1. Thiols have been implicated to play a role in a variety of aspects of nitric oxide (NO) generation and activity. Thiol dependence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has remained controversial and its mechanism is not clear. This study investigates possible mechanisms between thiol (SH group) and NOS activation, through thiol compounds (glutathione, dithiothreitol, N-acetyl-L-cysteine) and Ebselen [2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazole-3(2H)-one] on rat aortic vascular responses. 2. In rat thoracic aorta, acetylcholine (10(-6)-10(-9) M) induced a relaxation of phenylephrine (PE) (10(-7) M)-induced tone, which was inhibited dose dependently by increasing concentration of ebselen (1-10 microM). 3. In rings of rat thoracic aorta, ebselen and NOS inhibitors (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) produced an augmentation of phenylephrine (10(-7) M)- induced tone and acetylcholine induced a relaxation of PE (10(-7) M)-induced tone in rat thoracic aorta, which was inhibited by ebselen (10 microM) like NOS inhibitor. 4. The thiol compounds (glutathione, dithiothreitol, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine) alone did not change vascular tone in rat thoracic aorta. Pretreatment with thiol compounds before ebselen treatment, however, reversed the inhibitory effect of ebselen which acts like the NOS inhibitor in rat thoracic aorta. Posttreatment with thiol compounds after ebselen treatment did not reverse the inhibitory effect of ebselen by as much as pretreatment. 5. Calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-7) M)-induced vasodilation was inhibited in ebselen pretreated rat thoracic aorta, but sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10(-7) M)-induced relaxation was not inhibited by ebselen. This suggests that NOS is involved in the inhibitory effect of ebselen on rat thoracic aorta relaxation. 6. These results suggest that ebselen exerts an inhibitory action on the nitric oxide synthesis in rat thoracic aorta by interacting with thiol groups.


First described in the pleura, solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) had been subsequently reported in a variety of organ systems. Compared to other anatomic sites, primary cutaneous and superficial SFTs are relatively rare. Although several histologic variants of cutaneous and superficial SFT have been described, a primary cutaneous SFT harboring glandular components has not hitherto been documented in the literature. The current case report described a spindle cell neoplasm of the right finger in a female patient with characteristic morphologic and immunohistochemical features of a solitary fibrous tumor. Unexpectedly, a variety of glandular and ductal components were identified in the SFT. Few hyperplastic lobules of sweat glands demonstrating similar morphology with the intratumor glandular components and composed of secretory coils displaying mucinous metaplasia and ducts were detected in the attached subcutaneous tissue, suggestive of an inductive or obstructive effect of the SFT on the eccrine units. The intratumoral glands and ducts were judged to represent entrapped benign eccrine components from the attached subcutaneous tissue. Since this variant of SFT with entrapped eccrine components could mimic many biphasic epithelial and stromal tumors, pathologists should be aware of this unusual variant of SFT to avoid potential erroneous diagnosis, particularly mistakenly confused with a biphasic synovial sarcoma. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


In 1980, Hellman proposed the Time Memory Trade Off (TMTO) attack and applied it on block cipher DES (Data Encryption Standard). Time Memory Trade Off attack is one of the methods that inverts a one way function. The resistance to TMTO attacks is an important criterion in the design of a modern cipher. Unlike the exhaustive search and table lookup methods, TMTO is a probabilistic method, that is, the search operation may not find a preimage even if there exists one. Up to now, there are some approximate bounds for success rates of Hellman table by Hellman and Kusuda et al. In this study, we give a more precise approximation for the coverage of a single Hellman table. There is no precise guideline in the literature that points out how to choose parameters for Hellman TMTO. We present a detailed analysis of the success rate of Hellman table via new parameters and also show how to choose parameters to achieve a higher success rate. The results are experimentally confirmed. We also discuss the Hellman's TMTO Curve.


OBJECTIVE
It aims to explore the effect of dental follicle cells derived small extracellular vesicles (D-sEV) with or without lipopolysaccharides (LPS) pretreating on the pathogenicity of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis).

METHODS
The antibacterial effects of D-sEV were evaluated by measuring the growth, biofilm formation, gingipains and type IX secretion system (T9SS) expression of P. gingivalis. And the influence of D-sEV on P. gingivalis adhesion, invasion, cytotoxicity, and host immune response was examined in gingival epithelial cells (GECs). Then P. gingivalis treated with D-sEV was applied to investigate the pathogenicity in experimental periodontitis of mice.

RESULTS
It showed that both D-sEV and P. gingivalis LPS pretreated D-sEV (L-D-sEV) could target P. gingivalis, inhibit their growth and biofilm formation, and hinder the attachment and invasion in GECs, therefore remarkably decreasing P. gingivalis cytotoxicity and the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 in GECs. In addition, they significantly reduced the expression of P. gingivalis virulence factors (gingipains and T9SS). In vivo, it showed that the bacteria in the gingiva were significantly decreased after sEV treatment. Meanwhile, less bone loss and fewer inflammatory cells infiltration and osteoclast formation in D-sEV and L-D-sEV groups.

CONCLUSION
Both D-sEV and L-D-sEV were proven to inhibit the pathogenicity of P.gingivalis and thus prevented the development of periodontitis.


Aim: To examine the depth of tumor invasion and tumor length and assess the clinical impact of the primary tumor score (PTS), based on a combination of tumor invasion and tumor length, in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Patients and Methods: A total of 237 patients with ESCC were classified into three PTS groups based on cut-off values for deeper tumor invasion (pT2-T4) and greater tumor length (≥44 mm). A PTS of 2 indicated the presence of both of these abnormalities, 1 indicated one of these abnormalities, and 0 indicated neither abnormality. Results: PTS was significantly positively correlated with depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, and stage (all p<0.001). The prognosis differed significantly among the three groups based on PTS (p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PTS was an independent prognostic factor (p=0.0004). Conclusion: PTS has a clinical utility as a prognostic predictor in patients with ESCC.


The thermal process of the growth of GaN-based semiconductors was analysed for two home-made horizontal reactors. The reactors were designed to make the ammonia gas flow in the opposite direction to the main gas flow. For two horizontal reactors different in dimension, the low Reynolds numbers of Re = 2.94 and 4.15 were chosen for stable laminar flow and the Rayleigh numbers governing the heat convection were optimized to the values of Ra = 6.0 and 76.2, respectively. The qualities of GaN and InGaN films were characterized by Hall effect measurement, x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence and compared with respect to the reactor dependency.


A digital pulsar backend based on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is developed. It is designed for incoherent de-dispersion of pulsar observations and has a maximum bandwidth of 512 MHz. The channel bandwidth is fixed to 1 MHz, and the highest time resolution is 10 μ s. Testing observations were carried out using the Urumqi 25-m telescope administered by Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory and the Kunming 40-m telescope administered by Yunnan Observatories, targeting PSR J0332+5434 in the L band and PSR J0437–4715 in the S band, respectively. The successful observation of PSR J0437–4715 demonstrates its ability to observe millisecond pulsars.


This paper presents an illuminating analysis of the place of religion in Yoruba social and political life, and why the Yoruba experience represents a great example to the rest of Nigeria, particularly the religiously-volatile north of the country. Combining multiple approaches from historical sociology, the sociology of religlon, political history and the public lives of critical political and religious agents over a period of about a century of Yoruba history, the article explains why the Yoruba case is an exemplar in religious harmony. He argues that the Yoruba are constantly pressed towards olaju (modernity/development/progress) which makes cross-cutting communal belonging more salient, thus ensuring that the Yoruba constantly mobilize both religious and secular institutions and processes in the all-embracing project of olaju.


This review provides an overview of the literature related to inclusive education for students with autism/takiwātanga in Aotearoa. A search of peer-reviewed literature identified 49 potentially relevant publications; of these, 13 met the inclusionary criteria. The reviewed publications addressed issues of how best to achieve inclusive education in Aotearoa as well as teachers' and teacher aides' impact on teaching and learning. Findings suggest a need for more support and professional development for teachers and teacher aides in order to effectively create inclusive classroom/school environments which support the learning needs of students with autism/takiwātanga. The need for a whole-school approach to inclusion is highlighted as a key pathway towards inclusive education. These ideas are discussed in relation to implications for further research and the provision of effective mainstream education for autistic students in Aotearoa.


The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is the main pest of fruit crops worldwide due to its broad distribution, direct damages, and adaptation to different hosts. Developing diets for the rearing fruit flies is essential for integrated management of this pest. Mass rearing of parasitoids, selection of preferred hosts, and mass rearing of genetically modified C. capitata strains subsidize methods of biological control, cultural control, and the sterile insect technique (SIT), respectively, depending directly on the mass rearing of the Mediterranean fruit fly. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of artificial diets for rearing C. capitata larvae considering the cost of those most appropriate diets. Nine diets containing different combinations of protein and energy sources (brewer's yeast, yeast extract, pollen, soybean extract, oatmeal, corn meal, and wheat germ) were formulated. The parameters immature development time (hatching), pupal viability (emerged adults), size and weight of pupae, and adult size (wing length) were assessed. The experiments were conducted in the laboratory under controlled conditions of temperature (26 ± 1 °C) and relative humidity (70% ± 10%). Statistical analysis was performed by using ANOVA with the Tukey's test for comparison of means. Diets based on oatmeal and soybean extract, both added with brewer's yeast, yeast extract, or pollen satisfactorily meet the nutritional requirements of C. capitata. Moreover, diets enriched with brewer's yeast or yeast extract presented the lowest costs; therefore, they could be used in a continuous mass-scale rearing of C. capitata. Diets based on corn meal and soybean extract, both associated with brewer's yeast, yeast extract, or pollen are more economical, but they should not be used for rearing C. capitata because they decrease the percentage of hatching and extend life cycle. Diets based on wheat germ and oatmeal, both added with brewer's yeast, yeast extract, or pollen are not adequate for rearing C. capitata.


