Recently, investigators demonstrated that acute sleep deprivation in healthy subjects results in significant periodic decrements in ventilation during recovery rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. The neural bases of such phenomena are unknown. The decrements in ventilation coincide with REM sleep-associated phasic activities, such as bursts of eye movements. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute sleep deprivation on control of diaphragm activity during recovery REM sleep. In chronically implanted, naturally sleeping, unrestrained cats, we recorded the electroencephalogram, electrooculogram, pontogeniculooccipital waves, neck and diaphragmatic electromyograms, and the computed moving average of the diaphragm. Acute sleep deprivation resulted in an increase in REM sleep-associated phasic alterations in diaphragmatic control during recovery REM sleep. There was an increase in the percentage of bursts during recovery REM sleep with reduced inspiratory drive. Acute sleep deprivation resulted in a substantial increase in the number of brief pauses (fractionations) in diaphragmatic activity during recovery REM sleep. Respiratory timing was also affected by sleep deprivation, with a reduced expiratory time resulting in an increased duty cycle ratio. There was a significant increase in the percentage of bursts with decremented peak amplitude of the moving average of the diaphragm, a measure that correlates with tidal volume. Despite significant increases in respiratory-related phasic alterations, there were no parallel increases in excitatory phenomena, i.e., eye movements or pontogeniculooccipital waves. These results imply that respiratory control mechanisms in REM sleep are sensitive to the effects of prior sleep deprivation.


Hawksbill turtles from nesting areas in the south of the Arabian/Persian Gulf have been shown to migrate to numerous individual foraging sites across the region and undertake "summer migration loops" (SMLs) to avoid the most extreme sea temperatures. We tracked hawksbills nesting in Kuwait (n = 4) that migrated to hitherto undescribed foraging sites but showed no evidence of SMLs despite experiencing water temperatures greater than 33°C. Increasing the sample size for Kuwait turtles, tracking males, and publishing results from other important hawksbill nesting areas in Saudi Arabia are recommended to get a fuller indication of potential behavioral plasticity in the region.


A three-dimensional (3-D) planar microlens with curved sidewalls was fabricated by using the recently developed 3-D diffuser lithography and the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) replication method. The sidewall of the fabricated 3-D planar microlens had a radius of curvature of 140 /spl mu/m, and a well-defined focal spot with a width of 1.5 /spl mu/m and a height of 3 /spl mu/m was observed. An excellent single-mode fiber-to-fiber coupling efficiency of 71% was demonstrated by applying the developed 3-D planar microlens, which displayed more than two times the coupling ability compared to that of a conventional two-dimensional planar microlens with straight sidewalls. Finally, it was verified that the coupling efficiency was little affected by variation in the process conditions used for the photoresist mold fabrication.


Paralysis following the injection of antitoxin, although rare in comparison with the frequency of serotherapy, has been reported in nearly a hundred cases since it was first noted, in the early part of the century, by Gangolphe.1 In most of these cases paralysis has followed the injection of tetanus antitoxin, but other serums, such as those used in the treatment of diphtheria, scarlatina, pneumonia and meningococcic meningitis, have been implicated. Doyle,2 in a tabulation of forty-nine cases of neurologic complications of serum disease, found involvement of the brachial plexus more frequent (thirty-three cases) than that of any other portion of the nervous system. Next in frequency was isolated involvement of the radial and the optic nerve; that of the latter was first described by Mason.3 Cases of paralysis of the facial nerve, paralysis of the oculomotor nerve,4 generalized paralysis


People with early stages of rheumatoid arthritis seem to have fewer symptoms and less rapid progression of joint damage when they are treated with drugs that block the protein that promotes inflammation, known as tumour necrosis factor.

Two new studies show that two tumour necrosis factor inhibitors, infliximab and etanercept, seem to do as good or better a job of treating rheumatoid arthritis than methotrexate, which is the current standard of care ( New England Journal of Medicine 2000;343:1586-93, 1594-1602).

In the first study, directed by Dr Joan M Bathon of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 632 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis received subcutaneous etanercept (10 mg or 25 mg) twice weekly or oral methotrexate (mean 19 mg weekly) for 12 months.

Clinical response was defined as the percentage improvement in disease activity according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Bone erosion and narrowing of joint spaces were measured radiographically and scored using …


This work describes observational and modelling results of the ozone depletion which took place during the winter/spring of 2011 in the Arctic stratosphere. Assimilated total ozone data from GOME‐2 were used to estimate the integrated ozone mass deficit at polar latitudes and the Oslo CTM2 model calculated low winter/spring ozone values over the Arctic, which compare well with the satellite observations. Model runs with and without chemistry in the Arctic during the winter/spring of 2011 show that the very low Arctic stratospheric air temperatures led to significant chemical ozone loss. The calculated winter/spring ozone mass deficit (O3MD) reached extreme high values in 2011 (2700 Mt) and the seasonal zonal mean total ozone extreme low values of 333DU. Dynamics have set up the conditions for cold temperatures in the lower stratosphere in winter/spring of 2011. Comparison of ozone columns with the previous 13 years shows record low ozone column values during winter/spring in the Arctic in 2011. A comparison is also given with similar model studies for the overall warmer winter/spring of 2010 which show higher ozone column values and significantly less chemical ozone loss. The interannual variability of column ozone over the northern polar region is, as expected, highly correlated with the corresponding year‐to‐year variability of the seasonally‐averaged temperatures in the lower stratosphere.


On July 12, 2016, an Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea found overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines in its dispute with the People's Republic of China over maritime claims and other issues in the South China Sea. This piece appraises the decision in light of the events leading up to the current controversy.
To investigate the source of the conflict, one does not have to go back very far. In 1974, during the final stages of the Vietnam War, China ejected South Vietnam from the Paracel Islands-a group of tiny maritime features in the South China Sea claimed by both nations. After a classic "weekend war, "China tried to dampen down the affair by swiftly releasing the prisoners and refusing to be drawn into an international debate.
Within days, though, there was more activity, when South Vietnam dispatched forces to occupy five features in the Spratly Islands, a larger group further to the south of the South China Sea. During this period, South Vietnam, the Philippines, and Taiwan all engaged in the fortification of their respective features reinforcing garrisons, installing military hardware, building runways, and shooting at interlopers. The militarization of the Spratlys had begun, and well before China, the focus of the current arbitration, established a physical presence on the reefs in the vicinity.
By drawing on these earlier events, examined through the lens of United States'diplomatic correspondence of the time, it is possible to both construct a legal path to the arbitration based on the parties' claims to the Spratlys, and critically appraise the Tribunal's reasoning on its jurisdiction over the Philippines' claims against China.


The more a technology matures and gains popularity, the less one has to understand in order to use it. Similarly, the less a user has to understand, the greater the number of users who follow, leading to more imaginative uses of that technology. Predicting the Internet's future by the more-of-the-same approach (starting with Moore's law for both computing and communication) leads to obvious generic predictions (typically using terms like "the new millennium"). The really interesting innovations result from paradigm changes that are difficult to predict. However, one thing is guaranteed: the fundamentals never change, including the laws of physics and those of human nature. There are two important fundamental laws of large systems: someone must be in charge and plan it; and someone must pay for it. The future character of the Internet will be determined by those who will pay for it. However, the cost of the Internet is not just that of moving and viewing the bits. It includes the cost of providing the content, not just the distribution, because the real value of the Internet is the content it makes accessible. To sum it up: there is a crucial fork in the road for the character of the Internet. One path leads to an Internet whose content is primarily paid by commercial interests (like commercial television). The other path leads to an Internet whose content is primarily paid by its users (like public television). These are very different models with fundamentally opposing implications for the future character of the Internet.


In recent years, supply chain performance measurement has received much attention from researchers and practitioners. Effective supply chain performance through supply chain antecedents such as business analytics has become a potentially valuable way of securing competitive advantage and improving supply chain performance. This study addressed the lack of the empirical studies by developing a comprehensive model to examine the effect of business analytics on supply chain performance. A quantitative methodology using a cross-sectional survey method was used to investigate the relationship between variables. Data were collected from automotive companies in Iran. The relationships between variables were examined using structural equation modelling (SEM) technique and partial least squares (PLS) software was used. The results revealed there is a significant positive relationship between business analytics and supply chain performance. The study combined resource- based theory, resource dependence theories to develop a new theoretical framework to demonstrate the importance of businesses analytics; in improving supply chain performance.


AIM
The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of interruption to living at home as a result of death, hospitalization, or admission to a long-term care facility in frail elderly people enrolled in a home visit rehabilitation service.

METHODS
A total of 311 patients entered a home visit rehabilitation service within a study period of 1 September, 2005 to 31 March, 2010, 146 of whom met the criteria to be enrolled in this study and gave consent. Of these, 73 received a continuous home visit rehabilitation service (continuous group) of over 2 years and 73 experienced interruption to this service due to death, hospitalization, or admission to a long-term care facility (interruption group). The following physical, social, and medical factors were recorded and analyzed: age, sex, care level, disease diagnoses, gait disability, cognitive impairment, living with another person and cause of the interruption to the home-visit rehabilitation service. We compared each item between the interruption and continuous groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the significant predictors of interruptions to living at home.

RESULTS
Patients in the interruption group demonstrated significantly lower functioning in activities of daily living (ADL), gait ability and lower cognitive status, and higher rates of respiratory diseases and cancer compared with the continuous group. On logistic regression analysis, ADL score (odds ratio [OR]=0.97, p<0.01), and the presence of respiratory diseases (OR=4.35, p=0.04) and cancer (OR=13.46, p<0.01) were significantly associated with interruptions to living at home.

