High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can increase mitochondrial volume in skeletal muscle. However, it is unclear whether HIIT alters the intrinsic capacity of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, or whether such changes are associated with changes in mitochondrial FAT/CD36, a regulator of fatty acid oxidation, or with reciprocal changes in the nuclear receptor coactivator (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α)) and the corepressor (receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140)). We examined whether HIIT alters fatty acid oxidation rates in the isolated subsarcolemmal (SS) and intermyofibrillar (IMF) mitochondria of red and white skeletal muscle and (or) induces changes in muscle PGC-1α and RIP140 proteins and mitochondrial FAT/CD36 protein content. Rats were divided into untrained or HIIT-trained groups. HIIT animals performed 10 bouts of 1-min high-intensity treadmill running (30-55 m·min(-1)), separated by 2 min of rest, for 5 days a week for 4 weeks. As expected, after the training period, HIIT increased mitochondrial enzymes (citrate synthase, COXIV, and β-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase) in red and white muscle, indicating that muscle mitochondrial volume had increased. HIIT also increased the rates of palmitate oxidation in mitochondria of red (37% for SS and 19% for IMF) and white (36% for SS and 12% for IMF) muscle. No changes occurred in SS and IMF mitochondrial FAT/CD36 proteins, despite increasing FAT/CD36 at the whole-muscle level (27% for red and 22% for white). Concurrently, muscle PGC-1α protein was increased in red (22%) and white (16%) muscle, but RIP140 was not altered. These results indicate that increases in SS and IMF mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation induced by HIIT are accompanied by an increase in PGC-1α, but not RIP140 or FAT/CD36.


ABSTRACT This article addresses the application of the journalism exception in UK data protection law. A number of uncertainties arise out of the case law of the CJEU and UK courts, as well as from the changes made to the journalism exception in the new data protection regime under the GDPR and DPA 2018. Three areas within the journalism exception will be discussed: the meaning of 'journalistic purposes', the substantive exemption from liability, and the procedural power to obtain a stay of proceedings. This article will identify the uncertainties affecting each of these three areas, and proposes possible ways by which these uncertainties may be resolved.


The Tesla valve is a passive-type check valve used for flow control in micro- or minichannel systems for a variety of applications. Although the design and effectiveness of a singular Tesla valve is somewhat well understood, the effects of using multiple, identically shaped Tesla valves in series—forming a multistaged Tesla valve (MSTV)—have not been well documented in the open literature. Therefore, using high-performance computing (HPC) and three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the effectiveness of an MSTV using Tesla valves with preoptimized designs was quantified in terms of diodicity for laminar flow conditions. The number of Tesla valves/stages (up to 20), valve-to-valve distance (up to 3.375 hydraulic diameters), and Reynolds number (up to 200) was varied to determine their effect on MSTV diodicity. Results clearly indicate that the MSTV provides for a significantly higher diodicity than a single Tesla valve and that this difference increases with Reynolds number. Minimizing the distance between adjacent Tesla valves can significantly increase the MSTV diodicity, however, for very low Reynolds number (Re < 50), the MSTV diodicity is almost independent of valve-to-valve distance and number of valves used. In general, more Tesla valves are required to maximize the MSTV diodicity as the Reynolds number increases. Using data-fitting procedures, a correlation for predicting the MSTV diodicity was developed and shown to be in a power-law form. It is further concluded that 3D CFD more accurately simulates the flow within the Tesla valve over a wider range of Reynolds numbers than 2D simulations that are more commonly reported in the literature. This is supported by demonstrating secondary flow patterns in the Tesla valve outlet that become stronger as Reynolds number increases. Plots of the pressure and velocity fields in various MSTVs are provided to fully document the complex physics of the flow field.


Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a biocompatible, highly hydrophilic and nontoxic polymer which has great potential for modification and can be use as beneficial hydrogels. In the present work, PVA was firstly modified by bromoacetyl bromide to produce bromoacetylated PVA. Then various diamines such as ethylene diamine, propylene diamine and hexamethlene diamine were used for crosslinking of bromoacetylated PVA to synthesize three-dimensional hydrogels. The swelling behavior of prepared hydrogels was investigated in which ethylene diamine-crosslinked PVA by ethylene diamine showed a fast initial swelling followed by a mild increase before attaining equilibrium. The loading of cefftreiaxon antibiotic on the hydrogels was carried out and in vitro drug release of drug loaded hydrogels was investigated. The results show that the drug release rate was enhanced by an increase in pH. The PVA hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.


The combination of diagnostics and therapeutics is growing rapidly in cancer treatment. Here, using upconversion nanoparticles coated with chitosan conjugated with a targeting molecule and loaded with indocyanine green (ICG), we develop an excitation-selectable nanoprobe with highly integrated functionalities, including the emission of visible and near-infrared (NIR) light, strong optical absorption in the NIR region and high photostability. After intravenous injection in tumor bearing mice, the nanoprobes target to the tumor vascular system. NIR lasers (980 and 808 nm) are then selectively applied to the mice. The results show that the emitted upconversion fluorescence and NIR fluorescence can be used in a complementary manner for high signal/noise ratio and sensitive tumor imaging for more precise tumor localization. Highly effective photothermal therapy is realized using 808 nm laser irradiation, and the upconversion fluorescence at 654 nm can be used for monitoring treatment effect during the thermal therapy. In summary, using the nanoprobes, outstanding therapeutic efficacy could be realized through flexible excitation control, precise tumor localization, highly effective photothermal conversion and real-time treatment monitoring. The nanofabrication strategy highlights the promise of nanoparticles in cancer theranostics.


The study of resistance patterns of strains of bacteria to antibiotics in different regions of a country and, if possible, comparing them at international level appears to be a useful exercise. The patterns of resistance during 1968-71 revealed an increasing resistance for most antibiotics with an unexpected increase for chloramphenicol. Notable is a decreasing resistance, not only of coagulase-positive strains of Staphylococcus aureus but also of other micro-organisms towards doxycycline. For practical purposes there was no difference between the sensitivy of the isolates from hospitalized patients and from out-patients, though less pronounced in the latter. The incidence of resistance among strains isolated from the paediatric ward was low. Comparatively small changes in molecular structure may result in relatively large differences in the sensitivity pattern; for example, between tetracycline and doxycycline (Vibramycin, Pfizer), the greatest activity is seen with doxycycline.


Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical incorporated into many personal, medical and household products. Approximately, 75% of the U.S. population has detectable levels of triclosan in their urine, and although it is not typically considered a contact sensitizer, recent studies have begun to link triclosan exposure with augmented allergic disease. We examined the effects of dermal triclosan exposure on the skin and lymph nodes of mice and in a human skin model to identify mechanisms for augmenting allergic responses. Triclosan (0%-3%) was applied topically at 24-h intervals to the ear pinnae of OVA-sensitized BALB/c mice. Skin and draining lymph nodes were evaluated for cellular responses and cytokine expression over time. The effects of triclosan (0%-0.75%) on cytokine expression in a human skin tissue model were also examined. Exposure to triclosan increased the expression of TSLP, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the skin with concomitant decreases in IL-25, IL-33, and IL-1α. Similar changes in TSLP, IL1B, and IL33 expression occurred in human skin. Topical application of triclosan also increased draining lymph node cellularity consisting of activated CD86(+)GL-7(+) B cells, CD80(+)CD86(+) dendritic cells, GATA-3(+)OX-40(+)IL-4(+)IL-13(+) Th2 cells and IL-17 A(+) CD4 T cells. In vivo antibody blockade of TSLP reduced skin irritation, IL-1β expression, lymph node cellularity, and Th2 responses augmented by triclosan. Repeated dermal exposure to triclosan induces TSLP expression in skin tissue as a potential mechanism for augmenting allergic responses.


Metamorphic core complexes of the Aegean region have revealed midcrustal, shallow-dipping extensional shear zones. These shear zones display constant kinematic indicators over large regions (100–200 km). We analyze the example of the northern Tyrrhenian Sea and then compare it to the Aegean region. We first summarize our observations on ductile extension and metamorphic evolution in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea from Alpine Corsica to Tuscany. (1) Extension migrated from west to east from the early Miocene in Corsica to the Recent in the Apennines; (2) Extension is accommodated by shallow east dipping extensional shear zones at the depth of the brittle-ductile transition, from the early Miocene to the Pliocene. (3) West dipping normal faults accommodate extension on the eastern side of the volcanic arc. (4) Extension is preceded along the convergence front by the formation of a thrust wedge, where high-pressure and low-temperature conditions are recorded; maximum PT conditions decrease toward the east, and PT paths are systematically very cold, suggesting that a large part of the exhumation occurred during synorogenic extension. We discuss the possible mechanisms that account for constant shear sense over large domains. The model involves retreat of the slab and migration of the volcanic arc. Partially molten lower crust acts as a low strength zone where extensional strain is localized. Eastward motion of the upper mantle as a consequence of the migration of the slab induced a component of shear toward the volcanic arc at the base of the stronger upper crust. In the weak upper mantle and lower crust, to the west of the volcanic arc, extensional stresses are not transmitted; this produces a top-to-the-east sense of shear at the base of the upper crust that migrates eastward, following arc migration.


This case study explores students' perceptions of the value of asynchronous online discussions. Postgraduate business students participated in asynchronous online discussions that are part of a blended approach to teaching, learning, and assessment. The students were required to read three refereed journal articles on global human resource information system (HRIS) implementations, write annotated bibliographies, discuss online in groups of four, and reflect on the learning experience. Students' reflections are examined to identify factors that make this a worthwhile learning experience. These reflections indicate that students valued the learning experience and viewed the online environment as an inclusive place in which to collaborate and discuss with their peers. Planning, preparation, and structure were found to be factors relating to the effectiveness of the online discussion, with timing generally being viewed as positive but seen as an issue by some students. Overall, students valued this learning and assessment strategy believing that it increased their knowledge and understanding of HRIS.


