Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 2 is a mitochondrial isozyme of the heart involved in the metabolism of toxic aldehydes produced from oxidative stress. A decrease in ALDH2 levels and activity was reported in the hearts of experimental hyperglycemia along with an increase in 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE). 4HNE is produced in the mitochondria upon lipid peroxidation and known to form adduct with mitochondrial proteins. We hypothesize that reduced ALDH2 activity impairs mitochondrial respiration due to 4HNE adducts formation, ultimately resulting in cardiac damage in hyperglycemia. A single dose (65 mg/kg; i.p.) of streptozotocin in rats resulted in hyperglycemia with a blood glucose level of 443 ± 9 mg/dl versus 121 ± 7 mg/dl in control animals, p<0.0001. N=7-11 in both groups. After 6 months of hyperglycemia, heart function was recorded and the rats were sacrificed. Increases in cardiomyocyte cross sectional area (446 ± 32 μm2 Vs 221 ± 10 μm2; p<0.0001) indicated cardiac hypertrophy in diabetic rats. Both diastolic and systolic dysfunctions were recorded with diabetic rats compared to controls. For instance, % fractional shortening was lower in diabetic group versus control; (p<0.0001). Most importantly, myocardial ALDH2 activity and levels were reduced and immunostaining for 4HNE protein adducts was increased in diabetic hearts compared to controls. The mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR), an index of mitochondrial respiration, was decreased in mitochondria isolated from diabetic hearts compared to controls (p<0.0001). To check the direct effect of 4HNE and ALDH2 inhibition, we treated H9C2 cardiomyocytes with 4HNE and disufiram, an ALDH inhibitor, respectively, which reduced mitochondrial respiration (p<0.0001) and cell viability (p<0.0001) along with reduced ALDH2 activity and increased 4HNE adducts formation. We conclude that chronic hyperglycemia-induced 4HNE accumulation due to low ALDH2 activity in the heart leads to defective mitochondrial respiration and cardiac damage and dysfunction.


Introduction/Background Sentinel node in endometrial cancer (EC) is an evolving technique to know the nodal status in a more precise way without the need to perform a complete lymphadenecotomy. The aim of this study was to describe our latest results using dual cervical and fundal indocyanine green (ICG) injection for detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) in endometrial cancer and results of SLN biopsy. Methodology This is an observational prospective study performed between 26 June 2014 and 31 December 2019, 278 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for endometrial cancer at Hospital Uniersitario Donostia, in Spain. In all cases, we performed SLN biopsy with dual cervical and fundal ICG injection, looking for pelvic and aortic sentinel node. All SLNs were processed with an ultrastaging technique. A total of 128 patients with Intermediate and High risk EC also underwent total pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. Results The detection rates were as follows: 93.52% (260/278) overall for SLNs; 90.65% (252/278) overall for pelvic SLNs; 67.99% (189/278) for bilateral SLNs; 66.91% (186/278) for paraaortic SLNs, and 2.88% (8/278) for isolated paraaortic SLNs. We found macroscopic lymph node metastasis in 26 patients (10.03%) and microdisease in lymph nodes in another 48 patients, raising the overall rate of lymph node involvement to 16.19%. There was one false negative (negative SLN biopsy but positive lymphadenectomy). 6.6% of all pelvic and also aortic sentinel nodes were positive for metastasis. Applying the SN algorithm, the sensitivity of detection was 97.9% (95% CI 89.1–99.6), specificity 100% (95% CI 98.2–100), negative predictive value 99.5% (95% CI 97.4–99.9), and positive predictive value 100% (95% CI 92.4–100). Conclusion Dual sentinel node injection is a feasible technique that achieves adequate detection rates. Additionally, this technique allows a high rate of aortic detection, identifying a non-negligible percentage of isolated aortic metastases. Aortic metastases in endometrial cancer are possible and it is necessary to investigate the relevance of its detection. Disclosures No disclosures.


This dissertation focus on achieving high accuracy navigation using low-cost sensors and on high precision trajectory tracking control for Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).For high accuracy navigation, this dissertation presents a real-time sliding-window estimator to tightly integrate Differential-GPS (DGPS) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) to achieve reliable, high precision navigation performance in GPS-challenged urban environments using a low-cost, single-frequency (L1) GPS receiver. The approach is novel in that it utilizes the phase measurements, without resolving the integer ambiguity, to improve the accuracy and the robustness of the estimation results. Experimental results demonstrate that the performance of the proposed navigation system is significantly better than the extended Kalman Filter (EKF) (improved by one order of magnitude) and the novel usage of phase measurements further improves the robustness of the estimator to the pseudorange multipath error, which could otherwise be several meters in urban environments.Regarding precision trajectory tracking, this dissertation presents a new command filtered backstepping technique for under-actuated VTOL UAVs. Quaternions are used to represent the attitude of the vehicle to ensure the global attitude tracking without singularities. Since the quaternions have their own unique algebra, they cannot be filtered by a vector-based command filter; therefore, a second-order quaternion filter is developed to filter the quaternion and automatically compute its derivative, which determines the commanded angular rate vector. A quadrotor vehicle is used as an example to show the performance of the proposed controller.


Thi s study aimed to determine and compare community structure and assemblages species of zooplankton at Kodingareng and Lanyukang Island. This study used randomly sampling method and the sampling was conducted on July, August and October 2012. Data was analysed using at PRIMER software program. The results showed that zooplankton at Kodingareng and Lanyukang Isla nd had 48 taxa. 47 taxa was found when sampling at dry season and 25 taxa was found when the sampling at wet season. The species was only found at Kodingareng Island were Cypris and Amphipod, while the species was only found at Lanyukang Island was  Luciferidae zoea, Tad  Pole  and  Tintinid.  The  highest  average  of  zooplankton  abundance  was  found  at  dry  season  sampling  at Lanyukang Island, account for 670 individu/L. The result of ANOSIM showed that the level of significance of zooplankton  community  structure  a t  Lanyukang  and  Kodingareng  Island  was  0.5%.  Based  on  nMDS  plot  of zooplankton assemblages species between Lanyukang and Kodingareng Island showed clear seperation. The SIMPER result showed that there was no species seperator of community structure between those islands due to there was the same dominance of species, such as Calanoida, Cyclopoida, dan Chaetognatha.


The present study examined the possibility of long-term storage, by cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen, of the sperm of filefish (Thamnaconus septentrionalis). Changes in motility, survival rate, ultrastructure and fertilization rate of the sperm after freezing and thawing were tested. For selection of the immobilizing solution, artificial seawater (ASW) of 250, 350 and 450 mOsmol kg−1 were tested. Sperm motility was significantly inhibited in 350 mOsmol kg−1 ASW, and restored entirely after 100% ASW (1200 mOsmol kg−1) was added. Two cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulphoxide and glycerol, were employed. The sperm was diluted at the ratio of 1:6 with the extenders, and frozen at a freezing rate of −40°C min−1 to −100°C after equilibration for 10 min at room temperature, followed by plunging into liquid nitrogen. The highest post-thawed sperm motility and survival rate were obtained with 5% glycerol. Afterwards, the effect of different freezing rates was examined using 5% glycerol as a cryoprotectant, and the rate of −30°C min−1 to −100°C showed the best result.


Groundwater from the communities adjoining Abule Egba (ABE), Epe (EPE), Ikorodu (IKR), Olushosun (OSH) and Solous (SOL) dumpsites in Lagos State, Nigeria were collected and analyzed for Polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Water samples were extracted using liquid-liquid extraction followed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy analysis using already validated standard method. PBDEs concentrations ranged from 7.1 ± 10.1 (IKR) to 78 ± 109 µgL-1 (ABE) for BDE 28; 5.4 ± 0.3 (OSH) to 31.5 ± 27.3 µgL-1 (ABE) for BDE 47; 17 ± 24 (ABE) to 183 ± 226 µgL-1 for BDE 100; 11.7 ± 16.5 (ABE) to 174 ± 217 µgL-1(EPE) for BDE 99; 117 ± 166 (ABE) to 2034 ± 2819 µg L-1 (EPE) for BDE 183; 296 ± 392 (IKR) to 4283 ± 1278 µg L-1 (EPE) for BDE 209. BDE 153 and BDE 154 were not detected in all the water samples while BDE 28 was only detected in ABE and IKR water samples. The BDE 209 was the most dominant congener in all the water samples. The cumulative HI values for children through ingestion route ranged from 4.95 E+00 (SOL) to 4.53 E+01 (EPE) while in adult, it ranged from 4.25 E+00 (SOL) to 3.88 E+01 (EPE). This study confirmed the presence of PBDEs at elevated concentration in groundwater. Since there is no regular supply of pipe-borne water in the study area, residents consume the contaminated groundwater and may therefore be exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Government should provide pie-borne water for the populace and discourage people from living close to the dumpsites.


In this study, the main pigment composition of Anemone obtusiloba was analysed by UV-vis spectrophotometry, HPLC, and LC-MS. The results showed that there were two kinds of pigmentsin A. obtusiloba, carotenoids, and flavonoids The absorbance spectra regularly changed with the depth of flower colour. Based on HPLC and LC-MS analyses, seven kinds of flavonoids were inferred, including luteolin-3-7-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rutoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-sophoroside, and myricetin-3-O-rhamnose, and the derivative of quercetin was identified as the main component in A. obtusiloba. Besides, according to the analysis of the flavonoid metabolism pathway, it could be determined that flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3′H) was the key enzyme to increase the content of quercetin. This paper speculates that A. obtusiloba increases the content of quercetin by regulating flavonoid F3′H, so that it can deepen the flower colour to adapt to the environment.


