The objective of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding AIDS among incarcerated male adolescents in Brazil and to develop an AIDS prevention intervention for this population. A questionnaire administered to 275 boys in São Paulo covered demographic and social characteristics, drugs, and HIV risk perception and behavior. Subsequently, we collected qualitative data on the development and implementation of a prevention program. Ninety-eight percent of adolescents were sexually experienced, most initiating by age 13; 22% were fathers. Injection drug use was reported by 5.5%, 12% had exchanged sex for money, 35% had more than 15 partners and 8% had homosexual experience. Although 72% had used condoms, only 9% used them consistently, and only 35% used one in their last intercourse before incarceration. Predictors of condom use included carrying condoms and endorsing the statement "I would use condoms with my girlfriend." Many said their lives include other risks more important than AIDS, such as survival in the crime scene. Initial efforts at prevention based on commonly used approaches of providing information to guide future rational decisions generated limited participation. However, when we worked with them to develop interventions based on their interests and needs, using modalities such as music, hip-hop arts, graffiti, and helping them to create an AIDS prevention compact disk, they responded with enthusiasm. These incarcerated adolescents are at extremely high social risk and report high levels of risk behavior for HIV infection. Interventions for these youth were better received when developed in collaboration with them and based on their beliefs, aspirations, and culture. The intervention that resulted went beyond AIDS to include issues such as violence, drugs, sexuality and human rights.


Few readers will want, or be able, to resist this modern bestiary. Here you will find the familiar - Gryphons, Minotaurs and Unicorns - as well as the Monkey of the inkpot and other undeniably curious beasts. Borges' cunning and humorous commentary is sheer delight.


Value creation is an important part of social marketing, which attempts to create value for target audiences to induce behaviour change (Kotler & Lee, 2011). Social marketing is often concerned with voluntary behaviour change, and as such, requires a level of active consumer participation within the value creation process. The voluntary nature of many social marketing activities suggests that the experiential value of these behaviours is proactive. Holbrook (1994) distinguishes between passive and active value in commercial marketing, whereby passive value is experienced by consumers reactively in response to the consumption of an object or service, and active value is participative, which requires collaboration between the consumer and organisation. This reflects a value co-creation context as presented by Vargo and Lusch (2004) and Gronroos (2011).


The nutritional requirements of marine fish larvae are not well understood, primarily due to the lack of biochemically defined diets acceptable by the larvae. This study describes the methodology for the preparation and the characterization of a complex protein-walled microcapsule (CPWC) containing lipid-walled capsules (LWC). The CPWC were prepared by atomizing a mixture of casein, LWC and other dietary materials into a cyclohexane solution containing 1% (v/v) cross-linking reagent, adipoyl chloride. The primary purpose of complex microencapsulation was to allow the gradual release of low molecular weight phagostimulants and nutrients from the cross-linked protein wall. To determine the release kinetics of low molecular weight compounds from the complex diet, a solution of the amino acid, lysine, was encapsulated in LWC and its leaching rate from CPWC was assessed. A batch of conventional protein-walled capsules (PWC) were also prepared by mixing lysine with casein. The release of lysine from CPWC was significantly lower than that measured from conventional PWC (p < 0.05). Nearly 45% of the total lysine leached out of freeze-dried PWC within 5 min of hydration, reaching 100% after 2 h. CPWC, on the other hand, efficiently retained encapsulated lysine, releasing only 25% after 2 h. In-vitro experiments indicated that CPWC were readily digested by the crude enzyme extract from striped bass larvae and purified porcine pepsin and trypsin.