Traffic safety in existing railway has strict demands to the subgrade deformation, and the subgrade deformation caused by foundation pit excavation should be under the limit value. In this paper, steel sheet pile cofferdam supporting system is introduced, as well as its construction process. 2D numerical simulation is adopted to simulate the construction process, the deformation of subgrade at different cases are discussed. At last, the field monitoring data is provided to verify the validity of supporting system and numerical simulation results. Research results indicate that steel sheet pile cofferdam supporting method can well control the subgrade deformation, and can be took as a precedence technique in similar engineering. To ensure the traffic safety, it's necessary to prevent the trains crossing near the excavation, and the train speed should be limited.


Laser drilling has been developed in advanced aircraft industry in particular to achieve the intricate hole network of the combustion chamber because of several advantages compared to the main competing process, that of electron beam drilling. The combustion chambers for the next generation of engines will be protected on the inner side by a thermal barrier coating ('JJBC) , capable of working at higher temperatures lOO-150°C higher, thus improving the gas turbine efficiency. Consequently, three questions might arise : Which was the main phenomena involving material under irradiation during laser drilling ? How could these phenomena be described by models ? Could laser drilling be applied to multi-layered materials such as a superalloy coated with a TBC ? An attempt, in part, to answer these questions was made by the study of laser drilling of 1.5 mm thick Hastelloy X sheet coated with conventional plasma-sprayed MCrAlY bond coat plus plasma-sprayed zirconia. The study focused on microstructural SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) observation coupled with modeling. SEM observations, applied to polished (and, if necessary, etched) axial sections of the holes and to edges of the holes, allowed accurate measurements of relevant microstructural parameters which validated the models. The influences of the principal laser parameters such as pulse length, pulse rate and power density were determined. The nature (metal or ceramic) of the side of the part exposed to the beam, the locus of the beam focus and the beam entrance angle were only considered to lesser degree. Superalloys 1988 Edited by S. Reichman, D.N. Duhl, G. Maurer, S. Antolovich and C. Lund The Metallurgical Society, 1988


This work intended to study the structure of two populations of Calyptranthes clusiifolia in two patches of Semidecidual Seasonal Forest in different anthropic conditions. In each patch we established transections where all the individuals of the species were sampled. We distributed the individuals in height classes and also evaluated their spatial distribution. We found that the first patch possesses a number of 5.28 individuals as high as the ones presented by the second patch. The first patch presented a great number of individuals in all the age classes and aggregated spatial distribution. There were greater concentration of adult individuals on the edges, in agreement with the characteristics of heliophytic species, and greater concentration of young individuals in the interior. The anthropic fragment showed an unstructured pattern with insufficient individuals to characterize the population as in regeneration, for its evidences of past and present disturbances that interfere with the establishment and persistence of species in the area.


Background: Patients with prior myocardial infarction (MI) are at increased risk of subsequent cardiac events (MI or cardiac death). The incremental prognostic value and warranty time of a normal stress echocardiogram in this high‐risk population is not well defined. Methods: We evaluated 251 consecutive patients (62 ± 11 years; 64% males) with remote history of MI (>6 weeks) undergoing stress echocardiography (83% dobutamine). Ischemia was defined as a new reversible wall motion abnormality and/or biphasic response. Follow‐up for up to 4 years (mean 2.9 ± 1.0 years) for confirmed MI (n = 7) and cardiac death (n = 15) were obtained. Results: Stress echocardiography effectively risk stratified patients into normal versus abnormal subgroups (Event rate 0.8% per year vs 4.2% per year; P = 0.01; RR = 5.6, 95% CI = 1.3–24.7). In patients with a normal stress echocardiogram, the event rate at the end of 6, 12, and 18 months were <1% per year. After 18 months the event rate in patients with a normal stress echocardiogram increased greatly (>1% per year). Stress echocardiography yields incremental prognostic value over clinical and stress electrocardiographic variables (Global chi‐square increased from 12.4 to 25 to 31.1, P < 0.0001 both groups). Conclusions: Stress echocardiography yields appropriate risk stratification and prognosis and provides incremental prognostic value over clinical and stress electrocardiographic variables even in patients with prior MI. A normal stress echocardiogram portends a benign prognosis (<1% event rate/year) for up to 18 months.


Massively multiplayer online role playing games feature huge maps that can be partitioned into smaller components called zones to achieve scalability. In peer-to-peer (P2P) systems, those zones can be assigned to peers who are willing to take up the role of zone servers. A seamless map requires inter-zone communications to allow interactions between players across zone boundaries. In assigning zones to peers, it is critical to seek approaches to reduce the inter-zone communication cost in P2P system. In this paper, we formulate the zone assignment problem for P2P system and demonstrate that the problem is NP-hard. We hence propose a low-cost heuristic that partitions the physical network into bins, as well as, aggregating the partitions of the virtual world by clustering neighboring zones in a game map. We then demonstrate that by assigning clustered neighboring zones in the virtual map into peers in common physical network bins, we are able to achieve similar inter-zone communication cost for the zone assignment problem as that can be achieved by the optimization model we formulated, while avoiding the prohibitively high computation cost required by the latter.


For the last three decades, the area of old-growth forest stands in Europe has continued to increase as has their importance in achieving forest-related policy goals. This has triggered an increase in research interest in old-growth forests, both from climate change mitigation and biodiversity protection perspectives. However, carbon stock in old-growth stands in European hemiboreal forests had not been systematically studied. Therefore, in this article, we characterize differences in carbon stock between mature and old-growth stands on fertile mineral soils in hemiboreal Latvia to contribute to the understanding of carbon storage changes under different management strategies for forest lands. Carbon stock varied significantly both between old-growth stands of different dominant tree species and between mature (1.9–2.3 times younger) and old-growth stages of the same dominant species in forest stands. The carbon stock of tree biomass and deadwood was larger in old-growth stands, but their mean annual carbon stock change was significantly lower than in mature stands (27% to 47% depending on dominant tree species). Old-growth stands can serve as carbon reservoirs in areas with limited natural disturbances; however, for maintenance of climate neutrality, it is essential to expand the area of managed stands with larger annual carbon stock increase.
 Study Implications: Forest ecosystems play a major role in regulation of global climate: They can store high quantities of carbon and also can gain or lose it rather quickly. For the last three decades, the area of old-growth forest stands in Europe has continued to increase as has their importance in achieving forest-related policy goals. Old-growth forests can represent the baseline carbon-carrying capacity in particular conditions. Therefore, we characterized differences in carbon stock between mature and old-growth stands on fertile mineral soils in hemiboreal Latvia to contribute to the understanding of carbon storage and for planning forest management activities.


Bile duct injuries are the most serious complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Although the overall complications rate in laparoscopic cholecystectomy is significantly lower than in open cholecystectomy, bile duct injuries are more frequent. In this article we analyzed why and how they occur and if their prevention was possible. From May 1992 to May 1999, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 5651 patients by 17 surgeons and residents, with different experience but similar operative technique. In this period nine (0.16%) bile duct injuries occurred. Injuries were caused by seven operators. Number of operations by single surgeon before injury varied from 8 to 1477. Three patients with uncomplicated chronic cholecystitis had puncture or small bile duct laceration. Complete transection of main bile duct occurred in three patients and in one transection of right hepatic duct. The operative findings in two of them were acute cholecystitis, one had fibrosis in the triangle of Calot and one uncomplicated chronic cholecystitis. Bile duct strictures were found in two patients. Both had fibrosis in the triangle of Calot and in hepatic port. Dangerous pathologic findings were the main cause of injuries in 5 and inadequate surgical technique in 4 patients. In our opinion the education, critical state and experience are of main importance in avoidance and prevention of bile duct injures. We also plead for selective use of intraoperative cholangiography. In our opinion the intraoperative cholangiography has to be performed in all cases where the anatomy of the triangle of Calot is not clear.


Calcium complex ferrate is an ideal binder phase in the sintered ore phase, and a detailed study of the whole process of calcium complex ferrate generation is of great significance to improve the quality of sintered ore. In this paper, we first investigated calcium ferrate containing aluminum (CFA), which is an important precursor compound for the generation of complex calcium ferrate (SFCA), followed by a series of composite calcium ferrate generation process phase XRD detections and data preprocessing of data. Data correlation and data fitting analysis were combined with composite calcium ferrite phase diagram energy spectrum analysis to obtain the effect of MgO and Al2O3 on the formation of composite calcium ferrite. Then a modified RBF neural network model using the resource allocation network algorithm (RAN) was used to predict the generation trend of complex calcium ferrate. The parameters of the neural network are optimized with the Dragonfly algorithm, compared with the traditional RBF neural network. The prediction accuracy of the improved algorithm was found to be higher, with a prediction result of 97.6%. Finally, the predicted results were based on comparative metallurgical experimental results and data analysis. The validity and accuracy of the findings in this paper were verified.


I investigate the consequences of imposing a minimum quality standard on an industry in which firms face quality-dependent fixes costs and compete in quality and price. Even though the high-quality sellers would satisfy the standard in the absence of regulation, imposing a standard leads these sellers to raise qualities. They do so in an effort to alleviate the price competition, which intensifies as a result of the low-quality sellers' having raised their qualities to meet the imposed standard. However, by its very nature, a minimum quality standard limits the range in which producers can differentiate qualities. Hence, in the end, price competition intensifies, and prices -- "corrected for quality change" -- fall. Due to the better qualities and lower hedonic prices, and compared to the unregulated equilibrium, all consumers are better off, more consumers participate in the market, and all participating consumers -- including those who would consume qualities in excess of the standard in the absence of regulation -- select higher qualities. When the consumption of high-quality products generates positive externalities -- as in the case of safety products -- these results favor minimum quality standards. I also show that even in the absence of externalities an appropriately chosen standard improves social welfare.


