Micro-sources mostly connect to converters to output voltage and frequency demanded. PWM converters can improve the generatorspsila power factor to be unit, and produce less harmonics. So PWM converters have good effects on improving the power quality. By changing voltage amplitude and phase of PWM converter, generators may create active and reactive power neatly to meet the load demand. And thus maintain the voltage and frequency stability. In this paper, a PWM converter model is given and a kind of software named PSCAD is used to simulate. The simulation results show that the conclusions above are right.


Simple Summary High dietary fiber intake has been linked to a lower risk of Colorectal cancer (CRC), but the role of dietary fiber in CRC survival is understudied. We examined dietary fiber intake for its relevance to CRC survival in a cohort of 504 CRC patients and a meta-analysis including results from four prospective cohort studies. We found that high dietary fiber intake was negatively correlated with all-cause mortality and CRC-specific mortality among CRC survivors. These new findings support the protective effect of dietary fiber on CRC survival. By enhancing fiber intake, this research may contribute to the development of novel therapies that add to our armamentarium for CRC. Abstract We examined dietary fiber intake for its relevance to Colorectal cancer (CRC) survival in a cohort of CRC patients and a meta-analysis including results from four prospective cohort studies. We analyzed 504 CRC patients enrolled in the Newfoundland Familial Colorectal Cancer Study (NFCCS) who were newly diagnosed with CRC between 1999 and 2003. Follow-up for deaths was through April 2010. All participants completed a self-administered food frequency questionnaire to evaluate their dietary intakes one year before diagnosis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore the associations of dietary fiber intake with all-cause mortality and CRC-specific mortality. In the meta-analysis, we identified prospective cohort studies published between January 1991 and December 2021 by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Fixed-effects or random-effects models were used to combine the study-specific hazard ratio (HR) from our original analysis and three other cohorts. In the NFCCS, we found that CRC patients with the second quartile of dietary fiber intake had a 42% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35–0.98) and 58% lower risk of CRC-specific mortality (HR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21–0.87) compared with those with the lowest quartile. In the meta-analysis, a similar inverse association between dietary fiber and total mortality was detected among CRC patients; each 10 g/day increase in dietary fiber intake was associated with a 16% decreased risk of total mortality. The dose–response meta-analysis showed a linear relationship between dietary fiber intake and all-cause mortality, with no sign of a plateau. For CRC-specific mortality, intriguingly, the benefit associated with increasing dietary fiber intake achieved its maximum at approximately 22 g/day, and no further reduction in CRC-specific mortality was observed beyond this intake level. Our results suggest that high dietary fiber intake may be associated with prolonged survival among CRC patients. Our findings add to the sparse literature on the role of dietary fiber in CRC survival.


Time-Limited Dispatch (TLD) allows usage of redundancy within aircraft engine control systems in order to dispatch aircraft with faults present in these systems for limited periods. Such degraded-redundancy dispatch enables aircraft operators to reduce delays and cancellations of aircraft flights through efficient maintenance scheduling. When TLD is applied certification requirements must be met, which ensure that system failure rates do not exceed specified levels. This paper presents a Monte Carlo simulation approach to obtaining the required system failure rates and outlines advantages of the approach in ensuring certification requirements are met.


We present a new lossy compressor for finite-alphabet sources. For coding a sequence xn, the encoder starts by assigning a certain cost to each possible reconstruction sequence. It then finds the one that minimizes this cost and describes it losslessly to the decoder via a universal lossless compressor. The cost of each sequence is a linear combination of its distance from the sequence xn and a linear function of its kth order empirical distribution. The structure of the cost function allows the encoder to employ the Viterbi algorithm to find the sequence with minimum cost. We identify a choice of the coefficients used in the cost function which ensures that the algorithm universally achieves the optimum rate-distortion performance for any stationary ergodic source, in the limit of large , provided that increases as o(log n). Iterative techniques for approximating the coefficients, which alleviate the computational burden of finding the optimal coefficients, are proposed and studied.


Cap polyposis is a rare intestinal disease that can be difficult to differentiate from inflammatory bowel disease. When cap polyposis is suspected, it is important to confirm protein loss. A 54-year-old woman who had been treated for ulcerative colitis for 7 years had severe hypoproteinemia. Scintigraphy with Tc-99m-labeled DTPA complexed with human serum albumin showed protein loss from the descending colon. Left hemicolectomy and sigmoid colectomy were performed. Cap polyposis was diagnosed on the basis of histologic findings from an operative specimen. The patient's diarrhea resolved after surgery and her hypoproteinemia improved. Scintigraphy with this label gave information helpful in the diagnosis of cap polyposis.


There are significant differences across countries in terms of redistribution by the government. This corresponds to underlying dissimilarities in preference for redistribution. Particularly, previous literature compared the US and Europe and proposed several explanations of these differences, from aggregation of individual determinants (e.g. one's income) to more holistic ones such as shared values at the national level (i.e. social beliefs). This paper, therefore, aims to analyse the impact of socio-demographic factors and social beliefs on preference for redistribution. First, we focused on two di_erent dimensions of preference —the government's role in reducing the difference in income and the approach of the tax system with high income. Secondly, we extended the comparison by including a developed Asian country, Japan. Based on the results, the following two attitudes are not fully compatible: many people support the governmental intervention, but not for more tax on the rich, especially in Japan. Furthermore, the di_erence in the attitude on the governmental intervention mainly comes from the variance in the role of social beliefs. On the other hand, the average income and wealth do not explain the difference in preference. Countries are characterized by different social beliefs, which affects the differences in sub-preferences. However, not only the distribution of social beliefs, but also their statistical relation to the sub-preferences explains the country level disparity. In addition, the US and Europe comparison under/over-estimates these statistical associations in the world, since an Asian country, such as Japan, may have a different structure.


For multi-oriented layered composite laminates, ply lay-up (stacking sequence) identification is an essential exercise. Lay-up identification falls under the realm of nonlinear inverse problems. Few attempts in this direction are quoted in literature. Of note are the works of Komsky and co-workers [1], where shear wave transmission signals have been used in conjunction with theoretical models or neural networks.


Comments on the implications of genetic engineering for animal welfare. Welfare problems associated with techniques used to achieve genetic changes; Detrimental effects of genetic modifications to welfare; Modification of farm animals for biomedical products. Implications of genetic engineering for animal welfare are changing rapidly and need to be reviewed regularly. They include the welfare problems associated with techniques used to achieve genetic changes, which are similar to problems of other experimental approaches; these should be considered carefully, especially where techniques are used on a routine basis. When it comes to the genetic modifications themselves, some are detrimental to welfare, some are neutral, and some are beneficial; these results include direct effects of the intended change, side effects, and indirect effects. Currently, the two main applications are modification of farm animals for biomedical products--which appears to be largely neutral for welfare--and modification of mice as models for human disease, which results in suffering, often severe suffering. Beneficial applications are rare and still experimental or theoretical. The situation is similar with regard to the use of recombinant hormones and viruses; use of recombinant vaccines has potential for improving welfare, but may raise other ethical problems. Although few, if any, of these concerns are specific to genetic engineering, various factors combine to suggest that particular safeguards are needed in this field. These include the facts that changes can be produced rapidly and repeatedly, and that one of the driving forces behind genetic engineering is commercial exploitation of technology. In general, ethical evaluation still is done on a case-by-case basis, using the limited criteria seen as directly relevant to each case, rather than on a broader framework. There also is little public accountability, whereby the public can have confidence that such evaluation is being carried out properly. Calls for advisory "watchdog" committees to consider ethical questions on the use of animals are endorsed by this article. Furthermore, it is essential for public confidence in the safeguarding of animal welfare that the procedures of such committees should be well-publicized.


Eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.], is a perennial warm-season bunchgrass with high forage potential if properly managed. Low seed production is one factor that has limited wide spread use of this native grass. A recessive gynomonoecious sex form (GSF) mutation previously found in a wild population has the potential to increase seed production, although it may also be linked to other deleterious traits. Allele specific primers were designed to detect the wild-type (GSF) and mutant (gsf) allele. Primers were successful at confirming the genotype of an assortment of plants tested using template DNA from ahigh-throughputextraction protocol. Atissue-poolingstrategy enabled detection of the mutant allele when present in a predominantly wild-type background. The low cost, lack of toxic waste, and speed of the DNA extraction protocol and the ability to efficiently genotype a large number of individuals makes this a practical tool in a breeding program working with the GSF trait.


A classical model for high-harmonic generation from the interaction of a laser pulse and an atomic gas is introduced. The effects of finite pulse width and laser magnetic field are included. The optimum intensity-pulse width relation for high-harmonic emission and the corresponding power spectrum are presented. The existing high-harmonic cutoff law is found to remain valid.


ABSTRACT The considerable rise in housing prices in Israel from 2008 to 2018, after the stagnation (and drop) in their prices in the early 2000s, placed concern about a real estate bubble in the Israeli economy on the public agenda. This study examines the effects of Israeli public policy on the real estate industry in general and on housing prices in particular during 2016–2020 to try to determine the most efficient way to regulate housing prices in an economy whose demographics create a gradually increasing natural demand for housing. Is it desirable to promote policy steps that act to curb and regulate demand, or would it be more efficient to promote a plan to increase the supply of housing? The findings show that the public policy formulated and implemented in Israel in these years did not achieve its long-term goal of reducing housing prices; rather, it only halted the price rise in the short term. The policy was clearly affected by shortsighted political considerations. It is therefore possible that the choice between regulating demand and regulating supply in the housing industry may in fact reflect the choice between the wide public interest and the narrow personal interest of policy designers.


