Bragg reflection and transmission spectra of the 1D photonic crystals characterized by a spatially sinusoidal profile of permittivity are studied as a function of the crystal-plate thickness. Applicability of the dynamical theory of diffraction in describing such spectra is considered. In the framework of the dynamical theory, we (i) calculated and analysed the reflection and transmission spectra for oblique incidence of polarized light, (ii) computed the spectra making use of the transfer matrix technique, and (iii) compared quantitatively the results of the two approaches. As a result, the analytical dynamical theory of diffraction is found to be correct in calculating the Bragg spectra in the vicinity of single photonic band-gap when the plate thickness is equal to the integer number of the spatial periods, or the permittivity is symmetric about the middle plane of the structure.


Health-related behaviors that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease should be encouraged for all children and their families. Physicians should monitor blood pressure, counsel patients about appropriate nutrition and exercise, and emphasize the importance of not smoking. Because black adults in the United States have an increased prevalence, morbidity and mortality of essential hypertension, the working group advises physicians to be particularly vigilant in monitoring blood pressure in black children, especially those with a family history of hypertension. Other groups with a higher prevalence of hypertension and any person with a family history of hypertension should be monitored closely.


Although transfection of renin gene into adult liver resulted in increased blood pressure (BP) for 1 week, sustained transgene expression must be considered to produce a continuous hypertensive animal. We hypothesized that gene transfer into neonatal rats would result in long-term transgene expression, given with highly replicating hepatocytes in neonates. Initially, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) vector was transfected into the liver of 1-day-old rats. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive staining of CAT throughout the liver. Therefore, we transfected renin vector to study biological effects. At 2, but not 4 and 8, weeks, a significant increase in plasma angiotensin II concentration was observed in rats transfected with renin vector. Expression of renin mRNA in the liver transfected with renin vector could be detected at least up to 6 weeks, while no significant changes in BP were observed. These results demonstrated that in vivo gene transfer into the neonatal liver resulted in sustained transgene expression, suggesting the potential use of in vivo gene transfer as a tool to produce a novel model.


We consider the symmetric simple exclusion process in $\mathbb Z^d$ with quenched bounded dynamic random conductances and prove its hydrodynamic limit in path space. The main tool is the connection, due to the self-duality of the process, between the invariance principle for single particles starting from all points and the macroscopic behavior of the density field. While the hydrodynamic limit at fixed macroscopic times is obtained via a generalization to the time-inhomogeneous context of the strategy introduced in \cite{nagy_symmetric_2002}, in order to prove tightness for the sequence of empirical density fields we develop a new criterion based on the notion of uniform conditional stochastic continuity, following \cite{varadhan_stochasticprocesses_2007}. In conclusion, we show that uniform elliptic dynamic conductances provide an example of environments in which the so-called arbitrary starting point invariance principle may be derived from the invariance principle of a single particle starting from the origin. Therefore, our hydrodynamics result applies to the examples of quenched environments considered in, e.g.,\ \cite{andres2014}, \cite{andres_quenched_2018}, \cite{biskup_invariance_2019} in combination with the hypothesis of uniform ellipticity.


These studies were designed to assess whether a decline in pituitary response to growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) contributes to the decline in amplitude of growth hormone (GH) pulses with age. Atrial cannulated young (3-4 months), middle-aged (12-14 months) and old (20-22 months) Fischer 344 male rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital to suppress pulsatile release of GH. One hour later, animals were injected with hpGRF(1-44) (10 micrograms/kg) and blood samples were removed at 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 min. Animals were then passively immunized with somatostatin antiserum and hpGRF(1-44) was reinjected. Samples were removed at the time intervals previously described. In response to 10 micrograms/kg GRF, plasma GH in young and middle-aged animals increased to 921 +/- 105 and 866 +/- 126 ng/ml, respectively, at 10 min and declined. In old animals, GH concentrations only increased to 654 +/- 80 ng/ml (p less than 0.05 compared to young rats). This represents a 28% reduction in the peak GH response to GRF. Despite passive immunization with somatostatin antiserum, the peak GH response to a second injection of GRF was diminished in all age-groups. However, integration of the area under the response curve indicated that GH secretion was similar in young and old animals during the 80-min sampling period after somatostatin antiserum. In another study, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC; 250 mg/kg, i.v.), a dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor, was used to inhibit pulsatile GH release. One hour later, animals were injected with hpGRF(1-44) (50 micrograms/kg, i.v.) and blood samples were removed as previously described.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The present study is an attempt to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of binding of phenothiazine drugs; promethazine hydrochloride, and triflupromazine hydrochloride to sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar system in the presence of pharmaceutically important cosolvents, such as ethanol, ethyleneglycol, and propyleneglycol. The interactions of promethazine and triflupromazine hydrochloride with anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate in the absence and presence of various concentrations of cosolvents have been studied by absorption spectroscopy as a function of surfactant concentration ranging from the premicellar to postmicellar region at 298 K. The binding tendency of promethazine and triflupromazine hydrochloride to sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles decreased with the concentration of cosolvents increased. The addition of cosolvents increased the CMC of sodium dodecyl sulfate and at a certain concentration totally inhibited the micellization. The inhibitory effect of cosolvents on binding of promethazine and triflupromazine hydrochloride to micelles followed the order as; water > ethyleneglycol > propyleneglycol > ethanol. Polarity of the micellar microenvironment and probable location of promethazine and triflupromazine hydrochloride were also discussed in different micellar media.


In this paper we provide insights and methods for using image segmentation for the purposes of automatic corrosion damage detection. Automatic image analysis is needed in order to process all data retrieved from drone-driven industrial inspections. To this end we provide three main contributions. First, 608 images with corrosion damages are instance-wise annotated with binary segmentation masks to construct a dataset. Second, a novel, two-stage data augmentation scheme is developed and empirically shown to significantly reduce overfitting. Finally, Mask R-CNN and PSPNet are evaluated on the corrosion dataset using this and other data augmentation methods. With 77.5% and 73.2% mean intersection over union (mIoU) for Mask R-CNN and PSPNet, respectively, the results are very promising. It is concluded that image segmentation can aid automating industrial inspections of steel constructions in the future, and that instance segmentation is likely more useful than semantic segmentation due to its applications to a wider range of use-cases.


IntroductionChronic reductions in energy availability (EA) suppress reproductive function. A particular calculation of EA quantifies the dietary energy remaining after exercise for all physiological functions. Reductions in luteinizing hormone pulse frequency have been demonstrated when EA using this calculation is <30 kcal·kg−1·fat-free mass (ffm)·d−1. PurposeWe determined whether menstrual disturbances (MD) are induced when EA is <30 kcal·kg−1 ffm·d−1. MethodsThirty-five sedentary, ovulatory women age 18 to 24 yr (weight, 59.0 ± 0.8 kg; body mass index, 21.8 ± 0.4 kg·m−2) completed a diet and exercise intervention over three menstrual cycles. Participants were randomized to groups that varied in the magnitude of negative energy balance created by the combination of exercise and energy restriction. Menstrual disturbances were determined using daily urinary estrone-1-glucuronide and pregnanediol glucuronide, midcycle luteinizing hormone, and menstrual calendars. In a secondary analysis, we calculated EA from energy balance data and tested the association of EA with MD. ResultsA generalized linear mixed-effects model showed that the likelihood of a MD decreased by 9% for each unit increase in EA (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.84–0.98; P = 0.010). No specific value of EA emerged as a threshold below which MD were induced. When participants were partitioned into EA tertile groups (low EA, 23.4–34.1; n = 11; moderate EA, 34.9–40.7; n = 12, and high EA, 41.2–50.1; n = 12 [kcal·kg−1 ffm·d−1]), estrone-1-glucuronide (P < 0.001), pregnanediol glucuronide (P < 0.001), and luteal phase length (P = 0.031) decreased significantly, independent of tertile. ConclusionsThese findings do not support that a threshold of EA exists below which MD are induced but do suggest that MD increase linearly as EA decreases. Menstrual disturbances can likely be prevented by monitoring EA using a simplified assessment of metabolic status.


Innovative activity of universities is a fundamental direction of innovative development of the Russian economy. Universities play the role of innovation centers in regions and industries. The interests of the state, business and the higher school are integrated in the course of creation, development and commercialization of new knowledge. Process of commercialization is continuous as innovative search. It begins along with the beginning of developments. Process of commercialization will begin when the higher education institution has a problem of generation of profit from scientific activity. At the same time various commercializations of forms can be used: as with full alienation of laws of estate of intellectual property, as with maintaining the rights of use of development behind the university. Perspective model of commercialization of university research and development at which the Higher Education Institution remains the owner of the values created in his walls, this creation of the small innovative enterprises. In work results of a research of application of this form are given in the Russian universities. Creation of the small innovative enterprises has a number of positive aspects, both for the university, and for economy of the region and the country in general. Article contains research results of development a transfer infrastructure of higher education institutions technologies to real production. It revealed formation of high innovative capacity of regions. Infrastructure of commercialization of high school research and development is defined as a complex of the interconnected serving departments of higher education institution. They accompany realization of research activity of workers of the university and provide a possibility of commercialization of results of innovative activity. The structurally functional model in which separate elements of innovative infrastructure of the university correspond to a certain form of commercialization and stages of commercialization of innovative activity of higher education institutions is presented in article.


MPLS is a core technology for nowadays and future networks, and must meet the needs of real-time applications for which network survivability is critical. Dynamic alternative routing has already been proposed several times to increase MPLS network performance. In this paper, a proposal of a protection scheme to be used with dynamic alternative routing is presented and its performance is evaluated through a simulation study.


