Not all clinical trials need to be large randomized comparisons to add to our ability to care for patients. The study of Ganesh et al. in this issue (1), coupled with an earlier report by this group (2), provide useful findings advancing knowledge about radiation induced nausea and vomiting (RINV).


The total synthesis of methyl 3,6-dideoxy-4-C-(D-altro-1,3,4,5 tetrahydroxyhexyl)-alpha-D-xylo-hexopyranoside, the methyl glycoside of the recently isolated 4-C-branched sugar caryophyllose, has been completed in a stereoselective and convergent manner. The synthesis of this dodecose relies on the diiodosamarium mediated coupling of two six-carbon fragments: a cyclic ketone and an acid chloride.


INTRODUCTION Patients with COPD often report poor sleep quality and consider morning as the worst time for symptoms. This study identified factors associated with nighttime (NT) and early morning (EM) symptoms in COPD patients. METHODS HealthCore Integrated Research Database claims data (9/1/10 to 8/31/11) were used to identify patients ≥40 years with ≥1 ICD-9-CM COPD diagnosis code medical claim or ≥1 COPD maintenance medication pharmacy claim. Respondents (N=752) completed a survey with questions from the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea (mMRC) scale, and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS). Respondents were classified based on NT and/or EM symptom experience in the past week, and enrollment was stratified based on NT/EM symptoms. Multinomial logistic regression identified factors associated with symptoms. RESULTS Patients reported having both (42.3%), either (32.7%), or neither NT/EM symptoms (25.0%). Compared to patients without NT/EM symptoms (OR; 95% CI), those with both were more likely to be a current smoker (2.61; 1.18-5.78), have used oxygen in the past week (2.20; 1.02-4.71), and have dyspnea (2.73; 1.56-4.76), worse health status (8.03; 4.33-14.89), or low (2.58; 1.34-4.93) or moderate (2.04; 1.13-3.67) COPD medication adherence; in contrast, only worse health status (2.78; 1.70-4.54) was a significant factor for patients with either NT/EM symptoms vs those without symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Health status, dyspnea, smoking status, medication adherence, and oxygen use were associated with NT and EM symptoms among COPD patients. Targeting these factors may lead to more successful treatment strategies for COPD patients.


Alterations in sensory experience can persistently modify the responses of cortical neurons. Ocular dominance (OD) plasticity, a process in which alternation of visual input induces a shift in cortical responsiveness, is an extensively studied model of such experience-dependent plasticity. However, the synaptic mechanisms underlying OD plasticity are not well understood. Recent studies revealed that both Hebbian and homeostatic mechanisms play a role in OD plasticity. Therefore, we were interested in monitoring the process of rapid plasticity at individual synapses in vivo to gain insight into the interplay of these two mechanisms. Ca/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a major component of the postsynaptic density. Activation of CaMKII is necessary and sufficient for LTP induction, is required for OD plasticity, and its expression pattern coincides with the site of rapid plasticity in the supragranular layers II/III of the visual cortex. Moreover, CaMKII can convert transient Ca influx into a prolonged biochemical process via autophosphorylation that renders CaMKII activity Ca independent. Hence, CaMKII is well suited as a reporter of synaptic activity. We previously engineered a probe, Camui, which utilizes the optical phenomenon of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), to monitor CaMKII activation. This thesis embodies the work done to improve Camui to be a better tool for in vivo reporting of CaMKII activity, as well as the use of this improved probe for in vivo detection of CaMKIIα activity in single spines before and after 4 hrs of monocular deprivation (MD) in the ferret visual cortex. We found that after only 4 hrs of MD, the overall CaMKIIα activity in spines, and adjacent dendritic regions, of neurons in the deprived eye domain increased significantly. This increase was also seen in the binocular eye domain. In the open eye domain, however, this overall increase in CaMKIIα activity was absent. These observations were specific to MD as control experiments did not show such changes. Moreover, detailed analysis revealed that spines that were eliminated after 4 hrs of MD had a low level of basal CaMKIIα activity. Our results lend support to the model that both Hebbian, as well as homeostatic compensatory mechanism can subserve OD plasticity. Thesis Supervisor: Yasunori Hayashi, M.D., Ph.D. Title: Assistant Professor of Neurobiology


Corrosion is one of the major issues for sustainable manufacturing globally. The annual global cost of corrosion is US$2.5 trillion (approximately 3.4% of the world's GDP). The traditional ways of corrosion protection (such as barriers or inhibiting) are either not very effective (in the case of barrier protection) or excessively expensive (inhibiting). Here, we demonstrate a concept of nanoreactors, which are able to controllably release or adsorb protons or hydroxides directly on corrosion sites, hence, selectively regulating the corrosion reactions. A single nanoreactor comprises a nanocompartment wrapped around by a pH-sensing membrane represented, respectively, by a halloysite nanotube and a graphene oxide/polyamine envelope. A nanoreactor response is determined by the change of a signaling pH on a given corrosion site. The nanoreactors are self-assembled and suitable for mass-line production. The concept creates sustainable technology for developing smart anticorrosion coatings, which are nontoxic, selective, and inexpensive.


The steady laminar flow of an incompressible non-Newtonian second grade fluid impinging on a permeable flat plate with heat generation is investigated. A uniform suction or blowing is applied normal to the plate which is maintained at a constant temperature. Numerical solution for the governing nonlinear momentum and energy equations is obtained. The effect of the uniform suction or blowing and the characteristics of the non-Newtonian fluid on both the flow and heat transfer is presented and discussed.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of perceived price and servicescape on employee service quality, food and beverage quality, and customer value in Daegu Korean restaurants and to suggest methods for them to become the food mecca of Korea and the world. The samples for this study were customers of nine Korean restaurants in Daegu. A total of 368 questionnaires were analyzed with factor analysis, a reliability test, and a covariance structural analysis. The results showed that perceived price was positively related to employee service quality and food and beverage quality and that servicescape was positively related to employee service quality and food and beverage quality. However perceived price, servicescape, employee service quality, and food and beverage quality were not related to customer value. The reasons were that these factors did not influence perceived customer value in Daegu Korean restaurants. The Daegu municipal office should require these restaurants to develop distinguished employee service and food and beverage quality and conduct consistent marketing to Koreans and westerners, so that these restaurants can become the food mecca of Korea and the world.


Lithium 8 is a short lived beta emitter producing a high
energy anti-neutrino,which is very suitable formaking several
measurements of fundamental quantities. It is proposed
to produce Lithium 8 with a commercially available
60 MeV cyclotron using protons or alpha particles on a
Beryllium 9 target. We have used the GEANT4 program
to model these processes, and calculate the anti-neutrino
fluxes that could be obtained in a practical system. We also
calculate the production of undesirable contaminants such
as Boron 8, and show that these can be reduced to a very
low level.


This paper provides a synopsis, from a Canadian perspective, of priorities, issues and trends from around the world that were discussed at the 9th International Conference on Transport Survey Methods in Chile in November 2011. The dominant contemporary issues that cut across 14 thematic workshops included: the maturing of new technological supports to transport surveys; the alignment of surveys with administrative data; cognitive and social processes affecting survey response, especially in surveys about potential behaviour; shifts in the total design of surveys; the data needs of integrated regional models; and survey designs addressing specific policy questions in passenger and freight transport. These issues were discussed in the context of data collection's being an easy target for budget cuts, while public and private agencies are more and more dependent on decision support systems using analysis tools and models that are relatively "data hungry". This last is not just a question of the quantity of data, but also of its quality and comprehensiveness, and of the inclusiveness of user groups that are reached by survey samples. Moreover, while metropolitan household travel surveys remain the "bread and butter" of urban transportation planning, a number of other types of survey on the past, current and anticipated behaviour of passenger and freight transport users have become increasingly valuable to decision makers around the world. This trend was seen as particularly important to scoping shifts in the transport system, while maintaining comparable indicators of transport demand over long periods. (A) For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD record number 201211RT334E.


One hundred and twenty-four patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain/dysfunction were examined radiographically and 54 of these patients were reexamined at a follow-up approximately after 7 years. The radiographic examination included submentovertical, oblique lateral transcranial and transmaxillary projections. Abnormalities of structure and shape of the bony components were found in 50% of the joints; cortical/subcortical erosion was recorded in 15%, sclerosis in 33% and deviation in shape in 48%. Abnormal condylar position was observed in 46% of the joints. The 20 patients examined only at the follow-up demonstrated a frequency of these findings similar to those observed in patients selected for examination during the treatment period. At the 7-year follow-up, a slight increase in number of all types of abnormalities was found as well as a slight progression of abnormalities present at the first examination.


Specific difficulties connected with clinical evaluation and especially dose finding for antiarrhythmic substances are discussed. They are mainly due to the differences in pathogenesis, clinical significance and to the inconsistency of the symptom arrhythmia. Therefore special cardiologic skills are required for performance and interpretation of respective studies. The importance of selection of patients and determination of plasma levels of the substance is demonstrated. Possible procedures for determination of the therapeutic dosage are described and the necessity of detailed documentation of side effects is stressed.


Acrokeratosis paraneoplastica (Bazex syndrome) is a rare paraneoplastic skin condition characterised by acral psoriasiform plaques, with a predilection for the nose, ears, hands and feet. It typically presents before the discovery of an internal malignancy and is often misdiagnosed as an inflammatory dermatitis that does not respond to treatment. It is associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract and lung, as well as adenocarcinoma of the lung, colon and gastrum. Here, we describe the second reported case of Bazex syndrome in the setting of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the first such case in a patient of African ancestry.


