Background and Purpose: Health human resource (HHR) ratios are a measure of workforce supply and are expressed as a ratio of the number of health care practitioners to a subset of the population. Health human resource ratios for physical therapists have been described for Canada but have not been fully described for the United States. In this study, HHR ratios for physical therapists across the United States were estimated in order to conduct a comparative analysis of the United States and Canada. Methods: National US Census Bureau data were linked to jurisdictional estimates of registered physical therapists to create HHR ratios at 3 time points: 1995, 1999, and 2005. These results then were compared with the results of a similar study conducted by the same authors in Canada. Results: The national HHR ratio across the United States in 1995 was 3.8 per 10,000 people; the ratio increased to 4.3 in 1999 and then to 6.2 in 2005. The aggregated results indicated that HHR ratios across the United States increased by 61.3% between 1995 and 2005. In contrast, the rate of evolution of HHR ratios in Canada was lower, with an estimated growth of 11.6% between 1991 and 2005. Although there were wide variations across jurisdictions, the data indicated that HHR ratios across the United States increased more rapidly than overall population growth in 49 of 51 jurisdictions (96.1%). In contrast, in Canada, the increase in HHR ratios surpassed population growth in only 7 of 10 jurisdictions (70.0%). Discussion and Conclusion: Despite their close proximity, there are differences between the United States and Canada in overall population and HHR ratio growth rates. Possible reasons for these differences and the policy implications of the findings of this study are explored in the context of forecasted growth in demand for health care and rehabilitation services.


Accelerating proton transfer has been demonstrated as key to boosting water oxidation on semiconductor photoanodes. Herein, we study proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) of water oxidation on five typical photoanodes [i.e., α-Fe2O3, BiVO4, TiO2, plasmonic Au/TiO2, and nickel-iron oxyhydroxide (Ni1-xFexOOH)-modified silicon (Si)] by combining the rate law analysis of H2O molecules with the H/D kinetic isotope effect (KIE) and operando spectroscopic studies. An unexpected and universal half-order kinetics is observed for the rate law analysis of H2O, referring to a sequential proton-electron transfer pathway, which is the rate-limiting factor that causes the sluggish water oxidation performance. Surface modification of the Ni1-xFexOOH electrocatalyst is observed to break this limitation and exhibits a normal first-order kinetics accompanied by much enhanced H/D KIE values, facilitating the turnover frequency of water oxidation by 1 order of magnitude. It is the first time that Ni1-xFexOOH is found to be a PCET modulator. The rate law analysis illustrates an effective strategy for modulating PCET kinetics of water oxidation on semiconductor surfaces.


Changes in plant species richness and composition, vegetation structure, ecosystem functioning and soil nutrients following invasion of Banksia woodland and Eucalyptus marginata forest biomes by the introduced soilborne multihost plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamom were determined using space-for-time substitution of diseased and adjoining healthy areas. In most study areas, canopy closure, basal area and number of plant species were significantly lower in old diseased compared with adjoining healthy areas, with diseased front intermediate between the two. In half of the study areas, percentage ground cover and total plant species cover were significantly lower in old diseased compared with adjoining healthy areas, with diseased front intermediate between the two. Evenness, Shannon-Weiner H and Simpson's D did not significantly change between disease status for the majority of study areas. For ordination of percentage canopy closure and ground cover there was separation of study areas along a disease status gradient and a weak soil fertility gradient. There was significantly less percentage organic carbon, extractable phosphorus and extractable and total potassium in old diseased areas compared with adjoining healthy areas for one-quarter to a third of the study areas. Total phosphorus changed significantly between disease status, but this was due to higher levels in diseased front compared with the old diseased or adjoining healthy areas. For all study areas there was no significant effect of disease status on percentage total nitrogen and pH. The cover of a majority of plant species did not change significantly between disease status with 16% of the total number of perennial species in healthy areas significantly decreasing and 10% significantly increasing in cover in old diseased compared with adjoining healthy areas. As with significant differences in cover between disease status, change in cover of a majority of plant species was not significantly correlated with canopy closure. Cover of 20% of the total number of perennial species in healthy areas was significantly linearly positively correlated with canopy closure and the cover of 10% of plant species was significantly negatively correlated with canopy closure. These species were herbs and shrubs from a range of families with a mixture of functional properties such as Phytophthoria cinnamomi susceptibility, response to fire, rooting type and mycorrhizal association. The paper concludes with a conceptual analysis of core issues and those that cascade out of core issues involved in pathogen and patch plant community interactions.


Abstract There is a growing movement in children's hospice care to offer families time with their baby after death through use of a "cold cot"; however, there is very limited research in this area. We interviewed seven parents (four mothers and three fathers). Our thematic analysis identified six themes: being able to care for my baby in a way that I never had, space and time to adjust to the loss, time as a family, having my baby close, creating memories, and awareness of societal perceptions. The authors conclude that these facilities provided memories, strengthened legacy, and were a valuable experience.


The mean velocity profiles in both the horizontal and vertical planes of symmetry at specific locations throughout the tunnel circuit to identify the most promising means for improving the flow in the 4 by 7 meter wind tunnel were measured. In the base line tunnel flow surveys, the flow patterns near the end of the test section indicate a uniform mean velocity distribution. Downstream of the test section, unsymmetrical flow patterns result in low velocities along the inner walls and in flow separation along the inner wall of the diffuser upstream of the drive fan and along the outer wall of the large diffuser downstream of the drive fan. A set of trailing-edge flaps attached to the five flow-control vanes located just downstream of the first corner were installed. These flaps are successful in making the tunnel flow more symmetrical and in eliminating the regions of separation in the diffusers upstream and downstream of the drive fan.


[formula: see text] beta-Functionalized nitroso alkene 2, obtained from methyl beta-nitropropionate 1 and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide, can function as a good heterodienophile in Diels-Alder reactions. Therefore, 2 was trapped by cyclic dienes to give adducts 4 with the corresponding stereoselectivity. Cycloadduct 4a undergoes retro-[4 + 2]-cycloaddition at 33 degrees C in solution; thus 4a can be used to generate nitroso alkene 2 in neutral medium. Cyclopentadiene reacts with adduct 4a according to an endo-(4 + 2]-cycloaddition scheme to give cycloadduct 5 in low yield.


We present an implicit finite element time-domain (FETD) solution of the Maxwell equations. The time-dependent formulation employes a time-integration method based on the alternating-direction implicit (ADI) method. The ADI method is directly applied to the Maxwell equations in order to obtain an unconditionally stable FETD approach. The method uses edge elements for electric field and facet elements for magnetic flux density. The advantage of this formulation based on the ADI scheme is that the time step is no longer governed by the spatial discretization of the mesh, but rather by the spectral content of the time-dependent signal. Numerical formulations are presented and simulation results are compared to those using the conventional FETD method


Purpose The therapeutic effects of Huangqin Qingre Chubi (HQC) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been documented. However, there is a lack of real-world clinical evidence supporting its efficacy. Methods Patients diagnosed with RA were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of the Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. Patient information was obtained from the hospital's database. Propensity score matching (PSM), Kaplan–Meier curve, and Cox proportional hazards model were used to control confounding factors and analyze the factors influencing readmission. Association rule analysis and random walk evaluation models were used to evaluate the correlations among HQC treatment, inflammation indicators, and self-perception of patients (SPP) scale. Results After PSM, 3423 patients were enrolled, with 1142 in the HQC group and 2281 in the non-HQC group. The readmission risk of the HQC group was significantly lower than that of the non-HQC group. Combined univariate and multivariate analysis results revealed that risk factors for readmission were age >60 years, female sex, hypertension, chronic gastritis, and elevated levels of laboratory indices, including anticyclic citrullinated peptide and complement component 3 (C3) and C4. HQC, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and glucocorticoid therapy were protective factors for readmission. HQC treatment was closely associated with improvements in many factors, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, C3, rheumatoid factor levels, visual analog scale, depression self-assessment scale, and patient-reported activity index scores with RA. Conclusion HQC treatment can reduce the risk of readmission and significantly improve immune inflammatory indicators and SPP in patients with RA, with no risk of hepatorenal toxicity.


The aim of this systematic review was to identify new methods of surface treatments applied on titanium grafts and their clinical and histological outcomes, including different routes for surface treatments, respectively the results of in vitro or in vivo tests. These surface modifications analysed meet three main requirements: to prevent nonspecific absorption of denatured protein on the surface, to attract native tissue cells or progenitor cells capable of differentiation in an appropriate manner or to facilitate biochemical signals to induce biochemical healing mechanisms. Therefore, cells will recognize these surface modifications and will be influenced in their adhesion behavior, profiling and differentiation. This review summarizes some of the recent developments in coatings for medical field.


Questions: Is the red fox a potential vector for epizoochorous seed dispersal? Can seed attachment and retention be predicted from plant and seed traits?

Location: Grasslands in southern Norway.

Methods: Epizoochorous seed attachment on the red fox was studied by walking a dummy fox through the vegetation and comparing seeds found on the dummy with the estimated seed availability in the vegetation. Seed retention, i.e. the ability of different seeds to stay on the fox, was estimated in a separate experiment. Seed attachment and retention were related to plant and seed traits using statistical models that account for heteroscedasticity and zero-inflated data.

Results: The majority of seeds attached to the fox originated from a few species, but also species without specific seed traits that are supposed to enhance epizoochory attached at least some seeds to the fox. The probability of seed attachment was positively related to plant height, bristle and hooked seed appendages, and negatively related to winged appendages, seed mass, and seed sphericity. Seed retention was positively related to the seed traits bristles, hooks and pappus. For several species, the results indicate a high potential for dispersal over long distances.

