This work presents a theoretical investigation of the simulation of Sulfuric acid process plant. In the production of the acid in contact process liquid sulfur is sequentially oxidized to Sulfur tri oxide via an exothermic reaction which is absorbed by 98% Sulfuric acid in an absorption tower. In this research Aspen One V7.2 has been successfully used to design every sub-process of the sulfuric acid plant in one integrated environment. In order to simulate the process as accurately as possible COM thermo was selected as advanced thermodynamics. Electrolyte NRTL and Peng-Robinson were used for liquid and vapor phase respectively as fluid package and HYSYS properties were used for simulation. The simulation of sulfuric acid process included automatic chemistry generation and the capacity of handling electrolyte reactions for all unit models. Aspen-HYSYS provides specialized thermodynamics models and built-in data to represent the non-ideal behavior of liquid phase components in order to get accurate results. Material and energy flows, sized unit operations blocks can be used to conduct economic assessment of each process and optimize each of them for profit maximization. The simulation model developed can also be used as a guide for understanding the process and the economics, and also a starting point for more sophisticated models for plant designing and process equipment specifying. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jce.v26i1.10182 JCE 2011; 26(1): 47-49


Abstract A widely applicable and rapidly computed method for estimating the maximum tangential wind speed in a tornado is developed. The method requires knowledge of the cloud deck height and the descent distance of the funnel cloud tip (often available from still photographs). The method is applied to the Dallas tornado of Apr. 2, 1957, and yields a maximum swirling speed of 209 mi hr−1. Previous estimates for that whirlwind were 170 mi hr−1 (based on scrutiny of motion pictures of flying dust and debris) and 302 mi hr−1 (based on studying damage inflicted on structures and vehicles).


The authors executed a prospective clinic study evaluating, whether at the admittance or after surgery, the immunity status of 30 patients with a thoracic neoplasm, admitted to Department of Thoracic Surgery, I School of Medicine, Naples. Only 21 of them, immunodepressed at the admittance, were accepted to trial and assigned respectively to A Group destined to surgery (10 patients) and to B check Group (11 patients). In the A Group the effectiveness of the immunotherapy was valued in the prophylaxis and in the postoperative septic complications' therapy. The global incidence of those complications was of 6 cases, of which 10% only in A Group and 45% in B Group. In the operated patients the septic complications had few repercussions on general status and were rapidly and totally dominated in strict correlation with an adequate immunoreconstitution.


High quality vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays have been synthesized on bulk Al alloy (Al6063) substrates with an Fe catalyst using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). The pretreatment process of the catalyst was shown to play a critical role, and it was studied comprehensively and optimized to grow high quality VACNT arrays within a wide range thicknesses of catalyst layer (2nm – 11 nm) and acetylene (C2H2) flow rates (100sccm – 300sccm). The thermal performance of the resulting VACNT arrays is evaluated. The minimum thermal interfacial resistance of the Al-CNT-Si interfaces achieved so far is only 4 mm2·K/W, and the average value is 14.6 mm2·K/W.


Abstract Background The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the first international health treaty and has now been ratified by 181 countries. However, there are concerns that in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries, FCTC legislations and implementation are weak. In this study, we report a qualitative study undertaken to assess policy makers' awareness of the FCTC and national tobacco control policies, and assessed the achievements and challenges to the implementation of the FCTC in the Gambia. Methods The study involved semi-structured one-to-one interviews with 28 members of the National Tobacco Control Committee in the Gambia, which is responsible for formulating tobacco control policies and making recommendations for tobacco control. We used the Framework method and NVivo11 software for data analysis. Results Our findings demonstrate that the Gambia has made modest progress in tobacco control before and since ratification of the FCTC, particularly in the areas of policy formulation, bans on tobacco advertising and promotion, smoke-free laws, and tobacco taxation. Although several pieces of tobacco control legislation exist, enforcement and implementation remain a major challenge. We found that policy makers' awareness of polices covered in the FCTC was limited. Conclusion Our findings highlight several challenges to the FCTC implementation and the need to step up efforts that will help to accomplish the obligations of the FCTC. To achieve the obligations of the FCTC, the Gambia should develop specific public awareness interventions, establish cessation services, mobilize adequate resources for tobacco control and strengthen tobacco surveillance and research.


Nowadays Mobile health care (M-health care) monitoring system has gained an attention based on latest developments in medical technology. The process of Healthcare monitoring system has been improved and readily accessible with the framework consists of wireless BSN's (body sensor networks) interfaced with M-Healthcare APP in smart phone device. Existing healthcare systems lacks in characteristics like vital sign monitoring of patients at anyplace, preserving their analyzed data from intruder, and providing immediate alert to caregiver in case of emergency. If the patient's data is hacked and modified then it results in high risks for patient and also lack of immediate alert may leads to death. In this proposed work a body sensor network is designed based on M-health patient monitoring framework (self health monitoring) and a health care APP is implemented in android based smart phone. If any abnormal state is detected then the framework alerts the patient and also the caregiver by raising an alarm and instantaneously an alert message is sent to the caregiver through the smart phone. Data security is achieved by pairing the patient's body sensor network with the smart phone using password protection mechanism. The main objective of this system is to monitor the high risk patients and to protect the patient's data from intruders at anytime and anywhere through android APP. Caregivers can get patient health analysis, medicine follow up reminder, daily notification alert of their medical data through this system framework.


Business associations both provide their members with services and represent their interests. Many business associations are made up of professionals. What characterises them is both the collaborator-association relationship and the sharing of knowledge. The communication must be consistent with the system of principles, values, rules, objectives and behaviours marking the associations' culture. It must take into account the context in which it operates and must be capable of evolving throughout the time. The subjects of communication are the associations' institutional bodies, their employees and specific offices which work as press offices, events organiser and speech writer, lobby activities support and communication both to their members and to the human resources, etc. The external communication is addressed to State Organs, Local Government, Public Administration, political parties, trade unions, media, opinion leaders, business community, professional training and research world, young people, opinion movements, cultural organisations, potential associates. The internal communication is addressed to the internal institutional bodies, to the entrepreneurs and the partner enterprises, the human resources and the eventual associative system. Communication is aimed at fulfilling all the goals of an entrepreneurial association. It is therefore important to make internal and external relationships as effective as possible. Their objectives are to create a sense of identity and belonging, to make the members' participation stronger, to lobby, to pursue effective marketing strategies, to involve and motivate their human resources. Intra-personal communication, written communication, organised listening, relations with the media and organisation of events are among the most popular tools for the associations' communication, for which careful planning is also extremely important. In the long term, the most interesting trends seem to be the progressive widespread of the association's social accountability and the increasing integration between off-line and on-line communication.


The documentary When a City Falls (2011), directed by Gerard Smyth, promotes itself as "the people's story" 1 of the Canterbury earthquakes. Constructed almost entirely from amateur video, CCTV, and the director's own handheld footage, the film creates a startling impression of the earthquakes, aftershocks, and aftermath in their spontaneity and lived immediacy. However, in the following analysis I will problematize the film's construction of reality and community within the context of Melanie Klein's critique of "disaster capitalism" and Jean Baudrillard's analysis of the operation of disaster and moving images in staging reality within a post-9/11 environment characterized by an accelerated devaluation of the sign.


Developed countries are realized that the economic growth not only depend on the industrial sector. The Goverment of Indonesia launched the creative economy development program on 2009 to develop creative economy which driven by the industrial sector called the creative industries. The creative industries is driven by creativity and innovation. Calok is a village in Jember regency which have the potential creative industry based on woven bamboo and agriculture. It creates a new sector of creative industries named agrocraft industry. The purpose of this research is developing the best business strategy by adopting the local wisdom of Calok using Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threaths (SWOT) analysis. The Eksternal Factor Evaluation (EFE) and Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) analysis shown that EFE matrix has a total score of 3.065 while IFE matrix has a total score of 2.302. By this result, the position of Calok community enterprise is in quadrant II. Analysing Qualitative Strategy Planning Method shown the alternative strategy should be applied is product development. The developed business strategy are new product design, spesialization product line, improvement design skills, designing product with less technology need. Keywords : agrocraft industry, strategy development, SWOT analysis, woven bamboo


Background Tetrahymenosis caused by about ten parasitic Tetrahymena species belonging to the Phylum Ciliophora has been recognized as an emerging problem inflicting significant economic loss in aquaculture industry in the world. Increasing knowledge and identification of Tetrahymenosis are important. Methods Four parasitic Tetrahymena species were collected from eight commercially farmed fishes in Harbin, northeastern China. Specific oligonucleotide probe and fluorescence in situ hybridization staining was designed and tested. Hoechst33342 staining methods, gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were also conducted. Results Tetrahymena pyriformis, T. vorax, T. chironomi and T. bergeri are the four species responsible for Tetrahymenosis in various fishes in Harbin. Taxonomy, diagnosis, diversity, pathogenicity, and histopathology of Tetrahymenosis were supplemented, analyzed and summaried, based on the present and previous work. The term Tetrahymenosis is diagnosised as diseases affecting a number of fishes, crustaceans, mollus, beetle, dragonfly, salmon, slug, midge larvae and freshwater mussel species that caused by ciliates of the genus Tetrahymena which constitutes an abundant group inhabit various aquaculture and natural habitats. Improved classification of parasitic Tetrahymena was provided. Phylogeny of parasitic Tetrahymena species was studied, and an SSU-rDNA targeted oligonucleotide probe labeled with a fluorochrome was designed, and the FISH protocol was optimized for identification of Tetrahymena species, Conclusions The manifestations of histopathology in fish typically include lesions on the body surface, and affected organs include the skin, musculature, viscera, eye socket and spinal cord; masses of ciliates can be detected in copious amount of mucus and between spaces in the damaged tissues. Improved classification of parasitic Tetrahymena is provided: facultatively parasitic forms ( T. pyriformis , T. rostrate , T. bergeri and T. vorax ), facultatively free-living forms ( T. chironomi , T. corlissi, T. rotunda, T. glochidiophila and T. papula ) and parasitic forms ( T. stegomyiae and T. limacis ).The phylogenic results indicate that Tetrahymena spp. belonging to 'borealis' group have a greater probability to become parasitism. the method of which can be used for quick and early detection of Tetrahymenosis.


