Various mutations in the Wnt pathway contribute to aberrant activation of Wnt signaling, which is implicated in multiple cancers. Besides the mutation of Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) or beta-catenin which causes the continuous activation of Wnt signaling by stabilizing beta-catenin, there are mutations of other genes such as RNF43 that regulate Wnt signaling at the level of the ligand or cell surface receptor. Inhibition of the secretion of all human Wnts by blocking their palmitoleoylation by the O-acyltransferase, Porcupine (PORCN), could be an alternative therapeutic approach. Here we have developed a compound with a novel pharmacophore that can inhibit PORCN activity and hence Wnt signaling in nanomolar concentration. In vivo efficacy study demonstrated that the compound is highly efficacious in preventing tumor growth in genetic modification model MMTV-WNT1 mouse. We have identified a subset of pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma and mucinous ovarian cancer cell lines that are sensitive to the compound. Most of these cell lines harbor mutations in RNF43. Xenograft tumor models derived from the cancer cell lines were found to be sensitive to the compound. Our results demonstrate that inhibiting the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway by targeting PORCN with small-molecule inhibitors in a subset of cancers with mutation in RNF43 is a feasible and nontoxic strategy to overcome the problem of redundancy of Wnts, thereby, providing new option for therapy in diseases with up regulated Wnt expression. Citation Format: Zhiyuan Ke, Babita Madan, Shermaine Q.y. Lim, Sifang Wang, Jenefer Alam, Soo Yei Ho, Duraiswamy Athisayamani Jeyaraj, Kakaly Ghosh, Yun Shan Chew, Li Jun Ding, Vithya Monoharan, Vishal Pendharkar, Esther Ong, Jeffrey Hill, Kanda Sangthongpitag, Thomas Keller, May Ann Lee, David M. Virshup. A novel Porcupine inhibitor is effective in the treatment of cancers with RNF43 mutations. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4449. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4449


In this paper, we study the design of optimal robust training sequences for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel estimation, based on known second order statistics of both the channel and the colored disturbance, but with an uncertainty in the channel covariance matrix. More specifically, the training sequences are designed by taking the least-favorable channel covariance component into account throughout an iterative algorithm. Numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate the performance gained by employing the proposed design procedure and to compare it with other relevant schemes.


In recent times, December has come to mark a new tradition—an annual public debate over the degree to which Christmas should be publicly recognised and celebrated in a multicultural society. Curiously, political theorists of multiculturalism have had little to say on this controversy. In this article, I argue that there is a genuine issue at stake in the so-called 'December dilemma', but that the public debate—which construes the matter in terms of offending non-Christians—fails to identify and address it. Differentiating three distinct areas of contention (public holiday, public square, and state schools), I suggest that the core issue is one of 'acknowledging a "generalised other"', and sketch what this might mean for each of these public aspects of Christmas celebration.


Place recognition is a core component in SLAM, and in most visual SLAM systems, it is based on the similarity between 2D images. However, the 3D points generated by visual odometry, and the structure information embedded within, are not exploited. In this paper, we adapt place recognition methods for 3D point clouds into stereo visual odometry. Stereo visual odometry generates 3D point clouds with a consistent scale. Thus, we are able to use global LiDAR descriptors for 3D point clouds to determine the similarity between places. 3D point clouds are more reliable than 2D visual cues (e.g., 2D features) against environmental changes such as varying illumination and can benefit visual SLAM systems in long-term deployment scenarios. Extensive evaluation on a public dataset (Oxford RobotCar) demonstrates the accuracy and efficiency of using 3D point clouds for place recognition over 2D methods.


Suppose X and Y are linear normed spaces, and Ci is the space of continuously differentiable functions from [0, 1 ] into X. The authors give a represention theorem for the linear operators from C1 into Y in terms of the v-integral operating on the function as opposed to the derivative of the function.


This paper analyzes the effect of finding a job through social networks on entry wages and how this effect differs for different types of contacts. Further, this study examines firms' abilities in screening workers' productivity using social networks and if firms value unobservable abilities of referred workers more than the same abilities for workers without a connection. The data used is the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) for the United States of America. The results indicate that very young workers receive higher entry wages when they are hired via social networks and the most beneficial contacts to be referred by are parents or relatives. Firms are better at screening older employees than very young ones through social networks. I find no support that firms give higher returns to the referred workers' unobservable abilities.


In this work, BaYF5:20%Yb3+/2%Er3+/x%Bi3+ (abbreviated as BaYF5:Yb,Er,Bix, where x = 0-3.0) upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with various doping concentrations of Bi3+ were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method. The influence of the doping amount of Bi3+ on the microstructures and upconversion luminescence (UCL) properties of the BaYF5:Yb,Er,Bix UCNPs was studied in detail. The doping concentration of Bi3+ has little influence on the microstructures of the UCNPs but significantly impacts their UCL intensities. Under excitation of a 980 nm near-IR laser, the observed UCL intensities for the BaYF5:Yb,Er,Bix UCNPs display first an increasing trend and then a decreasing trend with an increase in the ratio x, giving a maximum at x = 2.5. A possible energy-transfer process and simplified energy levels of the BaYF5:Yb,Er,Bix UCNPs were proposed. The potential of the BaYF5:Yb,Er,Bix UCNPs as contrast agents for computerized tomography (CT) imaging was successfully demonstrated. An obvious accumulation of BaYF5:Yb,Er,Bix in tumor sites was achieved because of high passive targeting by the enhanced permeability and retention effect and relatively low uptake by a reticuloendothelial system such as liver and spleen. This work paves a new route for the design of luminescence-enhanced UNCPs as promising bioimaging agents for cancer theranostics.


New-generation metal-on-metal bearings made from cobalt-chromium alloys for use in total hip arthroplasty are now being utilized worldwide. A hypersensitivity reaction to a metal-on-metal bearing is a rare but reported complication and is thought to be a novel mode of failure of these implants1,2. These reactions were initially observed in patients with first-generation bearings and are now being reported in association with the second-generation metal-on-metal bearings currently in use3-5. Characteristic histological changes in the periprosthetic tissues obtained during revision surgical procedures in these patients have suggested the development of an immunological response2,6.

Reports have suggested that the possibility of such a reaction should be considered when a patient presents with persistent, or the early reappearance of, preoperative pain symptoms, including a marked joint effusion, and the development of early osteolysis or radiolucent lines in the absence of infection2,7. Fever and elevated serum levels of inflammatory markers have routinely been reported to not occur in these patients.

We describe two patients with failure of metal-on-metal implants who presented with signs that mimicked a deep-seated hip infection. To our knowledge, this has not been reported previously. Although the two cases were similar in terms of the clinical presentation, each ultimately represented a different pathological condition and etiology.

The patients were informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and they consented.

Case 1. A fifty-three-year-old man presented to our emergency department because of bilateral hip pain and episodes of low-grade fever three years after a bilateral metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty. A Pinnacle acetabular component with a cobalt-chromium metal bearing surface (DePuy Orthopaedics, Warsaw, Indiana) had been implanted bilaterally. The pain had been present since the surgery, and the patient had never stopped …


The concept of "enhancing personhood" is a key aspect of the theory of nursing as caring. It is tenuously, though importantly, related to the currently popular notion of outcomes of care. While the standard connotation of outcomes as discrete economic results or end products of nursing care is incongruent with nursing as caring, the ethical professional practice of nursing requires attention to value. This article presents a theoretically congruent reconceptualization of valuing of advanced practice nursing. It offers a model for reframing the concept of outcomes within the theoretical context of enhancing personhood.


XPF and ERCC1 exist as a heterodimer to be stable and active in cells and catalyze DNA cleavage on the 5′-side of a lesion during nucleotide excision repair. To characterize the specific interaction between XPF and ERCC1, we expressed the human ERCC1 binding domain of XPF (XPF-EB) and the XPF binding domain of ERCC1 (ERCC1-FB) in Escherichia coli. Milligram quantities of a heterodimer were characterized with gel filtration chromatography, an Ni2+-NTA binding assay, and analytical ultracentrifugation. Cross-linking experiments at high salt concentrations revealed that XPF interacts with ERCC1 mainly through hydrophobic interactions. XPF-EB was also shown to homodimerize in the absence of ERCC1. NMR cross-saturation methods were applied to map the residues involved in formation of the XPF-EB·XPF-EB homodimer and the XPF-EB·ERCC1-FB heterodimer. Helix H3 and the C-terminal region of XPF-EB were either within or in close proximity to the homodimer interface, whereas the ERCC1-FB binding site of XPF-EB was distributed across helix H1, a small part of H2, H3, and the C-terminal region, most of which exhibited large changes in chemical shift upon ERCC1 binding. The XPF-EB heterodimeric interface is larger than the XPF-EB homodimeric one, which could explain why XPF has a stronger affinity for ERCC1 than for a second molecule of XPF. The XPF binding sites of ERCC1 were located in helices H1 and H3 and in the C-terminal region, similar to the involved surface of XPF. We used cross-saturation data and the crystal structure of related proteins to model the two complexes.


Many adults have sat through classes waiting for some expert to provide them with all the answers to their jobs' most challenging safety hazards. Often, however, they take away little or nothing from the session. The bottom line to training is to "give it to them so they get it" (Bowman, 2003). Giving information to students so they "get it" takes innovation, which the author defines as a desire to do things differently, through activity, with the student in mind, while making every effort to ensure that the learning material is accessible. Grimaldi and Simonds (1993) identify education and training as a critical step in carrying out a logical and orderly safety and health program. If done right, this important step will help employees and management understand their roles and responsibilities in preventing accidents. This article is an opportunity for readers to build on what they already know or perhaps change it to something that works better (Fanning, 2009).


