INTRODUCTION
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has an increasing incidence worldwide, reflecting the epidemics of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Data on knowledge, attitude and management by the Romanian gastroenterologists with regard to NAFLD are lacking.

METHODS
We assessed current diagnostic and treatment patterns of the management of NAFLD among 102 Romanian board certified gastroenterologists using a survey developed to collect information regarding participants' clinical practice, diagnostic tools and usage of medication in patients with NAFLD.

RESULTS
71.6% of the surveyed gastroenterologists (SG) had more than 5 years of gastroenterology practice, were university affiliated and 37.3% had predominant activity in hepatology (>60%). In Romania, 60.8% of the SG would diagnose NAFLD only if all other causes of liver disease were absent. All practitioners use a noninvasive tool for staging NAFLD, 45.1% use both serum markers and transient elastography. Liver biopsy is performed by 61.8% of the SG in the presence of a discordant result in two noninvasive methods of fibrosis evaluation. The most frequently prescribed drugs are: silymarin (88.2%), vitamin E (78.4%) and ursodeoxycholic acid (77.4%).

CONCLUSION
The results of this survey suggest that clinical practice patterns among Romanian gastroenterologists for the diagnosis (mainly liver biopsy) and management of NAFLD frequently diverge from published practice guidelines. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is probably underdiagnosed, especially in patients with normal transaminase levels and is also overtreated with drugs that are not recommended in the guidelines.


The O(B,,cp,x,y,z) is the linearized temperature. The X = x/r, Y = y/r and Z = z/r are the normalized coordinates to the characteristic radius. a(T) = r 2 / 4 D ( T ) = r i / [ 4 d ( T ) c o s e,] reflects the scanning dependence of the linearized temperature. The terms P = p/r = COS e0)1'2/r0 and V = v/r = COS eo)1/2/ro are the normalized incident laser power and scanning speed. The real temperature, T can be obtained by solving the Kirchhoff Transform.' P-polarized beam has higher absorption than S-polarized beam, therefore the asymmetric groove can be fabricated due to asymmetric absorption of the laser power. The phenomenon had been observed in laser tooling of metals; laser induced chemical etching of M-Zn ferrite4 ThH2 Fig. 1. Schematic diagrams of the asymmetrical processing by the laser beam having different polarization direction with respect to the scanning direction.


Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory chronic disease with varying signs and outcomes. A valid, reliable and sensitive assessment tool that is able to assess activity is essential in clinical practice. Currently, to assess the activity of RA a combination of clinical signs, subjective parameters and laboratory tests are used as for the Disease Activity Score (DAS). Objectives Our aim from this study was to define which parameter is more correlated to disease activity in RA patients. Methods A prospective study of Tunisian patients followed up for RA was conducted. Only patients with DAS 28 joints <5,1 were recruited. They were devised into 2 groups: G1: patients in remission (DAS28 <2,6) and G2: patients with active disease. We compared parameters which were essential to calculate the DAS: number of tender joints (NTJ), number of swelling joints (NSJ), the global assessment of disease activity by the patient (GAP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). All of these findings were compared between the two groups. Significant difference was considered if the p value was <0,05. Results Fifty patients were recruited, aged of an average of 50 years-old. Among them, 30 were in remission (G1) and 20 were not (G2). The mean DAS28 was 2,03 for G1 ranging from 1,13 to 2,6 and was 4,2 ranging from 3,1 to 5,1 for G2. The mean NTJ and NSJ were respectively 0,03 and 0,3 for G1 and 2,5 and 3,4 for G2. The difference was significant between the 2 groups for NTJ and NSJ (p<0,0001 and 0,001 respectively). The GAP was higher for G2 than for G1 (46,5 vs 7,5) but the difference was not significant (p=0,47). The ESR was significantly higher for G2 than for G1 (p=0,0015). Conclusions Between parameters of the DAS28, NTJ, NSJ and ESR were well correlated to disease activity. However, the GAP, the only subjective parameter, didn't differ from RA in remission or in active disease. References Moya Alvarado P. Is DAS a Profitable Score to Be Used for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Follow Up? Rheumatology 211 Burkhard F. A comparison of patient questionnaires and composite indexes in routine care of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Joint Bone Spine 2009 Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.5253


Service-oriented autonomous decentralized systems (S-ADS) have been presented to address the extreme dynamism in large-scale information systems. In S-ADS, various capabilities are independently constructed and managed by different providers as autonomous services that are distributed over various types of networks, including wireless and wired networks. One of the key challenges in S-ADS is to have an effective access control mechanism that can meet the dynamic and diverse security requirements of various users and providers of an S-ADS system. Current access control mechanisms can hardly meet this challenge due to lack of situation-awareness. In this paper, a situation-aware access control approach is presented, which is middleware-based and integrates situation-awareness capability and role based access control (RBAC) models to provide a practical solution for access control in S-ADS. The situation-aware RBAC model is designed for specifying dynamic access policies in an S-ADS system. Due to the situation-awareness capability of our approach, flexible and high-grained access policies can be specified and enforced for various providers and users.


Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, adherence to hygiene measures is an objective aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality. Objective: To evaluate adherence to hand hygiene and protection measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study on health personnel handwashing at the five moments recommended by the World Health Organization, as well as on the use of specific personal protective equipment. Results: One hundred and seventeen hand hygiene opportunities were observed in health personnel. Hand washing was observed in 40 (34 %) and omission in 76 (65 %). Adherence to the use of face shield was observed in five (4 %), and lack of adherence in 112 (96%). Adherence to the use of face mask was observed in 65 nursing professionals (87 %), with appropriate use of the mask in 56 of them (60 %) and use of face shield in one (1 %). Conclusion: Health personnel showed low proportions of adherence to hand hygiene and use of equipment for specific protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.


We introduce a new metric of match, called Cartesian tree matching, which means that two strings match if they have the same Cartesian trees. Based on Cartesian tree matching, we define single pattern matching for a text of length n and a pattern of length m, and multiple pattern matching for a text of length n and k patterns of total length m. We present an O(n+m) time algorithm for single pattern matching, and an O((n+m) log k) deterministic time or O(n+m) randomized time algorithm for multiple pattern matching. We also define an index data structure called Cartesian suffix tree, and present an O(n) randomized time algorithm to build the Cartesian suffix tree. Our efficient algorithms for Cartesian tree matching use a representation of the Cartesian tree, called the parent-distance representation.


Doctors, nurses and relatives involved with 30 recently aphasic stroke patients were asked to predict how the patient would perform on a comprehension test. Results show that not only do doctors, nurses and relatives underestimate the receptive disability of these patients, but they also illustrate a lack of agreement between health professionals. Implications for management are considered.


Purpose: The rules of International Commercial Terms (Incoterms) define the important element of the international sales contract, the so-called parity. The parity means the place, where the cost and risks are handed over from the seller to the buyer. In this paper, we would like to answer to following questions: What are the principles of the terminological system of Incoterms editions following each other? What is the difference between the logic of the creators of terminology and its users? How does change the relationship of users and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in the mirror of terminological changes? Approach/Methodology/Design: We demonstrate and analyze the modifications of Incoterms rules updated in the last 40 years focusing on the development of theory and practice of trade terminology. Terminological theoretical frame is used in this paper. Findings: The Incoterms were based in the first phase on historical principle, in the second phase on logical principle, in the third phase on functional principle. The creators of terminology must build a structure based on strict logic, eliminating the historical perspective, not making a difference between the original old and the artificially created new ones. The users preferred the old ones, building a structure using them to create a terminological structure. The ICC for a long time intended to force its own system in prescriptive method, but from the 2010 edition, it has concluded a compromise accepting the logic of everyday usage based on tradition in the 2020 edition. Practical Implications: The paper gives a short overview of the rules of international trade from a terminological point of view. Originality/Value: The changes of Incoterms have been investigated from legal, risk management, and logistical points of view but there is still now a gap in the research of Incoterms concerning the terminological perspective. Terminological analysis with its new instruments and view can reveal the principles of building the terminology, can mirror the changes of the power shifting.


Learning about electricity and electronics is easy with this well-illustrated guide for beginners. Assuming that readers have no technical or scientific background, Stan Gibilisco begins with the laws of atomic and molecular activity and progresses logically through the principles of direct and alternating current, magnetism, inductance, capacitance, resistance, reactance, and impedance. He also takes the mystery out of electronics equipment, explaining the purpose and use of power supplies, measuring devices, resistors, filters, diodes, semiconductors, transistors, amplifiers, oscillators, transformers, and more. Throughout, Gibilisco's instruction reflects the latest advances in analog and digital electronics.


A System Architecture [SA] plays the leading role in ICT based organization. It covers the entire organization and helps to achieve the mission of organization. As other architectures, it also has set of components and the relationship (connectors) among the components. It has pre-defined life cycle that determines the duration of the system in which it should provide the services continuously. It means system should survive throughout its defined life time. Unfortunately, a system comes across to many hurdles during its life time. In this paper, we propose the reliable approach in recovering from disaster. We analysis the current state of art in disaster recovery and propose the new approach on it. We use cloud computing as a tool in managing the disaster in the system of organization. We analysis our proposed approach with Markov Model. The required attributes for a system to address disaster recovery like availability, survivability, unavailability and downtime are calculated at the end of this paper.


