The Natural Resources Authority of Jordan (NRA), the USGS and LLNL have a collaborative project to improve the calibration of seismic propagation in Jordan and surrounding regions. This project serves common goals of CTBT calibration and earthquake hazard assessment in the region. These objectives include accurate location of local and regional earthquakes, calibration of magnitude scales, and the development of local and regional propagation models. In the CTBT context, better propagation models and more accurately located events in the Dead Sea rift region can serve as (potentially GT5) calibration events for generating IMS location corrections. The detection and collection of mining explosions underpins discrimination research. The principal activity of this project is the deployment of two broadband stations at Hittiyah (south Jordan) and Ruweishid (east Jordan). These stations provide additional paths in the region to constrain structure with surface wave and body wave tomography. The Ruweishid station is favorably placed to provide constraints on Arabian platform structure. Waveform modeling with long-period observations of larger earthquakes will provide constraints on 1-D velocity models of the crust and upper mantle. Data from these stations combined with phase observations from the 26 short-period stations of the Jordan National Seismic Network (JNSN) may allow the construction of a more detailed velocity model of Jordan. The Hittiyah station is an excellent source of ground truth information for the six phosphate mines of southern Jordan and Israel. Observations of mining explosions collected by this station have numerous uses: for definition of templates for screening mining explosions, as ground truth events for calibrating travel-time models, and as explosion populations in development and testing discriminants. Following previously established procedures for identifying explosions, we have identified more than 200 explosions from the first 85 days of recording. In addition, Hittiyah is being calibrated for coda magnitude estimation and is placed favorably to estimate mechanism and magnitude for earthquakes along the Dead Sea Rift and the Gulf of Aqaba.


Introduction: The burden of metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is rising mirrored by an increase in hepatocellular cancer (HCC). MAFLD and its sequelae are characterized by perturbations in lipid handling, inflammation, and mitochondrial damage. The profile of circulating lipid and small molecule metabolites with the development of HCC is poorly characterized in MAFLD and could be used in future studies as a biomarker for HCC. Methods: We assessed the profile of 273 lipid and small molecule metabolites by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry in serum from patients with MAFLD (n = 113) and MAFLD-associated HCC (n = 144) from six different centers. Regression models were used to identify a predictive model of HCC. Results: Twenty lipid species and one metabolite, reflecting changes in mitochondrial function and sphingolipid metabolism, were associated with the presence of cancer on a background of MAFLD with high accuracy (AUC 0.789, 95% CI: 0.721–0.858), which was enhanced with the addition of cirrhosis to the model (AUC 0.855, 95% CI: 0.793–0.917). In particular, the presence of these metabolites was associated with cirrhosis in the MAFLD subgroup (p < 0.001). When considering the HCC cohort alone, the metabolic signature was an independent predictor of overall survival (HR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.09–1.83, p < 0.01). Conclusion: These exploratory findings reveal a metabolic signature in serum which is capable of accurately detecting the presence of HCC on a background of MAFLD. This unique serum signature will be taken forward for further investigation of diagnostic performance as biomarker of early stage HCC in patients with MAFLD in the future.


Abstract: The estimation of Environmental Sensibility to desertification at regional scale requires the setting up of elaboration and updating methodologies capable of handling considerable amounts of data in an integrated approach. This would allow evaluating the different stages of environmental degradation as well as the existing interactions among the singular components of the territory. The present paper proposes a methodology for evaluating Environmental Sensibility of the Basilicata Region that foresees the integration of alphanumeric and cartography data with remote sensed images, using Geographic Information Systems. This approach does not only guarantee easy management of the collected data, continuous updating and rapid interpretation but it also offers the possibility to analyse the factors causing the phenomena in progress.


Activities of the nuclear physics group are described. Progress was made in organizing the Gammasphere Software Working Group, establishing a nuclear computing facility, participating in software development at Lawrence Berkeley, developing a common data file format, and adapting the ORNL UPAK software to run at Gammasphere. A universal histogram object was developed that defines a file format and provides for an objective-oriented programming model. An automated liquid nitrogen fill system was developed for Gammasphere (110 Ge detectors comprise the sphere).


Study of prolactin secretion in patients with congenital adrenal cortex dysfunction demonstrated that the majority of untreated patients displayed elevated blood prolactin content. Blood prolactin level fell after treatment with glucocorticosteroids. Blood prolactin level was elevated, irrespective of normal or increased 24-hour 17-CS excretion in patients with congenital adrenal gland dysfunction treated with glucocorticosteroids and with persistent disturbances of ovarian function.


In this paper, we propose a fast registration scheme for remote-sensing images for use as a fundamental technique in large-scale online remote-sensing data processing tasks. First, we introduce priori-information images, and use machine learning techniques to identify robust remote-sensing image features from state-of-the-art ScaleInvariant Feature Transform (SIFT) features. Next, we apply a hierarchical coarse-to-fine feature matching and image registration scheme on the basis of additional priori information, including a robust feature location map and platform imaging parameters. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed scheme increases position repetitiveness by 34%, and can speed up the overall image registration procedure by a factor of 7:47 while maintaining the accuracy of the image registration performance.


The Juba and Shabelle Rivers are the only perennial and transboundary rivers in Somalia but twothirds of the river basins are located outside Somalia, mostly in Ethiopia, with a part of the Juba basin in Kenya. The two rivers originate from the Bale mountain ranges at an altitude of about 4230 m in the Ethiopian highlands flowing towards the Indian Ocean crossing the border between Ethiopia and Somalia. The study area was delineated using a 30 m resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model. To fulfill the research objectives, the rainfall and daily runoff data were collected from the FAO SWALIM project office and database, the LocClim v.1.10 database and the TRMM satellite product. The daily runoff data was stored and analyzed using the HECDSSVue 2.0.1 system for the basic statistical analysis and a correlation testing of TRMM data and measured rainfall data. The areal rainfall was calculated using the Thiessen polygon method with the ArcGIS software and the actual evaporation was determined using the water balance method. The Juba and Shabelle Rivers have two peak flows during the Deyr and Gu flood seasons. The Shabelle River flow is decreased at the downstream runoff stations during the two peak flow seasons but there is only a very small flow reduction in the Juba River. The annual daily peak flows were observed for the Juba River at the Luuq runoff station and for the Shabelle River at the Belet Weyne runoff station, but during the Hagaa and Jilaal seasons the daily flow for the two rivers are very low and even close to zero. The actual evapotranspiration was determined as a remaining part of the water balance equation and it is mainly depended on the rainfall in each sub basin.


Objectives: To determine whether parkinsonian symptoms in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are associated with greater atrophy of the caudate nucleus in comparison with patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Methods: T1weighted MR scans were acquired in elderly patients with DLB, AD, VaD, and healthy controls. Normalised volumetric measurements of the caudate nucleus were obtained and parkinsonian symptoms rated using Hoehn and Yahr staging. Results: There were no significant differences in the volume of the caudate nucleus between patients with dementia. However, the left caudate volume was significantly reduced in AD and DLB compared with controls. Parkinsonian symptoms did not correlate with caudate nucleus volume. Conclusions: Parkinsonian symptoms in DLB may be more closely coupled to neurochemical rather than structural changes in the caudate nucleus, and volumetric MRI analysis of caudate nucleus does not discriminate between patients with DLB, AD, and VaD.


Atrial fibrillation (AF) confers a substantial risk of stroke and thromboembolism, which is effectively reduced by oral anticoagulation (OAC), whether as a vitamin K antagonist (VKA, eg, warfarin) or one of non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs). With the use of OACs, the risk of bleeding remains a problem associated with these agents. Thus, a clinical dilemma remains in the optimal management of patients with AF who are at high risk of stroke but have a history of bleeding.

Among patients with non-valvular AF, over 90% of the thrombus is formed in the left atrial appendage (LAA).1 Thus, the exclusion of LAA could greatly decrease the risk of stroke in patients with AF, given that blood stasis in a fibrillating LAA is likely to lead to thrombus formation. Interventional devices to occlude the LAA are not 'new' and various LAA closure devices have been available for years. More recently, the Watchman (Atritech) and Amplatzer Cardiac Plug (ACP) device (St Jude Medical) are the more widely used ones in clinical practice.

The PROTECT AF …


Although over 100 catalysts have been reported to catalyze the asymmetric addition of alkyl groups to aldehydes, these catalysts fail to promote additions to ketones with >90% enantioselectivity. This paper describes the asymmetric 1,2-addition of alkyl groups to conjugated cyclic enones to give allylic alcohols with chiral quaternary centers. The resultant allylic alcohols are converted into epoxy alcohols with excellent diastereoselectivities. Treatment of the epoxy alcohols with BF3.OEt2 induces a semipinacol rearrangement to provide alpha,alpha-dialkyl-beta-hydroxy ketones with all-carbon chiral quaternary centers. We also report a one-pot procedure for the asymmetric addition/diastereoselective epoxidation reaction. Simply exposing the reaction mixture to dioxygen after the asymmetric addition reaction is complete results in epoxidation of the allylic alcohol with high diastereoselectivity.


E-commerce is an emerging industry. It has brought new opportunities for global economic development. The update of e-commerce technology and the improvement of e-commerce profit models promote the profitability of e-commerce enterprises. Nowadays too much emphasis was placed on theoretical teaching in the e-commerce courses. The courses lack case analysis for learners to better understand the actual situation of e-commerce. This study analyzed the profit model of existing e-commerce companies, and used case analysis methods to find the profit dilemma and effective breakthrough methods for the profitability of two typical B2C e-commerce companies. With disassembling specific e-commerce cases, this study completed the conversion of e-commerce courses from theoretical teaching to case teaching.