CONCLUSIONS
Lower ADL functioning, respiratory diseases and cancer were significant predictors of interruption to living at home in frail elderly adults.


Snoring is common in the general population and the irregularity could lead to the presence of Obstructive sleep apnea. Diagnosis of OSA could therefore be made by snoring sound analysis. However, there is still a shortage of robust methods to automatically detect snoring sounds without the need to calibrate for every individual. In this paper, a novel method based on neural network is proposed to classify breathing sound episodes from snoring and non-snoring sound segments. Our snore detection algorithm was applied to the tracheal sounds of nine individuals with different OSA severities. On the testing dataset, the classifier achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 95.9% and 97.6% respectively. Our results indicate that using such a method could help to detect snoring sounds with high accuracy which would be useful in the diagnosis of sleep apnea.


PURPOSE
Until recently the role of germline genetics in prostate cancer care was not well defined. While important questions remain, we reviewed the current understanding of germline genetic alterations related to prostate cancer. We discuss the clinical implications for genetic counseling, genetic testing, early detection and treatment in men with these mutations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We searched PubMed® for English language articles published since 2001 with the key words "germline mutations," "BRCA," "family history" or "prostate cancer genetics." We also used relevant data from websites, including the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network®), the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and the NSGC (National Society of Genetic Counselors) websites.

RESULTS
A number of germline mutations in DNA damage repair genes ( BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, ATM and PALB2) and in DNA mismatch repair genes ( MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2) can drive the development of prostate cancer. Careful genetic counseling coupled with multipanel gene testing can help identify men with these mutations and provide enhanced understanding of the disease risk. Cascade testing of family members can then have an impact extending well beyond the index patient. In men with a pathogenic germline mutation the optimal early detection paradigm is not well defined. Data from the IMPACT study ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00261456) that the cancer detection rate is substantially elevated in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers at PSA greater than 3 ng/ml has helped establish the importance of close PSA screening in these men. Additionally, BRCA2 and likely other DNA damage repair mutations are associated with aggressive disease, although it is not yet clear how this impacts localized disease management. However, there is strong evidence that patients with metastatic, castration resistant prostate cancer who have DNA damage repair defects respond positively to targeting PARP enzymes. In many cancers there is also evidence that patients with an increased tumor mutational burden, such as in Lynch syndrome, are particularly sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS
Emerging evidence supports the implementation of germline genetic counseling and testing as a key component of prostate cancer management. Further research is needed to elucidate the clinical significance of lesser known germline mutations and develop optimal screening, early detection and treatment paradigms in this patient population.


ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the study and conservation of the gods painted on the doors of traditional temples in Taiwan. These paintings are continually exposed to poor environmental conditions (especially sunlight, rain, and pollution) and human factors, such as continuous ritual activities. After reviewing the technical characteristics of these paintings and their origins, traditional views and contemporary practices followed in the restoration of temples are explored. Since preventive conservation is a key issue in the preservation of cultural heritage, some solutions that have already been carried out, as well as suggestions for others that could be put into practice in order to improve the situation and extend the life expectancy of these paintings, are considered. Finally, while it is inevitable to try to preserve some of the most outstanding pieces, the possibility of considering these works as ephemeral is contemplated. This may seem contradictory, but it is, in fact, a relatively common situation when addressing the conservation of religious heritage in use. Undoubtedly, the preservation of this heritage still raises many questions and exposes a number of contradictions.


The bandwidth of fast steering mirror (FSM) is about several tens of hertz which is related to Tylar frequency of atmospheric turbulence, and the bandwidth of deformable mirror ranges from several tens to hundreds hertz relates to Greenwood frequency of atmospheric turbulence. According to practical experience, the ratio of fast steering mirror and deformable mirror should be from one is to five to one is to ten when corrects static atmospheric turbulence, and should be one is to two even one is to one when corrects dynamic targets, such as plane and satellite. All these require improve fast steering mirror's bandwidth to several hundreds frequency. The reason why fast steering mirror's harmonic frequency lower is analyzed in the paper set out from the point of fast steering mirror's structural designation, and the way of improve its bandwidth by finite element dynamic analysis (FEDA) is discussed detailed


Abstract Active tRNAs are extensively post-transcriptionally modified, particularly at the wobble position 34 and the position 37 on the 3′-side of the anticodon. The 5-carboxy-methoxy modification of U34 (cmo5U34) is present in Gram-negative tRNAs for six amino acids (Ala, Ser, Pro, Thr, Leu and Val), four of which (Ala, Ser, Pro and Thr) have a terminal methyl group to form 5-methoxy-carbonyl-methoxy-uridine (mcmo5U34) for higher reading-frame accuracy. The molecular basis for the selective terminal methylation is not understood. Many cmo5U34-tRNAs are essential for growth and cannot be substituted for mutational analysis. We show here that, with a novel genetic approach, we have created and isolated mutants of Escherichia coli tRNAPro and tRNAVal for analysis of the selective terminal methylation. We show that substitution of G35 in the anticodon of tRNAPro inactivates the terminal methylation, whereas introduction of G35 to tRNAVal confers it, indicating that G35 is a major determinant for the selectivity. We also show that, in tRNAPro, the terminal methylation at U34 is dependent on the primary m1G methylation at position 37 but not vice versa, indicating a hierarchical ranking of modifications between positions 34 and 37. We suggest that this hierarchy provides a mechanism to ensure top performance of a tRNA inside of cells.


The problem of the association of infective endocarditis (IE) and oncological diseases has been discussed for more than 60 years, and is now becoming increasingly relevant because of observed increasing of number IE in elderly patients. The review of the literature presents both data on the incidence of oncological diseases diagnosed with IE and in the long-term follow-up of patients after IE, as well as current estimates of IE incidence in cancer patients, obtained in large population-based studies. The highest risk of IE development was found in patients with tumors of the colon and rectum, and the predominant etiological role of Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus was proved in such cases. The frequency of concomitant oncological diseases is higher in elderly patients with IE. On the other hand, it is obvious that IE can be considered as a marker of latent oncological pathology, especially gastrointestinal tumors, malignant blood diseases and lymphoproliferative diseases that are most often detected during the period of active IE and in the first 1–2 years later. Therefore, mandatory colonoscopy is recommended for patients with IE caused by Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus during the period of IE and annually in subsequent years, even if initially the colonoscopy did not reveal pathology. In elderly IE patients we should also be aware of the high likelihood of concomitant oncological pathology and carry out appropriate oncological search. Antimicrobial prophylaxis of IE in patients with gastrointestinal cancer remains unresolved.


Background and purpose: Access to safe drinking water is of the utmost importance in public health around the world. Presence of contaminants, such as secondary bacterial growth and endotoxins could reduce the quality of water resources. This study aimed at investigating the occurrence, seasonal variation, and removal of endotoxins in a conventional water treatment plant (WTP) in Tehran, Iran. Materials and methods: A total of 36 samples was collected on a monthly basis from raw water and treated water in each uint of Tehran-pars drinking WTP during summer and fall (2015). Endotoxin concentrations were assessed using the Endpoint Chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) detection method. Furthermore, turbidity, heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and pH measurements were done to assist in the analysis of data. Results: The mean values for the total endotoxin activities in summer and fall in the raw water were 44-54.5 and 17.62-54.5 Eu/ml, respectively. The results demonstrated a 34% decrease in endotoxin activity following the full-scale treatment process at the WTP. The highest concentration of endotoxin was detected in summer. Coagulation, clarification and sand filtration resulted in the highest endotoxin removal (38.16 %), while chlorination contributed to the concentration of total endotoxins by 5.6-6.7%. Conclusion: Water treatment processes aiming at the removal of particulate matter in the WTP revealed the most effective removal rates of total endotoxins. However, endotoxin contamination exists in the drinking water treated.


Compound flooding may result from the interaction of two or more contributing processes, which may not be extreme themselves, but in combination lead to extreme impacts. Here, we use statistical methods to assess compounding effects from storm surge and multiple riverine discharges in Sabine Lake, TX. We employ several trivariate statistical models, including vine‐copulas and a conditional extreme value model, to examine the sensitivity of results to the choice of data pre‐processing steps, statistical model setup, and outliers. We define a response function that represents water levels resulting from the interaction between discharge and surge processes inside Sabine Lake and explore how it is affected by including or ignoring dependencies between the contributing flooding drivers. Our results show that accounting for dependencies leads to water levels that are up to 30 cm higher for a 2% annual exceedance probability (AEP) event and up to 35 cm higher for a 1% AEP event, compared to assuming independence. We also find notable variations in the results across different sampling schemes, multivariate model configurations, and sensitivity to outlier removal. Under data constraints, this highlights the need for testing various statistical modelling approaches, while the choice of an optimal approach remains subjective.


The notion of "conceptual mapping", as a set of correspondences between conceptual domains, was popularized in Cognitive Semantics, following seminal work by Lakoff & Johnson (1980), as a way of accounting for the basic cognitive activity underlying metaphor and metonymy. Strangely enough, Cognitive Semantics has paid little, if any, attention to other cases of so-called figurative language such as hyperbole, irony, paradox, and oxymoron. This paper contends that it is possible to account for these and other figures of thought in terms of the notion of conceptual mapping. It argues that the differences between these and other figurative uses of language are a matter of the nature of the domains involved in mappings and how they are made to correspond. Additionally, this paper examines constraints on mappings and concludes that the same factors that constrain metaphor and metonymy are operational in the case of mappings for the other figures of thought under discussion.


