This paper describes the implementation of the new Wholesale Electricity Market Systems (WEMS) at western Australia independent market operator (IMOWA). The WEMS automates the bid-to-bill process that is part of the western Australian wholesale electricity market. This market seeks to deliver an economically efficient, safe and reliable supply of electricity in the western Australia (WA) south west interconnected system (SWIS). The reserve capacity market ensures adequate generation in the market by accounting for generation capacity availability including seasonal capacities and long duration outages. The reserve capacity market also provides pricing signals for development of new generation. This paper summarizes the market design, architecture and market operation that are part of the wholesale electricity market. The WEMS was commissioned within 14 months of contract award.


The paper, "Prolonging life and allowing death"' states: "The ultimate responsibility for the final decision rests with the doctor in clinical charge of the infant", but then the authors "advocate a team approach to decision-making", noting that support for families with disabled children may be insufficient. In fact, the doctor's expertise enables him or her to decide if a treatment is available which will or may ameliorate the "severely compromised infant"; if not, the duty to care remains: to ensure adequate nutrition, hydration and symptom control. Social factors, support for families, access to facilities, have no place in determining a doctor's duty to a patient. If the Government or hospital managers decide that caring is too expensive or too burdensome for parents or their child and that death is the most "humane" option, it is the duty of ethics committees to inform them and the public that our profession cannot be party to such deathmaking decisions. "Lack of confidence towards the doctor" still continues in Germany.2 This must not be allowed to happen here.


Diets high in saturated fatty acids (FA) represent a risk factor for the development of obesity and associated metabolic disorders, partly through their impact on the epithelial cell barrier integrity. We hypothesized that unsaturated FA could alleviate saturated FA-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurring in intestinal secretory goblet cells, and consequently the reduced synthesis and secretion of mucins that form the protective mucus barrier. To investigate this hypothesis, we treated well-differentiated human colonic LS174T goblet cells with palmitic acid (PAL)—the most commonly used inducer of lipotoxicity in in vitro systems—or n-9, n-6, or n-3 unsaturated fatty acids alone or in co-treatment with PAL, and measured the impact of such treatments on ER stress and Muc2 production. Our results showed that only eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids protect goblet cells against ER stress-mediated altered Muc2 secretion induced by PAL, whereas neither linolenic acid nor n-9 and n-6 FA are able to provide such protection. We conclude that EPA and DHA could represent potential therapeutic nutrients against the detrimental lipotoxicity of saturated fatty acids, associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity or inflammatory bowel disease. These in vitro data remain to be explored in vivo in a context of dietary obesity.


Prey size spectra of suspension-feeding zooplankton may be predicted from foraging mode and a mechanistic understanding of prey perception and capture. I examine this for suspension-feeding copepods where 2 foraging modes can be distinguished: ambush feeding and active (i.e. cruising and feeding-current) feeding. Prey perception mechanisms differ between the 2 foraging modes. I use simple arguments to predict that the ambush strategy targets larger prey and has a narrower prey size spectrum than the cruising and feeding-current feeding strategies. I compile data from the literature that confirm the prediction. I also make qualitative predictions of food size spectra in zooplankton with other prey perception mechanisms that accord with observations.


In the World Wide Web, or simply the web, the content of information is changing everyday and it is known as dynamic environment. There is more information are uploaded in web and it has grown steadily in recent years. Therefore the several billions of HTML documents, pictures and another multimedia files available on the Internet. Due to the overloaded of information in web, the information extraction is not effectively based on user needs. To overcome the above problem, there is a need of methods to help us extract information effectively from the content of web pages. Nowadays, various web content mining techniques are developed to mine the information and serve people in a simple way: These techniques focuses on the discovery/retrieval of the useful information from the Web contents/data/documents. This paper focus on how to extract the information effectively based on classification and clustering, and detecting phishing websites.


By selecting chromosomally normal embryos for replacement, PGD for aneuploidy can (i) increase implantation rates, (ii) reduce spontaneous abortion rates, and (iii) avoid aneuploid conceptions. When eight chromosomes are analysed, a significant increase in implantation is achieved. PGD is also found to significantly reduce the incidence of spontaneous abortion and chromosomally abnormal conceptions. PGD for patients of advanced maternal age with an adequate number of embryos will improve their chances of childbirth via improved implantation and sustained gestation. PGD has also been used to help other specific groups of patients with high rates of chromosome abnormalities such as patients with recurrent spontaneous abortions, non-obstructive azoospermia, repeated IVF failure, and patients previous trisomic offspring. Recently, PGD has been performed using comparative genome hybridization, which counts all chromosomes; but time constraints require embryo cryopreservation, which reduces the potential of improved implantation 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Placenta (2003), 24, S70–S76


55Mn NMR was used to investigate the effect of carbon doping on the local magnetic anisotropy in Mn5Ge3 epitaxial films (space-group P63 /mcm). It was found that carbon enters interstitially in the vicinity of the 6(g) crystallographic positions, occupying the 2(b) octahedral voids. The magnetic properties of the Mn atoms located in the corners of a host octahedron are strongly modified by the presence of carbon. Their magnetic moment is reduced by 0.7μB with respect to the pristine Mn5Ge3 film and the anisotropy of their orbital moment, measured as a difference between its value along the hexagonal c direction and on the c plane is reduced to 0.058μB , whereas, in the pristine Mn5Ge3 films, it oscillated every 60° between 0.151μB and 0. These changes are responsible for a significant decrease in magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which was reported to drop by an order of magnitude upon doping the Mn5Ge3 films with carbon.


A-raf gene was first detected by low-stringent hybridization with v-raf and was reported as a possible oncogene. We have cloned rat A-raf cDNA and determined the complete nucleotide sequence over its long open reading frame. Alignment of rat A-raf- and c-raf-deduced amino acid sequences shows 59.4% homology. Both the ATP binding site and the kinase domain are conserved in A-raf as in c-raf. Furthermore, three regions highly conserved between A-raf and c-raf were identified in the 5'-half region of c-raf which has been shown to be deleted in the activated form of c-raf. These regions were speculated to be the candidates of the regulatory domain controlling the protein kinase activity of raf products. Southern blot analysis shows that genes homologous to A-raf and c-raf are present as independent loci in Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida boidinii. A-raf was expressed in several tissues and cell line at various amounts.


A process for hydrothermal oxidation of combustible mate rials in which, during at least a part of the oxidation, corrosive material is present and makes contact with at least a portion of the apparatus over a contact area on the apparatus. At least a portion of the contact surface area comprises iridium, iridium oxide, an iridium alloy, or a base metal overlaid with an iridium coating. Iridium has been found to be highly resistant to environments encountered in the process of hydrothermal oxidation. Such environments typically contain greater than 50 mole percent water, together with oxygen, carbon dioxide, and a wide range of acids, bases and salts. Pressures are typically about 27.5 to about 1000 bar while temperatures range as high as 800° C.


We demonstrate an interactive visualization system to promote interpretability of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Interpretation of deep learning models acts on the interface between increasingly complex model architectures and model architects, to provide an understanding of how a model operates, where it fails, or why it succeeds. Based on preliminary expert interviews and a careful literature review we design the system to comprehensively support architects on 4 visual dimensions.


This notice with comment period sets forth a revised schedule of limits on home health agency costs that may be paid under the Medicare program for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 1993. These limits replace the per-visit limits that were set forth in our July 8, 1993 notice with comment period (58 FR 36748). This notice also provides, in accordance with the provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA '93), that there will be no changes in the home health agency (HHA) cost limits for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 1994, and before July 1, 1996. In addition, this notice responds to public comments on the July 8, 1993 notice with comment period, which originally set forth the HHA cost limits for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 1993, and on the January 6, 1994 notice with comment period (59 FR 760), which announced the elimination of the hospital based add-on effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1993.


We develop parametric inferential methods for the competing risks problem where data arise due to multiple causes of failure in several groups with censoring and possibly missing causes. We provide the general likelihood method and the closed-form maximum-likelihood estimators for the exponential model. Parametric tests are given for comparing different causes and groups. An extensive numerical and graphical investigation is presented to substantiate the proposed methods. A real-data example is illustrated.


Parking is often underpriced and expanding its capacity is expensive; universities need a better way of reducing congestion outside of building costly parking garages. Demand based pricing mechanisms, such as auctions, offer a possible solution to the problem by promising to reduce parking at peak times. However, faculty, students, and staff at universities have systematically different parking needs, leading to different parking valuations. In this study, I determine the impact university affiliation has on predicting bid values cast in three Dutch Auctions of oncampus parking permits sold at Chapman University in Fall 2010. Using clustering techniques crosschecked with university demographic information to detect affiliation groups, I ran a loglinear regression, finding that university affiliation had a larger effect on bid amount than on lot location and fraction of auction duration. Generally, faculty were predicted to have higher bids whereas students were predicted to have lower bids.