Conclusions: In modern agricultural landscapes, large herbivores are often restricted in their mobility or are found at low densities, and other animal vectors may therefore be important for seed dispersal. In our study, a range of plant species were able to disperse by attaching seeds to, and having their seeds retained in, the fox fur some distance. We suggest that the red fox may be an important vector for epizoochorous seed dispersal in the agricultural landscape.


It is common practice in the educational system to foster high mathematical abilities in schools as well as in specific promotional programs. Still, little is known about the construct of mathematical giftedness itself. In line with intellectual investment theories, our study investigates the relationship between fluid intelligence (figural and numerical), openness, and the need for cognition with mathematical abilities. The current study is based on a sample (N = 115) of seventh graders participating in the application process for a promotion program. The results of our regression analyses show a positive link between fluid intelligence and mathematical abilities. However, neither the association with openness nor the need for cognition reached significance, emphasizing the importance of cognitive abilities for mathematical giftedness. Limitations and further directions are discussed.


Following residual spraying of houses in Pemba Island with dieldrin as part of a malaria eradication programme, Anopheles gambiae were found breeding in salt-water pools in many parts of the island. Studies were made on the bionomics of this salt-water form of the mosquito, dealing in particular with its behaviour, feeding preferences, role as a malaria vector, larval reaction to brackish water and adult susceptibility to dieldrin.The first-stage larvae of the freshwater and salt-water forms were found to exhibit a distinct difference in their reaction to 75% sea water, the former dying within 1(1/2) hours and the latter surviving 6 hours or more. It is suggested that this reaction may provide the best way of distinguishing with certainty between the two forms in East Africa.The results of precipitin tests and indoor and outdoor catches showed that, after spraying, the salt-water form was mainly exophilic with a preference for feeding on cattle. Exposure of adult to 0.4% dieldrin by the WHO test method indicated that they were still susceptible to that insecticide after two spraying cycles.


A study of the resistive and low-temperature magnetoresistive properties of pressed powders of ferromagnetic half-metal chromium dioxide CrO2 with nanoparticle shape anisotropy. The effects of Fe impurities on the tunneling resistance and magnetoresistance of CrO2 powders are investigated. It is found that the Fe impurity leads to a decrease in the resistance and tunneling magnetoresistance of chromium dioxide. It is suggested that the decrease in magnetoresistance of the solid solution Cr1-xFexO2 is associated with the formation of additional localized states at the iron impurities in a tunnel barrier. The influence of the magnetic field input rate on the form of the low-temperature tunneling magnetoresistance hysteresis in Cr1-xFexO2 powder is considered. It is shown that the low-temperature singularities of magnetoresistance hysteresis depend on the relaxation rate of the magnetic moments of the nanoparticles to the equilibrium state. Possible reasons for such a dependence are discussed.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a shunt created between the corpus cavernosum penis (CCP) and corpus spongiosum penis (CSP) on erectile and ejaculatory function of normal stallions and to verify persistence of the shunt.

STUDY DESIGN
The capability of stallions to develop an erection and to ejaculate was evaluated before and after creation of a corporeal shunt. Persistence of the shunt was determined by dye injection into the CCP at necropsy.

ANIMALS
Six stallions.

METHODS
A CCP-CSP shunt was created in five stallions. Semen was collected before and 4 to 14 weeks after surgery, before the horses were euthanatized. Dye was injected into the CCP to determine persistence of the shunt. Dye was also injected into the CCP of a control stallion.

RESULTS
All stallions had normal erectile and ejaculatory function before and after surgery. Dye, injected into the CCP, entered the CSP in three of five treated stallions, demonstrating persistence of the shunt, whereas in two stallions, dye was found only in the CCP, indicating closure of the shunt. No dye was detected in the CSP of the control stallion.

CONCLUSIONS
Creation of a corporeal shunt does not interfere with normal erection and ejaculation of stallions. Shunt closure is not necessary for stallions to retain normal erectile and ejaculatory function.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Failure of a stallion affected by priapism to achieve normal erection or to ejaculate after creation of a corporeal shunt would likely be because of damage to corporeal tissue than from an effect of the shunt.


An effective eigenfilter approach is proposed for designing FIR filters with complex-valued frequency responses. By minimizing a quadratic measure of the error in the frequency band, an eigenvector of an appropriate matrix is computed to get the filter coefficients. The algorithm is easy and optimal in the least squares sense; it is used to design to major classes of FIR filters, including multiband filters, differentiators, Hilbert transformers, and all-pass phase. Several examples and comparisons to the existing linear programming methods are presented to demonstrate the flexibility and effectiveness of this approach. >


The purpose of this article is to analyse the issues of war and violence in the thought of Hannah Arendt, drawing on articles published in the newspaper Aufbau between 1941 and 1945. In these texts Arendt argues for the organisation of a Jewish army to engage in the struggle against Nazism. Here I attempt to show that this call for a Jewish army is not in contradiction with the separation between power and violence that Arendt posited. With this objective, I will compare Aufbau's writings not only with On Violence, but above all with Was ist Politik? and I will try to interpret this comparison by means of the concept of impolitical, elaborated by the Italian philosopher Roberto Esposito. This way I will suggest a new reading of the relationship between politics and violence. It is not a matter of considering the Jewish question only as a starting point to analyze Arendt's thought, or to interpret her claim in favor of a Jewish army as the result of a specific historical context, but also to see how these positions spring from a will of transformation of this same context and are coherent with the development of her thought.


Recent anomalies in cosmic rays could be due to dark matter annihilation in our galaxy. In order to get the required large cross section to explain the data while still obtaining the right relic density, we rely on a nonstandard thermal history between dark matter freeze out and big-bang nucleosynthesis. We show that through a reheating phase from the decay of a heavy moduli or even the gravitino, we can produce the right relic density of dark matter if its self-annihilation cross section is large enough. In addition to fitting the recent data, this scenario solves the cosmological moduli and gravitino problems. We illustrate this mechanism with a specific example in the context of U(1){sub B-L} extended minimal supersymmetric standard model where supersymmetry is broken via mirage mediation. These string motivated models naturally contain heavy moduli decaying to the gravitino, whose subsequent decay to the LSP can reheat the Universe at a low temperature. The right-handed sneutrino and the B-L gaugino can both be viable dark matter candidates with a large cross section. They are leptophilic because of B-L charges. We also show that it is possible to distinguish the nonthermal from the thermal scenario (using Sommerfeld enhancement) in directmore » detection experiments for certain regions of parameter space.« less


Software development and maintenance are highly distributed processes that involve a multitude of supporting tools and resources. Knowledge relevant to these resources is typically dispersed over a wide range of artifacts, representation formats, and abstraction levels. In order to stay competitive, organizations are often required to assess and provide evidence that their software meets the expected requirements. In our research, we focus on assessing non-functional quality requirements, specifically evolvability, through semantic modeling of relevant software artifacts. We introduce our SE-Advisor that supports the integration of knowledge resources typically found in software ecosystems by providing a unified ontological representation. We further illustrate how our SE-Advisor takes advantage of this unified representation to support the analysis and assessment of different types of quality attributes related to the evolvability of software ecosystems.


1 Lennon AM, Buchalla W, Brune L et al. The ability of selected microorganisms to emit red fluorescence. Caries Res 2006; 40:2–5. 2 Itin PH, Sarasin A, Pittelkow MR. Trichothiodystrophy: update on the sulfur-deficient brittle hair syndromes. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001; 44:891–920. 3 Coulthwaite L, Pretty IA, Smith PW et al. The microbiological origin of fluorescence observed in plaque on dentures during QLF analysis. Caries Res 2006; 40:112–16. 4 van der Veen MH, Thomas RZ, Huysmans MC, de Soez JJ. Red autofluorescence of dental plaque bacteria. Caries Res 2006; 40:542–5.


ABSTRACT Serratia plymithicum J7 culture supernatant displayed activity against many pathogenic strains of Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of the most serious bacterial disease of apple and pear trees, fire blight, and against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia liquefaciens, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. This activity increased significantly upon induction with mitomycin C. A phage-tail-like bacteriocin, named serracin P, was purified from an induced culture supernatant of S. plymithicum J7. It was found to be the only compound involved in the antibacterial activity against sensitive strains. The N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the two major subunits (23 and 43 kDa) of serracin P revealed high homology with the Fels-2 prophage of Salmonella enterica, the coliphages P2 and 168, the φCTX prophage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a prophage of Yersinia pestis. This strongly suggests a common ancestry for serracin P and these bacteriophages.


One of the ways in which demography advances is by reappraising the problems with which it deals and in that connection international conferences play a major role. The International Conference on Population (1984) and the 4 expert group meetings organized for its substantive preparation gave Governments an opportunity to convey to the scientific community the issues in the field of population research which were of major concern to them. This article is organized around 3 main themes. The 1st concerns current needs in population research as perceived by governments and the extent to which currently available knowledge is considered adequate. The 2nd concerns current needs in population research as perceived by Governments as described in the 1st part of the article. The 3rd concerns priority. With limited human and financial resources particularly in the present world economic situation on what basis should it be decided what population research projects to pursue? Issues include: Socio-Economic Development Environment and Population; Role and Status of Women; Development of Population Policies; Morbidity and Mortality; Reproduction and the Family; Population Distribution and Internal Migration; and International Migration. Topics considered under each of these headings are: Accumulation of empirical knowledge; Reappraisal of the problem; Theoretical framework; and Concerns of the international community. Cooperation is more necessary today than ever before for demography can offer much more to users than it could 10 years ago. At the same time the profession is aware that an in-depth discussion on priorities is necessary all around for the priorities are not always clearly discernable. The profession is also aware that the major users--i.e. the representatives of 3rd-world countries--must be more closely involved in the process of collective thinking with for instance the representatives of major foundations and international institutions.