Evaluation of the ultrastructure of material obtained by endomyocardial biopsy has been proposed as a means to evaluate patients for impending anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Eighteen biopsies obtained from 13 patients (age, 3-18 years) are reported. Twelve biopsy procedures were done to evaluate the cardiac status on reaching a cumulative dose of 400 mg/m2 and three patients had six subsequent biopsies after having received significantly more drug or receiving radiation therapy to the lungs or mediastinum. Scores were assigned to the tissue obtained and used to guide the decision to continue or stop anthracycline therapy. Three patients with abnormal cardiac studies at low cumulative doses, five of whom had received greater than 400 mg/m2 and three of whom had received considerably higher doses and thoracic irradiation were given more drug without incident. Two specimens were interpreted to indicate avoidance of further anthracycline and two patients were cautiously given more despite evidence of mild myocardial damage. These results indicate that endomyocardial biopsies can be performed on a pediatric population with a reasonable complication rate. Further studies should be undertaken to evaluate its usefulness as a means to predict and avoid anthracycline cardiomyopathy.


Education and training are vital and yet rapidly changing components of the health care delivery system. Understanding and adapting to these changes are critically important to all health care professionals who represent the leadership in the industry. A major objective of the American Society for Healthcare Education and Training is the periodic measurement, assessment, and reporting of these changes. Toward this objective, ASHET commissioned a survey of its entire national membership in the fall of 1988. The following are the results of this survey.


We measure the integrated Stokes parameters of light from Zn (4s4p)4^{3}P_{0,1}-(4s5s)5^{3}S_{1} transitions excited by a transversely polarized electron impact at energies between 7.0 and 8.5 eV. Our results for the electron-polarization-normalized linear polarization Stokes parameter P_{2}, between incident electron energies 7.0 and 7.4 eV, are consistent with zero, as required by basic angular-momentum coupling considerations and by recent theoretical calculations. They are in qualitative disagreement with previous experimental results for the P_{2} parameter.


Joint clustering and feature learning methods have shown remarkable performance in unsupervised representation learning. However, the training schedule alternating between feature clustering and network parameters update leads to unstable learning of visual representations. To overcome this challenge, we propose Online Deep Clustering (ODC) that performs clustering and network update simultaneously rather than alternatingly. Our key insight is that the cluster centroids should evolve steadily in keeping the classifier stably updated. Specifically, we design and maintain two dynamic memory modules, i.e., samples memory to store samples' labels and features, and centroids memory for centroids evolution. We break down the abrupt global clustering into steady memory update and batch-wise label re-assignment. The process is integrated into network update iterations. In this way, labels and the network evolve shoulder-to-shoulder rather than alternatingly. Extensive experiments demonstrate that ODC stabilizes the training process and boosts the performance effectively.


This paper presents the use of constructive neural networks for pattern recognition. The work presented here is part of the SAPRI project (System for Acquisition, Processing and Image Recognition) which is being developed for the Brazilian Navy. The objective of this paper is to investigate the behavior of constructive neural networks in image recognition tasks, specially with images from the SAPRI project. Constructive neural networks differ from standard networks due to their ability to change their own number of elements, adding or removing units and connections. Four constructive algorithms are presented in this paper: cascade correlation, tower, pyramid and upstart.


In this paper, we examine the relationship between the digital and geography. Our analysis provides an overview of the rich scholarship that has examined: (1) geographies of the digital, (2) geographies produced by the digital, and (3) geographies produced through the digital. Using this material we reflect on two questions: has there been a digital turn in geography? and, would it be productive to delimit 'digital geography' as a field of study within the discipline, as has recently occurred with the attempt to establish 'digital anthropology' and 'digital sociology'? We argue that while there has been a digital turn across geographical sub-disciplines, the digital is now so pervasive in mediating the production of space and in producing geographic knowledge that it makes little sense to delimit digital geography as a distinct field. Instead, we believe it is more productive to think about how the digital reshapes many geographies.


Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) and Dengue virus (DENV) Coinfection can be a pertinent issue in a country like India, where Dengue is endemic, and Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is also reported from all states of the country. The coinfection of these viruses has already been reported in different dengue‐endemic countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Bangladesh. The outcome and the dynamics of each of the diseases may be altered in the presence of coinfection. We highlighted the critical characteristic similarities and differences between COVID-19 and Dengue infection & the specific point, which may challenge diagnosing and managing these coinfections. COVID-19 and Dengue coinfection can be deadly in combination with an atypical presentation, providing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A high index of suspicion, early recognition of symptoms, and warning signs are vital to prevent double jeopardy.


Highly aligned arrays of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on layered Si substrates have been synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The effect of the substrate design and the process parameters on the growth mechanism were studied. Adding water vapor to the reaction gas mixture of hydrogen and ethylene enhanced the growth which led to synthesis of longer CNT arrays with high density. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to analyze the CNT morphology and composition. Quadrupole mass spectroscopy (QMS) provided in-situ information on the gas spices within the reaction zone. On the basis of results, we verified the top growth mechanism and evaluated the reason of decline and stoppage of the CNT growth after extended period of deposition. Multilayered Si substrates with a top film of Al2O3, having appropriate roughness, provide favorable conditions to form catalyst islands with uniform distribution and size. Using water-assisted CVD process and optimized substrate design, our group succeeded to grow vertically aligned, patterned MWCNT up to 4-mm long. The arrays were of high purity and weak adhesion which allowed to be peeled off easily from the substrate.


In this paper, a new learning control algorithm based on neural network classification of unknown dynamic environment models and neural network learning of robot dynamic model is proposed. The method classifies characteristics of environments by using multilayer perceptrons, and then determines the control parameters for compliance control using the estimated characteristics. Simultaneously, using the second neural network the compensation of robot dynamic model uncertainties is accomplished. The classification capability of neural classifier is realized by efficient online training process. It is an important feature that the process of pattern classification can work in an online manner as a part of selected compliance control algorithm. Compliant motion simulation experiments have been performed in order to verify the proposed approach.


The paper describes a simple but effective method for incorporating automatically learned tempo models into realtime music tracking systems. In particular, instead of training our system with 'rehearsal data' by a particular performer, we provide it with many different interpretations of a given piece, possibly by many different performers. During the tracking process the system continuously recombines this information to come up with an accurate tempo hypothesis. We present this approach in the context of a real-time tracking system that is robust to almost arbitrary deviations from the score (e.g. omissions, forward and backward jumps, unexpected repetitions or re-starts) by the live performer.


A semi-planar miniaturized antenna which operates over the FCC allocated UWB spectrum is presented. The small antenna comprises a folded conducting element connected to a printed section. Several solutions are introduced which create different current paths increasing the effective dimensions of the antenna. The antenna is examined for the stand-alone case and for the antenna mounted in various locations on a larger handset-type groundplane. The impedance and radiation characteristics show a relative independence of the groundplane size and the antenna location on it. The proposed antenna is a valuable candidate for handset applications due to its compactness. The proposed antenna may be employed in UWB communications systems and exhibits quasi-omnidirectional radiation patterns over the full impedance bandwidth.


We are simulating the dynamical failure of three-dimensional notched solids under tension using molecular dynamics, simple interatomic force laws and system sizes from 10 to more than 100 millions atoms. The rare-gas solid will cleave brittlely at failure under mode I loading in the ⟨110⟩ direction. With sufficient loading, the crack velocity can reach a speed where a transition from brittle failure to ductile failure occurs. We show that this critical speed is independent of the loading history and is approximately 0.36 of the Rayleigh sound speed, consistent with our suggestion that this transition is initiated by an intrinsic instability in the crack dynamics.


We report two cases of eruptive tumors of the follicular infundibulum (TFI) with an unusual clinical presentation which has not been described previously in literature. In both cases, the appearance was strikingly similar, consisting of multiple asymptomatic hypopigmented macules on the buttocks of two Black African males, aged 38 and 55 years old. In both cases, the eruption had evolved over several months. The individual lesions were of similar size, approximately 1 cm, with irregular and ill‐defined borders. Histopathological examination revealed a superficial and horizontal plate‐like proliferation of keratinocytes emanating from the epidermis with multiple slender attachments. Pale keratinocytes were present within the epithelial plates. A Fontana stain showed a loss of melanin pigment from the epithelial plates. Orcein (elastic) stain highlighted an increase of the number of the elastic fibers surrounding the tumor. On the basis of these findings, a diagnosis of eruptive TFI was established for both cases. Among the various presentations of TFI, only the eruptive variant appears to be clinically distinctive, with asymptomatic hypopigmented macules usually located on the face, neck and upper trunk. Eruptive TFI should also be added to the clinical differential diagnosis of multiple hypopigmented macules on the buttocks of Black patients.


Accuracy of available estimated bandwidth and convergence delay algorithm are researchers' challenges in wireless network measurements. Currently a variety of tools are developed to estimate the end-to-end network available bandwidth such as TOPP (Train Of Packet Pair), SLoPS (Self Loading Periodic Stream), Spurce and Variable Packet Size etc. These tools are important to improve the QoS (Quality of Service) of demanding applications. However the performances of the previous tools are very different in term of probing time and estimation accuracy. In this paper we present a fast and accurate bandwidth estimation technique named SLOT. By using NS2 the performance of SLOT technique will be evaluated and the obtain results are analysed by MATLAB software and compared with the TOPP and the SLoPS ones. We show that SLOT has shorter probing time than the TOPP one, and it provides more accurate available estimated bandwidth than the SLoPS one.