In this paper, we discuss the relationship between the organic matter, sulphur and phosphate contents of Upper Cretaceous marine carbonates (Karabogaz Formation) in the Adiyaman Petroleum Province of SE Turkey. The results of organic geochemical analyses of core samples obtained from the Karabogaz Formation suggest that phosphate deposition occurred in settings where the water column was oxic to sub‐oxic. However, the preservation of organic matter was favoured in anoxic environments. Moreover, the presence of sulphur (especially sulphur incorporated into kerogen) in organic matter‐rich layers led to early oil generation. The results of stepwise py‐gc analyses are consistent with a model in which, with increasing maturity, S‐S and C‐S bonds are the first to be eliminated from the macromolecular kerogen structure. Study of the maturity evolution of S‐rich kerogen by laboratory pyrolysis implies that marginally mature and/or mature kerogen in the Karabogaz Formation, which may be classified as classic "Type II" kerogen, was most probably Type II/S at lower maturity stages. This enabled oil generation to occur at relatively shallow burial depths and relatively early stages of maturation. It is reasonable to conclude that Type II/S kerogen, overlooked in previous studies, was abundant in TOC‐rich intervals in the Karabogaz Formation. Early generation (and expulsion) from Type II/S kerogen may have sourced the sulphur‐rich oils in the Adiyaman area oilfields.


Hemangioblastoma is a benign tumor of the cerebellum, and treatment involves surgical excision, both as the initial treatment and also in case of recurrence. Recurrence of hemangioblastoma can be local due to incomplete resection or can be distant and separate from the tumor resection region. Local recurrence can largely be avoided by verifying for any residual tumor intraoperatively before closure. In this study, we used intraoperative fluorescent diagnosis using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to verify the presence of a residual tumor during surgical resection. Nine patients with hemangioblastoma were given 1 g of 5-ALA orally before surgery, and a laser beam of 405 nm was focused on the tumor during resective surgery. Fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) was observed in the core of tumor in all the cases. Fluorescence of PPIX was observed in the peritumoral cyst wall in two patients after tumor resection, and in both of them fluorescent parts of PPIX were resected and histological examination showed tumor cells. Usually, there are no tumor cells in the peritumoral cyst of a hemangioblastoma, yet hemangioblastomas may sometimes recur from an unresected cyst wall. It is thus necessary to excise an infiltrating cyst of tumor cells to prevent recurrence. Intraoperative fluorescent diagnosis using 5-ALA is a useful method to discern whether tumor cells are present in the peritumoral cyst wall of a hemangioblastoma.


The recent development of dynamic point clouds has introduced the possibility of mimicking natural reality, and greatly assisting quality of life. However, to broadcast successfully, the dynamic point clouds require higher compression due to their huge volume of data compared to the traditional video. Recently, MPEG finalized a Video-based Point Cloud Compression standard known as V-PCC. However, V-PCC requires huge computational time due to expensive normal calculation and segmentation, sacrifices some points to limit the number of 2D patches, and cannot occupy all spaces in the 2D frame. The proposed method addresses these limitations by using a novel cross-sectional approach. This approach reduces expensive normal estimation and segmentation, retains more points, and utilizes more spaces for 2D frame generation compared to the VPCC. The experimental results using standard video sequences show that the proposed technique can achieve better compression in both geometric and texture data compared to the V-PCC standard.


We have previously found that purified SV40 T antigen and topoisomerase I (topo I) bind to one another in vitro. In this report, we determined the effects of human topo I on T antigen-mediated DNA replication and investigated whether it altered T antigen's biochemical activities. Topo I stimulates DNA replication and especially increases the amounts of finished circular molecules. This protein had no effect on T antigen's ability to bind, distort, or unwind the origin of replication. However, unwinding of DNA by T antigen was strongly inhibited by topo I when it was initiated at sites other than the origin. We demonstrate that the presence of T antigen binding sites in DNA interfere with inhibition of unwinding by topo I. These results indicate that topo I may increase the specificity of unwinding by inhibiting the reaction at non-origin sites. Fragments of T antigen that bind to topo I abrogate topo I's inhibition of non-origin-dependent unwinding, indicating that topo I inhibits unwinding through a direct interaction with T antigen. We propose a model whereby T antigen and topo I function together at the origin to specifically unwind it and initiate DNA replication.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

More than 90% of bladder cancers are urothelial cell carcinomas. Superficial/papillary and invasive tumors progress via different molecular pathways. FGFR3 and PI3KCA mutations are more commonly found in superficial/papillary tumors. The PI3K-AKT pathway emerges as an alternative pathogenic mechanism linked to bladder cancer.

We have analyzed the prevalence of mutations in FGFR3, PI3KCA, KRAS, BRAF and AKT1 genes in a set of 61 bladder tumors classified as TaG1 (n=10), TaG2 (n=19), TaG3 (n=8), T1G2 (n= 3), T1G3 (n= 11), T2G2 (n=1) and T2G3 (n=10). We focused on analyzing the hot spot mutation codons and surrounding regions. Mutation analysis of DNA from paraffin-embedded tumors was performed by direct sequencing of PCR products. Thirty-six (60%) tumors presented mutations, 22 cases with only one mutated gene, whereas 14 of 61 cases had mutations in two genes. The most frequently mutated gene was FGFR3 in 25 tumors, followed by PI3KCA in 16 tumors. The distribution and combinations of mutations was: FGFR3 (n= 16), PI3KCA (n= 3), AKT1 (n= 2), KRAS (n= 1), FGFR3-PI3KCA (n= 9), FGFR3-AKT1 (n= 1), and PI3KCA-KRAS (n= 4). No tumor showed BRAF mutations. According to tumor stage, 26 of 37 (70%) Ta tumors, 3 of 13 (23%) T1 tumors and 7 of 11 (63%) of T2 tumors harbored mutations. On the other hand, according to tumor grade, the distribution of mutations was: grade 1, 9 of 11 (82%); grade 2, 15 of 22 (68%); and grade 3, 12 of 28 (43%), with an overall rate of 27 mutations in 50 high grade tumors (54%). In grade 1, 100% of mutations were found in FGFR3 and/or PI3KCA, with FGFR3 mutations in 9 of 10 tumors. In grade 2, 11 of 15 mutated tumors (73%) showed alterations in FGFR3 and/or PI3KCA, and 4 tumors displayed mutations in AKT1 and KRAS (3 of them in combination with FGFR3 or PI3KCA). In grade 3, 8 of 12 mutated tumors (66%) showed mutations in FGFR3 and/or PI3KCA, and 4 tumors harbored mutations in AKT1 and KRAS (2 of them in combination with PI3KCA). Mutations in AKT1 and KRAS were found in grade 2 and 3, but not in grade 1 tumors. Percentage of mutations in the FGFR3-PI3K-AKT1 pathway is inversely proportional to grade, and it is more often associated with low grade tumors. Mutations in FGFR3 are often found alone in bladder tumors, whereas PI3KCA mutations are more frequent in combination with other mutated genes, such as FGFR3 or KRAS. FGFR3 and KRAS mutations seem to be mutually exclusive, but not PI3KCA and KRAS, nor FGFR3 and AKT1 mutations.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1168.


In this work, an endeavor is made toward structural assessment and morphological variation of titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films when doped with neodymium (Nd). The electron beam deposition technique was employed to fabricate Nd-based TiO2 thin films on n-Type Si substrates. Nd concentration was varied from 0.0 to 2.0 atomic percent (at.%) under identical growth environments. The films were deposited in an oxygen-deficient environment to cause the growth of rutile phases. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence and variation of Nd dopant in TiO2. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the transformation of amorphous structures of the as-grown samples to anatase polycrystalline after annealing at 500 °C, while atomic force microscopy exposed linearity in grain density in as-grown samples with doping until 1 at.%. Raman spectrums of as-grown and annealed samples revealed the growth of the anatase phase in the annealed samples. Based on these results it can be proposed that Nd doping has pronounced effects on the structural characteristics of TiO2 thin films.


This paper examines the characteristics of loans to Japanese borrowers using a relatively unexplored, contract-specific data set. I find that Japanese banks charge less on loans to Japanese borrowers than do foreign banks, holding constant many of the risk characteristics of the borrower. Moreover, Japanese banks vary pricing less across these risks than do foreign banks, suggesting that Japanese banks tend not to distinguish good risks from bad. Taken together, the results suggest that problems at Japanese banks stem from the behavior of the banks themselves, not simply from poor economic conditions. I also document a significant shortening in the maturity structure of Japanese loans in the late 1990s.


Abstract In this paper, we mainly provide a categorical view on the braided structures appearing in the Hom-quantum groups. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a monoidal category on which F is a bimonad, G is a bicomonad, and ϕ is a distributive law, we discuss the necessary and sufficient conditions for $\mathcal{C}^G_F(\varphi)$ , the category of mixed bimodules to be monoidal and braided. As applications, we discuss the Hom-type (co)quasitriangular structures, the Hom–Yetter–Drinfeld modules, and the Hom–Long dimodules.


Abstract In the debate on the European Union's problems, the concept of "democracy deficit" has been present from its very beginning. This term is applied in a quite vast manner and, apart from the asymmetry of the relation between the European Parliament and the Council, it also concerns the overly limited role of national parliaments in the European Union. In this regard, inadequacy in the national position of individual parliaments is observed. On the other hand, it is necessary to emphasise their uneven activity on their European aspirations. At the time when the European dispute on the rule of law in Poland has polarized attitudes and language in statements on both sides – despite irresponsible trends – it is worth to examine the participation of national parliaments (including the Polish parliament) in the European inter-parliamentary dialogue and, consequently, to determine whether and how its constructive impact on the European Union and its law functions.


