Abstract Rationale: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare non-familial polyposis syndrome characterized by multiple gastrointestinal polyps with the ectodermal triad. To date, many complications of CCS have been reported in the literature, but perianal condyloma acuminatum with malignant transformation has not been included. Patient concerns: This report presents the case of a 52-year-old Chinese man who presented with diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. He developed skin pigmentation and atrophy of the fingernails and toenails. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy, and enteroscopy revealed diffuse polyps along the entire digestive tract. Histopathological examination revealed polyps of different pathological types dominated by hamartoma. Physical examination revealed a crissum cauliflower-like neoplasm (2.5 × 2.0 cm). After perianal tumor resection, pathology suggested that this was a perianal condylomatous lesion with malignant transformation, as well as well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Diagnoses: These clinical features and endoscopic findings were consistent with CCS which associated with perianal condyloma acuminatum with malignant transformation. Intervention: Clinical remission was achieved with glucocorticoid, azathioprine, and nutritional support. Outcome: At the 4-year follow-up, the patient had no diarrhea or loss of appetite, had gained 13 kg in weight, and the perianal tumor had not recurred. Lessons: No previous report has described CCS in a patient with perianal condyloma acuminatum with malignant transformation. As both conditions are related to immune disorders, their occurrence may be correlated.


Biomedical research has brought to the fore the issue of which rights and duties we have to each other and society. Several scholars have advocated reframing the notion of participation, arguing that we have a moral duty to participate in research from which we all benefit. However, less attention has been paid to how we justify and defend the concept of self-determination and what the implications are in a biomedical setting. The author discusses the value and importance of self-determination on the basis of the framework of the liberal-communitarian debate. Biobank research is used as an example of a project wherein, through our participation, we confirm our sense of belonging to society and acknowledge our mutual dependence on each other. We need a richer concept of self-determination that encompasses both liberal and communitarian insights in order to make sense of the value we attach to self-determination.


Abstract Celebrity endorsement is a common instrument in marketing. Celebrities are also present in commercials, and this phenomenon is nowadays a trend. This kind of publicity has a high potential since customers are pulled into the VIPs. They are overpowered by their regular daily existence, so they need standards and good examples. This is the motivation for using superstar brand envoys in advertisings as an excellent promoting technique of brands and products. In the period of data and promotions, the tributes can get the consumers' consideration in publicizing and to expand how the promoted item is being perceived. This is because of their fame, glamour, elegance and charisma. For this reason, the marketers are looking for popular, famous, beautiful, positive testimonials to drive a company's image and its products. The celebrity brand ambassadors thus play a significant role in a brand's advertisement and reputation, but also in the consumers' lives. The stars' everyday lives, their conduct, the products they use, affect the attitude of the customers of life and the decision to purchase. The purpose of this paper is to determine if celebrity endorsement works for all the consumers or the perception of this trend is different according to the gender of the people. Two groups of customers were asked about celebrity endorsement whether their appearance in ads affects their decision and the desire to purchase a product or not. Recent results have shown that there are still differences between the two categories of customers, men and women, in the perception of celebrity endorsement. All of them think advertising is important, and sometimes they change their choices according to a product's advertisement. The difference is that women appear to believe more in the endorsements of celebrity brands and their impact effect on the product being marketed than men, who are more pragmatic and reticent about this trend.


With rapidly growing circuit density and the demand for low power supply to ICs in high-speed printed circuit board (PCB) design, board emission issues tend to seriously deteriorate the power distribution network (PDN) on PCBs. Among a variety of proposed PDN designs and guidelines, the use of edge-mounted capacitors to suppress board emissions is validated by measurements. The results demonstrated that the edge-mounted capacitors can effectively reduce the board edge emissions from a few MHz to 1 GHz. It is believed that the capacitors' inherent equivalent series inductance (ESL) limits the suppression of PDN impedance and board emissions above 1 GHz. In this paper, the impact of ESL on the board emissions will be analyzed. Simulation results show that the ESL of the edge-mounted capacitors of a few nH still provide a low PDN impedance for the power/ground plane pair. For ESL of a few uH or larger, the capacitors cannot effectively suppress the emissions and radiation. In addition, larger ESL will bring down the first board resonant frequency of the PDN impedance from above 1 GHz to few hundred MHz. Hence, a narrower frequency band with low PDN impedance.


Introduction Recently, the critical roles of CD47 on the surface of resistant cancer cells and its ligand, signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα), have been proposed in their evasion of immunosurveillance. Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a subtype of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma that shows serous lymphomatous effusion without tumor masses in body cavities especially in advanced advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The lack of optimal therapy combined with the aggressive nature of PEL results in a short median survival of less than 6 months. There is therefore a need for the development of new therapies. In this study, we transplanted PEL cells intraperitoneally into immunodeficient mice and evaluated the effect of targeting CD47-SIRPα signal with anti-CD47 antibody (Ab) and NOD-specific SIRPα on PEL. Methods Surface CD47 expressions of six PEL cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from six different donors were examined by flow cytometry. The antiproliferative activities of anti-CD47Ab against PEL cell lines were measured by the methylthiotetrazole (MTT) method. Efficacy of anti-CD47 Ab-mediated phagocytosis against PEL was evaluated using mouse peritoneal macrophages and human macrophages in vitro. In a direct xenograft mouse model, primary PEL cells were injected intraperitoneally into NOD/Rag-2/Jak3 double-deficient mice to assess the in vivo efficacy of anti-CD47 Ab. To clarify the effect of NOD-specific SIRPα on PEL, we compared the phagocytic activities of peritoneal macrophages against PEL and the in vivo engraftment of PEL among Rag-2/Jak3 double-deficient mice with NOD and non-NOD (Balb/c and C57/BL6) genetic backgrounds. Organ invasion by PEL cells was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Results Surface CD47 of PEL cell lines was highly expressed compared with that of PBMC. Anti-CD47 Ab did not have a direct antitumor effect against PEL cell lines. Treatment with anti-CD47 Ab promoted phagocytic activities of mouse peritoneal macrophages and human macrophages in vitro. In addition, the expression of CD47 was significantly correlated with the fold increase of phagocytic activity. Treatment with anti-CD47 Ab inhibited the ascites formation and organ invasion completely in vivo compared with control IgG-treated mice. Anti-CD47 Ab-treated mice seemed to stay in healthy and show no apparent change. Although the numbers of peritoneal macrophages were not different among Rag-2/Jak3 double-deficient mice with NOD and non-NOD genetic backgrounds, the phagocytic activity in NOD mice was significantly decreased compared with non-NOD mice. Consistent with the data of phagocytosis assay, the development of PEL cells in NOD mice was superior to those in non-NOD mice. Conclusions CD47 and SIRPα play the pivotal role in the immune evasion of PEL. NOD-specific SIRPα polymorphism has been reported to produce signals for macrophages not to engulf human cells. Thus, NOD-specific SIRPα is considered to contribute to the attenuation of macrophage phagocytosis and enable the development of PEL. CD47-SIRPα signal could be a therapeutic target for the immunotherapy of PEL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Four cases with defects at varying sites were reconstructed with the medial genicular flap. Three cases utilized free microvascular skin flaps based on the saphenous artery and one case a pedicled flap based on the same artery. All flaps survived well with satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. Regional anatomy is briefly reviewed, dissection of the flap is described in detail, and some special technical points are mentioned.


Abstract. In the western Mediterranean Sea, the RADMED monitoring programme is already conducting several of the evaluations required under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD) along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The different aspects of the ecosystem that are regularly sampled under this monitoring programme are the physical environment and the chemical and biological variables of the water column, together with the planktonic communities, biomass and structure. Moreover, determinations of some anthropogenic stressors on the marine environment, such as contaminants and microplastics, are under development. Data are managed and stored at the Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia (IEO) Data Centre that works under the SeaDataNet infrastructure, and are also stored in the IBAMar database. In combination with remote sensing data, they are used to address open questions on the ecosystems in the western Mediterranean Sea.


Consumer digital access services—internet, mobile phone, cable TV, and streaming—accounted for over 2 percent of U.S. household consumption in 2018. We construct prices for these services using direct measures of volume (data transmitted, talk time, and hours of programming). Our price index fell 12 percent per year from 1988 to 2018 while official prices moved up modestly. Using our digital services index, we estimate total personal consumption expenditure (PCE) prices have risen nearly 1/2 percentage point slower than the official index since 2008. Importantly, the spread between alternative and official PCE price inflation has increased noticeably over time.


In carrying on our interest in heteropolycyclic structures with biological activities, we projected the preparation of compounds containing the pyrido[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazine or pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]triazepine systems. The established synthetic approach for the preparation of latter system led to the triazine derivatives 5a-f while a new bicyclic triazepine structure 6 is accomplished with difficulty.

In expanding the pyridotriazine structure, we obtained derivatives of a new tricyclic structure, 5-substituted-6a-ethyloxycarbonyl-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydropyrido[2,3-e]pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-9(8H)-ones 8 in which the triazine ring is fused with a pyrrole nucleus.

Compounds 5a-f and 8a,b will be tested as potential CNS depressant, antiinflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial agents.


Due to the outstanding electrical and physical properties of two-dimensional Nitrogenated Holey Graphene (C2N) based sensors, they have become increasingly important. In comparison to other solid-state sensors, C2N-based sensors are very sensitive, stable, and responsive. The conductivity of C2N changes when exposed to a wide range of organic and inorganic substances. Different target molecules are being detected using this change in electrical conductivity as a detection signal. With first-principles transport simulation, a sensor device built from Nitrogenated Holey Graphene (C2N) sensor is designed for DNA nucleotides detection. The transverse currents of this sensor can be used to discriminate between the four DNA nucleotides. A C2N-based sensor is simulated in this article using Quantumwise Atomistix Toolkit (ATK), a simulator for nanoscale semiconductor devices. Calculations have been made to determine how the work function, density of state, and electric current vary when target molecules are present. To increase the sensor's selectivity and accuracy, the current has been considered as a detecting mechanism. When target molecules are present, the change in work function and the electric current can both be used as detection signals.


