This paper introduces a formal metalanguage called the lambda-q calculus for the specification of quantum programming languages. This metalanguage is an extension of the lambda calculus, which provides a formal setting for the specification of classical programming languages. As an intermediary step, we introduce a formal metalanguage called the lambda-p calculus for the specification of programming languages that allow true random number generation. We demonstrate how selected randomized algorithms can be programmed directly in the lambda-p calculus. We also demonstrate how satisfiability can be solved in the lambda-q calculus.


We analyzed perpendicularly configured dual-frequency (DF) capacitively coupled plasmas (CCP). In this configuration, two pairs of electrodes are arranged oppositely, and the discharging is perpendicularly driven by two radio frequency (RF) sources. Particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo (PIC/MC) simulation showed that the configuration had some advantages as this configuration eliminated some dual frequency coupling effects. Some variation and potential application of the discharging configuration is discussed briefly.


In order to study processes and phenomena, it is necessary to create their models. The most interesting and valuable for the analysis of current situations are models that describe processes as if they were happening in reality. These are the so-called simulation models. The scope of application of simulation models is extensive. The most in demand are economic, sociological and biological simulation models. The relevance of simulation is obvious, and it is natural that the theme of simulation is present in the content of the school informatics course. The article provides guidelines for studying the basics of modeling in a school informatics course related to the creation and research of discrete-event and agent-based simulation models. Examples of tasks recommended for consideration in the 9–11th grades at informatics lessons or in extracurricular activities are given, these are task based on the information-cybernetic approach, implemented in the PascalABC environment, and the task using a cellular automaton, implemented in the Cellular environment.


In recent years, academic circles have been making new interpretations of Du Mu's famous poem "Tomb-Sweeping Day". The author researches one of the most representative opinions, and delineates the developing history of this poem from the angle of folklore, language, literature, etc. It is helpful for understanding this masterpiece accurately in ancient Chinese literature.


Background:This study aimed to evaluate the value of radiomic nomogram in predicting lymph node metastasis in T1-2 gastric cancer according to the No. 3 station lymph nodes.Methods:A total of 159 T1-2 gastric cancer (GC) patients who had undergone surgery with lymphadenectomy between March 2012 and November 2017 were retrospectively collected and divided into a primary cohort (n = 80) and a validation cohort (n = 79). Radiomic features were extracted from both tumor region and No. 3 station lymph nodes (LN) based on computed tomography (CT) images per patient. Then, key features were selected using minimum redundancy maximum relevance algorithm and fed into two radiomic signatures, respectively. Meanwhile, the predictive performance of clinical risk factors was studied. Finally, a nomogram was built by merging radiomic signatures and clinical risk factors and evaluated by the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) as well as decision curve.Results: Two radiomic signatures, reflecting phenotypes of the tumor and LN respectively, were significantly associated with LN metastasis. A nomogram incorporating two radiomic signatures and CT-reported LN metastasis status showed good discrimination of LN metastasis in both the primary cohort (AUC: 0.915; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.832-0.998) and validation cohort (AUC: 0.908; 95%CI: 0.814-1.000). The decision curve also indicated its potential clinical usefulness.Conclusions:The nomogram received favorable predictive accuracy in predicting No.3 station LN metastasis in T1-2 GC, and could assist the choice of therapy.


Feature extraction methods based on the discrete wavelet transform and multiresolution analysis facilitate the development of a robust classification algorithm that reliably discriminates between launch and impact mortar events via acoustic signals produced during these events. Distinct characteristics arise within the different explosive events because impact events emphasize concussive and shrapnel effects, while launch events result from explosion that expel and propel a mortar round from a gun. The ensuing blast waves are readily characterized by variations in the corresponding peak pressure and rise time of the waveform, differences in the ratio of positive pressure amplitude to the negative amplitude, variations in the prominent frequencies associated with the varying blast events and variations in the overall duration of the resulting waveform. Unique attributes can also be identified that depend upon the properties of the gun tube, projectile speed at the muzzle, and the explosive/concussive properties associated with the events. In this work, the discrete wavelet transform is used to extract the predominant components of these characteristics from the acoustic signatures of the event at ranges of 1km. Highly reliable discrimination is achieved with a feedforward neural network classifier trained on a feature space derived from the distribution of wavelet coefficients and higher frequency details found within different levels of the multiresolution decomposition. We show that the algorithms provide a reliable discrimination (>84%) between launch and impact events using data collecting during several separate field test experiments.


Background: Seviteronel (Sevi), a CYP17-lyase (L) inhibitor (reduces testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) biosynthesis) and a competitive AR antagonist, has activity in castration resistant prostate cancer at a dose of 600mg nightly. Sevi potently inhibits the growth of ER(+)/AR(+) MCF7, tamoxifen-resistant (TAMR) MCF7, and ER(-)/AR(+) MDA-MB-453 cells. In a TAMR xenograft BC model, Sevi decreases tumor growth greater than enzalutamide (Enza), an AR antagonist (Ellison et al, SABCS 2015). Nearly all subtypes of BC, including AR(+) TNBC, are potential targets for Sevi based on its mechanism of action (MOA). Phase (Ph) 1 of this study established the recommended Ph 2 dose (RP2D) of Sevi in women with BC as 450mg once nightly, based upon preliminary tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) (Bardia et al, ASCO 2016). The primary objective of Ph 2 is to estimate the activity of Sevi, as measured by clinical benefit rate (CBR) at 16 and 24 weeks (wks) for AR(+) TNBC and ER(+) BC, respectively. The secondary objectives include an estimation of Sevi tolerability and pharmacodynamics (PD) (NCT02580448). Methods: Women with advanced AR(+) TNBC (stratified by prior Enza use) or ER(+) BC were enrolled using 3 parallel Simon9s 2-stage designs powered to evaluate CBR. ER(+) BC patients must have had ≥1 prior line of endocrine therapy; no limit to prior treatment for TNBC. AR(+) status was confirmed using central IHC analysis in all patients, with a ≥10% tumor cell nuclear staining cutoff for evaluable TNBC patients. Sevi was administered once nightly with dinner at 450mg (28d cycle). Tumor and blood samples were collected for PK and PD analysis (circulating tumor cells, ctDNA, sex steroids). Response was assessed every 8 wks for 52 wks, then every 12 wks thereafter. Current tolerability and PD results are presented herein for this ongoing Ph 2 study. Results: As of June 7, 2016, 17 patients received Sevi at 450mg nightly between Ph1 and Ph2 with 10 in screening. 14 patients are currently on study in Cycles 1-6. The most common adverse events (AEs > 10% regardless of causality or grade) were tremor (24%), pain (18%), fatigue (18%) and dyspnea (18%), nausea (12%), AST increase (12%), ALT increase (12%) and abdominal pain (12%), all of which were Grade 1 or 2 except for Grade 3 dyspnea (n=1; unrelated). No dose reductions were reported and there were no drug-related discontinuations. Nine patients underwent central AR testing (4 AR(+) of 6 TNBC; 3 AR(+) of 3 ER(+) BC). Median AR tumor cell nuclear staining was 90% (15-100%). Preliminary sex steroid analyses from 6 Ph 1 patients receiving Sevi at 450, 600, or 750mg nightly (n=2 at each dose) for 1 cycle showed a median decline in E2 concentration of 52% (-29 to -87%) to 12.4pmol/L (4 to 33pmol/L) from baseline. There was a similar magnitude of decline for T. Conclusions: Sevi was well-tolerated at 450mg nightly with exposures similar to the RP2D in men (600mg nightly). The CYP17-L inhibition activity of Sevi was demonstrated with an early and potent reduction in E2 and T. Sevi9s unique CYP17-L and AR antagonist MOA may provide a new novel treatment option for AR(+) TNBC or ER(+) BC. Citation Format: Gucalp A, Bardia A, Gabrail N, DaCosta N, Danso M, Elias AD, Ali H, Lemon SJ, Riley EC, Eisner JR, Fleming RA, Kurman MR, Moore WR, Traina TA. Phase 1/2 study of oral seviteronel (VT-464), a dual CYP17-lyase inhibitor and androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, in patients with advanced AR positive triple negative (TNBC) or estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer (BC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-04.


Background: Pigmentary disorders are a common skin affliction causing great distress and anguish among those affected. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic modality which has great potential in the diagnosis of these disorders. Objectives: To assess the dermoscopic features relevant to the diagnosis of pigmentary dermatoses in patients presenting to our tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in patients presenting to pigmentary dermatoses clinic of our hospital over a period of 1 year. A comprehensive evaluation with special emphasis on dermoscopy was performed in all patients. The dermoscope used was DL3N Dermlite (10X). Additional investigations were carried out as deemed necessary to clinch a final diagnosis. Results: The study included a total of 200 cases with 90 males and 110 females, with age ranging from 6 months to 69 years and a mean age of 24.43 ± 17.07 years. The pigmentary dermatoses encountered were divided into three groups − disorders of hypopigmentation, facial melanoses, and other pigmentary disorders. Dermoscopic findings most relevant to diagnosis were compiled and tabulated. Conclusion: Dermoscopy played a significant role to rule out ominous diagnosis with accuracy comparable to histopathology, when carried out by an expert. The need for an invasive procedure such as skin biopsy was evaded in a number of cases.


Congenital absence of left circumflex artery is a rare congenital anomaly of the coronary arteries. The prevalence of the anomaly in different studies ranges from 0.6% to 1.3%. Of these, 80% are benign and asymptomatic and 20% are clinically important. We report a 56-year-old man presented with acute resting chest pain who was diagnosed as having acute anterolateral infarction accompanied by electrocardio graphic changes and elevated cardiac enzymes. Coronary angiography in different views was conducted, however, no left circumflex artery was found. The territory supplied by the artery had been perfused by the super dominant right coronary artery. There was no left circumflex coronary artery with anomalous origin. Sever stenosis of left anterior ascending artery superimposed to the absent left circumflex artery was presented as acute anterolateral infarction. Although absence of the artery is mostly considered as a benign condition, atherosclerotic lesions may be more important in such cases because of diminished compensating mechanisms. Iran J Med Sci 2009; 34(3): 217-219.


OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to examine substrate utilization and hormonal responses to moderate intensity exercise in the same group of women across gestation.

STUDY DESIGN
Glucose, triglyceride, insulin, glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone, and blood urea nitrogen levels were measured in 12 women at rest and after exercise. Heart rate, oxygen uptake, and respiratory exchange ratio were measured at rest and during exercise. Urine urea nitrogen levels, urine volume, and creatinine levels were measured 24 hours before and after exercise. Each woman completed a 30-minute treadmill walk at 65% of her predicted maximal heart rate at the same time of day during the 22nd and 33rd weeks of gestation and at 14 weeks after delivery.

RESULTS
There were no significant differences between exercise trials in oxygen uptake, respiratory exchange ratio, or heart rate. Pregnancy elevated resting triglyceride levels but lowered plasma glucose levels. Exercise during pregnancy caused a reduction in plasma glucose levels but elevated circulating triglyceride levels (P <.05). Resting levels of cortisol, growth hormone, and insulin were elevated during pregnancy compared with after delivery, but resting glucagon levels were not affected by pregnancy. Exercise caused circulating levels of cortisol, growth hormone, and glucagon to increase (P <.05). The exercise-induced change in the cortisol level was greater during pregnancy than that after delivery. The exercise-induced changes in growth hormone and glucagon levels were greatest after delivery compared with those during pregnancy (P <.05). Exercise reduced insulin levels (P <.05), with the greatest reduction at 33 weeks' gestation. There were no significant differences in urine urea nitrogen excretion as a result of exercise.

CONCLUSIONS
Certain substrate and hormonal responses to exercise are altered as pregnancy progresses. Quantitatively, protein appears to be a relatively unimportant fuel during a 30-minute bout of moderate intensity exercise in this group of women evaluated during pregnancy and after delivery. Furthermore, a 30-minute bout of moderate intensity exercise would not be expected to compromise fetal amino acid availability.


While the celebration of community in conservation provides legitimization to contest centrist and coercive protected area management strategies, representations of community in resource management writings and in particular strategies such as ecotourism, are often based on simplistic images and generic models that ignore politics. Based on research in a community-based rural ecotourism project in Gales Point Manatee, Belize, from 1992-1998, the paper provides concrete examples of how the politics of class, gender, and patronage inequities limit the co-management of ecotourism associations, equitable distribution of ecotourism income, and support for conservation regulations across the community. Attention to multiple interests and identities within the rural community and their relationships to external actors, political institutions, and national policies are critical to understanding the challenges facing community-based conservation in Belize and demonstrated the relevance of such attention elsewhere.


The design of stochastic LQG optimal tracking and regulating systems is considered for discrete-time systems with different time delays in different signal channels. A Wiener frequency domain solution for the closed-loop optimal controller is first obtained in the z-domain. This solution is physically realisable but involves the transport-delay operator. A state-space version of the controller is then derived from the frequency domain results. It is shown that the state equation based controller includes a Kalman predictor and state-estimate feedback. This confirms that a form of the separation principle holds for linear systems containing different transport delays on input and output signal channels. The Wiener solution applies to multivariable systems that may be unstable, nonminimum phase and nonsquare. The process and measuring system noise terms may be correlated and be coloured or white. It is shown that for certain classes of system the optimal controller can be implemented using a combination of finite dimensional and pure transport delay elements. The main advantage is that the estimator is of much lower order than the traditional solution. The gain computation involves a reduced state equal to that of the delay free system and is thereby independent of the length of the delay. The state-space form of the optimal controller may be implemented using either a finite impulse-response block, or alternatively in a Smith predictor form. In this latter case it has the same limitation, namely the plant must be open-loop stable. This restriction does not apply to either the Wiener or finite impulse response state space solutions.


Investigations regarding means to achieve savings in primary energy use and to decrease anthropogenic CO2 emissions have shown that improved energy efficiency has potential to offer a significant contribution to this cause. Considering energy networks and systems, improvements can be achieved by optimizing the structure of the energy chains and distribution networks. For instance, in the case of district heating, it is possible to find an optimal choice of energy supply and design of piping networks to provide the energy required by the customers. Additionally, heat storages and local small-scale energy contributions from e.g. heat pumps could provide benefits and should be taken into consideration. The complexity of the optimization problem increases when the choices of technologies and capacities as well as the network topologies need to be considered. Furthermore, a level of intricacy is added by the large differences in energy demand and temperature conditions between day and night and different seasons. A mixed-integer linear programming model for optimizing distributed energy systems, which takes into account the above mentioned aspects, is being developed and is presented herein. The model is tested with a case study concerning district heating in a locality in southern Finland.


The reduction of [(dpp-bian)BBr] (1, dpp-bian = 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene) with dilithium naphthalenide in Et2O gives [{(dpp-bian)BBr}Li2(Et2O)2]2 (3). The treatment of [(dpp-bian)BONa] (5) and [(dpp-bian)Ge:] (7) with sodium is accompanied by protonation of the acenaphthylene fragment and affords [{(H-dpp-bian)BONa(dme)2}Na(dme)3] (6) and [(H-dpp-bian)Ge:][Na(dme)3] (8), respectively. Compounds 3, 6 and 8 have been characterized by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of 3, [(dpp-bian)BOK] (4) and 8 have been established by single crystal X-ray analysis.


In the frame of a comprehensive quality system, the level of quality to be attained (analytical goals or quality specifications) need to be defined. Among the several approaches used for such a definition, that based on the (intra-individual) biological variation seems to be scientifically sound, and the most universally applicable. Data on biological variation are easily generated by applying specific experimental protocols. Once the biological variation is known, it can be combined to the analytical variation for the calculation of the critical difference. This is the difference between two repeated measurements in the same patient, due to the effect of both analytical and biological variation: when this difference is exceeded, a significant change in the patient's condition can be assumed. Some examples of calculation of the analytical goals and of the critical differences are shown, based on some quantities usually measured in the haematological laboratory.


Metabolic functions are one of the principal determinants of energy expenditure and are exquisitely susceptible to the effects of circulating hormones and chemical changes. Consequently, clinical experiments based on energy expenditure and metabolic functions were considered to be valid approaches to the present research. Significant abnormalities were found in the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of basal ganglia in CFS patients. Automatic cardiovascular responses to exercise are also impaired in a subset of CFS patients. Finally, plasma membrane injury appears to be a possible explanation for a range of observations made in this research. Subjective fatigue is a complex symptom. It is the outcome of a variable combination of physiological and neuropsychological changes induced by the primary disease process. Downstream links between brain, neuromuscular and the cardiorespiratory functions are implicated in the neural control of force output during exercises in health and disease. Higher perceived fatigue in CFS is probably caused by the central mechanisms while the sensory input to these neural regulatory mechanisms may limit endurance to maximal and submaximal exercises. Based on these findings and more indirect evidence from other studies, changes in cell membrane properties affecting neuronal signalling in the basal ganglia seem to emerge as one of the likely pathophysiological mechanisms in CFS. There is also evidence of an imbalance of the central autonomic tone in a subset of CFS patients. Surely, research in CFS has the potential to unravel the biology of central fatigue and may bridge the gap that exists between the borderland of neurology and psychiatry.


Introduction and aim: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) cause health problems in all tissues contain type-1 collagen. The patient is complaining from easily fragile bones due to loss endochondrial normal ossification. Different treatment techniques are in use. Telescopic nails gain wide acceptance to treat OI since its introduction. However, it newly introduced in our institution. The aim of this work was to assess the results of surgical intervention of osteogenesis imperfecta with corkscrew tipped telescopic nail.
Methodology: This prospective case series included 10 cases of OI, and treated surgically with corkscrew tipped telescopic nail and followed up for six months. The study completed during the period from January to August 2020. It was ethically accepted and an informed consent signed by the patient or his/her guardians. Each included patient was subjected to full history, physical examination and laboratory examinations. In addition, an X-ray had been performed. The orthopedic repair was performed and every patient had a cast after surgery. The collected data included operative time; duration of hospital stay. Postoperatively, patient ambulation was encouraged.
Results: Patients were 7 males (70.0%) and 3 females (30.0%). Their age ranged between 3 and 10 years.  The operation was for tibia in 40% and femur in 100%. The postoperative complications were infection in 10%, and migration of the nail in 10%. No malunion or fracture after nailing was reported.
Conclusion: Telescopic nailing is an effective and relatively safe technique in the management of osteogenesis imperfecta.


Extended regular expressions with counting and interleaving are widely used in practice. However the related theoretical studies for this kind of expressions currently cannot meet the need of practical work. This paper develops syntax definitions for extended deterministic expressions and their subclasses, hope to completely solve the long-standing problem that there are no syntax definitions for this kind of expressions, which has become an important reason for restricting the use of extended expressions.


Ivanov, B. and Bachev, H. (2021). Convergent analysis of waste water practices among EU countries. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 27 (2), 289–296 The purpose of this article is to study the degree of convergence in the production and the disposal of sewage sludge, as well as to focus on the sludge disposal in agriculture among selected EU countries and to compare trends and the position that Bulgaria ranks in this aspects.The wastewater in sewage system is a crucial issue for EU and Bulgaria for many years and it strengthens the importance in the context of sustainable development, bioeconomy and mitigating the climate changes. Due to complex and unequivocal properties of sludge, the disposal and utilization is subject to restrictions and special regulation governance. The applied method for measuring the convergence stands on the classical way of Beta and Sigma convergence but instead of using correlation, standard deviation and variation, it uses the proportions between countries and the subtractions between them in a particular year based on previous one. Bulgaria manages to achieve a significant progress in the period 2007-2018 compared to selected EU countries in the covered three indicators – production of sludge, disposal and application to agriculture. It means the convergence is notable and for the period, Bulgaria closes the gap in sludge utilization with selected countries, while the application in agriculture is the indicator, where the progress in convergence is most tangible and it is the most used sludge utilization alternative.