Presented is a computer program for the input of creep and shrinkage properties for a structural analysis program. The program either accepts numerical data on the compliance function and the shrinkage function at discrete load durations and ages at loading, or uses the recent BP Modelfor creep involving the double-power law. The most useful characteristic is the availability of thirteen different options for specifying the creep and shrinkage parameters; sealed conditions or drying conditions, creep values specified and interpolation to be used, parameter of a creep formula specifIed, or creep formula automatically fitted to given creep data, short time data specified and extrapolation done by a formula, etc. In addition to returning the compliance function, the program also calculates the relaxation function and the age-dependent elastic moduli of a Maxwell chain model that is equivalent to the given creep properties. The program is particularly suitable for the input of creep characteristics for a large-scale finite element analysis.


The unimolecular gas-phase elimination kinetics of 2-methoxy-1chloroethane, 3-methoxy-1-chloropropane, and 4-methoxyl-1chloroburane has been studied by using density functional theory (DFT) methods to propose the most reasonable mechanisms of decomposition of the aforementioned compounds. Calculation results of 2-methoxy-1-chloroethane and 3-methoxy-1-chloropropane suggest dehydrochlorination through a concerted nonsynchronous four-centered cyclic transition state (TS) to give the corresponding olefin. In the case of 4-methoxyl-1-chloroburane, in addition to the 1,2-elimination mechanism, the anchimeric assistance by the methoxy group, through a polar five-centered cyclic TS, provides additional pathways to give 4-methoxy-butene, tetrahydrofuran and chloromethane. The bond polarization of the CACl, in the direction of C dþ ��� Cl d� , is the limiting step of these elimination reactions. The significant increase in rate together with the formation of a cyclic product tetrahydrofuran in the gas-phase elimination of 4-methoxyl-1-chloroburane is attributed to neighboring group participation of the oxygen of the methoxy group in the TS. The theoretical calculations show a good agreement with the reported experimental results. V C 2011 Wiley


Context: In Kudankulam, the South Eastern tip of India, a nuclear power station is under construction. Various studies have been carried out around this project site; however, there is no literature pertaining to the minerals in cow milk samples in this region. Further, various minerals in cow milk are analogs of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides and a study on stable elements would help to assess the behavior of their radioactive counterparts. Materials and Methods: Milk samples ( n = 25) from the study area were analyzed for macro-minerals (potassium [K], magnesium [Mg] and calcium [Ca]) and micro-minerals (zinc [Zn], copper [Cu] and manganese [Mn]) using a Z5000 series Hitachi atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The performance of the method was evaluated by using an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reference material, i.e., the fish tissue homogenate (IAEA-407). Results: The concentration values of major and trace minerals in the milk samples were in the order Ca > K > Mg and Zn > Cu > Mn, respectively. Conclusion: The high-water Ca levels and the prevailing tropical semi-arid climatic conditions seem to be the reasons for the high-Ca levels observed in the investigated milk samples. A CaCO3 bed is present in this area and lime is being excavated by cement industries and it is also evident from the literature that elevated Ca levels would have an immense impact on the levels of natural and fall out radionuclides in cow milk.


This paper presents a new approach to the calculation of reactive power of a static VAr compensator with controlled inductance. The key idea underlying the approach is to use the distinction between the concept of "electromotive force (EMF) of power source" and "input voltage of electric circuit", causing the current to flow. In order to determine the reactive power of controlled inductance, the only part of the input voltage connected with the current flowing through the reactor should be taken into consideration. Based on this approach, more accurate formulae for the reactive power of fundamental harmonic of the controlled inductance are proposed. The technique allows calculation of the reactive power for other harmonics as well. The calculated expressions and values estimation for reactive power of n-th harmonic are also presented. The recommendations supported by the results of this study are made. The proposed technique is compared with traditional approach.


Over a 20-year period we have observed the dynamics of HIV-1 subtypes and HIV-2 infection in a prospective cohort of registered female sex workers (FSW) in Dakar, Senegal. Prevalence and incidence rates for HIV-1 and HIV-2 are described from 290 seroprevalent and 193 seroincident subjects who were among the 3,910 women enrolled between 1985 and 2004. We report a significant decrease of HIV-2 prevalence in the cohort, parallel to the introduction and rise of HIV-1 infection. In 328 HIV-1-infected women, a 385-bp C2-V3 fragment of the envelope gene was sequenced and classified into the following subtypes or recombinant forms: 239 (72%) were subtype A [of which 180 (55%) were CRF02_AG and 53 (16%) were A3], 10 (3%) were B, 12 (4%) were C, 11 (4%) were D, 18 (6%) were G, 24 (7%) were CRF06_cpx, and 7 (2%) were CRF09_cpx. We found an increasing proportion of CRF02_AG over many years, but recently subsubtype A3 has over-taken CRF02_AG, with the largest proportion of new infections. The predominance of existing HIV-1 subtypes did not preclude the emergence and increase of other closely related subtypes or recombinant forms. This 20-year prospective serological and sequence analysis of HIV viruses reveals a complex and changing HIV epidemic in Senegal.


The relationship to treatment outcome, as measured by reduction in drug use, of specific characteristics and elements of 30 drug-free outpatient programs for adolescents is reported. Admission and discharge data were obtained from National Institute on Drug Abuse-Client Oriented Data Acquisition Process on 5789 adolescents in the 30 programs. A partial crossvalidation study was conducted by analyzing separately for two annual client subsamples. The program, not the individual clients, was the unit of analysis. While controlling for differences between programs on their client populations, multiple regression analysis indicated that the following characteristics of programs were found to predict the outcome criterion variable, to a statistically significant degree: a) treat a large number of adolescent clients; b) have a special school for school dropouts; c) have a relatively large budget; d) employ counselors or therapists who have at least 2 years' experience in working with adolescent drug abusers; e) provide special services such as vocational counseling, recreational services, and birth control services; f) use such therapy methods as crisis intervention, gestalt therapy, music/art therapy, and group confrontation; and g) be perceived by the clients as allowing and encouraging free expression and spontaneous action by clients. There was a high degree of replication of these findings across the two annual subsamples of clients; and the amount of variance in the treatment outcome criterion variable accounted for by the above-listed program characteristics was quite impressive.


Assessing risk for voluminous legal documents such as request for proposal, contracts is tedious and error prone. We have developed "risk-o-meter", a framework, based on machine learning and natural language processing to review and assess risks of any legal document. Our framework uses Paragraph Vector, an unsupervised model to generate vector representation of text. This enables the framework to learn contextual relations of legal terms and generate sensible context aware embedding. The framework then feeds the vector space into a supervised classification algorithm to predict whether a paragraph belongs to a pre-defined risk category or not. The framework thus extracts risk prone paragraphs. This technique efficiently overcomes the limitations of keyword based search. We have achieved an accuracy of 91% for the risk category having the largest training dataset. This framework will help organizations optimize effort to identify risk from large document base with minimal human intervention and thus will help to have risk mitigated sustainable growth. Its machine learning capability makes it scalable to uncover relevant information from any type of document apart from legal documents, provided the library is pre-populated and rich.


Purpose
This study aims to shed some light on destination image formation by exploring whether image is altered as a result of tourists' experience intensity with a destination.

Design/methodology/approach
A visitor experience intensity index was developed based on the amount of events and attractions visitors have already attended/visited or were planning to attend/visit during their stay. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and the total sample consisted of 400 tourists in Linz, Austria. Principal component analysis, multivariate analysis of variance and discriminant analysis were applied to analyse the data.

Findings
The findings indicate that the higher the experience intensity score, the more favourable the cognitive and affective evaluations of destination image, indicating that tourists' experiences are central in the formation of the in situ image.

Research limitations/implications
The "level of psychological involvement" with the destination should be considered by future studies, as this paper focussed on level of experience intensity.

Practical implications
This paper supports the effective and innovative solutions for place marketing and branding of tourist destinations such as promoting experiences that further enhance destination image. The study also assists places with bad reputation or negative image, like the selected case study (Linz, Austria), in repositioning themselves as attractive experience providers.

Originality/value
The paper's originality lies in applying "mere exposure theory" in tourism and using an innovative way of measuring tourists' experience through an intensity index. The study addresses a significant, but still neglected image determinant, that of experience intensity, contributing to a better understanding of the in situ destination image formation process.


Purpose

Facilitating supply chain visibility and traceability through effective information sharing is vital to improve the quality and safety of food products. However, we know little about the enablers of information sharing in food supply chains. Drawing upon resource dependence theory and social exchange theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore how farmers' dependence on companies influences their trust in and relationship commitment to those companies, and in turn facilitates effective information sharing with them.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from 462 farmers in China were used to test the conceptual model and related hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that dependence has a significant positive effect on trust and relationship commitment, but it has no direct significant effect on information sharing. In addition, trust has a significantly positive influence on relationship commitment, and both trust and relationship commitment have significantly positive effects on information sharing. These findings show that strengthening farmers' dependence on companies can cultivate farmers' trust and relationship commitment, thereby encouraging them to share information with the companies.

Originality/value

Theoretically, this study contributes to the supply chain information sharing and relationship management literature. Practically, it shows how companies can effectively monitor production processes and improve food quality and safety through information sharing and relationship management.


