Multimorbidity, the presence of two or more long-term conditions, is associated with numerous negative outcomes. Little is known, however, about the relationship between multimorbidity and social care use (also known as long-term care). This is important as many developed countries seek to integrate health and social care services as a means of improving quality of services at the same time as making efficiency savings.
The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between receipt of formal social care services, sociodemographic variables, and two proxy measures of multimorbidity.
For this retrospective population-based observational study including all individuals over the age of 65 in Scotland in financial years 2014/15 and 2015/16 (n= 975,265), we linked the Scottish Social Care Survey (which holds information on those receiving social care from local authorities) to administrative NHS community prescribing and demographic records. The main outcome binary measure was presence or not in the social care survey. Two proxy measures of multimorbidity were derived from prescribing data. We used logistic regression models and report Average Marginal Effects (AME).
Fifteen percent of all individuals received formal social care services. After adjustment for other modelled factors, multimorbidity showed an increasing magnitude of effect on receipt of social care (AME 16.4% (95% CI 16.2-16.6%) increased probability for 9+ medicines compared to 0-2 medicines, AME 18.8% (95% CI 18.5-19.1%) increased probability for 6+ BNF chapters compared to 0 BNF chapters). The magnitude of effect of deprivation on social care receipt was lower (AME 5.1% (95% CI 4.8-5.4%) increased probability in the most deprived area decile compared to the most affluent) after adjusting for multimorbidity and other demographic factors.
This is one of the first studies to demonstrate an association between multimorbidity and receipt of social care. Increasing prevalence of multimorbidity has greater societal implications than previously described.


This study addressed the impact of rod surface topography in contact with reciprocating seals. Rods were tooled with and without centreless grinding. All rods tooled with centreless grinding were fluid-proof, in contrast to rods tooled without centreless grinding that either had leaks or were fluid-proof. A method was developed to analyse the machining signature, and the software Mesrug™ was used in order to discriminate roughness parameters that can be used to characterize the sealing functionality. According to this surface roughness analysis, a fluid-proof rod tooled without centreless grinding presents aperiodic large plateaus, and the relevant roughness parameter for characterizing the sealing functionality is the density of summits SDS. Increasing the density of summits counteracts leakage, which may be because motif decomposition integrates three topographical components: circularity (perpendicular long-wave roughness), longitudinal waviness, and roughness thanks to the Wolf pruning algorithm. A 3D analytical contact model was applied to analyse the contact area of each type of sample with the seal surface. This model provides a leakage probability, and the results were consistent with the interpretation of the topographical analysis.


Following an earlier suggestion of the authors (Barvinsky A and Kunstatter G 1997 Mass spectrum for black holes in generic 2-D dilaton gravity Proc. 2nd International A D Sakharov Conference on Physics ed I M Dremin and A M Seminkhatov (Singapore: World Scientific) pp 210–15), we use some basic properties of Euclidean black hole thermodynamics and the quantum mechanics of systems with periodic phase space coordinate to derive the discrete two-parameter area spectrum of generic charged spherically symmetric black holes in any dimension. For the Reissner–Nordstrom black hole we get A/4Gℏ = π(2n + p + 1), where the integer p = 0, 1, 2,… gives the charge spectrum, with Q = ± √ ℏp. The quantity π(2n + 1), n = 0, 1,…, gives a measure of the excess of the mass/energy over the critical minimum (i.e. extremal) value allowed for a given fixed charge Q. The classical critical bound cannot be saturated due to vacuum fluctuations of the horizon, so that generically extremal black holes do not appear in the physical spectrum. Consistency also requires the black hole charge to be an integer multiple of any fundamental elementary particle charge: Q = ±me, m = 0, 1, 2,…. As a by-product this yields a relation between the fine structure constant and integer parameters of the black hole—a kind of the Coleman big fix mechanism induced by black holes. In four dimensions, this relationship is e2/ℏ = p/m2 and requires the fine structure constant to be a rational number. Finally, we prove that the horizon area is an adiabatic invariant, as has been conjectured previously.


The author looks at rural-urban migration in Latin America as a whole, and in Argentina and the province of Tucuman in particular. She describes the negative effect this migration has had on the Argentine city of San Miguel de Tucuman, in that it has given rise to the growth of urban poverty and slum areas. (SUMMARY IN ENG)


An important research stream in information systems (IS) is predicting and explaining technology acceptance among users. This has been and remains of clear importance to system developers and IS managers, and is therefore of interest to the IS research community. It is known that the context in which a system is used affects the determinants of the user's acceptance of it. Two new multi-item constructs are developed and validated to measure the extent to which a user is using a system within each of two such contexts: utilitarian, where the system has some useful application, and recreational, where the system is being used for enjoyment. Context definitions were used to create 14 candidate items which were initially refined by a series of pre-study interviews, refined further in a study of four systems, and validated in one applied testing situation. The resulting scales exhibit good psychometric properties reliability and convergent, discriminant and factorial validity, and show a high correlation with self reported context of use. The scales will be of use to researchers working in the area of technology adoption.


A fuzzy multicriteria decision-making method based on a cosine similarity measure between expected values of trapezoidal fuzzy numbers is proposed under the conditions that criteria weights and evaluated values in decision matrix are expressed by means of trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Through the cosine similarity measure between each alternative and the ideal alternative, the ranking order of all alternatives can be determined and the best alternative can be easily identified as well. An illustrative example shows that the proposed method is simple and applicable.


This study concerns the key problem of determining the conditions for the consolidation or fracture of bimetallic compounds and high-gradient materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion. The well-known approach to determining the strength is based on the assessment of the critical energy release rates during fracture, depending on the conditions of loading (the portion of shear loading). Unfortunately, most of the experimental results cannot be used directly to select suitable fracture toughness criteria before such a connection is made. This especially applies to the region of interphase interaction, when it is required to estimate the internal energy of destruction accumulated during the preparation of the joint in the adhesion layer within the range of 20–50 μm. Hence, criteria for the adhesive consolidation of bimetallic compound layers were obtained on the basis of the thermodynamics of nonequilibrium processes. The analysis of the quality of the joint using the obtained criteria was carried out on the basis of the calculation of isochoric and isobaric heat capacities and coefficients of thermal expansion of multiphase layers. The applicability of the criteria for the qualitative assessment of the adhesion of layers is demonstrated in the example of bimetallic joints of steel 316L—aluminum alloy AlSi10Mg obtained by the SLM method at various fusion modes.


We propose a benchmark suite for systematic evaluation of efficiency of new CAD and test algorithms. The suite consists of a set of high performance signal processors. Differently from all other existing benchmark suites, all the member processors of this family perform the same function, but are implemented in different ways, differing mainly in sharing of computing resources. The circuits are characterized by different structural complexities measured in the number of reconvergent fan-outs. The latter feature has the main impact to the testability of circuits, influencing directly on the efficiency of test tools and on the quality of the given test set. The main advantage of the benchmark suite, compared to the existing ones, relies in the possibility to create systematic dependencies of the efficiency of test algorithms or test quality as a function of the structural complexity of circuits.


Introduction: The use of triple agent induction therapy before first line high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in multiple myeloma is now considered standard of care. While thalidomide/bortezomib/dexamethasone (VTD) is the only induction regimen approved by EMA, both cyclophosphamide/bortezomib/dexamethasone (VCD) and lenalidomide/bortezomib/dexamethasone (RVD) are recommended in the most recent ESMO guidelines (Moreau et al., Annals of Oncology, 2017).
 Prospective comparisons of VCD and RVD are lacking. Cross-study comparisons show that the combinations of proteasome inhibitors (PIs) and immunomodulatory drugs (IMIDs) have the highest response rates (Malankody Nat Rev Clin Onc 2015).
 In recent years there has been a shift in choice of induction therapy from the VCD to the RVD regimen in our region. We have evaluated how this shift has affected depth of response 3 months after ASCT in all patients receiving first line HDT with ASCT in our region from January 1st, 2015, and how frequently our patients needed to change induction regimen, based on choice of first line therapy.
 Methods: All patients receiving first line HDT with ASCT for multiple myeloma in our institution in the period from January 1st, 2015 to March 16th, 2018 were evaluated for the final analysis of response 3 months post-ASCT. The induction regimen was chosen at their local physician´s discretion. The patients received 3-5 cycles of induction therapy before leukapheresis, HDT (melphalan 200mg/m2) and ASCT. All patients received a follow-up consultation in our institution 3 months post-ASCT, where response was evaluated and recorded according to the IMWG 2016 response criteria. No patients had started maintenance therapy at the time of evaluation. Age, sex, date of ASCT, the presence of high-risk cytogenetics, ISS stage at diagnosis, choice of induction regimen and response 3 months post-ASCT was recorded by the primary investigator (Table 1). In case of change of regimen during induction treatment, the reason was recorded. Patients receiving either VCD or RVD as induction therapy, who did not change regimen during induction, were included in the final response analysis.
 Results: 212 patients received HDT with ASCT in the period. 209 patients were evaluated 3 months after ASCT as of June 21st, 2018. 57.5% (122 patients) received VCD as first-line induction therapy, while 25.9% (55 patients) received RVD. 11.5% (14 patients) in the VCD group changed induction therapy vs 3.6% (2 patients) in the RVD group. Reasons for changing regimen were: not achieving at least a partial response (PR) (n=10), unacceptable toxicity (n=4), lack of documented reason (n=2). In the RVD group, 1 patient died from sepsis 2 weeks post-ASCT, and 1 patient refused to attend the post-ASCT evaluation. Therefore, 108 patients in the VCD group and 51 patients in the RVD group were included in the final response analysis.
 29 patients could not confirm a complete response (CR) due to lack of bone marrow and/or serum immunofixation at response evaluation. For that reason, patients achieving CR, unconfirmed CR and very good partial response (VGPR) were compounded to a ≥VGPR response grade.
 In the RVD group 94,1% (48 patients) achieved ≥VGPR vs 85,2% (92 patients) in the VCD group. Similar differences were also present for confirmed CR (25% vs 18%) and unconfirmed CR (44% vs 35%). In addition, 2% in the RVD group (1 patient) achieved PR, while 3.9% (2 patients) had disease progression (PD) 3 months after ASCT. In the VCD group, 13.0% (14 patients) achieved PR, while 1.8% (2 patients) had PD 3 months after ASCT (Table 2, Figure 1).
 Discussion: RVD induction therapy before HDT with ASCT yielded higher rates of at least VGPR compared to VCD induction (85,2% s 94,1%). The choice of RVD as first line induction therapy necessitated fewer changes of induction regimen due to insufficient response or unacceptable toxicities compared to VCD induction (3,6% vs 11,5%). The differences were not statistically significant, possibly because of too few patients. Still, our results support the trend in our region of choosing RVD as first-line induction for transplant-eligible patients. These results should be confirmed in larger patient materials, and in prospective studies.
 Updated data with approximately 35 additional patients, mainly receiving RVD induction, will be presented at the ASH annual meeting if our abstract is selected for presentation.

