Reasons for performing study: Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a cluster of problem that includes obesity, insulin resistance and laminitis. In EMS peripheral adipocytes synthesize adipokines which are analogous to cortisol, resulting in Cushing syndrome like-signs and insulin resistance. The used of dexamethasone and triancinolone is very common and not permitted.Hypothesis or Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe metabolic syndrome iatrogenic in Thoroughbred horses.Methods: Were studied 22 Thoroughbred horses (12 female and 10 male), between 2-5 years old, in the national race Track "La Rinconada" Caracas-Venezuela. All equine were euthanized and study by necropsy. Samples were collected from the adrenal glands, gastric mucosa, pancreas, kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs, heart and adenohypofisys. Tissue sections were prepared and stained with Hematoxilin & Eosin (H&E) for light microscopy.Results: Clinical signs were polyury, polydipsy and secondary diabetes mellitus, recurrent infection, lethargie, laminitis and weight loss syndrome. Were isolates of recurrent infection: Salmonella sp., E. coli, Streptococcus sp, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterobacter cloacae. Necropsy revealed: weight loss, loss fatty subcutaneous, xantomathosis of subcutaneous tissue. Abscess in coxal tuberous, facial and shoulder region. Liver was swollen, friable and icteric. Renal cortical and papillary necrosis. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome severed. Liver with periacinar necrosis with a prominent acinar pattern and fatty degeneration severed. Necrosis and vacuolar (glycogen) degeneration islets of langerhans, fibrosis and chronic. Renal cortical and medullary necrosis, acute tubular necrosis and glycogen nephrosis, glomerulonephritis membranous. Hemorrhages in adrenal cortex and atrophy cortical.Conclusions: These results suggest a iatrogenic EMS in Thoroughbred associated with overdose and chronic dexamethasone and triancinolona.Potential relevance: This article is a clinical study, laboratory, bacterial, macroscopic and histopathological describing the clinical pathologic presentation of metabolic syndrome pathological in Thoroughbreds horses associated with overdose and chronic dexamethasone and triancinolona.


By means of time-lapse microcinematography, metaphase arrest was studied in synchronized NHIK 3025 cells in contact with 5-chloropyrimidin-2-one (NY 3000) or vincristine. A dose-dependent prolongation of mitosis was found for both substances, and the fraction of cells able to escape mitotic arrest declined gradually as the concentration of NY 3000 or vincristine was increased. Significant prolongation of metaphase was observed after treatment with 0.5 mm NY 3000 or vincristine (0.5 ng/ml; 0.54 nm), while total block in metaphase was achieved with 8 mm NY 3000 or vincristine (16 ng/ml; 17.3 nm).

The inactivating effect was measured as loss of colonyforming ability after continuous exposure for 12 to 14 days. NY 3000 (0.75 mm) brought total inactivation, although the prolongation of metaphase still was small at this concentration of NY 3000. Vincristine at concentrations that cause great prolongation of metaphase still permitted formation of colonies.

Both drugs demonstrated dose-dependent prolongation of interphase at concentrations entailing complete metaphase block. The phase specificity of the interphase action on synchronized cells was measured by pulsed incorporation of [3H]thymidine combined with a registration of time of entry into metaphase. NY 3000 resulted in a prolongation of all stages of interphase. The interphase effect of vincristine was reflected in a delay in G2. This was confirmed by flow cytometric recording of DNA distributions.

These results reveal that the metaphase-arresting agents NY 3000 and vincristine act also in the interphases of proliferating cells. However, the mechanism behind the interphase effect seems to be different for the two drugs.


Data-driven, model-free control has become popular in recent years, due to their ease of implementation and minimal information requirement about the system. In this paper, we investigate whether the same methods could be used by an adversary to synthesize undetectable data-injection attacks on cyber-physical systems using Willems' Fundamental Lemma. We show that if the adversary is able to upper bound the order of a linear, time-invariant system and read all its inputs and outputs, then the adversary will be able to generate undetectable attack signals in the form of covert attacks. Additionally, we provide conditions on the disclosed data set that enable the adversary to generate zero dynamics attacks. These conditions give operators insights into when enough information about the system has been revealed for an adversary to conduct an undetectable attack. Finally, the different attack strategies are verified through a numerical example.


Objective:To use Sternberg's Additive Factor Method to determine whether patients with mild Alzheimer disease (AD) are slow in information processing and/or response execution. Methods:We gave an odd-even categorization task to 16 patients with probable mild AD and 17 age-matched healthy controls. We recorded reaction and movement times to stimuli varying for noise, target set size, stimulus-response compatibility, and fore-period interval, to probe the cognitive and motor stages of information processing. Results:Both groups performed the task accurately, indicating good preservation of odd-even categorization in mild AD. The AD group's reaction times were similar to the controls' across conditions, and not selectively affected in any of the cognitive stages of the Additive Factor Method. However, the AD group's movement times were slower than the controls' across conditions. Conclusions:AD patients' performance on a task requiring categorization ability was slowed more by motor than cognitive components of information processing. When evaluating the performance of patients with AD in reaction-time paradigms, we should not attribute group differences solely to differences in cognitive processing. Execution components should also be considered.


A large 9-10 GHz tile-based scalable phased-array system (over 128 elements) is built by flip-chip bonding of elementary antenna-in-package (AiP) modules on a large interposer PCB. Each module has a top radiating surface and a bottom BGA bonding surface. Due to the strict spacing requirement of a phased-array system, rework of any failed modules from the interposer PCB is prone to create more damages to the system and is prohibited. It is necessary to have a reliable and Automatic Test Equipment (ATE)-compatible test procedures to pre-screen qualified elementary modules for bonding. However, conventional ATE-compatible test jig designs can neither receive radiation signals from antenna nor feed test signals into the antenna. In this paper, a waveguide jig for AiP pre-screening is proposed. This jig system consists of a WR-90 adapter, a horn antenna, a Torlon cap and socket with POGO pins, and a PCB to interface with ATE. To test AiP transmitter, controls and test signals are provided through PCB connectors, with radiation signals collected from the WR-90 adaptor. To test the AiP receiver, radiation signals are feeding through the WR-90 adaptor, and the receiver output signals are collected from the PCB connectors. To calibrate waveguide jig return loss, a set of AiP SOL modules are used to remove PCB and test fixture loss from the overall system loss. The waveguide jig achieves a flat simulated −2.4 dB from AiP antenna port to waveguide port from 8 to 12 GHz. This waveguide jig provides a fast and reliable approach to select qualified AiP for phased array system assemblies, and the final system-level over-the-air testing.


Building large crossbar switches for low-latency, high-bandwidth interprocessor interconnects in multiprocessor systems is a difficult task because of the many practical limitations of digital electronics. This paper presents a first order design for a crossbar switch which utilizers wavelength tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) technology and free space optics. Free space optics can be utilized to construct a crossbar switch without the wiring complexity normally associated with digital electronic crossbar. Wavelength tunable VCSELs can be utilized to reduce the required number of components per node to as few as one wavelength tunable VCSEL and one fixed frequency receiver, thereby reducing the overall cost. By utilizing space division multiplexing, one can further increase the size of the optical crossbar switch by adding additional wavelength tunable VCSELs at each node, greatly increasing the saleability of the overall system. An example system configuration containing 256 channels is presented.


Aims and method To determine whether members of the general public read a leaflet from the Time to Change anti-stigma campaign. The leaflets were sent to 1000 members of the public at random. Those who read the leaflet were asked, in a statement concealed within the text, to return it. A second study involved modified leaflets being posted to 400 members of a representative panel of the UK general public. Results Only 20 of the 1000 (2%) people who received the unsolicited leaflet returned them, which suggests that the vast majority were unread. However, the leaflet achieved a good response in the sample from the research panel with at least 29% of participants (115 of 400) reading the leaflet. Clinical implications A very small proportion of people acknowledge unsolicited leaflets. However, the leaflet was read by almost a third of a research panel. Hence, few people are likely to read unsolicited leaflets, including those containing a public health message.


Abstract The process of preclinical drug discovery consists of two steps: finding of initial hits (binding ligands to a medicinal relevant target, usually a protein) and lead optimization. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a powerful tool that can provide valuable information to every step of drug development. NMR is commonly used for characterizing the structure and molecular dynamics of target or ligand molecules. During the structure-based lead optimization, NMR provides insight into the structural and dynamical properties of the target-ligand complex. Recently, the use of NMR in the lead finding process by screening technologies has been shown. For the latter use, new techniques have also been developed. Those techniques, in combination with high throughput, have lead to an efficient screening of libraries composed of small molecules. In this article, the role of NMR during the discovery of a drug candidate is described.


The life time of some real-time systems is determined by batteries, thus necessitating a mechanism for energy management. These systems must consider not only schedulability constraints to ensure temporal correctness but also their energy limitations to accomplish their considered mission. Moreover, it is still desired that the system provides services with the best possible quality. This work presents a problem of selecting the frequency for each task to fulfill the system goal, while considering issues of schedulability and energy consumption. The problem is formulated in mathematical programming and solved with a convex-optimization algorithm. It is assumed that CPU frequency can be selected continuously within a given range. The system reconfiguration scheme assumes the earliest deadline first (EDF) policy, with soft and hard real-time tasks managed by some bandwidth reservation scheme. The effectiveness of the proposed solution is shown through numerical analysis.