For a global manager it is said that twenty first centenary offers an exciting and challenging atmosphere to work. Does it mean a big change in the way the business has been conducted so far as far or simply means a change in emphasis on certain ways. These currently, are some of the issues which are currently engaging the attention of economists, trade pundits and students international business in general.
So far, every manager has been used to work in a particular way. It was Ok in a not so dynamic world of the past. But in a constantly changing world of to-day, where past is replaced by dynamic present and the dynamic present is being replaced by more challenging future, the old ways of thinking and action plans are no longer suitable to the present day. So, one has got to be extra alert and sensitive to the realities of an increasingly globalised world. All this means a bit of uncertainty and unpredictable nature of the future.
(Af. J. Finance and Management: 2002 11 (1): 90-92)


Goals reasoning and management of pilot is a key issue to monitor pilot's behavior and intention. Traditional modeling methods are based on scenarios or situations, such methods will cause the covering problem due to redundancy and are incapable of depicting interactions among various goals and plans of pilot. Petri net integrated with belief, desire and intention (BDI) theory (BDI Petri net) is designed to solve this problem. Focusing on the BDI theory, goal states of agent are discussed firstly. Belief, desire and intention are modeled by places and transitions based on the Petri net theory. In order to simplify the network, colored token is introduced to depict various states of belief, and the hierarchy transition is applied to model the intention, together with tokens' flow demonstrating the interaction among various goals and relationship among belief, desire and intention. A search and rescue mission is used to validate the proposed method and the result indicates that the model can be used to monitor goals and behaviors of pilots.


New Zealand's limitation legislation was overhauled with the enacting of the Limitation Act 2010. Despite this comprehensive reform, the way in which trust claims are best to be addressed appears to have been largely overlooked in the reform process. Consequently, the multitude of historic issues that have plagued statutory provisions dealing with trust claims endure in the 2010 Act, with the few changes to the structure of drafting compounding these problems. This paper explores the policy considerations at work, and, by way of example, undertakes a thorough analysis of the exception for fraudulent breaches of trust in light of these policy considerations to illustrate some of the new problems that are bound to arise in practice. Given the numerous and significant difficulties, and the substantial implications for parties seeking to rely on these provisions, this paper argues that a broad reconsideration of the way in which trust claims are dealt with in the 2010 Act is urgently needed.


The inflammatory component of allergic rhinitis was studied by measuring the concentration and content of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP, specific for eosinophils) and myeloperoxidase (MPO, specific for neutrophils) in samples of nasal secretion from 20 pollen‐allergic subjects. All secretion samples contained measurable concentrations of both proteins. The mean ECP concentrations on two occasions without pollen exposure were 950 and 1170 μg/1. The ECP concentration during the pollen season without any therapy (mean 1160 μg/l) did not differ significantly from the baseline values, but intranasal corticosteroid therapy resulted in a significant decrease (mean 530 μg/l). The concentration of MPO was about 10 times higher than that of ECP, but the changes in MPO were nonsignificant throughout the observation period. An inverse correlation was found between the threshold dose in histamine challenges and the ECP level expressed either as concentration or as content. Furthermore, the ECP concentration and content 1 day after a positive allergen challenge were both significantly correlated with the strength of the challenge reaction. Measurements of ECP in nasal secretions are useful for studying the presence and activity of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa, and may prove of value in clinical investigations on patients with allergic rhinitis.


In this study, we propose an object-handing robot system with a multimodal human-machine interface which is composed of speech recognition and image processing units. Using this multimodal human-machine interface, the cooperator can order the object-handing robot system using voice commands and hand gestures. In this robot system, the motion parameters of the robot, which are maximum velocity, velocity profile peak and handing position, can be adjusted by the voice commands or the hand gestures in order to realize the most appropriate motion of the robot. Furthermore, the cooperator can order the handing of objects using voice commands along with hand gestures. In these voice commands, the cooperator can use adverbs. This permits the cooperator to realize efficient adjustments, because the adjustment value of each motion parameters is determined by adverbs. In particular, adjustment values corresponding to adverbs are estimated by fuzzy inference in order to take into consideration the ambiguities of human speech.


As the increasing of non-linear load, filter is coming to be high gradually in order to reduce the harmonic which occurs from the power conversion. The maintenance of passive filter is easier than active filter and it has been widely used in the industrial site. This passive filter is connected with condenser and reactor by series and parallel and it is installed at the front of nonlinear load. The breakdown of passive filter occurs frequently at the reactor side rather than capacitor. So the breakdown cause close examination is necessary. In this paper, we analyzed that the electric stress of reactor which is considered magnetization saturation at the passive filter. We confirm that the reduction of harmonics and the electric stress of reactor is influenced by the linear and non-linear element of reactor.


Effects of increasing dietary intake of calcium salts of palm fatty acid distillate (0, .25, .50, and .75 kg/d) on milk yield and milk fat composition were investigated for Jersey and Holstein cows. Increased dietary fat decreased DMI but did not influence milk yield or fat and protein contents. Jersey milk fat contained a higher proportion of short- and medium-chain fatty acids and lower proportions of palmitic and oleic fatty acids than did Holstein milk fat. With few exceptions, increased dietary fat altered the proportions of milk fatty acids in a parallel manner in both breeds. Except for butyrate, for which an effect was inconsistent, and palmitate, which was increased, additional dietary fat inhibited de novo synthesis of the milk fatty acids. The inhibition increased as the chain length of the fatty acids increased. Additional dietary fat increased the ratio of C18:1:C18:0 in Holstein cows, but the ratio was unchanged by dietary fat in Jersey cows. The regulation of fluidity of milk fat may differ between the two breeds.


This paper discusses the results of laboratory studies conducted to determine the potential for formation damage from alkaline condensates during steam injection in a reservoir in the San Joaquin Valley, California. The paper also reviews various remedial treatment options and recommends some optimal treatment injection sequences to sustain steam injectivity. Laboratory flow tests conducted in field core plugs with condensates at different steam qualities reveal the tendency of the condensates to dissolve the rock, destabilize the clays, and hence reduce the permeability. The alkaline condensates from once-through steam generators were also found to be incompatible with the formation water, and thus had the potential to form calcium carbonate precipitates and scales. Pretreatment of boiler feeds and/or concurrent treatment of boiler effluents with either a low concentration (<0.1% wt. %) phosphoric acid in 2% potassium/ammonium chloride solution or 2% ammonium dihydrogen phosphate reduced silica dissolution, stabilized the clays and rendered the condensates more compatible with the formation water.


This study investigates barriers to and facilitators of health promoting hospitals (HPH) in Taiwan. The findings are based on a cross-sectional questionnaire survey involving 55 hospitals committed to health promotion (HP) as of the end of 2009, and 52 of them completed the questionnaire. The five most reported barriers are inadequate national health insurance coverage of HP, staff detachment, incoherence of government policies, weak inter-sectoral link and resistance to change. The five most reported facilitators are support from hospital superintendents, support from unit/department directors, HP-inclusive hospital development mission and goals, funding from the government, founding of HP-related committees, resources and healthy policies. The study also found that organizational capacity building (OCB) had a significantly negative association with the number of barriers and a positive association with the number of facilitators. Stepwise linear regressions further found that OCB in structure was a significant predictor of the fewer number of barriers and that in-staff participation was a significant predictor of the more perceived facilitators. It also confirmed the significant role of organizational capacity building and that of coordinators in the effective implementation of HPH. The transformational factors as well as transactional factors are very much at work as facilitators, but the transactional factors are trapped in a less-than-friendly environment. Comprehensive support from transformational factors as well as transactional factors is essential and further support for daily routine operations and staff participation are required to sustain the implementation of HPH in Taiwan.


Introduction: Opioid-induced constipation is a major side effect of the use of opioid pain medications in a palliative care population. At present, the only approved treatment for opioid-induced constipation is methylnaltrexone bromide subcutaneous injection. Methylnaltrexone is a peripherally restricted opioid antagonist with μ-opioid receptor selectivity that can reduce opioid activity in peripheral organs such as the gastrointestinal tract while sparing the pain relief afforded by the pain medications. Areas covered: This article addresses the pharmacokinetics of parenterally administered methylnaltrexone, including the studies in humans that form the basis for our understanding, and information on the disposition, metabolism and elimination of the drug. From this review, the reader will gain an understanding of the body's handling of methylnaltrexone following intravenous or subcutaneous administration. Expert opinion: Studies conducted to date indicate that methylnaltrexone has high bioavailability after subcutaneous administration at therapeutic dose levels, a terminal half-life of ∼ 8 – 9 h, minimal metabolism, elimination involving renal and non-renal routes, and a limited potential for drug–drug interactions. Combined with high efficacy and good tolerability, the predictable pharmacokinetic behavior of methylnaltrexone facilitates its successful utilization in clinical practice for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced medical illness.


(R)-2-Aryl-2-tropinone (9) was synthesized from (R)-2-carbomethoxy-3-tropinone (5) and was used as the key intermediate for the synthesis of (R)-2 beta, 3 beta- and (R)-2 alpha, 3 alpha-diaryltropanes. Inhibition of radioligand binding studies at the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters showed that the (R)-3 beta-(4-methylphenyl)-2 beta-phenyltropane (3b, RTI-422) possessed an IC50 value of 1.96 nM at the dopamine transporter and was highly selective for this transporter relative to the serotonin and norepinephrine transporters.