A number of bacterial toxins have sophisticated mechanisms for reaching their specific targets in mammalian cells, to exert their toxicity. This review focuses on the transport mechanisms of cholera toxin and botulinum neurotoxin complex. Cholera toxin is an ADP-ribosyltransferase toxin, and the covalent modification of heterotrimeric Gs protein in the cytosol leads to the activation of adenylyl cyclase and a sequence of events culminating in massive diarrheal disease. Here, we describe the structural features of this toxin and the transport pathway followed by this toxin from the plasma membrane to the cytosol of intestinal epithelial cells. Botulinum neurotoxin is a metalloprotease toxin that enters neurons, where it cleaves core proteins of the neuroexocytosis apparatus and elicits the inhibition of neurotransmitter release. The food-borne botulism is manifested when the neurotoxin is absorbed from the digestive tract, enters the blood stream, and reaches the cytosol of the peripheral nerves. We overview the structural organization and the long journey followed by this toxin.


The objectives of this research are (1) To find out the implementation of Think Talk Write to improve the students' writing skills in the descriptive text, (2) To find out how far the improvement of students' writing skills in descriptive text after being taught by Think Talk Write Strategy. This research is Classroom Action Research (CAR). It was conducted in two cycles. Each cycle consisted of four steps, they were planning, action, observation, and reflection. The researcher took the role as an observer who observed everything that happened in the class while the teacher performed CAR for the students. The number of students in this research were 31 students. The researcher used pre-test, post-test, documentation, and observation checklist to collect the data. The result shows thatthe use of Think Talk Write (TTW) strategy to improve the students' writing skills in descriptive text for the eighth-grade students of SMP N 10 Salatiga in the academic year 2018/2019is really successful.The students who pass the passing grade improve gradually from the cycle I and the cycle II. The passing grade is 64. The students who get the score higher than the passing grade of cycle 1 are only 0% and 61.30% in the cycle 1. The result of cycle 2, there are 58.07% and 87.10% of students who get the score higher than the passing grade. The improvement of cycle I is 61.30% and in the cycle II is 29.03%. It means that there was an improvement as many as 25.08% from cycle I and cycle II. Based on the result, the researcher recommends using the Think Talk Write Strategy to improve the students' writing skills in descriptive text.


This paper presents a novel approach for incremental subspace learning based on an online version of the non-parametric discriminant analysis (NDA). For many real-world applications (like the study of visual processes, for instance) there is impossible to know beforehand the number of total classes or the exact number of instances per class. This motivated us to propose a new algorithm, in which new samples can be added asynchronously, at different time stamps, as soon as they become available. The proposed technique for NDA-eigenspace representation has been applied to the problem of online face recognition for human-robot interaction scenario.


PURPOSE
Gene inactivation with homologous recombination in mice is a widely used tool to study gene function. However, many proteins play essential roles in a number of tissues and germline gene inactivation often results in embryonic lethality. To overcome this limitation and to dissect the functions of essential genes beyond embryonic development, we generated mouse rod opsin promoter-controlled cre transgenic mice with a goal of obtaining transgenic lines with a range of Cre activity in rod photoreceptors.

METHODS
Transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase directed by a long or short mouse opsin promoter were generated. Candidate Cre-expressing lines were identified with RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Potentially useful Cre-expressing lines were characterized further with immunohistochemistry, PCR, and functional analysis using a Cre-activatable lacZ reporter mouse strain (R26R) to determine temporal and spatial patterns of Cre expression. Retinal function and morphology in these mouse lines were analyzed with electroretinography (ERG) and light microscopy of hematoxylin and eosin stained retinal sections.

RESULTS
Transgenic mice expressing Cre in rod photoreceptors were generated. Characterization of candidate photoreceptor-specific Cre mice using immunohistochemistry and functional assays demonstrated that an efficient Cre-mediated recombination occurred in rod photoreceptor cells in one mouse line and a mosaic Cre-mediated recombination occurred in rod photoreceptors and rod bipolar cells in another mouse line. Further analysis of these mice with ERG and morphological examination suggested that the retinas of eight-month-old adults were normal.

CONCLUSIONS
We have generated transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase in rod photoreceptors. One transgenic mouse line was capable of carrying out efficient Cre-mediated recombination in rod photoreceptors. Another transgenic mouse line was capable of carrying out mosaic Cre-mediated recombination in rod photoreceptors and bipolar cells across the whole retina. These mice will be useful tools for Cre/lox-based gene activation and inactivation, as well as genetic mosaics, in rod photoreceptors and rod bipolar cells.


The role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) in excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle was investigated by several methods. The following results were obtained. InsP3 is released by electrical stimulation of muscles. Exogenous InsP3 releases calcium from skinned muscle fibers at relatively high doses under normal conditions but does so at very low concentrations when blockers of the InsP3 5-phosphatase are present. Blockers of InsP3 release are effective blockers of calcium transients elicited by electrical stimulation of muscle fibers. It is proposed that InsP3 acts as a chemical second messenger between transverse (T)-tubular membrane depolarization and calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle.


The issue that many Chinese cities follow similar international styles degrades local cultural customs and regional ethnic features, and it is drawing much attention of citizens, governors and designers. Some research has corroborated the effectiveness of correlation and integrity of native urban sceneries, to deal with the above issue. Urban landscape can be regarded as a dynamic network system, comprising some interlinked spots and regions. Based on the current situation and academic proceedings, this research introduced the concept of urban landscape network. By a case study of Hangzhou City construction, this paper conducted a grid analysis of the landscape grid network, and built four sub-networks: natural scenery, historical development, road transportation, and land use. Using variance analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, this paper examines the relationship between the four sub-networks, and finally achieved an appropriate regression equation of the landscape network in accordance with the subjective satisfaction evaluation concerning the landscape quality.


Migraine symptoms and therapy side effects cause significant functional disability that can result in work and productivity losses. Effective, well-tolerated migraine therapy with rapid onset of relief could decrease work and productivity losses. The Migraine Work and Productivity Loss Questionnaire (MWPLQ) evaluates the impact of migraine and migraine therapy on paid work. Data from a randomized, open-label extension study were collected over 3 months. Migraineurs were randomized to either rizatriptan (5HT1B/1D receptor agonist) or their usual migraine therapy. Data were analyzed from 164 patients who experienced at least one work-related migraine. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α) for the work difficulty domains ranged from 0.80 to 0.95. Work loss and work difficulty were moderately correlated (r=0.39-0.58) with migraine severity and functional ability. Differences were found favoring rizatriptan for absenteeism (1.3 vs 2.4 h), effectiveness at work (62% vs 49%), and difficulty with work-related tasks (p < 0.01). The MWPLQ demonstrated favorable measurement characteristics in this study and could be an important research tool for future evaluations of migraine-related work disability.


Background: Although ultrasonography (US) continues to be the primary imaging modality used to identify and characterize adnexal masses, but certain conditions that hinder accurate ultrasound examination, such as obesity, may be indications for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, for the assessment of complex and indeterminate ovarian masses.Objective: to assess the ability of MRI to characterize sonographically indeterminate adnexal masses.Patients and methods: A prospective study of 89 cases with sonographically indeterminate adnexal mass underwent pelvic MRI conducted in X-ray institute in medical city in Baghdad during period from October 2011 to January 2013 & the results compared to the final diagnosis which was determined by histopathological & surgical findingsResults: Most sonographyically indeterminate adnexal masses result from common benign condition. Benign conditions account for 87.6%, while malignant condition account for 12.4%. Endometriosis was the commonest cause constitute (22.4 %), followed by mature cystic teratoma , and pedunculated fibroid (18%) and (15.7%) respectively. Excellent agreement was noted between MRI and final diagnosis for determining the origin and tissue characteristics which are 98% and 91% respectively.Conclusion: Sonographically indeterminate adnexal masses of uncertain origin and solid or complex content will benefit from further evaluation with MRI, which is highly accurate for identifying the origin of the mass and characterizing its tissue contents playing an important role in planning the way of management.


Development, an issue which has captivated scholars from many different fields (Political Science, Social Science, and Economy, or for that matter Philosophy), for many years has managed to linger on to this day. Development is a delicate and complex subject to deal with, more complex and complicated than one could imagine. Certainly, one cannot simply wish for the success of development in less developed areas (be it in terms of international level or local level). As such, this book discusses some of the very complex issues and hurdles faced in the process of development. The book looks into some of the economic policies behind the process of development, methods, the philosophy, and the failure of conventional wisdom to tackle the process of development. Since it is conventional wisdom that dictates how development is carried out, the analysis in this research provides an alternate view of development which questions the whole foundation behind the current conventional wisdom of the development. This book provides a good insight,for those who are interested in Economic, Social Science, Political Science, Philosophy, and of course development in general.


