To build, to brew and to bury: The credit market in Stockholm and the lending business of the Bank of the Estates of the Realm
Early modern European credit markets are often described as based on personal trust and on private, or informal, credit. They are contrasted with modern markets, which are based on trust in institutions and on formal credit relations. The prevalent narrative of the Swedish credit market, as well as of many other credit markets in Europe, claims that it developed in a linear manner from personal to institutional credit during the long nineteenth century.
This article aims to qualify this narrative by studying the transformations of the credit market in seventeenth-century Stockholm. In this period, an institutional actor, The Bank of the Estates of the Realm, founded 1668 in Stockholm, started to play a significant role both as a lender and as receiver of deposits. Previous research has mainly studied the exchanges of the nobility and the iron industry with the bank. This study takes a broader approach and looks at the bank's total lending business with a special focus on smaller loans and the credit market in Stockholm.
The bank extended small loans against both real property and chattels quite extensively. In probate inventories from Stockholm nearly one fifth of the households were debtors to the bank in the 1690s. Loans were taken by the members of the urban community to invest in real property – to buy or improve houses and plots – and by craftsmen to buy raw materials, but also to a lesser extent to finance life-cycle ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. In terms of the number of loans, rather than the sums extended, lending against movables, mainly objects of silver, was an important branch of the bank's business. More people had access to pawnable movables than to real property and in a society with a very rudimentary juridical framework around mortgage lending the bank often preferred movables.
The activities of the Bank of the Estates of the Realm show how institutions of various kind both pooled and lent money, activities commonly associated with banks, long before the nineteenth century and that the importance of institutional credit varied with time and place in early modern Europe.


In this paper, we consider a service system facing several classes of customers in which the arrival rate and service time depend on the workload in the system, while the chance of return is a function of the service time. We first model the problem as a multi-class multi-server queueing network and investigate its stability by examining the conditions under which the Markov chain representing the network is positive recurrent. We then examine the impact of the relationship among the workload, service time, arrival rate, and the chance of return on the dynamics of the system using a fluid approach. We first characterize all equilibria of the system and show that the system may shift between several equilibrium states. We establish that all equilibria can be easily determined and demonstrate conditions under which an equilibrium is stable. We then prove that, surprisingly, the stability of an equilibrium and the congestion in the system may depend on the amount of time a customer spends outside of the system before returning for rework. However, we show that if the relationship between the workload and service time in a system facing a single class of customers is non-decreasing, the long-run behaviour of the system is not affected by how long it takes until a customer returns.


The underwater environment is widely regarded as one of the most difficult communication channels. Underwater acoustic communications systems are challenged by the characteristics of acoustic propagation through the underwater environment. There are a wide range of physical processes that impact underwater acoustic communications and the relative importance of these processes are different in different environments. In this paper some relevant propagation phenomena are described in the context of how they impact the development and/or performance of underwater acoustic communications networks. The speed of sound and channel latency, absorption and spreading losses, waveguide effects and multipath, surface scattering, bubbles, and ambient noise are all briefly discussed.


The object of this short article is to examine the legal framework in Australia with respect to international commercial arbitration. International arbitration in Australia is currently regulated by two main statutory sources: the International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth) and the Uniform State legislation (in Victoria, the Commercial Arbitration Act 1984) with the Commonwealth Act being the more significant. While the Australian legislation and judicial decisions are generally supportive of international arbitration, there is no doubt that the existence of separate legislative schemes has added considerable complexity to the area. Perhaps attention should be given to creating a single legislative regime as exists in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Hong Kong, or at least confining the uniform legislation to domestic arbitrations as far as possible.


In this article we utilize a concentric cylinder model to analyze the stress state in a continuously reinforced coated fiber composite subjected to transverse loading. We incorporate this analysis into a methodical approach to determine an optimal inter phase coating for the fibers to maximize the composite's transverse strain to failure. The present study focuses on the effect of interphase Young's modulus on the stress state in the matrix material of a composite subjected to constant strain (displacement) boundary con ditions. We demonstrate, by analytically varying the coating modulus, that an optimum in terphase property exists which minimizes the maximum principal stress and the strain en ergy density in the composite material. The minimization of these quantities clearly indicates that failure initiation in a composite with an optimal fiber coating will occur at a significantly larger strain level. Therefore, we postulate (based on the current analysis) that the transverse strain to failure of a composite system can be increased with appropriate fiber coatings. Results and design curves are presented for an AS-4/Epon 828 composite system which suggest that for large fiber volume fractions (i.e., 60%) the optimum coating is an elastomeric material. The data presented on this composite suggest that the strain to failure can be increased as much as 6 times by coating the structural fibers with an optimal coating. A comparison between constant stress boundary conditions (i.e., optimizing strength) and constant strain boundary conditions (i.e., optimizing strain to failure) are also presented.


Designing a quiet and efficient propeller is a demanding task since these two goals often lead to contradictory design trends. The task becomes even more complicated when additional constraints are introduced. The paper presents a Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) process for designing a quiet propeller under various constraints. The acoustic model of the propeller is presented in detail, including its validation. The new process is used in order to design a quiet propeller for an electric Mini-UAV. This design is subjected to power, structural and side constraints. The design variables include: blade geometry, blade cone angle, propeller radius, number of blades, and rotational speed. It is shown that the motor characteristics have an important influence on the optimization and therefore it is important to take them into account during the design process. The influence of the various parameters on the design and propeller's characteristics are presented and discussed in detail.


The incorporation of active materials in a package or matrix to effect controlled or sustained release of drugs to a targeted area is of high research interest. The nine review articles by leading researchers in this book examine from a multidisciplinary perspective the newest systems and phenomena in this fast-moving field. Topics considered are span polymers (bioactive polymers, biodegradable polymers), microcapsules, biomolecules (liposomes), skin (trans-dermal delivery) and novel drug delivery systems (osmotic pumps). Throughout these discussions the focus is placed on the controlled release of active substances in both time and space (delivery rate and site) to obtain a therapeutic or desired effect.


Brd4 has been intensively investigated as a promising drug target because of its implicated functions in oncogenesis, inflammation, and HIV-1 transcription. The formation of the Brd4-P-TEFb (CDK9/Cyclin T1) complex and its regulation of transcriptional elongation are critical for HIV latency reactivation and expression of many oncogenes. To further investigate the mechanism of the Brd4-P-TEFb complex in controlling elongation, mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics of the CDK9 interactome was performed. Upon treatment with the selective BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1, 352 proteins were successfully identified with high confidence as CDK9-interacting proteins. Among them, increased bindings of HSP90 and CDC37 to CDK9 were particularly striking, and our data suggest that the HSP90-CDC37-P-TEFb complex is involved in controlling the dynamic equilibrium of the P-TEFb complex during BETi-induced reactivation of HIV-1 latency. Furthermore, the HSP90-CDC37-P-TEFb complex directly regulates HIV-1 transcription and relies on recruitment by heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) for binding to the HIV-1 promoter. These results advance the understanding of HSP90-CDC37-P-TEFb in HIV-1 latency reversal and enlighten the development of potential strategies to eradicate HIV-1 using a combination of targeted drugs.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of audit quality and debt financing on earnings management. In this research, the quality of audit and debt financing is considered as an independent variable and profit management as an associated variable. The criteria for measuring the audit quality of the auditor's tenure, the size of the audit firm, the auditor's specialty, and the independence of the auditor are to measure the financing of both short-term financing (short-term debt to total assets) and long-term debt financing (Longterm debt to total assets). Also, for measuring earnings management as a dependent variable, the modified Jones model was used. The spatial domain of the research includes companies admitted to the Tehran Stock Exchange and the realm of time from the beginning of 2010 to 2016, totally due to the restrictions imposed, 134 companies were selected as samples. Testing the research hypotheses using aggregated least squares regression showed that none of the audit quality criteria studied in this research and debt financing had any effect on the management of profit.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in novel markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with type 2 diabetes stratified according to cardiorespiratory fitness.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
A total of 28 women (mean age 57 +/- 6 years) with type 2 diabetes who were free from overt CVD were placed into low cardiorespiratory fitness (LCF) or average cardiorespiratory fitness (ACF) groups based on a graded exercise test to exhaustion. A group of eight women without type 2 diabetes were also examined and served as healthy control subjects. The median VO(2peak) value was used as a cutoff for group determination. We assessed both conventional CVD risk factors, including blood pressure, BMI, and lipid profile, as well as novel CVD risk factors, such as left ventricular filling dynamics, arterial stiffness, fasting insulin, and C-reactive protein (CRP).

RESULTS
VO(2peak) values were 69 +/- 14 and 91 +/- 24% of predicted values for sedentary age-matched healthy individuals in the LCF and ACF groups, respectively. BMI was significantly greater in the LCF group (P < 0.05); however, no differences were observed in age, lipid profile, or resting hemodynamics. CRP was 3.3-fold higher in the LCF group (6.3 +/- 41. vs. 1.9 +/- 1.7 mg/l, P < 0.05), whereas other novel markers of CVD were not significantly different between the groups. Significant negative relationships were observed between VO(2peak) and both CRP (r = -0.49) and the homeostasis model assessment index (r = -0.48) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
The novel finding of this investigation is that low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with elevated CRP and reduced fasting glucose control in women with type 2 diabetes.


Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting up to 10% of women of childbearing age. Traditionally, androgen elevation has been considered the main pathological cause for PCOS. However, it is increasingly recognized that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, play important roles in follicle recruitment, follicle selection, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) responsiveness.
Methods: Twenty-eight PCOS patients and fourteen tubular infertility patients were recruited from patients seeking reproductive assistance at The Center of Reproductive Medicine in Taiyuan, China. Each patient went through an in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation (IVF-ET) procedure. The mRNA and protein levels of hormones, hormone receptors, and BMPs were evaluated using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.
Results: Hormone levels were comparable in PCOS and control patients. In contrast, significant differences were observed in BMP levels in these two groups. BMP-5, -6, -7, and -8A levels were all markedly lower in follicular fluid in PCOS patients (p<0.05), with BMP-7 being the most significantly down regulated biomarker (p=0.0004). The levels of all BMPs were positively correlated with follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR).
Conclusions: Expression levels of multiple BMPs were significantly down-regulated in follicular fluid from PCOS patients. Their low abundance as well as their correlation with FSHR confirmed BMPs as key regulators of PCOS pathogenesis.


The current study evaluated the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) platforms, developed within the scope of the SKILLS Integrated Project, for industrial maintenance and assembly (IMA) tasks training. VR and AR systems are now widely regarded as promising training platforms for complex and highly demanding IMA tasks. However, there is a need to empirically evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness compared to traditional training methods. Forty expert technicians were randomly assigned to four training groups in an electronic actuator assembly task: VR (training with the VR platform twice), Control-VR (watching a filmed demonstration twice), AR (training with the AR platform once), and Control-AR (training with the real actuator and the aid of a filmed demonstration once). A post-training test evaluated performance in the real task. Results demonstrate that, in general, the VR and AR training groups required longer training time compared to the Control-VR and Control-AR groups, respectively. There were fewer unsolved errors in the AR group compared to the Control-AR group, and no significant differences in final performance between the VR and Control-VR groups, probably due to a ceiling effect created by the use of two training trials in the selected task for participants who were expert technicians. The results suggest that use of the AR platform for training IMA tasks should be encouraged and use of the VR platform for that purpose should be further evaluated.


BACKGROUND
The impact of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on the arterial baroreflex, and its significance, is still under debate. We investigated the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) during sleep in well-selected OSAS patient and control subject cohorts

METHODS
We performed a prospective study of 10 non-OSAS subjects, 14 subjects with mild-to-moderate OSAS, and 14 male subjects with severe OSAS subjects. Groups were matched for age, body mass index, and other relevant variables. Subjects had no other disease and were not receiving regular medication. BP was monitored beat-by-beat (Portapres; Finapres Medical Systems; Amsterdam, the Netherlands) at night during polysomnography. Spontaneous BRS was assessed by the sequence technique. Heart-rate correction was also applied to calculate BRS at a heart rate (HR) of 60 beats/min (BRS-60) to account for intersubject variability in baseline HR. Eight suitable patients were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and BRS measurements were repeated 6 weeks later.

RESULTS
BRS and BRS-60 were significantly lower in patients with severe OSAS than in patients with mild-to-moderate OSAS and in non-OSAS subjects, and a separate sleep-stage analysis revealed this difference to be evident in stage 2 non-rapid eye movement sleep and during nocturnal wakefulness. There was no difference in BRS and BRS-60 between non-OSAS subjects and patients with mild-to-moderate OSAS. In multivariate analysis, the desaturation index was the only independent predictor of depressed BRS. CPAP therapy significantly improved the BRS measures.

CONCLUSION
Patients with severe OSAS demonstrate depressed BRS during sleep, which may contribute to the cardiovascular pathophysiology in OSAS patients.


AbstractUnderstanding customer loyalty has been a growing concern for the services industry. In a context of increasing competitive pressures, such loyalty is seen as a key element in service companies' success. Maintaining customer loyalty and identifying its underlying factors, however, are recognizably difficult to do. Grounded on the use of cognitive mapping techniques, this paper proposes a knowledge-based framework for the identification of the key determinants of customer loyalty, and the relationships among them. A step-by-step guide to the development of such a framework is presented, and illustrated through a practical application in the banking context. The resulting findings are supportive of the applicability of such methods for understanding customer loyalty, and the improvement of long-term relationships with customers. They are furthermore indicative of new ways in which knowledge can be incorporated into management activities to improve service outcomes. Some managerial implications of ou...


Preface and Acknowledgements. Part I: Neurophilosophical Foundations. Introduction to Part I: Neurophilosophical Foundations (Pete Mandik). 1. Philosophy Meets the Neurosciences (William Bechtel, Pete Mandik, and Jennifer Mundale). 2. Brain Metaphor and Brain Theory (John G. Daugman). 3. Neuroanatomical Foundations for Cognition: The Neuron Doctrine and Brain Mapping (Jennifer Mundale). 4. Epistemic Issues in Procuring Evidence About the Brain: The Importance of Research Instruments and Techniques (William Bechtel and Robert S. Stufflebeam). Questions for Further Study and Reflection Concerning Neurophilosophical Foundations. Part II: Language. Introduction to Part II: Language (William Bechtel). 5. Remarks on the Seat of the Faculty of Articulate Language Followed by an Observation of Aphemia (Paul Broca). 6. Recent Works on Aphasia (Carl Wernicke). 7. The Processing of Single Words Studied with Positron Emission Tomography (Steven E. Petersen and Julie A. Fiez). 8. Modularity, Domain Specificity and the Development of Language (Elizabeth Bates). 9. Linking Cognition and Brain: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Language (William Bechtel). Questions for Further Study and Reflection Concerning Language. Part III: Vision. Introduction to Part III: Vision (William Bechtel). 10. Brain Mechanisms of Vision (David H. Hubel and Torsten N. Wiesel). 11. Object Vision and Spatial Vision: Two Cortical Pathways (Mortimer Mishkin, Leslie G. Ungerleider, and Kathleen A. Macko). 12. Neural Mechanisms of Form and Motion Processing in the Primate Visual System (David C. van Essen and Jack L. Gallant). 13. Decomposing and Localizing Vision: An Exemplar for Cognitive Neuroscience (William Bechtel). Questions for Further Study and Reflection Concerning Vision. Part IV: Consciousness. Introduction to Part IV: Consciousness (Pete Mandik). 14. Consciousness and Neuroscience (Francis Crick and Christof Koch). 15. A Neurofunctional Theory of Visual Consciousness (Jesse Prinz). 16. The Nature of Pain ( Valerie G. Hardcastle. 17. The Neurobiology and Philosophy of Subjectivity (Pete Mandik). Questions for Further Study and Reflection Concerning Consciousness. Part V: Representation. Introduction to Part V: Representation (Pete Mandik). 18. Representations: From Neural Systems to Cognitive Systems (William Bechtel). 19. The Architecture of Representation (Rick Grush). 20. Of Sensory Systems and the a Aboutnessa of Mental States (Kathleen Akins). 21. Brain Matters: A Case Against Representations in the Brain (Rob Stufflebeam) Questions for Further Study and Reflection Concerning Representation. Part VI: Reduction. Introduction to Part VI: Reduction (Jennifer Mundale). 22. Intertheoretic Reduction: A Neuroscientista s Field Guide (Paul M. Churchland and Patricia S. Churchland). 23. Explanatory Pluralism and the Co--Evolution of Theories of Science (Robert N. McCauley). 24. McCauleya s Demand for a Co--Level Competitor (Paul M. Churchland and Patricia S. Churchland). Questions for Further Study and Reflection Concerning Reduction. Author Index. Subject Index.


Abstract Nunes, JA, Moreira, A, Crewther, BT, Nosaka, K, Viveiros, L, and Aoki, MS. Monitoring training load, recovery-stress state, immune-endocrine responses, and physical performance in elite female basketball players during a periodized training program. J Strength Cond Res 28(10): 2973–2980, 2014—This study investigated the effect of a periodized training program on internal training load (ITL), recovery-stress state, immune-endocrine responses, and physical performance in 19 elite female basketball players. The participants were monitored across a 12-week period before an international championship, which included 2 overloading and tapering phases. The first overloading phase (fourth to sixth week) was followed by a 1-week tapering, and the second overloading phase (eighth to 10th week) was followed by a 2-week tapering. ITL (session rating of perceived exertion method) and recovery-stress state (RESTQ-76 Sport questionnaire) were assessed weekly and bi-weekly, respectively. Pretraining and posttraining assessments included measures of salivary IgA, testosterone and cortisol concentrations, strength, jumping power, running endurance, and agility. Internal training load increased across all weeks from 2 to 11 (p ⩽ 0.05). After the first tapering period (week 7), a further increase in ITL was observed during the second overloading phase (p ⩽ 0.05). After the second tapering period, a decrease in ITL was detected (p ⩽ 0.05). A disturbance in athlete stress-recovery state was noted during the second overloading period (p ⩽ 0.05), before returning to baseline level in end of the second tapering period. The training program led to significant improvements in the physical performance parameters evaluated. The salivary measures did not change despite the fluctuations in ITL. In conclusion, a periodized training program evoked changes in ITL in elite female basketball players, which appeared to influence their recovery-stress state. The training plan was effective in preparing participants for competition, as indicated by improvements in recovery-stress state and physical performance after tapering.


Objective: To evaluate the association between the clinical scales of the child behavior checklist (CBCL) and the comorbid diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in a large sample of youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: The sample consisted of 101 girls and 106 boys ages 6 to17 with ADHD. Conditional probability analysis was used to examine the correspondence between CBCL Clinical Scales with the structured-interview derived diagnosis of ODD. Results: Conditional probability analysis showed that the CBCL Aggression Scale best predicted a structured-interview derived diagnosis of ODD in boys and girls with ADHD. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the CBCL Aggression Scale could serve as a rapid and cost-effective screening instrument to help identify cases likely to meet clinical criteria for ODD in the context of ADHD (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 12(1) 76-82)


Objectives: To find out the frequency uric acid levels in Pakistani general population. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Hira Medical Centre Sukkur. Period: July 1 2018 to July 31, 2018. Materials and Methods: The survey for was conducted in various hospitals and clinics all over Pakistan. 900 numbers of questionnaires were distributed of which 801 numbers responded. Those who agreed to be part of this study were asked. Uric acid levels were assessed by using UASure Blood Uric Acid Monitoring System.  Those with greater than 6 mg/dl were classified as hyperuricemia according to American college of Rheumatology. Descriptive analysis was performed with SPSS software version 23. Frequency of patients with hyperuricemia was calculated. Stratification with respect to gender and age was calculated via cross tabulation. Results: Out of 135 patients, 102 (75.5%) were male while 33 (25.5%) were female with mean ± SD age of 56.72 ± 12.24 years. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 33.33% (n=45). Mean Uric acid levels were 6.12 ± 1.68 mg/dl. 31.3% (n=32) male and 39.3% (n=13) females were hyperuricemic. Conclusion: Prevalence of Hyperuricemia in Sukkur is alarming and efforts should be made to aware patients about the consequences of.


