Background: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition results in hyperacetylation of protein substrates leading to re‐expression of silenced genes as well as down‐regulation of certain actively transcribed genes. Entinostat (ENT) is a novel oral benzamide HDACi characterized by its selectivity for class 1 HDACs as well as a unique pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profile. Preclinical data demonstrated ENT synergizes with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRi) to inhibit growth of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells through a) targeting of EGFR gene and protein expression; b) down‐regulation of EGFR mediated signaling transduction pathway and c) alteration of the tumor phenotype to resensitize cancer cells to EGFRi. This led to the initiation of a clinical study ENCORE‐403 (clinical trials.gov ID NCT00750698) investigating whether ENT could affect acquired resistance to the EGFRi, erotinib (ERB). We report here the initial findings on PK and PD analysis from a study of 8 patients treated with the ENT/ERB combination. Materials and Methods: Previously ERB‐treated relapsed NSCLC patients were continued on ERB. ENT at 10 mg was added to ongoing ERB regimen on days 1 and 15 of a 28‐day cycle. Blood samples for PK analysis and correlative studies were obtained on C1D1 (pre‐entinostat dose), C1D2 (4–36hrs post entinostat dose), C1D8, C1D15 (pre‐entinostat dose) and C2D15 (for PK only). Gene expression in 8 patients was measured by RT‐PCR and effects on protein lysine acetylation (7 patients) and peripheral blood monocytes were measured by multi‐parameter flow cytometry. Results: Initiation of ENT/ERB combination led to induction of protein lysine acetylation of at least 2 fold in 6 of 7 patients for whom samples were available. The lack of acetylation induction in the 7th patient was consistent with PK analysis which indicated no detectable levels of entinostat in this patient. Lysine acetylation was measured in CD14+ monocytes, CD56+ NK cells and CD3+ T cells. The acetylation pattern and magnitude of induction was consistent in all three cell types. In addition, 4 of the 6 patients maintained elevated acetylation levels at 7 days and 3 of the 6 at 14 days after the first dose of entinostat. Initial analysis of gene expression was focused on the previously identified HDACi target p21. Similar to lysine acetylation, p21 expression was increased by 30–80% of the pre‐treatment level in 4 of the 6 patients with increased acetylation; and in 3 patients, elevated p21 expression was detectable on C1D15. Analysis of the combination treatment effects on circulating endothelial cell progenitors (CEPs), apoptotic circulating endothelial cells (CECs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) was carried out to determine potential anti‐angiogenic (CEP, CEC) and immunomodulatory (Treg, MDSC) activity and will be reported. Conclusions: Results from acetylation and gene expression analysis demonstrate that 10mg ENT induces a prolonged effect (up to 2 weeks) on up‐regulation of a key gene in the cell cycle and importantly that the ENT/ERB combination does not alter the prolonged PD effects of entinostat. Investigations are ongoing into the mechanism of ENT/ERB combination and potential for clinical benefit to NSCLC patients. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):B206.


Lars Lih has contributed to our knowledge of Russian Social Democracy lately. However, serious methodological flaws bedevil this advance in knowledge. Lih's overall approach displays a very static understanding of political ideas in relation to political movements. In the first section, 'Lenin, the St Petersburg Bolshevik Leadership, and the 1905 Soviet', I challenge Lih's position that Lenin never changed his mind about bringing socialist consciousness into the working class 'from without'. In the second section, 'Lenin, "Old Bolshevism" and Permanent Revolution: The Soviets in 1917', I challenge Lih's revisionist view that Old Bolshevism's pre-1917 goal of 'democratic revolution to the end' drove Lenin's partisans to make a working-class, socialist revolution in 1917. On this singular account, Lenin's April Theses, which called for the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the transfer of all power to the soviets, was merely a further expression of Old Bolshevik politics, not a break with it, as has almost universally been held.


The goal of this paper is to evaluate the state-of-the-art and potential of interactions between universities and firms, using the Zlinsky region as a case study. Practically, attitudes of firms located in the Zlinsky region towards their cooperation with the Tomas Bata University in Zlin are surveyed on the basis of questionnaire research. Theoretically, this paper is embedded in the debate on changing missions of universities. The findings point at a high share of firms which declare some form of interactions with the Tomas Bata University in Zlin. However, considering human and social capital, these interactions are frequent only in rather less progressive forms of interactions. More progressive interactions between firms and academics are rather scarce. Furthermore, the findings show a high potential to stimulate more progressive forms of interactions between firms and the Tomas Bata University in Zlin related to human and social capital. It is noteworthy that human and social capital of the university is not perceived as a barrier by the firms in our sample. On this basis, the development of support measures for creating links between academics from the Tomas Bata University in Zlin and firms in the Zlinsky region is recommended.


Background Data regarding breast cancer epidemiology, treatment and survival in Africa are scarce. We aimed to assess the distribution of breast cancer subtypes in Mozambique and its impact on patients' treatment and survival. The concordance of biomarker assessment between cytological and histological samples was also evaluated. Methods Prospective cohort study including 210 patients diagnosed between January 2015 and August 2017, followed to November 2019. Clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared across classic tumour subtypes (oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)) and surrogate intrinsic subtypes (St. Gallen classification). Concordance was measured using Cohen's κ statistics. Results A total of 51% of patients had ER-positive/HER2-negative tumours, 24% HER2-positive and 25% TNBC. Concordance between cytological and histological samples regarding ER and HER2 status was substantial (κ=0.762 and κ=0.603, respectively). There were no significant differences across subtypes regarding clinical characteristics and treatment, except for HIV positivity and high histological grade (more prevalent among TNBC) or endocrine therapy (higher use among ER-positive/HER2-negative and HER2-positive patients). Three-year OS was 52.5% (95% CI, 44.3% to 60.0%), being higher in ER-positive/HER2-negative (61.1%) compared with HER2-positive (53.2%) and TNBC (31.9%) patients. Adjusted HRs were 1.96 (95% CI, 1.13 to 3.39) among HER2-positive and 3.10 (95% CI, 1.81 to 5.31) among TNBC versus ER-positive/HER2-negative patients. Three-year DFS was 46.6% (95% CI, 38.0% to 54.8%), being lower among TNBC versus ER-positive/HER2-negative patients (HR 2.91; 95% CI, 1.64 to 5.16). Results were similar between surrogate intrinsic subtypes. Conclusion There was a high proportion of HER2-positive and TNBC among Mozambican patients and their survival was poor compared with ER-positive/HER2-negative patients, partly due to the limited treatment options. A systematic assessment of ER, PR and HER2 status is feasible and may help tailoring and optimise the treatment of patients with breast cancer in low-resource settings, potentially leading to survival gains in this underserved population.


The inherent handling safety of green propellants is particularly facilitating for smallsats. Commonly manifested as one among a number of auxiliary payloads, simplicity of smallsat pre-launch operations is critical to maintaining a practical launch campaign. Moreover, trades have continually shown the increased density-specific impulse potentially offered by advanced propellants is enabling for a significant class of microsatellite missions (e.g. ESPA) where volumetric constraints preclude the use of conventional propellants such as hydrazine. The culmination of over two decades of research and development, NASA's Green Propellant Infusion Mission has recently completed hot-fire testing of prototype flight-design 1 N and 22 N green monopropellant thrusters operating on and AFRLdeveloped green propellant known as AF M315E. Scheduled for an inaugural on-orbit demonstration aboard an ESPA-launched microsatellite bus mid-2016, the GPIM thrusters and propulsion system represent the first flightready low-toxicity alternative to comparable hydrazine technologies, providing similar flexibility to operate at any duty cycle while delivering 50% greater density-specific impulse. NOMENCLATURE


The present global financial crisis has revived the notion that competitive markets may lead some directors and executives to behave in opportunistic ways considered unethical and even illegal, through the pursuit of self‐interest. This article proposes and tests an integrated model that offers new insights into the relationship between board structure, independence and firm value. By incorporating the proportion of independent directors on the board as a moderating factor in this relationship, this study contributes to a better understanding of the entrenchment and convergence‐of‐interests hypotheses. Using empirical data obtained from 114 Spanish listed companies in a context of economic crisis, from 2007 to 2010, we conclude that having a board with a greater proportion of independent directors reduces the negative association existing between firm value and a large board size and significant board share ownership.


In this paper, a logical-dynamical system modeling and simulation tool is introduced. This tool combines both the discrete event system and continuous time system. The model of the discrete event system is represented by a Petri net model (specific condition/event net). Using the "composite component model" the continuous time system, called the basic system, is designed. Both systems are connected by the switch block. The decision of the switch position depends on the mark setting of the Petri net. It is shown that after a consideration of the whole system a separate modeling of both systems is useful.


Abstract This paper seeks to differentiate negative properties from positive properties, with the aim of providing the groundwork for further discussion about whether there is anything that corresponds to either of these notions. We differentiate negative and positive properties in terms of their functional role, before drawing out the metaphysical implications of proceeding in this fashion. We show that if the difference between negative and positive properties tabled here is correct, then negative properties are metaphysically contentious entities, entities that many philosophers will be unwilling to countenance.


Context: There are limited studies on comparison of Total etch (TE) and Self etch (SE) adhesive for placement of sealants. Aims: The aim of the study was to compare the retention of fissure sealants placed using TE adhesive to those sealants placed using SE (seventh generation) adhesive. Settings and Design: The study was conducted in the dental section, Aga Khan University Hospital. This study was a randomized single blinded trial with a split mouth design. Materials and Methods: The study included 37 patients, 101 teeth were included in both study groups. The intervention arm was treated with SE Adhesive (Adper Easy One, 3M ESPE, US). Control arm received TE adhesive (Adper Single Bond 2, 3M ESPE, US) before sealant application. The patients were followed after 6 months for assessment of sealant retention. Statistical analysis used: Interexaminer agreement for outcome assessment was assessed by Kappa Statistics and outcome in intervention group was assessed by McNemar's test. Results: Ninety-one pairs of molar (90%) were reevaluated for sealant retention. Complete retention was 56% in TE arm and 28% in SE arm with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.7. Conclusions: Sealants applied with TE adhesives show higher rate of complete sealant retention than SE adhesive.


