Shear bands (SBs) in cold-rolled austenitic stainless steel 310S have been investigated by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Shear Bands appear in the region of twin-matrix lamellae which have already developed at moderate strain. Inside the shear band, fine grains are observed, and the shape of each grain is somewhat elongated along the shear direction. These features found in 310S are similar to those observed in materials with very low stacking fault energy such as α-brass. Selected area diffraction patterns obtained from a SB reveals that local orientations inside the SB are distributed between those in the matrix and the twinning region. Using dark field images of the SB, it is shown that some of the misorientations of neighboring grains in the SB reach nearly 20 degrees. Based on these observations, the formation mechanism of SBs is discussed.


Live kidney donation is assuming an increasingly prominent role in kidney transplantation programs. The traditional operative approach has been through an incision in the upper quadrant of the abdomen or in the loin, with potential postoperative complications associated with a large surgical wound. These problems may act as disincentives to prospective donors. The introduction of laparoscopic donor surgery in 1995 heralded a new era, offering reduced postoperative pain and improved cosmetic result. It is hoped that these benefits may counter some disincentives and thereby increase donation rates. Three minimal-access approaches, along with their advantages and disadvantages are described, including; classical laparoscopic, hand-assisted laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic surgery. All three approaches present specific challenges in the context of retrieving an organ that is fit for transplantation and safe for the donor. For minimal-access surgery to be accepted as the procedure of choice for live kidney donors, it must be demonstrated that morbidity is not transferred from donor to recipient when these techniques are used. Some concerns about these procedures are addressed. It appears that, with appropriate modifications, these techniques are safe for both the donor and the allograft. This review also covers other contemporary approaches to overcoming donor shortage by utilizing blood group-incompatible donor and recipient pairs.


Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in men and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western civilization. Although localized prostate cancer can be treated effectively in different ways, almost all patients progress to the incurable metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Due to the significant mortality and morbidity rate associated with the progression of this disease, there is an urgent need for new and targeted treatments. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in research on identification of prostate tissue-specific antigens for targeted therapy, generation of highly specific and selective molecules targeting these antigens, availability of therapeutic radionuclides for widespread medical applications, and recent achievements in the development of new-generation small-molecule inhibitors and antibody-based strategies for targeted prostate cancer therapy with alpha-, beta-, and Auger electron-emitting radionuclides.


A model of the interactions among a host population, an insect-vector population, which transmits virus from hosts to hosts, and a vector predator population is proposed based on virus-host, host-vector, and prey (vector)-enemy theories. The model is investigated to explore the indirect effect of natural enemies on host-virus dynamics by reducing the vector densities, which shows the basic reproduction numbers (without predators) and (with predators) that provide threshold conditions on determining the uniform persistence and extinction of the disease in a host population. When the model is absent from predator, the disease is persistent if ; in such a case, by introducing predators of a vector, then the insect-transmitted disease will be controlled if . From the point of biological control, these results show that an additional predator population of the vector may suppress the spread of vector-borne diseases. In addition, there exist limit cycles with persistence of the disease or without disease in presence of predators. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to support analytical results.


We reviewed our various results on rutheno-cuprate magneto-superconductors RuSr2GdCu2O8(Ru-1212) and RuSr2(Gd0.75Ce0.25)2Cu2O10(Ru-1222). It is observed, that it is difficult to control the oxygen content of Ru-1212, though the same is possible up to some extent for Ru-1222. Samples of both phases exhibited superconductivity, presumably in the CuO2 plane at low temperatures coexisting with magnetic ordering of Ru spins of predominantly antiferromagnetic type below 140 K having a ferromagnetic component appearing below 20 K. Electrical conductivity measurements indicate that the RuO2 layer takes part in conduction besides the CuO2 plane. The magnetic ordering temperature of Ru spins is seen as a clear hump in the resistivity measurements, establishing the magnetic spins interaction with the conduction carriers. Though the bulk physical property measurements exhibited the magneto-superconductivity, SAED results question the same to co-existence of the two at microscopic level. Our results indicate towards the fact that solid solutions of (Ru1-xCux)-1212, which can be superconducting with x>0.5, but not magnetic may be precipitating with the stoichiometric magnetic Ru-1212 phase. Also highlighted in the review are various existing contradictions in the literature regarding physical properties of these systems. One such example is the results for Cp that are used as the evidence of bulk superconductivity in Ru-1212. We believe the establishment of superconductivity along with low-T ferromagnetic ordering of Ru spins in intrinsically phase-pure rutheno-cuprates is yet far from conclusive.


Statement of purpose In July 2000, Florida's universal helmet law was lessened to a partial helmet law despite unhelmeted riders being more likely to suffer serious and fatal head injuries. In response to these legislative changes and the increasing use of motorcycles among Floridians, we created an education program to teach early recognition of injuries with optimisation of care to prehospital personnel. This tertiary prevention program aims to mitigate the effect of motorcycle crash injuries by providing education focused on paramedic judgement for triage decisions, motorcycle injury patterns, and medical techniques, including fluid resuscitation, tourniquet use, helmet removal, cricothyroidotomy, and needle decompression. Methods/Approach Prospective surveys given to 610 prehospital staff throughout the state of Florida from January 2012 to November 2013 were evaluated. Prehospital staff were generally male (80%) and had an average professional experience of 12 years. Biases toward motorcycle riders and pre-/post-test knowledge were evaluated. Subjects with previous motorcycle experience (n = 216) were compared to those with no motorcycle experience (n = 394). A Z-test for independent proportions was used where appropriate to compare test responses. Results Subjects with previous motorcycle experience were significantly more likely to disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements when compared to those with no motorcycle experience: "Motorcycle crash victims are typically responsible for the crashes they get in" (60.4% vs. 45.1%; p < 0.001) and "Most traumas are the result of lack of ability, ignorance, laziness, or all three" (37.7% vs. 28.9%; p = 0.014). Conclusions Our findings may suggest that individuals with previous motorcycle experience may be less likely to agree with the idea that motorcycle crash victims are typically responsible for the crashes they get in, and that most traumas are the result of lack of ability, ignorance, laziness, or all three of these factors. This difference in attitude may be worth evaluating further to determine whether there is a difference in approach to care. Significance and contribution to the field We aim to highlight the purpose of this tertiary prevention program and the need for similar programs in other states without universal helmet laws. We will discuss particular management approaches unique to motorcyclists, the need for coordination and multidisciplinary care, triage and transport, and injuries commonly encountered in motorcyclists. We aim to improve the assessment, evaluation, transport time, and definitive management of the motorcycle crash patient, through education and by assessing potential biases of prehospital personnel. We hope to empower health care providers as stakeholders in the solution to take a more active role in prehospital education.


The General Medical Council has relaunched its test for international medical graduates wishing to work in the UK, with the aim of making it more rigorous and reflective of real life practice. But one of the researchers whose work led the GMC to overhaul the test has warned that the revised examination will still not assess overseas graduates to the same level as UK graduates.

The first students sat the updated Professional and Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB) test on 7 September. The exam was updated after a review of the exam commissioned by the GMC recommended that candidates should not be able to resit the test several times if they failed.1 The review also recommended that the exam should test candidates on the ethical and professional principles outlined in the GMC's Good Medical Practice guidance.

Concern had also been expressed that the pass marks for the PLAB test were too low, after …


The radiochromic film, which is used, in combination with a flatbed scanner has become a widely used tool for a quantitative evaluation of radiation dose in radiation therapy. One aspect of uncertainty using the radiochromic film is the magnitude of orientation effects when the orientation of the film is not kept constant during the digitization process. The aim of this note was to investigate the impact of using a combination of two crossed sheets of EBT2 film on various aspects of radiochromic film dosimetry. First the impact on the film sensitivity was studied. We also investigated the influence on orientation effects during scanning. The results show that the double crossed film combination increases the sensitivity with a factor 1.7–2.1 and practically eliminates the effects of film orientation on the optical density read-out and the lateral correction profiles.


This study was conducted to evaluate the mucosal immune responses of rainbow trout when supplementing an experimental formulated feed with multi-strain yeast fraction product (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cyberlindnera jardinii). In total, 360 fish (initial BW 23.1 ± 0.2 g) were randomly allotted into three dietary treatments in an 8-week feeding trial. The dietary treatments included basal diet (control) and control + 1.5 g/kg multi-strain yeast fraction product (MsYF) fed continuously and pulsed every two weeks between control and MsYF diet. No negative effects on growth performance of feeding the MsYF supplemented diet were observed. SGR and FCR averaged 2.30 ± 0.03%/day and 1.03 ± 0.03, respectively, across experimental groups. Muscularis thickness in the anterior intestine after 8 weeks of feeding was significantly elevated by 44.3% in fish fed the MsYF continuously, and by 14.4% in fish fed the MsYF pulsed (P < 0.02). Significant elevations in goblet cell density in the anterior and posterior (>50% increase) intestine were observed after 8 weeks of feeding the MsYF supplemented diet (P< 0.03). In contrast, lamina propria width was significantly lower in fish fed the experimental diets (>10% reduction). The gene expression analysis of the intestine revealed significant elevations in expression of tlr2, il1r1, irak4, and tollip2 after 4 weeks of feeding the MsYF. Significant elevations in effector cytokines tnfα, il10 and tgfβ were observed after 4 weeks of feeding the MsYF regime. After 8 weeks significant elevations in the gene expression levels of il1β, ifnγ, and il12 were observed in fish fed the MsYF. Likewise, the expression of the transcription factor gata3 was significantly elevated (P<0.01). Supplementation of the multi-strain yeast fraction product positively modulates the intestinal mucosal response of rainbow trout through interaction with toll-like receptor two signalling pathway and potential for increased capacity of delivery of antigens to the underlying mucosal associated lymphoid tissue.


Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are part of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and function as key regulators of cellular growth, differentiation, and tissue formation. While recombinant BMPs can be used to induce osteoblast differentiation, they are expensive to produce. In contrast, peptides can be efficiently produced in massive quantities through phage display. It would therefore be highly valuable to develop short peptides capable of mimicking BMPs which could be displayed on human-safe M13 phage. I have discovered short, 12-mer peptide sequences through a selective process called biopanning (patented). These 12-mer peptides have been shown to bind the BMP receptors on live cells by immunofluorescence and bind the BMP receptors in an ELISA when genetically displayed on the p3 coat protein of M13 bacteriophage. The peptides were then genetically displayed on the p8 coat protein of M13 bacteriophage. The p8 coat protein can have up to ~2700 copies of the peptide instead of just 5 available copies on the p3 coat protein. These newly engineered phages were incorporated into phage films having aligned ridge groove surface topographies which are arranged in a way that the p8 coat protein is exposed. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) cultured on these films demonstrated varying levels of differentiation according to the peptide displayed as well as the concentration of the peptide. Differentiation of the hMSCs into osteoblasts was confirmed by immunofluorescence and qPCR of the osteoblast marker proteins and genes respectively for osteopontin, osteocalcin, and collagen type 1a. Additionally, calcium deposition was observed to be exceptionally high for hMSCs cultured with the phage films compared to a leading company product, osteogenic media from Lonza. The mechanism of osteoblast differentiation for the two best peptides has also been determined through studying key target points as well as inhibition studies among the major osteogenic signaling pathways: BMP, Hedgehog, Wnt/β-Catenin, and Notch. These peptides follow two pathways, the Hedgehog and the BMP pathways independently. Additionally, the ridge groove 3D structure of the phage film contributes largely to differentiation through the Notch signaling pathway. The peptides displayed on phages were then directionally aligned on 3D printed porous titanium scaffolds using a double-sided freeze casting method. These scaffolds have Young's moduli and maximum strength not significantly different from natural bone before and after implantation demonstrating no degradation. Upon implantation of the peptide displaying phage-coated titanium implants in a rat radial bone defect model, bone regeneration was observed through Micro-CT, Von Kossa Staining, and H&E staining. Furthermore, the peptide-coated scaffolds showed greater bone regeneration around and within the scaffolds. The success of this work establishes a new technique whereby growth factor mimetic peptides can be discovered and used to coat implantable materials for tissue regeneration.


This article deals with epistemological thoughts about business ethics. My intention is to consider business ethics as a research subject in anthropology and not to judge the relevance of the morality or ethics: in other words, the integration of activities in a "common good" category. The article examines the philosophical ground of this notion and explores whether business ethics is related to this philosophical background. While, from an anthropological point of view, it is better to draw a value judgment from the notion of "business ethics" (applicability, truthfulness, intentionality, and so on), the argument presented here is that it is better to consider "business ethics" as a category of work management at the meeting point between theory and practice, and to observe in situ how this notion is used, articulated and circulated in the daily life of a workplace.


At present, the main problems of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
based temperature detector are the narrow range of temperature detection and difficulty in the measurement
of high temperature. Besides, MEMS devices have different response characteristics for various
surrounding temperature in the petrochemical and metallurgy application fields with hightemperature
and harsh conditions. To evaluate the performance stability of the high-temperature
MEMS devices, the real-time temperature measurement is necessary.

A Schottky temperature detector based on the metal/n-ZnO/n-Si structures is designed to
measure high temperature (523~873K) for MEMS devices with a large temperature range.

By using the Finite Element Method (FEM), three different work function metals (Cu, Ni
and Pt) contacting the n-ZnO were investigated to realize Schottky. At room temperature (298K) and
high temperature (523~873K), the current densities with various bias voltages (J-V) were studied.

The simulation results show that the high-temperature response power consumption of three
Schottky detectors of Cu, Ni and Pt decreases successively, which is 1.16 mW, 63.63 μW and 0.14 μW.
The response temperature sensitivities of 6.35 μA/K, 0.78 μA/K, and 2.29 nA/K are achieved.

The Cu/n-ZnO/n-Si Schottky structure could be used as a high-temperature detector
(523~873K) for the high-temperature MEMS devices. It has a large temperature range (350K) and a
high response sensitivity of 6.35 μA/K. Compared with the traditional devices, the Cu/n-ZnO/n-Si
Schottky structure-based temperature detector has a low energy consumption of 1.16 mW, having potential
applications in the high-temperature measurement of the MEMS devices.


A new method was developed to fabricate high-quality ZnO nanopillars with good uniformity using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The ZnO island seeds were prepared on the (0001) sapphire by the initial 5� 20 ALD cycles at 180� C and then heat-treated at 900� C for 1 h. Afterwards, the ALD growth of ZnO at a temperature as high as 300 � C proceeded preferentially on the ZnO island seeds over the sapphire substrate, leading to the formation of ZnO nanopillars. The average diameter and height of the nanopillars are about 60 nm and 50 nm, which can be effectively controlled by the numbers of initial ALD cycles and the following high-temperature ALD cycles, respectively. The ZnO nanopillars have high crystallinity with the [0001] orientation, and exhibit a significant ultraviolet luminescence at room temperature.


Four hundred five cases with carcinoma of salivary glands were analyzed clinicopathologically; 181 tumors were located in parotid, 52 were in submandibular, 21 were in sublingual, and 151 were in minor salivary glands. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma were the most common histologic types. The overall 3-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year survival rates were 77.8%, 69.6%, 55.8%, and 36.7%, respectively. The difference between survival and recurrence-free survival rate was 9%. The prognosis of acinic cell carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma was much better than that of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma. The survival rates of minor salivary gland tumors was the highest, and those of submandibular gland tumors were the lowest. Postoperative radiotherapy improved the prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma. The overall recurrence rate was 40.2%; the cervical lymph node metastases rate was 15.3%, and the distant metastases rate was 11.1%.


Hydrogen is the ideal fuel for the proton exchange membrane fuel cells that are being developed for transportation applications. However, since no hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure currently exists, much of the effort in fuel supply for the fuel cell vehicles is directed at developing on-board fuel processors to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from liquid fuels such as methanol and gasoline. The use of pure hydrogen as the fuel significantly simplifies the vehicle design, and provides greater fuel economy and environmental benefits. While on-board processing of liquid fuels may be a good transitional strategy to commercially introduce large numbers of fuel cell personal automobiles in the near term, the advantages of hydrogen and the relative ease with which it can be supplied for centrally fueled vehicles should favor their adoption for fleet applications. This paper describes the feasibility of building a hydrogen fueling infrastructure based on delivered hydrogen and small scale on-site production of hydrogen at the fuel station. A first of a kind hydrogen fueling station to support regular transit operations of three fuel cell city buses in Chicago was built based on an adaptation of industrial liquid hydrogen pumping technology.


Abstract Studies that examine global determinants of democracy mainly focus on factors such as global conflict, strength of global community, international organizations and the impact of democratic neighbors. This paper logically extends the global approach by considering the impact of global power shifts on democratization in the Middle East. In this paper, it is argued that global uncertainty raised by power shifts in the system is likely to impact authoritarian elite behavior leading to their concession to share political power. This article specifies the assumptions, hypothesis and the causal mechanism through which power shifts might impact democracy in the Middle East. To test the hypothesis, this article uses cross-country panel data and fixed effects GLS regression models on 878 observations, 20 countries ranging from 1815 until 2004. To clarify the argument, examples of democratization process in Iran and Turkey as well as recent 2011 Middle East uprisings are also discussed as illustrative evidence. The results support the argument that global power transfers have short term and long term impacts on democratization in the Middle East.


The Office on Aging in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor is the designated State Unit on Aging for South Carolina. This Manual of Policies and Procedures sets forth South Carolina's official policies and procedures for the conduct of programs administered by the SUA. This Manual attempts to incorporate all current policies, standards and procedures required by the Older Americans Act, related federal regulations issued by the Administration on Aging and the US Department of Labor, and other applicable federal and state rules and regulations. The purpose of this Manual is to assist the SUA, South Carolina's Area Agencies on Aging and other subgrantees in carrying out their overall programs and grants administration responsibilities.


Ungulates groom to remove ectoparasites but grooming may interfere with foraging, vigilance, and rumination, and it is possible that these effects differ among migratory tactics due to differences in parasite infestations. We compared the effects of grooming for winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) on winter foraging behavior by migrating and resident elk (Cervus canadensis) in the partially migratory population at the Ya Ha Tinda, adjacent to Banff National Park, Canada. We used hair loss on the dorsal shoulder area ("withers") measured from photographic images as an index of tick infestation of individual elk. We conducted 594 focal observations on 48 radio-collared and 18 uncollared individuals that were uniquely identifiable from ear-tags (N = 66) in 2019 to assess whether grooming for ticks in winter reduced time spent foraging, ruminating, or being vigilant. Because rubbing or hair loss from radio-collars may influence tick infestations and behavior, we controlled for whether elk were collared or uncollared in our analyses. Neck hair loss was 3–5% greater in collared elk than uncollared elk, but neither withers hair loss nor time spent grooming differed. Grooming occurred during 42% of the observations but grooming comprised only ∼1% of observation time. Nevertheless, 40% of all grooming was observed during resting, and grooming interrupted vigilance behavior ∼8 times more than foraging. We found no differences among elk following different migratory tactics in time spent grooming or in other behaviors, but one of the two groups of migrant elk had higher withers hair loss. Our results suggest winter ticks may have slight effects on elk relative to other ungulates, particularly moose (Alces alces), in North America.


