The traditions of Marxism and Critical Theory stretch from the mid-nineteenth century writings of Marx and Engels through to contemporary thinkers such as Jurgen Habermas and Ernesto Laclau. These traditions have conventionally been understood to be foreign to the concerns of Religious Studies. Nevertheless, impressive and important scholarship by the likes of Talal Asad (1993), Richard King (1999) and Kim Knott (2005) established a series of conversations albeit at the margins of Religious Studies, and introduced the writings of Michel de Certeau, Michel Foucault, Henri Lefebvre, Doreen Massey and Edward Said (among others) to the World Religions Paradigm (WRP) In doing so, they raised a number of questions that could be said to be, 'in debt to Marx'. Those questions addressed problems of power and knowledge, of social reproduction, the fabrication of legitimacy, the transmission of knowledge into minds and bodies and indeed the very constitution of minds and bodies as experiencing and thinking things in the first place.


In this paper we describe the preparation and characterisation, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, of twelve ZrIV/HfIV complexes based on piperazine or homopiperazine salan ligands. With the piperazine ligands, a mixture of species was observed and various solid-state structures were isolated. However, with homopiperazine salan ligands, 1:1 ligand-tometal complexes were observed both in solution and in the solid state. Interestingly, for the homopiperazine complexes the isopropoxide ligands are trans to one another in the solid state, most likely because of the rigid nature of the homopiperazine backbone. All homopiperazine Hf(IV) and Zr(IV) complexes were tested for the ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of rac-lactide. The complexes are active and produce polylactide with narrow polydispersity indices. The kinetics and living characteristics of the polymerisation have also been investigated.


Abstract Livestock grazing is a key factor in many grassland ecosystems and can substantially influence the conservation of grassland species. The Crau steppe in southern France is a protected area that is traditionally grazed by sheep. The Critically Endangered Crau plain grasshopper Prionotropis rhodanica is endemic to the area and a flagship for the conservation of this unique ecosystem. Its population has declined significantly during the last 2 decades, but the reasons remain poorly understood. One potential factor is an altered habitat structure caused by changes in the grazing regime. We examined the microhabitat preferences of the species and compared the habitat structure of populated sites with those where the species is now extinct (former habitat). We found that populated sites had denser and higher vegetation, whereas former habitat had higher cover of stones and bare ground. Vegetation structure in the habitat of the smallest subpopulation was similar to areas of former habitat, suggesting a marginal habitat quality. Our results show that P. rhodanica requires 50–70% vegetation cover and suggest that grazing has contributed considerably to the population decline, but it remains unclear whether this is a direct effect of habitat degradation or an indirect effect by attracting predators associated with grazing activities. We recommend careful management of grazing to improve habitat quality, which would also benefit other invertebrates and insectivores. Continued monitoring is required to conserve habitat specialists in protected areas.


We construct data structures for extremal and pairwise distances in directed graphs in the presence of transient edge failures. Henzinger et al. [ITCS 2017] initiated the study of fault-tolerant (sensitivity) oracles for the diameter and vertex eccentricities. We extend this with a special focus on space efficiency. We present several new data structures, among them the first fault-tolerant eccentricity oracle for dual failures in subcubic space. We further prove lower bounds that show limits to approximation vs. space and diameter vs. space trade-offs for fault-tolerant oracles. They highlight key differences between data structures for undirected and directed graphs. Initially, our oracles are randomized leaning on a sampling technique frequently used in sensitivity analysis. Building on the work of Alon, Chechik, and Cohen [ICALP 2019] as well as Karthik and Parter [SODA 2021], we develop a hierarchical framework to derandomize fault-tolerant data structures. We first apply it to our own diameter and eccentricity oracles and then show its versatility by derandomizing algorithms from the literature: the distance sensitivity oracle of Ren [JCSS 2022] and the Single-Source Replacement Path algorithm of Chechik and Magen [ICALP 2020]. This way, we obtain the first deterministic distance sensitivity oracle with subcubic preprocessing time.


: In a recurrent noninvasive papillary carcinoma of the bladder cytogenetic analysis by the direct technique was carried out on cystoscopic biopsies obtained at 53 month intervals. Persistent similar karyotypic abnormalities including aneuploidy, and ring and other marker chromosomes, the hallmarks of invasive cancer, were present in both specimens. In the 1973 specimen, DNA banding was identified in 35 per cent of the metaphases and in 56 per cent of the karyotypes. The continuing abnormal chromosomal silhouette of this tumor supports the stemline cell concept for malignancies, even when applied to such relatively benign neoplasms as this noninvasive carcinoma of the bladder.


Ethanol from biological feedstock has emerged as a promising alternative for the generation of energy from renewable sources in order to mitigate the damages caused by the gas emissions associated to the consumption of fossil fuels. In many countries, ethanol is already being produced at industrial scale from different biological raw materials. However, there are some technical issues related to this process that need to be addressed and one of the major problems is the high heat requirements which makes this process less competitive against well-established fuels. This work proposes an optimisation methodology based on a dynamic approach to improve the overall efficiency of the process by considering new configurations and designs that allow the reduction of operating costs, usage of utilities, the size of units, etc. The work initially provides an introduction to the concept of fuels and the current global scenario regarding their production and consumption. Next, a general review of biofuels is given, in particular the production of ethanol from corn stover and the different units involved in this process. Additionally, mathematical formulations of the different units in the process are presented including detailed kinetic models and dynamic mass and energy balances. These models are first validated and then used in the construction of an overall model of the entire process which so far has not been available in open literature. This thesis also presents the development of an empirical mathematical model of an organophilic membrane for ethanol removal from aqueous solutions to increase the separation rates of ethanol in the process. Finally, this works presents the optimisation of the ethanol production process considering the implementation of heat storage units to reduce the consumption of utilities such as steam and cooling water by reducing the Total Annualised Cost (TAC). The results obtained show that the implementation of heat integration in the process can achieve a reduction of 7 % in the TAC and 10 % in the total energy consumption. These results indicate that ethanol production from corn stover with the use of energy storage is a viable alternative for energy generation that can become part of the main market of the production of green technologies.


In open-chest anesthetized dogs with left and right lungs ventilated separately, we recorded changes in firing of right lung vagal receptors when 1.25 ml/kg cold (5 degrees C, 20 degrees C) blood were injected into the nonperfused right pulmonary artery. With the right lung inflated at constant pressure, effects of cold blood on individual pulmonary stretch receptors (PSRs) were frequency dependent, with discharge increasing or remaining unchanged if control frequency was low and decreasing if it was high. Consequently average PSR discharge was unchanged by cold blood when airway pressure was maintained at 5 cmH2O, but it decreased at pressures of 10 and 15 cmH2O. Cold blood stimulated rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) at all three pressures. Injection of blood at 37 degrees C had no effect. We conclude that changes in PSR activity account for the tachypnea induced by pulmonary arterial injection of cold blood (G. G. Giesbrecht and M. Younes. J. Appl. Physiol. 69: 1435-1441, 1990). With the right lung phasically ventilated, cold blood decreased PSR discharge in inflation, caused high-threshold PSRs to fire in deflation, and stimulated RARs. Pulmonary C-fibers were unaffected by cold blood. We suggest that PSRs and RARs initiate respiratory changes during hypothermia or exercise-induced asthma.


The effect of market regulation tools on business is a complex phenomenon, and the after-effects of such regulation could be both favourable and adverse. The enhancement of the positive effect is a scientific task, which requires a systematic approach. In order to find a solution to this problem, it is necessary: a) to identify the relevant factors; b) to make a coherent evaluation of these factors and their influence on the phenomenon under investigation; c) to establish the optimal form and extent of the SRB (State Regulation of Business) tool required for the achievement of the desired results. The study analyses aims of economic regulation and business management from the point of view of a state. It also examines the practice in economic research and evaluation of EU Structural Funds in Lithuania and abroad. The research is focused on problems caused by state subsidies for business enterprises as one of the forms of SRB. The research also focuses on possibilities to enhance the effectiveness of business regulation. The main objects of this study are: state subsidies for business enterprises as a form of state intervention in the market, and the possible correlation between the specifications of subsidies and their effect on business. The evaluation presented in this study proved that EU subsidies had a direct positive influence on the effect of subsidies. The research into the influence of various subsidy criteria on the effect of subsidies revealed that a greater effect results from the rate rather than the size of funding.


Application of electromagnetic techniques to high resolution geotechnical problems will require effective means of calculating the response of complex models having many cells of possibly differing conductivity. To address this need, we have developed an electromagnetic modeling algorithm for large conductivity structures based on the method of system iteration and spatial symmetry reduction using integral equations. Electromagnetic scattering of conductivity structures using the integral equation method has been widely used in geophysical applications [l]-[8]. R ecently, [9] introduced the method of system iteration, where a scatterer is divided into substructures and the direct matrix inversion is applied to each substructure only, while the mutual interactions among the substructures introduce equivalent sources. This technique greatly reduces the matrix factorization time and storage requirements. Using the lateral homogeneity of a layered earth, [lo] developed a spatial symmetry reduction scheme which drastically reduces the computation time for forming the scattering impedance matrix by identifying and reducing the redundancy of calculating the scattering matrix elements. This scheme permits enhanced use of the method of system iteration. The method of system iteration is applicable to arbitrary scatterers with arbitrary discretizations. It divides a structure into many substructures and solves the resulting matrix equation using a block iterative method. The block-submatrices usually need to be stored on disk in order to save computer core memory. However, this requires a large disk for large structures. If the body is discretized into equal size cells, it is possible to use the spatial symmetry relations of the Green's functions to re-generate the scattering matrix in each iteration, thus avoiding the expensive disk storage. This will allow us to calculate the responese of models comprised of tens of thousands of cells on workstation type of computers. Numerical tests show that the algorithm effectively reduces the solution of the modeling problem to an order of O(N2), instead of O(N3), as with direct solvers.


