This piece introduces the papers for the Sexual(ities that) Progress special issue. It arises out of two sessions at the 2017 American Association of Geographers Annual Conference, where scholars critically interrogated assumptions of progress and the ideals and models that follow from understanding certain spaces and places as 'leading the way' in terms of sexual and gender inclusions. In this paper, we outline some of the key debates and how papers in this special issue address discourses of sexual(ities that) progress and, in particular, the importance of decolonial and postcolonial critiques in such debates. We conclude by noting omissions, the timeliness of the papers and the ongoing need for spatial lenses in exploring the power relationships that reconstitute sexual and gendered lives, cultures, politics and embodiments.


Acid mine drainage is the result of the oxidation process of sulfide bearing rocks. This process occurs when the sulfide material is exposed to atmospheric conditions. Under these conditions, successive oxidation reactions yield sulfuric acid generating acidic waters. This problem becomes more serious when the surrounding rocks are not able to neutralize the acid. The low pH condition of the drained water accelerates the solubility process of solid materials (rocks, soils and sediments) and favors metal and metalloid leaching making them available to the environment, which impairs the hydric system quality. This is a quite common situation at abandoned mines where the material is exposed, as at theOsamu Utsumi Mine in Caldas, MG. The main goal of this work was to assess and compare two kinetic tests in an attempt to predict the acid generation from the waste rock of the Osamu Utsumi Mine. The tests were carried out using a Soxhlet extractor and a leaching column. The leachate from the two tests was analyzed for the physical-chemical parameters (pH, Eh and electric conductivity) and metals and metalloids.


Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of coronary heart disease and stroke. Since 1981, more than 980,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 1 million Americans may be infected with HIV. By killing or damaging CD4+ T cells of the body's immune system, HIV progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections. People diagnosed with AIDS often suffer from life-threatening diseases caused by opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis. HIV-infected individuals have increased risks for atherosclerosis. This review summarizes the effects of oxidized low density lipoproteins in impairing macrophage functions in individuals with atherosclerosis (with and without HIV infection) thereby enhancing the susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.


Objectives: Patients who leave emergency departments (EDs) without treatment represent potential personal and hospital liability. Many department-dependent factors have been linked to patients who leave without treatment (LWT) in high-volume EDs. The authors studied how department volume and acuity influence LWTs in a small, low-volume, university-affiliated ED. Methods: Through retrospective ED census review, LWTs, department volume, and department acuity were recorded for 12-hour shifts over 1 year. Department acuity is defined as patients requiring resuscitation or admission. Results: Over a 12-month period, 629 of 18,664 patients left the ED. When shift volume exceeded 25 patients, there were significantly more LWTs. When department acuity exceeded four patients per shift, there were also significantly greater numbers of LWTs. More than half of all shifts exceeded one of these thresholds. Conclusions: Thresholds of 25 patients and an acuity of five patients per shift were associated with significant increases in LWTs, suggesting possible per-physician maximum patient loads before an increased risk of LWT patients.


This book, the first volume of Current Legal Issues, explores the relationship of law and science, with a particular focus on the role of science as evidence. Scientific evidence impinges on a wide range of legal issues, including, for example, risk assessment in mental health and child abuse, criminal investigations, chemical and medical products, mass tort cases and the attribution of paternity. Science promises to reduce (or even eliminate) uncertainty; how should lawyers respond to such ambitious claims? As the civil justice process undergoes a major overhaul, this diverse and stimulating collection of essays provides a timely and thought-provoking reassessment of the relationship between law and science in general and the uses and value of scientific evidence in particular.


We report the first results of a campaign aimed at the study of early-type binaries with the XMM-Newton observatory. Phase-resolved EPIC spectroscopy of the eccentric binary HD93403 reveals a clear orbital modulation of the X-ray luminosity as a function of the orbital phase. Below 1.0 keV, the observed X-ray flux is modulated by the opacity of the primary wind. Above 1.0 keV, the observed variation of the X-ray flux is roughly consistent with a 1/r dependence expected for an adiabatic colliding wind interaction. HD93403 appears less overluminuous in X-rays than previously thought and a significant fraction of the total X-ray emission arises probably within the winds of the individual components of the binary. Optical monitoring of the system reveals strong variability of the He II lambda 4686 and Halpha line profiles. The He II lambda 4686 line displays a broad asymmetrical emission component which is found to be significantly stronger between phases 0.80 and 0.15 than around apastron. This suggests that part of the emission arises in the interaction region and most probably in the trailing arm of a shock cone wrapped around the secondary. Some absorption lines of the secondary's spectrum display equivalent width variations reminiscent of the so-called Struve-Sahade effect. The differences in behaviour between individual lines suggest that the temperature may not be the only relevant parameter that controls this effect.


The rise to prominence of analyses of racial capitalism represents a breakthrough in Marxian theory. This has necessarily been accompanied by a critique of previous Marxian analyses, which all too often ignored or minimized the relation of slavery to capitalism. In recent years, however, these criticisms of orthodox Marxist treatments of slavery have been extended, much more problematically, to the work of Karl Marx himself. Although Marx never wrote a treatise on slavery, the issue of slave labor was woven into his analysis of social formations, both ancient and modern, and was inextricably intertwined with his treatment of wage labor.


DNA computation (DNAC) has been proposed to solve the satisfiability (SAT) problem due to operations in parallel on extremely large numbers of strands. This paper attempts to treat the DNA-based bio-molecular solution for the SAT problem from the quantum mechanical perspective with a purpose to explore the relationship between DNAC and quantum computation (QC). To achieve this goal, it first builds up the correspondence of operations between QC and DNAC. Then it gives an example for the case of two variables and three clauses for details of this theory. It also demonstrates a three-qubit experiment for solving the simplest SAT problem with a single variable on a liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance ensemble to verify this theory. Some discussions are made for the potential application and for further exploration of the present work.


Recently, interest of both the academic and industrial world in Internet of Things (IoT) has been increasing and this trend requires development of new security approaches addressing potential weaknesses in this domain. Despite the presence of many studies directed towards security of IoT applications, they are mostly adoption of current methods to IoT scenarios. Yet, IoT applications are comprised of various kinds of different entities including computers, processes, people and services. Therefore, it is inadequate to detect malicious attempts by using conventional security methods, which apply fixed security policies and do not take interaction of things, that is context information, into account. In this study, by considering new security requirements of next generation IoT applications, we propose a fine-grained, dynamic and easily manageable access control model, which is called context-aware operation-based access control.


Balancing of structured peer-to-peer graphs, including their zone sizes, has recently become an important topic of distributed hash table (DHT) research. To bring analytical understanding into the various peer-join mechanisms based on consistent hashing, we study how zone-balancing decisions made during the initial sampling of the peer space affect the resulting zone sizes and derive several asymptotic bounds for the maximum and minimum zone sizes that hold with high probability. Several of our results contradict those of prior work and shed new light on the theoretical performance limitations of consistent hashing. We use simulations to verify our models and compare the performance of the various methods using the example of recently proposed de Bruijn DHTs.


In this paper, we propose a novel hierarchical framework that combines motion and feature information to implement infrared-visible video registration on nearly planar scenes. In contrast to previous approaches, which involve the direct use of feature matching to find the global homography, the framework adds coarse registration based on the motion vectors of targets to estimate scale and rotation prior to matching. In precise registration based on keypoint matching, the scale and rotation are used in re-location to eliminate their impact on targets and keypoints. To strictly match the keypoints, first, we improve the quality of keypoint matching by using normalized location descriptors and descriptors generated by the histogram of edge orientation. Second, we remove most mismatches by counting the matching directions of correspondences. We tested our framework on a public dataset, where our proposed framework outperformed two recently-proposed state-of-the-art global registration methods in almost all tested videos.


In 2016, more than 11 million people reported misuse of opioids in the previous year. In an effort to combat opioid use disorder (OUD), the use of agonist/antagonist is becoming increasingly common, with more than 2.2 million patients reporting use of a buprenorphine containing medication such as Suboxone®. Buprenorphine is a unique opioid which acts as a partial μ agonist and ĸ antagonist. These properties make it an effective tool in treating OUD and abuse. However, despite its advantages in treating OUD and abuse, buprenorphine can make it difficult to control acute perioperative pain. We present a case in which the Mayo Clinic Arizona protocol for patients undergoing minimally invasive ambulatory surgery while taking Suboxone® is successfully executed, resulting in adequate postoperative pain control and timely discharge from the postanesthesia recovery unit.


: There are many contexts where the automated detection of near-duplicate images is important, for example the detection of copyright infringement or images of child abuse. There are many published methods for the detection of similar and near-duplicate images; however it is still uncommon for methods to be objectively compared with each other, probably because of a lack of any good framework in which to do so. Published sets of near-duplicate images exist, but are typically small, specialist, or generated. Here, we give a new test set based on a large, serendipitously selected collection of high quality images. Having observed that the MIR-Flickr 1M image set contains a significant number of near-duplicate images, we have discovered the majority of these. We disclose a set of 1,958 near-duplicate clusters from within the set, and show that this is very likely to contain almost all of the near-duplicate pairs that exist. The main contribution of this publication is the identification of these images, which may then be used by other authors to make comparisons as they see fit. In particular however, near-duplicate classification functions may now be accurately tested for sensitivity and specificity over a general collection of images.


