Alkaline electrolysis is already a proven technology on land, with a high maturity level and good economic performance. However, at sea, little is known about its economic performance toward hydrogen production. Alkaline electrolysis units operate with purified water to split its molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Purified water, and especially that sourced from the sea, has a variable cost that ultimately depends on its quality. However, the impurities present in that purified water have a deleterious effect on the electrolyte of alkaline electrolysis units that cause them to drop their energy efficiency. This, in turn, implies a source of economic losses resulting from the cost of electricity. In addition, at sea, there are various options regarding the electrolyte management, of which the cost depends on various factors. All these factors ultimately impact on the levelized cost of the produced hydrogen. This article aims to shed some light on the economic performance of alkaline electrolysis units operating under sea conditions, highlighting the knowledge gaps in the literature and initiating a debate in the field.


Recently, new image processing techniques have been researched for application in many areas, such as biomedical, telecommunications, multimedia, remote sensing and optics. Multigrid and multirate processing of two-dimensional (2D) signals can be used in order to get a basis and consistent theory. Since it involves many types of lattices due to different grids geometry, they can be used as support of a consistent multirate processing theory for image applications. In this work, the concepts of lattice theory are used to make the rectangular, quincunx and hexagonal grid types modeling. The multirate processing of 2D signals involves also downsampling and upsampling and various types of sampling matrices and their formation are analyzed and grid types determined by them are shown.


Ices play a critical role during the evolution of interstellar clouds. Their presence is ubiquitous in the dense molecular medium and their impact is not only limited to chemistry. Species adsorbed onto dust grains also affect cloud thermodynamics. It all depends on the interstellar conditions, the chemical parameters, and the composition of ice layers. In this work, I study the formation of ices by focusing on the interplay between gas and solid phase to determine their role on cloud evolution and star formation. I show that while the formation of ices greatly impacts the cloud chemistry, their role on the thermodynamics is more conservative, and their influence on star formation is only marginal.


According to abalone's growth characteristics, artificial abalone reefs are invented in this paper. The trace elements are added in concrete. The proportion is fixed by test. Ocean alga adheres to reefs with them very well. The craft, matching optimization, curing terms in the island environment and concrete long-term stability in the ocean current are studied to solve the durability of reefs in the marine environment. It shows the durability of fishing reef by high performance, high function, and ecological concrete technology is reliable. Its strength is still increasing for one year and no damage has been found. It is feasible to use the complex admixture, high-quality fly ash, ultrafine silicon powder, surface-soaking-into water-hating material made by our own, adhering-shaking-compact molding equipment made by ourselves and solar-energy-curing technology. Ten thousands of large-scale artificial abalone reefs have been done. A large amount of marine organisms covered the reefs only after 40 days using.


This study provides a method to solve the Incomplete linguistic preference relations under multi-criteria decision making. The method uses simple calculation and can speed up the process of comparison and selection of alternative. Decision-making experts obtain the matrix by choosing a finite and fixed set of alternatives and set a pairwise comparison based on their different preferences and knowledge. The method considers only n-l judgments, whereas the traditional analytic hierarchy approach takes n(n-1)/2 judgments in a preference matrix with n elements. By using the method described above, this study evaluates the ERP system suppliers.


DNA methylation is a conserved and important epigenetic mark in both mammals and plants. DNA methylation can be dynamically established, maintained and removed through different pathways. In plants, active DNA demethylation is initiated by the ROS1 family of bifunctional DNA glycosylases/lyases. Accumulating evidence suggests that DNA demethylation is important in many processes in plants. In this review, we summarize recent studies on the enzymes and regulatory factors that have been identified in the DNA demethylation pathway. We also review the functions of active DNA demethylation in plant development as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. Finally, we highlight those aspects of DNA demethylation that require additional research. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


UNLABELLED
Eye care facilities in Nigeria are still not uniformly distributed. Benin City has more eye care health facilities than most other parts of the country. This is probably due to the privilege of having training schools for both Ophthalmologists Ophthalmic Nurses and Optometrists.

OBJECTIVE
This study was carried out with the aim of determining the pattern of utilisation of available eye care services in Benin City by the general public.

METHODS
This is a cross sectional descriptive study in which 420 staff of ministries were randomly selected. With the aid of a self-administered questionnaire, we determined the previous use of eye care personnel for those who had had eye complaints in the past. The type of services they sought and the eye care personnel involved was documented

RESULTS
Nearly 72% of respondents had received eye care services from professionals, that is ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians. About 28% received treatment from sources that could be considered as inappropriate consisting of 14.1% that had self medication, 7.2% from patent medicine shops, 4.8% from traditional healers and 1.2% on advice from friends.

CONCLUSION
Though a high percentage of respondents have received treatment for their eye ailments from appropriate professionals, an appreciable number still patronise inappropriate sources considering that the sampled population were privileged to have a minimum basic education .


ABSTRACT To contribute to ongoing efforts to move beyond colonial and anthropocentric modes of knowing, being and doing, this article reflects on experimental endeavours to meet a Mountain—Cullunghutti in New South Wales. We do this by reflecting on the theoretical approaches that informed our modes of engaging with, and attempts to represent, multispecies and multisensorial encounters with the Mountain. Guided by an anticolonial and "compost-ist" ethic, we outline and interrogate our research efforts to develop a framework to enable us to attune our bodies with this multifaceted, more-than-human place and its past, present and speculative future. What we find is that the liveliness of the Mountain resists efforts to "know it", instead inviting us to meet with it in multiple, open and agile ways that unsettle and fragment the hyper-separation of humans from more-than-humans. We identify the concept of composting as a generative mode of representation and research method capable of supporting practices of mutual inclusion that can move across temporal, species and ontological boundaries. In so doing, we highlight the necessity of transgressing discrete disciplinary boundaries to encourage uptake of collaborative and cooperative research that challenges binaries, resists reifying particular forms of knowing, and works towards recuperative futures.


ABSTRACT Retailers are facing challenges in making sense of the significant amount of data available for a better understanding of their customers. While retail analytics plays an increasingly important role in successful retailing management, comprehensive store segmentation based on Data Mining-based Retail Analytics is still an under-researched area. This study seeks to address this gap by developing a novel approach to segment the stores of retail chains based on 'purchasing behavior of customers' and applying it in a case study. The applicability and benefits of using Data Mining techniques to examine purchasing behavior and identify store segments are demonstrated in a case study of a global retail chain in Istanbul, Turkey. Over 600 K transaction data of a global grocery retailer are analyzed and 175 stores in Istanbul are successfully segmented into five segments. The results suggest that the proposed new retail analytics approach enables the retail chain to identify clusters of stores in different regions using all transaction data and advances our understanding of store segmentation at the store level. The proposed approach will provide the retail chain the opportunity to manage store clusters by making data-driven decisions in marketing, customer relationship management, supply chain management, inventory management and demand forecasting.


In computed tomography, high attenuation occurs when x-rays pass through a dense region or a long path in the scanning object. In this case, only limited photons reach the detector, which causes photon starvation artifacts. The artifacts usually appear as streaks along the directions with high attenuation. It might lower the discrimination of minor structures and lead to misdiagnosis. Applying a local filter to the projection data adaptively is a common solution, however, if the parameters of projection-based filter are not well selected, new artifacts and noise might appear in the final image. In this paper, a post image processing technique was developed to suppress the photon starvation streak artifacts. Based on the directional characteristics of streaks, a semi-adaptive anisotropic diffusion filter was applied to the high frequency sub-bands after wavelet transformation (WASA). Qualitative and quantitative experiments were performed on phantom data and clinical data to prove the effectiveness of this method for photon starvation artifact suppression.


Abstract Carbon dioxide has already been recognized as a potential tracer gas for estimating the mean air exchange rates of a room or building. The wind direction and mean wind velocity have also been identified as critical factors that affect the air infiltration. In this paper, the indoor CO2 concentration has been logged at three specific points in an office room for seven selected measurement-periods. The decay method was used to estimate the infiltration rates (ac/h). In parallel, an ultrasonic anemometer was used outdoors for monitoring wind characteristics such as the direction angle and the instantaneous velocity components. The results of the calculated ac/h varied from 0.32 h-1 to 0.75 h-1 from measurement to measurement and thus an investigation was carried out from the perspective of unsteady wind conditions. The wind direction angle and the relevant velocity components seem inadequate to entirely explain the differences in ac/h and thus the wind turbulence intensity was calculated and a spectral analysis of the wind measurements was applied. The corresponding power spectra Syy(f) were correlated to the mean ac/h of the room, giving a better understanding of wind-driven infiltration and depicting the role of the wind fluctuation frequency. In addition, a hypothesis of using the indoor spatial distribution of CO2 concentration as an airflow pattern tracer is presented respective to the location of the leakages. Finally, the local CO2 fluctuations are discussed and the respective standard deviations are presented as indicators of leakage detection.


Background and Objective: Adult age is a sensitive period of human life and paying attention to the issues and needs of this stage is a social necessity. Regarding the specific needs of this period, considering the empowerment, dignity, and self-efficacy in the elders is very important too, which is frequently neglected. This study aims to determine the effect of family-based interventions on the elders' empowerment with emphasis on self-efficacy, self-esteem, perceive threat, and quality of life of the elders in Isfahan. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 64 elderly people with the ability to perform routine and daily tasks without dependence on others and without systemic and restrictive diseases were chosen by available sampling method and were divided into two intervention and control groups. In intervention group, the model of family-based empowerment was trained and conducted in ten 45-minute sessions. The level of perceived threat, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life quality in both groups were evaluated before and after intervention through a questionnaire. Chi Square, paired and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Statistical test of paired t-test indicated that family-based empowerment model significantly increased the quality of life in intervention group compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Statistical test of independent t-test showed a significant difference in intervention and control groups after conducting the program in the score of the self-esteem (P < 0.001). Regarding self-efficiency, independent t-test did not show any significant difference between the two groups before intervention. Despite the increase of self-efficacy score after intervention, this difference was not significant (P = 0.076). Conclusion: Regarding the findings of this research, we can conclude that it is possible to increase the level of self-efficacy, self-esteem, perceived threat, and finally quality of life of the elders and facilitate the way for healthy aging and being healthy in this period using family-based empowerment model regularly and consistently.