Polymer multimode waveguides on flexible substrates enable the formation of bendable low-cost optical interconnects that can be deployed in a wide range of applications. However, the highly multimoded nature of such guides in combination with the stress and mode mixing induced due to sample bending raise important concerns about the effect that sample flexure has on their bandwidth performance and potential to support high-speed data transmission. In this letter, we present data transmission studies on a 1-m long flexible spiral waveguide when flexure is applied. The flexible polymer sample is bent 180° around a cylindrical mandrel, and the loss and frequency response of the waveguide are obtained for radii of curvature down to 4 mm and are compared with the performance obtained when no flexure is applied. The bit-error-rate (BER) performance of the respective optical link is also recorded at data rates up to 40 Gb/s. A flat frequency response up to at least 30 GHz is demonstrated for all bending radii applied, and error-free (BER<10−12) data transmission is achieved for all data rates studied up to 40 Gb/s. The results clearly demonstrate that sample flexing does not result in any significant transmission impairments in such links and highlight the strong potential of this technology for use in high-speed board-level interconnections.


In the search for life elsewhere in the Solar System, our nearest planetary neighbour, Mars, offers great potential for finding past or present life. Whether life is extant or not, signs of biological activity can be inferred through the detection of specific biomarkers, such as amino acids.

Raman spectroscopy is an extremely effective method of detecting biomarkers. It is non-destructive and is used to identify different molecular species through observations of the Raman shift created by the bonds within the molecule.

Amino acids that are part of a biological system could provide potential evidence of life on Mars. It is thought that amino acids could survive in the sub-surface of Mars, making them a high-priority biomarker candidate. Terrestrial life utilises homochiral amino acids, and if detected on Mars it would provide an important piece of evidence for the case for life on Mars.

In this work, a number of biologically essential amino acids that are utilised in terrestrial organisms will be studied using Raman spectroscopy. We aim to characterise the Raman signature for these molecules in detail in order to aid interpretation of results from future Mars landers, and presented here are initial results from the preliminary investigations.

Further work will extend to other high-priority biomarkers that may be found at the surface/sub-surface of Mars.


The debugging of data communications software in an active networking environment can be a tricky and quite tiresome affair, often so because intermittent disturbances occurring in productive systems cannot be reproduced reliably and consistently or cannot be traced thoroughly enough. Thus for any Linux-based networking appliances like routers, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, VPNs, VoIP gear, etc., the User-Mode-Linux (UML) framework presented in this paper might be the optimum solution for running and testing these systems in a virtual networking environment under near real-time conditions. E.g when a user of the OpenSource Linux strongSwan VPN software reported an IPsec re-keying error occurring in conjunction with a NAT router, this rare problem could be reproduced in a virtual UML test setup within two hours of simulation and a bug fix was found, tested and released on the same day. UML-based networks are also a powerful didactic tool in education where students can gain practical experience with complex network setups without the need of heavy investments in hardware equipment. This paper shows how a UML network can be set up with relative ease either for interactive explorative use or for automated regression testing.


Abstract:This note analyzes the US Government's approach to unaccompanied minors and the webs they must navigate when they are apprehended by the US immigration system. More importantly, this note calls for reformative approaches to children's rights through acknowledging the differences between adults and children while simultaneously taking their vulnerability and autonomy into account. After explaining the migrant crisis along with its implications and examining the underlying reasons fostering this movement, this note discusses the legal options available for unaccompanied minors. It draws on the shortcomings of the immigration system as the system labels unaccompanied minors as dependent children, but also treats them as adults. Further, this note establishes and calls attention to the long-term impact of this system on detained children. The note concludes by examining international law—more specifically, the Canadian approach—outlining how the US system can adopt certain policies to better its treatment of unaccompanied minors and refrain from further human rights violations.


Abstract Our planning agency contributes to our lives in fundamental ways. Prior partial plans settle practical questions about the future. They thereby pose problems of means, filter solutions to those problems, and guide action. This plan-infused background frames our practical thinking in ways that cohere with our resource limits and help organize our lives, both over time and socially. And these forms of practical thinking involve guidance by norms of plan rationality, including norms of plan consistency, means-end coherence, and stability over time. But why are these norms of rationality? Would these norms be stable under a planning agent's reflection? I try to answer these questions in a way that responds to a skeptical challenge. While I highlight pragmatic reasons for being a planning agent, these need to be supplemented fully to explain the force of these norms in the particular case. I argue that the needed further rationale appeals to the idea that these norms track certain conditions of a planning agent's self-governance, both at a time and over time. With respect to diachronic plan rationality, this approach leads to a modest plan conservatism.


ABSTRACT Introduction: Hormone sensitive advanced prostate cancer (PCa) is an incurable disease that is treated with a variety of hormonal therapies targeting the androgen/androgen receptor signaling axis. For decades androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) by surgical or chemical castration is the gold standard for the treatment of advanced PCa. Areas covered: This review discusses the pharmacological features of Leuprolide, a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists/analog and the most commonly used drug in ADT. Expert opinion: Although Leuprolide has been on the market for more than 30 years it is still the leading option for ADT and serves as a basis for most multimodal therapy concepts. The fact that with the onset of castration-resistance in late stage metastatic disease, a prolongation of ADT in combination with a second line hormonal manipulation is recommended supports the importance of the compound for daily clinical practice.


Collision prediction is a fundamental operation for planning motion in dynamic environment. Existing methods usually exploit complex behavior models or use dynamic constraints in collision prediction. However, these methods all assume simple geometries, such as disc, which significantly limit their applicability. This paper proposes a new approach that advances collision prediction beyond disc robots and handles arbitrary polygons. Our new tool predicts collision by assuming that obstacles are adversarial. Comparing to an online motion planner that replans periodically at fixed time interval and planner that approximates obstacle with discs, our experimental results provide strong evidences that the new method significantly reduces the number of replans while maintaining higher success rate of finding a valid path. Our geometric-based collision prediction method provides a tool to handle highly complex shapes and provides a complimentary approach to those methods that consider behavior and dynamic constraints of objects with simple shapes.


This study presents an internally consistent thermodynamic dataset for aqueous species in the system Ca-Mg-Na-K-Al-Si-O-H-C-Cl, obtained by adding species of calcium, magnesium and carbon to the core system Na-K-Al-Si-O-H-Cl (Miron and others, 2016). Critically evaluated experimental data on mineral solubility (Ca and Mg hydroxides, Ca and Mg silicates, anorthite, Ca and Mg carbonates) in water and aqueous electrolyte solutions over wide ranges in temperature and pressure were added to the database of experimental data. The complete experimental dataset was then used to simultaneously refine the standard state Gibbs energies of all aqueous ions and complexes in the framework of the revised Helgeson-Kirkham-Flowers (HKF) equation of state. The thermodynamic properties of the solubility-controlling minerals were accepted from the internally consistent dataset of Holland and Powell (1998; updated Thermocalc dataset ds55). The association equilibria of important hydroxide, chloride, carbonate and silicate complexes were critically reviewed, and their standard state properties and HKF parameters were independently derived from conductance, potentiometric and, in a few cases, solubility measurements. In a global optimization of standard Gibbs energies of aqueous species, performed with the GEMSFITS code (Miron and others, 2015), the association equilibria for aqueous complexes were always maintained. The new thermodynamic dataset reproduces all available fluid-mineral phase equilibria and mineral solubility data in the system Ca-Mg-Na-K-Al-Si-O-H-C-Cl with good accuracy over wide ranges in temperature (25–800 °C), pressure (1 bar – 5 kbar) and composition (salt concentrations up to 5 molal). This makes it possible to perform geochemical and reactive transport modeling of processes in natural and engineered georeservoirs over wide ranges of conditions with an unprecedented level of accuracy and reliability and to address processes of fluid flow and fluid-rock interaction in the Earth's crust from a new perspective. Using the same strategy as applied in the present study, the internally consistent thermodynamic dataset can be further extended with additional major and trace elements, and the data refinement process can be repeated when new experimental data or next-generation equation of state or activity models for aqueous solutions become available.


Objective: To study the pathogen distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and risk factors of postoperative nosocomial infections among children with congenital heart disease. Methods: Three hundreds children with congenital heart disease admitted to our hospital to receive surgeries from February 2010 to February 2013 were selected. Results: A total of 120 children were tested as positive by sputum culture, with the infection rate of 40.0%. The top five most common pathogenic microorganisms included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. S. epidermidis, S. aureus and Enterococcus were highly resistant to penicillin, azithromycin and erythromycin, moderately susceptible to levofloxacin and cefazolin, and completely susceptible to vancomycin. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hospitalization stay length, combined use of antibiotics, systemic use of hormones, mechanical ventilation and catheter indwelling were the independent risk factors of postoperative nosocomial infections (P<0.05). Conclusion: Nosocomial infection, which was the most frequent postoperative complication of pediatric congenital heart disease, was predominantly induced by Gram-positive bacteria that were highly susceptible to cephalosporins and vancomycin. Particular attention should be paid to decrease relevant risk factors to improve the prognosis.


We present a system called MOSES, which is a mobile work clearance management system for complex and large-area industrial machines. Based on an extensive field study of current work clearance practices, MOSES shows how an enterprise application, like an enterprise resource planning system, can be extended to improve occupational safety for maintenance personnel. The presented solution consists of a work clearance management extension for several existing enterprise resource planning systems and a mobile work clearance management for mobile devices. The paper shows the design and implementation of a prototypical mobile work clearance system.


Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with persistent symptoms despite no or minimal inflammation are frequently described as having an overlap of IBD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBD–IBS). Limited data are available on how IBS impacts the individual patient with IBD. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of IBD–IBS and investigate its impact on patient-reported outcomes. Method: We performed a cross-sectional analysis within the CCFA Partners Study. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between IBD–IBS and various demographic, disease factors, and patient-reported outcomes including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, pain interference, and social satisfaction. Results: Of the 6309 participants included, a total of 1279 (20%) reported a coexisting IBS diagnosis. The prevalence of IBD–IBS in this cohort was similar within disease subtypes. A diagnosis of IBD–IBS was associated with higher narcotic use compared with those with no IBS diagnosis for both Crohn's disease, 17% versus 11% (P < 0.001) and ulcerative colitis/indeterminate colitis, 9% versus 5% (P < 0.001). Quality of life, as measured by Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) was lower in patients with IBD–IBS compared with those without. IBD–IBS diagnosis was associated with anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, pain interference, and decreased social satisfaction. Conclusions: In this sample of patients with IBD, high prevalence of concomitant IBS diagnosis was observed. IBD–IBS diagnosis was associated with increased narcotic use and adverse patient-reported outcome. Appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and counseling may help improve the functional status of IBD–IBS patients and decrease narcotic use.


Homes presents the interior spaces where people from the fishing village of Tai O live. The installation includes the everyday objects with which they surround themselves. Two LCD monitors show virtual interiors of two village houses. Visitors to the installation can wander these virtual interior spaces by using trackballs attached to each screen. A large photo showing the street where the houses are located is on a facing wall.


The reinvestigation of Strychnos nux-vomica resulted in the isolation of a colored monoquaternary bisindole alkaloid from the roots. The structure of this new orange substance, strychnochrysine (1), was defined by detailed spectroscopic methods.


In this editorial, Davila reflects on the principles and goals that guided her as an editor and how they have shaped the direction of the journal these past 6 years. She discusses in detail the topics of stability, growth, and inclusiveness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).


The heat-stable nucleoid-associated protein H-NS is a global transcriptional repressor in Escherichia coli and other Enterobacterial species. H-NS binds to AT-rich DNA regions repressing several stress response genes, pathogenic genes, horizontally acquired DNA and is also indicated to play a role in genome organization. Transcriptional repression by H-NS is mediated by the formation of nucleoprotein complex that stiffens or bridges DNA. H-NS represses transcription at the level of initiation by excluding or trapping the RNA polymerase at promoters. StpA is a H-NS paralogue that presumably acts similarly as H-NS and forms heteromeric complex with H-NS and some genes are repressed by H-NS and StpA. H-NS mediated repression can be relieved by binding of gene specific transcription factors or by perturbations of DNA structure.
H-NS repression and transcription elongation may also interfere with each other. In vitro, H-NS enhances RNA polymerase pausing and promotes Rho-dependent termination. Complementarily, inhibition of Rho-mediated termination resulting in increased transcription reduced H-NS binding.
In this work, the effect of transcription elongation into H-NS and H-NS/StpA repressed promoters were analyzed. The results show that transcription elongation across the H-NS and H-NS/StpA bound DNA region of bgl, proU, pdeL and appY relieves the repression of promoter by H-NS and H-NS/StpA. For example, analysis of transcripts from bglDRE (bgl downstream regulatory element) revealed the presence of additional H-NS repressed promoter P3bgl which was de-repressed upon increase in transcription. Moreover, in the native context, transcription from upstream pst-phoU operon decreases H-NS/StpA repression of bgl promoters. Additionally, an inverse correlation between the transcription rate and H-NS repression was observed. The data suggest that the transcribing RNA polymerase is able to remodel the H-NS (and StpA) complex and/or dislodge H-NS (and StpA) from the DNA and thus relieve repression, while at low transcription rates the H-NS repression complex is stable. This implies mutual interference between transcription and H-NS repression. Poorly transcribed AT-rich regions are prone to be repressed by H-NS, whereas efficiently transcribed region do not allow the formation of repression complex. Furthermore, the transcriptional read-through from an upstream locus can concurrently dislodge the H-NS complex of downstream genes and modify their expression


The integrated ionization cross section for positron - lithium scattering is examined within the framework of the distorted-wave theory. In the present implementation of this method the distortion potential in the final channel represents a sum of Coulomb interactions between the nucleus and both the scattered positron and the ejected electron. The strength of these interactions is given by effective charges that vary with the energies of the two free particles. Two different sets of effective charges are used. In addition, a completely orthogonalized first Born approximation for lithium is derived analytically.


The development of environmental policy evaluation has been slow, compared with many other realms, and many practices are still not well standardized. Environmental problems have some key features; for example they often have long time frames, are complex and concern geographically remote regions. Scientific knowledge is important in environmental policy but such knowledge is characterized by huge uncertainties. The key characteristics of both the problems and our knowledge of them should affect the evaluation of the policy instruments used to address them. An evaluation of Finnish wastewater permits is used as an example throughout the article. If evaluation of environmental policy is undertaken without due consideration of the specifics involved there is a great risk of identifying only minor impacts and low effectiveness. Properly conducted evaluations, however, can help us to make better decisions on both old and new environmental policy instruments.


C. asiatica and H. cordata plants are used as vegetable since time immemorable by the people of Assam. These are also consumed for their medicinal values. Plenty of information on the action of the plants extract on the pathogens are available, but could not retrieve any information on the non-pathogens of human guts. Therefore, an attempt has been made to find action of the extracts on  few of the non-pathogens of human guts. The study shows that none of the plant extracts inhibit Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus mesentricus, and Lactobacillus sp, whereas a minimum inhibition were recorded in case of pathogens Escherchia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella dysenteriae.


This paper reports the results of a study of the relationship of robotics activity to the use of science literacy skills and the development of systems understanding in middle school students. Twenty-six 11-12-year-olds (22 males and 4 females) attending an intensive robotics course offered at a summer camp for academically advanced students participated in the research. This study analyzes how students utilized thinking skills and science process skills characteristic of scientifically literate individuals to solve a robotics challenge. In addition, a pre/post test revealed that course participants increased their systems understanding, t (21) ¼ 22.47, p < .05. It is argued that the affordances of the robotics environment coupled with a pedagogical approach emphasizing open-ended, extended inquiry prompts the utilization of science literacy-based thinking and science process skills and leads to increased systems understanding. 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 45: 373-394, 2008


Background: Government policies promoting healthier food environments can contribute to healthier diets and prevent obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.
Objective: To assess the level of implementation of internationally recommended food environment policies in Norway and establish prioritised actions to create healthier food environments.
Design: The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) was adapted to the Norwegian context. It comprised 45 good practice indicators of government food environment policy and infrastructure support. Systematically compiled evidence of relevant policies was verified by government officials and formed the basis for assessing the level of implementation of these policies compared against international best practice benchmarks. The assessment was done by a national non-government expert panel (n = 35). The experts thereafter proposed and prioritized policy actions for government implementation.
Results: Most indicators were rated at a medium or high degree of implementation in both the policy action (69%) and the infrastructure support (77%) components. No indicators were rated as having 'none or very little implementation'. Among the 14 recommended policy actions, active use of price regulation to increase the price of unhealthy foods and decrease the price of healthy foods was the highest priority. Other top priorities were ensuring healthy food environments in public settings and introducing free school meals. Demonstrating knowledge-based and coherent political leadership in public health nutrition policies was the highest priority among the 11 recommended infrastructure support actions.
Conclusion: The overall policies in Norway to promote a healthy diet show a medium to high level of implementation. This study highlights that there is still room for additional improvements in Norwegian policies and infrastructure support to promote healthy food environments.


Aphids are succivorous, polyphagous insects that attack an important number of crops. Damages are of economic importance and may be lethal to plants since aphids are adapted to transmit different viruses, while sucking sap juices. Aphids live in symbiotic association with ants. Ants protect and move them from one place to another, and receive honeydew as reward. We developed a voucher collection of aphids housed at the UNAB Museum, following a modified protocol for the curatorial process. Specimens were collected and processed through different chemicals for cleaning, clearing and mounting on microscopic slides, where the collecting data were included in a label. We also pursued to find useful characters both old and new ones for a descriptive morphology of Aphididae, and for the identification keys. Illustrations and measurements were made using an optic microscope (400X), with a grid. Pictures were taken with a simple camera adapted to a microscope, and organized on Photoshop. Aphids are diagnosable as pyriform, small (4-8 mm) soft bodied hemipterans, with a pair of dorsal cornicles or siphuncles on abdominal segment fifth or sixth. Genital plate is the sternite of segment VII, and the cauda corresponds to the tergite of segment IX. Head opisthognathous, with frontal or antennal tubercles. Our first approximation to the curatorial process of the aphids at the Central Taxonomic Collection of the UNAB Museum assembles 18 species, represented by 579 specimens from 18 municipalities and a total of 34 host plants. For these species, we produced identification keys, taxonomic diagnosis, and illustrations.


Sport hockey has andergone a lot of development recently. This was achieved by procuring championship both at the provincial level in central java and at the national level. Hockey Kebumen is one of the toughest teams in Central Java. The number of rows of accomplishments achieved by the hockey in Kebumen Regency both at the provincial and national levels certainly goes through a sports coaching process, factors that influence sports coaching include clear achievement development stages, quality human resources, training programs, adequate infrastructure and funding. The objectives of this study are determining (1) the stages of coaching (2) human resources (3) the training program (4) the hockey organization in Kebumen Regency (5) the facilities and infrastructures, and (6) the funding for sport of hockey in the Kebumen Regency.
            The research method used descriptive qualitative, which examines the development of achievement in the sport of hockey in Kebumen Regency. Data collection was carried out by observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis was performed by data reduction, data presentation, drawing conclusions, and making research reports.
The results of the research, namely (1) the coaching stage in Kebumen was good, starting from the mass activity stage, it was carried out from an early age, the athletes were properly nursed, and they had good achievements. (2) human resources ranging from athletes, coaches, administrators were good enough, (3) the training program that was following the objectives of performance development (4) the organization was structured but needs to be improved again on implementation (5) the facilities and infrastructures were sufficient to complete but for the field was not yet standard (6) and funding was obtained from the KONI Kebumen grant and athlete contributions.
Based on the results of this study, the researchers provided suggestions (1) to the Kebumen district hockey board to pay attention to the process of building achievement and communicate with coaches, athletes and monitor the course of the training process, (2) To coaches to always provide encouragement and motivation, and communicate with administrators and athletes in order to improve hockey achievement coaching in Kebumen, (3) To athletes to continue to be enthusiastic in training, and continue to improve the achievements of Kebumen hockey.