This thesis follows a qualitative method and aim to describe firms' international business at an emerging market seen from a network perspective. The purpose of the thesis is to study in what way business relations and networks influence the process of internationalization and describe the way in which companies handle the external network in relation to acquisitions. Further does our purpose include analyzing if a firm's network may be the main factor for why international business occurs. We also wish to give our recommendations to Swedish firms that have interest in expanding to the Chinese market. The conclusions clarify that a network perspective is appropriate when a study of the internationalization of a firm entering an emerging market is performed. The conclusions demonstrate that the external network has a large influence on the international expansion of a firm. The thesis has also contributed to the understanding of the importance of acquisitions and how to reach the best result using an acquisition as an entry mode and foreign operation mode. In our final chapter we also give recommendations to Swedish firms that are interested in expanding to China and also to further research.


Higher yield potential and greater yield stability are common targets for crop breeding programs, including those in rice. Despite these efforts, biotic and abiotic stresses continue to impact rice production. Rice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, is the most devastating disease affecting rice worldwide. In the field, resistant varieties are unstable and can become susceptible to disease within a few years of release due to the adaptive potential of the blast fungus, specifically in the effector (avirulence [AVR]) gene pool. Here, we analyzed genetic variation of the effector gene AVR-Pik in 58 rice blast isolates from Thailand and examined the interaction between AVR-Pik and the cognate rice resistance gene Pik. Our results reveal that Thai rice blast isolates are very diverse. We observe four AVR-Pik variants in the population, including three previously identified variants, AVR-PikA, AVR-PikD, and AVR-PikE, and one novel variant, which we named AVR-PikF. Interestingly, 28 of the isolates contained two copies of AVR-Pik, always in the combination of AVR-PikD and AVR-PikF. Blast isolates expressing only AVR-PikF show high virulence to rice cultivars encoding allelic Pik resistance genes, and the AVR-PikF protein does not interact with the integrated heavy metal-associated domain of the Pik resistance protein in vitro, suggesting a mechanism for immune evasion.


INTRODUCTION : Hepatic abnormalities are quite common among HIV infected
persons. Thousands of people with HIV are also infected, or at risk of
being infected with one of the several hepatitis viruses. Some of these
viruses can cause chronic infection which may result in cirrhosis, liver
failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma in a proportion of patients. Apart
from being more prevalent, the natural history of these hepatitis viruses
may be modified in patients with HIV infection and hence their
significance3. Also it has been claimed that certain hepatitis virus
infections may exacerbate the course of HIV infection, with rapid
progression to AIDS, although this observation has not yet been
confirmed. Viral hepatitis is not so much an opportunistic infection in patients
with HIV infection, as it is companion infection. Thus because some
forms of hepatitis are acquired through sexual spread, or parenteral
contact with blood or blood products in the same way that HIV is, hepatitis and HIV infections often coexist. The enteral forms of hepatitis (HAV and HEV) are not strongly associated with HIV infection, whereas
HBV, HDV, HCV and HGV are strongly associated because of shared routes of transmission. So screening of these hepatitis viral infections becomes mandatory in HIV positive patients.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : • To study the serological status of hepatotrophic viral infections
like HBV and HCV among HIV positive and HIV negative
patients attending Voluntary Confidential Counselling and
Testing Centre (VCCTC), Government General Hospital,
Chennai.
• To compare the progression of Hepatitis B virus infection among HIV positive and HIV negative study groups.
• To compare the levels of anti HBs, among HIV positive and HIV negative study groups with hepatitis B virus infection, during follow up.
• To detect the prevalence of HGV RNA using the RT-PCR among HIV positives with coexistent HBsAg and/ or anti HCV.
• To study the clinical stage and immunological status of patients with HIV infection at presentation, and their correlation with hepatotrophic viral infections.
MATERIALS AND METHODS : This study was conducted in serologically confirmed HIV positive
and negative patients attending VCCTC, Government General Hospital, Chennai. Pre and post test counselling were given to the patients attending VCCTC, and informed consent was got from them for testing. Strict confidentiality regarding the results were maintained. For ELISA, blood samples were collected from the patients. Serum was separated, and stored at -20°C in cold storage, until use. For all the ELISAs performed, the manufacturer's testing protocol instructions were strictly followed and results were interpreted only when the validity criteria were satisfied.
RESULTS : In the present study 500 HIV positive and 300 HIV negative
patients attending VCCTC, Government General Hospital,
Chennai were screened for the coexistence of hepatotrophic
virus infections. Majority of the HIV positives were in the
sexually active age group of 30 – 39 years ( 52%), with males
being more than females in the ratio of 1.9: 1.
Prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen was more both among HIV positives and negatives, when compared to anti HCV antibodies. The persistence of Hepatitis B surface antigen after 6 months was three times more among the HIV positives, when compared to the HIV negative study group. The presence of HBeAg which indicates active replication was also more among HIV positives when compared to negative study group. HIV negative patients had higher antibody levels, when
compared to HIV positive study group. Among the 5 patients who had chronic HBV infection (Table III), 2 had coexistent anti-HBs in their serum. Heterosexual route was the major mode of transmission of HIV. The heterosexuals also included the spouse of infected men.
Heterosexual route was the major mode of transmission of HBV. HCV was more prevalent among IVDUs. Among the total 16 IVDUs (Table II), 2 (12.5% ) were positive for
both HBsAg and Anti HCV. Majority of the HIV positives without hepatotrophic viral
infections were in Clinical Stage II Category B of HIV infection. Majority of the patients who were positive for hepatitis viral markers were in Clinical Stage II Category C of HIV infection
CONCLUSION : HGV infection occurs with high frequency in patients with HIV
and HCV combined infections (35%), signifying the common
modes of transmission of HGV and HCV.
Among the HIV positive study group, HBsAg positives with
HGV co-infection had higher mean CD4 counts, when
compared to HBsAg positives without HGV co-infection. There
was no significant difference observed between the HCV
positives with or without HGV co-infection. This implies that the
presence of HGV RNA is associated with milder HIV status in
individuals with HIV and HBV combined infection.
Among the HIV positive study group, HGV positive patients
with hepatitis B and / or hepatitis C co-infections had higher
mean ALT levels, when compared to HGV negative individuals.
This implies that, presence of HGV RNA was associated with
severe hepatitis in patients with HIV and HBV or HCV
combined infections.
The present study throws light upon the co existence of HIV
with Hepatotrophic viruses in a tertiary care center like ours.
Only very few studies have been performed in India analyzing
the coexistence of HGV with HIV. Our study can be considered
as pioneer study in this context. The results aid the central HIV
programme implementing agencies, especially in the field of
ART to give importance to hepatitis G virus, along with
hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections.


In this paper, the radial basis vector (RBV) is proposed to describe the descriptor set of an image. And the shared nearest neighbor clustering kernel (SNNCK) technique is proposed to match RBV pairs. SNNCK is based on the charge attractive model, which will make the unequal-dimensional data sets clustering naturally. Thus, this novel algorithm is able to match the unequal-dimensional data sets when the number of descriptors of two images are unequal. It also can automatically extract the repetition pattern of the reference date set, which is helpful to avoid the wrong matching. Experimental results are also provided, and these results demonstrate superior performances of SNNCK algorithm by using the feature point sets with strong disturbs.


Many francophone West African countries rank as low resource states, and are dependent on donor nations and remittances from migrants working abroad. Their health system is in a less favourable state and basic health care is not accessible for all its citizens, and in particular, private clinics offer highly specialized services such as assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) for infertility care. Drawing from my research on ARTs particularly in Mali but also including Senegal and Togo, I will specifically outline the contextual barriers for African actors, both patients and professionals, to gain access to ARTs in the public or private health sector and mechanisms they have developed to cope with them. Key-words: Assisted reproductive technologies, ART, barriers, infertility private health sector, West Africa.


A neutrino magnetic moment of the order of 10−11μB and a naturally small mass within the framework of the modified Zee model have been calculated. These values are consistent with the observed ones. A model for Majorana neutrinos with a Voloshin-type SU(2) horizontal symmetry that protects the masses but not magnetic moments has been constructed. This symmetry is broken only by terms of order gW(mμ − me)/(2MW) ≈ 4 × 10−3 resulting in masses which are naturally small of the order of eV. The difference between the electron and muon lepton numbers is conserved so that rare processes like μ → eγ, μ → eee and neutrinoless double-beta decays are forbidden.


The high coercive field, Ec, of congruent LiNbO3 can be reduced by doping with Mg or Zn atoms, or by increasing the temperature above a threshold value. The physical origin for this reduction is not currently understood. Here, density functional theory calculations illustrate the atomic origin of the change in the switching field of the congruent LiNbO3. They show that the high Ec in the congruent LiNbO3 is a result of niobium antisite atoms on the lithium sublattice, pinning the motion of the domain walls. Thus, the healing of antisites by diffusion can significantly reduce the coercive field. In addition, this work demonstrates that the migration of these niobium antisites can be enhanced by doping or by changing the temperature. Thus, the depinning process of the congruent LiNbO3 is understood by the migration of the niobium antisite defect across the domain wall.


It was the overall economic reforms of 1991 in India which paved the way for reforms in Insurance sector also. That was the time when State monopoly was taking its last breath and virtually the License Raj was on a death bed. Openness came across the sector and many sectors like Banking, Infrastructure , Telecom etc. were opened up. However this openness was not a complete one. There were still some retention of FDI caps in some sensitive sectors and Insurance sector is one of them. It may be recalled that while the reforms in various sectors of the economy were welcomed, there was considerable debate on the need for reforms in Insurance industry. Fiduciary obligations between Insurers and the insured was a big issue but once the legislation was put through, the actual process of inducting private players into the market had gone off smoothly. Insurance sector is perhaps the only sector in this country where the transition from State monopoly to free market has been hassle free. To wind up the things, one can say that India has maintained a well balance between reforms and regulations and this is the gist of the present book.