Background Advance Care Planning is a process of discussion with individuals about their wishes and preferences regarding the type of care they would wish to receive or refuse in the future, should they lack capacity at that time. These discussions need to be handled with sensitivity and skill, the outcomes documented and reviewed regularly, and communicated to other relevant people with the individual's consent. The recognition of the importance of Advance Care Planning has been highlighted by the National End of Life Care Programme. As a UK tertiary cancer centre serving a population of 2.3 million, the implementation of Advance Care Planning produced significant and unique challenges. Aim To introduce Advance Care Planning into a tertiary cancer centre. Method Education was delivered to all health care professionals in both formal and informal sessions, including 'drop in' sessions provided over a whole day. Resource folders were introduced into all wards, containing written information for staff, and localised information and documentations for patients. Results There was good attendance from staff across the organisation and the formal sessions stimulated much discussion especially regarding the role of a tertiary centre. These discussions included the inherent difficulties involved in liaising with a range of health care professionals across the region. There are multiple Health Care Teams in the Network, all of whom are at different stages of implementing Advance Care Planning for their patients. It was agreed that sensitive communication with the patient was of the utmost importance, with some staff admitting their lack of confidence in this area. Conclusions The introduction of Advanced Care Planning into a tertiary cancer centre is a challenge due to the wide geographical area. Further education sessions are planned including an intermediate experiential two-day communication skills training course to help staff required to initiate sensitive discussions with patients.


Substitutional solutes in metals generally diffuse by successive exchanges with vacancies, that is, via the so called vacancy mechanism. However, recent density functional theory (DFT) calculations predicted an atypical behavior for the oversized solute atoms (OSAs) in bcc and fcc iron. These solutes exhibit a very strong attraction with a nearby vacancy (V) at a first neighbor (1nn) distance. The attraction is so large that the 1nn OSA-V pair is no longer stable and relaxes spontaneously towards a new configuration where the OSA sits in the middle of the two half-vacancies (V/2). As a consequence, the diffusion of OSAs cannot be described by the standard vacancy mechanism. A new migration mechanism with a new formulation of correlation effects is required. The present study rests on a revised expression of the diffusion coefficient of the OSAs in bcc and fcc lattices, which introduces the concept of macrojumps. The formalism is applied presently to the case of yttrium (Y: a principal alloying element of advanced steels) in iron, using DFT data. But it is directly transferable to other OSAs in cubic metal lattices. At variance with the standard substitutional solutes, the Y atom is found to diffuse more rapidly than iron at all temperatures by orders of magnitude in the two cubic-Fe structures. This finding is opposite to the recent common belief that yttrium is a slow diffusing species in Fe alloys, based on experimental evidences. Several suggestions are proposed to solve this apparent inconsistency.


3D documentation and visualization of Cultural Heritage objects is an expanding application area. The selection of the right technology for these kinds of applications is very important and strictly related to the project requirements, budget and user's experience. Active sensors, i.e. triangulation based laser scanners and structured light systems are used for many kinds of 3D object reconstruction tasks and in particular for 3D documentation of cultural heritage objects. This study presents some experiences in the results of two case studies in which a close-range structured light system is used for the 3D digitization. The paper includes all necessary steps of the 3D object modeling pipeline from data acquisition to 3D visualization.


Background: Characterization of dietary patterns represents a valid and meaningful measure of overall diet quality and nutrient intake. The study aims at evaluating the sociodemographic, lifestyle, environmental, and pregnancy-related determinants of maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy. Methods: The analysis was conducted on a group of pregnant women from the Polish Mother and Child Cohort (REPRO_PL). During the second trimester of pregnancy, 1306 women filled in a modified version of the validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary patterns were estimated using an exploratory factor analysis. Potential dietary determinants were assessed via a questionnaire or biomarker measurements (saliva cotinine level). Results: Two dietary patterns were identified. The Prudent dietary pattern was characterized by high consumption of fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, poultry, and low-fat dairy products, while the Western dietary pattern included high intake of refined grains, processed meat, potatoes, and very low intake of whole grains. Clear sociodemographic, environmental, lifestyle, and pregnancy-related determinants of diet quality were established. Older age (β = 0.2; p < 0.01), higher educational level (β = 0.3; p < 0.01), and socioeconomic status (SES) (β = 0.2; p < 0.01), overweight/obesity before (β = 0.3; p < 0.01), as well as physical activity during pregnancy (β = 0.2; p = 0.01) were positive determinants of a healthier diet (increasing Prudent–Western difference in dietary pattern scores). On the other hand, parity (β = −0.2; p = 0.04) and living in small cities (β = −0.3; p = 0.02) were significantly related to a rather Western dietary pattern. Conclusions: The current study presents evidence on specific factors influencing dietary patterns. They need to be accounted for in educational programs and interventions focused on healthy diet recommendations during pregnancy.


