Research in individualist cultures has shown that group members are more likely to agree with criticisms of their group when the criticisms are made by another ingroup member as opposed to an outgroup member (the intergroup sensitivity effect). However, evaluations of ingroup critics are often harsher when they take their comments to an outgroup audience. In light of research on facework and tolerance for dissent, it seems important to test whether these effects are generalizable to a collectivist culture. Indonesian Muslims (N = 191) received a criticism of their religion stemming either from another Muslim or a Christian, and published in either a Muslim or a Christian newspaper. Participants agreed with the comments more when they were made by an ingroup as opposed to an outgroup member. Furthermore, consistent with previous research in Australia, the effects of audience on agreement were moderated by levels of group identification. Results are discussed in relation to theory about the functional role internal critics can play in group life.


Purpose:  To find out correlation between Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) and Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP).
Study Design:  Observational Correlational study.
Place and Duration of Study:  This study was conducted in Ophthalmology Clinic Primasatya Husada Citra Hospital Surabaya from September 2021 to October 2021.
Methods:  One hundred and fifteen subjects were selected through consecutive sampling. Patients of 20-60 years age and visiting ophthalmology clinic were included. Patients with history of glaucoma, hypertension, body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m2, under steroid treatment (topical, systemic, peri ocular, inhalation), undergone eye surgery including corneal and refractive surgery,  smoker (> 100 cigarettes in his/her life and is still smoking), Alcoholic (> 1 time/month), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and myopia (> 6 diopters) were excluded. Association between CCT and IOP was calculated using Pearson's correlation coefficient.
Results:  A total 115 patients were included, 69 (60%) females and 46 (40.0%) males. Mean age was 35.78 ± 11.64 years old. Mean CCT was 550.26 ± 31.66 µm and 551.43 ± 34.92 µm for right and left eye respectively. IOP was 16.06 ± 3.71 mmHg and 15.76 ± 3.52 mmHg in right and left eyes respectively. There was a moderate positive relationship of CCT and IOP. There was a good relationship between right and left "IOP (R = 0.830, p = 0.000) and CCT (R = 0.856, p = 0.000)."
Conclusion:  CCT had a moderate positive correlation with IOP (right eyes: R = 0.355, p = 0.000; left eyes: R = 0.381, P = 0.000). There is a positive relationship between CCT and IOP in both eyes (p = 0.000).


This report describes congenital radial and thumb aplasia in a neonatal owl monkey. Congenital limb deformities in human neonates and Old World primate species have been well characterized. The many probable causes of these congenital defects in skeletal structure include fetal exposure to environmental toxins and genetic influences. In nonhuman primates, the cause frequently remains undetermined. In the case we present, the neonate presented for examination because of inability to cling to the dam. The forelimbs were contracted distally, and thumbs were absent. Radiographs indicated complete radial aplasia and other skeletal abnormalities. This description is the fi rst case study of congenital radial and thumb aplasia in a New World primate species.


The problems of adaptive estimation and control for a general class of linear stochastic partial differential dynamical systems are studied by using the well-known Lainiotis' partition theorem. From the physically realizable point of view, the sensor and interior controller are of pointwise type. As a consequence, it is shown that this theorem leads to a unified treatment of an adaptive control problem under incomplete state informations.


T he aim of this paper is to explore some grammatical and logical aspects of the word "is" (ἔστιν) in the fragments of Parmenides. I will argue that Parmenides' "is" is to be taken most plausibly, in its first and most immediate sense, as a copula of definitional identity, expressing the essence or nature of something. This definitional use implies both the absolute and the veridical sense of "is." This account will permit us to overcome some central difficulties inherent in other predicative interpretations of Parmenides' "is," such as those proposed by Alexander Mourelatos, Richard Ketchum, and Patricia Curd. 1 At the beginning of her discourse, the goddess points out the ways of inquiry that alone can be conceived (B2.3–8):


The purpose of this work is to study the language-systemic means of embodiment of the idea of kinship in ancient Eastern Slavic culture and the reconstruction of its conceptual base. Research of the dynamics of semantic and nominative space in the history of Russian culture allowed for the extraction of applicable/nonapplicable, evaluative, and semanticdensity of the following concept in historical retrospect. The ideological potential of kinship in current Russian discourse of international relations, where the module of kinship (brotherhood) of Eastern Slavic peoples is used as a frequent metaphorical model, forms semantic continuity of the axiocategory of kinship in Russian linguaculture. Its relevance is supported by language facts such as: the dense nominative field of kinship; frequency oflexemes related to kinship retains its high scores as shown by the Russian National Corpus; analysis of parallel corpuses of Eastern Slavic languages confirms the semantic continuity of the idea of kinship. Additional evidence from parallel corpuses will allow the confirmation or rejection of the idea of linguospecificity of the nominative field of kinship in modern Slavic linguacultures.


This paper reviews the current status of freshwater aquaculture in both India and Uganda. India has a long history of aquaculture, dating from the 4th century. Subsequently, the country has become a major contributor to global aquaculture and is believed to have more than 10% of the global fish diversity. Currently, India is the second largest aquaculture producer in the world with global contribution of 6.3% and the major contribution comes from freshwater aquaculture, whose share has gone up from 46% in the 1980s to over 85% in the recent years. Since 1980s, India has emerged as one of the largest investors and trading partners of Uganda. As such, there is much that Uganda can adopt from the India's freshwater aquaculture given their political, social and economic relations established overtime between the two countries. As the largest producer of Indian major carps, India has set the pace for change and innovation in culture practices since the 1960s. Uganda's aquaculture is also undergoing changes to meet the challenges of increasing demand, such comparisons through comprehensive literature review and case studies can form a strong foundation for future investment in aquaculture. In addition, generating information for each country's comparative advantage in aquaculture can assist in developing strategies for structural adjustment programmes. Some of those strategies, might promote integration of economic activities, human capacity building, information sharing and technology transfer.

 Key words: Aquaculture, carps, fish, freshwater, India, Uganda.


We present a method for calculation of Raman modes of the quantum solid phase I solid hydrogen and deuterium. We use the mean-field assumption that the quantised excitations are localized on one molecule. This is done by explicit solution of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation in an angle-dependent potential, and direct calculation of the polarisation. We show that in the free-rotor limit, the H$_2$ and D$_2$ frequencies differ by a factor of 2, which evolves toward $\sqrt{2}$ as the modes acquire librational character due to stronger interactions. The ratio overshoots $\sqrt{2}$ if anharmonic terms weaken the harmonic potential. We also use density functional theory and molecular dynamics to calculate the E$_{2_g}$ optical phonon frequency and the Raman linewidths. The molecular dynamics shows that the molecules are not free rotors except at very low pressure and high temperature, and become like oscillators as phase II is approached. We fit the interaction strengths to experimental frequencies, but good agreement for intensities requires us to also include strong preferred-orientation and stimulated Raman effects between S$_0$(1) and S$_0$(0) contributions. The experimental Raman spectrum for phase II cannot be reproduced, showing that the mean-field assumption is invalid in that case.


In direct sequence-code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) cellular systems spreading codes, fading and positions of the users can be modelled as independent random variables and the corresponding multiuser interference (MUI) experienced by the base station is non-stationary. Here we evaluate in closed form the bit error probability for space-time linear minimum mean square error (MMSE) multiuser receivers for symbol-synchronous DS-CDMA system (bounds are provided for symbol-asynchronous system) by extending the known asymptotic results for random spreading sequences to non-stationary MUI. The analysis is based on the effective interference at the decision variable that is carried out to account for the non-stationary MUI that results from the multiuser beamforming that adapts each spatial filter to the randomness of the angle of arrivals of all the users. Propagation for each user is Rayleigh-lognormal faded channels as it is fairly general to model the imperfect power-control. The numerical validation proves that a simple geometrical model is accurate to evaluate the error probability for any arbitrary system loading.


Cerebral metabolism of ketones after traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves neuropathology and behavior in an age-dependent manner. Neuroprotection is attributed to improved cellular energetics, although other properties contribute to the beneficial effects. Oxidative stress is responsible for mitochondrial dysfunction after TBI. Ketones decrease oxidative stress, increase antioxidants and scavenge free radicals. It is hypothesized that ketogenic diet (KD) will decrease post-TBI oxidative stress and improve mitochondria. Postnatal day 35 (PND35) male rats were given sham or controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury and placed on standard (STD) or KD. Ipsilateral cortex homogenates and mitochondria were assayed for markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant expression and mitochondrial function. Oxidative stress was significantly increased at 6 and 24 h post-injury and attenuated by KD while inducing protein expression of antioxidants, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1) and superoxide dismutase (SOD1/2). Complex I activity was inhibited in STD and KD groups at 6 h and normalized by 24 h. KD significantly improved Complex II–III activity that was reduced in STD at 6 h. Activity remained reduced at 24 h in STD and unchanged in KD animals. These results strongly suggest that ketones improve post-TBI cerebral metabolism by providing alternative substrates and through antioxidant properties, preventing oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction.


Using a special technique of data analysis, we have found 34 grand minima of solar activity in a 7700-year-long Δ14C record. The method used rests on a proper filtering of the Δ14C record and the extrapolation of verifiable results for the later history back in time. Additionally, we have applied a method of nonlinear dynamics, the recurrence rate, to back up the results. Our findings are not contradictory to the record of grand minima by Eddy [1977] but constitute a considerable extension. Hence it has become possible to look closer at the validity of models. This way, we have tested the model of Barnes et al. [1980]. There are hints for that the grand minima might solely be driven by the 209-year period found in the Δ14C record.


