Th is article engages with the constitution of the anthropology of infrastructure as an autonomous subdiscipline. Rather than laboring in the service of demarcating a new fi eld of study, anthropologists, I argue, should strive for a critical deconstruction of the contemporary infrastructural moment. In the fi rst part of the article, I engage with the arguments in favor of infrastructure as an analytical lens by focusing on their treatment of relationality and materiality. I pinpoint the limitations of these approaches and argue that their epistemological and theoretical assumptions blunt the critical potential of anthropological studies of infrastructure. Th e second part of the article looks at theoretical alliances that favor connecting the anthropological study of infrastructure with a critical analysis of the production of nature and the built environment.


Estimating abundance is an essential component of monitoring and recovery of rare species, and spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) models provide the means for robust density estimation. Previous work has elucidated principles of SECR study design for large, generalist carnivores, but less attention has been paid to study design considerations for smaller species, with less extensive home ranges. Here, we integrated data from an intensive pilot study with simulation modeling to evaluate the influence of survey sampling intensity on precision and accuracy in SECR abundance estimation for a rare lagomorph that specializes on patchily distributed early-successional habitats. Doing so, we obtained the first mark–recapture density estimates for the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis). Capture probability and density on the landscape both impacted the required intensity of the sampling design. The optimal study design for robust estimation also required a greater number of traps relative to home range size or spatial extent than those recommended in prior SECR studies. This divergence emphasizes that SECR study design considerations will differ among organisms with varying spatial extent and habitat use. Demonstrating the appropriate sampling design for a study system is important prior to embarking in a SECR study. Integrating pilot empirical data with simulations provides a powerful means for optimizing SECR study design and for facilitating applicability of SECR approaches to a wider array of organisms with varying habitat and space use. This methodology may be employed in planning a monitoring program that maximizes effectiveness while minimizing cost and effort, as part of the adaptive management approach to monitor and recover rare or endangered species.


Decades ago, renowned economists John Maynard Keynes and Wassily Leontief foretold a time when artificial intelligence would produce "technological unemployment." In their view, labor would become less important and workers would be replaced by machines. Science fiction writers often capitalize on plots where robots take over tasks traditionally performed by humans. In such a scenario, what would be the implications on today's labor market? According to "Robots and jobs: evidence from US labor markets" (National Bureau of Economic Research working paper no. 23285, March 2017) by Daron Acemoglu and Pascual Restrepo, the use of industrial robots may reduce employment and wages in the U.S. economy.


UNLABELLED
Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide is a primary virulence factor responsible for eliciting acute mucosal inflammatory responses associated with H. pylori infection. In this study, we applied the animal model of H. pylori lipopolysaccharide-induced acute gastritis to assess the effect of antiulcer agent, ebrotidine, on the gastric mucosal inflammatory responses by analyzing the interplay between the activity of a key apoptotic caspase, caspase-3, epithelial cell apoptosis, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS-2).

METHODS
Rats, pretreated twice daily with ebrotidine at 100 mg/kg, or the vehicle, were subjected to intragastric application of H. pylori lipopolysaccharide at 50 microg/animal, and after 4 additional days on the antiulcer drug or vehicle regimen their mucosal tissue used for histologic assessment, assays of epithelial cells apoptosis, and the measurements of caspase-3 and NOS-2 activities.

RESULTS
In the absence of antiulcer agent, H. pylori lipopolysaccharide induced acute reaction characterized by the inflammatory infiltration of the lamina propria, hyperemia, and epithelial hemorrhage. This was accompanied by an 11.2-fold increase in epithelial cell apoptosis, a 6.5-fold induction in mucosal expression of NOS-2, and a 5.4-fold increase in caspase-3 activity. Treatment with H2-receptor antagonist ebrotidine, also known for its gastroprotective effects, produced a 50.9% reduction in the extent of mucosal inflammatory changes elicited by H. pylori lipopolysaccharide and an 82.5% decrease in the epithelial cells apoptosis, while the activity of caspase-3 decreased by 33.7% and that of NOS-2 showed a 72.8% decline.

CONCLUSIONS
The findings implicate caspase-3 involvement in gastric mucosal inflammatory responses to H. pylori lipopolysaccharide, and point towards participation of NOS-2 in the amplification of the cell death-signaling cascade. Our study also demonstrate that ebrotidine exerts modulatory effect on the H. pylori-induced mucosal inflammatory responses by interfering with the events propagated by NOS-2 and caspase-3.


LINE‐1 (long interspersed nuclear elements) retrotransposons constitute a large family of retrotransposable elements, accounting for 17% of the human genome. They encode proteins required for their own mobilization, including a reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme highly expressed in mouse embryos and mouse and human cancer cells and repressed in somatic differentiated healthy cells. We have found that reverse transcription takes place in early murine embryos, yielding an increase in LINE‐1 copy number during preimplantation development, which also occurs in tumor progression. RT inhibition irreversibly arrests embryo development, reduces cancer cell proliferation, promotes differentiation, antagonizes tumor growth, and causes a global reprogramming of transcription profiles. These results strongly suggest that a previously unrecognized RT‐dependent regulatory mechanism operates during preimplantation development, is repressed during differentiation to normal tissues, and, when erroneously reactivated in adult life, promotes cell transformation and cancer progression by "resurrecting" embryonic transcriptional pathways. The RT‐dependent mechanism emerges as a major source of genetic and epigenetic changes with physiological, pathological, and evolutionary implications.


Challenging tomorrow's school leaders to develop deep understanding and respect for alternative conceptions and responses to everyday leadership issues is a major undertaking. Incorporating layers of deep reflection in exchange for surface learning approaches to common practices and everyday events in the life of school leaders amounts to a challenge against the status quo of leadership tradition. This paper presents a description of the rationale and developmental stages of the Global Forum on School Leadership. Conceived as an extension to the existing reflective and dialogic practices of a pre-service leader preparation program in the mid-west of the United States, the forum attempts to incorporate die perspectives of global colleagues on issues related to everyday practices and school leadership conundrums in a mediated, asynchronous, web-based discussion format. This project adds a needed global orientation to leadership preparation in a post September 11th international context.


Transmembrane potential changes were monitored in 21 dogs that were shocked by intravenous injectin of Difco purified endotoxin (055:B5). Corresponding serial measurements of electrolyte concentration in plasma and muscle biopsies were obtained to assess fluid and electrolyte changes. During shock the transmembrane potential was found to become significantly less negative (-55.2 mv.) from a control of -87.5 mv. (p less than 0.001). A significant efflux of K+ (p less than 0.02) from the cell was recorded, but intracellular Na+ and Cl- concentration rose. A plausable explanation for the fluid and electrolyte shifts, possibly due to a decrease in the muscle temperature and a resultant decline in metabolism, has been offered.


Abstract Organic heteropolymers that we call here ice tholin II have been produced by plasma discharge irradiation of water/methanol/carbon dioxide/ethane cocondensed ices in a rough simulation of cometary chemistry. The radiation yield of these organic heteropolymers is approximately 10−26g/eV. Intermediate products including polyalcohols, ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, and hydrocarbons are also produced. No detectable polyoxymethylene is generated in this experiment. Preliminary chemical analyses of ice tholin using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques lead to the conclusion that ice tholin contains a significant degree of polyalcohol functionality, as well as aliphatic hydrocarbon groups and carbonyl-containing groups such as ketones and esters. Ice tholin II shows some spectroscopic similarities to 1:6 ethane/water ice tholin (ice tholin I), but overall the two are chemically distinct. Ice tholins may be difficult to detect in comets due to their low volatility, but nevertheless may have been delivered to the early Earth by cometary impacts and interplanetary dust particles. These polyalcohol-containing molecules would then have been available to participate in prebiotic chemistry, such as the synthesis of acyclic nucleic acid analogues which have been suggested as the first biomacromolecules


We report an intraoperative complication caused by nitrous oxide diffusion through the inner layer of a tube of the Ulmer breathing system, which has been developed for ventilation of small children and neonates (Fig. 2a). About 40 min after intubation and mechanical ventilation with oxygen, nitrous oxide, and halothane a sudden rise in PETCO2 was noticed (Fig. 1). Auscultation of both lungs revealed no pathological finding; suction through the endotracheal tube was possible with no indication of endotracheal tube herniation. After reconnection to the ventilator, PETCO2 values again increased. Thorough inspection of the tubes of the Ulmer breathing system revealed a herniation that nearly occluded the lumen (Fig. 2b). After changing the anesthetic system, the operation and anesthesia were continued uneventfully.


FIGURE: Haplotype assignments for the G8 ONA probe linked to Huntington's disease." The restriction fragment length polymorphisms that are defined by the restriction enzymes Hind III lA, Band 0 in this pedigree) and EcoRI 11, 2) are shown. The fetus inherited haplotype 02 from its unaffected maternal grandfather and therefore is at a present risk of 2.5% of developing Huntington's disease and a maximal risk of 5% if the mother subsequently develops symptoms of the disease.


ABSTRACT Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff, 1893) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an adult parasitoid of lepidopteran pests, and the age of the host has a strong influence on its reproduction. This study aimed to evaluate the biological characteristics of T. howardi reared on different aged pupae of Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, [1858]) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). For that, pupae with 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 or 168 h of age were exposed to parasitism. The experimental design was completely randomized, with seven treatments (pupal age) and ten replications, with each replication consisting of five pupae individualized with one female parasitoid at the respective ages. Tetrastichus howardi parasitized and emerged in pupae of all the evaluated ages. The duration of the cycle (egg-adult) in days, number of parasitoids that emerged per pupa (progeny), progeny per female, sex ratio of the parasitoid and longevity of adults were similar. This is the first record of T. howardi reproducing in C. includens pupae under laboratory conditions. The highest parasitism and development of T. howardi was obtained in 24-to 96-hour-old pupae of C. includens, indicating that this age range is more favorable to rear this parasitoid under laboratory conditions.