This paper deals with precise positioning of a high-speed positioning stage without inducing residual vibration by using an input shaping technique. Input shaping is well known to be a very effective tool for suppressing the residual vibration of flexible structures. However, the ordinary input shaping for positioning stages is designated mostly for velocity regulation, not for the residual vibration at the target position. The main difficulties in implementing input shaping along with precise positioning are the time delay caused by the servo system characteristics and the s-curve feature often employed in some motor controllers. This paper analyzes the dynamic responses of a single-mode-dominate stage system subjected to input shaping. A theoretical model is developed io investigate the nature of system. In order to overcome the difficulty, this paper proposes an improved input shaper based on modified command profile generation. The proposed method is proved effective through experiments and simulations.


Objective: Creation of a central iliac arteriovenous (AV) anastomosis using a novel nitinol coupler device results in an immediate, significant reduction of blood pressure (BP). We present efficacy and safety findings at 12 months post coupler insertion, extending the initial 6 month primary endpoint report (Lancet 2015). Design and method: This open-label, multicentre, prospective, randomised trial, enrolled patients with a baseline office systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mmHg, average daytime ambulatory SBP > 135 mmHg, and ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 85 mmHg. Subjects were randomly allocated to AV coupler implantation and continuing previous pharmacotherapy, or to maintain previous treatment alone. Results: Eighty-three (43%) of 195 patients screened for eligibility were randomly allocated to AV coupler therapy (n = 44) or control (n = 39) groups. At 12 months, 39 patients who had AV coupler therapy were included in the intention to treat analysis. Office-based SBP reduced by 25.1 ± 23.3 mmHg (baseline 175 ± 18 mmHg, p < 0·0001) post AV coupler placement, and office DBP reduced by 20.8 ± 13.3 mmHg (baseline 100 ± 13 mmHg, p < 0·0001). Mean 24-hour ambulatory SBP reduced by 12.6 ± 17.4 mmHg (baseline 157 ± 15 mmHg, p < 0·0001), post coupler treatment. Mean 24-hour ambulatory DBP reduced by 15.3 ± 9.7 mmHg (baseline 93 ± 11 mmHg, p < 0·0001). (see Figure). Figure. No caption available. In a pre-specified subset of patients who had failed to respond adequately to prior renal denervation, AV coupler therapy lead to highly significant reduction in office SBP/DBP (30.7/24.1 mmHg) and significant reduction in 24 hour ambulatory SBP/DBP (12.4/14.4 mmHg) at 12 months follow up. In the 12 months following randomisation, the control population has experienced a single death, attributed to hypertensive heart failure, and 6 hospitalisations in 4 patients. Following AV coupler therapy, 14 patients (33%) developed ipsilateral venous stenosis; all were treated successfully with venous stenting. Conclusions: Office and ambulatory BP were substantially and durably reduced following coupler implantation. The control population experienced both hypertension-related morbidity and mortality, not observed in the treatment group. These findings confirm the importance of arterial mechanics in the pathophysiology of hypertension and support the clinical utility of a central iliac AV anastomosis.


Financial distress is the stage or situation of a decline in the company's financial condition before a business failure occurs. This failure is related to liquidation, where the company fails to run its operations for profit. Financial distress prediction methods have been long developed in the field of finance using Multiple Discriminant Analyst (MDA). The most widely used MDA method is the Altman model ratio. This method is used as an early warning to the company's financial condition. This study aims to analyze the neuro fuzzy data mining algorithm with input data from the financial ratio of the Altman model to predict the company's financial distress. Research data are from the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) website at www.idx.co.id. Data population between 2012-2017 LQ45 issuers are 80 companies. Preliminary data from the company's financial statements are calculated by Altman's ratio to get zscore values ??of three types of categories. These values ??are arranged in time series of four backward periods which will be used as input data for the neuro fuzzy algorithm ANFIS model. The next step is the formation of algorithms, training, testing, simulation and model evaluation using the GUI application from the Matlab program. The results of the model are predictive values ??that are compared with the results of the Altman ratio calculation of predicted years. The final results of the study show the predicted value of the ANFIS model of the Triangle membership function looks very optimal, consistent, and efficient. It was proven that the average predicted value of 9.95% was close to the actual value of the calculated year, while the results of the ANFIS model of the Trapezoid, Gauss and G-bell membership functions seemed less than optimal.
Keywords: Financial Distress, Neuro Fuzzy, Prediction, Altman Ratio.


The study aimed to analyze the concept of the industrial revolution of society 5.0 and finding the dialectical relationship between theology, humanity and technology. The study method used was content analysis. Based on the content analysis method, it was found that there was a potential for dehumanism and detheologism in the concept of the society 5.0 industrial revolution made by the Japanese government as an effort to improve the society 4.0 industrial revolution made by the German government. The results showed that there is a dialectical relationship between theology, humanity and technology.


Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent stimulator of endothelial cell proliferation. It has been implicated in tumor growth of human thyroid carcinomas. Using the VEGF immunohistochemistry staining score, we correlated the level of VEGF expression with the metastatic spread of 19 cases of thyroid papillary carcinoma. The VEGF immunostaining score, ranging from 0-9, was determined as the multiplication of a percentage of labeled thyrocytes score (0, no labeling; 1, <30%; 2, 31--60%; 3, >61% of labeled thyrocytes) and an intensity score (0, no staining; 1, weak; 2, mild; 3, strong staining). The mean score +/- SD was 5.74 +/- 2.59 for all carcinomas. The mean score for metastatic papillary carcinoma was 8.25 +/- 1.13 vs. 3.91 +/- 1.5 for nonmetastatic papillary cancers (P < 0.001). By discriminant analysis, we found a threshold value of 6.0, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 87.5%. There were no statistical differences between metastatic and nonmetastatic carcinomas when age, tumor size, or thyroglobulin levels were considered. The VEGF immunostaining score seems to be a helpful marker for metastasis spread in differentiated thyroid cancers. An increased production of VEGF could assess an aggressive disease and be the hallmark of a trend to produce metastasis. We propose the VEGF immunostaining score as a marker for the prognosis in differentiated thyroid cancers. A value of 6 or more, should be considered as at high risk for metastasis threat, prompting the physician to institute a tight follow up of the patient.


Objective An ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis method was established for simultaneous determination of glyphosate, glufosinate and aminomethylphonic acid (AMPA) in tea. Methods The sample was extracted with water, and cleaned up by multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTS)and primary-secondary amine(PSA)as dispersive solid-phase extraction sorbent, then derived using fluorenyl methyl chloroformate(FMOC-Cl). The derivatives were separated by ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column, using acetonitrile and 4 mmol/L ammonium acetate as the mobile phase. The identification and quantification of glyphosate, glufosinate and AMPA were carried out by MS/MS in positive electro1148 食品安全质量检测学报 第 5卷 spray ionization(ESI) and multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode, and the quantification analysis was performed by external standard method. Results The calibration curve showed a good linearity in the range of 0.1∼1 μg/mL with the correlation coefficient r> 0.999. The quantification (LOQ) limits were 10 μg/kg. The average recoveries of glyphosate, glufosinate and AMPA spiked at 0.25, 0.50 mg/kg and 1.00 mg/kg levels in green tea were 95%~116%, 98%~118% and 74%~84%, and the relative standard deviations (RSD, n=6) were lower than 6.79%. Conclusion This method is simple, effective and sensitive, and it is suitable for the determination and confirmation of glyphosate, glufosinate and AMPA in tea.


Oblivious RAM (ORAM), first introduced in the ground-breaking work of Goldreich and Ostrovsky (STOC '87 and J. ACM '96) is a technique for provably obfuscating programs' access patterns, such that the access patterns leak no information about the programs' secret inputs. To compile a general program to an oblivious counterpart, it is well-known that Ω(logN) amortized blowup is necessary, where N is the size of the logical memory. This was shown in Goldreich and Ostrovksy's original ORAM work for statistical security and in a somewhat restricted model (the so called balls-and-bins model), and recently by Larsen and Nielsen (CRYPTO '18) for computational security. A long standing open question is whether there exists an optimal ORAM construction that matches the aforementioned logarithmic lower bounds (without making large memory word assumptions, and assuming a constant number of CPU registers). In this paper, we resolve this problem and present the first secure ORAM with O(logN) amortized blowup, assuming one-way functions. Our result is inspired by and non-trivially improves on the recent beautiful work of Patel et al. (FOCS '18) who gave a construction with O(logN · log logN) amortized blowup, assuming one-way functions. One of our building blocks of independent interest is a linear-time deterministic oblivious algorithm for tight compaction: Given an array of n elements where some elements are marked, we permute the elements in the array so that all marked elements end up in the front of the array. Our O(n) algorithm improves the previously best known deterministic or randomized algorithms whose running time is O(n · log n) or O(n · log log n), respectively.


This article provides a description of (and guidance for implementing) a classroom exercise in which experimental asset markets are used to illustrate the economic impact that auditing can have on a market economy and its participants. In particular, the exercise entails creating two actual microeconomies in the classroom. In one microeconomy, participants produce, trade, and consume generic assets in an environment in which the underlying asset quality is not readily observable to consumers. In the second microeconomy, there is one principal difference: asset quality is verified via an independent audit, and the results are reported to the marketplace. Comparison of the two microeconomies allows students and instructors to identify, measure, and explain the impact of auditing on individual decisions, individual profits, and overall market performance. The exercise can serve as a platform for classroom discussion on a variety of topics pertaining to the value of auditing in a market economy. As such, the ...