This study used a case-control design to compare sleep disturbances in 40 adolescents who attempted suicide with 40 never-suicidal adolescents. Using hierarchical logistic regression analyses, we found that self-reported nighttime awakenings were significantly associated with attempted suicide, after controlling for antidepressant use, antipsychotic use, affective problems, and being bullied. In a separate regression analysis, the parent-reported total sleep problems score also predicted suicide attempt status, controlling for key covariates. No associations were found between suicide attempts and other distinct sleep problems, including falling asleep at bedtime, sleeping a lot during the day, trouble waking up in the morning, sleep duration, and parent-reported nightmares. Clinicians should be aware of sleep problems as potential risk factors for suicide attempts for adolescents.


Abstract Objective. We review four randomised, controlled trials investigating the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in elderly patients with Alzheimer or vascular dementia with neuropsychiatric features. Methods. Patients with a total score of 9–23 in the Syndrom–Kurz test (SKT) cognitive test battery (cognitive domain) and with a composite score 6 and greater in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI; behavioural domain) were included. Three trials compared 2 × 120 mg/day or 1 × 240 mg/day EGb 761® to placebo while one used donepezil as an active control. The duration of randomised treatment was 22 or 24 weeks. Results. One thousand, two hundred and ninety-four patients were analysed for efficacy. Patients treated with EGb 761® showed improvements of cognitive performance and behavioural symptoms that were associated with advances in activities of daily living and a reduced burden to caregivers. Placebo-treated patients, on the other hand, showed only minimal improvements or signs of progression. In each placebo-controlled trial, EGb 761® was significantly superior in all mentioned domains (p < 0.01). In the actively controlled trial, EGb 761® and donezepil as well as a combination of both drugs had similar effects. Conclusions. The review supports the efficacy of EGb 761® in age-related dementia with neuropsychiatric features. The drug was safe and well-tolerated.


Pixel-level dense prediction tasks such as keypoint estimation are dominated by encoder-decoder structures, where the decoder as a vital component is complex and computationally intensive. In contrast, we propose a fully decoding-free pixel-level dense prediction network called FlatteNet, in which the high dimensional tensor outputted by the backbone network is directly flattened to fit the desired output resolution. The proposed FlatteNet is end-to-end differentiable. By removing the decoder unit, FlatteNet requires much fewer parameters and lower computational complexity. We empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed network through competitive results in human pose estimation on MPII, semantic segmentation on PASCAL-Context, and object detection on PASCAL VOC. We hope that the proposed FlatteNet can serve as a simple and strong alternative of current mainstream decoder-based pixel-level dense prediction networks.


Cardiac hemangiomas are rare tumors, the presence of these neoplasms in heart valves is an exceptional finding, mainly because of their histological features. Normally, transesophageal echocardiography is used to establish a diagnosis of cardiac tumor, though careful interpretation is needed to avoid diagnostic errors. Herein is described an unusual presentation of a primary hemangioma of the mitral valve which was diagnosed as a prolapsing left atrial myxoma. The patient underwent successful surgical excision of the neoplasm, followed by mitral valve repair.


The most straightforward way to analyze investment‐sector productivity developments is to construct a two‐sector model with a sector‐specific productivity shock. An often used modeling shortcut accounts for such developments using a one‐sector model with shocks to the efficiency of investment in a capital accumulation equation. This shortcut is theoretically justified when some stringent conditions are satisfied. Using a two‐sector model, we consider the implications of relaxing several of the conditions that are at odds with the U.S. Input–Output Tables, including equal factor shares across sectors. The effects of productivity shocks to an investment‐producing sector of our two‐sector model differ from those of efficiency shocks to investment in a one‐sector model. Notably, expansionary productivity shocks boost consumption in every period, whereas expansionary efficiency shocks cause consumption to fall substantially for many periods.


Sec-delivered effector 1 (SDE1) from the Huanglongbing (HLB)-associated bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) was previously characterized as an inhibitor of defense-related, papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) in vitro and in planta. Here we investigated the contributions of SDE1 to HLB progression. We found that SDE1 expression in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana caused severe yellowing in mature leaves, reminiscent of both CLas-infection symptoms and accelerated leaf senescence. Induction of senescence signatures was also observed in the SDE1-expressing A. thaliana lines. These signatures were apparent in older leaves but not in seedlings, suggesting an age-associated effect. Furthermore, independent lines of transgenic Citrus paradisi (L.) Macfadyen (Duncan grapefruit) that express SDE1 exhibited hypersusceptibility to CLas. Similar to A. thaliana, transgenic citrus expressing SDE1 showed altered expression of senescence-associated genes, but only after infection with CLas. These findings suggest that SDE1 is a virulence factor that contributes to HLB progression, likely by inducing premature and/or accelerated senescence in citrus. This work provides new insight into HLB pathogenesis.


In the context of economic development, business negotiations gain more attention from theboth, researchers and business people. While researchers are trying to concatenate negotiationswith other areas, businessmen are interested in gathering as much information as possible aboutstrategies they might use in relationships with partners. Following the model proposed by Agndal (Agndal, 2007), regarding negotiation analysis, thispaper aims to identify main research elements from the context areas by analyzing 31 peerreviewed articles published between 1994 and 2017, and 12 books. It results a synthesis of themain elements to be considered for a successful negotiation.


1. Single units were recorded in the striate cortex of kittens aged between 2 and 12 weeks. Contrast sensitivity measurements made using moving sinusoidal gratings were used to construct spatial‐frequency tuning curves. 2. In young kittens cells had low sensitivities, responded only to low spatial frequencies and were unselective for spatial frequency. In addition 30% of the cells recorded in the youngest kittens were unresponsive to visual stimuli. 3. Sensitivity improved to near‐adult values within 5‐6 weeks. 4. Best spatial frequency improved more gradually, so that even in the oldest kittens best spatial frequencies were lower than adult values. 5. Selectivity for spatial frequency, considered both in terms of the numbers of selective cells and the narrowness of their tuning curves, improved rapidly, and reached adult values within the first 6 weeks. 6. These results are discussed in relation to other developmental studies.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at analyzing the effect of genotype (G), environment (E) and their interactions (G x E) on the major bioactive components of 2-year licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) population, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the licorice breeding with high content of bioactive components and quality improvement.

METHOD
Four genotype licorice populations were transplanted under four different environments by using complete randomized block design with three replicates, and four major bioactive components, including glycyrrhizin (GL), total saponins (TS), liquiritin (LQ) and total flavonoids (TF) were determined by UV and by HPLC.

RESULT
The major bioactive components of licorice were influenced by genotype and environment, and the genotype had more effect on all of the bioactive components. The contents of GL and LQ were codetermined by genotype and environment factors.

CONCLUSION
There exist different selective effects on different growth region for quality breeding in cultivated population of licorice.


This study is to investigate the crystallite development in nanostructured aluminium using x-ray line broadening analysis. Nanostructured aluminium was produced by equal channel angular extrusion at room temperature to a total deformation strain of ~17. Samples of the extruded metal were then heat treated at temperatures up to 300oC. High order diffraction peaks were obtained using Mo radiation and the integral breadth was determined. It was found that as the annealing temperature increased, the integral breadth of the peak reflections decreased. By establishing the modified Williamson-Hall plots (integral breadth vs contract factor) after instrumental correction, it was determined that the crystallite size of the metal was maintained ~80 nm at 100oC. As the annealing temperature increased to 200oC, the crystallite size increased to ~118 nm. With increasing annealing temperature, the hardness of the metal decreased from ~60 HV to ~45 HV.


Mechanical mixture due to pulmonary flow, in contrast to mixing by molecular diffusion within the respiratory spaces, has been studied directly using aerosol inhalation. The technique uses particles, about ½ μ in diameter, which are fairly stable in the respiratory tract, and measures the concentration of aerosol during expiration with a continuous and rapid detector of scattered light and, simultaneously, the expiratory volume flow. The flow component of pulmonary ventilation is described in terms of the fractions of tidal air (Vx) and functional residual air (Vr) which participate in the ventilatory exchange of aerosol. Aerosol clearance experiments on three apparently healthy subjects show these two newly defined mixing volumes (Vx and Vr) to be much smaller than their analogous volumes measured by gas clearance: less than one-third for the fraction of tidal air and less than one-tenth for the fraction of functional residual air. These results demonstrate quantitatively the major role of molecular diffusion in ventilation. This approach provides a new method for the measurement of the mechanical component of intrapulmonary mixing.

Submitted on November 3, 1958


Previous research has shown that fibroblast growth factor 2 protein (FGF2) can act as an anxiolytic and anti-depressive agent in rodents. Hippocampal FGF2 are decreased in post-mortem brains of individuals with mood disorders. No changes in FGF2 noted in the post-mortem brains of individuals with mood disorders that were successfully treated with anti-depressant medication. Mutations in FGF2 gene in humans have predicted non-responsiveness to the therapeutic effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These findings suggest FGF2 may be required for the therapeutic effects of antidepressants. To test this, we employed a rodent model of depressive behaviour, chronic variable stress (CVS) with antidepressant treatment (fluoxetine) in wild-type and FGF2 knockout mice and examined depressive and anxiety behaviors. We hypothesized that fluoxetine will reverse the effects of CVS on these behaviours in wild-type mice, but not in FGF2KO, suggesting that FGF2 gene is necessary for the therapeutic effects of fluoxetine.