The history of surgery is to a large extent written around the record of its technical advances. A pneumatic tourniquet is a humble instrument, when compared with many of the more complicated mechanical devices in the modern operation theatre. Nevertheless, it has played a significant role in making possible the precise operations of present-day orthopaedics. Simple tool though the tourniquet may be, its application carries many potential dangers, and it should only he entrusted to skilled hands.


Introduction: Many diseases associated with oxidative stress threaten human health, exaggerated by antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections due to the increasing use of antibiotics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a nanoemulsion prepared from Artemisia vulgaris essential oil (EO). Methods: Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in this study. The disk diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were used to investigate the antibacterial properties of the synthesized NPs. In addition, the microdilution method was utilized to examine the antimicrobial properties of the synthetic substance. Inhibitory concentrations (MIC and MBC) were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the nanoemulsion was evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2- picryl-hydrazyl biochemical method. Results: The findings of this study demonstrated that the synthesized NPs had significant growth inhibitory effects against Gram-positive bacteria with considerable inhibition of growth being observed for S. aureus and M. luteus. Conclusion: In general, Artemisia EO seems to be beneficial for treating bacterial infections owing to its antimicrobial properties and antioxidant effects. Further therapeutic applications of this EO as a potential drug carrier are yet to be divulged in future studies.


In order to reduce the emission of NOx, SOx, and CO2 and mitigate the dependence on the fossil fuel, the use of renewable energy, especially the biomass energy, has been explored. Since most biomass fuels are hard to grind to the very fine size, gasification is the preferred technology of energy conversion. Updraft fixed bed gasification using partial oxidation process is adopted where air less than the stoichiometric quantity is admitted to oxidize the char to CO. The temperature profile within the bed reveals a characteristic temperature peak. The results reveal a correlation between the higher heating value (HHV) of producer gas and the peak gasification temperature (Tpeak). Coal with higher char content (~45%) is blended with biomass of low char content (~20%) in order to produce high quality gas. In this study, the Texas-based mesquite fuel was blended with Wyoming Power River Basin (PRB) coal with mass ratios of 100:0, 90:10, and 80:20 and fired downward into the gasifier. It was found that at a given mesquite to the coal mass ratio, the peak gasification temperature decreased with the increase in ER. With the increase of the coal ratio in the mesquite: coal blend and the peak temperature increased significantly; more combustible gases such as CO, CH4 were generated at the end of product gas, and the HHV of the product gas increased by 10% - 20%.


Objective:To observe the changes of hemodynamics,nausea and vomiting,gastric reflux and injury after general anesthesia with the laryngeal mask (LAM) ventilation in laparoscopic surgery.Methods:We selected 680 patients with ASA level Ⅰ-Ⅱ for laparoscopy under general anesthesia.We applied surface anesthesia and small amounts of sedative to reduce reaction during insertion of LAM.The intracuff pressure was set at 60cm H2O.The change of SBP,DBP and HR were recorded from 1 to 5min after the pressure was set.Whether there was air leakage,respiratory complications and injury or not before and after mask insertion and during anesthesia was observed.Results:After the first attempt of LAM insertion,satisfactory lung ventilation was achieved.There were no change of the hemodynamics,and no complications such as breath holding,laryngospasm,respiratory tract obstruction,nausea and vomiting,and the back-streaming aspiration injury.Conclusions:LAM can achieve good seal effect and provide adequate lung ventilation.LAM is a safe and effective airway management device for patients undergoing general anesthesia during laparoscopic surgery.


This study reports the first ever national oral health survey of Omani 12-year-olds. Conducted in October 1993, of the 3,435 children examined, 1,438 (41.9%) were caries-free, although regional variations ranged from 24.8% to 61.9%. Overall, the national DMFT averaged 1.53, the majority of caries experienced being in the form of untreated decay, with occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars being the most commonly involved site. Oral hygiene was poor, only 11% of those examined being scored as plaque-free.


In recent years, scholars and university administrators have contemplated making higher education more open, accessible and inclusive, particularly for those whom the college environment has historically excluded and/or marginalized. Arguably, one solution for rapid degree completion is the adoption of more culturally-inclusive prior learning assessment (PLA) methods (referred to internationally as recognition of prior learning). Recently, researchers have argued that the use of PLA can be helpful to the learning process and increase student degree completion and retention; however, the rate at which marginalized populations successfully use and complete PLAs varies greatly. This is especially true in educational or workplace settings, where diverse learners or workers' skills and knowledge are measured against often invisible rules set forth by dominant culture(s). In this paper, we will offer a few practical examples for how this discrepancy could be addressed and/or resolved. Keywords: PLA, marginalized students, college credentialing, experiential learning


In this study we explore the endogenous determination of moral objections to free riding. We first derive the individually rational behavior for given preferences. The motivational structure is allowed to evolve evolutionarily based on the comparison of the relative reproductive success of all possible preference types. The tastes that emerge are not necessarily those assumed in models resorting to altruism or moral obligations. In general, an effective social conscience preventing free riding need not be evolutionarily stable. In the first model that we explore, moral objections to free riding and, in turn, voluntary contributions to the provision of public goods are not to be expected with one notable exception, namely unanimity games. In the second model that we explore, the evolutionarily stable probability that an individual develops social conscience is positive. Copyright 1997 Blackwell Publishers Ltd..


The h-index is a bibliometric indicator that refers to the number of h citations an author or a journal has received in other publications. This article reviews the impact factor of the index, in addition to examining its application in the field of communication and the h impact of scientific journals in Latin America, Spain and Portugal..


Recently, assessments have robustly linked stabilization of global-mean temperature rise to the necessity of limiting the total amount of emitted carbon-dioxide (CO2). Halting global warming thus requires virtually zero annual CO2 emissions at some point. Policymakers have now incorporated this concept in the negotiating text for a new global climate agreement, but confusion remains about concepts like carbon neutrality, climate neutrality, full decarbonization, and net zero carbon or net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here we clarify these concepts, discuss their appropriateness to serve as a long-term global benchmark for achieving temperature targets, and provide a detailed quantification. We find that with current pledges and for a likely (>66%) chance of staying below 2 °C, the scenario literature suggests net zero CO2 emissions between 2060 and 2070, with net negative CO2 emissions thereafter. Because of residual non-CO2 emissions, net zero is always reached later for total GHG emissions than for CO2. Net zero emissions targets are a useful focal point for policy, linking a global temperature target and socio-economic pathways to a necessary long-term limit on cumulative CO2 emissions.


Teachers, according to the Javanese's views, are those having a respectable position because they become the reference and role model for the Javanese. A teacher is considerably responsible for all students' behaviors, both in and outside the classroom. In this digital era, this condition has shifted due to the occurrence of socio-anthropological changes in society. Although teachers' identity shifts, they are still crucial in transferring values during the learning process. This study aimed to comprehensively find out how the reconstruction of teacher's identity was carried out in socio-anthropologically changing situations among the Javanese, derived from 30 respondents. Qualitative research was then used in this study using the ethnographic method, and the subject of the research was Javanese. Data collection was performed through interviews using a purposive selection of respondents. Analysis techniques comprised of data collection, data selection, data presentation, and conclusion. As a result, it was found that, in the context of the Javanese, socio-anthropology in modern technology had affected the meaning of the teacher's identity. Although the Javanese considered teachers as an ordinary profession and had the same level with other professions, the Javanese still held that teacher was an honorable profession and it deserved to be appreciated since the presence of a teacher could improve students' knowledge.


Brain Metastases (BM) are the most common type of cerebral tumor in adult, occurring at a rate ten times greater than that of primary brain cancers. The inherent properties of a primary tumor cell capable of initiating a BM resemble that of a cancer stem cell (CSC). Previous work conducted in our lab identified a CSC population within lung-derived BM. We hypothesize that a subgroup of CSC-like cells, termed brain metastasis-initiating cells (BMICs), are responsible for the initiation of BM and are identifiable by an exclusive subset of genes that regulate self-renewal and metastasis. Despite the prevalence and lethality of BM, there is no clinically relevant model that fully reflects metastasis in patients. The selection of an appropriate metastatic in vivo model is crucial for the identification of genes that regulate BM formation, prognostic and/or predictive markers, and evaluation of anti-metastatic therapeutics. We recently generated a novel human-mouse xenotransplantation model of BM that allows for interrogation of each phase of the metastatic process from lung to brain, through injection of human patient-derived GFP-expressing BMICs into immunocompromised mice via three routes: 1) intracranial (IC), 2) intrathoracic (IT) and 3) intravascular/intracardiac (IV). GFP+ BMICs were harvested from the lungs and/or brains from each injection route, and RNA was submitted for microarray analysis to identify a unique metastatic and tissue-specific gene signature from BMICs isolated from IT injections. We performed RNA interference screens in vitro and in vivo on BMIC lines against 150 genes implicated in BM formation in order to identify genes involved in self-renewal, tumor initiation and metastasis. We validated two top hits, TWIST2 and SPOCK1, using our novel BM mouse model, and determined that their knockdown functionally blocked BM formation. Future work will examine the expression of these genes in primary lung FFPE samples to determine if they are predictive biomarkers of lung-to-brain metastasis in prospective cohorts of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients, and to determine their potential as therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Sheila K. Singh, Mohini Singh, Chitra Venugopal, Nicole McFarlane, David Bakhshinyan, Manvir Dhillon, Sujeivan Mahendram, Kevin Brown, Amy Tong, Kathrin Durrer, Tomas Tokar, Robin Hallett, John Hassell, Igor Jurisica, Jason Moffat. Development and application of a novel model of human lung-to-brain metastasis: identification of TWIST2 and SPOCK1 as unique regulators of brain metastases. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2680.


