In the ever changing world of technology, traditional ways of doing classes have been greatly overtaken by the integration of educational technologies in the curriculum. In this digital era, with rapid technological innovations, the learning and teaching process is also changing rapidly at tertiary level. The use of educational technologies is becoming more interwoven in the fabric of academic life. Student management is becoming difficult and lecturers are facing various challenges every day. This study reflects the challenges that educators at the University of Mauritius face in their day to day lecture and investigate whether the integration of educational technologies in their curriculum can assist them in their teaching. Data was gathered through a survey where 169 students participated. Preliminary data suggests that educators cannot cope with too many students at a time and alternative methods to suppress this problem need to be catered. This study also elaborates on whether the introduction of eLearning technologies will be helpful to educators and will provide a solution to all their problems. Keywords : educational technologies, technological innovations, academic, eLearning


Planar doped barrier (PDB) diodes have been successfully used in a subharmonically pumped coplanar-stripline mixer circuit. A comparison is made in the conversion loss of the symmetric and asymmetric PDB diodes. A dramatic decrease in conversion loss is obtained when the PDB diode I-V curve is perfectly symmetric. A minimum conversion loss in the order of 5.0 dB is obtained at a signal frequency of 2.0 GHz.


ABSTRACT It has long been an established view that children who attend high-quality early learning programs are more likely to be school ready. However, some studies have found that program quality is not as important to child outcomes as is participating in some form of early learning. This study aimed to compare 2 early learning classrooms in the same school with different quality standards to determine whether the differences in quality significantly affected children's developmental gains during the academic year. Results indicated no significant differences in the developmental outcomes of children on the basis of classroom type. One possible explanation for the lack of differences is that both classrooms were in the same school. Other studies have found that child care programs benefit from partnerships with programs that have higher quality standards. The findings demonstrate a need for further research about the benefits of child care program partnerships.


Barium titanate ceramics exhibiting the positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) effect were prepared with donor concentrations ranging from 0.05-1.8 at.%. The resistance of the various samples (normalised to give the specific resistance of a unit area of grain boundary rho L in order to eliminate the effect of the observed reduction in grain size with increased donor concentration) was measured in the vicinity of the ferroelectric transition temperature Tc. Arrhenius plots of rho L against (T- theta )/T, where T is the absolute temperature and theta is the Curie point, were then obtained for T>Tc. The plots were found to be linear up to a few degrees below the temperature corresponding to the maximum value of rho L, in agreement with the well known Heywang model. The potential barrier heights, calculated from the slopes of the Arrhenius plots, were found to be similar for samples containing 0.1-1.4 at.% ( approximately 0.2 eV at 150 degrees C) and greater in more heavily doped specimens (0.4 eV at the same temperature). However, the Arrhenius plots belonging to samples containing 0.05 at.% were linear for a small temperature range since the PTCR jump was very small and consequently it was not possible to calculate the potential barrier height with any accuracy.


Abstract: This article consists of two parts. The first shows how the principles of the ecosystem approach can be applied to green rooftops, and the second attempts to illustrate it through a case study. In particular, it suggests new approaches and techniques for creation of green rooftops in a perspective of urban habitat network and urban biosphere reserve. To endow urban rooftops with the roles and functions of urban habitat network and urban biosphere reserve, it is necessary to apply "an ecosystem approach to urban management." In this article, an ecosystem approach to urban management is illustrated with Seoul as an example. The Habitat Network in Seoul will be reviewed with a focus on the model suggested by MAB Urban Group. Then, the roles and functions of Myeongdong UNESCO Green Rooftop and its possible contribution to building the Seoul Urban Biosphere Network will be described. The UNESCO Green Rooftop is 628 m2 and was created on the 12th floor rooftop of UNESCO Building in Myeongdong 2‐ga, Jung‐ku, Seoul. In the green rooftop, which was created with goals of securing green areas and biotopes in downtown, creating an urban econetwork, securing a base for urban ecosystem study and environment education, and disseminating an idea of coexistence between nature and humankind, wetland, meadow, scrub and woodland, wall revegetation, and a vegetable field are created. Also, rainwater recycling facilities and a solar energy water circulation system were set up. Rest facilities including observation and education facilities were built. Based on the Seoul example, as well as urban biosphere reserve models suggested by the MAB Urban Group, we suggest several principles to be applied for a green rooftops to qualify as a category of urban biosphere reserves.


Liver flukes (Fasciola spp) are important parasites of sheep and cattle across the world, causing significant damage to animal health and productivity due to both acute and chronic infection. Many comprehensive reviews have discussed the results of decades of research into the impact of fluke infection on livestock performance traits such as weight gain and milk production. While fluke are considered to be important, there have been no attempts to collate previous research in a quantitative manner, and nor has there been an attempt to determine why some studies find substantial effects of fluke while others conclude that effects of fluke on animal performance are negligible. In this study, we used meta-analysis to provide quantitative estimates of the impact of liver fluke on animal performance, and to identify elements of study design that influence the conclusions of such studies. A literature search provided 233 comparisons of performance in "fluke-infected" and "uninfected" animals. We standardized these data as log response ratios and calculated effect size variances in order to weight studies by their sample size and accuracy of their estimates. We performed multi-level meta-analysis to estimate effects of fluke infection in five traits: daily weight gain (N = 77); live weight (N = 47); carcass weight (N = 84); total weight gain (N = 18) and milk production (N = 6). There were significant negative effects of fluke infection on daily weight gain, live weight and carcass weight (9%, 6% and 0.6% reductions in performance, respectively), but not total weight gain or milk production. We then used mixed-effects meta-analysis to estimate the impact of moderator variables, including host, fluke, and study design factors, on study outcomes. We found that, in general, studies that gave experimental infections found generally larger effects of fluke than observational or drug studies; younger animals were more likely to suffer the effects of fluke infection on daily weight gain; and that effects on live weight increased across the course of an experiment. Our results provide the first quantitative estimate of the importance of liver fluke on performance across studies and highlight the elements of study design that can influence conclusions. Furthermore, our literature search revealed areas of research into liver fluke that could be the subject of greater effort, and types of study that could form the basis of future meta-analyses.


Transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective functionalization of acyl radicals has so far not been realized, probably due to their relatively high reactivity, which renders the chemo- and stereocontrol challenging. Herein, we describe Cu(I)-catalyzed enantioselective desymmetrizing C-O bond coupling of acyl radicals. This reaction is compatible with (hetero)aryl and alkyl aldehydes and, more importantly, displays a very broad scope of challenging alcohol substrates, such as 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-diols, 2-substituted-2-chloro-1,3-diols, 2-substituted 1,2,3-triols, 2-substituted serinols, and meso primary 1,4-diols, providing enantioenriched esters characterized by challenging acyclic tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters. Partnered by one- or two-step follow-up transformations, this reaction provides a convenient and practical strategy for the rapid preparation of chiral C3 building blocks from readily available alcohols, particularly the industrially relevant glycerol. Mechanistic studies supported the proposed C-O bond coupling of acyl radicals.


Religion and Dangerous Environmental Change advances climate and environmental sciences by including religion as a microcosm of cultural response to environmental change. Sigurd Bergmann and Dieter Gerten are renowned in diverse disciplines, including hydrology, religious studies, theology, cultural studies, philosophy, and visual arts. They exemplify how religion can contribute to sustainable mitigation of climate change and to creative adaption to its impacts.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and biofilm formation or adhesion in Candida albicans ( C. albicans ) and several pathogenic bacteria. All of C. albicans (n=82) and 7 bacterial species ( Escherichia coli , n=25; Klebsiella pneumoniae , n=33; Morganella morganii , n=21; Proteus mirabilis , n=33; Proteus vulgaris , n=12; Pseudomonas aeruginosa , n=31; Staphylococcus aureus , n=31) were isolated clinically. CSH was quantified with microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons. Biofilm formation was determined by tetrazolium salt reduction assay. Adhesion assay was performed by counting colonies after culture the microbes adhered to HeLa cells. Although high CSH-expressing bacterial species showed greater adherence to HeLa cells and larger amounts of biofilm formation on polystyrene, the significant relationships within same species were not shown. In C. albicans , however, strong positive correlations were observed between CSH and biofilm formation ( r =0.708; p < 0.05) or cell adhesion ( r =0.509; p < 0.05). These results suggest that hydrophobic force of bacteria may play a minor role in adhesion and biofilm formation, but CSH of C. albicans may be an important factor for adherence on surface and biofilm forming process.


Human beings lead largely sedentary lives. From an evolutionary perspective, such lifestyle is not beneficial to health. Exercise can promote many enabling pathways, particularly through circulating exerkines, to optimize individual health and quality of life. Such benefits might explain the protective effects of exercise against aging and noncommunicable diseases. Nevertheless, the miRNA-mediated molecular mechanisms and exerkine interorgan crosstalk that underlie the beneficial effects of exercise remain poorly understood. In this mini review, we focused on the exerkine, irisin, mainly produced by muscle contraction during adaptation to exercise and its beneficial effects on body homeostasis. Herein, the complex role of irisin in metabolism and inflammation is described, including its subsequent effects on thermogenesis through browning to control obesity and improve glycemic regulation for diabetes mellitus control, its potential to improve cognitive function (via brain derived neurotrophic factor), and its pathways of action and role in aging.


Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005

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Runx transcription factors comprise a family of proteins that are essential for organogenesis. The Runx transcription factors function as scaffolds for interaction with a variety of coregulatory proteins. A unique nuclear matrix targeting signal (NMTS) in the C-terminus directs these factors to their specific subnuclear domains. At these sites they interact with coregulatory proteins and target genes. We have previously shown that Runx2 is highly expressed in metastatic breast cancer cells, but that inhibition of Runx2 can prevent production of osteolytic lesions in bone (Barnes et al., Cancer Res., 2004, 64:4506). Here we show that proper Runx2 subnuclear targeting is required for osteolysis. We have identified point mutations of the Runx2 NMTS sequence that impair its targeting to nuclear matrix sites. MDA-MB-231 or targeting deficient mutant Runx2 expressing stable cells were injected into the intramedullary region of the tibia of 4-6 week old SCID mice. Formation of osteolytic lesions in bones was assessed by radiography. The mutation blocks the invasive and osteolytic properties of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vivo . Cell lines expressing this Runx2 mutant protein inhibit the osteogenic properties of bone marrow stromal cells in co-culture assays and production of cytokines that promote the osteolytic lesions. The mutant breast cancer cells also exhibit reduced invasiveness in vitro and do not express genes involved in invasion and angiogenesis (VEGF, MMP13). Our findings suggest that fidelity of Runx2 intranuclear organization is necessary for expression of target genes that mediate the osteolytic activity of metastatic breast cancer cells.


Pneumonia is the leading cause of childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Because effective antibiotic treatment exists, timely recognition of pneumonia and subsequent care seeking for treatment can prevent deaths. For six high pneumonia mortality countries in SSA we examined if children with suspected pneumonia were taken for care, and if so, from which type of care providers, using national survey data of 76530 children. We also assessed factors independently associated with care seeking from health providers, also known as 'appropriate' providers. We report important differences in care seeking patterns across these countries. In Tanzania 85% of children with suspected pneumonia were taken for care, whereas this was only 30% in Ethiopia. Most of the children living in these six countries were taken to a primary health care facility; 86, 68 and 59% in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Burkina Faso respectively. In Uganda, hospital care was sought for 60% of children. 16–18% of children were taken to a private pharmacy in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Nigeria. In Tanzania, children from the richest households were 9.5 times (CI 2.3–39.3) more likely to be brought for care than children from the poorest households, after controlling for the child's age, sex, caregiver's education and urban-rural residence. The influence of the age of a child, when controlling for sex, urban-rural residence, education and wealth, shows that the youngest children (<2 years) were more likely to be brought to a care provider in Nigeria, Ethiopia and DRC. Urban-rural residence was not significantly associated with care seeking, after controlling for the age and sex of the child, caregivers education and wealth. The study suggests that it is crucial to understand country-specific care seeking patterns for children with suspected pneumonia and related determinants using available data prior to planning programmatic responses.


The Rharb-Mamora basin is the foreland of the Rif Cordillera (orogenic belt). The Mamora area (northern Morocco) is located at the southern border of the Rharb basin and intercalated between the Alpine Rif Mountains to the north and the Hercynian Moroccan Meseta domain to the south.

Analysis and interpretation of seismic lines, hydrogeological and oil wells, have allowed to precise the major structural elements of the Mamora area, which is covered by late Neogene sediments.

The structure of the area is controlled by faults that also affect the Paleozoic basement. The NE-SW and NW-SE trending faults induce the palaeogeographical evolution and control, the facies distribution and the thickness variations. The most important or relevant structural feature of the Mamora area is the Kenitra-Sidi-Slimane fault (K2SF) [Zouhri et al., 2001]. This fault N110oE trending is south of the Rif Alpine thrust front and is marked by a progressive deepening of its northern compartment, at least since Cretaceous time. Thus the Mamora appears as a hinge between the Rharb Basin and the Moroccan Meseta from Cretaceous to Neogene time.


Background The main objective of medical education development centers is to improve the quality of medical education. However, after more than two decades since the formation of these centers, they are still facing numerous challenges. Objectives Given the importance of these centers, this study was conducted to identify their challenges. Methods A qualitative study was carried out in 2013 on 40 managers of Iranian medical education development centers. Data was collected during a national conference held in Tehran in the form of a questionnaire and analyzed using content analysis. Results Key challenges of the centers were identified to be resource shortage, continuous modifications in policies, weak management, structural problems, lack of communication, regulatory problems and centralization in decision making. The key challenges were divided into 17 sub-challenges. Conclusions Although decades have passed since the formation of medical education development centers, they are still facing serious challenges. To unveil the true potential of these centers in improving the quality of education, integrated interventions were addressed in this study to help reduce identified challenges.


Bi-modulus materials exhibit the different modulus in tension and compression. The value of elastic modulusand Poisson ratio of every point in the bi-modulus elastic bodynot only depend on the material itself, but also the stress state and the strain state of the point. The uncertainty and nonlinearity of the elastic constitutive relation result in that the bi-modulus elastic problem is the complicated nonlinear problem. This paper aims at studying the bi-modulus elastic constitutive equationemployed in the bi-modulus finite element numerical method (FEM).The new elastic matrix model is proposed based on Ye's principal strain criterion with the assumption that the Poisson ratio maintain constant whenever in tension or in compression, and the elastic matrix issymmetric by equivalent transmitting. The shear modulus expression of this elastic matrix modelis derived to enable the elastic matrix completely and improve the convergence of the FEM calculation. The statically indeterminate bi-modulus beam is analyzed by means of FEM employing the proposed elastic matrix model. The effects of the tensile modulus to compressive modulus ratio and the boundary condition on the stress and deflection of the bi-modulus beam is studied.


In this document we made a descriptive analysis of the evolution of the female participation in comparison to the masculine one in the Uruguayan labor market between 1986 and 2000. The descriptive analysis of the tendencies of the participation made according to the variables related to the familiar cycle for men and women, suggests us that in Uruguay there has been a process of similarity of the participation behavior of men and women. According to the information observed, the familiar life cycle loses importance in the determination of the incorporation of the women to the labor market, specially within the most educated.


Background : Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the common complications after surgery. This randomized double-blind study was planned to compare the effectiveness of different antiemetic regimens for PONV prophylaxis in moderately high-risk patients.

Methods : One hundred and sixty adult ASA grade I-II female patients undergoing day care gynecological laparoscopic procedures were randomly allocated into four groups. Group 1 patients (Control group) received 4 mg ondansetron, group 2 (P75 group) patients received 0.075 mg palonosetron, group 3 (P150 group) patients received 0.150 mg palonosetron, and group 4 (PD group) patients received 0.075 mg palonosetron and 8 mg dexamethasone after induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and fentanyl, and maintained with N2O-isoflurane in oxygen. The number of complete responders, frequency of nausea and vomiting episodes and the requirement of rescue antiemetic during 0-6 h, 6-24 h and 24-72 h after surgery were recorded.

Results : Patients receiving dexamethasone and palonosetron combination had significantly less vomiting (p = 0.03) and required less rescue antiemetic as compared to Control group (p = 0.014). The incidence of nausea was low in all palonosetron groups as compared to the ondansetron group. The complete response rate was significantly high in the PD group as compared to other groups (p = 0.012). There was no significant difference in nausea and vomiting in patients receiving palonosetron 0.075 mg or 0.15 mg.

Conclusions : We conclude that a dexamethasone-palonosetron combination is more effective than ondansetron and palonosetron alone for the prevention of PONV, while palonosetron 0.150 mg has no significant benefit over 0.075 mg for PONV prophylaxis in moderately high-risk patients.


Plants growing in natural environments are exposed to a broad range of biotic (pathogen attack, insect herbivory, etc.) and abiotic factors (drought, extreme temperatures, UV radiation, salinity, etc.) that are known to cause stress symptoms in many species (Pareek et al., 2010; Robert-Seilaniantz et al., 2010). Biotic and abiotic stress-inducing determinants often adversely impact plant growth and development, frequently leading to severe annual yield losses in agricultural production (Pierik et al., 2013; Pieterse et al., 2012; Stam et al., 2014). In the research endeavors described in this thesis, Arabidopsis thaliana was used as a model organism to study plant responses to different sequential combinations of biotic factors (infection with Botrytis or herbivory by Pieris) and drought. The main objective was to identify genes that contribute to tolerance to the aforementioned sequential stress combinations. Genome-wide association (GWA) mapping and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) approaches were used to identify combinatorial stress responsive genes. A number of candidate genes to combinatorial stress responses were identified by GWA analysis and RNA-seq. The physiological function of some candidate genes in different stress conditions were characterized using T-DNA insertion mutants and gene expression study. However, the physiological function of many allelic variants in stress conditions remain to be discovered. The study highlights the importance of an array of genes, crucial to the underlying defense processes, as targets for breeding by allele mining, ultimately aimed at improvement of crop tolerance to frequent combinations of stress factors.


Abstract : This report summarizes U.S. aid to the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK, also known as North Korea). It will be updated periodically to track changes in U.S. provision of aid to North Korea. A more extended description and analysis of aid to North Korea, including assistance provided by other countries, is provided in CRS Report RL31785, Foreign Assistance to North Korea. Since 1995, the United States has provided over $1.1 billion, about 60% of which has paid for food aid. About 40% was energy assistance channeled through the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), the multilateral organization established in 1994 to provide energy aid in exchange for North Korea's pledge to halt its existing nuclear program. U.S. assistance to North Korea has fallen significantly over the past three years. The KEDO program was shut down in January 2006. Food aid has been scrutinized because the DPRK government restricts the ability of donor agencies to operate in the country. Compounding the problem is that South Korea and China, by far North Korea's two most important providers of food aid, have little to no monitoring systems in place. This may help explain why, in the summer of 2005, the North Korean government announced it would no longer need humanitarian assistance from the United Nations, including from the World Food Program (WFP), the primary channel for U.S. food aid. Part of Pyongyang's motivation appears to be a desire to negotiate a less intrusive monitonug presence. In response, the WFP shut down its operations and the United States has suspended its food aid shipments. The WFP is negotiating a scaled-down "development" assistance program with the North Korean government. It plans to present its plan to its Executive Board members in February 2006. The WFP says that food conditions have worsened for some groups since North Korea introduced economic reforms in 2002.