 Moksnes: Shire: Consultancy. Schjesvold:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Abbvie: Honoraria; Adaptive: Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria.


Colorectal cancer and diabetes mellitus represent a major public health issue, fi rst, by the number of new cases which are at an alarming rate. Secondly, by the negative effect over the quality of life, socio-economic status and lifespan, representing high morbidity and mortality causes. Diabetes Mellitus is the disease of the century with a global prevalence (standardised-age) which doubled since 1980, rising from 4.7% to 8.5% in adult population. In 2012, the estimated number of fatalities caused by diabetes mellitus and other related complications were at 3.7 million, out of which 43% were patients under the age of 70. Neoplasia represents the second cause of death, after cardiovascular disease. Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks the 3rd regarding the global neoplasia incidence (10.2%) and the second regarding the mortality (9.5% of all cancer deaths). Colorectal cancer screening refers to the periodic evaluation of asymptomatic patients at risk of developing this neoplasia. Colorectal cancer has a number of peculiarities that make it ideal for screening. Since the end of the 19th century, the suspicion has been raised that diabetes mellitus has been involved, through directly etiological mechanisms, in carcinogenesis (breast, endometrium, colorectal, pancreas, liver, non-Hodgkin lymphoma). At the moment, there is already a consensus in the literature on the role of diabetes as an independent risk factor for colorectal cancer. However, despite the existence of numerous experimental evidence, epidemiological studies and meta-analyses, there is currently no adaptation of colorectal cancer screening for these patients. Material and method: Prospective case-control study conducted over a 2-year period including a number of 442 patients presented at "Dr. I Cantacuzino" Clinical Hospital, asymptomatic, who underwent lower digestive endoscopies in order to assess and defi ne using anamnestic, clinical and paraclinical criteria, the profi le of the patient with type II diabetes mellitus that should be given an endoscopic examination because diagnosing precursor lesions or even CRC is likely probable. Results: In the analyzed group, statistically signifi cant correlations (p<0.05) were recorded between positive colonoscopy results (defi ned as precursor lesions – polypsor tumors) and certain clinical characteristics (age, sex, BMI, duration of diabetes, type of antidiabetic treatment) and also paraclinical (reactive C protein and glycated hemoglobin). Conclusions: Criteria of patients with type II diabetes who have the maximum probability of developing colorectal cancer have been outlined. Thus this patient is more likely male, with a BMI > 25, aged over 60 years, with an unbalanced diabetes mellitus counted by HbA1c > 7 mg/dL, with over 5 years of diabetes evolution, in treatment with insulin most likely or combined insulin with oral antidiabetics and with an inflammatory biological profi le expressed by PCR> 2 mg/dL threshold values.


EDITORIAL

The reflective nature of the life long process of Teacher's assessment refers to a systematic exploration of all characters of a teacher's performance1. Teacher quality assessment commonly includes reviews of qualifications, tests of the teacher's knowledge, observations of practice, and measurements of the student learning gains. Evaluations of teacher quality are currently used for employment and contract decisions2. It recognizes the strengths and weaknesses, encourages professional development and provides a process for both formative and summative assessment; based on either internal or external assessing bodies. Type of teaching certification, advanced degrees or certifications are important components of professional growth ongoing regular formative assessments of performance are available for the sole purpose of nurturing professional growth and improved training, and summative evaluations of teacher performance for the purpose of favorable sustained occupation. This in turn prompts individuals to rethink, go in new directions, and change previously applied strategies.  This not only provides the awareness so that a teacher can develop different approaches for the developmentof teaching skills and professional behaviors, but also enables reflection of clear learning goals and scales in order to measure these goals, the measurement in turn helping in the assessment of the student's progress. Moreover, it helps in identifying critical information when it comes to assessing academic examining errors in reasoning, practicing skills, strategies, and processes of the teacher's ability andin improving the quality of education and the academic environment of the institute3. While standards for teaching practice and student learning are vital, each teacher should also define student learning objectives to be assessed. A teacher's input can provide vital learning objectives for the contextualized environments of each learning environment. As said earlier, it is important to embrace extra ordinary prospects of all teachers from the start of their teaching careers. It is improbable to expect from even end owed learned teachers to meet the same expectations as more practiced educators. Expectations should increase progressively during coaching years in the establishments.
Sources of Information
Potential sources of evidence on effectiveness of teaching are peer observations, peer review of course material, external expert ratings, self-rating, employer rating ,teaching scholarships, teaching rewards, learning outcome measures and instruction course portfolios5. These sources can help to draw evidence from one or more source and can leverage the strengths of each source to the weaknesses of the other source. There has been a recent trend toward augmenting ratings with other data sources to broaden and deepen evidence bases.
Evaluation systems should use multiple sources to determine whether teachers have met performance expectations as no single measurement can provide a complete depiction of a teacher's performance. The 360 degrees multisource feedback (MSF) model, recommended by the experts, best fits to evaluate teaching performance by measuring different aspects of teaching effectiveness6.
Formative decisions
Self-assessment
Self-assessment focuses on understanding the teacher's motivations and attitudes towards improvement. The value system of the teacher plays an important role in improvement, and self-assessment can be done to improve and shape teaching at a particular time of the teaching. This should neither involve threat of punishment nor the promise of reward. Student data can be obtained from portfolios and student interviews to provide teachers with feedback about their practice, and appoint teachers in learning practices that are free from employment-based decisions. Some newly introduced evaluation systems entail that teachers conduct a self-assessment analysis, establish professional growth aims, and take part in a study group with contemporaries to follow a topic of shared concern7.
Summative decisions
Criteria for summative evaluations should be developed in cooperation with the administrators and teachers while adhering to strict guidelines, forms, and timelines. Letter of recommendation by the dean based on his or her personal expert advice can help the faculty committee to formulate decisions regarding the promotion and progression of a teacher. The dean uses evidence of the teacher's effectiveness from research publications and clinical practice since he is the person who has access to all the teacher activities through documents and direct observations8. Different data can be obtained through studentratings, teaching scholarships, administrative data, and mentor review for the summative decisions.
Program decision
Program evaluation standards can be used to evaluate the process of curriculum admissions, graduation requirements and program effectiveness. These decisions are based on the consultation from the documents to satisfy the accreditation bodies. Data through student ratings, exit and alumnirating and employers rating can help making program decisions9. Teachers are involved in all the academic activities with the students such as teaching and curriculum development, and any change in the above mentioned sources can provide feedback regarding the effectiveness of the teacher.
Steps to Establish The Integrity of Teacher Assessment
The 360 degrees multisource feedback (MSF) model is a best criterion to evaluate teaching performance, as it utilizes all the available data from all the above mentioned sources. Moreover, it can provide more accurate and equitable decisions than the one based on just a single source. Process of evaluation should start with student ratings and reviewing other sources of evidence.  One has to choose the best combination of sources for the faculty and map out a plan, one at a time, for a more precise assessment of the decision followed with integrity, validity and reliability of the evidence provided. Rating scales should include at least two levels at or above standards and two levels below standards, and there should be no doubt about the desired levels that meet the standards. Teachers deserve clear information about whether they are meeting the overall expectations. Teachers who fail to meet the conventional standards should be offered professional growth, remediation procedures, and prospects to observe their peers. They should also be given sufficient time, support, and assistance towards meeting the standards. Experts of validity provide evidence on the psychometric standards which is that the global items account for most of the variance in several criterion measures of teaching effectiveness10. Student feedback on evaluations of teaching, despite many flaws, is widely used as a primary and frequently convenient tool to measure teaching effectiveness. There are numerous characteristics of teaching which cannot be evaluated by the students, as students generally lack know-how on the standard scales and about the ability to judge the level of knowledge of the teacher, content expertise, teaching methods, course materials, assessment instruments and grading practices. Therefore, they provide little portion of the information regarding teaching effectiveness. Developers of evaluation instruments and systems progressively identify the wisdom and benefits of designing evaluation processes that intentionally foster and support teacher growth11.
A teacher's continuous commitment to learning, skill achievement, and improvement to practice is essential for meeting the student's learning needs. Assessment and evaluation are crucial for determining whether teachers are, in fact, gaining the content, skills, and characters necessary to meet institute standards for student learning. Assessment and evaluation are also indispensable for identifying any supplementary professional learning that a teacher may require. Intellectuals label teacher evaluation as a managerial issue that include improving teaching climate, having the head of institute become an instructional leader, and constructing bridge between institute improvement, professional development, teacher evaluation and student learning12.