Two strains (NCm 9897 and 9898; strains A and B respectively) of a Pseudomonas·
species have been shown to display antifungal and antibacterial activity on solid
media. Biochemical tests indicate that the organisms may be two distinct strains of
a new species. Cell morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy.
Chemically defined media, established for the organisms, indicate non-fastidous
characteristics.
Four liquid media, able to elicit antibiotic production from Strain A have been
developed: a chemically defined medium (antibacterial), a chemically defined
medium and a complex medium (antifungal) and a chemically defined medium
(antibacterial and antifungal). Nitrogen and magnesium limitation significantly increased yields. Magnesium content
in a medium (without a magnesium salt component) and in whole cell samples grown
in the said medium were assessed using atomic absorption spectroscopy and
elemental analysis respectively.
Optimization experiments for antibacterial and antifungal activity, assessed by a disc
diffusion assay, increased yields, in 250 ml conical flasks by a factor of X9 and 109%
respectively. A 6 litre laboratory-scale fermentor was used for larger batch
cultivations .
Procedures for extraction of the active compounds from the biological matrices were .
developed leading to the isolation of one antibacterial compound, ABl (yellow
crystalline) and three antifungal compounds, AFl, AF2 and AF3 (pale yellow and
amorphous). Structure determination of ABl, involving mass spectrometry, IR/UV spectroscopy,
lH-NMR and x-ray diffraction, indicated it to be 1.6 dimethyl pyrimido[5,4-e ]-1,2,4-
triazine-5,7(IH,6H)-dione (Xanthothricin; Toxoflavin), a toxic metabolite previously detected in foods contaminated with Ps. cocovenenans. Selective media, developed '
for Strain A and Strain B, did not support growth of Ps. cocovenenans. Preliminary
structural analysis suggests that AFl may possess a mono-substituted ring system with
CHz chain and a terminal hydroxyl group; that AF2 may belong to the polyene group
of antifungal antibiotics and that AF3 may be an aliphatic ketone with hydroxyl
group .
Agar diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration, assays for the compounds, indicate
activity to be in the ~gml range for sensitive microorganisms. Antibiotic challenge
against test microorganisms suggest bacteriostatic activity for ABl, fungistatic activity
for AFl and AF3 and fungicidal activity for AF2.


Theoretical and experimental investigations of the electromechanical electret slit-effect transducer are presented. After deriving the basic equations of the bidirectional (or reciprocal) transducer from known relations for electret fields, the force and the electric response are calculated for a very general case. From these fundamental equations, the responses of slit-effect devices with symmetric bipolar electrets, with monopolar electrets, and with one-sided metallised electrets are deduced. Experimental results confirm the theoretically predicted linearity and yield an electromechanical reciprocity constant of the order of 1 mu NV-1 for a single-element slit-effect transducer. Furthermore, force and dynamic voltage-response measurements of a 20-element transducer are reported. Finally, technological problems and possible applications of slit-effect devices are discussed.


The United Nations General Assembly discussed and approved the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the UN Sustainable Development Summit held in New York on September 25-27, 2015. FEEM Research Director, Prof. Carlo Carraro, briefly presents the preliminary results of FEEM's APPS – Assessment, Projections and Policy for Sustainable Development Goals - project.


We studied the effects of intraarticular (ia) administration of hyaluronic acid (HA) (Mw approximately 9 x 10(5)) (Artz) on cartilage integrity and release into synovial fluid (SF) of keratan sulfate peptides (KS-pep) in an ovine model of early osteoarthritis (OA) induced by meniscectomy. Five consecutive weekly injections of HA (2 ml, 10 mg/ml) or saline (2 ml) were initiated 16 weeks after meniscectomy, and animals were sacrificed 5 weeks after the last injection. SF was sampled 8, 16, 23, and 26 weeks postoperation. In the saline injected animals KS-pep levels increased progressively in SF, relative to nonoperated controls (p < 0.05). KS-pep levels in SF of the HA treated group also increased, but were not statistically different from controls. Using a modified Mankin histological scoring system, cartilage at necropsy of HA injected joints showed less damage than similar regions of saline treated animals. A new mechanism for the protective effects of HA on cartilage is proposed.


Emphysematous cystitis is a rare lower urinary tract infection. A case of emphysematous cystitis with diabetes mellitus and transverse colon cancer is reported. The patient was an 81-year-old woman complaining of nausea and vomiting. Urinalysis showed hematopyuria. Plain abdominal film and CT scan showed gaseous shadow in the bladder wall. Urine culture contained Escherichia coli. A urethral catheterization and administration of antibiotics resulted in the marked improvement in the clinical course. To our knowledge, 53 cases of emphysematous cystitis have been reported in the Japanese literature including this case and the clinical features are reviewed.


Purpose As the volume of international trade increased, the needs for large concrete caisson breakwaters, which can accommodate the bigger vessels, increased accordingly. However, due to the size of the caissons, the constructions of large-scale maritime infrastructures often face challenges about how to manage the construction site, improve the construction processes, and enhance productivity. Method This paper presents a methodology to optimize the caisson structure fabrication process by controlling the locations of construction equipment and prefabrication facilities using genetic algorithm (GA), coupled with the functions of a Delmia-platform. First, a virtual construction site layout is established with a set of required facilities and equipment on the Delmia-platform based on the spatial information of the construction site. Site layout constraints and requirements are then determined to properly reflect the nature and conditions of the projects. Lastly, a genetic algorithm is employed to find out the optimal construction site layout for the construction processes. Results & Discussion The proposed GA-based methodology is expected to assist construction engineers in determining optimized construction site layout for caisson structure prefabrication in the early project phase and further identifying the potential risks of projects.


Aims: To evaluate the norms for several cephalometric soft tissue measurements and to investigate differences in the mean values of these measurement between two age groups (11–14 and 18–25) and between two gender. Materials and Methods: The adolescent sample consists from 30 subjects (15 for each gender) with age range from 11 –14 years. The adult sample consists from 30 subjects (15 for each gender) with age range 18–25 years. The two groups satisfying the criteria of balance facial profile, class I molar relation ship and normal over bite–over jet relation ship. Ten skeletal and soft tissue measurements were obtained from tracing lateral cephalometric radiograph. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistic and student t– test. Results: During adolescence, no significant differences were found between males and females. During adulthood, the males having higher values for all measurements (except nasolabial and mentolabial angles) but statistically not significant. From adolescent to adult males, the angles of facial convexity, Z– angle in addition to lower lip length and nasal depth are significantly different with the adult male having the higher value. For females, the lower lip length and nasal depth significantly higher in the adult period. Conclusions: The adult males having relatively straighter facial profile. In addition, Z– angle also greater in the adult males than during adolescence. For both genders, the nasal depth and the vertical height of lower lip were significantly greater in adults.


Abstract : The simplest version of the Lauritzen-Hoffman (LH) model of polymer crystallization, which applies to infinitely long model polymer molecules crystallizing on an existing substrate of infinite width, is reexamined. The mathematical expressions for the model free energy barriers are observed to take on negative values at high supercooling. Since such negative barriers appear to be physically unrealizable for the crystallization process, the LH model is extended by imposing a mathematical constraint on the expressions for the barriers, to forbid them from ever being negative. The extended model contains one parameter gamma which varies from 0 to 1 and is analogous to the parameter psi of the LH model. For all values of gamma less than 1, the extended model predicts a finite lamellar thickness at every supercooling; moreover, this thickness at large undercooling, decreases monotonically with increasing undercooling, in agreement with experiment but in marked contrast to the LH model which exhibits the well-known delta l catastrophe. The relative insensitivity of the calculated lamellar thicknesses to the parameter delta supports the use of gamma = 0 as a first approximation for mathematical convenience in practice.


Nanostructured composites and nanowire arrays of traditional thermoelectrics, like Bi, Bi1-xSbx, and Bi2Te3, have metallic Rashba surface spin-orbit bands featuring high mobilities rivaling that of the bulk for which topological insulator behavior has been proposed. Nearly pure surface electronic transport has been observed at low temperatures in Bi nanowires, with diameter around the critical diameter, 50 nm, for the semimetal-to-semiconductor transition. The surface contributes strongly to the thermopower, actually dominating for temperatures T < 100 K in these nanowires. The surface thermopower was found to be –1 T μV/K2, a value that is consistent with theory. We show that surface electronic transport together with boundary phonon scattering leads to enhanced thermoelectric performance at low temperatures of Bi nanowire arrays. We compare with bulk n-BiSb alloys, optimized CsBi4Te6, and optimized Bi2Te3. Surface dominated electronic transport can be expected in nanomaterials of the other traditional t...


The precursor of rat liver ornithine transcarbamylase (ornithine carbamoyltransferase; carbamoylphosphate:L-ornithine carbamoyltransferase, EC 18.104.22.168) (pre-ornithine transcarbamylase), which was synthesized in a reticulocyte lysate cell-free system, was converted to an apparently mature form of the enzyme by isolated rat liver mitochondria. The proteolytic processing involved two steps: (i) conversion of pre-ornithine transcarbamylase (39,400 daltons) to a product of about 37,000 daltons and (ii) further conversion to the apparently mature form of the enzyme (36,00 daltons). When mitochondria were subfractionated by digitonin treatment followed by sonication of a mitoplast fraction, the proteolytic activity catalyzing the first step was recovered mainly in a matrix fraction. Some activity was found in an intermembrane space fraction. The enzyme activity in the matrix fraction has an optimal pH at about 7.5. The activity was inhibited almost completely by 2 mM leupeptin and partly by 2 mM antipain but not significantly by other microbial protease inhibitors or serine protease inhibitors. It was inhibited strongly by 2 mM EDTA, 2 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate, 2 mM p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate, and 2 mM Hg(CH3COO)2 but not by N-ethylmaleimide or iodoacetamide. These results suggest that pre-ornithine transcarbamylase is first transported into the mitochondrial matrix and converted there to the mature form of the enzyme by a novel neutral protease(s).


 Abstract— Native plants are better adapted to the local environment providing a more natural effect on landscape projects; their use will both conserve natural resources and produce sustainable greenery. Continuation of evaluation of additional native plants is essential to increase diversity of plant resources for greenery projects. Therefore, in this project an effort was made to study the mass multiplication of further native plants for greenery applications. Standardization of vegetative propagation methods is essential for conservation and sustainable utilization of native plants in restoration projects. Moreover, these simple propagation methods can be readily adapted by the local nursery sector in Kuwait. In the present study, various treatments were used to mass multiply selected plants using vegetative parts to secure maximum rooting and initial growth. Soft or semi-hardwood cuttings of selected native plants were collected from mother plants and subjected to different treatments. Pennisetum divisum can be vegetatively propagated by cuttings/off-shoots. However, Tamarix aucheriana showed maximum number of rooted cuttings and stronger vigor seedlings with the lowest growth hormone concentration. Standardizing the propagation techniques for the native plant species will add to the rehabilitation and landscape revegetation projects in Kuwait.