The classification of finite-dimensional pointed Hopf algebras with group S3 was finished in (AHS): there are exactly two of them, the bosoniza- tion of a Nichols algebra of dimension 12 and a non-trivial lifting. Here we determine all simple modules over any of these Hopf algebras. We also find the Gabriel quivers, the projective covers of the simple modules, and prove that they are not of finite representation type. To this end, we first investigate the modules over some complex pointed Hopf algebras defined in the papers (AG1, GG), whose restriction to the group of group-likes is a direct sum of 1-dimensional modules.


In the 1998--2001 period we carried out a survey on a representative group of the Lublin Region inhabitants aged over 35. During the survey we found particularly high and so far underestimated prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Ischaemic heart disease and sudden heart death, which is related to it, are the most frequent DM 2 complications. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of selected ischaemic heart disease risk factors--obesity, central obesity, arterial hypertension, lipid disorders and the smoking habit--in the Lublin Region inhabitants in groups with correct and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) as well as newly diagnosed and known type 2 diabetes mellitus 2 (DM 2), and to compare them with each other. We found significantly higher prevalence of obesity, central obesity, arterial hypertension, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in the group with IGT and DM 2 compared to the group without IGT and DM 2. We did not find significant differences between the groups in total hypercholesterolemia and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia prevalence. Smoking percentage was significantly higher in persons without IGT and DM 2. Ischaemic heart disease risk factors related to the metabolic syndrome are significantly more frequent in persons with DM 2 and IGT. Diagnosis and treatment of these disorders should be a priority in diabetes care.


Objective : The aim of this work was to develop and validate a simple Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography method for the simultaneous estimation of Clindamycin and Clotrimazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Methods : The mobile phase consists of phosphate buffer and Acetonitrile in the ratio of (48:52) with gradient programming, Hypersil BDS (250×4.6 mm,5µ) column used as stationary phase with a flow rate of 1 ml/min, injection volume 10 µl and the run time was 10 min. Detection wavelength was at 220 nm by using Photo Diode Array detector. Results : The retention times of Clindamycin and Clotrimazole were found to be 2.2 min and 5.7 min respectively. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines. Validation parameters like accuracy, precision, linearity, range, limit of detection, limit of quantification and robustness all were within the limits. The linearity responses of Clindamycin and Clotrimazole were found to be in the concentration ranges of 25-150 µg/ml and 50-300 µg/ml. The percentage recovery for both drugs was found in the range of 99-100%. The LOD & LOQ values for were found to be 1.29µg/ml and 3.93µg/ml and Clotrimazole were found to be 1.31µg/ml and 3.96 µg/ml, respectively. Conclusion : The results obtained are accurate and within the limits. Hence this method can be applicable for the estimation of Clindamycin and Clotrimazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms.


The human blood optical parameters have been calculated based on Mie theory. The calculations have been done in the spectral range from 400 nm to 1000 nm, which is of great interest due to usage of many therapeutic and diagnostic technologies. The influence of an immersion agent, like glucose, on optical properties of blood, has been studied.


The development of complex systems involves several domain experts and several design models corresponding to different analyses (views) of the same system. No explicit information regarding the characteristics of the performed system analyses is given. We propose a stepwise approach to keep trace of the process that allows a system designer to build a point of view first, by explicitly defining the features of an analysis (view) and second, by explicitly defining the required concepts and properties borrowed from a design model. The objective is to trigger a given model analysis. Strengthening the design models with domain knowledge is highly recommended before performing such analysis. We propose a model annotation methodology for this purpose. These approaches are deployed using Model Driven Engineering (MDE) techniques and illustrated on an didactic case study.


As a data analyst for genetic clinical research, I was often working with familial data connecting parents with their children and looking for trends. When I realized the complexity of this programming could be accomplished quite easily with the SQL Procedure, I started learning the syntax and I've been a PROC SQL fan ever since. I've been suggesting SQL solutions to colleagues for their programming tasks for years and now I'm writing a paper to share the power of PROC SQL with you. This paper will give you some simple PROC SQL steps to get you started and some more complex steps to show you a few of the ways that PROC SQL can make your programs simpler and more efficient.


Pre-anaesthetic assessment of the patients is an integral part of anesthesia & surgery. In assessing the present condition and to determine the prognosis of the outcome of the patients after surgery in relation to anesthesia, different grading and scoring systems have been used. Grading & scoring for physical status, cardiac index, dyspnoea, liver function, hepatic coma, lung function, multiple injury etc. are very much useful and used for particular system involved. ASA grading covers the general physical condition used for all patients. So it is accepted widely around the world as well as all most all hospitals in Bangladesh.


уголовно-исполнительная Abstract. The article notes that the existing corruption manifestations in the criminal-executive system, includ-ing when deciding on the conditional early release of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment, have become quite frequent. An analysis of the explanations of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation is given, which pays special attention to the issue of parole. It is noted that his explanations are designed not only to streamline the process of parole, but also to really help to release those who are not dangerous to society. To exclude viola-tions when applying parole, which are analyzed in the article, it is necessary to take a number of measures within the framework of reforming the penal system.


Bladder cancer is a common and chemotherapy-responsive tumor, related to tobacco smoking, environmental arsenic exposure, industrial dye exposure, and parasitic schistosomiasis exposure. Both reduction of carcinogen exposure and chemoprevention, possibly with cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors, should reduce the incidence. The search for the ideal screening and monitoring test continues with some promising new candidates, including survivin. Although 10-year survival can be achieved in 87% of early-stage patients with muscle-invasive disease rendered T(0) and 57% of those rendered T(1) at second look after transurethral resection bladder tumor, most still require radical cystectomy. Continued improvements in surgical techniques permit gains in quality of life after the procedure. Ten-year survival can still be achieved with cystectomy in the face of grossly positive lymph nodes in 32% of T(2) and 10% of T(3) patients. A recent meta-analysis indicates that preoperative irradiation is unlikely to be beneficial, but definitive chemoradiation can produce significant 5-year survival rates in nonoperative candidates and those desiring bladder preservation. The Intergroup now has preliminary data from a Southwest Oncology Group-based trial showing a significant benefit for neoadjuvant methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. The regimen of gemcitabine and cisplatin is equally efficacious with less toxicity than methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. It has been adopted as the standard arm in a phase III trial for advanced bladder cancer, comparing it with the triplet of gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and cisplatin. Other active agents in bladder cancer include ifosfamide, carboplatin, docetaxel, and vinorelbine, and various doublets of these agents are being tested in phase II trials, with promising results.


AIM
To evaluate the role of pelvic MRI in diagnosis and assesment of combined surgical and infliximab treatment of perianal Crohn's disease (PACD).

METHOD
24 patients with signs of PACD were prospectively evaluated. They were previously treated with azathyoprin for a period of 6 months to 7 years and antibiotics and than started on Infliximab 5 mg/kg (IFX) at 0, 2 and 6 weeks induction protocol. Luminal CD activity was assesed by colonoscopy. Perianal Disease Activity Index (PDAI) was calculated to evaluate perianal fistulae activity. Surgical examination under anesthesia (EUA) was performed and non-cutting seton placed where appropriate. Pelvic MRI was performed in each patient before Infliximab treatment, and in half of the patients after IFX. MRI criteria were used to asses activity and remission of PACD.

RESULTS
14/24 (58.5%) patients had ileocolitis, 10/24 (41.5%) colitis, and in 22/24 (91.7%) rectum was affected. Median disease duration was 5.5 +/- 2.5 years. MRI revealed simple fistula in 4/24 (16.7%) and complex fistula in 20/24 (83.3%) patients. Abscess was present in 19/24 (79%) patients. Enterocutaneous and recto-vaginal fistula was found in 2 (8.3%) and 3 (12.5%) patients, respectively. Median PDAI before and 8 weeks after IFX treatment was 8.3 +/- 2.08 and 3.5 +/- 1.03, respectively (p = 0.00064). Incomplete response (reduction fistulae drainage by 50%) was found in 10/24 (42%) patients, complete response (no drainage) in 11/24 (46%) patients, while in 3/24 (12.5%) new fistula opened. Control pelvic MRI was performed in 13/24 (54%) patients. Of those, 9/13 (69%) had complete remission according to MRI criteria. Seton was removed after second IFX dose in 15/24 (62.5%) patients and placed again in 2/24 (8%) patients 4 months after completion of IFX treatment.

CONCLUSION
In patients with PACD, pelvic MRI before and after IFX treatment is an important diagnostic tool to asses fistula tract localisation, reveal abscess, planning adequate treatment approach and assess the effect of treatment. Surgical decision to remove seton was in accordance with MRI criteria for remission in PACD.


Errors in dialysis care can cause harm and death. While dialysis machines are rarely a major cause of morbidity, human factors at the machine interface and suboptimal communication among caregivers are common sources of error. Major causes of potentially reversible adverse outcomes include medication errors, infections, hyperkalemia, access-related errors, and patient falls. Root cause analysis of adverse events and "near misses" can illuminate care processes and show system changes to improve safety. Human factors engineering and simulation exercises have strong potential to define common clinical team purpose, and improve processes of care. Patient observations and their participation in error reduction increase the effectiveness of patient safety efforts.


The Chinese species of the genus Trichrysis Lichtenstein, 1876 are revised for the first time. Thirteen species are recorded, of which three species are new for science, T. coeruleamaculata Rosa, Wei & Xu, sp. n., T. tridensnotata Rosa, Wei & Xu, sp. n., and T. yuani Rosa, Feng & Xu, sp. n.. Two species are revalidated: T. tonkinensis (Mocsáry, 1914) and T. formosana (Mocsáry, 1912). Two new synonymies are proposed, T. formosana (Mocsáry, 1912)=T. sauteri (Mocsáry, 1912), syn. n.=T. taial (Tsuneki, 1970), syn. n.. The lectotype of Chrysis pellucida du Buysson, 1887 is designated.