Vascular remodelling leading to arterial obstruction is a hallmark of arteriosclerosis and in-stent restenosis and is due in part to the accumulation of vascular smooth muscle (SMC)-like cells within the vessel wall. The source of these vascular cells has been controversial with many studies providing compelling evidence for a putative role for stem cell-derived myogenic progeny. It is known that neuroectoderm-derived (NE) vascular regions (ascending aorta, aortic arch, carotid artery) are more susceptible to arteriosclerotic lesion formation in comparison with paraxial mesoderm-derived (PM) regions (descending and abdominal aorta, femoral artery). Our aim was to isolate and characterise stem cells from arteriosclerotic-susceptible and non-susceptible regions and determine their differential responsiveness to discrete myogenic inductive stimuli. A population of myosin heavy chain (Myh11-) negative, Sca1/S100β/Nestin+multipotent vascular stem cells (MVSCs) was first shown to accumulate within the intima of murine carotid arteries following injury using e-GFP Sca1/S100β transgenic mice. Resident MVSCs were isolated from mouse aorta arch (susceptible) and descending aorta (non-susceptible) and grown in B27 supplemented maintenance media. Cells were characterised by fluorescent immunocytochemistry using stem (Sca1/S100β/Nestin) and vascular SMC differentiation cell markers (Cnn1 and Myh11). MVSCs from both aortic arch and descending aorta were positive for stem cell markers but negative for Myh11 and Cnn1. Treatment of both cell populations with TGF-β1 or the Notch ligand, Jagged-1 for 7 and 14 days promoted myogenic differentiation by increasing the number of cells expressing SMC markers concomitant with increased Myh11 and Cnn1 mRNA levels, respectively. Moreover, MVSCs from the NE susceptible regions significantly increased their expression of Myh11 in response to Jagged1, when compared to PM derived cells. We conclude that the aortic arch and descending aortic regions both house a neuroectoderm-derived Sca1/S100β/Nestin+ stem cell population that responds to myogenic inductive stimulation in vitro.


In the present study, mutations or protein expression of p53, bcl-2 and bax are reported in 13 non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas of the head and neck. Nine of 13 cases (69.2%) expressed p53 protein and 7 (53.8%) showed gene mutations. On comparing the results of immunostaining and SSCP analysis, there were two cases showing discrepancies between the p53 protein expression and gene mutations. Bcl-2 protein expression was observed in only two cases of follicular lymphoma. On the other hand, bax protein was detected in all 13 cases. One case with mutated bax gene showed a lower expression with a reduced frequency of bax-positive cells than the other 12. These results suggest that inactivation of p53 may be closely related to development and/or progression of these NHLs, and that bcl-2 and bax protein may not have a role.


PURPOSE
To review the use of patient-reported outcome (PRO) data in medical product labeling granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for new molecular entities and biologic license applications by the FDA Office of Hematology and Oncology Products (OHOP) between January 2010 and December 2014, to elucidate challenges faced by OHOP for approving PRO labeling, and to understand challenges faced by drug manufacturers to include PRO end points in oncology clinical trials.

METHODS
FDA Drug Approval Reports by Month were reviewed to obtain the number of new molecular entities and biologic license applications approved from 2010 to 2014. Drugs approved by the FDA OHOP during this period were selected for further review, focusing on brand and generic name; approval date; applicant; indication; PRO labeling describing treatment benefit, measures, end point status, and significant results; FDA reviewer feedback on PRO end points; and study design of registration trials. First in class, priority review, fast track, orphan drug, or accelerated approval status was retrieved for selected oncology drugs from 2011 to 2014. Descriptive analyses were performed by using Microsoft Excel 2010.

RESULTS
Of 160 drugs approved by the FDA (2010-2014), 40 were approved by OHOP. Three (7.5%) of the 40 received PRO-related labeling (abiraterone acetate, ruxolitinib phosphate, and crizotinib). Compared with nononcology drugs (2011-2014), oncology drugs were more likely to be orphan and first in class. The majority of oncology drug reviews by FDA were fast track, priority, or accelerated.

CONCLUSION
Although symptoms and functional decrements are common among patients with cancer, PRO labeling is rare in the United States, likely because of logistical hurdles and oncology study design. Recent developments within the FDA OHOP to capture PROs in oncology studies for the purpose of product labeling are encouraging.


Abstract Dietary fiber (DF) is receiving increasing attention, and its importance in pig nutrition is now acknowledged. Although DF for pigs was frowned upon for a long time because of reductions in energy intake and digestibility of other nutrients, it has become clear that feeding DF to pigs can affect their well-being and health. This review aims to summarize the state of knowledge of studies on DF in pigs, with an emphasis on the underlying mode of action, by considering research using DF in sows as well as suckling and weaned piglets, and fattening pigs. These studies indicate that DF can benefit the digestive tracts and the health of pigs, if certain conditions or restrictions are considered, such as concentration in the feed and fermentability. Besides the chemical composition and the impact on energy and nutrient digestibility, it is also necessary to evaluate the possible physical and physiologic effects on intestinal function and intestinal microbiota, to better understand the relation of DF to animal health and welfare. Future research should be designed to provide a better mechanistic understanding of the physiologic effects of DF in pigs.


the Arteries; but, on careful consideration, it is evident that we have not here an example of what is sometimes found; viz., a persisting right aortic arch, but that we have a simple transposition-a complete turning of the heart and large vessels, so that its posterior surface is anterior, and the left ventricle is carried to the right side. It is interesting to note that, although in this case nearly all the viscera had tmdergone a corresponding change, the lungs were in their normal position, the large three-lobed lung occupying the right side." The heart and lungs are now in the museum of University College, London. I ascertained that the woman was not left-handed, and there bad been no discovery during life of the existence of such an unfrequent arrangement of viscera.


Greece is a European-Union country, of around 10 million people, located in the southeast part of Europe. The economy is recovering from a long period of deep recession, due to the economic crisis that started in 2008. The economic problems greatly influenced the structure and resources of the healthcare system of the country. In addition to the economic challenges, the country has been facing a refugee crisis, characterized by many overcrowded hotspots and tensions with neighboring Turkey. The COVID-19 outbreak arrived in Greece on 26 February 2020, at the time that Athens had declared a state of emergency at the Greek/Turkish border. From this point in time the government enforced a series of measurements, aiming to contain the epidemic and avoid the collapse of the healthcare system. The vast majority of the general population complied to the measures and consequently Greece's death toll was low. The impacts of the outbreak are expected to be, as everywhere worldwide, multifaceted and to affect many parts of the economic, social and political life of the country.


Abstract In dysphagia the ability of elevating the larynx and hyoid is usually impaired. Electromyography (EMG) and Bioimpedance (BI) measurements at the neck can be used to trigger functional electrical stimulation (FES) of swallowing related muscles. The height and speed of larynx elevation can be assessed by evaluating the BI during a swallow. For the triggering of an supporting FES and for biofeedback online detection of swallow onsets is required. Patients can practice by a gamified biofeedback to swallow harder, swallow in a timely manner or to maintain the larynx elevation for a longer time period (Mendelson maneuver). The success of the stimulation and biofeedback therapy as well as the acceptance by the patient strongly depends on the precise detection of swallow onsets. We have introduced a classification algorithm based on a random forest classifier to trigger FES in phase with voluntary swallowing based on EMG and BI. Although the classification is successful in healthy subjects, difficulties appear in the utilization on some patients. The reason for this can be found in a strongly varying residual swallow activity. Usually the activity of EMG and change in BI are smaller in patients compared to healthy subjects. Thus an adaption procedure is needed, that can be easily applied. In this paper we introduce an algorithm that is capable to find an optimal classifier for a patient in terms of sensitivity. The adaption algorithm uses a small number of recorded swallow onsets of a patient at the beginning of a therapy session to evaluate different classifiers and to pick the most suitable for the treatment. The set of random forest classifiers has been trained with data from healthy subjects by step wise shifting the class weights of swallows and non-swallows, yielding classifiers with different sensitivities. The evaluation is done using data from 41 patients. It showed that the sensitivity of the classification can be increased by 4 to 6 % in average compared to fixed classifiers, but up to 66 % for individual patients. Finally, we studied the effect this adaptive classifier in triggered stimulation therapy in a single dysphagia patient. Swallowing performance was measurements during one week of therapy consisting of eleven therapy session. An improvement of 40 and 63 % in larynx elevation and speed could be observed, respectively.


Calculations based on density functional theory show that the structure of Mn(4)Cl(9) anion is that of a Mn atom at the core surrounded by three MnCl(3) moieties. Since Mn is predominantly divalent and MnCl(3) is known to be a superhalogen with a vertical detachment energy (VDE) of 5.27 eV, Mn(4)Cl(9) can be viewed as a hyperhalogen with the formula unit Mn(MnCl(3))(3). Indeed, the calculated VDE of Mn(4)Cl(9) anion, namely 6.76 eV, is larger than that of MnCl(3) anion. More importantly, unlike previously discovered hyperhalogens, Mn(4)Cl(9) is the first such hyperhalogen species composed of only two constituent atoms. We further show that Mn(4)Cl(9) can be used as a ligand to design molecules with even higher VDEs. For example, Li[Mn(MnCl(3))(3)](2) anion has a VDE of 7.26 eV. These negatively charged clusters are antiferromagnetic with most of the magnetic moments localized at the Mn sites. Our studies show new pathways for creating binary hyperhalogens.


This paper describes the design and performance of a simple circuit using one impulse commutated thyristor which absorbs excessive energy returned to the output clamp of a current source inverter. It is well known that the thyristor voltage stresses in a current source inverter are roughly proportional to load current under full load conditions, due to the return of energy trapped in the motor leakage inductance into the commutating capacitors. Most such inverters contain an output clamp circuit to provide reverse recovery suppression of the power circuit diodes, and to provide some limiting of peak capacitor voltage. It is difficult to obtain short-time overload capacity due to the tendency of the voltage stresses to climb dangerously high, while the clamp discharge resistors cannot be made small enough to limit the voltage rise without a severe efficiency penalty under normal load. The proposed circuit functions to switch in resistance only when needed to limit the voltage. It is very simple in concept and requires few parts and no external control power supply. Experimental results on a 20HP current source inverter will be described, showing the ability to attain 150% overload with minor increases in voltage stress over nominal load.


The primary function of the immune system is the recognition of the organism's own structures (self) which are to be tolerated, and alien structures (non-self) which are to be eliminated. In some cases, however, the immune mechanisms react against their own structures thus resulting in autoimmune processes which lead to autoimmune diseases. The paper analyzes the problem of autoantigens (sequestered, modified, cross-reacting), superantigens and the problem of cryptic determinants in the development of autoimmune processes, namely on the basis of the loss of the central or peripheral tolerance. (Tab. 4, Fig. 5, Ref. 38.)