Background TNF-α antagonism with anti-TNF-α MoAb (Infliximab, Centocor, USA) or soluble TNF-α receptors (Etanercept, Immunex, USA), has emerged as a promising therapeutic tool for refractory chronic arthritis. Both drugs are now licensed for the treatment of refractory RA but experience with TNF-α antagonisers in JIA is limited. Objectives We report the use of Infliximab in 3 patients with systemic JIA and polyarthritis. Methods LS (18 yrs) and JD (11 yrs), girls with systemic-onset JIA at the age of 11 and 3, had persistent, destructive polyarthritis. AP (10 yrs), a boy with systemic-onset JIA at the age of 5 had persistent systemic activity as well as severe polyarthritis. All 3 failed NSAID, corticosteroids, (high-dose) MTX and CsA treatment and suffered from severe growth impairment and osteoporosis. All patients started Infliximab therapy at 3 mg/kg (weeks 0, 2, 6 and then 8-weekly). Active joint number (AJN), limited joint number (LJN), visual analogue scale for global well being (VASg) and pain (VASp), Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), serum CRP and serum IL-6 were assessed. Results At present, LS completed 26, JD 38 and AP 86 treatment weeks. LS experienced a manifest decrease in AJN (17 to 1). LJN was unchanged (8). Functional scores decreased markedly: VASg 78 to 10, VASp 45 to 10, CHAQ 1.2 to 0.3. CRP decreased (15 to 3 mg/l) and steroids were tapered from 6 to 3 mg daily. JD showed a similar response: AJN and LJN decreased rapidly (38 to 5 and 41 to 7). VASg, VASp and CHAQ all dropped markedly: 50 to 15, 50 to 10 and 2.1 to 1.4. CRP and ESR decreased (22 to 5 mg/L and 51 to 26 mm/hr). Steroid dose was kept at 4 mg daily. AP experienced a decrease in AJN (9 to 3) and in LJN (12 to 4) during the first 18 weeks. As systemic inflammation persisted, Infliximab dose was increased to 5, later to 10 mg/kg. Whereas AJN and LJN decreased further to 0 and 2, systemic symptoms and the acute phase response persisted: CRP and ESR fluctuated (15–148 mg/l and 45 ? 183 mm/h, respectively). Functional scores varied and reflected the increasing discomfort of preexisting joint damage. Steroid dose was tapered from 12 to 7 mg daily. Infliximab was safe and well tolerated in all 3 patients: possible adverse reactions were fever (AP, once) and upper respiratory tract infection (AP three, JD once). TNF-α blockade with Infliximab in these patients with systemic-onset polyarticular JIA induced a rapid, sustained control of polyarthritis, with concomitant improvement of function, global well being and pain and decrease in biochemical inflammation. Systemic inflammation, however, did not respond to TNF-α blockade. This was evident in patient AP whose articular disease clearly responded but who had a persistent acute phase response with persistently elevated levels of CRP and IL-6. Conclusion Infliximab is promising for the treatment of JIA. The observed dissociation between response of articular and systemic disease indicates that different cytokine networks may operate in systemic and articular inflammation of JIA.


Th e purposes of this research were to increase artificial rainfall and evaluate the area affected by artificial rainfall. The experiment involved the seeding of liquid carbon dioxide at a height of 2500 m with a seeding rate of 11.1 g/s for 6 min around Karatsu, Saga, Japan on Dec. 26, 2013. The height of the cloud increased significantly, and a virga was observed under the cloud bottom at 2100 m at 30 min after the seeding. The cloud top of the previous seeding cloud was at 3350 m, the cloud bottom was at 2100 m, and the cloud depth was 1250 m. The cloud top after 30 min was at 3500 m, the cloud bottom was at 2100 m, the cloud depth was 1400 m, and the depth had increased by 150 m. The wind direction and speed around the seeding time at 3050 m were WSW and 13.9 m/s, respectively. At 1 h after the seeding, artificial clouds around Fukutsu and Munakata were clearly recognized, and after 1 h 30 min the clouds were around Kitakyushu. The final distance affected by artificial clouds was over 100 km after 2 h. The artificial rainfall (precipitation) amounts at Munakata, Yahata, and Shimonoseki were estimated to be 1.0, 1.0, and 0.5 mm, respectively. The amounts of artificial and natural rainfall or water resources were both estimated to be 0.15 million tons each after 2 h. The estimation of artificial rainfall by radar echo and the surface rainfall agreed well with each other. The artificial rainfall was observed at a target region and the amount of rainfall ultimately increased.


We introduce CyBERT, a cybersecurity feature claims classifier based on bidirectional encoder representations from transformers and a key component in our semi-automated cybersecurity vetting for industrial control systems (ICS). To train CyBERT, we created a corpus of labeled sequences from ICS device documentation collected across a wide range of vendors and devices. This corpus provides the foundation for fine-tuning BERT's language model, including a prediction-guided relabeling process. We propose an approach to obtain optimal hyperparameters, including the learning rate, the number of dense layers, and their configuration, to increase the accuracy of our classifier. Fine-tuning all hyperparameters of the resulting model led to an increase in classification accuracy from 76% obtained with BertForSequenceClassification's original architecture to 94.4% obtained with CyBERT. Furthermore, we evaluated CyBERT for the impact of randomness in the initialization, training, and data-sampling phases. CyBERT demonstrated a standard deviation of ±0.6% during validation across 100 random seed values. Finally, we also compared the performance of CyBERT to other well-established language models including GPT2, ULMFiT, and ELMo, as well as neural network models such as CNN, LSTM, and BiLSTM. The results showed that CyBERT outperforms these models on the validation accuracy and the F1 score, validating CyBERT's robustness and accuracy as a cybersecurity feature claims classifier.


Aim: The present study was undertaken to clarify whether serum concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) are changed during the first week after the onset of acute lung injury (ALI) and to determine whether the change of EGF concentration was specific for ALI by including a control subject. Methods: We enrolled 30 consecutive patients with ALI, prospectively identified on admission to the intensive care unit, and ten patients in the same unit with chronic interstitial disease. The serum EGF concentration was measured on days 1 to 7 after the onset of ALI. Results: At each day tested, the mean EGF level of the patients with ALI was not significantly higher than that of the non-ALI controls and normal volunteers. In a univariate analysis, the mean EGF level in nonsurvivors was not higher at different days (p > 0.05). The overall fatality was not associated with increased serum EGF levels. Conclusion: It is concluded that the concentration of EGF in the serum of ALI patients does not change significantly.


The heat capacity of the liquid–liquid mixture perfluoroheptane and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane ~also known as iso-octane ! has been measured for the first time near its upper critical consolute point using an adiabatic calorimeter. The theoretical expression for the heat capacity near the critical point was applied to our combined data runs. The critical exponent a was determined to be 0.106 60.026, which agreed with theoretical predictions. When a was fixed at its theoretical value of 0.11, our value for the amplitude ratio A/A50.5960.05 was consistent with experimental determinations and theoretical predictions. However, the two-scale-factor universality ratio X, now consistent among experiments and theories with a value between 0.019 and 0.020, was violated in this system when using the published value for the correlation length. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. @DOI: 10.1063/1.1350661 #


The object of the study was to evaluate the feeding habits of seven species of fishes that have established in the reservoir of the Urra Hydropower (HU). 453 stomaches were analysed: perico (Tracheolypterus badeli cf) (n=115), cacucho (Panaque gibbosus) (n=111), yalua (Cyphocharax magdalenae) (n=108), mojarra amarilla (Caquetaia kraussii) (n=89), moncholo (Hoplias malabaricus) (n=11), barbul (Pimelodus clarias) (n=10) and doncella (Ageneoisus pardalis) (n=9). The stomach contents were analysed by means of ocurrence frequency (FO), numeric frequency (FN) and gravimetric method (G). The importance of each prey was determined by means of the Item Categorization Index (ICP) and the overlapping of diets was analyzed by means of the Morosita Index (IM). The results showed that yalua stomach contents were detritus (95.5%) and the remaining were microalgal (Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta) and protozoans/rotifers. cacucho diet was conformed of microalgal and protozoans/rotifers (70.9%, Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Bacillariophytas) and the remaining was detritus. Barbul (FO = 50%, FN = 46. 2%) and perico (FO = 73. 9%, FN = 86. 4%) fed mainly of insects. Mojarra amarilla (FO = 87. 1%, FN = 83. 3%), doncella (FO = 92. 3%, FN = 92. 0%) and moncholo (FO = 90. 9%, FN = 90. 9%) showed preference for fishes like cachanita (Roeboides dayi) and sardinas (Astianax sp). From the results it can infereed that yalua is detritivore-iliophagus, cacucho is detritivore, and perico and barbul are carnivore-insectivorous and doncella, moncholo and mojarra amarilla are carnivore-piscivorous.


