Accurate modeling of seismic wave propagation in the subsurface of the earth is essential for understanding earthquake dynamics, characterizing seismic hazards on global scales and hydrocarbon reservoir exploration and monitoring on local scales. These are among the most challenging computational problems in geoscience. Despite algorithmic advances and the increasingly powerful computational resources currently available, including fast CPUs, GPUs and large volumes of computer memory, there are still daunting computational challenges in simulating 3D seismic wave propagation in complex earth environments. Recent advances in quantum computing are suggestive that geoscience may soon begin to benefit from this promising field. For example, Finite Difference (FD) modeling is the most widely used method to simulate seismic wave propagation. In the frequency domain, FD methods reduce solutions of the wave equation into systems of linear equations; such systems are just the type that quantum algorithms may be capable of solving with exponential speedup, in comparison with classical algorithms. For the computational geophysicist, to prepare to take advantage of these speed-ups, which could arrive in as few as 5-10 years, the tasks at hand are (1) to become familiar with the logic and concepts associated with quantum computing, and (2) to map our key computational algorithms (e.g., frequency domain FD) to this domain.


Effect of salinity on the physiological growth and proximate mineral content of purslane (Portulaca Oleracea L.) "The demand for salinity-tolerant plant is increasing due to augmented use of effluent or low-quality water irrigation and the growing Purslane in coastal areas. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a drought and salt tolerant annual plant which contains high amounts of beneficial antioxidant vitamins and minerals. This study is to determine the effects of different concentrations of sea water application on the physiological growth and proximate mineral contents on this succulent weeds. The experiment was conducted in pots filled with a mixture of top soil in the rain shelter at the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, UMS (Sandakan campus). The planting medium is top soil and the weeds were subjected to six different sea water treatments. The electrical conductivity (EC) of collected sea water was 45.3dSm-1 then diluted according to a different level of salinity which is 0.0 (tap water), 4.53, 9.06, 13.59, 18.12 and 22.65 dSm-1• Each treatment was replicated five times using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and the treatment means were compared by Least Significance Differences (LSD) at 5% probability level. The physiological changes were evaluated to indicate the current condition of Purslane plant every week (for three weeks) after initial sea water
application, and at the end of the evaluation week the whole plants were harvested. The result obtained showed Purslane response varied to different levels of salinity, and the growth of Purslane was more suppressed under 50% of salinity level (22.65 dSm-1). The physiological changes were also evaluated to indicate the current condition of Purslane plant every week (for three weeks) after initial sea water application and at the end of the evaluation week the whole plants were harvested. The morphological traits suppressed highest at 50% of salinity level, stem diameter reduction was
(79.7%); leaf width reduction was (66.1%); leaf length reduction was (54.5%). The highest mineral residue content was found in leaves and the mineral composition was also affected by the salinity level. Nitrogen and crude protein content reduced with the increasing of salinity treatment. At 50% of salinity level (22.65 dSm-1 ) the nitrogen content was (1.05%) and showed the highest reduction (35.1%) compared to other treatments. At the same salinity treatment crude protein content showed the lowest value (6.62%) and at the same time it showed the highest total reduction (34.7%) compared to other treatment. The findings suggested that Purslane can be utilized at salt-effected soil and helps reduce the salt element in soil. This plant can become an alternative for a healthy lifestyle due to its good antioxidant and Omega-3 content. In addition, Purslane has the potential to become a key vegetable crop, especially for functional food and nutraceutical applications. The antioxidant content and nutritional value of purslane are important for human consumption and the potential use of this herb for the future is very promising.


The growing interest in both the automation of machine learning and deep learning has inevitably led to the development of a wide variety of automated methods for neural architecture search. The choice of the network architecture has proven to be critical, and many advances in deep learning spring from its immediate improvements. However, deep learning techniques are computationally intensive and their application requires a high level of domain knowledge. Therefore, even partial automation of this process helps to make deep learning more accessible to both researchers and practitioners. With this survey, we provide a formalism which unifies and categorizes the landscape of existing methods along with a detailed analysis that compares and contrasts the different approaches. We achieve this via a comprehensive discussion of the commonly adopted architecture search spaces and architecture optimization algorithms based on principles of reinforcement learning and evolutionary algorithms along with approaches that incorporate surrogate and one-shot models. Additionally, we address the new research directions which include constrained and multi-objective architecture search as well as automated data augmentation, optimizer and activation function search.


growth factor- prevents osteoblast apoptosis induced by skeletal unloading via PI3K/ Akt, Bcl-2, and phospho-Bad signaling. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 294: E794–E801, 2008; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00791.2007.— Loss of mechanical loading induces rapid bone loss resulting from reduced osteoblastogenesis and decreased bone formation. The signaling mechanisms involved in this deleterious effect on skeletal metabolism remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that hindlimb suspension in rats increases osteoblast apoptosis associated with decreased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. In this study, we investigated whether transforming growth factor (TGF)- (cid:1) 2 may prevent the altered signaling and osteoblast apoptosis induced by skeletal unloading in vivo. Hindlimb suspension-induced decreased bone volume was associated with reduced (cid:2) 5 (cid:1) 1 -integrin protein levels and PI3K/Akt signaling in unloaded bone. Continuous administration of TGF- (cid:1) 2 using osmotic minipumps prevented the decreased (cid:2) 5 (cid:1) 1 -integrin expression and the reduced PI3K/Akt signaling in unloaded bone, resulting in the prevention of osteoblast apoptosis. We also show that TGF- (cid:1) 2 prevented the decreased Bcl-2 levels induced by unloading, which suggests that TGF- (cid:1) 2 targets Bcl-2 via PI3K/Akt to prevent osteoblast apoptosis in unloaded bone. Further-more, we show that TGF- (cid:1) 2 prevented the decrease in phosphorylated Bad, the inactive form of the proapoptotic protein Bad, induced by unloading. These results identify a protective role for TGF- (cid:1) 2 in osteoblast apoptosis induced by mechanical unloading via the (cid:2) 5 (cid:1) 1 / PI3K/Akt signaling cascade and downstream Bcl-2 and phospho-Bad survival proteins. We thus propose a novel role for TGF- (cid:1) 2 in protection from unloading-induced apoptosis in vivo.


We built a system to participate in the eRisk 2019 T1 Shared Task. The aim of the task was to evaluate systems for early risk prediction on the internet, in particular to identify users suffering from eating disorders as accurately and quickly as possible given their history of Reddit posts in chronological order. In the controlled settings of this task, we also evaluated the performance of three different word representation methods: random indexing, GloVe, and ELMo. We discuss our system's performance, also in the light of the scores obtained by other teams in the shared task. Our results show that our two-step learning approach was quite successful, and we obtained good scores on the early risk prediction metric ERDE across the board. Contrary to our expectations, we did not observe a clear-cut advantage of contextualized ELMo vectors over the commonly used and much more light-weight GloVe vectors. Our best model in terms of F1 score turned out to be a model with GloVe vectors as input to the text classifier and a multi-layer perceptron as user classifier. The best ERDE scores were obtained by the model with ELMo vectors and a multi-layer perceptron. The model with random indexing vectors hit a good balance between precision and recall in the early processing stages but was eventually surpassed by the models with GloVe and ELMo vectors. We put forward some possible explanations for the observed results, as well as proposing some improvements to our system.


Abstract The serum of patients with myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy contains immunoglobulins capable of causing in vitro acceleration of beating of neonatal rat heart myocytes. This effect is stereoselectively inhibited by (-)-propranolol and is inhibited also by the beta 1-selective adrenergic antagonists, bisoprolol and metoprolol. This effect is not reversed by washing and continues unabated for at least 24 h.


In the postwar era, developed economies have experienced two substantial trends in the net capital share of aggregate income: a rise during the last several decades, which is well known, and a fall of comparable magnitude that continued until the 1970s, which is less well known. Overall, the net capital share has increased since 1948, but once disaggregated this increase turns out to come entirely from the housing sector: the contribution to net capital income from all other sectors has been zero or slightly negative, as the fall and rise have offset each other. Several influential accounts of the recent rise emphasize the role of increased capital accumulation, but this view is at odds with theory and evidence: it requires empirically improbable elasticities of substitution, and it presumes a correlation between the capital-income ratio and capital share that is not visible in the data. A more limited narrative that stresses scarcity and the increased cost of housing better fits the data. These results are clarified using a new, multisector model of factor shares.


In this paper scanning force microscopy is combined with simple but powerful data processing to determine quantitatively, on a sub-micrometer scale, the orientation of surface facets present on crystalline materials. A high-quality scanning force topography image is used to determine an angular histogram of the surface normal at each image point. In addition to the known method for the assignment of Miller indices to the facets appearing on the surface, a quantitative analysis is presented that allows the characterization of the relative population and morphological quality of each of these facets. Two different CdTe thin films are used as model systems to probe the capabilities of this method, which enables further information to be obtained about the thermodynamic stability of particular crystallographic facets. The method, which is referred to as nanogoniometry, will be a powerful tool to study in detail the surface of crystalline materials, particularly thin films, with sub-micrometer resolution.


We investigate experimentally a deterministic underdamped Josephson vortex ratchet-a fluxon particle moving along a Josephson junction in an asymmetric periodic potential. By applying a sinusoidal driving current, one can compel the vortex to move in a certain direction, producing an average dc voltage across the junction. Being in such a rectification regime, we also load the ratchet, i.e., apply an additional dc bias current I(dc) (counterforce) which tilts the potential so that the fluxon climbs uphill due to the ratchet effect. The value of the bias current at which the fluxon stops climbing up defines the strength of the ratchet effect and is determined experimentally. This allows us to estimate the loading capability of the ratchet, the output power, and the efficiency. For the quasistatic regime we present a simple model which delivers straightforward analytic expressions for the above-mentioned figures of merit.