Wedevelop a novel route based on the solution wettingmethod using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates to fabricate hierarchical hybrid nanostructures assembled from polystyrene-encapsulated gold nanoparticles (Au@PS NPs). Hybrid nanostructures including nanotubes and nanospheres can be reliably prepared, in which the spatial arrangement of the Au@PS NPs is determined by the pore diameters of the templates and the molecular weights of the thiolended polystyrene (PS-SH) ligands. In particular, the Rayleighinstability-driven transformation plays a key role in the formation of the hybrid nanospheres.


For many ball games, both resistance and endurance training are necessary to improve muscle strength and endurance capacity. Endurance training has been reported to inhibit muscle strength and hypertrophy, but some studies have reported that endurance exercise (EE) does not inhibit the effects of resistance exercise. Here, we examined the effect of short‐ or long‐duration EE on mouse skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by functional overload (OL) at the molecular level. Plantaris muscle hypertrophy was induced by OL with synergist ablation in mice. Body mass was reduced with endurance training, but EE duration (30 or 90 min) had no effect. The ratio of plantaris muscle weight to body weight was higher in the OL and EE for 30 min (OL+EE30) and OL and EE for 90 min (OL+EE90) groups compared with the OL group. Expression of mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling proteins, which is related to protein synthesis and hypertrophy, was increased in the OL+EE30 group. Expression of Forkhead box‐containing protein O1, which is related to protein breakdown and atrophy, remained unchanged. However, microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3, a known marker of autophagy, and MAFbx, which is related to protein breakdown, were significantly increased in the OL+EE90 group. Furthermore, markers of oxidative stress, ubiquitin and 4‐hydroxynonenal were also significantly increased in the OL+EE90 group compared with other groups. In conclusion, EE duration did not affect body mass and plantaris mass and did not interfere with mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling, but it did increase ubiquitinated proteins and oxidative stress. It is therefore necessary to consider training durations for EE when combining endurance and resistance training.


A visible-light-induced radical cascade reaction for the direct alkynylation of tryptamines with alkynyl sulfones was developed, affording a series of C3-alkynyl pyrroloindolines in excellent yields. This method features readily available substrates, good functional group tolerability, and scalability. C3-alkynyl pyrroloindolines show great potential as useful building blocks in the preparation of complex and valuable pyrroloindoline alkaloids.


Crystal structure and electronic structure of YMnO3 were investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy related techniques. According to the density of states (DOS), the individual interband transitions to energy loss peaks in the low energy loss spectrum were assigned. The hybridization of O 2p with Mn 3d and Y 4d analyzed by the partial DOS was critical to the ferroelectric nature of YMnO3. From the simulation of the energy loss near-edge structure, the fine structure of O K-edge was in good agreement with the experimental spectrum. The valence state of Mn (+3) in YMnO3 was determined by a comparison between experiment and calculations.


Owing to the increasing demands for renewable energy in the new millennium, the development of higher efficiency and yet lower cost photovoltaic or solar cell devices is in more and more pressing needs today. The photon absorption rate in the solar spectrum directly affects the overall energy conversion efficiency of solar cells. Photon energy loss on the surface of solar cells is primarily due to the specular and/or diffuse reflection of the light. Anti-reflection coating is commonly used in current solar cell manufacturing in which multilayer dielectric film [1] or nanoparticle sludge [2] is commonly deposited on the silicon solar wafer surface. Not even mentioning the additional high cost associated with the coating process and material, most antireflection coatings are only effective in a relatively narrow spectrum range and may compromise the underlying devices [6]. Micro to sub-micron scale surface texturing or roughening by wet etch and optional photolithography [7] is also used in today's silicon solar wafer productions, however this expensive step cannot effectively eliminate diffuse reflection and may degrade wafer qualities. Recently various nanomaterial approaches were developed to enhance the optical absorption via creating nanostructures on solar cell surface which includes noble metal nanoplasmonics particles enhancing energy transfer [4] as well as periodical or random 3D nanostructures such as nanowire [8], nanopillar [5], and nanocone [9] arrays "trapping" photons on surface.


The Pierre Auger Observatory is a hybrid detector comprising water tank detectors covering an area of 3000 km2 and fluorescence detectors located in 4 stations surrounding that area. The Pierre Auger Observatory has been in operation for the past few years while its components were being gradually assembled and deployed on the field. In spite of the limited acceptance the data which have been gathered have already delivered interesting results on High Energy Cosmic Rays. This paper reviews the most interesting results published by our collaboration so far, including limits on high energy photons and neutrino fluxes, the spectrum, the anisotropy of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays and their correlation with extragalactic objects.


GPP (pronounced ''jeep'') is a general-purpose postprocessor for wind turbine data analysis. The original author, Marshall Buhl, a member of the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), developed GPP to postprocess test data and simulation predictions. Norman Weaver of InterWeaver Consulting is responsible for coding most of the recent additions to Version 6. GPP reads data into large arrays and allows the user to run many types of analyses on the data stored in memory. It runs on inexpensive computers common in the wind industry. One can even use it on a laptop in the field. We wrote the program in such a way as to make it easy to add new types of analyses and to port it to many types of computers. Although GPP is very powerful and feature rich, it is still very easy to learn and easy to use. Exhaustive error trapping prevents one from losing valuable work caused by input errors. We believe that GPP can make a significant impact on engineering productivity in the wind industry.


Kazakhstan's challenging external environment caused a broad-based economic slowdown and an adjustment in income and domestic prices. The government's macroeconomic policy stance was mixed in 2015, though in 2016 it became more consistent with lower medium term oil prices. The authorities plan to continue implementing structural reforms designed to promote diversified development. Growth is projected to recover gradually over the medium term, but the economy will continue to face substantial headwinds. Meanwhile, both fiscal and external conditions are expected to improve. However, this medium-term outlook is subject to significant downside risks, including risks to the health of the financial sector, sluggish global growth, and the potential for a deeper or more protracted recession in Russia, a further slowdown in China, continued instability in global oil markets or production delays at the Kashagan oilfield.


Affinity monolith chromatography, or AMC, is a liquid chromatographic method in which the support is a monolith and the stationary phase is a biological‐binding agent or related mimic. AMC has become popular for the isolation of biochemicals, for the measurement of various analytes, and for studying biological interactions. This review will examine the principles and applications of AMC. The materials that have been used to prepare AMC columns will be discussed, which have included various organic polymers, silica, agarose, and cryogels. Immobilization schemes that have been used in AMC will also be considered. Various binding agents and applications that have been reported for AMC will then be described. These applications will include the use of AMC for bioaffinity chromatography, immunoaffinity chromatography, dye‐ligand affinity chromatography, and immobilized metal‐ion affinity chromatography. The use of AMC with chiral stationary phases and as a tool to characterize biological interactions will also be examined.


Abstract Nigeria has one of the highest fertility rates in Africa. Data from 2013 Demographic and Health Surveys indicate a virtual stagnation of fertility rate since 2003. Low contraceptive use and pronatalist attitudes are among the factors contributing to the high fertility rate in Nigeria. In this manuscript, we pooled data from three most recent waves of Demographic and Health Surveys to examine trends in demand for children over time and identify the factors associated with change in demand for children. The data show that demand for children has declined since 2003 although not monotonically so. Variables that were positively associated with increased likelihood of desiring no additional children were residence in the South-West (as opposed to residence in the North-Central), exposure to family planning (FP) messages on the mass media, number of children ever born, educational level, and urban residence. In contrast, uncertainty about fertility desire was more widespread in 2008 compared to 2013 although less widespread in 2003 than in 2013. The likelihood of being undecided about fertility desire was positively associated with discrepancies in family size desires between husband and wife, parity and Islamic religious affiliation. Programs should aim to increase access to effective contraceptive methods and promote demand for contraceptives as a way of fostering a sustainable reduction in demand for children. Furthermore, strategies that address uncertainty by fostering women's understanding of the social and health implications of large family sizes are relevant.


We consider the problem of composed image retrieval that takes an input query consisting of an image and a modification text indicating the desired changes to be made on the image and retrieves images that match these changes. Current state-of-the-art techniques that address this problem use global features for the retrieval, resulting in incorrect localization of the regions of interest to be modified because of the global nature of the features, more so in cases of real-world, in-the-wild images. Since modifier texts usually correspond to specific local changes in an image, it is critical that models learn local features to be able to both localize and retrieve better. To this end, our key novelty is a new gradient-attention-based learning objective that explicitly forces the model to focus on the local regions of interest being modified in each retrieval step. We achieve this by first proposing a new visual image attention computation technique, which we call multi-modal gradient attention (MMGrad) that is explicitly conditioned on the modifier text. We next demonstrate how MMGrad can be incorporated into an end-to-end model training strategy with a new learning objective that explicitly forces these MMGrad attention maps to highlight the correct local regions corresponding to the modifier text. By training retrieval models with this new loss function, we show improved grounding by means of better visual attention maps, leading to better explainability of the models as well as competitive quantitative retrieval performance on standard benchmark datasets.