Photonic IC is an attractive information processing means to fully utilize the enormous bandwidth carried by the optical signals. The full integration of photonics devices, such as tunable lasers, modulators and photodetectors have to be developed and which can be obtain by using the Quantum Well Intermixing technology. This paper will explore on the wavelength tunability using different Quantum Well Intermixing techniques, such as impurity induced diffusion and impurity-free vacancy diffusion. Emphasis will be put on the development of very recent innovations and applications.


Taking the in situ measurements as the driver, the traditional remote sensing models modeling approaches emphasize particularly on the least total errors between the modeled estimate and the measurements while ignore its local error status, which may lead to a large warp between the modeled prediction and the observation at some position. Considering such default of general approach, the present paper developed the subsection mapping retrieval algorithm (SMRA), which decomposes the mapping mechanism between the water qualities and its optical parameters into several subsection functions, and each subsection function is determined by the in situ measurements (named nodes as follows) and an interpolating function. The analysis results of subsection mapping retrieval algorithm based on Newton interposing algorithms indicate that the algorithm keeps the inversion results accuracy at nodes, and is preferably suitable for regression estimate of the complicated relationship between the parameters. Additionally, the method has a great theoretical meaning for the standardization of the sampling interval and sample number in water qualities experiments. Combined with the analysis results of the Landsat/TM imagery and the experimental data of Taihu Lake, it could be known that the SMRA is preferably suitable for describing the relationship between remotely sensed pa rameters and water qualities, especially for complicated case II water bodies such as Taihu Lake.


Background: Mississippi Bridge to Independence (B2I) was Mississippi's Money Follows the Person (MFP) program seeking to rebalance the state's long-term care system by transitioning Medicaid beneficiaries from institutional living to home- and community-based settings (HCBS). Success of initial transitions has been documented in state cost-savings and participants' quality of life increases. However, reinstitutionalization poses a challenge to sustaining a positive outcome for the initiative. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the underlying causes of participants' reinstitutionalization. Methods: The Quality of Life (QoL) survey designed by Mathematica Policy Research was used to measure variables in 7 categories. Data was collected from 399 participants in face-to-face interviews over a 4-year period (2012– 2016). Results: Among participants, 71.9% (n = 287) completed the B2I program successfully, whereas 8.27% (n = 33) were reinstitutionalized. Utilizing the logistic regression model, results determined elderly people were 15 times and those with physical disabilities were 5 times more likely to be reinstitutionalized than those with intellectual disabilities. Among 7 QoL variables, 2 were found to be significant: "Happiness" and "Choice and Control." Conclusion: Implications from this study can be important to sustaining the project, developing new policies, and advancing community-supportive infrastructure in Mississippi.


In this study we examined the perceptions of 1,852 senior college students' knowledge, skills, and abilities as freshmen and as seniors at a large research-intensive university in the southeastern United States. From a list of twelve core skills (e.g., critical thinking, writing, oral communication, leadership), we examined the underlying factors at both freshman and senior levels and explored differences by gender and by academic discipline. Using principal components factor analysis two distinct dimensions were extracted: (1) collaborative learning skills and (2) personal development.  Using multiple multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA), we found significant differences between male and female students in their perception of their skills and abilities both as entering and graduating college students in their oral communication skills, interpersonal skills and their ability to communicate with people different from themselves. Students from different academic disciplines (Engineering, Business, and Liberal Arts and Human Sciences) tended to perceive their proficiency level differently in terms of their interpersonal skills, leadership skills and ability to communicate with people different from themselves. Knowing areas where students differ in their skills and abilities can help faculty, administrators, and staff to re-examine curricula and to offer opportunities for all students to realize the personal, social, economic, and occupational benefits of a college education.


Sulfur (S) isotopes have been used to apportion the amount of biogenic and anthropogenic sulfate in remote environments, an important parameter that is used to model the global radiation budget. A key assumption in the apportionment calculations is that there is little isotope selectivity as reduced compounds such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) are oxidized. This paper describes a method to determine, for the first time, the S isotope composition of methanesulfonic acid (MSA), the product of DMS oxidation. The isotope composition of MSA was measured directly by EA-IRMS and was used as an isotope reference for the method. Synthetic mixtures approximating the conditions expected for aerosol MSA samples were prepared to test this method. First, MSA solutions were measured alone and then in combination with MSA and SO4(2-). In synthetic mixtures, SO4(2-) was separated from MSA by precipitating it as BaSO4 prior to preparation of MSA for isotope analysis. The delta 34S value for MSA solutions was -2.6 per thousand (SD +/- 0.4 per thousand), which is not different from the delta 34S obtained from MSA filtrate after precipitating SO4(2-) from the mixture (-2.7 +/- 0.3 per thousand). However, these values are offset from direct EA-IRMS analysis of MSA used as the isotope reference by -1.1 +/- 0.2 per thousand, and this must be accounted for in reporting MSA measurements. The S isotope measurements using this method approach a limiting value above 300 microg of MSA. This is approximately equal to the MSA found in 20,000 m3 of air, assuming ambient concentrations of approximately 15 ng m(-3). Three samples of MSA from the Pacific Ocean measured using this technique have an average delta 34S value of +17.4 +/- 0.7 per thousand.


Finance—Credit and Banking O developments in the banking situation during recent weeks include the amendment to the Federal home loan bank law extending the circulation privilege to additional issues of Government bonds, as mentioned on page 9. and the enactment of the emergency relief and construction act of 1932. In addition to providing new funds to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation for advances on construction and other purposes, the latter provides for direct loans by the Federal Reserve banks to individuals, partnerships, and corporations. Such loans are to be made only in "unusual and exigent circumstances . . . . provided the individual, partnership, or corporation is unable to secure adequate credit accommodations from other banking institutions. This introduces a new element into our central banking practice since heretofore the discount facilities of the reserve banks have been available only to member banks and Federal intermediate credit banks. Safeguards provided by the law and the regulations issued by the Federal Reserve Board are expected to protect the liquidity of the reserve banks in carrying out its provisions. Statistics of the reporting member banks reveal a continued shrinkage in outstanding bank credit. Since June 29, the loan account of the reporting member banks has declined by a further $354,000,000, of which $192,000,000 represented the decline in "all other loans. During the same period the investments of the reporting member banks increased $180,000,000 as a result of purchases of Government securities. The portfolio of other securities was reduced by $65,000,000, the banks not having added to their security holdings, aside from "governments," during the current rise in the bond market. Similarly, their loans against securities have declined at the same time brokers loans have remained stationary. Thus, security market purchases on the recent rise apparently were not made by the extensive use of bank credit. Federal reserve credit outstanding continued to expand during July, but during the current month has shown a tendency to contract, mainly as a result of an increase in gold holdings and a decrease of money in circulation. After the middle of July, reserve purchases of Government securities were reduced to a rate of about $5,000.000 a week. Improvement in the banking situation since June is reflected in the decline in the number of bank suspensions with a larger drop in the deposit liabilities involved and a decline in the amount of hoarded currency. Bank deposits made available through the reopening of banks in July were larger than the amount tied up in suspensions. Money in circulation has recently shown a tendency to decrease, whereas normally there is a seasonal increase at this period of the year. The rise in bond prices has also strengthened the banks, through the resultant increased value of their security holdings. Bank debits, outside New York City, have continued to decline, the July total being 32 per cent below a year ago in comparison with an average decline for the elapsed seven months of the year of 30 per cent.


Thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes typically used for drinking water treatment applications are susceptible to fouling by natural organic matter (NOM) which adversely affects the permeation and separation efficacy. Here, new thin film nanocomposite (TFN) NF membranes were fabricated through the incorporation of amine functionalized-boron nitride, BN(NH2), nanosheets within the polypiperazine amide (PPA) active layer during the interfacial polymerization (IP) process to improve the fouling resistance of membranes. Physical and chemical characterization investigations confirmed the successful embedment of nanosheets within the PPA network and revealed changes in the membrane surface morphology and chemistry as a result of BN(NH2) addition. Accordingly, the membrane containing 0.004 wt% of BN(NH2) nanosheets (PPA-BN-4) exhibited a more negatively charged and hydrophilic surface compared with a bare PPA membrane, both prepared under similar experimental conditions. These characteristics correlated well with 13.4% enhancement in permeation of the PPA-BN-4 membrane without significantly compromising the NOM rejection in terms of ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV254) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The normalized flux also retained a very high value at 0.97 during the filtration of moderately-concentrated humic acid (HA) solutions which confirms the excellent fouling resistance behaviour of the PPA-BN-4 membrane. The highly reproducible results achieved in this study indicate the great potential of BN(NH2) TFN membranes in practical drinking water treatment applications.


This article is proposed as an analysis of the artistic works which were interested in including movement representation or pointing to the attainment of kinetic art. Before incorporating the real movement in art works, there have been different attempts to represent it: by poses, instant grasp, or action narrative suggestion, and also by giving form to different movement stages. Thus, in this study we define two possible itineraries: "Representing the Movement" goes through the different approximations to movement representation from the pictorial and photographic practice, and "Presenting the Movable" does the same from the sculpture. We will travel through the path that covers the first trials to represent and fix something that moves in order to conquer the movable art itself, where the work becomes process and event, and it is developed, finally, into a time and space expanded action.


