Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA

The purpose of this study is to define mechanisms by which the mRNA-destabilizing factor tristetraprolin (TTP) impacts tumorigenic phenotypes in an aggressive model of metastatic breast cancer. Widespread suppression of TTP levels in human tumors and cancer cell lines relative to non-transformed tissues suggests that TTP may function as a tumor suppressor in diverse neoplastic contexts, and low TTP expression is a negative prognostic indicator in breast cancer. TTP is a tandem zinc finger protein that binds to AU-rich elements (AREs) and targets their associated mRNAs for degradation. AREs are potent cis-acting determinants of cytoplasmic mRNA turnover in mammalian cells, and are essential for limiting cellular production of many clinically important gene products including regulators of inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis.

Surveys of patient-derived samples showed that TTP expression is diminished in many neoplastic tissues, particularly those from aggressive cancers. In this study, we show that restoration of TTP levels attenuates several tumorigenic phenotypes in the cultured metastatic breast cancer line MDA-MB-231, consistent with a tumor suppressor role for TTP. Notably, TTP-expressing cell lines replicate approximately 70% slower than non-transfected controls. Inhibition of cell proliferation did not result from apoptosis but rather by a delay at the G1/S checkpoint. TTP expression also significantly reduced the formation of cultured mammospheres based on both sphere-forming efficiency frequency and extreme limiting dilution analyses, indicating that this protein reduces stemness and non-adherent growth potential. Cell motility was also suppressed by TTP, demonstrated using wound healing assays.

To identify potential mechanisms linking TTP to diminution of tumorigenic phenotypes, we surveyed the expression of genes encoding selected pro-tumorigenic factors, including several known to encode TTP-targeted mRNAs. Expression of cyclins D1 and E as well as the angiogenic factor VEGF were significantly reduced in TTP-expressing MDA-MB-231 cells, however, this was not mediated by accelerated mRNA decay. Interestingly, we observed that the mRNA-destabilizing function of TTP is abrogated by the constitutively active ERK signaling pathway in this cell model, indicating that the mRNA-destabilizing activity of TTP may be dispensable for at least a subset of its tumor suppressive properties. Based on subsequent analyses of TTP effects on the expression of selected transcription factors at both the mRNA and protein levels, we have developed a working model whereby TTP may suppress diverse tumorigenic phenotypes in this metastatic cancer cell model by repressing the function of a strongly pro-oncogenic transcriptional regulatory circuit, even in the absence of its canonical mRNA-destabilizing activity.

Citation Format: Christina R. Ross, Gerald M. Wilson. Tumor suppressive effects of tristetraprolin expression in metastatic breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3296. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3296


Yang and Chang (2009) proposed a three-party authenticated key exchange protocol for securing communications in mobile-commerce environments. Their protocol reduces computation and communication costs by employing elliptic curve cryptosystems. However, Tan (2010) pointed out that Yang and Chang (2009)'s protocol cannot withstand impersonation and parallel attacks, and further proposed an enhanced protocol to resist these attacks. This paper demonstrates that Tan (2010)'s approach still suffers from impersonation attacks, and presents an efficient and secure three-party authenticated key exchange protocol to overcome shown weaknesses.


Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) comprises a group of hereditary connective tissue disorders in which collagen synthesis and fibrogenesis are impaired. Patients with EDS type III have a bleeding tendency manifested by ecchymoses and haematomas. However, thrombotic events are rare in this entity. Herein, we present a 48-year-old Hispanic man with EDS type III who had recurrent cephalic vein thrombophlebitis and thrombosis, and brachial vein thrombosis. Tests for hypercoagulable disorders including antithrombin III activity, protein C activity, protein S activity, anticardiolipin antibodies, homocysteine levels, factor V Leiden mutation and prothrombin gene mutation were negative. The patient required long-term anticoagulation with warfarin. After 3 years follow-up, he did not present further thrombotic events. Clinicians should be aware that patients with EDS might be at risk for hypercoagulable disorders.


Recent studies on patients who had an acute myocardial infarction have shown that risk factors are decreased, atherosclerosis regressed, and re-infarction and mortality rates are reduced as a result of drug therapy in combination with the changes in the lifestyle. This treatment called as secondary prevention, requires a behavioral change in the lifestyle that includes stopping smoking, making healthy food choices, and increasing physical activity. Risk factors related with lifestyle, which should be under control are hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, obesity and blood glucose level. Aspirin, lipid lowering drugs, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers can be used as prophylactic drugs. Nurse planned and managed secondary prevention programs are effective on changing lifestyle and decreasing risk factors.


Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), one of the most important oilseed crops in tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Kumar and Kirti 2011), is widely cultivated for its high protein and oil content in seeds. In August 2019, about 30% of A. hypogaea plants were found infected by leaf spot in the peanut-growing regions of Shandong Province, China. Disease symptoms appeared as the irregular and brown necrotic lesions on leaves that were 0.5 to 5.0 mm in diam. Twenty symptomatic plants were randomly sampled from peanut planting areas in Weihai and Yantai City. Small pieces (3 mm2) were cut from lesions, dipped in a 0.5% NaClO for 10 min, rinsed three times with sterilized distilled water, dried, placed onto potato-dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated in the dark at 25°C for 10 days. Three typical Cladosporium-like strains were isolated from diseased leaves of peanut. The colonies were grey to olivaceous green, reverse olivaceous black and woolly. The conidiophores were solitary, macronematous, unbranched or branched, straight or flexuous, cylindrical, slightly swollen at the apex, smooth. Conidiogenous cells were integrated, terminal and intercalary, with numerous loci on nodulose swelling. Ramoconidia were cylindrical, oblong, fusiform, 8.0 to 19.5×2.0 to 4.5 µm, aseptate or 1 septum, pale brown. Conidia were catenate, in densely branched chains, ellipsoid, ovoid, limoniform, aseptate, 4.0 to 11.5×2.5 to 5.5 µm, smooth, with conspicuous hila. The conidia easily break off from the chains. The morphological characteristics of these isolates matched the descriptions of Cladosporium tenuissimum (Bensch et al. 2010). For the molecular identification, the partial actin (act) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) genes were amplified and sequenced using the respective primers ACT-512F/ACT-783R and EF1-728F/EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999). The representative sequences, deposited in GenBank (act: OL332701, OL332702 and OL332703; tef1: OL322090, OL322091 and OL322092), exhibited 99.6% and 100% identical to C. tenuissimum ex-type isolate CBS 125995 (HM148687 and HM148442). Phylogenetic analysis was done by Neighbor-Joining (NJ) analysis based on act+tef1 sequences. These three isolates were identified as C. tenuissimum by morphological and molecular characteristics. Pathogenicity of each C. tenuissimum isolate was tested on peanut in the greenhouse at 28°C with 75% relative humidity. Twenty plants of A. hypogaea were inoculated with the conidial suspension (1.0 × 105 conidia/ml) on the leaf surface. Ten plants were mock inoculated with sterile water as controls. Within 2 weeks, inoculated plants exhibited dark necrotic lesions on leaves which were similar to the symptoms observed in the field, while the mock inoculated plants remained symptomless. The fungal pathogen which was reisolated from inoculated rather than mock inoculated leaf tissues was identical to the original pathogen on the basis of morphological and molecular analysis, confirming Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot caused by C. tenuissimum on peanut in China. The C. tenuissimum infection poses a serious threat by reducing the yield and quality of peanut in Shandong Province. This research is especially valuable to enhance epidemiological studies and implement effective control strategies.


We recorded vertical profiles of size distributions of particles (ranging from 0.052 to several mm in equivalent spherical diameter) in the natural iron‐fertilized bloom southeast of Kerguelen Island (Southern Ocean) and in surrounding high‐nutrient, low‐chlorophyll (HNLC) waters with an Under Water Video Profiler during the Kerguelen Ocean and Plateau Compared Study cruise (Jan–Feb 2005). Total particle numerical abundance and total particle volume (TPV) in the 0–200‐m layer were respectively 3‐fold and 20‐fold higher in the bloom, and integrated TPV was correlated to integrated chlorophyll concentration. The difference persisted well into the ocean interior with a 10‐fold higher TPV at 400‐m depth beneath the natural iron‐fertilized bloom. Below 400 m, increases in TPV values at the bloom stations reflect the suspension of bottom sediments. Bloom waters had a greater proportion of large particles from the surface to 400 m and also exhibited an increase of this proportion with depth compared to HNLC waters. Multiple visits to the bloom reference Sta. A3, suggest preferential removal of large particles as the bloom declined. Comparing our particle abundance size spectra with those observed previously in polyacrylamide gel‐filled sediment traps allows us to estimate mesopelagic particle sinking rates. These results suggest that particles sink faster in the HNLC waters than beneath the bloom. The fact that sinking speeds were not a simple monotonic function of particle size and varied spatially highlights the need to go beyond parameterizations of sinking rate as a function of size alone.


Common treatments of gyroscopic motion in textbooks at the student level tend to be difficult to follow physically although trivial mathematically, and sometimes simplify matters to the point of actually giving an incorrect description of the motion of a gyroscope when under the influence of an external torque. A simple problem, which is commonly met with in textbooks, is discussed using only the concepts of conservation of angular momentum and of energy, and a solution is obtained, which is complete in the ideal case, without resorting to mathematical techniques which lie outside the scope of an A-level physics course.