In this paper, we present a novel low-power and high-performance new ternary logic arithmetic circuit that is implemented by double gate (DG) FinFET and graphenenanoribbon (GNR) field effect transistor (GNRFET). Multiple-valued logic (MVL) such as penternary, quaternary and ternary is a promising alternative to the binary logic design, because of less complexity, less computational step and reducedchiparea. The basic ternary gates and its operation are already described in my previous paper [20]. Ternary logic gate based arithmetic combinational circuits such as ternary half adder and one-bitternary multiplier are designed. The proposed ternary combinational circuits are simulated using HSPICE via standard 32nm DG-FinFET and GNRFET technology.  Extensive simulation results demonstrate that the Graphene field effect transistor based ternary logic arithmetic circuits are more improved than the DG FinFET technology in terms of power consumption, delay and Power delay product (PDP).


The primary objective of this study was to assess whether there is a relationship between increasing levels of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and perceptions of discriminatory attitudes and behaviour towards people with HIV/AIDS. Employees (3662) from a large accounting firm were exposed to a survey and a response rate of 41% or 1532 was received. The secondary objective of the study was to determine whether there were any statistically significant differences in the mean difference of knowledge scores of groups created in terms of the different biographical variables. ANOVA'S (to determine the significance of differences between the means), t-tests (two groups only) and F-statistics were used for the analysis. Given the large sample size an F-test is not conclusive and the effect of the difference in sample size needs to be taken into account. For this reason it was also necessary to look at the Partial Eta Squared. Results indicate that respondents are generally knowledgeable about the prevention and transmission of HIV/AIDS and that respondents' level of knowledge correlates negatively with discriminatory practices.


In this paper, we study the analytic continuation to complex time of the Hamiltonian flow of certain G × T -invariant functions on the cotangent bundle of a compact connected Lie group G with maximal torus T . Namely, we will take the Hamiltonian flows of one G × G-invariant function, h, and one G × T -invariant function, f . Acting with these complex time Hamiltonian flows on G × G-invariant Kähler structures gives new G×T -invariant, but not G×G-invariant, Kähler structures on T G. We study the Hilbert spaces Hτ,σ corresponding to the quantization of T G with respect to these non-invariant Kähler structures. On the other hand, by taking the vertical Schrödinger polarization as a starting point, the above G × T -invariant Hamiltonian flows also generate families of mixed polarizations P0,σ, σ ∈ C, Im σ > 0. Each of these mixed polarizations is globally given by a direct sum of an integrable real distribution and of a complex distribution that defines a Kähler structure on the leaves of a foliation of T G. The geometric quantization of T G with respect to these mixed polarizations gives rise to unitary partial coherent state transforms, corresponding to KSH maps as defined in [KMN1; KMN2].


Abstract A persistence correlation is defined with which it is possible to determine the separate contributions of each of the harmonics to the total persistence of the pressure distribution around a circle of latitude. Time-series of such harmonic persistence correlations are computed for a period of over seven years, for the 500-mb contour height at latitudes 30, 45 and 6ON. These data show that the longer waves, which tend to be quasi-stationary, contribute the major part of the total persistence. They also add further evidence to some earlier results which indicated a relationship between solar corpuscular radiation and the subsequent behavior of the surface-pressure distribution.


We discuss a special class of regularization methods for solving the exponentially ill-posed satellite gravity gradiometry problem in a spherical framework based on band-limited spherical regularization wavelets. Considering such wavelets as a result of a combination of some regularization methods with Galerkin discretization based on the spherical harmonic system we obtain the error estimates of regularized solutions as well as the estimates for regularization parameters and parameters of band-limitation.


ABSTRACT Three major challenges, sustainability, the fourth industrial revolution, and employability, will require new types of engineering programs, to help students develop skills in cross-disciplinarity, complexity, and contextual understanding. Future engineering students should be able to understand the needs for technological, sustainable solutions in context. The engineering graduates should be able to act in complex and chaotic situations. The question is how engineering institutions are responding now and how they should respond in the future. This article analyses the general responses from engineering education over the last 20 years. These responses are student-centred learning, integration of theory and practice, digital and online learning, and the definition of professional competencies. Examples are given of institutions that are already applying several of these components in the curriculum. On the long-term horizon, more personalised curriculum models are emerging based on students developing and documenting their own learning and career trajectories, as part of their lifelong learning strategy.


Branchial cleft anomalies are embryonic remnants of the branchial arches and are described as the second most common congenital neck mass. Depending on their extent, these anomalies are classified as a cyst, sinus, or fistula with branchial cysts being the most common. Branchial cysts deriving from the second branchial arch are by far the most common, accounting for approximately 95% of all cases. Complete second branch arch fistulas with both an internal and external opening are a rare variant of this anomaly, and even less have been well-documented on computed tomography (CT) imaging in the literature. We present here a case of a 20-year-old female with CT findings consistent with a complete second branchial arch fistula extending from the tonsillar fossa to the external lateral neck.


During development, mammary gland epithelium goes through long and complicated devel-opmental process that involves proliferation, migration and morphological restructuring. Desmosomal junctions have been linked to these crucial developmental events. In this study the change in the desmosome and hemidesmosome during mammary gland development was examined through examining desomosmal proteins expression pattern using immuno-histochemistry and electron microscopy techniques. The results support the suggestion that desmosomes and hemidesmosomes are remodelled during mammary gland development. It also suggests that early mammary gland develop-ment stages, the cells require stronger adhesive mechanisms than at later stages. Such physical support is maintained by the desmosomes that hold the cells in the centre of the growing cells of developing mammary gland.


From July 1979 until December 1982 91 patients have been treated with 143 applications of a Coherent CO2-laser at the ENT Department of Kiel University. At the beginning the laser was applied to the majority of microsurgical indications in the larynx and pharynx. But at the end only some selected indications proved true: the treatment of papillomas, the ablation of the tonsil of the base of the tongue, the ablation of the lateral bands and of laryngeal webs. In the treatment of cancer debulking of large obstructive tumours of the larynx by laser vaporization can be used palliatively or prior to laryngectomy, obviating the need for tracheotomy. Own experiences in the treatment of 23 carcinomas of the vocal cord, considering also the literature, proved that the CO2-laser may be an alternative treatment of early glottic cancers of the middle third of the vocal cords. In the other malignant lesions of the vocal cords the laser may be an additive treatment after failure of radiotherapy and if surgical treatment is not possible.


Polymeric nanoparticles offer a great flexibility adapting its chemistry composition, size, stability, morphology and surface functionality. As a result, they are used in Biomedicine as drugs carrier systems and diagnostic agents for a wide range of applications in diagnosis, therapy and theranostics [1]. NanoChemBio lab is focused on the design, synthesis, scale-up and preclinical evaluation of multifuncionalised nanoprobes to be apply in biomedicine. Herein we will present our more recent findings. Currently we are carried on the validation of a theranostic nanodevice to treat breast cancer and to monitor treatment efficiency together with to determine localization of the tumour focus [2,3]. In another hand, we are developing a robust and stable targeting nanoprobe that allows for active targeting of either a fluorophore for active tracking or a drug for monitoring specific cell responses depending on the expression levels of surface proteins [4]. Related to our latest diagnostic advances, we have implemented a nanotechnology-based approach for capturing and detecting nucleic acids by flow cytometry will be presented [5]. This system allows for the detection of biotinylated molecular products followed by simple detection using a standard flow cytometer, a widely used platform in clinical and molecular laboratories, and therefore, is easy to implement. Rosario M Sanchez-Martin Genyo Research Center, Spain


Dereverberation is required in various speech processing applications such as handsfree telephony and voice-controlled systems, especially when signals are applied that are recorded in a moderately or highly reverberant environment. In this paper, we compare a number of classical and more recently developed multimicrophone dereverberation algorithms, and validate the different algorithmic settings by means of two performance indices and a speech recognition system. It is found that some of the classical solutions obtain a moderate signal enhancement. More advanced subspace-based dereverberation techniques, on the other hand, fail to enhance the signals despite their high-computational load.


Ethiopia stands out as a leading example of state-led development in Africa. Tom Lavers offers in this book a comprehensive, multi-sector analysis of Ethiopia's development project, examining how regimes maintain power during the extended periods required to bring about economic transformation. Specifically, Lavers explores how the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF, 1991-2019) sought to maintain political order through economic transformation, and why the party collapsed, leading to the outbreak of civil war in 2020. The book argues that the EPRDF sought to secure mass acquiescence through distribution of land and employment. However, rapid population growth and the limits of industrial policy in the contemporary global economy led to a distributive crisis that was a central factor in the regime's collapse. This Ethiopian experience raises important questions about the prospects for economic transformation elsewhere on the continent. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core at doi.org/9781009428316.


A selective and low organic-solvent-consuming method of sample preparation combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry detection is introduced for the analysis of α-tocopherol in cereal grains. The sample treatment involves initial saponification and preconcentration of the analyte performed by ionic-liquid-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, with ethanol as disperser solvent and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as extraction solvent. The method offered excellent linearity over a range of 0.5–15 μg g−1 with a correlation coefficient of r > 0.998. Intra-day and inter-day repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation were 3.4% and 5.9%, respectively. The quantitation limits and detection limits were 2.5 and 0.7 ng g−1. Satisfactory recoveries ranging from 86.5% to 106.3% were obtained. The developed method was successfully applied to 12 cereal grain samples.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate clinical characteristics, EEG changes and therapeutic response of benign infantile epilepsy and to study the early diagnostic methods.