Designing distributed database systems is an inherently complex process, involving many choices and tradeoffs that must be considered. It is impossible to build a distributed database that has all the features that users intuitively desire. In this article, we discuss the three-way relationship between three such desirable features — fairness, isolation, and throughput (FIT) — and argue that only two out of the three of them can be achieved simultaneously.


Objective:To develop Pegylated Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome (PEGADRIA) and compare its physicochemical properties, preclinical safety and efficacy, clinical pharmacokinetic and safety profiles with those of the reference product, Doxil®.
Methods: PEGADRIA was prepared and the structure morphology, lamellarity, size, shape, drug loading, lipid bilayer and Peg layer thickness were determined. Safety studies were conducted in mice and rats and efficacy study was conducted in a P-388 leukemia mouse model. To evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of PEGADRIA, a multicenter, open label, balanced, randomized, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence, single dose cross-over bioequivalence study was conducted with Doxil® in ovarian cancer patients whose disease had progressed or reoccurred after platinum based chemotherapy under fasting conditions. The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined based on the concentration-time profiles of doxorubicin, whereas the concentration was determines using LC-MS/MS methods.
Results: PEGADRIA was similar to Doxil® in terms of general morphology, lamellarity, size, shape, drug loading, lipid bilayer and Peg layer thickness. PEGADRIA and Doxil® showed comparable survival benefit in leukemic mice. The toxicity profiles of PEGADRIA in both mice and rats were comparable to those of Doxil®. Plasma concentrations of doxorubicin from cancer patients were measured to determine the pharmacokinetics profile. The geometric mean ratios (90% confidence intervals) of PEGADRIA /Doxil® for free doxorubicin and encapsulated doxorubicin were similar.
Conclusion: PEGADRIA was found to have similar physicochemical profile compared to Doxil®. In addition, it was safe and bioequivalent to Doxil® in ovarian cancer patients.


This article discusses the concept of modernism, as reflected for instance in attempts to find a manageable narrative frame for the history of literary modernism. The article argues that this attempt is complicated by modernism as an unruly and complex trend that manifests itself in different ways, and at different moments, as it enters into a complex dialogue with other trends within various linguistic communities. These different times and places of modernism also turn out to interact with one another through translations and other forms of reception that sometimes entail renewed modernist creativity. Discussing these significant aspects of modernism, the article also considers the problems critics of modernism face as they attempt to come up with a narrative framework for the history of modernism and its ongoing relationship with realism. A key point argued in the article is that to come to terms with both these trends we need to appreciate the ways in which modernism is linked to historical crises and traumas of our time, including the first and the second world wars. Paying particular attention to the interplay of Nordic and European modernisms, the article discusses how aspects of modernism have manifested themselves in Iceland, a Nordic island which may seem doubly removed from the European centres of modernism in cities such as London and Paris.


Inductive-based devices integrated with Si technology for biodetection applications are characterized, using simple resonant differential filter configurations. This has allowed the corroboration of the viability of the proposed circuits, which are characterized by their very high simplicity, for microinductive signal conditioning in high-sensitivity sensor devices. The simulation of these simple circuits predicts sensitivities of the differential output voltage which can achieve values in the range of 0.1-1 V/nH, depending on the coil parameters. These very high-sensitivity values open the possibility for the experimental detection of extremely small inductance changes in the devices. For real microinductive devices, both series resistance and parasitic capacitive components contribute to the decrease of the differential circuit sensitivity. Nevertheless, measurements performed using micro-coils fabricated with relatively high series resistance and coupling parasitic effects have allowed detection of changes in the range of 2 nH. which are compatible with biodetection applications with estimated detection limits below the picomolarity range.


Summary: Ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) modified polypropylene (PP) and polyoxymethylene (POM) were used as matrices for development of ZnO modified composites. EOC content in the composites was 10, 30 and 50 wt%, while ZnO content was 2 and 5 wt%. It was determined that addition of ZnO increased stiffness, strength and thermal resistance, as well as decreased coefficient of friction of the investigated composites. Somewhat greater increase of these characteristics was observed at 2 wt% of ZnO. Properties ZnO modified composites are also strongly affected by incompatibility of it ingredients, especially at higher EOC content.


Snow is an important natural reservoir that holds water on the landscape for release later in the season in western North America and other portions of the world. As air temperature increases with global climate change, the character of the generally established seasonal snowcover will be affected. To study the specific response to variable climate, a carefully collected and processed meteorological data set for the 1984–2008 water years (WYs) was assembled for a snow‐dominated headwater mountain catchment. The data were used to force a physically based, distributed energy balance snow model to simulate patterns of snow deposition and melt over the catchment for the 25‐year period. This period covers both the highest (1984) and lowest (1992) snow seasons on record and exhibits extreme inter‐annual variability. This unique forcing data set captured meteorological conditions that resulted in the range of variability in snowcover accumulation, timing of ablation, and the timing and amount of surface water input (SWI), and discharge during the 25‐year study period. SWI is the amount of liquid water delivered to the soil surface from melting snow or from rain that passes through the snowcover or falls directly on the soil. Warm winters, characterized by early‐ and mid‐winter rain, triggered earlier inputs from SWI and response in discharge than cool winters. Cool conditions prolonged the generation of SWI and streamflow out of the basin. Very wet conditions that were warm passed 50% of the SWI 27 days earlier and passed 50% of the discharge 15 days earlier, when compared to very wet conditions that were cool. Warmer conditions produced less snow water equivalent, shortened the melt season, and would be expected to extend the summer drought. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


We studied 12 patients with Parkinson disease who scream while sleeping. All 12 patients showed clinical manifestations and brain images of typical idiopathic Parkinson disease. On average, the screaming began 4.8 years after the onset signs and symptoms of Parkinson disease. In many cases, sleep talking started before the onset of Parkinson disease. All patients reported that the screaming disrupted the sleep of their families, and half of the patients reported that the screams disturbed their own sleep. The screams were incorporated into their dreams. Clonazepam was effective to alleviate this screaming in 8 out of 9 cases. We considered this screaming to be caused by similar mechanisms as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder in which muscle atonia characterizing normal REM sleep is absent. The screams were not accompanied by other abnormal behaviors. We postulate that the screaming is a symptom closely related to that of mid or lower brainstem lesion in Parkinson disease because the neural activity of the locus ceruleus or the pudunculopontine nucleus are responsible for muscle atonia in REM sleep.


Introduction Despite its wide use, passive partner notification (PN) has a low yield of sexual partners influenced by patient-related and health system (HS) factors. Methods We conducted a qualitative study and clinic observations during a pre-intervention phase of a quality improvement (QI) project to identify HS factors that influenced passive PN at Bwaila STI unit (BSU) in Lilongwe Malawi from January to February 2016. We conducted 15 in-depth interviews with health workers and clinic observations for six clinic flow and PN processes at the clinic. Results The majority of health workers felt that the lack of incentives for sexual partners or couples who presented to the clinic was the most important negative HS factor that influenced passive PN. We observed an average clinic start time of 09:02 hours. The average duration of the group health talk was 56 minutes and there was no difference in the time spent at the clinic between index cases and partners (1 hour 41 minutes versus 1 hour 36 minutes respectively). Discussion Lack of incentives for sexual partners or couples was the most important HS factors that impacted the yield of sexual partners. Interventions focusing on designing simple non-monetary incentives and QI of passive PN should be encouraged.


Systemic fungal infections remain a major clinical problem in immunocompromised patients. Presumed systemic fungal infections (PSFI) are treated empirically with an intravenous antifungal agent to reduce the occurrence of documented infections and associated mortality. The objective of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of intravenous itraconazole (IVitra) treatment with the current first-line empirical treatment of PSFI with conventional amphotericin B (CAB) in cases of neutropenic cancer and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Cost-effectiveness was expressed as cost per additional "responder" (defined as a patient without fever or major toxicity). We developed a medical decision analytical tree that included probabilities of toxicity, response and pathogen documentation, and second-line treatments. Clinical data were obtained from randomized clinical trials, and resource use data were obtained from a panel of clinical experts. The total cost of treating PSFI per neutropenic cancer patient was lower for IVitra than for CAB, and this lower cost resulted from a reduced need for second-line antifungals. In a cost-effectiveness analysis, IVitra treatment was superior to CAB treatment. Compared with current treatment with CAB, IVitra therapy was shown to be a cost-effective and cost-saving empirical treatment for PSFI in neutropenic cancer patients and BMT patients.


In order to reduce global warming through fossil fuel utilization, biogas production from biodegradable biomass seems a sustainable alternative. This study evaluated the availability and co-substrate potential of T. latifolia for biogas production in Funtua, Katsina State Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the wards that were used for this study. A 1204 metres transect was used for 32 quadrats; 19 of these were laid on the 953m contiguous land area at intervals of 50m; 9 quadrats covered 450m, 5 quadrats were on 250m, 3 on 153m, and 2 on 100m. The remaining 13 transects were laid on the 251m un-contiguous patches. Coordinates of various potentials sites were recorded using Global positioning system. There were an average of 27 T. latifolia stands per m2. A total of 32,388 of T. latifolia stands were recorded in the study area; Dukke ward (23,968), Makera (8,205) and Maska 216. T. latifolia is available in lqrge quantities, and a potential co substrate in anaerobic digestion for biogas production in Funtua. It is recommended that the study should be replicated in time later to establish a trend of the T. latifolia species in terms of population.


