We review the status of the 2-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) Type-II, in the light of the current experimental results and various theoretical consistency conditions. In doing so, we adopt a new numerical framework, called Magellan, to explore the full parameter space of the model. Magellan uses a simple, Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique for the exploration and leverages the use of modern tools, allowing the user to perform inference on the model in an efficient way. The framework exploits the output of well-known Higgs production and decay programs, together with that of packages implementing the current results of both direct and indirect Higgs boson searches. We further illustrate how future measurements can be incorporated in such a framework, through the example of neutral heavy Higgs boson production and decay via the gluon-gluon fusion mode in a variety of final states.


An illuminating comment, a perceptive analogy, an intriguing pendant inquiry, a focal statement by a student or teacher, are cardinal examples of classroom notes. These should be nurtured, cultivated, discussed and presented to your colleagues in the two-year colleges. Notes should convey their messages effectively with minimal exposition and, when needed, suitable illustrations. Faculty and students are invited to submit classroom notes for editorial consideration to:


This article is the result of a personal reflection on the contradictions of the development in Peru. For the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Peru is currently find in the group of countries with high human development. However, this boom does not appear to be redistributed fairly. Economic growth in numbers has not necessarily involved the closure of social, economic and environmental policy gaps. And it is no longer enough to have figures detailing the less poor in the country, it is also necessary to ensure public policies and institutional arrangements that provide better opportunities, and a society less violent, more equitable and just.


This paper is a survey of fuzzy set theory applied in cluster analysis. These fuzzy clustering algorithms have been widely studied and applied in a variety of substantive areas. They also become the major techniques in cluster analysis. In this paper, we give a survey of fuzzy clustering in three categories. The first category is the fuzzy clustering based on fuzzy relation. The second one is the fuzzy clustering based on objective function. Finally, we give an overview of a nonparametric classifier. That is the fuzzy generalized k-nearest neighbor rule. Keywords-cluster analysis, FUZZY clustering, FUZZY c-partitions, FUZZY relation, FUZZY c-means, Fuzzy generalized k-nearest neighbor rule, Cluster validity.


Lung cancer is one of the most serious health problems in the world. Lung Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) is a potential method to accomplish a range of quantitative tasks such as early cancer and disease detection, analysis of disease progression. The basic goal of CAD is to provide a computer output as a second opinion to assist medical image interpretation by improving accuracy, consistency of diagnosis, and image interpretation time. Since a CAD system is only interested in analyzing a specific organ, edge detection of Computed Tomography (CT) images is a precursor to most image analysis applications. A fully automated method is presented to edge detection of lung CT scan images for diagnosis of lung cancer based on cellular automata. The proposed method is not only computational inexpensive, but also is robust and accurate in detecting lung borders.


A variety of physical, chemical and biological methods have been used to synthesize nanoparticles in which biological methods are green chemistry approachs, interconnecting organism with nanotechnology. Microorganisms are an important group of organism which can be used in nanoparticles synthesis, because they are growing fast, easy to culture, inexpensive and widely available. The diversity of microorganisms and nanomaterials determines the diversification of its synthetic mechanism. According to researches of home and abroad, this paper focus on summarizing mechanism of synthesis nanoparticles using microorganisms. The prospects of biosynthesis nanoparticles using microorganism have also been addressed.


The outcomes of local measurements made on entangled systems can be certified to be random provided that the generated statistics violate a Bell inequality. This way of producing randomness relies only on a minimal set of assumptions because it is independent of the internal functioning of the devices generating the random outcomes. In this context it is crucial to understand both qualitatively and quantitatively how the three fundamental quantities – entanglement, non-locality and randomness – relate to each other. To explore these relationships, we consider the case where repeated (non projective) measurements are made on the physical systems, each measurement being made on the post-measurement state of the previous measurement. In this work, we focus on the following questions: Given a single entangled system, how many nonlocal correlations in a sequence can we obtain? And from this single entangled system, how many certified random numbers is it possible to generate? In the standard scenario with a single measurement in the sequence, it is possible to generate non-local correlations between two distant observers only and the amount of random numbers is very limited. Here we show that we can overcome these limitations and obtain any amount of certified random numbers from a single entangled pair of qubit in a pure state by making sequences of measurements on it. Moreover, the state can be arbitrarily weakly entangled. In addition, this certification is achieved by near-maximal violation of a particular Bell inequality for each measurement in the sequence. We also present numerical results giving insight on the resistance to imperfections and on the importance of the strength of the measurements in our scheme.


Abstract Attempts to restore species-rich flood-plain meadows from abandoned arable fields in the valley of the river Meuse, NE France, were studied. The study area was sown with a commercial seed mixture, composed of Phleum pratense, Festuca pratensis, Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens. The above-ground vegetation in the study area 1, 2 and 3 yr after restoration was compared to (1) the vegetation present during the previous 5-yr fallow stage and (2) target flood-plain meadows. Before restoration, the above-ground fallow vegetation was dominated by ruderal and annual species, while only very few meadow species were present. Sowing led to tall, dense vegetation, mainly dominated by the sown species. Ruderal and annual species had decreased 3 yr after restoration, but target species were still poorly represented. Species richness was significantly lower in the sown site than in the semi-natural target meadows and the vegetation had a different composition. Analysis of the soil seed bank of the restored meadow showed that only a few meadow species were present and that it was dominated by a few ruderal species. Three years after sowing, the vegetation of our experimental site is moving slowly towards the target communities but impoverished seed sources seem to limit the success of this restoration operation and will lead to under-saturated communities. Nomenclature: Lambinon et al. (1992). Abbreviation: CA = Correspondence Analysis.


Abstract This article analyses the political rhetoric of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Scholars and journalists have devoted considerable space to discussing Putin's policies, but have paid little attention to his political speeches, often assuming that he is purely a pragmatist and that his rhetoric is therefore of little interest. This article argues that a comprehensive analysis of rhetoric helps to reveal Putin's political and ideological orientation. To do so, the article carries out a systematic examination of Putin's political speeches and interviews, and shows that Putin has demonstrated an overall consistency in the general line of his views, albeit with certain changes within that line. Therefore his rhetoric is more than an instrument to confuse political opponents and should be taken seriously as an indication of Putin's policy direction.


Injuries of the hand and wrist are frequently encountered in radiology. Avulsions of the hand and wrist are a heterogeneous group of injuries, but they often have a characteristic imaging appearance that relates to the intricate bone and soft-tissue anatomy and the mechanism of injury. The imaging appearance and this intricate form and function dictate treatment of hand and wrist avulsions. This article reviews frequently and infrequently encountered avulsion injuries and describes abnormalities that may mimic the imaging appearance of avulsions. Specifically discussed entities include the Bennett and reverse Bennett fracture, ulnar collateral ligament avulsion, radial and ulnar styloid process avulsion, triquetral avulsion, mallet and jersey finger, central slip avulsion, and acute and chronic volar plate avulsion injuries. Uncommon avulsion injuries are also described and include avulsions of the scapholunate ligament, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis tendons, trapeziometacarpal ligament, radial collateral ligament, and flexor digitorum profundus tendon. Emphasis is placed on the relevant anatomy and typical imaging findings for each diagnosis, with pertinent clinical history, pathophysiologic evaluation, and treatment discussed briefly. Understanding the anatomy and expected imaging findings can aid the radiologist in recognizing and characterizing these injuries.©RSNA, 2020.


Though reported from a wide variety of human neoplasias, ring chromosomes, in general, are a rare finding in these diseases. The majority were detected by chance when tumors were screened for chromosomal aberrations. In most cases they are a part of highly complex karyotypic alterations and therefore part of unfavourable prognostic factors. However, in some tumor entities (e.g. tumors of mesenchymal origin) they are of such high prevalence (up to 70% of these tumors) and of such extraordinary specificity that they can even serve as cytogenetic hallmarks for differential diagnosis and for prognostic purposes. The well-known technical problems in malignant cells of achieving high banding quality to define all single chromosomal alterations have severely hampered clear identification of the chromosomes involved in rings until recently. Substantial progress of ring identification could only be achieved when molecular cytogenetic techniques became available. By these techniques it could not only be shown that certain breakpoint regions nonrandomly contribute to ring rearrangements which – at least in certain malignancies – are of basic importance, but also the molecular consequences of these changes could be defined in some cases. The present review summarizes a great number of reports on a total of 760 ring chromosomes in human neoplasias at different sites, but includes only cases with clearly identified rings. In addition, the molecular consequences of ring formation are addressed wherever pertinent information has recently been presented in the literature.


The status of schistosomiasis in Cameroon was examined in a nationwide survey of 5th grade schoolchildren. Five hundred twelve schools were surveyed; 19,524 urine and 22,166 stool samples were examined. The 3 northern provinces, which comprised 29% of the population, had 87% of all urinary and 82% of all intestinal cases. These provinces have a low seasonal rainfall. The presence of temporary bodies of water and of molluscan intermediate hosts adapted to this environment permits intense transmission of schistosomiasis haematobium and mansoni. In the rest of the country, the distribution of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni was highly focal. S. intercalatum endemic areas were restricted to the equatorial forest and were small with low prevalences and intensities.


The criminal law system of Indonesia formed a special court system for children criminals. This system is determined by considering that juvenile has distinguishing factors than adult that drive them to conduct criminality. Those can be analyzed based on psychological and sociological factors. The main purpose is to secure access for justice towards children criminality. However, provisions in Juvenile Court System law still have weaknesses that will endanger the access of justice. Therefore, in the enforcement aspects, that inclusivity is often being abandoned. This research is interdisciplinary by using normative-empirical method and qualitative method. Normative-empirical is analyzing on legal instrument using statute approach and also using primary data taken from interview. Qualitative method is a method that holistically describes a phenomenon by analyzing the quality of relations, situations, and other materials. This research analyzed on the inclusivity of juvenile delinquents that has affected the law making process by constituting special court system for children, then criticizing on how poor the law being constituted and then affecting the enforcement. Law enforcers have awareness on prioritizing restorative justice as mandated by the Law. But there is a structural problem among the realization of it. The law enforcement needs to be improved both in the substantial aspect and attributive aspect.


