CHANNON & SMITH [1936] reported that triethyl-/-hydroxyethylammonium hydroxide had choline-like action in preventing fat deposition in the livers of rats receiving diets high in fat and low in choline and protein. In that work no attempt was made accurately to determine the intensity of the action of this compound in terms of choline but the results suggested that its activity was somewhat less, perhaps of the order of 70 %. In the present paper the results of experiments with two further choline analogues are recorded. The first of these compounds, tripropyl-g-hydroxyethylammonium hydroxide was investigated with a view to seeing whether further increase in the size of the alkyl radicals would cause a still greater diminution in the physiological activity than had occurred with the triethyl compound; the second, trimethyl-yhydroxypropylammonium hydroxide, in order to study the effect of increasing the size of the group in the other part of the molecule. For brevity of description triethyl-g-hydroxyethylammonium hydroxide, tripropyl-3-hydroxyethylammonium hydroxide and trimethyl-y-hydroxypropylammonium hydroxide will be referred to in this paper as "triethyl-choline", "tripropyl-choline" and "homocholine " respectively. EXPERIMENTAL


The essential projection to VPMpc from the area located between the diagnonal sulcus and the arcuate sulcus in the buried cortex of the Sylvian fissure in monkeys was observed with the silver impregnation method of Nauta-Gygax. This area does not seem to project to VPM, VPL and Vpi. it is located far rostral to SI and SII. This observation may give the anatomical basis of the existence of a 'frontal opercular pure taste area' not relating to the tactile or alimentary systems.


The authors present the problem with HIV positive patients which have an ear, nose and throat disease. ENT doctors are the group of high risk of AIDS. Up to now we haven't got a test useful for early diagnosis in AIDS (specially this period between infection and seroconversion+--"serological window"). This fact requires special cautions from ENT surgeons++. The authors describe the methods of individual prevention from AIDS and, the surgical instruments sterilization.


This work focuses on erosion and thermal processes taking place on the surface of the titanium target in magnetron sputtering. The study was carried out using magnetron sputtering systems (MSS) with different thermal insulation target types from the magnetron body. It was found that the presence of an evaporation component allows the rate of removal of atoms from the surface of a solid target to be increased with limited thermal conduction. A mathematical simulation was used to evaluate the contribution of evaporation to the increase in the coating deposition rate for complete and partial thermal insulation. It was found that non-uniformity of the direct-axis component of the magnetic induction vector helps to localize the heating. also increases the evaporation rate on the surface of the target. It was proved that local evaporation including sublimations on the surface of a hot target is a significant factor in increasing the coating deposition rate. Due to this mechanism, the coating deposition rate can be increased 5 times for Ti in comparison with fully cooled targets. This result can be applied for direct current magnetrons and also for pulsed systems. It was also found that evaporation increased the energy efficiency of the target erosion. The most suitable metals were selected for obtaining high-intensity emission of atoms from a solid target.


Autosomal recessive hypotrichosis is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by sparse hair on scalp and rest of the body of affected subjects. Recently, three clinically similar autosomal recessive forms of hypotrichosis [localized autosomal recessive hypotrichosis (LAH)1], LAH2 and LAH3 have been mapped on chromosomes 18q12.1, 3q27.3, and 13q14.11‐q21.32, respectively. For these three loci, two genes DSG4 for LAH1 and LIPH for LAH2 have been identified. To date, only five mutations in DSG4 and two in LIPH genes have been reported. In this study, we have ascertained two large unrelated consanguineous Pakistani families with autosomal recessive form of hypotrichosis. Affected individuals showed homozygosity to the microsatellite markers tightly linked to LIPH gene on chromosome 3q27. Sequence analysis of the gene in the affected subjects from both the families revealed a novel deletion mutation in exon 5 (c.659‐660delTA) causing frameshift and downstream premature termination codon. All the three mutations identified in the LIPH gene, including the one in this study, are deletion mutations.


In this paper, an open-switch fault diagnosis method for five-level H-Bridge Neutral Point Piloted (HB-NPP) or T-type converters is proposed. While fault tolerant operation is based on three steps (fault detection, fault localization and system reconfiguration), a fast fault diagnosis, including both fault detection and localization, is mandatory to make a suitable response to an open-circuit fault in one of the switches of the converter. Furthermore, fault diagnosis is necessary in embedded and safety critical applications, to prevent further damage and perform continuity of service. The method presented in this paper is based on the switches control orders and the converter output voltage level observation. In HB-NPP and T-type converters, usually some switches are `on' together. Therefore, the fault localization is complicated. The proposed fault diagnosis method is capable to detect and localize in all cases an open-switch fault. Computer simulations are carried out by using Matlab Simulink and SimPowerSystem toolbox to validate the proposed diagnosis.


As an alternative approach against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, phages are now being increasingly investigated as effective therapeutic agents. Here, aiming to design an efficient phage cocktail against Aeromonas salmonicida infections, we isolated and characterized five lytic A. salmonicida phages, AS-szw, AS-yj, AS-zj, AS-sw, and AS-gz. The results of morphological and genomic analysis suggested that all these phages are affiliated to the T4virus genus of the Caudovirales order. Their heterogeneous lytic capacities against A. salmonicida strains were demonstrated by experiments. A series of phage cocktails were prepared and investigated in vitro. We observed that the cocktail combining AS-gz and AS-yj showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity than other cocktails and individual phages. Given the divergent genomes between the phages AS-yj and AS-gz, our results highlight that the heterogeneous mechanisms that phages use to infect their hosts likely lead to phage synergy in killing the host. Conclusively, our study described a strategy to develop an effective and promising phage cocktail as a therapeutic agent to combat A. salmonicida infections, and thereby to control the outbreak of relevant fish diseases. Our study suggests that in vitro investigations into phages are prerequisite to obtain satisfying phage cocktails prior to application in practice.


Abstract. The use of wireless sensor networks in the measurement of soil parameters represents one of the least invasive methods available to date. Wireless sensors pose the least disturbance to soil structure and having fewer aboveground cables reduce the risk of undesired equipment damage and potential data loss. However, implementing wireless sensor networks in field studies usually requires advanced and costly engineering knowledge. This study presents a new underground, wireless, open-source, low-cost system for monitoring soil oxygen, temperature, and soil moisture. The process of system design, assembly, programming, deployment, and power management is presented. The system can be left underground for several years without the need for changing the battery. Emphasis was given on modularity so that it can be easily duplicated or changed if needed, and deployed without previous engineering knowledge. Data from this type of system have a wide range of applications, including precision agriculture and high-resolution modelling.


The wheat cropping system is very important in India. Also, the weed infestation is a major problem in the productivity of wheat. The present work is based on field research conducted from January, 2017 to March, 2017 in Narwana region of Haryana state, India. Multiple field visits were performed to investigate weed species in wheat crop. The plants were identified with the help of available literature and through comparison with the already identified plant species. Data inventory has been documented in the form of family, Botanical name, vernacular name, life form and habit. Total 54 weed species were collected, related to 50 genera and 22 families. Maximum number of species were of family Poaceae (11species) followed by family Asteraceae (10 species) and Fabaceae (08 species). Out of the 54 weed species, there were 46 annuals and 08 perennials. This study will be helpful as an additional tool in maintaining the floristic composition of Narwana region as well as in controlling the weed problem.


Meso-FE modelling of 3D textile composites is a powerful tool, which can help determine mechanical properties and permeability of the reinforcements or composites. The quality of the meso FE analyses depends on the quality of the initial model. A direct method based on X-ray tomography imaging is introduced to determine finite element models based on the real geometry of 3D composite reinforcements. The method is particularly suitable regarding 3D textile reinforcements for which internal geometries are numerous and complex. The approach used for the separation of the yarns in different directions is specialized because the fibres flow in three-dimensional space. An analysis of the image's texture is performed. A hyperelastic model developed for fibre bundles is used for the simulation of the deformation of the 3D reinforcement.


An extensive model atom for non-LTE line formation calculations for O I is presented, taking into account recent improvements in the atomic data. Based on line-blanketed LTE model atmospheres equivalent widths are computed in LTE and non-LTE for the diagnostic O I lines of Aand late B-type stars in the range Teff = 7500 K to 15000 K and luminosity classes V to Ia. Non-LTE abundance corrections are provided: they span a wide range in magnitude, from less than 0.1 dex for the weak lines in main sequence stars to more than 1.5 dex for the near-infrared lines in some supergiants. The dependence of the non-LTE effects on the atmospheric parameters is discussed with special emphasis on supergiants. In particular, the near-infrared transitions are found to react sensitively to the collisional excitation cross sections used in the calculations. Further investigations concentrate on the influence of microturbulence and on the rôle of wind outflow velocity fields on the line formation. As a test and first application of the model, oxygen abundances for Vega (A0 V), η Leo (A0 Ib) and HD 92207 (A0 Iae) are derived. The analysis of Vega confirms a slight oxygen underabundance (∼0.3 dex) in this star while η Leo and HD 92207 show a nearly solar value. For Vega the observed spectrum can be reproduced accurately by the calculated line profiles. In supergiants consistent abundances can be derived from the weak lines in the visible. At high luminosities the prominent near-infrared features – among other strong lines from different elemental species – are subject to additional broadening by an unidentified process which prevents an equally accurate theoretical interpretation.