Objective:Examine whether the acute kidney injury (AKI) commonly observed among ultramarathon participants places the individual at risk for subsequent AKI of worse magnitude. Design:Observational. Setting:Western States Endurance Run. Participants:Race finishers with postrace blood studies. Independent Variable:Acute kidney injury after 1 race. Main Outcome Measures:Extent of AKI in subsequent race. Results:Among 627 finishes in which serum creatinine values were known, 36.2% met "risk" or "injury" criterion with this group characterized by having faster finish times, greater body weight loss during the race, and higher postrace serum creatine kinase and urea nitrogen concentrations when compared with those not meeting the criteria. We identified 38 runners who had undergone postrace blood analyses at multiple races among which 16 (42.1%) met the risk or injury criterion at the first race. Of those 16 runners, 12 (75%) met the criteria at a subsequent race, an incidence that was higher (P = 0.0026) than the overall 36.2% incidence. For most (56.2%) of the 16 runners meeting the criteria at the first race, the subsequent race caused less increase in serum creatinine concentration and decrement in estimated glomerular filtration rate than the first race. Conclusions:Mild AKI is common in 161-km ultramarathons, but there was no evidence that previous AKI caused greater renal dysfunction from a subsequent exercise stimulus of similar magnitude. This offers some reassurance to runners and their physicians that mild to moderate AKI in the setting of an ultramarathon is not cumulative or without complete recovery of kidney function when stressed.


Researches on the principle of human red blood cell's (RBC) injuring and judgment basis play an important role in decreasing the hemolysis in a blood pump. In the current study, the judgment of hemolysis in a blood pump study was through some experiment data and empirical formula. The paper forms a criterion of RBC's mechanical injury in the aspect of RBC's free energy. First, the paper introduces the nonlinear spring network model of RBC in the frame of immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method (IB-LBM). Then, the shape, free energy, and time needed for erythrocyte to be shorn in different shear flow and impacted in different impact flow are simulated. Combining existing research on RBC's threshold limit for hemolysis in shear and impact flow with this paper's, the RBC's free energy of the threshold limit for hemolysis is found to be 3.46 × 10−15 J. The threshold impact velocity of RBC for hemolysis is 8.68 m/s. The threshold value of RBC can be used for judgment of RBC's damage when the RBC is having a complicated flow of blood pumps such as coupling effect of shear and impact flow. According to the change law of RBC's free energy in the process of being shorn and impacted, this paper proposed a judging criterion for hemolysis when the RBC is under the coupling effect of shear and impact based on the increased free energy of RBC.


When one writes about this subject, however apparently dry and impartial one's manner, one cannot avoid putting one's own sensibilities and responses on the page. Stendhal expressed this point vividly, when, in De l'amour, his narrator observes: "I am making every possible effort to be dry. I want to impose silence on my heart, which thinks it has a lot to say. I am continually fearful that I have written only a sigh of longing, when I think that I have set down a truth."' Usually these personal reactions lie concealed from view; and yet they provide the assessor of a theory of sexuality with a set of privileged explananda, to which the theory-whatever its merits in explaining the data it adduces explicitly itself-will inevitably be held accountable. It is my idea, therefore, to set out what I take to be some privileged explananda, accounts of sexual behavior and of reasoning about it that I believe to be of sufficient interest and depth that a theory that cannot do well by them has a lot of explaining to do. I


Confined magnetic Ising films in a L ? D geometry (), with short-range competing magnetic fields?(h) acting at opposite walls along the D-direction, exhibit a slightly rounded localization?delocalization transition of the interface between domains of different orientations that runs parallel to the walls. This transition is the precursor of a wetting transition that occurs in the limit of infinite film thickness () at the critical curve Tw(h). For T Tw(h)) such an interface is bounded (unbounded) to the walls, while right at Tw(h) the interface is freely fluctuating around the centre of the film. Starting from disordered configurations, corresponding to , we quench to the wetting critical temperature and study the dynamics of the approach to the stationary regime by means of extensive Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that for all layers parallel to the wall (rows), the row magnetizations exhibit a peak at a time and subsequently relax to the stationary, equilibrium behaviour. The characteristic time for such a relaxation scales as , as expected from theoretical arguments, that are discussed in detail.


The opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is infamous for its ability to rapidly form biofilms (<24 h) in inhospitable environments and the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It has been seen to have resistance to nearly all known antibiotics, including last-line antibiotics colistin and carbapenems. AMR is currently considered one of the biggest threats to human health, causing 700,000 deaths annually, expected to rise to 10 million deaths per year by 2050. P. aeruginosa, alongside other opportunistic pathogens, has been implicated in infections following various surgical procedures. Such infections compromise patient recovery and, when a medical implant is present a biofilm can develop that will ultimately require a complex revision surgery to remove the infection.
 In this study, impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry were carried out in parallel to measure electrochemical and impedance properties of bacteria, allowing for identification and quantification of pyoverdine and pyocyanin; bacterial metabolites. Three Pseudomonas spp. (P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and P. putida) were assayed in liquid culture at OD600. The sensor was standardised with pyoverdine and pyocyanin, with an electrochemical reading taken every 30 minutes up to 4 hours. This assay was repeated with Pseudomonas spp. growing in biofilms in LB broth, with a screen-printed electrode as the solid surface. Readings were then used to correlate metabolite production to biofilm production in each Pseudomonas sp. Pyoverdine correlated with biofilm formation for all three assayed Pseudomonas, with variation in the quantity of metabolite produced between species. This allows the two metabolites to be used as indicators of biofilm mass on devices and surfaces.


Based on findings from the Everyday Peace Indicators project, the article considers how top-down and bottom-up narratives and understandings of conflict often differ. The article posits that top-down narratives are often the result of a peculiar framing system that imposes imaginaries on conflicts and those experiencing them. The bottom-up narratives, based on research in South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe, show that localised perceptions of peace, safety and security are not only articulated in different ways to top-down narratives but also raise different issues.


One of the best-established findings in intelligence research is the pattern of positive correlations among various intelligence tests. Although this so-called positive manifold became the conceptual foundation of many theoretical accounts of intelligence, the very nature of it has remained unclear. Only recently, Process Overlap Theory (POT) proposed that the positive manifold originated from overlapping domain-general, executive processes. To test this assumption, the functional relationship between different aspects of executive attention and the positive manifold was investigated by re-analyzing an existing dataset (N = 228). Psychometric reasoning, speed, and memory performance were assessed by a short form of the Berlin Intelligence Structure test. Two aspects of executive attention (sustained and selective attention) and speed of decision making were measured by a continuous performance test, a flanker task, and a Hick task, respectively. Traditional structural equation modeling, representing the positive manifold by a g factor, as well as network analyses, investigating the differential effects of the two aspects of executive attention and speed of decision making on the specific correlations of the positive manifold, suggested that selective attention, sustained attention, and speed of decision making explained the common but not the unique portions of the positive manifold. Thus, we failed to provide evidence for POT's assumption that the positive manifold is the result of overlapping domain-general processes. This does not mean that domain-general processes other than those investigated here will not be able to show the pattern of results predicted by POT.


BACKGROUND
Otitis externa secondary to irritant or chemical exposure is well documented; however, specifically secondary to jet fuel exposure and its associated toxicology is not. Over 2 million military and civilian personnel per year are occupationally exposed to aviation fuels.

CASE REPORT
An aircraft maintainer presented with noninfectious acute otitis externa secondary to external ear canal exposure to JP-5 jet fuel. Proper exposure guidelines were followed, but it was not realized that the external ear canal was involved. The first symptoms to emerge were vertigo, dizziness, and disequilibrium; however, on physical exam it appeared that there was no middle ear involvement.

DISCUSSION
Otitis externa normally does not present with vestibular symptoms as the pathology affects the external ear canal dermal tissue. Upon review of JP-5's toxicology profile, dermal absorption is a route of entry and can cause general neurological symptoms, including loss of coordination. This case highlights potential deficiencies in the standardized safety data sheets that are used after exposure. Without mention of possible auricular exposure one may focus on the logical protection of the eyes, mouth, and visible skin. This is concerning due to potential delayed exposure symptoms, dermal absorption, high level of dermal destruction, and the close proximity to the sensory system. The goal of this case report is to improve the knowledge of providers caring for personnel who may be exposed and to suggest possible revisions to the Safety Data Sheets for jet fuel.Long RJ, Charles RA. Aviation fuel exposure resulting in otitis externa with vertigo. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(7):661-663.


The article is devoted to assessing the relationship of atrial fibrillation (AF) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We studied possible anatomical correlations, common risk factors and mechanisms of AF development in patients with gastroesophageal reflux. We demonstrated the problems of the treatment of such patients, since a number of studies have proved the possibility of using proton pump inhibitors in the treatment of AF. In other cases the arrhythmogenic effect of these drugs was obtained. Treatment of AF by catheter ablation most commonly worsens the course of GORD and can lead to the development of fatal complications. Large-scale prospective researches are needed for further detailed study of AF and GERD associations, as well as tactics for management of these patients.