Use digital books are urgently needed in online learning in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic. For increase quality learning , development curriculum , innovation learning , and quality nor completeness facilities and infrastructure. Research This done with use R&D (Research and Development) approach . Study This aim For 1) describe level need student to digital management book learning , 2) describe level validity digital management book learning , 3) describe level practicality digital management book learning . Study This developed with using a 4D model (define, design, development, disseminate). Study This carried out in the study in  ITKeS Muhammadiyah Sidrap .


In upwelling ecosystems, there is often a crucial intermediate trophic level, occupied by small, plankton-feeding pelagic fish dominated by one or a few schooling species. Their massive populations may vary radically in size under intensive exploitation. We have used decadal-scale time series to explore patterns of interactions between these fish, their prey, and their predators so as to quantify functional roles of small pelagic fish in those ecosystems. Top-down control of zooplankton is detected off South Africa, Ghana, Japan, and in the Black Sea. Conversely, bottom-up control of predators, such as predatory fish and marine birds, is observed in the Benguela, Guinea, and Humboldt currents. Thus small pelagic fish exert a major control on the trophic dynamics of upwelling ecosystems and constitute midtrophic-level "wasp-waist" populations. Ecosystem effects of fishing are addressed by considering potential structural changes at different scales of observation, ranging from individuals, via school dynamics, to food webs. The overall impact is explored using a trophic model (Ecosim) given different types of food web control. Ecosystem dynamics can be entirely different depending on how the food web is controlled (bottom-up, top-down or wasp-waist). The threat of eroding intra-specific diversity is emphasized because it may lead to a long-term decline in the productivity of the pelagic fish resources. School composition is shown to reflect the relative species abundance within the pelagic community and functions as a "school trap" that could maintain a collapsed population in a depleted state for lengthy periods, and affect spatial dynamics such as migrations. As a result, overfishing can alter the abundance, composition, and distribution in pelagic communities, and may induce drastic changes of state. Predation on zooplankton by the jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus murphyi) population in the South Pacific provides an example of the alteration of matter fluxes in trophic webs caused by fishery removals. In conclusion, it is doubtful that pelagic fisheries will continue to increase without major disruptions to ecosystems.


The field of quantum algorithms is vibrant. Still, there is currently a lack of programming languages for describing quantum computation on a practical scale, i.e., not just at the level of toy problems. We address this issue by introducing Quipper, a scalable, expressive, functional, higher-order quantum programming language. Quipper has been used to program a diverse set of non-trivial quantum algorithms, and can generate quantum gate representations using trillions of gates. It is geared towards a model of computation that uses a classical computer to control a quantum device, but is not dependent on any particular model of quantum hardware. Quipper has proven effective and easy to use, and opens the door towards using formal methods to analyze quantum algorithms.


Abstract
Part A of the three-book series on International Teacher Education: Promising Pedagogies focused on pedagogies of teacher selection, reflection, narrative ways of knowing, identity, and mentoring/mediation, while Part B of the three-volume set centered on pedagogies of preservice teacher leadership, diversity, parents/family, social justice, and technology. In this book, Part C of the trilogy, pedagogies of multimodalities, partnerships/communities, and teacher assessment are presented, along with vehicles for teacher education research and dissemination. To end the trilogy of books, ideas having to with traveling stories (Olson & Craig, 2009), the theory-practice split, and the praxical nature of pedagogies are summarized. Sustainability, hope, and the future are also discussed. A Traveling Pedagogies figure, with input from all of the chapters in the three-volume set, is presented to conclude the International Teacher Education: Promising Pedagogies series.


In April 2001, the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS) became responsible for family court work, including the provision of mediation services. Family court mediation offers a gateway for social work with children and families whose needs are largely left untouched by current services, and could thereby play an important part within the broader extension of prevention, early intervention, parenting and support services recommended by government. Over the past two decades, mediation has become a popular approach to reducing conflict and resolving disputes in a wide range of inter-personal, community and organizational settings. Given the professional interest that social workers have in helping their clients achieve more harmonious lives, the space for mediation would appear considerable and yet the connections between mediation and social work are, as yet, insufficiently mapped and analysed, in terms of both theory and practice. This paper draws on literature and recent research to review the relationship between family court mediation and social work.


Efficient expansion of steam in turbines cools the vapour to the point where it becomes wet. As turbines become larger the higher blading speeds employed lead to erosion damage of the blading as a result of impact with accumulated water in the form of drops. The distribution of this damage in the turbine is discussed. The processes of drop formation, release and subsequent motion before impact with the moving blades are described and the application of this knowledge to practical design is illustrated by particular examples.


Pedagogical research demonstrates theories and practices of perception or production of melodic or harmonic "intonation", i.e. the realization of pitch accuracy. There are software and hardware to help students improve intonation. Those tools have various functions. Nevertheless, they still miss something which could benefit users very much. Even worse, they are not easy to be revised. Most importantly, there should be more amusing and engaging interaction between a tuning trainer and a user which is able to exchange roles of tuner and player. In this research, we implement an open-source program named "Harmonic Intonation Trainer" in Pure Data. It includes most of essential elements of a smart tuner. A user can tune his pitch while optionally hearing (through earphones) the target pitch and other harmonic intervals in respective octaves. Moreover, in its interactive accompanist mode, a user's input pitch serves as the reference frequency; the program follows his intonation to generate corresponding harmonic intervals. Additionally, user can straightforwardly edit all parameters and patches by Pure Data. Any adoption or revision is absolutely welcome. Finally, we will initiate another research to test and to inspect experimental results from student orchestras so that its future version is expected to be more sophisticated.


A phytosociological survey carried out using the Z.-M. School's methodology and system of numerical-classification analyses, this study sought to classify the syntaxa of forest vegetation on Mt. Byeokbang and to collect basic data on the transitional zones of the southern Korean peninsula's coastal region. The syntaxa were classified into three physiognomic types and nine communities, including (1) evergreen coniferous forests (Eurya japonica-Pinus thunbergii community and Ardisia japonica-Pinus densiflora community), (2) summer-green, broad-leaved forests (Chloranthus japonicus-Quercus serrate community, Syneilesis palmata-Quercus mongolica community, Quercus acutissima community, Carpinus turczaninovii var. coreana community, Fraxinus siebolidiana-Quercus dentate community, and Deutzia glabrata-Lindera erythrocarpa community), and (3) artificial afforestation (Alnus firma afforestation). The Chloranthus japonicus-Quercus serrata community, Syneilesis palmata-Quercus mongolica community, Fraxinus siebolidiana-Quercus dentata community, Carpinus turczaninovii var. coreana, community and Deutzia glabrata-Lindera erythrocarpa community were closely evaluated for national vegetation naturalness. It was confirmed that the Carpinus turczaninovii var. coreana community was endemic to Korea. Most syntaxa were defined as a secondary forestation due to various human activities (e.g., forest fires, logging, digging, climbing, etc.). The results of a canonical-correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that human activities, altitude, humus depth, rock cover ratio, slope, etc. were the main ecological factors determining the classified plant communities' distribution patterns.


Introduction: Non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis is defined as the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the absence of alcohol consumption, being rare in the pediatric population. However, with the advent of the twentieth century pandemic, such as obesity, this pathology has increased its incidence, as well as others that belong to the metabolic syndrome. Objective: To determine the presence of hepatic steatosis in schoolchildren and adolescents with central obesity. Methods: observational, descriptive and cross-sectional research. The sample was of a census type, represented by 32 schoolchildren and adolescents who met the inclusion criteria, which are: age between 6 and 19 with central obesity - prior signing the informed consent. They underwent measurement of the waist circumference, abdominal ultrasound, measurement of the lipid profile and the determination of the level of physical activity through the application of the Pictorial Questionnaire of Infant Physical Activity. Results: 32 patients were studied, 18 (56.3%) male, adolescents 59.37%. With normal ultrasound (29/32) and with hepatic steatosis (3/32), of which 66.7% are grade II and 33.3% are grade III. Hypertriglyceridemia and borderline triglyceride levels 81.27% and hypercholesterolemia and borderline cholesterol levels 75%. Conclusion: School and adolescent patients with central obesity have borderline lipid profiles or dyslipidemia, in which, despite belonging to the pediatric population, moderate and severe cases of hepatic steatosis are evident.

Keywords: fatty liver, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, dyslipidemia, obesity.


The M2 subtype of the muscarinic receptor was investigated using the antagonist AF-DX 116. In "in vitro" and "in vivo" experiments, AF-DX 116 behaved as a competitive antagonist and exhibited a selectivity for cardiac muscarinic-mediated functions. It antagonized negative chronotropic and inotropic effects exerted by muscarinic receptor activation in the guinea pig atria with an affinity (pA2) 10-fold greater than that estimated in intestinal and tracheal smooth muscle preparations. It also reversed the negative chronotropic effect induced by peripheral vagal stimulation, intrasinus node injection of bethanechol and central vagal activation by clonidine. In all these in vivo functions, AF-DX 116 was approximately 10 times less potent than atropine, while being several hundred-fold less potent in antagonizing acetylcholine-mediated bronchoconstriction and gastric emptying. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the cardiac muscarinic receptors constitute a subclass of the M2 subtype.