This paper analyzes the alloy composition characteristics with large hydrogen storage capacities in Laves phase-related BCC solid solution alloy systems using the cluster line approach. Since a dense-packed icosahedral cluster A6B7 characterizes the local structure of AB2 Laves phases, in A-B-C ternary system, such as Ti-Cr(Mn, Fe)-V, where A-B forms AB2 Laves phases while A-C and B-C tend to form solid solutions, a cluster line A6B7-C is constructed by linking A6B7 to C. The alloy compositions with large hydrogen storage capacities are generally located near this line and are approximately expressed with the cluster-plus-glue-atom model. The cluster-line alloys (Ti6Cr7)100-xVx (x = 2.5-70 at.%) exhibit different structures and hence different hydrogen storage capacities with increasing V contents. The alloy (Ti6Cr7)95V5 as well as Ti30Cr40V30 with BCC solid solution structure satisfy the cluster-plus-glue-atom model.


The principal refractive indices and the thermal refractive index coefficients for Be3Al2Si6O18 crystal doped with 1.01wt% Cr2O3 have been accurately measured by the auto-collimation method at wavelengths of 0.488, 0.53975, 1.064, 1.0795 and 1.3414 m, and temperatures of 308.2, 328.6, 359.1 and 395.4 K respectively. Based on the measured results of principal indices of 0.488, 0.6328, 1.0795 and 1.3414 m, the Sellmeier's equations and the thermal refractive index coefficients have been obtained, and the result has been proven to be accurate by error analysis.


CONTEXT
Medicare Part D drug benefits include substantial cost sharing.

OBJECTIVE
To determine beneficiaries' knowledge of benefits and cost responses.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
Telephone interviews were conducted in 2007 in a stratified random sample of community-dwelling Kaiser Permanente-Northern California Medicare Advantage beneficiaries aged 65 years or older, with a gap in coverage if they exceeded $2250 in drug costs (N = 1040; 74.9% response rate). Half were selected to have reached the gap in 2006. In the source population of Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan beneficiaries, 8% entered the coverage gap in 2006. Models were adjusted for individual characteristics and weighted for sampling proportions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Knowledge of cost sharing including awareness of the coverage gap, gap start and end amounts, and drug cost sharing before, during, and after the gap. Cost-related responses including cost-coping behaviors (eg, switching to lower-cost medications), reduced adherence (eg, not refilling prescriptions), and financial burden (eg, going without necessities).

RESULTS
An estimated 40% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35%-45%) of beneficiaries were aware that their drug plan in 2006 included a coverage gap; knowledge of the gap was greater among individuals who reached the gap during the year. Approximately 36% (95% CI, 32%-41%) of beneficiaries reported at least 1 of the following responses to drug costs: cost-coping behavior (26%), reduced adherence (15%), or experiencing financial burden (7%). In multivariate analyses, beneficiaries with lower household income more frequently reported cost responses (difference of 14.5 percentage points for < $40,000/y vs > or = $40,000/y [95% CI, 3.6-25.4 percentage points]). Compared with beneficiaries who were unaware of having a coverage gap, those who were aware more frequently reported any cost response (difference of 11.3 percentage points [95% CI, 0.8-21.9 percentage points]), but had fewer reports of borrowing money or going without necessities (difference of 5.5 percentage points [95% CI, 1.1-10.0 percentage points]).

CONCLUSIONS
Beneficiaries in this Medicare Advantage plan have limited knowledge of Part D cost sharing and often report behavioral responses to drug costs. Limited knowledge is associated with fewer reports of cost responses overall, but more reports of financial burden.


Background: Limphonia rugosa Roth. (Merr.), family-Scrophulariaceae is considered as a botanical source of classical Ayurvedic drug Bhringaraja by the traditional practitioners of Odisha and is being used for the management of various disorders. Aim: To study the antimicrobial activity of leaf of L. rugosa. Materials and Methods: Methanol extract of L. rugosa leaf (LRLM) has been studied, at various (5, 25, 50, 100, 250 μg/ml) dilutions, against medically important human pathogenic bacteria (two Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and two Gram-negative-Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, A. clavatus, Candida albicans) by using the agar disc diffusion method. A zone of inhibition of extract was compared with that of different standards such as ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and chloramphenicol for antibacterial activity and nystatin and griseofulvin for antifungal activity. Results: The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the LRLM increased linear with the increase in concentration of extracts. When compared with standard drugs, the results revealed that, for bacterial activity S. pyogenes and S. aureus were more sensitive and in fungal activity C. albicans was more inhibited. The range of growth inhibition zone for all the sensitive bacteria was 11-20 mm and 13-19 mm for fungal strains. Conclusion: Methanolic extract of L. rugosa leaf is having antibacterial and antifungal activities.


The processes of strategic innovation embedded into the so-called 'fuzzy front end' of new product development are successfully employed by global corporations. This paper describes teaching activity and pedagogic research at Loughborough University, UK that has aimed to provide industrial design undergraduates with enhanced knowledge and abilities to enable them to operate at this fuzzy front end - both for their own design projects and when seeking employment. An unusual aspect of this area of design education is that it is about thinking and actions that take place before any traditional design brief. It is upstream of the brief, or 'pre-brief'. Hence the teaching promotes the intellectual capacity to find problems rather than solve problems. Action research and evaluation research has been used to investigate pedagogic issues. Empirical evidence suggests that students can be taught to successfully operate at this fuzzy front end, and that these students employ relevant strategies to enhance innovation during the early stages of personal design work. There is also evidence from industry that indicates that the students' enhanced abilities will be in demand upon graduation.


In the social sciences, data collection methods are tools for measuring human behavior, human beliefs, or other aspects of the human population. In Chapter 1, we described the range of measurement tools commonly used in the social sciences and highlighted some of their similarities and differences. As we argued in Chapter 1, tools are not good or bad. They simply fit the purpose well or poorly. So if you wish to pound a nail into a piece of wood, a hammer fits the task well and a saw fits the job poorly. If, on the other hand, you wish to cut a piece of wood in half, a saw fits the job well and a hammer fits the job poorly. Hammers and saws are not good or bad. They are just more or less useful depending on the job you aim to do. For many large projects, more than one tool is needed. Continuing with our analogy, using both a hammer and a saw allows you to accomplish things you could not accomplish with only one of these tools. The same is generally true in the research process. As we argued in the previous chapter, using multiple data collection methods usually provides a more comprehensive set of evidence for assessment, often raising the possibility that questions introduced by the use of one method can be answered by data collected with another method (Sieber 1973).


Entrepreneurship encompasses the creation of new businesses and the development of new business opportunities in existing organizations. This work intends to understand the perceptions and attitudes of Portuguese students from a public institution of higher education regarding the creation of new businesses. A survey was conducted in 2014 and 2015 using an accidental sample of 336 students. The data were analysed using SPSS 22.0. The respondents believe that entrepreneurship contributes to the creation and growth of employment, that an entrepreneur is someone who has a radically new idea for creating a new business, and 46% of them could imagine themselves creating their own business. For these students, the probability of being able to create a successful business is, on average, 47%, and the right age to do it is 28 years old. Around 49% of the respondents are interested in creating a new business from an idea, mostly because it allows personal independence. Furthermore, despite being very optimistic as regards the start-up survival rate, students show little proactivity. Indeed, the majority of the respondents consider that business creation would be encouraged if the teaching institution provided ideas for students willing to create new businesses.


This paper examines the advantages and challenges of creating microwave patch antennas using conducting threads. The antennas are produced using automated embroidery machinery that could be easily scaled up to mass manufacture. Textile patch antennas are designed that resonate between 2 and 2.7 GHz depending on the substrate. Different stitch directions and compositions were considered. Measured gain and efficiency results are included in this paper.


Abstract After aluminum alloys undergo severe plastic deformation there is an interest in what grain refining is obtained and is determined from the orientation data detected from backscatter electron diffraction in lateral resolution. The quality of backscatter diffraction depends on the fraction of successful indexings, which presupposes an appropriate preparation of the surface. Vibration polishing results in a matrix nearly free of deformation and excellent levelling of the precipitates whereas relief formation (often occurring in oxide polishing) and dissolution (often occurring in electro-polishing) of those phases will reduce the band contrast and indexing quality. The results thus obtained from backscatter electron diffraction are backed by scanning electron microscopy images in transmission.


The flotation recovery of fines has been a challenging problem to the world mineral industry. Fine particles are slow to float and also interfere with the floatability of coarse/medium sized particles. There has been considerable thurst upon improving the recovery of fines by increasing the probability of collision between air bubbles and mineral particles: This has resulted in the development of new/modified flotation methods for enhanced recovery from fines. Several other flotation techniques have been attempted for improving the performance during flotation of fines. The paper briefly discusses the effects of particle size on flotation. The various fine particle flotation processes have been classified based upon their mechanisms. An attempt has been made to put together the various methods of fine particles flotation and critically analyse and discuss the developments in this area with a reference to author's own work on flotation of fines.


Divergence of the UNC-6/Netrin family; Molecular cloning and functional characterization of glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-linked netrin-G subfamily members, netrin-G1 and netrin-G2, which promote neurite outgrowth( Abstract_要旨 ) Author(s) Nakashiba, Toshiaki Citation Kyoto University (京都大学) Issue Date 2001-03-23 URL http://hdl.handle.net/2433/150852 Right Type Thesis or Dissertation Textversion none


Triphalangeal thumb is often thought to be a rare congenital abnormality; it has an incidence of 1 in 25,000 births. We reviewed 49 triphalangeal thumbs in 28 Mexico City patients at the Diaz Lombardo Hospital from 1974 to 1979, Shriners Hospital from 1979 to 1982, Instituto Nacional de Ortopedia from 1981 to 1982, and at the ABC Hospital from 1971 to 1998. A total of 21 patients (75%) had bilateral deformity. Patients were classified according to Dieter Buck-Gramcko system and Müller teratologic line. All were surgically treated and evaluated with Cheng graduation scale, finding good results in 48 patients (97%), fair results in one (3%), and no poor results.


