High-Z metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are new players in the therapeutic arsenal against cancer, especially radioresistant cells. Indeed, the presence of these NPs inside malignant cells is believed to enhance the effect of ionizing radiation by locally increasing the dose deposition. In this context, the potential of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) as radiosensitizers was investigated in two breast cancer cell lines, T47D and MDA-MB-231, showing a different radiation sensitivity. PtNPs were internalized in the two cell lines and localized in lysosomes and multivesicular bodies. Analyses of cell responses in terms of clonogenicity, survival, mortality, cell-cycle distribution, oxidative stress, and DNA double-strand breaks did not reveal any significant enhancement effect when cells were pre-exposed to PtNPs before being irradiated, as compared to radiation alone. This result is different from that reported in a previous study performed, under the same conditions, on cervical cancer HeLa cells. This shows that the efficacy of radio-enhancement is strongly cell-type-dependent. Simulation of the early stage ionization processes, taking into account the irradiation characteristics and realistic physical parameters in the biological sample, indicated that PtNPs could weakly increase the dose deposition (by 3%) in the immediate vicinity of the nanoparticles. Some features that are potentially responsible for the biological effect could not be taken into account in the simulation. Thus, chemical and biological effects could explain this discrepancy. For instance, we showed that, in these breast cancer cell lines, PtNPs exhibited ambivalent redox properties, with an antioxidant potential which could counteract the radio-enhancement effect. This work shows that the efficacy of PtNPs for enhancing radiation effects is strongly cell-dependent and that no effect is observed in the case of the breast cancer cell lines T47D and MDA-MB-231. Thus, more extensive experiments using other relevant biological models are needed in order to evaluate such combined strategies, since several clinical trials have already demonstrated the success of combining nanoagents with radiotherapy in the treatment of a range of tumor types.


Lignans are polyphenolic compounds that are considered phytoestrogens for their plant origins, and they possess different biological activities. Three different extraction methods, ie, "dilute and shoot", acidic hydrolysis, and enzymatic digestion, have been compared for extracting lignans (secoisolariciresinol (SECO), matairesinol (MAT), and lariciresinol (LARI)) from espresso coffee (EC) by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The best recovery values (SECO: 97%, LARI: 98%, and MAT: 93%) were obtained by using enzymatic hydrolysis with Clara-Diastase at 10% (w/v), keeping the sample at 37°C for 3 hours. For this reason, this method has been chosen and then applied to quantify lignans in 9 different EC samples from 5 different geographical origins (Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, and India). Secoisolariciresinol and LARI were found in all EC samples from 27.9 to 52.0 μg L-1 and from 5.3 to 27.8 μg L-1 respectively, contrary to MAT that it was not possible to detect it in each type of coffee. This method confirms the high specificity and sensitivity of MS/MS system for detecting bioactives in complex matrix such as coffee.


In this paper, we focus on the embedding of an online learning market in the software ecosystem of higher education institutions. The intention of this online learning market is to allow the students to find courses from a massive open online course (so-called MOOCs) repository within the context of their program that may not be available at their home university or that better suit their personal needs. Furthermore, the digital market allows educational institutions to offer their courses as MOOCs in the online learning market. We discuss the architecture of the online learning market and pay attention to the particular digital market module. We discuss a general architecture for this ecosystem and the position within me digital knowledge market We describe the embedding of the online learning market in more detail based on the digital learning environment Moodle. We also discuss our first experiences with the Automatic Negotiation (bargaining) obtained via a prototype.


Mortality of breast cancer patients is due overwhelmingly to the metastatic spread of the disease. There is compelling evidence that dissemination of breast cancer cells at distant sites is an early event. At the time of detection and diagnosis, patients have disseminated breast cancer cells in the bone marrow (BM). In some of these patients the disseminated cells proliferate and generate metastases, typically in 3-5 years for ER negative tumors and 10-15 years for ER positive tumors. In other patients metastases never develop. These clinical characteristics offer the opportunity for intervention aimed to prevent metastasis development, provided the mechanisms underlying growth at the metastatic site are better understood. A challenge in this undertaking has been the lack of models for disseminated cells survival, dormancy and proliferation. We have established novel experimental systems that model the bone microenvironment of the breast cancer metastatic niche in vitro and in vivo. These models are based on 3D complex cultures of human BM stromal cells and breast cancer cell lines (BCCL) in biomatrices. In one of these systems all of the cell components are defined, represented by mesenchymal cell lines (HS-5), osteoblasts (hFOB) & endothelial cells (HUVEC) co-cultivated in a collagen 3D matrix (BM Niche Model I). The second system uses primary human BM stromal cells (BM Niche Model II). Small numbers of BCCLs are added to matrix pre-seeded to sub-confluency with niche cells in order to model conditions of disseminated tumor cells. The cell lines used in the niche models differentiate along osteogenic and adipogenic lineages, and support survival of hematopoietic stem cells. Our studies demonstrate that in BM Niche Model I, BCCLs remain dormant, but retain their ability to divide when re-plated in standard culture conditions. Whereas in BM Niche Model II, BCCLs proliferate. Importantly the proliferation of BCCLs in this model is similar to that observed in intratibial inoculation models in vivo. These matrices pre-seeded with cells can also be implanted subcutaneously, where they are readily vascularised. Comparing the profile of secreted cytokines and growth factors in these two BM niche models, we identified twenty factors (growth factors, cytokines, cognate receptors and metalloproteinases) necessary for survival and proliferation of disseminated breast cancer cells in the bone marrow microenvironment. Some of these factors have been previously associated with higher risk of metastasis development. We are currently validating these candidates in our in vitro culture systems, and using subcutaneous implantation and intratibial injection in vivo. These BM Niche model systems will be instrumental in understanding the biology of disseminated tumour cells and metastasis formation. They also have the potential application for in vitro drug screening to identify anti-metastatic treatments. 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 LB-307. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-307


This thesis comprises a dissertation, 'Two-Tone Detectives: Cross-Cultural Crime in Chester Himes' Harlem Cycle Novels'; and Black Bush City Limits, a novel set amongst the 'murphoisie' of Irish London.

The focus of the dissertation is an exploration of Himes' expansion of the terms of the crime novel to countenance the broader theme of crimes against humanity, specifically slavery and its legacy in the United States of America following Emancipation in 1865. The dissertation argues that Himes takes a subaltern genre and by means of resisting the formulaic limitations of crime fiction introduces discourses not usually associated with the genre, such as folk tales, the Absurd, aspects of comedy derived from Elizabethan theatre, carnival, and the historical novel. The dissertation argues that Himes does not consistently manage to blend all of these elements successfully, and that his final unfinished novel, Plan B, fails to realise the potential of Himes' subaltern genre.
 My novel, Black Bush City Limits, is an attempt to create a novel in the subaltern genre I argue Himes experiments with in the Harlem Cycle. In Black Bush City Limits a series of murders take place in and around the Dolmen Irish Centre in North London. Mick Kavanagh, a worker at the Centre, investigates these murders.
 His story is interrupted by extracts from a tranche of letters sent to him by his dying uncle in Ireland. These are by his Victorian forebear, Margaret Kavanagh, alive at the time of the Famine in Ireland. As the novel progresses the significance of these letters becomes apparent, and the two stories are gradually brought together. My dissertation contains a concluding chapter in which I trace where my own novel applies lessons learned from Himes' example, and where I depart from him.


The renal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were used to elucidate the early biochemical functional status during the course of experimental M. leprae infection in mice. The activities of the characteristic brush-border enzymes viz: alkaline phosphatase, leucine amino peptidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were found to be significantly decreased (p less than 0.001) at 3 and 6 months after infection. The transport of nutrients viz: D-glucose, L-alanine, L-lysine and L-aspartate across BBMV showed similar pattern. The activity of brush border enzymes and transport of nutrients across the membrane returned to normal at 9 months post-infection suggesting regeneration of the brush border membrane.


We present optoelectronic and structural layer properties of InN and InGaN epilayers grown on sapphire templates by Migration-Enhanced Plasma Assisted Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MEPA-MOCVD). Real-time characterizations have been conducted during the growth process to gain insight of the plasma-assisted decomposition of the nitrogen precursor and associated growth surface processes. Analyzed Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (PES) and UV Absorption Spectroscopy (UVAS) provide detection and concentrations of plasma generated active species (N*/NH*/NHx*). Various precursors have been used to assess the nitrogen-active fragments that are directed from the hollow cathode plasma tube to the growth surface. The in-situ diagnostics results are supplemented with ex-situ materials structures investigation results of nanoscale structures using high-resolution scattering type Scanning Nearfield Optical Microscopy (s-SNOM). The structural properties have been analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) reflectance. The Optoelectronic and optical properties were extracted by modeling the FTIR reflectance (e.g. free carrier concentration, high frequency dielectric constant, mobility) and optical absorption spectroscopy. The correlation and comparison between the in-situ metrology results with the ex-situ nano-structural and optoelectronic layer properties provides insight into the growth mechanism on how plasma-activated nitrogen-fragments can be utilized as nitrogen precursor for group III-nitride growth. The here assessed growth process parameter focus on the temporal precursor exposure of the growth surface, the reactor pressure, substrate temperature and their effects of the properties of the InN and InGaN epilayers.