The concept of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been introduced to describe cognitive impairment in non-demented subjects. Subjects with MCI are of major clinical importance because they have an increased risk to develop dementia. MCI is a frequent condition with a prevalence of 10–20% in the elderly population. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause, but any somatic, neurological, or psychiatric disorder and drug that influence brain functioning could cause it as well. A clinical assessment can identify several of the underlying causes and biomarkers may also be useful. Treatment is available for some of the underlying causes of MCI. The development of novel biomarkers, such as tau PET, and novel treatments may increase opportunities to diagnose the underlying pathology and give disease-specific treatments in the future.


Abstract Criteria concerning sample and analytical data and stratigraphic control have been used in a critical assessment of the suitability, for use in construction of a Phancrozoic time-scale, of radiometric data relevant to the Carboniferous, Permian and Triassic periods. Few of the age determinations available in 1982 satisfy these criteria and many of those used previously as a basis for time-scales for this part of the Phanerozoic are considred unacceptable by present standards. On the basis of this review, ages of 365 ± 5 Ma, 290 ± Ma and 250 © 5 Ma. respectively, are proposed for the beginning of the Carboniferous. Permain and Triassic periods, and 205 © 5 Ma for the end of the Triassic. Radiometric ages are related. where possible, to the principal chronostratigraphic divisions of the rock successions representing those periods.


BACKGROUND
Acute renal failure (ARF) is a devastating complication in critically ill patients. There is a paucity of data that describes the impact of ARF on the outcome of trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

METHODS
We studied trauma patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit to determine the effect of increases in serum creatinine on the number of ventilator days, length of stay, mortality, and cost. We used the administrative database of the hospital and the trauma registry. Renal failure (RF) was defined as one or more of the following: creatinine >1.5 mg/dL, increase in creatinine of >50%, or increase of creatinine by 0.5 mg/dL.

RESULTS
We obtained data on 1,033 patients. Two hundred and forty-six (23.8%) patients met at least one criterion for RF. Only 25 of these patients had one or more episodes of renal replacement therapy. The RF group had mortality of 24.4% compared with 2.3% in the no renal failure group (p < 0.0001). For each 1 mg/dL increase from the initial creatinine, length of stay increased by 2.21 days, ventilator days increased by 1.09 days, and the mortality risk increased by 1.83 times (CI, 1.47-2.29; p < 0.0001). For any diagnosis of renal dysfunction, the average cost increase was $3,088.00 and increased mortality risk was 7.19 times (CI, 4.11-12.58).

CONCLUSION
Vigilance in preventing creatinine increases and ameliorating or removing potential causes should occur as soon as creatinine begins to rise to avoid worsening renal function, to reduce cost, and to improve patient outcome.


For seven decades Norman Rockwell captured the essence of the American spirit, creating art for magazines (more than 300 Saturday Evening Post covers), children's books, calendars, and advertisements, heartwarming and poignant images that touch us still. Norman Rockwell traces the evolution of the artist and his craft through his paintings, sketches, and photographs of him at home. And, of course, there is the artwork itself; the diverse array of full-color reproductions here represent Americans at work, at play, at home, and fighting for the Four Freedoms during World War II.


Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia among adults in the western world. It is characterized by a malignant clone of B cells in the bone marrow, blood and secondary lymphoid tissues. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small, non‑coding RNAs that regulate the expression of target messenger RNAs at the post‑transcriptional level. Previous studies have suggested that miRNAs are extensively involved in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Aberrant expression of certain miRNAs has been observed in CLL. Associations between miRNAs and chromosomal abnormalities suggest that miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of CLL. Moreover, miRNAs may be used as novel biomarkers for the prognosis of CLL. Expression levels of miRNAs are also involved in resistance to chemotherapy drugs. In this article, we review recent developments of miRNAs in the initiation, prognosis and chemoresistance of CLL.


The LHCb experiment aims at the search for New Physics with the study of rare heavy hadron decays and the study of CP violation in the decays of charm and beauty hadrons. The detector, a single-arm spectrometer at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), Geneva, includes a high precision tracking system: a silicon-strip vertex detector, a silicon-strip tracker upstream of the magnet, and three stations of silicon-strip detectors and straw tubes downstream of the magnet. Results are presented for the performance of the silicon-strip detectors during the first LHC run, with emphasis on the most recent studies. Highlights will include alignment, cluster finding efficiency, single hit resolution, and impact parameter and vertex resolutions, with updates based on recent results from the 2012 LHC running.


As confirmed recently by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change already exists with wide ranging consequences. Europe is as affected as all other regions of the world. Management responses to climate change include the development of new approaches to system assessment and design and the adoption of non-structural methods through mechanisms like the European Union Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) and the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In this article, the evaluation and contribution of recent European policies towards the protection and preservation of water under climate change is discussed. The impact of WFD and EU CAP application in Lake Koronia is presented and discussed.


In Canada, about one-third of publicly listed non-financial firms use financial derivatives. The use of derivatives is widespread across all sectors of the economy and increases during periods of greater uncertainty. Non-financial firms that use derivatives are typically larger and more profitable and have lower volatility of earnings than those that do not use derivatives. Overall, the firm characteristics of Canadian hedgers seem to be consistent with those found in other jurisdictions.


In this paper the concepts of the housing life-cycle and housing occupancy patterns in the United States are examined. The focus is on the move from renting to owning a home in the young adult years of life. Data from the national American Housing Survey, for the years 1974–1983, are combined with the techniques of multistate demography to produce housing life summary statistics and rates of movement by age. Parameterized curves are fitted to the empirical age-rate schedules and exogenous variables used to explain variation in the parameters related to young adults. Three simple, projection scenarios are also examined. The results indicate the importance of life-cycle factors and economic conditions in the shift from renting to owning a home.


The optical thickness profiles of the Hg 4078 Å and Tl 5350 Å lines, with maximum optical thicknesses of about 2 and 6 respectively, have been measured by applying a modified absorption technique. The mean radial population densities of the Hg 63P1 and Tl 62P3/2 in Hg and H-TlI AC high-pressure discharge have then been deduced. The technique used is independent of any model assumptions and can be applied in non-LTE plasmas within transparent walls. A computer-controlled experimental arrangement has been used for time-resolved intensity measurements with a precision higher than 0.15%. It was then made possible to check the validity of a simple empirical model for radiation transport (the CDK model) in extracting the mean radial density of the lower level of a self-reversed line using the Hg 4358 Å and the Tl 5350 Å lines. Comparison with the results obtained from optically thin line measurements by assuming a single temperature profile and using Boltzmann's law proved the existence of deviations from excitation equilibrium. The divergence between the results may be explained by the associative ionization reaction, which affects mainly the low-lying excited states.


The BRMC dips towards the north, and at the prospect, the Proterozoic bedrock and saprolite are overlain by 40 to 70 m of Cainozoic sediments. The saprolite is locally overlain by a palaeo-valley filled with light grey clay and sand, informally named as the Portia Unit (Tan 2001). Olive grey clay and dark grey clay of the lacustrine Namba Formation (Callen 1990) overlies the Portia Unit, and where the latter is absent, directly overlies the saprolite. Quaternary degraded dune and alluvium (Gibson 1999, Gibson & Wilford 1999) overlie the Namba Formation (Figure 2).


This paper presents a novel circuit topology of the voltage source type zero voltage soft-switching (ZVS) full bridge DC-DC power converter with an isolated high-frequency transformer, which incorporates zero-current soft-switching (ZCS) phase-shifted (PS)-PWM active power switches in series with diodes of two bridge arms of a full-bridge rectifier on the high-frequency transformer secondary side. This high-frequency linked DC-DC power converter can achieve ZVS for noncontrolled active power switches on the primary side of the transformer and ZCS for PS-PWM active switches on the secondary side of the transformer under wide load variations as well as a wide PS-PWM regulation range. The switching power losses and conduction power losses of the active devices of the proposed DC-DC converter can be considerably reduced. The proposed DC-DC converter blocks circulating current flowing through the semiconductor switching devices on the transformer primary side as compared to the lossless snubbing capacitor and transformer leakage and magnetising inductor-assisted soft-switching full-bridge DC-DC converter with ZVS PS-PWM scheme on the transformer primary side. The steady-state operating principles of the proposed DC-DC converter are evaluated and discussed, based on the simulation and experimental results obtained from a 2 kW-40 kHz breadboard set-up using IGBTs.


An experiment was conducted with young battery-reared chickens to evaluate the effects of graded levels of nicarbazin (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 ppm) on plasma pigmentation in the presence and absence of coccidial infection. A second experiment was also performed to determine whether nicarbazin (50 ppm) and the narasin nicarbazin combination anticoccidial (50 ppm each) affected pigmentation values in coccidia-infected and healthy chicks. Pigmentation values were expressed as micrograms beta-carotenoid equivalents per milliliter of plasma (beta-CE). Results of these studies indicated that nicarbazin improved beta-CE in both parasitized and coccidia-free chicks, but the magnitude of improvement was greater in coccidia-infected animals. Linear responses to nicarbazin additions were observed in both groups. The second experiment revealed that the effects produced in healthy chicks receiving the narasin nicarbazin combination were equivalent to those which received nicarbazin alone, indicating that the nicarbazin response in beta-CE is manifested with the combination anticoccidial as well.