Clinical accompaniment is essential to provide nursing students with a foundation to apply to practice. This study aimed to explore the e-PJJ nursing students' perception regarding their clinical accompaniment during their clinical placement. This qualitative phenomenology study was conducted using in-depth interviews and focus group discussion among eleven Bachelor of Nursing (e-PJJ) students. This study revealed three themes: Supervision in Clinical Placement; Student-centered Learning, and Feeling Stress as a Distance Learner. The need for clinical accompaniment among e-PJJ students was minimal, but they required written guidelines to facilitate them during a clinical attachment.
Keywords: Experience, clinical accompaniment, distance learners, qualitative study.
eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i19.3127


Although fluorescent reporters and biosensors have become indispensable tools in biological and biomedical fields, fluorescence measurements require external excitation light, thereby limiting their use in thick tissues and live animals. Bioluminescent reporters and biosensors may potentially overcome this hurdle because they use enzyme-catalyzed exothermic biochemical reactions to generate excited-state emitters. This review first introduces the development of bioluminescent reporters, and next, their applications in sensing biological changes in vitro and in vivo as biosensors. Lastly, we discuss chemiluminescent sensors that produce photons in the absence of luciferases. This review aims to explore fundamentals and experimental insights and to emphasize the yet-to-be-reached potential of next-generation luminescent reporters and biosensors.


This paper aims to present the activities carried out within the MUSE European Project, with specific regard to the Work Package "Modernization and Strengthening of Human Capital", led by University of Bologna. One of the main goal of this project is the creation – in Chile, Mexico and Argentina – of Students with disabilities Support Centres and long-term strategies for the access and retention of students with disabilities in the Higher Education system. In order to design and create these Support Centres, the University of Bologna trained 30 administrative and academic staff from Latin America on the main conceptual issues related to: Inclusive Approach, Universal Design for Learning, ICT for inclusion and pedagogical design of active learning environment. The training aims to provide pedagogical and didactic competences – in particular on the use of ICT – to foster the inclusion of students with disability at university.


The aim of the work paper is to present the diagnosis methods of the esophago-gastric junction adenocarcinoma, based on our experience and literature data. The later reveal many novelties about diagnosis means in Barrett's esophagus (BE), the definition and classification of BE, as well as the progress of the endoscopical, immunohistochemical and molecular methods in surveillance of the dysplasia arising in BE and in detection of intraepithelial neoplasia. Early esophago-gastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma (AC) is asymptomatic and its detection may be possible only through endoscopical surveillance. Although endoscopical surveillance is widely practiced, early AC represents only 20% from AC arising in BE. For this reason is necessary to use some more precise methods for identifying intestinal metaplasia on distal esophagus, in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease, as well as for risk stratification in patients with dysplasia and for detection of intraepithelial neoplasia. Applying modern methods of immunohistochemical and molecular diagnosis on endoscopical biopsy or esophageal brushing samples, the diagnosis rate for BE, dysplasia and early AC is improved and using the imaging means permits to obtain preoperative TNM staging and tumoral type (Siewert), with implications in therapeutical management.


This study aimed to perform the taxonomic survey of Euastrum and Micrasterias in a lentic tropical environment, seeking to contribute to the knowledge on biodiversity and geographical distribution of the Zygnemaphyceae. Conducted at the Samambaia Reservoir, ten samples were collected in the dry season (24/09/10 and 04/11/10) and ten in the rainy season (06/01/11 and 02/03/11). Periphyton was sampled from stems of aquatic plants (Cyperaceae), which were in the marginal area of the reservoir. With the floristic survey, 22 taxa were identified representing the genus Euastrum (9) and Micrasterias (13), of these 16 are new records for the State of Goias. In relation the frequency of occurrence and the seasonal period, 19 taxa were classified in the rare category and three in common, nine species were recorded during the dry season, while four only in the rainy season.


Summary A volcanic episode, initiated in the late Tremadoc and persisting into the lower Llanvirn, is represented around Rhobell Fawr (SH 7825) by basaltic lavas and their breccias (the Rhobell Volcanic Group), by dolerite, microdiorite and microtonalite intrusions, by a rhyolite tuff and by the basic and intermediate constituents of certain sedimentary rocks. Initially basalts were erupted, at a variable rate, subaerially from fissures. This effusive phase was followed by eruptions of andesite and dacite, which, in turn, were followed by explosive eruption of rhyolite. A dyke regime in the west of the area represents the sub- and intravolcanic parts of a major site of eruption and was the source of the volcanic group. The rocks of the Rhobell episode are genetically related by amphibole-dominated fractional crystallisation of mantle-derived basaltic magma and are similar to those of modern destructive plate margin environments. The Rhobell fractionation series, from silica-undersaturated to quartz-normative, is closely paralleled by that at Grenada, at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles island arc. The tectonovolcanic evolution of the area is consistent with the development of a N-S basement fracture situated beneath the eastern margin of the Harlech Dome.


This article responds to recent calls for bringing capitalism back into the study of social movement research. It goes beyond a Marxian class-based analysis of capitalism and introduces a broader institutional political economic perspective on social movements. Instead of only trying to explain motivations and political orientations, this article takes the Polanyian idea of embeddedness as a starting point to discuss the role of social movements in the construction of institutions governing capitalism today. Those institutions are national and global. Accordingly, the relations between capitalist institutions and social movements can be analysed in the national context, transnationally and from a comparative perspective. The article provides some new theoretical lenses and opens up new research questions for future empirical investigations along these three dimensions. In sum the article proposes to take a closer look on social movements' role in the struggles between market creation and market regulation. Given the dominance of neoliberal ideology, despite continuous mobilisation for social justice and democracy, future research should pay particular attention to unintended consequences of social movements and the responses of economic elites to outside challenges, which help explain the strength and resilience of neoliberal capitalism.


Japan's economic and social development since the end of the Pacific War is a story of growth and success. Life improved continuously for the vast majority of all Japanese. Yet, the level of life satisfaction in Japan, measured along the scales of the World Database of Happiness, is low by international comparison. The Japanese are rich, healthy and long-lived, but not as happy as indicators of material wellbeing would predict. While their life-expectancy rose, their readiness to reproduce declined. Over the past half century Japan's total fertility rate (TFR) fell to less than one third of what it was in mid twentieth century. What do these two trends imply about happiness? What does Japan's experience of demographic change teach us about the effects of birth-rate and family size on happiness? Can TFR be used for measuring the "livability of nations"?


An in vitro cytotoxic test is described for the demonstration of cell-mediated immunity to soluble antigen. This system has been used to study the development of a cytotoxic splenic lymphocyte population in the guinea pig after immunization with dinitrophenylated human IgG (DNP-HGG). As "target" cells, 51Cr-labeled mouse mastocytoma cells were used, and were coupled to DNP-HGG with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide HCl. "Target" cell destruction was assessed by comparing the rates of 51Cr release from these cells in the presence of splenic lymphocytes from specifically sensitized animals with that released in the presence of the same number of lymphocytes from unimmunized animals. The mastocytoma cells were found to be preferable to erythrocytes as carriers of antigen, in that they were more sensitive to membrane permeability changes. Splenic lymphocytes from guinea pigs immunized with DNP-HGG caused specific lysis of DNP-HGG-coated mastocytoma cells. Cells coated with DNP-BSA and HGG were lysed to a lesser extent, while cells coated with antigens immunochemically unrelated to the antigen used for sensitization were not lysed to any greater extent than that observed with lymphocytes from unimmunized animals. Several factors distinguished cytolysis by "sensitized" lymphocytes from that mediated by serum antibody in the presence of complement. Cytolysis by lymphocytes was not inhibited by anti-guinea pig immunoglobulin antisera. The total cytolytic activity of splenic lymphocytes did not parallel measured serum antibody. The specificity of cytolysis by splenic lymphocytes from animals immunized with DNP-HGG was markedly carrier-dependent.


The reported number of registered leprosy patients worldwide declined with the introduction of multidrug therapy. However, the emergence of rifampicin resistance in leprosy patients engenders difficulties for an individual patient, and its dissemination could pose a threat to leprosy control. This study reports an elderly patient who was diagnosed with rifampicin-resistant lepromatous leprosy. This case indicates that inadequate treatment and poor compliance may eventually result in rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium leprae and clinical relapse.


Bacteria can encounter a variety of physical conditions during their life. Bacterial cells are able to survive these (often adverse) conditions by the induction of specific or general protection mechanisms. The lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis is widely used for the production of cheese. Before and during this process as well as in its natural habitats, it is subjected to several stressful conditions. Such conditions include oxidation, heating and cooling, acid, high osmolarity/dehydration and starvation. In many environments combinations of these parameters occur. Understanding the stress response behaviour of L. lactis is important to optimize its application in industrial fermentations and is of fundamental interest as L. lactis is a non-differentiating Gram-positive bacterium. The stress response mechanisms of L. lactis have drawn increasing attention in recent years. The presence in L. lactis of a number of the conserved systems (e.g. the heat shock proteins) has been confirmed. Some of the regulatory mechanisms responding to an environmental stress condition are related to those found in other Gram-positive bacteria. Other stress response systems are conserved at the protein level but are under control of mechanisms unique for L. lactis. In a number of cases exposure to a single type of stress provides resistance to other adverse conditions. The unravelling of the underlying regulatory systems gives insight into the development of such cross resistance. Taken together, L. lactis has a unique set of stress response mechanisms, most of which have been identified on the basis of homology with proteins known from other bacteria. A number of the regulatory elements may provide attractive tools for the development of food grade inducible gene expression systems. Here an overview of the growth limits of L. lactis and the molecular characterization of its stress resistance mechanisms is presented.