Acoustic source localization is a well-studied topic in array signal processing , which could benefit from the emergence of data inference tools. We present our recent developments on the use of a Deep neural network, BeamLearning [2, 3], fed with raw multichannel audio for 3D sound source localization in reverberating environments. The data driven approaches allow to avoid the simplifying assumptions that most traditional localization methods incorporate. However, for an efficient training process, supervised machine learning algorithms rely on precisely labeled large sized datasets. There is therefore a critical need to generate a large number of 3D audio data recorded by microphone arrays in various environments. When the dataset is simulated either with numerical models or with 3D soundfield synthesis, the physical validity is also critical. Therefore, an efficient tensor GPU-based computation of synthetic room impulse responses based on fractional delays for image source models is used. We also present the use of physical 3D soundfield synthesis [1] for the learning process on microphone arrays. We discuss the advantages of this reproducible and semi-automated process, which allows to deal with arbitrary array geometries. We also analyze the localization performances of the BeamLearning approach fed with this dataset, which allows a 3D precision as high as 5 degrees in a reverberant room.


The initial progress of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign worldwide depended on several aspects, including programmatic/practical issues. This paper focused on the planning and organization of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in eight European countries (Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France), from the launch to August 2021. Information on the planning of the vaccination campaign (release and update of a national immunization plan, types of vaccines being used and their limitations/suspensions) and its organization (vaccination target groups, possibility of citizens' choice, vaccination workforce and settings, vaccines procurement) were obtained through desk research of international and national reports, plans, and websites. Eventually, data on vaccination coverage were drawn from Our world in data and analyzed through join point regression. The eight countries showed differences in groups prioritization, limitations/suspensions of use of specific vaccines, citizens' possibility to choose vaccines, and vaccination workforce involved. These issues could have contributed to the different progress towards high levels of vaccination coverage. In respect to vaccination coverage, Romania reached much lower levels than other countries. Further comparative research is needed in order to identify best practices in vaccination campaign that could be useful for the next phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, and be better prepared for future potential pandemic.


The carrier scattering and relaxation dynamics in an n-type In0.83Ga0.17As ternary alloy are investigated by measuring the temperature dependent electron Hall mobilities and the hole lifetimes as a function of doping density. The dominant scattering mechanisms in temperature ranges of T < 80 K, 80 < T < 120 K, and 120 < T < 300 K in lightly doped In0.83Ga0.17As are found to be impurity scattering, alloy disorder scattering and phonon scattering, respectively, while in heavily doped In0.83Ga0.17As alloy scattering dominates over the whole measured temperature range. By fitting the measured temperature dependent carrier lifetimes, the dominant carrier relaxation mechanisms in lightly doped In0.83Ga0.17As are identified to be the radiative recombination and the Shockley–Read–Hall effect for samples grown on InP and GaAs substrates, respectively. The lifetime in heavily doped In0.83Ga0.17As is below 10 ns with an Auger dominated recombination. Lastly, photoluminescence as well as the light absorption measurements are performed, showing that the grown lightly doped In0.83Ga0.17As has a high optical quality comparable to the lattice-matched In0.53Ga0.47As.


The northern Cameroon ecosystems harbor a diversity of useful tree species producing non wood forest products (NWFPs). Indigenous fruit trees are very important for the nutritional quality of rural population and contribute to their income. A better knowledge of the potential utilization of these species and the constraints attached to the transformation of their products and commercialization would favor their promotion. Methodological approach included ethno-nutritional and market surveys, and chemical analysis. Results showed that a total of 55 fruit tree species were valued by the farmers. The top sixteen are represented by Adansonia digitata L., Aframomum latifolium (Afz.) K. Schum, Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., Borassus aethiopum Mart, Deatrium microcarpum Guill. et Perr., Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst ex.A.Rich. Haematostaphis barteri Hook F., Hyphaena thebaica (L.)Mart, Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) R.Br.ex.G.Don, Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich) Hochst, Syzygium guineense var. macrocarpum (Engl.) F. White, Ximenia american a L., Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn.f, , Vitex doniana Sweet, Tamarindus indica L, and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. They are the most preferred and the most commercialized. The chemical composition of these fruits showed that S. birrea has the highest vitamin C value (13.60 mg/100g) and S. guineense has the highest amount of total soluble sugars (93.98 % of DW). Oil contents are low for all the fruits evaluated except C. edulis with 21.04 % of lipid. Iron value varies from 0.48 to 48.07 mg/100g respectively for P. guajava and A. senegalensis . The richest source of calcium and magnesium is A. senegalensis (558.74 and 18.20 μg/g respectively). The nutritive potential of the fruit tree species and their dietary applications are important. Species with high nutritious value can be recommended for a domestication program, which is important to diversify agricultural production and to reduce poverty in Northern Cameroon. Key words: Northern Cameroon, Fruits, Marketing, Chemical composition, Domestication.


A fully automated pH–NMR titration set-up, consisting of a Bruker 250 MHz NMR instrument and a potentiometric titration unit, has been built so that pH titrations with simultaneous recording of 1H and 31P NMR spectra at each titration point can be run. The new set-up has been tested by studying the protonation of three diazacrown ethers having dangling phosphonate groups. From the fitting of the pH dependences of the chemical shifts of the 31P and 1H signals the protonation constants as well as the chemical shifts of the individual protonated species were obtained using the program HYPNMR. The main advantages of the new set-up are the relatively small amount of substance (0.05 mmol) needed for a single titration and the fact that once started the system needs no operator during the whole titration time (about 20 h).


The authors investigate the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the microstructure, nanomechanical properties, and fracture performance of three-phase polymer matrix composites (PMC). Two types of carbon fiber (CF)-Epoxy-CNT composites with different nanofiller distribution were studied at the nanoscale with PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical mapping technique (PFQNM) and macroscale with mode I fracture testing to clarify the relationship between nanofiller interphase properties and mode I fracture performance. CNT agglomerates were identified on the polished sample surface in well-dispersed and agglomerated form. AFM data showed the inhomogeneity of nanoscale local mechanical properties in CNT-rich zones. Variation in material properties is attributed to voids, CNT alignment, and changes in density of the matrix and CNT nanoparticles. A higher resolution AFM scanner and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy are necessary to observe nano-scale interphase mechanical properties and CNT orientation, respectively. Mode I interlaminar fracture testing demonstrated the effectiveness of CNT nanoparticles in preventing crack-jump and fiber-bridging effects. GIC for FCNT is 0.345±0.06 N-mm/mm2 at crack initiation, compared to 0.28±0.03 N-mm/mm2 for the plain epoxy reference sample. CNT nanoparticles increase the energy required for interlaminar fracture by promoting crack deflection and strengthening the interphase between CF and epoxy matrix through increased interfacial surface area.


Serologic reactivity against EBV-infected lines was assayed in patients with AIDS (n = 4) or the AIDS related complex (AIDS-RC) (n = 46) residing in Argentina. Anti-VCA serology was comparable to that of controls. However sera from AIDS and AIDS-RC could induce antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) to EBV-infected cell lines (P3HRIK and Raji). ADCC activity could be recovered in the high molecular weight fractions of AIDS and AIDS-RC sera. ADCC was observed in sera with high levels of PEG precipitable material (PEG-pp) but was unrelated to the presence of complement-fixing immune complexes (Clq-F) or to anti-VCA titers. Fc receptor (FcR) bridging between target cells FcR and effector cells FcR may play a role in the outcome of total ADCC.


In this article, I criticize Rawls's well-ordered society for failing to secure a right to meaningful work. I critically discuss five technical Rawlsian ideas: self-respect, social union, the difference principle, the powers and prerogatives of office, and fair equality of opportunity. I then claim that radical restructuring of the workplace conflicts with Rawls's individualistic understanding of freedom. Briefly drawing on Hegel, an under-recognized historical influence on Rawls, I then correct Rawls by arguing for a conception of freedom that is internally related to broader solidaristic values associated with meaningful work.


The effects of exposure of slices of Havarti cheeses to monochromatic light of wavelengths 366 nm, 405 nm, and 436 nm, respectively, were studied by tristimulus colorimetry, solid-phase microextraction gas chromatographic analysis of volatiles, and open-end fluorescence spectroscopy. Having determined the photon fluxes of the three wavelengths by ferrioxalate actinometry, it was possible to quantify the effects of light exposure in an absolute manner. For all analyses, the most severe effects were caused by visible light, leading to colour bleaching, change in hue, riboflavin degradation, and formation of the secondary oxidation products hexanal, 1-pentanol, and 1-hexanol. Apparent quantum yields for formation of hexanal and 1-pentanol were found to be insignificantly different for 405 nm and 436 nm exposures, having values of (3–5).10−5 mol.einstein−1 and (9–13).10−5 mol.einstein−1, respectively. These compounds were not formed when exposed to 366 nm light. In contrast, 1-hexanol was formed when exposing cheese to all three wavelengths, resulting in apparent quantum yields of (2–6).10−5 mol.einstein−1. The results obtained are discussed in relation to the interplay between inherent product colorants, light sources, and transmission characteristics of the packaging materials.


Patients with gout associated with "partial" deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase have clinically distinctive findings. Since the disorder is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait, all 21 patients herein reviewed are males. Gouty arthritis is severe and frequently begins before 20 years of age. Renal complications are frequent and may be life-threatening; the syndrome may present as renal failure in infancy. One third of the patients have neurologic abnormalities, ranging from epilepsy to spasticity and incoordination. Because of marked overproduction of uric acid, most patients have serum uric acid concentrations over 10 mg/100 ml; urinary uric acid level is also markedly increased. The enzyme deficiency can be detected by assay of red blood cell hemolysates or other tissues. Allopurinol with high fluid intake is recommended for long-term therapy.


