has now been evaluated. Female albino rats were treated orally for four days with meso- (M) and/or racemic- (R) DMSA (1 mmol/kg each), five days after a single intraperitoneal administration of 203Hg with 0.5 mg HgCl2/kg. The animals were divided into six groups according to the number of treatments with each isomer: control (untreated), 4M, 1R + 3M, 2R + 2M, 3R + 1M, and 4R. Whole body, kidney, liver and brain mercury contents were measured nine days after 203Hg administration. In all treated groups retention in the whole body and kidneys was greatly reduced. The groups treated with racemic-DMSA, regardless of the number of doses, showed a greater removal of mercury than the group treated with meso-DMSA alone (4M). All treatments were less efficient in reducing liver retention, and the brain retention was not affected. It was concluded that even a single application of the more toxic racemic-DMSA during a four-day oral treatment regimen is sufficient to improve the removal by meso-DMSA of mercury from rats.


The commensurate crystal structure of the magnetic phase occurring below 7 K of the multiferroic Pb2MnWO6 perovskite has been solved by the introduction of the superspace approach. This lead based double perovskite is characterized by a complex ferrielectric non-centrosymmetric nuclear structure with orthorhombic symmetry stable in a wide temperature range. As indicated from the analysis of powder neutron diffraction data, the low temperature antiferromagnetic structure showing a propagation vector κ = [1/4 0 0] is stabilized by a multi-step process involving the evolution from incommensurate to commensurate spin ordering with a concomitant change of the magnetic symmetry. The determination of the Pb2MnWO6 magnetic structure offers a meaningful example of the superspace application and provides a detailed phase diagram of the involved magnetic states. Nowadays this ordered perovskite could be considered as a new type of multiferroic material combining ferrielectric properties and a long period antiferromagnetic structure.


Objectives Occupational noise exposure is one of the most common risk factors of irreversible sensorineural hearing loss. With noise exposure, recent studies have introduced ototoxic effect of non-noise source industrial chemical exposures. This study aimed to evaluate hazardous effects of occupational noise across various exposure levels, additionally in combination with ototoxic chemicals exposure, on hearing disability among workers in Korea. Methods We examined 79,221 employees in 2,770 industries from national health surveillance 2009 on occupational audiological disorders collected by Korea Ministry of Labor. Air-conduction hearing thresholds were computed as a pure-tone average (PTA) of 2, 3, 4 kHz. Occupational noise exposures were measured for every industry. Occupational non-noise exposures (eg heavy metals, organics) were controlled as exposure vs. non-exposure. Results After controlling for potential confounding factors, 10dB increase in occupational noise was associated with a 0.57dB (95% Confidence Interval; 0.41-0.73) elevation of PTA. We found a statistically significant interaction between occupational noise exposure and occupational ototoxic chemicals exposures on PTA (p for interaction with heavy metals <0.0001, organics=0.0475). Conclusions Our findings provide the evidence for the association between occupational noise exposure and hearing disability from on-site measurement data across various occupations/industries. This study also suggests that occupational chemical exposures increase the risk of hearing loss, and their ototoxic effects should be considered for establishing the occupational environment monitoring and management plan.


In the liver, transcript destabilization contributes to the decrease in steady-state levels of beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA that occurs during early postnatal development in the rat. From genomic DNA, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a 718-basepair (bp) fragment of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor gene including the entire 3'-untranslated region. Results from SDS-gel electrophoresis and autoradiography demonstrated a M(r) 85,000 cellular factor present in postnatal day 60, but not fetal day 18 rat liver that was ultraviolet (UV) light-crosslinked to in vitro transcribed beta 2-adrenergic receptor RNA 3'-untranslated region. Unlabeled beta 2-adrenergic receptor RNA 3'-untranslated region, but not mouse beta-actin RNA, competed with labeled beta 2-adrenergic receptor RNA 3'-untranslated region for binding to the M(r) 85,000 protein. Cross-linking of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor RNA 3'-untranslated region to the M(r) 85,000 protein was inhibited by the ribohomopolymer poly(U), with poly(A), poly(C) and poly(G) having little or no effect. Thus, a M(r) 85,000 protein has been identified in adult male rat liver that may interact with U-rich sequences in the 3'-untranslated region of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA and may account for the decreased stability of hepatic beta 2-adrenergic receptor gene transcripts that occurs during development.