Fast-field-cycling (FFC) NMR relaxometry deals with the variation of the spin–lattice relaxation times (T1) in a complex system, as the strength of the applied magnetic field is changed. Information about molecular dynamics can be achieved. Until now, only model theories for FFC NMR relaxometry have been developed for polymer and material sciences. Just a few applications have been performed in the environmental sciences. These mainly deal with soil porosity, rock permeability, biomass transformations, and natural organic matter dynamics. Further, FFC NMR relaxometry can also be applied to monitor the environmental fate of contaminants, to understand the dynamics of nutrients at the soil–plant interface, and to evaluate reaction mechanisms in heterogeneous catalysis for the development of green reactions. This article summarizes the advances of the technique in environmental investigations and describes the tools used to monitor dynamics of organic and inorganic molecules in environmental compartments.


4922 PALB2 was recently identified as a nuclear binding partner of BRCA2. Biallelic BRCA2 mutations cause Fanconi anemia subtype FA-D1 and predispose to childhood malignancies. We identified pathogenic truncating PALB2 mutations in seven families affected with Fanconi anemia, demonstrating that PALB2 mutations cause a new subtype of Fanconi anemia. The phenotype of PALB2 is, in many ways, typical of Fanconi anemia as all cases showed increased chromosome breakage with interstrand crosslinking agents, growth retardation and variable congenital malformations. However, PALB2 appears to be associated with unusually severe disease and early mortality due to childhood cancer. All seven cases developed cancer in early childhood including three Wilms tumors, five medulloblastomas, two cases of AML and one neuroblastoma. One individual developed three malignancies within the first year of life and three individuals had two cancers. Cancer treatment was unsuccessful in five patients, all of whom died before 3 years of age. One individual is currently alive at 4.5 years but is in the early stages of treatment for medulloblastoma. The cancer spectrum of biallelic PALB2 mutations is therefore very similar to that associated with biallelic BRCA2 mutations, which also confer high risks of embryonal tumors. Mutations in BRCA2 and PALB2 together account for almost all our individuals with both Fanconi anemia and childhood solid tumors. The reasons for the association between childhood solid tumors and the deficiency of BRCA2 or PALB2 are unclear. To investigate whether somatic mutations in PALB2 and BRCA2 occur in embryonal tumors we will screen 30 Wilms tumor, 30 medulloblastoma and 30 neuroblastoma for PALB2 and BRCA2 mutations and the results will be presented. These data identify a new Fanconi subtype and a cause of childhood solid tumors.


or foreign investment policy (for example, role of foreign capital in the economic development, problems of increasing private and public foreign investment). The author, formerly Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, and now an economics professor at Amherst College, has not tried to present a consensus of opinion or even to summarize the areas of agreement or disagreement. He has instead attempted to outline the problems that


Computer Technology has Revolutionized Science. This has motivated scientists to develop mathematical model to simulate salient features of Physical universe .These models can approximate reality at many levels of scale such as atomic nucleus, Earth's biosphere & weather/climate assessment. To solve these type of complex problems in usable time frame , there is a need of high performance powerful computer mechanism which can do the calculations in a time bound with high precision. If the computer power is greater, the greater will be the accuracy in approximation i.e. close will be the approximation to the reality. The speed of the computer required for solution of such problems require computers with processing power of teraflops to Pets flops speed.. The way to speed up the computation is to "parallelize" it i.e. divide the work into modules that can be worked on by separate processors at the same time. Thus we can solve the problems that are Non-Polynomial form in polynomial time. One of the approach is to use multimillion dollar Supercomputer or use Computational Grid ( Which is also called poor man's supercomputer) having geographically distributed resources e.g. SETI@home (Used to detect radio waves emitted by intelligent civilizations outside earth) has 4.6 million participants computers. There are many alternatives tools available to achieve this goal like Globus Toolkit, Entropia, Legion, BOINC etc but they are mainly based on Linux platform. As majority of the computers available are windows based, so it will be easy to develop a larger network of computers which will use the free cycles of the computer to solve the complex problem at window platform. Nimble@ITCEcnoGrid has been developed. It includes the feature of Inter Thread Communication which is missing in any of the toolkits available. Nimble@ITCEcnoGrid Framework (A Fast Grid with Inter-thread communication with Economic Based Policy) was tested for computation of 'PI' up to 120 decimal points. Encouraged by the speed the same system has been utilized to computes the Momentum, Thermodynamics and Continuity equations for the Weather Forecasting using the Windows based Desktop computers..


Vanillic acid, a vegetable phenolic compound, is a strong antioxidant. The aim of the present study was to determine its effects on mitomycin C-induced DNA damage in human blood lymphocyte cultures in vitro, both alone and in combination with mitomycin C (MMC). The cytokinesis block micronucleus test and alkaline comet assay were used to determine genotoxic damage and anti-genotoxic effects of vanillic acid at the DNA and chromosome levels. MMC induced genotoxicity at a dose of 0.25 μg/ml. Vanillic acid (1 μg/ml) significantly reduced both the rates of DNA damaged cells and the frequency of micronucleated cells. A high dose of vanillic acid (2 μg/ml) itself had genotoxic effects on DNA. In addition, both test systems showed similar results when tested with the negative control, consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in combination with vanillic acid (1 μg/ml) +MMC. In conclusion, vanillic acid could prevent oxidative damage to DNA and chromosomes when used at an appropriately low dose.


Background: Breast cancer (BC) is an epidemic in the US. It is estimated that there will be over 230,000 new BC diagnoses in 2016. Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) comprises ∼15% of BC cases and lacks targeted therapeutic options. Obesity and high leptin levels are associated with higher TNBC incidence and poorer patient outcomes. Overexpression of leptin and its receptor, Ob-R, induce BC cell growth and angiogenesis; therefore leptin/Ob-R may serve as a TNBC therapeutic target. We have developed a Leptin Peptide Receptor Antagonist, LPrA2, which effectively inhibits leptin signaling. To increase its efficacy LPrA2 was coupled to iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), and subsequently tested in vitro and in vivo in obese mice hosting syngeneic TNBC-like mammary tumors. Methods: The conjugation of LPrA2 to IONPs and PEG was confirmed by immunoblotting analysis. E0771, mouse BC cells, which are progesterone receptor and HER2 negative were made insensitive to estrogen stimuli by long-term treatment with Tamoxifen (TAM). Cell cycle and MTT assays were performed to determine the effectiveness of leptin signaling inhibition by conjugated LPrA2 in vitro. C57BL/6 female mice were fed a 60% fat diet to induce obesity. The obese mice were injected with E0771-TAM cells in the mammary fat pad and treated with IONP-LPrA2 and PEG-LPrA2 after tumor development. Obese mice treated with IONP-LPrA2 Scramble (Sc) and PEG-LPrA2 Sc served as negative controls. Results and Conclusion: IONP-LPrA2 and PEG-LPrA2 attenuated leptin signaling in vitro and decreased tumor growth and progression in vivo in comparison to the controls. These findings indicate that conjugated LPrA2 may serve as a targeted therapy for TNBC. IONP-LPrA2 may be especially useful in treating this more aggressive form of BC due to its ability to capture multiple LPrA2 peptides as well as its small and uniform particle size. Citation Format: Tia L. Harmon, Adriana Harbuzariu, Antonio Rampoldi, Courtney Dill, Viola Lanier, Danielle Daley-Brown, Crystal Lipsey, Cynthia Tchio, Lily Yang, Ruben Rene Gonzalez-Perez. IONP-LPrA2 and PEG-LPrA2 therapies for triple negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2079.


A prospective observational study of 101 women having breast surgery under general anaesthesia was performed to assess the extent of postoperative nausea and vomiting in this group of women. The overall rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting was high, 56% and 41%, respectively, and was significantly associated with length of surgical procedure and morphine use. Techniques to reduce morphine requirement should be evaluated to try and reduce this cause of morbidity.


In most of the existing human-computer interfaces, enactive knowledge as new natural interaction paradigm has not been fully exploited yet, Recent technological advances have created the possibility to enhance naturally and significantly the interface perception by means of visual inputs, the so-called Vision-Based Interfaces (VBI).

In the present document, first, we explore the recovery of the user's body posture by means of combining robust computer vision techniques and a well known inverse kinematics algorithm in real-time. Then, we present a gesture recognition algorithm where the user's movements are obtained through the real-time vision-based motion capture system. Finally, we present how to add image constraints to inverse kinematics in order to improve the results of the real-time vision-based motion capture system.


This paper aims at the application of Digital Diplomatic and Digital Forensics Science in digital-born records, in order to guarantee its authenticity in institutional routines and processes, but also as a source of proof in possible legal and juridical scenarios. In view of the vast and fruitful discussions focused on the complexity of the digital records in Archival Science and Information Science (I.S.), there is a gap to manage and preserve the digital records, keeping them reliable, accurate and authentic in systems that have the same conditions. This gap makes it impossible to preserve records in the long term due, firstly, to the fragility of the systems where they are stored and, secondly, to the constant risks of obsolescence of hardware and software that occur on a day by day. Digital Diplomatic Science assists this process by determining the form and content of the record to evidence its legal-diplomatic authenticity and establish its historical value. Digital Forensic Science, in turn, provides support for the chain of custody to remain intact, regardless of the medium on which the digital record is fixed. The following questions is raised: Is it possible to apply the practice of law and the Digital Forensics in the area of the Archival Science and information science, guaranteeing the authenticity of the born-digital record. In addition, in which way does the junction between Digital Diplomatic Science and Digital Forensic Science guarantee the preservation and preservation of the born-digital records. To answer such questions, this research proposes to link five areas of knowledge following the scientific experiences conducted at the University of British Columbia in Canada by the InterPares (International Research on Permanent Authentic Records) group. Areas of knowledge that are offering interesting results for the preservation not only of the record, but also of the social memory: 1.Digital Forensics: discipline that joint Forensics Science with Computer Science to analyze the digital evidence. 2. Diplomatics Science: Science to analyze the form and structure to the records. 3. Archival Science: Science to involves the whole of the principles, policies, strategies, and activities designed to ensure the physical and technological stabilization of records for the purpose of extending indefinitely their life and protecting the accuracy and authenticity of and maintaining the accessibility to their intellectually content [1] . 4. Information Science: Science to analyze the information in different contexts. The research will carried out in a theoretical and qualitative way, taking into account the literature shared in the site Digital Records Forensics Project, coordinated by the author Luciana Duranti of the InterPares group, and the bibliography produced in the country of the areas of knowledge already referenced. The results obtained will contribute to the realization of alternative researches in document conservation within the Archival Science and the Information Science.