OF DISSERTATION THE EFFECT OF HAPTIC INTERACTION AND LEARNER CONTROL ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN AN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE Today's learners are taking advantage of a whole new world of multimedia and hypermedia experiences to gain understanding and construct knowledge. While at the same time, teachers and instructional designers are producing these experiences at rapid paces. Many angles of interactivity with digital content continue to be researched, as is the case with this study. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a significant difference in the performance of distance education students who exercise learner control interactivity effectively through a traditional input device versus students who exercise learner control interactivity through haptic input methods. This study asks three main questions about the relationship and potential impact touch input had on the interactivity sequence a learner chooses while participating in an online distance education course. Effects were measured by using criterion from logged assessments within one module of a distance education course. This study concludes that learner control sequence choices did have significant effects on learner outcomes. However, input method did not. The sequence that learners chose had positive effects on scores, the number of attempts it took to pass assessments, and the overall range of scores per assessment attempts. Touch input learners performed as well as traditional input learners, and summative first sequence learners outperformed all other learners. These findings support the beliefs that new input methods are not detrimental and that learner-controlled options while participating in digital online courses are valuable for learners, under certain conditions.


Extreme climatic events affecting the Amazon region are expected to become more frequent under ongoing climate change. In this study, we assessed the responses to the 2010 drought of over 14,000 trees ≥10 cm dbh in a 25 ha lowland forest plot in the Colombian Amazon and how these responses varied among topographically defined habitats, with tree size, and with species wood density. Tree mortality was significantly higher during the 2010-2013 period immediately after the drought than in 2007-2010. The post-drought increase in mortality was stronger for trees located in valleys (+243%) than for those located on slopes (+67%) and ridges (+57%). Tree-based generalized linear mixed models showed a significant negative effect of species wood density on mortality and no effect of tree size. Despite the elevated post-drought mortality, aboveground biomass increased from 2007 to 2013 by 1.62 Mg ha-1  yr-1 (95% CI 0.80-2.43 Mg ha-1  yr-1 ). Biomass change varied among habitats, with no significant increase on the slopes (1.05, 95% CI -0.76 to 2.85 Mg ha-1  yr-1 ), a significant increase in the valleys (1.33, 95% CI 0.37-2.34 Mg ha-1  yr-1 ), and a strong increase on the ridges (2.79, 95% CI 1.20-4.21 Mg ha-1  yr-1 ). These results indicate a high carbon resilience of this forest to the 2010 drought due to habitat-associated and interspecific heterogeneity in responses including directional changes in functional composition driven by enhanced performance of drought-tolerant species that inhabit the drier ridges.


Due to the absence of necessary knowledge about anatomic morphological features of ligamentous apparatus of the lumbar spine, it is often difficult to interpret the results of radiological studies of these structures. Taking into consideration the shortage of this information and its importance for diagnostic purposes, the analysis of the publications dedicated to clinical anatomy of intertransverse and transforaminal ligaments has been carried out.


Continual pretraining is a popular way of building a domain-specific pretrained language model from a general-domain language model. In spite of its high efficiency, continual pretraining suffers from catastrophic forgetting, which may harm the model's performance in downstream tasks. To alleviate the issue, in this paper, we propose a continual pretraining method for the BERT-based model, named Attention-FFN Adapter. Its main idea is to introduce a small number of attention heads and hidden units inside each self-attention layer and feed-forward network. Furthermore, we train a domain-specific language model named AF Adapter based RoBERTa for the Chinese biomedical domain. In experiments, models are applied to downstream tasks for evaluation. The results demonstrate that with only about 17% of model parameters trained, AF Adapter achieves 0.6%, 2% gain in performance on average, compared to strong baselines. Further experimental results show that our method alleviates the catastrophic forgetting problem by 11% compared to the fine-tuning method.


The history of Kupat Holim, the health organization of workers in Israel, began at the 2nd Convention of Jewish agricultural workers in Judea in December 1911. Due to the lack of health services within the economic means of the workers, and the refusal of the farmer-employers to extend health services to their employees, the Jewish agricultural workers in Eretz-Israel - at that time, a distant province of the far-flung Ottoman empire - decided to establish a workers' health fund (kupat holim in Hebrew).In the years 1912-15, two funds similar to the ones in Judea were also established in the north and center of the country. In the first years, the health funds did not provide workers with medical assistance on their own. Only in 1913, with the outbreak of the First World War, were the health funds transformed from insuring organizations into ones that provided medical assistance services themselves. With the establishment of the General Federation of Labor (1920), the health funds were amalgamated into a single organization - the Federation's Kupat Holim (1921). The unification of Kupat Holim ultimately determined the organization's future - transforming it from a small, local, temporary body with a few dozen members into a national entity and a key factor in health services in Israel to this day.This volume seeks to describe the growth of Kupat Holim up to the point where it was transformed into a central health organization in Israel; its relationship with its parent-organization, the General Federation of Labor and its rivalry with its competitor in the health field, Hadassah; its evolution from an organization solely for laborers to one open to all; the efforts on the part of Kupat Holim during the British Mandate (1918-1948) to bring about legislation for a compulsory health insurance law; and, the formulation of the basic principle that underlie the work of Kupit Holim to this day - the principle of national and social responsibility for the provision of equal health services to all.


Estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive breast cancer research is an ideal example of how systems biology can be applied to better understand a specific clinical issue. By integrating vast data sets from tumor‐derived expression arrays, genome‐wide transcription factor/chromatin interactions, proteomics and computational analyses, we may better understand the concept of breast cancer development, heterogeneity, and its treatment. Resistance to endocrine treatment, such as anti‐estrogens, often occurs and systems biology may prove to be a valuable asset in tailoring treatment for each patient. In such a multidisciplinary setup, it is essential to try and connect these massive data streams with the known pathological background and cell biology. In this review, we describe the current status of such studies and the challenges that are to be met in order to fully understand the concept of anti‐estrogen resistance from a holistic perspective. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 216–230 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.109


Coherence resonance in a discrete excitable neuronal model with noises and time delays is investigated. The effects of the time delays on coherence resonance are revealed in two cases: Gaussian white and Gaussian color noises, respectively. The coefficient of variation of interspike intervals is calculated by numerical simulation. The results show that the coherence resonance is enhanced with the time delay increasing in the weak noises intensity cases, while there is no effect in the large noise intensity. Moreover, the coherence resonance can be held back by the self-correlation time, when the system is driven by a color noise.


The use of liposomes containing increasing amounts of cholesterol as carriers for anthraquinone disperse dyes in the dyeing of wool fibres is described. Multilamellar lipid vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine and containing CI Disperse Violet 1 at different phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol relative concentrations were used. Controlled exhaustion of dye on the wool was achieved, which was directly dependent on the liposome lipid concentration. Increasing the amount of cholesterol in the bilayers resulted in a decrease in dyebath exhaustion while improving the total amount of dye bonded to the wool fibres. The dye's dispersion efficiency was also improved, compared with the use of conventional dispersing agents. The optimum application of these systems, both in terms of dyebath exhaustion and total amount of dye bonded to the wool samples, was directly correlated with the dye/lipid weight ratio for the maximum level of dye encapsulation efficiency.


Genetic diseases associated with dynamic mutations in microsatellite DNA often display parent‐of‐origin effects (POEs) in which the risk of disease depends on the sex of the parent from whom the disease allele was inherited. Carriers of germline mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes have high risks of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We investigated whether these risks depend on the parent‐of‐origin of the mutation. We studied 422 subjects, including 89 MMR gene mutation carriers, from 17 population‐based families who were each recruited via a CRC case diagnosed before age 45 years and found to carry a MMR gene mutation. The POE hazard ratio (HRPOE), defined to be the CRC incidence for carriers with maternally derived mutations divided by the corresponding paternal incidence, was estimated using a novel application of modified segregation analysis. HRPOE (95% confidence interval) was estimated to be 3.2 (1.1–9.8) for males (P = 0.03) and 0.8 (0.2–2.8) for females (P = 0.5) and the corresponding cumulative risks to age 80 years were 88% (54%–100%) for male carriers with maternally derived mutations and 38–48% for all other carriers. If confirmed by larger studies, these results will have important implications for the etiology of CRC and for the clinical management of MMR gene mutation carriers.Hum Mutat 32: 1‐6, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The author compares the methods proposed by Boulware (1984), and Buchbinder and Lyachovich (1987), to establish a Hamiltonian formalism for fourth-order gravity and studies another possibility to circumvent second-order derivatives of the metric tensor components on the level of the Lagrangian for fourth-order theories of gravity, by introduction of a scalar field. This is done in a way different from the common procedure of doing a conformal transformation of the metric. It is demonstrated how the well known fourth-order field equations result. On the basis of the Hamiltonian formalism, the author considers the quantum cosmology for homogeneous and isotropic closed models. As a first application, the WKB approximation is discussed neglecting the spatial curvature. Chosen initial conditions have the consequence that the resulting wavefunction leads to the inflationary stage of the cosmic evolution.


Extracellularly applied ATP elicited a transient increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) measured by fura-2 fluorescence digital imaging microscopy in isolated rabbit and guinea-pig atrial myocytes. In the electrophysiological study, ATP induced a transient depolarization of the membrane potential due to activation of a rapidly desensitizing inward current. Our results indicate that in mammalian atrial myocytes, ATP evoked transient increase in [Ca2+]i through release of internally stored Ca2+ associated with inflow of external Ca2+, mainly through L-type Ca channels which were voltage-activated secondarily to ATP-induced conductance changes.


Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation has been used to study the martensitic transformation in iron at the atomic scale. The paper reviews the available interatomic interaction potentials for iron, which describe the properties of different phases present in that system. Cases on the fcc-to-bcc transformation in iron by MD simulations were included in the present paper. Factors affecting the fcc-to-bcc transformation in iron were analysed: (a) structural factors, such as grain/phase boundaries, grain sizes and stacking faults; (b) simulation conditions, such as the presence of free surfaces, external stress/strain and studied temperatures; (c) the interatomic interaction potential. The main emphasis of the present paper is on results giving insight on the mechanisms of the nucleation and growth of bcc phase in iron. This review was submitted as part of the 2016 Materials Literature Review Prize of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining run by the Editorial Board of MST. Sponsorship of the prize by TWI Ltd is gratefully acknowledged.


Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated cardiotoxicity is a rare immune-related adverse event with high mortality. In recent years, more and more reports were reported. It is urgent to improve understanding and management. Cardiac toxicity often occurs in the early stage after ICI treatment, and its clinical manifestations are diverse and nonspecific, and its pathogenesis is still unclear. Among them, the incidence of immune myocarditis is more than 1%, which can be manifested as fulminant, acute or chronic. Some asymptomatic patients may experience an incubation period to develop acute or fulminant myocarditis, and the mortality of myocarditis can be as high as 50%. Regular monitoring of cardiac biomarkers and ECG is helpful for early diagnosis. Myocardial and endocardial biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis. Immune myocarditis is sensitive to glucocorticoid. The use of glucocorticoid should be early and sufficient. Asymptomatic myocarditis often has a good outcome if treated in time. The cardiologist's assistance in diagnosis and treatment is helpful to improve the prognosis.


Energy consumption optimization belongs to the main agendas in sustainable industries. Here, cost-saving opportunities in the pulp and paper industry as one of the largest industrial energy consumers worldwide are in the focus. Energy-saving measures are proposed employing a large-scale mathematical model of a paper machine based on mass and energy balances supported by real-time experiments in paper machine operation. The presented measures are based on the optimization of paper stock pumping and a drying section operation. The total energy-saving effect of the four proposed measures accounted for a reduction in specific heat and electricity consumption by more than 2 %. The proposed procedures require no or low investment costs with the overall simple rate of return of less than one year.


The present study is based on measurement of foot length of 100 students of age group 18 to 20 years. Foot length (heel to tip of each digit), Foot width, foot girth at metatarsophalangeal joints and stature were the parameters. Collected data analyzed, standard deviation, co-relation coefficient, sexual dimorphism, regression formula and multiple regression equations were predicted. This would be useful for anthropologist and forensic, medicine, experts


Research on unsupervised anomaly detection (AD) has recently progressed, significantly increasing detection accuracy. This paper focuses on texture images and considers how few normal samples are needed for accurate AD. We first highlight the critical nature of the problem that previous studies have overlooked: accurate detection gets harder for anisotropic textures when image orientations are not aligned between inputs and normal samples. We then propose a zero-shot method, which detects anomalies without using a normal sample. The method is free from the issue of unaligned orientation between input and normal images. It assumes the input texture to be homogeneous, detecting image regions that break the homogeneity as anomalies. We present a quantitative criterion to judge whether this assumption holds for an input texture. Experimental results show the broad applicability of the proposed zero-shot method and its good performance comparable to or even higher than the state-of-the-art methods using hundreds of normal samples. The code and data are available from https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10OyPzvI3H6llCZBxKxFlKWt1Pw1tkMK1.


This article aims to refl ect on the contexts of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among the homeless LGBT population, based on fi eld research that sought to analyze their life trajectories, conducted in downtown Sao Paulo. Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with homeless LGBT people, four of them with gays, two with lesbians, three with bisexual men, one with a transvestite and a one with a transsexual woman. Analysis showed the presence of a nomadic form of sociability associated with the removal of links with workplaces, the family and school, living on the streets and the frequent use of psychoactive substances, related to heterosexist bias in families, schools and workplaces, but also to a resistance to the ideals of attachment present in these institutions. In relation to HIV/AIDS, this study shows that homelessness is characterized as a condition defi ned by a synergy of situations of discrimination and violence, strongly related to each other, that increases vulnerability to HIV infection, while hindering the linkage to health services and custody of antiretroviral medication use, preventing adequate treatment in cases of illness from AIDS.


Previous research provided preliminary support of a potential reinforcing effect of suicidal ideation demonstrating reduced negative affect and increased positive affect after thinking about suicide. The present study therefore sought to investigate the role of mood and affect as a proximal risk factor of suicidal ideation in a high-risk sample. Seventy-four psychiatric inpatients (72% female) with unipolar depression and current and/or lifetime suicidal ideation aged 18 to 85 years (M = 37.6, SD = 14.3) took part in an ecological momentary assessment over six days. Multilevel analyses were calculated. Analyses revealed negative valence of mood and low positive affect to be predictors of subsequent intensity of suicidal ideation (active, passive) as well as predictors of change in suicidal ideation (active, passive) since the last measurement. High negative affect only predicted intensity of passive suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation (active, passive) was prospectively associated with subsequent negative valence of mood and lower positive affect as well as with higher intensity of negative affect. Suicidal ideation (active, passive) also predicted the change in valence of mood, positive affect and negative affect since the last measurement. Mood and affect should be taken into account as important proximal risk factors of active and passive suicidal ideation. The results do not support the idea of a reinforcing effect of suicidal ideation. In fact, they show a pattern of reduced subsequent positive affect, negative valence of mood, and increased negative affect. Replication studies with larger samples and longer EMA follow-ups are needed.


Endogenous periadventitial adipose-derived factors have been shown to contribute to coronary vascular regulation by impairing endothelial function through a direct inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). However, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains uncertain. Accordingly, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that periadventitial adipose tissue releases agents that attenuate coronary endothelial nitric oxide production via a protein kinase C (PKC)-beta-dependent mechanism. Isometric tension studies were conducted on isolated canine circumflex coronary arteries with and without natural amounts of periadventitial adipose tissue. Adipose tissue significantly diminished coronary endothelial-dependent vasodilation and nitric oxide production in response to bradykinin and acetylcholine. The selective inhibition of endothelial PKC-beta with ruboxistaurin (1 microM) abolished the adipose-induced impairment of bradykinin-mediated coronary vasodilation and the endothelial production of nitric oxide. Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase in eNOS phosphorylation at the inhibitory residue Thr(495) in arteries exposed to periadventitial adipose tissue. This site-specific phosphorylation of eNOS was prevented by the inhibition of PKC-beta. These data demonstrate that periadventitial adipose-derived factors impair coronary endothelial nitric oxide production via a PKC-beta-dependent, site-specific phosphorylation of eNOS at Thr(495).


The body centre of mass (BCM) is a key factor in the analysis of equine gait, as its position and movement determines the distribution and magnitude of loads on the limbs. Changes in the BCM movement are proposed to be important factors in the lameness management of horses. In this study, changes in the position and the 3-dimensional (3-D) movement of the BCM in horses with induced forelimb lameness were studied using a kinematic, segmental method. The kinematics of 30 markers representing 20 body segments were recorded in 12 horses while trotting (3.9 m/s) on a treadmill using a high speed video system. A transient lameness model, evoking pressure-induced pain on the hoof sole, was used to induce 2 degrees of forelimb lameness. Based on segmental inertial data from Buchner et al, (1997) 3-D segmental centres of mass as well as the BCM were calculated. The changes in BCM movement due to lameness and the influence of selected segments on the total centre of mass were analysed. During moderate forelimb lameness, vertical displacement of the BCM showed a 34% reduced amplitude during the stance phase of the lame limb and a 9% increased amplitude during the stance phase of the sound forelimb. In the sagittal direction, the BCM during midstance moved 9 mm backwards during the stance phase of the lame forelimb. Transversal movements showed a slight, but significant shift of the BCM to the side of the sound forelimb. Head/neck segment movement changed in a sagittal as well as in a vertical direction, but only a small amount, insufficient for considerable BCM position changes. The results show a similar pattern of BCM and trunk movement and only small adaptations of BCM position due to lameness. The influence of the sagittal position of the BCM has to be seen as a minor factor in lameness management compared to the dynamic influences of a changed vertical BCM movement and the moment caused by the typical head and neck movement.


Abstract Aim To explore the experiences of nurses' work stress related to COVID‐19 regular epidemic prevention and control in China. Background The global COVID‐19 epidemic is still severe, and China's ongoing regular epidemic prevention and control still cannot be relaxed, which places demands on nurses. Methods Thirty nurses and eight nurse managers were interviewed using semistructured in‐depth interviews, and the data were analysed by the Colaizzi seven‐step analysis method. Results Four themes were extracted as follows: environmental factors, organizational factors, personal factors and positive factors in coping with stress. Conclusions Nursing managers should pay attention to construction of the first‐line departments of regular epidemic prevention and control. The shortage of nurses' human resources and the increase of nurse–patient conflicts are problems that need to be solved urgently. In addition, this research also emphasizes the importance of promoting nurses' stress‐related growth and thinking about the possibility of reform. Implications for Nursing Management The construction of the hospital environment and increasing the resilience of nursing teams require attention. We should attach importance to the training of nurses' communication skills and provide sufficient organizational support and economic guarantees for nurses. Finally, perhaps we should also consider whether it is necessary to reform the relevant hospital systems and how to reform them.