In October 2014, the Architectural Institute of Japan established and published the Recommendation for Mix Design, Production and Construction Practice of Concrete with Recycled Concrete Aggregate. This Recommendation specifies the inspection methods for the reinforced concrete buildings that are the raw material source for recycled aggregate, the recommended recycled aggregate production methods and quality control methods, the types of recycled concrete aggregate whose use is recommended according to which part of the building and which member, as well as the recommended mix design methods, production methods, transportation methods, construction methods, and quality control methods for concrete with recycled aggregate. Further, the Appendix provides a list of all the recycled aggregates and concretes with recycled aggregate that have earned JIS certifications or ministerial certification thus far, and an overview of typical cases of the application of these aggregates and concretes to buildings.年10月,日本建築学会は「再生骨材を用いるコンクリートの設計・製造・施工指針(案)」を制定・出版した。同指針には,再生骨材の原料起源である鉄筋コンクリート造建築物の調査方法や再生骨材の製造方法・品質管理方法のあるべき姿が示されるとともに,建築物の部位・部材の条件に応じて利用が推奨される再生骨材コンクリートの種類が示されており,その調合方法,製造方法,運搬方法,施工方法,品質管理方法などが規定されている。また,付録には,これまでにJIS認証および大臣認定を取得した再生骨材および再生骨材コンクリートのリストが掲載され,それらの建築物への代表的な適用事例が概説されている。


Based on magnitude, virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses can be grouped as immunodominant and subdominant. Such immunodominance hierarchies are governed by multiple factors, including naïve T cell precursor frequency, proliferative capacity and clonotypic diversity of Ag-specific CTLs. However, how these factors determine together inter/intra-individual immunodominance remains elusive. In this study, we dissected CTL immunodominance hierarchy for universally conserved influenza (IAV)-specific epitopes. Our data from 59 donors covering the HLAI types presenting universally conserved IAV-specific peptides, HLA-A* 0201, A*0301, B*2705, B*5701, B*1801 and B*0801, revealed that CTLs directed against HLA-A* 0201:M158 were immunodominant, except in A*0201+B*2705+ heterozygous individuals, where the HLA-B* 2705-NP383 recalls higher magnitude CTL responses. Subsequently, we further dissected the basis of B*2705 immundomination over A*0201 by analyses of T cell Receptor (TCRαβ) repertoire, TCR avidity and kinetics of killing and proliferation. Our data show that following in vitro peptide stimulation, B*2705:NP383 CTLs proliferate rapidly acquiring higher levels of polyfunctionality than A*02:M158 specific CTLs. Furthermore, ex vivo single-cell paired CDR3αβ analysis revealed that public A*0201:M158 TCRs characterized by Vβ19/Vα27 profiles in A*0201 individuals are significantly reduced/absent in A*0201+B*2705+ individuals. Clonal analysis of M158 dominant public TCRs suggested B*2705-mediated removal of self-reactive TCRs and is under investigation. Our study provides insights into the importance of human IAV-specific immunodominance at quantitative and qualitative levels.


By employing a double-pass absorption design and pressure clamping technique, a diode end-pumped continuous-wave Yb:Y 2 O 3 ceramic disc laser at room temperature has been developed. An optimum output power of 10.5 W near 1078 nm was obtained at a pump power of 35 W. The laser threshold was 7 W and the corresponding slope-efficiency was 37.5%. The red-shift phenomena under different pump power levels and output couplings have been investigated. The still evolving Yb:Y 2 O 3 ceramic is a super-excellent media for high brightness laser applications.


believed the study was 'biased' or 'underpowered', these are quite different conclusions. Dr Al-Shaikh and Dr Van Zundert are perhaps being unhelpful in implying this. For the record, we compared a total of 38 measures of device performance using the two devices. Of these 38 performance tests, 35 numerically favoured the LMA-Unique and 20 were significant at p < 0.05. Many differences were large even when not reaching statistical significance. Of the remaining three tests, two showed equal performance. Seal pressure alone favoured the Softseal. In our view, seal pressure is a potentially misleading outcome measure unless it is measured in the presence of a patent airway. A device may produce a high seal pressure but be of little value because of the unreliability of airway patency. Indeed, it is entirely plausible that seal pressure increases when a device is poorly positioned and this was a problem we observed with the Softseal. Amongst the 20 measures we found that were both statistically significant and, in our view, clinically relevant were overall failure rate, attempts at insertion, manipulations required during insertion, complications during insertion, complications during maintenance, complications during recovery, tests of airway positioning, and efficacy of ventilation. Drs Al-Shaikh and Van Zundert may conclude from their interpretation of our methods and results that the paper was biased against the Softseal. However, we would invite other readers to read the paper, and this correspondence, and draw their own conclusions. Finally it remains notable that the performance of both devices falls some way short of that reported with the (reusable) classic LMA. There is to date no study reported on any singleuse laryngeal mask airway in which such a device achieves the same performance as the classic: further food for thought and debate.


This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of the Malay language learning tool called PETAH to improve its communication skills. Learning aids are among the important elements to improve one's language skills, especially for second or foreign speakers. Past studies conducted by researchers like Fa'izah et.al (2010), Khuzaiton (2012) and others have proven that there are issues of communication among speakers of languages other than English in the non-Malays in Malaysia. Based on these issues, the main objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of the use of PETAH learning aids on improving the communication skills of students who use it. This study uses a quantitative research method that uses a questionnaire containing 25 items aimed at the effectiveness of the use of PETAH learning aids. This questionnaire instrument was used to get feedback from respondents after they used PETAH learning aids. Data from the questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS version 21. The results showed that the majority of respondents (mean values ranging from 3.35 to 4.71) agree that PETAH learning tools have improved their effectiveness in communication Malay language, especially if used continuously. In conclusion, a learning tool PETAH has a good impact on the improvement of communication skills of Malay language among non-Malays speakers in Malaysia.


The construction and analysis of deformations of quantum field theories by warped convolutions is extended to a class of globally hyperbolic spacetimes. First, we show that any four-dimensional spacetime which admits two commuting and spacelike Killing vector fields carries a family of wedge regions with causal properties analogous to the Minkowski space wedges. Deformations of quantum field theories on these spacetimes are carried out within the operator-algebraic framework - the emerging models share many structural properties with deformations of field theories on flat spacetime. In particular, deformed quantum fields are localized in the wedges of the considered spacetime. As a concrete example, the deformation of the free Dirac field is studied. Second, quantum field theories on de Sitter spacetime with global U(1) gauge symmetry are deformed using the joint action of the internal symmetry group and a one-parameter group of boosts. The resulting theories turn out to be wedge-local and non-isomorphic to the initial one for a class of theories, including the free charged Dirac field. The properties of deformed models coming from inclusions of CAR-algebras are studied in detail. Third, the deformation of the scalar free field in the Araki-Wood representation on Minkowski spacetime is discussed as a motivating example.


The uplink coverage and capacity of CDMA cellular systems are intracell and intercell interference limited. In this work, we propose a practical multihop based cellular network design to enhance the uplink performance. The proposed design is based on dividing each cell into two regions where users belonging to an inner region communicate with the base station (BS) using one hop and users belonging to an outer region communicate with the BS using two hops. Each of the two regions is allocated a separate frequency channel to enable practical implementation and reduce interference. Analytic results show that intercell interference in CDMA cellular systems can be reduced by more than 75%. Moreover, a link budget analysis is performed to obtain coverage-capacity results with different receiver structures at the BS. Results show that with the single user detector (SUD) receiver, gains up to 100% in area coverage are achieved with moderate to low user loads. Furthermore, deploying multiuser detection to combat intracell interference, the proposed multihop based design achieves very high gains exceeding 100% in pole capacity and 300% in area coverage per cell.


List of Maps. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. How much Water is used for Producing our Goods and Services?. 3. Virtual-Water Flows between Nations as a Result of Trade in Agricultural and Industrial Products. 4. Water Saving through International Trade in Agricultural Products. 5. The Water Footprints of Nations. 6. The Water Footprints of Morocco and the Netherlands. 7. Virtual- versus Real-Water Transfers within China. 8. The Water Footprint of Coffee and Tea Consumption. 9. The Water Footprint of Cotton Consumption. 10. Water as a Geopolitical Resource. 11. Efficient, Sustainable, and Equitable Water Use in a Globalized world. Appendix I. Analytical Framework for the Assessment of Virtual-Water content, Virtual-Water Flows, Water Savings, Water Footprints, and Water Dependencies. Appendix II. Virtual-Water Flows per Country Related to International Trade in Crop, Livestock, and Industrial Products. Appendix III. National Water Savings and Losses due to Trade in Agricultural Products. Appendix IV. Water Footprints of Nations. Appendix V. Water Footprint versus Water Scarcity, Self-Sufficiency, and Water Import Dependency per Country. Glossary. References. Index


We investigated the effects of specific inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) on the inhibitory activity of phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 4 inhibitors and of the cell permeable analogue of cAMP, db-cAMP on LPS-induced TNF-α release from human mononuclear cells. Incubation from 30 min of mononuclear cells with dbcAMP (10−5 to 10−3 M), rolipram (10−9 M to 10−5 M) or Ro 20-1724 (10−9 M to 10−5 M) significantly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α release. When mononuclear cells were preincubated for 30 min with the selective PKA inhibitor, H89 (10−4 M), but not with the selective PKG inhibitor, Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPs (10−4 M), a significant reduction of the inhibitory effect of db-cAMP was noted. Thirty min incubation of mononuclear cells with Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPs induced a significant reduction of the inhibitory activities of both rolipram and Ro 20-1724 (10−9 to 10−5 M) on LPS-induced TNF-α release, whereas H89 elicited a moderate, but significant inhibition. The present data indicate that db-cAMP inhibits TNF-α release from human mononuclear cells through a PKA-dependent mechanism. In contrast, PDE 4 inhibitors elicit their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities via a PKG-dependent rather than PKA-dependent activation.