Temperature affects the physiology, behavior, and evolution of organisms. We conducted mutagenesis and screens for mutants with altered temperature preference in Drosophila melanogaster and identified a cryophilic (cold-seeking) mutant, named atsugari (atu). Reduced expression of the Drosophila ortholog of dystroglycan (DmDG) induced tolerance to cold as well as preference for the low temperature. A sustained increase in mitochondrial oxidative metabolism caused by the reduced expression of DmDG accounted for the cryophilic phenotype of the atu mutant. Although most ectothermic animals do not use metabolically produced heat to regulate body temperature, our results indicate that their thermoregulatory behavior is closely linked to rates of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and that a mutation in a single gene can induce a sustained change in energy homeostasis and the thermal responses.


We present a framework that introduces key concepts relevant to agreement negotiation in virtual organizations (VO). The framework serves as a foundation for implementing an automated system that facilitates the establishment of VO agreements, considerably reduces the effort for setting up a VO and consequently reduces the VO's time for operation. The framework captures the relationship between the initial participants' behaviors, expectations, obligations and agreements, making sure that in implementing a system, one does not overlook the important aspects of the agreement structure and negotiation. The framework can be used to validate a negotiation, ensure validity of the achieved agreement and form strategies for future negotiations. A novel aspect of the initial trust establishment described in this paper is the consideration of the effects of the participants' behaviors during the negotiation process on mutual trust. We use the concepts to describe our work-in-progress for specification and negotiation of the agreements that govern the behavior of VO entities.


The article presents a critical discourse analysis of media coverage of the most important Lithuanian strategic object — the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant INPP — in the three biggest news portals. Media news focuses mostly on certain aspects of decommissioning of the INPP management issues and the transparency of financing mechanisms. Environmental and social aspects of the decommissioning are not sufficiently disclosed and discussed. The community of Visaginas the satellite town for the workers of the INPP remains an invisible and silent actor of the discourse. In the media news portals, the town is portrayed as disconnected from the INPP. This divide could be explained by assuming that after the closure of the INPP as a major feeding enterprise the town must search for a re-definition of its identity and construct this identity without nuclear energy and without the INPP. On the other hand, such a divide reflects a common trend characteristic of the entire nuclear discourse — to disempower communities and the public, create a boundary between the industry and the public, between the experts and ordinary citizens.


The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases related to cognitive decline and memory loss is on the rise as the global elderly population increases. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the sea cucumber-derived peptide Phe-Tyr-Asp-Trp-Pro-Lys (FYDWPK) on scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity in an animal model. The Morris water maze, passive avoidance apparatus, and shuttle box test were used to assess learning and memory abilities. In behavioral tests, FYDWPK effectively alleviated learning and memory impairment. FYDWPK also alleviated cholinergic dysfunction in mice with dementia. Furthermore, FYDWPK significantly improved oxidative imbalance by increasing superoxide dismutase activity and decreasing malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05). The pathological results showed that FYDWPK alleviated neuronal loss, blurred caryotheca, and pyknotic nuclei in the hippocampus, and a high dose of FYDWPK had the best effect. In conclusion, FYDWPK alleviated cognitive and memory impairments by regulating oxidative imbalance, reducing cholinergic dysfunction, and relieving pathological alterations.


Ongoing primary reliance on conventional fossil fuel resources such as coal and natural gas (NG) for energy generation may be the most economical method but also the most damaging to the environment. Energy management of power plant via sizing is one of the energy and economical saving methods. In this paper, Electric System Cascade Analysis (ESCA), an analytical pinch method is used for optimally size the generation capacity of power plant and storage capacity of energy storage. Energy can be direct current or alternating current, which require rectifier or converter to convert the energy before transporting. Therefore, energy system configuration has various combination depending on the type of currents on each part of the system configuration. The usage of ESCA will be applied on eight types of system configuration. A hypothetical case study is used to demonstrate the application of ESCA. Results show that the least energy lost due to energy conversion is the system configuration with the same type of current input and output.


Our understanding of the natural history of breast cancer has evolved alongside technologies to study its genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomics landscapes. These technologies have helped decipher multiple molecular pathways dysregulated in breast cancer. First-generation 'omics analyses considered each of these dimensions individually, but it is becoming increasingly clear that more holistic, integrative approaches are required to fully understand complex biological systems. The 'omics represent an exciting era of discovery in breast cancer research, although important issues need to be addressed to realize the clinical utility of these data through precision cancer care. How can the data be applied to predict response to molecular-targeted therapies? When should treatment decisions be based on tumor genetics rather than histology? And with the sudden explosion of "big data" from large 'omics consortia and new precision clinical trials, how do we now negotiate evidence-based pathways to clinical translation through this apparent sea of opportunity? The aim of this review is to provide a broad overview of 'omics technologies used in breast cancer research today, the current state-of-play in terms of applying this new knowledge in the clinic, and the practical and ethical issues that will be central to the public discussion on the future of precision cancer care.


Disease and predation are both highly important in ecology, yet their interplay has received little attention from biophysicists. Here, we analyse a model of a predator-prey system with disease in both prey and predator populations and determine reasonable parameter values using allometric mass scaling relations. We find that if the predator is a specialist, epidemics frequently drive the predator species to extinction. If the predator has an additional, immune prey species, predators will usually survive. Coexistence of predator and disease is impossible in the single-prey model. We conclude that for the prey species, carrying a pathogen can be an effective weapon against predators, and that being a generalist is a major advantage for a predator.


Schistosomiasis is a major public health problem worldwide. Schistosome eggs are responsible for most pathology. The organs affected are liver and spleen. There has been very little progress on schistosomiasis chemotherapy in Kenya due to the high costs and unavailability of known drugs to the local masses. There has been a resurgence of interest in the study of antischistosomal medicinal plants of local origin. Plants seem to be a cheaper source for drug development. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a herbal drug, Schitozim over Praziquantel in the management of S. mansoni infection in BALB/c mice and to provide defined information of the parasitological and immunological responses towards this herbal drug. BALB/c mouse strains, was used. The experimental groups included; normal/naive control; infected and not treated control group; infected groups administered with three different doses (50 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg) of Schitozim and infected group administered with one standard dose (900 mg/kg) of Praziquantel. Serum were collected at week 6 post infections and week 2 post treatment and assayed to determine total leukocyte counts, differential counts, blood chemistry parameters and the levels of immunoglobulin G using ELISA kit. At week 6, perfusion was done to determine worm load. Data was analysed using SPSS, the data was expressed as mean ± standard error of means. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was carried out to compare differences between treatment groups while multiple comparisons between the various treatment groups was done using Dunnet Test and Least Significance Difference Test (LSD). Results show that worm count in the groups treated with Schitozim was not significantly different from the number of worms recovered in the group treated with praziquantel. Secondly, Schitozim was able to maintain a normal level of the three tested transaminases. The levels of bilirubin, albumin were also maintained at a normal range in the infected mice treated with Schitozim and Praziquantel. Eosinophil counts were low in number in both Schitozim and Praziquantel treated groups. Lymphocyes, monocytes and neutrophils counts were high in the both groups. SWAP specific IgG response, 0-3hr release protein specific IgG response and SEA specific IgG responses were not significantly different among the Schitozim and Praziquantel treated groups. Phytochemical screening showed that flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids and tannins were present in schitozim aqueous extract. From the information above on worm recovery, populations of leucocytes in serum, levels of ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, total protein, and albumin, Schitozim behaves similar to Praziquentel in the management of S. mansoni infection in BALB/c mice. However, further research is needed to determine toxic level of schitozim since all drugs will turn out to be toxic when certain concentration is reached. Other studies which will investigate the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, High density cholesterol and low density cholesterol on Schitozim treated- S. mansoni infected mice.


A 53-year-old woman was admitted with a 1-day history of abdominal pain on the right side. Results of abdominal computed tomography done at another hospital the evening before were normal. The patient also had anorexia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and she smoked. Three months earlier she had had a myocardial infarction treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and insertion of a stent. One month later echocardiography showed only minimal abnormality of ventricular wall motion and no mural thrombus. She was taking lovastatin, metoprolol, lisinopril, levothyroxine, conjugated estrogens and acetylsalicylic acid.

On physical examination she was found to have a low-grade fever and local rebound tenderness in the right portion of the midabdomen. A stool sample was negative for occult blood. The leukocyte count was 16.3 х 109/L.

Exploratory laparotomy for suspected appendicitis revealed segmental ischemia of the ascending colon (Fig. 1). A right colectomy was done. Her recovery was uncomplicated. Histologic examination of the biopsy specimen showed focal full-thickness necrosis and normal mesenteric vessels.

FIG. 1. Operative view of the resected segment of colon shows segmental ischemia.

Segmental ischemia of the right side of the colon is a rare cause of abdominal pain.1 Emboli, vasculitis or systemic hypotension may cause this condition, and treatment usually should include resection of the abnormal segment of the colon. For older patients with a normal appendix and right-sided abdominal pain, the differential diagnosis should include segmental ischemia of the right side of the colon.


In this article, we reported that carmofur could be induced by some solvent to produce conformational alteration. Ultraviolet (UV) spectra were used to study the conformation alteration of carmofur. Upon the addition of acid in the some solvent, UV spectroscopy of carmofur could change gradually. When base was added to this system, UV spectroscopy of carmofur could return to the original state, and the change process was reversible. The variable temperature 1H and 13C-NMR spectrum were used to testify that temperature did not have any effect on the conformation alteration of carmofur in Acetonitrile: Trifluoroacetic-acid (9:1). These two conformers of carmofur were structurally stable in Acetonitrile: Trifluoroacetic-acid (9:1).