Background Inflammation followed by fibrosis is a component of islet dysfunction in both rodent and human type 2 diabetes. Because islet inflammation may originate from endothelial cells, we assessed the expression of selected genes involved in endothelial cell activation in islets from a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes, the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat. We also examined islet endotheliuml/oxidative stress (OS)/inflammation-related gene expression, islet vascularization and fibrosis after treatment with the interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). Methodology/Principal Findings Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR on islets isolated from 10-week-old diabetic GK and control Wistar rats. Furthermore, GK rats were treated s.c twice daily with IL-1Ra (Kineret, Amgen, 100 mg/kg/day) or saline, from 4 weeks of age onwards (onset of diabetes). Four weeks later, islet gene analysis and pancreas immunochemistry were performed. Thirty-two genes were selected encoding molecules involved in endothelial cell activation, particularly fibrinolysis, vascular tone, OS, angiogenesis and also inflammation. All genes except those encoding angiotensinogen and epoxide hydrolase (that were decreased), and 12-lipoxygenase and vascular endothelial growth factor (that showed no change), were significantly up-regulated in GK islets. After IL-1Ra treatment of GK rats in vivo, most selected genes implied in endothelium/OS/immune cells/fibrosis were significantly down-regulated. IL-1Ra also improved islet vascularization, reduced fibrosis and ameliorated glycemia. Conclusions/Significance GK rat islets have increased mRNA expression of markers of early islet endothelial cell activation, possibly triggered by several metabolic factors, and also some defense mechanisms. The beneficial effect of IL-1Ra on most islet endothelial/OS/immune cells/fibrosis parameters analyzed highlights a major endothelial-related role for IL-1 in GK islet alterations. Thus, metabolically-altered islet endothelium might affect the β-cell microenvironment and contribute to progressive type 2 diabetic β-cell dysfunction in GK rats. Counteracting islet endothelial cell inflammation might be one way to ameliorate/prevent β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.


Gibraltar is a community in which political conflicts are common, but has quite frequently been ignored in the academic world, despite its great interest and uniqueness. The present research offers a new perspective into the study of the Gibraltarian identity as it adheres to the theoretical paradigm known as Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), which analyses language in relation to the social context in which it appears, aiming at providing social criticism based on linguistic evidence. This article focuses on the representation of the Gibraltar issue in a crucial moment for this community – namely the 2002 referendum. The textual corpus consists of editorial articles drawn from Gibraltarian newspapers examining how the Gibraltarian community was perceived and represented. Hence, the present CDA of editorial articles in relation to the referendum held in Gibraltar sheds light on a controversial situation: the Gibraltarian community and its distinctive identity.


Traditionally, class periods have meant that students listen to a professor lecture for about an hour. Cooperative learning can replace some of that lecture time with methods designed to get students actively involved during the class period. In this article, I highlight some methods of cooperative learning and suggest ways of integrating it into simulation study. Detailed examples are given on cooperative learning in a simulation course where GPSS/H is used for simulation modeling. Student feedback and results using the new methods are briefly discussed.


The use of multiphase clocking scheme, aggressive pipelining and "sparse" encodings in high performance designs results in a tremendous increase in the state space. We show that automatically transforming such designs to ones that have more "dense" encodings can result in significant benefits in using implicit BDD based techniques for their verification. We formulate a relaxed retiming framework which is more powerful than traditional retiming in reducing the number of latches and show that it can be applied to the product machine model for checking sequential hardware equivalence (SHE) without altering the correctness of the SHE check. We combine retiming with phase abstraction (C. Pixley, 1992) (a technique to transform multi phase FSMs to single phase FSMs for equivalence checking). The two transformations enable the SHE check to be performed on high performance controllers with large state space (more than 100 latches) from an industrial setting.


The aim of the study was: 1) to estimate the occurrence and intensity of some psychopathological symptoms in the course of Alzheimer's disease, and 2) to examine whether the occurrence of behavioral and psychological symptoms increases with the deepening of dementia process among persons with Alzheimer's disease living in their homes with outpatient treatment. The study was conducted among 94 persons (38 men and 56 women ageing from 52 to 86 years (x = 72.4 +/- 6.9), with education: from 2 to 17 years (x = 11.2 +/- 3.7). Three subgroups were selected for study with regard to the intensity of dementia process, estimated according to Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR): very mild (n = 16, x = 71.4 +/- 6.7), mild (n = 43, x = 72.6 +/- 7.9), moderate (n = 35, x = 72.5 +/- 6.9). Subjects in group II and III fulfill diagnostic criteria of dementia according to ICD-10, DSM IV and criteria of probable AD according to NINCDS-ADRDA. In the estimation of occurrence of behavioral and psychological disturbances: Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale--non-cognitive behavior (ADAS-non-cog) and subscale "Change in Personality, Interests, Drive" of Blessed Dementia Scale were used. The results have shown that with the progress of dementia process, the occurrence of the following psychopathological symptoms such as: hallucinations, intensive motor activity, purposeless hyperactivity, pacing, rigidity increases and there is a relinquishment of hobbies. In addition, regardless of the stage of dementia, such behaviors as: apathy, depression, tearfullness, impaired emotional control and disturbances of appetite were observed relatively frequently.


Significance Current techniques for data analysis in functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), such as artifact correction, do not allow to integrate the information originating from both wavelengths, considering only temporal and spatial dimensions of the signal's structure. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) has previously been validated as a multidimensional decomposition technique in other neuroimaging fields. Aim We aimed to introduce and validate the use of PARAFAC for the analysis of fNIRS data, which is inherently multidimensional (time, space, wavelength). Approach We used data acquired in 17 healthy adults during a verbal fluency task to compare the efficacy of PARAFAC for motion artifact correction to traditional 2D decomposition techniques, i.e. target principal (tPCA) and independent component analysis (ICA). Correction performance was further evaluated under controlled conditions with simulated artifacts and hemodynamic response functions. Results PARAFAC achieved significantly higher improvement in data quality as compared to tPCA and ICA. Correction in several simulated signals further validated its use and promoted it as a robust method independent of the artifact's characteristics. Conclusions This study describes the first implementation of PARAFAC in fNIRS and provides validation for its use to correct artifacts. PARAFAC is a promising data-driven alternative for multidimensional data analyses in fNIRS and this study paves the way for further applications.


Perturbations in the sympathetic nervous system may be anticipated in adults with hypopituitarism and untreated GH deficiency, because the syndrome is associated with both peripheral and central factors known to modulate sympathetic traffic. The higher prevalence of hypertension and increased cardiovascular morbidity/mortality reported in GH-deficient patients may suggest increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. We recorded muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in 10 hypopituitary adults with adequate hormonal replacement therapy except GH and in 10 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and body mass index to test whether hormonal aberrations in hypopituitarism and untreated GH deficiency are associated with an increase in sympathetic nerve traffic. Blood samples for insulin-like growth factor I, free T4, and TSH were taken after an overnight fast, followed by an oral glucose tolerance test. Direct intraneural recordings of MSNA were performed with a tungsten microelectrode from the peroneal nerve. The hypopituitary subjects had markedly increased MSNA (54 +/- 4 bursts/min vs. 34 +/- 4 in controls; P < 0.002), which was not related to abdominal obesity or altered glucose metabolism. When assessed for the whole study group, MSNA was inversely correlated to serum insulin-like growth factor I (r = -0.59; P < 0.006) and TSH (r = -0.46; P < 0.04). MSNA was positively correlated to diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.80; P < 0.0005) in patients, but not in controls. The intense sympathetic discharge is suggested to be of central origin and may be an important underlying mechanism for the secondary hypertension and increased cardiovascular morbidity/mortality in this patient group.


Effects of gravitational orientation on gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) for 304 stainless steel were studied to determine the critical factors for weld pool formation, such as weld surface deformation and weld pool shape. This study was accomplished through an analytical study of weld pool stability as a function of primary welding parameters (arc current and arc holding time), material properties (surface tension and density), and melting efficiency (cross-sectional area). The stability of weld pool shape and weld surface deformation was confirmed experimentally by changing the welding position. The arc current and translational velocity were the major factors in determining the weld pool stability as a function of the gravitational orientation. A 200A spot GTAW showed a significant variation of the weld pool formation as the arc held longer than 3 seconds, however the weld pool shape and surface morphology for a 165A spot GTAW were 'stable', i.e., constant regardless of the gravitational orientation. The cross-sectional area of the weld (CSA) was one of the critical factors in determining the weld pool stability. The measured CSA (13.5mm 2 ) for the 200A spot GTAW showed a good agreement with the calculated CSA (14.9mm 2 ).


Theories are inconclusive about the various impacts of the introduction of basket securities on the underlying stocks. We explore those effects for the first time around the launch of options on exchange traded funds (ETFs), employing the listing of the options on the S&P 500 Depository Receipts (SPDRs) in January 2005. With known factors controlled respectively, we find that the introduction of the SPDRs options leads to lower trading volume, higher bid–ask spread, higher systematic and total risks, and lower prices for the underlying stocks, consistent with the theory that the advent of basket derivatives alters the mix of various types of portfolio traders in the related markets when they are fully integrated.