A parallel multi-channel partially coherent light interferometer has been built and optimized for 3D surface measurements of artworks at a depth resolution of one micrometer. The technique is based on the well known low coherence interferometry (LCI) principle and it is largely described in literature. Usually it uses a single point measure plus a bi-dimensional scanning system to acquire data from an area. Our instrument is equipped with a bi-dimensional image sensor (CMOS) instead of a one-dimensional photodetector and is able to directly acquire images, i.e. matrices of points, and make 3D measures with a single scanning along the depth direction, avoiding the use of any lateral scanning system. The data from the CMOS are read-out and the frames are sent to the PC via a USB2 connection. In order to perform the measure as fast as possible, data processing is performed in parallel with data acquisition, exploiting multi-thread capabilities of the C++ code. Despite the great data flow, the processing time is limited mainly by the USB2 transferring rate and data are acquired, in this framework, in real-time. We present results on a terracotta artwork under restoration revealing quantitatively the 3D structure of the surface, i.e. volumetric and topographic results. With this contact-less approach, and thanks to the IR radiation used as light source, it is moreover possible to achieve tomographic results, visualizing and actually measuring, the layered structure of a terracotta sculpture.


Background: The acute care settings have the potential to facilitate robust epidemiological and public health research necessary for evidence-based system. The methods in emergency research are well suited for mixed methods research. Despite the use of quantitative and qualitative data in emergency settings, mixed methods studies in this field are limited to help researchers to address health care issues. Therefore, we aim to assess the prospects and implications of mixed methods approach in acute care settings.
Materials and Methods: We have reviewed the published English literature using the research databases (PubMed, Medline, CINHAL and Google Scholar) related to the implications of mixed methods in emergency research, in order to understand and broaden the scope of patient care in time critical conditions.
Results: Basically, there are four mixed method approaches which integrate qualitative and quantitative methods (such as Triangulation, Embedded, Explanatory and Exploratory design) which can be selected depending upon the research question. In a single study, appropriate selection of mixed method approach enables quality research which involves understanding of the different aspects of human interaction and paradigms to characterize complex healthcare systems from societal standpoint. So, the combination approach may answer key issues in emergency settings which enriches and enhances the healthcare practice that may influence patient outcomes. Notably, emergency research has wider range of parameters which not only benefit the patients but also help in overcoming system-related clinical challenges. Of note, the ethical conduct of study is crucial in a complex emergency situation which remains challenging for recruitment and obtaining informed consent from subject or their nest of kin. Another impediment is the lack of trained emergency researcher to support the research activities and data collection in the emergent settings.
Conclusion: Application of mixed approach is of great importance in emergency medicine to enhance our understanding of critical care research that may add valuable insight on various aspects of human behavior. Therefore, appropriate planning and integration of study design may help researchers to explore newer avenues to improve patients care in emergency settings.


Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main causative agent in cervical cancers. Recurrent cervical cancer is refractory to currently available treatments. Clearly there is an urgent unmet need to investigate new therapeutic strategies for both the newly diagnosed and recurrent patient populations. We have previously shown that the presence of HPV oncogenes sensitizes cells to inhibition of aurora kinases (AURKs), which induces mitotic delay eventually leading to apoptotic cell death. In this study, we explored whether a dual approach of combining an AURK inhibitor, MLN8237 (Alisertib), with a range of Bcl-2 family anti-apoptotic protein inhibitors would accelerate cancer cell killing. Enhanced and rapid cervical cancer cell killing was observed when Alisertib was combined with inhibitors of either Bcl-2 (Venetoclax), Bcl-XL (A1331852) or Mcl-1 (A1210477) proteins, likely by accelerating apoptosis during mitotic delay due to the loss of functional Bcl-2, Mcl-1, or Bcl-XL. This study presents a promising approach to treating aggressive cervical cancers and may apply to other HPV-related cancers.


With the advancement of biology and computer science, amount of bioinformatics data has grown at a rapid rate. Due to this increasing demand for performance and testing of new algorithms, bioinformaticians are required to maintain efficient technological infrastructures. Hence, adoption of such novel technologies is necessary to cater the increasing demand of the industry. Furthermore, it is imperative to increase the productivity of the existing systems and at the same time execute large jobs associated with the domain. Various scheduling techniques ranging from classic First Come First Serve to the latest cloud technologies such as MapReduce can be used to execute these jobs in parallel. The work presented in this paper demonstrates an optimized platform to support the execution of various bioinformatics computations that deal with massively large datasets. This platform comprises of a MapReduce model that adopt multilevel feedback queue algorithm in scheduling such large-scale, time-consuming jobs parallel in a multicore processor. A broad comparison of existing common scheduling algorithms is conducted, to identify the most suitable scheduling algorithm. The paper also presents the performance evaluation results of the proposed solution with a range of biological sequences and algorithms as inputs. The time efficiency of the proposed solution has a x18 improvement over general First Come First Serve algorithm, for processing 1000 sequences while it gives 10x improvement at 10000 sequences, dropping again to 3x at 50000. Multilevel sequence alignment tools that are not optimized for GPU parallelism are benefited mostly from our solution.


5 Modelling dynamic pose deformations of human subjects is an important topic in many research applications. Existing approaches of human pose deformations can be classified as volume-based, skeletal animation and example-based methods. These approaches have both strengths and limitations. However, for models in customized shapes, it is very challenging to deform these models into different poses rapidly and realistically. We propose a conceptual model to realize rapid and realistic pose deformation to customized human models by the 10 integration of skeletal-driven rigid deformation and example-learnt non-rigid surface deformation. Based on this framework, a method for rapid automatic pose deformation is developed to deform human models of various body shapes into a series of dynamic poses. A series of algorithms are proposed to complete the pose deformation automatically and efficiently, including automatic segmentation of body parts and skeleton embedding, skeletaldriven rigid deformation, training of non-rigid deformation from pose dataset; shape mapping of non-rigid 15 deformation, and integration of rigid and non-rigid deformations. Experiment has shown that the proposed method can customize accurate human models based on two orthogonal-view photos and also efficiently generate realistic pose deformations for the customized models.


This article explores trust in children's relationships with professionals in the context of safeguarding concerns. With exception, existing research with children about trust in professionals often fails to unpick trust. Using sociological conceptualisations of trust, most often considered in relation to adults, this article unravels this complex concept. It arrives at a conception of trust as socially situated, an attribute of relationships, and a combination of interpretation (knowledge and experience) and faith. This conceptualization of trust is examined in the context of interview accounts from children that were aged 8–10 in an English primary school. Interviews invited their perspectives on three fictional vignettes about peer conflict, domestic abuse, and child sexual abuse. My analysis, although small-scale, argues that focusing on the process of trust in children's professional relationships and the social, cultural, political, and relational contexts that shape this process, is a lucrative way to gain enhanced understandings of how trust is generated and what facilitates and undermines trust. It sheds light on children's interpretations of existing relationships and imagined interactions with professionals, revealing the knowledge that they hold and what they do not yet, or cannot know, and how this knowledge (or lack of) influences their trust. This analysis is socially situated attending to children's biographies, which offers insights that provide good grounds for improving children's relationships with professionals.


An unconditionally stable finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method in a cylindrical coordinate system is presented in this paper. The alternating-direction-implicit (ADI) method is applied, leading to a cylindrical ADI-FDTD scheme where the time step is no longer restricted by the stability condition, but by the modeling accuracy. In contrast to the conventional ADI method, in which the alternation is applied in each coordinate direction, the ADI scheme here performs alternations in mixed coordinates so that only two alternations in solution matching are required at each time step in the three-dimensional formulation. Different from its counterpart in the Cartesian coordinate system, the cylindrical ADI-FDTD includes an additional special treatment along the vertical axis of the cylindrical coordinates to overcome singularity. A theoretical proof of the unconditional stability is shown and numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the cylindrical algorithm in solving electromagnetic-field problems.


The discovery of the Mothers against dpp (Mad) gene in Drosophila has opened a window on an entirely unique signalling pathway that functions to mediate responses to the tumour growth factor beta (TGF beta) superfamily. This pathway, which is comprised of a family of proteins related to Mad, acts to convey signals directly from TGF beta receptors to the nucleus and is implicated in the pathogenesis of human diseases.


The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of the UEBE visomat comfort eco blood pressure measuring device tested according to the requirements of the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension. The device evaluation was performed in 33 participants with a mean±SD age of 54.3±18.7 years (range 30–91 years). Their systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 144.0±23.7 mmHg (range 100–180 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 86.2±14.4 mmHg (range 60–110 mmHg), and upper arm circumference was 29.4±2.8 cm (range 24.0–34.0 cm). Blood pressure measurements were performed in the sitting position. The visomat comfort eco passed all three phases of the European Society of Hypertension protocol for SBP and DBP. Mean blood pressure differences for the visomat comfort eco (device–observer) were −0.5±5.7 mmHg for SBP and −1.4±5.3 mmHg for DBP. In conclusion, the present results show that the UEBE visomat comfort eco monitor can be recommended for clinical use in the adult population.