Two cases of severe thunderstorms that impacted the Oslo area have been investigated. The thunderstorms occurred during the summer of 2014, an extraordinary summer with record high temperatures, number of lightning strikes and amount of short-term precipitation. The thunderstorm on 26 June produced precipitation amounts of 44.5 mm in one hour and 72.8 mm in 24 hours, both records. It was short-lived in both time and space. The other thunderstorm on 4 August was part of a large organized convective system that traveled from southern Sweden to northern Norway, lasting 15 hours in total. Even though both thunderstorms were intense, the dynamical processes leading to their formation and evolution were starkly different. The necessary ingredients for deep convection are sufficient moisture, conditional instability and a so-called triggering mechanism. An in-depth synoptic scale analysis utilizing maps of the large scale flow, Lagrangian backward trajectories and stability indices is conducted for both cases to better understand how these necessary ingredients were met and their respective roles in the observed deep convection. The June case was characterized by large-scale persistent northerly flow associated with an occluding cyclone east of Norway and high pressure to the west. The flow pattern resulted in significant cold air advection and a suppressed tropopause (upper level cold anomaly). Meager amounts of moisture were found in this case, albeit with a local maximum in the thunderstorm region. Additionally, no synoptic scale triggering mechanism was present. The trajectory and stability index analyses indicate the primary cause of the thunderstorm was a steep vertical temperature lapse rate resulting from local surface heating and the large-scale upper-level cold anomaly. The surface heating on the day of the event was sufficient to create positively buoyant air parcels, thereby triggering the deep convection. The August case provides a remarkable contrast. The large scale flow characterized by low pressure to the west and high pressure to the east of Norway resulted in significant warm, moist advection and an elevated tropopause. The trajectory analysis points to two moisture regions: the Atlantic ocean and over the Baltic. The combination of anomalously high surface temperatures and moisture content led to large values of conditional instability as evidenced in the stability index analysis. Associated with a low pressure center over Great Britain, a frontal boundary draped over western Norway on the day of the event providing a triggering mechanism. The large scale (in time and space) nature of the organized convective system can be tied to the presence of significant vertical wind shear associated with low-level baroclinicity (i.e. the front). This study of two distinctly different cases of intense deep convection illustrates the utility of combining an understanding of the large scale flow pattern over the days prior to a convective event and the local scale conditions with respect to the necessary conditions for deep convection. Lagrangian analyses and stability indices were found to be valuable tools for the assessment of both


In this paper, the behaviour of RC slab strips subjected to transverse loads and axial tensile forces is investigated by means of analytical and numerical simulations. The results obtained are compared to the experimental results from tests performed at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). The prediction of the structural response was part of an international benchmark study [1]. The aim of the paper is to investigate the capability of the adopted models and their main influencing parameters, especially from the perspective of a reliable structural robustness assessment. It is known that in some cases axial tensile forces have a beneficial effect on the bearing capacity of slab strips, thanks to the development of catenary actions. Such hidden strength resources are usually not taken into account in the current design process. For this reason, validation of suitable numerical tools, able to properly predict the structural response, is useful for a reliable structural robustness assessment. The paper underlines the importance of benchmark development, especially for specimens, in which both mechanical and geometrical nonlinearities play an important role.


AEDC has developed a model-based analysis tool that merges real time processed dynamic engine vibration data with finite element models (FEM) and pretest analysis results. The tool, called the Structural Dynamics Response Analysis Capability, or SDRAC, performs this merge, displays the analysis results via an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) and presents an assessment of structural capability in real time. The tool also features a model modification routine to insure that the mathematical simulation adequately reflects results from the test. The adequacy of the simulation is displayed via error measures.Copyright © 1999 by ASME


I. INTRODUCTIONArbitration has become a popular alternative dispute resolution avenue, both domestically and globally. Arbitration is praised for its speed, the autonomy it provides to parties, the arbitrators' technical expertise, the confidentiality of proceedings, and its relatively low cost.1 When the setting for commercial dispute resolution is international, arbitration precludes the uncertainty of procedures in foreign courts. This is especially attractive for Western investors in commercial disputes involving developing countries of different cultures and conflicting political ideologies, such as Communist China.2 Enforcing arbitral awards in a foreign country is also much more practical than enforcing a court judgment due in large part due to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards ("New York Convention" or "Convention").3The New York Convention offers a powerful instrument for enforcing arbitration agreements and arbitral awards among its 130 plus contracting parties.4 It requires each contracting state to recognize and enforce arbitral awards entered in the territory of another state, as well as those awards that a contracting state considers non-domestic awards.5 It also requires contracting states to recognize written arbitration agreements.6 To benefit from the Convention, an arbitration proceeding must fall within the Convention's scope. Although the Convention's drafters strove for an unambiguous compromise among different legal systems, the implementation of the Convention in domestic courts differs dramatically from one country to another and, in some cases, from one court to another within the same country.7In recognizing and enforcing awards that fall under the scope of the Convention, contracting states are required to apply the criteria set forth therein.8 Unfortunately, as a result of compromises among nations, the scope of the Convention is not clearly defined. Ambiguity of language in the Convention, discrepancies in legal concepts, and judicial discretion give rise to complexity in the Convention's coverage. Moreover, because it is impossible to require universal procedural protections in different legal systems, each contracting state must determine the implementation procedures of the Convention within its jurisdiction. In order to understand its application, one must put the Convention in the context of each contracting state's legal system.Both China and the United States are members of the New York Convention.9 However, because of differences in court systems, sources of law, and legal methodology, the Convention's application differs dramatically between the two countries.This article compares the effects of domestic court interventions on the scope of the New York Convention, in both China and in the United States. Most significantly, if a claim is not within the scope of the Convention, the purported substantive benefits provided in the Convention become meaningless to the claiming party. Local court interpretations are therefore crucial to achieving the Convention's goals. In general, China and the United States both support the New York Convention. However, the two countries stand apart in legal approach and analytical methodology in implementing the New York Convention. Through case law, this article uncovers the impact and consequences of local court intervention on the scope of the Convention. This article also proposes appropriate approaches that local courts in China and the United States should adopt.Part II introduces the basic arbitration legal framework in both China and the United States. Part III offers a theoretical analysis of the Convention's scope of application. Part IV closely examines leading cases in the United States on the scope of application issues and criticizes the inconsistencies of court practice. Part V focuses on leading Chinese case studies regarding the Convention's scope of application and its related impact on foreign businesses in China. …


BACKGROUND
Anticipatory guidance (AG) involves providing parents with information about developmental milestones and promoting optimal development. Oral AG was first introduced as a comprehensive approach to provide age-appropriate oral health information and preventive interventions. The literature regarding this important topic has not yet been reviewed and summarised.

AIM
To describe the literature on AG provided to parents about their children's oral health and identify gaps in the current research.

METHOD
The scoping review mapped the existing peer-reviewed and guideline documents about AG and children's oral health using the framework established by Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and modified by Levac et al. (2010). Firstly, we defined our research questions and searched the literature using Medline, Web of Science and Scopus. Secondly, we selected all types of literature and then applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and finally, we analysed and summarised the information using thematic analysis.

RESULTS
Forty-three peer-reviewed articles and six guidelines were included. There was variation in how AG was described and defined. While some studies have evaluated the effectiveness of AG, most have investigated its short-term effectiveness only, with few interventional studies assessing this approach in the long-term.

CONCLUSION
While the concept of AG shows promise, there is no consensus within the current literature on a defined definition and there is a lack of long-term evaluation.


Abstract:  A 64‐year‐old man was admitted with complaints of abdominal pain and pollakisuria. A soft mass was palpable under his navel. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 9 × 6 cm tumor, which was composed of a cystic lesion arising from the urachus and a solid mass component at the urinary bladder dome. Urine cytology specimens showed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Serum SCC level was increased and the tumor was removed surgically. Histological examination detected well‐differentiated SCC, which had invaded the urinary bladder and the peritoneum. The patient has been followed up without recurrence for 6 months.


The P1/HC-Pro viral suppressor of potyvirus suppresses posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS). The fusion protein of P1/HC-Pro can be cleaved into P1 and HC-Pro through the P1 self-cleavage activity, and P1 is necessary and sufficient to enhance PTGS suppression of HC-Pro. To address the modulation of gene regulatory relationships induced by turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) P1/HC-Pro (P1/HC-ProTu), a comparative transcriptome analysis of three types of transgenic plants (P1Tu, HC-ProTu, and P1/HC-ProTu) were conducted using both high-throughput (HTP) and low-throughput (LTP) RNA-Seq strategies. The results showed that P1/HC-ProTu disturbed the endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation and genes in the signaling pathway. Additionally, the integrated responses of stress-related genes, in particular to drought stress, cold stress, senescence, and stomatal dynamics, altered the expressions by the ABA/calcium signaling. Crosstalk among the ABA, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid pathways might simultaneously modulate the stress responses triggered by P1/HC-ProTu. Furthermore, the LTP network analysis revealed crucial genes in common with those identified by the HTP network in this study, demonstrating the effectiveness of the miniaturization of the HTP profile. Overall, our findings indicate that P1/HC-ProTu-mediated suppression in RNA silencing altered the ABA/calcium signaling and a wide range of stress responses.


This article analyzes a coaching model focused on classroom management skills and instructional practices across grade levels and subject areas. We describe the design and implementation of MATCH Teacher Coaching among an initial cohort of 59 teachers working in New Orleans charter schools. We evaluate the effect of the program on teachers' instructional practices using a block randomized trial and find that coached teachers scored 0.59 standard deviations higher on an index of effective teaching practices comprised of observation scores, principal evaluations, and student surveys. We discuss implementation challenges and make recommendations for researcher–practitioner partnerships to address key remaining questions.