This article aims to explain the concept of national insight from an Islamic perspective. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method by collecting data through observation, documentation, and literature review. Based on the research results, the concept of national insight has been regulated and explained in Islamic teachings. National insight is a person's view of a national entity based on certain territorial boundaries that affect his attitude towards love for his homeland. As a religion of Rahmat Lil Alamin, Islam clearly states about human life formed in a diverse civilization, both in culture, ethnicity, religion, and Nation. Nationality is a reality of human civilization recognized in Islamic teachings as part of Allah's will in creating humans. The results of the research conclude: 1) The reality of the creation of human beings with nationalities and tribes is a necessity which is mentioned in the Koran, 2) The concept of nationality does not contradict Islamic teachings, 2) The Medina Constitution is a concept of a state carried out by the Prophet and Muslims who are in harmony with national values.


We present a full‐scale simulation study of the generation of topside electrostatic turbulence observed near the F region peak during ground based ionospheric heating experiments. The study is performed using a generalized Zakharov model. The nonlinear tunneling of electromagnetic waves through the ionospheric layer is attributed to multiple‐stage parametric decay and mode‐conversion processes. At the bottomside of the F region, electrostatic turbulence excited by the parametric instability results in the conversion of the ordinary (O mode) wave into a large amplitude extraordinary (Z mode) wave propagating through the F peak. At the topside interaction region, the Z mode undergoes parametric decay process that results in the generation of the topside electrostatic turbulence and then conversion process yielding O waves that escape the plasma. This study may explain the observed topside ionospheric turbulence during ground based low duty cycle ionospheric heating experiments where the heater beam is directed far away from the Spitze region.


Your readers may be interested to hear that the operation described by Horn et al. (1975) has been performed in Winchester since March 1973. A total of 127 patients has been treated to date and I now briefly report the results obtained in the first 62. Four of them (6.5 per cent) failed to attend for follow-up and all four were completely cured at the time of discharge from hospital. The results obtained in the other 58 patients are shown in the Table where they are grouped according to duration of follow-up, result of operation and initial severity of stress incontinence. It can be seen that of 58 patients seen postoperatively 52 (89.7 per cent) were cured. These figures are similar to those of Horn et al. (1975) and suggest the treatment of stress incontinence by a fibrin bioplast can give results which are at least as good as those obtained with more complicated procedures. The simplicity of the technique is well shown in the illustrations in the article by Horn et al. (1975) and they were drawn by Mr. Peter Jack of the University of Southampton from an operation seen at Winchester.


One of the most justified and applied approaches to isolating pools of soil organic matter is fractionation in heavy liquids. The main problem with this approach is rather large losses in the separation of fractions at the stage of washing fractions from heavy liquids. The paper presents a densimetric fractionation protocol that can significantly reduce these losses. It is suggested to use 0.001 M HCl for washing. This approach, in comparison with distilled water, allows reducing losses of weight from 15 to 5% and of carbon from 7.5 to 2.5%. The paper provides a detailed protocol, used by the Laboratory of Soil Biochemistry of V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, to isolate four densimetric fractions using sodium polytungstate solutions: free and occluded SOM with a density of <1.6 g/cm3, occluded SOM – of 1.6–2.0 g/cm3, and a mineral residue with a density >2.0 g/cm3. In the work we used samples of typical chernozems of different land use types. It was shown that the processes of soil restoration and degradation significantly affect the content of light occluded soil organic matter.


Creative Space summarizes and integrates the various up-to-date approaches of computational intelligence to knowledge and technology creation including the specific novel feature of utilizing the creative abilities of the human mind, such as tacit knowledge, emotions and instincts, and intuition. It analyzes several important approaches of this new paradigm such as the Shinayakana Systems Approach, the organizational knowledge creation theory, in particular SECI Spiral, and the Rational Theory of Intuition resulting in the concept of Creative Space. This monograph presents and analyzes in detail this new concept together with its ontology the list and meanings of the analyzed nodes of this space and of the character of transitions linking these nodes.


Abstract  Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal enceph‐alomyopathy (MNGIE) is a rare autosomal‐recessive multisystemic disorder with predominant gastrointestinal involvement, presenting with variable degrees of gut dysmotility up to frank chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction. Despite major advances in understanding its basic molecular pathogenesis in recent years, the distinct mechanisms and pathoanatomical substrate underlying MNGIE‐associated gastrointestinal dysmotility are still widely unknown. As yet, though their critical role in proper gastrointestinal transit in terms of spontaneous pacemaker activity and enteric neurotransmission is well established, the population of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) has not been investigated in MNGIE. Therefore, we examined small bowel samples of a well‐characterized MNGIE patient by using conventional histology and immunohistochemistry techniques. The ICC network was studied by immunohistochemistry for the tyrosine kinase Kit (CD117), known to reliably detect ICCs, while mucosal mast cells served as an internal and normal small bowel specimen as external controls. At a light microscopic level, no gross structural alteration of the bowel wall composition and its neuromuscular elements was noted. However, a complete absence of Kit immunoreactive cells could be demonstrated in regions where ICCs are normally abundant, while internal and external controls retained strong Kit positivity. In conclusion, our preliminary results provide a first evidence for an alteration of the ICC network in MNGIE, and support the notion that ICC loss might be an early pathogenetic event in MNGIE‐associated gut motor dysfunction before significant myopathic and/or neuropathic structural changes occur.


Now a day's, India must pursue taxation policies that would maximize its economic efficiency and minimize distortions and impediments to efficient allocation of resources, specialization, capital formation and international trade. With regard to the issue of equity it is desirable to rely on horizontal equity rather than vertical equity. While vertical equity is based on high marginal rates of taxation, both in direct and indirect taxes, horizontal equity relies on simple and transparent broad based taxes with low variance across the tax rates. The best step put towards the growth is that the Indian government implements GST in India. GST is implemented in India on 1st July, 2017. GST is the only indirect tax that directly affects all sectors and sections of our economy. In this, GST include indirect approach. According to GST, every product has same tax. It is not only help s in setting an international standard but also ensures transparency throughout the tax structure right from the manufacture to consumer. The aim of the paper is to develop efficient and effective system to generate GST reports automatically. Goods and Service Tax (GST) is one of the most crucial tax reforms in India. .The main goal of the system is automatically generates the various GST report related to purchases and sales. So, this system presents an overview of GST report generation. It distributes tax among the CGST, SGST and IGST. Thus, this system generates various reports for different levels of GST. These reports stored on cloud for security purpose. In system the IP-Block concept utilized for secure the cloud. That means when any unauthorized person is trying to access stored data more than two times, the system will automatically block the IP address of that person. The location of that person is also tracked and sends to owner mobile phone.


It is well accepted that the quality of soft clay samples obtained using standard fixed piston samplers can be relatively poor and that block samples are necessary to yield very high quality samples. However, for many practical projects it is not economically viable or physically practical to obtain block samples. In this project, the quality of standard 54 mm composite piston samples of soft clay is examined by comparing six separate sets of 54 mm samples to parallel block sampling. Sampling and laboratory testing was carried out by three different organizations at a well characterized highly uniform soft clay site in Norway. As expected, the work showed that the block samples behaved significantly differently from those obtained using the 54 mm sampler and were of higher quality. Block sample-derived parameters were considerably different from those obtained from the 54 mm sample tests. However, significant differences were also found between the different sets of 54 mm samples. Although the differences are less than when compared with block samples, the consequences of poor quality 54 mm sampling will be significant in engineering design. It is concluded that the differences are due to small details in the sampling operation such as the need to keep the piston effectively stationary at all times, to avoid overcoring and to handle the recovered sample carefully. If a well trained driller follows good quality practice, then relatively good samples can be obtained by the fixed piston sampler, which are suitable for analysis and design of routine engineering works.


In contrast to quantitative surveys up to date, this study employs in-depth interviews and qualitative analyses aiming to provide detailed contextualized portrayals of private forest owners (PFOs) in Lithuania, where forest ownership underwent crucial changes in the last two decades. We scrutinized narrations of 18 owners, focusing on the background and goals of forest possession, actually applied management practices and informants' future plans. Content analysis of the narrations revealed three classes of goals: ideational rationale, i.e. immaterial justification for owning and managing forest, financial goals referring to monetary benefits from selling forest products and own material use for household needs. Reported practices differ widely among PFOs, ranging from largely absent management to intensive silvicultural regimes. Syntheses of each informant's goals and practices enabled discerning four types of PFOs. Forest Businessmen typically own largest estates (>100 ha) and regard forest as an investment to get long-term financial benefits; they resort to forest management for timber and often intend to enlarge their possessions. Household Foresters primarily use timber for own needs, regularly applying selective tree cutting; such forestry results in frequent but small-scale management interventions. Passive Forest Lovers aspire for recreational or environmental values, being largely uninterested in timber harvesting. Ad Hoc Owners usually are small scale, have vague goals and rarely engage in forest management. The study concludes with discussing policy implications of the identified diversity of PFOs.


Knowledge society is characterized by such significant development of science and education that we should not speak about the successful solving of the problems that society faces without successful prediction of the social problems, moreover we should talk about the problemoriented social development and even about the planning and creation of the main future society problems. The strategy of social problem creation – problematization – is based on the orientation of the absorption of small problems by their displacement by the wayside, or transformation into components (or problem-means) of bigger problem as something whole (problem-goal). Thus, if we find a big, core problem, we find the way to create a mechanism for the solution of the majority of small problems. According to Nicklas Luhmann, the systems manage the contradictions, but they use them precisely because they are produced by systems. The communication community is a very specific source of controversy and stress to the system – in the case when the system is functionally protects the value positions of other communicative community.