It has been suggested on anatomical grounds that there may be an inverse relationship between difficult tracheal intubation and ease of insertion of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) [I], but this has not been substantiated. The Mallampati classification system [2], which is modified by Samsoon and Young to include a class 1V [3], is well established as a useful predictor of difficult tracheal intubation. It has been our routine practice to score the ease of insertion of the LMA and to note the modified Mallampati classification. We would like to report a retrospective series of 272 standardised LMA insertions in which the Mallampati score was recorded. The standard technique used was pre-oxygenation followed by induction with either thiopentone or propofol. LMA insertion was attempted 30-60 s later or following loss of lash reflex [4]. Once inserted and the cuff inflated, the position of the LMA was fibreoptically scored from the mask aperture bars [5]. If insertion took more than 20 s or a second attempt was required, this was regarded as a failure. Function was assessed by observation of the rebreathing bag or gentle hand ventilation. The age and weight range was 18-97 years and 36-130 kg respectively. There were 147 men and 125 women, ASA 1-3. The results for fibreoptic scoring are given in Table 1. The overall success rate was 98%. The frequency of Mallampati class in this population is similar to other studies. There was no significant correlation between class 1-111 and fibreoptic scoring. Samsoon and Young class IV was noted on only three occasions and insertion readily achieved. It is difficult to come to any conclusion about the correlation between class IV and ease of insertion with such small numbers. It seems, therefore, that modified Mallampati classification is unhelpful in predicting ease of insertion of the LMA or the fibreoptic positioning of the LMA. This study also fails to support the hypothesis that there is an inverse relationship between ease of insertion and difficult intubation. A large series comparing ease of insertion and direct laryngoscopic scoring would be required to better determine this.


The study seeks to answer two very basic questions in the Indian context: first, are there economies of scale and scope in Indian banking? In other words, are bigger banks better for India? And, second, to what extent has the domestic impetus, i.e., financial-sector policy reforms during the nineties, made banks in India more efficient? [WP no. 49].


These lecture notes on "Geometric Graphs, Triangulations and Polytopes" cover the material presented for half of the MPRI Master Course 2.38.1 entitled "Algorithmique et combinatoire des graphes géométriques". The other half of the course, taught by Éric Colin de Verdière, focusses on "Algorithms for embedded graphs" [dV]. Announcements and further informations on the course are available online: https://wikimpri.dptinfo.ens-cachan.fr/doku.php?id=cours:c-2-38-1 Comments and questions are welcome by email: email@example.com.


Nearly 50,000 drug offenders are annually offered treatment in lieu of traditional sentencing as a result of California's voter-approved Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA). The challenges SACPA currently faces and their potential solutions may be similar to those faced by diversion programs in other regions. Stakeholders responsible for SACPA implementation were surveyed about the impact of recent budget cuts and were asked for suggestions on how to improve SACPA. Budget cuts undermined portions of the law that stakeholders agreed with and stakeholders themselves sought to circumvent portions of the law that they disagreed with. However, two areas of broad stakeholder agreement emerged: 1) funding should be increased, and 2) the option of brief jail sanctions for noncompliant participants should be made available. To address current challenges, key stakeholder groups should collectively draft and propose a revised version of the law using these areas of agreement as a foundation.


Early experiences of mothers with their own caregivers tend to influence later relationships, particularly with future children. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the mothers' experiences with their own caregivers and the relation with the child's current attachment behaviors. Participants were 48 mothers and their children (M = 28.1m; SD = 4.3). The mothers' experience with their own caregivers was investigated through their perceptions of the care received from their caregivers (Parental Bonding Instrument), and by the representations of attachment (Attachment Script Assessment). The attachment behaviors of the child were investigated by Attachment Q-Sort. Analyzes revealed a reasonable consistency between the mothers' perceptions about received care, their representations of attachment, and the attachment behaviors of their children. The results support the literature on the relation between mother' experiences with their own caregivers and the attachment behaviors of the child and bring contributions when presenting evidences in a Brazilian sample.


The evolution of the muscle tissue's complex permittivity represents a growing interest in terms of characterization in medicine and biology. The influence of a burned part on the permittivity is not very developed. In this work, an estimation of the complex permittivity of biological tissues is performed as a function of the depth of burn tissues. The sensor, an open-ended coaxial probe, is placed directly against each sample. The evolution of the complex permittivity is studied for two measurements conditions (in the air and in a physiological solution). A correlation study is attempted with the depth of burn tissue.


The composition of the gut microbiota, and thus also the modification of the gut microbiota by specific probiotics or prebiotics early in life, may have an impact on the risk of disease in the child. Above the impact on gut microecology, probiotic effects have been attributed to restoration to normal of increased intestinal permeability, improvement of the intestine's immunological barrier functions, alleviation of the intestinal inflammatory response, and reduced generation of proinflammatory cytokines characteristic of local and systemic allergic inflammation. Recent demonstrations from experimental and clinical studies suggest that the gut microbiota is also involved in the control of body weight and energy metabolism, affecting the two main causes of obesity: energy acquisition and storage, and contributing to insulin resistance and the inflammatory state characterising obesity. Current research focuses both on characterising specific probiotic strains and on how the food matrix and the dietary content interacts with the most efficient probiotic strains. It is important to characterise each probiotic to species and strain level and to select strains with documented properties, the probiotic potential being strain-specific. As any proof of causality requires clinical intervention studies in humans in different populations, rigorous and detailed documentation will enhance reproducibility and circumvent confusion.


The human body is constantly exposed to xenobiotics. This will include exogenous substances from environmental pollution such as heavy metals and lifestyle such as smoking, which may lead to impaired functioning of many organs. The liver and kidney are the critical organs in the case of a long-term occupational or environmental exposure to heavy metals and tobacco smoke. In diagnostics of liver and kidney damage useful are the methods which determine the activity of enzymes such as alanine aminopeptidase (AAP). AAP is a marker for early detection of acute kidney damage, and presence of AAP derive mainly from proximal tubular brush-border. Activity of AAP in urine allows to assess the damage resulting from the nephrotoxic exposure to heavy metals. In the serum AAP is mainly from hepatic. Activity of AAP may be useful to identify liver cancer. The investigation was shown, that AAP activity in the blood is used to detect hepatic cholestasis and congestive jaundice. The aim of present study was to assess the influence of occupational exposure of copper-foundry workers to heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead) on activity of alanine aminopeptidase in blood and urine. The investigations were performed in blood and urine of 166 subjects: 101 male copper smelters and 65 non-exposed male subjects. The study protocol was approved by Local Bioethics Committee of Wroclaw Medical University (KB No: 469/2008). The data on smoking which had been obtained from a direct personal interview were verified by determination of serum cotinine concentrations. Biological material collected from the control group and smelters was divided into subgroups of nonsmokers and smokers. The concentrations of lead and cadmium were determined in whole blood, whilst the level of arsenic and cadmium were determined in urine using FAAS method (Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) in the acetylate flame on the SOLAAR M6. The activity of AA was determined in blood and in urine. The results showed a 9-fold increase in the concentration of lead and 10-fold elevation of arsenic level in all groups of smelters in comparison to the control group. The highest cadmium, lead and arsenic concentrations were observed in blood and urine of smoking smelters. We have observed a significant increase in the concentrations of lead and cadmium in blood of smoking persons from control group in comparison to the non-smoking persons from this group, which suggest, that tobacco smoking increase the heavy metals concentrations in the organisms. Occupational exposure to heavy metals resulted in an increase of AAP activity in blood and urine of all groups of smelters in comparison to corresponding control groups. The highest value of AAP was observed in serum and urine of smoking smelters. Tobacco smoke also increases the AAP activity the blood and urine of smoking smelters and control group compared to the non-smoking smelters and nonsmoking control group, appropriate. The study was shown that occupational exposure to heavy metals and tobacco.


The article focuses on diversification and destandartization of employment in the Russian economy. The authors discuss global and objective preconditions for this process but underline a few specific features of the Russian case. The latter are due to the market transition as well as to incomplete and selective enforcement of the excessively restrictive employment protection legislation. This explains high incidence of household-based subsistence farming, underemployment, time-related overemployment, informal employment against low level of formal contracts for fixed-term or part-time employment. Using representative data the authors illustrate all major forms of non-standard employment in Russia that have evolved since 1992.


2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG), a glycolytic inhibitor analog of glucose, is widely investigated in experimental and clinical oncology for targeting glucose metabolism. Inhibition of the glycolytic pathway with 2-deoxyglucose leads to sensitization of tumor cells to other apoptotic stimuli(Maschek, G., et al Cancer Res. 64: 31-34, 2004). A phase I/II clinical trial of 2-DG for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and hormone refractory prostrate cancer has been initiated. One of the objectives of this dose escalation trial was to evaluate PK of 2-DG. The drug was administered orally on a daily schedule for 2 weeks of every 3 week cycle. The standard dose escalation format was followed with a starting dose 30mg/kg, escalated to 45mg/kg and 60mg/kg. So far twelve patients have been accrued for this trial (mean age, 65.4± 9.9 yrs), and all completed the study. Repeated oral administration of 2-DG was well tolerated, with a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) not exceeding 60mg/kg consecutive-day dosing. For the PK analyses, blood samples were collected immediately before drug administration, hourly up to 6hr, and predose at 24hr and 48hr after administration on cycle 1 day 1 and cycle 2 day 1. For the quantitiation of 2-DG in plasma, the sample extracts were derivatized to 2-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, and determined using a highly sensitive high performance liquid chromatography fluorometric method (HPLC-FL). The HPLC-FL assay showed excellent linearity ranging from 125ng/ml to 10 μg/ml (r2=0.9992±0.0009, n=4). The limit of detection was 62.5ng/ml. The assay precision for 125ng/ml (LOQ) and 10µg/ml were 12.5% and 4.9% and the accuracy ranged from 105.9% to 101.8%. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined and utilized to assess dose-dependency across the dose range studied. Consecutive-day dose of 2-DG showed no effect on plasma glucose levels. The mean steady state concentration at dose level 1, was 0.33± 0.09 μg/ml, and at dose levels 2 and 3, were 1.06± 0.25, and 1.08± 0.41 μg/ml respectively. Mean plasma concentrations and area under concentration-time curve (AUC) values were dose dependent in cohort 1 (30mg/kg) and 2 (45mg/kg). Tmax occurred at 1 hr after dosing. The elimination t1/2 ranged between 3.3 −8.9 hr (5.8±1.8hr) and 1.2 − 10.6 hr (6.6±2.8 hr), among three cohorts in cycle 1 and 2. PK parameters AUC, and clearance (CL), showed no significant difference between two cycles in cohort 1 and 2. However, AUC in cohort 3 (60mg/kg) decreased significantly (p Acknowledgement: The study is supported by the grants from The Department of Defense. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2756.