We examine the use of thionylphosphazene-based block copolymers as matrixes for oxygen sensor applications. Poly(aminothionylphosphazene)-b-poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PATPy-PTHFx) block copolymers were prepared via reaction of ring-opened poly(chlorothionylphosphazene) with THF and subsequently with excess n-butylamine (to form PBATPy-PTHFx) or methylamine (to form PMATPy-PTHFx). The block copolymers were characterized by NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. Films of PBATPy-PTHFx block copolymers containing platinum octaethylporphyrin or [Ru(dpp)3]Cl2 (dpp = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) as the oxygen-sensitive chromophore were prepared, and time-scan experiments were carried out to determine the diffusion coefficients, Do2, and solubilities, So2, of oxygen therein. Despite microphase separation, the data fit well to a simple Fick's law description of oxygen diffusion and gave Do2 values smaller than that for the n-butylamino-substituted PBATP635. For films freshly annealed above the melting point of PTHFx, the Do2 values were 35-50% (dye-dependent) larger than after aging 3 days at room temperature. Films with [Ru(dpp)3]Cl2 as the dye were evaluated as media for phosphorescent pressure-sensing. The dye-containing polymer films exhibit linear Stern-Volmer-like plots, even at high dye concentrations, as well as good photostability, and significantly higher sensitivity to oxygen quenching than simple mixtures of the analogous homopolymers.


Left ventricular filling alterations occur early in the development of systemic hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that alteration of diastolic filling might be present in a normotensive population with increased genetic risk for hypertension in the absence of increased left ventricular mass. In a blinded study we compared 31 lean, normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents having normal left ventricular mass (risk group) with 30 matched individuals without family history of hypertension (control group). Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed using Doppler echocardiography. Transmitral flow velocities showed no significant differences between the two groups. Peak early diastolic flow was 0.79+/-0.12 m/s and 0.79+/-0.13 m/s in the risk group and control group, respectively. Peak late diastolic flow was 0.44+/-0.08 in the risk group and 0.42+/-0.11 m/s in the control group. The ratio of early to late diastolic velocity was 1.85+/-0.32 and 1.94+/-0.37. The deceleration time of the early diastolic flow was identical in both groups: 138+/-24 ms and 138+/-23 ms. There was no significant prolongation of the isovolumic relaxation time in the risk group: 75+/-17 compared to 73+/-17 ms in the control group. Doppler measurements showed no correlation with left ventricular mass. We conclude that, in this cross-sectional study, young normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents do not exhibit Doppler echocardiographic signs of diastolic filling alteration in the absence of increased left ventricular mass.


The paper is devoted to the issue of identifying the main trends in the transformation of religious consciousness under the influence of digital modernization of modern society. The methodological basis of the study is constructionalism which allows us to understand religious consciousness as a construct that is transformed under the influence of digital technologies. The paper also relies on the theory of "compensation of the negative consequences of modernization" by G. Lubbe, in which religion is a way of compensating for the erosion of identity in the global world, as well as the loss of stable semantic guidelines in a world of accelerated obsolescence of experience. The paper determines that religious consciousness is polarized during the identified transformations which include "direct", "instrumental" and "functional" changes. This polarization is expressed in the fact that the growth of liberalization, rationalization and pluralization of religious consciousness and the simultaneous reaction to these processes in society lead to an increase in the value of conservation, fundamentalist ideas in the religious consciousness of a digital society. Based on this, it is concluded that the growth of religious fundamentalism is directly related to the intensity of the negative consequence growth of digitalization, globalization, acceleration and rationalization of the life of society as a whole, as well as in the same direct connection with the intensity of modernization of religion itself.


High industrial development, new consumption habits, and population growth have led to a discussion, in the various sectors of society, about resource scarcity, pollutant emissions, and waste generation. As a result, and in opposition to the linear economic model in which products are eliminated after production and consumption, a new business model emerged, called the "The Circular Economy". This model is based on reuse, recovery, recycling, and repairing during the design and use cycle of a product. This research intends to make a study of the circular economy in the pulp and paper industries of Portugal and Spain. This sector was chosen because, in addition to representing about 2.5% of Portugal's industrial production, it has made significant efforts to promote environmentally sustainable development. Therefore, this research intends to present the situation of the pulp and paper sector within the circular economy, making an Iberian comparison between the years 2011 and 2015. This comparison is made through the development of a comparative index based on the results of some environmental indicators. According to the research carried out, the pulp and paper sector in Portugal was about 26% higher in the implementation of the circular economy than the same sector in Spain in 2015, with the peculiarity that this difference has been decreasing in the last five years.


The 6 week experiment was performed on growing Wistar male rats. In the third and the sixth weeks digestibility trials were performed. The following high fibre preparations were supplemented to the control diet (C): high methoxylated citrus pectin (Cr); apple pomace (A), potato fiber "Povex" (P) and sugar beet pulp (B). Fibre supplementation, except Cr, significantly increased Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu excretion in faeces and decreased their apparent absorption in both trials. Significant correlations (P < or = 0.001) were found between crude, insoluble and total fibre intake and mineral excretion and apparent absorption. Apparent absorption of minerals increased from the third to the sixth week in group C and in group Cr, except Fe, while it decreased in groups P and B or showed tendency to decrease. In the sixth week the following differences (P < or = 0.05) in apparent absorption were observed between diets, in descending order: [equation: see text]


Abstract Association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ghrelin gene with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)is unclear. However, their correlation with PCOS-related obesity has been observed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ghrelin gene SNPs on PCOS-related obesity in Chinese women. The full-length sequence of the ghrelin gene was determined to explore the relationship of the SNPs with PCOS-related obesity in Chinese women. The gene was sequenced, including all exons, introns and exon–intron boundaries in 230 Han Chinese women with PCOS and 162 normal women. Significant genotypic and allelic differences were observed between the obese PCOS group and obese control group at rs35681 locus (p = .013 and .017). The genotypic analysis of obese and non-obese people in the PCOS group showed that the proportion of A allele in the obese PCOS group (10.9%) was higher than that of the G allele (3.6%). This study revealed that ghrelin rs35681 might be related to the occurrence of obesity associated with PCOS, and allele A was found to increase the risk of obesity in PCOS.


This paper deals with the mathematical modeling of a scheduling problem for unrelated parallel machines with precedence constraints in order to minimize the makespan (Cmax). This study was motivated by the quality of the Integer Program based on the interval graph. Three families of inequalities are proposed. The first two inequalities based on the idea of the precedence jobs and the third based on the shortest processing time(SPT). We studied the validity of the new inequalities and strength them by checking the linear combination. After an exhaustive computational and statistical analysis we can conclude that the addition of these inequalities decreases the computational requirements to obtain the optimal solution in many cases.


42 patients suffering from dermatophytic fungus infection involving the bearded area, face and neck (tinea barbae) were seen in the Clinic between 1970 and 1977. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by microscopic examination (KOH) of skin and hair scrapings in all the patients. The material obtained from 39 patients and inoculated gave a positive culture; in were isolated and following fungi: T rubrum-18, T. mentagrophytes-16, T. megninii-1, T. violaceum-2, M. canis-2. From the clinical point of veiw it was possible to classify the patients in 3 main types: --Superficial type-11 patients. --Kerion-10 patients (T. mentagrophytes-9, M. canis-1). --Nodular type-deep seated nodules, without discharging, very slow evolution - 21 patients (T. mentagrophytes-4, T. rubrum-13, T. megninii-1, T. violaceum-1). It was obtained material for histology in 13 patients: 3 suffering from kerion and 10 with the nodular clinical type. The histology of the Kerion type showed a marked inflammatory reaction consisting largely of neutrophils surrounding the hair follicles. Only in one examination, out of the 3 patients studied with Kerion, showed fungi, on PAS. The 10 patients suffering from the nodular type of infection who were studied histologically showed a more or less uniform picture, which consisted in a more deep seated infiltration specially consisting of lymphocytes and plasmocytes, on the derme but not so perifollicular as in Kerion and, in 2 cases, there was a tendency to form a tuberculoid structure. The PAS was positive in 6 patients. The fungi were always intrafollicular. All the patients were treated with griseofulvin 1 gr. per day. All of them healed after a period of 4-8 weeks of treatment.


Event management is all about the experience. People who attend events do so because they view an event as something unique and enjoyable. This study is focused on event greening which begins with education of the attendees on what are the characteristics of a "green event." Due to the phenomenological nature of events, the researchers used both quantitative and qualitative measures to examine the perception of event attendees on sustainable efforts of event greening. The qualitative part of the study employs the reflexivity theory. The result of reflexivity in social science research has become a tool used to answer wider political debates or ethical issues in relation to the research interaction in particular within an interview society. It is unlikely that the popularity of the research interview will decrease, particularly as negotiations over access and ethical practices make more intimate or prolonged forms of research extremely difficult to undertake. Social research has highlighted the importance of the knowledge construction in relation to the research efforts itself which gives emphasis on the increasing importance of reflexivity. A discussion of participant reflexivity has been debated as researcherorientated. This notions of reflexivity can often influence the outcome of the interview sessions. Reflection is an important component of reflexivity, it is understood as a tool one may use to as a consideration to relate their actions to the social world. However, a fundamental re-questioning is also required in using reflexivity to get the essence of one's knowledge within a given context. The skill of questioning to inform or shape current or subsequent practice is needed to achieve this objective. Most importantly, the researcher must not be exclusively able to engage in reflexive practices to obtain the information needed for the qualitative analysis. On the other hand, larger debates regarding the future of the social sciences has featured reflexivity being used more frequently. Therefore, the researchers will attempt to relate the reflexivity theory in the context of event management. These researchers will determine the attendees' perception on sustainable efforts towards event greening and how the elements of reflexivity influences their perception when attending a green event.