Numerical simulations and laboratory experiments are conducted for the development of a compact femtosecond diode-pumped Yb:KYW oscillator. For optimizing the oscillator as a seeding source for a regenerative amplifier, we simulated the output power as a function of the transmission of the output coupler, the incident pump power, and the amplification axis of the gain medium by using laser cavity analysis and design (LASCAD) software. Numerical and experimental results show good agreement for both Np- and Nm-polarization for Ng- and Np-cut crystals. The experimental results show that the Nm-polarization oscillator's average power exceeds 1.2 W at the central wavelength of 1035 nm with a pulse duration 111 fs, which is suitable for the combined gain spectrum of a dual-crystal amplifier.


ABSTRACT The ground vibrations observed in Taiwan during three teleseismic earthquakes in 2011 by broadband seismometers near major science parks were investigated. Their frequency content was exhibited via spectral analysis, and their effect on structures was examined by response spectra. To assess their possible impact on vibration-sensitive facilities, three vibration criteria in terms of velocity or displacement were utilized. Their predominant frequencies were between 0.04– and 0.16 Hz and somewhat dependent on focal depth and site geology, and they were therefore only influential to very long-period structures. However, the vibration levels exceeded the adopted criteria to some extent, especially at the softer site.


The preparation and characterization of nanoscale metal sulfide
particles in perfluorinated ionomer membranes, including Nafion and those
based on the sulfonimide ionomer and the bis(sulfonyl)methane ionomer,
are reported. The results suggest that these membrane films all contain hydrophilic
structural cavities and that the nanoscopic structures of the sulfonimide
ionomer and bis(sulfonyl)methane ionomer membranes are quite similar
to that of the commercial Nafion film. Properties of the nanoscale particles
in the ionomer membranes are presented, and their implications for the understanding
of membrane nanoscopic structural details are discussed.


Abstract We define perpendicularity in an Abelian group G as a binary relation satisfying certain five axioms. Such a relation is maximal if it is not a subrelation of any other perpendicularity in G. A motivation for the study is that the poset (𝒫, ⊆) of all perpendicularities in G is a lattice if G has a unique maximal perpendicularity, and only a meet-semilattice if not. We study the cardinality of the set of maximal perpendicularities and, on the other hand, conditions on the existence of a unique maximal perpendicularity in the following cases: G ≅ ℤn, G is finite, G is finitely generated, and G = ℤ ⊕ ℤ ⊕ ⋯. A few such conditions are found and a few conjectured. In studying ℝn, we encounter perpendicularity in a vector space.


Numerical simulations have the potential to be effective tools to interpret and investigate comminution mechanisms of mineral particles. Numerical techniques have been mostly used for single particle analysis or for the simulation of pilot-scale mineral processing equipment, within a steady-state processing environment. Due to insufficient fundamental understanding and computational limitations, it is a challenge to use these tools in downstream processing of particles. This article highlights the use of numerical tools in understanding comminution mechanisms of particles in industrial applications. Such understandings may assist in designing energy efficient comminution circuits. This article also considers the issues related to efficient comminution of particles. At present, there are three significant issues: representation of fine particle sizes (down to dust), heterogeneity of ores and the limitations of commonly accepted breakage models that need to be more fully understood in order to numerically simulate crushing and grinding circuits for industrial applications.


Marriage and fatherhood policies, inspired by the Christian Right and backed by conservative think tanks, have gained widespread support based on moral framing of family issues and simplistic interpretation of sociological "evidence." Hybrid political-religious organizations including the National Fatherhood Initiative, the Marriage Movement, and Promise Keepers make rhetorical claims with similar religious underpinnings, policy objectives, assertions of social scientific consensus, and conservative foundation funding. Contrary to predictions about the diminishing influence of the Christian Right on social policy, religious and free-market conservatives have successfully joined forces to promote public policies favoring married heterosexual parents over other household types by relying on specious comparisons between "traditional" and "nontraditional" families. Sociologists of all faiths have a moral obligation to ensure that their research findings are not misinterpreted in the service of a narrow religious agenda or inappropriately used to justify nostalgic exclusionary family policies.


Background Systemic treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is associated with side effects, since such treatment does not deliver pharmacologically active molecules solely to the site of disease activity in the joints We demonstrated that posttranslational modification of type II collagen (CII) by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to be present in inflamed arthritic joints, can give rise to epitopes specific to damaged cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Our goal is to establish that antibodies specific to ROS-modified CII can be used to target therapeutics specifically to arthritic joints. Methods We raised antibodies specific to ROS-modified CII by phage display and validated the specificity by ELISA and immunostaining of articular cartilage from RA and OA patients. The in vivo targeting potential was tested by imaging using mice model with inflammatory arthritis and. The therapeutic effect of anti–ROS-CII was tested by fusing it to soluble murine tumour necrosis factor receptor II–Fc fusion protein (mTNFRII-Fc) and viral IL-10 (vIL-10). Results Anti-ROS-CII: i) binds specifically to arthritic cartilage from patients with RA and OA; ii) stains cartilage in murine models of inflammatory arthritis and OA; and iii) localises in the inflamed joint in vivo in a mouse model of antigen induced arthritis (AIA) following systemic administration of labelled anti-ROS-CII. Targeting mTNFR2-Fc or viral IL-10 significantly enhanced therapeutic effect on inflamed knee swelling in mouse model of inflammatory arthritis compared to un-targeted mTNFR2-Fc or viral IL-10 when they were fused to non-relevant antibody. We next developed a novel imaging platform whereby anti-ROS-CII labelled with Cy5.5 (a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe) allowed us to successfully visualise development and progression of murine OA induced by destabilising of medial meniscus (DMM). Specific retention of Cy5.5-anti-ROS-CII scFv in the DMM joint was noted as early as 4 weeks post-surgery and before any evident cartilage damage. Conclusion The anti-ROS-CII antibodies have the potencial to become a very early diagnostic biomarker for OA as well as for targeting payload drug specifically to arthritic joints whether RA or OA.


Most intravascular device-related infections are caused by staphylococci, presumably because the microbial flora of the skin surface is the major reservoir of microorganisms colonizing and infecting percutaneously-inserted intravascular cannulas. Recently, we observed two episodes of group A streptococcal cellulitis and bacteremia related to infection of the subcutaneous tunnel of indwelling catheters. This prompted us to review our experience with nosocomial and community-acquired group A streptococcal bacteremias for the past year, and we identified a third catheter-related case. In our ongoing prospective surveillance of nosocomial bacteremias, we have not previously identified any other cases of intravascular catheter-related bacteremia caused by group A streptococcus. Likewise, in two large prospective studies of Hickman and Broviac catheter-related infections, the investigators did not report infections caused by this organism.


Undercooling and wetting angles of liquid aluminum solidified on single crystal MgO substrates, with specific orientations MgO(100), MgO(110) and MgO(111), are measured. The measured undercooling is observed to be less sensitive even though the lattice misfits provided by the substrates are significantly varied. Transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals formation of MgAl2O4 layer at Al/MgO interface. It has higher potency to act as nucleation substrate for Al and responsible for identical undercooling values for substrates with different lattice mismatch. The higher wetting angle for MgO(110) and MgO(111) surfaces with liquid Al is attributed to surface reaction at higher temperature. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.M2014345]


The asymmetric unit of the second polymorph of the title compound, C2H9NO6P2, contains one molecule existing as a zwitterion. The N atom of the ammonio group is protonated and one of the phosphonic acid groups is deprotonated. Bond lengths and angles are similar in both polymorphs. Besides the differences in cell parameters, the most significant structural difference between this structure and that of the first polymorph [Dudko, Bon, Kozachkova, Tsarik & Pekhno (2008 ▶), Ukr. Khim. Zh. 74, 104–106] is the presence of strong symmetric hydrogen bonds between neighbouring phosphonate groups. H atoms involved in these hydrogen bonds are located at inversion centres and O⋯O distances are observed in the range 2.458 (5)–2.523 (5) Å. These bonds and additional O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds interlink the molecules, giving a three-dimensional supromolecular network.


In this article, we analyse the speech delivered in Tangier on Thursday 10 April 1947 by His Majesty the late Mohammed V. The essential objective of the speech was to develop one key idea and it is this idea which, in our view, renders the speech historic. The speech is generally alluded to when illustrating the King's courage and determination to proclaim his country's independence, as well as to recall the major error of judgment by the French State in exiling the Sultan after he made the speech.
While sharing in this conviction, I wish to revisit the contents of the speech with a view to determining its true originality and real strength at the political level. It undoubtedly constitutes a demand, addressing as it does the country's need for independence, but what I should like to dwell on in particular are his views on the transformation of the Moroccan State.
In the Tangier speech, the King manifests his determination to gain independence for his country, despite the actual word 'independence' not being mentioned. But what needs to be noted in particular is the sovereign's post-independence political agenda, namely the type of sovereignty to be re-established and the type of State to be rebuilt.


Web 2.0 has come along with several tools which are used for various purposes. This paper pays attention to three of them as regards language teaching – blogs, wikis and social networking. To do so, their main uses in language teaching are revised. Some suggestions of how to use them in language teaching are put forward in the context of the Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas (Spanish state language schools), the authorised institutions in Spain for the teaching of languages.