Knafo and Teschke's 2020 article, 'Political Marxism and the Rules of Reproduction of Capitalism: A Historicist Critique', is an important contribution to the debate between structuralist and historicist interpretations of Marxism. As such, it presents important implications for how Marxism is presented in broader academic debates. My aim is to highlight the contribution of its radical historicism and its methodological emphasis on agency for questioning Eurocentric macro-narratives, through an engagement with the ways in which Marxism (and the problem of Eurocentric structuralism) is presented in Post- and Decolonial traditions. I end by drawing briefly upon examples from my previous work on Brazilian state-formation and development.


Investments in sustainable energy are essential in view of economic and population growth, climate change as well as energy security, but face specific risks and inconclusive financial attractiveness. It is generally acknowledged that the current(ly foreseen) level of funding is too low compared to the required investments. At the request of Duisenberg school of finance, this report highlights leading literature and empirical findings on 'financing of the transition to sustainable energy', amongst others addressing the business case for sustainable energy investments, the underlying reasons for the current low level of funding and ways to improve this.


Filtration of haemolymph in insects to remove waste products is performed by nephrocytes, which comprise accessory cells of the circulatory system that are not connected to Malpighian tubules. There are two types of nephrocytes in Drosophila: ventral cells, situated around the junction between the cardia and the oesophagus, and pericardial cells, situated around the heart. In the present study, the expression of dopamine D1 (DopR) and D2‐like (DD2R) receptors in the ventral nephrocytes of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is investigated. Immunohistochemical staining with polyclonal antibodies against DopR and DD2R demonstrates the presence of these receptors in adult nephrocytes. The functioning of D. melanogaster nephrocytes is investigated by evaluation of mortality rates in flies treated with silver nitrate (AgNO3) compared with untreated controls. To determine whether a change in the level of dopamine receptors has an effect on the functioning of nephrocytes, the antisense suppressor of DD2R gene together with a nephrocyte‐specific driver is used in the UAS‐GAL4 system. The suppression of DD2R in nephrocytes results in a significant decrease of mortality under toxic conditions. Taken together, the data obtained in the present study indicate that dopamine takes part in the control of ventral nephrocyte functioning in D. melanogaster.


Background Problems associated with hallux valgus deformity correction using Kirschner-wire (K-wire) fixation include pin pullout and loss of stability. These complications are pronounced in the osteopenic bone, and few reports have focused on pin versus screw fixation. We examined the use of additional screw fixation to avoid these problems. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of K-wire fixation (KW) and a combined K-wire and screw fixation (KWS). Methods Two groups with hallux valgus deformity, who were treated with a proximal chevron metatarsal osteotomy (PCMO), were compared based on the fixation method used. The KW group included 117 feet of 98 patients, and the KWS group included 56 feet of 40 patients. Clinically, the preoperative and final follow-up visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux score, and patient satisfaction score were evaluated. Radiographically, hallux valgus angle (HVA) and intermetatarsal angle (IMA) were measured. Results The mean VAS score decreased from 6.3 preoperatively to 1.6 postoperatively in the KW group and from 5.7 preoperatively to 0.5 postoperatively in the KWS group (p < 0.001). The mean AOFAS scores of the KW and KWS groups improved from 59.4 and 58.2, respectively, to 88.9 and 95.3, respectively (p < 0.001). Eighty-five percent in the KW group and 93% in the KWS group were satisfied with surgery. Clinical differences were not significant. The mean HVAs decreased from 34.7° to 9.1° in the KW group and from 38.5° to 9.2° in the KWS group (p < 0.001). The mean IMA decreased from 14.5° (range, 11.8°–17.2°) to 6.4° (range, 2.7°–10.1°) in the KW group and from 18.0° (range, 14.8°–21.2°) to 5.3° (range, 2.5°–8.1°) in the KWS group (p < 0.001). When IMA values at the 3-month postoperative and the final follow-up were compared, the IMA was significantly increased only in the KW group (p < 0.001) and no difference was found in the KWS group (p = 0.280). Conclusions We found a statistically significant difference in the decrease in IMA between the 2 groups. We recommend the combined pin and screw fixation in PCMO to enhance fixation stability and prevent potential hallux valgus correction loss.


Activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) promotes the intracellular assembly of protein complexes formed through phosphotyrosine-SH2 domain linkages. These interactions are weak and reversible, and the dephosphorylation of uncomplexed phosphorylated proteins can be rapid enough to reduce the time and length scales of protein complex persistence distal from the receptor. This limitation may be overcome by cytosolic kinases that rephosphorylate constituent complex proteins as they diffuse. To develop quantitative understanding of the spatiotemporal regulation of these processes, we generated a reaction-diffusion model describing how membrane-bound epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activates the SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 by assembling SHP2 complexes with the adaptor GRB2-associated binder 1 (GAB1). Src family kinases (SFKs) were included as a diffusible EGFR-activated intermediary kinase for GAB1. Contrary to the textbook picture of EGFR-mediated SHP2 activation, the model predicts that GAB1-SHP2 complexes can remain intact distal from membrane-retained EGFR at ∼80% of their plasma membrane concentration over the entire intracellular length scale. Parameter sensitivity analysis identified SFK inactivation as one of the most important kinetic processes controlling GAB1-SHP2 spatial persistence, revealing the key role of repeated adaptor phosphorylation in maintaining SHP2 activity. A simple order of magnitude analysis of the controlling rate processes supports the predictions of the coupled differential equation model. Furthermore, proximity ligation assays and immunofluorescence microscopy in carcinoma cells demonstrate that GAB1-SHP2 complexes are increasingly cytoplasmic and distal from EGFR as time proceeds after acute EGFR activation, consistent with model predictions. These results provide quantitative insight into a mechanism that may be alternately tuned for different receptors and downstream effector complexes to enable receptor control of signaling at a distance. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The textbook understanding of receptor-mediated signaling involves the assembly of protein complexes at the receptor cytosolic tail and complex movement within the cell by protein trafficking. However, reaction-diffusion processes can also play an important role in distributing signaling proteins throughout the cell, potentially quite distal from signal-initiating receptors. Indeed, receptors can activate cytosolic kinases that may maintain the phosphorylation-dependent complexation of downstream effector complexes through many rounds of complex dissociation and protein dephosphorylation. Here, we develop quantitative understanding of this mode of signal regulation through development of a mechanistic computational model and demonstrate, with experimental validation, that membrane-bound receptors can regulate signaling through downstream effector complexes over the entire intracellular length scale.


Since a large number of vision applications rely on the mapping between 3D scenes and their corresponding 2D camera images, an important practical consideration for researchers is, what are the major determinants of camera calibration accuracy and what accuracy can be achieved within the practical limits of their environments. In response, we present a thorough study investigating the effects of training data quantity, measurement error, pixel coordinate noise, and the choice of camera model, on camera calibration results. Through this effort, we seek to determine whether expensive, elaborate setups are necessary, or indeed, beneficial, to camera calibration, and whether a high complexity camera model leads to improved accuracy. The results are first provided for a simulated camera system and then verified through carefully controlled experiments using real-world measurements


Bilevel programming techniques are developed for decentralized decision problems with decision makers located in two levels. Both upper and lower decision makers, termed as leader and follower, try to optimize their own objectives in solution procedure but are affected by those of the other levels. When a bilevel decision model is built with fuzzy coefficients and the leader and/or follower have goals for their objectives, we call it fuzzy goal bilevel (FGBL) decision problem. This paper first proposes a λ-cut set based FGBL model. A programmable λ-cut approximate algorithm is then presented in detail. Based on this algorithm, a FGBL software system is developed to reach solutions for FGBL decision problems. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the application of the proposed algorithm.


ABSTRACT Departing from the intention to explore Frank Gehry's drawings serving to their own designer to grasp ideas during the process of their genesis, the article examines Frank Gehry's concern about the revelation of the first gestural drawings and all the sketches and working models concerning the evolution of his projects, and his intention to capture the successive transformation and progressive concretisation of architectural concepts. The article also compares Gehry's design process with that of Enric Miralles, Alvar Aalto, Bernard Tschumi, and Le Corbusier. It sheds light on Miralles, Aalto, Le Corbusier and Gehry's interest in a holistic understanding of all the parts of an architectural project, which is expressed through their tendency to draw the different sketches concerning the same project on the same sheet of paper. At the core of Gehry's design approach is the osmosis of function and morphology. This aspect of his design vision could be compared to Alvar Aalto's design process. At the core of the article are the distinction between communication drawings and conceptual drawings, and Gehry's concern about achieving an osmosis between function and morphology. The article also investigates Gehry's use of uninterrupted self-twisting line in his sketches, exploring his intention to enhance a straightforward relationship between the gesture and the decision-making regarding the form of the building.


Existing research shows that loyalty is a function of customer perceptions of trust following service recovery. The authors propose a cognitive appraisal model that portrays trust and emotions as key mediators in the relationship between perceived justice and customer loyalty. A structural equation model was used to test the conceptual model. The findings support the conjecture that emotions and trust have important mediating roles during the service recovery process. Furthermore, while existing research has focused primarily on negative emotion, the authors' model adopts a two-dimensional view of emotion (positive and negative emotions), and the results support the inclusion of both dimensions. Overall, the empirical support for the proposed model has important managerial implications for effective relationship management. By understanding the important mediating roles of trust and emotion, service employees can deliver more effective service recovery strategies and thereby enhance customer loyalty.