Enhancement has been continuously done to the baby stroller features to make the product better and safer to use. However, the comfort level inside the baby stroller according to ISO 2631-1 is still remain unknown from the perspective of vibration analysis and whole-body vibration (WBV) when the baby stroller is in use. Therefore, experiment had been carried out in indoor and outdoor to capture the vibration value transmitted onto the seat and backrest of the baby stroller. This experiment was done with weights from 4kg to 14.14kg, baby subject at 10.30kg as well as weights at 10.30kg. The comfort level in each of the different experiment condition had been identified. The total vibration value for indoor seat and backrest are at maximum of 0.7263 m/s2, comfort Level 3 "Fairly uncomfortable" and at 0.3763 m/s2 in comfort Level 2 "A little uncomfortable" respectively. While, the total vibration value for outdoor seat and backrest are at maximum of 2.5135 m/s2, comfort Level 6 "Extremely uncomfortable" and at 0.8014 m/s2 in comfort Level 3 "Fairly uncomfortable" respectively. Comparing the result, the experimental result showed that indoor experiment has got lower total vibration value than outdoor experiment for both on seat and backrest. Besides, with the same experiment condition, the total vibration value present at the backrest is lower than that of on the seat. Comparing 4 different experiment condition, indoor backrest has got the lowest total vibration value while outdoor seat has got the highest total vibration value. On the other hand, in the experiment of using baby subject and weights at 10.30kg, the result showed that experiment using baby subject present the same pattern as those experiment using weights to mimic baby subject. This can be noticed by the result of indoor seat is higher than indoor backrest and outdoor seat is higher than outdoor backrest. Comparing between indoor experiment using baby subject and weights at 10.30kg, indoor seat percentage of difference is 31.66% or 0.1912 m/s2 while indoor backrest percentage of difference is 26.50% or 0.0668 m/s2. For outdoor experiment using baby subject and weights, outdoor seat percentage of difference is 9.69% or 0.1618 m/s2 while outdoor backrest percentage of difference is 0.47% or 0.0029 m/s2.


abstract:The travels of a Moravian-made rifle reveal that Pennsylvania armed its troops in 1776 by disarming peaceable citizens. Modern judicial rulings often look to eighteenth century-precedents to insist that it is permissible only to "disarm the dangerous" and that America has "no tradition" of disarming "peaceable citizens." But when Pennsylvania's efforts at making new arms in 1775 and 1776 failed, it passed laws to authorize taking arms from anybody who was not using them, including a very substantial number of non-associators, often described as "well-affected," whom nobody considered dangerous. Innumerable receipts kept on scraps of paper, dispersed in local, county, and state archives, enable us to trace not only the afterlife of a singular Moravian rifle but also the disarmament process itself in which military officers entered a home, lawfully but surely without a warm welcome, and took a musket or rifle that the homeowners considered their property.


The paper main discusses the application of RVM in building verification platform with reusable approach, and the Coverage drive technology as well. The two applications can help the verification engineer to develop the effect and maturity of verification work.


Studies focused on the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) have led to the identification of conserved active-site residues involved in Ser/Thr protein kinase catalysis and have ruled out a role for Cys residues in the catalytic mechanism. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase isozyme family. We recently reported that the peptide-substrate analog N-biotinyl-Arg-Arg-Arg-Cys-Leu-Arg-Arg-Leu (N-biotinyl-RRRCLRRL) spontaneously forms intermolecular disulfide bridges with the active-site region of PKC isozymes concomitant with inactivation of histone kinase catalysis. Because Cys does not participate in PKC catalysis, one can analyze the active-site topology of PKC by examining which catalytic reactions are sterically hindered when the inactivator peptide is tethered to Cys in the active-site region of the enzyme. In this report, we show that N-biotinyl-RRRCLRRL inactivates the bulky PKC-catalyzed histone phosphorylation reaction, the comparatively less bulky PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation of a series of octapeptide, hexapeptide, and pentapeptide substrates, the intramolecular autophosphorylation reaction of PKC, and the least bulky PKC-catalyzed reaction, ATP hydrolysis, in a dithiothreitol-sensitive manner with comparable efficacy. Our results provide evidence that the covalent linkage of N-biotinyl-RRRCLRRL to the active-site region of PKC sterically hinders PKC catalysis, even in the absence of peptide and protein substrates.


Background/aim: Argentina has one of the highest cigarette smoking rates among both men and women in the Americas and no legislated restrictions on tobacco industry advertising. The tobacco industry has traditionally expanded markets by targeting adolescents and young adults. The objective of this study was to determine whether and how the tobacco industry promotes cigarettes to adolescents in Argentina. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of tobacco industry documents available through the internet dated between 1995 and 2004 using standard search terms to identify marketing strategies in Argentina. A selected review of the four leading newspapers and nine magazines with reported high readership among adolescents was completed. The selected print media were searched for tobacco images and these were classified as advertisements if associated with a commercial product or as a story if not. Results: The tobacco industry used market segmentation as a strategy to target Argentinean consumers. British American Tobacco (BAT) undertook a young adult psychographic study and classified them as "progressives", "Jurassics" or "conservatives" and "crudos" or "spoiled brats". BAT marketed Lucky Strike to the "progressives" using Hollywood movies as a vehicle. The tobacco industry also targeted their national brands to the conservatives and linked these brands with "nationalistic values" in advertising campaigns. Philip Morris promoted Marlboro by sponsoring activities directed at young people and they launched the 10 cigarettes packet as a starter vehicle. Conclusions: The tobacco industry used psychographic segmentation of the population and developed advertising strategies focused on youth. Tobacco control researchers and advocates must be able to address these strategies in counter-marketing interventions.


Hevea brasiliensis is the main source of natural rubber accounting for 42 % of the worldwide rubber consumption. Natural rubber is synthesized in rubber particles of latex cells, which are differentiated from the vascular cambia and localized in the secondary phloem. Latex is collected by tapping the soft bark of rubber trees. Ethephon, an ethylene releaser, is applied on bark to stimulate latex flow and regeneration between two tappings. Above a certain threshold, environmental and harvesting stresses are known to induce an oxidative stress triggering Tapping Panel Dryness (TPD) [1]. TPD is a physiological syndrome affecting latex production through the agglutination of rubber particles. Four hundred and seven genes from thirty gene families related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and scavenging, and antioxidants biosynthesis genes were identified in the Hevea genome sequence [2]. Based on a transcriptome analysis [3], 161 ROS-related genes were found expressed in latex cells. Small RNA and degradome analysis revealed 13 genes targeted by 11 microRNAs and 15 genes targeted by 16 phased siRNA in latex. These post-transcriptional regulations dramatically affect their gene expression profile. HbRBOH2 was identified as the main source gene of ROS in latex, while HbCuZnSOD4 might be the most important ROS scavenging enzyme for ROS detoxification in latex. Overexpression of genes encoding a superoxide dismutase (HbCuZnSOD) and an enzyme of the glutathione biosynthetic pathway (EcGSH1) was successfully obtained in transgenic rubber plants. These latter showed an increase in plant growth and their tolerance to abiotic stress [4, 5]. This study revealed the crucial role of antioxidant in Hevea brasiliensis laticifers and suggests to seek genetic variability for antioxidant capacity in order to improve rubber tree for the tolerance to abiotic stress and TPD occurrence.


BACKGROUND
Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a novel method of color-coding myocardial velocity on-line. The objective of the present study was to evaluate endocardial velocity with TDI as a method of objectively quantifying alterations in regional contractility over a wide range induced by inotropic modulation.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Myocardial length crystals were used to simultaneously assess regional left ventricular (LV) function, and high-fidelity pressure and conductance catheters were used to assess global LV contractility by pressure-volume relations in nine open-chest dogs. Mid-LV M-mode and two-dimensional color TDI images were recorded during control and inotropic modulation stages with dobutamine and esmolol. Predicted significant increases in TDI indices occurred with dobutamine: peak systolic velocity of 4.41 +/- 1.07 to 6.67 +/- 1.07 cm/s*, systolic time-velocity integral (TVI) of 0.43 +/- 0.12 to 0.62 +/- 0.10 cm*, and diastolic TVI of 0.49 +/- 0.11 to 0.71 +/- 0.17 cm*. Opposing significant decreases occurred with esmolol: peak systolic velocity of 4.46 +/- 0.94 to 2.31 +/- 0.81 cm/s*, systolic TVI of 0.47 +/- 0.12 to 0.19 +/- 0.11 cm*, and diastolic TVI of 0.55 +/- 0.11 to 0.33 +/- 0.11 cm* (*all P < .001 versus control). Changes in TDI peak systolic velocity were correlated with changes in fractional shortening (r = .88) and shortening velocity (r = .87) by sonomicrometry. Changes in TDI peak velocity from multiple mid-LV sites also correlated significantly with maximal elastance (r = .85 +/- .04) from pressure-volume relations.

CONCLUSIONS
TDI measures reflect directional and incremental alterations in regional and global LV contractility and have the potential to quantify regional LV function.


"The Cold War and the New Imperialism" is an account of global history since 1945, which brings massive changes in global politics, economics, and society together in a single narrative, illuminating and clarifying the dilemmas of the present. Written for the general reader, it draws together scholarly research from a wide range of sources without losing sight of the larger pattern of events. In the sixty-year period since the end of World War II, the world has indeed been remade. The war itself mobilized the political and social aspirations of hundreds of millions of people. The contest between the United States and the Soviet Union for global dominance drew every country into its field of force. Struggles for national liberation in the Third World brought an end to colonial empires. Revolutions in China, Cuba, Vietnam and elsewhere shook the global order, as did failed uprisings in Paris and Prague. Since the end of the Cold War the forces of the capitalist market have overwhelmed social institutions that have given meaning to human existence for centuries. But the end of the Cold War has created as many problems for the world's remaining superpower, the United States, as it has solved. With its political, economic, and financial hegemony eroding, the United States has responded with military adventures abroad and increasing inequality and authoritarianism at home. "The Cold War and the New Imperialism" draws all these threads together and shows vividly that the end of history is not in sight.


