Rabies is a fatal neglected viral zoonosis which causes encephalitis in many warm-blooded animals and humans. It is an incurable disease once the clinical signs appear. However, it can be prevented via vaccination and community awareness. This study was therefore designed to determine the level of community knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding rabies. Cross sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to January 2017 in Dedo district, Jimma zone, southwestern Ethiopia. Multistage sampling technique was employed for selection of sample unit and data were collected from 135 household by face-to-face interview using a semi structured and validated questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for assessing the association of independent variable with KAP score. Out of 135 participants interviewed, 71.1% were urban and 57% were male respondents. All (100%) participants had heard about rabies and 88.9% were aware that rabies is zoonotic. However, there were misperceptions about the causes, transmission and incubation period of rabies. Overall KAP score revealed that 51.9% of the respondents had a good KAP, whereas 48.1% was found to have poor KAP score. Multivariable analysis showed that a good KAP score was significantly higher in male than female (OR= 37.16, CI=4.7- 92.1, p= 0.001), in age group >46 years than 15 to 30 years (OR=8.9, CI=1.6-47.2) in urban than rural residents (OR=4.35, CI=1.3-14.14, p= 0.014), education (P= 0.040), in respondent who were at secondary school education level than illiterate  (OR=7.7, CI=1.05 - 56.64), in dog owners than those who had no dog (OR=2.9, CI=1.12-7.93, P=0.029), and in trained respondents than non-trained respondents (OR=3.37 CI=1.17-9.69, p=0.024). Generally, the overall, KAP score recorded in this study is an indication of low overall awareness level in the study area. This reflects the urgent need for rabies awareness programmes within the community. Thus, close collaboration of public health, veterinary sector and local authorities is a key element for preventing this fatal incurable disease.

 Key words: Attitudes, knowledge, rabies, practices, Dedo.


INTRODUCTION
The variations in the Calpain-10 gene have been suggested to be related to susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in different populations. In this study, we investigated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-19, -44 and -63 in the Calpain-10 gene and the development of T2DM in a Turkish population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 211 subjects were recruited: 118 patients with a diagnosis of T2DM and 93 unrelated healthy subjects.

RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele distribution of SNPs studied between the patients with T2DM and controls (p > 0.05), whereas the frequencies of 121 haplotype and 122/121 haplotype combination were found to be higher in patients with T2DM than in controls (p < 0.05). No association was observed between the variations in the Calpain-10 gene and glycaemic control and lipid parameters (p > 0.05). The SNP-19 insertion/insertion was significantly related to increased body mass index (BMI) in male diabetic patients (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
The present study indicates that 121 haplotype and 122/121 haplotype combination of SNP-19, -44 and -63 in the Calpain-10 gene are associated with the development of T2DM in Turkish patients.


The central concern of these eight studies and essays is the understanding and critique of culture at the shifty boundaries between the Modem and the Postmodern epochs. The author contends that what needs to be addressed is the very abyss, the spacetime between the Modem and the Postmodern worldviews, as well as the tension between aesthetics and ethics, critical discourse and the creative arts, in an effort to rethink multireferential processes of signification. The keystone of the book is Carravetta's notion of Diaphoristics, a theory of interpretation as dialogue. Diaphora, or difference, refers to the ancient quarrel between poetry and philosophy and signifies the movement between asymmetrical or heterogeneous forms of discourse that have, both historically and speculatively, home the transfer of meaning from one semantic/hermeneutic field to another. The author focuses on the necessary risk and duplicity of criticism and develops nonagonistic models based on figuration and rhetorical dynamics.


Background and Purpose. This study was designed to assess the accuracy of transcranial color‐coded sonography (TCCS) as compared to magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for detecting intracranial arterial stenosis in patients with acute cerebral ischemia. Methods. The authors prospectively identified 120 consecutive patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke and performed both TCCS and MRA with a mean interval of 1 day. TCCS data (sampling depth, peak systolic and end diastolic angle‐corrected velocity, mean angle‐corrected velocity, and pulsatility index) for middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) were compared to MRA data and classified into 4 grades: normal (grade 1): normal caliber and signal; mild stenosis (grade 2): irregular lumen with reduced signal; severe stenosis (grade 3): absent signal in the stenotic segment (flow gap) and reconstituted distal signal; and possible occlusion (grade 4): absent signal. The cutoffs were chosen to maximize diagnostic accuracy. Results. Interobserver agreement for MRA grading resulted in a weighted‐kappa value of 0.776. The rate of poor temporal window was 37% (89/240). Doppler signals were obtained in 135 vessels, and the angle‐corrected velocities (peak systolic, end diastolic, mean) were significantly different (P= .001, P= .006, P < .001) among the MRA grades: grade 1 (100, 47, 68 cm/s), grade 2 (171, 72, 110 cm/s), grade 3 (226, 79, 134 cm/s), grade 4 (61, 26, 39 cm/s). Additionally, an angle‐corrected MCA peak systolic velocity ≥120 cm/s correlates with intracranial stenosis on MRA (grade 2 or worse) with high specificity (90.5%; 95% confidence interval = 78.5%∼96.8%) and positive predictive value (93.9%) but relatively low sensitivity (66.7%; 95% confidence interval = 61.2%∼69.5%) and negative predictive value (55.1%). Conclusion. Elevated MCA velocities on TCCS correlate with intracranial stenosis detected on MRA. An angle‐corrected peak systolic velocity ≥120 cm/s is highly specific for detecting intracranial stenosis as defined by significant MRA abnormality.


Since a French organization (2016) has defined "the territorial hospital groupings", public hospitals must share medical-economic knowledge and decision-makers expect prospective analyses. PoleSat aims, quick hospital-catchment area modellings, completed by population analyses. Modellings are based on "diagnostic and interventional vascular catheterizations" acts and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and they are carried out 3 times, through the graphical user interface's main-setting values, coupled with 3 activity-scenarios. Scenario results cannot confirm the NA02-Atlantique's H0. The experts have approved PoleSat's method as a robust help-tool; therefore they project to repeat its usages.


Recurrent nonuniform discrete-time signal samples can be regarded as a combination of K mutual delayed sequences of uniform discrete-time signal samples taken at one Kth of the Nyquist sampling rate. This paper introduces a new alternative discrete-time analysis model of the recurrent nonuniform sampling scenario. This model can be described by the analysis part of a uniform discrete Fourier transform (DFT) modulated filterbank from which the K uniformly distributed and down sampled frequency bands are mixed in a very specific way. This description gives a clear relationship between uniform and recurrent nonuniform discrete-time sampling schemes. A side benefit of this model is an efficient structure with which one can reconstruct uniform discrete-time Nyquist signal samples from recurrent nonuniform samples with known mutual delays between the nonuniform distributed samples. This reconstruction structure can be viewed as a natural extension of the synthesis part of an uniform DFT modulated filterbank.


Background Tracking progress on maternal and newborn survival requires accurate information on the coverage of essential interventions. Despite widespread use, most indicators measuring maternal and newborn intervention coverage have not been validated. This study assessed the ability of women delivering in two Kenyan hospitals to recall critical elements of care received during the intrapartum and immediate postnatal period at two time points: hospital discharge and 13–15 months following delivery. Methods Women's reports of received care were compared against observations by trained third party observers. Indicators selected for validation were either currently in use or have the potential to be included in population–based surveys. We used a mixed–methods approach to validate women's reporting ability. We calculated individual–reporting accuracy using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), population–level accuracy using the inflation factor (IF), and compared the accuracy of women's reporting at baseline and follow–up. We also assessed the consistency of women's reporting over time. We used in–depth interviews with a sub–set of women (n = 20) to assess their understanding of key survey terms. Results Of 606 women who participated at baseline and agreed to follow–up, 515 were re–interviewed. Thirty–eight indicators had sufficient sample size for validation analysis; ten met criteria for high or moderate reporting accuracy (0.60<AUC) alone and ten met criteria for low population–level bias alone (0.75<IF<1.25). There was a significant decline in the individual level reporting accuracy between baseline and follow–up for ten indicators. Seven indicators had moderate or higher (0.4≤rphi) consistency between self–reports at baseline and follow–up. Four indicators met all criteria at follow–up: support person was present during the birth, episiotomy, caesarean section, and low birthweight infant (<2500 g). Conclusion The few indicators that women reported accurately at baseline were consistently recalled with accuracy at 13–15 months follow–up. Although there is deterioration in women's recall in some indicators over time, the extent of deterioration does not appreciably compromise reporting accuracy for indicators with high baseline validity. Indicators related to initial client assessment and the immediate postnatal period have generally low accuracy and poor reporting consistency over time.


Pinning properties of Nb/CuMn multilayers with regular array of antidots have been studied at different temperatures in perpendicular magnetic field. The presence of antidots causes a sudden increase (jump) of the critical current at the liquid-helium lambda point (T = 2.18 K). The jump value is a function of magnetic field and sample anisotropy. The hypothesis of liquid helium wetting the antidots below 2.18 K, and then inducing a larger pinning efficiency, is put forward.


In studies of spherulitic crystallization in polymers, many questions pertaining to the mechanism of the crystallization process have remained unanswered. A currently accepted view describes the development of spherulites from a framework of individual dominant lamellae that splay apart and branch (e.g., by a dislocation mechanism). This model, in addition, assumes that the space between the dominant lamellae is filled by subsidiary lamellae. In the center of a spherulitic entity, there is a hedritic core that occupies a relative volume that depends on the level of maturity of the spherulitic development. Typical hedritic views consist of lamellae that have a flat stack, or sheaflike, splaying appearance depending on the angle and depth of observation with respect to the central stack of lamellae. Visualization of the three-dimensional appearance of these hedrites by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the observation of their growth in situ are the subjects of this article. First, we describe AFM studies of hedrites observed at etched surfaces of β-isotactic polypropylene (β-IPP). Evidence sup-porting splaying, branching via dislocations, and development of curved lamellae is presented. In the second part, we describe real-time hot-stage AFM in situ observations of the hedritic growth in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly-(e-caprolactone) (PCL).