The continuous production and widespread applications of synthetic plastics and their waste present immense environmental challenges and damage living systems. Microplastics (MPs) have become of great concern in various ecosystems due to their high stability and decomposition into smaller fragments such as nano-plastics (NPs). Nevertheless, MPs and NPs can be removed from the environment using several physical, chemical, and microbiological methods. This study presents a comprehensive narrative literature review, which aims to explore the various types of MPs and NPs, their sources, fate, toxicity, and impact on human health and environment. To achieve this aim, the study employed a comprehensive literature review methodology. In addition, it summarizes various methods of sample collection and analysis techniques. Remediation strategies for MPs and NPs removal are assessed and compared. Furthermore, it highlights interlinkages between the sustainable development goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 14—and plastic pollution. Overall, priority for research and development in the field of MPs and NPs impacts on ecological ecosystems is a must as this will enable the development of scientific polices driven by global collaboration and governance which in turn will develop tools and methodologies that measure the impacts and risk of plastic pollution.


The eukaryotic phylum Apicomplexa encompasses thousands of obligate intracellular parasites of humans and animals with immense socio-economic and health impacts. We sequenced nuclear genomes of Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, free-living non-parasitic photosynthetic algae closely related to apicomplexans. Proteins from key metabolic pathways and from the endomembrane trafficking systems associated with a free-living lifestyle have been progressively and non-randomly lost during adaptation to parasitism. The free-living ancestor contained a broad repertoire of genes many of which were repurposed for parasitic processes, such as extracellular proteins, components of a motility apparatus, and DNA- and RNA-binding protein families. Based on transcriptome analyses across 36 environmental conditions, Chromera orthologs of apicomplexan invasion-related motility genes were co-regulated with genes encoding the flagellar apparatus, supporting the functional contribution of flagella to the evolution of invasion machinery. This study provides insights into how obligate parasites with diverse life strategies arose from a once free-living phototrophic marine alga. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06974.001


Chronic hypoxia is associated with altered pulmonary vasoreactivity, and it has been suggested that an increased response to voltage-dependent vasodilators may relate to enhanced Ca++ entry via voltage-dependent channels, secondary to depolarization. Few studies have been performed on small pulmonary arteries, and it is unknown whether they are depolarized after chronic hypoxia. We examined the resting membrane potential, and the actions of voltage-dependent (verapamil, levcromakalim) and -independent (isoproterenol, forskolin, papaverine) vasodilators in small ( approximately 300 microm internal diameter) pulmonary arteries from chronically hypoxic rats. The resting membrane potential was more positive in arteries after chronic hypoxia (control: -60 +/- 0.5 mV; hypoxic: -54.4 +/- 1.1 mV; P < .01), and this was reflected by a shift to the left of the response curves for K+ and 4-aminopyridine. In arteries constricted with prostaglandin F2alpha the response to verapamil and levcromakalim was increased after chronic hypoxia, although maximum prostaglandin F2alpha-induced tension was unchanged, which implies a reduction in voltage-independent constrictor mechanisms. Although vasorelaxation to isoproterenol was depressed in arteries from hypoxic rats, forskolin-induced relaxation was enhanced substantially, and because the response to the phosphodiesterase inhibitor papaverine was unchanged, we suggest that this reflects an up-regulation of adenylate cyclase. In conclusion, chronic hypoxia resulted in a significant depolarization in small pulmonary arteries, but this may explain only partly the increased efficacy of voltage-dependent vasodilators. Whether the reduction in voltage-independent constrictor mechanisms is related to the apparent up-regulation of adenylate cyclase remains to be elucidated.


With the award of one of the first multiyear procurements to be authorized by the Congress, the Department of Defense celebrates the tenth anniversary of a major Joint-Service / Agency program that promises to revolutionize the art and science of navigation. This contract, totaling 1.17 billion dollars, will result in delivery by the end of this decade of 28 satellites that are to become the heart of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS). This paper traces the history of this program from its inception, identifying and discussing the major technologies that made it all possible. In so doing, the concept of operations of the entire system, including the satellites, their associated ground-based control network, and the family of user equipment being developed and tested to meet the broad scope of Department of Defence positioning and navigation requirements is introduced.


The primary implications of parallel processing on h-p adaptive finite element methods for electromagnetic analysis are investigated. Aside from the conventional benefits and costs associated with the parallelization of the essentially non-adaptive finite element modules, significant fundamental advantages that are unique to the adaptive process itself are explored. First, the overall speedup potential of local error estimator evaluation and h-p discretization refinement is superior to that of finite element solver execution in parallel environments, and therefore justifies the use of more complex and computationally intensive adaption control strategies. Second, the availability of parallel processing motivates the comparative assessment of different discretization strategies at each h-p refinement step to help guide the evolution of the adaption. Practical results representing a range of parallel configurations are computed to illustrate the concepts.


GSEE a grid-enabled value-added service platform in Next Generation Network (NGN) is proposed to solve the performance problem with traditional service platform of NGN. The value-added services hosted by GSEE are wrapped into grid services. GSEE and other nodes with spare processing capability are organized into virtual organization (VO). A task scheduling algorithm is proposed to overcome the performance bottleneck problem when system gets overload by leveraging existing resources in the same VO. GSEE is modeled by Stochastic Petri Net (SPN) in this paper. And simulation experiment is done based on this model, with the help of SPNP (stochastic Petri net package) to test the performance of GSEE. The simulation result verifies GSEE can really improve system performance.


Due to the complex network architecture, the mobile adhoc network's multihop feature gives additional problems to the users. When the traffic load at each node gets increased, the additional contention due its traffic pattern might cause the nodes which are close to destination to starve the nodes more away from the destination and also the capacity of network is unable to satisfy the total user's demand which results in an unfairness problem. In this paper, we propose to create an algorithm to compute the optimal MAC-layer bandwidth assigned to each flow in the network. The bottleneck links contention area determines the fair time share which is necessary to calculate the maximum allowed transmission rate used by each flow. To completely utilize the network resources, we compute two optimal rates namely, the maximum fair share and minimum fair share. We use the maximum fair share achieved in order to limit the input rate of those flows which crosses the bottleneck links contention area when the flows that are not allocated to the optimal transmission rate and calculate the following highest fair share. Through simulation results, we show that the proposed protocol achieves improved fair share and throughput with reduced delay.


In this paper, a portable photovoltaic (PV)-powered vaccine carrier intended for "hard to reach" areas that suffer luck of electricity and transportation has been proposed. The design of the proposed system has been analyzed and each of its elements (PV panel, battery, converter, and refrigerator) has been deeply studied, modeled, and validated through simulation as well as experimentally. These elements are carefully selected to form a robust, light system and at a reasonable cost. To maximize energy production, the PV panel control using a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller has been examined. Moreover, to ensure an appropriate battery charging and thereby prolonging battery life, state of charge (SOC) estimation using the Luenberger observer has been studied. The proposed system has been investigated under different climatic conditions. It was subjected to different daily profiles of irradiance and temperature measured in three seasons, namely, winter, spring, and summer in Marrakesh, Morocco. As expected, for all studied cases, the proposed PV-powered vaccine carrier works adequately and maintains continuously a low temperature of 4 °C (as required by the World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccine preservation) for a journey of 15 h. These results making it a very suitable option to transport vaccines safely in remote areas.


Neurologic illnesses occur commonly in association with HIV infection, are frequently debilitating and often life-threatening. The commonly recognized HIV-related neurologic illnesses include encephalopathy (dementia), myelopathy, neuropathy and myopathy. Stroke as a HIV-related manifestation is an increasingly recognized and evolving issue. This article reviews the literature on the association of stroke and HIV, stroke risk and stroke mechanisms in HIV-infected patients, and the role of antiretroviral drugs in HIV-related stroke.


A surface structural comparison of composite film of bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and phosphatidylcoline (PC) fabricated on a layered fatty acid film on a substrate of amorphous silicon dioxide (a-SiO2), crystal silicon dioxide (c-SiO2), or hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) was conducted to investigate the effect of substrate structure on the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film fabrication of membrane protein by direct force microscopy (DFM) measurement. On the a-SiO2 substrate, a hexagonal crystal structure of BR and PC with a size of 0.5 µm was observed. However, on the c-SiO2 or a-Si:H substrate, the surface structural features of the composite LB films differed from each other on the shape of assemblies in themselves. In spite of the presence of fatty acid layers, the assemby of BR and PC depends on the structure of the bottom substrate.


There is concern that the environment in which consent for anesthesia research is sought may be coercive.We therefore designed this study to determine the factors that parents consider in consenting to their child's participation in clinical anesthesia research. The study sample consisted of 246 parents who had been approached for permission to allow their child to participate in a clinical anesthesia study. Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire detailing the reasons for their decision to consent or decline their child's participation. There were no differences in the demographics of the consenters (n = 168) and nonconsenters (n = 78). Perceived risk and the importance of the study were the primary factors in the parents' decisions to consent or decline. Only 2.8% of nonconsenters strongly considered a lack of privacy as a deciding factor; 15.3% stated that they had insufficient time in which to make a decision, and 0% reported having felt pressured. Furthermore, only 3.1% of consenters strongly considered an obligation to consent. Results of this survey highlight factors that influence parents' decisions to consent to their child's participation in clinical anesthesia research. We hope that this information will be important to researchers in providing an appropriate environment for obtaining consent for clinical anesthesia research studies. Implications: Parents who are approached for permission for their child to participate in a research study must be fully informed and under no pressure to consent. This study describes factors that influence parents' decisions to consent to their child's participation in clinical anesthesia research.