We propose a test for the stability over time of the covariance matrix of multivariate time series. The analysis is extended to the eigensystem to ascertain changes due to instability in the eigenvalues and/or eigenvectors. Using strong Invariance Principles and Law of Large Numbers, we normalise the CUSUM-type statistics to calculate their supremum over the whole sample. The power properties of the test versus alternative hypotheses, including also the case of breaks close to the beginning/end of sample are investigated theoretically and via simulation. We extend our theory to test for the stability of the covariance matrix of a multivariate regression model. The testing procedures are illustrated by studying the stability of the principal components of the term structure of 18 US interest rates.


Introduction: Increased mechanization and change in the food patterns are leading to physical inactivity and more energy intake globally. That's why, obesity and overweight are no longer confined to the industrialized countries; it has spread to the developing countries as well. In Bangladesh also over-nutrition is increasing alarmingly. As the future doctors, medical students should adopt healthy dietary and lifestyle practices from the very beginning of their youth for contributing more effectively and efficiently to the country's healthcare. Objectives: The study assessed the prevalence of overweight, the dietary and lifestyle determinants of overweight among the students of an urban private medical college of Bangladesh. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ibrahim Medical College, a private medical college in Dhaka city. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Data Analysis was done by SPSS version 17.0 Results: The Prevalence of overweight among the medical students was found to be 27.16% (Male 39% and female 22%) . 58% of the respondents had positive family history of overweight/obesity and around 70% of them had positive family history of Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension. The dietary factors associated with overweight were increased frequency of eating at fast food shops and drinking sweetened tea or coffee. Among the lifestyle factors, liberal family rules regarding food, prolonged gap (?120 minutes) between waking up and having breakfast, taking meal while watching TV or using computer and inadequate sleep (<7 hours of sleep) were found to be associated with being overweight. Binary logistic regression concludes that positive family history of overweight/obesity; inadequate sleep and a prolonged gap between waking up and having breakfast were significantly contributing to be overweight. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight among the urban private medical college students was found to be higher than the available data of overweight in Bangladesh. Along with dietary habits, lifestyle practices are also becoming more and more important determinants of being overweight. The medical students should be counseled and advised to bring positive attitude towards healthy lifestyle and dietary practices. Keywords: Non-communicable disease, overweight, obesity, medical students, BMI


In this paper, a compact multi-static microwave imaging system using a novel design of high-fidelity ultra-wideband (UWB) slot antenna is employed to improve the accuracy of tumor detection inside full head phantom. In order to create a circular array based microwave imaging system 18 elements of the proposed UWB slot antennas are simulated in CST medium around the phantom inside a designed matching medium. The proposed slot antenna consists of a square radiating patch with a microstrip feed-line on one side, a rectangular slot and a defected ground plane by a pair of C-shaped slots on the other side, which provides a wide usable fractional bandwidth of more than 100% (3.19-10.73 GHz). The inserted C-shaped slots on the ground plane's corners can provide an additional current path, hence additional resonance is excited and much wider impedance bandwidth is produced. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed antenna for microwave imaging system, the fidelity analysis for angles up to 90 away from bore-sight radiated pulses is presented (fidelity factor > 80%). In addition, a novel hierarchical calibration method is employed to improve the accuracy reconstructed image results. This calibration includes all delays of multi-static antenna array to put more energy at coherence reflected signal integration. Hence, stronger signals are available to achieve higher accuracy for precise spatial localization. In the proposed image, reconstruction method a confocal image-reconstructing algorithm based on back-projection method has been employed. Simulated results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method for precisely localizing small targets.


The latest aftershock of the creation of "Dolly," the first mammal to be cloned by transferring one of its cell nuclei into an egg, came on Sunday, 19 October, when the
 Sunday Times, Britain9s best-selling broadsheet Sunday paper, ran a front-page headline about headless frogs. The scientist who created these tadpoles while studying developmental genes had speculated about their practical use. Sometime in the future, he said, organs grown through nuclear transfer, followed by strict control of developmental pathways, might provide compatible transplant material for people who otherwise could not get organs--setting off a spirited discussion of the ethics of creating brainless humans for medical purposes.


Direct bonding of metal-resin plays a critical role in jointing of dissimilar materials and the adhesion strength is known to be dependent on strain rate (loading rate) due to the strain rate sensitivity of polymeric resin. This study evaluated adhesion strength and adhesion durability against repetitive loading for the interface between aluminum alloy and epoxy resin. For experiment, a pulsed YAG laser was used to generate strong elastic waves, resulting in interfacial fracture. This method is called Laser Shock Adhesion Test (LaSAT), which enables us to evaluate impact strength of interfacial fracture. This study prepared two types of specimens with different curing temperature (20°C and 100°C). It is found that the specimen with higher temperature curing shows larger adhesion strength. Subsequently, repetitive LaSAT experiments (cyclic loading tests) were conducted to evaluate adhesion durability. This reveals that adhesion strength showed cyclic fatigue characteristics and higher curing temperature improves fatigue strength. To elucidate this mechanism at molecular level, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was conducted for the interfacial material with epoxy resin. This study created all-atomistic model of Al2O3/epoxy resin interface, and repetitive tensile deformation was applied until delamination. It is found that the number of loading cycles to delamination was increased when the applied tensile stress was lower. It is also found that the 400K curing model showed larger adhesion strength than that of the 300K curing model. This trend is very similar with the results of LaSAT experiments. Our comprehensive study with LaSAT experiments and MD simulations evaluates adhesion strength of Al/epoxy interface and reveals its fracture mechanism.


A new histologic variant of dermatofibroma, only briefly alluded to in dermatological literature is reported. This tumor was located in the back of a 24‐year‐old man. It was present for about 2 years and had a history of trauma 2 months before excision. The lesion showed similar characteristics to those of conventional dermatofibroma as well as the presence of groups of granular cells identical to those seen in granular cell tumors. It is important to recognize dermatofibroma with granular cells because it may be confused with a variety of benign or malignant soft tissue tumors containing similar granular cells that entail different significance or prognosis. The immunohistochemical study supports a granular cell change in a dermatofibroma instead of a granular cell tumor that has been traumatized, with secondary formation of a dermatofibroma reaction.


Repeated administration of gentamicin (Gen) is often necessary to have efficacious pharmacokinetics in both infection prophylaxis and treatment. In order to increase the half-time of Gen sulfate and minimize the dosage, the antibiotic can be grafted to polymers as a prodrug or encapsulated within polymers. Gen is positively charged and can interact with negatively charged macromolecules to form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). The complexation of Gen with hyaluronic acid (HA) was investigated here. Subsequently, several HA conjugates were prepared and screened for their thermo-responsive behavior and their ability to form PECs with Gen. PEC formation with HA poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) yields an injectable formulation, which precipitates out of solution to form microscopic or macroscopic gels, depending on its concentration, at temperatures higher than the lower critical solution temperature


The question of improving efficiencies of operation is nowadays more than ever considered a very critical issue. This is because losses have acquired recently an extra cost that of the CO2 release penalty. It is well known that a good portion of the electricity required to operate a power grid is spent as Overhead Line (OHL) power losses. In this paper the key points of the theory of maximum OHL transmission efficiency are reviewed. The OHL loading corresponding to the maximum transmission efficiency is given. Then by means of a case study it is shown how to optimize the transmission efficiency of double-circuit overhead lines for the periods of off-peak loading of the lines. The transmission efficiency vs. line loading curves of the OHL are presented and the change of character from capacitive to inductive with increasing load of the OHL is illustrated. The potential gains in percentage points of the transmission efficiency are calculated. Conclusions of practical importance are drawn both for line design purposes as well as for the line operation optimization.


A patient with hematologic malignancy and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection received chemotherapy containing a glucocorticoid. The patient developed severe hepatitis after chemotherapy and, despite achieving complete remission of the malignancy, died of hepatic failure. We carried out a retrospective study of changes in the serological markers of HBV in this patient. Both serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) were negative on admission. During the course of chemotherapy, HBsAg gradually became positive, but no liver dysfunction was apparent until after completion of the chemotherapy. The patient showed no initial evidence of being a latent HBV carrier. Therefore, we believe that screening for HBsAg is insufficient for detecting latent HBV carriers, and that investigation for hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) is essential.


Abstract In the mid-sixteenth century, there were many parallels between the political cultures of Poland-Lithuania and the kingdoms of the British Isles, as thinkers inspired by the ideals of Renaissance civic humanism challenged traditional currents of thought. Across the British Isles and Poland-Lithuania there were strong native traditions asserting the liberties of communities of the realm and the need to check unbridled royal authority through parliamentary assemblies. As the Reformation swept across the British Isles and Poland-Lithuania, traditional claims concerning the right to resist tyrannical authority were bolstered. Finally, in 1603, Scotland and England formed a loose political union as Poland and Lithuania had formed a loose political union in 1386, although it was not until 1707 that England and Scotland followed the example of the 1569 Lublin Union, when Poland and Lithuania established the first parliamentary union in European history. Despite these parallels, the fates of these composite polities were very different, and their political cultures diverged substantially. This article considers the idea of the Renaissance republic in Poland-Lithuania and the British Isles. It suggests why their roads diverged, and asks what made all the difference.