Abstract. Twelve older inpatients (M age = 66.8) with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) participated in this controlled pilot trial either in a physical exercise group (PEG; n = 6; aerobic, strength, and coordination exercises) or an active control group (ACG; n = 6; relaxation exercises) twice a week for four weeks. While depressive symptoms decreased in both groups, reduction of symptoms was significantly larger in the PEG. However, the PEG had higher BDI scores compared to the ACG at pretest. Neurocognitive functioning and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration did not change significantly. A four-week exercise program may be a feasible adjunct therapy in older MDD patients but the efficacy of the program needs to be proven with larger samples.


PURPOSE
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are commonly administered by subcutaneous (SC) route. However, bioavailability is often reduced after SC administration. In addition, the sequential transfer of mAbs through the SC tissue and lymphatic system is not completely understood. Therefore, major objectives of this study were a) To understand absorption of mAbs via the lymphatic system after SC administration using physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, and b) to demonstrate application of the model for prediction of SC pharmacokinetics (PK) of mAbs.

METHODS
A minimal PBPK model was constructed using various physiological parameters related to the SC injection site and lymphatic system. The remainder of the body organs were represented using a 2-compartment model (central and peripheral compartments), with parameters derived from available intravenous (IV) PK data. The IV and SC clinical PK data of a total of 10 mAbs were obtained from literature. The SC PK data were used to estimate the lymphatic trunk-lymph node (LN) clearance.

RESULTS
The mean estimated lymphatic trunk-LN clearance obtained from 37 SC PK profiles of mAbs was 0.00213 L/h (0.001332 to 0.002928, 95% confidence intervals). The estimated lymphatic trunk-LN clearance was greater for the mAbs with higher isoelectric point (pI). In addition, the estimated clearance increased with decrease in the bioavailability.

CONCLUSION
The minimal PBPK model identified SC injection site lymph flow, afferent and efferent lymph flows, and volumes associated with the SC injection site, lymphatic capillaries and lymphatic trunk-LN as important physiological parameters governing the absorption of mAbs after SC administration. The model may be used to predict PK of mAbs using the relationship of lymphatic trunk-LN clearance and the pI. In addition, the model can be used as a bottom platform to incorporate SC and lymphatic in vitro clearance data for mAb PK prediction in the future.


The power industry is in a state of flux, with a variety of new technologies vieing for integration into systems of increasing complexity which are struggling with unprecedented constraints and difficulties. A comprehensive, methodical procedure is described for evaluating a new technology on its own merits, relative to the needs and constraints of the power system, and forestalling difficulties. Emphasis is placed on role definition, deductive, physically- based, modeling, and simulations. A brief example is appended.


A new method to reduce the MIMO-OFDM peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) is proposed. This method applies time and spatial two-dimensional subblock permutation to the multiple antenna OFDM system based on a timeslot structure. The PAPR of multiple OFDM symbols can be significantly decreased at the same time with limited complexity.


Weighted bipolar argumentation frameworks determine the strength of arguments based on an initial weight and the strength of their attackers and supporters. They find applications in decision support and social media analysis. Mossakowski and Neuhaus recently introduced a unification of different models and gave sufficient conditions for convergence and divergence in cyclic graphs. We build up on this work, incorporate additional models and extend results in several directions. In particular, we explain that the convergence guarantees can be seen as special cases of the contraction principle. We use this observation to unify and to generalize results and add runtime guarantees. Unfortunately, we find that guarantees obtained in this way are bought at the expense of open-mindedness, that is, the ability to move strength values away from the initial weights. However, we also demonstrate that divergence problems can be solved without giving up open-mindedness by continuizing the models. Finally, we integrate the Duality property that assures a symmetric impact of attack and support relations into the framework by Mossakowski and Neuhaus.


Preeclampsia is an obstetric disease of unknown cause that affects approximately 5% of pregnant women. The visual system may be affected with variable intensity. Bilateral, serous, nonrhegmatogenous retinal detachment is a rare complication of toxaemia of pregnancy, and its pathogenesis is related to the choroidal ischemia secondary to an intense arteriolar vasospasm. In the vast majority of the cases, the detachment occurs concomitantly with hypertensive retinopathy. The majority of patients have a complete recovery of vision with clinical management and surgery is unnecessary. This is a case report of a 23-year-old patient who developed the severe form of preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome in her third pregnancy. She had progressive blurred vision, until she could see fingers up to 3 meter. Ophthalmic examination diagnosed bilateral retinal detachment. With blood pressure control at postpartum, the patient had her retina reattached, and recovery of vision.


A novel grain size dependent strain hardening model is derived from the theory of irreversible thermodynamics. The model yields the evolution of the dislocation densities in the grain interior and at the grain boundary, as well as their contributions to the flow stress. It is found that sub-micron grain sizes have a lower dislocation density in the grain interior, causing ductility to decrease greatly. The predicted stress-strain curve shapes, uniform elongation and ultimate tensile strength values for interstitial free steels show good agreement with experimental observations.


Tractography in Diffusion-Weighted MRI provides a unique quantitative measurement of the brain's anatomical connectivity using information not available from other imaging techniques. Many tractography algorithms are based on local fiber orientation estimates, such as streamline methods, and are vulnerable to noise and partial volume effects; fiber crossing and kissing are also difficult to distinguish. This led to the development of probabilistic techniques [1] and global approaches relying on front propagation [2, 3] or simulation of the diffusion process [4]. In this work, we present a global approach based on the voting process provided by the Hough transform [5]. Our proposed tractography algorithm essentially tests all possible 3D curves in the volume, assigning a score to each of them, then selecting the curves with the highest scores, and returning them as the potential anatomical connections. We present experimental results on both artificial and real diffusion tensor images (DTI) and high-angular resolution diffusion images (HARDI).


Although automatic faces recognition has shown success for high-quality images under controlled conditions, for video-based recognition it is hard to attain similar levels of performance. We describe in this paper recent advances in a project being undertaken to trial and develop advanced surveillance systems for public safety. In this paper, we propose a local facial feature based framework for both still image and video-based face recognition. The evaluation is performed on a still image dataset LFW and a video sequence dataset MOBIO to compare 4 methods for operation on feature: feature averaging (Avg-Feature), Mutual Subspace Method (MSM), Manifold to Manifold Distance (MMS), and Affine Hull Method (AHM), and 4 methods for operation on distance on 3 different features. The experimental results show that Multi-region Histogram (MRH) feature is more discriminative for face recognition compared to Local Binary Patterns (LBP) and raw pixel intensity. Under the limitation on a small number of images available per person, feature averaging is more reliable than MSM, MMD, and AHM and is much faster. Thus, our proposed framework—averaging MRH feature is more suitable for CCTV surveillance systems with constraints on the number of images and the speed of processing.


Alkaline bodies of Tanguá and Soarinho in Rio de Janeiro present drainage areas that form the sources of the Soarinho and Caceribu Rivers. Due to its water and geological importance, we sought to investigate the relation between alkaline rocks and water bodies and the possible consequences of mining activity, as well as the use and occupation of land in water quality. Initially, the magnetometric profile was traced to confirm whether the locations selected for sample collection were located in the alkaline region. Then, water and sediment collections were carried out from the bed at three points on the Soarinho River and one point on the Caceribu River, all inserted in the drainages of the Soarinho and Tanguá alkaline massifs. Parameters necessary to calculate the Water Quality Index (WQI) and those related to contamination by mining activities were analyzed. Chemical analysis of the bed material sought to identify the deposition of contaminants. The context of alkaline rock interaction and water influence is confirmed through geophysical and lithogeochemical techniques through location maps and comparative results of bed material and direct samples of alkaline rocks that showed similar constitutions. In general, the WQI presented a median result, meeting the main requirements for appropriate water for conventional treatment aimed at public supply, and no indicators of contamination by mining activities were found, however, at point P3, representative of the headwaters of the Soarinho River, there were significant changes in BOD and fecal coliforms indicating direct discharge of domestic sewage in a nearby location. The results of the analyzes downstream of this point demonstrate the water bodies dilution capacity.


Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin (i.e. lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) is one of the most potent stimulants of the innate immune system, recognized by the TLR4·MD-2 complex. Direct binding to MD-2 of LPS and LPS analogues that act as TLR4 agonists or antagonists is well established, but the role of MD-2 and TLR4 in receptor activation is much less clear. We have identified residues within the hairpin of MD-2 between strands five and six that, although not contacting acyl chains of tetraacylated lipid IVa (a TLR4 antagonist), influence activation of TLR4 by hexaacylated lipid A. We show that hydrophobic residues at positions 82, 85, and 87 of MD-2 are essential both for transfer of endotoxin from CD14 to monomeric MD-2 and for TLR4 activation. We also identified a pair of conserved hydrophobic residues (Phe-440 and Phe-463) in leucine-rich repeats 16 and 17 of the TLR4 ectodomain, which are essential for activation of TLR4 by LPS. F440A or F463A mutants of TLR4 were inactive, whereas the F440W mutant retained full activity. Charge reversal of neighboring cationic groups in the TLR4 ectodomain (Lys-388 and Lys-435), in contrast, did not affect cell activation. Our mutagenesis studies are consistent with a molecular model in which Val-82, Met-85, and Leu-87 in MD-2 and distal portions of a secondary acyl chain of hexaacylated lipid A that do not fit into the hydrophobic binding pocket of MD-2 form a hydrophobic surface that interacts with Phe-440 and Phe-463 on a neighboring TLR4·MD-2·LPS complex, driving TLR4 activation.