Handling glass substrates is a component of the Flat Panel Display (FPD) industry's back-end process. Giant glass substrate handling robots have been developed in order to handle oversized, fragile, and delicate glass substrates. These robots have high precision, clean, smooth operation, and multi-constrained space requirements. In order to diagnose and maintain the handling robot, it is necessary to obtain accurate and rapid information regarding the defects. Currently, the display industry's actual needs for high-speed operation and a stable manufacturing line cannot be satisfied by manual diagnosis by maintenance engineers due to its inefficiency. This paper designed and developed a remote monitoring system based on the Web Internet platform. The system has the goal of monitoring and diagnosing the high-frequency operation, high reliability, and smooth operation of the large glass substrate handling robot. This system can monitor the running state of the robot in real time, quickly carry out fault alarm and diagnosis, and timely provide a fault warning function, ensuring the safe operation of the robot. It provides a link between companies that manufacture robots and companies that use them, which simplifies the diagnosis and repair of robot malfunctions.


Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) involves progressive uncontrolled increase in intra-abdominal pressure which eventually leads to multi organ failure. Therefore the ability to diagnose and adequately treat ACS is so important in hospital practice. The aim of this paper was to review current data on intra-abdominal hypertension and ACS, with emphasis on practical aspects. The article presents main concepts, symptoms, causes, pathophysiology and diagnosis of abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). The article also describes the key elements of contemporary strategy of treatment and prevention of the condition.


Developmental instability theory suggests that variation in some body areas can partially reflect the ability to buffer development from key environmental and genetic perturbations. Developmental stability is defined as the ability of organisms to withstand genetic or environmental disturbances during development. Support for this approach comes mainly from assessment of fluctuating asymmetry - that is deviations from symmetry of body features that are symmetric at the population level. In order to compare developmental instability in domestic goats, we sampled 22 adult skulls. Length of upper molars (from M1 to M3), for each side, on their occlusal aspect, was measured and bilaterally compared using standard methods. Left-right differences in first upper molar (M1), which were not size-dependent, presented a platykurtic distribution. There was thus evidence of directional asymmetry towards the left side in M1.


The anticonvulsant agent phenytoin (5,5-diphenylhydantoin) is mainly excreted as 5-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin (4'-HPPH) O-glucuronide in humans. Previously, we demonstrated that the glucuronidation of 4'-HPPH is catalyzed by multiple UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) of UGT1A1, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, and UGT1A9. Since 4'-HPPH may be bioactivated to a reactive metabolite by peroxidase, the glucuronidation in considered to be a detoxification pathway. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the extent of interindividual variability in the urinary excretion levels of 4'-HPPH and its O-glucuronide and genotyping of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, UGT1A1, UGT1A6, and UGT1A9. 4'-HPPH and its glucuronide in urine samples from 15 patients to whom phenytoin was administered were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. When the molar ratio of 4'-HPPH O-glucuronide/4'-HPPH was calculated as an index of glucuronidation, a large interindividual variability (11 fold) was observed in the 15 patients. Phenytoin is metabolized to 4'-HPPH by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in which there are genetic polymorphisms. Although 5 patients were genotyped as heterozygotes of mutated alleles of CYP2C9 or CYP2C19 genes, no relationship with the interindividual difference in the total excretion levels of 4'-HPPH and its O-glucuronide was observed. The UGT1A1*6, UGT1A1*28, UGT1A1*60 and UGT1A6*2 alleles were found in 1, 3, 6, and 8 patients, respectively. Although there was no relationship between the genetic polymorphisms of UGT1As and the interindividual difference in the 4'-HPPH glucuronidation, the large interindividual variability of 4'- HPPH glucuronidation may contribute to interindividual differences in toxic reactions to phenytoin.


Introduction: Long vacation posting for clinical training and experience forms a major requirement in radiography education in Nigeria and for the award of Bachelor's degree at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. The competence level of a qualified radiography student is ensured by the effectiveness and quality of the clinical training obtained during the teaching-learning process. Therefore identifying the challenges of Radiography students in the clinical learning environment during long vacation posting is imperative to improving the quality of the training. Aim: Is to highlight major challenges faced by students undergoing undergraduate radiography study during their long vacation clinical posting. Materials and Methods: A prospective study employing a descriptive survey approach was conducted, targeting 300 and 400 level undergraduate radiography students in the clinical year, 2016/2017 academic session at the Radiography department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. A 14-item self-completion questionnaire consisting of four sections, designed in line with the aim of the study, was used for data collection. Result: After data analysis, the study identified the following challenges faced by the students and these included lack of allocation of the students to ward or theatre rooms (84%), and Dental imaging rooms (88%). The allotted time to each of the imaging modality rooms such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasound had (26%), (24%) and (38%) respectively, before they were rotated and this was grossly inadequate and only a few had hands-on in the radiographic examination of the mandible (4%), or had witness mammographic examination (6%), absence or inadequate number(s) of qualified radiographers, lack of Knowledge update (Seminars/presentations), and distance from accommodation to the hospital had a distribution of 10(20%), 22(44%) and 24(48%) respectively. Conclusion: The research revealed, that majority (68%) of the students were of the opinion that long vacation clinical posting was very educating regardless of the challenges faced. These challenges include, inadequate allocation of students to different wards (ward radiography), inadequate time allotted to some of the imaging modality rooms, absence or inadequate qualified radiographers, lack of Knowledge update (Seminars/presentations), and distanced to accommodation.


The traditional operation mode of high-field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) uses a one-way radio frequency (RF) voltage input as the dispersion voltage. This requires a high voltage input and limits power consumption reduction and miniaturization of instruments. With higher dispersion voltages or larger compensation voltages, there also exist problems such as low signal intensity or the fact that the dispersion voltage is no longer much larger than the compensation voltage. In this paper, a differential-RF-driven operation mode of FAIMS is proposed. The two-way RF is used to generate the dispersion field, and a phase difference is added between the two RFs to generate a single step waveform field. Theoretical analysis, and experimental results from an ethanol sample, showed that the peak positions of the ion spectra changed linearly (R2 = 0.9992) with the phase difference of the two RFs in the differential-RF-driven mode and that the peak intensity of the ion spectrum could be enhanced by more than eight times for ethanol ions. In this way, it is possible to convert the ion spectrum peaks outside the separation or compensation voltage range into a detectable range, by changing the phase difference. To produce the same separation electric field, the high-voltage direct current input voltage can be maximally reduced to half of that in the traditional operation mode. Without changing the drift region size or drift condition, the differential-RF-driven operation mode can reduce power consumption, increase signal-to-noise ratio, extend the application range of the dispersion voltage and compensation voltage, and improve FAIMS detection performance.


A fault location (FL) identification method for smart distribution network is presented and validated using a digital real-time simulator (DRTS). The method can accurately identify the FL in a distribution network in the presence of distributed generation (DG). This method is based on state estimation (SE) algorithm which uses real-time data from simulated phasor measurement units (PMUs), placed in the distribution network. SE needs the fault currents of the generators and voltage measurements of an optimal number of nodes to perform the FL algorithm. The method was validated using the IEEE 37 node test feeder with DGs. PMUs are placed on the real-time model of the system. The real-time model was implemented on a DRTS which streams phasor data over the Internet using C37.118 protocol. OpenPDC is used to collect real-time PMU data coming from the DRTS. Microsoft SQL is used as a database management server to store data coming from OpenPDC. In the last step of the FL process, data stored in OpenPDC is fed into a FL identification algorithm to locate the fault. Both balanced and unbalanced fault types are applied to different nodes and an accurate estimation of the FL (over 90% of the cases) is achieved.


A CMOS low-noise amplifier (LNA) operating at 31.7 GHz with a low input return loss (S11/ and high linearity is proposed. The wideband input matching was achieved by employing a simple LC compounded network to generate more than one S11 dip below -10 dB level. The principle of the matching circuit is analyzed and the critical factors with significant effect on the input impedance (Zin/ are determined. The relationship between the input impedance and the load configuration is explored in depth, which is seldom concentrated upon previously. In addition, the noise of the input stage is modeled using a cascading matrix instead of conventional noise theory. In this way Zin and the noise figure can be calculated using one uniform formula. The linearity analysis is also performed in this paper. Finally, an LNA was designed for demonstration purposes. The measurement results show that the proposed LNA achieves a maximum power gain of 9.7 dB and an input return loss of < -10 dB from 29 GHz to an elevated frequency limited by the measuring range. The measured input-referred compression point and the third order inter-modulation point are -7.8 and 5.8 dBm, respectively. The LNA is fabricated in a 90-nm RF CMOS process and occupies an area of 755 670 m 2 including pads. The whole circuit dissipates a DC power of 24 mW from one 1.3-V supply.


Background The mechanism of defaecation and continence is a complex process involving several factors. Identifying the cause of faecal incontinence is often difficult. Assessment of patients currently involve functional assessment with high-resolution anorectal manometry (HR-ARM) and anatomical assessment using Endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) scan, providing limited information. EndoFLIP (Functional Lumen Imaging Probe) allows additional assessment of anal canal distensibility.1 2 Aim To compare anal canal function using EndoFLIP between faecally incontinent patients (FI) and asymptomatic subjects (AS). Methods All subjects were assessed using HR-ARM, EAUS and EndoFLIP. Using the EndoFLIP, continuous ramp distension was carried out up to 5=bag vol. In second ramp distension, the 5=volume was maintained while the subjects were asked to squeeze their anus. Anal competence of the narrowest area of the anal canal was evaluated using three distinct parameters derived from the EndoFLIP data. Mann-Whitney's U test was used for statistical analysis. Results Sixteen FI patients (2M/14F, Mean age 61.38 years, SEM +3.34) and 9 AS (3M/6F, Mean age 57.9 years, SEM +3.69) were assessed. The median yield pressure (the pressure when the diameter increased from baseline) was significantly lower in the FI group at 22.99 cmH20 (17.67–45.49 cmH20) compared to 55.95 cmH20 (36.56–64.82 cmH20) in asymptomatic subjects. There was no significant difference in the distensibility between the FI group 0.18 (0.17–0.35) mm/cmH20 compared to AS group 0.23 (0.12–0.39) mm/cmH20 calculated as the change in diameter divided by the change in distension pressure. The squeeze strength was significantly higher in the AS group 167.3 (62.0–270.8) mm.cmH20 compared to FI group 23.6 (8.1–86.1) mm.cmH20. Conclusions EndoFLIP demonstrated that FI patient's anal sphincters yielded at a lower pressure and had lower squeeze strength than in asymptomatic subjects, which may be clinically more relevant than squeeze pressures alone.