VOLUME I: BASIC SCIENCE INHERITED RETINAL DISEASE AND TUMORS PART 1 BASIC SCIENCE AND INHERITED RETINAL DISEASE Section 1 Anatomy and physiology Section 2 Virtual psychophysics Section 3 Ocular immunology Section 4 Evaluation Section 5 Genetics Section 6 Retinal degenerations and dystrophies Section 7 Principles of vitreoretinal therapy PART 2 TUMORS OF THE RETINA, CHOROID, AND VITREOUS Section 1 Tumors of the retina Section 2 Tumors of the retinal pigment Epithelium Section 3 Choroidal melanoma and related issues Section 4 Other tumors of the choroid Section 5 Intraocular lymphoid tumors Section 6 Tumors of the vitreous VOLUME II: MEDICAL RETINA Section 1 Normal retinal anatomy and function Section 2 Pathologic responses Section 3 Treatment principles Section 4 Macular disease Section 5 Retinal vascular diseases Section 6 Inflammatory disease Section 7 Other disease Section 8 Optic nerve VOLUME III: SURGICAL RETINA Section 1 What normally keeps the retina attached? Section 2 Retinal reattachments: Surgical principles and techniques Section 3 Special adjuncts to treatment Section 4 Complicated forms of retinal detachment Section 5 Vitreous surgery additional applications


Summary form only given. Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing systems as well as mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) possess the same decentralized nature. However, P2P and MANETs operate on different network layers, a combination of both appears to be promising. In this paper, we study the use of mobile agents for locating documents asynchronously in this environment, and compare it to its counterpart of locating document synchronously. We are interested in locating more documents even if this takes a longer time. Meanwhile, we do not want to flood the network with requests, or misuse the resources at its nodes. The performance of the system is analyzed by simulating an ad-hoc network, studying the characteristics of this network and comparing it using both synchronous and asynchronous approaches in locating documents. The asynchronous approach shows more success in locating far-from-reach documents, while maintaining a very reasonable level of network traffic and resource consumption.


Fallopian tubes, are one of the critical components of the female genital tract, providing environment for transport of gametes, the fertilization process and passage of the zygote to the uterus. Recent clinical studies reinforced a focus on the Fallopian tube and its potential contribution to the etiology of serous ovarian carcinoma (Dietl et al. 2011). Previously, we have shown that the Wnt signaling pathway plays a role in regulation of epithelial homeostasis within a tubal mucosa and the tissue response during the infection processes (Kessler et al. 2011). We were interested in identifying epithelial progenitors which could mediate cell renewal and turnover in the epithelium. Primary epithelial cells were isolated, from the clinical fragments of human fallopian tube. In addition to expression of epithelial markers (EpCAM and Cdh1) we could confirm presence of cells with robust expression of pluripotency markers OCT4, NANOG, SOX2 and CD133. This suggests existence of not only differentiated epithelial cells within the culture but also of epithelial progenitor cells and actively proliferating cells, which might explain detected rapid growth of the culture. Cells were seeded in 3D within a Matrigel matrix, to ensure an in vitro environment which closely resembles the in vivo situation. Knowing about the importance of the Wnt pathway for epithelial homeostasis in the tube, as it is as well the case for well characterized ex vivo models of gastrointestinal tract cells (Sato et al 2009), we have provided a cocktail of growth factors stimulating Wnt (R-spondin1, Wnt3) in addition to the Noggin and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Only in the presence of EGF, cells aggregated in a ball-like compact mass. Stimulation of Wnt pathway on the other hand resulted in formation of "organoid" like hollow structures resembling the epithelium of mucosal folds. Indeed, confocal imaging of paraffin sections revealed an epithelial monolayer of apico-basal polarized cells within the organoid like structures as assessed by polarity markers like Muc1. Interestingly, individual cells within organoid like structuress were positive for SOX2 while OCT4 was detected in broader domains. Activity of Wnt signaling in the organoid like structures was confirmed using live cell imaging of a lentiviral GFP-TCF reporter. Organoid like structures could be grown and maintained in vitro by serial passage. Furthermore, testing of the effects of growth factors on polarization and growth of cells in 2D culture revealed a positive effect of Noggin on proliferation of epithelial progenitors, while the complete "organoid" cocktail promoted cell adhesion and differentiation. Taken together, we find evidence for existence of pluripotent progenitor cells within the Fallopian epithelium. Identification of a stem cell niche in vivo and investigation of its stemness potential would be of great importance for the understanding of pathological sequels in the female genital tract. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3373. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3373


Objective: To determine the incidence of brain tumours at King AbdulAziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over eight year period. Design: Retrospective study. Sitting: King Abdul Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah Saudi Arabia. Subjects: Patients with intracranial tumours. Results: The overall average annual incidence rate for the adult population at KAUH was found to be 6.5 x 105. The most common brain tumour in adults at KAUH was metastatic brain tumour (28.5%). The average annual incidence rate in paediatric patients at KAUH was found to be 5.2 x 105. The most common paediatric brain tumour at KAUH was astrocytoma (37.1%). The results show that the overall incidence of brain tumours at KAUH was 6.0 x 105, in line with other studies that reported incidence rates ranging from 4.5 to 14.5 x 105 Conclusions: The pattern of brain tumours at KAUH felt within the range of international figures for brain tumours in both adults and children


Summary form only given. We fabricated p-BaSi2/n-Si solar cells by forming a 20-nm-thick B-doped p-BaSi2 epitaxial layer (p = 2.2 × 1018 cm-3) on an n-Si(111) substrate (ρ = 1-4 Ω·cm) by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). 3-nm-thick amorphous-Si was deposited on the p-BaSi2 surface to prevent the surface oxidation. According to the band alignment of p-BaSi2/n-Si heterojunction, the separation of photogenerated minority carriers is promoted at the heterointerface. We recorded conversion efficiency of 9.0 % under AM1.5 illumination at room temperature. Short-circuit current density of 31.9 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage of 0.46 V, and fill factor of 0.60 were obtained. These results suggest the potential of BaSi2 for solar cell application.


We report on a new fabrication process of anti-dot and multiple quantum wire transistors based on InAs/AlGaSb heterostructures with conventional photolithography and wet chemical etching. Starting from the square arrays of a mask, anti-dot arrays of circular shape were fabricated utilizing the unique etching properties of this material system, which are quite different from those of its counterpart GaAs/AlGaAs. Successful formation of the anti-dot structures was confirmed by magnetotransport measurements. For the fabrication of multiple quantum wire transistors, we introduced a GaAs regrowth as a hole barrier between the gate electrode and the InAs channel layer to eliminate the inherent gate leakage current for this material system and to obtain good device performance. By optimizing the fabrication process, we succeeded in forming quantum wires with a width as narrow as 100 nm. The device performance of the quantum wire transistor is compared with that of conventional two-dimensional electron gas transistors.


Certain aspects of the new theory of gravitation proposed in a recent paper are examined in greater detail. It is shown that in the smooth fluid approximation the familiar Einstein equations follow as a result of a specific conformal transformation. The equations of the the theory differ from those of Einstein in the neighbourhood of a particle, however. This is illustrated by means of an explicit solution. Criticisms of the theory by other authors are considered and discussed.


Tf e technology of hard coatings based on stoichiometric titanium nitride thin films has been inovated since the past few years in order to fulfill the demands for better performance and lower processing cost put by the large x a l e industrial users. The different strategies used to improve the performance consist in (i) modifying the coating composition by introducing otlier elements than T i and N in the film (multicomponent coatings), (ii) modifying the c ~ ~ t t i n g structure by using multilayered composites, and (iii) altering the coating density an3 porosity by using plasma and ion beam assisted processes. A11 these different strategies bring about new materials which have to be characterized as an essential part of the refearch and development work. In the present article the use of ion beam analyses is de jcribed (mainly Rutherford backscattering and nuclear reaction analyses) to characterize the thickness, composition, depth profile, contamination and structure of new thin film protective coating materials based on titaniun nitride.


This book explores how the combination of place based writing and location based technologies are producing new kinds of literary experiences. It shows how situated literary experiences delivered through text and audio running on and sensor based technology systems like smartphones offer distinctive new forms of reading, listening and looking. We argue that such encounters constitute new literary forms in which the authored text lies at the heart of an embodied and mediated experience. The visual, sonic, social and historic resources of place become the elements of a live and emergent mise-en-scene. In each case, there are specific techniques of narration, including, for instance, hallucination, memory, history, place based writing, and drama, as well as reworking of traditional forms of narrative including the novel as well as cinematic and audio storytelling. Such techniques are combined with the work of app design, user experience design, interaction, software authoring, networked content management, localization, and GIS (geographical information systems) to produce 'ambient' experiences where the user is taken through a textual and sonic space that engages with the world surrounding us but doesn't aim to map it, navigate it or be an 'enhanced guidebook'. These experiences are temporary, ambiguous, and unpredictable in their meaning but, unlike the theatre, the gallery, or the cinema they take place in the everyday shared world.


Cardiac work is a major determinant of heart size and growth. Heterotopic cardiac isografts are hemodynamically unloaded and undergo atrophy. To determine the molecular changes that occur as a result of hemodynamic unloading, we have studied the rate of synthesis of total cardiac proteins and myosin heavy chain (MHC) and the expression of the myosin heavy chain gene as reflected in the messenger RNA levels for alpha- and beta-MHC isoforms. 72 h after transplantation there is a significant decrease in left ventricular size accompanied by a 27% decrease in the rate of total cardiac protein synthesis and a 53% decrease in the rate of myosin heavy chain synthesis. In contrast to isografts 14 d after transplantation which have a decrease in protein synthetic capacity, simultaneous measurements of 18S ribosomal RNA and myosin messenger RNA suggest that after 3 d the decrease in synthesis is due to a change in the efficiency of protein translation. While the working in situ heart expresses primarily alpha-MHC mRNA (97%) hemodynamic unloading leads to a 43% decrease in alpha-MHC mRNA concentration and the de novo expression of the beta-MHC mRNA. Total MHC mRNA (alpha plus beta) concentration analyzed by a quantitative S1 nuclease protection assay was similar in the two groups of hearts. Thus, in association with hemodynamic unloading there are changes in cardiac myosin heavy chain content as a result of both gene transcription and protein translation mechanisms.