ABSTRACT The spectral and luminescent characteristics of four biscyanine dyes and corresponding monomer dye in ethanol solutions and in polyvinyl butyral have been investigated. The influence of angle between chromophores of biscyanine molecules on splitting and intensity of absorption bands has been discussed. It has been shown that the splitting of the biscyanine excited electron level S1 is caused both dipole and resonant chromophor interactions. It has been found that the fluorescence quantum yields of the biscyanines in ethanol at room temperature are 0.005–0.02. The introduction of biscyanines in a polymer matrix, which provides rigidity of a polymethine chain, results in reduction of molecules trans-cis isomerization and consequently increase of fluorescence quantum yields.


Modeling and flow reactor experiments were used to study the kinetics of NO, storage/release on a Pt/BaO/Al2O3 model catalyst. The mechanism for this concept can be divided into four steps: (i) NO to NO2 oxidation on Pt, (ii) NO2 storage on BaO, (iii) NO, release, and (iv) NO, reduction to N2. In this paper, we have focused on the first three steps. From the NO oxidation study on Pt/Al2O3 compared to Pt/BaO/Al2O3, we observed that the presence of BaO decreases the formation of NO2. To test the importance of this step for effective storage, experiments were performed with a Pt/Al2O3 catalyst placed before the Pt/BaO/Al2O3 catalyst. This resulted in increased NO, storage for the combined system compared to the Pt/BaO/Al2O3 case. To resolve the second and third steps, an experimental investigation of NOx storage/release on BaO/Al2O3 was performed using only NO2 and N2 in the gas feed. We propose a kinetic model, which first includes adsorption of NO2, which oxidizes the surface, followed by nitrate formation. Finally, NO3-BaO-NO2, i.e., Ba(NO3)2, is formed. By using the kinetic parameters from the NO oxidation on Pt/BaO/Al2O3 and the NO, storage on BaO/Al2O3, a kinetic model was constructed to describe NO, storage/release experiments on Pt/BaO/Al2O3. However, the rate for NO, release was increased when Pt was present, and the kinetic model could not accurately describe this phenomenon. Therefore, the mechanism was modified by including a reversible surface spillover step of NO2 between Pt sites and BaO sites. Further, experiments with NO2 exposure followed by a temperature ramp with NO/N2 showed that the desorption behaviors from the BaO/Al2O3 and Pt/BaO/Al2O3 were significantly different, which further supports the spillover mechanism. Finally, the models describing NO, storage on BaO/Al2O3 and on Pt/BaO/Al2O3 were successfully validated with independent experiments.


In Medicine, as in statecraft and propaganda, words are sometimes the most powerful drugs we can use. Sara Murray Jordan In the history of medicine, there has never been a time when one methodology, one paradigm, one hierarchical classification of healing has been uniformly accepted. Different approaches to healing have continually found themselves in conflict over methods and even over the basic tenets of their profession. Samuel J. Melzer, the first president of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, founded in 1908, argued that clinical medicine has two components-science and art-and that they are separate, antagonistic, and incompatible. He warned his fellow physicians that the simultaneous cultivation of both is detrimental to the progress of either [1]. We are currently experiencing a health care revolution that is, arguably, less about health and more about money [2, 3]. We are also observing a growing interest in alternative medicine. A frequently quoted survey published in 1993 in The New England Journal of Medicine reported on the alternative health care practices of 1500 U.S. adults. Thirty-our percent of those surveyed had used at least one unconventional therapy in the preceding year [4]. On the level of national policy, the use of alternative methods is of increasing interest to the U.S. Congress. In the 1992 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Appropriation Bill, the language of the Congressional Appropriations Committee is clear: The Committee is not satisfied that the conventional medical community as symbolized by NIH has fully explored the potential that exists in unconventional medical practices. Many routine and effective medical procedures now considered commonplace were once considered unconventional and counter indicated In order to more adequately explore these unconventional medical practices the Committee request that NIH establish within the Office of the Director an office to fully investigate and validate these practices. Congress added $2 million to the NIH's $10 billion budget in order to fund this office (the first director of the office, Dr. Joseph J. Jacobs, called the amount homeopathic [5]). Because Congress is willing to mandate an office to explore alternative practices and because people are willing to spend so much for these practices out of pocket, future health care planners may need to discuss alternative health care in the same breath with regular medicine. In such discussions, the license to name brings with it the power to control ideas. All participants in the healing professions pejoratively label those not like themselves. They do this, in equal measure, to better define themselves and to gain a competitive edge. For this reason, the nomenclature used to describe competing healing practices is reviewed here. The Name Game What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. William Shakespeare As the term alternative medicine is popularly understood, it represents a wide spectrum of healing and health tactics, including acupuncture, acupressure, biofeedback, Chinese medicine, chiropractic, folk medicine, herbalism, holistic medicine, homeopathy, hypnosis, massage, naturopathy, psychic healing, relaxation, and reflexology. In fact, the term alternative has widely differing connotations for the very people who use it. Does it simply mean anything not taught in traditional western medical schools? Do the words alternative, complementary, holistic, natural, and fringe describe similar or different activities? It has been noted that alternative medicine defines itself by exclusion and that the term is no more helpful than the similar catch-all term foreign [6]: An Englishman setting out to comment on foreigners would be as accurate in his description of foreigners as most doctors are in their understanding of alternative therapies, and the Englishman's commentaries would tell us more about the prejudices of being English than the characteristics of non-English people. Alternative, as it is commonly used, may imply an equal choice between two things or may suggest a choice that, if taken, leaves the other behind. It suggests an order of choices, starting with the first and best and proceeding to those of less value. Naturally, we cannot forget the culturally popular concept of alternative lifestyles and the controversial social baggage that alternative carries in that context. Once again, depending on your politics and values, alternative can suggest a positively nurturing or a negatively hedonistic viewpoint, a warm fuzzy feeling springing from one's romantic youth or a stern reproach from a conservative superego. A closely related word, a relic of methodologies and concepts now extinct, may have given rise to (and been replaced by) the phrase alternative medicine. The definition of alternative, as in alternative medicine is, according to Zell's Popular Encyclopedia of 1886 [7]: Alternative (Med) Such medicines as induce a favorable change in the system, without any manifest operation or evacuation. The principal therapeutic employment of the Alternatives is as antiphlogistics or resolvents. Antiphlogistic is another dated medical term that, according to Zell's, refers to agents that counteract burning heat, or inflammation. Resolvent makes reference to an extinct class of medicines used by surgeons to dissolve or dissipate impacted humors, swelling, tumors, &c however, such remedies are more fanciful than real; for though mercury, lead, and ammonia are considered among the best of the class, there is one agent of more value than twenty such combined and that is the human hand. Friction with a soft hand-with or without lard, or oil-is the only reliable [resolvent] in the whole catalogue [7]. This is an interesting and prescient comment on competing techniques, the caustic drug therapeutics of the 19th-century regulars versus the laying on of gentle hands in a massage-like therapy. Alternative medicine lacked a visible assault on the patient, such as that seen with blistering, emetics, or purges, and it was a practice in sharp contrast to the heroic therapies of the time. (Early crude efforts to reduce fever and inflammation with these harsh techniques were referred to as heroic therapy [8]. In retrospect, what earned the label heroics-the therapeutics as applied by the physician or the effort to survive them by the patient-is debatable. The term has since evolved, thankfully, as have the techniques.) Names and naming were among the earliest issues tackled in the first NIH Working Group on Unconventional Medical Practices. Unconventional was simply unacceptable. Although they agreed that the public did have a good understanding of the term alternative, many participants were still unhappy with it. These representative practitioners felt that the term negatively implied a last resort. Many preferred the term complementary, but others found issue with that. Not able to agree among themselves, they came up with the following tentative names for their new organization: The Office of complementary and traditional, holistic and complementary, complementary, alternative and complementary, alternative and holistic and complementary, traditional ways, and integrated Medicine (or Medical Practice) (Meeting of the Working Group on Unconventional Medical Practices, 14-16 September 1992. National Institutes of Health Office of Science Policy and Legislation). Yet, regardless of what these leaders may choose, the public and the lay press have already settled the issue, and alternative they shall remain. The Other The art of medicine is my discovery. I am called Help-Bringer throughout the world, and all the potency of herbs is known to me. Ovid (Publius Ovidiou Naso, 43 BC-17 AD) Alternative medicine or alternative health care has come to be the term generally used by both the supporters (including Congress and the NIH) and the detractors of this type of medicine, but this is not the case for the name of the other medical discipline practiced by the more than 660 000 licensed physicians in the United States. Many terms are used for this method of healing; this probably reflects the continuing evolution of the practice itself. Scientific medicine is one term accepted by these physicians [9]. This name lays exclusive claim to a scientific foundation on a body of knowledge, derived from both research and observation, that is chronicled in peer-reviewed journals. It has a history of controlled, clinical studies; has a strong tradition of basic laboratory science; and is closely affiliated with medical schools and hospital research centers. But alternative practitioners, short on laboratory science but long on case reports, can also point to a historic collection of observations and data. With the NIH now enrolled as a sponsor, they will be soon publishing the results of more rigorous clinical studies, whatever their outcome, and may establish a stronger scientific foundation for their work. The term scientific medicine implies that other healing practices are not grounded in reality. It suggests, in a not so subtle manner, that alternative practices have no scientific or technological underpinnings, no systematization of facts, methods, or principles. It insinuates that alternative health care offers an alternative to the scientific laws that exist in the natural world. (This belief may indeed be held by those who support alternative medicine as well as those who attack it, but it belittles the legitimate debate that the subject demands.) The mantle of science cannot be claimed or exclusively worn by any one field of medicine. If not scientific, then what should we call the alternative to alternative medicine? Traditional cannot be used, because both types of medicine have long traditions and the actual historic edge goes to the alternative practitioners. Conservative? This term, also, carries too much political baggage, and its use is complet


The term of fair trade basically explains the fair exchange of goods and money between producer and consumer without ignoring the quality and price balance. The fair trade concept gains an importance by globalisation; the basic idea is to protect local production. The most well-known fair trade products are the agro-cultural ones like coffee, cacao and cotton, which are usually produced in special climate habitats but consumed all over the world. The fair payment to the producers usually causes a price increase of the fair trade products compared to the market averages. In this situation, the consumer response to the product, brand and the companies' fair trade applications gains another importance. The price elasticity of the product and the consumer perception may depend on many factors. The aim of this study is to see the major knowledge and perception differences of Turkish and Austrian consumers towards fair trade products and brands.