Inconsistency in taxonomic identification and analyst bias impede the effective use of diatom data in regional and national stream and lake surveys. In this study, we evaluated the effect of existing protocols and a revised protocol on the precision of diatom species counts. The revised protocol adjusts four elements of sample preparation, taxon identification and enumeration, and quality control (QC). We used six independent data sets to assess the effect of the adjustments on analytical outcomes. The first data set was produced by three laboratories with a total of five analysts following established protocols (Charles et al., Protocols for the analysis of algal samples collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water‐Quality Assessment, 2002) or their slight variations. The remaining data sets were produced by one to three laboratories with a total of two to three analysts following a revised protocol. The revised protocol included the following modifications: (1) development of coordinated precount voucher floras based on morphological operational taxonomic units, (2) random assignment of samples to analysts, (3) postcount identification and documentation of taxa (as opposed to an approach in which analysts assign names while they enumerate), and (4) increased use of QC samples. The revised protocol reduced taxonomic bias, as measured by reduction in analyst signal, and improved similarity among QC samples. Reduced taxonomic bias improves the performance of biological assessments, facilitates transparency across studies, and refines estimates of diatom species distributions.


Climate journalism gathers, evaluates, selects, and presents information about climate change, its characteristics, causes, and impacts, as well as ways to mitigate it, and distributes them via technical media to general and specialist audiences. It is an important source of information about climate change for many people. Currently, however, the media ecosystem surrounding climate journalism is changing, with economic conditions becoming more strenuous, more communicators joining the debate, and social media changing the affordances of communication. This advanced review synthesizes scholarship on both the status quo and the changes taking place in climate journalism in the Global North and the Global South. While it demonstrates that the scholarship has distinct gaps and biases, it does distill several robust findings. First, it shows that the organizational embedding of climate journalism is changing, with specialist reporters becoming scarce and working under more strenuous conditions and with the emergence of online‐born news media and niche sites specializing in climate journalism. It also suggests that few specialist climate journalists exist in the Global South. Second, it demonstrates that the range of roles available to climate journalists has diversified, with a shift from "gatekeeping" to "curating" roles. Third, it indicates that climate journalists' relationships with their sources have changed. Elite sources have been, and still are, important, but their composition has shifted from scientists to a broader range of stakeholders. Correspondingly, there seems to be a strong and rising influence of stakeholder PR on climate journalism.


WAAM (Wire+Arc Additive Manufacturing) allows manufacturing mechanical components by adding successive layers of molten metallic wire using electrical arc. The WAAM process, compared to other processes using metallic powders, presents some advantages such as: high deposition rate (2-4kg/hour), manufacturing of large scales components and cheaper industrial installations. WAAM is then an interesting candidate for manufacturing components often CNC machined. However, the main disadvantages of this process are: high surface roughness requiring a post machining, strains and stresses states generated during the deposition process [1]. A better understanding of the relation between the welding parameters and the state of stresses can contribute to minimize residual stresses, eventually in relation with a deposition strategy [2]. As a first approach, the effects of the first deposition of molten metal on the base plate is investigated. This work focuses on finite element method, based on Code Aster solver, with a nonlinear thermo-mechanical model. Concerning the thermal aspects, the GMAW heat input is modeled by a Gaussian distribution [3]. The temperature fields are used to solve the mechanical problem. The material behavior laws are assumed to be elastoplastic with different hardening configurations: no hardening, linear isotropic or kinematic hardening and non-linear isotropic hardening. Based on the results from these elastoplastic models, the influence of the hardening is presented.


Taxi systems are perfect examples of supply-demand systems in which taxi vehicles and drivers constitute the supply side, while passengers hailing taxis are the demand side. However, various inefficiencies can be embedded within such a large-scale system, e.g. an excessive number of taxi vehicles, a shortage of taxi supplies after an event and long idle times with no passengers in taxis. These systemic inefficiencies are often overlooked in previous literature, which focuses on taxi dispatching mechanisms to satisfy short-term demand. In this paper, we address these inefficiencies and propose a novel model for the trip assignment problem based on network flow. Compared with existing methods, our model is much more scalable. This model is capable of assigning hundreds of thousands of trips to taxis over a long time interval, e.g. a shift of 12 hours. Furthermore, the trip assignment given by this model can effectively minimize the total number of required taxis while reducing incurred idle time. Experiments show that in our model, the number of required taxis to finish all observed trips in New York City is only 72% of the size of the current taxi fleet, while the average idle time incurred per taxi drops by 32%.


According to the application requirements and the design problems of the UAV(Unmanned air vehicle) data recorder, this paper puts forward a solid multi-channel highspeed dynamic airborne data recorder. Based on the design scheme of the data recorder which takes the SOPC(System On Programmable Chip) as the hardware platform and the NAND FLASH as the storage medium, the system can reduce its size and weight effectively while ensure the performance of impact-resistance and data capacity, so that it particularly applies to the minor UAV. Adopting the FPGA hardware logic to implement the multi-channel parallel data acquisition such as pluse data acquisition and serial data acquisition, the system improves the whole system in speed and efficiency. Because of taking the UFFS as the FLASH file system, the memory demands are greatly reduced as well as the startup speed is improved. At the mean time, the accidental data loss caused by power failure is well avoided, so that the reliability and the stability are greatly improved. Through performing tests, the results show that the system can run smoothly and all the demands of the tests are met.


The variety of integrated optical devices which have recently been demonstrated in the aluminum oxide (Al2O3) waveguide platform is evidence of the favourable optical properties of this material [1–3]. The wafer-scale fabrication process and its compatibility with existing silicon waveguide technology further emphasize the significance of this material [4]. The ability to integrate Bragg grating structures with Al2O3 waveguides provides the opportunity to realize monolithic optical cavities for the successful realization of compact distributed feedback (DFB) [5] and distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers. In this paper we describe the fabrication, characterization, and application of holographically written integrated Bragg gratings and DBR cavities in Al2O3 channel waveguides.


Outer hair cell (OHC) metabolism is blocked by cisplatin. Concurrent changes in the renal handling of magnesium occur because of the damage cisplatin causes to the renal proximal tubule cells within the thick ascending loop of Henle. Although there is no evidence of cisplatin within the OHCs, there are significant levels of intracellular calcium, the antagonist to magnesium at the cell membrane. The OHC motile response is dependent on intracellular calcium. When the calcium current is suppressed by an antagonist, the extracellular OHC microphonic potential decreases. Magnesium deficiency is known to produce hyperexcitability within the central nervous system, including fatal audiogenic seizures. In addition, increases in the amplitude of the auditory brainstem response wave V occur with aminoglycoside therapy and magnesium deficiency. This paper illustrates the amplitude growth of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in two patients treated with cisplatin and explores the possible underlying reasons why this may be related to magnesium metabolism.


This essay is a comprehensive and critical review of Thomas Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century. It follows the flow of Piketty's argument carefully and literally and notes his many assertions that are unsupported or contradicted by economic logic and empirical evidence, particularly in the United States. The essay particularly questions the high real interest rate needed to support Piketty's model of growth and distribution, in stark contrast with the low and even negative real interest rates the United States has been experiencing for several years. The essay also summarizes the recent critiques of Piketty's arguments by other leading economists.


Abstract Background Psoriasis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory dermatosis, which can significantly impact life quality of patients. The treatment of psoriasis is no cure and novel therapeutic options are urgently needed. Hydroxytyrosol (HT) possesses multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation properties, suggesting its potential to counteract hallmarks of psoriasis. However, its role in the regulation of psoriasis remains unknown. Objective In the current study, we explored the anti-proliferative activity and anti-inflammatory responses of HT in psoriatic keratinocytes in vitro. Methods We used M5 cytokines cocktail, which includes tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, oncostatin-M, interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-1α, and IL-22, to simulate HaCaT cells to establish the cell model of psoriasis and explore the effects of HT on psoriasis in vitro. Results This study showed that HT exerted potent anti-inflammatory effect via influencing the expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in M5-induced cell model of psoriasis. Moreover, it suppressed the expression of antimicrobial proteins in psoriatic keratinocytes. Additionally, it inhibited cell proliferation in psoriasis cell model. Conclusions Altogether, our results suggested that HT has anti-psoriasis effects in vitro and HT may be a promising therapeutic agent in psoriasis treatment.


AimDescribe the management of patients with methamphetamine (MA)-induced psychosis and offer recommendations for effective treatment. MethodsProspective assessment of consecutive admissions at 6 public psychiatric treatment services in Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand. One hundred and fifty patients (aged 17 to 48 y) who screened negative for lifetime history of schizophrenia and organic psychosis participated in the study. ResultsSixty-one percent of participants presented with their first MA psychosis episode. Most common lifetime psychotic symptoms were persecutory delusion (81%) and auditory hallucinations (77%) experienced on admission by 22% and 48%, respectively. Longer treatment duration associated with first episode MA psychosis; male; longer duration since last use MA before admission; more severe positive psychotic symptoms and more negative symptoms. One fifth of the patients continued experiencing psychotic symptoms at discharge. ConclusionsNo consistent evidence-based guidelines exist. In their absence, the authors suggest clinical management should include careful frontline sedation, judicious second-generation antipsychotics treatment and relapse prevention support in the community.