In order to evaluate the prophylactic effect of oral magnesium, 81 patients aged 18–65 years with migraine according to the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria (mean attack frequency 3.6 per month) were examined. After a prospective baseline period of 4 weeks they received oral 600 mg (24 mmol) magnesium (trimagnesium dicitrate) daily for 12 weeks or placebo. In weeks 9–12 the attack frequency was reduced by 41.6% in the magnesium group and by 15.8% in the placebo group compared to the baseline (p < 0.05). The number of days with migraine and the drug consumption for symptomatic treatment per patient also decreased significantly in the magnesium group. Duration and intensity of the attacks and the drug consumption per attack also tended to decrease compared to placebo but failed to be significant. Adverse events were diarrhea (18.6%) and gastric irritation (4.7%). High-dose oral magnesium appears to be effective in migraine prophylaxis.


This paper presents trajectory tracking of robot manipulators using linear and nonlinear proportional-derivative (PD) type controllers. It is shown that the controller gains which are nonlinear functions of system states can improve tracking performance and prevent actuator saturation. Furthermore, it is shown that global asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system can be achieved with the proposed PD-type controllers. Simulation results on a single-link robot and a typical two-degrees-of-freedom robot demonstrate excellent performance using the proposed control schemes.


The Lorenz mapping is a discretization of a pair of differential equations. It illustrates the pertinence of computational chaos. We describe complex dynamics, bifurcations, and chaos in the map. Fractal basins are displayed by numerical simulation.


We discuss our work examining regulation and functions of mitogen-activated protein kinases, particularly ERK1 and ERK2, in pancreatic beta-cells. These enzymes are activated by glucose, other nutrients, and insulinogenic hormones. Their activation by these agents is calcium-dependent. A number of other stimuli also activate ERK1/2, but by mechanisms distinct from those involved in nutrient sensing. Inhibition of ERK1/2 has no apparent effect on insulin secretion measured after 2 h. On the other hand, ERK1/2 activity is required for maximal glucose-dependent activation of the insulin gene promoter. The primary effort has focused on INS-1 cell lines, with supporting and confirmatory studies in intact islets and other beta-cell lines, indicating the generality of our findings in beta-cell function. Thus ERK1/2 participate in transmitting glucose-sensing information to beta-cell functions. These kinases most likely act directly and indirectly on multiple pathways that regulate beta-cell function and, in particular, to transduce an elevated glucose signal into insulin gene transcription.


In this paper, an adaptive identification scheme for nonlinear systems using a minimal radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is presented. This scheme combines the growth criterion of the resource-allocating network (RAN) of Platt (1991) with a pruning strategy based on the relative contribution of each hidden unit to the overall network output. While being applied to nonlinear system identification, this approach enables the number of hidden layer neurons in the network to be adjusted to the changing system dynamics, the resulting neural network also leads to a minimal topology for the RBFNN. Simulations are carried out to recursively identify two nonlinear systems with time-varying dynamics. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with the recursive hybrid algorithm for system identification proposed by Chen et al. (1992). The proposed algorithm in this paper is shown to realize a RBFNN with far fewer hidden neurons and better accuracy.


The eddy number distribution for isotropic turbulent flows has been derived by manipulating well-established formulae for describing turbulence. The distribution has been used to derive an expression relating the fractional rate of surface renewal, and hence mass transfer coefficients across gas-liquid interfaces, to key process variables such as the local energy dissipation rate and the Kolmogorov scale. The expression has been compared with the previously published roll-cell and eddy-cell models, which were applied to correlating local mass transfer coefficients in a pipe and an open absorption channel. Excellent agreement has been found. The expression has also been applied to correlating the gas-side mass transfer coefficients for liquid evaporation in wetted wall pipe flows, and the mass transfer coefficient for solid dissolution adjacent to a solid-liquid interface in a stirred tank. The theoretical correlations have been validated by published experimental data.


Chemical and Sensory Parameters of Heat-treated Vacuum-packaged Broiler and Hen Fillet Products The heat treatment of vacuum-packaged products - Sous vide processing method - that offers convenience and storage stability, combined with poultry meat marinating was used in the current study. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of a fruit-vegetable additive on chemical and sensory parameters of heat-treated vacuum-packaged poultry meat products made from broiler or hen fillets. The skinless fillets and other ingredients were packaged in polyamide/polyethylene (PA/PE) pouches, vacuum sealed, marinated, heat treated, and chilled rapidly. The following parameters were evaluated: moisture content (LVS ISO 1442:197), protein content (LVS ISO 937:1978), fat content (LVS ISO 1443:1973), ash content (ISO 936:996), degree of liking, and intensity of sensory properties (ISO 4121: 2003). The smallest changes in moisture content among the studied samples were observed in those prepared with the fruit-vegetable additive if compared to a raw fillet. In the process of heat treatment, the protein content in dry matter of broiler and hen fillet decreased (p<0.05), whereas fat content decreased in broiler fillet but increased in hen fillet (p<0.05). Sensory evaluation results showed that panellists preferred broiler fillet (6.6) and hen fillet (5.8) products which were prepared without the fruit-vegetable additive. Evaluation of the intensity of sensory properties showed that there do not exist significant differences in aroma, colour, flavour, and aftertaste of heat-treated vacuum-packaged hen and broiler fillet (p>0.05), but texture of broiler fillet products is more tender than texture of samples made from hen fillet.


