The purpose of this study is to examine factors affecting electronic supply chain management (e-SCM) adoption and diffusion by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and to propose an integrative framework for successful management of e-SCM by SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study we review existing literature and make some propositions for future empirical research. Building on existing framework this study integrates innovation diffusion theory, upper echelon theory, technology, organisation, environmental model and institutional theory and propose an integrated framework for e-SCM adoption and diffusion. The paper presents a contribution in the field of e-SCM, especially for SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa.


PASTA is a method for estimating alignments and trees that has been able to provide excellent accuracy on large sequence datasets. By design, PASTA operates using iteration, in which the tree from the previous iteration is used to inform a divide-and-conquer strategy during which a new alignment is computed on the sequence dataset, and then a new maximum likelihood tree is estimated on the new alignment. In its default setting, PASTA runs for three iterations and returns that alignment/tree pair from the last iteration. Here we use both biological and simulated nucleotide datasets to show that returning the alignment/tree pair that has the best maximum likelihood score improves on the default usage.


Background The most severe consequence of laryngectomy for patients is the loss of their voice. For this reason, voice rehabilitation has been an integral aspect of treatment after total laryngectomy from the very beginning. A wide variety of different technical and surgical approaches are available and reflect the problems associated with the rehabilitation of communication and swallowing after the removal of the larynx. Methods We used Internet search engines and libraries to conduct a search of the current medical literature and historical sources of medical information in order to identify and summarize landmark work on this subject. Discussion Four types of methods have been used to restore the voices of patients, i.e., external devices, esophageal speech, internal voice prostheses, and surgically created tracheo-esophageal fistulas that do not involve the use of a prosthetic device.


Twenty years ago, on the advice of the late Dr Mercier, Dr Bennett decided to "shun psychology and cling to that which is good." Notwithstanding this attitude of independence, the first two chapters of the book are devoted to "Psychology and Organic Life" and "Psychology and Disease" respectively. The remainder of the book deals with suggestion and its practical applications in the treatment of disease. The author's attitude towards psycho-analysis may be summed up in the following sentence (p. 86): "Patients whose condition requires such a remedy are better left untreated, better in a mental hospital, better dead." H. T. THOMSON.


With the growing deployment of host and network intrusion detection systems (IDSs), thousands of alerts are generally generated from them per day. Managing these alerts becomes critically important. In this paper, a hybrid alert clustering method based on self-Organizing maps (SOM) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) is presented. We firstly select the important features through binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) and mutual information (MI) and get a dimension reduced dataset. SOM is used to cluster the dataset. PSO is used to evolve the weights for SOM to improve the clustering result. The algorithm is based on a type of unsupervised machine learning algorithm that infers relationships from data without the need to train the algorithm with expertly labelled data. The approach is validated using the 2000 DARPA intrusion detection datasets and comparative results between the canonical SOM and our scheme are presented.


Assembly and/or insertion of a subset of mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) proteins, including subunits of the main MOM translocase, require the fungi-specific Mim1/Mim2 complex. So far it was unclear which proteins accomplish this task in other eukaryotes. Here, we show by reciprocal complementation that the MOM protein pATOM36 of trypanosomes is a functional analogue of yeast Mim1/Mim2 complex, even though these proteins show neither sequence nor topological similarity. Expression of pATOM36 rescues almost all growth, mitochondrial biogenesis, and morphology defects in yeast cells lacking Mim1 and/or Mim2. Conversely, co-expression of Mim1 and Mim2 restores the assembly and/or insertion defects of MOM proteins in trypanosomes ablated for pATOM36. Mim1/Mim2 and pATOM36 form native-like complexes when heterologously expressed, indicating that additional proteins are not part of these structures. Our findings indicate that Mim1/Mim2 and pATOM36 are the products of convergent evolution and arose only after the ancestors of fungi and trypanosomatids diverged.


Paleoseismologic data from the southern Panamint Valley fault (PVF) reveal evidence of at least four surface ruptures during late Holocene time (0.33–0.48 ka, 0.9–3.0 ka, 3.3–3.6 ka, and >4.1 ka). These paleo‐earthquake ages indicate that the southern PVF has ruptured at least once and possibly twice during the ongoing (≤1.5 ka) seismic cluster in the Mojave section of the eastern California shear zone (ECSZ). The most recent event (MRE) on the PVF is also similar in age to the 1872 Owens Valley earthquake and the geomorphically youthful MRE on the Death Valley fault. The timing of the three oldest events at our site shows that the PVF ruptured at least once and possibly thrice during the well‐defined 2–5 ka seismic lull in the Mojave section of the ECSZ. Interestingly, the 3.3–3.6 ka age of Event 3 overlaps with the 3.3–3.8 ka age of the penultimate (i.e., pre‐1872) rupture on the central Owens Valley fault. These new PVF data support the notion that earthquake occurrence in the ECSZ may be spatially and temporally complex, with earthquake clusters occurring in different regions at different times. Coulomb failure function modeling of the Panamint Valley and Garlock faults reveals significant stress interactions between these two faults that may influence future earthquake occurrence. Specifically, our models suggest a possible rupture sequence whereby an event on the southern Panamint Valley fault can lead to the potential triggering of an event on the Garlock fault, which in turn could trigger the Mojave section of the San Andreas Fault.


The taxonomic relationship of 32 species in the genus Candida Berkhout was examined by characterizing the restriction patterns of nuclear internal transcribed spacers and coenzyme Q types. A matrix of 116 characters was generated from 32 species and seven restriction endonucleases, and phenetically analyzed. Unweighted pair-group arithmetic average (UPGMA) analysis was used to construct the phenograms. The 32 species fell into five major groups corresponding with their genetic relationships. The medically important Candida species clustered together, except C. glabrata. Almost identical restriction patterns were observed between C. hydrocarbofumarica and C. blankii, C. stellatoidea, and C. albicans, and C. steatolytica, and C. inositophila due to synonymous or opposite mating type relationships. The members in each group did not show the same coenzyme Q types, whereas the closely clustered members in each group exhibited the same coenzyme Q types. The results of this study, analyzing ITS-RFLPs and the coenzyme Q type, provided an insight into the various genetic origins of Candida species as well as their genetic relationships.


Abstract. We compared movement and space use patterns of foraging adult and juvenile Colorado checkered whiptails (Aspidoscelis neotesselatus) in pinyon pine–juniper woodland. Through focal observations, we characterized (1) movement paths as a series of step lengths and turn angles at 30-s intervals, and (2) habitat use reflected by the proportion of time spent in different vegetation types and in the open. Adults and juveniles differed in both movement and habitat use. Adults spent more time in the open and in association with mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus), while juveniles were more frequently found in association with dead wood, grass, and juniper (Juniperus monosperma). Adults also moved greater distances than juveniles and made use of larger areas. Movement patterns differed between age classes, with adults having longer step lengths. Adults and juveniles also engaged in different step length–turn angle sequences. For both classes, movement characteristics differed with habitat type.


In their paper Livn\'e and Yui (math.AG/0304497) discuss several examples of non-rigid Calabi-Yau varieties which admit semi-stable K3-fibrations with 6 singular fibres over a base which is a rational modular curve. They also establish the modularity of the L-function of these examples. The purpose of this note is to point out that the examples which were listed in their paper, but which do not lead to semi-stable fibrations, are still modular in the sense that their L-function is associated to modular forms. We treat the case associated to the group Gamma_1(7) in detail, but our technique also applies to many other cases. We further make some comments concerning the Kummer construction for fibre products of elliptic surfaces in general.


The quality of drinking-water in Cluj-Napoca is controlled through a combination of measures: protection of water sources, control of treatment processes and management of the distribution and handling of the water. The first component, protection of water sources may be done only knowing as much of water quality and of the factors that threaten it. The present paper reveals the water source of Cluj, Gilău Lake and his affluent Somesul Rece River monitoring in a period of 5 years, between 2005 and 2009, their physical, chemical and microbiological parameters being monitored once a month, watching on the evolution of water quality. This surveillance offers a review of the safety and acceptability of drinking water supplies in Cluj County and contributes with several applicative aspects towards water quality supervision and evolution in time of the big dam reservoirs and their tributaries, which may be a major source of pollution downstream. Descriptive analyses, including the mean value, variability, trends, correlations and graphic displays were performed; SPSS and Epi-Info 2000 statistical software were used. Data analysis revealed that the good quality of Gilău Lake regarding physical and chemical parameters led to its framing in A1 quality category, except for ammonium and microbiological parameters, which allowed the framing in A2 quality category. Major averages in Somesul Rece than in Gilău Lake, up to 14 fold for faecal coliforms indicates the fact that the river worked out an important and constant pollution cause for Gilău water source during the period of time considered.


Linear metro system is developed for urban transportation which is driven by linear induction motor (LIM). This system blends the design principles of conventional rapid transit system and automated people mover system. A dynamic simulation model with ADMAS/Rail is presented in this paper. In the model vehicle which is fixed with radial axle bogie is regarded as a multi-body system and the track is regarded as rigid foundation. Vehicle mounted LIM interacts with the reaction plate (RP) fixed on the track. The accuracy of model is verified by comparing radial axle bogie vehicle with non radial axle bogie vehicle. The dynamic simulation model is also verified from radial axle bogie vehicle model with LIM and radial axle bogie vehicle model without LIM. As an urban transportation system we checked vehicle safety of linear merto system with two evaluation indices of derailment coefficient and rate of wheel load reduction. From simulation the dynamic performances of linear metro system is better than traditional rail transit.