We discuss a reminder system that automatically interprets the results of routine biochemical tests for thyroid hormones. We measured serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), total thyroxin (TT4), triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG), and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated TSH (sTSH [1,2]). The developed knowledge base was used to compare and rate these results with a defined set of diagnoses. Various forms of altered thyroid and/or pituitary function [3-8] were considered. For a given combination of test results, the reminder system classified the entered diagnoses as "obligatory", "possible", or "excluded". The knowledge base is now part of a medical documentation system at the outpatient thyroid department of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the Vienna General Hospital. We report an evaluation performed after six months of operation. Although further improvement will be required, the knowledge-based reminder system in its present form is capable of improving the quality of manually entered diagnoses.


This study is concerned with criterion for membrane to shell conversion in two-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element analysis using membrane/shell mixed element. It is well known that in the sheet metal forming some parts of the sheet deform under almost pure stretching (membrane) conditions, whereas other parts in contact with sharp tooling surfaces can develop significant bending strains. The membrane analysis has a short computational time however, in the membrane analysis the bending effects can not be condidered at all. On the other hand, the shell analysis allows the consideration of bending effects, but involves too much computational time. So Onatel),2), Yang et al3),4) developed the membrane/shell mixed element. Onate introduced the energy ratio parameter and Yang et al introduced the ratio of thickness to radius of curvature as the criterion. In the present study we propose a new criterion by using the angle between both side elements in the nodal point.


While the realisation of tense in the main verbs of isiZulu has been described in detail, the realisation of tense in copulatives has not been described adequately. The aim of this article is to supply a systematic account of the realisation of the absolute tenses in copulatives; however, it is necessary first to consider the sub-categorisation of copulatives and to distinguish clearly between the (copulative) particles and copulative verb stems of isiZulu, since tense is marked in verbs. The interrelatedness between tense and the other verbal categories of mood, implication (an umbrella term for the binary opposition inchoative versus stative) and polarity (an umbrella term for affirmative and negative) furthermore necessitates a brief discussion of these categories in terms of their relationship to tense. This article also accounts for the employment of relative tense forms to mark absolute tense, especially in the case of the defective underlying stative copulative verb stem *-li.


Face presentation attack detection (PAD) is considered to be an essential and critical step in modern face recognition systems. Face PAD aims at exposing an imposter or an unauthorized person seeking to deceive the authentication system. Presentation attacks are typically made using a fake ID through a digital/printed photograph, video, paper mask, 3D mask, and make-up etc. In this research, we propose a novel face PAD solution using an interpolation-based image diffusion augmented by transfer learning of a MobileNet convolutional neural network. The proposed interpolation-based image diffusion method and face PAD approach, implemented in a single framework, shows promising results on various anti-spoofing databases. The experimental results illustrate that the proposed face PAD method shows superior performance compared to most of the state-of-the-art methods.


We investigate the effect of the formation process under pulse and dc modes on the performance of one transistor and one resistor (1T1R) resistance random access memory (RRAM) device. All the devices are operated under the same test conditions, except for the initial formation process with different modes. Based on the statistical results, the high resistance state (HRS) under the dc forming mode shows a lower value with better distribution compared with that under the pulse mode. One of the possible reasons for such a phenomenon originates from different properties of conductive filament (CF) formed in the resistive switching layer under two different modes. For the dc forming mode, the formed filament is thought to be continuous, which is hard to be ruptured, resulting in a lower HRS. However, in the case of pulse forming, the filament is discontinuous where the transport mechanism is governed by hopping. The low resistance state (LRS) can be easily changed by removing a few trapping states from the conducting path. Hence, a higher HRS is thus observed. However, the HRS resistance is highly dependent on the length of the gap opened. A slight variation of the gap length will cause wide dispersion of resistance.


While Australia has traditionally delivered some of the best health care outcomes in the world,1 there are increasing signs that our strained health care system is pushing the stress performance curve into the red. Benchmarks of hospital activity demonstrate ongoing difficulty;2 Local Hospital Networks scramble to meet demand despite annual federal government funding increases of 6.5%; and the grey literature attests to the unfolding human impact behind the figures.3 Patients deteriorate waiting for specialist assessment,4 and junior doctors find themselves trapped in increasingly overstretched, dysfunctional work environments. The muchreviewed experience of Yumiko Kadota is not an isolated incident, with similar experiences documented regularly by doctorsintraining nationwide.5


Community networks are digital infrastructures designed to strengthen bonds and build social capital between members of a community, facilitating accomplishment of goals. As we consider how community network implementations can be improved, we recognize the potential that social translucence and activity notification introduces to other forms of CSCW. We investigate how the underlying notion of persistent virtual identity---established at logon---impacts user perception of community networks and their social capital production process. To approach this question, we introduce a design model that reconciles various computer-mediated communication research contributions with support for typical community network scenarios of use. Using this model, we perform an inspection on existing community network implementations. Based on the insight gained through this analysis, we introduce a generic prototype that allows survey of user reaction to community network design elements under differing conditions of persistent virtual identity implementation and usage motivation---the results frame a value-chain understanding of conceptual tradeoffs.


Firm performance is one of the most prominent concepts in organizational research. Despite its importance, and despite the many developmental critiques that have appeared over the years, performance continues to be a difficult concept to apply in a scientifically rigorous way. After surfacing three potentially viable approaches for conceptualizing performance, we find that most studies are internally inconsistent in their use of these approaches, a situation that creates substantial difficulty in effectively interpreting research. The primary source of inconsistency lies in the use of a generalized abstract conceptualization of performance in theory building (the latent multidimensional approach) coupled with the adoption of one or two narrow aspects of performance in the empirical work (the separate constructs approach). Follow-up analyses designed to determine the best path for resolving these mismatches indicate that our field's heavy use of abstract performance in theorizing is not scientifically grounded and should be replaced with more specific aspects of performance to match existing practices in empirical work. Although this change would profoundly affect the field and would be resisted by many, it offers a concrete path away from indefensible practices. We offer several explanations for current practices but emphasize forces related to institutional theory. From an institutional perspective, it appears that firm performance is treated in a general fashion in many areas of our academic lives because it has been embraced as an instrument of legitimacy rather than as a scientific tool that facilitates dialogue and the accumulation of knowledge. We recommend and begin a conversation designed to highlight the long-run dangers of focusing our attention on an abstract concept of performance and suggest a set of specific steps that could help to move all of us in a new direction as we attempt to enhance the scientific rigor of our field.


Heterogeneous data fusion can enhance the robustness and accuracy of an algorithm on a given task. However, due to the difference in various modalities, aligning the sensors and embedding their information into discriminative and compact representations is challenging. In this article, we propose a contrastive learning-based multimodal alignment network to align data from different sensors into a shared and discriminative manifold where class information is preserved. The proposed architecture uses a multimodal triplet autoencoder to cluster the latent space in such a way that samples of the same classes from each heterogeneous modality are mapped close to each other. Since all the modalities exist in a shared manifold, a unified classification framework is proposed. The resulting latent space representations are fused to perform more robust and accurate classification. In a missing sensor scenario, the latent space of one sensor is easily and efficiently predicted using another sensor's latent space, thereby allowing sensor translation. We conducted extensive experiments on a manually labeled multimodal dataset containing hyperspectral data from AVIRIS-NG and NEON and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data from NEON. Finally, the model is validated on two benchmark datasets: Berlin Dataset (hyperspectral and synthetic aperture radar) and MUUFL Gulfport Dataset (hyperspectral and LiDAR). A comparison made with other methods demonstrates the superiority of this method. We achieved a mean overall accuracy of 94.3% on the MUUFL dataset and the best overall accuracy of 71.26% on the Berlin dataset, which is better than other state-of-the-art approaches.


The United States Constitution could soon be re-written by the states. Article V of the Constitution authorizes two-thirds of the state legislatures to bypass Congress and demand a convention to initiate federal constitutional amendments addressing any number of issues. States have adopted resolutions calling for a convention to consider amendments that would, among other things, require a balanced federal budget, eliminate life tenure for Supreme Court Justices, constitutionalize universal healthcare, and even invalidate bulwark rulings such as Roe v. Wade. In April 2014, Michigan arguably became the thirty-fourth state to adopt such a resolution, and convention supporters believe that a convention should now be convened. Although many observers believe that the current convention movement is a political gimmick unlikely to succeed, Article V's amendment procedures raise fundamental questions about how the amendment power should be allocated between levels of government. Why should subnational units such as states, provinces, and regions have significant influence in the amendment of national constitutions? How do other countries allocate the amendment power between levels of government? What are the likely risks and benefits that constitutional designers should consider when allocating the amendment power? Despite recent interest in constitutional amendment rules, scholars have not fully addressed many of these issues. This article presents findings and analysis from a comprehensive study of decentralization in national constitutional amendment rules. It provides constitutional designers and scholars with a useable model for understanding how and why constitutional amendment rules might be structured to include subnational units in the amendment process. Based on an exhaustive review of the amendment rules in the approximately 191 extant national constitutions, the article claims that there are currently five dominant decentralization mechanisms. The article further claims that although there are real risks associated with strong decentralization of the amendment power, there are several sound normative justifications for including subnational units in the amendment process. Finally, although one might expect decentralization of the amendment power to correspond to lower amendment rates, the article finds that amendment rates in strongly decentralized systems are actually higher than amendment rates in countries with centralized procedures. In sum, this article contributes to the study of comparative constitutional design by providing a systematic approach to decentralization of the amendment power.