Context. It is well known that the polarity of the Sun's magnetic field reverses or flips around the maximum of each 11 year solar cycle. This is commonly known as polar field reversal and plays a key role in deciding the polar field strength at the end of a cycle, which is crucial for the prediction of the upcoming cycle.
Aims. We aim to investigate solar polar fields during cycle 24, using measurements of solar magnetic fields in the latitude range 55°–90° and 78°–90°, to report a prolonged and unusual hemispheric asymmetry in the polar field reversal pattern in solar cycle 24.
Methods. This study was carried out using medium resolution line-of-sight synoptic magnetograms from the magnetic database of the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak (NSO/KP), USA for the period between February 1975 and October 2017, covering solar cycles 21–24 and high-resolution line-of-sight synoptic magnetograms from the Michaelson Doppler Imager instrument onboard the Solar Heliospheric Observatory. Synoptic magnetograms using radial measurements from the Heliospheric Magnetic Imager instrument onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory, covering solar cycle 23 and 24, were also used.
Results. We show that the southern solar hemisphere unambiguously reversed polarity in mid-2013 while the reversal in the field in the northern solar hemisphere started as early as June 2012, was followed by a sustained period of near-zero field strength lasting until the end of 2014, after which the field began to show a clear rise from its near-zero value. While this study compliments a similar study carried out using microwave brightness measurements which claimed that the field reversal process in cycle 24 was completed by the end of 2015, our results show that the field reversal in cycle 24 was completed earlier that is, in late 2014. Signatures of this unusual field reversal pattern were also clearly identifiable in the solar wind, using our observations of interplanetary scintillation at 327 MHz which supported our magnetic field observations and confirmed that the field reversal process was completed at the end of 2014.


This paper is a sociological investigation of an alternative economic network that is active in Ireland and throughout the western world. This network is based on Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS). LETS is composed of a network of people who attempt to delink from the international cash-based economy as much as possible. They wish to trade goods and services on a barter basis, among a limited group in the local area. This research is a case study of one LETS operating in west Cork in the south-west of Ireland. Does this group of people form the vanguard of a new social movement in the region? What is the best means of conceptualising their activities sociologically? It is proposed here that the employment of Moichel Maffesoli's concept of 'neo-tribes' is the most useful framework to understand this group. They are generally counter-urban, and non-Irish, and impermanence and transience are the main features of their socio-economic activities. However, it is argued here that they form a crucial part of the changing social lanscape of rural Ireland, as they provide a social springboard for other alternative social activities such as farmers' markets. Fora such as LETS help to foster social contact between people and thus breathe new life into rural communities that might otherwise be in serious decline.


The associative processes that support free-operant instrumental avoidance behavior are still unknown. We used a revaluation procedure to determine whether the performance of an avoidance response is sensitive to the current value of the aversive, negative reinforcer. Rats were trained on an unsignaled, free-operant lever press avoidance paradigm in which each response avoided or escaped shock and produced a 5 s feedback stimulus. The revaluation procedure consisted of noncontingent presentations of the shock in the absence of the lever either paired or unpaired with systemic morphine and in a different cohort with systemic d-amphetamine. Rats were then tested drug free during an extinction test. In both the d-amphetamine and morphine groups, pairing of the drug and shock decreased subsequent avoidance responding during the extinction test, suggesting that avoidance behavior was sensitive to the current incentive value of the aversive negative reinforcer. Experiment 2 used central infusions of D-Ala2, NMe-Phe4, Gly-ol5]-enkephalin (DAMGO), a mu-opioid receptor agonist, in the periacqueductal gray and nucleus accumbens shell to revalue the shock. Infusions of DAMGO in both regions replicated the effects seen with systemic morphine. These results are the first to demonstrate the impact of revaluation of an aversive reinforcer on avoidance behavior using pharmacological agents, thereby providing potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of avoidance behavior symptomatic of anxiety disorders.


Fetal heart rate (FHR) detection can be monitored using either direct fetal scalp electrode recording (invasive) or by indirect noninvasive technique. Weeks before delivery, the invasive method poses a risk factor to the fetus, while the latter provides accurate fetal ECG (FECG) information which can help diagnose fetal's well-being. Our technique employs variable order linear phase sharp transition (LPST) FIR band-pass filter which shows improved stopband attenuation at higher filter orders. The fetal frequency fiduciary edges form the band edges of the filter characterized by varying amounts of overlap of maternal ECG (MECG) spectrum. The one with the minimum maternal spectrum overlap was found to be optimum with no power line interference and maximum fetal heart beats being detected. The improved filtering is reflected in the enhancement of the performance of the fetal QRS detector (FQRS). The improvement has also occurred in fetal heart rate obtained using our algorithm which is in close agreement with the true reference (i.e., invasive fetal scalp ECG). The performance parameters of the FQRS detector such as sensitivity (Se), positive predictive value (PPV), and accuracy (F1) were found to improve even for lower filter order. The same technique was extended to evaluate maternal QRS detector (MQRS) and found to yield satisfactory maternal heart rate (MHR) results.


We investigate two new strategies for the numerical solution of optimal stopping problems within the Regression Monte Carlo (RMC) framework of Longstaff and Schwartz. First, we propose the use of stochastic kriging (Gaussian process) meta-models for fitting the continuation value. Kriging offers a flexible, nonparametric regression approach that quantifies approximation quality. Second, we connect the choice of stochastic grids used in RMC to the Design of Experiments paradigm. We examine space-filling and adaptive experimental designs; we also investigate the use of batching with replicated simulations at design sites to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Numerical case studies for valuing Bermudan Puts and Max-Calls under a variety of asset dynamics illustrate that our methods offer significant reduction in simulation budgets over existing approaches.


The main industrial method of processing of galena is its oxidized roasting in air atmosphere, followed by reduction smelting of lead oxide in presence of coal. The present work illustrates a study of processing of Egyptian galena by oxidized roasting, its thermal behaviour and its kinetics over the temperature range 400-950oC.
The DTA curve of roasting of galena shows its beginning of oxidation at 460oC, followed by the reaction at 585oC between galena and the lead sulphate resulted with the formation of basic lead sulphate. The intensive oxidation of galena is represented by the large and sharp exothermic double maximum peak at 750 and 780oC.
The standard free energy (i"Go) and equilibrium constant (K) of the reaction of oxidation of galena to lead oxide at 850oC are - 165.088 kcal mol-1 and 1.34. 1032, respectively. These values reflect the irreversibility of the reaction.
The kinetic study of the oxidized roasting of galena is governed by the structure and condition of the surface coating, which is composed of lead sulphate and basic sulphate and some lead oxide. The experimental data reveal that the rate of oxidation of galena is low at 400-500oC. This is due to the formation of a compact thick product layer and the rate of the reaction is controlled by diffusion through this product layer.
At 600oC and higher temperatures, the product layer around galena particles during its oxidation is friable and porous. The rate is not affected by this coating and the oxidized roasting of galena is controlled by the chemical reaction occurring at the surface of galena particles.

Keywords: Egyptian galena, roasting, kinetics


Objectives To evaluate whether applying image filters (smooth 3D+ and edge-2) improves image quality in coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Methods Ninety patients (routine group) with suspected coronary artery diseases based on 16-cm wide coverage detector CT findings were retrospectively enrolled at a chest pain center from December 2019 to September 2021. Two image filters, smooth 3D+ and edge-2 available on the Advantage Workstation (AW) were subsequently applied to the images to generate the research group (SE group). Quantitative parameters, including CT value, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), image sharpness and image quality score, and diagnostic accuracy were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 900 segments from 270 coronary arteries in 90 patients were analyzed. SNR, CNR, and image sharpness for vessels and image quality scores in the SE group were significantly better than those in the routine group (all p < 0.001). The SE group showed a slightly higher negative predictive value (NPV) on the left anterior descending artery and right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis evaluations, as well as total NPV. The SE group also showed slightly higher sensitivity and accuracy than the routine group on RCA stenosis evaluation. Conclusion The use of an image filter combining smooth 3D+ and edge-2 on an AW could improve the image quality of CCTA and increase radiologists' diagnostic confidence.