The aim of this study is the investigation of adsorption and corrosion behaviors of 2,4-Diamino-6-methly-1,3,5-triazine (2-DMT) on mild steel (MS) in 0.5 M HCI solution using many experimental and theoretical studies such as potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance (LPR), adsorption isotherm, potential of zero charge (PZC), scanning electron (SEM), atomic force microscopies (AFM) and quantum chemical calculations. The results showed that 2-DMT has an outstanding anti-corrosion performance of 94.6% at an optimum concentration of 10 mM and the MS surface, which was exposed to the inhibited solution at 298 K, does not contain pits, cracks or deformations. Values of icorr are found to be 0.51, 0.22, 0.098, 0.072 and 0.039 mA cm-2 for blank solution and each concentration of 2-DMT. Hydrogen volumes are 90 and 4.6 mL cm-2 for blank solution and the existence of 10.0 mM 2-DMT, respectively. The observed adsorption is much more consistent with Langmuir. The high performance is explained by the effective adsorbing of organic matter to the MS surface. HOMO, LUMO energies and the energy gap (∆E) are -7.1980, -1.9959 and 5.2021 eV, respectively. Accordingly, it is suggested that this organic compound can be used in the industrial acid cleaning procedure.


economy and rural life'), deals with the role the agricultural sector played within and for Dutch national economy and how aspects such as knowledge, know-how and communication influenced this role according to Sloet. The chapter starts with a short description of agriculture in Overijssel in the nineteenth century. The first question in this context is how Sloet valued the situation of agriculture in The Netherlands and its developments, especially in the province of Overijssel. Secondly, which arguments does he pose for the different views there are on this issue? A third question is what Sloet has contributed to the development of agriculture, both nationally and in Overijssel? Finally, can he be considered a representative of a certain group or did he occupy a special position within Dutch agriculture? Sloet saw the agricultural sector as full of potential, some of which was also realised. Although this filled him with satisfaction and delight, it was no reason to sit back complacently, because new situations and developments also created new opportunities which needed to be utilized. The overall goal remained to explore and exploit the treasures of nature which became available through agriculture and, of course, otherwise. Farmers had a specific and important role in this process. For the eastern part of the Netherlands with its specific agrarian characteristics Sloet thought the best option was to develop the small family business. In a way and avant la lettre this manner of thinking fits within the later theory of Ester Boserup who speaks of 'the relation between population growth in a certain ecological system and the changes in agriculture, more specifically 338 the intensification of farming, which are a result of this growth'. Sloet considered ecology and economy to go hand in hand and according to him developments in the agricultural production process were determined by natural circumstances. But it was up to man to recognize these circumstances and to make use of them and improve them. Only then could the population grow. The necessary employment could amply be found in the countryside. Sloet considered investing on a small scale, such as providing seeds and simple sausage recipes better than introducing large farming equipment which would mostly benefit the big farmers. Modernization of agriculture should therefore aim at the small peasant family business. Rather than for mechanization Sloet opted for the use of human labour as a means to increase productivity. Where the second question - of the different views on production development in agriculture- is concerned, Sloet simply does not provide us with the necessary statistics, despite his efforts. He did recognize, however, the rapid growth in population, the resulting pressure on the soil, the necessary intensification in agriculture and the just as necessary improvements of the infrastructure with, of course, the opportunities which these developments created. Van Zanden's thesis, that up to about 1870 the influence of 'institutions', organizations and institutes on actual farming had been small, needs to be questioned. The existing agricultural societies before 1870 certainly made their contributions, especially Sloet's Agronomic Congresses and, where Overijssel is concerned, 'Welvaart'. Sloet was living proof that 'people do make a difference'. This also forms the beginning of the answer to the third research question, namely which contribution Sloet has made to Dutch agriculture, and especially that of Overijssel. By using his countless connections in politics, the Agronomic Congresses, among men of science and farmers, with his knowledge of national and international literature on the subject and last but not least on the basis of his own observation, he was the seemingly tireless stimulator behind small but indispensable little pulls at the lever of prosperity. To his great dismay and despite his efforts of many years he did not succeed in causing the tithes, a tax which he considered to be harmful to the development of agriculture, to be abolished. The answer to the question as to what extent Sloet has taken up a position of his own in Dutch agriculture is closely connected with his descent and the region he grew up in. His childhood in Gelderland gave him direction and shaped him – as it had done his father and mother before him – into a tool of progress in the countryside and it made him an exponent of rural life. Not because he desired to play the role of 'gentleman', but for the love of his surroundings and the people with whom he felt connected. With his 'physico-theological' way of thinking as a liberal politician, economist, governor, man of letters and as a folklorist he is indissolubly connected with the agriculture and the countryside of The Netherlands and especially the countryside of the eastern part of The Netherlands or the 'Saxon' countryside, as he called it. All together this creates a colourful and original person. In a sense Sloet was born in the wrong environment. He was different; he was a baron in clogs. However, if he had been a farmer in clogs he would not have been able to achieve the things he did by being the man he was.


An Engineering Workshop is mandatory en the third term of the engineering curricula of a sister institution. In the workshop each major choice is allowed to have a four week introductory mini course. We were asked to develop such a course for Computer Science majors. In order to give our students an early taste of programming and helping the other students with their academic skills, we chose to develop algorithmic thinking contextualized as Image Processing. In the paper we describe the choices we made and how we used Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs) to enhance the students experience. We explain how we structured the full course and the grading around the CATs. The course was graded using a performance evaluation over a team project: the enhancement or restoration of an image chosen by the team, with a program also chosen by the team, accompanied with a documented solution of the problem.


KABUL--
 After 2 decades of war, chaos, and fundamentalism, Afghanistan is reopening to archaeologists. Sadly, they cannot simply pick up where they left off in the late 1970s. During a recent visit to important archaeological centers around Afghanistan,
 Science
 found the country9s once fine network of museums ransacked and dozens, maybe hundreds, of important sites plundered. In addition, looting, land mines, and lagging foreign support are putting the brakes on researchers9 plans.


Key points Arctic wetlands are especially susceptible to damage from climate warming impacts, including permafrost melting, erosion and storm surges; subarctic wetlands are shaped by freeze–thaw cycles and overgrazing by waterfowl; West Coast earthquakes, tsunamis and glacier surges are added stressors in subarctic marshes; temperate marshes of the mountainous West Coast are in isolated valleys, sometimes disconnected from tidal exchange; temperate East Coast marshes are extensive, but altered by farming, frequent hurricanes and 'nor'easter' storms; Bay of Fundy megatidal marshes sequester much carbon despite erosion by massive winter ice blocks; subtropical wetlands of Florida and Mexico have shrubby mangroves fringed by brackish water swamp cedars or desert palms and cactus scrub; microtidal Mississippi Delta marshes include floating vegetation islands; tropical mangroves have a high diversity of tall trees and shrubs, particularly in Central America. Arctic Coast: Mackenzie Delta region of the Beaufort Sea The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth, bringing dramatic reductions in sea ice extent, altered weather, and thawing permafrost. Implications of these changes include rapid coastal erosion. . . and unpredictable impacts on subsistence activities and critical social needs. (Clement et al ., 2013, in a report to the President.) Arctic salt marshes are literally few and far between (Figure 1.1), occupying scattered segments of the 25 000 km-long Russian coastline (Lantuit et al ., 2012; Sergienko, 2013), but covering only about 60 km 2 of the Canadian Arctic Islands and small parts of the Arctic shores of Canada and Alaska (Mendelssohn and McKee, 2000; Martini et al ., 2009; Jorgenson, 2011). However, there is a growing interest in their ecology and geological history because of their increased contributions to atmospheric greenhouse gases as the permafrost melts (see Section 5.4), and because they occupy deltas and estuaries where gas and oil exploration and shipping terminals are rapidly changing the landscape. Types of possible impacts are outlined in Chapter 5, but here we present selected examples to demonstrate the magnitude of the unfolding events.


Indian women in the early twentieth century stood at the threshold of changing times. A social reform movement for women's education came into focus at this time. However, despite efforts to promote higher education by Christian missionaries, the Indian intelligentsia, social reformers, and the British colonial government, there were disparities in its spread. It was still beyond the reach of women in general. Women's education was not pervasive but reserved mainly for those coming from educationally enlightened families, where their parents and other relatives supported the reforms, offering them access to higher education. Feminist researchers, writing about this period, hold multiple views regarding Indian reformers and their efforts in women's education. This paper attempts to draw attention to the social status of Indian women through the self-narratives of two accomplished women educationists from North India, Swarup Kumari Bakshi and Begum Hamida Habibullah, both of whom were witness to preand postindependence social and political dynamics. They represent two different religious cultures; however, their social background was quite similar. This paper, an oral history, is based on their independent perspectives, personal experiences and self-narratives shared with the author during interviews conducted in 2009. A comparison between the two narratives offers insights into the contemporary social position of women. It also offers reflections on the elitist approach of the social reforms, and the different viewpoints proffered by feminist writers regarding the relationship between the social position of women and promotion of their education by social reformers. The article concludes with reflection on late twentieth century attempts to transform women's socio-educational status-quo.


A lupuslike disease with cutaneous manifestations secondary to the use of chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is presented. Skin biopsy specimens demonstrated classic findings consistent with lupus erythematosus and abundant mucin deposition in the cutaneous lesions--a finding not previously reported to occur in drug-induced lupuslike disease. Laboratory and serologic examinations included a positive antinuclear antibody titer, presence of single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), absence of double-stranded DNA, presence of antihistone antibodies, normal complement level, increased IgM level, and prolongation of partial thromboplastin time. These data confirmed our clinical and histologic diagnosis. Cessation of the medication (chlorpromazine) led to resolution of the skin abnormalities. Electron microscopy revealed electron-dense drug metabolites in vascular endothelial cells, as well as tubuloreticular inclusion bodies. This is only the second reported case of chlorpromazine-induced lupuslike disease with cutaneous manifestations.