Global solvability of second order evolution equations in banach scales.- On the incompressible limit of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations.- On a class of hyperbolic operators with double characteristics.- Relaxation problems in control theory.- The inclination of an H-graph.- On the mathematical theory of vortex sheets.- New estimates of the fundamental solution and Wiener's criterion for parabolic equations with variable coefficients.- Green function and invariant density for an integro-differential operator.- Some remarks on the regularity of minimizers.- Quadratic functionals with splitting coefficients.- Minimal surfaces of finite index in manifolds of positive scalar curvature.- Remarks about the mathematical theory of liquid crystals.- On quasi-minimal surfaces.- A survey of recent regularity results for second order queer differential equations.- On the diffusion coefficient of a semilinear Neumann problem.- Some isoperimetric inequalities for the level curves of capacity and Green's functions on convex plane domains.- Nonhomogeneous quasilinear hyperbolic systems: Initial and boundary value problem.- Existence results for non convex problems of the calculus of variations.- Wiener criteria and variational convergences.- Fully nonlinear second order elliptic equations.- Positive solutions of a prescribed mean curvature problem.- On the convergence at infinity of solutions with finite dirichlet integral to the exterior dirichlet problem for the steady plane Navier-Stokes system of equations.- The elliptic Sinh Gordon equation and the construction of toroidal soap bubbles.


The book presents a rich and illuminating research and comparison between the mature federal systems and the maturing federations in the world. At the outset, the book describes the interplay of various forces and conditions including the geography, demography, political and economic systems that impact relationships between the various tiers of government. Then it analyses the application of the theory in mature, evolving and unitary federations.


Objectives To quantitate apoptosis and Fas antigen expression of T lymphocytes by activation in aplastic anemia (AA) and compare with that of normal controls and completely-recorvered AA, and to investigate the apoptotic sensitivity to anti-fas antibody of activated T lymphocytes in AA. Methods We studied the expression of Fas antigen on fresh T lymphocytes of twenty patients with AA (13 newly diagnosed, 7 recorvered AA after immunosuppressive therapy (IST)], and investigated the activation-induced cell death (AICD) and Fas expression by activation [interleukin-2 (200 U/ml) and phytohemagglutinin (50 μg/ml)] in 5 newly-diagnosed AA, 5 normal controls and 5 AA in complete response (CR). Apoptotic sensitivity to anti-Fas antibody was assessed by the time-course kinetics of induction of cell death by anti-Fas antibody (500 ng/ml). Results There was no significant difference of Fas antigen expression on freshly-isolated T lymphocytes among newly-diagnosed severe AA, normal controls and patients with AA in CR after IST. In normal controls, T lymphocytes death was greatly increased at 3 days of activation, and Fas antigen expression on T lymphocytes was increased above baseline at day 1 of activation. In contrast, in newly-diagnosed AA, T lymphocytes showed delayed cell death, which correlated with a slowed increase of Fas antigen expression by activation. Also, anti-Fas antibody sensitivity of activated T lymphocytes was decreased in newly-diagnosed AA. In completely recovered AA, these abnormal AICD and Fas antigen expressions by activation were recovered to normal range. Conclusions Abnormal AICD plays a role in the immune pathophysiology of AA, and defective Fas system is involved in this process.


In order to improve the electric tool products packaging, transportation and warehouse stacking efficiency, enterprise production efficiency, and reduce labor intensity, according to the process of automatic packaging palletizing production line and the characteristics of simple operation, stable operation and convenient maintenance of automatic production line, we design a control system of automatic packing and palletizing device of secondary intelligent production line for motor rotor of electric tool. SIEMENS PLC S7-300 CPU3152DP and digital input SM321, digital output SM322 and other modules are adopted as the control system core to realize the automatic control of the packaging production device. The upper computer adopts MT8150iE touch screen to monitor and control the running state of the whole packaging production line. On the basis of the hardware selection, the main program and man-machine interface of the control system is programmed to successfully realize the high-speed and stable operation of the production line. The results show that the control system has the advantages of strong stability, low cost and programmable ability, which greatly improves the efficiency of packaging, transportation and palletizing, and significantly improves the degree of enterprise automation.


Purpose To identify potential differences in interportal capsulotomy size and cross-sectional area (CSA) using the anterolateral portal (ALP) and either the: (i) standard anterior portal (SAP) or (ii) modified anterior portal (MAP). Materials and Methods Ten cadaveric hemi pelvis specimens were included. A standard arthroscopic ALP was created. Hips were randomized to SAP (n=5) or MAP (n=5) groups. The spinal needle was placed at the center of the anterior triangle or directly adjacent to the ALP in the SAP and MAP groups, respectively. A capsulotomy was created by inserting the knife through the SAP or MAP. The length and width of each capsulotomy was measured using digital calipers under direct visualization. The CSA and length of the capsulotomy as a percentage of total iliofemoral ligament (IFL) side-to-side width were calculated. Results There were no differences in mean cadaveric age, weight or IFL dimensions between the groups. Capsulotomy CSA was significantly larger in the SAP group compared with the MAP group (SAP 2.16±0.64 cm2 vs. MAP 0.65±0.17 cm2, P=0.008). Capsulotomy length as a percentage of total IFL width was significantly longer in the SAP group compared with the MAP group (SAP 74.2±14.1% vs. MAP 32.4±3.7%, P=0.008). Conclusion The CSA of the capsulotomy and the percentage of the total IFL width disrupted are significantly smaller when the interportal capsulotomy is performed between the ALP and MAP portals, compared to the one created between the ALP and SAP. Surgeons should be aware of this fact when performing hip arthroscopy.


Mucus is a complex fluid that coats multiple organs in animals. Various physicochemical properties can alter the diffusion of microscopic particles in mucus, impacting drug delivery, virus infection, and disease development. The simultaneous effect of these physicochemical properties in particle diffusion, however, remains elusive. Here, we analyzed 106 published experiments to identify the most dominant factors controlling particle diffusion in mucus. The effective diffusion—defined using a one-second sampling time window across experiments—spanned seven orders of magnitude, from 10–5 to 102 μm2/s. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses identified the anomalous exponent (the logarithmic slope of the mean-squared displacement) as the strongest predictor of effective diffusion, revealing an exponential relationship that explained 89% of the variance. A theoretical scaling analysis revealed that a stronger correlation of the anomalous exponent over the generalized diffusion constant occurs for sampling times two orders of magnitude larger than the characteristic molecular (or local) displacement time. This result predicts that at these timescales, the molecular properties controlling the anomalous exponent, like particle–mucus unbinding times or the particle to mesh size ratio, would be the most relevant physicochemical factors involved in passive microrheology of particles in mucus. Our findings contrast with the fact that only one-third of the studies measured the anomalous exponent, and most experiments did not report the associated molecular properties predicted to dominate the motion of particles in mucus. The theoretical foundation of our work can be extrapolated to other systems, providing a guide to identify dominant molecular mechanisms regulating the mobility of particles in mucus and other polymeric fluids.


This paper presents a wavelet fuzzy neural network (WFNN) structure for identifying and controlling nonlinear dynamic systems. The proposed WFNN is constructed on the base of a set of fuzzy rules. Each rule includes a wavelet function in the consequent part of the rules. A training algorithm adopting a gradient descent method is employed to identify the unknown parameters in the WFNN. For the control problem, a WFNN-based predictive control (WFNNPC) law is derived via a generalized predictive performance criterion, and the control algorithm is proven to guarantee the convergence of the WFNNPC controller. The conditions of the stability analysis of the resulting control system are presented based on the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, the WFNN is applied in numerical simulations and experiments (identification and control of nonlinear dynamic systems and a physical positioning mechanism). The results confirm the effectiveness of the WFNN.


Medical photography and illustration still provides an essential service for the clinician and researcher, despite an ever-increasing remit. This article describes the role of the medical illustration department and may help the hospital practitioner to use this service to the full.


When Freud first turns to the play Oedipus Rex in The Interpretation of Dreams, it is not immediately to define the Oedipus complex, but to invite us to consider the functions of both theater and clinical practice: "The action of the play consist in [...] the process of revealing, with cunning delays and ever-mounting excitement-a process that can be likened to the work of psychonanalysis-that Oedipus himself is the murderer of Laius [...] (1) What is revealed, then in then play and in the analytic cure, is a type of self-knowledge that was formerly inaccessible. In her book Theaters of the Mind: Illusion and Truth on the Psychoanalytic Stage, contemporary psychoanalyst Joyce McDougall places the theatrical metaphor at the center of her reflection about clinical psychoanalysis. She writes: Each of us harbors in our inner universe a number of "characters." parts of ourselves that frequently operate in complete contradiction to one another, causing conflict and mental pain to our conscious selves. For we are relatively unacquainted with these hidden players and their roles. Whether we will it or not, our inner characters are constantly seeking a stage on which to play out their tragedies and comedies. Although we rarely assume responsibility for our secret theater productions, the producer is seated in our own minds. Moreover, it is this inner world with its repeating repertory that determines most of what happens to us in the external world. (2) What happens when these "secret theater productions" become actual theater? When the autre scene manifests itself on the theatrical stage? When a playwright's creation is his acting out, and his writing becomes precisely a way of avoiding self-knowledge? If the unconscious has sometimes been dubbed l'autre scene, this theatrical metaphor is perhaps nowhere more appropriate than in Michel Tremblay's play Le vrai monde?. Tremblay is a renowned Quebecois playwright who exploded onto the stage in Montreal in 1968 with his play Les belles-soeurs. Over the past four decades, he has written both novels and plays, and he continually experiments with formal and structural elements in his theater. In this play, Michel Tremblay the playwright creates the character of Claude the aspiring writer, whose first manuscript is a play about the relationships in his own family. As Tremblay's play unfolds, so does Claude's, and the simultaneous theatrical representation of the two plays allows the audience to question the motives of the budding young playwright as a character on Tremblay's larger scene. This mise en abyme structure juxtaposes Tremblay's play with his fictional playwright's, creating a complex interplay between the two scenes that encourages both readers and spectators to reflect on the psychic function of artistic endeavor. A quick summary of the plot of Claude's play will be helpful here: Alex II, Claude's "father" and a traveling salesman, comes home from a road trip to find his wife Madeleine II completely changed towards him. She confronts him for his womanizing, telling him that she knows he has fathered at least one illegitimate child and that she wants a divorce. She will no longer put up with the farce of their marriage. Claude's "sister" Mariette II, a go-go dancer, comes home to find her father brooding after his conversation with Madeleine II. She proceeds to tell him that she does not want him to come see her dance anymore with his salesmen friends because she finds it perverse to dance in front of her father, whose eyes on her resemble those of his friends. She also hints at a past incident where, drunk, he forgot his familial relationship to her and nearly raped her, but was interrupted by Claude who came in and saved her. Alex II is outraged. Madeleine II also brings up this incident as the one time in her life where Alex II struck her in anger, and the moment that changed her feelings for him (and her life) forever. …