The paper proposed a new thought that a multi-agent organization model was designed, which based on cooperative design system network framework and workflow. The system workflow and system architecture were presented. The ant colony optimization (ACO) method which was improved by Bayes was applied to the partner selection. And the principal component analysis (PCA) method was used to evaluate the design method of design tasks. The collaborative process of negotiation mechanism was discussed. According to the theory analysis, software SPSS was used to deal with the sample data. On the basis of the theory a network of collaborative design prototype system was developed which confirms the system is reliability, practicality and efficiency.


In this research, we utilize semantic technology for robust early diagnosis and decision support. We present a light-weight platform that provides the enduser
with direct access to the data through an
ontology, and enables detection of any forthcoming faults by considering the data only from the reliable sensors. Concurrently, it indicates the actual sources of the detected faults, enabling mitigation action to be taken. Our work is focused on systems that require only real-time data and a restricted part of the historic data, such as fuel cell stack systems. First, we present an upper-level ontology that captures the semantics of
such monitored systems and then we present the structure of the platform. Next, we specialize on the fuel cell paradigm and we provide a detailed description of our platform's functionality that can aid
future servicing problem reporting applications.


Happily, in discussion of the issues in graduate medical education, I was not asked to suggest the resolution of these issues nor the solution of these problems. Therefore, I shall simply delineate issues and identify problems and take the liberty of expressing my personal opinion about their relative importance. I shall confine the discussion to five issues which I believe to be of paramount importance, in my layman's view, and must be faced and resolved most promptly. These issues are (1) discontinuity in the educational process, (2) the persistence of the apprenticeship in the process of education and training, (3) the ineffectiveness and inadequacy in the organization in our present institutions of medical education, (4) the failure to clearly decide on the role of the university in graduate medical education, and (5) the present unsatisfactory balance between generalization and specialization. Discontinuity The process of educating and training the future physician


By means of an in vivo isotope technique, the so-called disappearance measurements, a comparison was made during a five-hour period between the percutaneous absorption in the guinea pig of a trivalent (chromic chloride) and a hexavalent (sodium chromate) chromium compound. Nine different concentrations of each substance were studied. We found that in the concentration interval 0.017-0.239 molar the relative absorption of the hexavalent compound was somewhat higher, but the differences were not statistically significant. On the other hand, in the higher concentrations (0.261-0.398 molar) more of the hexavalent compound was absorbed, and the differences were statistically significant. This difference in percutaneous absorption for various concentrations can perhaps account for the divergent results, in respect to the absorption of trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds, which have recently been published.


One of the frequently cited drivers for automation and robotics in construction is the potential improvement in safety. Much of the publicly funded research in this area is in exotic and very hazardous applications such as space construction, underwater construction, and clean-up of nuclear and other contaminated sites. These applications, however, make up only a small fraction of the total construction volume. The vast majority of construction projects are more mundane but collectively far more dangerous. This paper exposes the true impact of a contractor's loss experience on its WCI costs and bottom line. When contractors realize they are paying for their own losses and are effectively self-insuring, they may have increased incentive to improve their safety performance. Construction automation and robotics may suddenly seem more attractive and cost effective.


The author has developed a biphasic technique which combines the advantages of positive contrast and double contrast techniques in gastro-duodenal examinations. The most severe shortcoming of double contrast technique, the inability to demonstrate ulcers and polyps with gently sloping edges located in the anterior wall of the stomach and duodenal bulb, is easily overcome by using positive contrast and compression. The contrast medium used by the author for both techniques is of medium density (82.59c w/v). It combines the good coating qualities and high density necessary for double contrast and satisfac tory attenuation for positive contrast examinations. High tube potential (120-150 kV) is used for short exposures and penetrating radiation at positive contrast examina tions and lower tube potential (70-90 kV) at those with double contrast. By using rare-earth intensifying screens short exposure time can still be retained at the latter ex aminations. The results are impressive and the images are of high quality with good coating but they appear to be slightly more grey than usual films. The book has a limited text which describes the technique of examination and its theoretical background. The basic principles of interpreta tion of double contrast films are stated. The role of radio logy as compared with endoscopy is discussed. In contrast to many other authors in radiology it is admitted that endo scopy is superior to double contrast examination on cer tain occasions such as the differentiation between active ulcer and ulcer scar. In a short section the impressive re sults of the author's technique in the diagnosis of malig nant lesions are reported. The main part of the book is an atlas of gastric and duodenal lesions. It is not a textbook with the purpose to cover the subject completely. The volume should be looked upon as an important contri bution to the discussion between the enthusiasts of double contrast technique and their opponents. Both sides should be satisfied with this biphasic technique.


Cheyenne Bottoms is a 41,000-acre prairie-marsh ecosystem in central Kansas. Approximately 8,000 acres of mixed grassland are dedicated for the conservation of bird populations, but little is known about the status of bird communities within these areas. This study took place within grassland areas of Cheyenne Bottoms from May – July 2021. I investigated bird community composition, relative abundance of frequently observed bird species, vegetative characteristics, and similarity of sites across different grazing intensities (continuous, rotational, and non-grazed). The four most common bird species observed were dickcissel (Spiza americana), grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), meadowlark species (Sturnella spp.), and red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). Dickcissel abundances were greatest within non-grazed and rotationally grazed sites. Grasshopper sparrows had the highest abundance in a continuous site with low flooding, moderately high abundance in rotational sites, low abundance in a continuous site with high flooding, and abundance approaching zero in non-grazed sites. Red-winged blackbirds had higher abundances in non-grazed sites than other treatments. Vegetative similarity was generally highest within grazing treatments. Grass height and litter depth were highest at sites of the non-grazed treatment, with similarities across other treatments. Forb comparisons across sites show different distributions for sites of each treatment type, with rotational sites exhibiting a strong right skew and a relatively constrained height range. Presence of sweet clover (Melilotus spp.) was highly apparent at rotational sites within multispectral imagery. Management should continue to maintain pastures with both continuous and rotational grazing regimes.


There are low consultation rates among men with prostate disease. Prostate disease can affect the quality of life of both patients and their families. Health promotional activities, such as a prostate awareness week, can empower men to seek professional advice and treatment.


One popular diagnosis for the problem of inequitable educational opportunities is the need for schools and schooling systems to undergo systemic change. While research shows that leadership support is essential for implementing system reforms, critical questions remain about how leaders help shift other's understandings and practices. Employing the theory of sensegiving, this longitudinal, multiple-case study examines how administrators help teachers and other administrators make sense of a system reform during the first two years of implementation. I found that administrator's unintentional sensegiving complicated others' understandings of the new system reform, which complicated implementation. Based on these findings, I introduce the concept of unintentional sensegiving to theorize how leaders can give sense in ways they do not intend, yet have large impacts on how others understand and respond to a reform. Before championing a system reform, leaders deserve opportunities to (a) become familiar with the details of that reform and system reforms in general; (b) carefully study their existing systems, including their local contexts, and consider what dynamics might be created when they implement the new reform; (c) explore how their existing systems could shift to match the design of the system reform; and (d) practice drawing on their wells of knowledge to help others shift their understandings about their practice.


The recycling of lead has increased during the past 20 years, with more workers and their families potentially being exposed to lead from recycling facilities, including facilities that recycle lead-acid batteries. During November 2010-May 2011, four voluntary blood lead screening clinics for children of employees of a battery recycling facility in Puerto Rico were conducted. A total of 227 persons from 78 families had blood lead tests. Among 68 children aged <6 years, 11 (16%) had confirmed blood lead levels (BLLs) ≥10 µg/dL, the BLL at which CDC recommended individual intervention to reduce BLLs in 2010, and 39 (57%) children aged <6 years had venous or capillary BLLs ≥5 µg/dL, the reference value for elevated BLLs in children established by CDC in 2012. To determine whether take-home lead exposure contributed to the children's BLLs of ≥10 µg/dL, vehicle and household environmental samples were collected and analyzed. Eighty-five percent of vehicle dust samples and 49% of home dust samples exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) level of concern of ≥40 µg/ft² (430.6 µg/m²) [corrected]. EPA began clean-up of employee homes and vehicles, focusing first on homes with children with BLLs ≥10 µg/dL. EPA also required that the company set up shower facilities, shoe washes, and clean changing areas at the battery recycling facility. Lastly, CDC assigned a case manager to provide education, environmental follow-up, and case management of all children with BLLs ≥5 µg/dL. On average, children's BLLs have decreased 9.9 µg/dL since being enrolled in case management.


Intracellular recordings from mammalian neuroendocrine cells showed that steady, injected currents can modify and block periodic spike bursts previously associated with increased neurohormone release. Spike afterpotentials could sum to form plateau potentials, which generated bursts and did not depend on axonal conduction or chemical synapses. Therefore, bursting involves a spike-dependent, positive-feedback mechanism endogenous to single neuroendocrine cells.