Abstract As a result of the implementation of the As Low As is Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) philosophy to the nuclear power industry, recent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements have prompted high sensitivity radiochemical analysis for the measurement of 131I in milk. The most recognized and commonly employed technique incorporates costly palladium iodide as the final precipitate in the radiochemical purification of the iodine chemical species. The procedure presented in this paper outlines the many advantages of using cuprous iodide as the final precipitate. These include lower cost per analysis, consistent recoveries, better precipitate matrix and good self absorption characteristics. Typical lower limit of detection values and operating characteristics obtained for high sensitivity (3-y analysis as well as gas proportional counting and a comparison of radiochemical and Ge(Li) spectrometric results for environmental samples collected during a recent Chinese weapons fallout incident are presented.


Synopsis : Plug life of PRP (Press Roll Piercer) process, in which a square bloom is directly pierced and rolled simultaneously, is strongly affected by its own shape. A plug with a sharp conical top thrusts through the solid material to get galled in the earlier stage by metal flow on its surface. On the other hand, a plug with dull top or a flat top has a longer life, since it is protected by dead metal induced in front. As for plug material, conventional tool steel for hot metal forming is durable enough, only if surface scale layer is formed before use. The product quality is also influenced by plug shape. Especially dull one is advantageous.


A multidisciplinary approach to severe polytraumatized patient is very important for a rapid, uncomplicated recovery. Specialized centres with special beds, monitoring equipment, and a multidisciplinary team are required. The authors report a case of a 26-year-old man admitted to their department in an emergency setting for a crush injury (occupational trauma) of the lumbar, gluteal and perineal areas, complicated with septic shock and gas gangrene of the injured areas. A multidisciplinary approach to the patient, consisting in surgical and plastic surgical therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the use of a special antidecubitus fluidized bed allowed complete recovery within 7 months without any motor or sphincter disorders.


Transitional Interfaces are a yet underexplored, emerging class of cross-reality user interfaces that enable users to freely move along the reality-virtuality continuum during collaboration. To analyze and understand how such collaboration unfolds, we propose four analytical lenses derived from an exploratory study of transitional collaboration with 15 dyads. While solving a complex spatial optimization task, participants could freely switch between three contexts, each with different displays (desktop screens, tablet-based augmented reality, head-mounted virtual reality), input techniques (mouse, touch, handheld controllers), and visual representations (monoscopic and allocentric 2D/3D maps, stereoscopic egocentric views). Using the rich qualitative and quantitative data from our study, we evaluated participants' perceptions of transitional collaboration and identified commonalities and differences between dyads. We then derived four lenses including metrics and visualizations to analyze key aspects of transitional collaboration: (1) place and distance, (2) temporal patterns, (3) group use of contexts, (4) individual use of contexts.


Achieving reliable communication of critical data on mobile ad hoc networks is a must before MANETs can be considered practical for standard mobile and vehicular communications. This paper thus focuses on schemes that complement existing ad hoc broadcast mechanisms (inherently unreliable), which can guarantee the full diffusion of critical messages, when necessary. An interesting approach in this domain is the use of an overlay network, over which critical messages are acknowledged peer to peer, in order to verify the actual dissemination. This paper elaborates on the problem of performance, related to the discovery and the maintenance of such an overlay network, in a mobile ad hoc context. We present an analysis of a novel algorithm, SLOT (Synchronized Link Overlay - Triangular), an overlay selected based on a Relative Neighborhood Graph (RNG) scheme, and we compare its performance with that of other existing algorithms, in the context of the industry-standard IP routing protocol OSPF, which uses alternative overlay algorithms to synchronize link state databases of routers. The results presented in this paper show that SLOT outperforms other existing overlays by necessitating drastically less control traffic in order to function, enabling OSPF to scale to larger mobile ad hoc topologies.


Ambient radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting is widely promoted as an enabler for self-powered wireless networks. This paper jointly characterizes the harvested energy and the packet transmission success probability in grant-free uplink IoT networks energized via harvesting downlink energy. To do that, a joint queueing theory and stochastic geometry model is exploited and a spatiotemporal analytical model is developed accordingly. Particularly, the harvested energy and packet transmission success probability are characterized using tools from stochastic geometry. Moreover, each device is modeled using a two-dimensional discrete-time Markov chain (DTMC) to track the time evolution of the joint states of the scavenged energy and the data buffer. Consequently, the adopted queueing model represents the devices as spatially interacting queues. To that end, the network performance is assessed in light of the packet throughput, the average waiting time, and the average buffer size which offer valuable insights for network design.


We present a monolithic, solidly-mo FBAR oscillator array for mass sensing app film bulk acoustic resonators (FBAR) ar platform for sensitive biological and chem where their high operating frequencies ma times more sensitive than a quartz crystal By monolithic integration with CMOS driv aim to overcome the spatial limitations coupled resonators to build dense sensor specialized fabrication techniques. The s work are constructed in a 6 x 4 array a CMOS active substrate, and mass sensitiv to off-chip FBAR sensors is demonstrated.


Lichens have been commonly used in traditional medicine. Biological potential (anti-proliferative, antioxidant and anti-bacterial) and chemical content of five lichen species (E. divaricata, L. vulpina, L. pulmonaria, R. fraxinea and U. florida) were assessed in relation to traditional knowledge. Consistent with folkloric usage, the strongest anti-proliferative activity was observed with L. pulmonaria against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2/C3A) cell line. L. pulmonaria also showed the highest antioxidant capacity. While E. divaricata had the most phenolic content, the highest flavonoid content was determined in L. pulmonaria. All lichen extracts showed the best antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and only R. fraxinea had a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that L. pulmonaria and U. florida were the best sources of stictic acid and usnic acid, respectively. Traditional usages of tested lichens were justified with this study and nutraceutical potentials of them were revealed.


16S rRNA gene sequencing has been increasingly used in clinical practice. Using the final diagnosis as a gold standard, the sensitivity of 16S rRNA gene sequencing was fair. In the setting with no 16S rRNA gene sequencing test ordering restrictions, only small percentages of the test results had an impact on antimicrobial management. Restrictions on test requests should be developed to maximize the benefit of the test. ABSTRACT 16S rRNA gene sequencing is increasingly used in clinical practice for bacterial identification of clinical specimens. However, studies on its applicability to direct clinical specimens are limited. Here, we studied the diagnostic yield and impact of 16S rRNA gene sequencing from direct clinical specimens on antimicrobial management. Adult inpatients whose attending physician requested 16S rRNA gene sequencing and corresponding bacterial culture from a direct clinical specimen between January and December 2021 in a university hospital were prospectively included in this study. A total of 434 specimens from 374 patients were requested. Of these, 253 (58.3%) specimens were collected from patients whose final diagnosis indicated a bacterial infection, whereas 181 (41.7%) specimens were from nonbacterial infections. Using the final diagnosis as a "gold standard," the sensitivity and specificity of 16S rRNA gene sequencing were 38.3% and 93.9%, respectively. Among the bacterial infection cases, the proportion of 16S rRNA gene sequencing-positive and culture-positive cases was 32.4%, and the proportion of sequencing-positive and culture-negative cases was 5.9%. The impact on antimicrobial management was evident in 10 (2.3%) specimens, which all resulted in the continuation of antibiotics. The impact on antimicrobial management was highest in skin and soft tissue infections, followed by bone and joint infections. In this study, the long turnaround time of 16S rRNA gene sequencing of clinical specimens was a limiting factor. In conclusion, the overall diagnostic yield of 16S rRNA gene sequencing in bacterial infection cases was fair, being useful in selected cases. Restrictions on test requests may improve test utilization in this setting. IMPORTANCE 16S rRNA gene sequencing has been increasingly used in clinical practice. Using the final diagnosis as a gold standard, the sensitivity of 16S rRNA gene sequencing was fair. In the setting with no 16S rRNA gene sequencing test ordering restrictions, only small percentages of the test results had an impact on antimicrobial management. Restrictions on test requests should be developed to maximize the benefit of the test.


PURPOSE
To compare the dynamics of maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]), blood lactate ([La]b), total energy expenditure (Etot), and contributions of the aerobic (Eaer), alactic anaerobic (Ean,al), and lactic anaerobic (Ean,lac) metabolic energy pathways over 4 consecutive 25-m laps (L0-25, L25-50, etc) of a 100-m maximal freestyle swim.

METHODS
Elite swimmers comprising 26 juniors (age = 16 [1] y) and 23 seniors (age = 24 [5] y) performed 100 m at maximal speed and then 3 trials (25, 50, and 75 m) at the same pace as that of the 100 m. [La]b was collected, and [Formula: see text] was measured 20 s postexercise.

RESULTS
The estimated energetic contributions for the 100-m trial are presented as mean (SD): Eaer, 51% (8%); Ean,al, 18% (2%); Ean,lac, 31% (9%). [Formula: see text] increased from L0-25 to L25-50 (mean = 3.5 L·min-1; 90% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-3.7 L·min-1 to mean = 4.2 L·min-1; 90% CI, 4.0-4.3 L·min-1) and then stabilized in the 2nd 50 m (mean = 4.1 L·min-1; 90% CI, 3.9-4.3 L·min-1 to mean = 4.2 L·min-1; 90% CI, 4.0-4.4 L·min-1). Etot (juniors, 138 [18] kJ; seniors, 168 [26] kJ), Ean,al (juniors, 27 [3] kJ; seniors, 30 [3] kJ), and Ean,lac (juniors, 38 [12] kJ; seniors, 62 [24] kJ) were 11-58% higher in seniors. Faster swimmers (n = 26) had higher [Formula: see text], 90% CI 4.4-4.8 L·min-1 [Formula: see text] L·min-1, 90% CI 3.6-4.2 L·min-1), and Eaer power was associated with fast performances (P < .001).

