Background: CXCL13 is an important chemotactic factor closely related to the biology of cancer cells. The presence work focused on exploring the significance of CXCL13 in prognosis prediction and analyzing the associations of CXCL13 with T cell function and immune infiltration in various cancers, especially ovarian cancer (OV).Purpose: CXCL13 is associated with prognosis, immune infiltration, and T cell failure of ovarian cancer.Methods: The Oncomine, GEPIA2 and HPA databases were utilized for analyzing CXCL13 levels within diverse cancers. The significance of CXCL13 in prognosis prediction was explored through Kaplan-Meier Plotter, TCGAportal, and GEPIA2. Meanwhile, the associations of CXCL13 with clinical stage, gene marker sets, and immune infiltration were examined through TISIDB, GEPIA2, and TIMER databases. Besides, CXCL13 was screened to analyze the biological processes (BPs) and KEGGs enriched by co-expression genes. The miRWalk database was employed for analyzing the gene-miRNA interaction network of CXCL13 within OV.Results: CXCL13 expression decreased in many cancers, which predicted the dismal survival of OV. CXCL13 upregulation was in direct proportion to the increased immune infiltration degrees of many functional T cells (like exhausted T cells) and immune cells. Additionally, some critical genes of exhausted T cells, such as TIM-3, PD-1, LAG3, TIGIT, GZMB, and CXCL13, were closely associated with CXCL13. Moreover, CXCL13 was related to immune response regulatory signaling pathway, leukocyte cell-cell adhesion, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and hematopoietic cell lineage. Conclusion: CXCL13 can serve as a biomarker to predict cancer prognosis, particularly OV. CXCL13 upregulation remarkably elevates the immune infiltration degrees of numerous immune cells, like mast cells, CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells (DCs). Furthermore, CXCL13 is suggested to be closely related to exhausted T cells, which may be used as a candidate regulating factor for T cell exhaustion within OV. Detecting CXCL13 levels contributes to prognosis prediction and CXCL13 regulation within exhausted T cells, which provides a new approach to maximizing the anti-OV efficacy of immunotherapy.


Preliminary aeroacoustic investigations in competitive industries require rapid numerical simulation techniques to gain initial insight into the flow and acoustic field. Although there are capabilities to resolve virtually all turbulence length scales, these techniques are often impractical in early stages of component development. Therefore, the flow field is typically assessed by a Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes Simulation. Building upon the results of that flow simulation, a stochastic approach to reconstruct the turbulent velocity fluctuations. In conjunction with a hybrid aeroacoustic workflow, this approach is useful in early stage virtual prototyping of aeroacoustic applications. In this working paper, we present the SNGR algorithm of CFS-Data, the open-source pre-post-processing part of openCFS, with a focus on the computation of aeroacoustic sources.


Carbamazepine is often used for indications other than epilepsy. In Indonesia, carbamazepine is registered for prophylaxis for lithium-responsive manic depressive disease, antiepilepsy, epilepsy of all types (except petit mal), and trigeminal neuralgia. This research aimed to describe the use of carbamazepine at PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital Yogyakarta. This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design. The data were taken retrospectively from the medical records of patients who received carbamazepine during 2014. The use of carbamazepine included 494 prescriptions given to 117 patients. The physician who most prescribed carbamazepine was a neurologist (63.04%). The most appropriate use of carbamazepine following the National Agency for Drugs And Foods Controls of Republic of Indonesia (NA-DFC) was for epilepsy (34.19%), followed by trigeminal neuralgia (6.84%) and bipolar disorder (4.27%). The most off-label use was in cases of stroke (7.69%), followed by diabetic neuropathic pain, herniated nucleus pulposus, and cephalgia (all 3.42%). Evidence found for the off-label use of carbamazepine was in diabetic neuropathic pain and neuropathic pain post-stroke (24.53%). The use of carbamazepine at PKU Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta hospital is mostly on-label, with some off-label use. The off-label use of carbamazepine (24.53%) has strong evidence, while some use has a lack of scientific support or no evidence at all.


School commuting with public transportation (PT) and shifting away from private cars remains a challenge, especially for transport planners. From behavioral and cultural viewpoints, car dependence has not yet been reversed in many cities. Actions to promote the shift to PT should be multidisciplinary and multi-instrumental to increase PT adoption and achieve more sustainable mobility. There is a lack of strategic alignment between the different stakeholders involved in school commuting of children (parents, school, PT operators) and empirical studies sustaining the effectiveness of actions to shift away from the car. Moreover, PT behavioral aspects are still poorly researched from a marketing perspective. This research aims to help fill the gap by implementing actions related to the 4Ps of the marketing mix (product, place, price, promotion). Ten schools in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area were involved in those actions and then surveyed (1,760 survey participants) to evaluate the impact on their behavioral change, that is, to start going to school with PT. The study explores the impact of a set of marketing events on the time duration before children shift to PT when commuting to school, with a hazard-based duration model. Results suggest that to promote school commuting with PT, it is necessary to characterize the school community before commencing any mobility-oriented intervention, particularly concerning sociodemographic attributes and mobility patterns. These are critical information to design marketing actions better and to adapt and improve the quality of PT vehicles and services that operate to and from schools.


The majority of women with breast cancer are adequately treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy. Although most women need very limited surgery, some require a larger volume of resection to attain a high level of local control, and some might even require a mastectomy. This article summarizes the current state of knowledge concerning the assessment of the adequacy of excision.


This paper aims to investigate the significances of appearance of the first woman president Michelle Bachelet in one of the conservatist countries with catholicism and paternalism. And this study also presents changes of chilean socio-political contexts and estimations of leadership style of Bachelet. During Chile's transition to democracy, perception of women's socio-political role has changed significantly. As an electoral gender quota system is not established yet in Chile, the representation of women remains very low. On the contrary, Ricardo Lagos's efforts to organize his cabinet including five women ministers gave opportunities to change its traditional awareness of women's political activities. And the faith of strong women and mother, a modern interpretation of marianismo gave a more possibility to adapt first woman president in Chile. And the leadership of Bachelet can be caracterized by self-established and feminine leadership.


Biodiversity an important gift of nature is now under great threat owing to anthropogenic activities. Indians have been worshipping trees since time immemorial and this is done as a matter of gratitude as we know that life cannot exists without trees, hence trees and their products are part of our rituals and ceremonies. A study was carried out to find the importance of plants in religious festivals and in traditional healing system of the people of Telangana region. People of Telangana have a unique culture of worshipping plants in their regional festivals like Bathukamma, Bonalu, Ugadi, Vinayakachavithi etc. It was observed that sacred plants have significant role in rituals as well as in alternative health care system. Ethanobotanical knowledge helps to treat common ailments. The main reason for associating plants with religious rites and beliefs is probably for conservation of rare plants which are under great threat of extinction.


Understanding the chalk-fluid interactions at the sub-micron scale is one of the most challenging goals in Enhanced Oil Recovery. The grain size of newly grown minerals far below 1 micron asks for a high performing imaging: we present a new methodology using the TERS (Tip Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy), a new frontier technique that combines Raman Spectroscopy with Atomic Force Microscopy, allowing impressively high-resolution chemical analyses down to an outstanding spatial resolution (~ 20 nm). TERS permits the recognition of minerals thanks to the vibrational mode peaks that are diagnostic of composition and structure. Carbonate-group minerals are easily identified by Raman spectroscopy. First analyses allow us to state that magnesite and calcite could be identified in, respectively, ultra-long-term flooding experiments of chalk at reservoir conditions and in unflooded samples; no dolomite or high Mg-calcite have been found. Few microns squared areas have been imaged by AFM using ultra polished thin sections with a 50 nanometers step. Transmission electron microscopy has been employed to confirm the results of TERS and add dark and bright field grain-imaging to the investigations. This confirms the need for high-resolution methodology such as TERS and TEM to fully understand EOR effects at sub-micron scale.


An artificial lipid bearing a triethoxysilyl head and a dialkyl tail has been synthesized in order to prepare a novel type of organic-inorganic hybrid, "Cerasome", which can form siloxane network on its vesicular surface. The Cerasomes were obtained upon vortex mixing of aqueous dispersion of the lipid followed by acid hydrolysis of the head moiety.


An antistatic acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive characterized by comprising an acrylic copolymer (A) having a hydroxy group and an alkylene oxide chain in side chains, an ionic compound (B), a hardener (C), and an antioxidant (D). The antistatic pressure-sensitive adhesive is suitable for use as a pressure-sensitive adhesive for pressure-sensitive adhesive films for protecting the surface of an optical member. The pressure-sensitive adhesive solution before incorporation of the hardener has satisfactory storage stability. The antistatic pressure-sensitive adhesive has excellent transparency, is almost colorless, has excellent strippability after application, and is less apt to cause electrification upon stripping. ® KIPO & WIPO 2008


Social cognition is a dynamic process that requires the perception and integration of a complex set of idiosyncratic features between interacting conspecifics. Here we present a method for simultaneously measuring the whole-brain activation of two socially interacting marmoset monkeys using functional magnetic resonance imaging. MRI hardware (a radiofrequency coil and peripheral devices) and image-processing pipelines were developed to assess brain responses to socialization, both on an intra-brain and inter-brain level. Notably, brain-activation maps acquired during constant interaction demonstrated neuronal synchrony between marmosets in regions of the brain responsible for processing social interaction. This method enables a wide range of possibilities for studying social function and dysfunction in a non-human primate model, including using transgenic models of neuropsychiatric disorders.