This study was designed to investigate adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, and renin responses to nitroprusside-induced hypotension in adult sheep. Five sheep were surgically prepared with carotid arterial skin loops at least 1 yr before these experiments. After catheterization of the carotid arteries and external jugular veins the sheep were infused with nitroprusside intravenously at rates of 0, 10, 15, or 20 micrograms . kg-1 . min-1 for 10 min. Nitroprusside produced significantly dose-related decreases in mean arterial pressure and increases in heart rate, plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations, and plasma renin activity. Hematocrit was significantly increased in the 10- and 20-micrograms . kg-1 . min-1 groups during nitroprusside, probably reflecting contraction of the spleen. After the end of the period of hypotension, hematocrit was significantly decreased in all nitroprusside infusion groups, probably reflecting transcapillary movement of fluid into the vascular space. A posteriori analysis of the data suggests that the ACTH response to nitroprusside infusion was better predicted by the nadir in mean arterial pressure and that the renin activity response was better predicted by the initial rate of decrease of mean arterial pressure during nitroprusside infusion.


Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is characterized by extracellular deposition of protein-derived fibrils and lead to heart failure. Gold standard for its etiological diagnosis is endomyocardial biopsy and laboratory tests, both high-cost and invasive procedures. Technetium- 99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (99mTc-HMDP) scintigraphy is important tool for defining CA, specifically transthyretin subtype (ATTR). From July 2020 to February 2021, we retrospectively analyzed 18 pts [14 males, 4 females; aged 32-86y] with suspected ATTR, underwent to scintigraphy 150 min after iv administration of 740 MBq 99mTc-HMDP.Myocardial uptake was assessed optically based on Perugini Score (0- 3). Biopsy confirmed diagnosis. Intense (Score 3) and moderate (Score 2) myocardial uptake verified in 8 patients by 99mTc-HDMP scintigraphy, was consistent with ATTR suspect. In 10 patient's cardiac radiotracer uptake was absent (Score 0) avoiding biopsy. Our data indicate a 99mTc-HDMP scintigraphy key role in the early diagnosis but even more in the exclusion of patients with ATTR subtype, optimizing the management of pts who do not require high costs and invasive procedures.


In this article, an overview is given concerning facial amphiphiles in nature, bio-, and supramolecular chemistry. In facial amphiphiles, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts are separated by the longitudinal axis of molecule, this in contrast to head-tail amphiphiles in which the hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups each occupy one end of an elongated molecule. This different distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups with respect to the overall molecular shape leads to a variety of functions which are unique for facial amphiphiles, including emulsification and solubilization of hydrophobic compounds, as antibiotics and pore-forming agents in bilayer membranes, and as membrane curvature sensing and regulating agents. In nature facial amphiphiles occur mainly as low molecular weight compounds such as the bile acids, and as a variety of peptides, alone or as part of larger proteins. Synthetic facial amphiphiles have been synthesized ranging from low molecular weight to polymers and dendrimers for the purpose of novel building blocks for supramolecular architectures and to mimic the natural functions of facial amphiphiles. In this article, we gave an overview of the self-assembly and interfacial behavior of both natural as well as synthetic facial amphiphiles and discuss their most important biological functions and applications.

Keywords:

facial amphiphile;
self-assembly;
antibiotics;
pore formation;
membrane curvature sensing


Smart Tailor is an architecture that integrates various stakeholders such as tailors, designers, and customers in a garment industry. The architecture provides the ability to promote, manage and fulfill supply and demands of their product via electronic ways. Currently, the implementation of the related transaction processes is done manually which may cause time consuming and inefficiency in fulfilling the supply and demands of the garment products. Therefore, this paper aims to construct a conceptual model of Smart Tailor Architecture. This study adopted the first phase of the Rational Unified Process approach, Inception, by identifying the goal of the conceptual model and the verified requirements of the Smart Tailor architecture. Then, the verified requirements were transformed into the Smart Tailor components using the Unified Modeling Language approach. Finally, the verified components by experts become a conceptual model of the Smart Tailor Architecture. The model may contribute to the garment industry stakeholders as well as researchers, decision makers, and software developers.


The introduction of biologic agents opened a new era of treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) over the past decade. From clinical experience, it appears that biological agents are well tolerated overall, and serious adverse events are rare. However, such clinical studies have not been conducted in Korea. Therefore, we examined the safety profile of JIA patients with biologics in a single center in Korea. All JIA outpatients treated from April 2004 to June 2013 were enrolled and retrospectively reviewed. Pharmacy-based surveillance of adverse drug events (ADEs) was identified by recording the patient's symptoms in the medical record and suspected ADEs were additionally explored by screening laboratory test values and observing changes in medication orders. Finally, 83 patients were enrolled and experienced 109 ADEs in 52 patients. Most ADEs (99.1%) were mild to moderate in severity assessment. The total follow-up time was 328 patient-treatment years and the overall rate of ADEs was 0.33 per patient-years for etanercept. Infection including upper respiratory tract was the most common ADE and concomitant corticosteroids contributed to the risk of infections. If the dose of prednisolone increases 0.34 mg/kg/day, the probability of developing infections increases 3.29 times. Also, all 11 patients who stopped etanercept with injection site reactions were receiving a single use prefilled syringe. In our study, etanercept appears well tolerated and safe. Children affected by JIA should be carefully monitoring so as to limit the risk of ADEs during etanercept as much as possible. To gain further knowledge about risk profiles, national collaboration for the accumulation of long-term data should be encouraged in Korea.


Flavonoids are low molecular weight secondary plant metabolites with a myriad of functions. As flavonoids affect auxin transport (an important growth-controlling hormone) and are biologically active in eukaryotes, flavonoid mutants were expected to have undescribed architectural phenotypes. The Arabidopsis thaliana transparent testa (tt) mutants are compromised in the enzymatic steps or transcriptional regulators affecting flavonoid synthesis. tt mutant seedlings were grown on hard-slanted agar (a stress condition), under varying light conditions, and in soil to examine the resulting growth patterns. These tt mutants revealed a wide variety of architectural phenotypes in root and aerial tissues. Mutants with increased inflorescences, siliques, and lateral root density or reduced stature are traits that could affect plant yield or performance under certain environmental conditions. The regulatory genes affected in architectural traits may provide useful molecular targets for examination in other plants.


Purpose Checkpoint therapy is now the cornerstone of treatment for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with advanced disease, but biomarkers are lacking to predict which patients will benefit. This study proposes potential immunological biomarkers that could developed for predicting therapeutic response in patients with RCC. Methods Using flow cytometry, RNA sequencing, and T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, we investigated changes in T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced RCC after receiving immunotherapy. We used immunofluorescence (IF) imaging and flow cytometry to investigate how intratumoral T cells in patients' tumors (resected months/years prior to receiving checkpoint therapy) predicted patient outcomes after immunotherapy. Results We found that a small proportion of CD4 and CD8 T cells in the blood activate following checkpoint therapy, expressing the proliferation marker Ki67 and activation markers HLA-DR and CD38. Patients who had the highest increase in these HLA-DR +CD38+CD8 T cells after treatment had the best antitumor immune response and experienced clinical benefit. Using RNA sequencing, we found that while these cells expanded in most patients, their phenotype did not drastically change during treatment. However, when we analyzed the TCR repertoire of these HLA-DR +CD38+CD8+T cells, we found that only patients who clinically benefitted had a burst of new clonotypes enter this pool of activated cells. Finally, we found that abundant T cells in the untreated tumors predicted clinical benefit to checkpoint therapy on disease progression. Conclusions Together, these data suggest that having a strong pre-existing immune response and immediate peripheral T-cell activation after checkpoint therapy is a predictor of clinical benefit in patients with RCC.


The response to normal incident radiation in n-type Γ square quantum wells (QWs) is generally expected to be very small because, in the framework of the effective mass model, the parity selection rule of the envelope wavefunctions essentially forbids intersubband transitions induced by transverse electric polarized radiation. This problem can be overcome by employing an asymmetrical QW. In this paper, the effect of asymmetry, and the result of band mixing with the p-like valence and conduction bands due to the truncation of bulk crystal periodicity, of an n-type AlGaAs/GaAs/InGaAs step multiple QW, are analysed using a new 14-band k·p model with envelope function approximation. The structural and material parameters of the device are varied to study the probability density distributions of the ground state and first excited state wavefunctions, and their effect on the response of the device to transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) excitations. From the analysis, it is found that a step multiple QW optimized for absorption of TE mode radiation should have a wide GaAs step and a deep InGaAs well, subjected to the constraints of the material growth and fabrication process of the device. It is also found that, despite the efforts of improving the normal incidence absorption via step well optimization, the TE absorption as predicted using the 14-band k·p model remains less than 1% of the TM absorption.


A new method is given for calculating the electronic structure of solids, enabling finite-difference methods to be used for systems with deep atomic potentials. In muffin-tin spheres around the nuclei, the atomic wave functions are determined using standard numerical techniques. They are then matched onto a finite-difference grid in the interstitial region by an embedding procedure by which the interior of a muffin-tin is replaced by an embedding potential at its boundary. The sparse Hamiltonian matrix of the grid can be diagonalized using methods with time scaling linear with the system size. We present results for f.c.c. copper.