Postcapillary or high-endothelial venules were preferentially distributed at the cortico-medullary junction of the thymus. In the lymph nodes these venules were located in he paracortical area between cortex and medulla. The venules in the thymus were surrounded by the so-called perivascular spaces, while those in the lymph nodes were not clearly surrounded by this space. The walls of the thymus venules were fenestrated. The reticular sheets surrounding the perivascular spaces were also fenestrated. These fenestrations facilitated the transmural passage of thymocytes through the vessels. In the lymph nodes where the venules had few fenestrations, lymphocytes in transmural passages were usually suspended between the high- endothelial cells. The macrophages were preferentially located in reticular meshes of the paracortical areas, and most of these cells were in contact with lymphocytes. This might indicate that the paracortical areas are the main interaction sites of lymph node lymphocytes and macrophages. Observations on the casted samples are also reported.


In the Sacramento Valley in California, USA, burrowing activities of California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) on levees pose a threat to human safety and property by potentially compromising levee integrity during a flood event. Ground squirrel occurrence on levees is influenced by habitat features on the levee itself, but occurrence also might be influenced by food availability in adjacent areas. During June through September 2012, we evaluated the association between the occurrence of ground squirrels on levees and 5 common land-use types adjacent to levees: perennial nut crops, perennial fruit crops, annual crops, rice, and grassland. Using burrow entrances as an index of ground squirrel occurrence and abundance, we found that ground squirrel occurrence was highest on levees adjacent to perennial nut and fruit crops and lowest adjacent to rice and grassland. Additionally, the number of burrow entrances on levees increased with percent cover of perennial nut crops on adjacent land. Our findings highlight the importance of a landscape perspective in managing human–wildlife conflicts, and will assist levee managers in prioritizing those reaches most at risk from infestation by ground squirrels, for inspection during routine maintenance, or for monitoring during a flood event. Further, opportunities might arise to coordinate with local landowners to establish crops adjacent to levees that are least attractive to ground squirrels. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.


As an evolutionary process, the robotic technology has been recently applied in the minimally invasive surgery. The robotic surgical system can provide cardiac surgeons with less invasive manner and dexterity manipulation in coronary artery bypass graft. The robotic minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft usually includes robotic internal thoracic artery harvesting, robotic assistant coronary artery bypass graft and totally robotic coronary artery bypass graft.


Creep deformation in welded pipes and plates is of particular importance in the
power industries. Most failures of welded pipes occur in the type IV region at the
boundary with the parent material, which is relatively much harder.
This thesis extends the work of Nicol (1985), Hawkes (1989) and Newman (1993)
on the Cosserat theory of plates and shells, and has two major aims. The first is to
develop the work of Hawkes to model successfully the strain rates in four-zone, thickwalled
welded pipes. It is possible to determine the effects that the thickness of the
pipe wall, the radius of the pipe and the creep index, n, in Norton's law have on the
strain-rate distribution throughout the pipe. Using Continuum Damage Mechanics and
this Cosserat model, the position and time to rupture in welded pipes is then calculated.
The second aim of this thesis is to develop further the initial modelling work of
Nicol (1985) and Hawkes (1989) by obtaining some simple perturbation models for
both welded pipes and plates. The results obtained with the perturbation solutions
are then compared with the numerical solutions of Newman (1993) for a plate and the
numerical solutions derived in this thesis for a pipe.


Microcantilevers are at the heart of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and play a significant role in AFM-based techniques. Recent advancements in multifrequency AFM require the simultaneous excitation and detection of multiple eigenfrequencies of microcantilevers to assess more data channels to quantify the material properties. However, to achieve higher spatiotemporal resolution there is a need to optimize the structure of microcantilevers. In this study, the architecture of the cantilever with gold nanoparticles using a dip-coating method is modified, aiming to tune the higher eigenmodes of the microcantilever as integer multiples of its fundamental frequency. Through the theoretical methodology and simulative model, that integer harmonics improve the coupling in multifrequency AFM measurements is demonstrated, leading to enhanced image quality and resolution. Furthermore, via the combined theoretical-experimental approach, the interplay between induced mass and stiffness change of the modified cantilever depending on the attached particle location, size, mass, and geometry is found. To validate the results of this predictive model, tapping-mode AFM is utilized and bimodal Amplitude Modulation AFM techniques to examine and quantify the impact of tuning higher-order eigenmodes on the imaging quality of a polystyrene-polymethylmethacrylate (PS-PMMA) block co-polymer assembly deposited on a glass slide and Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG).


Executive Summary The report examines the prevalence and effectiveness of anti-bullying policies being used in a convenience sample of Australian government schools in six state or territory educational jurisdictions. It has drawn upon the perceptions and experiences of a range of stakeholders, that is, schools, teachers, parents and educational administrators from a number of Australian states and territories. Online questionnaires were answered by schools (N = 26) through a school representative in consultation with colleagues; students (N = 1,688) in Years 5 to 10; teachers (N = 451) and parents (N = 167). In addition, interviews were conducted by telephone with regional administrators/educational leaders (N = 10). Both quantitative and qualitative methods of analyses were employed. Results were analysed in relation to type of school (primary, secondary and combined), disability, gender, ethnicity and year of schooling. The results provide an account of the social context in which bullying takes place. These include estimates on bullying prevalence, student responses to bullying and effects on student wellbeing. How schools are responding is then examined in relation to proactive approaches (i.e., preventing bullying) and reactive approaches (i.e., responding to cases of bullying) adopted by schools. Key findings were that approximately 15% of students reported being bullied, most commonly in verbal and covert ways. Disabled students reported being victimised more often than able-bodied students. In general, the sample of Indigenous students was not bullied more than others, but there was evidence of them being more often racially harassed. All the schools reported having a written anti-bullying policy, but only 47.8% of students indicated that they were aware of its existence. Most students reported that teacher-led instruction and activities on bullying took place at their school, more commonly in primary schools. Whilst students generally recognised the value of this work, they indicated different priorities about what is most useful in stopping bullying. A minority of students (37.7%) reported that they were being bullied to teachers/counsellors. Of these, 29.3% reported that the bullying had been prevented from continuing and a further 39.6% that it had been reduced. Intervention methods, as reported by teachers, included the use of sanctions, strengthening the victim, mediation and restorative practice, and to a lesser extent the Support Group Method and the Method of Shared Concern. Basing their judgements on the experiences of their children at school, parents of bullied children were the least positive in appraising the effectiveness of the work of teachers. Results from teachers on a test of knowledge about bullying indicated that on many issues teachers were in error or divided in their beliefs. Generally, teachers believed that training in countering bullying, especially at pre-service level, was inadequate. It was also evident that the pressure of other business together with scarce resources made it difficult for schools to focus on bullying. Based on the results from this study, the following recommendations are made: (i) enable all members of the school community to become familiar with the school anti-bullying policy; (ii) seek out and act upon student feedback on the helpfulness of actions taken by the school in addressing bullying; (iii) pay particular attention to students who are most vulnerable to being bullied; (iv) engage more effectively with students who are being bullied and require help from the school; (v) provide more anti- bullying professional learning for both pre-service and practising teachers; and (vi) conduct further research to address issues identified as significant in this study.


The effect of graded doses of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) separately on the pituitary‐thyroid axis has been studied in normal subjects. It has been demonstrated that small doses (50 μg T4 or 20 μg T3) cause significant suppression of the pituitary‐thyroid axis. There was a strong negative correlation between the TSH value 20 min after TRH and the does of thyroid hormone. T4 supplements led to a progressive dose‐related rise in serum T4 and no significant change in T3 until high daily doses (> 200 μg) were administered. T3 supplements led to a progressive reduction in serum T4 and there was no change in T3 until substantial supplements were given (7gt; 50 μg/day). Concurrent administration of 6 PTU had no effect on the pattern of pituitary suppression or thyroid hormone concentrations in contrast to its reported effect in hypothyroid subjects.


In wireless packet transmission systems, it is crucial to provide fairness in service while maximizing user utility and channel throughput. This is possible via intelligent allocation of system resources. For real time video applications, a pre-roll time for pre-fetching data at the client buffer is needed in order to compensate for channel variations that cause client buffer under/overflows, hence facilitating continuous playout of the video. In this paper, a novel multiple objective optimized (MOO) opportunistic multiple access scheme for optimal scheduling of users in a 1xEV-DO (IS-856) system is presented. At each time slot, the user that experiences the best compromise between the least buffer occupancy and the best channel condition is served. Experiments conducted in ITU Pedestrian A and Vehicular B environments show that our algorithm treats each user fairly while its channel throughput performance is very close to the ideal case, in which the user with the best channel characteristics is always served with no buffer constraints


This paper introduces euPOLIS; an EU funded project, which emphasize on the appropriate development of urban ecosystems in a way that enhance Public Health (PH) and Well-Being (WB) without significant Life-Cycle costs. Such an approach has has the potential to regenerate urban ecosystems addressing multiple challenges, such as low environmental quality, fragmentation and low biodiversity in public spaces, water-stressed resources, undervalued use of space in deprived areas resulting in an improved urban livability. The proposed methodology is expected to improve people's quality of life, providing them with pleasant socializing open areas that stimulate social exchange while monitoring the impact of all those interventions to PH and WB of citizens. The euPOLIS suggested solutions will be demonstrated in 4 European cities: Belgrade, Lodz, Piraeus and Gladsaxe.