Objective To determine if ovarian aging as measured by levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is associated with pattern of multiple sclerosis (MS) progression in women. Methods Women with MS and healthy controls were included from a longitudinal research cohort with up to 10 years follow-up. Plasma AMH levels were measured by ELISA for baseline and years 3, 5, and 8–10. Mixed effects logistic and linear regression models were employed, with adjustments for age, disease duration, and other covariables as appropriate. Results AMH levels were similar (0.98-fold difference, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69–1.37, p = 0.87) in women with MS (n = 412, mean age 42.6 years) and healthy controls (n = 180, mean age 44 years). In a multivariable model of women with MS, including adjustments for age, body mass index, and disease duration, 10-fold lower AMH level was associated with 0.43-higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score (95% CI 0.15–0.70, p = 0.003), 0.25-unit worse MS Functional Composite z score (95% CI −0.40 to −0.10, p = 0.0015), and 7.44 mm3 lower cortical gray matter volume (95% CI −14.6 to −0.30; p = 0.041) at baseline. In a multivariable random-intercept–random-slope model using all observations over time, 10-fold decrease in AMH was associated with a 0.27 increase in EDSS (95% CI 0.11–0.43, p = 0.006) and 5.48 mm3 (95% CI 11.3–0.33, p = 0.065) and 4.55 mm3 (95% CI 9.33–0.23, p = 0.062) decreases in total gray and cortical gray matter, respectively. Conclusion As a marker of ovarian aging, lower AMH levels were associated with greater disability and gray matter loss in women with MS independent of chronological age and disease duration.


We investigate the effect of health insurance on labor market transitions in and out of self-employment as well as on the likelihood of being self-employed. We consider the role of individual health insurance coverage along with that from a spouse. Next, we examine a series of tax deductions granted to the self-employed through amendments made to the 1986 Tax Reform Act. Using data from the Current Population Survey for 1996-2007, we find significant but small effects of the after-tax health insurance premium on the entry rate, with no effect on exits from self-employment or the likelihood of being self-employed.


Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) is used in a variety of disciplines, including community development. However, intergenerational CBPAR research, particularly when using visual methods, has been uncommon in fields outside of those in the health domain. Given the success with which some health-related studies with vulnerable youth and adults from disadvantaged regions have applied this kind of research, we conducted a study using a similar approach on entrepreneurship and social and economic capacity building in a rural and remote region. Our CBPAR intergenerational multi-methods research project involved youth, adults, seniors, Elders (Indigenous spiritual leaders), and academic researchers as investigative co-leaders seeking findings useful for changing inequitable systems and practices. With these research partners, we employed a carefully selected set of qualitative data collection methods, including a variety of visual methods, designed to produce robust and actionable findings and knowledge mobilization opportunities. Our research design provided a powerful way to triangulate data while engaging with the broader community to co-produce knowledge across generations. One way we did this was through Indigenous language videos, featuring community members of all ages describing their perspectives on social and economic development in their communities. In this article, we describe how and why our intergenerational multi-methods approach helped us verify our data and enabled our partner communities to leverage the findings to enhance local wellbeing. In doing so, we develop the case for using intergenerational multi-methods approaches with visual method elements in business and other disciplines in which these methods are not often used.


A time-dependent formulation of the non-local complex potential theory of the dynamics of electron-molecule collision complexes is presented and applied to simple models. Non-monotonic population decay and damping of vibrational motion are identified as novel qualitative effects in the dynamics of such systems.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the current state of research concerning internationally developed Online Coaches for treatment support and prevention of mental disorders. Evidence and effectiveness of the Online Coaches ought to be explored.

METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed in international databases in order to provide a meta-review of existing Online Coaches for mental disorders. The assessment of the methodological quality and evidence of the studies was based on the established guidelines of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network.

RESULTS
52 studies (24 meta-analyses, 16 systematic reviews, 2 health-technology assessment reports, and 10 RCT studies) were identified. The efficacy was demonstrated for a variety of Online Coaches for mental disorders, especially for anxiety and depressive disorders, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorders, with predominantly acceptable and high quality.

CONCLUSION
The present work provides an overview of internationally developed Online Coaches in the field of mental health care. Online Coaches can serve as a useful supplement to the treatment and prevention of mental disorders.


Spatial vision in different organisms is mediated by 2 classes of photoreceptors: microvillar and ciliary. Recently, additional photosensitive cells implicated in nonvisual light-dependent functions have been identified in the mammalian retina. A previously undescribed photopigment, melanopsin, underlies these photoresponses, and it has been proposed that its transduction mechanisms may be akin to the lipid-signaling scheme of invertebrate microvillar receptors, rather than the cyclic-nucleotide cascade of vertebrates. Melanopsin has an ancient origin in deuterostomia, and expresses in 2 morphologically distinct classes of cells in the neural tube of Amphioxus, the most basal extant chordate: pigmented ocelli, and Joseph cells. However, to our knowledge, their physiology and alleged photosensitivity had never been investigated. We dissociated both types of cells, and conclusively demonstrated by patch-electrode recoding that they are primary photoreceptors; their receptor potential is depolarizing, accompanied by an increase in membrane conductance. The action spectrum peaks in the blue region, ≈470 nm, similar to the absorption of melanopsin in vitro. The light-dependent conductance rectifies inwardly; Na and Ca are differentially implicated in the 2 cell types. Fluorescence Ca imaging reveals that photostimulation rapidly mobilizes calcium from internal stores. Intracellular 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate severely impairs the photoresponse, indicating that light-evoked Ca elevation is an important event in photoexcitation. These observations support the notion that the lineage of microvillar photoreceptors and its associated light-signaling pathway also evolved in the chordates. Thus, Joseph cells and pigmented ocelli of the Amphioxus may represent a link between ancestral rhabdomeric-like light sensors present in prebilaterians and the circadian photoreceptors of higher vertebrates.


This study sought to evaluate the factors affecting employee retention in the banking sector of Sudan with a specific focus on Agricultural Bank of Sudan (ABS). To enhance the success of the study, two research objectives were utilized, these included; to establish the effects of training on employee retention at Agricultural Bank of Sudan and to determine the effects of working environment on employee retention at Agricultural Bank of Sudan. The study used descriptive survey research design. The sampling method used for this study was stratified simple random sampling methods to select respondents. Questionnaire was used for data collection; the researcher cleaned, coded and entered collected data on Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Data was analyzed descriptively and also by use of multiple regressions as advanced analysis method. The descriptive data was presented in the format of pie charts, figures and tables with frequencies, percentages, means and percentages as measures for distribution mechanisms while regression was only presented in table formats but with clear indication of significant levels and adjusted R-square for all the independent variables. Key findings among others revealed that training contributes to employee retention in banks as was supported by majority of employees who agreed that training plays a significant role in retaining employees. It was also found that working environment influences employee retention as was supported by majority of respondents who indicated strong agreement with statements under this variable, working conditions. The study concluded and made recommendations based on results found.


A method to derive explicit binary isotherms following the ideal adsorbed solution (IAS) theory is proposed. The method is applicable to any pair of single-component isotherms, as long as they fulfill a set of conditions, as described in this report. Examples of some isotherms fulfilling such conditions are: Langmuir, anti-Langmuir, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and quadratic. Following the method proposed in this report, three previously unreported explicit binary isotherms, quadratic-BET, quadratic-Langmuir, and quadratic-anti-Langmuir, while following the IAS framework, could be derived. This work presents the method and the binary isotherms derived through this method.


Background: Intraperitoneal adhesion is one of the most important complications after laparatomy and it may cause many problems for patients in long time such as infertility, bowel obstruction, and chronic pelvic pain. This study was done to determine a way to reduce the formation of adhesion after laparatomy. Methods: In this experimental and laboratory study, 40 adult female rats divided in two equal groups, randomly (case and control). In stage 1, all of the rats were anesthetized. Then, we opened the abdominal wall; 6 about 2-cm incisions were made on the right side and in left, a 1 × 1-cm piece was excised from abdominal wall. In stage 2, after 2 weeks we opened abdominal wall and according to Cook scale, we scored adhesion banding; then we added 3 cc amniotic fluid in case and 3 cc distilled water in control group. In stage 3, after 2 weeks, we opened abdominal wall by midline incision and adhesion were scored. Data were analyzed by tests such as t-test and paired t-test. Finding: The adhesion was less in case group (P < 0.001). Also, the difference between grades of two groups was significant (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Adhesion bands after laparatomy is one of the most important problems in surgery. Many material was surveyed to prevent or treat adhesion band such as Normal saline, dextran 70, HAL-F, ePTFE, pentoxyfyline, promethazin…. In our study, we used bovine amniotic fluid to determine. Our study showed that amniotic fluid is capable to lyses of adhesion band after laparatomy. More researches are needed to find out positive effects of this material to use as anti adhesive agent in human. Key words : Amniotic fluid, Adhesion bands.


This pilot study describes women's interpretations of the experience of a false positive mammogram followed by a negative biopsy and the impact of this experience on subsequent participation in screening mammography. A 25-min, open-ended telephone interview was administered in 1992 to 30 women over age 39 who had negative biopsies in 1987 preceded by abnormal mammograms. Almost twice as many women reported getting regular mammograms after the biopsy (60%) as did before 1987 (33%). Most received their next mammogram after the biopsy within the recommended interval (73%), and those getting regular mammograms prior to the biopsy experience were more likely than those who did not have a prior habit of undergoing mammography to continue to get them afterwards. These preliminary findings suggest that a negative breast biopsy after a positive mammogram does not reduce a patient's likelihood of undergoing screening in the future. In fact, it may serve as an impetus for increased compliance with screening recommendations.