Connective tissue diseases represent a group of heterogeneous disorders that share certain common features, including inflammation of the skin, joints and other structures rich in connective tissue, as well as altered immunoregulation patterns, including autoantibody production and cell-mediated immunity abnormalities. While certain distinct clinical entities can be defined, manifestations can vary considerably from patient to patient, and the overlap of clinical features between and among specific diseases is common. Genetic, environmental and sex hormonal factors are likely to be of pathogenic importance. Among these diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus is the most frequent, followed by systemic sclerosis or scleroderma (SSc), Sjogren's disease, polymyositis and dermatomyositis and mixed connective tissue disease. Systemic sclerosis involves multiple organs in a process consisting of disseminated sclerosis affecting all compartments. Prominent vascular lesions typify the renal lesions. Scleroderma crisis is a major complication of SSc, characterized by severe hypertension, rapidly progressive renal failure, thrombotic microangiopathy with hemolitic anemia and low platelet count: the prompt use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors significantly increased the 1-yr survival rate from 15 to 76%. Sjogren's syndrome is an immunologic disorder characterized by progressive lymphocytic destruction of the exocrine gland, frequently resulting in symptomatic eye and mouth dryness. The interstitial lesions constitute the principal renal manifestations: interstitial infiltrates and small lymphocytes, which can be homogenous and massive. In polymyositis and dermatomyositis renal involvement is rare.


The uniqueness of Indonesia's forests in addition to having a high level of biodiversity, also forest types are oriental, australian, and transitional, so there are many rare plants and endemic species. This study aims to determine composition as well as the association of diversity of tree species in the Ismayadi plot. The research location is Ismayadi's Permanent Plot at the location of the HPH P.T. Inhutani II with an area of 1 Ha in Malinau District, North Kalimantan Province. Primary data with diameter and tree height parameters and identification of existing plant species and associations are accompanied by data from previous years as a reference. The results of observations on individual trees, namely the number of individual trees on Ismayadi plot size of 100 m x 100 m in year 2017 were 271 individual trees. The number of dead was 10 trees (3.7%). The genera Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae) dominates as many as 65 trees. Association of species of shrubs or trees under the canopy as follows: Rauvolfia, Syzygium, Shorea leprosula, Dysoxylum, Glutta walliciana, Luvunga (Rutaceae), Santiria (Burseraceae), Macaranga, Calamus, Etlingiera, Lasianthus, Actinodaphne, Pternandra, Litsea, Leptocomia (Arecaceae), Garcinia, Pandanus, Licuala, Blechnum, Callophylum. This paper also presents a comparison at the same location in Malinau District and also the need for immediate conservation efforts at the CIFOR Permanent Measurement Plot (PUP) location.


This essay concentrates on the differences in one cross-cultural pragmatics within one speech acts-refusal in both Chinese culture and American culture.Some background theories are introduced at the beginning,followed by specific pragmatics situations of refusal.At the end of the essay,some concepts of cross-cultural pragmatics speech acts teaching are also discussed.


The structure of coal needs to be understood from a molecular point of view for clean, effective and high value-added utilization of coal. In the literature, molecular structure model of Shendong coal vitrinite (SV) was established by the authors on the basis of experimental results of ultimate analysis and 13C NMR, and the calculated 13C NMR spectrum of SV model was consistent with the experimental spectrum. In order to further verify the accuracy of SV structure model established by the authors, the infrared spectrum of SV structure model was calculated using quantum chemistry semi-empirical VAMP in this thesis. The results showed that the peak shape of calculated IR spectrum of SV structure model was similar to the experiment's, but the wave number of calculated IR spectrum was obviously higher than that of experimental spectrum. According to the calculated results for model compounds by using the same method, calculated vibrational frequency was higher than that of experiment for the same functional groups. Hence, the calculated IR spectrum should be corrected. After correction the calculated IR spectrum of SV structure model matched well with the experimental spectrum. In other words, the SV structure model can truly reflect the structure characteristics of SV.


Urban sprawl affects the environment in myriad ways and at multiple levels of biological organization. In this paper I explore the effects of sprawl on native bird communities by comparing the occurrence of birds along gradients of urban land use in southwestern Ohio and northern California and by examining patterns at the individual, species, community, landscape, and continental levels. I do this by assessing the distribution and abundance of all bird species occupying sites of differing land-use intensity in Ohio and California. Additionally, I conducted predation experiments using artificial nests, tracked the nest fate of American Robins and Northern Cardinals, and assessed land cover in these sites. At the individual level, predation on artificial nests decreased with urbanization; however, this trend was not reflected in the nesting success of robins and cardinals, which did not increase with urbanization. At the species level, sprawl affected local patterns of extinction and invasion; the density of different species peaked at different levels of urbanization. At the community level, species richness and diversity peaked at moderate levels of urbanization, and the number of low-nesting species and of species with multiple broods increased with urbanization. The community-level results may reflect both the species-level patterns of local extinction and invasion as well as broader landscape-level patterns. At the landscape level, a linear combination of spatial heterogeneity and density of woody patches accurately predicted both species richness and Shannon Diversity. At the continental level, local extinction of endemic species, followed by the invasion of ubiquitous weedy species, leads to faunal homogenization between ecoregions.


Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a distinctive form of muscular dystrophy which is often associated with cardiac abnormalities. Conduction disturbances are frequently observed, and may necessitate pacemaker implantation to prevent sudden death. In this case report, we present an autopsy of a 31-year-old man with X-linked EDMD who developed only minimal skeletal muscle symptoms, and who died from ventricular arrhythmia despite undergoing a previous pacemaker implantation. Ventricular arrhythmias in X-linked EDMD patients are also discussed.


This paper sets out a distributed virtual reality application intended to practical activities in electronics: circuit design and simulation. The distributed virtual environment offers virtual components and devices (resistors, capacitors, transistors, generators and oscilloscopes) described in a standard Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) format. Users are enabled to choose components and build a circuit. The simulation of the circuit is done using the SPICE programme that is a general-purpose circuit simulation programme for non-linear dc, non-linear transient, and linear ac analyses. The implementation is based on VRML and Java as languages and Cortona VRML plug-in from ParallelGraphics. The distribution of virtual worlds is obtained using DeepMatrix as environment server.


Development of an ideal vascular replacement has been addressed with increasing urgency in recent years. To date, appropriate replacements for only large diameter bypass grafts have been realized, employing the use of Dacron and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. A solution for small diameter (<6 mm I.D.) vessel bypass, however, has not yet been found. This is due mainly to acute thrombotic occlusion and chronic anastomotic hyperplasia that is introduced into these grafts due to the low blood flow velocities experienced by smaller caliber vessels and compliance mismatch between prosthetic and native vessel, respectively [1].


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the expression and regulation of osteopontin (OPN) and urolithiasis.

METHODS
Normal and stone model rats were treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3(D3), vitamin K, testosterone or estradiol for 7 days, and the expression of osteopontin and its mRNA were detected with immunohistochemistry and Northern blot, respectively. Crystals deposited in rat kidneys were observed with a polarization microscope. The concentrations of crystal components in rat urine were determined.

RESULTS
The results showed that vitamin K, testosterone and estradiol up-regulated the expression of OPN mRNA and its protein, thus decreasing the precipitation of calcium oxalate in rat kidneys. D3 increased the concentration of calcium in urine, and accelerated the sedimentation of calcium oxalate in rat kidneys.

CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that OPN may be an important macromolecule in the normal endogenous inhibition of the formation of urolithiasis. Vitamin K, testosterone and estradiol inhibit the formation of stones via up-regulating the expression of OPN in kidneys, while D3 over dose may accelerate the process.


The North-American amphipod Gammarus tigrinus Sexton, 1939 is a successful invader in European waters due to its high reproductive potential and tolerance to severe environmental conditions and various pollutants. In this study, we followed the invasion and establishment of this exotic species in a species-poor ecosystem of the northern Baltic Sea. Two years after the establishment of G. tigrinus, over half of the sampling sites were occupied exclusively by G. tigrinus, whereas G. tigrinus coexisted with native gammarids in only one tenth of all sites. There was a clear separation of habitat occupancy between native species and G. tigrinus in terms of abiotic environment and macrophytic habitat. G. tigrinus preferred shallow sheltered areas dominated by vascular plants, while native species mainly occurred in more exposed, deeper habitats with phaeophytes and rhodophytes. In its suboptimal habitats, G. tigrinus exhibited moderate abundances, which allowed for the coexistence of native gammarids and the invasive gammarid. Since its establishment, the abundance of G. tigrinus has showed no signs of decline, with abundances exceeding almost fifteen times those of native gammarids at some locations. The results suggest that, irrespective to the competitive superiority of G. tigrinus over the native gammarids, the invasive G. tigrinus does not monopolize the entire coastal area of the northern Baltic Sea but mostly outcompetes native species in its favoured habitats..


The ancient idea of cosmopolitanism is a topic of renewed interest today. Scholars and practitioners in many fields are examining what it means to conceive all human beings as linked by their membership in a shared cosmos. Some people focus on political cosmopolitanism, others on moral, cultural, or economic cosmopolitanism. This paper examines educational cosmopolitanism by elucidating the idea of curriculum as a cosmopolitan inheritance. It argues that curriculum can generate a cosmopolitan sensibility, by which one means an outlook that regards life experience as universally educational. It suggests that a cosmopolitan sensibility can assist people in working through some of the tensions that accompany global and local change in our time. It can position them to reconstruct creatively cultural and individual values rather than abandon them in the face of the ceaseless pressure of globalization. A cosmopolitan sensibility edifies human beings by helping them perceive why all persons, in principle, can be creative guardians and practitioners of creativity itself.