Experimental studies of the bit-error rate (BER) of diode-clamped optical receivers based on FET-SEED technology are described. 1 Gb/s operation of a receiver with optical input and electrical output is obtained. A strong dependence of the BER on clamping voltage is reported, confirming the digital nature of the receiver. The best receiver sensitivity measured at 1 Gb/s and an error rate of 1/spl times/10/sup -9/ is roughly -11 dBm. At 622 Mb/s, it is -22 dBm.<<ETX>>


Abstract This study is the first comprehensive systematic study on the python genus Leiopython Hubrecht 1879 native to New Guinea. The taxonomic arrangement recently made is critically reviewed, and proper descriptions for taxa herein recognized as valid are provided. Twenty external morphological characters were recorded from 90 preserved specimens from throughout most of the distribution of the genus. Thirteen characters were used with principal coordinate analysis to test the diversity of populations from different distributions. Additional evidence for some species was obtained by maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome b gene) taken from GenBank. Besides three conventional taxa, two new species from the mainland, and one new island species were recognized in accordance with the evolutionary species concept. Additionally, a new locality record is provided.


Source camera attribution of digital images has been a hot research topic in digital forensics literature. However, the thermal cameras and the radiometric data they generate stood as a nascent topic, as such devices are expensive and tailored for specific use-cases – not adapted by the masses. This has changed dramatically, with the low-cost, pluggable thermal-camera add-ons to smartphones and similar low-cost pocket-size thermal cameras introduced to consumers recently, which enabled the use of thermal imaging devices for the masses. In this paper, we are going to investigate the use of an established source device attribution method on radiometric data produced with a consumer-level, low-cost handheld thermal camera. The results we represent in this paper are promising and show that it is quite possible to attribute thermal images with their source camera.


Recent work has shown that, despite the minimal information provided by a binary proximity sensor, a network of these sensors can provide remarkably good target tracking performance. In this article, we examine the performance of such a sensor network for tracking multiple targets. We begin with geometric arguments that address the problem of counting the number of distinct targets, given a snapshot of the sensor readings. We provide necessary and sufficient criteria for an accurate target count in a one-dimensional setting, and provide a greedy algorithm that determines the minimum number of targets that is consistent with the sensor readings. While these combinatorial arguments bring out the difficulty of target counting based on sensor readings at a given time, they leave open the possibility of accurate counting and tracking by exploiting the evolution of the sensor readings over time. To this end, we develop a particle filtering algorithm based on a cost function that penalizes changes in velocity. An extensive set of simulations, as well as experiments with passive infrared sensors, are reported. We conclude that, despite the combinatorial complexity of target counting, probabilistic approaches based on fairly generic models of trajectories yield respectable tracking performance.


Survey researchers and practitioners often assume that higher response rates are associated with a higher quality of survey data. However, the evidence for this claim in face-to-face surveys is mixed. To explain these mixed results, recent studies have proposed that interviewers' involvement in respondent selection moderates the effect of response rates on data quality. Previous analyses based on data from the European Social Survey found that response rates are positively associated with data quality when interviewer involvement in respondent selection is minimal. However, the association between response rates and data quality is negative when interviewers are more involved in respondent selection through household frame creation or within-household selection of target persons. These studies have hypothesized that some interviewers deviate from prescribed selection procedures to select individuals with higher response propensities, which increase response rates while reducing data quality. We replicate these results with an extended dataset, including more recent European Social Survey rounds and three other European survey projects: the European Quality of Life Survey, European Values Study, and International Social Survey Programme. Based on our results, we recommend that surveys include procedures to verify respondent-selection practices into their fieldwork control procedures.


Numerical abilities and educational character are very important in learning mathematics at school, some of the student characters that must be considered are disciplinary and religious characters. This study aims to determine the effect of students' disciplinary and religious character on numerical ability. This study uses survey research methods with descriptive research types with survey techniques. The population used in this research is all SMP/MTs/equivalent in North Lampung for the 2020/2021 academic year. The sampling technique used in this study was the cluster random sampling technique, so that MTs Negeri 1 North Lampung and MTs Negeri 2 North Lampung were obtained as samples. Three classes were taken from each school as a sample consisting of representatives from class VII, VIII and IX. The instruments used in this study were a numerical ability test and a disciplinary character questionnaire and a religious character. Data analysis technique using Multiple Linear Regression analysis. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that the influence of the disciplinary character of the religious character on students' numerical abilities was very strong, amounting to 73.6 percent. The results of the regression equation analysis show Y = 32.586 + 0.286X 1 + 0.368X 2 . This equation shows that every 1 increase in the disciplinary character variable will affect the numerical ability variable by 0.286. Likewise, for the coefficient of the religious character variable, it will affect the numerical ability variable of 32.586.


A large proportion of patients have both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, two of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Statins are the most widely used drugs for the treatment of plasma lipid abnormalities and have been reported to interact with elevated blood pressure. A reduction in blood pressure associated with the use of these agents has been reported in patients with untreated hypertension and in patients treated with antihypertensive drugs, particularly angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. This effect on blood pressure control has also been observed in diabetic patients. The mechanism responsible for the hypotensive effect seems to be largely independent of the effect of statins on plasma cholesterol, and probably is related to the interaction of the medications with endothelial function or angiotensin II receptors. The capacity of statins to improve blood pressure control may represent a useful tool for improvement in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.


ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of English elder abuse policy including guidelines developed for adult protection by their Department of Health in 2000, a report released from the House of Commons Health Committee in 2004 on elder abuse, related policy changes affecting older adults, the mentally incapacitated, and social care regulations, and the launching of public awareness campaigns. In contrast to the U.S., English policy subsumes elder abuse within the larger category of vulnerable adult protection, steers clear of mandatory reporting, emphasizes abuse by formal caregivers rather than domestic violence, relies on a multi-agency approach to investigation and intervention, and supports more remedial, less punitive regulatory oversight.


Respiration monitoring is a very important indicator of health status. It can be used as a marker in the recognition of a variety of diseases, such as sleep apnea, asthma or cardiac arrest. The purpose of the present study is to overcome limitations of the current state of the art in the field of respiration monitoring systems. Our goal was the development of a lightweight handheld device with portable operation and low power consumption. The proposed approach includes a textile capacitive sensor with interdigitated electrodes embroidered into the facemask, integrated with readout electronics. Readout electronics is based on the direct interface of the capacitive sensor and a microcontroller through just one analog and one digital pin. The microcontroller board and sensor are powered by a smartphone or PC through a USB cable. The developed mobile application for the Android™ operating system offers reliable data acquisition and acts as a bridge for data transfer to the remote server. The embroidered sensor was initially tested in a humidity-controlled chamber connected to a commercial impedance analyzer. Finally, in situ testing with 10 volunteering subjects confirmed stable operation with reliable respiration monitoring.


The late 1990's represented a time of unprecedented economic growth. However, the economic bubble ultimately burst and the nation entered into a recession. Following the crash, there was speculation that the media were responsible irresponsible in their treatment of economic news and helped to inflate the economic bubble during the late 1990's. This research was conducted with the intent of measuring the hypothesis that positive news about the economy outpaced negative news, even once the economy was in a decline. A content analysis was employed to identify any change in tone as the economy began its downslide. Overall, 259 stories were collected from the NBC Nightly News and Associated Press and evaluated based on their reference to the economy. None of the measures of the hypothesis suggest that positive news about the economy outpaced negative news even once the economy was declining. The content analysis showed that the NBC Nightly News and the Associated Press were responsible in their treatment of economic news during the October 2000 through January 2001 timeframe.


Globalization has accelerated the flow of goods, services, investments, and technology across national lines, but hasn't done the same for labor resources. Instead of moving foreign workers to their home country plants, multinational companies move their plants to where the workers live. Global labor mobility, therefore, still lags behind other factors of production. This may be attributed, in part, to government restrictions on economic migration and on the right of foreign workers, particularly the less skilled ones, to compete for jobs across national markets and political demarcation lines. As a result, the labor markets in the various countries around the world remain largely un-integrated with the possible exception of some of the highly skilled elite segment. This paper explores changes in the labor markets, job gains and losses, and structural changes that impact the human capital in this age of globalization. It also examines the impact of the movement of capital, supply chains, and technology on the supply and demand for labor across the advanced, emerging, and developing economies.