A new method for multimodal image fusion, based on statistical modelling of wavelet coefficients, is proposed in this paper. The algorithm draws from the weighted average scheme, but incorporates Laplacian bivariate parent-child statistical dependencies. The interscale dependency is brought in the form of shrinkage functions. The proposed method has been shown to perform very well with noisy datasets, outperforming other conventional methods in terms of fusion quality and noise reduction in the fused output.


AIM
This paper is a report of a study of the views of prisoners about health services provided in prisons.

BACKGROUND
Prison provides an opportunity for a 'hard to reach' group to access health services, primarily those provided by nurses. Prisoners typically have high health and social needs, but the views and experiences of prisoners about health services in prison have not been widely researched.

METHOD
Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 111 prisoners in purposively selected 12 prisons in England in 2005. Interviews covered both prisoners' views of health services and their own ways of caring for their health in prison. Interviews were analysed to develop a conceptual framework and identify dominant themes.

FINDINGS
Prisoners considered health services part of a personal prison journey, which began at imprisonment and ended on release. For those who did not access health services outside prison, imprisonment improved access to both mental and physical health services. Prisoners identified accessing services, including those provided by nurses, confidentiality, being seen as a 'legitimate' patient and living with a chronic condition as problems within the prison healthcare system. At all points along the prison healthcare journey, the prison regime could conflict with optimal health care.

CONCLUSION
Lack of autonomy is a major obstacle to ensuring that prisoners' health needs are fully met. Their views should be considered when planning, organizing and delivering prison health services. Further research is needed to examine how nurses can ensure a smooth journey through health care for prisoners.


Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) is a crucial component of almost the entire tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily signaling pathway. In the present study, a TRAF2 gene has been cloned from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The full-length cDNA is 3162 bp, including a 60 bp 5' untranslated region (UTR), a 1611 bp open reading frame, and a 1491 bp 3' UTR. The polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) and the mRNA instability motifs (ATTTTA, ATTTA) were followed by a poly(A) tail in the 3' UTR. No signal peptide or transmembrane region has been found in the putative amino acids of grass carp TRAF2 (gcTRAF2). Phylogenetic tree analysis clearly showed that gcTRAF2 is nearest to the TRAF2 gene of goldfish. The identity of gcTRAF2 with its homologs in other vertebrates ranges from 56% to 97%. It is characterized by one RING-type signature at the N-terminus, one zinc finger in the middle part, and one conserved TRAF domain consisting of a C-proximal (TRAF-C) subdomain and a N-proximal (TRAF-N) subdomain. The identity of TRAF-C among all TRAF2 homologs in vertebrates varies from 78% to 97%, whereas the identity of TRAF-N ranges from 56% to 100%. The recombinant gcTRAF2 has been expressed in Escherichia coli using pET-32a expression vector. The rabbit anti-gcTRAF2 polyclonal antibody was obtained. The expression of gcTRAF2 in different organs was examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. It was widely distributed in heart, head kidney, thymus, brain, gill, liver, spleen, and trunk kidney. This is the first report of a TRAF2 homolog molecule in fish.


Artificial general intelligence continues to be elusive in part because of a focus on a narrow range of problems that can all be described as path problems. A researcher sets up the goals, the optimization methods, and the parameters of the problem, which determine the potential solutions that a machine can learn. Machine learning is the process of finding the right parameter values that solve the problem. Formal path problems, like the games of chess or go, are fully described by their rules and the current state. They can be treated as purely mathematical processes, independent of any physical instantiation. Other, less formal problems, such as how to drive a vehicle on a busy road, do depend on the physical properties of their instantiation and on feedback from the physical world. Path problems are well defined with relatively easy to evaluate metrics, but they are not the only kind of problem that a generally intelligent agent needs to address. Other problems, called insight problems, require the solver to not just evaluate well-defined functions, but to create those functions. Failure to recognize the need to solve multiple types of problems leads people to believe that computers will at some point be able to make themselves arbitrarily intelligent (the technological singularity), potentially to the detriment of human existence. Path problem solving has provided a good model for special purpose problem solvers, but not for general intelligence. As the ancient Greek poet, Archilochus observed, "a fox knows many things, but a hedgehog one important thing." Artificial intelligence researchers have been able to build very sophisticated hedgehogs, but foxes remain elusive. And foxes know how to solve insight problems.


Nuclear scales are discussed from the nuclear physics viewpoint. The conventional nuclear potential is characterized as a black box that interpolates nucleon-nucleon (NN) data, while being constrained by the best possible theoretical input. The latter consists of the longer-range parts of the NN force (e.g., OPEP, TPEP, the π γ force), which can be calculated using chiral perturbation theory and gauged using modern phase-shift analyses. The shorter-range parts of the force are effectively parameterized by moments of the interaction that are independent of the details of the force model, in analogy to chiral perturbation theory. Results of GFMC calculations in light nuclei are interpreted in terms of fundamental scales, which are in good agreement with expectations from chiral effective field theories. Problems with spin-orbit-type observables are noted.


A new differential evolution (DE) algorithm, JADE, is proposed to improve optimization performance by implementing a new mutation strategy ldquoDE/current-to-p bestrdquo with optional external archive and updating control parameters in an adaptive manner. The DE/current-to-pbest is a generalization of the classic ldquoDE/current-to-best,rdquo while the optional archive operation utilizes historical data to provide information of progress direction. Both operations diversify the population and improve the convergence performance. The parameter adaptation automatically updates the control parameters to appropriate values and avoids a user's prior knowledge of the relationship between the parameter settings and the characteristics of optimization problems. It is thus helpful to improve the robustness of the algorithm. Simulation results show that JADE is better than, or at least comparable to, other classic or adaptive DE algorithms, the canonical particle swarm optimization, and other evolutionary algorithms from the literature in terms of convergence performance for a set of 20 benchmark problems. JADE with an external archive shows promising results for relatively high dimensional problems. In addition, it clearly shows that there is no fixed control parameter setting suitable for various problems or even at different optimization stages of a single problem.


Many recent electoral events have been characterised by false claims which, despite abundant fact-checking, were often widely believed. This led to much talk about a 'post-truth' politics. Meanwhile, an extensive literature confirms that false beliefs voters have about political issues are of- ten highly resistant to correction. The drivers of that resistance are well- known: people engage in motivated reasoning. They are prone to accept as fact those claims that confirm their opinions, and dismiss claims that challenge them.

This dissertation investigates reactions to two types of challenging in- formation: false information that affirms individuals' political opinions, and factual information that challenges them. More specifically, it explores how the situation individuals are in when exposed to challenging information affects their susceptibility to engage in motivated reasoning. In a series of experiments, I explore the effect of three types of situations: stress, low group status, and exposure to post-truth comments.

In chapter 1, I explore the effect of stress on tolerance of false claims. I describe a survey experiment (n=380) fielded shortly after the 2016 Brexit referendum in which I attempted to induce stress to investigate the effect of stress on belief in false campaign claims among Leave voters. I found no effect.

In chapter 2, I explore the effect of low group status on tolerance of false claims. To test the pure causal mechanism in a non-political environment I designed a laboratory experiment (n=277). The set-up was a pub quiz in which one team was disadvantaged, received more difficult questions and, therefore, a lower payoff than the other team. After the quiz players were shown two sets of feedback – one person called the quiz 'fair play'; the other called it 'unfair' and demanded a top-up for the disadvantaged team. Crucially, one of the two feedback givers made false claims. As hypothesized, the disadvantaged team overlooked false claims coming from the person who sided with their team (but not from the other team). I discuss implications for 21st century political campaigns in which false facts about and in which some groups of voters are structually disadvantaged.

In chapter 3, I shift to reactions to factually accurate information that chal- lenges political beliefs. This chapter is joint work with John Bartle and Rob Johns, Professors of Politics in the Government Department at the University of Essex. We conducted a nationally representative survey ex- periment in the UK (n=2936) in which we corrected false beliefs about immigration. We identified false beliefs on both sides of the immigration debate (pro and anti-immigration) and showed respondents a fact check challenging a false claim they had rated as true. We went beyond classic
misperception-correction studies in two key ways: First, we used a more nuanced, seven point true to false scale, which allowed us to trace smaller changes in the perceived accuracy of false claims. Second, we mimicked 'post-truth' surroundings in which expert information is rarely the 'fi- nal' word: Some of our respondents saw not only the fact check but also a post-truth comment encouraging them to retain their old beliefs. We found that fact checks significantly reduced belief in false claims. Exposure to post-truth comments cancelled out some but not all of this effect. We discuss what these results mean for 21st century election campaigns and the public broadcasters who accompany them.


A functional GaAs enhancement/ deplet on (E/D) 1K-bit SRAM and other digital circuits have been fabricated in a GaAs layer grown by MBE on a silicon substrate. These are the most complex digital circuits reported to date for GaAs-on-Si material. The device performance is compared with the bulk GaAs devices fabricated concurrently using identical processes. The average transconductances of enhancement and depletion FETs are found to be approximately 80% of those for bulk GaAs devices. A threshold voltage standard deviation as small as 27 mV across a two inch wafer has been realized. The GaAs-on-Si 1K-bit SRAM has row address access times ranging from 6 to 14 nsec which compares favorably to 4 to 12 nsec for the same SRAMs in bulk GaAs slices.


Business fluctuations are associated with business cycles but are not implying the regularity. We consider that the lobbying activities can influence the periods of economic recession and expansion from business fluctuations. The role of lobbying is to affect the decisions made by officials in the government or international corporations and agencies or organizations. In this paper we describe the structure of lobbying practice in European Union, Canada and United States of America and the characteristics of business fluctuations. Specifically, this paper looks at the lobbying activities evolution in European Union, Canada and United States of America and also at a potential relationship between lobbying and business fluctuations, from periods of boom to periods of recession.