Although Smad3 is a key mediator for fibrosis, its functional role and mechanisms in hypertensive nephropathy remain largely unclear. This was examined in the present study in a mouse model of hypertension induced in Smad3 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice by subcutaneous angiotensin II infusion and in vitro in mesangial cells lacking Smad3. After angiotensin II infusion, both Smad3 KO and WT mice developed equally high levels of blood pressure. However, disruption of Smad3 prevented angiotensin II-induced kidney injury by lowering albuminuria and serum creatinine (P < 0.01), inhibiting renal fibrosis such as collagen type I and IV, fibronectin, and α-SMA expression (all P < 0.01), and blocking renal inflammation including macrophage and T cell infiltration and upregulation of IL-1β, TNF-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in vivo and in vitro (all P < 0.001). Further studies revealed that blockade of angiotensin II-induced renal transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression and inhibition of Smurf2-mediated degradation of renal Smad7 are mechanisms by which Smad3 KO mice were protected from angiotensin II-induced renal fibrosis and NF-κB-driven renal inflammation in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, Smad3 is a key mediator of hypertensive nephropathy. Smad3 promotes Smurf2-dependent ubiquitin degradation of renal Smad7, thereby enhancing angiotensin II-induced TGF-β/Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis and NF-κB-driven renal inflammation. Results from this study suggest that inhibition of Smad3 or overexpression of Smad7 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for hypertensive nephropathy.


Influenced by rapidly changing ideals of beauty, more and more people are turning to aesthetic surgery to meet current standards of beauty. In this situation physicians have to balance the patient's wishes by correctly interpreting his psychological condition and gaining his informed consent. In some situations, an operation can and must be denied. To improve transparency and quality the Medical Association North-Rhine (Arztekammer Nordrhein) established a public register of "aesthetic surgery" ("Plastisch-Operative Medizin"). Patients searching qualified aesthetic surgery can choose from a list of suitable specialists. Initial experience seems to confirm acceptance of this concept.


The problem of mining frequent itemsets in streaming data has attracted a lot of attention lately. Even though numerous frequent itemsets mining algorithms have been developed over the past decade, new solutions for handling stream data are still required due to the continuous, unbounded, and ordered sequence of data elements generated at a rapid rate in a data stream. The main challenge in data streams will be constrained by limited resources of time, memory, and sample size. Data mining has traditionally been performed over static datasets, where data mining algorithms can afford to read the input data several times. The goal of this article analysing the mining frequent itemsets in theoretical manner in the large windows. By comparing previous algorithms we propose new method using analytical modelling to determine the factors over data streams. Keywords— Data Mining, Data Streams Frequent Itemset Mining, Large Sliding Window.


Non-ionizing radiation is commonly used in the clinical setting, despite its known ability to trigger oxidative stress and apoptosis, which can lead to damage and cell death. Although induction of cell death is typically considered harmful, apoptosis can also be beneficial in the right context. For example, cell death can serve as the signal for new tissue growth, such as in apoptosis-induced proliferation. Recent data has shown that exposure to non-ionizing radiation (such as weak static magnetic fields, weak radiofrequency magnetic fields, and weak electromagnetic fields) is able to modulate proliferation, both in cell culture and in living organisms (for example during tissue regeneration). This occurs via in vivo changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are canonical activators of apoptosis. This review will describe the literature that highlights the tantalizing possibility that non-ionizing radiation could be used to manipulate apoptosis-induced proliferation to either promote growth (for regenerative medicine) or inhibit it (for cancer therapies). However, as uncontrolled growth can lead to tumorigenesis, much more research into this exciting and developing area is needed in order to realize its promise.


According to the literature, thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) secondary to the malunion of displaced fractures of the clavicle is rare. Various surgical methods, including simple neurolysis, resection of the first rib or clavicle and corrective osteotomy, have been reported. We report a case of TOS secondary to malunion of the clavicle that was treated by an anterior and middle scalenectomy without a rib resection.


The Asian economy is expected to realise favourable growth during the first half of this century, but there is no guarantee. There is a discussion about a 'middle-income trap', which refers to a country that has realised rapid growth to become a middle-income country but is unable to grow further. A middle-income trap could occur not only if there is a delay in shifting the economy toward a productivity-driven structure, but also if there is a worsening of income distribution.We consider this in line with the theories of development economics and through a quantitative analysis. The relationship between income inequality and the trap can be explained by the Kuznets hypothesis and the basic-needs approach. Our quantitative analysis supports the Kuznets hypothesis, and indicates that,although a low-income country can accelerate its economic growth with the worsening of income distribution as an engine, a middle income country would experience a decreasing growth rate if it fails to narrow the income gap between the top and bottom income groups. The results also show that the basic-needs approach is also applicable in practice, and imply that the improvement of access to secondary education is important.

A sensitivity analysis for three Asian upper-middle-income countries(China, Malaysia and Thailand) also shows that the situation related to a middle-income trap is worse than average in China and Malaysia. These two countries, according to the result of the sensitivity analysis, should urgently improve access to secondary education and should implement income redistribution measures to develop high-tech industries, before their demographic dividends expire. Income redistribution includes the narrowing of rural urban income disparities, benefits to low-income individuals, direct income transfers, vouchers or free provision of education and health-care, and so on, but none of these are simple to implement.


Generative adversarial networks (GANs) with clustered latent spaces can perform conditional generation in a completely unsupervised manner. However, the salient attributes of unlabeled data in the real-world are mostly imbalanced. Existing unsupervised conditional GANs cannot properly cluster the attributes in their latent spaces because they assume uniform distributions of the attributes. To address this problem, we theoretically derive Stein latent optimization that provides reparameterizable gradient estimations of the latent distribution parameters assuming a Gaussian mixture prior in a continuous latent space. Structurally, we introduce an encoder network and a novel contrastive loss to help generated data from a single mixture component to represent a single attribute. We confirm that the proposed method, named Stein Latent Optimization for GANs (SLOGAN), successfully learns the balanced or imbalanced attributes and performs unsupervised tasks such as unsupervised conditional generation, unconditional generation, and cluster assignment even in the absence of information of the attributes (e.g. the imbalance ratio). Moreover, we demonstrate that the attributes to be learned can be manipulated using a small amount of probe data.


An assessment of several range-separated (RSH) DFT functionals, such as LC-ωPBE, LC-BLYP, ωB97X-D, and CAM-B3LYP, in predicting the excited-state energies of organic sensitizers containing 2-cyano-3-(thiophen-2-yl)acrylic acid was performed. The choice of RSH DFT functional with an optimized separation parameter, ω, is crucial for calculating the excitation energies of organic dyes with extended π-conjugation. The optimized ω for TD-LC-ωPBE, TD-LC-BLYP, and TD-ωB97X-D RSH functionals are the same for both HQ-1 and HQ-2, where HQ-2 has an added thiophene moiety at the π-bridge. On the other hand, for the TD-CAM-B3LYP RSH functional, HQ-2 yielded a larger ω than HQ-1. For ground-state geometry optimization, those DFT functionals with 50% Hartree–Fock exchange showed a good correlation with the MP2-optimized geometries. Among the methods used, TD-LC-ωPBE/6-31+G(d)//mPWPW91α50/6-31G(d) in a solvent effect with ω = 0.20 Bohr–1 gave the best accuracy of <0.03 eV for the analogues with spatial overlap of 0.42 ≤ ...


Mesoporous TiO2 has been prepared using a nonionic block copolymer (Pluronic P-123) as structure-directing agent with sol-gel method. Characterization of the product was carried out by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry- differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), Nitrogen sorption isotherms, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. These analyses showed that under controlled synthesis conditions, a wormlike mesostructured TiO2 with high surface area (110 m 2 g -1 ) and appropriated band gap (~3 eV) is obtained. Moreover, the pore walls of the nanostructured TiO2 solid are formed by incipient crystallites of anatase, which is a significant achievement regarding its possible photocatalytic applications. The activity of the prepared photocatalyst was evaluated by degradation of Congo Red azo dye. It has excellent photocatalytic efficiencies and more than 76% dye was decolorized in 90 minute.


The objective of the paper is to evaluate the close relationship between public policies of social housing, housing deficit and the process of socio-spatial segregation in the city of Piracicaba, located in the interior of the state of São Paulo, in Brazil, between the years 2000-2020. For this, the method adopted consists of a mixed quali-quantitative approach. Whether due to lack or inadequacy, the housing problem is one of the main urban shortages, whose measurement can be made from the deficit and household inadequacy indicators. To address these issues, housing policies are presented as a state intervention to provide access to housing. However, after years of implementing these policies, the paradox created by them is noted, since, although they were able to face part of the problem, they contributed to the intensification of socio-spatial segregation on the intra-urban scale. In these terms, Piracicaba is an emblematic case of the relationship that is established territorially between these elements, in which socio-spatial segregation is seen as a by-product of social housing policies, under the pretext of coping with housing needs. The investigation therefore seeks to contribute to research on the relationship between housing policies and socio-spatial segregation in medium-sized cities in São Paulo, inserting the concept of deficit as a basic element of this problem.


Adult penile lymphangioma (APL) is a rare multifactorial vascular malformation. Usually, it is asymptomatic and located on the coronal sulcus or shaft of the penis. It is benign in nature with rare chances of recurrence. APLs can be approached via various modalities from simple "watch and wait" to electrofulguration, laser ablation, and surgical excision. We report a rare variant of lymphangioma of the penis inculcating the shaft being excised surgically with favorable outcome along with brief review of literature.


Malignant transformation of neurofibromatosis is one of the most serious complications of von Recklinghausen's disease (VRD). The most common associated malignancy is the malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST). Few cases of MPNST associated with VRD in the maxillary region have been reported. This report describes a rare case of MPNST in the maxilla and the aggressive nature of MPNST associated with VRD.