In an attempt to search for bioactive natural products exerting antiinflammatory activity, we have evaluated the effects of the methanol extract of the fruits of Kochia scoparia (L.) CHARD. (Chenopodiaceae) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α release by the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Our data indicate that this extract is a potent inhibitor of NO production and it also significantly decreased PGE2 and TNF-α release. Consistent with these observations, the protein and mRNA expression level of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 was inhibited by MeOH extracts of Kochia scoparia (KSM) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, KSM inhibited the LPS-induced DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), which was associated with prevention of the inhibitor κB degradation. These results suggest that the methanol extract of K. scoparia inhibits LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression by blocking NF-κB activation.


This paper studies a bidirectional dc-dc converter concept which is capable of achieving very high stepping ratios with MW level power transfers. The converter can find potential application in connecting high-power dc sources, interfacing to high-voltage dc transmission or to flexible ac transmission system elements. The converter is based on two resonant circuits which share a common ac capacitor. The topology is simple and utilizes thyristors with potentially all soft switchings. Complete analytical modelling is presented which enables systematic design procedure for the converter. The detailed digital simulation on PSCAD platform confirms satisfactory operation on a 5-MW test system, which connects 4-kV dc source to an 80-kV high voltage dc grid. The converter shows good responses to rapid changes in power magnitude/direction and it is concluded that robustness to terminal voltage disturbances is excellent. Since the highest-power phase-control thyristors are employed, the converter can potentially be used at much higher power levels. The passive components are of reasonable size.


This guide is intended to assist students in Speech Communication 212 to effectively use the various library resources to get the information they need for their speech assignments.


The volume change of the muscle fibres in the hypertonic medium begins with cell shrinkage. Later the cell volume increases up to the normal level because of the furosemide-sensitive CL(-)-influx activation. The property of the Cl(-)-influx to be activated in the hypertonic medium is abolished after denervation. That causes a loss of the ability of muscle fibres to restore their cell volume in the hypertonic medium.


Broad ligament is a very uncommon site for presentation of leiomyoma. On account of their size and nature (pedunculated or sessile), clinically leiomyomas may present variably. We are presenting a rare case of leiomyoma of broad ligament in a 52 year old female patient who presented with complaints of lower abdominal pain of long duration, associated with menstruation. On clinical and radiological examination it was found to be a right sided mass in the pelvic region suspected to be a tubo-ovarian mass. On histopathology, it was confirmed to be a soft tissue tumor–Leiomyoma. We present this case on account of its rarity and the diagnostic difficulties posed.


The purpose of this study is to compare American and Canadian high school choral students' knowledge of their respective patriotic songs. The questions of the study are as follows: (a) do students sing accurately their respective national anthems relative to melody and lyrics; (b) do students sing accurately "America" and "God Save the Queen" relative to melody and lyrics; (c) do students sing accurately the national anthems of each other's country relative to melody and lyrics; and (d) is there a difference in the accuracy when students sing their respective and each other's patriotic songs? The sample consisted of 102 secondary school students who were enrolled in non-auditioned choir classes and audio taped singing unaccompanied versions of their respective national anthems and "America" or "God Save the Queen." Results indicated that overall, Americans were significantly more proficient than Canadian singers. When converted to percentages, 77% of American students and 41% of Canadian students were judged as proficient when singing lyrics and melody of their own National Anthem. American students were significantly more accurate (p < .0001) in melody and lyrics when singing "America" than Canadian students who performed "God Save the Queen." Implications for practical application indicate that more emphasis should be placed on giving choir students the opportunity to sing their own national anthems, with special attention to typical lyric mistakes.


The dynamic distribution of three different glycoconjugates in oocytes
and follicle cells during the oogenesis of Atractomorpha sinensis
were detected using biotin-labeled Peanut Agglutinin (PNA), Soy Bean
Agglutinin (SBA) and Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin I (UEA-I) lectins. The
results showed that during oogenesis there was no distribution of the
UEA-I receptor. The receptors of PNA and SBA were found to be dependent
on developmental stage and present different distribution patterns
accordingly. The binding sites of the two lectins indicated the
presence of different sugars (PNA for Galβ1,3GalNAc and SBA for
GalNAc) and showed considerable variation during oogenesis. PNA and SBA
receptors first appeared at the oocyte growth phase, the PNA receptors
then disappeared gradually and the SBA receptors exhibited the greatest
expression. At the early phase of yolk formation, PNA and SBA receptors
were located just at the brim of ooplasm, which was the region of
vitellin formation. However at the later phase of yolk formation,
neither of the two receptors was detected. In the mature egg, PNA and
SBA receptors were distributed again on the vitellin membrane and the
eggshell. The two receptors were also widely distributed in the
follicular cells, showing similar distribution variation to the
oocytes. The results indicate that the change and modification of the
two receptors may be greatly related to the growth of oocytes, the
preparation for yolk formation, the differentiation of follicular cells
and the maturation of oocytes. The glycoconjugates on the vitellin
membrane probably play important roles in sperm and egg recognition.
The two lectins bound moderately or strongly to the eggshell, which
indicates that the eggshell of A. sinensis contains the GalNAc and
Galβ1,3GalNAc glycoproteins.


Previously, we reported that mast cell (MC) chymase, and its mouse homologue, mast cell protease 4 (MCPT4), protect from septic morbidity and mortality by limiting inflammation via TNF degradation. Here, we identified another potential MCPT4 substrate; factor XIIIa (FXIIIa; the essential fibrin-crosslinking/clot stabilizing FXIII catalytic subunit). We found that extracellular FXIIIA (the pro-form of FXIIIa) protein levels were significantly increased in IgE-stimulated MCPT4-/- peritoneal MC (PMC) supernatants compared with WT PMCs (FXIIIA mRNA levels were unchanged). These data suggest that MCs both secrete FXIIIA and are capable of degrading it via MCPT4. Based on these results, and on published data demonstrating that FXIIIa activity correlated with sepsis severity, we hypothesize that chymase/MCPT4 mediated cleavage of FXIIIa participates in the previously-noted protective effect of chymase during sepsis. First, we verified that chymase is capable of degrading FXIIIA and reducing FXIIIa activity in-vitro and in-vivo. Additionally, we identified 6 chymase-driven primary cleavage sites in human FXIIIA. Finally, we observed that following experimentally-induced sepsis, plasma and peritoneal FXIIIA levels as well as plasma FXIIIa activity were significantly diminished in WT compared with MCPT4-/- mice. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that MCs produce FXIIIA and that MCPT4 reduces FXIIIa activity during experimental sepsis.


The Natanz plutonic complex is located in north of Isfahan and in the Orumieh – Dokhtar magmatic belt. Based on petrographic studies, the Natanz complex is composed of six rock types, which are granodiorite, quartz-diorite, diorite, gabbro, quartz-monzonite and granite monzogranit. The intrusive rocks of Natanz are related to the calc-alkaline magmatic series and I-type granitoids. These rocks are mainly composed of plagioclase, quartze, amphibole, alkali-feldspar, biotite, and pyroxene. The composition of olivine is Fo67-70. Pyroxene is Na-poor. The Composition of clinopyroxenes is in the diopside – augite range and orthopyroxenes are enstatite. All clinopyroxene analyses display compositional differences between cores and rims. Calcic amphibole with magnesiohornblende composition is one of the mafic minerals in the rocks. Composition of plagioclase is An11 (the minimum value in granite) to An92 (the maximum value in gabbro) and in some samples this mineral has normal zoning. Micas are Mg-rich biotite. Application of Al in hornblende barometry indicates a pressure of ≈ 2 kbar for the intrusion. Thermometry yields low temperatures, which probably reflects late stage, post magmatic re-equilibration of the minerals.


Excessive nutrient inputs from land, particularly nitrogen (N), have been found to increase the occurrence of hypoxia and harmful algal blooms in coastal ecosystems. To identify the main contributors of increased N loading and evaluate the efficacy of water pollution control policies, it is essential to quantify and attribute the long‐term changes in riverine N export. Here, we use a state‐of‐the‐art terrestrial–aquatic interface model to examine how multiple environmental factors may have affected N export from the Chesapeake Bay watershed since 1900. These factors include changes in climate, carbon dioxide, land use, and N inputs (i.e., atmospheric N deposition, animal manure, synthetic N fertilizer use, and wastewater discharge). Our results estimated that ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) export increased substantially (66% for NH4+ and 123% for NO3−) from the 1900s to the 1990s and then declined (32% for NH4+ and 14% for NO3−) since 2000. The temporal trend of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) export paralleled that of dissolved inorganic N, while particulate organic nitrogen export was relatively constant during 1900–2015. Precipitation was the primary driver of interannual variability in N export to the Bay. Wastewater discharge explained most of the long‐term change in riverine NH4+ and DON fluxes from 1900 to 2015. The changes in atmospheric deposition, wastewater, and synthetic fertilizer were responsible for the trend of riverine NO3−. In light of our model‐based attribution analysis, terrestrial non‐point source nutrient management will play an important role in achieving water quality goals.