For dynamic spectrum allocation (DSA), distributed game has emerged as an attractive approach that enhances radio spectrum utilization efficiency at scalable complexity in network size. Cognitive radios act as game players to judiciously decide their transmission power spectrum density (TPSD) based on channel state information (CSI), which is generally estimated independently from the DSA games and may cause large computational and communication overheads. Particularly in the presence of doubly selective fading channels, a conventional DSA game needs to re-train the channel estimator and re-calculate the TPSD decisions for every transmission burst. To enable DSA intelligence at affordable costs, this paper proposes novel adaptive DSA algorithms based on channel tracking. Under the framework of extended Kalman filter (EKF), both the unknown CSI and the TPSD are modeled into a state vector that is to be tracked dynamically. This approach leads to EKF-based adaptive games that jointly track the CSI and update TPSD decisions, resulting in fast convergence and reduced communication overhead. Simulations are performed to testify the effectiveness of the proposed DSA algorithms, in terms of the achieved system spectrum efficiency, communication overhead, as well as resilience to user mobility


The looper system in hot strip mills has the features of nonlinearity, strong coupling and uncertainty. To improve the accuracy and quality of control, A new multivariable decoupling control system is proposed in this paper, which consists of diagonally matrix method-based decomposition compensatory unit and sliding mode controller (SMC). Simulation experiments for the conventional control system and the proposed control system were conducted using MATLAB/Simulink software, and simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed controllers compared with the conventional ones.


1. THE EUROPEAN PRICE CORRIDOR BETWEEN SALZBURG (AUSTRIA) AND FREILASSING (GERMANY): THEORY AND EMPIRICAL RESULTS Florian Siems, RWTH Aachen University, Germany Michael Hammer, Miele GmbH, Austria ABSTRACT: With the elimination of customs borders, and the euro becoming the common currency in more and more countries, the last 15 years in Europe have seen a decrease in the price differences that once existed between countries. Nevertheless, doubt exists in various circles about whether it will be possible to ever achieve universal, Europe-wide pricing. This will be the focus of the following paper. Two empirical studies will be applied to illustrate the indicators showing the actual existence of a European price corridor which – under specific circumstances – can still allow companies to apply country-specific price differentiations.


Studies of anhydrite in Permian shelf sediments of Texas and New Mexico indicate similarities to Recent gypsum deposits of Laguna Madre, coastal south Texas. Permian anhydrite occurs with greatest frequency within cyclical clastic and carbonate shelf sediments. The most common form (other than of pore-filling or replacement origin) is the nodule. Nodules are packed to varying degrees, ranging from widely spaced individuals to dense zones which have been misinterpreted as "beds." Two types of truly bedded anhydrite occur: thin discrete layers, and laminated beds. In Laguna Madre, rosettes, bladed crystals, and thin beds of gypsum occur below the sediment surface. Thin sheets of lagoon water periodically are blown over mud flat areas where evaporation markedly increases salinity. The concentrated brines percolate downward, supplying hypersaline ground water from which the gypsum is precipitated (Fisk, 1959). The discovery of Permian anhydrite nodules that are pseudomorphous after euhedral gypsum, and which closely resemble Recent gypsum crystals and crystal aggregates, suggests a similar mode of origin.


Abstract The literature suggests that the distributive allocations of local public goods help politicians secure support and thus contribute to political survival. We argue that the selective assignment of state-led infrastructure projects can bolster political control in peripheral areas by inducing the government's investment in essential administrative and security apparatus for project implementation and long-term state building. Drawing on a unique county-level dataset, we study the effects of poverty alleviation transfers in Xinjiang. We find that poverty alleviation was associated with significant increases in government spending on public management and security. In contrast, these alleviation transfers had a small and ambiguous effect on increasing agricultural production and reducing ethnic violence in the province. Our findings highlight the importance of comparing the capacity and welfare implications of distributive politics, as fiscal subsidies may change the actions of the leader's local agents more than altering the behaviors and attitudes of those who may benefit from these transfers.


For decades, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans has been considered the most likely etiologic agent in aggressive periodontitis. Implementation of DNA-based microbiologic methodologies has considerably improved our understanding of the composition of subgingival biofilms, and advanced open-ended molecular techniques even allow for genome mapping of the whole bacterial spectrum in a sample and characterization of both the cultivable and not-yet-cultivable microbiota associated with periodontal health and disease. Currently, A. actinomycetemcomitans is regarded as a minor component of the resident oral microbiota and as an opportunistic pathogen in some individuals. Its specific JP2 clone, however, shows properties of a true exogenous pathogen and has an important role in the development of aggressive periodontitis in certain populations. Still, limited data exist on the impact of other microbes specifically in aggressive periodontitis. Despite a wide heterogeneity of bacteria, especially in subgingival samples collected from patients, bacteria of the red complex in particular, and those of the orange complex, are considered as potential pathogens in generalized aggressive periodontitis. These types of bacterial findings closely resemble those found for chronic periodontitis, representing a mixed polymicrobial infection without a clear association with any specific microorganism. In aggressive periodontitis, the role of novel and not-yet-cultivable bacteria has not yet been elucidated. There are geographic and ethnic differences in the carriage of periodontitis-associated microorganisms, and they need to be taken into account when comparing study reports on periodontal microbiology in different study populations. In the present review, we provide an overview on the colonization of potential periodontal pathogens in childhood and adolescence, and on specific microorganisms that have been suspected for their role in the initiation and progression of aggressive forms of periodontal disease.


We compare Kohn - Sham results (density, cohesive energy, size and effect of charging) of the spherically averaged pseudopotential model with the stabilized jellium model for clusters of sodium and aluminium with less than 20 atoms. We find that the stabilized jellium model, although conceptually and practically simpler, gives better results for the cohesive energy and the elastic stiffness. We use the local density approximation as well as the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange and correlation energies.


Triton-insoluble cytoskeletons were isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum AX3 cells prior to and following stimulation with 2'deoxy cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Temporal changes in the content of actin and a 120,000 dalton actin-binding protein (ABP-120) in cytoskeletons following stimulation were monitored. Both actin and ABP-120 were incorporated into the cytoskeleton at 30-40 seconds following stimulation, which is cotemporal with the onset of pseudopod extension during stimulation of amoebae with chemoattractants. Changes in the content of total cytoskeletal protein and cytoskeletal myosin were determined under the same experimental conditions as controls. These proteins exhibited different kinetics from those of cytoskeletal ABP-120 and actin following the addition of 2'deoxy cAMP. The authors concluded that the association of ABP-120 with the cytoskeleton is regulated during cAMP signalling. Furthermore, these results indicate that ABP-120 is involved in cross-linking newly assembled actin filaments into the cytoskeleton during chemoattractant-stimulated pseudopod extension.


To elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs), we examined the phosphorylation status of Bad and its upstream signaling molecules during apoptosis in culture and after ischemia-reperfusion injury. Rat SECs were isolated by the immunomagnetic method, and 2 days after culture, most SECs underwent apoptosis, which was associated with decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. Addition of orthovanadate (OV), a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sustained cellular protein phosphorylation and strongly inhibited apoptosis. Bad was dephosphorylated at Ser-112 and Ser-136 during apoptosis, but the phosphorylation status of Bad was maintained in the presence of OV. OV activated the Akt, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, which are involved in Bad phosphorylation. In the absence of OV, depletion of Bad by RNA interference conferred resistance to apoptosis. Hepatic injury after ischemia-reperfusion was alleviated by OV treatment, with significant inhibition of SEC apoptosis. SEC apoptosis in vivo was associated with dephosphorylation of Bad, Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, which was blocked by OV treatment. Our data suggest that maintenance of Bad phosphorylation is important in the prevention of SEC apoptosis and that the anti-apoptotic property of OV might have therapeutic utility.


Genome wide high resolution SNP-based array analysis has been used in our laboratory for the detection of copy number variations (CNVs) as a first tier diagnostic test since 2009 for patients with intellectual disability (ID) and/or congenital anomalies. Array is also performed prenatally in case of structural ultrasound anomalies or intra uterine foetal death and a normal QF-PCR test result as well as in patients with leukaemia. So far, more than 20,000 samples have been tested by SNP array in our diagnostic laboratory, including 5,400 parental samples. This diagnostic approach allowed us to reliably identify known and new, recurrent microdeletions and – duplications as well as rare, unique genomic imbalances with great accuracy. Moreover, the routine analysis of SNP genotypes revealed one or more significant stretches of homozygosity in 4 to 6 % of patients. Follow-up testing by either gene mutation analysis or patient-parent trio information analysis subsequently led to the respective identification of pathogenic mutations in recessive disease genes or uniparental disomies (UPD), thereby increasing the diagnostic yield with at least 1%. Using the SNP genotype information also improved the detection of mosaic copy number changes and enabled us to detect clinically relevant, mosaic, copy neutral changes of homozygosity. Genome-wide high resolution SNP-based array analysis is a suitable and particularly effective technique in genome diagnostics to reliably detect various causes of rare and recurrent disorders including CNVs, UPDs and mosaic imbalances as well as pathogenic mutations in recessive disease genes. By using the right follow-up test procedures after initial SNP array analysis, a higher diagnostic yield and more knowledge of the mechanism underlying the genetic disorder are achieved, thereby enabling more adequate genetic counselling.


