Background Overweight/obese major depressive disorder (MDD) patients have a high probability of developing glucose metabolism disorders; however, the results are inconsistent due to the confounding variables involved in the studies. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence and risk factors for elevated fasting glucose in Chinese Han patients with overweight/obese first-episode and drug naïve (FEDN) MDD. Methods The study used a cross-sectional design and recruited 1718 FEDN MDD patients between the ages of 18 and 60 years. Socio-demographic information, anthropometric data, and biochemical parameters were collected. The 17-item Hamilton Assessment Scale for Depression (HAMD), the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale were used to assess symptoms of all patients. Results MDD patients with elevated fasting glucose had higher TSH, TPOAb, TC, TG, LDL-C, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels than those with normal fasting glucose. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, TSH, TgAb, TPOA, and TG were related factors for elevated fasting glucose, while TSH and combination all these five parameters had the potential to differentiate between patients with elevated fasting glucose and those with normal fasting glucose. Multifactorial regression analysis showed that TSH, TG, and LDL-C were independently associated with elevated fasting glucose. Conclusion Our findings suggest a high prevalence of elevated fasting glucose in overweight/obese FEDN MDD patients. Several clinically relevant factors and metabolic parameters are associated with elevated fasting glucose in overweight/obese FEDN MDD patients. Limitation Due to the cross-sectional design, no causal relationship could be derived.


Abstract Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) are distributed over most of Australia and have also been domesticated. Domestication in general has strong effects on various traits including reproduction. For successful reproduction choosing a suitable nest-site is essential. We focussed on two factors that might influence nest-site selection; height and cover. In two experiments, we investigated the nest-height and nest-cover preferences of five Zebra Finch populations (1 Australian, 4 domesticated). Our results revealed that all five populations preferred the highest nests and there were no differences between populations. With variation in nest-cover, the Australian birds and a less-selected domesticated population chose nests with cover, while birds from populations selected for specific plumage colourations used the open nest-boxes most. Nest-height preference seems to be conserved in domesticated birds, whereas preference for nest-cover seems to be modified during domestication. We discuss the intra-specific variation in nest-site preferences, in the light of evolutionary and domestication processes. We believe that this further understanding in nest-site preference can provide hints to understand the variation in breeding success of Zebra Finches across different experiments and laboratories.


Purpose
The purpose of this study is to measure and analyze the national innovation efficiency of organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD) countries. This is to determine to what extent OECD countries efficiently use the elements that enable innovation activities possible in generating innovation outputs.

Design/methodology/approach
An input–output model was constructed to measure efficiency. The inputs and outputs in the research model are the input and output sub-indices of the Global Innovation Index. Data envelopment analysis was used to measure the national innovation efficiency levels of OECD countries.

Findings
The results show that national innovation efficiency is generally high in OECD countries. However, some countries lag behind in innovation efficiency. OECD countries' ability to create and provide the elements that enable innovation activities is higher than their ability to create innovation outputs. OECD countries have a good innovation environment and a high level of resources, but they should focus on how to create more innovation outputs.

Originality/value
This study presents a measurement of national innovation efficiency of OECD countries which contributes "Innovation Strategy" agenda. The results empirically show that overall innovation indices cannot be the only indicator of the performance of national innovation systems. In this study, an innovation efficiency/performance matrix is constructed to present the relative positions of the countries to help in examining countries' strengths, weaknesses and potentials based on innovation efficiency and innovation performance simultaneously. This study contributes to the literature by presenting a broader perspective and measurement of national innovation efficiency by taking an extensive number of indicators into account.


T Objective: The aim of the study was to compare open and closed method in terms of time require for creation of pneumoperitoneum and to ascertain safety in laparoscopic surgery. Methodology: This was a prospective comparative study carried out at a tertiary care hospital from January 2019 to December 2019.We selected 100 patients who were planned for laparoscopic surgery and divided them into two equal groups using the envelop method of randomization. Group A comprised of patients in whom we created pneumoperitoneum by classical veress needle insertion and in Group B by open method. Results: In our study, the mean time require for closed method was 6.92 minutes while by open method it was 4.36 minutes. Complication rate was 18% in closed and 16% in open method. Conclusion: open method is quick but comparable to closed method in terms of complications.


There are a lack of recourses for substance abuse (SA) treatment for forensic clients with intellectual disabilities (ID). Many complexities arise when treating this population, calling for the creation of comprehensive resources which not only address the SA, but also account for the risk and offending issues. The purpose of this paper is to detail a pilot programme which aims to provide treatment for forensic ID clients with substance abuse issues as well as a significant risk of reoffending.,Six participants completed a 27-week SA treatment programme (the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programme-Intellectual Disability) which incorporated the use of dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) and the Good Lives Model concepts. Pre- and post-measures aimed to assess readiness for change and confidence in ability to stay clean and sober.,Preliminary findings showed a marked improvement in confidence of the participants' ability to stay clean and sober in risk-related situations as well as an increase in overall readiness for change.,This research paper addresses a gap in the current forensic ID research and clinical treatment options pertaining to SA, by focussing on supporting forensic ID clients in their recovery journey from SA. Being at the forefront of SA treatment for forensic ID, further research in this domain should attempt to consolidate the findings of this programme.


Composite Higgs models are promising candidate models to address the long-standing naturalness problem in the Standard Model. Among them, the most minimal one is the SU(2) with 2 flavours of fermions in the fundamental representation of the gauge group. An important prediction in these models is the existence of resonance spectrum in vector boson scattering. Here we study the lowest such resonance, which is the equivalent of rho resonance in QCD. We describe the scan of the parameter space using the clover-improved Wilson fermions with Symanzik improved gauge action and then show the first results for the mass and width of the rho resonance in this model.


Background: The deleterious effect of liquid oral medicaments has been studied since 1953. Many coworkers have confirmed that these preparations are cariogenic and acidogenic in nature. In vitro studies have observed that the commonly used pediatric liquid medicaments (PLMs) are acidogenic and cariogenic in nature. Aim: To assess the change in the dental plaque pH after oral rinsing with the commonly prescribed PLMs.Materials and Methods: For the study purpose, eight commonly used PLMs were selected. On the test day, first the baseline resting plaque pH was measured, and then the volunteers were asked to rinse 5 ml of the sample PLM and asked to swish all around the oral cavity for 10 s and then to spit out. The supragingival plaque samples were collected using harvesting method at baseline and at different time intervals, following rinse with each medication. The pH of plaque was determined using a digital pH meter. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using one ANOVA and Tukey's multiple post hoc test. Results: A significant decrease in plaque pH was recorded in most of the subjects; maximum pH drop was seen within min of rinse of PLM. Among all the PLM, Crocin® showed maximum drop in plaque pH. There was a gradual recovery to the near-normal pH within 60 min. Conclusions: Reducing the cariogenic potential of PLM should be a matter of concern to all health professionals.


A new iterative modelling workflow has been designed to reduce uncertainty of water saturation (Sw) calculations in the tight Barik sandstone in the Sultanate of Oman. Results from this case study indicate that Sw can be overestimated by up-to twenty saturation units if the as-acquired deep resistivity is used in volumetric calculations. Overbalanced drilling causes deep invasion of water-based mud (WBM) filtrate into porous and permeable rocks, leading to radial displacement of in-situ saturating fluids away from the wellbore. In low-porosity reservoirs drilled with WBM the inability of the filtration process to quickly build impermeable mudcake translates into long radial transition zones. Under certain reservoir and drilling conditions, deep resistivity logs cannot reliably measure true formation resistivity and are therefore unable to provide an accurate assessment of hydrocarbon saturation. The effect of mud-filtrate invasion on resistivity logs has been extensively documented; processing techniques utilize resistivity inversion and tool-specific forward modeling to provide uninvaded formation resistivity logs which are much better suited for in-place resource volume assessment. However, sensitivity analysis shows that the accuracy of invasion-corrected logs dramatically decreases as the depth of invasion increases whereby the inversion process needs to be further constrained. The new workflow is designed to reduce the non-uniqueness of true formation resistivity models, so that they honor multiple and independent petrophysical data. The inversion routine utilizes a Bayesian algorithm coupled with Markov-Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. Inversion results are iteratively modified based upon two rock property models: one derived from rock-core data (helium expansion porosity and Dean- Stark saturations), and the other using an equivalent log interpretation of thick reservoir intervals from oil-based mud (OBM) wells. Simulated borehole-resistivity are compared to field logs after each validation loop against rock property models. The new inversion-based workflow is extensively tested in the unconventional tight Barik formation across water-free hydrocarbon and perched water intervals and inversion-derived Sw models are independently validated by capillary pressure-derived saturation-height models and fluid inflow rate from production logs.


Editor's Note Many questions loom over transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive form of neurostimulation in which constant, low current is delivered directly to areas of the brain using small electrodes. It was first established in neuroscience research in the 1950s and 60s, but has seen rapid growth, particularly in the last five years. Originally developed to help patients with brain injuries such as strokes, tDCS is now also used to enhance language and mathematical ability, attention span, problem solving, memory, coordination, and even gaming skills. The authors examine its potential and pitfalls.


this study will analyze cohesion and coherence in short stories entitled the primacy of alms the work of  Habiburrahman El Shirazy to find out the use of chesion and coherence in the short stor. In this case cohesion and coherence are one of the important compenents in the formation of a dicourse or text. This study will discuss lexical cohesion and gramaical cohesion and coherent. This research hopes that better writing can be useful for the reader. With that reader can take the mandate conveyed by the author. The menthod of qualitative description is seen in terms of words, phrase sentences or paragraphs. The technique used is to read and take notes.