The unique thermal and mechanical properties exhibited by shape memory alloys (SMAs) present exciting design possibilities in the field of aerospace engineering. When properly trained, SMA wires act as linear actuators by contracting when heated and returning to their original shape when cooled. These SMA wire actuators can be attached to points on the inside of an airfoil, and can be activated to alter the shape of the airfoil. This shape-change can effectively increase the efficiency of a wing in flight at several different flow regimes. Design optimization has previously been conducted to determine the placement of actuators within the reconfigurable airfoil. A wind tunnel model reconfigurable wing was fabricated based on the design optimization to verify the predicted structural and aerodynamic response. Wind tunnel tests indicated an increase in lift for a given flow velocity and angle of attack by activating the SMA wire actuators. The pressure data taken during the wind tunnel tests followed the trends expected from the numerical pressure results.


The effective and efficient use of communication technologies between the public safety authorities and the population is essential for coping with crisis situations. Therefore, the aim of this work is to examine the means of communication which are used by the public safety authorities in Germany. A survey among the relief workers was planned, conducted and analyzed on the basis of a custom questionnaire. The evaluation of the results revealed that the public safety authorities mainly use traditional media such as radio or the daily newspaper to communicate with the population in crisis situations. In the future, the communication between public safety authorities and the population will benefit from bidirectional communication channels, and thus the population's feedback will improve crisis communication. At the moment, social media is the best solution to reach this goal and to bidirectionally communicate with the population in crisis situations. It can be assumed that social media interactions only take place if these communication channels have established themselves in everyday life between the public security authorities and the population; in addition, the reliability of the technology must be stable so that those affected in a crisis situation can expect that the use of the medium helps them to successfully manage the crisis situation.


Hydration reaction of Free-CaO is thought to be the main reason of expansion failure of slag. A lot of research institutions are conducting studies on solutions to this problem, and moreover it has been carried out how to make use of aggregates for concrete. While studies covering wide rage of blast furnace slag have been accomplished in the country, studies on steelmaking slag are insufficient. Therefore, this study aimed at analyzing basic physical properties of electric arc furnace oxidizing slag, which is the main material, and furthermore it focused on how to make use of aggregates for concrete examining chemical mechanism, which can be put to practical use. To address this issue, components of electric arc furnace oxidizing slag were analyzed with measurement of physical properties, followed by long-term strength and detailed durability analysis, which can evaluate the appropriateness of application of cement concrete. Besides the environmental conservation and recycling which can be obtained by application of industry byproducts, commercializing of electric arc furnace oxidizing slag as fine aggregates for cement concrete are expected.


In Indonesia there is no regulation about franchise. Same thing is also experienced of many state, for example English and Australian. No special regulation about franchising can be consedered to be good news or is bad news. The bad news is wth no special guidance, hence goodnesss of franchisor amd also of franchisee have to reckon on written agreement in cooperation contract. Irts meaning both parties have to neglectless and meticulous to the what agreed on. Protection of other decision which arrange an cooperation of Franchising represent the source of which whereas can be made by guidance do complied agreement have the basis for real correct and fair. Association of franhcising generally realese code of ethic of franchising.good news of inexistence regulation of area of franchising is goodness of franchisor and fracnhisee earn free compromise whateverly. As hold of legal fundament of agreement of franchise in Indonesia is freedom contract such as those which arranged in section 1338 KUH Perdata and by concidering conditions of section 1338 KUHP Perdata. Law contract in Indonesia embrace open system meaning that each and everyone is free to make all kinds of contract. In section 1338 KUH Perdata contained by the following rule all made contract lawfully will bind over them making it own. In the case conditions of 1320 section of KUH this Perdata is fulfilled by hence comand of section 1338 KUH Perdata. The making agreement act as code/law to all party. So franchise, and vitally hence to all party arrange agreement content detail.Solving of dispute represent problem which in many is important to licencer, specially In the case of giving of license. Right of intellectual properties  in the form of trade secret. Solving of dispute which is through jurisdiction forum, it is though enabled to be emphasized in conference closed (for the secret of trade) felt concerned abaout by licencer party will become an openly forum to receiver of license which do not good mine. To avoid the mentioned hence better each ; every dispute realted to agreement of giving license finished in framework of alternative of is solving of dispute, including in it arbitrase.Ordinary license agreement unlike giving of agreement of license of franchise. If at giving of agreement of license usually only covering giving of permission cover all sort of kinds of intellectual property that appliances bought or rented from him. Besides so-called above, agreement of franchise are; giving of license abaout name of trading, model brand, desain, ets. Rules that can be grouped in the field of contractual law and in the field of law about intellectual property.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the value of dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (D-FISH) in the detection of inv(16) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODS
Eleven AML patients were investigated by D-FISH with two-color break apart probe for MYH11 labeled directly by fluorescein isocyanate (FITC) and a Texas Red. The results were associated or compared with those of cell morphology, cytogenetics, single color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS
Four cases (M4Eo three cases, M2a one case) had inv(16), of which one had trisomy 22 in addition to inv(16), while the other seven cases had no inv(16), of which, five cases (M4Eo three cases, M4 two cases)had a normal karyotype, one (M2a) had 5p+ and trisomy 22, one (M4Eo) had a translocation t(9;22) on G-banded karyotypic analysis. All 11 cases of AML were positive for the rearrangement of inv(16) detected by D-FISH. The average positive cell rate for these 11 AML patients was 93.45% (range 86.6%-98.7%). Of them, four had a minimal deletion of 16p13 in addition to inv(16). The results of D-FISH coincided with those of RT-PCR or single color FISH.

CONCLUSION
D-FISH is a powerful tool for the detection of inv(16) due to its sensitivity and specificity. For raising the detecting rate of inv(16), it is necessary to screen inv(16) rearrangement by D-FISH in all M4- and M2-AML cases or the cases with trisomy 22, no matter whether they are accompanied by bone marrow eosinophilia.


Cutaneous signs and symptoms in subareolar abscesses of the breast or lactiferous fistula (Zuska's disease, ZD) are common and frequent, but generally dermatologist ignore this clinical entity. An epithelial squamous metaplasia causes plugging and obstruction of the ducts is a pathogenetic event. Subsequent inflammatory reaction and infection produce local and general symptoms. Nipple retraction, recurrent episodes of erysipela and presence of painful nodules under the areola in a non-lactating woman are suspect. The presence of a milky draining sinus in the areola is characteristic. The diagnostic challenge is to differentiate these benign condition from a breast cancer. Treatment with antibiotics in the acute and chronic phase is mandatory, surgical removal of abscess and duct is sometimes resolutive. The authors describe a case of ZD in a pathologically obese woman treated with a long term penicillin schedule with no favorable effects.


Morphological response is considered an improved surrogate to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) model with regard to predicting the prognosis for patients with colorectal liver metastases. However, its use as a decision-making tool for surgical intervention has not been examined. The present study assessed the morphological response in 50 patients who underwent chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for initially un-resectable colorectal liver metastases. Changes in tumor morphology between heterogeneous with uncertain borders and homogeneous with clear borders were defined as an optimal response (OR). Patients were also assessed as having an incomplete response (IR), and an absence of marked changes was assessed as no response (NR). No significant difference was observed in progression-free survival (PFS) between complete response/partial response (CR/PR) and stable disease/progressive disease (SD/PD), according to RECIST. By contrast, PFS for OR/IR patients was significantly improved compared with that for NR patients (13.2 vs. 8.7 months; P=0.0426). Exclusion of PD enhanced the difference in PFS between OR/IR and NR patients (15.1 vs. 9.3 months; P<0.0001), whereas no difference was observed between CR/PR and SD. The rate of OR and IR in patients treated with bevacizumab was 47.4% (9/19), but only 19.4% (6/31) for patients that were not administered bevacizumab. Comparison of the survival curves between OR/IR and NR patients revealed similar survival rates at 6 months after chemotherapy, but the groups exhibited different survival rates subsequent to this period of time. Patients showing OR/IR within 6 months appeared to be oncologically stable and could be considered as candidates for surgical intervention, including rescue liver resection. Comparing the pathological and morphological features of the tumor with representative optimal response, living tumor cells were revealed to be distributed within the area of vascular reconstruction induced by bevacizumab, resulting in a predictive value for prognosis in the patients treated with bevacizumab. The present findings provided the evidence for physicians to consider patients with previously un-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer as candidates for surgical treatment. Morphological response is a useful decision-making tool for evaluating these patients for rescue liver resection following chemotherapy.


Some methods used for analysing thermal desorption spectra are presented. The methods can be applied to the first-order rate equation, but they are also applicable when analysing second-order spectra. The classical Arrhenius method is discussed critically. Some new formulae for the analysis are introduced. The methods utilize the peak area, peak shape or the half-width of the peak.