Glucocorticoids play a crucial role in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and in the immune response, and can influence the development of diabetes in certain animal models including autoimmune type 1 diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. In these animals, the onset of destructive autoimmune pancreatic changes (insulitis) occurs at around 3 weeks of age. Moreover, the incidence of diabetes is significantly higher in females compared to males. However, the underlying mechanisms for this sex-specificity are unknown. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in pancreatic islets of Langerhans of the NOD mouse during the first 3 weeks of postnatal development. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine pancreatic GR expression and to identify insulin-secreting beta cells in postnatal (1-, 2-, and 3-week-old) NOD mice. Age-matched NOD.SCID mice (immunodeficient animals with the same NOD genetic background) were used as control animals. In both strains, regardless of sex or age, GR staining was found predominantly in the cytoplasm of beta cells but was also present in other cell types within the islets. At all ages, the percentage of islet cells containing GR was similar between male and female animals of the same strain. In control mice, the percentage of islet cells containing GR increased progressively from 80% at 1 week of age to 100% at 3 weeks of age. In marked contrast, in the NOD mice, the proportion of islets containing GR decreased from 95% at week 1 to only 60% at 3 weeks of age. We conclude that sex-specific differences in the incidence of diabetes are not associated with altered pancreatic GR expression in NOD mice during early postnatal development. However, the distinct and remarkable decrease in islet GR levels at 3 weeks of age may contribute to the onset of insulitis, and potentially to the ontology of diabetes in NOD mice, as a result of the loss of protective immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids.


Speed, alcohol, and pedestrian injuries constitute disturbing components of the spectrum of trauma in the developing world. The complete fatal transection of a pedestrian, at the level of the lower abdomen, by an oncoming automobile traveling at high speed is described. The upper torso was found inside the vehicle, whereas the lower torso was projected some distance ahead, onto the highway. An accident analysis, in order to ascertain the speed of the automobile, is demonstrated and the biodynamic mechanisms of this injury are discussed. The nature of this injury is compared with that of traumatic hemipelvectomy following which survival has been reported.


This work aims at exploring and validating the adoption of standard fabrication processes for the realization of CMOS active pixel sensor, for particle detection purposes. The goal is to implement a single-chip, complete radiation sensor system, including on a CMOS IC the sensitive devices, read-out and signal processing circuits. The possibility of including versatile and performing circuitry allows for the evaluation of innovative active pixel architectures, different read-out strategies, and complex data management algorithms. A prototype chip (RAPS01) based on these principles has been already fabricated, and a complete chip characterization has been carried out; in particular, the evaluation of the sensitivity of the sensor response on the actual operating conditions was estimated, as well as uniformity response analysis. Optimization and tailoring of the sensor structures for specific applications are being evaluated in the design of the next generation chip (RAPS02). In particular, sparse read-out approach and power consumption are considered, introducing some circuit improvement, and discussing the organization and design of a new architecture. Basic features of the new chip includes: digitally configurable readout, power-switching techniques, fault-tolerant circuitry, multi-mode access (i.e., either sparse of line-scan readout). Thanks to the intrinsic flexibility of CMOS design, perspective application different from HEP experiments, can be evaluated as well.


field of distributed computing. Open and closed networks are considered and then the problem of optimal multiprogramming is examined. Chapter 6 deals with real-life situations found in communications networks by examining the performance of various broadcast strategies starting from pure-ALOHA through to CSMA-CD, and then looks at sharing strategies based on slotted-ring and token-ring systems. A comprehensive bibliography is included. This book provides a solid introduction to queueing theory and illustrates how to apply the technique to the analysis of complex real-life systems. Although small in size, it covers the material very well and will provide a useful and affordable textbook for students in the areas of communication engineering and computer science. P. CHILTON, E.A.I. pic. Bradford


Misshapen teeth are highly common in humans. In most instances, they are due to genetic mutations in genes controlling the morphogenesis of teeth. This is the case for the Runx2 gene, which once mutated leads to cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) an autosomal dominant genetic syndrome presenting with peg‐like teeth in humans. While many factors have been identified in the process of tooth morphogenesis, currently, little is known about how cell signaling participates in establishing organ shape during odontogenesis. Our previous work has identified the signaling molecule retinoic acid (RA) to be one of the main actors of tooth induction in fish and recent data suggest that RA also plays a role during tooth morphogenesis. Fish and zebrafish, in particular, are good models to study the genetics, cell and molecular biology, and organogenesis of the tooth in vertebrates. The objective of the proposed studies is to understand the roles played by retinoic acid during tooth morphogenesis in different fish species, to develop a fish model of CCD, to clarify the role played by Runx2 during tooth morphogenesis and to understand its link with RA signaling. By exposing fish embryos to exogenous RA and to an RA inhibitor during tooth morphogenesis we have been able to quantify changes in tooth shape and better understand the mechanism of action of RA signaling during tooth morphogenesis in fish. Exogenous RA exposure alters the shape of the first developing tooth in zebrafish making it narrower and more elongated resembling other tooth shape observed in the wild. RA exposure to a fish species, like the goldfish, with shorter and wider tooth makes it also narrower and more elongated making it more like a zebrafish tooth. At the molecular levels, the expression of tooth epithelium and mesenchyme markers dlx2a; dlx3b; pitx2a; runx2b and lhx6 is expanded in RA treated zebrafish embryo. Our data reveal that the levels of RA in different cells of the tooth germ is controlled by the timing and level of expression of the RA degrading enzyme cyp26b1 in a subset of cells of the developing tooth germ. We hypothesize that modifying the onset of cyp26b1 expression in the tooth germ will, therefore, change the level of RA available in the tooth germ, ultimately altering the shape of the tooth. Finally, our work has revealed more about how RA regulates Runx2 and controls tooth morphogenesis in the development of CCD and during evolution. Our project has revealed that fine tuning of RA level in the developing tooth is a crucial player in the vast tooth diversity observed in fish species in the wild.


ABSTRACT
 The lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is an important predator of several insect pests in China and has considerable potential as a biological control agent. An inoculative approach would be the releasing adults early in the season to ensure that populations are present before pest densities increase. However, an understanding of adult flight activity under different conditions is necessary to develop appropriate release strategies. Therefore, we used a 32-channel, computer-monitored flight mill system to determine the effect of age on the flight activity of unmated female and male adults. Both sexes had high total flight activity levels as well as the longest individual flight bouts 2 and 3 d after emergence. The effects of temperature (between 13 and 33°C at 75% RH) and relative humidity (between 30 and 90% RH at 23°C) on the flight activity of 3-d-old unmated adults also were determined. Flight activity declined at the lowest (13°C) and highest (33°C) temperatures tested, as well as at the lowest relative humidity (30% RH). These findings are discussed within the context of selecting the appropriate environmental conditions for releasing C. sinica.


Silicates and phosphates are two principal groups of the more than 100 beryllium minerals, but they are rarely documented to cocrystallize as magmatic phases. Here, we describe complex paragenetic assemblages of various species of Be minerals in five zones from the outer contact inward in the Nanping No. 31 pegmatite dyke, in southern China. Three types of magmatic paragenetic assemblages of Be minerals are distinguished. The first type consists primarily of Be silicates (beryl + phenakite) in the outer zones (zones I–II), which likely results from Al-poor melts. The second type is typically represented by the complex association of Be phosphates + silicates, typically interstitial to saccharoidal albite in zone II. This type shows a general sequence: phenakite → hydroxylherderite or hurlbutite → fluorapatite → beryl, which is suggestive of the competitive predominance of phosphorus over silicon during the crystallization of Be minerals. The third is uniquely described by Cs-rich beryl in zones III and IV. This type of beryl is easily altered by hydrothermal fluids, leading to secondary Cs-poor beryl and nanpingite. Our results indicate that crystallization and the sequential assemblages of Be minerals are clearly related to the environment and evolution of pegmatite crystallization.


BACKGROUND/AIMS
To determine whether the initial response to interferon (IFN) therapy predicts the long-term response, monitoring of HCV RNA level in the early phase of IFN therapy was performed.

METHODOLOGY
Sixty-seven patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were investigated. Patients received 6 MU of human lymphoblastoid IFN daily for 2 weeks and then three times weekly for 22 weeks (total dose; 480 U). These were 34 complete responders (CR) and 33 non-responders (NR). Serum levels of HCV RNA were assayed before therapy and at weeks 1 and 2, using the AMPLICOR HCV Monitor kit.

RESULTS
Serum levels of HCV RNA were below the detection limit in 33 (97.1%) of 34 CR compared with 13 (39.4%) of 33 NR at week 1, and in 100% of CR compared with 17 (51.5%) of NR at week 2 (P < P0.05). These observations were independent with viral genotypes.

CONCLUSION
A complete response to IFN therapy results primarily from a rapid decrease in the serum levels of HCV RNA and a further decrease to below the detection limit by week 2 of the therapy. In spite of a viral genotype, early monitoring of serum levels of HCV RNA during IFN therapy are predictive of a subsequent long-term response to IFN in patients with chronic HCV infection.


The kinetics of sodium across dialysis membranes were studied during diffusion and during convection utilizing cuprophan and cellulose hydrate membranes. During diffusion the changes in plasma water sodium concentration are correlated to the sodium concentration gradient between plasma water and dialysate but an increase also occurs when the gradient is annulled, due to the Donnan effect. During convection the plasma water sodium concentration increases during the passage through the dialyzer and the ultrafiltrate sodium concentration is significantly lower than the plasma water sodium concentration; this is due to the fact that the plasma proteins, as anions unable to cross the membrane, affect the kinetics of the sodium cations. Therefore, during diffusion the kinetics of sodium are mainly affected by the sodium concentration gradient and by the plasma protein concentration, while during convection the plasma protein concentration is the main factor affecting the kinetics of sodium.