Although >60% of oral cancer cases are not related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, most studies of oral carcinogenesis in human cells in vitro are carried out with human oral keratinocytes immortalized by HPV DNA. To explore whether human oral keratinocytes can spontaneously transform without HPV infection, we attempted to establish spontaneously immortalized and tumorigenic-transformed human oral keratinocytes by serial subculture to the post-mitotic stage. Here we report two spontaneously transformed human oral keratinocyte lines from adult human gingival samples. These lines were obviously immortal (>140 passages) and transformed phenotypes in vitro. One of the lines, Spi-HOK1, remained non-tumorigenic in nude mice, whereas the other line, Spt-HOK80, showed tumorigenicity. These lines showed epithelial origi-nality, but did not contain high-risk types of HPV DNAs. On karyotyping, Spi-HOK1 was aneuploid with a unique stable marker chromosome. Both cell lines revealed a mutation in the p53 gene, loss of p21WAF1/Cip1 and overexpression of p-Rb-Ser807/811. These cell lines were resistant to cisplatin-induced apoptosis by suppressing induction of apoptotic proteins. These results clearly demonstrate that spontaneous immortalization and spontaneous tumorigenic transformation of primary human oral keratinocytes can occur in vitro without HPV infection and are associated with chromosomal alterations, p53 mutation and impaired apoptosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the Spi-HOK1 and Spt-HOK80 lines are novel cell lines that are spontaneously transformed from primary human oral keratinocytes.


The pollen morphology of eight species of Stemodia L. (Plantaginaceae) was analysed with the aim of refining the taxonomy of this genus. The pollen grains were examined with both light and scanning electron microscopes. The pollen grains are spheroidal, sometimes prolate-spheroidal, small, with a subcircular or subtriangular amb, 3- or 4-colporate and with a long colpus that reaches the poles, defining a small, circular to slightly lalongate apocolpium with irregular margins. The exine is tectate, foveolate or microperforate, 1 µm thick and uniform. The species of Stemodia analysed here exhibit morphological homogeneity, which suggests that the genus is stenopalynous.


Writing is one of the main means of assessment in tertiary institutions and helping students with writing could improve their overall academic performance and could ensure that students proceed to graduation. More and more, Academic Development initiatives are being 'driven to demonstrate their "success" by substantiating the rhetoric of their mission statements with researched evidence of performance' (Yeld and Visser 2001, 6). This article describes in detail one study investigating Writing Centre interventions by looking at improvement in assessed writing in the context of the curriculum. The context-embedded nature of the methodology coheres with an 'academic literacies' approach to student writing (Lea and Street 1998), rather than a skills-based approach. The study was achieved through interviewing forty first year students on their perceptions of the Centre and its influence on their writing; looking at consultants' comments; looking at grades; comparing independent assessments of the students' first and final drafts. This multi-faceted approach enabled a holistic and contextualized picture of student writing to emerge.


UNWTO predicts that by 2030, the number of international arrivals will only increase by 3% each year. That is, from the current 1.1 billion international visitors to 1.8 billion by 2030. This is IATA's forecast that air traffic will increase by 4% annually over the next two decades. WTTC stated that tourism and tourism (T&T) are part of the world's largest economy, accounting for 9% of global GDP, 30% of exports, and 1 of 11 global jobs. If there is cross-examination, changes in volatility and uncertainty will occur. Policymakers' charges must be based on a strong future strategy to make room for tomorrow's story. Tourism is very important. It is regarded as the fastest growing industry and contributes to the economic growth. This article examines Cambodian tourism and tourism talent management. It also shows the benefits of managing on-site talent and details the talent management processes used in tourism and tourism. Focusing on how the tourism industry faces the challenge of obtaining talent and supporting professional development is a complex and necessary issue that has a major impact on the future of the industry. With the development and evolution of T&T, it will require new skills in new locations. Companies need to develop appropriate plans to understand the skills requirements of domestic employees. This may be related to working with academic systems to solve skills and gaps in training, an attractive career path, and investments in the development of existing workforces.


It's considered the capability of developed before simplified modification of direct method of boundary trajectory optimizational tasks with the fixed edges conditions solution application for formation of near-optimal trajectories in tasks with mobile right end. The possibility and expediency of permissible controls class expansion is investigated from the standpoint of labor input of solution obtaining and effectiveness of this solution. Examples of particular quasi-optimal solutions are discussed. The applicability of the developed algorithms both for mathematical modeling on fixed computers and for realization in onboard pilot's control actions during maneuvering support system (system of real time) is evaluated.


The accuracy of elemental analyses in complex matrices is usually assessed by analysis of a suitable matrix reference material. The reference value is ascribed by consensus mean and by application of primary methods of analysis. However, the quality of this value will be affected by problems such as matrix-induced interferences, moisture corrections and heterogeneity. Pilot study CCQM-P13 was undertaken to assess the capabilities of National Metrology Institutes to analyse Ca, Cu and Cd in an acidic solution that simulates the digest of a food sample. This study filled the gap between the analysis of a gravimetrically prepared calibration solution and the analysis of an unknown in a complex matrix requiring extensive sample preparation. Having an independent reference value, with a small uncertainty, allowed a more rigorous estimation of the reliability of the institutes' analysis and uncertainty estimates, without including issues around sample digestion. The reference values were: 1.6617 ± 0.0020 µmol/g for Ca, 7.037 ± 0.012 nmol/g for Cu and 45.57 ± 0.10 pmol/g for Cd (expanded uncertainties are quoted with coverage factor of 2). The other elements in the matrix were: Na (~25 µg/g), K (~90 µg/g), Cl (~120 µg/g), Fe (~100 ng/g), Mg (~5 µg/g), P (~5 µg/g), Sn (~80 ng/g) and Zn (~200 ng/g). Twelve international laboratories, representing eight countries, determined the amount content of the analytes. A range of techniques that include ID-ICP-MS (high resolution and collision cell), ICP-MS, ICP-OES, AAS, voltametry and potentiometry were used. The results for this pilot study averaged: 1.654 ± 0.058 µmol/g for Ca (n = 10), 7.26 ± 0.53 nmol/g for Cu (n = 12) and 45.2 ± 5.1 pmol/g for Cd (n = 11) where the values associated with the averages are the standard deviations of n participants. Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM Working Group on Inorganic Analysis (IAWG), according to the provisions of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).


A series of donor–acceptor statistical copolymers based on a 2,7-divinyl-9,9′-di-n-hexylfluorene (FV) donor and 4,7-bis(4-hexadecyl-5-propenyl-2-thienyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (TBTV) acceptor were prepared to investigate the relationship between copolymer donor–acceptor ratio and organic solar cell (OSC) performance. Homopolymers of the donor and acceptor moieties were prepared by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) methods. Five copolymers with systematically varied donor–acceptor ratios spanning the entire composition range were also prepared. All homopolymers and copolymers were characterized using size exclusion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and electrochemical cyclic voltammetry. Additionally, each polymer was incorporated into thin film field effect transistor and photovoltaic devices to investigate optoelectronic properties. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level was found to be tunable over a 600 meV range through systematic variation of the copolymer donor–acceptor ratio. This same tunability manifested in the solar cell open circuit voltage (Voc), which also varied over a 600 mV range. Short circuit current density (Jsc) correlated well with field effect hole mobility. This series exemplifies the relationship between copolymer composition, HOMO energy level, and Voc, and demonstrates that peak solar cell performance can be achieved at non-stoichiometric donor–acceptor compositions.


Why should a conference on information systems and technology feature a track on IT in developing countries (ITDC)? The developing world, where more than 80% of the world's population live, currently owns a mere 4% of the world's computers. Moreover, more than half of humanity has never made a telephone call. Thus, a wide variety of implementation issues exist that are different from those experienced by more developed countries.In developing countries, an information famine of sizeable proportions exists, yet this is seldom recognized in developed countries. Although the information overloading of the digital age brings its own set of problems, it sits in stark contrast to the emaciated state of the information resources available to most of mankind. The IS profession often claims that the discipline is global in nature, but for this to be true, the importance of addressing the issues connected with ITDC must be recognized, while researchers and practitioners from the developing world need to play a more significant role in the IS mainstream.Increasingly, awareness is growing among IS professionals, and others, of the disparities in information access. The UN is greatly concerned about the imbalance in access to communication facilities, expressing its "profound concern" at the "deepening mal-distribution of access, resources and opportunities in the information and communication field". Following its beginning at HICSS-31, interest in IT in Developing Countries surged at HICSS-32. The numbers of papers submitted to HICSS-33 is slightly down and a recurring problem of finance has emerged.Although we originally accepted six papers for this minitrack, three have had to withdraw very late in the day due to a lack of funds. Academics and practitioners in developing countries are seldom able to receive the very considerable funds required for a flight to Hawaii, quite apart from conference fees and hotel bills. To pay for this out of their own pockets would represent several months salary. This unfortunate situation means that the appropriateness of running a minitrack on IT in Developing Countries in venues like Hawaii must be scrutinized carefully.