The content of meals consumed after exercise can impact metabolic responses for hours and even days after the exercise session. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of low dietary carbohydrate (CHO) vs. low energy intake in meals after exercise on insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism the next day. Nine healthy men participated in four randomized trials. During the control trial (CON) subjects remained sedentary. During the other three trials, subjects exercised [65% peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2 peak)); cycle ergometer and treadmill exercise] until they expended approximately 800 kcal. Dietary intake during CON and one exercise trial (BAL) was designed to provide sufficient energy and carbohydrate to maintain nutrient balance. In contrast, the diets after the other two exercise trials were low in either CHO (LOW-CHO) or energy (LOW-EN). The morning after exercise we obtained a muscle biopsy, assessed insulin sensitivity (S(i); intravenous glucose tolerance test) and measured lipid kinetics (isotope tracers). Although subjects were in energy balance during both LOW-CHO and CON, the lower muscle glycogen concentration during LOW-CHO vs. CON (402 +/- 29 vs. 540 +/- 33 mmol/kg dry wt, P < 0.01) coincided with a significant increase in S(i) [5.2 +/- 0.7 vs. 3.8 +/- 0.7 (mU/l)(-1) x min(-1); P < 0.05]. Conversely, despite ingesting several hundred fewer kilocalories after exercise during LOW-EN compared with BAL, this energy deficit did not affect S(i) the next day [4.9 +/- 0.9, and 5.0 +/- 0.8 (mU/l)(-1) x min(-1)]. Maintaining an energy deficit after exercise had the most potent effect on lipid metabolism, as measured by a higher plasma triacylglycerol concentration, and increased plasma fatty acid mobilization and oxidation compared with when in nutrient balance. Carbohydrate deficit after exercise, but not energy deficit, contributed to the insulin-sensitizing effects of acute aerobic exercise, whereas maintaining an energy deficit after exercise augmented lipid mobilization.


Structural parameters and Mo 4d bands in geometrically frustrated pyrochlore R2Mo2O7 (R: Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy) have been studied using ab initio methods. Both of chemical pressure and external pressure give linear behaviors of structural parameters. The chemical pressure affects more strongly on Mo–O–Mo bond angle, oxygen coordinate and lattice constant, whereas one electron bandwidth varies more rapidly with external pressure in good agreement with experimental results.


Interindividual variations in DNA repair capacity/efficiency linked to the presence of polymorphisms in DNA repair-related genes have been suggested to account for different risk of developing cancers. In this review article, on the basis of breast cancer formation as a model, we propose a 'hide-then-hit' hypothesis indicating the importance of escaping checkpoint surveillance for sub-optimal DNA repair variants to cause cancer. Therefore, only cells with subtle defects in repair capacity arising from low-penetrance variants of DNA repair genes would have the opportunity to grow and accumulate the genetic changes needed for cancer formation, without triggering cell-cycle checkpoint surveillance. Furthermore, distinct from high-penetrance alleles, these polymorphic alleles of DNA repair genes would predispose carriers to a higher risk of developing cancer but would not necessarily cause cancer. To examine this, we simultaneously genotyped multiple SNPs of cell-cycle checkpoint genes and the DNA repair genes. Support for the hypothesis came from observations that breast cancer risk associated with variant genotypes of DNA repair genes became more significant in the subgroups of women with specific genotypic statuses of checkpoint genes. This 'hide-then-hit' hypothesis is certainly needed to be confirmed by biological evidence in which a cause-effect relationship has to be established. However, based on this, possible gene-gene interaction is considered to play an important role in modifying the cancer risk associated with genotypic polymorphism of DNA repair gene in different study populations.


Background and Purpose— The role of physical activity, especially that of occupational and commuting physical activity, in the prediction of stroke risk is not properly established. We assessed the relationship of different types of physical activity with total and type-specific stroke risk. Methods— We prospectively followed 47 721 Finnish subjects 25 to 64 years of age without a history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or cancer at baseline. Hazard ratios (HRs) for incident stroke were estimated for different levels of leisure time, occupational, and commuting physical activity. Results— During a mean follow-up of 19.0 years, 2863 incident stroke events were ascertained. The multivariate-adjusted (age, sex, area, study year, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and other 2 types of physical activity) HRs associated with low, moderate, and high leisure time physical activity were 1.00, 0.86, and 0.74 (Ptrend<0.001) for total stroke, 1.00, 0.87, and 0.46 (Ptrend=0.011) for subarachnoid hemorrhage, 1.00, 0.77, and 0.63 (Ptrend=0.024) for intracerebral hemorrhage, and 1.00, 0.87, and 0.80 (Ptrend=0.001) for ischemic stroke, respectively. The multivariate-adjusted HRs associated with none, 1 to 29, and ≥30 minutes of active commuting were 1.00, 0.92, and 0.89 (Ptrend=0.043) for total stroke, and 1.00, 0.93, and 0.86 (Ptrend=0.028) for ischemic stroke, respectively. Occupational activity had a modest association with ischemic stroke in the multivariate analysis (Ptrend=0.046). Conclusion— A high level of leisure time physical activity reduces the risk of all subtypes of stroke. Daily active commuting also reduces the risk of ischemic stroke.


The quantification of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories and its associated uncertainty is a relevant activity often requested by authorities. Accurate methods to calculate both inventories and the involved uncertainty are convenient for close monitoring purposes. Using Monte Carlo simulations, correlations of high accuracy between emission factors (EFs), lower heating value (LHV), and density were built for refinery fuel gas, natural gas and fuel/residual oil. In all cases, the data generated by the simulations also served the purpose of building correlations for upper and lower bounds of the EF that can be readily used to estimate the EF estimation uncertainty. The correlations were tested against actual refinery data and the results show that more accurate estimations were obtained compared with EF obtained from laboratory composition methods and from methods that estimate EF as proportional to LHV only. In the case of fuel and residual oils, the correlations developed are a function of LHV only but were improved by using a cubic polynomial. The calculation of upper and lower bounds for EF offer a convenient method to estimate EF uncertainties that are required in official GHG emissions inventory calculations. In conclusion, in addition to LHV, the use of one additional readily available fuel property, namely fuel density is sufficient to reduce uncertainty of estimation of GHG (in this case CO2) from combustion to acceptable levels. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010


ABSTRACT Notwithstanding the predictive value of foreign language aptitude measures, the underlying ability or abilities tapped by them and their relationship to measures of intelligence are not well understood. This study provides a partial characterization of the nature of language aptitude through correlations and factor analyses of the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) and the Primary Mental Abilities Test (PMA). The subjects of the study were 793 English-speaking Canadian public servants at various stages of intensive French language training. The results revealed substantial redundancy among the subtests of the MLAT and PMA batteries and a Kaiser's Little Jiffy factor analysis yielded a one-factor solution at the second-order level. A principal factors solution, however, identified three interpretable second-order factors, characterized respectively as first language verbal knowledge, abstract reasoning ability, and ability to learn new language elements and associations. A unitary third-order factor was also identified, probably approximating Spearman's g. Taken together, the findings of the study are compatible with the conceptualization of language aptitude according to a hierarchical model which subsumes specific abilities of importance in the language classroom under a more encompassing general ability, or general intelligence.


Apparently costly begging behaviour has recently been explained as a means by which offspring communicate their need, allowing parents to provide them with a level of resource equal to that which would be optimal (for the parents) in the absence of begging. This hypothesis contrasts with earlier explanations, which suggest that solicitation induces parents to provide more resources than it would otherwise (in the absence of begging) be optimal for them to do. Here, I develop an extended model of costly begging as a signal of need, which unlike previous analyses allows offspring to adjust their level of begging over time in response to parental feeding. I show that under these more realistic conditions, a signalling resolution of parent–offspring conflict also leads parents to allocate more resources than would otherwise be optimal for them, in order to reduce the subsequent level of costly solicitation by their young.


After almost a decade of downsizing, Russian agriculture has been steadily growing since the end of 90's against the background of deep organizational changes and innovations. The traditional collective farming segment is the key target and subject of innovations. Outside investors and operators have acquired control over farm assets from the primary nominal owners and possessors. As a result, exceptionally large commercial farm operations - "agroholdings" - are being created. Both inside and outside innovators are introducing organizational changes such as vertical integration, custom and contract farming, land leasing, machinery sharing and others. The paper discusses size, scope and character of the ongoing innovations and their short and long-term consequences.


Ischemic colitis accounts for 6%-18% of causes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. It is more often multifactorial and more common in elderly. Drugs are considered important causative agents of this disease with different mechanisms. In this paper, we describe a 37-year-old otherwise healthy female presented with sudden onset diffuse abdominal pain and bloody stool. Radiologic, colonoscopic and histopathologic findings were all consistent with ischemic colitis. Her only suspected factor was hydroxycut which she had been taking for a period of 1 mo prior to her presentation. Her condition improved uneventfully after cessation of hydroxycut, bowel rest, intravenous hydration, and antibiotics. This is a first case of ischemic colitis with clear relationship with hydroxycut use (Naranjo score of 7). Our case demonstrates the importance of questioning patients regarding the usage of dietary supplements; especially since many patients consider them safe anddo not disclose their use voluntarily to their physicians. Hydroxycut has to be considered as a potential trigger for otherwise unexplained ischemic colitis.