A series of 246 patients with scoliosis and attempted fusion had exploration performed six months later in order to detect and treat any pseudarthrosis at an early stage and so prevent subsequent loss of correction. Bilateral or unilateral pseudarthroses occurred in 25 per cent and were of three types--definite, hairline and doubtful. Single unilateral pseudarthroses accounted for 6 per cent and were of little if any clinical significance. The hairline pseudarthroses could not be seen radiologically and were easily missed at exploration. In general the pseudarthroses were least common in the more rigid parts of the spine and in curves which by nature of their aetiology or long duration had become most rigid. Neither the initial severity of the curve nor the degree of correction obtained before the initial attempted fusion had any apparent effect on the incidence. Follow-up for an average of four years has shown that a pseudarthrosis is of little significance with regard to the ultimate result provided it is recognised early and repaired.


The main aim of this study was to determine the quality of vegetable oils consumed by the population in Yaoundé.
The study was carried out on 14 vegetable oils sampled following a survey. The antioxidant potentials of these oils were analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, FRAP total antioxidant capacity. The concentrations of some heavy metals (Pb, Cu, and Fe) were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry after acid digestion. The acid and peroxide values were assessed using methods described by the Cameroonian standard on vegetable oils.
The sample included 8 brands of which, 5 of refined palm oil, 4 of soybean oil, 1 brand of cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, and cold extracted olive oil, red palm oil bleached palm oil each. The antioxidant activity showed a good correlation, with red palm oil having the greatest antioxidant potential and bleached palm oil having the least antioxidant potential. The Pb, Cu, and Fe contents had the following conformities: 71.4%, 100% respectively. For the acid and peroxide values, we found 50% and 21.4%, respectively. Six of the fourteen (42.9%) analyzed oils contained less than 33 IU/g vitamin A.
These results highlight the poor quality of the oils consumed in Yaoundé.


Based on the proposal by Witten, De Rujula and Glashow, we carried out the experimental search on two meteorites for the fossil tracks formed by cosmic nuclearites with masses ranging from M ~ 6×10-4g up to very large mass. An upper limit 2km-2y-1 (2πsr)-1 was obtained for the cosmic nuclearites with masses larger than 6×10-4g which passed through these meteorites.


A study was conducted to determine if a patient education program, "Life With Diabetes, " could be converted to an undergraduate course. The course consisted of seven 2-hour sessions with presentations by a physician, dietitian, psychologist, and clinical nurse specialists. Topics included definition, treatment, nutrition, monitoring, children, older adults, and patient empowerment. A total of 52 students (45 without diabetes, 7 with diabetes) have completed this one-credit course. A patient diabetes knowledge test and a 50-item Diabetes Attitude Survey were administered before and after the course. For the students without diabetes, mean knowledge posttest scores improved significantly, and significant changes were seen on the attitude subscales, with posttest scores moving closer to those of a national panel of diabetes experts. Students with diabetes scored closer to the national panel on the pretest and improved significantly only on the patient autonomy subscale. This course measurably improved knowledge and attitudes among undergraduates, suggesting that a patient education program can be adapted successfully to provide additional training opportunities for diabetes education programs.


The European Society of Paediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology arranged a symposium on Food Allergy, Atopic Dermatitis and the Allergy March in honour of Professor Luisa Businco, Past-President, member of the Executive Committee, one of the key founders of the Society, who died on December 1, 1999. Food allergy and atopic dermatitis were the main scientific interests of Luisa Businco, who devoted her whole life to strongly support the need for high-quality scientific communication and interaction among the paediatricians involved in this research field. Paediatric allergists, gastroenterologists, nutritionists and molecular biology scientists were invited to give their contribution to the understanding and management of the wide spectrum of food allergic diseases. The common effort to increase multidisciplinary interchange of results and ideas and future co-operation will be the best tribute to the work and memory of Luisa Businco. We would like to thank Mead Johnson Nutritionals, which has overcome all the organisational difficulties and provided us with the opportunity to hold this symposium in the unique atmosphere of Venice, November 17–19, 2000. The papers included in this supplement of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology are based on the lectures given during the symposium.


Substantial spatio-temporal variation in foraminiferal inputs occur over short areal distances at the sediment-water interface and downcore as a result of patchy distributions and seasonal reproduction; foraminiferal assemblages are in turn diagenetically overprinted by seasonal, inter-seasonal, and inter-annual changes in pore-water chemistry. Seasonal surface and near-surface assemblages are typically unrepresentative of deeper assemblages that are more likely to be incorporated into the sedimentary record. Cluster analysis of "artificially time-averaged" (ATA) assemblages revealed a distinct change in assemblages at ~20 cm depth. Differential preservation of foraminifera in the upper 60 cm, and especially the upper 20 cm, of sediment may produce an apparent paleoenvironmental change that could potentially be misinterpreted as a rapid fall in sea-level over the last ~100–200 years.


Abstract. We performed a diagnostic study of geomagnetic storm-induced disturbances that are coupled to the lower ionosphere in mid-latitude D-region using propagation characteristics of VLF radio signals. We characterised the diurnal VLF amplitude (from two propagation paths) into five metrics, namely the mean amplitude before sunrise (MBSR), midday amplitude peak (MDP), mean amplitude after sunset (MASS), sunrise terminator (SRT) and sunset terminator (SST). We analysed and monitored the trend in variations of signal metrics for up to 20 storms, to understand deviations in the signal that are attributable to the storms; five storms (and their effects on the signals) were studied in detail, followed by statistical analysis that included 15 other events. Considering the quietient pre-day level following the storm our results showed that the MDP exhibited characteristic dipping in about 67 % and 80 % of the events for GQD-A118 and DHO-A118 propagation paths, respectively. The MBSR showed respective dipping of about 77 % and 60 %, while the MASS dipped by 58 % and 67 %. Conversely, the SRT and SST showed respective dipping of 25 % and 33 %, and 42 % and 47 %. Of the two propagation paths used in this study, the dipping of the amplitude of DHO-A118 propagation path signal is larger (as also observed in previous study). To understand the state of the ionosphere over the signal propagation paths and how it affects the VLF responses, we further analysed virtual heights (h'E, h'F1 and h'F2) and critical frequencies (foE, foF1, and foF2) of the E and F regions (from ionosonde stations near the transmitters). The results of this analysis showed a significant increase and/or fluctuations of the foF2, foF1, h'F2, h'F, h'Es and h'E near both transmitters during the geomagnetic storms. The largest increase in heights of the regions (h'F2, h'F, h'Es and h'E) occured over Juluisruh station (around the DHO transmitter) in Germany, suggesting a strong storm responses over the region leading to the large dipping of the DHO-A118 propagation path signal.


Summary.  The older generation of patients with haemophilia still has musculoskeletal problems which limit activities and participation. One important aspect of male aging is the changes in sexuality. Sexual desire can be disturbed by fatigue, low testosterone or pain. Sexual excitement (erection) may be influenced by diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, hypertension and side effects of antihypertensive and antiviral medication. Sexual response problems can be caused by antidepressant medication. In aging haemophiliacs arthropathy, iliopsoas muscle bleeding, chronic hepatitis C and HIV medications influence sexuality. The haemophilia care professionals should communicate proactively, give information on various practical aspects of sexuality (suggest suitable positions, recommend painkillers, reflect on prescribing erection‐enhancing medication, refer to a sexology expert).


OBJECTIVE
To observe the clinical efficacy of yiqi jiedu quyu recipe (YJQR) combined endocrine therapy in treating advanced prostate cancer (APC).

METHODS
Totally 44 APC patients were randomly assigned to the combination group (23 cases) and the control group (21 cases). All patients received endocrine therapy for treating PC in Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Urological Diseases in China. After 6 months of treatment serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (f-PSA), hemoglobin (Hb), Tcell subsets, natural kill (NK) cells, QLQ-C30 scale, Chinese medical symptoms score, I -PSS score, as well as the incidence of tidal fever were observed.

RESULTS
After treatment the PSA, f-PSA, and Hb were improved in the combination group, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (P <0.05). Besides, better effects were obtained in the combination group (P <0.05, P <0.01). After treatment CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, and NK cell levels were also improved in the combination group, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (P <0.05). Besides, better effects were obtained in the combination group (P <0.01). The quality of life (QOL), emotional function, Chinese medical symptoms score, and I -PSS symptom score were improved in the two groups (P <0. 05,P <0. 01). Besides, better effects in the aforesaid indices and the incidence of tidal fever were obtained in the combination group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSION
YJQR combined endocrine therapy could obviously improve APC patients' QOL, reduce adverse reactions of Western medical treatment, improve the immune function, and enhance therapeutic effects of endocrine therapy.


.......................................................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. vii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................. xi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................................................... xii OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS ................................................................. xiii CHAPTER ONE .....................................................................................................................


The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different feed restriction levels (0, 30 and 60%) on economical and productive performances of F1-Boer x Saanen goats. Twenty-one non-castrated goats with 15.44 ± 0.37 kg of mean live weight (LW) were used. When animals submitted to 0% of feed restriction reached 25 kg of LW they and their pair were slaughtered after 24 h of feed fasting and 16 h of water fasting. Economical analysis was performed considering exclusively feed costs and the currency conversion (U$ 1.00 = R$ 3.70) at the period in which trial was carried out. There was no difference between feed conversions of animals submitted to 0 and 30% of restriction. Restriction had decreasing linear effect on average gross revenue, quadratic effect on average gross margin and average profitability. It was observed reduction in feed cost per kg of empty body, hot carcass and cold carcass. Restriction in moderate levels maintained feed conversion efficiency and reduced feed losses. Dairy goat breeding for slaughtering between 20 to 25 kg of LW with feed restriction from 15 kg increased profitability on feed investments until the level of 15.59%; and decreased feed costs per kg of cold carcass until the level of 16.13% of restriction. This strategy might be considered as an alternative for avoiding these animal sacrifices and for aggregation of value to production system. The goat buy at marked prices for finishing until 25 kg of LW seems to be a high-risk activity.