Genetic trends owing to selection for an increase in pattern and hair quality and a decrease in hair length and curl development in the Karakul Were estimated with the Animal Model in four selection lines and in a control flock over 12 years (3.6 generations). The objective was, firstly, to determine whether the control flock remained genetically stable during the course of the experiment and, secondly, to determine the size of the additive genetic component of the phenotypic variance for pattern, hair quality, hair length and curl development. Results indicated that the control flock did not remain genetically stable as pattern and hair quality showed a small positive change, whereas curl development and hair length showed a small negative change. A mean annual response of 2.52%, 1.31%,2.96% and 7.1% were obtained for selection for pattern, hair quality, hair length and curl development, respectively. Realized heritabilities were 0.20, 0.34, 0.63 and 0.56, respectively.


Samples of calcium carbonate tablets produced by different manufacturers were subjected to various tests in order to evaluate tablet quality parameters, mostly indicative for calcium availability. Indications about tablet suitability for treatment of renal osteodystrophy in uremic patients were also tested. The disintegration test turned out to be the most useful in evaluating calcium carbonate availability from tablets. Samples from several manufacturers varied in their behaviour to disaggregation. The availability of calcium dissolved in gastric fluid and the extent of phosphorus binding appeared to depend on disintegration behaviour.


The recent apparition of mobile wireless sensor aware to their physical environment and able to process information must allow proposing applications able to take into account their physical context and to react according to the changes of the environment. It suppose to design applications integrating both software and hardware components able to communicate. Applications must use context information from components to measure the quality of the proposed services in order to adapt them in real time.
 This work is interested in the integration of sensors in distributed applications. It present a service oriented software architecture allowing to manage and reconfigure applications in heterogeneous environment where entities of different nature collaborate: software components and wireless sensors.


Abstract Scutellaria amoena is a frequently-used medicinal plant in Southwerst China. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of S. amoena C. H. Wright to investigate its phylogenetic relationship in the family Lamiaceae. The chloroplast genome of S. amoena was 151, 569 bp in length with 38.4% overall GC content, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 83,739 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 17,326 bp and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,252 bp. The cp genome contained 112 genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis indicated S. amoena was closely related to S. baicalensis that is used as original species of Scutellariae Radix.


While until the mid-1990s the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries played a key role in oil pricing, during recent decades, rapid economic growth in developing economies has boosted the demand for oil, making oil prices vulnerable to a wider range of factors. We examine the impacts of oil supply and demand factors on Brent crude oil prices by developing an oil aggregate demand–aggregate supply model and empirically estimating using a vector autoregressive approach and monthly time series data from 1999 to 2017. We disaggregate global oil demand into demand from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the People's Republic of China (PRC), and India to measure the scale of their contributions to global oil price movements. We consider the industrial production (IP) index as a determinant of the oil demand side. We find that among these three, the OECD and the PRC's IP had a positive impact on oil prices during the estimated period. Moreover, among the factors included in the model, an appreciation of the US dollar exchange rate had a significant negative impact on oil prices over the last 2 decades. We also examine the equilibrium of the oil market during the estimated period and show that oil prices were adjusting instantly, confirming the existence of the equilibrium.


Recent studies have provided new data on the neuroendocrine role of glutamate (the major excitatory neurotransmitter) on somatostatin release. The neuroendocrine role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (the major inhibitory neurotransmitter) on this same secretion, is also well established. Our objective was thus to investigate whether GABA and glutamate, which have opposite neurotransmission signals, could interact in the control of hypothalamic somatostatin release. Pharmacological manipulations of the two types of receptors were performed in vitro on primary cultures of hypothalamic neurons secreting somatostatin. We found that tonic release of somatostatin was reduced by 76% in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX) and was regulated by endogenous secretion of glutamate and GABA. CGS 19755, a highly selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, significantly reduced tonic somatostatin secretion whereas it was strongly increased by picrotoxin and bicuculline, two GABAA antagonists. When CGS 19755 was applied with picrotoxin, somatostatin release was the same as levels obtained in the control group with TTX. GABA reduced tonic somatostatin release (in the presence or absence of TTX), and glutamate-stimulated secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Picrotoxin stimulation of tonic somatostatin release was additive with that obtained after glutamate stimulation and was also dose-dependent. This interaction was also studied in vivo in unanesthetized rats bearing a push-pull cannula stereotaxically implanted into the median eminence. Ip injected CGS 19755 (an antagonist that can freely permeate the blood-brain barrier) completely blocked the peak secretion of somatostatin observed after ip picrotoxin administration, whereas there was no significant effect when it was injected alone. These findings corroborated our in vitro data and allow us to postulate that GABA and glutamate interact in the control of somatostatin.