Abstract Both English and Dutch feature a variety of verbs of possessional transfer which display the phenomenon of dative alternation. They can either be used in a double object construction with unmarked NP theme and recipient objects or in a so-called "prepositional dative" construction in which only the theme is encoded as a bare NP object and the recipient is marked by a preposition. Within this context of dative alternation, this study zooms in on the English prepositional dative construction with to and the Dutch prepositional dative construction with aan (cognate with English on, German an). Existing analyses of these constructions hold widely different views on the semantic import of the prepositions used: some authors take the preposition to bring an element of 'caused motion' to the semantics of the construction, while others treat it as a grammaticalized marker of recipient function. We shall argue for an intermediate position: while the constructions with to and aan are not limited to events which involve an actual spatial transfer but cover a wide variety of 'caused possession' events, they are nevertheless subject to a number of constraints which can be traced back to the spatial semantics of English to and Dutch aan. These semantic constraints will be illustrated by means of corpus-based observations on the behaviour of a number of English and Dutch verbs in the respective dative alternations.


Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is a rare, inherited skin fragility disorder characterized by blister formation in the sublamina densa. DEB is associated with aggressive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that has increased risk of metastases and poor prognosis. A 41-year-old woman with DEB underwent 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/BT). PET/CT showed increased 18F-FDG uptakes in multifocal cutaneous lesions in both lower extremities. The patient was diagnosed with SCC via skin biopsy from the left lateral lower thigh. Ten months later, PET/CT showed increased FDG uptakes in the primary tumor area as well as the left inguinal and left supraclavicular lymph node regions. 18F-FDG PET/CT seems to be useful for re-staging and planning appropriate therapeutic strategy in DEB-patients with SCC.


Summary Time-lapse seismic processing in carbonate fields having complex geology and in difficult seismic contexts requires highly specialized teams for success. Our field case has a flat structure, a poorly-imaged but highly reflective sea bottom and is covered by towed-streamer data in about 60m of water depth. Multiples contamination is severe and these are coherent with primaries. We tested several 4D seismic processing routes using a base and two monitor surveys and have summed up our experiences in four learning points: A simplified targeted demultiple flow avoiding adaptive methods improves 4D metrics better than a complicated one. A guided co-denoise technique using base and monitor vintages attenuate non-repeated noise from data while preserving 4D timeshifts and 4D amplitude changes. A mute design optimization prior to stack attenuates residual multiples that degrade 4D signal. Finally, seismic acquisition parameters have a strong impact on computed 4D seismic attributes even if this may not be the case in 3D. These learning points coupled with multidisciplinary interactions and an iterative processing QC strategy assure the delivery of data with a more interpretable 4D signal that permit the delineation of depleted zones, flushed zones and by-passed oil for future infill-well drilling and optimal reservoir management.


Vaccines are known to have side effects, most of which are tolerable. Vasculitis following vaccination is reported and has various modes of presentation. We report a 4-month-old girl presented with an unusual presentation of fulminant hepatitis, pan vasculitis, and diffuse body aneurysms following routine immunization diagnosed by echocardiography and computed tomography angiogram. It is important to be aware of different possible adverse effects following vaccines and their different modes of presentation as well as possible treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulins and high dose methylprednisolone.


Abstract Economic development requires that investments by entrepreneurs are not subject to expropriation by government. Unfortunately, public agencies often serve as the instruments by which political elites engage in corruption and extracting rents from the economy. The question is how to design institutions that credibly commit to a stable system of guarantees of property rights and contract enforcement. Principal agent theory and the new public management favor greater accountability of public managers to elected officials or eliminating public agencies through privatization. We argue for institutional designs that provide a degree of public agency autonomy. We show that public agency autonomy is a by-product of the competition between elites in democracies with multiple veto players. We show that transparency, professionalism, and legality help ensure that public managers do not engage in rent-extraction. The institutional design problem is how to induce public managers to serve the public interest without being fully responsive to elected political officials.


The residues of Hexachlorocyclohexanes( HCHs) and Dichloro-diphenyl-tricgloroethanes( DDTs) in aquatic products from Zhangjiang River Estuary were detected by using GC-ECD. The residues levels,compositions of HCHs and DDTs,as well as the human health risk assessment were discussed. The results showed that,the residues of HCHs in fishes,shrimps and shellfishes ranged from undetected to 1. 42ng·g-1with an average of 0. 842 ng·g-1,undetected to 0. 762 ng·g-1with an average of 0. 374 ng·g-1,undetected to 1. 59 ng·g-1with an average of 1. 04 ng·g-1,in wet weight respectively; and the residues of DDTs ranged from 3. 40 ng·g-1to 432 ng·g-1with an average of 96. 3 ng·g-1,1. 53 ng. g-1to 12. 1 ng·g-1with an average of 6. 79 ng·g-1,9. 02 ng·g-1to 78. 0 ng·g-1with an average of 37. 0 ng·g-1,in wet weight respectively. The DDTs residuals were in the order of fishes shellfishes shrimps,which were higher than HCHs residuals in aquatic products. Compared to other areas,the residues of HCHs and DDTs in aquatic products from Zhangjiang River Estuary were at the medium level. The composition characteristics of HCHs and DDTs showed that there was no new HCHs inputs in the survey area recently,however new DDT inputs in few area might be related to the recent usage of dicofol. The residual amounts of DDTs and HCHs in the collected aquatic products were still lower than the maximum residue limits for pesticides in food set by China( GB2763-2014),which were also lower than the maximum residue limits set by Japan,European Union and other developed countries and regions. Therefore,DDTs and HCHs did little harm to human health through dietary exposure in the Zhangjiang River areas.


This study evaluated the effect of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate-based cavity disinfectant (CHX) on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer and packable resin composite to sound and caries-affected dentin. Sound and occlusal caries-affected human third molars (N = 36, n = 3 per group) were randomly divided into three experimental groups to receive one of the following restorative materials. (a) Glass ionomer (Ketac Molar, 3 M ESPE; GI), (b) resin-modified glass ionomer (Vitremer, 3 M ESPE; RMGI) and (c) packable resin composite (Surefil, Dentsply; PRC) with a bonding agent (Prime Bond NT, Dentsply De Trey). Caries was removed using a caries-detecting dye (Caries Detector, Kuraray Medical Ltd.) and flat dentin surfaces were achieved by finishing up to 1200-grit silicon carbide abrasive. Half of the teeth in each group received 2% CHX (Consepsis, Ultradent). Dentin surfaces were built-up with the respective materials incrementally and were sectioned with a slow-speed saw into multiple beams. The beams were subjected to μTBS test (0.5 mm/min) in a Universal Testing Machine. The data were analysed using two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's tests. For each restorative material, μTBS results were not affected by the application of CHX (p > 0.05) on both sound and caries-affected dentin (p > 0.05). PRC in combination with the corresponding bonding agent showed significantly higher results (p < 0.05) than those of GI and RMGI, on sound and caries-affected teeth, respectively. Cohesive failure in dentin was not observed in any of the groups. The use of 2% chlorhexidine-based cavity disinfectant did not impair the adhesion of the restorative materials tested to either sound or caries-affected dentin.


Two-dimensional analysis techniques were applied to breathhold magnetic resonance (MR) tagged images in humans to better understand left ventricular (LV) mechanics 8 weeks after large reperfused first anterior myocardial infarction (MI). Eighteen patients (aged 51 +/- 13 yr, 15 men) were studied 8 +/- 1 weeks after first anterior MI as were 9 volunteers, (aged 30 +/- 3, 7 men). Breathhold MR myocardial tagging was performed with short-axis images spanning the LV from apex to base. Myocardial deformation was analyzed from apical, mid-LV, and basal slices using two-dimensional analytic techniques and expressed as L1 (greatest systolic lengthening), L2 (greatest systolic shortening), and beta (angular deviation of L1 from the radial direction). LV ejection fraction (EF) by MR imaging in the patients after MI was 45 +/- 15%. The apex and midventricle in patients demonstrated reduced L1 and L2 and increased beta compared with normal subjects with the greatest abnormalities at the apex, as expected in anterior infarction. However, in addition, basal L1 was lower than normal subjects (10 +/- 6% versus 19 +/- 7%, p < 0.0001) as was L2 (14 +/- 7% versus 17 +/- 6%, p < 0.04). Beta was greater than normal at the base (23 +/- 20 degrees and 14 +/- 10 degrees, p < 0.02). L2 correlated significantly with EF in the patient group (EF = 2.6 x L2 + 7, r = 0.68, p < 0.002). After healing of reperfused first anterior MI, maximal lengthening and maximal shortening and the orientation of maximal strains are abnormal throughout the left ventricle, including mild abnormalities at the base. This suggests more diffuse abnormalities in regional mechanical function than simply within the zone of healed infarction.


This letter focuses on a multimodal language understanding method for carry-and-place tasks with domestic service robots. We address the case of ambiguous instructions, that is, when the target area is not specified. For instance "put away the milk and cereal" is a natural instruction where there is ambiguity regarding the target area, considering environments in daily life. Conventionally, this instruction can be disambiguated from a dialogue system, but at the cost of time and cumbersome interaction. Instead, we propose a multimodal approach, in which the instructions are disambiguated using the robot's state and environment context. We develop the Multi-Modal Classifier Generative Adversarial Network (MMC-GAN) to predict the likelihood of different target areas considering the robot's physical limitation and the target clutter. Our approach, MMC-GAN, significantly improves accuracy compared with baseline methods that use instructions only or simple deep neural networks.


Next-generation whole genome sequencing of microbes demands rapid, robust, and scalable library construction workflows, capable of generating high-quality sequence data across a wide range of genome sizes, complexities and genomic GC content. In this Application Note, we describe a streamlined library preparation method that results in minimal bias, high uniform coverage, and facilitates de novo assembly of microbial genomes.