Background/Objective: Achyranthes aspera is an erect flowering medicinal herb use in folkloric medicine. This study aims to examine the effect of methanolic leaf extract of Achyranthes aspera on hematological parameters of Swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods: 70 adult mice of both sexes with mean weight of 22 ± 5g were used for this study. Achyranthes aspera leaves was pulverized to coarse powder from where methanolic extract was obtained. 0.2ml of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg, and 200mg/kg respectively of leaf extract was administered to mice for four days. After administration, 1ml of blood was collected from mice through cardiac puncture into EDTA bottle for full blood count estimation using Abacus-80 hematological analyzer. Results: The administration of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg doses of the extract resulted in increased lymphocyte count from 29.4±7.35% to 70.4±0.25%, 70.5±0.219% and 81.3±0.282% respectively at P>0.05 while neutrophil value was reduced from 55.2±11.05 x 109/l to 14.0±0.216x 109/l, 11.2±0.109x109/l and 12.3±0.148 x109/l. The administration of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg doses of the extract increases platelet count from 99.0±0.52x103/ul to 529±0.01x 103/ul, 332±0.523x103/ul and 135±0.543x103/ul respectively. Conclusion: Ingestion of methanolic leaf extract of Achyranthes aspera resulted in a dose dependent changes in hematological parameter of albino mice including significant increase in lymphocyte and platelet counts. This plant's leaf extract may therefore have the potentials of being effective in the treatment of diseases cause by thrombocytopenia and lymphocytopenia in mammals. It is believed that information provided in this study can enhance appropriate usage of Achyranthes aspera in folkloric medicine in Nigeria.


Along with the wide acceptance of IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN), new applications such as Internet protocol (IP) telephony over WLAN are fast emerging today. For battery-powered IP phone devices, the life time extension is a key concern for the market acceptance while today's 802.11 is not optimized for such an operation. In this paper, we propose a novel idle mode operation, which comprises paging, idle handoff, and delayed handoff. Under the idle mode operation, a mobile host (MH) without any active session does not need to perform hand-off within a predefined paging area (PA). Only when it enters a new PA, an idle handoff is performed. The proposed idle mode allows an MH without traffic to extend its life time. We develop a new analytical model in order to comparatively evaluate our proposed scheme. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms the existing schemes with respect to power consumption.


Environmental contamination by organics such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generally changes native microbial communities. However our understanding of microbial responses has been limited to short term studies (i.e., less than 2-3 years) so long term community responses are not as well understood. In 1996, the genetically engineered microorganism Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44 was released into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil in lysimeters to monitor in situ PAH-biodegradation.
The objective of this study was to assess the long term impacts of PAH contamination and addition of HK44 on the indigenous soil bacterial community structure. In 2010, 14 years after the lysimeter experiment initiation, lysimeters were unsealed and sampled. Although PAHs were degraded and PAH concentrations fell below detectable levels within approximately the first two years of this experiment, lysimeters that had received PAHs had significantly higher soil organic matter content (1.30 ± 0.23%) than control lysimeters with clean soils (0.81 ± 0.08%). Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries revealed a distinct bacterial community structure in the lysimeters that had received PAHs. In contrast, there were no discernible differences in soil chemistry or bacterial community structures in lysimeters where HK44 was inoculated compared to those to which HK44 was not inoculated. These results indicate that although the initial perturbations are no longer detectable, the addition of PAHs had long term influences on the bacterial communities, while the introduction of the genetically engineered microorganism HK44 did not.


We investigate temporal, second-order classical ghost imaging with long, incoherent, scalar plane-wave pulses. We prove that in rather general conditions, the intensity correlation function at the output of the setup is given by the fractional Fourier transform of the temporal object. In special cases, the correlation function is shown to reduce to the ordinary Fourier transform and the temporal image of the object. Effects influencing the visibility and the resolution are considered. This work extends certain known results on spatial ghost imaging into the time domain and could find applications in temporal tomography of pulses.


The effects of the addition of Zn as ZnO to diets to induce molt were evaluated against a fasted control. Experiment 1 involved 315 Leghorn hens, 15 months old, randomly distributed among five treatments, each replicated seven times with 9 hens per replicate. Hens fasted for 10 days were compared with hens fed diets to which ZnO was added at 10,000, 5,000, or 2,500 ppm for 7, 14, or 21 days. No significant differences were observed among treatments for days to return to 50% production, hen-day and hen-housed production, egg weight, grams egg per hen-day, grams of feed per gram egg, mortality, or Haugh units during the 22-week experimental period. Experiment 2 involved 420 Leghorn hens, 18 months old, randomly distributed among five treatments, each replicated seven times with 12 hens per replicate. Treatments involved fasting for 10 days or feeding diets with 10,000, 5,000, or 2,500 ppm ZnO fed for 7, 14, or 21 days. Hens fasted and hens fed diets with 10,000 ppm ZnO at the start of the experiment ceased production in significantly less time (4.6 to 6 days) than hens fed 5,000 ppm ZnO (14.3 to 14.9 days); however, days to return to 50% production from the start of the experiment did not differ among treatments. Feed consumption and feed cost per hen day during molt were lowest (P less than .05) in the fasted hens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


To investigate the hypothalamic responsiveness in obesity, changes in the levels of plasma cortisol and growth hormone (GH) were studied in 11 obese and six normal-weight subjects after hypothalamic alpha-adrenergic stimulation with methoxamine, 20 mg i.v. To allow for dose/body weight differences, five additional obese subjects received 30 mg methoxamine. Plasma GH, cortisol, insulin, free fatty acid and glucose levels were determined during the 3-h infusion of methoxamine. The responses of cortisol and GH were reduced in the obese subjects as compared with the normal-weight subjects. No significant changes in plasma glucose, free fatty acids or insulin were observed in any of the groups. The reduced responses of plasma cortisol ang GH in the obese subjects are considered to be an expression of hypothalamic underresponsiveness, since the stimuli for the secretion of these hormones are at least partially controlled by an alpha-adrenergic mechanism.


The goal of this study is to ascertain the validity of the asymmetry of information idea in explaining the financing choice of firms in Nigeria. The sample covers 60 firms quoted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The Nigerian nation does not have a well developed capital market and so remain heavily on internal funding. Using a regression analysis, this study reveals that leverage is a decreasing function of profitability. This supports the pecking order theory. The current economic problems in Nigeria can be attributed not to too much reliance on financial markets, but to too little. There is some sort of misalignments between the capital market and the money market which is likely to affect the efficiency of one in meeting the financing needs of corporations. There should be complementary roles between the two markets. In Nigeria, this expected complementary roles between the two markets lag. While it makes sense, for instance for banks to brave up towards meeting the long term financing needs of firms, it is also very necessary for the other fund providers to design financing products that would help fill up arising financing gaps not covered by banks. We recommend that firms would have to device other strategic ways of diversifying their funding sources. One is by balancing their investments in both fixed and current assets.


After offering a short survey of the history of the concept of Concord/Eintracht in the German area and in the Modern Age (ca. 1550-1800), the article focuses on the political models proposed, respectively, in the early Romanticism by Novalis (Christianity or Europe, 1799) and in the later Romanticism by F. Schlegel (Concordia, 1820). Both models are conservative, monarchical-corporative and catholic, but a closer examination and comparison reveals important differences, first and foremost on the political meaning of the idealised Middle Ages.


BACKGROUND
FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 (fibroblast growth factor receptors) have been shown to play an important role in several processes including carcinogenesis. This study was designed to determine gradual FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 expression in sequential stages of oral carcinogenesis in an experimental animal system of Syrian golden hamsters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Tissue sections ranging from normal mucosa to squamous cell carcinoma were studied using monoclonal antibodies against FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 proteins.

RESULTS
A significant elevation was revealed in both FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 expression during the stages of dysplasia and early invasion, while in the later stages of oral carcinogenesis the expression of both FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 decreased although not significantly.

CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that FGFR-2 and FGFR-3 seem to play an important role in the initial stages of oral cancer progression.


Background Tocilizumab administered subcutaneously (TCZ-SC) has been approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) both as mono- and combination therapy. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCZ-SC 162 mg once weekly (qw) as monotherapy or in combination with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) over 24 weeks in adult patients (pts) with moderate to severe RA. Methods TOZURA is a multinational, open-label, single-arm umbrella program comprising 7 single-country and 4 regional multicountry protocols (total 22 countries). Pts enrolled were inadequate responders to DMARD, and previous biologic DMARDs were allowed in 8 of 11 protocols. Pts received TCZ-SC 162 mg qw for 24 weeks administered at the investigator's discretion as monotherapy or in combination with a csDMARD. Stable oral NSAIDs and corticosteroids (CS), ≤10 mg/day prednisone or equivalent, were allowed. Efficacy and safety were evaluated at weeks 1, 2, 4 and every 4 weeks for 24 weeks (plus 8 weeks for safety). Propensity score-based matching was used for between-group tests. Results Of 1804 pts treated, 353 (19.6%) received monotherapy (mono) and 1451 (80.4%) combination therapy (combo); 349 pts (19.3%) had received a prior biologic DMARD. Background characteristics: 81.6% female; mean age, 54.1 years; mean RA duration, 7.7 years; and 82.7% seropositive –similar between treatment groups. Baseline CS was less frequent in the mono vs combo group (41.1% vs 51.2%); however, the mean prednisone equivalent daily dose was similar (6.6 vs 6.5 mg/day, respectively). Pts who continued TCZ to week 24 based on Kaplan-Meier estimates (95% CI) were 79.3% (74.7%>83.2%) for mono and 85.6% (83.7%>87.3%) for combo. DAS28 scores decreased comparably from baseline to week 24 in both groups (mean change: mono −3.40 and combo −3.46), with no significant difference between groups (P =0.61). Results were similar for the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI, mean change by week 24: −23.5 and −23.8, with no significant difference between groups: P=0.42). The proportion of pts who achieved DAS28 or CDAI-based remission, low disease activity or ACR20/50/70/90 responses was similar between groups (Figure 1). In all, 18.2% of pts withdrew; 6.4% did so for safety reasons (mono 9.1%, combo 5.8%). AE rates were similar between groups (Table). Serious AE (SAE) rates were 14.6/100 PY (mono: 22.8/100 PY, combo: 12.8/100 PY). Serious infection and infestation rates were 3.6/100 PY (mono: 4.0/100 PY, combo: 3.5/100 PY) – similar between groups. Six deaths occurred (0.64/100 PY), 1 in the monotherapy group (0.57/100 PY) and 5 in the combination (0.65/100 PY) group. Conclusions TCZ-SC demonstrated convincing and comparable efficacy as mono- and combination therapy in pts with RA as was previously observed with TCZ-IV. The safety profile of TCZ-SC is consistent with the known safety profile of TCZ as monotherapy and in combination with csDMARDs. Acknowledgements Funded by F. Hoffmann-La. Roche, Ltd. Disclosure of Interest E. Choy Grant/research support from: F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Consultant for: F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Speakers bureau: F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Chugai Pharmaceutical, R. Caporali Consultant for: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, UCB and MSD Pharmaceuticals, R. Xavier Consultant for: F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Pfizer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, Eli Lilly and Company, Speakers bureau: F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Pfizer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Abbvie, Eli Lilly and Company, B. Fautrel: None declared, R. Sanmarti: None declared, C. Bernasconi Employee of: F. Hoffmann-La Roche (contractor), A. Pethö-Schramm Employee of: F. Hoffmann-La Roche