Flow around a conical nose with rounded tail projectile has been studied numerically for subsonic, transonic and supersonic flow regimes. The conic angle of the projectile is 10°. The inflow Mach numbers are 0.5, 0.9, and 1.5. Axisymmetric Euler's equations are solved for predicting the drag coefficient. It has been observed that even for a subsonic flow regime, the Mach number distribution is not uniform owing to the non-symmetric shape of the projectile. The predicted drag coefficients for subsonic, transonic, and supersonic cases are 0.018, 0.089, and 0.395, respectively. It was observed that rounded tail is a better option than boat tail so far drag force is concerned. Science Journal, Vol. 64, No. 6, November 2014, pp.509-516, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.8111


HYPOGLYCEMIA associated with metabolic activity of nonpancreatic neoplasms has become a well-recognized syndrome. More than 100 patients with this disorder have been reported in the medical literature, the majority of papers appearing since 1955. The metabolic problems encountered with this syndrome have attracted the interest principally of internists and endocrinologists, and accordingly, few reports have appeared in the surgical literature even though the definitive management of the tumor is extirpation. Although recognition of the syndrome improves, the mechanism involved in the production of hypoglycemia is by no means clearly understood. The two patients discussed herein presented with tumors not previously reported in association with hypoglycemia, and therefore, considered desirable additions to the group of connective tissue tumors with hypoglycemia producing potential. Report of Cases Case 1. —When this male Negro patient was admitted to Memorial Hospital in September 1956, his abdominal wall tumor had been excised on two occasions (Fig


BACKGROUND
Health-affecting psychosocial problems are inherent in general practice, present among one-third of the patients and constituting between 3 and 13% of reasons for encounter. Such problems are not always presented, and often overlooked by the doctors.

OBJECTIVES
We aimed to describe the frequency of psychosocial problems presented to the doctor by patients with somatic reasons for encounter, as a proportion of the patients' existing health-affecting problems, and to explore whether characteristics of the doctor, the patient, their relationship or reason for encounter influence the presentation of problems.

METHODS
A questionnaire survey of 1401 consecutive patients visiting 89 Norwegian GPs mapped the prevalence of nine commonly occurring psychosocial problems and the frequency by which they were disclosed during the consultation.

RESULTS
From 21% (loneliness) to 59% (occupational stress) of problems were disclosed to the doctors. Reason for encounter was the only factor to influence the disclosure from male patients, while reason for encounter, educational level and income source of the patient, gender of the doctor, and the doctor's previous general knowledge of the patient influenced the disclosure from female patients.

CONCLUSIONS
Less than half of health-affecting psychosocial problems are disclosed to GPs by patients with somatic reasons for encounter. Occupational stress is disclosed more often than other psychosocial problems. Female patients disclose non-occupational problems more often than male patients, especially if they know the doctor or if the doctor is a woman. Symptoms from the musculoskeletal system are the reasons for encounter most often preceding the disclosure of psychosocial problems.


Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is overexpressed in gastric cancer, suggesting that it is important in gastric cancer oncogenesis. However, no studies have investigated the role of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), a component of cruciferous vegetables, in the regulation of FOXM1 and its signaling pathway in gastric cancer. Here, we report for the first time that DIM effectively downregulated Akt/FOXM1 in gastric cancer cells. Combination treatment with DIM and paclitaxel significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of SNU638 cells when compared to treatment with DIM or paclitaxel alone. Colony formation of SNU638 cells was significantly attenuated by treatment with DIM and paclitaxel, and DIM potentiated the inhibition of colony formation in SNU638 cells by paclitaxel when compared to treatment with a single agent. Treatment with DIM plus paclitaxel substantially increased apoptosis as indicated by increased levels of cleaved polyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and cleaved caspase-9 protein. DIM dose-dependently sensitized gastric cancer cells through downregulation of FOXM1 and potentiated the effects of paclitaxel. FOXM1 effector genes such as CDK4, p53 and cyclin D1 were downregulated in gastric cancer cells by combination treatment with DIM and paclitaxel. In addition, DIM significantly and dose-dependently inhibited phosphorylation of Akt and potentiated paclitaxel-induced inhibition of Akt function in gastric cancer cells. Therefore, our results indicate that DIM effectively potentiates the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel by downregulation of the Akt/FOXM1 signaling cascade in gastric cancer cells. Our findings suggest that DIM enhances the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in gastric cancer and is a potential clinical anticancer agent for the prevention and/or treatment of gastric cancer.


The purpose of this research study is to investigate the ethics of holocaust tourism as a niche market which is becoming very commercialised due to the growing demand for such activities at certain locations and to examine the motivating factors for tourists visiting these destinations. Holocaust sites, a number of which were commissioned for memorial after the liberation during World War II to memorialise those lost and act as an educational resource. The main aim of this research is to explore whether holocaust tourism can be seen as education or exploitation. This will be investigated through a site visit to a holocaust tourism destination in Germany (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin) and a survey to identify those who engage in holocaust tourism, their motivations for doing so, and the outcome of their visits. Finally, this research study will provide results on the ethics of holocaust tourism and its educational value through a review of the academic research as well as the opinions of those who have or will engage in holocaust tourism. One of the main conclusions is that both primary participants and secondary authors spoke of how when visiting these sites, you create a connection to the destination and the sense of what occurred at the location is undeniable.


Feedback control equations were developed and tested for computing wall normal control velocities to control turbulent flow in a channel with the objective of reducing drag. The technique used is the minimization of a 'cost functional' which is constructed to represent some balance of the drag integrated over the wall and the net control effort. A distribution of wall velocities is found which minimizes this cost functional some time shortly in the future based on current observations of the flow near the wall. Preliminary direct numerical simulations of the scheme applied to turbulent channel flow indicates it provides approximately 17 percent drag reduction. The mechanism apparent when the scheme is applied to a simplified flow situation is also discussed.


(BD) complicated by a suspected arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) undergoing labor epidural analgesia. A 31-year-old nulliparous patient with BD was hospitalized and labor induction was started. Twenty-four hours later after misoprostol administration, active labor began and the patient was admitted in the delivery room. On request, epidural analgesia was performed without complications. Although a spinal anesthesia for urgent cesarean section and epidural anesthesia for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms have been already presented in the literature [1], this is the first report describing epidural analgesia for vaginal delivery in a patient with BD and suspected ARVD. The patient was referred to the Anesthesia Preadmission Clinic at 35 weeks of gestation for suspected ARVD complicating BD. She weighed 67 kg and was 156 cm in height (body mass index: 27.57 kg/m). At 4 years of age, she was diagnosed with BD characterized by oral and genital ulcers, folliculitis, erythema nodosum, and bowel inflammatory disease, and at 15 years of age, she was diagnosed with thrombosis in her arm. At 16 years of age, electrocardiogram (ECG) stress test for competitive sports showed T-negative waves from V1 to V4 and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, and ARVD was suspected. A definitive ARVD diagnosis on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or endocardial biopsy has never been made. The patient's ECG showed mild apical hypokinesia of the right ventricle and nonspecific hypoechoic pericardial image beside the right ventricular apex. The cardiology center where she was treated since her teen ages suggested an elective cesarean section despite the suspected diagnosis of ARVD. The patient presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, oral ulcers, and arthralgia for which she was started on steroids (prednisone 25 mg) in the 33rd week of gestation, which improved the symptoms. She had mild dyspnea without other cardiovascular symptoms since the previous two weeks. At 35th week of gestation, cardiologic and rheumatologic evaluations were planned. Rheumatologic consultation confirmed current steroid therapy and did not show any contraindication for vaginal delivery. After a 12-lead ECG showing sinus rhythm and T waves anomalies in the inferior leads, transthoracic echocardiogram showing normal systolic function (ejection fraction 66%), with limited lower septum akinesia and right ventricle middle-apical slight ectasia with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion of 22 mm, and 24-hour Holter ECG showing infrequent ventricular and supraventricular ectopic beats, cardiological consultation concluded that in the absence of an obvious arrhythmic burden and without clear MRI signs of ARVD, there were no cardiological contraindications for vaginal delivery. The patient was discharged, and hospitalReceived: May 16, 2019 Accepted: June 11, 2019


We undertook the present study to develop a validated HPLC method for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and to use this method for determination of MDA levels in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. MDA levels were estimated in the erythrocyte and plasma sample of the 25 non-metastatic prostate cancer patients, 36 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (controls) in HP Chromatographic systems consisting of a Model Agilent 1100 Series. We report a very rapid and simple isocratic reversed-phase HPLC separation of MDA in normal human plasma and erythrocytes without previous purification of theMDA-TBA complex. All validation parameters were performed in our methods. Using this methods we have found elevated MDA in the plasma and erythrocyte of the prostate cancer group as compared to controls and BPH group. We have improved and validated an analytical HPLC method for determination of MDA in plasma and erythrocyte, which is simple to perform and having high sensitivity, specificity and substantial improvement in column life. This method has been successfully applied to determination of MDA levels in prostate cancer patients and offers an oportunity to further characterize the role of oxidative injury in the pathogenesis of this disease
specifically.

Keywords: Prostate cancer, Oxidative stress, Lipid peroxidation, HPLC


STUDY OBJECTIVES
We previously reported that patients with emphysema show an increase in diaphragmatic neuromechanical coupling at 3 months after lung volume reduction surgery. Diaphragmatic neuromechanical coupling was quantified as the quotient of tidal volume (normalized to total lung capacity) to tidal change in transdiaphragmatic pressure (normalized to maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure). As such, neuromechanical coupling estimates the fraction of diaphragmatic capacity used to generate tidal breathing. The present investigation was conducted to determine whether benefit is maintained at 2 years.

SUBJECTS
Fifteen patients with severe COPD, 8 of whom completed the 2-year study.

METHODS
Lung volumes, exercise capacity (6-min walking distance), diaphragmatic function (maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure and twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure elicited by phrenic nerve stimulation), and diaphragmatic neuromechanical coupling were recorded before surgery, and at 3 months and 2 years after surgery.