We investigate the relation of black hole mass versus host stellar mass and that of mass accretion rate versus star formation rate (SFR) in moderately luminous ( ), X-ray selected broad-line active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at z = 1.18–1.68 in the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Field. The far-infrared to far-ultraviolet spectral energy distributions of 85 AGNs are reproduced with the latest version of Code Investigating GALaxy Emission (CIGALE), where the AGN clumpy torus model SKIRTOR is implemented. Most of their hosts are confirmed to be main-sequence star-forming galaxies. We find that the mean ratio of the black hole mass (M BH) to the total stellar mass (M stellar) is , which is similar to the local black hole–to–bulge mass ratio. This suggests that if the host galaxies of these moderately luminous AGNs at z ∼ 1.4 are dominated by bulges, they already established the local black hole mass–bulge mass relation; if they are disk dominant, their black holes are overmassive relative to the bulges. The AGN bolometric luminosities and SFR show a good correlation with ratios higher than that expected from the local black hole-to-bulge mass relation, suggesting that these AGNs are in a SMBH-growth dominant phase.


A biodegradable scaffold in tissue engineering serves as a temporary skeleton to
accommodate and stimulate new tissue growth. Alginate (Alg) and chitosan (Chi) are
both popular materials applied as biomaterials or bioimplants. However, Alg derived
from brown algae is highly compliant and easily decomposed in fluid, whilst Chi
derived from shrimp shells has weak strength. In rectify these problems, the
development of Chi and Alg based biodegradable scaffolds incorporated with silver
nanoparticles (AgNPs) with enhanced mechanical properties and biosafe function is
proposed. Different ratios of chitosan/alginate (Chi/Alg) were prepared and the effect
of different ratio (1:1, 1:2 and 2:1) to the mechanical, biological properties with and
without AgNPs and keratinocyte cell growth were investigated. The preliminary
result of FTIR, UV-Vis, XRD, FESEM and EDS proved the production of silver
nanoparticles. Meanwhile, FTIR, swelling/degradation, DMA, TGA, DSC, FESEM
and MTT assay was conducted to study the properties of Chi/Alg based scaffold.
FTIR analysis shows the crosslinking of Chi/Alg based scaffold.
Swelling/degradation and DMA shows Chi/Alg and chitosan/alginate/silver
nanoparticles (Chi/Alg/AgNPs) has adequate swelling and compressive modulus that
exceed the epidermis' Young modulus, thus able to provide mechanical support upon
application. Meanwhile, the thermal analysis revealed that the onset decomposition
temperature of scaffold were at around 70 oC which is due to the loss of water
present in the scaffold thus thermally safe for soft tissue application. Based on
FESEM result, there are different in surface structure of Chi/Alg based scaffold.
Finally, with the incorporation of 0.3 % PVP synthesised AgNPs in Chi/Alg based
scaffold, cells are able to live up to 14 days. As a result, Chi incorporation in the Alg
and AgNPs improved physical, mechanical properties of hydrogel itself and provide
biosafe environment during the study.


This paper reports the results of studies conducted to establish the feasibility of implementing the state estimation algorithm described by J. F. Dopazo et al (1,2) on the Ontario Hydro 230 KV and 500 KV networks. The results are consolidated into normalized graphs which can be used as a basis for design decisions related to implementation of state estimation on systems having topological characteristics similar to those of the network investigated. The paper describes a modification of the Dopazo algorithm which permits weighting of individual measurements rather than of transmission lines. The modified algorithm is shown to have excellent error detecting capabilities.


Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer progression. Breast cancer patients who are overweight or obese or have excess abdominal fat have an increased risk of local or distant recurrence and cancer-related death. Hormone depletion therapies can also cause weight gain, exacerbating the risk for these patients. To understand the effect of obesity on hormone-dependent human breast cancer tumors, we fed ovariectomized athymic nude mice a diet containing 45% kcal fat and 17% kcal sucrose (high fat sucrose diet (HFSD)), 10% kcal fat (low fat diet (LFD)), or a standard chow diet (chow). The mice fed the HFSD developed metabolic abnormalities consistent with the development of obesity such as weight gain, high fasting blood glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance. These mice also developed hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. The obese mice also had a higher tumor growth rate compared to the lean mice. Furthermore, the obese mice showed a significantly reduced responsiveness to letrozole. To understand the role of obesity in this reduced responsiveness, we examined the effect of insulin on the growth of MCF-7Ca cells in response to estrogen or letrozole. The presence of insulin rendered MCF-7Ca cells less responsive to estrogen and letrozole. Exogenous insulin treatment of MCF-7Ca cells also resulted in increased p-Akt as well as ligand-independent phosphorylation of ERα. These findings suggest that diet-induced obesity may result in reduced responsiveness of tumors to letrozole due to the development of hyperinsulinemia. We conclude that obesity influences the response and resistance of breast cancer tumors to aromatase inhibitor treatment.


This paper discussed the counselling implications of effective self-directed learning (SDL) among undergraduate students in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) universities with particular reference to National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). The work considered the meaning of ODL and SDL. ODL is seen as an alternative approach in higher education and leverages on ICT to deliver academic programmes. It viewed ODL as a programme that is mainly for mature students and that has opened the door for people from all walks of life to obtain a university degree. In Nigeria, NOUN is seen the only university established to serve only distance students and also the spring board of the Open and Distance Education (ODE). Self-directed Learning was seen as a central concept in the study and practice of adult education and the goal was found to be the development of the learner's capacity to be self- directed. The benefits of SDL were x-rayed. For instance, it was discovered that self-directed learners are motivated and persistent, independent, self-disciplined, self -confident and goal oriented. The meaning of counselling was not left out. The work also highlighted the counselling implications of effective SDL among undergraduate students in ODL Universities through the roles of counsellors in ODL universities. Examples are- Counsellors raise learners' awareness of their roles in learning, they are central to the process of helping students learn how to learn, plan their future success and cope with the challenges of studying and counsellors guide the students' transition from dependence to independence and interdependence in directing their own learning. Recommendations were made among which is that all Universities that run ODL programmes should employ counsellors to enhance effective SDL among its' undergraduate students. It was concluded that for there to be successful and effective SDL among undergraduate students of there must be Guidance and Counselling interventions.


Candida organisms were cultured from 452 of 1,513 hospitalized burned patients during a 6-year study period. Of the 172 patients with colonization of the eschar by this fungus, only 20.7% subsequently developed invasive candidal sepsis. The mortality of untreated Candida burn wound infection was 100%, and with aggressive medical-surgical therapy, 91.6%. Candidemia was present in 52 patients and 76.9% of these died. Candida infection was seen as a preterminal phenomenon, coincident with a generalized collapse of patients' defensive and homeostatic mechanisms. For this reason, mortality was high and the infection rarely responded to treatment. Control of this lethal complication rests with prevention by the judicious use of intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics and expeditious closure of the burn wound.


This study aimed to evaluate the economic efficiency in flowerculture in the greenhouses belonging to a private company next to the capital. The firm owns 2.45 ha greenhouses where it cultivates Fresia Species, Chrysanthemum Species and Alstroemeria Species. The average production was 1,200 thou Fresia flowers, 405 thou Chrysanthemum flowers and 610 thou Alstroemeria flowers/ha. All the three flower species assure a high economic efficiency, but Fresia is the most profitable one. It assures the highest profit per flower USD 0.023, the highest profit per hectar USD 28,576 and the highest profit rate 44 %. Then, in order are coming Alstroemeria and Chrysanthemum. These three species could represent the subject of a profitable productive activity for any floriculturist who would like to get secure incomes all over the year.


Nowadays, due to the growing needs of market, the simultaneous optimization of various responses is configured as a necessary strategy in real process. Traditionally, the treatment of this problem is done through the application of the Desirability Function, that consists in transforming the original multi-response problem in a similar with one objective. In spite of various applications involving this methodology, the quality of the solution obtained is dependent on the choice of the inferior and superior limits and on goals for each one of the responses. To overcome this disadvantage, the present work proposes a methodology to solve the original multi-objective problem by using the Differential Evolution Algorithm (DE). This algorithm consists in the extension of the DE to problems with multiple objectives, through the incorporation of two operators into the original algorithm: i) the rank ordering, and ii) the neighborhood exploration of potential candidates. The proposed algorithm is applied to the machinability of stainless steel ABNT420 using a model that considers the tool life and cutting forces responses in terms of cutting speed, feed per tooth and depth of cut, in slot milling process. The effects of these variables in the responses were investigated crossing information contained in response surfaces of material removal rate and cutting forces. The results obtained showed that the methodology used represents an interesting approach to the treatment of the optimization problem formulated.


This paper introduced a method of saving materials and energy through making small hollow blocks with the slag admixture in the lightweight aggregate concrete. Through orthogonal design, this paper took slag content, water binder ratio and admixture dosage into consideration and focused on influence of slag content on the physical and mechanical properties of lightweight aggregate concrete small hollow blocks. The results show that: when water binder ratio ,admixture dosage and curing system keep a fixed level, during the range of slag content 30%-40%, with the increase in slag content, the compressive and bending strength of small hollow block increased first and then decreased; water content and absorption and relative water moisture content decreased first and then increased; frost resistance increased then decreased; softening coefficient first increased and then decreased. When the slag content is 35%, the physical and mechanical properties of lightweight aggregate concrete small hollow block are the best, and all the indexes of physical and mechanical properties can meet the standard requirements non-bearing lightweight aggregate concrete hollow block. The curing system significantly affected the strength of the lightweight aggregate concrete small hollow block, and the block strength cured under the standard condition was higher than those under natural condition.


