With the current global uncertainty in the hydrocarbon exploration environment, it is becoming ever more important to ensure that the maximum value is extracted from existing seismic datasets. Advances in data-processing technology mean that improvements in image accuracy, resolution, signal-to-noise ratio and amplitude fidelity can be made even on conventional datasets acquired and processed within the last few years. Following the this strategy, we recently finished a 3D PSDM re-processing project in the UK North Sea. The survey area comprises 6 different legacy surveys from 3 vendors. To make this project efficient in terms of timing and cost, we used the archived partially pre-processed gathers after denoise and demultiple processing as a starting point for the re-processing. The datasets were carefully matched, merged and regularized to provide a single seamless final product. Ray-based tomography has been very successful in building sub-surface velocity. However, as many other geophysical inversion problems, tomography suffers from non-uniqueness in the solution. To reduce the uncertainty in the velocity model, numerous extra constraints were introduced in tomography to constrain the inversion result. Here we also show how the velocity model was updated by following the local geological constraints and consequently achieve a much improved final imaging.


Since the first pregnancy using frozen oocytes was reported in 1986 [4], several oocyte cryopreservation technologies have been developed. However, the clinical efficiency entailed in using frozen oocytes remains low, with pregnancy and live birth rates of 2–4% [5]. In addition, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, oocyte cryopreservation is currently considered experimental and should be performed only under an Institutional Review Board [6], which is mostly due to the low success rate of obtaining live births from thawed oocytes. Furthermore, most vitrification protocols involve manual sequential treatment of oocytes, which is laborious and requires expertise. Therefore, innovative technologies that could improve oocyte cryopreservation outcomes are urgently needed to advance the clinical practice and expand fertility preservation options for patients. Currently, two methods exist for oocyte cryopreservation


Most of ship energy consumption spends for its propulsive device to create a propulsive force that helps the ship to win its resistant force to move forward or backward. The ship resistant is including skin frictional resistant force, wave-making resistant force and wind resistant force. This paper mentions to a method of skin frictional resistant reduction by creating small bubbles at bottom of ships. When a ship moves on/under water surface, for skin resistant force to be generated, the ship must be in contact with the water. Skin frictional resistant force is generated by the difference in velocity between the ship and the water. Frictional resistant force will act in the direction opposite to the direction of motion of the ship. The method of skin frictional resistant reduction is injecting air flows to creating small bubbles into the turbulent boundary layer developing on the ship skin. Research found that this method may reduce ship energy consumption. This method could be applied to large ships with not high speed movement. A model ship that is scaled 1/33 of a 20000 ton cargo ship had been created for carrying out experiment in calm water and in regular wave conditions. Authors found that the highest effect from creating small bubble method on reduction ship energy consumption in calm water is 15.3% and in regular wave is 10.3%.


Aims Recently there has been much media coverage of dog attacks on children. NICE guidelines for management of dog bites recommend that inadequate supervision should prompt consideration of child neglect. We aimed to retrospectively analyse emergency department records to examine the nature of paediatric dog bite incidences, demographics, management, and child safeguarding actions. Methods This was a retrospective case series review of routinely collected data, reviewing electronic notes of emergency departments attendances coded for animal bites, stings, or wounds, between 1st May 2013 and 31st of May 2014. The audit was registered with the audit department, ethics committee approval was not required. We obtained records for 193 patients between 0 and 17 years of age. 33 patients were excluded (17%), 7 due to insufficient documents, 19 due to bites from other animals, and 7 re-attendances. Results 160 patients were analysed, the mean age was 9.4 years of age, with 66 female (41%) and 94 male (59%). There were 105 injuries to the limbs and 50 facial injuries. Most injuries occurred within the family home (n = 43) or in a public place (n = 43). The commonest culprit was the family's own dog (n = 47), the next commonest being a relative's dog (n = 22). 135 patients received antibiotics, and 17 required referral to other specialities. There were 3 safeguarding referrals to social services within the department, and 4 referrals to health visitors by clinicians. However the trust employs paediatric liaison nurses who retrospectively review notes and take further actions if there are child protection issues. The paediatric liaison team made 32 referrals to school nurses and 21 referrals to health visitors, though no social services safeguarding referrals. Conclusion Our study suggests children attending emergency departments with dog bites are commonly attacked by the family dog within the family home. There was a low overall rate of child safeguarding actions taken though the trust paediatric liason team made more referrals than clinicians. As a result of this audit we will update our online emergency department guidelines for clinicians. Moreover, we will distributea patient information leaflet including advice regarding supervision of children around dogs.


Hyperparasitoids are parasitic wasps that attack primary parasitoids. They constitute the fourth trophic level in many ecosystems. A better understanding of hyperparasitoid biology and behaviour is needed to unravel the nature of parasitoid hyperparasitoid interactions and their role in the functioning of communities and ecosystems. In this thesis, the life history traits and host searching behaviour of aphid hyperparasitoids are studied using a direct comparative approach. Four species were chosen that differ in development mode (koinobiont or idiobiont), host stage attacked and host range: Dendrocerus carpenteri (Curtis) (Megaspilidae), Asaphes suspensus Walker (Pteromalidae), Alloxysta victrix (Westwood) (Alloxystidae) et Syrphophagus aphidivorus (Mayr) (Encyrtidae) have been studied on the same potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas)) and primary parasitoid (Aphidius nigripes Ashmead) system. The results revealed a large variation in life history traits between species, which could not be explained simply by dichotomy in development mode, as proposed for primary parasitoids. The hyperparasitoid S. aphidivorus is special because females can attack the parasitoid host in the still-living aphid, or in the mummified aphid. Female S. aphidivorus had a preference for aphid mummies, which also contain the most profitable host stage for hyperparasitoid development. Olfactometer tests and behavioural observations indicated that searching hyperparasitoid females were not attracted by olfactory cues. However, they clearly reacted to host-related contact cues while searching on a plant. Here, honeydew was one of the principal contact cues used by female hyperparasitoids to locate hosts. Females discriminated between honeydew from an aphid host and that from a non-host, the soft brown scale, Coccus hesperidum, but made no difference between honeydew from healthy, unparasitised aphids, and those parasitised by A. nigripes. This study indicates that several factors probably act simultaneaously on life history strategies. The simple classification of aphid hyperparasitoids as koinobiont endoparasitoids of parasitoid larvae in living aphids, or idiobiont ectoparasitoids of parasitoid pupae in mummified aphids does not explain all observed interspecific differences. Lineage specific effects must also be important, as the species belong to


This article presents results of a study of the impact of political dynamics on group deliberations of issues presented in the short film The Response. We selected four groups of 18-22 year-old participants based on political views, engagement, and efficacy (liberal, conservative, and two mixed groups), and asked them to view and discuss issues presented in The Response related to the combatant status review tribunals held at Guantanamo Bay. We found the groups with mixed political views had higher quality discussions of the issues and a better understanding of the issues post-discussion – in particular the tension between national security versus individual rights and of the nature of the tribunals. We also found a significant number of conservative group members became more conservative in their views as a result of their discussion. We discuss implications for secondary and post-secondary education as well as for political polarization overall in society.


Purpose Meningiomas are tumors originating from arachnoid cap cells on the surface of the brain or spinal cord. Treatment differs by grade but can consist of observation, surgery, radiation therapy or both. We utilized the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to compare trends in the use stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in the management of meningioma. Materials and Methods We queried the NCDB from 2004–2015 for meningioma patients (grade 1–3) treated with radiation therapy, either SRS or EBRT. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of each treatment and to generate a propensity score. Propensity adjusted Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and multivariable Cox hazards ratios were used to identify predictors of survival. Results We identified 5,406 patients with meningioma meeting above criteria with 45%, 44%, and 11% having World Health Organization (WHO) grade 1, 2, and 3 disease, respectively. Median follow up was 43 months. Predictors for SRS were grade 1 disease, distance from treatment facility, and histology. The only predictor of EBRT was grade 3 disease. Treatment year, histology, race and female sex were associated with improved survival. Five- and 10-year survival rates were 89.2% versus 72.6% (p < 0.0001) and 80.3% versus 61.4% (p = 0.29) for SRS and EBRT respectively. After propensity matching 226 pairs were generated. For SRS, 5-year survival was not significantly improved at 88.2% compared with EBRT (p = 0.056). Conclusion In the present analysis, predictors of SRS utilization in management of meningioma include WHO grade 1 disease, distance from treatment facility and histology whereas conventional EBRT utilization was associated with grade 2 and 3 disease. Future studies need to be performed in order to optimize management of atypical and malignant meningioma.


Fungal biodiversity studies have occupied an important position in myco-ecological studies across the globe. Pertinent literature brings to light the fact that a large proportion of fungi still await discovery. Though fungal diversity studies are being undertaken around the globe, many regions remain unexplored due to shortage of qualified personnel or lack of accessibility to those regions. In this regard, documenting the bewildering diversity of fungi is the need of the day. Puttaparthi mandal in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India is one such hitherto unexplored region characterized by deciduous-forest type of vegetation and a semi-arid climate for a major part of the year. The work described herein is an attempt to isolate and identify the Hyphomycete fungi in the soils of this region and to study the impact of seasonal variations and select physico-chemical parameters of the soil on the fungal numbers.


We report studies on first-order Fermi acceleration in parallel modified shock waves with a large scattering center compression ratio expected from turbulence transmission models. Using a Monte Carlo technique we have modeled particle acceleration in shocks with a velocity ranging from nonrelativistic to ultrarelativistic and a thickness extending from nearly steplike to very wide structures exceeding the particle diffusion length by orders of magnitude. The nonrelativistic diffusion approximation is found to be surprisingly accurate in predicting the spectral index of a thick shock with large compression ratio even in the cases involving relativistic shock speeds.