Neonates are known to have a higher risk of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis than children of other age groups. The exact incidence in neonates remains unknown and is likely to be underestimated, as clinical presentation is nonspecific and diagnosis can only be made when dedicated neuroimaging techniques, including computed tomographic venography or magnetic resonance venography, are performed. Associated intracranial lesions are common and some, such as a unilateral thalamic hemorrhage, should suggest cerebral sinovenous thrombosis as the underlying etiology. Neurodevelopmental outcome is poor in approximately 50% of these infants and is adversely affected by associated parenchymal lesions. Anticoagulation therapy will limit propagation of the clot and possibly the development or enhancement of parenchymal lesions. Multicenter randomized clinical trials are urgently needed to address many of these important issues.


This study investigated impression management tactics and self-presentation on popular, A-list blogs. Building on Goffman's (1959) constructs of self-presentation and operationalizing impression management strategies, this study content analyzed the most-linked-to blogs. A-list bloggers reveal more information about themselves than other bloggers and actively engage in impression management. Differences in blogs based on gender confirm traditional gendered online behavior. Findings indicate the diversity in blogs and encourage researchers to understand the pieces of blogs before purporting to understand the medium as a whole.


The relationship between the geographic distribution of consumers and of their hosts (foodplants) is examined using the resident butterfly fauna of Britain. On average, butterfly species that feed on more widely distributed hosts are themselves more widely distributed. However, the relationship is approximately triangular and the upper constraint imposed by the range sizes of hosts is not closely followed; some species have much more restricted ranges than their hosts have. There is no relationship between the proportion of the range of the foodplant that is occupied and the size of the range of the foodplant. Monopbagous butterfly species have smaller range sizes than polyphagous species, probably as a consequence of the greater potential range sizes of the latter. Those plant species that are used as hosts by butterflies have larger range sizes than expected by chance, and individual polyphagous butterfly species tend disproportionately to be found in areas containing larger numbers of their host plant species. In sum, this study reveals a complex relationship between the distribution of butterflies and that of their resources (foodplants).


We examine the slot management regime used in the EU and investigate how it may in the short run lead to inefficient outcomes and in the long run discourage support for expanded airport capacity. Slot administration is used to balance demand and supply when capacity is in short supply. Because airports are not permitted to, or do not, charge market-clearing prices for scarce runway capacity, airlines set fares to clear the market. In doing so they earn significant rents. These rents exist regardless of who owns the slots or if the slots are or are not concentrated in a few hands. The distribution of rents will depend on slot ownership. The EU regulations limiting incumbent airlines' access to newly available slots does nothing to affect airfares. Restricting 50 percent of new capacity to new entrants will also exacerbate incumbents' reluctance to support runway capacity expansion since they lose scarcity rent and potentially market share. The paper illustrates our argument using the current debate concerning runway expansion at Heathrow and Gatwick.


A terahertz (THz) nonvolatile in situ electrically erasable-rewritable photo-memory based on indium oxide (In2O3) nanoparticles is reported. The In2O3/PEDOT:PSS/quartz sample increases its conductivity and attenuates its THz transmission under optical excitation. When this optical excitation is terminated, the modulated THz transmission recovers to its original value in an air environment slightly. The modulated THz transmission recovered more rapidly with increasing bias voltage. Nonvolatile digital information storage is enabled when the In2O3/PEDOT:PSS/quartz structure is encapsulated in nitrogen. The photo-memory can be rewritten after in situ electrical erasure. The results show that in situ electrically erasable terahertz nonvolatile rewritable photo-memories are feasible.


We present Covy -- a robotic platform that promotes social distancing during pandemics like COVID-19. Covy features a novel compound vision system that enables it to detect social distancing breaches up to 16m away. Covy navigates its surroundings autonomously using a hybrid navigation stack that combines Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL)and a probabilistic localization method. We built the complete system and evaluated Covy's performance through extensive sets of experiments both in simulated and realistic environments. Amongst others, our results show that the hybrid navigation stack is more robust compared to a pure DRL-based solution.


Hand gestures form an intuitive means of interaction in Mixed Reality (MR) applications. However, accurate gesture recognition can be achieved only through state-of-the-art deep learning models or with the use of expensive sensors. Despite the robustness of these deep learning models, they are generally computationally expensive and obtaining real-time performance on-device is still a challenge. To this end, we propose a novel lightweight hand gesture recognition framework that works in First Person View for wearable devices. The models are trained on a GPU machine and ported on an Android smartphone for its use with frugal wearable devices such as the Google Cardboard and VR Box. The proposed hand gesture recognition framework is driven by a cascade of state-of-the-art deep learning models: MobileNetV2 for hand localisation, our custom fingertip regression architecture followed by a Bi-LSTM model for gesture classification. We extensively evaluate the framework on our EgoGestAR dataset. The overall framework works in real-time on mobile devices and achieves a classification accuracy of 80% on EgoGestAR video dataset with an average latency of only 0.12 s.


Distributed Constraint Optimization Problems (DCOPs) are an important framework for modeling coordinated decision-making problems in multi-agent systems with a set of discrete variables. Later works have extended DCOPs to model problems with a set of continuous variables, named Functional DCOPs (F-DCOPs). In this paper, we combine both of these frameworks into the Mixed Integer Functional DCOP (MIF-DCOP) framework that can deal with problems regardless of their variables' type. We then propose a novel algorithm - Distributed Parallel Simulated Annealing (DPSA), where agents cooperatively learn the optimal parameter configuration for the algorithm while also solving the given problem using the learned knowledge. Finally, we empirically evaluate our approach in DCOP, F-DCOP, and MIF-DCOP settings and show that DPSA produces solutions of significantly better quality than the state-of-the-art non-exact algorithms in their corresponding settings.


In 2017, the German fruit production comprises about 11.000 farms cultivating fruits on around 76,000 hectares. It is divided into three sections: tree fruits (49,934 ha), soft fruits (6,838 ha) and strawberries (18,649 ha). This report provides a comprehensive overview of the development of the fruit production in major fruit producing regions in Germany and associated farm structures from 2006 to 2016/17. Additionally, a detailed characterization of fruit cultivation on the level of the federal states and at district level for the most important fruit crops is presented. In the period under review, the acreage of tree fruit cultivation initially declined slightly before it recovered 2017, according to the fruit tree census. In particular, the acreage of sour cherries has declined significantly between 2012 and 2017, while the area under sweet cherries has risen slightly between 2012 and 2017, after a decline in the previous period between 2007 and 2012. The cultivation of pears and plums has stabilized after a decline period between 2007 and 2012. With about 68% of the fruit tree area, apples are the major fruit crop cultivated in Germany. The area under apple cultivation has remained more or less constant over the past 12 years. In the same period, berry production has increased by around 44 %. This is mainly due to the increase in blueberry cultivation, but the total acreage of sea buckthorn, aronia berries, gooseberries, black-berries and elderberries has also increased. While the acreage of open field raspberry cultivation has decreased in size, protected raspberry production has increased significantly. Approximately one quarter of the berry fruit acreage is devoted to organic farming. In German crop statistics, strawberries are not summarized in the berry statistics but presented as a separate category. In the period under review, the area for strawberry cultivation varied from 17,500 ha in 2006 to around 16,000 ha in 2009 and then increased to a value of around 19,400 ha by 2013. Similar to raspberry production systems, protected strawberry production acreage is rising while open field cultivation area has declined between 2013 and 2016.


Learning to effectively imitate human teleoperators, with generalization to unseen and dynamic environments, is a promising path to greater autonomy enabling robots to steadily acquire complex skills from supervision. We propose a new motion learning technique rooted in contraction theory and sum-of-squares programming for estimating a control law in the form of a polynomial vector field from a given set of demonstrations. Notably, this vector field is provably optimal for the problem of minimizing imitation loss while providing continuous-time guarantees on the induced imitation behavior. Our method generalizes to new initial and goal poses of the robot and can adapt in real-time to dynamic obstacles during execution, with convergence to teleoperator behavior within a well-defined safety tube. We present an application of our framework for pick-and-place tasks in the presence of moving obstacles on a 7-DOF KUKA IIWA arm. The method compares favorably to other learning-from-demonstration approaches on benchmark handwriting imitation tasks.


The purpose of this study is to analyze the relation between well being of individuals (in terms of life satisfaction) and their financial risk perceptions. Also, this study attempts to understand the investment behaviour of middle class in India belonging to 3 occupational categories- public sector employees, private sector employees and the self employed (entrepreneurs). Due to the changing demographics, economic and social landscape of the Indian society, it is essential to determine whether the present well-being of the citizens is related to their attitudes towards financial risk. This becomes all the more imperative as the Indian society becomes more risk-tolerant over the years. Financial Risk attitude describes affective feelings of like or dislike towards a scenario involving financial risk that have an influence on financial decision making and behaviour. Well being indicates the level at which an individual is satisfied with the present conditions of his/her life. Investment Behaviour reflects an individual's investment patterns. In our analysis, we divided our sample into 3 groups of self employed, private sector employees and public sector employees and proceeded to study the financial attitudes and investment behaviours of each group. We believe that studying risk perception and investment behaviour in the context of Indian economic environment can offer fresh interesting insights on the changing financial attitudes and responses of citizens of developing India. A strong and statistically significant positive correlation was found between life satisfaction and financial risk-seeking attitude. Certain differences were noted in the magnitude and statistical significance of the correlation of the 2 variables for the 3 occupational categories. Further, differences were noted in the investment behaviour of the 3 groups.


Shock is one of the most frequently diagnosed, yet poorly understood disorders in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The very definition of what constellation of physical signs and symptoms that comprise shock remains controversial, in part due to the vast array of disorders that cause shock in critically ill and injured children. Early management and reversal of the shock state is associated with significantly improved outcomes. However, early management is critically dependent upon the early recognition and diagnosis of shock at the bedside. Failure to recognize the signs and symptoms of shock and to institute timely and appropriate care leads to higher mortality rates in both children and adults. Clinical recognition of shock requires a high index of suspicion - as such, all pediatric health care providers should be cognizant of the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and early management of shock.