In this paper, we present a detailed spectroscopic study of the SB1 system HD 161660. New spectroscopic observations have been obtained by us with Catania Astrophysical Observatory Spectropolarimeter (CAOS@OAC). Combining these observations with archive data from email@example.com, we derived atmospheric parameters as temperature and gravity (from the fit of Balmer lines), microturbulence and rotational velocity (from metal lines), and chemical composition. We found underabundances of helium, carbon, magnesium, sulphur and chromium, overabundances of neon, phosphorus, argon, manganese, xenon, and mercury. All other elements have solar composition. In particular, mercury abundance is derived taking into account an isotopic mixture different from the terrestrial one (essentially pure 202Hg). Considering this chemical pattern, we definitively confirm HD 161660 is an HgMn star. Further, variability of equivalent widths points out a non-homogeneous distribution of helium and magnesium over stellar surface. As to iron and phosphorus, we found a non-constant abundance with the optical depth, a result currently considered an evidence of vertical stratification. Finally, we improved the fundamental parameters characterizing the HD 161660 orbit.


To the extent that a borrower faces switching costs in a relationship with an individual bank, bank-specific financial health might affect a borrower's cost of funds. The costs would be particularly large for firms that have a close relationship with limited number of banks. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether weakened financial conditions of banks reduced investment of small and medium firms in Japan. Estimating Tobin's Q investment functions, we examine the determinants of investment for unlisted Japanese companies in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. We find that several measures on bank-specific financial health have significantly large impacts on borrower's investment, even when observable characteristics relating to Tobin's Q, cash-flow, and leverage are controlled for. We also find that multiple banking relationships, which tend to have a negative impact on investment in general, may be beneficial in relieving a hold up problem when deteriorated bank health does matter.


Capital is one of the problems faced by micro traders. The presence of BMT is a solution for those who need capital assistance to develop a business, so it needs a direct role from BMT. This study aims to determine the financing mechanism in BMT UGT Sidogiri Cabang Jombang and to know the role of BMT UGT Sidogiri Cabang Jombang in empowering micro traders. The research method used is descriptive analysis method. Data collection techniques used are observation, interviews, and documentation. The results of this study indicate that 1) the financing mechanism in BMT UGT Sidogiri Cabang Jombang is very easy and fast by going through several stages, namely the applicant proposes financing by meeting the requirements, then analysis and survey will be carried out. After submission in acc, the next stage is he contract process and the disbursement process. 2) The role of BMT UGT Sidogiri Cabang Jombang in empowering micro traders is by providing capital assistance through financing. In addition to financing, BMT UGT Sidogiri Cabang Jombang also provides financing but has not been maximized, namely only as an initiative in the form of providing motivations to traders.


With this issue of Heart , Professor Michael Davies relinquishes the Editorship, which he has held for the past seven years. He leaves to take up the post of Assistant Medical Director (Research) of the British Heart Foundation.

I was extremely fortunate to have been taught by Mike Davies both as an undergraduate medical student and as a research fellow. His approach to his work has always been characterised by a …


Referee: Dr. Graham C. Fletcher, Food Microbiologist, Seafood Research Unit, Crop 7 Food Research, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand Hot smoked fish should fulfill the requirements set up for ready-to-eat foods. The total bacterial count on the raw material is 103 to 105 CFU per cm2 of skin and 102 to 109 CFU per gram of intestines. Contamination with pathogenic bacteria is very low, mainly with Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In the premises of low hygiene, the contamination may increase due to unsanitary procedures, rotation of assigned duties of workers, and airborne microorganisms during packing of the product. Hot smoking in mild conditions at temperature in the fish not exceeding 65°C and low concentration of salt does not inactivate all pathogens or inhibit bacteria during storage. Thus the required safety can be obtained only by using very fresh fish handled in hygienic conditions, controlling the processing and the plant hygiene in critical control points, and chilling of the product to about 2°C. Most critical are the hygienic conditions in handling of the product after smoking. The use of preservatives for extending the shelf life of smoked fish is being investigated. High-quality shelf life of mild hot smoked mackerel at about 2°C is at least 3 weeks.


This paper describes a diffusion-controlled electrolysis of glucose with mediated bioelectrocatalysis at microdisk-electrodes. Under conditions of an extremely fast enzyme reaction, compared with the diffusion of glucose, the current in potential-step chronoamperometry reaches an almost steady state within 10 s, and is proportional to the glucose concentration. The current can be detected at +0.1 V ( vs . Ag|AgCl) with 9,10-phenanthrenequinone as a mediator. The addition of carboxymethylcellulose increased the linear range up to 10 mM.


Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer with low 5-year survival rate. Cellular senescence, characterized by permanent and irreversible cell proliferation arrest, plays an important role in tumorigenesis and development. This study aims to develop a cellular senescence-based stratified model, and a multivariable-based nomogram for guiding clinical therapy for HCC. Materials and methods: The mRNAs expression data of HCC patients and cellular senescence-related genes were obtained from TCGA and CellAge database, respectively. Through multiple analysis, a four cellular senescence-related genes-based prognostic stratified model was constructed and its predictive performance was validated through various methods. Then, a nomogram based on the model was constructed and HCC patients stratified by the model were analyzed for tumor mutation burden, tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration, drug sensitivity and immune checkpoint. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to explore potential biological pathways. Finally, we verified this model by siRNA transfection, scratch assay and Transwell Assay. Results: We established an cellular senescence-related genes-based stratified model, and a multivariable-based nomogram, which could accurately predict the prognosis of HCC patients in the ICGC database. The low and high risk score HCC patients stratified by the model showed different tumor mutation burden, tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration, drug sensitivity and immune checkpoint expressions. Functional enrichment analysis suggested several biological pathways related to the process and prognosis of HCC. Scratch assay and transwell assay indicated the promotion effects of the four cellular senescence-related genes (EZH2, G6PD, CBX8, and NDRG1) on the migraiton and invasion of HCC. Conclusion: We established a cellular senescence-based stratified model, and a multivariable-based nomogram, which could predict the survival of HCC patients and guide clinical treatment.


Using methods of critical discourse analysis, I studied all opinion pieces and editorials about poverty published in the National Post during the first three months of 2014. The dominant discourse that emerged was one of war on anti-poverty advocates. In support of this discourse, discursive rhetorical strategies were mobilized, including oppositions such as deserving vs. undeserving poor, differential treatment of sources and credentials , over-lexicalization, and derogation. As the flagship publication of Postmedia Network Canada, the country's largest English-language newspaper chain, the National Post not only sets the tone for its sister publications, it is also strongly positioned to influence public discourse about poverty and how to alleviate it. The prescription to poverty promoted in the op-ed pages of this national newspaper—that governments slash services and programs for the poor and allow market forces to run their course—is targeted at politicians, policy makers, and the general public. During the first quarter of 2014, National Post op-ed pieces consistently vilified anti-poverty advocates and discredited the initiatives they promoted, such as implementing guaranteed annual income programs, raising tax rates for wealthy individuals and corporations, and increasing minimum wages and welfare rates.


Small and medium congenital melanocytic nevi are relatively common but present a small but significant risk of malignant transformation. Because prophylactic excision of all nevi is impractical, dermoscopic evaluation has a role in the clinical decision-making process. Dermoscopy of benign congenital nevi reveals a globular or homogenous pattern, black or brown dots and globules, small milia-like cysts within the globules, and terminal hairs. Dermoscopic criteria of melanoma are outlined here, with discussion of common scoring methods, the seven-point checklist, the ABCD rule, pattern analysis, and the Menzies criteria. Serial examination of congenital nevi with dermoscopy and excision of those lesions with malignant criteria are useful in the management of congenital melanocytic nevi.


This study uses the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code ANSYS-CFX-12, to simulate 3D flow through a straight trapezoidal cross section channel containing a single bridge pier. The fluid flow condition is assumed to be steady state, isothermal and incompressible, with symmetry along the centerline of the channel, and the simulation uses the k - ε turbulence model. The study investigates the impact of variations of aspect ratio (channel bed width/flow depth), bed and side slopes of the channel, discharge (represented by a Froude number), and the length and thickness of the bridge pier on the free surface flow profile, both along the centerline and the on the wall of the channel. The code is based on the finite volume method, and uses the volume of fluid (VOF) approach to predict the free surface flow profile. Prediction of the free surface flow profile is essential for the design of high velocity channels. Prior prediction of flow profiles can inform and improve the design of expensive structures, such as high velocity channels and bridges, in particular the height of channel walls and bridge decks. Firstly, the code was validated against the numerical and experimental work of Stockstill (1996) for a channel containing three piers, and found to agree well. Then, the method was applied to the design test case, and mesh convergence tests to establish the required mesh size were carried out. The simulations were conducted in parallel over 32 cores on the Plymouth University High Performance Computer Cluster (HPCC). Finally, a parametric study was carried out and analytical expressions derived for maximum flow depth at the centre-line and at the side wall of the channel. Useful non-dimensional curves and equations derived from regressions of the study data are provided, which can be used as a guideline for the design of high velocity channels containing a bridge pier. For data regressions the statistical package software Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) was used.


Branch of modern mathematics, graphs represent instruments for optimization and solving practical applications in various fields such as economic networks, engineering, network optimization, the geometry of social action, generally, complex systems including contemporary urban problems (path or transport efficiencies, biourbanism, & c.). In this paper is studied the interconnection of some urban network, which can lead to a simulation problem of a digraph through another digraph. The simulation is made univoc or more general multivoc. The concepts of fragment and atom are very useful in the study of connectivity in the digraph that is simulation including an alternative evaluation of kconnectivity. Rough set approach in (bi)digraph which is proposed in premier in this paper contribute to improved significantly the evaluation of k-connectivity. This rough set approach is based on generalized rough sets basic facts are presented in this paper. Keywords—(Bi)digraphs, rough set theory, systems of interacting agents, complex systems.