ABSTRACT Objectives: Both advanced age and depression are characterized by changes in sleep patterns. Light exposure is one of the main synchronizers of circadian cycles and influences sleep by inhibiting melatonin secretion, which is mostly sensitive to light of low wavelengths (blue). Blue-blocking (yellow) intraocular lenses (IOLs) have supplanted the usual UV-blocking (clear) IOLs during cataract surgery to prevent age-related macular degeneration, however, the impact of yellow IOLs on sleep and mood is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of yellow and clear IOLs on sleep and mood in aged patients undergoing bilateral cataract surgery. Methods: A randomized controlled superiority study was conducted within three ophthalmic surgical wards in France. A total of 204 subjects (mean age 76.2 ± 7.5 years) were randomized into yellow or clear IOLs groups. Patients completed a sleep diary, the pictorial sleepiness scale and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) one week before and eight weeks after the last surgical procedure. Results: According to an Intent To Treat (ITT) analysis, no significant difference was found between yellow and clear IOLs groups regarding sleep time, sleep latency, total sleep duration, quality of sleep and BDI scores. The rate of patients whose BDI score increased at the cutoff score of ≥5 after surgery was significantly higher in the yellow IOL group (n = 11, 13.1%) compared with the clear IOL group (n = 4; 4.7%); p = 0.02. Conclusions: Using yellow IOLs for cataract surgery doesn't significantly impact sleep but may induce mood changes in aging.


Since their first appearance in 2008, synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) remain the most popular new psychoactive substances (NPS) in the EU. Following consumption, these drugs and their metabolites are urinary excreted and enter the sewage system enabling the application of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). Knowing the fate of target analytes in sewage water is essential for successful application of WBE. This study investigates the stability of several chemically diverse SCRAs and selected human metabolites under sewage conditions utilizing a combination of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Target analytes included SCRAs with indole (5F-PB-22, PB-22 pentanoic acid), indazole (AMB-FUBINACA, 5F-ADB, 5F-ADB dimethylbutanoic acid), carbazole (MDMB-CHMCZCA, EG-018) and γ-carboline (Cumyl-PeGaClone) chemical core structures representing most of the basic core structures that have occurred up to now. Stability tests were performed using wastewater effluent containing 5% activated sludge as inoculum to monitor degradation processes and formation of transformation products (TPs). The majority of investigated SCRAs, excluding the selected human metabolites, was recalcitrant to microbial degradation in sewage systems over a period of 29 days. Their stability was rather controlled by physico-chemical processes like sorption and hydrolysis. Considering a typical hydraulic in-sewer retention time of 24 hours, the concentration of AMB-FUBINACA decreased by 90% thus representing the most unstable SCRA investigated in this study. Among the ten newly identified TPs three could be considered as relevant markers and should be included into future WBE studies to gain further insight into use and prevalence of SCRAs on the drug market.


Pregnancy creates a climate favorable to the growth of Candida albicans, and this yeast often is difficult to eradicate in pregnant women. Miconazole nitrate administered intravaginally has been found to achieve comparable therapeutic and mycological cure rates in both pregnant and nonpregnant women. A number of clinical studies, using rigid definitions of cure, have demonstrated that miconazole nitrate is significantly better than nystatin, clotrimazole, and butoconazole, a new imidazole derivative, in treating vaginal candidiasis during gestation.


Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are G-protein-coupled receptors that are activated enzymatically by proteolysis of an N-terminal domain. The cleavage and activation of PARs by serine proteases represent a novel mechanism by which such enzymes could influence the host inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to determine whether PAR-2 expression and activation were increased in dental caries. Using immunohistochemistry, we showed PAR-2 to be localized to pulp cells subjacent to caries lesions, but minimally expressed by healthy pulp tissue. Trypsin and the PAR-2 agonist (PAR2-AP) activated PAR-2 in an in vitro functional assay. Endogenous molecules present in pulp cell lysates from carious teeth specifically activated PAR-2, but those from healthy teeth failed to do so. The activation of PAR-2 in vitro was shown to increase the expression of the pro-inflammatory mediator cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), providing a mechanism whereby PAR-2 could modulate pulpal inflammation.


: This paper examines four theoretical approaches – derived from stylometry, literary stylistics, cognitive stylistics and sociology – that have been employed to explain style in literary translation and argues that they fail to fully account for the translator's artistry because they are limited by a conceptualization of creative writing as an individual, monologic, process. I suggest that there are aspects of the translator's artistic practice that are better understood as a form of performance and, in particular, according to Schechner's (1985) understanding of performance as restored behavior . I demonstrate how the basic tenets of performance theory find echo in two translators' accounts of their practice (Margaret Jull Costa and Peter Bush), focusing on four points of contact: the unresolved dialectal tension between self and other, the deliberate, rehearsed nature of decisions, the need for distance between original and performance/translation, and the role of the audience. Abstract This paper proposes that in order to understand the nature of literary translation as an art form, we need to complement existing approaches drawing on literary, linguistic and sociological theories with insights derived from performance theory. I examine four theoretical approaches – derived from stylometry, literary stylistics, cognitive stylistics and sociology – that have been employed to explain style in literary translation and argue that they fail to fully account for the translator's artistry because they are limited by a conceptualization of creative writing as an individual, monologic, process. I suggest that there are aspects of the translator's artistic practice that are better understood as a form of performance and, in particular, according to Schechner's (1985) understanding of performance as restored behavior . I demonstrate how the basic tenets of performance theory find echo in two translators' accounts of their practice (Margaret Jull Costa and Peter Bush), focusing on four points of contact: the unresolved dialectal tension between self and other, the deliberate, rehearsed nature of decisions, the need for distance between original and performance/translation, and the role of the audience. Performance theory is thus proposed as a to complement literary and sociological discussions of translation as an art form.


The RAID distributed database system has proven to be a valuable tool for the experimental investigation of reliability, adaptability, communication, and checkpointlng in transaction-based systems. As we studied these issues and others, we realized that some of design decisions that we made had alternatives that could improve the flexibility and the reliability of the system. OUf experience with RAID has prompted us to re-examine these alternatives and implement a second version. In titis paper, we present a brief synopsis of the original RAID system and our motivation for modifying it. We detail the changes and enhancements that distinguish the new version. We then give examples of the experimental studies that can be conducted using the RAID software. Finally, we list some insights about adaptability and reliability obtained -This research is supported in part by a grant from AIRMICS, and National Science Foundation grant IRI-8821398.


For original article by Jung and Seo, see IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol.50, p.888-90 (2002). The paper by Jung and Seo presented a moment method solution of an elliptical patch antenna with emphasis on inclusion of the attachment mode around the probe/patch junction. In this comment, Deshpande points out that very similar work on the elliptical microstrip antenna was published by Bailey and Deshpande (1985), and a comparison is given.


Synopsis The Lower Palaeozoic rocks around the Cairnsmore of Fleet pluton comprise representatives of the Moffat Shale Group, ranging from the Glenkiln or Lower Hartfell Formation (Llandeilo or Lower Caradoc) to the Upper Birkhill Formation (Fronian), conformably though diachronously overlain by greywackes of later Llandovery age. The Main folds (f1) display two contrasting styles. Two tracts of northwestward dips, mainly steep and locally inverted, are separated by a tract of concentric folds, upright or overturned to the NW, with wavelengths mostly less than 500 m. The first phase concluded with the generation of complementary wrench fault sets, certain of which were subsequently reactivated. An episode of compressional faulting supervened, generating the southeastward-translating and strike-parallel listric faults of the Central Belt, of which four lie within the area. The tracts of steep NW dips were simultaneously modified by SE-verging open folds having axial planes with moderate SE dips (f2). Later Caledonian movements, producing crossfolds associated with oblique-slip faulting (f3) and kink bands (f4), are of minor significance.


The trigger factor is associated with bacterial ribosomes and catalyzes proline-limited protein folding reactions. Its folding activity is very high and conserved in evolution, as shown for the homologous enzymes from Escherichia coli and Mycoplasma genitalium. The folding protein substrate (a variant of ribonuclease T1) binds with high affinity to the trigger factors, and permanently unfolded proteins are strong, competitive inhibitors. We used this inhibition to characterize the substrate binding sites of the trigger factors. Unfolded alpha-lactalbumin binds very tightly and inhibits the trigger factor from M. genitalium with a KI value of 50 nM. The binding of inhibitory proteins is independent of proline residues, as shown for unfolded tendamistat, which binds to the trigger factor with equal affinity in the presence and in the absence of its three proline residues. The good inhibition by a non-folding variant of ribonuclease T1 that lacks Pro39 showed that this proline, at which the catalysis of folding occurs, is dispensable for substrate binding. The trigger factors cannot catalyze prolyl isomerization when proteins are partially folded already. They preferentially recognize unstructured protein chains, which bind with high affinity to a site distinct from the catalytic prolyl isomerase center in the FKBP domain.