Tendons connect muscles to bones, ensuring joint movement. With advanced age, tendons become more prone to degeneration followed by injuries. Tendon repair often requires lengthy periods of rehabilitation, especially in elderly patients. Existing medical and surgical treatments often fail to regain full tendon function. The development of novel treatment methods has been hampered due to limited understanding of basic tendon biology. Recently, it was discovered that tendons, similar to other mesenchymal tissues, contain tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) which possess the common stem cell properties. The current strategies for enhancing tendon repair consist mainly of applying stem cells, growth factors, natural and artificial biomaterials alone or in combination. In this review, we summarise the basic biology of tendon tissues and provide an update on the latest repair proposals for tendon tears. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2017;2:332-342. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.2.160075


Abstract Objectives: We examined the association of household food insecurity with educational outcomes and explored the moderating effect of gender and school lunch programme. Design: The study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in 2014 using interviewer-administered questionnaires and school administrative records. We measured household food insecurity using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Educational outcomes referred to knowledge, attitudes and skills that students are expected to obtain while attending school. We obtained sixteen different measures of educational outcomes, ranging from academic grades to beliefs and attitudes towards school and education. Data were analysed using multilevel modelling with covariates at the student and school levels. We conducted moderation tests by adding a two-way interaction between food insecurity and gender, and between food insecurity and school lunch programme. Setting: The study was conducted in 100 schools located in fifty-four districts within Ghana's eight administrative regions in 2014. Participants: Participants included 2201 school-going adolescents aged 15–19 years. Results: More than 60 % of adolescents were from food-insecure households. Household food insecurity was negatively associated with Math grade and school attendance. Food insecurity was also inversely associated with socio-emotional outcomes, including academic self-efficacy, commitment to school and academic aspirations and expectations. We did not find a moderating effect of gender and school lunch programme. Conclusions: Food insecurity is negatively associated with wide-ranging educational outcomes related to both learning and socio-emotional abilities. Our study supports prior evidence suggesting the importance of food access on both cognitive and non-cognitive educational outcomes.


The performances and the stability of a polymer solar cell (PSC) mainly depend on the architecture of the device and the materials used for the fabrication (photoactive and interface layers and contacts). In this work we made a comparative study between standard and inverted PSCs having an identical pair of hole and electron transport layers: molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) and poly[(9,9-bis(3'-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9dioctylfluorene)] (PFN), respectively. We realized devices using a blend film of poly[(4,8-bis-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b']dithiophene)-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-(2ethylhexanoyl)-thieno[3,4-b]thiopene)-2,6-diyl]/[6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PBDTTT-C:[70]PCBM). The standard and inverted cells sequences were ITO/MoO3/PBDTTT-C:[70]PCBM/PFN/Ag and ITO/PFN/PBDTTT-C:[70]PCBM/MoO3/Ag, respectively. We studied the performances of both kinds of devices in order to investigate the influence of the architecture (standard vs inverted) on the performance of the solar cells. All the devices were characterized by IV light, IV dark and quantum efficiency measurements. The best device reached a power conversion efficiency of 6%. The inverted device has an improved current output compared to the standard one. In order to elucidate the absorption of photons inside the blend, we performed the optical modeling of the devices using the transfer matrix formalism and we simulated the effective absorption in the photoactive layer and the optical electric field inside the devices.


The Z Machine, at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, creates an overwhelming magnetic field using banks of electrical capacitors. The field pinches a cylinder the size of a pencil eraser so fast and furiously that hydrogen atoms inside fuse into helium, releasing energy. But until now, the fuel inside the tiny tube has been limited to deuterium, a hydrogen with one neutron. In a fusion shot in August, Sandia scientists for the first time added a dash of tritium, hydrogen with two neutrons. Over the next 5 years, the tests will gradually ramp up to a 50-50 blend of deuterium and tritium (DT). DT carries both risks and rewards. Tritium should dramatically boost the energy released in the fusion reactions—allowing Sandia to show that their reactor could provide a viable approach to fusion energy. But tritium is both expensive and mildly radioactive, so its use comes with a variety of safety issues.


Acute thrombus formation on disrupted atherosclerotic plaques plays a key role during the onset of acute coronary syndromes. Lesion disruption facilitates the interaction between circulating blood and prothrombotic substances, such as tissue factor (TF) present within the atherosclerotic lesion. For a long period of time, vessel-wall TF has been considered the major determinant of thrombosis. However, this old dogma has been recently changed owing to the discovery of a different pool of TF that circulates in flowing blood (blood-borne TF). Several studies have shown that blood-borne TF circulates in different pools that are associated with selected blood cells, such as monocytes, granulocytes and platelets in cell-derived microparticles, and as a soluble protein generated by alternative splicing of its full-length mRNA. Recent studies have identified a hypercoagulable state associated with an increased circulating TF activity, leading to the concept of 'vulnerable blood'. Part of the blood-borne TF circulates in an 'inactive' form and it is required to be 'activated' to exert its thrombogenic potential. Certain pathological conditions, such as smoking, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, show a higher incidence of thrombotic complications. These conditions are also characterized by the presence of high levels of circulating TF activity. Recent evidence may also suggest that an increased circulating TF activity may potentiate the initial thrombogenic stimulus represented by vessel wall-associated TF, leading to the formation of larger and/or more stable thrombus, and thus more severe acute coronary syndromes. It has been reported that inflammation increases TF expression and activity by different cell types. On the other hand, TF upregulation may facilitate inflammation by enhancing intravascular fibrin deposition, formation of proinflammatory fragments of fibrin, and by generating coagulation proteases, including FVIIa, FXa and thrombin, that activate protease-activated receptors. Furthermore, the biology of TF is know known to be more complex than previously thought by the demonstration that this protein, apart from its known effects on blood coagulation, can also function as a signaling receptor.


The sporting landscape altered during the nineteenth century as industrialisation transformed the leisure patterns of British society. As both space and time available for sport reduced, traditional pastimes were repackaged for new urban environment. The public house became instrumental in regulating the leisure time of the city's inhabitants, with the publicans becoming gatekeepers to working-class pursuits by procuring land for sporting purpose and providing the foundations for regulation and administration. Pedestrianism, the forerunner to modern athletics, became a lucrative commercial enterprise, having been successfully integrated into the urban sporting model through public house endorsement. By considering the entrepreneurial nature of athletic entertainments, which were controlled and governed by individuals rather than specific sporting organisations, this paper explores the Holden family and their significance on the development of pedestrianism within the city. The relationship between sportsmen and public houses has long been noted, but these examples are usually limited in scope and do little beyond documenting the individual achievements of each subject. By taking a collective biographical approach, whereby individuals are studied through more measured techniques, the impact of Manchester's athletic community in developing the local and national sporting landscape can be considered. At a time of natural decline, Manchester's pedestrian scene was thriving amid the numerous taverns, inns and running grounds established around the city centre. By developing their own programme of events, which opposed the formalised amateur institutions that were beginning to appear throughout Britain, these athletic entrepreneurs created a culture for professional activities that has had little acknowledgement to date. The Holden family helped to control and organise Manchester's sporting calendar, with their principles and innovations responsible for resurging public interest in athletic entertainment. By exploring the interconnections between different members of the Holden dynasty, the positive impact of such communities on the local sporting environment is evident.


Although COVID-19 was first described as a respiratory disease, current data has shown that it is a disease with multisystemic involvement including respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, hematological and immune systems. COVID-19 associated liver injury may be due to various potential mechanisms. Direct viral cytotoxic effect, immun mediated injury, drugs, ischemic injury due to hypoxia-hypoperfusion are among these mechanisms. Here we present a five year-old male patient who had no known history of liver disease admitted to our clinic due to elevated transaminase during the course of COVID-19 infection.


Sympathoadrenergic progenitor cells (SAPs) of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are important for normal development of the sympathetic PNS and for the genesis of neuroblastoma, the most common and often lethal extracranial solid tumor in childhood. However, it remains difficult to isolate sufficient numbers of SAPs for investigations. We therefore set out to improve generation of SAPs by using two complementary approaches, differentiation from murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and isolation from postnatal murine adrenal glands. We provide evidence that selecting for GD2 expression enriches for ESC-derived SAP-like cells and that proliferating SAP-like cells can be isolated from postnatal adrenal glands of mice. These advances may facilitate investigations about the development and malignant transformation of the sympathetic PNS.


Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as a chronic pain condition characterized by a burning sensation in the clinically healthy oral mucosa. It is difficult to diagnose BMS because there is a discrepancy between the severity, extensive objective pain felt by the patient and the absence of any clinical changes of the oral mucosa. This review presents some aspects of BMS, including its clinical diagnosis, classification, differential diagnosis, general treatment, evolution and prognosis.


Odonto‐onycho‐dermal dysplasia (OODD) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by multiple ectodermal abnormalities. Mutations of the wingless‐type MMTV integration site family member 10A (WNT10A) gene have been associated with OODD. To date, only 11 OODD‐associated WNT10A mutations have been reported. In this report, we Characterized the clinical manifestations with focusing on dental phenotypes in four unrelated OODD patients. By Sanger sequencing, we identified five novel mutations in the WNT10A gene, including two homozygous nonsense mutations c.1176C>A (p.Cys392*) and c.742C>T (p.Arg248*), one homozygous frame‐shift mutation c.898‐899delAT (p.Ile300Profs*126), and a compound heterozygous mutation c.826T>A (p.Cys276Ser) and c.949delG (p.Ala317Hisfs*121). Our findings confirmed that bi‐allelic mutations of WNT10A were responsible for OODD and greatly expanded the mutation spectrum of OODD. For the first time, we demonstrated that bi‐allelic WNT10A mutations could lead to anodontia of permanent teeth, which enhanced the phenotypic spectrum of WNT10A mutations. Interestingly, we found that bi‐allelic mutations in the WNT10A gene preferentially affect the permanent dentition rather the primary dentition, suggesting that the molecular mechanisms regulated by WNT10A in the development of permanent teeth and deciduous teeth might be different.