Objective. Proof of bioequivalence is important for the interchangeability of pharmaceutically equivalent drug products. This study aimed to compare the rate and extent of absorption of meloxicam 15 mg tablet of Pascual Laboratories, Inc. (Test) with meloxicam 15 mg tablet (Mobic) of Boehringer Ingelheim (Reference) in healthy Filipino men. In addition, the study also determined the safety and tolerability of single doses of the said medications, under the same conditions.
Methods. This was a randomized, open label, blind-endpoint analysis, truncated, crossover study with single drug doses administered in the fasting condition in each of the two treatment periods, separated by a two-week washout period. Pharmacokinetic blood sampling was performed up to 72 h post-dose. Plasma samples were analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry technology. The primary endpoints were: area under plasma-concentration-time curve from time zero to the last observed concentration at time 72 h (AUC0-72) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) for meloxicam.
Results. Eighteen men (mean age 21.5 years; mean body mass index 22.9 kg/m2) completed the study. When administered one meloxicam 15 mg tablet, the ratios of the geometric means of the primary endpoints AUC0-72 and Cmax, were within the established bioequivalence limits of 80% to 125% compared with Mobic 15 mg tablet: 104.07% (90% Confidence Interval [CI]: 100.26, 108.03), and 103.34% (90% CI: 96.22, 110.97), respectively. No adverse event was reported.
Conclusion. Meloxicam 15 mg tablet of Pascual Laboratories, Inc. and the innovator Mobic 15 mg tablet are bioequivalent. Single doses of both products were safe and well tolerated.


Purpose To examine HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) drug dispensing patterns to Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare program (NSSPP) beneficiaries over a 14-year period in response to: 1) rosuvastatin market entry in 2003, 2) JUPITER trial publication in 2008, and 3) generic atorvastatin availability in 2010. Methods All NSSPP beneficiaries who redeemed at least one prescription for a statin from April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2013 were included. Aggregated, anonymous monthly prescription counts were extracted by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness (Nova Scotia, Canada) and changes in dispensing patterns of statins were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive analyses and interrupted time series methods. Results The percentage of NSSPP beneficiaries dispensed any statin increased from 5.3% in April 1999 to 20.7% in March 2013. In 1999, most NSSPP beneficiaries were dispensed either simvastatin (29.5%) or atorvastatin (28.7%). When rosuvastatin was added to the NSSPP Formulary in August 2003, prescriptions dispensed for simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin declined significantly (slope change, -0.0027; 95% confidence interval (CI), (-0.0046, -0.0009)). This significant decline continued following the publication of JUPITER (level change, -0.1974; 95% CI, (-0.2991, -0.0957)) and the availability of generic atorvastatin (level change, -0.2436; 95% CI, (-0.3314, -0.1558)). Atorvastatin was not significantly affected by any of the three interventions, although it maintained an overall decreasing trend. Only upon the availability of generic atorvastatin did the upward trend in rosuvastatin use decrease significantly (slope change, -0.0010, 95% CI, (-0.0015, -0.0005)). Conclusions The type and rate of statins dispensed to NSSPP beneficiaries changed from 1999 to 2013 in response to the availability of new agents and publication of the JUPITER trial. The overall proportion of NSSPP beneficiaries dispensed a statin increased approximately 4-fold during the study period. In 2013, rosuvastatin was the most commonly dispensed statin (44.1%) followed by atorvastatin (39.1%).


IntroductionLimited evidence exists on the health-related quality of life and the socio-economic impact of disease in critically-ill, COVID-19 survivors. Aims of this study were to: assess the quality of life of survivors after ICU discharge; identify social and disease-related risk factors for long-term health consequences; recognize changes in relational, work and economic skills.MethodsCritically ill ARDS survivors were followed up 6 months after ICU discharge. Quality of life was assessed using validated tools (SF-36 and EuroQol EQ-5D-5L), and the socio-economic burden of COVID-19 was evaluated with a specifically-translated questionnaire. Independent sample analysis and regression analysis were performed to evaluate the associations between the evaluated factor and the quality of life.Results79 survivors were enrolled (age 63 [57-71], 84% male). 38.4% report worsened social relations after ICU discharge; 15.4% required health support, 42% had a change in their employment status and 18% had an income reduction. The average physical and mental SF-36 summary scores were 43.6 [34.4-50.2] and 52.1 [44.5-57.0]. The average EQ VAS quality of life score was 80 [60-89]. Reduced quality of life was found in patients with more than one comorbidity, decreased PaO2/FiO2 (≤ 150) and increased SAPS II score (>25) on ICU admission, and prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) > 4 weeks. The univariate analysis identified hospital LOS, SAPS II, age and two or more comorbidities as factors associated with reduced quality of life.ConclusionsCOVID-19 survivors have a reduced quality of life, due to an impaired physical and cognitive functioning, while anxiety and depression are less frequent. A significant proportion of patients report worsened social relations, employment changes and income reduction, and require health and financial support. People with previous comorbidities, most severe respiratory failure and prolonged hospital and ICU stay are at higher risk of health-related problems, while the level of education and the premorbid income have no impact in this cohort.


Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction. While there are still many unanswered questions about the basic mechanisms of acupuncture, some evidence exists to suggest that acupuncture can play an important role in reducing reinforcing effects of abused drugs. The purpose of this article is to critically review these data. The neurochemical and behavioral evidence showed that acupuncture's role in suppressing the reinforcing effects of abused drugs takes place by modulating mesolimbic dopamine neurons. Also, several brain neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin, opioid and amino acids including GABA have been implicated in the modulation of dopamine release by acupuncture. These results provided clear evidence for the biological effects of acupuncture that ultimately may help us to understand how acupuncture can be used to treat abused drugs. Additional research using animal models is of primary importance to understanding the basic mechanism underlying acupuncture's effectiveness in the treatment of drug addiction.


Following cortical ischemia, several processes have been identified that occur in remote brain areas: (i) At the lesion border, in partially ischemic areas, inflammatory reactions with invasion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and T lymphocytes, an immediate activation of microglia, and a delayed invasion of macrophages occur, and neurons in close contact to inflammatory cells show apoptotic cell death. These factors may affect the extent of the ensuing lesion. Leukocytes adhering to the endothelium after expression of cell adhesion molecules have a detrimental effect on reperfusion. (ii) In nonischemic brain areas remote from the lesion, alterations can be caused by electrical or chemical signals emanating from the infarct. Thus activation of astrocytes by spreading depressions probably initiate a partial resistance for further ischemia. (iii) In nonischemic, structurally connected brain areas, diaschisis effects are observed. Both ipsilateral to the lesion as well as contralateral to it an increase of neuronal excitability and a decrease of GABAergic inhibition are observed. This is associated with a down-regulation of GABA receptor binding, and an altered composition of GABA receptors by different subunits. These alterations may favor functional adaptive processes, but may also cause postischemic seizures and neuronal dysfunction. (iv) Adaptive changes in remote brain areas can be influenced by ischemia-induced remote alterations of brain functions. Furthermore, experimentally observed differential activation of NMDA responses may contribute to a differential propensity for adaptive processes in different brain areas. The investigations indicate potential new targets for therapeutic interventions after the first few hours following onset of stroke.


The quantity and distribution of land which is eligible for renewable energy sources is fundamental to the role these technologies will play in future energy systems. As it stands, however, the current state of land eligibility investigation is found to be insufficient to meet the demands of the future energy modelling community. Three key areas are identified as the predominate causes of this; inconsistent criteria definitions, inconsistent or unclear methodologies, and inconsistent dataset usage. To combat these issues, a land eligibility framework is developed and described in detail. The validity of this framework is then shown via the recreation of land eligibility results found in the literature, showing strong agreement in the majority of cases. Following this, the framework is used to perform an evaluation of land eligibility criteria within the European context whereby the relative importance of commonly considered criteria are compared.


Chronic kidney disease is a significant general disease, which affects a large number of people around the world. If kidney function and glomerular filtration rate decline, the blood levels of cystatin C (Cys C) rises. Also studies showed that metabolic disorders are very common among recipient of a transplanted kidney (TK). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of eight weeks of aerobic exercises on Cys C and metabolic syndrome (Mets) in females with transplanted kidney. 20 females with transplanted kidney age of 24.3 ± 2.5 years participated. Subjects were divided into two equal groups. Prior and after study both groups underwent a blood test to check Cys C and metabolic syndrome. The experimental group conducted eight weeks of submaximal activities and 3 sessions each week. To analyze the data independent and dependent t-test were used. To validate if the data distribution is normal, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was utilized. The results show experimental group had decreased their TC (0.026), TG (0.002), FBS (0.026) and SBP (0.024) and increase of HDL (0.003), however there were no Differences between both groups for all aforementioned factors but for TG (0.031). Also there were no changes of Cys C (0.899), WC (0.896) and DBP (0.081). According to the results we can express eight weeks of aerobic training does not have a significant effect on Cys C while decreases Mets. So it can be concluded that aerobic exercise is useful for females with KT.


Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) joint transmission is considered as a key technique to mitigate inter-cell interference (ICI) and improve the cell-edge performance in 3GPP LTE-Advanced. In this paper, a utility-based coordinated transmit scheduling method is proposed to support joint transmission in CoMP systems. The objective is to improve the cell-edge performance in downlink packet-based CoMP networks with mixed real-time voice over IP (VoIP) and best-effort (BE) traffic patterns. Via simulation results we show that compared to the traditional scheduling schemes with neither CoMP joint transmission nor diverse quality of service (QoS) provisioning, the proposed algorithm in this paper improves the cell-edge efficiency of BE users by greater than 45%, while better satisfying the QoS requirements for VoIP users with significant decrease in call outage by greater than 98%.