As biomedical research expands our armoury of effective, evidence-based therapies, there is a corresponding need for high-quality implementation science—the study of strategies to integrate and embed research advances into clinical practice [1]. Large-scale collection and analysis of routinely collected healthcare data may facilitate this in three main ways. Firstly, evaluation of key healthcare metrics can help to identify the areas of practice that differ most from guideline recommendations. Secondly, with sufficiently granular data, it may be possible to detect the underlying drivers of deficiencies in practice. Thirdly, longitudinal data collection should enable us to evaluate large-scale policy initiatives and compare the effectiveness of differing strategies on process and patient outcomes.


Software refactoring is one of the essential techniques which are used to improve the software quality without affecting any of the external functionality of the software. There were numerous of software refactoring tools and code smells detection tools which are to be automatic or semi automatic. Most of these tools were human driven, so Software refactoring depends on developers' spontaneity. Due to little experience in software refactoring this may cause poor software quality and delays in refactoring. For this, we have proposed a framework called Instant Refactoring by Monitor framework using Ins Refactor which helps the inexperienced software engineers to do more refactoring quickly. Source code are instantaneously analyzed by the Monitor, if changes occur and it to be a code smells (symbols of possible problem in the code which requires refactoring) then framework invokes smells detection tools which helps the programmer to resolve the bad smells instantly without delay in time. The proposed framework has been evaluated, implemented and compared with the human-driven refactoring tools.


Background The incidence of stroke in young adults is increasing. While many young survivors are able to achieve a good physical recovery, subtle dysfunction in other domains, such as cognition, often persists, and could affect return to work. However, reported estimates of return to work and factors affecting vocational outcome post-stroke vary greatly. Aims The aims of this systematic review were to determine the frequency of return to work at different time points after stroke and identify predictors of return to work. Summary of review Two electronic databases (Medline and Embase) were systematically searched for articles according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 6473 records were screened, 68 were assessed for eligibility, and 29 met all inclusion criteria (working-age adults with stroke, return to work evaluated as an outcome, follow-up duration reported, and publication within the past 20 years). Return to work increased with time, with median frequency increasing from 41% between 0 and 6 months, 53% at 1 year, 56% at 1.5 years to 66% between 2 and 4 years post-stroke. Greater independence in activities of daily living, fewer neurological deficits, and better cognitive ability were the most common predictors of return to work. Conclusion This review highlights the need to examine return to work in relation to time from stroke and assess cognition in working age and young stroke survivors. The full range of factors affecting return to work has not yet been explored and further evaluations of return to work interventions are warranted.


Firms in developing countries are widely known to face many constraints, from lack of access to finance and physical capital to poor infrastructure. The course seems to have been particularly effective at promoting business growth for those entrepreneurs who exhibited higher levels of financial literacy at the baseline. Policymakers might therefore consider targeting business training resources towards existing firms, with an emphasis on particularly teachable behaviors.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives of preschool teachers regarding crisis preparedness in independently funded childcare centers. This study was based on the integrated model of school crisis preparedness and intervention proposed by Jimerson, Brock, and Pletcher. This study examined how preschool teachers describe the effect of crisis preparedness drills and training on their ability to handle school crisis events prior to, during, and following a center crisis. Qualitative data for the study were gathered during one-on-one interviews conducted with 15 preschool teachers working in independently funded childcare centers across a Western state of the United States. Preschool teachers indicated that some aspects of crisis preparedness drills and training have increased their ability to handle school crisis events while other aspects appear insufficient, both in anticipation of and during a real emergency. Results from this study may inform preschool center directors about the type of training that preschool teachers have, want, and need, in order to best prepare these teachers to respond to a school crisis event and keep children safe.


A simulation environment is very useful in analyzing sensor networks, but the development of a sensor simulation environment which can scale to a very large number of elements is hard to obtain using traditional simulation systems, or customized simulation environments. The desired level of scalability and high volumes are hard to achieve in customized simulation environments. One possible approach to obtain scalable simulation is by using commercially available messaging systems. Such messaging systems, e.g. IBM WebSphere MQ system or OSMQ, are designed to operate at a very high bandwidth of message transfers rate and number of interacting message queue end-points. However, the communications abstractions offered by message queue systems are very different from the communications abstractions required by sensor networks. In this paper, we describe an approach to map the communication abstractions of sensor network simulation systems to those of underlying message queue systems. We describe how issues related to message localization, propagation delays and error rates can be effectively handled, and a highly scalable infrastructure for message simulation be deployed.