Twenty 6-to 7-hour-old gnotobiotic calves inoculated orally with attenuated calf diarrhea reovirus-like agent and challenge-inoculated with virulent virus 48-72 h post-inoculation (PI) remained clinically normal during the post-vaccination observation period; one developed mild diarrhea after challenge inoculation. Four non-vaccinated challenge control calves developed severe diarrhea. Twenty 6-to 7-hour-old gnotobiotic calves inoculated orally with attenuated calf diarrhea coronavirus and challenge inoculated with virulent virus 96 h later remained clinically normal during the post-vaccination and post-challenge observation period. Four non-vaccinated challenge control calves developed severe diarrhea and 2 of these died. Five-foot long isolated loops prepared in the lower ileum (Thiry-Vella loop) of newborn colostrum-deprived calves were inoculated with attenuated coronavirus. Daily loop washings were cultured for virus and tested for neutralizing antibody. Peak viral titers of 10(6.5) to 10(7) occurred 3-4 days PI and descended rapidly to 0 between 6 and 8 days PI. Neutralizing antibody was first detected in the washings 6-8 days PI and reached a titer of 128-256 7 to 9 days PI. Loop immunoglobulin separated by gel filtration and identified by immunodiffusion were primarily IgM and IgA. Initial resistance to virulent viral infection is thought to be due to an interference phenomenon, with later resistance due to local antibody.


One of the fundamental causes of environmental and resource use problems are unpriced scarcity and perverse subsidies. The logical solution seems to be to correct perverse subsidies and to price goods that were unpriced through taxes or otherwise. These measures would also improve the government budget that may be used to reduce distorting taxes and invest in the green economy or for social purposes. In practice the adjustment process of taxes and subsidies is very slow, while at the same time a large number of policies for greening the economy would have been much cheaper and more effective if prices were right. Why is there so much resistance to do what seems to be logical from an economic point of view? This chapter attempts to answer these questions by analysing green taxation policies and discussions in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK as well as by comparing the dynamics in these countries. One conclusion is that we have to be very careful with indicators like the share of environmental taxes in the GDP, because classification is not consistent and because the taxes may not give incentives for greening the economy. In all three countries, the tax on energy has many exemptions that are sometimes used as a reward for making green agreements with governments. Third, coal in electricity production kept its privileges in Germany and the Netherlands in exchange for an agreement, while the UK introduced carbon taxes for coal, in practice forcing companies to close down coal-based electricity production. International competiveness, distributional issues and fear for stranded assets seem to be the main drivers against the consistent use of green taxation. Other issues are the administrative burden, enforcement problems and perception on the effectiveness of taxes. In cases where environmental taxes are explicitly related to labour tax reductions, people are generally not aware of this. In many cases the environmental taxes are relatively complex, such as for example in the UK where it is almost impossible to calculate the final tax people pay on energy use. Designing a lucid and consistent tax system is therefore crucial. A large number of exemptions does not fit into this. The European Emission trading scheme (ETS) creates an extra problem for green taxation, because a reduction in pollution in one country will be offset by more pollution in another country, except when the excess quota is taken out of the market.


Crowding in train cars is increasingly a major concern for transit agencies. From the perspective of the passengers and the transit agencies, overcrowding of the train cars has several negative consequences such as: (i) extended duration of passengers boarding and alighting which leads to longer dwell times, (ii) subsequent disruption of the headway and the schedule, and (iii) passenger dissatisfaction (e.g. increased stress and lack of privacy). Moreover, overcrowding during peak service hours also indicates inadequate infrastructure to meet the passenger demands. Realizing the importance of the crowding issue, transit agencies have developed measures to assess the crowding levels. The Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual provides guidelines on thresholds for crowding in transit systems in the United States.


Background. Gut decontamination (GD) can decrease the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in murine models of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Several HCT centers standardly practice GD with different antibiotic regimens. In this pilot study, we examined the impact of GD on the gut microbiome composition and incidence of aGVHD in HCT patients. Methods. We randomized 20 pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic HCT to receive (GD) or not receive (no-GD) oral vancomycin-polymyxin B from day -5 through neutrophil engraftment. We evaluated shotgun metagenomic sequencing of serial stool samples to compare the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome between study arms. We assessed clinical outcomes in the 2 arms and performed strain-specific analyses of pathogens that caused bloodstream infections (BSI). Results. The two arms did not differ in Shannon diversity of the gut microbiota at two weeks post-HCT (Genus, p=0.8; Species, p=0.44) or aGVHD incidence (p=0.58). Immune reconstitution of T-cell subsets was similar, but absolute CD19+ B-cell counts were higher in the GD arm at 12 months post-HCT (p=0.02). Five patients in the no-GD arm had eight BSI episodes vs one episode in the GD arm (p=0.09). The BSI-causing pathogens were traceable to the gut in seven of eight BSI episodes in the no-GD arm, including the genus Staphylococcus. Conclusions. While GD did not differentially impact Shannon diversity or clinical outcomes, our findings suggest that GD may protect against gut-derived BSI in HCT patients by decreasing the prevalence or abundance of gut microbial pathogens. Trial Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02641236 Funding. Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, V Foundation, Sloan Foundation, Emerson Collective, Stanford MCHRI, NIH-R01-AI143757, R01-AI148623, S100D023452, 1S10OD02014101, T32-DK098132.


We study the optimal monetary policy problem in a New Keynesian economy with a zero lower bound (ZLB) on the nominal interest rate, and in which the steady state natural rate ( r (cid:3) ) is negative. We show that the optimal policy aims to approach gradually a steady state with positive average in(cid:135)ation. Around that steady state, in(cid:135)ation and output (cid:135)uctuate optimally in response to shocks to the natural rate. The central bank can implement that optimal outcome by means of an appropriate state-contingent rule, even though in equilibrium the nominal rate remains at zero most (or all) of the time. In order to establish that result, we derive su¢ cient conditions for local determinacy in a more general model with endogenous regime switches.


The pagetic bones in the active phase of the disease with brisk lysis and sclerosis manifest intense tracer uptake on planar bone and SPECT images. Intense tracer uptake, however, can occur also in infections, dysplasias and metastases. Pinhole bone scintigraphy has been shown to portray specific diagnostic signs in a number of skeletal diseases. In an effort to identify useful bone scan signs, we prospectively carried out 99mTc-oxidronate pinhole bone scintigraphy of the skull, vertebrae, ribs, humerus, sacrum and ilium in two patients with Paget's disease of the bone. The pinhole bone scintigraphy findings correlated with radiographic, CT and MRI findings and in the vertebra with the pathological study. Interestingly enough, pinhole bone scintigraphy revealed intense tracer uptake preferentially in the bone cortex and the rim of the affected bones. Thus, the cranial inner table, humeral cortex and vertebral endplates and rims were the seats of characteristic tracer uptake, respectively creating a scintigraphic version of the radiographic "cotton wool" sign, "casket" sign and "picture frame" sign. The pagetic lesions in the sacrum and ilium also showed intense cortical and rim uptake. Correlation of pinhole bone scintigraphy with radiography, CT and MRI indicated that such cortical or rim uptake is characteristic of Paget's disease.


Following a previous exergy analysis of a power plant in Abu Dhabi (UAE), a detailed exergoeconomic analysis of the plant based on Specific Exergy Costing (SPECO) method is presented in this investigation. The objective of this applied research is to compare the values of the different exergoeconomic variables of the Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) calculated during summer atmospheric conditions to the values obtained from the simulation of the plant using design conditions. The results show that summer conditions have increased the total exergy destruction of the power plant and its cost rate respectively by 1.95% and 10%. The negative effects of summer atmospheric conditions on the cost of exergy destruction in the combustion chamber and the compressor are compensated by their positive effects on the turbine. In order to minimize the effects of the summer atmospheric conditions on the performance of the power plant, it is recommended to add a cooling system before the compression of air and a process control system based on the analysis of carbon monoxide, and oxygen of the exhaust gas leaving the combustion chamber.


We previously demonstrated that around 6 weeks of age most of the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)(-/-) but none of the IFN-gamma(+/+) C57BL/6 mice began to lose hair in their dorsal or occipital areas or both and that a single s.c. injection of IFN-gamma into IFN-gamma(-/-) mice at 3 but not at 8 weeks of age (or later) could protect all the mice from alopecia. Here, we report hair regrowth in the alopecia site of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice at 8 weeks of age (or later) by the combination of IFN-gamma and allografting. Skin or tumor allografting and IFN-gamma injections into the transplantation site induced hair regrowth in the alopecia site of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice at 8-66 weeks of age, whereas IFN-gamma injections into the hairless site or allografting alone was ineffective in causing the hair regrowth. Histologic findings showed that the hair cycle in the region of alopecia of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice was blocked at the anagen stage and that in the IFN-gamma(-/-) mice treated with IFN-gamma and allografting, the cycle was at the telogen stage. The therapeutic effects were maintained for >1 year.


To enhance adaptability of the Explosives Ordnance Disposal(EOD) robot to unstructured environment,a novel wheel-track-leg complex mobile machine is put forward,which has good mobility and steering performance.It is demonstrated by analyzing the robot mechanism and its stability that the structure design is feasible and has good stability.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
We sought to characterize the evolution of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and apparent diffusion anisotropy (ADA) in acute stroke and to evaluate their roles in predicting stroke evolution and outcome.

METHODS
We studied 26 stroke patients acutely (<24 hours), subacutely (3 to 5 days), and at outcome (3 months). Ratios of the ADC and ADA within a region of infarction and the normal contralateral region were evaluated and compared with the Canadian Neurological Scale, Barthel Index, and Rankin Scale.