Abstract The creation of people-driven data collaboratives, with governance structures that enable participants to have a meaningful voice in issues surrounding the use of their own data, is a novel strategy to harness our growing capacity to develop and maintain immense data assets from the real health experiences of individuals.


The ultracytochemical study of cultural T. vaginalis has been carried out. The activity of magnesium-dependent ATPase, transport (sodium-potassium-dependent) ATPase and adenylate cyclase was detected in dense corpuscles, located on the membranes of hydrogenosomes having a rounded form. The authors suggest that the dense corpuscles are the zones of the active transport of ions through the membranes of hydrogenosomes.


Aim of the study . Urtica dioica is one of the medicinal herbs with manyuses in treating various diseases. In some studies, its antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on cancer cell lines have been shown. Therefore, the evaluation of U. dioica effect was performed on KG-1 cell line for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) for the first time in this study. Materials and Methods . KG-1 cell line was treated by various extracts (aqueous, hydroalcoholic, chloroform and ethyl acetate) of U. dioica aerial parts and roots in different concentrations. Metabolic activity of extracts on cell line was assessed by MTT assay. To evaluate the percentage of apoptotic cells, the flow cytometry was performed by FITC Annexin V-PI apoptosis detection kit in KG-1 cell line treated with root chloroform (UDC-R) and ethyl acetate (UDE-R) extracts. The results have been reported as percentage of cell viability and IC50. Results . Based on MTT results, the strongest IC50 in KG-1 cell line (219.361 μg/ml) was related to UDC-R. The flow cytometric analysis showed that UDC-R and UDE-R in IC50 concentration induced early (53.6% and 57.4%, respectively) and late (27% and 33.2%, respectively) apoptosis in KG-1 cells after 24 hrs. The inhibition of cell proliferation by various extracts of U. dioica was dependent on concentration (p: 0.000). Conclusion . Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that UDC-R and UDE-R extracts affect on proliferation reduction of KG-1 cells by activating the apoptotic pathway.


Social workers' health and well-being in the workplace has received a great deal of attention in the international literature. Since social work in the field of health has experienced many changes in Saudi Arabia over the past two decades, this study attempts to investigate personal experience among hospital social workers. The study used the quantitative approach and gathered its information by a survey that was distributed to 260 practitioners. The conclusion highlights a considerable level of detrimental work-related reactions (e.g., frustration) in the individual Saudi social work practitioners.


Custard apple (Annona squamosa) is a favorite fruit in Indonesia. The leave of this plant is used and known for long time as an astringent, antiinflammatory, birth control, and antitumor agents. Previous experiments on toxicity using brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) method indicated that the chloroform fraction of custard apple leaves was toxic to the shrimp larvae with LC50 value at 1.77µg/ml. This experiment was carried out to investigate further the possible role of custard apple leaves as an anticancer agent using HeLa cell line. Experiment was initiated by extracting the leaves using 70% ethanol by means of maceration. The macerate was then fractionated further using chloroform as solvent. The ethanol fraction and chloroform fraction were used in cytotoxicity assay using (cervix cancer) HeLa cell line. Cytotoxicity assay Was done using direct counting method. The amount of living cells were observed and counted, death percentage Was then determined and probit analysis Was applied to determine the LC50 value. LC50 value for ethanol fraction from the leaves of custard apple (Annona squamosa) Was 7.695 µg/ml While for chloroform fraction was 4.547 µg/ml based on cytotoxicity analysis using HeLa cells. This experiment concluded that theleaves of custard apple (Annona squamosa) has cytotoxicity toward HeLa cell lines which confirmed the previous toxicity experiment using brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) method. Overall, this experiment indicated that the leaves of custard apple (Annona squamosa) have anticancer activity.


In this paper we study the inverse of the eigenfunction sinp of the one-dimensional p-Laplace
operator and its dependence on the parameter p, and we present a Turan type inequality for this function.
Similar inequalities are given also for other generalized inverse trigonometric and hyperbolic functions. In
particular, we deduce a Turan type inequality for a series considered by Ramanujan, involving the digamma
function


AKIRA is an open source framework designed for parallel, asynchronous and distributed computation, on the basis of some general architectural principles which are inspired by modular organization in biological systems. We introduce the motivation behind its design, the components of the framework and some examples of use: 1) a case study in a simple number domain, in which its capabilities such as context sensitiveness are highlighted; 2) an architecture for visual search tasks, in which a goal oriented behavior emerges from the cooperation and competition of many feature-specific modules, organized hierarchically; 3) a schema-based agent architecture, inspired by an ethological model of the praying mantis, including drives, schemas, routines and realizing visual and motor behavior in a realistic simulated environment.


【The purpose of this study is to analyze the methods applied to educational facilities of Steven Holl's architecture, especially focusing on sensible elements in the public space. Steven Holl has realized distinct space by applying very specific and limited concept. such as perspective space, color, light and shadow, time duration and perception, haptic realm, and proportion & scale. Education facilities designed by Steven Holl, are influenced the sensible aspects of space, form, materials, patterns, and other various sensible elements. Beyond the limits of color and sculptural vocabulary, Steven Holl utilizes a variety of ways which shown in educational facilities design and is identified by the emotional phenomenology of perceptual experience. Various elements in the public space are reinforced through light and materials to make experiential space in the educational facilities. This study used a composition of space that combines various sensible elements, meanings, and senses to examine how Steven Holl's architecture can mediate and reproduce user' emotional experiences and discover the existential relationship between space and user in public space of educational facilities.】


Federated learning (FL), as a disruptive machine learning (ML) paradigm, enables the collaborative training of a global model over decentralized local data sets without sharing them. It spans a wide scope of applications from the Internet of Things (IoT) to biomedical engineering and drug discovery. To support low-latency and high-privacy FL over wireless networks, in this article, we propose a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-empowered over-the-air FL system to alleviate the dilemma between learning accuracy and privacy. This is achieved by simultaneously exploiting the channel propagation reconfigurability with RIS for boosting the received signal power, as well as the waveform superposition property with over-the-air computation (AirComp) for fast model aggregation. By considering a practical scenario, where high-dimensional local model updates are transmitted across multiple communication blocks, we characterize the convergence behaviors of the differentially private federated optimization algorithm. We further formulate a system optimization problem to optimize the learning accuracy while satisfying privacy and power constraints via the joint design of transmit power, artificial noise, and phase shifts at RIS, for which a two-step alternating minimization framework is developed. Simulation results validate our systematic, theoretical, and algorithmic achievements and demonstrate that RIS can achieve a better tradeoff between privacy and accuracy for over-the-air FL systems.


A focus of cryonecrosis in the rat spleen, induced with liquid nitrogen (4 mm diameter probe, application time 2') does not cause haemorrhage either during or after treatment. The frozen area, which is of infarctual type with disappearance of spleen cells and preservation of the elastic structures of the follicular arteries, sees its surface reduced considerably and is replaced by connective tissue within 30 days.


Bayesian optimization (BO) is a powerful black-box optimization framework that looks to efficiently learn the global optimum of an unknown system by systematically trading-off between exploration and exploitation. However, the use of BO as a tool for coordinated decision-making in multi-agent systems with unknown structure has not been widely studied. This paper investigates a black-box optimization problem over a multi-agent network coupled via shared variables or constraints, where each subproblem is formulated as a BO that uses only its local data. The proposed multi-agent BO (MABO) framework adds a penalty term to traditional BO acquisition functions to account for coupling between the subsystems without data sharing. We derive a suitable form for this penalty term using alternating directions method of multipliers (ADMM), which enables the local decision-making problems to be solved in parallel (and potentially asynchronously). The effectiveness of the proposed MABO method is demonstrated on an intelligent transport system for fuel efficient vehicle platooning.


A Lie-Rinehart algebra consists of a commutative algebra and a Lie algebra with additional structure which generalizes the mutual structure of interaction between the algebra of functions and the Lie algebra of smooth vector fields on a smooth manifold. Lie-Rinehart algebras provide the correct categorical language to solve the problem whether Kaehler quantization commutes with reduction which, in turn, may be seen as a descent problem.


Cross-sectional analyses have demonstrated an association between use of hormonal contraceptives and shedding of herpes simplex virus (HSV). This prospective study evaluated the effect of initiating use of hormonal contraception on cervical HSV detection. Two hundred women who were seropositive for HSV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 were examined for cervical mucosal HSV by use of quantitative DNA polymerase chain reaction before and after beginning the use of hormonal contraceptives. Cervical HSV was detected in 32 women (16.0%) before initiating and in 25 women (12.5%) after initiating use of hormonal contraception (P=.4). There were no significant differences in HSV shedding among the subgroups of women starting combination oral contraceptives containing both estrogen and progesterone or progesterone-only contraceptives. Among the 54 women who shed HSV at least once, the median change in cervical HSV after initiation of hormonal contraception was -313 copies/swab. In this prospective study, use of hormonal contraceptives did not increase detection of cervical HSV.


An English porcelain spill vase putatively dating from the Regency period, ca. 1815–1825, decorated with a young girl in the pose of a ballet dancer has been analysed holistically whereby in situ non-destructive Raman spectroscopic analysis has been combined with an historical investigation of the subject matter. It appears that this subject represents one of the earliest depictions of ballet dancing on china: the porcelain body analysis has revealed that the composition is bone china and probably attributable to the emergent Davenport factory, which was established in Longport, Staffordshire, around 1806. The only other piece of porcelain with a painted ballet dancing theme recorded in the literature hitherto is from the Bloor Derby factory, showing Marie Taglioni in her London premier role in La Sylphide in about 1830. This confers some rarity upon this item and accentuates the importance of being able to undertake analytical spectroscopic measurements upon intact, very rare and perfect specimens of ceramic art without the necessity of pretreatment or the excision of samples.