This study documents validation of vertebral band-pair formation in spotted gully shark (Triakis megalopterus) with the use of fluorochrome injection and tagging of captive and wild sharks over a 21-year period. Growth and mortality rates of T. megalopterus were also estimated
and a demographic analysis of the species was conducted. Of the 23 OTC (oxytetracycline) -marked vertebrae examined (12 from captive and 11 from wild sharks), seven vertebrae
(three from captive and four from wild sharks) exhibited chelation of the OTC and fluoresced under ultraviolet
light. It was concluded that a single opaque and translucent band pair was deposited annually up to at
least 25 years of age, the maximum age recorded. Reader precision was assessed by using an index of average
percent error calculated at 5%. No significant differences were found between male and female growth patterns (P>0.05), and von Bertalanffy growth model parameters for combined sexes were estimated to be L∞=1711.07 mm TL, k=0.11/yr and t0=–2.43 yr (n=86). Natural mortality was estimated at 0.17/yr. Age at maturity was estimated at 11 years for males and 15 years for females. Results of the demographic analysis showed that the population, in the
absence of fishing mortality, was stable and not significantly different from zero and particularly sensitive
to overfishing. At the current age at first capture and natural mortality rate, the fishing mortality rate required to result in negative population growth was low at F>0.004/
yr. Elasticity analysis revealed that juvenile survival was the principal factor in explaining variability in
population growth rate.


In the UK battlefields are becoming more frequently associated with the label 'heritage at risk'. As the concept of battlefield and conflict archaeology has evolved, so too has the recognition that battlefields are dynamic, yet fragile, archaeological landscapes in need of protection. The tangible evidence of battle is primarily identified by distributions of artefacts held within the topsoil, such as lead projectiles, weapon fragments or buttons torn from clothing; debris strewn in the heat of battle. Much of the battlefield therefore remains as a faint footprint and, where it survives, may provide valuable information, if recorded accurately.

The unrecorded removal of artefacts from battlefields and other sites of conflict is a key issue in the management and conservation of this unique archaeological heritage. With a particular focus on current doctoral research, this paper aims to address the role of metal detecting in the UK as an important factor in this equation, having both a positive and negative impact on battlefield archaeology. Furthermore it will also consider the nature of metal detecting on UK battlefields; the perceived value of battle-related artefacts; the quality of information available for recording material from such sites, and what may co-operatively be achieved.


Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, little is known about the implication of NETs in cutaneous lupus. In this case series of 30 patients, we compared the amounts of neutrophils producing NETs in cutaneous lesions of different subtypes of lupus (5 with discoid lupus or DLE, 5 with subacute cutaneous lupus or SCLE, 11 with acute cutaneous SLE, 7 with lupus panniculitis and 2 with chilblains). Immunofluorescence was performed on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded skin biopsies using antibodies against neutrophilic granules (elastase, myeloperoxidase, PR‐3 proteins and citrullinated histone 3). Dihydroethidium staining was performed to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS), known inducers of NETs. NETs were detected in the different subtypes of cutaneous lupus as well as in cutaneous lesions of SLE. The amounts of neutrophils producing NETs were significantly higher in lupus panniculitis (49%), acute cutaneous SLE (41%) and DLE (32%), in comparison with SCLE (5%) and chilblains (0%). This suggests that NETs might be associated with more tissue damage and scarring. ROS were observed in the different cutaneous subtypes of lupus independent of NETs.


This groundbreaking work from Paul Friedrich surveys the Russian lyric scene from the eighteenth century through the modern period, in terms of the poets' own ideas as well as the author's creative interpretation. Such themes as poetic craft, musicality, creativity, sociopolitical context, and multilingualism as musical competence are discussed, interrelated through their variations in twenty-one of Russia's finest lyric poets, and then synthesized in two recapitulations. Incorporating a broad theoretical perspective with numerous detailed readings of key poems, Friedrich synthesizes recent Russian research (in some cases new even to specialists) with Western criticism to advance a unique series of hypotheses and generalizations. Music in Russian Poetry will be an indispensable tool for students of Russian lyric poetry, and will also be of great interest to all those interested in comparative, structural, and (auto)biographical approaches to lyric poetry and poetic culture.


Mobile oxygen vacancies are increasingly widely believed to be responsible for electrical conductivity in perovskite oxide ferroelectrics. Here, this hypothesis is debated. The small-signal conductivity is investigated in oxygen-deficient films of barium titanate, where oxygen vacancies are epitaxially clamped and immobile. The observed behavior of conductivity as a function of temperature and frequency evidences pure electronic processes. Importantly, it is shown that these processes mimic motion of oxygen vacancies, which are immobile. It is also demonstrated that under the applied dc electric field, the electronic processes lead to such effects as coloration and degradation, which before were plausibly ascribed to migration of oxygen vacancies. Finally, it is concluded that the hypothesis of mobile oxygen vacancies is misleading.