Methamphetamine abuse is toxic to dopaminergic neurons, causing nigrostriatal denervation and striatal dopamine loss. Following methamphetamine exposure, the number of nigral cell bodies is generally preserved, but their cytoplasm features autophagic‐like vacuolization and cytoplasmic accumulation of α‐synuclein‐, ubiquitin‐ and parkin‐positive inclusion‐like bodies. Whether autophagy is epiphenomenal or it plays a role in the mechanism of methamphetamine toxicity and, in the latter case, whether its role consists of counteracting or promoting the neurotoxic effect remains obscure. We investigated the signaling pathway and the significance (protective vs. toxic) of autophagy activation and the convergence of the autophagic and the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathways at the level of the same intracellular bodies in a simple cell model of methamphetamine toxicity. We show that autophagy is rapidly up‐regulated in response to methamphetamine. Confocal fluorescence microscopy and immuno‐electron microscopy studies demonstrated the presence of α‐synuclein aggregates in autophagy‐lysosomal structures in cells exposed to methamphetamine, a condition compatible with cell survival. Inhibition of autophagy either by pharmacologic or genetic manipulation of the class III Phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase‐mediated signaling prevented the removal of α‐synuclein aggregates and precipitated a bax‐mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.


The intrinsic interface states and the states associated with interfacial vacancies have been calculated for the type A Si/NiSi2(111) interface. A prominent band of intrinsic interface states is predicted near and below the Si valence band maximum, Ev, dispersing downward from an energy in the Si band gap to an energy about 1 eV below Ev. This band should be observable in photoemission experiments. Our calculation for the interfacial Si vacancy on the NiSi2 side of the interface yields a level, a few tenths of an electron volt above the valence band edge, that can explain observed Schottky barriers at Si/NiSi2(111) interfaces.


rate of about 90%.9 Suprasellar extension of the tumour has been taken as an indication for its removal by surgery,'0 " but total hypophysectomy necessitates lifelong replacement therapy. Remissions without ensuing hypopituitarism can be obtained with conventional deep x-ray therapy,"' 12 but dosage is again limited by a risk of damage to the brain and cranial nerves. Heavy-particle irradiation from a linear accelerator has the advantage of greater penetration, reduced scatter, and high ionization in tissues and appears to produce a higher percentage of remissions."2 Implants of radioactive yttrium or gold placed within the sella turcica form a further refinement of radiotherapeutic approach,' and Hartog and his colleagues obtained satisfactory results with this in 13 out of 22 patients. Seven patients required permanent replacement therapy with corticosteroids. The complication rate was very high. Three patients developed meningitis; five developed abscesses in the sella turcica, one dying as a result; one developed blindness in one eye, another bitemporal hemianopia; temporary diabetes insipidus occurred in three patients, and permanent diabetes insipidus in another. Thus at present the treatment of both Cushing's syndrome and acromegaly is far from ideal. Careful assessment of the patient is essential. Surgery offers a more certain prospect of cure for some, while radiotherapy in one form or other is to be preferred for others. All methods of treatment should at present be regarded as under investigation, while enthusiasm for any particular treatment is no substitute for a critical long-term evaluation of its relative specificity, efficacy, and safety.


We consider the manner in which a container filled with viscous fluid adjusts to changes in its rotation rate. We begin with homogeneous flows involving small departures in rotation rate from an initial state of solid-body rotation in an axisymmetric container. This is followed by a summary of other more recent developments, including weakly and fully nonlinear calculations and comparison with experiment and the question of spin-down. The question of "spin-over" is addressed, followed by a brief synopsis of free-surface effects, and a discussion of nonaxisymmetric spin-up. The second part of the review focuses on the effects of stratification on the spin-up process. Linearized (low Rossby number) spin-up within a cylindrical container is described. Thereafter, both experimental and nonlinear computational results are described and compared. The final section focuses on stratified spin-up and spin-down in conical geometries, and a number of comparisons between theory and experiment are given.


Topical silicone gel or silicone cream with occlusive dressing has proved to be an efficacious method for the treatment and prevention of hypertrophic scars and keloids, but how this action is triggered remains unknown. Hydration of the epidermis and/or the cellular effects of the released low-molecular-weight silicone oil have been suggested as possible mechanisms. In order to further elucidate the mechanism, we used an in vitro keratinocyte-fibroblast coculture model to investigate the cellular effects of silicone and hydration. In this model, the condition of clinical usage of topical silicone gel or cream or the condition of hydration exerted by occlusive dressing could be mimicked. The model consisted of two chambers separated by a semipermeable membrane, in which a fully differentiated stratified epithelium is present in the upper chamber and medium and monolayer fibroblasts are located in the lower chamber. The keratinocytes were nourished from the basal side only, while the apical surface was submerged in silicone oil, paraffin, Hanks' balanced salt solution, or medium (hydration); or it was exposed to air (control). In the hydration-treated group, the proliferation of fibroblasts measured as [3H]thymidine incorporation and their collagen, glycosaminoglycan production was significantly inhibited when compared with the controls, but exposure of the keratinocyters to silicone oil or paraffin did not influence fibroblast behavior. The results suggest that hydration, not silicone, modulates the in vitro keratinocyte-fibroblast interaction. This may be one possible mechanism by which topical silicone or occlusive dressing treatment may affect the development of hypertrophic scars and keloids.


Polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET) fabrics with woven structures have proved to be quite effective for use on large diameter artificial blood vessels. However, their use within small-diameter artificial blood vessels has been associated with poor long-term patency, a problem resulting from slow endothelialization on PET and an over hyperplasia of smooth muscle cells. Previous research from our laboratory has revealed that ICAM-1 can be used as a marker to investigate cell adhesion, an effect which was closely associated with cell behavior on the surface of polycaprolactone (PCL) films. Moreover, we found that the coarseness or pore size of the surface exerts considerable influence on cell adhesion and proliferation on PCL films. In this study, we successfully fabricated six types of PET woven fabrics with varying gradients of tightness and porosities. Levels of ICAM-1 expression (membrane ICAM-1 & soluble ICAM-1) were then determined in these woven fabrics. Our results show that increased levels of mICAM-1 and decreased levels of sICAM-1 expression were obtained in HUVECs seeded on these six samples. These findings indicate that cell adhesion and proliferation on fabric surfaces were strongly influenced by their structural parameters, in particular the initial adhesion between the cell and fabric surface. In addition, we also found that extracellular matrix adhesion tends to prefer flat and tight surfaces, which promotes cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, as well as the endothelialization on the surface of PET fabrics. These findings provide some novel insights with regard to the design and application of small-diameter artificial blood vessels. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 954-964, 2018.


The hydrodynamic deep drawing process enables net shape or near net shape forming of complicated sheet metal parts made from difficultly forming materials, such as aluminium or high strength steels. Based on the conventional hydrodynamic deep drawing process, a new process, hydrodynamic deep drawing process, in which radial pressure is applied to the rim of the blank, is proposed. This new process has been analysed using FEM simulations and the obtained results have been compared with the experimental results. The material used in the experiments was Al-Mg-Si alloy, and in the FEM-simulations the elastic-plastic behaviour of Al-Mg-Si alloy was modelled using Barlat's 89 yield criteria.


I Â ntroduction: SIRS is known as a condition with the presence of four criteria of: Fever or hypothermia. Tachypnea. Tachycardia. Leukocytosis or leukopenia or bandemia. Sepsis is defined as the SIRS with an infectious etiology. Incidence rate is increasing during the recent 15 years. The key point in treatment of sepsis is early diagnosis and beginning of treatment according to the signs before the occurrence of complications like hypotension. This study was done to evaluate the relationship between the severity of SIRS and its etiology and outcome. Â Materails and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in the year 2004 on 306 cases of SIRS, referring to Infectious ward of Imam Reza hospital, Mashhad, Iran. The study was accomplished through completing questionnaires, after getting medical history, physical and laboratory examinations (including CBC, urine analysis, platelet count, and ESR) of patients. Then the sensitivity, specififity and positive predictive values for SIRS regarding differentiation of infectious from non- infectious diseases were studied. In addition, the severity of SIRS and its effects on mortality, also, the effects of severe SIRS on any infection in platelet count and ESR were evaluated. The Results were arranged as charts, graphs and described by MANN-WHITENY, T-student. Â Results:According to the number of patients final diagnosis included pneumonia (n=56), meningitis (n=35), unknown origin infections (n=34), urosepsis (n=25), and miscellaneous etiologies such as brucellosis, hepatitis, etc. There were 23 non-infectious patients and 17 mortal cases. The highest mortality rate was in pneumonia (n=7) that often had serious leukocytosis. Severe SIRS has 20.1 sensitivity and 95 positive predictive value for diagnosis of infection. Â Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, regarding the primary vital signs, laboratory findings, age, sex, and mortality rate. The mortality rate didn't have any relationship with thrombocytopenia, increased ESR or sex; but was related to hypotension, serious leukocytosis and severity of SIRS. Based on the primary vital signs and laboratory findings, the severity of SIRS has a clear correlation with the mortality rate. Heuce it is recommended that much attention should be paid to the documents of vital signs and routine laboratory findings for the early diagnosis and treatment.


In today's integrated business environment, a challenge for stakeholders is to align different goals and perceptions of what is of value in interaction with other stakeholders. This study explores collaboration in the television industry, an industry undergoing rapid changes, which has caused advertisers to seek new ways to include marketing messages into the content of TV shows. The practice of incorporating brands into a television production is called branded content, and is subjected to the involved actors' diverse set of interests. This study highlights a theoretical gap, whereas previous research is criticized for lacking guidance and suggestions for how alignment of different interests and values could be achieved. Value propositions are argued to function as a mechanism for aligning different interests, and this gap is hence addressed by exploring how multiple stakeholders can align their different interests in the process of forming a value proposition. A case study is conducted by interviewing stakeholders in a TV show with branded content and the findings reveal that there is a high level of both collaborative capability and absorptive capability between the stakeholders leading to synergies and reciprocal learning. These are the fundamental components in a proposed model for how value alignment can be achieved.