When it comes to helping gang-involved youth, interventionists are faced with a significant primary challenge: Must youth leave their gangs before receiving treatment? Or can treatment successfully be delivered while a youth remains gang-affiliated? Despite a broad evidence base showing the effectiveness of interventions for aggressive, antisocial, and/or justice-involved youth, there is very little research illuminating the effectiveness of individualized interventions for gang-involved youth in particular. This is a significant gap in the literature given that gang-involved youth typically exhibit significantly higher levels of violence and victimization than do other youth. However, existing best-practice intervention models might hold promise for effectively serving gang-involved youth. These models indicate that interventions for youth offenders should be grounded in behavioral theory while focusing on caregiver skills and family dynamics and leveraging broader social-ecological supports. Recent evaluations of two evidence-based interventions (Functional Family Therapy and Multisystemic Therapy) with respect to how they work for gang-involved youth indicate that it is indeed possible to implement effective treatment for this population. The probability of successfully treating gang-involved youth also might be augmented through the integration of new discoveries emanating from the life-course study of gang members. Specifically, it might be possible to leverage the motivating value of typical life events during the transition to adulthood to encourage youth to leave the gang lifestyle and all its attendant risks. One key task for interventionists, then, is to ensure that gang-involved youth can be engaged and maintained long enough in treatment to benefit from those motivations during that critical natural developmental transition.


Background: Comparing predictive validity of admission criteria for the MsPharm (Master of Sciences of Pharmacy) studies in the period prior and following the reform of the university admission system in Poland illustrated on the example of data obtained from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW). Methods: Admission data was correlated with the learning outcomes of students who undertook the MA studies at the pharmaceutical department between the years 2000/01-2009/10 (N=1702, mean age 19.3 ± 1.22). The method of predictive validity of the old admission system (specific entrance exam) and the new system (the national Polish maturity exam) was performed using correlation and method of multiple linear regression. Results: Chemistry, biology and the total score of ranking points showed a significant correlation with bioGPA, chemGPA, and cumulative GPA but its power was greater for the old system of admission. The analysis of regression showed that by and large, women achieve better learning outcomes. Age on entry was an important success predictor only in the old system of recruitment. Both recruitment criteria were a positive prognostic in the old admission system. The new system of recruitment showed significantly weaker predictive ability of student's performance during pharmaceutical study. Conclusion: Admission system based on the national Polish entry test exam is characterised by a much greater predictive validity of future student's performance than the admission system based on the results of the national maturity exam. It is necessary to monitor and improve the accuracy of currently used recruitment regulations further through testing evaluation of candidates' non-cognitive attributes.


The action of the enzyme which specifically decomposes the capsular polysaccharide of Type III Pneumococcus has been tested in Type III pneumococcus dermal infections in rabbits. When injected in sufficient amounts, this enzyme is capable of bringing about a favorable and early termination of the experimental disease which ordinarily is fatal in nearly all instances. The results of the present study yield further evidence that the capsular substance is of great importance in pneumococcus infection, since, in so far as known, the only action of which the specific enzyme is capable is that of decomposing the capsular polysaccharide.


There can be little argument that embryo quality is one of the most critical factors in the success of assisted reproductive techniques. Yet the current methods of grading embryos are subjective at best. While a number of different groups have described more qualitative means of assessing embryo quality, the current standard remains morphology. Morphology has proven a good standard, but it does not allow for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities nor can it assess the biochemical status of the embryo prior to transfer. This laboratory recently described a method to estimate embryo weight and suggested weight might be a good indicator of biochemical status. The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between maternal body composition and embryo weight and determine the influence maternal chemistry had on embryo development. The data continue to suggest that maternal body composition, especially body fat, influences the chemical nature of the embryo and may play a critical role in long-term survival.


Abstract Objective Sonographic clues to the diagnosis of congenital myotonic dystrophy (CDM) are limited, particularly in the absence of family history of myotonic dystrophy (DM). We reviewed cases of CDM for unique prenatal findings. Study Design A single-center case series of fetuses with CMD with characteristic prenatal findings confirmed postnatally. Results Four fetuses with pre- or postnatally diagnosed CDM presented with macrocephaly in utero. While head measurements were appropriate for gestational age until midgestation, third-trimester head circumference and biparietal diameter were both >2 standard deviation (SD) above the mean in all. Abdominal and femur measurements were otherwise appropriate for gestation. Postnatally, the occipitofrontal circumference was >2 SD above the mean in all, confirming the diagnosis of macrocephaly. Conclusion CDM should be included in the differential diagnosis of third-trimester macrocephaly, especially in the presence of additional sonographic clues and when maternal medical history and physical examination are suggestive of DM.


Computer animation complements text explanation, image documentation, and graphic analysis techniques. It is compatible with the development of interactive multimedia science. Computer animation may emerge as a critical tool to assist in the efficient processing and analysis of greater volumes of educational data in plastic surgery training. At St. Louis University, we have continuously developed multimedia plastic surgery teaching materials with full-fidelity digital sound, three-dimensional computer graphics, and "picture-in-picture" video capabilities since 1987. We have used these materials, many of which are illustrated in this paper, for patient informed consent and the education of medical students and residents.


The histories of sovereignty and democracy in India have taken a route different from the trajectory adopted by some western countries. In India, colonial sovereignty was often reduced to domination, yet ?internal wars? waged on the basis of religious, caste or even linguistic divisions, continued. Post-colonial India remains thus, a social body perpetually traversed by relations of war. As this article argues, neither colonial rule, nationalism nor even democracy in India has seen the production of a sovereignty necessary for the construction of a ?society? amenable to disciplinary power and its politics. Indian democracy thus furnishes an interesting case where the political task of creating the typically modern mix of ?sovereignty? (rights) and disciplinary domination arises not before but after the coming of universal adult franchise and a democratic polity.


Background: Although memory for future intentions (prospective memory, PM) is compromised in older adults with cognitive impairment, the effectiveness of specific training techniques to help these older adults with PM tasks remains unclear. Objective: The present study examined the effectiveness of spaced retrieval (rehearsing at increasingly spaced intervals) as an intervention for improving PM in cognitively impaired older adults. Methods: Healthy older adults (n = 40) and cognitively impaired older adults (n = 30) were randomly assigned to either a spaced retrieval or a standard rehearsal condition. Results: Whilst both groups benefited from the spaced retrieval intervention, enhancement effects were substantial for the cognitively impaired older adults, and no main effect of group was observed in this condition. Conclusion: These data indicate that spaced retrieval may be an effective means of helping cognitively impaired older adults maintain functional independence.


The study employed an additive manufacturing approach to model the parts of a pilot-scale electric car. A 3D Sketchup tool was used to model the parts of the model electric automobile and was printed using Any cubic i3 Mega 3D printer. A robust design analysis was carried out to determine the necessary parameters required for the motion and stability of the automobile. These include friction, thrusts and aerodynamic forces as well as the power required. The 3D printed parts were then assembled using powerful adhesives. The rechargeable battery-powered car was integrated with a "C" programming language with the aid of ATMEGA 328PPUmicrocontroller. The results of the performance assessment of the automobile show that the car travelled at the rate of 1 m/s under the monitoring signal receiving a range of 3 m as observed from the infrared remote control. The results obtained from the design calculation indicated that a 3.975 Nm magnitude of torque is required to drive the shaft. Thus, it was possible to achieve an optimal performance since a motor of 10.787 Nm torque specification was used. The study demonstrates the feasibility of indigenous development of emerging autonomous electric cars at a lower cost. Keyword: 3-D Printing, Fueless Car, Design, Prototyping, Car automation


The biology of H2S is a still developing area of research and several biological functions have been recently attributed to this gaseous molecule in many physiological systems, including the cardiovascular, urogenital, respiratory, digestive and central nervous system (CNS). H2S exerts anti‐inflammatory effects and can be considered an endogenous mediator with potential effects on gastrointestinal motility. During the last few years, we have investigated the role of H2S as a regulator of gastrointestinal motility using both animal and human tissues. The aim of the present work is to review published data regarding the potential role of H2S as a signalling molecule regulating physiopathological processes in gastrointestinal motor function. H2S is endogenously produced by defined enzymic pathways in different cell types of the intestinal wall including neurons and smooth muscle. Inhibition of H2S biosynthesis increases motility and H2S donors cause smooth muscle relaxation and inhibition of propulsive motor patterns. Impaired H2S production has been described in animal models with gastrointestinal motor dysfunction. The mechanism(s) of action underlying these effects may include several ion channels, although no specific receptor has been identified. At this time, even though there is much experimental evidence for H2S as a modulator of gastrointestinal motility, we still do not have conclusive experimental evidence to definitively propose H2S as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the gastrointestinal tract, causing nerve‐mediated relaxation.


The worldwide spread of a new infection SARS-CoV-2 makes relevant the analysis of the different factors that lead to the vulnerability of modern civilization to previously unknown diseases. In this regard, the development of mathematical models describing the evolution of epidemics like COVID-19 and the identification of socio-economic factors affecting the epidemiological situation in regions is an important research task. The paper proposes a probabilistic mathematical model for the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, which allows to analyze the evolution of the main characteristics of the disease and to assess main factors influencing them. The study is based on the official statistical data on the spread of the COVID 19 presented on coronavirus sites in the Russian Federation and other countries, the Yandex Data Lens dataset service, as well as the data from the Federal State Statistics Service. In the research some data mining methods were used for evaluation the model's parameters. The model equations allow to predict the evolution of the disease and estimate the confidence interval of such prognosis. We estimated the ratio of detected and hidden cases of the disease, the distribution of the disease's duration probability and its average value for different regions. It has been mathematically proven that the vaccination is the necessary and sufficient condition of achievement a stationary stable state the cessation of a pandemic. The regions of Russian Federation were clustered by the course of the disease COVID-19 on the base of k-means method. The analysis of the most important socio-economic factors affecting the epidemiological situation was provided separately for each cluster.