Research Summary
The results of previous research indicate that the presentation of deterring situational stimuli in an attacked computing environment shapes system trespassers' avoiding online behaviors during the progression of a system trespassing event. Nevertheless, none of these studies comprised an investigation of whether the effect of deterring cues influence system trespassers' activities on the system. Moreover, no prior research has been aimed at exploring whether the effect of deterring cues is consistent across different types of system trespassers. We examine whether the effect of situational deterring cues in an attacked computer system influenced the likelihood of system trespassers engaging in active online behaviors on an attacked system, and whether this effect varies based on different levels of administrative privileges taken by system trespassers. By using data from a randomized experiment, we find that a situational deterring cue reduced the probability of system trespassers with fewer privileges on the attacked computer system (nonadministrative users) to enter activity commands. In contrast, the presence of these cues in the attacked system did not affect the probability of system trespassers with the highest level of privileges (administrative users) to enter these commands.

Policy Implications
In developing policies to curtail malicious online behavior committed by system trespassers, a "one-policy-fits-all" approach is often employed by information technology (IT) teams to protect their organizations. Our results suggest that although the use of a warning banner is effective in reducing the amount of harmful commands entered into a computer system by nonadministrative users, such a policy is ineffective in deterring trespassers who take over a network with administrative privileges. Accordingly, it is important to recognize that the effectiveness of deterring stimuli in cyberspace is largely dependent on the level of administrative privileges taken by the system trespasser when breaking into the system. These findings present the need for the development and implementation of flexible policies in deterring system trespassers.

publisher-specific, author manuscript: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#am


PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the durability of ternary blended concrete mixtures adding ultra fine admixture. METHODS : From the literature review, crack was considered as the main distress failure criterion on concrete bridge deck pavement. To reduce the initial crack development due to drying shrinkage, CSA expansion agent and shrink reduction agent were used to ternary blended concrete mixtures as a admixture. Laboratory tests including chloride ion penetration test, surface scaling test, rapid freeze & thaw resistance test, non restrained drying shrinkage and restrained drying shrinkage test were conducted to verify the durability of ternary blended concrete mixtures. RESULTS : Based on the test results, proposed mixtures were verified as high qualified durable materials. Expecially initial drying shrinkage crack was not occurred in ternary blended concrete mixtures with CSA expansion agent. CONCLUSIONS : It is concluded that the durability of proposed ternary blend concrete mixture was acceptable to apply for the concrete bridge deck pavement.


Samples of trapped electrons in aqueous glasses at 77 K were subjected to intense pulses of laser light at 694 nm, which is on the red side of their optical obsorption band maxima. Absorbances were measured at 694, 633, 442 and 1152 nm during and after the excitation pulse so that "transient" and "permanent" bleaching effects could be distinguished. The transient bleaching was very much greater at the photolysing wavelength than at any of the other wavelengths and, furthermore, after the pulse some absorbance returned at 694 nm while it decreased elsewhere across the band. Evidently the band was inhomogeneously bleached and it is, therefore, an inhomogeneously broadened absorption band. An absolute upper limit of 2 × 10–9 s was calculated for the excited state lifetime from the measured transient bleaching efficiency. Several types of process are involved in contributing to the post-pulse development of permanent bleaching, which occur to different extents in aqueous media made with different glass-forming solutes. Results are also presented on the generation of infrared obsorptions, on the effect of added electron scavengers, and on partial bleaching prior to laser excitation.


Pacemaker atrial lead dislodgement inducing ventricular pacing is reviewed, and four such observed cases are described. This interesting complication of the atrial lead producing ventricular depolarization results in an array of electrocardiographic manifestations and vignettes. These documented experiences emphasize the infrequent persistence of this event, even with the utilization of modern atrial passive and active fixation leads.


The main aim of this article is to try and demonstrate the difficulties and obstacles involved during the process of psychoanalytical therapy, mainly a case conceptualization by taking both traditional Psychoanalytical theory and contemporary scientific findings into consideration. By looking at the traditional theory of psychoanalysis, it is palpable that interpretation and the study of the human mind will eventually deem the issue of subjectivity undeniable, as you will see from the reference section, of those used; essential materials from the International Journal of psychoanalysis, introductory lectures of Freud, and studies of hysteria and also for the contemporary reference, lecture notes of Wilma Bucci (2009). This article will focus mainly on resistance, and what then is the cure? Freud described the notion of an analytic cure in 'Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis'. Through this method, psychoanalysis sets itself up as the 'talking cure' and communication, its weapon. Any process of communication which does not have the aim of providing a cure isn't in the strict sense of the word, psychoanalysis. According to Freud, the ego is the source for three types of resistance while the super-ego and the Id is responsible for each other. This article has no methodology since all the information used is based on theoretical information obtained from reliable sources and all references have been included accordingly. According to Wilma, the contemporary psychoanalytic process differs. Due to the nature of this article, the conclusion is the fact that further research is required to observe how exactly theory relates to technique and therapy becomes more effective.


Israel and Trollope (1961) have developed field equations in the form of two sets in their non-symmetric unified field theory. Shrivastava (1974) and Pradhan (1977) have obtained wave solutions of the field equations of Israel and Trollope in four-dimension using generalized Takeno's space-time and generalized Peres space-time respectively. In the paper [3], recently we have investigated (z-t)-type plane wave solutions of Israel and Trollope's field equations in five-dimensional space-time. In the present paper, we have obtained the five dimensional plane wave solutions of field equations of Israel and Trollope's unified field theory in the space-time of Ambatkar (2002) for the function Z=t/z. It is found that, the second set of the field equations of this unified field theory does not have any plane wave solution.


The principle of prohibition of abuse of EU law has developed throughout a variety of areas of EU law, but has for the last few years most specifically evolved into an overriding principle through the field of EU VAT.

The questions that have arisen along the lines of the Court's interpretation mainly assess the relation with legal certainty and the division of powers. When looking at the cases of Maks Pen and Italmoda without prior engagement in the abuse of rights doctrine, one is inclined to question its compliance with these core principles underpinning the EU legal order. However, by the Court's gradual extension of the scope of the principle of prohibition of abuse of EU law, through Halifax and Kofoed, the current scope of application has become defendable to a certain extent. The Court appears to have struck the balance right between legal certainty and the needs of the Internal Market in general, although the case in Italmoda must be considered to be a flaw within that process.

When looking at the principle from a notional standpoint, one cannot conclude differently than that it has ascended to a level of constitutional value. The principle of non-abuse possesses the elements academically designated to general principles of EU law. However, the full and direct application against individuals appears to still be a bridge too far at this time, due to a remaining lack of unified recognition in all layers of the EU legal order.


This work deals with the palm oil plantation which is not utilizing the available data to be used as reference to measure the degree of abnormal observation. There are no assessment tools to quantify the degree of seriousness of abnormal observation. When a palm oil plantation is ignoring the optimization of the factors contributing to the problem, they might produce lots of waste. The objective of this work is to measure the degree of abnormality using Mahalanobis Taguchi System (MTS) and to diagnose the parameters that influence the system. MTS is a method used for identifying or to see the pattern in decision making. The main principle MTS is to choose a group of variables and achieve optimization of the factors that contributes to the problem by embodying with Mahalanobis Distance. From the results, the degree of abnormality was successfully measured using the MTS method. There are 5 sample blocks that belong in the abnormality group; PR16 B3, PR17 C5, PR15 A5, PR16 B5 and PR17 C4. The acquired result indicates that interrow weeding is the parameters that most influence the process flow in plantation. This variable contributes to 25% of the abnormal data. It can be concluded here is this parameter need to be diagnosed by increasing the dosage of interrow weeding so that the harvesting output performance can be improve.


It is of great significance to carry out scientific investigation of threatened species and assess their in-situ conservation status in order to guide the conservation and management of these species within a region. In this study, we explored and assessed the biodiversity and in-situ conservation status of the threatened medicinal vascular plants(TMVPs) in central China. The results showed that there were 276 TMVPs in central China, including 18 critically endangered(CR), 77 endangered(EN), and 181 vulnerable(VU) species. Of which, 222 TMVPs were distributed in 49 national nature reserves, with an in-situ conservation rate of 80.43%. And the in-situ conservation rate of CR, EN and NR species were 83.33%, 77.92% and 81.22%, respectively. The complementary algorithm was used to select the nine national nature reserves with the highest protection and complementary contribution to the TMVPs. The cumulative protection contribution rate of these nine nature reserves was 81.98%. Fifty-four TMVPs were distributed outside of national nature reserves, while mainly distributed within 10 hotspot counties including Badong county, Hubei province, Sangzhi county, Hunan province, Jianghua Yao Autonomous county, Hunan province and so on. In general, TMVPs are well protected by the national nature reserves in central China. However, there are still some conservation gaps. It is necessary to carry out further field investigation on the species with conservation gaps and identify the gap areas, so as to provide scientific guidance for the optimization of the conservation of TMVPs in this region.