The design of efficient search path to maximize the Cumulative Detection Probability(CDP) is mainly dependent on experience and intuition when searcher detect the target using SONAR in the ocean. Recently with the advance of modeling and simulation method, it has been possible to access the optimization problems more systematically. In this paper, a method for the optimal search path calculation is developed based on the combination of the genetic algorithm and the calculation algorithm for detection range. We consider the discrete system for search path, space, and time, and use the movement direction of the SONAR for the gene of the genetic algorithm. The developed algorithm, OASPP(Optimal Acoustic Search Path Planning), is shown to be effective, via a simulation, finding the optimal search path for the case when the intuitive solution exists. Also, OASPP is compared with other algorithms for the measure of efficiency to maximize CDP.


In the present work, 22 compounds of the U.S. NCI compound library (size 273K) were identified as putative thermolysin binders by structure based virtual screening with the ICM software (ICM-VLS). In vitro competitive binding assays confirmed that 12 were thermolysin binders. Thermolysin binding modes of the 12 compounds were studied by docking using ICM and Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD). The most potent inhibitor had an IC(50) value of 6.4 x 10(-8) mM (NSC250686, 1 beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-N(4)-lauroylcytosine). The structure of this compound is quite different from the other 11 compounds. Nine out of the 12 compounds contained a similar chemical skeleton (3-nitrobenzamide derivatives) and have IC(50) values ranging from 697.48 to 0.047 mM. The ICM-VLS score and the activity profiles (pIC(50) values) were compared and found to be somewhat linearly correlated (R(2) = 0.78). Kinetic studies showed that, except for NSC285166 (oxyquinoline), the compounds are competitive thermolysin inhibitors.


The Ostdeutsche Galerie in Regensburg The Ostdeutsche Galerie in Regensburg was established by Article 96 of the Law on Expellees of 1966. This gallery has a specific program: to document the work of artists connected with East European regions settled by Germans (the Czech Lands, Silesia, East Prussia) as well as to present the contribution of these artists to the development of European art from romanticism to the present day. The gallery initiated its activities in 1970 when the Adalbert Stifter Society lent it approximately 600 works created by Czech-born artists. Over the years, the activities of the gallery shifted from the regionally defined and nostalgic "Heimatkunst" (homeland art) to a more general emphasis on "exile art" documenting the destinies of individual artists in the twentieth century. Under this emphasis, paintings by artists holding irreconcilable ideological positions appeared next to one another; some examples are Oskar Kokoschka and George Grosz or Richard Muller and Ludwig Meidner. The terms "refugee" and "refugee art" thus became more objective because they ultimately referred not only to those artists forced to leave their homeland in 1945, but also to those who fled Germany after 1933. Keywords: German art, Ostdeutsche Galerie Regensburg


The technique of Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SDP) is ideally suited for operation policy analyses of water resources systems. However SDP has a major drawback which is appropriately termed as its "curse of dimensionality". Aggregation/Disaggregation techniques based on SDP and simulation are presented to analyze a complex water resources system. The system under consideration serves two major purposes: hydropower generation and irrigation. The identification of subsystems by their functional and physical characteristics was an important first step in the analysis. Subsequently each subsystem is represented by a hypothetical composite reservoir to arrive at an operation policy for the interface point of the subsystems. A more detailed analysis which considers the real configurations of the subsystems is performed by following this operation policy of the interface point. Two approaches: sequential optimization and iterative optimization are presented. In these approaches, each subsystem is individually analyzed using two-reservoir SDP models. The applicability of an Implicit Stochastic Approach in which the operation of the system is optimized for a number of deterministic hydrologic data series is also investigated. To complement the aggregation technique of the Composite Reservoir, subsequent disaggregation techniques are proposed. Three different techniques: (1) A statistical disaggregation, (2) An optimization/simulation-based technique, and (3) The disaggregation of the composite policy in the actual operation by incorporating a single-time-step optimization are tested. The accuracy of the sequential and iterative optimization approaches are evaluated by applying them to a subsystem of three reservoirs in a cascade for which the deterministic optimum pattern is also determined by an Incremental Dynamic Programming (IDP) model. In the case of the Implicit Stochastic Approach, the results are compared with the results of the explicit SDP approach and the deterministic optimum operation pattern, in addition to the historical operation pattern of the system. The results of the Composite Policy Disaggregation techniques are compared to the results obtained by real multireservoir optimizations carried out by the use of explicit SDP models.


Background Very little is known about the influence of chronic conditions on symptom attribution and help-seeking for potential cancer symptoms. Aim To determine if symptom attribution and anticipated help-seeking for potential lung cancer symptoms is influenced by pre-existing respiratory conditions (often referred to as comorbidity), such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design & setting A total of 2143 adults (1081 with and 1062 without a respiratory condition) took part in an online vignette survey. Method The vignette described potential lung cancer symptoms (persistent cough and breathlessness) after which questions were asked on symptom attribution and anticipated help-seeking. Results Attribution of symptoms to cancer was similar in participants with and without respiratory conditions (21.5% and 22.1%, respectively). Participants with respiratory conditions, compared with those without, were more likely to attribute the new or changing cough and breathlessness to asthma or COPD (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.02 to 4.39). Overall, 56.5% of participants reported intention to seek help from a GP within 3 weeks if experiencing the potential lung cancer symptoms. Having a respiratory condition increased the odds of prompt help-seeking (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.49). Regular healthcare appointments were associated with higher odds of anticipated help-seeking. Conclusion Only one in five participants identified persistent cough and breathlessness as potential cancer symptoms, and half said they would promptly seek help from a GP, indicating scope for promoting help-seeking for new or changing symptoms. Chronic respiratory conditions did not appear to interfere with anticipated help-seeking, which might be explained by regular appointments to manage chronic conditions.


The paper at hand presents a methodology for analyzing the viscoelastic behavior of asphalt concretes, whose microstructure is captured through two-dimensional imaging techniques. The paper describes the viscoelastic behavior of the binder through mechanistic models fitted to rheological data obtained at different strain levels. The resulting binder stress-strain behavior is computed through a convolution integral approach and implemented into a subroutine defining material behavior in a commercially available finite element program. The use of a convolution integral approach is shown to facilitate incorporating the binder nonlinear viscoelatic behavior in the analysis of the asphalt concrete microstructure response. This is conducted by assigning the binder model constants as a function of strain level. The model is tested by comparing asphalt concrete shear modulus G* predictions to earlier predictions obtained with a generalized piecewise linear viscoelastic model, as well as measurements obtained with a simple shear tester. The model is used to explain some of the discrepancies observed between experimentally obtained axial and shear dynamic moduli.


This article analyzes the da'wah movement that is expressed in cyber media, as well as the challenges of implementing da'wah that must be carried out amid the clash of ideologies of religious communities. This study uses a qualitative method with an ethnomethodological approach, focusing on the analysis of digital conversations that are centered on the analysis of traces of interactions and conversations in response to da'wah narratives that have been uploaded openly through cyber community media. By using the concept of cyberspace and the concept of da'wah in understanding this cyber religious reality, this study can show that da'wah movements and activities that are displayed through cyber community media are a religious phenomenon along with the development of information and communication technology. This study also looks at the importance of humanist cyber da'wah by considering the da'wah process displayed in this cyber media in addition to calling for goodness and preventing evil, it also tends to describe the occurrence of ideological disputes and clashes between religious communities, marked by the many pro and con responses that appear in each da'wah message that uploaded through cyber religious community media.


Photoimmunotherapy is a new class of molecular targeted cancer therapy based on a monoclonal antibody (mAb) conjugated to a photosensitizer and irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light for both imaging and therapy. Here, we sought to determine the feasibility of combining photoimmunotherapy using conjugates of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-specific mAb-photosensitizer IR700, trastuzumab-IR700 and pertuzumab-IR700. HER2-expressing and non-expressing cells were treated with mAb-IR700 conjugates and irradiated with NIR light. Fluorescence imaging and cytotoxic effects were examined in cultured HER2-expressng cancer cell lines and in a mouse tumor xenograft model. Trastuzumab-IR700 and pertuzumab-IR700 could specifically bind to HER2 without competing, and the combination treatment of both agents yielded stronger HER2-specific IR700 fluorescence signals than with the treatment with either agent singly. A cytotoxicity assay showed that the combination treatment of both trastuzumab-IR700 and pertuzumab-IR700 followed by NIR light irradiation induced stronger cytotoxic effect than with treatment of either agent plus NIR light irradiation. Furthermore, the phototoxic and cytotoxic effects of mAb depended on HER2-specific IR700 signal intensities. Consistent with in vitro studies, in xenograft tumor models also, IR700 fluorescence imaging-guided NIR light irradiation after the combination treatment of trastuzumab-IR700 and pertuzumab-IR700 led to stronger antitumor effects than by treatment with either agent followed by NIR light irradiation. In conclusion, fluorescence molecular imaging can facilitate the assessment of treatment outcomes of molecular targeted photoimmunotherapy, which holds great potential in facilitating better outcomes in cancer patients.