Five commercial chromatography kits for the measurement of glycosylated haemoglobin have been compared using blood specimens obtained from diabetic patients and from non-diabetic controls. Assessment was based on accuracy, general impressions of practicality, and overall performance. The precision of each technique was assessed by selecting five diabetic and five non-diabetic specimens and testing each one by each technique. All systems tested were of a high standard and the advantages and disadvantages of each system are discussed.


This publication begins a new series, Occassional papers, designed to fill a gap in the range of publications of the IMF. Occasional Papers will not be on a particular theme but will contain studies on a variety of economic and financial subjects of importance to the work of the Fund, such as overall developments in national economies, the behavior of international capital markets, and problems related to the functioning of the international monetary system.


ABSTRACT Hopewell bladelets represent one of a handful of standardized blade industries in prehistoric North America. In the past 25 years, archaeologists produced a great deal of published research on Hopewell bladelets. Yet much remains to be explained about this lithic tradition. This project presents the results of functional analysis of bladelets from two sites near the Stubbs Earthworks along the Little Miami River in southwest Ohio. Results indicate that bladelet use at these sites largely focused on bone/antler processing. This is in contrast to the generalized function of many of the artifacts in Ohio bladelet assemblages and provides researchers with another piece of the puzzle in examining the variation in bladelet function between sites and across regions.


In this paper the semantic extensions of the English preposition in and its translation into Arabic and vice-versa is discussed. It is argued that each domain of the English preposition in can be translated into different usage domain in the Arabic language. The translation can be explained using the conceptual mapping domains of the the underlying concept in the source language and finding its usage domain in the target language. The forward translation test is suggested in order to identify the concept of extension of different groups of four different domains (spatial, temporal, area and state), in three semantic mapping categories (SDM, ZDM and DDM).


One of the methods used in the genotoxicity study of chemical compounds is micronucleus test in vivo. There is no clear consensus as to which statistical method is most suitable to study the frequency of occurrence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. This paper proposes two statistical tests: approximate normal test and conditional binomial test (Kastenbaum & Bowman).


Multi-driver simulators include several human participants who are able to interact in the same situation at the same time. The present study demonstrates the benefit of this simulation via a comparison to single-driver simulations, which contain one participant and simulated surrounded traffic. In total, N=20 drivers participated. Each participant completed a run in both driving simulations. Half of the drivers were assisted by a traffic light assistant. This system informs the driver about economic driving behaviour when approaching traffic lights. In some cases the system recommends to drive slowly or to brake at large distances in front of the traffic light. In the multi-driver simulation, the participants follow the system's recommendations to a lesser extent compared to driving in the single-driver simulation. Additionally, driving in the multidriver simulation is rated as more realistic compared to the single-driver simulation. These results show the importance and the benefit of the multi-driver simulation. The multidriver simulation is an appropriate tool for questions regarding interactions between several drivers.


Present work was undertaken to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of Bauhinia racemosa stem bark . The biochemical parameters such as SGOT, SGPT, Total bilirubin, A LP were estimated, the histopatholog ical paraffin sections of rat liver were performed, analyzed to assess the hepatoprotective effect. The test material was found effective as hepatoprotective, through in vivo and histopathological studies. The hepatoprotective effect of ethyl acetate extra ct was comparable to that of silymarin, a standard hepatoprotective agent.


Understanding driving behavior is a complicated researching topic. To describe accurate speed, flow and density of a multiclass users traffic flow, an adequate model is needed. In this study, we propose the concept of standard passenger car equivalent (SPCE) instead of passenger car equivalent (PCE) to estimate the influence of heavy vehicles and slow cars. Traffic cellular automata model is employed to calibrate and validate the res ults. According to the simulated results, the SPCE transformations pre sent good accuracy. Keywords—traffic flow, passenger car equivalent, cellular automata


We have studied the effect of the interfacial chemical reaction between PA6 and MA-g-HDPE in static conditions at a macroscopically flat interface. Interface destabilization and the growth of instabilities, somehow similar to myelin figures observed in surfactants put in the presence of water, are observed. For the first time in this system, it is shown that ordered microphase-separated copolymer domains, whose morphologies depend on the architecture of the copolymer, namely, essentially on the relative length of the blocks on each side of the interface, may nucleate and grow at a static interface between reactive polymers. We discuss the stability of the plane interface in the case of nonsymmetrical formed graft copolymers. The density of copolymers in the interface (coverage) can be estimated accurately from the long period of the formed structures. We confirm the predictions of Berezkin et al. This observation is very important since it confirms that nanometric domains are certainly generated during reactive extrusion, in addition to micrometric domains formed by rheological processes.


Owing to the erroneous, fragmented and most times derogatory representation of female characters by male authors of the Old Tradition, Barbara Christian exhorts women to write saying: "If black women do not say who they are, other people will, and say it badly for them" (xiii). Women, therefore, write not to idealize female characters but to validate woman's personality, authenticate her experience, reveal her psyche and provide a more realistic and complete image of woman as a separate human entity from man. It has become compelling for women to write to elucidate to fellow women and to humankind, in general, the true identity of woman and her tragic condition. This would enable women, the world over, to revolt against those retrogressive, social norms, imbibed through patriarchal socialization, which militate against women, so as to revolutionize those customs which, have hitherto inhibited women from full physical and mental development and self-actualization. In the play Anowa, the African female writer, Ama Ata Aidoo, confers the position of the principal character on a woman, Anowa, and endows her with positive qualities in her revolutionary and transcendentory roles so as to serve as a model for the contemporary African woman to emulate, for the positive transformation of the society. LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research , 8(4), 166-182, 2011


Since Antarctic tourism has special features because of its peculiar characteristics, tourism activities need to be controlled. By using the qualitative method, this paper argues that although there are guidelines related to Antarctic Tourism, there are an increasing number of consultative parties who question whether the Antarctic environment can be adequately protected through these guidelines. The paper reveals the reasons underlying the poor governance of the guidelines and in view of the argument that Antarctic tourism regulation is still largely piecemeal, therefore, this paper concludes with suggestions to overcome the problem in order to ensure the sustainability of Antarctic tourism


This paper shows theresults of centrifuge model experiments to investigate the behavior of a replacement method in dredged and reclaimed ground. For this experimental work, centrifuge model tests were carried out to investigate the behavior of a replacement method in soft clay ground. Basic soil property tests were performed to find the mechanical properties of clay soil sampled from the southern coast of Korea, which was used for the ground material in the centrifuge model tests. The reconstituted clay ground of the model was prepared by applying reconsolidntion pressure in a 1 g condition with a specially built model container. Centrifuge model tests were carried out under the artificially accelerated gravitational level of 50 g. Replacement material of lead with a certain degree of angularity was used and placed until the settlement of the replacement material embankment reached a state of equilibrium. Vertical displacement of the replacement material was monitored during tests. The depth and shape of the replacement, especially the slope of the penetrated material and the water content of the clay ground were measured after finishing tests. Model tests for investigating the stability of an embankment after backfilling were also performed to simulate the behavior of a dike treated with replacement and backfilled with sandy material. As a result of the centrifuge model test, the behavior of the replacement, the mechanism of the replacement material being penetrated into clay ground, and the depth of the replacement were evaluated.


This study explores the question of how the use of satire, as embedded within the trappings of a traditional news outlet (i.e. a reputable newspaper like the Boston Globe), could influence perceptions of the respective news organization and facets of engagement with it. An online experiment (N = 366) was conducted, offering comparisons both in terms of message features (i.e. a satirical versus conventional presentation of political information) and source attribution cues (i.e. satirical content attributed to a hard news source versus attribution to a satirical outlet). Results indicate that the use of satire may present some risks for a news outlet in terms of undermining reader trust, which can impact audience engagement. However, the results also suggest that the weight of legitimacy and credibility commonly associated with a traditional news outlet can translate into a perception of its satire having a stronger influence on individuals (compared to content from a purely satirical outlet), which can in turn influence the likelihood of sharing the satirical content. Tests of indirect effects highlight the mediating roles of source trust and perceived influence in processes of influence on facets of engagement (i.e. returning to the news source and sharing its content). On the whole, the model of relationships does not appear to be moderated by political party identification.