The upstream ecological integrity facing anthropogenic pressures has been assessed linked to the community of aquatic insect larvae inhabiting. This paper evaluate the ecological integrity of the Panasen Stream by determining the distribution and environmental parameters affecting the community of aquatic insect's larvae in the Tondano Watershed. Physical and chemical parameters such as temperature, velocity, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, Turbidity, Hardness, Total Suspended Solids, Ammonia and Total Phosphate Water were collected. PCA analysis showed that current velocity, depth and width of the stream greatly affected the distribution and abundance of aquatic insect larvae, precipitation and substrate. Land use and active volcanic results in unsustainable anthropogenic activities have contributed to lowering the water quality, low species richness and weak ecological integrity of the Panasen Stream. Keywords: aquatic insect larvae; ecological integrity; panasen stream


Chromones (1-benzopyran-4-ones) and chromone derivatives are naturally occurring compounds ubiquitously found in the plant kingdom, and therefore present in representative amounts in a normal human diet. These phytochemicals possess a wide spectrum of biological activities – such as anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumour and anticancer – mainly due to their well-recognised antioxidant properties, which stem from their ability to neutralise active forms of oxygen and to cut off free radical processes. Since oxidative stress is known to be the basis for numerous severe pathologies, from cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders to cancer, the development of effective antioxidant agents from natural origin (namely dietary constituents) has been the object of vigorous research in the last decade, in view of establishing novel chemopreventive strategies against such diseases which are nowadays the main cause of death worldwide. In fact, the chromone moiety is an important element of pharmacophores of many biologically active molecules displaying diverse medicinal applications. These potential health benefits arising from the antioxidant activity of chromone derivatives are ruled by strict structureactivity/structure-property relationships, which, apart from determining their biological action, modulate their systemic distribution and bioavailability in sites of oxidation within the cell. The present work aims at reviewing the main reported studies on the cytoprotective and anticancer activities of chromone derivatives, with particular emphasis on the effect of their structural features and conformational behaviour on activity, which is the basis of a tailored design of novel chromone-based antioxidants for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic


Uncontrolled diabetes over time leads to microvascular and macrovascular complications. Diabetes leads to a major impact on heart, eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and nerves. Diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular complications such as CAD, heart attack, stroke, chronic infections, skin problems, opportunistic systemic alterations cause lifetime disability as well as even death. Hence, the present study aimed at to assess the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on knowledge regarding diabetic complications among diabetes patients at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. A quantitative quasi-experimental research design with one group pretest and post-test was obtained. Purposive sampling technique was followed among 60 diabetic patients and data were collected by using structured questionnaires. Pretest demographic data and knowledge were assessed, and then STP was implemented regarding diabetes complications. Posttest knowledge were assessed after 1 week and analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that pretest mean score of knowledge was 11.62 + 4.60 whereas in the post-test mean score was 26.88 + 2.98. The mean difference is 15.27. The calculated paired 't' value of t = 30.0824 was found to statistically significant at p<0.0001 level. This clearly shows that the STP imparted to patients with diabetes mellitus had significant improvement in the post-test level of knowledge regarding diabetic complications. The studies concluded that there is a significant difference between the pre-test and posttest level of knowledge. Hence, the Structured Teaching Programme implemented in this study is effective to develop knowledge regarding diabetic complications among diabetic patients.


The cellular silicon, nitrogen, and carbon content and the kinetics of silicic acid use were determined for Thalassiosira weissflogii grown under nutrient-replete, iron-deficient, and zinc-deficient conditions to assess the effect of metal deficiency on dlatom silicon metabolism. Ironand zinc-deficient T weissflogi~ cells contained 40 and 66% more silicon, respectively, than their nutrientreplete counterparts. Low Zn and low Fe also increased cellular C and N content. Low Zn increased cellular carbon by 55 % and cellular N by 41 %. Low Fe increased cellular C and N by 68 and 45 %, respectively. Fe stress did not alter cellular Si/N ratios significantly, but Si/C ratios declined by 17%. In contrast, Zn stress increased SVC and Si/N ratios by 41 and 53%, respectively. Both Zn and Fe stress dramatically altered the kinetics of silica production by T weissflogii. Zn deficiency increased the half saturation constant (K,) 64 ",, and decreased the maximum specific uptake rate (V,,,) by 60%. In contrast, Fe stress did not affect the value of K,, but decreased V,, by 66%, similar to the decrease observed under low Zn. The decrease in V,,,,, in Zn-deficient cells was almost entirely due to the higher biogenic silica content of the metal-deficient cells. The decline in V,, under Fe stress resulted from both the increase in cellular silica content and a 50% decline in the cellular uptake rates for silicic acid. The results indicate that Fe and Zn availabihty can significantly alter silicification in diatoms and affect the number and efficiency of silicon transport molecules in the cell membrane.


A biopolymer is a naturally occurring polymeric substance formed from individual molecules in a biological system. Biopolymers can also be synthetic by manipulation of the individual molecules once obtained outside the biological system. In the present investigation, attempts are made to investigate the basic mechanisms of dynamic fracture in a polyester biopolymer. Izod impact tests of polyester were carried out per ASTM-D256 standard and at different temperatures to establish the basic mechanisms; crack initiation, crack propagation, and final fracture. Scanning electron microscopes (SEM-JEOL 5910 LV and LEO 1430 VP) were used to investigate the fracture morphologies in polyester. SEM studies revealed that crack initiation in polyester was by shear yielding mechanism, and the crack propagation region was characterised by crack branching mechanism and the presence of striations.


In general terms, it is not possible to establish symbolic explicit analytic expressions of the operating point and transient analysis for circuits containing diodes modelled using an exponential function. Therefore, this work propose replacing the diode for an equivalent circuit obtained by using a power series and a Taylor series consecutively. Finally, we present a symbolic solution for some circuits that include diodes; resulting for the best case: for DC analysis a relative error of 1E-11 and for transient analysis a relative error ≤ 5E-4.


This article discusses Keith DeRose's discussion of the lottery problem in chapter 5 of his recent The Appearance of Ignorance. I agree with a lot of it but also raise some critical points and questions and make some friendly proposals. I discuss different ways to set up the problem, go into the difference (quite relevant here) between knowing and ending inquiry, propose to distinguish between two different kinds of lotteries, add to the defense of the idea that one can know lottery propositions, give a critical discussion of DeRose's contextualist solution to the problem, and support his defense against an absurdity objection with additional arguments.


Vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) can substantially improve traffic safety and efficiency by providing a communication platform between vehicles and roadside units (RSUs) to share real-time information on traffic and road conditions. Two essential security requirements for VANETS are data authentication and the preservation of the privacy of vehicle owners. Conditional privacy-preserving authentication (CPPA) schemes address both of these security requirements. The existing CPPA schemes either require a tamper-resistant device (TRD), which is vulnerable to key exposure based on physical attacks, or require continuous communications of vehicles with RSUs, which significantly increases the communication overhead. This paper addresses both of these problems by proposing a provable secure, and efficient CPPA scheme. We prove the privacy-preserving property of our scheme in the random oracle model and show that it offers anonymity, unlinkability, and tamper detection even if a physical attacker succeeds in compromising an individual OBU. Moreover, the performance analysis of our scheme shows a substantial improvement in communication cost, especially in comparison with RSU-aided schemes that require continuous vehicle communication with roadside units and a Trusted Authority (TA).


Rationale: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has emerged as a less invasive method to obtain a tissue diagnosis in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The diagnostic yield of TBLC compared to surgical lung biopsy (SLB) remains uncertain. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of forceps transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and TBLC compared to SLB when making the final diagnosis based on multidisciplinary discussion (MDD). Methods: Patients enrolled in the study underwent sequential TBLB and TBLC followed immediately by SLB. De-identified cases, with blinding of the biopsy method, were reviewed by a blinded pathologist and then discussed at a multidisciplinary conference. Main Results: Between August 2013 and October 2017, we enrolled 16 patients. The raw agreement between TBLC and SLB for the MDD final diagnosis was 68.75% with a Cohen's kappa of 0.6 (95% CI 0.39, 0.81). Raw agreement and Cohen's kappa of TBLB versus TBLC and TBLB versus SLB for the MDD final diagnosis were much lower (50%, 0.21 [95% CI 0, 0.42] and 18.75%, 0.08 [95% CI −0.03, 0.19], respectively). TBLC was associated with mild bleeding (grade 1 bleeding requiring suction to clear) in 56.2% of patients. Conclusions: In patients with ILD who have an uncertain type based on clinical and radiographic data and require tissue sampling to obtain a specific diagnosis, TBLC showed moderate correlation with SLB when making the diagnosis with MDD guidance. TBLB showed poor concordance with both TBLC and SLB MDD diagnoses.


