Two types of pertussis vaccines are currently available: the first-generation, whole-cell (wP) and more recent, acellular (aP) vaccines. The aP vaccine has replaced the wP vaccine in most industrialized countries, based on an improved safety profile and comparable efficacy of the former compared to the latter. As both vaccines, as well as prior infection, protect well against whooping cough disease, albeit by different mechanisms, the human immune responses to natural infection and vaccination have been extensively studied over the last decades. Shortly after the discovery of the causative agent Bordetella pertussis, both agglutinating antibodies and complement-binding antibodies have been identified in the serum of convalescent patients. However, how much they contribute to protection against disease or infection is still not known. Nevertheless, passive transfer of convalescent serum can significantly attenuate the disease and placental transfer of maternal antibodies induced by vaccination during pregnancy has recently been shown to provide strong protection against severe disease in the offspring. Natural infection and wP vaccination have both been shown to induce a strong Th-1-oriented T-cell response, whereas administration of aP vaccine shifts the response to a Th-2 profile, which may be a reason for the fast waning of immunity upon aP vaccination, compared to wP vaccination and natural infection. None of the current vaccines induce sterilizing immunity and limit circulation of B. pertussis. Therefore, new vaccines are needed that protect both against disease and infection. One such candidate, live attenuated BPZE1, designed to prevent B. pertussis infection, is currently in clinical development.


Research Question/Issue: This study examines the extent to which newly-hired migrating executives affect shareholder reaction at their arriving firms. We draw upon the information economics and upper echelons literatures to explain how (1) deviant behavior and ability information cues from an executive's "departing" firm contribute to shareholder value at the "arriving" firm and how (2) labor market information cues moderate these relationships. Research Findings/Insights: We use event study methodology to determine investors' reactions to the hiring announcements. We test our framework with a sample of 268 chief financial officers who migrated between 2002 and 2014. Controlling for sample selection and endogeneity, we find that a financial restatement at the migrating executive's departing firm adversely affects shareholder reaction at the arriving firm. However, financial restatements at the departing firm adversely affect shareholder reaction at the arriving firm, especially when the migration is recent (i.e., within one-year). An extended analysis reveals an interaction between departing firm financial restatement and departing firm financial performance.
Theoretical/Academic Implications: Our study contributes to the literature by theorizing and showing that investors screen by using information cues from migrating executives' departing firms when signals are not salient in order to determine their contributions to shareholder reaction at arriving firms. Investors react negatively to deviant behavior information cues from the departing firms of newly hired executives. Also, the framework explains the moderating effect of labor market information cues -- investors react unfavorably to deviant behavior information cues when they involve same-year executive migrations.
Practitioner/Policy Implications: Our study suggests that investors and hiring firms have divergent views on the value added of deviant behavior, yet convergent views on the value added from executive abilities.


Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004

2786

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) can be engineered to produce therapeutic molecules, can travel along the white matter and engraft stably into the brain. These observations can be utilized for the gene therapy of glioblastoma, a disease with a poor prognosis, for which new treatment modalities are needed. We have developed a protocol based on culture of NSCs in adherence on recombinant fibronectin (rFN) to transduce up to 90% NSCs at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2 with no need for viral concentration or production of serum-free retroviral supernatants. NSCs grew faster on rFN than as neurospheres on tissue culture plastic and did not lose their stem cell nature or multipotentiality. Furthermore, retroviral-mediated transgene expression was sustained with time in culture and upon differentiation into neurons and astrocytes. In addition to gene therapy of glioblastomas, these experimental conditions may be utilized to study the function of various genes in NSCs, and to manipulate NSCs for gene and cell therapy of several neurological diseases.


Astronomers often work on many-particle systems. For example, the Earth had been formed from millions of planetesimals, and a galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars. We have developed a GUI visualization tool specialized for astronomical many-particle simulations. Our purpose is to provide a visualization tool which is simple enough for the usage of astronomers who are not specialists of computer graphics (CG), while powerful enough to render highquality simulation CG movies for scientific shows. We named the tool as "Zindaiji" from a place-name near the main campus of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. One of our movies made by Zindaiji, "Formation of A Spiral Galaxy" is accepted for CAF (caf 0761) and will be shown in Electronic Theater. (Figure 1(a)) We report the way how we visualized this million-particle simulation and other astronomical simulations.


Tomato seeds collected from farmer's were treated with garlic tablet at concentration 1:3 w/v, 1:4 w/v, 1:5 w/v and 1:6 w/v for controlling seedborne fungal diseases. Seed health status of treated seeds was evaluated following blotter incubation method. Three different fungal pathogens viz., Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. were identified from seed samples by blotter incubation method. Garlic tablet at 1:3 w/v dose showed better performance in increasing seed germination and reducing prevalance of fungal pathogens over control treatment. The highest germination recorded was 71.25% at 1:3 w/v dose of garlic tablet which represents an increase of 11.25% over control. Germination percentage was increased 18.75% over control when treated seeds were sown in tray soil. Substantial importance in seed quality was noticed in reducing hard seed, damping off, blighted seedlings and tip over. In pot experiment, 1:3 w/v dose also performed best to yield the lowest percentage of hard seed, damping off, blighted seedlings, tip over and seedlings with highest seed germination.


Peer to Peer Network access is the integral part of the day to day business for most of the computer users. Preserving load balance on heterogeneous peer to peer networks is a challenging purpose and several existing works presented load redistribution algorithms for load division and load diversions at the instance the new peer enters. The aim of load balancing in P2P networks is to equilibrium the workload of the network nodes in quantity but lacks to eliminate traffic occurring in the routes of the P2P network efficiently. In this paper, the behaviors are characterized by eliminating the traffic using the Arbitrary Selection Load Balancing (ASLB) Approach with Tremendous Store model. Tremendous store model is investigated to extend the impact of node heterogeneity and agitate to the load distribution in P2P networks. The performance of the Arbitrary Selection Load Balancing (ASLB) Approach with Tremendous Store model reduces the network traffic routes with minimal cost of P2P in contrast to existing Saturn load balancing scheme. An analytical and empirical result offers a collision free system with the quantization of information by balancing the load in the P2P network system. Performance of the Arbitrary Selection Load Balancing is measured in terms of peer failure probability and traffic control efficiency.


The USA is pursuing an array of renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biomass energy and biomass ethanol are key components in this pursuit. Vast amounts of biomass feedstock will be needed to produce sufficient ethanol to meet any of the numerous target production goals. The Billion Ton Vision suggests one billion tons of biomass is needed annually to meet the '30x30' goal (to replace 30% of 2004 levels of fossil transportation fuel use with ethanol by the year 2030). Great advances in technology will be required to produce this enormous quantity of biomass sustainably. These advances will not come about through ill–coordinated, competitive efforts. On the contrary, the problem of sustainably meeting the biofuel feedstock demand while continuing to meet traditional demands for agricultural output is so great that we need to focus all our energies on establishing complementary public energy policy based on facts and candid analysis; on crafting cooperative, coordinated energy goals across agencies; and on creating enthusiastic, dedicated teams of researchers and educators to develop and deploy existing and new technologies.


Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) remains technically challenging and is currently guided by electrograms and 2-dimensional fluoroscopy. Our objective was to describe a new technique for HBP directly guided by electroanatomic mapping (EAM). Methods: Twenty-eight patients were included. The atrioventricular septum was mapped via EAM, and His bundle (HB) electrograms, selective, and nonselective HB capture sites were tagged. Pacing leads were connected to EAM, navigated to tagged HB target sites and deployed. Intracardiac electrograms and pacing parameters were recorded. Lead location was tagged on the cloud of HB sites, which was divided into 3 arbitrary segments. In 5 patients, atrioventricular nodal ablation was performed with direct visualization of the HBP lead by EAM. Results: Reproducible navigation of the pacing lead to predetermined HBP locations guided by EAM was achieved in all patients. The lead was successfully deployed in 25 patients. HB cloud area was 360 (212) mm2. There was no correlation between HBP threshold and lead location on the His cloud. The intracardiac electrograms atrial/ventricular ratio at the lead deployment site correlated with its EAM position on the His cloud (P=0.045). Procedure, fluoroscopy, and mapping times were 116.0 (38.8), 8.6 (6.3), and 9.0 (11.4) minutes, respectively. HBP threshold at implant was 1.5 (2.3) V at 1.5 (1.0) ms. Distance between HB lead and ablation sites was 10.0 (1.3) mm in patients undergoing atrioventricular nodal ablation. Conclusions: Direct guidance of HBP by EAM allows for direct visualization of the pacing lead on the HB cloud and reproducible navigation to predetermined HB capture sites. Intracardiac electrograms atrial/ventricular ratio at the lead deployment site correlates with His cloud location. EAM can be applied during standard HBP procedures or combined with atrioventricular nodal ablation.


: The various methods of preserving bone for implantation are reviewed. Biological assay systems to determine the physiological and osteogenic potential of the implant are discussed. Sterilization remains the major problem. The influence of high-energy irradiation of freeze-dried bone is still uncertain. Experimentally and clinically it was found that the immunological status of the freeze-dried allo-implant is biocompatible.