Summary form only given. In the field of spintronics, GaMnAs, a ferromagnetic semiconductor, offers many advantages to study tunnel magnetotransport properties when used as an electrode. The complexity of the transport mechanisms associated with spin orbit coupled states make this material a powerful means for finding novel effects; also it provides new challenges for a theoretical understanding. This includes the tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) across single or double barriers, tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance (TAMR) and current induced magnetic switching (CIMS), as recently reported in such systems. I will discuss on the basis of magnetoresistance experiments with tunnel junctions the key elements to observe and understand such effects.


By using surface temperature data and 850 hPa height field temperature data of Changchun Station,the changes in Changchun of the surface temperature,the minimum temperature(MT) and the temperature on 850 hPa height were analyzed.The results showed that the main features of warming winter in MT was becoming warmer,the winter warming trend in MT was significantly higher than the annual average temperature(AAT) and average temperature in winter(ATW);the warming trend of the three months in winter in February was the most obvious in the past 10 years.The trends tended to achieve the maximum.Through the relevant calculating,it was seen that the winter MT and ATW reached the correlation coefficient of 0.928;As the age increased,the performance of the number of days for the low-temperature significantly reduced,which had a well consistency with cold winter and warm winter.While in winter the warming trend of the average temperature was not such obvious as the AAT,which showed that the contribution of the other seasons was also high.Changchun City was significantly higher than the national average warming level;For Changchun,the variance contribution of the ATW to the AAT reach 14%.850 hPa height on the ATW and AAT also showed warming trends.Over the past 50 years,the warming trend in winter was 0.19 ℃ / 10 a and warming trend in AAT was 0.48 ℃/10 a,which showed the warming trends of the ATW and AAT.But the winter warming trend in AAT was not warming significantly.The significant relation between the ATW of 850 hPa height and that on the ground indicated that the ground and the lower of tropospheric became warm at the same time.


This paper proposes an audio event classification method using Deep Neural Networks (DNN). The proposed method applies Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN) to generate event probabilities of ten audio events (dog barks, engine idling, and so on) for each frame. For each frame, mel scale filter bank features of its consecutive frames are used as the input vector of the FFNN. These event probabilities are accumulated for the events and the classification result is determined as the event with the highest accumulated probability. For the same dataset, the best accuracy of previous studies was reported as about 70% when the Support Vector Machine (SVM) was applied. The best accuracy of the proposed method achieves as 79.23% for the UrbanSound8K dataset when 80 mel scale filter bank features each from 7 consecutive frames (in total 560) were implemented as the input vector for the FFNN with two hidden layers and 2,000 neurons per hidden layer. In this configuration, the rectified linear unit was suggested as its activation function.


Ever since the fall of the Iron Curtain and the enthusiasm it inspired about the potential for European unity and democracy, it has become fashionable to see post-war European history in terms of convergence. Historians have researched the integration of the European continent into the global, in the context of the Cold War, decolonisation and economic globalisation. Internally, processes of convergence are seen to link the trajectories of nations on a continent where integration eventually trumped the divisions of nationalism, regionalism and the Iron Curtain. This story of an 'ever deeper and wider union' was also reflected in the ways in which the transformations of Southern and Eastern Europe were narrated. The idea of a so-called 'return to Europe' inspired histories that connected the fall of right-wing authoritarian regimes in the Southern European states of Portugal, Greece and Spain from the mid-1970s with the end of communism in Eastern Europe from 1989. This dominant account has presented Southern and Eastern European 'peripheries' moving towards the (Western) European core and its norms, values and models of liberal democracy. Even though some have raised objections to these teleological and Western-dominated narratives of transition they have remained strikingly potent in histories of post-war Europe. Only very recently have they received historiographical critique. Partly this is due to the enduring appeal of centre-periphery approaches that continue to influence intellectual debates about European identity and history. This is also because research on the transitions in Southern and Eastern Europe has for a long time remained rather insular. Historians have been slow to enter a research field that has been dominated by institutional and political approaches, and they have remained more focused on national histories. Where historians of either Eastern or Southern Europe have addressed the transnational or transregional aspects of transition, this has mainly focused on the appeal of the West or its Atlanticist dimensions.


Myiasis occurs in humans and vertebrate animals mostly due to dipterous flies of the genera Chrysomyia and Cochliomyia. There have been reported cases of myiasis of skin, breast, intestine, eyes and ear but very few cases of vulvar myiasis have been reported in the medical literature. We report a case of a 20 years old female with vulvar myiasis. A 20-year old unmarried girl presented to our hospital with complains of vaginal discharge and vulvar irritation for 3 days with evidence of some worms around her vulvar region. Her menstrual history revealed the use of folded cloths instead of sanitary pads during her menstruation. Moreover, she washed those clothes with water and hanged them in the clothesline outside to let them dry before reuse. Examination of the external genitalia multiple ulcers measuring 1X1 cm on the inner surface of the labia minora, heavily infested with large number of maggots. The patient was admitted for 4 days during which she was given antibiotics, analgesics and anti-inflammatory medication. Daily local asepsis of the wound with antiseptic solution, betadine was done. We removed more than 30 larvae by the fourth day after which no more larvae were seen and she gradually recovered in the following days. It is our opinion that the cause of vulvar myiasis in our patient was her poor sanitary hygiene. Simple measures such as washing clothes thoroughly, drying and ironing of clothes are also necessary to reduce the risk of this human myiasis.


Earth system science (ESS) has identified worrying trends in the human impact on fundamental planetary systems. In this conceptual article, we discuss the implications of this research for business schools and management education (ME). We argue that ESS findings raise significant concerns about the relationship between business and nature and, consequently, a radical reframing is required to embed economic and social activity within the global sustainability of natural systems. This has transformative implications for ME. To illustrate this reframing, we apply the ESS lenses of social-ecological interdependence, multiscalar relations, environmental governance, and environmental values to the ME functional domains of institutional purpose, social context and engagement, pedagogical practice, curricular design, and research focus. Our work contributes to the literature on business education for sustainability and the business-society-nature nexus. We explore and apply key ESS findings and concepts, discuss normative implications of these ideas, and offer guidance on transformational pathways for business schools and ME.


Abstract We evaluated the efficacy of omeprazole (OPZ) for the treatment of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) lesions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Fourteen RA patients with H2 receptor antagonist- (H2RA-) resistant UGI lesions (1 stomal, 11 gastric, and 2 esophageal with reflux esophagitis ulcers) were treated with OPZ at 20 mg/day (study A). New untreated UGI lesions (1 stomal and 12 gastric ulcers) were treated with OPZ (study B). Three patients who showed renal dysfunction during H2RA treatment for UGI lesion were treated with OPZ (study C). Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were not discontinued. The stage of each ulcer was determined by gastrointestinal fiberscopy (GIF). In study A, during the first 8 weeks of OPZ treatment, 1 esophageal and 7 gastric ulcer patients were completely cured. Six patients showing partial response were treated further with OPZ for another 8 weeks. During this second period, 1 stomal and 3 gastric ulcer patients were completely cured, and 1 gastric and 1 esophageal ulcer patient showed only partial response. In study B, after an 8-week OPZ treatment, all except 2 patients showed complete healing. One patient developed mild eruption at 4 weeks and was shifted to H2RA. One patient showed complete healing after 4 weeks. No patient in study C showed renal dysfunction with OPZ. Our results suggest that OPZ is an effective treatment for UGI lesions in RA patients using NSAIDs.


In this paper, we propose a concept of Context Aware Mobile AR (CAMAR) mashup as an enriched form of participatory user interaction in U-VR environment. We define CAMAR mashup and discuss how its characteristics are different and distinguishable from previous mashup activities in various additional aspects such as context-awareness, mobility and presentation. To elaborate the proposed concept, an exemplar scenario is presented and foreseeable technical challenges are discussed.


Globalization has led diverse stakeholders to join the market and has resulted in corporate and product diversification; however, some markets remain monopolized by a few countries owing to "shadow trade barriers" influencing willingness to purchase. The Korean cherry market has grown rapidly since 2000 but is monopolized by U.S. cherries, which makes the market unsustainable; however, Uzbekistan cherries are 1.75-times less expensive than U.S. cherries. We examined the potential of Uzbekistan cherries to replace U.S. cherries as cherries are imported only from these countries during the spring–summer season. After collecting data through a web survey, we conducted logistic regression analyses to investigate what specific factors affect Korean consumers' willingness to purchase Uzbekistan cherries over U.S. cherries: price perception, brand familiarity, perceived risk, and country of origin. Results showed that the more price awareness (price perception), experience (brand familiarity), and higher confidence of safety (perceived risk) that consumers had, the more they were willing to purchase Uzbekistan cherries. Consumers who checked the country of origin were less likely to purchase Uzbekistan cherries. The results provide useful information for exporters, importers, researchers, decision-makers, and policymakers concerning the utilization of products for sustainability in a monopolized market.