The ability to uniquely associate a human fingerprint with an individual has become an essential part of personal identification for security purposes and law enforcement. This article presents an approach to fingerprint recognition based on circularly sampling the fingerprint around an easily identified center of the fingerprint. Three matching metrics are presented and compared for matching fingerprints with no peculiarities, a missing area, and rotation with those in a database. The optimum metric, referred to as the angular density, was seven times better for a self match than for a mismatch, even when the fingerprint was rotated or altered by erasing some of its area.


Background: This study aimed to detect the impact of politics, security and health on the escalation of road traffic accidents (RTAs) and their consequences in Iraq for the period 2015–2020. Methodology: The data of this cross-sectional study were obtained from the annual reports of RTA statistics from the Central Statistical Organisation of the Iraqi Ministry of Planning. The statistical analysis of data was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: In this study, it was noted that the rate of RTAs, injuries and deaths increased from 16% to 19.5%, from 16.5% to 17.3% and from 16.2% to 20%, respectively, for the years 2015–2019, while the rates of RTAs, injuries and deaths in 2020 recorded a clear decrease compared to the rest of the years under study, and the rates were as follows: 14.8%, 14.4% and 14.1%, respectively. According to the types of traffic accidents, the rate of crashes recorded the highest rate of 51% in all years of the study compared to the run over, overturn and other unclassified accidents, which were 37%, 10% and 2%, respectively, and it was revealed that crashes, run over and other unclassified incidents increased from 5% to 20%, from 17% to 19% and from 18% to 26%, respectively, for the years 2015–2019, whereas all types of RTAs in 2020 were recorded the lowest rates compared to other years under study. Al-Basra, Baghdad, Al-Najaf and Babylon were recorded the highest rates of traffic accidents for the 6 years under study, with a rate of 13.3%, 11.7%, 11.1% and 10.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Although traffic accidents were not recorded in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 for the governorates of Nineveh and Anbar due to the occupation of the terrorist Islamic State, traffic accidents maintained their levels due to internal migration. It was also noted that the rate of road accidents was the highest in 2019 compared to the years under study due to the liberation of occupied cities, the return of safety and the return of recording accident data again, while the year 2020 recorded a clear decrease in the rate of road accidents, especially in the first half of it due to the October protests that led to the suspension of all government institutions, universities and schools. The second reason for the decrease in the second half of 2020 is attributed to the lockdown of corona. It seems that the political, security, military and health factors have an effective impact on the traffic reality.


A ngina Pectoris , a film written and directed by J E F Riseman, won no Oscars, had no famous stars, and failed to secure even the most limited distribution deal. For those who have not seen the film, its actors are anonymous medical men demonstrating state of the art diagnostic assessment of patients with angina. A careful history of the characteristics of the pain and standardised investigation with resting and exercise electrocardiography are recommended. That all sounds familiar? Of course it does—not only professional bodies but even governments now issue guidance on such diagnostic assessments. The film was made in 1943.

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Fred C Pampel, Seth Pauley Praeger Publishers, £22.99/$39.95, pp 248 ISBN 0275981517 www.greenwood.com/books/bookdetail.asp?sku=C8151

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Pampel and Pauley's book was published in 2004. In what sense have we made progress? Consider diagnosis. Clearly, many new diagnostic tests have been introduced in the six decades since Riseman's film. However, the proportion of patients undergoing coronary angiography in whom no narrowed arteries are detected—20% to 30%—has changed little in the past three decades. This raises the question …

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Microstructure and magnetic properties of interfacially disordered FePt nanoparticles with a diameter of about 10nm were investigated. Sputter deposition of amorphous Al2O3 overlayer caused the disordering of L10-FePt particles at the interface. The assembly of these partially disordered FePt nanoparticles is equivalent to the composite medium consisting of the exchange coupled soft and hard layers. Coercivity Hc of the interfacially disordered FePt nanoparticles significantly decreased with increasing thickness of the disordered layer. Comparison with theoretical calculations has shown that this reduction of Hc is attributed to the so-called spin flop state during the magnetization reversal. The interfacial disordering method has been demonstrated to be a promising technique for fabricating FePt-based soft/hard stacked composite media.


Sam Wil Dat Myrna Alles Vertelt Over Kelly Harper (Sam Wants Myrna to Tell Him Everything about Kelly Harper) is an audiovisual work by Maria Blondeel (images and photography) and Guy De Bievre (sound and music). It was commissioned by Het Muziek Lod for the third annual Vertelfestival (Festival of Narratives) in Gent, Belgium. Sam Wit Dat Myrna is an attempt to use nonliterary computer logic to obtain a narrative result. As it was a first try, we decided to use existing commercial software (dBASE) in a rather simple fashion. The data we used were resumes ofAmerican and Australian soap-series as they appeared weekly in a popular local TVprograms magazine. We chose this kind of literature because it consists mainly of condensed announcements of non-events (such as "Sam bought a new car") alternating with highly dramatic ones (such as "Lucy's father was murdered") . A dBASE Data Entry Form was made that allowed inputting one sentence at a time as well as up to four names and three keywords derived from that sentence. About 1,000 sentences were entered that had to be sifted down to a maximum of 320 sentences. The sentences from this dBASE file were indexed, and a prolog was derived. This prolog consisted of all the sentences that had the keyword vertellen (to narrate). The index grouped these sentences alphabetically. Then, for the story itself, all sentences that featured names beginning with S, M or K, or the pronouns he or she, were located and edited. They were also ordered alphabetically, which allowed us to title our chapters A,B,C,D, etc. (For instance, Chapter A has, in alphabetical order, all sentences beginning with A.)


Ethical practice lies at the core of the teaching profession. The establishment of an agreed upon set of ethical principles by both the teaching profession and the public provides a collective understanding and vision for the professional judgment and action of educators. Reflective analysis of ethical practice and the use of multiple inquiry processes were used to review and construct an ethical framework for the teaching profession in Ontario, Canada. Both the educational community and the public were involved in this construction of ethical standards. The consultative and dialogic inquiry processes that were developed invited feedback, participation and leadership from students, the teaching profession and the public. These groups worked together to create and to validate the ethical standards that guide the individual and collective professional practices of Ontario educators. A dialogic construction requires that participants engage in communication that is relational, dynamic and builds on new insights that emerge from the shared understanding and knowledge of these individuals (Bakhtin, 1981). This paper describes both the process and the outcomes of this dialogic experience.


In this paper, a optimum degaussing technique, which can minimize an underwater magnetic field anomaly generated by the ferromagnetic hull, was verified through the mock-up test of a ship. To predict degaussing field signals due to the degaussing coils installed in a ship, individual coil effects were measured. Exploiting the linearity of coil effects and analytical sensitivity formula, optimum degaussing current values fed to individual coils were decided. To identify degaussing performance of the proposed method, the obtained degaussing currents were applied to the coils. Then the field anomaly signals were measured and analyzed before and after degaussing. Experimental results show the magnitude of the field signal after degaussing is reduced up to 95% of that before degaussing.


Of the various mechanisms responsible for tumor neovascularization, the angiogenesis process, in particular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is described here as a target for cancer therapy. While hypoxia is a trigger of tumor angiogenesis, various alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes also have been reported to induce VEGF expression in tumors. The regulation of VEGF has been investigated in chemically induced mouse squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. In this cancer model, VEGF expression appears to be dependent on ras oncogene activation as well as the epidermal growth factor receptor. Thus, in addition to VEGF, oncogene signaling pathways may be relevant targets in antiangiogenesis cancer therapies. The central role of VEGF in angiogenesis has led to the development of several drugs targeting the pathway of this growth factor. The present paper provides an overview of these drugs and their stage of development. In the near future, clinical trials using anti-VEGF drugs and other antiangiogenic agents, such as endostatin and angiostatin, will yield valuable information about their potential for cancer therapy.


Natural Language Generation (NLG) has experienced rapid progress in recent years with advancements in artificial intelligence contributing to its evolution. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of the latest trends, models, tools, and applications of NLG across various industries. We discuss the increasing use of deep learning algorithms and neural networks, the development of multilingual NLG models, and the integration of NLG with other artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as natural language understanding (NLU) and machine translation (MT). Furthermore, we examine the different pre-trained language models available, including autoregressive models, masked language models, encoder-decoder models, and hybrid models, along with their evaluation and improvement. We also explore the applications of NLG in business intelligence, customer service, healthcare, education, and multimodal language models, highlighting the potential of NLG in communication and decision-making, as well as its significant implications for cybersecurity. This paper aims to provide a thorough understanding of the current state of NLG and its potential to revolutionize various industries in the digital era.