Although Bacillus cereus is known mainly as an agent of food poisoning, other infections caused by this organism have been documented in immunocompromised patients, including sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and wound infections. Certain populations are at increased risk for B. cereus infection, including cancer patients, neonates, intravenous drug users, and patients with a history of trauma, surgery, or catheterization. Primary cutaneous disease attributed to B. cereus in immunocompetent persons or in non-health-care settings rarely has been reported. This report is the first to document such an outbreak. On August 24, 2004, a local health department in Georgia received a call from a university health center describing 90 cadets with nonpruritic, impetigo-like lesions on their scalps; B. cereus was the common organism among the three patients whose lesions were cultured. The cases occurred during the freshman military orientation week that preceded the start of the fall term. The Georgia Division of Public Health (GDPH) conducted an investigation to determine the source of the infections, identify associated risk factors, and implement control measures. This report summarizes the results of the outbreak investigation, which identified receiving a short haircut at the start of orientation week, sharing sunscreen during the week, and membership in Company B as strongly associated with having scalp lesions. Recommendations to the university included changing the type of haircut required, increasing time allowed for showering, and issuing individual sunscreen. The results of this investigation underscore the need for military programs to incorporate good hygiene and infection-control measures into school orientation events.


Abstract The chemical processes used by John and Robert Adamson and the possibility that they might have used some special ingredient has long been the subject of speculation. In the early stages of photography in Scotland, the chemical processes used were probably based on William Henry Fox Talbot's, but it is likely that independent experimentation followed rapidly. Visual differences among the images produced by John Adamson and, to a lesser extent, David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson, support the use of several different processes. In a few instances, annotations in the original albums or on the negatives provide tantalizing clues to the chemistry used, but these are scarce and there are no known notebooks left by either John or Robert Adamson to reveal their photographic recipes. They did, however, leave a vast corpus of images, which may be able to shed light on the chemical processes employed. This requires non-destructive analytical methods for determining the elements now present in the image and relating these to the chemicals employed originally.


This paper describes the analysis of the evolution of Internet service access for the residential sector with the purpose of obtaining an expression to make predictions about its increase over the next ten years. The models derived from a traditional industrial economy are no longer valid to calculate the evolution of Internet service access. As such, the authors of this paper propose and test a new model to calculate the increase in the percentage of Internet users based on the concepts of a network economy. The new model, combined with the tendency of modem speed evolution, produces a new equation to calculate the bandwidth growth in optical access networks. This way of calculating the bandwidth growth of the access networks is independent of the authors' knowledge of future Internet services. Application of the model to a simulated geographical area is shown.


Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and prediabetes are well-known risk factors for diabetes. However, few studies have been performed about the risk of diabetes in subjects with prediabetes in the presence of NAFLD. In addition, little information was known about the impact of waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) changes on the development of diabetes. In this study, we examined the association of NAFLD with diabetes and the impact of WC and BMI changes in subjects with prediabetes. Methods: We enrolled 6,240 subjects with prediabetes who underwent general routine health evaluations in 2007 and returned for follow-up examinations in 2008 -2013 at least one time. Subjects were stratified by WC and BMI changes into three groups. The relative ratios (RRs) of NAFLD for diabetes was evaluated. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD in study participants was 45.4% (2,830/6,240). Subjects with NAFLD had higher BMI, WC, HbA1c levels, blood pressure levels, blood lipid levels, and also higher ALT levels (P 3.0 cm) were 1.953 (95% CI, 1.365 to 2.794), 1.996 (95% CI, 1.407 to 2.833), and 2.302 (95% CI, 1.598 to 3.314), respectively. Furthermore, the RRs were also closely related to BMI changes and the adjusted RRs for diabetes according to BMI change ( 2 , -0.35 kg/m 2 to 0.35 kg/m 2 , and > 0.35 kg/m 2 ) were 1.633 (95% CI, 1.121 to 2.380), 1.995 (95% CI, 1.415 to 2.811), and 2.924 (95% CI, 2.053 to 4.165), respectively. Conclusion: There was a strong and independent association between NAFLD and diabetes in Korean subjects with prediabetes, and this relationship was closely related to WC and BMI changes. Disclosure J. Lee: None. Y. Kang: None. J. Park: None. W. Lee: None.


This study investigates Kenyan scholars' adoption of open access (OA). The authors used a questionnaire to collect data from academic researchers at selected Kenyan public universities. The findings of this study indicate that while Kenyan researchers have embraced the concept of OA, challenges such as a lack of mechanisms to guide academic researchers on where to publish, a dearth of funding mechanisms to cover article processing charges, and a lack of accreditation mechanisms for regional and national journals are exposing Kenyan academic researchers to unscrupulous journal publishers and predatory publishing outlets. OA advocates in Kenyan universities need to devise innovative ways of raising awareness about OA, and these universities should provide the environment, infrastructure, and capacity building needed to support OA.


From Spain and Greece to Brazil and South Africa, dualized labor markets are a worldwide phenomenon. In many countries, workers are divided between those with permanent contracts that include valuable benefits and extensive labor market protections and those who work under contingent contracts or no contracts at all. This latter group receives few or no labor market protections and lower levels of social benefits. They are the world's labor market outsiders. Recent research has suggested that this pool of outsiders has important implications for the nature of democratic politics in the twenty-first century, an argument that is perfectly in line with the core idea of this book, namely, that coalitional alignments among different labor market groups are at the heart of postindustrial reform strategies. Yet the extent of dualization varies hugely across countries. Data on the size of the informal sector around the world (from Schneider et al. 2010) show that while there is clearly a negative association between the wealth of societies and the extent of dualization, there is also huge variation both within and across rich and developing nations. In the OECD context, the process of dualization has been linked to a number of political and economic processes: increasing competition in manufacturing, the rise of the service sector, the decline of unionization, political choices by Left governments, and others. Echoes of these arguments are present in work on developing countries, where dualization is closely linked to the informal sector and has received a lot of attention from economists and sociologists (if not political scientists). Indeed, a long tradition of models in development economics emphasize the stark income and productivity gaps inherent in "dual economies" and the uneven growth that characterizes broad swaths of the developing world (Rosenstein-Rodan 1943; Ray 2010). Yet while all of these arguments emphasize important features of dualization, they often focus on the consequences rather than the causes of labor market dualism.


The presence of radiatively active gases in the Earth's atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone) raises its global mean surface temperature by 30 K, making our planet habitable by life as we know it. There has been an increase in carbon dioxide and other trace gases since the Industrial Revolution, largely as a result of man's activities, increasing the radiative heating of the troposphere and surface by about 2 W m -2. This heating is likely to be enhanced by resulting changes in water vapor, snow and sea ice, and cloud. The associated equilibrium temperature rise is estimated to be between 1 and 2 K, there being uncertainties in the strength of climate feedbacks, particularly those due to cloud. The large thermal inertia of the oceans will slow the rate of warming, so that the expected temperature rise will be smaller than the equilibrium rise. This increases the uncertainty in the expected warming to date, with estimates ranging from less than 0.5 K to over 1 K. The observed increase of 0.5 K since 1900 is consistent with the lower range of these estimates, but the variability in the observed record is such that one cannot necessarily conclude that the observed temperature change is due to increases in trace gases. The prediction of changes in temperature over the next 50 years depends on assumptions concerning future changes in trace gas concentrations, the sensitivity of climate, and the effective thermal inertia of the oceans. On the basis of our current understanding a further warming of at least 1 K seems likely. Numerical models of climate indicate that the changes will not be uniform, nor will they be confined to temperature. The simulated warming is largest in high latitudes in winter and smallest over sea ice in summer, with little seasonal variation in the tropics. Annual mean precipitation and runoff increase in high latitudes, and most simulations indicate a drier land surface in northern mid-latitudes in summer. The agreement between different models is much better for temperature than for changes in the hydrological cycle. Priorities for future research include developing an improved representation of cloud in numerical models, obtaining a better understanding of vertical mixing in the deep ocean, and determining the inherent variability of the ocean-atmosphere system. Progress in these areas should enable detection of a man-made "greenhouse" warming within the next two decades.


Raisins (Thailand), dried mangos (Philippines), and dried figs (Iran) were gamma-irradiated (0~5 kGy), and their quality and detection characteristics were investigated. Microbiological characteristics were at safe levels when samples were irradiated at higher than 3 kGy. In color change after irradiation, dried mangoes were the most sensitive. Photostimulated luminescence (PSL) measurement was not applicable to dried fruits, showing negative or intermediate values for the irradiated samples. Thermoluminescence (TL) measurement was good for dried figs, exhibiting a glow curve in range of , where the signal intensity was dependent on the irradiation dose. Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement was suitable for raisins and dried mangos, resulting in dose-dependent radiation-induced sugar radical signals.


I examine the theoretical insights of Nancy Jay's 1992 investigation of patrilineal sacrificial rituals and their role in the restriction of women in religious rituals. I use the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample, a representative sample of preindustrial societies, to test the strength of patrilineality and other factors identified as subordinating women in preindustrial societies. A societal pattern of male inheritance of property and patrilineal descent are the strongest predictors of women being restricted or excluded from major public religious rituals. The implications of this pattern for modern societies are discussed.


We present results of an all-sky search for continuous gravitational waves which can be produced by spinning neutron stars with an asymmetry around their rotation axis, using data from the third observing run of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. Four different analysis methods are used to search in a gravitational-wave frequency band from 10 to 2048 Hz and a first frequency derivative from $-10^{-8}$ to $10^{-9}$ Hz/s. No statistically-significant periodic gravitational-wave signal is observed by any of the four searches. As a result, upper limits on the gravitational-wave strain amplitude $h_0$ are calculated. The best upper limits are obtained in the frequency range of 100 to 200 Hz and they are ${\sim}1.1\times10^{-25}$ at 95\% confidence-level. The minimum upper limit of $1.10\times10^{-25}$ is achieved at a frequency 111.5 Hz. We also place constraints on the rates and abundances of nearby planetary- and asteroid-mass primordial black holes that could give rise to continuous gravitational-wave signals.