The study about the relationship between climate and economy is essential because it's understanding is the key to formulate the effective economic policy. El Nino is one of the climate phenomena's that directly impact Indonesia, so it is necessary to analyze its effect on the macroeconomic condition such as inflation. This study aims to analyze the impact of El Nino as an external factor and the impact of another relevant economic factor on the macroeconomic condition such as inflation at the regional level (province) in Indonesia. The method used is a spatial panel method to capture the effect of inter-regional spatial interactions. The results show that El Nino has a positive effect on inflation in the southern Indonesian provinces that are affected by El Nino, but no effect in northern Indonesia. The other significant determinants of regional inflation are minimum wage, local revenue, local government spending, and infrastructure. There is significant spatial dependence on regional inflation in Indonesia, indicating that the inflations of its neighboring provinces influence the inflation of a province.


Entity resolution in the domain of research paper authors is an important, but difficult problem. It suffers from insufficient contextual information, hence adding information from the web can significantly improve performance. We formulate the author coreference problem as one of graph partitioning with discriminativelytrained edge weights. Building on our previous work, this paper presents improved and more comprehensive results for the method in which we incorporate web documents as additional nodes in the graph. We also propose efficient strategies to select a subset of nodes to add to the graph and to select a subset of queries to gather additional nodes, without significant loss of performance gain. We extend the classic Set-cover problem to develop a node selection criteria, hence opening up interesting theoretical possibilities. Finally, we propose a hybrid approach, that achieves 74.3% of the total improvement gain using only 18.3% of all additional


The delivery of nucleic acids into cells is an attractive approach for cancer therapy. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is among the most efficient nonviral carriers. Recent studies have demonstrated that PEI can be conjugated to targeting ligands, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transferrin (Schaffert et al., 2011; Abourbeh et al., 2012; Ogris et al., 1999). Herein we present a simplified protocol for producing homogeneous preparations of PEGylated linear PEI: LPEI-PEG2k. We generated two well-characterized copolymers, with ratios of LPEI to PEG of 1:1 and 1:3. These copolymers were further conjugated through disulfide bonds to a Her-2 targeting moiety, Her-2 affibody. This reaction yielded two triconjugates that target Her-2 overexpressing tumors. Polyplexes were formed by complexing plasmid DNA with the triconjugates. We characterized the biophysical properties of the conjugates, and found that the triconjugate 1:3 polyplex had lower ζ potential, larger particle size, and more heterogeneous shape than the triconjugate 1:1 polyplex. Triconjugate 1:1 and triconjugate 1:3 polyplexes were highly selective toward cells that overexpress Her-2 receptors, but triconjugate 1:1 polyplex was more efficient at gene delivery. Our studies show that the biophysical and biological properties of the conjugates can be profoundly affected by the ratio of LPEI:PEG2k:ligand. The procedure described here can be adapted to generate a variety of triconjugates, simply by changing the targeting moiety.


To determine the extent to which involuntary hospitalization is overused, a "No-Commitment Week" was set aside, during which emergency room psychiatrists committed only patients in absolute need of hospitalization. Compared with the week before and the week after, there was no significant difference in the number of patients committed during No-Commitment Week. The authors propose replication of the study on a larger scale but suggest that decisions about involuntary hospitalization in public mental hospitals are the result of societal attitudes, which will be subject to change as long as society itself continues to change.


L-type (CaV1.2) calcium channel antagonists play an important role in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. (R)-Roscovitine, a trisubstituted purine, has been shown to inhibit L-currents by slowing activation and enhancing inactivation. This study utilized molecular and pharmacological approaches to determine whether these effects result from (R)-roscovitine binding to a single site. Using the S enantiomer, we find that (S)-roscovitine enhances inactivation without affecting activation, which suggests multiple sites. This was further supported in studies using chimeric channels comprised of N- and L-channel domains. Those chimeras containing L-channel domains I and IV showed (R)-roscovitine-induced slowed activation like that of wild type L-channels, whereas chimeric channels containing L-channel domain I responded to (R)-roscovitine with enhanced inactivation. We conclude that (R)-roscovitine binds to distinct sites on L-type channels to slow activation and enhance inactivation. These sites appear to be unique from other calcium channel antagonist sites that reside within domains III and IV and are thus novel sites that could be exploited for future drug development. Trisubstituted purines could become a new class of drugs for the treatment of diseases related to hyperfunction of L-type channels, such as Torsades de Pointes.


We have demonstrated the synthesis of highly reactive boron nanomaterials by alkali metal reduction of BCl3 under sonication, followed by annealing. Unlike ordinary boron powders, these materials combust completely and release close to their theoretical energy content (based on elemental analysis) in polymer protected bomb calorimetry experiments. We have scaled up the synthesis using a commercial (Columbia International CIT-UHiPR-U1000V600) ultrasonic hi-pressure reactor. The synthesis reactions exhibit a scale problem, where they yield diminishes considerably on scale up, probably a result of alkali metals becoming trapped inside a mass of salts and rendered unable to react. We measured the combustion properties of the materials by bomb calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC), and report elemental analyses on selected samples.


To ensure the stability and effectiveness of information scheduling business of State Grid, a reserve dispatching mechanism is proposed. Taking the concentrated dispatching requirements of State Grid into full consideration, the mechanism conducts specific research on four major phases, including reserve dispatching detection, Reserve dispatching analysis, Reserve dispatching execution and dispatching data recovery. Based on these steps, experimental results are given to verify that the proposed mechanism is an efficient, economical and reliable reserve dispatching method which exerts much influence on improving the reliability of dispatching monitoring service in State Grid, as well as reducing the risks and costs of information management system.


Novel antifungal antibiotics, designated as dactylfungins A (1) and B (3), were isolated from the culture broth of Dactylaria parvispora D500. Dactylfungins A and B were found to be new substances containing an alpha-pyrone and a gamma-pyrone ring, respectively, which conjoined with a polyalcohol moiety and a long side chain, based on NMR spectral analyses. The antibiotics were active against Candida pseudotropicalis and other fungi, with an MIC value at less than 10 micrograms/ml.


We measure the capacity of multiple-input multiple-output radio systems in microcellular environments. We use a new data evaluation method that allows to evaluate the cumulative distribution function of the capacity from a single measurement. This method is based on an extraction of the parameters of the multipath components and, thereafter, a synthetic variation of their phases. In the analyzed environments, we find capacities to be about 30% smaller than would be anticipated from an idealized model. In addition, the frequency selectivity of the channel makes the CDF of the capacity steeper and, thus, increases the outage capacity, compared with the frequency-flat case, but the influence on the mean capacity is small.


Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers in the United States. NCI estimates ~21,880 new cases with ~13,850 deaths in 2011 (http://www.cancer.gov/ cancertopics/ types/ovariancancer). Unfortunately, the majority of these cases are only discovered at advanced stages (stage III or IV) due to the cancer's asymptomatic nature which has an overall survival rate between 5-25% (Bast et al., 2009; Hennessy et al., 2008). Hence, the inability to detect this disease during early stages has led to poor prognosis. Despite improvements in medicine and patient care, reasonable screening measures for detecting early stage ovarian cancers are presently lacking. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular events that underlie ovarian cancer development are needed. The current strategy for treatment of ovarian cancer is surgical debulking followed by chemotherapy (Bast et al., 2009; Hennessy et al., 2008). Although ~70% of ovarian cancers respond to a combination of platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy administered after surgery, current treatments are of limited efficacy in preventing tumor recurrence and progression (Bast et al., 2009; Hennessy et al., 2008). Thus, new anti-neoplastic agents are urgently needed to increase the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells. Recently, evidence has emerged revealing the importance of genomic aberrations in the progression of ovarian cancer (Gorringe & Campbell, 2009; Gray et al., 2003). Through the use of high throughput technologies (i.e. array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), microarray, and SNP arrays), specific genomic regions have been identified to be either amplified or silenced in tumor progression (Gorringe & Campbell, 2009; Gray et al., 2003). One such region which we and others (Nanjundan et al., 2007; Osterberg et al., 2009) have previously identified to be frequently amplified early in serous epithelial ovarian cancer development is the 3q26.2 region which harbors Transforming Growth Factor  pathway (TGF) co-repressors, ecotropic viral integration site-1 (EVI1) (Nanjundan et al., 2007) and SnoN/SkiL (Nanjundan et al., 2008). A large amount of work has recently emerged involving the intricacies of TGF signaling and its role in cancer progression. Importantly, this signaling pathway is dysregulated in ovarian carcinomas.


The experimental stand is developed for registration of reflection and transparence coefficients in visible and IR diapasons, characteristic for radiant components of thermal fluxes for combustion chambers of diesel engines, turbine blades and a surface of aero-space apparatuses. Distinctive feature of the stand is a spectral photometric sphere for influence indemnification of scattering indicatrix (phase function). Estimations of scattering and absorption indexes of experimental and model samples of a semitransparent ceramic material on the base of stabilized zirconium dioxide for probing laser radiation at the fixed wavelengths 0,63 µm; 1,15 µm; 3,39 µm were carried out.