Heart disease is the largest cause of death in the western world. Modelling cardiac tissue is of clear importance to investigating the electrical activity of the heart. This electrical activity is difficult to investigate directly due to the enclosed nature of the heart. This project aims to provide an accurate representation of cardiac tissue using a cellular automaton. Previous approaches of cellular automaton models of excitable media are reviewed and critically analysed. Then a model is developed which investigates the generation of isotropic waves in an efficient method. The developed model is then specialised to reflect the characteristics found in cardiac tissue. Firstly the electrical activity of heart tissue is matched. An approach is then described to introduce the restitution property to the model. This property is validated by matching cardiac restitution curves from literature. Finally cellular automaton models are implemented on a parallel processor to provide a possible performance increase. Finally a conclusion is provided evaluating the successes and failures of the project including ideas for future development.


The Stolf impact penetrometer is a dynamic cone penetrometer to measure soil resistance, in use since its release in 1982. In the original design, a centimeter scale to measure penetration depth was engraved on the proper penetration rod. The idea was to make the equipment easier to understand for farmers and to allow direct readings on the penetration rod while also avoiding additional parts. The purpose of this study was to incorporate a millimeter ruler to enable the operator to read the depth at eye level, to avoid squatting and to increase the reading accuracy. The equipment use and reset procedure of the depth reading (zero) were described and illustrated. The two reading types were compared in terms of sampling time, using a randomized block design. A significant difference (t test, 1 %) was observed, resulting in 21 % less time spent for readings on the ruler. Besides increasing the reading accuracy and reducing the sampling time, the users preferred the new design, which was finally incorporated into the commercial model. A retrospective of the technical development of the penetrometer is presented; this study represents the first modification of the project, which had remained unaltered for 30 years.


Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid cells with strong immunosuppressive activity that promote tumor growth. In this study, we describe a mechanism by which cancer cells control MDSCs in human cancers by upregulating TRF2, a protein required for telomere stability. Specifically, we showed that the TRF2 upregulation in cancer cells has extratelomeric roles in activating the expression of a network of genes involved in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate proteoglycan, leading to profound changes in glycocalyx length and stiffness, as revealed by atomic force microscopy. This TRF2‐dependent regulation facilitated the recruitment of MDSCs, their activation via the TLR2/MyD88/IL‐6/STAT3 pathway leading to the inhibition of natural killer recruitment and cytotoxicity, and ultimately tumor progression and metastasis. The clinical relevance of these findings is supported by our analysis of cancer cohorts, which showed a correlation between high TRF2 expression and MDSC infiltration, which was inversely correlated with overall patient survival.


In this paper, we obtain sandwich results involving Hadamard product for certain p-valent functions associated with Noor integral operator in the open unit disk.


1. Let K be a compact Hausdorff topological space and £ be a Banach space not containing Z. Recently N. J. Kalton, E. Saab and P. Saab ([5]) obtained the results that under the above assumptions the usual space C{K, E) has the Dieudonn6 property; i.e. each weakly completely continuous operator on C(K, E) is weakly compact. They use topological results concerning multivalued mappings in their proof. In this short note we furnish a new and simpler proof of that result without using topological results but only well known theorems of Bourgain ([2]) and Talagrand ([8]) on weak compactness of sets of Bochner integrable functions; i.e. results in vector measure theory. At the end of the paper we present some applications of the result to Banach spaces of compact operators. We take this opportunity to thank very much Prof. Paula Saab who suggested the submission of the present proof of her result.


HIGH-ENERGY PHYSICSTOKYO-- The tank was three-quarters full on the morning of 12 November when the technicians in the control room of the $100 million Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory heard a roar that lasted half a minute or more. When it was over, all the finely tuned light-detecting sensors below the water had imploded, and the observatory lay crippled. It may be 2007 before the facility is back at full capacity, and repairs could cost $15 million to $25 million, but scientists and government officials have vowed to resume some experiments within a year.


Tumors actively suppress host antitumor immune response and this represents a fundamental barrier to successful cancer immunotherapy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor-induced immune tolerance are largely unknown. In the present study, we show that Wnt ligands in the tumor microenvironment activate the β-catenin/TCF4 pathway within dendritic cells (DCs) rendering them tolerogenic and able to suppress host antitumor immunity against melanoma. This was because Wnt/β-catenin/TCF4 signaling in DCs induced retinoic acid synthesizing enzymes, which induced T regulatory responses and suppressed effector T cells. Consistent with this observation, DC-specific deletion of key downstream mediators of canonical Wnt signaling (Wnt co-receptors low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 and 6 (LRP5/6), β-catenin and transcription factor 4 (TCF4)) in mice markedly delayed melanoma growth and enhanced host anti-tumor immunity. Likewise, pharmacological inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin/TCF4 pathway in vivo had similar effects on tumor growth and effector T cell responses. Hence, Wnt/β-catenin/TCF4 pathway links together DCs, Tregs and the retionoic acid pathway, and is an important target for anticancer immunotherapy. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Yuan Hong, Indumathi Manoharan, Amol Suryawanshi, Santhakumar Manicassamy. Tumor-induced activation of the Wnt/β-catenin/TCF4 pathway in dendritic cells promotes immune tolerance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5036. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5036


Economists commit a category mistake when they treat democratic governments as indebted. Monarchs can be indebted, as can individuals. In contrast, democracies can't truly be indebted. They are financial intermediaries that form a bridge between what are often willing borrowers and forced lenders. The language of public debt is an ideological language that promotes politically expressed desires and is not a scientific language that clarifies the practice of public finance. Economists have gone astray by assuming that a government is just another person whose impulses toward prudent action will restrict recourse to public debt and induce rational political action.


Given the massive cost of language model pre-training, a non-trivial improvement of the optimization algorithm would lead to a material reduction on the time and cost of training. Adam and its variants have been state-of-the-art for years, and more sophisticated second-order (Hessian-based) optimizers often incur too much per-step overhead. In this paper, we propose Sophia, Second-order Clipped Stochastic Optimization, a simple scalable second-order optimizer that uses a light-weight estimate of the diagonal Hessian as the pre-conditioner. The update is the moving average of the gradients divided by the moving average of the estimated Hessian, followed by element-wise clipping. The clipping controls the worst-case update size and tames the negative impact of non-convexity and rapid change of Hessian along the trajectory. Sophia only estimates the diagonal Hessian every handful of iterations, which has negligible average per-step time and memory overhead. On language modeling with GPT models of sizes ranging from 125M to 1.5B, Sophia achieves a 2x speed-up compared to Adam in the number of steps, total compute, and wall-clock time, achieving the same perplexity with 50% fewer steps, less total compute, and reduced wall-clock time. Theoretically, we show that Sophia, in a much simplified setting, adapts to the heterogeneous curvatures in different parameter dimensions, and thus has a run-time bound that does not depend on the condition number of the loss.


Background: Small for gestational age (SGA) infants have an increased risk of later cardiovascular disease. At birth, high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP), a prognostic marker of cardiovascular disease, is significantly higher in SGA than in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Aim: To measure aortic and carotid intima-media thickness (aIMT, cIMT) and blood pressure (BP) in children (aged 3–5 years) who were born SGA and AGA, and to assess the correlation between hs-CRP concentrations obtained at birth and these haemodynamic variables. Methods: Umbilical cord hs-CRP concentrations were obtained in 38 neonates. In the same subjects aged 3–5 years, aIMT and cIMT were measured by high-resolution ultrasound scan, in the dorsal arterial wall. Anthropometric variables and BPs were obtained for each child. Results: Maximum (median 0.700 mm, range 0.500–1.080 vs 0.650 mm, 0.400–0.860; p = 0.32) aIMTs were similar between children who were born SGA (n = 17) and AGA (n = 21), respectively. Concentrations of hs-CRP were not correlated with IMTs. In children who were born SGA, systolic BP was significantly correlated with umbilical cord hs-CRP concentrations (r = 0.60; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Children who were born SGA have a higher, although not significant, aortic thickening than those who were born AGA. Umbilical cord hs-CRP concentrations do not seem to be involved in this process. Instead, hs-CRP concentrations were significantly related to systolic BP values in children who were born SGA, suggesting that hs-CRP at birth could be associated with sympathetic system hyperactivity and with the stress response during childhood.


Lactobacillus gasseri 2459, isolated from the human vagina, exhibits a strongautoaggregating phenotype. Filter‐sterilized spent supernatants of this strain promote aggregationof Lact. plantarum LL441 and Enterococcus faecalis EF. Aggregation wasabolished upon exposure of the cells to proteases and, in the case of Ent. faecalis, tometaperiodate, which suggests the involvement of cell‐surface proteins and glycoproteins,respectively, in the aggregation phenotype. In accordance with this, a 75 kDa surface protein, andpossibly another of approximately 94 kDa, appears in Lact. plantarum LL441 culturesincubated with Lact. gasseri culture supernatants. The diffusible aggregation promotingfactor was purified from stationary phase culture supernatants and determined to be a 2 kDahydrophilic peptide active at pH 3–4 and stable at neutral and acid pH. The activity wasresistant to heat, chymotrypsin, chelating agents, triton X‐100 and reducing agents, but sensitiveto other proteases and SDS.