A multi-laminated HTS tape conductor has recently been developed for large coils. If the HTS tapes are simply laminated to form the conductor, the current distribution in the laminated tape conductor of the coil is unbalanced because of the differences among all tape inductances. Transposition of the tape in the conductor is effective for homogeneous current distribution, but the tape may be damaged due to the lateral bending. In our previous paper, we proposed a new theory to analyze and control current distributions in the multi-laminated tape conductor for a solenoid coil with arbitrary layers. We applied the Maxwell integral equation to the region contoured by adjacent laminated tapes to analyze the current distributions of the tapes in the infinite solenoid coil, demonstrated that the flux across the region is conserved as long as the tapes are not saturated, and finally induced fundamental equations as functions of coil construction parameters, such as layer radius, laminated tape space, and winding pitch. In order to verify the theory, we designed two kinds of coils with homogenous and inhomogeneous current distributions in the two-laminated tape conductor by adjusting the space between the tapes in the second layer, and fabricated them. In the case when the space between the tapes in the second layer is the same as that of the first layer, 0.31 mm in thickness, we measured the tape currents of 7:3 for the inner and outer tape of the first layer, respectively. We adjusted the space between the tapes of the second layer, 1.78 mm in thickness, while the space of the first layer remained unchanged, 0.31 mm in thickness. We obtained the homogeneous current distribution in the tape conductor. The experimental data were in good agreement with the theory.


Fuel injection rate shaping is one way to improve fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions in IC engines. Piezoelectrically actuated fuel injectors have a particularly fast response, which makes them capable of rate shaping operation. In this paper, a model-based closed-loop controller is designed to control the fuel injection rate passing through the nozzle of a piezoelectric fuel injector, by compensating for the injector's nonlinear behavior. The performance of this controller is verified with simulation results.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


Toxicity of smoke generated in a fire is difficult to measure accurately. That is because gas sensors for measuring rapidly varying concentrations of toxic gases are not yet developed. Simple expressions are searched for quick measurement in assessing smoke toxicity practically. Four equations on calculating fractional effective dose (FED) related to toxic effluents were reported in the literature, each based on different assumptions. FED value was proposed to be calculated based on peak carbon monoxide concentration and peak carbon dioxide concentration, and transient carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen concentrations. The four values were compared in this article using literature data on toxic gases from different materials measured by (i) cone calorimeter; (ii) full‐scale burning tests; and (iii) tunnel full‐scale tests. Measured carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen concentrations by standard equipment of oxygen consumption calorimeters were used to calculate the four FED values. It is found that the values of FED based on peak carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentrations (denoted as FED2) are similar to the average values of FED calculated from the updated equation in the literature using the oxygen consumption calorimeters. Putting the values of FED2 in fire safety design guides is then recommended.


Co-supported hexagonal mesoporous silicas (Co 2, 4 and 8 wt. %) have been prepared by incipient wetness impregnation, using cobalt acetate tetrahydrate as metal precursors and ethylene glycol as impregnation solvent. The materials have been characterized by XRD, N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy. The divalent cobalt with a tetrahedral oxygen exists mainly in the calcined sample with loading Co ≤ 4 wt. %. The Co 3 O 4 particles have been detected in calcined 8 wt. % Co-HMS. The catalytic properties have been tested for oxidation of 4-t-butyltoluene with dioxygen in liquid phase under mild conditions. Co-HMS catalyst (8 wt. %) affords higher yield (17.6%) of 4-t-butylbenzaldehyde at 24.7% conversion in a reaction time of 5 h. The oxides of cobalt, especially Co 3 O 4 particles, are responsible for the partial oxidation of 4-t-butyltoluene. The divalent cobalt ions in tetrahedral environment in the Co-HMS catalysts are unstable during the oxidation reaction.


Two photos of the famous Mona Lisa were taken in October 2004 to contribute towards improving the technical and scientific data of the masterpiece before moving it in April 2005. The capabilities of the multispectral system developed by the LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY Company within the scope of the European CRISATEL project have made it possible to achieve optimal spatial resolution on the masterpiece, the highest level of sharpness ever achieved in the field of infrared reflectography, and a level of accuracy regarding color information which cannot be achieved with traditional technologies. Based on this new data, we suggest in this publication that the influence of aged varnish be removed, the significant discoloration of which alters the readability of the masterpiece.


This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of the metabolites produced by a new Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain BF1-13, isolated from deep seawater (DSW), on the intestinal epithelial barrier against the dysfunction induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and to elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect. Protective effect of the metabolites by strain BF1-13 on the barrier function of the intestinal epithelial model treated with H2O2 was investigated by the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). The metabolites enhanced the Claudin-4 (CLDN-4) expression, including at the transcription level, indicated by immunofluorescence staining and quantitative RT-PCR. The metabolites also showed a suppression of aquaporin3 (AQP3) expression. Lactic acid (LA) produced by this strain of homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) had a similar enhancement on CLDN-4 expression. The metabolites of L. plantarum strain BF1-13 alleviated the dysfunction of intestinal epithelial barrier owing to its enhancement on the tight junctions (TJs) by LA, along with its suppression on AQP3-facilitating H2O2 intracellular invasion into Caco-2 cells. This is the first report on the enhancement of TJs by LA produced by LAB.


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Transient and permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in rat evokes increased expression of VEGF in ischemic brain. The biological role of VEGF in stroke is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that administration of VEGF at a late stage of stroke enhances angiogenesis and improves functional outcome in stroke. Male Wistar rats (n=27) were subjected to MCA occlusion using a well described embolic stroke model. Forty-eight hours after embolization, rhVEGF165 or saline was intravenously infused to rats at a dose of 1mg/kg over 4 hr interval. Angiogenesis was examined in three dimensions by a laser scanning confocal microscope. Functional neurological tests (rotarod and adhesive removal tests) were measured. To examine whether rhVEGF165 enhances angiogenesis, rats were sacrificed 9 days after ischemia and to examine whether rhVEGF165 improves long term functional recovery, rats were sacrificed 28 days after ischemia. Compared with the saline treated rats (n=5), treatment with rhVEGF165 (n=5) significantly (p<0.05) increased numbers of capillaries with diameters within 3 μm in the penumbra of the cortex 9 days after ischemia. In addition, rats treated with rhVEGF165 (n=7) exhibited significant (p<0.05) improvement on the rotarod test at 7, 14, and 28 days after stroke compared with the saline treated rats (n=10). The adhesive removal test showed significant (p<0.05) improvement at 28 days. Brain tissue obtained at 28 days after ischemia exhibited more small vessels in the ipsilateral ischemic border zone in rats treated with rhVEGF165 when compared with the saline treated rats. Our data demonstrate that rhVEGF165 significantly enhances angiogenesis in ischemic brain and improves functional neurological recovery when administered to rats 48 hr after stroke.


The aim of this study was to find out what is historians' task-based information interaction like in digital environments. The study was based on TBII framework [20]. The research was conducted in real-life setting using interview and shadowing. The following task process types were identified: (i) searching secondary sources, (ii) reading and making notes, (iii) collecting and processing data, (iv) analyzing and (v) writing. We found that IR interfaces were not always optimal for historians' use, and that the interfaces should support the expression of information needs better. The data processing consumes a lot of historians' time and they could benefit from designing better tools. We also found out that task process types have an effect on how digital tools or data are being used. Therefore, the context in which the tool or data is being used, should be taken into account when designing tools for historians.


Introduction: Local recurrence after breast conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer is uncommon, reported in 5 to 10% of cases at 10 years after surgery. Prior studies with short term follow-up have shown that preoperative breast MRI does not reduce re-excision rates for positive margins or reduce local recurrence after lumpectomy and radiation therapy. This study aims to determine 1) if preoperative breast MRI is associated with reduced ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) rates in the longer term and 2) the IBTR rates of a high risk (triple negative (TN) and Her-2 positive) subgroup in those receiving or not receiving preoperative MRI. Methods: Between 1999 and 2005, a cohort of patients with invasive breast cancer undergoing breast conservative surgery and radiation therapy were identified from a prospectively collected database and followed. The primary endpoint was IBTR rate. Secondary outcomes included the determination of factors associated with the use of preoperative breast MRI and prognostic factors related to IBTR. IBTR rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis was calculated using log-rank test and chi-squared test. Results: The cohort consisted of 470 cases with invasive breast cancer undergoing lumpectomies with negative resection margins. All patients received adjuvant radiation therapy. 127 (27%) patients underwent preoperative breast MRI and 343 (73%) did not. Median follow-up was 97 months. The overall 10-year IBTR rate was 3.6%. Overall, there was no significant difference in IBTR rate at 10 years between those receiving preoperative MRI and those without (IBTR: 1.6% and 4.2%, respectively (p = 0.37). There were no differences in IBTR rate between MRI and no-MRI after adjusting for age, year of surgery, tumor size, and adjuvant treatments on univariate analysis. For patients who recurred, median time to recurrence was 26 months for MRI group vs. 25 months for no-MRI group. Factors associated with the receipt of preoperative MRI were age 2 cm and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. We also found that the TN and Her-2 positive combined subgroup had a higher IBTR rate than all others (9.8% vs. 3.1%, p= 0.03). In those that received preoperative MRI, there was no difference in IBTR between the high risk group (n= 33) and the remaining patients (3.3% vs 1.2%, p= 0.5), but in the group without an MRI, the IBTR rate of the high risk group (n= 75) was 11.8% compared to the remainder (vs. 4.0%, p= 0.0529). For the TN and Her-2 positive combined group, the difference in IBTR rate when this subgroup was subdivided if they had received preoperative MRI vs. no-MRI (3.3% vs. 11.8%, p= 0.3) was not significant. Conclusion: With long term 10-year follow up, there is no overall significant difference in IBTR rate whether preoperative breast MRI is performed versus not. However, the high risk triple negative breast cancers and Her-2 positive populations combined have shown an increased IBTR rate, and this was more marked in those who did not receive preoperative MRI. Citation Format: Gervais M-K, Maki E, Schiller DE, McCready DR. Preoperative MRI of the breast and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence: Long-term follow up. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-02-15.