Background F-box proteins are essential components of the E3 ubiquitin ligases which are involved in the regulation of almost all life activities such as cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis, which have become an important research and drug target. However, there are few studies on F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 16 (FBXL16) in endometrial carcinoma. Methods Clinical samples were collected for determining the correlation between FBXL16 and endometrial carcinoma. Cells were screened and established with Ishikawa cells which proved the fundamental role of FBXL16 in regulating cell proliferation and cell cycle. The MPA-resistant endometrial carcinoma cell line Ishikawa/MPA was established. FBXL16, PP2AB55α, and cyclin D1 were analyzed separately in MPA sensitive and resistant Ishikawa cells in vitro and in vivo. Results The high expression of FBXL16 was positively correlated with MPA resistance and poor prognosis of endometrial cancer. MPA tolerance of endometrial cancer cells was inhibited by knockdown of FBXL16 in DNA content assessment, CCK-8, and colony formation. It was confirmed that FBXL16 inhibited the activity of substrate PP2AB55α by binding to PP2A, reduced the phosphorylation level at Thr308 site of AKT1, inhibited the expression of GSK-3β, and thus led to a significant decrease in the phosphorylation level of cyclin D1, which prevented the ubiquitination recognition and degradation of cyclin D1. Conclusion In our experiments, FBXL16 binds PP2A to promote the dephosphorylation of Thr286 site of cyclin D1 via AKT1/GSK3β/cyclin D1 pathway, which is required for resisting the ubiquitination degradation and enhances the MPA resistance of Ishikawa.


Contributors. Preface. Chapter 1: Industrial Solid Wastes Utilization and Disposal (Salah M. El-Haggar). Chapter 2: Residential and Institutional Environment (Xudong Yang). Chapter 3: Solid Waste Managemen (George Tchobanoglous). Chapter 4: Air Pollution and Noise Control (Robert Jacko and Timothy La Breche). Chapter 5: Surveying And Mapping for Environmental Engineering (Kurt Bauer). Chapter 6: Planning and Environmental Assessment (Kurt Bauer). References. Index.


In the last twenty years the law in New Zealand relating to the enforceability of variation agreements has witnessed some notable developments. The traditional rule was that a one-sided variation to an existing contract whereby party A agrees to pay more in return for party B's agreement to perform its obligations under the existing contract was not a binding contract due to a lack of consideration flowing from party B. This is no longer good law in New Zealand. Instead, two Court of Appeal decisions have held that such variations will be binding if party A receives a benefit "in practice", even if that benefit was already owing to party A under the original contract. Further, both cases suggested that there was no need for consideration in variation cases and that such agreements would be legally binding as long as there was no duress or illegitimate pressure present. These cases involved agreements where party A agreed to pay more in return for party B's agreement to perform its original obligations (what I shall call adding variations). What is not clear is what effect they have had on variation agreements where party A promises to accept less from party B (subtracting variations), in particular cases where party A agrees to accept less money from B in satisfaction of the whole debt that B owes. In light of the recent England and Wales Court of Appeal decision, MWB Business Exchange Centres Ltd v Rock Advertising Ltd, where the "practical benefit" test was extended to at least some subtracting variations, it is a good opportunity to revisit the law relating to part-payment cases. When are such agreements binding in law? What role does estoppel have to play?


Introduction: Urticaria is a highly prevalent condition resulting in a large number of medical consultancies worldwide. Urticaria is derived from the Latin word "urere" meaning "to burn". Urticaria usually manifests as a transient, itchy, polymorphic skin eruption. It can occur in any age group. Aim: To study the prevalence and possible triggers of acute urticaria in children. Materials and Methods: All children of age group six months to 12 years visiting the Institute from June 2018 to April 2019, with the complaint of acute urticaria with or without angioedema were included in the study while those with chronic urticaria and only angioedema were excluded. Sixty five children presented with acute urticaria with or without angioedema. Patients were diagnosed based on history and clinical examination. All patients were subjected to a detailed history, general physical examination and, necessary investigations like Complete Blood Count (CBC), absolute eosinophil count, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive Protein (CRP), Skin Prick test as indicated. They received appropriate treatment and their clinical outcome was studied. Results: Prevalence of acute urticaria was found to be 0.23. It was more commonly seen in males (63.08%) and more in the age group of 1 to 5 years (56.92%). The focus of infection was found in 44.6% of children, while 21% of children had a history of consumption of some form of medications leading to urticaria. Conclusion: Urticaria can be prevented in children by preventing them from infection and avoiding the use of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid unless very necessary. Those children with a family history of acute urticaria should be prevented from exposure to excessive heat, cold, pressure, vibration, etc. Investigations are also recommended as an important diagnostic tool to find out the aetiology of acute urticaria.


We propose an optimization approach to design cost-effective electrical power transmission networks. That is, we aim to select both the network structure and the line conductances (line sizes) so as to optimize the trade-off between network efficiency (low power dissipation within the transmission network) and the cost to build the network. We begin with a convex optimization method based on the paper "Minimizing Effective Resistance of a Graph" [Ghosh, Boyd & Saberi]. We show that this (DC) resistive network method can be adapted to the context of AC power flow. However, that does not address the combinatorial aspect of selecting network structure. We approach this problem as selecting a subgraph within an over-complete network, posed as minimizing the (convex) network power dissipation plus a non-convex cost on line conductances that encourages sparse networks where many line conductances are set to zero. We develop a heuristic approach to solve this non-convex optimization problem using: (1) a continuation method to interpolate from the smooth, convex problem to the (non-smooth, non-convex) combinatorial problem, (2) the majorization-minimization algorithm to perform the necessary intermediate smooth but non-convex optimization steps. Ultimately, this involves solving a sequence of convex optimization problems in which we iteratively reweight a linear cost on line conductances to fit the actual non-convex cost. Several examples are presented which suggest that the overall method is a good heuristic for network design. We also consider how to obtain sparse networks that are still robust against failures of lines and/or generators.


Digital watermarking is an effective and popular technique to disapprove illegal copying and distribution of copyrighted digital content. One of the important issues of watermarking is the robustness subject to resist the lossy compression of the watermarked image. In addition, in JPEG quantification, there is a question which is that the two similar DCT coefficients will be quantified to the same rank. It will cause the mistake of the extracting watermark from the lossy compression of the watermarked image. In this paper, a robust oblivious watermarking technique is proposed. This presented scheme performed in the middle frequency region of the original host image. The modification of the mid-frequency coefficients is corresponding to the quantization table in JPEG standard. And, the permutation operation is adopted in the block of the host image in order to discourage the effect of the JPEG quantification as discuss above. With this technique, the watermark can survive when the watermarked image is compressed using JPEG. Moreover, the proposed scheme doesn't require the information of the watermark and the original host image in the extracting process.


Characteristic features of hydrolysis and carbohydrate absorption in 106 newly-diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients were studied by means of a combined carbohydrate load method. Certain ways of treating the disturbances were tested. It was found that in 60% of the cases with an active pulmonary tuberculosis and with symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases, there were disturbed processes of hydrolysis and carbohydrate absorption. A long-term administration of antituberculous drugs affects hydrolysis and carbohydrate absorption in the small intestine. A chemotherapeutic regimen supplemented with insulin, glucocorticoids, and folic acid, in particular, leads to the improvement of hydrolysis and carbohydrate absorption in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.


Neuroprotective effect of vasopressin analogues, arginine Vasopressin (AVP) and lysine Vasopressin (LVP) was evaluated against MgCl2 induced cerebral ischemia model. AVP significantly prevented (P < 0.01) MgCl2 (1M) induced cerebral ischemia as compared to lysine Vasopressin (LVP) which was less effective (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with PI-3 kinase inhibitors, Wortmannin and LY-294002 (50 microg/kg, ip) significantly attenuated the protective effects of vasopressin. AVP was also effective in reducing the maximal electroshock (MES) induced convulsive time and this protective effect was blocked by PI-3 kinase inhibitors. On the other hand, pretreatment with gap junction intracellular communication (GJIC) blocker, mephenamic acid (30 mg/kg, ip) significantly potentiated the MgCl2 induced cerebral ischemia. This enhancement of cerebral ischemia was not reversed by vasopressin analogue, LVP. The role of V1 vasopressin receptor was evaluated by pretreating the animals with non-selective V1 receptor antagonist, des Gly-NH2, d (CH2)5 [D-Tyr2, Thr4] OVT which reversed the effects of AVP suggesting a role for vasopressin V1 receptors. This study suggests that neurohypophyseal hormone, AVP is neuroprotective against MgCl2 induced cerebral ischemia and this effect is modulated by PI-3 kinase enzyme inhibitors and protein kinase C inhibitors through possible influence on the cerebral vascular tone. This study suggests that gap junctions have potential role in the induction of MgCl2 induced cerebral ischemia.


We examined the effects of sex hormones on the functions of eosinophils. Treatment of eosinophils with beta-estradiol significantly enhanced the eosinophil adhesion to human mucosal microvascular endothelial cells (HMMEC), and eosinophils stimulated by a combination of beta-estradiol and progesterone showed significant induced degranulation. On the other hand, testosterone significantly reduced the eosinophil adhesion to HMMEC and eosinophil viability. The experiments from the series of studies might provide a partial explanation for the aggravation of asthma and some forms of rhinitis that occurs during pregnancy.


We have reported that the rat LH receptor is encoded by 11 exons of a single copy gene. Exons 1-10 encode the N-terminal half and exon 11 the C-terminal half. Since exon splice sites often mark structural transitions of multiexon molecules, we have attempted to define the function of the exons by generating mutant receptors with missing exons. As a first step, we have constructed two LH mutant receptors, one containing exons 1-10 (LH receptor (exon)1-10) and the other containing exon 1 and exon 11 (LH receptor(exon)1&11). These mutant receptors were functionally expressed in Cos 7A cells. The LH mutant receptor(exon)1-10, which lacks the membrane associated C-terminal half of the receptor, showed a high affinity for hCG. Surprisingly, the LH mutant receptor(exon)1&11 recognized hCG with a low affinity and stimulated G-proteins and cAMP production. The results demonstrate that exons 1-10 encode a high affinity hCG binding site and proves an important hypothesis that exon 11 encodes the site for receptor-modulation to activate G-proteins. Furthermore, the results raises an intriguing possibility of a second hormone binding site in the C-terminal half and multistep hormone binding.