The expatriation experience allows the expatriate to live and to work in another country. As the individual interacts with the local environment, there may be different situations from his home country that can be stressful. So, emerge the individual's ability to deal positively with these situations characterizing the resilient behavior. Aiming to analyze the resilience process in Brazilians expatriates in India, this study consists in a qualitative and exploratory research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Brazilian expatriates in India, which were analyzed with the technique of content analysis. The analysis categories defined were: physiological aspects, communication aspects, professional aspects and resilient behavior. As a result, it is noteworthy that stressors were related to aspects related to the culture of the expatriation country. Among the actions that characterize the resilient behavior were highlighted: positive adaptation, accepting help and support from family, friends and coworkers, reflection and


This study showed that 8.5-month-old infants seemed to consider the consistency of an agent's choices in attributing preferences to her. When the agent consistently chose one object over another, three or four times consecutively, infants acted as if they had interpreted her actions as evidence for her preference. In contrast, when the agent inconsistently chose between the two objects, at the ratio of 1:3, infants did not seem to interpret her actions as suggesting her preference. Converging evidence was obtained from infants' responses across a looking-time task and an action task. The results are discussed in terms of how infants might use frequencies of agents' actions directed toward different objects to understand agents' preferences.


BACKGROUND: Estrogenic overexposure is a well-accepted risk factor in the etiology of breast cancer. Synthetic chemicals that simulate natural estrogens, i.e., xenoestrogens (XEs), occur widely in the environment entering the human body through multiple routes. Consequently, mixtures of XEs are known to circulate in the blood at any given time. Current protocols to evaluate chemical safety rely primarily on testing chemicals individually, ignoring the fact that the general population is exposed daily to mixtures of XEs. We asked whether mixtures of low dose XEs would intensify the cellular effects of individual XEs at the same concentrations. METHODS: We exposed non-malignant breast epithelial cell cultures (HRBECs), obtained from high-risk human donors by random periareolar fine needle aspiration (RPFNA), to the high volume chemicals - bisphenol-A (BPA), methylparaben (MP) and perflourooctanoic acid (PFOA). Cells were exposed to individual XEs or mixtures of all three at a range of concentrations encompassing environmentally relevant levels. Breast cancer associated phenotypes were quantitated as test endpoints using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and/or Western blotting. The endpoints included: total and phosphorylated estrogen receptor (ER)α, ERβ, S-phase fraction, and 4-hydoxytamoxifen (OHT) induced apoptotic fraction. We fit a log-linear dose-response model to the data generated from 3 doses for each chemical, individually and as a mixture. Evidence of synergism was tested by comparing the observed data for mixtures with that predicted by an additive-in-dose model for single doses. RESULTS: Our data demonstrates that the degree of perturbation induced by the chemical mixture tested here is not merely an additive effect of each chemical; instead it reflects considerable synergism in the mode of action. In 3/3 SNP-authenticated non-malignant HRBEC cell lines exposed to the chemical mixture at the lowest test dose, total and phosphorylated ERα levels were consistently elevated. Concurrently, ERβ level was reduced. A dose-dependent increase was observed in the S-phase fraction, together with a marked reduction of the OHT-induced apoptotic fraction in HRBECs exposed to BPA, MP, and PFOA individually (p CONCLUSION: Routine tests conducted to assess the carcinogenic potential of chemicals overlook possible synergism among different chemicals. We show that the combined effects of low doses of various chemicals can be much stronger than predicted by addition of their effects as single agents. Despite being cost, time, and labor-intensive, current testing of individual chemicals fails to inform regulators about the safe dose range for human exposure. It is thus imperative to expand present methods to include combinatorial approaches pertaining to test chemicals, endpoints, and target cells. Citation Format: Dairkee SH, Luciani-Torres G, Moore DH, Goodson WH. Synergistically elevated hallmarks of cancer induced in non-malignant human breast cells by mixtures of environmental chemicals. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-06-04.


For developing countries including India, United Nations projections of urban population have been on the higher side. Based on such estimates, it was conjectured that India would witness a large migration from rural areas. Yet, during 2001-11, nationally representative surveys did not record large increase in rural-urban migration. Hence, the share of urban population increased marginally from 27.8 to 31.1 percent over 2001-2011. This increase however masks important undercurrents. Two predominantly urban states of India and few important urban agglomerations reported their lowest ever population growth rate over the period 2001-11 while Mumbai recorded an absolute decline in its population. Since lower total fertility rate cannot explain this phenomenon, two plausible explanations are out-migration from cities and reduced rate of in-migration to cities (Kundu 2012). With cities unwelcoming and anemic employment growth in rural India, an alternative, albeit effective livelihood strategy (where feasible) is commuting daily from rural to urban areas for work. Nearly 12.5 million workers cross the rural-urban boundary for work every day while 12.2 million workers report not having a fixed place of work. Such movement of workers is fast developing as an important and new channel of interaction between the rural and urban economy. This movement also has implications for integration of rural and urban labour markets for skilled and unskilled workers. The number of commuting workers is expected to increase in this decade on account of three reasons. First, there has been an increase in the number of small towns. Over the census period


Abstract In our study we consider a generalized thermoelasticity theory based on a heat conduction equation in micropolar bodies. Specifically, the heat conduction depends on two distinct temperatures, the conductive temperature and the thermodynamic temperature. In our analysis, the difference between the two temperatures is clear and is highlighted by the heat supply. After we formulate the mixed initial boundary value problem defined in this context, we prove the uniqueness of a solution corresponding some specific initial data and boundary conditions. Also, if the initial energy is negative or null, we prove that the solutions of the mixed problem are exponentially instable.


The seasonal nutritional value of red (Jania rubens, Laurencia papillosa, Spyridia filamentosa and Dasya rigidula) and brown macroalgae (Padina pavonia and Stypopodium schimperi) was evaluated as a dietary supplement for human and animal nutrition based on proximate and fatty acid profiles. The protein content varied from 0.80% (L. papillosa) to 3.41% (J. rubens) of wet weight with the highest values in winter. The highest lipid levels were recorded in S. schimperi (2.03% in spring, 2.16% in summer), the lowest in S. filamentosa (0.08% in spring). The ash content of J. rubens (46.11–51.63%) was significantly higher than that of the other species (2.28–16.57%). Analysis of the fatty acid composition showed that these seaweed species are very rich in n-3 fatty acids.


This paper discusses a novel model for stability studies of a Multiterminal High Voltage Direct Current system (MT HVDC) as part of an overlay grid in a hybrid AC system. The dynamic model is set up for Multilevel Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC) technology. The new model provides the opportunity to analyse the impact of full- and half-bridge modules during AC and DC faults. In the present paper a radial DC system with four converter stations was built up and simulated in PSS®NETOMAC. In principle the model can be expanded to a multiterminal HVDC system with a higher number of converter stations. Generally the structure of the DC grid does not subject to any restrictions. For steady state control of a MT HVDC system the Voltage Margin Method (VMM) was implemented. The main focus of the presented model is placed on dynamic stability studies in case of DC faults and their effects on the AC grid. But due to the possibility of VSC converters to provide general system services, e.g. to supply reactive power, the effects and advantages of VSC converters during AC faults can also be analysed. In principle Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) technology offers the possibility of clearing DC faults on the DC side. Depending on the type of modules (full- or half-bridge modules) used in a Multilevel VSC converter the fault clearing strategy and therefore the effects to the AC grid differ enormously. It is essential for the transient stability of a highly stressed AC grid to ensure a very low fault clearance time to keep the system stable. The proposed control design was designed as a two partition macro in PSS®NETOMAC and can be used for planning a Multiterminal DC system in any AC grid. It was applied to a small test grid in order to prove its performance. For more realistic results the model was implemented and applied in a dynamic model of the Continental Europe high voltage power transmission grid.


Abstract Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed in adults. Owing to the relatively recent recognition of adult ADHD as a valid mental disorder and its overlapping symptomatology with other conditions, primary care physicians often fail to screen for ADHD in patients who present with inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. A substantial proportion of adults with ADHD also have psychiatric comorbidities. Physicians need to recognize the ways in which ADHD symptoms are expressed in adults and distinguish them from symptoms of other disorders, including mood, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders.


Invariants for hybrid automata are determined from predicates that are constant for every reachable state in the automata. These invariants can be used to verify a given specification by exploiting their characteristics. In this paper, a switched system driven by discrete inputs is used as an example of a hybrid dynamical system. For the system, we propose a verification method for a given specification based on the concept of invariants and a design policy of parameters with which the given specification is satisfied. Some numerical and experimental results are provided to show the validity of the proposed method. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


Cowden syndrome (CS) is a rare genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance, linked to germline mutations in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 10. Cowden syndrome often co-exists with Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD), with LDD included as a major criterion in CD diagnosis. This case involves a woman presenting with many of the classic diagnostic criterions and associations of CD, as well as with several comorbidities and unique objective findings.


Despite advances in healthcare, heart failure patients continue to experience complications that could have been prevented or treated. This occurs because the only way that a therapeutic or preventive regimen can be effective, assuming that the patient's condition has been accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated, is if the patient implements self-care behaviors and adheres to the treatment regimen. However, it is widely accepted that this does not occur in many or even most instances. This article provides an overview of the current evidence related to adherence and self-care behaviors among heart failure patients and describes the state of the science on interventions developed and tested to enhance self-care maintenance in this population. Our review of literature shows that effective interventions integrate strategies that motivate, empower, and encourage patients to make informed decisions and assume responsibility for self-care. Gaps in current evidence support the need for additional research on ways to improve adherence and self-care for patients who are at an increased risk of poor adherence, including those with cognitive and functional impairments and low health literacy.


The main aim of this paper is the construction of a set of computational tools in order to improve the management of large expansions used in celestial mechanics. This package involves an iterative algorithm to develop the inverse of the distance according to an appropriate set of temporal variables, a new Poisson series processor, and an iterative integration method to obtain the solution of Lagrange planetary equations. The method has been applied to compute a set of examples using several kinds of anomalies in order to test the performance of the algorithms.