This purpose of this study is to examine the fluidity of family life which continues to attract attention. This is increasingly significant for the intergenerational relationship between adult children and their elderly parents. Using practice theory, the aims are to understand the role of food in elderly families and explore how family practices are maintained when elderly transition into care. A phenomenological research approach was used as the authors sought to build an understanding of the social interactions between family and their lifeworld. This study extends theory on the relationship between the elderly parent and their family and explores through practice theory how families performed their love, how altered routines and long standing rituals provided structure to the elderly relatives and how care practices were negotiated as the elderly relatives transitioned from independence to dependence and towards care. A theoretical framework is introduced that provides guidance for the transition stages and the areas for negotiation. This research has implications for food manufacturers and marketers, as the demand for healthy food for the elderly is made more widely available, healthy and easy to prepare. The limitations of the research are due to the sample located in East Yorkshire only. This research has implications for brand managers of food manufacturers and supermarkets that need to create product lines that target this segment by producing healthy, convenience food. It is also important for health and social care policy as the authors seek to understand the role of food, family and community and how policy can be devised to provide stability in this transitional and uncertain lifestage. This research extends the body of literature on food and the family by focussing on the elderly cared for and their family. The authors show how food can be construed as loving care, and using practice theory, a theoretical framework is developed that can explain the transitions and how the family negotiates the stages from independence to dependence.


In order to investigate the effects of main forming parameters on the fatigue life in incremental sheet punching, wavelength and amplitude were selected as factors, and fatigue life of truncated pyramids and virgin material was selected as indicator. The effects of the parameters were identified whereby the design of full factorial experiment, fatigue comparative test, analysis of variance, Tukey test, and t-test. It was found that wavelength and amplitude significantly affect the fatigue life. In addition, the improvement of fatigue life decreased with the increment of wavelength and increased with the increment of amplitude when it is less than a certain value, followed by decreasing.


At present, the whole shipping industry is concerned about safety of navigation. In particular, attention is focused on High Speed Craft. There has been a sharp increase in numbers of this kind of vessel, which primarily carries passengers but is also known to carry goods. Some units can reach speeds of over 45 knots with capacity for 900 passengers. These passengers have a basic right to life and their means of transport should obviously follow all safety codes, regulations and IMO resolutions. This paper describes the development of a monitoring system that could automatically transmit safety parameters and position from the ship to a management control centre. Digital and analogical alarms, ship condition readings and other safety-related parameters may be recorded and transmitted in near real- time using the latest communications and positioning technologies.


Underpinned by the New World Kirkpatrick model, and in the context of a community-based sport psychology programme (My Strengths Training for Life™) for young people experiencing homelessness, this process evaluation investigated (1) young peoples' reactions (i.e., program and facilitator evaluation, enjoyment, attendance, and engagement) and learning (i.e., mental skills and transfer intention), (2) the relationship between reaction and learning variables, and (3) the mediators underpinning this relationship. A total of 301 young people living in a West Midlands housing service completed questionnaires on demographics and reaction and learning variables. Higher levels of programme engagement were positively associated with more favourable reactions to the programme. Enjoyment positively predicted learning outcomes, which was mediated by transfer intention. Recommendations are made for (1) a balance between rigor and flexibility for evaluation methods with disadvantaged youth, (2) including engagement as well as attendance as indicators of meaningful programme participation, (3) measuring programme experiences (e.g., enjoyment) to understand programme effectiveness, and (4) providing opportunities for skill transfer during and after programme participation. Our findings have implications for researchers, programme commissioners, and policymakers designing and evaluating programmes in community-based settings.


Chronic caloric restriction (CR) prevents the development of obesity and maintains health, slows aging processes, and prevents or substantially delays the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Because changes in energy metabolism could be involved in all of these positive effects of CR, we examined glycogen synthase (GS) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) activities and glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) and glycogen concentrations in skeletal muscle samples before and during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in 6 older aged monkeys in which CR had been continued for 10.4 +/- 2.1 years. Basal GS activity (fractional velocity and independent) was significantly higher in the CR monkeys than has been previously shown in normal, hyperinsulinemic and diabetic monkeys. The normal effect of insulin to activate GS was absent in the CR group due to the paradoxical finding in some of these monkeys of a reduction in GS activity by insulin. Insulin also had the unexpected effect of increasing the independent activity of GP above basal activity (p<0.05). There was an inverse relationship between the change (insulin-stimulated minus basal) in GS fractional velocity and GP activity ratio (r=-0.91, p<0.005). The basal independent activities of GS and GP were also inversely correlated (r=-0.79, p<0.05). The insulin-stimulated concentration of G6P tended to be higher than the basal concentration (p<0.06) and was significantly higher than that previously shown in normal monkeys (p<0.05). We suggest that long-term calorie restriction (1) results in alterations in glycogen metabolism that may be important to the anti-diabetogenic and antiaging effects of CR and (2) unmasks early defects which may indicate the likelihood of ultimately developing obesity and diabetes.


In this paper, I examine the effectiveness of improvements in political and civil rights for attracting foreign direct investment flows (FDI) into democracies. I contend that advances in the quality of democracy – specifically those concerning civil rights – present positive but decreasing marginal returns in attracting FDI inflows. I empirically prove this proposition by using panel data regressions within the Latin American and Eastern European contexts from periods following their democratization (1991-2003).


In obese patients, one way to prevent obesity with the right method is to modulate the intestinal microflora. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the differences in administration of milk kefir with additional sorghum flour on body weight, appetite, and abdominal fat in mice (Mus musculus) induced obesity.This type of research is a true experimental in vivo using a randomized controlled design pretest – posttest control group design. The experimental animals used were 34 healthy mice (Mus musculus). Data analysis with normal distribution was tested by One Way Anova, otherwise Kruskal Wallis was tested. Meanwhile, categorical data were tested Univariate. The results showed that in the third treatment (P3) mice experienced differences in the treatment given milk kefir with the addition of sorghum flour and high fat diet feed for 8 weeks or 56 days there was a difference in weight loss as measured by weight gain (p<0.05), then there wasn't difference in appetite (p>0.05), while there was a difference in abdominal fat compared to the control group. So, for those who are obese, it's expected that milk kefir products with sorghum can be used as a daily drink to help reduce body weight and abdominal fat.


We developed an ultrafast x-ray streak camera with time resolution better than 600 fs in multishot accumulation mode. We demonstrated that the shot-to-shot timing jitter of a streak camera can be significantly reduced by improving a fast-response deflection plates of the streak tube using a fast-risetime ramp pulse generated by a photoconductive switch. The resolution is further improved by restricting the transverse electron angular distribution.


Human resource training is paramount to any organization, which wants quality, relevant
and productive Labour force to deliver the required services for its set objectives. Training
for workers is necessary as it sharpens their skills and renews their morale for work and
keeps them afloat to the ever-changing technological environment.
This project has highlighted background information on training of the HIV/AIDS
personnel globally and locally. It has also touched on the institutional framework of NACC as a body handling HIV/AIDS Epidemics in Kenya. The statement of the problem as
perceived by the researcher is also highlighted. The project was intended to investigate the
relevancy of human resources training programmes of HIV/AIDS CBOs funded by NACC,
with a view to establish whether they have training policies, training methods, how they
analyse their training needs, evaluation and problems associated with staff training.
In literature review, the researcher has looked at what has been done in the area of training
by the early researchers. In the conceptual framework where training policies, training
needs analysis, training and development methods and training evaluation are perceived by
the researcher as independent variables which when properly organized or handled will
result into relevant training programme which will enhance training performance positively
leading to achievement of set objectives.
The study was carried out in Kuria District where a questionnaire was used to gather data
from the HIV/AIDS CBOs sampled by area clustering technique and analysed by
descriptive statistics with the help of SPSS techniques for data analysis and presentation. The results of this study have been used to recommend ways and means of improving training of human resources in the HIV/AIDS CBOs in the country. Study gaps for future
research have also been identified.


The Wallenius distribution is a generalization of the hypergeometric distribution where weights are assigned to balls of different colours. This naturally defines a model for ranking categories which can be used for classification. Since, in general, the resulting likelihood is not analytically available, we adopt an approximate Bayesian computational approach for estimating the importance of the categories. We illustrate the performance of the estimation procedure on simulated data sets. Finally, we use the new model for analysing two data sets concerning movie ratings and Italian academic statisticians' journal preferences. The latter is a novel data set collected by the authors.


A split-split-plot experiment with randomized complete block design in three replications was conducted in 2004 at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran. The effects of limited irrigations on oil and protein accumulation of seeds in two soybean varieties (Zane and Hack) in the field were investigated. Irrigation treatments were assigned to main plot, and two soybean cultivars were allocated to the subplots. Harvest stages were considered as the sub subplots. Irrigation treatments I1, I2, I3 and I4 were defined based on the cumulative evaporation of 60±3, 80±3, 100±3 and 120±3 mm, from pan (class A) respectively. The results indicated that percentages of oil and protein in the seeds were not significantly affected by water deficit at different harvests. However, both oil and protein out put per unit area were significantly reduced, as water deficit increased. By increasing means 100 seeds weight, percentage oil content decreased, but percentage protein content was increased. In general, it was concluded that Moisture stresses during pod fill will not affect both the oil and protein content of soybean seeds. The resulting seed composition is a balance of the reduction is seed weight and the reduction in quantities of oil and protein content per unit area. In this study, the amount and distribution of water were regular and distinctness, resulting in differing effects on seed weight and differing relative effects on oil and protein components of the seed. Irrigation with short time interval and low water volume is better than irrigation with long time interval and much volume in soybean production. In general, it was concluded that soybean oil and protein production per unit area under full and limited irrigation conditions could be improve by increasing seed yield via selection of high-yielding varieties.


This paper deals with the relationship between post-Keynesian and behavioural economics. I begin by responding critically to Paul Davidson's claim that Keynes was the first behavioural economist. Then I discuss some recent work in behavioural macroeconomics, which reveals some important strengths but also some fundamental weaknesses. Next I outline what (Old) behavioural economists have had to say about macroeconomics, beginning with the father of the school, Herbert Simon, and considering the contributions of some of his disciples. I then reverse the question and ask what post-Keynesians have had to say about behavioural economics, Old and New. I conclude by identifying some potential sources of difficulty and also suggesting some areas of macroeconomics where cooperation between post-Keynesians and behavioural economists seems especially promising.


Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) origins from parafollicular cells and secretes calcitonin. It accounts for 5-10% of malignant thyroid tumors. In MTC, radionuclide imaging is employed as complementary method in addition to the routine radiological procedures. Especially, scintigraphy using labelled peptides that specifically bind to the somatostatin receptors is used. Recently a somatostatin analogue labelled with 99mTc (99mTc-HYNIC-TOC) was synthetized. As shown in previous studies, it has favourable pharmacokinetic and clinical characteristics. Aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC in the radionuclide imaging in patients in different stages of MTC. 32 patients in following stages of the disease were studied: evaluation before thyroidectomy (6 patients), remission after surgical treatment (5 patients), stagnation or recurrence after surgical therapy (21 patients). The classification was based on the calcitonin concentrations. The study group included 19 women and 13 men aged 14 to 83 years. Whole body scintigraphy was performed twice: 2 and 4 hours after injection of 20 mCi 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC using dual-head Varicam gamma camera (Elscint). The obtained results were compared to the clinical data and other employed imaging modalities. The scintigraphy using 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC showed 20 true positive, 4 true negative, 1 false positive and 7 false negative results. The sensitivity of this method was 74,1% and specificity - 80,0%. These results are better than those obtained by other authors using other imaging methods. The current study showed high utility of the new peptide tracer in the diagnosis of MTC. Its diagnostic accuracy allows us to recommend it for diagnosis and treatment planning (including radionuclide therapy) in patients with MTC on the routine basis.


Africa's social cash transfer programs target the most resource-constrained households, unlikely to expand supply in response to transfer-induced demand. We propose a local economy-wide impact evaluation model and use it to evaluate local spillovers from Lesotho's Child Grants Program. We report Monte-Carlo confidence bounds around impact-simulation results. We find significant spillovers to nonrecipient households and significant real income multipliers, although the latter are dampened if factor supply constraints generate excessive inflationary pressures. Our findings raise questions about how to measure the impacts of cash transfers. Evaluations focusing only on eligible households are likely to significantly understate program impacts.


To determine the value of sonography of the parotid gland in patients with Sjögren syndrome, six consecutive cases were retrospectively reviewed in which clinical findings indicated Sjögren syndrome. All patients were women. Two patients were found at sonography to have normal parotid glands. Four patients had multiple cystic changes in the parotid glands bilaterally. Each of these four patients had a clinical diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome. One of the four underwent sialography, which demonstrated characteristic sialectasia. Pathologic examination of an excised gland in one of the patients with Sjögren syndrome demonstrated typical benign lymphoepithelial aggregates, which cause obstruction and progressive ductal dilatation. While parotid enlargement in these patients may be due to salivary tumor, lymphoma, or sarcoidosis--all of which appear as solid lesions at sonography--this study suggests that bilateral cystic changes may be the rule in uncomplicated cases of Sjögren syndrome.


Taking into account the prevailing articulatory and auditory approach in phonetics and phonology classes (even at tertiary level), the aim of the paper is to underline the importance of instrumental (acoustic) data in supplementing and enriching the traditional educational approaches in this area. After briefly discussing applicability of sound synthesis and sound recognition tools in pedagogic environment, I focus on speech analysis, in particular on those computer tools that enable analysis and visual display of both segmental and prosodic features of speech. Considering my specific situation of teaching English Phonetics to Slovene students of English, the focus of the paper is on contrastive analysis of segmental and prosodic features of English and Slovene. Some of the main differences between the two languages, which often lead to mispronunciations by Slovene students, are illustrated on the basis of instrumental analysis and spectral display.


In this work we report an experimental modal analysis of a cantilever beam, carried out by use of a Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA) setup operated at a fixed pump–probe frequency shift. The employed technique permitted us to carry out distributed strain measurements along the vibrating beam at a maximum acquisition rate of 108 Hz. The mode shapes of the first three bending modes (1.7, 10.8, 21.6 Hz) were measured for the structure under test. The good agreement between the experimental and numerical results based on a finite-element method (FEM) analysis demonstrates that Brillouin based distributed sensors are well suited to perform the modal analysis of a vibrating structure. This type of analysis may be useful for applications in structural health monitoring where changes in mode shapes are used as indicators of the damage to the structure.


The authors study the use of non-volatile memory for caching in distributed file systems. This provides an advantage over traditional distributed file systems in that the load is reduced at the server without making the data vulnerable to failures. They show that small non-volatile write caches at the clients and the server are quite effective. They reduce the write response time and the load on the file server dramatically, thus improving the scalability of the system. They show that a proposed threshold based writeback policy is more effective than a periodic writeback policy. They use a synthetic workload developed from analysis of file I/O traces from commercial production systems. The study is based on a detailed simulation of the distributed environment. The service times for the resources of the system were derived from measurements performed on a typical workstation.<<ETX>>


This article presents a general framework in which different manifestations of psychopathology can be conceptualized as dysfunctions in one or more mechanisms of self-regulation, defined as the ongoing process of managing personal goal pursuit in the face of internal, interpersonal, and environmental forces that would derail it. The framework is based on the assertion that self-regulation is a critical locus for the proximal influence on motivation, cognition, emotion, and behavior of more distal factors such as genetics, temperament, socialization history, and neurophysiology. Psychological theories of self-regulation are ideal platforms from which to integrate the study of self-regulation both within and across traditional disciplines. This article has two related goals: to elucidate how the construct of self-regulation provides a unique conceptual platform for the study of psychopathology and to illustrate that platform by presenting our research on depression as an example.


Data presentation for scientific publications in small sample size studies has not changed substantially in decades. It relies on static figures and tables that may not provide sufficient information for critical evaluation, particularly of the results from small sample size studies. Interactive graphics have the potential to transform scientific publications from static reports of experiments into interactive datasets. We designed an interactive line graph that demonstrates how dynamic alternatives to static graphics for small sample size studies allow for additional exploration of empirical datasets. This simple, free, web-based tool (http://statistika.mfub.bg.ac.rs/interactive-graph/) demonstrates the overall concept and may promote widespread use of interactive graphics.


INTRODUCTION: Guadecitabine (SGI-110) is a next generation hypomethylating agent (HMA) formulated as a dinucleotide of decitabine and deoxyguanosine, with an increased length of exposure compared to decitabine due to reduced metabolism by cytidine deaminase. Previous phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials of guadecitabine demonstrated clinical activity both in untreated and previously treated patients with MDS, with good tolerance. Improving the current response and survival outcomes of patients with higher risk MDS and CMML, particularly in the presence of very high risk biological features, is fundamental. In the current clinical trial we assessed the activity of guadecitabine in patients with higher-risk MDS and CMML as front-line therapy. METHODS: We are conducting a single arm, non-randomized phase 2 clinical trial of guadecitabine for patients with newly diagnosed MDS or CMML classified as Intermediate-2 or High risk by IPSS. Treatment consisted of guadecitabine at a dose of 60mg/m2 sc daily for 5 days (days 1-5) every 28 days. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR). Secondary objectives included overall response rate (ORR), survival and transfusion independence. Responses were evaluated following the revised 2006 International Working Group (IWG) criteria. Sequencing data was obtained at the time of pre-treatment evaluation by the use of a 28-gene next generation sequencing platform. Study included stopping rules for response and toxicity whereby the study would stop if the CR rate was unlikely (chance 30% was >95%, respectively. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed and graded according to the CTCAE v4 criteria. Overall survival (OS) was censored at the time of transplant. Event-free survival (EFS) was defined as the time interval between treatment start and date of resistance, progression or death. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled between November 2014 and June 2016. Thirty-seven (93%) were evaluable for toxicity and 36 (90%) for response at the time of analysis. Patient characteristics are shown in Table 1. Median age was 67 years (range 48-86). A total of 34 (85%) patients had MDS and 6 (15%) had CMML. Thirty-six (90%) were classified as int-2 risk and 4 (10%) as high risk by IPSS. A total of 9 (23%) had normal karyotype and 18 (45%) had complex karyotype. Sequencing data was available in 38 (95%) patients. Identified mutations are shown in Figure 1A, with TP53 mutations being the most frequently detected in 15 (38%) patients. Following a median of 6 treatment cycles (range 1-17), 10 (28%) subjects met the primary endpoint by achieving CR. ORR was observed in 22 (61%) subjects, with 4 (10%) hematologic improvement (HI) and 9 (23%) CRi defined as mCR+HI. Median best response occurred by 3 cycles (range 1-6). Of subjects evaluable for cytogenetic response, (n-26; 72%), 6 (21%) achieved a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR). Seven (19%) subjects responded sufficiently to be removed from the study and proceed to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Only one (3%) patient had transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. Median follow up was 4 months (range 0-19 months). Median OS was 15.2 months (95% CI 12.13-18.25 months) (Figure 1B) and median EFS was 10.8 months (95% CI 6.9-14.76 months) (Figure 1C). At the present time of follow up, no significant differences in survival were observed based on achievement of response (NR vs 15 months, p=0.142) or CR (13.6 vs 15.1 months, p=0.474). A total of 31 (84%) patients experienced at least one AE during therapy with 4 (11%) patients having related grade ≥3 non-hematologic AEs including fatigue, febrile neutropenia and oral mucositis. Therefore, stopping rule for toxicity was not met. Most common grade 1-2 AEs included fatigue (35%), nausea (24%) and dyspnea (24%). Dose reductions due to cytopenias were required in 12 (33%) patients. Early 8-week mortality occurred in 2 (5%) patients, one due to non-related cardiac arrest and one due to sepsis. CONCLUSION: Guadecitabine is a well-tolerated and active new HMA for patients with higher-risk MDS and CMML even in the presence of adverse biological features such as high frequency of complex karyotype, therapy related disease and TP53 mutations. Further follow up is required to assess survival benefit in terms of OS and leukemia-free survival. Disclosures Daver:Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kiromic: Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Research Funding; Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria. Cortes:ARIAD: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Teva: Research Funding. DiNardo:Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding. Jabbour:ARIAD: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; ARIAD: Consultancy.