RESULTS
Heterogeneity in ADC and ADA evolution was observed not only between patients but also within individual lesions. Three patterns of ADA evolution were observed: (1) elevated ADA acutely and subacutely; (2) elevated ADA acutely and reduced ADA subacutely; and (3) reduced ADA acutely and subacutely. At outcome, reduced ADA with elevated ADC was observed generally. We identified 3 phases of diffusion abnormalities: (1) reduced ADC and elevated ADA; (2) reduced ADC and reduced ADA; and (3) elevated ADC and reduced ADA. The ADA ratios within 12 hours correlated with the acute Canadian Neurological Scale (r=0.46, P=0.06), subacute Canadian Neurological Scale (r=0.55, P=0.02), outcome Barthel Index (r=0.62, P=0.01), and Rankin Scale (r=-0.77, P<0.0005) scores.

CONCLUSIONS
Combined ADC and ADA provide differential patterns of stroke evolution. Early ADA changes reflect cellular alterations in acute ischemia and may provide a potential marker to predict stroke outcome.


Understanding the molecular composition of astrophysical atmospheres depends on the interpretation of their spectra, which is possible through a combination of observational data analysis and computational modelling. However, this process is difficult to perform as the observed spectra have an extremely rich structure and their opacity is dominated by multiple and complex molecules. These issues can only be addressed through a sophisticated understanding of molecular behaviour, together with fundamental data for all the species that contribute significantly to an atmosphere's opacity. The present work describes the motivation and requirements for the creation of molecular line lists, and their applications. It specifically focuses on phosphine, PH3, due to its relevance in both earthly and astronomical studies, in particular cool stars and exoplanets. A complete line list for phosphine is presented, having been generated by employing ab initio quantum mechanical methods, performing an empirical refinement based on experimental spectroscopic data and harnessing high performance computing. A full account of how the spectral data were obtained, from the creation of the requisite surfaces to the production of cross-sections, can be found in these pages. An analysis of the partition function and associated thermodynamic properties of both phosphine and ammonia, NH3, is also done. Additionally, ongoing work from a preliminary investigation into the use of selected symmetries to produce fast and inexpensive low resolution spectra is described, and results from an introductory study of the tunnelling motion of phosphine are presented. The connections between past, present and future work are discussed, as well as their applications to the fields of astronomy and molecular physics.


The contingent valuation method(CVM) is a direct interview approach that can be used to provide acceptable measures of the economic value of preservation of natural resources. While the estimates from CVM may not be perfect, neither are estimates from any other economic or physical science model. The need for an assessment of the nonmarket benefits of restoring Ejina Banners ecosystem is clear. In this paper, we take it as a case to analyze the WTP of restoring ecosystem service. Obtaining accurate benefit estimates using CVM requires detailed descriptions of the resource being valued. In our survey, we use a 12-page paper with maps depicting the reason why Ejina Banner ecosystem deteriorated, the means by which ecosystem services could be restoring from their current level. The actual valuation portion of the survey has three elements:(1) portrayal of the resources to be valued,(2) description of the particular mechanism to be used to pay for the resource; and(3) the question format used to elicit the respondent's money amount of willingness to pay. Due to concern over the influence of institutional and culture setting, the method of payment we adopted is payment cards in the survey. We employed a parametric model to estimate the welfare of restoring Ejina ecosystem. Their functional relationships between WTP values and the characteristics of responses are built respectively. Results from 700 in-person interviews indicate that per household would pay an average of RMB 37.96 yuan per year, US$ 40.15 for the main river household, 32.10 yuan for the rest of the Heihe basin. The aggregate benefit to residents of the Heihe basin is 15.98 million yuan annually for 20 years. Taking into account the ecosystem discount rate, the aggregated benefit of restoring Ejina Banner ecosystem is 1637 million yuan. These estimates suggest that the general public in Heihe valley would be willing to pay for restoring the Ejina banner ecosystem. Finally, we put forward some suggestions on how to apply the contingent valuation method in developing countries, and believe future efforts may apply CVM efficiently accompanying with benefit-cost analysis.


Objective: study of the prolonged effects of a three-month course of therapy with citicoline, carried out three times for three years, to prevent the progression of cognitive deficit in 1st-degree relatives of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Study participants: the study involved first-degree relatives of patients with an established diagnosis of AD.Study design: an openlabel comparative three-year prospective study of the dynamics of cognitive status in two groups of relatives, one of whom received citicoline therapy (1st group), and the other did not (2nd group). The 1st group made up 48 relatives (11 — with mild cognitive impairment syndrome and 37 — with signs of minimal cognitive dysfunction). 32 relatives who had not received drug treatment for 3 years (8 of them had objectively confirmed signs of minimal cognitive dysfunction, in 24 people — cognitive functioning corresponded to the normal aging) were included to 2nd group. The groups did not have significant differences in demographic characteristics and distribution of the ApoE4(+) genotype carriers.Methods: clinical and psychological, psychometric, ApoE genotyping, statistical.Results: in the therapeutic group, a significant improvement in the cognitive status was found in 75.0% of the treated relatives with cognitive disfunction on most scales and tests, with the exception of the clock drawing test. In the group of relatives who did not receive drug therapy, there was a significant deterioration of cognitive functioning — in 2 cases with the formation of mild cognitive impairment syndrome, in 21 cases — with the appearance of minimal cognitive signs.Conclusion: the results of a three-year preventive course of citicoline therapy showed a significant positive effect of the drug on the cognitive status of the 1st degree relatives of AD patients who had signs of cognitive impairment that did not reach the level of dementia.


Euthanasia remains a contentious issue. The medical profession has difficulty in coming to terms with euthanasia because of professional and ethical conflicts. There has been little guidance from the UKCC on the issue of euthanasia. Nurses may be in a better position to examine the issue more objectively. There is an opportunity for the nursing profession to take a leading role in developing policy.


Botswana is rightfully lauded for maintaining 42% of its land base for conservation, and ranking top in the world for effort to conserve megafauna. Yet during the recent preservationist political climate characterized by a hunting moratorium and deterioration of CBNRM, changes to the national land use map suggest Botswana is losing grip on its lofty status. While conservation attention is turned to elephants and KAZA, discussion about the official dezoning of 8,268 km2 of free-ranging wildlife estate in the Kalahari ecosystem has been notably absent. Using track-based methods we quantified wildlife populations inhabiting this relinquished wilderness now awaiting imminent conversion to fenced and private livestock holdings. We find that the affected areas contain approximately 3,900 free-ranging large herbivores and 50 large carnivores, all of which will become consumed, displaced or potential conflict animals. Erstwhile publicly-owned wildlife particularly important for local communities will effectively become de facto private property for an elite minority. The land use changes spell negative consequences for wildlife not only via mechanisms of habitat loss and edge effects but also reduced landscape connectivity between protected areas that limits seasonal movements and gene flow thus eroding long-term population resilience in a drought-prone environment. As Botswana's agricultural lobby continues to exert pressure on the Kalahari ecosystem, we suggest that ground surveys conducted by Kalahari trackers be implemented to inform decision-making rather than relying on the inadequate coarse-grained aerial survey record only.


The stability of spherical vesicles in alternating (ac) electric fields is studied theoretically for asymmetric conductivity conditions across their membranes. The vesicle deformation is obtained from a balance between the curvature elastic energies and the work done by the Maxwell stresses. The present theory describes and clarifies the mechanisms for the four types of morphological transitions observed experimentally on vesicles exposed to ac fields in the frequency range from 500 to 2 × 107 Hz. The displacement currents across the membranes redirect the electric fields toward the membrane normal to accumulate electric charges by the Maxwell−Wagner mechanism. These accumulated electric charges provide the underlying molecular mechanism for the morphological transitions of vesicles as observed on the micrometer scale.


The study considers the effect of fluorine doping of the alumina matrix used for the synthesis of supported sulfated zirconia catalysts. Hydrofluoric acid served as a fluorinating agent. The addition of fluorine was shown to affect the textural characteristics of the Al2O3 matrix and hence the surface area of sulfated zirconia catalysts based on the doped systems. It was found that the introduction of fluorine into the catalysts increases their activity (the conversion of hexane) and the yield of high-octane isomer 2,2-dimethylbutane.


The current research of air suspension mainly focuses on the characteristics and design of the air spring. In fact, electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS) has excellent performance in flexible height adjustment during different driving conditions. However, the nonlinearity of the ride height adjusting system and the uneven distribution of payload affect the control accuracy of ride height and the body attitude. Firstly, the three-point measurement system of three height sensors is used to establish the mathematical model of the ride height adjusting system. The decentralized control of ride height and the centralized control of body attitude are presented to design the ride height control system for ECAS. The exact feedback linearization method is adopted for the nonlinear mathematical model of the ride height system. Secondly, according to the hierarchical control theory, the variable structure control (VSC) technique is used to design a controller that is able to adjust the ride height for the quarter-vehicle anywhere, and each quarter-vehicle height control system is independent. Meanwhile, the three-point height signals obtained by three height sensors are tracked to calculate the body pitch and roll attitude over time, and then by calculating the deviation of pitch and roll and its rates, the height control correction is reassigned based on the fuzzy algorithm. Finally, to verify the effectiveness and performance of the proposed combined control strategy, a validating test of ride height control system with and without road disturbance is carried out. Testing results show that the height adjusting time of both lifting and lowering is over 5 s, and the pitch angle and the roll angle of body attitude are less than 0.15°. This research proposes a hierarchical control method that can guarantee the attitude stability, as well as satisfy the ride height tracking system.


Recent advances in patient safety have been hampered by the hard dealing with the development of a uniform classification of patient safety concepts in a systematic way. Therefore, many believe that medical expert systems have great potential to improve health care. A framework for computer-based medical errors diagnoses of primary systems' deficiencies is presented. Results of this research assisted in developing the hierarchical structure of the medical errors expert system which was written and complied in CLIPS. It has 225 rules, 52 parameters and 830 conditional paragraphs. The system prompts the user for response with suggested input formats. The system checks the user input for consistency within the given limits. In addition, the system was validated through numerous consultations with the experts in the field. The benefits that are gained from such types of expert systems are eliminating the fear from dealing with personal mistake, and providing the up-date information and helps medical staff as a learning tool.