A cohort of patients at various stages of lithium treatment was followed up for 6 years in order to evaluate the course of thyroid abnormalities. Ultrasonography confirmed that lithium can increase thyroid size, especially in cigarette smokers, and that it can affect the texture of the gland. However, the incidence of clinical hypothyroidism or specific thyroid autoimmunity does not exceed that found in the general population. Repeated determinations of thyrotrophin (TSH) concentrations can prevent clinically relevant consequences. Addition of carbamazepine to lithium can counteract lithium‐induced subclinical hypothyroidism, possibly improving prophylactic efficacy in recurrent affective disorders.


In the USA, three Clinical Performance Measures are currently in place: increasing the number of autologous arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) among incident hemodialysis patients to 50% and to 40% in prevalent hemodialysis patients; to foster the surveillance of accesses with pre-emptive correction of problems before accesses thrombose or fail, and to reduce the use of catheters in prevalent patients to less than 10%. Reduction of catheters will automatically result from initiatives that increase the construction of AVFs and pre-emptive monitoring and surveillance of accesses for dysfunction. Therefore, policies that promote the latter two vascular access aspects are most important to develop and follow. Of these two, however, the most impact will be made by promoting a policy to increase AVF creation in the timeliest manner possible. Strategies and resources needed to achieve these policies are presented. The need for a team approach is emphasized.


Transparent metallic oxides are pivotal materials in information technology, photovoltaics, or even in architecture. They display the rare combination of metallicity and transparency in the visible range because of weak interband photon absorption and weak screening of free carriers to impinging light. However, the workhorse of current technology, indium tin oxide (ITO), is facing severe limitations and alternative approaches are needed. AMO3 perovskites, M being a nd1 transition metal, and A an alkaline earth, have a genuine metallic character and, in contrast to conventional metals, the electron–electron correlations within the nd1 band enhance the carriers effective mass (m*) and bring the transparency window limit (marked by the plasma frequency, ωp*) down to the infrared. Here, it is shown that epitaxial strain and carrier concentration allow fine tuning of optical properties (ωp*) of SrVO3 films by modulating m* due to strain‐induced selective symmetry breaking of 3d‐t2g(xy, yz, xz) orbitals. Interestingly, the DC electrical properties can be varied by a large extent depending on growth conditions whereas the optical transparency window in the visible is basically preserved. These observations suggest that the harsh conditions required to grow optimal SrVO3 films may not be a bottleneck for their future application.


Graphene-based drug carriers provide a promising addition to current cancer drug 8 delivery options. Increased accessibility of high-quality graphene made by plasma- enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) makes it an attractive material to re-visit in comparison to the widely studied graphene oxide (GO) in drug delivery. Here we show the potential of re-purposing the metabolic drug phenformin for cancer treatment in terms of stability, binding, and pH-controlled release. Using covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) onto pristine (PE-CVD) graphene, we show that the PEG stabilized graphene nanosheets (PGNS) drug carrier is stable in aqueous solutions, exhibit a higher binding affinity towards phenformin than conventional GO. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrate an improved drug release in PGNS than GO in pH levels lower than physiological conditions comparable to an acidic tumor microenvironment.


Abstract. The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a species of conservation concern on an international scale, yet relatively little is known about its life history strategies and demographics. To estimate post-fledging survival and examine dispersal patterns/rates, Reddish Egrets (n = 30 fledglings) were monitored and marked with VHF radio transmitters in the Laguna Madre, Texas, in 2006. Overall daily survival rate was 0.78 (SE = 0.11). Reddish Egrets dispersed from their natal colony at 12–15 weeks after hatching, and the average distance traveled in the Laguna Madre ranged from 0 to 488 km. These results help fill a knowledge gap during this little-known time period of the Reddish Egret. Furthermore, these results show that the Laguna Madre is an important system during this critical stage of development as many of the juveniles remained in this lagoon through the duration of our 6-month study.


Identifying the difficulties of English Language Teaching at English Medium Schools' Primary levels are essential in Bangladesh to achieve to set English language competencies in the educational institutions. The main purpose of this study was to discover the specific problems of English Language Teaching at English Medium Schools' Primary levels. The current study was a qualitative research technique by nature. One set of closed-ended questionnaires were used to collect data from the teachers who live within three cities to understand the views and situation of the difficulties of English Language teaching. The study indicates that teachers, students and school administration encounter several problems due to lack of skilled teachers, proper teacher training, using proper teaching methods and materials, physical facilities and so on. As a result, English curriculum implementation at the primary level in Bangladesh is becoming unsuccessful in most of the schools; however there are several adequately designed buildings with well trained teachers along with proper educational materials. Given that the number of schools is in the thousands, we shall draw comparisons between respective educational institutions.


Ta-Modified lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate crystalline solutions 0.9PbMg1/3(Nb(1−x)Tax)2/3O3-0.1PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) were first synthesized. The dielectric constant and the dielectric loss of the ceramic for different compositions as a function of frequency and temperature were measured using a Hewlett Packard 4284A LCR precision meter, which can cover a frequency range from 20 to 106Hz in a Delta 9039 test chamber operated between −75°C to +330°C. Dramatic changes of the dielectric properties were observed in Ta-modified 0.9PMN-0.1PT. It was noticed that the samples with appropriate amount of Ta-doping (x = 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) have smaller grain size, larger dielectric constant, and lower dielectric loss than those of the specimens without doping (x = 0.0) or over doping (x = 1.0) in the frequency band of 100 – 105Hz. Proper Ta-doping in PMN-PT also resulted in a weaker frequency dispersion. It was also found that with increasing of Ta addition x, the transition temperature shifts downward to the lower temperature and the peaks of the dielectric constant versus temperature are getting sharper. Ta-doped PMNTa-PT shows a typical relaxor behavior.


Safety standards in most domains (aeronautics, automotive, industry, nuclear, railway, space) consider software (and more generally, design) as a deterministic artefact. They propose a global rationale combining probabilistic evidence on hardware random failures and deterministic evidence on systematic causes of failures including software. In a context where software is more and more pervasive in all systems, and where it is sometimes advocated that software complexity and size seem to provide some relevance to a probabilistic view of software behaviour, several initiatives suggest to change the way to address software in the global system safety assessment. This is a complex question with many facets. Among them the authors propose to discuss in the paper:-foundations, relevance and limits of probabilistic assessment for software,-relationship between software criticality category, (or class, DAL/SIL/ASIL/SSIL etc.) and probabilistic safety objectives,-the rationale for software diversification and to what extent probabilistic assessment is part of it.


The own-children method, an indirect technique, is used to estimate fertility rates for two populations of Tibetans during the 1980s and 1990s: a sample of rural villages in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and exiles living in India and Nepal. The analysis provides evidence that these two populations underwent remarkably similar fertility transitions in both timing and magnitude. In both cases total fertility rates declined from over six births per woman to below the level of replacement in a span of 15 years. The parallel nature of these fertility transitions is intriguing given that, although the populations share a common ethnic identity, they have lived under sharply differing political, economic, and social conditions since the 1960s. Copyright 2005 The Population Council, Inc..


Mobile devices are increasingly being used as platforms for interactive services. However, factors affecting adoption of mobile services in some specific contexts, such as student portals, are still underresearched. This paper reports thematic analyses of semistructured interviews conducted with 52 undergraduate users of mobile student portal in a developing country. The results uncover design features affecting the use of mobile student portals, such as (1) Content Sharing, comprising an Integrative Design to share posts from the mobile portal to social media, (2) Personalized Content and Notification, for personalized notification based on student's academic status, (3) Location-Aware notification, providing location-based updates, (4) User Control, allowing to choose content formats and details level, and (5) Context Switching and Interrupted Behavior, leading to the need for displaying content in small, meaningful chunks to help pick up after interruptions of messages and calls. The findings suggest design recommendations for mobile student portal, in specific.


The basic equations describing a Newtonian universe with uniform pressure are reexamined. We argue that in the semi-classical formulation adopted in the literature the continuity equation has a misleading pressure gradient term. When this term is removed, the resulting equations give the same homogeneous background solutions with pressure and the same evolution equation for the density contrast as are obtained using the full relativistic approach. BROWN-HET-1063 NOVEMBER 1996. hep-ph/yymmdd Typeset in REVTEX email@example.com firstname.lastname@example.com firstname.lastname@example.com.


Changes in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in rats with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the intervention effect of dexamethasone were observed to explore the theoretical basis of dexamethasone in the treatment of ARDS. Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into normal control group (group N, n=24), ARDS model group (group L, n=24) and dexamethasone group (group D, n=24). The ARDS rat model was established by jointly injecting oleic acid and lipopolysaccharide via the caudal vein, while rats in group D received intervention with dexamethasone. The wet/dry weight ratios of lung tissues were measured, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and VEGF in serum and BALF were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The wet/dry weight ratio of lung tissues of rats in group D was significantly decreased compared with that in group L (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and VEGF in serum and BALF of rats in group L and D were obviously increased compared with those in group N at each time point (P<0.01). The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and VEGF in serum and BALF of rats in group D were significantly decreased compared with those in group L (P<0.01). In conclusion, there is a serious imbalance between anti-inflammatory response and inflammatory response in rats with ARDS induced by oleic acid combined with lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli, whereas dexamethasone can alleviate lung injury through inhibiting expression levels of inflammatory factors and promoting expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors.