A distinct challenge of implicit self-esteem research is the dubious validity of measures for implicit self-esteem. We conducted two event-related potential (ERP) studies to examine whether implicit self-esteem measured by the Implicit Association Test (IAT) actually reflects the automatic self-evaluation. We adopted the regular IAT and the Go/No-go Association Task (GNAT), respectively, to measure implicit self-esteem in two studies. We focused on the P300 that reflects the stimulus evaluation process. Study 1 revealed that participants responded faster to self pairing with good than to self pairing with bad whereas self pairing with bad elicited a delayed P300 compared with self pairing with good. Study 2 replicated these findings and further highlighted that the index of implicit self-esteem based on reaction time is correlated with that based on P300 latency. Our results suggest that implicit self-esteem assessed by the IAT measures automatic self-evaluation, thus providing neural evidence for the validity of implicit self-esteem.


The serotonin molecule has some remarkable properties. It is synthesized by two different genes at two different sites, and, surprisingly, plays antagonistic functions on bone mass accrual at these two sites. When produced peripherally, serotonin acts as a hormone to inhibit bone formation. In contrast, when produced in the brain, serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter to exert a positive and dominant effect on bone mass accrual by enhancing bone formation and limiting bone resorption. The effect of serotonin on bone biology could be harnessed pharmacologically to treat diseases such as osteoporosis.


Gait event analysis by wearable devices is still a current challenge. Ground foot contacts, lower body segment accelerations or rotations or joint kinematics are commonly used, associated with functional analysis or machine learning algorithms, and currently allow to detect up to 5 different phases during a gait cycle. However, these detection are not always reliable or usable in real time because of calculation duration or sensor faults and drifts. To get more precise and realistic sequencing of the gait cycle, we chose to only use the information of heel or toe contacts with Force Sensing Resistors (FSR - used as foot switches) to decompose the cycle in 8 different phases that we determined previously by a bottom-up analysis of the possible contacts during walk. Based on this definition different detection algorithms are presented, which introduces sequencing conditions and smart fault management of sensors information to improve the performance and robustness of the detection. Proposed algorithms are assessed on the recorded walking data of 12 participants and in an online experiment, showing an average of 99% recognition rate of gait phases during the walk. These proposed approaches could offer new possibilities for using simple and low-cost instrumented soles to perform quantitative assessment of walking strategies.


The specific aim of this research project was to examine and describe the experience of living in a nursing home for six people of 80 years and older. 'Visit' is presented as a means of developing nursing knowledge. This research method is founded on the belief that the act of nursing involves the development of a relationship, and was created out of the author's desire for a relational research method. Philosophical support for the method is provided by Maurice Merleau-Ponty's existentialism, Sally Gadow's existential advocacy, and Jean Watson's Human Caring Theory. Authenticity is proposed as an alternative to the concepts of reliability and validity for judging the scientific merit of the method. Whether the nursing role is researcher, practitioner or educator, each person's unique and inexhaustible story provides the basis for nursing care. Nurse researchers using 'Visit' as a method of inquiry can illustrate these unique differences through a story, through the images or pictures each individual creates with his or her own words.


Self-developed high speed tandem TIG welding equipment were adopted to manufacture titanium welded tubes with high efficiency and high quality. The joint made by this high efficient welding process met Chinese standard requirements. A coupled electrode, arc and weld pool numerical model was also developed to investigate temperature and velocity distributions, and energy propagation of this welding process. The numerical results showed that the Marangoni stress was much higher than the arc shear stress, and was mainly positive after leading and trailing arcs in the x and y directions, so the molten metal flowed backward on the top weld pool surface. Previous studies proposed that a "pull-push" flow pattern defined as a backward molten metal flow after the leading arc and a forward molten metal flow before the trailing arc existed on the top weld pool surface in tandem arc welding processes, while it was not observed in this case. The calculated arc efficiency of the high speed tandem TIG welding was about 79.8%.


OBJECTIVE
To mimic contact pattern between decorin and TGF-beta1, in vivo, and investigate the antagonistic effect of recombinant human decorin on TGF-beta1 stimulation of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts in collagen lattices.

METHODS
Fibroblasts populated collagen lattices (FPCL) model was adopted in the study, and they were divided into control group, decorin group [2mg/L recombinant human decorin (rh-decorin) was administered to FPCL], TGF-beta1 group (5 microg/LTGF-beta1 was administered to the culture medium), and TGF-beta1 + decorin group (2mg/L rh-decorin was administered to FPCL, then culture medium containing 5 microg/L TGF-beta1 was added into FPCL). Changes in PAI-1 and alpha-SMA protein expression in scar fibroblasts in collagen lattices were detected with Western blotting at 12 post-administration hour (PAH), 24 PAH, 48 PAH, and 72 PAH, and expressions of PAI-1 and alpha-SMA mRNA were concomitantly examined by RT-PCR.

RESULTS
The contraction of FPCL at each time-point in control group was obviously attenuated compared with that in decorin group, but it was significantly intensified compared with that in TGF-beta1 group. The expression of PAI-1 and alpha-SMA mRNA and protein in TGF-beta1 group (3482 +/- 211, 4320 +/- 272, 0.89 +/- 0.15, 0.56 +/- 0. 11) were markedly increased than those in control group (1764 +/- 147, 1699 +/- 146, 0.29 +/- 0.06, 0.21 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01), while no obvious difference of them was found between control and other two groups.

CONCLUSION
Stimulation of scar fibroblasts by TGF-beta1, can be suppressed when rh-decorin is blended into collagen lattices, indicating that decorin is effective in neutralizing TGF-beta1 in vitro. The pathogenesis of hypertrophic scar might be related to up-regulation of TGF-beta1 with the lack of decorin after cutaneous injury.


Libya is considered a virgin land for sustained development, and with its small population, the country's productivity and consumption are still insignificant.  Libya's architectural heritage, which remains untainted by the pollution problems which plague more industrial countries.  The most important problems facing the country are desertification and limited water supply. The failure of the Libyan State to enact laws to address these problems has contributed to their increase.
This article deals with the concept of sustainability and its relation to the architecture science and its intellectual and cultural dimensions. In addition, the local efforts in Libya that aim to set up a local plan for coping with the international efforts and the resulting work rules regarding this concern. The researcher used the literature review as a method to focus on the pervious points. This study arrived at an important recommendation that the Libyan authorities should focus on the importance of developing educational curricula especially in the field of architectural engineering and urban planning so as to cope with the theories and principles of sustainable architecture.


The authors report 2 cases of common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion and 4 cases of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion with forward Dop pler ophthalmic artery flow. The compression test during Doppler study showed that the ophthalmic artery flow was reduced to zero when compressed contralateral to the CCA in 1 case of CCA occlusion and when compressed ipsilateral to the CCA in all 4 cases of ICA occlusion. The angiograms showed that in the 2 cases of CCA occlusion, 1 had the ophthalmic artery originating from the anterior communicating artery, and the other had subclavian steal syndrome with a reversed vertebral flow. In 3 of the 4 cases of ICA occlusion, the ophthalmic artery was found to originate from the ipsilateral middle menin geal artery. Their findings suggest that in cases of extracranial carotid artery occlusion, the forward ophthalmic artery flow is supplied from the contralateral CCA in cases of CCA occlusion and from the branches of the ipsilateral external carotid artery in cases of ICA occlusion, and the vertebrobasilar system plays a less important role.


When tort liability and regulation are jointly applicable, judges have a tendency to be more demanding than regulators. Liability standards are generally more stringent than regulatory ones: violation of a regulatory standard is normally considered negligence per se while compliance with regulation does not automatically relieve the injurer of tort liability. While under an imperfectly working tort liability system—i.e. a tort law system whose prevention function is undermined by judgment proof or disappearing defendants—injurers take too little precaution, it will still often be the case that only major violations (and not minor violations) are rewarding. Mathematically, this will occur when the injurer's expected expenses function exhibits two local minima, one at the socially optimal level of care and the other below that level. Regulation set below the optimal level can make the latter unfeasible, thereby enabling liability to induce socially optimal outcomes.