The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a common graduate-level professional degree that is offered by Canadian Universities. To date, few studies have examined competency-based MPH education in Canada.

 To examine the degree to which MPH programs' course descriptions align with the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) core competency categories in order to identify strengths and training gaps in such programs across Canada.

 A content analysis of MPH programs in Canada was conducted from July 2019 to November 2019. A sampling frame of programs was obtained from a list from the PHAC website. Program information, including mandatory and elective course descriptions was extracted from each program's website and analyzed in NVivo 12. Course descriptions were independently categorized by two researchers into one or more of the seven categories of the core competencies outlined by PHAC.

 We identified 18 universities with MPH programs with 267 courses across Canada. Thematic analysis revealed that 100% of programs had coursework that addressed the "Public Health Sciences" and "Assessment and Analysis" categories; 93% addressed "Policy and Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation"; 67% addressed each of "Communication," "Leadership," and "Partnerships, Collaboration, and Advocacy"; and only 56% had course descriptions addressing "Diversity and Inclusiveness."

 We find that Canadian MPH programs may lack course offerings addressing core competency categories relating to diversity and inclusiveness, communication, and leadership. Our findings were limited in scope as we relied on program Web sites; thus, further research should explore course content in more depth than this course description analysis allowed and identify ways to close the MPH curricular gaps we identified.

 Further research should be conducted to determine if the current model of competency education in Canada is successfully guiding MPH programs in meeting local and international workforce demands. Continued discussion is needed to raise the importance of MPH competency-based education in Canada.


This brief presents a high-performance elliptic curve cryptographic processor for general curves over GF(p), which features a systolic arithmetic unit. We propose a new unified systolic array that efficiently implements addition, subtraction, multiplication and division over GF(p). At the system level, the control dependencies in the operation sequence and the mismatched communication between the systolic array and the separate storage would stall the pipeline in the systolic array. These pipeline stalls are successfully avoided by using two optimization methods. Synthesized in 0.13-mum standard-cell technology, the processor requires 1.01 ms to compute a 256-bit scalar multiplication for general curves over GF(p)


Thrombocytopenia may be the initial presentation of sarcoidosis, which is a systemic granulomatous disorder. Various pathophysiological mechanisms have been identified. Immune thrombocytopenia often has a severe presentation but may respond favourably to immunosuppressive therapy. There are no guidelines for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in sarcoidosis. However, in emergency situations with major bleeding, it seems reasonable to apply the current guidelines recommended for immune thrombocytopenia. The authors report a case of sarcoidosis presenting with severe thrombocytopenia, petechial rash, and nasal and gingival bleeding. LEARNING POINTS The association of thrombocytopenia with sarcoidosis has been well described and fully documented. Immune thrombocytopenia in sarcoidosis is usually severe and symptomatic at presentation but generally has a favourable course because of modern therapeutic management. Steroids may be administered as first-line treatment for sarcoidosis, but in emergency situations with a severe bleeding risk, it seems reasonable to apply the current guidelines for immune thrombocytopenia, namely methylprednisolone (1 g/day for 2 days) and/or intravenous immunoglobulin (1 g/kg/day for 3 days).


Field experiments were done to evaluate the impact of soil tillage reduction on energy efficiency and labour productivity in cultivation of winter wheat, spring barley and soybean. Besides the conventional tillage (CT), in nonconventional tillage methods the following implements were used: RT1 chisel plough, disc harrow, multi-tiller, seeddrill; RT2 shallow chisel, seed-drill; NT no-till seed-drill. As the efficiency indicators of different tillage methods, the following parameters were measured: work rate, energy requirement and yield. It was observed that tillage systems greatly differed regarding energy and labour requirements. Substitution of mouldboard plough with chisel in primary tillage provided a substantial specific energy efficiency improvement. Grain yields varied depending on soil tillage method and growing season. The differences in yield were not significant in winter wheat and soybean cultivation, while the yield of spring barley was significantly higher in RT2 and NT variants then in CT. Cereals such as winter wheat and spring barley responded well to the reduction of tillage, and no-till system might be the best option for these crops cultivation.


We have described and fabricated 2D array transducers for many real time volumetric imaging applications. These applications include transducers operating up to 5 MHz for transthoracic imaging, up to 15 MHz for intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), 5 MHz for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and 7 MHz for laparoscopic ultrasound imaging (LUS). We have recently adapted a transducer designed for TEE to be used for real time volumetric endoscopic imaging of the brain. The transducer consists of a 36 times 36 array with an interelement spacing of 0.18 mm. There are 508 transmitting and 256 receive channels placed in a regular pattern in the array. The operating frequency is 5 MHz with a -6 dB bandwidth of 30%. The transducer is fabricated on a 10 layer flexible circuit from MicroConnex (Seattle, WA). We bent the flexible circuit such that the finished transducer is in the forward viewing configuration. We used the Volumetrics Imaging (Durham, NC) 3D scanner to obtain our images in a canine model. In an intra-operative surgical procedure, a 10 mm burr hole was drilled through the skull of the canine. The hole was placed to one side of the midline and the transducer was placed up against the dura for endoscopic ultrasound imaging. Images of the lateral ventricles were produced , including real time 3D guidance of a needle puncture of one ventricle. In addition, contrast (Optison, Amersham) enhanced 3D Doppler color flow images have been made of the cerebral vessels including the complete Circle of Willis. Applications include real time 3D guidance of cerebral spinal fluid extraction from the lateral ventricles and bedside evaluation of critically ill patients where CT and MR imaging techniques are unavailable


Background Globally, stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD)'s high morbidity and mortality should arouse our urgent attention. How long can STAD patients survive after surgery and whether novel immunotherapy is effective are questions that our clinicians cannot escape. Methods Various R packages, GSEA software, Metascape, STRING, Cytoscape, Venn diagram, TIMER2.0 website, TCGA, and GEO databases were used in our study. Results In the TCGA and GEO, macrophage abundance of STAD tissues was significantly higher than that of adjacent tissues and was an independent prognostic factor, significantly related to the overall survival (OS) of STAD patients. Between the high- and low- macrophage abundance, we conducted differential expression, univariate and multivariate Cox analysis, and obtained 12 candidate genes, and finally constructed a 3-gene signature. Both low macrophage abundance group and group D had higher TMB and PD-L1 expression. Furthermore, top 5 common gene-mutated STAD tissues had lower macrophage abundance. Macrophage abundance and 3 key genes expression were also lower in the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and HM-indel STAD subtypes and significantly correlated with the tumor microenvironment score. The functional enrichment and ssGSEA revealed 2 signatures were similar and closely related to BOQUEST_STEM_CELL_UP, including genes up-regulated in proliferative stromal stem cells. Hsa-miR-335-5p simultaneously regulated 3 key genes and significantly related to the expression of PD-L1, CD8A and PDCD1. Conclusion macrophage abundance and 3-gene signature could simultaneously predict the OS and immunotherapy efficacy, and both 2 signatures had remarkable similarities. Hsa-miR-335-5p and BOQUEST_STEM_CELL_UP might be novel immunotherapy targets.


'Where are we going?' looks at some other biometric modalities that may achieve a higher profile in future, including hand-based biometrics, keystroke dynamics, ear-shape biometrics, and electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram measurements. It then discusses the problem of ageing in the design and use of biometric systems before considering human interaction with biometric systems and the impact of the usability of systems on their success. Biometrics systems are increasingly and manifestly having an impact on everyday life. Properly understood and sensitively applied, these can improve our security, increase our confidence in processes that are designed to dovetail into the way modern society works, and enhance the convenience and power of technology, for the benefit of everyone.


We report two different disorders of the beta-globin gene cluster segregating in a Belgian family: a novel deletion that results in (G) gamma + ((A) gamma delta beta)(0)-thalassemia (thal) and a heterocellular hereditary persistence of foetal hemoglobin of the Swiss type linked to a delta(0)-thal gene (delta (0)-HPFH). Heterozygosity for the heterocellular HPFH brings about a moderate (3.4% to 8.24%) increase of hemoglobin (Hb) F having a G gamma/A gamma ratio of 4:1, whereas carriers of the G gamma + ((A) gamma delta beta)(0)-thal deletion show in their peripheral blood a considerably higher (15%) percentage of Hb F. Both defects interact in the compound heterozygotes for G gamma + ((A) gamma delta beta)(0)-thal and delta(0)-HPFH producing a further increase (up to 24%) of fetal Hb consisting entirely of G gamma chains. Molecular characterization of the (G) gamma + ((A) gamma delta beta)(0)-thal by means of Southern analysis showed that the deletion spans about 50 kb, removing the 3' end of the A gamma-gene, the psi beta-, delta-, and beta-genes. A number of possible mechanisms leading to the overproduction of Hb F in HPFH and (G) gamma + ((A) gamma delta beta)(0)-thal will be discussed.