Given N points on a unit sphere in Euclidean m space, m 5:2, we show that the sum of all distances which they determine plus their discrepancy is a constant. As applications we obtain (i) an upper bound for the sum of the distances which for m=i5 is smaller than any previously known and (ii) the existence of N point distributions with small discrepancy. We make use of W. M. Schmidt's work on the discrepancy of spherical caps.


Image filtering is an important technology used to eliminate the noise of distorted images in image processing applications. Digital images are often distorted by noise during shooting, and so their original features may not be observed. For this reason, noise reduction is an important step for the analysis of noisy images produced by digital camera flaws and during transmission of data. In this study, fuzzy set and 3×3, 3×5, 2×3 size filtering windows and mean - median filters were used to reduce salt-pepper noise. The performances of the proposed methods are then compared with some methods in the literature according to Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Mean Square Error (MSE).


Oxidation of low-density lipoproteins constitutes the first step of a very complex process leading to atherosclerosis. Vitamin E, and principally a-tocopherol, is considered as the principal inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. Some studies showed the beneficial role of vitamin E in the prevention and reduction of atherosclerosis and its associated pathologies. However, other in vitro studies advance a prooxidant role of vitamin E. The results of the epidemiologic studies are difficult to generalize without taking account of the clinical randomized tests. In this work, we reviewed the principal studies devoted to the role of vitamin E and discussed the assumption of a prooxidant effect of this molecule.


The interfacial behavior of β-casein and lysozyme solutions has been investigated in the presence of an ionic liquid-type imidazolium surfactant ([C16mim]Br) at the decane/water interface. The dynamic dilational properties of the protein/surfactant solutions are investigated by the oscillating drop method and interfacial tension relaxation method. The interfacial tension isotherms for the mixed adsorption layers indicate that the increased addition of [C16mim]Br to a pure protein changes the properties of the complex formed at the decane/water interface. Whereas the interfacial tension data of the protein/surfactant mixed layers do not clearly show differences with changing bulk composition, the dilational rheology provides undoubted evidence that the structure and, in particular, the dynamics of the adsorbed layers depend on the bulk surfactant concentration. The experiment data for β-casein/[C16mim]Br solutions indicate that at higher bulk [C16mim]Br concentrations, β-casein in the interfacial layer is subject to conformational changes, where it gives space to [C16mim]Br molecules in the form of coadsorb rather than replacement; in contrast, in lysozyme/[C16mim]Br solutions some lysozyme molecules desorb from the interface due to the competitive adsorption of free [C16mim]Br molecules. Experimental results related to the interfacial dilational properties of the protein/surfactant solutions show that the dilational modulus turns out to be more sensitive to the conformation of protein/surfactant mixture at the liquid interface than the interfacial tension.


The layering of a microstructure parallel to the direction of the material flow during the hot working process is called banding. In the present paper, the severity of ferrite-pearlite banding in the API-X42 microalloyed steel and its effects on the impact energy are studied. Specifically, the impact toughness is examined in the cases of banded and non-banded samples along two directions, perpendicular and parallel to the rolling, and the obtained results are compared. Metallographic examinations, together with the Charpy impact tests at 0 °C and –18 °C, were done for both directions, parallel and perpendicular to the rolling. The results showed a dependence of the impact energy on the sample direction relative to the rolling to be larger with the banded than the non-banded sample. The difference between the impact energies for the directions parallel and perpendicular to the rolling was also noticed to be caused by the increasing anisotropy index.


The most insidious aspect of drug addiction is the high propensity for relapse. Animal models of relapse, known as reinstatement procedures, have been used extensively to study the neurobiology and phenomenology of relapse to drug use. Although procedural variations have emerged over the past several decades, the most conventional reinstatement procedures are based on the drug self-administration (SA) model. In this model, an animal is trained to perform an operant response to obtain drug. Subsequently, the behavior is extinguished by withholding response-contingent reinforcement. Reinstatement of drug seeking is then triggered by a discrete event, such as an injection of the training drug, re-exposure to drug-associated cues, or exposure to a stressor. Reinstatement procedures were originally developed to study the ability of acute non-contingent exposure to the training drug to reinstate drug seeking in rats and monkeys. Reinstatement procedures have since been modified to study the role of environmental stimuli, including drug-associated cues and exposure to various forms of stress, in relapse to drug seeking. Over the past 15 years, a major focus of the reinstatement literature has been on the role of stress in drug relapse. One of the most commonly used forms of stress for studying this relationship is acute exposures to mild, intermittent, electric footshocks. The ability of footshock stress to induce reinstatement of drug seeking was originally demonstrated by Shaham and colleagues (1995) in rats with a history of intravenous heroin SA(5). Subsequently, the effect was generalized to rats with histories of intravenous cocaine, methamphetamine, and nicotine SA, as well as oral ethanol SA. Although footshock-induced reinstatement of drug seeking can be achieved reliably and robustly, it is an effect that tends to be sensitive to certain parametrical variables. These include the arrangement of extinction and reinstatement test sessions, the intensity and duration of footshock stress, and the presence of drug-associated cues during extinction and testing for reinstatement. Here we present a protocol for footshock-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking that we have used with consistent success to study the relationship between stress and cocaine seeking.


Code smells reveal in different ways: with code metrics, existence of particular elements in an abstract syntax tree, specific code behavior or subsequent changes in the code. One of the least explored smell indicators is the presence of other smells. In the paper we discuss and analyze different relations existing among smells and suggest how to exploit this information in order to facilitate discovering of other smells. The considerations are completed with analysis of a Large Class smell and its related odors within a popular open source project codebase.


Multivariate statistical techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA) and discriminant analysis (DA), were applied for the evaluation of temporal/spatial variations and the interpretation of a large complex water quality dataset of the Mekong River using data sets generated during 6 years (1995–2000) of monitoring of 18 parameters (16,848 observations) at 13 different sites. The results of PCA/FA revealed that most of the variations are explained by dissolved mineral salts along the whole Mekong River and in individual stations. Discriminant analysis showed the best results for data reduction and pattern recognition during both spatial and temporal analysis. Spatial DA revealed 8 parameters (total suspended solids, calcium, sodium, alkalinity, chloride, iron, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus) and 12 parameters (total suspended solids, calcium, sodium, potassium, alkalinity, chloride, sulfate, iron, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus, silicon, dissolved oxygen) are responsible for significant variations between monitoring regions and countries, respectively. Temporal DA revealed 3 parameters (conductivity, alkalinity, nitrate nitrogen) between monitoring regions; 3 parameters (total suspended solids, conductivity, silicon) in midstream region; and 2 parameters (conductivity, silicon) in upstream, lower stream and delta region which are the most significant parameters to discriminate between the four different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). Thus, this study illustrates the usefulness of principal component analysis, factor analysis and discriminant analysis for the analysis and interpretation of complex datasets and in water quality assessment, identification of pollution sources/factors, and understanding of temporal and spatial variations of water quality for effective river water quality management.


A simple and robust strategy is reported in this Article for the synthesis of stable magnetic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) hot spots in superparamagnetic, raspberry-shaped, mesoscopic gold particles that are composed of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 cores, amorphous SiO2 mediation shells, and outer individual Au nanoparticles. The average interparticle gaps between the Au nanoparticles can be finely tuned by controlling the synthesis conditions, resulting in the formation of adequate SERS hot spots. The magnetic cores provide the capability to concentrate solution analytes adsorbed on the surfaces of the composite particles with the assistance of an external magnetic field, leading to ultrasensitive SERS detection of target species with concentration as low as femtomolar.


Sexual selection is thought to shape phylogenetic diversity by affecting speciation or extinction rates. However, the net effect of sexual selection on diversification is hard to predict because many of the hypothesized effects on speciation or extinction have opposing signs and uncertain magnitudes. Theoretical work also suggests that the net effect of sexual selection on diversification should depend strongly on ecological factors, though this prediction has seldom been tested. Here, we test whether variation in sexual selection can predict speciation and extinction rates across passerine birds (up to 5812 species, covering most genera) and whether this relationship is mediated by environmental factors. Male‐biased sexual selection, and specifically sexual size dimorphism, predicted two of the three measures of speciation rates that we examined. The link we observed between sexual selection and speciation was independent of environmental variability, though species with smaller ranges had higher speciation rates. There was no association between any proxies of sexual selection and extinction rate. Our findings support the view that male‐biased sexual selection, as measured by frequent predictors of male‐male competition, has shaped diversification in the largest radiation of birds.