Elemental carbon (EC) or black carbon (BC) in the atmosphere has a strong influence on both climate and human health. In this study, radiocarbon ((14)C) based source apportionment is used to distinguish between fossil fuel and biomass burning sources of EC isolated from aerosol filter samples collected in Beijing from June 2010 to May 2011. The (14)C results demonstrate that EC is consistently dominated by fossil-fuel combustion throughout the whole year with a mean contribution of 79% ± 6% (ranging from 70% to 91%), though EC has a higher mean and peak concentrations in the cold season. The seasonal molecular pattern of hopanes (i.e., a class of organic markers mainly emitted during the combustion of different fossil fuels) indicates that traffic-related emissions are the most important fossil source in the warm period and coal combustion emissions are significantly increased in the cold season. By combining (14)C based source apportionment results and picene (i.e., an organic marker for coal emissions) concentrations, relative contributions from coal (mainly from residential bituminous coal) and vehicle to EC in the cold period were estimated as 25 ± 4% and 50 ± 7%, respectively, whereas the coal combustion contribution was negligible or very small in the warm period.


Neurodevelopment
The sensory hair cells housed in the inner ear develop sequentially in organized rows. The progenitor cells exit the cell cycle in order and then differentiate in the opposite order. Prajapati-DiNubila et al. show that the cytokine activin A and its antagonist follistatin regulate expression of the transcription factor ATOH1 and thus of hair cell differentiation. Activin A activated expression of ATOH1, whereas follistatin reduced its expression. Similarly, follistatin signaling regulated the number of inner hair cells.

eLife 10.7554/eLife.47613 (2019).


We review in this paper some of the optical studies performed on CdTe/CdZnTe heterostructures which demonstrate interesting specific band structure effects in this strain-layer system. Due to the order of magnitude of the three physical parameters which determine the optical properties of such structure (bandgap discontinuity, lattice mismatch induced strain, electron-hole interaction), we observe (i) two types of quantization in CdTe/CdZnTe single quantum well: the first one, for well thickness smaller than 200 Å, is the usual description of a 2D-exciton, whereas the second one, for wider wells, corresponds to the quantization of the motion of the exciton centre-of-mass. (ii) The mixed type nature of the CdTe/CdZnTe superlattice: type I for heavy-hole excitons and type II for light-hole excitons with the possibility of changing the relative energy positions of the type I and type II transitions with the built-in strains. (iii) A dominant piezoelectric effect in the (111) oriented strain-layer superlattices which generates an internal electric field of the order of 104 V/cm and modifies the optical properties of these Te-based heterostructures.


The maraena whitefish Coregonus maraena is a threatened anadromous species in the North Sea, which in the past was decimated to near extinction. Since the late1980s, several re-establishment programs have been implemented in rivers draining into the North Sea, but the scientific basis for sustainable conservation measures is often lacking, since little is known about the biology of this species. In this study, otolith microchemistry of fish ranging from 24.6 to 58.4 cm in total length (median 31.3 cm, SD 8.4 cm) was used to characterize the migration behavior of a reintroduced population of maraena whitefish from the River Elbe, Germany. Our analyses revealed the presence of 3 different migration patterns: (1) one-time migration into high-salinity habitat (North Sea) within the first year of life (29.6%), (2) multiple migrations between low- and high-salinity habitats starting in the first year of life (14.8%) and (3) permanent residency within low-salinity habitats, a pattern displayed by the majority (55.6%) of sampled individuals. Not only do these results reveal differential migration behavior, but they also indicate that permanent riverresidency is common in the River Elbe population of C. maraena. The role of the Elbe as both a feeding and a spawning habitat should thus be considered more explicitly in current conservation measures to support recovery of this species.


Fingerprint recognition is one of the dominant methods among all biometric techniques. However, current commercial fingerprint reader systems are based on analysis of surface topography of a finger and, thus, have tremendous security vulnerability for simply made artificial fingerprint dummies. In this letter, we demonstrate that a novel optical coherence tomography-based method for depth-resolved 2-D and 3-D imaging and assessment of artificial and real fingerprints could significantly enhance spoof-proofing of fingerprint reader systems as well as provide information of both artificial and real ridge and furrow patterns (that form the fingerprint patterns) simultaneously.


A psycho-acoustical experiment was conducted using synthetic vowel-like stimuli to examine effect of formant amplitude in vowel perception. Nine combinations of formant frequencies were examined. For each combination, relative amplitude of the third to the second formants was modified in seven degrees. In eight of the nine combinations, perceived vowels were changed according to the formant amplitude although every formant frequency kept constant. Furthermore, this amplitude effect was observed even when frequency separation of the neighboring formants was greater than 3.5 Bark. The result suggested that formant amplitude is effective cue for vowel perception as well as formant frequency.


It is proved that a large amount of mobile ions exist in organic–inorganic halide perovskites. The accumulated ions at the interface change the band bending of the semiconductor, leading to polarity-switchable photovoltaic devices. The interface charge significantly influences the function and performance of perovskite devices. The discovery of the interface charge has important implications for current–voltage hysteresis in perovskite solar cells.


Purpose The generally preferred vascular access for neurointerventional procedures is the transfemoral approach (TFA). In complicated cases such as patients with aortic diseases or tortuous vessels, transradial or transbrachial approaches (TRA or TBA) could be good alternatives. The purpose of this study is to review a single medical center experience using the alternative accesses. Materials and Methods We reviewed the medical records of 30 TRA and 10 TBA cases among 2,073 cases treated between January 2010 and July 2013. We reviewed and analyzed the frequency of TRA and TBA, the reason the operator had chosen the TRA or TBA, the category of the procedure, caliber of the sheath, the success rate, and the complications rates. Results The most common reason the non-TFA route was chosen was due to the patient's tortuous vascular system (n=24, 60%). The most common category of intervention was balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement (n=18, 45%). The largest caliber of the introducing sheath was 6 Fr in TRA and 7 Fr in TBA. Procedural success was achieved in 37 cases (success rate: 92.5%), and in three cases it failed. Six patients with complications were reported. Among them, four cases of minor complications (10%) occurred. There was no serious complication directly related to the access problem. Conclusion Both TRA and TBA can be good alternative access routes when TFA is not appropriate in various neurointervential procedures.


The main reason for this paper is to see where could lead this trend that in past 7 years
Eesti Ekspress has lost quite many readers and also circulation has moved downwards.
Of course advertising rates are high and author wanted to see how this trend has
envolved during these years. How Eesti Ekspress is doing comparing with rival
newspapers and what has happened in Estonian media market since our new
independence period.
Author also wanted to know how these three subjects are influencing one another. Can
we talk about loosing readers and decreasing circulation number and still successful
newspaper? What will become when these numbers still decreasing? Is this the end of
Eesti Ekspress?
At first author gives an overview what has happend in media market in all over the
world. Then author sees how has developed Estonia. Author uses different suveys and
Poll's. Mostly by Emor and Saarpoll. Circulation data comes from Eesti Ajalehtede Liit
and advertising rates are olso collected by Emor AdEx survey.
In the outcome author sees, that when comparing these three data ranges advertising
rates were growing really rapidly and this is alarming because in some level this growth
has been in expence of readers and also it has influenced circulaton rates. Of course
author also says that this can't be so black and white because we also need to agree, that
a weekly newspaper is very different of daily newspapers and when society is changing
towards speed and consentration we can't expect that people still can read a weekly
newspaper in the same enthusiasm than before.
Comparing advertising rates and seeing what had happened in Estonian advertising
market author sees that during past years competition about advertising money among
Newspapers is very high. Newspapers are really making an effort to make money and it
has also influenced newspapers market quite much. Mostly because of increasing
discount rates so to preserve still good income from advertising, newspapers need to
print more adds. To keep in order the balance between adds and articles this increases
the average number on pages in newspapers.
To get their daily information People are forced to spend more time with particular
newespaper and when people are under pressure they tend to avoid the reasons why.
Thats why author thinks the overall readership of newspapers is decreasing and this is
how these subject data are mostly influencong one another
For Eesti Ekspress author gives two possibilities where to develop:
1. To face the truth that Ekspress can't be compared with newspapers on hold a
line in his main marketplace. Maybe to mowe more towards magazines than
newspapers
2. To make big efforts to gain his readers back and also increase their amount. This
means to invest in growing ther market share and for newspaper owners this
means to loose profit


What is the function of auditing, and why is it important? In recent decades there have been a series of financial disasters, affecting thousands, if not millions, of people, many of whom have lost their life savings, and which have destroyed once successful companies, further damaging the economy. Enron, WorldCom, Parmalat and Lehman Brothers are oft-cited examples of what can happen when auditors are alleged to have failed at their job. The function of auditing is not to prevent those disasters, but to help ensure that stakeholders have reliable information on which to base their decisions and possibly foresee how such disasters may arise. Where that information later proves to be unreliable, auditors may be implicated for failing in their duties, allowing bad situations to get worse, and the damage caused by financial reporting misstatements to carry on. In this book we cover some of the most important issues in twenty-first century auditing, with a focus on what is known from research, and what can be done to improve auditing. In this first chapter, we examine the most fundamental auditing issue, namely the function of auditing. Understanding the function of auditing is helpful in understanding all of the other issues raised in this book. We explore economic reasons for auditing, which provide numerous explanations why auditing developed and why it can be of value to companies, their managers, and investors, regardless of whether it is required by regulations. The explanations discussed are the information role of auditing; agency theory; insurance; organizational control; as confirmation (of previously released information); and as part of risk management. We also examine why it is commonly found that auditing is compulsory, including both public interest and pubic choice explanations for mandatory auditing.