In searching for possible differences in the composition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) forms in dystrophic brain, the distribution of various enzyme molecules in normal (NB) and dystrophic (DB) 129B6F1/J mouse brain has been investigated. The tissue was sequentially extracted with saline (S1) and with saline‐Triton X‐100 buffers (S2) to release soluble and membrane‐bound cholinesterases. About 15% of the AChE and 35% of the BuChE activities in NB were recovered in S1, and the rest in S2, G4, G2, and G1 AChE and BuChE forms were identified in the soluble fractions obtained from NB and DB. The shift in sedimentation values of the separated AChE and BuChE species in sucrose gradients made with and without detergents revealed the occurrence of hydrophilic (H) and amphiphilic (A) variants of cholinesterases in the extracts. The amphiphilic properties of the several AChE and BuChE molecules were analyzed by Triton X‐114 phase‐partitioning and by phenyl‐agarose chromatography. A12 (1%), G4A (72%), G4H (8%), and G2A + G1A (19%) AChE molecules, and G4A (34%), G4H (19%), and G2A + G1A (47%) BuChE forms, were identified in NB. The G4A AChE and BuChE isoforms differed in their interaction with Triton X‐114 and with a hydrophobic matrix. Neither the extent of cholinesterase solubilization, nor the distribution of individual enzyme forms, was significantly altered in DB. The lack of specific differences in the distribution of AChE and BuChE forms between NB and DB suggests that the biosynthetic pathway leading to the various enzyme forms is altered in muscle but not in dystrophic mouse brain. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Thyroglobulin samples were prepared individually be gel chromatography from the thyroids of five persons without thyroid disease and four with goiters. Gel electrophoresis at different pHs and gel concentrations showed a single major band corresponding to 19S thyroglobulin in rabbits, with occasional faint bands corresponding to 12S and 27S species. The thyroglobulins of the normals differed from each other in electrophoretic pattern on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-urea gels and in composition of iodine, monosaccharides, and amino acids. Nine amino acids showed significant variation among the five thyroglobulins at the P less than 0.01 level, and only two (lysine and alanine) did not vary. The content of both sialic acid and fucose varied widely, but their sum was similar among the five samples. Thyroglobulin samples from the goiters differed from the normals and from each other in composition and in pattern on SDS-urea gels. The variability itself was more impressive than were differences in any particular component. Relative to the normals, these thyroglobulins showed increases in content of sialic acid (P less than 0.01) and lysine (P less than 0.10), and increases in the faster bands on gel electrophoresis in SDS-urea. Two goiters were from patients with the multiple hamartoma syndrome, and the only metabolic abnormality found was a low content of iodothyronine in thyroglobulin. The other two goiters also showed inadequate coupling of iodotyrosyls. In addition, one contained a soluble iodoprotein of very high molecular weight, which was immunologically identical to 19S thyroglobulin but differed in chemical composition. We conclude from the compositional data that there is not a single structure for "normal" thyroglobulin, but that multiple molecular configurations occur naturally and are compatible with adequate hormone synthesis. Extensive variations in thyroglobulin structure are frequently found with goiter, and we suggest that these may be involved in its pathogenesis.


Purpose. To optimize the results of treating the elbow severe injuries and their consequences, as well as the elbow diseases in young patients, to evaluate the immediate and mid-term results of the elbow arthroplasty in young patients.
Materials and Methods. We have analyzed the results of 52 surgeries of primary total arthroplasty of the elbow in patients at the age below 40 years. We used the implants by Endoservice (Russia) and those Coonrad-Morrey by Zimmer (USA). The main indications for the elbow arthroplasty in young age developed. The technique of surgery and postoperative rehabilitation described. We evaluated the results according to ASES system (Richards R.R. et al., 1994).
Results. The results of treatment analyzed within 1-10 years after surgery. Good and excellent results obtained in 78.8% of all treated patients; satisfactory ones registered in 15.4% of all treated patients. Unsatisfactory results of arthroplasty occurred in 5.8% of the total number of operated patients.
Conclusion. The elbow arthroplasty in young patients is a high-tech surgical intervention which is a traditionally used alternative, and in some cases it is the method of choice for treatment of some severe injuries and diseases of the elbow. It should be performed in the extreme and severe cases when the limit of other familiar techniques reached.


With the steady development of the development of the western region in China, the construction of mountain highways has developed rapidly, and the soil-rock mixed filler, as an excellent filler, is widely used in the subgrade filling of mountain highways. Unlike ordinary fine-grained soil, the source of the soil-rock mixtures (S-RMs) is not unique, and the particle size difference is large and the water content is not uniform, resulting in very complicated mechanical properties. But the current highway embankment codes are still mainly established on the fine-grained soil. It is not fully applicable to soil-rock filled embankment. Based on soil-rock filled embankment engineering practice, this research uses a large-scale direct shear test to research the mechanical characteristics of the S-RMs with different maximum particle diameters. According to the large-scale direct shear test of S-RMs with different maximum particle diameters, the shear displacement vs shear stress curve, shear dilation, and strength characteristics with maximum particle diameter were analyzed. Results demonstrate that whether secondary hardening occurs mainly depends on the normal stress and the maximum particle diameter of the filler. At different maximum particle diameters, the horizontal displacement vs vertical displacement curves of the S-RMs can be roughly divided into continuous shearing and beginning of shearing and quick dilation. And the shear strength increases with the increase of the maximum particle diameter. Moreover, the cohesion decreases first and then increases with the increase of the maximum particle diameter, and the internal friction angle increases with the increase of the maximum particle diameter. Therefore, some RBs with large particle diameter added to filler can effectively improve the shear strength of the S-RMs, which may be valuable for realistic engineering.


A recently discovered Early Cretaceous (early late Albian) dinosaur tracksite at Parede beach (Cascais, Portugal) reveals evidence of dinoturbation and at least two sauropod trackways. One of these trackways can be classified as narrow-gauge, which represents unique evidence in the Albian of the Iberian Peninsula and provides for the improvement of knowledge of this kind of trackway and its probable trackmaker, in an age when the sauropod record is scarce. These dinosaur tracks are preserved on the upper surface of a marly limestone bed that belongs to the Gale Formation (Agua Doce Member, middle to lower upper Albian). The study of thin-sections of the beds C22/24 and C26 in the Parede section has revealed a microfacies composed of foraminifers, radiolarians, ostracods, corals, bivalves, gastropods, and echinoids in a mainly wackestone texture with biomicritic matrix. These assemblages match with the lithofacies, marine molluscs, echinids, and ichnofossils sampled from the section and indicate a shallow marine, inner shelf palaeoenvironment with a shallowing-upward trend. The biofacies and the sequence analysis are compatible with the early late Albian age attributed to the tracksite. These tracks and the moderate dinoturbation index indicate sauropod activity in this palaeoenvironment. Titanosaurs can be dismissed as possible trackmakers on the basis of the narrow-gauge trackway, and probably by the kidney-shaped manus morphology and the pes-dominated configuration of the trackway. Narrow-gauge sauropod trackways have been positively associated with coastal palaeoenvironments, and the Parede tracksite supports this interpretation. In addition, this tracksite adds new data about the presence of sauropod pes-dominated trackways in cohesive substrates. As the Portuguese Cretaceous sauropod osteological remains are very scarce, the Parede tracksite yields new and relevant evidence of these dinosaurs. Furthermore, the Parede tracksite is the youngest evidence of sauropods in the Portuguese record and some of the rare evidence of sauropods in Europe during the Albian. This discovery enhances the palaeobiological data for the Early Cretaceous Sauropoda of the Iberian Peninsula, where the osteological remains of these dinosaurs are relatively scarce in this region of southwestern Europe. Therefore, this occurrence is also of overall interest due to its impact on Cretaceous Sauropoda palaeobiogeography.


Abstract A vibratory pile hammer (VPH) is a mechanical device used to drive steel piles as well as tube piles into soil to provide foundation support for buildings or other structures. In order to increase the stability and the efficiency of the VPH work in the over-resonance frequency, a new VPH construction was developed at the Military University of Technology. The new VPH contains a system of counter-rotating eccentric weights, powered by hydraulic motors, and designed in such a way that horizontal vibrations cancel out, while vertical vibrations are transmitted into the pile. This system is suspended in the static parts by the adaptive variable stiffness pillows based on a smart material, magnetorheological elastomer (MRE), whose rheological and mechanical properties can be reversibly and rapidly controlled by an external magnetic field. The work presented in the paper is a part of the modified VPH construction design process. It concerns the experimental research on the vibrations during the piling process and the analytical analyses of the gained signal. The results will be applied in the VPH control system.


Periodic review of the methods used in the treatment of familiar diseases is necessary and beneficial. This book, the fifth volume of such a review, deals with diseases or injuries of the spine, knee, and hip. Also, there are single chapters on muscular dystrophy and congenital absence of the thumb. The book begins with a detailed discussion of pollicization in congenital absence of the thumb written by the editor of this volume. The chapter reviews the history of pollicization followed by an explicit description of his operative technique and an indepth review of his results in 11 cases. This is the reference to use in the treatment of this infrequently encountered anomaly. There are four chapters concerning the axial skeleton, including a discussion of the difficulties of diagnosing injuries of the cervical spine in early childhood, a statistical study of scoliosis in cerebral palsy patients, followed by a comprehensive review


We present a general construction kit for empirical tests of pseudorandom number generators which comprises a wide range of well-known standard tests. Within our setup we identify two important families of tests and check for connections between them. This leads us to query the existence of universal tests which claim to be able to detect any possible defect of a generator.


Numerous mRNA molecules are localized in regions of the dendrites of neurons, some moving along dendrites in response to synaptic activity. The proteins encoded by these RNAs have diverse functions, including participation in memory formation and long-term potentiation. Recent experiments have shown that a cytoplasmic RNA trafficking pathway described for oligodendrocytes also operates in neurons. Transported RNAs possess a cis-acting element that directs them to granules, which are transported along microtubules by the motor proteins kinesin and dynein. These RNA molecules are recruited to the cytoplasmic transport granules by cooperative interaction with a cognate trans-acting factor. mRNAs containing the 11-nucleotide A2RE11 or 21-nucleotide A2RE sequences bind heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A2 and A3, which are abundant in the brain. Mutations in this cis-acting element that weaken its interaction with hnRNP A2 also interfere with RNA trafficking. Several dendritically localized mRNAs, including those encoding calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α subunit and neurogranin, possess A2RE-like sequences, suggesting that they may be localized by interaction with these heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins. Calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α subunit is of particular interest: Its RNA is transported in depolarized neurons, and the protein it encodes is essential for establishing long-term memory. Several other cis-acting sequences and trans-acting factors that participate in neuronal RNA localization have been discovered.