In the present study we integrated concepts from social cognitive and self-presentational theories to determine the relationships among social physique anxiety, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations, and state anxiety in situations of varying physical evaluation potential. These situations included scenarios considered to be high in physical evaluation, low in physical evaluation, and an exercise condition scenario, considered as high and low in physical evaluation by different individuals. Results demonstrated that the highest levels of state anxiety were found in the high physical evaluation/threat conditions and the lowest levels of anxiety were reported in the low physical evaluation/threat conditions. Additionally, the results demonstrated that being female and higher in physique anxiety resulted in greater self-reported state anxiety when encountering a physically evaluative condition of high threat potential. In exercise conditions, it was found that more efficacious individuals reported less state anxiety, however, in low physical evaluation conditions none of the variables predicted state anxiety.


A punching process using local resistance heating near a circular shearing band was developed to shear ultra high strength steel sheets. The shearing band was heated by the electrification between the sheet holder and the knockout in order to decrease the flow stress in the shearing, and the heating of the die and punch was prevented by eliminating contact with the sheet during the electrification. Electrode pins having a spring were employed to attain uniform heating of the shearing band. The degree of welding of the head of a Cu-W electrode pin to the sheet by the electrification was smaller than those of Ag-W, Ag+WC and W pins, and thus the Cu-W pins were employed in a punching experiment of 980 MPa level ultra high strength steel sheets. The punching load was considerably reduced by the heating, e.g., about 1/5 of the cold load at 800 oC. As the heating temperature increased, the depth of the shiny burnished surface on the sheared edge increased and that of the rough fracture surface decreased.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies reported preoperative renal insufficiency indicated poor prognosis in upper urinary tract carcinoma and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, little is known about the influence of preoperative renal insufficiency on oncological outcomes in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative chronic kidney disease (CKD) on oncological outcomes in primary NMIBC patients who underwent trans-urethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). METHODS: A total of 402 patients with primary NMIBC who underwent TURBT from November 1993 to September 2018 were examined retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups between patients with preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60mL/min/1.73m2 (non-CKD group) and <60mL/min/1.73m2 (CKD group). We investigated oncological outcomes, including intra-vesical and upper urinary tract recurrence-free survival (RFS), MIBC-free survival and metastasis-free survival. We performed multivariate Cox regression analyses using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method to evaluate the impact of preoperative CKD status on prognosis. RESULTS: Median age was 72 years, and median follow-up periods were 47 months in this cohort. Of the 402 patients, 130 (32%) were diagnosed as CKD before TURBT. Intra-vesical and upper urinary tract RFS, MIBC-free survival and metastasis-free survival after TURBT were significantly lower in CKD group compared to non-CKD group. In multivariate analyses using IPTW model, CKD status was selected as a significant independent risk factor of intra-vesical recurrence, progression to MIBC and metastasis in primary NMIBC patients who underwent TURBT, whereas not selected in upper urinary tract recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of preoperative CKD may be a potential risk factor for post-TURBT recurrence and progression in patients with primary NMIBC. Figure. No caption available. Table. No title available. Source of Funding: none


In investing in the capital market, investors need accuracy in making decisions related to stocks. Accurate stock valuation can minimize the risk of being wrong in decision-making. Therefore, investors need to analyze conditions corporate finance for decision making in investing stock. To evaluate the company's financial condition, investors can do it by calculating the company's financial ratio, namely Earning Per Share (EPS), Debt to Equity Ratio (DER), and Return on Equity (ROE) and for determining the appropriate timing of the investor's transactions will also be considering technical factors such as the Rupiah exchange rate against the US Dollar, Inflation and Bank Indonesia Interest Rates. This study aims to determine the effect. Earnings Per Share, Debt to Equity Ratio, Return on Equity, Exchange Rates, Inflation, and Bank Interest Rates Indonesia to Stock Prices. The population in this study are Go-Public companies from the Pharmaceutical sub-sector and the cosmetics sub-sector household goods, which are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange as long as 2014-2019 period. The sample selection technique in this study is purposive sampling. Thirty-six companies were acquired which complied research sample criteria. This study uses secondary data analyzed by descriptive method and multiple linear regression tested with classical assumption experiments, T-Test and F-Test. The results showed that the test results: EPS had an effect significant and partially affect the share price., DER is not has a significant and partial effect on stock prices., ROE has a significant effect simultaneously and partially share price., Exchange rate has no significant effect simultaneously and partially has no effect on stock prices, inflation has no significant effect Simultaneously and partially it has no effect on stock prices. Tribe Interest has no significant effect simultaneously and partially not take effect.


The palladium-catalyzed dimerization of isoprene is a practical approach of synthesizing monoterpenes. Though several highly selective methods have been reported, most of them still required pressure or costly ligands for attaining the active system and desired selectivity. Herein, we present a simple and economical procedure towards the tail-to-tail dimer using readily available Pd(OAc)2 and inexpensive triphenylphosphine as ligand. Furthermore, simple screw cap vials are employed, allowing carrying out the reaction at low pressure. In addition, the potential of the dimer as a chemical platform for the preparation of heterocyclic terpenes by subsequent (hetero)-Diels–Alder or [4 + 1]-cycloadditions with nitrenes is also depicted.


Cardiac lipomas are very rare benign tumors of the heart. They are usually asymptomatic and are often an incidental finding on cardiac imaging. This case report involves an 82-year-old female with a history of diabetes admitted because of poor glycemic control. An echocardiogram requested because of arrhythmias and heart failure revealed a tumor in the right atrium. Computed tomographic and ultrasound appearances were consistent with a lipoma and demonstrated a large mass in the right atrium, causing a significant stenosis of the superior vena cava but no clinical symptoms or signs of superior vena cava syndrome.


With the cost of whole genome sequencing rapidly decreasing to less than $1000 per patient genomics will have a profound impact on health research and drug discovery. Stratified medicine projects are dissecting the mechanisms of complex diseases such as diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular diseases to identify patient populations for targeted treatment and oncology research, and increasingly care is being informed by the identification of the underlying genomic drivers. When the medicines researched in today's drug discovery programmes reach the market many, if not most, patients will have their genome sequenced and pharmacogenetic considerations will likely inform both treatment and dosage regimen. This chapter gives an overview of bioinformatic tools and resources available for medicinal chemists in preclinical research programmes. The focus is on public, open access resources, in particular for generating overviews of function, modification and population variants of protein targets, generating 3D structural models to further analyse variants and homologs from animal models. Finally resources for pharmacogenetics and data integration are covered with an aim to provide practical starting points for drug discovery scientists.


Power systems have been historically expected to operate in a plug-and-play fashion. While in the conventional power system, because of its ample inertia and large generators, frequent small changes in the system may not pose any significant challenge. Moving forward, as (i) the system gets smaller (microgrids) or (ii) the resources become more sensitive to changes (power electronics--based inverters), the need to ensure that the system dynamics are regulated increases to avoid apparatus malfunction, dynamic response challenges, and protection issues. Set point automatic adjustment with correction enabled (SPAACE) is an add-on strategy to improve the performance of an existing controller when the controller itself is black boxed---a common scenario with inverters associated with utility-installed renewable systems. This work implements a smooth variant of SPAACE in an experimental test bed to evaluate the performance of a proposed linear prediction strategy in several scenarios. This new strategy allows for simpler and faster implementation of SPAACE in practical systems.


Electrocardiograms were taken on 12 alligators, 18–30 inches in length. Some were exposed to elevated temperatures; the resulting ECG's were compared with controls obtained at 22°C, which were as follows: rate, 40/min.; P-R, 0.4 seconds; Q-T, 0.6 seconds; T, 0.24 second, 0.05 mv; QRS, 0.04 second. Heart rate increased with increased colonic temperature. At 34°C there was marked increase in variability of rate. Above 40°C the heart became irregular and was damaged irreversibly. Duration of T decreased with elevated temperature to about 33°C above which T was prolonged. Optimal temperature for the alligator in terms of tolerance and general behavior is between 32°C and 35°C, with a critical maximum of 38°C. Slightly above that temperature the heart became disorganized. The present results suggest that the alligator's temperature preferendum is sound with respect to cardiac well being.


An optical fiber sensor for simultaneous measurement of humidity and temperature is proposed and investigated. The sensor is composed of a pokal taper and a peanut taper spliced at both ends of a single-mode fiber, respectively. In the experiment, the variations of the dip wavelength are used to measure the parameter sensing characteristics. The sensing area is coated with a concentration of 1 mg/ml graphene dispersion by using the optical driven deposition method. Experimental results show that the sensor has a good linear relationship with temperature and humidity. When the humidity measurement range is 30%RH∼70%RH, the sensitivities are 0.059 nm/%RH and 0.133 nm/%RH, respectively. When the temperature measurement range is 0∘C∼40∘C, the sensitivities are 0.254 nm/°C and 0.269 nm/°C, respectively. This sensor has the advantages of small size, low cost, and high response.


In his seminal paper on morphogenesis (1952), Alan Turing demonstrated that different spatio-temporal patterns can arise due to instability of the homogeneous state in reaction-diffusion systems, but at least two species are necessary to produce even the simplest stationary patterns. This paper is aimed to propose a novel model of the analog (continuous state) kinetic automaton and to show that stationary and dynamic patterns can arise in one-component networks of kinetic automata. Possible applicability of kinetic networks to modeling of real-world phenomena is also discussed.