RESULTS
Two years after surgery, lung volumes deteriorated to preoperative values, but patients showed persistent improvements in 6-min walking distance (p < 0.05). Three months after surgery, maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure (p < 0.05), twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure (p < 0.01), and diaphragmatic neuromechanical coupling (p < 0.01) had increased over preoperative values. The improvements in neuromechanical coupling resulted from improvements in diaphragmatic strength and, to a lesser extent, from a decrease in transdiaphragmatic pressure required to maintain tidal breathing. The change in respiratory muscle function at 2 years varied among patients: diaphragmatic contractility was > 10% of preoperative value in half of the patients who concluded our study, and neuromechanical coupling was > 10% of preoperative value in three fourths of the patients who concluded our study. Patients who maintained their gains in neuromechanical coupling also maintained their gains in 6-min walking distance.

CONCLUSION
Patients undergoing lung volume reduction surgery can maintain early gains in neuromechanical coupling and exercise capacity 2 years later.


This study reviews to promote participatory workshops with a data set that has been offered free of charge or with open data from local governments in case of "Urban Data Challenge Tokyo 2013 (UDCT2013). We developed a platform that can be viewed on more than the web sites of local government when seeking solutions to regional problems and that takes advantage of geospatial information. It is easy to find and to download, but the application of these data to regional problems is limited. Therefore, an increase in programs that combine enhancements and platforms that easy access and use to more variety of open geospatial data is necessary.


Many of the therapeutic and cosmetic treatments offered in spas are centred on mud therapy, to moisturize the skin and prevent skin ageing and rheumatic diseases. Thermal mud is a complex matrix composed of organic and inorganic elements which contribute to its functions. It is a natural product derived from the long mixing of clay and thermal water. During its maturation, organic substances are provided by the microalgae, which develop characteristic of the composition of thermal water.


Mortality data, abstracted from the World Health Organization (WHO) database, are available for various countries. We used lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality (ICD-10: C00 – C14) in 11 countries during the period 1990 – 2006. These countries were Japan, China (Hong Kong) and the Republic of Korea (Asian countries); the United States of America (USA); Australia; the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Spain, France and Germany (European countries). For the USA, Spain and France, data were available only for 1990–2005; and for Australia and Italy, for 1990–2003. The world population was used for age standardization. Age-standardized rates for lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality (ICD-10: C00–C14) in the 11 selected countries between 1990 and 2006 are shown for males (Fig. 1) and for females (Fig. 2). Lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality rates for males were from 3 to 10 times higher than for females (note that Figs 1 and 2 use different vertical scales). For both males and females, age-standardized rates in China (Hong Kong) were high and have decreased apparently over the period. The mortality rates in the USA and Australia showed a decreasing trend throughout the observation period. Among males, in Europe, the mortality rate in France was the highest of all countries studied in the 1990s showing a strong decreasing trend and falling below the rate in the Russian Federation from the year 2000. The rates in Spain and Germany were similar, while the UK showed the lowest rates. Mortality rates in the USA, Australia and Asian countries except China (Hong Kong) were at the same level as the rate in the UK, which showed the lowest rate in Europe throughout the observation period. Among females, few differences in mortality rates were observed for all the countries studied with the exception of China (Hong Kong).


ABSTRACT Objective: to know the multidisciplinary team's perspective about the health care of people with tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in relation to treatment. Methods: this is a descriptive-exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, carried out in a health care service in São Paulo, from May to June 2019. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine professionals from the multidisciplinary team. Data were processed through discourse analysis with the support of webQDA. Results: Two empirical categories emerged: Health care interfaces for people with tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection; Barriers and facilitators for health care for people with co-infection. Final considerations: the health-disease process in co-infection is mediated by conditions that positively or negatively interfere with treatment compliance. People's health care goes beyond exclusively clinical assistance and requires the recognition of needs in a broad perspective.


Background Being able to control and influence when cattle show estrus and are able to be bred can be a key management tool to cattle producers. Historical data suggest that calves sold in uniform lots (i.e., same age, similar weight, size, and color) received more per pound than non-uniform lots. Synchronization allows producers to influence the reproductive performance and uniformity of their calf crop. Additionally, synchronization reduces labor associated with calving and facilitates the use of artificial insemination (AI) to bulls with genetically superior traits (i.e., calving ease, growth, carcass quality or maternal).


Locomotion and feeding in marine animals are intimately linked to the flow dynamics created by specialized body parts. This interaction is of particular importance during ontogeny, when changes in behaviour and scale challenge the organism with shifts in fluid regimes and altered functionality. Previous studies have indicated that Scyphozoan jellyfish ontogeny accommodates the changes in fluid dynamics associated with increasing body dimensions and velocities during development. However, in addition to scale and behaviour that—to a certain degree—underlie the control of the animal, flow dynamics are also dependent on external factors such as temperature. Here, we show phenotypic plasticity in juvenile Aurelia aurita medusae, where morphogenesis is adapted to altered fluid regimes imposed by changes in ambient temperature. In particular, differential proportional growth was found to compensate for temperature-dependent changes in viscous effects, enabling the animal to use adhering water boundary layers as 'paddles'—and thus economize tissue—at low temperatures, while switching to tissue-dominated propulsion at higher temperatures where the boundary layer thickness is insufficient to serve for paddling. This effect was predicted by a model of animal–fluid interaction and confirmed empirically by flow-field visualization and assays of propulsion efficiency.


This thesis explores the nature of strategic turnaround in English local authorities during the period of Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) between 2002 and 2008. This period was unique in that it allowed the comparative performance of local authorities and their management practices using the holistic performance management framework of the CPA. Specifically, this study focuses on a group of local authorities that were poorly performing at the start of CPA era, but had sustained improved performance by the end. It aims to establish the turnaround approaches adopted by this group of local authorities, the impact of leadership and the extent to which the approaches adopted promoted sustained turnaround. Publicly available CPA information and interviews with senior officers of turnaround councils and government lead officials are used to classify and analyse the changes in strategic processes. The thesis adopts a case study approach within a managerialist perspective and identifies ten approaches to turnaround that can be related to a longitudinal "7Rs"� framework adapting the work of Boyne (2004) and others. This has been developed to include Realisation and Reinforcement at either end of the turnaround period.
Realisation is required to kick-start the turnaround process and Reinforcement to embed the organisational changes necessary to sustain improvement over the longer term. Leadership is a key aspect throughout the process, both in terms of introducing new leaders and the adoption of new leadership approaches to support and underpin sustainable organisational improvement. Sustained improvement was found to be achievable by poorly performing councils. The study also concludes that there was a continuing influence of managerialism, originally associated with new public management, throughout the CPA era.


It is recommended in the mathematics education literature that pupils be presented with equality statements that can be assessed for numerical balance by attending to notational structure rather than computation. I describe an alternative, diagrammatic approach in which pupils do not assess statements but instead use them to make substitutions of notation. I report on two trials of a computer-based task conducted with pairs of pupils and highlight two findings. First, the pupils found it useful to articulate the distinct substitutive effects of commutative ('swap', 'switch') and partitional ('split', 'separate') statements when working on the task. Secondly, the pupils did not notice that some of the statements presented were in fact false, which suggests their substituting activities were independent of numerical equivalence conceptions. This demonstrates that making substitutions offers task designers a mathematical utility for equality statements that is distinct from, but complementary to, assessing numerical balance.


We prove the rigidity of rectifiable boundaries with constant distributional mean curvature in the Brendle class of warped product manifolds (which includes important models in General Relativity, like the deSitter--Schwarzschild and Reissner--Nordstrom manifolds). As a corollary we characterize limits of rectifiable boundaries whose mean curvatures converge, as distributions, to a constant. The latter result is new, and requires the full strength of distributional CMC-rigidity, even when one considers smooth boundaries whose mean curvature oscillations vanish in arbitrarily strong $C^k$-norms.


One of the policy tools that a government uses to actualize entrepreneurship development is the business incubation program. These government policies come in several forms: fiscal, financial, as well as developmental. The business incubation program has been acknowledged as an instrument to achieve economic development, hence, the adoption of the concept by various nations. Studies have been advanced concerning business incubation performance, however, empirical scholarly works have shown that such studies have been inconclusive for the reason that results of empirically validated studies were inconsistent. The key objective of this study is to examine the contribution of government policies in the relationship between the critical success factors (CSFs) and the incubator performance. The study involves a data collection process of tenant firms of the Nigerian business incubation program using a population of 253 and a sample size of 153 for questionnaire administration and a focus group interview comprising of 10 respondents, which cut across both tenant firms and incubator managers. The results show that the independent variables and the moderator are indeed predictors of the criterion variable. As the predictors contributed merely 29.4% of the criterion variable, future studies may perhaps examine other critical factors alongside the extant constructs, which may contribute further to incubator performance.