This study was a qualitative research aiming to study the experience of long-term care, its associated impact as well as the role of organizations involved in long ? term care for the elderly. Data were collected, from January of 2015 to June of 2015, through in-depth interview, focus group discussion, and direct observation of 362 elderly persons and 85 caregivers, at 6 municipality of four provinces of Thailand. The data were analyzed using content analysis, thematic analysis, and frequency and percentage.The results of long-term dependency of the elderly with stroke, dementia, co-morbidity, and chronic health problem, were documented. The care givers who provided long-term care for the elderly in Urban Area showed that the majority of them feel relative powerless; most of them (85%) were female; 30 percent had a chronic health problem; and 35 percent were elderly caregivers. 70 percent of caregivers also work, about 15 percent people need to provide long-term care for more than one person, it was found that the pattern of family caregivers for long-term elderly care in Urban Area of Thailand that the caring was subject of gratitude.Regarding the effect of care, Half of caregivers who care for the elderly with stroke and co-morbidity experienced the economic burden, due to costs of care, financial debt, and a lack of opportunities for career development.The psychological burden and emotional problems were the most common ,among those who provided care to elderly people with dementia. there is a lack of continuity of care for the elderly in the long term health care system, a lack of assurance for the quality of home care, and the lack of integration of missions of the organizations involved in the care of the elderly in a community.In conclusion, the long-term care for the elderly in Thailand results in tremendous burden on caregivers and families amidst the unavailability of family and community support systems. Therefore, support system development and system design for long-term elderly care options for caregivers and families in the community include; development of primary care services, promote the role of local government in the long term care system for the elderly, development potential family caregivers, and standardization and quality control long-term elderly care nationality.Thus, leading to the development of a sustainable aged care that is in accord with urban area of Thailand.


An introduction to relevant research for future practitioners studying the three-stage model of helping. The effectiveness of therapist behaviours and interventions during the Exploration, Insight and Action stages are carefully analyzed in this collection. Studies included present a general overview of applicable helping skills research while also demonstrating the importance of key methodological variables. Intended as a companion reader to the 1999 "Helping Skills" text (Hill and O'Brien), this volume should offer students intimidated by research with direct links and explanations of how research informs practice, while also suggesting directions for future exploration.


Abstract. Hybridization within the genus Platalea has only been reported in captivity. A case of natural hybridization between two female Black-faced Spoonbills (Platalea minor) and a male Eurasian Spoonbill (P. leucorodia) was studied on a small breeding islet in Incheon, South Korea. The male Eurasian Spoonbill formed a pair with each Black-faced Spoonbill female during the 2012–2013 and 2014–2015 breeding seasons, respectively, and laid 11 eggs in total, producing nine successful hybrid offspring. Two fledglings were color-banded in 2013, and one of them returned to its natal site in 2015 and 2016. The hybrids had intermediate morphology between Black-faced and Eurasian spoonbills: larger body size and longer bill and legs than those of Black-faced Spoonbills, narrow band of black bare skin on the lore to the eyes, a small yellow naked chin and no bared throat.


To minimize charge relaxation during Bias Temperature Instability (BTI) tests, fast current sensing has become the mainstream methodology in recent years and fast source measurement units are now available commercially. In these instruments, the measurement delay and sampling time have to been significant reduced in order to meet the more stringent methodology specification of fast BTI testing. In this paper, the impact of these speed improvements in two commercially available source measurement units (SMUs) on the accuracy of threshold voltage measurements during fast BTI testing is studied in detail.


Three potential conflicts that need to be anticipated in the reality of the life of the Bangka Belitung community in the future. The results of qualitative research through conflict mapping in seven districts / cities showed the potential for economic conflict in fighting for tin resources, agrarian conflicts with development dimensions related to land expansion for large-scale oil palm plantations, and inter-village and interethnic youth conflicts became the dominant issue. The mechanism of the savety valve as a damper of potential recurring conflicts must be institutionalized through functional and sustainable formalized social capital.


The paper focuses on an efficient method to compensate the harmonics and zero-sequence component caused by the variable unbalanced nonlinear loads. The studied compensator is based on the conventional Static Compensator (STATCOM) which is supplied by a photovoltaic generator rather than the storage passive components. That constitutes a Photovoltaic Static Compensator (PV-STATCOM). In addition to the active power production, this PV-STATCOM will improve the quality of the electric grid highly disturbed without any additional devices and costs. The used control strategy is based on the instantaneous power method and current control. The obtained results show the benefits of the photovoltaic active filter compensator to improve the energy quality. Specially, the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is decreased from 28.80 % to 2.03 %. The zero-sequence component of the load currents is reduced from 31.50 % to 4.26 %. The results prove also a high stabilization and limitation of the harmful repercussions of the compensator on the photovoltaic station and an automatic adapting to the solar variable radiation and to the unbalanced nonlinear load variations.


A 29 yrs-old patient was referred to our hospital due to generalized convulsions. She had hyperthyroidism treated with methimazole. Her MRI showed 4 metastatic lesions in the brain. She had a goiter with a "cold" nodule and a palpable ipsilateral lymph node. The FNAB disclosed a papillary thyroid carcinoma. Under 5 mg of MMI treatment, she had a subclinical hyperthyroidism and TRAb were 47.8% (n.v. < 10%). The CT scan also showed lung metastasis. She underwent a total thyroidectomy with a modified neck dissection and she received an accumulated radioiodine dose of 700 mCi during the following two years. She died from the consequences of multiple metastatic lesions. Studies were performed in DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue from the tumor, the metastatic lymph node and the non-tumoral thyroid. The genetic analysis of tumoral DNA revealed point mutations in two different genes: the wild type CAA at codon 61 of N-RAS mutated to CAT, replacing glycine by histidine (G61H) and the normal GCC sequence at codon 623 of the TSHR gene was replaced by TCC, changing the alanine by serine (A623S). In the non-tumoral tissue no mutations were found. In vitro studies showed a constitutive activation of the TSHR. It is very probable that this activating mutation of the TSHR is unable to reach the end point of the PKA cascade in the tumoral tissue. One possibility that could explain this is the presence of a cross-signaling mechanism generating a deviation of the TSH receptor cascade to the more proliferative one involving the MAPKinase, giving perhaps a more aggressive behavior of this papillary thyroid cancer.


We discuss a framework for analyzing data concerning healthcare encounters at the individual level. These encounters can be of various types – outpatient, emergency room, inpatient, pharmaceutical etc., each corresponding to one or more diagnoses. Each encounter happens on a certain day (or a certain hour) and when such data is collected over a period of time, it creates an evolving point process unique to each individual. The point process provides information about the intensity and diversity of encounters – how frequent and how fragmented the care is across multiple settings. When such longitudinal "point process" data is available for a cohort of individuals, it is possible to analyze the aggregate burden of managing the cohort's care in a particular time period. We provide examples where such data could be used and discuss the stochastic methods that are best suited for generating insights.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the relationships between daily affect, drinking motives, likelihood of drinking, and intensity of drinking, particularly high-intensity drinking (HID), in a sample of young adults. We also explored differences in our outcomes before versus during the early coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHOD
In the springs of 2019 and 2020, young adult drinkers (N = 633) completed 14 consecutive morning surveys (each year) characterizing the prior day's affect, motives, and alcohol use. We examined between-person and within-person associations of affect and motives with two outcomes: any drinking and drinking intensity on drinking days (1 = moderate drinking [1-3 drinks for women, 1-4 drinks for men], 2 = binge drinking [4-7 for women, 5-9 for men], and 3 = HID [8 + for women, 10 + for men]).

RESULTS
Young adults reported higher positive affect on drinking days and higher negative affect on nondrinking days. On days when young adults reported greater enhancement motives, positive affect was strongly related to HID. During the early COVID-19 pandemic, young adults were more likely to report drinking, but did not drink more heavily unless they also reported drinking for social motives.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that heightened social, coping, and enhancement motives are risk factors for drinking in young adults. They also suggest that young adults perceive their mood to be better on drinking days, particularly when they were drinking to enhance positive affect. Results are consistent with a positive affect regulation model (i.e., drinking to increase positive affect), but not a negative affect regulation model (i.e., drinking to cope with negative affect). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).


BackgroundIdiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM)is characterized by non-caseating granuloma and microabscess formation limited to mammary gland lobules. It is a form of chronic mastitis of unknown pathogenesis. In this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of intralesional steroid injection with topical steroids versus systemic steroid therapy in the treatment of IGM. MethodsBetween June 2017 and December 2020, the patients were collected and assessed. IGM was diagnosed histopathologically by tru-cut biopsy in patients with breast mass, pain, and erythema with suspicion of IGM. Included in the study were one hundred and eleven patients who were diagnosed with IGMand who were treated with local or oral administration of corticosteroids, with at least 6 months of follow-up. The patients were divided into 2 groups: a local corticosteroid treatment group (LC, group 1, n=57); and a peroral corticosteroid treatment group (OC, group 2, n=54). Demographic characteristics, treatment responses, recurrence rates, side effects of the steroid, and the need for surgery were compared.ResultsWhile the rate of smoking was 12.3% in the LC group, was 20.4% in the OC group. There was no history of oral contraceptive use in either group of patients. Previous steroid use was significantly lower in the LC group (10.5%) compared to the OC group (55.6%) (p = 0.001). Previous antibiotic use was significantly lower in the LC group (75.4%) compared to the OC group (100%) (p = 0.001). When complete and partial responders were grouped as "responders," 96.5% in the LC group and 75.9% in the OC group responded after the first course of treatment (p=0.001). 98.2% in the LC group and 87.0% in the OC group were complete responders after the third course of treatment (p=0.003). While 7% of the patients in the LC group had recurrence, 37% in the OC group had recurrence (p=0.001). Steroid-related side effects were lower in the LC group (no) compared to the OC group (11.1%) (p=0.010). Surgery was performed in 3.5% of the LC group, while surgery was performed in 57.3% of the OC group (p=0.001). ConclusionSteroid injection is an IGM treatment with proven efficacy, short response time, low recurrence rate, and lower need surgery. The treatment is easy to administer and minimizes the risk of systemic side effects. Even in clinically severe cases, we believe that steroid injection might be used as monotherapy, or in combination with other therapies, to improve treatment efficacy and create a transition to less aggressive treatments.