Canola is an economically important farm-gate crop in Canada. To further explore the potential of canola protein as value-added food and nutraceutical ingredients, a better understanding of fundamental properties of 2 major canola proteins is necessary. Two major protein components, cruciferin and napin, were isolated from defatted canola meal by Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration chromatography. SDS-PAGE showed that cruciferin consists of more than 10 polypeptides, and noncovalent links are more important than disulphide bonds in stabilizing the structural conformation. Napin consists of 2 polypeptides and is stabilized primarily by disulphide bonds. Purified cruciferin showed 1 major endothermic peak at 91 degrees C compared with that of 110 degrees C for napin. Emulsion prepared by cruciferin showed significant higher specific surface area and lower particle size than that of napin. The study indicated that the presence of napin could detrimentally affect the emulsion stability of canola protein isolates. Hydrolysates from cruciferin and napin showed potent angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity (IC(50): 0.035 and 0.029 mg/mL, respectively), but weaker than that of canola protein isolate hydrolysate (IC(50): 0.015 mg/mL).


Daily expected wind power production from operating wind farms across North America are used to evaluate capacity factors (CF) computed using simulation output from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model and to condition statistical models linking atmospheric conditions to electricity production. In Parts I and II of this work, we focus on making projections of annual energy production and the occurrence of electrical production drought. Here, we extend evaluation of the CF projections for sites in the Northeast, Midwest, southern Great Plains (SGP), and southwest U.S. coast (SWC) using statewide wind-generated electricity supply to the grid. We then quantify changes in the time scales of CF variability and the seasonality. Currently, wind-generated electricity is lowest in summer in each region except SWC, which causes a substantial mismatch with electricity demand. While electricity of residential heating may shift demand, research presented here suggests that summertime CF are likely to decline, potentially exacerbating the offset between seasonal peak power production and current load. The reduction in summertime CF is manifest for all regions except the SGP and appears to be linked to a reduction in synoptic-scale variability. Using fulfillment of 50% and 90% of annual energy production to quantify interannual variability, it is shown that wind power production exhibits higher (earlier fulfillment) or lower (later fulfillment) production for periods of over 10–30 years as a result of the action of internal climate modes.

Electrical power system reassessment and redesign may be needed to aid efficient increased use of variable renewables in the generation of electricity. Currently wind-generated electricity in many regions of North America exhibits a minimum in summertime and hence is not well synchronized with electricity demand, which tends to be maximized in summer. Future projections indicate evidence of reductions in wind power during summer that would amplify this offset. However, electrification of heating may lead to increased wintertime demand, which would lead to greater synchronization.


Word reading includes a series of cognitive processes that convert low-level visual characteristics to neural representations. However, the consistency of the neural mechanisms for processing these cognitive components across different writing systems in bilinguals remains inconclusive. Here, we explored this question by employing representational similarity analysis with a semantic access task involving Chinese words, English words and Chinese pinyin. Distinct anatomical distribution patterns were detected for each type of brain representation across ideographic and alphabetic languages, resulting in 100% classification accuracy. Meanwhile, convergent cognitive components processing was found in the core language-related regions in left hemisphere, including the inferior frontal gyrus, temporal pole, superior and middle temporal gyrus, precentral gyrus and supplementary motor areas. Broadly, our findings indicated that the neural basis for word recognition of different writing systems in bilinguals was divergent in anatomical locations of neural representations for specialized processing but convergent in cognitive domains, which supported and enriched the assimilation-accommodation hypothesis.


The purpose of this research was to know effect from field-trip method to cultivate a caring of Hindhu-Budhist's historical heritage in grade 10th MA AL HISI. The research method was used quasi experimental with nonequivalent control group desaign. Data were taken from 30 respondents of grade 10th of MA AL HISI. Data collection techniques use questionnaire, documents and observation. The hypotesis test use a paired sample t-test with a significance of 0.05. Field-trip implementation in grade 10th was good category, it came from observation that have value of 87. The caring in grade 10th MAAL HISI has increased seen from the result of average value from 79,2 to 93,1. The influence of the field-trip method on student care is high,it seen from the significance value of t-test 0,000 <0.05. So there is an influence between the field-trip method and the level of concern for students of class X MA AL HISI.


This study explores a CNN based model to identify abnormal behavior in elevator cabs, which I have named S-LRCN ( S-Long-term Recurrent Convolutional Network). It starts with the detection of key points of the human skeleton by using the Openpose method, then further detects and tracks the human body through the CenterNet and DeepSort methods, and finally integrates the Long Short Term Memory Network (LSTM) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to form a deep learning model. In this study, a large dataset (500 video clips) collected from real elevator cabs with different backgrounds has been applied to ensure the robustness and generalizability of the proposed model. At last, this study applies the two mainstream dangerous human behaviors, i.e., door blocking and door picking as case studies to test and evaluate the usability and availability. Experimental results show that the model has a 85% recognition rate of abnormal behavior.


Dark, nonradiating plasmonic modes are important in the Raman enhancement efficiency of nanostructures. However, it is challenging to engineer such hotspots with predictable enhancement efficiency through synthesis routes. Here, we demonstrate that spiky nanoshells have designable quadrupole resonances that efficiently enhance Raman scattering with unprecedented reproducibility on the single particle level. The efficiency and reproducibility of Quadrupole Enhanced Raman Scattering (QERS) is due to their heterogeneous structure, which broadens the quadrupole resonance both spatially and spectrally. This spectral breadth allows for simultaneous enhancement of both the excitation and Stokes frequencies. The quadrupole resonance can be tuned by simple modifications of the nanoshell geometry. The combination of tunability, high efficiency, and reproducibility makes these nanoshells an excellent candidate for applications such as biosensing, nanoantennaes, and photovoltaics.


Abstract Aberrant estrogen receptor (ER) signaling is central to the pathogenesis of many breast cancers. Like ER, the androgen receptor (AR) is a steroid nuclear receptor that is frequently expressed in breast cancer and has long been considered an attractive therapeutic target. Although androgens were historically employed in the treatment of breast cancer, this strategy has largely fallen out of favor with the advent of modern anti-estrogens, due to virilizing effects from androgens, as well as concerns that androgens could be converted to estrogens to fuel tumor growth. Recent molecular advances, however, including the development of selective androgen receptor modulators, have renewed interest in targeting the AR. Yet androgen signaling in breast cancer remains incompletely understood, and preclinical studies have yielded conflicting and sometimes contradictory evidence regarding the role of AR, resulting in clinical investigations into both AR agonists and antagonists. It is increasingly recognized that AR may very well be context-specific, with divergent actions in ER-positive versus ER-negative disease. Here, we will summarize our current understanding of AR biology and insights from recent investigations into AR–directed therapies in breast cancer.


The first part of this paper presents a simple and systematic technique for constructing multidimensional M-ary phase shift keying (MMK) trellis coded modulation (TCM) codes. The construction is based on a multilevel concatenation approach in which binary convolutional codes with good free branch distances are used as the outer codes and block MPSK modulation codes are used as the inner codes (or the signal spaces). Conditions on phase invariance of these codes are derived and a multistage decoding scheme for these codes is proposed. The proposed technique can be used to construct good codes for both the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and fading channels as is shown in the second part of this paper.


Nineteen empirical studies providing evidence about the nature of trauma narratives in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were reviewed. Selected studies had participants with a diagnosis of PTSD or with PTSD symptoms. The studies used either linguistic indices or participants' rating of narrative quality. There was evidence of a relationship between PTSD specific pathology and the occurrence of sensory/perceptual references and disturbed temporal aspects. Evidence for PTSD-related narrative fragmentation was inconclusive, and there were little data about specific self-referential content. Poor validity and confusion of content and syntactic aspects of narrative organization limited the data on the organization of PTSD narratives. Approaches that address some of these limitations and allow narrative-based evaluation of memory for trauma in PTSD are outlined.


Blur is a key property in the perception of COVID‐19 computed tomography (CT) image manifestations. Typically, blur causes edge extension, which brings shape changes in infection regions. Tchebichef moments (TM) have been verified efficiently in shape representation. Intuitively, disease progression of same patient over time during the treatment is represented as different blur degrees of infection regions, since different blur degrees cause the magnitudes change of TM on infection regions image, blur of infection regions can be captured by TM. With the above observation, a longitudinal objective quantitative evaluation method for COVID‐19 disease progression based on TM is proposed. COVID‐19 disease progression CT image database (COVID‐19 DPID) is built to employ radiologist subjective ratings and manual contouring, which can test and compare disease progression on the CT images acquired from the same patient over time. Then the images are preprocessed, including lung automatic segmentation, longitudinal registration, slice fusion, and a fused slice image with region of interest (ROI) is obtained. Next, the gradient of a fused ROI image is calculated to represent the shape. The gradient image of fused ROI is separated into same size blocks, a block energy is calculated as quadratic sum of non‐direct current moment values. Finally, the objective assessment score is obtained by TM energy‐normalized applying block variances. We have conducted experiment on COVID‐19 DPID and the experiment results indicate that our proposed metric supplies a satisfactory correlation with subjective evaluation scores, demonstrating effectiveness in the quantitative evaluation for COVID‐19 disease progression.


Detailed morphological and dimensional analysis of the detritus deposited in the galleries of woodboring insects was performed for some of the most common xylophagous insect larvae in timber construction in Spain. The samples studied belong to six species of four common families of borers: Cerambycidae, Anobiidae, Curculionidae and Lyctidae. The samples were provided by Spanish and German companies and laboratories. The detritus was assessed for size, shape, and colour and, for different species, was found to show morphological and dimensional differences, enabling better and faster identification of these destructive agents. Frass shape and colour assessment together with statistical dimensional data of the six species are presented. A predictive function based on length and width variables of the detritus is proposed, using multivariate discriminant analysis methodology. This function has been proven to be more than 78% effective in tests of the model.


Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) can measure perfusion changes in deep tissue. However, DCS requires solving the diffusion equation with the proper boundary conditions which can be very difficult and even impossible in many cases. We present a DCS approach that is independent of boundary conditions. The approach is based on measuring the probability distribution function (PDF) of the photons' pathlengths by deconvolving the temporal point-spread function and the instrument-response function obtained from time-resolved measurements. The recovered PDF was then used to fit the field correlation function to extract perfusion changes. This approach can be applied to any geometry and is valid for diffusive, single-scattering and multiple-scattering, but non-diffusive media.