Normal tissue homeostasis is controlled by a critical balance of positive and negative modulators. Chapter 2 gives an overview of the molecular aspects of growth control, in particular the role of growth factors and oncogene and anti-oncogene products. Uncontrolled growth of cancer cells may result from either an abrogation of growth stimulatory or a deficiency of growth inhibitory pathways. Mediators of growth inhibition include secretory polypeptide growth inhibitors, like transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) and nuclear proteins, like the retinoblastoma gene product. Early studies on organogenesis suggested the presence of growth inhibitors (challones) to regulate the growth of organs. Postulating that growth inhibitory proteins might have potential in cancer therapy, we began to analyze human tissues for the presence of novel tumor inhibitory factors. Purification of these activities and physico-chemical characterization suggested a relatedness to TGF-β. The biochemistry and cell biology of (TGF-β) will be reviewed in Chapter 3. At the start of the investigation, only one (TGF-β) had been identified. Our subsequent results indicated that a family of TGF-βproteins exists. Conventional purification of these TGF-βlike activities provided only limited quantities of material for analysis. We therefore adopted an alternative strategy which included the isolation of the cDNAs for TGF-β-like factors using TGF-β1 as a probe, assuming that related molecules might possess sufficient sequence similarity to cross-hybridize to a TGF-β1 probe. Differential hybridization of a Southern blot with human genomic DNA probed with TGF-β1 cDNA suggested the presence of a related gene, which we termed TGF-β3. The research described in this thesis includes the molecular cloning and expression of TGF-β3. Furthermore, experiments were carried out to gain insight into the effects of TGF-β3 on cell growth and differentiation and its mechanism of action, including initial studies to gauge the potential therapeutic uses of this factor. In Chapter 4, we report the cloning of the human TGF-β3 cDNA and the encoded TGF-β3 protein is compared with other members of the TGF-βfamily. In Chapter 5 the interspecies conservation of TGF-B3 is examined and the chromosomal location of the human TGF-β3 gone is determined. In Chapter 6, the recombinant expression and purification of TGF-β3 is described. The purified TGF-β3 protein has potent growth modulating effects on a number of normal as well as tumor cells. The studies in Chapter 7 were performed to assess the effect of TGF-β3 on osteoblasts and to characterize the specific binding of TGF-β3 to bone cells. TGF-β3 appears to be a potent regulator of functions associated with bone formation. Crosslinking studies showed that TGF-β3 and TGF-β1 associate in a similar fashion with three cell surface binding proteins, which have been characterized as putative receptor types I and II and a membrane-bound proteoglycan, termed betaglycan. The different (TGF-β) isoforms appear to have different potencies on Mv1Lu mink lung epithelia] and fetal bovine heart endothelial cells. In Chapter 8, we investigate the role of TGF-β. receptors and serum factors as determinants of the cell-specific responsiveness to the three homodimeric isoforms. The induction of mesoderm in Xenopus laevis animal cap explants by TGF-β3 is discussed in Chapter 9. Finally, in Chapter 10 we review the therapeutic applications of growth factors for wound healing.


Certain autoimmune disorders, including Sjögren syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are characterized by autoantibodies against the Ro/SSA and La/SSB cellular antigens. Although the implication of these autoantibodies in disease pathogenesis is still unclear, it is believed that the aberrant responses against autoantigens may extend to other proteins that are not yet well defined. In an attempt to analyze the regulated gene expression in lymphocytes by an HIV-suppressive immunomodulator, we have identified and cloned a novel gene encoding a 56-kDa protein, named SS-56, which is structurally related to the 52-kDa Ro/SSA antigen. The new protein showed primarily perinuclear cytoplasmic localization, and recombinant SS-56 was found to react in ELISA with sera from most patients with SS or SLE. Western blot analysis confirmed the autoantigenic nature of native SS-56 in extracts from HeLa cells. Interestingly, the incidence of antibodies to SS-56 was associated with visceral complications in SLE, and roughly half of the 17 SS or SLE patients with no detectable antibodies to SSA and SSB antigens presented measurable antibodies against recombinant SS-56. Thus, SS-56 represents a new member of the SS family of autoantigens and could become an additional and important diagnostic marker for SS and SLE.


The growth in importance of performance assessment in education over recent years has been linked with a concern to ensure that the service represents "value for money". Increasing concern over funding of schools by government and the limitation on the resources available to the education sector has given rise to demands for greater efficiency and public accountability. These concerns reflect the need for comprehensive techniques to assess the degree to which school management practices and the education industry structure promote efficiency in education. An additional problem has been that, whilst there are many different desirable outcomes which are appropriate for education authorities to pursue, conventional models handle these one at a time.


A diiodo distyryl boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) core was conjugated to two ferrocenyl quenchers through acid-labile ketal and/or thiol-cleavable disulfide linkers, of which the fluorescence and photosensitizing properties were significantly quenched through a photoinduced electron-transfer process. The two symmetrical analogues that contained either the ketal or disulfide linkers could only be activated by a single stimulus, whereas the unsymmetrical analogue was responsive to dual stimuli. Upon interaction with acid and/or dithiothreitol (DTT), these linkers were cleaved selectively. The separation of the BODIPY core and the ferrocenyl moieties restored the photoactivities of the former in phosphate buffered saline and inside the MCF-7 breast cancer cells, rendering these compounds as potential activable photosensitizers for targeted photodynamic therapy. The dual activable analogue exhibited the greatest enhancement in intracellular fluorescence intensity in both an acidic environment (pH 5) and the presence of DTT (4 mm). Its photocytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells also increased by about twofold upon preincubation with 4 mm of DTT. The activation of this compound was also demonstrated in nude mice bearing a HT29 human colorectal carcinoma. A significant increase in fluorescence intensity in the tumor was observed over 9 h after intratumoral injection.


Food crops information systems in Kabupaten Karo ( rice and pulses ), still manual/conventional and still less effective and in efficient . To overcome the inferiority, we need a system that can deliver the information in a timely and accurately . Information systems in food crops ( rice and pulses ) web-based solution that is right . Information systems web-based food commodities was containing information about the condition and potential of  food crops . The system was designed based on the  user needs using the PHP programming language , MySQL database and the web Apache web server using rapid application development ( RAD), which was a very short development method with quick application technique


Apple industry is main source of income in Kashmir, especially the people living in rural areas. Apple farming, strengthened the economics states of Kashmir from last two decades and is now economic hub of Kashmir. Directly as well as indirectly about 70% of rural population in Kashmir earn their living through apple farming. On the basis of these beneficiaries, farmers have now changed their mood of production. They (farmers) are now transforming Agricultural land into the Apple farming because Apple farming has comparatively more advantages than other agricultural production. The area under apple production is now increasing rapidly day by day while as area under agriculture is shrinking day by day.Apple industry was functioning with speed and rhythm, but 2014 floods have paralysed it. These floods have destroyed this industry at a large magnitude. Floods have created the problems like soil erosion, siltation, falling of leaves, loss of blossoms, cankers, root rots and complete damage of some areas due to the accumulation of water in orchards for a long time. Damages to fruit production have been reported to the extent of 52.9% , an area  127232 ha have been effected with production loss of  1119738 MTs  resulting in to the economic loss of 1565.00 Crore approx. The farmers have taken KCC and CCF loans on behalf of orchard lands to meet the cost of capital used in the production of apple crop. Farmers have to refund these loans to respective banks with interest of 7% and 12% respectively. But unfortunately floods have left farmers paralysed and income less, as their main source of income has damaged. So refunding such loans is big challenge to farmers.  The top most demand of flood effected farmers to government is to remit their KCC and CCF loans which they had taken for the production of apple. This could lead to problem of unemployment and restlessness among people if not taken into the consideration.  The government should immediately come forward to save this industry and should cooperate with the farmers to resolve their problems. Keywords: Apple farming, Rural life, Luxury goods, Transforming land, 2014 floods, Soil erosion, root rots, cankers, production loss, KCC and CCF loans.


Clustering aims to study the instance distribution in scale-space. Its characteristics are very similar to the particle world in quantum mechanism. The probability wave function describes the distribution of particle, and the Schrodinger equation is the major methodology of solving for wave function when restricted boundary condition is given.Once wave function is confirmed, and the quantum potential serves as the clustering objective function to determine the location of particle distribution. In machine learning, this quantum mechanism implies that we can discover the grouping structures inherent in data. This is the key of quantum clustering, and is the same as the mechanism used in FCM algorithm. In FCM, via the key fuzzy similarity parameter is deduced by the wave function, a important predictability is proposed, which a cryptical wave function is found existing in FCM, finally, a quantum theory interpretation about FCM is presented in this paper.


In the framework of linear density functional theory, the conditions of formation of tungsten-boron interstitial solid solutions are studied. On the basis of the coherent-potential approximation, the ordering tendencies in tungsten-based solid solutions are considered and the possibility of formation of some type of ordering on the sublattice of the interstitial octahedral positions is demonstrated. The tendencies of the chemical bonding in the interstitial solid solution of boron in tungsten are discussed.


Abstract A modification of a recently developed method for the least-squares reconstruction of a one-particle reduced density matrix from experimentally accessible expectation values is applied to the test systems of atomic beryllium and neon. The improvement of the resulting matrices through inclusion of electron correlation is demonstrated. Their quality is judged by comparison of the moments of the position and momentum densities and of the spherically averaged density matrix in a suitable representation.


Theoretical analysis and experimental observation of tolerance distribution in bed-of-nails fixture were made for its reliability in testing. A systematic, accurate and robust evaluating method for printed circuit board (PCB) positioning assessment in testing fixture was developed. Actual deformation of PCB could be obtained based upon a reasonable mode. The combined accuracy of the test lands position targeting (false failure rate or overlapping rate of probe/test lands) were estimated by Weibull model. Results will be helpful for reliability analysis of the PCB test fixtures


The in situ photolysis frequencies for 11 molecules were determined using new actinic flux spectroradiometer systems mounted on the NASA DC-8 research aircraft during the Pacific Exploratory Mission (PEM)-Tropics mission. Photolysis frequencies for O3, NO2, HONO, CH2O, H2O2, CH3OOH, HNO3, PAN, CH3NO3, CH3CH2NO3, and acetone were calculated from the 30 s averaged actinic flux measurements. The accuracy of the actinic flux measurements was approximately ±11.5% in the UV-B range and 8% in the UV-A range. Uncertainties of the reported photolysis frequencies vary between ±15% and ±20% dependent on the quality of the molecular absorption cross section and quantum yield data. Approximately 139 hours of data were taken during 17 flights over the Pacific Ocean, and photolysis frequencies have been reported to the mission archive. During the mission, latitudes range from 45°N to 72.5°S, the longitude ranges from 10°W to 173°E, and the altitude ranges from sea level to 11.9 km. The geographical extents covered, combined with local times from sunrise to sunset, encompass solar zenith angles between 1° and >90° resulting in a broad range of photolysis frequencies. Persistent scattered clouds created photolysis frequency enhancements of approximately a factor of 2 over clear-sky values and reductions of greater than 90% of clear-sky values for portions of the mission.