CONCLUSION
Faster swimmers were characterized by higher [Formula: see text] and less time to reach the highest [Formula: see text] at ∼50 m of the 100-m swim. Anaerobic qualities become more important with age.


This paper discusses the generation of synthetic 3D seismic data for training neural networks to solve a variety of seismic processing, interpretation, and inversion tasks. Using synthetic data is a way to address the shortage of seismic data, which are required for solving problems with machine learning techniques. Synthetic data are built via a simulation process that is based on a mathematical representation of the physics of the problem. In other words, using synthetic data is an indirect way to teach neural networks about the physics of the problem. An important incentive for using synthetic data to solve problems with artificial intelligence methods is that with real seismic data the ground truth is always unknown. When generating synthetic seismic data, we first build the model and then calculate the data, so the answer (model) is always known and always exact. We describe a methodology for generating on-the-fly simulated postmigration (1D modeling) synthetic data in 3D, which are high resolution and look similar to real data. A wide range of models is covered by generating an unlimited number of data examples. The synthetic data are built from impedance models that are constructed through geostatistical simulation of real well logs. With geostatistical simulation, we can describe various geologic variance models in 3D and obtain realistic images. To cover a broad range of scenarios, we need to generalize the seismic data story by randomly perturbing many parameters including structures, conformity styles, dip-strike directions, variograms, measured input logs, frequencies, phase spectra, etc.


While most research on wireless sensor networks have focused on the deployment of large numbers of cheap homogeneous sensor devices, in practical settings, it is often feasible to consider heterogeneous deployments of devices with different capabilities. Under the prescribed cost constraints, we analyze such heterogeneous deployments both mathematically and through simulations, and show how they impact the coverage aging process of a sensor network, i.e., how it degrades over time as some nodes become energy-depleted. We derive expressions for the heterogeneous mixture of devices that optimizes the lifetime sensing coverage in a single-hop direct communication model. We then investigate a multi-hop communication model through simulations, and examine the impact of heterogeneity on lifetime sensing coverage and coverage aging both with and without data aggregation. Our results show that using an optimal mixture of many inexpensive low-capability devices and some expensive high-capability devices can significantly extend the duration of a network's sensing performance.


We study how an elite college education affects social mobility in China. China provides an interesting context because its college admissions rely mainly on the scores of a centralized exam, a system that has been the subject of intense debate. Combining the data from a large-scale college graduate survey and a nationally representative household survey, we document three main findings. First, attending an elite college can change one's fate to some extent. It significantly raises the child's rank in the income distribution. Nevertheless, it does not change the intergenerational relationship in income ranks or guarantee one's entry into an elite occupation or industry. Second, although access to elite colleges increases with parental income, the income gradient is much flatter than that in the United States. Third, the score-based cutoff rule in elite college admission is income neutral. Overall, these findings reveal both the efficacy and limitations of China's elite colleges in shaping social mobility. JEL Classification: I23, J62


Ding's roll method is one of the most commonly used manipulations in traditional Chinese massage (Tuina) clinics and one of the most influential contemporary Tuina manipulations in China. It is based on the traditional rolling method commonly used in the one finger Zen genre and named Ding's roll method. Due to its anti-inflammatory and blood circulation-promoting effects, Ding's rolling method has sound therapeutic effects on myopathy. Because of the large area of force applied to human skin, Ding's roll method is challenging to perform on experimental animals with small skin areas, such as rats and rabbits. Additionally, the strength of Tuina applied to the human body differs from that applied to experimental animals, so it may happen that the strength is too high or too low to achieve the therapeutic effect of Tuina during the experiment. This experiment aims to create a simple massager suitable for rats based on Ding's rolling manipulation parameters (strength, frequency, Tuina duration). The device can standardize manipulation in animal experiments and reduce the variation in Tuina force applied to different animals due to subjective factors. A rat model of notexin-induced skeletal muscle injury was established, and plasma injury markers creatine kinase (CK) and fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) were used to assess the therapeutic effect of Tuina on skeletal muscle injury. The results showed that this Tuina massager could reduce the levels of CK and FABP3 expression and slow down the degree of skeletal muscle injury. Therefore, the Tuina massager described here, mimicking Ding's roll method, contributes to standardizing Tuina manipulation in experimental research and is of great help for subsequent research on the molecular mechanism of Tuina for myopathy.


INTRODUCTION
Proinflammatory cytokines are the main responsible for the onset of postischemic inflammatory cascade. Recently, the deleterious effect of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the acute phase of stroke has been described. Animal models suggest a link between both families.

OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate possible relations between the MMP overproduction and proinflammatory cytokine expression after human ischemic stroke.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
From all consecutive stroke patients attended during a 10 months period, we selected and prospectively studied those presenting as a cardioembolic stroke involving the MCA territory. MMP 9, MMP 2 and IL 6 were serially measured by means of ELISA at study entry and at 12, 24 and 48 hours after symptoms onset.

RESULTS
A total of 39 patients were studied. A positive correlation was found between mean expression of both MMPs and IL 6 (r= 0.33, p= 0.040 for MMP 2 y r= 0.45, p= 0.004 for MMP 9). From all measured timepoints, the best obtained correlation was that of MMP 9 with IL 6 at 24 hours (r= 0.418, p= 0.010). At 24 h a peak value of IL 6 was observed. Baseline MMP 2 and MMP 9 levels showed a trend to correlate with that peak of IL 6 (r= 0.329, p= 0.061 for MMP 2 y r= 0.325, p= 0.061 for MMP 9).

CONCLUSION
MMP expression correlates with the inflammatory cascade activation after acute cardioembolic stroke.


Background Compliance decline may result in a decrease of treatment effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis. RA patients had global cognitive impairment, which was associated with disease activity and immune changes.1 Cognitive dysfunction may have a negative effect on the results of traditional methods of compliance assessment. Objectives Our aim was to develop the method of structured and algorithms interview to assess compliance and cognitive functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods 240 patients fulfilling EULAR 2010 classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis were examined. Pain in the joints was assessed using a visual analogue scale, the clock-drawing test was used, the structured and algorithms interview with clear determination of at least 3 levels of patient values was performed.2 Each patient chose the subject of the interview: compliance, pain or side effects of drugs. Subjective values that determine the choice and behaviour of the patient with dichotomy, for example, taking or missing drugs were revealed. Results 162 patients chose the theme of the interview concerning of pain, 50 patients chose the theme compliance with drug therapy, 38 patients - side effects of drugs. The criteria of cognitive dysfunction were the following: inability for the patient to determine subjective values influencing the process of decision- making, repeating one value with inability to built a value hierarchy, a limited number of the levels of the value hierarchy. The indirect criterion was the duration of the structured interview as the measure of patient's and interviewer' s efforts. Cognitive dysfunction determined by the method of the structured interview was connected with the low score of the clock-drawing test. Compliance decline was noticed in the presence as well as in the absence of cognitive dysfunction. Determining values and their hierarchy may lead to the increase of patients' compliance. Conclusions The method of the structured and algorithms interview with the assessment of the hierarchy of values is used to assess compliance and cognitive functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as well as to reveal the ways to increase compliance. References [1] Clin Rheumatol2018Jan 25. doi:10.1007/s10067-018-3990-9 [2] Luksha P, Tkachev A. Journal: Kybernetes, ISSN: 0368–492X, Year: 2007;36(7–8):956–971. doi:10.1108/03684920710777487 Disclosure of Interest None declared


To explore the role of axon guidance molecules during regeneration in the lamprey spinal cord, we examined the expression of mRNAs for semaphorin 3 (Sema3), semaphorin 4 (Sema4), and netrin during regeneration by in situ hybridization. Control lampreys contained netrin‐expressing neurons along the length of the spinal cord. After spinal transection, netrin expression was downregulated in neurons close (500 μm to 10 mm) to the transection at 2 and 4 weeks. A high level of Sema4 expression was found in the neurons of the gray matter and occasionally in the dorsal and the edge cells. Fourteen days after spinal cord transection Sema4 mRNA expression was absent from dorsal and edge cells but was still present in neurons of the gray matter. At 30 days the expression had declined to some extent in neurons and was absent in dorsal and edge cells. In control animals, Sema3 was expressed in neurons of the gray matter and in dorsal and edge cells. Two weeks after transection, Sema3 expression was upregulated near the lesion, but absent in dorsal cells. By 4 weeks a few neurons expressed Sema3 at 20 mm caudal to the transection but no expression was detected 1 mm from the transection. Isolectin I‐B4 labeling for microglia/macrophages showed that the number of Sema3‐expressing microglia/macrophages increased dramatically at the injury site over time. The downregulation of netrin and upregulation of Sema3 near the transection suggests a possible role of netrin and semaphorins in restricting axonal regeneration in the injured spinal cord. J. Comp. Neurol. 501:631–646, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The exploration, consumption and prices of crude oil are very important aspects for the enhancement of the economy of any country. Therefore in order to check the impact of these three aspects of crude oil on economic growth of the country, this study has been conducted by the author. Data collection process has been done in Thailand and 26 years data has been accumulated for analysis purpose. Unit root test, co-integration test and VAR model estimation are the most important tests that have been employed in this particular study. The results of all these tests have been discussed in the study in detail. The impacts of exploration, consumption and prices of crude oil as well as population growth and energy consumption have been found to be significant in regard to economic growth. Various theoretical, practical and policy making benefits of these results have been identified and explored by the author all of which point towards the enhancement of economic growth. In addition, the limitations found in the study along with some recommendations have also been described so that the future researchers may consider them and work on them in order to overcome these limitations.