Earlier studies in investigating the determinants of poverty in Nigeria have n0t explicitly considered the importance of capabilities as determinants of poverty despite the fact that capabilities dictate the state of deprivation and poverty among households. This paper examines the link between human capitol, capabilities, and poverty in the rural sector of the Nigerian economy. The study uses data from the 1996 General Household Survey (GHS) conducted by the Federal Office of Statistics, The analysis indicates that poverty is widespread in rural Nigeria and probit regression estimates emphasize the significant effects of human capital and capabilities in determining poverty status of rural households in Nigeria. These findings, therefore, suggest the need for a conscious effort at the policy level to redress poverty by increasing the human capital of individuals through provision of adequate education and other social sector services to individuals especially in rural areas.


Most researchers develop real-time applications with C, including programming hardware with C and using a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) that is written in C to manage the task environment. In this paper, we research a different approach by using Java to develop a real-time application. We implement an example real-time project, onboard computation of a coaxial helicopter Lama, with a Java based Sun SPOT to control the hardware and a Java RTOS (JARTOS) running on top of the Sun SPOT to manage the processes. This project enables us to answer several questions regarding to real-time system development with the Sun SPOT. At last, we conclude this paper with the experience we gather during the development. Abstract Most researchers develop real-time applications with C, including programming hardware with C and using a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) that is written in C to manage the task environment. In this paper, we research a different approach by using Java to develop a real-time application. We implement an example real-time project, onboard computation of a coaxial helicopter Lama, with a Java based Sun SPOT to control the hardware and a Java RTOS (JARTOS) running on top of the Sun SPOT to manage the processes. This project enables us to answer several questions regarding to real-time system development with the Sun SPOT. At last, we conclude this paper with the experience we gather during the development.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the repair integrity and clinical outcomes of delaminated tears following arthroscopic layered suture bridge rotator cuff repair in a prospective fashion. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of 67 patients with delaminated rotator cuff tears who underwent surgery using the arthroscopic Layered Suture Bridge Technique were followed prospectively. Of 67 shoulders, 26 patients were male and 40 patients were female (one patient had bilateral tears); the mean age was 58.8(40~76) years. The clinical evaluation was performed according to ASES, UCLA, and KSS (Korea Shoulder Scoring System) scores with an average follow up period of 33 months. Repair integrity was estimated using MRI, which was performed six months postoperatively. Results: The average clinical outcome in ASES, UCLA, and KSS scores showed significant improvement at the time of the final follow-up compared to preoperatively, from 50.2 to 92.3, 15 to 31.3, and 54.4 to 90.7, respectively (p Conclusion: Use of the Arthroscopic Layered Suture Bridge Technique can result in improved functional and structural outcome in cases of delaminated rotator cuff tear.


To meet new regulations and specifications for internal combustion engines, new approaches to significantly decrease fuel consumption and emissions are needed. The deployment of tribologically functional coatings applied by supersonic flame spraying represent a promising technology for achieving these targets. Thermally sprayed coatings can help in improving efficiency of internal combustion engines by reducing the internal friction and improving the durability and wear resistance of the engine's cylinder wall thereby facilitating extreme engine downsizing concepts. Thermal spraying is also capable of processing highly corrosion resistant materials like alloys and ceramics to enable the safe utilization of biofuels in modern combustion engines. In addition, specific surface structure of thermal spray coatings, including their intrinsic porosity, shows the benefit of reducing the friction by sustaining hydrodynamic friction even in spots with low relative movement, e.g. top and bottom dead center. On top, the open surface porosity can reduce the oil consumption and thereby decrease the polluting emissions of internal combustion engines. The thermally sprayed coatings were applied using HVOF and HVSFS processes deploying various materials, including novel nanostructured powders. The coated cylinders and engines have been compared to state-of-the-art components with respect to friction coefficient, wear and oil consumption.


This paper is the first of two Learned Publishing articles in which we report the results of a series of interviews with senior publishers and editors exploring open access megajournals (OAMJs). Megajournals (of which PLoS One is the best known example) represent a relatively new approach to scholarly communication and can be characterized as large, broad‐scope, open access journals that take an innovative approach to peer review, basing acceptance decisions solely on the technical or scientific soundness of the article. This model is often said to support the broader goals of the open science movement. Based on in‐depth interviews with 31 publishers and editors representing 16 different organizations (10 of which publish a megajournal), this paper reports how the term 'megajournal' is understood and publishers' rationale and motivations for launching (or not launching) an OAMJ. We find that while there is general agreement on the common characteristics of megajournals, there is not yet a consensus on their relative importance. We also find seven motivating factors that were said to drive the launch of an OAMJ and link each of these factors to potential societal and business benefits. These results suggest that the often polarized debate surrounding OAMJs is a consequence of the extent to which observers perceive publishers to be motivated by these societal or business benefits.


Techniques originally developed for robot motion planning are applied to compute ingress paths for autonomous air vehicles, such as cruise missiles or uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs). This approach is particularly useful in multiobjective optimization problems such as intercepting a target while also maneuvering to minimize observability to ground-based tracking stations. Prescribing position and dimensional are chosen based on empirical measurements of the airframe's radar cross-section (RCS) as well as target state information. This six-degree-of-freedom motion planning formulation is an alternative to the traditional separation of guidance and autopilot functions and results in an unprecedented degree of guidance and control subsystem integration. This paper presents preliminary results and lays the groundwork for the development of future highly integrated guidance and control systems.


A new relaxation-time-approximation-based nonquasi-static (NQS) MOSFET model, consistent between transient and small-signal simulations, has been developed for surface-potential-based MOSFET compact models. The new model is valid for all regions of operation and is compatible with, and at low frequencies recovers, the quasi-static description of the MOSFET. The model is implemented in two widely used circuit simulators and is tested for speed and convergence. It is verified by comparison with technology computer-aided design simulations and experimental data and by application of a recently developed benchmark test for NQS MOSFET models.


The presence of group I (Pg I) and group II (Pg II) pepsinogens was determined in 59 samples of human amniotic fluid between 11 and 40 weeks of gestation. Pg I was present in all of the samples, while Pg II was present only in samples of gestational age 32 weeks or older. No differential pattern of the fractions was present, although the first fraction of Pg I was not present in any of the samples. The sequential appearance of Pg I and Pg II suggests their fetal origin and that the synthesis of Pg I by fetal gastric mucosa may precede that of Pg II, thus serving as a potential marker of fetal maturity.


In some recent merger cases the European Commission has relied on quantitative economic techniques in the competitive assessment of horizontal mergers. These techniques have ranged from the use of merger simulation models (for both differentiated and homogenous goods), to the deployment of direct estimation methods to study the effects of relevant events in the past. This article describes the appropriate use of these quantitative techniques, and it explains the rationale for the reliance on these methods. It also explains why the evidence from economic modelling is complementary to more traditional qualitative evidence on the expected impact of horizontal mergers.


Evolution of the Ab system has yielded three clans of VH region genes that are represented in almost every known higher species with an adaptive immune system. These clans are defined by sequence homologies primarily in highly conserved framework (FR) subdomains, which serve a scaffolding function maintaining the conformation of loops responsible for Ag binding. Structural analyses indicate that the VH FR1 and FR3 form a conserved composite exposed surface, which has been implicated in interactions with B cell superantigens. To directly investigate the expression of clan-defined supraclonal sets, we exploited the evolutionary distance of the chicken immune system and the selection power of phage display, to derive Abs diagnostic for clan III Ig. Using a specially tailored immunization and selection strategy, we created recombinant avian single chain Fv Abs specific for the clan III products, including those from the human VH3 family, and the analogous murine 7183, S107, J606, X24, and DNA4 families, and binding was competitive with natural B cell superantigens. The archetype, LJ-26, was demonstrated to recognize a clan-specific surface expressed in diverse mammalian, and also the Xenopus and chicken, immune systems. In flow-cytometric studies with LJ-26, we found that treatment of heterozygous T15i transgenic mice with a model B cell superantigen induced a clan III-restricted clonal deletion. These studies demonstrate the utility of a novel recombinant serologic reagent to study the composition of the B cell compartment and also the consequences of B cell superantigen exposure.


Positive behaviour support and schoolwide positive behavioural interventions and supports (PBIS) emerged in response to the misuse of behavioural theory and ableism in educational systems. Yet even with these advances, inequitable outcomes based on ability and race persist. The purpose of this article is to describe an equity-centred schoolwide PBIS approach that harnesses behavioural theory and the PBIS framework to focus specifically on systems change to lead to equitable outcomes. There is emerging evidence of promise for increasing racial equity in student outcomes, and implications and suggestions are provided to increase equity by disability status. In providing practitioners with clear steps to reduce ableism and racism in educational systems, this line of research stands to benefit all students and families.


This paper provides an overall description of new image compression technology, Xena, and the strengths in its lossless compression capability and speed in comparison to JPEG2000 and JPEG_LS, the world standards in the continuous tone image compression field. Xena has achieved an extremely high compression speed over 20 times faster than that of JPEG2000, while the compression capability remains almost the same..