The author describes a certain type of non-obligatory dative phrases, interpreted as dativus ethicus, dativus possesivus, dativus commodi and dativus incommodi, cf. Ładny mi przyjaciel., Syn nam się rozchorował., Ugotowałam ojcu obiad. The analysis of dative phrases does not include the multifunctional Polish expression sobie.
Most common usage of dative in the Polish language (as an obligatory valency slot ) is to refer to the real recipient or beneficiary of an action. It is also used as some sort of commentary, when one wants to show their commitment to the action and when one feels like a quasi-recipient of this action (as an non-obligatory valency slot). The author provides her own interpretation of the function of non-obligatory dative phrases in Contemporary Polish Language.
The author also considers a number of problems with interpreting dative forms in sentences as non-obligatory phrases or as required arguments (immanent parts of language units). In the article, units of language are understood as separate entities (continuous or discontinuous) to which (in most cases) a single meaning is assigned. As regards valency slots, they are treated as immanent parts of expressions, unlike lexemes filling these slots in an utterance. The procedure of language-unit delimitation aims at identifying exactly those elements, the detachment of which would result in the unit losing its semantic properties.


DISSERTATION: By Women, For Women: Choral Works for Women's Voices Composed and Texted by Women, with an Annotated Repertoire List STUDENT: Shelbie L. Wahl DEGREE: Doctor of Arts COLLEGE: College of Fine Arts, School of Music DATE: July, 2009 PAGES: 257 This study is a practical tool for all conductors of women's voices, in the form of an annotated and indexed bibliography of repertoire. This resource will specifically present literature by women composers, with texts by women authors, written intentionally for women's choral ensembles. I invite the reader to become an informed consumer of music by and for women. We owe it to our women performers to find works that meet the collective musical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional needs of the ensemble members. Making music is a personal and emotional experience, thus, our performers deserve to sing music that represents, in part, what they believe in, and embodies who they are. This document contains annotated entries for more than 150 musical compositions of choral music for women's voices. Each annotation is intended to inform and educate readers as to the specific characteristics of a given piece. Annotation entries include: title of work, composer name and dates, author name and dates, date of the composition, voicing, accompaniment, duration, subject matter, and publisher's information, as well as detailed commentary related to the textual and musical aspects of the piece. All compositions are also given ratings for level of difficulty in each of six categories: Range and Tessitura, Vocal line and Melody, Harmony, Rhythm and Meter, Text setting and Language, and Expression. By the very nature of this topic, a fully comprehensive list of all available choral repertoire written by women for women will never truly exist. It will always be a work in progress. However, it is my hope that the information contained within this study will assist conductors of women's choral ensembles in the continuing search for material that best suits the voices and interests of their singers. Women's ensemble conductors must be familiar with the literature in the 'by women, for women' category, so that each individual may make an informed choice regarding repertoire for his or her own ensemble. The literal and figurative voices of women deserve to be heard. As conductors of women's choral ensembles, it is our responsibility to let those voices sing.


A trend of sharing networks between operators has been seen in different parts of the world in recent years. These agreements have enabled those actors to save costs and benefit from other positive aspects that comes with them. Mobile services are increasingly more popular in Sub-Saharan countries and are becoming affordable for an increasingly larger part of the public. The operators on the other hand are struggling with a low existing infrastructure and low revenues. Consequently it is of interest to evaluate whether network sharing would be beneficial for the operators of Sub-Saharan countries. There are multiple different business strategies that can be formed in network sharing and all have limitations in what can be implemented. Therefore one needs to identify what hindrances there are before initiating a sharing agreement. Network sharing is furthermore an issue of regulatory consideration as agreements between operators can influence the competition in a market. National regulator authorities consequently have a power to influence what possibilities there are for operators in forming sharing agreements and by that encourage the development that they deem as positive. In this paper some network sharing strategies are evaluated in their potential if implemented in two Sub-Saharan countries; Nigeria and Kenya. The assessment of the sharing strategies is made with a S.W.O.T analysis of each approach, as well as by taking experiences from Norway which here is considered as a bench-mark for the development in mobile communication technology. Some examples of passive sharing is currently seen in the two countries, but further cost savings are needed. The Nigerian and Kenyan MNOs need to consider active sharing strategies to generate those cost savings. MORAN sharing is here the recommended approach for both countries in implementing an active sharing strategy, but the regulators need to allow sharing of RNC's for it to be implementable. If additional spectrum is allocated to mobile communication the regulators in both countries should consider national roaming and MVNOs as tools for increasing competition and to lower the SMP of dominant actors.


Current studies of the optimal design of multi-state series-parallel systems often focus on the problem of determining the optimal redundancy for each stage. However, this is only a partial optimization. There are two options to improve the system utility of a multi-state series-parallel system: 1) to provide redundancy at each stage, and 2) to improve the component state distribution, that is, make a component in states with respect to higher utilities with higher probabilities. This paper presents an optimization model for a multi-state series-parallel system to jointly determine the optimal component state distribution, and optimal redundancy for each stage. The relationship between component state distribution, and component cost is discussed based on an assumption on the treatment on the components. An example is used to illustrate the optimization model with its solution approach, and that the proposed reliability-redundancy allocation model is superior to the current redundancy allocation models.


In times of steadily increasing air pollution especially in urban areas, the monitoring of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has gained in importance and with it the search for compact, low-cost sensors. We present a novel approach to measure NO2 in sub-ppm concentrations with a photoacoustic sensor utilizing a T-shaped resonance cell. An inexpensive single LED with a peak wavelength of 410 nm was used as radiation source and the acoustic detection was done with a commercial MEMS microphone. For optimal coupling of the divergent LED light into the cell, the T-shaped resonator was developed and fabricated with rapid prototyping methods. The resonator shows a acoustic Q-factor >10 while having nearly no zero gas signal.


Notwithstanding years of intensive clinical study of the etiology, pathology, course and effects of treatment of chronic peptic ulcer, many points are still open for discussion. The advent of roentgenography has given a renewed impetus, opening up afresh, as moot questions, problems that apparently had been satisfactorily answered. The recent contributions of roentgenologists have tended to show that under favorable circumstances many ulcers tend to disappear and presumably to heal, the disappearance of the roentgenographic niche being the criterion on which such a judgment is founded. On the other hand, the operation of subtotal gastrectomy for the radical removal of ulcer, an operation that seems likely to enjoy an increasing and a well warranted sphere of activity, has delivered into our hands fresh ulcer specimens of various types and at various stages in the life cycle of the peptic process. These two factors alone have contributed considerable new information concerning


With the aim of improving farmers' livelihood, independence, and development of rural resources, social work is basically consistent with the strategy of rural targeted poverty alleviation, which determines that social work will play an key role in rural targeted poverty alleviation. Due to the absolute feasibility and unique advantages of social work in rural targeted poverty alleviation, many social organizations have found ways and methods for rural targeted poverty alleviation. The effective involvement of social work in rural targeted poverty alleviation needs the government's increasing emphasis, accurate and personalized help in social work and the promotion of social workers' capabilities.


The present article is the analysis of a conversation between the author and Lara, a four-yearold- girl, enrolled in nursery school, while she makes a drawing of the Earth. It took place outside school environment and without any other person around to avoid interference during the interview. According to Ferreira & Silva (2004), a researcher can only comprehend a child's drawing, or form, by listening to him/her while he/she is creating it. Lara presented the traditional flat drawing, picturing the sky parallel to the ground, as reported by Nardi & Carvalho (1996). However, when asked to draw the World – term used by Butterworth et al. (2002), in order to avoid unnecessary confusion – she represented it by a circle, with herself on the surface. Her drawings led to the conclusion that such girl does not know yet the World in which she lives is the Earth, and probably because of that, within her age and consequent maturity, she accurately differentiates the concepts of land and Earth.


In breast cancer screening the radiologist searches for suspicious lesions inside the breast. If the lesion is only visible on MRI then it is difficult to precisely target it for a biopsy. The current manual procedure is inaccurate and inefficient, so research has been done to develop suitable alternatives using robotics. Two different robotic system projects have been conducted to tackle the clinical challenge: the MURAB project and the Stormram project. The MURAB project combines different imaging modalities including MRI, ultrasound, elastography and stereo vision to create a detailed patient-specific model for the biopsy. The setup consists of a metallic robot arm with end-effector positioned under a patient bed. The patient is first scanned in the MRI and then by the robotic arm, resulting in 3D scans in MRI, ultrasound and elastography. A patient-specific simulation model is created and the intervention planned, taking tissue deformations into account. The biopsy needle is manually inserted by the radiologist. The different sub-parts of the system were investigated in a broad range of phantom experiments, while preliminary experiments with the full setup on phantoms were conducted as well. The MURAB setup has shown that it is effectively able to apply deformation compensation techniques in targeting lesions. The Stormram project takes a different approach into the same clinical challenge. An MR safe needle manipulator is placed inside the MRI scanner, allowing to insert the biopsy needle robotically straight after the MRI scan without moving the patient. The manipulator is actuated by pneumatic stepper motors which are entirely made of non-metallic materials and are extensively described and evaluated. A total of five distinct prototypes have been built within the Stormram project. The Stormram 4 has shown to have a needle positioning accuracy in MRI of 2 mm. Both the MURAB and Stormram projects show that it is possible to tackle the clinical challenge using a robotic system, taking tissue deformations into account. Several new technologies and combinations have been developed within both projects and these also demonstrate the value of the conducted research.