A dust storm blew through the Thar Desert on 12 June 2006, which has significantly influenced aerosol physical and optical properties over the central Himalayas (Nainital, 29.4°N; 79.5°E, 1958 m amsl) on 13 June 2006. Aerosol number concentrations in the coarse and giant modes on 13 June 2006 are found to be five (26 × 106 m−3) and ten (17.2 × 103 m−3) times higher compared to their respective monthly mean values. Aerosol optical depth values also showed two to four times increase, particularly at longer wavelengths suggesting increase in the concentrations of coarse and giant particles. This is supported by three to five times increase in Ångström turbidity coefficient (β) and significant reduction in Ångström wavelength exponent (α). Absence of enhancements in black carbon and accumulation mode particles suggests negligible changes in the influences of anthropogenic activities at the site during the study period.


This research is motivated by the idea that increasing the innovativeness of local government employees is needed to be able to produce innovations in governance and services to the community in the context of bureaucratic reform to realize good governance. The purpose of this study was to find the influence of organizational culture and transformational leadership on the improvement of employee innovation in a regionalgovernment, using the path analysis method with work motivation as an intermediate variable. The sample in this study was 153 echelon IV employees / supervisory officers.The results found the fact that organizational culture and transformational leadership have an indirect influence on employee innovation through work motivation.


In recent years there has been a growing body of literature within political science and international studies that directly and indirectly uses, discusses and analyzes the processes involved in lesson-drawing, policy convergence, policy diffusion and policy transfer. While the terminology and focus often vary, all of these studies are concerned with a similar process in which knowledge about policies, administrative arrangements, institutions and ideas in one political setting (past or present) is used in the development of policies, administrative arrangements, institutions and ideas in another political setting.

Given that this is a growing phenomenon, it is something that anyone studying public policy needs to consider. As such, this article is divided into four major sections. The first section briefly considers the extent of, and reasons for, the growth of policy transfer. The second section then outlines a framework for the analysis of transfer. From here a third section presents a continuum for distinguishing between different types of policy transfer. Finally, the last section addresses the relationship between policy transfer and policy "failure."


The role of dietary patterns in colorectal carcinogenesis remains unclear in Asian populations. Using 1999-2002 data, the authors investigated the association between dietary patterns and colorectal adenomas in 1,341 Japanese men who underwent total colonoscopy. Information about diet was obtained using a 74-item food frequency questionnaire prior to the colonoscopy. Three dietary patterns were generated by factor analysis: 1) a high-dairy, high-fruit and -vegetable, high-starch, low-alcohol pattern; 2) an "animal food" pattern; and 3) a Japanese pattern. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio of having colorectal adenomas with the adjustment for potential confounding variables including body mass index, smoking, alcohol, and leisure-time physical activities. A significant inverse association was found for the high-dairy, high-fruit and -vegetable, high-starch, low-alcohol pattern; the odds ratios for the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.70, 1.36), 0.71 (95% confidence interval: 0.50, 1.01), and 0.62 (95% confidence interval: 0.43, 0.90), respectively, compared with the lowest (p(trend) = 0.003). Similar associations were observed for larger adenomas or for each subsite of the colorectum. The Japanese and "animal food" patterns were not clearly associated with colorectal adenomas. A dietary pattern including greater consumption of dairy products and fruits and vegetables with low alcohol consumption may be associated with decreased risk of colorectal adenomas.


Evoked potentials (EPs) have been widely used to quantify neurological system properties. Traditional EP analyses are developed under the condition that the background noise in EP analysis are Gaussian distributed. Alpha stable distribution, a generalization of Gaussian, is better for modeling impulsive noise than Gaussian distribution in biomedical signal processing. Conventional blind separation and estimation method of evoked potentials is based on second order statistics (SOS). In this paper, we modify our conventional algorithms and analyze the stability and convergence performance s of the new algorithm. The simulation experiments show that the proposed algorithm based on fractional lower order statistics is more robust than the conventional algorithm based on second order statistics


Abstract Why an atlas of the Carboniferous in northern England? There can hardly be a more researched system in the whole of the British Isles, given its widespread distribution at outcrop and annual appearance in numerous PhD theses (including our own). But perhaps all we really know about the Carboniferous is no more than skimming the surface. In this atlas, using modern multifold seismic and borehole data collected by the oil industry in its search for petroleum accumulations, we can start to look beyond the surface exposures and gain some new insights into the structure and stratigraphy of the subsurface (and surface) Carboniferous. The main elements of this atlas are: (i) a series of regional seismic lines crossing all the basinal areas in northern England illustrating the Carboniferous in section, and (ii) a set of palaeofacies maps describing the evolution of the system in map view. The unique appeal of this atlas of seismic sections is that it is based on data from onshore UK. That is, we can walk the seismic lines at outcrop and in many cases compare exposure to the seismic data and palaeofacies maps. For example, stand on top of Mam Tor in Derbyshire and look eastwards over Hope valley towards Castleton (see frontispiece). Here, we can look out over a Carboniferous basin fill. On the right is an exhumed Dinantian platform margin and, ahead, Namurian Edale Shales form the valley floor. On the left, the north side of the valley is composed of basinal and slope


Extreme droughts may be characterized by their duration, severity (magnitude or intensity), spatial extent, and frequency or return period. Comparing the time series of water supply and water demand and analyzing droughts based on the theory of runs may determine these characteristics. This study is focused on drought analysis where the underlying water supply process is periodic stochastic, such as for monthly streamflows. The probability mass function (pmf) of drought length and associated low‐order moments are derived assuming a periodic simple Markov chain. The derived pmf allows estimating the occurrence probability of droughts of a given length and its return period. The applicability of the drought formulations has been illustrated using a variety of water supply series such as monthly and weekly precipitation, monthly streamflows, the Palmer hydrologic drought index, and the standardized precipitation index. The results obtained confirm the validity of the analytical derivations for drought lengths and associated return periods. The overall conclusion of the study is that simple definitions of droughts enables one characterizing droughts using stochastic approaches and analytical derivations. They are particularly useful for drought analysis because the limited hydrologic records that are generally available do not allow observing many drought events of a particular duration and, in fact, extremely long droughts may not even be observable from the historical sample. This hinders the applicability of an inferential approach for finding the probability distributions of drought lengths and their associated return periods because it is either impractical or not feasible.


As the prosperous development of information technology and Internet, the enterprises change the management of supply chain into modern technology way. Also, the characteristics of information crime has become unremitting confidence , the protection of the invaluable information assets in the supplier chain is facing more rigorous challenges. How can the expensive security mechanism be assessed if it conforms its function and serves the core objectives of the enterprise. The mechanism of this paper is based on the ontology of the Unified Problem-solving Method Development Language. In this paper, the implementation knowledge of the SCM information security risk management is divided into three categories: domain, task, and problem-solving ontologies. The concepts of the knowledge ontology are implemented by a computer tool Protege, and programmed into a detailed knowledge inference rules by using CLIPS, and then used as an inference engine in the JESS expert system to strengthen the SCM information security risk management and enhance the security of the enterprise.


This paper explores the possibility of near-optimally solving multi-agent, multi-task NP-hard planning problems with time-dependent rewards using a learning-based algorithm. In particular, we consider a class of robot/machine scheduling problems called the multi-robot reward collection problem (MRRC). Such MRRC problems well model ride-sharing, pickup-and-delivery, and a variety of related problems. In representing the MRRC problem as a sequential decision-making problem, we observe that each state can be represented as an extension of probabilistic graphical models (PGMs), which we refer to as random PGMs. We then develop a mean-field inference method for random PGMs. We then propose (1) an order-transferable Q-function estimator and (2) an order-transferability-enabled auction to select a joint assignment in polynomial time. These result in a reinforcement learning framework with at least $1-1/e$ optimality. Experimental results on solving MRRC problems highlight the near-optimality and transferability of the proposed methods. We also consider identical parallel machine scheduling problems (IPMS) and minimax multiple traveling salesman problems (minimax-mTSP).


Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from human third molar tooth germ (wisdom tooth) were isolated using a collagenasebased enzymatic method, the obtained cells were analyzed as for morphology in monolayer culture, immunophenotype, proliferation and differentiation potential before and after cryopreservation. In this study, we showed that based on morphological features, surface markers profile and differentiation potential, the isolated DPSCs corresponded to multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. DPSCs cryopreservation by slow cooling (1 °С / min) down to –80°C with subsequent immersion into liquid nitrogen in cryoprotectant-free culture medium led to cell death. Cryopreservation using the same protocol in the presence of 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 20% serum ensured (82 ± 6)% cell viability; while metabolic and proliferative activity, as well as the ability to differentiate into the osteo- and adipogenic lineages of cryopreserved DPSCs were similar to their non-cryopreserved counterparts.


Abstract. A new concept of flexible rock-shed is proposed in this paper. The flexible rock-shed is made of flexible nets held up by a specially designed, steel vaulted structure. A 1:1 prototype is manufactured and tested for functional evaluation with an impact experiment. It is shown that the structure can stand for an impact energy of about 250 kJ without observable rupture of the flexible nets or cables and can be put into service again with some maintenances on the steel vaulted structure. Experimental data such as local strains, peak loads and impact times are recorded by dynamic strain gauges, load cells and a high-speed camera for structural analysis and some complementary suggestions of improving and designing are offered with respect to the joints and components. Finally, the advantages and limitations of the flexible rock-shed are outlined and the limits of the present experimental investigation and the future research for the flexible rock-shed are proposed.