The 3D organization of cerebral blood vessels determines the overall capacity of the cerebral circulation to meet the metabolic requirements of the brain. This study used Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI with a hypercapnic challenge and ex vivo Serial Two-Photon Tomography (STPT) to examine the relationship between blood flow and 3D microvascular structure following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a mouse. Mice were exposed to a controlled cortical impact TBI and allowed to recover for either 1 day or 4 weeks. At each time point, ASL MRI was performed to quantify cerebral perfusion and the brain vasculature was imaged in 3D with STPT. Registration of ASL to STPT enabled flow changes to be related to the underlying microvascular structure in each ASL voxel. Hypoperfusion under rest and hypercapnia was observed both 1 day and 4 weeks post-TBI. Vessel density and vascular volume were reduced 1 day post-TBI, recovering by 4 weeks; however, the reorganized vasculature at the latter time point possessed an abnormal radial pattern. Our findings demonstrate functionally significant long-term changes in the vascular architecture following injury and illustrate why metrics beyond traditional measures of vessel density are required to understand the impact of vascular structure on function.


Eukaryotic protein kinases typically phosphorylate substrates in the context of specific sequence motifs, contributing to specificity essential for accurate signal transmission. Protein kinases recognize their target sequences through complementary interactions within the active site cleft. As a step toward the construction of orthogonal kinase signaling systems, we have re-engineered the protein kinase Pim1 to alter its phosphorylation consensus sequence. Residues in the Pim1 catalytic domain interacting directly with a critical arginine residue in the substrate were substituted to produce a kinase mutant that instead accommodates a hydrophobic residue. We then introduced a compensating mutation into a Pim1 substrate, the pro-apoptotic protein BAD, to reconstitute phosphorylation both in vitro and in living cells. Coexpression of the redesigned kinase with its substrate in cells protected them from apoptosis. Such orthogonal kinase–substrate pairs provide tools to probe the functional consequences of specific phosphorylation events in living cells and to design synthetic signaling pathways.


RNA silencing, named as co-suppression or post transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) was found in transgenic plants which was the result of cellular mRNA degradation and silencing of gene expression. RNA interference (RNAi) is a specific technique using only a few double stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules to stop the expression which has made it one of the important areas in molecular biology. By introducing a gene into the host genome which is highly homologous to an endogenous gene, the RNA silencing is initiated. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is cut by the enzyme "Dicer" producing small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) which combine with RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). RISC, a protein complex, binds one strand of siRNA with mRNA of native target gene for destruction, resulting in gene silencing. The mechanism of RNAi offers a quick and easy way to determine the function of a gene. In this review, we discuss the history, components, mechanism and the application of RNA interference.


The problem of synthesizing an optimal sensor selection policy is pertinent to a variety of engineering applications ranging from event detection to autonomous navigation. We consider such a synthesis problem in the context of linear-Gaussian systems over an infinite time horizon with a discounted cost criterion. We formulate this problem in terms of a value iteration over the continuous space of covariance matrices. To obtain a computationally tractable solution, we subsequently formulate an approximate sensor selection problem, which is solvable through a point-based value iteration over a finite "mesh" of covariance matrices with a user-defined bounded trace. We provide theoretical guarantees bounding the suboptimality of the sensor selection policies synthesized through this method and provide numerical examples comparing them to known results.


Addressing a small group of journalists on November 3 at the National Science Foundation's headquarters in Washington, D.C., director Neal Lane said that there will be some "tough years ahead for basic research." He noted that NSF will continue to support the best scientific research it can find, but "there is never enough money to support good ideas."

In an era of change, Lane indicated that NSF, too, is changing to meet these needs. The agency is seeking new ways of supporting scientific research, including more cooperative efforts with other federal agencies and with industry, the director said. But Lane also put more responsibility upon the individual scientist. "Researchers will have to think a little more expansively… and to look to other agencies," he added.


Although the relevance of fuzzy information to represent concepts of real life is evident, almost all databases contain just crisp information. The main reason for this, apart from the tradition, is that fuzzy information is most of the times subjective and storing all users points of view is unfeasible. Allowing fuzzy concepts in the queries increases the queries' expressiveness and asking for cheap products, big size, close hotels, etc is much more interesting that asking for products with a price under X, of the size Y, hotels at most X kilometers

far, etc. The way we propose for achieving this more expressive databases' queries is adding to the basic knowledge offered by a database (e.g. distance to hotel is 5 km) the link between this crisp concept and multiple fuzzy concepts that we use in real life (e.g. close hotel). We present FleSe, a framework for searching databases in a flexible way, thanks to the fuzzy concepts that we can define. In this paper we describe the easy procedure that let us define fuzzy concepts and link them to crisp database fields.


Anomalous diffusion phenomena have been observed in many complex physical and biological systems. One significant advance recently is the physical extension of particle's motion in static medium to uniformly (and even nonuniformly) expanding medium. The dynamic mechanism of particle's motion in the nonuniformly expanding medium has only been investigated in the framework of continuous-time random walk. To study more physical observables and supplement the theory of the expanding medium problems, we characterize the nonuniformly expanding medium with a spatial-temporal dependent scale factor $a(x,t)$, and build the Langevin picture describing the particle's motion in the nonuniformly expanding medium. By introducing a new coordinate, besides of the existing comoving and physical coordinates, we build the relation between the nonuniformly expanding medium and the uniformly expanding one, and further obtain the moments of the comoving and physical coordinates. Both exponential and power-law formed scale factor are considered to uncover the combined effects of the particle's intrinsic diffusion and the nonuniform expansion of medium. Our detailed theoretical analyses and simulations provide the foundation for studying more expanding medium problems.


Aims: Our purpose was to identify the genetic defect in a Chinese cerulean cataract family. Methods: After obtaining informed consent, genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes. Genotyping and 2-point linkage analysis were carried out using the MLINK component of the LINKAGE program package version 5.10. Mutational analysis of the candidate gene was performed by bidirectional sequencing. The structure homology modeling of the mutant protein was based on Swiss-Model Serve, and its structure was displayed and compared with native β-B2-crystallin using the RasMol software. Results: The disease locus was mapped within a 4.05-cM interval on 22q11.22–22q12.1. By sequencing, a cytosine to thymine transition (NM_000496.2:c.463C>T) was detected in exon 6 of CRYBB2, which resulted in the insertion of a premature stop codon (p.Q155X). In addition, there existed another transition (NM_000496.2:c.471C>T) in the same exon, which does not change the amino acid sequence. Neither NM_000496.2:c.463C>T nor NM_000496.2:c.471C>T were found in 171 normal Chinese controls. The homology modeling showed that the second structure of the mutant protein was different from that of native human β-B2-crystallin. Conclusions: This is the first report of congenital cerulean cataract associated with a mutation in CRYBB2 in a Chinese family. This finding further strengthens the association between CRYBB2 and cerulean cataracts. Two transitions, NM_000496.2:c.463C>T and NM_000496.2:c.471C>T, in CRYBB2 are identical to the sequence of CRYBB2P1, which has over 97% homology to CRYBB2. This supports the possibility of gene conversion between CRYBB2 and CRYBB2P1 as a mechanism responsible for congenital cataract.


Several investigations of host and bacterial factors critical to staphylococcal clearance from lungs suggest that alveolar macrophages may not provide the principal defense against inhaled staphylococci. We evaluated possible contributions of extracellular bactericidal activities in lungs with a standard aerosol challenge model by using methods which allowed recovery of macrophages for in vitro bactericidal assays and recovery of intrapulmonary staphylococci for clearance studies. Macrophages recovered by a gentle lavage technique immediately after aerosol exposure contained 6.0 +/- 2.3 colony-forming units of viable staphylococci per 100 glass-adherent macrophages. These intracellular staphylococci were killed in vitro with a half-life of 10.8 +/- 2.1 h, which is identical to our results with a completely in vitro system for ingestion and killing. However, 99.4 +/- 0.2% and 94.9 +/- 1.5% of the viable cocci recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage at 0.5 and 6.0 h after aerosol exposure were sensitive to lysostaphin, a rapidly bactericidal enzyme with no demonstrable activity against intracellular organisms and therefore, presumably extracellular. Photomicrographs from lavage pellets obtained 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, and 5.5 h after aerosol exposure confirmed the presence of numerous extracellular cocci. These extracellular cocci were eliminated at the same rate as whole lung cocci (half-life = 3.07 and 3.14 h, respectively) and at a much faster rate than intracellular cocci. In summary, we found large numbers of extracellular staphylococci in bronchoalveolar spaces during the first 6 h after aerosol exposure that are inactivated at the same rate as the whole lung bacterial population. Since only a small number of staphylococci are ingested by macrophages and intracellular bactericidal activity appears too slow to explain intrapulmonary killing, we conclude that an as yet unidentified extracellular killing process contributed to staphylococcal clearance.


Abstract Objectives There are currently no validated hyperacusis questionnaires available in Norway. This study evaluates a new (Norwegian) translation of Khalfa's Hyperacusis Questionnaire. Another aim was to examine levels of psychological distress in Norwegian hyperacusis patients. Materials and methods Seventy-six hyperacusis patients between 21 and 68 years of age completed an online survey on two occasions comprising the Norwegian Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results The average scale score for HQ was 25.9 ± 9.0. The HQ scale and subscales had good to excellent internal consistency, except the emotional subscale, which had somewhat lower reliability. The test-retest reliability was moderate to good for the HQ scale and subscales. Fifty-five percent of patients had symptoms of anxiety, while 43% had symptoms of depression. Conclusion This preliminary investigation found the Norwegian HQ to be a reliable and valid measure. Patients had more symptoms of anxiety than depression, which is in line with previous findings. Future studies may wish to evaluate the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Norwegian HQ.