INTRODUCTION:
Impairment of intra operative visibility due to bleeding is problem during
otorhinolaryngologic surgeries especially in endoscopic surgeries like FESS.
Bleeding in the surgical field can lead to incomplete surgical procedure
which increases further bleeding and increased risk of complications due to
non visualization of important structures. During these surgeries a slightest
bleeding at the surgical area would look larger due to magnifying effect of
the microscope which could upset surgical comfort. Controlled hypotension
is one of the anesthetic techniques used to reduce bleeding during
endoscopic surgeries. There are varieties of methods and medications used
to obtained deliberate hypotension.
The ideal hypotensive agent should be non toxic, maintain cerebro vascular
auto regulation, no change in cardiac function, have short term effect and be
easily titrated. Alpha 2 agonists like clonidine augment hypotensive action
and therefore reduce bleeding. Dexmedetomidine another highly
selective Alpha 2 agonist acts by central mechanism and reduces bleeding.
I have chosen this study to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on the
intraoperative isoflurane requirement to maintain mean arterial pressure of
60-70mmHg, quality of surgical field and awakening time in patients
undergoing FESS.
AIM:
To Evaluate the effect of Dexmedetomidine infusion on the requirement of
Isoflurane to produce controlled hypotension (mean arterial pressure of 60-
70mmHg), quality of bloodless surgical field, duration of surgery and the
awakening time in patients undergoing Functional Endoscopic Sinus
Surgery (FESS).
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This study was conducted after obtaining approval from ethical committee
and patients consent.
Study Design:
Prospective randomized control study
Patient Selection:
50 ASA I Patients age 18-60 years diagnosed having chronic sinusitis
scheduled for FESS under general anesthesia were divided into two groups.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Hypertensive patients.
2. H/o Cerebro-vascular accident / Transient ischaemic attack.
3. IHD.
4. Poor respiratory reserve.
5. Significant hepatic or renal disease.
6. Hypersensitivity to study drugs.
7. Patients who are not willing to participate in the study
Materials:
1. Perfusor compact-Syringe infusion pump.
2. Inj.Dexmedetomidine 2 ml amp, Normal saline.
3. Disposable 50 ml syringe.
4. Extension tube.
5. Weighing machine.
6. Monitors – ECG, NIBP, SPO2.
Methodology:
50 patients with the above criteria were divided into two equal groups.
Group D: Received bolus dose of Dexmedetomidine 1 μg /kg over ten min
before induction followed by infusion of 0.5 μg /kg/hr. (2ml of
dexmedetomidine was diluted with 48ml of NS making a solution of 4 μg
/ml).
Group C: Received equal amount of Normal Saline.
Preoperative investigations reports like Hb%, Blood Urea, Serum Creatinine, Platelets, Clotting time, Bleeding time were recorded.
On arriving to the operating room monitors were connected and baseline
vital parameters were noted. Two peripheral intravenous line with 18 G IV Cannula one for IV infusion another for study drug were started. Preloading was done with 10 ml/kg of balanced salt soulations.
SUMMARY:
The prospective randomized control study aimed to evaluate the effect of Dexmedetomidine infusion on the requirement of Isoflurane to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 60-70mmHg, Quality of blood less surgical field, duration of surgery and awakening time in patients undergoing Functional
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery(FESS) under general anaesthesia
Important conclusions from this study include
1. Group D lowered intra operative blood pressure better than group C.
2. Group D produced lower intraoperative heart rate than group C.
3. Intra operative isoflurane requirement was low in group D compared to group C.
4. Both the group provided better visualization of the surgical field assessed by the surgeon using Fromme Boezzart scale.
5. The duration of surgery was low in Group D.
6. The awakening time after extubation was also low in Group D compared to Group C.
7. There was no difference in postoperative sedation.
CONCLUSION:
Dexmedetomidine infusion helps in achieving a targeted reduction in MAP, reduced intraoperative Isoflurane requirement, better blood less field, and faster awakening in patients undergoing Functional Endoscopic Sinus surgery.


Poly(amido-imide)s (PAI)s were prepared by the intermolecular Diels-Alder (DA) reaction of N-N′-1,4-phenylene bis[(2-furanyl methylamino)acetamide] (PBFA) with various bis(maleimide)s. The DA reaction was carried out in tetrahydrofuran as a solvent, as well as in bulk, followed by aromatization of sodium acetate intermediates in the presence of acetic anhydride. All the polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectral studies and thermogravimetry. The PAIs exhibit moderate thermal stability. PBFA and bismaleimides were polymerized (at 145±10°C) by in situ DA intermolecular reaction into moderately thermally stable PAIs(glass fiber composite laminates) and were characterized by their chemical resistance and mechanical properties.


Explaining the uneven distribution of species richness across the branches of the tree of life has been a major challenge for evolutionary biologists. Advances in phylogenetic reconstruction, allowing the generation of large, well-sampled, phylogenetic trees have provided an opportunity to contrast competing hypotheses. Here, we present a new time-calibrated phylogeny of seed plant families using Bayesian methods and 26 fossil calibrations. While there are various published phylogenetic trees for plants which have a greater density of species sampling, we are still a long way from generating a complete phylogeny for all ~300,000+ plants. Our phylogeny samples all seed plant families and is a useful tool for comparative analyses. We use this new phylogenetic hypothesis to contrast two alternative explanations for differences in species richness among higher taxa: time for speciation versus ecological limits. We calculated net diversification rate for each clade in the phylogeny and assessed the relationship between clade age and species richness. We then fit models of speciation and extinction to individual branches in the tree to identify major rate-shifts. Our data suggest that the majority of lineages are diversifying very slowly while a few lineages, distributed throughout the tree, are diversifying rapidly. Diversification is unrelated to clade age, no matter the age range of the clades being examined, contrary to both the assumption of an unbounded lineage increase through time, and the paradigm of fixed ecological limits. These findings are consistent with the idea that ecology plays a role in diversification, but rather than imposing a fixed limit, it may have variable effects on per lineage diversification rates through time.


Cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) serves as an important negative indicator for phagocytic cells and has been reported to be overexpressed in multiple human tumor cells. Increasing evidence has suggested that CD47 overexpression may contribute to the immune escape of tumor cells by avoiding phagocytosis. However, it is currently unclear whether CD47 participates in the tumorigenesis of thyroid cancer (TC). The aim of this study was to explore the roles of CD47 in TC. In two TC cell lines, TPC-1 and K1, the CD47 expression was determined by Western blot analysis, qRT-PCR, and flow cytometry assays. The CD47 shRNA expression vector was applied to specifically decrease CD47 expression in TPC-1 and K1 cells, and the effects of CD47 knockdown on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. In addition, the effects of CD47 knockdown on the expression of proteins involved in the programmed death-1 (PD-1) signaling pathway were assessed by Western blot analysis. Our results indicated that when compared with normal human thyroid follicular epithelial Nthy-ori-3-1 cells, CD47 expression was significantly upregulated in both TPC-1 and K1 cells. In the functional assay, we revealed that the knockdown of CD47 inhibited cell growth and promoted cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, the PD-L1 signaling pathway was found to be activated in TPC-1 and K1 cells, and the knockdown of CD47 significantly suppressed the activation of this pathway. In conclusion, CD47 was highly expressed in TC cells, and may serve as an oncogenic molecule to promote TC progression by regulating PD-L1 signaling.


A new mechanism for high-temperature sensing with single-mode optical fibers is proposed. This sensing mechanism is based on whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonance in bent optical fibers. The interference fringes between the core mode and WGMs were induced by bending a cladding-thinned fiber and forming a loop in the fiber. The wavelength shift of the resonance peaks as a function of temperature is investigated. It is demonstrated that the single loop of bend ring in the fibers can be used as a transducer for high-temperature sensing without any internal structure.


This study was to assess the changes in the haemodynamic parameters of the hepatic artery and vein in the diagnosis of liver metastases by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). 52 patients with proven liver metastases (patient group) and 23 normal volunteers (control group) were recruited in this study. Each subject was administered an intravenous bolus injection of SonoVue (0.6 ml). The arrival time in the hepatic artery (AT HA), time to peak in the hepatic artery (TTP HA), peak intensity of the hepatic artery (PI HA), arrival time in the hepatic vein (AT HV), time to peak in the hepatic vein (TTP HV) and peak intensity of the hepatic vein (PI HV) were measured with the use of time-intensity curve software. The hepatic artery to vein transit time (HAVTT) was calculated as the difference between the arrival times in the hepatic artery and the hepatic vein. AT HA, TTP HA, AT HV, TTP HV and HAVTT in the patient group were significantly shorter than those of the control group (P<0.01). PI HA and PI HV in the patient group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.01). These results suggest that CEUS assessment of changes in the haemodynamic parameters of the hepatic artery and vein help to diagnose liver metastases. This functional imaging technique may contribute to the early detection of micrometastases in the liver.


Amino-2 Benzimidazole, a residue of the decomposition of some fungicides (Benomyl, Carbendazine, Thiophanate, Methylthiophanate), is measured by polarography in aqueous medium, with a platinium rotating electrode, for the exploration in potentials from +0.5 v to 1.4 v. The best conditions for the quantitative determination are investigated, the study according to pH is performed and the standard curve is given for concentrations from 10(-5) to 10(-3) M/l. The interaction of elementts found in tap water and in aquarium water is also investigated.