: The calculation of the daylight illuminance for a given position in a building is a key step in daylighting schemes. In order to predict the daylight performance of room space and set a scale for architects to use when comparing aspects of various daylighting schemes, there are a number of rules of thumb and design metrics. The Daylight Factor based metric is under the traditional overcast sky excluding direct sunlight. It is frequently formalized within national standards in many countries. However, such metric does not consider the dynamic variations in daylight illuminance. Recently, daylight factor calculations have been extended for all sky conditions. It means that Daylight Factor based metric is no longer static and it can take into account the building directions, solar positions and the effects of direct and reflected sunlight. This paper provides a review of the daylight factor based metric and gives an overview of the current dynamic daylight metrics. The daylight factor based metric and other dynamic daylight metrics are analysed. The findings would be useful to practitioners engaged in visual comfort, fenestration and daylighting design and evaluation.


1. The role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the generation of the arterial pressure lability (APL) observed after sino-aortic deafferentation (SAD) in rats was evaluated. 2. SAD was performed in normotensive (N = 8), renal hypertensive (2K-1C, N = 8) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, N = 8) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) recordings were performed 24 h after SAD. 3. MAP was recorded by a computerized technique using a sampling frequency of 30 Hz for 30 min and the data obtained were used to calculate APL. After MAP measurements the activity of the RAS and SNS was pharmacologically evaluated in all groups by the changes in MAP in response to iv injection of captopril and hexamethonium chloride, respectively. 4. SAD produced an increase in MAP (118 +/- 4 vs 99 +/- 2 mmHg) and a large increase in APL (13.4 +/- 1.3 vs 3.8 +/- 0.3 mmHg) in normotensive rats. SAD produced no changes in MAP (161 +/- 7 vs 167 +/- 7 mmHg) in 2K-1C hypertensive rats but induced a large increase in APL (6.7 +/- 0.5 vs 12 +/- 1 mmHg). SAD also produced no changes in MAP (152 +/- 3 vs 152 +/- 4 mmHg) in SHR but induced a marked increase in APL (6.7 +/- 0.3 vs 21 +/- 2.3 mmHg). 5. All SAD rats presented a larger fall in MAP in response to captopril and hexamethonium than the respective control group with intact baroreceptors suggesting an overactivity of both systems after SAD in normotensive, renal hypertensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. 6. The data also show that SAD produced no additional increase in MAP but promoted a significant increase in APL in renal and spontaneously hypertensive rats. 7. We suggest that APL observed after SAD in different experimental models is dependent on an interaction of RAS and SNS, both of which seem to be overactive after removal of arterial baroreceptors.


Customer clustering is used to understand customers' preferences and behaviors by examining the differences and similarities between customers. Kohonen vector quantization (KVQ), Kohonen self organizing map (SOM) and K-means are used in this research to find interesting behaviors of customers who subscribe to mobile services. Clustering is followed by inter-cluster analysis in order to identify possible business opportunities


Purpose: To determine frequency of post-operative macular edema in diabetic retinopathy patients having received preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab, after phacoemulsification cataract surgery while compared with the controls. Study Design: Quasi experimental trial Place and Duration of Study: Department of ophthalmology eye unit 3, KEMU /Mayo hospital, Lahore from March 2020 to August 2020. Methods: A total of 60 patients were included in the study and randomly divided into two groups. Patients of study group were given 1.25mg bevacizumab injection by IV route two weeks priority to surgery while nothing was administered in the control group. Before one week of surgery ocular examination and OCT were perfumed and it was repeated after every month of performance of surgery. Allocation of patients was even not known to the researcher to avoid biasness. Components of monthly examination were best correct visual acuity, slit lamp examination and central macular thickness quantification with OCT. Standard cataract surgery was performed in all the patients (phacoemulsification and implantation of monofocal intraocular lens (IOL)). Post-operatively, all patients were given standard treatment i.e moxifloxacin-dexamethasone). Follow up of all the patients was made for consecutive three months on monthly basis to assess outcome variables i.e macular edema was observed keeping in view central macular thickness. Results: In patients of study group, 16.66% had developed macular edema while in control group it was observed in 46% patients. While comparing macular edema between side of eye, study group had 02 (13.33%) patients belonging to right eye while 03(20.0%) had left eye. However, in control group it was 08 (53.33%) and 06 (40.0%) for right and left eyes respectively. Group A had 230.23 ± 32.16 µm central macular thickness while it was 274.21 ± 25.34 µm in group B. Conclusion: In macular edema prophylaxis using preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab is efficacious in comparison with the controls in patients with mild-moderate edema. Keywords: NPDR, Macular edema, Intravitreal Bevacizumab, Phacoemulsification Surgery, Diabetic Retinopathy.


Objective : analyzing the acquisition and monthly costs for patients on modern fixed-dose antihypertensive combinations in three regions of the Far Eastern Federal District. Material and methods . Intra-group analysis of retail of antihypertensive drugs for 2019 in drugstores of the Khabarovsk Region, Sakhalin Region, Amur Region (n=100) was carried out. The calculation of the monthly cost of therapy was performed and total sales indicators were identified. Statistical analysis: dispersion analysis, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, Kruskal–Wallis test. Results . The maximum demand in patients among combinations of -blockers in the price range of 100-500 rubles: atenolol+chlortalidone; bisoprolol+amlodipine. In the grope of combinations of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with diuretics/calcium channel blockers, the most often acquired were: perindopril/ramipril+indapamide/amlodipine, enalapril+hydrochlorothiazide – in the price segment of 500–1000 rubles. Preferences for the use of combinations of angiotensin II receptor blockers+diuretic/calcium channel blockers: valsartan+amlodipine with a monthly cost of therapy of 300–500 rubles; losartan+hydrochlorothiazide – 100–500 rubles and azilsartan+chlortalidonee – 500–1000 rubles. The most popular three-component drugs were valsartan+amlodipine+hydrochlorothiazide, perindopril+amlodipine+indapamide with a monthly cost over 500 rubles. Differences in the acquisition structure of fixed-dose antihypertensive combinations between regions were statistically significant. Conclusion . The share of sales of combined antihypertensive drugs remains insignificant. The main selection criteria within an international nonproprietary name are affordability or trust in a brand. The presence of a reliable correlation of the acquisition structure with the region proves the influence of regional preferences of specialists in drug prescribing.


Speculators often advertise arbitrage opportunities in order to persuade other investors and thus accelerate the correction of mispricing. We show that in order to minimize the risk and the cost of arbitrage an investor who identifies several mispriced assets optimally advertises only one of them, and overweights it in his portfolio; a risk-neutral arbitrageur invests only in this asset. The choice of the asset to be advertised depends not only on mispricing but also on its "advertisability" and accuracy of future news about it. When several arbitrageurs identify the same arbitrage opportunities, their decisions are strategic complements: they invest in the same asset and advertise it. Then, multiple equilibria may arise, some of which inefficient: arbitrageurs may correct small mispricings while failing to eliminate large ones. Finally, prices react more strongly to the ads of arbitrageurs with a successful track record, and reputation-building induces high-skill arbitrageurs to advertise more than others.


Family farming is in many parts of the world still a significant factor in food production. However, farms in underdeveloped regions often lack the appropriate means to carry out agricultural activities in accordance with the state of the art, i.e. with the help of motorized machinery. On the other hand, especially in tropical regions, they generally own a reliable renewable energy source, principally in the form of solar radiation. In an effort to help to improve the returns of farming in an environmentally acceptable way, the project's objective is to investigate the feasibility of a small size electric farming tractor, which shall be able to use locally generated renewable energy. The crucial technical challenge is (as with other electric vehicles) to store sufficient electrical energy on the tractor for an extension of its operating time. On the other hand, economic competitiveness with comparable combustion engine tractors is a prerequisite for the project's success. Consequently, the project investigates an electric tractor system using alternative technical solutions in order to extend the operating time to a maximum and to compare the tractor's tractive power and its hourly operating cost to a combustion engine tractor of a similar power rating. To this end, an electric prototype tractor in conjunction with an appropriate electric generation, storage and transmission system are considered within this work.


Paddy is the most famous crop in Indonesia, which dominantly planted primarily in the west and central part of Indonesia. Rice paddy field is the main food source for most of the Indonesian and Indonesian government are very considered about the stability of their food security program. Therefore, monitoring and evaluation of its sustainability and availability become a national priority. One of the solutions to agricultural monitoring and management program is mapping through remote sensing system. In the study, we used high-resolution multi-spectral imagery collected from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to map the paddy field and differentiate them based on their spectral characteristics. An Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) method applied to the image for classifying the stage rice paddy field based on their spectral signature. The results of this study are: (i) a high-resolution map of paddy field and its classifications based on the period of planting, (ii) a comparison table showing the different spectral response for a different type of crops such as banana and tea. Hopefully, this study can support the government program on food security with valuable baseline information of the paddy field. .


Physical and chemical properties of radical cations generated from Ar2C=CH(CH2)nCH=CAr2 (Ar = 4-CH3OC6H4, n = 2–4) were studied by use of pulse radiolysis and γ-radiolysis techniques. When n = 3 and 4, 1,4-radical cations were formed via intramolecular cyclization of initially formed radical cations. The 1,4-radical cations were trapped by molecular dioxygen at the diarylalkylmethyl radical site, which suggests the "distonic" character of the species.