We also applied long period fibre gratings (LPFGs) to various sensing application such as bend, transverse load, and index change sensors by using the peak-splitting effect of LPFGs. Furthermore, since the lower order cladding mode is insensitive to the external perturbation change compared with the higher order cladding modes,We will discuss a simple method to change the transmission characteristics of long-period fiber gratings using UV post-exposure. Application of the resonant peak splitting to bend, transverse load, and index change sensing will be described.


The effect of corona discharge on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film was studied in terms of surface functionality and surface energetics of the film surfaces, improving the dyeability. The introduction of a polar group (O=C-O, C=O, and C-O) to a corona-treated LDPE film with acrylic acid could be confirmed by ESCA. The Owens-Wendt and Wu models using geometric means were studied to analyze the surface free energy of corona-treated film. It was found that the corona-treated LDPE film did lead to an increase in surface free energy, mainly due to the increase of its specific (or polar) component as the corona discharge power increased. Also, the K/S values were increased as the concentrations of dye increased. From the acid-base interaction point of view, it was found that the graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto the corona-treated LDPE film plays an important role in growing the acidic character which is one of the specific components of surface free energy, resulting in improving the dyeability with basic dyeing agent. A direct linear relationship is shown between the O(1s)/C(1s) ratio and the resulting K/S value or the specific component for this work. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.


An analysis is presented for the steady, two-dimensional, free convection around line sources of heat and heated cylinders in unbounded saturated porous media. It is extended to account also for the effects of forced convection. The study is based on the Boussinesq equations, with the velocities calculated using Darcy's law. The analysis begins with the non-dimensional formulation and numerical solution of the problem of pure free convection around a line source of heat. When this analysis is extended to include the effects of forced convection, two parameters appear in the non-dimensional formulation: the non-dimensional value, V∞, of the free-stream velocity and its angle γ of inclination with respect to the vertical. We first describe the asymptotic form of the solution for large and small values of the distance to the source. The far-field description, which is also applicable to the flow around heated cylinders, is needed to facilitate the numerical solution of the problem. It includes a thermal wake, aligned with the free stream, and an outer irrotational flow with a sink and a vortex at the line source. The temperature distribution near the source involves a constant A0(V∞, γ), to be calculated with the numerical solution of the complete problem, which is used in the evaluation of the heat transfer from heated cylinders when the Rayleigh and Péclet numbers are small compared with unity. In this case we find an inner region where heat conduction is dominant, and an outer region where the cylinder appears as a line source of heat. The asymptotic analysis is complemented with the numerical solution of the general problem for circular cylinders with a wide range of Rayleigh numbers and some representative values of V∞ and γ. We give correlations for the Nusselt number in the limiting cases of pure free convection and pure forced convection.


The Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) stores attestation objects for Internet resources. In this demo, we present RPKI MIRO, an open source software framework to monitor and inspect these RPKI objects. RPKI MIRO provides resource owners, RPKI operators, researchers, and lecturers with intuitive access to the content of the deployed RPKI repositories. It helps to optimize the repository structure and to identify failures.


In 2000, Congress approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). CERP is remarkable in a number of ways: the unprecedented scope and price tag; the vast physical scale of the ecosystem; the degree of scientific and technical uncertainty; and the institutional complexity of a program that involves dozens of governing agencies at federal, state, and local levels. Implementation has been excruciatingly slow, impeded by lack of federal funding; intergovernmental and interagency conflict; stakeholder contestation; and cumbersome procedural requirements. Yet the politics of CERP implementation has received almost no scholarly attention. The negotiated consensus-building process that produced CERP has been hailed as a model of collaborative watershed policymaking. But as critics have noted (e.g. Layzer 2008), collaborative processes often defer resolution of the deepest conflicts to implementation, during which local interests may exert greater influence. This paper presents preliminary ethnographic research on the most advanced CERP project, the Picayune Strand Restoration. Against the optimistic predictions of the collaborative management literature, I find that project implementation has been delayed and costs increased due to political factors including local resistance fueled by property-rights discourse. In the current recessionary climate, these delays and added costs threaten the success of a project that should be one of CERP's lowest-hanging fruits.


Student success is a vital construct within academia, and, as such, considerable explorations have attempted to identify contributing factors. However, these studies typically focused on only one or two aspects of academic achievement (i.e., motivation, study skills, or self-efficacy). In the present study, we used five separate instruments to identify a set of factors that predict academic success for both first-generation and non-first-generation students, measured by grade point average (GPA). For all students, multiple regression analyses revealed that amotivation, introjected extrinsic motivation, external regulation extrinsic motivation, study skills, identified extrinsic motivation, support from a significant other, and autonomy were significant predictors of GPA. In comparison, multiple regression analyses revealed that first-generation students' GPA was primarily predicted by only amotivation, social support from friends, intrinsic motivation toward accomplishment, and support from a significant other. Our results support the importance of fostering intrinsic motivation for academic success in both groups of students, highlight the critical role of social support for this outcome, and provide evidence that first-generation students' motivation may differ from that of their peers.


Towards Making Collected Data Available for Global Analyses
Marine Biology faces a particular problem and opportunity. Marine ecosystems are connected by a continuous medium (water). That means that all organisms with a free swimming or planktonic life stage are essentially mobile throughout all seas. The biogeography of such organisms requires therefore information from an extraordinary large (circumglobal) area which makes the experimental approach to such information costly, and organisatorically demanding.


100 Questions & Answers About Lymphedema provides clear, straightforward answers to your questions about lymphedema. Whether it is you or a loved one suffering from this challenging condition, this book offers help! Written by three experts in the field, with insider tips from actual patients, this practical, easy-to-read guide shows you and your family how to cope with symptoms, where to get the best treatment, what medications are available for your condition, and much more. An indispensible quick reference for anyone facing lymphedema.


In real life, there are many problems like shortest path, graph coloring, travelling Salesmen problem (TSP) etc, thus providing solution to each problem is nearly or highly impossible with the help of traditional methods in reasonable amount of time. But it may be possible with the help of heuristic approach. It provides solution but don't guarantee optimal solution. Graph partitioning problems are NP-Complete problems, partitioning graph into p-partitions using multilevel method, spectral method etc. for various purposes .Here we are studying several techniques to partition graph.


BACKGROUND Recent innovations in care have improved survival following injury. Coincidentally, the population of elderly injured patients with preexisting comorbidities has increased. We hypothesized that this increase in elderly injured patients may have combined with recent care innovations to alter the causes of death after trauma. METHODS We reviewed demographics, injury characteristics, and cause of death of in-hospital deaths of patients admitted to our Level I trauma service from 2000 through 2011. Cause of death was classified as acute hemorrhagic shock; severe traumatic brain injury or high spinal cord injury; complications of preexisting medical condition only (PM); survivable trauma combined with complications of preexisting medical condition (TCoM); multiple-organ failure, sepsis, or adult respiratory distress syndrome (MOF/S/ARDS), or trauma not otherwise categorized (e.g., asphyxiation). Major trauma care advances implemented on our service during the period were identified, and trends in the causes of death were analyzed. RESULTS Of the 27,276 admissions, 819 (3%) eligible nonsurvivors were identified for the cause-of-death analyses. Causes of death were severe traumatic brain injury or high spinal cord injury at 44%, acute hemorrhagic shock at 28%, PM at 11%, TCoM at 10%, MOF/S/ARDS at 2%, and trauma not otherwise categorized at 5%. Mean age at death increased across the study interval (range, 47–57 years), while mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) decreased (range, 28–35). There was a significant increase in deaths because of TCoM (3.3–20.9%) and PM (6.7–16.4%), while deaths caused by MOF/S/ARDS decreased from 5% to 0% by 2007. Compared with year 2000, the annual adjusted mortality rate decreased consistently starting in 2009, after the 2002 to 2007 adoption of four major trauma practice guidelines. CONCLUSION Mortality caused by preexisting medical conditions has increased, while markedly fewer deaths resulted from the complications of injury. Future improvements in outcomes will require improvement in the management of elderly trauma patients with comorbid conditions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.


A representation for binary coded ternary (BCT) numbers is proposed. This representation is then used for the introduction of algorithms for ternary addition and subtraction on binary hardware. In the algorithm introduced, distinction is made between basic algorithms, i.e., those which are independent of the type of the arithmetic, and those which are dependent upon it. Some suggestions as to the significance of this approach for nonternary arithmetic are presented.


A new aliphatic acid, compound 1, together with six known metabolites, including nonactic acid (2), homononactic acid (3), ethyl homononactate (4), homononactylhomononactate (5), valinomycin (6), and cyclo-(Pro-Leu) (7), was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. BM-8, an actinobacterial strain isolated from the feces of Equus quagga. The structures of these compounds were established by analyses of spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (NMR), as well as by HR-ESI-MS spectrometry and chemical derivative analyses. Additionally, a serial analogue of nonactic acid and homononacticacid (8–21) was synthesized. The cytotoxicity of 1–21 wastested against a panel of cancer cell lines, such as HT-29, MCF-7, A375 and K562, with MTT assay. In addition, the cytotoxicity tests revealed that 1 was less cytotoxic toward a panel of cancerous cells, as compared with valinomycin (6).