Liquid simulations for computer animation often avoid simulating the air phase to reduce computational costs and ensure good conditioning of the linear systems required to enforce incompressibility. However, this free surface assumption leads to an inability to realistically treat bubbles: submerged gaps in the liquid are interpreted as empty voids that immediately collapse. To address this shortcoming, we present an efficient, practical, and conceptually simple approach to augment free surface flows with negligible density bubbles. Our method adds a new constraint to each disconnected air region that guarantees zero net flux across its entire surface, and requires neither simulating both phases nor reformulating into stream function variables. Implementation of the method requires only minor modifications to the pressure solve of a standard grid-based fluid solver, and yields linear systems that remain sparse and symmetric positive definite. In our evaluations, solving the modified pressure projection system took no more than 10% longer than the corresponding free surface solve. We demonstrate the method's effectiveness and flexibility by incorporating it into commercial fluid animation software and using it to generate a variety of dynamic bubble scenarios showcasing glugging effects, viscous and inviscid bubbles, interactions with irregularly-shaped and moving solid boundaries, and surface tension effects.


Have we, as practitioners of an important specialty of the healing art, a proper sense of asepsis? If a just opinion can be formed from observing the clinical teaching in our dental colleges, the methods employed in the offices of nearly all classes of dental practitioners and the demonstrations at the clinics of our slate and national societies, then we must admit that we fall far short of a proper sense of asepsis. What is asepsis? Asepsis from the surgical standpoint is that condition, maintained during the operation or treatment and the after process of healing or cure, which is the result of any process or method rendering the tissues to be operated on, the hands of the operators, the instruments, dressings, fluids, medicaments and ligatures, which come in contact with them, germ-free , and maintaining this condition during the operation or treatment and the after-process of healing or [ill] It


INTRODUCTION
We compared the accuracy of clinical nodal (cN) status N0-1 with that of pathological nodal (pN) status obtained from systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection (SMLD) in primary non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODS
Data from 22 consecutive patients, who underwent lung cancer resection and SMLD of at least three mediastinal lymph node stations, from November 2001 to May 2003, were ana1ysed retrospectively. Only patients with cN0-1 status on computed tomography (CT) referred for surgery, were included in this study.

RESULTS
Mean age of patients was 66.6 +/- 8.1 years with a male to female ratio of 17:5. Mean number of lymph node stations dissected was 5.8 +/- 1.8. 41 percent had squamous cell carcinoma, 45.5 percent had adenocarcinoma, and 4.5 percent each had large cell carcinoma, bronchioalveolar carcinoma or a lymphoepithelial carcinoma. pN2 metastases were found in 27.3 percent of patients. The sensitivity of cN0-1 was only 12.5 percent, with a specificity of 92.9 percent and an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.53. The positive and negative predictive values of cN0-1 status were 50 percent and 65 percent, respectively, with an accuracy of 59 percent. 41 percent of patients were understaged with 27.3 percent in pathological stage III. Curative resections were achieved in 59 percent of patients.

CONCLUSION
The sensitivity of cN0-1 status based on CT alone is extremely poor when compared with pN status from SMLD. Based on cN0-1 status alone without SMLD, 27.3 percent of patients in pN2 would have been understaged. We recommend that all patients with cN0-1 status should undergo SMLD of at least three appropriate mediastinal node stations, for more accurate staging.


Computerized tomographic measures of recurrent cerebral infarctions, atrophy and local perfusion were all prospectively correlated with cognitive testing during treatment of risk factors plus antiplatelet therapy among vascular dementia patients. Neurological and cognitive status were quantified among 22 demented patients with small strokes and compared with 22 age-matched normal volunteers. In vascular dementia, risk factor control plus antiplatelet therapy reduced cerebral infarctions, increased perfusion, and stabilized or improved cognitive test performance, despite age-related, progressive cerebral atrophy.


This paper is the result of a joint pilot exercise of the "Toolkit for identifying, monitoring and evaluating the value added of triangular co-operation" among the EU-LAC Facility for Triangular Co-operation (ADELANTE) and the OECD. The eight projects of the ADELANTE Facility worked with the questionnaire of the evaluation tool to assess the value added of working in a trilateral partnership. The EU team and the projects agreed that the six areas identified as potential value added of triangular co-operation are valid for ADELANTE. The joint pilot exercise was insightful and inspiring for all of the partners involved as an instrument for mutual learning. The recommendations arising from this joint exercise will contribute to the design of future EU triangular co-operation initiatives, aiming to make good use of the value added of the modality and addressing the challenges in a constructive, forward-looking way.


The locally linear embedding (LLE) algorithm can effectively extract low-dimensional feature embedded in the high-dimensional nonlinear data. In this paper, we propose a novel approach of fault diagnosis based on LLE algorithm, introducing LLE into equipment fault diagnosis field and solving fault pattern classification problem. A nonlinear dimensionality reduction algorithm based on LLE is utilized to learn original fault signal directly and extract intrinsic manifold feature in data set. The proposed approach can greatly hold the global geometry structure information embedded in the signal, and availably overcome the flaw of traditional pattern recognition methods which only obtain datapsilas local linear structure, obviously improve classification performance of fault recognition. Experiments with simulation and engineering instance illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the new approach.


Achromatopsia, or total color blindness (also referred to as "rod monochromacy"), is a severe retinal disorder characterized clinically by an inability to distinguish colors, impaired visual acuity in daylight, photophobia, and nystagmus. Inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, achromatopsia is rare in the general population (1:20,000-1:50,000). Among the Pingelapese people of the Eastern Caroline Islands, however, the disorder occurs at an extremely high frequency, as recounted in Oliver Sacks's popular book The Island of the Colorblind: 4%-10% of this island population have the disorder and approximately 30% carry the gene. This extraordinary enrichment of the disease allele most likely resulted from a sharp reduction in population in the late 18th century, in the aftermath of a typhoon and subsequent geographic and cultural isolation. To obtain insights into the genetic basis of achromatopsia, as well as into the genetic history of this region of Micronesia, a genomewide search for linkage was performed in three Pingelapese kindreds with achromatopsia. A two-step search was used with a DNA pooling strategy, followed by genotyping of individual family members. Genetic markers that displayed a shift toward homozygosity in the affected DNA pool were used to genotype individual members of the kindreds, and an achromatopsia locus was identified on 8q21-q22. A maximal multipoint LOD score of 9.5 was observed with marker D8S1707. Homozygosity was seen for three adjacent markers (D8S275, D8S1119, and D8S1707), whereas recombination was observed with the flanking markers D8S1757 and D8S270, defining the outer boundaries of the disease-gene locus that spans a distance of <6.5cM.


Abstract Margin trading is popular with retail investors around the world. To limit the scale of these investors' potential losses, regulators impose a system of collateral requirements and margin calls. We show in this paper, however, that the collateral requirement imposed by margin calls results in negative expected returns for these traders whilst also inducing positive skew in the returns distribution. Investments in assets with symmetric returns, when traded on margin, instead offer limited losses and a small chance of a large gain, much like lottery stocks and other gambles. We demonstrate this theoretically and then show empirically, using a unique database of account data from a Chinese retail brokerage, that the realized losses of margin traders are often substantial. This leads us to question whether current regulation is appropriate.


As the expectation of imminent, total, collective salvation from a world in dire need of repair, millennialism has long inspired individuals and groups to take dramatic actions in anticipation of the establishment of "a new heaven and a new earth" (Rev. 21:1). The term "millennialism" is derived from the prospect of a thousand-year reign of Christ (mille = one thousand in Latin) expressed in Revelation 20. As that suggests, the origins of millennialism go back to the ancient Mediterranean world in the period roughly between Alexander the Great (356–323 bce) and Constantine (272–337 ce) when Alexander's world kingdom and its successors deprived local populations of political, and often religious, autonomy. One response to that situation, which appears in Jewish, Christian, and other Greco-Roman sources, was the claim that humanity had reached a crisis point and that divine intervention would soon accomplish renovation of the world in which those suffering unjustly under foreign domination would be saved.
 Although millennialist movements have been fairly common in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, and various indigenous traditions have produced their own millennialist movements. In addition, many millennialist movements have drawn on eclectic ideological sources. Some political movements, such as Marxism, German National Socialism, and Maoism have had pronounced millennialist emphases, sometimes with the admixture of religious or occult elements. In the 21st century, millennialism in many different forms can be found throughout the world.
 Many millennialist movements are founded by individuals claiming charismatic authority. They can claim the ability to see the signs of impending transformation and will frequently strive to interpret cultural wisdom traditions as shedding light on their current predicaments. But such leaders, and their followers, inevitably have to come to grips with the disappointing reality that their fondest hopes have not come true. Responses to the disconfirmation of millennialist prophecies, however, run the gamut from abandonment to reaffirmation. Millennialist hopes persist because viewing the imperfections and evils of the world as in dire need of dramatic rectification, generally with the aid of divine or superhuman figures, continues to exert an attraction to those who are deeply disappointed with the status quo.