The objective of this study was to investigate the improvement of student's achievement in vocabulary by using Hello English and Booktrackt. Hello English and Booktrack are good software to be applied in teaching vocabulary. By using Hello English and Booktrack, the teacher can help the students in watching, listening, understanding, and applying the use of language contextually. This study is conducted by using Classroom Action Research. The Subject of this study was all the students of grade 4B and 4C Sekolah Lentera Harapan Medan with the total number of the students was 46 students. The subjects were taught by using Hello English and Booktract. The quantitative data were taken from the mean of the students in writing test. It is shown from the improvement of the mean of student's score. The mean of students' score in Hello English in pre-test is 70.00, and posttest 86.09, the mean of students' score in Booktract in pre-test was 70.00 and the mean of students' score in post-test was 86.09. The analysis of quantitative data showed that the scores improve from the first test to the last test eventually. Furthermore, it was proved through the observation sheet and diary notes, which indicate there was an improvement in learning result through using Hello English and Booktract in teaching-learning process from pre-test to post test. Therefore, Hello English and Booktract could significantly improve the students' achievement in vocabulary.  It can be suggested for English students Department, to understand the Hello English and Booktract are able to improve students' achievement in vocabulary achievement, and the English teachers, to use Hello English and Booktract in teaching vocabulary to make students more interested and enjoyable in vocabulary achievement.


The use of antibiotics to facilitate resistance to pathogens in aquatic animals is a traditional method of pathogen control that is harmful to the environment and human health. RNAi is an emerging technology in which homologous small RNA molecules target specific genes for degradation, and it has already shown success in laboratory experiments. However, further research is needed before it can be applied in aquafarms. Many laboratories inject the dsRNA into aquatic animals for RNAi, which is obviously impractical and very time consuming in aquafarms. Therefore, to enable the use of RNAi on a large scale, the methods used to prepare dsRNA need to be continuously in order to be fast and efficient. At the same time, it is necessary to consider the issue of biological safety. This review summarizes the key harmful genes associated with aquatic pathogens (viruses, bacteria, and parasites) and provides potential targets for the preparation of dsRNA; it also lists some current examples where RNAi technology is used to control aquatic species, as well as how to deliver dsRNA to the target hydrobiont.


Pediatric toxic ingestions are treated commonly by pediatricians and emergency physicians. Significant injury after these ingestions is infrequent, but identifying the dangerous ingestion is sometimes a difficult task. By performing a detailed history, focused physical examination, and directed laboratory evaluation, an estimation of risk can be developed. This article introduced the term "toxic triage" to describe this process. The toxic triage estimation allows the clinician to make thoughtful decontamination and treatment decisions. Familiarity with the literature supporting or refuting each decontamination method allows educated decisions to be made. Supportive care is an integral part of treatment for all poisonings, from asymptomatic to life-threatening. Most antidotes are used rarely in clinical practice, but familiarity with common antidotes benefits those patients with specific hazardous ingestions. Prevention efforts have the potential to decrease the incidence of pediatric poisonings. The universal poison control center number provided should be distributed and posted in homes, clinics, and emergency departments.


In this paper we present a knowledge-driven model for mobile learning based on the semantic Web. The knowledge model uses a global ontology space and a unified reasoning mechanism to integrate and aggregate knowledge describing both system-centric and user-centric context information. The reasoning engine perceives, understands, and translates context changes into new adaptation constraints in the operating environment to achieve personalized learning. In particular, the system strives to adapt the learning sequence and the learning content based on the learnerpsilas activity, profile, used technology, and surrounding environment. An initial system prototype is described and the obtained experimental results are very promising.


Ameloblastoma is the most common aggressive benign odontogenic tumor of the jaws. The tumor is often asymptomatic, presenting as a slowly enlarging facial swelling or an incidental finding on a radiograph. The physical presence of the tumor may cause symptoms such as pain, ulceration, loosening of teeth, or malocclusion. Ameloblastoma is a locally destructive tumor with a propensity for recurrence if not entirely excised. A few cases of malignant change with distant metastasis have been reported in the literature. It is seen in all age groups but the lesion is most commonly diagnosed in the third and fourth decades. The tumor is considered a rarity in the young, but the tumor grows slowly and probably starts to develop in childhood (1) .The treatment of ameloblastoma is still controversial and presents some special problems in children the growth of the jaw, the different incidence, behavior, and prognosis of the tumor in children make the surgical consideration different from adults. Some reports have encouraged aggressive resection for ameloblastoma in children.


Nuclear medicine imaging can provide important complementary information in the management of pediatric patients with neurological diseases. Pre-surgical localization of the epileptogenic focus in medically refractory epilepsy patients is the most common indication for nuclear medicine imaging in pediatric neurology. In patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, nuclear medicine imaging is particularly useful when magnetic resonance imaging findings are normal or its findings are discordant with electroencephalogram findings. In pediatric patients with brain tumors, nuclear medicine imaging can be clinically helpful in the diagnosis, directing biopsy, planning therapy, differentiating tumor recurrence from post-treatment sequelae, and assessment of response to therapy. Among other neurological diseases in which nuclear medicine has proved to be useful are patients with head trauma, inflammatory-infectious diseases and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.


Bag usage surveys conducted to date overwhelmingly show that shoppers have rejected using reusable bags and preferred to use paper bags or NO bags at all by a ratio of about two-to-one. While the stated intent of most plastic bag ban ordinances is to shift the majority of shoppers into using reusable bags, and reinforced by imposing minimum fees on paper bags in order to coerce shoppers into using reusable bags, the exact opposite has happened instead. This is not surprising since using reusable bags is not without its own set of problems. (Williams & van Leeuwen, 2014)


ABSTRACT: History and literature have become one of the several foci of feminist investigations concerning their difficult relationship with the issue of gender (GORDON, 2011) and their intersection offers an interesting investigative locus from which representations of different subjects are challenged and contested. Taking into consideration the contributions of authors such as Harris (2005, 2009) and Armstrong (2005), this essay aims to discuss how history and literature are inextricably intertwined while analysing the rewriting of Mexican myths in Sandra Cisnero's short story entitled "Woman Hollering Creek". Not only does Cisnero's rewriting of myths illustrate how history and literature represent marginalized subjects, but it also elaborates a critique which privileges gender as a category of analysis.


We develop a population pharmacokinetic model to describe Busulfan pharmacokinetics in paediatric patients and investigate by simulations the impact of various sampling schedules on the calculation of AUC. Seventy-six children had 2 h infusions every 6 h. A two-compartment linear model was found to adequately describe the data. A lag-time was introduced to account for the delay of the administration of the drug through the infusion pump. The mean values of clearance, central volume of distribution, intercompartmental clearance, and peripheral volume of distribution were 10.7 L/h, 39.5 L, 4.68 L/h and 17.5 L, respectively, normalized for a Body Weight (BW) of 70 kg. BW was found to explain a portion of variability with an allometric relationship and fixed exponents of 0.75 on clearance parameters and 1 on volumes. Interindividual variability for clearance and volume of distribution was found to be 28% and 41%, respectively, and interoccasion variability for clearance was found to be 11%. Three sampling schedules were assessed by simulations for bias and imprecision to calculate AUC by a non-compartmental and a model-based method. The latter was found to be superior in all cases, while the non-compartmental was unbiased only in sampling up to 12 h corresponding to a once-daily dosing regimen.


A clear and all-encompassing definition of language planning (LP) remains elusive. A working definition used by this author, taken from Joshua Fishman, is: "the organized pursuit of solutions to language problems, typically at the national level" (Fishman, 1974, p. 79). This definition is included among Robert Cooper's selected 13 definitions of a field that embraces both the societal focus in LP (status planning) and inherently linguistic matters (corpus planning), and ranges across a spectrum from national to local LP (Cooper, 1996). As Kaplan and Baldauf point out, LP is usually deliberate, governmentally driven, future orientated action designed to bring about changes in linguistic behavior (Kaplan & Baldauf, 1997). For example, a number of LP studies have influenced change in terms of national policies, such as Lo Bianco's work on the Australian National Policy on Languages which sought to develop a nationally coordinated language policy (Lo Bianco, 1987) or Tuin and Westhoff's work evaluating the foreign language capacity of the Dutch population in the Dutch National Action Programme (Tuin & Westhoff, 1997).

Keywords:

language planning;
language policy;
research methods in applied linguistics


In 2010, a novel agent, ipilimumab, demonstrated improved survival rates in patients with previously untreatable metastatic melanoma.1 Ipilimumab was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011 and launched a class of pharmaceuticals that would come to be known as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Normally, the immune system monitors developing malignancies as they acquire progressive mutations and eliminates them through a process of immunoediting or immune surveillance.2 Select tumors learn to coopt self-tolerance mechanisms (immune checkpoints) to evade this immune detection. ICIs inhibit these negative regulators of T-cell activation, unleashing an unchecked immune response. Because this response is not specific to tumor antigens, a host of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) can ensue. Neurologic irAEs are rare3 but provide diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. They also offer important insights into the mechanisms of autoimmunity.


This article investigates a turn from eye to ear in the literature and practice of walking-as-art. Arguing for listening as a feminist and ecologically oriented mode of engaging with the world, the author examines the practice of soundwalking (Westerkamp) and Deep Listening (Oliveros), placing them in conversation with the work of Michel de Certeau, and concludes with a discussion of the creative projects of Suzanne Thorpe, Viv Corringham and Amanda Gutierrez in order to chart the importance of relational listening practices today.