Purpose: To evaluate the value of texture analysis for the differential diagnosis of spinal metastases and to improve the diagnostic performance of 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) for spinal metastases. Methods: This retrospective analysis of patients who underwent PET/CT between December 2015 and January 2020 at Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital due to high FDG uptake lesions in the spine included 45 cases of spinal metastases and 44 cases of benign high FDG uptake lesions in the spine. The patients were randomly divided into a training group of 65 and a test group of 24. Seventy-two PET texture features were extracted from each lesion, and the Mann-Whitney U-test was used to screen the training set for texture parameters that differed between the two groups in the presence or absence of spinal metastases. Then, the diagnostic performance of the texture parameters was screened out by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Texture parameters with higher area under the curve (AUC) values than maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were selected to construct classification models using logistic regression, support vector machines, and decision trees. The probability output of the model with high classification accuracy in the training set was used to compare the diagnostic performance of the classification model and SUVmax using the ROC curve. For all patients with spinal metastases, survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. Results: There were 51 texture parameters that differed meaningfully between benign and malignant lesions, of which four had higher AUC than SUVmax. The texture parameters were input to build a classification model using logistic regression, support vector machine, and decision tree. The accuracy of classification was 87.5, 83.34, and 75%, respectively. The accuracy of the manual diagnosis was 84.27%. Single-factor survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method showed that intensity was correlated with patient survival. Conclusion: Partial texture features showed higher diagnostic value for spinal metastases than SUVmax. The machine learning part of the model combined with the texture parameters was more accurate than manual diagnosis. Therefore, texture analysis may be useful to assist in the diagnosis of spinal metastases.


The wild water buffalo is highly endangered, with the few remaining populations already affected or likely to be increasingly affected by hybridization with domestic buffalo. The work described here was done to evaluate a genetic method to discriminate wild from mixed ancestry (hybrid) and domestic animals, and to identify with high probability those most likely to be purebred wild. Samples from 45 animals (phenotypically classified into three groups ‐ ten wild, 28 domestic and seven hybrid) were genotyped for ten microsatellite loci. Although genetic distances among the three groups were small, an assignment test identified two of the 'wild' and seven of the 'domestic' as hybrids. However, sample sizes also are small, indicating the need for a conservative approach in the first instance in using these results. As more animals are genotyped, assignments will become more accurate, and a translocation programme to establish a second Nepalese wild population in a protected area could be undertaken.


Purpose

Employees at all organizational levels spend large portions of their work lives in meetings, many of which are not effective. Previous process-analytical research has identified counterproductive communication patterns to help explain why many meetings go wrong. This study aims to illustrate the ways in which counterproductive – and productive – meeting behaviors are related to individual work engagement and emotional exhaustion.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors built a new research-based survey tool for measuring counterproductive meeting behaviors. An online sample of working adults (N = 440) was recruited to test the factor structure of this new survey and to examine the relationships between both good and bad meeting behaviors and employee attitudes beyond the meeting context.

Findings

Using structural equation modeling, this study found that counterproductive meeting behaviors were linked to decreased employee engagement and increased emotional exhaustion, whereas good meeting behaviors were linked to increased engagement and decreased emotional exhaustion. These relationships were mediated via individual meeting satisfaction and perceived meeting effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The study findings provide a nuanced view of meeting outcomes by showing that the behaviors that people observe in their meetings connect not only to meeting satisfaction and effectiveness but also to important workplace attitudes (i.e. employee engagement and emotional exhaustion). In other words, managers and meeting leaders need to be mindful of behavior in meetings, seek ways to mitigate poor behavior and seek opportunities to reward and encourage citizenship behavior.

Originality/value

This study shows how good and bad meeting behaviors relate to employee perceptions of meeting effectiveness and individual job attitudes. The authors develop a science-based, practitioner-friendly new survey tool for observing counterproductive meeting behavior and offer a juxtaposition of good and bad meeting behaviors in a single model.


Despite organ transplantation being the most successful treatment for end-stage organ dysfunction, the number of annual solid organ transplantations is much lower than that required to satisfy the demand of patients on waiting lists. The explanation for this phenomenon is the relative scarcity of non-living organ donors due to several factors, such as: (1) Late arrival of patients with a neurocritical condition to an emergency service; (2) lack of detection of those patients as possible organ donors by health professionals dedicated to pro curement or by clinicians at emergency and intensive care units, for instance; (3) late transfer of the patient to an intensive care unit to try to recover their health and to provide hemodynamic, ventilatory, and metabolic support; (4) lack of confirmation of the physiological status of the possible donor; (5) late or incorrect positive diagnosis of the subject's death, either due to brain or cardiac death; (6) difficulty in obtaining legal authorization, either by direct relatives or by the authority, for the extraction of organs; and (7) deficient retrieval surgery of the organs actually donated. The recent reports of relatively successful xenotransplants from genetically modified pigs open the possibility to fix this mismatch between supply and demand, but some technical (organ rejection and opp ortunistic infections), and economic issues, still remain before accepting a progressive replacement of the organ sources for transplantation. An approximate economic cost analysis suggests that the hypothetical acquisition cost of any genetically modified pig derived organ is high and would not even satisfy the solid organ demand of the wealthiest countries.


Campus Ministry is an earnest advocacy for recognizing and strengthening campus ministry as essential to the church's mission. Donald Shockley presents a theology of campus mission based on the growing need for the church to reach beyond itself and to renew its mission in the college community, which offers a unique opportunity and setting for the church to practice evangelism, ministry, and Christian education.


Food availability is one of the most important determinants of successful reproduction in birds. In a previous study, it was shown that Florida scrub-jays Aphelocoma coerulescens maintained a third egg mass when supplemented with a high fat and high protein diet during pre-breeding, as opposed to birds that were not supplemented that laid third eggs markedly lighter in mass than first- and second-laid eggs. Increases in egg quality promote chick growth and survival in many avian species. In this study, scrub-jays were provided with supplements throughout the pre-laying and nestling periods of 2001 and 2002 to investigate whether diet quality influenced growth and survival of chicks. Fledging success and survival to independence of unsupplemented chicks were higher for 2002 compared with 2001 indicating that breeding conditions (e.g. natural food availability) for jays were probably improved in the former year. Consistent growth patterns were found during the first 11 days post-hatch between chicks on supplemented and those on unsupplemented territories. Of the three growth measures, only seventh primary feather growth tended to be greater for third-hatched chicks on supplemented territories compared with third-hatched chicks on control territories. Food supplementation influenced survival of chicks. Compared with chicks hatching on unsupplemented territories, fledging success of chicks hatching from second-laid eggs was significantly greater in 2001, but not in 2002. Chicks from third-laid eggs on supplemented territories also tended to survive better in 2001 compared with chicks from unsupplemented territories, but, again, no such effect was found in 2002. We conclude that food supplementation in the pre-laying and nestling periods results in little measurable improvement in chick growth. However, improvements were found in survival of chicks that may be mediated through improvements in egg quality, but also may be the result of changes in foraging strategies of provisioning birds on supplemented territories. Chicks on supplemented territories might be in better body condition than those on unsupplemented ones. Methods other than morphometrics may be required to detect elevations in body condition of chicks raised on supplemented territories.


This article is a comprehensive analysis of the Arctic legislation of the Russian Federation in the context of the implementation of the main geopolitical and socio-economic interests of the country in the Arctic region. The relevance of the presented research is determined by the need for further development of international legal norms regulating various aspects of the development of the Arctic region, as well as domestic legislation that defines Russia's strategic interests in the Arctic zone and the competence of state authorities in the implementation of these interests, taking into account the basic principles and provisions of international public and private law and the Constitution of the Russian Federation.


Real-time Electrocardiogram (ECG) telemonitoring is currently being envisaged to provide improved healthcare services for elderly and chronic care patients. A major challenge that arises in this situation is the need to reliably transmit ECG data over bandwidth constrained communications channels where congestion can lead to loss of ECG data. To overcome this problem, we propose a frequency prioritised transmission scheme which uses the sampling rate itself to separate out the ECG data into four frequency components, ranging from low to high frequency. We design a priority queuing system which gives highest priority to ECG packets containing low frequency components during transmission over a bandwidth constrained communications channel. The real-time performance of the pro- posed prioritisation algorithm is tested on a purposely built ECG machine. Our results show that the proposed scheme is robust and can withstand up to 65% of lost packets from a standard sampling rate of 320 Hz without any significant degradation in ECGs of healthy and arrhythmia sustained subjects.


The state of a POMDP can often be factored into a tuple of n state variables. The corresponding flat model, with size exponential in n, may be intractably large. We present a novel method called conditionally irrelevant variable abstraction (CIVA) for losslessly compressing the factored model, which is then expanded into an exponentially smaller flat model in a representation compatible with many existing POMDP solvers. We applied CIVA to previously intractable problems from a robotic exploration domain. We were able to abstract, expand, and approximately solve POMDPs that had up to 1024 states in the uncompressed flat representation.


National Physical Laboratory India has developed a cesium atomic fountain frequency standard. The fountain has now become operational and is ready for complete frequency evaluation. In this paper, we report for the first time, the preliminary results obtained with this fountain, which include Ramsey fringes, frequency stability analysis, with an H-maser, and magnetic field mapping in the atomic flight region.


We present a method for solving the independent set formulation of the graph coloring problem (where there is one variable for each independent set in the graph). We use a column generation method for implicit optimization of the linear program at each node of the branch-and-bound tree. This approach, while requiring the solution of a difficult subproblem as well as needing sophisticated branching rules, solves small to moderate size problems quickly. We have also implemented an exact graph coloring algorithm based on DSATUR for comparison. Implementation details and computational experience are presented.


Cervical spinal cord injuries represent about 40% of all spinal cord lesions. In addition to the complete paralysis of the lower limbs they induce a dramatic decrease of upper limb function. Surgical rehabilitation of the upper limbs, based mainly on tendon transposition procedures, was advocated by only few surgeons more than thirty years ago and has developed in recent years in view of their satisfactory results. We report a consecutive series of 69 tetraplegic patients operated during the past twelve years, amounting to 188 rehabilitation procedures on their upper limbs. Our results indicate that surgery was beneficial in all cases. There was no case of functional loss and the patients were mostly satisfied with the procedures.


Cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma is a rare neoplasm occurring mainly in children with distinctive pathological features set between those of classic nephroblastoma and multilocular cysts. The amount of its constituent components including blastema, stroma and epithelium varies greatly. It shows a spectrum of differentiation pattern indicating the possibility of maturation of Wilms' tumor. We present a case with typical features of cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma with a brief review of literature.


Abstract In the last four decades, there has been a significant increase in the number and variety of appropriate dispute-resolution (ADR) institutions and processes in Australia as a critical aspect of improved access to justice. Although more people can get assistance to resolve their disputes, the issues of whether this access is shared equally within the community, how the disadvantaged fare in these processes and what type of justice is provided by the various ADR processes are explored. The relevance of legislative objectives of ADR fora and processes to justice outcomes is highlighted. It is argued that ADR processes need to be designed and implemented bearing in mind the type/nature of the dispute, parties involved and availability of resources, and to have an overarching objective of promoting access to justice for users. Additionally, improved access to justice requires ongoing and rigorous evaluation of ADR processes to ascertain whether justice objectives are being achieved.


In this paper, the influence of graphene oxide (GO) on the microstructure of interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in cement mortar was investigated through image analysis (IA) of backscattered electron (BSE) micrographs. The results showed that the incorporation of GO significantly reduced the thickness of ITZ. The porosity in ITZ and bulk paste decreased due to the introduction of GO; meanwhile, the compressive strength of the mortar samples was improved. The addition of GO also narrowed the gap between the porosity of ITZ and bulk paste, and therefore, the entire microstructure of mortar became more homogenous. Based on the above results, the model to predict the compressive strength of mortar was modified for better precision. The improved prediction model indicated that the difference between the compressive strength of ITZ and bulk paste was reduced upon the refinement of ITZ by GO.


Several groups of workers have reported on the discoveries of enzymes that repair single-stranded breaks in double-stranded DNA.1-5 The presence of these enzymes has been demonstrated in E. coli1' , 4 and in T4 bacteriophageinfected E. coli cells.2' 5 The action of the enzymes involves the formation of a phosphodiester linkage between a 5'-phosphomonoester group and a 3'-hydroxyl group when these are present at the site of a single-stranded break. These enzymes could clearly be a boon to the problem of the total synthesis of biologically specific high-molecular-weight DNA in that properly aligned, relatively short, chemically synthesized deoxyribopolynucleotides could be joined to form continuous bihelical structures. To explore this possibility, we have studied both the E. coli and T4-induced enzymes for the minimum polynucleotide chain length they require in order to bring about the joining reaction. In the present initial study, several selected series of polynucleotides with repeating nucleotide sequences were used. Two types of experiments were carried out. In the first, a short deoxyribopolynucleotide carrying a 5'-phosphate group at one end and a 3'-hydroxyl group at the opposite end was tested for end-to-end joining in the presence of a long complementary deoxyribopolynucleotide. These experiments showed that oligonucleotides as short as hexaor heptanucleotides could be joined. In the second type of experiments, both of the complementary polynucleotides were short. Thus, a combination studied most in the present work was that of the hexadecanucleotide, d(TTAC)4,6 with the octanucleotide, d-P82(TAAG)2.6 Both enzymes brought about the joining of two molecules of the octanucleotide to form the expected hexadecanucleotide. Finally, a study of the temperature-absorbance profiles of the two typical sets of complementary polynucleotides, d-P32(TG)36 + poly d-CA and d(TTAC)4 + d-P32(TAAG)2, showed that under the conditions used successfully for the enzyme-catalyzed reactions, the polynucleotides are able to form (largely or entirely) double-stranded structures without the agency of the enzymes. Materials and Methods.-Deoxyribo-, oligo-, and polynucleotides: Poly d-A6 and poly d-T were prepared from poly dA:dT6, and, similarly, poly d-CA6 and poly d-TG6 were prepared from poly d-CA: d-TG6 by separation of the strands in alkaline cesium chloride density gradient.7 8 Samples of poly d-CA and poly d-TG, and also of poly r-CA and poly r-UG,9 were generously donated by Dr. A. R. Morgan. Short-chain poly-deoxyriboadenylates (d-A7-d-Ai5)6 were prepared by controlled micrococcal nuclease degradation of poly d-A followed by treatment with bacterial alkaline phosphatase and chromatography on a DEAE-cellulose column. The following series of deoxyribopolynucleotides were chemically prepared samples, syntheses of which have been previously described: dT6,6 dT7,6 and higher homologues up to dT15; 10 11 short polynucleotides with repeating dinucleotide sequences, d(TG)2_5,12 d(CA)2_5,"2 d(TC)8, and d(AG)4;12 deoxyribopolynucleotides with repeating tetranucleotide sequences, d(TAAG)213 and d(TTAC)4.'4


Background The S100/calgranulin gene appears to modulate neuroinflammation following cerebral ischemia and could be a valuable biomarker for stroke prognosis, according to growing research. This study aimed at evaluating the correlation between calgranulin gene variants and susceptibility to ischemic stroke (IS) in the Southern Chinese population. Methods Using an enhanced multi-temperature ligase detection reaction genotyping, 310 IS patients and 324 age-matched healthy controls were genotyped to identify five calgranulin gene variants. Results According to the obtained results, the S100A8 rs3795391, rs3806232, and S100A12 rs2916191 variants were linked to a higher risk of IS, while the S100A9 rs3014866 variant was associated with a lower risk of IS. Moreover, the T-T-C-A-T, T-T-C-G-T, or C-C-C-G-C haplotypes have been linked to a greater risk of developing IS, according to haplotype analysis. The occurrence of the variant C allele there in S100A8 rs3795391, rs3806232, and S100A12 rs2916191 variants may impart a greater risk of stroke in the LAA subtype, according to further stratification by IS subtypes, while the T allele of the S100A9 rs3014866 variant may be linked to a reduced risk of stroke of all subtypes. Furthermore, patients with the variant C allele of the S100A8 rs3795391, rs3806232, and S100A12 rs2916191 variants presented with increased circulating S100A8 and S100A12 levels and larger infarct volumes relative to those with the major TT genotype. Conclusion Our findings suggest that calgranulin gene variants are linked to IS susceptibility, implying that the calgranulin gene may be a potential biomarker for IS prevention and personalized treatment.


Despite confirming in several decisions that the striking down of the mandatory death penalty in Kafantayeni v. Attorney General entitled all offenders sentenced under the mandatory death penalty regime to a fresh hearing on sentence, the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal (MSCA) entertained appeals against the original (now unconstitutional) mandatory death sentences in the absence of resentencing hearings in the High Court. The question that arose in Rep v. Chimkango was whether the High Court has the jurisdiction to hold a resentencing hearing in respect of a death sentence which had already been confirmed by the MSCA on appeal. The High Court, considering itself bound by judicial precedent and wary of running afoul of the doctrine by 'faulting or refusing to be bound by' the MSCA's decision, remitted the case to the MSCA for directions or resentencing. This article explores the High Court's decision and the status of appeal decisions against mandatory death sentences before the resentencing hearings. It argues that by entertaining these appeals, the MSCA dubiously assumed an original criminal jurisdiction mode within the confines of appellate principles instead of dismissing them as premature and directing the appellants to pursue a resentencing hearing in the High Court. The article also faults the decision of the High Court for not affording the accused a resentencing hearing.


Objective: Continuous chest compressions are more effective during resuscitation in adults. Sustained inflation rapidly establishes functional residual capacity in fluid-filled lungs at birth. We sought to compare the hemodynamics and success in achieving return of spontaneous circulation in an asphyxial cardiac arrest lamb model with transitioning fetal circulation and fluid-filled lungs between subjects receiving continuous chest compressions during sustained inflation and those receiving conventional 3:1 compression-to-ventilation resuscitation. Design: Prospective, randomized, animal model study. Setting: An experimental laboratory. Subjects: Fourteen newborn term gestation lambs. Interventions: Lambs were randomized into two groups: 3:1 compression-to-ventilation (control) and continuous chest compressions during sustained inflation. The umbilical cord was occluded to induce asphyxia and asystole. The control group was resuscitated per NRP guidelines. In the sustained inflation + continuous chest compressions group, sustained inflation at 35 cm H2O was provided for 30 seconds with 1-second interruptions before another sustained inflation was provided. One hundred twenty chest compressions/min started after the initial sustained inflation. The first dose of IV epinephrine was given at 6 minutes if return of spontaneous circulation was not achieved and then every 3 minutes until return of spontaneous circulation or for a total of four doses. Measurement and Results: All lambs achieved return of spontaneous circulation in a comparable median time (interquartile range) of 390 seconds (225–405 s) and 345 seconds (204–465 s) in the sustained inflation + continuous chest compressions and control groups, respectively. Four of seven (sustained inflation + continuous chest compressions) and three of six (control) lambs required epinephrine to achieve return of spontaneous circulation. Diastolic blood pressures were lower in the sustained inflation + continuous chest compressions (4 ± 2 mm Hg) compared to the control group (7 ± 2 mm Hg), p < 0.05. PaCO2, PaO2, and lactate were similar between the groups during the study period. Conclusion: In this perinatal cardiac arrest lamb model with transitioning fetal circulation and fluid-filled lungs, sustained inflation + continuous chest compressions is as effective as 3:1 compression-to-ventilation resuscitation in achieving return of spontaneous circulation. Half the lambs achieved return of spontaneous circulation without epinephrine. continuous chest compressions during sustained inflation reduced diastolic pressures but did not alter gas exchange or carotid blood flow compared to 3:1 compression-to-ventilation resuscitation.