Tympanic temperature was monitored during labour and delivery in six primigravidae and five multigravidae. Temperature increased temporarily with each contraction and progressively during the course of labour. The increases, which were greater in primiparae than in multiparae (mean cumulative increase 1.46 degrees C and 0.51 degress C respectively), reflect the metabolic expenditures associated with contraction of uterine and skeletal muscles.


Abstract : This is the 35th volume in the Occasional Paper series of the U.S. Air Force Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). Water is a primary concern of most governments in the Middle East and North Africa. A myriad of synergistic variables are exponentially increasing demands for water, while simultaneously decreasing the region's ability to supply it. These variables include a rapidly increasing population, a large per capita increase in water demand, increasing water pollution, rapid economic growth, persistent regional drought, and irrecoverable water overexploitation. Compounding the issue are regional tensions (such as those between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and Egypt and Sudan), vague international water laws, and a history of regional conflict. A gloomy prediction emerges if one extrapolates the trends in each of these variables. Especially in the Middle East, water supplies are so tight that even the most optimistic forecast suggests the water issue will be super-critical within a decade. Indeed, water issues surround the current peace process, and may actually be worsened should a successful treaty be negotiated between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. This paper examines these variables in depth, and then forecasts a series of possible events that could be the catalyst for a water-based conflict in the Middle East. These events include mass Palestinian migration to a newly declared Palestinian state, transferring control of the West Bank aquifer to the Palestinian Authority, loss of Israeli control of the Jordan River headwaters (which would necessarily result from returning the Golan Heights to Syria), continued or exacerbated drought, and an Israeli return to a more hawkish government. While currently water should only be considered a proximate source of conflict in the region, in the future, water could very well become the primary reason governments decide to go to war.


The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of regional arterial infusion of vinblastine on a predictable experimental tumor and to determine whether the response to treatment might be potentiated by concomitant regional hyperoxygenation with hydrogen peroxide. Sprague-Dawley rats received single intra-aortic infusions of vinblastine (0.5 mg/kg) and hydrogen peroxide (3 mg/animal) and a combination of both compounds 1 week and 1 day after inoculation of a suspension of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in the thigh muscles. Vinblastine partially inhibited subsequent growth of the established solid tumors. However, treatment 1 week after implantation did not prove therapeutic since the animals died from metastatic disease without prolongation of survival.

When regional arterial infusion of vinblastine was performed 1 day after inoculation of the tumor, 40% of the animals became free of the tumor and lived indefinitely. This salutary effect was reduced by half when vinblastine was given in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide. In the animals that ultimately died from extension of the tumor after intra-arterial vinblastine injections, survival was significantly increased, with inhibition of local tumor growth and the rapid metastatic spread of this neoplasm. Hydrogen peroxide alone was not effective against this tumor, and rather than enhancing the therapeutic action of vinblastine, adjunctive use of hydrogen peroxide made treatment more lethal (the toxic mortality was 21–30%).


In a high-vacuum diode, the volt-ampere characteristic of the thermionic emission of Na+ with
surface of NaxAu intermetallide. Its hysteresis was found, which is associated with changes in the surface
NaxAu caused by the action of an external electric field. In accordance with the Schottky effect,
analysis of the current–voltage characteristic and the value of the work function of the NaxAu surface was estimated. Suggested mechanism of thermionic emission of Na+ from the surface of NaxAu.


This Research is conducted in order to address two questions: is it possible to intentionally fake scores on Emotions Profile Index in purpose of positive selfpresentation, and do the job candidates utilize this possibility during personnel selection process? Overall sample (N=539) consisted of two groups: (1) the first group filled this test in two ways (the first time honestly, and the second time with the instruction to present themselves in the best possible way); (2) the second group consisted of job candidates in real personnel selection process. Two separate analyses were conducted in order to provide answers to research questions. According to the first analysis, test partly showed resistance to faking – three subscales proved to be resistant, while the other five didn't. When being instructed to intentionally fake, subjects mostly tended to present themselves as persons who avoid conflict. This pattern is mostly characteristic for women, and social science students. The second analysis showed that job candidates do utilize possibility to fake this test during personnel selection testing – when comparing real and fictive job candidates, real candidates have better results on three scales, and five sub-scales showed no differences.