L-type calcium (CaV1) channels regulate gene expressions via the cascade of excitation-transcription coupling, or directly as standalone CCAT (Calcium Channel Associated Transcriptional-regulator) peptides encoding distal carboxyl-terminus (DCT) of CaV1, both evidenced in dendritogenesis signaling in neurons. We here discover that DCT peptides opposedly mediate these two sets of transcription signals, all tunable in accordance to C-terminus mediated inhibition (CMI) of Ca2+/CaV1 influx. By electrophysiology, neurite morphology, and FRET 2-hybrid binding analyses, we systematically examined native and derived DCT peptides across CaV1, unveiling that the overall balance between cytosolic inhibition versus nuclear facilitation is spatially and temporally tuned by CMI of each DCT variant. Our findings not only resolve several controversies existing to DCT variants, but also propose a de novo scheme of CaV1-centric gene regulation: two concurrent routes of transcription signals initiated from either membrane CaV1 channels or nuclear CaV1-encoded peptides are subject to autonomous feedback tuning by peptide/channel interactions.


SIR.-May I add a few notes to the reply to the inquiry concerning pain in phantom foot ("' Any Questions ?" April 24, p. 817)? French statistics show that 72.50/' of all amputees, at least, complain of pains, most of them being phantom pains (personal statistics). In 1938 I established that such pains are greatly relieved with parenteral thiamine in a very high proportion of cases. When this quite easy method fails to give relief we perform a sympathetic ganglia "novocain ? block or a periarterial injection of novocain. Intra-arterial administration of the drug sometimes relieves the pain immediately and suppresses the phantom limb sensations. At the next stage we proceed with lumbar or cervical sympathectomy, advisable in cases in which the block gives only transitory relief. The surgical treatment of the main sensitivity route (excision of the terminal neuroma, radicotomy, cordotomy) is performed in cases of failure of the above-mentioned more conservative methods. Recently some authors claimed the success of excision of the cortex, but their trials seem to remain merely in an experimental stage. Lately, psychotherapy has been introduced in the treatment of this very refractory condition.-I am, etc.,


Catherine Earnshaw's famous statement, "I am Heathcliff" in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights , has often been thought to signify the depth of the passionate love between Catherine and Heathcliff (73).  It seems, however, that Heathcliff and Catherine's relationship may have more to do with symbolic possession and control than romance.  In their famous feminist work, The Madwoman in the Attic , Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar make a well-known assertion about the relationship between the characters of Jane Eyre , a novel written by Emily Bronte's sister, Charlotte Bronte.  They suggest that Bertha, the deranged and malicious wife of Edward Rochester, can be considered as a symbol of the rebellious spirit that rages inside the seemingly quiet female protagonist, Jane Eyre, against the constraints of her class and gender role in society (356-367).   I suggest that, similarly, Heathcliff is not a "devil" that possesses Catherine and inflicts misery on her, but that like Jane Eyre's Bertha, Heathcliff is a symbolic manifestation of the raging spirit trapped inside Wuthering Height's socially confined protagonist—Catherine Earnshaw. Catherine's statement, "I am Heathcliff" could be said to signify, not a passionate relationship of love, but rather a literal truth.  After Edgar forces Heathcliff to leave Thrushcross Grange, Catherine confines herself to her room for 3 days without food or water, bringing on an illness which eventually becomes fatal. Catherine is unable to unite herself with her true nature in life, and she therefore seeks unity with him in death.  Though she cannot be united with Heathcliff while she remains the civilized wife of Edgar Linton, she can achieve unity with him in death by imprisoning and then eradicating the symbol of her civilized identity—her physical body.


The type section of the Cal Tepe Formation, near Seydisehir, is reviewed. The basal dolomite member is unfossiliferous, but the succeeding black limestone member (24 m), light-grey limestone member (10.15 m), and red nodular limestone member (46.7 m) are subdivided into thirty-seven numbered, often fossiliferous beds. Trilobites from the black limestone member, late Early Cambrian, exhibit affinities with Morocco, Spain and northwestern Europe; they include one new genus and species (Pamphyliaspis nigra) and three other new species (Condylopyge matutina, Alueva venulosa, Antatlasia scabra). The lower light-grey limestone member contains Acadoparadoxides (Acadoparadoxides) mureroensis, basal Middle Cambrian index species in Spain, with Hamatolenus (Hamatolenus) altifronsns sp. nov., and the corynexochid Clavigellus venustus, first described from southwest of Afyon, western Turkey. Trilobites from the highest bed of the member include Acadolenus?, Agraulos, Dorypyge fimbriata sp. nov., Granularia, Parasolenopleura? and Sdzuyella; Corynexochus occurs only rarely. The red nodular limestone member reflects deepening marine conditions, and the fauna includes Asturiaspis oezgueli sp. nov., Conocoryphe (Conocoryphe), Dorypyge, Eccaparadoxides marginatus sp. nov., Hartella, Peronopsis, Proampyx and the biozonal index Pardailhania hispida. Near Hadim, 70 km southeast of Cal Tepe, the fauna of the red nodular limestone member is similar to that near Seydisehir. At Cal Tepe, succeeding yellow shales (now interpreted as basal Seydisehir Formation) yielded only undetermined paradoxidid fragments, but analogous strata near Hadim contain scarce Pardailhania hispida. Youngest Upper Cambrian rocks may occur to the west of Cal Tepe, but the inferred Cambrian–Ordovician contact there is unexposed. Correlation with Cambrian successions elsewhere in southern Turkey and the Mediterranean region is reviewed.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of selenium supplementation on the selenium status and selenoenzyme, especially the activity and mRNA expression of type 1 deiodinase (D1) in mice with excessive iodine (EI) intake and to explore the mechanism of selenium intervention on iodine-induced abnormities.

METHODS
Weanling female BALB/c mice were given tap water or 3 mg/L of iodine or supplemented with 0.5 mg/L or 1.0 mg/L of selenium in the presence of excessive iodine for 5 months. Selenium status, thyroid hormone level, hepatic and renal D1 activity and mRNA expression were examined.

RESULTS
Excessive iodine intake significantly decreased the selenium concentration in urine and liver, and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver. Meanwhile, serum total T4 (TT4) increased while serum total T3 (TT3) decreased. Hepatic D1 enzyme activity and mRNA expression were reduced by 33% and 86%, respectively. Renal D1 enzyme activity and mRNA were reduced by 30% and 55%, respectively. Selenium supplementation obviously increased selenium concentration, activity of GSH-Px and Dl as well as mRNA expression of D1. However, increasing the supplementation of Se from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/L did not further increase selenoenzyme activity and expression.

CONCLUSION
Relative selenium deficiency caused by excessive iodine plays an essential role in the mechanism of iodine-induced abnormalities. An appropriate dose of selenium supplementation exercises a beneficial intervention.


A virtual book club in partnership with the WSU Alumni Association that's FREE & open to all Cougs, alumni, and their family.


The studies reported here present evidence for the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by an oligodendroglial cell line and of NGF by oligodendrocytes in mouse primary culture. An immortalized oligodendroglial cell line (N19) expressing markers for immature oligodendrocytes stimulated PC12 cells to elaborate processes. Polymerase chain reaction analysis with degenerate primers indicated that the N19 cells expressed the mRNAs for the neurotrophic factors NGF and BDNF. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the N19 cells expressed the 1.3-kb NGF mRNA and the 1.4- and 4-kb BDNF mRNAs. In situ hybridization histochemistry identified the presence of NGF mRNAs in 9-day primary oligodendroglial cultures. Combined immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization histochemistry colocalized NGF mRNA within primary cultured cells that immunostained for the oligodendrocyte marker galactocerebroside (GC). Double-immunofluorescence analysis also colocalized NGF protein within GC+ cells and within A2B5+ cells, a marker for oligodendrocyte progenitors. These results show that oligodendroglia and their precursor cells can express the neurotrophic factor NGF. They suggest that cells in the oligodendrocyte lineage may play an active role in neurite extension through fiber tracts in addition to myelination.


Background: Bible scholars often debate the authorship of certain books appearing in the New Testament.   Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate New Testament authorship by using stylometric analytical techniques   Setting: This research focuses on texts appearing in the New Testament.   Intervention: This was an exploratory research on evaluation study with no intervention.   Research Design: A powerful, state-of-the-art psychometric model was applied to Biblical text in an effort to identify correlations among word usage and writing style among each of the New Testament books. Data Collection and Analysis: Strong's Concordance was used to provide original Greek text. Computer programming was necessary to create a worksheet that contained a list of New Testament books, each Greek word appearing in the New Testament, and a count of each word's appearance relative to each book. Rasch-based Principal Components Analysis of standardized residual correlations was used to map stylistic similarities and differences.   Findings: With regard to substantive findings, the gospels (Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John) and the narrative book of Acts were closely correlated. Other texts presented a mix of expected and unexpected findings. With regard to other findings, the technique presented in this study offers a great deal of promise to various research and evaluation practices.