XYZ Ltd. is a company engaged in the bag-making manufacturing industry. The products produced include various types of bags such as backpacks, messengers, triangles, body bags, waist bags, and wheeled suitcases. The problems currently faced by XYZ Ltd. in its business processes, namely requests that are not the same as forecasts, delays in raw materials sent by suppliers, damage to raw materials during storage in warehouses due to the absence of routine checks, machine breakdowns that affect production process delays, and returns of finished products from consumers due to defect at the time of delivery. This causes the company to lose in terms of time and cost. This study uses the House Of Risk method. The House Of Risk method is a modification of the Failure Modes and Effects of Analysis (FMEA) method and the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method. The purpose of this study is to identify potential risks that may arise in the supply chain at XYZ Ltd, find out the causes of these risks, and design effective risk mitigation strategies for the company. In the House Of Risk (HOR) stage 1, namely the risk identification stage, there are 33 risk events and 42 risk agents. Then after being analyzed using a Pareto diagram, 13 dominant risk causes were found based on the Aggregate Risk Potential (ARP) value. In the House Of Risk (HOR) phase 2, 14 mitigation actions (preventive actions) are proposed to overcome the probability of the emergence of risk agents in the supply chain of XYZ Ltd.


Owing to the disastrous consequences of ground subsidence in the urban area, great attention had always been accorded to areas with suspected signs of subsidence occurrence in order to mitigate its effect. Microgravity and electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) survey techniques were conducted at a parking lot of which possible occurrence of subsidence is anticipated due to the increased exposure of surface cracks and very slight depression. This study aimed to map and delineate the subsurface condition of the area with the view of revealing probable subsidence prone zones within the study area. To this end, the microgravity survey data was acquired at a station interval of 2 m. Pole-dipole configuration with 2 m electrode separation was adopted for the electrical resistivity imaging survey. The two methods showed good correlation with each other and proved their effectiveness in imaging the subsurface. A large proportion of the subsurface area was found to be residual soil (mainly silt and or clayey sand) with saturated zones identified by low gravity (< - 40.94 mGal) and resistivity (<150 Ω.m) values, which have the tendency to undergo expansion and contraction processes due to rise and fall in moisture content. The subsurface condition was found to be relatively stable, devoid of any subsidence triggering features such as voids or cavities. However, it is inferred to be unsuitable for engineering structures due to the expansive and contractive properties of the subsurface geomaterials (residual soil). Therefore, it is concluded that the area is not prone to subsidence and the surface cracks presents are mere effects of the expansion and contraction process, which could be avoided by the excavation of the expansive soil or good engineering design before the establishment of any structure.


Abstract The radiocarbon content and stable isotope composition of soil carbonate are best described by a dynamic system in which isotopic reequilibration occurs as a result of recurrent dissolution and reprecipitation. Depth of water penetration into the soil profile, as well as soil age, determines the degree of carbonate isotope reequilibration. We measured δ13C, δ18O and radiocarbon content of gravel rinds and fine (<2 mm) carbonate in soils of 3 .different ages (1000, 3800, and 6300 14 C yr B.P.) to assess the degree to which they record and preserve a climatic signal. In soils developing in deposits independently dated at 3800 and 6300 radiocarbon yr B.P., carbonate radiocarbon content above 40 cm depth suggests continual dissolution and reprecipitation, presumably due to frequent wetting events. Between 40 and 90 cm depth, fine carbonate is dissolved and precipitated as rinds that are not redissolved subsequently. Below 90 cm depth in these soils, radiocarbon content indicates that inherited, fine carbonate undergoes little dissolution and reprecipitation. In the 3800- and 6300-yr-old soils, δ13C in rind and fine carbonate follows a decreasing trend with depth, apparently in equilibrium with modern soil gas, as predicted by a diffusive model for soil CO2. δ18O also decreases with depth due to greater evaporative enrichment above 50 cm depth. In contrast, carbonate isotopes in a 1000-yr-old deposit do not reflect modern conditions even in surficial horizons; this soil has not undergone significant pedogenesis. There appears to be a lag of at least 1000 but less than 3800 yr before carbonate inherited with parent material is modified by ambient climatic conditions. Although small amounts of carbonate are inherited with the parent material, the rate of pedogenic carbonate accumulation indicates that Ca is derived primarily from eolian and rainfall sources. A model describing carbonate input and radiocarbon decay suggests that fine carbonate below 90 cm is mostly detrital (inherited) and that carbonate rinds have been forming pedogenically at a constant rate since alluvial fans were deposited.


RATIONALE
Over the past few decades, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has emerged as a real threat to human health. Accordingly, there is an urgent demand for the development of innovative strategies for discovering new antibiotics. We present the first use of tetra-carbohydrazide cyclophane macrocycles in dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) and molecular recognition as chiral hosts binding oligopeptides, which mimic bacterial cell wall. This study introduces an innovative application of electrospray ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS) to oligopeptides recognition using DCC.

METHODS
A small dynamic library composed of eight functionalised macrocycles has been generated in solution and all members were characterised by ESI-TOF MS. We also probed the dynamic reversibility and mechanism of formation of tetra-carbohydrazide cyclophanes in real-time using ESI-TOF MS.

RESULTS
Dynamic reversibility of tetra-carbohydrazide cyclophanes is favored under thermodynamic control. The mechanism of formation of tetra-carbohydrazide cyclophanes involves key dialdehyde intermediates, which have been detected and assigned according to their high-resolution m/z values. Three members of the dynamic library bind efficiently in the gas phase to a selection of oligopeptides, unique to bacteria, allowing observation of host/guest complex ions in the gas phase.

CONCLUSIONS
We probed the mechanism of the [2+2]-cyclocondensation reaction forming library members, proved dynamic reversibility of tetra-carbohydrazide cyclophanes and showed that complex ions formed between library members and hosts can be observed in the gas phase, allowing the solution of an important problem of biological interest.


The sustainability of supply chain,both economical and ecological, has attracted intensive attentions of academic and industry. It is proven in former works that supply chain pooling given by horizontal cooperation among several independent supply chains create a new common supply chain network that could reduce the costs and the transport CO2 emissions. In this regard, this paper introduces a scheme to share in a fairly manner the savings. After a summary of the concept of pooled-supply-networks optimization and CO2 emission model, we use cooperative game theory as the cooperative mechanism for the implementation of the horizontal pooling. Since we proved the related pooling game to be super-additive, a fair and stable allocation of common gain in transportation cost and CO2 emission is calculated by Shapley Value concept. Through a case study, the results show that supply chains pooling can result in reductions of both transportation cost and carbon emissions, and that the increase of carbon-tax rate gives enterprises more incentives for the implementation of such pooling scheme.


The authors base their efforts on the assumption that future cities will only be called 'advanced' and 'sustainable' if they evolve as a shared vision between the city users / dwellers (general public) and urban designers, planners, architects, engineers (experts). For visions to be shared and planning processes to be inclusive the involvement of all (urban) actors is paramount. With the increasing urban complexity and the interrelation of phenomena there is also an increasing demand for updated, advanced and re-thought digital tools that could help in forming and enabling such common urban visions. The paper outlines the agenda and connects our ongoing research efforts with the fields deemed most crucial for inclusive-for-all, successful participation that can lead to shared visions of future cities. Standing out in interchangeable order and never-ending cyclic process are: (1) education, (2) communication and (3) collaboration.


Background A major unmet need in SLE is the identification of a biomarker that consistently tracks with disease activity. One current approach is measuring complement activation by evaluating consumption of serum C3 and C4. However, since they are acute phase reactants, interpretation of these levels is challenging as serum levels may not decrease until late in a disease flare. iC3b is a proteolytically derived molecule of C3b and increases with complement activation. iC3b/C3 ratio measures complement consumption relative to production, which may provide for a more accurate assessment of complement activation. We hypothesize that blood iC3b and iC3b/C3 levels will provide a more specific and reliable marker of complement activation and disease activity in SLE. Methods 159 consecutive subjects with American College of Rheumatology or Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classified SLE were enrolled into CASTLE (Complement Activation Signatures in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), a prospective observational study. Patients with 1–7 study visits were included in this longitudinal analysis. 48 healthy volunteers were enrolled to establish the normal reference iC3b/C3 ratio. Serum C3 and C4 were measured by nephelometry and blood iC3b levels by a lateral flow assay. SLE disease activity was monitored utilizing the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2K Responder Index-50 instrument. Results iC3b/C3 ratio, double-stranded (ds)DNA antibodies (Abs), and supraphysiologic prednisone dose (>7.5 mg/day) each independently correlated with SLE disease activity, employing multilevel multiple logistic regression analysis. Only the iC3b/C3 ratio was significantly associated with clinically meaningful improvements in disease activity among subjects receiving supraphysiologic doses of prednisone. iC3b/C3 outperformed C3 and C4 levels discriminating both active versus inactive SLE disease and major flares versus no disease activity. iC3/C3, dsDNA Abs, ESR, and supraphysiologic prednisone dose were independently associated with lupus nephritis, while none were associated with SLE rash. The association of iC3b/C3 with nephritis was independent of other observed clinical manifestations. Finally, we observed a stronger association of the iC3b/C3 ratio with SLE disease activity in African-Americans compared to Whites. Conclusions Blood iC3b/C3 correlates with SLE disease activity and clinically meaningful changes. Furthermore, it discriminates between active versus inactive SLE, and major flares compared to those patients without active disease. Differences in the strength of association was observed between races and manifestations. Funding Source(s): Kypha, Inc. and National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) under Award Number R21AR069833.