As infrastructures are being deteriorated, nondestructive evaluation of existing structures and construction quality control are increasingly demanded. The importance of predicting compressive strength of concrete structure is also gradually increasing in construction industry. The estimation of concrete compressive strength is a critical factor of the construction management and quality control. This study has been conducted using Schmidt hammer test and Impact echo method, which are nondestructive test methods for the comparison of the concrete compressive strength. It is focusing to examine the relationship between compressive strength of concrete and rebound number by Schmidt hammer test result by Impact echo method. It was found that concrete compressive strength and rebound number have a close correlation.


Assuming methodologically that there is something to be understood under the term "art" I try to discuss first the idea that art is a kind of language. There is no identity among them. People urged to understand the artistic phenomenon use as explanation the linguistic model, with a sort of an inferiority feeling. I call that the "linguistic complex" of art. Then, I go to see which could be the elements for an adequate concept of language use today and after that I make a comparison with the idea of art. At the end of the paper, I ask about the possibility of meaning within the works of art and, if there is not, how can we adequately understand that human activity.


The Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome encodes only one of each of the three major classes of proteins implicated in RNA silencing: Dicer (Dcr1), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP; Rdp1), and Argonaute (Ago1). These three proteins are required for silencing at centromeres and for the initiation of transcriptionally silent heterochromatin at the mating-type locus. Here, we show that the introduction of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) hairpin corresponding to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene triggers classical RNA interference (RNAi) in S. pombe. That is, GFP silencing triggered by dsRNA reflects a change in the steady-state concentration of GFP mRNA, but not in the rate of GFP transcription. RNAi in S. pombe requires dcr1, rdp1, and ago1, but does not require chp1, tas3, or swi6, genes required for transcriptional silencing. Thus, the RNAi machinery in S. pombe can direct both transcriptional and posttranscriptional silencing using a single Dicer, RdRP, and Argonaute protein. Our findings suggest that these three proteins fulfill a common biochemical function in distinct siRNA-directed silencing pathways.


A 10-MHz high-resolution dedicated small parts scanner and a static 5-MHz digital scanner were used in the ultrasound (US) examination of 11 patients with hyperparathyroidism who had previously undergone surgery of the parathyroid (eight patients) or thyroid (three patients) gland. Using US localization, aspiration biopsies were performed successfully in nine patients: parathyroid disease was confirmed in seven patients and thyroid lesions in two. Inadequate aspirate was obtained in one patient; in another patient a biopsy was done successfully under CT guidance following a negative US examination. The authors conclude that high-resolution US is an effective tool for guiding the aspiration biopsy of nonpalpable parathyroid tumors in patients who have had neck surgery. They suggest modifications of the US equipment that would simplify the localization procedure.


Tensile testing is widely used for the mechanical characterization of materials subjected to superplastic deformation. At the same time, it is known that the obtained flow data are affected by specimen geometry. Thus, they characterize the specimen rather than the material. This work provides the numerical analysis aimed to study how the material flow behavior affects the results of tensile tests. The simulations were performed by the finite element method in Abaqus software, utilizing user-defined procedures for calculation of forces acting on the crossheads. The accuracy of tensile testing is evaluated by the difference between the input material flow behavior specified in the simulations and the output one, obtained by the standard ASTM E2448 procedure based on the predicted forces. The results revealed that the accuracy of the superplastic tensile test is affected by the material properties. Even if the material flow behavior follows the Backofen power law, which is invariant for the effective strain, the output stress–strain curves demonstrate significant strain hardening and softening effects. The relation between the basic superplastic characteristics and the tensile test errors is described and analyzed.


A case of schwannoma in a 55-year-old male patient is reviewed. The diagnostic difficulties are pointed out in view of the literature. Currently, it is still difficult to form a diagnosis without operation either by physical examination or by other diagnostic procedures. That is the authors' point in reviewing their case. The castrated patient has been well and free of complaints for 5 years after operation with no recurrence.


We present a theoretical analysis of dynamic spin injection due to spin-dependent tunneling between a quantum well (QW) and a bound state split in spin projection due to an exchange interaction or external magnetic field. We focus on the impact of Coulomb correlations at the bound state on spin polarization and sheet density kinetics of the charge carriers in the QW. The theoretical approach is based on kinetic equations for the electron occupation numbers taking into account high order correlation functions for the bound state electrons. It is shown that the on-site Coulomb repulsion leads to an enhanced dynamic spin polarization of the electrons in the QW and a delay in the carriers tunneling into the bound state. The interplay of these two effects leads to non-trivial dependence of the spin polarization degree, which can be probed experimentally using time-resolved photoluminescence experiments. It is demonstrated that the influence of the Coulomb interactions can be controlled by adjusting the relaxation rates. These findings open a new way of studying the Hubbard-like electron interactions experimentally.