Abstract One hundred seventy-four water bear specimens and 16 eggs (Phylum Tardigrada) were collected from mosses and lichens in South Carolina, representing eight genera and 12 species. Some species could only be identified to species group. Nine species or species groups were new records for South Carolina and two were new for the United States. Echiniscus danieli sp. nov. is described from moss and lichen collected from trees on the campus of the University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, southeastern U.S.A. The species belongs to the Echiniscus bigranulatus group; its dorsal plate cuticle structure consists of true pores, pillars, and granulation. It differs from other species in the group in lacking basal spurs on any of its claws and in the weak development of dentate collars on the fourth legs (i.e., dentate collar absent, or present with few or no teeth). The bigranulatus group has been considered Neotropical and Antarctic in distribution. The presence of Echiniscus danieli sp. nov. in Nearctic North America therefore expands its confirmed geographical range.


Prostitution is a disputed concept, not in the way that it is not defined, for it is, but not in the sense that would be to many viewed as ethical as well as moral values of the modern society. From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Person and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Oth-ers to the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Wom-en, prostitution in itself is not defined and not established properly as an issue of old and still existing structures. The World Conference on Women and their following reports aim at establishing a platform of which women's rights are to be protected yet it seems to follow previous patterns of politics. The investigation aimed to analyze how the discrimination of prostitution is conveyed in the reports from these conferences and in that way try to analytically criticize the portrayed image of prostitution. As a mean to do this Norman Fairclough's critical discourse analysis is used, partly, to help underpin the hegemonic structures that are evident in the research to try and understand the discriminatory differentiation of forced and free prostitution. The results shows that a gap of prostitution itself is a question of discrimination of women's fundamental free-doms and a violation of their dignity. Further the analysis depicts that the gender and economical hegemonies structures the moral values and the politics of the concept of freedom and sex equality, that in its turn hinders any institutional change on the question of "free" prostitution.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the stability and variability of the LMP1 gene and protein in nude-mice transplanted tumor models of extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma.

METHODS
PCR and Western Blot were performed to detect the full-length LMP1 gene and protein expression in the established extranodal nasal type NK/ T-cell lymphoma transplanted tumor models and the tissues of donor tumors. Then the sequence of full-length LMP1 gene in transplanted tumor models and donor were compared with the sequence of wild-type B95. 8 and deletion-type CAO cell strains.

RESULTS
LMP1 gene and protein were detected in all the extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma transplanted tumor models, and the full-length LMP1 nucleotide sequence homology with the donor tumor was 99. 76%. It was found in sequencing analysis that LMP1 gene sequence possessed both conservative character and specificity, similar to that of CAO cell strains.

CONCLUSION
LMP1 gene and protein existed stably in the extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma transplanted tumor models, which implied that LMP1 might relate to the maintenance and development of this lymphoma. The nude-mice transplanted tumor models provided an important experimental platform for further studies on the correlation of LMP1 and extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma.


The combustion simulation of ammonium perchlorate was carried out with the software Chemkin, in two steps: the burning behavior of pure ammonium perchlorate and the one of formulated ammonium perchlorate with hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene binder. In both cases, the room pressure varied in order to verify its influence in the system. The burning environment conditions were diverse. During the combustion process, the data obtained from the kinetic chemistry simulation software were compiled. The flame structure can be described by the molar fraction of the burning products and the temperature evolution from the surface of the material.


Objectives Short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clopidogrel and aspirin for secondary prevention in transient ischemic attack (TIA) has been shown to reduce 90-day stroke risk, including for symptomatic high-grade carotid stenosis >50%.1–3 Beyond 30 days, haemorrhagic complications outweighed benefits.3 At our institution, there remains hesitancy of the use of DAPT. We aim to determine prescription rate of DAPT by Emergency Department (ED) versus Stroke Unit (SU) and evaluate 90-day stroke and bleeding risk. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on all TIA patients admitted to Barwon Health between January 2019 to July 2020. Patients commenced on 21-day DAPT were identified. High-risk TIA was defined as symptomatic carotid stenosis >50%. Bleeding risk was defined as major haemorrhage i.e. symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage or gastrointestinal bleeding. Results 208 TIA patients were identified; 127 patients and 81 patients were admitted to ED and SU respectively. A higher rate of DAPT prescription was seen in the SU at 33.3% (27/81) versus 16.5% (21/127) in ED. 18.5% (5/27) SU patients versus 14.3% (3/21) ED patients were deemed to have had high-risk TIA. No cases of recurrent stroke or major haemorrhage at 90 days were seen in patients receiving DAPT. Conclusion DAPT prescription is lower in ED when compared to SU. At Barwon Health, consultation with the stroke team is encouraged to facilitate high-risk TIA management. A low 90-day stroke and bleeding risk on short term DAPT for TIA was observed in this study. Given our small sample size, this finding may not be generalisable to different settings. References Hackam DG, Spence JD. Antiplatelet therapy in ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. Stroke 2019 Mar;50(3):773–778. Wang Y, Wang Y, Zhao X, Liu L, Wang D, Wang C, et al; CHANCE Investigators. Clopidogrel with aspirin in acute minor stroke or transient ischemic attack. N Engl J Med 2013;369:11–19. Johnston SC, Easton JD, Farrant M, Barsan W, Conwit RA, Elm JJ, et al; Clinical Research Collaboration, Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials Network, and the POINT Investigators. Clopidogrel and aspirin in acute ischemic stroke and high-risk TIA. N Engl J Med 2018;379:215–225.


Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous disease comprising multiple genetic subtypes that translates and impacts clinical outcomes after standard chemoimmunotherapy. Our initial understanding of the complex biological subtypes of DLBCL began with the identification of cell of origin (COO), and now has evolved to include even more specific subtypes defined by genetic signatures and mutations. These newer classifications lend themselves to the application of precision-based medicine, allowing us to tailor new treatment platforms that target specific oncogenic drivers in order to improve DLBCL outcomes. Essential to this is the development of genetic assays and tools that are reliable and readily available to assist in the application of these molecular classifications to real-world use. In this review, we discuss the history of DLBCL classification systems and their implication on clinical investigation as well as novel therapeutic options in DLBCL.


Dynamic graph representation learning is an important task with widespread applications. Previous methods on dynamic graph learning are usually sensitive to noisy graph information such as missing or spurious connections, which can yield degenerated performance and generalization. To overcome this challenge, we propose a Transformer-based dynamic graph learning method named Dynamic Graph Transformer (DGT) with spatial-temporal encoding to effectively learn graph topology and capture implicit links. To improve the generalization ability, we introduce two complementary self-supervised pre-training tasks and show that jointly optimizing the two pre-training tasks results in a smaller Bayesian error rate via an information-theoretic analysis. We also propose a temporal-union graph structure and a target-context node sampling strategy for an efficient and scalable training. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets illustrate that DGT presents superior performance compared with several state-of-the-art baselines.


pt. I. Pioneers of evolution from Thales to Lucretius, B.C. 600-A.D. 50.--pt. II. The arrest of inquiry, A.D. 50-A.D. 1600: 1. From the early Christian period to the time of Augustine, A.D. 50-A.D. 400. 2. From Augustine to Lord Bacon, A.D. 400-A.D. 1600.--pt. 3. The renascence of science, A.D. 1600 onward.--pt. IV. Modern evolution: 1. Darwin and Wallace. 2. Herbert Spencer. 3. Thomas Henry Huxley.


In a supply chain, inventory is the single largest source of costs for a company. This is due to the various physical and informational activities that accompany inventory management, primarily the holding and transportation of inventory. Companies are looking to streamline these activities and minimize the associated costs. One of the most coveted models to jointly solve these two problems is the Inventory Routing Problem (IRP), which will be the focus of this study. This paper addresses the case of a deterministic replenishment demand in a distribution network consisting of a supplier and a number of customers to be served by a single vehicle over a finite planning horizon. We will first study the impact of increasing supplier lead times on network costs. Then, we will study the effects of the Lateral Transshipment (LT) technique on the overall network cost. A mathematical model is developed and solved by an exact method. The results obtained will show that LT is an effective tool capable of improving the total network cost and balancing the customers' inventory level.


The project is done in IT sector located at Coimbatore. The main concept of this project is Quality of work life. The quality of work life has different meanings for different people. Some consider it industrial democracy with increased employee's participation in the decision-making process. Improving social relationship at workplace through autonomous. The sample size of this project is 120 respondents. The samples have been taken from the total population of the employees on the convenience sampling method. The data collection is based on the primary data source and secondary data source. A detailed and well structured questionnaire is prepared to find out the satisfaction of the employees and the employees are interviewed personally. The secondary data are collected through official records and company brochures and websites. The data are collected and analyzed with the help of the statistical tools. Findings and conclusions are given based on the analysis and the suggestions are given based on the findings from the study.