Standards of human rights are embedded within the statist system of public international law and predicated upon the protection of individuals from the very states that undertake responsibilities towards them. The limitations of this 'vertical' model are highlighted by the impact of Australian mining companies' extraterritorial operations on indigenous peoples. This impact is used in this article as a lens through which I undertake an examination of states' ability to shape the processes of international law to ensure that protection from abuse is not contingent upon the geographic location of the abuse or the juristic character of the perpetrator. After analysing the applicable framework of existing and emerging standards and the extent to which these standards have afforded protection to indigenous peoples, the article concludes that Australia has a duty to regulate the extraterritorial operations of its mining companies. Such a duty arises from four principal bases. First, the patterns of deprivation associated with mining activity have been addressed primarily through the application of 'host' states' 'horizontal' duties to prevent abuses within their territorial boundaries. Yet host states' ability and desire to regulate has been impaired by the imperative of securing foreign direct investment in a globalised marketplace. Second, the mining sector's bid for self-regulation requires human needs to compete with objectives of profit-generation. Third, soft law initiatives have not yet yielded an international mechanism for direct enforcement of human rights obligations on corporations. Fourth, standards have been developed which enable indigenous peoples to participate in decisions that affect their lives and preserve their relationship with traditional lands and territories. The acceptance and implementation of these standards creates conditions in which guarantees enshrined in universal human rights instruments, which Australia has ratified, may be realised. The good faith implementation of these universal guarantees requires Australia to exercise its regulatory power and thereby forestall catastrophic and preventable deprivations.


Background: Alternative splicing (AS) involving tandem acceptors that are separated by three nucleotides (NAGNAG) is an evolutionarily widespread class of AS, which is well studied in Homo sapiens (human) and Mus musculus (mouse). It has also been shown to be common in the model seed plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa (rice). In one of the first studies involving sequence-based prediction of AS in plants, we performed a genome-wide identification and characterization of NAGNAG AS in the model plant Physcomitrella patens, a moss. Results: Using Sanger data, we found 295 alternatively used NAGNAG acceptors in P. patens. Using 31 features and training and test datasets of constitutive and alternative NAGNAGs, we trained a classifier to predict the splicing outcome at NAGNAG tandem splice sites (alternative splicing, constitutive at the first acceptor, or constitutive at the second acceptor). Our classifier achieved a balanced specificity and sensitivity of ≥ 89%. Subsequently, a classifier trained exclusively on data well supported by transcript evidence was used to make genome-wide predictions of NAGNAG splicing outcomes. By generation of more transcript evidence from a next-generation sequencing platform (Roche 454), we found additional evidence for NAGNAG AS, with altogether 664 alternative NAGNAGs being detected in P. patens using all currently available transcript evidence. The 454 data also enabled us to validate the predictions of the classifier, with 64% (80/125) of the well-supported cases of AS being predicted correctly. Conclusion: NAGNAG AS is just as common in the moss P. patens as it is in the seed plants A. thaliana and O. sativa (but not conserved on the level of orthologous introns), and can be predicted with high accuracy. The most informative features are the nucleotides in the NAGNAG and in its immediate vicinity, along with the splice sites scores, as found earlier for NAGNAG AS in animals. Our results suggest that the mechanism behind NAGNAG AS in plants is similar to that in animals and is largely dependent on the splice site and its immediate neighborhood. Background Eukaryotic primary mRNAs consist of protein-coding regions (exons) and intervening non-coding regions (introns). The mature mRNA transcript, which acts as substrate for translation into protein, is produced by removing introns in a process called splicing. Splicing can be either constitutive, always producing the same mRNA, or alternative, via variable inclusion of parts of the primary transcript. Alternative splicing (AS) is thus a mechanism that enables multiple transcripts and proteins to be encoded by the same gene, thereby promoting transcript and protein diversity [1]. Furthermore, events of AS can provide an additional level of post-transcriptional gene regulation, e.g. by the production of mRNA isoforms with truncated open reading frames that are subject to degradation by the nonsense mediated decay pathway [2,3]. AS is particularly widespread in higher eukaryotes, especially in mammals it has been estimated that up to 94% of all multi-exonic H. sapiens genes are alternatively spliced [4]. Large-scale detection of AS usually involves expressed * Correspondence: firstname.lastname@example.com , firstname.lastname@example.com 2 Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany 2 Bioinformatics group, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 106, 79110 Freiburg, Germany Full list of author information is available at the end of the article BioMed Central © 2010 Sinha et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Sinha et al. BMC Plant Biology 2010, 10:76 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/10/76 Page 2 of 14 sequence tags (ESTs), microarray, or RNA-seq analysis. However, not all AS events can be detected by these methods. Moreover, nowadays genomic sequence data is being churned out at a much faster rate than transcript data, that is, many genomes have low transcript coverage. Thus, there is a need for independent methods of detecting AS. It has been shown that AS involving alternative donors/ acceptors separated by 2-12 nt, also called "subtle alternative splicing" (due to the small difference in length in the transcript isoforms), is an evolutionarily widespread class of AS among animals, and among these, NAGNAG AS, involving acceptors separated by 3 nt, is the most common [5-8]. The terminology "NAGNAG" refers to events of AS that involve two acceptors (two "AG"s) which are preceded by any of the four possible nucleotides (N = A, C, G or T). Hence, the generic pattern for such tandem splice sites is "NAGNAG". NAGNAG AS can result in one of three possibilities (Figure 1) constitutive use of the first acceptor (the so-called exonic, or "E" variant), constitutive use of the second acceptor (the so-called intronic, or "I" variant), or use of both acceptors, that is, alternative splicing (the "EI" variant) [5]. NAGNAGs contribute 45% of all conserved alternative acceptors in H. sapiens and M. musculus [9]. Since the difference between the two isoforms is three nucleotides, no frameshift is induced, and the usual impact of a NAGNAG AS event is the insertion or deletion of one amino acid. In a recent study, we predicted the splicing outcome at NAGNAG acceptors in seven animal genomes (human, mouse, rat, dog, chicken, fruit fly and nematode) with a high degree of accuracy, and 83% of the experimentally validated cases agreed with the predictions [10]. In agreement with previous studies [11,12] this indicated that the mechanism behind NAGNAG AS seems to be simple, stochastic and conserved in vertebrates and beyond. While there have been numerous experimental as well as computational studies of AS in animals, the study of AS in plants is still in its early stages [13]. Although AS is commonly observed in plants, the overall abundance of AS seems to be lower than in animals. Several studies have estimated that between 20%-30% of plant genes undergo AS [14-17], while the current estimate based on deep sequencing of the Arabidopsis thaliana transcriptome is 42%-56% of intron-containing genes [18]. ESTbased detection of AS in plants revealed that intron retention appears to be the most common kind of AS event in plants [13-16]. Exon-skipping, which is the most common event in animals [19], is much less frequent in plants [14,16]. The two prevalent models for spliceosome assembly are intron-definition, which applies to short introns (thus to a majority of plant introns) and involves the intron as the initial unit of recognition during spliceosome assembly; and exon-definition, which applies to long introns introns (thus to a majority of animal introns), and involves recognition of the exon as the initial unit for splicing [14,20-22]. Thus, one would expect inaccurate splicing to result in intron-retention under the intron-definition model, and exon-skipping under the exon-definition model [13]. Hence the results showing that intron-retention is the most common AS event in plants and exon-skipping in animals are consistent with these models of splicing. However, alternative acceptors and donors seem to occur at a comparable frequency [16]. In particular, short distance or subtle AS events, seem to be just as common, and NAGNAG acceptors are widespread and abundant; a study on AS found 953 alternative NAGNAGs in rice and 485 in A. thaliana [16]. Initial analyses of the model plant P. patens, the first sequenced bryophyte, indicated a distribution of AS events similar to other plants studied so far [23]. Consequently, we here aimed to characterize and predict the extent of NAGNAG AS in P. patens. Analysis of the available transcript data indicates that NAGNAG AS is just as common in the moss P. patens as in seed plants. We achieved a high level of performance in silico, and 64% of the cases of well-supported AS using independently generated 454 data could be correctly predicted. In agreement with a recent study comparing A. thaliana and O. sativa with mammals [24], our results suggest that the mechanism of NAGNAG AS is similar in plants and animals. Results and discussion Identification of alternative NAGNAGs using Sanger ESTs Since the extent of NAGNAG occurence in P. patens had not been reported, we sought to identify genomic NAGNAGs. To find all genomic NAGNAGs (constitutive as well alternative), we looked for all annotated intron-exon boundaries which had an AG at three positions upstream or downstream of the annotated acceptor. This yielded 9,427 NAGNAG motifs, of which 5,031 were covered by Sanger ESTs (Additional file 1). Cases where the EST evidence supported only one of the NAG acceptors were Figure 1 NAGNAG alternative splicing. Nomenclature of NAGNAG AS with E and I sites and isoforms. Sinha et al. BMC Plant Biology 2010, 10:76 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/10/76 Page 3 of 14 called constitutive, whereas cases with EST support for both acceptors were called alternative (here EST support means at least one EST from a high quality alignment, as described in the section "Methods"). 295 (5.9%) of the detected 5,031 NAGNAGs with Sanger EST coverage were alternatively spliced (EI form), while 2,695 (53.6%) were exclusively spliced at the first (intron proximal) acceptor (E form, i.e. part of the NAGNAG is exonic) and 2,041 (40.5%) were spliced only at the second (intron distal) acceptor (I form, i.e. the entire NAGNAG is intronic). Thus, NAGNAG AS is common in P. patens. Sequence logos for all NAGNAG splice sites as well as for EI, E and I sites are visualized in Figure 2. Gene ontology enrichment analysis To assess whether genes with NAGNAG AS in P. patens are enriched for specific functional categ


The prevalence of physical inactivity in youth during COVID-19 has varied across countries and depending on age of the youth and whether the data were collected during lockdown versus nonlockdown. In studies that compared activity preand during COVID, activity decreased in 40-59% of youth. Several negative effects have been noted including excessive screen time, sleep problems, over-eating, and affective disturbances. Physical inactivity was a significant correlate of all of these problems. Relatively little intervention research has been conducted and underlying mechanisms have not been explored. As in most of the COVID-19 literature, this research has the limitations of being typically crosssectional and self-reported.