Skeletal muscle is an extremely heterogeneous tissue, composed of a large variety of fibre types. Its dynamical nature is reflected by the ability to adapt to altered functional demands by qualitative alterations in fibre type composition. The molecular basis of this versatility is that specific myofibrillar and Ca2+-regulatory protein isoforms are assembled to functionally specialized fibre types. Based on this diversity, adult muscle fibres are capable of changing their molecular composition by altered gene expression. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and their unique expression in 'pure' fibres, as well as their coexpression in 'hybrid' 'fibres' represent the best markers of muscle fibre diversity and adaptive changes. Chronic low-frequency stimulation (CLFS) and endurance training represent highly suitable models for studying the effects of increased neuromuscular activity on myofibrillar protein isoform expression and fibre type composition. Generally, both models induce fast-to-slow transitions in myofibrillar protein isoforms and fibre types. However, the responses to endurance training are quantitatively less pronounced than those in muscles exposed to CLFS. Parallel changes in isoforms of specific myofibrillar or Ca2+-regulatory proteins during the induced fast-to-slow transitions point to the existence of fibre type-specific patterns of gene expression. The fast-to-slow transitions do not proceed in abrupt jumps from one extreme to the other, but occur in a gradual and orderly sequential manner. Depending on the basal protein isoform profile, and hence the position within the fast-slow spectrum, the adaptive ranges of different fibre types vary. However, adaptive ranges not only depend on a particular fibre type, but also are influenced by species-specific properties.


Cytochrome P450s (P450) are important enzymes in biology with useful biochemical reactions in, for instance, drug and xenobiotics metabolisms, biotechnology, and health. Recently, the crystal structure of a new member of the CYP116B family has been resolved. This enzyme is a cytochrome P450 (CYP116B46) from Tepidiphilus thermophilus (P450-TT) and has potential for the oxy-functionalization of organic molecules such as fatty acids, terpenes, steroids, and statins. However, it was thought that the opening to its hitherto identified substrate channel was too small to allow organic molecules to enter. To investigate this, we performed molecular dynamics simulations on the enzyme. The results suggest that the crystal structure is not relaxed, possibly due to crystal packing effects, and that its tunnel structure is constrained. In addition, the simulations revealed two key amino acid residues at the mouth of the channel; a glutamyl and an arginyl. The glutamyl's side chain tightens and relaxes the opening to the channel in conjunction with the arginyl's, though the latter's side chain is less dramatically changed after the initial relaxation of its conformations. Additionally, it was observed that the effect of increased temperature did not considerably affect the dynamics of the enzyme fold, including the relative solvent accessibility of the amino acid residues that make up the substrate channel wall even as compared to the changes that occurred at room temperature. Interestingly, the substrate channel became distinguishable as a prominent tunnel that is likely to accommodate small- to medium-sized organic molecules for bioconversions. That is, P450-TT has the ability to pass appropriate organic substrates to its active site through its elaborate substrate channel, and notably, is able to control or gate any molecules at the opening to this channel.


The performance of kicker pulse power supplies is the main parameter to increase injection efficiency of storage ring that is an important issue for laboratory of synchrotron radiation research. The output current waveform of a kicker pulse power supply with low timing jitter is our goal for years that must satisfy the Top-Up mode injection requirement of NSRRC. In the past years kicker pulse power supplies of storage ring of NSRRC are immersed in isolation oil to sustain high voltage operational environment that led difficult to maintain, electronic component degrading and uneasy to tune parameters. Air-cooling and air-isolation is adopted in the new design structure for kicker pulse power supply system and an pre-trigger unit MA2709A is installed to trigger thyratron tube EEV1536A, a kicker pulse power supply with low timing jitter 1~2ns(p-p) is obtained and could satisfy for Top-Up mode injection and maintenance is more easier than before.


We propose an algorithm for detection and tracking of small and fast moving objects, like a ping pong ball or a cricket ball, in sports video sequences. For detection, the proposed method uses only motion as a cue; moreover it does not use any texture information. Our method is able to detect the object with very low contrast and negligible texture content. Along with detection, we also propose a tracking algorithm using the multiple filter bank approach. Thus we provide a complete solution. The tracking algorithm is able to track maneuvering as well as non-maneuvering movements of the object without using any a priori information about the target dynamics


Objectives: In this study, we aimed to develop and optimize an anti-allergic cream containing dexamethasone and chlorpheniramine using the design of experiments (DoE) method. The optimized product was investigated for its physicochemical properties and in vivo therapeutic effects in rabbits. Materials and Methods: The creams were formulated using the simple mixing process, which was optimized by the Design Expert software. The products were then evaluated the properties such as pH, skin diffusion profile, short-term stability, qualitative, and assay, using the newly validated UV-Vis spectrophotoscopy quantitative method. In vivo efficacy tests in rabbits of the best products were compared with the marketed Phenergan® (promethazine 2%). Results: The UV-Vis method used to simultaneously determine the amount of both dexamethasone and chlorpheniramine was successfully developed and validated. Using the DoE method, it was clear that the release profile of dexamethasone depended on the amount of sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, and DMSO. In contrast, only DMSO affected the release pattern of chlorpheniramine. The best formulation was optimized by the software. The product showed acceptable parameters in pH (5.7±0.1), short-term stability over 10 days, and skin diffusion profiles of 20.47±1.25% and 4.92±0.42% after 40 min for dexamethasone and chlorpheniramine, respectively. In addition, the product demonstrated no observable inflammatory response in the experimental animals. Also, it illustrated 2-fold better anti-allergic efficacy than the marketed product (i.e., 27.2 compared with 43.4 min in the recovery time). Conclusion: We were successful in developing and optimizing an anti-allergic cream containing dexamethasone and chlorpheniramine. The best product satisfied all required parameters. Interestingly, our product showed higher efficacy than Phenergan®. These results can be a background for further clinical trials.


In this paper, we present a novel joint application physical-layer design (JAPLD) strategy to cost-effectively transmit scalable H.264/AVC video over multi-input multi-output (MIMO) wireless systems. With this approach, the application layer cooperates with the physical layer to maximize the system performance. First, in physical layer, we propose a new layered video transmission scheme over MIMO: adaptive channel selection (ACS). ACS-MIMO is fundamentally different from parallel transmission MIMO (PT-MIMO). While each bit stream is continuously transmitted through a fixed antenna in PT-MIMO, ACS-MIMO is able to periodically switch each bit stream among multiple antennas. In application layer, Scalable Video Coding (SVC) generates layered bit streams that need prioritized delivery. Then, we obtain the ordering of each subchannel's SNR strength as partial channel information (CI) at the receiver. The partial CI is acquired via the estimated channel state information based on training sequences. The JAPLD strategy we developed in this research shall switch the bit stream automatically to match the ordering of SNR strength for the subchannels. Essentially, we will launch higher priority layer bit stream into higher SNR strength subchannel by the proposed JAPLD algorithm. In this fashion, we can implicitly achieve automatic unequal error protection (UEP) for layered SVC transmission over MIMO system without power control at the transmitter. Experimental results show that the proposed ACS-MIMO system is able to achieve UEP with the obtained partial CI and the reconstructed video peak signal-to-noise ratio demonstrate the performance improvement of the proposed system as compared with open loop PT-MIMO system.


There is relatively little research pertaining to neuropsychological assessment of Spanish-speaking individuals with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The current study examined verbal and visual memory performances in 38 primarily Spanish-speaking patients with TLE (Right = 15, Left = 23) of similar epilepsy duration to determine if lateralizing differences can be found using verbal and nonverbal memory tests. On a test specifically designed to assess auditory learning and memory among Spanish-speaking individuals, the Spanish Verbal Learning Test (SVLT), patients with left TLE performed significantly worse than patients with right TLE. In contrast, no significant differences in story or visual memory were seen using common memory tests translated into Spanish. Similar to what has been found in English speakers, these results show that verbal memory differences can be seen between left and right sided TLE patients who are Spanish-speaking to aid in providing lateralizing information; however, these differences may be best detected using tests developed for and standardized on Spanish-speaking patients.


According to African American literary theorist Henry Louis Gates, "the slave wrote not primarily to demonstrate humane letters, but to demonstrate his or her own membership in the human community" (128). Two efforts at this demonstration of community membership exist in the publication of the literary journal, Fire!!, written and published by African American artists and writers in 1926 and in the anthology AIIIEEEEE!, compiled and edited by Asian American writers and published in 1974. These compilations, published not quite fifty years apart, are direct responses and reactions to the efforts of the larger society to influence and/or to silence the voices of African American and Asian American people in the United States. The Harlem Renaissance artists seem to have spoken to the AIIIEEEEE! editors, who appear to have continued the conversation in their work while demonstrating the importance of historic memory, cultural influence, and national identity. As Fire!! and AIIIEEEEE! talk to each other, they symbolize the double voice that accompanies the dual consciousness of people of color in America and signify a collective effort to redefine the expectations that white America has of people of color. For each of them, the years and events leading to their publications shape the content, the immediate reception, and the longstanding impact of the publications themselves. Together, the works represent the power of multiethnic presence in American literature, and now, years later, texts continue to speak across generations and cultures and in voices strident enough to empower artists and writers and to influence the direction of American literature. Studying literature and art, not in isolation but in relation to other works, even those from other cultures, enhances the significance of collective contribution and appreciation of the literature that expresses national identity and the American place in the global community. To that end, understanding the significance of the cultural and historical contexts that lead to artistic and literary production provides a comprehensive appreciation of Fire!! and AIIIEEEEE! and their creators by revealing connections, tensions, and diversions for analysis, as well as a more complete understanding of the works themselves. INDEX WORDS: African American, Asian American, American Literature, Harlem Renaissance, Fire!!, AIIIEEEEE!, Black Arts, Black Power, Yellow Power, Literature, Multicultural, Multiculturalism, Multiethnic "FIFTY YEARS OF OUR WHOLE VOICE": AN EXAMINATION OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE LEADING TO THE PUBLICATION OF FIRE!! DEVOTED TO YOUNGER ARTISTS AND AIIIEEEEE!: AN ANTHOLOGY OF ASIAN AMERICAN WRITERS


We reviewed the results of treatment of 114 feet in 96 patients with pressure metatarsalgia treated with a metatarsal osteotomy performed according to the technique of Helal. Clinical examination was performed according to a standardized evaluation questionnaire using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Lesser Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale. The results were correlated with number of metatarsal osteotomies, the length of the follow up, the age of the patient, and type of additional procedures performed. Sixty-one percent of the patients rated the operation as excellent or good. Patient age and number of osteotomies did not influence the results; however, the length of time following surgery and associated Keller-Brandes resection arthroplasty influenced the outcome negatively. There was a high incidence of increased transfer of weight to adjacent metatarsals. We concluded that the Helal type metatarsal osteotomy is unlikely to predictably achieve symptom relief over a long period.