We consider a distributed estimation problem where sensors transmit their observations over fading channels to a fusion center (FC), where the parameter is estimated. We calculate the variance of the estimate when we have full, partial and no channel information at the sensors. We compare these with a benchmark obtained when the channels are AWGN. We show that while having no CSI at the sensors leads to bad performance, partial CSI at the sensors is sufficient to get reliable estimates of the parameter. Comparing the performance when the sensors have partial CSI, to when the sensors have full CSI, the deterioration of the variance of the estimator in the case of partial CSI at the sensors is upper bounded by a factor of 4/pi, which is about a 2dB power loss.


Background: Low compliance works as a significant limitation to the treatment effect of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) during clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of a recently established AF management platform on AF workflow, including diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Participants and Methods: Patients diagnosed with AF from January 2015 to February 2019 in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, were enrolled and classified into two groups depending on their hospital visits before (Group 1) or after (Group 2) platform establishment in this observational cross-sectional study. Clinical characteristics, including clinical comorbidities, medications, and clinical events, were compared before and after the establishment of AF management platform. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University (approval No. KY2019-552), in May 2019. Results: In this study, 8343 hospital visits by patients were involved in Group 1 and 13,294 records in Group 2, from which several key points could be shown: (1) a downward trend in various comorbidities; (2) the follow-up frequency distinctly increased, especially among outpatients with low CHA2DS2-VASc scores; (3) a significant increase in anticoagulant use in patients with different stroke risks; and (4) the main indicators that affected anticoagulant use differed between the two groups. Conclusion: This comprehensive management platform can raise the compliance of AF patients, which shows superiority to conventional workflow in overall effect.


The diagnostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is significantly affected by high calcification in the coronary arteries owing to blooming artifacts limiting its accuracy in assessing the calcified plaques. This study aimed to simulate highly calcified plaques in 3D-printed coronary models. A combination of silicone + 32.8% calcium carbonate was found to produce 800 HU, representing extensive calcification. Six patient-specific coronary artery models were printed using the photosensitive polyurethane resin and a total of 22 calcified plaques with diameters ranging from 1 to 4 mm were inserted into different segments of these 3D-printed coronary models. The coronary models were scanned on a 192-slice CT scanner with 70 kV, pitch of 1.4, and slice thickness of 1 mm. Plaque attenuation was measured between 1100 and 1400 HU. Both maximum-intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) images (wide and narrow window widths) were generated for measuring the diameters of these calcified plaques. An overestimation of plaque diameters was noticed on both MIP and VR images, with measurements on the MIP images close to those of the actual plaque sizes (<10% deviation), and a large measurement discrepancy observed on the VR images (up to 50% overestimation). This study proves the feasibility of simulating extensive calcification in coronary arteries using a 3D printing technique to develop calcified plaques and generate 3D-printed coronary models.


Low temperature during germination hinders germination speed and early seedling development. Zn seed priming is a useful and cost-effective tool to improve germination rate and resistance to low temperature stress during germination and early seedling development. Spinach was tested to improve germination and seedling development with Zn seed priming under low temperature stress conditions. Zn priming increased seed Zn concentration up to 48 times. The multispectral imaging technique with VideometerLab was used as a non-destructive method to differentiate unprimed, water- and Zn-primed spinach seeds successfully. Localization of Zn in the seeds was studied using the 1,5-diphenyl thiocarbazone (DTZ) dying technique. Active translocation of primed Zn in the roots of young seedlings was detected with laser confocal microscopy. Zn priming of spinach seeds at 6 mM Zn showed a significant increase in germination rate and total germination under low temperature at 8 °C.


In the article the author approaches to the formation, development and implementation of the 'Digital Economy' from the perspective of the existence of goalsetting, purposefulness, systemic and complex properties. Thus, it would be possible to understand the nature of human relations we need – i.e., what model of life organization must emerge in order to assess it comprehensively and to use as fully as possible the opening creative potentials of the 'digital economy'. The main point is to find the most relevant mechanism for functioning of this model so that to prevent the possible risks for each individual and the society as a whole. Hence DE should be viewed as an economy of agreed interests between the state, society, business and the interests of a particular person in real time, in which everything is aimed at achieving an objectively defined goal while reducing the costs of all types of resources.


Cervical cancer screening has been shifting from primary cytology to primary HPV testing worldwide as primary HPV testing is more sensitive than primary cytology. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first in Japan to examine the feasibility of primary HPV testing. One of the disadvantages of this shift is that hrHPV-/≥LSIL/CIN2+ (high-risk HPV negative cancers or pre-cancerous lesions with abnormal cytology results) can be missed. The objectives of the present study are to clarify in detail CIN2+ missed by this shift and to evaluate the feasibility of primary HPV testing in Japan. Data from 115,273 women who underwent co-testing with cytology and HPV testing in cancer screening were used in the current study. The cases with hrHPV-/≥LSIL ('hrHPV-/≥L-SIL' include CIN2-, in contrast, 'hrHPV-/≥L-SIL/CIN2+' doesn't include CIN2-) were analysed in detail. Women with hrHPV-/≥LSIL comprised 0.3% of the total. The prevalence of CIN2, CIN3, SCC or cervical adenocarcinomas in the lesions with HPV-/≥LSIL was 0.03% in the cancer screening group. Only one case of 14 cervical adenocarcinomas in ≥LSIL was hrHPV-. The prevalence of cancer missed by the shift in patients >50 years of age was significantly higher compared with patients younger than 49 years. In conclusion, the prevalence of CIN2+, which might be missed by the shift from primary cytology to primary HPV testing, was remarkably low in this Japanese cancer screening. The data indicated that primary HPV testing, which was more sensitive for CIN2+ than primary cytology, was a feasible method that can be used in Japan. In particular, primary HPV testing should be introduced for women <50 years old.


paper reports on the results of the first stag e of an exploratory research on the learning potential of Personal Learning Environment , not simply as a technological artifact but as an instrument to support the learning process. Firstly, we prese nt PLE as an enriched concept. Secondly we identify the roles a PLE can play to improve the quality of the learning process. Thirdly, we explor e ways for optimizing the learning potential of PLE from pedagogical, technological an d institutional perspectives. Before concluding, we present very preliminary results tha t confirm the need for a better understanding of PLE.


The proper selection of a recipient vessel is essential for the success of free tissue transfer, especially when the transfer is to the lower extremity. However, a general agreement on which vessel to use has not been reached yet. Conflicting data have been reported on the survival and outcome of the transferred flaps, depending on the vessel used or the location of anastomosis. The aim of this study was to identify the patterns and problems in the selection of recipient vessels for free tissue transfer to the lower extremity and to establish a general guideline for proper selection. From September of 1990 to December of 1997, 50 consecutive, microvascular, free tissue transfers were performed on the lower extremity. The causes requiring soft-tissue coverage included trauma (25), unstable scar (11), chronic osteomyelitis (7), and tumors (7). The mean follow-up period was 22.4 months (range, 2 to 41 months). In 25 cases, the posterior tibial vessel was used as the recipient vessel. The microvascular anastomosis was done proximal to the zone of injury in 45 cases. The two most important factors in the selection of a recipient vessel are the site of injury and the vascular status of the lower extremity. Less important factors include the flap to be used, method, and site of microvascular anastomosis. All the currently feasible options for recipient vessels are included, and the opinions of other surgeons are reviewed. A general guideline is established, and an algorithm for the proper selection of a recipient vessel is proposed. This algorithm is a fast and convenient guide for evaluating the wound and planning the free flap to the lower extremity.


In search of the jumyo gene, a putative gene that specifies the clonal life span of Paramecium tetraurelia, we previously compared gene expression profiles between young wild-type stock 51 and the short life span jumyo mutant d4-SL4 by the differential display technique, and detected four differentially expressed genes. In this study, assuming that expression of the jumyo gene is continuously altered throughout the clonal life span, we examined the transcriptional level of the four genes in the process of clonal aging, but none of them presented such an alteration. Thus, we again screened expressed genes of the two strains using another strategy, cDNA subtraction, and successfully isolated three different genes that show agedependent expression patterns as expected. Of these three genes, one was specific to young wild-type cells and found to code for the 51A surface protein. The other two were preferentially transcribed in the jumyo mutant, of which one was the α-51D surface protein gene. INTRODUCTION


This paper describes the design, fabrication and characterization of a flexible CPW-fed monopole organic antenna, based on a multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) doped Polyaniline (PANI). The antenna is printed on a 130μm Kapton® substrate. The design proposed allows the coverage of two frequency bands, 1.8 to 2.8 GHz and 4.5 to 7 GHz, which include ISM frequencies (2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz). The dual-band monopole antenna is made of a 65μm-thick conducting polymer (PANI/MWCNT) whose measured conductivity is 5500 S/m. The measurement results of the PANI/MWCNT monopole antenna show a good agreement with the simulation data. Moreover, it achieves a maximum gain of 0.40 dBi at 2.4 GHz and 2.4 dBi at 5.8 GHz. Altogether; the results confirm the potential of conductive polymers for the realization of flexible antennas.