CONTEXT.—
Anatomic pathologists render diagnosis on tissue samples sectioned onto glass slides and viewed under a bright-field microscope. This approach is destructive to the sample, which can limit its use for ancillary assays that can inform patient management. Furthermore, the subjective interpretation of a relatively small number of 2D tissue sections per sample contributes to low interobserver agreement among pathologists for the assessment (diagnosis and grading) of various lesions.

OBJECTIVE.—
To evaluate 3D pathology data sets of thick formalin-fixed Barrett esophagus specimens imaged nondestructively with open-top light-sheet (OTLS) microscopy.

DESIGN.—
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded Barrett esophagus samples (N = 15) were deparaffinized, stained with a fluorescent analog of hematoxylin-eosin, optically cleared, and imaged nondestructively with OTLS microscopy. The OTLS microscopy images were subsequently compared with archived hematoxylin-eosin histology sections from each sample.

RESULTS.—
Barrett esophagus samples, both small endoscopic forceps biopsies and endoscopic mucosal resections, exhibited similar resolvable structures between OTLS microscopy and conventional light microscopy with up to a ×20 objective (×200 overall magnification). The 3D histologic images generated by OTLS microscopy can enable improved discrimination of cribriform and well-formed gland morphologies. In addition, a much larger amount of tissue is visualized with OTLS microscopy, which enables improved assessment of clinical specimens exhibiting high spatial heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS.—
In esophageal specimens, OTLS microscopy can generate images comparable in quality to conventional light microscopy, with the advantages of providing 3D information for enhanced evaluation of glandular morphologies and enabling much more of the tissue specimen to be visualized nondestructively.


A community based study named Kahoku Longitudinal Aging Study (KLAS) was conducted since 1990 for the purpose of evaluating the comprehensive geriatric functional assessment (CGA) and preventing a decline in CGA in the community-dwelling elderly population. It was carried out in a Japanese rural town, in which 32% of the population was over 65 years of age. This study included a questionnaire about activity of daily living (ADL), information-related physical function, mental (cognitive and affective) and social functional domains. In addition to subjective informative instruments, various types of objective assessment such as quantitative neuro-behavioral function tests and medical examinations were performed. Subjects were all the eligible elderly aged over 65 years in the community. Although the ratio of subjects who were independent in ADL decreased with advancing age in both 1991 and 1993, the ratio of the independent elderly in ADL became significant higher (74%) in 1993 than in 1991 (71%). Scores on 2 kinds of neurobehavioral function tests in the 159 subjects aged over 75 years who attended the examination every year showed a significant and slight decrease during two years. However, some test indices significantly improved during the 2 years. These results suggested that age-related dependency in ADL and some kind of neurobehavioral functions might be prevented, in part, by health promoting education and improvement of life style.


The sixteenth century was an exciting period in the history of European theatre. In the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, France, Germany and England, writers and actors experimented with new dramatic techniques and found new publics. They prepared the way for the better-known dramatists of the next century but produced much work which is valuable in its own right, in Latin and in their own vernaculars. The popular theatre of the Middle Ages gave endless material for reinvention by playwrights, and the legacy of the ancient world became a spur to creativity, in tragedy and comedy. As soon as readers and audiences had taken in the new plays, they were changed again, taking new forms as the first experiments were themselves modified and reinvented. Writers constantly adapted the texts of plays to meet new requirements. These and other issues are explored by a group of international experts from a comparative perspective, giving particular emphasis to one of the great European comic dramatists, the Portuguese Gil Vicente. Tom Earle is King John II Professor of Portuguese at Oxford. Catarina Fouto is a Lecturer in Portuguese at King's College London.


This study paper aims to examine the main interdependencies and synergies between Blue Economy sectors and relatedly prominent business and economic actors. In particular, the research proposes emerging strategic management perspectives capable to better understand potential interdependences and synergies among BE sectors, also deepening the relevance of relationship established between main business actors populating these sectors. For this purpose, stakeholder relationship management, maritime spatial planning, and innovation ecosystem theories are suggested as the most fitting theoretical constructs to be applied. Grounding on a systematic academic literature review, insights from a grey review and anecdotal evidence emerging from a valuable business case focus on interdependences and synergies which may originate among Marine living resources, Marine Renewable Energy and Bioeconomy sectors. By stressing, the potential synergic interactions on which innovation ecosystems grounds on, this theoretical model is used for highlighting how parties involved in the ecosystem can support the introduction and diffusion of innovative processes, products and services in the Blue Economy domain, exploiting the aforementioned interdependences among BE sectors and actors, overcoming the technological issues that represent an obstacle to inter-sectorial upgrading and economic success. Research outcomes from the performed academic and grey literature review, jointly with evidence form the selected business case unveils that a strategic management perspective, which support the adoption of several managerial theories such innovation ecosystems, stakeholder relationships management and marine spatial planning allows a better understanding of the investigated phenomenon and favor the development of green and sustainable strategies pursued by prominent actors populating the BE industry and related sectors, thus supporting their license to operate when managing relationships with their main stakeholders.


Correction for:

Brennand K, Huangfu D, Melton D (2007) All β cells contribute equally to islet growth and maintenance. PLoS Biol 5(7): e163. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0050163

The labels in Figure 2B indicating the "Pulse" and "No Pulse" FACS conditions for the Rosa26-rtTA;tetO-H2BGFP cells were switched. Labeled properly, the middle left panel should be titled "No Pulse," and the bottom left panel should be titled "Pulse."


The effects of electric field (EF) on amyloid proteins have been given increasing attention in regulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation and therapeutic methods because of prevalence of Alzheimer's disease. Herein, for the first time, aptamer was used as a tool for investigating the effects of EF on Aβ40 monomer and Aβ40 aggregates (Aβ40 oligomer and Aβ40 fibril) by single-molecule force spectroscopy. Interestingly, EF had different effects on Aβ40 monomer and Aβ40 aggregates, which might be due to the interactions of aptamer with EF-treated Aβ40 monomer and Aβ40 aggregates. With application of EF to Aβ40 oligomer, specific interaction and binding probability of aptamer-Aβ40 oligomer slightly increased. However, the interactions of aptamer with Aβ40 monomer and Aβ40 fibril changed greatly when EF was respectively applied to Aβ40 monomer and Aβ40 fibril. Meanwhile, the interaction of aptamer with Aβ40 monomer changed from nonspecific binding to specific binding. And the rupture force distribution of aptamer-Aβ40 fibril changed from bimodal distribution to unimodal distribution. Hence, it was presumed that Aβ40 oligomer almost maintained oligomeric structure, while Aβ40 fibril and Aβ40 monomer changed into Aβ40 oligomer when EF was applied. Subsequently, this presumption was mainly verified by atomic force microscopy imaging and circular dichroism. This work testifies that aptamer may be a valuable tool to investigate effects of EF on Aβ40 monomer and Aβ40 aggregates. Moreover, the established method provides a new perspective to study aggregation of amyloid proteins.


La2O3 thin films were prepared by a sol–gel method and annealed in air and vacuum at various temperatures. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the properties and composition of films. The La 3d and O 1s spectra of films were analysed. It was shown that oxygen ions in La2O3 are in two states – O 2– anions connected with lanthanum, and oxygen in the (OH)– group. The thermal transformation of lanthanum hydroxide to oxide process was triggered by thermal treatment at temperatures above 600 K. It was shown that after annealing thin films for longer time intervals in vacuum the intensity of O2– component increases and the intensity of oxygen in (OH)– decreases. The drop of oxygen in the (OH)– group was attributed to dehydration process.


This paper reviews spectroscopic measurements relevant to the chemical modifications of Jupiter's atmosphere induced by the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacts. Such observations have been successful at all wavelength ranges from the UV to the centimeter. At the date this paper is written, newly detected or enhanced molecular species resulting from the impacts include H 2 0 , CO, S2, CS2, CS, OCS, NH3, HCN and C2H4. There is also a tentative detection of enhanced PH3 and a controversial detection of H2S. All new and enhanced species were detected in Jupiter's stratosphere. With the exception of NH3 (and perhaps H2S and PH3), apparently present down to the 10-50 mbar level, the minor species are seen at pressures lower than 1 mbar or less, consistent with a formation during the plume splashback at 1-100 microbar. NH3 may result from upwelling associated with vertical mixing generated by the impacts. The main oxygen species is apparently CO, with a total mass of a few 10 g for the largest impacts, consistent with that available in 400-700 m radius fragments. The observed O/S ratio is reasonably consistent with cometary abundances, but the O/N ratio (inferred from CO/HCN) is much larger, suggesting that another N species was formed but remained undetected, presumably N2. The time evolution of NH3, S2, CS2 shows evidence for photochemical activity taking place during and after the impact week.