This study aims to describe the students' language learning strategies in learning French throughout the new learning norm due to COVID-19. A total number of 203 beginner learners from 9 different classes participated in this study. All classes were held online as part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to curb the spread of COVID-19. Oxford's (1990) SILL questionnaire (Strategy Inventory for Language Learning) version 7.0 was distributed online via Google Forms to observe learners' language learning strategies. The acquired data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software and then classified to a certain level of SILL Profile. The result revealed that the Metacognitive Strategies are students' most frequently employed language learning strategies, with a mean score of 3.76. (classified as High level). Subsequently, with a mean score of 3.20, the students' least often used strategy is Compensation Strategies (classified as Medium level). Hopefully, this research will assist learners in learning French in different learning settings. The results of this study show that respondents supervise and plan their learning very well because they had prior experience learning Malay, English, and Arabic. Conversely, respondents lack the mastery to guess the meaning of words from context and struggle to perceive non-verbal communication to understand certain words or explanations because the online teaching and learning platform limits their eye contact during classes. Hopefully, students can improve their French language learning by incorporating more language learning strategies to make online learning more


Gliomas are incurable malignancies notable for an immunosuppressive microenvironment with abundant myeloid cells whose immunomodulatory properties remain poorly defined. Here, utilizing scRNA-seq data for 183,062 myeloid cells from 85 human tumors, we discover that nearly all glioma-associated myeloid cells express at least one of four immunomodulatory activity programs: Scavenger Immunosuppressive, C1Q Immunosuppressive, CXCR4 Inflammatory, and IL1B Inflammatory. All four programs are present in IDH1 mutant and wild-type gliomas and are expressed in macrophages, monocytes, and microglia whether of blood or resident myeloid cell origins. Integrating our scRNA-seq data with mitochondrial DNA-based lineage tracing, spatial transcriptomics, and organoid explant systems that model peripheral monocyte infiltration, we show that these programs are driven by microenvironmental cues and therapies rather than myeloid cell type, origin, or mutation status. The C1Q Immunosuppressive program is driven by routinely administered dexamethasone. The Scavenger Immunosuppressive program includes ligands with established roles in T-cell suppression, is induced in hypoxic regions, and is associated with immunotherapy resistance. Both immunosuppressive programs are less prevalent in lower-grade gliomas, which are instead enriched for the CXCR4 Inflammatory program. Our study provides a framework to understand immunomodulatory myeloid cells in glioma, and a foundation to develop more effective immunotherapies.


The invention relates to a high-efficiency environment-friendly energy-saving lubricating oil pumping device, belonging to lubricating equipment of internal combustion engines. An electromagnetic coil is fixed outside an oil pump housing, a protective shell is fixed to the oil pump housing, a buoyancy chamber is fixed to the lower surface of the protective shell, and a filter is fixed to an oil inlet on the lower end of the oil pump housing; an oil discharge valve is fixed into a center hole in the oil pump housing, a thrust spring and a magnetic piston are arranged in the oil pump housing, the thrust spring abuts against the lower end surface of the magnetism induced piston, a sealing plate seals an oil inlet cavity, and an oil-passing sealing plate seals a lubricating oil inlet channel of an extrusion cavity; and a fixed plug is fixed in a plug hole in the magnetism induced piston, and a ball sealer or cone sealer is installed in an inner cone hole. The high-efficiency environment-friendly energy-saving lubricating oil pumping device has the advantages of compact structure, small vibrations, high electric energy utilization ratio and strong power, and can pump lubricating oil to the surface in need of lubrication when the internal combustion engine is not started; the lubricating oil pressure can not decrease even when the rotating speed of the internal combustion engine decreases; and thus, the device is suitable for the installation and use of the internal combustion engine.


Abstract Objective To describe the outcomes of a public hospital maternity unit in rural New South Wales (NSW) following the adaptation of the service from an obstetrician and general practitioner‐obstetrician (GPO)‐led birthing service to a low‐risk midwifery group practice (MGP) model of care with a planned caesarean section service (PCS). Design A retrospective descriptive study using quantitative methodology. Setting Maternity unit in a small public hospital in rural New South Wales, Australia. Participants Data were extracted from the ward‐based birth register for 1172 births at the service between July 2007 and June 2012. Main outcome measures Birth numbers, maternal characteristics, labour, birthing and neonatal outcomes. Results There were 750 births over 29 months in GPO and 277 and 145 births over 31 months in MGP and PCS, respectively, totalling 422 births following the change in model of care. The GPO had 553 (73.7%) vaginal births and 197 (26.3%) caesarean section (CS) births (139 planned and 58 unplanned). There were almost universal normal vaginal births in MGP (>99% or 276). For normal vaginal births, more women in MGP had no analgesia (45.3% versus 25.1%) or non‐invasive analgesia (47.9% versus 38.6%) and episiotomy was less common in MGP than GPO (1.9% versus 3.4%). Neonatal outcomes were similar for both groups with no difference between Apgar scores at 5 min, neonatal resuscitations or transfer to high‐level special care nurseries. Conclusion This study demonstrates how a rural maternity service maintained quality care outcomes for low‐risk women following the adaptation from a GPO to an MGP service.


Equipment maintenance activities are very important in the operation of a system or equipment in the industry. With the maintenance strategy and methods that can affect the occurrence of damage resulting in equipment can operate in the long term. The methods used are Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) data required are working hours data, corrective time data, Supply Delay Time (SDT) and Administrative Delay Time (ADT) data, and prevetive maintenance data. To determine whether the data obtained suadah match, then used the exponential distribution, from the form of the data then it can be found treatment. From the exponential distribution will get the value of cumulative function, machine reliability, Maen Time Batwen Failure (MTBF), Mean Time Battery Maintenance (MTBM), machine readiness time (availability) for each machine. There are two critical components: laker / bearing and felt print. From the data processing obtained reliability of printing machine unit 1 99.9%, machine unit 2 92.52%, unit 3 91.85% machine. for that we need preventive maintenance. In addition to the reliability also obtained MTBM as a schedule of preventive maintenance on mesn print unit 1 66.105, unit 2 93.037 machine, machine unit 3 106,893 hours once.


: Human neural stem cells (hNSCs) have potential as a cell therapy following traumatic brain injury (TBI). While various studies have demonstrated the efficacy of NSCs from on-going culture, there is a significant gap in our understanding of freshly thawed cells from cryobanked stocks – a more clinically-relevant source. To address these shortfalls, the therapeutic potential of our previously validated Shef-6.0 human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived hNSC line was tested following long-term cryostorage and thawing prior to transplant. Immunodeficient athymic nude rats received a moderate unilateral controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury. At 4-weeks post-injury, 6x10 5 freshly thawed hNSCs were transplanted into six injection sites (2 ipsi-and 4 contra-lateral) with 53.4% of cells surviving three months post-transplant. Interestingly, most hNSCs were engrafted in the meninges and the lining of lateral ventricles, associated with high CXCR4 expression and a chemotactic response to SDF1alpha (CXCL12). While some expressed markers of neuron, astrocyte, and oligodendrocyte lineages, the majority remained progenitors, identified through doublecortin expression (78.1%). Importantly, transplantation resulted in improved spatial learning and memory in Morris water maze navigation and reduced risk-taking behavior in an elevated plus maze. Investigating potential mechanisms of action, we identified an increase in ipsilateral host hippocampus cornu ammonis (CA) neuron survival, contralateral dentate gyrus (DG) volume and DG neural progenitor morphology as well as a reduction in neuroinflammation. Together, these findings validate the potential of hNSCs to restore function after TBI and demonstrate that long-term bio-banking of cells and thawing aliquots prior to use may be suitable for clinical deployment.


Purpose
This study aims to investigate the reverse effect of the country of origin's reputation on the notion of place brand.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a case study methodology, cases of Lagos (Nigeria) and Dubai (UAE) are examined to generate a model of place brand/branding.

Findings
Three pathways of the flow of causality between nation brand and city brand were emphasised, and problematic themes of interest to focus are recommended as a way forward for aspiring cities to create and improve their global reputation to generate increased footfalls of visitors and investors.

Practical implications
It is possible for cities to create effective brands irrespective of the reputation (strong or weak) of their countries of origin. The implication of the reverse relationship between nation and city brand has the potential to expand the theoretical framework of a place brand.