The seminar "Computational Social Systems and the Internet" facilitated a very fruitful interaction between economists and computer scientists, which
intensified the understanding of the other disciplines' tool sets.
The seminar helped to pave the way to a unified theory of social systems on the Internet that takes into account both the economic and the computational
issues---and their deep interaction.


This study describes the phenomena involved during the regeneration of an aged industrial hydrodesulfurization catalyst (CoMoP/Al2O3) using a non-thermal plasma at a low temperature (200 °C). The changes occurring during regeneration were studied by characterizing spent, partially, and fully regenerated catalysts by XRD, Raman, TEM spectroscopy, and the coke deposited on the catalyst surface by Laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI TOF/MS). The coke is a mixture of several polycyclic molecules, the heaviest with a coronene backbone, containing up to seven sulfur atoms. This kinetic study shows that the oxidation rate depends on the nature of the coke. Hence, explaining the formation of VOCs from heavy polycyclic carbon molecules without complete oxidation to CO2. However, XRD and Raman spectroscopies evidence CoMoO4 formation after a long treatment time, indicating hot spots during the regeneration.


Several genes play a major role in obese phenotypes, and studies suggest that genetic variations among individuals, as well as their lifestyles, may bring about different body compositions. Among these genes, LEP, which codifies leptin, and the LEPR gene encoding its receptor were extensively studied for variants that could explain the obese phenotype. The LEPR p.Q223R gene polymorphism was analyzed in a sample of obese and nonobese individuals from Brazil to evaluate the role of this polymorphism in the obese phenotype in the population. Two hundred obese patients (60 males, 140 females, body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2) were screened, together with 150 lean or normal healthy individuals (63 males, 87 females, BMI <24 kg/m2). Genomic DNA was extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were digested with the restriction of endonuclease MspI, and separated by electrophoresis through an 8% polyacrilamide gel stained with silver nitrate. There was a significant difference in LEPR p.Q223R polymorphism frequency when comparing obese and lean subjects, with an odds ratio of 1.92 and a 95% confidence interval of 1.15–3.22 (P = 0.013). There is a strong association of the LEPR p.Q223R gene polymorphism with obesity in Brazil. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:448–453, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


This analysis is directed toward finding the rms position error of a Doppler navigation system when the input to the system is composed of random velocity errors. Statistical techniques of time-stationary random processes are used to represent the input velocity. Results show that system errors expressed as a per cent of distance traveled are shown to decrease with increasing distance traveled. There is a need for specifying the effective noise bandwidth of a system when determining system accuracy by means of random analysis. The smaller the effective noise bandwidth of the input velocity errors, the larger the rms position error.


We report a study of the suppressed B − → DK − π þ π − and favored B − → D π − π þ π − decays, where the neutral D meson is detected through its decays to the K ∓ π (cid:2) and CP -even K þ K − and π þ π − final states. The measurement is carried out using a proton-proton collision data sample collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 . 0 fb − 1 . We observe the first significant signals in the CP even final states of the D meson for both the suppressed B − → DK − π þ π − and favored B − → D π − π þ π − modes, as well as in the doubly Cabibbo suppressed D → K þ π − final state of the B − → D π − π þ π − decay. Evidence for the suppressed decay B − → DK − π þ π − , with D → K þ π − , is also presented. From the observed yields in the B − → DK − π þ π − , B − → D π − π þ π − and their charge conjugate decay modes, the most probable value of the weak phase γ corresponds to γ ¼ ð 74 þ 20 − 19 Þ °. This is one of the most precise single-measurement determinations of γ to date.


Objectives: Reassurance is an essential part of treatment for low back pain (LBP), but evidence on effective methods to deliver reassurance remains scarce. The interaction between consultation-based reassurance and patients' psychological risk is unknown. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between consultation-based reassurance and clinical outcomes at follow-up, in people with and without psychological risk. Methods: We tested the associations between specific reassurance components (data gathering, relationship building, generic reassurance, and cognitive reassurance), patients' psychological risk (the presence of depression, anxiety, catastrophizing, or fear-avoidance), and postconsultation outcomes including, satisfaction and enablement, disability, pain, and mood at 3-month follow-up. Results: Adjusted linear regression models using data from patients who had recently consulted for LBP in primary care (n=142 in 43 practices) indicated that all reassurance components were strongly associated with increased satisfaction, whereas generic reassurance was significantly associated with postconsultation enablement. Generic reassurance was also associated with lower pain at 3 months, whereas cognitive reassurance was associated with increased pain. A significant interaction was observed between generic reassurance and psychological risk for depression at 3 months: high rates of generic reassurance were associated with lower depression in low-risk patients, but with higher rates of depression for high-risk groups. Discussion: The findings support the hypothesis that different components of reassurance are associated with specific outcomes, and that psychological risk moderates this relationship for depression. Clinicians reassuring behaviors might therefore have the potential to improve outcomes in people with LBP, especially for patients with higher psychological risk profiles.


Ionic transport in a continuous Donnan dialyzer with a parallel-plate channel and an agitated tank was studied for a bi-ionic exchange system. A theoretical model of the system was formulated on the basis of diffusion equations in terms of diffusion, migration and convection of each ion. Theoretical solutions were obtained by numerical calculations using a finite-difference technique. Simultaneously, continuous Donnan dialytic experiments were conducted for the K+–H+ exchange system with a cation-exchange membrane. The validity of this model was confirmed by comparison with experimental results for mean dialytic rates. The numerical calculation also provided distributions of ionic concentrations and the electric potential in the parallel-plate channel. An effectiveness factor was introduced to discuss the proportion of the mass transfer resistance in the membrane phase to the overall mass transfer resistance. The influence of Reynolds number and channel height on the mean dialytic rates and the effectiveness factor was also examined.


The dynamics of magnetic islands including toroidal rotation in tokamaks is studied. It is found that the contribution of toroidal rotation to the dynamics of magnetic islands is mainly through the coupling of magnetic curvature with pressure and density. In the presence of toroidal rotation, pressure and density are poloidal asymmetric. Then, their coupling with magnetic curvature provides a perpendicular current, and a corresponding return parallel current is induced to affect the dynamics of magnetic islands. It is found that the effect of toroidal rotation depends on its magnitude, rather than the shear. It also depends on the relative magnitude of the island propagation frequency to sound frequency. When the Mach number is large enough, the effect of toroidal rotation is stabilizing and dramatic, and overcomes the contribution of polarization current, namely the onset threshold of NTMs increases. Further, it is also suggested that the toroidal rotation plays an important role in the stability of small scale magnetic islands.


Some diterpene glucosides produced by the plant‐pathogenic fungi are modulators of 14‐3‐3 proteins, and they induced the differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells and apoptosis in human carcinoma cells in the presence of interferon‐alpha (IFN). Combined treatment with IFN and cotylenin A significantly inhibited the growth of human lung cancer cells as xenografts without apparent adeverse effects. We synthesized several fusicoccin derivatives with antitumor activity, and found that some effective derivatives exhibited antitumor effects in xenografts inoculated with several human cancer cell lines when treated alone or with IFN. Among the derivatives, ISIR‐042 was the most effective in inhibition of the tumor growth in xenografts. This compound preferentially induced growth inhibition and apoptosis of some cancer cells under hypoxic conditions. The hypoxia‐targeting effects were not observed in the parental compound (cotylenin A) or other fusicoccin derivatives, suggesting that ISIR‐042 is the novel antitumor agent with a unique mode of action. Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive and refractory to existing therapies. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas contain tumor cells that are at low oxygen tensions (hypoxic), and tumor hypoxia is known to induce the expression of a variety of genes associated with tumor progression and aggressiveness. Novel therapeutic strategies can be devised to improve treatment. Therefore, we examined the antitumor effect of ISIR‐042 with IFN in xenografts inoculated with human pancreatic cancer MiaPaCa‐2 cells. The combined treatment significantly inhibited the tumor growth in xenografts without appreciable adverse effects, suggesting that combined treatment with ISIR‐042 and IFN may have therapeutic value in treating pancreatic cancer. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):B156.


Over the past decades there has been a huge increase of research focusing on various aspects of ceramic production, distribution and consumption in the Neolithic (ca. 7000-5000 cal. BC). Each campaign of fieldwork brings new and exciting finds, ongoing laboratory studies keep changing our insights regarding ceramic technology, and young PhD's embracing current trends in theoretical archaeology are changing our perspectives. Habitually the pottery specialists meet in the corridors of other conferences (e.g. ICAANE). Recently there have been specialized conferences/workshops concentrating upon particular aspects of the Neolithic (Leiden March 2009, Tsukuba-Tokyo October 2009). These conferences have shown that there is a need among ceramic specialists working in the Near East to come together on a more regular basis to exchange new information and emerging insights, and to discuss key issues regarding technology, terminology, classification, function and interpretation. The workshop in Brno – Rejviz brings together specialists working on prehistoric ceramics from the Near East in the broadest sense. As a general focus the theme of Late Neolithic decorated pottery traditions was chosen. What raw materials and ceramic technologies did people employ? How did they paint their designs? How can we use decorated ceramics to explore social networks and identities? What did these decorated pottery traditions mean socially?


Superconducting transmon qubits with fixed frequencies are widely used in many applications due to their advantages of better coherence and less control lines compared to the frequency tunable qubits. However, any uncontrolled interactions with the qubits such as the two-level systems could lead to adverse impacts, degrading the qubit coherence and inducing crosstalk. To mitigate the detrimental effect from uncontrolled interactions between qubits and defect modes in fixed-frequency transmon qubits, we propose and demonstrate an active approach using an off-resonance microwave drive to dress the qubit and to induce the ac-Stark shift on the qubit frequency. We show experimentally that the qubit frequency can be tuned well away from the defect mode so that the impact on qubit coherence is greatly reduced while maintaining the universal controls of the qubit initialization, readout, and single-qubit gate operations. Our approach provides an effective way for tuning the qubit frequency and suppressing the detrimental effect from the defect modes that happen to be located close to the qubit frequency.