The authors have compared the clinical and metabolic effects of two high ceiling diuretics, muzolimine (M) and furosemide (F), by i.v. and oral routes in 40 patients classified in four groups with different degrees of renal failure. The study demonstrated a more pronounced effectiveness of M than F by oral administration, while it appeared equal to F when given i.v. The urine volume and Na+ excretion were significantly increased during M treatment compared to oral F in each group. Calcium urinary excretion was reduced with M while P was increased compared with F. BUN, creatinine and uric acid were temporarily increased in the 3rd and 4th groups, probably due to extracellular fluid volume contraction, associated also with transient change in GFR. M at a lower dosage than F has demonstrated an effective diuretic response irrespective the degree of renal impairment. From its pharmacological properties, M appears a safe and active diuretic agent, particularly at a high dosage in patients with severe renal failure, and is notable for its lack of important side effects.


Life may throw surprises which may delve us into the depths of sorrow during uncertainties. Uncertainty is a fact of life and cannot be avoided. Nurses are an integral part of the healthcare delivery system and share responsibilities in collaboration with other allied health professions for the attainment of optimal health for all members of the society. They don several hats and perform multiple tasks whilst at work which maps across being at the bedside with the patient to be a voice to lead at the boardroom. It is very heartening to see that on the coronavirus frontline these unsung and quiet heroes are being recognized and noticed at last. This paper highlights four-fold strategic approaches that enabled nurses and will enable them in the future to deal with uncertainty.
How to cite this article:James MM. Nurses' Approach during 'Unprecedented Times'. Int J Nurs Midwif Res 2020; 7(2): 44-45.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9318.202018


The seasonal abrupt flood event in the Tandava River Basin was the major loss for socio-economic infrastructure. The main objective of this study is to characterize the Morphometric parameters of Tandava River Basin (TRB) which depicted on toposheets 65; K/5, K/6, K/7, K/10 and K/11 with scale 1:50,000 were used for Morphometrical analysis. In this study, morphometric parameters were delineated through onscreen digitization on topographic map in ArcGIS-9.3. The TRB is covering about 1283 Km 2 consists of hills, valleys and plains. The longest flow path was calculated and found to be 83.360 Km. The study reveals that; such information derived from GIS would be very useful in practicing water management activity and designing of water harvesting project with minimum cost, efforts and time in reducing rates of natural degradation in the basin.


Abstract Neurons have evolved a number of unique protein-coding genes that regulate trafficking of protein complexes within small organelles throughout dendrites and axons. Neuron-specific gene 2 (NSG2) encodes for one of the most abundant proteins in the nervous system during perinatal development. NSG2 belongs to a family of small neuronal endosomal proteins but its function has remained uncharacterized to date. Here, we show that NSG2 is found in discrete punctae restricted to the somatodendritic arbors of developing mouse and human neurons, and a significant proportion of NSG2 punctae colocalize with postsynaptic HOMER1 and surface-expressed AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) at excitatory synapses. Immunoprecipitation revealed that NSG2 physically interacts with both the GluA1 and GluA2 AMPAR subunits in mouse brain. Knock-out of NSG2 in mouse hippocampal neurons selectively impaired the frequency of miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs) and caused alterations in PSD95 expression at postsynaptic densities (PSDs). In contrast, NSG2 overexpression caused a significant increase in the amplitude of mEPSCs as well as GluA2 surface expression. Thus, NSG2 functions as an AMPAR-binding protein that is required for normal synapse formation and/or maintenance, and has unique functions compared with other NSG family members.


Using the method of Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA), the evolution regularity of tropical cyclones landing in Guangdong are analyzed. The main periods of yearly topical cyclones landing in Guangdong are found at 8 and quasi-3 years, and in the west of Pearl River Mouth are 12 and quasi-2 years to the west ofPearl River Mouth. The northwest Pacific that topical cyclones are generated isdivided into 8 areas, and the Sea-Surface Temperature (SST) in each area is analyzed using SSA. The main periods of NINO-west are 8 and 3 years, and those of the warm pool are 12 and 2 years, respectively. This may be the physical reason for the generation tropical cyclones landing in Guangdong. By combining the Maximum Entropy Method (MEM) with SSA (SSA-MEM), the yearly variation trend of tropical cyclones landing in Guangdong and the Pearl River Mouth are forecast, and theresults are good. The method can be used in operational short-range climate forecast.


This study explored how developmental students enrolled at the TTIOO community college experienced the resident developmental advising service. Emphasis was placed on ascertaining how these students perceived the role of developmental advising in enabling them to develop self-regulated behaviors inclusive of goal-setting skills and academic self-efficacy. The study also explored the extent to which this service promoted increased levels of persistence. A qualitative phenomenological case study guided the research process. The data collection methods included phenomenological interviews that were conducted with six student participants; semi-structured interviews that were conducted with two developmental advisors employed at the TTIOO; and documentary analysis. The study's major limitations include: the majority of the data analysis revolved around the phenomenological interviews; the interviews were facilitated virtually; and the participant selection procesents demonstrating varied levels of academic performance, and both male and female genders. The last limitation is that only one developmental advisor was employed at the time of the study. The findings revealed that the major challenges the participants encountered was the shame and embarrassment of being labelled a developmental student, a sense of being burdensome, difficulty managing course requirements, and personal and financial factors. Secondly, lecturers had a more pronounced effect on the participants' goal setting-competencies and levels of academic self-efficacy. Although the participants were appreciative of the guidance and support provided by their developmental advisor, they believed that the intervention had a minimal impact on their persistence levels. Keywords: developmental advising, developmental students, academic self-efficacy, goal-setting, persistence


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of sex on short-term recovery from cardiac surgery.

DESIGN
Prospective, nonrandomized design. Men and women undergoing elective cardiac surgery were interviewed in the immediate preoperative period and monthly by telephone through the third postoperative month.

SETTING
Subjects were recruited from three cardiac surgery referral centres in western Canada.

PATIENTS
One hundred and thirty-two consecutive patients entering the hospital for coronary artery bypass and/or valve surgery were recruited. Inclusion criteria required that subjects be able to communicate effectively and to live independently. One hundred and twenty subjects completed the study--60 men and 60 women; 30 of each sex group were less than 65 years of age and 30 were 65 years and older.

MAIN RESULTS
Women were more functionally impaired, had less social support and reported lower life satisfaction than men preoperatively. There were no significant differences between the sexes in the outcome measures three months postoperatively, and neither age nor sex consistently predicted outcome at the three-month end-point. Sex-specific issues reflect the social circumstances from which women entered the process of having their heart disease diagnosed and undergoing cardiac surgery.

CONCLUSIONS
Findings support recent conclusions that there are few differences between men and women in the recovery from cardiac surgery; however, the existing differences warrant serious consideration for changes in current clinical practice. Sex differences included women's poorer preoperative functional status, lesser social support and differences in the nature of work women return to following their surgery.


In today's service computing environments, user needs and expectations are constantly changing. New services emerge while old ones become obsolete and need to be replaced. In such settings, composite services need to be adaptive to changes in user requirements and the environment. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for modeling compositional adaptation for services founded on a requirements monitoring facility. This facility helps maintain adherence between user requirements changes and the dynamics of service composition structure and quality attributes. Specifically, user requirements are represented as goals and soft goals, service composition structure is represented with a CSP-like grammar, and the adaptation mechanism is based on AI planning. The proposed approach is evaluated in a service simulation environment of real-world supply-chain adaptation scenarios.


Seasonal snow is an essential source of water, especially in mountain regions. However, accurate satellite observations of the amount of snow stored in mountains are still lacking. We provide estimates of snow depth at sub-kilometer resolution over the European Alps for 2017–2019 from Sentinel-1 observations. The retrievals are based on a change detection algorithm that includes the masking of wet snow. For dry snow conditions, 300-m Sentinel-1 retrievals have a spatiotemporal correlation of 0.82 and mean absolute error of 0.19m compared with in situ measurements from 743 sites across the Alps. The results show the potential of Sentinel-1 to provide unprecedented snow estimates in regions with complex topography, where satellite observations of snow mass are currently lacking.


This work presents the introduction of a neural network-based optimization approach in the tuning of voltage-controlled circuits (such as active filters). A custom calibration system has been already presented by the same Authors. It was realized with a hardware interface and a dedicated software based on a modified version of a Differential Evolution algorithm. In this paper the implemented algorithms are described in detail together with a possible integration of the neural network synthesis to further enhance performance of the proposed system. As the first step in exploiting neural networks, in this paper they are used as a tool for speeding up the choice of initial values of the filter control voltages. Neural networks are used to replace a look-up table representing the relationship between filter parameters, the central frequency and the corresponding attenuation, and the control voltages. According to the obtained results, in such a way, the optimization time is shortened significantly.


Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasing among critically ill adults with cardiac and/or respiratory failure. Use of ECMO is associated with hemostatic alterations requiring use of anticoagulation and blood product support. There are limited guidelines to direct transfusion management in the adult patient supported with ECMO. The objective of this article is to describe (1) the role of the transfusion service in providing transfusion support and current understanding of transfusion thresholds, (2) the complexities of monitoring anticoagulation, and (3) the consideration regarding additional factor concentrates and antifibrinolytics within the context of ECMO support. The information provided should assist ECMO care teams in informing transfusion and anticoagulation practice while highlighting key areas for future research and collaboration.