The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Differentiated Learning Method (DLM) on students' motivation and achievement towards studying Arabic Language (AL) as a foreign language for non-native speakers. The participants in this study were 100 (47 males and 53 females) form four Malaysian students in secondary school from Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah (KISAS). This study applied a quasi-experimental design. The instruments employed were demographics questionnaire, the motivation questionnaire, and the AL achievement tests to determine the students' motivation and achievement towards studying AL (writing, reading, grammar). For this purpose, the researcher taught two different groups. The first group, which is the experimental group, was taught by using DLM. The other group which is the control group was taught by using Teacher-Centered Method (TCM). A descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data in this study using SPSS software. An analysis of covariance (one-way ANCOVA) was conducted to compare the students' achievement in AL based on the post-test scores in the aspects of interpretive reading, writing, and grammar between the control and experimental groups while statistically controlled the pre-test effect. Furthermore, the independent sample t-test was used to compare the students' motivation based on the post-test scores in the aspects of attainment value, extrinsic value, intrinsic value, study habit, cost value, expectancy for success, and ability belief between the experimental and control groups. In addition, Paired sample t-test was conducted to compare the effect of (DLM) on the achievements of the students while learning AL based on the pre-test and post-test scores in one group. In short, this study found that using DLM helped students perform and achieve significantly better than the control group while learning AL writing, reading, and grammar. The mean score in reading for the experimental group (M=20.04, SD= 4.43) was higher than the mean scores for the control group (M=18.38, SD= 4.69); t (1.82); p<.05). The same results have been found in grammar, the mean score for the experimental group (M=24.02, SD= 6.07) was higher than the mean scores for the control group (M=19.28, SD= 7.66); t (3.42); p=.00). Also, the mean score in writing for experimental groups (M=10.14, SD= 2.79) was higher than the mean score for the control group (M=8.20, SD= 2.38); t (3.73); p=.00). In addition, the students using DLM were obviously more motivated towards learning AL (M=155.74, SD= 12.66) than the students using TCM (M=145.28, SD= 14.41); t (3.85); p<.05) in the aspects of attainment value, study habit, extrinsic value, intrinsic value, cost value, expectancy for success, and ability belief. Finally, this research provides evidence that using DLM improved students' motivation and achievement towards studying AL as a foreign language.


When modeling the biased minor loops of the giant magnetostrictive material (GMM) with the classic Jiles-Atherton method, it is hard to describe the characters. When analyzing the shape changing rule of the hysteresis minor loops of Terfenol-D, whose magnetizations are not saturated, the shapes of loops are mainly affected by pinning factor k and by curve shape parameter a. The parameter k increases with the amplitude of the minor loop driving magnetic field and decreases with the bias magnetic field, while parameter a decreases with the bias magnetic field of the minor loop. A sigmoid curve function was adopted as the revision function of k and a. The revised minor loop model not only can well demonstrate the hysteresis character of biased minor loops and symmetric minor loops of Terfenol-D, but also does not need any foregoing information of minor loop magnetizations. The maximum error between the simulation results and experiments is reduced from 11.77% to 3.5%.


Knowing the basic role of the document as a primary and fundamental source of the Diplomatics, the autor goes over the traditional scope and spreads the concept of source to other texts of narrative character, not strictly documentary, through the analysis of different examples of diverse nature and various times.


AIM AND OBJECTIVES:
"Prevention is better than cure"
All of us know this way of living is better, but no body know how to prevent ourself from diseases. In this modern days "The children" the next generation of our country facing many problem physically as well as mentally. They are affected by diseases very easily because they are not good enough to protect against diseases. In childhood the cild easily affected by the Respiratory and Nutritional diseases. This is the common problem found among the children.
If the disease of child is cured in childhood itself means, then the child place themselves in a better place in future to serve for our nation. So the author decided to take the child's problem of respiratory systems.
The disease Annakku Thooru Azharchi is the most common upper respiratory infection in childrens.
The signs and symptoms of this disease correlate with Tonsillitis.
If Annakku Thooru Azharchi was not properly treated it leads to the life threatening complications like Rheumatic fever, Acute glomerulo nephritis etc.,
The author has selected the disease Annakku Thooru Azharchi to safe guard the childrens from this disease and from the life threatening complications with the medicine Karpoora Valli Mathirai.
The objectives are as follows,
1. To make a detailed study of Annakku Thooru Azharchi on the basis of Siddha literature.
2. To utilize and expose the unique diagnostic method mentioned by the siddhars and to know how the disease altered the normal
conditions of Mukkutram, Pori pulangal, Ezhu Udal Kattukal and Envagai thervugal.
3. To divide a comparative clinical study with the particular medicines mentioned above.
4. To have an idea about the incidence of the disease with age, sex, socio economic status, Family history and seasonal variation.
5. To know the degree of correlation on aetiology, classifications, signs and symptoms of Annakku Thooru Azharchi in siddha medicine with that of modern medicine.
6. To evaluate the bio-chemical, pharmacological and anti microbial studies of the drugs used for the treatment of the disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
MATERIALS:
A Clinical trial on Annakku thooru Azarchi was carried out in Govt. Siddha Medical College Hospital, Palayamkottai.
Cases are studied under the guidance of the professor and Lecturer of Post graduate Department of Kuzhanthai Maruthuvam both in Outpatients and In-patients ward.
20 cases with clinical signs and symptoms of Annakku thooru
Azarchi of both sexes under the age of 12 were selected and treated with Karpooravalli mathirai – 1 twice daily with honey.
Parameters of Case Selection:
Cases were selected from out - patient department and the
parameters of Case selection were,
1. Sore throat.
2. yellow (or) white coating of the tonsils.
3. Swelling of the tonsils (or) throat.
4. Fever.
5. Painful / difficult swallowing.
6. Cervical lymphadenitis.
7. Bad breath (halitosis).
Patients aging under 12 years were only selected for this study.
Clinical Examinations:
Patients were subjected to Physical examination on Siddha
Methodology "PINIYARI MURAIMAI"
Piniyari Muraimai has three main principles:
1. Porialarithal.
2. Pulanalarithal and,
3. Vinathal.
SUMMARY:
In siddha system of medicine even though many disease of children were explained with their classification, symptoms and treatment. Annakku Thooru Azharchi was not explained elaborately. Siddhars had mentioned many medicines for this disease. So from the available text. Annakku thooru Azharchi signs, symptoms and clinical features were collected and the medicines mentioned are taken for the study.
Majority of childrens has annakkuthorru azharchi as common
problem in their early stage of life. Annakku thooru Azharchi. Clinical feature reveals that this is a disease of tonsils and has close association with the immunity of the children. It is one of the common upper respiratory infection affecting children.
Among 20 cases, diagnosis established by siddha and modern
methodology reveals that the incidence of Annakku thooru Azharchi is greater in childrens with age group of 6 -11 years.
During this study the incidence of disease was more common in Elavenil and Munpani. In elavenil sour taste gets thannilai valarchi and astrigent tastes gets vetrunilai valarchi which increases kabam. This makes high incidence of Annakuru Thooru Azharchi. In munpani kaalam sugar tastes gets tannilai varlarchi and pungent taste gets vetrunilai
valarchi which makes the Annakku Thooru Azharchi.
The Envaai thervugal helped to diagnose disease to a large extent.
To confirm the diagnosis the available modern techniques, described previously were employed.
Regarding the treatment, all the patients were treated with Karpoora valli mathirai. internally for an average of 5-6 days. The observation made during this study showed that the trial medicine was clinically effective.
Their blood tests also showed encouraging improvement.
The pharmacological action of the trial drug has moderate acute anti–inflammatory, analgesic and chronic anti –inflammatory actions. The anti pyretic action of karpooravalli mathirai was mild.
Anti bacterial activity of the trial drug was sensitive against Group A
streptococcus,staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Biochemical analysis revealed the trial drugs contains calcium,
sulphate, ferrous and Tannic acid.
The improvement in the conditions of the patients was observed from the second day of treatment itself in general. All the patients showed very good response. no patients developed any adverse side effect. The action of the drug and progress in patients symptoms encouraging.
CONCLUSION:
The treatment of Karpooravalli Mathirai for Annakku Thooru
Azharchi showed good results.
The trial drug is easily palatable to children.
Raw drugs of this trial medicine is easily available and the preparation of medicine is also simple.
The cost of trial medicine is comparatively very low.
Drug is safe for the treatment of childrens as though all the ingredients are herbals.
No adverse effects were noticed during the course of treatment.
So it is concluded that in developing country like India, the therapy of Karpooravalli Mathirai can be very good in the view of efficacy, safety and cost, in the chemotheraphy for Annakku Thooru Azharchi.


FTIR smog chamber techniques were used to study the kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of Cl atoms, OD radicals, and O3 with the five-membered ring-structured compounds tetrahydrofuran (C4H8O, THF), 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (CH3C4H7O, 2-MTHF), 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran ((CH3)2C4H5O, 2,5-DMTHF), and furan (C4H4O). The rate coefficients determined using relative rate methods were kTHF+Cl = (1.96 ± 0.24) × 10(-10), kTHF+OD = (1.81 ± 0.27) × 10(-11), kTHF+O3 = (6.41 ± 2.90) × 10(-21), k2-MTHF+Cl = (2.65 ± 0.43) × 10(-10), k2-MTHF+OD = (2.41 ± 0.51) × 10(-11), k2-MTHF+O3 = (1.87 ± 0.82) × 10(-20), k2,5-DMTHF+OD = (4.56 ± 0.68) × 10(-11), k2,5-DMTHF+Cl = (2.84 ± 0.34) × 10(-10), k2,5-DMTHF+O3 = (4.58 ± 2.18), kfuran+Cl = (2.39 ± 0.27) × 10(-10), and kfuran+O3 = (2.60 ± 0.31) × 10(-18) molecules cm(-3) s(-1). Rate coefficients of the reactions with ozone were also determined using the absolute rate method under pseudo-first-order conditions. OD radicals, in place of OH radicals, were produced from CD3ONO to avoid spectral overlap of isopropyl and methyl nitrite with the reactants. The kinetics of OD radical reactions are expected to resemble the kinetics of OH radical reactions, and the rate coefficients of the reactions with OD radicals were used to calculate the atmospheric lifetimes with respect to reactions with OH radicals. The lifetimes of THF, 2-MTHF, and 2,5-DMTHF are approximately 15, 12, and 6 h, respectively.