New government education policies stress both social justice and economic imperatives. The tensions between these goals for universities are familiar themes for critique. The diversity, and shift in cultural capital among university students is also a concern. The authors of this article teach sociology at an Australian university with a comparative over-representation of students with low levels of cultural capital in academic literacy: research, reading and writing skills. In this article we outline and discuss the approach and outcomes of a pilot online program 'Leap into Sociology', developed to help sociology students increase their academic literacy in sociology. The program is, like other academic skills support programs, premised on an understanding that the development of academic research and writing skills needs to be 'embedded' in discipline units to be most useful for students. Our discussion considers these challenges in relation to current tensions in higher education work and policy contexts.


Weldments in high-energy piping of fossil power plants are known to suffer extensive creep damage over the course of long-term operations. This damage appears in the form of macro cracks, which result from the formation and linkage of creep cavities at the grain boundaries. It has been reported that creep cavities become sintered when subjected to compressive stress at high temperatures, and, if they could be eliminated before they develop into macro cracks, it was considered that this would enable life extension of components. This paper presents a process of regenerative heat treatment for the life extension of low alloy steel weldments by means in localized high-temperature heating of deteriorated locations. It is shown that recovery of creep life is attained as a result of high temperature compression tests and heat cycles around the A3 transformation temperature.


The de novo design of a molecular adapter for directed association and covalent linkage of two polypeptides is presented. Using peptides containing charged amino acid residues and an additional cysteine residue (AlaCysLys(8) and AlaCysGlu(8)) we demonstrate that the electrostatic interaction promotes the association of two synthetic peptides and, subsequently, disulfide bond formation. The reaction depends on both the redox potential and on the ionic strength of the buffer. Varying the redox potential, the interaction of the peptides was quantified by a Delta G(0') of 6.6 +/- 0.2 kcal/mol. Heterodimerization of the peptides is highly specific, a competition of association by other cysteine containing compounds could not be observed. Two proteins comprising cysteine-containing polyionic fusion peptides, a modified Fab fragment and an alpha-glucosidase fusion, could be specifically conjugated by directed association and subsequent disulfide bond formation. Both proteins retain their functional characteristics within the bifunctional conjugate: enzymatic activity of the alpha-glucosidase and antigen-binding capacity of the Fab fragment are equivalent to the non-conjugated components.


The objective of this study is to contribute with in-depth knowledge based on persons' subjective experiences within mental health crisis and support and help from a Crisis Resolution/Home Treatment (CR/HT) team. The study has a qualitative, exploratory design and qualitative interviews were conducted with seven persons. They have experiences with both inpatient treatment in hospitals and support from a CR/HT teams. The informants revealed a variety of experiences as service users in the different helping contexts. The experiences of the CR/HT team's accessibility, availability and flexibility, was highlighted as important.  The Service users felt they were taken more seriously and met as a fellow human being in the home setting as opposed to hospital ward. The informants also emphasized how the CR/HT team helped them to feel more safe and secure. This study offers some in-depth insights of being on the receiving end of mental health services. It is important to include experience based user knowledge in the evidence base of practice development.


AbstractIn the article, the author presents the characteristics of 16th century books. These books are part of a bigger collection of rare and valuable books named the »Rara« from the Srečko Vilhar Public Library in Koper. The origins and history of printing, from its beginnings till the 17th century, in Istria and Koper, are also described. The characteristics of the books originating from the 16th century and the comparison with the incunabula are also given. From the Rara collection, summarized descriptions of 38 titles (33 volumes) of books are presented.


This paper is a discussion of the behaviour of the trigonometric sums and their limiting distribution as a function of . The analysis is based upon another application of the renormalization group theory.


This paper describes a new 3-D algorithm for tracking blood flow in arteries by detecting the different kinds of platelets patterns and then choosing the most likely direction that the patterns will travel next. This algorithm is based on the C-scan Ultrasound Technique, where this technique takes several slices of a particular area and reconstructs them to get a 3-D image. The algorithm consist of two parts: object detection and velocity estimation routines. The algorithm was tested with simulated data of 3-D images similar to those that might be found in the blood. The results of these test are included in the report. The future research for this 3-D algorithm is to test the algorithm with more simulated data and later with real clinical data to measure the effectiveness of the algorithm.


Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide that plays a variety of roles in the human body, including inflammation, nociception, and smooth muscle regulation. In the central and peripheral nervous systems, SP indirectly acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter by inhibiting the M-current, (IM), a timeand voltage-dependent outward potassium current. Activation of IM produces an outward (hyperpolarizing) current which acts to resist neuronal depolarization and action potential production. By inhibiting IM, SP has the ability to modulate neuronal excitability. Since activation of the SP receptor results in IM inhibition, IM amplitude was utilized in the present study as an indirect measure for SP receptor activation and desensitization. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings were used to monitor IM in acutely isolated bullfrog sympathetic ganglia neurons. The cell was voltage-clamped at a holding potential of -30 mV, where IM is largely activated. Steps to -60 mV deactivated IM, producing a slow, exponential decrease in current amplitude, followed by an exponential increase in current (reactivation) upon stepping back to -30 mV. Single exponential curve fits were utilized to measure IM amplitude during the reactivation phase. SP application (1 μM) initially produced a rapid and significant inhibition in IM amplitude. However, with continuous SP application, IM amplitude significantly recovered, returning to the control amplitude. This desensitization, defined as a decrease in responsiveness following prolonged or repeated exposure to an agonist, suggests a similar desensitizing loss of functioning by the SP receptor during SP application. The findings presented here support previous studies showing that SP application initially produces inhibition of IM, but continued drug application results in desensitization and loss of IM inhibition.


Standardized design approaches such as those embodied by concurrent design facilities have many benefits, such as increased efficiency of the design process, but may also have hidden costs. Specifically, when their standardized organizational decomposition is a poor fit for the particular design problem, important design trades might be missed or poor decisions made. Before we can understand how this lack of fit impacts the design process, we must be able to empirically observe and measure it. To that end, this paper identifies measures of "fit" from the literature along with attributes likely to impact design process performance, then evaluates the measures to determine how well the measures can detect and diagnose potential issues. The results provide comparative insights into the capabilities of existing fit measures, and also build guidance for how the systems engineering and design community can use insights from the "fit" literature to inform process improvement.


The article presents the results following the clustering of Russian rural regions according to socio-demographic and economic criteria by K-average method. We have identified factors for the regional polarization of the agro-food complex. The paper shows that rural areas in Russia are polarized due to climatic, geographic, ethnic, and economic factors that define the potential for rural development. Economic clustering of regions is based on the amount of investment, performance and profitability of agriculture, as well as on the structure by the nature of households. The potential for the development of regions has a substantial socio-economic character. The article demonstrates that the development of human potential and rural development are interrelated and interdependent. The map illustrates how the identified clusters are located in terms of geography. The database of the research comprises statistics and materials of special selected studies carried out by the state statistical agencies of the Russian Federation. The results of our analysis may be of benefit to the executive authorities when designing programs for socio-economic development of rural areas and validating strategies for the reindustrialization of agro-industry.


Dendritic spines are specialized postsynaptic structures that detect and integrate presynaptic signals. The shape and number of dendritic spines are regulated by neural activity and correlated with learning and memory. Most studies of spine function have focused on the mammalian nervous system. However, spine-like protrusions have been previously reported in invertebrates, suggesting that the experimental advantages of smaller model organisms could be exploited to study the biology of dendritic spines. Here, we document the presence of dendritic spines in Caenorhabditis elegans motor neurons. We used super-resolution microscopy, electron microscopy, live-cell imaging and genetic manipulation to show that GABAergic motor neurons display functional dendritic spines. Our analysis revealed salient features of dendritic spines: (1) A key role for the actin cytoskeleton in spine morphogenesis; (2) Postsynaptic receptor complexes at the tips of spines in close proximity to presynaptic active zones; (3) Localized postsynaptic calcium transients evoked by presynaptic activity; (4) The presence of endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes; (5) The regulation of spine density by presynaptic activity. These studies provide a solid foundation for a new experimental paradigm that exploits the power of C. elegans genetics and live-cell imaging for fundamental studies of dendritic spine morphogenesis and function. HIGHLIGHTS - Spines in C. elegans GABAergic motor neurons are enriched in actin cytoskeleton. - Spines are dynamic structures. - Spines display Ca++ transients coupled with presynaptic activation. - Spine density is regulated during development and is modulated by actin dynamics and cholinergic signaling.


Stochastic solutions provide new rigorous results for nonlinear PDE's and, through its local non-grid nature, are a natural tool for parallel computation. There are two different approaches for the construction of stochastic solutions: McKean's and superprocesses. In favour of superprocesses is the fact that they handle arbitrary boundary conditions. However, when restricted to measures, superprocesses can only be used to generate solutions for a limited class of nonlinear PDE's. A new class of superprocesses, namely superprocesses on ultradistributions, is proposed to extend the stochastic solution approach to a wider class of PDE's.


Background: Family history of diabetes mellitus is a useful tool for detecting children and adolescents at risk of the disease. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and describe the characteristics of family history of diabetes mellitus in Nigerian children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods: A retrospective chart review of children and adolescents newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes was conducted in three tertiary-healthcare institutions in Nigeria. In addition to the review of charts of old patients, other children and adolescents who presented with new-onset diabetes during the review process were also included. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used in obtaining information from the patients and their parents. Using the criteria suggested by Scheuner et al, the family history risk category was stratified into average, moderate and high. Results: Out of a total of 65 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, 29(44.6%, 95% CI= 32.6-56.7) had a positive family history of diabetes mellitus. Of the affected family members, 42.9% were first-degree relatives. The frequencies of family history risk category were average 65.5%, moderate 27.6% and high 6.9%. Among the affected family members in whom information on their diabetes status was available, 19(86.4%) had type 2 diabetes and only 3(13.6%) had type 1 diabetes. Conclusion: Four out of every ten patients with type diabetes in the paediatric age group, have a first degree relative with a positive family history of diabetes. Please download the full paper by clicking on the PDF file below...