Background: Uterine fibroids also called as uterine leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the uterus. Most women develop one or more uterine leiomyoma during their reproductive years. Hence; we assessed the efficacy of Mifepristone 25mg versus Inj.Leuprolide acetate 3.75mg in reducing size of uterine myoma. Subjects and Methods: The study was planned for detecting difference of 15 percent in the outcome variables between the two groups and Standard deviation of 156.00, with 90% statistical power and 5% level of significance, the sample size was calculated to be 70 for the study. The study subjects were randomly assigned into 2 groups of 35 patients each. Group 1: Patients treated with Tablet Mifepristone 25mg once daily for 3 months; Group 2: Patients treated with Inj. Leuprolide acetate depot preparation 3.75mg IM once a month for 3 months. Demographic data, history, clinical examination, details of drug prescription, laboratory investigations and imaging reports were recorded in the study proforma. Various clinical assessment parameters were assessed. Results: After three months of treatment, there was a marked relief with significant decrease in visual analog scale score in both the groups (p <0.001). 21 patients (60%) in group 1 and 25 patients (71%) in group 2 presented with mild anemia at the beginning of the study. After three months of treatment, there was a significant (p <0.001) rise in the hemoglobin and hematocrit values in both the groups. There was an increase in mean hemoglobin level by 2.9gm/dl in mifepristone group and 3gm/dl in leuprolide group. Conclusion: Treatment with either mifepristone or leuprolide acetate in uterine leiomyoma is safe and causes significant but temporary reductions in uterine size and myoma related symptoms.


We propose an energy saving scheme for wireless access networks called FDS (Frequency Distribution Scheme), which associates frequency allocation with service classes. In this scheme we construct a multi-period algorithm and a TSM (Traffic Supervision Mechanism) to adaptively distribute as few frequencies as possible while still satisfy the traffic demand. We implement our scheme in a sample wireless network, and the simulation results show that our scheme not only saves frequency resources, but also reduces the transmission power.


THE AIM OF THE PAPER
We used self-determination theory to examine the motivation of business school students in Hungary. The research aimed to clarify whether extrinsic or intrinsic motivation or both dominates learning intentions among these students. Although student motivation to learn has been studying extensively, there is an absence of research evidence using this framework in Central-Eastern European higher education. Given the increasing prominence of the region in global geo-political and business affairs, this absence of understanding is important to correct.
METHODOLOGY
Our questionnaire-based study shows a strong link between some forms of extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation, along with evidence for the coexistence of extrinsic and intrinsic motivators in the same person. We used a modified version of Vallerand et al. (1992-1993) motivation-survey the "Academic Motivation Scale AMSC-28". We added 11 plus questions to the questionnaire. The empirical research was a confirmative study about self-determination theory. The methodology used was descriptive statistics, correspondence, and correlation analysis. The size of the sample was 471. The purpose of our study was to check if the theory of Deci and Ryan are valid on the students of a university in Central Europe.
MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS
The purpose of our study was to check how the theory of Deci and Ryan applies to the students of a university in Central Europe. The results of the research highlight that the students could have both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation at the same time and intrinsic motivation is not the only type of motivation that could lead to good performance in learning and other activities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The findings could help to evaluate currently used motivational strategies for students and to stimulate further research on the subject usinűg the framework of self-determination theory.
Acknowlwdgements: The authors would like to thank Professor John Schermerhorn and Professor Gábor Rappai for their valuable comments and critique in writing this article. With the support of the EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00007 project.


The authors draw on their many decades of combined experience with medical students, observing their maturation into practice in widely differing contexts, to re-affirm some of the essential goals of medical education. They briefly review curricular changes in medical education over the past 100 years then focus on the dynamic tension in undergraduate medical education (UME) resulting from new pedagogy. Specifically, these tensions arise from the differing trajectories and directions of the three traditional pillars of academic medicine: clinical excellence, state-of-the-art education, and cutting-edge research. The authors highlight the role of generalism as an essential foundation of UME, as well as the dilemma of a shrinking cadre of medical students choosing a generalist career path. To address challenges stemming from pedagogical changes, the authors offer four observations. First, a more condensed approach to faculty development to ensure that bringing teachers up to speed on the new curriculum is not excessively burdensome. Second would be a more gradual introduction of the proposed changes. Third, some discussion about medical education pedagogy and curricular development ought to have a place in UME to prepare the next generation of physicians for ongoing changes in accreditations and in approaches to education. Finally, more appropriate funding of medical education would alleviate some of the burden and anxiety by acknowledging its non-material value.


Spinel-type zinc aluminate (ZnAl2O4) thin films with controlled surface microstructure on aluminum substrates were fabricated via a facile and effective in situ crystallization method without using any templates or surfactants. The surface microstructure of ZnAl2O4 films could be significantly controlled by varying the experimental conditions including concentration of reactants, crystallization temperature, and crystallization time. After surface modification, the specific topography of ZnAl2O4 films was beneficial to obtain surface hydrophobic or superhydrophobic properties. More importantly, compared to nanoparticle- and nanosword-assembled ZnAl2O4 films, nanorod-assembled ZnAl2O4 film provided a more effective barrier to aggressive species for aluminum substrates in a wide range of pH values; very low corrosion current density of the order of ∼10−19 A cm−12 could be achieved. A new contribution to the development of advanced coating system with ZnAl2O4 film materials that can be used in practical application for corrosion protection of aluminum materials is provided. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012


This work is based on the investigation of a juvenile population in Brazil with a focus on identity development of adolescents, which have experienced severe violence in their families. Intra familial violence against children and adolescents results from the interaction of socio-economic, cultural and psychological factors of the people involved. Intra familial violence against a child or an adolescent represents a risk factor to the developmental process, which may lead to disturbances of personality and social adaptation. The focus of the present study is to present data about the impact of intra familial violence on adolescents and to discuss the consequences in adolescents, between 12 and 18 years, victims of intra familial violence the instruments used were: Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA), Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results were compared with data from adolescents from school population, without intra familial violence experience. The results were found: the victims of violence show more difficulties and weaknesses in the SDQ and more immature defenses in DSQ-40. They need help for developing more positive defenses, and strong models of identification. They feel a lack of affect and they reveal more identity diffusion (AIDA) when compared to the control group. It's possible to get in touch with this difficult reality, the presence of domestic intra familial violence against children and adolescents. The suffering and consequences to development, in general, and in the formation of identity, in particular, are shown. Clinical researchers have to give voice especially to disadvantaged adolescents who deserve caring to develop a healthy identity and a better quality of life.


Linda McClain's book, The Place of Families: Fostering Capacity, Equality, and Responsibility, offers a thoughtful approach to government policy in family matters, grounded on what McClain calls "toleration as respect," in which the government has a role in improving individuals and social institutions, while valuing personal and collective self-government and making a range of choices available. McClain's approach combines elements of liberalism, feminism, and civic republicanism. In the context of considering McClain's proposals regarding marital equality, same-sex marriage, abortion, and sex education, this review essay considers the problem of persuasion and social reform. In a country where many voters and officials do not share the values and proposals McClain endorses, how would one go about effecting the reforms she wants? This review essay, using examples from sex education and same-sex marriage, considers the possibilities, and limits, associated with finding points of agreement, or seeking the common ground of consequentialism.


The review article considers modern data of genetic variety cytomegalovirus , circulating in the world, various approaches to genotyping of cytomegalovirus clinical isolates are represented, the characteristic of basic polymorphic genes, used for strains differentiation is given, the linkage between the strain specific genotypes and the clinical manifestations of cytomegalovirus infection in patients of highrisk groups is described. The information of cytomegalovirus genotypes is necessary for realization cytomegalovirus infection-epidemiological surveillance and development of effective vaccine.


This paper uses the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China as a natural experiment to examine how the housing market reacted to this unforeseen, extreme event. We use a unique transaction dataset for new (under construction) apartment units to analyze the pricing behavior of units in lower versus upper floors before and after the earthquake. We observe that average housing prices decreased after the tremor. However, the relative price of low to high floor units, particularly units located in the first and second floor, considerably increased for several months after the earthquake. This relative pricing pattern is in line with a higher risk perception and fear, triggered after the tremor, of living in upper floors. Additional robustness checks support the apparent overreaction of individuals to a dramatic event.


Few industries are as widely associated with the spread of American values, ideas, and products as the film industry. U.S. firms certainly dominated the global market for feature films, but did they do so simply by "selling America to the world" or was there more to be gained by catering to the diverse tastes of international audiences? This article examines the operations of a leading U.S. film distributor in its largest foreign market. United Artists, like other U.S. firms, was forced to offer a minimum proportion of British films for distribution in the United Kingdom in the 1930s and 1940s. Was this requirement a burden, or were the firm's British films actually at the heart of its success in the U.K. market?


From the social perspective, the concepts of therapeutic utility and degree of innovation of new drugs should be referred to their social added value in relation to the available treatment alternatives and the added costs that they imply; that is, to their incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. The analytic elements highlighting this approach are: 1) the dimensions of the social value of the medication that should go beyond the conventional outcomes measures to also incorporate measures of health related quality of life, patient and family comfort and convenience, healthcare consumption avoided and productive losses avoided; 2) the relative or incremental character of this value that should be quantified in front of previous alternatives -not versus placebo- and under conditions of real use; and 3) the incremental costs that bears the administration of the new medication. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is the appropriate approach for decisions about coverage of a treatment by the public insurer, the price that he is willing to pay for the drug, and the clinical situations and patient groups in which it is recommended. The incremental cost-effectiveness analysis and the use of an indicative threshold of the maximum cost that the society is willing to pay for one additional "quality adjusted life year" are the essential elements of this approach, which doesn't require to fix the price of the new medications at the threshold of the willingness to pay.