Theory suggests that in a multiperiod principal-agent setting optimal cash flow based contracts should exhibit memory of wages (Lambert, Bell Journal of Economics, p. 447); that is, wages should depend on both present and past outcomes. There is only weak empirical evidence such as raises/pay cuts and promotions/demotions for this theoretical result. Thus the conclusion can be made that real management compensation is in fact rather memoryless. In addition, these memoryless contracts are usually based on reported earnings, not on cash flows. This paper offers an explanation for this phenomenon. Although cash flow based contracts with memory c. p. strictly Pareto-dominate memoryless ones, the welfare improvement may be outweighed by an increment of transaction costs, i. e., costs of writing and specifying the memory contract. This paper focuses on the second question: Why does practice prefer earnings-based to cash flow-based memoryless contracts even if the agent has discretion to manage earnings to maximize her own utility? It will be proven that at least in a setting without the agent's access to capital markets, the former contracts strictly Paretodominate the latter. To present a strictly formal proof, a model modifying Lambert's (1983) scenario is introduced in which the agent is allowed to manage earnings in period 1; in period 2 there is the reverse effect resulting from the 'clean surplus' or 'tidiness' property of accrual accounting. The interpretation for the result is that earnings management enables the agent to smooth consumption over time. Thus the (risk-neutral) principal can lower the expected wage payment to implement the optimal action pair without violating the agent's reservation utility. Consequently the agency is strictly better off. A brief analysis of earnings management in a dynamic principal-agent setting with free access to capital markets concludes the paper.


The prevalence of Paramphistomum cervi infestation in Balochi, Babrik and Harnai sheep breeds from Balochistan (Pakistan) was studied during September to December 2010. For this purpose, rumen of slaughtered sheep in Quetta City and surroundings (n=1,200) were examined. Results showed significant differences (p P. cervi infestation (17.83%) was recorded in animals during the study period. Considering age, a higher prevalence (p<0.05) of infestation (23.5%) was observed in animals older than two years-old. On the contrary, lower parasitation (p<0.05, 16.66%) was detected in less than one year-old group. Regarding sex, females (22.33%) were found to be more infested (p<0.05) than males (17.83%). The Balochi and Harnai sheeps showed higher prevalence of infestation (p<0.05) compared to Babrik sheeps. Considering the season of the year, P. cervi prevalence was the highest (p<0.05, 19.25%) during October, followed by November (15.75%), September (12.75%) and December (12.5%).


Today, E-government's potential to increase transparency and combat corruption in government administration is gaining popularity in communities of e- government practitioners and researchers. Based on their experiences and literature, we study the E-government's measures to combat corruption in China. This paper firstly illustrates the corruption in today's China and the relation among E-government, transparency and anti-corruption and tries to find out the main causes of the corruption in today's China. Then, reference on the anti-corruption strategies proposed by the UNDP-APDIP, we make problem-oriented research on how can E-government reduce corruption effectively in China and bring out some specific anti- corruption measures. Finally, we come to the conclusion that E-government can reduce corruption effectively in China.


ABSTRACT The establishment and survival of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, was evaluated on transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Rerliner maize, Zea mays L., expressing the mCry3A protein (MIR604) and non-Bt maize with the same genetic background (isoline maize) at different stages of development in 2007 and 2008. Overall, western corn rootworm larval recovery, root damage, and adult emergence were significantly higher on isoline maize compared with MIR604. The number of larvae and adults collected from MIR604 did not significantly differ among egg hatch dates from each maize developmental stage evaluated in either year. In 2007, damage to isoline maize roots was lower than expected and never exceeded 0.24 nodes of damage. In 2008, over 0.60 nodes of damage occurred on isoline maize roots. The mean weight and head capsule width of larvae and adults recovered from MIR604 and isoline maize were generally not significantly different. Results are discussed in relation to insect resistance management of western corn rootworm.


THE tirticarial weal is the result of a local leakage of plasma from the minute vessels into the connective tissue of the dermjs. These events were carefully studied in factitious urticaria by Sir Thomas Lewis in the 1920s. He developed the Unitarian theory that the last link iti the chain of events which leads to weal formation is the liberation of histamine (the H‐substance). Today we know that his contention probably is correct for the acute and factitial types of urticaria. In chronic and eliolinergic urticaria other mediators seem to dominate although even here histamine is probably involved in some of the stages. Excellent reviews of urtiearial reactions have been published by Beall (1964) and Oalnan (1964). In the following, mediators of urticarial reactions and changes in microeirculation will be considered.


This study aims to examine the effect of corporate strategy on earnings management with financial performance and audit quality as moderating variables. This study adopts the concept proposed by Miles and Snow in determining company strategy. The proxies for business strategy are the number of employees to total sales (EMPSAL), the capital expenditure ratio to total assets (CAPTA), and the dividend payout ratio (DPR). Financial performance is proxied by return on assets (ROA), auditor size measures audit quality, and discretionary accruals measure earnings management. The sample was determined using a purposive sampling method, and a sample of 16 companies was obtained with 80 observations. Companies grouped by prospector and defender strategies were analyzed using cluster analysis. Data analysis was carried out using moderated regression analysis (MRA). The results shows that a company's strategy affects earnings management, and that firm performance and auditor quality can moderate the relationship between corporate strategy and earnings management.


Ideal telephone substation and repeater circuits are shown to present output and input requirements which can be met by a type of circuit containing four resistances, each of which has maximum output; maximum output is found to involve biconjugacy, i.e., the four resista. nces fall into two pairs without active electrical connection between the two resistances of either pair; all circuits meeting these requirements with the minimum number of elements are enumerated; the necessary formulas for proportioning these circuits and also circuits having superflous elements are derived. The discussion of the properties of these four-resistance circuits, to which a consideration of three-resistance eire-uits is added, is a contribution to the important problem of the properties of the most general circuit containing ideal transformers.


MC3T3‐E1 cells in culture exhibit a temporal sequence of development similar to in vivo bone formation. To examine whether the developmental expression of the osteoblast phenotype depends on serum derived factors, we compared the timedependent expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP)‐a marker of osteoblastic maturation‐ in MC3T3‐E1 cells grown in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) or resin/charcoal‐stripped (AXC) serum. ALP was assessed by measuring enzyme activity, immunoblotting, and Northern analysis. Growth of MC3T3‐E1 cells in FBS resulted in the programmed upregulation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) post‐proliferatively during osteoblast differentiation. In the presence of complete serum, actively proliferating cells during the initial culture period expressed low ALP levels consistent with their designation as pre‐osteoblasts, whereas postmitotic cultures upregulated ALP protein, message, and enzyme activity. In addition, undifferentiated early cultures of MC3T3‐E1 cells were refractory to forskolin (FSK) stimulation of ALP, but became forskolin responsive following prolonged culture in FBS containing media. In contrast, MC3T3‐E1 cells grown in AXC serum displayed limited growth and failed to show a time‐dependent increase in alkaline phosphatase. Neither the addition of IGF‐I to AXC serum to augment cell number or plating at high density restored the time‐dependent upregulation of alkaline phosphatase. Cells incubated in AXC serum for 14 days, however, though expressing low alkaline phosphatase levels, maintained the capacity to upregulate ALP after FBS re‐addition or forskolin activation of cAMP‐dependent pathways. Such time‐dependent acquisition of FSK responsiveness and serum stimulation of ALP expression only in mature osteoblasts indicate the possible presence of differentiation switches that impart competency for a subset of osteoblast developmental events that require complete serum for maximal expression. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The fluctuations of the bank strength against erosion were observed in the recent experiments conducted on the cohesion mixed flood-plain with the layered sediments. Time dependent consolidation, cohesion variation and the discharge fluctuations are the main parameters that effect the bank strength fluctuations. The cohesive material properties and its self consolidation behavior lead to the self increment of the density and the corresponding failure stresses. On increasing the cohesion in the mixture, the failure stress was found to increase up to certain extent and reaches maximum values around 30% of cohesion and then decreases for further increase in cohesion in the mixtures. Also, the judgment during discharge fluctuations in the channel shows significant variations in the failure stresses for high and low flow cases. Finally these phenomena drive towards the hysteresis behavior due to cohesive sediment transport considering the process as erosion and transport, deposition and settling and consolidations etc.


Research on soil-wheel interaction is essential in studies of motion resistance of narrow wheels of agricultural machines. The aim of this research was to study the effects of soil moisture content and tyre inflation pressure on motion resistance of narrow wheels using a locally developed single wheel test rig. A single wheel Test Rig facility was developed at Federal University of Technology, Akure. It consists of a soil bin, carriage, single narrow wheel tester, trolley and drive system. An existing indoor soil bin facility was equipped with a soil bin which dimension was 9.76 m length x 1.98 m width x 0.92 m high. The single-wheel test facility was utilized to investigate the effect of tyre inflation pressure and vertical load on motion resistance of wheel. Two narrow wheels of 90/10-10 in width, IRC MB90 tyre were used as the test wheels on clay soil and were separately installed on a carriage that traversed the length of soil bin. Two inflation pressures of 274 kPa and 380 kPa and four levels of vertical load applied on wheel (i.e. 15, 20, 30, and 40 kg) were examined at two different soil moisture conditions (bulk density of 1.58 g/cm3 and 1.55 g/cm3, soil moisture content of 8% and 10% dry basis and soil penetration resistance of 1.02 MPa and 1.5 MPa). Exponential regression was obtained for the two wheels to check for linearity at different moisture content, R2 value for test wheel 1 with inflation pressure of 270 kPa at 8% moisture content was 0.9974 while that of inflation pressure of 380 kPa at 10% moisture content was 0.9952; also for test wheel two (2) R2 value was 0.9977 and 0.9914 at moisture content of 8% and 10% respectively, this shows for test wheel 1 with inflation pressure of 270 kPa at 8% moisture content showed more motion resistance compared to motion resistance of test wheel 1 at inflation pressure of 380 kPa and 10% moisture content, while for test wheel 2 with inflation pressure of 270 kPa showed low motion resistance at 8% motion content. The effect of different inflation pressures and vertical loads on the motion resistance of the narrow wheels has been investigated under different moisture content (8% and 10%). The contact area for all tests was in the range of 309-330 cm2, average contact pressure increased nearly linearly with increase in vertical load and increase in inflation pressure The research provides data that are relevant in the study of soil-wheel interaction.