A new pyrazole-derived PCP pincer ligand featuring a 1-methylpyrazole backbone tethered to two di(isopropyl)phosphine moieties via phenylene spacers (P(CH)P-iPr) was prepared. When reacting the ligand with group six carbonyl complexes [M(CO)6] (M = Cr, Mo, W) at 130 °C, complexes of the type [M(κ2PN-PCP-iPr)(CO)4] were obtained featuring a κ2P,N-bound ligand with a pendant phosphine arm. Upon an increase of the reaction temperature to 150 °C, in the case of molybdenum, the formation of the complex [Mo(κ3PCP-PCP-iPr)(CO)3] was observed featuring a weak Mo-C bond. DFT calculations reveal that there is no agostic η2-C-H interaction. Treatment of [Mn2(CO)10], [Fe2(CO)9], [Co2(CO)8] and [Ni(COD)2] afforded complexes [Mn(κ3PCP-PCP-iPr)(CO)3], [Fe(κ3PCP-PCP-iPr)(H)(CO)2], [Co(κ3PCP-PCP-iPr)(CO)2] and [Ni(κ3PCP-PCP-iPr)(H)], respectively, where the PCP ligand is coordinated in the typical meridional κ3-fashion. Postfunctionalization of the anionic PCP pincer ligand was possible via N-methylation of the second nitrogen atom of the pyrazole unit with the oxonium salt [Me3O]BF4. Treatment of [Mn(κ3PCP-PCP-iPr)(CO)3] and [Fe(κ3PCP-PCP-iPr)(H)(CO)2] with [Me3O]BF4 resulted in the formation of the cationic complexes [Mn(κ3PCP-PCPMe-iPr)(CO)3]+ and [Fe(κ3PCP-PCPMe-iPr)(Cl)(CO)2]+. In the case of the latter, the chloride ligand seems to originate from the solvent CH2Cl2 undergoing a hydride chloride exchange. All complexes were characterized by means of 1H, 13C{1H}, and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and HR-MS. In addition, the structures of representative complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography.


Microbial control of insect pest of crops using entomopathogens is pest management strategy. Bacillus thuringiensis has a great potential for this purpose. The focus of the present study was to determine the individual and combined effect of different insecticides such as Saraca indica as a botanical insecticide, B. thuringiensis and chemical insecticides against larvae and adults of T. castaneum. Results were analyzed by SPSS probit analysis, LC50 was noted for all these insecticides and results were compared with each other. According to the results from the individual insecticide B. thuringiensis show high mortality with harmless effect to environment. Synergistic effect with high mortality rate was observed at 24 to 48 h, for both larvae and adults of T. castaneum. From the study it was observed that mortality rate increases as the concentrations increases, and larvae show higher mortality because they were more susceptible to these insecticides as compared to adults. Percentage mortality of T. castaneum in combined bioassay sodium citrate, S. indica, B. thuringiensis and Bifenthrin+cypermethrin was compared with the mortality of individual insecticides. 61% larvae and 55% adult died in combine bioassay at high concentration.

 Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis, Saraca indica, Tribolium castaneum, Bifenthrin, Cypermethrin, biotoxicity assay.


Long LMS filters of the tapped-delay line type are in widespread use, particularly in acoustic applications. For the limiting case of an infinite line length it is shown that the behavior of such filters is governed by remarkably simple laws. This is true for the steady state, where for small stepsizes the weight-error correlations become independent of the input signal, but also for the transient behavior, where the spatial Fourier transform of the weight-error distribution decays exponentially. Moreover, a necessary and (probably) sufficient stability bound for the stepsize is derived. The "wave theory" developed for the infinite line length also predicts the behavior of rather short filters with sufficient accuracy, particularly for a moderately colored input signal. No independence assumption is required and no assumption concerning the spectral distribution of the additive noise. Under steady-state conditions, the weight-error correlation between two line taps is solely determined by the noise autocorrelation, with the time delay replaced by the tap distance.


Secure multicast applications require key management that provides access control. In wireless networks, where the error rate is high and the bandwidth is limited, the design of key management schemes should place emphasis on reducing the communication burden associated with key updating. A communication-efficient class of key management schemes is those that employ a tree hierarchy. However, these tree-based key management schemes do not exploit issues related to the delivery of keying information that provide opportunities to further reduce the communication burden of rekeying. In this paper, we propose a method for designing multicast key management trees that match the network topology. The proposed key management scheme localizes the transmission of keying information and significantly reduces the communication burden of rekeying. Further, in mobile wireless applications, the issue of user handoff between base stations may cause user relocation on the key management tree. We address the problem of user handoff by proposing an efficient handoff scheme for our topology-matching key management trees. The proposed scheme also addresses the heterogeneity of the network. For multicast applications containing several thousands of users, simulations indicate a 55%-80% reduction in the communication cost compared to key trees that are independent of the network topology. Analysis and simulations also show that the communication cost of the proposed topology-matching key management tree scales better than topology-independent trees as the size of multicast group grows.


Abstract : The 1980s are certain to confront the nation's educational systems with great challenges but equally great opportunities. Although some new criticism of the schools is heard virtually every day, and although polls show that public confidence in the nation's schools is at its lowest level in many years, polls also show that the public wants to reform the system and is prepared to pay for reform with increased taxes. Meanwhile, however, the U.S. population has been undergoing a virtual demographic revolution during the last decade that will heavily affect both the schools and any reforms that are attempted. In many ways, California is in the forefront of that revolution. This paper deals with six major trends in that revolution--what has already happened and what we can expect in the future--and examines some of the questions they will pose for the educational system. The six trends are: (1) The transition toward zero population growth; (2) The population's changing age structure; (3) The changing makeup of families and households; (4) The revolution in women's labor force participation; (5) The new immigration; (6) The new settlement patterns.


The design of an aircraft lateral control system, subject to several performance criteria and constraints, is considered. While in the previous studies of the same model a single criterion optimization, with other performance requirements expressed as constraints, has been pursued, the current approach involves a multiple criteria optimization. In particular, a Pareto Optimal solution is sought. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this approach has not been reported in the previous literature, while applied to the class of problems under consideration.


Background: Background: T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a mature T-cell neoplasm with an aggressive clinical course including rapid lymphocyte proliferation, progressive organomegaly, lymphadenopathy, pleural and pericardial effusions, skin manifestations, and severe B-symptoms. Overall prognosis has been poor, with inadequate response to conventional chemotherapy and limited efficacy of allo stem cell transplant (SCT). The CD52 monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab (CAMPATH) has been the most effective therapy for T-PLL, but responses are not durable. Three quarters of cases of T-PLL harbor activating mutations in the JAK-STAT pathway (JAK1, JAK3, STAT5b, IL2RG). Aims: Aims: We designed astudy to evaluate the combination of the JAK1 inhibitor itacitinib with CAMPATH to target activated JAK-STAT signaling. Methods: Methods: 15 pts were enrolled (Table 1). 8 pts (53%) were newly diagnosed and 7 pts (47%) were previously treated, with a median of 1 (1-3) prior therapies, including 2 (33%) with prior SCT. 10 pts (67%) had chromosome 14 abnormality by conventional cytogenetics, and 6/6 (100%) pts tested by FISH had TCL1 positivity. 5/7 (71%) tested pts having activating mutations in the JAK-STAT pathway. Pts received a median of 4 cycles (1-12) of therapy, including a median of 2 (1-4) combination cycles and a median of 3 (0-10) maintenance cycles. Of 8 evaluable frontline pts, there were 4 (50%) complete remissions (CR), all MRD (-) by flow cytometry, and 3 (38%) partial remissions (PR) for an overall response rate of 88%. Of 7 evaluable previously-treated pts, there were 3 (43%) CR, all MRD (-) by flow cytometry, 1 (14%) PR, 2 non responders (29%) , and 1 (17%) early death in a pt that declined transfusions, for an ORR 57%. The median number of cycles to best response were 2 (1-4) and 1 (1-2) in the frontline and salvage cohorts, respectively. While no objective responses were observed in WBC or lymph nodes during the 2 week window of single-agent itacitinib, pts experienced improvement in B-symptoms, splenomegaly, and rash during this period prior to CAMPATH. The regimen was well tolerated. The most common grade 3/4 AEs on study were lung infection (4), allergic reaction (3), other infection (2), neutropenic fever (1), and kidney injury (1). No AEs were attributed to single-agent itacitinib. 3 of the 6 (50%) responding frontline pts went on to allogeneic SCT, 1 patient (81 years old) died after 11 cycles on protocol of unknown cause, and 2 pts are ongoing on protocol. The median OS was 18.6 m and 8.5 m in the frontline and salvage cohorts, respectively. Results: Results: Single-agent itacitinib was associated with patient reported improvements in B-symptoms, rash, appetite, and reduced splenomegaly. Response rates with the combination were encouraging in frontline and salvage, with favorable OS. Further study of the combination without a 2-week window (of itaci tinib alone) and with objective measurement of patient reported symptoms is planned. Summary/Conclusion: Summary/Conclusion: The combination of itacitinib 200 mg daily and CAMPATH in pts with T-PLL was safe and well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities. Single-agent itacitinib was associated with patient reported improvements in B-symptoms, rash, appetite, and exam findings of reduced splenomegaly. Response rates with the combination were encouraging in frontline and salvage, with favorable OS. Further study of the combination without a 2-week window (of itacitinib alone) and with objective measurement of patient reported symptoms is planned.


The effect of ergodization, either by additional coils like in TEXTOR-dynamic ergodic divertor (DED) or by intrinsic plasma effects like in W7-X, defines the need for transport models that are able to describe the ergodic configuration properly. A prerequisite for this is the concept of local magnetic coordinates allowing a correct discretization with minimized numerical errors. For these coordinates the appropriate full metric tensor has to be known. To study the transport in complex edge geometries (in particular for W7-X) two possible methods are used. First, a finite-difference discretization of the transport equations on a custom-tailored grid in local magnetic coordinates is used. This grid is generated by field-line tracing to guarantee an exact discretization of the dominant parallel transport (thus also minimizing the numerical diffusion problem). The perpendicular fluxes are then interpolated in a plane (a toroidal cut), where the interpolation problem for a quasi-isotropic system has to be solved by a constrained Delaunay triangulation (keeping the structural information for magnetic surfaces if they exist) and discretization. All toroidal terms are discretized by finite differences. Second, a Monte Carlo transport model originally developed for the modelling of the DED configuration of TEXTOR is used. A generalization and extension of this model was necessary to be able to handle W7-X. The model solves the transport equations with Monte Carlo techniques making use of mappings of local magnetic coordinates. The application of this technique to W7-X in a limiter-like configuration is presented. The decreasing dominance of parallel transport with respect to radial transport for electron heat, ion heat and particle transport results in increasingly steep profiles for the respective quantities within the islands.