The semi-discrete finite-element method (FEM) is applied to solve the Poisson equation for a class of microstrip structures. This numerical technique is a variant of the conventional FEM. Its name stems from the fact that finite-element approximation is implemented only along two of the Cartesian coordinates, while the solution dependence on the third is handled analytically. When applicable, this method is simpler and more economical than the conventional fully-discrete version. Convergence properties of the solution are examined, and its validity tested for a number of geometries through comparison with other solutions and published data. >


Medication error reporting (MER) is an effective way used to identify the causes of Medication Errors (MEs) and to prevent repeating them in future. The underreporting of MEs is a challenge generally in all MER systems. The current research aimed to explore nurses' knowledge on MER by determining their attitudes towards reporting and studying the implicated barriers and facilitators. A total of 23 nurses were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The saturation point was attained after 21 interviews. All the interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Four major themes and 17 sub-themes were identified. Almost all the interviewees were aware about the existence of the MER system. They showed a positive attitude towards MER. The main barriers for MER were the impacts of time and workload, fear of investigation, impacts on the job, and negative reactions from the person in charge. The nurses were knowledgeable about MER but there was uncertainty towards reporting harmless MEs, thus indicating the need for an educational program to highlight the benefits of near-miss reporting. To improve participation strategies, a blameless reporting culture, reporting anonymously, and a simplified MER process should be considered.


My dissertation is grounded in a thick ethnography of restaurants as social and material sites in Prishtina, the capital of Kosova. I argue that Kosovar food culture is characterised by its peasant, Ottoman and socialist past. Yet, in the current phase of state-building, Kosovars are constantly seeking to appropriate different ideas, models and practices to construct, reproduce, negotiate and affirm their social and national identity. My ethnography is phenomenologically rooted and dialogically conducted as an embodied approach to the study of commensality, conviviality, sociality and performance in gastronomic 'third places.' I look at both spatial and placial aspects of the foodscape as materialised in restaurants. In chapter one, I focus on the Kosovar society in general and Kosovar food culture in particular. Here, I canvas a general foodview of Kosova with particular focus in its socialist past. Then I move to chapter two to discuss relevant literature in the anthropology of food, and my methodology. In chapter three, I focus on 'banal gastronationalism' and 'culidiversity' as produced, practiced and consumed in restaurants. I also argue that local tradition is represented in the process of appropriating, negotiating and performing culture. In chapter four, I analyse the ways in which 'village' food, 'fast food' and 'our food' have become objectifications of morality, modernity and ideology. This chapter provides a view of foodways, food ideologies, food movements and local coping strategies. In chapter five, I turn to discuss cafe culture. I argue that cafes play a crucial role in the formation, production, reproduction and exchange of identification capital, public sphere and community building. In the final chapter, I conclude by summarising my thesis and argue that anthropology of postsocialism may benefit from the study of food and restaurants.


Abstract The greatest challenge of the 21st century is to recreate the disturbed balance between people and their environment. The functioning of the changed global system warns us about the multiplying of today's global and local problems, which are affecting the world's population. International organizations deal with this issue. In their opinion, environmental education and environmentally conscious thinking can be a way out of the crisis. The efficiency of environmental education is influenced by the ratio of theory and practice as well as the appropriately applied teaching methods, which is confirmed by the experience of the Ecology and Environmental Protection in Kindergarten course of the Benedek Elek Faculty of Pedagogy at the University of Sopron, Hungary.


The article  takes into consideration the problem of limited functions of professional ethics in area of moral aspects of labor. Author takes as starting point of his considerations an interior multifarious of labor relations. Beside of economical aspect of labor and exchange of  fruits of human labor, its moral aspect is considered as very important. An area of knowledge and instrument controlling moral aspect of labor is ethics. Author assumes the need of clear distinction between ethics and morality. The author mean (understand) by ethics an external normative system making criteria of human conduct. Morality is interpreted as an internal stimulator of human conduct based on his conscience. Ethical dimension of human conduct belongs on internal moral approval of requirements of normative system, if it express respect for labor and dignity of man. Moral space of labor is essentially connected with morality. An organization of labor heads to harmonize utility and market value with moral (personal) dimension of labor. If man likes his work and feels its importance and honest assessment, he spreads this valuation on area of labor other people and the good of community. Author is convicted that human relations in social space of labor essentially affects on moral attitudes of society, but administration of it shouldn't constrain to instrumental and institutional functions of code or professional ethics. Therefore  author claims that professional ethics needs more moral reflection, ethical education and moral leadership in area of labor relations.


Background

The role of bone fatigue damage at the nanostructural level, and its effect on fatigue properties is an understudied and important subject. An understanding of the subtler aspects of bone's properties is crucial to understanding bone fragility caused by aging, disease, and fatigue damage. The primary strength of this study was the demonstration of the degradation of bone's microscopic mechanical properties by nanoindentation following fatigue loading.
Methods

Nanoindentation was used to probe the micro-mechanical properties of bovine tibiae subjected to fatigue loading in four-point bending. Indentation tests were conducted in the same 30×120 µm region before fatigue loading and after loading to fracture. We analysed the effects of residual indentations on bone's fatigue resistance using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The mechanical properties calculated using nanoindentation were reduced modulus and hardness, the time constant based on creep, long-term creep viscosity and the dissipated work. Differences of each parameter before loading and post fracture were examined using paired t-tests.
Results

The morphology of the initial residual indentation before fatigue loading appeared the same as that after loading to fracture. The results show that the reduced modulus decreased significantly (p = 9.47×10− 3) by 7.62%~15.16% after fracture whereas the time constant of creep increased slightly (p = 0.049) by 2.81%~5.41%. The p-value was significantly lower (p < 0.001) for reduced modulus compared to all other mechanical properties.
Conclusion

Residual indents different from fatigue damage created no crack initiators that would weaken bone's resistance to fatigue loading. Fatigue loading has the most heavy effect on bone's reduced modulus compared to all other microscopic mechanical properties.


We present a comprehensive analysis of salt transport and overlimiting currents in a microchannel during concentration polarization. We have carried out full numerical simulations of the coupled Poisson-Nernst-Planck-Stokes problem governing the transport and rationalized the behavior of the system. A remarkable outcome of the investigations is the discovery of strong couplings between bulk advection and the surface current; without a surface current, bulk advection is strongly suppressed. The numerical simulations are supplemented by analytical models valid in the long channel limit as well as in the limit of negligible surface charge. By including the effects of diffusion and advection in the diffuse part of the electric double layers, we extend a recently published analytical model of overlimiting current due to surface conduction.


Two slow worm species are distributed at the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula: Anguis cephallonica, an endemic of the Peloponnese and the islands Zakynthos, Ithaki and Kephallonia, and A. graeca. Here, we investigate the intraspecific genetic diversity of A. cephallonica from the Peloponnese and Kephallonia and analyse A. graeca, from the northern Peloponnese, where it is found in sympatry with A. cephallonica. MtDNA and nDNA phylogenetic analyses confirm the genetic similarity of Peloponnesian and Kephallonian populations of A. cephallonica and reveal significant mtDNA genetic variation within it, probably related to the occurrence of multiple subrefugia in the Peloponnese. Peloponnesian A. graeca populations are genetically similar to non-Peloponnesian conspecifics implying recent dispersal to the Peloponnese. In contrast to the genetic markers, morphological characteristics (such as the number of mid-body scale-rows) failed to distinguish between Peloponnesian A. cephallonica and A. graeca. Although the former species is believed to be well-differentiated from its congeneric taxa, a thorough morphological study is needed.


Background Sleep disturbance is a transdiagnostic risk factor that is so prevalent among young adults that it is considered a public health epidemic, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep may contribute to mental health via affect dynamics. Prior literature on the contribution of sleep to affect is largely based on correlational studies or experiments that do not generalize to the daily lives of young adults. Furthermore, the literature examining the associations between sleep variability and affect dynamics remains scant. Objective In an ecologically valid context, using an intensive longitudinal design, we aimed to assess the daily and long-term associations between sleep patterns and affect dynamics among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods College student participants (N=20; female: 13/20, 65%) wore an Oura ring (Ōura Health Ltd) continuously for 3 months to measure sleep patterns, such as average and variability in total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), sleep efficiency, and sleep onset latency (SOL), resulting in 1173 unique observations. We administered a daily ecological momentary assessment by using a mobile health app to evaluate positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and COVID-19 worry once per day. Results Participants with a higher sleep onset latency (b=−1.09, SE 0.36; P=.006) and TST (b=−0.15, SE 0.05; P=.008) on the prior day had lower PA on the next day. Further, higher average TST across the 3-month period predicted lower average PA (b=−0.36, SE 0.12; P=.009). TST variability predicted higher affect variability across all affect domains. Specifically, higher variability in TST was associated higher PA variability (b=0.09, SE 0.03; P=.007), higher negative affect variability (b=0.12, SE 0.05; P=.03), and higher COVID-19 worry variability (b=0.16, SE 0.07; P=.04). Conclusions Fluctuating sleep patterns are associated with affect dynamics at the daily and long-term scales. Low PA and affect variability may be potential pathways through which sleep has implications for mental health.


The article deals with the social and humanitarian aspects of personal authenticity in order to determine the interrelation between its basic characteristics and the process of teaching foreign language culture. The analysis of the understanding of the role and place of authenticity in social and humanitarian discourse reveals the main categories of authenticity at the level of subject-object relations, which are manifested in the interaction of the individual and social principles of a personality of a student. The analytical data of the results of the study of the phenomenon of authenticity as the main component in the structure of foreign language education are presented. The main vectors that serve as a support in the organization of teaching foreign culture are defined.The emphasis is made on the process of perception and understanding of sources of socially and culturally significant information in the field of foreign language education. It is concluded that the teaching of foreign language culture should consider equally the authenticity of a student's personality and the authenticity of materials used in the educational process.