Objective To determine whether early low-dose hydrocortisone treatment in extremely preterm infants is associated with brain damage assessed by MRI at term equivalent of age (TEA). Patients and outcomes This is a predefined secondary analysis of brain abnormalities, observed by MRI at TEA, of patients randomly assigned to receive either placebo or hydrocortisone in the PREMILOC trial. Outcomes were based on brain abnormalities graded according to Kidokoro scores. Results Among 412 survivors at TEA, 300 MRIs were performed and 295 were suitable for analysis. Kidokoro scoring was completed for 119/148 and 110/147 MRIs in the hydrocortisone and placebo groups, respectively. The distribution of the Kidokoro white matter (WM) subscore and other subscores was not significantly different between the two groups. There was, however, a significant association between a higher overall Kidokoro score and hydrocortisone treatment (5.84 (SD 3.51) for hydrocortisone and 4.98 (SD 2.52) for placebo; mean difference, 0.86; 95% CI 0.06 to 1.66; p=0.04). However, hydrocortisone was not statistically associated with moderate-to-severe brain lesions (Kidokoro overall score ≥6) in a multivariate logistic regression model accounting for potential confounding variables (adjusted OR (95% CI) 1.27 (0.75 to 2.14), p=0.38). Bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks postmenstrual age significantly predicted both WM damage (adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.70 (1.03 to 7.14), p=0.04) and global brain damage (adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.18 (1.19 to 3.99), p=0.01). Conclusions Early hydrocortisone exposure in extremely preterm infants is not statistically associated with either WM brain damage or overall moderate-to-severe brain lesions when adjusted for other neonatal variables. Trial registration number EudraCT number 2007-002041-20, NCT00623740


Successful treatment of lymphomas requires classical morphological diagnosis and also immunophenotyping as well as cytogenetics and molecular genetic examinations. The expansion of pathogenetic knowledge resulted in new classifications, new disease entities, and subtypes that are identified with distinct genetic aberrations bearing prognostic value as well and also serving as potential targets for new targeted therapies. The more detailed molecular background is explored the more precise personalized treatment options can be utilized nowadays and in the near future. Thus new up-to-date hematopathology is the key to successful oncohematological treatment. The imaging diagnosis has also evolved during the last decade in the diagnosis of lymphomas. This can also help us to monitor response to therapy by using positron emission tomography. This enables us to monitor therapy and make decisions based on efficiency of the therapeutic regimen. Survival data of lymphoma patients can further be improved by avoiding under- and overtreatment, which is achieved by using PET/CT as a "biomarker" or response indicator besides conventional biologic and clinical prognostic markers.


Disorders related to the misuse of certain drugs represent not only a worldwide public health problem, but also an economic and social issue. Adolescents and children represent the most vulnerable population for drug consumption and addiction. At this early stage in life, a crucial phase of the neurodevelopmental process, substance abuse can induce brain plasticity mechanisms that may produce long-lasting changes in neural circuitry and ultimately behavior. One of the consequences of these changes is the impairment of cognitive functions, with academic negative impact in the acquisition of new knowledge. In this chapter, we will describe the effects of illicit substances of abuse, both stimulants and depressants as well as prescription drug misuse and its influence of on learning and memory processes. Recent evidence on the new so-called smart drugs is also discussed.


Tubers of Sandersonia aurantiaca Hook, were soaked in 1000 mg.L -1 GA 3 , 20 mg.L -1 uniconazole, 200 mg.L -1 benzyladenine, or water for 2 hours and then sprouted at 12, 18, or 24 °C. The effects of these treatments on flower stem quality were then determined at forcing temperatures of 18, 24, or 30 °C. Stem length increased with sprouting temperature only at a forcing temperature of 18 °C. Floret numbers increased with sprouting temperature at all forcing temperatures, but the effect was greatest at the 18 °C forcing temperature. The 12 °C sprouting treatment reduced floret numbers at all forcing temperatures. Soaking tubers in GA 3 increased stem length but drastically reduced floret numbers, while soaking in uniconazole reduced stem length but had no significant effect on floret numbers. Soaking in BA strongly promoted branching, which resulted in large increases (>30%) in floret numbers per stem with little change in stem length. Of the three growth regulators, only BA was effective in improving cut flower stem quality. Chemical names used: gibberellic acid (GA 3 ); (E)-(+)-(S)-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-pent-1-ene-3-ol (uniconazole); N 6 -benzylamino purine (benzyladenine; BA).


The effects of osmotic concentration, ionic strength, and pH on the myofilament lattice spacing of intact and skinned single fibers from the walking leg of crayfish (Orconectes) were determined by electron microscopy and low-angle X-ray diffraction. Sarcomere lengths were determined by light diffraction. It is demonstrated that the interfilament spacing in the intact fiber is a function of the volume of the fiber. It is also shown that the interfilament spacing of the skinned (but not of the intact) fiber is affected in a predictable manner by ionic strength and pH insofar as these parameters affect the electrostatic repulsive forces between the filaments. From these combined observations it is demonstrated that the unit-cell volume of the in vivo myofilament lattice behaves in a manner similar to that described for liquid-crystalline solutions.


This research focuses on the accomodation of cultural values of Maduranes society in solving carok problem in criminal law. Using the socio-legal research, interview, observation as the primery data, and data analysis are based on the inductive and qualitative manner, this research reveals that changing the criminal law conception as the public law into public law with the private dimension particularly in murder cases caused by self esteem defence is a must to give a chance for cultural values of Maduranes society in solving carok problem. So that, penal mediation based on the cultural values of Maduranes society as a methode to solve carok can be accomodated in criminal law by adopting some principles of traditional village or tribal moots model, victim-offender mediation model, and community panels or courts model. Key words : carok, cultural values, and penal mediation


This study investigated the mating systems in Stylosanthes guianensis , an important tropical forage legume. Twelve progenies were analyzed with 21 polymorphic random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) loci. The mating parameters estimated using the mixed mating model showed that this population practices a mixture of selfing (61.4%) and out-crossing (38.6%) for reproduction. The results also indicated that the fraction of multilocus out-crossing of about 8.2% occurred among related individuals. Low values were obtained for correlation of paternity (0.212 ± 0.046) and correlation of selfing among families (0.102 ± 0.001). These results have important implications to establish strategies of maintenance of germplasm and genetic breeding. Keywords: Mixed mating model, out-crossing rate, tropical forage legume African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(36), pp. 5820-5822, 6 September, 2010


While Web search engines can retrieve information on the Web for a specific topic, users have to step a long ordered list in order to locate the needed information, which is often tedious and less efficient. We propose a new link-based clustering approach to cluster search results returned from Web search engines by exploring both co-citation and coupling. Unlike document clustering algorithms in IR that are based on common words/phrases shared among documents, our approach is based on common links shared by pages. We also extend the standard clustering algorithm, K-means, to make it more natural to handle noise and apply it to Web search results. By filtering some irrelevant pages, our approach clusters high quality pages in Web search results into semantically meaningful groups to facilitate users accessing and browsing. Preliminary experiments and evaluations are conducted to investigate its effectiveness. The experimental results show that link-based clustering of Web search results is promising and beneficial.


We report two new observations of endobronchial granular cell tumor discovering by bronchoscopy, during the staging of head and neck cancers. This site remains exceptional; the histologic features are well known. The ultrastructural and especially the immunohistological criteria trend to indicate a neurogenic histogenesis. Although the course is benign in this site and no malignant forms have been reported, local relapses are possible. However, some benign cases may have disturbing endoscopic and histologic features.


The research and development of plasma sources, which can be used for therapeutic applications in the new and emerging field of plasma medicine, has gained more and more interest during recent years. These applications require cold nonthermal plasmas operating at atmospheric pressure. Due to the fact that, in general, plasma on or in the human body is a challenge both for medicine and plasma physics, basic research combining experimental physical and biological investigation and modeling is necessary to provide the required knowledge for therapeutic applications. It turned out that each application needs a special tailor-made plasma source, passing a minimum set of physical and biological tests before it can be considered for medical use. In addition to atmospheric-pressure plasma jets, dielectric barrier discharges offer great potential for a variety of medical indications. A new 2-D and even 3-D acting plasma source is introduced, exemplified for a possible decontamination of human extremities or similar tasks. In contradiction to most of today's existing plasma sources with fixed electrodes and nozzles, the prototype uses flexible electrodes to automatically adapt the plasma under equal and stable conditions to nearly all surface structures. First, physical and biological investigations demonstrate the general potential for therapeutic applications on preferably intact skin surfaces.


Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is an important cause of subfertility in dairy cattle. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), mainly BMP2, BMP4 and BMP6, play a key role in female fertility. In this study, we hypothesized that an altered BMP system is associated with ovarian alterations contributing to COD pathogenesis. Therefore, we examined the expression of BMP2, BMP4 and BMP6 and BMP receptor 1B (BMPR1B) in the ovaries of animals with spontaneous or ACTH-induced COD, as well as during the development of the disease, in a model of follicular persistence induced by low doses of progesterone (at 5, 10 and 15 days of follicular persistence). Results showed changes in BMP2, BMP4 and BMP6 expression during folliculogenesis, in granulosa and theca cells in the COD groups, as well as at different stages of follicular persistence. Results also showed changes in BMPR1B expression in developing follicles in animals with COD, and at the initial stages of follicular persistence (P5). Comparison between groups showed significant differences, mainly in BMP4 and BMP6 expression, in granulosa and theca cells of different follicular categories. The expression of these BMPs also increased in cystic and persistent follicles, in relation to antral follicles of the control group. BMPR1B showed high expression in cystic follicles. Together, these results may indicate an alteration in BMPs, especially in BMP4 and BMP6, as well as in BMPR1B, which occurs early in folliculogenesis and incipiently during the development of COD, which could be a major cause of recurrence of this disease in cattle.Free Spanish abstract: A Spanish translation of this abstract is freely available at http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/early/2016/08/01/REP-15-0315/suppl/DC1.