To overcome the high computational complexity in real-time classifier design, we propose a fast classification scheme. A new measure called 'reconstruction proportion' is exploited to reflect the discriminant information. A novel space called the 'reconstruction space' is constructed according to the reconstruction proportions. A point in the reconstruction space denotes the case of a sample reconstructed using training samples. This is used to search for an optimal mapping from the conventional sample space to the reconstruction space. When the projection from the sample space to the reconstruction space is obtained, a new sample after mapping to the new discriminant space would be classified quickly according to the reconstruction proportions in the reconstruction space. This projection technique results in a diversion of time-consuming calculations from the classification stage to the training stage. Though training time is prolonged, it is advantageous in that classification problems such as identification can be solved in real time. Experimental results on the ORL, Yale, YaleB, and CMU PIE face databases showed that the proposed fast classification scheme greatly outperforms conventional classifiers in classification accuracy and efficiency.


Abstract For the practicing oncologist, balancing quality of care with cost containment has become an unavoidable challenge. The development of new technologies, increased patient awareness, growth of managed care, and aging of our population represent conflicting interests in this endeavor. Medical literature has recently been inundated with economic analyses in an effort to approach some of these difficult questions, but often times it is difficult to see how this research applies to any particular oncologist's practice. This article identifies many of the key issues raised in the critical evaluation of cost-effectiveness analyses as they relate to the practicing oncologist. We offer suggestions on the interpretation of these studies to the clinical setting, using the recently published Journal of Clinical Oncology articles on cost-effectiveness analyses of paclitaxel-cisplatin as first-line therapy for ovarian cancer as examples.


Neutropenia is commonly diagnosed in pediatric clinics. Due to the special vulnerability of neutropenic patients, the assessment of the etiopathogenic background of neutropenia is mandatory. In this retrospective cross-sectional cohort study, we aimed to establish the status of primary autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) from the point of view of its clinical and biological features and its outcome in a cohort of pediatric patients. We recorded all of the 3,488 cases consecutively admitted to our hospital for different diagnoses but presenting neutropenia, during a period of 3 years (January 2016 to December 2018). We had to exclude 224 patients from the analysis due to incomplete data. Our study focused on patients with AIN or chronic benign neutropenia of infancy and childhood. In these patients, a granulocyte antibody screening by granulocyte immunofluorescence test (GIFT) and the granulocyte agglutination test (GAT) were performed. Regarding their pathogenic background, 0.1% of the patients presenting neutropenia were congenital forms, the rest being acquired forms. Primary AIN was encountered in 18 cases, representing approximately 0.5%. The median age at onset for primary AIN was 7.5 months. Male/female ratio in AIN was 1.94. In 72% of the patients with AIN, neutropenia was severe during the course of disease. In 3 patients, both GIFT and GAT were positive and in 8 patients, only GIFT was positive. For the remaining 7 patients (39%), both GIFT and GAT revealed negative results. 50% of the patients needed hospitalization, but only 3 patients presented severe infections. On-demand G-CSF was administered in 22% of the patients. Our study provides insight with regard to neutropenia, showing the high frequency and etiological diversity in childhood. Primary AIN is usually diagnosed by exclusion of the other causes of neutropenia. GIFT and GAT are useful, but rarely available diagnostic tools for the confirmation of primary AIN.


This paper assesses estimates of technical, allocative and economic efficiency of farms using farm-level survey data for rice farmers in Bangladesh. We apply the stochastic efficiency decomposition technique and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Inefficiency effects are modelled as a function of farm-specific human capital variables, irrigation infrastructure and environmental factors. The results from both the approaches show that there is substantial technical, allocative and economic inefficiency in production and that analysis of technical, allocative and economic inefficiency in terms of land fragmentation, irrigation infrastructure and environmental factor are robust. Policies leading to reduction of land fragmentation and improvement of irrigation infrastructure and environmental factors could promote technical, allocative and economic efficiency, reduce yield variability and enhance farm income and household welfare.


BACKGROUND: Because of the vulnerability of human settlements to natural disasters and damage caused by them, the study of the resilience of settlements has become critical in planning urban areas. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate resiliency of Baghershahr, a town with a population of 65000, locates in 4 km from Tehran city, against earthquake. METHODS: The research data were collected by survey method (questionnaire tool) and also by using statistical documents and documentary reports. AHP technique has been used to determine the coefficient of importance of indicators and descriptive statistics methods have been used in data analysis. RESULTS: The study area has, on average, only 36.6% of the ideal conditions of resiliency. The figure in institutional dimension was 25.5%, indicating that this dimension has lowest resilience compared with other dimensions. After this, the physical dimension has a figure of 31.7%. In case of economic dimension, the figure was 40.5% of the ideal rate of resiliency and the highest level belongs to the social dimension, which was 45.4%. CONCLUSION: The studied area is an example of Iranian settlements with very low resiliency. On one hand, low level of the resiliency of Baghershahr is due to the threats caused from its vicinity to the oil and gas refinery complex, the thermal power plant, the sulfur industry, and the numerous plastic recycling workshops, the huge stores of petroleum products, gas and crude oil and crude oil pipelines. On the other hand, it is due to sudden formation and uncontrolled rapid growth of the town which has been accompanied by widespread migration of low-income classes over the past few decades.


Exact calculations are presented for the fringing fields inside and outside a hollow partial-cylinder conductor, as used on certain types of plasma pinch machines. The concentration of current density jz(θ) at the slot edges is also calculated analytically.


Three fundamental points underpin the paradigm of electoral conflict
resolution. First, resolving a particular electoral conflict does not imply
that disputing parties will never resort to conflict. In Africa, political,
economic, and social issues are deeply intertwined, a link which generates
various forms of tensions and conflicts. The paradigm of conflict resolution,
in this context, then, means disputing parties may revert to conflict, but
not necessarily over electoral issues. Secondly, inbuilt in the paradigm is
the recognition that some conflicts can become intractable or protracted.
Such conflicts need to be significantly transformed into forms that can be
approached constructively. Thirdly, the rationale for resolving electoral
conflicts is not to compel the parties to conform to the same political
ideologies, persuasions, or worldviews. Neither is the rationale to compel
disputing parties to adopt similar perspectives and approaches to political
issues, or articulate similar political viewpoints. The rationale for resolving
electoral conflicts is to encourage stakeholders in the electoral process and
conflicting parties in a particular polity to co-exist peacefully despite their
different worldviews, political biases and ideologies. These three fundamental
points lay the theoretical and analytical foundations of this paper.


Background: We aimed to investigate the effect of copper stainless steel on apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells in coronary artery. Methods: The study was carried out in 2019 at Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China. The rat coronary artery smooth muscle cell was used for cell resuscitation and culture. MTT method was used to visualize cell growth curve and to detect the cell survival and growth. The incubated cells were randomly divided into copper-containing stainless-steel group, ordinary stainless-steel group, and control group. The cells were made into single cell suspension, which were intervened by experimental group and incubated in incubator with CO2 for 48 hours. TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis. The number of apoptotic cells in five high power fields (×200) was counted. The expression of Fas protein in three groups of cells was detected by Western blot. Results: The growth curves of rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells showed that the OD value of the cells reached the plateau 7 days after inoculation, indicating that the cells grew well. TUNEL staining showed the apoptosis in all three groups. The apoptotic index in copper-containing group was significantly higher than that in common stainless-steel group (P <0.01). The results of the Fas protein expression level through Western blot showed that the level in the copper-containing group was significantly higher than that in the common stainless-steel group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Copper-containing stainless steel can promote apoptosis of coronary artery smooth muscle cells. The material could prevent stent restenosis.


Eleven-day-old chicken embryos were inoculated by the allantoic route with the GB strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). At 0, 24, 36 and 42 h post-inoculation (p.i.), the brain and heart tissues were harvested for DNA extraction, and the thymus and the brain were fixed and processed for light and electron microscopy. At 42 h p.i., most of the embryos had died; however, no histopathological changes could be seen in the embryos at any stage of infection. DNA extracted from the brain cells started showing fragmentation at 24 h p.i., and from the heart muscle cells at 36 h p.i. Electron microscopy of the brain and thymus showed condensation of the nuclear chromatin, apoptotic bodies, various forms of crescent formation and some evidence of necrosis. Fragmentation of cellular DNA, crescent formation and apoptotic bodies are the typical signs of cells undergoing apoptosis. We suggest that apoptosis of the heart and brain is probably a cause of death of chicken embryos in acute Newcastle disease infection.


Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may affect all domains of a child's life. Indeed, it impacts not only the child but also parents and siblings, causing disturbances in the family. The experience of parents with an autism spectrum disorder can be devastating; they have a demanding need to cope with complex situations in their lives. The presence of pervasive and severe deficits in children with ASD increases the adjusting demands of parents in their life situations, thus, nudging them into distress which in turn incapacitate them and lowers their efficiency to deal with these situations thereby reducing their self-efficacy. These parents are found with disturbances in emotional and intellectual components of their personalities. They end up being shattered in their interpersonal relationship and family life. Indeed, these aspects of parental distress rank lower in position and the focus rests on the treatment of ASD. Thus, the management of ASD incapacitating the parents of the deficit children to reach their fullest abilities remains questionable. Therefore, the objectives of this study are a) to examine the impact of emotionality, intellectual ability and self-efficacy of the intervention of autism spectrum disorder. b) To propose a new intervention model for ASD incorporating self-efficacy, emotional and mental ability c) To suggest the integration of this new model with the current intervention regimens to ensure better efficacy. This study, based on past evidence has keenly, examined the correlation of intellectual ability, emotionality and self-efficacy with the intervention of autism spectrum disorder. The results reveal that emotional and intellectual disturbances and impaired self-efficacy in the parents of children with ASD have an adverse impact on the intervention of ASD. A new model of intervention for ASD encompassing the above-mentioned essential components of parents' personality has been proposed, and its integration with the existing treatment regimens has been suggested to reap an improved outcome. The study concludes by observing the fact that considerable improvement in the diagnosed child may not ameliorate the parent and family distress already present, especially at the time and expense of intervention can be even more detrimental to the overall personality of the parents. The new proposed model of intervention can pave the way for further research in this regard.


: The e ffi ciency by which monomers may be recovered during the chemical recycling of plastic waste has thus far dominated the discussion over which future polymer chemistries might be more sustainable than those in use today. However, at scale, other factors emerge as equally important, such as the costs of primary versus secondary resin production as well as the energy and carbon intensity of circular manufacturing processes. We apply systems analysis to identify problematic chemical processes used for the primary production of plastics designed for in fi nite recyclability: polydiketoenamine (PDK) resins from novel triketone and amine monomers. Leveraging this knowledge, we advance a less intensive process for triketone production, which lowers the cost of primary PDK production by 57% and results in 66% less life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Using the automotive sector as a case study, we discuss the impact of replacing nonrecyclable polyurethane with circular PDK over the next 60 years. We fi nd that the cumulative GHG emissions associated with introducing PDK are half those of staying the course with polyurethane. However, the extent to which circularity is realized through targeted collection and sorting plays the dominant role in determining how much of those savings is practically achievable.


We study experimentally the processes of parametric excitation in microscopic magnetically saturated disks of nanometer-thick Yttrium Iron Garnet. We show that, depending on the relative orientation between the parametric pumping field and the static magnetization, excitation of either degenerate or non-degenerate magnon pairs is possible. In the latter case, which is particularly important for applications associated with the realization of computation in the reciprocal space, a single-frequency pumping can generate pairs of magnons whose frequencies correspond to different eigenmodes of the disk. We show that, depending on the size of the disk and the modes involved, the frequency difference in a pair can vary in the range 0.1-0.8 GHz. We demonstrate that in this system, one can easily realize a practically important situation where several magnon pairs share the same mode. We also observe the simultaneous generation of up to six different modes using a fixed-frequency monochromatic pumping. Our experimental findings are supported by numerical calculations that allow us to unambiguously identify the excited modes. Our results open new possibilities for the implementation of reciprocal-space computing making use of low damping magnetic insulators.


As luxury goods market has expanded and has become more affordable, luxury consumption value has become more diversified. The purpose of this study is to classify visible characteristics of luxury consumption by the degree of logo clarity, and to explain this classification in relation to personal luxury consumption values. Also, the study utilized the concept of cultural capital, in addition to the concept of economic capital, in order to aid understanding of current new luxury consumption trend and give directions on brand signal strategies for luxury brands. In order to develop a survey that could measure an individual`s cultural capital, focus group interviews, each composed of 5 women in their twenties and thirties, were conducted. Then, the survey was conducted on 230 females residing in Seoul who have purchased at least one product from a luxury brand within a year. The results suggest that luxury consumption can be explained by 'self-oriented value' and 'others-oriented value' as suggested in precedent studies. However, no significant difference was found between economic capital and these two luxury consumption values. However, the more cultural capital one possesses, the more one is likely to pursue 'self-oriented consumption value'. In studying the correlation between luxury consumption values and preference for brand signal clarity, respondents with 'self-oriented consumption value' has shown low preference towards highly visible brand logo when design and quality were equivalent. Also, respondents with 'other-oriented consumption value' has shown high preference towards highly visible brand logo.


Abdominal obesity describes the accumulation of excessive fat in the abdomen. It is known that depending on its distribution, visceral obesity presents a greater danger to health than subcutaneous obesity. To properly prevent and treat visceral obesity, accurate evaluation methods are necessary, and hence quantitative VAT estimation is extremely important. CT scans are the most accurate method for estimating VAT, but it requires a great deal of time and effort, limiting its use in studying or evaluating obesity in patients. This paper proposed automatic measurement software that could quickly differentiate between and measure VAT and SAT. The method was verified using a total of 100 abdominal CT data values; this paper measured the SAT and VAT in the entire abdomen using the automatic measurement software. Additionally, through a comparative evaluation between the automated measurements and manual measurements such as BMI and waist circumference, clinical reliability and viability were validated and evaluated. Between automated measurements and manual measurements, the TAT (r = 0.995, p = 0.01), SAT (r = 0.987, p = 0.01) and VAT (r = 0.993, p = 0.01) showed high correlation. Using BMI as the main metric, the TAT for automated measurements (r = 0.674, p = 0.01) and the TAT for manual measurements (r = 0.703, p = 0.01) showed the strongest correlation. When using waist circumference, the VAT for automated measurements (r = 0.826, p = 0.01) and the VAT for manual measurements (r = 0.822, p = 0.01) showed the strongest correlation. With these results, the reliability and viability of the automatic measurement software were confirmed. The software is expected to help greatly in reducing the time and in providing objective data of VAT measurements from CT scans for clinical research.


Abstract:This article seeks to add nuance to the story of Shakespeare's canonization in the eighteenth century, a story that has hitherto neglected the part played by the period's poetic miscellanies. Are there patterns in the form, quantity, and selection of Shakespearean texts within this hugely popular literary form over the century? Whilst the article examines a number of texts, it also offers a more focused analysis of one particular collection, The Agreeable Variety (1717), from which we can draw wider conclusions. The miscellany contains eight "Shakespearean" fragments. Some of these extracts are firmly attributed to Shakespeare, others are the consequence of adaptation and revision, and some have no provenance at all. What does this tell us about the cultural consumption and assimilation of Shakespeare at this moment of anthologizing? What cultural needs and attitudes do these textual relics realize? And more generally, how does this fit in the wider pattern of Shakespearean fragments that circulated in the period's other poetic miscellanies, and what does this reveal about the construction of "Shakespeare" as an esteemed textual presence on the literary market?


The article analyses regulatory documents containing requirements for clinical (trials) documentation for orally inhaled products, including requirements for the demonstration of therapeutic equivalence of medicinal products for the treatment of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults and children. The article summarises the main approaches to the assessment of inhalers equivalence. It also systematizes and describes dosage forms and inhalation devices, as well as the necessary stages of inhaler evaluation, looks into the methodology of conducting therapeutic equivalence studies with due regard to the therapeutic class of the drug, duration of its action and proposed nosology. The methodology includes requirements for the selection of the study population, study design and conditions, and recommendations for the selection of drug dose, study duration, primary and secondary efficacy and safety endpoints in the context of orally inhaled products.


In 80 patients with moderate hypertension the effects of nisoldipine 10 mg b.i.d., nifedipine 10 mg and 20 mg t.i.d., diltiazem 60 mg and 120 mg t.i.d., and verapamil 40 mg q.i.d. (all after single dose and 14 days' treatment) on blood pressure; hemodynamic parameters (cardiac output, stroke volume, left ventricular ejection fraction, and total peripheral resistance): and red blood cell and platelet functional state parameters (platelet aggregation, erythrocytal mechanical resistance, and free hemoglobin and ADP levels in plasma) were studied. All of the drugs studied in doses mentioned produced statistically significant hypotensive effects. Nifedipine 20 mg and nisoldipine 10 mg produced the most peripheral vasodilatator activity after a single dose and chronic treatment. Diltiazem had the same effect only in doses of 120 mg and after chronic treatment. However, all the drugs significantly normalized the red blood cell and platelet functional state disturbances in 70–80% of patients with moderate hypertension, even 2 h after a single dose. Disaggregation effect was parallel to clinical improvement. These data make it possible to predict the individual response of most patients to antihypertensive drugs on the basis of acute pharmacological tests, with determination of disaggregation effect.


Revolutionary progress has recently changed the landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Powerful prognostic factors, especially p53 mutation and/or deletion and IGHV mutation status, have refined individual patient prognosis. Purine analogs and monoclonal antibodies paved the way from palliative treatment to chemoimmunotherapy capable of eradication of minimal residual disease and prolongation of survival. Obinutuzumab (GA-101) and ofatumumab have been recently approved for the treatment of comorbid patients. Bendamustine is available for first-line treatment of patients ineligible for fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR). High-dose glucocorticoids combined with rituximab represent a promising option for refractory CLL; ofatumumab is approved for fludarabine- and alemtuzumab-refractory patients. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the only curative option but is feasible in a highly selected group of patients only. The novel small molecule inhibitors ibrutinib and idelalisib have been recently approved for relapsed/refractory CLL. This review provides practical advice for diagnosis, prognostication and treatment of CLL.


Aplastic anemia is a rare but life-threatening disorder characterized by cytopenia in at least two of the three blood lineages. A frequent feature of patients with aplastic anemia is that they have shorter telomeres than those of age-matched controls. Testosterone has been used for over half a century in the treatment of aplastic anemia. However, although remissions are frequent following hormone therapy, the molecular mechanism underlying the response to treatment has remained unknown. Here we explored the possibility that the recently described regulation of telomerase activity by sex hormones may be the mechanism responsible. To this end, we used a mouse model of aplastic anemia induced by short telomeres in the bone marrow compartment. We found that testosterone therapy results in telomerase up-regulation, improved blood counts, and a significant extension of life-span of these mice. Importantly, longitudinal follow-up studies revealed longer telomeres in peripheral blood in mice subjected to hormone treatment. Our results demonstrate that testosterone-mediated telomerase activation can attenuate or reverse aplastic anemia disease progression associated with the presence of short telomeres.