METHODS
Clinical observation and Video-EEG monitoring were carried out in babies with convulsions at 3 - 24 months of age. In these children, febrile convulsion, symptomatic epilepsies and developmental abnormalities were excluded, and the therapeutic effect and long-term outcome were followed up.

RESULTS
Forty-two babies were diagnosed to have benign infantile epilepsy by two-year follow-up. Three of them had familial history of benign infantile convulsions. Nineteen percent had mild diarrhea during the onset of convulsions, cluster seizures occurred during a short period in 67% of cases and no status epilepticus occurred. Video-EEG monitoring confirmed seizures originating from temporal, occipital or multifocal areas separately in 3 patients with partial seizures. Interictal EEG background was normal and there were Rolandic small spikes during sleep in 24% of patients. Thirty-nine patients were treated with single antiepileptic drugs and the mean treatment course was 9 months. Three cases did not take medicine. All the patients were seizure free within a year.

CONCLUSION
Benign infantile epilepsy should be considered when the following characteristics occur in early stage of the disease: (1) convulsions occurring between 3 to 12 month of age and not later than 24 months of age with or without familial history of benign infantile convulsion; (2) normal psychomotor development before and after convulsion occurs; (3) no evoked factors or only mild diarrhea; (4) majority of cases have partial seizures, or secondary generalized seizures. There are often cluster convulsions during the onset stage, but no status epilepticus; (5) normal EEG background and there may be Rolandic small spikes during sleep; (6) normal neuroimaging.


Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic islet beta cells in genetically predisposed individuals. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 60 risk loci across the human genome, marked by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which confer genetic predisposition to T1D. There is increasing evidence that disease-associated SNPs can alter gene expression through spatial interactions that involve distal loci, in a tissue-and development-specific manner. Here, we used three-dimensional (3D) genome organization data to identify genes that physically co-localized with DNA regions that contained T1D-associated SNPs in the nucleus. Analysis of these SNP-gene pairs using the Genotype-Tissue Expression database identified a subset of SNPs that significantly affected gene expression. We identified 298 spatially regulated genes including HLA-DRB1, LAT, MICA, BTN3A2, CTLA4, CD226, NOTCH1, TRIM26, CLEC2B, TYK2, and FLRT3, which exhibit tissue-specific effects in multiple tissues. We observed that the T1D-associated variants interconnect through networks that form part of the immune regulatory pathways, including immune-cell activation, cytokine signalling, and programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1). These pathways have been implicated in the pancreatic beta-cell inflammation and destruction as observed in T1D. Our results demonstrate that T1D-associated variants contribute to adaptive immune signalling, and immune-cell proliferation and activation through tissue and cell-type specific regulatory networks. Author Summary Although genome-wide association studies have identified risk regions across the human genome that predispose individuals to the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D), the mechanisms through which these regions contribute to disease is unclear. Here, we used population-based genetic data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to understand how the three-dimensional (3D) organization of the DNA contributes to the differential expression of genes involved in immune system dysregulation as observed in T1D. We identified interconnected regulatory networks that affect immune pathways (adaptive immune signalling and immune-cell proliferation and activation) in a tissue and cell-type specific manner. Some of these pathways are implicated in the pancreatic beta-cell destruction. However, we observed other regulatory changes in tissues that are not typically considered to be central to the pathology of T1D, which represents a novel insight into the disease. Collectively, our data represent a novel resource for the hypothesis-driven development of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic interventions in T1D.


Two patients with fungal infection of the central nervous system (coccidioidal meningitis and cerebral histoplasmomas) were treated with ketoconazole for 30 months. Both responded to dosages substantially less than those described previously for similar infections. Neither patient experienced any significant adverse effects from the prolonged therapy.


Accurately estimating the rare failure events of nanoscale ICs in a high-dimensional variation space is extremely challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel Bayesian scaled-sigma sampling (BSSS) technique to address this technical challenge. BSSS can be considered as an extension of the traditional scaled-sigma sampling (SSS) approach. The key idea is to explore the "similarity" between different SSS models fitted at different design stages and encode it as our prior knowledge. Bayesian model fusion is then adopted to fit the SSS model with consideration of the prior knowledge. A sense amplifier example designed in a 45 nm CMOS process is used to demonstrate the efficacy of BSSS. Experimental results demonstrate that BSSS achieves superior accuracy over the conventional SSS and minimum-norm importance sampling approaches when a few hundred random variables are used to model process variations.


In adolescent CD-1 male mice inoculated with a myocarditic coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3m) acute focal lesions containing necrotic myocytes, infiltrating mononuclear cells, and fibroblasts develop. With the use of an in situ immune autoradiographic method with rat monoclonal antibodies (MAb) and an 35S-labeled antibody, viral antigens were detected outside of lesions. Macrophages, T lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells were identified within myocarditic lesions during the acute phase of the disease. Macrophages detected by anti-Mac-1 MAb were in focal areas within myocarditic lesions on Days 4-7 after inoculation. T lymphocytes were detected in myocarditic lesions on Days 4-10, with MAb to Thy-1 and Lyt-1 antigens showing diffuse reaction patterns, suggesting random distribution of these cells in lesions. Focal areas of reactivity were detected with MAbs to L3T4 and Lyt-2 antigens, suggesting clusters of helper and cytotoxic/suppressor T lymphocytes, respectively. NK cells were presumptively detected by asialo GM1 surface marker in lesions at all times. The presence of activated NK cells in lesions was confirmed by assay of mechanically dissociated heart tissues on Day 8. These data describe the temporal sequence and identity of leukocytes entering into CVB3-induced focal myocarditic lesions during the acute phase of disease in CD-1 mice.


This paper presents an algorithm for optimal design of hybrid renewable energy system consisting of wind turbines, photovoltaic modules, micro-hydro and biomass units. In this approach, unit cost of energy ($/kWh) is used to compare different renewable projects. For each renewable generating unit, energy cost is computed using the unit's levelized cost and annual energy production. An objective function with aim to minimize the average cost of electricity by reducing the energy purchased from existing diesel generators is designed. The developed algorithm selects the least cost combination of generators from a list of commercially available renewable units taking into account hourly demand, hourly renewable resources input and market availability of each renewable unit. To examine the proposed methodology, a computer program is developed and the simulation results are presented.


A "new model" academic chemistry library is proposed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in which primary access to journals is electronic, replacing traditional print access, binding, and shelving. Print journals will continue to be purchased and archived unbound in a remote storage facility following unbound display and access for twelve months. The new model, initially proposed by administrative chemistry faculty, was assessed in a feasibility study which looked at the stability, quantity, and quality of electronic journals; it also included a survey of chemistry faculty, a review of internal management data, and an analysis of use of chemistry journals, both print and electronic. The feasibility study found support for the model in every area, but with a few caution flags and speed bumps predicted along the way.


Several reports on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for the treatment of aphasia caused by damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus state that low-frequency rTMS therapy for the right inferior frontal gyrus, which is contralateral to the focus area, is effective for improving verbal expression. However, most of these reports have studied the effects of rTMS therapy for comparatively mild aphasia. This study attempted to perform low-frequency rTMS on the right posterior superior temporal gyrus (BA22), which is the center for language reception for aphasia patients with a drastic decline in verbal expression due to damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus and a considerable decline in language perception. The participants performed a language task that was displayed on a computer monitor during rTMS. In addition, intensive speech-language and hearing therapy was performed by the therapist after rTMS. This study reports that a resultant improvement in language perception was observed in the activated brain regions based on neuropsychological tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging. This study is considered to be significant as it highlights a new method of rTMS treatment for severe aphasia.


The effect of testosterone and anabolic steroids on the size of sebaceous glands was studied by means of interactive morphometry in skin biopsies of power athletes. The subjects used self-administered high doses of testosterone and anabolic steroids during a 4-week strength training period. After 4 weeks' use of hormones, the area of sectioned sebaceous glands enlarged significantly by a factor of 89.2% (p less than 0.005). The number of cells in the so-called differentiating cell pool (DCP) and in the undifferentiated cell pool (UCP) also increased significantly (p less than 0.025, p less than 0.05, respectively). The size of the area occupied by UCP cells increased significantly (p less than 0.05). The study suggests that high doses of testosterone and anabolic steroids lead to an enlargement of sebaceous glands in male power athletes.


Seven and eight-year-old, male, second grade pupils served as the subjects for the experiment. Each pupil was exposed to three conditions: 1. fast tempo music; 2. Slow tempo music; and 3. silence. The hypothesis that activity rates increase during exposure to fast musical tempo and decrease during exposure to slow musical tempo was not confirmed from the data, F (2,40) = 2.28, p) .10, but a significant increase in overall activity rate was shown from test to retest periods, F (1,40) = 5.71, p <.05. In addition, a significant degree of variation from one another in overall activity rate, F (5,40) = 5.93, p < .01, and a significant difference existed when pupils' activity rates for all days within the test period and all days within the retest period were considered, F(20,40) = 5 . 49, p < .01. A critical analysis of the experiment is given, and suggestions for further research are offered.


Existing records of 651 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma registered at the Kingston Clinic of the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation during the period between 1965–1974 were examined in order to determine the relationship to survival of the following four "nonanatomic" prognostic factors: symptomatic history, performance status, weight loss, and age. Even when stage, histologic factors, and treatment were taken into account, it was found that weight loss and performance status significantly affected survival. Age, however, was related to survival only when the treatment given to the patient was not considered. Symptomatic history was important only in so far as it related to weight loss and performance status. These results are compared to those obtained in other series and the implications discussed.