PURPOSE
To recognize clinical and pathological variables that influence in bladder cancer specific mortality in patients with transitional bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHOD
Retrospective analysis of 333 patients with transitional bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy. Variables included during pre-cystectomy, peri-cystectomy and post-cystectomy period were analyzed. Four groups were defined based on pathological state: a) Organ-confine bladder cancer without lymph node metastasis (pT0-2, pN0); b) Extravesical desease without lymph node metastasis (pT3-4, pN0); c) Bladder cancer with lymph node metastasis (pT0-4, pN+); d) No data of lymph node affection (pT0-4, pNx). Univariate analysis and two models of multivariate analysis were performed including the risk group as a variable in one the latest.

RESULTS
Mean follow up was 52.6 +/- 51 (2-221) months with a median of 31 months. Pathological state pT0 was observed in 7.2% of the patients, 12% were pT1, 26.7% pT2, 34.5% pT3 and 10.5% pT4. Lymph node metastasis was detected in 20.7% of the patients. Lymph node metastasis increased according to pathological state rises. Five and 10 years specific survival was 57% and 54% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
Local pathological state, lymph node status and risk groups were independent predictive factors for bladder cancer specific survival. Risk group association is a reliable method to predict bladder cancer specific survival and to identify the suitable patient group to get benefit from adjuvant therapy.


This naturalistic study identifies and describes strategies for clinical problem solving in situations of uncertainty, from observations of patient/family visits in a family health center. Judgment strategies were described for four types of uncertainty: information, diagnosis, treatment, and patient response that roughly correspond to the phases of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the clinical problem-solving process. The study contributes to increased understanding of the practical (experiential) knowledge involved in clinical judgment.


Hydrocarbon chain, hydrophobic in nature, plays an important role in the efficiency of corrosion inhibitors. Increasing hydrocarbon chain length in a corrosion inhibitor tends to increase its inhibition efficiency (IE) but decrease its solubility in aqueous solutions. In this study, quaternary amine corrosion inhibitors with variable hydrocarbon chain lengths ranging from 10 to 16 carbons were synthesized and evaluated as acid corrosion inhibitors for coiled tubing steel. The substituents containing double and triple bonds were incorporated into the corrosion inhibitors to enhance their performance in HCl acid solutions. In addition to the quaternary nitrogen, three additional adsorption sites including propargyl and two allyl groups are present in this corrosion inhibitor.
 Behavior of these compounds in concentrated HCl acids was examined using gravimetric and electrochemical methods (polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)). Weight loss tests were conducted in 28 wt% HCl acid solutions at different temperatures and a soaking time of two hours was applied. The temperatures examined ranged from 30 to 90 °C. The results showed that IE increased in the order of C10 < C12 < C16 at 30 °C and while a reverse order was observed at higher examined temperatures (90 °C). At a temperature of 30 °C, an inhibitor concentration of 50 ppm gave the corrosion IE of 80.4, 78.3 and 67.2% for C16, C12 and C10, respectively, while at 90 °C, the corresponding inhibition efficiencies were 25.7, 21.1 and 15.4%. Polarization measurements showed that the inhibition mechanisms for C12 and C16 was via suppressing/retarding anodic reaction while a mixed- type mechanism was obtained for C10. The IE obtained by the polarization technique at 30 °C showed the same order obtained by weight loss method (C16>C12>C10) while at a temperature of 70 °C, the order was C16>C10>C12.
 This paper will present in detail, 1) the synthesis and characterization of the corrosion inhibitors, 2) the variation in their performance, and 3) subsequently, the potential mechanisms for obtained variations as a function of temperature are discussed.


A. J. Marcus, M. J. Broekman, J. H. F. Drosopoulos, N. Islam, D. J. Pinsky, C. Sesti, R. Levi. Heterologous cell–cell interactions: thromboregulation, cerebroprotection and cardioprotection by CD39 (NTPDase-1). J Thromb Haemost 2003; 1: 2497–2509. In the above paper, there was an error in the lettering in Fig. 2. PGI2 should have been defined as platelet inhibition vasodilation rather than as platelet inhibition vasoconstriction. The publishers apologize for this error and print the corrected figure below.


Abstract A number of familial and twin studies have assessed the relative contribution of ge-netic and environmental factors to physical performance or its-related traits and have estimated that there is a significant genetic component to their phenotypes. In addition, aerobic capacity has been found to have stronger maternal inheritance than paternal. This finding implies that functional differences in maternally inherited mtDNA-encoded proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation affect aerobic performance. In this article, therefore, we focus on associa-tions between mtDNA polymorphisms/haplogroups and elite Japanese athlete status. From sequencing analysis of the control region in the mtDNA, certain mtDNA polymorphisms and haplogroups were shown to be associated with elite Japanese endurance athlete status, prob-ably due to enhanced ATP production by mitochondria in the cardiac and skeletal muscles or both. This phenomenon is in agreement with several previous reports on Caucasian and African populations. It should be noted that certain mtDNA polymorphisms or haplogroups are also associated with elite Japanese sprint athlete/power status, probably due to enhanced calcium dynamics in the skeletal muscle. Thus, mtDNA polymorphisms/haplogroups influence not only aerobic performance but also anaerobic performance.


BACKGROUND
Due to its role in angiogenesis, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene promoter polymorphism may have a presumed role in recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). It is an intensely studied protein, a biological mediator, a modulator and an effector molecule by implication in numerous physiological processes: vasodilatation, angiogenesis, immunity, tissue remodeling, smooth muscle activity.

AIM
Our study aims to investigate a possible association between iNOS -2087A>G (rs2297518) polymorphism and the occurrence of idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this study, as in the previously published one, 169 women, diagnosed with RPL, in the Clinics of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Filantropia" Municipal Hospital, Craiova, Romania, were subjected to the analysis, from October 2009 to October 2016. As a control group, we used 145 women. Subjects from both groups were genotyped using specific probes for TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR), allelic discrimination technique.

RESULTS
We evaluated in this study a possible association between iNOS -2087A>G (rs2297518) polymorphism and the occurrence of idiopathic RPL. The chi-square test showed no significant association between the presence of this polymorphism and the increased risk to develop RPL. When we performed a comparative analysis of the frequency of genotypes and our statistical data, it was observed that this polymorphism, iNOS -2087A>G (rs2297518), has not been associated with an increased risk of developing RPL. Also, when one genotype was compared with another, we did not obtain any association that would have statistical significance, between the presence of this polymorphism and the increased risk for patients to develop RPL [in dominant - A allele carriers, iNOS 2087 AG+AA vs. GG: odds ratio (OR) 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-2.07, p=0.24]. Analyzing the overall risk of developing RPL by iNOS 2087 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype frequencies, between controls and RPL patients (which were stratified by number of consecutive PLs), taking into account the number of consecutive pregnancies, the chi-square test showed no association between the presence of this polymorphism and the increased risk for developing RPL in all three subgroups we analyzed (in a dominant model - A allele carriers, iNOS 2087 AG+AA vs. GG: the first subgroup, OR 1.31, 95% CI 0.83-2.07, p=0.24; the second subgroup, OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.76-2.11, p=0.37; the three subgroup, OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.77-2.53, p=0.272).

CONCLUSIONS
The iNOS -2087A>G (rs2297518) gene polymorphism does not influence RPL in the study area of Dolj County, Romania.


The purpose of the present article was to investigate social psychological processes leading to complex patterns of inclusion and exclusion. Following Sarah Ahmed's theory of the phenomenology of 'being stopped', we explored young adults' experiences of coming to or living in Sweden. The empirical material used consists of four strategically selected case studies. Living in the new Europe can be described as an experience of having to constantly deal with patterns of exclusion/inclusion. These patterns of exclusion/inclusion vary over time. They create new social bonds, strategies used to cope with prejudices and discrimination, and new identities. The four cases illustrated more or less successful attempts to deal with exclusion. Discrimination and the feeling of being different clearly affected young people's self-esteem and life plans. Lack of integration is not only related to ethnicity and language, but also to connectedness to social and institutional structures.


Background Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a systemic inflammatory disease that affects mainly the spine and compromises globally the physical capacity of the patients. Despite new advances in pharmacological therapy, physiotherapy and exercise remain essential in the treatment of AS. However, the literature lacks studies showing which types of exercises are more effective in patients with AS. Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise in functional capacity, disease activity, mobility and aerobic capacity of patients with AS. Methods Sixty-eight patients with a diagnosis of AS, according to New York modified criteria and with stable drug treatment, were included. The patients were randomly allocated in two groups. The intervention group (IG) underwent fifty minutes of walking in the individual anaerobic threshold associated with stretching exercises three times a week for twelve weeks. The control group (CG) performed stretching exercises three times a week for 12 weeks. The outcome measurements were: functional capacity measured using BASFI (The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index) and HAQ-S (Health Assessment Questionnaire for spondyloarthritis); mobility measured using BASMI (The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrologyl Índex); disease activity by BASDAI (The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) and dosage of CRP (C-Reactive Protein). Aerobic capacity was evaluated using an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing protocol by treadmill. Additionally, the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) was applied. The evaluations were done by a blinded assessor immediately before the randomization, six weeks, and twelve weeks after the beginning of the exercise programs. Results Sixty-four patients (32 in IG and 32 in CG) completed the study. Two patients from IG e two patients from CG withdrew because of difficulties in getting permission from work. At baseline, the groups were homogeneous regarding all clinical and demographic characteristics. There was significant improvement in functional capacity (BASFI and HAQ-S) and disease activity (BASDAI) in both groups (p<0.05), but there was no difference between groups. There were no significant differences in BASMI scores and CRP levels in both groups. The IG showed significant improvement in 6MWT compared to the control group (p<0.004). There was significant increase in VO2 peak and anaerobic threshold (AT) in IG after treatment. In CG, VO2 peak and AT did not change after 12 weeks. However, there was no difference between groups regarding aerobic capacity. Conclusions Aerobic training and stretching exercises had beneficial effects on functional capacity and disease activity. Aerobic training, in addition to stretching exercises, increased walking distance and cardiopulmonary capacity in patients with AS. References [1] Carter R, Riatawan P, Banham SW, et al. An investigation of factors limiting aerobic capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Respir Med 1999; 93: 700-8. [2] Dagfinrud H, Kvien TK, Hagen KB. Physiotherapy interventions for ankylosing spondylitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008; 1: CD002822. [3] Braun J, van den Berg R, Baraliakos X, et al. 2010 update of the ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis 2011; 70: 896–904. Disclosure of Interest F. Jennings: None Declared, M. Cardoso: None Declared, V. Cruz: None Declared, H. Oliveira: None Declared, J. Natour Grant/Research support from: Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo- FAPESP