This article presents a new class of Pseudorandom Number Generators. The generators are based on traversing a n-cube where a Balanced Hamiltonian Cycle has been removed. The construction of such generators is automatic for small number of bits, but remains an open problem when this number becomes large. A running example is used throughout the paper. Finally, first statistical experiments of these generators are presented, they show how efficient and promising the proposed approach seems.


Comparative or Evaluative questions are categorized as non-factoid questions where user asked to compare between entities (for comparative) based on some criteria and constraints or asked to evaluate certain criteria of the entities (for Evaluative). The answers of this type questions can't be directly lifted from the underline document collection rather answers are hidden. To answer the Comparative or Evaluative questions system must have potentiality to understand the comparative evaluative expression and user needs. This paper contains trivial approach to give answer of Comparative or Evaluation questions.


In the 'genealogy' of Dutch national bibliographies there follows - after the Catalogus universalis by Broer Jansz and lists published by Johannes Janssonius van Waesberge between 1675 and 1684 - a hand-written booksellers catalogue by Pieter van der Aa in Leiden. It was copied, augmented and published in 1743 by his pupil Johannes van Abkoude. Publication was accompanied by conflicts with several rivals, like Bernardus Noordbeek in Amsterdam and Nicolaas Goetzee in Gorinchem. Van Abkoude defeated his colleagues' disputes thanks to the quality and public function of his work. It was not only intended for booksellers, but also for book lovers, especially for persons with a theological interest. Reinier Arrenberg, coming from a comparable religious lay culture, developed into a follower of the Christian but tolerant Dutch Enlightenment. Inspired by learned people and other socially involved individuals he himself promoted 'the education of the people' by composing, translating and publishing stories for young and old. His revised new edition of Van Abkoude's catalogue is characterised by the removal of all small publications, such as pamphlets, popular literature and religious or political controversial writings for the reason that they were no longer commercially important. The booksellers catalogues reflected the eighteenth-century developments of levelling up book prices and marketing copyrights. As precursors of national bibliographies the catalogues of Van Abkoude, Arrenberg and De Jong will keep their value.


In the paper, we confirmed improvement Noise figure of the entire RF front-end using spiral inductor with PGS(Patterned Ground Shield) and current bleeding techniques. LNA design is to achieve simultaneous noise and input matching. Spiral inductor in input circuit of LNA inserted PGS for betterment of Q-factor. we modeling inductor using EM simulator, so compared with inductor of TSMC 0.18um. We designed and simulation the optimum structure of PGS using Taguchi's method. We confirmed enhancement of noise figure at LNA after substituted for inductor with PGS. Mixer designed using current bleeding techniques for reduced noise. We designed LNA using inductor with PGS and Mixer using current bleeding techniques, so confirmed improvement of noise figure.


Coassembly behavior of the double hydrophilic block copolymer poly(4-hydroxystyrene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PHOS-PEO) with three amphiphilic phenylboronic acids (PBA) differing in hydrophobicity, 4-dodecyloxyphenylboronic acid (C12), 4-octyloxyphenylboronic acid (C8), and 4-isobutoxyphenylboronic acid (i-Bu) was studied in alkaline aqueous solutions and in mixtures of NaOHaq/THF by spin-echo (1)H NMR spectroscopy, dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, and SAXS. The study reveals that only the coassembly of C12 with PHOS-PEO provides spherical nanoparticles with intermixed PHOS and PEO blocks, containing densely packed C12 micelles. NMR measurements have shown that spatial proximity of PHOS-PEO and C12 leads to the formation of ester bonds between -OH of PHOS block and hydroxyl groups of -B(OH)2. Due to the presence of PBA moieties, the release of compounds with 1,2- or 1,3-dihydroxy groups loaded in the coassembled PHOS-PEO/PBA nanoparticles by covalent binding to PBA can be triggered by addition of a surplus of glucose that bind to PBA competitively. The latter feature has been confirmed by fluorescence measurements using Alizarin Red as a model compound. Nanoparticles were proved to exhibit swelling in response to glucose as detected by light scattering.


A study was conducted to investigate the relation between positive affect, feeling, task interest and performance. The participants of the study were 109 post secondary students from the business school in Singapore. The age range was between 17 and 20 years old (M = 18.13, SD = .70). The students of the study solved two problems, the Tower of Hanoi task (paper and pen format, well-defined task) and nine dot problem (insight task). Before problem solving, the participants rated their mood using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS, Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) and pleasantness rating of unfamiliar words (Isen, Daubman, & Nowicki, 1987). After the tasks, they rated the PANAS and task interest. The findings supported the hypotheses that there is a positive relation between positive affect and successful task completion (Fredrickson, 1998), between task interest and successful performance (Amabile, 1983). The findings suggest a change in negative affect (lower than the initial state) as an indicator of the presence of successful performance, particularly in solving a well-defined task (Schwarz, 1990). The study expands the paradigm of inclusion of emotions in regulating performance, including positive and negative affect, task interest and general feeling.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the genetic basis for a fetus with limb abnormality and cardiac malformation.

METHODS
Clinical data of a fetus diagnosed at the Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital on April 30th, 2021 was collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out, and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. X-inactivation analysis was carried out for the female members of its family.

RESULTS
The fetus was found to have meningoencephalocele, absence of bilateral radii, cleft lip, abnormal great arteries, and single umbilical artery at the gestational age of 11+ weeks. Sequencing revealed that the fetus has harbored a hemizygous c.1162del (p.Y388Tfs*7) variant of the FANCB gene, which was maternally inherited. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and ClinGen, the variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PP4). X-inactivation analysis has revealed complete skewed X-inactivation in the pregnant woman and her mother.

CONCLUSION
The hemizygous c.1162del (p.Y388Tfs*7) variant of the FANCB gene probably underlay the multiple malformations in this fetus.


Former settlements, now abandoned, are found in inland upland locations on many larger islands in the tropical Pacific. In Fiji, such settlements are known today as koronivalu (war-towns) and, as elsewhere in the region, appear to have been established within the same period during the first half of the last millennium. Twenty-seven koronivalu were mapped for this research in the Bā Valley and nearby Vatia Peninsula, northern Viti Levu Island (Fiji); of these, nine were subject to detailed investigation. All koronivalu are in defensible locations, either with exceptional views across the surrounding landscape or hidden within deep narrow valleys. At all koronivalu, evidence for the consumption of marine shellfish was found, even though the sites are often far from the coast. Twenty-four radiocarbon ages from charcoal and shellfish remains were obtained. A single age around a.d.  700 from the farthest inland site (Koroikewa) appears anomalous. The remainder, once adjusted, suggest that most koronivalu in the study area were established a.d.  1200–1750, perhaps separable into early (a.d.  1200–1450) and later (a.d.  1500–1750) phases. While questions remain about the functions of these koronivalu, the fact that, as elsewhere in Fiji and in other western Pacific Island groups, they appear to have been established within the same period suggests that there is a region-wide explanation for the profound settlement-pattern change this implies. Climate change, perhaps expressed through drought and/or sea-level change, appears the only plausible external forcing mechanism.


Thyroid glands from 7 marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) of different age groups (newborn, 2 weeks, 2, 7, 8 and 11 months, and 8 years) were grown as organ culture according to Trowell at the medium/air interphase for 3 to 30 days. The morphology of thyroid tissue was well preserved until the end of the culture period. Necroses were only occasionally seen in connective tissue. In contrast to the in vivo situation, the number of lysosome-like inclusions changed considerably and cell-cell contacts became loose. After the addition of TSH the number of apical microvilli, apical granules and coated vesicles rose. The basal surface of follicle cells enlarged due to the formation of processes or ridges and invaginations. Mitosis could be observed. These findings show that, using the Trowell culture technique, thyroid tissue can be grown for up to 4 weeks without showing distinct changes in its morphology. Its responsiveness to the application of TSH is maintained in vitro. Hence, this technique is suitable also for long-term endocrinological, pharmacological and toxicological investigations.


The effect of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) mismatch on the bit error rate (BER) performance of log-MAP turbo detector is studied. It is shown that the sensitivity to the mismatched SNR depends on the channel loss and the encoder memory length. In particular, the sensitivity is more important for a "difficult-to-equalize" channel or, in other words, a high-loss channel. In fact, by affecting the equalizer and the decoder, a mismatched SNR (with an offset with respect to the true SNR) affects the convergence of the turbo detector. Using the asymptotic analysis tool of extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) charts, the effect of a positive or a negative SNR offset on the convergence of the log-MAP turbo detector is studied. When no information is available at the receiver on SNR, an online estimation of SNR is necessary in order to not lose the advantage of the log-MAP turbo detector over other suboptimal turbo detectors. In this view, a relatively simple SNR estimation method is proposed, which offers satisfying results.


Abstract The African grasscutter is the second largest rodent in Africa, thus, a key component of the minilivestock industry. The study described the histological features and probed the distribution of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the corpora quadrigemina of the African grasscutter at foetal and postnatal developmental periods. Brain samples from foetuses explanted on foetal days 60 (F60) and 90 (F90) and extracted from 3 and 6-days-old pups (P3 and P6, respectively), 72-days-old juveniles (P72) and 450-days-old adults (P450) were used. They were prepared for histology and immunohistochemistry. Three laminae were distinct in the rostral colliculi at the foetal and postnatal periods; an outermost stratum zonale, middle stratum griseum superficiale and an inner stratum griseum profundum. Stratum griseum intermediale and stratum medullarium were not distinct. On F60 and F90, the stratum zonale was made of immature neurons, devoid of neurites; the central nucleus of the caudal colliculus was also made of immature migrating neurons. On P3, the neurons were already mature. The stratum zonale was made of medium-sized neuronal cells and thick processes. The thickness of this layer decreased with age. On P3, the caudal colliculus was made of all the components typical of a developed caudal colliculus. There was no BDNF immunoreactive cell in the stratum zonale at any postnatal period; a moderate BDNF-immunoreactivity in the stratum griseum superficiale on P3, a mild immunoreactivity on P6, none reactivity on P72 and mild on P450. The dorsal and lateral cortices of the caudal colliculus were none reactive to BDNF at any postnatal period. The results suggest a better auditory than visual capacity in the rodent.