A UV-curable glass fiber-reinforced composites was investigated in order to develop a cost-effective fabrication approach for manufacturing polymer—matrix composites. The effects of glass fiber-treating process and UV exposure power on the tensile strength were studied through scanning electron microscopy, contact angle determination, and curing degree test. The experimental results showed 11.5% increase in tensile strength for the UV-cured composite reinforced with heat-treated glass fiber, and 51.4% increase with glass fiber treated by coupling agent. The optimal exposure power was 0.94 J/mm2 to obtain the optimized mechanical properties. However, overexposure could seriously result in the loss of tensile strength. The maximum tensile strength and shear strength of composite cured by UV approach in this study were 902.09 and 25.04 MPa, respectively.


Monocyte chemotaxis was studied in 35 patients with ALL, six with CLL, six with AML, and 10 with CML before beginning chemotherapy. Function was contrasted to age-matched control groups. Significant inhibition of chemotaxis was seen in patients with ALL (p less than 0.001) and CLL (p less than 0.01), whereas function in CML and AML patients was not significantly depressed. The deficient monocyte chemotaxis was not due merely to decreased percentages of peripheral blood monocytes. Thus, in addition to numerical deficiencies in monocyte numbers, qualitative deficiencies in monocyte function exist in patients with ALL and CLL.


This study was aimed at investigating whether the recognition of familiar faces is more likely to be associated with an experience of Remembering than the recognition of familiar names. Using the Remember/Know paradigm the proportions of episodic memories recalled following the recognition of famous faces and names (Conditions) were assessed. Presented faces and names were previously judged by an independent group of participants as eliciting an equivalent level of familiarity. Nevertheless significant differences between the two conditions appeared in hit and false alarm rates. However, present results showed no significant difference in the recollection of personal memories (Remember responses conditionalized on the hits), following familiar faces compared with familiar names recognition. This finding contrasts with recent accounts assuming that faces are more prone to yield episodic memories than other cues to person identity. These results and their implications for current Interactive Activation and Competition person recognition models are discussed.


Mecadox addition to the diet of laboratory mice in doses of 25 mg/kg/day for 30 days resulted in some hematologic and biochemical modifications: 1. Red cell count declined moderately, leucocyte and neutrophile count was higher and reached their normal values 15 days following treatment. 2. Modifications of liver transaminases expressed by a diminution of GOT and GPT activities were observed together with a reduction of free nitrogen. Values returned to normal within 15 days after treatment. 3. Mecadox stimulated weight gain in treated animals during the first 15 days of treatment. No significant differences were observed in weight gain between the two groups during the period which followed treatment.


Cardiovascular diseases are extremely widespread and often cause vestibular system dysfunctions. They are related mainly to organic lesions of the brain. To investigate neurootological functional changes, we compared two samples from among our patients, of whom those in group A (42 persons: 92.86% male, 7.14% female) had experienced myocardial infarction within 1 year before our neurootometric investigation and those in group B had undergone infarction 1 year or more before examination (104 patients: 81.73% male, 18.27% female). Considering only the six most important vertigo symptoms experienced by patients, we found 1.48 symptoms per patient in group A and 2.02 symptoms per patient in group B. As regards acoustic symptoms, 45.24% of patients in group A experienced tinnitus and 52.38% reported hearing loss. In patients in group B, 48.08% were affected with tinnitus and 58.65% with hearing loss. Abnormalities in the neurootometric measurements were revealed as follows: in group A, butterfly calorigrams, 80.95%; stepping-test craniocorpography (CCG), 64.29%; and bone conduction audiometry on the right side, 40.48%, and on the left side, 52.38%; in group B, butterfly calorigrams, 78.85%; stepping-test CCG, 61.54%; bone conduction audiometry on the right side, 28.85%, and on the left side, 41.35%.


Poster Presentation Objective To explore the experiences of obstetric, postanesthesia, and emergency nurses in caring for women after fetal death. Design Qualitative study using focus group (FG) interviewing. Setting Two large, acute care hospitals with level 3 nurseries. Sample Four FGs were conducted involving 24 total participants. Participants were registered nurses currently working in labor and delivery, antepartum, postanesthesia, and emergency departments who have been employed for at least 1 year and had experience in caring for a patient with fetal loss. Methods The FG questions were carefully constructed based on the major concepts of Swanson's Theory of Caring: open‐ended, clear, appropriately sequenced, and supportive of the group process and response maximization. Participants also completed a brief demographic questionnaire. Interviews were audio‐taped, transcribed verbatim, and deidentified. Transcripts were then uploaded for coding by research team members. Analysis was conducted using a continuously emergent process of data collection, reduction, display, and interpretation. Team members coded the transcripts that were then compared for agreement. Any discrepancies in coding and theme identification were resolved through discussion and group consensus. Results Nurses in all areas of specialty demonstrated Swanson's nurse caring behaviors but used them preferentially according to situational exigencies and level of rapport developed with the patient. Themes that emerged from the data included Strategies for Coping in the Moment, Making Meaning of the Experience, Situations That Make Care Easier, Situations that Make Care More Difficult, and Priority of Care. Symptoms of compassion fatigue described by nurses included anger, intense sorrow, feeling incompetent, overwhelmed, exhausted, inconsolable, and having a desire to avoid patient care. Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses who are indirectly exposed to trauma through their work are at high risk of developing compassion fatigue. There is limited research to identify whether nurses in obstetrics, emergency departments, and postanesthesia units who provide care to women who have experienced fetal death are at increased risk of developing compassion fatigue. Nurses try very hard to give the best care they can to women after fetal loss. In doing so, they make themselves vulnerable to compassion fatigue. Further research is needed to identify ways to support nurses as they provide care to these traumatized patients.


Background/Aims: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with reproductive and metabolic abnormalities and carries a number of cardiovascular risk factors. Low-grade chronic inflammation has been thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and PCOS patients have an increased rate of subclinical inflammation. In the present study, considering the major role that hepcidin plays in the regulation of iron metabolism and as an inflammatory marker, we investigated hepcidin in PCOS patients and its role in predicting cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Methods: Forty patients with PCOS and 40 age- and body mass index-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Iron metabolites, insulin resistance (IR), inflammatory markers and hepcidin levels were analyzed. Results: IR parameters, inflammatory markers, iron parameters and hepcidin levels were similar between the PCOS and control groups. While the inflammatory markers were significantly high in the overweight and obese PCOS subgroup, the hepcidin levels were also high but this elevation was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Obesity is the principle mechanism of chronic inflammation and IR in PCOS patients. C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 should be used to predict and follow the risk of CVD development in PCOS cases. Hepcidin may be used as an additional marker in the follow-up of PCOS patients in the future.


Monoclonal antibodies have been raised against determinants present in cartilage proteoglycan. Characterization of the specificity of these antibodies indicated that they recognize determinants present in the keratan sulfate glycosaminoglycan chain and on chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharide stubs attached to the proteoglycan core protein after chondroitinase digestion of the proteoglycan (i.e., delta-unsaturated 4- and 6-sulfated and unsulfated chondroitin sulfate on the proteoglycan core). The antibody recognizing keratan sulfate has been used to demonstrate the presence of a keratan sulfate-rich proteoglycan subpopulation that increases with increasing age of animal compared with chondroitin sulfate-rich proteoglycans. Monoclonal antibodies recognizing determinants on chondroitinase-treated proteoglycan have been used in immunohistochemical localization studies determining the differential distribution of 4- and 6-sulfated and unsulfated proteoglycans in tissue sections of cartilage and other noncartilaginous tissues. Digestion with chondroitinase ABC or ACII can be used to differentiate between chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate proteoglycan in different connective tissues. In addition, the presence of a 6-sulfated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan that is associated with membranes surrounding nerve and muscle fiber bundles is described. Monoclonal antibodies were also raised against the link protein(s) of cartilage proteoglycan aggregate. They have been used in peptide map analyses of link protein and in demonstrating the presence of a high-mannose oligosaccharide chain of the link proteins. The presence of high-mannose oligosaccharide structures on the link protein(s) accounts for the microheterogeneity of the link proteins (link proteins 1, 2, or 3) that is observed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels.


With the ever-expanding volume of visual content available, the ability to organize and navigate such content by aesthetic preference is becoming increasingly important. While still in its nascent stage, research into computational models of aesthetic preference already shows great potential. However, to advance research, realistic, diverse and challenging databases are needed. To this end, we introduce a new large-scale database for conducting Aesthetic Visual Analysis: AVA. It contains over 250,000 images along with a rich variety of meta-data including a large number of aesthetic scores for each image, semantic labels for over 60 categories as well as labels related to photographic style. We show the advantages of AVA with respect to existing databases in terms of scale, diversity, and heterogeneity of annotations. We then describe several key insights into aesthetic preference afforded by AVA. Finally, we demonstrate, through three applications, how the large scale of AVA can be leveraged to improve performance on existing preference tasks.


For quality assurance in the realization and transfer by the national standard laboratories of the unit of the absorbed dose rate at 0.07 mm tissue depth for beta radiation, comparison measurements among the primary standard facilities are needed. Although some bilateral comparisons have taken place for this quantity, the CCRI decided in May 2003 that a EUROMET supplementary comparison would be appropriate if inclusive of primary standards laboratories of other regional metrology organizations. The operation and results of such a comparison are reported here. A flat ionization chamber and measurement system was used as the transfer instrument. A comparison was made of the calibration coefficients of this transfer instrument in various beta-particle laboratory reference fields (Pm-147, Kr-85, Tl-204 and Sr-90/Y-90) measured by each of the eight participants from France, Italy, Finland, Germany, Russian Federation, USA, Canada and Japan. The PTB was the pilot laboratory and the comparison ran from January 2004 until April 2007 under EUROMET project No 739 and EUROMET.RI(I)-S2. The results for most of the participants are consistent with the stated uncertainties although an extreme deviation is apparent for Pm-147 beta radiation for one participant. Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by EUROMET, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).