Break-in, vandalism, car burglary – some of the crimes often involving glass breaking, in which physical-chemical expert examinations can help a lot in identifying the offender and solving the crime. In Hungary, the beginning of forensic glass examination dates back to the 1960s. In the nearly six decades since then, the methods used in the investigations have evolved a lot and expanded significantly. In addition to the classical physical parameters on which the comparison was based in the early days, the assessment of determination of origin by the most modern instrumental methods has given better-founded results, and besides it has also been possible to build a database. The aim of our paper is to present, after a brief historical overview, the process of forensic glass examination in the Hungarian Institute for Forensic Sciences, its applied methods, as well as the statements that can be made on the basis of the obtained results. In addition, in the light of a case study, we also illustrate in detail the difficulties and limitations of forensic glass examination.
Arrived: 4 August 2020Accepted: 16 Sept 2020


Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens in the hospital and the community. The emergence of broad‐spectrum antibiotic resistance in S. aureus has made the treatment process more difficult. Therefore, it is obvious that an effective prevention strategy against the pathogen could significantly reduce costs related to care in hospitals. In this report, we describe a simple approach to conjugate S. aureus capsular polysaccharide 5 (CP5) from S. aureus Reynolds strain and 8 (CP8) from S. aureus Becker strain to a fusion protein (Hla‐MntC‐SACOL0723) and investigation of its bioactivity. The conjugation was done by using ADH (as a bridge) and EDAC (as a coupling agent). The immunoconjugates were characterized by routine polysaccharide/protein contents assays followed by reverse phase chromatography and FTIR spectroscopy. The groups of mice were immunized with conjugate vaccines, capsular polysaccharides, and phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) as a control group. The functional activity of the vaccine candidates was evaluated by ELISA, opsonophagocytosis tests, and determination of bacterial load in challenge study. The results showed that the specific antibody (total IgG) titers raised against conjugate molecules were higher than those of the nonconjugated capsular polysaccharides. The opsonic activity of the conjugate vaccines antisera was significantly higher than polysaccharides alone (58% reduction in the number of bacteria versus 16.3% at 1:2 dilution, p < .05), Further, the conjugate vaccine group had a significant reduction in bacterial load after challenge with S. aureus COL strain cells as compared to the PBS and nonconjugated controls. In conclusion, the immunoconjugates could be developed as a potential vaccine candidate against S. aureus.


Through ethnography and interviews, this article examines the social media–based transnational reselling of Western luxury by Chinese women through the lens of gendered transnational prosumption. Linking prosumption to debates on the feminization of labor, it analyzes the paradoxical implications that neoliberal global capitalism's demand for more agentive and participatory prosuming female subjects have for international feminist politics. Disrupting the boundaries between the commercial or public and personal, virtual and physical, and work and consumption, transnational mobile middle-class Chinese women have "reinvented" prosumption as a cultural, technological, and economic solution to the contradictions that inhere in competing demands of different gender regimes. In their hands, prosumption becomes a gendered response to the tensions inherent to China's Post-Socialist modernity, allowing some women more choices, autonomy, flexibility, and mobility through the strategic performance of gendered identities and networks. But such freedom is often already contained by the biopolitical governmentality of both advanced capitalism and the patriarchal Chinese state, which divide women based on class, race, and nationality; render employment precarious and atomized; encourage consumer global citizenship; and foster a self-promotional, commoditized, and "always-on" interactive subjectivity. As such, this article seeks to complicate the current discussion of prosumption by highlighting the structuring imperatives of gender, class, race, and nation.


Immune checkpoint(s) blockade is becoming the therapeutic mainstay in melanoma and lung cancer. Based on these important clinical achievements, immunotherapy with immunomodulating monoclonal antibodies (mAb) is being explored as a new therapeutic modality in most human malignancies, either alone or in combination with other immunomodulating agents. We have provided extensive evidence that the second generation DNA hypomethylating agent (DHA), guadecitabine (SGI-110), plays a promising role in potentiating the immunogenicity and the immune recognition of human malignancies through the up-regulation of the expression of different immune molecules on cancer cells. These findings led us to hypothesize that DHA could represent ideal partners for immune checkpoint(s) blocking agents to improve their therapeutic efficacy. Here, we studied the expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and 2 (PD-L2), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (N = 23), enrolled in a phase 1-2 study with guadecitabine. Patients included in this preliminary analysis were selected based on their responsiveness to therapy. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses showed a constitutive expression (gene/β-actin molecules >7.5E-05) of PD1, PD-L1, PD-L2 and CTLA-4 in 82.6%, 100%, 47.8% and 8.7% patients, respectively. Guadecitabine therapy up-regulated (≥2 fold) the expression of PD1, PD-L1, PD-L2 and CTLA-4 in 57.9%, 56.5%, 18.2% and 0% patients, respectively, at any of the time-points investigated during treatment. De novo expression of PD1, PD-L2 and CTLA-4 was observed in 100%, 41.6% and 38.1% of the immune checkpoint(s)-negative patients, respectively. Though preliminary, these results further support the strong link between epigenetics/DNA methylation and immune response, in cancer patients, and strengthen the therapeutic potential of epigenetic immunomodulation, with "consolidated" and emerging immune checkpoint(s) blocking mAb. Citation Format: Carolina Fazio, Alessia Covre, Maria Lofiego, Pietro Taverna, Mohammad Azab, James N. Lowder, Sandra Coral, Michele Maio. Immune checkpoint(s) expression in AML patients enrolled in a phase 1-2 study with guadecitabine. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2325.


Purpose Sodium iodate (NaIO3) has been extensively used as a retinotoxin to induce RPE cell damage and degeneration of photoreceptors in vitro and in vivo. RIP-Kinase dependent programmed necrosis is an important redundant cell death pathway involved in photoreceptor cell death. We wanted to determine whether these pathways are actively involved in RPE and photoreceptor cell death after NaIO3 insult. Methods ARPE-19 cells were exposed to different concentrations of NaIO3 in the presence or absence of various concentrations of a RIPK inhibitor (Nec-1) or a pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD), individually or combined. Cell death was determined at different time points by MTT (Sigma-Aldrich), LDH (Promega) and TUNEL (Millipore) assay. C57BL/6 and RIP3−/- mice were treated with a peritoneal injection of NaIO3 and eyes were enucleated at day 3 or 7. TUNEL staining was used to evaluate photoreceptor cell death. Photoreceptor cell loss was evaluated by measuring the thickness of outer nuclear layer (ONL). Microglia in the ONL were quantified in a retinal whole mount with Iba-1 antibody. RPE degeneration was also assessed in a RPE whole mount, with ZO-1 antibody. Results NaIO3 resulted in significant cell death of ARPE-19 cells. Treatment with Nec-1 resulted in better protection than treatment with Z-VAD (P<0.01). A synergistic protective effect was observed when co-treating the cells with Nec-1 and Z-VAD. Nec-1 treatment also decreased the ARPE-19 mitochondrial damage caused by NaIO3. In vivo administration of NaIO3 resulted in significant RPE and photoreceptor destruction with substantial inflammatory cell infiltration. RIP3 knockout animals displayed considerably less RPE and photoreceptor cell loss, as well as drastically less inflammation. Conclusions Programmed necrosis is an important cell death pathway mediating NaIO3 RPE and photoreceptor cell toxicity. Blocking the necroptosis pathway may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for various RPE degenerative diseases.