Hepatitis C viral clearance after receiving direct acting drugs had been established that results in reduced morbidity and mortality due to chronic liver disease, however how this affects clinical outcomes in patients with already established cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PH) is still controversial. We aimed to assess the effect of direct acting antivirals on portal hemodynamics by Doppler ultrasound in patients with post hepatitis C cirrhosis. Fifty patients with post hepatitis C cirrhosis as documented by Ultrasound. All patients received direct acting drugs for 12 weeks except for 2 patients received treatment for 24 weeks. Laboratory tests (liver function tests, complete blood picture, alpha feto protein, renal function tests, serum HBs antigen, Quantitative PCR for HCV RNA, modified Child-Pugh Score, Model for End stage Liver Disease Score (MELD) calculation, Ultrasound examination and Doppler ultrasound for assessment of (portal vein flow velocity (PVV), congestion index (C I), hepatic Arterial pulsatility and resistive indices (HAPI, HARI), and Liver vascular index (LVI) were performed before, at end of therapy and 6 months after the end of treatment for all patients. Twenty six male (52%) and 24 females (48 %) were included, their mean age 57.360, 46 patients were Child A. 47 patients achieved sustained virological response (SVR). Serum albumin, bilirubin, ALT, AST, hemoglobin, white blood cells and alpha feto protein were improved significantly 6 months later. As regard Doppler parameters there was a highly significant increase in Portal vein flow velocity (PVV) and liver vascular index (LVI), and decrease in congestion index (C I) ( P value< 0.001) at end of therapy and 6 months after end of therapy, hepatic artery pulsatility (HAPI) and resistive index (HARI) were significantly decreased at end of therapy (P value= 0.020, 0.008 respectively) and at 6 months after end of therapy(P value =0.011,<0.001 respectively). Achieving Sustained virologic response by the use of directacting antivirals in HCV related cirrhosis, improve liver blood flow and liver perfusion. K e y w o r d s HCV, Cirrhosis, Portal hypertension, Doppler, Direct acting antivirals Accepted: 26 September 2020 Available Online: 10 October 2020 Article Info International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 10 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(10): 3705-3714

https://www.ijcmas.com/9-10-2020/Amira Shaaban Soliman, et al.pdf


Immunology education in US schools and colleges of pharmacy do not have a standardized curriculum. Half of 142 colleges of pharmacies have a dedicated course of Immunology with three fourth of them in the first year of pharmacy education. Although it is a part of core curriculum yet more private than public schools allocate about 3 credit hours. Chicago State University College of Pharmacy offered a new 2-credit course of "Pharmacy Immunology'' in the fall of 2021 to twenty-four second year pharmacy students for the first time. Ten lectures on basic immunology, i.e., innate and adaptive immunity, prepared the students to understand disorders and diseases associated with the immune system. Four workshops of 3-hours each, on Hypersensitivities, Autoimmunity, Transplantation and Tumor Immunology were added to the syllabus. The workshops employed a Modified Flipped Classroom, Team-Based Learning (TBL), Case-Based Learning (CBL), YouTube videos as a combination of various teaching methods. The course was offered as a standard in-class on-campus module. Student's performance was assessed by tRAT and iRAT. Data of student performance and perception was collected and analyzed. 58.3% of students agreed that the workshop's mode of learning helped them. TBL appealed to 29.2%, CBL 45.8%, and PowerPoint lectures 79.2% of the students. Overall, 33.3% of the students disliked workshops as a tool for offering an interactive educational tool. Assessment data confirmed that the pass rate was 100%, with 20.8% passing in iRAT as compared to 79.2% in tRAT. Final assessment and course evaluation data suggest that a hybrid approach including a blended learning technique was the best option, catering for the needs of most students having a diverse learning style.


Legal restrictions theory suggests that interest-bearing money would dominate if there were no legal impediments precluding competition with non-interest-bearing currency. There are very few historical examples with meaningful issues of interest-bearing currency, however, and these tend to occur during extreme circumstances like civil war. The Ottoman Empire in the 1840s offers an unusual opportunity to observe large-scale issuance of interest-bearing notes under stable conditions over an extended period of time. This experience features government-issued interest-bearing money circulating in the absence of legal restrictions – with the data pointing to a liquidity preference favouring the smaller denominations most useful in daily transactions.


Systemic γ-aminobutyric acid produces a rapid, sustained, but transiently reversible blockade of evoked axodendritic excitatory postsynaptic potentials in neonatal cortex when the "barrier" operating to restrict its passage has been altered by various experimental procedures. The data obtained under these conditions indicate the existence of well-developed synaptic pathways in the superficial neuropil of immature cortex.


In the crystal structure of the title compound, C16H19O6P, intermolecular O—H⋯O interactions link the molecules into chains parallel to the b axis. These chains are linked by C—H⋯π and π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.7307 (29) Å] into a three-dimensional network. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 73.5 (1)°. The C and O atoms of all four methoxy groups lie very close to the mean planes of their attached rings; the C atoms are 0.055 (2)–0.1038 (1) Å out of the mean plane of the attached rings.


In this paper, we present the complete structure of a quasi-Keplerian thin accretion disk with an internal dynamo around a magnetized neutron star. We assume a full quasi-Keplerian disk with the azimuthal velocity deviating from the Keplerian fashion by a factor of ξ (0 < ξ < 2). In our approach, we vertically integrate the radial component of the momentum equation to obtain the radial pressure gradient equation for a thin quasi-Keplerian accretion disk. Our results show that, at large radial distance, the accretion disk behaves in a Keplerian fashion. However, close to the neutron star, pressure gradient force (PGF) largely modifies the disk structure, resulting into sudden dynamical changes in the accretion disk. The corotation radius is shifted inward (outward) for ξ > 1 (for ξ < 1), and the position of the inner edge with respect to the new corotation radius is also relocated accordingly, as compared to the Keplerian model. The resulting PGF torque couples with viscous torque (when ξ < 1) to provide a spin-down torque and a spin-up torque (when ξ > 1) while in the advective state. Therefore, neglecting the PGF, as has been the case in previous models, is a glaring omission. Our result has the potential to explain the observable dynamic consequences of accretion disks around magnetized neutron stars.


This study presents the natural and recreational prerequisites for the formation and development of the cross-border tourism industry in the Kazakh-Russian border region in the context of modern integration processes. The purpose of the research is to identify the main natural and recreational resources in the border regions of Northern Kazakhstan, among which the border regions are Kostanay, Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan regions, and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation bordering on them. The scientific significance of the article is determined by the fact that it analyzes the natural and recreational resources of 10 regions of the Kazakh-Russian borderland as a basis for the formation and development of joint tourist destinations. The main research method is a spatial analysis of the location of natural and recreational resources of border areas using modern software, as a result of which maps of natural and recreational resources in the study area were compiled. In the course of the study, it was revealed that the Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Altai Krai, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions of the Russian Federation have the greatest potential for the development of cross-border tourism.


In the Shulehe River Basin, policy of resettlement was very effective in handling agricultural development and livelihood problems in regions of poverty limited by topography, climate, or infrastructure. Thus, since 1996–1997, the Shulehe River Basin resettlement project transferred roughly 7.5×104 people from areas of Dingxi, Longxi or Minxian which could not offer sufficient resources for the residents. Meanwhile, construction facilities such as the reservoir, which underpins the resettlement project, also triggered an internal migration of people away from the reservoir to other parts of the Shulehe River Basin. This large scale migration derived apparent effects in water resources, land use and cover change, agricultural structure as well as landscapes. Results show that total arable land expanded by 3.1×108 m2, cattle numbers maintained a stable level of 1×104, pigs declined to a low level due to market trends, and sheep numbers soared from 17.44×104 to 73.57×104. However, greening and afforestation increased while croplands maintained a rational tendency accompanying with greening area expansion. From the standpoint of integration, the Shulehe River Basin resettlement policy fulfilled its previous goals of improving the inhabitants' livelihood and the capacity of environment when spatial residues including environmental capacity and resources consumption for sustainable development are still positive conditions.


Aim. To estimate the structure of large arteries of musculoelastic and muscular types in persons with instable stenocardia in different age groups and to assess manifestation and prevalence of atherosclerotic process. Materials and methods. Sixty six persons with instable stenocardia were examined. Ultrasound investigation of arteries was performed, vascular wall thickness to internal and external arterial diameter and to intima-media complex (IMC) thickness ratio indices were calculated, echostructure of atherosclerotic plaques was determined. Results. It was established that in different age decades, among patients with instable stenocardia there occurs growth in internal and external diameters, more marked in muscular type arteries, as well as increase in IMC and wall thickness. Conclusions. With each decade of life there occurs increase in the number of atherosclerosis-affected vascular pools and atherosclerotic plaques as well as percentage of instable atheromas.


We sought to identify whether reductions in cutaneous active vasodilation during simulated orthostasis could be assigned solely to cardiopulmonary or to carotid baroreflexes by unloading cardiopulmonary baroreceptors with low levels of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) or unloading carotid baroreceptors with external pressure applied over the carotid sinus area [carotid pressure (CP)]. Skin blood flow was measured at a site at which adrenergic function was blocked via bretylium tosylate iontophoresis and at an unblocked site. During LBNP of -5 and -10 mmHg in hyperthermia, neither heart rate (HR) nor cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) at either site changed (P > 0.05 for both), whereas forearm vascular conductance (FVC) was reduced (-5 mmHg: from 21.6 +/- 4.8 to 19.8 +/- 4.1 FVC units, P = 0.05; -10 mmHg: from 22.3 +/- 4.0 to 19.3 +/- 3.7 FVC units, P = 0.002). LBNP of -30 mmHg in hyperthermia reduced CVC at both sites (untreated: from 51.9 +/- 5.7 to 43.2 +/- 5.1% maximum, P = 0.02; bretylium tosylate: from 60.9 +/- 5.4 to 53.2 +/- 4.4% maximum, P = 0.02), reduced FVC (from 23.2 +/- 3.6 to 18.1 +/- 3.3 FVC units; P = 0.002), and increased HR (from 83 +/- 4 to 101 +/- 3 beats/min; P = 0.003). Pulsatile CP (45 mmHg) did not affect FVC or CVC during normothermia or hyperthermia (P > 0.05). However, HR and mean arterial pressure were elevated during CP in both thermal conditions (both P < 0.05). These results suggest that neither selective low levels of cardiopulmonary baroreceptor unloading nor selective carotid baroreceptor unloading can account for the inhibition of cutaneous active vasodilator activity seen with simulated orthostasis.