Abstract The aeromagnetic data of Idogo, Southwestern Nigeria, have been used to study the lithology and to determine the magnetic source parameters within Idogo and its environs. Idogo lies between latitudes 6°30′N and 7°00′N and between longitudes 2°30′E and 3°00′E. The magnetic anomaly map, the regional geology, the analytic signal and the local wavenumber were used to identify the nature and depth of the magnetic sources in the region. Data enhancement was carried out to delineate the residual features relative to the strong regional gradients and intense anomalies due to the basin features. The estimated basement depth using the horizontal gradient method revealed depths ranging between 0.55 km and 2.49 km, while the analytic signal amplitude and local wavenumber methods estimated depth to the magnetic sources to range from 0.57 km to 4.22 km and 0.96 km to 2.43 km, respectively. Depth computations suggested the presence of both shallow and deep sources. The total magnetic intensity values ranged from 3.1 nT to 108.3 nT. The area shows magnetic closures of various sizes in different parts of the area trending West, with prominence at the centre and distributed East–West.


Derandomization by means of mirrored samples has been recently introduced to enhance the performances of (1,λ)-Evolution-Strategies (ESs) with the aim of designing fast and robust stochastic local search algorithms. This paper compares on the BBOB-2010 noiseless benchmark testbed two variants of the (1,4)-CMA-ES where the mirrored samples are used. Independent restarts are conducted up to a total budget of 104 D function evaluations, where D is the dimension of the search space.
 The results show that the improved variants are significantly faster than the baseline (1,4)-CMA-ES on 4 functions in 20D (respectively 7 when using sequential selection in addition) by a factor of up to 3 (on the attractive sector function). In no case, the (1,4)-CMA-ES is significantly faster on any tested target function value in 5D and 20D. Moreover, the algorithm employing both mirroring and sequential selection is significantly better than the algorithm without sequentialism on five functions in 20D with expected running times that are about 20% smaller.


The unique properties of spatial data provide challenges and opportunities for researching new methods in spatial data mining. In this article, we propose an interoperable framework that integrates Geographic Information System (GIS) with the spatial data mining processto facilitate spatial data preparation, to extract spatial relationships that can take advantage of traditional data mining toolkits such as Weka, and to reveal significant spatial patterns. With this approach, it'svery straightforward to adopt spatial access methods and spatial query processing algorithms foran efficient data mining technique. Moreover, our framework visually supports the complete spatial data mining process.


The BODE index evaluates the risk of mortality in patients with COPD. The VENT study (un-blinded, randomized with a medical control arm) reported that at 6 months, 40.6% of subjects treated with the Zephyr® (Pulmonx) valve in a single lobe, achieved at least a 1-point improvement in the BODE index as compared with only 18.6% of controls. We reported positive results of a blinded and randomized sham bronchoscopy controlled study evaluating the IBV® Valve System (Spiration) treating both upper lobes in subjects with advanced emphysema but, without the goal of lobar atelectasis. Methods: BODE was calculated at baseline and 3-months (blinded study period) in subjects in whom all necessary data was available. Results: With the exception of 1 subject in the treatment group (TG), blinding was maintained. BODE improvement was -0.32±1.4 and -0.33±1.1 in the TG and CG respectively (p = NS). Approximately half of the TG had improvements that may reflect treatment and positive study effects. In contrast with the not-blinded VENT control arm, 36% of the CG had improvements that could only be explained by positive study effects and/or placebo. Conclusions: In this blinded study, there were BODE improvements for the TG and CG. Comparison with the VENT study suggests more BODE responders if there is a blinded CG arm. Well designed blinded and randomized studies are possible, may benefit patients in both groups and are needed to evaluate these therapies.


Garbage collectors are an important part of many modern language runtimes. Essentially all tools for developing and debugging programs using garbage collection assume the correctness of the collector, and therefore provide no means for detecting garbage collector errors. As a result it is especially important that garbage collector implementations be free of errors. This goal is even more challenging in the face of the typical implementation strategy for collectors: implementation in C, making error-prone inferences from complex bit patterns, where an error could result in dereferencing an invalid pointer or corrupting program data. One approach to reducing errors in collector implementation is to improve both the type-safety and memory-safety of garbage collector implementations. Prior work [8, 17] in this direction has focused on the use of modern type systems to statically detect errors in the collector code at compile time, but has practical shortcomings. The prior work replaces the standard machine stack with a heap allocated data structure to avoid unsafe walks of the native stack. Traversal of the runtime stack is normally not possible in higher-level languages because they trade the flexibility of arbitrary memory access — typically used to gather a root set from a runtime stack — for the safety of being unable to cause memory access errors. We present a method for addressing the safe stack traversal problem at the compiler level, by lifting actual machine stack frames up to the level of explicit data structures in Standard ML, such that complete stack traversal can be performed with minimal unsafe code. We implement a garbage collector in the ML Kit [14] using the techniques described and provide details on key parts of the implementation.


The paper is focused on the study and evaluation of quality of the seeding of seeds and its effect on the biomass yield. The aim was to evaluate the space arrangement of the seeds by using of polygon method on one field with the repetition for different forward speeds of the drill machine - 10, 12, 14, 16 a 18 km.h-1. Field experiments have been conducted with the drill machine with continuous seeding TUME NOVA COMBI 3000 having a double-disc seeding unit. Within the experiments there was used winter wheat, variety Magisters, with seeding rate 220 kg per ha. For the evaluation there were used digital photographs, which were taken during repeated measurements of the each value of the forward speed after sprouting of crop. These images have been used in order to determine the shape and size of the surface area belonging to the plant. Own software TfPolyM was used for the image analysis. The shape of the polygons belonging to the individual plants was expressed by values of the shape factor Tf. This factor characterises the suitability the shape of polygon surface related to the individual plant. By comparing of the values of the shape factors for different forward speeds of the drill machine we can determine the optimal value of the forward speed from the point of seed placement uniformity in horizontal level. During harvest of the crop there was analysed the variability of the biomass yield in relation to values of the forward speed used during seeding. The following parameters of the crop yield were measured: total yield, grain yield, straw yield and chaff yield. The best values of the shape factor Tf (0.856) were obtained for the forward speed 14 km.h -1 . When the forward speed was higher or smaller the values of the shape factor Tf were decreased. Average size of polygons was also studied. Increasing of the forward speed up to 14 km.h -1 has caused the increase of the average size of polygons. Further increase of the forward speed up to 18 km.h -1 has resulted in slight decrease of the average size of polygons. Such fact can be caused by imperfect filling of the metering unit on the drill machine. As the maximal yield 392.74 g.m -2 was found for the case of forward speed 14 km.h -1 . The highest values of the grain yield 222.32 g.m -2 was measured for the drill machine forward speed 14 km.h -1 . Based on the results obtained it can be stated that forward speed of the drill machine effects the placement of the seeds in horizontal level and this fact subsequently effects the yield of biomass.


Purpose We investigated the effect of overweight on luteinizing hormone (LH) levels after a gonadorelin stimulation test in Korean girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP). Methods Medical records of 234 girls diagnosed with idiopathic CPP were reviewed retrospectively. CPP was diagnosed when the peak LH levels after gonadorelin stimulation was >5.0 U/L. The enrolled girls had a peak LH level >5.0 U/L after a gonadorelin stimulation test. Selected girls were classified as normoweight (body mass index [BMI] below the 85th percentile with respect to age) and overweight (BMI greater than the 85th percentile with respect to age). Results The peak LH (8.95±2.85 U/L vs. 11.97±8.42 U/L, P<0.01) and peak follicle-stimulating hormone (9.60±2.91 U/L vs. 11.17±7.77 U/L, P=0.04) after gonadorelin stimulation were lower in overweight girls with idiopathic CPP than in normoweight girls with idiopathic CPP. Being overweight was negatively associated with peak LH levels after gonadorelin stimulation test (odds ratio, 0.89; 95 % confidence interval, 0.81–0.98, P=0.02). Conclusions In girls with idiopathic CPP, being overweight led to a lower LH peak after gonadorelin stimulation. Further research is needed to better understand the role of overweight on gonadotropin secretion in precocious puberty.


This paper concerns the use of asymptotic expansions for the efficient solving of forward and inverse problems involving a nonlinear singularly perturbed time-dependent reaction–diffusion–advection equation. By using an asymptotic expansion with the local coordinates in the transition-layer region, we prove the existence and uniqueness of a smooth solution with a sharp transition layer for a three-dimensional partial differential equation. Moreover, with the help of asymptotic expansion, a simplified model is derived for the corresponding inverse source problem, which is close to the original inverse problem over the entire region except for a narrow transition layer. We show that such simplification does not reduce the accuracy of the inversion results when the measurement data contain noise. Based on this simpler inversion model, an asymptotic-expansion regularization algorithm is proposed for efficiently solving the inverse source problem in the three-dimensional case. A model problem shows the feasibility of the proposed numerical approach.


AIM
Residual ridges change in shape and reduce in size due to alveolar bone resorption. Therefore, the purpose was to investigate changes in denture base thickness (DBT) and interocclusal rest space (IRS) with regard to the denture relining procedure.

METHODS
The IRS and DBT were measured (before and after denture relining) in the case of 74 patients and their removable dental prostheses by using a precise sliding gauge. The DBT measuring was performed in 6 points for maxillary and in 3 points for mandibular removable dental prosthesis. The IRS values were measured as the distance (in mm) between the incisal edges of the maxillary and mandibular central incisors with patient's mandible in a physiological "rest position" with head and neck in the upright posture.