This study was designed to determine the effects that specific euthanasia methods have on vascular arachidonic acid metabolism and vascular and intestinal smooth muscle contractility. Rats were euthanatized by decapitation (DC), pentobarbital overdose (PB), or anesthesia with CO2, methoxyflurane or ether followed by DC (CO2-DC, Met-DC, Ether-DC, respectively). Rabbits were killed by a similar protocol, but CO2 overexposure replaced Ether-DC. The rat and rabbit aortas produced mainly 6-keto PGF1 alpha, the prostacyclin metabolite, and lesser amounts of PGE2. No qualitative differences were seen in arachidonate metabolites. However, aortic tissue from rabbits and rats killed by Met-DC produced more prostacyclin. In contrast, aorta from rabbits euthanatized by CO2-DC produced less prostacyclin than controls, whereas aorta from rats killed in the same way yielded greater amounts of prostacyclin. Aortic tissue from rabbits killed by Met-DC and CO2-OD was less responsive to acetylcholine (ACH). Intestinal contractility to ACH was increased in rabbits when Met-DC was used as the method of euthanasia, while colon from rats sacrificed by Met-DC showed decreased responsiveness to ACH. Colon from rats killed by intraperitoneal PB exhibited altered contractility to ACH and norepinephrine. The results of this study show that methoxyflurane, carbon dioxide (rabbit) and pentobarbital (rat) alter the vascular synthesis of prostacyclin and smooth muscle contractility. We conclude that the method of euthanasia affects certain physiologic parameters and careful consideration should be given to the selection of a particular euthanasia technique.


The utilization of exotic germplasm comprises a strategy for improving the genetic diversity within soybean cultivars, whose present narrowness is a main limitation in soybean breeding programs that utilize two-way crosses between homozygous pure lines. Progenies from forty-five soybean crosses obtained through the combination of eight parents (octuple crosses) in a chain mating system were evaluated in the F 4:3[8] generation for grain yield and other agronomic important traits. The octuple crosses included both adapted and exotic parents mated in a chain system during three generations to assemble a group of materials with the proportion of 75% : 25% of genes stemming from adapted and exotic parents, respectively. In addition to this, adapted parents were selected to form a second group with 100% adapted germplasm. The F 4:3[8] progenies were evaluated in an augmented block design in the 1994/95 growing season. The F 5:3[8] progenies were evaluated in six experiments during the 1995/96 growing season. Three augmented block designs (without replications) and three complete randomized- block designs with two or three replications were used. The analyses of the results indicate that octuple crosses produced superior progenies for all the traits studied, especially grain yield which presented the excellent mean yield of 5.530 kg/ha. Remnant genetic variability amongst selected progenies in some crosses allowed the prediction of additional gains for grain yield through selection in more advanced cycles.


The transfer matrix method for multibody systems, known as the "Rui method", is a new method for dealing with multibody system dynamics, which does not need the global dynamics equations of the system, keeps high computational speed, and is highly formalized programming. This method has been widely applied to scientific research and key engineering of many complex mechanical systems in more than 50 research fields. The following aspects regarding the transfer matrix method for multibody systems are reviewed in this paper: history, basic principles, formulas, algorithm, and applications in engineering. Some hot topics in this field are also reviewed and prospected, mainly regarding to the improvement of the computational stability and efficiency.


Active investigative student-directed experiences in laboratory science are being encouraged by national science organizations. A growing body of evidence from classroom assessment supports their effectiveness. This study describes four years of implementation and assessment of an investigative laboratory course in human physiology for 65 second-year students in sports medicine and biology at a small private comprehensive college. The course builds on skills and abilities first introduced in an introductory investigations course and introduces additional higher-level skills and more complex human experimental models. In four multiweek experimental modules, involving neuromuscular, reflex, and cardiovascular physiology, by use of computerized hardware/software with a variety of transducers, students carry out self-designed experiments with human subjects and perform data collection and analysis, collaborative writing, and peer editing. In assessments, including standard course evaluations and the Salgains Web-based evaluation, student responses to this approach are enthusiastic, and gains in their skills and abilities are evident in their comments and in improved performance.


Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament avulsion from the tibia with a bony fragment of the tibial spine is an uncommon injury of the knee joint. These are predominantly seen in children and young adults. Arthroscopic reduction and fixation of the tibial avulsion fracture is a technically demanding procedure as restoring the ACL length and tension during fixation is important to ensure stability of the knee while maintaining range of motion and minimal knee laxity. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the outcome of Arthroscopic Suture bridge fixation of tibial spine anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures.
Materials and Methods: We followed up seven patients prospectively after Arthroscopic suture bridge fixation. The patients were assessed with clinical examination, Tegner Lysholm and IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) knee scores. The study group consisted of 5 males and 2 females with a mean age of 24.28 years (Range 18 years to 32 years). Mean follow-up time was 28.7 months (range 24 to 36 months). The study included 4 type II and 3 type III Meyer and McKeever fractures.
Results: At follow-up the mean Tegner lysholm score was 91.28. The best results were seen in younger patients. Younger patients had significantly better score for IKDC functional and final scores.
Conclusion: Displaced tibial spine avulsion fractures can be successfully treated in younger and older patients using arthroscopic suture bridge fixation with most patients returning back to preinjury levels of activity.

Keywords: Arthroscopy, Tibial fractures, Avulsion, Anterior cruciate ligament injuries, Fracture fixation internal.


This paper deals with a scheduling problem in a real electric wire production process. The process is of a flow-shop with two processes. In each process plural equipments are arranged in parallel. The scheduling problem is large-scale and has complicated constraints. A genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to the problem. If GA is designed so as to search all solutions in the fundamental space, it is inefficient because the number of such solutions is enormous. On the other hand some dispatching rules can be applied to scheduling problems if they are effective. However it is not easy to find an effective rule for complicated production processes. In this paper, GA is designed in such a way that appropriate dispatching rules are combined with the conventional GA operator. Consequently, a part of decision variables are determined by appropriate rules and the others are determined by the operation of GA. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed by computational results.


Summary Lipid-lowering therapy leads to a great reduction of cardiovascular complications, but has almost no effect on the degree of stenosis of coronary arteries. These and other studies have lead to a new paradigm of coronary artery disease, i. e. clinical prognosis is not only determined by the extent of a single stenosis, but mainly by the number and structure of atherosclerotic plaques. Rupture of an instable or vulnerable plaque, characterized by a large lipid-rich central core, inflammatory cells, and a thin fibrous cap, causes sudden thrombus formation and thereby acute coronary syndromes. There is accumulating evidence that cholesterol lowering can result in plaque stabilization and improvement of endothelial dysfunction.


The appropiate definition of argumentative reasoning systems requires a careful study of the dialectical analyses that are carried out in these formalisms. In this work we present a research line that points to the correct definition of such dialectical analyses. These dialectical analyses must be accomplished correctly, guided by proper criteria in order to prevent the construction of fallacious or ill formed argumentation lines. In this context, we analyze the definition of acceptable argumentation line in DELP and propose a revised version.


We assessed the efficacy of 3% citronella candles and 5% citronella incense in protecting subjects from bites of Aedes spp. under field conditions. The study was conducted in a deciduous woodlot in Guelph, Ontario, Canada from July 26 to August 10, 1995. Eight subjects, dressed identically, were assigned to one of 8 positions on a grid within the study area. Two citronella candles, 2 citronella incense, 2 plain unscented candles, or no candles (i.e., nontreated controls) were assigned to 2 positions on the grid each evening. Subjects conducted 5-min biting counts at each position and performed 16 biting counts per evening. On average, subjects received 6.2 +/- 0.4, 8.2 +/- 0.5, 8.2 +/- 0.4, and 10.8 +/- 0.5 bites/ 5 min at positions with citronella candles, citronella incense, plain candles, and no candles, respectively. Although significantly fewer bites were received by subjects at positions with citronella candles and incense than at nontreated locations, the overall reduction in bites provided by the citronella candles and incense was only 42.3 and 24.2%, respectively.


A method for determining the yaw tendency of a vehicle is hereby presented. The method comprises the steps of determining the propulsion states of one or several wheels of said vehicle, and estimating yaw moment variations of a vehicle from said propulsion states, wherein said yaw moment variations are induced from altered propulsion states between at least two of the wheels of said vehicle.


This study investigated the effectiveness of mechanisms and guidelines which were put in place by the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture, to facilitate the implementation of the Aids Action Programme in Zimbabwe schools. The sample consisted of twelve school heads and twenty-four teachers, drawn from the twelve secondary schools in Gweru district of Zimbabwe. Questionnaires were administered to teachers while the school heads were interviewed. The study found out that the mechanisms which have been put in place for the implementation of the Aids Action Programme were effective to a limited extent. A number of constraints which rendered the mechanisms and guidelines ineffective were unraveled. All school heads and most teachers indicated that time allocated to the program was inadequate, which impacted negatively on the success of the program. On capacity building, the study found out that teachers made a lot of initiatives in improving their education in line with contemporary and challenging issues such as HIV and AIDS. However, the percentage of teachers without in-service training remains high. Heads and teachers indicated the need for more workshops and seminars at any given time as this has an impact on the implementation process. Results also revealed that parents, families and communities were minimally involved. Shortage of teaching and learning materials specifically for HIV and AIDS and unavailability of syllabi were major drawbacks, which were bound to render the mechanisms ineffective. The study recommended that time allocated to teaching of HIV and AIDS should be increased to at least two periods per week and the subject should be examinable. Furthermore, capacity building should be enhanced so that training covers all teachers concerned with provision for periodic in-service training. There is need for continuous monitoring of the program to ensure effectiveness of mechanisms. The government should allocate a percentage of the AIDS levy to the Ministry of Education, Sport, and Culture in order to sustain the availability of resources needed in the teaching of this important subject.