In recent years, the housing market in China has expanded tremendously due to economic development. Building envelopes have become more and more airtight because of improvements in building technology and concerns on energy conservation. But a lack of knowledge on domestic ventilation performance and difficulties in achieving suitable standards have led to more and more complaints from occupants, and reported cases of building related illness (BRI). For these reasons, we carried out an investigation on indoor air quality and building performance of various residential buildings in a northeast coastal city in China. Field measurement of indoor/outdoor parameters was conducted in combination with questionnaire survey during 2001~2002. Statistical analysis was performed to reveal the factors that influence indoor air quality in typical buildings. The relationships between pollutant levels, building characteristics and inhabitant's living patterns were also discussed. The conclusions can be summarized as follows: 1. Carbon Dioxide concentration measurements indicated that 1/3 of test rooms were suffering from inadequate ventilation in winter. 2. A total of 29.7% households reported that air in their homes is bad, especially when smoking, excessive occupancy or cooking occurs. 3. The formaldehyde concentration in older houses is lower than in new-built or newly decorated houses. 4. Occurrence of building related symptoms in new dwellings is higher than that in old buildings.


Granulosa-cell Carcinoma of Ovary R J Daniels MB DRCOG (Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, Essex) The granulosa-cell tumour is said to arise from the primitive mesenchyme of the ovary; it comprises about 10% of all ovarian cancer and the late appearance of malignant change is a notable feature. It secretes cestrogen and causes endometrial proliferation. With this tumour a 16 6% incidence of endometrial adenocarcinoma is reported. The patient was a 45-year-old, nulliparous Polish woman. She was seen in a psychiatric unit to which she had been transferred following an acute psychological upset. She had had no postmenopausal bleeding. She was severely anemic and a blood transfusion had been attempted as well as a paracentesis abdominis. She complained of abdominal swelling of two months' duration. The abdomen was grossly distended and a fluid thrill was present. At laparotomy a large left multilobular ovarian cyst was found. Left salpingo-oophorectomy and right salpingectomy were done. Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were not done as a granulosa cell tumour was not suspected. Macroscopically, the cyst contained serous fluid, the tumour tissue was pale in colour. Microscopically, typical rosette formations of granulosa cells and sheets of granulosa cells were seen. Because of her psychiatric background no further operative treatment is envisaged. She is followed up with frequent cervical smears in the out-patient clinic and she remains well. Pelvic Fibroma causing Recurrent Attacks of Hypoglycsemia in a Post-menopausal Patient CA Michael MB MRcoG (Perivale Maternity Hospital, Greenford, Middx) A 74-year-old patient was admitted to a medical ward in congestive cardiac failure. As the ascites subsided a pelvic tumour was discovered and the patient had episodes of hypoglycemia for the first time: during one of these attacks the blood sugar was found to be 22 5 mg/I00 ml. A pancreatic tumour was excluded by the intravenous tolbutamide test. As the pelvic mass had increased, a laparotomy was done and a left-sided solid ovarian tumour 18 cm in diameter was removed. The post-operative period was uneventful and the hypoglyceemia did not recur. Blood sugar levels were normal. Histology showed the features of a cellular, rapidly growing, fibroma of the left ovary. Hypoglycaemia in association with an extrapancreatic tumour, though uncommon, is a well recognized phenomenon. The cause of the hypoglyczemia in these cases remains obscure, although several hypotheses have been postulated. These include: (1) The tumours release a substance which stimulates insulin production. (2) The tumours utilize glucose excessively. (3) A coincident pancreatic tumour. (4) Interference with the sympathetic nervous system. (5) Inhibition of hepatic glucose output.


UEZ Canal is a narrow artificial water way in Egypt that joins the ….. Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. The Suez Canal passes through an area with a considerable agricultual and industrial activities, so that the chemical and petrochemical pollution from oil transporting process can be effective. Eight surface seawater samples were collected from different sites extended from Suez Harbor up to Fertilizer factory, and both of Al-Osra and Al-Melaha beaches along Suez Gulf. The objective of this study is the monitoring and assessing the contamination of water by chemical and petrochemical pollutions. This study includes physical and chemical parameters of water such as PH values, conductivity, salinity, T.D.S, T.S.S, T.S, D.O., BOD, COD, Cl - , SO 4- , NO -3 and total alkalinity. Seasonal qualitative and quantitative studies have been carried out on the studied area. The concentration is relatively higher than recommended in the regulations of the Egyptian low environment No.4/1994. Results obtained from the present study should be considered when implementing a strategy for the protection and management of the Suez Gulf. Because the Suez Gulf is used in many areas as a recipient of waste water from different sources this study recommended that pollution control for wastewater disposing into it should be improved. More detailed studies are required to assess the impact of hydro- development projects and evaluate their effect on the studied area and monitoring should be conducted at least twice per year.


Abstract 1588 Acquired or inherited immune deficiency is an established risk factor for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but does not account for the majority of cases. Recent epidemiologic evidence from the InterLymph Consortium suggests that subclinical, subtle alterations in immune response may also affect risk. Specifically, atopic conditions have been associated with a protective effect and infections at an early age with risk. Unaffected twins of patients are ideal controls because they are partially (fraternal) or completely (identical) matched on genetic factors. We evaluated these factors in twin pairs in whom one member was diagnosed with NHL. At least one member of 197 twin pairs returned detailed questionnaires; in 75 pairs, both the case and unaffected co-twin returned the questionnaire and in 122 pairs only one twin (usually the unaffected co-twin) returned the questionnaire. NHL diagnosis in the case-twin was confirmed by medical record and pathology review. Multivariable conditional logistic regression adjusted for education was used to estimate the effect of the exposures on risk with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Eczema in childhood was associated with a 60% decreased risk of NHL (OR= 0.4, 95% CI= 0.2, 0.9). Allergic asthma (OR= 0.2, 95% CI= 0.1, 0.6), hay fever (OR= 0.4, 95% CI= 0.2, 0.8) and allergies to plants (OR= 0.3, 95% CI= 0.1, 0.9) were protective. Compared to no atopic conditions, the twin with ≥ 3 atopic conditions had a 90% decreased risk of NHL (95% CI= 0.0, 0.5). Tonsillectomy and appendectomy were each associated with a significant, ∼ 2-fold increased risk. The twin with more early childhood exposures (more contact with pets, young children, sucking thumb or pacifier) likely to transmit infection was also at an increased risk of NHL. The study confirms the inverse association between allergy and NHL risk in genetically matched cases and controls and provides further evidence that childhood exposures are important mediators of risk. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


OBJECTIVE
Determining the extent to which relationships between duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and outcome endure longitudinally across the lifetime course of psychotic illness requires prospective, systematic studies of epidemiologically representative incidence cohorts across decades. Transience, persistence, or heterogeneity in associations between DUP and distinct outcome domains are yet to be investigated over such time frames.

METHODS
Prospective, sequential follow-up studies of an epidemiologically representative first-episode psychosis incidence cohort in Ireland were conducted at 6 months and 4, 8, 12, and 20 years (N=171). Linear mixed-model analyses were applied to determine whether prospective associations of DUP with symptoms, functioning, and quality of life were consistent or varied across psychotic illness trajectory over a 20-year period. Evaluations included time, DUP quartile, and DUP quartile-by-time interaction effects.

RESULTS
Prospective, sequential follow-ups showed positive and negative symptoms, function, and quality of life to exhibit distinct trajectories of improvement in relation to shorter DUP. Despite heterogeneity in course and relationship to premorbid features, associations between shorter DUP and greater improvement were still evident 20 years after the first psychotic episode. Across the long-term course of psychotic illness, trajectories of association between shorter DUP and better outcome differed between domains of psychopathology, functionality, and quality of life. Nevertheless, such associations with shorter DUP were sustained for at least 20 years.

CONCLUSIONS
These profiles indicate that while associations between DUP and long-term outcome can vary according to the domain of outcome, they are sustained across decades in a manner that could not be fully accounted for in terms of premorbid features or lead-time bias.


The near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technique has wide applications in agriculture with the advantages of being nondestructive, sensitive, safe and rapid. However, there are still more than 40 error sources in fl uencing the robustness and accuracy of its calibration and operation. Environmental, sample and instrument factors that in fl uence the analysis are discussed in this review, including temperature, humidity and other factors that introduce uncertainty. Error sources from livestock products, fruit and vegetables, which are the most common objects in the fi eld of NIR analysis, are also emphasized in the second part. In addition, studies utilizing different instruments, spectral pretreatments, variable selection methods, wavelength ranges, detection modes and calibration methods are tabulated to illustrate the complications they introduce and how they in fl uence NIR analysis. It is suggested that large scale of data with abundant varieties can be used to build a more robust calibration model, in order to improve the robustness and accuracy of the NIR analytical model, and overcome problems caused by con fi ning analysis to too many uniform samples.


Meige's syndrome and hemifacial spasm (HFS) are two different forms of dystonic movement disorder, but their difference in terms of resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) remains unclear. The present study applied resting state fMRI on the patients and quantified their functional connectivity with graph theoretical measures, including the degree centrality and the betweenness centrality. Fifteen Meige's syndrome patients and 19 HFS patients matched in age and gender were recruited and their MRI data were collected. To analyze the rsFC, we adopted the Anatomical Automatic Labeling (AAL) template, a brain atlas system including 90 regions of interest (ROIs) covering all the brain regions of cerebral cortex. For each participant, the time-course of each ROI was extracted, and the corresponding degree centrality and betweenness centrality of each ROI were computed. These measures were then compared between the Meige's syndrome patients and the HFS patients. Meige's syndrome patients showed higher betweenness centrality and degree centrality of bilateral superior medial frontal cortex, the left cerebellum cortex, etc. than the HFS patients. Our results suggest that the rsFC pattern in Meige's syndrome patients might become more centralized toward the prefrontal and vestibular cerebellar systems, indicating less flexibility in their functional connections. These results preliminarily revealed the characteristic abnormality in the functional connection of Meige's patients and may help to explore better treatment.