AIMS
Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for post-infarction ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, some patients may experience a worsened arrhythmia phenotype after ablation. We aimed to determine the prevalence and prognostic impact of arrhythmia exacerbation (AE) after post-infarction VT ablation.

METHODS AND RESULTS
A total of 1187 consecutive patients (93% men, median age 68 years, median ejection fraction 30%) who underwent post-infarction VT ablation at six centres were included. Arrhythmia exacerbation was defined as post-ablation VT storm or incessant VT in patients without prior similar events. During follow-up (median 717 days), 426 (36%) patients experienced VT recurrence. Events qualifying as AE occurred in 67 patients (6%). Median times to VT recurrence with and without AE were 238 [interquartile range (IQR) 35-640] days and 135 (IQR 22-521) days, respectively (P = 0.25). Almost half of the patients (46%) who experienced AE experienced it within 6 months of the index procedure. Patients with AE had had longer ablation times during the ablation procedures compared to the rest of the patients (median 42 vs. 34 min, P = 0.02). Among patients with VT recurrence, the risk of death or heart transplantation was significantly higher in patients with than without AE (hazard ratio 1.99, 95% CI 1.28-3.10; P = 0.002) after adjusting for age, gender, ejection fraction, cardiac resynchronization therapy, post-ablation non-inducibility, and post-ablation amiodarone use.

CONCLUSION
Arrhythmia exacerbation after ablation of infarct-related VT is infrequent but is independently associated with an adverse long-term outcome among patients who experience a VT recurrence. The mechanisms and mitigation strategies of AE after catheter ablation require further investigation.


INTRODUCTION Pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) are not equipped with dose counters hence the balance actuation in a canister could not be determined. Each actuation expels a considerable amount of active ingredients and excipients from a canister, thus the balance actuation remaining in a pMDI based on canister weight could be evaluated using a linear regression equation.METHODOLOGY New pMDIs of 5 active ingredients [salbutamol (GSK) 200 actuation, budesonide (Glenmark) 300 actuation, ipratropium/fenoterol (Boehringer) 200 actuation, fluticasone (GSK/innovator) 120 actuation, fluticasone (Cipla/generic) 120 actuation, and beclometasone (Ivax) 200 actuation] was weighted . using a laboratory scale (Sartorius R200D; 0.01g accuracy). Two of each pMDI were weighed after each actuation, with a 30-second inter-puff interval, and the mean weight was recorded. To minimise variability in measurements, weighing was limited to one operator. The canister was considered empty when there were no changes in weight after repeated actuation. The prediction equation (one for each pMDI) was the line of best fit through data points on the scatter plot of the number of actuations versus weight.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION There was low variability between pMDIs weights (SD: 0.03g-0.08g)] of the same active ingredients indicating manufacturing uniformity among canisters. Prediction equations were generated for each type of active ingredients, where the general equation is: Actuation remaining = Constant + β*pMDI weight.CONCLUSION This study produced a prediction equation that can be used to estimate remaining actuation in a pMDI based on its weight. Weighing medication canister could be used to measure actuation remaining in pMDIs, as well as patients' adherence to pMDIs.


The sources of variance in the results of samples collected during a pilot-scale remediation treatability testing for PCBs were evaluated using basic statistical methods. The relative contributions of soil heterogeneity and chemical testing methods were estimated. The sources of variance were estimated using both inter- and intralaboratory testing and the determination of the total variance of each sample set. It was found that 67 to 94 percent of the variance in the results was contributed by the sample heterogeneity which can not be readily controlled. The results of treated samples from the pilot-scale treatability testing showed a mean concentration of PCBs of 13.6 ppm with a standard deviation of 10.1. The range of the distribution of concentrations was 1.3 to 35 ppm. Based on these findings, it is inappropriate to use an absolute clean-up standard to evaluate whether the clean-up has been achieved. The use of the mean is more appropriate as it takes into account the variance in the results caused by sample heterogeneity.