We present a study of the dynamics of protein aggregation using a common path heterodyne Bloch surface wave sensing scheme. We demonstrate the ability to detect, during thermal incubation, the early events linked to the aggregation of proteins related to conformational diseases. Alzheimer's amyloid-β 1-42 is used to demonstrate the efficiency of the method. A model based on elementary interactions is shown to describe accurately the aggregation process. The described sensing scheme is sensitive to the early events of the aggregation process. is hence proposed as a method for the detection of early stages of the evolution of conformational diseases.


IMPORTANCE
Obstructing tracheobronchial diseases in children can be treated by a variety of techniques. The nonfiberoptic delivery of the carbon dioxide laser coupled to a rigid bronchoscope has rarely been described for this purpose and has unique advantages over other treatment methods.

OBJECTIVES
To report the indications, safety, efficacy, and limitations of the carbon dioxide laser delivered through a rigid bronchoscope for tracheobronchial lesions in the pediatric population.

DESIGN
Case series of patients undergoing treatment for tracheobronchial lesions at a single institution from December 2, 2001, through December 14, 2011.

SETTING
Tertiary care children's hospital.

PARTICIPANTS
Seventeen patients aged 3 months to 17 years with endotracheal and endobronchial disease.

INTERVENTION
Carbon dioxide laser treatment through a rigid bronchoscope.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Reduction in tumor burden or improvement of ventilation.

RESULTS
A total of 234 laser bronchoscopies were performed on 17 patients. Mean operative time was 29 (range, 2-89) minutes. Blood loss and complications were minimal. Sixteen patients received carbon dioxide laser delivered through a rigid bronchoscope with a proximal coupler or flexible fiber. The most common indication was tracheobronchial granulation tissue (n = 10), followed by prolapsed cartilage causing tracheal obstruction (n = 3), recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (n = 2), and granular cell tumor (n = 1). Of these patients, 15 (94%) underwent successful treatment. One patient was treated electively with the Nd:YAG laser owing to a vascular malformation.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
The carbon dioxide laser delivered through a rigid bronchoscope is a suitable tool for managing nonvascular endotracheal and endobronchial lesions in the pediatric population. Its unique wavelength properties offer a safe, effective alternative to other lasers and open resection.


The regulation of gene expression by nutrients plays an important role in the overall manifestations of nutritional deficiencies. Insufficient intakes of dietary micronutrients, such as zinc, produce profound effects in multiple organs and tissues. One of the major challenges, however, is to identify genes affected by changes in nutritional status. Differential display of mRNA has proved to be a valuable technique in meeting this challenge. In our ongoing search for genes responsive to dietary zinc, we compared small intestinal mRNA from rats that were fed zinc-deficient or -adequate diets using differential display to generate 3' anchored expressed sequence tags (EST). EST for intestinal mRNAs with altered expression due to zinc deficiency include two peptide hormones, intestinal fatty acid binding protein, intestinal alkaline phosphatase II, a proteasomal ATPase, cis-Golgi p28 and two subunits of the ubiquinone oxidoreductase. The EST for one of the hormones yielded the sequence for the 3' end of an mRNA encoding preprouroguanylin and was used to clone the remaining portion of the rat cDNA via 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Northern blot analysis of RNA from rat intestine demonstrated that preprouroguanylin mRNA was 2.5-fold more abundant during zinc deficiency. Uroguanylin, a natriuretic peptide hormone, is an endogenous ligand for the same guanylate cyclase C that the Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) binds when it causes secretory diarrhea by activating the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, thus altering fluid balance in the intestine. This suggests a mechanism whereby zinc deficiency could induce uroguanylin levels in the intestine and cause or potentiate diarrhea.


Giant planets within the habitable zones of the closest several stars can currently be imaged with ground-based telescopes. Within the next decade, the Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) will begin to image the habitable zones of a greater number of nearby stars with much higher sensitivity, potentially imaging exo-Earths around the closest stars. To determine the most promising candidates for observations over the next decade, we establish a theoretical framework for the direct detectability of Earth- to super-Jovian-mass exoplanets in the mid-infrared based on available atmospheric and evolutionary models. Of the 83 closest BAFGK-type stars, we select 37 FGK-type stars within 10 pc and 34 BA-type stars within 30 pc with reliable age constraints. We prioritize targets based on a parametric model of a planet's effective temperature based on a star's luminosity, distance, and age, and on the planet's orbital semimajor axis, radius, and albedo. We then predict the most likely planets to be detectable with current 8 m telescopes and with a 39 m ELT with up to 100 hr of observation per star. Putting this together, we recommend observation times needed for the detection of habitable-zone exoplanets spanning the range from very nearby temperate Earth-sized planets to more distant young giant planets. We then recommend ideal initial targets for current telescopes and the upcoming ELTs.


Existing research spanning academic and industrial literature shows that due to the ever-increasing number of descriptions of BIM on top of a saturation of standards methods and procedures, with little evidence on how to achieve goals for truly collaborative BIM, a gap is forming between theoretical and applied BIM, and thusly reducing the potential advantages and benefits of implemented BIM. Objectives set as part of this research, post systematic review of both academic and industrial literature were to firstly define a common meaning of what collaborative BIM is through the development of a syntax to support a hypothetical infrastructure project utilising academic and industry BIM experts. This was then followed by bringing to the front the inefficiencies in their current form and define how the fundamental parts of BIM are assigned and then prioritised both qualitatively and quantitively, in order to enhance information clarity (goals and objective achievement) and inconsistency reduction towards better ways of implementation. Conclusive findings derived from this research states that information management was determined by the focus group in being the key and top-level component in achieving collaborative BIM, which was determined via the contribution and development of an objective focused implementation framework adapted from the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This methodology increases the certainty of goal attainment for project team members, by presenting them with a dynamic qualitative and quantitative methodology that guides, determines and agrees the objective focus in an adaptable method through focal clarity of the intended use and what is required to be achieved through the adoption of collaborative BIM for a range of stakeholders. In summary, the research findings herein assert the need and benefit of objectifying collectively agreed focus on the desire of collaborative BIM including a range of stakeholders. Furthermore, inconsistencies towards agreements of standardisation and quality assurance are revealed, which is countered and supported by the developed novel methodology, in order to reduce the impact of such lack of consensus going forwards towards seeking better understanding and thus implementation of collaborative BIM.


Background Breast reduction is an increasingly common procedure performed by Canadian plastic surgeons. Recent studies in the United States show that use of the inferior/central pedicle inverted T scar method is predominant. However, it is unknown what the practice preferences are among Canadian plastic surgeons. Objective The goal of the present study was to assess trends in breast reduction surgery among Canadian surgeons, including patient selection criteria, surgical techniques and outcomes. Method Surveys were distributed to plastic surgeons at the Canadian Society for Plastic Surgery meetings in 2005 and 2006. Completed surveys were obtained from 140 respondents, and results were analyzed with Excel and SAS software. Results There was a 40% response rate. The majority of surgeons (66%) used more than one technique for breast reduction. Most commonly, surgeons use the inverted T scar technique (66%) followed by vertical scar techniques (26%). The most popular vertical scar techniques included the Hall-Findlay (14%) and Lejour (13%) methods. Most surgeons (55%) reported complication rates of less than 5% and the most common complication reported was wound dehiscence. There was no difference in overall complication rates between inverted T scar and vertical scar surgeries. The majority of surgeons (98%) carried out breast reduction either exclusively as day surgery or in combination with same-day admission. Breast reduction performed as day surgery resulted in cost savings of $873 per patient. Conclusions Canadian plastic surgeons are performing more vertical scar breast reductions than American surgeons. However, both groups rely predominantly on inverted T scar techniques.


Anthropomorphism is the literary device, where animals and non-living things are attributed with human qualities like, speaking, analyzing and thinking. The main aspect of employing anthropomorphism in literature is to give life to the characters, though they are purely imaginative. This also enables the characters to talk about human beings and their behaviors. Anthropomorphic representation in the novels creates an additional interest among the readers to dive into it. R.K.Narayan's  A Tiger for Malgudi, is a novel,which revolves around the central character "A Tiger". The reminiscence of the tiger is effectively narrated by the author, where the reader experiences an emotional touch with it. The entire novel, clearly depicts, the tiger as a human being with aspiring human emotions.


AIM
The aim of the study was to determine the morphological and functional findings in a patient after methanol poisoning. Examination methods: The patient (male, 38 years old) was suffered methanol poisoning in eight years ago (2012). The following tests and examinations were performed: neurological visual field XR test (Medmont M700), retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC) and peripapillary vessel density (all using Avanti RTvue, Optovue), pattern electroretinography (PERG) and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) examination according to ISCEV methodology (Roland Consult Instrument) and brain MRI examination (Philips Achieva Dstream 3 T).

RESULTS
The biggest changes were found in RNFL and VD. PERG also showed damage to retinal ganglion cell axons. In left eye we determined decrease in oscillations (in comparison with contralateral eye) at N35-P50 and P50-N95. VEPs in both eyes were significantly reduced, almost inconspicuous in the left eye. Extension of latency time of P100 was not identified. Functional MRI showed a bilateral decrease in voxel activity with a greater decrease in the left eye. There were postmalatical changes in the dorsal parts of the putamen on MRI. The width of the optic nerve and chiasm was physiological.

CONCLUSION
Asymmetric damaging of RNFL and cortical centres of the brain were determined. We registered large pathological changes in VD, which are probably responsible for the deepening of optic nerve excavation and further loss of nerve fibers of retinal ganglion cells, which have not yet been described in the literature. Following these results is possible to define direct damage of nerve structures and blood vessels by toxins of methanol metabolism in the acute stage and upcoming reparation processes in following periods.