This chapter presents the results of Comparative studies and discussion of experimental investigations carried out on distribution of Micro and Nano sized silicon carbide particles in aluminium matrix, tensile strength, compression strength, impact strength, hardness, corrosion behaviour of the composites reinforced with Micro and Nano sized silicon carbide particles of different weight percentages. The authority of load, sliding speed, particle size of Micro and Nano sized silicon carbide content on wear and frictional behavior of composites specimens were also analyzed. Authentication tests were carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to study the effect of particle size on wear mechanisms and to compare it with the experimental results


Human beings are inherently relational. To relate may mean to communicate, interact, transact, engage, involve and even just be with another person. It may imply fulfilling and satisfying the needs of one another. In a more altruistic tone, the relationship is giving and receiving. Others see a relationship as a social exchange. In contrast, others may see it as a social and ethical contract that ought to adhere. Others see a relationship as an instrument as a means to self-actualize or as a process of reaching the self-potential. There are many types of relationships. While others have a formal set of rules, there are interpersonal relationships that have loose code of affair. Among the dimensions of relationship, intimate interpersonal relationships are complicated. In contrast to business affair, marriage and in other intimate partnership, sanctions, roles and rules are not clearly defined. The ambiguity of interpersonal relationships reflects the dynamisms of its elements. Since its fluid, contextual and multi-faceted, there is no exact point of analysis. In this article, awareness, dialog, groundedness, embodiment are discussed in the light of intimate partner conflicts that are amplified using fictional case vignettes that are adopted from real cases of intimate conflict. This article concludes with the assertion that cultivation of relationships starts with the person.


Three-Dimensional (3D) CAD models are utilized by many designers; however, they are rarely utilized to their full potential. The current mainstream method of design process and communication is through design documentation. They are limited in depth of information, compartmentalized by discipline, fragmented into various segments, communicated through numerous layers, and finally, printed onto an undersized paper by the stakeholders and end-users. Large nuclear projects, such as refurbishments and decommissioning, suffer from spatial, interface, and interreference challenges, unintentional cost and schedule overruns, and quality concerns that can be rooted to the misalignments between designed and in-situ or previously as-built conditions that tend to stem from inaccessibility and lack of adequate data resolution during the transfer of technical information.
 This paper will identify the technologies and the methodology used during several piping system modifications of existing nuclear power plants, and shares the lessons learned with respect to the benefits and shortcomings of the approach. Overall, it is beneficial to leverage available multi-dimensional technologies to enhance various engineering and execution phases.
 The utilization and superposition of various spatial models into 3D and 4D formats, enabled the modification projects to significantly reduce in-person plant walkdown efforts, provide highly accurate as-found data, and enable stakeholders of all disciplines and trades to review the as-found, as-designed, and simulated as-installed modification; including the steps in between without requiring significant plant visits. This approach will therefore reduce the field-initiated changes that tend to result in design/field variations; resulting in less reliance on Appendix T of ASME BPVC Section III, reduction in the design registration reconciliations efforts, and it aligns with the overarching goal of EPRI guideline NCIG-05.
 Beyond the benefits to design and execution, the multidimensional approach will provide highly accurate inputs to some of the nuclear safety's Beyond Design Basis Assessments (BDBA) and allowed for the incorporation of actual design values as input and hence removing the unnecessary over-conservatisms within some of the inputs.


Spam messes up users inbox, consumes resources and spread attacks like DDoS, MiM, Phishing etc., Phishing is a byproduct of email and causes financial loss to users and loss of reputation to financial institutions. In this paper we study the characteristics of phishing and technology used by phishers. In order to counter anti phishing technology, phishers change their mode of operation; therefore continuous evaluation of phishing helps us to combat phishers effectively. We have collected seven hundred thousand spam from a corporate server for a period of 13 months from February 2008 to February 2009. From the collected date, we identified different kinds of phishing scams and mode of their operation. Our observation shows that phishers are dynamic and depend more on social engineering techniques rather than software vulnerabilities. We believe that this study would be useful to develop more efficient anti phishing methodologies


While isolating siroheme from enzymes or whole cells of Desulfovibrio species, it was discovered that the main product after metal removal and esterification was not the octamethyl ester derivative of sirohydrochlorin, but a monoamide, heptamethyl ester derivative. The structure of this derivative was established by mass spectrometry and NMR. Nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements in combination with chemical shift analogy arguments indicate that the 2(1)-acetate has been stereospecifically amidated. Other cellular sources of siroheme were investigated, but only the octamethyl ester derivative was found, with no traces of the amide derivative. The results suggest that, in Desulfovibrio, the physiologically active prosthetic group may be an amidated form of siroheme.


There is a critical need for research-based active learning instructional materials for the teaching and learning of STEM in online courses. Every year, hundreds of thousands of undergraduate non-science majors enroll in general education astronomy courses to fulfill their institution's liberal arts requirements. When designing instructional materials for this population of learners, a central focus must be to help learners become more scientifically and data literate. As such, we developed a new, three-part, curricular model that was used to inform the creation of active-learning instructional materials designed for use in online courses to help introductory astronomy students improve their ability to make evidence-based conclusions when presented with a variety of data representations, while increasing their self-efficacy with respect to engaging meaningfully in science. We conducted a pilot study of these instructional materials at nine different colleges and universities to better understand whether students' engagement with these materials lead to increases in self-efficacy, and whether faculty who implemented the materials were able to easily incorporate our active learning materials into their existing online astronomy courses. Overall, we found a statistically significant improvement in students' self-efficacy after engaging with our instructional materials in their online courses. The results of the item-by-item analysis indicated that students' beliefs improved most on the questions that assessed their ability to make meaningful contributions to scientific research, and their confidence using data representations to interpret an array of scientific questions. The instructor feedback emphasized that our curriculum development model could successfully inform the creation of instructional materials that were easy to implement in existing online astronomy classes, and supported course learning objectives, creating the potential for widespread dissemination and use at the undergraduate level.


We investigate the effects of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing and maturity extension programs on the yields of US dollar-denominated corporate bonds using a multiple-regime heteroskedasticity-based VAR identification approach. Impulse response functions suggest that a traditional, rate-based expansionary policy may lead to an increase in yields while quantitative easing is linked to a general and persistent decrease in yields, particularly for long-term bonds. The responses generated by the maturity extension program are significant and of larger magnitude. A decomposition shows that the unconventional programs reduce the cost of private debt primarily through a reduction in risk premia that cannot be entirely accounted for by a reduction in corporate default risk.


The wireless sensor can be considered as one of the most major technologies through using it in different application such as environmental applications, military applications, commercial applications, health applications and agriculture applications. Due to the sensor networks may be deployed in open area (uncontrolled area), especially in military applications. In such situations, the nodes are vulnerable to be captured. Moreover, data/control packets may be intercepted and/or modified due to the transmission nature.
Consequently, security services such as authentication and encryption done by key management which is not trivial task. The key management is important to maintain the network operations. The proposed scheme the nodes based on spatial information with data sequence then sends encryption message to each other in secure way by HMAC for providing safe links between the nodes in the network and forming the clusters. Consequently, the proposed scheme covers the security goals and authentication of each node.


Abstract The stem and bulb nematodes of the Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn) Filipjev species complex are obligate endoparasites of various agricultural plants, causing stunting and swelling and resulting in significant economic losses. Recently, a new closely related Ditylenchus species, D. weischeri Chizhov, Borisov and Subbotin, a parasite of the cosmopolitan herbaceous perennial weed, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., was described. Many countries impose quarantine restrictions for the presence of D. dipsaci in imported plant and soil materials. In the current study, we developed PCR with species-specific primers for the rapid and reliable separation of D. weischeri and D. dipsaci using gel electrophoresis and melting curve analysis. Species-specific primer sets were designed based on the nucleotide sequence of the heat shock protein (hsp90) gene for both nematode species. The PCR protocol was verified using samples of D. weischeri, D. dipsaci and the closely related species, D. gigas, which parasitizes broadbean (Vicia faba L.). The species-specific primer sets were able to detect D. weischeri and D. dipsaci from samples containing mixtures of Ditylenchus species. The PCR species-specific protocol should allow for more rapid identification of Ditylenchus species recovered from plant materials than previously possible.


Objective: To study the impact of childhood and adulthood social circumstances on cause specific adult mortality. Design: Census data on housing conditions from 1960 and Personal Register income data for 1990 were linked to 1990–94 death registrations, and relative indices of inequality were computed for housing conditions in 1960 and for household income in 1990. Participants: The 128 723 inhabitants in Oslo aged 31–50 years in 1990. Main results: Adulthood mortality was strongly associated with both childhood and adulthood social circumstances among both men and women. Cardiovascular disease mortality was more strongly associated with childhood than with adulthood social circumstances, while the opposite was found for psychiatric and accidental/violent mortality. Smoking related cancer mortality was related to both adulthood and childhood social circumstances in men, but considerably more strongly to adult social circumstances. Conclusions: Childhood social circumstances have an important influence on cardiovascular disease risk in adulthood. Current increases in child poverty that have been seen in Norway over the past two decades could herald unfavourable future trends in adult health.


BACKGROUND
Two major routes by which cytotoxic T lymphocytes induce apoptosis in target cells are the perforin-granzyme and the Fas ligand/Fas pathways. Intragraft expression of message for these immune activation genes has been shown to correlate very closely with clinical rejection. We have immunolabeled fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples using a panel of cytotoxic T-cell activation markers to evaluate the immunocytochemical identification of the protein products of these genes in the verification of human renal allograft rejection.