Besides its high osteoinductive properties, hydroxyapatite (HAp) exhibits a relatively low mechanical strength. In order to improve the mechanical properties and reliability of HAp based composites, the addition of selected polymers is highly recommended. The main objective of this work is to study the microstructural characteristics of HAp/poly‐ l‐lactide (PLLA) composites obtained by cold or hot processing. The composites were prepared from a mixture of a chloroform solution of poly‐ l‐lactide with granulated HAp. After elimination of chloroform by vacuum evaporation, dense compacts were obtained by cold or hot pressing. The pressing pressure ranged from 98.10 to 294.3 MPa for both cold and hot pressing. The hot pressing was performed in the temperature region 293–457 K for a time period of 15–60 min. Depending on the PLLA amount and the pressing procedure it is possible to obtain highly porous or nearly fully dense composites. The scanning electron microscopy examination of fracture as well as of free surfaces revealed that the final porosity and wetting are affected to a great extent by the synthesis conditions and amount of polymer added. An increase in temperature to 457 K for a longer period of time results in fully dense compacts. The formation of a nearly continuous polymer network that leads to the hardening of HAp has also been observed. However, it should be pointed out that some layers of HAp may be free of polymer film since PLLA penetrates more deeply into the porous HAp.


Abstract The scale and nature of the exsolution textures developed in some titanomagnetites have been used to calculate the rate at which the oxides were cooling at the time of exsolution. The cooling rates were calculated by evaluating a kinetic model, which describes the growth of an ulvöspinel-rich lamella in titanomagnetite during exsolution. The model was evaluated both by numerical techniques and by an approximate analytical method. The cooling rates during titanomagnetite exsolution of the Taberg, Skaergaard and part of the Mt. Yamaska intrusions were calculated to be approximately 130, 12 and 6000°C per 1000 years respectively. These values are in good agreement with cooling rates calculated from heat flow models of the intrusions.


Stability of localized solutions arising in a fourth–order differential equation modelling struts is investigated. It was shown by Buffoni et al. in 1996 that the model exhibits many multimodal buckling states bifurcating from a primary buckling mode. In this article, using analytical and numerical techniques, the primary mode is shown to be unstable under dead loading for all axial loads, while it is likely to be stable under rigid loading for small axial loads. Furthermore, for general reversible or conservative systems, stability of the multimodal solutions is established assuming stability of the primary state. Since this hypothesis is not satisfied for the buckling mode arising in the strut model, any multimodal buckling state will be unstable under dead and rigid loading.


After trypsin digestion of 4% formaldehyde (10% formalin)-fixed, paraffin-embedded brain sections, immunofluorescence identification of rabies antigen was successful in three human rabies cases and in experimentally infected mice. The method allows better interpretation of the anatomic localization of rabies antigen and will be helpful in studies of the pathogenesis of rabies. It will also be diagnostically useful where fresh or fresh-frozen brain tissue is not available, although it should not be considered as a replacement for standard immunofluorescence and mouse inoculation techniques for rabies diagnosis.


Quantum noise limits the sensitivity of interferometric measurements. It is generally admitted that it leads to an ultimate sensitivity, the "standard quantum limit". Using a semi-classical analysis of quantum noise, we show that a judicious use of squeezed states allows one in principle to push the sensitivity beyond this limit. This general method could be applied to large-scale interferometers for gravitational wave detection.


alpha-Fluoromethyl-[S]-histidine (FMH) is a specific and potent inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, which forms histamine from histidine. It acts selectively and irreversibly by formation of a covalent linkage, possibly with the serine residue in the active site of the enzyme. A single administration of FMH decreases the histamine content only of non-mast cells in the brain and stomach of rodents, but repeated administration gradually decreases the histamine content of mast cells in all tissues. Thus, FMH can be used to deplete histamine in pharmacological studies. As no marked side-effects have been observed during administration of FMH, it may be useful in pathological conditions, such as some allergic diseases, peptic ulcers and mastocytosis, in which excess production of histamine is involved.


Early Arabidopsis thaliana seedling growth includes the highly synchronous development of hairs from every epidermal cell of the collet (the root-hypocotyl transition zone). The dynamics of collet hair growth, and accompanying nuclear movement and endoreduplication, were followed using a combination of different fluorescent probes for time-lapse imaging and flow cytometry. Using laser-scanning confocal microscopy on the double-transgenic Arabidopsis hybrid line NLS-GFP-GUS × YPM, there appeared to be a correlation between nuclear position and the cell tip during growth of the collet hair cells, as occurs in asynchronously developing root hairs. However, disruption of nuclear movement in the growing collet hairs using low concentrations of cytoskeletal inhibitors demonstrated that nuclear positioning close to the tip of the cell is not essential for tip-directed growth of the hair. Nuclear DNA content increases from 4C to 16C during development of the collet hairs. Following cessation of growth, nuclei moved to the base of the hairs and then their movement became asynchronous and limited. Co-visualization of RFP-highlighted prevacuolar vesicles and GFP-labelled nuclei showed that, whereas small vesicles allowed unimpeded nuclear movement within the hair, transient stops and directional reversals coincided with the presence of larger vesicles in close proximity to the nucleus. Arabidopsis collet hairs provide a robust, easily accessible, naturally synchronized population of single tip-growing cells that can be used as a model cell type for studying nuclear movement and endoreduplication.


A literature review conducted for a 1989 article on assessing the quality of life in surgical studies revealed that quality of life was more often mentioned than measured. Few authors reported the use of known, standardized scales. The objective of this study was to determine if and to what extent this situation has changed. A MEDLINE search of surgical studies published between 1989 and 1995 produced over 277 abstracts of surgical studies containing the words "quality of life." The abstracts were studied in three time periods: 1989-1990, 1991-1992 and 1993-1995. Findings indicated that the use of the term "quality of life" increased markedly over the study period, and studies using standardized measures escalated from 27.4% in 1989-1990 to 48.3% in 1993-1995. Those abstracts not stating how quality of life was assessed decreased from 48.4% in the early period to 21.7% in the last period. Of the abstracts reporting studies that used quality of life measures, 33% came from cancer studies, 21.7% from cardiovascular or respiratory studies, 14.8% from gastroenterology studies, 13.4% from nephrology studies and 6.1% from orthopedic studies. Surgical investigators selected a variety of global measures of quality of life as well as disease-specific instruments. The abstracts also revealed that surgeons are using quality-of-life assessment to monitor patients over time, to help select patients for surgery, to determine the effect of surgical treatment and for making policy decisions. Notwithstanding the limitations of this project, there is evidence in the literature that surgeons are increasingly willing to assess the impact of the surgical interventions by quality-of-life measures and are becoming more familiar with the diverse measures used to assess quality of life.


This special issue on crosswell methods was constructed in response to the large number of crosswell papers submitted during 1993 and 1994. The editorial staff felt that rather than distributing these papers throughout the year the society would be better served by having an archival volume composed completely of crosswell-related papers. This was not a publicly solicited issue, and we undoubtedly did not receive some excellent papers that may have been submitted with a public solicitation. Nevertheless, we feel that this volume is an excellent snapshot of crosswell technology as it stood in 1993-1994.


While women in Turkey and around the world are commonly engaged in civic activism for peace and violence reduction, they are seriously underrepresented in formal politics; thus, not much has been written about their potential to affect decisions made to reduce violence in their societies. This study aims to understand how women politicians view violence in general and their solutions for two specific types of violence in Turkey: (1) the increasing levels of violence against women, and (2) violence created through the Kurdish issue in Turkey. Turkish politicians have become increasingly concerned about both of these issues in recent years and have designed many policies and strategies to address them. This study argues that studying the women parliamentarians' linkage (or its absence) between the two types of violence will help understand what accounts for the differences (if any) among women MPs in their understanding of different types of violence and their solutions to them.


How to strengthen the cultivation of applied innovative talents is the main problems in the educational reform of local colleges. This paper takes G universities as an example, based on the empirical research on the learning result of innovative experimental class students, to find out the problems and improvement points in the training of applied innovative talents by measuring and analyzing indicators of learning engagement, school support and learning result, and put forward the corresponding optimization proposal. It provides ideas and directions for deepening the reform of applied innovative talents training in colleges.


Introduction: Anger, as a major factor in traffic accidents and beatings, plays an important role in the mortality of the people. According to the statistics from the World Health Organization, beatings and traffic accidents are predominant causes of trauma incidents. An increase in violence, as a risk factor, is effective in traumatic and mental health injuries and has an important role in creating incidents. This study aimed to compare anger control and its relationship with mental health in trauma patients after incidents.
Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shahid Rajaee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, on 214 patients who were selected based on systematic randomization using the available sampling method. Novaco's Anger Control Questionnaire, as a standard questionnaire, and General Mental Health Questionnaire were used for comparing the anger control and assessing the mental health, respectively. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (Version. 18) using the independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: According to the results of demographic characteristics, the mean age of the patients was 32.65±8.318 years. Out of 214 patients who participated in this study, 120 and 94 cases were injured by beatings and traffic accidents, respectively. The results of statistical analysis indicated a significant relationship between mental health and anger control in these subjects.
Conclusion: The injury caused by an increase in violence in traffic accidents and beatings is a dangerous risk factor lurking in the population, which leads to irreparable damages to the country's economy. These findings showed a significant relationship between anger control and mental health in the two groups of traffic accidents and beatings. Therefore, the development of anger control training packages can reduce damages caused by anger in people.