Several studies have suggested a positive association between anxiety symptoms and suicidality in adults. However, relatively little is known about this topic in adolescents. To investigate this issue, we examined a group of adolescents admitted to our psychiatric inpatient unit. Fifty‐six adolescents (mean age = 14.8±1.4; females = 34, males = 22; race = 95% Caucasians) participated in the study. Diagnoses were made using the DSM‐III‐R criteria and a diagnostic interview. Anxiety was found to significantly correlate with depression (r = .60; P = < .05) and suicidality (r = .72; P < .05). A multiple regression analysis revealed that anxiety and depression together accounted for more than half (55%) of the variance in suicidal ideation [F(2,46) = 28.4; P < .0001]. In addition, anxiety had an independent ability to predict suicidality (t = 5.01; P < .0001). Self‐rated but not clinician‐rated suicidality was positively correlated with both anxiety and depression. Clinical and research implications of these findings are discussed. Depression and Anxiety 11:134–138, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Connecting with and keeping students are perennial issues facing universities. In Australia, the smaller universities in regional areas are particularly vulnerable to student loss. One plausible strategy for these smaller universities to adopt is relationship marketing. This paper presents the findings of a preliminary study that explores the conceptualisation of relationship marketing in a higher education context from a student perspective. Novel theoretical insights and useful practical findings were drawn from the five core themes that were the focus of this study – relationship dynamics, relationship experiences, relationship dimensions, social integration and institutional integration. Collectively these findings provide strong indications that relationship marketing has much promise as a mechanism for regional universities to connect with, and in turn, retain more of their students.; ;


Bovine blastocysts produced by nuclear transplantation have mechanical slits in their zonae pellucidae, and therefore initiate hatching earlier than the non-manipulated embryos. The present study was undertaken to examine whether the hatching stage of cloned blastocysts is among the factors influencing their survival after vitrification and warming. Cloned bovine blastocysts were produced by using adult ear fibroblast cells as reported previously (Parnpai et al., 2002, Theriogenology 57, 443), except that fused couplets were co-cultured with bovine oviductal epithelial cells in mSOFaa medium supplemented with 0.1% linoleic acid-albumin (LAA) + 0.2% BSA (Hochi et al., 1999, Theriogenology 52, 497–504). Hatching blastocysts harvested on Day 7 were classified into one of three groups according to the ratio of extruding embryonic diameter from zona (D2) to embryonic diameter inside the zona (D1); category-A: D2/D1 = 0.01–0.70; category-B: D2/D1 = 0.71–1.00; category-C: D2/D1 = 1.01–1.70. The blastocysts were first exposed to 10% DMSO + 10% ethylene glycol in TCM199 + 20% FCS for 2 min, and then equilibrated in 20% DMSO + 20% ethylene glycol + 0.5 M sucrose with or without 10% Ficoll in TCM199 + 20% FCS for 30 s. One to three blastocysts were placed on a Cryotop sheet (Kitazato Supply Co., Tokyo, Japan) and vitrified in liquid nitrogen. The samples were warmed in 0.5 M sucrose solution for 2 min and transferred into TCM199 + 20% FCS in five steps (5 min per step). The post-warm survival of the blastocysts was assessed by in vitro culture for 24 h. When Ficoll-free vitrification solution was used, post-warm survival rate of the category-A blastocysts (77%, 23/30) was not significantly different (ANOVA test) from those of category-B and category-C blastocysts (74%, 20/27; and 80%, 24/30; respectively). Inclusion of 10% Ficoll in the vitrification solution did not improve (ANOVA test) the post-warm survival rates of cloned blastocysts (category-A: 65%, 22/34; category-B: 54%, 15/28; category-C: 59%, 19/32). Groups of fresh nonsurgical embryos, vitrified with or without Ficoll, yielded 66.7% (4/6), 66.7% (2/3) and 40.0% (2/5), respectively, of recipients pregnant at 48 days of gestation. In conclusion, cloned bovine blastocysts, regardless of their hatching stages, were relatively resistant to cryopreservation by vitrification. (Supported by Thailand Research Fund and R&D Fund of Suranaree University of Technology.)


The complexity of tracking perturbations in discrete event dynamic systems (DEDS) depends on the systems' perturbation propagation mechanism and on the length of the event trace. Existing perturbation propagation algorithms assume that all unperturbed event times are observed and that all perturbed times are required. This paper concerns a complementary approach, termed perturbation tracking (PT), that accurately tracks perturbations in systems for which only a subset of event times are known. The authors apply PT to a class of partially-observed, timed Petri nets and show that for accurate tracking it is necessary and sufficient to know the token holding times between observations. The authors conclude with an example, motivated by a practical software monitoring problem, that illustrates how this information can be derived from structural and event trace analysis. Not surprisingly, the perturbation propagation rules of the authors' PT algorithm are closely related to the existing algorithms when all event timings are observed.<<ETX>>


Background: Falls are the leading causes of (non)fatal injuries in older adults. Recent research has developed interventions that aim to improve balance in older adults using virtual reality (VR). Purpose: We aimed to investigate the validity, reliability, safety, feasibility, and efficacy of head mounted display (HMD) systems for assessing and training balance in older adults. Methods: We searched EBSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases until 1 September 2020 to find studies that used HMD systems for assessing or training balance. The methodological quality was assessed using a modified version of Downs and Black. We also appraised the risk of bias using Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS). Results: A total of 19 articles (637 participants) were included for review. Despite heterogenous age ranges and clinical conditions across studies, VR HMD systems were valid to assess balance and could be useful for fall prevention and for improving postural control and gait patterns. These systems also have the capacity to differentiate healthy and balance-impaired individuals. During VR versions of traditional balance tests, older adults generally acquire a cautious behavior and take more time to complete the tasks. Conclusion: VR HMD systems can offer ecologically valid scenarios to assess and train functional balance and can be used alone or in addition to other interventions. New norms and protocols should be defined according to participants' age, health status, and severity of their illness when using VR HMD systems for balance assessment and training. For safe and feasible training, attention must be given to display type, VR elements and scenarios, duration of exposure, and system usability. Due to high risk of bias and overall poor quality of the studies, further research is needed on the effectiveness of HMD VR training in older adults.


Multiple-antigen vaccines are an increasing focus of biotherapeutic development targeting infectious disease. Three recombinant antigens, based on Candida albicans proteins, have independently induced protection in animal models of candidal infections; agglutinin-like sequence 3 (rAls3), hyphally regulated protein 1 (rHyr1), and secreted aspartyl proteinase 2 (rSap2). However, a trivalent vaccine with all 3 antigens has not been previously evaluated. Here we present murine immune data for monovalent and multivalent vaccine formulations, with and without aluminum hydroxide (AlOH). IgG titers are induced against each antigen in the trivalent vaccine, and all are higher with AlOH. Interference is seen with anti-rAls3 IgG titers when equal amounts of all 3 antigens are used. This interference is abrogated by decreasing rHyr1 and rSap2 amounts relative to rAls3. Dose-dependent IL-17A splenocyte responses were detected against rAls3 and rHyr1, but not rSap2, in monovalent formulations. With trivalent formulations, Als3- and Hyr1-specific IL-17A production increased additively in magnitude and numbers of mice responding and at lower doses compared to monovalent formulations. These data support that robust immune responses can be induced by all 3 antigens in a trivalent vaccine, which may improve efficacy for some or all disease indications by targeting multiple facets of the candidal pathogenesis pathway, including adhesion, invasion and dissemination.


1. We investigated the possible potentiating effect of chloramphenicol succinate (30 mg/kg, every 12 h for 4 days, ip) on the response of polymorphonuclear neutrophils to carrageenin (150 micrograms, ip) or dextran (100 micrograms, ip) in the peritoneal cavity of male Wistar rats (180-230 g; N = 12 in each group). 2. Chloramphenicol potentiated the cell migration induced by carrageenin (35%) but not that induced by dextran. Previous macrophage depletion in the peritoneal cavity by washing with sterile saline abolished the cell response, whereas a previous thioglycollate-induced increase in macrophage numbers enhanced the potentiating effect (60%). 3. These results suggest that the potentiating effect on polymorphonuclear neutrophil migration induced by chloramphenicol may be related to chemotactic factors released by macrophages.


The Green Revolution has fuelled an exponential growth in human population since the mid-20th century. Due to population growth, food and energy demands will soon surpass supply capabilities. To overcome these impending problems, significant improvements in genetic engineering will be needed to complement breeding efforts in order to accelerate the improvement of agronomical traits. The new field of plant synthetic biology has emerged in recent years and is expected to support rapid, precise, and robust engineering of plants. In this review, we present recent advances made in the field of plant synthetic biology, specifically in genome editing, transgene expression regulation, and bioenergy crop engineering, with a focus on traits related to lignocellulose, oil, and soluble sugars. Ultimately, progress and innovation in these fields may facilitate the development of beneficial traits in crop plants to meet society's bioenergy needs.


We study the phase behavior of phage phiX174 single-stranded DNA in very dilute solutions in the presence of monovalent and multivalent salts, in both water (H(2)O) and heavy water (D(2)O). DNA solubility depends on the nature of the salts, their concentrations, and the nature of the solvent. The appearance of attractive interactions between the monomers of the DNA chains in the bulk of the solution is correlated with an adsorption of the chains at the air-water interface. We characterize this correlation in two types of aggregation processes: the condensation of DNA induced by the trivalent cation spermidine and its salting out in the presence of high concentrations (molar and above) of monovalent (sodium) cations, both in water and in heavy water. The overall solubility of single-stranded DNA is decreased in D(2)O compared to H(2)O, pointing to a role of DNA hydration in addition to electrostatic factors in the observed phase separations. DNA adsorption involves attractive van der Waals forces, and these forces are also operating in the bulk aggregation process.


Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is an etiologic agent of enterocolitis and persistent diarrhea worldwide, especially in malnourished children and immunosuppressed individuals. Expression of IL-17, which is produced by a number of immune and epithelial cells, increases during EAEC infection. We previously demonstrated that blocking peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) enhances mucosal Th17 responses that contribute to bacterial clearance in EAEC-infected mice. Here we investigate whether IL-17 mediates the effects of PPARγ blockade in the gut. We show that increasing doses of PPARγ antagonist GW9662 (0.5, 1, or 2µM) directly correlated to increased IL-17 expression in the colon. C57BL/6 wild type mice were challenged with EAEC strain JM221 on day 0 and administered anti IL-17 neutralizing antibody (50μg) i.p. on days 0, 2, and 4 of the study. Anti (α)-IL17 antibody-mediated neutralization of IL-17 abrogated the beneficial effects of PPARγ blockade on weight loss and fecal EAEC burden. In addition, infiltration of CD11c+ dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells into the colonic lamina propria, as well as colonic antimicrobial peptide expression were significantly reduced in mice treated with αIL-17 and GW9662 when compared to mice receiving GW9662 alone. These findings suggest that the beneficial effects from PPARγ blockade in disease activity and bacterial burden during EAEC infection are largely mediated through an IL-17-dependent mechanism.


Surveys of Canadian physicians show that, on average, general/family physicians have been reducing hours of direct patient care in recent years. We currently have little understanding of how changing hours of work relate to service provision. This project examines this relationship using individual-level data for a random sample of Ontario FP/GPs which contains information on fee-for-service billing and hours of direct patient care. The analysis decomposes the variation in physicians' average billing into the variation in billings per hour and variation in the average number of working hours of patient care. The empirical findings reveal that the variation across physicians in total billing is dominated by the variation in hourly billing rather than by the variation in physicians' working hours. There is also negative correlation between average billing per hour and average number of hours of patient care. This pattern is also shown in analyses of sub-groups defined by the sex of the physician, by practice location and by years of graduation. Female rather than male, rural rather than urban, and graduated in the 70's or 80's rather than in the 50's or 60's show strong negative correlations between average hourly billings and average weekly hours of direct patient care.


BACKGROUND
Studies carried out over the past 10 years have suggested that hydrosalpinges reduce the pregnancy rate in IVF. Here we report our observations of spontaneous pregnancies in patients who underwent salpingectomy (n = 18) or proximal tubal occlusion (n = 7) following diagnoses of unilateral hydrosalpinges and patent contralateral tubes.

METHODS
This multi-centre, retrospective study included 25 infertility patients with known unilateral hydrosalpinges with a patent contralateral Fallopian tube. Laparoscopic treatment of unilateral hydrosalpinges by either salpingectomy or tubal occlusion was performed in each patient. Rates of subsequently observed spontaneous pregnancy, and time to pregnancy, are reported.

RESULTS
The average duration of infertility in these patients was 3 years with a range of 1-10 years. Following laparoscopic surgical treatment, a total of 22 patients (88%) achieved intrauterine pregnancies, all without IVF treatment. Pregnancies occurred in an average of 5.6 months with a range of 1-21 months. There were no ectopic pregnancies in the study population.

CONCLUSIONS
Selected patients with unilateral hydrosalpinges and a patent contralateral Fallopian tube may exhibit increased cycle fecundity after salpingectomy or proximal tubal occlusion of the affected tube and conceive without the need for IVF.


Data fusion centers have been around since the 9/11 terrorist attacks but have been shackled with an underperforming label. Products from fusion centers often do not support the mission of the organizations supporting the centers. This paper addresses the questions of what are the historical barriers to information sharing, and how can fusion centers become more efficient and effective in this role? The research and experience of the authors are viewed through a Knowledge Management lens to propose using Structured Analytic Technique exercises coupled with applying knowledge management tools and concepts to improve knowledge flow and the relevance and quality of the intelligence products produced.


Analyses of multifragmentation in terms of the Fisher droplet model (FDM) and the associated construction of a nuclear phase diagram bring forth the problem of the actual existence of the nuclear vapor phase and the meaning of its associated pressure. We present here a physical picture of fragment production from excited nuclei that solves this problem and establishes the relationship between the FDM and the standard compound nucleus decay rate for rare particles emitted in first-chance decay. The compound thermal emission picture is formally equivalent to an FDM-like equilibrium description and avoids the problem of the vapor while also explaining the observation of Boltzmann-like distribution of emission times. In this picture, a simple Fermi gas thermometric relation is naturally justified and verified in the fragment yields and time scales. Low-energy compound nucleus fragment yields scale according to the FDM and lead to an estimate of the infinite symmetric nuclear matter critical temperature between 18 and 27 MeV depending on the choice of the surface energy coefficient of nuclear matter.


This paper introduces a multi-level power quality assessment approach towards virtual testing of more electric aircraft. Three levels with increasing accuracies are rough, approximated and exact power quality assessment. The requirement to the accuracy of power quality assessment strongly depends on different analysis jobs. With the multi-level power quality assessment approach, both sufficient accuracy and minimal cost can be ensured. Advanced steady-state analysis approaches for the switched power electronic systems with regard to the exact power quality assessment are introduced. The convergence performance of the applied steady-state analysis approaches is significantly improved by estimation of the state variables at steady-state using a generalized averaging technique. The proposed approach that has been implemented in Dymola is demonstrated by a pulse width modulated buck converter.


We report the case of a 18 days of life newborn who presented, after a normal pregnancy and first days, an acute respiratory distress. He need to be intubated, to receive sedative drugs, and to be transfered in a paediatric intensive care unit. In this unit, because of the intense hypoxemia, inhaled nitric oxide (NO) was administered, concomitantly with ventilation with 100% of oxygen. We can note a real worsening after NO administration and particularly his chest radiography was really asymetric, with an aspect of right pulmonary hypoperfusion and left pulmonary oedema. An echocardiography was performed, and the important elements were: supra-systemic pulmonary hypertension, asymetric pulmonary arteries (PA) with hypoplastic right PA and dilated left PA, moreover we could see that left atrium received the pulmonary veins but with one hypoplastic and others dilated, with acceleration of 2 m/sec and suspicion of stenosis of pulmonary veins. Atrial septal defect was shunting right to left. A CT-scan completed the investigations and gave the precise diagnosis: this baby suffered from an intra-lobar sequestration concerning all right superior and medium lobes, with 6 systemic collateral arteries, responsible for the pulmonary hypertension and the increased cardiac output. The therapeutic decision was to stop NO, administer diuretics, and to embolize during a catheterization 4 of the 6 systemic arteries. The evolution after was good, even if the baby suffered from persistent pulmonary hypertension after procedure. The extubation was possible six days after procedure. Abstract PO-0489 Figure 1


ABSTRACT Veterinary practitioners are thought of as guardians of animal health and wellbeing, and are considered important in the development of policies on animals. Measuring veterinary students' attitudes toward animals and animal use is needed when assessing the effectiveness of education programs focused on animal welfare and ethics. The present study examined Spanish veterinary students' attitudes toward different types of animal use, their human-directed empathy, and the relationship between these and various personal variables. The sample comprised 200 students who completed an online questionnaire. Attitudes toward animal use varied significantly, depending on the type of use in question. There was also a relationship between attitudes toward animal use, one component of human-directed empathy, "Empathic Concern," and a number of personal variables such as gender, career choice, and contact with animal welfare organizations. Concern about the use of animals for research and animal management was lower in students who were in the later years of their studies. Reasons for this and the role of veterinary education are discussed.


INTRODUCTION
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are a common reason for consultation in pediatrics. Most of them present as skin and soft tissue infections; however, invasive infections have increased during the last decade.

OBJECTIVES
The main objective was to describe the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of CA-MRSA infections. The secondary objective was to compare prevalence, clinical presentation and antibiotic susceptibility with a pre-study period (1/2004-12/2007).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
This is a descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: children who have been diagnosed with CA-MRSA infection and admitted to Hospital de Niños de Rosario between January 2008 and December 2014. Exclusion criteria: recent hospitalization, previous antibiotic treatment or surgery, comorbidities or immune compromise.

RESULTS
Out of 728 cases of children with Staphylococcus aureus infections, 529 (73%) were due to CA-MRSA. The incidence rate of CA-MRSA infections varied from 12.2/10 000 hospital discharges in 2004 to 145/10 000 in 2014: 75% (391) were skin and soft tissue infections; 8% (43) were osteoarticular infections; 6% (30), pleuropulmonary infections; 5% (24), sepsis. There was an increase in the number of invasive infections in the second period, with no statistical significance (OR= 0.895; CI: 0.52-1.53). Gentamicin, clindamycin and erythromycin resistance remained stable throughout both periods.

CONCLUSION
CA-MRSA infections were increasingly more frequent, mainly skin and soft tissue infections. An increase was observed in the number of invasive infections, with no statistical significance. Antibiotic resistance remained stable.


The influence of fraction size on normal tissue damage was analysed in 231 patients treated with postmastectomy irradiation given either with a 12-fraction regimen (1978-1980) or with a 22-fraction regimen (1981). Chest radiographs taken 1-6 years after treatment were reviewed for spontaneous, radiation-induced rib fracture within the treated area. Patients treated with a large dose per fraction had significantly higher incidence of late bone damage (19%) than patients treated with a standard dose per fraction (6%) even though they had been treated with the aim to obtain equivalent biologic response according to the NSD formula. Furthermore, there was a clear dose-response relationship, especially in the 12-fraction regimen, where the total dose at the reference point varied over a wide range. Isoeffect doses could be estimated for the two different fractionation schedules. Using the linear quadratic model, alpha/beta ratios for late bone damage were estimated to be within the range of 1.8-2.8 Gy, i.e. similar to those reported for other late responding normal tissues.