METHODS
In this retrospective pilot study, 140 fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples from 50 human renal allografts were labeled using alkaline phosphatase/ anti-alkaline phosphatase immunocytochemistry incorporating monoclonal antibodies to perforin, granzyme B, and Fas ligand. Levels of positive labeling for these markers were compared with the original clinical diagnosis of rejection.

RESULTS
An excellent correlation with clinical rejection was obtained when all three antibodies were positive. The false positive rate for each antibody was sufficient to make any one alone or in combination with one other unreliable for diagnosing rejection. When all three antibodies gave positive labeling, agreement with clinical rejection status was superior to using conventional morphological cytology.

CONCLUSIONS
In addition to providing valuable morphological information regarding the composition of inflammatory leukocyte populations and the preservation status of renal parenchymal cells, fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples may be labeled using combined perforin, granzyme B, and Fas ligand immunocytochemistry to offer a safe and reliable method for diagnosing rejection with an excellent level of accuracy.


Accessing building automation systems (BASs) via standardized interfaces gains importance in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT). Web service gateway technologies can be used to integrate BASs in order to provide access via common Web interfaces. Therefore, an integration approach supporting multiple building automation technologies as well as multiple gateway technologies is needed. For this purpose, the model-driven methodology is used to define such a procedure. In this paper, an efficient, automatic, and reusable workflow for the integration of BASs into the IoT is presented by means of specifying modeling languages, model transformations, and code generation in accordance with the concept of Model-Driven Architecture (MDA). The aim is to convert a platform-independent model of a BAS into executable program code representing the underlying datapoints. Furthermore, a proof-of-concept implementation based on an exemplary BAS is implemented and evaluated in order to demonstrate the functionality and the advantages of this model-driven approach.


Background The development of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) has become an ongoing process of increasing the sophistication, generating systems that link patient characteristics with computerised knowledge bases by using algorithms (clinical rules) and generating patient-specific assessments or treatment recommendations. Purpose To develop a more efficient CDSS by tackling algorithmic differentiation, CDSS possibilities and data delivery. Materials and methods In early 2011 a multidisciplinary team started developing a CDSS, the CRR (Clinical Rule Reporter). The CRR possibilities were expanded making it possible to integrate the electronic medical record system (medical history and laboratory data) and the computerised physician order entry system (drug record and contraindications). The data delivery was also optimised by standardising the format so that the CRR could interpret more data such as starting/stopping dates, the number of administrations, and the dose per administration. As for the algorithmic differentiation, evidence and/or literature-based clinical rules were developed making them as sensitive and specific as possible. Results In a previous CDSS around 90 alerts were generated per day, of which only 3.6% were relevant (an intervention had to be performed). In the first CRR version around 55 alerts were generated per day, of which approximately 10% were relevant. After revising and further optimising the CRR, around 35 alerts are now generated per day, of which 25% are relevant. Conclusions Optimising the CRR implies a decrease in the number of alerts and an increase in relevant alerts. Constant development and updates are of great importance to further optimise the CRR making it more efficient. Conflict of interest: All authors are Pfizer employees.


Alcohols and phenols are protected with hexamethyldi- silazane in the presence of cupric sulfate pentahydrate in good to ex- cellent yields in acetonitrile. The method is highly selective for the conversion of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary and tertiary alcohols as well as phenols.


This paper reviews access, outcomes, and quality in the children's mental health system. We contend that a major focal point of future reforms should be at the organization level of care delivery. We identify five areas for intentional policy action to better infuse quality into the system. We also call for building upon the momentum of recent high-visibility reform proposals and for renewed advocacy to advance quality-linked perspectives into the children's mental health system beyond its focus on children with severe emotional disturbances.


The behaviour of Rogers's η parameter for enantiomorph-polarity estimation is examined theoretically and experimentally on simulated intensity data for seven well-assorted compounds. An alternative parameter x, based on incoherent scattering from twin components related by a centre of symmetry, is also considered. It is found that both parameters are very well adapted to implementation in a least-squares program and converge well. The η parameter can give false and over-precise indications of chirality-polarity for structures which are nearly centrosymmetric, whereas the x parameter does not have this fault and converges more rapidly than η.


Starting from N-aryldithienothiazine, a tool box of various iodinated and borylated dithienothiazines was generated by a straightforward α-lithiation and electrophilic trapping of thiophene cores. By using lithiation–borylation-Suzuki (LiBS) and lithiation–zincation-Negishi (LiZiN) sequences π-conjugated dithienothiazine oligo- and polymers were synthesized in a one-pot fashion and in moderate to good yields. Studies on the photophysical and electrochemical properties reveal that an increasing number of dithienothiazine units causes a bathochromic shift in the absorption and orange to red fluorescence in solution, as quantified by absorption and emission spectroscopy and assigned by DFT calculations. Furthermore, from cyclic voltammetry measurements an elevation of the HOMO energy level with increasing number of dithienothiazine units and concomitantly diminishing optical bandgaps were determined, suggesting that the title compounds are suitable as novel donor systems for organic hole transport materials.


This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of egg yolk and cooling on ram coated spermatozoa. Semen was collected from three ram by artificial vagina contacted with a tube containing Tris- fructose-egg yolk 15%. Samples were pooled, centrifuged by 700 g for 10 min and removed supernatant. Then, samples were diluted by Tris-glucose and centrifuged again to remove seminal plasma and egg yolk. Aliquots split into two fractions and each one was split into 5 parts and added egg yolk 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%. The half of the treatments were gradually cold and other ones were encountered with cold shock then samples were incubated at 5C for 72 h. Progressive sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability (by Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining) and acrosome reaction (by PNA-Alexa flur-488) were investigated at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. The results showed that there was no difference between 15% and 20% egg yolk in the progressive sperm motility but they were higher than 0% and 5% egg yolk. There was highest difference between 0% and 20 % egg yolk in the progressive sperm motility. There was no difference among the treatments containing egg yolk in plasma membrane integrity and acrosome reaction. In both cooling rate, there was no difference among the treatments containing egg yolk in the sperm viability. It was suggested that 20% egg yolk was superior to keep the function of ram coated spermatozoa for storage at 5C.


Characteristics of the built environment and overall local-level land use patterns are increasingly being attributed to greater surface runoff, flooding and resulting economic losses from flood events. Specific configurations of impervious surfaces and land cover may be as important to determining a community's flood risk as baseline environmental conditions. This study addresses this issue by statistically examining the impacts of adjacent land use and land cover (LULC) on flood damage recorded on parcels within a coastal watershed in southeast Texas. We analyse empirical models to identify the influence of different LULCs surrounding over 7900 properties claiming insured flood losses from 1999–2009. Results indicate that specific types of surrounding LULCs impact observed flood losses and provide guidance on how neighbourhoods can be developed more resiliently over the long term.


This article seeks to contribute to recent debates about ethnicity and health by exploring the history of migration and tuberculosis in England and Wales between 1950 and 1970. It concludes that the story was more complex than recent writing, with its emphasis on 'port health' concerns, has implied. The fear that tuberculosis was being imported by migrants was certainly a central concern of both early researchers and the medical establishment. However, some researchers did show some interest in material explanations and in the roles of housing and work patterns in the transmission of the disease. A system of medical examinations at the ports of entry was not in fact implemented and it was at the local level that a system of surveillance was set up. Finally, despite much debate about the susceptibility of migrants, racial concerns were less evident than recent writers have suggested.


Reports the survey of five hundred and seventy one college libraries in Kamataka State with regard to classification of books, use of classification scheme, provision of book numbers, method used for providing book numbers, problems faced in classifying and the reasons for not classifying the books. It is found that three hundred and eighty-four of five hundred and seventy-one college libraries classify the books. DDC (209) and CC (140) are the schemes chiefly used. Book numbers are provided in two hundred and sixty-eight college libraries out of which one hundred and seventy-nine college libraries follow Ranganathan's book number. Inadequate staff (N= 216), inter-disciplinary nature of books (N=128) and identification of specific subjects (N=77) are the major problems in classifying the books. Inadequate staff (N=150). insufficient funds to purchase the classification schedules (N=77), lack of support from the authorities (N=39), and lack of interest (N=15) are the major reasons for not classifying the books. Concludes that unless the problems are solved or minimized it is difficult to expect the college librarians to classify the books.


A complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding a serotonin receptor with 51% sequence identity to the 5HT‐1C subtype was isolated from a rat brain cDNA library by homology screening. Transient expression of the cloned cDNA in mammalian cells was used to establish the pharmacological profile of the encoded receptor polypeptide. Membranes from transfected cells showed high‐affinity binding of the serotonin antagonists spiperone, ketanserin and mianserin, low affinity for haloperidol (a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist), 8‐OH‐DPAT as well as MDL‐72222 and no detectable binding of [3H]serotonin. This profile is consonant with the 5HT‐2 subtype of serotonin receptors. In agreement with this assignment, serotonin increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and activated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in transfected mammalian cells. The agonist also elicited a current flow, blocked by spiperone, in Xenopus oocytes injected with in vitro synthesized RNA containing the cloned nucleotide sequences.


Inflammation plays a primary role in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis (CF)‐related lung disease. Controlling the inflammatory process with antiinflammatory therapy may slow the progression of pulmonary disease and thereby decrease morbidity. Despite potential benefits of antiinflammatory therapy, both the decision to treat and selection of the most appropriate therapeutic agent are controversial. Although oral corticosteroids are associated with reduced progression of pulmonary disease, the risk of clinically significant adverse effects limits long‐term therapy. Clinical studies with inhaled corticosteroids failed to report positive effects on reducing airway inflammation. Based on available clinical data, routine therapy with these agents should be limited to patients with asthma or steroid‐responsive wheezing. High‐dosage ibuprofen has a beneficial effect on reducing the annual rate of decline in pulmonary function in patients with mild lung disease. Whereas initial results are encouraging, they do not support routine ibuprofen therapy in all patients with CF. However, as advocated by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, high‐dosage ibuprofen may be considered in children 5–12 years of age with a baseline forced expiratory volume of 60% predicted or greater.