To apply optical fiber image guide to harsh radiation environments, we have developed new image guide systems for color correction and new type image guide with a semiconductor laser for infrared imaging. We irradiated the image guides utilizing a 60Co gamma source. Measured images with the visible type image guide became dark and yellowish because of radiation induced loss. By using a color correction system, the original color of the images can be obtained. In the case of infrared type image guide, because of low radiation induced loss in the infrared region, the degree of darkening was less than half of that for the visible type of image guide. When irradiating a fixed length of 2.5 m, the dose limit for using image guide was estimated to be 3.0×105 C/kg (7.9×109 R) with the visible type image guide and be 4.5×105 C/kg (1.2×1010 R) with the infrared type image guide. These radiation resistivities were more than 103 times ofthat for usual CCD cameras. With these techniques, image guide can be applied to harsh radiation environment.


We describe the methodology used to construct a global database of foreign direct investments in three dimensions (investor country, host country and sector) for 2004. Based on Eurostat data, we estimate theoretical investments for all countries. Then we constrain our estimates subject to existing data with lower dimensions (1 or 2) during the balancing of the matrix, using a quadratic optimization. This database is intended for use for CGE modeling studies.


This study aims at evaluating: (1) the difference of students' mathematics learning achievement viewed from two different learning methods, (2) the difference of students' mathematics learning achievement viewed from different learning styles, (3) the effect of interaction between teaching methods and learning styles on students' mathematics learning achievement. This study is a quantitative research with quasiexperimental research design. The population of this study is 210 students of 10thgrade of SMA MTA Surakarta. Two classes were chosen for the sample of this study by cluster random sampling. The first class was treated using Conceptual Understanding Procedures (CUPs) method and the second class was treated using Mind Mapping method. The data collection was conducted using test, questionnaire, and documentation. Morever, the data was analized using different number of cell analysis of variance with 5% significance level. The conclusion are: (1) there is difference on student's mathematics learning achievement viewed from two different learning methods, Conceptual Understanding Procedures (CUPs) a give better achievement than Mind Mapping, (2) there is no difference on students' learning achievement viewed from different learning styles, (3) there is no effect of interaction between teaching methods and learning styles on students' mathematics learning achievement.


OBJECTIVE
MiRNA-133 (miR-133) has been identified as a tumor suppressor in many types of human cancers. However, its clinical significance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation of miR-133 expression with clinical variables and prognosis in AML patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze blood samples from 145 patients with AML and 70 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS
Decreased miR-133 levels were observed in AML patients and closely associated with aggressive clinical parameters, such as white blood cells and poor Karyotype subgroups. In addition, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that serum miR-133 could efficiently screen AML patients from normal controls with high sensitivity and specificity. More interestingly, serum miR-133 levels were remarkably elevated in the patients with favorable response after standard induction chemotherapy or achieving a complete remission. Furthermore, patients in the high serum miR-133 expression group had better overall survival and recurrence-free survival than those in the low serum miR-133 expression group. Meanwhile, multivariate analysis identified serum miR-133 as a significant independent predictor for survival.

CONCLUSIONS
Low miR-133 expression was a common event and correlated with worse clinical outcome in AML, suggesting that serum miR-133 might serve as a promising indicator for the early detection and prognosis evaluation of AML.


This study is based on the importance of the brand equity of a product. Without a strong brand, a quality product, at an affordable price and good placement, not to take market share is greater if the target consumers do not recognize, could not identify much less have the product brand loyalty. The importance of brands in modern marketing power sparked a war between brands intensifies between a company with a competitor. Tresemme is a brand from the United States who claim their products that can give the effect as same as salon. Issues raised in this study is the Tresemme shampoo that already has a strong brand in the United States, but in Indonesia Tresemme is a new brand, maybe not everyone know that this brand is very strong in America, and there is the possibility of consumer response in America is different from here, although the formula has been adjusted to the needs of Indonesian hair.

The purpose of this study is to portray how brand equity of women using Tresemme shampoo. To illustrate brand equity on Tresemme shampoo brand can be seen from the four elements of brand equity, which is comprised of brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality, and brand loyalty.

Researchers used a quantitative approach with a descriptive research. The research was carried out on students who never wear or use Tresemme shampoo residing in Bukit Cemara Tujuh Malang. The population in this study were all students who had used Tresemme shampoo, the samples is 100 people, with jugdemental sampling technique. Techniques of data collection using questionnaires is open or closed, and a Likert scale to measure the respondents' answers. Analysis tools using descriptive statistical analysis is a statistical method used to describe the data that has been collected.

Based on the analysis in this study, it was concluded that the TRESemme shampoo is less well remembered by the respondents. TRESemme shampoo can also be associated with the elegant packaging design dominated by black. Of various associations owned TRESemme shampoo, TRESemme shampoo product design that has been linked most strongly to the TRESemme shampoo. Regarding the perception of quality, TRESemme shampoo has gained a good perception of the respondents due to the perceived experience. At the level of brand loyalty are

still at the level of brand switcher, which at that level still allows the customer (the respondent) to switch to another brand.


Analyzing codon usage bias of WAG-2 gene in wheat three-pistil (TP) mutant may provide a basis for selecting the appropriate host expression systems to improve the expression of target genes. In the present study, we analyzed the codon bias of the complete coding sequence (CDS) of the WAG-2 gene in TP using Codon W program, and compared the results with AGAMOUS (AG) group genes of other plant species. Results showed that the WAG-2 gene in TP and other monocot AG group genes preferably used codons ending with G/C bases, but Arabidopsis thaliana , Nicotiana tabacum , and other dicot crops were biased toward the synonymous codons with A/T. The clustering results based on codon bias were consistent with those based on CDS of the AG group genes, indicating that the difference in codon preference of AG group genes sequences was closely associated with the genetic relationship of the species. The Euclidean distance coefficients of WAG-2 with A. thaliana and N. tabacum were 9.255 and 5.730, respectively, indicating that N. tabacum may be more suitable for the expression of WAG-2 . There were 37 codons showing distinct usage differences between WAG-2 and genome of yeast, 23 between WAG-2 and Escherichia coli . Therefore, the E. coli was the superior protein expression system. These results may improve our understanding of codon usage bias and functional studies of WAG-2 .


Intrusion detection systems (IDS) are an important component to effectively protect computer systems. Misuse detection is the most popular approach to detect intrusions, using a library of signatures to find attacks. The accuracy of the signatures is paramount for an effective IDS, still today's practitioners rely on manual techniques to improve and update those signatures. We present a system, called pSigene, for the automatic generation of intrusion signatures by mining the vast amount of public data available on attacks. It follows a four-step process to generate the signatures, by first crawling attack samples from multiple public cyber security web portals. Then, a feature set is created from existing detection signatures to model the samples, which are then grouped using a biclustering algorithm which also gives the distinctive features of each cluster. Finally the system automatically creates a set of signatures using regular expressions, one for each cluster. We tested our architecture for SQL injection attacks and found our signatures to have a True and False Positive Rates of 90.52% and 0.03%, respectively and compared our findings to other SQL injection signature sets from popular IDS and web application firewalls. Results show our system to be very competitive to existing signature sets.


Abstract Formation of the Ontong Java Plateau (OJP), a large igneous province in the western Pacific, has been attributed to a rising plume head in the initial stage of the Louisville hot spot, approximately 120–125 Ma ago. However, the Neal et al. plate reconstruction suggests that the plateau formed approximately 9° north of the current location of this hot spot at 51°S. The magnetization of the plateau's basement records a palaeolatitude of approximately 25°S which further increases the discrepancy with the plume-head model. Modelling the motion of the Louisville hot spot for the last 120 Ma yields a possible southward motion of up to about 6°. True polar wander (TPW) models also shift the predicted palaeolatitudes of the plateau farther north. Taking into account both hot-spot motion and TPW, formation of the OJP by the Louisville not spot remains a possibility.


This paper deals with the development of software that allows one to compute the scattering phase functions of the optical radiation in polydisperse media consisting of spherical particles, based on the Mie scattering theory. The software also enables computer visualization of such optical phenomena as rainbows, glories and coronas. A special technique is used to significantly accelerate the integration over the radius of scattering particles and to increase the calculation rate of the scattering phase functions. Using the software developed, we have performed a detailed analysis of the scattering phase functions for a large number of well-known cloud and fog models, and have created computer images of optical phenomena (rainbows, glories, and coronas) that are inherent to the considered models.