Background: Prior investigations suggest that resident progress decisions by committee provide a broader perspective on performance and result in less grade inflation. There is countervailing concern that group dynamics may compromise quality of progress decisions. Purpose: To determine whether and how group dynamics compromise decision making about resident progress. Methods: Researchers recorded and analyzed participant comments during a resident progress committee meeting. End-of-rotation (EOR) evaluations were analyzed and compared to progress committee meeting results. Results: EOR and progress committee comments were similar in content. The ratio of specific to general comments was higher for EOR evaluations (5:1) than for progress committee meetings (2:1). EOR evaluation comments provided more supporting evidence for assertions. Individual progress committee participants did not dominate discussion or sway decision making. Participant progress committee meeting comments were consistent with their EOR comments failing to support the presence of progress committee meeting "feeding frenzies." Conclusions: Results suggest that progress committee meeting group dynamics do not seriously compromise the validity of resident progress decisions.


This paper presents an extension of the work of Pistor to N dimensions. The stability of an N-dimensional recursive digital filter is shown to be related to the properties of its cepstrum. A procedure is also given for the decomposition of unstable recursive digital filters having a nonzero nonimaginary frequency response into a set of stable single-quadrant recursive filters.


Autonomous learning of object manipulation skills can enable robots to acquire rich behavioral repertoires that scale to the variety of objects found in the real world. However, current motion skill learning methods typically restrict the behavior to a compact, low-dimensional representation, limiting its expressiveness and generality. In this paper, we extend a recently developed policy search method [1] and use it to learn a range of dynamic manipulation behaviors with highly general policy representations, without using known models or example demonstrations. Our approach learns a set of trajectories for the desired motion skill by using iteratively refitted time-varying linear models, and then unifies these trajectories into a single control policy that can generalize to new situations. To enable this method to run on a real robot, we introduce several improvements that reduce the sample count and automate parameter selection. We show that our method can acquire fast, fluent behaviors after only minutes of interaction time, and can learn robust controllers for complex tasks, including putting together a toy airplane, stacking tight-fitting lego blocks, placing wooden rings onto tight-fitting pegs, inserting a shoe tree into a shoe, and screwing bottle caps onto bottles.


: The efficacies of two methods for measuring human blood serum IgG, heterogenic enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and radial immunodiffusion in gel (RIG), are compared. The accuracy of both the methods was verified by the data of IgG spectrophotometry; IgG were isolated by ion exchange chromatography from human blood serum. The results of all the three methods were in high correlation: correlation coefficient of spectrophotometry and EIA data was 0.992, p less than 0.01; that of spectrophotometry and RIG data 0.975, p less than 0.01; that of RIG and EIA 0.888, p less than 0.01. Since EIA has some advantages over RIG (it is more rapid, sensitive, accurate, and the investigation may be automated), it is recommended for measuring human blood serum IgG in mass screenings.


Abstract This study reports physical and chemical changes that occur at early dentin remineralization stages. Extracted human third molars were sectioned to obtain dentin discs. After polishing the dentin surfaces, three groups were established: (1) untreated dentin (UD), (2) 37% phosphoric acid application for 15 s (partially demineralized dentin—PDD), and (3) 10% phosphoric acid for 12 h at 25° C (totally demineralized dentin—TDD). Five different remineralizing solutions were used: chlorhexidine (CHX), artificial saliva (AS), phosphate solution (PS), ZnCl2, and ZnO. Wettability (contact angle), ζ potential and Raman spectroscopy analysis were determined on dentin surfaces. Demineralization of dentin resulted in a higher contact angle. Wettability decreased after immersion in all solutions. ζ potential analysis showed dissimilar performance ranging from −6.21 mV (TDD + AS) up to 3.02 mV (PDD + PS). Raman analysis showed an increase in mineral components after immersing the dentin specimens, in terms of crystallinity, mineral content, and concentration. This confirmed the optimal incorporation and deposition of mineral on dentin collagen. Organic content reflected scarce changes, except in TDD that appeared partially denatured. Pyridinium, as an expression of cross-linking, appeared in all spectra except in specimens immersed in PS.


In this paper the tracking of ground targets using acoustic sensors, distributed in a wireless sensor network, is studied. Since only acoustic sensors are utilized in the study the tracking problem can be regarded as a bearings-only application. The solution to the problem is given within the Bayesian recursive framework, where a sequential Monte Carlo method to the ground target tracking problem is developed. The classical sampling importance resampling (SIR) scheme is redesigned to also track multiple targets. The approach for solving the data association problem is based on hypothesis calculations according to the joint probabilistic data association (JPDA) method. Validation and evaluation of the tracking algorithms are performed using simulated data as well as real data extracted from a ground sensor network.


NiFe and NiFeCo were dry etched in inductively coupled plasma Cl2/Ar and CO/NH3 discharges, either with or without concurrent UV illumination from a Hg arc lamp. No enhancement was observed for CO/NH3 etching of the two materials, or for Cl2/Ar etching of NiFe. However, enhancements in etch rate of up to a factor of three were observed for Cl2/Ar etching of NiFeCo when ultraviolet (uv) illumination was employed. The etched surface morphologies were similar both with and without the UV irradiation. The etch rates in Cl2/Ar discharges were strongly correlated with the amount of chlorinated residues detected on the surface by Auger electron spectroscopy, indicating that the desorption of the metal chloride reaction products was the rate-limiting step in the etching.


In this paper, we analyze how different dimensions of a seller's reputation affect pricing power in electronic markets. Given the interplay between buyers' trust and sellers' pricing power, we use text mining techniques to identify and structure dimensions of importance from feedback posted on reputation systems. By aggregating and scoring these dimensions based on the sentiment they contain, we use them to estimate a series of econometric models associating reputation with price premiums. We find that different dimensions do indeed affect pricing power differentially, and that a negative reputation hurts more than a positive one helps on some dimensions but not on others. We provide evidence that sellers of identical products in electronic markets differentiate themselves based on a distinguishing dimension of strength, and that buyers vary in the relative importance they place on different fulfillment characteristics. We highlight the importance of textual reputation feedback further by demonstrating that it substantially improves the performance of a classifier we have trained to predict future sales. Our results also suggest that online sellers distinguish themselves on specific and varying fulfillment characteristics that resemble the unique selling points highlighted by successful brands. We conclude by providing explicit examples of IT artifacts (buyer and seller tools) that use our interdisciplinary approach to enhance buyer trust and seller efficiency in online environments. This paper is the first study that integrates econometric, text mining and predictive modeling techniques toward a more complete analysis of the information captured by reputation systems, and it presents new evidence of the importance of their effective and judicious design in online markets.


We previously reported that gonococci convert to a more invasive phenotype (Inv(+)GC) following contact with cells expressing the lutropin receptor (LHr) and that Inv(+)GC express a novel adhesin that interacts with LHr. We propose that this adhesion allows Inv(+)GC to activate LHr and induce gonococcal transcytosis, usurping normal LHr function in fallopian and endometrial epithelium, which is to transport fetal chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into the mother. Infected polarized Hec1B monolayers, grown on collagen-coated transwells, showed that the passage of GC across the monolayer occurred rapidly, within 30 min, and proceeded at a constant rate with Inv(+)GC passage three-fold faster than GC grown in tissue culture media alone (Inv(-)GC). Electron microscopy found that Inv(+)GC triggered pseudopod formation around the bacterium, with GC found throughout the Hec1B targets within 30 min, while Inv(-)GC did neither. Pre-treatment of Inv(-)GC with recombinant ribosomal protein L12, a gonococcal "hCG-like" protein previously shown to increase invasion, also increased Inv(-)GC transcytosis to the rate of Inv(+)GC. This enhancement was completely abolished by addition of luteinizing hormone, a cognate ligand of LHr. This is convincing evidence that surface expressed L12 mediates gonococcal invasion and transcytosis via LHr, a mechanism that could be important in the development of invasive gonococcal disease in women.


The differential diagnostic importance of CHE determination in searching for and observing the course of liver diseases is emphasized in the literature within the small and large enzyme pattern (eg. Gergs 1976). In chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis normal or almost normal values suggest a favorable prognosis. Greatly reduced CHE points to limitation of liver function and a severe form of the disease suggesting toxic influences and considerable deficiency. Rapidly falling CHE activity both in acute hepatitis and in chronic inflammations of the liver point to the danger of threatening hepatic coma.


Symmetric, progressive, necrotizing lesions in the brainstem are a defining feature of Leigh syndrome (LS). A mechanistic understanding of the pathogenesis of these lesions has been elusive. Here, we report that leukocyte proliferation is causally involved in the pathogenesis of Leigh syndrome. Directly depleting leukocytes with a colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor dramatically attenuates disease, including complete prevention of CNS lesion formation and substantial extension of survival. Leukocyte depletion rescues a range of symptoms including hyperlactemia, seizures, respiratory function, and neurologic symptoms. These data provide a mechanistic explanation for the beneficial effects of mTOR inhibition. More importantly, these findings dramatically alter our understanding of the pathogenesis of LS, demonstrating that immune involvement directly drives disease. These findings have significant implication for the mechanisms of disease resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction, and may lead to novel therapeutic strategies. One-Sentence Summary Pharmacologic targeting of leukocytes prevents CNS lesions, neurological disease, and metabolic dysfunction in the Ndufs4(KO) mouse model of Leigh syndrome.


Students' ability in solving argumentation in mathematical induction and binomial theory is still lacking based on the results of the exam, so that evidence-based teaching materials are prepared. This study uses design research methods with the subject from 2nd semester students of the Mathematics Education Study Program. This research is a development research consisting of 6 stages: Identification of needs, Planning, Initial product development, Initial product testing, Product revision, Field trials so as to produce teaching materials. The results of the lecturer and student validation show that the teaching materials are valid and feasible to use with an average score of 45 and 45,9333. While the test of the effectiveness of teaching materials used using the t-test obtained results that ttest> ttable, 5.83 > 2.11 which means there is an increase in the average value of students before and after using teaching materials. With the increase in value, it indicates that the instructional materials prepared are effectively used.