BackgroundChest computed tomography findings are beneficial for diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia. However, few respiratory physicians and diagnostic radiologists can evaluate these computed tomography images. We investigated whether the artificial intelligence program InferRead™ CT Pneumonia is useful for detecting COVID-19 pneumonia and whether its affected volume distribution can aid in detecting COVID-19.MethodsFrom July 18 to August 17, 2021, chest computed tomography scans of 79 of 217 SARS-CoV-2-positive and 90 of 1094 negative patients were analyzed by the AI program. We evaluated the performance of the program in diagnosing SARS-CoV-2. We also calculated the volume of interest in each lung lobe.ResultsThe sensitivity and specificity of InferRead™ CT Pneumonia for the detection of SARS-CoV-2-positive status were 0.797 (95% CI: 0.692–0.880) and 0.644 (95% CI: 0.537–0.743), respectively. The agreement between the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia by the program and that of two respiratory specialists was satisfactory high (respiratory specialist A: κ = 0.817, respiratory specialist B: κ = 0.890). On the other hand, in SARS-CoV-2 negative cases, the results showed low concordance. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio of age for the inconsistency in SARS-CoV-2 negative cases with specialist A and B was 1.030 (95% CI, 0.997–1.070; P = 0.077) and 1.060 (95% CI, 1.020–1.110; P = 0.007), respectively. The median volume of interest for the lower lung lobes was particularly high: 11.52% in the right lower lobe (IQR: 4.08–26.99) and 7.16% in the left lower lobe (IQR: 2.27–20.04). In contrast, the right middle lobe showed relatively low (0.16%, IQR: 0.00–5.04), and a significant difference between affected lobes was detected (P < 0.001).ConclusionsInferRead™ CT Pneumonia is useful for detecting COVID-19 pneumonia especially in SARS-CoV-2-positive cases, and its affected volume distribution can aid in detecting COVID-19 pneumonia.


This paper presents a sliding-mode control method for automotive Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems to regulate ammonia coverage ratios to desired levels. SCR systems have been widely adopted on Diesel powered vehicles to reduce tailpipe NOx emissions. To maintain a high NOx removal efficiency as well as acceptable ammonia slip, the SCR ammonia coverage ratio has to be critically controlled to balance such a tradeoff. A sliding-mode control method is analytically developed to track the target ammonia coverage ratio. Its tracking performance under bounded measurement noise is evaluated. The control input saturation is explicitly considered and its effect on SCR transient behavior is assessed in the design procedure. Simulation results indicate the proposed control can effectively track the target ammonia coverage ratio and comparative study against a traditional PID control demonstrates the improvement of robustness in the presence of bounded disturbances.


Because adult podocytes cannot proliferate and are therefore unable to self-renew, replacement of these cells depends on stem/progenitor cells. Although podocyte number is higher after renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition in glomerular diseases, the events explaining this increase are unclear. Cells of renin lineage (CoRL) have marked plasticity, including the ability to acquire a podocyte phenotype. To test the hypothesis that RAAS inhibition partially replenishes adult podocytes by increasing CoRL number, migration, and/or transdifferentiation, we administered tamoxifen to Ren1cCreERxRs-tdTomato-R CoRL reporter mice to induce permanent labeling of CoRL with red fluorescent protein variant tdTomato. We then induced experimental FSGS, typified by abrupt podocyte depletion, with a cytopathic antipodocyte antibody. RAAS inhibition by enalapril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) or losartan (angiotensin-receptor blocker) in FSGS mice stimulated the proliferation of CoRL, increasing the reservoir of these cells in the juxtaglomerular compartment (JGC). Compared with water or hydralazine, RAAS inhibition significantly increased the migration of CoRL from the JGC to the intraglomerular compartment (IGC), with more glomeruli containing RFP+CoRL and, within these glomeruli, more RFP+CoRL. Moreover, RAAS inhibition in FSGS mice increased RFP+CoRL transdifferentiation in the IGC to phenotypes, consistent with those of podocytes (coexpression of synaptopodin and Wilms tumor protein), parietal epithelial cells (PAX 8), and mesangial cells (α8 integrin). These results show that in the context of podocyte depletion in FSGS, RAAS inhibition augments CoRL proliferation and plasticity toward three different glomerular cell lineages.


Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs) are being used in increasing numbers to provide public input into environmental policy and management decisions. While there is a large body of literature consisting of guidelines for establishing and running CACs, the body of literature of empirical evaluations of CACs is markedly smaller. Fourteen empirical studies of CACs involved in environmental policy decisions (spanning the period from 1976 to 1994) are reviewed here, including case studies, large†scale surveys, and consultant reports. For each study consideration is given to the methods of study, the issues considered by the CACs, the organizations advised, the definitions of success used in the study, and the suggested factors contributing to the success, or lack of success, experienced by the CACs. The review shows that the influence of CACs on policy outcomes have varied from case to case, with some accomplishing little and others having significant policy impacts. The increased use of CACs by government and industry presents an excellent opportunity for academics and practitioners to strengthen their understanding of the internal processes and capabilities of CACs through comparative evaluation research.


The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Statistics Directorate launched the Entrepreneurship Indicators Programme (EIP), which is developing internationally comparable entrepreneurship indicators. The EIP seeks to engage the various bodies involved in producing entrepreneurship-related data in a cooperative effort to harmonize definitions and produce comparable data. Eurostat, the statistical agency of the European Commission, has now formally joined the programme and is sharing in the work. Download the slides at: http://papers.ssrn.com/paper=1027938 Download the audio file at: http://papers.ssrn.com/paper=1028847


OBJECTIVE
To study the role of apoptosis and necrosis of hepatocytes in the pathogenesis of acute liver dysfunction following severe trauma in rats.

METHODS
Rat models of multiple fractures complicated by shock were established, in which apoptotic and necrotic hepatocytes were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) via double-staining technique of Annexin-V-flous and propidium iodide (PI). Observation of the pathological changes in the hepatocytes was also conducted by means of light and electron microscopy and electronphoresis respectively, and the correlation of these changes with liver function were evaluated.

RESULTS
Hepatocytes underwent both apoptosis and necrosis in rat models of severe trauma. The quantities of necrotic hepatocytes increased progressively in positive correlation with the degree of hepatic injury, reaching the peak at 3 h post trauma. A proportion of the apoptotic cells underwent secondary necrosis, the number of the necrotic cells positively correlated with liver dysfunction deterioration.

CONCLUSIONS
Both necrosis and apoptosis are important factors responsible for liver function damages following severe trauma. Necrosis of hepatic cells directly causes liver function damages that are further aggravated by secondary necrosis among apoptotic hepatocytes.


This paper reviews current theoretical work on the various stages of accretion in protostars, and the relationship of these ideal stages to the spectral classes of observed protostellar systems. I discuss scaling relationships that have been obtained for models of pre-stellar cores as they evolve by ambipolar diffusion toward a central singularity, and expectations for the dynamical evolution as the cores collapse radially to form a rotating disk. I summarize work that suggests accretion in T Tauri systems may be limited by ionization to disk surface layers, and implications for the variation of ṀD with radius. Finally, I describe models for the asymptotic structure of free magnetocentrifugal winds, and show that the constant-density surfaces in these winds may be strongly collimated even when the streamlines are not.


Setting. An orthopaedic interprofessional training ward manned by students at a University Hospital.Objective. To assess to what extent students from different undergraduate programmes evaluated the effects of a 2-week rotation at the ward on their professional roles and the value of teamwork within health care.Method. A questionnaire was filled in by 841 students by the end of a 2-week rotation at the ward over 5 years. Questions concerned students' estimate of how the rotation had strengthened their insight into their own future professional role, into other students' professional roles and into the value of teamwork within health care. Differences between the different student categories and possible associations between the different estimates were statistically analysed.Results. Students from all programmes reported that the rotation at the student ward had dramatically strengthened their insight about their own future professional role as well as the roles of the other professions and the value of teamwork within health care.Conclusion. Health care is a complicated system based on cooperation and professionalism. We suggest that interprofessional training of students from all professions within health care should be a part of their education as a worthwhile preparation for their future professional work and to ensure high-quality health care.


Horseradish peroxidase-immobilized magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MMSNs-HRP) have been synthesized by a NHS/EDC coupling between the amino groups of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the carboxyl groups on the MMSNs surface. It is found that the immobilized HRP on MMSNs still retain high activity and the MMSNs-HRP can eliminate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells induced by the addition of H2O2 aqueous solution. Further, the fluorescent MMSN-HRP-CD nanoparticles have been prepared by attaching biocompatible, fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) to MMSNs-HRP. We have also investigated the effect of an applied magnetic field on cellular uptake of MMSNs-HRP-CDs and found that the internalization of MMSNs-HRP-CDs by CHO cells could be enhanced within 2 hours under the magnetic field. This work provides us with a novel and efficient method to eliminate ROS in living cells by using HRP-immobilized nanoparticles.