The conjugation of an uncharged polymer to DNA fragments makes it possible to separate DNA by free-solution electrophoresis. This end-labeled free-solution electrophoresis method has been shown to successfully separate ssDNA with single monomer resolution up to about 110 bases. It is the aim of this paper to investigate in more detail the coupled hydrodynamic and electrophoretic deformation of the ssDNA-label conjugate at fields below 400 V/cm. Our model is an extension of the theoretical approach originally developed by Stigter and Bustamante [Biophys. J. 75, 1197 (1998)] to investigate the problems of a tethered chain stretching in a hydrodynamic flow and of the electrophoretic stretch of a tethered polyelectrolyte. These two separate models are now used together since the charged DNA is "tethered" to the uncharged polymer (and vice versa), and the resulting self-consistent model is used to predict the deformation and the electrophoretic velocity for the hybrid molecule. Our theoretical and experimental results are in good qualitative agreement.


A bisatellited, extra metacentric microchromosome was found in a normal male and his father. This extra marker participated in satellite association in over 50 percent of the cells; silver-staining revealed only one active NOR region. Other banding studies identified two other cytogenetic "markers" in the family-a 9qh+ and a 21s+. Risk for a carrier of such a microchromosome is probably low but cytogenetic amniocentesis is recommended to rule out aneuploidy in the fetus.


Two constructed wetlands were designed and their performance in the treatment of water from Cuemanco, in an experimental channel at Xochimilco, Mexico was assessed. One of them employed emergent macrophytes (Scirpus americanus) and the other one used floating macrophytes (the duckweed Lemna gibba). The system was stabilized for five months. Water quality was improved after 220 days of treatment, as organic matter (assessed as DQO) was removed from 43.38% to 58.52% by employing L. gibba and S. americanus, respectively. Nutrient removal significatively (P < 0.05) differed between the two treatments and the control, as 86.35% and 80.33% of ammonia, 89.47% and 90.23% of nitrite, and 38.44% and 50.20% of reactive phosphorus were removed by S. americanus and L. gibba, respectively. On the other hand, water pH changed from alkaline values to neutrality after the treatment, an important issue as this water is employed for cultured land irrigation.


This paper describes the technology behind the development of an automated energy control system for a diesel pile hammer. Some background is given on experience using an energy monitoring system on the Route 1/I-95 interchange in Alexandria, Virginia. An adjustable hammer throttle and feedback from an energy monitoring system was then used to create a fully automated hammer energy control system. The performance of this system is described in reference to a piling project in Canada where the automated energy control system was used to obtain an unprecedented level of quality control and assurance – data and graphs from the project are presented. The hammer energy control system (ECS) was used to successfully control and maintain a prescribed impact energy for the diesel hammer. This paper presents the first ever results from a truly automated diesel pile hammer and points to a new direction in quality control and assurance in pile driving.


| The ethanolic extract of Cichorium intybus L was evaluated for its potential antioxidant, hepatoprotective in rats, and in vitro cytotoxic effects. Preliminary phytochemical screening of C. intybus extract revealed tannins, resin, saponins, alkaloids, sterols/triterpenes, flavonoids, and ketones/esters as secondary bioactive compounds. The LD50 of the extract was evaluated using different gradual doses in Swiss mice and the mortality rate were recorded. The hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of the orally administered C. intybus extract for five consecutive days in doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg b.wt., respectively, were assessed in CCl4-intoxicated rats' model via biochemical and histopathological findings. Finally, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the extract was evaluated against three tested human cell lines which are colon cancer (HCT 116), breast cancer (MCF-7) and, liver cancer (HEPG2) cell lines using sulforhodamine B assay (SRB). The extract was confirmed as non-toxic orally with a wide safety index in rodents. C. intybus extract is significantly ameliorated the hepatic antioxidant potency via increasing the reduced glutathione (GSH) and decreasing lipid peroxidation (LIP) values in a dose-dependent method. Furthermore, the histopathological picture of liver tissue and the serum biochemical parameters serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in CCl4-intoxicated rats are significantly recovered. The in vitro potential cytotoxicity of the extract showed potent cytotoxic activity against HCT 116, and HEPG2 cell lines. The hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of C. intybus extract could be a promising alternative source for pharmaceutical industries.


The action of fibrinogen proteolysis products in inhibiting fibrinogen-fibrin conversion by thrombin has excited considerable interest because of its possible significance in blood coagulation. This reaction has been investigated by following the polymerization of highly purified fibrin monomer, in the presence and absence of fibrinogen proteolysis products, by a spectrophotometric procedure. Fibrinogen proteolysis products inhibited polymerization at low ratios of proteolysis products/monomer, and both early and late phases of polymerization were equally affected. Polymerization rates of fibrin monomer, as apart from the gel point, were little influenced by reaction temperature over the range 15–35 C, and the degree of inhibition produced by fibrinogen proteolysis products was likewise independent of temperature. A linear relationship was demonstrated between the degree of inhibition to polymerization and the ratio of fibrinogen proteolysis products to monomer. It is suggested that the inhibitory mechanism involves the coupling of fibrinogen proteolysis products with monomer in a "competitive" manner.


This paper proposes QoS Mesh routing protocol for IEEE 802.16 based wireless mesh networks. QoS Mesh Routing Protocol proposed in this paper is a proactive hop-by-hop QoS routing protocol. The goal of our protocol is not only to find routes from a source to a destination node, but also optimal routes that satisfies QoS requirements, given in terms of bandwidth and delay as default QoS parameters. In this paper, we first analyze possible types of routing protocols that have been studied for MANET and show proactive hop-by-hop routing protocols are the most appropriate for wireless mesh networks. Then, we present a network model for IEEE 802.16 based wireless mesh networks and propose a proactive hop-by-hop QoS routing protocol. Through our simulation, we represent that our routing protocol outperforms QOLSR protocol in terms of end-to-end delay, packet delivery ratio and routing overhead.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Contrast-induced nephropathy is one of the few preventable forms of acute kidney injury. Several pharmacologic agents have been evaluated for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy, yet disappointingly, few have been shown conclusively to reduce the risk for this condition. A series of studies have demonstrated that volume expansion, particularly with intravenous fluids, is an effective intervention to reduce the risk for contrast-induced nephropathy.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS
This article reviews the clinical trials that have assessed the role of volume expansion for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy.

RESULTS
The administration of isotonic sodium chloride before and after radiocontrast injection seems to be more protective than equivalent volumes of hypotonic saline and, when feasible, should be administered over a sustained period of time. Recent clinical trials suggested that an abbreviated regimen of intravenous sodium bicarbonate may be superior to a comparable protocol of sodium chloride. Although a small number of studies have found that volume supplementation by mouth may be effective in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy, the routine use of enteral fluids or solute in lieu of intravenous fluids in high-risk patients cannot be recommended at this time. Rather, liberal oral fluid and solute intake should complement intravenous fluid administration to minimize risk.

CONCLUSIONS
Future studies will be required to define clearly the optimal prophylactic intravenous fluid regimen for contrast-induced nephropathy and further delineate the independent role of oral volume expansion for the prevention of this condition.


Within a gas turbine engine the flow field issuing from the compression system is non-uniform containing, for example, circumferential and radial variations in the flow field due to wakes from the upstream compressor outlet guide vanes (OGVs). In addition, variations can arise due to the presence of radial load bearing struts within the pre-diffuser. This paper is concerned with the characterisation of this non-uniform flow field, prior to the combustion system, and the subsequent effect on the flame tube fuel injector flows and hence combustion processes.A mainly experimental investigation has been undertaken using a fully annular test facility which incorporates a single stage axial flow compressor, diffuser and flame tube. Measurements have been made of the flow field, and its frequency content, within the dump cavity. Furthermore, the stagnation pressure presented to the core, outer and dome swirler passages of a fuel injector has been obtained for different circumferential positions of the upstream OGV/pre-diffuser assembly. These pressure variations, amounting to as much as 20% of the pressure drop across the fuel injector, also affect the flow field immediately downstream of the injector. In addition, general variations in pressure around the fuel injector have also been observed due to, for example, the fuel injector position relative to pre-diffuser exit and the flame tube cowl.© Crown Copyright 1998, DERA


This article reveals about self motivation of KPI Student and study on new courses, both in psychological and social and social anthropologist confronting a range of very different situations. The psychological and social situation diversity and social anthropologist of KPI students is closely related to motivation and expectation which is varied. There is also the motivation from student to fulfill the knowledge of the world of communications and broadcasting which is related with the educational background of his secondary education, or he wants to continue his hobby in the broadcasting world. Dealing with the eager expectation or the big dream of KPI Student is divided into some expectation; The hope dealing with the learning process and supporting material from the learning process, and the expectation of their future after graduating from this department as a Bachelor of communication and broadcasting connected with employment chance the expectation in the process of teaching or educating for example, most students of KPI IAIN Salatiga needs some facilitation dealing with communications technology and the broadcasting technology such as, cameras, handy camp, and radio station.


Background: Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is characterized by disseminated vasculitis and eosinophilia in patients with asthma. This study was performed to delineate the characteristics of peripheral neuropathy and to identify the factors associated with the severity of neurologic disability. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 12 consecutive patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome who had been diagnosed at Samsung Medical Center. The diagnosis of CSS was based on the American college of Rheumatology 1990 criteria. Results: Of the 12 patients, 9 had neurologic involvement. Six had neurologic symptoms as presenting manifestations. All neurologic manifestations were peripheral neuropathy; 5 had multiple mononeuropathy, 2 had distal symmetric polyneuropathy, and 2 had mononeuropathy. Neurologic disability score depended on the rapidity of steroid treatment. Conclusions: Neurologic involvement is common and develops early in patients with CSS, usually manifesting as peripheral neuropathy. Neurologic disability score showed that early steroid therapy was related with less neurologic disability.