Abstract. The social security of acountry is a situation which is positively regulated by legal norms where the government uses all democratic management practices to maintain decent living standards and ensure the ability to meet basic needs for the development of the country and society. The Scandinavian economic model provides for a comprehensive social protection and social benefits to all segments of the community. That is why we used a comparative analysis and the modelling of the social security index in Ukraine, Lithuania, and Scandinavian countries. In the paper, we identify a unique method for calculating the indicator of social security, using three main components: income, demographic situation, and labour market. We have studied the impact of macroeconomic indicators on the level of social security, made an analogy with the Nordic countries, and determined which model should be used for the best results in ensuring the social protection of society. The research has shown that high tax rates combined with a full public confidence in the government and a transparent system of income redistribution are important factors in the development of socially-oriented Scandinavian countries. A regression analysis was conducted to analyse the relationship of tax revenues and social security index; the models of dependence for each country were constructed. We have defined the basic types of taxes and their impact on the economic situation in a country. It is concluded that, in most cases, increasing tax rates should lead to negative changes in the social security of a country. Key words: social security, public policy, fiscal policy, stability, society


Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine (TIM) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remain the most ancient yet living traditions. There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine. Efforts to monitor and regulate herbal drugs and traditional medicine are underway. China has been successful in promoting its therapies with more research and science-based approach, while Ayurveda still needs more extensive scientific research and evidence base. This review gives an overview of basic principles and commonalities of TIM and TCM and discusses key determinants of success, which these great traditions need to address to compete in global markets.


Introduction: Expansion of immunisation programmes results in significant increases in vaccine costs. We present an analysis of the costs and outcomes of four different policy options relating to hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b. These were use of both vaccines (DPT-HepB-Hib), only one (DPT-HepB or DPT-Hib) or neither (DPT alone). Methods: Vaccine costs, treatment costs for hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b related illnesses, and the number of cases and deaths due to these illnesses were estimated for the expected birth cohort of 2007 in Uganda, for coverage with HepB and/or Hib vaccines of 0% and 80%. Costing is based on unit costs for vaccines and treatment of respective diseases due to each policy option, at 2003 constant prices discounted to 2007, and according to epidemiological estimates for each condition and sequelae. The cost-effectiveness of each policy option is determined for cost per child, cost per vaccine dose, cost per capita, per case, and death averted. Results: Considering vaccine and treatment costs combined, DPT-HepB is the cheapest option overall, followed by DPT-HepB-Hib, DPT, and DPT-Hib respectively. Cost per immunised child, including treatment costs would be USD $8.50 for a DPT-HepB option, increasing to USD $15.60, $20.80 and $30.30 for DPT-HepB-Hib, DPT, and DPT-Hib options respectively. A policy change from DPT to DPT-HepB or DPT-HepB-Hib would be associated with lower overall costs and fewer deaths. Sensitivity analysis corroborates these findings. A DPT-HepB-Hib option provides less cost per illness episode than DPT-HepB only if it costs under US $ 1.80. Conclusions: Using vaccine price alone to make policy decisions about vaccine options is misleading. Calculating treatment costs and expected health benefit provides more comprehensive information. At 2003 vaccine prices, DPT-HepB option is the cheapest option, with DPT-HepB and DPT-HepB-Hib more cost effective than DPT alone. DPT-HepB-Hib price under US$ 1.80 would make it the most cost-effective option available to countries.


Aim:To analyze the clinical effects of a new technique of titanium web containing strut bone grafting pedicled with femoral quadratus on the osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH).Methods:A total of 20 patients with 22 hips suffered from ONFH underwent by titanium web containing strut bone grafting pedicled with femoral quadratus.Of them,male was 18 cases and female was 2 cases. The age was 21.0~45.0(28.5±5.1) years. According to classifying from etiological factors,the alcohol-induced ONFH was in 14 patients with 14 hips,steroid-induced ONFH was in 4 patients with 4 hips,steroid and alcohol-induced ONFH was in 2 patients with 4 hips. According to association research circulation osseous (ARCO) classifying,7,8,5,and 2 hips were in stage Ⅱ-A,Ⅱ-B,Ⅱ-C,and Ⅲ-A,respectively. There were 6 hips in left side and 16 hips in right side.Results:The pain of the hip area in all patients disappeared or mostly relieved after the operation,and movement of hip was improved. The height of the femoral head underwent by the surgery was increased in stage Ⅲ-A. The period of postoperative follow-up studied from 3 to 16 months. The results showed excellent in 16 hips and good in 6 hips. Of them,all hips were excellent in stage Ⅱ-A and Ⅱ-B. There were excellent in 4 hips and good in 1 hip in stage Ⅱ-C. There were excellent in 1 hip and good in 1 hip in stage Ⅲ-A. The effect was better in stage Ⅱ-A,Ⅱ-B,and Ⅱ-C(P0.05). The 3 to 4 months was needed for ossification concrescence of the bone grafting in the femoral head.Conclusion:The effects of the new technique of titanium web containing strut bone grafting pedicled with femoral quadratus are satisfactory for ONFH in stage Ⅱ according to ARCO classifying. Its long-term effects should be further observed.


Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is encountered in millions of people worldwide, with continuously rising incidence during the past decades, affecting their quality of life despite the increase of life expectancy in these patients. Disturbance of sexual function is common among men with CKD, as both conditions share common pathophysiological causes, such as vascular or hormonal abnormalities and are both affected by similar coexisting comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The estimated prevalence of erectile dysfunction reaches 70% in end stage renal disease patients. Nevertheless, sexual dysfunction remains under-recognized and under-treated in a high proportion of these patients, a fact which should raise awareness among clinicians. A multifactorial approach in management and treatment is undoubtedly required in order to improve patients' quality of life and cardiovascular outcomes.


The location of an emitting target is estimated by intercepting its emitted signal and sharing it among several sensors to measure the time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) and the frequency-difference-of-arrival (FDOA). Doing this in a timely and energy efficient fashion, which is especially important for wireless sensor network applications, requires effective data compression. Since the commonly used MSE distortion measure is only weakly related to optimal TDOA/FDOA estimation, in this paper, we derive a new class of non-MSE distortion measures for TDOA/FDOA estimation using the concept of Fisher information. We then use these new distortion measures to compress the data using a wavelet packet transform and show that it improves TDOA/FDOA estimation accuracies relative to using the MSE-based compression. Finally, a scheme of applying our algorithms in a wireless sensor network is proposed, and energy efficiency and accuracy enhancement of the proposed scheme over that of a traditional scheme using MSE is shown through simulations.


Petrographic, chemical, and isotopic study of intrusive rocks related to porphyry copper mineralization in the northern Caribbean area and comparison of these data with similar information on other porphyry copper-related intrusions in island arc and craton regions yield support for the generally accepted, though inadequately tested, generalization that porphyry copper-related intrusions in island arcs are poorer in K-feldspar than are their craton counterparts. Although most of the mineralized island arc intrusions are quartz diorites, there are more potassic intrusions including quartz monzonites and syenites. All of these intrusions are lower in potassium than their craton counterparts and even the quartz monzonites lack K-feldspar phenocrysts. Island arc intrusions also appear to be depleted in lead and rubidium and to exhibit initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of .705 or less, which are lower than those measured for intrusions in cratonic settings. Copper and possibly zinc are enriched in the island arc intrusions. Chlorine contents are similar to accepted averages for craton intrusions, and fluorine is depleted in the quartz diorites and enriched in granodioritic island arc intrusions. These data indicate that island arc porphyry copper-related intrusions are compositionally more primitive than their craton counterparts and greatly restrict the involvement of epicrustal material in the development of these magmas.


The Buried Waste Integrated Demonstration is supporting the development, demonstration, testing, and evaluation of a suite of technologies that, when integrated with commercially available technologies, form a comprehensive system for the remediation of radioactive and hazardous buried waste. As a part of the program`s technology development, remote retrieval equipment is being developed and tested for the remediation of buried waste. During remedial planning, several factors are considered when choosing remote versus manual retrieval systems. Time that workers are exposed to radioactivity, chemicals, air particulate, and industrial hazards is one consideration. The generation of secondary waste is also a consideration because it amounts to more waste to treat and some wastes may require special handling or treatment. Cost is also a big factor in determining whether remote or manual operations will be used. Other considerations include implementability, effectiveness, and the number of required personnel. This paper investigates each of these areas to show the risk and cost benefits and limitations for remote versus manual retrieval of buried waste.