The free ion activity model for the biouptake of metals from complex media is limited to cases where mass transfer is not flux determining. This paper follows a previous paper (Van Leeuwen, H. P. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1999, 33, 3743) where speciation dynamics and bioavailability of metals are analyzed in terms of bioconversion kinetics and simultaneous metal transport in the medium coupled with dissociation kinetics. Such analysis shows under what conditions labile complex species contribute to the biouptake process or, equivalently, under what conditions the free ion activity model is not obeyed. The present work addresses the theoretical extension of the expressions for the metal flux in the medium by a radial diffusion term so that these are also applicable in the microorganism size range. The transition from macroscopic to microscopic surfaces affects not only the nature of the flux but also the extent of lability of complex species (Van Leeuwen, H. P.; Pinheiro, J. P. J. Electroanal. Chem. 1999, 471, 55), and this can have a dramatic influence on the rate of biouptake of metal ions. Labilities of metal complexes and the ensuing limiting metal fluxes are therefore systematically analyzed for various dimensions of the uptaking surface. Different conditions of bioaffinities and bioconversion capacities are considered, and a number of examples of metal complexes with specified kinetic features are discussed.


Abstract This article considers the mutual influence of antitrust enforcement in the petroleum product markets and competition legislation in Russia. An analysis of infringement decisions by the Russian competition authority allows us to understand the perceived goals of economic policy in this sector. The shift from antitrust investigations and infringement decisions to a very specific set of remedies is explained by the desire to maintain low retail prices under increasing concentration without price subsidisation or promotion of entry at the refining stage of the value chain. The article highlights the specific use of antitrust legislation to maintain low fuel prices and support independent retailing companies. We also note the limitation this policy faces. The goals and effects of antitrust enforcement in the industry explain, in turn, the specific path of competition legislation development in Russia.


Twenty-first century legal professionals need a reflective legal education that emphasizes self-assessment and self-efficacy; supports life-long learning; and builds the capacity for innovative thinking and responding creatively and constructively to "wicked problems". "Reflective practice"—a core competency in other professions—has the potential to enhance the education of legal professionals by developing these skills. Encouraging and modelling reflective practice is best started in law school. This article aims to facilitate a dialogue about how reflective practice might be integrated into the law school curriculum and provides conceptual frameworks to help envision how reflective practice might be operationalized. Examples of reflective methods to help develop it as a competency will also be given. Reflective practice, as a disciplined form of reflective inquiry, offers the potential to enhance law student learning and, more systematically, develop professional expertise. Amongst other imperatives for enhancing legal education, various national reports call for strategic, collective and aligned action to better prepare future legal professionals to respond to growing gaps in access to justice and predictions of a disruptive and challenging future for the legal profession. Thus, this article will set out how reflective practice can nurture a positive, dynamic professional identity, cultivate resiliency, and forge a stronger sense of legal professionalism, while also supporting students to become both "justice ready" and "practice ready".


OBJECTIVES
We examined the impact of expanding health insurance coverage on socioeconomic disparities in total and cardiovascular disease mortality from 1998 to 2007 in Colombia.

METHODS
We used Poisson regression to analyze data from mortality registries (633 905 deaths) linked to population census data. We used the relative index of inequality to compare disparities in mortality by education between periods of moderate increase (1998-2002) and accelerated increase (2003-2007) in health insurance coverage.

RESULTS
Disparities in mortality by education widened over time. Among men, the relative index of inequality increased from 2.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.52, 2.67) in 1998-2002 to 3.07 (95% CI = 2.99, 3.15) in 2003-2007, and among women, from 2.86 (95% CI = 2.77, 2.95) to 3.12 (95% CI = 3.03, 3.21), respectively. Disparities increased yearly by 11% in men and 4% in women in 1998-2002, whereas they increased by 1% in men per year and remained stable among women in 2003-2007.

CONCLUSIONS
Mortality disparities widened significantly less during the period of increased health insurance coverage than the period of no coverage change. Although expanding coverage did not eliminate disparities, it may contribute to curbing future widening of disparities.


The last decade has seen a transformation in the endoscopic management of Barrett's esophagus associated dysplasia from simple surveillance to therapeutic tissue eradication. The combined approach using endoscopic mucosal resection and ablative techniques has proven to be safe and effective. This strategy provides a more cost-effective and safer alternative to esophagectomy for patient with high-grade dysplasia. Despite its safety and efficacy, many questions remain regarding durability, complications, and risk-stratification of patients for endoscopic therapy. However, endoscopic therapy provides a safe and effective weapon against the rising incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma.


Positrons have been used for material analysis not only because of their novel characteristics, such as an ability to detect open-volume type defects in materials, but also because interactions with solids differ from those of electrons in such processes as scattering and diffraction. Monoenergetic positron beams and microbeams were developed in the 1980s, and positron experiments have made progress in material analyses. In this article we review the fundamental technique of microbeam fabrication, especially using a magnetically-guided positron beam, its extension to various analytical methods, and expectations for future research.


We introduce Oikos adtl, a speciication language for distributed systems based on asynchronous communication via remote writings. The language is designed to support the composition of speciica-tions. It allows expressing the global properties of a system in terms of the local properties of the components and of coordination patterns. Oikos adtl is based on an asynchronous, distributed, temporal logic, which extends Unity to deal with components and events. We present the speciication language and its semantics, introduce a number of compositionality theorems, and discuss some coordination patterns. A fragment of a standard case study is used to validate pragmatically the approach, with respect to expressiveness and work-ability.


Uranium- and iron-containing waste simulated effluent has been treated sequentially with a novel resin, viz., polyacrylamide hydroxamic acid (PAAHA). The motivation is to investigate the competitive interactions with transition metals during the removal of radiologically and chemically toxic uranium. The sequential sorption results indicate that the resin is more Fe selective compared to U and it retains more iron. X-ray absorption fine structure measurements, which comprise of both X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) techniques, have been carried out on the PAAHA resin at the Fe K-edge and U L3-edge to probe the change in the local coordination environment on sequential sorption of uranium and iron. EXAFS measurements conclude that the U-O distances and coordination are modified when the treatment sequences of U and Fe are interchanged, whereas the Fe local structure remains intact. The results obtained from EXAFS measurements have been verified by detail analysis of XANES data.


Measurement of the surface tension and surface stress of solids contact angle techniques and measurements measurement on ion-mediated and van der Waals force using atomic force microscopy measurement of electro-osmosis as a method for electrokinetic surface analysis X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS) of biomedical polymers and surfactants evanescent wave scattering at solid surfaces characterizing colloidal materials using dynamic light scattering light scattering studies of microcapsules in suspension three-dimensional particle tracking of micronic colloidal particles low-mass luminescent organogels chromatographic methods measurements of antibody-antigen association rates the acid-base behaviour of proteins determined by ISFETs.


Recent studies have shown that nonlinear predictors can achieve about 2-3 dB improvement in speech prediction over conventional linear predictors. In this paper, we exploit the advantage of the nonlinear prediction capability of neural networks and apply it to the design of improved predictive speech coders. Our studies concentrate on the following three aspects: (a) the development of short-term (formant) and long-term (pitch) nonlinear predictive vector quantizers (b) the analysis of the output variance of the nonlinear predictive filter with respect to the input disturbance (c) the design of nonlinear predictive speech coders. The above studies have resulted in a fully vector-quantized, code-excited, nonlinear predictive speech coder. Performance evaluations and comparisons with linear predictive speech coding are presented. These tests have shown the applicability of nonlinear prediction in speech coding and the improvement in coding performance. >


NIRPS, the Near Infra-Red Planet Searcher, is part of a new generation of Adaptive Optics fibre-fed spectrographs. It will be installed in the ESO La Silla 3.6 m telescope and will be operated individually or jointly with HARPS. NIRPS aims at spectroscopic observations of stellar objects in the NIR, from 970 nm to 1800 nm (with the option for later extension to 2400 nm). The instrument is assisted by an AO system, whose sensing bandwidth will be from 700 nm to 950 nm. Even if telescope pointing and guiding is perfect at a given reference wavelength, atmospheric dispersion will shift the image centroid at different wavelengths, with impact on fibre injection. Moreover such effect will vary during acquisition with the observation zenith angle. Therefore an Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC) is mandatory to achieve the instrument requirements. In this paper we will present the design, integration and test results for the NIRPS ADC.