Air traffic control (ATC) voice communication is built upon a readback-hearback loop: Controllers send messages to pilots who listen and then recite back their contents. Successful communication requires participants to conduct and understand ATC radiotelephony in the same language. Since inadequate language proficiency was involved in some aviation accidents (e.g., 1996 Charkhi Dadri; 1995 Cali; 1977 Tenerife), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is requiring its contracting states to ensure that ATC personnel and flight crews are proficient communicators of the English language when operating in airspace where the English language is required. Within the U.S., data are lacking concerning the prevalence of ATC communication problems attributable to the production and comprehension of English. This report presents communication problems involving readback errors, breakdowns in communication, and requests for repetition by commercial airline pilots. An analysis was performed on 50 hrs of air-ground transmissions provided by five ARTCCs. Each controller transmission was paired with its readback. Each readback was scored for accuracy (Prinzo, Hendrix, & Hendrix, 2007). The ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale guided encoding English language proficiency. Aircraft call signs were used to classify transmissions by aircraft registry (U.S., Foreign) and language (English, Other), forming three groups: Foreign-English, Foreign-Other, and U.S.-English. Communications were analyzed from 832 aircraft (74% U.S., 26% Foreign) for 4,816 pilot transmissions (78% English, 22% Other). Of these aircraft transactions, 23% contained one or more communication problems. MANOVA and ANOVA revealed that when English was the primary language or pilots flew U.S. aircraft, there were fewer communication problems, less time was spent on frequency, and fewer messages were transmitted than when pilots flew foreign aircraft or the primary language was not English. A chi-square analysis of 276 communication problems revealed that English language proficiency was a factor for 75% communication problems among the Foreign-Other aircraft and 29% involving U.S.-English aircraft. The communication problems of the Foreign-English aircraft were excluded because of their joint classification with aircraft registry and language. Using the ICAO language proficiency scales as a guide revealed pronunciation (pilot accent) and fluency as contributing to communication problems among pilots of Foreign-Other registry aircraft.Among the U.S.-English flights, although fluency was a factor, it signaled uneasiness with an ATC instruction. The location of pauses, "AHs" and "Ums," might differentiate less proficient speakers (markers appear within a phrase or cause) from more proficient speakers (markers appear before and after a phrase or clause). ICAO required that its language proficiency standards be implemented in March 2008. Being able to speak "Aviation English" may be necessary, but it may not be sufficient in limiting communication problems. Language proficiency requirements beyond the minimum specified by ICAO must be realized if communication problems are to decline.


Tillandsia L. is the largest genus of the family Bromeliaceae, containing 755 species and seven subgenera. Morphoanatomical studies of leaves provide useful characteristics to phylogenetic, taxonomic, and ecological analyses. This study aims to characterize and compare the leaves of 24 species of the four subgenera of Tillandsia that occur in Bahia and also perform adaptative inferences to environmental responses. The results of the species' morphoanatomical studies were compared through dissimilarity analysis. The species have rosulate leaves with varying lengths and widths. The peltate trichomes present variation in the indument density and the length of their wing and central disk. The stomata are longitudinally distributed in one or both sides of the limb. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and presents aquiferous and chlorophyllic parenchymas. The vascular bundles are collateral and partially covered by fibers, except for Tillandsia linearis. Based on the dissimilarity analysis, it was possible to identify the formation of five groups. Group G1 was composed of T. linearis, which diverged from the other species of the subgenus. Group G2 was formed by the remaining species of the subgenus Phytarrhiza. G3 and G4 presented the species of the subgenus Diaphoranthema and Tillandsia, respectively. Group G5 gathered 11 species of the subgenus Anoplophytum and presented higher variability than the other subgenera. Based on the results, the morphoanatomical characteristics can be used to characterize and group Tillandsia species, besides confirming the morphological variability of these species to the epiphyte habit in different environments, especially xeric ones.


Background: Mapping and size estimation of people who use (PWUD) or inject drugs (PWID) are important issues for control of drug use. The aim of this pilot study is to mapping and estimate the number of PWUD and PWID in Iran.Methods: We used the hotspot mapping and size estimation method to estimate the number of illicit drug users in four cities of Iran from December 2017 to January 2019. We identified hotspots by local knowledge of key informants. For size estimation in each hotspot, three estimates were made during hotspot visit: a) KAP-KI (Key Affected Population Key Informant) estimate (drug users met in the hotspot), b) Non-KAP KI estimate (e.g. taxi drivers, shopkeepers nearby the hotspot); c) estimation made by field observers. Locations of hotspots were recorded by the field team and ArcGIS software was used for mapping. Results: A total number of 335 hot spots were identified in four cities of them, 70 (20.9%) were in Ahvaz, 90 (26.9%) in Sari, 67 (20%) in Yazd and 108(32.2%) in district 2 of Tehran metropolitan. We identified nine high-density areas for PWUDs of them three were in Ahvaz, one in the south of Sari, two in district 2 of Tehran and three in Yazd. The total numbers of 1524 key informants were interviewed by the field team in 335 identified hot spots. Based on the median estimated number of PWUD, Ahvaz had the highest estimated number of PWUD (1242, range, 606-1285), followed by Sari (788, range, 373-1044), district 2 of Tehran (684, range, 642-728) and Yazd (123, range, 76-316). The median estimated number of PWID indicated that Ahvaz had the highest estimated number of PWID (843, range, 703-887), followed by Sari (346, range, 307-666), Yazd (228, range, 221-471) and Tehran (18, range, 18-34). Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of geographical targeting of illicit drug users to provide harm reduction programs with a broader reach in Iran.


Allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) remains the only treatment that can correct the haematological manifestations in patients with Fanconi anaemia. Over the last two decades, sequential changes to the approach to HCT have resulted in reduced regimen‐related toxicity, superior engraftment and less graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), resulting in improved survival. The two pivotal changes that most influenced these improvements were the addition of fludarabine to the preparative regimen to augment engraftment, and the use of T cell depletion to reduce GVHD. With these improved HCT outcomes, indications for HCT are quite consistent regardless of donor source. Emphasis is now being placed on developing HCT regimens that will improve quality of life by reducing late effects, particularly the risk of malignancy, sterility and endocrinopathies. This paper will review the unique challenges of HCT in FA patients, with particular emphasis on the timing and approach to HCT.


Objectives Immunoglobulin G4–related disease (IgG4-RD) is characterized by elevation in serum IgG4 levels, typical multiorgan involvement and dramatic response to steroid therapy. We determined the predictive value of an elevated serum IgG4 for the diagnosis of IgG4-RD. We also sought to identify novel conditions, which have characteristic features of IgG4-RD. Methods We identified all Mayo Clinic Rochester patients with serum IgG4 levels measured between January 2008 and December 2011 (n = 6014). Those with elevated serum IgG4 levels (reference range, 121–140 mg/dL) were included in the analysis and were classified as "definite," "probable," or "no" IgG4-RD. Results Serum IgG4 levels were elevated in 390 subjects (6.5%) of whom only 39 (10%) had IgG4-RD (29 "definite," 10 "probable"). The positive predictive value of an elevated serum IgG4 for IgG4-RD was poor (10%). Subjects with IgG4-RD differed from those without IgG4-RD in mean age (59.6 ± 15.2 vs 54.4 ± 18.3 years, P < 0.05), % males (90% vs 58%, P < 0.05), mean serum IgG4 level (437 ± 471vs 223 ± 194 mg/dL, P < 0.05), and presence of chronic rhinosinusitis (7/39 vs 29/351, P = 0.05). Conclusions Elevated serum IgG4 levels are not specific for IgG4-RD and are likely to be a false-positive. Chronic rhinosinusitis is likely an as yet underrecognized manifestation of IgG4-RD.


The effect of soil pH value on the bioavailability and fractionation of rare earth elements (REEs) in wheat seedling (Triticum aestivum L.) were investigated. The results showed that the concentration of REEs in wheat decreased with increasing pH value, and their inter-relationship was best expressed as quadratic equation, with correlation coefficients from 0.6003 to 0.9572. The response of individual elements to pH value change tended to be Ce > La > Nd > Sm > Gd > Yb > Eu, with Ce most sensitive to changing pH conditions and Eu lest. Chemical fractionation indicated that the order of REEs concentration in three fractions could be as follows: B2(NH2OH.HCl extraction) > B3(H2O2-NH4Ac extract) > B1(HAc extract). The increase of pH value resulted in transformation from B1 to B2 and B3. Multiple regression analysis was utilized to obtain the regression equations for prediction plant uptake of REEs. B1 fraction was most available to wheat. Meanwhile, it was found that the fractionation factors of REEs in wheat were negatively correlated with the soil pH value.


Recycling of waste tire has been limited and very simple, few applications have been observed. This study introduces a new elastic and permeable pavement made of scrap tire. Experimental results showed that key factors affecting the compressive strength were the size of scrap tire, size of aggregate, amounts and property of binder. Also, the water permeability depended on the size of aggregate and scrap tire. The compressive strength and water permeability of the samples were 1.4 and 116 times higher than those of the conventional porous cement concrete, respectively.