Poor academic performance of students is a concern in the educational sector, especially if it leads to students being unable to meet minimum course requirements. However, with timely prediction of students' performance, educators can detect at-risk students, thereby enabling early interventions for supporting these students in overcoming their learning difficulties. However, the majority of studies have taken the approach of developing individual models that target a single course while developing prediction models. These models are tailored to specific attributes of each course amongst a very diverse set of possibilities. While this approach can yield accurate models in some instances, this strategy is associated with limitations. In many cases, overfitting can take place when course data is small or when new courses are devised. Additionally, maintaining a large suite of models per course is a significant overhead. This issue can be tackled by developing a generic and course-agnostic predictive model that captures more abstract patterns and is able to operate across all courses, irrespective of their differences. This study demonstrates how a generic predictive model can be developed that identifies at-risk students across a wide variety of courses. Experiments were conducted using a range of algorithms, with the generic model producing an effective accuracy. The findings showed that the CatBoost algorithm performed the best on our dataset across the F-measure, ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve and AUC scores; therefore, it is an excellent candidate algorithm for providing solutions on this domain given its capabilities to seamlessly handle categorical and missing data, which is frequently a feature in educational datasets.


Epidemiologic and neurobiologic evidence suggests that patients with comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia may represent a special category among patients with schizophrenia. Efforts to examine the neurobiology of this group have focused on neuroimaging studies and neuropsychologic testing. Convergent evidence suggests that there may be a specific pattern of neurobiologic dysfunction in this subgroup of patients accounting for symptom co-expression. This review indicates that future studies should distinguish among (1) apparent obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) that occur only in the context of psychosis and that may overlap with psychotic phenomenology, representing a forme fruste of psychosis; (2) OCS occurring only in the prodromal phase of schizophrenia; (3) neuroleptic-induced OCS or OCD; and (4) OCS or frank OCD occurring concurrently with schizophrenia. We examine the evidence for a putative schizo-obsessive disorder and outline suggestions for identifying OCS in the presence of psychosis.


Perinatal death, of a fetus or newborn, is a devastating event for families. Following nationwide multicentre recruitment, we assessed 'genomic autopsy' as an adjunct to standard autopsy for 200 families who experienced perinatal death, and provided a definite or candidate genetic diagnosis in 105 families. From this understudied cohort, half of the (candidate) diagnoses were phenotype expansions or novel disease genes, revealing previously unknown in-utero presentations of existing developmental disorders, and genomic disorders that are likely incompatible with life. Among the definite diagnoses, 43% were recessively or dominantly inherited, posing a 25% or 50% recurrence risk for future pregnancies. Ten families used their diagnosis for preimplantation or prenatal diagnosis of 12 pregnancies, facilitating the delivery of ten healthy newborns and management of two affected pregnancies. We emphasize the clinical importance of genomic investigations of perinatal death, with short turn-around times, enabling accurate counselling and options for families to prevent recurrence.


Problems often arise in traffic one of them is the problem of the prospective driver's negligence while learning to drive on the highway, causing a traffic accident. However, the prospective driver's negligence is responsible for the driver instructor in accordance with Law No. 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Road Transport and incompatible with Article 2 of the Code of Criminal Justice Act that apply to the perpetrators of such crime. In this case relates to Criminal Liability Candidates Against Motorists When Learning Driving Violations Over Traffic Accidents According to Law No. 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Road Transport. The purpose of this skripsi, namely; The first, How sentence imposed for violations of traffic accidents to the candidate driver when learning to drive, second, how to overcome the dualism between the application of Article 79 paragraph (2) of Law No. 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Road Transport with the criminal theory Article 2 of the Code of Criminal Justice Act. This type of research can be classified into types of normative juridical research, because this research penulismeneliti library materials or secondary formulated Normative Or Research Book Research book story. From in nature this research is description research that aim to describe clearly and in detail that in this case the author selecting research on the differences of rules and principles hukum.Sumber data used, study libraries or documentary studies. From the results of this study concluded. First, the driving school has not reached the expected level in terms of skilled graduates to obtain and understand the essence of safe driving in highway, motorists are often negligent in driving a vehicle that can cause traffic accidents. Thereby, in Act No. 22 of 2009 Article 79 is a special clause for prospective drivers who learned driving and istrukturnya, thenspecialis derogat legi generali, Second, Lex specialis derogat legi generaliasalkan with the terms of the prospective driver to act is in conformity with the beacon -rambu which have been determined in learning driving. Suggestions writer, first, is expected omission of sentences for perpetrators of traffic accidents in the law more clearly so as not to give rise to legal interpretation, Second, efforts to avoid dualism application of the law by revising the legislation in detail and spsesifik avoid misinterpretation in the future .


BACKGROUND
Neonatal meningitis due to Alcaligenes xylosoxydans is exceptional; its diagnosis and treatment may be difficult.

CASE REPORT
A neonate born at 42 weeks of GA to a mother who worked as a nurse in an intensive care unit was admitted on day 2 for a severe infection. Her cerebrospinal (CSF) contained 1,970 white cell/mm3, polymorphonuclear in majority: direct examination failed to show any germ but the CSF and blood cultures were positive for Alcaligenes xylosoxydans, a strain that was resistant to the initially given antibiotics. The patient was given piperacillin, 300 mg/kg/d for 21 days and completely cured with a follow-up of 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS
This case shows that lombar puncture can be necessary in evaluating early neonatal sepsis; it also shows usefulness of piperacillin in some cases.


Abstract:  Complications of severe forms of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) almost invariably lead to chronic malnutrition, jeopardizing immune status, growth, iron status, bone health, wound healing, and quality of life. Although gastrostomy tube (G‐tube) feeding has successfully addressed the difficulties of providing nutrition and medications in some children attending our center, others have developed problems such as abdominal distension, poor feed tolerance, and leakage of gastric contents with persistent localized skin ulceration, posing enormous challenges to skin management and nutritional maintenance. Suspicions that G‐tube placement and feeding cause or exacerbate these problems has led to a decline in placements at our center over the last 10 years. We therefore recognized that it should not be rejected without due consideration of why some patients seem more prone to complications than others. Thus, information on selected issues and outcomes of G‐tube placement was obtained from records of 66 patients undergoing surgery between 1989 and 2008. The complex interrelationships of the sequelae of severe EB, changes in practice over 20 years and lack of data for patients treated early in the series make it impossible to draw firm conclusions at this stage, however, our scrutiny provides valuable information on which to base debate and future studies. It also offers well as useful insights for fellow professionals involved in nutrition support in children with severe EB.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the memory enhancing effect and underlying molecular mechanism of arabinoxylan (AX), a major component of dietary fiber in wheat against scopolamine (SCO)-induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Diverse behavior tests including Y-maze, Morris water maze, and passive avoidance tests were performed to measure cognitive functions. SCO significantly decreased the spontaneous alterations in Y-maze test and step-through latency in passive avoidance test, whereas increased time spent to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze test compared with the sham control group. In contrast, oral administration of AX (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) effectively reversed the SCO-induced cognitive impairments in SD rats. Furthermore, AX treatment up-regulated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cortex and hippo-campus via promoting activation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Therefore, our findings suggest that AX can improve SCO-induced learning and memory impairment possibly through activation of CREB and up-regulation of BDNF levels, thereby exhibiting a cognition-enhancing potential.


The purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics of urban climate in several cities, from observing radiation according to wavelength band(UV, short and long wave radiation). Observation start from 5 May to 31 August 2013. The followings are the main results from this study. 1) In every observation area, greater amounts of short-wave radiation have been recorded in May compared to June. Even though the highest solar elevation occurs in June, May sees clearer days, which has attributed to the outcome. 2) The analysis concerning the correlation between ultraviolet radiation and shortwave radiation have revealed that regions closer to the Daegu area have stronger correspondence. 3) The time series of daily long-wave radiation shares a similar tendency with the time series of air temperature, and the maximum value was recorded at 14:00 and 15:00.


This small volume makes an impact out of all proportion to its size and modest claims. It is, the editor tells us, the first publication "to gather in one issue the current thinking about psychiatric aspects of organ transplantation." But it is far more than this. The individual reactions of all who are instrumental in the removal of a vital organ, be it heart, kidney, pancreas, or lung, from one person and its replacement by an organ taken from another, alive or dead— these are matters of moment to everyone, since anyone at any time can find himself involved in it. This remains true despite the fact that the transplanting of hearts is currently out of favor. Statistics have proved that the alien heart invariably is rejected by the recipient's body in spite of the most elaborate immunosuppressive techniques. But intensive research is going on in this direction and may


Information systems (IS) exist in order to intensify the information flow within an organization, at all levels, specifically to allow set of data to reach the designated person, in the right format, and at the right time, generating a positive and beneficial contribution to the organization. Therefore, it is essential to investigate their intended purpose and how they affect the organization's effectiveness in particular. This paper aims to investigate two different implementations of information systems in two organizations and understand the impact these implementations have on the respective organization's effectiveness. We use three antecedents, namely, time-saving , workload , and system reliability , to distinguish users' perceptions and experience with the system and how they affect the organization's effectiveness. An interpretative method is used, due to the paradigm's focus on social constructions and human interpretations to explain reality. The result of the findings shows that the implementation of a new IS has a greater impact on an organization's effectiveness, compared to an older system that gets updated and add-ons. By comparing diversities between different implementations of information systems, focusing on how the chosen approach affects the effectiveness in each organization, a better grasp, and understanding of an area that lacks research and attention is highlighted.