Personalised and contextualised care has been turned into a major demand by people involved in healthcare suggesting to move toward person-centred medicine. The assessment of person-centred medicine can be most effectively achieved if treatments are investigated using 'with versus without' person-centredness or integrative study designs. However, this assumes that the components of an integrative or person-centred intervention have an additive relationship to produce the total effect. Beecher's model of additivity assumes an additive relation between placebo and drug effects and is thus presenting an arithmetic summation. So far, no review has been carried out assessing the validity of the additive model, which is to be questioned and more closely investigated in this review. Initial searches for primary studies were undertaken in July 2016 using Pubmed and Google Scholar. In order to find matching publications of similar magnitude for the comparison part of this review, corresponding matches for all included reviews were sought. A total of 22 reviews and 3 clinical and experimental studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The results pointed to the following factors actively questioning the additive model: interactions of various effects, trial design, conditioning, context effects and factors, neurobiological factors, mechanism of action, statistical factors, intervention-specific factors (alcohol, caffeine), side-effects and type of intervention. All but one of the closely assessed publications was questioning the additive model. A closer examination of study design is necessary. An attempt in a more systematic approach geared towards solutions could be a suggestion for future research in this field.


AIM
To investigate whether common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE) grade 4 lymphopenia (<200 cells/μl) during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is relevant to poor survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
We analyzed 124 patients with newly diagnosed Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I-III cervical cancer who received weekly cisplatin-based CCRT and brachytherapy using Kaplan-Meier curves and the Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS
Grade 4 lymphopenia significantly predicted disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) (adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval (CI))=3.6 (1.37-9.44), p=0.009 and 3.28 (1.27-8.48), p=0.014, respectively). The 5-year DSS and 3-year PFS were significantly higher among patients with grade 2-3 lymphopenia (≥200 cells/μl) than among those with grade 4 lymphopenia (84.8% vs. 50.4%, p<0.001, and 80.7% vs. 50%, p=0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSION
Severe lymphopenia during CCRT could predict poor survival.


Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy was evaluated for its ability to detect non-conventional C-H▪▪▪S hydrogen bonds in crystals of the sulfur-containing penam antibiotics ampicillin and amoxicillin. The XANES spectra of the nearly isomorphous crystals of ampicillin trihydrate and amoxicillin trihydrate were very similar, whereas that of ampicillin anhydrate displayed unique features. Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses revealed that the C-H▪▪▪S hydrogen bond geometries and the chemical types of the hydrogen donors differed between the isomorphous trihydrate crystals and ampicillin anhydrate crystal. These observations demonstrate that the shapes of the sulfur K-edge XANES spectra are dependent on the nature of the C-H▪▪▪S hydrogen bonds. Sulfur K-edge XANES spectroscopy shows promise for use in the detection and analysis of non-covalent interactions, including hydrogen bonds to sulfur atoms, within active pharmaceutical ingredients.


Acne is one of the most common dermatoses. A prominent genetic component for this disease has been reported and the manifestation in first-line relatives is considered an important risk factor. Here we present a clinical case illustrating the relevance of particular genetic polymorphisms mapped to NCF1, CD3E, ORAI1, IGHM and TAZ in patients with severe forms and burdened family history of the disease. Genetic examination identified the same allelic variants in five candidate target genes (NCF1, CD3E, ORAI1, IGHM and TAZ) in two closely related patients (father and son) with severe acne. The identified genetic configuration may interfere with the oxidase activity and promote defects in mitochondrial function along with reduced T cell proliferation and imbalanced immunoglobulin production. The findings may provide an important reference point for further clinical investigation and treatment of severe torpid dermatoses.


Peritoneal permeability, evaluated using the peritoneal equilibration test (PET), indicates that, in an adult population not selected for age, an increase in the transport rate of small solutes usually occurs in the course of peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. We evaluated the dialysate-to-plasma ratio of urea (D/P urea), the D/P creatinine, the ratio of dialysate glucose at a designated dwell time to dialysate glucose at 0 dwell time (D/D0 glucose), and the mass transfer-area coefficients (KBDs) of those solutes in PETs performed in patients aged above or below 60 years who were matched for sex, PD duration, and outcome. The single-center, retrospective study was carried out in a peritoneal dialysis unit in a university hospital. Two groups of PD patients were chosen. Mean age of patients in group I (n = 21; 9 women, 12 men) was 67.7 +/- 4.5 years; PD duration was 20.1 +/- 12.1 months. In group II, the patients (n = 21; 9 women, 12 men) had a mean age of 42.8 +/- 9.1 years, and had been treated with PD for 20.7 +/- 12.1 months. A standard PET was performed according to Twardowski et al every 3 months from PD start to PD end. The first results, the mean results representing the entire PD course, and the last results were compared between groups. In addition, the first and the last results were compared within each group. No significant differences were seen between the groups in peritoneal transport in the first PET. In the last PET, the curves for D/P urea and D/P creatinine, and the KBD for urea, were significantly lower in the older patients than the curves obtained at PD start. In consequence, a tendency toward lower D/P ratios or KBDs for urea and creatinine in the last and mean PETs was observed in group I as compared with group II. No significant changes were seen in the peritoneal transfer of glucose in the course of PD or between groups. Older patients may show a reduction in peritoneal permeability from the vascular to the mesothelial side of the membrane in the course of PD treatment; peritoneal transport in the opposite direction remains unchanged during approximately 20 months from the start of PD treatment. The patients under 60 years of age maintain stable bi-directional permeability under a comparable PD duration.


Objective. Catabolism and growth impairment are well-known complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This may be caused by the disease activity itself and/or the medical treatment, and both may lead to changes in the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of enteral nutrition, Impact Powder®, as adjuvant therapy to corticosteroid treatment on changes in the GH/IGF-I axis in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Material and methods. The patients were randomized to 3-IP (ω-3-fatty acid (FA), 3 g/day) or 6-IP (ω-6-FA, 9 g/day). Changes in total IGF-I (tIGF-I) and total IGF-II (tIGF-II), free IGF-I (fIGF-I), IGF binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3), IGFBP-3 protease activity and insulin levels were examined in 31 patients with active CD (CDAI: 186–603) during treatment with prednisolone (40 mg for 1 week) and tapering the dose by 5 mg/week. Clinical and biochemical markers of inflammation were studied at day 0, and after 5 and 9 weeks. Results. There were no differences at baseline between the two groups. During the treatment period, tIGF-I, fIGF-I and IGFBP-3 increased significantly in both groups compared to baseline (p<0.05) without differences between the groups. Insulin and IGFBP-1 showed no significant changes throughout the treatment period. Conclusions. There was no difference between 3-IP and 6-IP as adjuvant enteral nutrition on the GH/IGF-I axis. The changes observed in the GH/IGF-I axis are in line with previously published studies and may be explained by corticosteroid treatment; however, we cannot exclude an additional effect of ω3-/ω6 FA as adjuvant enteral nutrition.


In this paper we have proposed a method to make a base for the monitoring of systems. The monitoring of systems could be from monitoring of movements in any particular area to the monitoring of any external electrical, mechanical device. Every person is pocketed with the cell. So, taking the advantage of the same we developed the software for the monitoring system using GSM technology. This will provide the owner, manager of the system to know about the working or any kind of default in the system. The goal is to find an improvement over the previous surveillance systems .The maintainability of the new and improved is quite efficient as it is easy to handle it by simple software demo. The facilities provided by it such as easy handling, a secrecy support, an immediate action are granted. A prototype is built in the Windows platform using C# to demonstrate the functioning of the entire system.


Escherichia coli is one of bacteria which have resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobial agents. E. coli having resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobial drugs can be defined as multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of Shiga toxin gen in MDR E. coli. A total of 250 raw milks samples were taken from dairy farms in Kediri, Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Blitar, and Batu Region, East Java Province, Indonesia. Each sample was cultured into enrichment media Brilliant Green Bile Lactose Broth and Eosin Methyllen blue agar, then identified with TSIA agar and IMVIC biochemistry test. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was done using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay on medium Mueller-Hinton agar (Oxoid, CM0337). Antibiotics disks used were 30 µg of Tetracycline (Oxoid, CT0054), 10 µg of Streptomycin (Oxoid, CT0047), 30 µg of Chloramphenicol (Oxoid, CT0013), 5 µg of Trimethoprim (Oxoid, CT0057), and 30 µg of Aztreonam (Oxoid, CT0264). Isolate showing resistance to at least 3 antibiotics disk were then continued with PCR assay to identify Shiga toxin E. coli (STEC) encoding stx2 gene. The study was designed to evaluate the nucleotide analysis of STEC gene. The result showed that 6.25% (1/16) of STEC encoding gene was found in MDR E. coli. This report of molecular identification on the presence of STEC gene in MDR E. coli confirmed a wider spread of MDR E. coli that can threaten animal health and human health.


summary
Numerical analysis of the lengths and positions of the two basal bodies (BBs), lamellar strip (LS) and anterior mitochondrion (AM) relative to each other in mid- and late-stage spermatids of mosses and liverworts reveals the existence of several well denned, but previously unrecognized, features which clearly distinguish the blepharoplasts of the two groups. The ten possible quotients were calculated from measurements of anterior BB lengths, posterior BB lengths, LS lengths, distances between the anterior tips of the BBs and distances between the transition regions of the BBs in mid-stage spermatids of 9 mosses and 16 hepatics. These critical data may be quickly compiled from a small number of electron micrographs. A Mann-Whitney rank order t test showed highly significant differences in 6 of the 10 quotients between the moss and liverwort taxa. The primary data for late-stage spermatids (4 mosses, 6 liverworts) also included the length of the AM. A Wilcoxon signed rank procedure revealed that the relationship between the AM and other blepharoplast components changed significantly between mid- and late-stage spermatids in mosses but not in liverworts. The clear-cut numerical differences between the blepharoplast components in each group are related to different patterns of development namely (1) bidirectional assembly of the LS in young spermatids of liverworts versus unidirectional (anterior) elongation at the same stage in mosses (2) elongation of the posterior BB over the nucleus in mid-stage spermatids of mosses and (3) maturational elongation of the AM in mosses. Since the differences between the blepharoplasts of mosses and liverworts become apparent only during the later stages in ontogeny and since the mode of development of basal body stagger, involving the same precisely defined patterns of proximal triplet microtubule extension, is unique to mosses and liverworts, we suggest that the two groups share a common ancestry.