The potential crystal structures and properties of urea as a function of pressure were studied using ab initio based electronic structure calculations. The enthalpy-pressure behavior shows that urea undergoes a pressure induced structural phase transition from P4[combining macron]21m (phase I) → P212121 (phase III) at 0.66 GPa with a volume collapse of 4.83%, driven by softening of the acoustic mode along the Γ-X direction. Another phase transition from the P212121 → P21212 structure was identified at 3.09 GPa. The violation of Born stability criteria in the P212121 structure along with softening of the acoustic mode in the U-R direction was responsible for the pressure induced phase transition. Furthermore, the application of pressure led to the breaking and formation of N-HO bonds in the crystal structure of urea during the phase transition, i.e., the H-acceptor capacitance of the oxygen atoms was varied between phases I/IV and -III. Band structure calculations were performed using a hybrid functional (Heyd, Scuseria and Ernzerhof, HSE) which includes a part of exact Fock-exchange. The computed electronic band structure showed that the urea polymorphs are insulators with a direct band gap of 6.21, 6.85 and 6.99 eV for phase-I, -III and -IV, respectively, at selected pressures. We have also presented the dielectric functions (real (ε1(ω)) and imaginary (ε2(ω)) parts), refractive index and absorption coefficients to explore the optical characteristics of the urea phases. The geometric interpretation of intermolecular interactions were quantitatively visualized using Hirshfeld surface analysis. Our results provide a complete picture of various properties of urea polymorphs that lay the foundation for further understanding of structures and their applications.


In January PAJ published its 100th issue, celebrating the event with a special theme for the occasion, "Performance New York." It was a time for us to reflect on thirty-five years of publishing from the vantage point of a vastly different cultural and political landscape than the one we entered at PAJ's founding, in 1976. In numerous contributions by artists, curators, presenters, and critics representing several generations, and exploring multiple art forms, we focused on central themes such as Belief, Being Contemporary, Performance and Science, and Writing and Performance. Other conversations on working downtown, and on crossovers between theatre and visual art, highlighted important issues on what is at stake today in establishing a career, an institution, or a company outside the mainstream. Portfolios of drawings by several artists are also included the issue.


Intracoronary urokinase was used to treat flow-limiting intracoronary thrombus accumulation that complicated successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) during acute ischemic syndromes in 48 patients who were followed up through the acute phase of their illness. The study group comprised 10 patients with unstable angina pectoris, 18 patients with an evolving acute myocardial infarction, and 20 patients with postinfarction angina. The initial mean percent coronary diameter stenosis for the entire population was 95 +/- 7% and decreased with initial PTCA to 41 +/- 20% (p less than 0.001), with improved corresponding coronary flow by Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction trial (TIMI) grade. However, thrombus accumulation then resulted in a significant increase in percent diameter stenosis to 83 +/- 17% (p less than 0.001); a corresponding significant reduction in coronary flow also occurred by TIMI grade. After administration of intracoronary urokinase (mean dose, 141,000 units; range, 100,000-250,000 units during an average period of 34 minutes), with additional PTCA, mean percent diameter stenosis significantly decreased to 34 +/- 17% (p less than 0.001); a correspondingly significant improvement in mean coronary flow by TIMI grade occurred to 2.9 +/- 0.2. Overall, the angiographic success rate was 90%. There were no ischemic events requiring repeat PTCA and no procedure-related myocardial infarctions or deaths before hospital discharge. One patient was referred for urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery after a successful PTCA. Plasma fibrinogen levels were obtained in 15 patients, and in no patient was the level below normal for our laboratory.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The thermal conductivity at 300 K of (10, 0) single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that have been functionalized by chemical attachment of hydrogen atoms is studied by a nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) method with Brenner II potential. The system exhibits a drop in thermal conductivity with functionalization. When 5% of nanotube carbon atoms are hydrogenated, the thermal conductivity is reduced by about a factor of 1.5. To clarify this effect the phonon spectra of the nanotubes are investigated.


Stabilization of protein–protein interactions by small molecules is a concept with few examples reported to date. Herein we describe the identification and X-ray co-crystal structure determination of IBE-667, an ICAM-1 binding enhancer for LFA-1. IBE-667 was designed based on the SAR information obtained from an on-bead screen of tagged one-bead one-compound combinatorial libraries by confocal nanoscanning and bead picking (CONA). Cellular assays demonstrate the activity of IBE-667 in promoting the binding of LFA-1 on activated immune cells to ICAM-1.


The spectrum of boson fields and two-point correlators are analyzed in a quantum bar system (a superlattice formed by two crossed interacting arrays of quantum wires), with a short-range interwire interaction. The standard bosonization procedure is shown to be valid, within the two-wave approximation. The system behaves as a sliding Luttinger liquid in the vicinity of the Γ point, but its spectral and correlation characteristics have either 1D or 2D nature depending on the direction of the wave vector in the rest of the Brillouin zone. Due to the interwire interaction, unperturbed states propagating along the two arrays of wires are always mixed, and the transverse components of the correlation functions do not vanish. This mixing is especially strong around the diagonals of the Brillouin zone, where the transverse correlators have the same order of magnitude as the longitudinal ones.


Conducting an academic research requires getting a firm grasp of ongoing research issues as well as locating research materials effectively. Often research in different fields on a similar topic can assume diverse approaches due to different objectives and research goals in their own fields. Especially in an interdisciplinary research field like cybercrime, many research topics overlap with those of other research fields. Researchers in such a field, therefore, can benefit from understanding the related domains of one's own research.  Topic maps provide methods for understanding research domain and managing relevant information resources at the same time. In this paper, we review a topic map solution to acquire knowledge structure and to locate information resources effectively. We address current problems of cybercrime research, review previous studies that use automated methods for topic map creation, and examine existing sets of methods for automatically extracting topic map components. Especially, the methods we discuss here are text mining techniques for extracting ontology components, denoted as ontology learning.


Wagoner, Amy R. M.S., Purdue University, May 2014. A Sensor Ontology for the Domain of Firefighting Robots. Major Professor: Eric T. Matson. Fires create thousands of dollars in damage and thousands of deaths each year. Firefighters risk their lives everyday and are often killed in action. Firefighting robots may be able to reduce the loss of lives and damage due to fires. Robots are often used for redundant tasks that require the consistency and efficiency of a machine. They are especially optimal for tasks that require strength that exceeds that of a typical human being or for environments that are hazardous to people. Robots metallic exteriors are far more durable and easier to replace than flesh and blood, thus they are ideal for fighting fire that may be unreachable or too dangerous for humaning beings. Firefighting robots are most often shaped like tanks and are equipped with fire extinguishers, sensors, and cameras. The robots are typically operated via remote control and lack autonomy. Because of the volatile nature of fires, it is difficult for software engineers to create algorithms to make firefighting robots more autonomous. Ontologies are commonly used for sharing domain information and structuring and analyzing data. This study proposes using an ontology that is designed specifically for a firefighting robot programmed to rescue a human in danger in order to make a decision making algorithm. The methodology uses ontological tools to build the ontology. A decision-making algorithm is created using the information that is stored in the ontology. The study is evaluated on the accuracy rate of making the correct decision. It is also evaluated on if the decision-making algorithm performs significantly better than decisions chosen at random.


The yellow-bellied marmot spends approximately 80% of its life in a burrow. Burrows provide protection from the rigors of the environment, pred- ators and other marmots. They provide a hibernaculum in winter and may func- tion as a nursery in summer. Selection of a burrow site is therefore an important aspect in the biology of marmots. Measurements were made on direction of exposure, angle of slope, drainage, soil type, topographic features, and vegetation. Home burrows occur on open grassy or herb-covered slopes of an angle of 15 -40?, facing in a northeasterly or southwesterly direction, and containing rocks and boulders. The latter support the burrow and serve as sunning and observation sites. Five dissected home-burrows showed no marked differences in general configuration. The yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) is a semi-fos- sorial rodent which spends up to 80% of its life in a burrow. Marmots are seasonally active above ground from early spring to fall (Armitage 1965). During this time they exhibit a bimodal pattern of daily activ- ity which peaks during the morning and again in late afternoon. Marmots retire to the confines of the burrows during mid-day and at night. Subalpine populations of yellow-bellied marmots are character- ized by seasonal activity limited to about five months out of the year. The remainder of the year is spent in hibernation. Hibernation ac- counts for about 60% of the total underground existence of a marmot. In summer, if conditions of the present burrow are not suitable, a mar- mot can move or construct a new burrow. During winter, the marmot is hibernating and there is no way for it to control the environment in which it must survive. Hibernation burrows must be elected prior to onset of adverse environmental conditions and must provide the neces- sary requirements for survival. In summer the burrow also serves as a nursery, a haven from predators, and seclusion from interactions with other marmots. The quality of the burrow site is therefore a criti- cal aspect to be considered in the biology of the marmot. Marmot bur- row sites are usually located in open, herb-covered, talus slopes or grassy meadows in which rock outcrops and boulders are common


Nucleation-elongation is known to give satisfactory descriptions of many supramolecular polymerization systems in thermal equilibrium. Its key feature is the necessity to form a "nucleus" consisting of a certain number of monomer units before being able to grow into a longer polymer chain. The size of the nucleus has significant implications for the understanding of the supramolecular polymerization mechanism. Here we investigate how experiments can give information on the nucleus size by regression analysis of various types of measurements. The measurements of free monomer concentrations, diffusion coefficients, and calorimetric response as functions of concentration or temperature are considered. The nucleation-elongation model with a general value for the nucleus size is used to provide mathematical expressions for these experimental observables. Numerical experiments are performed where experimental errors are simulated by computer-generated random numbers, and it is investigated whether least-squares fitting analyses can give the correct values of the nucleus size in the presence of experimental errors. It is recommended that the calorimetric measurements such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) or isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) be performed under various conditions to correctly determine the nucleus size experimentally.


Novel colloidal chemical methods are employed to synthesize hcp-cobalt nanoparticles, including 12-nm particles that have coercivity at room temperature. The torque from an external field was used to partially align the particles crystallographically during self-assembly. The degree of alignment found from the remanence ratio is interpreted in terms of the Ne/spl acute/el relaxation time.