The analysis indicates that a one-variable model based on vehicle miles does not account for the route operating efficiencies in terms of operating speed as well as vehicle utilization. A two-variable model consisting of unit cost factors for vehicle miles and vehicle hours more accurately reflects the route efficiency in terms of operatig speed, but does not account for economy relative to vehicle utilization. The three-variable cost allocation model consisting of unit cost factors for vehicle miles, vehicle hours, and peak vehicles more accurately reflects both efficiency measures. The analysis of route costs suggest that the greater the difference in the speed and peak vehicle utilization of a route from the system-wide average, the larger the disparity in individual route cost results from the three formulas. The paper recommends utilization of a three-variable cost allocation model for operational planning purposes.


The consumption of seafood and seafood products contaminated with Salmonella sp. can lead to illness, thus this has become a worldwide public health concern. The aim of this research was to detect Salmonella sp. in various seafood and seafood products from Surabaya traditional market. The study was conducted through a sample collection, followed by the pre- enrichment, enrichment, isolation, and the identification of Salmonella. A total of twenty-nine samples (fish, crustacean, bivalve, and seafood products) from five local markets in Surabaya were collected and analyzed. Twenty-seven (93.10%) samples were positive for Salmonella sp. All of the isolates were tested for an antibiotic-resistant profile by employing disc diffusion targeting seven antibiotics. A high prevalence of Salmonella sp. in the seafood in the traditional markets was apparent in this study. Among all of the isolates, there were eight strains resistant to at least one antibiotic that was tested. This study can be a basis for further research into managing antibiotic-resistant Salmonella sp. infection as an important food-borne illness of developing countries.


Single-Cell Genomics
RNA transcripts can now be sequenced within single cells. Such studies identify variants that affect gene expression at a level that may not be detected by bulk sequencing. Van der Wijst et al. sequenced ∼25,000 individual blood cells from 45 individuals. Expression quantitative trait loci that had previously been identified in bulk studies were found, which helped validate the approach. An additional 287 genes were identified that showed differences in expression in single cells resulting from genetic variation, 48 of which differed among cell types. Furthermore, single-cell sequencing detected variants that affect regulatory networks and revealed personalized coexpression patterns.

Nat. Genet. 10.1038/s41588-018-0089-9 (2018).


Recently, the heliostat field attracts great attention by searchers in order to boost the electrical performance and harvest great energy. For efficient use, heliostats are generally installed on open-plated areas. The problem stated in this work consists of how heliostats can benefit on distorted grounds? Accordingly, in this work, the dynamic model of heliostat mechanical structure is developed basing on Lagrange formalism. In addition, the system of the heliostat is realized in virtual reality with a real dimension and a program for calculating the sun position and tracking the sun trajectory is developed. Moreover, to ensure a good tracking of the system in control closed loop the state feedback  synthesis with pole placement based on LMI constraints is used and basing on the quasi-LPV modelling to guarantee the stability of heliostat on testing-ground. The obtained results averred the robustness of the proposed control strategy. This study can be taken into consideration in the implementation of central power towers on different ground shapes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eie.23.5.19246


Object models based on bag-of-words representations can achieve state-of-the-art performance for image classification and object localization tasks. However, as they consider objects as loose collections of local patches they fail to accurately locate object boundaries and are not able to produce accurate object segmentation. On the other hand, Markov random field models used for image segmentation focus on object boundaries but can hardly use the global constraints necessary to deal with object categories whose appearance may vary significantly. In this paper we combine the advantages of both approaches. First, a mechanism based on local regions allows object detection using visual word occurrences and produces a rough image segmentation. Then, a MRF component gives clean boundaries and enforces label consistency, guided by local image cues (color, texture and edge cues) and by long-distance dependencies. Gibbs sampling is used to infer the model. The proposed method successfully segments object categories with highly varying appearances in the presence of cluttered backgrounds and large view point changes. We show that it outperforms published results on the Pascal VOC 2007 dataset.


Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway that plays pivotal roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Beclin1/BECN1 is a key autophagy protein that regulates the stability and kinase activity of the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex. Dysregulation of autophagy results in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including type 2 diabetes. However, the molecular mechanism of the autophagy machinery in metabolic regulation is poorly understood. To elucidate how autophagy and BECN1 are involved in energy homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, we generated a unique knock-in mouse model showing hyperactive autophagy. This mouse model carries a single amino acid substitution (F121A) in the BECN1 protein (BECN1F121A), which disrupts an inhibitory binding between BECN1 and BCL2, leading to constitutive activation of autophagy. Using this moue model, we discovered that in addition to a role in autophagic regulation, BECN1 also executes a non-degradative function. We found that in response to high-fat diet feeding, BECN1F121A mice show improved systemic insulin sensitivity, elevated adiponectin levels in the circulation, and enhanced adiponectin signaling in metabolic tissues, compared to wild type (WT) mice, despite that body weight and white adipose tissue weight are similar between the two genotypes. Using adipocyte-differentiated stromal vascular fraction cells, we further found that compared to WT BECN1, the BECN1F121A mutant interacts more strongly with components of the exocyst, a complex required for secretory vesicle docking at the plasma membrane. Finally, we demonstrated that the BECN1-exocyst interaction is mechanistically mediated through the coiled-coil domain of BECN1. Altogether, our findings suggest that BECN1 regulates adiponectin secretion through interacting with the exocyst in white adipose tissues, and highlight that autophagy proteins may play important non-degradative roles in energy metabolism. Disclosure K. Kuramoto: None. C. He: None.


There is at present little agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on the territorial consolidation of the current dispute. Military action in 1999 has resulted in deadlock. This paper sheds light on problem areas in the current theory of self-determination in international relations. It may stimulate debate on a final political and regional settlement between Serbia and Kosovo. To investigate whether a settlement could be achieved without huge international involvement I have analyzed particular parts of the current theory of international relations and found that two possible approaches applicable to the issue can be used. The findings indicate that the concept of autonomy and the concept of territorial exchange could be the most appropriate solutions. The concept of autonomy for Northern Kosovo offers the formalization of present relations, making progress with respect to the ongoing process of decentralization and the establishment of proper authorities in the area. In contrast, the concept of territorial exchange is the more dangerous solution bringing more problems and less stability. To speed up the process, the EU and the US should support current talks on technical issues between Belgrade and Pristina. It is necessary to submit the question of territorial consolidation for negotiation as soon as possible to normalize life in the Balkans.


September i 1, 2001, and subsequent events have brought unprecedented attention to religion in the media, academia, and popular imagination of Western countries. Understandably, much of the attention has been on Islam, and the perspective has been largely pejorative. But there also has been the recognition that there are religious traditions whose adherents do not practice terrorism, and that there are situations in which religion plays a positive role. There has been particular interest in the question of whether specific religious traditions are compatible with the institutions and values of liberal democracy.It is estimated that there are approximately three hundred and fifty million Orthodox Christians in the world. (The term "Orthodox" is somewhat flexible, sometimes only referring to churches affiliated with the Patriarch of Constantinople, sometimes also to the so-called non-Chalcedonian churches, such as the Armenian and the Coptic.) Most of the countries with majority Orthodox populations are of great political and economic importance. A better understanding of Orthodoxy, therefore, is not something that should just interest theologians and scholars of religion, but is of importance for an understanding of the contemporary world.My article is from the social science viewpoint. Not being Orthodox myself, I cannot make normative judgments or give prescriptions from an Orthodox standpoint. (I am theologically liberal Lutheran and, although I have very strong sympathies for Orthodoxy, I have no inclination to "go swimming in the Bosporus"-to use the graphic phrase that has been used to describe converts to Orthodoxy.) However, at the end of this article, I make some observations on why the future of Orthodoxy should be of religious concern to others who are not part of this tradition.Before directly addressing the topic of Orthodoxy, I think it will be useful to make some general observations about the place of religion in today's world. Despite massive evidence to the contrary, there persists among many people (not least the Christian theologians) the view that we live in an age of secularity. Scholars of religion have called this view "secularization theory." (I myself shared this view in my early career as a sociologist of religion, then changed my mind, not because of some philosophical or theological reconsideration, but because of the weight of empirical data.) Simply put, modernity inevitably brings about a decline of religion or, another way, modernization causes secularization. This is not an occasion to review the controversy over this matter, which has gone on for several decades. Today, most scholars of religion agree that the secularization theory has been effectively disproven. Far from being characterized by secularity, our age has witnessed vast eruptions of religious passion. The modern age is as religious as any previous period of history; in some places it is more religious than ever. There are two very interesting exceptions to this generalization. One is geographical: Western and Central Europe is indeed marked by a significant decline of religion, having engendered a phenomenon that I call "Eurosecularity," since it has become an important ingredient of European cultural identity. The other exception is sociological: A relatively thin but influential international intelligentsia, for whom secularity has become not only an act but, at least for some of its members, a matter of ideological commitment. Both of these exceptions are relevant for Orthodoxy-not everywhere, but in some countries.What modernity does bring about, more or less inevitably, is pluralism. In a broad sense, this can be defined as the coexistence under conditions of civic peace of different racial, ethnic, or religious groups in the same society. Religious pluralism, which concerns us here, is a subset of a more general phenomenon. There is no great mystery as to why modernity has this effect. Through most of history, most people lived in homogenous communities that interacted very little with outsiders and, if they did, did so in an antagonistic way. …