Two jurisdictions, Korea and America, have contrasting legal rules governing voting in workouts: Voting Mandating Rule and Voting Prohibition Rule. Voting in a bond workout has long been prohibited in the Trust Indenture Act of the United States. In stark contrast, Korea enacted a unique statute that mandated a voting scheme in workout in an effort to resolve corporate insolvencies crisis and incompetent bankruptcy institutions. Voting facilitates the completion of workouts, but it gives majority creditors an opportunity to disproportionately benefit from workouts. I explore the contrariness of the two seemingly unrelated statutes, and bring their respective implications for efficiency to light. Voting Prohibition Rule prevents every inefficient workout attempt but blocks some efficient workout efforts. Voting Mandating Rule facilitates every efficient workout but enables some inefficient workouts as well. Voting Prohibition Rule works better if debts are concentrated to a handful of major creditors. Voting Mandating Rule is better suited if creditors are atomic and individually non-pivotal. Voting Mandating Rule encounters a dilemma in that it was designed to enable more workouts to take place, but in doing so it may cause workouts to become less effective in reducing bankruptcy costs. EFFICIENT AND INEFFICIENT DEBT RESTRUCTURING: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON VOTING RULES IN WORKOUTS TABLE OF CONTENTS


Air pollution is severe in some areas of Central and Eastern Europe but the quality and representativeness of measurements are not consistent. Studies in the Czech Republic and Poland have shown an impact of air pollution on overall mortality, post-neonatal mortality and lung cancer. Estimates in this paper suggest that air pollution may cause up to 3% of all-cause, all-age mortality in the Czech Republic, which is some 9% of the mortality gap between this country and Western Europe. The impact in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe is probably smaller.


A gas chromatography multi-pesticide with an internal standard method has been developed to analyze simultaneously separate nine active ingredients (acephate, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, chlorothalonil, diazinon, dimethoate, malathion, profenofos, quinalphos) in different commercial pesticide formulations. A mixture of pure standard solution spiked with 1-chloro-4fluorobenzene as the internal standard was injected into the GC-ECD and a six point calibration curve that demonstrated a linear range was established for each target compound. Samples of each formulation, mixed with internal standard were analyzed five times to obtain coefficients of variation which are less than 1%. Three concentration levels of each formulation were determined and the results were within the specification with the accuracies obtained were within 98.1% to 101.9%. This method involves a quick analysis, cost effective and without any sample pretreatment process. This measurement method can be very useful for determining pesticide formulations in routine analysis.


Storage of electrical energy is a key technology for a future climate-neutral energy supply with volatile photovoltaic and wind generation. Besides the well-known technologies of pumped hydro, power-to-gas-to-power and batteries, the contribution of thermal energy storage is rather unknown. At the end of 2019 the worldwide power generation capacity from molten salt storage in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants was 21 GWhel. This article gives an overview of molten salt storage in CSP and new potential fields for decarbonization such as industrial processes, conventional power plants and electrical energy storage.


Background —Homocysteine is known to be an independent risk factor for congenital heart disease (CHD). Methionine synthase reductase ( MTRR ) is essential for the adequate remethylation of homocysteine, which is the dominant pathway for homocysteine removal during early embryonic development.

Methods and Results —Herein, we report that the c.56+781 A>C (rs326119) variant of intron-1 of MTRR significantly increases the CHD risk in the Han Chinese population. In three independent case-control studies involving a total of 2,340 CHD patients and 2,270 healthy control participants from different geographic areas, we observed that patients carrying the heterozygous AC and homozygous CC genotype had a 1.40-fold (OR=1.40, P =2.32×10-7) and 1.84-fold (OR=1.84, P =2.3×10-11) increased risk, respectively, of developing CHD than those carrying the wild-type AA genotype. Both in vivo quantitative real-time PCR analysis of MTRR mRNA in cardiac tissue samples from CHD patients and in vitro luciferase assays in transfected cells demonstrated that the c.56+781 C allele profoundly decreased MTRR transcription. Further analysis demonstrated that the c.56+781 C allele manifested reduced CEBPα binding affinity. In addition, healthy individuals with the homozygous CC genotype had significantly elevated levels of plasma homocysteine compared to the wild-type AA carriers.

Conclusions —We have demonstrated that the MTRR c.56+781 A>C variant is an important genetic marker for increased CHD risk because this variant results in functionally reduced MTRR expression at the transcriptional level. Our results accentuate the significance of functional SNPs in non-coding regions of the homocysteine/folate metabolism pathway core genes for their potential contributions to the etiology of CHD.


Bluetooth is a communications standard targeting shortrange wireless communications with data rates of 1Mb/s at 10m distance. To encourage Canadian universities to pursue this commercially promising standard the Canadian Microelectronics Corporation is providing the intellectual property for a Bluetooth SOC Reference Platform. This platform does not currently include an RF transceiver core. This work describes a research effort made at the University of Calgary to build a compatible RF transceiver core in a CMOS 0.18/spl mu/m process. A brief Bluetooth specification translation process is presented. A pilot PCB Bluetooth frequency synthesizer is presented together with specific measurements made at NEWT, TRLabs' new test and measurement facility. Finally, a fully integrated Bluetooth frequency synthesizer implemented in a CMOS 0.18/spl mu/m process is presented.


A survey of graduates from two different curricula in medical technology, five to eight years following graduation, indicates that both curricula prepared individuals for professional practice and growth.


Lattice Boltzmann Method is recently developed within numerical schemes for simulating a variety of physical systems. In this paper a new lattice Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (LBGK) model for two-dimensional incompressible magnetohydrodynamics (IMHD) is presented. The model is an extension of a hydrodynamics lattice BGK model with 9 velocities on a square lattice, resulting in a model with 17 velocities. Most of the existing LBGK models for MHD can be viewed as compressible schemes to simulate incompressible flows. The compressible effect might lead to some undesirable errors in numerical simulations. In our model the compressible effect has been overcome successfully. The model is then applied to the Hartmann flow, giving reasonable results.


The Handoff Assigned Multiple Access (HAMA) protocol has been designed to meet the performane requirements of the Tactical Intra-task Force Network, a hypothetical mobile Navy broadcast radio network. This packet switched network will facilitate the transmission and reception of target track data and various command and control messages between Navy platforms (ships) in a dynamic, tactical environment. The unique characteristics and requirement of the TACNET resulted in the development of the HAMA multiple access protocol. The protocol is based on Time Division Multiple Access, in which the communication channel is divided into time frames, which are further subdivided into time slots. Each network node (ship) is assigned a particular slot, with exactly one slot for each node. With HAMA each node is allowed to handoff its slot to other network nodes. Thus, a node which has no use for its slot can dynamically hand it off to another node which does need it. Analysis of the protocol, both analytical and by simulation, indicates it performs remarkably well, much better than Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) even at very high throughputs. Of particular importance to military networks, the analysis results indicate the protocol is very robust, and performs well under a variety of tactical conditions.


The J/ψ radiative decays are suggested as promising modes for glueball search. A full Monte Carlo simulation of J/ψ→γηη and γηη′, based on the design of BESIII detector, is performed to study the sensitivity of searching for a possible tensor glueball at BESIII.


Active and passive microwave measurements obtained by the dual-frequency TOPEX-Poseidon radar altimeter from the Northern Great Plains of the United States are used to develop a snow pack radar backscatter model. The model results are compared with daily time series of surface snow observations made by the U.S. National Weather Service. The model results show that Ku-band provides more accurate snow depth determinations than does C-band. Comparing the snow depth determinations derived from the TOPEX-Poseidon nadir-looking passive microwave radiometers with the oblique-looking Satellite Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) passive microwave observations and surface observations shows that both instruments accurately portray the temporal characteristics of the snow depth time series. While both retrievals consistently underestimate the actual snow depths, the TOPEX-Poseidon results are more accurate.


Objectives: To analyze women's experiences of the first pelvic examination and identify positive and negative components. To learn lessons, and build on and incorporate the positive components into a model of good clinical practice. Method: The open, cross-sectional study was carried out in community family planning and young persons clinics. A self-administered questionnaire was offered to all women under 25 years of age who attended a family planning or young persons clinic during the study period. The questionnaire was constructed to determine how experience compared with expectations and which components showed a significant trend towards a positive or negative effect. It also aimed to find what women considered to be important aspects of an internal examination. Results: A total of 167 evaluable questionnaires were completed in which experience of the first pelvic examination was reported from family planning clinics (41%), general practice (39%) and hospital/genitourinary medicine faculties (20%). These first pelvic examinations occurred at a mean age of 17.3 years (range 11-23 years). Significant trends of a positive experience were found when the examination was conducted by a female doctor (p = 0.02), when it was conducted in a family planning clinic as opposed to general practice (p = 0.04), after permission was sought (p = 0.001) and with increasing age at first examination (Mann-Whitney, p = 0.003). There were no significant differences in outcome with offer of, or presence of, a chaperone. Conclusions: A friendly, female doctor who seeks permission before the examination, which should be uninterrupted, were considered to be important aspects for an internal examination.


Binary offset carrier (BOC) signal synchronization is one of the most important steps to recover the transmitted information in global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) including Galileo and global positioning system (GPS). Generally, BOC signal synchronization is based on the correlation between the received and locally generated BOC signals. Thus, the multiple side-peaks in BOC autocorrelation are one of the main error sources in synchronizing BOC signals. Recently, a novel correlation function with reduced side-peaks was proposed for BOC signal synchronization by Julien [8]; however, Julien's correlation function not only still has the side-peaks, but also is only applicable to sine phased BOC(n, n), where n is the ratio of the pseudo random noise (PRN) code rate to 1.023 MHz. In this paper, we propose a new correlation function for BOC signal synchronization, which does not have any side-peaks and is applicable to general types of BOC signals, sine/cosine phased BOC(kn, n), where k is the ratio of a PRN chip duration to the period of a square wave sub-carrier used in BOC modulation. In addition, an efficient correlator structure is presented for generating the proposed correlation function.