The tidal mudflat bordering Shenzhen and Hong Kong, China, is an internationally important site for waterfowl. Three transects at the flat were sampled for macroinfauna quarterly between January 1996 and October 1999, as part of the environmental impact assessment of the Shenzhen River regulation project. Total organic matter and clay content at the study sites increased gradually over the 4-yr period, mainly due to organic pollution, dredging, and reclamation. A total of 74,223 individuals from 47 species were found. The communities were dominated by polychaete species and the oligochaete, Limnodriloides sp. The species diversity and species richness were low, with no clear pattern among the three transects or for any transect over time. Overall, total densities (mean ± SD 78.5 cm -2 core) at the three transects (A, B, and C) were 201.0 ± 197.9, 61.5 ± 38.9 and 46.8 ± 35.7, respectively. The community at transect A, furthest away from the Shenzhen River, was heavily dominated by Limnodriloides sp. Community structure at the transects B and C, both near the Shenzhen River, were similar and dominated by Limnodriloides sp., the polychaete Capitella capitata, and the snail Sermyla riqueti. Community structure and densities of the macroinfauna within each transect in the organic-enriched mudflat were relatively stable over the 4-yr study period.


It has been widely recognized by in uivo studies that the vitamin A has many physiolosical roles such as on the visual cycle, growth, reproduction, normal development, and the maintenance of some epithelial tissues. However, the mechanisms of those functions at the molecular level are still remained obscure, except on the vision which has been elucidated in some detail. In the past ten years, a variety of vitamin A binding proteins were found in several tissues, and their functions particularly on the roles of transportation system of the vitamin have been studied in animal. Furthermore, the recent topics of great interest were isolations of specific nuclear receptors for retinoic acid from some animal tissues. In this review, the author briefly described the recent advancement of vitamin A researchs.


. The recent calving of the Astrolabe glacier (Terre Adélie, East Antarctica) in November 2021 presents an opportunity to better understand the processes leading to ice fracturing. Optical satellite imagery is used to retrieve the calving cycle of the glacier since 2000 by mapping the ice front location. A recent archive of high resolution optical images from Sentinel-2 is used to measure the ice motion and the ice strain rates for the period 2017-2021 in order to document fractures and rift evolution. These observations are compared with sea ice extent and concentration measurements. We found that a significant 5 change in the sea ice melting periodicity at the vicinity of the Astrolabe glacier occurred in the last decade (2011-2021) with respect to previous observations (1979-2011). After 2011, the occurrence of consecutive years of high sea-ice concentration at the vicinity of the glacier seems to have favored the ice tongue spatial extension. This lead to an unprecedentedly observed extension of the ice tongue until November 2021. The analysis of strain rate time series revealed that the glacier dislocated suddenly in June 2021 in the middle of the winter before releasing an iceberg of around 20 km 2 in November 2021 at the 10 onset of sea ice melting season. These observations suggest that although the presence of sea ice favors glacier extension, its buttressing effect may not be sufficient to prevent fracture opening.


During last decade, the electricity demand in Iran grows up more than 8% per year due to an increasing economic growth. The main part of this load growth is related to industrial and agricultural demand. At this period, electric utilities tried to provide the peak load demand using all different types of available generating units especially with hydro generation plants. However, moving the time of peak demand occurring from night hours to day time and also increasing of load demand at mid day hours, created a new challenge to hydro-generation planning. As the number of daily peak hours increases from the nightly to daily peak hours and considering that Iran is a sub-tropical country, use of hydro power plant for the whole peak hours is not possible. In this paper, an overview of generation planning of hydro power plants will be done for the next 5 years in Iran considering variation in the load demand pattern


An antireflection film that has sufficient antireflection capability and antifouling property and is improved in scratch resistance, and a process for producing an antireflection film with considerably high productivity are provided, which is an antireflection film comprising a transparent support, a hard coat layer and a low refractive index layer, in this order, wherein the hard coat layer includes a polymerized product of (A) an ethylene oxide or propylene oxide adduct of a polyfunctional acrylate monomer and (B) a polyfunctional acralte monomer having no oxide adduct.


For the production of high-current-carrying, long-length superconducting wires or tapes, it is necessary to use biaxially textured metallic substrates or buffer layers. Though being highly textured, the deposited superconducting film exhibits a complex defect structure which (locally) suppresses the critical current and alternates characteristically the magnetic flux distribution seen in magneto-optical imaging. In this paper, we report on pulsed laser deposited YBaCuO films on biaxially textured yttrium-stabilized ZrO2?(YSZ) and Gd2Zr2O7?(GZO) buffers which were grown by ion beam assisted deposition?(IBAD) on polycrystalline substrates. The current-limiting defect structure turns out to resemble closely a combination of a dense distribution of pinhole-like induced growth distortions and a fine grain boundary network. The current suppression is caused on the one hand by the dense packing of pinhole-like defects. On the other hand, we observe a substantial current anisotropy being related to the surface morphology of the buffer layers and the direction of the IBAD-beam.


The ion beam shepherd is an innovative contactless technique for space debris removal in which an impulse transfer thruster pushes the debris object through the action of a plasma plume and an impulse compensation thruster maintains formation flying. The optimal operational point of both thrusters strongly depends on their characteristics and on the physics of the plasma plume expansion into vacuum. With the use of dedicated thruster performance models, complemented with simplified plume expansion and plasma–debris interaction models, a system-level optimization study of the impulse transfer thruster alone and of the overall electric propulsion subsystem is presented for an ion beam shepherd mission example. An optimum design point is found for minimum overall power consumption in both cases.


Background and Purpose: Ischemic Heart Diseases (IHD) is getting as the most common and the main causes of heart diseases and mortalities worldwide affecting the quality of life (QOL) of the patients. This study was conducted to determine the QOL for the patients with IHD referring to medical centers of Kashan in 2007. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on all patients (n =500) referring to the medical centers with definitive diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction (MI), having coronary artery disease, who have undergone percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries. QOL of the clients were measured respectively by short form-36 (SF-36) and Seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ) instruments and then scored as bad, medium, good, and very good based on the test scores. Demographic data and the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were also collected using the questionnaire. The data was analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests along with Pearson's correlation coefficient and Kendall's rho. Results: QOL based on the SF-36 and SAQ criteria were viewed with a mean of 112.5±24 and 59.8±9.14, respectively. Gender, older age, educational level, marital status, the number of children, residency location and having risk factor had influenced their life quality. Conclusions: Correlation of the results between the two tests of SAQ and SF-36 and correlation between QOL levels have been positive and meaningful. The study offers more attention and education to the patients undergoing PTCA surgeries, the aged ones, patients with other diseases, singles, villagers, illiterate and female ones.


The purpose of this paper is to asses the feasibility of a zero tolerance strategy in Mexico City as it was implemented in New York City during Giuliani time. Main attention goes to those factors that could benefit or reject the implementation of zero tolerance in Mexico City. In the first part, the author highlights some differences between both cities, Mexico and New York, regarding population, criminal justice systems and cultural settings. In the second part, the author develop a list of obstacles that could deter the implementation of zero tolerance in Mexico City. At the end, two preliminary conclusions are drawn. The first one states that while in New York "Zero Tolerance" was a political banner based on criminological knowledge and police tactics, in Mexico City, Zero Tolerance could be just a political banner. The second conclusion states that the implementation of Zero Tolerance in Mexico City is flawed from its conception because the City government chose the strategy, that means "the solution", before they knew "the problem". Finally, the article discuss an integral approach to crime control in order to set an agenda for those involved in the field.


Electrocardiographic changes are well known in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD). Their cause is still controversial. The aim of this study was: to verify the genetic theory of these changes to improve our understanding of their pathogenesis, by studying the distribution and characteristics of the mother carriers; to determine whether electro-vectocardiography could be of value in detecting carriers of the disease. Fourteen patients aged from 7 to 17 years old with DMD underwent ECG and VCG. ECG changes were recorded in 13 of the 14 cases: increased amplitude of the R wave in the right precordial leads or deep Q waves (amplitude greater than or equal to 2 mm, duration less than 0,04 msec) in the peripheral or left precordial leads. The algebraic sum of R--S in V1 was greater than normal in 6 carriers. VCG criteria of posterior myocardial infarction were fulfilled in 11 patients. "Bites" were recorded in 4 patients and 8 carriers. Electrical changes were therefore found in both patients and carriers with equal significance: in the first group the main appearances were of pseudo-infarction, principally involving the posterior wall; in the second group, less specific changes, best recorded on VCG, suggesting foci of myocardial fibrosis were observed. We think that the "bites" recorded in 66 p. 100 of mothers, could be a useful parameter for detecting carrier subjects.


Abstract The central thesis of this article is that when faced with state collapse, rising violence, and a complex stabilisation effort, the US, UN, and NATO in Afghanistan and the US and Britain in Iraq, deployed the dominant, if not only, international approach available, Liberal Peacebuilding. The article traces the rise of Liberal Peacebuilding across the 1990s. It argues that four units of analysis within neoliberal ideology, the individual, the market, the role of the state and democracy, played a key role within Liberal Peacebuilding, allowing it to identify problems and propose solutions to stabilise post-conflict societies. It was these four units of analysis that were taken from the Liberal Peacebuilding approach and applied in Afghanistan and Iraq. The application of a universal template to two very different countries led directly to the fierce but weak states that exist today.