In the Phaedo, Socrates warns his listeners, discouraged by the objections of Simmias and Cebes, against becoming haters of logoi. I argue that the 'misologists' are presented as a type of proto-skeptic and that Socrates in fact shows covert sympathy for their position. The difference between them is revealed by the pragmatic argument for trust in the immortality of the soul that Socrates offers near the end of the passage: the misologists reject such therapeutic uses of logos. I conclude by assessing the relationship of the positions of Socrates and the misologists in the Phaedo to those of later ancient skeptics.


The indicator of monetization of the economy; equal to the ratio of nominal money supply to nominal GDP; is very popular among Russian economists and is used to assess the effectiveness of the monetary policy pursued and is often employed in cross-country comparisons. Many economists believe that the monetization of the Russian economy is excessively low; which reflects the underdevelopment of the national financial system and requires steps towards monetary expansion. According to this view insufficient monetization of the Russian economy is as an obstacle to its rapid development; therefore increase in monetization should be made a key priority of the Bank of Russia's policy. Although widely accepted; the complex of theories; ideas and assumptions behind these recommendations; however; has never been adequately empirically tested. In this paper we formulate several statements that are shared by the majority of economists in this area; based on a review of relevant publications; and then test the statements on cross-country data. As a result of empirical testing; it was shown that most of the statements are not supported by evidence. The monetization indicator does not carry any additional relevant information about the macroeconomics conditions; having other indicators considered. High monetization does not create additional stimulus for economic growth; and the ability of central banks to affect monetization is limited significantly. In countries with low monetization; inflationary risks of monetary expansion are sharply higher. The conducted empirical study provides arguments against the broad use of the monetization indicator in macroeconomic analysis and casts doubt on the idea of laying responsibility for increasing the level of Russian economy monetization on the Bank of Russia.


The process of brewing is a complex one, in which several biological and chemical reactions occur that involve many variables and their interactions. This pilot study is an attempt to understand and to control the chemical and biological nature of the process of 'beer cooking'. Through data collection and analysis the measurement system was initially evaluated and improved to allow the assessment of the stability of the analysed response variable: wort's F (F is a fictitious name for this variable due to confidentiality). Next, a deeper analysis was carried out to characterize, improve and control the behaviour of this factor by means of confidence intervals and several regression analyses. The way to control F is by adding a certain amount of element X according to a previously empirically developed table. After the analyses, this table was questioned and a new one was developed. This study is the outcome of the willingness of a group of people in this company to incorporate into its traditional and, at some stages, artisan way of producing beer, the utilization of statistical techniques for analysing and improving its processes and products.


This letter reports a low-cost and excellent latch-up protection technology for bulk-silicon scan driver ICs of shadow-mask plasma-display panel (SM-PDP) by integrating a 100-V lateral double-diffused (LD) MOS and a standard low-voltage (LV)-CMOS control circuit. The technology is implemented using an N+ guard ring in the LV-n-well, a P+ guard ring in the p-substrate near the LV-nMOS, and a deep high-voltage (HV)-n-well and a p-drift guard ring between the HV-nLDMOS and LV-CMOS circuits. The experiment results show that the latch-up in the LV-CMOS circuits is avoided when the scan ICs are applied with -340 V during the sustain periods.


In this chapter, a simulation model for fragmentation risk assessment due to a cylindrical tank explosion is presented. The proposed fragmentation methodology is based on the application of Monte Carlo simulation and probabilistic mass method. The probabilities of generating fragments during the explosion of the tank were estimated regardless of the available accident data. Aleatoric and epistemic uncertainty due to tank fragmentation has been identified. Generating only one fragment is accompanied by aleatoric uncertainty. The maximum fragmentation probability corresponds to the generation of two fragments with a total mass between 1200 kg and 2400 kg and is 17%. The fragment shape was assessed on the basis of these data and fracture lines. Fragmentation mechanics has shown that kinematic parameters are accompanied by epistemic uncertainty. The range of the fragments in the explosion of the tank has a Weibull distribution with an average value of 638 m. It is not justified to assume the initial launch angle with a uniform distribution, since its direction is defined by the shape of the fragment. The presented methodology is generally applicable to fragmentation problems in the process industry.


Autism spectrum disease (ASD) is a nervous disorder. In this disease children have sensory processing dysfunction and they unable to communicate, interact, and showed repetition in behaviours. The present study was designed to determine visual impairment frequency in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A descriptive study was performed in Paediatrics Department of Children's Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Lahore. Data was collected in six months and 52 patients of both gender were considered. A total of 40 boys and 12 girls of 3-8 years old children were included. A structured Questionnaire based on visual perception was designed to determine the visual sensory processing issues in children with an autism spectrum disorder. The findings showed a strong difficulties in the visual sense particularly in differentiation among the colours and eye tracking in autism children. It was concluded that sense of sight highly affected in the patients of autism spectrum disorder.


Stable Na+-ion-storage cathodes with adequate reversible capacities are increasingly needed for the application of Na-ion batteries in large-scale, low-cost electric storage systems. Ion-storage oxides have been classified into P2- and O3-type phases based on their sodium content. There have been few studies on the structural stability and electrochemical properties of such oxides. Here, we report the synthesis of a sodium-ion battery (SIB) cathode material Nax[Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1]O₂ (x = 0.67, 1) using a hydroxide co-precipitation method. The effects of different sodium contents on the structural and electrochemical properties of this cathode material were studied. The results indicated better electrochemical performance of the P2-type materials compared to the O3-type in terms of high discharge capacity and good cycling performance. The P2-Na0.67[Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1]O₂ cathode exhibited a good charge storage capacity of 108.74 mAhg-1, with a capacity retention of over 67% after 50 voltage cycles (between 2.0 and 4.5 V) at 0.1 C. The developed material may potentially be used as a cathode in sodium-ion batteries.


In India, signalized intersections experience heavy and non-homogeneous traffic flow. A proper traffic model must consider the varying characteristics of all the road users to effectively design and efficiently manage the signalized intersections. An evaluation reveals the applicability of Highway Capacity Manual's signalized intersection model for an Indian signalized intersection. The evaluation revealed that the model suffers from serious lacunae when applied to the Indian context. Measures are proposed for the modification of the model, and factors are developed based on proposed modifications in order to make it more suitable for Indian conditions. The factors evaluated are the lane width adjustment factor and passenger car equivalency factors. Mean right-turn width used is 3.6 m while the width provided was 3.3m. Equivalency factors for motorized two-wheelers ranged from 0.4 to 1.3 and for motorized three-wheelers from 5.6 to 9.1. In terms of pedestrian safety, LOS of the intersection is not acceptable.


Transbronchial fine needle aspiration (TBNA) was performed under fluoroscopic guidance in 21 patients with either solitary (15 patients) or multiple (6 patients) peripherally located nodules. Good aspirate could be obtained in 16 patients (76.1%). Ten were confirmed to be malignant and 2 turned out to be tubercular. Nonspecific benign inflammatory aspirate was obtained in the other four. There were no significant complications. TBNA is thus an effective, safe and quick method for diagnosis of solitary/multiple pulmonary nodules.


IgA nephropathy (IgAN) frequently accompanies glomerular basement membrane (GBM) alterations. To clarify the compositional changes of the GBM in IgAN, we examined the glomerular expression of α2(IV) and α5(IV) chains of type IV collagen in 36 patients with IgAN. Increased expression of the α2(IV) chain was observed in the expanded mesangium, and there were segmental sclerotic lesions of glomeruli in which the expression of the α5(IV) chain in the GBM was reduced. These lesions were found in 11 out of the 36 patients (30.6%). The patients with these lesions had more proteinuria, lower creatinine clearance and severer histological changes than the patients without them. On the other hand, a partial reduction of α5(IV) chain in normal-appearing GBM was observed in 15 out of the 36 patients (41.7%). The patients with this lesion had a longer disease period before biopsy than the patients without it. No other clinical and histological parameters were related to the partial reduction of α5(IV) in the GBM. In conclusion, an imbalance of glomerular α2(IV) and α5(IV) chain expression occurred in IgAN. This may be associated with the morphological changes of glomerular sclerosis and GBM alterations in IgAN. Further studies are required to understand the pathogenesis of the abnormal expression of type IV collagen chains.


ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) inhibitors may be used to treat patients with ALK mutant metastatic nonsmall cell cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the patients response to treatment with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC. Data of the patients were investigated retrospectively. Binary regression analysis was performed to evaluate response predictors of treatment. Furthermore, we determined the cut-off value of the ALK-positivity for objective response to the therapy using ROC analysis. A total of 68 patients were included in the research. The median overall survival was observed 39.2 months. The overall response rate was 66.2%. The ratio of ALK positivity (P = .02), gender (P = .04), and the total number of metastatic sites (P = .02) all were detected as predictors of the response to ALK inhibitor in binary regression analysis. ALK inhibitor type (P = .56), primary tumor location (P = .35), pathological subtype (P = .68), de-novo metastatic disease (P = .28), and age (P = .94) were not predictive indicators for response. The cut-off level of ALK positivity was found to be 33% in patients with an objective response. The real-life effectiveness of ALK inhibitors in NSCLC patients with ALK mutations was shown in this research. We determined that having less than 3 metastatic sites, having a high ALK positivity ratio, and being female were all good predictors of ALK inhibitor response.


In this paper, we present a novel parametric model based on an important evolution of McAulay & Quatieri sinusoidal models [5]. This model takes into account a damping factor as well as a delay parameter which makes it more efficient for modeling strong audio transients such as castanets onsets without pre-echo effects'. We also develop an original algorithm to estimate the model parameters by means of a high resolution method followed by a sub-band analysis.