The ongoing pandemic has restricted human mobility to only essentials. Inevitably, tourism which survives on temporary movement of human not for essential but mostly for recreation and leisure, will suffer the most. Sikkim is majorly dependent on tourism for employment and income generation and has bagged many tourism awards for its excellence. In 2017, it has received 6.96 lakh tourists from March to May. Under the ongoing pandemic for the same season tourist flow has reached to 0, needless of saying that the well thrived tourism industry of Sikkim is threatened now. The aim of this study is to explore the major threats of COVID19 on tourism business as identified by tourism stakeholders of Sikkim and their perception of these threats and Post-COVID19-Strategies (PCS). Total 32 stakeholders have been interviewed through an online survey who identified 9 potential threats. The uncertainties related to reopening of tourism business is the mostly feared threat followed by loss in tourist arrival longer time to recover. Stakeholders are least worried about threats like leaving the sector or decreased stay duration of tourists. Strikingly, stakeholders who receives tourists in bulk, owns bigger and well-equipped accommodation, dining and entertainment facilities, bears high maintenance and overhead costs are more tensed than small players. 18 PCS have been identified and respondents were enquired about their level of agreement on implementing, practicing or morally supporting these PCS using a 5-point Likert scale. The most agreed strategy to practice is an onsite precautionary health practice i.e. 'proper sanitization of every room and cars availed by tourist every time they leave'. The least supported (recovery) strategy is 'arranging fairs and festivals right after reopening the tourism sector to boost up tourist flow'. This study is an initial exploratory attempt that has outlined the spirits of tourism stakeholders under a pandemic condition which may further build a ground for confirmatory and theory building studies on these issues.


Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is a chronic bladder condition characterized by frequent urination, inflammation, oxidative stress, and pain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of an oral administration of Hidrox® (10 mg/kg) in the bladder and spinal cord in a rodent model of IC/BPS. The chronic animal model of cystitis was induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide (CYP) for five consecutive days. Treatment with Hidrox® began on the third day of the CYP injection and continued until the 10th day. CYP administration caused macroscopic and histological bladder changes, inflammatory infiltrates, increased mast cell numbers, oxidative stress, decreased expression of the tight endothelial junction (e.g., zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin), and bladder pain. Treatment with Hidrox® was able to improve CYP-induced inflammation and oxidative stress via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathway. It was also able to reduce bladder pain which was aggravated by the activation of neuroinflammation in the central nervous system. In particular, Hidrox® reduced the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as the activation of astrocytes and microglia, consequently reducing mechanical allodynia. These results indicate that nutritional consumption of Hidrox® can be considered as a new therapeutic approach for human cystitis, increasing the conceivable potential of a significant improvement in the quality of life associated with a lowering of symptom intensity in patients with IC/BPS.


This article discusses the problems associated with the search of the most effective treatment strategies for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer in premenopausal women. Until recently, ovarian suppression and hormone therapy had been the main treatments used in this group of patients. The development of palbociclib, called a "breakthrough therapy", as well as promising results of trials evaluating the efficacy of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors added to hormone therapy in postmenopausal women suggested a need for the assessment of this treatment regimen in combination with ovarian suppression in younger patients. According to the results of randomized trials and subgroup analysis, the addition of a CDK4/6 inhibitor to ovarian suppression and hormonal therapy significantly increases survival. The safety profile is similar to that of older patients. Randomized trials comparing the efficacy of palbociclib + ovarian suppression + aromatase inhibitor vs. chemotherapy in premenopausal women demonstrated significant benefits of a new treatment strategy: a CDK4/6 inhibitor as a part of combination therapy reduced the risk of progression by 36 % compared to capecitabine.


n-Butyl methacrylate/styrene/n-butyl acrylate (BMA/ST/BA) high-temperature starved-feed solution semibatch copolymerization and terpolymerization experiments with varying monomer feed composition, final polymer content, monomer feed time, and reaction temperature were carried out. A comprehensive mechanistic terpolymerization model implemented in PREDICI includes methacrylate depropagation, acrylate backbiting, chain scission, and macromonomer propagation, as well as penultimate chain-growth and termination kinetics. The generality of the model was verified by comparison with terpolymerization data sets from two laboratories that demonstrate the impact of high-temperature secondary reactions on polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011


We present two methods of real time magnitude spectrogram inversion: streaming Griffin Lim(GL) and streaming MelGAN. We demonstrate the impact of looking ahead on perceptual quality of MelGAN. As little as one hop size (12.5ms) of lookahead is able to significantly improve perceptual quality in comparison to its causal version. We compare streaming GL with the streaming MelGAN and show different trade-offs in terms of perceptual quality, on-device latency, algorithmic delay, memory footprint and noise sensitivity. For fair quality assessment of the GL approach, we use input log magnitude spectrogram without mel transformation. We evaluate presented real time spectrogram inversion approaches on clean, noisy and atypical speech. We specified conditions when streaming GL has comparable quality with MelGAN: noisy audio and no mel transformation. Streaming GL is 2.4x faster than real time on the ARM CPU of a Pixel4 and it uses 4.5x times less memory than MelGAN.


A complex of nonspecific esterases of green oak roller moth is represented by of series of multiple forms including carboxyl-, acetyl-, aryl-esterase and esterase with mixed properties. Esterases characterized by different substrate specificity and belonging to different types change their activity in the insect ontogenesis. The authors have established the interaction of esterases with the secondary metabolism substances large amounts of which are concentrated in the oak leaves.


I begin by presenting Keller's view that science has been destructive because it has been done mostly by men or, more precisely, by men with a certain kind of masculine psychology. Two novel ideas emerge from this observation: that a feminine or women's science would not be humanly or environmentally disastrous and that a feminine or woman's science might even be epistemically superior. I then examine a central theme in Keller's early work, the idea that men (but not women) are socialized to be gendered humans in which masculinity is linked with a certain sort of objectivity. The latter point leads Keller to propose that there are two types of objectivity. One type, an inferior "static" objectivity, is part of masculine psychology. Another type of objectivity, "dynamic" objectivity, is not part of masculine psychology and, according to Keller, is epistemically superior. Barbara McClintock, on Keller's view, achieved success in her scientific investigations because she used a dynamically objective "pursuit." But Keller does not claim that dynamic objectivity is a feminine or woman's form of objectivity. She thinks that in addition to a dynamically objective approach to the study of nature and a men's/masculine static approach, there is a distinct women's/feminine "love" approach. A tension thus arises in Keller's work: she thinks that dynamic objectivity is superior, but she also praises a pluralistic science in which a masculine, a feminine, and a dynamically objective style are employed. She eventually denies that the lesson to be learned from McClintock is that science should be carried out by hers one approach. Rather, the McClintock case shows us that deviant approaches, a pluralism of approaches inconsistent with masculinity, should be welcomed in and by science for the sake of science itself. I argue that McClintock's science does not represent a deviant approach in any interesting sense. In McClintock we find, on Keller's own account, the masculine psychology that Keller had wanted to scrap. McClintock's success thus undermines rather than supports Keller's criticism of masculine science.


A linear ultrasonic motor using longitudinal vibration transducers with single foot was proposed, designed, fabricated and tested in a previous study. The longitudinal vibrations of two orthogonal bolt-clamped transducers are superimposed to produce elliptical movements on the driving foot. Firstly, the operating principle of the proposed motor is discussed. The longitudinal and bending vibrations of the transducers are gained by modal analysis. Then, the resonance frequencies and input impendence characteristics of the individual transducers and the motor are calculated respectively to gain the effect from the vibration coupling. The study results state that the vibration coupling between the transducers make their longitudinal resonance frequencies have small increases and the electromechanical coupling factor of the vertical transducer has an obvious decrease after it is linked with the horizontal one. As last, the coupling bending vibrations of the transducers are tested by using a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer.


High resolution threshold photoelectron spectroscopy, in conjunction with synchrotron radiation has been employed to investigate single and double photoionization of argon in the 32-51 eV photon energy range. We have been able to distinguish between satellite and resonance states observed in our spectrum and thereby correct previous misassignments. Furthermore, we have developed a method to extract partial cross sections for satellite states from threshold to 150 meV. The excitation functions of these electron-correlated processes generally show a strong threshold peak, which we attribute to dynamic effects within the excitation complex, as well as other peaks due to the nearby neutral resonances. In addition, the apparent asymmetry of the Ar2+1D threshold cusp is discussed in terms of a possible pressure effect.


In wireless multiuser OFDM systems, dynamic resource allocation has been shown to improve the performance by exploiting the multiuser diversity. In this paper we propose a subcarrier allocation algorithm to increase the total data rate for the downlink of a variable bit rate multiuser OFDM system with proportional rate constraints subject to bit error rate and total transmit power. We assume that the channel is quasi-static where the channel status does not vary within each transmission block and the base station has perfect knowledge of subchannel gains. The proposed algorithm is based on prioritizing the critical (most sensitive) user in the system and the variance of the subchannel gains for each user is used to define the sensitivity of the user to the subcarrier allocation. Simulation results show that this algorithm achieves higher capacity with acceptable proportional fairness compared to the previous suboptimal solutions proposed by Rhee et al. in [9] and Shen et al. in [12].


Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of microbial aerosols on ducks' welfare and provide information on which to establish microbial aerosol concentration standards for poultry. A total of 1800 1-d-old Cherry Valley ducks were randomly divided into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E) with 360 ducks in each. To obtain objective data, each group had three replications. Different microbial aerosol concentrations in different groups were created by controlling ventilation and bedding cleaning frequency. Group A was the control group and hygienic conditions deteriorated progressively from group B to E. A 6-stage Andersen impactor was used to detect the aerosol concentration of aerobes, fungi, gram-negative bacteria and an AGI-30 microbial air sampler detected endotoxins. Physiological stress was evaluated in the ducks by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) values in serum. To assess the effects of bioaerosol factors, welfare indicators including fluctuating asymmetry (FA), appearance and gait as well as the Lactobacillus caecal concentration were evaluated. The data showed group D had already reached the highest limit of concentration of airborne aerobic bacteria, airborne fungi, airborne gram-negative bacteria and airborne endotoxin. The ducks in this group had significantly increased serum ACTH values and significantly decreased caecal lactobacilli concentration. Furthermore, appearance and gait scores, wing length and overall FA and caecal Lactobacillus concentration in this group were significantly increased at 6 and 8 weeks of age. In conclusion, high concentrations of microbial aerosol adversely affected the welfare of meat ducks. The microbial aerosol values in group D suggest a preliminary upper limit concentration of bioaerosols in ambient air for healthy meat ducks.