This paper presents an acoustic study of High Vowel Lowering in Apurímac Quechua dialect of Peru. High Vowel Lowering in the vicinity of uvular stops has been reported in related dialects of the Quechua language family (Quechua IIC category), e.g. Cusco and Cochabamba Quechua. Initial impression of Apurímac Quechua also indicated a lowering effect of high vowels after uvular stops, which motivated the current study, where we compared the high vowels following uvular stops to high vowels following alveolar stops. Considering the fact that prosodic phenomena such as word and phrasal prominence , i.e. stress and focus may resist the erosion of contrastive features or enhance the contrastive features of segments, it is possible that the high vowels would not undergo lowering in the presence of stress or focus or both. Hence in addition to testing the effect of the place of articulation of the preceding consonant on high vowels, this study also tests the effects of stress and focus on the lowering process. While the results show that stress resists High Vowel Lowering, focus does not lend the same effect. This working paper is available in University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics: https://repository.upenn.edu/pwpl/vol27/iss1/25


Relevance and problem of the topic. Global product and service innovations are driving changes in consumer behavior. Business organizations try to apply a variety of marketing strategies to take into account changing consumer values and behaviors, to form new relationships and emotional experiences for their clientele (Cova, Dalli, 2009, p. 315; Sanz-Marcos, 2020, p. 473). Retrospectively, modernized society was dominated by developed and stable social structures and hierarchies, while postmodern society was dominated by social networks of micro-groups, in which individuals establish strong emotional connections and attitudes toward life. In order to ensure effective attraction of new customers and loyalty of existing customers in a postmodern society, business organizations should take into account and acess cultural change, societal fragmentation, and declining social connections. Renewing these social connections in the form of a consumer tribe in connection with the consumption of a product or service is a marketing opportunity and necessity. The concept of tribal marketing in the context of marketing application is related to the recurring quasi-archaic values of consumers: group identity, religiosity, syncretism, group narcissism (Necualaesei, 2017, pp. 122–125; Pinto de Lima, Brito, 2012, p. 293; Cova, Cova, 2002, p. 4). The reintegration of these values in the new conditions is extremely important, especially emphasizing the long-term tendencies of social rationalization of society in many spheres of life, the importance of qualitative indicators in the modernist period. In postmodern society, there is a growing impulse to distance oneself from rational forms of life and return to a natural or primitive state, and this need can be exploited through tribal marketing, when analyzing tribal communities in surfing, where marketing ideals become freedom, simplicity, escape from everyday life and strong impressions. (Canniford, Shankar, 2011, p. 35–46). Other significant tribes such as the Goths, (Cova, Dalli, 2009, p. 323), Harley-Davidson motorcyclists, pipe collectors, and smokers can also be mentioned (Pace et al., 2011, pp. 314-320). V. Badrinarayanan, et. al., is of the opinion that communities of various online games can also be assigned to tribes (Barnes and Mattsson, 2016, p. 98).The problem analyzed in this article can be defined by the following questions: What promotes the formation of tribal marketing and what are the specifics of its application? What are the differences between tribal marketing and traditional marketing? How virtual tribe could formed?The object of the article is the development of tribal marketing and application possibilitiesThe aim of the article is to find out the development and application possibilities of tribal marketing in the postmodern society.Tasks: 1) to theoretically define the concept and essential principles of tribal marketing; 2) to reveal the cultural origins of tribal marketing and the reasons for its formation; 3) to identify the essential differences of tribal marketing in comparison with traditional marketing tools; 4) to reveal the changes related to the transition to the formation of virtual tribes.Methods: methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization and comparative analysis of scientific literature.
An analysis of the scientific literature has revealed that tribal marketing is a theory that focuses on specific subcultures, and specific products or services become cult objects and emblems that represent belonging to these subcultures, encouraging individual consumption behavior. Tribal subcultures are characterized by strong emotional ties and experiences, common interests, and specific activities. These individuals exist in a peculiar subculture characterized by peculiar myths, values, rituals, language, and hierarchy. It is important to understand that individuals can belong to several tribes at the same time, and tribes are not limited by physical boundaries. The cultural origins of tribal marketing are related to the fragmented and individualized state of postmodern society and the need to reconstruct social ties. In postmodern society, the reintegration of archaic relations takes place under new conditions. The structure of tribal marketing integrates cultural aspects, linking them with the sentiments of primitive society, nostalgia for naturalness, the need for a closer social relationship with the group.However, with the changing technological environment and socio - cultural changes, the formation of tribes is moving into a virtual space. Technological changes have led to the formation of virtual tribes. In a virtual space, individuals and their groups can share the same emotions, opinions, information about a brand, product, or service. Technological change has made it possible for individuals from all over the world to find a group or groups united by common cultural elements. The essential criteria of a virtual tribe are that the tribe has a collective consciousness, rituals and traditions, duties, a sense of commitment to both the whole tribal community and its members. When analyzing virtual tribes, it is useful to rely on the 8E model, as it covers a systematic perspective in assessing the structure and functioning of virtual tribes. The processes of creating new social connections and forms are intensified by modern technologies. Users can interact with each other, regardless of territorial barriers, share information, form virtual tribes (Pinto de Lima, Brito, 2012, pp. 291– 292). It is becoming more important for business organizations not only to take advantage of traditional tribal marketing opportunities, but also to adapt to the opportunities provided by virtual space. However, the topic of tribal marketing is poorly researched in Lithuania.


This chapter is about the ethics of killing wild animals. What is our moral reference while killing wild animals? Can we use norms of killing domesticated animals when we kill wild animals? Is the life and death of wild animals out of our moral reach by definition? Do we respect the wildness of an animal? Are there situations in which humans have to kill wild animals? In these cases humans are confronted with wild animals and the question can be asked: do we have to kill them? Our approach is to reformulate the three core questions of this book to the situation of wild animals. In answering the first question, what concepts are needed for the public and ethical evaluation of killing wild animals, we describe wildness as a broad concept, and equate it with parts of nature that are not controlled by humans. Our perspective on wildness is to consider it as a quality in specific individual animals, of being wild or un-wild. We differentiate between nine categories of animals in natural areas, and wild animals are considered to be at one end of a continuum and domesticated animals are at the other end. Thus, a development is possible from the wild stage to the pseudo-domestication stage and back again to the semi-wild stage. The description of an ethical framework of three principles enabled our affirmative answer to the second question, is it possible to justify the killing of a wild animal, and if so under what conditions. When we apply the ethical framework to the killing of wild animals, de-domesticated and feral animals, and to the killing of animals in pest control, the answer to the third question: 'Can we legitimately differentiate the issue of killing wild animals in different wild animal contexts, leads to seven conclusions?'.


We estimate relationships between Medicaid expansions and poverty, using the Census Bureau's supplemental poverty measure (SPM) and a recently developed health-inclusive poverty measure (HIPM). The HIPM modifies the SPM by adding a need for health insurance to the SPM poverty threshold and by adding a family's health insurance benefits to family resources. Results from logistic regressions that control for sociodemographic characteristics, income, and benefits other than health insurance show that the (adjusted) HIPM poverty rate is 1.7 percentage points (10 percent) lower in expansion than in nonexpansion states, and the HIPM deep poverty rate is 0.9 percentage points (13 percent) lower. Differences in SPM poverty rates are generally small and insignificant. Medicaid expansion is associated with substantial HIPM poverty reductions for children, persons 55–64 years old, blacks, Hispanics, and those who have not completed high school. These populations are particularly vulnerable to proposed rollbacks in Medicaid expansions.


Recent interest in restoring urban ecosystems has engendered studies on public perceptions of these ecosystems and future land use. This paper examines the perceptions of people using the waterfront area of the New York/New Jersey harbour estuary about their use of the area, and how this environment could be improved. Pollution was viewed as the most important problem in New Jersey, and removing pollution was rated the most important way to improve the waterfront habitat. Using the remaining undeveloped area for natural habitat and to improve quality of life were rated as the most important uses of the waterfront. People valued the waterfront for walking, providing open green space, and as a place to commune with nature without people. Management options people favoured were removing pollution and cleaning up rubbish and adding educational signs and information brochures about the remaining, natural habitat. Age, income and education influenced which activities people said they undertook. For improvements to the waterfront: Hispanics rated adding educational signs and creating information brochures higher, Blacks rated building promenades as more important, and Asians and Whites rated improving habitat for birds and butterflies more important than others. The data indicate that the public has a firm understanding of the big picture (pollution in the region and locally), habitat improvement, and of the small improvements that can be done locally. Planners and managers could move forward on three fronts: source reduction, wildlife habitat improvement, and amenity (signs, brochures, cleaning up rubbish) development. Understanding how people use an environment, and wish to improve it, can provide valuable information for future restoration and management of urban environments generally, as well as for structuring a citizen advisory committee.


Immune manipulation can control tumor initiation and growth while tumor growth may suppress host immunity. In our studies of tumor–host interactions, we observed a tumor associated expansion of IMSCs and suppression of T cell number and tumor infiltration. Further, the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, Celecoxib had chemopreventative and as shown for the first time, therapeutic activity for mammary tumors in HER-2/neu transgenic BALB/c mice. Tumor growth was associated with a significant decrease in T cells and a significant increase in IMSCs (CD11b+Gr1+). In addition type 1 cytokine transcripts were depressed, while transcription levels of COX-2, arginase-1 (ARG1), nitric oxide synthetase-2 (NOS2), granulocyte (G) and G-monocyte colony stimulating factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor-alpha (VEGF-a) were increased in the preneoplastic lesions, tumors, and spleens and to a greater extent tumor infiltrating leukocytes. Celecoxib chemoprevention reduced the changes in IMSC and T cell numbers and cytokine and enzyme transcription levels. We posit that the increase in IMSCs may be due to the increased levels of COX-2, VEGF-a and growth factor(s), while the loss of T cell numbers and function maybe due to the heightened levels of ARG1 and NOS2. Further, as Celecoxib administration does not increase T cell infiltration of tumors or decrease IMSC infiltration, the changes in cytokine and growth factor levels maybe critical to the improved clinical outcomes. Together, these studies suggest an important role for IMSCs and its regulation by Celecoxib in cancer induction, and therapeutic intervention.
 Supported in part by funding from NIH grant 5 RO1 AT001739, Eppley Cancer Center and Nebraska DHHS LB506.