Hibernation was induced in Columbian ground squirrels by placing them in refrigerated cages equipped with urine-collection pans. On arousal, urine and blood were collected from each animal, which was then allowed to reenter hibernation. After several days the animal was sacrificed and bladder urine and another blood sample were taken. In addition, four active non-hibernating ground squirrels were placed in a cage at room temperature with neither food or water. Urine was collected at 9 and 26 hours and blood was collected at 0 and 26 hours. Although only seven of ten hibernating squirrels had a higher blood-urea level when sacrificed than during the previous arousal, the other three had very high levels in the arousal period and probably further excreted urea before entering hibernation. When total body urea was calculated on a body weight basis, all except one animal showed a greater level of urea during hibernation than in the previous arousal. During their period of dehydration, the non-hibernating summer squirrels showed a marked decrease in blood urea. The osmotic concentration of the urine from these squirrels was due less to urea than that excreted during arousal by hibernating squirrels. Thus, it appears that urea accumulates in the blood during hibernation and is excreted in the urine during arousal.


A novel suspended radio frequency (RF) spiral inductor was fabricated on glass substrate by using the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The suspended spiral inductor is sustained with the T-shaped pillars. Great improvements in Q-factor have been achieved because of the separation between the substrate and the inductor. In the fabrication process, fine polishing of the photoresist is used to simplify the processes and ensure the seed layer and the pillars contact perfectly, and dry etching technique is used to remove the seed layer. The inductance and Q-factor are measured using the HP 8722D network analyzer in the frequency range of 0.05-10 GHz. The maximum quality factor of this inductor is 37 for the inductance of 4.2 nH with a suspended height of 60 /spl mu/m. Also, the relationship between the maximum quality factor and the suspended height were studied; the maximum quality factor grows gradually with the increase of the suspended height.


The developed text classification system is designed to automate news classification process. Text corpus for training and testing the system is formed from Azerbaijani news articles. The system will be useful for online news categorization and automatic news labeling for news agencies. Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machines, and Artificial Neural Networks have been implemented to solve the news classification problem. Moreover, a number of approaches such as stemming, stop word removal, feature reduction have been implemented for both performance and accuracy improvements.


Introduction: polycythemia is characterized by an increase in number of red blood cells and/or the amount of hemoglobin (Hb) per unit volume of blood. the most appropriate hematological parameter for assessment is the hematocrit (HTC). Secondary polycythemia is characterized by increased erythropoiesis stimulating factor (EPO), being normal erythrocyte precursors in the bone marrow. The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by intermittent hypoxia occur during sleep and can cause secondary polycythemia. Objective: Evaluate patients received in the unit of sleep disordered breathing referred from hematology department (HDp) for suspected OSAS and polycythemia, having discarded polycythemia vera. Material and Methods: We analyzed data from 20 patients referred from HDp for secondary polycythemia and suspected OSAS during 2012-2013. Results: of the 20 patients, all were male. The mean eye was 64.5(SD13.6). The mean body mass index was 33(SD4.6). HCT average was 52(SD2.5) and the mean Hb 18(SD0.6). OSAS was diagnosed in 85% of studied patients. The mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was 32.7(SD25.6). The minimum was 0.7 and the maximum 81. Half of the patients had severe OSAS The nocturnal oximetry profile presented with an average of 41% T90%(SD35) and middle desaturation index 34.4/h(DT25). Conclusion: In patients referred from hematology with no primary polycythemia, OSAS is confirmed, mostly predominantly obstructive with nocturnal oximetry impact. It is essential to rule out OSAS in patients with secondary polycythemia.


The work presented in this report has been developed inside the EU funding project "TRIple Energy Saving by Use of CRP, CLT and PODded Propulsion (TRIPOD)" (FP7-Grant# 265809). This report is of public nature and contents all the project results that can be released to the technical community showing the most relevant findings and developments that can be of general interest in the development of a novel propulsion concept formed by the combination of three technologies: podded propulsors, CRP configuration and endplate CLT propellers. The technical content and the design phases of the project are described. Relevant developments in Hydrodynamics of CRP-POD system, in CFD applications to propellers working in CRP configurations and in the energy savings achieved are presented. Last but not least an economical analysis has been performed as part of the validation of the new propulsion concept developed in the project.


Agriculture is one such field which is still dominant in a country like India, where 74.30 per cent (India, 2002) of population is residing in villages and still continuing agriculture. It has now become a developed profession on which the students are interested to join agriculture colleges, universities or institutes etc. Government is also spending large sums of money on this sector and making many strategies and policies for its upliftment. Educational systems of all agricultural universities are reviewed from time to time to improve the quality of agriculture education. A student graduating from agricultural university with specialization in one of the professional areas like agriculture, veterinary, agricultural engineering or related fields has to perform a variety of skills related to jobs.At present in the state of Uttaranchal there is only one agricultural university which produces around one hundred agriculture graduates every year. Due to the improved standards of higher secondary education and also the heavy demand for agricultural courses, students with high academic standards alone are able to secure admission. This is because of the various socia-personal, cultural and psychological factors of students, which are ultimately responsible for the failure of educational programmes example Family support, Medium of instruction and Income etc.


Organisations are re-engineering their B2B communications to be performed through web services. Their aim is to create modularised services that support the business processes within their organisation and also those external entities that participate in these same business processes. This improvement is at the expense of the organisation's knowledge of its performance, as this knowledge will become buried within the internal processing of the web service platform. This research introduces an approach to reclaim and improve this knowledge for the organisation by establishing a framework that enables the definition of web services, together with the logging and analysis of the enactment of web services. This framework utilises web service concepts, DSS principles, and agent technologies, to enable feedback on the organisation's performance measures through the analysis of the web services. We apply this framework to a specific case study where suppliers participate in an inter-organisational workflow via a Private Exchange in the context of order fulfilment. A key benefit of this work is that the data is stored once but provides information both to the organisation acting as the customer and the organisation acting as the supplier. It therefore removes the need for development of internal performance monitoring tools to monitor web services performance.


OBJECTIVE—The complexity of interactions between genes and the environment is a major challenge for type 1 diabetes studies. Nuclear chromatin is the interface between genetics and environment and the principal carrier of epigenetic information. Because histone tail modifications in chromatin are linked to gene transcription, we hypothesized that histone methylation patterns in cells from type 1 diabetic patients can provide novel epigenetic insights into type 1 diabetes and its complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) linked to microarray (ChIP-chip) approach to compare genome-wide histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) patterns in blood lymphocytes and monocytes from type 1 diabetic patients versus healthy control subjects. Bioinformatics evaluation of methylated candidates was performed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) tools. RESULTS—A subset of genes in the type 1 diabetic cohort showed significant increase in H3K9me2 in lymphocytes but not in monocytes. CLTA4, a type 1 diabetes susceptibility gene, was one of the candidates displaying increased promoter H3K9me2 in type 1 diabetes. IPA identified two high-scoring networks that encompassed genes showing altered H3K9me2. Many of them were associated with autoimmune and inflammation-related pathways, such as transforming growth factor-β, nuclear factor-κB, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, toll-like receptor, and interleukin-6. IPA also revealed biological relationships between these networks and known type 1 diabetes candidate genes. CONCLUSIONS—The concerted and synergistic alteration of histone methylation within the identified network in lymphocytes might have an effect on the etiology of type 1 diabetes and its complications. These studies provide evidence of a novel association between type 1 diabetes and altered histone methylation of key genes that are components of type 1 diabetes–related biological pathways and also a new understanding of the pathology of type 1 diabetes.


Lipidomics, a rapidly developing research field, has been widely studied in many non-cancer areas, and in some
cancers. Taking prostate cancer as an example, this article has concisely reviewed applications of lipidomics in cancer
research. Lipidomics is able to identify a few out of thousands individual lipid species in bio-fluids as biomarkers in
diagnosis of prostate cancer with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. This technology has been also used in studying
the pathogenesis of prostate cancer by combining data of lipid profiling with lipid metabolites and pathways strategy.
Importantly, lipidomics can provide details of lipid compositions different between prostate cancer and benign prostate,
which will greatly help to make strategy in prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.


Abstract A generalized sigma-coordinate system is presented that allows for a rapid vertical decay of small-scale topographic structures in the coordinate surfaces. Its properties are similar to the smooth-level vertical-coordinate system recently introduced by Schar et al., but it is designed for the coordinate definition used in the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5). An idealized advection test demonstrates that the accuracy of the horizontal advection greatly benefits from the reduced slope of the coordinate surfaces at some vertical distance from the topography. Moreover, a test considering an atmosphere at rest in the vicinity of an isolated mountain shows that the new coordinate system strongly reduces the numerical noise appearing in such a configuration. The noise turns out to be related to a local numerical instability triggered by computing the horizontal temperature diffusion along sloping coordinate surfaces. When the temperature diffusion is computed tr...