Under conditions of rapid change, then every organization needs to act as an adaptive consequence of internal and external environmental changes that occur with an orientation to provide the best service to its customers. Various efforts were made Department of Civil Engineering Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya is an effort to improve service and convenience to the students by building facilities and infrastructure and curriculum programs. This study aims to determine the extent of student satisfaction to the utilities in the Department of Civil Engineering Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya, to know the attributes or indicators that need to be improved, and learned attributes or indicators that need to be maintained in giving satisfaction to the students of the Utilities Department of Civil Engineering at Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya. The research is an applied research, a systematic study of a problem with the objective to be used immediately for specific purposes. This study is also an observational study is the observation of the studied object, trying to gather data from a phenomenon that has emerged. The study using 168 samples with Stratify Proportional Random Sampling technique. Variables studied variables in the Service Quality Dimensions that are used as indicators of Quality of Service. Dimension is divided into two main parts: Variable Interest ; a student's perception of the utility in POLSRI expectations, and satisfaction variables ; a student's perception of the utility's performance in POLSRI. The variables studied are variable in the dimension of service quality : Tangible, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance, and Empathy. Analytical techniques used Importance-perfomance is also called the Gap Analysis. Gap Analysis results will be described with Cartesian Diagram, by calculating the average of the interest assessment which is a dimension of ServQual and satisfaction of each variable or attribute. The results showed that the level of student satisfaction of utility in the Department of Civil Engineering Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya amounted to 3.274 from 5.0 Scale. Level of student interest to utilities amounted to 4.390 5.0 Scale. Rate Gap students in the utility is equal to -1.116 5.0 Scale. Above findings obtained in this study, then there are some suggestions that can be given, is to optimize the handling of student satisfaction better, Conduct periodic customer satisfaction research, and the tendency of "operations oriented" to move on "service oriented", and understanding of social conditions and consumer culture in South Sumatra, may also be considered in formulating a strategy that can be given excellent service to students.


The Analytical Development Section (ADS) of the Savannah River Labo r atory is developing on-line analyzers to monitor various site processes. Data from some of the on-line analyzers (OLA's) will be used for process control by disuibuted control systems (DCS's) such as the Fisher PRoVOX. A problem in the past has been an efficient and cost effective way to get analyzer data onto the DCS data highway. ADS is developing a system to accomplish the linking of OLA's to PRoVOX DCS's. The system will be described, and results of operation in a research and development environment given. Plans for the installation in the production environment will be discussed.


The purpose of this study is to provide additional data and insight regarding the recent history of Barrow, Wade, Guthrie & Company (BWGC) by T. Flesher, D. Flesher, and Previts (2023). BWGC was a national public accountancy firms founded by British accountants in the U.S. in 1883. It merged with a global firm in 1950. The study provides information about 62 British accountants who had immigrated to the U.S. by the outbreak of World War I and subsequent employment with BWGC. The study includes additional data on the main BWGC founder and illustrates biographical discrepancy due to use of secondary sources.


The thermochemical properties of superbase species derived from cyclopropeneimine are estimated by computations on systems of isodesmic reactions. Proton affinities, gas phase basicities, and pKa values are well represented by computations incorporating G4 and CBS-QB3 schemes augmented for large systems by DFT calculations with functionals M06-2X and ωB97DX in the cc-pVTZ Dunning basis. Our calculations show that relative base strengths in gas are enhanced by alkyl substitution, either by methyl groups or larger species. For acetonitrile solution, alkyl substitution seems to weaken the base. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


In presence of glass in grain boundaries greatly enhances sintering, in part, because transport of matter along and across the intergranular regions is faster. The glass does not simply act as a catalyst but also changes the character of the interfacial regions. In particular, it tends to encourage faceting of the grains; the scale of this faceting may vary from nanometers to microns. After processing, the glass may remain as a thin layer in the interface during preparation of the polycrystalline compact as was initially demonstrated for Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} and proposed for other ceramics. The glass may also crystallize to form an intergranular crystalline layer or it may withdraw from the planar interfaces into three-grain and four-grain junctions (the dewetting process). The present program has begun to examine how glass affects and interacts with crystalline ceramics. The main aim of the program is to examine how glass moves into and out of grain boundaries and why this movement takes. By understanding this process we will be better able to control this important aspect of many ceramic materials. Since TEM is the main tool used in this investigation, we will continue to develop methods for analyzing interfaces as part ofmore » this program.« less


This study showed that ultrastructure of the vitelline membrane degenerated with degree of yolk mottling. The more severe the mottling the greater the damage to the membrane. The vitelline membrane appears to be composed of three separate structures. The primary matrix (probably collagen) retains its composition until mottling is most severe; then this structure starts to come apart and lose its integrity. The secondary matrix (probably mucin) aids in holding the primary structure in a fixed position. When this structure is removed there is movement in the primary matrix causing large holes to appear. The tertiary matrix (also mucin) is the quickest to disintegrate. The tertiary matrix covers the other structures much like the cuticle around the egg shell. Once it is removed, the remaining structures are open to stress and damage as mottling increases.


The main purpose of the study was to compare burnout levels of school administrators according to gender variable by using social support as a covariate. The sample of the study was 306 school administrators in downtown Ankara and its seven districts. A factorial ANOVA design with covariates was followed in the study. Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to gather data along with a brief personal information sheet. Results indicated a negative relationship between occupational burnout and social support levels. Therefore, increased social support level tends to correspond with a decrease in burnout level. In the light of this finding and the related literature, it was decided to control the effect of social support on burnout while we look at the differences by gender. First, the school administrators' burnout levels are searched through One Way Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) for gender. According to the findings, the differences in compound burnout scores which were made up of EE, D, and PA were explained by gender. Again, using gender as a moderator, One Way Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to see whether social support would significantly predict the dependent variable (compound burnout level). Results indicated that social support was indeed a significant covariate, including social support in the model, the variation accounted for by the model had increased while the error variance decreased. Also, including social support to see the differences between the compound dependent variable produced more clear differences. Therefore, it can be concluded that social support can be used to explain the differences in school administrators' occupational burnout levels. Suggestions based on the results were provided for administrators and researchers.


Early damage detection on structures plays a very important role for ensuring safety and reliability. This paper provides an efficient method based on wavelet transforms in order to detect and localize damage on structures subjected to moving loads such as beams and bridges. A numerical model based on the experimental test-rig utilized in this study is developed by using a finite element commercial software. Different types of damage on the bridge of the numerical model are simulated and transient analyses are performed by incorporating a load which moves constantly along the beam nodes. Continuous wavelet transform diagrams using the vertical acceleration responses show that damage can be identified and localized even with significant percentages of noise. Nevertheless, the method is improved by filtering the signals, removing the border effects, and calculating the total wavelet energy of the beam from the coefficients along the selected range of scales. Thus, the accumulation of wavelet energy could indicate the presence of damage. Finally, laboratory experiments are conducted to validate this work and a good agreement between numerical and experimental results is obtained


The observed enhancement of low-kT photons in comparison with incorrect calculations, should not be treated as a puzzle. The paper by Low considered a large rapidity gap process of diffractive excitation of a hadron, h ->h+\gamma, rather than multiple hadron production spanning all over the rapidity interval between colliding hadrons. The optical theorem connects these two processes, and what is inner bremsstrahlung, suppressed according to Low, corresponds to radiation from final state hadrons. Thus, the main result of the Low theorem, based on gauge invariance of the diffractive bremsstrahlung amplitude, supplemented with the optical theorem, contradicts the so-called bremsstrahlung model. The latter has been used for comparison with data, leading to the longstanding soft photon puzzle.


BACKGROUND
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease with axial involvement but its physiopathology remains unexplained. This latter combines genetic and environmental factors as well as an abnormal immune response.

CURRENT TOPICS AND IMPORTANT RESULT
This review addresses the different aspects of AS immunogenetic. A genetic background in AS is suggested by familial cases, concordance rate in twins and transmission of the disease in siblings. Ankylosing spondylitis is strongly associated with the expression of the HLA Class I antigen, B27, but also with other genes not yet identified since currently, only chromosomic area have been linked to AS. Studies of candidate genes or genome screening allow to determine these chromosomic regions. HLA-B27 is directly associated with the disease physiopathology as suggested by animal models of rats transgenic for human HLA-B27 and beta2 microglobulin. This HLA molecule have original biological properties, in particular a slow heavy chain folding and the formation of heavy chain homodimers without light chain. However, HLA B27 is a functional molecule and assumes its property of presenting peptide of 9 amino acids to CD8+ T cells. Interaction modelling studies between HLA B27 and peptides have identified peptide and peptide groove amino acid sequences, with the identification of critical positions on the HLA B27 molecule for the peptide interaction. Original biochemical properties of HLA-B27 include diminished bacterial antigen response and CD4+ T lymphocyte stimulation. Innate immunity is also of interest in AS, as suggested by the presence of macrophage and polymorphonuclear neutrophils in AS synovitis, as well as the contribution of Toll-like receptors.

FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS
Thus in AS, the inflammatory process and then the clinical consequences may be explained by the involvement of HLA-B27, a bacterial antigen presentation, an abnormal immune response and the contribution of innate immunity, T CD4+ but also T CD8+ cells. The original molecular structures of HLA-B27 are certainly involved in this complex physiopathology, but their direct influence on the disease remains to be precised.