Abstract Advancing the public health insurance system is one of the key strategies of the Senegalese government for achieving universal health coverage. In 2013, the government launched a universal health financial protection programme, la Couverture Maladie Universelle. One of the programme's aims was to establish a community-based health insurance scheme for the people in the informal sector, who were largely uninsured before 2013. The scheme provides coverage through non-profit community-based organizations and by the end of 2016, 676 organizations had been established across the country. However, the organizations are facing challenges, such as low enrolment rates and low portability of the benefit package. To address the challenges and to improve the governance and operations of the community-based health insurance scheme, the government has since 2018 planned and partly implemented two major reforms. The first reform involves a series of institutional reorganizations to raise the risk pool. These reorganizations consist of transferring the risk pooling and part of the insurance management from the individual organizations to the departmental unions, and transferring the operation and financial responsibility of the free health-care initiatives for vulnerable population to the community-based scheme. The second reform is the introduction of an integrated management information system for efficient and effective data management and operations of the scheme. Here we discuss the current progress and plans for future development of the community-based health insurance scheme, as well as discussing the challenges the government should address in striving towards universal health coverage in the country.


Human Resource Management is relatively new concept, emerging during the 1970's. Many people continue to refer the discipline by its older, more traditional titles, such as Personnel Management or Personnel Administration.
The trend is changing. The term now-a-days used in industry circles is HRM. Coming to the evolution of HRM,
Human Resource Management includes all activities used to attract & retain employees and to ensure they perform at a high level in meeting organizational goals.


CHILDATA, an international collection of ergonomics statistics on children newborn to 18 years of age, is derived from published survey reports, textbooks, journal articles, and national standards. It is intended for manufacturers, designers, standards bodies, and research organizations that develop products or environments for children. Statistics are presented for 147 body dimensions, 34 physical performance measures, and 6 measures of cognitive performance. Five concise and well-written introductory chapters guide readers in selecting, interpreting, and applying the data. The authors establish logical links between child/product and child/ environment interactions, desired outcomes, design strategies, data selection, and data application. Important technical concepts such as age-coding methods, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic variation, representative sampling, and secular changes in body dimensions are also briefly introduced. Childata sources and technical discussions are well documented, with more than 75 cited references and 30 more for further reading. Most of Childata is devoted to its 187 ergonomics "datasheets," each defining and illustrating an ergonomics variable (e.g., sitting height), including discussion of comparative data sources and providing a table for each source with sample sizes, means, standard deviations, and extreme percentiles (e.g., 5th & 95th). When available, genderand age-specific statistics are given. Although stature and weight are given from many countries, most of Childata pertains to the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands, reflecting the limited availability of ergonomics data on children worldwide. A hurried reader might assume that all Childata's tabled statistics are from primary sources (e.g., actual measurements) and that measurement methods are comparable when sources are reported on the same datasheet. This is not alwaysthe case. Practitioners should not skip the introductory material, datasheet discussions,and appendixes,where the authors call out such important details. Readers involved in research and standards making should consult both original and secondary sources to review methods and assumptions used to generate statistical values not directly calculated from measurement data. In addition to the reprinted design values from secondary sources, several quantitative procedures advocated may be controversial. For example, to correct for secular increases in body size, the authors suggest uniformly increasing tabled values by a percentage equal to the observed increase in mean stature. This procedure assumes that relative rates of secular change in all body dimensions are the same as in stature and that the rates of secular change are the same in all age groups. Neither assumption is supported by the auxological (growth) literature. In another section, an equation estimates population minimum and maximum values using a normal approximation (least accurate at the tails of the distribution) in lieu of the observed sample minimum/maximum. Despite the few such technical shortcomings, Childata is an excellent guide to the limited literature on children's ergonomics data. The authors' critical discussions are educational, the sources cited are reasonably up to date, and the extensive bibliography will be useful to practitioners and researchers. Interested parties can obtain a copy through the UK Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.dti.gov.uk). Adultdata also provides ergonomics data to manufacturers, designers, standards bodies, and research organizations. Adultdata presents tables of means, standard deviations, and 5th/95th percentile values for 266 adult body dimensions and similar statistics for 28 strength variables. Most tables include comparative values for the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Sri Lanka, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States. Introductory sections in Adultdata provide useful outlines of the relationships among consumer-product interactions, design scenarios, and the statistical distributions of ergonomics variables. Short sections also introduce the normal distribution, percentile estimation, and confidence limits. A disappointing page on human variation fails to capture the relevant scientific literature on sexual dimorphism, secular trends, and racial/ethnic/socioeconomic influences on anthropometry. Readers will find Adultdata' s 161-item ergonomics bibliography useful. Unlike Childata, the vast majority of design values in Adultdata are not taken from their original sources. For some variables, it is difficult to determine the original source because only secondary sources (e.g., compilations, national standards, and commercial engineering guides) are cited. This inhibits the usefulness of the book for researchers and standards makers. Practitioners should view the values in Adultdata critically because most of the entries for the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and the United States were generated using height and/or weight ratio scaling procedures to bring data "up to date" (PeopleSize, 1998, Open Ergonomics Ltd., Loughborough, UK). Many values in Adultdata are reprinted from Pheasant's work (Anthropometries, 1990, British Standards Institution; Bodyspaee, 1996, Taylor & Francis), which relies on ratio scaling methods to create estimates for many anthropometric variables when only stature has actually been


A submergible towed body system carries an acoustic transmission/reception device under the surface of the water and relays signals between the acoustic transmission/reception device and a surface platform. An elongated support frame has upper and lower horizontal frame sections maintained in a parallel spaced apart relationship by a plurality of vertical frame supports. A float is attached on top of the upper horizontal frame section and a tow point depends from the upper horizontal frame section. Attached to the upper and lower horizontal frame sections is a combination tilt and pan mechanism that allows the acoustic transmission/reception device to pan through a prescribed horizontal angle and tilt through a prescribed vertical angle. Circuitry is mounted between the upper and lower horizontal frame sections and aft of the tilt and pan mechanism for electrically connecting the surface platform to the acoustic transmission/reception device.


Kidney Fat Index (KFI) is the most used indicator of body condition for African ungulates and regarded most reliable. The possible use of Metatarsus Marrow Dry Weight (MMDW) as an alternative for KFI and femur marrow dry weight as indices of body condition for Antidorcas marsupialis (springbok) was investigated in this study. The KFI of males was lower than that of both non-gravid and gravid females. Non-gravid females had a KFI lower than that of gravid females. In non-gravid females the MMDW was lower than that of males as well as gravid females. For gravid females the MMDW was higher than that of non-gravid females. It can be reasoned that MMDW is less sensitive than KFI to variations in body condition, but it is reasonably sensitive for pregnancy. The possible use of MMDW as an indicator of body condition is important due to the unreliable availability of kidneys and kidney fat, as well as femur bones.


We analyse spin effects in diffractive vector meson leptoproduction at small x on the basis of the generalized parton distribution (GPD) approach. We take into account quark transverse degrees of freedom in the hard subprocess. We calculate amplitudes for the longitudinally and transversely polarized photons and vector mesons. Our results on the cross section and spin density matrix elements (SDME) are in fair agreement with the DESY experiments. Predictions for HERMES and COMPASS energy range are made. The predicted double spin longitudinal A LL asymmetry is not small at HERMES energies.


After the collapse of the Minnesota I-35 bridge (August 1, 2007), there has been a renewed interest in the US to enhance bridge infrastructure monitoring (Liu et al., 2009). Other than developing traditional inspection and material testing techniques, there has been also increased discussions about possible applications of Commercial Remote Sensing (CRS) technologies for civil infrastructure monitoring (Al-Turk & Uddin, 1999, Shinozuka & Rejajaie, 2000, Chen et al., 2011). Laser scanning techniques are one of the remote sensing technologies that play significant role in environmental and infrastructure evaluation and monitoring. However, there are different sensing requirements for monitoring physical structures such as bridges, than conventional geospatial applications such as air quality, environmental impact and transportation operations, etc. The most important of which is the sensor resolution requirement.


Bridges have become an important and common part of the infrastructure worldwide. It has been estimated that the cost of the bridge foundation construction constitutes 30% to 50% of the total bridge cost. Thus efficient and cost-saving construction methods are vital for the construction industry and for the society. For this purpose this report includes an international study of 30 bridges and their foundations, the goal of which tries to identify efficient and cost saving methods for bridge foundations.Ten case studies from each of North America, Europe and Asia have been included in the report including both piled (deep foundation methods) and spread footing methods.Large span bridges like cable-stayed bridges and suspension bridges as well as small span bridge have been included in the study. Because of the increasing popularity, special attention has been paid to the so-called integral bridge type. The case studies contain some general information about the bridge, the geological conditions at the bridge site and a brief description of the foundation methods used.The trend of using BIM in preliminary and detailed design of bridges is discussed in a separate section of the report. Possible advantages for adopting BIM in the design of bridge foundations such as interactive design processes are discussed.Bridge foundations may have a significant environmental impact including large excavations, hazardous materials, noise and etc. The important environmental impact in connection with the foundation work has been commented in another separate section called life cycle assessment.Finally the case studies are discussed in the conclusions section. The study, being very limited compared to the numerous bridges being built in the world, anyway gives an insight in the big challenges that are associated with bridge foundations and hopefully may give inspiration to new and efficient ways for the foundation of bridges in the future.