The repeatability of time-lapse seismic data depends upon the repeatability of the acquisition geometry. Despite the availability of high precision navigation systems and steerable streamers, matching seismic survey geometries can require spatial over-sampling and/or wavefield interpolation. Horizontal gradients of the pressure wavefield could greatly alleviate the cross-line sampling issue by doubling the cross-line wavenumber. This paper explores the benefit of using gradients in the reconstruction of pressure wavefields and finds that the reconstruction errors up to twice the pressure-only Nyquist frequency are well within acceptable time-lapse bounds. The use of a multi-channel interpolation by matching pursuit algorithm, in particular, offers good promise for higher order de-aliasing beyond twice-Nyquist.


The cloning of melanocortin receptors opened new avenues to identify selective ligands for this receptor family. gamma-MSH was characterized as a melanocortin-3 receptor selective agonist, [D-Arg8]ACTH-(4-10) and [Pro8,10, Gly9]ACTH-(4-10) were characterized as melanocortin-4 receptor antagonists. The application of these ligands in vivo revealed that melanocortin-4 receptors mediate melanocortin-induced grooming behaviour in the rat. Since we still lack potent and selective melanocortin receptor ligands, we performed homology modelling and site directed mutagenesis of the melanocortin-4 receptor, in order to understand how melanocortins bind melanocortin receptors. A histidine at position 260 in the melanocortin-4 receptor is important for normal receptor function. However this residue is not forming a salt bridge with a glutamate at position 92 to keep the receptor in an inactive conformation, nor with the glutamate in the melanocortin peptides as had been suggested before.


Background Early and aggressive targeted treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has been shown to lead to substantial reductions in disease activity (1,2) and radiologic damage in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (3,4). Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the first-year radiographic progression rates between a treat-to-target (T2T) strategy with initial combination therapy (strategy II) versus an initial step-up monotherapy (strategy I). Methods A total of 128 patients from strategy II was individually matched with 128 patients from strategy I on sex, age (± 5 yrs.) and baseline disease activity (± 0.5 on the DAS28). Differences in radiographic progression scores and the number of patients experiencing a minimal clinically important difference (≥5 SHS points; MCID) between both strategies were tested with Mann Whitney U test and chi-square test. Next, linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine which baseline variables were associated with radiographic progression scores and the probability of experiencing an MCID within 1 year. Results Patients with initial combination therapy had slightly higher baseline disease activity scores and pain scores, but better mental health scores. Patients with initial monotherapy had significantly more, and more frequently clinically relevant, radiographic progression after one year. Experiencing a MCID was associated with fewer tender joints (p=0.05) and higher ESR (p=0.02) at baseline. Conclusions Excellent radiographic outcome was achieved for patients treated according to a protocolled T2T strategy in daily clinical practice. Patients treated with initial monotherapy had significantly more short-term radiographic progression than patients treated with initial combination therapy. References Steunebrink LMM, Vonkeman HE, ten Klooster PM, et al. (2016) Recently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients benefit from a treat-to-target strategy: results from the DREAM registry. Clin Rheumatol 35:609–615. doi: 10.1007/s10067–016–3191–3. Steunebrink LMM, Versteeg GA, Vonkeman HE, et al. (2015) Initial combination therapy versus step-up therapy in treatment to the target of remission in daily clinical practice in early rheumatoid arthritis patients: results from the DREAM registry. Arthritis Res Ther 18:60. doi: 10.1186/s13075–016–0962–9. Stenger AA, Van Leeuwen MA, Houtman PM, et al. (1998) Early effective suppression of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis reduces radiographic progression. Br J Rheumatol 37:1157–63. Goekoop-Ruiterman YPM, de Vries-Bouwstra JK, Allaart CF, et al. (2008) Clinical and radiographic outcomes of four different treatment strategies in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (the BeSt study): A randomized, controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum 58:S126–35. doi: 10.1002/art.23364. Acknowledgements We would like to thank all the patients, rheumatology nurses, and rheumatologists who participated in our study. Disclosure of Interest None declared


The present study was conducted in 2015 – 16 in Thirunelli and Panamaram panchayats of Wayanad district, Kerala. Ninety Adiyas were randomly selected from 3 villages and social exclusion was measured using five indicators namely – geographical exclusion, economic exclusion, service exclusion, socio–cultural exclusion and political–legal exclusion. The salient findings of the study revealed that Adiyas were socially excluded to an extent of 66.38 per cent and half (50.00 %) of the respondents felt medium level of exclusion. Economic exclusion was felt to an extent of 74.54 per cent followed by political-legal exclusion (69.89 %). Adiya tribe experienced geographical exclusion to an extent of 69.76 per cent followed by service exclusion (67.96 %) and socio-cultural exclusion (48.92 %). Adiyas in There was significant difference in the extent of social exclusion in Thirunelli panchayath (70.90 %) and Panamaram panchayath (61.87 %). The profile of the Adiyas were studied and it was observed that education, type of house, social capital and political orientation showed significant negative relationship with social exclusion at one per cent level while annual income, land holding, condition of house, mass media participation, social participation and achievement motivation showed significant negative relationship with social exclusion at five per cent level. Principal component analysis was carried out and three factors namely tribal characteristics, risk factor and socio – economic factor explained the maximum variation (78.24 %) in social exclusion at community level. Strengthening of Oorukootams (93.33 %) was a major intervention suggested by Adiyas to overcome social exclusion.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

The Warburg effect describes the observation that cancer cells take up more glucose than normal tissue and favor aerobic glycolysis. Many tumor cells rely on aerobic glycolysis instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for their continued proliferation and survival. This may be, in part, due to attenuated mitochondrial function, which is suggested to be achieved through inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) in cancer cells. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) is the first and most important enzyme component of PDC, which catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA that subsequently enters into the Krebs cycle to produce ATP and electron donors including NADH. PDH activity is negatively regulated by phosphorylation at several serine sites. Phosphorylation of PDH by PDH kinase (PDHK) results in the inactivation of PDC, while dephosphorylation by pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (PDP) restores PDC activity. Thus, PDHK and PDP coordinate to regulate the phosphorylation and consequently activation status of PDH. In cancer cells, c-Myc and HIF-1alpha are believed to promote inhibition of PDC by, in part, upregulating gene expression of PDHK. However, how oncogenic signals regulate PDH, and/or coordinate PDHK and PDP activity to inhibit PDH and ultimately attenuate PDC activity in cancer metabolism still remains unclear. We recently reported that, surprisingly, functional PDC can form in mitochondria outside of matrix in some cancer cells. Moreover, several oncogenic tyrosine kinases including FGFR1, FGFR1 fusion tyrosine kinase, and FLT3-ITD mutant, as well as BCR-ABL and JAK2 V617F mutants, are localized to different mitochondrial compartments including outer membrane and matrix, respectively, in cancer cells, where they phosphorylate PDHK1, PDP1 and PDHA. Our studies demonstrate that tyrosine phosphorylation enhances PDHK1 kinase activity by promoting ATP and PDC binding, which promotes cancer cell metabolism, proliferation and tumor growth. In consonance with these findings, we found that tyrosine phosphorylation attenuates PDP1 phosphatase activity but inhibits PDHA enzyme activity. These data suggest that mitochondrial oncogenic tyrosine kinases regulate PDC activity by inhibiting PDHA1 enzyme activity directly through tyrosine phosphorylation and indirectly by enhancing and attenuating PDHK1 and PDP1 activity, respectively. These findings represent an acute mechanism underlying the Warburg effect, in addition to the long-term regulation that is believed to be regulated by c-Myc and HIF-1alpha.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 997. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-997


This paper deals with optimum design criteria for maximum torque density & minimum current density of a single phase line-start permanent-magnet motor (LSPMM) using RSM (Response Surface Methodology) & FEM (Finite Element Method). The focus of this paper is to find a design solution through the comparison of torque density and minimum current density resulting from rotor shape variations. And then, a central composite design (CCD) mixed resolution is introduced, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) is conducted to determine the significance of the fitted regression model.


Innovative collimators are being investigated to handle the high energy particle beams foreseen in future upgrades of CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This calls for the development of novel advanced materials, as no existing metal- or carbon-based material possesses the combination of physical, thermal, electrical and mechanical properties, imposed by extreme collimator's working conditions. An ambitious research program has been undertaken at CERN and collaborating partners to investigate, process and characterize novel composite materials. A promising new family of materials has been identified in metal/ceramiccarbon composites: these are intended to combine optimum mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, such as mechanical strength, melting temperature, thermal shock resistance, electrical conductivity, and energy absorption. Besides High Energy Physics equipment, these materials are of particular interest for thermal management applications such as high power density electronic packaging, aerospace, automotive, nuclear fusion and solar energy. With that in mind, this paper aims at discussing the properties of investigated materials with respect to their relevance for the various application domains.