The objective of this contribution is to provide information on a generally applicable optimisation procedure intended for designing a system of terraces and retention reservoirs within integrated territory protection from the harmful effects of soil erosion. The formulated procedure is a universal tool which can be used for any territory. An optimisation mathematical model was used to find the most suitable combination of various elaborated pre-optimisation variants of the soil conservation and flood prevention measures under the given conditions of each particular habitat. This model was created on the basis of a mixed discrete programming. The model compilation and its analysis on a high performance computer was performed using the model and calculation system GAMS. The model solution was controlled by one or more simultaneously operating optimisation criteria. A system of terraces as an important part of the soil erosion and flood control was chosen to verify the possibilities of the described optimisation procedure utilisation. The system was proposed within the land consolidation in the case study areas of Hustopece and Starovice cadastral areas. First, the model function and performance were verified. Then the possibilities of experimentation on the model of the solved system of complex conservation measures were tested. The main results of the real and some experimental solutions are summarised. The results of practical applications of the integrated territory protection model validate its functionality and universal applicability.


Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) family proteins function by becoming covalently attached to other proteins as post-translational modifications. SUMO modifies many proteins that participate in diverse cellular processes, including transcriptional regulation, nuclear transport, maintenance of genome integrity, and signal transduction. Reversible attachment of SUMO is controlled by an enzyme pathway that is analogous to the ubiquitin pathway. The functional consequences of SUMO attachment vary greatly from substrate to substrate, and in many cases are not understood at the molecular level. Frequently SUMO alters interactions of substrates with other proteins or with DNA, but SUMO can also act by blocking ubiquitin attachment sites. An unusual feature of SUMO modification is that, for most substrates, only a small fraction of the substrate is sumoylated at any given time. This review discusses our current understanding of how SUMO conjugation is controlled, as well as the roles of SUMO in a number of biological processes.


Teachers' professional learning community, as an effective path to promote teachers' professional development and elevate teaching quality, has been widely used in school contexts. In preschools, the practice of teachers' professional learning community mainly focuses on the curriculum in early childhood education. The revision and adaptation of the scale of the professional learning community for preschool teachers in the Chinese cultural context are of great significance for understanding the current situation of the professional learning community for preschool teachers and improving the quality of collaboration within the community. Teachers' Professional Learning Community scale was revised into the Curriculum-Based Professional Learning Community scale according to the characteristics of the curriculum in early childhood education in the Chinese context. Based on the data from a sample of 2,823 teachers, the study conducted an item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on participants from sample A (N = 1,410) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) on participants from sample B (N = 1, 413). Short-form Teacher Self-Efficacy scale was used as the criteria-related validity instrument. Sample A and sample B were used to explore the relationship between various dimensions of teachers' professional learning community and teachers' teaching efficacy. The results showed that instead of the five-factor structure of the original PLC scale, the Chinese version of the CBPLC scale consists of four factors: Shared Sense of Purpose, Collective Focus on Children Learning and Development, Collaborative and Reflective Activity, and Deprivatized Practice. The revised scale has high reliability and validity and can be used as an effective tool to measure the curriculum-based professional learning community of preschool teachers in China. The results of CFA indicated that the four-factor CFA model fit the data well, and the CBPLC significantly and positively predicted teachers' self-efficacy including instructional strategies, students' engagement, and classroom management.


Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as typical environmental estrogen disruptors, are a structurally‐related group of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons that are composed of 209 isomers and present as a mixture in the environment. PCBs congener with different numbers and positions of chlorine atoms substituted on the biphenyl moiety. Aroclor‐1254 is a mixture of more than 60 PCB congeners. Previous studies have provided the evidence that PCBs have severe negative effects on reproductive functions, but the effects of PCBs on spindle assembly during mouse oocyte maturation in vitro have not been reported. In the present study, female ICR mouse immature oocytes were cultured in M2 medium with 1 and 10 μg mL−1 Aroclor‐1254 separately in vitro. The percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and the first polar body extrusion were recorded. The results showed no significant difference in the percentage of GVBD or the first polar body extrusion between control oocytes and Aroclor‐1254‐treated oocytes. Further studies showed that the normal localization of γ‐tubulin and Aurora‐A kinase was interfered and α‐tubulin assembling into spindle was affected when mouse oocytes were exposed to Aroclor‐1254. The length of spindle from 10 μg mL−1 Aroclor‐1254‐treated oocytes was longer than that from control oocytes, and the spindle area in the Aroclor‐1254‐treated groups were decreased. Furthermore, the percentage of DNA damage in cumulus cells revealed an increase after exposed to Aroclor‐1254. These results will provide the important reference for the prevention of reproductive disorders caused by PCBs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1652–1662, 2016.


Abstract As the list of contentious cases concerning issues of state responsibility brought before the International Court of Justice (the Court) continues to grow, a closer consideration is demanded of the most common remedy granted by the Court – the declaratory judgment. In particular, while the Court continues to issue declarations intended to constitute 'appropriate satisfaction', it also appears that the Court is – or is attempting – to use declarations more creatively in certain circumstances. This immediately provokes a question as to not only the proper role of declaratory judgments, but also whether and to what extent variations in the nature of the obligations owed by states, or the nature of their internationally wrongful acts, gives rise to a coherent differentiation in the remedies granted by the Court.


Cysteine, a sulphur-containing amino acid, is required to metabolize ascorbic acid (as ascorbate sulphate) and detoxify cyanide (to thiocyanate). In guinea pigs, conjoint use of laetrile (a cyanogenic glycoside) and ascorbic acid (in large doses) decreases the detoxification of cyanide derived from laetrile through diminishing the availability of cysteine, but not impairing hepatic rhodanese activity, which is involved in the detoxification of cyanide to thiocyanate. These results agree with the symptoms of a sublethal dose of KCN toxicity manifested by the animals. The studies, therefore, indicate that individuals taking megadoses of ascorbic acid concurrently with laetrile may be subject to self-poisoning.


In this paper, the performance of a CO2 based hybrid compression-adsorption cooling cycle is presented based on a transient mathematical model. In the proposed hybrid cycle two stage compression have been performed where CO2 passes through the mechanical compressor at the low-pressure side. The compressed CO2 from the mechanical compressor is then adsorbed in the designated adsorbers of the adsorption cycle. The chiller response as well as the chiller performance in terms of cooling capacity and coefficient of performance (COP) are investigated for different desorption pressures and gas cooler outlet temperatures. This novel hybrid cooling system attains similar cooling power and two to three folds COP values than those of the conventional CO2 based vapor compression cycle with the same operating conditions. Therefore, the proposed system seems to be promising for automotive air-conditioning application where waste heat from engine is esteemed.


For Drag Queens there is a vast network of pageants where artists compete in the hope of winning lasting glory.


When quantum mechanics was developed in the '20s of the last century another revolution in physics was just starting. It began with the discovery that the universe is expanding. For a long time quantum mechanics and cosmology developed independently of one another. Yet the very discovery of the expansion would eventually draw the two subjects together because it implied the big bang where quantum mechanics wasimportant for cosmology and for understanding and predicting our observations of the universe today. Textbook (Copenhagen) formulations of quantum mechanics are inadequate for cosmology for at least four reasons: 1) They predict the outcomes of measurements made by observers. But in the very early universe no measurements were being made and no observers were around to make them. 2) Observers were outside of the system being measured. But we are interested in a theory of the whole universe where everything, including observers, are inside. 3) Copenhagen quantum mechanics could not retrodict the past. But retrodicting the past to understand how the universe began is the main task of cosmology. 4) Copenhagen quantum mechanics required a fixed classical spacetime geometry not least to give meaning to the time in the Schr\"odinger equation. But in the very early universe spacetime is fluctuating quantum mechanically (quantum gravity) and without definite value. A formulation of quantum mechanics general enough for cosmology was started by Everett and developed by many. That effort has given us a more general framework that is adequate for cosmology --- decoherent (or consistent) histories quantum theory in the context of semiclassical quantum gravity. Copenhagen quantum theory is an approximation to this more general quantum framework that is appropriate for measurement situations. We discuss whether further generalization may still be required.


Two feeding trials were conducted to investigate the optimum feeding rates in juvenile olive founder Paralichthys olivaceus fed practical expanded pellet(EP) containing 58.1% crude protein, 10.7% crude lipid, and 10.8% ash at low and high water temperatures. In the first experiment, triplicate groups of 15 fish with average weight of 7.7 g were fed at one of seven feeding rates(0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.25, or 2.5% of body weight/day or to satiation) for 4 weeks at low water temperature. In the second experiment, quadruplicate groups of 20 fish with average weight of 5.5 g were fed at one of eight feeding rates(0, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.25, 4.5, or 4.75% of body weight/day or to satiation) for 4 weeks at high water temperature. Based on growth performance, we estimated that the optimum feeding rates for juvenile olive flounder were 1.97-2.51% and 4.82-6.36% of body weight/day at low and high water temperatures, respectively. Key words; Olive flounder, Optimum feeding rates, Low temperature, High temperature, Extruded pellet


Compares two corporate governance models: the Anglo‐American and the Continental European model. These corporate governance models differ strongly, and the differences are mainly due to differences in the business context. The problems arising from separation of ownership from control will thus have to be solved through different mechanisms. One important mechanism is the board of directors. The board composition of 122 companies has been analyzed in a Belgian empirical study. From the tests, finds a significant positive relationship between the number of directors in the board and a range of other factors. Shareholder structure does not seem to have an effect on the size of the board. A second variable concerning the composition of the board, is the percentage of external directors. Finds that the number of external directors differs significantly between companies with a different nationality and between companies that are listed or not. Size, shareholder structure and industry were not related to the percentage of external directors in a company.