MiR-195 has been implicated in inhibiting cell proliferation in different types of tumors. Whether it contributes to the process of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) proliferation remains unclear. In this study, we found that miR-195a-5p was highly up-regulated in the TECs isolated from the aging mice. Further experiments showed that miR-195a-5p mimic transfection inhibited the proliferation of mouse medullary thymic epithelial cell line 1 (MTEC1), whereas the transfection of miR-195a-5p inhibitor in MTEC1 had the opposite effect. In addition, miR-195a-5p had no obvious effect on MTEC1 apoptosis. Furthermore, Smad7, a negative regulator of transforming growth factor β pathway, was confirmed as a direct target of miR-195a-5p by luciferase assays. Taken together, our results indicate that miR-195a-5p inhibits MTEC1 proliferation, at least in part, via down-regulation of Smad7.


The electrochemical characteristics of Al-Si casting alloys (Al-10%Si, Al-9%Si, Al-7%Si) in 3.5% NaCl solution at room temperature was studied using potentiodynamic techniques. The electrochemical values of corrosion potential(Ec), corrosion current density(Ic) and corrosion rate(mpy) were examined. The Al-Si alloys had several compounds such as Mg2Si, π-Al8Si6Mg2Fe and Al2CuMg which could affect corrosion resistance significantly. The potentiodynamic polarization curve exhibited typical active behavior in anodic polarization curve. The major corrosion mechansim for the Al-Si alloys were pitting and grain boundary corrosion. As increasing Si and Cu contents, their corrosion resistance was decreased.


Background: Appendiceal parasites can cause symptoms of appendicitis. Although the symptomatology imitates acute appendicitis clinically, the true nature of disease is diagnosed through histological examination. The aim of this study is to therefore determine the prevalence of E. Vermicularis in appendicectomy specimens to relate this to acute inflammation histologically. Materials & Methods: Histological data on all appendectomy specimens with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis were retrieved from the archives of department of pathology, B.P.K.I.H.S, over the period of  five years (January 2004- December 2008) and was analyzed retrospectively. Results: There were a total of 1528 patients. M:F ratio being 1.2:1.Inflamed appendix constituted for 94.24% of all cases. There were a total of six (0.39%) appendicectomy specimens  which showed presence of oxyuriasis appendix. Though all patients with oxyuriasis presented with appendicial colic only one (1) out of the six cases of oxyuriasis showed histologic evidence of inflammation. Conclusion: We conclude that enterobius does not frequently cause inflammation of appendix though it may clinically mimic acute appendicitis. Since it represents a disease curable without necessitating surgery, symptomatology awareness is stressed upon. Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2015) Vol. 5, 720-722


Movement inhibition is important, notably for the voluntary control of respiration, as its dysfunction may preclude the execution of important social tasks such as speech. Here we investigate whether the double command involved in respiration (cortical and medullary) has an impact on the inhibitory mechanisms. Specifically, we studied the inhibition properties (baseline, rate, threshold) of voluntary respiratory movements in relation with the phase of the breathing cycle in which the command signal is given.

Subjects were instructed to produce inspiratory movement in response to a visual target. For ∼50% of the trials, a stop signal was presented (a second visual target) in response to which subjects had to inhibit the inspiratory movement. Respiratory movements were measured through abdominal expansion using a magnetometer. Respiratory reaction time (RT) and stop-signal accuracy were used to calculate stop signal reaction time (SSRT), an estimate of the time required to inhibit the respiratory movement.

The results indicate that respiratory RTs depended on the context in which the stop signal was presented, being shorter during inspiration (541±21ms; mean±SD) than expiration (568±29ms). The estimated respiratory SSRT was 299±48ms and 253±27ms for inspiration and expiration, respectively.

These preliminary results suggest that the time required to inhibit respiratory movements (∼270ms) tends to be longer than the times to inhibit ocular movements (visual signal ∼150 ms; auditory signal ∼200 ms). This might either indicate the implication of distinct inhibition centers for these two types of movements or distinct inhibitory processes for oculomotor ballistic or respiratory controlled movement.


BACKGROUND
Antiemetic triplet therapy including dexamethasone (DEX) is widely used for patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). In Japan, the appropriate dose of DEX has not been established for this combination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
To assess the efficacy and safety of increased-dose DEX, we retrospectively examined patients receiving HEC with antiemetic triplet therapy.

RESULTS
Twenty-four patients (fosaprepitant group) were given an increased-dose of DEX (average total dose: 45.8mg), fosaprepitant, and 5-HT3 antagonist. A lower-dose of DEX (33.6mg), oral aprepitant, and 5-HT3 antagonist were administered to the other 48 patients (aprepitant group). The vomiting control rates in the fosaprepitant and aprepitant groups were 100% and 85.4% in the acute phase, and were 75.0% and 64.6% in the delayed phase. The incidences of toxicity were similar comparing the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Triplet therapy using an increased-dose of DEX is suggested to be safe and effective for patients receiving HEC.


The invention and evolution of the Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology have brought a breakthrough to high-speed networks,and it has put a lot of pressure on research in the area of IP routers. Besides,with up-coming Quality of Service requirements raised by a wide range of communication intensive,the next-generation IP routers should be QoS-capable. In this paper,we propose a architecture called the Parallel QoS-capable IP Router (PQIR). We address one key design issue in our architecture - the distribution of IP packets to multiple independent routing agents so that the workload at routing agents is balanced and the packet ordering is preserved. We introduce the Enhanced Hash-based Distributing Scheme (EHDS)as the solution. Simulations are carried out to study the effectiveness of EHDS. The results show that EHDS does meet our design goals very well.


pp.29–33

We researched the histories of the hairstyles and hair care practices of Japanese women, and found a very close relationship between the two. For example, the court ladies of the Heian Period, whose beautiful long hair, called suberakashi, reached to the floor, were said to have combed their hair each day using Yu-Su-Ru (rinse water obtained from the washing of rice) . Rice is considered to be the most important food in the Japanese diet, and the historical fact that rice was used for hair care is very interesting. We therefore focused our attention on the Yu-Su-Ru hair care practice in the Heian Period, and examined its effects on hair. As a result, we found that Yu-Su-Ru exhibited hair care effects, such as reducing surface friction and increasing hair elasticity. However, when hair was treated with Yu-Su-Ru alone, flaking was observed on the hair surface, and the direct application of Yu-Su-Ru was considered difficult. Thus, Yu-Su-Ru extracts, which are highly effective in hair care and do not cause flaking were examined. The results showed that Yu-Su-Ru extracts had multiple functions for hair care at the same time. Thus, the new application of Yu-Su-Ru for hair care was discovered.


This manuscript is an instructor's reflection of the use of a simulation-based pedagogical technique to improve instruction.  The content was a facility planning, design, and management course in a Tourism program.  The results indicate that a simulation-based instructional strategy helps to improve the student's perspective by adding a way of applying the information in the course. The sequencing placement of the simulation does not have a large effect upon the outcomes of the course


Persistent pathogens, such as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), have evolved a variety of immune evasion strategies to avoid being detected and destroyed by the host's immune system. A dynamic cross talk appears to occur between the HSV-1 Latency-Associated Transcript (LAT), the only viral gene that is abundantly transcribed during latency, and the CD8+ T cells that reside in HSV-1 latently infected human and rabbit trigeminal ganglia (TG). The reactivation phenotype of TG that are latently infected with wild type HSV-1 (i.e. LAT(+) TG) is significantly higher than TG latently infected with LAT null mutant (i.e. LAT(−) TG). Whether LAT promotes virus reactivation by selectively shaping a unique repertoire of HSV-specific CD8+ T cells retained in LAT(+) TG is unknown. In the present study, we assessed the frequency, function, and exhaustion status of TG-resident CD8+ T cells specific to 40 different epitopes derived from HSV-1 gB, gD, VP11/12 and VP13/14 proteins, in Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA-A*0201) transgenic rabbits infected ocularly with LAT(+) vs. LAT(−) virus. Compared to CD8+ T cells from LAT(−) TG, CD8+ T cells from LAT(+) TG: (i) recognized a broader selection of non-overlapping HSV-1 epitopes; (ii) expressed higher levels of PD-1, TIM-3 and CTLA-4 markers of exhaustion; and (iii) produced less TNF-a, IFN-g, and GzmB. These results suggest a novel immune evasion mechanism by which the HSV-1 LAT may contribute to the shaping of a broader repertoire of exhausted HSV-specific CD8+ T cells in latently infected TG, thus, allowing for increased viral reactivation.


Developmental changes in capacitative Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ release from intracellular stores were measured using fura‐2 fluorescence method during the pregnancy period (day 3—;18) in mouse mammary epithelial cells. Ca2+ release was identified with the transient intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) increase induced by thapsigargin addition in a Ca2+‐free solution. Capacitative Ca2+ entry was measured by the transient [Ca2+]i increase induced by re‐addition of extracellular Ca2+ after depletion of Ca2+ stores by thapsigargin. The capacitative Ca2+ entry was greatest at the early stage of pregnancy (i.e. day 3 of pregnancy) and decreased as pregnancy progressed, while Ca2+ release remained unchanged throughout the developmental stages. These findings indicate that in contrast to Ca2+ release, a close correlation exists between capacitative Ca2+ entry and pregnancy‐induced development in mammary epithelial cells. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Four types of dual-function gates were used to semiautomate basin and border irrigation systems. These gates open to admit water to a field and then close to terminate irrigation. They were released or tripped by timers, electric solenoids or a trip-cord gate release system. Gate descriptions and construction information are presented for (I) dualpanel combination gates, (2) butterfly gates, (3) linear actuator-operated jack gate, and (4) pipe turnouts in unlined ditches. The gates were field tested in different basin and border systems. An improved border system with combination gates reduced irrigation time from five half-days to two, compared to the previous system which used siphon tubes. On a manual basis, prior to completion of the control system, irrigation application efficiency was 68%. A battery-powered linear actuator was an effective means of semiautomating a jack gate. A drop-closed gate on the inlet and a flexible droptube on the outlet of a pipe turnout provided a low-cost means of semiautomating irrigation in unlined ditches.