ABSTRACT

The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate the political process related to educational legislation and initiatives. To accomplish this purpose, I conducted four interviews with educational experts who either have been active participants in the educational legislative process or been life-long educators. From these interviews, I organized their responses into four categories. These categories were Educational Issues in Mississippi, Passing Educational Legislation in Mississippi, Polarization of Politics, and Media Influence. With these categories, I did extensive research to bring in outside literature and documents to analyze the political process related to education legislation. In my qualitative study, I found Mississippi has historically been ranked near the bottom in education. Because of this ranking, many have ideas of how to implement positive change for Mississippi's educational system such as privatization of schools and increased teacher training.

Historically, Mississippi has been able to pass prominent educational legislation, such as the Education Reform Act of 1982 and Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP). These significant educational legislations were passed through the use of thorough legislative strategies. However, in recent history passing educational legislation has become far more difficult. Polarized politics have taken over the country and the state of Mississippi. New forms of media have left the electorate either misinformed or uninformed. Also, partisan media has created an electorate which "favors ideology rather than truth (Koppel)." Hence, these sound legislative strategies formerly used by
advocates of public education to enact legislation has been co-opted by polarized politics and perpetuated by new means of propagandizing the electorate. Nonetheless, these ideas of how to implement positive change are never enacted, and the problems with Mississippi's education system remain.


We discuss the asymptotic dynamical evolution of spatially inhomogeneous brane-world cosmological models close to the initial singularity. By introducing suitable scale-invariant dependent variables and a suitable gauge, we write the evolution equations of the spatially inhomogeneous G2 brane cosmological models with one spatial degree of freedom as a system of autonomous first-order partial differential equations. We study the system numerically, and we find that there always exists an initial singularity, which is characterized by the fact that spatial derivatives are dynamically negligible. More importantly, from the numerical analysis we conclude that there is an initial isotropic singularity in all these spatially inhomogeneous brane cosmologies for a range of parameter values which include the physically important cases of radiation and a scalar field source. The numerical results are supported by a qualitative dynamical analysis and a calculation of the past asymptotic decay rates. Although the analysis is local in nature, the numerics indicate that the singularity is isotropic for all relevant initial conditions. Therefore this analysis, and a preliminary investigation of general inhomogeneous (G0) models, indicates that it is plausible that the initial singularity is isotropic in spatially inhomogeneous brane-world cosmological models and consequently that brane cosmology naturally gives rise to a set of initial data that provide the conditions for inflation to subsequently take place.


Five aluminoborates Al[B(5)O(10)] x H(2)dab x 2 H(2)O (1), [Al(B(4)O(9))(BO)] x H(2)en (2), [Al(B(4)O(9))(BO)] x H(2)dap (3), K(2)Al[B(5)O(10)] x 4 H(2)O (4), and (NH(4))(2)Al[B(5)O(10)] x 4 H(2)O (5) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR, TG analysis, MAS NMR, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and NLO determination. The structure 1 comprises of AlO(4) tetrahedra and B(5)O(10) clusters and contains 12-, 11-, and 8-MR 3D-intersecting channels with a CrB(4) topological net. Structures 2 and 3 are both constructed from the same AlB(5)O(13) clusters and exhibit a six-connected framework with 4(12)6(3) topology. Structures 4 and 5 are isomorphous and are composed of AlO(4) tetrahedra and B(5)O(10) clusters that possess odd 11-MR channels and 8-MR helical channels. Structures 2-5 crystallized in an acentric structure and presented good SHG properties. UV-vis spectral investigation indicates that they are wide-band-gap semiconductors. The electronic structure calculations for the compounds also have been performed.


The recent development in pain research is the discovery of the Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonistic Modulator (DREAM)protein. The DREAM protein has been implicated in suppressing the genetic machinery that reads the DNA code for prodynorphin and thus, reducing dynorphin production which it important for pain mechanism. The reduced pain behaviour in DREAM-knockout mice raised the hypothesis of "no DREAM, no pain". The finding from the DREAM-knockout mouse model may be useful for designing drugs that can directly regulate genes and reduce their side effects. There is no doubt that designing drugs via the genetic engineering approach has a great potential and most certainly, DREAM gene is one of the significant potential candidates. Before getting to the point of drug design, it is critical to determine the physiological role of DREAM protein in acute pain in the normal rats. From the findings in this study, it can be suggested that the hypothesis of "no DREAM, no pain" is probably not relevant in the normal rats. Besides its well known role as a transcriptional repressor, DREAM protein may have other functional roles in pain modulation in the spinal cord of the normal rat.


In primary human melanoma, the membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase, MT3-MMP, is overexpressed in the most aggressive nodular-type tumors. Unlike MT1-MMP and MT2-MMP, which promote cell invasion through basement membranes and collagen type I-rich tissues, the function of MT3-MMP in tumor progression remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that MT3-MMP inhibits MT1-MMP-driven melanoma cell invasion in three-dimensional collagen, while yielding an altered, yet MT1-MMP-dependent, form of expansive growth behavior that phenocopies the formation of nodular cell colonies. In melanoma cell lines originating from advanced primary or metastatic lesions, endogenous MT3-MMP expression was associated with limited collagen-invasive potential. In the cell lines with highest MT3-MMP expression relative to MT1-MMP, collagen-invasive activity was increased following stable MT3-MMP gene silencing. Consistently, MT3-MMP overexpression in cells derived from less advanced superficially spreading melanoma lesions, or in the MT3-MMP knockdown cells, reduced MT1-MMP-dependent collagen invasion. Rather than altering MT1-MMP transcription, MT3-MMP interacted with MT1-MMP in membrane complexes and reduced its cell surface expression. By contrast, as a potent fibrinolytic enzyme, MT3-MMP induced efficient invasion of the cells in fibrin, a provisional matrix component frequently found at tumor-host tissue interfaces and perivascular spaces of melanoma. Since MT3-MMP was significantly upregulated in biopsies of human melanoma metastases, these results identify MT3-MMP as a matrix-dependent modifier of the invasive tumor cell functions during melanoma progression.


Purpose: To review the treatment results of cervix cancer patients treated with high dose rate brachytherapy at King
Abdul Aziz University Hospital.
Methods: All cervix cancer patients treated with high dose rate brachytherapy at King Abdul Aziz university hospital
between January 2004 and December 2006 have been reviewed. The patient's demographic data, treatment parameters
and follow up have been reported and histopathological grade and stage has been correlated with initial response
to treatment and disease Free survival has been calculated.
Results: Twenty four patients with mean age of 51.6 years. All patients had squamous cell carcinoma; 12.5% G1, 54.2%
G II and 33.3% G III. Stage IA 12.5%, IB 4.2%, IIA 16.7%, IIB 25%, IIIA 8.3%, IIIB 20.8% and IVA 12.5%, treatment toxicity was
diarrhea GII in 12.5% and G II cystitis in 21%.
Initial treatment response was 50% CR, 25% PR, 8.3% SD, and 16.7% DP.
After a mean follow up period of 39 months, the mean DFS was 27.3 months 95% confidence interval (CI) 23.52 – 31.07.
The median DFS was 29 months (95% CI , 23 – 35 months). Two year DFS was 60% and the 3 year DFS was 27%.
There was no correlation between DFS and histopathological grade (p = 0.53) or FIGO stage (p = 0.66), and no correlation
was found between DFS and response to treatment (p = 0.88). On multivariate analysis, histopathological grade,
FIGO stage, initial response all had no influence on DFS.
Conclusion: The use of external beam radiation therapy concomitant with weekly cisplatin followed by high dose rate
brachytherapy is an acceptable treatment modality for carcinoma of the cervix with mild treatment related toxicity


The objective of this study is to analyse the effects of trade liberalization on profits of a capital-intensive exporting country and a labour-intensive one with different cost functions and the welfare of the importing country under an oligopolistic competition framework. The results show that output is increasing in the degree of trade liberalization and price falls with it. However, the effects of freer trade on profits of the exporting countries are ambiguous and depend on the net gains in profit from free trade. Given the same level of output for both countries, a suffciently high output would bring more profits to the capital-intensive country than to the labour-intensive country. Welfare of the importing country, at least within this framework, is increasing in the degree of trade liberalization, provided that the initial level of restrictions in trade are not too high.