A system for the automatic inspection of LED wafer defects is proposed to detect defective dies in a four-element (aluminum gallium indium phosphide, AlGaInP) wafer. There are over 80000 dies on an LED wafer. Defective dies are typically visually identified with the aid of a scanning electron microscope. This process involves dozens of operators or engineers visually checking the wafers and hand marking the defective dies. However, wafers may not be fully and thoughtfully checked, and different observers usually find different results. These shortcomings lead to significant labor and production costs. Therefore, a solution that consists of two Hopfield neural networks, of which one is used to identify the LED die regions and the other is used to cluster the die into three groups, is proposed to facilitate the detection of defective dies in wafer images. The experimental results show that the proposed method successfully detects defective dies in a four-element wafer.


The paucity of rights issues in the US and the effect of the imputation tax system on share issuance in Australia allow us to examine the drivers of seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) in a unique setting. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the factors (information asymmetry, demand for capital, market timing and investor sentiment) that cause the number of seasoned equity offerings to vary over time. We find that in an imputation environment, cycles in total SEO issuance and private placements are driven by the demand for capital, whereas rights issue cycles are driven by investor sentiment. Our results suggest that as firms require capital for investment there will be an increase in SEOs driven by placements and that firms increasingly utilise rights issues when investor sentiment is high, thereby reducing the risk inherent in rights issues.


The very first scientific paper by the great Austrian geologist Eduard Suess (1831–1914), the dean of geologists internationally during his lifetime, treats the graptolites of Bohemia (the 'Barrandian'). This paper and most of his subsequent papers on palaeontology are accompanied by superb drawings of his observations in which Suess took great care not to insert himself between Nature as he perceived it in the framework of the knowledge of his day and his readers. In his drawings, he exercised what the great German geologist Hans Cloos later called 'the art of leaving out'. This meant that in the drawings, the parts not relevant to the discussion are left only in outline, whereas parts he wished to highlight are brought to the fore by careful shading; but even the parts left only in outline are not schematic, instead they are careful reconstructions true to Nature as much as the material allowed it. This characteristic of Suess' illustrations is seen also in his later field sketches concerning stratigraphy and structural geology and also in his depiction of the large tectonic features of our globe representing a guide to his manner of thinking. His illustrations in his early palaeontological work foreshadowed the later global geologist's approach to our planet (and the Moon!) as a whole.


Two phase flows are important in both normal and microgravity operations. Using our recently proposed dimensionless flow pattern maps for microgravity flows, we develop system specific flow pattern maps which can be used in designing such systems.
 In the second part, we compare the characteristics of micro-gravity annular flows with normal gravity downward co-current annular flows. It is found that the proper length scale for normalization in microgravity is the length scale defined using the friction velocities based on the pressure gradients. Using the universal velocity profile, we present a correlation for the mean film thickness h+ and the standard deviation h+rms for microgravity annular flows. A comparison of the interfacial friction factors and wave celerities shows that a higher friction factor and a larger celerity are observed in microgravity flows.


Meridional flow is thought to play a very important role in the dynamics of the solar convection zone; however, because of its relatively small amplitude, precisely measuring it poses a significant challenge. Here we present a complete time–distance helioseismic analysis of about 2 years of ground-based Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) Doppler data to retrieve the meridional circulation profile for modest latitudes in an attempt to corroborate results from other studies. We use an empirical correction to the travel times due to an unknown center-to-limb systematic effect. The helioseismic inversion procedure is first tested and reasonably validated on artificial data from a large-scale numerical simulation followed by a test to broadly recover the solar differential rotation found from global seismology. From GONG data, we measure poleward photospheric flows at all latitudes with properties that are comparable with earlier studies and a shallow equatorward flow about 65 Mm beneath the surface, in agreement with recent findings from Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) data. No strong evidence of multiple circulation cells in depth or latitude is found, yet the whole phase space has not yet been explored. Tests of mass flux conservation are then carried out on the inferred GONG and HMI flows and compared to a fiducial numerical baseline from models, and we find that the continuity equation is poorly satisfied. While the two disparate data sets do give similar results for about the outer 15% of the interior radius, the total inverted circulation pattern appears to be unphysical in terms of mass conservation when interpreted over modest time scales. We can likely attribute this to both the influence of realization noise and subtle effects in the data and measurement procedure.


The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is an emerging target due to its high expression in benign insulinomas as well as in islet cell hypertrophia/hyperplasia (nesidioblastosis) and pancreatic β-cells. In 2008, occult insulinomas were localized for the first time in men using the metabolically stable radiolabeled glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist [Lys40(Ahx-DTPA-111In)NH2]-exendin-4 (111In-DTPA-exendin-4). Afterward, several radiopharmaceuticals for GLP-1R PET/CT imaging were synthesized and evaluated, for example, [Nle14,Lys40(Ahx-DOTA-68Ga)NH2]-exendin-4 (68Ga-DOTA-exendin-4), [Cys40(MAL-NOTA-68Ga)NH2]-exendin-4 (68Ga-NOTA-exendin-4), and [Lys40(NODAGA-68Ga)NH2]-exendin-4 (68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4). Several prospective comparison studies provided evidence that GLP-1R PET/CT is significantly more sensitive than contrast-enhanced MRI (ceMRI), contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT), GLP-1R SPECT/CT, somatostatin receptor PET/CT, and SPECT/CT in the detection of benign insulinomas, and insulinomas in the context of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. As a result, the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society guidelines recommend GLP-1R imaging or selective intraarterial calcium stimulation and venous sampling (ASVS) in patients for whom there is a clinical suspicion of having an insulinoma but who have a negative ceMRI/ceCT or negative endoscopic ultrasound. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that GLP-1R PET/CT can visualize and localize adult nesidioblastosis. This is clinically relevant as the distinction between focal and diffuse nesidioblastosis is critical in directing a therapeutic strategy in these patients. Prospective studies have proven the clinical relevance of GLP-1R imaging as it is often the only imaging modality able to localize the insulinoma or nesidioblastosis. It is therefore likely that this noninvasive imaging modality will replace the invasive localization of insulinomas using ASVS. More experimental indications for GLP-1R imaging include the diagnosis of an insulinoma/nesidioblastosis in patients with postprandial hypoglycemia after bariatric bypass surgery and monitoring β-cells in patients with brittle type 1 diabetes after islet-cell transplantation. We believe that these indications and possibly future indications will bring GLP-1R imaging to the clinic.


A new multi-wavelength solar telescope, Optical and Near-infrared Solar Eruption Tracer (ONSET), is constructed by Nanjing University, being run in cooperation with Yunnan Astronomical Observatory. ONSET is able to observe the Sun in three wavelength windows: He I 10830 A, H α and white-light at 3600 A or 4250 A. Full-disk or partial solar images with a field of 10 arcmin at three wavelengths can be obtained nearly simultaneously. It is designed to trace solar eruptions with high spatial and temporal resolutions. This telescope has been installed at a new solar observing site near the Fuxian Lake, Yunnan Province. The site is located at E102N24, with an altitude of 1722 m. The seeing is stable and very nice. We give a brief description of the scientific objectives and the basic structure of ONSET. Some preliminary results are also shown.


This study investigated factors which could explain the decline of student numbers at the University of Transkei. The findings indicated that the choice of the institution was made principally by the respondents themselves based on their career directions. However, affordability, in terms of the fee structure, prospects for financial assistance and proximity to their homes also came out as major determinants in the respondents' ultimate choice of the institution. The institution's public image and stability, the quality of staff, institutional facilities and availability of other resources for teaching and learning, administrative efficiency, friendliness of staff, admissions and course registration procedures, the language of instruction, fairness in the allocation of facilities and other resources, as well as the treatment of students on an equal and fair basis, all played a major role in attracting students. Catering and hostel facilities were not major factors in the students' choice of the institution. South African Journal of Higher Education Vol.16(2) 2002: 122-129


Climate variability is frequently associated with instances of dry spells and droughts, which principally result from highly variable rainfall and increasing temperatures. In mixing agro ecosystems, these phenomena primarily affected crop and livestock practices of smallholder farmers through generating social, economic and environmental losses. Resulting water scarcity, in quality and quantity, at household and landscape level is likely to negatively affect major water dependent livelihoods. In the event of associated and perceived climate variability impacts, households in Wote area of Eastern Kenya at individual level institute adaptations to manage these impacts. The present study used semi structured questionnaires and a focus group discussion to populate household's perceptions and adaptation mechanisms. This study results revealed that households perceived that climatic change and associated impacts are getting more severe. These include instances of higher temperatures and more variable season onset and a wide range of ecosystem deterioration indicators including effects on land health and vegetative cover. Anomalies and means computed from Gridded 10 year rainfall and temperature records from the Climate Research Unit-University of East Anglia (CRU) partially demonstrate similarity to some of these observations. Sampled households employ a wide range of adaptations strategies, principally crop based practices such as cultivation of fast maturing crops and crop diversification. These practices aim at building resilience, taking advantage of new opportunities and can primarily reduce the unforeseen damage and losses resulting from extreme climatic events. Hence, emphasis should be given to crop-based strategies, value addition, forecast based action and financing and localization of water harvesting.

 Key words: Climate variability, smallholder, adaptation, Kenya, semi-arid.


This study is to estimate source contribution by air pollutantion types (point, area, line) over Seoul metropolitan area. The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) and the highly resolved anthropogenic and biogenic gridded emissions () were applied to simulate concentrations by seasons and contribution was estimated by their source types (point, area, line). The results showed that the simulated concentrations of secondary pollutant agreed well with observed values with an index of agreement (IOA) over 0.4, whereas IOAs over 0.3 were observed for most primary pollutants. The contributions of each source types by seasons were similar. The point source contribution was the highest for at medium level ranged from . But the contribution from area source during for the spring and summer increased as the concentration level increased. The line source contribution was the highest for at all levels ranged from . The results indicate that emissions should be mainly controlled from point source, as well as area source at higher level concentration. Also, to from line source should be controlled.