The sharp rise in high-frequency trading in recent years has caused average trade horizons to fall as traders attempt to exploit fleeting inconsistencies in prices with the aid of powerful computers and equally powerful algorithms. This practice is now poised to dominate the regular volume of order flow. More seriously, it brings into perspective issues such as induced excess volatility, whether the playing field is level for all market participants, and even the informational efficiency of security markets. In this article, the authors review what high-frequency trading is, and explore the links between such trading and market efficiency and volatility. Finally, they assess the potential for further trading practices to emerge, the likes of which most observers would not have imagined as feasible even 10 years ago.


We have calculated the evolution of cosmic-ray (CR) modified astrophysical shocks for a wide range of shock Mach numbers and shock speeds through numerical simulations of diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) in one-dimensional quasi-parallel plane shocks. The simulations include thermal leakage injection of seed CRs, as well as preexisting, upstream CR populations. Bohm-like diffusion is assumed. We model shocks similar to those expected around cosmic structure pancakes, as well as other accretion shocks driven by flows with upstream gas temperatures in the range T0 = 104-107.6 K and shock Mach numbers spanning Ms = 2.4-133. We show that CR-modified shocks evolve to time-asymptotic states by the time injected particles are accelerated to moderately relativistic energies (p/mc ≳ 1), and that two shocks with the same Mach number, but with different shock speeds, evolve qualitatively similarly when the results are presented in terms of a characteristic diffusion length and diffusion time. We determine and compare the "efficiencies" of CR acceleration in our simulated shocks by calculating the ratio of the total CR energy generated at the shock to the total kinetic energy that would pass through the shock over time in its initial frame of reference. For these models the time-asymptotic value for this efficiency ratio is controlled mainly by shock Mach number, as expected from the aforementioned similarity in CR shocks. In the presence of a preexisting CR population, shock evolution proceeds similarly to that for higher thermal injection rates compared to thermal leakage CR sources alone. This added contribution has little or no impact on the postshock or CR properties of the high Mach number shocks simulated. The modeled high Mach number shocks all evolve toward efficiencies ~50%, regardless of the upstream CR pressure. On the other hand, the upstream CR pressure increases the overall CR energy in moderate strength shocks (Ms ~ a few), since it is a significant fraction of the shock ram pressure. These shocks have been shown to dominate dissipation during cosmic structure formation, so such enhanced efficiency could significantly increase their potential importance as sources of cosmic rays.


The level of day case surgery is much lower in Northern Ireland than in England. A questionnaire was sent to all 55 consultant general surgeons in Northern Ireland to assess attitudes to this form of care and 51 (93%) replied. They were asked about the suitability of five procedures for day surgery. The three minor procedures of vasectomy, cystoscopy and gastroscopy were regarded as suitable or very suitable by 50 (98% of those who replied), 48 (94%) and 48 (94%) respectively. For the two intermediate procedures, 25 (49%) regarded the repair of inguinal hernia as suitable for day case surgery and 22 (43%) ligation of varicose veins. When asked about eight factors limiting their use of day surgery for inguinal hernia repair, the two most frequently rated as important were 'home conditions' and 'level of provision of domiciliary care' (both by 44 (86%) of the surgeons). Of factors which might promote their use of day surgery for this operation the two most important were 'more efficient use of health service resources' (71%) and the 'ability to convalesce at home' (67%). The problem of under-reporting of day cases and the importance of accurate statistics are considered.


In this work, we report on properties of two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D PC) based microcavities fabricated on InP suspended membranes. Their characterization is based on the observation of diffracted photoluminescence (PL). Comparison is made with theoretical calculations obtained by a plane wave method. In section I, the samples fabrication and the characterization methods are described. In section II, we investigate the influence of the PC surfacic air filling factor (f) on the spectral properties of PC defect cavities. Section III is about the analysis of single line defect waveguides designed as a closed cavity. First results on the coupling between a cavity and a waveguide are lastly shown in section IV.


Abstract Rain gauges, weather radars, satellite sensors and modelled data from weather centres are used operationally for estimating the spatial-temporal variability of rainfall. However, the associated uncertainties can be very high, especially in poorly equipped regions of the world. Very recently, an innovative method, named SM2RAIN, that uses soil moisture observations to infer rainfall, has been proposed by Brocca et al. (2013) with very promising results when applied with in situ and satellite-derived data. However, a thorough analysis of the physical consistency of the SM2RAIN algorithm has not been carried out yet. In this study, synthetic soil moisture data generated from a physically-based soil water balance model are employed to check the reliability of the assumptions made in the SM2RAIN algorithm. Next, high quality and multiyear in situ soil moisture observations, at different depths (5-30 cm), and rainfall for ten sites across Europe are used for testing the performance of the algorithm, its limitations and applicability range. SM2RAIN shows very high accuracy in the synthetic experiments with a correlation coefficient, R, between synthetically generated and simulated data, at daily time step, higher than 0.940 and an average Bias lower than 4%. When real datasets are used, the agreement between observed and simulated daily rainfall is slightly lower with average R-values equal to 0.87 and 0.85 in the calibration and validation periods, respectively. Overall, the performance is found to be better in humid temperate climates and for sensors installed vertically. Interestingly, algorithms of different complexity in the reproduction of the underlying hydrological processes provide similar results. The average contribution of surface runoff and evapotranspiration components amounts to less than 4% of the total rainfall, while the soil moisture variations (63%) and subsurface drainage (30%) terms provide a much higher contribution. Overall, the SM2RAIN algorithm is found to perform well both in the synthetic and real data experiments, thus offering a new and independent source of data for improving rainfall estimation, and consequently enhancing hydrological, meteorological and climatic studies.


Planter fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain in patients attending the orthopaedic clinics. Pathophysiology involves micro tears in the tendon leading to haemorrhage, rough granulation tissue formation and later repair. Even though the different treatment modalities have been claimed to be effective in treating this condition due to its chronic nature and tendency to recur with resumption of activity, no single modality has been considered. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection as a treatment that has been used in recent times for various enthesopathies. It repairs incompletely healed injuries thereby reducing pain and increasing function. We report a series of 5 cases of recurrent Plantar Fasciitis treated with PRP injections.


Parallel silicide contacts consisting of PtSi and NiSi with fixed ratios of contact areas were prepared for current‐voltage and capacitance‐voltage measurements of Schottky barrier height. These measurements were analyzed with models assuming a linear combination of thermionic emission currents or junction capacitances. The measured and the computed values of barrier height have been found to agree very well. A systematic diagnosis of parallel contacts under a variety of conditions is presented in the Appendix.


Yield and grain composition play an important role in food production. The aim of this study was to determine the content of phytosterols, squalene, and tocopherols in four varieties of common buckwheat grains: Kora, Panda, Smuga, and Korona depending on the tillage and nitrogen doses employed. The grains were cultivated at the Experimental Station of the State Research Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Osiny, Poland, with plow tillage, without plow tillage cultivation, and with nitrogen fertilizers (0, 50, and 100 kg N2 ha−1). Gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer was used to assess all the parameters studied. The cultivation methods did not affect the levels of phytosterols, tocopherols, and squalene, but the highest levels of phytosterols were seen in the Kora variety with 50 kg N2 ha−1 (ranging from 1198 μg to 1800 μg·g−1 of sample weight); therefore, the variety was the best source of phytosterols investigated.


The dual burden of obesity and undernutrition is a significant public health challenge worldwide, especially in the context of a changing climate. This essay presents the most recent nutritional evidence for the optimal diet for long-term health, and offers some commentary on how production of these foods affects the environment. Current dietary research supports a diet rich in fruits and vegetables; nuts, legumes, fish, and some poultry as protein sources; unsaturated fats replacing saturated fats; whole grains replacing refined grain products; dairy foods in low to modest amounts; and minimal amounts of red meat and added sugar. This healthy dietary pattern also supports sustainable agriculture and environmental preservation.


From its origins in how the brain controls the endocrine system via the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, neuroendocrinology has evolved into a science that now includes hormone action on many aspects of brain function. These actions involve the whole central nervous system and not just the hypothalamus. Advances in our understanding of cellular and molecular actions of steroid hormones have gone beyond the important cell nuclear actions of steroid hormone receptors to include signaling pathways that intersect with other mediators such as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. This has, in turn, broadened the search for and identification of steroid receptors to include nonnuclear sites in synapses, dendrites, mitochondria, and glial cells, as well as cell nuclei. The study of estrogen receptors and estrogen actions on processes related to cognition, mood, autonomic regulation, pain, and neuroprotection, among other functions, has led the way in this new view of hormone actions on the brain. In this review, we summarize past and current work in our laboratory on this topic. This exciting and growing field involving many laboratories continues to reshape our ideas and approaches to neuroendocrinology both at the bench and the bedside.


A model of the generalized criterion for the maximum deviation of a signal (process) is proposed and investigated, which makes it possible to determine a constant time interval between adjacent samples from a signal (process). The criterion is based on the properties of convex power functions of the time modulus, depends on the order of the power function and the magnitude of the permissible error of the stepwise or linear approximation of the function from the samples. The criterion is intended for use in real‑time management systems, it allows to reasonably determine the time sampling interval. In the criterion, several maximum parameters of the signal are mathematically interrelated, which distinguishes it from known analogues. It is shown that for the calculation of the time interval of the signal, it is optimal to use more than three maximal values of its initial derivatives. The calculation technique is given and an example of practical application of the obtained results is given when constructing the data acquisition channel of the real‑time control system.