Abstract American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) are disproportionately impacted by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), subsequent type 2 diabetes, and food insecurity. It is prudent to decrease risk of GDM prior to pregnancy to decrease the intergenerational cycle of diabetes in AI/AN communities. The purpose of this project is to describe and examine food insecurity, healthy eating self-efficacy, and healthy eating behaviors among AI/AN females (12–24 years old) as related to GDM risk reduction. Methods included: secondary analysis of healthy eating self-efficacy and behaviors, and household-level food insecurity measures from an randomized controlled trial that tested the effect of engagement in a GDM risk reduction educational intervention on knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy for GDM risk reduction from baseline to 3-month follow-up. Participants were AI/AN daughters (12–24 years old) and their mothers (N = 149 dyads). Researchers found that more than one-third (38.1%) reported food insecurity. At baseline food insecurity was associated with higher levels of eating vegetables and fruit for the full sample (p = .045) and cohabitating dyads (p = .002). By 3 months healthy eating self-efficacy (p = .048) and limiting snacking between meals (p = .031) improved more in the control group than the intervention group only for cohabitating dyads. For the full sample, the intervention group had increases in times eating vegetables (p = .022) and fruit (p = .015), whereas the control group had declines. In the full sample, food insecurity did not moderate the group by time interaction for self-efficacy for healthy eating (p ≥ .05) but did moderate the group by time interaction for times drinking soda (p = .004) and days eating breakfast (p = .013). For cohabitating dyads, food insecurity did moderate self-efficacy for eating 3 meals a day (p = .024) and days eating breakfast (p = .012). These results suggest food insecurity is an important factor regarding the efficacy of interventions designed to reduce GDM risk and offer unique insight on "upstream causes" of GDM health disparities among AI/AN communities.


The spirit of Kaizen is all about achieving improve m nt by taking small steps instead of drastic, rigo rous changes. It involves setting and continually improv ing standards without large capital investments. Th e objectives of Kaizen include eliminating waste, or activities that add cost but not value, just-in-tim e delivery, production load leveling of amount and types, stand ardized work, paced moving lines and right-sized equipment. Basically, Kaizen takes processes, syste ms, products, and services apart then rebuilds them in a better way. Kaizen goes hand-in-hand with that of t otal quality control.


Pakistan is facing acute energy crisis. The rise in the price of oil is adversely affecting the country's economy. Therefore, exploration of high risk subtle oil pools is now essential under the circumstances to supplement production from conventional traps. Enough data for the exploration of unconventional or subtle traps is available for the sedimentary basins of Pakistan which need proper interpretation by geologists. This data has been used for the search of areas of possible unconventional petroleum deposits in Pakistan in this paper.An example of possible subtle accumulation of oil is cited from the mega-synclinal depressions of Punjab and Sindh. The study indicates that oil accumulation in big pools is possible on the platform side of the Punjab-Sindh monocline in the form of a belt composed upwards oflight oil, heavy oil and bitumen. A method to explore such accumulation of oil has been indicated in the paper emphasizing on their exploration along with the search for conventional pools.


The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is responsible for the design, construction and testing of the high temperature superconductor (HTS) current leads for the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) which is presently under construction at the Greifswald branch of the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics. Because the W7-X current leads are mounted with the warm end at the bottom a special test cryostat has been built and is attached to the main cryostat of the TOSKA facility of KIT. Two prototypes of these current leads are tested in this cryostat under W7-X relevant conditions. The test conditions with respect to cryogenic, control, current supply, data acquisition and quench detection of the test setup for the prototype test at TOSKA is described. The performance of the MC plug used to power the HTS current leads is described in detail.


A 48-item questionnaire was administered to 100 older adults to determine their expectations regarding hearing aid use. The sample consisted of volunteers from a variety of senior citizen organizations and ranged in age from 55 to 92 years. Only individuals who reported no prior hearing aid usage were included in the sample. Expectations for the following factors were considered: cosmetics, acoustics, communication benefits, comfort, ease of use, cost and upkeep, and attitudes toward hearing aid use. In general, the older adults in this sample appeared to have very positive expectations regarding the use of hearing aids. Eighty-seven percent apparently have medium to high expectations for hearing aid use. Since the older adult's satisfaction with amplification may be influenced by original expectations and attitudes, the information provided in this study may be useful in improving the pre-fitting counseling of older hearing-impaired adults.


Investigating spatial learning in virtual environments allows studying different sources of information under controlled conditions. We built a virtual environment in the style of a European village and investigated spatial knowledge acquisition by experience in the virtual environment and by the use of an interactive map. We tested knowledge of cardinal directions, building-to-building orientation, and judgment of direction between buildings. We find that judgment of directions was more accurate after virtual reality exploration than after map exploration, and the opposite results were observed for knowledge of cardinal directions and relative orientation between buildings. Further, the alignment effect was confined to the map exploration condition. Taken together, our results suggest that the source of spatial exploration differentially influenced spatial knowledge acquisition.


The 'Cordner' sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.], developed jointly by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Oklahoma State Univ., combines high yield, good sprout production, and excellent baking and canning quality.


Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review of Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumors (EBV-SMT) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults, focusing on clinical and histopathologic features and outcome. Methods: A literature search was performed using Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Results: We reviewed 35 cases including our case of a patient with a progressive multifocal EBV-SMT. Patients were mainly men (n = 24) with a mean age of 35.5 years. Median CD4 count was 21/mm3. Main locations were brain (n = 12), liver (n = 8), spinal cord (n = 7) and adrenal gland (n = 6). The tumors were multifocal in 34% of cases, whereas analysis of clonality showed different clones in tumors from different sites. Treatment included removal surgery in 17 cases and/or radiotherapy in 9 and therapeutic abstention in 4. Mean follow-up after diagnosis was 12.3 months. Nine patients died during this period essentially from opportunistic infection and only 2 from the disease. Conclusion: EBV-SMT should be added to the list of virally induced tumors in severely immunocompromised HIV-infected adults. Multifocality of independent tumor clones, especially in liver, brain, spinal cord and adrenal gland, and a slow disease progression seem to be the key features of these tumors, the treatment of which remains poorly defined.


A fully analytical theory of a traveling soliton in a one-dimensional fermionic superfluid is developed within the framework of time-dependent self-consistent Bogoliubov\char21{}de Gennes equations, which are solved exactly in the Andreev approximation. The soliton manifests itself in a kinklike profile of the superconducting order parameter and hosts a pair of Andreev bound states in its core. They adjust to the soliton's motion and play an important role in its stabilization. A phase jump across the soliton and its energy decrease with the soliton's velocity and vanish at the critical velocity, corresponding to the Landau criterion, where the soliton starts emitting quasiparticles and becomes unstable. The ``inertial'' and ``gravitational'' masses of the soliton are calculated and the former is shown to be orders of magnitude larger than the latter. This results in a slow motion of the soliton in a harmonic trap, reminiscent of the observed behavior of a solitonlike texture in related experiments in cold fermion gases [T. Yefsah et al., Nature (London) 499, 426 (2013)]. Furthermore, we calculate the full nonlinear dispersion relation of the soliton and solve the classical equations of motion in a trap. The strong nonlinearity at high velocities gives rise to anharmonic oscillatory motion of the soliton. A careful analysis of this anharmonicity may provide a means to experimentally measure the nonlinear soliton spectrum in superfluids.


Two-dimensional single-crystal PbS nanosheets were synthesized by deviatoric stress-driven orientation and attachment of nanoparticles (NPs). In situ small- and wide-angle synchrotron X-ray scattering measurements on the same spot of the sample under pressure coupled with transmission electron microscopy enable reconstruction of the nucleation route showing how enhanced deviatoric stress causes ordering NPs into single-crystal nanosheets with a lamellar mesostructure. At the same time that deviatoric stress drives SC(110) orientation in a face-centered-cubic supercrystal (SC), rocksalt (RS) NPs rotate and align their RS(200) and RS(220) planes within the SC(110) plane. When NPs approach each other along the compression axis, enhanced deviatoric stress drives soft ligands passivated at RS(200) and RS(220) surfaces to reorient from a group of SC(110) in-planes to the interspace of SC[110]-normal planes. While the internal NP structure starts a rocksalt-to-orthorhombic transition at 7.1 GPa, NPs become aligned on RS(220) and RS(200) and thus become attached at those faces. The transition-catalyzed surface atoms accelerate the inter-NP coalescing process and the formation of low-energy structure nanosheet. Above 11.6 GPa, the nucleated single-crystal nanosheets stack into a lamellar mesostructure that has a domain size comparable to the starting supercrystal.


Reproduction is costly and individual decisions about when and how much to invest in reproduction will relate to potential benefits in terms of offspring survivorship or mating success. For those organisms that can reproduce more than once, individuals should invest relatively more in reproduction when the potential benefits are high. If females gain directly or indirectly from choosing attractive, highly ornamented males, then it could be predicted that females mated to these males should invest more in reproduction. Here we report the first test of this prediction for a lekking species, peafowl (Pavo cristatus), in which males do not provide resources for offspring, and females prefer to mate with those males that possess the most elaborate trains. We find that peahens randomly mated to males that vary in the degree of ornament produce more eggs for those peacocks with more elaborate trains. We could find no evidence to support the possibility that this difference arises as a result of difference between males in their ability to fertilize eggs.


Environmental concerns are driving policy makers in Australia and other countries to consider the potential benefits from alternative automotive fuels. The potential for solar power and electric power for future cars is being explored by several vehicle manufacturers. Solar power is a possible alternative, but is seen as a longer term development. Electric power is another alternative that can be seen as a medium term development. This paper outlines the programs that General Motors Corporation is involved with in development of solar cars and electric cars for the future.


First principles density functional theory calculations were carried out to investigate the adsorption and reaction of N2O and CO on the modified N + Fe/TiO2 (101) surface (M-S(101)) of anatase. The adsorption energies of N2O on M-S(101) and CO/M-S(101) were obtained. The mechanisms of the conversion of CO and N2O to CO2 and N2 were proposed and the photocatalytic involvement was described. The calculations indicated that the process described here happened only on doped Fe atoms and the possibility of a photocatalytic cycle was discussed assuming electron scavenging by the codoping of Fe and N atoms.