Automated audits of recommender systems found that blindly following recommendations leads users to increasingly partisan, conspiratorial, or false content. At the same time, studies using real user traces suggest that recommender systems are not the primary driver of attention toward extreme content; on the contrary, such content is mostly reached through other means, e.g., other websites. In this paper, we explain the following apparent paradox: if the recommendation algorithm favors extreme content, why is it not driving its consumption? With a simple agent-based model where users attribute different utilities to items in the recommender system, we show through simulations that the collaborative-filtering nature of recommender systems and the nicheness of extreme content can resolve the apparent paradox: although blindly following recommendations would indeed lead users to niche content, users rarely consume niche content when given the option because it is of low utility to them, which can lead the recommender system to deamplify such content. Our results call for a nuanced interpretation of "algorithmic amplification" and highlight the importance of modeling the utility of content to users when auditing recommender systems. Code available: https://github.com/epfl-dlab/amplification_paradox.


The prediction of compressor performance using steady-state methods has had limited success for multistage configurations. Accepted limitations of the computational methods such as streamline curvature effects have been ignored because of a more dominant issue of the interface between the rotating and stationary components and the change in pitch between the vanedstationary components. The most common model reported in the literature for centrifugal compressor stage analysis is known as the frozen-rotor or implicit model. Its selection, however, is normally driven for numerical stability reasons not for accuracy. The literature has shown that this method does not provide physically correct solutions for off-design predictions. The current work attempts to improve the steady-state modeling approach by employing an interface modeling that assumes that the tip speed is much greater than the through flow velocity. This model is referred to as circumferential averaging and is less stable than the frozen rotor model. The next proposed improvement is to model all of the vaned-stationary passages in order to preserve geometric periodicity. The last novel improvement is in the area of the diffuser inlet region where a portion of the secondary flow path is included to resolve the entrance loss into the diffuser. This approach was used to model two sections of a high pressure centrifugal compressor. The results are presented for design and off-design flows. The calculations are compared with test data taken from full scale testing.


Abstract SrTiO3 (STO) thin films were deposited on p-type Si(100) substrates by rf magnetron sputtering at various substrate temperatures, and their structural and electrical properties were investigated without post-deposition annealing. The thickness of the films was in the range from 300 to 500 nm while the deposition temperature was varied between room temperature and 550°C. Compositional and structural characterizations included X-ray diffraction, Rutherford back-scattering spectroscopy and variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. Metal-insulator-semiconductor diodes with the configuration of Al/STO/p-Si/Al were fabricated and characterized by capacitance-voltage, current-voltage and admittance spectroscopy measurements. Depending on the substrate temperatures, the dielectric constant of the films varied between 60 and 120 and the loss factor between 0.019 and 0.051 at 100 kHz. All films showed high charge storage capacity, varying between 1.9 and 3μm cm−2. However, the films deposited at 200°C showed the lowest density of bulk trapped charges (150 nC cm−2) and interface states ((1.2–6.1) × 1011 cm−2 eV−1), and are therefore considered to be the most suitable for device applications.


The article analyses the satisfaction of employee needs in Lithuanian organisations, according to
A. Maslow's theory of needs hierarchy. Motivation plays an important role in making people successful and happy in both their daily and their work life. Everyone looks for all possible ways to meet their needs in the organisation they work for, and doing so tends to change from a less satisfactory condition to a better one. The theory of the hierarchy of needs has been widely accepted, and has been particularly supported by many managers, largely because it is logical and simple, and therefore easy to understand. This theory explains what motivates people to work, and has shown managers that work motives are determined by a wide range of needs. According to the study, the results in Lithuanian organisations are in line with Maslow's theory of the hierarchy of needs, which states that the needs of the last level of the hierarchy of needs must be met first, in order to create the conditions for the next.


Objective: To compare overall survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) with limited lymphadenectomy or transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) with extended lymphadenectomy with or without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Background: The application of neoadjuvant therapy might change the association between the extent of lymphadenectomy and survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. This may influence the choice of surgical approach in patients treated with nCRT. Methods: Patients with potentially curable subcarinal esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with surgery alone or nCRT followed by surgery in 7 centers were included. The effect of surgical approach on overall survival, differentiated by the addition or omission of nCRT, was analyzed using a multivariable Cox regression model that included well-known prognostic factors and factors that might have influenced the choice of surgical approach. Results: In total, 701 patients were included, of whom 318 had TTE with extended lymphadenectomy and 383 had THE with limited lymphadenectomy. TTE had differential effects on survival (P for interaction = 0.02), with a more favorable prognostic effect in patients who were treated with surgery alone [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58–1.03]. This association was statistically significant in a subgroup of patients with 1 to 8 positive lymph nodes in the resection specimen (HR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.43–0.90). The favorable prognostic effect of TTE over THE was absent in the nCRT and surgery group (HR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.80–1.66) and in the subgroup of nCRT patients with 1 to 8 positive lymph nodes in the resection specimen (HR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.61–1.68). Conclusions: Compared to surgery alone, the addition of nCRT may reduce the need for TTE with extended lymphadenectomy to improve long-term survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma.


In this research, a laboratory study of hydraulic jump properties was conducted by making small semicircular rough elements, which covered the stilling basin floor downstream of spillway. The objective of this research was to introduce and make a comparison of roughed bed hydraulic jump stilling basin by using semicircular rough elements. To reach such an idea, a new expression was first developed for sequent depth and hydraulic jump length. Then, hydraulic jumps were conducted on a bed of prismatic roughness elements in a rectangular flume in order to investigate the jump effect on the characteristics of stilling basin. The rough elements are positioned on the bed of the flume downstream of an Ogee spillway in such a way that the incoming water jet is just skimming above the elements' top surface. Each rough element shape was tested under different Froude numbers, ranging from 4 to 11. In each test, the water surface profile, the roller length and the jump length were measured. The experimental results showed that the presence of a rough element increases the shear force and consequently reduces the jump length and the sequent depth of flow. Comparison of the results with those of previous studies showed that using beds roughed with semicircular shaped elements can decrease the length of the stilling basin by 56% of any regular basin and the sequent depth of the jump by 25% of a comparable one occurring on a smooth bed. Also, the average value of energy dissipation was computed and found to range between 68.1% and 60.4% of stilling basin of type I developed by Peterka (1978).


Background Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a chronic myeloproliferative haematological disease that uses tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) as treatment. The patients' quality of life has improved satisfactorily, however, the use of them bring inherent risks. Drug interactions may compromise the patient's direct safety which could be undesirable and even irreversible, causing harm to the patient's health and even leading to death. More knowledge about these drug interactions are important in structuring a specified pharmaceutical service. Purpose To analyse the potencial drug interactions (PDI) and its factors associated in patients with CML using TKI treated at a university hospital, aimed at improving patient safety. Material and methods Cross-sectional analytical study with a sample of 101 patients. Data were collected in the patients' charts and the outcome variable was the presence of PDI, inquired in Micromedex database. Multivariate regression was performed using the Poisson multiple regression model. Results One-hundred and five PDI were identified with a prevalence of 53.5%. Of the 43 PDI involving TKI, 19 different pairs of drug-drug interactions were observed: 13 (68%) were severe and six (32%) were moderate. The main conduct was therapeutic drug monitoring. The most prevalent pair among the severe ones was Imatinib Mesylate with Domperidone (20%) and among the moderate ones was Imatinib Mesylate with Levothyroxine (50%). The occurrence of PDI has been shown to be associated with female sex, the chronic phase of the disease, the use of Dasatinib and the use of more than five drugs concomitant with TKI. Conclusion Results revealed a significant number of PDI among patients with CML. In addition, they suggest associated PDI risk factors commonly reported in the literature: chronic disease, female sex and polypharmacy. An important finding was the use of TKI Dasatinib. Most interactions can compromise patient safety, which highlights the importance of this topic and the need to evaluate and monitor the cancer patient's drug therapy. Reference and/or acknowledgements Rodrigues A, Cruz A, Marialva M, et al. Clinical pharmacist contribution to profile and manage potential drug interaction in intensive care unit. Euro J Hosp Pharm: Sci Pract 2012;19:226. No conflict of interest.


Operating a robot safely and efficiently can be considerably challenging in an interactive and complex environment. Other surrounding agents may be cooperative or adversarial in their interactions with the robot. It will be desirable to develop control strategies that can enable the robot agent to handle diverse situations and respond with appropriate behaviors in an interactive environment. In this paper, we focus on automated vehicles, and propose a reinforcement learning based approach to train the vehicle agent for safe, comfortable, and efficient maneuvers under interactive driving situations. Particularly, we design a form of the Q-function approximator that consists of neural networks but also has a closed-form greedy policy. In this way, we avoid the complication of invoking an additional function that learns to take actions, as in actor-critic algorithms. Additionally, we formulate the vehicle control maneuvers with continuous state and action space to enhance the practicability and feasibility of the proposed approach. We test our algorithm in simulation with a challenging use case, the lane change maneuver. Results show that the vehicle robot successfully learns a desirable driving policy that allows it to drive safely, comfortably, and efficiently in complex driving scenarios.


Abstrast—Practice teaching is an important progress of training talent in engineering colleges and it is the key point whether the aim of training higher educated talents will be realized or not. This article is based on the CDIO engineering education model "learning by doing". It makes a survey of practice teaching and analyzes the problems among Chinese engineering colleges and universities. And it also gives some measures to improve university students' capacity of engineering practice.


Bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterium having antagonistic activity against Bacillus cereus, was isolated from Kimchi. The selected strain was identified as Lactococcus lactis by the Bergey's manual and 16S rDNA analysis, and named as L. lactis ET45. The bacteriocin was stable in the pH range 3.0-11.0. The bacteriocin was active over a wide temperature range from 40°C to 121°C. Optimal culture condition for producing bacteriocin was obtained by growing the cells on MRS medium at pH 7.5 and 30°C for 18 h. Antibacterial activity of the bacteriocin was completely disappeared by proteinase K, and this means that bacteriocin is a proteinous substance. The molecular weight of bacteriocin was estimated to be about 4.5 kDa by tricine sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacryamide gel electrophoresis (TSDS-PAGE).


The treatment of fresh fruits with different doses of ionizing radiation has been found effective for delaying ripening and, in this way, to extend shelf life. This preservation method is likely to produce some functional or constitutive changes in the cellular structure of the fruit. In this work, a test of the effectiveness of fruit irradiation with relatively low doses was performed by using dynamic speckle imaging. Bananas from a same lot were chosen, being a first series of them irradiated with different doses of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 kGy (Gy = J/kg) and a second series with doses of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1 kGy. Non irradiated bananas (0 kGy) were considered as the lot reference for contrast. Irradiation was carried out at the Semi-Industrial Cobalt 60 facility of the Ezeiza Atomic Center, with an activity of 6 × 105 Curie and a dose rate of 28.5 Gy/min. The objective of this work is to analyze differences in the maturation process between irradiated and nonirradiated fruits by means of dynamic speckle pattern evaluation.


An edited work covering topics from the prehistory of solid state physics, diffraction and electrons at the Fermi surface, superconductivity, solid state optics and microelectronics. It traces the history and achievements of the science of the solid state. It provides a balanced overview of the subject accessible in part or in whole to a wide readership.Of interest to professional physicists, engineers and scientists in condensed matter physics and the related areas of metallurgy, solid state physics and chemistry, electronics and materials science and historians of science.


We investigate the technical performance of six HESS topologies integrated with run-of-river (ROR) hydropower to provide frequency support. We choose ROR hydropower because there are 23 GW of installed ROR hydropower in the U.S. and integrating these plants with energy storage could boost their contribution to grid services. We focus on HESSs composed of batteries and ultracapacitors because batteries are cost effective for storing energy but degrade more quickly as a function of cycling. In contrast, ultracapacitors can be cycled millions of times and are cost effective for quick injections of power. We find that active HESS topologies demonstrate the best overall improvement to grid frequency during a contingency while adhering to the power ramping limits of the HESS devices. Future work will investigate other services to identify if one HESS topology performs best for all services of interest or, more likely, different HESS topologies are best suited for specific services.


The potential for top-down control of phytoplankton populations by zooplankton in tropical lentic systems was examined in 12 shallow reservoirs using a 15 year data set. Regression analyses showed that calanoid, cyclopoid, and rotifer, but not cladoceran, abundances were important in infl uencing the structure of phytoplankton communities. Counts of chlorophytes Ankistrodesmus, Cosmarium and Peridinium decreased with increasing calanoid, cyclopoid and rotifi er numbers while populations of the diatoms Melosira and Synedra, Planktotrix and Scenedesmus were inversely correlated with the abundance of calanoid copepods. Cyanobacteria populations, with the exception of Planktotrix, were not negatively affected by increasing zooplankton numbers. This study supports the hypothesis that zooplankton exert 'top-down' control on certain algal communities in tropical lentic systems, however, the use of broad taxonomic groups (calanoids, cyclopoids, cladocerans, and rotifers) potentially masks information on how specifi c zooplankton exert control on phytoplankton communities. We suggest that a greater taxonomic resolution of the zooplankton fauna is necessary to further understand the complex associations between phytoplankton and zooplankton communities within tropical reservoirs. Nevertheless, even at this coarse scale of investigation, this paper presents clear trends that support the importance of zooplankton in the control of freshwater algal abundance.


Post operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occurs in as many as 70%-80% of high risk surgical patients. The latest prophylactic treatment recommended in the Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia Guidelines for the management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting for high risk patients is a combination of 2 or more interventions (multimodal therapy). A combination of a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with dexamethasone and/or droperidol, or a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with droperidol alone, or dexamethasone with droperidol, have been the pharmacologic combination therapies suggested in these guidelines. Palonosetron is a fairly new 5-HT3 receptor antagonist recently approved by the FDA for PONV prophylaxis. The use of this novel drug in a triple therapy combination with Dexamethasone and/ or Droperidol could be an effective treatment for the prevention of PONV. However, since the FDA issued a warning stating that droperidol may cause life – threatening arrhythmias as well as a prolongation of the QTc interval, the need to discover new combination therapies for PONV prevention in high risk patients is still in demand. Therefore, we hypothesize that the use of this novel drug Palonosetron in a triple therapy combination with Dexamethasone and Promethazine will be an effective treatment for the prevention of PONV in patients at a high risk for developing PONV during the first 120 hours after neurosurgery.


Clustering is an efficient and important method to facilitate energy conservation. Aiming to alleviate the high overheads of migrating management information in the re-clustering process of a clustering algorithm, an energy efficient, Complete Graph-based Clustering Algorithm (CGCA) is proposed in a densely deployed sensor network. CGCA divides the network into a few complete graphs, each complete graph independently being a cluster. CGCA is only executed at the system activation time and the cluster head role needs only to be rotated among the internal nodes in each cluster at the subsequent re-clustering phase, which incurs greatly reduced communication and computation overheads. Another contribution of our work is to add some mobile nodes to act as gateways so as to join the disconnected cluster heads, which puts the heavy inter-cluster traffic burden on the resource-rich mobile nodes thus saving much energy in the energy constrained sensor nodes. Extensive simulation experiments demonstrate that the number of exchanged messages produced by CGCA is only about 20% that of the traditional identifier based clustering algorithm in a densely deployed case. Furthermore, our proposed achieves an improvement in system lifetime of factor 2 that of the LEACH in a dense sensor network.


The stable yet dynamic reconstruction of large chest wall defects involving the sternum is a challenge. Titanium bars, mesh grafts, muscle and omentum flaps, methyl-methacrylate, and last but not least the implantation of sternal allografts from deceased donors are approaches for these operations. With the emerging 3D laser printing technique, a new era in surgery has begun, offering customized implants that were individually designed by using the patients CT scan as a template. Based on a PubMed literature review we compared 78 patients treated with the widely practiced standard techniques using titanium bars and mesh graft for sternal reconstruction to the first 11 cases reported using 3D-printed sternal prosthesis. We also took in seven cases with standardized sternum replacements made of Alumina ceramic and 19 patients after a sternal replacement with a cryopreserved allograft in the comparison, to include all treatment aspects. Each of the presented 3D-printed sternum replacements was designed differently as their creators put much thought in the best possible way of anchoring the adjacent rib stumps and allowing surrounding tissue to grow in easily. All of the patients who received a customized implant recovered quickly from the operation and complained of little impairment afterwards. The patients who were treated in the standard technique also received a stable and safe sternum replacement with little complications postoperatively. Since most of these patients were suffering from malignant diseases, there is a lack of long-term follow-up. With the first few cases with personalized 3D-printed sternum replacements we can only partially outline the scope and possibilities offered by this technique. Apart from obvious disadvantages regarding the production process, the new technique already seems by no means less effective in comparison to the standard procedures.


We analyze a circularly-polarized slot pair on a hollow rectangular waveguide of finite length with corrugations on the bottom by the method of moments. The analysis is for designing a radial line slot antenna for high-power or space applications. The reflection from the end of the corrugation array gives ripples in the slot coupling for the relative position of the slot pair but the ripples are so small that averaging of the slot coupling is acceptable for practical design of the antenna.


C11 cyclopentenone, 5-hydroxy-7-prop-2-en(E)-ylidene-7,7a-dihydro-2H-cyclopenta[b] pyran-6-one, isolated earlier from the sponges and ascidians, is known as a natural product possessing antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. However, its cancer preventive activity has not been studied. Cancer preventive and proapoptotic properties of the compound as well as its effect on the main MitogenActivated Protein-Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were examined by the methods of epidermal growth factorinduced (EGFinduced) JB6 Cl41 P+ cell transformation in soft agar, flow cytometry, and MTS test of cell viability. Results: the compound inhibits EGFinduced neoplastic JB6 Cl41 P+ cell transformation in soft agar and induces apoptosis of HL-60 and THP-1 human leukemia cells. Jun N-terminal Kinase and p38 MAPK signaling pathways are involved in the cellular response to the treatment by the compound. Conclusions: 5-hydroxy-7-prop-2-en-(E)-ylidene-7,7a-dihydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]pyran-6one and other related marine C11 cyclopentenones have potential for development of a new antitumor agent in cancer prophylactics and should be further investigated.


We investigated egg-laying in captive European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris. with moderate differences in food availability. From February-March onwards, experimentally food-rationed (FR) birds got 80% of the food ration of an ad libitum fed control (AL-FR) group, which led to a reduction in body mass and activity, and a redigestion of feces. FR birds showed less courtship behavior than AL-FR birds, and did not start laying until their food ration was increased to 90%, during the second half of the breeding season. Fewer FR than AL-FR females started laying. Among those that did, body mass was 6-7 g lower than that of AL-RR females throughout courtship, laying and incubation. No differences in clutch size, egg mass and egg composition were found. Compared to the AL-FR birds, mean laying date was 11-14 days earlier in ad libitum fed (AL) starlings that had no visual contact with FR birds. Initiation of egg-laying in FR starlings apparently was triggered by increased food availability, whereas that of AL-FR starlings may have been delayed because of the near absence of breeding activity among the FR birds with which they were in visual contact.