The combined detection of CA125, CEA and AFP is of great significance in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Photonic crystal (PhC) barcodes have apparent advantages in multiplex immunoassays of ovarian cancer markers. In this paper, a novel PhC barcode was assembled from dendritic silica nanoparticles (dSiO2) for multiplex detection of ovarian cancer biomarkers. The interconnected macroporous structure of the dSiO2 PhC beads and the open porous topography of dendritic silica particles could increase the surface area to volume ratio for antibody immobilization. We simultaneously detected multiple ovarian cancer markers in one test tube using the sandwich immunization method by utilizing dSiO2 PhC beads as a barcode and CdTe QDs as a detection signal. The detection limits of the three ovarian cancer markers, AFP, CEA and CA125, were 0.52 ng mL-1, 0.64 ng mL-1 and 0.79 U mL-1, respectively (the signal-to-noise ratio was 3). Compared with the classic silica colloidal crystal bead (SCCB) suspension array, the sensitivity of the dSiO2 PhC bead suspension array was increased. In addition, the results showed that this barcode suspension array had acceptable accuracy and good reproducibility.


The body was both subject and object of the study, analysis and discussion over time for scientists, if we accept the idea that they were at the beginnings of humanity. This statement is supported by the many written and unwritten sources, possibilities to perform movements were the main factor in meeting the necessities of biological, physiological, spiritual, and entertainment specific to humans. Practice of physical exercises to train body image reached the current stage of development of society is the result of multiple determinations, of which seems necessary to highlight the importance of three ones: continued development of formal and non-formal, creating free time as permanent social reality, intense movement and changing specific values of the phenomenon, supported by modern conditions of civilization. Thus, we find that today many individuals of both genders are unsatisfied by their physical appearance, in particular by the size and shape of own bodies. From this point of view it is to distinguish women who are most concerned to change this, most often through diet or using extreme methods of weight control, including starvation, elimination of voluntary food intake, diuretics or laxative abuse and applying exercise programs incompatible with their preparation. This paper aims to demonstrate that physical activity, carried out systematically through a fitness program, contributes directly to the improvement of the structure and functions of various organs and systems of the body. This approach of the problem leads mostly to eat disorder incidence much higher among them than men, which means that it is useful image issues of the body and nutrition lie on a continuum, depending on their severity.


A fast, efficient algorithm based on asymptotic ray theory has been developed for the calculation of synthetic seismograms through two-dimensional media. The routine is economical and easy to run, and is intended for use as a practical tool in the interpretation of seismic refraction data.

The velocity structure is represented by large polygonal blocks, and within each block the velocity gradient is uniform and of arbitrary orientation. Simple analytical expressions are thus used for both ray tracing and amplitude computations. For reflected and refracted rays, amplitudes are determined by using zero-order asymptotic ray theory. For calculating the geometrical spreading function, the width of the ray tube in the in-plane direction is determined by shooting two closely spaced rays for every receiver location. This enables an estimate of the partial derivative of range with respect to starting angle to be made. The ray tube width in the out-of-plane direction is evaluated using expressions valid for the specific case of two-dimensional models with linear velocity gradients. Head wave amplitudes are determined using first-order asymptotic ray theory. Each block of the model is reparameterized as a series of thin homogeneous layers perpendicular to the direction of the velocity gradient. Amplitudes are then determined by analytic expressions valid for models of homogeneous layers with plane dipping boundaries. The reparameterized model also may be used in an alternative method of calculating amplitudes for reflected rays and for refracted rays with no turning points.


In this paper, we propose a real-time recognition algorithm of lanes, stop lines and speed bumps on roads for autonomous vehicles. First, we generate a top-view using the image transmitted from a camera that is installed to see the front of a vehicle. To speed up the processing, we simplify the mapping algorithm in constructing a top-view wherein the region of interest (ROI) is concerned. The features of lanes, stop lines and speed bumps, which are composed of lines, are searched in the edge image of the top-view, then followed by labeling and clustering specialized to detect straight lines. The width of lines, distances from the center of a vehicle, and curvature of each cluster are considered to select final candidates. We verify the proposed algorithm on real roads using the commercial car (KIA K7) which is converted into an autonomous vehicle.


The domestic and care labor sector is integral to the economic and social fabric of almost every nation. Although there has been increasing attention to the plight and experiences of international migrant workers within this field, less is known about the experiences of rural-to-urban migrants employed in this same sector. This study focuses on "yayas"—domestic workers caring for children in affluent families in the Philippines and draws from fieldwork and interviews conducted in Quezon City. Participants were female "yayas" caring for young children while they themselves were separated from their own offspring, most of whom were left behind in their rural communities. Interviews evoked themes reflecting a convergence of broad social and economic issues (e.g., rural poverty), gender norms and roles (e.g., the role of women in raising children), and traditional notions regarding family and parenting (e.g., the role of parents in children's upbringing, obligations of extended family) all together resulting in a heavy personal burden and transformed parenting strategies in light of spatial distance (e.g., remittances, mediated contact). Interviews revealed themes specific to the experience of being a worker in the care sector, including the nature of the relationship between the "yaya" and her charge, and the "yaya" and her employer. Although findings reflect themes that are consistent with the larger body of work on the experiences of transnational parenting among overseas Filipino workers, the current data suggest some unique patterns that reflect access to fewer economic and social resources among internal migrants in this study.


Virtual Reality (VR) made its way out of research labs into industrial applications like product design, design for assembly, training issues, etc. Nevertheless, VR is still suffering from lacking technology to highlight its huge amount of functionality. That means the utilization of VR in a holistic way to combine the real and the virtual world to close the circle, in which the user can switch between both systems is still not common. There is more VR can contribute than an immersive 3D model of real objects and some interaction technology with different devices like 6 DOF mouse, PhantomTM, gloves with tactile feedback, etc. If you want to use VR like the usual technology, you have to integrate the features of 3D, interaction, force feedback, simulation and the real system. The research work to develop such an integrated system is done within a special research project (SFB 467) of the German Research Society (DFG) called "Transformable business structures for multiple-variant series production".


The urban road traffic congestion has not only brought many inconvenient for people's routine work and life, but also will restrict the growth of the economical, to accelerate the urban environment worsening and serious influence the city sustainable development. This paper studies based on the dynamic detection of urban road traffic congestion condition recognition technology can fast and accurate discover in the road network which already had the traffic congestion or soon occurs, then estimated the crowded proliferation scope and duration, which are advantageous to carry on the transportation induction and the traffic control promptly. And according to the different target client to the different emphasis point to the distinguish algorithm, has designed the urban road traffic congestion recognition grading warning system.