Originality/value
The study's uniqueness is in highlighting the different relations between nation branding and city branding that could guide practitioners in actualising a successful city brand project.


Objective: To provide a perspective on the recent trends in the etiologies and levels of lower limb amputations in Korea. Method: Medical records of 284 patients discharged from Seoul National University Hospital between 1990 and 1999 who had amputation related procedure codes were reviewed. Data were used to calculate ratios of congenital anomaly, trauma related, tumor related, diabetes related, and vascular insufficiency related amputations, and ratios of each level of amputations. Trends over time were examined by comparing data from 1990 to 1994 with those from 1995 to 1999 using chi square tests. Results: Dysvascular amputations accounts for 53.5% of lower limb loss in recent 10 years, and tumor (18.9%), congenital anomaly (14.5%), and trauma (6.1%) ranked the next common etiologies. The proportion of dysvascular amputations since 1995 was found to be significantly greater than the ratio before 1995 (p<0.05), and the ratio of amputations secondary to congenital anomaly was lower (p<0.05). There was no significant change in the level of amputations. Conclusion: Over recent 10 years, the risk of amputation secondary to dysvascular conditions has been increased, which warrants further investigations and efforts to improve our management of amputees.


Background: There is limited information of the role of hTERT methylation, hTERT expression and their association with type specific HPV infections in patients with invasive cervical cancer Objective: To analyze the possible association between methylation status of the hTERT promoter gene, hTERT expression and HPV infection in patients with invasive cervical cancer. Methodology: Eighty seven frozen samples of women with invasive cervical cancer were analyzed for type specific HPV infection using a GP5+/GP6+ mediated PCR- RLB. hTERT DNA methylation analysis was performed on bisulfite modified DNA using a new PCR-RLB-hTERT methylation assay targeting two regions flanking the hTERT [region 1 (nt -240 to -1) and region 2 (nt +1 to +120) relative to first ATG]. Expression of hTERT was detected by immunohistochemistry using an Anti-hTERT (348-358) rabbit pAb). Results: All samples with HPV types belonging to the α7 species (HPV 18, 45 and 59) showed no hTERT methylation in region 1 (core promoter) and an increase in% of partial methylation in region 2. Samples with HPV types belonging to the α9 specie (16, 52, 35, 31 and 58) showed similar% of methylation in region 1 and region 2 according viral type but the percentages of methylation were different between them (ranging from 0% for HPV58 samples to 66.7% for HPV31). Strong expression of hTERT was observed in 77% of the samples independent of the HPV genotype. Conclusion: hTERT methylation seems to be associated with specific genotype HPV infection; however expression of the hTERT protein seems to depend of additional molecular events and worth further investigation. Citation Format: Pablo Moreno-Acosta, Nicolas Morales, Marcela Burgos, Oscar Gamboa, Juan Carlos Mejia, Alfredo Romero-Rojas, Alba Lucia Combita, Monica Molano. HPV infections, hTERT methylation and hTERT expression in patients with invasive cervical cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr C88.


Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) causes neurological dysfunction below the injured segment of the spinal cord, which significantly impacts the quality of life in affected patients. The phosphoinositide 3kinase/serine‐threonine kinase (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway offers a potential therapeutic target for the inhibition of secondary TSCI. This review summarizes updates concerning the role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in TSCI.


A model of a two-pole turbogenerator airgap region is developed in sufficient detail to predict the unbalanced magnetic pull on the rotor, under no-load conditions, caused by static eccentricity. The effects of rotor magnetic saturation and eddy currents are taken into account using a set of rotor surface impedances. The computer program is relatively simple and extremely fast in computation time on a modest PC.


Objective: To compare administration of weekly high dose versus daily low dose vitamin D3 in treatment of vitamin D3 deficiency in pregnancy. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed between July 2016 until 2 July 2017 on 215 pregnant women with vitamin D3 deficiency (serum levels < 30 ng/ml) and gestational age less than 14 weeks. The participants were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups of A: receiving 1000 unit vitamin D3 daily, and B: 50,000 units weekly for 10 weeks. At 24-28 weeks of gestation, serum levels of vitamin D3 were measured again. Data entry and statistical analysis were performed by SPSS software v. 20 and P value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant level. Results: Primary mean serum vitamin D3 level in group A was: 17.3 ± 6.8 and in group B: 15.2 ± 7.3 ng/ml while mean serum vitamin D3 level after treatment in group A was significantly lower than group B (31.9 ± 118 B vs. 42.9 ± 15.5, p-value: < 0.001); both groups were successfully treated, no remarkable side effects were observed in either groups. Conclusion: As both regimens treat vitamin D deficiency successfully and consuming weekly high dose vitamin D3 makes more acceptable serum levels for mothers with no apparent side effects weekly high dose vitamin D3 can be safely administered for vitamin D3 deficiency in pregnancy, if further studies show similar results.


Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer, with approximately 222,000 new cases expected each year in the United States. Approximately 72% of the individuals diagnosed with lung cancer will fall victim to the disease. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, but current treatments will not cure the disease for most patients. In an effort to identify novel therapeutics to address this unmet need, a phenotypic screening campaign was initiated. This type of target identification approach allows the discovery of novel drug targets by selection of antibodies based on their ability to elicit a specific desired phenotype. Once antibodies with the desired function are isolated, the targets to which the "hit" antibodies bind can be identified using a variety of approaches including IP-mass spec. Although phenotypic screens have been performed previously, the current effort has important advantages over those described previously. Specifically, this included the use of several unique screening assays run in parallel to allow the evaluation of multiple phenotypes simultaneously. Also unique was the use of primary material from NSCLC patients for both selection and functional screening. Specifically, we demonstrate the use of primary tumor cells in high throughput screening assays. We show the utility of incorporating novel screening assays including anoikis and spheroids with multiple endpoint readouts. Finally we provide data describing a series of "hit" antibodies isolated in the screen which had a variety of activities across the screening assays. These studies show the utility of function-first screening in the identification of unique potential therapeutic targets for oncology. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 974. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-974


In the context of the large, busy conference, the small group seemed to provide an intimate and safe space in which participants were able to catch their breath, process their myriad conference experiences and make links to their professional practice. In the beginning, save for two members, we were all strangers to each other. Six nationalities and five native languages were represented in the group; there were occasions when language had to be translated and explained.


We study a class of singularities of prescribed behaviour and investigate physical properties such as their strength, and the validity of energy conditions in a neighbourhood of these singularities. As applications of our theory, we show that shell (crossing) singularities are at variance with a new (but plausible) energy condition. We also show that for perfect fluid shell singularities, the energy density always exists as a spacetime average. In another application we prove that smooth, signature-type changing spacetimes are non-singular at the surface of signature change if the dominant energy condition holds.


Background
Complement activation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), although it remains unclear which pathway is activated. Whether pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis (pauci-immune GN) with negative ANCA serology is part of the spectrum of AAV or a different disease entity is essentially unknown.

Methods
We used proteomic analysis to delineate the complement profile in a series of 13 kidney biopsies of patients with pauci-immune GN, with either proteinase 3 (PR3) (five patients) or myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies (four patients) or with consistently negative ANCA serology (four patients). Immunofluorescence staining of glomeruli was essentially negative in the PR3-ANCA and MPO-ANCA groups, while a mild staining for C3 was seen in the ANCA-negative cases. No electron-dense deposits were found in the PR3-ANCA and MPO-ANCA groups, but mesangial and few subepithelial deposits were clearly present in the ANCA-negative specimens.

Results
Mass spectrometry revealed low spectra numbers for C3 and immunoglobulins in both PR3-positive and MPO-positive patients with minimal or no C4 and C9. In contrast, larger spectra numbers for C3, moderate spectra numbers for C9, complement factor H-related protein-1 and low spectra numbers for C4, C5 and immunoglobulins were found in the ANCA-negative cases.

Conclusion
While complement activation is noted in AAV, the complement activation appears to be more prominent in the ANCA-negative glomerulonephritis. The larger amount of C3 and moderate amount of C9 in the ANCA-negative glomerulonephritis implies activation of the alternate and terminal pathway of complement, suggesting that this entity may be caused or promoted by a genetic or acquired defect in the alternative pathway.


The aim of this study is to evaluate the wear volume of interim crowns fabricated using digital light processing 3D printing according to the printing angle. A total of five patients undergoing the placement of a single crown on the mandibular molar were included. Interim crowns were fabricated directly in the oral cavity using the conventional method. A digital light processing 3D printer was then used to fabricate crowns with build angles of 0, 45, and 90 degrees. Therefore, four fabricated interim crowns were randomly delivered to the patients, and each was used for one week. Before and after use, the intaglio surfaces of the interim crowns were scanned using a 3D scanner. The volume changes before and after use were measured, and changes in the height of the occlusal surface were evaluated using the root mean square value. Data normality was verified by statistical analysis, and the wear volume in each group was evaluated using a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's honestly significant difference test (α = 0.05). Compared with the RMS values of the conventional method (11.88 ± 2.69 µm) and the 3D-printing method at 0 degrees (12.14 ± 2.38 µm), the RMS values were significantly high at 90 degrees (16.46 ± 2.39 µm) (p < 0.05). Likewise, there was a significant difference in the change in volume between the groups (p = 0.002), with a significantly higher volume change value at 90 degrees (1.74 ± 0.41 mm3) than in the conventional method (0.70 ± 0.15 mm3) (p < 0.05). A printing angle of 90 degrees is not recommended when interim crowns are fabricated using digital light processing 3D printing.