Post-translational modifications (PTMs) allow a higher degree of regulation for the control of gene expression by generating functional diversity at the proteome level. In the central nervous system, PTMs regulate stability or activity of transcription factors allowing a rapid response to external signals and a quick adaptation to a dynamic cellular microenvironment. In this context, I focused on the ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved Glycogen Synthase Kinases 3 (GSK3s). They are at the crossroad of multifunctional signalling pathways. During mammalian brain development, GSK3 kinases control the balance between proliferation and differentiation. Deregulation of GSK3 kinases activity has also a key role in neurodegenerative diseases by causing the accumulation/aggregations of proteins causing neuronal cell death. Drugs targeting GSK3s hold a lot of promises to treat such diseases. Whether these kinases are also important during retinal development and involved in retinal diseases remains an open question. Several studies suggest the importance of regulating GSK3 function in photoreceptor under pathological conditions. Therefore, the main objective of my PhD was to investigate the role of these kinases during photoreceptor development and homeostasis. To better understand the role of these two kinases during retinal development and to highlight potential differences with the developing brain, we also investigated their function in the control of the balance between proliferation and differentiation of retinal progenitors. To achieve my work, I used conditional knockout mice for Gsk3α and Gsk3β specifically deleted either in photoreceptor precursors or in retinal progenitors during early development. The lack of GSK3 kinases in photoreceptor precursors led to impaired photoreceptor maturation and function followed by their degeneration. Transcriptomic analysis (RNAseq) 6, 10 and 14 days postnatally prior degeneration revealed several genes downregulated belonging to biological processes involved in eye development and visual functions. Among them, the expression of the transcription factor Nrl that is required for rod photoreceptor development was decreased. Astonishingly, NRL expression was highly increased at protein level. By in vitro approaches, I demonstrated that GSK3-dependent phosphorylation regulates NRL protein stability. Despite such increase, a large number of NRL target genes were downregulated leading to impaired photoreceptor maturation and function. Surprisingly, a vast majority of these downregulated genes were also target genes for CRX, another transcription factor working in synergy with NRL. This work demonstrates that PTMs of NRL play a critical role in fine tuning the expression of a subset of genes involved photoreceptor development and homeostasis. Such findings could allow the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for retinal dystrophies. The functional characterisation of GSK3 in the course of retinal development by invalidating both Gsk3α and Gsk3β in retinal progenitors early during development revealed their requirement for controlling cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation. Indeed, the complete lack of Gsk3α and Gsk3β led to microphtalmia in adults. Interestingly, the expression of only one Gsk3 allele was enough to rescue the phenotype. However, further analysis revealed a large number of displaced ganglion cells in the inner nuclear layer. The function of these cells remains to be determined, but their timing of production corresponds to other ganglion cells. Strikingly, these displaced ganglion cells project in distinct brain regions than normal ganglion cells. Therefore, our work could provide the first step toward determining the function of the displaced ganglion cells, which appear at low number in wildtype but whose function remains to be clarified.


In spite of the many factors that determine cloud droplet concentrations, relationships were found between cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and cloud droplet concentrations for the First Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE 1). Measurements were made in summertime stratocumulus clouds over the Southern Ocean far from anthropogenic sources. The closest relationship of CCN and droplet concentrations was found for CCN measured just below near-adiabatic cloud parcels. Moreover, an adiabatic droplet growth model successfully predicted these droplet concentrations from the CCN spectra and updraft velocities. Correlations of the averages of CCN and cloud droplet concentrations over the entirety of each of the flights were also good. The model also predicted, with reasonable accuracy, these flight-wide average droplet concentrations from flight-wide average CCN spectra and flight-wide average cloud updraft velocities. Drizzle was a major reason for the larger variations in droplet concentrations than in CCN concentrations. Vertical differences in CCN concentrations may have also affected cloud droplet concentrations. Despite variabilities in droplet concentrations, there was a clear relationship between CCN and droplet concentrations. Many of the inferred supersaturations (0.5 to 1.4%) in the "adiabatic" clouds ranged higher than some previous estimates (e.g., 0.2%) for stratus clouds. This may have been due to the cleaner air of the Southern Ocean but is more likely attributable to the more intensive analysis used in this study. Nonetheless, even where the inferred cloud supersaturations were lower (i.e., 0.2%), due to reductions of the droplet concentrations, there was still a relationship between CCN and droplet concentrations.


An artificial gene coding for the human muscle-type cytosolic adenylate kinase (hAK1) was chemically synthesized and directly expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of trp promoter. The DNA duplex of 596 bp was designed and constructed from 40 oligonucleotide fragments of typically 30 nucleotides in length. Twelve unique restriction sites were fairly evenly spaced in the synthetic gene to facilitate site-specific mutagenesis at any part of this recombinant protein. The genes for mutant hAK1 (Tyr 95----Phe 95, Y95F hAK1; Arg 97----Ala 97, R97A hAK1) were constructed by cassette mutagenesis and utilized restriction sites incorporated in the hAK1 gene. The recombinant hAK1 was purified to homogeneity by a two-step chromatographic procedure with a good yield, and showed the same adenylate kinase activity as that of authentic hAK1. Preliminary kinetic studies show that the enzymatic activity (Vmax app,cor/Et) of Y95F hAK1 was slightly greater than that of recombinant hAK1, whereas R97A hAK1 still possessed approximately 4% of recombinant hAK1 activity. These results suggest that the Arg-97 residue is important but not essential for catalytic activity, and that Tyr-95 can be replaced by phenylalanine without substantial effects on the enzymatic activity. Moreover, preliminary estimates of the apparent kinetic parameters suggest that these residues are not required for MgATP binding, and therefore they do not appear to be part of the MgATP binding site.


LuxS of Bacillus subtilis is a member of a novel family of proteins with a potential role in quorum sensing, controlling important aspects of cellular physiology in a range of microbial species. B. subtilis luxS was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and crystallized using the hanging-drop method of vapour diffusion with ammonium sulfate as the precipitant. The crystals belong to one of the enantiomorphic space groups P6(1)22 or P6(5)22, with approximate unit-cell parameters a = b = 63.6, c = 151.5 A and one subunit in the asymmetric unit, corresponding to a packing density of 2.5 A(3) Da(-1). The crystals diffract X-rays to at least 1.55 A resolution on a synchrotron-radiation source. Determination of the structure will provide insights into the key determinants of function of this class of proteins, for which no structures are currently available.


A complete and practical guide offering a concise overview of mentalization-based treatment (MBT) and its application in different situations and with different groups of patients to help improve the treatment of mental health disorders. Featuring an introduction to mentalizing and the evidence base to support it, followed by the principles of MBT and the basic clinical model in individual and group psychotherapy. Other chapters offer extensive clinical illustrations of the treatment of patients with depression, psychosis, trauma, eating disorders, and borderline, antisocial, narcissistic, and avoidant personality disorders. The final section outlines the application of mentalizing and MBT in different populations – children, adolescents, families, couples – and their use in different contexts – teams, schools, and care settings. Part of the Cambridge Guides to the Psychological Therapies series, offering all the latest scientifically rigorous and practical information on a range of key, evidence-based psychological interventions for clinicians.


Electrolyte electroreflectance (EER) is used to investigate the interface between undoped ZnSe and heavily n-doped GaAs. The evolution of the signal with bias allows an identification of the various features in the EER spectra. The spectra allow us to determine the band profile of the heterojunction, which consists of 100 nm of unintentionally doped ZnSe grown by molecular beam epitaxy on n+ GaAs:Si. The band profile that the authors obtain differs from previously proposed models for the band profile, but explains the transport results that motivated those model. In particular, due to the interdiffusion of Zn and Ga atoms, it displays a strongly p-type region in the GaAs near the interface and an n-type region extending of the order of 5 nm into the ZnSe from the interface.


After the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001, a patriotic narrative permeated all aspects of US society. Planned and executed by the George W. Bush administration and reproduced by the media and by other social institutions, the narrative of the War on Terror permeated all aspects of society with little opposition. A few weeks after the attacks, Congress passed the Patriot Act, a bill that redefined security and surveillance in the United States. The new act contributed to the erosion of civil rights. This article analyzes how Spike Lee's Inside Man (2006), a film that critics interpreted as a commercial thriller when it was launched, employs resources from film noir and neo-noir to construct a counter-narrative on security and surveillance. Through a plot that causes confusion, a distinct visual style, a typically noir role of the hero, and hidden references to a 9/11 theme, the film borrows elements from classical film noir and from eighties neo-noir to take a firm stand against the US response to the terrorist attacks. The movie removes the mask of the dominant narrative by showing a structurally corrupt system.


Maize inbred line A351 exhibits extremely low levels of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) isozymes, three cytosolic and one chloroplastic, which are increased by supplying copper to near-toxic concentrations. Activities of the copper enzymes cytochrome c oxidase and ascorbate oxidase are also reduced. The level of expression of the maize copper chaperone for SOD is normal to elevated. The gene transcript encoding chloroplastic SOD-1 is present at normal levels, whereas RNA levels of the cytosolic SODs are low and increase with added copper, suggesting a promoter element and copper-dependent transcription factor common to the three genes. Although a reduced level of high-affinity copper transport in A351 cannot be ruled out, high transcript levels of a constitutively expressed metallothionein, suggesting increased copper chelation capacity and creating a general copper-deprivation effect, seem to be a likely cause of the reduced levels of copper enzyme activity and Cu/ZnSod gene transcripts. While exogenous copper does not affect the wild-type SOD activity or protein, it increases wild-type Cu/ZnSod transcript levels in a response similar to that of several yeast genes involved in copper sequestration and antioxidant defense. A sequence that is highly homologous to those of the copper-responsive transcription factors ACE1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and AMT1 (Candida glabrata) is present in the promoters of three maize Cu/ZnSod genes.