Introduction Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has a rising rate of new HIV infections and AIDS-related mortality. Consistent adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to viral suppression, preventing HIV transmission and treatment failure. mHealth interventions can improve ART adherence by providing tailored support and directing patients to existing healthcare services. HamRaah (Persian for 'together-in-path') is the first mHealth-based intervention in a MENA country and is designed to improve adherence through two-way mobile messaging for people recently diagnosed with HIV in Tehran, Iran. The objectives of this pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) are to examine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of HamRaah, and to develop an explanatory theory for any observed effects through a nested realist evaluation. Methods A feasibility study and two-arm RCT of HamRaah, with an embedded realist evaluation will be conducted. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to HamRaah or routine care for a 6-month intervention. The initial effectiveness of HamRaah will be assessed through the primary outcome of self-reported ART adherence and several secondary outcomes: retention in care, CD4 count and viral suppression. A theory-driven realist evaluation framework will be used to develop an explanatory theory regarding what works, for whom, how and in what context. Ethics and dissemination The study received ethical clearance from Tehran University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee and Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee People living with HIV in Tehran and key country stakeholders in HIV policy and programming have been involved in the development of HamRaah and this pilot trial. Participants will provide informed consent prior to study enrolment. The results will be disseminated to all stakeholders and presented in peer-reviewed journal publications and conferences. Trial registration number IRCT20100601004076N23; Pre-results.


This study investigates the experience of students of German when reading German texts for academic purposes.

Research into reading in a second or foreign language has focused predominantly on English as a Second or Foreign Language but there have been more studies recently exploring reading in languages other than English. The research community has acknowledged a greater need for studies in this area, particularly with focus on reading in a foreign language for academic purposes. Indeed, there has been a call for thorough qualitative research that responds to the complex activity of reading in a foreign language, which, as has been recognised, is influenced by a multitude of sociocultural factors, factors pertaining to the process of language acquisition, factors that impact the imminent reading situation as well as individual learner factors.

This investigation into students' experience of reading German for academic purposes looks at the individual learner experience, with an attempt to take into account various factors that influence the individual student's approach to texts. The goal of the study is to gain a more detailed insight into students' reading processes and to provide suggestions for a teaching approach that guides students towards developing their strategic competence in reading for academic purposes. The study is based on social-constructivist principles (discussed in chapter 3) and incorporates a focused review of research into foreign and second language reading and reading strategies (chapter 2).

Students' reading processes were investigated using a multiple stage and method approach to data collection conducted over the course of three academic years at a German Department of a British university. This included a pre- and post-module reading comprehension test and questionnaire, a questionnaire on reading for academic purposes which included a four-tiered reading comprehension test, and a think-aloud study with two student cohorts incorporating both paired and individual think-aloud sessions. The pre-and post-module questionnaire and the think-aloud study were directly related to my teaching of the applied linguistics module Fachsprachen im Alltag aimed at developing students' text analysis skills. In an effort to apply constructivist principles and respond to student feedback. I revised the module to develop a more student-led and cooperative teaching approach. Its impact on student performance was tested in the post-module questionnaire as well as the think-aloud sessions. The questionnaire on reading for academic purposes investigated students' attitudes and motivations towards reading and allowed them to assess the role of the university as well as their own reading abilities.

Chapters 4 to 7 discuss the results of the data collection. Chapter 4 looks at students' self-evaluation of reading comprehension skills and strategy use. Chapter 5 investigates the role of the university as well as students' attitudes towards reading for academic purposes. Chapter 6 focuses on self-recorded strategy use based on the four-tiered self-administered reading comprehension test that formed part of the questionnaire study. Chapter 7 discusses the results of the think-aloud study, which allowed insight into students' actual strategy use as could be observed in the think-aloud sessions.

Findings reveal that students are capable of evaluating their own performance and have the ability to assess their strategy use, demonstrating meta-cognitive awareness. Students are also cognizant of the apparent gap that exists between studying German at A-Levels and studying German at university, and of the problems that this gap creates for them. Related to this is their expectation that the university is to take on a certain level of responsibility to bridge that gap and for developing students' reading comprehension skills by offering the necessary support. With regards to students' reading comprehension skills and strategy use, this study provides evidence that students understand the purpose of reading academic texts in German as 'reading to learn', i.e., to construct new knowledge and apply a critical approach to working with the text. They tend to apply mainly those types of reading strategies that help them understand the text at word and sentence level but their approach can often be tedious and inefficient. Students seem to lack a sufficiently advanced set of reading strategies that they can apply flexibly and effectively. Results of the reading comprehension tests also provide evidence that students struggle with linguistic features that are typically and frequently used in German texts for academic purposes. Finally, an analysis of the think-aloud protocols allows the conclusion that a teaching approach that promotes students' responsibility for their own learning, both as individuals as well as in collaborative settings, is beneficial to developing students' reading strategy repertoire.


This article suggests that the literature on how the European Union (EU) diffuses its norms externally and that on how it diffuses them internally should be linked. Therefore, the focus is on a field where the EU is described as a 'normative' power: climate change. The article analyzes how EU climate norms are diffused to new Member States. It argues that there are two roads to state socialization: through civil servants participating in EU work, and via domestic norm entrepreneurs. The empirical analysis is based on how four of the Member States that joined the EU in 2004–07 worked with the Climate and Energy Package of 2008–09. With the exception of one of the countries, there are few indications of an ongoing socialization process among them. For the EU as a normative power it is important to reflect upon why the underlying EU climate norms are rejected in the studied countries.


In this essay I question an assumption of Card's, which seems to place the (Kantian-style) ethical in a directive relationship with respect to the political. I call attention to the rupture between the two as a marker of modernity and suggest that the political is not only a sphere of power but also a value-sedimented field, with the values in question developing historically as in the case of liberal democracy.


This paper describes the analysis of online Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports published by 97 market-listed companies from the USA, Germany and the rest of Europe. It points out regional differences as well as changes over time by performing both, a qualitative and a quantitative content analysis. The qualitative analysis focuses on four main aspects: (a) Why? Why do companies report on CSR? (b) What? What information and key performance indicators are included in the companies' reports? (c) How? How are the reports technically implemented and who is responsible for the content? (d) Whereby? By what guidelines, rankings and certifications do companies create their CSR reporting? The quantitative analysis identifies shifts of the CSR reports' focus over time and investigates whether CSR reports are being (mis)used as marketing instruments.


The toxicity of gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD), a cyclic polymer of eight alpha-1,4-linked glucopyranosyl units with potential applications as a food ingredient, was examined in a 2-week pilot study followed by a 13-week oral toxicity study in Wistar rats. In the 2-week study, the test substance was administered to groups of 5 male rats at dietary levels of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%. In the 13-week study, groups of 20 rats/sex received diets with 0, 1.5, 5, or 20% gamma-CD. In each study, a comparison group receiving a diet with 20% lactose also was included. The 13-week study also included satellite groups of 10 rats/sex for the control and 20% gamma-CD groups. These satellite groups were kept on a standard, cereal-based rodent diet for a 4-week recovery period after termination of the treatment period. Parameters measured during the two studies were clinical signs, body weights, food and water intake, clinicochemical parameters, organ weights, and gross observation at necropsy. In the 13-week study, ophthalmoscopic and hematological examinations, urine and feces analyses, and histopathological examination of standard organs and tissues were conducted. There were no treatment-related mortalities in either study. Soft stools and, in the 13-week study, infrequent occurrences of diarrhea were noted in the lactose group at the beginning of treatment. Among the gamma-CD groups, soft stools occurred in only a few animals of the high-dose groups (>/=10% gamma-CD) during the first few days of treatment. Mean body weights tended to be slightly reduced in males of the 20% gamma-CD and 20% lactose groups. However, food efficiency was not affected by treatment except in the 13-week study in males of the 20% gamma-CD group during the first week of treatment. The hematological examinations and the semiquantitative urinalyses (conducted in the 13-week study) and the clinicochemical investigations (both studies) did not reveal any changes that could be attributed to gamma-CD treatment. Except for a slight cecal enlargement, which is commonly observed in rodents upon ingestion of incompletely absorbed carbohydrates, organ weights did not exhibit relevant changes as a result of gamma-CD treatment. On histopathological examination (13-week study), no treatment-related abnormalities were found. In conclusion, the ingestion of gamma-CD for 13 weeks at dietary levels of up to 20% (corresponding to intakes of 11.4 and 12.7 g/kg body wt/day for male and female rats, respectively) was well tolerated and did not produce any signs of toxicity.


Coriander is produced almost throughout the year for leaf purpose, however the demand for leaf during summer is high. The present investigation is under taken to study the weather modifications and their influence on production of coriander for leaf purpose during summer. Nine different production systems and their effect on micro-climate were studied. The study indicated that among the various weather factors studied, soil temperatures significantly influenced the germination, crop growth and yield. Soil temperature was significantly negatively correlated with number of leaves, leaf length, green biomass, shoot weight, leaf weight and yield. The mean afternoon (both ambient and soil) temperatures were also significantly negatively correlated with above growth parameters. The overall results of the experiment suggest that the soil temperatures are the most crucial factor in summer production of coriander. The afternoon soil temperature if ameliorated and maintained between 28. 0O C to 32.5O C, coriander production can be taken up successfully without any modification of other weather factors like air temperature and relative humidity. However, amelioration in ambient air temperature further improves the efficiency of the production system.


Purpose – The aim of this opinion piece is to seek to cast a critical eye over the event studies field to chart its progress as an emerging area of study, relative to its close relations tourism, hospitality and leisure. Design/methodology/approach – Viewpoint approach. Findings – The paper highlights various challenges that event educators and researchers face in advancing event studies to discipline status. Originality/value – It is timely that, as the quantum of event research and the number of event management education programmes surge, those involved in the field engage in greater critical introspection. This opinion piece attempts to provide such a reflective insight, which has been largely absent from the event studies literature to date.