The prevalence of H. pylori infection is significantly higher in the de- veloping than in the developed countries and is closely related to low socioeconomic status. Japan is an exception among the developed coun- tries in that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in people more than 50 years old is approximately 80%. Recent reports demonstrates that its prevalence has declined in the west, especially in children. The Aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in children and young adults in Japan. Studies in children and young adults are important in determining the epidemiology of H. pylori infection. Methods: The study population consisted of 621 (345 males) asymptomatic Japanese children and young adults between the ages of 0 and 39 years who resided in Hiroshima area. The presence of Hp infection was judged by serum IgG antibody. Results: Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Japan has markedly declined in children and young adults. This low prevalence is similar to that in the west and might to be linked to the declining incidence of gastric carcinoma in this country. Objectives: To compare the seroprevalence of antibodies to 116 kD (cagA) and 89 kD (vacA) proteins, in young Portuguese populations with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, living in areas with different gastric cancer (GC) risk. Material and Methods: The study focused on 87 young males, between 17 and 19 years old, with comproved HP infection, detected by the presence of specific IgG antibodies in the serum (PiloriTrak-ELISA). These teenagers were randomly selected from representatives samples of the population of various Portuguese counties, with different male GC risk. Determination of this risk, by the estimation of geographically smoothed Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR), allowed definition of two groups: low (SMR < 70) and high (SMR > 130) GC risk counties. Antibodies to cagA and vacA proteins were analised with a commercial Western Blot (WB) kit (HelicoBlot2.0). Of the initial 87 serum specimens, 20 were excluded due to Hp negativity by WB. Of the remaining 67, 41 belong to GC high risk (HR) counties, whereas 26 were from low risk (LR) counties. Statistic analysis was done by x2 test. Results: Antibodies to proteins Conclusions: The seroprevalence of antibodies to cagA andlor vacA was higher in areas of greater GC risk, although this did not reach statistical significance, probably due to the small sample size. Twenty three pre and post treatment isolates of H. pylori from gastric biopsies of 11 patients who had suffered ulcer relapse were used in the study. The strains were collected from patients in a large European study to evaluate eradication of H. pylori by Clarithromycin. Of these strains 17 were from patients treated with Omeprazole alone and 6 from 3 patients treated with Clarithromycin + Omeprazole. The strains were chosen in random and represent an independent sample group. They were analysed for strain relatedness using RAPD technique. The heterogenous nature of H. pylori was confirmed by RAPD with 17 different DNA profiles generated. 7/11 (64%) patients harbored a homogenous pre and post treatment isolate, in 3/11 patients the isolates were unrelated and one harbored a possible mixed population. Three pre and post treatment isolates with different RAPD profiles were cultured and 6-10 single colony clones were analysed to establish the homogeneity of the strain. In one patient the presence of more than one RAPD type in the pre treatment sample was demonstrated, with selection of one of the RAPD types post treatment. In conclusion RAPD was found to be a reliable, reproducible and cost effective typing tool for H. pylori. The data suggest that acquisition of new strains is not uncommon and can be an important factor in treatment failures. Background: Recent studies showed that the age-specific prevalence of H. pylori infection parallels Hepatitis A (HAV) suggesting similar modes of transmission. Aim: To investigate risk factors for H. pylori and HAV and the possiblity that the two infections could be associated. Methods: Between January and September 1995, a random sample of 705 resident subjects who attended the outpatient medical center of the rural county of Ciro' (11.000 inhabitants, Southern Italy) for blood testing were recruited. All subjects completed a questionnaire for general demographic details, height, weight, current and childhood socio-economic circumstances, history of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, dyspepsia, smoking and alcohol. Serum sample was drawn from each subject and stored at -20°C. Blood pressure was measured. All sera were assayed for H. pylori specific IgG by an in-house ELISA using a crude H. pylori sonicate as antigen (sensitivity and specificity 97% and 91%). In 466 subjects, antibodies to HAV were detected by means of a commercial ELISA kit (Behring, USA). In subsets of subjects, serum fasting cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were also measured. Data were analysed by multiple logistic regression analysis, Spearman's test, K statistic and expressed also as odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. Results: Of the 705 (273 M; age range 1-87, median 50) subjects, 446 (63%) were positive for H. pylori. Among the 466 (163 M; age range 1-87, median 49) subjects screened for HAV, 291 (62%) were positive for H. pylon and 407 (87%) for HAV. Cross-tabulation of this data showed that 275 (59%) and for both H. pylori and 16 were only for H. pylon and 132 only for HAV (OR = 5.6, CI: 3-10). There was an age-specific increase in the prevalence of the two infections and a fair correlation (r = 0.287) the association more weak (K Reports on the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection are scarce, and the source and spread of this organism are still relevant unanswered questions.Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate Helicobacter pylori infection among first- and second- degree relatives and spouses of duodenal ulcer patients with previously demonstrated Helicobacter pylori infection to provide further information on the potential spread of this microorganism mediated by a close personal contact. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two close personal contacts of 19 patients with duodenal ulcer in wh,.n Helicobacter pylori had been cultured from gastric biopsies (18 spouses, 11 siblings, 29 children, and 4 parents) and 272 controls from the same environment and with similar age were studied. Helicobacter pylori-specific IgG antibodies were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subjects were considered positive when titers were > 10 U/ml. Results: The antibodies were positive in 81% of the household contacts of the index patients and in 49% of the controls (p < 0.001). In all families there was at least one member infected. Parents (100%) and siblings (100%) were more likely to be infected than spouses (78%) and children (72%) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Clustering of Helicobacter pylori infection within household contacts suggests that a person-to-person spread of these microor- ganisms or a common source exposure. This fact might account for some therapeutic failures in patients living together with infected household contacts. Purpose: To assess the 11-year sero-conversion and sero-reversion rate in IgG antibodies to H. pylori in adults. Methods: In 1983, 3,589 Danes aged 30-60 years entered a population-based cohort study. After 11 years, 2,656 participants attended a follow-up examination. A total of 2,523 matching pairs of sera were eligible for this study. IgG antibodies against H. pylori were measured with an in-house ELISA assay. Cut-off points for seronegativity and seropositivity were set at < 100 ELISA units (Eu) and > 400 Eu, respectively. Participants who were IgG seronegative or IgG border-line at study entry and IgG seropositive at follow-up were regarded as sero-converters. All sero-converters had at least a four-fold increase in base-line IgG antibody levels between study entry and follow- up. Sero-reverters were those who were IgG seropositive at study entry and showed at least a four-fold decrease in IgG antibody levels at follow- up. Results: Seropositivity for IgG antibodies to H. pylori was seen in 24.7% [23.0-26.4] in 1983 and 24.5% [22.8-26.2] in 1994. A total of 36 participants sero-converted within the observation period. The cumulated 11-year sero-conversion rate (incidence of H. pylori infection) was 18.9 [12.8-25.0] per 1,000 persons at risk. Sero-reversion was seen in 42 (mi/f: 17/25) participants. The cumulated 11-year sero-reversion rate was 67.4 [47.7-87.1] per 1,000 persons at risk. Conclusions: The incidence of H. pylori infection in adults. H. pylori in and point to role of close person to person contact in the transmission of this agent. Purpose. Current studies suggest approximately 60-70% of H. pylori strains have the cagA gene. Molecular analysis has been undertaken on isolates from a limited number of countries and the frequency of cagA worldwide has not been systematically documented. The product of cagA is immunodominant and assay of serum IgG antibodies to CagA is a reliable indicator of infection with strains of the CagA phenotype. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of CagA seropositivity in a random sample selected from the general population of 13 different countries. Methods. subjects randomly previously identified H. pylori Sera these were further assayed laboratory for CagA IgG antibodies by ELISA using a purified recombinant fragment of CagA. Background: Maghrebis have a higher acquisition rate of HP during child- hood than Belgian natives of the same generation. Adult Maghrebis are more susceptible to develop duodenal ulcer than Belgians, but less intesti- nal metaplasia of gastric mucosa. Goal: to detect, through immunoblotting, a possible difference between the two populations, either in the contami- nating strain or the immune response. Method: the sera of


Since the beginning of numerical weather prediction (NWP), which was performed on O(700 km) grids, advances in computing technology have driven corresponding advances in model resolution. In recent years, operational NWP efforts have reached O(1 km) horizontal resolutions, leading to the use of large-eddy simulation (LES) to simulate the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). However, the available turbulence closure models for atmospheric LES were designed to model the smallest scales of atmospheric turbulence, leaving operational forecasters and researches in many diverse fields alike without a turbulence model fit for the computing power available to them. This range of resolutions is known as the "gray zone" or "terra incognita" in the atmospheric turbulence literature, and will be the focus of much discussion in this dissertation. Further, the results will be presented in a way that is visual and digestible to a user of LES whose expertise is not necessarily in theoretical turbulence.Here, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to give a thorough and visual demonstration of the inadequacies of the more popular LES turbulence closure models, the Smagorinsky-Lilly and TKE-1.5 models, at gray-zone resolutions, and an explanation of the behavior is offered. Two alternatives, both with multiple flavors, the dynamic reconstruction model (DRM) and an alternative-anisotropic formulation of the classical eddy-viscosity models, are presented as potential remedies to the gray-zone issue. Studies are conducted first for an idealized free-convection case with constant surface heat flux and zero mean wind. A more realistic initial profile with an initial wind and geostrophic forcing is then considered. Finally, three more cases are considered with various surface heat flux values and initial wind profiles. Both the DRM and alternative-anisotropic eddy-viscosity models are able to deliver much more consistent results at coarse resolutions when considering planar-averaged profiles of potential temperature and velocity, resolved velocity fields and resolved turbulent kinetic energy, and their performance inspires interesting topics of future work regarding the representation of scales of energy in the atmosphere. The implementation of the anisotropic eddy-viscosity model in general, as well as the anisotropic Smagorinsky-Lilly model specifically, in the WRF model is also considered, resulting in a change in the WRF turbulent diffusion routines and a demonstration of improvement seen at coarse resolutions by reformulating the anisotropic Smagorinsky-Lilly model to partition stress terms into horizontal and vertical components. An additional chapter presents the gray zone problem as it relates to complex terrain.


Introduction The claimant, Bring CityMail Sweden AB ("CityMail") brought a claim against the Swedish Post ("Posten"), arguing that the discounts offered by Posten to its clients had foreclosure…


Immediately following postemergence application, similar quantities of metribuzin [4-amino-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] were retained on the foliage of downy brome (Bromus tectorum L. # BROTE) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Three days following treatment, more metribuzin was present on the surface of the foliage of downy brome than of winter wheat and similar quantities of metribuzin had been absorbed into the interior of the foliage of both species. Fourteen days after treatment, metribuzin had disappeared from the surfaces of the foliage of both species but more metribuzin was present in the interior of the foliage of downy brome than of winter wheat. Results from petri dish studies in the field suggested that the amount of unaltered metribuzin available for absorption by leaves was influenced primarily by volatilization and secondarily by photodecomposition. In addition, small quantities of rainfall may have washed metribuzin from leaf surfaces. In 1984, yield of winter wheat was greater in metribuzin-treated plots than in nontreated check plots.


The author discusses, in the historiographical context, problems posed by the growing wave of research on the "history of Muslim subjectivity." Noting the paradoxical danger of the reorientalization of and the loss of historicity in Islamic studies, the author insists on the importance of the very designation of the emerging approach and suggests as a more correct term "history of Muslim subjectivities". Some aspects of the nowadays' interpretations of the interaction between the individual and the social and cultural in history, of the role of agency and subjecthood of historical actors are considered, as well as the correlation between persona studies and studies of the "techniques of the self." Proceeding from the approaches that presume the "return of the subject," the author emphasizes the expediency, for the studies of Muslim subjectivities, of microhistorical approaches, in particular, the "pragmatic turn" and the Russian version of microhistory with its characteristic attention to the individual and its complex vision of the historical context.


This paper argues that liberal states are wrong to forcibly separate through deportation the unauthorized immigrant parents of member children and that states must therefore regularize such unauthorized immigrants. While most arguments for regularization focus on how deportation wrongs the unauthorized immigrants themselves, I ground my argument in how deportation wrongs the state's members, namely the unauthorized immigrants' member children. Specifically, forced separation through deportation wrongs affected children by violating a basic right to sustain the intimate relationships with their parents on which they rely for their development into fully autonomous agents.