Within recent years there has come about a changed conception in regard to the responsibility of the general public for welfare policies such as public education, public improvements, standards of living, and health. Within the last century we have seen America develop a great public educational system in which the state has undertaken to make provision for the education of persons of types of ability ranging from the subnormal to the keenest student in the land. As the years have gone by, each decade has shown a markedly increased willingness on the part of the state to provide for new variations in the educational needs of the public, until at the present moment it is hard to find a state that has not only assumed large responsibility for the training provided in elementary schools, high schools and ordinary collegiate institutions, but also made provision for the training in technical fields—agriculture,


Proinflammatory cytokines are centrally involved in tumor progression and survival in non–small cell lung cancer, and both the presence of infiltrating neutrophils and bacterial infection in the lung may indicate a poor prognosis. Against this background, we investigated the effect of the bacterial cell wall component lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 synthesis in the non–small cell lung cancer line A549 and in A549-neutrophil cocultures. The LPS induced a dose-dependent and time-dependent release of IL-8 from A549 cells, whereas IL-6 could not be detected. Interestingly, in A549-neutrophil cocultures, IL-8 synthesis was massively amplified and IL-6 was also released, compared with the respective monocultures. The A549 cells were identified as the primary cellular source of these cytokines, as enhanced cytokine mRNA transcription was detected in this cell type, although not in neutrophils in the coculture system. Experiments done in transwells indicated that direct cell-cell contact was a prerequisite for the increased cytokine generation. Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α bioactivity by neutralizing antibodies and blocking cyclooxygenase-2 activity blunted the enhanced cytokine generation in the coculture system. Amplification of LPS-induced cytokine secretion could be reproduced when the small cell lung cancer cell line H69 was cocultured with neutrophils. When the Gram-positive cell wall component lipoteichoic acid was used instead of LPS, cytokine synthesis was also amplified in A549-neutrophil cocultures, to a similar extent to that observed with LPS. These data indicate that interaction between bacterial pathogens, neutrophils, and tumor cells might amplify the release of proinflammatory cytokines which may promote tumor growth in vivo. (Mol Cancer Res 2009;7(10):1729–35)


Radio telemetry of the Siberian flying squirrels was organized for the first time in the territory of Russia during the winter period in 2012-2013 in the Southwest of the Arkhangelsk region (N61 05''09" E040 14''46"). The sizes of winter individual sites of dwelling (3.66 hectares), the average distance of the male flying squirrel from the shelter during the night (49.4 ± 35.3 m, n = 78) and the maximum removal during the rut (1282 m) are revealed. The structure of habitats in the action area, available (in a radius of 100 m from the shelters) and adjacent territories (at a distance of 100-150 m from the shelters), and in the survey area is studied. It is established that the flying squirrel is very selective in choosing the habitats. Mixed spruce-dominated forests (of 65 and 100 years) prevailed in the action area and available territories. The flying squirrel avoided birch-dominated forests, middle-aged forests, young growths, open habitats and forests damaged by felling.


Purpose: The purpose of this case study is to raise awareness about military sexual trauma (MST) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the physical and psychological comorbidities associated with MST. Data sources: Health Science Data Sources—PubMed and authors' experiences. Conclusions: Women veterans are the fastest growing segment of the veteran population. Approximately 200,000 of the 2.6 million veterans who have deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) are women. Many are seeking care in both the Veteran Administration and the civilian sector. It is estimated that upwards of 26,000 women have experienced some form of sexual assault in the military. MST can lead to multiple deleterious physical and psychological comorbidities. It is imperative that nurse practitioners (NPs) ask women about military service and utilize the Military Health History Pocket Card for Clinicians to ascertain service‐connected health risks, primarily MST and PTSD. Prompt identification and intervention is key to reducing physical and psychological comorbidities. Implications for practice: This case study emphasizes the need for NPs to ask all women about military service and potential exposure to sexual trauma. It provides guidance on how to incorporate the Military Health History Pocket Card for Clinicians into practice.


Efficient cache coherence strategies are critical to maintain data consistency and provide a reasonable performance of wireless applications with mobile devices. However, the majority of the current strategies for cache coherence in mobile environments have not been designed to be used in cooperative applications. In this paper we propose and describe an implementation of a cache coherence scheme for mobile cooperative work. The scheme is based on periodic broadcast of invalidation reports and provides some aspects of awareness information. The implementation is made through the development of a prototype cooperative application.


Background An investigation of Disability Support Workers' (DSWs) psychosocial work safety showed poorer health and safety outcomes than norm groups. Numerous safety interventions derived from a work safety climate measure and stakeholder feedback were identified, with seven translated into practice and evaluated. At evaluation, roll-out varied from organisation-wide implementation to implementation that was restricted to limited work-sites. Successful implementation of interventions was facilitated by wide safety benefit consensus, strong overt management commitment, and use of change champions. Findings supported the importance of factors identified in research for successful change implementation, but less research had been reported about ensuring longer-term intervention maintenance and/or sustainability. Thus, a follow-up study used and evaluated a model to understand the key factors required for the successful implementation, maintenance and sustainability of work safety interventions. Method Semi-structured interviews were used to follow the seven implemented work safety interventions to identify factors facilitating or hindering their implementation, maintenance, and sustainability. Results Numerous influential intervention and organisational factors were identified. These were conceptualised in the model as: 1) intervention attributes; 2) implementation process characteristics; 3) leadership behaviours and characteristics; and 4) the internal and external organisational context. Conclusions Findings suggested no 'one size fits all' approach to factors critical for implementing, maintaining and/or sustaining these successful interventions. Rather, relevant factors and combinations of factors varied in importance across interventions and over the course of the intervention implementation. Learning Outcomes Findings support the need to identify and address factors facilitating and/or hindering the longer-term sustainability of implemented safety recommendations.


: Introduction : In the world, the glycotoxic model has been used through the use of ethidium bromide (BE) which involves demyelination with the process of remyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). This experimental method helps to detail the events involved in responding to the finding of remyelination in diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis . Objective : This study aims to assess whether Vitamin D has the potential to alter the gait movement of demyelinated rats with ethidium bromide (BE) through experimental glycotoxic models with the use of ethidium bromide (BE) in order to conjugate knowledge about nerve regeneration and the development of strategies that promote the recovery of nervous tissue. Results : The treatment group with 100.000 IU/week demonstrated a significant difference in gait on hind legs compared to the positive control group in specificities in CPMO and APMA. Conclusion : It was possible to concluded in this study that the treatment with Vitamin D supplementation in rats with lesions in the central nervous system showed a faster functional performance and with a greater grip evidenced in gait in high doses of Vitamin D supplementation, in this case, equivalent to 50.000 IU/week to 100.000 IU/week. Please this in Eliza Miranda Ramos et al, Functional Evaluation Of Gait In Wistar Rats After Demyelinization With Ethidium Bromide In Supplementation Of Vitamin D ., Am. 07(11). in D42, D69 and D83 (p <0.05).


This paper deals with the modelling and analysis of the three-phase AC transformer with electromagnetic and electric (hybrid) coupling. The electromagnetic coupling is realized by means of the conventional transformer. The electrical coupling is realized by means of a buck-boost matrix-reactance chopper (MRC), which is supplied from an auxiliary secondary winding of the transformer. In this paper there are descriptions of the proposed solution, with a presentation of their modeling and analysis of their properties.


Previously, we reported a chain of effects induced by phenylacetonitrile, the gregarious‐phase adult cohesion pheromone of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), on conspecific hoppers. Specifically, the nymphs became hyperactive and displayed high levels of intraspecific predation, as surviving individuals gradually shifted to the solitary phase. The findings suggested that the pheromone could induce a significant level of mortality of the nymphs and predispose them to greater sensitivity to lower doses of insecticides. In this study, we compared the effects of the pheromone and various doses of three pesticides (fipronil, malathion, and carbosulfan) to pheromone‐exposed and unexposed crowd‐reared hoppers in semi‐field enclosures. The pheromone on its own displayed a high level of cumulative mortality of the nymphs (89%). Although combinations with fractional pesticide doses gave control efficiencies that were, in most cases, higher than with individual pesticides, pheromonal and pesticidal effects were only partially complementary, probably because of the feeding‐deterrent effects of the pesticides and the resulting reduction in cannibalism. However, our results demonstrate the possibility of significantly reducing the levels of pesticides used in hopper control and, thus, their negative environmental effects.


Discussions on Aristotle's account of homonymy in natural philosophy have not paid attention to its distinct use in the Generation of animals. I show that Aristotle's use of homonymy in this treatise is relevant to the question of how to name living substances in the process of generation. In the GA, Aristotle uses homonymy to argue that embryos must have soul. These embryos, when the heart has been distinctly set apart, satisfy the criterion set in Metaph. IX.7 to be an animal in dunamis. In the GA, Aristotle refers to this embryo as an animal—albeit incomplete, because it cannot yet carry out all the functions signified by the name—and not as a homonym. The phenomenon of generation thus calls for a refinement of the principle of Functional Determination, according to which something is what its names signifies only if it can carry out the functions signified by the name.


In this paper, a novel hierarchical image fusion scheme based on wavelet multi-scale decomposition is presented. The basic idea is to perform a wavelet multi-scale decomposition of each source image first, then the wavelet coefficients of the fused image is constructed using region-based selection and weighted operators according to different fusion rules, finally the fused image is obtained by taking inverse wavelet transform. This approach has been successfully used in image fusion. In addition, with the use of the parameters such as entropy, cross entropy, mutual information, root mean square error, peak-to-peak signal-to-noise ratio, the performance of the fusion scheme is evaluated and analyzed. The experimental results show that the fusion scheme is effectual.


Forecasting the bankruptcy of companies exposes the missing data problem, which applies chiefly to entities having financial problems, who wish to conceal thereby their bad situation. One of the methods of making up incomplete data is imputation. The aim of the paper is to present different data imputation variants and to compare their influence on the classification efficiency of one of the statistical bankruptcy forecasting methods – the logit model. The results have shown that the best approach is to use the median as determined separately for healthy and bankrupt companies.


Periodic porous alloyed Au-Ag nanosphere (NS) arrays with different periodic lengths and tunable composition ratios were prepared on Si substrates on a large scale (∼cm2) using stepwise metal deposition-annealing and subsequent chemical corrosion from a monolayer of colloidal polystyrene (PS) microspheres as the initial template. The porous alloyed Au-Ag NSs possessed a high porosity and bicontinuous morphology composed of hierarchically interconnected ligaments, which were obtained from an optimized dealloying process in nitric acid. Interestingly, when the dealloying time was prolonged, the average size of the porous alloyed NSs slightly decreased, and the width of the ligaments gradually increased. The periodic length of the array could be facilely changed by controlling the initial particle size of the PS template. Moreover, the porous alloyed Au-Ag NS arrays were explored as a platform for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) and exhibited excellent reproducibility and high sensitivity because of the periodic structure of the arrays and the abundance of inherent "hotspots". After optimization experiments, a low concentration of 10-10 M 4-ATP could be detected on these porous Au-Ag NS array substrates. Such highly reproducible SERS activity is meaningful for improving the practical application of portable Raman detection equipment.