Objective. The aim of the paper is to determine which allergens are the most frequent causes of contact dermatitis on the eyelids at the patients who were accepted from 2004-2009 in allergology clinic of the Institute of Occupational Health, Kragujevac and whether any of sensitization to allergens from the workplace. Methods. At all patients for the diagnosis were considered: medical history, clinical symptoms, objective examination and the results epicutaneous testing. 520 patients were tested: 302 women and 218 men with the European standard allergens, which contain a range of 22 allergens for the patch testing. Results. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a form of inflammatory skin reaction which occured in response to contact with the allergen, sensibilization of late-type hypersensitivity. The most common locations of contact dermatitis were the hands, forearms and face. Clinical image was polymorphic with erythema, edema, papules and vesicles accompanied by the itch. Diagnosis was established by anamnesis, clinical picture and in vivo tests for the detection of delayed hypersensitivity-patch test. Conclusion. More frequent occurrence of allergic contact dermatitis in women to paraben and nickel sulphate can be explained by the presence of these substances in cosmetic products and jewelry and frequent sensibilization to potassium bichromate and nickel sulfate in men is associated with professional activity since these substances are the ingredients of cement and metal parts used in construction and metal processing industry.


Abstract Background The SOS response is a conserved response to DNA damage that is found in Gram negative and Gram-positive bacteria. When DNA damage is sustained and severe, activation of error-prone DNA polymerases can induce a higher mutation rate then normally observed, which is called the mutator phenotype or hypermutation. We previously showed that zinc blocked the hypermutation response induced by quinolone antibiotics and mitomycin C in E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Bunnell BE, Escobar JF, Bair KL, Sutton MD, Crane JK (2017). Zinc blocks SOS-induced antibiotic resistance via inhibition of RecA in Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0178303. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178303.) In addition to causing copying errors in DNA replication, Beaber et al. showed that induction of the SOS response increased the frequency of horizontal gene transfer into Vibrio cholerae, an organism naturally competent at uptake of extracellular DNA. (Beaber JW, Hochhut B, Waldor MK. 2003. SOS response promotes horizontal dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. Nature 427:72–74.) Methods. In this study, we tested whether induction of the SOS response could induce transfer of antibiotic resistance from Enterobacter cloacae into E. coli, and whether zinc could inhibit that inter-species transfer of antibiotic resistance. Results. Ciprofloxacin, an inducer of the SOS response, increased the rate of transfer of an extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) gene from Enterobacter into a susceptible E. coli strain. Zinc blocked SOS-induced horizontal transfer of §-lactamase into E. coli. Other divalent metals, such as iron and manganese, failed to inhibit these responses. Conclusion. In vitro assays showed that zinc blocked the ability of RecA to bind to ssDNA, an early step in the SOS response, suggesting the mechanism by which zinc blocks the SOS response. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Redundancy in mutants, where multiple mutants end up producing the same semantic variant of a program, is a major problem in mutation analysis. Hence, a measure of effectiveness that accounts for redundancy is an essential tool for evaluating mutation tools, new operators, and reduction techniques. Previous research suggests using the size of the disjoint mutant set as an effectiveness measure. We start from a simple premise: test suites need to be judged on both the number of unique variations in specifications they detect (as a variation measure), and also on how good they are at detecting hard-to-find faults (as a measure of thoroughness). Hence, any set of mutants should be judged by how well it supports these measurements. We show that the disjoint mutant set has two major inadequacies - the single variant assumption and the large test suite assumption - when used as a measure of effectiveness in variation. These stem from its reliance on minimal test suites. We show that when used to emulate hard to find bugs (as a measure of thoroughness), disjoint mutant set discards useful mutants. We propose two alternatives: one measures variation and is not vulnerable to either the single variant assumption or the large test suite assumption, the other measures thoroughness. We provide a benchmark of these measures using diverse tools.


The event known as #GamerGate (GG) emphasized the need to take the study of game culture seriously and pursue it across several platforms. It demonstrated how seemingly ephemeral media created echo chambers of anger, and how the outbursts of hypermasculine aggression exemplified by hooligans also can connect to games and play. Starting from how GG gained popular attention, this article outlines and discusses the nature of GG, the relation to the victims, the sense of victimization among the participants, and how it may have been provoked by the long-standing, general disregard of games as a culture and a cultural artifact of value. It discusses GG as a swarm using this metaphor to describe its self-organizing nature. Further comparing GG to hooligans, this article also introduces a class and marginalization aspect to understanding the event, opening up for discourses that complicates the image of game culture as mainly a culture of isolated consumption.


BACKGROUND: The overall efficiency in personalizing medicine by pairing targeted therapy with specific genomic alterations identified through omics technologies is disappointing as current computational biology methods have difficulty in distinguishing "driver" alterations from "passenger" ones. We have developed PDXs that share essentially the same genetic background as the parental human cancer, and use this platform to screen for most effective drugs and perform mechanistic study of drug resistance in order to guide design of precision medicine in urothelial cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PDXs were developed by direct implantation of fresh clinical tumor specimens in immunocompromised NSG mice (The Jackson Laboratory, West Sacramento, CA). Whole exome, transcriptome and microRNA sequencing was performed, followed by computational biological analysis to identify druggable genetic alterations that were further validated with immunofluorescence (IF) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Efficacy tests to determine response to treatment by targeted therapy, together with analyses to determine the mechanisms of resistance were performed in NSG mice carrying PDXs. RESULTS: The engraftment rate of PDX was 41 % (13/42). The fidelity between the PDXs and the parental patient cancers was confirmed with cell morphology, tissue microarray IHC/IF staining and mutation profiles. Cell morphology was maintained during passaging in both the subcutaneous and orthotopic PDXs. All PDXs had multiple druggable genetic alterations. Of the first 8 PDXs, 2 harbored PIK3CA mutations (H1047R at the kinase domain and D549Y at the helical domain); 5 had ERBB2 mRNA overexpression determined by transcriptome sequencing, and protein overexpression (3+ by IHC), and 5 had EphB4 overexpression. sEphB4-HSA is an experimental drug developed by Gill (co-author). In PDXs overexpressing EphB4, blockade of EphB4 with sEphB4-HSA significantly prolonged the progression-free survival (PFS) from 9.5 days in the control group to 16.7 days (p=3.17 X 10e-5). Western blot, IHC, and deep sequencing analyses in PDX tissue specimens collected before/during treatment, and after the development of resistance were used to determine the mechanism of resistance. CONCLUSION: PDXs can potentially serve as a para-clinical model for drug efficacy screening, study of resistance mechanisms, and drug development. Citation Format: Chong-xian Pan, Hongyong Zhang, Clifford Tepper, Paramita Ghosh, Sheri Kuslak-Meyer, Susie Airhart, Parkash Gill, David Gandara, Edison Liu, Ralph de Vere White. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) paraclinical platform to guide precision medicine in urothelial cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-32. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-32


Although there is substantial literature documenting the challenges of pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) for children and their parents, there is limited research identifying how parents prioritize their needs and use their social networks to manage information regarding their child's SCD in terms of physical and mental health. We examined parents' perceived needs regarding child health issues as they relate to SCD; who and what sources of information are utilized by parents regarding SCD; the frequency with which they consult these resources; and the level at which they trust them. Parents in this study reported that mothers, physicians, the Internet, and books were key sources of support, guidance, and counsel regarding the health needs of children with SCD. These three sources were rated high in importance, trust, frequency of contact, and perceived supportiveness toward mental and physical health needs.


Cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is emerging as the method of choice for the initial screening of thalassemias and haemoglobinopathies and quantification of Haemoglobins (Hbs) like HbA, HbA2 and HbF. Since it is expensive, the present study was conducted to evaluate the need for HPLC in Indian laboratories and identify situations where it would be imperative. Eighty three patients suspected to have thalassemia and haemoglobinopathies were analysed. Both HPLC and alkaline gel electrophoresis detected 14 cases of HbE syndrome and 14 cases of HbS syndrome. However of the 14 cases diagnosed as HbD syndrome by alkaline electrophoresis, eight cases were diagnosed as Hb Q India, 1 case as HbD Iran and 5 cases of HbD Punjab on HPLC. Thirty-one cases were detected to have beta heterozygous thalassemia based on the high HbA2 levels (>3.9%) and eight cases were diagnosed as beta homozygous thalassemia by both HPLC and gel electrophoresis. One of them had an unknown Hb migrating in F-A region. Her mother also had same unknown Hb variant. In view of electrophoretic migration and retention time (RT) on HPLC, possibility of HbG-San Jose was considered. HPLC being an automated instrument is highly sensitive and specific, has high resolution and helps in quantification of various haemoglobins. However in a developing country like India where economical factors play a major role in planning for management of patients, the role of HPLC is limited.


Temporal mode direction numerical simulation has been done for the transition of a supersonic boundary layer on a flat plate with Mach number 4.5. Analysis of the result showed that during the breakdown process in laminar-turbulent transition, the mechanism causing the mean flow profile to evolve swiftly from laminar to turbulent was that the modification of mean flow profile by the disturbances, when they became larger, led to a remarkable change of its stability characteristics. Though the most unstable T-S wave was of second mode for laminar flow, the first mode waves played the key role in the breakdown process in laminar-turbulent transition.