In the white-spotted longicorn beetle, Anoplophora malasiaca (Thomson) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), body size shows a large diversity both in males and females. We compared behavioral responses of different sizes of males to intact females and glass-rod models treated with female extract. Holding, mounting and abdominal bending responses to females were more frequently observed in small males than in large ones. Furthermore, small males showed these behaviors in response to lower doses of female extract than did large ones. However, females refused small males more frequently than large males, and approached the latter more frequently. This suggested that small males have high sensitivity to female sex pheromone that may offset the disadvantage of lower preference by females.


A novel finite-time control scheme is investigated for a rigid spacecraft in present of parameter uncertainties and external disturbances. Firstly, the spacecraft mathematical model is transformed into a cascading system by introducing an adaptive variable. Then a novel finite-time attitude stabilization control scheme for a rigid spacecraft is proposed based on the homogeneous method. Lyapunov stability analysis shows that the resulting closed-loop attitude system is proven to be stable in finite time without parameter uncertainties and asymptotically stable with parameter uncertainties. Finally, numerical simulation examples are also presented to demonstrate that the control strategy developed is feasible and effective for spacecraft attitude stabilization mission.


In preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women, the London Roundtable on Women's Health has issued a statement on women's sexual, reproductive, and health rights and needs. Fundamental is assurance that women are not denied access to health care as a result of gender discrimination or poverty. Urged is a life-span approach that ensures that young girls have equal access to food, education, and health care; adolescents are not denied contraceptive information and services; the mortality risks associated with pregnancy, unsafe abortion,and childbearing are reduced; and the needs of the growing numbers of older women are addressed. The health care system must actively discourage gender-specific practices that adversely affect women's health, including genital mutilation, rape, and child marriage. By the year 2015, high-quality reproductive health care should be accessible to all women and primary health care-based referral systems for obstetric emergencies and sexually transmitted diseases should be in place. Any legal, medical, clinical, financial, and regulatory barriers to these goals should be eliminated by 2005. To facilitate the development of effective women's health policies and programs, the collection of sex-disaggregated data is urged. Finally, women's health must receive higher priority from governments, donor agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the United Nations.


The Italian Supreme Adminstrative Court rules on limitation period in cases of anticompetitive codes of professional ethics On the 19th of January 2016 the Italian Supreme Administrative Court…


This communication reports the changes in physical, organoleptic and biochemical characteristics of prawn meat dip-treated with alkaline and neutral solutions of polyphosphates during frozen storage. Results are presented on changes in thawed and cooked yields, water extractable nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen, free amino-nitrogen, salt solubility, myosin and moisture in the muscle and loss of soluble nitrogenous constituents in thaw drip during frozen storage up to seven months. The salt solubility remained unchanged during storage in samples treated with neutral polyphosphate solutions and the organoleptic quality was superior to control sample. It is concluded that dip treatment with neutralized solutions of tripolyphosphate not only maintains correct drained weight and improves cooked yield during prolonged frozen storage but also protects the frozen product from denaturation as measured by the salt solubility of the proteins.


Symptomatology, molecular weight of coat protein (CP) determination and
purification procedure for citrus tristeza virus (CTV) antigen were studied to
generate monospecific polyclonal antiserum. Results of survey indicated
that CTV was found to attack citrus varieties such as C. grandis, C.
aurantifolia, C. reticulata, C. hystrix, C. nobilis and C. sinensis with variable
symptoms and degrees of severity. Virus complex varied among citrus
varieties and cultivars, and there were four important sub isolates found,
namely mandarin stem pitting, orange stem pitting, pomelo small fruit, and
pomelo mild isolate.
In partial purification step, antigen was concentrated by polyethylene glycol
(PEG) precipitation followed by low speed centrifugation. Semi purified antigen was then finally purified by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide
gel electrophoresis (SOS-PAGE). A major protei n band containing CP was
excised and eluted using elution buffer containing 0.25 M Tris-HCI pH 6.8+0.1% SOS. With a starting material consisting of 50-gram bark tissue of
semi dormant flush, 750 ug of eluted CP as monospecific antigen was
obtained. The use of PEG and NaCI for virus precipitation combined with low
speed centrifugation in semi purification step, then followed by
electrophoresed of semi purified virus preparation in final purification step
effectively minimized virus losses during purification processes and
minimized possible contamination of plant components in the final
immunogen.
Monospecific polyclonal antiserum against citrus tristeza virus was
generated using the viral CPo Upon SOS-PAGE of local CTV isolate
designated as UPM/T002, two protein bands specific for CTV with
molecular weight of 25 kOa and 33 kOa were obtained. The major band
with molecular weight of 25 kOa that reacted strongly with commercial
polyclonal antibody in double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (OAS-E LlSA), was used as the antigen for injection
into female White Leghorn chicken.


Key points Our collective authorship and publishing practices do not always end up ensuring that scholarly content is discoverable by readers. Readers of all kinds rely on a variety of 'discovery pathways', such as search engines, library systems, and various electronic links, some of which are blind to the content they desire. Efforts over the years to improve content discoverability have made great progress, but an increasing amount of freely available content brings up new issues. The National Information Standards Organization (NISO)'s Discovery to Delivery (D2D) Topic Committee has developed a grid comparing various ways in which content is shared with various ways in which users discover such content. This article brings to light a few of the current obstacles and opportunities for innovation by publishers, aggregators, search engines, and library systems, and invites Learned Publishing readers to step up and identify others.


Deep lignite resources (200-2,000 ft; 61-610 m) were evaluated regionally using 1,470 geophysical well logs to interpret lithofacies, lignite occurrence, and resistivity (water quality). The regional distribution of lithofacies indicates that in the region, the Wilcox Group is a fluvial-deltaic system. The primary fluvial system entered the Wilcox coastal plain west of Waco, Texas, trended southeast, and supplied a 75-mi (120-km) wide fluvial-deltaic system comparable in size to the Mississippi system. Lignites are most abundant in the Calvert Bluff Formation (upper Wilcox). Lower Calvert Bluff lignites are thickest and most extensive southwest of the Navasota River, whereas those of the upper Calvert Bluff are thickest northeast of the Brazos River. In the shallow subsurface, Calvert Bluff lignites are found in dip-elongate low-sand areas (flood plains) between channel-sand belts. Basinward, laterally continuous lignites coincide with high net sand areas comprised of distributary channel sands indicative of a delta-plain setting. The Wilcox Group is a major aquifer. Maps of resistivity values show that Wilcox channel sands are conduits for ground-water flow. High values of formation resistivity (low total dissolved solids) exist in recharge areas at outcrop and around salt domes. Elongate trends of high resistivity values extend tens of miles basinward and coincide with axes of major sands. Resistivity values decrease basinward and the 20 ohm-m contour delineates the downdip limit of fresh water. Lithofacies and lignite occurrence maps are guides to exploration for deep lignite. Resistivity maps can be used to explore for ground-water resources. End_of_Article - Last_Page 450------------


Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have emerged as a new generation of "nanozymes" based on their intrinsic catalytic activity. However, highly selective and colorimetric detection of drugs is still far from adequately developed due to the lack of means of regulating the catalytic activity of nanozymes. Herein, d-histidine stabilized AuNCs (d-His@AuNCs) were synthesized and their nanozyme ability was demonstrated in the catalytic oxidation of the peroxidase substrate, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, for the promotion of hydrogen peroxide. Copper ions led to the aggregation of d-His@AuNCs and inhibited their peroxidase-like activity. The addition of doxycycline restored the enzyme-mimicking catalytic activity of d-His@AuNCs, which was based on the strong coordination interaction between copper ions and doxycycline. A highly sensitive and colorimetric assay for determining the amount of doxycycline was developed at a detection wavelength of 650 nm. The color intensity and ultraviolet-visible absorbance intensity of the testing assay displayed a good linear relationship in the doxycycline concentration range of 5.0-12.5 μM, with a limit of detection of 1.0 μM. Moreover, the metabolic process of doxycycline in serum was further investigated with the proposed monitoring system after the drug was abdominally injected into rats. Notably, the tunable catalytic activity performance of the nanozymes indicates their significant potential in clinical application.


Polycystin-2 (PC2), the gene product of one of two genes mutated in dominant polycystic kidney disease, is a member of the transient receptor potential cation channel family and can function as intracellular calcium (Ca2+) release channel. We performed a yeast two-hybrid screen by using the NH2 terminus of PC2 and identified syntaxin-5 (Stx5) as a putative interacting partner. Coimmunoprecipitation studies in cell lines and kidney tissues confirmed interaction of PC2 with Stx5 in vivo. In vitro binding assays showed that the interaction between Stx5 and PC2 is direct and defined the respective interaction domains as the t-SNARE region of Stx5 and amino acids 5 to 72 of PC2. Single channel studies showed that interaction with Stx5 specifically reduces PC2 channel activity. Epithelial cells overexpressing mutant PC2 that does not bind Stx5 had increased baseline cytosolic Ca2+ levels, decreased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ stores, and reduced Ca2+ release from ER stores in response to vasopressin stimulation. Cells lacking PC2 altogether had reduced cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Our data suggest that PC2 in the ER plays a role in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis and that Stx5 functions to inactivate PC2 and prevent leaking of Ca2+ from ER stores. Modulation of the PC2/Stx5 interaction may be a useful target for impacting dysregulated intracellular Ca2+ signaling associated with polycystic kidney disease.