This article describes how post-World War Two (WWII) planning in major Australian cities was based on the United States model. The authors use Perth (Australia) as a case to describe how this model results in segregated zoning, low development densities and car dependence. Car dependence is in turn linked to dependence on fossil fuels for transport energy as well as detrimental public health consequences. The authors incorporate the concept of transportation sustainability to explain how conventional planning outcomes and preferential car use are increasingly considered to be unsustainable. They describe the use of new planning projects, such as Perth's "Liveable Neighbourhoods" (LN) and behavior change strategies, such as Travel Smart, and how they are being applied. These policy approaches are tailored to the Perth context although they share principles with other measures for reform, such as Smart Growth. The authors conclude by calling for research to support land use policy changes in cities such as Perth.


Background The World Health Organization's ''Coordinated Global Research Roadmap: 2019 Novel Coronavirus'' outlined the need for research that focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women and children. More than one year after the first reported case, significant knowledge gaps remain, highlighting the need for a coordinated approach. To address this need, the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Working Group (MNCH WG) of the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition conducted an international survey to identify global research priorities for COVID-19 in maternal, reproductive and child health. Method This project was undertaken using a modified Delphi method. An electronic questionnaire was disseminated to clinicians and researchers in three different languages (English, French and Spanish) via MNCH WG affiliated networks. Respondents were asked to select the five most urgent research priorities among a list of 17 identified by the MNCH WG. Analysis of questionnaire data was undertaken to identify key similarities and differences among respondents according to questionnaire language, location and specialty. Following elimination of the seven lowest ranking priorities, the questionnaire was recirculated to the original pool of respondents. Thematic analysis of final questionnaire data was undertaken by the MNCH WG from which four priority research themes emerged. Results Questionnaire 1 was completed by 225 respondents from 29 countries. Questionnaire 2 was returned by 49 respondents. The four priority research themes were 1) access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) the direct and 3) indirect effects of COVID-19 on pregnant and breastfeeding women and children and 4) the transmission of COVID-19 and protection from infection. Conclusion The results of these questionnaires indicated a high level of concordance among continents and specialties regarding priority research themes. This prioritized list of research uncertainties, developed to specifically highlight the most urgent clinical needs as perceived by healthcare professionals and researchers, could help funding organizations and researchers to answer the most pressing questions for clinicians and public health professionals during the pandemic. It is hoped that these identified priority research themes can help focus the discussion regarding the allocation of limited resources to enhance COVID-19 research in MNCH globally.


There are many models in the entire history of architecture which have travelled across the world, from one to another part of the big world. For various reasons, very frequently not at all scientific or professional, in our part of the world, be it Serbian or Yugoslav, or south Slav, some like to remain silent, when it comes to the transition of a Byzantine model, which by nature is rooted in the Orthodox Christian faith at the south east of Europe and the outmost west of Asia, to their areas, pervaded to a great extent by the Roman Catholic Christian belief, or Islam. There are numerous evidences of the transition of a model, one of many which found their new home on the west-European soil after the fall of Byzantium, mostly after the Crusades, when looters, but also scientists and artists in Italy, came by new wealth, and new knowledge, in the capital of the fallen Empire, observing its magnificent edifices, and taking its parts to their boats and shipping them to Venice and other cities in Italy and placing them on their buildings and squares, as they have done with the columns of the Augusteion of Constantinople, the square dedicated to Justinian's mother Augusta, which now decorate the square near the famous Venetian church of Saint Marco. Some other, also numerous accounts, explain how the Ottoman Turkish architecture in almost the same way, adopted its mosque construction model at the same place, in the same manner, retaining the actual structures but changing the religious insignia, or by copying this Byzantine model in building the new mosques.


Early stage cerebral aneurysms are characterized by the disruption of the internal elastic lamina. The cause of this breakdown is still not understood, but it has been conjectured to be due to fatigue failure and/or by a breakdown in homeostatic mechanisms in the wall arising from some aspect of the local hemodynamics and wall tension. We propose to model this disruption using a structural damage model. It is built on a previously introduced nonlinear, inelastic multi-mechanism model for cerebral arteries (2005, "An Inelastic Multi-Mechanism Constitutive Equation for Cerebral Arterial Tissue," Biomech. Model. Mechanobiol., 4(4), pp. 235-248), as well as a recent generalization to include the wall anisotropy (2009, "A Structural Multi-Mechanism Constitutive Equation for Cerebral Arterial Tissue," Int. J. Solids Struct., 46(14-15), pp. 2920-2928). The current model includes subfailure damage of the elastin, represented by changes in the tissue mechanical properties and unloaded reference length. A structural model is used to characterize the gradual degradation, failure of elastin, and recruitment of anisotropic collagen fibers. The collagen fibers are arranged in two helically oriented families with dispersion in their orientation. Available inelastic experimental data for cerebral arteries are used to evaluate the constitutive model. It is then implemented in a commercial finite element analysis package and validated using analytical solutions with representative values for cerebral arterial tissue.


the exact value of a cos 0. The strings are slightly moved to the exact •directions (the work of a few seconds only), the intersection noted, and " T h a t ' s him." As an instance of the sort of size to which asymptote-corrections commonly run, take the case a =350 (the unit of length is always 3376 m., the distance travelled by sound in O'Ol sec) , c = 100, r= 2000. a — c / / a — c \ Then 8 =0 '0070; and cl ^ 1 + —-r-̂ 1 ) , which can always be


Abstract 1151 Tranexamic acid (TA) and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) of lysine analogs have been clinically used as antifibrinolytic agents. These hemostatic mechanism is that TA/EACA bind to lysine-binding sites (LBS) of plasmin (Plm)/plasminogen (Plg) and competitively prevents Plm/Plg from binding to fibrin(ogen), resulting in inhibition of Plm-induced fibrin(ogen) degradation. TA/EACA cause a conformational change of (Glu-)Plg by LBS binding, however, resulting in paradoxical promotion of Plg activation by Plg activators (PA). It has been known in vitro that TA/EACA promote Plm generation simultaneously with inhibiting fibrinolysis, but clinical effects are poor understood. We have recently demonstrated that Plm possessed the procoagulant activity by catalytic proteolysis of factor (F)VIII, FV as well as FXII. In this study, we examined whether TA/EACA affected on the coagulation system through elevation of PA-induced Plm generation. In rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM), the addition of urokinase (uPA, 80 IU/ml) to whole blood diminished the maximum clot firmness, indicative of hyperfibrinolysis. Furthermore, chromogenic assay for Plm-hydrolytic activity and calibrated automated thrombography (CAT) revealed that the addition of uPA elevated Plm activity and peak level of thrombin generation, respectively, in normal plasma. These findings supported that uPA promoted Plm generation, resulting in enhancement of fibrinolysis and procoagulant activity. Various concentrations of TA/EACA were added into whole blood or plasma prior to reactions with uPA (Fig.1). Fibrinolytic effects of uPA obtained in ROTEM were inhibited by TA/EACA dose-dependently (IC50; TA/EACA ∼0.5 micro M/∼1.5 micro M), similar to previous reports. However, uPA (20 IU/ml) -induced Plm activity obtained in Plm-hydrolytic activity increased in the presence of TA/EACA by ∼6-fold (EC50; TA/EACA ∼0.2 mM/∼1.5 mM), followed by decreasing at higher concentrations. Interestingly, the effect of TA/EACA on uPA-induced procoagulant activity observed as elevation of peak thrombin in CAT was biphasic pattern, similar to that on Plm activity in Plm-hydrolytic activity, i.e. peak thrombin was elevated by ∼2-fold by TA/EACA (EC50; TA/EACA ∼0.3 mM/∼1.5 mM), and after reaching maximum (TA/EACA ∼1 mM/∼10 mM), it decreased. Effects of TA/EACA on Plm generation and thrombin generation were both diminished by aprotinin, a potent Plm inhibitor, indicating that the procoagulant effect interacted closely with Plm generation. Since α2-antiplasmin (AP) neutralizes Plm in plasma, excess of Plm unlikely exerts the procoagulant activity. Since AP binds to Plm via LBS, however, TA/EACA prevents AP from binding to Plm. We confirmed that TA/EACA protected Plm from AP binding (IC50; TA/EACA ∼1 mM/∼10 mM) in purified systems. Furthermore, in the presence of uPA in plasma, FV and FVIII activities were immediately elevated, followed by slow decrease. FVII activity increased gradually by ∼1.5-fold. TA/EACA did not inhibit the effects of uPA on the coagulation factors, but rather accelerated. Taken together, we demonstrated a novel hemostatic mechanism that TA/EACA exerted the procoagulant activity by LBS binding of Plg/Plm; i.e. 1) promoting uPA-induced Plm generation, 2) inhibiting Plm binding to fibrin(ogen) (increasing free Plm), 3) inhibiting neutralization of free Plm by AP, 4) conserving Plm action to several coagulation factors (FV, FVII, FVIII). This mechanism might provide a clarification of clinical effects of TA/EACA including why some severe hemophilia A patients were successfully treated with EACA alone (Ghosh et al. Haemophilia. 2004;10:58). Disclosures: Ogiwara:Baxter Hemophilia Scientific Research and Education Fund in Japan 2009: Research Funding. Nogami:Bayer hemophilia award program 2009: Research Funding.


Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) is an enabling technology for fracture diagnosis and multiphase flow measurement in unconventional areas. DTS data analysis includes the warm-back stage and production stage analysis. The warm-back stage analysis can provide the slurry flow and proppant allocation. The production stage analysis can be applied to flow profiling and fracture characterization. The objective of our DTS data analysis approach is to provide an integrated quantitative diagnosis of effectiveness of staged fracturing, and hydraulic and natural fractures with the full-physics model, which will benefit the fracturing operation design and decision-making process in the unconventional reservoir. In this work, we developed a comprehensive numerical forward model for DTS data analysis. Our model includes reservoir and wellbore models. Also, the flow and thermal models are fully coupled. A thermal embedded discrete fracture model (Thermal EDFM) is developed to handle the thermal modeling of complex fracture networks. The DTS analysis with our model provides a high-resolution solution since the fracture diagnosis and flow profiling are performed for each fracture. With this analysis, we obtain a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of the field hydraulic fracturing operation. Although numerous simulators are developed for DTS data analysis, relatively few existing models can handle the full-physics such as complex fracture geometry and multiphase flow. Our inverse model provides an improved DTS data match result. Our model is more rigorous than the prior models to simulate and match the field DTS data.