The fungal community in Qu plays a key role in the formation of turbid rice wine (TRW) style. The Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas have become one of the main TRW production regions in China; however, the fungal community in Qu and how they affect the characteristics of TRW remain unknown. Therefore, this study provided insight into the fungal biomarkers in Qu from Guang'an (GQ), Dazhou (DQ), Aba (AQ), and Liangshan (LQ), as well as their relationships with compounds in TRW. The main biomarkers in GQ were Rhizopus arrhizus, Candida glabrata, Rhizomucor pusillus, Thermomyces lanuginosus and Wallemia sebi. However, they changed to Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and Mucor indicus in DQ, Lichtheimia ramose in AQ, and Rhizopus microsporus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in LQ. As a response to fungal biomarkers, the reducing sugar, ethanol, organic acids, and volatile compounds were also changed markedly in TRWs. Among important volatile compounds (VIP > 1.00), phenethyl alcohol (14.1–29.4%) was dominant in TRWs. Meanwhile, 3-methyl-1-butanol (20.6–56.5%) was dominant in all TRWs except that fermented by GQ (GW). Acetic acid (29.4%) and ethyl palmitate (10.1%) were dominant in GW and LW, respectively. Moreover, GQ biomarkers were positively correlated with acetic acid and all unique important volatile compounds in GW. DQ biomarkers had positive correlations with unique compounds of acetoin and ethyl 5-chloro-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-carboxylate in DW. Meanwhile, the AQ biomarkers were positively correlated with all AW unique, important, and volatile compounds. Although there were not any unique volatile compounds in LW, 16 important volatile compounds in LW were positively related to LQ biomarkers. Obviously, biomarkers in different geographic Qu played vital roles in the formation of important volatile compounds, which could contribute specific flavor to TRWs. This study provided a scientific understanding for future efforts to promote the excellent characteristics of TRW by regulating beneficial fungal communities.


Rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene is widely exploited as a marker of B cell lineage and clonality in the pathology of lymphoproliferative disorders. We have developed a simple, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method for detecting IgH gene rearrangement which relies on the observation that by using a panel of PCR amplimers specific for each of the six heavy chain variable region families in conjunction with a common joining region amplimer, clonal rearrangement can be detected in over 90% of cases of B lymphoid malignancy. By using radiolabelled amplimers and exploiting the size heterogeneity resulting from independent IgH rearrangement events. we show that high resolution gel electrophoresis can be used to generate a'fingerprint'representing the spectrum of B cell clonality in complex populations of B lymphocytes. The method effectively scans the entire IgH gene rearrangement repertoire and is capable of detecting rare clonal or oligoclonal B lymphoid cell populations. In normal bone marrow mononuclear cells. clonal IgH rearrangement could be readily detected at a sensitivity of 10−3. We illustrate the application of the method in assessing the spectrum of B cell clonality occurring in an autoimmune condition, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and in a malignant B cell disorder, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. In addition, we explore the potential application of the technique in tracking minimal residual disease and for monitoring clonal evolution in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.


Presents a theory for sequentially choosing decisions by combining the suggestions of a fixed number of experts. the author takes a game theoretic approach and attempts to do as well as the best expert under worst case assumptions. Surprisingly, it is possible to do as well as if one knows the statistics of the system in advance. The author applies these results to the problem of how to gamble on a sequence of letters drawn from a finite alphabet.<<ETX>>


Electroluminescent (EL) lamps are flat solid-state ac driven devices in which light is generated by impact excitation to optical energies of luminescent centers in a Mn-, Cu- or Tb doped ZnS phosphor layer by high-energy electrons and radiant decay to ground state of these luminescent centers. They are useful in applications which require diffuse low level uniform illumination. This paper presents measurements of light emission and related spectra of EL lamps as function of operation frequency and sinusoidal voltage amplitude. The excitation of other voltage waveforms is also analyzed and parameters of the equivalent electrical circuit are presented.


Using the whurl relation of the first two authors, we define a new discrete solitonic system, which we call the box-basket-ball system, generalizing the box-ball system of Takahashi and Satsuma. In box-basket-ball systems, balls may be put either into boxes or into baskets. While boxes stay fixed, both balls and baskets get moved during time evolution. Balls and baskets behave as fermionic and bosonic particles, respectively. We classify the solitons of this system, and study their scattering.


Background: In nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the cut-off value of cumulative cisplatin dose (CCD) associated with survival benefits remains controversial. This study aimed to determine a CCD cut-off value for favorable survival outcomes and to identify specific patient groups benefitting from higher CCDs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 161 patients (male-to-female ratio of 2.6:1.0) with NPC receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy ± adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) from February 2006 through September 2015 at our referral center. The CCD was calculated for each patient, and 3-year locoregional-free survival (LRFS), distant-metastasis free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using a multivariable Cox regression model. Results: Stage N3 patients and stage IV patients had lower DMFS, DSS, and OS. A CCD ≥ 200 mg/m 2 or AC was not associated with survival benefits. After adjusting for other factors, N3 status remained robustly correlated with DMFS ( p < 0.001) and DSS ( p = 0.001). In subgroup analyses, stage N3 patients treated with CCD ≥ 200 mg/m 2 exhibited evident trends toward higher OS ( p = 0.119), DSS ( p = 0.119), DMFS ( p = 0.201), and LRFS ( p = 0.125) than patients treated with CCD < 200 mg/m 2 . Conclusions: A CCD ≥ 200 mg/m 2 might result in better survival outcomes in stage N3 patients. Larger CCDs may be exclusively used in cases of regionally advanced disease to avoid rigorous toxicity.


Anionic antimicrobial peptides / proteins (AAMPs) were first reported in the early 1980s and since then, have been established as an important part of the innate immune systems of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. These peptides are active against bacteria, fungi, viruses and pests such as insects. AAMPs may be induced or expressed constitutively and in some cases, antimicrobial activity appears to be a secondary role for these peptides with other biological activities constituting their primary role. Structural characterization shows AAMPs to generally range in net charge from -1 to -7 and in length from 5 residues to circa 70 residues and for a number of these peptides, post-translational modifications are essential for antimicrobial activity. Membrane interaction appears key to the antimicrobial function of AAMPs and to facilitate these interactions, these peptides generally adopt amphiphilic structures. These architectures vary from the alpha-helical peptides of some amphibians to the cyclic cystine knot structures observed in some plant proteins. Some AAMPs appear to use metal ions to form cationic salt bridges with negatively charged components of microbial membranes, thereby facilitating interaction with their target organisms, but in many cases, the mechanisms underlying the antimicrobial action of these peptides are unclear or have not been elucidated. Here, we present an overview on current research into AAMPs, which suggests that these peptides are an untapped source of putative antimicrobial agents with novel mechanisms of action and possess potential for application in the medical and biotechnological arenas.


The proximity effect in hybrid superconductor-semiconductor structures, crucial for realizing Majorana edge modes, is complicated to control due to its dependence on many unknown microscopic parameters. In addition, defects can spoil the induced superconductivity locally in the proximitized system, which complicates measuring global properties with a local probe. We show how to use the nonlocal conductance between two spatially separated leads to probe three global properties of a proximitized system: the bulk superconducting gap, the induced gap, and the induced coherence length. Unlike local conductance spectroscopy, nonlocal conductance measurements distinguish between nontopological zero-energy modes localized around potential inhomogeneities, and true Majorana edge modes that emerge in the topological phase. In addition, we find that the nonlocal conductance is an odd function of bias at the topological phase transition, acting as a current rectifier in the low-bias limit. More generally, we identify conditions for crossed Andreev reflection to dominate the nonlocal conductance and show how to design a Cooper pair splitter in the open regime.


Aiming at solving the problem of poor battery cell consistency caused by excessive decay of cell capacity or increased internal resistance during the operation of lithium‐ion battery packs for vehicles, the paper proposes an active equalization control with 12‐V power supply as an equalization energy source, which achieves efficient energy replenishment of individual cells with low power. The electrochemical‐thermal coupling model of lithium‐ion battery is built, and the order reduction of large‐scale system theory ensures that the model had higher accuracy and lower amount of calculation, which is suitable for vehicle battery management system (BMS). Then the extended Kalman filter algorithm is used to calculate the real‐time state of charge (SOC) of each cell and set as an equalization variable. The equalization simulation circuit is built with MATLAB/Simulink, the experimental platform of active equalization system for battery packs is constructed, and the battery packs are tested for equalization in static state. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed active equalization control strategy can rapidly improve the voltage inconsistency between single cells, and the energy transfer efficiency can reach about 85% during the equalization process.


In April 1658 the Court of Holland banned Gerard Lodewijk van der Macht, newspaper publisher in The Hague, from Holland for ten years; Van der Macht settled in Utrecht, where he duly established the first newspaper published in Utrecht. However, a recent find reveals that another newspaper appeared in Utrecht as early as 1623: thirty-five years before Van der Macht's arrival. This newspaper was the Nieuwe courante uyt Italien, Duytslandt ende Nederlant, published by the prolific newshound Adriaen Leenaertsz. A subtle combination of Dutch and German newspaper traditions, the Nieuwe courante was a product of the rage for newspapers sweeping across Europe in the first decades of the seventeenth century. The discovery of the Nieuwe courante highlights the importance of the 'provincial' periodical press of the seventeenth century, somewhat removed from the great European capitals and centres of news. Framing the Nieuwe courante not only in its local history but in a national and transnational perspective presents a more nuanced consideration of the emergence and diffusion of the early periodical press in the Dutch Republic.