We undertook a project to develop a psychometrically sound instrument measuring adolescent sun-related behavior for use in the evaluation of a social marketing program. During the preliminary stages, we conducted a pilot study to test the face validity of the instrument with adolescents. Think-aloud sessions were completed with 24 adolescents. Results identified gaps in our understanding of adolescent sun-related behavior. Adolescents interpreted 'tanning' as specifically lying at the beach in the sun, however also reported behaviours to 'get a bit of sun', suggesting adolescents and researchers have different interpretations of key terms. The study highlights that use of the think-aloud technique can improve understanding behaviours of the target market and improve the validity of measures of adolescent sunrelated behaviour.


Preliminary results of a new set of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis calculations for massive stars are presented. These results were obtained with an extended reaction network up to Bi. The discussion focuses on the importance of nuclear rates in pre- and post-explosive nucleosynthesis. The need for further experiments to study specific reactions and nuclear properties (optical alpha+nucleus potentials) is emphasized.


A method to reduce broadcast time in wormhole routed hypercube systems in described. The method takes advantage of the destance insensitivity of wormhole routing and the presence of multiple ports between processors and their routes. Performance results from an nCUBE-2 multicomputers are given that demonstrate the advantage of the method over the traditional spanning binomial tree approach.


A 6 degrees of freedom parallel mechanism actuated by vertically fixed linear actuators was developed for heavy material handling and machining. The mechanism allows easy trajectory generation, since the vertical arrangement of the linear actuators simplifies the caluculation of its inverse kinematics. This paper presents inverse kinematics and Jacobian matirix solutions. Way to avoid component interference, which is divided into three types, is proposed. The combination of design parameters is decided by comparing the characteristics of area of movement, resolution and velocity. The working space is then shown. The singularity is analyzed by evaluating determinants of the Jacobian matrix. Lengthening the connecting rods and limiting the range of the end effector rotational angles are effective in avoiding the singular configurations as well as interference. Finally, the developed prototype mechanism is introduced, and its application to tool positioning and machining is described.


In early decades, rescue operation in coal mine was treated as a dangerous task. After explosions occur, when rescue workers get into the tunnel without environment conditional awareness, they are facing heavy damages due to consecutive explosions [1]. This bring the necessity to detect the status of the mine environment details such as toxic gases, high temperatures through wireless sensors to perform remote inspection of mine conditions, before trapped into the collapsed tunnel. Hence, this paper aims to design an adaptive coal mine rescue robot using Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). The test bed composed of sensing and controlling mechanism with monitoring subsystems and also assembled with motor control mechanism. In addition to that, a reliable wireless communication with ZigBee is made to transfer the sensed environment data through gas and temperature sensors. This sensor based real-time information guide the rescuers to learn the situations by themselves while planning the rescue operation remotely. With the help of this mobile robot, it is possible to reduce the loss due to coal mine disaster and efficient rescue operation can be carried out. General Terms Wireless Sensor Networks, Coal Mine


Malignant melanomas are the most deadly type of skin cancer but detected early have high chances for successful treatment. In the last twenty years, the interest of automated melanoma recognition detection and classification dynamically increased partially because of public datasets appearing with dermatoscopic images of skin lesions. Automated computer-aided skin cancer detection in dermatoscopic images is a very challenging task due to uneven datasets sizes, the huge intra-class variation with small interclass variation, and the existence of many artifacts in the image. One of the most recognized methods of melanoma diagnosis is the ABCD method. In the paper, we propose an extended version of this method and an intelligent decision support system based on neural networks that uses its results in a form of hand-crafted features. Automatic determination of the skin features used by the ABCD method is difficult due to the large diversity of images of various quality, the existence of hair, different markers and other obstacles. Therefore, it was necessary to apply advanced methods of preprocessing the images. The system is an ensemble of ten neural networks, working in parallel and one network using their results to generate a final decision. This system structure allowed us to increase the efficiency of the operation by several percentage points compared to a single neural network. The proposed system is trained on over 5000 and tested afterward on 200 skin moles. The presented system can be used as a decision support system for primary care physicians, as a system capable of self-examination of the skin with a dermatoscope and also as an important tool to improve biopsy decision making.


The shear band and associated stress relaxation classically known as the Portevin-Le Chatelie effect is considered based on physical mesomechanics, a recent field theory on plastic deformation and fracture. Using the mathematical analogy to the Maxwell's electromagnetic theory, the field theoretical meanings of various properties of plastic deformation are considered. For more intuitive understanding, a simple, two-dimensional spring-mass model is introduced. Along these considerations, interpretations are given to various experimental observations, in which the shear band is detected as an optical interferometric band structure. The results of this investigation are consistent with our previous identification of the optical band structure as a current associated with symmetry.


In this paper, the performance of integrating real-time and non real-time traffic in the PCF (point coordination function) mode of IEEE 802.11 is studied, and a novel real-time traffic admission control algorithm is proposed. By changing the admission threshold dynamically according to the current load of non real-time traffic and polling the admitted real-time nodes according to their service index, the proposed algorithm can provide parameterized QoS (quality of service) for real-time traffic, while at the same time, keep the throughput of non real-time traffic at an acceptable level. The validity of the admission control algorithm is verified by simulation.


Objective Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has improved cancer treatment, yet why most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients are resistant to PD-1 ICB remains elusive. Here, we elucidated the role of a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) isoform, Δ42PD-1, in HCC progression and resistance to nivolumab ICB. Design We investigated 74 HCC patients in three cohorts, including 41 untreated, 28 treated with nivolumab and 5 treated with pembrolizumab. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from blood samples and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes from tumour tissues were isolated for immunophenotyping. The functional significance of Δ42PD-1 was explored by single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and validated by functional and mechanistic studies. The immunotherapeutic efficacy of Δ42PD-1 monoclonal antibody was determined in HCC humanised mouse models. Results We found distinct T cell subsets, which did not express PD-1 but expressed its isoform Δ42PD-1, accounting for up to 71% of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in untreated HCC patients. Δ42PD-1+ T cells were tumour-infiltrating and correlated positively with HCC severity. Moreover, they were more exhausted than PD-1+ T cells by single T cell and functional analysis. HCC patients treated with anti-PD-1 ICB showed effective PD-1 blockade but increased frequencies of Δ42PD-1+ T cells over time especially in patients with progressive disease. Tumour-infiltrated Δ42PD-1+ T cells likely sustained HCC through toll-like receptors-4-signalling for tumourigenesis. Anti-Δ42PD-1 antibody, but not nivolumab, inhibited tumour growth in three murine HCC models. Conclusion Our findings not only revealed a mechanism underlying resistance to PD-1 ICB but also identified anti-Δ42PD-1 antibody for HCC immunotherapy.


This paper outlines concerns relating to the inclusion of students with disabilities in state and district educational assessments and the provision of non-standard accommodations (NSAs). The major concerns are that: (1) the term "non-standard accommodation" is an oxymoron and muddies the issue; (2) NSAs change the plain meaning of words beyond recognition and states are not clear about how to count and score tests using NSAs; (3) the current discussion of NSAs fatally confuses the role of the Individualized Education Program team and the role of the test producer; (4) no law requires NSAs to be used and scored with other test results; (5) NSAs leave educators, parents, and taxpayers in the dark, as they are shrouded in confusion; (6) NSAs expose districts and states to future litigation; (7) NSAs may lead to fewer appropriate educational services; and (8) the use of NSAs may not truly provide access to the general curriculum. It is recommended that states and districts be clear about their standards, provide clear instructions about what accommodations are allowed, develop a well-crafted waiver policy, and provide honorable exit documents for students who cannot meet state or district requirements on the test: (Contains 31 references.) (CR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.


Structural design and componential optimization are two primary directions in the study of microwave absorbers. In this study, a novel cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) decorated with p-phenylenediamine (PPD) functionalized graphene (PG/CoFe2O4) binary hybrid with unique hierarchical porous structure was synthesized by a two-step route. The chemical composition, morphology and electromagnetic parameters of the as-prepared sample were investigated successively. The porous CoFe2O4 microspheres with an average diameter of about 160 nm were uniformly anchored on rGO nanosheets. Owing to the uniquely hierarchical porous structure, synergistic effects of dielectric loss (conductive loss, interface and dipole polarization) and magnetic loss (eddy current loss, natural and exchange resonance), the as-prepared sample exhibited excellent microwave absorption (MA) performance. The maximum reflection loss (RLmax) could attain up to −53.3 dB, and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reached 6.6 GHz (11.4–18.0 GHz) at 2.40 mm, which completely covered the Ku band. These results showed that this functional material can be applied in the MA field.


This paper will propose a new statistical model for the analysis of data that does not arrive in equal time intervals such as financial transactions data, telephone calls, or sales data on commodities that are tracked electronically. In contrast to fixed interval analysis, the model treats the time between observation arrivals as a stochastic time varying process and therefore is in the spirit of the models of time deformation initially proposed by Tauchen and Pitts (1983), Clark (1973) and more recently discussed by Stock (1988), Lamoureux and Lastrapes (1992), Muller et al. (1990) and Ghysels and Jasiak (1994) but does not require auxiliary data or assumptions on the causes of time flow. Strong evidence is provided for duration clustering beyond a deterministic component for the financial transactions data analyzed. We will show that a very simple version of the model can successfully account for the significant autocorrelations in the observed durations between trades of IBM stock on the consolidated market. A simple transformation of the duration data allows us to include volume in the model.


Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is important for triglyceride (TG) metabolism in adipose tissue, and ATGL-null mice show increased adiposity. Given the apparent importance of ATGL in TG metabolism and the association of lipid deposition with insulin resistance, we examined the role of ATGL in regulating skeletal muscle lipid metabolism and insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. ATGL expression in myotubes was reduced by small interfering RNA and increased with a retrovirus encoding GFP-HA-ATGL. ATGL was also overexpressed in rats by in vivo electrotransfer. ATGL was down-regulated in skeletal muscle of obese, insulin-resistant mice and negatively correlated with intramyocellular TG levels. ATGL small interfering RNA in myotubes reduced TG hydrolase activity and increased TG content, whereas ATGL overexpression induced the reciprocal response, indicating that ATGL is an essential TG lipase in skeletal muscle. ATGL overexpression in myotubes increased the oxidation of fatty acid liberated from TG and diglyceride and ceramide contents. These responses in cells were largely recapitulated in rats overexpressing ATGL. When ATGL protein expression and TG hydrolase activity in obese, insulin-resistant rats were restored to levels observed in lean rats, TG content was reduced; however, the insulin resistance induced by the high-fat diet persisted. In conclusion, ATGL TG hydrolysis in skeletal muscle is a critical determinant of lipid metabolism and storage. Although ATGL content and TG hydrolase activity are decreased in obese, insulin-resistant phenotypes, overexpression does not rescue the condition, indicating reduced ATGL is unlikely to be a primary cause of obesity-associated insulin resistance.