The blepharoplasts of all the taxa used in the calculations are illustrated in a simplified form and the 'average' blepharoplast for mid- and late-stage spermatids of both mosses and liverworts is reconstructed from all the data presently available on the two groups. The same analysis of the blepharoplasts of hornworts, birlagellate lycopods, and charophytes highlights the differences between these groups and mosses and liverworts. Most striking is the side-by-side orientation of the basal bodies in hornworts and charophytes compared with the staggered arrangement in mosses, liverworts and the lycopods.


Despite the numerous benefits of physical activity, older adults continue to be more sedentary than their younger counterparts, and sedentary behavior is more prevalent among older racial and ethnic minorities than among Whites. This study used the nominal group technique (NGT) to examine participants' perceptions of what neighborhood environmental changes would encourage greater physical activity for older African American and Hispanic women. Participants age 50-75 years were recruited from 2 urban community health clinics. Nine NGT sessions (45 participants) were conducted. The women were asked what changes in their neighborhood environment would encourage them to become more physically active. Responses to the research question were tabulated, and qualitative analysis was used to identify themes and categories. Major categories were physical environment changes, safety, and activities/social support. Although the physical environment received the greatest number of points, concerns for personal safety cut across categories. Participants indicated the need for more facilities in which to be active.


Forecasts from seven air quality models and ozone data collected over the eastern USA and southern Canada during July and August 2004 are used in creating a simple method to improve ensemble‐based forecasts of maximum daily 1‐hr and 8‐hr averaged ozone concentrations. The method minimizes least‐square error of ensemble forecasts by assigning weights for its members. The real‐time ozone (O3) forecasts from this ensemble of models are statistically evaluated against the ozone observations collected for the AIRNow database comprising more than 350 stations. Application of this method is shown to significantly improve overall statistics (e.g., bias, root mean square error, and index of agreement) of the weighted ensemble compared to the averaged ensemble or any individual ensemble member. If a sufficient number of observations is available, we recommend that weights be calculated daily; if not, a longer training phase will still provide a positive benefit.


High‐energy electrode materials are under worldwide development for rechargeable lithium batteries to be used in electric vehicles and other energy storage applications. High capacity and energy density are readily achievable using Ni‐rich Li[Ni1‐xMx]O2 (x = 0.1–0.2, M = Ni, Co, Mn, and Al) cathodes. Unfortunately, their structural instability is associated with severe capacity fading on cycling, which hinders practical applications. Here, a method is presented for producing a continuous compositional change between Li[Ni0.8Co0.2]O2 (center) and Li[Ni0.8Co0.01Mn0.19]O2 (surface) in a spherical particle, resulting in an average composition of Li[Ni0.8Co0.06Mn0.14]O2. The chemical composition in the particle is gradually altered by decreasing the Co concentration while adding Mn content. The Ni content remains fixed. Coin cells with the solid‐solution cathode deliver a specific capacity over 210 mAh g−1 in the voltage range of 2.7–4.3 V vs. Li/Li+ with capacity retention of 85% over 100 cycles at 25 and 55 °C. The main exothermic temperature upon heating appears at around 250 °C with relatively low heat generation (810 J g−1). The presence of the tetravalent Mn at the particle surface is mainly responsible for the high capacity upon cycling and excellent thermal properties.


In this issue, Harrison et al give the rationale for intraoperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy (IOHDR) and provide an excellent summary of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) experience with this treatment. Intraoperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy is used in very few centers [1-4], and its worldwide use has been recently summarized [5,6]. Although our experience with IOHDR at Ohio State University parallels that of Harrison et al in some respects, it differs in others. I will highlight these differences to give readers a more balanced view of IOHDR.


The College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology (PAP) is a quarterly mailed glass-slide quality improvement program. This growing program started as a pilot in 1989 with 207 laboratories. In 1991, 605 laboratories participated. The diagnostic menu is modified from the Bethesda System and divides referenced slides into a negative series (normal, infectious, and reactive) and a positive series of epithelial lesions. A facsimile option facilitates immediate educational feedback. The 1989 through 1991 major discrepancy rate averaged 5%. The consensus laboratory response had higher concordance than either pathologist or cytotechnologist responses. Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was the leading cause of false-negative participant response, while reactive/reparative change was the leading cause of false-positive response. Pathologist false-negative and false-positive responses from group or large case-volume practices were significantly lower than those from solo or small case-volume practices. Cytotechnologists in multiple-technologist or large-volume laboratories had significantly lower false-negative responses than solo technologists or those in low case-volume laboratories, but false-positive rates did not differ. Experienced participants had fewer major discrepancies. The Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology illustrates the feasibility of a large, mailed glass-slide program, and offers laboratories a continuous method for monitoring and improving performance in gynecologic cytology.


Synchronized CV-1 cells were transfected with SV40 (simian virus 40) DNA-calcium phosphate co-precipitates. In the presence of carrier DNA, the transfection efficiency of SV40 DNA was decreased 5-fold in S-phase cells and was increased 4-fold in preparations of mitotically enriched cells as compared with asynchronous controls. No difference was observed when carrier DNA was omitted, when cells had progressed through S-phase and into G2-phase, or when the infectivity of cells to intact SV40 virus was tested. These results highlight the importance of cell-cycle-dependent factors on DNA-mediated gene transfer.


Robbery, and the fear it inspires, has a profound effect on the quality of life in certain urban neighborhoods. Recent advances in criminological research suggest that there is significant clustering of crime in micro places, or ''hot spots,'' that generate a disproportionate amount of criminal events in a city. In this article, the authors use growth curve regression models to uncover distinctive developmental trends in robbery incidents at street segments and intersections in Boston over a 29-year period. The authors find that robberies are highly concentrated at a small number of street segments and intersections rather than spread evenly across the urban landscape over the study time period. Roughly 1 percent and 8 percent of street segments and intersections in Boston are responsible for nearly 50 percent of all commercial robberies and 66 percent of all street robberies, respectively, between 1980 and 2008. Our findings suggest that citywide robbery trends may be best understood by examining micro-level trends at a relatively small number of places in urban environments.


Plasmodium infection (mainly p. falciparum) is usually complicated by cerebral malaria, haemolysis, acute kidney injury and respiratory distress. Myocardial involvement is a rare complication of plasmodium infection. We have reported a case of plasmodium infection (p. vivax) complicated by myocarditis.


When search techniques are used to solve a practical problem, the solution produced is often brittle in the sense that small execution difficulties can have an arbitrarily large effect on the viability of the solution. The AI community has responded to this difficulty by investigating the development of "robust problem solvers" that are intended to be proof against this difficulty.We argue that robustness is best cast not as a property of the problem solver, but as a property of the solution. We introduce a new class of models for a logical theory, called supermodels, that captures this idea. Supermodels guarantee that the model in question is robust, and allow us to quantify the degree to which it is so.We investigate the theoretical properties of supermodels, showing that finding supermodels is typically of the same theoretical complexity as finding models. We provide a general way to modify a logical theory so that a model of the modified theory is a supermodel of the original. Experimentally, we show that the supermodel problem exhibits phase transition behavior similar to that found in other satisfiability work.


This paper presents the approach of multiple bad data identification using particle swarm optimization (PSO). The identification problem is formulated as minimizing the number of bad data while maintaining the system observability and satisfying the x2-test. The problem is considered as a combinatorial problem which could be solved by discrete binary PSO. The proposed method is tested on the IEEE 14-bus and IEEE 30-bus systems, where it could successfully identify multiple bad data with interacting and conforming errors. The proposed algorithm is also applied to an actual network of MEA, Thailand.


Objective:

To study the relationship between case volume and management and mortality of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in intensive care units (ICU).

Design setting:

A 12-year multicenter French retrospective cohort study (CUB-Rea database).

Patients and methods:

Patients with AECOPD were identified and demographic characteristics, SAPS II, mechanical ventilation (MV) (invasive (IV) or non-invasive (NIV)) and vital status were analyzed. Participating units were categorized into volume tertiles of the running mean annual volume of admissions. Prognostic factors were analyzed by a conditional multivariate logistic model after matching on a propensity score of being admitted to a high-volume unit and on the year of admission.

Results:

14,440 AECOPD were identified. SAPS II and ICU mortality gradually increased between 1998 and 2010 (36 to 41 and 12% to 14%, respectively). The proportion of patients receiving any MV increased (64% to 86%), with a marked increase in the use of NIV (from 47% to 78%) and a decrease in the use of IV alone (53 to 22%). There was a significant association between case volume and NIV use with an odds ratio for the highest versus lowest + intermediate tertiles of case volume of 1.43 [95% CI: 1.23 - 1.66]. The association between case volume and mortality was not significant.

Conclusion:

During the last 12 years, the severity and mortality rate of AECOPD admitted in CUB-REA ICUs increased. There was a growing use of NIV and a decreased use of IV. NIV use was related to case volume, suggesting that increasing experience favours the use of NIV.


Drift-Diffusion, Hydrodynamic and Monte Carlo simulations have been used in this work to simulate strained Si/SiGe devices for RF and CMOS applications. For numerical simulations of Si/SiGe devices, strain effects on the band structure of Si have been analyzed and analytical expressions are presented for parameters related to the bandgap and band alignment of Si/SiGe heterostructure.

Optimization of n-type buried strained Si channel Si/SiGe MODFETs has been carried out in order to achieve high RF performance and high linearity. The impact of both lateral and vertical device geometries and different doping strategies has been investigated.