Background: Cyber security has turned out to be one of the main challenges of recent years. As the variety of system and application vulnerabilities has increased dramatically in recent years, cyber attackers have managed to penetrate the networks and infrastructures of larger numbers of companies, thus increasing the latter's exposure to cyber threats. To mitigate this exposure, it is crucial for CISOs to have sufficient training and skills to help them identify how well security controls are managed and whether these controls offer the company sufficient protection against cyber threats, as expected. However, recent literature shows a lack of clarity regarding the manner in which the CISOs' role and the companies' investment in their skills should change in view of these developments. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the CISOs' level of cyber security-related preparation to mitigate cyber threats (and specifically, the companies' attitudes toward investing in such preparation) and the recent evolution of cyber threats. Methods: The study data are based on the following public resources: (1) recent scientific literature; (2) cyber threat-related opinion news articles; and (3) OWASP's reported list of vulnerabilities. Data analysis was performed using various text mining methods and tools. Results: The study's findings show that although the implementation of cyber defense tools has gained more serious attention in recent years, CISOs still lack sufficient support from management and sufficient knowledge and skills to mitigate current and new cyber threats. Conclusions: The research outcomes may allow practitioners to examine whether the companies' level of cyber security controls matches the CISOs' skills, and whether a comprehensive security education program is required. The present article discusses these findings and their implications.


The in vivo examination of tissue structures (e.g., human skin, eye retina) by optical coherence tomography is a powerful tool for pharmaceutical and medical research for the development of new drugs and new diagnostic methods. The parallel integration of eight Michelson interferometers including all reference light paths in one small glass chip is the basis of a compact sensor system with a high resolution, short measurement time, and a large penetration depth especially in almost opaque tissue such as the human skin. The interferometer array is fabricated with silver ion exchanged waveguides.


This paper presents a study on known approaches for quality assurance of educational test and test items. On its basis a comprehensive approach to the quality assurance of online educational testing is proposed to address the needs of all stakeholders (authors of online tests, teachers, students, experts, quality managers, etc.). According to the proposed approach is developed an original software application Test Quality Evaluation (TQE) for the automation of the stakeholders' activities for quality assurance of educational tests throughout the whole lifecycle. The application retrieves and provides analysis of data from online tests conducted and specially designed surveys for quality evaluation of educational tests by students and experts. It allows tracking and evaluating the quality of educational tests in real time and provides the related quantitative data in different levels of generalization – in the level of a separate educational test, of educational tests of an entire course, or educational tests of a subject area. The software application has been put under real-time testing for quality evaluation of educational tests, included in e-learning courses from different subject areas that prove its applicability.


It is essential to have link-level performance data for understanding the features of a network. Network tomography is based on end-to-end measurement to infer the network internal information. In the paper, we use the multicast dependence tree model and upward-downward algorithm to infer link delay distribution, which requires a relatively small number of free parameters by making Markov-like assumptions on the tree. The simulation result shows that the method works efficiently and produces reasonable accurate results


A solar filament is a dense cool condensation that is supported and thermally insulated by magnetic fields in the rarefied hot corona. Its evolution and stability, leading to either an eruption or disappearance, depend on its coupling with the surrounding hot corona through a thin transition region, where the temperature steeply rises. However, the heating and dynamics of this transition region remain elusive. We report extreme-ultraviolet observations of quiescent filaments from the Solar Dynamics Observatory that reveal prominence spicules propagating through the transition region of the filament-corona system. These thin needle-like jet features are generated and heated to at least 0.7 MK by turbulent motions of the material in the filament. We suggest that the prominence spicules continuously channel the heated mass into the corona and aid in the filament evaporation and decay. Our results shed light on the turbulence-driven heating in magnetized condensations that are commonly observed on the Sun and in the interstellar medium.


The challenge of finding scale-up criteria that allow reproducing laboratory data at higher scales is extremely important for the industrial supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) processes. The objective of this work is to investigate the scaleup of SFE from Capsicum frutescens pepper using supercritical CO2, and to evaluate the extraction kinetic curves of oleoresin and capsaicinoids of the large scale extraction. Extractions were performed at laboratory and pilot scale at 15 MPa and 40 °C, and their curves are compared in terms of yield and kinetics, also using mathematical modeling. The scale-up criterion adopted in this study was to keep constant the ratio between solvent flow rate and substrate feed (Q/F), considering that diffusion would be the controlling mechanism. The broken and intact cell model of Sovová (1994) was applied to fit the extraction curves. The applied model fitted well to experimental data, nevertheless the values of the modeled parameters for small and large scale curves reveal differences between both processes. The most outstanding differences appear in the constant extraction period (tCER) and in the convective mass transfer coefficient (kf). The possible reasons that led to those differences can be related to SFE bed packing procedure, different separation methods of the small and large scale equipment and extraction bed geometry. The yields for the small and large scale were 3.97(±0.09) and 4.18(±0.04), respectively. By analyzing the kinetic extraction curve in the large scale, it can be observed that at 135 min of extraction, more than 85 % of total capsaicinoids were obtained.


Since Francoise d'Eaubonne first coined the term eco-feminisme in 1974, a growing number of feminists and environmentalists have been concerned with the links between the domination of women and the domination of nature in Western culture. Although the concept of ecofeminism has come to mean quite different things to different ecofeminists, Karen Warren suggests that it is at least based on the following claims: (i) there are important connections between the oppression of women nonhuman nature" (64). Some ecofeminists have argued that women are in a better position than men to relate with nature, that they are in fact closer to nature and hence can derive some unique insight from this bond. This ecofeminist discussion takes two forms (66).l Proponents of the "body-based argument" claim that women, through their unique bodily experiences-ovulation, menstruation, pregnancy, child birth, and breast-feeding-are closer to and can more readily connect with nature. The "oppression argument" is based on the belief that women's separate social reality, resulting from a sexual division of labour and associated oppression, has led women to develop a special insight and connection with nature. In either case, ecofeminists typically derive an ethics based on historically undervalued feminine values of "care, love, friendand the oppression of nature; (ii) unTamara Thiebaux, Mother Earth Posing, 1989 ship, trust, and appropriate reciprocderstanding the nature of these conWatercolour, 4 X 3" ity" (Warren, 1990: 141) that ismeant nections is necessary to any adequate to overcome all forms of domination. understanding of the oppression of women and the oppression of nature; (iii) feminist theory and Relying on women's bodily experiences practice must include an ecological perspective ; and (iv) solutions to ecological problems must include a feminist perspective While it is hard to deny that female and male bodily experi(1987, 4-5). Ecofeminism is thus more than a complement to ences differ in many ways, one must be careful before giving either feminism or environmental thought; "ecofeminism locates support to the "body-based" argument that specifically female itself as a theory and movement which bridges the gap between bodily experiences actually confer on women superior (as opfeminism and ecology, but which transforms both to create a posed to different) insight into our relationship with nature. As unified praxis to end all forms of domination" (Sandilands, 3). Catherine Roach points out, Ecofeminists recognize that the association between women and nature has historically been used to exploit them, but they although men do not menstruate, bear children, or breastchoose to embrace this connection as a source of empowerment feed, they do share all other human biological processes and as the basis for their critique of the patriarchal oppression of (eating, sleeping, eliminating wastes, getting sick, dying), women and nature. As Robyn Eckersley points out, "[tlhis is an and in addition, in their ejaculation of semen they have explicitly ecofeminist project because it exposes and celebrates experience of a tangible stuff of the reproduction of life (52). what has traditionally been regarded as Other--both woman and


Cryoproteins are proteins precipitating at low temperature. Usually, the precipitate contains immunoglobulins (Igs), and are therefore called cryoglobulins. Very rarely, Igs do not precipitate, but, upon cooling, form a gel. Here, we report a case of cryogel observed in a patient presenting with Waldenström's disease. Using proteomic tools, a monoclonal IgM was identified as being the cause of the gel formation. Furthermore, addition of H2O before incubation at 4°C demonstrated that the monoclonal IgM was precipitable as a type I cryoglobulin (hypocryoglobulin).


This article presents a new approach to the construction of radiocarbon calibration curves. The Bayesian methodology was developed specifically to facilitate construction of the 2009 updates to the internationally agreed 14C calibration curves known as IntCal09 and Marine09. The curve estimation approach taken uses Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling, specifically a Metropolis-within-Gibbs sampler, which offers improved flexibility and reliability over the approaches used in the past. In particular, the method allows accurate modeling of calibration data with 14C determinations that arise from material deposited over several consecutive calendar years and that exhibit complex uncertainty structures on their calendar date estimates (arising from methods such as wiggle-matching and varve counting).


Organic–inorganic hybrid membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-cohexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) and silica composites containing sulfonic acid groups were prepared via in situ polymerization of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) using the sol-gel process. The membranes containing more sulfonic acid groups showed a higher vapor sorption and greater swelling behavior. The bound and free water content of the membrane is proportional to the SSA concentration. However, the hybrid membranes without SSA do not have free water. The ion conductivity of the membranes is proportional to the SSA concentration. Silica content in the hybrid membrane without SSA had great effect on their mechanical properties. Tensile modulus and yield stress increased and yield strain and elongation at break decreased with increased silica content. However, in the case of the hybrid membrane containing SSA modulus, yield stress decreased and yield strain and elongation at break increased with increased silica content due to the weak interactions between the hydrophobic polymer chain and the hydrophilic group of SSA. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 209–218, 2004