Algal flora as well as the physicochemical characteristics of rice fields at El-Kharga Oasis was investigated. A total of 99 taxa were identified of which, 23 were Cyanophytes that belong to 11 genera; 19 Chlorophytes belonging to four genera; 52 Bacillariophytes belonging to 15 genera and five Euglenophytes belonging to three genera. Community structure differed among the studied sites diatoms being the most dominant. Taxa that attained high percent of frequency of occurrence (more than 66.6% i.e. being recorded four times during the study period) include; the blue green algae Osdcillatoria chlabea, O. mougeotii, O. principes, O. raoi, O. simplissima; the green algae Cosmarium lavae var. Lavae, C. pseudopyramidatum and the diatoms Anomoeoneis sphaerophora and Nitzschia thermalis. Taxonomic description for the rarely recorded taxa to the algal flora of rice fields is given. The paper also includes illustrations of 78 recorded algal taxa presented in 6 plates.


This book contains an analysis of the experience of married life by men and women in Christian medieval Europe c. 900–1300. The focus will be on the social and emotional life of the married couple rather than on the institutional history of marriage. The book consists of three parts: the first part (Getting Married) is devoted to the process of getting married and wedding celebrations, the second part (Married Life) discusses the married life of lay couples and clergy, their sexuality, and any remarriage, while the third part (Alternative Living) explores concubinage and polygyny as well as the single life in contrast to monogamous sexual unions. Four main themes are central to the book. First, the tension between patriarchal family strategies and the individual family member's freedom of choice to marry and, if so, to what partner; second, the role played by the married priesthood in their quest to have individual agency and self-determination accepted in their own lives in the face of the growing imposition of clerical celibacy; third, the role played by women in helping society accept some degree of gender equality and self-determination to marry and in shaping the norms for married life incorporating these principles; fourth, the role played by emotion in the establishment of marriage and in married life at a time when sexual and spiritual love feature prominently in medieval literature.


A particular class of uncertain linear discrete-time periodic systems is considered. The problem of robust stabilization of real polytopic linear discrete-time periodic systems via a periodic state-feedback control law is tackled here, along with H2 performance optimization. Using additional slack variables and the periodic Lyapunov lemma, an extended sufficient condition of robust H2 stabilization is proposed. Based on periodic parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions, this last condition is shown to be always less conservative than the more classic one based on the quadratic stability framework. This is illustrated on numerical examples from the literature.


Many biological and physiological processes can be modeled as a linear Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) system. Blind deconvolution is ideal for retrieving the input signals and/or system parameters, given only the outputs and some input statistical information, but not the inputs themselves. In general biomedical signals sources have distinct, non-stationary, colored power spectral density, so, we use our algorithm developed before which works well for such kinds of signals. Simulation results are presented.


In recent years, Japanese management techniques have been proclaimed by many as the salvation of American business. It would be dangerous, however, to apply these techniques to American business situations without critically examining them. Whereas Americans regard responsible individuality as a virtue and view lack of autonomy as a constraint, the Japanese regard individuality as evidence of immaturity .and autonomy as the freedom to comply with one's obligations and duties. While there are no significant difi!erences in the style of decision making used by Japanese and United States managers, the dominance of face-to-face communication among the Japanese may account for the perception that there is more openness about major decisions in Japanese firms and more desire for employers and employees to explore and learn together. There are problems with the Japanese system, however. For example, permanent employment operates mainly in the larger Japanese firms, applies only to a minority of Japanese workers, and is reserved for males. To avoid the stigma of becoming a temporary worker or manual laborer, Japanese children are pressed at increasingly younger ages to learn enough to be admitted to the most prestigious schools, since career opportunities are dependent on educational achievement. After careful examination, Japanese management appears to be a system of contradictions. Before American business people start a wholesale application of Japanese management techniques, they need to ask whether success should be measured in terms similar to those used by the Japanese. (HOD)


The spherical titanium dioxide nanocrystals were successfully synthesized in a new system through a solvothermal method. Prolonged reaction time can contribute to the improvement of the morphology and self-assembly behavior of nanocrystals. The central features of our approach are the use of rapid heating process and the use of both oleic acid and dodecylamine as two different capping surfactants to synthesize monodisperse nanocrystals.The morphologies and self-assembly behavior of nanocrystals are studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses.