A clinical case of gangrenous pyoderma is described, as well as the difficulty of differential diagnosis and treatment of this disease. We carried out a literature review of the materials of foreign and domestic authors describing the course of gangrenous pyoderma using search engines PubMed, Google Scholar, BioMed Central (55 articles).


Abstract : The return to a democratic order in the Republic of Argentina created the political conditions necessary for a legally-constituted civil leadership to rethink national defense policy and, therefore, determine the new role of the Armed Forces under such framework. The bases to enable the re-institutionalization of the Armed Forces according to democratic rules--especially in compliance with the principle of subordination to civilian control and the limited assignment of roles and responsibilities--were laid down through the enactment of a series of laws comprising the corpus iuris of national defense, namely: National Defense Act 23,554 (1988), Domestic Security Act 24,059 (1992), Volunteer Service Act 24,439 (1994), Armed Forces Reorganization Act (1998) and National Intelligence Act 25,520 (2001). In spite of the progress represented by the creation of a regulatory framework for the sector, the efforts to make defense policy a truly consistent and agreed-upon State policy encountered several hindrances due to a complex range of factors. It is important to underscore, among those factors, the dynamic nature of the global and regional context in which the defense sector is inserted (the profound reconfiguration of the world after the end of the cold war, followed by the dramatic turning point of the post-cold war era represented by the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001), as well as the direct incidence of domestic political factors. In the latter case, we cannot ignore the particular characteristics of the country's democratic transition process triggered by the political, economic and military collapse of the last de-facto government.


Refugee immigrants' past traumatic personal histories as well as their present social exclusion experiences are likely to adversely affect their exercise of personal agency and resettlement in Australia. Efforts to improve their capability to exercise agency and resettlement should be premised on social structural affordances and environments that support their participation and contribution to Australian society. One way that these supportive affordances could be created is through refugee immigrants' improved access to and meaningful engagement with the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector and its technical and further education (TAFE) institutes. This paper identifies significant agentic factors associated with refugee immigrants' past personal histories as well as social exclusion experiences linked to their present resettlement, and explores ways that the VET sector and publicly funded TAFE institutes could address these issues. In conclusion, a set of recommendations are provided as guidelines on how the VET sector and TAFE institutes could address personal agency and social exclusion challenges for refugee immigrants in Australia.


Total poly(A)-containing mRNA was iso- lated from the MOPC-315 and MOPC-315 NR plasma- cytomas. The RNA was further fractionated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-sucrose gradients. The MOPC-315 mRNA fractions directed the synthesis of both the heavy chain and light chain precursor of the MOPC-315 IgA protein in a cell-free extract of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. None of the MOPC-315 NR mRNA fractions tested programmed the synthesis of the heavy chain in this system. Analysis of cell-free products by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryl- amide gel electrophoresis and by immunoprecipitation demonstrated that no translatable heavy chain mRNA could be extracted from the MOPC-315 NR variant plasma- cytoma.


The classification-tree method developed by Grochtmann and Grimm facilitates the identification of test cases from functional specifications via the construction of classification trees. Their method has been enhanced by Chen and Poon through the classification-tree construction and restructuring methodologies. We find, however that the restructuring algorithm by Chen and Poon is applicable only to certain types of classification trees. We introduce a new tree-restructuring algorithm to supplement their work.


Background: Many physician trainees care for patients in an academic hospital. We studied parent understanding of the roles of medical students, interns, residents, and attending physicians in the inpatient setting of a children's hospital. Description: Surveys were given to parents during a hospital stay on a medical service asking about the responsibilities and education of physicians and trainees. Evaluation: The majority of respondents knew that medical students were not doctors, could not write prescriptions, or supervise residents or attendings. Most respondents did not know that an intern had completed medical school, was a doctor, or could write prescriptions. Most respondents knew that attendings had graduated from medical school, were doctors, and supervise interns and students. Factors affecting understanding of these roles included the parent's level of education and race. Conclusion: Confusion exists about the different roles of physicians and trainees, particularly in parents without a college education, and who self-identify as non-White.


Starting from a one-boson-exchange model for the Sigma N to Lambda N conversion the authors derive an absorptive central and spin-orbit potential for Sigma hypernuclei. Implications for the widths of Sigma -hypernuclear states and their selectivity to quantum numbers are demonstrated for the 1p state in Sigma 12C.


Recently, unsupervised representation learning (URL) has improved the sample efficiency of Reinforcement Learning (RL) by pretraining a model from a large unlabeled dataset. The underlying principle of these methods is to learn temporally predictive representations by predicting future states in the latent space. However, an important challenge of this approach is the representational collapse, where the subspace of the latent representations collapses into a low-dimensional manifold. To address this issue, we propose a novel URL framework that causally predicts future states while increasing the dimension of the latent manifold by decorrelating the features in the latent space. Through extensive empirical studies, we demonstrate that our framework effectively learns predictive representations without collapse, which significantly improves the sample efficiency of state-of-the-art URL methods on the Atari 100k benchmark. The code is available at https://github.com/dojeon-ai/SimTPR.


The solid organ transplant community is slow to adopt the routine practice of using direct oral anticoagulants. Rivaroxaban and apixaban share common metabolic pathways with tacrolimus. This study aimed to clarify the impact of rivaroxaban/apixaban on tacrolimus troughs. Fifty solid organ transplant recipients with concomitant use of tacrolimus and rivaroxaban/apixaban were retrospectively assessed for changes in tacrolimus troughs and dose. Average dose-adjusted tacrolimus troughs and average tacrolimus total daily doses prior to and after rivaroxaban/apixaban initiation were compared. Subgroup analyses evaluating rivaroxaban and apixaban individually were performed. Rivaroxaban was prescribed to 18 recipients, and apixaban was prescribed to 32 recipients. Transplanted organs included kidney (n = 22), lung (n = 18), liver (n = 7), simultaneous pancreas and kidney (n = 1), and simultaneous kidney and liver (n = 2). The median doseadjusted tacrolimus trough and tacrolimus total daily dose prior to rivaroxaban/apixaban initiation was 2.15 ng/mL/mg (IQR 1.17, 3.37) and 4 mg (IQR 1.88, 6.25), respectively. The median dose-adjusted tacrolimus trough and tacrolimus total daily dose after rivaroxaban/apixaban initiation was 2.16 ng/mL/mg (IQR 1.24, 4.10) and 3.55 mg (IQR 1.5, 6.35), respectively. No significant difference was found between average dose-adjusted tacrolimus troughs or tacrolimus total daily doses before and after rivaroxaban/apixaban initiation or in the individual subgroup analyses for rivaroxaban/apixaban. It is unlikely that initiating rivaroxaban/apixaban affects tacrolimus troughs or requires tacrolimus dose adjustment. This study does not elucidate if tacrolimus affects rivaroxaban/apixaban pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics.


Microsoft's MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) program is a rigorous testing and certification program for Windows NT system and network administrators. To achieve certification, one must pass four required exams and two elective exams. Close to twenty potential elective exams exist, although only nine of them are current electives covering the most recent version of a given product. Microsoft has also just introduced the MCSE+Internet certification, which requires passing seven required exams and two elective exams. There are four current elective exams to choose from to attain this certification. MCSE: The Electives in a Nutshell is a comprehensive study guide that covers the most popular and important elective exams for the MCSE, as well as the Internet requirements and electives for the MCSE+Internet. This book is the companion volume to the bestselling MCSE: The Core Exams in a Nutshell. This book covers the following exams: Internetworking with TCP/IP Internet Information Server 4.0 Internet Explorer 4.0 Administration Proxy Server 2.0 Exchange Server 5.5 Each chapter covers one exam. It includes: A summary of the key areas covered by the exam A description of the format, difficulty of each exam and tips for passing it Definitions of key terms Sample test questions and answers MCSE: The Electives in a Nutshell is a detailed quick reference designed for the administrator who already has some experience with Windows NT or is currently administering a different platform such as UNIX, and wants to learn what is necessary to pass the elective exam portion of the MCSE and the MCSE+Internet elective and required exams. While no book is a substitute for real-world experience, this book will help you codify your knowledge and prepare for the exams. Any administrator who is serious about passing the required exams needed to acquire MCSE and MCSE+Internet certification will find this book an invaluable tool.


SummaryAge-specific prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was studied in 831 Saudis (441 males, 390 females; 1–53 years old) from Al Baha region, south-west Saudi Arabia. There was a gradual exposure to H CV early in life with a gradual increase with age, reaching a peak of 5.3% in the 30–40 years age group. The overall prevalence was 3.6% and 3.1% in males and females, respectively, with no statistical difference. Comparison of positivity in family members of seven anti-HCV-positive index cases (15/44) with those of five anti-HCV-negative index cases (2/44) showed a statistically significant association (x210.5 with Yates' correction). This points to intrafamilial transmission of HCV as a route of spread among the Saudi population.


The use of large displays for purposes of colour communication is becoming increasingly popular and the need for high-fidelity reproduction of appearance is becoming even more demanding. In this work, the colour appearance of the ColorChecker chart was matched on a large liquid crystal display (LCD) and a comparison between the physical colours and the displayed image was made. Colour definition and colour perception spaces were used to derive appearance models that define the difference between the digital and physical stimuli. The procedure was repeated using a selection of coloured garments as stimuli. The results revealed a good agreement in the defining the appearance difference between digital and physical stimuli. In both cases the difference in lightness between the two media was found to be responsible for the variation in matching. This outcome was used to develop a colour-rendering chain for the display. The use of appearance modelling in the digital image reproduction chain enhanced the appearance of solid paint-coated surfaces and dyed-garment images.