The thermal acrophase for the circadian oscillation of core temperature in Charles River male rats fed ad libitum and entrained by light (12 hr dim light and 12 hr bright light) (DL 12:12 hr) occurred near the middle of the dim phase on a control diet of 30% protein. Dietary phenobarbital (0.25%) caused an increase in amplitude of the oscillation (from 0.7 degrees to 1.2 degrees C) and a phase-angle difference (psi-advance) between the zeitgeber and the biological oscillation of about 32 degrees, equivalent to an advance in the thermal acrophase of 2.1 hr in the steady-state. Food consumption was monitored continually and was nearly the same in the two groups; however, animals on the control diet ate around the clock, albeit at a greater rate during dim light than during the bright light phase, whereas rats on phenobarbital started to eat earlier and confined their feeding almost exclusively to early dim phase. This pattern of increase in amplitude of the thermal oscillation and of feeding closely resembling programmed feeding, persisted in phenobarbital-treated animals even in the absence of a dim light-bright light (DL) zeitgeber for eight days. Similar behavior was seen in rats entrained by illumination cycles of 17 hr of dim light and 7 hr of bright light, but with this reduced phase ratio for the zeitgeber, few psi-shifts occurred, and these were smaller than those induced in the group receiving 12 hr of dim light and 12 hr of bright light. In each group, introduction of the drug into the diet and, even more noticeably, removal of the drug from the diet, induced transients of circadian dyschronism that persisted for 4-5 days.


Recent research has shown that perceptual processing of stimuli previously associated with high-value rewards is automatically prioritized even when rewards are no longer available. It has been hypothesized that such reward-related modulation of stimulus salience is conceptually similar to an "attentional habit." Recording event-related potentials in humans during a reinforcement learning task, we show strong evidence in favor of this hypothesis. Resistance to outcome devaluation (the defining feature of a habit) was shown by the stimulus-locked P1 component, reflecting activity in the extrastriate visual cortex. Analysis at longer latencies revealed a positive component (corresponding to the P3b, from 550–700 ms) sensitive to outcome devaluation. Therefore, distinct spatiotemporal patterns of brain activity were observed corresponding to habitual and goal-directed processes. These results demonstrate that reinforcement learning engages both attentional habits and goal-directed processes in parallel. Consequences for brain and computational models of reinforcement learning are discussed. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The human attentional network adapts to detect stimuli that predict important rewards. A recent hypothesis suggests that the visual cortex automatically prioritizes reward-related stimuli, driven by cached representations of reward value; that is, stimulus–response habits. Alternatively, the neural system may track the current value of the predicted outcome. Our results demonstrate for the first time that visual cortex activity is increased for reward-related stimuli even when the rewarding event is temporarily devalued. In contrast, longer-latency brain activity was specifically sensitive to transient changes in reward value. Therefore, we show that both habit-like attention and goal-directed processes occur in the same learning episode at different latencies. This result has important consequences for computational models of reinforcement learning.


Mislocalization of proteins is a common feature of cancer cells. Since localization of proteins is tightly linked to its function, cancer cells can inactivate function of a tumor suppressor protein through mislocalization. The nuclear exportin CRM1/XPO 1 is upregulated in many cancers. Targeting XPO 1 can lead to nuclear retention of cargo proteins such as p53, Foxo, and BRCA1 leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We demonstrate that selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) can functionally inactivate XPO 1 in prostate cancer cells. Unlike the potent, but toxic, XPO 1 inhibitor leptomycin B, SINE inhibitors (KPT-185, KPT-330, and KPT-251) cause a decrease in XPO 1 protein level through the proteasomal pathway. Treatment of prostate cancer cells with SINE inhibitors lead to XPO 1 inhibition, as evaluated by RevGFP export assay, leading to nuclear retention of p53 and Foxo proteins, consequently, triggering apoptosis. Our data reveal that treatment with SINE inhibitors at nanomolar concentrations results in decrease in proliferation and colonogenic capacity of prostate cancer cells by triggering apoptosis without causing any cell cycle arrest. We further demonstrate that SINE inhibitors can be combined with other chemotherapeutics like doxorubicin to achieve enhanced growth inhibition of prostate cancer cells. Since SINE inhibitors offer increased bioavailability, reduced toxicity to normal cells, and are orally available they can serve as effective therapeutics against prostate cancer. In conclusion, our data reveals that nucleocytoplasmic transport in prostate cancer can be effectively targeted by SINE inhibitors.


Heart rate monitoring is most vital in preventing disorders related to heart. Failure to
detect heart disorder in early stage may lead to death. The lacking of devices to
immediately detect the abnormalities in heart and alert the patients emergency contact
lead to this problem. In this report the author propose a system to detect two heart
disorders called Tachycardia and Bradycardia which are caused by abnormalities in
heart rate. The proposed system will consist of a pulse sensor which will be connected
to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The signal information which is processed by the
microcontroller will be sent to the mobile phone. An app created will send an alert to
the emergency contacts of the patients when Tachycardia or Bradycardia condition
has been detected by the sensor. This will increase the possibilities of giving
immediate treatment to the patient, and hope to reduce the death rate caused by heart
disorders


A new class of optically active poly(amide imide urethane)s (PAIUs) was synthesized via a two-step diisocyanate route. In the first step, 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) was reacted with different diacids to produce an isocyanate-terminated oligo(amide imide). The chain extension of the previous hard segment with poly (ethylene glycol) diols with a molecular weight of 400 was the second step for furnishing a series of new PAIUs. N-Trimellitylimido-L-leucine was used as a diacid monomer for polycondensation reactions. Polymerization reactions were performed without any catalysts or with pyridine or dibutyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. The optimized reaction conditions were used for the reaction of N-trimellitylimido-L-isoleucine, N-trimellitylimido-L-methionine, N-trimellitylimido-S-valine, and N-trimellitylimido-L-phenylalanine as diacid monomers with MDI. The resulting multiblock copolymers had inherent viscosities of 0.25–0.78 dL/g. These multiblock copolymers were optically active, thermally stable, and soluble in amide-type solvents. All these polymers were fully characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H-NMR and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, specific rotation measurements, and thermal analyses. Some structural characteristics and physical properties of these new optically active PAIUs were examined. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008


This is an introductory work of cyclic examination of lichenflora of Biebrza National Park. The area of the Emperor's Road of Biebrza Lower Basin was examined. The presence of 92 species from 17 families was observed. The most numerous representatives were the Cladoniaceae family (21 taxons) and Lecanoraceae (15 taxons). Epiphytic lichens (59 species) were dominant among 4 ecological groups. The richest epiphytic flora was found in Populus tremula (26 species) and Populus nigra (12 species). Crust thalluses were the most representative morphological form with 43% of all described species. The examined area revealed 1 species, extinct in the rest of Poland, 12 dying out species, and 16 extinct-threatened species. The area of the Emperor's Road can be qualified to the 7 th zone of air purity as species of Usneaceae family occur there. Lichen collection was carried out in 2000-02. Taxonomy was based on standard methods used in lichenology. Identification was based on nomenclature by Faltynowicz . Extinct-threatened species were chosen on the basis of "The Red List" by Cieślinski. The study of the Emperor's Road lichenflora of Biebrza National Park is an introductory record for future comparative studies. It will also enable us to follow changes caused by an increase in anthropopressure and specifically air contamination.


How well the stakeholders play their part in the project management relatively contributes to the success of construction projects. One of the critical stakeholders is the Client Project Manager (CPM) whom is responsible for ensuring the client interests are well preserve. CPM needs to have knowledge on project management and all the technical skills required to manage the project. Although, they do not perform the actual work of the project, yet CPM needs the same technical skill level as the people doing the work. This paper reports the first stage of the study which is to identify the problem in relation to the CPM technical competency in managing Malaysian public projects. Literature analysis and interviews have been done with several policy makers and experience professionals who have been involved in public projects for more than ten years. The evidence did indicate the CPM is not competent in managing public projects. CPM that are being appointed come from various education backgrounds and CPM has different knowledge and understanding regarding on how to manage projects. Furthermore, there is no standard technical competency model establish for the CPM especially for the use of public CPM. To add to the matter, the quality and standard of the training provided by the responsible ministry are still not up to the industry needs. This work aims to develop the technical competency model for the usage of the public CPM in managing projects. Recognition of these problems will be the basis to build up the professionalism of the public CPM in managing public projects in Malaysia.


Professional historians of science generally recognize the importance of Lavoisier's theory of heat. However, it commonly receives scant attention in the historical treatment of his chemical theories except perhaps as an example illustrating his conservatism and giving the impression that the caloric theory, although perhaps important in the development of ideas on the nature of heat, is independent of and bears little relationship to his general chemistry or is incidental to an understanding of that chemistry.1 An examination of Lavoisier's writings suggests that the caloric theory is not merely a milestone in the development of physics; and rather than an omittable appendage, his concept of heat forms an integral part of his chemical system and plays a central, necessary role in his oxidation theory in particular. The purpose of this paper is to give a general description of Lavoisier's ideas on the nature and action of heat, the origin of these ideas, their development, and their relation to his general chemistry, pointing out his conservatism as well as his innovations.


The integration of cellular technology in healthcare (M-Health) has the potential in coping with the constraints of the medical service system and to become a breakthrough to support the patients' medication adherence. This review was conducted to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of M-Healthin terms of the patients' medication adherence.The literature review conducting on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Ebsco Health and Taylor & Francis was confined to the articles published between 2010 and 2019. Fifteen articles relating to medication adherence were reviewed, eleven of which employed RCT methods including quasi-experiment that assessed the effectiveness of M-Health to measure the adherence, while four other researches employed qualitative studies to explore patients' perceptions.The review showed that the intervention of m-Health is effective to drive the compliance of the treatment in accordance with healthcare promotion efforts as well as the prevention, screening and the management of the diseases. Two studies have shown inconsistent results regarding the prevention of obesity and the management of hypertension patients. The development of such model abd the integration of parallel m-Health and healthcare promotion will improve the long-term medication adherence.