Risk is an inevitable part of production agriculture. Price risk is especially a concern for cattle producers in the Midwest. Producers can curtail profit volatility, to an extent, through the utilization of price risk management strategies such as forward contracting, hedging, using put and call options, Livestock Risk Protection Insurance (LRP), as well as Livestock Gross Insurance (LGM) for feedlot cattle. Learning about such price risk management tools can be a daunting task. Kansas State University Extension created a computer based simulation workshop to assist them in teaching cattle producers about price risk management strategies. The simulation paralleled a lecture where participants learned of the price risk management strategies that are available. The simulation allowed the workshop participants to practice using the management strategies as they assumed the role of a feedlot or ranch manager in charge of marketing the operation's calves. In a cooperative effort with Iowa State University, Kansas State University presented the Cattle Risk Management Workshops across the state of Iowa. Participants were given pre-and posttests to measure the effectiveness of the workshop. The overall post-test scores were 25 percentage points higher than the pre-test scores. This research also discusses the interest and perceptions of cattle producers regarding price risk management strategies. The effectiveness of simulations as a teaching tool in helping producers learn about price risk management strategies is also reviewed. In addition, the various price risk management strategies available to producers, as well as seasonality of prices and basis are analyzed. This research also explains and estimates the LRP Feeder Cattle Basis Model. The LRP Feeder Cattle Basis Model was developed with the objective of assisting producers in forecasting LRP basis. The model was developed using similar methodology applied in the creation of a CME basis forecasting model developed by Kansas State University Extension and Custom Ag Solutions, Inc. The LRP Feeder Cattle Basis Model automatically adjusts for the LRP price adjustment factor applied to beef steer calves weighing less than 600 pounds, and beef heifers weighing 600-900 pounds. The LRP Feeder Cattle Basis Model explains 71.37 percent of the variation of LRP basis.


Life history pattern of the amphipod Gammarus balcanicus occurring in the Western Bieszczady Mountains is given and compared with literature data concerning the biology of this species.


Radionuclide imaging with N-isopropyl-(I-123)p-iodoamphetamine ([123I]IMP) was performed in a patient with recurrent bronchial carcinoid tumor. Increased accumulation of [123I]IMP was observed in the known lesions of the brain and neck on both tomographic and planar images. Scintigraphy also revealed unknown metastatic lesions of the paraaortic lymph nodes, which were later confirmed on x-ray CT. Iodine-123-IMP may have a potential role in evaluating carcinoid tumors.


Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder frquently accompanied by changes of the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity and of the salivary glands. Routine dental examination in a 25-year-old woman disclosed oral signs and symptoms characteristic of BN and she was referred for psychiatric evaluation. Oral evaluation of patients suspected of BN is recommended to prevent irreversible damage to the oral and perioral structures.


A spot-size converted laser diode (SSC-LD) with a vertically tapered passive waveguide structure was fabricated by butt-joint-built-in (BJB) coupling and selective area metal organic chemical vapor deposition growth. A high coupling efficiency exceeding 50% and 1-dB alignment tolerance of /spl plusmn/2.5 /spl mu/m were obtained at a distance of 20 /spl mu/m between a flat-end single-mode fiber and the SSC-LD. Experimental results show that the asymmetric output property can be described by the radiation mode added to the guide mode and spatial hole-burning in the active region.


This article offers a new conceptualisation of the meaning of norms in world politics. It starts from the observation that existing norm scholarship in International Relations has underestimated the role of ambiguity in the constitution of norm meaning. To address this shortcoming, we advance a conceptualisation that sees norm polysemy – the empirically observable plurality of norm meanings-in-use – as resulting from the enactment of inherently ambiguous norms in different contexts. By foregrounding norm ambiguity, this view offers a radically non-essentialist understanding of norm meaning, one that eschews any attempt to salvage final or 'true' meanings behind the polysemy of norms. Using empirical illustrations from different fields of contemporary global governance, we identify four mechanisms through which actors practically cope with the multiplicity of norm meanings that arises from norm ambiguity (deliberation, adjudication, unior multilateral fixation attempts, and ad hoc enactment) and outline their varying effects on the legitimacy and effectiveness of global governance. Based on this discussion, the article points to the normative implications of a radically non-essentialist conception of norms and suggests harnessing the positive potential of norm ambiguity as an ethically desirable condition that promotes human diversity and the plurality of global life.


The video-on-demand systems and video share web are more and more popular in recent years. Video similarity search for content-based video retrieval is important in web service and research field. There is still no satisfying search method for scalable fast similarity search in large video database. In order to solve two challenging problems: video similarity measure and fast search method in large database, a novel efficient video similarity search strategy for video-on-demand systems is proposed in this paper. A compact video signature was computed according to image histogram and spatial-temporal features of video. The video similarity is measured by the computation of the distance of video signature. For the scalable computing requirement, a new search method based on Clustering Index Table was presented by index clustering. The experimental results from the query tests in large database show this method is highly efficient and effective for similar video search.


Inorganic phosphate is stored as a polyphosphate (polyP) polymer inside every living cell. This polymer is synthesized by the polyP kinase (PPK) enzyme using the terminal phosphate of ATP as substrate and it performs important functions in the cell. In this study, effects of high levels of PPK on Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis were analyzed. Recombinant Bti ppk, a PPK overproducer, was found to uptake more phosphate into the cell and produce a consistently higher amount of endotoxin than the wild type under culture conditions including a range of temperatures (25 °C, 30 °C, and 37 °C), pH values (pH 5, 6, 8, and 9), and carbon sources (maltose, mannitol, sucrose, and starch). Moreover, this strain was found to overexpress sigB, which might cause a significant increase in the acid tolerance of this microorganism. Spores of Bti ppk were found to be smaller compared to wild-type spores; however, bioassay experiments with third-instar wild Culex pipiens larvae proved that high toxicity is not the result of small spore size. This hypertoxic recombinant Bti strain is very useful for industrial applications, not only because it produces more endotoxin than the wild type under different culture conditions, but also because it is more acid-tolerant under the conditions tested.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of hand acupuncture on reduction of headache. Method: This study used a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design. 45 middle school girls who complained of headache were selected as subjects. The study lasted from November 2002 to June 2003. There were 22 girls in the experimental group while 23 girls were control group; convenience assignment was used. The two groups were homogeneous on characteristics. The experimental group received hand acupuncture. The treatment was to puncture corresponding points (A33, B27, M1, I2) on both the palm and the back of a hand with disposable acupuncture needles, and then remove them after a 20-30 minutes recess during which the subjects reclined on a bed. The data were analyzed using the SPSS PC with Fisher's Exact x²-test, and Mann Whitney U-test. Result: The results of this study were as follows: 1) In the experimental group, objective pain decreased after hand acupuncture (U=-2.51, p= .01). As for the objective pain degree, a significant reduction in voice change was observed in the experimental groups (U= -2.35, p= .02). Facial expressional changes were observed (U= -1.87, p= .06) and perspiration degree (U= -.99, p= .32) has reduced. However, these differences were not statistically significant between the experimental and control group. 2) Subjective pain degree decreased after hand acupuncture in the experimental as compared to the control group. 3) No statistical significant difference in comfort (U= -.29, p= .78) or distress (U= -1.51, p= .13) between experimental and control group were found. Conclusion: These findings indicate that hand acupuncture is an effective method for reducing headache. Therefore, hand acupuncture can be considered as an independent nursing intervention for headache reduction.


Multi-instance learning (MIL) is a form of weakly supervised learning where a single class label is assigned to a bag of instances while the instance-level labels are not available. Training classifiers to accurately determine the bag label and instance labels is a challenging but critical task in many practical scenarios, such as computational histopathology. Recently, MIL models fully parameterized by neural networks have become popular due to the high flexibility and superior performance. Most of these models rely on attention mechanisms that assign attention scores across the instance embeddings in a bag and produce the bag embedding using an aggregation operator. In this paper, we proposed a dual-stream maximum self-attention MIL model (DSMIL) parameterized by neural networks. The first stream deploys a simple MIL max-pooling while the top-activated instance embedding is determined and used to obtain self-attention scores across instance embeddings in the second stream. Different from most of the previous methods, the proposed model jointly learns an instance classifier and a bag classifier based on the same instance embeddings. The experiments results show that our method achieves superior performance compared to the best MIL methods and demonstrates state-of-the-art performance on benchmark MIL datasets.


We demonstrate that in indoor radio propagation modeling, the presence of the human body may be approximated by a conducting circular cylinder at microwave frequencies. Therefore, a perfect tool such as the uniform theory of diffraction may be used to predict the diffracted field over a smooth circular surface. To validate the model, vertically and horizontally polarized continuous wave (CW) measurements were performed at 10.5 GHz between two fixed terminals inside a room along with the presence of an obstacle (person or metallic cylinder) moving along predetermined parallel and perpendicularly crossing paths with respect to the line-of-sight direction. Results indicate that there is a strong correlation between the effects of the human body and those of a conducting circular cylinder. The simulation results successfully agree with the CW experimental measurements.


: Effects of reduced frequency, pause duration and stop angle on pressure distribution on the lower surface of a thin supercritical airfoil undergoing the pitch-pause-return maneuver have been studied. The experiments have been performed in a subsonic wind tunnel for a fixed mean angle of attack and at a constant amplitude. The reduced frequencies were from 0.01 to 0.12, and three stop angles were chosen during upstroke motion in below stall, near stall and post-stall regions. For all angles of attack below the static stall, the pressure distributions are nearly identical at the rear quarter chord on the lower surface. For beyond the stall angles, the lower surface pressure distributions are observed to remain unchanged from the leading edge downstream to x⁄c=0.15. Also, dynamic results show that the behavior of pressure distribution at the lower surface taps for all stop angles, reduced frequencies and pause durations, are identical from the leading edge to x⁄c=0.70 and are higher than the static values at zero angle of attack. However, the lower surface pressure distributions have been observed to be entirely different at the rear %30 chord for various pause angles, which can be deemed to be the signature of the unsteady Gortler vortices.


An investigation into the effects, including the athermal effect, of a pulsed current on AZ31B magnesium alloy was carried out. Different peak current densities were applied at the same temperature under uniaxial tensile testing. The results indicate that the stress reduction caused by the increasing peak current density is independent of temperature. The strain hardening coefficient also shows a similar trend. The fracture strain shows the optimum value due to the current crowding effect.