Reliable mobile agents (MAs) should be able to handle events that impede their normal operation, such as host or server failures. In this paper, we investigate four recovery protocols which support reliable mobile agents and have applications in network management. For each protocol, analytical models are developed for average response time (the time from when an MA is launched until it has visited or attempted to visit all of the hosts on its itinerary) and expected coverage (the number of hosts from the agent's itinerary it is able to visit and complete its task). Simulations are used to verify the analytical models for response time and coverage. The results from the verified analytical models are used to recommend the recovery protocols that best support a low response time and a high coverage under different network management applications. Simulation output using non-exponential repair laws lead to the same conclusions gleaned from the exponential repair law models.


This research aims to determine the effect of the use of Instructional Media Powerpoint- Based and emotional intelligence on descriptive writing skill of Junior High School students number eight Muaro Jambi class seven. This is quantitative with quasi-experimental study which was conducted in two classes, VII D class as the experimental class (has treatment) and class VII F as a control class (has no treatment) . Overall results of the research showed that there is no effect of the use of instructional media powerpoint-based and emotional intelligence on descriptive writing skill of Junior High School students class seven at 95% level of significant. This is because of three hypotheses proposed, only one hypothesis stated that H1 received. The rest, hypothesis two and three H0 received. The results of hypotheses testing to hypotheses one, two, and three, are: (1) There is an effect of instructional media powerpoint-based on descriptive writing skill of Junior High School students, (2) There is no effect of emotional intelligence on descriptive writing skill of Junior High School students, (3) There is no interaction between instructional media powerpoint-based and emotional intelligence. It is true that the result of hypothesis testing on hypothesis one that there is an effect of instructional media powerpoint-based, but the effect is not significant. Keyword: media-based learning powerpoint, emotional intelligence, the ability to write descriptive


Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumor that affects individuals worldwide, and miRNA and mRNA are closely connected to this disease. However, it is still unclear how these molecules affect GC and whether their effects are associated with circRNA in GC patients. Therefore, we obtained the miRNA, mRNA and circRNA expression profiles of GC patients from the GEO database. For comparison, shared miRNAs and mRNAs from the results of microarrays were annotated by gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis. We also identified mRNAs that were targeted by miRNA through TargetScan 7.2 and circRNAs that were targeted by miRNA through CircInteractome. A comprehensive analysis of the microarray results revealed 72 shared miRNAs, and the expression profiles of 6 miRNAs were significantly different between the tumor and control groups (the absolute value of fold change>2, P<0.05). Hsa-miR-1, hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-95, hsa-miR-133a and hsa-miR-181d were upregulated in GC, whereas hsa-miR-375 was downregulated. The analysis results also revealed 1201 shared mRNAs and 27 mRNAs, respectively, by microarray and TargetScan. Pathway analysis demonstrated that the Glypican pathway, Proteoglycan syndecan-mediated signalling events, Glypican 1 network and PAR1-mediated thrombin signalling events play important roles. GO analysis revealed significant enrichment in the three terms cellular component, molecular function and biological process, suggesting that organelles, enzyme binding, RNA-binding and nitrogen metabolism may have a strong relationship in GC. The increase in PAX6 in GC may be related to hsa-miR-375. Three circRNAs, hsa_circ_0001658, hsa_circ_0004928 and hsa_circ_0000376, were then found to be significantly differentially expressed between GC and normal tissues (the absolute value of fold change>2, P<0.05). In conclusion, the circ0001658/circ0004928/circ0000376-miR-375-PAX6 axis may represent a new regulatory network that should be further investigated, and the results of this study provide a better understanding of GC.


IN the present age of high-speed automobile transport and increasing frequency of traffic accidents, one expects to encounter a growing number of chest injuries with cardiac involvement. Those of the direct, penetrating type are readily recognizable, but the nonpenetrating, indirect injuries to the heart may be overlooked. Early diagnosis is essential, not only because specific surgical treatment may be available for cardiac rupture or tamponade, but also because the management of myocardial contusion may be similar to that of myocardial infarction. The first reported case of myocardial contusion due to nonpenetrating chest injury was described by Akenside 1 in 1763. A 14-year-old boy was struck in the chest by a plate. Autopsy six months later revealed extensive necrosis of the left ventricular wall, covered by adherent pericardium. Urbach 2 in 1940 found 185 cases of cardiac injury among 1,000 autopsy cases of chest contusion. From 1900 to 1937, 108 cases


Due to the rapid climatic change drought becomes abiotic constraint globally. A factorial laboratory experiment was designed with CRD to evaluate the effects of kernel priming on wheat cultivars under induced drought stress. Seven common wheat cultivars in Kurdistan (Adana, Maxipak, Sham4, Sham6, Aras, Azadi and Rizgari) were tested under different negative osmotic solutions (0, -0.5, -1 and -1.5 Mpa), using Polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). Among different cultivars Azadi exhibited better survival at high levels of drought stress for germination and its related traits. It also revealed high performance for shoot growth under the water stress, which was affirmed by the principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The superiority of this cultivar might be refer to exposing of this genotype to natural selection for a long duration under semiarid conditions of the local environment. Rizgari also had better performance mostly for the seedling characteristics, being a suitable cultivar for the late induced drought. The other cultivars had an intermediate response to the induced drought stress. This method could assist the plant breeder for rapid detection of drought tolerant genotypes in a large population with the reduced cost and labor compared to field trials.


Over recent years the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed) has conducted several investigations into early synthetic dyes that are used as wood stains. Their poor light fastness means that these dyes are often severely faded. Nevertheless it is usually possible to find parts of a piece of furniture where the original colour is still visible, for example in places that are covered and therefore shielded from light. Against this background a 2007 study looked at 19th century marquetry used on 17th century furniture. These appeared to have been stained primarily with synthetic dyes, detectable particularly on the rear of the inlay work. What was striking, however, was the difficulty encountered in identifying the dyes, even in areas which were not heavily faded. The reason for this was unclear; was the concentration of the dyes applied to the wood low, or was the method used to extract the dyes from the wood unsuitable? Pronouncing judgements about the original colour also proved troublesome, while that is often the primary reason to conduct colour research. It is not only the characteristics of the dye which play a role in determining the original colour of a piece of furniture: the colour of the wood, the concentration of the dye, additives included in the recipe for the stain and other factors also need to be taken into account. That is why a research program was launched involving reconstructions: veneers were coloured with a representative selection of dyes. Studying and following historical recipes and varying various parameters allowed us to make more informed judgements about the original colours. Subsequently, these reconstructions were also used to optimise the analytical method. The results of this research are described in this article.


Background The Swedish Rheumatology Quality register (SRQ) started in 1995 and is one of the largest register collecting data on rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases in the world. The aim of the register has always been to support health care along with collect data for research. The national coverage is 82.7% in rheumatoid arthritis. However, the extraction of useful real-time data in every day practice have been so far only limited. Objectives To design and implement a tool connected to the SRQ that allows users to monitoring their local data and results of care in comparison to national data. Methods We designed a Visualization and Analysis Platform (VAP) based on R language, using the web framework of Shiny (© RStudio, Inc.). The platform is based on predefined types of analyses such as flexible tabular presentations, cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons. A user interface with reactive programming was implemented to control the appearance of interactive graphs and tables, and to explore the changes in outcome measures. Results A web-based platform for live visualization of data was developed and linked to the SRQ, a register containing ca. 75,000 patients and 500,000 registered visits, as long as 60,000 prescriptions of biological treatments. The users is able to control the specifics of the data analysis using a flexible interface, and it can visualize the results in a graph as long as in a table, that can easily be download. An explanation of the graph is included, to support the user in the understanding of what is represented. The VAP tool has been used to visualize data on the so called Open Comparison diagrams, 5 quality indicators that have been discussed at national level and that have been used to evaluate performances of care across counties in Sweden. We also applied this tool to the analysis of use of biological treatments in Stockholm (Fig.1). The user is therefore able to visualize how many times a specific biological treatment has been prescribed in his unit and compare it to the national value, as long as select different periods of time of interest and different diagnosis. Conclusions The VAP offers a flexible tool for visualization and analysis of real-time SRQ's data and it is aimed to satisfy the growing request of data by clinicians, patients, researchers, care providers and pharma companies. Moreover, the VAP tool by its nature allows the possibility of fast changes in this structure, following the changes in everyday rheumatology care in real-time. Disclosure of Interest None declared


The interpretation of another person's eye gaze is a key element of social cognition. Previous research has established that this ability develops early in life and is influenced by the person's head orientation, as well as local features of the person's eyes. Here we show that the presence of objects in the attended space also has an impact on gaze interpretation. Eleven normal adults identified the fixation points of photographed faces with a mouse cursor. Their responses were systematically biased toward the locations of nearby objects. This capture of perceived gaze direction probably reflects the attribution of intentionality and has methodological implications for research on gaze perception.