The most exciting scientific result of recent time was a discovery of the gravitational wave (GW) burst from two neutron stars merging, registered by three GW instruments, and confirmed by accompanying observations in different ranges of electromagnetic spectrum. Other GW bursts were detected from two massive black hole merging, as isolated events, with lower S/N ratio. Important results have been obtained in study of reionization in the universe, high energy particle detection in LHC, Ice Cube, cosmic rays at different CR installations, etc.


The present study addresses the effect of cochlear implantation on the voice fundamental frequency at which 20 post-lingually deafened Dutch subjects utter speech materials. All subjects received the Nucleus 22 cochlear implant (3 WSP and 17 MSP processors). Speech recordings were made pre-implantation and three and twelve months post-implantation with the implant switched on and off. The fundamental frequency (f0) was sampled while reading a text. The pre-implantation results show that in some subjects, f0 was too high compared with the range in f0 of normally-hearing subjects. Post-implantation, with the implant switched on, we found that the abnormally high f0 values pre-implantation changed toward the normative values. In addition, post-implantation we found that the range over which f0 varied within a subject while reading the text, the f0 sway, decreased for most subjects who, pre-implantation, had their f0 sway outside the normative ranges, the normative range being defined as the interval between the mean plus/minus one standard deviation of the f0 sway found for normally-hearing subjects. Voice fundamental frequency of post-lingually deafened adults is characterized by large interindividual variability in the pre-implantation f0 values. This large interindividual variability is found also in the effect of cochlear implantation on f0.


Based on a 1994 workshop, this volume explores pathophysiology, pain and dysfunction. It discusses the effects of repetitive motion on connective tissue, muscle and nerve; offers suggestions for determining whether the disorder is job related; and addresses diagnostic and treatment issues.


There has been a number of discrete facility location models that deal with the use of some equality measures of the distances between the facility and the users. They have been used in order to guarantee a similar level of equity among the users that may be affected in a positive or in a good way from a facility. These models have been formulated trying to adapt equality measures taken from context different from the location one. This way, every measure is very specific to the particular application and it is not highlighted why a measure should be selected and what is the contribution to the equity distribution among the users that can provide. In this paper, we propose a Facility Location Problem (FLP) in which we have to locate a given number of facilities among a set of potential facilities, optimizing an equality measure. We propose a computational study in order to test the similarity and the differences of a good number of measures with more than a single facility to locate and we point out which measures produce similar results and how they depend on each other.


Given the extent of alcoholism among elderly people, it is remarkable how little is known about the biomedical and social dimensions of alcohol use and abuse in late life. In the absence of compelling longitudinal data drawn from contemporary sources, a historical perspective may help to illuminate the incidence and consequences of alcohol abuse among the elderly. Based on a study of 370 case histories drawn from the National Military Home in Dayton, Ohio, which around the turn of the century was the nation's largest old-age home, it appears that alcohol's social ramifications were more important than its pathological or physiological manifestations in late 19th-century America. Drinking habits among aging Civil War veterans varied considerably: moderate consumption was acceptable; too much of a good thing caused problems.


Here, we developed a new Tartary buckwheat cultivar 'Manten-Kirari', whose flour contains only trace amounts of rutinosidase and lacked bitterness. The trace-rutinosidase breeding line 'f3g-162' (seed parent), which was obtained from a Nepalese genetic resource, was crossed with 'Hokkai T8' (pollen parent), the leading variety in Japan, to improve its agronomic characteristics. The obtained progeny were subjected to performance test. 'Manten-Kirari' had no detectable rutinosidase isozymes in an in-gel detection assay and only 1/266 of the rutinosidase activity of 'Hokkai T8'. Dough prepared from 'Manten-Kirari' flour contained almost no hydrolyzed rutin, even 6 h after the addition of water, whereas the rutin in 'Hokkai T8' dough was completely hydrolyzed within 10 min. In a sensory evaluation of the flour from the two varieties, nearly all panelists detected strong bitterness in 'Hokkai T8', whereas no panelists reported bitterness in 'Manten-Kirari'. This is the first report to describe the breeding of a Tartary buckwheat cultivar with reduced rutin hydrolysis and no bitterness in the prepared flour. Notably, the agronomic characteristics of 'Manten-Kirari' were similar to those of 'Hokkai T8', which is the leading variety in Japan. Based on these characteristics, 'Manten-Kirari' is a promising for preparing non-bitter, rutin-rich foods.


Oscar Wilde's 1882 tour of America saw him emerge as a celebrity through a mixture of media attention and canny advertising.


SnO2:F films of thicknesses up to 0.5 mu m were deposited by spray pyrolysis on different substrates-Corning 7059, soda-lime glass, Si(111), polycrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon. The influence of film thickness, as well as the substrate nature and morphology, on the growth of the films was studied using an X-ray diffraction technique. The results on preferred growth were analysed using the texture coefficient TC (hkl). It was observed that as the film grows in thickness, the preferred growth (texture) improves up to a particular thickness, beyond which reorientational effects are observed. As a result, the thicker films have a deteriorated texture. The influence of the substrate in governing the growth of the film is noticed up to a certain thickness, beyond which the growth becomes substrate independent. Among the substrates mentioned above, Corning 7059 seems to have the least influence on the growth of the films. Films deposited on Corning 7059 under optimized conditions possess the strongest preferred growth along (200).


Allograft rejection remains the major hurdle in lung transplantation despite modern immunosuppressive treatment. As part of the alloreactive process, B cells are increasingly recognized as modulators of alloimmunity and initiators of a donor-specific humoral response. In chronically rejected lung allografts, B cells contribute to the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures and promote local alloimmune responses. However, B cells are functionally heterogeneous and some B cell subsets may promote alloimmune tolerance. In this review, we describe the current understanding of B-cell-dependent mechanisms in pulmonary allograft rejection and highlight promising future strategies that employ B cell-targeted therapies.


Twenty percent to 49% of newly treated patients with epilepsy will develop pharmacoresistance (PR). The mechanisms leading to PR are unclear. There is currently no unifying theory to explain the variety of presentations of PR and the diversity of potential contributing factors. Etiology of seizures seems to play a critical role in at least a subset of PR. Many magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in the advanced stages of epilepsy suggest a strong association between lesions such as hippocampal sclerosis and focal cortical dysplasia and PR. Unfortunately, almost all of these studies are cross‐sectional and retrospective. There is a need for a new perspective on the role of preexisting lesions in the evolution of epilepsy and PR. We propose in this article to study a unique population of drug‐naive patients with either first seizure or new‐onset epilepsy longitudinally with advanced MRI imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging. We hope to be able to monitor imaging findings and the development of PR early in the course of the disease in a subset of these patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Our goal is to understand the pathogenesis of PR, to dissect changes associated with the development of PR from changes associated with chronic seizures and medication, and ultimately to predict PR at the onset of disease.


This study aims to investigate how stakeholders of each area find solutions and collaborate with each others by applying the model of collaborative governance for a vitalization of commercial district to cases of Kichijoji and Shimokitazawa in Tokyo. The research method is in-depth interview with stakeholders in each areas. As a results, commercial districts have been changed as multi-functional areas not only for commercial functions but also providing public services. These processes are affecting sustainable vitalization of these districts positively. In addition, forum which are organic but flexible relationship in their areas are also helpful for collaborative governance. In order to encourage social networks in these areas, temporary integrative organizations are needed for supporting them. According to these implication, the future projects for re-vitalization of commercial districts in Korea should be focused on stimulation of networking with collaboration governance more than re-constructions. Futhermore, allowing commercial districts as multi-functional space with providing public service is also important. 키 워 드 ▪ 협력적 거버넌스, 상업지역, 포럼, 활성화


ABSTRACT This critical policy analysis investigates the opinions and activities of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (SACREs) in England. It uses a critical approach to educational policy to examine the diffuse power structure of SACREs and give voice to those local councils. Using data gathered in an online survey of SACREs, conducted between January and May 2017, it critiques the activities of SACREs and, in identifying what they see as their future role, questions whether the complex, producer-based governance structure of religious education is preferable to a simple, neo-liberal centralised legal settlement. It suggests that those individuals and groups which are successful in surviving in the increasingly competitive, marketised, local RE policy landscape become intrinsic parts of the national neo-liberal solution.


We investigated the role of glutathione S-transferases (enzymes known to biotransform organic nitrates) in the vascular action of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Relaxation of phenylephrine-contracted rat aortic strips was assessed in the presence or absence of the glutathione S-transferase inhibitors Basilen Blue, bromosulfophthalein, Rose Bengal, hematin, chlorotriphenyltin, and (octyloxy)benzoylvinylglutathione. Whereas none of the inhibitors increased the EC50 for GTN relaxation, glutathione S-transferase activity in the 100,000 x g supernatant fraction of rat aorta was inhibited markedly by most of the inhibitors. In addition, GTN-stimulated activation of aortic guanylyl cyclase in broken-cell preparations was attenuated by all of the glutathione S-transferase inhibitors, suggesting a direct inhibitory action on guanylyl cyclase. In other experiments using aortic strips preexposed to phenylephrine, the inhibitors had no effect on GTN-induced cyclic GMP accumulation or on vascular biotransformation of GTN. In contrast, both Basilen Blue and bromosulfophthalein significantly inhibited GTN-induced relaxation of K(+)-contracted aortic strips, and Basilen Blue significantly inhibited GTN biotransformation in aortic strips preexposed to 25 mM K+. This may be due to a more favourable electrochemical gradient for entry of the inhibitors into membrane-depolarized tissues. We conclude that vascular glutathione S-transferases play a role in mediating the vasodilator actions of GTN in intact tissues in vitro, but that this appears to depend upon the nature of the contractile agent used in such studies.