Due to soil acidification caused by poor soil management and environmental change, increasingly areas of land are being degraded leading to drops in productivity. Soil acidification, with nutrient deficiency in calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), and aluminum (Al) toxicity has led to severe yield reduction. So an ion-exchange based approach to enrich lime with Mg from seawater was proposed and investigated, and alkaline precipitates containing calcium and magnesium were produced, this alkaline solid product can be applied for tackling with acid soil as soil conditioner. The Mg from seawater was first adsorbed by ion exchange resin in load step, and the Mg was released from the ion exchange resin by calcium chloride elution solution, then transformed into the form of Mg (OH) 2 by reacting with lime, and the filter solution after precipitation treatment was used as recycled elution solution for releasing magnesium ion from the resin again. (1) Mg extraction from seawater experiment: Mg release from resins (%) kept the high level (88.16%) when conducted three times repeated adsorption (load) experiments for 26 BV and release experiments for 8 BV. The results of three times Mg recovery by precipitation experiments showed that Mg recovery from CaCl2 solution(%) and the pH of CaCl2 elution solution increased with lime dosage increasing, they increased to 90% and 10.09 respectively when lime dosage stoichiometric ratio was 146%. (2) Mg recycled extraction from seawater experiment: Mg release from resins (%) also kept the high level (87.28%) when conducted six times repeated the recycled experiments with recycled CaCl2 solution. The results of six times Mg recycled recovery by precipitation experiments showed that Mg recovery from CaCl2 solution(%) firstly decreased with repeat times increasing, and then kept 75% level in 5~6 repeat times, the average of 6 times repeat was 82.00%. So Mg release from resins% and Mg recovery from CaCl2 solution% could keep high and stable in recycled experiments when put the same lime dosage, we could low-cost and high efficient recycled extracted Mg from seawater to produce acid soil conditioner without pollution. But Mg recovery from CaCl2 solution(%) decreased with repeat times increasing, so this study suggests that determine [Mg] of recycled CaCl2 solution after 6 times recycled experiments, and then put 146% lime dosage stoichiometric ratio into the recycled CaCl2 solution, keep Mg recovery from CaCl2 solution(%) high level again.


Background and Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important cancer with rising annual incidence worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The addition of new anti-CRC drugs significantly improves treatment outcome, indicating that it is crucial to develop new drugs. Chemoprevention is another important approach to reduce cancer-related mortality. We first demonstrated statins with a carboxylic acid-containing long chain inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. To further improve their HDAC inhibition, we designed and synthesized three statin hydroxamates (JMF3086, JMF3171 and JMF3173) that potently inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) simultaneously. Their preventive and therapeutic effects on CRC were investigated. Methods: The in vitro anticancer activity was evaluated in human cancer cells. Molecular mechanisms were investigated using genome-wide ChIP-on-chip, Gene Ontology (GO) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Anti-inflammation was examined by Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis in mice. Prevention or therapy for CRC was examined by AOM/DSS mouse model. Anti-metastasis was examined by splenic and tail vein injected mouse models, and colorectal cancer stem cells were generated to investigate the inhibition of stemness. Results: Statin hydroxamates were effective to inhibit a variety of human cancer cells. ChIP-on-chip analysis demonstrated the down-regulation of inflammatory and stemness genes and up-regulation of tumor suppressor genes. GO and IPA predicted the regulatory role of NF-kB in inflammatory genes and NR3C1 in apoptosis-related genes. The oral administration of JMF3086 prevented DSS-induced colitis and AOM/DSS-induced CRC in mice by inhibiting inflammation. Statin hydroxamates exerted a therapeutic effect in CRC mice by inducing apoptosis. CRC metastasis to the livers and lungs and the propagation of CRC stem cells in vivo were also inhibited by JMF3086. The efficacy of JMF3086 was superior to the combination of lovastatin and SAHA (HDAC inhibitor) with less toxicity. Conclusions: Statin hydroxamates with dual inhibition on HMGR and HDACs show great preclinical efficacy in prevention and treatment of CRC through inhibiting inflammation and inducing apoptosis. Citation Format: Tzu-Tang Wei, Yi-Ting Lin, Yu-Chin Lin, Ching-Chow Chen. Small molecules targeting HMGR and HDAC in colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy: A New Chapter; December 1-4, 2014; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2015;3(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A92.


Coagulation disturbances were discussed which appeared after operative removal of a hypernephroid carcinoma and teratocarcinoma. Despite taking into consideration preoperative coagulation tests after operation secondary haemorrhages appeared which could at first not be explained and which must be seen in the connection with the tumour metabolism changing the coagulation. Diagnostic and therapeutic propositions follow.


The paper describes the application of state-estimation techniques for the real-time prediction of state-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH) of lead-acid cells. Approaches based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF) are presented to provide correction for offset, drift and state divergence - an unfortunate feature of more traditional coulomb-counting techniques. Experimental results are employed to demonstrate the relative attributes of the proposed methodology


The world grain market has been oversupplied for years now and, after the release of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report on 12 April 2016, it almost feels that there will be no end to this glut. The report presented a bearish view across all global grain and oilseed commodity prices due to large worldwide supplies. Stocks and production are sitting comfortably high across all commodities. The higher grain production and lower prices will translate into cheaper feed costs, which bodes well for the livestock sector in terms of expansion in production, especially on the intensive side.


This study is focused on tools used in the industrial process of hot forging of a front wheel forging (gear wheel) manufactured for the automotive industry. Five different variants were applied for the tools: 3 die inserts were coated with three different hybrid layers (PN + PVD type), i.e. AlCrTiN, AlCrTiSiN and CrN, one insert was only nitrided, and one was pad welded, to improve tool durability. The tool wear was analysed and represented by the material degradation on the working surface, based on the 3D scanning and the material growth of the periodically collected forgings. Additionally, the scanned tools were divided into two areas, in which it was found, based on the analysis, that various degradation mechanisms are predominant. Microstructural tests and hardness measurements of the analyzed tools were also performed. Based on the results, it was found that, in the central part of the die insert, thermo-mechanical fatigue, abrasive wear and plastic deformation occurred, while in the area of the bridge insert, only abrasive wear could be observed. For these areas, the loss of material was determined separately. It was established that the use of the GN+CrN and GN+AlCrTiN hybrid layers on forging tools improves their durability, while the best results in the central area were observed on the tool with the GN+CrN layer, which is the most resistant to thermo-mechanical fatigue. In the second analyzed area, good wear resistance occurred on GN+CrN, GN+AlCrTiN and pad welded inserts, for which, together with the increase of the forging number, a proportional, slight growth of the loss of material occurred.


Described herein is a photochemical approach to the generation of a high-valent metal-oxo species that utilizes a chromophore or "sensitizer", a semiconducting electron acceptor, and a redox buffer that poises a catalyst's initial protonation and oxidation state. The photoexcited sensitizer injects an electron into the semiconductor and then oxidizes the catalyst whose reactivity occurs in kinetic competition with back electron transfer. Core-shell SnO2/TiO2 semiconductor nanocrystallites inhibited charge recombination relative to TiO2 acceptors. With low sensitizer-catalyst surface coverages, a novel trapping process is exploited that enables catalysis reactivity to be quantified on time scales ranging from nanoseconds to minutes. A proof-of-principle example provides the demonstration of a light-initiated, (1e-, 2H+)-transfer reaction, with an inverse isotope effect of kH/kD = 0.63, to generate a Ru(IV) oxo species.


Modeling the energy dissipation capacity of shear-yielding members is important in the evaluation of the seismic response of earthquake resistant structural systems. This paper presents the model of a frame element for the hysteretic behavior of these members. The model is based on a three-field variational formulation with independent displacement, stress, and strain fields. The displacement field is based on the Timoshenko beam theory. The nonlinear response of the element is derived from the section integration of the multiaxial material stress-strain relation at several control points along the element, thus accounting for the interaction between normal and shear stress and the spread of inelastic deformations in the member. With the derivation of the axial force-shear-flexure interaction of short members from the material response the proposed model is general, in contrast to existing concentrated plasticity models that require parameter calibration for different loading and support conditions. Furthermore, the model does not suffer from shear locking and does not require mesh refinement for the accurate representation of inelastic member deformations. Correlation studies of analytical results with available experimental data of the hysteretic behavior of shear-yielding members confirm the capabilities of the proposed model. Its computational efficiency makes it suitable for large scale simulations of the earthquake response of structures with shear-yielding members.


A geoelectrical imaging survey was conducted at Ekiugbo in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, for Shallow site investigation in order to determine the subsurface lithology using Pole-Dipole array and SAS 1000 Terrameter for the acquisition of field data. Global position system (GPS) was used to geolocate the position of the data acquisition as longitude 005006'20.6", latitude 05039'24.7". The data were subjected to an inversion using RES2DINV computer software for analysis and interpretation. The lateral spread was 280 m and the vertical penetration was 184 m. The resistivities of the various lithological profiles ranges 138 Ωm – 54938 Ωm. Keywords: Geoelectric, GPS, heterogeneous. imaging, lithology, res2DINV, resistivity, subsurface


Clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that human-to-human transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) most frequently occurs through virus-laden respiratory droplets discharged from infected individuals while coughing and sneezing. Aerosols can act as another potential transmission route. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised medical personnel to consider taking 'airborne precautions'. It is important to protect dentists and patients and reduce the amount of spatter produced during dental procedures. In order to prevent airborne transmission, dental offices should be sufficiently ventilated, with great emphasis placed upon removing bioaerosols.


The Japanese National Working Group has carried out research on developing a framework which clarifies the relation among internal and external characteristics, factors which affect software quality, and the effect of software quality. An attempt has also been made to develop metrics to measure them. The concept model and metrics that have been developed are presented with the future plan. Specifically, attention is given to the measurement of reliability, portability, functionality, usability, and maintainability.<<ETX>>