The impact of the Ge content of the SiGe buffer on the performance of p-type surface channel strained Si/SiGe MOSFETs has been studied. Hydrodynamic device simulations have been used to assess the device performance of p-type strained Si/SiGe MOSFETs down to 35 nm gate lengths. Well-tempered strained Si MOSFETs with halo implants around the source/drain regions have been simulated and compared with those devices possessing only a single retrograde channel doping.

The calibrations in respect of sub-100 nm Si and strained Si MOSFETs fabricated by IBM lead to a scaling study of those devices at 65 nm, 45 nm and 35 nm gate lengths. Using Drift-Diffusion simulations, ring oscillator circuit behaviour has been evaluated. Strained Si on insulator (SSOI) circuits have also been simulated and compared with strained Si circuits, Si circuits employing conventional surface channel MOSFETs along with SOI devices.

Ensemble Monte Carlo simulations have been used to evaluate the device performance of n-type strained Si MOSFETs. A non-perturbative interface roughness scattering model has been used and validated by calibrating with respect to experimental mobility behaviour and device characteristics. The impact of interface roughness on the performance enhancement of strained Si MOSFETs has been investigated and evidence for reduced interface roughness scattering is presented, i.e., a smoother interface is suggested in strained Si MOSFETs. A 35 nm gate length Toshiba Si MOSFET has been simulated and the performance enhancement of 35 nm strained Si MOSFETs over the Toshiba Si device is predicted.

Monte Carlo simulations are also employed to investigate the performance degradation due to soft-optical phonon scattering, which arises with the introduction of high-K gate dielectrics. Based on the device structures of the calibrated sub-100 nm n-type conventional and strained Si IBM MOSFETs, significant current degradation has been observed in devices with high-K gate dielectrics, HfO2 and Al2O3.


This paper proposes a memory-efficient bit-split string matching scheme for deep packet inspection (DPI). When the number of target patterns becomes large, the memory requirements of the string matching engine become a critical issue. The proposed string matching scheme reduces the memory requirements using the uniqueness of the target patterns in the deterministic finite automaton (DFA)-based bit-split string matching. The pattern grouping extracts a set of unique patterns from the target patterns. In the set of unique patterns, a pattern is not the suffix of any other patterns. Therefore, in the DFA constructed with the set of unique patterns, when only one pattern can be matched in an output state. In the bit-split string matching, multiple finite-state machine (FSM) tiles with several input bit groups are adopted in order to reduce the number of stored state transitions. However, the memory requirements for storing the matching vectors can be large because each bit in the matching vector is used to identify whether its own pattern is matched or not. In our research, the proposed pattern grouping is applied to the multiple FSM tiles in the bit-split string matching. For the set of unique patterns, the memory-based bit-split string matching engine stores only the pattern match index for each state to indicate the match with its own unique pattern. Therefore, the memory requirements are significantly decreased by not storing the matching vectors in the string matchers for the set of unique patterns. The experimental results show that the proposed string matching scheme can reduce the storage cost significantly compared to the previous bit-split string matching methods.


Circulating lymphocytes were enumerated in 25 patients with Crohn's disease and in 43 healthy donors by immunofluorescent staining using monoclonal antibodies for T cell surface phenotypic markers (CD 3, CD 4, CD 8) or for surface immunoglobulin of B cells (mu-chain). Proportions of peripheral T cells and percentages of T cell subsets in Crohn's disease were not significantly different from those in controls. For analyzing the lymphocytes for the expression of activation associated antigens (HLA-DR, CD 25) we found increased numbers of activated lymphocytes during acute exacerbation, whereas, in remission, the population of activated lymphocytes was in the upper normal range. The results leads to the conclusion that the assessment of activated lymphocytes may serve as a parameter in the evaluation of the activity of Crohn's disease.


This introduction sets in context the works that follow, which are meant to take stock of the theoretical advances and also historical changes since the seminal Arrow (1962) and Nelson (1959). First, we summarize some of the original Arrow--Nelson insights. Second, we map the subsequent developments shorthanded as the "Stanford-Yale-Sussex synthesis." A particularly controversial issue concerns the relationships between notional opportunities of innovation, private appropriability of return from innovating, and realized rates of innovation: hence, third, we briefly offer a framework for its discussion, in general and with reference to the private appropriation of scientific knowledge. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.


In the criticism of the Song of Songs there is no agreement on the structural problem of the book. Theories are divided into those advocating a fragmentary against others who see a unitary character of poems. The study attempts to revise this problems and propose that the Song of Songs is a loose collection of poems that a compiler gathered and tried to give some order, incorporating the adjuration of 2, 7; 3,5; 5,8; 8,4 as refrain with articulate function, such that the adjuration was set as milestone dividing between  large blocks poetic that interrelate by a common theme or other resource or literary technique  thus configuring a structural arrangement of the whole book.


A home-built microreactor system for light-mediated biphasic gas/liquid reactions was assembled from simple commercial components. This paper describes in full detail the nature and function of the required building elements, the assembly of parts, and the tuning and interdependencies of the most important reactor and reaction parameters. Unlike many commercial thin-film and microchannel reactors, the described set-up operates residence times of up to 30 min which cover the typical rates of many organic reactions. The tubular microreactor was successfully applied to the photooxygenation of hydrocarbons (Schenck ene reaction). Major emphasis was laid on the realization of a constant and highly reproducible gas/liquid slug flow and the effective illumination by an appropriate light source. The optimized set of conditions enabled the shortening of reaction times by more than 99% with equal chemoselectivities. The modular home-made flow reactor can serve as a prototype model for the continuous operation of various other reactions at light/liquid/gas interfaces in student, research, and industrial laboratories.


Nutritional supplement use in elite athletes is widespread despite a lack of evidence supporting beneficial effects of many of these substances. Little is known, however, about the use of nutritional supplements or performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in non-elite recreational exercisers. In this study, 114 regular exercisers voluntarily and anonymously completed a basic questionnaire outlining their use, type, reasons for use as well as purchase and information source regarding nutritional supplements. Additionally, participants were asked if they had been offered PED and, if so, what they had been offered. In total, 72% of participants indicated that they regularly used nutritional supplements. Of these, 12% reported taking only one supplement with 76% reporting taking 2–4 supplements and 12% reporting taking five or more supplements. Protein or amino acid powder (74%), sports drinks (69%), creatine (46%) and multivitamins (46%) were the most commonly reported supplements. 90% of supplement users reported multiple reasons for use with providing energy (67%), improving performance (62%) and increasing strength (57%) the main reasons given. The internet (65%) was the most common place supplements were purchased from followed by a nutrition shop in person (55%). The internet was the most common place (76%) that information regarding supplements was obtained followed by friends or family (36%) and the product label (30%). Of the 114 respondents, 28% reported having been offered PEDs with 91% of these being offered anabolic steroids. In total, only 7 respondents (6%) reported having taken PEDs. The results of this study suggest that the use of nutritional supplements is very common amongst non-elite recreational exercisers. Many people obtain both information and products from the internet which increases the risk of inaccurate information and the chances of contaminated supplements being purchased.


Continuous high doses of radiation can cause irreversible side effects and radiation resistance; thus, advanced radiosensitizers are urgently needed. To overcome this problem, we developed a nano platelet radiosensitization system (PCA) by coating the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin (CDDP) loaded gold nanocages (AuNs) within the platelet membrane. The developed PCA system may enable AuNs to have immune escape and targeting capabilities. After administration, PCA will actively target tumor cells and avoid being cleared by the immune system. Subsequently, CDDP, which destroys tumor cell DNA, can not only kill tumor cells directly but also combine with AuNs, which deposit radiation energy into tumor tissues, reducing RT resistance. In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that the combination of PCA with RT (2Gy) efficiently inhibits tumor proliferation without causing side effects such as inflammation. To conclude, this is the first attempt to use platelet membranes to correctly transport AuNs while also accomplishing low-dose RT, which could help AuNs-based tumor RT become more effective.


The problem of accretion in the Trojan 1 : 1 resonance is akin to the standard problem of planet formation, transplanted from a star-centered disk to a disk centered on the Lagrange point. The newly discovered class of Neptune Trojans promises to test theories of planet formation by coagulation. Neptune Trojans resembling the prototype 2001 QR322 ("QR")—whose radius of ~100 km is comparable to that of the largest Jupiter Trojan—may outnumber their Jovian counterparts by a factor of ~10. We develop and test three theories for the origin of large Neptune Trojans: pull-down capture, direct collisional emplacement, and in situ accretion. These theories are staged after Neptune's orbit anneals, that is, after dynamical friction eliminates any large orbital eccentricity and after the planet ceases to migrate. We discover that seeding the 1 : 1 resonance with debris from planetesimal collisions and having the seed particles accrete in situ naturally reproduces the inferred number of QR-sized Trojans. We analyze accretion in the Trojan subdisk by applying the two-groups method, accounting for kinematics specific to the resonance. We find that a Trojan subdisk comprising decimeter-sized seed particles and having a surface density ~10-3 times that of the local minimum-mass disk produces ~10 QR-sized objects in ~1 Gyr, in accord with observation. Further growth is halted by collisional diffusion of seed particles out of resonance. In our picture, the number and sizes of the largest Neptune Trojans represent the unadulterated outcome of dispersion-dominated, oligarchic accretion. Large Neptune Trojans, perhaps the most newly accreted objects in our solar system, may today have a dispersion in orbital inclination of less than ~10°, despite the existence of niches of stability at higher inclinations. Such a vertically thin disk, born of a dynamically cold environment necessary for accretion and raised in minimal contact with external perturbations, contrasts with the thick disks of other minor body belts.