Multivesiculated polyester particles (MVPs) are obtained by reticulation of a double emulsion system formed by a polyester/styrene solution dispersed in an aqueous colloidal solution. During its synthesis, the acid/base reaction between polyester carboxylic end groups and an added amine plays an important role in stabilizing the two emulsion systems (water-in-oil and oil-in-water). This work studies the influence of diethylenetriamine, aminoethylethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine on MVPs' average particle size, vesiculation morphology, dry film opacity, and yellowing. The particular aspects observed for each amine are discussed, allowing identification of the relevant mechanisms taking place in the formation of MVPs. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 53:2261–2269, 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers


The proofs use the notion of analytic structure in a maximal ideal space. J. Wermer first obtained results along these lines and further contributions were made by E. Bishop and H. Royden and then by G. Stolzenberg [5] who proved STOLZENBERG'S THEOREM. Let XQC be a polynomially convex set. Let KQC be a finite union of Q-curves. Then (XKJK)*—X\JK is a {possibly empty) pure 1-dimensional analytic subset of C^—XKJK. (See [S] for the notation and definitions.) A further result of Stolzenberg (and Bishop) is that a G arc KQC is polynomially convex and P(K) = C(K). It is well known that no smoothness is needed in C but that in higher dimensions further assumptions are required for the above conclusion. We have


High-grade ovarian cancer (HGOC) is the most lethal gynecological cancer, with high metastasis and recurrence. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for its apoptosis resistance, cancer metastasis, and recurrence. Thus, targeting CSCs would be a promising strategy for overcoming chemotherapy resistance and improving patient prognosis in HGOC. Among upregulated oncogenic proteins in HGOC, we found that transcription factor SOX9 showed a strong correlation with stemness-regulating ALDH1A1 and was localized predominantly in the cytoplasm of HGOC with lymph node metastasis. In order to address the role of unusual cytoplasmic SOX9 and to explore its underlying mechanism in HGOC malignancy, a Y2H assay was used to identify a necroptotic cell death-associated cytoplasmic protein, receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), as a novel SOX9-interacting partner and further mapped their respective interacting domains. The C-terminal region containing the transactivation domain of SOX9 interacted with the death domain of R1PK1. Consistent with its stemness-promoting function, SOX9 knockdown in vitro resulted in changes in cell morphology, cell cycle, stem cell marker expression, cell invasion, and sphere formation. Furthermore, in vivo knockdown completely inhibited tumor growth in mouse xenograft model. We propose that cytoplasmic SOX9-mediated cell death suppression would contribute to cancer stem cell survival in HGOC.


Major- and minor-group human rhinoviruses (HRV) enter their host by binding to the cell surface molecules ICAM-1 and LDL-R, respectively, which are present on both macrophages and epithelial cells. Although epithelial cells are the primary site of productive HRV infection, previous studies have implicated macrophages in establishing the cytokine dysregulation that occurs during rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations. Analysis of the transcriptome of primary human macrophages exposed to major- and minor-group HRV demonstrated differential gene expression. Alterations in gene expression were traced to differential mitochondrial activity and signaling pathway activation between two rhinovirus serotypes, HRV16 (major-group) and HRV1A (minor-group), upon initial HRV binding. Variances in phosphorylation of kinases (p38, JNK, ERK5) and transcription factors (ATF-2, CREB, CEBP-alpha) were observed between the major- and minor-group HRV treatments. Differential activation of signaling pathways led to changes in the production of the asthma-relevant cytokines CCL20, CCL2, and IL-10. This is the first report of genetically similar viruses eliciting dissimilar cytokine release, transcription factor phosphorylation, and MAPK activation from macrophages, suggesting that receptor use is a mechanism for establishing the inflammatory microenvironment in the human airway upon exposure to rhinovirus.


In the study reported here 73 ambulatory patients with neurotic or reactional anxiety state were treated with bromazepam (Lexomil) 6 to 12 mg/24 hours in 3 divided doses with a double dose at night. Treatment lasted from 28 days (8 patients) to 60 days or more (42 patients). Results were excellent or good in 43 cases, with rapid improvement in the psychic component of anxiety. Twelve of the 15 patient s who took bromazepam 4 hours before going to bed plus a hypnotic at night showed improvement in the quality of sleep. During weaning of ambulatory alcoholic subjects by gradual withdrawal of alcoholic beverages, bromazepam proved useful in reducing the anxiety load. The drug was generally well tolerated.


This research aims to gather information and obtain gaps in the implementation of the school operational assistance (BOS) program to improve the quality of education. This study used a gap evaluation model (Discrepancy). The subjects of the research were the principal, the teacher (BOS treasurer), the school supervisor, the school committee, the District coordinator, and the parents of the students. Data were collected from research sites using observation techniques, document studies and interviews. Information obtained was analyzed by using the Miles and Hubermen model which included data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. Based on the result of the study, there were still gaps in several aspects between implementation and standards of BOS program. Design aspect was following BOS 2019 Technical Guidelines. There was a gap at the installation stage; there were sudden and costly activities, while expenses must be adjusted to the liability letter (SPJ). At the implementation stage, there was a delay in the process of disbursing BOS, which was the main source of education funding. Thus, from the implementation stage it can be concluded that there are still gaps between the implementation of BOS with the Technical Guidelines.


Citation: *Prof. Francesco Carelli . Prevention and rehabilitation in Middle Ages. Jour of Clin Cas Rep, Med Imag and Heal Sci 1(2)-2022. Italian hospitals in the late Middle Ages already offered much more than a simple reception and care. In a work that can be consulted in the Laurentian Library in Florence, datable about 1300, painter Gaddi shows a series of hospitalized people. Already the representation is not very sad perhaps due to the lack of modern white walls and patients appear regularly placed in beds with acts of assistance and care. The two couples in the foreground completely decline an idea of health that we moderns tend to, even though we have not yet reached it. In fact, therapy is combined with education and prevention. The disease in question is a chronic vascular sore, a subject not resolved at by us moderns and a source of great health care costs. One of the reasons for these costs is to be fund in the lack of attention of moderns to preventive and educational activities. In the foreground on the right the therapeutic act is portrayed, in which it is evident a doctor performing a cleaning, disinfection and dressing of a vascular sore. But the great news that is incredible in the so – called dark ages, is portrayed on the left. The doctor, recognizable by the red headdress, gives a stick, that is a device to improve, encourage and facilitate the ambulatory exercise by his patient. We also note that he spends time on an explanation to the patient who is portrayed as he listens to medical advice with interest. The rehabilitation intentions are proven by the fact the patient wears a rudimentary orthopaedic brace which surrounds widely the neck. The device allows the patient to walk keeping the arm hanging from the neck, unable to move perhaps following a trauma. In the hospitals of the Middle Ages, therefore, education and adapted motor activity were carried out which, today, together with food, is considered the basis of disease prevention.


Hypophysectomized, adrenalectomized, and adrenal enucleated rats, maintained on a normal or a diabetogenic high-fat, high-protein diet, were used to investigate the role of the pituitary-adrenal axis on reduced B-chain-albumin induced hyperglycemia. Hypophysectomized and adrenal enucleated rats maintained on a normal diet did not show a reduced B-chain induced hyperglycemia, while adrenalectomized rats showed a significant hypoglycemia. Hypophysectomized, and adrenalectomized rats kept on a diabetogenic diet were insensitive to reduced B-chain hyperglycemia, but adrenal enucleated rats showed a significant hyperglycemia. These results indicate that the secretions of the adrenal cortex but not the adrenal medulla are involved in reduced B-chain-albumin induced hyperglycemia. Growth hormone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone replacement experiments with hypophysectomized rats kept on the diabetogenic diet indicated that while ACTH plays the more important role, the functioning of both of these hormones is necessary for reduced B-chain elicited hyperglycemia. Adrenalectomized rats on the diabetogenic diet and treated with corticosterone showed a significant and persistent B-chain induced hyperglycemia, demonstrating further that adrenocortical glucocorticoids are involved in this mechanism. The specificity of reduced B-chain induced hyperglycemia is demonstrated by the observation that the reduced A chain of insulin does not elicit this effect but instead induces a moderate but significant hypoglycemia.


With the objective of verifying the hypothesis that annelids and myriapods can be used to evaluate soil quality, an experiment was set up in which the soil surface of the area was covered with mulch dry matter at the rates of 0, 3.0, 3.6, and 4.6 Mg ha -1 and submitted to two soil management systems : mobilized and non-mobilized. In the first year, cotton, and, in the second, corn were sown between pigeon pea rows. Annelids and myriapods were collected. Cotton plants were evaluated by means of the leaf area index and the estimated growth rate and corn had its grain yield determined. The alterations of soil quality affected more severely the cotton plant than the characteristics of annelids and myriapods. The density and biomass of annelids and myriapods increased with the reiteration of mulching and no tillage. The results of this work support the including of annelids and myriapods in medium and long run evaluations of tropical agronomical systems.


The objective of the paper is to examine the relationship between sprawl and neighborhood social conflicts between non-farm residents and farmers in north Alabama. To accomplish the objective, the paper employed a probit and ordinal probit regression models and analyzed 2000 census data and 2004 data from the multi-county survey of farmers in areas where sprawl has been identified to be a problem. The findings shed some light to the ongoing social conflict between non-farm residents and farmers in north Alabama.


Attendance figures are an indicator of the popularity of zoos in society, and also reveal the levels of funding available because entrance fees and other revenues generated during visits are the main sources of funding for British zoos. However, the literature provides conflicting information on zoo attendance, and existing reports are also limited by their research designs and lack of international perspective. Therefore, it is difficult to judge how popular zoos really are, and hence there is a need for a detailed analysis of zoo attendance. To deal with this, the present article reports an analysis of worldwide zoo-attendance patterns using a large data set provided by the International Zoo Yearbook. The data show that attendance has generally declined in most world regions during the 40 year period, and was particularly marked during the 1960s and 1970s. There have been recent increases at North American and British zoos since the 1980s. More people visit zoos in Japan and the United States, and attendance patterns during the past 40 years have followed different paths in different world regions and countries. Attendance figures for zoos around the world were compared with several socio-economic variables, and the analysis revealed a positive significant relationship between a country's population size, country income and zoo-attendance figures.