This position paper is an attempt to show how realoptions theory and portfolio theory—can be applied to making software investment decisions in practice. We have previously developed a method, called CBAM, for making software investment decisions based upon architectural analysis, and have applied this method to a large-scale system development—NASA's ECS project. Building upon this experience, we reflect upon the relationship between the theory of economic models and what can be done in practice.


Nothing is permanent in this world except change. A great many things have evolved into countless forms throughout the existence of technology. Different types of devices nowadays, are of much help to mankind and make life easier, comfortable and pleasant to live with. Game applications are now widely used by people, mostly used to entertain and educate individuals. The researchers conducted this study in order to enhance the features of an existing interactive Luksong Tinik game to further its comprehensive aspect and gain a wider audience range to a more dynamic and realistic 3D approach. The researchers developed an enhanced interactive 3D Luksong Tinik game for Android mobile phones namely "Jumping Over Thorns". The researchers used the iterative research method in conducting this research. Using Adobe Photoshop for the character design, Blender for the 3D models export and animations, and Unity 3D for developing the game. From 2D graphics to a more interactive 3D game environment and characters, multi-player functionality, with power-up features, the researchers envisioned to have an enhancement of the previous Luksong Tinik game into users with the chance to enjoy, be entertained, using mobile technology and is possible in the virtual world.


Background: Accident-induced trauma is a common problem with short- and long-term complications. The present study was conducted in Naghavi hospital in Kashan in 2000 to determine the external factors influencing the incidence of accident-induced trauma. Materials and Methods: It was an existing data type study. Medical records of patients hospitalized in 2000 in Naghavi hospital were reviewed and initial data including sex, age, type of accident and site of injury were all determined. Results: The study population included 1543 males and 498 females. 35.5% of females referred to the hospital because of falling down. Males aged 10-30 and females' aged ?50 years were more commonly affected. Vehicles were the cause of accident in 49.2% of the cases, of which motorcycle was more common (56%). Head and neck regions were injured in 32% of the cases. Conclusion: Trauma has affected young adults more frequently. This seeks further attention since this age group are more actively involved in society activities. Results have revealed that in Kashan, motorcycle accidents required more precise observations.


There are several benefits to using weblogs in education to support both collaboration and reflective practice. Results from an initial study which examined the effectiveness of weblogs are discussed. These results have shown that weblogs are useful tools for collaboration and groupwork, but that deep reflection was not evident in weblogs. It is suggested that this may be due to the public nature of weblogs. In the design of a second study, several types of blogging software have been considered, based on the privacy options they can offer. Wordpress is recommended as a suitable blogging tool for both collaboration and reflection. It provides students with the option to password-protect reflective posts to their blog, while leaving the rest of their weblog posts open to the public, thereby providing a means for collaboration with classmates.


This study examines the extent of corporate real estate holdings by corporate nonproperty companies listed on Bursa Malaysia for the 1993 to 2001 period. Several asset and capital structure ratios are used to determine the extent of real estate ownership. The results of this study provided strong evidence that corporate real estate is a significant asset in the balance sheets of Malaysian listed companies. On average real estate comprises 24.6% of net tangible assets, 22.8% of shareholders' equity, 23.9% of market capitalization, 16.8% of total capital employed and 13.9% of total tangible assets of listed companies for the 1993-2001 period. The level of property ownership of a non-property company is affected by its industry sector. Property holdings as a percentage of total tangible asset vary from 5.1% for the Finance Sector to 44.5% in the Plantation Sector. The Plantation Sector is the sector having a high level of property holdings. The one way ANOVA shows that the real estate asset intensities are significantly different from one sector to another. The Scheffe tests confirms that the Plantation Sector is significantly different other sectors.


A composite cathode based on lanthanum chromate has uncovered tremendous potential for direct high temperature electrolysis. Unfortunately, a major setback of insufficient electrocatalytic activity limits the efficient carbon dioxide electrolysis. In this paper, catalytically active Ti is doped to partially replace Cr at the B-site in perovskite La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5−xFe0.5TixO3−δ (LSCrFT, x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) to improve the polarization and electrocatalytic property of the cathode materials of the solid oxide electrolyzer. The transition of the dominant mechanism from p-type conduction to n-type conduction is observed for the LSCrFT cathode with the Ti doping level at x = 0.3. The doping of Ti in LSCrFT largely improves the electrode activity and therefore reduces electrode polarization resistance. A high-temperature CO2 electrolysis test demonstrates that the Faraday efficiencies of LSCrFT (x = 0.1) cathodes are enhanced by approximately 30% in contrast to bare LSCrF cathodes at 800 °C.


A series of bis(pyreneamide) macrocycles, synthesized in two steps from THF, THP, oxepane and 1,4-dioxane, are tested as chemosensors for a large range of mono-, di- and trivalent cations. In their native states, these macrocycles exhibit a strong excimer fluorescence that is quenched upon the addition of the metal ions (alkaline, alkaline earth, p-, d-, and f-block metals). UV-Vis spectrophotometric titrations, cyclic voltammetry, excimer fluorescence quenching, and transient absorption spectroscopy experiments helped characterize the On-Off changes occurring upon binding and demonstrate that the highest stability constants are obtained with divalent cations Ca2+ and Ba2+ specifically.


SPONTANEOUS pneumothorax is listed as a complication of cystic fibrosis of the pancreas in textbooks 1 and literature,2 yet no case report could be found in the American literature. Doershuk et al, 2 in 1964, reported a five-year clinical evaluation of a therapeutic program for patients with cystic fibrosis, and in the charting of complications of 96 patients, only one case 3 was noted to have spontaneous pneumothorax during the follow-up. Doershuk 4 has subsequently observed three other children with spontaneous pneumothorax associated with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. Two of his patients were over 10 years of age, and spontaneous pneumothorax was associated with the terminal crisis. It is the purpose of this communication to report a case of spontaneous pneumothorax associated with cystic fibrosis. Report of a Case A 12-year-old white girl, who was known to have fibrocystic disease, was hospitalized on Nov 21, 1964. She had experienced


Of all the types of floor coverings, oriental rugs, particularly those originating from Iran, have been a source of fascination for centuries. My thesis explores these objects as material manifestations of middle-class identity in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. Arbiters of taste, authors of domestic advice and merchants emphasised good hygiene, business sense, etiquette, refinement, domesticity, the importance of interior decor and comfort, as markers of middle-class life. By focusing on hygiene, luxury, investment, and comfort as separate case studies, I investigate how discourses on home decor and commercial distribution circulated oriental rugs to consumers of more modest means. Advertisements, trade reports, women's periodicals and art journals, portrayed them as objects that brought together and gave material form to these, at times conflicting, sets of values.

Until the late nineteenth century, oriental rugs were associated with the elites. Since at least the Middle Ages, they had been symbols of opulence and high status, as documented by numerous paintings in which they conveyed the affluence and authority of the rulers and wealthy personalities depicted. However, from the second half of the nineteenth century, the development of Western industrialisation, the growing purchasing power of wider sections of society, market conditions and changing geo-political circumstances in the Middle East, transformed production and the nature of trade between this region and the West. Factories manufactured rugs in less time and with inexpensive materials to supply the growing demand from Europe and the United States. Parallel to the international trade, a market opened in the United States for American-made floor coverings that imitated oriental designs.

The dissemination of oriental rugs illustrates how material goods shaped middle-class identity within the cultural and economic context of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Oriental rugs also offer insight into the ways in which the United States negotiated its place in the world as they embodied America's belief in its cultural and economic superiority. Indeed, the fascination with these artefacts and their popularity did not translate into a corresponding appreciation for the civilisations that manufactured them. Discourse and advertisements illuminate this aspect when advocating the purchase of American imitations. Thus, 'oriental rugs' came to encompass both the genuine imports and the American-made ones, both the hand-knotted and the machine-made rugs. The fluidity of the term encapsulates the aspirations of middle-class Americans as a community distinct from both the elites and the working class; but simultaneously, oriental rugs also manifest America's national ambitions on the world stage at the turn of the twentieth century.


Cryopreservation of mouse embryos and spermatozoa has become the foremost technique for preserving large numbers of different strains of mice with induced mutations. In 1998, our mouse bank was established in the Center for Animal Resources and Development (CARD), Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Japan, based on the Preservation, supply and development of genetically engineered animals report published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. We cryopreserve mouse embryos and sperm, supply these resources, organize training courses to educate people and form part of a domestic and international network of both mutagenesis and resource centers. We currently have over 1,500 mouse strains, 842,000 frozen embryos and 26,000 straws containing frozen sperm. Moreover, we disclose information about 1,300 deposited strains. Furthermore, over 400 strains of frozen embryos or mice produced from frozen embryos and sperm are being supplied to the requesters both domestically and internationally. Additionally we hold training courses on the cryopreservation of mouse germplasm 2~3 times a year, both domestically and internationally. In the course, we teach basic reproductive engineering techniques to trainees on a man-to-man basis. We have already held 28 training courses on the cryopreservation of mouse germplasm at our center and at other institutes.


KARNATAKA Panchayati Raj Reform G Sreenivas Reddy PANCHAYATI RAJ (PR) reform has been a subject of debate ever since institutionalisation of the system after failure of the Community Development Programme in the late 50s. Over the years numerous Committees and Commissions, both at the national and state level, have gone into the working of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRls) and made several recommendations for improvement. However, the overall pattern of PR was, by and law, guided by framework of the Balwantarai Mehta Committee Report (1957) for a long time past. Some significant departures from the Balwantarai Mehta model started manifesting in the last few years, The states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka which have come into the political limelight in the wake of the Congress(I) debacle earlier this year are presently contemplating reorganisation of their PR systems. While a resolution to this effect was adopted at the first annual conference of the ruling Telugu Desam Party in Andhra, a Bill on the subject is already before the Joint Select Committee of the Karnataka State Legislature and is likely to come up for discussion in the forthcoming session of the Assembly.