The object of the present study is to estimate the potential effects of climate change and land use on soil erosion in the mideast Korea. Simulated precipitation by CCCma climate model during 2030-2050 is used to model predicted soil erosion, and results are compared to observation. Simulation results allow relative comparison of the impact of climate change on soil erosion between current and predicted future condition. Expected land use changes driven by socio-economic change and plant growth driven by the increase of temperature and are taken into accounts in a comprehensive way. Mean precipitation increases by 17.7% (24.5%) for A2 (B2) during 2030-2050 compared to the observation period (1966-1998). In general predicted soil erosion for the B2 scenario is larger than that for the A2 scenario. Predicted soil erosion increases by 48%~90% under climate change except the scenario 1 and 2. Predicted soil erosion under the influence of temperature-induced fast plant growth, higher evapotranspiration rate, and fertilization effect (scenario 5 and 6) is approximately 25% less than that in the scenario 3 and 4. On the basis of the results it is said that precipitation and the corresponding soil erosion is likely to increase in the future and care needs to be taken in the study area.


Abstract Fourteen observing system simulation experiments (OSSE) wore conducted using the results from a mesoscale model on the Oxidation and Scavenging Characteristics of April Rains(OSCAR) experiment to test the accuracy of trajectory models. Our results indicate that the current synoptic network and observational frequency over North America are inadequate for accurate computation of long-range transport of episodic events. It appears that improving the Observational frequency would be more cost effective than improving the spatial resolution for the existing network. Reducing the three-dimensional air flow to two dimensions leads to a substantial amount of error for air parcel trajectories. Among the three simplifying assumptions—isobaric, isosigma, and isentropic—the isentropic model gives considerably better results than the isobaric or isosigma models, especially for the vertical transport.


The Electrochemical Polarisation, Photocurrent Spectroscopy and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) techniques have been used to study the passive film on pure iron and iron alloy samples containing up to 25% chromium. The material used in this work was prepared both as bulk and thin films. The bulk samples were passivated electro- chemically at various anodic potentials whereas the film ones were either fully converted into passive films by simple immersion in various solutions for one week or electrochemically at various anodic potentials. The Fe and Fe/Cr film samples used in the electrochemical passivation were deposited onto gold substrate and those passivated by immersion were deposited directly onto mylar.
Polarisation curves for both the bulk and film materials were recorded. They suggest that the electrochemical behaviour of the two materials is similar. The wavelength and potential dependence of the photocurrent spectra were also recorded for the bulk and film samples of Fe and Fe/Cr alloys. The data were analysed to obtain the effective optical band gaps and flat band potentials of the passive films respectively. These results also show that the two materials are similar. Furthermore, the photocurrent data suggest that the passive film on Fe/Cr alloys consists of Fe(III) and Cr(III) phases.
The fluorescence EXAFS above the Fe and Cr K-absorption edges of the passive film on Fe and Fe/Cr alloy films has been recorded both in-situ and en- situ. The spectra obtained in these studies were analysed to obtain average Fe-O and Fe-Fe separations as well as Cr-0 and Cr-Cr ones. These results together with a detailed examination of the XANES suggest that the passive film on iron in the absence of chromium is best described as a disordered 7—FeOOH-like structure and that on Fe/Cr alloys as well as on pure Fe passivated in chromate solution contains two simultaneous phases of disordered 7-FeOOHand Cr(OH)j. The structure of the chromium containing phase of the passive film was found to be independent of the source of chromium whether it was present in the alloy or it was incorporated from the passivating solution. The EXAFS data show also that the structure of the passive film is insensitive to drying.
The results obtained in these studies have enabled the determination of the structure of the passive film on iron and iron/chromium alloys and the role played by chromium in improving the corrosion resistance of iron and its alloys has been identified. These conclusions are discussed in the light of other structural investigations of the passive film.


In the UK, only 1% of babies are exclusively breastfed to six months: this is one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the developed world. In response, trials have been set up to financially incentivize mothers to breastfeed for longer. However, we also know that 80% of women who stop breastfeeding in the first 1-2 weeks wanted to continue for longer: they are already incentivized to keep going.This project asks: what if health services invested in promoting breastfeeding more at the start, giving mothers the knowledge, support, and tools they need to continue, instead of incentivizing women at the end? The research methodology started with academic, expert and user research both qualitatively and quantitatively to gain insight and establish the design opportunity. The design direction was developed iteratively with sketches and prototypes, and continued user testing to reach the design solution. The result of the project is a new service called best start, which addresses the issues mothers face throughout breastfeeding. The service helps to prepare and educate mothers during pregnancy, assists them through the crucial first weeks of breastfeeding, and supports them to the six-month milestone and beyond. Emphasis is placed on involving and educating the mother's immediate family support network, and building her local peer support. The best start kit gives every mother the essentials to get started, and provides tangible tools to explain the key educational concepts to boost her knowledge to continue breastfeeding confidently.


Magnetic resonance (MR), a comparatively new imaging method in Canada, is based on physical principles that are different from all current imaging methods. An understanding of these principles is therefore essential to appreciate the clinical capabilities and limitations of MR. Because MR is a multiparameter imaging method, the challenge of choosing appropriate imaging sequences must be addressed. The technical development of anatomical image formation is now almost complete, so future research will focus on the use of MR to obtain more than just spatial information. The quantitative measurement of relaxation times, chemical composition, flow and spectra hold great promise in extending the capabilities of MR beyond those of other imaging methods.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the complication incidence and risk factors within immediate 24 hours after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and provide theoretical foundation for preventing postoperative complication incidence.

METHOD
162 patients undergoing UPPP procedure between Mar, 2002, and Oct 2006, were analysed retrospectively. All patients were divided into two groups according to the development of postoperative complications or not. The retrospective chart review focused on the demographic data and pertinent history, preoperative sleep evaluation, surgical and anesthetic management, and need for postoperative interventions. Potential risk factors were first evaluated with univariate analysis followed by multivariate logistic regression with the occurrence of complications within immediate 24 hours after operation as the dependent variable.

RESULT
A total of 162 consecutive cases for UPPP were enrolled into current study. 31 cases (19.1%) had postoperative complications necessitating a medical intervention, including respiratory complications (n =21, 13.0%), cardiovascular complications (n =6, 3.7%) and hemorrhage (n =9, 5.6%). The differences in body mass index (BMI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) and difficult intubation were significant between two groups. Risk factors for postoperative complications were BMI (OR =1.136, 95% CI: 1.007-2.558, P =0.049), preoperative AHI (OR =4.828, 95% CI: 1.827-13.924, P =0.012) and difficult intubation (OR = 1.971, 95% CI: 1.251- 4.839, P =0.034).

CONCLUSION
Baseline BMI and AHI, difficult intubation in anaesthetic procedure were the most important predictors of postsurgical morbidity. Keeping in mind the aforementioned cautionary notes, aggressively preoperative preparation should be applied for such populations to avoid the occurrence of postoperative complications.


Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is commonly mutated in melanoma, yet the risk of melanoma in individuals with NF1 is incompletely understood. We performed a systematic review to investigate the risk and characteristics of melanoma and melanocytic nevi in NF1 individuals. PubMed was searched for articles describing NF1 individuals with melanoma, or melanocytic nevi. Those with cutaneous and ocular melanomas were compared to the general population using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data. Fifty-three articles describing 188 NF1 patients were included (melanoma n = 82, melanocytic nevi n = 93, melanocytic nevi, and melanoma n = 13). Compared to the general population, NF1 patients with cutaneous melanomas had earlier melanoma diagnoses (49.1 vs. 58.6 years, P = 0.012), thicker tumors (3.7 vs. 1.2 mm, P = 0.006), and more frequent disease-specific deaths (27.3% vs. 8.6%, P = 0.005) with shorter survival (12.9 vs. 34.2 months, P = 0.011). Ocular melanomas made up 15.0% of all melanomas in NF1 patients versus 1.5% in the general population (P < 0.001). In pooling all population-based studies describing melanoma in NF1 populations, NF1 individuals had 2.55 higher odds of having melanoma compared to the general population. A nevus spilus was commonly reported among NF1 individuals with nevi (44.8%, 39/87). Our findings suggest that NF1 individuals may have a higher risk for developing melanomas and tend to have thicker melanomas and worse survival compared to the general population, highlighting the importance of cutaneous and ophthalmologic surveillance in NF1 patients. Our review also supports the association between NF1 and nevus spilus.


Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that cause toxicity to human. The objective of this study is to develop and validate a method suitable for determination of PAHs. It would also focuses on determining whether the PAHs contained in the food samples exceed the safety limits established by legislation. The samples were submitted to saponification, solid-phase extraction and analysed by high performance liquid chromatography- DAD. Under the optimised conditions, the validation parameter were evaluated: linearity (R2 >0.99), selectivity (no matrix interference), limits of detection (0.0316 - 0.3872 μg/kg) and quantification (0.0958 - 1.1674 μg/kg), recovery (77.34% - 129.60%), repeatability and intermediate precision (< 10% RSD). The method was found to be adequate for routine analysis of PAHs in food samples. The type of PAHs that were detected in highest amount in total 24 samples was fluoranthene, with average of 492.69 μg/kg in each fried fish sample, 328.46 μg/kg in each Satay sample, 389.26 μg/kg in each Youtiao sample, 410.26 μg/kg in each XiuYoke sample, 355.98 μg/kg in each CharXiu sample and 831.03 μg/kg in each roast chicken sample. Whereas the type of PAHs that were recorded in relatively low amount were benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[ghi]perylene. These PAHs had a mean concentration that were detected below 10 μg/kg (0.76 μg/kg for BaA, 0.94 μg/kg for BbF, 2.09 μg/kg for BkF, 5.92 μg/kg for BAP, 0.92 μg/kg for Ghi), with the highest concentration was recorded in Roast Chicken 2, that was 42.79 μg/kg of BkF.