ABSTRACT Cefotaximases (CTX-M) are a rapidly growing class A β-lactamase family that has been found among a wide range of clinical bacteria. One hundred and six isolates were selected from 278,308 Salmonella isolates based on resistance to ampicillin and cephalosporins and subjected to further characterization. Fourteen isolates were blaCTX-M PCR positive, and cefotaxime MICs for these isolates were ≥16 mg/liter. Furthermore, sequence analysis revealed the presence of type CTX-M9, -15, or -17 to -18. All 14 isolates presented different PFGE restriction profiles, although six Salmonella enterica serotype Virchow isolates formed a tight cluster. The blaCTX-M genetic determinants were present in transferable plasmids of ∼63, 105, and >148 kb. Plasmid restriction analysis showed that both horizontal transfer of similar plasmids among different clones and transfer of genes between different plasmids were likely mechanisms involved in the spread of blaCTX-M genes. We have found that CTX-M enzymes have emerged in community-acquired infections both linked to foreign travel and domestically acquired. This is the first report of a CTX-M enzyme in Salmonella in the United Kingdom. Also, it represents the first report of a blaCTX-M gene in Salmonella enterica serotype Stanley and a blaCTX-M-15 gene in Salmonella enterica serotypes Anatum, Enteritidis, and Typhimurium.


Transmit and process information to establish a learning mechanism and realize the processing of image data and sound data. However, the current research on Web page classification algorithm (WPCA) based on deep learning (DL) is not in-depth. Therefore, the main research of this article is the research of WPCA based on DL. This article first uses the keyword weight calculation method to reduce the impact of a small number of high-frequency words in the web page document on the weight calculation and reduces the value of the low-frequency word weights so that the WPCA is more accurate in the calculation process; second, the use of Chinese web pages: the classification method calculates the similarity between the text to be classified and all the class templates and then determines the category of all texts according to the similarity and certain classification rules; finally, in order to improve the learning rate of DL, consider using adaptive parameters. The optimization algorithm automatically adjusts the size of the learning rate, making the research of WPCA based on DL more efficient. After comparing the DL-based WPCA with the traditional algorithm, the data shows that in terms of time expenditure, the DL WPCA is 354 s, the traditional algorithm is 2436 s; in terms of memory overhead, the DL WPCA is 6.35 s, the traditional algorithm is 186.25 s. The experimental results show that WPCA based on DL are faster and more efficient than traditional algorithms and consume less system memory.


Abstract: Nowadays in China, high school assessment is based solely on academic examination scores, which take the place of well-rounded assessments that should be given to students. The present assessment ignores the differences among individuals and goes against a people-oriented spirit; thus, it is not scientific. This one-sided assessment has caused many negative effects on students and society, and it is not beneficial to students' well-being. The author performed a study on a formative assessment method using a Portfolio for keeping a record of English learning while growing up to change the present situation of students being tired of study due to low scores. The assessment allows students to understand that their low scores are not because they lack a gift for learning languages, but because they themselves think they lack the ability to learn a foreign language, which leads to their unwillingness to learn English (Ames 1992; Vispoel & Austin 1995). The research examines 122 year-11 senior middle school students' views of the formative assessment method and their improvement in examination scores through the assessment over a period of one to two years. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered via a questionnaire and interviews. All the data show and prove that the students who have been assessed using formative assessment enjoy going to school and have made more progress than those assessed using summative assessment. This assessment has been warmly welcomed by students, whether they are at a higher or a lower English level.


In this paper, the existence of at least three solutions to a Navier boundary problem involving the p-biharmonic equation, will be established. The technical approach is mainly based on the three critical points theorem of B. Ricceri.


This paper presents new types of mechanical devices, developed by SITON in cooperation with other units in Romania, by means of which to control, limit and damp shocks, vibrations and seismic movements in buildings, equipment and pipe networks. The new devices, called "SERB-devices", can overtake static loads over which dynamic loads may overlap and be damped. The devices allow "cuttingoff" the dynamic action in-coming from the environment to the protected systems (building, equipment, pipe network, etc) and the overtaking of shocks and vibrations generated by the systems to protect the environment. The devices may have high relative displacements, with or without elastic reaction force, thus allowing the performance of a good isolation of the components against the dynamic action, also overtaking the displacements due to thermal expansions or support yielding. The devices are made of materials that practically are not affected by the aging phenomenon and relative large temperature variations and may be guaranteed throughout the service-life of each unit, without maintenance or repair. The devices are small in size if compared with the existing ones for similar performances. The radiation resistance capacity is very good and therefore allows their use in nuclear-power plants.


Abstract Background Acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) is one of the most common infections for which antimicrobials are prescribed. Despite IDSA AUC guideline recommendations, prescribing practices are varied throughout the US. Per IDSA recommendations, nitrofurantoin (NTF), fosfomycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) are all considered first line therapy for AUC, however there is concern of resistance to some of these agents. Quality improvement activity at the University of California, Davis Student Health Center (UCDSHC) has made prescribing NTF preferred for acute cystitis since 2001 as TMP/SMX has community resistance rates of ~20%. Ciprofloxacin is the second line agent at UCDSHC. Methods UCDSHC reviewed all urine cultures and susceptibilities for clinical and epidemiologic purposes. Susceptibility results were gathered from the UCDSHC microbiology laboratory from 2001–2016. Prescribing data was obtained from UCDSHC under diagnosis codes consistent with cystitis or UTI to demonstrate antibiotic prescribing trends. Susceptibilities were evaluated over the 15-year time period (2001–2016). TMP/SMX, FQ's, and NTF were the primary agents evaluated in this study. Results From 2001–2016, 3,831 E. coli and 296 S. saprophyticus isolates were evaluated, accounting for 88% of the total number of organisms. E. coli susceptibilities to NTF remained >98% from 2001–2016. E. coli susceptibilities to FQ's trended down from 99% in 2001 to 88% in 2016. E. coli susceptibilities to TMP/SMX remained stable around 80% from 2001–2016. S. saprophyticusremained highly susceptible to NTF, FQ's, and TMP/SMX (95%, 97%, and 100% respectively at the end of the study period). In total, 12,298 prescriptions were written from 2008–20016. Eighty percent (9,875) were NTF and 17% (2,016) were FQ's. The remaining 1% and 2% were TMP/SMX and 'Other', respectively. Conclusion After changes in prescribing practice in 2001, NTF was used in 80% of cystitis cases over 15 years and retained excellent activity against common urinary pathogens. FQ's retained acceptable activity for empiric use for urinary tract infections, but susceptibilities trended down notably despite limited FQ use. TMP/SMX did not regain increased activity over the time period. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


The article considers the process of formation of the Cossack population of the South-Eastern Kazakhstan (Semirechye) in the XIX – early XX centuries. It focuses on the changes in the number of Cossacks in the region and the factors influencing this dynamic. The history of Cossack settlements on the territory of Semirechye and their localization is considered in detail. The beginning of the formation of the Cossack population of Semirechye refers to 1830. From the middle of XIX to the early XX centuries, its number is continuously growing. This growth was initially provided mainly by the resettlement of Cossacks from other regions and the enrollment of soldiers and peasants in the Cossacks. Since the 1870s, the growth of the number of seven-river Cossacks was almost only due to the natural increase. Some slowdown in the growth rate of the Cossack population of Semirechye was due to underestimation of the importance of Cossack colonization by the leadership of the country and the region in the 1870s-1880s, the First world war and the Turkestan uprising of 1916. At the beginning of the XX century, as a result of the Civil war and the policy of telling the bulk of the Cossacks Semirechye was destroyed physically, a significant part fled to neighboring States, and the remaining merged with other social groups. The result of the work is a statement of the continuous growth of the number of the Semirechensk Cossacks throughout the existence of this social group, up to the termination of its existence in the early 1920s.


The standardization process of the Basque language presents some unusual characteristics. Although some of the first authors to publish in Basque in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries explicitly remarked on the difficulties brought about by dialectal diversity, very little progress in the standardization of the language was made until the second half of the twentieth century. Even the impact of the rise of Basque nationalism at the end of the nineteenth century was not entirely positive, since the founder of the Basque Nationalist Party favored the development of a different written variety for each of the Basque provinces. The extreme puristic and neologizing tendency of some writers at the time was also a source of obstacles on the path towards standardization. A Basque language academy was founded in 1918 with the unification of the written language as one of its main goals, but it made essentially no progress until the linguist Luis Michelena (Mitxelena) presented a report to the Basque Academy in 1968 on the bases for a written standard language. From then on, other stages in the standardization process have taken place very rapidly. This new standard has enjoyed enormous success and in a few decades has become firmly established in Basque society.


Sheltering the Jews is a straightforward and accessible introduction to the non-Jews who assisted Jews during the Holocaust. Mordecai Paldiel culls his material from printed sources and from the archives at Yad Vashem, where he serves as director of the Department for the Righteous among the Nations. In ten chapters, he highlights different aspects of the story—hidingjews, transporting them to safety, helping them to pass as gentiles, risks taken by the rescuers and their motivations—by weaving snippets of first-person testimony into his own narratives and explanations. The reader encounters such familiar figures as Oskar Schindler and Raoul Wallenberg alongside "anonymous" righteous gentiles. The book reveals little new to those familiar with the scholarly literature on the topic. No matter, for the book seems clearly aimed at a lay audience and succeeds in making plain the extraordinary nature of such efforts while emphasizing the human proportions of rescuers. Paldiel demonstrates, as well, the wide variety of contexts in which they acted, and emphasizes that no nationality, religious sect, or class had a monopoly on such altruism.