Abstract
Different responses of silkworm larvae under various rearing climate condition would help to obtain better economic performance of some silkworm varities in specific climate conditions. The effect of 4 rearing climate conditions including 1) standard 2) high temperature and humidity, 3) high temperature and low humidity and 4) temperature fluctuation were investigated on the performances of six different silkworm hybrids including 151×152, 151×110-32, 151×154,103×104, 31×32 and 107×110. All hybrids showed better performances for larval, pupa and total vitality under standard conditions compared with the other rearing environments. There was no significant difference for the good cocoon percentage between the hybrids of 151×152, 151×154 and 107×110 under standard temperature fluctuating and warm/dry climate condition. The hybrid of 151×110-32 at standard condition and the hybrids of 103×104 and 31×32 at standard and warm/dry conditions produced higher values of good cocoons. For all hybrids, the larval mortality increased by growth of temperature and humidity. Meanwhile the pupal mortality rose with increasing of temperature either in dry or humid condition. The highest productivity (weight of total and good cocoon per 10000 larvae) within all treated hybrids obtained under standard and temperature fluctuation of temperature left no adverse effect on single cocoon weight for hybrids of 151×110-32, 31×32 and 107×110, while significantly increased the cocoon weight for hybrid of 103×104. The obtained results provide high temperature and humidity, high temperature and low humidity, and temperature fluctuation decreased production level. Furthermore, 103×104 hybrid is suitable for regions with temperature fluctuation. Also 103×104 and 31×32 hybrids are suitable for regions with high temperature and humidity, and high temperature and low humidity.

Key words: Silkworm, Rearing Performance, Environmental Conditions


Neural Architecture Search aims at automatically finding neural architectures that are competitive with architectures designed by human experts. While recent approaches have achieved state-of-the-art predictive performance for image recognition, they are problematic under resource constraints for two reasons: (1)the neural architectures found are solely optimized for high predictive performance, without penalizing excessive resource consumption, (2) most architecture search methods require vast computational resources. We address the first shortcoming by proposing LEMONADE, an evolutionary algorithm for multi-objective architecture search that allows approximating the entire Pareto-front of architectures under multiple objectives, such as predictive performance and number of parameters, in a single run of the method. We address the second shortcoming by proposing a Lamarckian inheritance mechanism for LEMONADE which generates children networks that are warmstarted with the predictive performance of their trained parents. This is accomplished by using (approximate) network morphism operators for generating children. The combination of these two contributions allows finding models that are on par or even outperform both hand-crafted as well as automatically-designed networks.


In this talk, we present the use of PaStiX sparse direct solver in a Schwartz method for solving the frequencydomain
Maxwell equations discretized by a high order HDG method. More precisely, the sparse solver is used
to solve a system on sub-domains while iterative refinement is performed to get the global solution. Recently,
low-rank compression have been added to PaStiX in order to reduce the time-to-solution or the memory footprint
of the solver. The resulting low-rank solver can be used either as a direct solver at a lower accuracy or
as a good preconditionner for iterative methods. We will investigate the use of low-rank compression for the
frequency-domain Maxwell equations on large systems to experiment the compressibility of this equation.


The current dissertation project integrates revisionary taxonomy, comparative morphology, molecular phylogenetics and comparative evolutionary analyses to investigate the diversity and evolution of assassin bugs, focusing on the Malagasy Bekilya group (Peiratinae) and the New World Harpactorini (Harpactorinae). Four objectives and research topics are addressed. (1) Association of dimorphic sexes in the Bekilya group and taxonomic revisions. Members of three genera of Malagasy Peiratinae, Bekilya Villiers, Hovacoris Villiers, and Mutillocoris Villiers, appear to be mimics of mutillid wasps. Mutillocoris was originally described only from female specimens, the two remaining genera from males. Molecular data demonstrate that species of Mutillocoris represent females of Bekilya and Hovacoris. Mutillocoris is therefore synonymized with Bekilya. The current project treats a total of 10 species as belonging to the Bekilya group, including 6 species that are described as new. (2) Investigation of the taxonomic distribution of sticky glands. Specialized glands have been known from species of Zelus Fabricius for more than 50 years. The current study examines 67 taxa of Reduviidae and finds sticky glands in 12 genera of Harpactorini. (3) Reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of Harpactorini and investigate the evolution of sticky trap predation and its relationship to accelerated morphological diversification. A molecular phylogeny of the Harpactorini is presented, sampling 198 taxa of Harpactorini and using 5 genes. Comparative analyses show that bugs exhibiting sticky trap predation have evolved more slender and longer fore femora than non-sticky bugs. Using phylogenetically independent contrast analyses, correlated evolution between femoral thickness and length is documented, thus providing support for the existence of a functional constraint on the fore femur and a trade-off between femoral thickness and length. It is argued that the novel sticky trap predation strategy may allow sticky bugs to alleviate functional constraints on the fore femur and thus to attain a higher rate of fore leg evolution than other Harpactorini or Reduviidae. (4) Taxonomic revision of Zelus Fabricius, 1803. The harpactorine genus Zelus is revised based on examination of 11,000 specimens, recognizing 70 species as valid. Twenty-four new species are described, 13 new synonymies proposed, and 5 previously synonymized names are returned to species status. Additionally, eight species that were previously treated as Zelus are removed from this genus.


Mutations in MPV17 lead to severe mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MTDPS). All known p.R50W variants in MPV17 are lethal. The homozygous variant p.R50Q in MPV17 among patients with Navajo neurohepatopathy is known to allow longer survival, although heterozygous variants p.R50Q have not been reported. This is the first clinical report in compound heterozygosity MPV17 mutation (p.R50W/p.R50Q). Three siblings were admitted due to multiple hepatic nodules; none presented neurological abnormalities. However, they suffered from severe hypoglycemia and cyclic vomiting. The diagnosis of MPV17-related MTDPS was confirmed by detection of a compound heterozygous MPV17 mutation (p.R50W/p.R50Q), and striking reduction of hepatic mitochondrial DNA. One patient developed pediatric-onset of hepatocellular carcinoma. Notably, all patients survived for extended periods, including two patients who received liver transplantation, which contrasted the high mortality rate associated with p.R50W mutations, as previously reported. The p.R50Q mutation might be associated with longer survival and improved liver transplantation outcomes. Page 2 of 10 Umetsu et al. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:1 I http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2019.030


Password generation techniques have recently been explored by leveraging deep-learning natural language processing (NLP) algorithms. Previous work has raised the state of the art for password guessing algorithms significantly, by approaching the problem using either variational autoencoders with CNN-based encoder and decoder architectures or transformer-based architectures (namely GPT2) for text generation. In this work we aim to combine both paradigms, introducing a novel architecture that leverages the expressive power of transformers with the natural sampling approach to text generation of variational autoencoders. We show how our architecture generates state-of-the-art results in password matching performance across multiple benchmark datasets.


The present article explores the puzzling variety of narrative voices in the so-called Genesis Apocryphon from Qumran Cave 1. Lamech, Noah, and Abram in turn act as first person narrator, and all three of these stories also include third person narration. Focusing on the columns preceding the Abram story, it is shown that both the account of Noah's birth (1–5.27) and the 'Book of the Words of Noah' (5.29–18.23) are basically narrated in the first person by Lamech and Noah, respectively. It is concluded that the rare shifts to third person narration are not unusual in ancient Jewish literature.


Snakehead fish ( Channa striata ) have high albumin content, a protein needed for cell development and the formation of new tissue. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of snakehead fish extract emulgel given topically on incision wounds in white rats. The parameters of wound healing consist of wound length, a number of neutrophils, macrophages, fibroblasts and density of collagen. The white rats divide into three groups of (n = 6), one group was given the emulgel base as the negative control, one group of povidone-iodine as the positive control, and one group of snakehead fish extract 10% emulgel. White rats were sacrificed on the third and seventh days for microscopic observations. The results showed that snakehead fish extract emulgel can accelerate incision wound healing: decrease wound length, increase the number of neutrophil and macrophages cells, increase the average number of fibroblasts and increase collagen density on white rats.


To make the political presence of women more visible in modern public discourse it is necessary to work out a language that would represent them appropriately. An analysis of the rhetoric of the Women's Party (Polish: Partia Kobiet), established in 2007, shows how this problem is handled by the officials of the party. The starting point for the discussion is the thesis that rhetoric discourse is initiated and shaped by a given rhetoric situation (as understood by L.F. Bitzer). In the analysed instance, it is determined by: 1) social and political circumstances surrounding the emergence of the party, no deep-rooted feminist tradition in particular; negativism in the approach towards women's movements in general reflecting senses and moods dominating within society, marginalisation of women's issues and women's voices in mainstream political discourse, 2) historical conditioning and culturally dominant position of the male model of discourse in public address, 3) the attempt to get involved in the discourse as wide audience as possible, coupled with the belief that the sense of unity is to be based on the gender identity. The analysis of the texts available on the web page of the party, viewed as being fully of representative nature for the party, shows that the rhetoric of the Women's Party is not heterogeneous. It oscillates between the rhetoric of co-operation (through the agency of which the party looks for tools instrumental for achieving some kind of agreement and dialogue in the public debate) and the rhetoric of hatred, already well-established in Polish political discourse (which undermines the formerly mentioned conciliatory attitude in dialogue and co-operation). As a result, a type of a communication ensues that is not free from paradoxes and one that makes a creation of a coherent and consistent message impossible, and therefore hinders a creation of a credible image of the party.