A novel vertical directional coupler waveguide switch composed of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) is proposed and analyzed. The surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal break (SSFLC) is used as an active separation layer between passive waveguides. To decrease the switching length, the waveguide switch is based on the power crossing the separation layer rather than coupling between waveguides. The calculated results relevant to the switch parameters such as the switching length, switching time, capacitance, and extinction ratio are presented. Because of the large birefringence of FLC, a very short switching length, less than 60 /spl mu/m, is possible.


INTRODUCTION Community participation in health affairs and especially in the field of primary health care is one of the requirements for achieving the goals defined in this field. Accordingly, the present study was designed and implemented with the aim of strategic analysis of the internal and external environment in the field of primary health care in Iran and presentation of the promotion strategies to attract community participation. METHODS This is a qualitative study that was conducted using the internal and external environment assessment technique called Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). The data used were obtained through a semi-structured quality questionnaire and a survey on strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as proposed promotion strategies to improve community participation in the field of primary health care. RESULTS Analysis of external environment of the field of primary health care in Iran regarding community participation led to identification of the opportunities such as increasing community literacy. The possibility of using public spaces and media as well as influential people to attract community participation. Threats such as financial and employment constraints of families, citizens' unfamiliarity with their effective role in health, and inadequate intersectoral participation. The evaluation of the internal environment led to the identification of strengths in such as native selection policy for health workers; and weaknesses such as lack of attention to evidence-based performance and poor time access to health activities. CONCLUSION The findings of the present study indicate that there are internal weaknesses and external threats to community participation in the field of primary health care.


We report a combined anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) study on a series of iron monoxide clusters, FenO (n=2–6). Well-resolved photoelectron spectra were obtained for FenO− at variable detachment energies, allowing the ground state and numerous low-lying excited states of FenO to be observed. Sharp threshold photoelectron features were obtained for each species, which suggest rather small geometry changes between the anion and neutral ground states for the monoxide clusters and allows the electron affinities of the neutral clusters to be measured accurately. Extensive DFT calculations using the generalized gradient approximation were carried out for both FenO and FenO−. Optimized geometries of the ground and lowest excited states of both the anion and neutral species are reported along with the ground-state vibrational frequencies and fragmentation energies. Theoretical electron affinities were compared with the experimental measurements to verify the ground states of t...


Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death in children worldwide, accounting for 15% of all deaths in children under the age of five. Hypoxemia is a major cause of death in patients suffering from pneumonia. There is strong evidence that using pulse oximetry and having reliable oxygen sources in health care facilities can reduce deaths due to pneumonia by one-third. Despite its importance, hypoxemia is frequently overlooked in resource-constrained settings. Aside from the limited availability of pulse oximetry, evidence showed that healthcare workers did not use it as frequently to generate evidence-based decisions on the need for oxygen therapy. As a result, the goal of this study was to assess the availability of medical oxygen devices, operating manuals, guidelines, healthcare workers' knowledge, and skills in the practice of hypoxemia diagnosis and oxygen therapy in piloted health centers of Ethiopia. A pre-post non-experimental study design was employed. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data and review medical record charts. A chi-square test with a statistical significance level of P<0.05 was used as a cut-off point for claiming statistical significance. Eighty-one percent of healthcare workers (HCWs) received oxygen therapy training, up from 6% at baseline. As a result of the interventions, the knowledge for example pulse oximetry uses and oxygen therapy provision, skill such as proper reading and interpretation of the reading of saturation and pulse, and practice of oxygen therapy has significantly improved among health care workers in the piloted HCs. In terms of availability of oxygen supply devices (cylinder, concentrator, and pulse oximetry) in the facilities, more than half of the facilities 7(58%) did not have any at baseline, but due to the interventions, all facilities were equipped with the oxygen devices. Given the prevalence of pneumonia and hypoxemia, a lack of access to oxygen delivery devices, as well as a lack of knowledge and skill among HCWs in the administration of oxygen therapy, may represent an important and reversible barrier to improved child survival. Therefore, scaling up clinician training, technical support, availability of oxygen devices, guidelines, manuals, strengthening maintenance schemes, and close monitoring of HCWs and health facilities is strongly advised.


Results of operational orbit determination, performed as part of the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) Global Positioning System (GPS) demonstration experiment, are presented in this article. Elements of this experiment include the GPS satellite constellation, the GPS demonstration receiver on board T/P, six ground GPS receivers, the GPS Data Handling Facility, and the GPS Data Processing Facility (GDPF). Carrier phase and P-code pseudorange measurements from up to 24 GPS satellites to the seven GPS receivers are processed simultaneously with the GDPF software MIRAGE to produce orbit solutions of T/P and the GPS satellites. Daily solutions yield subdecimeter radial accuracies compared to other GPS, LASER, and DORIS precision orbit solutions.


Purpose: The elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis who developed end-stage renal failure are at higher risk for falling and its critical outcomes compared with their healthy counterparts due to of poor balance, reduced muscle endurance, and sedentary lifestyle. The current study aimed at evaluating the effect of selected core stability exercises on balance and muscle endurance in the elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis.


Mercury (Hg) sources to estuaries (natural and anthropogenic) as well as Hg concentrations in Australian nearshore marine environment fish are reviewed herein. The question of whether Australian estuaries have a Hg contamination problem is addressed. The Hg concentrations in fish, excluding sharks, tuna, barramundi and some stingrays, in estuaries and near-shore ecosystems with no discernable pollution sources are typically below 0.5 mg/kg wet weight, the level of health concern. There is no relationship of Hg concentration with fish size or age nor any evidence of biomagnification. In locations with historic large discrete Hg input sources (e.g. Derwent Estuary, Tasmania, Princess Royal Harbour WA, Port Phillip Bay Vic, Sydney sewage outfalls NSW), Hg concentrations in some sediment-dwelling fish such as flatheads exceed the health limit of 0.5 mg/kg. In this paper, we also review, within an Australian context, the biogeochemical processes controlling the formation and accumulation of methyl mercury (MeHg). On entering waterways, Hg rapidly partitions to particulate matter and deposits into sediments. The remobilisation of Hg from sediment is dependent on the formation of MeHg by bacteria and ultimately the interplay of S, Fe and Se cycling. Fish species that move and feed in different areas have Hg concentrations that do not reflect the sediment Hg concentrations where they are caught, i.e. there is an uncoupling of diet and potential Hg exposure. Concluding remarks focus on management interventions: source reduction, preventing eutrophication and promoting system biodiversity and biodiverse diets to mediate the accumulation of Hg in marine organisms and limit the intake of Hg by humans when consuming fish.


ABSTRACT Access to universal healthcare is a normative expectation of citizens in European welfare states. As part of a comparative study of healthcare in diverse European neighbourhoods, we met women who described failures of the public healthcare system, together with gratitude for that system. Challenges to European welfare states of ageing populations, the retraction of resources available for healthcare, and globalised migration streams have been linked to xenophobic 'welfarist' attempts to restrict access to services for new arrivals and those seen as failing to contribute sufficiently. Stories of healthcare systems' failure to treat symptoms, pain, and suffering in a timely and caring fashion came from eight women of non-European migrant backgrounds as part of a wider interview study in four European cities (Birmingham, Uppsala, Lisbon, Bremen). These accounts suggest that a normative aspect of welfare provision has been reproduced – that is, the expression of gratitude – despite inadequate services. Where welfarist attitudes to migration meet normative aspects of healthcare, suffering may be compounded by an expectation of gratitude. The regrettable unmet healthcare need of the eight women whose cases are presented suggests that other marginalised healthcare users may also be under-served in apparently universal healthcare systems.


Persistent luminescence nanoparticles (NPs) with bright emission and long lifetimes are in high demand owing to their applications in storage media, display devices, bioimaging, security, etc. As a well-known persistent luminescence material, presently available ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ (ZGOC) does not fully serve its purpose with its existing photoluminescence and persistent luminescence properties, particularly for in vivo bioimaging and long-term optical signaling. To improve its persistent luminescence and make it more commercially viable, in this work, we have hydrothermally synthesized ZGOC NPs by fine-tuning their nucleation kinetics and crystal size through (i) controlled urea precipitation, (ii) adjusting the Zn/Ga precursor ratio, and (iii) the addition of ammonium nitrate. Deep red emitting ZGOC NPs with high PL and PerL are realized, and even compared with their counterparts synthesized using precipitants NaOH and NH3. The feasibility of our ZGOC NPs for bioimaging application was further studied by incubating them successfully in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH 3T3). Overall, high PL and PerL intensities and long lifetimes are achieved for ZGOC NPs by the simple approach of controlled nucleation and crystal engineering, which provides a new pathway to design high quality luminescent materials for multifunctional applications in the areas of health, energy, security and environment.


A new forest leaf area index (LAI) inversion method from multisource and multi-angle data combined with radiative transfer model and the strategy of k-means clustering and artificial neural network (ANN) was discussed. The four different temporal satellite images of Landsat-5 TM (L5TM) and Beijing-1 microsatellite multispectral sensors (BJ1) were selected to construct multisource and multi-angle data. Considering the vertical distribution of forest LAI for trees and understory vegetation, the hybrid model of the invertible forest reflectance model (INFORM) was used to support the retrieval forest LAI to eliminate the dependence of understory vegetation. Through the validation of inverted results with MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) LAI product and field measurements, it can be concluded that the accuracy of inversion forest LAI can be improved through adding up observation angle data, if the quality of data were ensured. The inversion accuracy for multi-angle data was improved 20% than the average accuracy of single-angle data inversion of LAI.