Background and aims. Studies have shown decreased bond strength of composite resin to human and bovine bleached enamel. This study evaluated the effect of sodium ascorbate and delayed bonding on the bond strength of two adhesive systems to bleached enamel. Materials and methods. The labial surfaces of 150 sound bovine incisor teeth were abraded with abrasive paper. The teeth were randomly divided into 8 groups: A: control; B: bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide; C: bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide + sodium ascorbate gel; and D: bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide + delayed bonding. In groups A‒D, silorane adhesive system and Filtek silorane composite resin were used. In groups E‒H, the same preparation methods of groups A-D were used. Two-step self-etch Clearfil SE Bond adhesive systems and AP-X composite resin were administered. Shear bond strength of each group was measured. Two samples were prepared for each surface preparation for ultra-structural evaluation. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey test were used for data analysis at P<0.05. Results. The interaction between the adhesive system type and surface preparation protocol was significant (P=0.014), withsignificant differences in shear bond strengths in terms of the adhesive systems (P<0.01). There were significant differences in shear bond strength in terms of surface preparation techniques irrespective of the adhesive system (P<0.01). Conclusion. The results showed that bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide decreased the shear bond strength values with both adhesive systems, and a one-week delay in bonding and 10% sodium ascorbate for10 minutes restored the bond strength in both adhesive systems.


Abstract: Background and aim Infertility is a major reproductive health problem that affect 10%-15% of couples. According to the World Health Organization, there are currently 50-80 million infertile couples in the world. Physical activity is a life style factor with possible positive or negative effects on reproductive. The aim of this study was to compare the physical activity of fertile and infertile couples in Kermanshah, Iran during 2013. Materials and Methods This was a descriptive comparative study. The case group consisted of 118 infertile couples attending Motazedi Infertility Center. One hundred and eight fertile couple attending to six public health centers in Kermanshah, Iran, were the controls. The sampling method was convenience sampling. Data were collected by a questionnaire. The questionnaire was consisted of two section. The first section was demographic and fertility characteristics and the second section was international physical activity questionnaire. The data is presented by descriptive statistics and analyzed with logistic regression, independent t-test, chi-square, and gamma tests using SPSS v16. Results The result of this study showed that the majority of fertile women(86.1%), infertile women(73.1%), fertile men(87%) and infertile men(96.3%) had moderate level of physical activity. There was a significant difference between fertile and infertile men and women in terms of physical activity. The fertile and infertile couples, also, have significant difference in physical activity(P<0/05). Conclusions Given the importance of physical activity on reproductive health and significant difference of physical activity between fertile and infertile couples in this study, it seems that more attention should be paid to lifestyle behaviors, especially in infertile couples. Keywords Life Style; Physical Activity; Fertility, Iran


Women faced prosecution as common scolds for their unruly speech in US jurisdictions until 1972, with Pennsylvania playing an outsized role in this history. Pennsylvania's treatment of common scolds reveals how the interplay of the law and the press perpetuated a construct of women's speech as gossipy, quarrelsome and disruptive of social order. Prosecutions occurred so frequently and continued for so long in Pennsylvania because of English common law's grip on the state's jurisprudence, reinforced by popular culture representations that stigmatised women's speech. Common law furnished formal legal precedents, while the press, driven by its own imperatives, readily propagated, amplified and validated the law's characterisation of scolds. Reports about scold cases, which fit easily into journalistic and cultural frames, often appeared as humorous vignettes that served as illustrations – if not warnings – about women's transgressive speech. Judges wondering about the continued legitimacy of this gender‐specific offense could take comfort from stories about prosecutions of scolds across the state and around the nation. The ordinariness of common scold cases also sheds light on community rules that regulated women's everyday speech – evidence about a fleeting activity nearly invisible to scholars before the digitisation of newspapers and obscure legal texts.


Background:HIV testing and counseling (HTC) is essential for successful HIV prevention and treatment programs. The national target for HTC is 80% of the adult population in Kenya. Population-based data to measure progress towards this HTC target are needed to assess the country's changing needs for HIV prevention and treatment. Methods:In 2012-2013, we conducted a national HIV survey among Kenyans aged 18 months to 64 years. Respondents aged 15–64 years were administered a questionnaire that collected information on demographics, HIV testing behavior, and self-reported HIV status. Blood samples were collected for HIV testing in a central laboratory. Participants were offered home-based testing and counseling to learn their HIV status in the home and point-of-care CD4 testing if they tested HIV-positive. Results:Of 13,720 adults who were interviewed, 71.6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 70.2 to 73.1] had been tested for HIV. Among those, 56.1% (95% CI: 52.8 to 59.4) had been tested in the past year, 69.4% (95% CI: 68.0 to 70.8) had been tested more than once, and 37.2% (95% CI: 35.7 to 38.8) had been tested with a partner. Fifty-three percent (95% CI: 47.6 to 58.7) of HIV-infected persons were unaware of their infection. Overall 9874 (72.0%) of participants accepted home-based HIV testing and counseling; 4.1% (95% CI: 3.3 to 4.9) tested HIV-positive, and of those, 42.5% (95% CI 31.4 to 53.6) were in need of immediate treatment for their HIV infection but not receiving it. Conclusions:HIV testing rates have nearly reached the national target for HTC in Kenya. However, knowledge of HIV status among HIV-infected persons remains low. HTC needs to be expanded to reach more men and couples, and strategies are needed to increase repeat testing for persons at risk for HIV infection.


New words are typically encountered in complex environments rife with possible meanings. Recent evidence suggests that cross-situational observation, or tracking which potential referents consistently co-occur with each word, could help learners identify a word's true referent (Scott & Fisher, 2012; Yu & Smith, 2007). Considerable questions remain about the mechanism by which this occurs and the how this information interacts with other word-learning information sources. Here, I present a series of projects that explored three such questions. Project 1 sought to determine whether learners encode more than one potential referent across occurrences of a given word. Participants' mouse trajectories were slower, less accurate, and more complex when they had to choose between the target referent and a competitor that repeatedly occurred with the word. This suggests that participants were aware that both the target and competitor had occurred with the word. This finding indicates that learners can retain multiple potential referents for a word and mouse tracking provides a promising way of assessing this knowledge. However, this knowledge was not evident in participants' finger movements, suggesting that finger tracking might not capture real-time competition between referents. Project 2 asked whether social information facilitates 2-year-olds' cross-situational verb learning. The results suggested that gaze may enable 25-month-olds to use cross-situational information when they would otherwise be unable to do so. However, children may only benefit when the novel verb and gaze information are both provided by a live speaker in a social interaction. Project 3 tested whether perceptual salience impacts children's cross-situational verb learning. The results suggested that 2.5-year-olds can use cross-situational information to identify low-salience referents for intransitive verbs, even when they co-occur with high-salience alternatives. However, this learning is easily masked by interest in more salient events.


 Abstract — This project utilizes principles derived from the Surrealist movement to prioritize creative and critical thinking in secondary English Language Arts (ELA). The implementation of Surrealist-style pedagogies within an ELA classroom will be rooted in critical, radical pedagogy, which addresses the injustices caused by economic-oriented educational systems. The use of critical pedagogy will enable the subversive artistic and political aims of Surrealism to be transmitted to a classroom context. Through aesthetic reading strategies, appreciative questioning and dialogue, students will actively critique the power dynamics which structure (and often restrict) their lives. Within the ELA domain, cost-effective approaches often replace the actual "arts" of ELA. This research will therefore explore how Surrealist-oriented pedagogies could restore imaginative freedom and deconstruct conceptual barriers (normative standards, curricular constraints, and status quo power relations) in secondary ELA. This research will also examine how Surrealism can be used as a political and pedagogical model to treat societal problems mirrored in ELA classrooms. The stakeholders are teachers, as they experience constant pressure within their practices. Similarly, students encounter rigorous, results-based pressures. These dynamics contribute to feelings of powerlessness, thus reinforcing a formulaic model of ELA. The ELA curriculum has potential to create laboratories for critical discussion and active movement towards social change. This proposed research strategy of Surrealist-oriented pedagogies could enable students to experiment with social issues and develop senses of agency and voice that reflect awareness of contemporary society while simultaneously building their ELA skills.


Using data collected in Arizona during the 2000 Presidential election, this study explores whether expectancy value (EV) models predicting attitudes toward candidates and toward voting for candidates can be improved by incorporating measures of issue importance. More specifically, attitudes toward candidates were predicted from beliefs about the candidates' stands on 8 issues, and attitudes toward voting for the candidates were predicted from beliefs that voting for a candidate would lead to the implementation of the 8 issue positions. Ratings of the importance of the 8 issues were used to develop several different EV models. The results of our study indicate that importance ratings do not add much to the EV model's prediction of attitudes.


We discuss a method for determining the optimally localized set of generalized Wannier functions associated with a set of Bloch bands in a crystalline solid. By ''generalized Wannier functions'' we mean a set of localized orthonormal orbitals spanning the same space as the specified set of Bloch bands. Although we minimize a functional that represents the total spread Sigma(n)(r(2))(n) - (r)(n)(2) of the Wannier functions in real space, our method proceeds directly from the Bloch functions as represented on a mesh of k points, and carries out the minimization in a space of unitary matrices U-mn((k)) describing the rotation among the Bloch bands at each k point. The method is thus suitable for use in connection with conventional electronic-structure codes. The procedure also returns the total electric polarization as well as the location of each Wannier center. Sample results for Si, GaAs, molecular C2H4, and LiCl will be presented.