In attempting to describe the quality of computer software, one of the more frequently mentioned measurable attributes is complexity of the flow of control. During the past several years, there have been many attempts to quantify this aspect of computer programs, approaching the problem from such diverse points of view as graph theory and software science. Most notable measures in these areas are McCabe's cyclomatic complexity and Halstead's software effort. More recently, Woodward et al. proposed a complexity measure based on the number of crossings, or "knots," of arcs in a linearization of the flowgraph.


This paper proposes conceptual designs of multi-degree(s) of freedom (DOF) compliant parallel manipulators (CPMs) including 3-DOF translational CPMs and 6-DOF CPMs using a building block based pseudo-rigid-body-model (PRBM) approach. The proposed multi-DOF CPMs are composed of wire-beam based compliant mechanisms (WBBCMs) as distributed-compliance compliant building blocks (CBBs). Firstly, a comprehensive literature review for the design approaches of compliant mechanisms is conducted, and a building block based PRBM is then presented, which replaces the traditional kinematic sub-chain with an appropriate multi-DOF CBB. In order to obtain the decoupled 3-DOF translational CPMs (XYZ CPMs), two classes of kinematically decoupled 3-PPPR (P: prismatic joint, R: revolute joint) translational parallel mechanisms (TPMs) and 3-PPPRR TPMs are identified based on the type synthesis of rigid-body parallel mechanisms, and WBBCMs as the associated CBBs are further designed. Via replacing the traditional actuated P joint and the traditional passive PPR/PPRR sub-chain in each leg of the 3-DOF TPM with the counterpart CBBs (i.e. WBBCMs), a number of decoupled XYZ CPMs are obtained by appropriate arrangements. In order to obtain the decoupled 6-DOF CPMs, an orthogonally-arranged decoupled 6-PSS (S: spherical joint) parallel mechanism is first identified, and then two example 6-DOF CPMs are proposed by the building block based PRBM method. It is shown that, among these designs, two types of monolithic XYZ CPM designs with extended life have been presented.


The reactor coolant pump (RCP) in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant generates pressure pulsations at multiple frequencies. These pressure pulsations excite the acoustic modes inside the reactor vessel (RV), and cause significant acoustic loads on the reactor internals (RIs). For verifying the structural integrity of the RIs, it is important to predict the acoustic loads, which is used for vibration analysis of the RIs. Traditionally, an analytical method, assuming that structures are rigid, has been used in order to predict the acoustic pressure distributions inside the RV [1]. However, water in actual PWR plant is heavy enough to influence structural response, so that it is required to use methods for a coupled structural acoustic system.
 In this article, the coupled structural-acoustic analysis using the commercial software ANSYS is proposed in order to predict the acoustic loads, and the applicability of this method is discussed. The structural-acoustic interactions inside the RV are investigated by element tests and the scale model test. The acoustic pressures measured by these tests are compared with the calculated results.


THE ability of rheomacrodex (low molecular weight dextran 40) to reduce viscosity of peripheral circulating blood is sometimes utilized in surgical patients to increase blood-flow in the vicinity of an anastomosis


Highly stable a-Si TFTs reported recently with extremely long operating lifetimes under DC gate bias are attractive for analog drivers of the OLEDs in AMOLED displays. At room temperature, the time for the DC saturation current to drop to 50% is predicted to be 100 to 1,000 years. However, the lifetimes were extrapolated with a stretched-exponential model for defect creation in a-Si, based on only month-long room temperature tests. In this study, we present a two-stage threshold voltage shift model for lifetime prediction from temperature dependent measurements. We find that (i) a "unified stretched exponential fit" models the drain current degradation from 60°C to 140°; and (ii) there is a second instability mechanism that initially dominates up to hours or days at low temperatures, so that tests conducted only at room temperature may not predict lifetime accurately.


Feature extraction is the key of automated recognition of map symbols. Four two-dimensional invariant features of map symbols are summarized. The methods of the extraction of invariant features and a part of the experiment results are put forward.The four invariant features are the degree of complication of the periphery of the symbols , the breadth length ratio of the symbols, the proportion between the black pixels andall the pixels of a symbol, and the distance between the barycenter and the geometry center of a symbol.These four invariant feature parameters are characterized by invariability of rotation and size. A part of invariant characters has been proved in the paper. They are easy to be picked-up and the calculation is very simple.From the results of the experiment, we can see that the four feature parameters com-mendably describe the characters of the point symbols on maps, and they are not influenced by changing the size of scanning maps or rotating symbols and not disturbed by any noise of the image.The correctness ratio of automated recognition of point symbols on a map could be greatly increased through extracting and analyzing these four feature parameters.


circumstances and execution of Kandyan dance, voicing both concern and hope in the concluding paragraphs of many chapters. For example, while noting the general waning concern for Kankariya's efficaciousness as the ritual is transferred from village contexts, Reed points to a small minority of practitioners who are interested in efficacy. Finally, a paradox central to the legitimization of Kandyan dance via university education mirrors a central debate of the field of dance studies itself, namely, to what degree do—or shall—we privilege theory over practice?


In order to offer better support for the rapid product development of manufacturing enterprises, a networked manufacturing system for ASP (application service provider) is researched and developed. As one of the most important component of the system, collaborative design system should be an open system and has its characteristics. This paper applies the MAS (multi-agent system) technologies to construct the DBMS (database management system) of the system. Utilize UML (Unified Modeling Language) use case diagram to denote the function of the system. As collaborative design process is synergic and repetitive, its model should have the abilities to express the hierarchy and collaboration of the system. Hierarchy color Petri nets (CPN) is proposed to denote the collaborative design system. These new models built based on theories and techniques described above have exerted great guidance to the construction of the system named DLUTASP. Application cases indicate that the collaborative design system is advantageous to quicken the step of development of a new product.


We present a scalable and effective algorithm called ApproxMGMSP (Approximate Mining of Global Multidimensional Sequential Patterns) to solve the problem of mining the multidimensional sequential patterns for large databases in the distributed environment. Our method differs from previous related works of mining multidimensional patterns on distributed system. The main difference is that an approximate mining method is used in large multidimensional sequence database firstly. In this paper, to convert the mining on the multidimensional sequential patterns to sequential patterns, the multidimensional information is embedded into the corresponding sequences. Then the sequences are clustered, summarized, and analyzed on the distributed sites, and the local patterns could be obtained by the effective approximate sequential pattern mining method. Finally, the global multidimensional sequential patterns could be quickly mined by high vote sequential pattern model after collecting all the local patterns on one site. Both the theories and the experiments indicate that this method could simplify the problem of mining the multidimensional sequential patterns and avoid mining the redundant information. The global sequential patterns could be obtained effectively by the scalable method after reducing the cost of communication.


The new [Netherlands] population forecasts differ in three respects from the previous forecasts published one year ago. 1. The forecast period is limited to 1997-2003 whereas the previous forecasts covered the period until 2050.... 2. The observed population on 1 January 1997 is 7 thousand higher than the forecasts published one year ago. 3. The assumption of the total fertility rate (TFR) in the period 1997-2002 is revised in an upward direction.... (EXCERPT) (SUMMARY IN ENG)


The financial crisis that erupted in late 2007 has resurfaced debates about the role of accounting and external financial reporting by financial institutions in helping detect or mask systemic risks and in exacerbating or mitigating such risks. The debate has largely focused on the role of fair value accounting, securitization and special purpose entities, off-balance sheet reporting and pro-cyclicality. We consider these and other issues using a single company's published accounts. We explain the role, purpose and limitations of external financial reporting and suggest that there are aspects of the current accounting system that may help provide early warnings of and help mitigate potential systemic risks and others that may mask and exacerbate these risks. We offer some ideas on how the accounting might be adjusted to mitigate the latter. Our arguments lead to several conclusions the most important of which include: that credit-related crises are at least partly induced by not requiring financial institutions to take credit valuation adjustments on loans based on expected losses, and that disclosures would have to change significantly to allow an investor or regulator to make a realistic attempt at measuring a firm's risk and even more so any potential systemic risk. But there is no way that an accounting system that is based on measurements at a single point can serve to fully identify and capture the uncertainty and risks. We believe that to be able to assess systemic risk even for a single firm we would need massive amounts of detailed data that few market participants would be able to utilize and interpret. At best the system can provide more disclosures to facilitate the understanding of such risks.


ABSTRACT Objective : A decrease in the blood flow below a current level in the brain results in ischemia. Studies demonstrated that human trophoblast progenitor cells (hTPCs) contribute to the treatment of many diseases. Therefore, hTPCs might be a promising source to repair ischemia in cerebral ischemia models. For this purpose, we evaluated the expression of many neurogenesis markers by performing hTPC transplantation after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods : hTPCs, isolated from the term placentae, were characterized by immunofluorescent staining and differentiated into neuron-like cells. Differentiation was confirmed with immunostaining of GFAP and NeuN proteins. Cerebral ischemia models were generated in rats via middle cerebral artery occlusion and, after 24 hours, hTPCs were injected via the tail vein. Animals were sacrificed on day 3 or day 11. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with proteins associated with neurogenesis and neuronal development, such as DLX2, DLX5, LHX6, NGN1, and NGN2, Olig1, Olig2, and PDGFRα. Results : According to our results, hTPCs may alleviate ischemic damage in the brain and contribute to the neurogenesis after ischemia. Conclusions : Based on our findings, this topic should be further investigated as the hTPC-based therapies may be a reliable source that can be used in the treatment of stroke and ischemia.