Nickel-Phosphorus (Ni-P) composite coatings were prepared on a poplar veneer surface via a simple electroless nickel (Ni) approach. The substrate deformation, flatness, crystalline structure, and wear resistance of the Ni-P composite coatings were investigated. The deformation degree of the substrate decreased as the number of deposition steps was increased. The flatness and wear resistance of the composite coatings were enhanced with the increase in the number of depositions. The full width, at half of the maximum values of Ni X-ray diffraction (XRD), of peaks in the composite coatings were broadened and strengthened with an increment of the number of depositions in the coatings. The XRD patterns revealed that the Ni that had been deposited on poplar veneer had a crystallite size structure between 42 and 88 A. The composite structure was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The uniformity of the particles in the composite coatings could be improved with the increase in the number of depositions. The wear resistance of ideal coatings with a homogeneous thickness was measured via the rolling wear testing machine (RWTM), and the wear resistance of the coatings was increased by 200% compared with that of coatings obtained via a single deposition.


With 3 figures and 3 tables

Abstract

Sitodiplosis mosellana (Gehin), the orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM), causes sporadic damage to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) throughout the northern hemisphere. Cultivars have been shown to differ in levels of OWBM infestation. In this experiment, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between cultivars representing extremes of OWBM infestation was tested for 2 years in Creston MT. Parental cultivar 'Reeder' showed average infestation levels approximately three times less than 'Conan' in both years. The RIL population showed significant variation, with heritability of 0.75 in 2008 and 0.26 in 2009. A genetic map of the population identified a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 1A (QSm.mst-1A), controlling 17% and 34% of the variation in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Near isogenic lines developed for this QTL in three backgrounds showed a significant effect of the QTL, with the 'Reeder' allele reducing infestation by approximately 42%. Differential infestation conferred by the QTL QSm.mst-1A may complement previously identified resistance due to antibiosis.


Since all sensor nodes in wireless sensor networks work by their own embedded batteries, if a node runs out of its battery, the sensor network can not operate normally. In this situation we should employ the routing protocols which can consume the energy of nodes efficiently. Many protocols for energy efficient routing in sensor networks have been suggested but LEACH and PEGASIS are most well known protocols. However LEACH consumes energy heavily in the head nodes and the head nodes tend to die early and PEGASIS - which is known as a better energy efficient protocol - has a long transfer time from a source node to sink node and the nodes close to the sink node expend energy sharply since it makes a long hop of data forwarding. We proposed a new hybrid protocol of LEACH and PEGASIS, which uses the clustering mechanism of LEACH and the chaining mechanism of PEGASIS and it makes the life time of sensor networks longer than other protocols and we improved the performance 33% and 18% higher than LEACH-C and PEGASIS respectively.


The usefulness of automaticity recover time (ART) and automaticity recovery phase (ARP; the time requiring P-P cycles to return to the original P-P cycles following the termination of tachyarrhythmias) for evaluating the sinus node function was studied in 24 patients with tachyarrhythmias by recordings of 24-hour continuous electrocardiograms. Automaticity recovery time was not so valuable in evaluating sinus node function because the overlap of ART was observed between patients of normal sinus node function and patients with sick sinus syndrome. The pattern of ARP was classified into 4 types (I--IV). Type I showed qUick return to the original P-P after overdrive suppression, type II was characterized by first suppression and secondary acceleration, type III was the pattern characterized by repeated suppression after tachycardiac overdrive, and type IV was characterized by repetitive appearance of tachyarrhythmia and bradycardia. The period of each ARP was measured and the period of type II (42.2 +/- 16.6 sec) or III ARP (48.4 +/- 21.4 sec) was significantly longer than type I (22.1 +/- 11.1 sec). Type III ARP was considered to suggest sinus node dysfunction. In conclusion, it was suggested that not only the observation of ART but also ARP were valuable for evaluating more precise sinus node function. The observation of ARP is easily obtained from 24-hour continuous recordings of electrocardiograms.


Objective: To report effective treatment with topiramate in 2 cases of glossodynia (burning tongue and mouth syndrome). Case Summaries: Two women, 52 and 53 years old, suffered from intractable unilateral burning mouth syndrome. In both cases, the activities of daily living were severely restricted. Previous treatment with diverse medications had failed. Administration of topiramate 200–350 mg/day stopped the attacks completely in one patient and reduced the frequency by 50–60% in the second. Discussion: Glossodynia may present as unilateral intractable pain syndrome with characteristics of neuralgic pain. It is defined as a burning pain in the tongue and mucous membranes of the mouth. There is some research on possible effective medications for treatment, but few data on the beneficial effects of this therapy have been reported. Topiramate has been previously shown to have an antineuralgic effect in trigeminal neuralgia. In the cases of intractable glossodynia presented here, this medication led to significant improvement in the symptoms of this uncommon neuralgic pain. Conclusions: Topiramate has a beneficial effect in intractable burning mouth and tongue syndrome. Taking these positive results into consideration, the practitioner can give hope to disabled patients for returning to acceptable activities of daily living.


Abstract– The rock record from the early solar system indicates high‐temperature thermal processing sufficient to melt refractory oxides and silicates. The astrophysical context for the formation and evolution of our solar system, from a molecular cloud to a "clean" planetary system, is difficult to constrain tightly because of the large scales and lack of resolution of astronomical observations. Protostellar jets and winds, commonly associated with forming stars, are likely to play a role in heating and redistribution of the processed material in the solar system. We have recently proposed that disk‐winds can cause melting of small inclusions to distances out to several AU. Particularly energetic outbursts, such as the FU‐Orionis and EXor events, occur over relatively short time scales (approximately 100 and 1 yr, respectively), and are probably events related to formation of the refractory solids present in primitive meteorites.


CD26 is a 110 kDa surface glycoprotein with intrinsic dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV, EC 184.108.40.206) activity that is expressed on numerous cell types and has a multitude of biological functions. CD26 role in immune regulation has been extensively characterized, with recent findings elucidating its linkage with signaling pathways and structures involved in T-lymphocyte activation as well as antigen presenting cell (APC)-T-cell interaction. In this paper, we will review emerging data on CD26-mediated T-cell costimulation, suggesting that CD26 may be an appropriate therapeutic target for the treatment of immune disorders. However, the identity of its putative natural ligand had not yet been clearly elucidated. Recently, using protein engineering and proteomic approach, we have recently characterized the putative costimulatory ligand for CD26 in T-cells and the proximal signaling events directly associated with the cytoplasmic region of CD26 in CD26-associated T-cell costimulation, processes that are independent of the CD28 costimulatory pathway. Our work therefore presents novel findings that contribute to the area of T-cell costimulation and signal transduction.


Two classes of human G protein-coupled receptors, cysteinyl leukotriene 1 (CysLT1) and CysLT2 receptors, recently have been characterized and cloned. Because the CysLT1 receptor blockers are effective in treating human bronchial asthma and the mouse is often used to model human diseases, we isolated the mouse CysLT1 receptor from a mouse lung cDNA library and found two isoforms. A short isoform cDNA containing two exons encodes a polypeptide of 339 aa with 87.3% amino acid identity to the human CysLT1 receptor. A long isoform has two additional exons and an in-frame upstream start codon resulting in a 13-aa extension at the N terminus. Northern blot analysis revealed that the mouse CysLT1 receptor mRNA is expressed in lung and skin; and reverse transcription–PCR showed wide expression of the long isoform with the strongest presence in lung and skin. The gene for the mouse CysLT1 receptor was mapped to band XD. Leukotriene (LT) D4 induced intracellular calcium mobilization in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing either isoform of the mouse CysLT1 receptor cDNA. This agonist effect of LTD4 was fully inhibited by the CysLT1 receptor antagonist, MK-571. Microsomal membranes from each transformant showed a single class of binding sites for [3H]LTD4; and the binding was blocked by unlabeled LTs, with the rank order of affinities being LTD4 >> LTE4 = LTC4 >> LTB4. Thus, the dominant mouse isoform with the N-terminal amino acid extension encoded by an additional exon has the same ligand response profile as the spliced form and the human receptor.


Concomitant use of benzodiazepines, antipsychotics risky in elderly Elderly patients with dementia are frequently prescribed other psychotropic drugs in conjunction with antipsychotics but are more susceptible to adverse events and increased mortality risk. A nationwide cohort study in Denmark compared risk of death among such individuals receiving benzodiazepines and/or antidepressants in combination with antipsychotics and those receiving antipsychotics alone. Adults ages 65 and older with dementia were included in the cohort at the time of the first filled antipsychotic; those having used an antipsychotic 180 days prior to the index date or having been hospitalized for at least 30 consecutive days prior to the index date were excluded. The primary outcome compared 180-day all-cause mortality between those using antipsychotics alone and those using antipsychotics in combination with benzodiazepines and/ or antidepressants. The researchers accounted for several potential confounding factors, including comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, number of prescription drugs used within 3 months, and any hospital admission in the 6 months prior to the index date. More than 7,000 patients were included in the cohort. Twenty-five percent of the cohort died in the 180day period after the first antipsychotic prescription. Use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in combination was associated with more than twice the death rate when compared with use of antipsychotics alone. The combination of antipsychotics and antidepressants resulted in a 39% decreased mortality rate, while the combination of all three classes of drugs showed a lower mortality rate than the rate for antipsychotics and benzodiazepines but a higher rate than that for antipsychotics alone. When antipsychotic treatment was discontinued, mortality remained high for patients who continued to receive benzodiazepines. Sensitivity analyses were generally in line with the main findings. Prescribers should use caution when prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in combination in this population, the researchers concluded. [Norgaard A, et al. J Clin Psychiatry 2020; published online Jun 2; doi: 10.4088/JCP.19m12828]