Background: Transmission of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) threatens patient safety in healthcare facilities. As a result of a 2011 outbreak of blaKPC+ Klebsiella pneumoniae, the NIH Clinical Center (NIHCC) has prioritized early detection and isolation of CPO carriers, using point-prevalence surveys and targeted high-risk ward surveillance since 2011 and admission surveillance since 2013. We describe our experience over 6 years of admission surveillance. Methods: The NIHCC is a 200-bed research hospital that provides care for a highly immunocompromised patient population. From September 2013 to September 2019, perirectal swabs were ordered automatically for all patients on admission to nonbehavioral health wards. Swabs were ordered twice weekly for ICU patients, weekly in other high-risk wards, and monthly for hospital-wide point prevalence (excluding behavioral health). Patients hospitalized in the United States in the previous week or abroad in the previous 6 months were considered high risk for carriage and isolated pending results from 2 swabs. Most swabs (n = 37,526) were cultured onto HardyCHROM CRE. If gram-negative bacilli (GNB) were present, a molecular screen for carbapenemases was performed on a sweep of cultured material (day 1) pending organism isolation. GNB were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Prior to June 2019, isolates were screened by blaKPC/blaNDM PCR. Starting in June 2019, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were screened using the phenotypic modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM), reflexing to the GeneXpert CARBA-R molecular assay if positive; other GNB were tested directly with CARBA-R. Selected GNB underwent susceptibility testing (Sensititre). Whole-genome sequencing was used to assess relatedness among CPO isolates. Swabs from high-risk patients were tested directly by blaKPC PCR (n = 699) until August 2019 (most in parallel with culture) and thereafter by CARBA-R (n = 13). Results: Among 54,188 orders for perirectal swabs, 38,238 were collected from 14,497 patients (compliance 71%). Among 33 CPO-colonized patients identified from September 2013 through September 2019, 15 were identified on admission, 6 were identified in point-prevalence surveys, 8 were identified from high-risk ward surveillance, and 4 were identified from clinical cultures. Sequencing demonstrated no relatedness among CPO isolates. Although only 1.4% of patients sampled on admission were colonized with CPO, those meeting high-risk criteria were 21 times as likely to be colonized. Conclusion: Admission surveillance for CPO identified a low rate of colonization, but it detected nearly half of known CPO-colonized NIHCC patients over the past 6 years. Modest compliance with swab collection leaves room for improvement and likely results in missed instances of colonization. Although we cannot determine its effectiveness, we view our strategy as one of several key safety measures for our highly vulnerable patient population. Funding: None Disclosures: None


Submarine jet processes are inferred from glaciomarine facies exposed in gravel pits in southwestern coastal Maine. The geometry and distribution of fan facies depend on (1) the proximity to the grounding line and stream effluxes, (2) the angle of jet trajectory from glacier conduits, and (3) sediment remobilization processes. Syndepositional glaciotectonic deformation further augments morainal bank formation through pushing and squeezing of fan sediments at the grounding line. Complex process-sediment interactions along the temperate tidewater margin of the Laurentide ice sheet are recorded in the facies architecture of sedimentary sequences in morainal banks. Morainal bank accumulation was governed by rapid fluvial deposition, and outwash jet dynamics that controlled the spatial distribution of sedimentary facies. Near the grounding line, meltwater dynamics change rapidly where sediment-laden fresh water is discharged at or near the sea floor. Turbulent mixing with ambient sea water and discharge fluctuations cause rapid changes in flow competence, accompanied by the dumping of bed-load gravel and sand at the apices of grounding-line fans in the morainal banks. Jet trajectory relative to the morainal-bank slope determines whether a jet will make contact with the morainal bank. Gravel and sand remain in bed-load traction as long as the jet is in contact with the morainal bank. Bed-load dumping and settling of the coarse suspended load occurs where buoyant forces in the jet overcome momentum forces or where the jet is deflected by the morainal bank. Below these buoyant jets, backflow eddies can produce currents that drive ripple migration toward the grounding line. Abrupt facies changes record fluctuations in jet discharge and trajectory and sediment redistribution by sediment gravity flows initiated near the grounding line.


Existing therapies for the treatment of chronic heart failure still have some limitations and there is a pressing need for the development of new therapeutic modalities. The amniotic membrane has been used for the treatment of various diseases, such as conjunctive defects; however, the mechanisms behind its repair functions are still unclear. Regenerative medicine is seeking newer alternatives and among them, biomaterials have emerged in recent years for developing and manipulating molecules, cells, tissues or organs grown in laboratories in order to replace human body parts. Many such materials have been used for this purpose, either synthetically or biologically, in order to provide new medical devices. This review provides a wider view of the regeneration potential of the use of amniotic membrane as a potential biomaterial to facilitate the implementation of new research in surgical procedures. Amniotic membrane appears to be an alternative source of stem cells as well as an excellent biomaterial for cell-based therapeutic applications in engineering heart tissue.


INTRODUCTION:
Over a period close to a century since, operative treatment of intertrochanteric fractures has begun, it has become the most frequently operated fracture all over the world, and poses critical problems such as high cost of care, sub-optimal functional recovery, higher post-operative mortality and social disability to the elderly population. Also, to the surgeon it poses the risks of loss of stable anatomical reduction, implant failure and early postoperative recovery in these patients.
Various modalities of operative treatment have evolved over a period of time and the choices of implants vary with fracture pattern. Proximal Femoral Nailing has evolved as a first line choice of procedure for intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures. In the recent times Proximal Femoral Nailing is being tested with newer advancements such as Antirotation and Anti-rotation II types each having its own bio-mechanical differences for increased stability and both advantages and disadvantages over one another.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
The aim of the study is to compare and analyse the functional outcome of patients with Unstable Trochanteric fractures managed with Proximal Femoral Nailing Anti-rotation II (PFN AII) against Proxmial Femoral Nailing (PFN).
OBJECTIVES:
Comparisons in the functional outcome will be made on the objectives such as intra operative time, blood loss, time for union, Hip range of motion, wound and local complications, Harris Hip Score.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This study is a prospective study with a sample of 20 patients with unstable trochanteric fractures of femur. Of this 10 were treated with Proximal Femur Nail (PFN) and 10 treated with Proximal Femoral Nail Anti-rotation II (PFN A II) at Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Govt Rajaji hospital, Madurai. Patients were selected from among the admissions to the Orthopaedic ward in the Department of Orthopaedics and recruited into the study prospectively.
RESULTS:
Patients were followed up every 2 weeks till fracture united and thereafter at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Clinically, tenderness at fracture site, limb length discrepancy, range of movements, deformity were assessed at each follow up and a standard proforma for Harris Hip Score evaluated.
The age groups varied from 52 years to 75 years with the mean age of 60 years in patients treated with PFN A II. The age groups varied from 51 years to 67 years with the mean age of 58.2 years in patients treated with PFN. Boyd & Griffin Type II (Unstable type) being the most common in our study constituting 75% of the patients followed by Type IV pattern constituting around 15% and then Type III constitutes 10% of the patients.
Time taken for surgery was calculated from the time of skin incision to the closure of the skin. The average time taken for surgery in the group of patients treated with PFN is 91.5 minutes and PFN A II is 65.5 minutes. There is a significant difference statistically between the two groups proven by the p value < 0.05.
The average blood loss during surgery in the group of patients treated with PFN is 300ml and PFN A II is 238ml minutes. There is a significant difference statistically between the two groups proven by the p value < 0.05.
Union of the fracture is assessed by the Standard Digital Anteroposterior radiograph of the Pelvis with operated hip. The average time of union in weeks for patients operated with PFN is 15.6 weeks and in patients operated with PFN A II is 12.4 weeks. There is a significant difference
statistically between the two groups proven by the p value < 0.05.
Harris Hip Score (HHS) is calculated with the standard scoring sheet. Patients are asked for the Pain around the hip joint, activities of daily living, range of motion calculated and deformities are assessed if present. Although is a definite difference between the union rate within the two groups it is not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION:
Incidence of Unstable Intertrochanteric fractures is on the rise and is also compounded by various fracture dependent and independent factors (like Osteoporosis, renal failure etc.) Proximal Femoral Nail (PFN) for the management of these fractures is a time tested implant that stood for a very long time. The recently introduced PFN A II (Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation II) is found to be equal and sometimes better alternative for PFN in terms of lesser surgical time & faster union rate even though it has comparable functional outcome (as calculated by Harris Hip Score) with PFN.