We derive the nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation in chiral optical fiber with right- and left-hand nonlinear polarization. We use the similarity transformation to reduce the generalized chiral NLS equation to the higher-order integrable Hirota equation. We present the first- and second-order rational solutions of the chiral NLS equation with variable and constant coefficients, based on the modified Darboux transformation method. For some specific set of parameters, the features of chiral optical rogue waves are analyzed from analytical results, showing the influence of optical activity on waves. We also generate the exact solutions of the two-component coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations, which describe optical activity effects on the propagation of rogue waves, and their properties in linear and nonlinear coupling cases are investigated. The condition of modulation instability of the background reveals the existence of vector rogue waves and the number of stable and unstable branches. Controllability of chiral optical rogue waves is examined by numerical simulations and may bring potential applications in optical fibers and in many other physical systems.


Plastic pollution has emerged as an inevitable socio-environmental cause of pollution with ever increasing loads of plastic in everyday life. Extensive use of plastics especially disposable plastic (single-use) and presence of these non-degradable plastics in environment posing great menace to biodiversity in many habitats by disturbing ecosystem functioning. The purpose of this review is to explore the role of free living or symbiotic microbes in plastic degradation documented in the literature. Millions of plastic bags, dispensing containers, packaging and drinking bottles are thrown into the environment after single use every day. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Low density polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS) and Expanded polystyrene (EPS) are major types of plastics used in the manufacture of millions of plastic bags, dispensing containers, packaging, food packaging film and drinking bottles are thrown into the environment after single use every day. These plastics accumulate in aquatic reservoirs and affects feeding guilds; ultimately disturbing community structure and ecosystem productivity. Five bacterial strains (belonging to genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus) have been isolated and found effective in degrading plastic. Recently, few insect larvae have been explored for their ability to feed on plastics; numerous bacterial strains, showing potential for degrading plastics, have been isolated from the guts of Tenebrio molitor, Tenebrio obscurus and Plodia interpunctella larvae. Biodegradation of plastics can prove to be an environment friendly way of eliminating plastics waste from environment. Elaborative work leading to the identification of specific enzymes and degradation pathways can help in plastic degradation at industrial level.


In the 21st century, Indonesia is faced with the swift current of globalization which is a process of order that is owned by people globally without knowing boundaries. This has happened in all areas of life, one of which is education. Education in Indonesia is considered to be the cause of the nation's deterioration because our education does not produce competent human resources so that Indonesia is unable to compete with workers in the ASEAN countries because Indonesia is only ogled as unskilled laborers, not skilled workers. To overcome this need a change in learning is no exception in the process of learning Arabic by having a number of abilities needed in the 21st century, namely changing the mindset of students from low-level thinking into high so that students are accustomed to learning "The 4cs" Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration. This research aims to improve human resources in learning Arabic to compete in the 21st century. The research is, qualitative research with literature study methods reviewing books and journals which will produce Arabic learning concepts in the 21st century.


This article presents an approach of improve logistics processes with the system dynamics modeling of two different processes scenarios. System dynamics is used, not only as a causal loop diagram, but calculated measures of end-user satisfaction indicators were provided by experts, as well.
Literature review of fundamental definitions and recent ideas in subject of supply chain management (SCM), system dynamics (SD), business processes model and notation (BPMN) and distribution logistics for dozens of major sources, has been made.
In the work, methods of expert interviews, content analysis of recent publications, system-dynamic modeling and business process modeling, were used. Developed BPMN-models of distribution logistics business processes are given in Appendices #1 and #2.


Abstract. During September–October of 2013 an intense swarm of
earthquakes occurred off the east coast of Spain associated with the
injection of the base gas in an offshore underground gas storage. Two weeks
after the end of the injection operations, three moderate-sized earthquakes
(Mw 4.0–4.1) occurred near the storage. These events were widely felt by
the nearby population, leading to the indefinite shut-down of the facility.
Here we investigate the source parameters (focal depth and mechanism) of the
largest earthquakes in the sequence in order to identify the faults
reactivated by the gas injection and to help understand the processes that
caused the earthquakes. Our waveform modeling results indicate that the
largest earthquakes occurred at depths of 6–8 km beneath the sea floor,
significantly deeper than the injection depth (∼1800 m).
Although we cannot undoubtedly discriminate the fault plane from the two
nodal planes of the mechanisms, most evidence seems to favor a NW–SE-striking fault plane. We propose that the gas injection reactivated faults
in the Paleozoic basement, with regional orientation possibly inherited from
the opening of the Valencia Trough.


We introduce a series of arguments that explain how country characteristics influence the choice of bargaining strategies. The country characteristics that we consider are a country's power resources, preferences and culture. We derive a series of hypotheses from these variables, and present their implications for intergovernmental negotiations in the European Union (EU). We also discuss the methodological difficulties inherent in studying negotiation behaviour: the secrecy surrounding the negotiations; the biases introduced by asking participants; and the difficulty of inferring from role plays to real-world negotiations. While recognizing these difficulties, we conclude that research on this topic is essential to arrive at a better understanding of how the negotiation process influences negotiation outcomes.


The random noise signal is widely used as a test signal to identify a physical or biological system. In particular, the Gaussian distributed white noise signal (Gaussian White Noise) is popularly used to simulate environmental noise in telecommunications system testing, input noise in testing ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) devices as well as testing other digital systems. Random noise signal generation can be done using resistors or diodes. The weakness of the noise generator system using physical components is the statistical distribution. An alternative solution is to use a Pseudo-Random System that can be adjusted for distribution and other statistical parameters. In this study, the implementation of the Gaussian distributed pseudo noise generation algorithm based on the Enhanced Box-Muller method is described. Prototype of noise generation system using a minimum system board based on Cortex Microcontroller or MCU-STM32F4. From the test results, it was found that the Enhanced Box-Muller (E Box-Muller) method can be applied to the MCU-STM32F4 efficiently, producing signal noise with Gaussian distribution. The resulting noise signal has an amplitude of ±1Volt, is Gaussian distributed and has a relatively wide frequency spectrum. The noise signal can be used as a jamming device in a certain frequency band using an Analog modulator.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the lipid levels, dyslipidemia prevalence and the influencing factors between Korean and Han nationalities in Yanbian state.

METHODS
A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Totally 3011 subjects, ranging from 30 to 70 years old, were included. Height, weight, waist and hip circumference, serum lipids were measured.

RESULTS
The HDL-C concentration of male and female Korean (1.04 +/- 0.45 mmol/L and 1.07 +/- 0.43 mmol/L, respectively) was significantly lower than those of Han (1.16 +/- 0.52 mmol/L and 1.19 +/- 0.56 mmol/L, F = 14.423 and 20.827; P < 0.001). The TG concentration of male Korean (2.10 +/- 2.08 mmol/L) was significantly higher than that of Han male (1.72 +/- 1.73 mmol/L, F = 13.543; P < 0.001) and the prevalence of high triglyceride among male Korean (23.3%) was also significantly higher than that of male Han (15.0%, chi2 = 12,720; P < 0.001). However, the prevalence of high total cholesterol among male Korean (2.3%) was significantly lower than that of Han male (5.2%, chi2 = 6.639; P < 0.01). The prevalence of high TC and TG among female Korean (6.7%) was significantly higher than those of female Han (4.1%, chi2 = 6.394; P<0.05). The crude rate of dyslipidemia of Korean was 31.5%, while that of Han was 24.4%, and the age-adjusted prevalence was 28.7% and 23.0%, respectively, which showed significant ethnic differences in male. The crude rate of dyslipidemia of Korean was 28.9%, while that of Han was 21.7%, and the age-adjusted prevalence was 21.5% and 20.5%, respectively, which also showed significant ethnic differences in female. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was positively correlated with sex, age, WHR, WHtR, and nationality.

CONCLUSION
There were significant differences in the lipid profiles and the prevalence of dyslipidemia between Korean and Han nationalities. Sex, age,WHR, WHtR, and nationality in this state should be risk factors of the dyslipidemia.


Background: Patients with Down's syndrome (DS) often have an increased rate of infections, hypertension, objectivity and gastrointestinal disorders, which are the most common abnormalities and have a significant impact on their daily life. The gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining gut homeostasis and improving immunity and has been linked to the development of obesity, hypertension, and colon cancer. However, there are few studies on the intestinal flora and the mother's reproductive tract flora of children with DS in childhood. Therefore, 16S sequencing technology was used to analyze and explore the intestinal flora of children with DS and CHD patients in DS and the microbial abundance and diversity composition in the mother's reproductive tract. Results: We found that the gut microbiota in children with DS was mainly composed of Escherichia, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium and Bacteroides, which have significant differences in the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora compared with healthy children, and the abundance of Enterococcus and Erysipelatoclostridium in the intestine of children with CHD was significantly higher than that of children without CHD, and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the reproductive tract of mothers with DS was significantly higher than that of mothers with healthy children, which may suggest potential ways of using microbiome composition for prognosis and diagnosis. Through functional analysis, it was found that Down's syndrome patients significantly downregulated immune system and their cell growth and nucleotide metabolism were lower than those of healthy children.Conclusion: We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing on fecal samples from 60 children and vaginal swab samples from 63 mothers to identify a number of potentially important taxonomic, functional and microbiomes associated with congenital heart disease and Down's syndrome. Structural changes and its correlation with the mother's vaginal flora. Our analysis shows that the ecosystem associated with childhood congenital heart disease affects the selection of bacterial communities in the native microbiota, and we focus on specific bacteria and their relevance to disease.