Our hypothesis is that iron accumulated in tissue, rather than in serum, may compromise cardiovascular control. Male Fischer 344 rats weighing 180 to 220 g were divided into 2 groups. In the serum iron overload group (SIO, N = 12), 20 mg elemental iron was injected ip daily for 7 days. In the tissue iron overload group (TIO, N = 19), a smaller amount of elemental iron was injected (10 mg, daily) for 5 days followed by a resting period of 7 days. Reflex heart rate responses were elicited by iv injections of either phenylephrine (0.5 to 5.0 microg/kg) or sodium nitroprusside (1.0 to 10.0 microg/kg). Baroreflex curves were determined and fitted to sigmoidal equations and the baroreflex gain coefficient was evaluated. To evaluate the role of other than a direct effect of iron on tissue, acute treatment with the iron chelator deferoxamine (20 mg/kg, iv) was performed on the TIO group and the baroreflex was re-evaluated. At the end of the experiments, evaluation of iron levels in serum confirmed a pronounced overload for the SIO group (30-fold), in contrast to the TIO group (2-fold). Tissue levels of iron, however, were higher in the TIO group. The SIO protocol did not produce significant alterations in the baroreflex curve response, while the TIO protocol produced a nearly 2-fold increase in baroreflex gain (-4.34 +/- 0.74 and -7.93 +/- 1.08 bpm/mmHg, respectively). The TIO protocol animals treated with deferoxamine returned to sham levels of baroreflex gain (-3.7 +/- 0.3 sham vs -3.6 +/- 0.2 bpm/mmHg) 30 min after the injection. Our results indicate an effect of tissue iron overload on the enhancement of baroreflex sensitivity.


To meet the increasing demand for fish, aquaculture has expanded through intensive farming that requires large amounts of feed. This can cause environmental and economic difficulties because fish can only retain 20 to 30 % of the ingested nitrogen (N). The remaining fraction is excreted as ammonium and can accumulate in water, thus becoming detrimental to fish performance. This experiment used red tilapia (Oreochromis sp) to determine the effects of temperature, body weight, and dietary crude protein (CP) on ammonium excretion. A factorial AxBxC design was used to compare total ammonium excreted. Factor A is defined as fish body weight (P). Fish weights were: P1= 100 ± 6.2, P2= 249 ± 4.2 y P3= 498 ± 4.7g. Factor B is defined as dietary protein levels (D1, D2 y D3), and factor C as water temperature (T1 and T2). Increased dietary protein levels, as well as water temperature caused significant increases in ammonium excretion (p<0.05). Body weight showed an inverse relationship with ammonia excretion. The 100 g fish at 26 oC consuming a 25.6% CP diet excreted 468.8 ± 2.2 g N- NH4+ /day/kg, while 498 g fish under the same diet and temperature, excreted 356.3 ± 1.6 mg N- NH4+ /day/kg. This study suggests that dietary factors and environmental variables can alter ammonia excretion in fish, and thus affect of ammonia toxicity in the surrounding water.


This study analyzed the clinical features of 5 children with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and the characteristics of ANK1 and SPTB gene mutations. All 5 children were confirmed with HS by peripheral blood genetic detection. Anemia, jaundice and splenomegaly were observed in all 5 children. Three children had an increase in erythrocyte osmotic fragility. All 5 children had negative results of the Coombs test, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase test, sucrose hemolysis test, acidified-serum hemolysis test and thalassemia gene test. Peripheral blood smear showed an increase in spherocyte count in one child. High-throughput sequencing revealed ANK1 gene mutations in patients 1 to 3, namely c.3398(exon29)delA, c.4306C>T and c.957(exon9)_c.961(exon9)delAATCT, among which c.3398(exon29)delA had not been reported before. Patient 4 had c.318delGExon3 mutation in the SPTB gene. Patient 5 had mutations in the SPTB and SLC4A1 genes, among which c.3484delC in the SPTB gene was a spontaneous mutation; the mutation site of the SLCA4A1 gene was inherited from the father and was a non-pathogenic gene. This study suggests that anemia, jaundice and splenomegaly are major clinical manifestations of HS children. Most children with HS do not have the typical spherocytic changes. Genetic detection may help with the accurate diagnosis of HS.


The diagnosis of prion diseases in humans is challenging due to a lack of specific and sensitive non-invasive tests. Many forms of human prion disease including variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) syndrome, and 10% of sporadic CJD cases are associated with amyloid deposition. Several positron emission tomography (PET) ligands have recently been developed to directly image β-amyloid associated with Alzheimer disease. One of them, methoxy-X04, is a fluorescent derivative of Congo red with high binding affinity toward amyloid fibrils and good blood-brain barrier permeability. Using methoxy-X04, we investigated whether amyloid-targeting ligands can be also employed for direct imaging of amyloid deposits associated with some prion diseases. Such a method could potentially become a novel diagnostic approach for these conditions. Studies were performed on MB mice infected with the 87V mouse-adapted scrapie strain. Labeling of PrP amyloid plaques in brains of presymptomatic and symptomatic mice was demonstrated using in vivo transcranial two-photon microscopy after systemic administration of methoxy-X04. During real-time imaging, PrP amyloid deposits could be clearly distinguished 15 min after intravenous administration of methoxy-X04. The ligand showed rapid clearance from brain areas that did not contain amyloid deposits. PrP amyloid deposits could also be detected by direct application of methoxy-X04 on cerebellar sections from GSS patients. These results suggest that methoxy-XO4 or similar derivatives could be used as PET imaging agents to improve the diagnosis of human prion diseases associated with amyloid deposition.


Subsea pipelines often lose foundation soil support due to ocean current erosion and form spanning. Spanning greatly increases the risk of pipeline fracture. When a subsea pipeline has spanning, it is often accompanied by characteristic changes in its pipe wall stress, pipeline deflection, and pitch angle. In turn, we can analyze the three parameters to get the spanning state of the pipeline.
 Wherein, around using stress to detect pipeline spanning state, this paper carries out two parts of research work. (1) We conducted a stress analysis on the free-span pipeline. The results show that the stress distribution has a strong distinct relationship with the pipeline spanning state. (2) We proposed and developed a steel plate stress detection scheme based on the induced voltage method. The results show that the steel plate stress has a good linear relationship with the induced voltage of the receiving coil on its surface, and the sensitivity can reach 1mv/MPa. Therefore, the AC magnetic anisotropy measurement of stress can reliably identify the stress distribution of the spanning pipeline.


The ability to freeze unfertilized oocytes and the ovarian cortex is valuable for genetic resource banking, especially in the case of genetically important individuals that undergo castration or euthanasia for medical reasons. Although offspring have been produced from frozen–thawed oocytes in mice, humans, cattle and rabbits, the results have been variable and not sufficiently successful for routine use. This review provides an overview on the recent knowledge of female germ cell cryopreservation, with a focus on wildlife species, and introduces the Felid Gametes Rescue Project within European Association of Zoos and Aquaria zoos.


Cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives are important selectors for analytical chiral recognition. Their enantioselectivities and chemical properties depend on ring size and on nature, number and location of substituents. This paper describes the synthesis of 6-O-TBDMS-2,3-O-methyl beta-cyclodextrins bearing in position 2 either a single (R)-Mosher acid moiety or a second CD unit, in view of their possible application as chiral selectors. Most synthetic steps were successfully carried out under high-intensity ultrasound using a new sonochemical reactor developed in the authors' laboratory. 6-O-TBDMS-2-O-methyl-3-[(S)-2-methylbutyl]-beta-CD was also synthesized and tested with gas chromatography; the enantiorecognition power of the other CD derivatives is also being tested. A computational study of model structures to design these CD derivatives.


Objectives For breastfeeding mothers, online support groups through Facebook may be a more convenient and preferred source for accessing breastfeeding information and support, but few studies exist that examine the use of Facebook groups specifically for breastfeeding support. This study explores the sources of support among users of Facebook breastfeeding support groups and a possible mechanism by which support received on Facebook may translate to behavioral outcomes among breastfeeding mothers. Methods From July–September 2017 a survey was distributed online to African American mothers (N = 277) who participate in breastfeeding support groups on Facebook. The survey assessed network support from Facebook and other sources of breastfeeding support, perceived breastfeeding norms, breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding attitudes. Correlations and linear regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between covariates and outcome variables. Results The average intended breastfeeding duration among participants in this study was 19 months. Participants reported the highest amount of breastfeeding support received from their Facebook support group, in comparison to other sources of support, and Facebook support was significantly correlated with intended breastfeeding duration (p < 0.05). Self-efficacy and breastfeeding attitudes remained significant predictors of intended breastfeeding duration within the final regression model. Conclusions Breastfeeding support received within Facebook groups may compensate for inadequate support received within mothers' networks. More research is needed to understand the mechanism through which Facebook support may contribute to prolonged breastfeeding durations.


Over-the-counter (OTC) hypnotic preparations (such as Sominex, Nytol, and Sleep Eze) were implicated in 21 of the 773 admissions to Massachusetts General Hospital due to psychotropic drug overdosage between 1962 and 1975. Ten of the 21 cases had manifestations of central anticholinergic toxicity ("atropine-like psychosis"), such as hallucinations, delirium, and confusion. However, all patients recovered rapidly and without sequelae. Specific therapy (i.e., physostigmine) was rarely required. Thus OTC hypnotic overdosage commonly produces "toxic psychosis." Fortunately, intoxication is usually of short duration and relatively benign.


Our paper aims to study the exposure of Moroccan conventional banks to systemic risk. We use three measures widely used in the empirical literature: the conditional value at risk (CoVaR) developed by (Tobias and Brunnermeier, 2016), the Marginal Expected Shortfall (MES), developed by (Acharya and al., 2012), and the Systemic Risk Index (SRISK) proposed by (Brownlees and Engle, 2012). For this purpose, we rely on a database of Moroccan conventional banks, including data on stock market returns and specific variables for the period 2005-2017. We measure the contribution to systemic risk of each bank, in order to compare its presence and the degree of exposure to systemic risk of Moroccan banks. Our empirical findings indicate that BMCE and AWB represent the two Moroccan banks that contributed the most to systemic risk during the three periods of our study: pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis, due to their high level of capital loss. Moreover, banks with a high level of capital inadequacy contribute more to systemic risk. Similarly, as the level of capitalisation increases, banks become less susceptible to systemic risk.


Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities are common in the pharmaceutical industry, there is little empirical evidence on consumer responses to CSR practices. We investigated public awareness, preferences, and expectations regarding social contribution of the pharmaceutical industry's CSR activities, and identified the factors associated with such activities. We conducted an online survey with 1,298 respondents comprising two groups: healthy individuals (546) and patients (752). Most respondents (78%) expressed interest in CSR activities undertaken by pharmaceutical companies. However, they reported a lack of awareness and experience thereof; only 26.9% were aware of and 7.9% had experience with such activities. Among our six CSR activity categories, both survey groups showed the highest preference for the "promoting public health" (healthy group: 6.34/10; patient group: 6.37/10) and "emergency disaster relief support" (6.31 and 6.35) categories. Among sub-categories, activities related to "development of innovative drugs in untreated areas" (6.63 and 6.82) and "support for research on new drug development" (6.59 and 6.84) received the highest scores. The mean expectation score of social contribution of all CSR activities was slightly higher than the mean preference score (6.37 and 6.06, respectively). The patient group exhibited a larger difference between the highest and lowest expectation scores than the healthy group (1.11 and 0.64, respectively). The results of the regression analysis revealed that being a patient, being male, and having positive attitudes toward CSR and its expected effects significantly and positively affected public preferences regarding CSR activities. We can conclude that CSR activities with high public preference might be an effective strategy to improve public awareness of the pharmaceutical industry's CSR activities. Furthermore, the highest preference for CSR activities relates to new drug development, indicating that our society believes the pharmaceutical industry's key CSR activity should be to pursue its intrinsic mission: to fulfill unmet medical needs by developing new drugs.


Objectives: Our objective was to compare patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) diameter, PDA score and brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements at 48-72 hours of life, for prediction of neonatal morbidities. We hypothesized that use of a PDA score with BNP, may improve pre-symptomatic prediction of PDAs associated with adverse outcomes. Method: Infants < 31 weeks GA were prospectively studied by targeted neonatal echocardiogram (TNE) at 48-72 hours age, composite PDA score and serum BNP assay; the clinical team remained blinded. PDA was independently diagnosed by echocardiography at time of clinical suspicion (6 ± 2 days), and treated at discretion of the clinical team. Primary outcome was survival with one or more of adverse outcomes (intraventricular hemorrhage [IVH], bronchopulmonary dysplasia [BPD], retinopathy of prematurity [ROP], necrotizing enterocolitis [NEC]). Results: A PDA was present in 56 of 70 infants studied at 48-72 hours; 30 were eventually diagnosed with PDA but never required treatment, 19 required medical treatment, 7 surgical ligation. After adjustment for gestation, PDA diameter did not predict any adverse outcome, PDA score was associated with increased risk of any adverse outcome and high BNP was associated with IVH, BPD, or survival with any adverse outcome. Conclusions: Comprehensive PDA evaluation at 48-72 hours of age may predict the subsequent occurrence of adverse outcomes and may be useful to define the PDA treatment threshold.


Abstract The study of population and reproductive traits provides information about the ecological structure of natural populations. This study aimed to characterize dynamics and reproductive traits of Hyalella palmeirensis from a natural pond from southern Brazil. The amphipods were sampled monthly (August 2012 to July 2013) by a person with the aid of a hand net for 20 minutes. Ovigerous females and pre-copulatory pairs were individualized in the field. A total of 12,325 individuals were sampled, being 1,421 males, 6,983 females (including 215 ovigerous females) and 3,921 juveniles. Paired and unpaired males were significantly greater in size than females. There was a positive correlation between body size (CL) of paired males and females. Males and females showed bimodal distribution. Total sex ratio favored females, and these were more frequent in almost all months. Ovigerous females and precopulatory pairs were found throughout the year, but with high frequency in winter and autumn, respectively, characterizing a seasonal reproduction. Juveniles were sampled throughout the year, with greater intensity in the spring. The mean fecundity was 19.6 ± 4.34 eggs. No reduction in the number of eggs was observed during embryonic development. The results observed in H. palmeirensis demonstrate that this species has a population and reproductive dynamics very similar to other species of Hyalella already analyzed in southern Brazil. Moreover, it can be seen that although the H. palmeirensis occurs in an environment with anthropic influence (soy cultivation,) the population is managing to remain in the area, with reproduction and recruitment in most months of year.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clinical features, management options and outcomes in children with neck abscesses, with a view to correlating this data with the different causative micro-organisms, specifically mycobacteria.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
A retrospective chart review of fifty-one consecutive children who were admitted with suspected superficial neck abscesses to the Unit between January 1994 and June 1999 was performed.

RESULTS
The causative organisms were identified in 21 cases--bacteria in 13 patients, atypical mycobacteria in 6 cases, and mycobacterium tuberculosis in 2 instances. Children with atypical mycobacterial infection had a significantly longer duration of symptoms at the time of admission (mean = 87 days) versus those with bacterial infection (mean = 6 days). Ultrasonography was performed in 20 patients in this series, and was seen to be of value in demonstrating a collection in situations where there was doubt on clinical basis alone. The outcome was seen to be complicated in all children with mycobacterial infections--either atypical or tuberculous.

CONCLUSIONS
Neck abscesses are commonly encountered in paediatric practice. In most instances the diagnosis and treatment is straightforward, with an uncomplicated outcome. However, it is important to bear in mind that there exists a subset of abscesses caused by atypical mycobacteria, with greater risk of complications and recurrence, that needs special attention at the time of diagnosis, intervention and follow-up.


To the Editor: As one of the first practitioners oflaparoscopic hysterectomy in Australia, I was encouraged by Hall's editorial with its optimistic view of this innovative surgery. 1 The real test of new surgery is the rate of complications when the surgeon has achieved sufficient experience and passed over the learning curve. It would be irrational and unfair to compare his or her results for new surgery with those of a surgeon with 20 years' experience in the conventional procedure. I reported my initial experience in 1995 when I found the overall complication rate in 250 cases to be 14.7%. However, in the 185 procedures performed since then, the rate is now 8.5%. Ureteric and bowel damage are no longer of such concern, but the problems of secondary haemorrhage (2%) and bladder puncture (1.1 %) persist to a degree. My technique includes routine cystoscopy. If a small bladder wall puncture is found, it is closed by laparoscopic suturing, although these punctures may be expected to close spontaneously. This is damage that would not be visible to the naked eye at open hysterectomy and not visible at all in vaginal hysterectomy. Conventional hysterectomy cannot be compared accurately with laparoscopic hysterectomy in this respect. After more than 20 years' experience performing vaginal hysterectomy, I do not agree with Hall's assertion that oophorectomy can be safely achieved vaginally the ureter is too vulnerable at the pelvic brim. In fact, the frequent need to perform oophorectomy, particularly in older patients, prompted me to change my technique away from the conventional vaginal route. Exponents of this form of surgery are having to cope with a stream of misinformation. However, there is little doubt in my mind that the laparoscopic approach should (and probably will) replace almost entirely the open surgical technique.


Two kinds of buried structures are described from Dzirżenin, north‐east of Warsaw, where they occur within a glaciofluvial landform: (1) narrow till ridges, showing vertically oriented structures, excavated from stratified gravel and sands; and (2) a narrow vertical zone of massive gravelly/sandy material, involving vertically oriented lens‐like layers composed of massive sand with pebbles, or of diamicton. The gravelly/sandy zone is also closely surrounded by stratified glaciofluvial sediments. In spite of their vertical position and internal deformation, the till ridges and gravelly/sandy zone show non‐tectonic contacts with the surrounding, stratified, undisturbed sediments. The glaciofluvial sediments that occur immediately next to the structures under discussion are characterized by the occurrence of comparatively coarse material and interbeddings of diamicton, which wedge out away from these structures. The gravelly/sandy zone separates different kinds of water‐laid deposits. The buried structures are interpreted as former debris‐laden bands, thrust upwards within the frontal part of the ice sheet and then transformed into still‐frozen debris ridges projecting over the already dead ice. Further melting of the decaying ice resulted in abundant glaciofluvial sedimentation, and the debris ridges also supplied material for the deposition of the neighbouring stratified deposits. One of the ridges separated different glaciofluvial environments. The glaciofluvial sediments completely buried the ice‐cemented ridges, which were finally transformed by a melting‐out process into the till ridges and the gravelly/sandy zone. The former are interpreted as having been transformed from upturned debris‐laden bands with a high concentration of debris or from the bands composed of frozen‐up sediment slabs. The gravelly/sandy zone is interpreted as having (most probably) been deposited from upturned bands characterized by a lesser concentration of debris.


Professional development (PD) for primary science teachers is recognized as an important activity which can support improved science education for students. Analysis of interviews with practicing primary science teachers is used to identify the range of PD experiences of a sample of teachers from Western Australia. Teachers' reasons for attending or avoiding science-related PD are categorized as decision issues which include opportunity, compulsion, convenience, enticement, interest, recommendation, and relevance. Case studies describe the interplay of these issues, which result in teachers' attendance or avoidance of PD. A subset of the sample is used to explore teachers' views of other activities which they recognize as contributing to their science teaching, content knowledge, and pedagogy. These other activities include hobbies, partner's job, and pursuing students' interests. Legitimating teachers' own interests as a source of personally derived PD is supported as an avenue to increase the diversity of topics studied by students and to increase the level of content knowledge held by teachers.