Training in supervision is becoming an increasingly important component of professional psychology programs. To assist students in developing supervisory competencies, knowledge of relevant research and effective training methods is required and, ideally, such knowledge should be derived from an empirical literature comprising good quality, theory-based research. To evaluate the nature of the empirical literature on supervisor development, a systematic review was conducted to determine the extent to which theoretical models have been used in this literature. Psyclnfo, Medline, CINAHL, and ERIC were searched for articles published between 1994 and 2010. Initially 3,248 abstracts were reviewed, 25 of which met the criteria of being empirical, focused on supervisor development, and having participants with graduate training in counselling or professional psychology. Of these studies, only half drew upon models of supervisory development in the conceptualisation, design, or interpretation of the research study. The most often used model was Watkins' Supervisor Complexity Model (Watkins, 1990, 1993, 1994). Approximately one third of studies examined the influence of past training and experience in supervision on current supervision practices. For competency-based training in supervision to advance, the theoretically informed evidence base needs to be greatly expanded, and much more research is needed that explicitly applies and/or evaluates models of supervisory development.Keywords: practicum supervision, professional supervision, clinical psychology, counselling psychology, systematic reviewClinical supervision has two main purposes: to ensure the integrity of clinical services and to develop service provision competence in the supervisee (Falender & Shafranske, 2004). Although many definitions of clinical supervision have been proposed, Milne's (2007) refinement of Bernard and Goodyear's widely cited work (2004) is the most comprehensive and detailed presented thus far in the literature:The formal provision, (i.e., sanctioned by relevant organisation/s) by senior/qualified health practitioners (or similarly experienced staff), of an intensive education (general problem solving capacity; developing capability) and/or training (competence enhancement) that is casefocused and which supports, directs, and guides (including restorative and/or normative topics, addressed by means of professional methods, including objective monitoring, feedback and evaluation) the work of junior colleagues (supervisees).In Canada, competency in supervision is required for licensure by some provincial or territorial regulatory bodies (see http:// www.cpa.ca/documents/MRA.pdf). Similarly, the American Psychological Association (APA) has stated that clinical supervision should be regarded as a distinct professional competency (American Psychological Association, 2006). Clinical supervision is also recognised as a key component of prelicensure training in Canada, as accreditation of professional psychology graduate programs requires doctoral students to have instruction in clinical supervision, and internship accreditation requires that interns acquire knowledge and skills in supervision (Canadian Psychological Association, 2011). As the provision of supervision is likely to be a component of future practice for many professional psychologists, graduate programs should provide training in supervision that is, ideally, built on a solid evidence base, as is the case in other areas of professional training (Hunsley & Barker, 2011).Current perspectives on graduate training in professional psychology emphasise a competency-based approach, with competency being broadly defined as the knowledge, skills, and values required to practice effectively (Falender et al., 2004). The task for educators, then, is to identify the knowledge, skills, and values that constitute a required competency such as supervision and, further, to effectively train students and professionals to develop the competency. …


Face rendering using neural radiance fields (NeRF) is a rapidly developing research area in computer vision. While recent methods primarily focus on controlling facial attributes such as identity and expression, they often overlook the crucial aspect of modeling eyeball rotation, which holds importance for various downstream tasks. In this paper, we aim to learn a face NeRF model that is sensitive to eye movements from multi-view images. We address two key challenges in eye-aware face NeRF learning: how to effectively capture eyeball rotation for training and how to construct a manifold for representing eyeball rotation. To accomplish this, we first fit FLAME, a well-established parametric face model, to the multi-view images considering multi-view consistency. Subsequently, we introduce a new Dynamic Eye-aware NeRF (DeNeRF). DeNeRF transforms 3D points from different views into a canonical space to learn a unified face NeRF model. We design an eye deformation field for the transformation, including rigid transformation, e.g., eyeball rotation, and non-rigid transformation. Through experiments conducted on the ETH-XGaze dataset, we demonstrate that our model is capable of generating high-fidelity images with accurate eyeball rotation and non-rigid periocular deformation, even under novel viewing angles. Furthermore, we show that utilizing the rendered images can effectively enhance gaze estimation performance.


Feature selection methods have been successfully applied to text categorization but seldom applied to text clustering due to the unavailability of class label information. In this paper, we first give empirical evidence that feature selection methods can improve the efficiency and performance of text clustering algorithm. Then we propose a new feature selection method called "Term Contribution (TC)" and perform a comparative study on a variety of feature selection methods for text clustering, including Document Frequency (DF), Term Strength (TS), Entropy-based (En), Information Gain (IG) and χ2 statistic (CHI). Finally, we propose an "Iterative Feature Selection (IF)" method that addresses the unavailability of label problem by utilizing effective supervised feature selection method to iteratively select features and perform clustering. Detailed experimental results on Web Directory data are provided in the paper.


Although CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized our ability to generate site-specific double-strand breaks, precise editing of the genome remains challenging in most eukaryotes, including plants (Shan et al., 2013). In plants homology-directed repair is inefficient, limiting our ability to make precise edits of the DNA sequence (Ali et al., 2020; Butt et al., 2017). Moreover, cytosine and adenine base editors have serious drawbacks including lower efficiency, unclean edited sequence, and the possibility of off-target mutations at other loci (Rees and Liu, 2018). Chimeric single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) can provide editing information, in RNA form, but this modality suffers from several limitations including lower efficiency, less versatility, and the need for long homology arms (Butt et al., 2017).


Abstract Mosquito collections were made throughout the mainland of Papua New Guinea to identify the members of the Anopheles punctulatus group present and to determine their distribution. Identification was made using morphology, DNA hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-RFLP analysis. Nine members of the group were identified: An. farauti s.s. Laveran, An. farauti 2, An. koliensis Owen, and An. punctulatus Dönitz, were common and widespread; An. farauti 4 was restricted to the north of the central ranges where it was common; An. farauti 6 was found only in the highlands above 1,000 m; and An. farauti 3, An. sp. near punctulatus and An. clowi Rozeboom & Knight were uncommon and had restricted distributions. Identification of An. koliensis and An. punctulatus using proboscis morphology was found to be unreliable wherever An. farauti 4 occurred. The distribution and dispersal of the members of the An. punctulatus group is discussed in regard to climate, larval habitats, distance from the coast, elevation, and proximity to human habitation.


BACKGROUND To analyze the relationship between obesity in its different degrees and the left ventricle morphology. PATIENTS AND METHODS M-mode echocardiography was used to estimate the mass, wall thickness and internal dimension of left ventricle in 48 obese women with different degrees of obesity, defined according to the body mass index. 25 women with normal weight were used as controls. RESULTS The body mass index was correlated with left ventricular mass, as well as with both the wall thickness of the left ventricle and its diastolic internal dimension. The abnormalities in the heart morphology increased according to the obesity degree, ranging from a 59% in the lesser obesity group up to a 100% in the more obese women. The incidence of the left ventricular hypertrophy determined by echocardiography also increased along with the body mass index, ranging from a 29% in the lesser degree of obesity women up to an 82% in the patients with a body mass index > 35 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS Obesity, even in its lowest degrees, shows frequent alterations in the heart morphology. This is related with a left ventricular mass increase and a higher incidence of the left ventricular hypertrophy. The left ventricular mass increase is due to an increase in the left ventricular walls thickness and also to a dilatation of its cavity.


Broadband offers key advantages as a communication infrastructure, including efficiency and cost savings which can stimulate productivity, innovation, and ultimately economic growth and social well-being. This paper presents a comparative study on the adoption of broadband in urban and regional areas. It proposes a model concerning broadband adoption which we validate with data collected using a computer-aided telephone survey. We find that relative advantage, utility outcomes, and facilitating conditions play a crucial role in explaining the broadband adoption behavior of both urban and regional household users. In a dynamic environment where technologies are changing quickly, our findings about broadband adoption drivers are useful to stakeholders such as internet service providers, regulators, broadband application developers for encouraging further broadband and application adoption and developments in communication space in both regional and urban areas.


Objectives. Identification and analysis of adaptation features, dominant coping strategies and components of the anticipatory competence among foreign students in connection with their cultural affiliation.
Background. A contradiction between the amount of empirical data on adaptation and the lack of work aimed at studying the peculiarities of predicting difficult situations in the adaptation process and copying strategies among foreign students due to their cultural affiliation is becoming more and more clearly marked.
Study design. The study was conducted using a socio-psychological survey. For data processing and analysis, descriptive statistics and Student t-test were used.
Participants. Students from Arab countries (n = 64) and from India (n = 73) acted as respondents.
Measurements. Technique «Revised Sociocultural Adaptation Scale» (SCAS-R) (J. Wil¬son, 2013); «Strategic Approach to Coping Scale» (SACS) questionnaire; «The test of antici¬pation competence» (V.D. Mendelevich, 2003).
Results. Arab students are easier to adapt to the educational process, they have more developed group involvement, and personal-situational anticipation competence is manifested to a greater extent than among Indians. The Indians are more likely to seek social support, it is extremely difficult for them to predict difficult situations associated with time and interpersonal communication.
Conclusions. The results of the study contribute to the identification of coping strategies, adaptation features and anticipation mechanisms, depending on students belonging to a particular culture.


Many guided-wave optical transmission systems employ fibres having a slight depression of the refractive index along the axis of the core. This has been shown to have comparatively little effect on the HE11 mode normally used for propagation but, according to the author, any slight axial depression of the refractive index permits the appearance of an anomalous EH11 mode at the lower end of the frequency spectrum. The behaviour of this anomalous wave is examined and described; it is found to disappear completely when the core remains homogeneous.


The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of topical application of preparations containing glucocorticoids on the replicative activity of human papillomavirus oncogenic type. Prospective study included 160 patients of reproductive age. The examination included microbiological testing, qualitative and quantitative screening for human papilloma virus high-risk group (HPV-PCR and Digene-test), immunological study of cervical secret (immunoglobulins class A, M, G and secretory IgA). Was shown that the vaginal microbiocenosis in patients with nonspecific vaginitis presents a wide range of opportunistic microorganisms, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Bacteroides, Bacillus, Actinomyces, Corynebacterium, Prevotella. A number of typical representatives of the indigenous microflora is significantly reduced, or absent. The prevalence of concomitant viral infection was approximately 29%, the most frequently detected viruses 16, 31 and 18. The use of local therapy drug containing a glucocorticoid qualitative and quantitative changes in HPV have been no identified. Evaluation of indicators of local immunity showed an imbalance in the production of immunoglobulins with a predominance of IgA, secretory IgA and IgG in patients on the background of nonspecific vaginitis.