ABSTRACT 'Public' toilets are crucial to our social and geographical landscape, and access to them has become prominent in recent public and academic debates. Drawing on a qualitative study based on 25 daily diaries and follow-up interviews with people living with the common health condition irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), this paper explores toilet access through the lens of mundane mobilities. Planning journeys, mapping toilets, a reliance on commercial toilets and intersections with travel were key themes emerging from the study. Through the lens of IBS, we see how navigations of seemingly everyday mobilities are problematised through the bodily precarity of unpredictable symptoms intertwined with the availability, comfort and knowledge of 'public' toilets. This paper works at demonstrating the interdependency between everyday mobilities and toilet access. IBS offers a particularly useful insight in which the common but often hidden nature of the condition demonstrates the multiplicities of 'public' toilet access and how the unpredictability of access meets with, and is embodied, by those with the condition. This paper contributes to interdisciplinary toilet scholarship by engaging in mundane and embodied geographies and centralises toilets as a site of connection for those studying everyday mobilities.


Follow-up examinations of 82 children after surgery for subdjral effusions show a varied degree of retardation of motor- and speech-development. This corresponds to neurologic signs of varying severity. Preoperative EEG findings are improved both in pre-school- and school children. Disturbance of motor and intellectual development as a rule corresponds to severe EEG changes. Among pre-school children 35% had an IQ below 69%, among school-children 36%. But their occupational chances cannot yet be finally assessed. Children with large effusions (over 50 ml) and extensive capsules show a higher percentage of retardation. Present results do not establish relations between site of effusion, frequency of recurrence and mental development.


BACKGROUND
Fetal-placental development depends on a continuous and efficient supply of nutrients from maternal blood that are acquired by exchange through the placenta. However, the placenta is a low permeability barrier, and effective transport of substances depends on specific transport mechanisms. Active transport requires that ions or nutrients be moved against an electrical and/or concentration gradient. In pigs, active transport of ions occurs across the chorioallantois placenta to produce an electrochemical gradient that changes throughout gestation. The aim of this study was to utilize Ussing chambers to detect regulation of ion transport across the porcine chorioallantois by a factor(s) within the uterine-placental environment of pigs.

METHODS
For the measurement of transchorioallantoic voltage potential as an index of ion transport across the placenta, pieces of chorioallantoic tissue from Day 60 of gestation were mounted into the cassettes of Ussing chambers, and treatments were added to the mucasal side of the tissue. Treatments included: (1) media incubated with Day 60 chorioallantois (placenta-conditioned media); (2) osteopontin/secreted phosphoprotein 1 (OPN/SPP1) purified from cow's milk; (3) placenta-conditioned media from which OPN/SPP1 was removed; and (4) recombinant rat OPN with an intact RGD integrin binding sequence or a mutated RAD sequence. Ouabain was added to both sides of the chamber. Immunofluorescence was utilized to localize beta 3 integrin, aquaporin 8 and OPN/SPP1 in porcine placental tissues, and OPN/SPP1 within porcine lung, kidney and small intestine.

RESULTS
Day 60 chorioallantoic membranes had greater transepithelial voltage in the presence of porcine placenta-conditioned media, indicating that a molecule(s) released from the placenta increased ion transport across the placenta. OPN/SPP1 purified from cow's milk increased ion transport across the placenta. When OPN/SPP1 was removed from placenta-conditioned media, ion transport across the placenta did not increase. Recombinant rat OPN/SPP1 with a mutated RGD sequence that does not bind integrins (RAD) did not increase ion transport across the placenta. Ouabain, an inhibiter of the sodium-potassium ion pump, ablated ion transport across the placenta.

CONCLUSIONS
The present study documents a novel pericellular matrix role for OPN/SPP1 to bind integrins and increase ion transport across the porcine chorioallantoic placenta.


Potassium conjugated linoleic acid or potassium linoleate (isomerized), 86 mM, satisfies the United States Environmental Protection Agency protocol hospital disinfectant for non-porous surfaces MB-05-16 with one-minute treatment. This stringent protocol requires separate preparations of Staphylococcus aureus (American Type Culture Collection 6538) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (American Type Culture Collection 15442) unstirred for 48 hours, submerging 10 mm polished cylinders in the culture, and placing for 45 minutes in a 37°C humidified chamber before treating. Since potassium linoleate (isomerized) also satisfies the United States Environmental Protection Agency protocol MB-35-00 for Candida auris, this study establishes potassium linoleate (isomerized) as an effective cross-kingdom antimicrobial plant salt, soap, or cleanser. We affirm the need for formal post-treatment plating on agar to establish efficacy and not rely on OD600 when testing for antimicrobial capacity. Aqueous dilution of the soap causes variable opalescence making optical density an unreliable marker for antimicrobial efficacy.


1. Main theorem. Let x = (xo, xi, • • • ) be a sequence of complex numbers and let | x \ he the norm | x | = (^Z | x" |2)1/2 2:0. Let an asterisk denote complex conjugation. If \x\ < <» and |y| < oo, let [x, y] = [y, x] denote the sum of the series ^T,xnyn, that is, the "scalar" product of y by x*. For a given x with a finite norm |x|, let x(t) denote a function of class i2(0, 27r) having the Fourier series


Rate of progression from prediabetes to diabetes varies greatly, and better risk stratification would help guide prevention efforts. We evaluated predictors of incident diabetes in the placebo arm (n=1212) of the vitamin D and type 2 diabetes (D2d) study. At baseline, participants met 2 or 3 ADA glycemic criteria for prediabetes (fasting glucose, FPG, 100-125mg/dL; 2-hour glucose during a 75-g OGTT, 2hPG, 140-199 mg/dL; HbA1c, 5.7-6.4%). Diabetes was diagnosed based on semiannual testing. After a median follow up of 2.5 years, 27% met criteria for diabetes. Among those who did and did not develop diabetes, mean BMI (±SD) was similar (32.1 kg/m2 ± 4.4), as well as other demographic factors including age, race, and ethnicity. More men than women developed diabetes (29% vs 23%, p=0.02). Incident diabetes rates differed by prediabetes subgroups (Figure); and those meeting all three prediabetes criteria at baseline (35.4%) were most likely to develop diabetes (log-rank p <0.001). There were no differences in the incident diabetes rate among those people meeting only 2 of the prediabetes criteria (Figure). Also, area under the receiver operator characteristic curves for incident diabetes at 36 months increased when all 3 criteria were used in the diagnosis (0.736) vs only FPG and HbA1c (0.686). We conclude that 'prediabetes' is heterogeneous, and the 2hPG may refine diabetes risk and guide intervention strategies in adults with high-risk prediabetes.

 S. H. Kim: Advisory Panel; GI Dynamics, Consultant; Aligos, Research Support; Fractyl Health, Inc. D. S. Hsia: None. E. S. Leblanc: Other Relationship; Dexcom, Inc. M. Staten: None. R. Chatterjee montgomery: Research Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Epigenomics AG. N. Rasouli: Research Support; Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company, Somalogic. V. R. Aroda: Consultant; Applied Therapeutics Inc., Fractyl Health, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Other Relationship; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Research Support; Applied Therapeutics Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Fractyl Health, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Sanofi. A. G. Pittas: None.

 National Institutes of Health (U01DK098245)


Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells (CESCs) and their proliferative progeny, the Transit Amplifying Cells (TACs), are responsible for homeostasis and maintaining corneal transparency. Owing to our limited knowledge of cell fates and gene activity within the cornea, the search for unique markers to identify and isolate these cells remains crucial for ocular surface reconstruction. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of corneal epithelial cells from stage 49-51 Xenopus larvae. We identified five main clusters with distinct molecular signatures, which represent apical, basal and keratocyte cell types as well as two discrete proliferative cell types in the bi-layered epithelium. Our data reveal several novel genes expressed in corneal cells and spatiotemporal changes in gene expression during corneal differentiation. Through gene regulatory network analysis, we identified key developmental gene regulons, which guide these different cell states. Our study offers a detailed atlas of single-cell transcriptomes in the frog corneal epithelium. In future, this work will be useful to elucidate the function of novel genes in corneal homeostasis, wound healing and cornea regeneration, which includes lens regeneration in Xenopus. SUMMARY STATEMENT This study identifies cell types and transcriptional heterogeneity in the corneal epithelium that regulate its differentiation, and facilitates the search for corneal stem cell markers.


We present a modification of the well known transfer entropy (TE) which makes it able to detect, besides the direction and strength of the information transfer between coupled processes, its exact timing. The approach follows a decomposition strategy which identifies -according to a lag-specific formulation of the concept of Granger causality- the set of time delays carrying significant information, and then assigns to each of these delays an amount of information transfer such that the total contribution yields the overall TE. We propose also a procedure for the practical estimation from time series data of the relevant delays and lag-specific TE in both bivariate and multivariate settings. The proposed approach is tested in simulations and in real cardiovascular time series, showing the feasibility of lag-specific TE estimation, the ability to reflect expected mechanisms of cardiovascular regulation, and the necessity of using the multivariate TE to properly assess time-lagged information transfer in the presence of multiple interacting systems.


With the development of enterprise information management technology and the improvement of computer-network technology, the application of logistics information system based on network becomes more and more extensive. On this condition, the need of security of web-based logistics infromation platform accordingly is higher than before. The paper firstly introduces the actuality and preventing measure of the network security briefly, then presents the establishment of this network security system based on the logistics information platform, which includes visit control, transmit control and server security control etc.


Summer spaces in Turkey are mostly free from the urban hurly-burly and associated with nature. Moreover, people engage in the small-scale cultivation of various fruits and vegetables in these places. In most cases, summer houses are close to the seaside. In these spaces, social relations are also different than they are in cities. It is observed that neither urban practices nor rural patterns are fully exhibited in such spaces, that is, a new form of social relations is prevalent. The aim of this study is to define this new form of social relations between the traditional and the modern.