The Institute for Photogrammetry at the University of Stuttgart has made substantial contributions to photogrammetry since its launch on April 1st, 1964, first under the supervision of Fritz Ackermann. Since June 1st, 1992 Dieter Fritsch suceeded and continued the profile in photogrammetry, but started R&D in remote sensing and geoinformatics as well. In the following some highlights of the last decade are given to demonstrate the performance of an university institute to investigate open issues in research, developments and applications. Following some proposals of the 1970s and 1980s new concepts for camera self-calibration are given, and the dense image matching software SURE is successfully succeeding the area-and feature-based matching algorithms. Most recently a comprehensive study was started to exploit the potential of SURE for DSM generation of High Resolution satellite imagery, such as WorldView-2.


Introduction. Diabetes Mellitus causes ultrastructural changes triggered by partially clarified cellular mechanisms. Since cell death is an important mechanism in the appearance and progression of diabetic nephropathy, we studied alteration of several markers of apoptotic pathways signaling in renal tissue of diabetic or prediabetic patients. Methods. We analyzed 48 human kidney tissue samples divided into two study groups: the research group (43 renal tissue samples from diabetic or prediabetic patients), and the control group (5 renal tissue samples from patients without diabetes). Immunohistochemistry revealed expression of Bcl-2, APAF-1, CD-95 and Caspase-9 in the renal cortical structures. Statistical analysis was also performed (significance level P<0.05). Results. We found a variable expression of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 with a decrease of Bcl-2 expression in diabetes. The control samples render evident intensely positive immunostaining for CD-95. In diabetes and diabetic nephropathy, there was positive immunostaining for APAF-1 at tubular cell level. Nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity for Caspase-9 was more frequently recorded as kidney damage progresses. APAF-1 and Caspase-9 positivity are arguments for an intrinsic apoptotic mechanism of cell death in diabetic nephropathy. Conclusion. The mechanisms of apoptotic cell death identified in diabetic kidney samples prove that Bcl-2, CD-95, APAF-1 and Caspase-9 represent reliable markers of cell death in human renal tissue. Our results support the hypothesis that apoptosis is a pathogenic and initiator mechanism of renal remodeling in diabetic kidney disease.


In this paper the model of multiple particle production in hadron collisions at the energies from 10 GeV to 10 TeV, suggested by the authors earlier is further developed. The discussion is based on the quark-gluon hadron picture.


Many of the differential equations arising in science and engineering can be recast in the form of a matrix eigenvalue problem. Solution of this equation within the context of the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method may be viewed as one of the fundamental tasks of numerical analysis. Successive approximation approaches to the Rayleigh-Ritz problem seek to improve eigenvectors and eigenfunctions by sequentially refining a trial function. Parallelization of successive approximation approaches has been demonstrated numerous times in the literature; these studies addressed either the successive approximations or the matrix diagonalization levels of the algorithm. It is shown in this paper that these two strategies may be applied independently of one another, and the advantages of applying both parallelization levels simultaneously to the problem are discussed. Performance estimates for a two-tiered parallelization strategy are obtained by extrapolating from existing published performance data for which the two levels of parallelization were applied separately.


We report significant improvement in the performance of TEM00 alexandrite laser operation by employing high power fibre-coupled red diode pumping, novel cavity design, and active direct Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor measurement of pump-induced lensing. We demonstrate 12.7 W of laser power in low-order (M2∼5) mode operation from a compact double-end-pumped cavity, and with novel cavity design, a record power of 7.4 W in TEM00 operation with excellent beam quality (M2≤1.1). With single-end pumping, laser power of 4.7 W (M2∼1.3) was achieved with slope efficiencies as high as 54.9 %; a record efficiency for red-diode-pumped alexandrite. Using a birefringent filter, continuous laser wavelength tuning from 725-808 nm is achieved in diffraction-limited TEM00 mode, with laser power of 4.7 W at 765 nm, and >1 W across 730-805 nm, which is a higher tunable power than any other directly diode-pumped vibronic laser, to the best of our knowledge.


We examined how the use of personality descriptive terms from word categories other than adjectives affect the factor structure. Use was made of the previously published (2008) Dutch trait structure comprising eight factors: (versions of) the Big Five factors, and three new factors, labeled Virtue, Competence, and Hedonism. This 2008 structure lends itself well to study the role of word categories, because it adopted an unrestricted approach in selection of trait-descriptors and included words from different word categories. Some differences were found between the eight factors in terms of the contribution from different word categories, but the meaning of the three new factors appeared to be determined mostly by trait adjectives. When analyzing the 953 typical adjectives only (N = 1,466), an eight factor solution was found that closely resembled the structure of the whole dataset, whereas analyzing a subset of 441 adjectives that had been used in the previous Dutch lexical study supported the Big Five. Additional analyses on an old dataset containing 1,203 adjectives (N = 400) yielded an eight factor structure that was highly similar to the new Dutch lexical structure. Together these results suggest that particularly the inclusion of a larger number of trait terms is responsible for finding the 2008 Dutch lexical structure.


This study aimed to identify the extent to which mathematical proof and logic methods are achieved in mathematics courses for student-teachers at the University of Sana'a. To achieve this objective, the descriptive and analytical method was used. Checklists for analyzing mathematical content according to methods of mathematical proof and logic were developed, and a questionnaire was used to verify the validity of the checklists. The tools were validated by a jury of experts, and the degree of agreement was (98.1%) (85.82%). The tools were applied to a sample of mathematics courses, including mathematical analysis, real analysis and abstract algebra (1), (2). The findings revealed that the most frequent proof methods found in mathematical courses were proof by deduction and transgression (65.86%) of the total methods, followed by proof by mathematical induction (11.75%), and the least frequent was proof by contradiction (9.61%). The courses did not include method of evaluative, critical and reversed proof. The direct method of proof was (82.93%), whereas the occurrence of the indirect proof method was (17.07%). The course content also did not include method of evaluative, critical and reversed proof, and there were statistically significant differences at (0.01), between the weights of the methods of mathematical proof and logic, which were included in the current courses, and the weights that should be included.


Invasive breast cancer, the most common nonskin cancer in women in the United States, will be diagnosed in 266,120 In 2018, along with 63,960 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. Incidence and mortality reached a plateau and appear to be dropping in both the United States and parts of western Europe. This decline has been attributed to several factors, such as early detection through the use of screening mammography and appropriate use of systemic adjuvant therapy, as well as decreased use of hormone replacement therapy. However, the global burden of breast cancer remains great, and global breast cancer incidence increased from 641,000 in 1980 to 1,643,000 in 2010, an annual rate of increase of 3.1%. This chapter examines the etiology, epidemiology, prevention, screening, staging, and prognosis of breast cancer. The diagnoses and treatments of the four stages of breast cancer are also included. Figures include algorithms used for the systemic treatment of stage IV breast cancer and hormone therapy for women with stage IV breast cancer. Tables describe selected outcomes from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) P-1 and P-2 chemoprevention trials, tamoxifen chemoprevention trials for breast cancer, the TNM staging system and stage groupings for breast cancer, some commonly used adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, an algorithm for suggested treatment for patients with operable breast cancer from the 2011 St. Gallen consensus conference, guidelines for surveillance of asymptomatic early breast cancer survivors from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and newer agents for metastatic breast cancer commercially available in the United States.
This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 8 tables, and 108 references.


This paper proposes a novel approach to extracting the narrowband propagation channel from the communication link by de-embedding the impact of the antennas. In the proposed approach, the mode-to-mode mapping matrix M, which is the expression of the propagation channel in the spherical vector wave domain, is estimated by applying pseudo-inverse computation to the channel transfer functions with dedicated spherical arrays. The estimated M is truncated and only the dominant modes within the spatial bandwidth of the fields radiated from the finite volume of the spherical array are considered. Two types of spherical array are investigated: 1) an ideal array using tangential dipoles; and 2) a virtual array using dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). The ideal array is used for parameter investigation including the array radius and the spacing with regard to the size of M and the condition number of the excitation coefficient matrix, while the virtual DRA array is proposed as a practical implementation of the ideal array. The accuracy of the proposed approach has been validated numerically. The uncertainties of spherical array in practice, such as the influence of nonideally embedded array elements, cables, and fixtures, are considered in the validation. Moreover, the channel transfer functions reproduced by the de-embedded M are analyzed, given different target antennas at link ends. The gain and phase discrepancies as well as the antenna correlations of the reproduced channel transfer function are compared with the generated reference.


This report examines London's place and position in the UK economy. And how they may evolve during the next few years. It looks at London's developing role in recent last decades; clarifies some of the strengths and weaknesses of the London economy, particularly in relation to the rest of the UK and to central government. The annual special feature in this edition examines the role of London housing.