Background: Premenopausal, high-risk, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients areoften treated with ovarian suppression in combination with aromatase inhibitors (AI). Thiscombination results in important adverse effects, particularly in sexual function, such as vaginaldryness and loss of libido. Vaginal estrogen is effective but may elevate serum estradiol levelsand, theoretically, may increase recurrence risk. Vaginal testosterone is also commonlyprescribed to ameliorate symptoms, though its safety remains uncertain, with limited availabledata. In our study, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy, particularly regarding sexualfunction, of a low-dose, topical testosterone gel administration.Methods: This is a pilot, single-center study, designed to evaluate the efficacy of topicaltestosterone gel (3 mg/ml/per day) in improving sexual function in 30 premenopausal patientson ovarian suppression in combination with an AI. The primary safety endpoint was todetermine serum estradiol, measured by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (E2) on amonthly a basis for 3 consecutive months. The primary efficacy endpoint was assessed by meansof the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire, that include various domains of sexualfunction such as libido, sexual satisfaction and vaginal lubrication. The score can range from 2to 36, being 2 the lowest and 36 the highest sexual satisfaction. Patients had to have a baselineE2 of less than 2.7 pg/ml prior to study entry.Results: Herein, we report the preliminary results on the first 20 patients. The mean age was39.3 years, 85% had early or locally advanced disease and 15% had metastatic disease. Tenpatients completed the 3-month treatment, while five are still on therapy. Four of the 20discontinued treatment, mainly due to logistical difficulties during the follow-up visits. Onepatient had a localized allergic reaction and, also, discontinued treatment. A total of 15 patientsmaintained the value of E2 of less than 2,7 pg/ml during the 3-month treatment in all 3measurements. We observed an improvement in FSFI measures over the visits, with an increasefrom a mean of 10.2 at baseline to 19.4 at the third month (P<0.001), with the greatestimprovement observed between the second and third months.Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggest that topical testosterone appears safe andeffective in improving sexual function in patients on ovarian suppression and aromataseinhibitor. Further studies are clearly warranted.
 Citation Format: Patrícia Taranto, Diogo de Brito Sales, Luciano de Melo Pompei, Alessandro Leal, Gustavo Schvartsman, Antonio Carlos Buzaid. Safety and efficacy of low dose topical testosterone for sexual function improvement in women with breast cancer under treatment with ovarian suppression and aromatase inhibitor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-05.


The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and collaborating partners have been introducing and disseminating short season soybean varieties among farm households in the Sudan savannas of Northern Nigeria since 2008. This study estimated the impact of soybean production on nutrition of 0-5 year children and dietary diversities of the households in Kano State, Nigeria of the early maturing soybean. A total of 1133 children (488 girls and 645 boys) across the three LGAs of Bunkure, Shanono and Dawakin Tofa, aged between 0-60 months were surveyed using the variables (WFA) Weight for Age, (HFA) (Height for Age) and WFH (Weight for Height). The anthropometric indices were used to obtain the Z scores of sampled children (age 1-5 years). Results of the anthropometric indices from the study generally showed a low prevalence of malnutrition among the children sampled for all the nutritional variables. Majority of the children fall within the normal Z score values (Z > -1). Across the LGAs, malnutrition is noticed only among children of the non-soybean producing households in Shanono LGA. Findings from the study showed that the frequency of the intake of soybean related meals compares favorably with the intake of cereals and other legumes related meals across the 3 LGAs on daily, weekly and monthly basis.


Dimensionality reduction has been an active research topic in hyperspectral image analysis due to complexity and non-linearity of the hundreds of the spectral bands. Locality preserving projection (LPP) is a linear extension of the manifold learning and has been very effective in dimensionality reduction compared to linear methods. However, its performance heavily depends on construction of the graph affinity matrix, which has two parameters need to be optimized: k-nearest neighbor parameter and heat kernel parameter. These two parameters might be optimally chosen simply based on a grid search when using only one representative kernel parameter for all the features, but this solution is not feasible when considering a generalized heat kernel in construction the affinity matrix. In this paper, we propose to use heuristic methods, including harmony search (HS) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), in exploring the effects of the heat kernel parameters on embedding quality in terms of classification accuracy. The preliminary results obtained with the experiments on the hyperspectral images showed that HS performs better than PSO, and the heat kernel with multiple parameters achieves better performance than the isotropic kernel with single parameter.


Nanostructured NiCrAlY coating was deposited by cold spray, using a milled powder for applications as a bond coat to thermal barrier coating. A shot-peening treatment was then applied to the as-sprayed coating to modify the coating surface morphology. The oxidation behavior of the coating with the shot-peened surface was investigated under isothermal oxidation at 900°C and 1,000°C for different times. The oxidation behavior of the coating was characterized through surface morphology and cross-sectional microstructure by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that a uniform oxide layer was formed on the surface of the shot-peened nanostructured NiCrAlY coating during oxidation at temperatures of 900°C and 1,000°C. The nanostructure of the initial coating possibly promoted rapid formation of α-Al2O3 oxide. It was clearly revealed that the surface morphology of the coating significantly impacted the morphology of the oxide. The surface geometry of the cold-sprayed MCrAlY coating must be modified to promote formation of a protective oxide film during oxidation, through application of a post-treatment process such as shot-peening.


This thesis consists of three essays in financial economics. In the first chapter, I test for the existence of a new channel through which politicians can exchange favors with campaign donors: different payment periods in procurement contracts. I explore an electoral reform that bans corporate contributions. The reform partially breaks down the relationship between donors and politicians: firms that donate in the previous election can no longer commit to contributing with the same intensity in the next election. Using a within-firm difference-in-differences identification strategy, I find that the payment period to firms that donate to the coalition government increases by five days after the reform. I study the heterogeneity of this effect and find that it is larger in municipalities with low liquidity and for contracts allocated through competitive procurement methods. The results provide an explanation – preferential treatment after the bidding stage – for the persistent evidence of quid pro quo even in competitive auctions. Moreover, the results point to the importance of designing rules that curb discretion over payment periods. In the second chapter, co-authored with Jesus Gorrin and Jose Morales, we study the trade effects of increases in violence following the Mexican Drug War. A focus on exports allows us to control for demand shocks. We compare exports of the same product to the same country of destination, but produced in municipalities with different exposure to violence after a close electoral outcome. We show that municipalities that are exogenously exposed to the Drug War experience a 45% decrease in export growth on the intensive margin. Large exporters suffer larger effects, along with exports of more complex, capital-intensive, and skill-intensive products. Finally, we provide evidence consistent with violence increasing marginal exporting costs. In the the third chapter, I study tax and redistributive policies in a dynastic model that features borrowing constraints, occupational choice and preferences for bequests. Borrowing constraints arise from moral hazard. In the absence of taxes, individuals that start with different levels of wealth converge to different steady-states, and poverty traps may occur. The introduction of inheritance taxation creates a trade-off: on the one hand, they tighten borrowing constraints, and thus they deplete the short-run aggregate productivity of the economy; on the other hand, they can be an instrument to fight poverty traps, wealth inequality and, in some cases, maximize long-run aggregate productivity.


Hybrid [18F]sodium fluoride PET-MRI was used to evaluate the relationship between the bone metabolic response to exercise and joint changes over two years in osteoarthritic (OA) knees, including changes in cartilage T2 relaxation times as well as structural changes in bone and cartilage. Regions in OA knees that experienced structural changes over two years had increased PET metabolic bone response to exercise compared to regions that did not. Bone response to exercise may be a useful metric to predict joint changes in OA.


Pioneer transcription factors have the unique and important role of unmasking chromatin domains during development to allow the implementation of new cellular programs. Compared with those of other transcription factors, this activity implies that pioneer factors can recognize their target DNA sequences in so-called compacted or "closed" heterochromatin and can trigger remodeling of the adjoining chromatin landscape to provide accessibility to nonpioneer transcription factors. Recent studies identified several steps of pioneer action, namely rapid but weak initial binding to heterochromatin and stabilization of binding followed by chromatin opening and loss of cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) methylation that provides epigenetic memory. Whereas CpG demethylation depends on replication, chromatin opening does not. In this Minireview, we highlight the unique properties of this transcription factor class and the challenges of understanding their mechanism of action.


Incorporating source syntactic information into neural machine translation (NMT) has recently proven successful (Eriguchi et al., 2016; Luong et al., 2016). However, this is generally done using an outside parser to syntactically annotate the training data, making this technique difficult to use for languages or domains for which a reliable parser is not available. In this paper, we introduce an unsupervised tree-to-sequence (tree2seq) model for neural machine translation; this model is able to induce an unsupervised hierarchical structure on the source sentence based on the downstream task of neural machine translation. We adapt the Gumbel tree-LSTM of Choi et al. (2018) to NMT in order to create the encoder. We evaluate our model against sequential and supervised parsing baselines on three low- and medium-resource language pairs. For low-resource cases, the unsupervised tree2seq encoder significantly outperforms the baselines; no improvements are seen for medium-resource translation.


Either naturally infected or artificially inoculated sweet cherry (Prunus avium) buds on fruit spurs (mainly containing generative buds) and on 1-year-old shoots (mainly containing vegetative buds) were examined for presence of Colletotrichum acutatum prior to the beginning of spring growth in each of 4 years. Artificial inoculations were made during the growing seasons preceding the bud sampling. The plant material was incubated moist for either 14 (fruit spurs) or 21 (1-year-old shoots) days at 20°C. Following moist incubation at 20°C, C. acutatum frequently sporulated on buds of fruit spurs and shoots. The fungus sporulated in orange, short-thread or hornlike structures, mainly on distal parts of the buds, and was usually easily visible with the unaided eye. The incidence of infected buds on naturally infected and inoculated fruit spurs was 2 to 80% and 38 to 79%, respectively. Incidence on naturally infected and inoculated shoots was 0 to 53% and 4 to 45%, respectively. On buds within fruit spurs, the incidence of C. acutatum was significantly higher on generative than on vegetative buds. This investigation shows that buds can host C. acutatum and thus are likely to be an important source of primary inoculum for anthracnose of sweet cherry.


In this paper I wish to demonstrate how research can illuminate practice and inform curriculum and teaching decisions. I shall draw attention to three areas where I believe research contributes to the development of music education. These are: assessment of the musical work of students, the evaluation of curriculum activities, the relationship between music in schools and music beyond the school gate.