Background: TNF-like molecule 1A (TL1A) is a ligand of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily that mediates apoptosis and inflammation via its effective receptor DR3 and the activation of NF-κβ. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are receptors that recognize microbes and activate the immune response. Endogenous ligands such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and fibronectin fragments also trigger the TLR2-mediated immune response. Recently, the DR3 receptor was found in the synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In this study, we examined the influence of TL1A on the expression of TLRs 1-5 in synovial fibroblasts. Methods: Synovial fibroblasts were isolated from rat knee joints and treated with TL1A for 0, 6, 12, or 24 h. Changes in TLR 1-5 expression were determined by RT-PCR. The expression of TLR2 protein was detected by immunocytochemistry and western blotting. Results: The expression of the Tlr2 was significantly upregulated by TL1A in the first six hours of stimulation. TLR2 protein was also upregulated. The expression of Tlr1 and Tlr3-5 was not significantly affected by TL1A. Conclusions: We have demonstrated for the first time that TLR2 expression is upregulated by TL1A in synovial fibroblasts. DR3 expression in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and our findings suggest that TL1A plays a role in the process of articular inflammation and somehow influences the expression of TLR2.


Tumor culture toxohormone (TCT) obtained from cultures of MBQA mouse tumor cells, a line derived from a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (CBA/J origin), suppressed the mitogenic responsiveness of mouse spleen cells (PHA, LPS) as well as the antibody formation to SRBC in vitro. The immunosuppressive activity of toxohormone was readily inactivated by heating at 100 degrees C or treatment with trypsin, but not by DNase and RNase treatment.


This Article argues that sex/gender roles in sport have resulted almost entirely from stereotypes rather than from analytical thinking. This situation has created unfairness and discrimination that have been highlighted by the rising trend of gender fluidity. The Article makes a proposal to remedy this unfairness and discrimination. The Article first traces sex/gender roles in sport before the passage in the United States of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which the courts have interpreted as applying to women in sport. As the participation of women in sport expanded in the twentieth century, pressure built to end the inferior treatment of women. With the passage of Title IX came the start of tremendous progress. This Article further explores how, despite this progress, stereotypes have still retained influence in sport. The so-called Contact Sport Exemption (CSE) to Title IX, for example, exempted such major revenue-producing sports as football and men's basketball from the requirements of Title IX. The Article maintains that the CSE makes little sense in an era of increasing gender fluidity. With regard to intersex or transgender athletes, the CSE offers little guidance on questions such as whether a person transitioning from male to female could play on a women's field hockey team or whether a person transitioning from female to male could play on a football team. The Article reviews the attempts of sporting organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, to deal with intersex and transgender athletes. The Article argues that the attempted solutions fail because they are not scientifically based, they are invasive, and/or they do not take into account Title IX. The Article then proposes a workable solution based on the following principles: (1) separate but equal teams by sex/gender are permissible; (2) where there is only one team in a sport, females may try out for traditionally-male teams like football and males may try out for traditionally-female teams like field


Detailed low-temperature single-crystal polarized absorption and luminescence spectra of Cs2[CrCl2(H2O)4]Cl3 are reported. The luminescence spectrum is a broad band with a maximum at 11,800 cm (-1), indicating that the trans-[CrCl2(H2O)4]+ complex emits from a quartet excited state. The resolved vibronic structure reveals a progression in a nontotally symmetric 445 cm (-1) b1g mode, a manifestation of a Jahn-Teller effect in the emitting state. The absorption spectrum shows completely linearly polarized, magnetic-dipole-allowed electronic origins, defining the tetragonal splitting of the states originating from 4T2g (Oh). An energy gap of approximately 800 cm (-1) is observed between the electronic origins of the emitting state and the onset of the pi-polarized absorption spectrum. Both Jahn-Teller and spin-orbit couplings in the orbitally degenerate 4Eg (D4h) state are necessary to account for the spectroscopic observations.


Introduction – All actors in the financial market strive towards earning risk-adjusted excess return. The recent decades new technology development have revolutionised financial markets and today's actors are using advanced computer technology to develop trading algorithms in the pursue of earning excess returns. The trading algorithms are often based on statistical and mathematical models and the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is one such model that has proven to be successful due to its ability to predict future price movements of financial assets. Purpose – The purpose of the study is to evaluate the use of Hidden Markov Models as a tool in algorithmic trading in the Swedish OMX Stockholm 30 index. Theoretical Framework – The HMM is a statistical model used to model stochastic processes and has historically been used in many areas where finance is one of them. The HMM is an extension to the Markov Model with the difference that the system includes hidden states that are studied via correlated observable states. Method – In the study, two different trading algorithm based on the HMM were developed, a static and a dynamic. Both algorithms were backtested on two historical intraday data sets from OMXS30 in order to evaluate if the algorithms could make good predictions of future price movements and generate risk-adjusted excess return. A robustness test was also conducted to see how stable the performance of the algorithms were over time and over different market trends. Results – The results shows that the static model has a hit-ratio larger than 50 % for the first test period but not for the second. The dynamic model has a hit ratio above 50 % for both test periods. However, neither the results from the static nor the dynamic model is statistically significant. The results also show that the two algorithms performance were inconsistent over time and that the static model has better risk adjusted excess return than index for the first period but not the second one while the dynamic model outperformed index for the second test period but not for the first one. Furthermore, the robustness test indicates that both model's hit ratio and performance were inconsistent over time. Discussion – The static and the dynamic HMM trading algorithms can earn risk-adjusted excess return during limited time frames, but the results could not be statistical proven. However, HMM as a tool for predicting stock markets should not be ruled out as both of the models tested give indications of being useful even though they seems unstable. An important aspect to consider is that HMMs depend on patterns in historical data that can be found again in future data. Thus, if the data set used in this study reflects an efficient market, the HMM becomes obsolete. Conclusions – It could not be concluded that the type of HMMs used in this study could perform better than random guesses of future price movements of OMXS30. Furthermore, it could not be concluded that the two trading algorithms developed in the study could generate risk-adjusted returns over time.


: This report deals with the results of tumour cells in the cerebrospinal fluid in secondary brain tumours. In 32 cases in which we could make autopsy tumour cells were found in 8 cases, the number constituting 25 per cent. Tumour cells of patients with metastasis of carcinoma, metastasis of melanocytoblastoma, meningosis carcinomatosa et sarcomatosa and meningosis leucaemica, have been demonstrated. The importance of the identification of tumour cells in cerebrospinal fluid has been emphasized in the report.


Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, that perform specialized tasks, which control cellular fate. Organelles are dynamic and contain nanometre-scale, ultrastructural features; in fact, their shape and function are interconnected. Thus, there is a need to image with high spatial and temporal resolution while minimizing perturbations to the cell. Several fluorescence-based super-resolution (SR) techniques exist, including single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), which offers unsurpassed spatial resolution. However, this technique is limited by factors that prevent non-perturbative, fast, high resolution, quantitative imaging of biological processes. In particular, live-cell SMLM lacks flexible, robust labeling strategies; it requires high laser irradiances and toxic chemical buffers; and 3D data is often misrepresented due to optical distortions that are apparent at such high resolutions. Here, we aim to eliminate obstacles to live SMLM. Firstly, we screen site-specific dyes that are designed to target organelles. We identify dyes with excellent photophysical properties for live SMLM. Unlike many other probes for SMLM, these work well in non-toxic buffers. Secondly, we transform rhodamine dyes into their non-fluorescent leuco-rhodamine form. This transformation is reversible and occurs spontaneously through oxidation in situ. Labelling with this leuco-rhodamine dye increases single-molecule density, which is advantageous for SMLM since higher molecular densities yield improved spatial and temporal resolutions. Furthermore, this strategy does not require buffers and performs best at relatively low laser irradiances. Thirdly, we identify a distortion present in three-dimensional (3D) SMLM, which warps structures imaged. We characterize this prevalent distortion, termed wobble, on four 3D SMLM systems and identify its source. We computationally eliminate wobble and show that live-cell, 3D structures are accurately represented post-correction. Using this correction, we also develop a strategy to register dual-color, 3D SMLM data. Finally, we apply live-cell SMLM to study mitochondrial fission. Mitochondria are dynamic and frequently undergo fusion and fission to maintain their function and structure. The dynamin related protein, Drp1 in mammals, is required for mitochondrial fission and is known to mediate this process via a constriction force. The endoplasmic reticulum and actin are also reported to play a role in mitochondrial constriction and ultimately, fission. However, a model for the final stages of fission post constriction, is still missing. With this ultimate aim, we perform live SMLM of many mitochondrial fission events. We identify a decrease in viability with our imaging conditions and thus validate our findings with an alternative, more live-cell compatible, SR technique: structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Our preliminary results with live SMLM and SIM reveal that while most constrictions proceed to fission, 5% of these events relax back to their unconstricted shape. Measurements with SMLM reveal that minimum diameters for both scission events and those that reversed were 80 nm. Also, mitochondria, which achieve a higher negative envelope curvature, are more likely to divide. By examining Drp1 location, we find that this protein is consistently on one mitochondrial end post-scission. These preliminary results are discussed in the context of the final stages of mitochondrial fission.