This intervention considers the Medieval Latin concept of translatio, relatively well-rehearsed in literary, cultural and historical studies of the Middle Ages, but comparatively absent from performance and dance history and theory. Alternately described as translatio studii, to denote the translation or passage from one discipline to another, and translatio imperii, to denote the same from one imperial realm to another, translatio can also productively be deployed to describe disciplinary and geopolitical passage in performance studies broadly construed. More specifically, translatio enables choreographic or choreopolitical (and choreo-geopolitical) thinking-through the passage of concepts from one discursive realm to another, i.e. between "fields." These may be taken ethnopoetically, following James Clifford, as sites of temporary residence, cultivation and passage (Routes [1997]). Translatio then suggests a kinetic moment and movement, at once the deand reterritorialization of thought-images, a displacement and transformation of concepts, but also a meeting-point between language use, a state of perpetual transit or transitoriness and transgeography. Translatio signals the movement of concepts, but also their reculturation on exogenous terrain. Taken as a concept of motility and a mobile concept and method in the expanded fields of dance and performance studies, translatio then informs choreogeopolitical thinking about the micro-translations, the code-switchings, writers and artists (as well as artist-writers) perform everyday between "fields." In this way, the notion of translatio may enable us to reconfigure the way we understand performance and dance – and scholarly practice more broadly – not as institutional and discursive sites but as translational events, discourses and homes or oikoi perpetually migrating. Translatio then suggests a way of rethinking disciplinary (trans-) history in performance: as a set inter-articulated re-locations.


This report presents the results of a key comparison of liquid volume measurement conducted between ten participating institutes during the period July 2006 to August 2008 within the framework of the Asia Pacifica Metrology Program (APMP). The transfer standards comprised one 20 L volume measure and two 100 mL glass pycnometers. These transfer standards had been used in a similar CIPM key comparison CCM.FF-K4 in 2003 to 2005. The pilot institute was the National Measurement Institute, Australia (NMIA), which together with CENAM act as link laboratories to the CCM.FF-K4 comparison. Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).


OBJECTIVE
To compare the pharmacological differences between volatile oil and water extract in eight aromatic drugs for resolving dampness.

METHOD
Volatile oil and water extract of eight commonly used aromatic drugs for resolving dampness were ig administered to rats respectively, and the effects of volatile oil and water extract on the secretion of gastric juice, volume of gastric mucous blood flow and activity of SOD in gastric mucous membrane were studied.

RESULT
It was shown that the effects of aromatic volatile oil in eight drugs on the indexes mentioned above were generally equal or similar to those of water extract, and it was obvious that the volatile oil in some high oil content drugs such as Amonum cardamomum L(Baidoukou), Alpinia katsumadai Hagata (Caodoukou), Amomum villosum Lour (Saren), and Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lem (Caogou) had better effects on the secretion of gastric juice and volume of gastric mucous blood flow that those of water extract.

CONCLUSION
It has been pharmacologically proved that in using aromatic drugs for resolving dampness, the loss of aromatic (volatile) components should be avoided.


A finite element simulation of the compaction and springback of an aluminum-based powder metallurgy alloy (Alumix 321) was developed and validated using the LS-DYNA hydrocode. The present work aims to directly address the current scarcity of modeling works on this popular alloy system. The Alumix 321 constitutive material parameters are presented. The model can predict the results of single-action compaction as well as the amount of springback experienced by a compact upon ejection from the die. The model has been validated using a series of experiments including powder compaction, optical densitometry, and the creation of a compaction curve.


Illustrations are presented which reveal the physiography of a large part of the continental slope in an area not previously covered by hydrographic surveys. Graphic profiles obtained from electronic depth recorders reveal marine domes and details of the continental escarpment and shelf margin. No conclusions are presented, as interpretation of the submarine topography is left to the geologist.


Optical clocks are the apotheosis of precision measurement, but they require frequent maintenance by scientists. The supporting laser systems are a particularly demanding component of these instruments. To reduce complexity and increase robustness we propose an optical clock with trapped alkali-like ions that use the $S_{1/2}\rightarrow D_{3/2}$ electric quadrupole transition. Compared to traditional group-II ion clocks this reduces the number of laser wavelengths required, and uses hyperfine state preparation and readout techniques enabled by the nuclear spin $I=1/2$. We consider $^{225}$Ra$^{+}$ as a candidate system for a clock with three electronic states, and discuss the potential to help realize a transportable optical clock.


To study the relationship of d-tubocurarine (dTc) dosage schedule to its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and recovery of neuromuscular function, 30 patients were given markedly different doses of dTc to produce 90 per cent or greater depression of twitch tension for two hours during stable halothane anesthesia. Ten patients each were given dTc in one of three dosage schedules: 20 mg/m2 as a single large bolus; repeated smaller doses of 5 mg/m2; or a continuous infusion. After two hours of neuromuscular blockade, all patients experienced spontaneous recovery to 10 per cent of control twitch tension. Thereafter, five patients in each group continued with spontaneous recovery and five had antagonism of paralysis by neostigmine, 0.25 mg, and atropine, 0.1 mg, every 5 min. Serum dTc concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay every 30 min and during recovery. There was no difference among the three dosage protocols in any of the following variables: total dose of dTc (mg/m2/hr) needed for two hours of paralysis and spontaneous recovery to 10 per cent of control twitch tension; time for recovery of twitch tension occurring spontaneously or during antagonism by neostigmine; or total dose of neostigmine needed during antagonism of paralysis. There was a relationship between serum dTc concentration and neuromuscular blockade, which was the same among the three dosage protocols. There was no clinically significant difference in pharmacokinetics among the groups. The authors conclude that there is a relationship between serum dTc concentration and neuromuscular blockade, and that it is independent of dTc dosage administered. Duration of neuromuscular blockade following dTc administration was related to serum dTc concentration and not to initial dTc dosage.


Two genera of the family Gnaphosidae are reported. A new genus Sanitubius is described, and Sanitubius anatolicus (Kamura 1989) n. comb. is transferred from Herpyllus to the new genus. Kishidaia Yaginuma 1960 is revived from a synonym of Poecilochroa Westring 1874 and redescribed. Two species, Kishidaia conspicua (L. Koch 1866) n. comb. and K. coreana (Paik 1992) n. comb., are transferred from Poecilochroa to Kishidaia. Sanitubius anatolicus, Kishidaia albimaculata (S. Saito 1934) and K. conspicua are illustrated.


Biological functions of mast cells include a functional role in innate immunity against parasitic infections. Here, we demonstrated that mast cells could also play a role in the anti-microbial defenses regulation and might partici- pate as a parasite reservoir. We observed that Toxoplasma gondii infected massively in vitro mouse bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMC), a mucosal mast cell (MMC) phenotype, followed by substantial cell lysis. This induced release of  - hexosaminidase, but not of preformed or neosynthesized TNF- . Culturing MMC in the presence of recombinant mouse stem cell factor (c-kit ligand) led to their maturation into connective tissue-like mast cells (CTMC), which T. gondii was able to adhere on and to infect more. T. gondii infection did not induce release of  -hexosaminidase and serotonin from BMMC. These results demonstrated that mast cells interact with T. gondii and are massively infected, especially after their maturation by c-kit ligand.


Although this paper has focussed on ways in which group-therapy experience differs from the experience of individual therapy for the beginning therapist, all of the differences discussed are only matters of degree and thus are important in both individual and group therapy. Group-therapy experience tends to enhance the visibility of important aspects of all forms of psychotherapy and therefore should be looked at as a useful tool in learning all forms of psychotherapy. Experience in group psychotherapy should ideally precede or occur simultaneously with initial exposure to individual therapy rather than following afterwards as an option, as is usually the case in current psychotherapy training programs. The most important skill to acquire in learning psychotherapy is the sophisticated ability to listen. To do so involves attending to content, affect, the patient's and one's own verbal language, body language, and meta-communications, conscious as well as unconscious. Group psychotherapy experience early in one's development as a psychotherapist can be a powerful tool in developing this ability to listen. Being part of the group process allows a unique level of intimacy that is probably more equal and vulnerable than in other forms of therapy. The use of the self, and the ability to trust in the process without using theory as a barrier between ourselves and our patients, but rather as a bridge to greater understanding, can all flow from the unique experience of leading a psychodynamic group.