Both type 2 diabetes and depression are common and are projected to increase. There is increasing evidence for a bidirectional relationship between the two. Diabetes is a risk factor for depression; contrariwise, individuals with depression are at greater risk of developing diabetes. They are a burden for both the individual and the society. Co-existent depression worsens diabetic control because of obesity, insulin resistance and the adverse metabolic effects of anti-diabetes medicines. In addition, compliance to lifestyle measures required for diabetes is also compromised such as following a specific diet, taking proper medications on time, getting metabolic parameters assessed and maintaining a sleep cycle. Depression occurs in many grades; mild depression is more common in diabetes than frank or full-blown depression leading to suicide. Unfortunately, there are not enough trained and accessible mental health professionals such as psychologists or psychiatrists to deal with the increasing burden of depression in diabetes. Therefore, alternate models for management of mild to moderate depression are required. There is evidence that a team-approach by employing health care assistants can lower the risk of cardiac risk factors. INtegrating DEPrEssioN and Diabetes treatmENT study was carried out to determine whether the team-approach using non-health care professionals could be effective in managing mild to moderate depression and to study its effects on metabolic parameters among subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The international study, carried out in four independent centers in India assessed the impact of a trained but not qualified non-psychiatrist in coordinating and forming a fulcrum between the patient, the family and the consultant endocrinologist/diabetologist. The interventions were fine-tuned to be culturally appropriate by qualitative interviews before they began. It was shown that the outcomes of both depression and diabetes could be improved by the employment of a clinical care coordinator. It is possible to scale up the studies to wider geographical areas and health-care organizations.


Three patients were studied in whom brief contact of the skin with water at any temperature evoked intense itching without visible changes in the skin. The patients were otherwise apparently healthy, and this chronic and disabling disorder tended to attract a "psychogenic" label. Pharmacological studies showed that the condition was associated with local release of acetyl choline in the skin, mast-cell degranulation, and raised blood histamine concentrations. It responded well to antihistamines in two of the three patients. Aquagenic pruritus is probably common, but it is generally unrecognised and may be misdiagnosed. Antihistamines may induce a good therapeutic response.


Despite the lack of written sources before the Frankish period, we may assert that the Byzantine tradition structures in depth the organization of the Cypriote countryside under the Lusignan as well as during the Venetian domination. This tradition enabled the Lusignan to install a centralized monarchy, the foundation of which was laid on a powerful administrative instrument, the Secrete, whose task was to control the royal domain (the regale ) and the feuds, granted to knights in certain circonstances, such as civil wars and epidemics. The Franks were clustered at Nicosia, what raises the question of the seigniorial domains' organization : in every case, a bailli, appointed by the lord, directly managed the exploitation, with the assistance of Greek or Syrian secretaries who paid the domain's tax to Nicosia. The economical structure thus perfectly reflects the hierarchical organization of the political and administrative powers : it highlights Nicosia as the main outlet for the products of the neighbouring areas which were redistributed and consumed there. Under those circonstances, the fate of the settlements established in the medium Gialias Valley was closely linked to Nicosia, and this for the whole period of Latine domination on the island.


Previously, we showed that protein kinase B (Akt) activation increases intracellular ATP levels and decreases necrosis in renal proximal tubular cells (RPTC) injured by the nephrotoxicant S-(1, 2-dichlorovinyl)-l-cysteine (DCVC) (Shaik ZP, Fifer EK, Nowak G. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 292: F292-F303, 2007). This study examined the role of Akt in improving mitochondrial function in DCVC-injured RPTC. Our data show a novel observation that phosphorylated (active) Akt is localized in mitochondria of noninjured RPTC, both in mitoplasts and the mitochondrial outer membrane. Mitochondrial levels of active Akt decreased in nephrotoxicant-injured RPTC, and this decrease was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. DCVC decreased basal, uncoupled, and state 3 respirations; ATP production; activities of complexes I, II, and III; the mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)); and F(0)F(1)-ATPase activity. Expressing constitutively active Akt in DCVC-injured RPTC increased the levels of phosphorylated Akt in mitochondria, reduced the decreases in basal and uncoupled respirations, increased complex I-coupled state 3 respiration and ATP production, enhanced activities of complex I, complex III, and F(0)F(1)-ATPase, and improved DeltaPsi(m). In contrast, inhibiting Akt activation by expressing dominant negative (inactive) Akt or using 20 microM LY294002 exacerbated decreases in electron transport rate, state 3 respiration, ATP production, DeltaPsi(m), and activities of complex I, complex III, and F(0)F(1)-ATPase. In conclusion, our data show that Akt activation promotes mitochondrial respiration and ATP production in toxicant-injured RPTC by 1) improving integrity of the respiratory chain and maintaining activities of complex I and complex III, 2) reducing decreases in DeltaPsi(m), and 3) restoring F(0)F(1)-ATPase activity.


We report a new boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-bridged bisphenoxyl diradicaloid (2), which showed closed-shell diamagnetic character in less polar solvents such as dichloromethane but open-shell diradical character with paramagnetic activity in the very polar solvent N,N-dimethylformamide. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 2 revealed an anti-parallel stacked dimer structure via intermolecular dipole–dipole interaction, and the observed solvent-dependent diradical character can be explained by the different dihedral angles between the phenoxyl units and the BODIPY bridge, and structural flexibility of the molecule in different solvents. Compound 2 also exhibited solvent-dependent optical and electrochemical properties.


Calculations of norms of admissible impact on water objects help to establish levels of pollutants in surface water. The norms of acceptable impact (NAI) on water objects are developed and approved according to hydrographic or water management zoning of a water body for the purpose of preservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems; minimizing effects of anthropogenic impact that creates risk of irreversible negative changes in aquatic ecosystem; ensuring sustainable and safe water use in the course of social and economic development of the territory. Identification of NAI was carried out on the basis of Methodical instructions on development of the norms of admissible impact on water objects approved by the order of the Ministry of natural resources of Russia of 12.12.2007 No. 328, and by the analysis of social and economic situation, usage and diagnostics of quality of water resources. At the studied territory calculations of norms of admissible impact were counted on two indicators : NAIchem and NAIw. To determine the current anthropogenic impact, comparison of the actual mass of pollutants export (diffusion drain from residential areas, industrial sites and agricultural grounds, etc.) with the values of NAIchem. obtained from design water-resources region (WRR), was carried out. Results of comparative analysis show that the anthropogenic contribution to water bodies of Trans- Balkhash area is insignificant (about 10%). Exceeding of the established standards for import of chemical and suspended mineral substances was recorded at no WRR. Calculations of NAI for withdrawal of water resources from water bodies of Trans-Balkhash area, have shown that water objects of the considered region provide consumers with water resources completely. Deficit of drain was noted at neither of considered section line.


The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of mental health disorders in children living in residential care and their use of therapeutic services, including the relationship between these factors and social-family and intervention process variables, as well as the relationship among the disorders identified by professionals and the detection of disorders by means of a screening instrument. We studied a sample from the Autonomous Community of Extremadura in Spain made up of 264 children ages 6 to 18 years. Data collected from residential care workers on the children's characteristics and the existence of disorders and possible treatments were used, as well as the Child Behavioral Checklist as a screening instrument. In addition, the case social workers provided information on social-family and intervention process variables. Results show that 26% of the children in residential care were receiving or had received treatment for mental health disorders. Seventeen percent of the total presented mental disability, and in half of these cases, they were also being treated for mental disorder. The screening test, however, detected that cases with clinical range accounted for 44% of the children and that there was considerable bias in relation to referrals for treatment.


Precisely measured ft values of Jπ = 0+ → 0+ β decays of isospin T = 1 nuclei are used to set stringent limits on physics beyond the standard model. In order to use the measured ft values for these purposes, one must first apply theoretical corrections for isospin-symmetry-breaking and radiative effects. In recent years, the nuclear-structure-dependent isospin-symmetry-breaking calculations have been placed under intense scrutiny; concurrently, experimental work has measured these corrections in cases where they are relatively large. The present status of comparisons of experiment to theory is reviewed.


In this paper, we introduce a mathematical and computational model at the microscale level of bacterial motility and chemotaxis coupled with the advection and diffusion of a biologically reacting substrate. The hydrodynamic interaction of a small bacterial population is explicitly modelled through the use of discrete representations of individual microbes. We use the immersed boundary method to couple microbial motion and the advection-diffusion of substrate with the full incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Simulations using a preliminary two-dimensional model are presented, demonstrating the mutual dependence through the fluid media of several swimming bacteria. A run and tumble mechanism is introduced for simulating the chemotaxis of swimming bacteria.


Phase coexistence during the spin-reorientation Morin transition in haematite (α-Fe2O3) was investigated by observing phase boundary movements under the influence of temperature and of a magnetic field, using synchrotron radiation white beam section topography. The sample was a high quality (111) platelet shaped crystal, 1.1 mm thick. The phase boundaries are observed to move while remaining nearly parallel to (111). Nucleation of the weak ferromagnetic phase and pinning of interphase boundaries on defects located in the bulk of the crystal were observed. The observed behaviour patterns are discussed in terms of the elastic and magnetostatic energies involved.