RESULTS
In a group of patients wearing maxillary and mandibular removable dental prosthesis mean values of DBT after denture relining were statistically significantly higher (p <0.05) in almost all measuring points. The IRS mean values after relining were statistically significantly lower (p <0.05). Statistically significant differences (p <0.05) of DBT were also observed in groups of "day-night time" and "day time" denture wearers, and in a group of patients for whom a period shorter than one year had passed since the last tooth extraction and the time when a functional impression for removable dental prostheses was taken.

CONCLUSION
The DBT and IRS values change after the denture relining procedure due to the alveolar bone resorption. Therefore, these measures could be used as resorption indicators in dental practice.


Training large language representation models has become a standard in the natural language processing community. This allows for fine tuning on any number of specific tasks, however, these large high capacity models can continue to train on domain specific unlabeled data to make initialization even more robust for supervised tasks. We demonstrate that in practice these pre-trained models present performance deterioration in the form of catastrophic forgetting when evaluated on tasks from a general domain such as GLUE. In this work we propose CALM, Continuous Adaptive Learning for Language Modeling: techniques to render models which retain knowledge across multiple domains. With these methods, we are able to reduce the performance gap across supervised tasks introduced by task specific models which we demonstrate using a continual learning setting in biomedical and clinical domains.


INTRODUCTION
The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing worldwide, affecting about 30% of the population in low to middle-income countries. Research trends on allergic diseases within rural pediatric populations of Latin American countries is scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis) and their associated factors using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood-III (ISAAC-III) questionnaire in school-aged children from two rural municipalities in Colombia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study. The ISAAC-III questionnaire was applied to school-aged children attending elementary schools in the municipalities of Soracá and Palmas del Socorro during 2018. The questionnaires were applied to adolescents aged 13-14 years and the parents of 6-7 years old children. Associations were estimated via bivariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS
Among 261 school-aged children (58.2% adolescents), the prevalence of allergic diseases was: allergic rhinitis 11.49% (95% CI: 8.05-15.78), asthma 8.81% (95% CI: 5.82-12.7), and atopic dermatitis 6.13% (95% CI: 3.69-9.53). Associated factors for allergic rhinitis included: female sex (PR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.17-5.26), asthma (PR: 4.69, 95% CI: 1.96-8.31), atopic dermatitis (PR: 3.55, 95% CI: 1.09-7.83), and higher maternal education (PR: 4.16, 95% CI: 1.45-8.25).

CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of allergic diseases in this rural pediatric population was lower compared with that of the previous reports from urban populations. Associated factors found in this study support previous studies. Research addressing modifiable environmental associations is so far scarce in Latin America; further studies are needed to reduce the burden of these diseases in rural populations.


A self-reconfigurable robot is a robotic device that can change its own shape. Self-reconfigurable robots are commonly built from multiple identical modules that can manipulate each other to change the shape of the robot. The robot can also perform tasks such as locomotion without changing shape. Programming a modular, self-reconfigurable robot is however a complicated task: the robot is essentially a real-time, distributed embedded system, where control and communication paths often are tightly coupled to the current physical configuration of the robot. To facilitate the task of programming modular, self-reconfigurable robots, we have developed a declarative, role-based language that allows the programmer to define roles and behavior independently of the concrete physical structure of the robot. Roles are compiled to mobile code fragments that distribute themselves over the physical structure of the robot using a dedicated virtual machine implemented on the ATRON self-reconfigurable robot.


Metabolic syndrome is a condition that occurs in a person simultaneously, such as an increase in blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess fat around the waist, and an unusual increase in cholesterol levels. This condition makes the risk for sufferers experiencing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus very high. Metabolic syndrome is a non-contagious disease. A person who has metabolic syndrome is usually difficult to detect, because experts are needed to analyze it. Fuzzy Expert System (Fuzzy Expert System) is part of artificial intelligence using fuzzy logic. where the system tries to adopt human knowledge to computers so that computers can solve problems as usually done by experts. Where later the results of the system developed in the study can at least help experts (doctors) in providing conclusions on the risk of disease suffered by patients through the analysis of metabolic syndrome. This system will involve experts such as doctors and patients, where the doctor makes a diagnosis of the patient's metabolic syndrome analysis results, and the patient is used to seeing the diagnosis of the risk of the disease being suffered.


Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) play a central role in physico-chemical fertility of a soil, and thus promoting agricultural productivity. Yet little is known about SOC and TN dynamics in tropical ferruginous soils of Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, thicket and intergrowth soil samples, under both cultivation and perennial grass fallow (Andropogon gayanus), were collected in Bondoukuy, western Burkina Faso. The samples were fractionated and their SOC and TN contents in six organo-mineral fractions were analyzed. Because of the high labile organic matter pools in coarse sand fractions, SOC (~630 µg C g –1 soil) associated with these fractions appeared to be more accessible to soil microbes than recalcitrant and occluded pools (~440 µg C g –1 soil) within the fine fractions of the fallow soils. The results also indicated that clay fractions are likely to represent a source of the available nitrogen to crop following long fallow periods (~20 years). In contrast, the differences in TN contents were not significant (p>0.05) between ploughed plots and young fallow lands (~10 years). The substantial decrease in C/N ratios from coarse particulate organic matter pools (C/N=68) to fine pools (C/N=10) suggested an increase in the SOC decomposition rate in the fine fractions. This indicates a substantial decrease in microbial activities following a reduction in particulate organic matter sizes. The SOC contents were relatively high in coarse (~930 µg C g –1 soil) fractions of the thicket soils compared to those of the adjacent intergrowth soils (~620 µg C g –1 soil). A similar SOC distribution pattern was also observed in fine fractions of the thicket and the intergrowth soils. Total nitrogen also exhibited a high distribution pattern in fine sand and very fine sand fractions. The findings of this study demonstrated that SOC and TN restoration in semi-arid tropical savannah soils is a function of particulate organic matter sizes, vegetation type and soil management practices.


Objective Evaluate and compare the isolated and combined effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) and Aerobic Training (AT) on respiratory and functional parameters, inflamatory biomarkers, redox status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in hemodialysis patients. Methods A randomised controlled trial with factorial allocation and intention-to-treat analysis was performed in hemodialysis patients. Volunteers were randomly assigned to performe 8-weeks of IMT at 50% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), low intensity AT or combined training (CT). Before the interventions, all the volunteers went 8-weeks through a control period (without training). Measures are taken at baseline, 8-week (after control period) and 16-week (after the interventions). Primary outcomes were functional capacity (incremental shuttle walk test), MIP and lower limbs strength (Sit-to-Stand test of 30 seconds). Plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) and 2 (sTNFR2), adiponectin, resistin and leptin, redox status parameters and HRQoL (KDQOL-SF questionnaire) were the scondary outcomes. Data analyses were performed by two-way repeated measurements ANOVA. Results 37 hemodialysis patients aged 48.2 years old (IC95% 43.2–54.7) were randomized. Increase of MIP, functional capacity, lower limbs strength and resistin levels, and reduction of sTNFR2 levels in 16-week, compared to baseline and 8-week, were observed in all the groups (p<0.001). IMT improved functional capacity, MIP and lower limbs strength in 96.7m (IC95% 5.6–189.9), 34.5cmH2O (IC95% 22.4–46.7) and 2.2repetitions (IC95% 1.1–3.2) respectively. Increase in resistin leves and reduction in sTNFR2 leves after IMT was 0.8ng/dL (IC95% 0.5–1.1) and 0.8ng/dL (IC95% 0.3–1.3), respectively, without between-group differences. Compared to baseline and 8-week, adiponectin levels (p<0.001) and fatigue domain of the HRQoL (p<0.05) increased in 16-week only in CT. Conclusion IMT, AT and CT improved functional parameters and modulated inflammatory biomarkers, in addition, IMT provoked a similar response to low intensity AT in hemodialysis patients. Trial registration Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios clínicos RBR-4hv9rs.


The numerical example of the vector-optimization problem decision for a definition rational passenger train composition with the help of a parametrization method of Pareto of the decision is considered.


Background: The study investigated whether automatic thoughts about eating mediated the effects of body weight discrepancies on eating disorders (ED) formation and whether weight discrepancies mediated the effects of thoughts about eating on ED formation in non-clinical population. Methods: Late adolescents (N = 55; age 15-18) filled out the SCOFF and the Eating Disorder Thoughts Questionnaire, answered questions about actual and ideal weight, and their body weight was measured objectively at three points with 2- and 12-month intervals between Time 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Findings: The negative thoughts about eating (T2) are mediating the relation between weight discrepancies (T1) and symptoms of ED (T3). Furthermore, the association between negative thoughts (T1) and ED symptoms (T3) was mediated by weight discrepancies (T2). The negative thoughts and weight discrepancies form a vicious circle, related to ED symptoms. Discussion: The findings shed new light on main tasks of the ED prevention, which should focus on adolescents who manifest high levels of negative thoughts about eating and large weight discrepancies, as they are at risk for developing ED symptoms.