Funded by the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP), the ECHO DEPository Project supports the digital preservation efforts of the Library of Congress by contributing research and software to help society GET, SAVE, and KEEP its digital cultural heritage. Project activities include building Web archiving tools, evaluating existing repository software, developing architectures to enhance existing repositories' interoperability and preservation features, and modeling next-generation repositories for supporting long-term preservation. This article describes the development of the Hub and Spoke (HandS) Tool Suite, built to help curators of digital objects manage content in multiple repository systems while preserving valuable preservation metadata. Implementing METS and PREMIS, HandS provides a standards-based method for packaging content that allows digital objects to be moved between repositories more easily while supporting the collection of technical and provenance information crucial for long-term preservation. Related project work investigating the more fundamental semantic issues underlying the preservation of the meaning of digital objects over time is profiled separately in this issue (Dubin et al., 2009).


The conventional economic dispatch (ED) model does not consider the case that some units are allowed to be shut down. To take this case into account, in this paper, a new ED model is proposed. The new model is based on a simple but fundamental theory. Its proof is presented first, followed by the test case of a large-scale system. The new model successfully converges at the solutions in which the shut-down units are identified.


When a parallel pencil of monochromatic light falls at nearly the critical angle on the plane boundary between two media of differing refractive index, and emerges in the rarer medium in a direction almost parallel to the surface of separation, the aperture of the emergent pencil becomes greatly restricted. A study of the diffraction phenomena observed in this limiting case of oblique emergence seems of interest, especially in view of the fact that in the Lummer-Gehrcke interference spectroscope we have an actual case of importance in which such obliquely emergent pencils determined the observed phenomena. Some preliminary work on this subject was carried out by Prof. C. V. Raman, and at his suggestion the author of the present paper undertook a detailed experimental investigation of the case with a view to establishing its principal features. So far as the writer is aware, though the theory of the parallel-plate interferometer in its essentials is well known, the special character of the diffraction phenomena observed with pencils very obliquely refracted at a plane surface had not been discussed previously. It is proposed in the present paper to describe the results obtained by the writer, some of the observations (to be mentioned below) having special reference to the theory of the Lummer-Gehrcke plate. 2. Experimental Methods and Results . The general features of the case may be observed on an ordinary spectrometer. It is well known that an ordinary prismatic spectroscope may be so adjusted as to give very large dispersions, by putting the prism on the table of the instrument in such a position that the light incident on the first face, after passing through it, falls at nearly the critical angle of incidence on the second face and emerges nearly grazing the surface. The lines in the spectrum then appear very widely separated, and also strongly curved, owing to the fact that pencils of light from different points on the slit of the collimator do not all pass through the principal plane of the prism. In his investigation of the optical power of spectroscopes, Lord Rayleigh has remarked that the resolving power of the prism in the position referred to above is no greater than at other positions. The width of the beam emerging from the prism tends to zero as the grazing position is approached, and the spectrum lines are much widened by diffraction. This sets off the effect of the increased dispersion on the resolving power. Owing to the great dispersion and the enfeeblement of the light in oblique transmission, a very powerful source of monochromatic light is necessary for satisfactory observation of the diffraction phenomena. A Westinghouse quartz silica lamp is most suitable, though visual observations may also easily be made with a glass Cooper-Hewitt mercury-vapour lamp. Observations are made on the green line of the spectrum. In order to secure an extended diffraction-pattern, it is advantageous to use something less than the full aperture of the prism to start with, cutting it down by one or more slits having their edges parallel to the slit of the collimator. The position of the slits is a matter of indifference, so long as the aperture of the beam is cut down before it emerges or just as it emerges from the second surface of the prism, and not after it has emerged. The simplest arrangement is to limit the aperture of the beam by a slit or slits immediately before entry into the prism. Another arrangement would be to use a hollow prism, filled with liquid, and to put the slit or slits inside the prism, so as to limit the aperture of the beam just before incidence on the second face. A third arrangement is to use a glass prism the aperture of the second face of which has been reduced by grinding down to the desired width with parallel edges. All the arrangements give identical results.


Abstract An interpolation theorem holds for many standard modal logics, but first order S5 is a prominent example of a logic for which it fails. In this paper it is shown that a first order S5 interpolation theorem can be proved provided the logic is extended to contain propositional quantifiers. A proper statement of the result involves some subtleties, but this is the essence of it.


This article explores the challenges of building international labor solidarity by comparing two campaigns that developed inside the Canadian labor movement. I critically compare and assess the campaign against South African apartheid in the 1980s and the more recent efforts to oppose Israeli apartheid. Both campaigns are examples of grassroots international labor solidarity, where organizers sought to build international solidarity through member mobilization and a focus on the power of workers to engage in solidarity actions. I examine how these union activists organized within their unions, and how their organizational differences and the ideological and political contexts they organized within shaped their successes and limitations. Drawing from the work of Antonio Gramsci, I argue that these campaigns were sites of counter-hegemonic practice both because of the analysis and critiques they offered but also because of the nature of their organizing.


The invention provides a high-temperature resistant conveyer belt which comprises a framework layer and a covering glue layer which covers the surface of the framework layer, wherein the framework layer is made of a metal material; the covering glue layer is mainly made of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber and chloroprene rubber and is added with a fire retardant agent, trichloroethyl phosphate, a binding agent and a binding improver apart from a main cross-linking agent, an auxiliary cross-linking agent, an activating agent, an anti-aging agent, a reinforcing agent, a dispersing agent and a softening agent, wherein the binding agent comprises phenolic resin and hexakis(methoxymethyl)melamine; and the binding improver comprises maleic anhydride complexing butadiene and liquid natural rubber. The high-temperature resistant conveyer belt provided by the invention can be used at a temperature of 300 DEG C and has good firing bonding performance and firing resistant performance.


We consider a five-level atomic folding system, which involve two kinds of dressing mechanisms (the nested-cascade and the sequential-cascade) in interaction of three-dressing fields, the numerical results show that three-dressing fields are interchangeable under certain conditions, which can be considered as two four-level sub-system configurations (a nested-cascade N configuration and a sequential-cascade inverted-Y configuration).


The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 is a major legislative measure for the development of customary marriages in line with the constitutional principle of equality, specifically for women. The article explores the interactions between this ideal in the Act with empirical observations and the latest judicial decisions concerning its application. It considers various examples of the lack of protection of women in relationships of a customary nature, and it concludes that both the state and courts favour a formal or definitional approach to customary marriage. In considering alternative approaches that could adequately protect vulnerable parties, two conclusions emerge: First, the article recommends a wholesale revision of the South African family law approach from a focus on form to dependency. Second (and as a short-term measure), the article advocates for the putative marriage doctrine to be applied in the customary marriage context to protect many women who are denied access to 'customary marriage' as a form, and as a result, all of the benefits that flow from such marriage.


In order to investigate the effect of sodium ferulate (SF) on voltage-activated K+ channels, the delayed rectifier K+ current (Ik) in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells was recorded using the automated patch-clamp method. The results indicated that following the application of SF, the Ik in PC12 cells was significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The analysis of activation kinetic curves and inactivation kinetic curves of Ik showed that SF had an effect on the activation and inactivation kinetics. Following the application of 15.3 μM SF, the activation curve of the Ik of PC12 cells was shifted to positive potentials and the inactivation curve of the Ik of PC12 cells was shifted to negative potentials. This study revealed that the delayed rectifier K+ currents of PC12 cells were inhibited following SF treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. The mechanism may be associated with the delayed activation and enhanced inactivation of Ik-associated channels.


Background Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) arises from the mutations of stomach cells and has poor overall survival. Chemotherapy is commonly indicated for patients with stomach cancer following surgical resection. The most prevalent alteration that affects cancer growth is N6-methyladenosine methylation (m6A), although the possible function of m6A in STAD prognosis is not recognized. Method The research measured predictive FRGs in BLCA samples from the TCGA and GEO datasets. Data on the stemness indices (mRNAsi), gene mutations, copy number variations (CNV), tumor mutation burden (TMB), and corresponding clinical characteristics were obtained from TCGA and GEO. STAD from TCGA and GEO at 24 m6A was investigated. Lasso regression was used to construct the prediction model to assess the m6A prognostic signals in STAD. In addition, the correlation between m6a and immune infiltration in STAD patients was discussed using GSVA and ssGSEA analysis. Based on these genes, GO and KEGG analyses were performed to identify key biological functions and key pathways. Result A significant relationship was discovered between numerous m6A clusters and the tumor immune microenvironment, as well as three m6A alteration patterns with different clinical outcomes. Furthermore, GSVA and ssGSEA showed that m6A clusters were significantly associated with immune infiltration in the STAD. The low-m6Ascore group had a lower immunotherapeutic response than the high-m6Ascore group. ICIs therapy was more effective in the group with a higher m6Ascore. Three writers (VIRMA, ZC3H13, and METTL3) showed significantly lower expression, whereas five authors (METTL14, METTL16, WTAP, RBM15, and RBM15B) showed considerably higher expression. Three readers (YTHDC2, YTHDF2, and LRPPRC) had higher levels of expression, whereas eleven readers (YTHDC1, YTHDF1, YTHDF3, HNRNPC, FMR1, HNRNPA2B1, IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGFBP3, and RBMX) had lower levels. As can be observed, the various types of m6 encoders have varied ramifications for STAD control. Conclusion STAD occurrence and progression are linked to m6A-genes. Corresponding prognostic models help forecast the prognosis of STAD patients. m6A-genes and associated immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME) may serve as potential therapeutic targets in STAD, which requires further trials. In addition, the m6a-related gene signature offers a viable alternative to predict bladder cancer, and these m6A-genes show a prospective research area for STAD targeted treatment in the future.