ABSTRACT In the present study, a combination of the stable carbon isotope ratio (13C/12C) with radiocarbon data (14C) allowed us to perform the aerosol source apportionment. Filter samples of PM1 were collected during the warm and cold periods in rural and urban sites in Lithuania. The 14C/12C ratio of total carbon (TC) was measured using the single stage accelerator mass spectrometer quantifying of fossil and non-fossil derived aerosol emissions. The δ13C value was measured using an elemental analyser interfaced with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. We have found that the highest fraction of contemporary carbon (fc = 0.82) was measured during a warm period in a rural location. A higher fraction of fossil fuel-derived carbon was observed for air masses transported from highly industrialized Western European regions during both seasons. Isotope mass balance calculations revealed that the traffic emissions composed 15 and 25 % in rural and urban sites, respectively, and did not change during either season. Input from coal-derived aerosol particles was estimated to be 15 % at an urban site during the cold period. The combination of the stable carbon isotope ratio with the radiocarbon data allowed us to distinguish coal, liquid fossil fuel combustion, and non-fossil derived aerosol particle emissions.


tions would mean examining by chest radiography nearly 70% of new employees in his region.' We have estimated from our study of BCG vaccination scars and tuberculin reactivity, assessed by serial Mantoux testing, that if we followed the recommendations we would need to examine about half of our new employees in Hampstead Health Authority: 34 of 92 with a scar and 46 of 77 without a scar were "eligible" for chest radiography.2 Of those without a scar, 18 of the 77 were Mantoux positive at 1:10000 and none of them had tuberculosis. Retrospective analysis of chest radiographs before employment and tuberculin skin reactivity in our two districts showed no association between the two. The table shows the basic case-control analysis from Hampstead, where cases are those with abnormal radiographs and controls are a random sample of the remainder with normal radiographs. Further analysis showed that the


RNA interference (RNAi) is an efficient and powerful technique for gene silencing compared with antisense and sense suppression. Here we report adaptation of RNAi technology to modify flower colors in gentian, targeted for suppression of three anthocyanin biosynthetic genes; chalcone synthase (CHS), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) and flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H). The petals of transgenic gentian plants with a suppressed CHS gene exhibited pure white to pale-blue color, while those with a suppressed ANS gene showed only pale-blue. The suppression of the F3′5′H gene decreased delphinidin derivatives and increased cyanidin derivatives, and led to magenta flower colors. Northern blot analyses confirmed that all transgenic gentian plants showing typical phenotypes had strongly suppressed transcriptions of the targeted genes, corresponding with a change in anthocyanin accumulation and composition in their petals. Some rolCpro-CHSir transgenic gentians exhibited bicolor phenotypes with reduced anthocyanin accumulation along the vascular bundles. These data demonstrated that the suppression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes by RNAi was successfully applied to gentian plants to change flower color, and this could be useful for designing novel flower color and patterns. Transgenic gentian plants produced in this study might be utilized as elite materials in the breeding of gentian plants in the near future.


ABSTRACT Lifestyle modifications, including diet, are important in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, limited information is available on the effects of single doses of meal replacements, particularly with regard to their effect on postprandial glucose. Therefore, a study was performed comparing the effects of a single meal replacement in T2DM patients on postprandial serum glucose, insulin, and glucagon. This randomized, double-blind, partial cross-over study was performed in 36 T2DM patients who continued their oral anti-diabetic medication. Each patient received three out of four treatments separated by 7 days. The treatments were a proprietary casein hydrolysate (insuVida™) alone or with additional leucine, unhydrolyzed casein, or placebo. Blood sampling was done for 4 hr. Treatments were compared using repeated measures ANOVA. Results are given as an estimate of the difference (%) for the 4-hr epoch. Glucose concentrations were lowered by −4.7% by insuVida and insuVida plus added leucine compared to placebo (95% CI: −1.6 to −7.7%), while the effect of unhydrolyzed casein was −1.7% (−4.8 to 1.5%). Addition of leucine to insuVida induced the greatest increase in insulin (i.e., 51.8%; 41.1 to 63.4%). All three treatments increased glucagon concentrations by 14% (8 to 20%) compared to placebo. A single dose of insuVida™ with or without addition of leucine significantly lowered plasma glucose compared to placebo and intact casein in T2DM patients. This is most likely due to an insulinotropic effect of insuVida. The data suggest that this type of intervention may be a viable treatment strategy in T2DM.


With the development of the Internet environment, various types of online reviews are being generated and exchanged among consumers to share their opinions. In line with this trend, companies are making efforts to analyze online reviews and use the results in various business activities such as marketing, sales, and product development. However, research on online review in industry related to 'Video Game' which is representative experience goods has not been performed enough. Therefore, this study analyzed STEAM community review data using machine learning techniques. We analyzed the factors affecting the opinion of other users' game review. We also propose managerial implications to incease user loyalty and usability.


ABSTRACT I argue that two aims can be detected in Fichte's theory of punishment: a technical aim that concerns adopting the appropriate means of punishing the criminal with a view to ensuring public security and an aim that suggests respect for the criminal's humanity, namely reform. There is shown to be a tension between these two aims in that the state's right to punish presupposes the criminal's loss of humanity defined in terms of his or her freedom. The source of this tension can be traced back to Fichte's contractual explanation of the state's right to punish, rather than to some inconsistency on his part. Fichte argues that the criminal should, if possible, be granted the opportunity to reform him or herself, allowing him or her to re-enact the 'civil contract' and thereby become again a rights-bearing legal entity. Ultimately, however, the criminal's humanity, in so far as it has any legal standing, is something that remains within the state's power to grant or deny him or her according to whether or not it judges that the technical aim of punishment can be achieved, as I show with reference to the example of a criminal with a 'formally bad' will.


Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC

Background: While many risk factors for breast cancer (BC) such as family history and age have been firmly established, evidence suggests that dietary factors may also play a role in BC. Studies have linked intake of saturated fat as well as metabolic syndrome to an increased prevalence of BC. A common feature shared by metabolic syndrome and a typical American diet is a high level of circulating cholesterol, however a number of epidemiological reports investigating the relationship between high cholesterol levels, cholesterol lowering drugs and BC are conflicting. To determine the relationship between dietary cholesterol and BC in vivo, we modeled this complex condition in a well controlled animal model that utilized an innovative isocaloric diet. We hypothesized that hypercholesterolemia promotes BC progression while hypocholesterolemia has the opposite effect and retards BC progression.

Methods: Female SCID mice were fed a low fat/no cholesterol (LFNC) diet for 2 weeks and then randomized to 4 diet groups with calorie set at 21.2 Kcal/day. These isocaloric diets consisted of a LFNC diet with or without ezetimibe (a drug that specifically blocks cholesterol uptake in the gut, thereby lowering serum cholesterol) and a high fat/high cholesterol (HFHC) diet with and without ezetimibe. Significant differences in serum cholesterol level between groups were achieved and maintained throughout the study. Mice were then implanted orthotopically with MDA-MB-231 BC cells into the 4th mammary fat pad and tumor growth was monitored every 3 days until sacrifice when tumors were harvested.

Results: No differences in tumor take were observed (>95% for all groups). Tumors from animals fed the HFHC diet exhibited the fastest progression. While significant differences in serum cholesterol were observed between the diet groups, no differences were observed in the intratumoral cholesterol levels. To determine the underlying mechanism of cholesterol-induced tumor progression, we assessed tumor proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Ki67 analyses of tumor proliferation demonstrated a significantly greater percentage of proliferating cells in tumor from mice fed the HFHC diet (48%) compared to animals on the HFHC diet with ezetimibe or the LFNC diet with and without ezetimibe (32%, 33% and 30% respectively). Tumors from hypercholesterolemic animals displayed significantly less apoptosis, as determined by percentage of TUNEL positive cells (39%), compared to the other diet groups (49%, 52% and 58%). Finally, when tumor angiogenesis was evaluated by CD31 staining and microvessel density was quantified, tumors from HFHC mice had vessel areas that were 70% greater, on average, compared to tumors from the other groups.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate that hypercholesterolemia induces angiogenesis and accelerates breast tumor growth in vivo.

Supported by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and NIH P01 [CA045548][1]

Citation Format: Christine M. Coticchia, Kristine Pelton, Adam S. Curatolo, David Zurakowski, Carl P. Schaffner, Keith R. Solomon, Marsha A. Moses. Hypercholesterolemia induces angiogenesis and causes accelerated growth of breast tumors in vivo . [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 173. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-173

 [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=GEN&access_num=CA045548&atom=%2Fcanres%2F73%2F8_Supplement%2F173.atom


Human papillomavirus type 6 (HPV-6) was isolated from a tongue papilloma which subsequently progressed to an invasive carcinoma. Three biopsies were taken from the same patient at different intervals during the tumour development. The HPV-6 genome in all three biopsies contained a GT-rich 94 bp insertion at nucleotide 7350 in the upstream regulatory region (URR). In comparison to previously published HPV-6 DNA isolates, this insertion seems to be the most prevalent and constant modification, not present in the prototype HPV-6b, and allows an improved alignment with the sequence of the HPV-11 genome. The possible biological significance of these GT-rich clusterings at the beginning of the URR, present not only in these HPV-6 isolates but observed in all other 'genital' HPVs also, is discussed.


Effective control of molecular orientation and packing as well as the film texture of organic semiconductor plays a crucial role in achieving high performance of the electronic device such as high carrier mobility. Development of facile and scalable solution processing method for film deposition is one of the important routes to such a goal.
In this paper, we report on the successful preparation of the large area, macroscopically aligned film of the semiconducting polymer P(NDI2OD-T2) and PTHBDTP via an improved solution dip-coating process in which a tilted substrate is immersed in the dilute solution. Polarized optical microscopy images reveal the parallel stripe structures of both kinds of the deposited films. The chain backbones of both P(NDI2OD-T2) and PTHBDTP are highly aligned along the descending direction of solution level in the dip-coating process as indicated from polarized UV-vis spectra and X-ray diffraction measurements. Furthermore, the atomic force microscopy images of the oriented films of both kinds of polymers clearly exhibit the highly preferentially oriented nanofibril-like domains, parallel to the alignment direction of chain backbone. We elucidate the dip-coating growth process in our experiment in terms of the surface tension-and solvent evaporation-guided self-assembly of chain backbones at the substrate-solution interface near the solution surface. The influence of film texture on carrier transport property is examined by fabricating field effect transistor (FET) based on the aligned film of semiconducting polymer. The FET device of the aligned P(NDI2OD-T2) exhibits a remarkable enhancement of electron mobility by a factor of four compared with the unaligned devices, as well as a large mobility anisotropy of 19. Such a transport behavior is proposed to be attributed to the characteristic charge conducting pathways induced by chain backbone alignment in the polymeric film. In this case, fast intra-chain transport contributes to the majority of device current when the channel current is parallel to the alignment direction of the film, while charge transport will be limited severely by the inter-chain hopping within the fibrous domain and across the disordered domain boundary when the current is perpendicular to alignment direction. The facile method developed here presents a promising approach to fabricating the low-cost, high-performance organic electronic devices.


Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is predominantly a disease of the elderly, and a significant proportion of these patients are not candidates for intensive, curative-intent therapies. Epigenetic dysregulation resulting in abnormal DNA hypermethylation is one of the hallmarks of AML pathogenesis. For the past two decades, hypomethylating agents including azacitidine (AZA) have been the mainstay of treatment for AML patients who are ineligible to receive intensive chemotherapies. As our understanding of AML disease biology has improved, several novel treatment combinations have been developed to improve the outcome of AML patients, with remarkable success. A considerable proportion of these novel combinations have utilized AZA as the backbone of their treatment scheme. In this review, we have highlighted the evolution of AML treatment, focusing on novel AZA-based treatment combinations and their clinical efficacy.


As the American population continues to age and people live longer, a growing number of individuals have chronic health problems. Of these health problems, chronic wounds are among the costliest. The focus of this research was to understand the meaning of having a nonhealing wound. Heideggerian hermeneutics--one of several approaches to interpretive scholarship--was used in this study. Through interpreting language or texts, Heideggerian hermeneutics seeks to reveal meanings. In this study, the researchers interviewed 10 participants with chronic wounds and performed data analysis of the transcripts using qualitative software, and then Diekelmann's framework of Heideggerian hermeneutical analysis. Two constitutive patterns with six themes emerged from the data--"contending with the wound" and "staying home; staying back." Profound themes of oozing and smelling, losing sleep, being in pain, and noticing are described in the participants own words in the text. By listening to the participants' stories and understanding what it is like to live with a chronic wound, healthcare providers can create caring contexts.


This paper presents an analytical study of double-wall-laminated fiber-reinforced cylindrical shell response to random loads. A soft viscoelastic core with dilatational modes included is used. The theory of laminated shells is simplified by assumptions similar to those in the Donnell-Mushtari development for isotropic shells. Modal solutions of simply supported shells are obtained. Modal frequencies and deflection response spectral densities are determined. It is found that this approach allows for easy parametric evaluation and that by proper selection of dynamic parameters, viscoelastic core characteristics, and fiber reinforcement orientation, vibration response can be reduced.


This paper proposes a new generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) system that eliminates the effects of intrinsic interference and makes it possible to insert a pilot for channel estimation without interference. We express inter-subsymbol interference (ISI) and inter-carrier interference (ICI), which represent the intrinsic interference in GFDM systems, in a matrix form. The proposed GFDM system can remove the ISI through pre-processing and post-processing, which are done by eigendecomposition. We analytically derive the sufficient condition for the ICI removal. In this way, the proposed GFDM system is able to eliminate the effects of both the ISI and ICI. Furthermore, we investigate the prototype filter structures of the proposed GFDM system transformed by pre-processing and post-processing. We verify that the changed prototype filter structures are able to insert pilot symbols that are orthogonal to data symbols. Hence, the pilot symbols for channel estimation can be clearly observed. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system has better BER performance than conventional GFDM systems when the channel estimation process is considered.


The study deals with the rotational motion of a spin-stabilized spacecraft equipped with a V-slit sun sensor and the X-slit ESA starmapper. Assuming complete absence of an a priori attitude estimate, it is required to produce a rough estimate of the spacecraft attitude motion. It was assumed that sensor misalignments, external torques and nutation are negligible.

The estimation algorithm is described, together with datails of its software implementation. Simulations using pseudomeasurements (generated by a truth model) were carried out for a number of parameter combinations, including nutation, sensor misalignments, different spin rates, telematry resolution- and spacecraft assymetry. In all simulations the spacecraft attitude could be estimated with errors of no more than about one arcminute. Apparently, the algorithm is robust with respect to parameter variations.


Silicon nanoparticles embedded in the host matrix of an Al2O3 thin film, with a thickness of about 260 nm, were prepared by using the pulsed laser deposition method. The laser target consisted of a small silicon wafer glued onto the surface of a circular Al2O3 plate, which was set to rotate uniformly when laser-ablating. TEM and EDS results showed that the films consisted of silicon nanoparticles in the form of nanocrystals with diameters of less than 6 nm dispersed in the amorphous Al2O3 matrices. A secondary ion mass spectroscopy depth profile of the silicon content of the film indicated that the silicon nanoparticles in the Al2O3 matrices were arranged in fairly well demarcated thin layers sandwiched between layers of the host material. FTIR results evidently suggested that the encapsulating amorphous Al2O3 material forms a good host for the prevention of atmospheric oxidation of the silicon nanoparticles. However, prolonged annealing can cause the silicon nanoparticle surface interfacing the host material to be oxidized by the oxygen mostly from the Al2O3 molecules and to be bonded to the Al or O-Al bonds.


Partial wave collision strengths are presented for low-energy electron-impact transitions in Fe II between the 3d64s a6De ground state and the 3d7 a4Fe, 3d64s a4De and 3d7 a4Pe low-lying excited states. The collision strengths are calculated in LS coupling using a new Fortran 95 R-matrix program including all terms of the 3d64s, 3d7, 3d64p, 3d54s2 and 3d54s4p configurations in the close coupling expansion of the collision wavefunction. Special emphasis is given to the inclusion of configuration interaction (CI) effects both in the target and in the collision wavefunctions. In both cases series of calculations are carried out where additional CI terms are included systematically. It is found that in order to obtain close to converged low-energy partial wave collision strengths two-electron excitations from the 3p shell to the 3d shell as well as pseudo s and d orbitals must be included in the CI expansions. Also resonance effects in low-energy partial wave collision strengths are found to depend sensitively on the representation of the d orbitals in the CI expansion of the collision wavefunction. Finally, CI models for both the target and collision wavefunctions are defined which can be used in proposed calculations to obtain accurate total collision strengths and effective collision strengths for transitions between LS-coupled terms and between fine-structure levels of Fe II.


In this paper, we present a power-aware, best-effort real-time task scheduling algorithm called PA-BTA that optimizes real-time performance and power consumption. The algorithm considers a timeliness model where task timing constraints are described using Jensen's (1992) benefit functions and a system-level power model. We propose a metric called "energy and real-time performance grade" (ERG) to measure real-time performance and power consumption in a unified way. Since the scheduling problem is NP-hard, PA-BTA heuristically computes schedules to maximize ERG, incurring a worst-case computational cost of O(n/sup 2/). Our simulation results indicate that the algorithm performs close to the optimal algorithm and better than other algorithms considered in the study.


Large deviation functions of configurations exhibit very different behaviors in and out of thermal equilibrium. In particular, they exhibit singularities in a broad range of non-equilibrium models, which are absent in equilibrium. These singularities were first identified in finite-dimensional systems in the weak-noise limit. Recent studies have shown that they are also present in driven diffusive systems with an infinite-dimensional configuration space. This short review describes singularities appearing in both types of systems under a unified framework, presenting a classification of singularities into two broad categories. The types of singularities which were identified for finite-dimensional cases are compared to those found in driven diffusive systems.


A new species of ricefi sh is described from a hill stream in Tana Toraja, Sulawesi. Oryzias eversi, new species, is distinguished from all other adrianichthyids in Sulawesi by having a low number of fi n rays in anal (17-18 (19)) and dorsal (10-12) fi ns, only 33-36 scales in lateral midline, ½14 transverse scale rows at dorsal fi n origin, 30-32 (33) vertebrae, small eyes (28.2-35.5% of head length), a conspicuous blackish male courtship colouration, and pelvic brooding behaviour similar to lacustrine ricefi shes. Female Oryzias eversi carry the eggs until the embryos hatch, and show a conspicuous abdominal concavity and extended pelvic fi ns, accommodating and holding the clutch of eggs. The eggs are connected to the female for the whole time of development by attaching fi laments that protrude from the female's urogenital pore. A mitochondrial haplotype phylogeny suggests that the new species is closely related to another "pelvic brooder", the lake-dwelling O. sarasinorum from Lake Lindu in Central Sulawesi. However, the haplotype group of O. eversi and O. sarasinorum is nested within a clade of egg-depositing Oryzias from central, southwest, and southeast Sulawesi, whereas another pelvic brooder, Adrianichthys oophorus from Lake Poso, forms a distinct, second lineage of Sulawesi's ricefi shes. Accordingly, the pelvic brooding strategy has probably evolved more than once and may be realised in river habitats, which represents a new evolutionary trajectory in the radiation of ricefi shes in Sulawesi. The present discovery adds another new ricefi sh species to Sulawesi's still only partially known ichthyofauna, and highlights the island's role as hotspot of adrianichthyid diversity.