On the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Maria Ivanova offers the first "biography of UNEP" (6). The Untold Story of the World's Leading Environmental Institution traces the organization's inception back to the preparations for the 1972 Stockholm Conference and guides the reader through mandate evolutions and reform projects, including the reform process concluded at Rio+20 in 2012, which granted UNEP universal membership through the newly established UN Environment Assembly (UNEA). Ivanova assesses UNEP's successes, such as the reversal of the depletion of the ozone layer, which she describes as its "greatest achievement" (93), and its failures, including its director's disengagement from the lead-up process to the 1992 Rio Earth summit. The author begins by challenging the institutional deficiency theory, which argues that UNEP was deliberately designed as a weak institution. She offers alternative lenses to study UNEP's performance and its limits as an anchor institution: capacity, connectivity, and credibility. Through the different chapters, she shows how politics, geography, and individuals shape these three dimensions, eventually affecting UNEP's authority: UNEP is "in authority in the environmental field" but not "an authority" (201, emphasis original). Its institutional design, mandate transformations, location, and leadership jointly contributed to the uneven outputs of an organization "created to be a catalyst in the environmental field" (92) with "a big vision and modest resources" (91) but whose "identity and place within the UN system ... remain in flux" (139). Throughout the book, Ivanova shows a permanent tension between the political role induced by the coordination mission attributed to UNEP and the functionalist project, with UNEP being "pushed out of the political debate and forced to be more of a technical organization" (150). The political argument put forward by developing countries, and Kenya especially, to locate UNEP's headquarters in Nairobi faced the functional mandate and efficiency logic defended by developed countries. The political ambitions of some executive directors were curbed by guardians of the status quo. Yet power dynamics are not systematically addressed in the book. Intergovernmental negotiations and funding politics are acutely discussed, but states' authority over the organization's path is not fully analyzed. This omission leaves some questions


We present design and realization of an ultra-broadband optical spectrometer capable of measuring the spectral intensity of multi-octave-spanning light sources on a single-pulse basis with a dynamic range of up to 8 orders of magnitude. The instrument is optimized for the characterization of the temporal structure of femtosecond long electron bunches by analyzing the emitted coherent transition radiation (CTR) spectra. The spectrometer operates within the spectral range of 250 nm to 11.35 μm, corresponding to 5.5 optical octaves. This is achieved by dividing the signal beam into three spectral groups, each analyzed by a dedicated spectrometer and detector unit. The complete instrument was characterized with regard to wavelength, relative spectral sensitivity, and absolute photo-metric sensitivity, always accounting for the light polarization and comparing different calibration methods. Finally, the capability of the spectrometer is demonstrated with a CTR measurement of a laser wakefield accelerated electron bunch, enabling to determine temporal pulse structures at unprecedented resolution.


Heart failure (HF) is one of the major cardiovascular causes of death worldwide. In this study, we explored the effects of folic acid (FA) on cardiometabolic, oxidative stress-biomarker changes and the activity of proliferation marker Ki67 in monocrotaline-induced HF. The research was conducted during a 4-week period, using 5 experimental groups (8 animals/group): blank solution-exposed controls (C1 physiological saline 1ml/kg one day; C2 physiological saline 1ml/kg 28 days), MCT-induced HF (MCT 50mg/kg), FA (FA 5mg•kg-1•day-1) and MCT+FA (MCT 50mg/kg, FA 5mg•kg-1•day-1). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities together with total glutathione and parameters of oxidative damage of proteins were determined in cardiac tissue, as well as cardiometabolic parameters in plasma or serum. The total glutathionylation was determined by Western blot, and proliferation marker Ki67 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The right ventricular wall hypertrophy and Ki67 positivity, accompanied with significant increase of troponin T has been shown in MCT-induced HF. The antioxidant effect of folic acid was reflected through SOD activity, reduced Ki67 positivity in RV wall and slightly decreased total glutathionylation level. Folic acid intraperitoneal injection modulated oxidative stress, and reduced cardiomyocyte proliferation in RV wall.


The effects of the initial storage temperature and the PA film packaging on the extension of the shelf-life and the improvement of the postharvest storage quality of muskmelons were studied during their storage. Their storage quality was tested as follows: PA-film-wrapped muskmelons, stored at 2℃ or 7℃ for 30 days after their harvest, were kept at 10℃ for 27 days (total: 57 days). On the fifth day of storage at 10℃ (35th day overall), the weight loss reached 6.4% in the 7-control. However, the 2-PA showed the smallest loss of 2.2%. The soluble solids content and the acidity that were measured before the storage were 10.8 °brix and 0.26% in all the groups. After 27 days of storage at 10℃ (on the 57th day overall), the values were highest in the 2-PA group with 9.7 °brix and 0.15%, respectively. Microorganisms were not detected at first; but on the fifth day of storage at 10℃ (35th day overall), their values were 3.87 and 2.68 log CFU/g in the seven-control and the 2-PA, respectively. In other words, the 2-PA was found to be more effective in inhibiting microbial proliferation. In relation to sensory properties such as appearance, flavor, sweetness and chewiness, the 2-PA was superior to the other groups and was found to be most effective in improving the storability of muskmelons. In conclusion, it was found that low-temperature injury and fast storage quality deterioration did not occur in film-wrapped muskmelons that were stored at 2℃ for 30 days after they were harvested.


Flooding is one of the most prevalent natural disasters in Assam, India, occurring on a yearly basis. In this paper, a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach is applied, with the help of remote sensing data, to create a flood risk map of the state of Assam. This map is based on five important parameters: population, land use/land cover, elevation, precipitation and distance to the nearest water body. Furthermore, Sentinel-1 data is used to create an inundation map of the most recent flood, which occurred during June of 2022. Both aspects of this research help to assess the situation on ground during a flood and to improve the flood management and preparedness for future flood scenarios.


The impact of the individuals' life condition on the relation between moral judgement and (delinquent) behaviour was investigated in a sample of 162 adolescents and young adults. The sample consisted of two groups: homeless youth and institutional youth, i.e. youth with a history of residential care. The difference in life conditions between both groups is characterised by a lack of stable social relationships and speci® c survival demands for the homeless youth group. Homeless youth reported much more delinquent behaviour than institu- tional youth, but this difference could not be attributed to the level of moral judgement. However, while for institutional youth a conventional level of moral reasoning was associated with lower levels of delinquency in four domains of deviant behaviour, including violence and vandalism, no such association was found for homeless youth. In the latter group, important predictor variables explaining delinquent behaviour, besides being male, were: a restrictive and affectionless parenting style, predominance of individuation over attachment and a passive coping style. It is concluded that delinquent behaviour in homeless youth appeared to be caused by a lack of stable social relationships, as well as a by a lack of moral internalisation, with affect and cognition not being integrated.


ABSTRACT Dominant epitope-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte responses play a central role in controlling viral spread. We explored the basis for the development of this focused immune response in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)- and simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-infected rhesus monkeys through the use of two dominant (p11C and p199RY) and two subdominant (p68A and p56A) epitopes. Using real-time PCR to quantitate T-cell receptor (TCR) variable region beta (Vβ) family usage, we show that CD8+ T-lymphocyte populations specific for dominant epitopes are characterized by a diverse Vβ repertoire, whereas those specific for subdominant epitopes employ a dramatically more focused Vβ repertoire. We also demonstrate that dominant epitope-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes employ TCRs with multiple CDR3 lengths, whereas subdominant epitope-specific cells employ TCRs with a more restricted CDR3 length. Thus, the relative dominance of an epitope-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte response reflects the clonal diversity of that response. These findings suggest that the limited clonal repertoire of subdominant epitope-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte populations may limit the ability of these epitope-specific T-lymphocyte populations to expand and therefore limit the ability of these cell populations to contribute to the control of viral replication.


Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of septic arthritis (SA) in children. USA300 is the predominant community methicillin-resistant (MRSA) clone. Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes (pvl) have been associated with severe disease. Methods: Patients with S. aureus SA were identified from the Texas Children's Hospital surveillance study. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis and pvl polymerase chain reaction were performed on isolates. Results: Forty-five patients with S. aureus SA were identified between August 2001 and October 2008. Median age was 5.5 years (0.3–17.9 years); 69% were previously healthy. The most common joints affected were hip (40%) followed by knee (36%). Associated infection sites were osteomyelitis (n = 14), pyomyositis/myositis (n = 13), and cellulitis (n = 9). Bacteremia for 1 to 5 days occurred in 31% of the patients. Patients with associated osteomyelitis were more likely to be bacteremic (P = 0.001), have fever >2 days (P = 0.03), and to have C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥10 mg/dL (P = 0.01). Of 44 available isolates, 16 were MRSA; 13 of 16 were USA300 and 14 of 16 were pvl+. Twenty-eight isolates were MSSA; 8 of 28 were USA300 and 13 of 28 were pvl+. Infections caused by USA300 isolates were associated with longer duration of fever than non-USA300 isolates (median, [range]: 4 [0–15] days vs 1 [0–8] days) (P = 0.03). Overall, 61% of the isolates were pvl+. CRP ≥10 mg/dL was more likely in pvl+ infections than in pvl− infections (P = 0.05). Conclusions: S. aureus SA caused by USA300 isolates is associated with longer duration of fever. Empirical treatment of SA should include MRSA. CRP levels ≥10 mg/dL, fever >2 days, and bacteremia should raise suspicion for associated osteomyelitis.


Error control schemes became a necessity in network-on-chip (NoC) to improve reliability as the on-chip interconnect errors increase with the continuous shrinking of geometry. Accordingly, many researchers are trying to present multi-bit error correction coding schemes that perform a high error correction capability with the simplest design possible to minimize area and power consumption. A recent work, Multi-bit Error Correcting Coding with Reduced Link Bandwidth (MECCRLB), showed a huge reduction in area and power consumption compared to a well-known scheme, namely, Hamming product code (HPC) with Type-II HARQ. Moreover, the authors showed that the proposed scheme can correct 11 random errors which is considered a high number of errors to be corrected by any scheme used in NoC. The high correction capability with moderate number of check bits along with the reduction in power and area requires further investigation in the accuracy of the reliability model. In this paper, reliability analysis is performed by modeling the residual error probability Presidual which represents the probability of decoder error or failure. New model to estimate Presidual of MECCRLB is derived, validated against simulation, and compared to HPC to assess the capability of MECCRLB. The results show that HPC outperforms MECCRLB from reliability perspective. The former corrects all single and double errors, and fails in 5.18% cases of the triple errors, whereas the latter is found to correct all single errors but fails in 32.5% of double errors and 38.97% of triple errors.