Context: The obturator artery (OA) originates from the internal iliac artery (IIA), and it runs on the lateral pelvic wall to leave through the obturator canal. It can have a varied source of origin. A small pelvic space makes it susceptible to injury during repair of femoral and inguinal hernias and pelvic surgeries. Unexpected injury of an aberrant OA can be avoided only with a thorough knowledge of its anatomy. Aim: This study aims to estimate the prevalence and describe the course of aberrant obturator arteries. Settings and Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional, cadaveric study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, India. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four hemipelvices were dissected. Variations in the origin, course, and relations of the OA were observed and noted. Statistical Analysis Used: The results were tabulated, and the prevalence of each variation was calculated. Results: Variations were seen in 40.6% cases. OA originated from inferior epigastric artery (23.4%), external iliac artery (3.1%), posterior division of IIA and iliolumbar artery (1.5%), superior gluteal artery (6.2%), internal pudendal artery (1.5%), and inferior gluteal artery (3.1%) cases. Arterial corona mortis, a tortuous anastomotic channel connecting OA (originating from IIA) and inferior epigastric artery was seen along with venous connections in one specimen. Conclusions: Aberrant origins of OA pose a high risk for significant hemorrhage in trauma and various surgeries. Hence, a sound anatomical knowledge of its origin and course is vital while repairing fractures and hernias in this region.


This volume is a flora of a very interesting desert region in far northwestern Mexico and southwestern United States. It describes nearly 600 species found in a region centered on northwestern Sonora. Given its technical nature, this volume will be of most interest to a small number of archaeologists who work in the area or adjacent locations. The author, Richard Felger, is a wellregarded ethnobotanist who has published many important works on the relationships between indigenous peoples and their botanical surroundings in northwestern Mexico. It is, therefore, not surprising that this encyclopedic reference also contains information useful to a wider range of archaeologists than one would first think. Part 1 includes sections on "paleoclimate," "present climate," "major habitats," and "history and human influences." The second part, with over 500 pages, is the flora that includes some ethnobotanical information in addition to the expected morphological, evolutionary, and taxonomic data. A gazetteer, six appendices, and extensive bibliography finish up this monumental work.


Whole, ethanolic, hexanic, lyophilized extracts of several plants and anacardic acid tested in respect of their influence on the oviposition behavior of Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz) at 100, 10 and 1 ppm concentrations. Extracts of Allium stivum, Jatropha curcas, Mikania schenkii, Poinciana regia and Spatodea campanulata had a repulsive effect (α=0.05) on females at 100 ppm, those of Anacardium occidentale, Bidens segetum and Caesalpinia peltophoroides were also repelent at 10 ppm. Extracts of Coriandrum sativum (100, 10 and 1 ppm), Chara Zeylanica (10 ppm), Cupressus sempervirens (10 ppm), Foeniculum vulgare (10 ppm) and Spatodea campanulata (1 ppm) were attractive to the females; 13 (52.0%) of the extracts tested, did not influence the oviposition behavior.


The objective of this study is to investigate students' decision-making during the information gathering activities of a design process. Existing literature in engineering education has shown that students face difficulties while gathering information in various activities of a design process such as brainstorming and CAD modeling. Decision-making is an important aspect of these activities. While gathering information, students make several decisions such as what information to acquire and how to acquire that information. There lies a research gap in understanding how students make decisions while gathering information in a product design process. To address this gap, we conduct semi-structured interviews and surveys in a product design course. We analyze the students' decision-making activities from the lens of a sequential information acquisition and decision-making (SIADM) framework. We find that the students recognize the need to acquire information about the physics and dynamics of their design artifact during the CAD modeling activity of the product design process. However, they do not acquire such information from their CAD models primarily due to the lack of the project requirements, their ability, and the time to do so. Instead, they acquire such information from the prototyping activity as their physical prototype does not satisfy their design objectives. However, the students do not get the opportunity to iterate their prototype with the given cost and time constraints. Consequently, they rely on improvising during prototyping. Based on our observations, we discuss the need for designing course project activities such that it facilitates students' product design decisions.


Relevance of research. Under conditions related to the reformation of the national education system in general and in the field of art in particular, when priority cultural values and ideals are being reassessed and rethought, it is becoming necessary to turn to those historically formed pedagogical traditions of choreographic education and culture, which, on the one hand, must be preserved, and on the other hand, adapted to the new conditions of the Ukrainian cultural, economic and political reality. The purpose of the article is to analyse the peculiarities of the development dynamics of the Ukrainian choreographic culture and education. These research methods are used: general scientific (analysis, synthesis, systematisation, comparison, generalisation, comparison) in order to clarify the historiography of the problem under study; historical (historical-structural, historical and genesis-based, historical-diachronic, criterial-complex) ensured the development of the research structure; made it possible to reveal the origins of the development of choreographic education and culture. The content of the study and its results. The article examines the peculiarities of the development of the Ukrainian choreographic culture and education in the context of general cultural trends of a certain era. Special attention is paid to the national cultural tradition, the spiritual sphere of society, the change of the general cultural paradigm, the functions of choreographic education and culture. It is noted that the problem of the dynamic development of modern dance art is closely related to the incessant civilisational and socio-cultural progress, the change in the format of psychological and pedagogical approaches, methods and means of choreographic education. The domestic system of choreographic education was formed in the process of long-term acculturation. The specificity of dance education lies in its bicentricity: it is equally closely connected with the educational sphere and with the artistic and performing practice of art. The reformation and development of modern stage choreography took place through the dialectical denial of academic traditions and the construction of new choreographic forms. Under conditions of the cultural and philosophical era of postmodernism, the phenomenon of modern stage choreography is considered as a stylistic reflection of the artistic trends of synthesis.


Compared to other areas, artwork recommendation has received little attention, despite the continuous growth of the artwork market. Previous research has relied on ratings and metadata to make artwork recommendations, as well as visual features extracted with deep neural networks (DNN). However, these features have no direct interpretation to explicit visual features (e.g. brightness, texture) which might hinder explainability and user-acceptance. In this work, we study the impact of artwork metadata as well as visual features (DNN-based and attractiveness-based) for physical artwork recommendation, using images and transaction data from the UGallery online artwork store.
Our results indicate that: (i) visual features perform better than manually curated data, (ii) DNN-based visual features perform better than attractiveness-based ones, and (iii) a hybrid approach improves the performance further. Our research can inform the development of new artwork recommenders relying on diverse content data.


Nerves in the tongues of adult and immature rats were examined with respect to their permeability to exogenous cytochrome‐c (mol wt 12,000) injected into the tongue. The distribution of cytochrome‐c was determined in cryostat sections on the basis of the peroxidase activity of this protein. Nerves of 14‐day‐old rats were permeable to injected cytochrome‐c. The larger nerves of older animals showed only localized accumulations of cytochrome‐c reaction product both between and within axons adjacent to endoneurial blood vessels. Reaction product was not found, however, in association with blood vessels penetrating nerves of the tongue that were not within the limits of tracer spread. In the smallest nerve branches, thin linear strands of reaction product filled the interstices between the nerve fibers.


62-year-old female, who had been under observation for an indolent myeloma for six years without therapy, was admitted because of left flank pain. Various imaging modalities disclosed left pleural effusion, and a huge abdominal tumor involving the left crus of the diaphragm, spleen, stomach, pancreatic tail, left adrenal gland, left kidney and left posterior abdominal wall. Morphological and immunological examinations revealed extensive proliferation of more anaplastic myeloma cells within the tumor and in the pleural effusion than those in bone marrow on admission or at the beginning of the period of observation. Chemotherapy reduced serum M-protein, but LDH, the volume of the pleural effusion, and the size of the tumor increased. She died of pancreatitis associated with massive bleeding from the gastric tumor. Renal function was well preserved until her terminal phase. The clinical course showed the progression of indolent myeloma into an aggressive one without chemotherapeutic intervention, implying a rare subtype in terms of the natural history of multiple myeloma.


Five ampicillin resistant strains of Escherichia coli were exposed to cephalosporins in an in vitro model which simulates the hydrokinetic features of the urinary bladder. Although the strains showed substantial zones of inhibition when tested against cephalosporins by the disc diffusion method, the results in the bladder model suggest that, in conditions where the antibiotic concentration is being reduced by dilution and micturition as well as enzymic hydrolysis by the organism, activity of this group of agents may be insufficient to eradicate infection. It is suggested that the results warrant a closer investigation into the efficacy of cephalosporins against ampicillin resistant Gram negative bacilli in vivo.


1. The affinity of (--)-timolol for beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors was determined on isolated atrial preparations from patients undergoing open heart surgery. The times for onset and offset of antagonism of the positive inotropic effects of (--)-adrenaline and (--)-noradrenaline by (--)-timolol were measured. 2. The antagonism of the positive inotropic effects of (--)-adrenaline and (--)-noradrenaline by (--)-timolol (0.1-100 nM) was simple competitive in human atrium tissue. The slope of Schild-plots was not significantly different from 1.0 [0.93 +/- 0.09 for (--)-adrenaline, 0.97 +/- 0.09 for (--)-noradrenaline]. 3. The inotropic effects of (--)-adrenaline were antagonized significantly more by each concentration of (--)-timolol than those of (--)-noradrenaline. KB-values (-log M) were 10.10 +/- 0.09 against (--)-adrenaline and 9.43 +/- 0.07 against (--)-noradrenaline (P < 0.001). 4. Blocking kinetics of (--)-timolol for the beta-adrenoceptor were relatively slow. Half-times for the onset of blockade by 10 times KB of (--)-timolol were approximately 30 min for both (--)-adrenaline and (--)-noradrenaline; offset times were similar. 5. It is concluded that (--)-timolol has a higher affinity for the beta 2-adrenoceptor than for the beta 1-adrenoceptor in human atrium. This property may be beneficial clinically in protecting against the beta 2-adrenoceptor hypersensitivity induced by cardiac beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade, but also explain why severe asthma can occur after administration of very low intra-ocular doses of the drug.