This paper investigates the function(s) of the post verbal particle la in Dagbani, a Gur language spoken in Northern Ghana. I contend that the particle marks neither imperfective aspect nor contrastive focus on NP objects and adjuncts, as suggested by earlier researchers. Here, I refine the existing analyses and put forth an alternative proposal in which the particle la marks presentational focus. I suggest that la could mark presentational focus on NP complements, adjuncts or the entire VP. I demonstrate that full NPs follow la, while object pronouns precede it, suggesting that object pronouns either undergo object shift or are syntactically bound to the verb. I also discuss ka and n, which have been proposed to have functions similar to la. More information on the interaction of these elements will be relevant for the understanding of the latter's function. I further show that there is co-occurrence restrictions between ka/n and post verbal la, as has been claimed by earlier research. I show that although we can have la that co-occurs with the focus markers ka/n, that la is probably a deictic discourse particle and not the presentational focus marker. I propose that when the deictic la co-occurs with ka/n, it appears only clause finally. I conclude that the use or non-use of the post verbal la is due to discourse-pragmatic considerations.


Police as investigators in settling disputes traffic accidents of children, are required to make efforts diversion on. This research problems using a knife analysis theory and the theory of the workings of the criminal responsibility law. Implementation of diversion on by investigators as a form of settling disputes traffic accidents child is in conformity with the provisions of Act No. 11 of 2012 on the Child Criminal Justice System. Investigators obstacles encountered in the application of investigative procedure as a form of settling disputes traffic accidents are children in Purworejo district police diversion on process does not produce an agreement and the diversion on agreement is not implemented. Another constraint is has not formed some infrastructure to support the implementation of the Act SPPA, including the lack of Correctional Centers (BAPAS), Institute of Child Development While (LPAS) and Special Child Development Institute (LPKA) located in the region of Purworejo. In practice, investigators already holding BAPAS Class II Purwokerto, because long distance, it is feared the diversion on process becomes longer than that prescribed by the Act., To overcome these obstacles investigator to approach the families of the victims, seeking coordination with BAPAS and if there is no agreement versioned then handed over to the Prosecutor's case.Keywords: Investigation, Diversion on, Child.


Pore pressure modeling and understanding has great importance while drilling a wild cat well in deep offshore. Not only given fracture and leak off margin is so small, but also keeping well in optimum overbalance condition are vital for the safety. After BP's Moconda incident in the Gulf of Mexico, now understanding of pore pressure regime as well as nature of the high pressure fluid while drilling becoming more and more critical especially in deep water where the riser and well control devices are apart few hundred meters. In addition deep water environment play its critical role being young deposits and buried not deep from the sea bed, and leak off margins are most of the time in "wellbore breathing" range. Phenomenon variously called "Breathing wellbore" or "Ballooning effect" is a result of slow mud returns while drilling ahead followed by mud returns after the pumps have been turned off, such as during a connection or flow check. Usullay any flows during these periods are cause for a concern as they may be due to influx of formation water, liquid hydrocarbon or gas. Any influx from the formation can result in a well control problem, the magnitude of which is dependent on its volume and composition. On the other hand lithologies under deepwater conditions usually show relatively reduced effective stress, due to reduced lithological column. This translates into narrow mud weight windows, driven mainly by shear failure or pore pressure in over pressured conditions, and by minimum horizontal stress gradients. Drilling operations should consider wellbore collapse, kick and losses as the primary hazards. These should be investigated and predicted during well planning, and should also be appropriately monitored during drilling.


Study Design. A study of lumbar ligamentum flavum (LF). Objective. The aim of this study was to identify LF hypertrophy related microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profile and to investigate the role of miRNAs in the development of LF hypertrophy in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Summary of Background Data. Although histologic and biologic literature on LF hypertrophy is available, the pathomechanism is still unknown. Accumulating evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in many physiologic processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and fibrosis, but the role of specific miRNAs involved in LF hypertrophy remains elusive. Methods. An initial screening of LF tissues miRNA expression by miRNA microarray was performed using samples from 10 patients and 10 controls, respectively. Subsequently, differential expression was validated using qRT-PCR. Then, functional analysis of the miRNAs in regulating collagens I and III expression was carried out. Western blotting and luciferase reporter assay were also used to detect the target gene. In addition, the thickness of the LF at the level of the facet joint was measured on axial T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. Results. We identified 18 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in patients compared with controls. Following qRT-PCR confirmation, miR-221 was significantly lower in LF tissues of patients than controls. The LF was significantly thicker in patients than that in controls. Bioinformatics target prediction identified tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 as a putative target of miR-221. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-221 directly targets TIMP-2 and affects the protein expression of TIMP-2 in fibroblasts isolated from LF. Of note, miR-221 mimic reduced mRNA and protein expression of collagens I and collagen III in fibroblasts isolated from LF. Conclusion. The downregulation of miR-221 might contribute to LF hypertrophy by promoting collagens I and III expression via the induction of TIMP-2. Our study also underscores the potential of miR-221 as a novel therapeutic target in LSS. Level of Evidence: 3


We propose a novel method to co-cluster the vertices and hyperedges of hypergraphs with edge-dependent vertex weights (EDVWs). In this hypergraph model, the contribution of every vertex to each of its incident hyperedges is represented through an edge-dependent weight, conferring the model higher expressivity than the classical hypergraph. In our method, we leverage random walks with EDVWs to construct a hypergraph Laplacian and use its spectral properties to embed vertices and hyperedges in a common space. We then cluster these embeddings to obtain our proposed co-clustering method, of particular relevance in applications requiring the simultaneous clustering of data entities and features. Numerical experiments using real-world data demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach in comparison with state-of-the-art alternatives.


A potential driver of species abundance that remains understudied is the interaction between host species and their microbial symbionts. Beneficial symbionts could promote the dominance of common host species by increasing their population growth rates more than they do for rare species, and symbiont benefits could be important for maintaining rare species in communities. Alternatively, intrinsic differences in demography, independent of interactions with symbionts, could be the main driver of species' relative abundances. Here, we used demographic modelling with 5 years of data from experimental host populations to compare how symbiotic fungal endophytes, which are vertically transmitted from parent plant to offspring, influenced the population dynamics of one pair of co‐occurring, congeneric rare versus common host grasses (genus Poa). The common plant species achieved higher population growth than the rare species. Endophyte symbiosis increased the geometric population growth rate (λ) of rare and common species by 18% and 32%, respectively, but only the rare species was predicted to decline (λ < 1) in the absence of the endophyte, demonstrating that symbiosis was essential to maintain this species in the community. Endophyte symbiosis differentially affected the demographic transitions of the two hosts, increasing survival and growth for the common host, Poa sylvestris, and increasing survival but decreasing the probability of flowering for the rare host, Poa alsodes. The total contribution of the endophyte effects on host demographic rates to the overall difference in population growth between host species was small compared to the plants' intrinsic differences in demography. However, low rates of vertical transmission in P. sylvestris lessened its advantage in intrinsic demography over P. alsodes and thus decreased the projected difference in population growth between host plants. Synthesis. Our results highlight the importance of plant–symbiont interactions in the persistence of a rare plant population, as well as the utility of demographic models in teasing apart the relative importance of plant demographic rates versus host–symbiont interactions on the regional abundance of rare and common host plant species.


The extract of microalga Nitzschia laevis (NLE) is considered a source of dietary fucoxanthin, a carotenoid possessing a variety of health benefits. In the present study, the bioaccessibility and deacetylation of fucoxanthin were studied by simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic batch fermentation. In the gastric phase, higher fucoxanthin loss was observed at pH 3 compared to pH 4 and 5. Lipases are crucial for the deacetylation of fucoxanthin into fucoxanthinol. Fucoxanthinol production decreased significantly in the order: pure fucoxanthin (25.3%) > NLE (21.3%) > fucoxanthin-containing emulsion (11.74%). More than 32.7% of fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol was bioaccessible after gastrointestinal digestion of NLE. During colon fermentation of NLE, a higher loss of fucoxanthin and changes of short-chain fatty acid production were observed but no fucoxanthinol was detected. Altogether, we provided novel insights on the fucoxanthin fate along the human digestion tract and showed the potential of NLE as a promising source of fucoxanthin.


It is imperative that the surgical treatment of hip fractures is followed up with rehabilitation to enhance recovery and quality of life. This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine if an individualised, combined exercise–nutrition intervention significantly improved health outcomes in older adults, after proximal femoral fracture. We commenced the community extended therapy while in hospital, within two weeks post-surgery. The primary outcome was gait speed and secondary outcomes included physical function, strength and balance, body composition, energy and protein intake. Eighty-six and 89 participants were randomized into six months individualised exercise and nutrition intervention and attention-control groups, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in gait speed between the groups at six and 12 months. There were no major differences between groups with respect to the secondary outcomes, except estimated energy and protein intake. This may be explained by the sample size achieved. Participants in the intervention group had greater increment in energy (235 kcal; 95% CI, 95 to 375; p = 0.01) and protein intake (9.1 g; 95% CI, 1.5 to 16.8; p = 0.02), compared with those in the control group at six months but not significant at 12 months. This study has demonstrated that providing early, combined exercise and nutrition therapy can improve dietary energy and protein intake in older adults with hip fractures.