The results of surgical treatment of 478 patients with damages of thoracolumbar vertebrae with transpedicular structures are presented. Features of installation of stabilizing systems depending on the level of lesion were recognized. The necessity of taking into account the physiological curves of spinal column is proved, and appropriate layouts of location of pedicle screws for a more rational redistribution of loads on spinal axis are developed.Key words: spinal injury, thoracolumbar vertebrae.


The Banker's Remedy of Set-Off is an invaluable definition of the origin of the concept of set-off and how it works in practice, giving examples of set-off in different contexts. The new 3rd edition of this well-respected text covers all aspects of the law from common banking transactions to cross-border debts, to ensure you receive expert guidance, whether you are dealing with debts from private individuals or multi-national companies. Part V has been expanded to cover a range of specialist financing transactions.


Schizophrenia is a severely debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder. Establishing a causal link between circuit dysfunction and particular behavioural traits relevant to schizophrenia is crucial to shed new light on the mechanisms underlying the pathology. Here we studied an animal model of the 22q11 deletion syndrome, which is the highest genetic risk to develop the pathology. We report a desynchronization of hippocampal neuronal assemblies that resulted from parvalbumin interneuron hypoexcitability. Rescuing parvalbumin interneuron excitability with pharmacological or chemogenetic approaches is sufficient to restore wild type-like network dynamics and behaviour during adulthood. In conclusion, our data provide mechanistic insights underlying network dysfunction relevant to schizophrenia and demonstrate the potential of reverse engineering in fostering new therapeutic strategies to alleviate the burden of neurodevelopmental disorders.


The aim of the Cart-O-matic project was to design and build a multi-robot system able to autonomously map an unknown building. This work has been done in the framework of a French robotics contest called Defi CAROTTE organized by the General Delegation for Armaments (DGA) and the French National Research Agency (ANR). The scientific issues of this project deal with Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM), multi-robot collaboration and object recognition. In this paper, we will mainly focussed on the two first topics : after a general introduction, we will briefly describe the innovative simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm used during the competition. We will next explain how this algorithm can deal with multi-robots systems and 3D mapping. The next part of the paper will be dedicated to the multi-robot pathplanning and exploration strategy. The last section will illustrate the results with 2D and 3D maps, collaborative exploration strategies and example of planned trajectories.


ABSTRACT The viral load assays AMPLICOR HIV-1 Monitor Test 1.5, Nuclisens HIV-1 QT, and Quantiplex HIV RNA 3.0 (bDNA) were evaluated for their abilities to quantify human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA in 64 plasma samples from 21 children infected in Portugal. The children were infected with HIV-1 subtypes A1, B, F1, G, and BG recombinant virus. AMPLICOR v1.5 and Quantiplex v3.0 detected all samples, and there was a good correlation of results between the two kits. Thirty-eight specimens containing HIV-1 subtype B, G, or recombinant BG, could not be detected by Nuclisens HIV-1 QT. We also evaluated the new Retina HIV-1 assay on 21 samples that were HIV-1 positive; Retina HIV-1 failed to detect 5 of 11 subtype G specimens. AMPLICOR v1.5 and Quantiplex v3.0 assays may be used for HIV-1 RNA quantification in Portugal, whereas an improvement in sensitivity for subtype G and recombinant BG is required for Nuclisens HIV-1 QT and Retina HIV-1.


Dibenzofuran (DBF) is converted to a vacuum-sublimable, electron-transporting host material via 2,8-substitution with diphenylphosphine oxide moieties. Close pi-pi stacking and the inductive influence of P=O moieties impart favorable electron-transport properties without lowering the triplet energy. A maximum external quantum efficiency of 10.1% and luminance power efficiency of 25.9 lm/W are realized using this material as the host for the blue-green electrophosphorescent molecule, iridium(III) bis(4,6-(di-fluorophenyl)pyridinato-N,C(2')picolinate (FIrpic).


Current cancer immunotherapies mainly aim to activate and expand tumor antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in vitro or in vivo, but these methods are not so successuful because of the difficulty in preparing sufficient number of CTLs. We are trying to overcome this problem by utilizing the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology. Our strategy is based on the concept that i) when iPSCs are produced from antigen specific T cells, the rearranged configurations of T cell receptor (TCR) genes are inherited to the iPSCs (which we call T-iPSCs), and that ii) when T cells are regenerated from such T-iPSCs, all of them should come to express the same TCR as the original one. Therefore it will become possible to obtain de novo generated tumor specific CTLs almost unlimitedly, because it is possible to make a mass-culture of cells at the iPSC level. In line with this concept, we have succeeded in establishing T-iPSCs from CTLs specific for the melanoma antigen MART-1 derived from tumor infiltarating lymphocytes, and in regenerating MART-1 specific T cells from such T-iPSCs (Vizcardo et al, Cell Stem Cell, 2013). The strategy mentioned above has been conducted in the category of autologous transplantation. Autologous transplantation setting, however, has some problems; i) high cost to establish T-iPSCs from each patients, ii) heterogeneneity of the quality as iPSCs, iii) difficulty in getting high affinity TCR. To solve these problems we are now planing to apply this method to the allogeneic transplantation setting. In allogeneic setting, we can select high quality T-iPSC clone and such a clone can be used to many other patients. It is preferable to produce T-iPSCs from a HLA haplotype homo donor, since CTLs generated from these T-iPSCs can be administerd to the patients carrying the same HLA haplotype on one allele. Thus by utilizing allogenic T-iPSCs the cost would be reduced and the quality of T-iPSCs can be ensured. Now we are trying to establish T-iPSCs from CTLs specific for various cancer antigen from healthy donors. We succeded in establishing T-iPSCs from CTLs specific for EB virus related antigen LMP2 and cancer testis antigen WT1, both of which are restricted to HLA A2402, the commonest HLA-A in the Japanese. We improved in vitro culture condition and have succeded in regenerating CD8 single positive cells expressing CD8 alpha-beta heterodimers. These regenerated CTLs exhibited very high antigen specific killing activity comparable to the original CTLs. The CTLs derived from WT1 specific T-iPSCs were able to kill some leukemia cell lines which express endogenous WT1 protein. They can be expanded more than ten thousand fold by repeated TCR stimulation without reducing their killing activity. We are now examining in vivo killing activity of these CTLs using zenograft model. This method could bring about a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy. Citation Format: Takuya Maeda, Seiji Nagano, Hiroshi Ichise, Kyoko Masuda, Toshio Kitawaki, Akifumi Kondo-Takaori, Hiroshi Kawamoto. Regeneration of tumor antigen specific CTLs utilizing iPSC technology. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; September 16-19, 2015; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B126.


This paper describes energy-efficient communication in wireless Sensor Networks is necessary and identifies the main sources of energy dissipation as well as counter measures to make sure a long network lifetime. Wireless Sensor Networks can collect trusty and accurate information in distant and risky environments, and can be used in National Defence, Military Affairs, Industrial Control, Traffic Management, Medical Care, Smart Home, etc. The sensor whose resources are reserved is low-cost, and depends on battery to supply electricity, so it's importance for routing to efficiently utilize its power. The main purpose of this Research work is to investigate and find insight into the effect of energy efficient for wireless Sensor Networks using Leach and proposed new Leach protocol and their parameter. As noted, the research consists of both experimental and analytical results on MATLAB tool with the following parameter average energy of each node for differentdifferent no of rounds, number of dead nodes, total number of packet received to base station and end to end delay.


ABSTRACT Amongst Britain's former colonies the independent countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean represent something of an anomaly in so far as the majority of them remain constitutional monarchies and continue to retain the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) as their final appellate court, even though the region has had its own final appellate court – the Caribbean Court of Justice – since 2006. This is in marked contrast to Britain's former colonies in Africa and South Asia, the majority of which switched to republicanism soon after independence and at the same time abolished rights of appeal to the JCPC. This paper seeks to uncover the reasons for this anomaly by examining how the path that led to independence was shaped by a particular conception of Dominion status and by the willingness of nationalist leaders to embrace a dual identity: equal parts West Indian nationalist and Empire loyalist. It will also examine the phenomenon of the 'postcolony'; being the persistence of the colonial order following the acquisition of constitutional independence. The paper has three aims. Firstly, to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of Dominion status and all that it symbolised in a region which is often overlooked in the scholarly literature on this topic. Secondly, better to understand the competing political forces that led three countries in the region to adopt republicanism, but inhibited its adoption elsewhere in the region. Thirdly, and finally, to enhance discussion of the complex nexus between republicanism and the abolition of rights of appeal to the JCPC where political and juridical considerations do not neatly align.

https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/dd69da40-4ccc-4913-a84d-2643cb4afb3b/1/Post-colonial constitutional order of Commonwealth Caribbean - 2018 - OBrien.pdf


Satellite Communication (SATCOM) systems are greatly susceptible to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) caused by instabilities in the Ionosphere. In general, these instabilities are naturally occurring geomagnetic storms that are persistent at various regions of the Earth and differing times of the day. An artificial disturbance examined in this paper is the hypothetical occurrence of a High Altitude Nuclear Explosion (HANE) event. The electron density fluctuations induced by a HANE has a profound scintillation effect on wideband signals utilized in SATCOM. A computational model of this principle is established using multiple phase screen theory and a plasma physics based model to simulate nuclear burst effects. The significance of these results demonstrates a first principle approach to characterizing electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) effectiveness for SATCOM systems in a highly unstable Ionospheric environment. In particular, an approach to model lateral propagation paths is proposed utilizing a Chapman function electron density profile combined with computational HANE electron density data. The temporal characteristics such as the average time delay and time jitter from different transmitter and receiver locations at different phases of the nuclear detonation are presented. The results in this paper demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing V and W frequency bands to minimize these environmental disturbances, achieving a more desired EMC compliant system.