The Exploration of the Moon and Asteroids by Secondary Students (ExMASS) program provides pre-college students the opportunity to conduct authentic, inquiry-based research with assistance from their teacher and a professional scientist. This paper presents an overview of the ExMASS program and results of ongoing program evaluation. The goals of the ExMASS program are to 1) provide an opportunity for secondary students to engage in multiple practices of science, 2) foster positive student attitudes toward science, and 3) enhance student lunar and asteroid science content knowledge. Evaluation data affirms the program is meeting these stated goals. In particular, assessment of student attitudes toward science show statistically significant increases in positive attitudes post program. The validity of the survey has been shown previously through factor analysis (Shaner et al., 2018). This paper includes a discussion of the continued assessment of student attitudes toward science (n = 125 students), showing statistically significant changes in both personal connections to science and the importance of science in society.


Numerous carrier scatterers, such as atomic defects, fixed oxide charges, impurities, chemical residues, and undesired surface adsorbates, including oxygen and water molecules, strongly degrade the carrier mobility of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials. However, the effect of surface adsorbates and surface oxidation on the carrier density profile along the thickness of 2D multilayers is not well known, particularly for a substantial interruption in the formation of the top-surface channel. Here, we uncover a hidden surface channel in p-type black phosphorus and n-type rhenium disulfide multilayers originating from undesired ambient adsorbates and surface oxides that not only populate hole density (or reduce electron density) but also suppress carrier mobility. The absence of a second peak in the transconductance curve under ambient conditions indicates the disappearance of the top-surface channel inside the 2D multilayers, which is a possible indicator for the cleanliness of the top surface and can be used in gas sensor applications. Moreover, the negligible variation in the drain bias polarity-dependent turn-on voltage for the bottom channel under ambient conditions validates the exclusive contribution of surface adsorbates to the formation of the top channel in 2D multilayers. Our results provide a novel insight into the distinct carrier transport in 2D optoelectronic devices and diverse sensors.


A real-time call admission control algorithm is developed for admitting real time traffic streams with quality of service (QoS) constraints in high-speed networks operating in a packet-switched mode under a fixed routing strategy. The theory developed is based on a calculus for network delay at each network node with general traffic arrival process at the network edge. The authors give the necessary and sufficient conditions for the schedulability of real-time connections at each network node under non-preemptive earliest-due date scheduling policy for deterministic QoS guarantees. These necessary and sufficient conditions form the mathematical basis for the deterministic QoS guarantees in real-time communication services. The manner in which the end-to-end delay bound is to be divided into local delay bounds which together satisfy the end-to-end QoS requirements is finally proposed.


The initial optimal assessment of the neonate born with unilateral facial paralysis should be performed as soon after birth as possible by a multidisciplinary team with the goal being to distinguish between a traumatic or developmental etiology. Electrophysiologic studies, particularly ENOG testing, are essential for this differentiation; radiologic and audiologic studies are of potential diagnostic benefit. In children determined to have a unilateral facial paralysis of developmental origin, subsequent clinical exams complemented by electrophysiologic testing facilitate prognosis. Unfortunately, in the majority of developmental etiology cases, the likelihood of spontaneous improvement is negligible. In these children, reanimation procedures will need to be considered with limited information in the current literature to dictate the optimal age of such surgical intervention.


ABSTRACT Osteoblasts and adipocytes may develop from common bone marrow mesenchymal precursors. Transgenic mice overexpressing ΔFosB, an AP-1 transcription factor, under the control of the neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter show both markedly increased bone formation and decreased adipogenesis. To determine whether the two phenotypes were linked, we targeted overexpression of ΔFosB in mice to the osteoblast by using the osteocalcin (OG2) promoter. OG2-ΔFosB mice demonstrated increased osteoblast numbers and an osteosclerotic phenotype but normal adipocyte differentiation. This result firmly establishes that the skeletal phenotype is cell autonomous to the osteoblast lineage and independent of adipocyte formation. It also strongly suggests that the decreased fat phenotype of NSE-ΔFosB mice is independent of the changes in the osteoblast lineage. In vitro, overexpression of ΔFosB in the preadipocytic 3T3-L1 cell line had little effect on adipocyte differentiation, whereas it prevented the induction of adipogenic transcription factors in the multipotential stromal cell line ST2. Also, ΔFosB isoforms bound to and altered the DNA-binding capacity of C/EBPβ. Thus, the inhibitory effect of ΔFosB on adipocyte differentiation appears to occur at early stages of stem cell commitment, affecting C/EBPβ functions. It is concluded that the changes in osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation in ΔFosB transgenic mice result from independent cell-autonomous mechanisms.


The purpose of the current study was to evaluate estrogenic activity of Nigella sativa using ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Forty OVX rats divided into five groups. N. sativa was administered orally as a supplement to chaw palate at different doses of 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg for 21 days to OVX rats and were compared to either positive (0.2 mg/kg conjugated equine estrogen- CEE) or negative control (1 ml
distilled water). Histopathological changes of the rats' uterus such as epithelial proliferation and endometrial glandular hyperplasia were assessed as well as uterus weight and serum estradiol level. Supplementation with N. sativa resulted in a significant increase in uterine weight as compared to the OVX controls accompanied by altering the serum estrogen levels. Histopathological evaluation of the
uterine section revealed changes characterized by atrophy of the uterus in the OVX controls, while the OVX rats supplemented with N. sativa showed increased endometrial response as indicated by proliferation of the endometrial glands and epithelial hyperplasia as well as epithelial proliferation and endometrial glandular hyperplasia. The effects of N. sativa were comparable to that in the CEE group. N. sativa showed the desired effects on the physical, histological and biochemical parameters of the
uterine tissue in OVX rats, thereby indicating its probable beneficial role in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms.


The traditional Korean hand-made papers (Hanji) were dyed with colorant extracted from flowers of Sophora japonica L.(pagoda tree), and the effect of various dyeing factors (mordant, mordanting method, pH of dyeing solution, etc.) on colors and K/S values of the dyed Hanji was investigated. Changing mordant affected the color of dyed Hanji. Mordanting with alum, copper acetate made the color of dyed Hanji more yellow, but dyed Hanji mordanted with had dark olive color. The K/S value of the dyed Hanji mainly depended on the pH of the dyeing solution and mordanting method. It was found that sim-mordanting with alum was timesaving and effective dyeing method. The dyed Hanji sim-mordanted with alum had the highest K/S value at low pH (about 4).


The practical task of Automatic Check-Out (ACO) is to accurately predict the presence and count of each product in an arbitrary product combination. Beyond the large-scale and the fine-grained nature of product categories as its main challenges, products are always continuously updated in realistic check-out scenarios, which is also required to be solved in an ACO system. Previous work in this research line almost depends on the supervisions of labor-intensive bounding boxes of products by performing a detection paradigm. While, in this paper, we propose a Self-Supervised Multi-Category Counting (S2MC2) network to leverage the point-level supervisions of products in check-out images to both lower the labeling cost and be able to return ACO predictions in a class incremental setting. Specifically, as a backbone, our S2MC2 is built upon a counting module in a class-agnostic counting fashion. Also, it consists of several crucial components including an attention module for capturing fine-grained patterns and a domain adaptation module for reducing the domain gap between single product images as training and check-out images as test. Furthermore, a self-supervised approach is utilized in S2MC2 to initialize the parameters of its backbone for better performance. By conducting comprehensive experiments on the large-scale automatic check-out dataset RPC, we demonstrate that our proposed S2MC2 achieves superior accuracy in both traditional and incremental settings of ACO tasks over the competing baselines.


The structural and functional dimensions of perceived social support were examined, with particular emphasis on the importance of grandparents as support providers to the mothers of children with special needs. Forty-seven mothers of children with cerebral palsy and 43 mothers of children without such a disability (comparison group) were interviewed in their homes using the social support network list (Kazak & Wilcox, 1984), a special version of a support functions scale (Dunst, Trivette, & Deal, 1988), and satisfaction with social support (Vaux & Harrison, 1985). The results indicate that differences between the two groups were found only in the structural dimension of network size. However, no differences in the analysis of the functional dimension and satisfaction from support were revealed. In both research groups, grandparents were highly ranked in comparison with other support providers, and a clear hierarchy was revealed; maternal grandmothers were perceived to be the most important figures providing more emotional than instrumental support and received the highest score in terms of satisfaction from support. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.


University-industry collaborative innovation(UICI) is a new paradigm of resource integration. It has become an important way for enterprises to acquire external knowledge resources and promote corporation values, and at the same time it has significant effects on scientific performance of universities. By using the 2005-2012 panel data of 37 top China's universities and the method of static panel data model, we analyze the effects of UICI on research performance of universities and the relationships between UICI and traditional academic research(AR) of universities. The results of regression show that UICI at low level has a significant positive effect on research performance, and the effect of UICI positive up to a certain level, and the relationship of UICI and academic research is substituted.


Local fees represent independent agenda of municipalities in which they have so called revenue autonomy. They decide on fees, rates, and taxpayers, ideally while respecting criteria of efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness. It can be difficult in small municipalities (up to 1 000 inhabitants) in the Czech Re-public. They do not have the possibility to collect local fees as municipalities up to 5000 inhabitants (number of taxpayer, culture and accommodation facili-ties etc.). But, as analysis has showed, the costs of this agenda are very similar to the costs of larger municipalities. The aim of this paper is to determine the relative costs of collecting local fees in municipalities of the South Moravian Region and to discuss factors which can influence the results of analysis. Rela-tive costs are the ratio between administrative costs to collection of local fees and revenue of local fees. Their amount is significant influenced by operation (fixed) costs of municipal office (authority), fee rate, number of taxpayers and real time that employees spend with this agenda.