Early assessment of the oral health status of children and timely intervention have the
potential to reduce or even eliminate the effects of oral and dental diseases. However,
, parents rarely take their children to dentist early enough to control dental diseases. On the
other hand, parents contact pediatricians even before the child is born and during his life
multiple times. Thus pediatricians are considered a perfect and reliable source for oral health
control and prevention.The aim of this study is to measure the dental knowledge, attitudes and behavior (KAB) of
pediatricians in the City of Jeddah regarding oral health status and methods for prevention of
dental diseases in children. The factors that mostly affected pediatricians' KAB, including
demographic, academic and practice related characteristics were also identified.
Material and method: A questionnaire comprised 40 questions including demographic and
KAB's questions was distributed to all pediatricians in Jeddah city. A Score was given for
each question giving a total knowledge score that ranged from 0 to l3. Total attitude scores
ranged from 0 to 6 while the total behavior scores ranged from 0 to I I. Percentages of total
scores of KABs were compared. Relations between the KAB's scores and different study
variables were investigated
Results: The response rate of pediatricians in Jeddah city (363) was 60%. Their mean age
was 39.57. Ninety-two point three percent were either Saudis or Arabian Subjects.
Pediatricians' KAB were found to be unsatisfactory. The most important observation was
that the concept of oral health prevention was deficient. Pediatricians' awareness of fissure
sealants, fluoride, dietary counseling, time of first dental visits and thumb sucking were quite
limited. The two main factors that significantly affected KAB's scores were the pediatricians'
qualification and dental information received. Consultants and others who received dental
information during the last five years showed the highest scores. However, pediatricians'
age, nationality, country of graduation and years of experience significantly affected their
attitude and behavior but not their dental knowledge.Conclusion: Over all, pediatricians' dental KAB are quite inadequate. However, increasing
their awareness of oral health through formal and informal means of dental education seems
to be promising.


Long Papers.- Computer-Mediated Collaborative Reasoning and Intelligence Analysis.- Using Importance Flooding to Identify Interesting Networks of Criminal Activity.- Towards Automatic Event Tracking.- Interactive Refinement of Filtering Queries on Streaming Intelligence Data.- Semantic Analytics Visualization.- Visualizing Authorship for Identification.- A Dictionary-Based Approach to Fast and Accurate Name Matching in Large Law Enforcement Databases.- Iterative Relational Classification Through Three-State Epidemic Dynamics.- Analyzing Entities and Topics in News Articles Using Statistical Topic Models.- The Hats Simulator and Colab: An Integrated Information Fusion Challenge Problem and Collaborative Analysis Environment.- Cost-Sensitive Access Control for Illegitimate Confidential Access by Insiders.- Design and Implementation of a Policy-Based Privacy Authorization System.- Privacy Preserving DBSCAN for Vertically Partitioned Data.- Inferring Privacy Information from Social Networks.- Motion-Alert: Automatic Anomaly Detection in Massive Moving Objects.- Adaptive Method for Monitoring Network and Early Detection of Internet Worms.- Measures to Detect Word Substitution in Intercepted Communication.- Finding Hidden Group Structure in a Stream of Communications.- Collective Sampling and Analysis of High Order Tensors for Chatroom Communications.- Naturally Occurring Incidents as Facsimiles for Biochemical Terrorist Attacks.- DrillSim: A Simulation Framework for Emergency Response Drills.- A Review of Public Health Syndromic Surveillance Systems.- A Novel Mechanism to Defend Against Low-Rate Denial-of-Service Attacks.- Integrating IDS Alert Correlation and OS-Level Dependency Tracking.- Attacking Confidentiality: An Agent Based Approach.- Viability of Critical Mission of Grid Computing.- Suspect Vehicle Identification for Border Safety with Modified Mutual Information.- Experimental Analysis of Sequential Decision Making Algorithms for Port of Entry Inspection Procedures.- Analyzing the Terrorist Social Networks with Visualization Tools.- Tracing the Event Evolution of Terror Attacks from On-Line News.- Measuring Effectiveness of Anti-terrorism Programs Using Performance Logic Models.- On the Topology of the Dark Web of Terrorist Groups.- Indicators of Threat: Reflecting New Trends.- Practical Algorithms for Destabilizing Terrorist Networks.- Combating Terrorism Insurgency Resolution Software: A Research Note.- A First Look at Domestic and International Global Terrorism Events, 1970-1997.- Computational Modeling and Experimental Validation of Aviation Security Procedures.- Intelligent Face Recognition Using Feature Averaging.- Multi-perspective Video Analysis of Persons and Vehicles for Enhanced Situational Awareness.- Short Papers.- Database Security Protection Via Inference Detection.- An Embedded Bayesian Network Hidden Markov Model for Digital Forensics.- Entity Workspace: An Evidence File That Aids Memory, Inference, and Reading.- Strategic Intelligence Analysis: From Information Processing to Meaning-Making.- A Multi-layer Naive Bayes Model for Approximate Identity Matching.- Towards Optimal Police Patrol Routes with Genetic Algorithms.- SemanticSpy: Suspect Tracking Using Semantic Data in a Multimedia Environment.- A Framework for Exploring Gray Web Forums: Analysis of Forum-Based Communities in Taiwan.- Detecting Deception in Person-of-Interest Statements.- Personal Information Management (PIM) for Intelligence Analysis.- Synergy: A Policy-Driven, Trust-Aware Information Dissemination Framework.- Sanitization of Databases for Refined Privacy Trade-Offs.- Access Control Requirements for Preventing Insider Threats.- Venn Diagram Construction of Internet Chatroom Conversations.- Spatial-Temporal Cross-Correlation Analysis: A New Measure and a Case Study in Infectious Disease Informatics.- Integration of Instance-Based Learning and Text Mining for Identification of Potential Virus/Bacterium as Bio-terrorism Weapons.- An Info-Gap Approach to Policy Selection for Bio-terror Response.- Fighting Fear of a Bioterrorism Event with Information Technology: Real-World Examples and Opportunities.- Covering Based Granular Computing for Conflict Analysis.- Hybrid Modeling for Large-Scale Worm Propagation Simulations.- Worm Traffic Modeling for Network Performance Analysis.- Analysis of Abnormalities of Worm Traffic for Obtaining Worm Detection Vectors.- A Two-Tier Intrusion Detection System for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks - A Friend Approach.- Distributing the Cost of Securing a Transportation Infrastructure.- Multi-document Summarization for Terrorism Information Extraction.- Rational Choice Deterrence and Israeli Counter-Terrorism.- Content Analysis of Jihadi Extremist Groups' Videos.- Exploring the Dark Side of the Web: Collection and Analysis of U.S. Extremist Online Forums.- Fast Pedestrian Detection Using Color Information.- SG-Robot: CDMA Network-Operated Mobile Robot for Security Guard at Home.- Extended Abstracts for Posters and Demos.- Design of Syntactical Morphological and Semantical Analyzer (SMSA) for Processing Arabic Texts.- Using Author Topic to Detect Insider Threats from Email Traffic.- Digitized Forensic Investigation at P2P Copyright Controversy, Infringement.- On Off-Topic Web Browsing.- Mining Weighted Sequential Patterns Based on Length-Decreasing Support Constraints.- Intelligence Analysis Using High Resolution Displays.- Privacy Preserving Mining of Global Association Rules on Distributed Dataset.- CC-GiST: Cache Conscious-Generalized Search Tree for Supporting Various Fast Intelligent Applications.- KD3 Scheme for Privacy Preserving Data Mining.- Using Logic Programming to Detect Deception on the Basis of Actions.- Intelligent Information Retrieval Tools for Police.- Evaluation of Information Retrieval and Text Mining Tools on Automatic Named Entity Extraction.- A Child's Story to Illustrate Automated Reasoning Systems Using Opportunity and History.- Detection Using Clustering Query Results.- Application of Latent Semantic Indexing in Generating Graphs of Terrorist Networks.- Mining the Acceleration-Like Association Rules.- Analyzing Social Networks in E-Mail with Rich Syntactic Features.- E-mail Traffic Analysis Using Visualisation and Decision Trees.- Advanced Patterns and Matches in Link Analysis.- A Flexible Context-Aware Authorization Framework for Mediation Systems.- Continuous Authentication by Keystroke Dynamics Using Committee Machines.- A Flexible and Scalable Access Control for Ubiquitous Computing Environments.- A Parallel System Strategy of Evaluation and Forecasting for Security Information with Artificial Society.- Identifying Information Provenance in Support of Intelligence Analysis, Sharing, and Protection.- Intelligence Use of Unstructured Data in a Data Warehouse Environment.- An Evolutionary Approach in Threats Detection for Distributed Security Defence Systems.- Classification of Threats Via a Multi-sensor Security Portal.- Exploring the Detection Process: Integrating Judgment and Outcome Decomposition.- Issues in Merging Internet Autonomous Systems for Emergency Communications.- CWME: A Framework of Group Support System for Emergency Responses.- Abnormal Detection Algorithm Based on Match Range Model.- Experimental Validation and Analysis of an Intelligent Detection and Response Strategy to False Positives and Network Attacks.- A PCA-LVQ Model for Intrusion Alert Analysis.- A Formalized Taxonomy of DDoS Attacks Based on Similarity.- Practical Intrusion Detection Using Genetic-Clustering.- An Ontology-Based Network Intrusion Detection System: A User-Oriented Approach.- Design and Implementation of FPGA Based High-Performance Intrusion Detection System.- Anomaly Detection of Excessive Network Traffic Based on Ratio and Volume Analysis.- Detecting Anomalies in Cargo Using Graph Properties.- Design of a Reliable Hardware Stack to Defend Against Frame Pointer Overwrite Attacks.- Email Worm Detection Using Naive Bayes and Support Vector Machine.- An Anomaly Detection Algorithm for Detecting Attacks in Wireless Sensor Networks.- A New Methodology of Analyzing Security Vulnerability for Network Services.- Using One-Time Password Based Authentication for Wireless IP Network.- Experimental Study on Wireless Sensor Network Security.- Terrorist Database: A Bangladesh Study.- Terrorist Organizations and Effects of Terrorism in Bangladesh.- Decider.Track, a Revolutionary Cyber-Tracker for Antiterrorist Fight.- The Role of Information Superiority in the Global War on Terrorism.- A Trust-Based Security Architecture for Ubiquitous Computing Systems.- A Trust Model for Uncertain Interactions in Ubiquitous Environments.- A Multiclass Classifier to Detect Pedestrians and Acquire Their Moving Styles.- A Home Firewall Solution for Securing Smart Spaces.- The Security Performance Evaluation of Digital Watermarking.- A Novel Key Release Scheme from Biometrics.- Matching Images of Never-Before-Seen Individuals in Large Law Enforcement Databases.