Is it possible to determine the Facebook Gemeinschaft or the living law of the global file sharing community? What are the social facts of twitter or the intuitive law of Chinese microbloggers? This paper argues that digitization of society, the reliance on digital networks, protocol, algorithms and completely new sets of organisational structures for social communities, have vast implications for core interests within socio-legal research. This, I argue, should therefore be seen as a potential for a possible revival of socio-legal classical theorists, following from the fact that several of them struggled to grasp the role of law and norms in a society that in many cases were also in a technology related metamorphosis. This relates to norm pluralism, or possibly, an anomic state in which norms fail to describe reality, as it is perceived. For example, copyright law does not describe the reality of distribution and reproduction of cultural content as conceptualized by the younger generation, which leads to its decreased legitimacy in society. However, here I suggest two complementary traits. First, the study of how we conceptualize law in relation to reality, I argue, could benefit from using findings in cognitive theory relating to conceptual metaphor theory. Language and legal language are expanding and are renegotiated in relation to the massive need to conceptualize digital phenomena. Secondly, I argue that the inherent preconditions in the technologies themselves are of particular socio-legal relevance. This means that the regulating aspects of (programming) code deserve extra attention when studying the socio-legal aspects of a digital society.


The world textiles and clothing industry, particularly after 1960, has gone through a series of protective arrangements and in 1974 eventually landed in the trap of Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA). However, in 1995 under the WTO a new agreement known as Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) came into existence that remained valid till 31st Dec. 2004 and laid down the roadmap of phasing out of quotas within ten years. Till this time quotas were most visible feature of global trade in textiles and clothing. From 1st Jan. 2005, international trade in this sector, however, has become quota free and is now being governed by normal WTO rules. The new regime has been posing several challenges and has also offered many opportunities for the developing countries like India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc. which have comparative advantages in the trade of textiles and clothing. There are several measures both at macro level as also at micro level that are necessary to be taken to meet the new challenges and encash the opportunities. This paper attempts to examine such dynamics at macro and micro level with reference in Indian textiles and clothing industry to be competitive in new global quota free environment and provides the some discussion on the following sub-topics:- Indian Scenario- Brief Historical Background on MFA- Four Steps of Quota Phase Out Over a Period of Ten Years- Liberalization of Previously Restricted Items, During the Four Stages of ATC- The Beneficiaries of New Regime- Dynamics to be Competitive – The Indian Case- Macro Dynamics to be Competitive- Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs)- Regional Blocs / Areas- Social and Environmental Considerations- Labour Laws- Textile Parks and Special Economic Zones- Redefining the Role of Export Promotion Bodies/Institutions - Infrastructure Development and FDI- Supply of Quality of Raw Materials- Opportunity '2008'- Micro Dynamics to be Competitive- Setting up Units/Offices in Regional Blocs and Preferred Locations- Modern Technology and Equipment- Services of New Technology Driven Foreign Professionals- Consolidations of Capacities – Mergers- Building the Brands- Re-defining the Role of Processing Houses- Fashion Designers and Experts-Industry Institution Linkages- Product Diversification – Technical and Specialised Textiles- Modernisation and Technology Upgradation FundThe paper concludes that speed and extent to which these macro and micro dynamics are taken care of will decide the new heights that this sector can achieve in the quota free regime and there is no doubt with timely and suitable actions, the Indian textiles and clothing industry will be resting on the top of the world.


Purpose
This paper aims to describe how a sense of normalcy for young people in foster care can be critical to their well-being.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper reports on policy and practice efforts in the USA to promote normalcy for youth in care. The authors review policy that promotes normalcy and report on one organization's efforts to support these goals.

Findings
COVID-19 has offered profound challenges to the goal of normalcy. Rise Above has adapted to meet the challenges.

Originality/value
The authors argue that COVID may also offer opportunities to build toward a more robust paradigm of normalcy within child welfare policy and practice.


Prostate cancer is an androgen receptor (AR)-driven disease and post-translational modification of AR is critical for its activation in both hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant disease. We previously reported that ARD1 is an oncoprotein in prostate cancer. It acetylates and activates AR to promote prostate tumorigenesis. However, the target residue within AR and the roles and mechanisms of the acetylation event in prostate tumorigenesis remained unknown. Here we show that ARD1 interacts with the AR DNA-binding domain and acetylates AR at lysine 618 (K618) in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of K618 acetylation by replacing lysine with arginine significantly reduces AR transcriptional activity, prostate cancer cell growth, and xenograft tumor formation due to attenuation of AR nuclear translocation. Constitutive acetylation at K618 by replacing lysine with glutamine reverses these effects. Mechanistically, ARD1 forms a complex with both AR and HSP90. Expression of ARD1 increases levels of AR acetylation and AR-HSP90 dissociation in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, the AR acetylation-defective K618R mutant is unable to dissociate from HSP90 following ligand exposure, and HSP90-dissociated AR is acetylated. This work identifies a new mechanism for ligand-induced AR-HSP90 dissociation and AR activation. Targeting ARD1-mediated AR acetylation may be a potent intervention for AR-dependent prostate cancer therapy. Given that K618 is also present in AR variants, the significance of ARD1-dependent acetylation of AR variants for castration-resistant PCa will be discussed. Citation Format: John S. DePaolo, Zehua Wang, Jianhui Guo, Guanyi Zhang, Haitao Zhang, Jovanny Zabaleta, Wanguo Liu. Androgen receptor acetylation at K618 by ARD1 is essential for dissociation from HSP90 in prostate tumorigenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4598.


Native Americans` concerns arising from the possibility of establishment of a nuclear repository for high level wastes at Yucca Mountain fall principally into two main categories. First, the strongest objection to the repository comes from traditional Western Shoshones. Their objections are based on a claim that the Western Shoshones still own Yucca Mountain and also on the assertion that putting high level nuclear wastes into the ground is a violation of their religious views regarding nature. Second, there are several reservations around the Yucca Mountain site that might be affected in various ways by building of the repository. There is a question about how many such reservations there are, which can only be decided when more information is available. This report discusses two questions: the bearing of the continued vigorous assertion by traditionalist Western Shoshones of their land claim; and the extent to which Nevada state and local governments are able to understand and represent Indian viewpoints about Yucca Mountain.


A noninvasive technique employing photon activation of tissue oxygen in situ and detection of subsequent /sup 15/O positron decay was used to study the effects of single-dose /sup 60/Co irradiation on capillary blood flow in transplanted rat rhabdomyosarcomas. Tumor blood flow was measured before irradiation with 16.5, 38.5, or 60.5 Gy and at several intervals afterward (0-72 hr.). Pre-irradiation values of volume-averaged blood flow in the tumor ranged from 7 to 44 ml/min./100 g. Several hours after irradiation, blood flow fell by up to 50% for 60.5 Gy and up to 35% for 16.5 Gy. However, 24 hours after irradiation, tumor blood flow had recovered completely in the 16.5-Gy group and substantially in the others. For smaller doses such as the fractions typically employed in radiotherapy, no changes in tumor blood flow were observed.


Regulatory T lymphocytes expressing the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor Foxp3 (Treg) play a vital role in the protection of the organism from autoimmune disease and other immunopathologies. The antigen specificity of Treg plays an important role in their in vivo activity. We therefore assessed the diversity of the T-cell receptors (TCRs) for antigen expressed by Treg newly developed in the thymus of autoimmune type 1 diabetes-prone NOD mice and compared it to the control mouse strain C57BL/6. Our results demonstrate that use of the TCRα and TCRβ variable (V) and joining (J) segments, length of the complementarity determining region (CDR) 3, and the diversity of the TCRα and TCRβ chains are comparable between NOD and C57BL/6 mice. Genetic defects affecting the diversity of the TCR expressed by newly developed Treg therefore do not appear to be involved in the etiology of type 1 diabetes in the NOD mouse.


Background: Despite evidence for some genetic control of dietary intake in adults, there is little evidence of how genetic factors influence children's dietary patterns. Objective: To estimate heritability of dietary intake in twin children from China and test if genetic effects on dietary intakes vary by the children's socio-economic status (SES). Methods: A sample of 622 twins (162 monozygotic and 149 dizygotic pairs; 298 boys and 324 girls aged 7–15 years) was recruited in South China. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated 145-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Pooled and sex-specific dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Heritability was estimated using structural equation models. Results: Heritable components differed by gender and for nutrients and food groups; and estimated heritability of dietary patterns was generally greater in girls than boys. In boys, estimated heritabilities ranged from 18.8% (zinc) to 58.4% (fat) for nutrients; and for food group, 1.1% (Western fast foods) to 65.8% (soft drinks). In girls, these estimates ranged from 5.1% (total energy) to 38.7% (percentage of energy from fat) for nutrients, and 12.6% (eggs) to 94.6% (Western fast foods) for food groups. Factor analysis identified five food patterns: vegetables and fruits, fried and fast foods, beverages, snacks and meats. Maternal education and family income were positively associated with higher heritabilities for intake of meat, fried, and fast food. Conclusions: Genetic influence on dietary intakes differed by gender, nutrients, food groups, and dietary patterns among Chinese twins. Parental SES characteristics modified the estimated genetic influence.


Attachment theory has developed over many decades - and continues to develop. Its roots lie in several seminal publications of John Bowlby (the basis of attachment theory) and Mary D. S. Ainsworth (the notion of individual differences in attachment). This paper identifies the prescient contributions of these early publications and two processes (a long-term dialogue and reflection on discrepancy) that underlay emergent theory. Because I was a student of Ainsworth when both attachment theory and individual differences in attachment organization were becoming better known, I offer some of my recollections of that period, suggesting how that period may have affected current work in attachment.