Background:Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become a major cause of morbidity and mortality both in China and abroad. Disorders of consciousness (DOC) following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common refractory complication, resulting in difficult rehabilitation and poor life quality. However, effective therapeutic approaches remain limited. Although auricular-acupuncture has been widely applied in the treatment of neurological disorders in China, its efficacy and safety for consciousness recovery remain to be elucidated.
Methods: Here, we conduct a study design and protocol of a randomized, blinded, controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Electroacupuncture at Auricular Acupoints "Heart" and "Brainstem" in the consciousness recovery of patients with TBI. A total of 80 patients with initial Glasgow coma scale score between 3-8 points will be recruited in the trial and randomized into treatment (combined application of auricular and body acupuncture) group or control (body acupuncture alone) group. Patients in the treatment group will receive electroacupuncture at bilateral auricular acupoints "Heart" and "Brainstem" (four points in total) combined with body acupuncture in a supine position while patients in the control group will receive body acupuncture alone for 4 weeks. The primary outcomes are changes of Glasgow coma scale score and mismatch negativity of event-related brain potentials before and after treatment. The secondary outcome measures will be changes of Barthel and FuglMeyer scores. The safety will also be assessed by monitoring the incidence of adverse events and changes in vital signs during the study.
Discussion: Results from this trial will significantly support the application of auricular acupuncture in the consciousness recovery of patients with severe TBI. If found to be effective and safe, auricular acupuncture will be a valuable complementary option for comatose patients with TBI.
Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800020245. Registered on 21 December 2018.
Keywords: Auricular acupoint, Electro-acupuncture, Body acupuncture, Traumatic brain injury, Consciousness, GCS, Mismatch negativity


Deafness is an often undervalued but increasing problem amongst world's population. Besides the difficulty in hearing sounds, it involves many cognitive and emotional issues, like learning difficulties, isolation and disempowerment. In this paper, designing artefacts for deaf people is analyzed from two different perspectives: technology and communication science. Regarding technical issues, research shows how Augmented Reality can be applied using screen interfaces or smart glasses translating sounds into visual stimuli; from the communication side, the focus is on storytelling and how it can be combined with the technology referred to engage people, enhance learning activity and create a community. By looking into these two aspects, the suggested approach is to merge them in a conceptual creative project that can be appealing and useful to the public, through the use of interactive storytelling, while also using the visual benefits of an immersive Augmented Reality experience.


Low-back pain continues to be one of the main problems for which subjects seek treatment in primary care. While the natural history of low-back pain is often considered to be good, many sufferers get further episodes that affect well-being as well as quality of life. Aim: The main aim of the work presented in this thesis was to evaluate the efficacy of a graded exercise intervention in a sample of subjects with recurrent low-back pain still at work, and to investigate factors predicting future outcome of disability and pain. Methods:One-hundred-and-eighteen subjects with recurrent low-back pain participated. In addition, Study I included 57 healthy ageand gender-matched controls. Pre-intervention, post-intervention, 6-month, 12-month (Studies II, III, IV) and 36month (Study III) follow-ups evaluated pain, disability, physical health, fear-avoidance beliefs and self-efficacy beliefs. Self-rated questionnaires were used. Level of aerobic fitness was compared between the group with low-back pain and healthy controls (Study I), and a graded exercise intervention emphasizing stabilizing exercises was evaluated in comparison with either manual treatment (Study II) or daily walks (Study III). Predictive factors for a future outcome of disability and pain were investigated using multivariate regression analysis (Study IV). Results: There was no difference in aerobic fitness level between subjects with lowback pain and healthy controls. In the group with LBP, regression analysis showed an association between a lower level of aerobic fitness and higher age, gender and lower levels of self-efficacy (Study I). In Study II, comparing a graded exercise intervention with manual treatment, a significant difference in favour of the exercise group regarding disability after the treatment was maintained in the long term. No significant difference emerged between the groups regarding pain. (Study II). In Study III, between-group testing showed significant differences in favour of the exercise group for perceived disability at 12-months, maintained at the 36-month follow-up. In addition, between-group results for pain showed greater reduction for the exercise group post-intervention than for the daily-walks group. Regarding secondary outcome, the results showed a significant group difference in favour of the exercise group in shortand long term regarding physical health and in self rated self-efficacy at 12and 36-month follow-ups. Regarding fear-avoidance, no such differences emerged (Study III). Lower levels of self-efficacy, higher levels of perceived disability pain-level and pain frequency emerged as predictors of an unfavourable clinical outcome, and these predictors remained significant in the post-intervention models. (Study IV). Conclusions: In conclusion, a graded exercise intervention emphasizing stabilizing exercises alleviated disability levels and improved physical health and rated selfefficacy more than manual treatment or daily walks did, in subjects with recurrent lowback pain and currently at work. The graded exercises also reduced recurrent need for treatment in the long term, indicating that the exercises had a preventive effect. Levels of aerobic fitness were comparable between the subjects with low-back pain and the healthy controls. However, lower levels of aerobic fitness were associated with higher age, gender and low self-efficacy in the sample of subjects with low-back pain. Importantly, higher levels of perceived pain, pain frequency and disability and a lower level of self-efficacy emerged as predictors of an unfavourable outcome of disability and pain in the long term, indicating that such early screening information might be useful for further management of patients with LBP. ABSTRACT Low-back pain continues to be one of the main problems for which subjects seek treatment in primary care. While the natural history of low-back pain is often considered to be good, many sufferers get further episodes that affect well-being as well as quality of life. Aim: The main aim of the work presented in this thesis was to evaluate the efficacy of a graded exercise intervention in a sample of subjects with recurrent low-back pain still at work, and to investigate factors predicting future outcome of disability and pain. Methods:One-hundred-and-eighteen subjects with recurrent low-back pain participated. In addition, Study I included 57 healthy ageand gender-matched controls. Pre-intervention, post-intervention, 6-month, 12-month (Studies II, III, IV) and 36month (Study III) follow-ups evaluated pain, disability, physical health, fear-avoidance beliefs and self-efficacy beliefs. Self-rated questionnaires were used. Level of aerobic fitness was compared between the group with low-back pain and healthy controls (Study I), and a graded exercise intervention emphasizing stabilizing exercises was evaluated in comparison with either manual treatment (Study II) or daily walks (Study III). Predictive factors for a future outcome of disability and pain were investigated using multivariate regression analysis (Study IV). Results: There was no difference in aerobic fitness level between subjects with lowback pain and healthy controls. In the group with LBP, regression analysis showed an association between a lower level of aerobic fitness and higher age, gender and lower levels of self-efficacy (Study I). In Study II, comparing a graded exercise intervention with manual treatment, a significant difference in favour of the exercise group regarding disability after the treatment was maintained in the long term. No significant difference emerged between the groups regarding pain. (Study II). In Study III, between-group testing showed significant differences in favour of the exercise group for perceived disability at 12-months, maintained at the 36-month follow-up. In addition, between-group results for pain showed greater reduction for the exercise group post-intervention than for the daily-walks group. Regarding secondary outcome, the results showed a significant group difference in favour of the exercise group in shortand long term regarding physical health and in self rated self-efficacy at 12and 36-month follow-ups. Regarding fear-avoidance, no such differences emerged (Study III). Lower levels of self-efficacy, higher levels of perceived disability pain-level and pain frequency emerged as predictors of an unfavourable clinical outcome, and these predictors remained significant in the post-intervention models. (Study IV). Conclusions: In conclusion, a graded exercise intervention emphasizing stabilizing exercises alleviated disability levels and improved physical health and rated selfefficacy more than manual treatment or daily walks did, in subjects with recurrent lowback pain and currently at work. The graded exercises also reduced recurrent need for treatment in the long term, indicating that the exercises had a preventive effect. Levels of aerobic fitness were comparable between the subjects with low-back pain and the healthy controls. However, lower levels of aerobic fitness were associated with higher age, gender and low self-efficacy in the sample of subjects with low-back pain. Importantly, higher levels of perceived pain, pain frequency and disability and a lower level of self-efficacy emerged as predictors of an unfavourable outcome of disability and pain in the long term, indicating that such early screening information might be useful for further management of patients with LBP.


Introduction: Diagnosing asthma in children is challenging and no gold standard diagnostic test exists. Novel non-invasive breath analysis approaches could assist in diagnosis and phenotyping of children with asthma. In the EMBER clinical trial, a ReCIVA breath sampling device was used for bedside breath collection to carry out advanced metabolomics studies. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of this breath sampling technology in children. Methods: Samples were taken from children attending hospital with either an acute exacerbation of asthma or stable chronic asthma, and healthy controls. They breathed into the ReCIVA sampler tidally for a maximum of 900s. Two samples were collected for each subject on thermal desorption tubes for analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A percentage of breath collected was calculated for each child. For each breath sample, two other samples were collected to capture the environmental air and ReCIVA air supply profiles, necessary for the background subtraction process to identify true breath related endogenous compounds. Results: 51 children participated with a mean age of 11yr (range 5-16). 12 had an acute exacerbation of asthma, 30 had stable chronic asthma and 9 were controls. All tolerated the sampling process and 80% provided 100% of the target breath sampling collection. Discussion: Non-invasive breath analysis in children of varying age with acute and chronic illnesses is feasible. Ongoing work includes a) continuing the analysis of samples and b) following metabolomics data workflow to create a breath matrix. Statistical analysis will allow us to extract target biomarkers with the ultimate aim of improving asthma diagnosis and phenotyping in children.