ABSTRACT Shigella spp. are known primarily as a cause of bacillary dysentery. However, in an initial phase, numerous patients exhibit watery diarrhea that may or may not be followed by dysentery. New virulence factors associated with the species ofShigella have recently been described. These are enterotoxins 1 and 2 of Shigella (ShET-1 and ShET-2, respectively). The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of ShET-1 and ShET-2 in species of Shigellaisolated from patients with traveler's diarrhea. During the period from 1993 to 1998, stool samples from 500 travelers with diarrhea were cultured for the isolation of Shigella spp. and other enteropathogens. The detection of ShET-1 and ShET-2 was performed by a PCR technique with specific primers. Among a total of 51 strains ofShigella isolated during this period (22 S. flexneri, 26 S. sonnei, and 3 S. dysenteriae strains), at least one enterotoxin was detected in 31 (60.78%) strains; 2 (9.09%; both of which were S. flexneri strains) produced only ShET-1, while 21 (41.17%; 3S. flexneri, 15 S. sonnei, and 3 S. dysenteriae strains) produced ShET-2. Furthermore, 8 (15.69%) of 22 S. flexneri strains presented both enterotoxins. Our results show that the prevalence of ShET-2 was high in all theShigella species studied and confirm that ShET-1 is detected only in S. flexneri.


This paper aims to contribute to the field of "comparative standardology", arguing that it is only through the adoption of a comparative perspective that certain myths about the process of standardisation can be dispelled. In particular, I will consider what light recent work on English and German sheds on the case of French, typically portrayed as the European language which has been most subjected to prescriptive influences. Focussing on the interrelation between description, codification, prescription and purist activity, I will start by considering how the dominant models of standardisation (Haugen, Milroy & Milroy) have treated codification and prescription. I will then examine how far the so-called prescriptive and purist grammarians in France merit this reputation and compare this analysis with the situation in England and Germany. I will conclude by looking at the difference between intention and effect, and the diverse roles played by individuals, private institutions and official bodies.


Recently an extended operator of fractional derivative related to a generalized beta function has been used in order to obtain some generating relations involving extended hypergeometric functions [19]. In this paper, an extended fractional derivative operator with respect to an arbitrary regular and univalent function based on the Cauchy integral formula is defined. This is done to compute the extended fractional derivative of the function log z and principally, to obtain a generalized Leibniz rule. Some examples involving special functions are given. A representation of the extended fractional derivative operator in terms of the classical fractional derivative operator is also determined by using a result of A.R. Miller [12].


Disanthus cercidifolius Maxim. (Hamamelidaceae) is an endemic deciduous species native to forests of China and Japan cultivated as an ornamental plant as a result of fall foliage colors. To improve clonal micropropagation of the species a potent synthetic growth regulator TDZ was tested using two application methods: addition of various concentrations (1.1, 2.2, 3.3 µМ) to MS nutrient medium and liquid pulse treatment. The highest multiplication rate (5.8 shoots per explant) was achieved with 30 μM TDZ pulse treatment for 4 h followed by cultivation on MS supplemented with 2.2 μM BA for 6 weeks. Morphological abnormalities associated with TDZ application were analyzed by histological and stereo microscopic methods. The present study revealed both development of axillary shoots from two-node explants and regeneration of adventitious shoots from secondary buds formed on axillary shoots. Observed morphological disorders were overcome successfully by cultivation on TDZ-free medium for 6 weeks.


Quorum sensing is cell to cell communication process through chemical signals formally known as autoinducers. When the concentration of quorum sensing molecules reached threshold concentration bacteria are in active state or quorum state. In this article, we propose a mathematical model of quorum sensing systems and study this biological system numerically. Moreover, we compare the different numerical scheme with the batch culture of P.aeruginosa. We observed a negative diffusion coefficient which plays an important role in the quorum sensing mechanism.


Restinga formations grow on sandy spits of coastal plains, an environment whose conditions limit the growth and development of vegetal species. Studies on restinga gradients are good examples of how plants acclimate to restrictive environments. This work compares three woody species co-occurring in four vegetations of a restinga from Southern Brazil. It pinpoints morpho-anatomical attributes that favor the survival of species faced with spatial variability of soil and light conditions. Results indicate that they respond differently to environmental variables on different scales. The plastic response of morphological attributes is more marked than that of anatomical ones. Varronia curassavica and Dodonaea viscosa showed more xeromorphic features on the more stressful restinga formations while Symphyopappus casarettoi varied between xerophyte to mesophyte forms along the gradient. Individual height, fresh and dry leaf masses, leaf area, specific leaf mass and area, leaf density, and water content are particularly noteworthy. These responses are strategies allowing the studied species to survive in restinga environment with highly variable soil nutrient, water availability, and light conditions. The environmental conditions are important features that modulate de plant morphology along the gradient. Keywords: coastal vegetation, leaf morphology, leaf anatomy, light and soil conditions.


Abstract Habitat preferences and habitat differentiation were studied among species of Acroporium (Sematophyllaceae) and related taxa between 140–2,000 m a.s.l. in Peninsular Malaysia (02.92°–04.87°N, 100.80°–101.83°E). Canonical Correspondence Analysis was used to reveal how species data were related to 16 environmental factors that represent geographical, physical environmental, chemical, and substrate type components. We found some geographical variation, but this explained little of the species distribution patterns. A minimum model based on automatic forward selection suggested that elevation, the substrate peaty soil, and pH explain 57% of the variation in the species data, and variation partitioning suggests that much of the variation in the latter is explained by several factors in combination. Light availability and the substrate mineral soil were of moderate importance in explaining species data distribution, whereas other variables influenced the variation less and mainly along the third and fourth ordination axes. Trichosteleum and Papillidiopsis species occurred mainly at low elevations, Acroporium secundum (Reinw. & Hornsch.) M. Fleisch., A. diminutum (Brid.) M. Fleisch., and A. stramineum (Reinw. & Hornsch.) M. Fleisch. var. stramineum were found at relatively high pH values, and A. convolutum (Sande Lac.) M. Fleisch and Radulina hamata (Dozy & Molk.) W. R. Buck & B. C. Tan at low pH values. Acroporium procerum (Müll. Hal.) M. Fleisch., A. strepsiphyllum (Mont.) B. C. Tan, and probably A. rigens (Dixon) Dixon showed a preference for peaty soil, whereas Papillidiopsis malayana (Dixon) B. C. Tan was the only species found on thin mineral soil over rocks.


Regarding to the daily load forecasting, the sample selection and data preprocessing are crucial to its precision. In this paper, the grey relation analysis method is adopted to search the historical data points whose variation trends are the same as the predict point. The variation trend of each point is represented by load values of the neighboring points. As no influencing factors are used in this process, the model is both simple and practical. Finally a support vector machine model is created on the basis of the selected data points. Due to their similar trends of the selected points, the forecasting precision is raised greatly. The present method synthesizes the advantages of grey relation analysis and support vector machine. The practical examples show that the model established in this paper is feasible and effective. Compared with other models, it has a better precision performance and a higher computing speed.


Background: Socially assistive robots (SARs) have the potential to assist nonpharmacological interventions based on verbal communication to support the care of persons with dementia (PwDs). However, establishing verbal communication with a PwD is challenging. Thus, several authors have proposed strategies to converse with PwDs. While these strategies have proved effective at enhancing communication between PwDs and their caregivers, they have not been used or tested in the domain of human-robot interaction. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of incorporating conversational strategies proposed in the literature for caregivers, during PwD-robot interactions. Methods: We conducted a total of 23 group sessions based on music and conversation therapy, where a SAR interacted with 12 PwDs (mean = 80.25 years) diagnosed with mild to moderate-stage dementia. Using a single subject research approach, we designed an AB study to assess the effectiveness of the conversational strategies in the PwD-robot interaction. Our analysis focuses on the direct communication between the PwDs and the robot, and the perceived enjoyment of PwDs. Results: The number of utterances made from a PwD to the robot increased significantly when the conversational strategies were included in the robot. In addition, PwDs engaged in more sustained conversations. Additionally, PwDs enjoyed conversing with the robot Eva, as much as listening to music. These results indicate that the use of these conversational strategies is effective at increasing the interaction between PwD and a SAR. Conclusions: PwDs who participated in the study engaged and enjoyed the interaction with the SAR. The results provide evidence of the importance of incorporating appropriate conversational strategies in SARs that support interventions for the care and social stimulation of PwDs.


The production of Santa Inês sheep in Brazil is very important to farmers because they are rustic, adapted to most part of gastrointestinal parasites and have good maternal ability (Sousa et al., 2003; Amarante et al., 2004). To maintain these characteristics, the animals are selected, and reproductive biotechnologies are applied to induce estrus with progestagens throughout the year, due to their seasonality. Different strategies of estrus induction and synchronization are used worldwide (Balaro et al., 2017) but, traditionally, intravaginal progestagen devices are often applied. One of the disadvantages of hormonal treatment is the cost itself. Currently, there are three different commercial brands in Brazil and overall, the cost of those devices is relatively high. Alternatives must be proposed in order to make efficient treatments, without adversely affecting the reproductive efficiency. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of three protocols of synchronous estrus induction during the transition period in Santa Inês ewes. 


Community based websites such as social networks and online forums usually require users to register by providing profile information and avatars. It is important to ensure these user uploaded information comply with the website policy. This includes the information being personal, related and clear, as well as not containing unhealthy/disturbing content. A review or censorship system is usually deployed to review new user registration. Nowadays, many platforms still use manual review or rely on 3rd party APIs. However, manual review is timeconsuming and costly. While 3rd party services are not tailored to the specific business needs thus do not provide enough accuracy. In this paper, we developed an automatically new user registration review system with deep learning. We apply the state-of-art techniques such as CNN and BERT for an end-to-end evaluation system for multi-modal content. We tested our system in E-pal, a freelancing platform for gaming companionship and conducted a qualitative evaluationof the approach. The results show that our system can evaluate the quality of avatars, voice descriptions, and text profiles with high accuracy. The system can significantly reduce the effort of manual review and also provides input for the recommendation ranking.