Abstract Studies on the effect of temperature on the liquid–liquid extraction behaviour of a trivalent actinide ion, Am3+ and a trivalent lanthanide ion, Eu3+ using a "S"-donor soft ligand, bis (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) dithiophosphinic acid (Cyanex®-301) were carried out. The temperature effect on the enhancement in extraction as well as the selectivity which occurred in the presence of neutral soft donor auxiliary ligands with "N" donor atoms viz. , bipyridyl ( bipy ) and 1,10-phenanthroline ( phen ) was also investigated. Thermodynamic parameters like the changes in the extraction enthalpy (ΔH°), entropy (ΔS°) and free energies (ΔG°) for both the binary as well as ternary extraction systems were obtained. These thermodynamic parameters could explain the nature of the species extracted with both Am(III) and Eu(III).


This paper discusses gender equality concerns within higher education, politics and examines the gender related policies introduced in Kosovo. Gender differences emerge in primary and secondary education partly because traditional gender roles and stereotypes tend to be reproduced in schools. These differences are then reflected in and further strengthened by the choices made and opportunities open to women and men at the higher levels of education and vocational training. Therefore, it is important to examine whether and how Kosovo attempt to combat these inequalities.
Kosovo have designed policy and have supported projects targeting gender inequalities in education and incorporate specific gender equality provisions in legislation or in governmental strategies and make it compulsory for political parties to create their own gender equality policies. In politics are obliged 30% quotas for female places in Assembly, but in other Higher management positions are mostly males, for example in 6 public Universities all rectors and most deans are male. In Higher Education Institutions are two main concerns in Kosovo with respect to gender inequality in higher or tertiary education: horizontal and vertical segregation. Firstly, it is concerned about horizontal segregation, that is, the problem that women and men choose different fields of study in higher education, with women being under-represented in engineering and science. Secondly, it is also concerned about vertical segregation. This problem is related to the currently existing 'glass ceiling' in tertiary education: while women outnumber men amongst higher education graduates. They participation in Higher Education its slightly increased at the doctoral level, and there are even fewer women amongst academic staff in universities, or none of them as Rector but few of them as Vice-Rector at the managerial level in universities. These two issues and the policies intended to deal with them will be discussed in this paper.
1)University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina" since 1970, University "Ukshin Hoti" Prizren since 2010, University "Haxhi Zeka" Peja, University "Isa Boletini" Mitrovica, University "Kadri Zeka" Gjilan und University "Fehmi Agani" Gjakova since 2011


Water cooler discussions often gravitate to trends-the "latest" software process, programming language, or Web development paradigm. Some of them justly deserve the title "trend" or "fad;" others do not. In this article, two practitioners share their experience with current, yet diverse, software process approaches that are starting to greatly affect the industry. One author describes Science Applications International Corporation's (SAIC) experience with the Personal Software Process. The other author shares Motorola's experience with agile methods, a lighter-weight process approach. It appears that despite their diversity, both approaches have resulted in improved productivity and in similar or even higher-quality levels of the resulting products (from previous releases).


— In Kosovo as well as in many countries of the world have occurred explosions in objects, so this research have addressed the ways and possibilities of protecting the buildings by using their position as construction and design elements' after you load resisted by explosions. This paper presents basic information on the approaches for the evaluation of the blast effects on the structures. Motivation for the present study is recent events happening in the World where more and more structures are being destroyed by unexpected explosions in the urban areas. Intension of this investigation is to present basic information on what will happen when an explosive device is detonated. Some of the methods to calculate blast loads are presented. At the end it is presented simple method of designing a reinforced concrete wall barrier subject to a blast load caused by vehicle bomb. Calculation has been carried based on the kinetic energy that is delivered on the surface of the wall and that energy dissipation by the wall to resist such impulse load.


This paper provides a history of the development of regional geochemical mapping. Modern geochemistry was born in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, and the basic methodologies for regional mapping had been developed by the late 1960s, with important extensions being made in the 1980s. The paper records the development of regional geochemical surveys, or mapping, in the context of spatial scale and transition from a mineral exploration and resource assessment tool to an environmental mapping exercise supporting multi-disciplinary research. Attention is drawn to the role of the International Geological Correlation Program's Projects 259 and 360, and the continuing role of the International Union of Geological Sciences, in providing an international focus and dimension to global geochemical mapping. The paper closes with a section on some of the current research issues, opportunities and challenges for regional geochemical mapping.


DEBBY LA ERISSA. Analysis of Alternative Livelihoods of Gillnet Fishermen in Batukaras Village Cijulang District Pangandaran, West Java. Supervised by NIMMI ZULBAINARNI and IIN SOLIHIN. Fishermen in Batukaras generally using bottom set gillnets. Activities of fishing operations using the hunting system and depend on the season. The purpose of this study is to describe the gillnet fishing unit and analyze the work done by the fishermen, both fisheries and alternative livelihoods (non-fisheries). The method of this research using survey methods and data collection techniques by purposive sampling. Analysis of the data used in the form of analysis of fishing unit and financial analysis that includes the analysis of income and revenue cost ratio (R/C). The results of the analysis of fishing unit showed that gillnet construction consist of buoys, head and ground ropes, net body, neck strap, and sinker. Gillnet was operated by 2-3 fishermen using the boat which its length (L) 9.00 meters, breadth (B) of 1.50 meters, and depth (D) 1.00 meters. The work done by gillnet fishermen is fisheries effort and alternative livelihoods. Based on the financial analysis has result that average of fishermen income is Rp 693.297 per month and the value of R/C of 1.31 (R/C> 1), so fisheries effort is profitable and feasible to be developed. alternative livelihoods undertaken by the fishermen including agriculture, albizia wood cultivation, collecting firewood, collecting coconuts, used goods sellers, kiosk, and gardening cardamom. Based on the financial analysis has result that average of alternative livelihoods is Rp 445.347 per month and the value of R/C obtained from all alternative livelihoods is more than one, so the alternative livelihoods businesses profitable and feasible to be developed. This is supported by the result of the pattern of business implementation, in which all alternative livelihood done on famine and moderate, so it does not interfere the main work of the fishermen.


Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most prominent cellular components in gastric cancer (GC) stroma that contribute to GC progression, treatment resistance, and immunosuppression. This study aimed at exploring stromal CAF-related factors and developing a CAF-related classifier for predicting prognosis and therapeutic effects in GC. Methods: We downloaded mRNA expression and clinical information of 431 GC samples from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and 330 GC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. CAF infiltrations were quantified by the estimate the proportion of immune and cancer cells (EPIC) method, and stromal scores were calculated via the Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumors using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm. Stromal CAF-related genes were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A CAF risk signature was then developed using the univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (LASSO) Cox regression model. We applied the Spearman test to determine the correlation among CAF risk score, CAF markers, and CAF infiltrations (estimated via EPIC, xCell, microenvironment cell populations-counter (MCP-counter), and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithms). The TIDE algorithm was further used to assess immunotherapy response. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was applied to clarify the molecular mechanisms. Results: The 4-gene (COL8A1, SPOCK1, AEBP1, and TIMP2) prognostic CAF model was constructed. GC patients were classified into high– and low–CAF-risk groups in accordance with their median CAF risk score, and patients in the high–CAF-risk group had significant worse prognosis. Spearman correlation analyses revealed the CAF risk score was strongly and positively correlated with stromal and CAF infiltrations, and the four model genes also exhibited positive correlations with CAF markers. Furthermore, TIDE analysis revealed high–CAF-risk patients were less likely to respond to immunotherapy. GSEA revealed that epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), TGF-β signaling, hypoxia, and angiogenesis gene sets were significantly enriched in high–CAF-risk group patients. Conclusion: The present four-gene prognostic CAF signature was not only reliable for predicting prognosis but also competent to estimate clinical immunotherapy response for GC patients, which might provide significant clinical implications for guiding tailored anti-CAF therapy in combination with immunotherapy for GC patients.


The cortical cytoplasm, including the cleavage furrow, is largely composed of a network of actin filaments that is rigid even as it is extensively deformed during cytokinesis. Here we address the question of how actin-filament networks such as those in the cortex can be simultaneously rigid (solid-like) and fluid-like. Conventional explanations are that actin filaments rearrange by some combination of depolymerization and repolymerization; fragmentation and annealing of filaments; and inactivation and reestablishment of crosslinks between filaments. We describe the mechanical properties of a model system consisting of actin filaments and Acanthamoeba alpha-actinin, one of several actin crosslinking proteins found in amoeba and other cells. The results suggest another molecular mechanism that may account for the paradoxical mechanical properties of the cortex. When deformed rapidly, these mixtures are 40 times more rigid than actin filaments without alpha-actinin, but when deformed slowly these mixtures were indistinguishable from filaments alone. These time-dependent mechanical properties can be explained by multiple, rapidly rearranging alpha-actinin crosslinks between the actin filaments, a mechanism proposed by Frey-Wyssling to account for the behaviour of cytoplasm long before the discovery of cytoplasmic actin or alpha-actinin. If other actin-filament crosslinking proteins behave like Acanthamoeba alpha-actinin, this mechanism may explain how the cortex recoils elastically from small rapid insults but deforms extensively when minute forces are applied over long periods of time.