Ovarian cancer is rare; yet, it is the deadliest gynecologic malignancy with a 5-year survival rate that has only improved 9% in the past 30 years and a dismal overall survival rate that has remained stagnant for over 50 years. Although most patients diagnosed with advanced disease undergo remission after optimal surgical cytoreduction and platinum (Pt)-based chemotherapy, microscopic foci of cells defined as minimal residual disease (MRD) manage to survive within the peritoneal cavity and recreate the disease (recurrence) that develops a more aggressive phenotype for which current therapies almost always fail. Thus, it is critical to take advantage of the time the patient is in remission to attack the cells constituting the MRD by disengaging their repopulation capacity. Evidence suggests the feasibility of this consolidation therapeutic approach using cytostatic agents. Previously, we demonstrated that the repopulation of cells escaping Pt or Pt-taxane chemotherapy can be abrogated using steroids with antiprogestin/antiglucocorticoid activity, such as mifepristone (MF). We found that MF (i) blocks ovarian cancer cell growth by inducing G1 cell cycle arrest mediated by the up-regulation of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27, leading to the blockage of the activity of cyclin dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) and, consequently, lack of DNA synthesis and S phase progression; (ii) induces cell death in combination with blockage of the PI3K/Akt survival pathway; and (iii) it does not require progesterone receptors to exert its anti-growth effect. To further elucidate the cytotoxic mechanism triggered by MF in ovarian cancer cells, we performed genomic and proteomic screenings using ovarian cancer cell lines of different genetic backgrounds and sensitivities to Pt. We exposed OV2008 (wt p53, Pt sensitive), OV2008/C13 (wt p53/Pt resistant), or SK-OV-3 (null p53, Pt semi-resistant) cells to cytostatic concentrations of MF for 24, 48 or 72 h. Total RNAs and whole protein extracts were subjected to cDNA microarray analysis and two-dimensional nano-liquid chromatography (2D-nanoLC)-mass spectrometry (MS/MS), respectively. The combined use of cDNA microarray and 2D nanoLC-MS/MS to discover mRNAs and proteins differentially regulated by MF led to the identification of key proteins involved in the regulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which were further validated by Western blotting. We identified the master ER chaperone glucose regulated protein (GRP) 78 (also referred to as BiP/HSPA5) highly up-regulated by MF. Also the ER stress sensors protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK) and inositol-requiring kinase 1 (IRE1alpha) were up-regulated by MF. Activation of PERK and IRE1alpha signaling pathway usually leads to attenuated global protein synthesis thus contributing to cell cycle arrest. We found the translation repressor protein 4E-BP1 augmented by MF suggesting reduced protein translation capability. We also found highly up-regulated the transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), the induction of which is usually linked to cell death. In summary, we identified the UPR as a target for MF activity. We hypothesize that the UPR integrates the cytotoxicity of MF towards ovarian cancer cells when used as monotherapy or in combination therapies triggering, respectively, cell cycle arrest (cytostasis) or cell death (lethality) depending on the degree of cellular stress generated.

Citation Format: Maria B. Hapon, Carlos D. Gamarra-Luques, Alicia A. Goyeneche, Eduardo A. Callegari, Kathleen M. Eyster, Carlos M. Telleria. Induction of the unfolded protein response in ovarian cancer cells exposed to cytostatic concentrations of antiprogestin/antiglucocorticoid mifepristone. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: From Concept to Clinic; Sep 18-21, 2013; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2013;19(19 Suppl):Abstract nr A23.


Software requirements, a phrase that can instill terror in the hearts and minds of a developer. Developing, documenting, communicating, and controlling software requirements can be one of the more difficult portions of a software development project. Yet, it is a topic that many developers are not comfortable with and that discomfort can lead to missed deadlines, excess cost, dissatisfied users and even project cancellation. In "Managing Software Requirements" Leffingwell and Widrig have attempted to define the problem and present a well thought out, logical series of steps and techniques to resolve the requirements problem.


Laser-Doppler flowmetry was used to assess the intraparenchymal effects of endothelin 1 (ET-1) on cortical microvascular perfusion (CP). The initial part of this study examined effects of the intraparenchymal microinjection technique on local cortical microvascular responsivity. In anesthetized rats, the microinjection of vehicle (saline) beneath the cortical surface did not alter CO2 responsivity or autoregulation of the cortical microvasculature. In addition, predictable monophasic changes in local CP were elicited by the intraparenchymal microinjection of known vasodilators and vasoconstrictors, i.e., nitroprusside and prostaglandin F2 alpha, respectively. These experiments demonstrate normal responsivity of the cortical microvasculature after intraparenchymal microinjection. In the second part of this study, intraparenchymal microinjections (100 nl) of ET-1 (1-1,000 fmol) were evaluated. Microinjections of less than 10 fmol of ET-1 did not alter CP. However, doses between 10 and 1,000 fmol of ET-1 elicited monophasic dose-related reductions in CP. At 1,000 fmol, the highest dose studied, ET-1 produced a complex microvascular response consisting of an initial profound reduction in CP followed by alternating cycles of increased perfusion ultimately lapsing back to a prolonged period of hypoperfusion. No significant changes in blood pressure were observed after ET-1 administration, and no significant changes in any of the hemodynamic variables were observed after vehicle microinjection. These results suggest that abluminal microvascular actions of ET-1 mediate cerebral vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion.


Bond in concrete plays a crucial role in the performance of reinforced concrete structures which are influenced by several factors such as concrete compressive strength, diameter, type and embedment length of bar, confinement of concrete etc. This paper discusses experimental investigation on bond strength behaviour of geo polymer concrete (GPC). The influence of compressive strength and embedment length of reinforcing bar on the bond strength of GPC has been reported. A total of 27 GPC prisms were tested by conducting pull out tests. Three grades of GPC (G20, G35 and G50) and three embedment lengths (75mm, 100mm and 125mm) were used in this study. The results indicated that the bond strength has increased with increase in compressive strength. The bond strength of reinforcing bars in geopolymer concrete decreases with increasing the embedment length.


The possibility of a trace representation of linear recurring sequences over commutative linear rings and modules over such rings is studied. The trace function itself is expressed in terms of automorphisms and in terms of p-adic expansions.


ABSTRACT: A top‐priority objective in the area of nanoelectronics is the design of logical circuits using single molecules so that the feature size of present computers can be dramatically reduced by several orders of magnitude, thus allowing an enormous increase in speed and leading us toward the design of a molecular CPU. Achieving this goal clearly requires a good understanding of the factors that determine single interactions between unitary molecules, as well as the means to predict these interactions for proposed target molecules prior to undertaking what are often lengthy and costly synthetic efforts. The use of ab initio techniques will help us to learn how structural, electronic and external factors influence the communication between molecules, and to develop computational approaches that will allow us to quantitatively predict the characteristics of molecular scale electronics device architectures.


ABSTRACT In this study we quantify the spatial variability of seasonal water balances within the Omo-Ghibe River Basin in Ethiopia using methods proposed within the Prediction in Ungauged Basins initiative. Our analysis consists of: (1) application of the rainfall–runoff model HBV-Light to several sub-catchments for which runoff data are available, and (2) estimation of water balances in the remaining ungauged catchments through application of the model with regionalized parameters. The analyses of the resulting water balance outcomes reveal that the seasonal water balance across the Omo-Ghibe Basin is driven by precipitation regimes that change with latitude, from being strongly "seasonal" in the north to "precipitation spread throughout the year, but with a definite wetter season" in the south. The basin is divided into two distinct regions based on patterns of seasonal water balance and, in particular, seasonal patterns of soil moisture storage. EDITOR D. Koutsoyiannis ASSOCIATE EDITOR A. Efstratiadis


ABSTRACT The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of H7 avian influenza virus (AIV) isolated between 1994 and 2002 from live-bird markets (LBMs) in the northeastern United States and from three outbreaks in commercial poultry have been characterized. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA and NA genes demonstrates that the isolates from commercial poultry were closely related to the viruses circulating in the LBMs. Also, since 1994, two distinguishing genetic features have appeared in this AIV lineage: a deletion of 17 amino acids in the NA protein stalk region and a deletion of 8 amino acids in the HA1 protein which is putatively in part of the receptor binding site. Furthermore, analysis of the HA cleavage site amino acid sequence, a marker for pathogenicity in chickens and turkeys, shows a progression toward a cleavage site sequence that fulfills the molecular criteria for highly pathogenic AIV.


A comprehensive theoretical study of electronic transitions of naphtho-homologated yyG and its five possible tautomers (yyG-AO7, yyG-AEc, yyG-AEt, yyG-IcO17, and yyG-ItO17) was performed. The nature of the low-lying excited states is discussed, and the results are compared to that of y-bases. Geometry optimizations were performed on the lowest excited singlet ππ* states. Finally, the effects of methanol solution and hydrogen bonding with cytosine on the absorption and emission spectra were examined. The ground state structures were optimized using both the DFT and ab initio HF methods, whereas the excited-state structures were optimized using the CIS method. The methanol solution was found to red-shifts both the absorption and emission maxima of the studied bases except for yyG, for which the absorption and emission maxima were blue-shifted after solvation. In addition, hydrogen bonding with cytosine was found to blue-shifts both the absorption and emission maxima of yyG, yyG-AO7, yyG-IcO17, and yyG-ItO17. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


For the sequence boundary and the basic sequence characters,the sequence stratigraohic in Wailangtian area are divided and studied,the relation between coal-forming period and sequence stratigraphy and the sedimentary characters are discussed.