Review and criticism of studies that deal with the lives of literary figures and their influence on literature as one   of the most important branches of human civilization are of high prominence especially when they play important roles in the advancement of educational goals.Such criticisms regardless of whether they cause adornment and acceptance of such works pave the ways for applied  studies.Among these works, the book of '' Lord of the Poetry in Abbasia Period'' iss a work that the author has attempted by choosing the elect  of Abbasia period poets and their poetic characteristics. Poetry of this period is one of the brightest Arabic literature periods.The present study aims to introduce the position and goal of this book after an introduction about the importance of criticism and analysis of literary books and present its content and structural criticism. Since the author has written this book with the aim of pushing enthusiasts of literature which is consistent with some training techniques, it seems that after removing shortcomings and review of this book, it would have optimal performance as a teaching source in M.A courses


The age of high-elevation planation surfaces in Corsica is constrained using new apatite (U-Th)/He data, field observations, and published work (zircon fission track, apatite fission track [AFT] data and landform/stratigraphical analysis). Thermal modeling results based on AFT and (U-Th)/He data, and the Eocene sediments uncomformably overlapping the Variscan crystalline basement indicate that present-day elevated planation surfaces in Corsica are the remnants of an erosion surface formed on the basement between ∼120 and ∼60 Ma. During the Alpine collision in the Paleocene-Eocene, the Variscan crystalline basement was buried beneath a westward-thinning wedge of flysch, and the eastern portion was overridden by the Alpine nappes. Resetting of the apatite fission track thermochronometer suggests an overburden thickness of >4 km covering Variscan Corsica. Protected by soft sediment, the planation surface was preserved. In the latest Oligocene to Miocene times, the surface was re-exposed and offset by reactivated faults, with individual basement blocks differentially uplifted in several phases to elevations of, in some cases, >2 km. Currently the planation surface remnants occur at different altitudes and with variable tilt. This Corsican example demonstrates that under favorable conditions, paleolandforms typical of tectonically inactive areas can survive in tectonically active settings such as at collisional plate margins. The results of some samples also reveal some discrepancies in thermal histories modeled from combined AFT and (U-Th)/He data. In some cases, models could not find a cooling path that fit both data sets, while in other instances, the modeled cooling paths suggest isothermal holding at temperature levels just below the apatite partial annealing zone followed by final late Neogene cooling. This result appears to be an artifact of the modeling algorithm as it is in conflict with independent geological constraints. Caution should be used when cross-validating the AFT and (U-Th)/He systems both in the case extremely old terrains and in the case of rocks with a relatively simple, young cooling history.


The eccentricity of binary black hole mergers is predicted to be an indicator of the history of their formation. In particular, eccentricity is a strong signature of dynamical formation rather than formation by stellar evolution in isolated stellar systems. It has been shown that searches for eccentric signals with quasi-circular templates can lead to loss of SNR, and some signals could be missed by such a pipeline. We investigate the efficacy of the existing quasi-circular parameter estimation pipelines to determine the source parameters of such eccentric systems. We create a set of simulated signals with eccentricity up to 0.3 and find that as the eccentricity increases, the recovered mass parameters are consistent with those of a binary with up to a≈ 10% higher chirp mass and mass ratio closer to unity. We also employ a full inspiral-merger-ringdown waveform model to perform parameter estimation on two gravitational wave events, GW151226 and GW170608, to investigate this bias on real data. We find that the correlation between the masses and eccentricity persists in real data, but that there is also a correlation between the measured eccentricity and effective spin. In particular, using a non-spinning prior results in a spurious eccentricity measurement for GW151226. Performing parameter estimation with an aligned spin, eccentric model, we constrain the eccentricities of GW151226 and GW170608 to be < 0.15 and < 0.12 respectively.


Results at mm wave frequencies have shown that it is important to evaluate co-channel interference between directional beams that cross each other. Terahertz frequency bands, especially around 300 GHz, has been considered for future wireless communications. As far as we know, no work has considered the rain induced interference at THz frequencies. In this work, we evaluate the rain induced interference at 300 GHz. Results are calculated also at 60 GHz in order to make a comparison. We combined bistatic radar equation, first order multiple scattering approximation and full Mie scattering calculations to existing drop size distribution models to estimate interference due to rain. Considered effective path lengths between transmitter and receiver are 100 m and 500 m and the effect of selected drop size distribution is studied. Overall interference levels was observed to be approximately 20 dBm smaller at 300 GHz than at 60 GHz and angular dependency of interfering power was much more forward oriented for 300 GHz frequency. The results show that rain induces interference has significantly different behaviour at THz as compared to lower frequencies.


INTRODUCTION: NuvaRing®, a contraceptive vaginal ring, is inserted by the user with her fingers. An applicator has been developed as an optional insertion aid. This study assessed performance, tolerability, and safety of a new applicator. METHODS: Women aged 18–45 years not currently using NuvaRing® were enrolled at 2 centers in this 2-period crossover study. Women were randomly assigned to either applicator or fingers in the first period and the other method in the second. For both periods, the ring was in place for 24–72 h; questionnaires were administered immediately following ring insertion and at removal. The second period occurred 48–72 h after removal of the first ring. RESULTS: 164 women (mean age 30.2 years) were randomized: 163 completed the applicator period, 162 completed the fingers period. Insertion was 100% successful with both methods. Ring expulsion occurred in 1 and 2 women, respectively, with applicator and fingers. Among randomized subjects, 8.6% and 4.3%, respectively, reported at least 1 treatment-related adverse event (AE); all were mild and were mostly considered related to the ring rather than the insertion method. Five AEs (4 events [2.5%] of vulvovaginal pain, 1 episode [0.6%] of abdominal cramping) were considered related to the applicator. The 4 AEs of mild pain (eg, "pinching") lasted less than 1 minute and resolved spontaneously. Bleeding did not occur during or up to 15 h following applicator use; mild events occurred more commonly during follow-up after applicator use (3.1% and 0.6%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The NuvaRing® Applicator is an effective and well-tolerated optional NuvaRing® insertion aid.


In this work, magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were used as novel adsorbents for selective adsorption of 3-methylindole from model oil. The MMIPs were synthesized by precipitation polymerization and surface molecularly imprinted technique, using Fe3O4 nanoparticles as magnetically susceptible component, methylacrylic acid as dressing agent and functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker, and 3-methylindole as template molecule. The MMIPs were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, and thermogravimetric analyzer, respectively. The adsorption performances of MMIPs were investigated by batch adsorption experiments in terms of kinetics, isotherms, and selective recognition adsorption, respectively. The results indicate that MMIPs have high recognition ability and fast binding kinetics for 3-methylindole. Meanwhile, the adsorption equilibrium time was about 2 h and the equilibrium adsorption amount was ∼38 mg g−1 at 298 K. The heterogeneous MMIPs were modeled with pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm equation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2859–2866, 2013


Noroviruses are the most common cause of outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis worldwide. Norovirus outbreaks were surveyed in Catalonia and the region of Valencia (Eastern Spain) between January 2001 and December 2006 as part of the European Union funded network "Food‐borne viruses in Europe". During this time the etiology and epidemiological features of 194 outbreaks of acute non‐bacterial gastroenteritis were investigated and norovirus was identified as causing 169 (87.1%) of them. Molecular epidemiology of viral strains was studied by RT‐PCR and sequencing part of the RNA polymerase gene in ORF1 from 153 outbreak strains. The most commonly identified norovirus genotype was GII.4 (71.9% of the characterized outbreak strains), which is also the predominant genotype worldwide. During this survey five genetic variants of GII.4 genotype have been sequentially detected and identified as 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006a, and 2006b variants. The transition from one variant to a new one always took place over a short period of time, and thereafter the replacement of strains circulating previously was observed. These new GII.4 variants may have arisen as a consequence of viral evasion from the host immune responses, although apparently there is a lack of long‐term immunity after norovirus infections. J. Med. Virol. 80: 1288–1295, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and family practitioners very rarely receive serious injuries from assaults by their outpatients or former patients. The rate of significant assault is comparable to that for nonpatient assault (e.g., mugging). No relationship between clinical experience and being an assault victim could be established.


The development of tolerant varieties can help to confront and reduce the impacts of diseases that threaten the cultivation of Mexican lemon [Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Swingle]. Hybrid interspecific and intergeneric plants have been generated in search of genotypes with resistance or greater tolerance to VTC, HLB and anthracnose. Because most citrus fruits are apomictic and polyembryonic the identification of hybrid plants is required by techniques such as molecular genetic markers. The objective of the study was to identify Mexican lemon hybrids using molecular markers called microsatellites (SSR). A population of 203 individuals of crosses carried out from 2009 to 2012 was used in the INIFAP-Tecoman Experimental Field. The genomic DNA was made according to the CTAB 2% method. The PCR reaction was done with a volume of 20μl containing 10 μl of iTaqTM Universal Probes supermix and 2.5 μl of each Forward and Reverse primer. The primers used were TAA41, TAA45, cAGG9 and TAA52. The amplified products were analyzed in 8% polyacrylamide gel and stained with 0.2% silver nitrate. The identification of hybrid plants was carried out by comparing the bands produced by the hybrids with those of the parents. The four initiators allowed the identification of hybrid plants. The highest number of identified plants was obtained with primers TAA45 and cAGG9 with 145 and 130 respectively. The identification of the hybrids of the population under study through the analysis of molecular markers, will allow genetic improvement programs to be efficient, which implies obtaining a large number of seedlings derived from the crosses made.