I contend that Descartes's infamous commitment to God's free creation of the eternal truths plays an integral role in Descartes's philosophical program. Descartes's primary philosophical goal is to establish a method capable of yielding firm and lasting scientific knowledge. It isn't widely agreed that Descartes has been successful: first, his response to the threat of skepticism appears circular; and second, his account of God's free creation of eternal truths (e.g., mathematical and logical truths) seems to lead to paradox. I argue that neither criticism of Descartes is insuperable. In so arguing, I offer a novel interpretation of Descartes's project that rejects two common refrains of Cartesian scholarship. First, I deny that Descartes is an out-and-out internalist about knowledge and, in so doing, demonstrate that Descartes's epistemic program is not guilty of circularity. Second, I contend that Descartes's commitment to God's creation of the eternal truths is neither an embarrassment for Descartes nor a stand-alone curiosity, but is central to Descartes's epistemic program, modal theory, and scientific method. In the Meditations, Descartes uses a method of doubt to reveal unshakable foundations upon which one can build scientific knowledge. Descartes's anti-skeptical procedure is commonly thought to be vulnerable to the charge that it is viciously circular. Descartes is accused of relying on a general epistemic principle (viz., the "truth rule": whatever I clearly and distinctly perceive is true) in his argument for the existence of a non-deceptive God, who in turn secures this very principle. In the first section of my dissertation, I explain that Descartes avoids circularity since he is able to achieve certainty and knowledge (cognitio) even before he becomes aware of the foundations of this knowledge. By attaining cognitio of God's existence and non-deceptive nature, Descartes can then make use of the "truth rule" and thereby ascend to perfect certainty and scientific understanding (scientia). In this way, Descartes can be seen to be an epistemic externalist. While Descartes's account thereby avoids circularity, it makes the epistemic advantage of the Cartesian scientist over the "atheist geometer" (an expert who does not believe in God but nonetheless achieves cognitio by using God-guaranteed clear and distinct perception) look quite thin. To fully appreciate the epistemic advantage of the Cartesian scientist - and thus the value of Descartes's epistemic program - one must recognize that God is not only the guarantor of one's cognitive faculties, but also the metaphysical foundation of scientific truths. A second major objection to Descartes's anti-skeptical and scientific programs focuses on his infamous Creation Doctrine: the doctrine that God freely wills and creates the eternal truths. The Creation Doctrine seems to lead to a paradox: Descartes's claim that God freely wills necessary truths seems to entail that these truths are both necessary (since God willed them to be necessary) and non-necessary (since God could have refrained from willing them). I argue that the sense in which the eternal truths could have been otherwise in no way threatens our certainty and knowledge of that which we clearly and distinctly perceive to be necessarily true. In the final section of the dissertation, I further examine Descartes's Creation Doctrine. Descartes's goal of scientia involves not merely recognizing what is true, which is sufficient for cognitio, but also having full understanding of the foundations of knowledge and the relationships between truths. Descartes's scientific method thus requires intuitive foundations from which we can deductively arrive at further knowledge. According to this method, by understanding the way in which eternal truths have their origin in God's will and creation, we gain an appreciation of the connections between various truths and arrive at a systematic understanding of the world. Descartes denies that truths in various domains can be fully understood independent of a background of knowledge of simple and evident natures. He hopes to attain a "universal wisdom" and be able to deduce effects from their causes. I provide a demonstration of this method by considering Descartes's deduction of the laws of nature (inertia, collision, and rectilinear motion) from our knowledge of God's nature as immutable, the nature of matter as extension, and the fact that God has created a physical world with variation in its parts.


46 patients with deep vein thrombosis have been investigated by strain gauge plethysmography and by foot-volumetry in the acute state, after 4 weeks, and after every year up to 5 years. The primary therapy consisted in anticoagulation, compression-bandages and walking exercises. Venous drainage measured by venous occlusion plethysmography showed in average a normalisation after one year, while expelled volume as a parameter for the venous pumping function (assessed by foot-volumetry) remained in the pathological range. Since the clinical outcome--ulceration in 6.5%, lipodermatosclerosis in 15% and no major signs in 78%--does not correspond to these functional findings it is concluded that venous refluxes which are the main cause for the impeded pumping function lead to skin changes only in specially predisposed cases.


Numerical solutions of electromagnetic problems involving nanostructures at terahertz (THz)frequencies are considered. We particularly focus on nanoparticles that are made of typical metals at the lower THz frequencies. Even though the frequency is relatively low, we show that penetrable models are needed for accurately representing electromagnetic characteristics, especially to predict penetrating magnetic fields inside small particles. Due to large permittivity values with negative real parts, stable formulations are needed to obtain equivalent currents and secondary fields. It is shown that the modified combined tangential formulation, which was proposed for plasmonic simulations in wide frequency ranges, provides accurate solutions that are consistent with analytical results for spherical nanoparticles.


Accurate splice site selection is critical for fruitful gene expression. Here, we demonstrate the Drosophila EJC suppresses hundreds of functional cryptic splice sites (SS), even though majority of these bear weak splicing motifs and appear incompetent. Mechanistically, the EJC directly conceals splicing elements through position-specific recruitment, preventing SS definition. We note that intron removal using strong, canonical SS yields AG|GU signatures at exon-exon junctions. Unexpectedly, we discover that scores of these minimal exon junction sequences are in fact EJC-suppressed 5' and 3' recursive SS, and that loss of EJC regulation from such transcripts triggers faulty mRNA resplicing. An important corollary is that intronless cDNA expression constructs from aforementioned targets yield high levels of unanticipated, truncated transcripts generated by resplicing. Consequently, we conclude the EJC has ancestral roles to defend transcriptome fidelity by (1) repressing illegitimate splice sites on pre-mRNAs, and (2) preventing inadvertent activation of such sites on spliced segments.


Protein aggregation stands at the center of many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington's disease (HD). HD is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene, resulting in expansion of poly-glutamine repeats, causing aggregation of the huntingtin protein in the cell. One of the consequences of this aggregation is endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which interferes with cell function and eventually leads to cell death, predominantly in the brain striatum. In recent years, a key pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR)- the PERK pathway, has been targeted as a possible therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases. Previous research in neurodegenerative diseases showed positive effects of PERK inhibition, suggesting that decreasing phosphorylation of its substrate, eIF2α, interferes with the initiation of the apoptotic pathway upon long term ER stress. However, other studies suggested that, paradoxically, the opposite strategy, increasing eIF2α phosphorylation by PERK activation or by inhibition of the phosphatase subunit GADD34, is also beneficial for cell survival. Higher levels of eIF2α-P lead to inhibition of protein translation, and as a result, reduce accumulation of damaged proteins in the cell. In our recent work, treatment with a PERK activator developed in our lab – MK-28, was attempted on cellular HD models and on the R6/2 transgenic mouse HD model. Cells in culture expressing polyglutamine-expanded huntingtin showed significantly increased survival, upon ER stress. MK-28 treated mice showed significant improvement in their motor performance and physiologic measurements, suggesting that PERK activation postponed the appearance of HD symptoms. These findings suggest a new possible therapy for HD, and possibly open a new approach for treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases.


Polydopamine (PDA) films are interesting as smart functional materials, and their controlled structured formation plays a significant role in a wide range of applications ranging from cell adhesion to sensing and catalysis. A pulsed deposition technique is reported for micro-structuring polydopamine films using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in direct mode. Thereby, precise and reproducible film thicknesses of the deposited spots could be achieved ranging from 5.9 +/− 0.48 nm (1 pulse cycle) to 75.4 nm +/− 2.5 nm for 90 pulse cycles. The obtained morphology is different in comparison to films deposited via cyclic voltammetry or films formed by autooxidation showing a cracked blister-like structure for high pulse cycle numbers. The obtained polydopamine spots were investigated in respect to their electrochemical properties using SECM approach curves. Quantitative kinetic data in dependence of the film thickness, the substrate potential, and the used redox species were obtained.


Transformational leadership has undergone a critical reassessment. Rather than examining the state of the science or the conceptual confusion and contradictions inherent in the ongoing stream of transformational leadership research, this article adopts an historical perspective, looking back on the founding era of this influential concept. In particular, the article evaluates the use of Lee Iacocca, who became the personification of the transformational leadership ideal. While placing Iacocca's appeal into a particular socio-historical context, the article offers a critical weighing of that devise. This use of Iacocca as a personification and embodiment of the transformational leadership construct was, at best, a highly romanticized take on an individual. At worse, the use of Iacocca was misleading and disingenuous. The article concludes that two core flaws of transformational leadership—over-attribution and romanticizing traditional leadership behaviors—were present from the inception.


AIMS
Chronic depletion of myocardial glutathione (GSH) may play a role in cardiac remodelling and dysfunction. This study examined the relationship between chronic GSH depletion and cardiac failure induced by pressure overload in mice lacking the modifier subunit (GCLM) of glutamate-cysteine ligase, the rate-limiting enzyme for GSH synthesis. In addition, we examined the association between idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in humans and -588C/T polymorphism of the GCLM gene, which reduces plasma levels of GSH.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Pressure overload in mice was created by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Myocardial GSH levels after TAC in GCLM(-/-) mice were 31% of those in GCLM(+/+) mice. TAC resulted in greater heart and lung-weight-to-body-weight ratios, greater dilation and dysfunction of left ventricle, more extensive myocardial fibrosis, and worse survival in GCLM(-/-) than GCLM(+/+) mice. Supplementation of GSH diethyl ester reversed the left-ventricular dilation and contractile dysfunction and the increased myocardial fibrosis after TAC in GCLM(-/-) mice. The prevalence of -588T polymorphism of the GCLM gene was significantly higher in DCM patients (n = 205) than in age- and sex-matched control subjects (n = 253) (36 vs. 19%, respectively, P < 0.001). The -588T polymorphism increased the risk of DCM that was independent of age, diabetes, and systolic blood pressure (OR 3.13, 95% CI: 2.28-4.44; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION
Chronic depletion of GSH exacerbates remodelling and dysfunction in the pressure-overloaded heart. The clinical relevance of this mouse model is supported by a significant association between -588T polymorphism of the GCLM gene and patients with DCM.