Expressions for analyzing small-angle scattering data from semidilute solutions of polymers in a good solvent over a broad range of scattering vectors are examined. Three different scattering function expressions are derived from Monte Carlo simulations. The expressions are similar to those of polymer reference interaction site models, with a scattering-vector-dependent direct correlation function. In the most advanced model, the screening of excluded-volume interactions beyond the overlap concentration is taken into account. Two simpler expressions, in which the screening of excluded-volume interactions is not included, are also applied. The three models are tested against small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments on polystyrene in deuterated toluene for a broad range of molar masses and concentrations over a wide range of scattering vectors. For each model, simultaneous fits to all the measured scattering data are performed. The most advanced model excellently reproduces the SANS data over the full range of the parameters. The two simpler models fit the data almost equally well. On the basis of an extensive study, an optimal fitting strategy can be recommended for experimentalists, who want to analyze small-angle scattering data from polymers at any concentration. For data sets that do not contain data on the single-chain scattering function, the simpler model is recommended; it uses a direct correlation function equal to the form factor of an infinitely thin rod, which is independent of the concentration and molar mass. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3081–3094, 2004


Understanding the dynamics of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in fluorophore-functionalized nanomaterials is critical for developing and utilizing such materials in biomedical imaging and optical sensing applications. However, structural dynamics of noncovalently bound systems have a significant effect on the FRET properties affecting their applications in solutions. Here, we study the dynamics of the FRET in atomistic detail by disclosing the structural dynamics of the noncovalently bound azadioxotriangulenium dye (KU) and atomically precise gold nanocluster (Au25(p-MBA)18, p-MBA = para-mercaptobenzoic acid) with a combination of experimental and computational methods. Two distinct subpopulations involved in the energy transfer process between the KU dye and the Au25(p-MBA)18 nanoclusters were resolved by time-resolved fluorescence experiments. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that KU is bound to the surface of Au25(p-MBA)18 by interacting with the p-MBA ligands as a monomer and as a π–π stacked dimer where the center-to-center distance of the monomers to Au25(p-MBA)18 is separated by ∼0.2 nm, thus explaining the experimental observations. The ratio of the observed energy transfer rates was in reasonably good agreement with the well-known 1/R6 distance dependence for FRET. This work discloses the structural dynamics of the noncovalently bound nanocluster-based system in water solution, providing new insight into the dynamics and energy transfer mechanism of the fluorophore-functionalized gold nanocluster at an atomistic level.


New techniques in regenerative medicine may soon enable the creation of human organs inside animals using induced pluripotent stem cells. This technology has the potential to solve the organ scarcity problem by providing a limitless source of personalised organs for transplantation, but also raises several ethical issues, particularly concerning animal welfare, the 'human features' problem and human dignity.


Background: By increasing the depth and extent of the underground mines, coal miners are at risk of developing lung diseases especially pneumoconiosis because of their regular exposure to airborne dusts and toxic gases. Mechanization results in accelerative production of higher dust levels and worst working conditions.
Aim of the study: Annual statistics show that most of the underground coal miners in Iran, with experience more than five years, are suffering from lung diseases. Due to that, this research was conducted in order to investigate the risk of exposure to coal dust at Kerman coalfield, Iran.
Participants and methods: A cross sectional study was carried out over 556 coal miners from three coal mines. Among them 460 persons directly worked at the coalface for at least five years. Spirometry tests were also done in order to determine the parameters of FEV1, FEV1/FVC and . Z-test with overall error set at 0.01 was used for comparison of the results.
Results: Differences between the results of the spirometry measurements for face and non-face miners were meaningful indicating the more vulnerability of the face miners to the disease. In addition, the results showed a nonlinear decline in FEV1 over the first five years of employment, with a sharp decrease in the first two years. According to the results, the face miners are more prone to respiratory diseases, however all miners are at risk.
Conclusion: Direct measurements showed that the dust levels in the coalfaces are high and exceed the recommended exposure limit of 1mg/m . Remedial and precautionary measures were found to be the most appropriate solution to mitigate the development of such tormented diseases. Therefore, a framework composed of the three major levels: precautionary measures, medical surveillance and remedial management was proposed by focus on the precautionary measures as the best solutions.


Historically, money is gold and silver, supplied by the market on profit criterion. Everywhere, government inconvertible paper money arose from bankruptcy. A government with balanced budgets would never need it. Imposed by force, inconvertible paper is a taxation mean, highly inflationary, and causes impoverishment. Unjust and bankrupt governments will continue to force this despotic money. Islamic Monetary Economics refutes the idea of money as a policy tool. Fully convertible paper is Shariah compliant. Shariah requires a just government to balance its budgets and restore fully gold and silver as lawful money.


Electrochemical behavior of C(60)(CF(2))(n), n = 1, 2 and C(60)(CCl(2)) has been investigated. [6,6]-Opened C(60)(CF(2)) and cis-2-C(60)(CF(2))(2) exhibit reversible reductions at potentials 150 and 145 mV more positive than C(60), unlike the related [6,6]-closed C(60)(CCl(2)), which shows reduction at the potential close to that for C(60). The structures, electron localization and lifetimes of the observed radical anions C(60)(CF(2))(-*) and cis-2-C(60)(CF(2))(2)(-*) have been elucidated by the ESR study and DFT calculations. The protonation pathway of decay of C(60)(CF(2))(-*) yields [6,6]-opened 1,9-dihydro-(1a,1a-difluoro-1aH-1(9)a-homo(C(60)-I(h))fullerene, C(60)(CF(2))H(2), which becomes the first characterized derivative of [6,6]-opened C(60)(CF(2)). DFT calculations of the structure and electron affinity of a number of homofullerene structures have been carried out to rationalize the experimental findings.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate effect of interference therapy induced by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-antisense cDNA in signal transduction of Hep-2 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in vitro.

METHODS
AdEasy Vector System was used to construct the recombinant adenovirus vector sense/antisense-pAdEasy-EGFR. The recombinant adenovirus vector introduced EGFR-sense/antisense cDNA fragment into HEK293 cell. The purified recombinant adenovirus sense/antisense-pAdEasy-EGFR transfected Hep-2 cells in vitro. The inhibition of EGFR protein expression and proliferation of Hep-2 cells, the changes of cell cycle and DNA content in Hep-2 cells were examined by MTT, Western blot analysis, flow cytometry essay, and immunocytochemistry respectively.

RESULTS
The higher titre sense and antisense mRNA expression recombinant adenovirus containing 1,032 bp EGFR-cDNA was constructed and prepared successfully. When antisense-pAdEasy-EGFR was transferred into Hep-2 cells the inhibition of cell proliferation and EGFR protein expression in Hep-2 cells were investigated effectively.

CONCLUSION
The antisense-pAdEasy-EGFR effectively interfere the Hep-2 signal transduction pathway and induce apoptosis which results in inhibiting proliferation of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.


Twenty-seven endometrioid stromal sarcomas of the ovary from patients 38 to 76 (mean 56) years of age are reported. The tumors were unilateral in 20 cases and bilateral in 7. They were solid (9), solid and cystic (9), or predominantly cystic (6) when this information was known and ranged from 1 to 20 (mean 9.5) cm. The solid areas typically had a tan-yellow cut surface, with areas of hemorrhage and/or necrosis noted in 6; however, in addition, blood was often present in the cyst lumens. On microscopic examination, the predominant and frequently exclusive pattern was a diffuse growth of small cells with interspersed arterioles, the latter appearing round to elongated. A fibromatous pattern was present in 14 of the tumors but was extensive in only 3. A vague nodular growth was observed in 10 tumors but was never striking; a storiform growth was seen in 2 tumors, being conspicuous in 1. Hyaline plaques were present in 10 tumors but were striking in only 2. Sex cord-like or smooth muscle differentiation was seen in 7 and 6 tumors, respectively, being striking in 2 and 3 of them. Foam cells were present in 6 tumors. The tumors showed minimal cytologic atypia. The mitotic index ranged from <1 to 17/10 high-power fields (HPF), being <1/10 HPF in 12, 1 to 5/10 HPF in 9, 6 to 10/10 HPF in 2, and >10/10 HPF in 4 tumors. Infarct-type necrosis was noted in 12 tumors. Hemorrhage, typically recent, was seen in 20 cases, being conspicuous in 5. Ovarian endometriosis was intimately associated with the tumor in 16 cases. Seven patients had stage I tumors, 5 stage II, 13 stage III, and 2 stage IV. Follow-up information was available for 21 patients; 10 were alive and free of disease from 4 to 21 years postoperatively (follow-up being ≥11 y in 5); 6 were alive with disease from 1 to 22 years postoperatively; 5 patients are known to have died of disease, with the interval being unknown in 1, and 2, 4, 13, and 17 years in the others. Follow-up information was unavailable in the remaining 6 patients. These findings indicate that these tumors, as in the uterus, often have an indolent course with a better prognosis than other ovarian sarcomas, indicating the importance of correct diagnosis. The differential diagnosis of these neoplasms is in the first instance with a metastasis from the uterus; knowledge of the status of the uterus is paramount in this distinction. Associated ovarian endometriosis suggests a primary tumor. When a primary ovarian origin is determined, the differential diagnosis is most often with a sex cord-stromal tumor, particularly a granulosa cell tumor because of a diffuse growth of cells with scant cytoplasm.


An on-line simulation of aerosol sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and water in the Goddard Institute for Space Studies general circulation model (GCM II-prime) has been used to estimate direct aerosol radiative forcing for the years 1800, 2000, and 2100. This is the first direct forcing estimate based on the equilibrium water content of a changing SO42−-NO3−-NH4+ mixture and the first estimate of nitrate forcing based on a global model of nitrate aerosol. Present-day global and annual average anthropogenic direct forcing is estimated to be −0.95 and −0.19 W/m2 for sulfate and nitrate, respectively. Simulations with a future emissions scenario indicate that nitrate forcing could increase to −1.28 W/m2 by 2100, while sulfate forcing declines to −0.85 W/m2. This result shows that future estimates of aerosol forcing based solely on predicted sulfate concentrations may be misleading and that the potential for significant concentrations of ammonium nitrate needs to be considered in estimates of future climate change. Calculated direct aerosol forcing is highly sensitive to the model treatment of water uptake. By calculating the equilibrium water content of a SO42−-NH4+ aerosol mixture and the optical properties of the wet aerosol, we estimate a forcing that is almost 35% greater than that derived from correcting a low relative humidity scattering coefficient with an empirical f(RH) factor. The discrepancy stems from the failure of the empirical parameterization to adequately account for water uptake above about 90% relative humidity. These results suggest that water uptake above 90% RH may make a substantial contribution to average direct forcing, although subgrid-scale variability makes it difficult to represent humid areas in a GCM.