Vaccination by whole-cell pertussis vaccine (Pw) since forties years was followed by decreasing of morbidity and especially mortality caused by pertussis. High reactogenicity of this vaccine (Pw) was the reason trials undertaken to search new type of less reactogenic vaccine. Acellular pertussis vaccine (Pa) was found as effective, safe, small reactogenic. It may be especially used as booster doses for older children and even for adults people. Actual pertussis infection among adults are suspected as the source infection for children. Just now in some countries acellular vaccine start to be used for ground vaccination of children. Increasing of morbidity of pertussis was noted in some provinces in Poland in last time. Acellular pertussis vaccine may be introduced as booster dose for 6-7 years old children, if epidemiological situation of pertussis among school-age children would be not satisfied in future.


Early-age cracking in concrete bridge decks, pavements, and superstructure elements has served as the impetus for substantial research on early-age shrinkage in cementitious materials. Much of this research has indicated how mixture proportions, constituent materials, and construction operations can be altered to reduce the risk of cracking. Unfortunately, many unrestrained shrinkage-testing protocols do not provide a comprehensive picture of the early-age shrinkage exhibited by cementitious materials, especially those used in higher-strength concrete. In this paper, the authors review several early-age shrinkage testing procedures. A testing protocol is presented to show how chemical shrinkage can be measured by using buoyancy measurements. A comparison of the measured autogenous shrinkage is made by using four measurement methods: a sealed membrane, a corrugated tube, a noncontact measurement in a rigid mold, and the ASTM C 157 standard. The results of the autogenous and chemical shrinkage tests are compared with one another to describe fully early-age length change. It is shown that through careful experimentation and interpretation, the results of these tests can be completely correlated with one another. This can provide the end user with reliable test procedures to compare different paste compositions and different admixtures and can provide inputs for models that quantify cracking potential.


It has been generally accepted for 20 years that the growth of Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115) is stimulated only by androgen. However, we recently found that the growth of SC115 cells is also stimulated by pharmacological doses of estrogen in vivo but not in cell culture. In the present study, the growth-stimulatory effect of glucocorticoid on SC115 cells was examined. In castrated mice, daily injections of high doses of dexamethasone (100 micrograms/mouse) markedly stimulated the tumor growth, and the growth approached that found in normal males. However, daily injections of physiological doses of dexamethasone (4 micrograms/mouse) or high doses of epitestosterone, progesterone, or cholesterol (200-5000 micrograms/mouse) did not enhance the tumor growth in castrated mice. The androgen dependency, growth speed, steroid receptors, and histological type of the tumors grown by pharmacological doses of glucocorticoid were not significantly different from those of the original SC115 tumors grown by androgen. In a serum-free medium [Ham's F-12:Eagle's minimum essential medium (1:1, v/v) containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin], the proliferation of SC-3 cells (a cloned cell line from SC115 cells) was markedly (by up to 25-fold) stimulated by 10(-10)-10(-8) M testosterone, whereas the proliferation was only slightly but significantly (by up to 3.3-fold) stimulated by 10(-8)-10(-5) M dexamethasone. The present findings demonstrate that the growth of SC115 cells in vivo and in cell culture is significantly stimulated by physiological doses of androgen or pharmacological doses of glucocorticoid.


Background and Aim: Cranial nerve (CN) schwannomas other than the eighth nerve schwannoma are called nonvestibular cranial nerve schwannomas (NVCNS). This study aims to analyze the clinical profile, distribution, and surgical outcome of the NVCNS. Methods and Materials/Patients: This is a retrospective study analyzing the NVCNS conducted between January 2007 and December 2021. VIIIth cranial nerve schwannomas and conservatively managed NVCNS were excluded from the study. Results: This study included 25 patients with NVCNS. Ten patients (40%) had trigeminal schwannomas, 3(12%) facial nerve schwannomas, 9 (36%) lower cranial nerve (LCN) schwannomas, 1 (4%) vagal schwannoma in neck and 2(8%) hypoglossal schwannomas. Eight patients (32%) were male and 17(68%) were female. The age of the patients ranges from 13 to 62 years (mean 39 years +/- 14 SD). Findings of cerebellar involvement, VIIIth CN involvement, and headache are the most common clinical features. The posterior cranial fossa is the most common location of the tumors. Thirteen patients (52%) underwent gross total resection (GTR), 7(28%) underwent neartotal resection (NTR) and 5(20%) underwent subtotal resection (STR). All the patients improved in the postoperative period. Facial nerve palsy is the most common cranial nerve palsy occurring in the postoperative period. Conclusion: Trigeminal and lower cranial nerve (LCN) schwannomas are the most common NVCNS. The retrosigmoid suboccipital approach is the most commonly used surgical approach for tumors located in the posterior cranial fossa. Since NVCNS are benign lesions, postoperative clinical improvement along with decreased complications should be the goal of the surgery. Hence, gross total resection is the most commonly achieved extent of resection, near-total or subtotal resection can be done wherever gross total resection (GTR) is not possible in NVCNS.


In the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Kurume University, I, 355 cases of ovarian neoplasma were treated from 1960 to 1979, and of these cases 336 belonged to the semimalignant group and the most malignant group of the Japanese Ovarian Committee (J.O.C.). These groups are substantially grouped together into the category of malignant tumor by J.O.C., but their 5-year survival rates are considerably different, i.e., 67.6% for the semimalignant group and 30.8% for the most malignant group. Particularly, since tumors of the semimalignant group often occur in young women who must retain their generative functions, they must be treated differentially from the group of adenocarcinoma which appears frequently in rather aged patients. The present paper describes the clinical management of dysgerminoma, the incidence of which is high in the semimalignant group, and common epithelial carcinoma, the incidence of which is high in the most malignant group.


Most informed observers of the Canadian and American legal systems accept the existence of a significant crisis in access to justice. One possible solution is to permit paralegals, notaries or other licensed individuals with training more limited than that enjoyed by a licensed attorney to practice in certain areas of law. This paper supports these developments, arguing for a regulated and incremental introduction of new legal service providers into the legal services market. It considers the appropriate training and scope of practice for new legal service providers, and some of the associated opportunities and challenges.


In the measurement of a surface profile by means of a two-dimensional machine, tilting between the specimen surface and the measuring reference plane makes the reduction of both longitudinal and lateral measuring range unavoidable. This problem remains even in three-dimensional measurement. The authors describe an improvement of the conventional two-dimensional surface profile measuring machine. A system controlled by a personal computer in order to correct the three-dimensional tilting is presented. The system enables one to obtain high-resolution data over a longer measuring range.


Mechanised CTL harvesting in thinning, clear felling, and extraction are potentially damaging harvesting sites, as operations are conducted under all weather conditions involving predominantly heavy machinery. Extreme machine sinkage has a direct influence on productivity, fuel consumption, and the cos t of harvesting operations, leads to site disturbance and soil damage. This is especially true in areas with soft soils in spring and autumn, where options are used to improve the operational capability of the existing CTL system, such as "bogie tracks" an d "slash reinforcement". Regarding soil compaction, the CTL system met the ecological requirements for its use on common forest soils in northwest Russia within the bounds of this experimental design. However, an increase in bulk density was found in all treatments at the silt loam soil surface (0 to 5 cm depth). The magnitude of the increase was a function of the number of passes, slash/track presence, and moisture content. In comparison with conventional wheel treatments, bogie track treatments showed that the compaction of wet and moist siltloam held irregularly. The formation of a compacted zone under the traction element, helped by the reinforcement of forest soil roots, took place in the first phase. With an increasing number of passes, the compacted zone deepened and partly collapsed, and there was a lateral bulging of the soil. Then, there was a slight increase in density because of the formation of secondary hardened zones. The results for slash reinforcement treatments indicated that a layer of slash mitigated the effect of a single forwarder pass and subsequent passes. The bulk density did not change considerably. The increased bulk density for the forest soils was nearly 10% of that of the slash covered soils. In addition, the presence of the combination of "slash + track" made no apparent difference within the bounds of the experimental design. Regarding sinkage, the CTL system with a conventional wheel did not meet the ecological requirements for thinning (rut depth should be less than 0.15 m). Moreover, rut depth reached the forwarder clearance of the machine (0.67 m) on wet soil. The results of bogie track treatments showed that rut depth did not meet the ecological requirements for thinning (0.15 m), particularly on wet soil, but was within the forwarder clearance of the machine. In the slash treatments, rut depth changed only slightly. All mechanised harvesting systems applied in Russia cause different kinds of negative environmental impacts. When applied on sandy or sandy loam soils, all mechanised systems demonstrated almost the same impacts on the soil. However, the proportion of sandy soils is small in Russian forests in comparison with loams and clays. On loams and clays, the TL and FT systems, unlike the CTL system, resulted in significant soil compaction, but at the same time formed almost no track. Over 50% of the harvesting sites in Russia are on wet and soft soil. Therefore, the application of the CTL system has to be improved in order to reduce rut formation in most common soils. Hence, the associated CTL machine ground contact devices and slash layer must be suitably adapted for specific harvesting sites, based on terrain classification criteria.


An alternative method for determining the third-law partial molar entropies of electrolytes in aqueous solutions from the data on nonisothermal systems has been presented. They can be obtained from the difference between the initial thermoelectric powers of two different thermocells, the one being formed by cation-reversible electrodes and the other being formed by anion-reversible electrodes, both with common electrolytes of the same concentration. The partial molar entropies have been calculated to be 31.59, 37.53 and 42.87 e.u. for hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, and hydroiodic acid respectively at 25°C and 0.01 M.