Surface soil samples were collected from medium black (Typic Ustochrepts) and grey brown (Typic Ustipsammets) soil groups. Soils were loamy sand to clay loam in texture with organic carbon content varying from 0.68 to 1.53 per cent. Exchangeable-K had high correlation with Ksaturation per cent (r=0.97), Morgan-K (r=0.84) and organic carbon (r=0.65) whereas water soluble-K was found to have negative correlation with organic carbon and pH of the soils. Nitritic acid extractable-K had high correlation with total K (r=0:99) and reserve-K (r=0.94) and also with soil properties like CEC (r=0.74), silt (r=0.62) and clay (r=O.72). Morgan-K was highly correlated with exchangeable-K (r=0.84) and total-K (r=0.84) and medium with organic carbon (r=0.60). Reserve-K was found to have high correlation with HN03-K (r=0.94) and total-K (r=0.98). It had medium to high correlation to CEC (r=0.68). High correlation with HN0 3-K (r=0.99) but no correlation with water soluble and exchangeable-K was observed with total-K. Potassium saturation per cent had high correlation with Exchangeable-K (r=0.97).


Today, different measures are investigated to solve the challenge of a sustainable urban freight transport. Among them, electric vehicles are often viewed as an interesting solution but the purchase cost of these vehicles is commonly seen as a barrier to their adoption. However the different cost structure between electric and conventional vehicles makes an analysis of every cost particularly needed if fleet managers want to assess the real competitiveness of the vehicles. As a result, we developed a total cost of ownership model to assess the competitiveness of light commercial vehicles in the Brussels-Capital Region. This paper presents the results of the total cost of ownership analysis on 8 battery electric vehicles, 5 diesel vehicles and 2 petrol vehicles. The results of a sensitivity analysis of the model are also presented. The electric vehicles were found to be competitive with conventional vehicles in the category of the quadricycles and the light commercial vehicles with a payload lower than 1,000kg: five out of six battery electric vehicles had a cost lower than the conventional vehicles of their category. The situation is inverted for the battery electric vehicles with a payload above 1,000kg where the costs are always higher than the conventional vehicles because of the expensive purchase and battery costs. Since battery electric vehicles are found to be a viable solution for some parts of the logistics, the next challenge should be to convince the fleet managers of the benefits of the switch of technology for the identified vehicles.


Recent TV series tend to have more and more complex plot. They follow the lives of numerous characters and are made of multiple intertwined stories. In this paper, we introduce StoViz, a web-based interface allowing a fast overview of this kind of episode structure, based on our plot de-interlacing system. StoViz has two main goals. First, it provides the user with a useful overview of the episode by displaying each story separately and a short abstract extracted from them. Then, it allows an efficient visual comparison of the output of any automatic plot de-interlacing algorithm with the manual annotation in terms of stories and is therefore very helpful for evaluation purposes. StoViz is available online at http://stoviz.niderb.fr.


Reproducing empirical results and repeating experimental processes is fundamental to science, but is of grave concern to scientists. Revisiting the same location is necessary for tracking biological processes, yet I argue that 'location' and 'replication' contain a basic ambiguity. The analysis of the practical meanings of 'replication' and 'location' will strip of incommensurability from its common conflation with empirical equivalence, underdetermination and indeterminacy of reference. In particular, I argue that three biodiversity re-surveys, conducted by the research institutions of Harvard, Berkeley, and Hamaarag, all reveal incommensurability without indeterminacy in the smallest spatial scale, and indeterminacy without incommensurability in higher scales.


Fuel cells, as highly efficient and environment-friendly power sources, have attracted ever-increasing research and development in the past few decades. Mathematical modeling and simulation are applied to examine the influence of the different physical and electrochemical phenomena occurring in the structure of the fuel cell during operation. Such simulation programs take a very long time (of the order of days or even weeks) to run, especially when accurate results are called for. To achieve accurate results and more insight, we need even more complex models (twoand threedimensional models). In this paper, we present techniques for the parallel simulation of a mathematical model of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). In particular, we employ a paradigm called LessTalk. LessTalk is a general technique that can be employed to reduce communications in parallel computations. Using LessTalk, we have achieved almost linear speedup in simulating the DMFC model. The results were validated against measurements available from the Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center (CGFCC). [DOI: 10.1115/1.1840866]


Literature shows that trust typically relies on knowledge about the communication partner. Federated learning is an approach for collaboratively improving machine learning models. It allows collaborators to share Machine Learning models without revealing secrets, as only the abstract models and not the data used for their creation is shared. Federated learning thereby provides a mechanism to create trust without revealing secrets, such as specificities of local industrial systems. A fundamental challenge, however, is determining how much trust is justified for each contributor to collaboratively optimize the joint models. By assigning equal trust to each contribution, divergence of a model from its optimum can easily happen—caused by errors, bad observations, or cyberattacks. Trust also depends on how much an aggregated model contributes to the objectives of a party. For example, a model trained for an OT system is typically useless for monitoring IT systems. This paper shows first directions how heterogeneous distributed data sources could be integrated using federated learning methods. With an extended abstract, it shows current research directions and open issues from a cyber-analyst's perspective.


We have successfully amplified D2S44 (YNH24) alleles by a method for long-distance PCR using a special polymerase enhancer, Taq Extender PCR Additive. The alleles amplified from DNA samples of 58 Japanese subjects ranged from 0.42 to 3.5 kb and were 1.5 kb shorter than those detected by Southern blotting of Hinf I-digested genomic DNAs. Although alleles longer than 3 kb were barely visible by ethidium bromide staining, we were able to visualize them clearly with SYBR GREEN I NUCLEIC ACIC GEL STAIN. PCR amplification of D2S44 alleles is much simpler than their restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis; therefore, our procedure is well-suited for use in medicolegal practice. With minor modifications, the method described here should be applicable to other loci of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) that have been analyzed by Southern blotting.


The hydrogen-bonded complex between acrylonitrile (CH2=CHCN) and methanol has been characterized spectroscopically in the millimeter wave range (59.6–74.4 GHz) using a free jet absorption millimeter wave spectrometer. Precise values of the rotational and centrifugal distortion constants were obtained from the measured frequencies of the complex of acrylonitrile with CH3OH and CD3OD. The analysis of the splittings of the rotational lines due to the hindered internal rotation of the methanol methyl group led to the determination of a V3 value of 221.9(7) and 218(5) cm–1 for the complexes of CH3OH and CD3OD, respectively, and these values are about 40% lower than that of free methanol. The structure of the observed conformation is in agreement with the global minimum determined at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level of calculation, and the counterpoise corrected intermolecular binding energy, obtained at the same theoretical level, is De = 26.3 kJ mol–1.


Six isoreticular metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based on zinc, cadmium and cobalt ions, 4,4′-stilbenedicarboxylic acid and the flexible ligands 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)butane and 1,6-bis(imidazol-1-yl)hexane were prepared. The synergistic effect coming from the assembly of stilbenedicarboxylate and imidazolyl ligands led to multifunctional materials with excellent photoluminescence and good sorption capacity for carbon dioxide and iodine vapor.


Background: Hepatoportal sclerosis manifests as non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Its etiology appears to be related to alterations in the idiopathic micro-vasculature of the liver. Manifestations of hepatoportal sclerosis include upper gastrointestinal bleeding, pancytopenia, splenomegaly and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. We present the first reported case of hepatoportal sclerosis in Colombia which occurred in an HIV positive patient.Methods: A 60-year-old male HIV patient positive was admitted to our institution because of ascites and upper digestive tract bleeding due to esophageal and fundal varices. Management required taking a liverbiopsy.Results: A Tru-Cut biopsy needle was used to take a liver biopsy sample percutaneously. The biopsy revealed six to eight portal tracts with preserved architectural parenchyma, perivenular fibrosis and severepericentral sinusoidal dilatation.Conclusions: Hepatoportal sclerosis is a cause of morbidity in HIV-positive patients and should be considered in each patient manifesting non-cirrhotic portal hypertension associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. However, further research is necessary to describe the relationship between the development of intrahepatic alterations (microthrombosis), HIV, and the use of anti-retroviral therapy, particularly the use of didanosine.


The aim of this study is to explore the impact of R&D investment on high tech exports in Pakistan - a developing and emerging economy. To testify such relationship, data are collected from firms' financial statements, World Bank data base and State Bank of Pakistan data source. Time span of study is consisting of 20 years from 1995 to 2014. By using ordinary least square with robust standard error, along with several macroeconomic control variables, we found significantly positive relationship between R&D investment and high the exports. According to the product life cycle theory of international trade, innovative activities help to create competitive advantage which is essential for competing in worldwide markets. The empirical results show that R&D investment creates new products, which can attract foreign customers and creating export opportunities.


The use of stable isotopic labelled glucose enables insight into glucose metabolism. The C isotopic enrichment of glucose is usually analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS). However, in both techniques the samples must be derivatized prior to analysis, which makes sample preparation more labour intensive and increases the uncertainty on the measured isotopic composition. A novel method for the determination of isotopic enrichment of glucose in human plasma is using liquid chromatography isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LC/IRMS) has been developed. Using this technique, for which hardly any sample preparation is needed, we showed that both the enrichment and concentration could be measured with very high precision using only 20 μL of plasma. C h ap te r 2 In addition, a comparison with GC/MS and GC/IRMS showed best performances were achieved with the LC/IRMS method making it the method of choice to measure C isotopic enrichment in plasma samples.


In this article the principles of cultural sustainability and the role of continuity are discussed in art interventions as a form of community art. The case of art-based action research is the Enontekiö Art Path project that took place in northern Finland 2016-2017. The project was a collaboration initiative between the municipality of Enontekiö and the Department of Art Education, University of Lapland and it aimed to increase access of art for people living outside the municipality centre. During the project, university students organised six art interventions in different villages of Enontekiö. The continuity happened between the workshop through constant evaluation of the 450 Synnyt / Origins | 2 / 2019 | Peer-reviewed | Full paper actions and gradually increased also the engagement of the people involved in the project.