Aim: To develop and evaluate interpolymer complex (IPC) based buccal mucoadhesive films for delivery of opioid analgesics. The IPC was prepared using Chitosan and carboxymethylated Feronia limonia fruit pulp mucilage. Materials and Methods: In this study, the IPC is formed between mucoadhesive polymer chitosan and carboxymethylated F. limonia fruit pulp mucilage. The resulted IPC is used to prepare buccal mucoadhesive films of a model opioid analgesic. Other excipients include glycerin as plasticizer, a combination of sodium dihydrocholate and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid sodium salt as permeation enhancers and a backing layer of 1% ethyl cellulose is placed on each film to ensure unidirectional drug release to systemic circulation. The solvent casting method is used to prepare buccal films and evaluated for bioadhesion strength, tensile strength, swelling index, ex vivo diffusion, and in vitro dissolution. Results and Discussion: Formulations are prepared and optimized by 32 factorial design. Formulation F7 was found to be optimized formulation which contained 50 mg drug, 100 mg IPC, and 2% glycerin as plasticizer. Thus, this study suggests that IPC between chitosan and carboxymethylated F. limonia fruit pulp mucilage can act as a potential mucoadhesive polymer system for buccal delivery of opioid analgesic drugs. Conclusion: In this study novel, buccoadhesive film was developed using IPC between chitosan and carboxymethylated F. limonia fruit pulp mucilage. The film was releasing drug over a period of 8-h directly to systemic circulation through buccal mucosa. The extensive first pass metabolism of a drug was prevented to a great extent.


Early development of visual behavior was examined in hand-reared (HR) and parentally reared (PR) common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). On the day of birth, most of the marmosets exhibited sensitivity to light and sound: they closed their eyes in response to light and oriented to the sound sources. The behavior of tracking moving visual stimuli was exhibited at around 10 days postnatally in PR marmosets, but the onset of this behavior was delayed to the age of 16 days in HR marmosets. The delay occurred possibly because of the poor input of optical flow under the HR environment. The onset age of head-cocking was about 2 weeks in both groups of marmosets, and the HR marmosets began head-cocking and visual tracking simultaneously. Both groups of marmosets exhibited sensitivity to optical approach at the age of around 30 days: the age to wean and increase independent locomotion. The results suggested that the onset of motion perception preceded detailed shape and depth perception in marmosets, and the developmental sequence in marmosets was similar to those in humans and macaque monkeys. Marmosets appear to be useful animal models to examine environmental effects on early visual development.


The concern for making services of public systems accessible, accountable and affordable for the disadvantaged people has been there since independence of the country. However, after recognising the limitations of trickle down theory despite witnessing economic growth for a decade, government has realised the need for more inclusive approach. The disparities have increased just as they had in the post green revolution era. The declaration of this decade as the 'decade of innovation' by the Prime Minister and the President of India has underlined the concern for inclusiveness. On Civil Service Day, April 24, 2010, I had the opportunity to witness the awards to the outstanding civil servants and also share my thoughts in a panel having concerned Minster and former Cabinet Secretary and Advisor to Prime Minister. I have argued that the urgent concern is not so much about triggering new innovations as about learning from existing innovations. I also refer to the efforts of 13th Finance Commission in this regard. Two major changes were enacted on the advice of Finance Commission based on the background papers prepared by NIF. The Commission has recommended in the paras 12.92 and 12.96 setting up of "Centre for Innovations in Public Systems to identify, document and promote innovations in public services across states". A grant of Rs.20 crore has been recommended for the purpose. In addition, "a second grant of Rs.1 crore per district is for the creation of District Innovation Fund [DIF] aimed at increasing the efficiency of capital assets already created." I hope that the paper will trigger discussion about the need for a more systematic cataloguing of innovation in public system so that the benefits thereof can reach the masses rapidly.


Two new species of Aloe were found in the eastern rainforest of Madagascar during a Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre (KMCC) Team expedition in November 2014. The first species, Aloe vatovavensis is rare in this habitat. The second, Aloe rakotonasoloi, exhibits characters that are intermediate between the features of Aloe s.str. and the related genus Lomatophyllum (now Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum). Despite being one of the most species-rich areas for plant diversity, only a few species of Aloe—typically those of Aloe sect. Lomatophyllum—have been recorded in the eastern rainforest of Madagascar to-date.


The speciation model proposed by Derrida and Higgs demonstrated that a sexually reproducing population can split into different species in the absence of natural selection or any type of geographic isolation, provided that mating is assortative and the number of genes involved in the process is infinite. Here we revisit this model and simulate it for finite genomes, focusing on the question of how many genes it actually takes to trigger neutral sympatric speciation. We find that, for typical parameters used in the original model, it takes the order of 105 genes. We compare the results with a similar spatially explicit model where about 100 genes suffice for speciation. We show that when the number of genes is small the species that emerge are strongly segregated in space. For a larger number of genes, on the other hand, the spatial structure of the population is less important and the species distribution overlap considerably.


This study was carried out to develop Yakju, a new kind of Korean traditional rice wine added with bamboo ethanol extract and characterized by containing various health benefits. The wine with bamboo ethanol extract was fermented by adding ginger and pear to improve flavor and quality. Several quality characteristics and physiological functionalities of Yakju were investigated. When bamboo ethanol extract was added to Yakju, the pH level decreased compared to that of the control. However, total acidity and soluble solid levels were higher than those of the control. The alcohol content of Yakju added with bamboo ethanol extract was slightly higher than that of the control. In examining the colors of Yakju containing bamboo ethanol extract, L value was lower than that of the control, whereas b value and brownness were higher. Various organic acids such as citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, and acetic acid were determined, and the main organic acid among them was lactic acid. Various free sugars such as sorbitol, glucose, and fructose were detected and glucose was the most abundant. Total polyphenol content of Yakju added with bamboo ethanol extract was lower than that of the control. Further, electron-donating ability ranged from 23.8~40.0%, which was higher than that of the control. Nitrite scavenging ability of Yakju added with bamboo ethanol extract ranged from 15.2~36.4%, which was higher than that of the control at pH 6.0. Sensory evaluation of Yakju showed that bamboo ethanol extract+ginger as well as bamboo ethanol extract+ginger+pear treatment sig- nificantly increased flavor, taste, and overall acceptance compared to the others.


The Late Pleistocene was characterized by rapid climate oscillations with alternation of warm and cold periods that lasted up to several thousand years. Although much work has been carried out on the palaeoclimate reconstruction, a direct correlation of ice‐core, marine and terrestrial records is still difficult. Here we present new data from late Middle Pleniglacial to Lateglacial alluvial‐fan and aeolian sand‐sheet deposits in northwestern Germany. Records of Late Pleniglacial alluvial fans in central Europe are very rare, and OSL dating is used to determine the timing of fan aggradation. In contrast to fluvial systems that commonly show a delay between climate change and incision/aggradation, the small alluvial‐fan systems of the Senne area responded rapidly to climatic changes and therefore act as important terrestrial climate archives for this time span. The onset of alluvial‐fan deposition correlates with the climate change from warm to cold at the end of MIS 3 (29.3±3.2 ka). Strong fan progradation started at 24.4±2.8 ka and may be related to a period of higher humidity. The vertical stacking pattern of sedimentary facies and channel styles indicate a subsequrent overall decrease in water and sediment supply, with less sustained discharges and more sporadic runoffs from the catchment area, corresponding to an increasing aridity in central Europe during the Late Pleniglacial. Major phases of channel incision and fan aggradation may have been controlled by millennial‐scale Dansgaard–Oeschger cycles. The incision of channel systems is attributed to unstable climate phases at cold–warm (dry–wet) or warm–cold (wet–dry) transitions. The alluvial‐fan deposits are bounded by an erosion surface and are overlain by aeolian sand‐sheets that were periodically affected by flash‐floods. This unconformity might be correlated with the Beuningen Gravel Bed, which is an important marker horizon in deposits of the Late Pleniglacial resulting from deflation under polar desert conditions. The deposition of aeolian sand‐sheet systems (19.6±2.1 to 13.1±1.5 ka) indicates a rapid increase in aridity at the end of the Late Pleniglacial. Intercalated flash‐floods deposits and palaeosols (Finow type) point to temporarily wet conditions during the Lateglacial. The formation of an ephemeral channel network probably marks the warm‐cold transition from the Allerød to the Younger Dryas.


Gemcitabine is a first-line drug for the treatment of bladder cancer. One of the most important mechanisms of gemcitabine resistance is the low expression of cellular membrane transporter hENT1. Various derivatives containing fatty acid side chains have been developed in order to facilitate gemcitabine uptake and prolong its retention in cells, such as CP-4126. In this study, the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of a new derivative of gemcitabine named SZY-200 on bladder cancer cells was investigated. SZY-200 was assembled from gemcitabine-lauric acid conjugate. Our data showed that SZY-200 could inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The inhibitory effects were comparable to gemcitabine and CP-4126. Importantly, SZY-200 was independent of the membrane transport system in bladder cancer cells. Moreover, we found that lauric acid could also inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells. SZY-200 could downregulate the expressions of PPARG and PTGS2 which were related to the occurrence and development of bladder cancer. Overall, these results indicate that SZY-200 could be an ideal candidate drug for further in vivo investigation.


Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease, typified by the loss of articular cartilage, with a strong genetic component. Current work, even with genome-wide association studies, has failed to identify the genes that describe the full genetic susceptibility to the disease. This is likely due to low penetrance polymorphisms in the population overall however, epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to the heritability of the disease. Such epigenetic events that may play a role in OA progression and the gene expression changes observed in diseased cartilage have been identified by several studies. Epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs which together, enable the cell to respond to environmental cues but when aberrant can be associated with a number of pathological conditions, including OA. In this review, we focus on microRNA, firstly on the identification and characterisation of those important for chondrogenesis then focussing on their disregulation in the disease. Although research on microRNAs in OA is in its infancy they merely represent the 'tip of the non-coding RNA iceberg'. Future work, although initially focussed on microRNA, will undoubtedly expand to include the role of other such RNAs in skeletal development and disease.