Exploiting a rapid and sensitive method for biomarker detection has important implications in the early diagnosis of diseases. Here, we synthesized Mn3O4 microspheres which worked as a nanozyme to exhibit outstanding oxidase-like activity for rapid colorimetric determination of glutathione (GSH). The Mn3O4 microspheres of about 800 nm in size could be prepared through a hydrothermal method, and we found that the as-prepared Mn3O4 microspheres could quickly oxidize 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to its oxidized form (TMBox) in the absence of H2O2. After adding glutathione (GSH), TMBox was able to be changed into to its original form and resulted in the corresponding decrease in absorbance value at 652 nm. The Mn3O4-TMB system had good linearity with GSH concatenation in the range of 5–60 μM, and the limit of detection was 0.889 μM. Furthermore, this assay possessed high selectivity specificity, which made it possible to detect GSH in human serum samples. Thus, the obtained assay based on the oxidase mimic of Mn3O4 would enlarge and exploit the application fields of nanozymes in bio-analysis.


Two in vivo bioassay methods, a rat medium-term liver bioassay and a rat multiorgan bioassay, can be used for detecting carcinogenic or modifying potentials of endocrine active substances (EASs) on endocrine disruption (ED). The first bioassay, the rat mediumterm liver bioassay, is fundamentally based on the two-step hypothesis of liver carcinogenesis; initiation with diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 200 mg/kg b.w., ip) is followed by test chemical administrations during the second stage, in combination with 2/3 partial hepatectomy. It requires only eight weeks for animal experimental treatment and a further few weeks for quantitative analysis of immunohistochemically demonstrated gluthathione-S-transeferase placental form positive hepatic foci. A total of 313 chemicals/substances have already been analyzed, and the efficacy of the system for hepatocarcinogenesis has thereby been well established. This bioassay also provides information concerning dose responses and inhibitory potentials of test chemicals. Several possible EASs, most of them categorized as pesticides, have already been examined in this bioassay, and dose-response studies of nonylphenol, bisphenol A, and styrene have also been tested. Another bioassay, a medium-term, multiorgan bioassay system, using five different chemical carcinogens -DEN, MNU, BBN, DMH, and DHPN- has also been established for rapid detection of not only hepatocarcinogens, but also other organ-targeted carcinogens. These medium-term bioassays are particularly useful and reliable methods for detecting carcinogenic or modifying potentials of low doses of test chemicals, such as EASs, and these methods can be used for the effects of chemical mixtures of EASs.


Introduction: Metabolic components like fatty acids and acyl-Coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) thioesters have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various tumours. The activation of fatty acids to acyl-CoAs is catalysed by long chain acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSL), and impairment of ACSL expression levels has been associated with tumourigenesis and progression in intestinal and uterine cancers. The presented study aims to characterize ACSL expression and acyl-CoA synthesis in normal/neoplastic bladder tissues and cell lines. Experimental procedures: Expression of ACSL isoforms 1, 3, 4 and 5 were analysed by qRT-PCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry in bladder cell lines (Urotsa, RT4, RT112 and J82) and n=21 matched pairs of non-neoplastic urothelium and urothelial cancer samples. Senescence was investigated by senescence-associated-s-galactosidase (sa-β-gal) enzymhistochemistry. Additionally, lipid mass spectrometry was performed on fresh tissue samples (n=3) to measure synthesis of acyl-CoAs. Summary of the new, unpublished data: In normal urothelium expression of ACSL1, 3, 4 and 5, with highest levels of ACSL isoform 5 (13.3 fold increase in normal urothelium and 7.3 in tumours) was found. Highest rates of significant up- or downregulations (p Conclusions: These results confirm an expression of ACSLs, especially isoform 5, in human urothelium, prove enzymatic/lipidomic changes in bladder cancer tissues, and suggest an involvement of ACSL5 in cellular maturation and/or senescence with possible effects on induction of tumour formation or progression. Further work shall identify responsible pathway alterations. The attempt to re-balance the metabolic equilibrium of the urothelium may offer a further opportunity for tumour treatment and prevention. Citation Format: Nadine T. Gaisa, Andrea Reinartz, Ursula Schneider, Christina Klaus, Axel Heidenreich, Elke Kaemmerer, Barbara M. Klinkhammer, Ruth Knuechel, Nikolaus Gassler. Acyl-coenzyme A synthetase 5 levels in urothelial cellines and bladder cancer tissues reflect cellular differentiation and senescence. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1904. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1904


Abstract An important role in ensuring effective forms of management and increasing competitiveness is played by the process of forecasting the activity of the enterprise. This work analyzed the performance of a food industry enterprise, for which a wide range of statistical methods were applied such as methods of cluster, correlational and regression analysis, statistical tests of Fisher, Student, Farrar-Glauber, Durbin-Watson, Goldfeld-Quandt, μ-criterion, multifactor regression, trend, auto-regression models, and models of seasonal fluctuations, which provided a view of the economic properties of the enterprise profit process, in particular the auto-regression component of revenue dependence on its value last year, seasonal quarterly dependence on sales and marketing costs, product price, etc. The detected patterns will allow us to take into account these features for forecasting future revenues and for adjusting the enterprise's decision-making system taking into account seasonal features and results of the previous year.


In this study, the quality criteria and sensory properties of olive oil samples of Saurani, Karamani and Halhali olive varieties collected in 3 different harvest times from Hatay province were investigated depending on the variety and harvest time. For this purpose, in olives; oil yield and ripening index, in the obtained olive oils; free fatty acids, peroxide number, UV specific absorbance and sensory properties were determined. The oil content of olives ranges between 23.77-34.77% and the highest oil yield was determined in the olive variety, Karamani (3rd maturity). In olive oils, free fatty acids were found in the range of 0.33-1.02% (oleic acid), K232 values ranging between 0.33-0.88, K270 values ranging between 0.004-0.177 and peroxide numbers between 2.47-8.40 meq O2/kg. The total phenolic content values of olive oils vary between 156.78-584.25 mg GAE/kg, and the highest phenolic content was determined during the first harvest of the Halhali variety. It was determined that the amount of phenolic content of the cultivars decreased with maturity. In the sensory analysis of olive oil samples, fruitiness was determined as greater than 0 by all panelists. The median of fruitiness in olive oil samples ranged from 3.62 to 5.88, and the median of fruitiness decreased with maturity in all varieties. The median of bitterness ranged from 2.62-5.23 and decreased with maturity. The pungency median varied in the range of 3.12-5.34, and pungency was reduced with maturity. The median of fruitiness, bitterness and pungency of Halhali olive oil was determined the highest.


This paper reviews various irrigation technologies in both South Africa and Kenya that enable improvements in their socio-economic conditions. The two countries are located in semi-arid areas that experience extreme fluctuations in the availability of rain water for plant growth. Population growth exceeds the ability to produce food in numerous countries around the world and the two countries are not an exception. This experiment examined the constraints that farmers face and the role of government and nongovernmental organization in the uptake of modern technologies for irrigation. Detailed mechanisms and options to secure sustainable irrigation which are economically viable are considered. Despite the higher production of cereals and grains, fruits, and flowers also thrive in the two countries. Total irrigated area, crops grown and irrigation systems used in the two countries are discussed.


Abstract The 1976–77 winter season is compared with earlier winters with respect to temperature and beating degree days. Comparisons are based on 1) station data; 2) composite indices derived from a combination of a few very long-term station records; 3) areally weighted state and regional temperature averages; and 4) population weighted beating degree days. Major conclusions are as follows: 1) January 1977 was possibly the coldest month experienced in the eastern half of the country in the past 200 years. 2) The 1976–77 winter was not a record-breaker for temperature for the contiguous 48 states as a whole, but set a new record for fuel demand because of the extreme cold in highly populated areas. 3) Relatively coarse networks of stations can be used for monitoring large-scale anomalous weather features; they allow use of continuous records covering more than 100 years for which dense networks do not exist. They also allow near-real-time assessment of anomalous weather events at a small fraction of the t...


Taking another step in our Most Wired project, we conducted cyber-interviews with health plans and asked them to tell us just how wired they are. Find out how well they connect to members and employers, which HR and educational services they offer online, and whether they do business with doctors and hospitals electronically. Plus: profiles of major info tech undertakings at six health plans. They range from a $78,000 intranet to a $4 million data warehouse. But while the six projects differ in cost, they overlap in purpose: putting more information into the hands of doctors, hospitals, employers, and consumers. In doing that, they show what being wired is all about.


This study examined organizational practices in a sample of 1239 employees from various organizations in Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, New Zealand, Turkey, and the United States. Twenty-four items measuring employee-orientation, formalization, and innovation practices showed a clear factorial structure across all samples, along with good reliabilities. Significant organizational position differences were found for employee-orientation and innovation practices. Sector differences were found for formalization and innovation practices. Cultural differences were found for employee-orientation and innovation practices, which can be explained using macroeconomic indicators, tightness–looseness, and individualism. Our study demonstrates the importance of individual, organizational, economic, and cultural level for understanding perceptions of organizational practices across a wider range of societies.


Summary 1.Determinations were made by two-dimensional paper chromatography of free amino acid patterns in tumor C1498 in both solid and ascites forms at various times after transplantation into C57BL/10-H-2 b mice, a strain in which the tumor grows progressively and kills the animals, and into C57BL/10-H-2 d mice, a subline which differs from the former by a single histocompatibility gene and in which the tumor grows initially and then regresses. 2.The amino acid patterns of the solid form of the tumor were virtually identical in both sublines for the first 8 days after transplantation. Subsequently, the patterns diverged, the tumors in the resistant strain showing a relative increase in free glutamic acid content together with the appearance of free glutamine, an amino acid not detected at any time on chromatograms of extracts from tumors grown in the susceptible subline. 3.Observations similar to those above were made with an ascites form of tumor C1498 grown in the two sublines of mice. Glutamine appeared in the cells and ascites fluid in the resistant strain but was not detectable in the fluid of the susceptible mice. Increases were noted in contents of several amino acids at later time-intervals of growth in the tumor cells in the resistant mice.