One hundred twenty-seven individuals who ranged in age from 18 to 90 years were tested on a reading span test and on measures of on-line and off-line sentence processing efficiency. Older participants had reduced working-memory spans compared with younger participants. The on-line measures were sensitive to local increases in processing load, and the off-line measures were sensitive to the syntactic complexity of the sentences. Older and younger participants showed similar effects of syntactic complexity on the on-line measures. There was some evidence that older participants were more affected than younger participants by syntactic complexity on the off-line measures. The results support the hypothesis that on-line processes involved in recognizing linguistic forms and determining the literal, preferred, discourse-coherent meaning of sentences constitute a domain of language processing that relies on its own processing resource or working-memory system.


Three hundred miles and more from Chimborazo, one hundred from the snows of Cotopaxi, in the wildest wastes of Ecuador's Andes, there lies that mysterious mountain valley, cut off from the world of men, the Country of the Blind. Long years ago that valley lay so far open to the world that men might come at last through frightful gorges and over an icy pass into its equable meadows; and thither indeed men came, a family or so of Peruvian half-breeds fleeing from the lust and tyranny of an evil Spanish ruler. Then came the stupendous outbreak of Mindobamba, when it was night in Quito for seventeen days, and the water was boiling at Yaguachi and all the fish floating dying even as far as Guayaquil; everywhere along the Pacific slopes there were landslips and swift thawings and sudden floods, and one whole side of the old Arauca crest slipped and came down in thunder, and cut off the Country of the Blind for ever from the exploring feet of men. But one of these early settlers had chanced to be on the hither side of the gorges when the world had so terribly shaken itself, and he perforce had to forget his wife and his child and all the friends and possessions he had left up there, and start life over again in the lower world. He started it again but ill, blindness overtook him, and he died of punishment in the mines; but the story he told begot a legend that lingers along the length of the Cordilleras of the Andes to this day. He told of his reason for venturing back from that vastness, into which he had first been carried lashed to a llama, beside a vast bale of gear, when he was a child. The valley, he said, had in it all that the heart of man could desire--sweet water, pasture, an even climate, slopes of rich brown soil with tangles of a shrub that bore an excellent fruit, and on one side great hanging forests of pine that held the avalanches high. Far overhead, on three sides, vast cliffs of grey-green rock were capped by cliffs of ice; but the glacier stream came not to them but flowed away by the farther slopes, and only now and then huge ice masses fell on the valley side. In this valley it neither rained nor snowed, but the abundant springs gave a rich green pasture, that irrigation would spread over all the valley space. The settlers did well indeed there. Their beasts did well and multiplied, and but one thing marred their happiness. Yet it was enough to mar it greatly. A strange disease had come upon them, and had made all the children born to them there--and indeed, several older children also--blind. It was to seek some charm or antidote against this plague of blindness that he had with fatigue and danger and difficulty returned down the gorge. In those days, in such cases, men did not think of germs and infections but of sins; and it seemed to him that the reason of this affliction must lie in the negligence of these priestless immigrants to set up a shrine so soon as they entered the valley. He wanted a shrine--a handsome, cheap, effectual shrine--to be erected in the valley; he wanted relics and such-like potent things of faith, blessed objects and mysterious medals and prayers. In his wallet he had a bar of native silver for which he would not account; he insisted there was none in the valley with something of the insistence of an inexpert liar. They had all clubbed their money and ornaments together, having little need for such treasure up there, he said, to buy them holy help against their ill. I figure this dim-eyed young mountaineer, sunburnt, gaunt, and anxious, hat-brim clutched feverishly, a man all unused to the ways of the lower world, telling this story to some keen-eyed, attentive priest before the great convulsion; I can picture him presently seeking to return with pious and infallible remedies against that trouble, and the infinite dismay with which he must have faced the tumbled vastness where the gorge had once come out. But the rest of his story of mischances is lost to me, save that I know of his evil death after several years. Poor stray from that remoteness! The stream that had once made the gorge now bursts from the mouth of a rocky cave, and the legend his poor, ill-told story set going developed into the legend of a


Hyperglycemia-induced stress in the brain of patients with diabetes triggers the disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB), leading to diverse neurological diseases including stroke and dementia. Recently, the role of microRNA becomes an interest in the research for deciphering the mechanism of brain endothelial cell damage under hyperglycemia. Therefore, we investigated whether mircoRNA Let7A (miR-Let7A) controls the damage of brain endothelial (bEnd.3) cells against high glucose condition. Cell viability, cell death marker expressions (p-53, Bax, and cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase), the loss of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and claudin-5), proinflammatory response (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nitrite production were confirmed using MTT, reverse transcription-PCR, quantitative-PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and Griess reagent assay. miR-Let7A overexpression significantly prevented cell death and loss of tight junction proteins and attenuated proinflammatory response and nitrite production in the bEnd.3 cells under high glucose condition. Taken together, we suggest that miR-Let7A may attenuate brain endothelial cell damage by controlling cell death signaling, loss of tight junction proteins, and proinflammatory response against high glucose stress. In the future, the manipulation of miR-Let7A may be a novel solution in controlling BBB disruption which leads to the central nervous system diseases.


Abstract I surveyed the history of exotic pasture introductions in northern Australia to compare the rate of introduction of useful species with that of weeds. Between 1947 and 1985, 463 exotic grasses and legumes in at least 2033 accessions were intentionally introduced into the region, the grasses predominantly from Africa, and the legumes from Central and South America. Of these, only 21 (5%) came to be recommended as useful, while 60 (13%) became listed as weeds. Seventeen of the useful plants were in fact also weeds, leaving only 4 species (<1%) that were useful without causing weed problems. They were far outnumbered by the 43 species (9%) that were weeds but had no recorded use. Of the 60 weeds, 21 were weeds of cropping, 20 were weeds of conservation and 19 were weeds of both sectors. Thirteen were listed as major crop weeds. Growth rate, maximum height, seed size, and continent of origin were unrelated to weediness. Good predictors of weediness were whether a plant was useful, a good performer in trials, or persisted at a field site. In addition, grasses were more likely, and legumes less likely, to be weedy than expected. It is argued that a new form of assessment is required before an exotic plant species is released into the Australian environment as a pasture plant. This would recognize that a successful introduction is almost certain to become a weed in some situations, and would attempt to assess the net national benefit of the proposed introduction.


Title Role of Mettler's Release as an adjunct in the management of post-immobilization knee stiffness- A pilot study. Objective To determine the role of Mettler's Release Technique (MRT) as an adjunct on knee flexion range of motion in post immobilization knee stiffness Methodology Nine subjects who had knee stiffness following immobilization greater than three weeks were included and randomized into control and experimental groups. Five treatment sessions of MRT along with conventional therapy was given to the experimental group and only conventional therapy was given to the control group. Knee flexion range of motion was measured in sitting using standard goniometer pre and post treatment sessions. Result s Improvements in knee flexion range of motion were noticed in both the groups, however the improvement was greater in experimental group (22.5±9.85 to 64.5±1.77) compared to control group (37±2.07 to 64.66±6.5). Observation Mettler's Release Technique (MRT) was an effective adjunct in improving knee flexion range of motion in post immobilization knee stiffness.


In patients with severe cranio-cerebral traumas an investigation was performed of the efficiency of using vasoactive therapy in complex treatment directed to earlier recovery of the microcirculatory blood flow and aerobic metabolism in ischemic parts of the brain.


The eyes, which were not previously the subject of investigation, have emerged as one of the more intriguing aspect of COVID-19 infection. The probable pathways for SARS-CoV-2 infection through the eyes are either through the tear film and draining tear ducts leading to the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract, or through the conjunctiva into limbal superficial cells into the inner eye, where distribution via the blood or nervous system appears to be possible. Virus pathogenesis through tear and conjunctiva has been established in animal models of several coronavirus eye diseases, and preliminary research have shown that SARS-CoV-2 may do the same in humans. Given that COVID-19 cases have reached pandemic proportions and are on the rise, it is vital to recognize the illness's ocular manifestations and avert potentially vision-threatening effects. Coronaviruses may be transmitted between animals and humans through evolution, therefore investigating them in animal models could be crucial in the future to discover further elements of ocular involvement. It is recommended that health care and individual personnel take steps to avoid infection and limit viral transmission. More study is needed to understand the transmission pathways and the alternatives for COVID-19 prevention and therapy disseminated through the ocular surfaces for prompt recovery of the patients.


It is accompanied by thorough explanatory annotations and an insightful introduction to the novel and antebellum culture by Robert S. Levine. "Contexts" brings together a generous selection of primary materials intended to provide readers with background on the novel's central themes. Historical documents include accounts of Salem's history by Thomas Maule, Robert Calef, Joseph B. Felt, and Charles W. Upham, which Hawthorne drew on for The House of the Seven Gables. The importance of the house in antebellum America-as a manifestation of the body, a site of genealogical history, and a symbol of the republic's middle class-is explored through the diverse writings of William Andrus Alcott, Edgar Allan Poe, and J. H. Agnew, among others. The impact of technological developments on the novel, especially of daguerreotypy, is considered through the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Gustave de Beaumont, and Alexis de Tocqueville, among others. Also included are two of Hawthorne's literary sketches-"Alice Doane's Appeal" and "The Old Apple Dealer"-that demonstrate the continuity of Hawthorne's style, from his earlier periodical writing to his later career as a novelist. "Criticism" provides a comprehensive overview of the critical commentary on the novel from its publication to the present. Among the twenty-seven critics represented are Herman Melville, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry James, Nina Baym, Eric Sundquist, Richard H. Millington, Alan Trachtenberg, Amy Schrager Lang, and Christopher Castiglia. A Chronology and Selected Bibliography are also included.