Evidence has been inconsistent regarding any links between the 2D:4D ratio and sexual orientation. The present study was undertaken to (a) further test the hypothesis that the 2D:4D ratio is associated with sexual orientation and (b) explore the possible confounding influence of ethnicity in these relationships. Samples of college students in Malaysia and the U.S. reported their 2D:4D ratios on their right hand (r2D:4D), sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Modest tendencies were found for homosexual preferences to be positively associated with r2D:4D among males and inversely associated among females, although there were ethnic differences in this regard. The ethnic differences in the r2D:4D ratios seemed to parallel Asian/Western differences in sexual orientation, with diminished opposite-gender preferences among Asians, especially Asian females. Analysis of how r2D:4D and sexual orientation were correlated revealed few significant relationships except among females. As theoretically predicted, correlations between r2D:4D and homosexual attractions were negative for the three Western ethnic samples (two of which were statistically significant). Unexpectedly, however, female homosexual attractions were significantly positively correlated with r2D:4D in all three Asian samples. Overall, findings suggest that at least among females, prenatal androgen exposure may be less responsible for variations in sexual orientation in Asian than in Western populations."Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet."Rudyard Kipling, 1892IntroductionAccording to what has been termed evolutionary neuroandrogenic (ENA) theory (Ellis, 2011), sexual orientation is an evolved mammalian sex difference determined primarily by brain exposure to androgens during fetal development. Accordingly, the greater a mammal's exposure to androgens, the more likely he/she will be to exhibit highly masculine traits. One of these masculine traits is a tendency to prefer females as sex partners. Contrarily, the lower the exposure to androgens, the more feminine an individual will be, including exhibiting a preference for male sex partners. Of course, in general, male brains receive much higher androgen exposure than do female brains, thus accounting for substantial average gender differences in sexual orientation. Theoretically, therefore, in all mammalian species, the majority of both males and females should exhibit predominantly heterosexual preferences.Testing ENA theory in humans has been hampered by the fact that fetal brain exposure to androgens is difficult to measure and cannot be experimentally manipulated. Furthermore, one would have to compare prenatal exposure levels with sexual orientation at sexual maturity some twenty years following the exposure.Researchers have managed to estimate androgen levels in amniotic fluid (Baron-Cohen, Lutchmaya, & Knickmeyer, 2004; van de Beek, Thijssen, Cohen-Kettenis, van Goozen, & Buitelaar, 2004). While this should indeed approximate prenatal brain exposure, no study has yet managed to correlate this exposure to sexual orientation partly due to the large sample size that would be required given the relative rarity of non-heterosexuality.Over the past two decades, an obtuse method for assessing prenatal androgen exposure appears to have been identified, called the 2D:4D ratio (McIntyre, 2006; Nelson & Shultz, 2010). The assessment method involves simply measuring the relative length of the second (pointing) and fourth (ring) fingers. Studies suggest that the lower the ratio, the greater was an individual's prenatal exposure to testosterone (with estradiol, a postcursor of testosterone, also possibly being involved) (Manning, Scutt, Wilson, & Lewis-Jones, 1998; McIntyre, Ellison, Lieberman, Demerath, & Towne, 2005; van Anders, Vernon, & Wilbur, 2006). The most incontrovertible evidence to date of prenatal androgenic influences on the relative lengths of the second and fourth digits has come from recently published experiments with mice (Zheng & Cohn, 2011). …


Buildings are known to significantly affect the global carbon emissions throughout their life cycle. To mitigate carbon emissions, investigation of the current performance of buildings with regard to energy consumption and carbon emissions is necessary. This paper presents a process-based life cycle assessment methodology for assessing carbon emissions of buildings, using a multistorey reinforced concrete building in a Sri Lankan university as a case study. The entire cradle-to-grave building life cycle was assessed and the life span of the building was assumed as 50 years. The results provide evidence of the significance of operation and material production stages, which contributed to the total carbon emissions by 63.22% and 31.59% respectively. Between them, the main structural materials, concrete and reinforcement steel made up 61.91% of the total carbon emitted at the material production stage. The life cycle carbon emissions of the building were found to be 31.81 kg$m CO2 per year, which is comparable with the values obtained in similar studies found in the literature. In minimizing the life cycle carbon emissions, the importance of identifying control measures for both building operation and material production at the early design stage were emphasized. Although the other life cycle stages only contributed to about 5.19% of the life cycle carbon emissions, they should also receive attention when formulating control strategies. Some of the recommended strategies are introducing energy efficiency measures in building design and operation, using renewable energy for building operation and manufacturing of materials, identifying designs that can save mass material quantities, using alternative materials that are locally available in Sri Lanka and implementing material reuse and recycling. This study is one of the first to undertake a life cycle carbon emissions assessment for a building in the Sri Lankan context, with the hope of facilitating environmentallyfriendly buildings and promoting sustainable construction practices in the country.