BACKGROUND: Abdominal rectus diastasis (ARD), sometimes combined with abdominal wall midline hernia, is a common complaint in women after childbirth. To some individuals, ARD causes functional disability. Convincing data of the long-term results of ARD repair are lacking, especially when ARD is severe, and the optimal technique is undefined. In plastic surgery, the repair is often done with suture alone, but if a concomitant hernia exists, using a mesh is mandatory. This paper reports a novel surgical technique aimed at a reliable and minimally traumatic repair of ARD with or without midline hernia and a review of the literature of ARD repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During June 2013–April 2018, 37 consecutive patients with symptomatic ARD with or without concomitant midline hernia were operated on by using a narrow piece of a self-gripping mesh (n = 32) or the tails of the ventral patch (n = 5). The mesh was placed in between the plicated linea alba. The outcome and patient satisfaction in this pilot study were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant subjective improvement in body balance after surgery was reported by 34 patients (92%). During the mean follow-up of 13 months, there was only one partial recurrence of ARD. The complication rate was low, and patient satisfaction was good. CONCLUSION: According to the present study, selected patients with severe lack of muscle control and/or back pain benefit from ARD repair. The minimally traumatic PSUM mesh augmentation seems a promising method for the repair of ARD.


When tracks of air traffic between a given city pair are collected over time and plotted, the resulting picture typically exhibits some internal structure or pattern reflecting a combination of air traffic control (ATC) procedures, airline procedures and weather described by B. Everitt (1981). In this study, we examined recorded track data between several city pairs and developed an interactive software tool that effects a coarse filtering of the data to provide an initial estimate of internal structure. The original motivation for this study came from our simulation modeling activities for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As part of the FAA's National Airspace redesign (NAR) program, the National Airspace System (NAS) is continually assessed and often restructured to improve overall efficiency. In support of this effort, The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) has modeled proposed design changes in order to estimate their impact. This article begins by describing the clustering algorithm and its output. The algorithm is then applied to several datasets to assess the significance of this output. We end with some conclusions and suggestions for future work.


ABSTRACT Sepsis remains an important cause of mortality worldwide, and early deaths resulting from overwhelming inflammation in septic patients have been reported. Vigorous immune reactions are beneficial for bacterial clearance in this circumstance but at the price of self-tissue damage. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been found to modulate immune function and attenuate sepsis. As the Toll-like receptor 4 pathway plays an important role in response to infections, here we investigated the mechanisms of MSC-mediated immunomodulation by determining the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling in the liver and by circulating cytokines at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 6 h after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in mice. We found that administration of umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UCMSCs) was beneficial for survival. Six hours after CLP, UCMSC administration decreased the expression of MyD88 mRNA and protein in the liver tissues of the mice, and also the ratio of NF&kgr;B phosphorylation (P = 0.041 and 0.005, respectively). Serum levels of TNF-&agr;, MCP-1, IFN-&ggr;, and IL-6 were significantly lower and IL-10 significantly higher 6 h after CLP in the mice receiving UCMSCs compared with those receiving PBS only. Our study provides the first in vivo evidence for the association of the MyD88-NF&kgr;B pathway and MSC-mediated immunomodulation during sepsis. The immunomodulatory effect of UCMSCs was noted from 3 to 6 h after injection, and the MyD88-NF&kgr;B pathway played an important role in response to the immunomodulatory signals from UCMSCs.


The LHCb collaboration have recently updated their analysis of the resonant $J/\psi\, p$ mass spectrum in the decay $\Lambda_b^0 \to J/\psi\, p\, K^-$, making use of their combined Run~1 and Run~2 data. In the updated analysis, three narrow states, $P_c (4312)^+$, $P_c (4440)^+$, and $P_c (4457)^+$, are observed. The spin-parity assignments of these states are not yet known. We interpret these narrow resonances as compact hidden-charm diquark-diquark-antiquark pentaquarks. Using an effective Hamiltonian, based on constituent quarks and diquarks, we calculate the pentaquark mass spectrum for the complete $SU (3)_F$ lowest $S$- and $P$-wave multiplets, taking into account dominant spin-spin, spin-orbit, orbital and tensor interactions. The resulting spectrum is very rich and we work out the quark flavor compositions, masses, and $J^P$ quantum numbers of the pentaquarks. However, heavy quark symmetry restricts the observable states in $\Lambda_b$-baryon, as well as in the decays of the other weakly-decaying $b$-baryons, $\Xi_b$ and $\Omega_b$. In addition, some of the pentaquark states are estimated to lie below the $J/\psi\, p$ threshold in $\Lambda_b$-decays (and corresponding thresholds in $\Xi_b$- and $\Omega_b$-decays). They decay via $c \bar c$ annihilation into light hadrons or a dilepton pair, and are expected to be narrower than the $P_c$-states observed. We anticipate their discovery, as well as of the other pentaquark states present in the spectrum at the LHC, and in the long-term future at a Tera-$Z$ factory.


Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the United States Constitution is the way that its basic principles keep recreating themselves in new and unexpected contexts. Quite recently, for example, the complex matrix of checks and balances under the constitutional separation of powers embodied in Articles I, II, and III has found new support in the work of scholars espousing positive political theory (PPT). PPT shows why a robust system of checks and balances is particularly important in the modern administrative state. On the one hand, modern government could not function if Congress were prohibited from delegating large chunks of authority to administrative agencies. On the other hand, these delegations, coupled with Congress's remarkable sophistication at designing internal rules of organization to control agency behavior, puts added pressure on the courts and the executive to fulfill their roles in the constitutional scheme without undermining the ability of the state to operate. PPT does not solve the venerable question of how the nonlegislative branches can fulfill their obligation to check and balance Congress without intruding on the constitutional authority of the legislature to make law. PPT does, however, reveal with remarkable clarity how this problem has reconstituted itself in the modern administrative state. A recurring theme in the literature on PPT is how Congress can arrange its own structure and internal rules in order to control the actions of the administrative agencies to which they have delegated authority.1 The goal of Congress is to ensure that administrative agencies generate outcomes that are


A process of hiding the secret information in the cover media (i.e. image, audio, video, etc.) is called as Steganography, these cover media suffer from different problems that effect on their efficiency and performance such as the capacity of cover media. This paper overcome this problem and provide a method for embed secret image into videos which provide high security with computing speed, and without producing visible changes, which reduce the size of the cover video image clip before hiding secret color image (BMP format) in it, this method applied discrete wavelet transform (DWT) on the frames resulted from the video image, which produced LL, HH, LH, HL bands. Block based algorithm used to hide the secret information or image in the random selected LL frame, where a video can be viewed as a sequence of still images (frames) and the secret image are inserted in these frames. This method depends on searching for the similarity among the hiding data blocks and others in the cover image. Then construct the compressed video clip containing secret data. in the other side the receiver used inverse discrete wavelet transform (IDWT) after cutting the compressed video into frames to done the decompression process on it ,then extract the secret image from the stego frame .Finally construct the uncompressed video. Mean Square Error(MSE), Peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and average difference(AD)are used to measure the quality of the compressed cover frame image and stego image, also compression ratio(C.R) are calculated between the original video clip image and stego-compressed video clip image, which show a very good result ,this system implemented using Visual basic.6 programming language.


Miltefosine has recently been introduced as leishmanicidal drug for oral administration (Impavido). Previous communications report about the use of liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection to detect miltefosine in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids. We report about a new method to detect miltefosine using an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). The absolute recovery of the analyte was greater than 98.0%. The limit of quantification for miltefosine in plasma at a signal-to-noise ratio of 7.3 was 0.34 microg/ml. The precision of the assay yielded coefficients of variation ranging from 1.8 to 4.5% and an accuracy of 97-107%. Our method advances the qualitative and quantitative detection of miltefosine by combining rapid and efficient solid phase extraction and analysis with an evaporative light-scattering detector.


xNiyCo/SBA-15-CD (x + y = 5%, x/y = 0/5–5/0, mass ratio) catalysts, prepared by a β-cyclodextrin (CD) modified impregnation method, were characterized and employed in the carbon dioxide reforming of methane. Ni and Co interacted strongly with each other, and the Co species dissolved into the NiO lattice during the preparation process. The new H2 consumption peaks in the H2-temperature programmed reduction (TPR) should be attributed to the reduction of NixCoyO, which was the precursor of the Ni–Co alloy. The lattice parameters of the metal particles on reduced and spent catalysts followed Vegard's law, which confirmed the formation of the alloy. The TOFs of the bimetallic catalysts were greater than the monometallic catalysts and the stabilities of the bimetallic catalysts with Ni/Co = 2.5/2.5–4.5/0.5 were better than the monometallic catalysts. The synergistic effect of Ni and Co, the addition of β-CD, the sequence of impregnation and the confinement effect of the ordered mesoporous structure contributed to the better catalytic performance. Among the bimetallic catalysts, 4.5Ni0.5Co and 3Ni2Co showed the best stability. The better stability of 4.5Ni0.5Co can be attributed to a Co-enriched surface segregation structure, whereas the highest proportion of the Ni–Co alloy (precursor) in 3Ni2Co should be the primary reason to its better performance.


The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Indian text which is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. This long text consists of eighteen discourses of a total of 701 Sanskrit verses which is known as the Bhagavad Gita. It is also referred to as the Gita. Its teachings are rational and scientific in approach. The Gita's ethics is discussed mostly in the concepts like, svabhava, svadharma and niskama karma. In this paper I shall be discussing the concept of niskama karma which constitutes the rock-button of the Gita's ethics. Niska karma is the Philosophy of Karma yaga of the Gita which elucidates that one has to perform actions with right imagination, having no desire for the consequences. The Bhagavad Gita which is a part of The Mahabharata is purely a spiritual document that encompasses everything connected with human beings and life on earth and it helps humanity to attain the goal of enlightenment and self-realization. In this I have discussed the Gita's teaching concerning value. It's teaching would be beneficial for both students and teachers for inculcating value sloping education among them for the betterment of the society as a whole