Axially nonsymmetric W-type optical fibers are proposed as broadband phase devices for optical-fiber systems to provide the Fresnel's rhomb retarder in classical optical systems. Propagation characteristics of the W-type eccentric-core optical fibers are investigated theoretically using the boundary-integral method. The results of the numerical analysis indicate that such broadband phase devices can be realized by using the wavelength-dependent birefringence of axially nonsymmetric W-type optical fibers. It is theoretically found in the case of eccentric cores that a relative bandwidth of 18.2% with a phase retardation error of 2% is realizable without the propagation of higher-order mode waves. >


Summary

1
Resprouting is a primary persistence mechanism in fire- and drought-prone ecosystems. Plants with this mechanism (resprouters) tend to exhibit deeper root-system and higher stem and leaf water potential. We test the extent to which non-resprouters counteract their lower root allocation by means of leaf traits that confer higher drought resistance.

2
Leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), area-based leaf nitrogen content (LNCa) and integrated water-use efficiency (δ13C) were measured for 33 woody species in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Phylogeny and biogeographical history (Tertiary vs Quaternary) were considered in all comparisons.

3
Non-resprouters showed higher LMA, LNCa and δ13C when considering either all species, or Quaternary species only. Tertiary and Quaternary resprouters differed exclusively in δ13C, which was higher for Tertiary species.

4
These results suggest that, at leaf level, non-resprouters have higher potential for structural resistance to drought and higher water-use efficiency than resprouters. We propose that the existence of a physiological trade-off at leaf level between drought resistance and carbon gain should explain the leaf-trait values exhibited by resprouters.


: The problems of antibiotics use duration after operations on the colon are discussed in the article. The authors supposes the early antibiotics abolition inexpedient because of serious complications appearance possibility. Even during the noncomplicated postoperative course the optimal antibiotic therapy duration is 7-10 days long.


Wireless sensor networks equipped with rechargeable batteries are useful for outdoor environmental monitoring. However, the severe energy constraints of the sensor nodes present major challenges for long-term applications. To achieve sustainability, solar cells can be used to acquire energy from the environment. Unfortunately, the energy supplied by the harvesting system is generally intermittent and considerably influenced by the weather. To improve the energy efficiency and extend the lifetime of the networks, we propose algorithms for harvested energy prediction using environmental shadow detection. Thus, the sensor nodes can adjust their scheduling plans accordingly to best suit their energy production and residual battery levels. Furthermore, we introduce clustering and routing selection methods to optimize the data transmission, and a Bayesian network is used for warning notifications of bottlenecks along the path. The entire system is implemented on a real-time Texas Instruments CC2530 embedded platform, and the experimental results indicate that these mechanisms sustain the networks' activities in an uninterrupted and efficient manner.


In this work, a particle filter based integrated navigation system is designed and tested with real quadrotor systems. Conventionally, Kalman filter based algorithms is used for navigation systems which is highly non-linear. Kalman filter has significant assumptions such as linearity of system and measurement models and Gaussian distributions. This situation causes that Kalman filter does not work effective with navigation systems. Nowadays, particle filter based algorithms take over with respect to other estimation algorithms because of progression of computer's processors capability. Within the scope of this study, a particle filter based integrated navigation system is designed. This designed navigation system is tested on real quadrotor system. As a result of the real flight tests, the error margin is reduced a quarter according to the most trusted navigation aid.


Gut microbiota are critical for effective immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICT) for cancer. The mechanisms by which gut microbiota augment extraintestinal anti-cancer immune responses, however, are largely unknown. Here, we find that ICT induces translocation of specific endogenous gut microbiota into secondary lymphoid organs and subcutaneous melanoma tumors. Mechanistically, gut microbiota activated dendritic cells (DCs) traffic a selective subset of gut bacteria to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and promote optimal anti-tumor T-cell responses in both the tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLN) and the primary tumor. Antibiotic treatment resulted in decreased gut microbiota translocation into MLN and TDLN, diminished polyfunctional effector CD8+ T cell responses, and attenuated response to ICT. Our findings illuminate a key mechanism by which gut microbiota promote extraintestinal anti-cancer immunity. One sentence summary Following immune checkpoint blockade therapy, dendritic cells traffic gut microbiota into secondary lymphoid organs, promoting optimal extraintestinal anti-cancer immunity.


Stainless steel foams are produced via powder metallurgy process taking crushed urea as space holder contributing porosity with 40-60 volume %. The pores formed by taking crushed urea as space holder produces nearly circular voids & they shrink after sintering. With increase in porosity regularity starts diminishing in the stainless steel foam samples. The foam samples obtained taking crushed urea particles don't show any plateau region during compression test & are ductile in nature. The yield strength of the foam decreases with increase in porosity. Therefore the stainless steel foams manufactured using crushed urea particles can be used in light weight high strength applications e.g. structures.


The success of a university is not only seen from the role of Educators (Lecturers) but also the role of Education Personnel (TENDIK). Educational Personnel (TENDIK) includes Administrative Personnel in universities. Work performance is the main factor of the success of higher education performance. The results of good work given will have a good impact on universities. TENDIK who excels are also competent in higher education and contributes to the joint progress of both TENDIK and universities. Apart from lecturers, TENDIK is also an asset owned by universities. Rewards or awards given to TENDIK can be done by assessing the performance results of each TENDIK. The reward given to TENDIK is a form of appreciation for the performance carried out at the university. Giving rewards to TENDIK must be based on a proper and accurate performance assessment. The problem is that there is no definite reference used to evaluate the performance of TENDIK in giving rewards. The performance assessment carried out must be objective, of course, with an objective assessment the results obtained from the TENDIK performance assessment will not be a problem for other TENDIK. Decision Support System is a computer-based information system that is used to assist in decision making by utilizing certain data and models to support a solution in solving a semi-structured and non-structured problem. SMARTER is one of the methods in the Decision Support System that provides recommendations to decision makers based on relevant criteria, which in determining the criteria and sub-criteria and their weight values use ROC (Rank Order Centroid). Of the several criteria used for the selection process using the alternative SMARTER method with the name A4 with a final utility value of 64.25%


Objective: To identify the environmental services provided by home gardens in nine communities of La Chontalpa region in Tabasco, Mexico.
Design/methodology/approach: Having previously identified home gardens, a visit route to nine communities was drawn using cartographic and demographic information. Three home gardens per community were randomly selected. Interviews about the use of home gardens were conducted. Physical environmental factors were measured inside and outside the gardens and soil samples were taken to determine organic matter and carbon contents in the soil. According to their category, the environmental services provided by the home gardens in each community were identified and classified into four types: provisioning, supporting, cultural, and regulating services.
Results: Thirteen environmental services were identified as being provided by home gardens. Provisioning and cultural services are present in all localities. The most frequent category is the provision of food, followed by the provision of raw materials and education. Supporting and regulating services were observed in most communities —except for climate regulation, since the environmental conditions only allow gardens to provide the said service in four of the evaluated communities.
Limitations on study/implications: Knowledge about the benefits of building home gardens suggests that these agrosystems provide environmental services. Categorizing the environmental services provided by home gardens is therefore important.
Findings/conclusions: Home gardens in La Chontalpa, Tabasco, do not only provide provisioning services, but also cultural, supporting, and —to a lesser extent— regulating services.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic significance of multiple detector-row spiral CT(MSCT) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHOD
Sixty-seven patients with OSAHS and 40 volunteers were scanned. The CT imagings from the nasopharyngeal floor to the glottis obtained. The relevant dimensions of area, diameter, thickness of retropharyngeal tissue were measured in some regions in imagings including nasopharynx, oral pharynx and hypopharynx, as well as the narrowest region in pharynx.

RESULT
1) The values of area, left-right diameter and front-back diameter of oral pharyngeal imagings of patients with OSAHS were narrowest regions which were (133.5 +/- 32. 9) mm2, (12.5 +/- 2.0) mm, (10.4 +/- 1.8) mm respectively. The value of above parameters of oral pharyngeal imagings of volunteers were (238.5 +/- 46.5) mm2, (20.4 +/- 3.1) mm, (21.1 +/- 4.0) mm respectively. The values of two groups had marked difference by statistics (P< 0.01). 2) The narrowest regions were located in oral pharynx in the imagings of 58 patients with OSAHS, which located in soft palate site in 19 patients, in oral pharynx site in 11 patients and in retro-lingua site in 28 patients. The narrowest regions were located in nasopharynx in the imagings of 3 patients. None of the narrowest region was found in hypopharynx. The narrowest regions, which all located in oral pharynx, were measured in the imagings of 24 volunteers. 3) The values of area, left-right and front-back diameter of the narrowest regions of imaging of 58 patients with OSAHS among 67 patients were (75.6 +/- 17.9) mm2, (10.6 +/- 2.1) mm, (6.9 +/- 1.0) mm respectively. The values of bove parameter of the most narrowest regions of imagings of volunteer were (187.3 +/- 35.6) mm2, (21.4 +/- 4.3) mm, (15.6 +/- 2.7) mm respectively. There were significant difference in statistics among the data of these groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION
The imagings of MSCT may provide accurate diagnosis in OSAHS. Patients with OSAHS always had anatomically narrow in pharynx, especially in oral pharynx.


SUMMARY Re-emergence of Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat should be taken into account in the global management of cropped fields, especially with respect to fungicide application schemes, due to harmful toxin production. The aim of this study was to assess, in three experimental fields representative of the various topoclimatological zones of Luxembourg, the impact of timing of fungicide spray application on the prevalence and severity of FHB, the concentration of mycotoxins, and Fusarium strain pattern in winter wheat. It was found that fungicide treatments and the time of application had a significant impact on the amount of deoxynivalenol (DON) detected (P=0.027, ANOVA). In our experimental design, the application of fungicides at 3 different times increased the amount of DON in winter wheat compared to two and single applications. The importance of the timing of fungicide application is discussed in relation to limiting toxin contamination in the field.