Cryptosporidiosis has been found in Myanmar for the first time in infants presenting with a mild transient form of acute diarrhea. A total of 203 fecal samples collected from those infants were examined by Kinyoun's acid fast modified method. 3.4% of infants between 2 and 11 months of age were found passing cryptosporidium oocysts. All cases presented with features consistent with findings reported by other authors from developing countries. Cryptosporidium was the sole microorganism isolated. Hence, cryptosporidiosis may be responsible for acute diarrhea in these Myanmar infants.


Background and Objectives Stanford type A aortic dissection is a potentially catastrophic event that requires surgical repair, on an emergency basis. The extent of arch repair that should be carried out during emergency surgery of this type is controversial. This study was designed to evaluate the results of arch replacement carried out during acute type A dissection. Subjects and Methods 28 patients with Stanford type A dissection and who underwent arch replacement between 1995 and 2006 were reviewed. Results Hospital mortality was 3.6% (1 patient), and transient neurocognitive dysfunction was observed in 5 patients. During the follow-up period (mean 26±20 months; range 1 to 66 months), 3 patients underwent reoperation due to descending thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm. There was no late death. Follow up computed tomography was performed in 15 patients and false lumen disappeared totally or partially in 10 patients (66.7%). Conclusion Arch replacement for acute Stanford type A dissection may decrease the risk of late complications related to false lumen and lead to an excellent midterm survival rate.


Abstract Seven new species of the genus Gammarus are described and illustrated from southern China. The new species Gammarus vallecula Hou & Li, sp. n., G. qinling Hou & Li, sp. n., G. zhigangi Hou & Li, sp. n. and G. jidutanxian Hou & Li, sp. n. are characterized by inner ramus of uropod III half the length of outer ramus. Gammarus longdong Hou & Li, sp. n. is characterized by inner ramus of uropod III 0.9 times as long as outer ramus. Gammarus mosuo Hou & Li, sp. n. is characterized by pereopods V–VII with long setae on anterior margins and both rami of uropod III armed with simple setae. Gammarus caecigenus Hou & Li, sp. n. can be distinguished from other species by eyes absent. DNA barcodes of the new species are documented as proof of molecular differences between species. A key to the new species and a map of their distributions are provided.


Indirect methods to detect extrasolar planets have been successful in identifying a number of stars with companion planets. No direct detection of an extrasolar planet has yet been reported. Spectroscopy in the thermal infrared region provides a potentially powerful approach to detection and characterization of planets and planetary systems. We can use knowledge of our own solar system, its planets and their atmospheres to model spectral characteristics of planets around other stars. Spectra derived from modeling our own solar system seen from an extrasolar perspective can be used to constrain detection strategies, identification of planetary class (terrestrial vs. gaseous) and retrieval of chemical, thermal and dynamical information. Emission from planets in our solar system peaks in the thermal infrared region, approximately 10 - 30 microns, substantially displaced from the maximum of the much brighter solar emission in the visible near 0.5 microns. This fact provides a relatively good contrast ratio to discriminate between stellar (solar) and planetary emission and optimize the delectability of planetary spectra. Important molecular constituents in planetary atmospheres have rotational-vibrational spectra in the thermal infrared region. Spectra from these molecules have been well characterized in the laboratory and studied in the atmospheres of solar system planets from ground-based and space platforms. The best example of such measurements are the studies with Fourier transform spectrometers, the Infrared Interferometer Spectrometers (IRIS), from spacecraft: Earth observed from NIMBUS 8, Mars observed from Mariner 9, and the outer planets observed from Voyager spacecraft. An Earth-like planet is characterized by atmospheric spectra of ozone, carbon dioxide, and water. Terrestrial planets have oxidizing atmospheres which are easily distinguished from reducing atmospheres of gaseous giant planets which lack oxygen-bearing species and are characterized by spectra containing hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane. Spectroscopic information on extrasolar planets thus can permit their classification. Spectra and spectral lines contain information on the temperature structure of the atmosphere. Line and band spectra can be used to identify the molecular constituents and retrieve species abundances, thereby classifying and characterizing the planet. At high enough spectral resolution characteristic planetary atmospheric dynamics and unique phenomena such as failure of local thermodynamic equilibrium can be identified. Dynamically induced effects such as planetary rotation and orbital velocity shift and change the shape of spectral features and must be modeled in detailed spectral studies. We will use our knowledge of the compositional, thermal and dynamical characteristics of planetary atmospheres in our own solar system to model spectra observed remotely on similar planets in extrasolar planetary systems. We will use a detailed radiative transfer and beam integration program developed for the modeling and interpretation of thermal infrared spectra measured from nearby planet planets to generate models of an extra-solar "Earth" and "Jupiter". From these models we will show how key spectral features distinguish between terrestrial and gaseous planets, what information can be obtained with different spectral resolution, what spectral features can be used to search for conditions for biogenic activity, and how dynamics and distance modify the observed spectra. We also will look at unique planetary phenomena such as atmospheric lasing and discuss their utility as probes for detection and identification of planets. Results of such studies will provide information to constrain design for instrumentation needed to directly detect extrasolar planets.


A 125 Mbaud quad transceiver for 10/100 fast Ethernet has been designed in a 5 V 0.35 /spl mu/m digital CMOS process. Power consumption for the device is 3 W. Detailed testing show excellent receiver results with error free performance up to 160 m under worst-case baseline wander and crosstalk conditions. The analog receiver uses digital adaptation circuitry to optimize an automatic gain control circuit with baseline wander correction, an equalizer and a DC offset correction circuit.


Olkkonen, Sanna Second and foreign language fluency from a cognitive perspective: Inefficiency and control of attention in lexical access Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2017, 72 p. (Jyväskylä Studies in Humanities ISSN 1459-4323; 314 (nid.) ISSN 1459-4331; 314 (PDF)) ISBN 978-951-39-7061-1 (print) ISBN 978-951-39-7062-8 (PDF) Diss. The present dissertation focuses on the fluency of second and foreign language (L2). Second and foreign language use is often assessed by its fluency. However, the connections between language proficiency and fluency are far from clear. The fluency reasearch has tried to establish these connections, but results are varied. In the current thesis, this question is explored within the theoretical framework of Norman Segalowitz's division of three types of fluency: cognitive, utterance, and perceived fluency. The overall proposition here is that in relation to L2 proficiency, cognitive fluency provides important insights. This is based on the theories of limited cognitive resources, which state the more efficiently the lower-level processes work, the more resources will be available for the higher-level processes. Therefore, the fluency with which a language is used may in part depend on the resources available for both levels of processing. The thesis comprises three journal articles and a synthesis of them. As a measure of cognitive fluency, lexical access tasks were used. Fluency was operationalised as the efficiency of lexical access (speed and accuracy) and the resources available for the control of attention. Speed and accuracy in both word recognition and word retrieval in L2 were measured. The participants were Finnish learners of English as a foreign language from Grades 4, 8, and 11; and a group of Russian-speaking learners of Finnish as a second language from primary school. Furthermore, the relationship of L2 lexical access to L1 lexical access was examined. In Article I, the speed of lexical access was found to explain a substantial amount of variance (20–45%) in L2 reading comprehension and writing performance. Word recognition rates explained literacy skills in the younger readers, whereas word retrieval rates accounted for the literacy skills in the older students, indicating a difference in the skill profiles. In Article II, the accuracy of lexical access added 10–17% to the explained variance of the literacy skills, confirming the importance of accurate lexical access in addition to the its speed in literacy skills. Furthermore, fluent L1 lexical access was found to explain variance in L2 literacy skills across all grade levels. Article III examined inaccuracies in lexical access, which were categorised as resulting from either inefficiency or attention-control. These were shown to have different distributions depending on the level of language proficiency. The overall results thus highlight a componential view of fluency, with its distinct aspects connecting to L2 proficiency in more varied ways than have been considered thus far.


Gene mutations impairing the functions of the WNT signaling transduction pathway have been found in approximately 15% of human sporadic medulloblastomas. To understand the functional role of the WNT pathway in medulloblastoma, we have investigated the intracellular distribution of β-catenin in a series of 17 human medulloblastomas to correlate such expression with neuronal differentiation and in cultured cell models following functional silencing of the APC gene by small-interference RNA (siRNA). Transient siRNA transfection resulted in a 50% reduction of the APC gene product levels in both DAOY and D283MED cell lines. In the former, less-differentiated cell line, β-catenin levels remained unchanged or were slightly reduced, but β-catenin translocated in the nucleus following APC gene siRNA silencing. In contrast, in the more differentiated D283MED cells, β-catenin levels increased about twofold while mainly maintaining the cytoplasmic and cell membrane localization. Cytoplasmic/nuclear localization of β-catenin was present in 12 of 17 cases of medulloblastoma with a prevalent distribution in the classic, 6/7 cases, and large cell/anaplastic variant, 4/4 cases. The nodular/desmoplastic lesions showed strongly positivity in the cell membrane mainly of intranodular cells with advanced neuronal differentiation. These observations support an important functional role of WNT/β-catenin pathway in neuronal differentiation in medulloblastoma.