The quasistatic, Prandtl-Reuss perfect plasticity at small strains is combined with a gradient, reversible (i.e. admitting healing) damage which influences both the elastic moduli and the yield stress. Existence of weak solutions of the resulted system of variational inequalities is proved by a suitable fractional-step discretisation in time with guaranteed numericalstability and convergence. After finite-element approximation, this scheme is computationally implemented and illustrative 2-dimensional simulations are performed. The model allows e.g. for application in geophysical modelling of re-occurring rupture of lithospheric faults. Resulted incremental problems are solved in MATLAB by quasi-Newton method to resolve elastoplasticity component of the solution while damage component is obtained by solution of a quadratic programming problem.


Glucocorticoids contribute to obesity and metabolic syndrome; however, the mechanisms are unclear, and prognostic measures are unavailable. A systems level understanding of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)–leptin axis may reveal novel insights. Eighteen obese premenopausal women provided blood samples every 10 min over 24 h, which were assayed for cortisol, adrenocorticotropin releasing hormone (ACTH) and leptin. A published personalized HPA systems model was extended to incorporate leptin, yielding three parameters: (i) cortisol inhibitory feedback signalling, (ii) ACTH–adrenal signalling, and (iii) leptin–cortisol antagonism. We investigated associations between these parameters and metabolic risk profiles: fat and lean body mass (LBM; using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and insulin resistance. Decreased cortisol inhibitory feedback signalling was significantly associated with greater fat (kg; p = 0.01) and insulin resistance (p = 0.03) but not LBM. Leptin significantly antagonized cortisol dynamics in eight women, who exhibited significantly lower 24 h mean leptin levels, LBM and higher ACTH–adrenal signalling nocturnally (all p < 0.05), compared with women without antagonism. Traditional neuroendocrine measures did not predict metabolic health, whereas a dynamic systems approach revealed that lower central inhibitory cortisol feedback signalling was significantly associated with greater metabolic risk. While exploratory, leptin–cortisol antagonism may reflect a 'neuroendocrine starvation' response.


Background Associations between social factors and health outcomes have been established for many diseases, including gonorrhoea. Inequalities in gonorrhoea are particularly pronounced; the incidence for non-Hispanic Blacks is 17 times the incidence for non-Hispanic Whites. A gap exists in the literature on how social determinants for this population can be used to target STD interventions. Methods Health departments from 10 diverse states geocoded female gonorrhoea case reports from 2009–2011 to the census tract. We calculated three-year gonorrhoea incidence rates among females for 11,832 tracts in the study area. Tract-level social determinants were obtained from the American Community Survey. Female rates were used to preclude confounding by the unknown proportion of men-who-have-sex-with-men among male cases. Tracts were stratified as above or below the county-level mean proportion of non-Hispanic Black residents to minimise interactions between race and other factors, and subsequent analyses were limited to the stratum with a higher proportion of blacks (N = 4,345). Using hierarchical models and logistic regression, associations between female gonorrhoea incidence, household income, education and housing characteristics were examined. Factors found to be associated with gonorrhoea incidence were used to construct tract-level gonorrhoea risk indices. Results The mean tract-level female incidence rate was 194/100,000 (range, 0–2,836) in this stratum. Gonorrhea incidence was correlated with: proportion of households with annual income below $20,000 (β = 0.7089, P < 0.0001), housing vacancy rate (β = 0.5519, p < 0.0001) and proportion of population with less than high school education (β = 0.3206, p < 0.0001). Risk indices based on these factors correctly predicted 77.3% of tracts with incidence in the highest quartile in this stratum while excluding 58.9% of tracts with lowest incidence. Conclusions Area-based social factors provide more specific criteria than race alone and may be useful for better targeting disease prevention activities to areas at highest risk for gonorrhoea incidence, especially where street-level address information on reported cases is unavailable.


Several experimental studies refer to the relationship between chronic stress, cholesterolaemia levels and variations in the arterial blood pressure. Our objective is to establish a significant statistical correlation between stress factors, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia in the studied people. 146 agents were tested among teachers an others employees from the National University of Río Cuarto, who voluntarily went clinical control, reporting data such as arterial pressure, cholesterolaemia, patholgoic records; an standized survey was done considering potentially stress factors, grouped in four different types of stress: (1)-psychoalimentary, (2)-pure psychic, (3)-laboral, (4)-psychofamiliar, giving each of them a value whose addition gane a stress potential factor. The results show that 45.89% of the people studied have hypercholesterolaemia (higher 200 mg% with a mean 237.09 +/- 29.97) being significantly higher (P = 0.001) in the group of employees older than 40 years old., 7.53% of the people showed high arterial pressure, and the 90.90% of this people have hypercholesterolaemia. The hypercholesterolaemic group showed a marked incidence of stress rates higher, with respect to the total people in the four types of stress studied. Significative higher values were observed in the laboral and familiar stress types coinciding with the hypertense group of individuals. According to the collected data we conclude that the relationship between cholesterolaemia, arterial pressure and chronic stress varies with the different types of stress considered, and seem adequate index of stressors levels of studied people.


An orchard system is the integration of all the horticultural factors involved in establishing and maintaining a planting of fruit trees. These factors include tree density and arrangement, cultivar, root-stock and interstock, tree size and form, pruning and training techniques needed to maintain the desired configuration, mechanical training and harvesting, and support systems. An orchard system is a blueprint for the orchardist to follow throughout the life of a planting.


Drawing from the transformational leadership theory, this study aims to translate and analyse the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Transformational Teaching Questionnaire (TTQ). A cohort sample of 2107 adolescents (997 males and 1110 females) from 82 secondary schools voluntarily participated in the research. In Study 1 (( n = 1066), the exploratory factor analysis informed a one-factor solution. In Study 2  ( n = 1041), the confirmatory factor analysis showed the single-factor and the four-factor models showed satisfactory and adequate goodness of fit indices, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the four-factor structure of transformational teaching with a high second-order factor, previously found in Canadian adolescents, was replicated in this study. Internal consistency was high in all subscales and in the total scale. The expected pattern of significant relationships with other variables was supported, and evidence of measurement invariance across gender groups was obtained. This study provides evidence for the cross-cultural validation of the TTQ, a questionnaire designed to assess students' perceptions of their teachers' behaviours from the perspective of transformational leadership theory. These findings suggested that the Spanish version of TTQ would be useful for assessing transformational teaching in Spanish adolescents in physical education classes.


A 27-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of pancytopenia and nephritic syndrome in November, 2008. The findings of physical and laboratory examinations showed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis(group IV-G(A))was confirmed by renal biopsy. After combined therapy with prednisolone, intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse and mizoribine, proteinuria decreased from 13.0 g/day to 2.0 g/day and the serum complement level recovered to the normal level. However, she visited our hospital again for management of bleeding tendency in July 2009. She was diagnosed as hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), with pancytopenia, high ferritin, high LDH level and hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow. She was treated effectively with steroid pulse therapy, but relapsed with HPS after two weeks. Although her child caught a cold, the case did not show any sign or symptom of infection, such as the common cold. However, we diagnosed her HPS as infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (IAHS) because she was not in the active phase of SLE at the onset of hemophagocytosis and the laboratory findings showed elevation of her serum ferritin and LDH. Therefore, we considered that her infectious sign may have been concealed by immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone for SLE. It is very difficult to distinguish between IAHS and autoimmune-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (AAHS)in autoimmune diseases, but the differential diagnosis is necessary to treat the HPS. Here, we report an important case of HPS complicated with SLE. This case may attract interest particularly in the management of HPS-complicated autoimmune disease. Therefore, we report it with a review of the literature.


Calculated sexual games play out across contemporary American popular media, from self-help books and advice columns to dating apps and reality television. This article argues that economic game theory subtends the saturation of popular culture with lay theories of sex as a "numbers game." Game theorists contribute to the invisible ubiquity of this phenomenon by using sexual examples to demonstrate the range of their discipline's models while downplaying the significance of exemplification. Lydia Davis's short fiction—by taking for granted the economization of intimate relationships without disavowing, naturalizing, or objecting to it—registers the cultural footprint and vernacular intellectual history of the game theory of sex, and elaborates its key modes of fictionality, antinarrativity, and self-fulfilling prophecy. Ultimately, the game theory of sex offers a prehistory of sexual gamification that extends beyond its most immediate digital substrate.


This paper describes the development and use of a computerized business simulation in a second year management accounting course. The simulation has a number of features that were designed to provide students with the opportunity and stimuli to develop creative solutions. Furthermore, the assessment criteria were specifically developed to motivate appropriate information search and yet provide the freedom for creative responses. This paper rationalizes and assesses the key features of the simulation in terms of factors that have been identified as being important in facilitating creativity. The simulation is evaluated in terms of these factors through general comments from academics and students and the students' own self-ratings of creativity. Feedback from academics and the professional body suggest that this simulation is also a useful tool for management accounting educators who wish to provide students with an opportunity for experiential learning.


Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films are promising building blocks for diversified applications in electronics, photovoltaics, and photonics. However, their electrical and optical engineering is still a challenging task owing to multiple obstacles, including the absence of fast and easy-to-use methods for the determination of SWCNT film properties. Here, we present a rapid, contactless, and universal technique for accurate estimation of both SWCNT film thicknesses and their dielectric functions. The approach combines broadband optical absorbance and highly sensitive spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. The observed linear dependence of the film thickness on its absorbance at 550 nm provides a time-effective and contactless method of thickness assignment, which is of significant importance to the practical implementation of SWCNT films in optoelectronic devices. Additionally, our approach revealed that a simple procedure of film densification allows to controllably alter the dielectric response by at least 40% and, thus, to add extra fine-tuning capabilities during material property engineering. Therefore, this express technique as a whole offers an advanced metrological tool for current and next-generation SWCNT-based devices.