The most prevalent liver disease in humans is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, characterised by excessive hepatic fat accumulation, or steatosis. The western diet and a sedentary lifestyle are considered to be major influences, but chemical exposure may also play a role. Suspected environmental chemicals of concern include pesticides, plasticizers, metals, and perfluorinated compounds. Here we present a detailed literature analysis of chemicals that may (or may not) be implicated in lipid accumulation in the liver, to provide a basis for developing and optimizing human steatosis-relevant in vitro test methods. Independently collated and reviewed reference and proficiency chemicals are needed to assist in the test method development where an assay is intended to ultimately be taken forward for OECD Test Guideline development purposes. The selection criteria and considerations required for acceptance of proficiency chemical selection for OECD Test Guideline development. (i.e., structural diversity, range of activity including negatives, relevant chemical sectors, global restrictions, etc.) is described herein. Of 160 chemicals initially screened for inclusion, 36 were prioritized for detailed review. Based on the selection criteria and a weight-of-evidence basis, 18 chemicals (9 steatosis inducers, 9 negatives), including some environmental chemicals of concern, were ranked as high priority chemicals to assist in vitro human steatosis test method optimisation and proficiency testing, and inform potential subsequent test method (pre-)validation.


In this paper, a method is developed to evaluate the reliability of active RFID tags immersed in water. This situation exists in particular when infants wearing anti-rapt tag take bath. This study discusses the effects on the electromagnetic radiation of an emitting tag plunged into a water volume and then proposes a statistical method to predict the radio coverage of the immersed tag. Finally it demonstrates that the RFID technology is barely affected by this issue even though other RFID technologies do not support immersion.


We studied the interactions between electromagnetic fields (EMF), the Hydrogen isotope (H1) and the biophysical process that precedes the biochemical expression of the cell's energetic mechanisms. The hydrogen isotope, being the simplest atom, its manipulation is more technically feasible. In addition of its importance in metabolic energy driving reactions due to its reductive power, the hydrogen atom seems to be a necessary cofactor and driving force to induce, foster and/ or restore oxidative phosphorylation in the cancer cell. Normal cells require a higher level of energy to attain and sustain the order, communication and direction necessary for the maintenance of the differentiated state. When cellular aerobic energy mechanisms are damaged, the energy is not enough to sustain the complexity and specificity of differentiation and therefore it can only either die or transform to a simpler state (less differentiated) that requires less energy in order to survive. This is the genesis of the malignant state. The interaction of the H1 with the EMF produces a change in the permittivity of the mitochondrial membrane that favors the release of energy allowing for the oxidative phosphorylation to proceed. We propose that this interaction of the EMF and the H1 can be manipulated in such a way that it would be capable of clearing interferences of fields that may favor transformation to the malignant state.


Treatment of PtCl(CNR)(acac) (R = p-tolyl; acac = acetylacetonate) with p-toluidine gives the carbene compound PtCl{C(NHR)2}(acac). Reaction of this complex with a silver salt, followed by treatment with a neutral ligand L, gave ortho-metallated species [Pt{C(NHC6H4CH3)(NHC6H3CH3)}L2]+ which have been isolated as crystalline salts. The molecular structure of the ClO4− salt with L2 = bisdiphenylphosphinoethane has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystals are monoclinic, space group P21/n, with four formula units in a cell of dimensions a = 20.370(3), b = 18.116(3), c = 10.770(2) Ǻ, and β = 99.47(6)°. Full matrix least-squares refinement on F using 3252 observations gave a conventional agreement factor R. = 0.047. While the formation of these ortho-metallated carbene complexes restricts the further extension of this chemistry, the ready reversal by acid treatment is unusual.


ABSTRACT Cities have long been subject to urban containment policies against urban sprawl. Climate change concerns have recently added to the imperative to densify urban space. Urban compaction is often pursued through the creation of 'exemplar' urban developments that superficially implement 'best practice' ideas from elsewhere. In this paper, we abandon the notion of 'best practice' in favour of context-sensitive 'good practices'. Taking London's King's Cross redevelopment as a case study, this paper draws on qualitative methods to examine the contribution of context and path-dependency, as a product of local and non-local forces, to the emergence of King´s Cross as 'good practice'.


Pulp mill modifications implemented by kraft mills for the purposes of controlling air emissions, such as the installation of indirect secondary condensers installed in blow heat handling systems, may result in altered characteristics of wastewater treatment plant influents. This study examines the impacts on biological treatment processes associated with the presence of blow heat condensates in the influent stream. In addition, the effectiveness of pretreatment of the condensate stream with hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of the ferric ion, is examined under controlled conditions through the use of bench-scale bioreactors. The study results indicate that the presence of blow heat condensates may adversely impact the mixed liquor settleability properties in the activated sludge process, although subsequent trials conducted to re-create this condition were not successful. Effluent soluble BOD5 was not affected by the presence of the condensates. Ferric/peroxide pretreatment was found not to be effective at destroying either the methanol or the turpentine present in the condensate stream. However, a significant improvement in Microtox biological response was observed, presumably due to a reaction between the ferric ion and reduced sulfur compounds. Furthermore, no adverse impacts on settleability were observed in a bio-reactor receiving condensates which were pretreated with ferric/ieroxide.


ABSTRACT Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with the human malignancy Kaposi's sarcoma and the lymphoproliferative disorders primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease. KSHV establishes lytic infection of monocytes in vivo, which may represent an important cellular reservoir during KS disease progression. KS tumors consist of latently infected endothelial cells; however, lytic phase gene products are important for KS onset. Early KS lesion progression is driven by proinflammatory cytokines supplied by immune cell infiltrates including T cells and monocytes. KSHV-infected monocytes may supply the lytic viral products and the inflammatory milieu conducive to KS tumor progression. To establish successful infection, KSHV extensively modulates the host immune system. KSHV antigens activate both innate and adaptive immune responses including KSHV-specific T cells, but lifelong infection is still established. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a prosurvival cell surface protein that suppresses T-cell-mediated killing. PD-L1 is variably present on various tumor cells and is a targetable marker for cancer treatment. We show that KSHV infection of human monocytes increases PD-L1 expression and transcription in a dose-dependent manner. We also saw evidence of lytic gene expression in the KSHV-infected monocytes. Intact KSHV is needed for full PD-L1 response in human monocytes. KSHV induces a general proinflammatory cytokine milieu including interleukins 1α, 1β, and 6, which have been implicated in early KS lesion progression. KSHV-mediated PD-L1 increase may represent a novel mechanism of KSHV-mediated immune modulation to allow for virus survival and eventually malignant progression. IMPORTANCE KSHV is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma and the lymphoproliferative disorders primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immunosuppressive cell surface marker that inhibits T cell activation. We report that KSHV infection of primary human monocytes upregulates PD-L1 transcription and protein expression. Analysis of the cytokine and chemokine milieu following KSHV infection of monocytes revealed that KSHV induces interleukins 1α, 1β, and 6, all of which have been implicated in KS development. Our work has identified another potential immune evasion strategy for KSHV and a potential target for immunotherapy of KSHV-derived disease. KSHV is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma and the lymphoproliferative disorders primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immunosuppressive cell surface marker that inhibits T cell activation. We report that KSHV infection of primary human monocytes upregulates PD-L1 transcription and protein expression. Analysis of the cytokine and chemokine milieu following KSHV infection of monocytes revealed that KSHV induces interleukins 1α, 1β, and 6, all of which have been implicated in KS development. Our work has identified another potential immune evasion strategy for KSHV and a potential target for immunotherapy of KSHV-derived disease.


Abstract The use of computed tomography (CT) has increased dramatically over the past several decades and has resulted in a concurrent increase in medical exposure to ionizing radiation. Several recent studies have examined the link between medical radiation and the risk of cancer, especially in children. The cancer risk associated medical exposure has not been definitively confirmed. However, we have to reduce unwarranted medical radiation exposure in pediatric patients. Justification and optimization are of great importance in order to minimize these risks, and the standardization of CT usage is essential. However, in Japan no clinical guidelines for the use of CT have been commonly agreed upon, especially in children. Furthermore, the CT-associated radiation exposure in Japan varies widely among the different facilities. Further studies based on a nationwide survey in Japan will be required in order to establish simple and useful clinical guidelines.


In the standard Corner Point Grid approach, a fault zone is supposed to be sufficiently thin to be represented as a surface with non-matching interfaces, due to the throw, across the fault. Following this point of view, we study an approach where fluid flow along the fault is modelized by a lower dimensionnal model, the fault thickness becoming a model parameter.A fault zone is represented by two sets of faces, corresponding to the fault surface, each set being conforme with its neighbouring matrix grid-blocks. Fault zone properties are assigned to each face. Finite Volume Discretization of fluid flow equations leads to an additional mass balance equations in each fault face, with three types of fluxes. The first one represents mass exchange between fault faces along each set. The second one is between neighbouring non-conforme fault faces across the fault and finally, the last one, is between fault faces and their neighbouring matrix grid-blocs. In this paper, we mainly focus on how to handle the non-matching grids and therefore consider only one-phase fluid flow. However, the extension of this approach to complex multiphase flow is straightforward as it enters into the Finite Volume framework.