Cerebral infarction after minor trauma to the neck has rarely been reported. A case is presented of a child with trauma to the vertebrobasilar artery resulting in stroke. Computerized tomography scan and angiography results are presented. Despite two subsequent, separate transient episodes of vertigo, the child had good functional recovery with complete restoration of language and cognitive function. After 28 months, residual impairments identified were a mild right-sided ataxia and hemiparesis.


We propose an automatic instrumentation method for embedded software annotation to enable performance modeling in high level hardware/software co-simulation environments. The proposed "cross-annotation" technique consists of extending a retargetable compiler infrastructure to allow the automatic instrumentation of embedded software at the basic block level. Thus, target and annotated native binaries are guaranteed to have isomorphic control flow graphs (CFG). The proposed method takes into account the processor-specific optimizations at the compiler level and proves to be accurate with low simulation overhead.


This work extends the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) method to latent models outside the scope of latent Gaussian models, where independent components of the latent field can have a near-Gaussian distribution. The proposed methodology is an essential component of a bigger project that aim to extend the R package INLA (R-INLA) in order to allow the user to add flexibility and challenge the Gaussian assumptions of some of the model components in a straightforward and intuitive way. Our approach is applied to two examples and the results are compared with that obtained by Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), showing similar accuracy with only a small fraction of computational time. Implementation of the proposed extension is available in the R-INLA package.


In dental implantation missing tooth or teeth are replaced by artificial root. To reduce the time required for the integration newest trends are the enhancement of bone formation around the implant by bioactive molecules, growth factors. Such a molecule is bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) accepted by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In these kind of applications effect of BMP-2 is tested in vitro on appropriate cell lines. One of these cell lines is the osteoblast like human embrionic palatal mesenchymal cell line (HEPM). In our experiments the effect of BMP-2 homodimer treatment was investigated on the differentiation of HEPM cells to osteoblasts reflected by changes in morphology, and proliferation after a short, 3 days BMP-2 treatment. Results showed that after three days BMP-2 treatment facilitates cell attachment on a concentration dependent manner however changes in cell morphology and proliferation could not be observed. Continuing the BMP-2 treatment inhibitory effect was measured in cell proliferation, which may refer to cell differentiation.


Abstract Structural and compositional changes were analysed over the course of 400+ yr of post-fire succession in the sub-boreal forests of west-central British Columbia. Using a chronosequence of 57 stands ranging from 11 to 438 yr in age, we examined changes in forest structure and composition with complementary PCA and DCA ordination techniques. To determine stand ages and timing of tree recruitment, approximately 1800 trees were aged. Most early successional forests were dominated by Pinus contorta, which established rapidly following fire. Abies lasiocarpa and Picea glauca ×engelmannii were also able to establish quickly, but continued to establish throughout the sere. Few Pinus contorta survived beyond 200 yr, resulting in major changes in forest structure. In some stands P. contorta never established, which led to considerable variation among stands less than 200 yr old. The oldest forests converged on dominance by Abies lasiocarpa. Vascular plant diversity decreased during succession whereas canopy structure became more complex as gap dynamics developed. Although these sub-boreal forests contain few tree species, successional changes were pronounced, with structure changing more than composition across the chronosequence. Abbreviations: CWD = Coarse Woody Debris; DCA = Detrended Correspondence Analysis; DBH = Diameter at Breast Height; PCA = Principal Component Analysis. Nomenclature: Douglas et al. (1989–1994).


Evidence linking psychiatric impairment with divorced marital status and the presence of marital discord is reviewed. Various theoretical models to explain these relationships are considered. Divorced marital status and marital discord are related to psychiatric impairment and mental health service utilization. Available evidence suggests that part of the impairment in these populations is secondary to factors involved in the breakdown of marital relationships and not completely explainable by premarital hypotheses. This has implications for mental health administrators.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

Tyrosine kinases (TKs) are frequently, aberrantly activated in human cancers. Moreover, they could be easily inhibited by small molecules and thereby represent excellent therapeutic targets. Here, our project aims to systematically identify activated, essential TKs in human cancers. In our previously published study, we have developed a high-throughput, multiplex antibody-based assay capable of identifying activated tyrosine kinases regardless of their mode of activation. Using this approach, we profiled 130 established cancer cell lines and 31 primary patient samples. In particular, we found frequent SRC activation in glioblastomas in the absent of genomic alterations. Moreover, we determined SRC essentiality and demonstrated SRC being a relevant target of a FDA-approved drug, dasatinib, in this deadly disease. Since then, we have expanded the Luminex assay to include additional TKs, adaptors and other important signaling molecules. Specifically, the version 2 of this assay is capable of simultaneously analyzing the tyrosine phosphorylation levels on 71 out of the 90 TKs, 9 adaptor proteins, ERK1/2, PLCG1 in the human genome. In addition, we have established separate assays to measure activities of AKT1, GSK3B, p70S6K and RSK1/2. Besides expanding the panel of analytes, we have made significant improvement on assay setup and data analysis. In particular, we have fully automated assay setup in 96-well format. In addition, we have generated negative and positive control samples to enable more accurate background signal estimation and plate-to-plate comparison, respectively. Using the improved version o f the assay, we have profiled 200 additional cancer cell lines and 100 primary tumor specimens. We found that some TKs are frequently activated across multiple malignancies while other are restricted to a particular tumor type. Interestingly, majority of the TKs are activated at very low frequency. Together, these results stress the importance of personalized treatment (i.e. choosing kinase inhibitors based on kinase activation profile of a tumor). In parallel to our effort on identifying activated TKs, we are systematically assessing TK essentiality using the pharmacological approach. Specifically, we have collected 25 small molecules targeting all known oncogenic TKs and are in the process of measuring sensitivities towards these inhibitors in various cancer cell lines. By comparing TK activation status and sensitivity to inhibitors, we have identified potential targets and corresponding drug candidates for treating subsets of cancer patients. Together, we have gained a comprehensive view on aberrant TK activations and downstream signaling in human cancers. Beyond the mechanistic understanding of tyrosine kinase signaling, our study has identified potential targets for devising effective therapeutic strategies for treating cancer patients.

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 5559.


This review examines 105 empirical studies that investigate students' views of the nature of science (VNOS), effects of curricular interventions on changing students' VNOS, and relations between VNOS and demographics, majors, and learning of science. The reviewed studies can be categorized into three theoretical frameworks: the unidimension, the multidimension, and the argumentative resource frameworks. Each framework is reviewed first with regard to its theoretical foundation, methods of data collection and analysis, and the respective findings. This is followed by a critical discussion on the methodological issues and the strengths and limitations of the framework. Potential directions regarding theoretical framework, methodology, and pedagogy are suggested in the future directions section. For example, this review proposes the shift to argumentative resource framework for VNOS research and a refinement for judging the "sophistication" of student VNOS. The role of inquiry in student VNOS is also discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed95:961–999, 2011


Background Permissive hypercapnia has been recommended during the treatment of chronic diseases; however, there are insufficient clinical data to investigate the feasibility of permissive hypercapnia in relatively long-term surgeries such as laparoscopic surgery for rectal carcinoma. This prospective study is aimed at investigating the efficacy and safety of permissive hypercapnia under different CO2 pneumoperitoneum pressures during the laparoscopic surgery for rectal carcinoma. Methods A total of 90 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for rectal carcinoma were recruited from July 2016 to March 2017. They were randomly assigned to high hypercapnia group (n = 30), low hypercapnia group (n = 30), or control group (n = 30), whose PaCO2 levels were maintained at 56-65 mmHg, 46-55 mmHg, or 35-45 mmHg, respectively. The primary endpoint was peak pressure. Plateau pressure, dynamic compliance, arterial blood analysis, and hemodynamic measures were collected as secondary outcomes. Adverse events were monitored. Results High hypercapnia group were reported to be associated with significantly lower peak pressure and plateau pressure, but higher dynamic compliance compared to low hypercapnia and control group (all P < 0.01). Moreover, patients in the high hypercapnia group had higher postoperation oxygenation index values compared to those in the low hypercapnia and control group (all P < 0.01). There is no significant difference in the pH, Spo2, MAP, heart rate, and adverse events among the three groups. Conclusion Permissive hypercapnia with a PaCO2 level of 56-65 mmHg was able to improve respiratory function after laparoscopic surgery in rectal cancer patients.


The mechanical performance, oxygen consumption, and external efficiency of isolated working hearts taken from control and trained rats were studied. Elevation of calcium concentration in perfusate from 1.25 to 2.5 mm and increase in external work were noted in the hearts of both the groups. This increase in the trained hearts was two-and-a-half times of that in the control rat hearts, while oxygen consumption was equally elevated in both the groups. As a result the efficiency of oxygen utilization by the heart for external work was higher in the trained hearts than in the controls. The results obtained may be explained by the greater functional power of the calcium transport system in the myocardial cells of trained animals.


—In microservice architectures, data is often hold re- dundantly to create an overall resilient system. Although the synchronization of this data proposes a significant challenge, not much research has been done on this topic yet. This paper shows four general approaches for assuring consistency among services and demonstrates how to identify the best solution for a given architecture. For this, a microservice architecture, which implements the functionality of a mainframe-based legacy system from the insurance industry, serves as an example.


Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) causes slight but noticeable disruption in cognitive systems, primarily executive and memory functions. However, it is not clear if the development of sequence learning is affected by an impaired cognitive system and, if so, how. The goal of our study was to investigate the development of probabilistic sequence learning, from the initial acquisition to consolidation, in MCI and healthy elderly control groups. We used the Alternating Serial Reaction Time task (ASRT) to measure probabilistic sequence learning. Individuals with MCI showed weaker learning performance than the healthy elderly group. However, using the reaction times only from the second half of each learning block—after the reactivation phase—we found intact learning in MCI. Based on the assumption that the first part of each learning block is related to reactivation/recall processes, we suggest that these processes are affected in MCI. The 24-h offline period showed no effect on sequence-specific learning in either group but did on general skill learning: the healthy elderly group showed offline improvement in general reaction times while individuals with MCI did not. Our findings deepen our understanding regarding the underlying mechanisms and time course of sequence acquisition and consolidation.


There are many difficulties associated with the design and implementation of on-line Prognostic Health Management (PHM) systems, including the tardy specification of requirements late in the design cycle, insufficient or conflicting input from pertinent stakeholders, difficult or costly access to domain knowledge, degree of difficulty in validating and testing functionality, and an illspecified and mostly uncoordinated process. A new methodology is needed that will pull together and coordinate all of the pertinent information obtained from the various system analyses, designers, manufacturers, maintainers, and users at the earliest stages of system design. The methodology should involve a step-by-step process for obtaining information from the various stages of design, and provide mechanisms for modifying design analyses in support of PHM system specification. Additionally, PHM software platforms are needed to facilitate the implementation of these requirements, assist in testing and determining the validity of failure detection and health assessment, and provide powerful model-based reasoning capability that correlates over historical data and across subsystems within an operational context. This paper discusses the issues related to designing and delivering PHM systems, recommends a design methodology that can better address these issues, and describes how the underlying PHM software platform can aid and assist such a methodology to lower the cost, reduce the time to deliver, and increase the quality of next generation PHM systems.


A significant fraction of the lateral heat transport into the Labrador Sea's interior, needed to balance the net heat loss to the atmosphere, is attributed to the Irminger Current Anticyclones. These mesoscale eddies advect warm, salty boundary current water, of subtropical origin, from the boundary current to the interior—but when or how they release their anomalous heat content has not been previously investigated. In this study, we discuss the seasonal and interannual evolution of these anticyclones as inferred from the analysis of hydrographic data from the Labrador Sea from 1990 to 2004. The 29 identified anticyclones fall into two categories, which we refer to as unconvected and convected. Unconvected anticyclones have properties that are close to those of the boundary current, including a fresh surface layer, and they are found near the boundaries and never observed in winter. Convected anticyclones, on the other hand, contain a mixed layer, lack a freshwater cap and are observed throughout the year. Using a one-dimensional mixing model, it is shown that the convected eddies are those Irminger Current Anticyclones that have been modified by the large winter buoyancy loss of the region. This provides evidence that such eddies can survive the strong winter buoyancy loss in the Labrador Sea and that their anomalous heat and salt content is not trivially mixed into the Sea's interior. Finally, we observe a clear trend in the eddies' properties toward warmer and saltier conditions after 1997 reflecting changes in the source waters and the reduced atmospheric forcing over the Labrador Sea.


In the electrical design of a high-voltage substation, the designer needs a simple and reliable tool, preferably a closed-form formula, when calculating the surface voltage gradient of line segments within the substation since the surface voltage gradient is the governing parameter of the corona performance. This paper presents a derivation of a closed-form formula for calculation of the maximum surface voltage gradient of a special line configuration, namely a horizontal AC three-phase line configuration with bundle conductors consisting of three sub-conductors in a horizontal arrangement. The formula has been verified against exact calculations and was found to have an error less than 5% for all practical combinations of the conductor radius, the sub-conductor spacing, the phase distance, and the height above earth.


Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by its aggressive phenotype and its genomic instability. TNBC patients who do not respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy have a very poor prognosis. Currently, little is known about the mechanisms of drug resistance and how to overcome it in TNBC. Our study aims at identifying molecular factors enriched for in residual TNBC tumors after standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: We obtained specimens from 60 TNBC patients participating in a clinical trial (Q-CROC-03). Biopsies were collected prior to and after standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy and residual cancer was collected at the time of surgery. Matched tumor specimens (pre and post) from 9 patients were analyzed by array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), gene expression microarrays and whole exome sequencing. All samples contained >50% tumor cellularity.

Results: Gene expression data was used to identify the different TNBC subtypes (TNBCtype). Six of the 7 subtypes were represented in at least one sample from our cohort. In the post-chemo samples, we observed a change in TNBC subtype compared to the pre-chemo samples in 6 pairs. The most common switch was to the Immuno Modulatory subtype (IM). aCGH analysis showed relatively few differences in copy number variants (CNV) following chemotherapy in 3 out of 8 patients. Whole exome sequencing revealed increased allele frequency or appearance of de novo mutations in TP53 gene in the residual cancers of 2 of the 3 patients presenting differences in CNVs post treatment. Interestingly, pathway analyses revealed that genes involved in DNA binding, chromosomal organization and nucleosome organization were differentially expressed (>2fold) in 2 of the patients with CNV changes. Our results suggest that increased levels of TP53 mutations and altered transcriptional expression of genes involved in chromosomal functions could be associated with the presence of CNV changes in drug resistant tumors.

Conclusion: In summary, the genome of TNBCs does not undergo major changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy; however, enrichment for or de novo TP53 mutations is associated with the appearance of novel CNVs in drug resistant residual tumors.

Citation Format: Adriana Aguilar-Mahecha, Ewa Przybytkowski, Josiane Lafleur, Cathy Lan, Stephanie Legare, Najmeh Alirezaie, Carole Seguin, Federico Discepola, Bojan Kovacina, Catalin Mihalcioiu, Andre Robidoux, Elizabeth Marcus, Josee Anne Roy, Manuela Pelmus, Olga Aleynikova, Sheida Nabavi, Jacek Majewski, Mark Basik. Genomic change in residual triple-negative breast cancers after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4320. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4320


Purpose
Since the handling of environmentally sensitive products requires close monitoring under prescribed conditions throughout the supply chain, it is essential to manage specific supply chain risks, i.e. maintaining good environmental conditions, and ensuring occupational safety in the cold environment. The purpose of this paper is to propose an Internet of Things (IoT)-based risk monitoring system (IoTRMS) for controlling product quality and occupational safety risks in cold chains. Real-time product monitoring and risk assessment in personal occupational safety can be then effectively established throughout the entire cold chain.

Design/methodology/approach
In the design of IoTRMS, there are three major components for risk monitoring in cold chains, namely: wireless sensor network; cloud database services; and fuzzy logic approach. The wireless sensor network is deployed to collect ambient environmental conditions automatically, and the collected information is then managed and applied to a product quality degradation model in the cloud database. The fuzzy logic approach is applied in evaluating the cold-associated occupational safety risk of the different cold chain parties considering specific personal health status. To examine the performance of the proposed system, a cold chain service provider is selected for conducting a comparative analysis before and after applying the IoTRMS.

Findings
The real-time environmental monitoring ensures that the products handled within the desired conditions, namely temperature, humidity and lighting intensity so that any violation of the handling requirements is visible among all cold chain parties. In addition, for cold warehouses and rooms in different cold chain facilities, the personal occupational safety risk assessment is established by considering the surrounding environment and the operators' personal health status. The frequency of occupational safety risks occurring, including cold-related accidents and injuries, can be greatly reduced. In addition, worker satisfaction and operational efficiency are improved. Therefore, it provides a solid foundation for assessing and identifying product quality and occupational safety risks in cold chain activities.

Originality/value
The cold chain is developed for managing environmentally sensitive products in the right conditions. Most studies found that the risks in cold chain are related to the fluctuation of environmental conditions, resulting in poor product quality and negative influences on consumer health. In addition, there is a lack of occupational safety risk consideration for those who work in cold environments. Therefore, this paper proposes IoTRMS to contribute the area of risk monitoring by means of the IoT application and artificial intelligence techniques. The risk assessment and identification can be effectively established, resulting in secure product quality and appropriate occupational safety management.


The use of suppositories and ointments for the treatment of anal and rectal disorders has long been popular. Dozens of preparations are available on prescription and dozens more are sold over the counter. There is a danger that reliance on them may delay examination and accurate diagnosis of any serious underlying disease.


The objective was to evaluate the action of cassava wastewater ('manipueira') in different proportions on mortality and reproduction of the cabbage aphid. Tests were conducted with eleven treatments: 'manipueira' pure (1:0), 'manipueira': water in proportions 1:1; 1:2; 1:3; 1:5; 1:10; 1:15; 1:20; 1:25; 1:30 and control 1:0 (pure distilled water). Each experimental unit consisted of cabbage leaf infested with ten adult insects. Solutions were sprayed evenly and counts of living individuals performed 24 and 48 h after application. The proportions more efficient were subjected to dose/response test. For the reproduction test extreme doses were used. For analysis of variance and for the mean test ASSITAT program was used while for efficiency (%) formula of Abbott (1925). In solutions 1:0 up to 1:5 efficiency of 100% was obtained, followed by 1:10 and 1:15 with 82.05%, the other solutions presented efficiency of less than 50%. In case of dose/response test, treatment 1:5 was lethal to 100% insects only 5 h after exposure, while 1:15 caused the death of 80% of the population after 12 h. There was 83% reduction of nymphs generated after application of 1:30 solution. 'Manipueira' extract is effective both for reducing generated nymphs and mortality of adult aphid of cabbage.


Granite outcrops are prominent throughout the world and harbour many endemic species. Their topographic complexity and range of environments have led to the hypothesis that they act as refugia facilitating the persistence of species through climate change. We evaluate this hypothesis by investigating the phylogeographic patterns in a common granite endemic shrub.


Witnessing violence is harmful to the child and his/her development, even when the violence is not directed towards the child.