Reversible structural transformation upon exposure to external stimuli can lead to breathing effect or gate-opening phenomena for dynamic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which endow them with excellent gas separation performance. The separation of hydrogen isotopes remains a huge challenge due to their nearly identical physical and chemical properties. The unique feature of dynamic MOFs, especially structural transition triggered by isotopes or by temperature, maximally enhances kinetic quantum sieving and contributes to the highly selective separation of hydrogen isotopes. Herein, we present some examples for the separation of hydrogen isotopes based on dynamic frameworks, and we expect to attract increasing attention to this research field.


For the first time, 194Pt isotopically enriched carboplatin has been synthesized, serving for species specific isotope dilution analysis. Carboplatin was determined in urine, implementing both LC-ICP-QMS and LC-ESI-TOFMS. Hence, a separation method was applied, compatible with both ICP-QMS and ESI-MS detection. IDMS quantification was evaluated in terms of measurement uncertainty, comparing the two mass spectrometric detection methods. The procedural limits of detection of HPLC-ICP-QMS and HPLC-ESI-TOFMS were 0.1 ng g–1 and 15 ng g–1, respectively. Both methodologies were successfully applied to the quantification of carboplatin in the urine of a chemotherapy patient. The obtained carboplatin concentrations agreed within their uncertainties. Uncertainty budgeting calculations revealed that the accuracy of quantification was primarily limited by the precision of isotope ratio measurement, governing the determination of the ratios Rx, Ry and Rb of the IDMS equation. For ICP-QMS, a total combined uncertainty of 5.7% (coverage factor 2) was assessed. In accordance to the impaired precision of blend ratio determination in ESI-TOFMS (precision of 5% compared to 1% in ICP-QMS), this method revealed a total combined uncertainty of 23%.


: We propose a wavelength-dispersion equalizing scheme that counteracts the signal degradation caused by residual dispersion in Nyquist optical time-division multiplexing. To counteract the signal degradation, this scheme uses optical correlation receivers and a distorted reference signal. At a Q factor of 6.4 dB, the permissible values of the residual dispersion increased from 14.5 ps/nm to 99.5 ps/nm at a baud rate of 160 GBd.


Tuberculosis (TB) is a devastating disease to mankind that has killed more people than any other infectious disease. Despite many efforts and successes from the scientific and health communities, the prospect of TB elimination remains distant. On the one hand, sustainable public health programs with affordable and broad implementation of anti-TB measures are needed. On the other hand, achieving TB elimination requires critical advances in three areas: vaccination, diagnosis, and treatment. It is also well accepted that succeeding in advancing these areas requires a deeper knowledge of host—pathogen interactions during infection, and for that, better experimental models are needed. Here, we review the potential and limitations of different experimental approaches used in TB research, focusing on animal and human-based cell culture models. We highlight the most recent advances in developing in vitro 3D models and introduce the potential of lung organoids as a new tool to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.


Digital heritage techniques such as photogrammetry and laser scanning are revolutionizing the way we can record, analyze, and disseminate 3D information about cultural heritage sites around the world. However, the expense and expertise required to conduct digital heritage work limits access to these exciting techniques, and furthers the divide between stakeholder groups to create artificial silos for "knowledge brokers" and "knowledge consumers." In this paper, we explore low-cost, simple technological, software, and Web3D solutions to build truly accessible digital heritage pipelines to democratize the field of digital heritage and return agency to previously disenfranchised stakeholder groups. Not only is this important from an equity standpoint, but it is required if we wish to digitally document as many heritage site as possible in the face of ever-increasing threats from climate change, social unrest, and natural disasters.


We present a rare case of subdural empyema with cerebral arteritis and brain ischemia in the middle cerebral artery distribution secondary to odontogenic maxillary sinusitis. A 32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of high fever and generalized convulsions. Computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)showed subdural empyema at the left convexity, with a small amount of air. An interruption of the right maxillary sinus floor corresponding to the alveolar process was evident on coronal CT. He was diagnosed as having subdural empyema caused by odontogenic maxillary sinusitis. MR angiography showed stenosis of the left middle cerebral artery(MCA). Despite antibiotic administration, he became drowsy and developed aphasia with right hemiparesis. Repeat MRI showed enlargement of the encapsulated subdural empyema with increased midline shift to the right. We performed prompt surgical evacuation with craniotomy, endoscopic drainage of the sinusitis, and tooth extraction. A hyperintense lesion was observed on subsequent diffusion-weighted imaging in the left MCA distribution. After repeat drainage of the re-enlarged subdural empyema, he was discharged without apparent neurological deficits. This case indicates that subdural empyema from odontogenic sinusitis requires a suitable imaging study of the brain, head, and neck region, and a multidisciplinary approach involving a neurosurgeon, otolaryngologist, and oral surgeon. Prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy with surgical intervention is recommended for treatment of subdural empyema from odontogenic sinusitis.


Background The effectiveness of anti-tumor necrosis factor -alpha therapy (anti-TNF-α) is well known, but the discontinuation of this therapy is insufficiently studied. Objectives To analyze consequences and safety of anti-TNF-α therapy after discontinuation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods 79 patients with AS were included in the research: 72 with axial AS and 7 with peripheral AS. All these patients discontinued anti-TNF-α therapy from 1 week to 54 weeks. The age of patients was from 18 years to 75 years. There were 74% men and 26% women. The remission was from 2 weeks to 6,5 years. The duration of current biological therapy was from 14 weeks to 9 years. The duration of disease was from 3 years to 46 years. 37 patients (86%) were HLA B27-positive and 6 patients (14%) HLA B27-negative among those who had done this test. The following criteria were used for assessment of disease activity in the result of anti-TNF-α therapy discontinuation: BASFI, BASDAI, DFI, VAS, CRP, ESR. Clinical relapse was defined as: BASDAI≥4, BASFI≥4, DFI≥4, VAS≥6, increase in CRP and ESR. Results The vast majority of patients who discontinued the anti-TNF-α therapy had clinical relapse. The mean time of relapse after the discontinuation of biological therapy was 14,1±12,2 weeks (p<0.05) for patients with axial AS and 8,5±4,6 weeks (p<0.05) for patients with peripheral AS. Relapse developed slower among patients who had a long remission. Patients with frequent discontinuations (4 and 5 times) were accompanied by faster developing of relapse in every subsequent break. There was only one patient with axial AS who continued to be in remission after long discontinuation (54 weeks). He was HLA B27 – positive, the duration of disease was 20 years, the duration of biological therapy by etanercept was 2,75 years. There is the correlation between the duration of biological therapy's discontinuation and developing of relapse. Longer the break is, worse indexes BASDAI, BASFI, DFI, VAS, ESR and CRP indicators are. 83% patients who had uveitis after discontinuation of biological therapy had relapse in uveitis, 17% patients hadn't. Conclusions The interruption of anti-TNF-α therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is unsafe and in the majority of cases leads to clinical relapse. AS-therapy must be permanent and uninterrupted. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.4438


New Culture intellectuals avidly promoted new narratives and models of femininity as the cornerstone of a new culture; the gender discourse they advocated, however, continued to be refracted through traditional notions of femininity and writing. This paper examines the means by which one woman writer, Ling Shuhua, attempted to navigate the contradictions of this discourse, to forge her identity as a modern woman writer. The shifting nature of Ling Shuhua's literary negotiations is particularly salient when her portrayals of traditional femininity and use of voice in Temple of Flowers (1928) are contextualized against her lesser-known works—her early stories published in 1924 in Chenbao and her later fictionalized autobiography in English, Ancient Melodies (1953). Unlike her lesser-known works, which are deeply sympathetic to the plight of boudoir women and critical of New Culture discourse, the stories in Temple of Flowers are often framed with a sense of ambiguity in relation to both feminist and New Culture agendas. While these disparities may reflect a resourcefulness on Ling Shuhua's part in her bid to carve out public writing spaces, they also suggest the kinds of negotiations and self-effacing gestures that her literary endeavors may have entailed.


Quantitative and qualitative analyses of bacterial microbiota associated with hatchery of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879) were conducted over three larval cycles, along with important water quality parameters. Physicochemical parameters (temperature, DO, salinity, pH and total ammonia) of culture water were within the optimum level required for the hatchery phase of M. rosenbergii. Aerobic plate count (APC) (log10 CFU.mL) ranged from 4.2 ± 0.18–8.7 ± 0.01 in rearing water and (log10 CFU.g) 3.3 ± 0.12–9.1 ± 1.1 in eggs and larvae. Significant differences in APCs among larval stages were observed. Ten genera and 17 species were identified with the predominance of Gram-negative bacteria constituting 63 % of all isolates (n = 706). Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Vibrio furnissii, Vibrio cholerae non-01, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus xylosus were predominantly present in culture water. These bacteria likewise dominated in eggs and larvae except for the absence of Ps. aeruginosa, Ps. pseudoalcaligenes, V. cholerae non-01, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staph. xylosus in eggs, clearly indicating that resident bacteria in water affect the composition of bacteria in eggs and larvae. Some of these are opportunistic pathogens. Thus, control measures to reduce influx of pathogenic microbes in the system by maintaining good water quality and good farm management practices through disinfection of culture facilities, rearing water, Artemia cysts, the practice of good hygiene of personnel, regular water exchange and feed regulation among others and cautionary use of antibiotics can be adopted.