Scheduling plays an important role in providing quality of service (QoS) support to multimedia communications in various kinds of wireless networks, including cellular networks, mobile ad hoc networks, and wireless sensor networks. The authors propose a scheduling algorithm at the medium access control (MAC) layer for multiple connections with diverse QoS requirements, where each connection employs adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) scheme at the physical (PHY) layer over wireless fading channels. Each connection is assigned a priority, which is updated dynamically based on its channel and service status; the connection with the highest priority is scheduled each time. The authors' scheduler provides diverse QoS guarantees, uses the wireless bandwidth efficiently, and enjoys flexibility, scalability, and low implementation complexity. Its performance is evaluated via simulations


Abstract The annual nitrogen (N) budget was measured in a soybean-cultivated upland field during the first year after conversion from a paddy field on gray lowland soil, which is typically found on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan. Forage rice was cultivated on lysimeter fields for 4 consecutive years with applications of chemical fertilizer, immature compost, or mature compost (the control, immature compost, and mature compost plots, respectively), and then the fields were converted to upland fields for soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill cultivar Ryuho) cultivation. Input (seed, bulk N deposition, and symbiotic dinitrogen [N2] fixation) and output (harvested grain, leached N via drainage water, and nitrous oxide emission) N flows were measured, and the field N budget was estimated from the difference between the input and output. The soybean plants in the immature and mature compost plots grew well and had higher yields (498–511 g m)−2) compared to the control plot (410 g m)−2). Total N accumulation in the soybean plants derived from N2 fixation (g N m)−2) in the mature compost plot (27.7) was higher than those in the control (18.1) and immature compost plots (19.9). Percentages of soybean N accumulation derived from N2 fixation ranged from 53% to 74%. N derived from symbiotic N2 fixation accounted for more than 90% of the total N input, whereas harvested grain accounted for approximately 85% of the total N output. N leaching mainly occurred during the fallow period, accounting for 13–15% of the total N output. The annual N budgets were negative (−10.0,−14.2, and −6.4 g N m)−2 year)−1 for the control, immature compost, andmature compost plots, respectively). The Nloss from the immature compost plot was higher than that of the control plot, because the N output in harvested grain was higher, and the N input by N2 fixation was similar between plots. While the N loss from the mature compost plot was lower than that of the control plot because the N output in harvested grain was higher, as was the case in the immature compost plot, the N input by N2 fixation was also higher. Preceding compost application—whether immature or mature compost—to paddy fields increased the subsequent soybean yield during the first year after conversion. This result suggests that N loss and the following decrease in soil N availability in the field could be mitigated by increased N2 fixation resulting from mature compost application with an appropriate application practice.


This article looks at Kant's attitude to political change by examining closely the contrast he draws between palingenesis and metamorphosis in his doctrine of right (1797). The article attempts to explain why Kant prefers the use of metamorphosis as an analogy and looks closely at his objections to the use of palingenesis. Here Kant's treatment of palingenesis is compared with the use of the term made by the eighteenth-century Genevan biologist Charles Bonnet. It is suggested that Kant's rejection of rebellion and revolution is connected to his advocacy of gradual, organic change as conveyed in the notion of metamorphosis. This notion is explored according to eighteenth-century and present scientific understandings of the term. The conclusion stresses the merits of Kant's approach to political change, and indicates why it might be superior to the conservative and revolutionary alternatives.


The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is uniquely poised to address one of the greatest challenges in the "post-truth" era through catalyzing conversations that promote the effective development of critical thinking skills necessary for identifying and avoiding conspiracy theories. An interdisciplinary team of scientists, science communicators, public health nurses and educators has designed case studies, modules and activities that are curriculum-based for use in kindergarten to grade 12 classes to promote vaccine safety.  Two serendipitous outcomes from this Building Resistance to Vaccine Misinformation program included: i) significant learning experiences for everyone in our team about the other disciplines, and ii) that the research assistants articulated their own emerging professional identities.  Once this program receives ethics approval, we will work with education programs to beta-test the case studies, modules and activities then assess the impacts of this program through pre and post experience questionnaires and journaling.


Minimization protocols: The goal of minimization protocols is to reduce the load of immunosuppressant agents after transplantation. Besides the basic medical objective of reduced deleterious effects of long-term immunosuppression, minimization also has an economic impact. Discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy: Results obtained with different minimization protocols have shown that any interruption of corticosteroid therapy, even if associated with the new immunosuppressants, should be conducted carefully in selected patients, tapering off late after transplantation. Mycophenolate-mofetil (MMF): MMF withdraw may be risked and the beneficial effect of discontinuation remains to be demonstrated. Calcineurin inhibitors: Most immunosuppression protocols use cyclosporine. The benefit obtained by totally discontinuing cyclosporine in stabilized patients does not outbalance the risks induced by withdrawal. However, in this population, MMF can be useful for tapering down cyclosporine. In patients with altered renal function, introduction of MMF or sirolimus can allow a reduction in dosage or complete withdrawal of cyclosporine.


For getting a reasonable upper bound prediction of the ultimate load-carrying capacities,geometric nonlinear and material nonlinear analysis both under vertical load and horizontal wind load are performed in the paper.The research provides useful guidelines for the safety design of integral-lift scaffold.


This report is for the graduation project- Design a conceptual tool for home lighting design, which is done in the group of Visual Experience at Philips Research Eindhoven. The aim of the project is to understand how home users conduct the home lighting design activities and design a tool based on the user-centered insights. The project comprises of three phases, research, conceptualization and evaluation. In the research phase, literature on light and lighting design was studied to form a theoretical basis for further exploration. The literature research has found that most of the knowledge, principle and design process are developed for professionals and commercial spaces. The necessity of developing a tool for home users is outlined, in which the professional knowledge should be translated in a plain and simple way. A contextual study was performed to gather insights by approaching the targeted users. The contextual study has revealed a four-step framework, Problem-Design-Evaluation-Execution, which demonstrates how home users conduct the lighting design process. Under the framework, insights are classified into contextual facts, problems, wishes and demands. Similar solutions on the market were also analyzed to find a unique positioning for the new tool. It is found that no current solution supports the process of home lighting design very well. The link between different design phases is missing whereas the supports for each phase are not adequate, especially for the phase of design evaluation. The research findings led to the formulation of design focus in concept development, which was "To develop a tool which assists users with their creative activities in the process of home lighting design." A number of design criteria were also created to guide the conceptualization. - Link the various phases in design process - Cater to individual situations - Preventing the obtrusive experience - Response to user habits - Utilize the characters of online interaction - Novel and creative - Feasibility In the conceptualization phase, 6 concepts were proposed, selected with user-centered design methods. The final concept is a home lighting design APP that provides users with fast and extensive information of a lighting fixture through augmented reality. By scanning the image of a lamp from magazine, shops and websites, people are able to see a great number of design examples, product specifications, customer reviews and the lighting effect in their home. For the light setting designed by the users, the tool also gives diagnosis based on the intended atmosphere. The final evaluation was done with an interactive prototype of the concept. At the end of the report, suggestions are made that in short-term the concept should fix the usability problems as well as improve the key functions based on the user test feedbacks; in long term, some features of the concept can be developed into independent applications with advanced functions. A group of home lighting design tools will be arranged as a tool kit to meet more personalized demands of the targeted users.


Chromium (Cr) is an important raw material in some chemical industries including paint, pigments, textiles, leather tanning, steel fabrication, electroplating, cement preservation, and canning industries. Once in the environment, Cr exists in various oxidation states depending on pH and concentration. Trivalent [Cr(III)] and hexavalent [Cr(VI)] forms are the most common with Cr(VI) being the most toxic to biota. The review discusses various types of polymeric sorbents that have been prepared for the extraction of Cr(VI) from environmental samples, mostly aqueous samples. Sorbents are categorized into biosorbents, hybrid sorbents, synthetic polymeric, and modified natural polymeric sorbents. Most of the emphasis will be on the advantages and disadvantages of different synthetic polymeric sorbents. Important parameters that define the performance of the sorbents, that is, binding capacity, equilibration time, optimum sample pH, and selectivity, are compared.


Abstract. The aim of the study was to test the influence of breed, grazing system and concentrate level on fattening performance, carcass value and meat quality of steers. Ninety-six German Simmental and German Holstein steers were fattened using two different grazing systems: continuous grazing system (CGS) and rotational grazing system (RGS). They were supplemented with medium (M) or low (L) concentrate levels. The trial period involved 22 months divided into four phases: phase 1 (indoor), 2 (grazing), 3 (indoor vs. outdoor) and 4 (grazing). In phases 1 and 3 the animals were offered grass silage ad libitum. All animals were supplied with concentrate during phase 1. In phases 3 and 4 the animals were supplied with M or L. Group M consumed a total of 275 kg and group L 191 kg concentrate per steer. German Simmental steers were significantly superior in all essential parameters of the fattening performance and the carcass value (e.g. final weight: 631 kg vs. 608 kg). German Holstein steers showed better meat quality (intramuscular fat content, tenderness, meat colour) than German Simmental steers. The impact of the grazing system was only for a few parameters (carcass weight, dressing percentage and fat colour). The CGS showed higher grazing yield and higher content of nutrients than the RGS, as a consequence, CGS steers presented heavier carcass weight than RGS steers. Concentrate levels had no effects on the evaluated parameters.


A true human tail is a benign vestigial caudal cutaneous structure composed of adipose, connective tissue, muscle, vessels, nerves and mechanoreceptors. A true human tail can be distinguished from a pseudotail as the latter is commonly associated with underlying spinal dysraphism, which requires specialised management. True human tails are very rare, with fewer than 40 cases reported to date. We report a healthy one-day-old male newborn who was referred to the Bharath Hospital, Kottayam, Kerala, India, in 2014 with a cutaneous appendage arising from the lumbosacral region. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine ruled out spinal dysraphism. The appendage was removed by simple surgical excision. Clinicians should emphasise use of 'true tail' and 'pseudotail' as specific disparate terms as the clinical, radiological and histological findings of these conditions differ significantly, along with management strategies and outcomes.