Inflammation of the prostate may represent a mechanism for hyperplastic changes to occur in the prostate. There are a variety of growth factors and cytokines that may lead to a proinflammatory process within the prostate. There are several proposed mechanisms that lead to both the intrinsic and extrinsic basis of inflammation. Prostatic inflammation may represent an important factor in influencing prostatic growth and progression of symptoms. This article reviews the recent literature on inflammation leading to chronic prostatic diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia.


Abstract: The binding of radioactive piperidine‐4‐sulphonic acid ([3H]P4S) to thoroughly washed, frozen, and thawed membranes isolated from cow and rat brains has been studied. Quantitative computer analysis of the binding curves for four regions of bovine brain revealed the general presence of two binding sites. In these brain regions less satisfactory computer fits were obtained for receptor models showing one or three binding sites or negative cooperativity. With the use of Tris‐citrate buffer at 0°C the two affinity classes for P4S in bovine cortex membranes revealed the following binding parameters: KD= 17 ± 7 nM (Bmax= 0.15 ± 0.07 pmol/mg protein) and KD= 237 ± 100 nM (Bmax= 0.80 ± 0.20 pmol/mg protein). Heterogeneity was also observed for association and dissociation rates of [3H]P4S. The slow binding component (kon= 5.6 × 107 or 8.8 × 107 M‐1 min‐1, kOff= 0.83 min‐1, and KD= 14.7 or 9.4 nM, determined by two different methods in phosphate buffer containing potassium chloride) corresponds to the high‐affinity component of the equilibrium binding curve (KD= 11 nM, Bmax= 0.12 pmol/mg protein in the same buffer system). The association and dissociation rates for the subpopulation of rapidly dissociating sites, apparently corresponding to the low‐affinity sites, were too rapid to be measured accurately. The binding of [3H]P4S appears to involve the same two populations of sites with Bmax values similar to those for [3H]GABA binding to the same tissue, although the kinetic parameters for the two ligands are somewhat different. Furthermore, comparative studies on the inhibition of [3H]P4S and [3H]GABA binding by various GABA analogues, strongly suggest that P4S binds to the GABA receptors. The different effects of P4S and GABA on benzodiazepine binding are discussed.


Introduction: Biomineralisation is a dynamic, complex, constant mechanism by which living organisms manage precipitations of inorganic nanocrystals within organic matrices to form unique hybrid biological tissues, for example, enamel, dentin, cementum, and bone. Realising the mechanism of mineral deposition is crucial for the progress of treatments for mineralisation associated diseases and also for the innovation and development of scaffolds. Aim: To measure the remineralisation capacity of enamel surface lesion using marine skeletal species-Perna viridis (mussel shell) powder extract on human tooth enamel. Materials and Methods: The in vitro quantitative observational research study conducted from June 20th, 2020 to July 20th, 2020, included five freshly extracted un-erupted third molars decoronated at Cemento-Enamel Junction (CEJ). The coronal portion of single tooth was sectioned into 4 samples of enamel blocks in order to receive 20 blocks which were subjected to demineralisation process and divided as: Group A(Experimental group)-subsurface demineralisation + mussel shell powder extract and Group B (Control group)- subsurface demineralisation + clinpro application being placed in artificial saliva solution for thirty days. The specimens were tested for X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy analysis, microhardness testing and atomic analyses using Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Statistical analysis was done using unpaired t-test to check differences at the level of p≤0.05 between groups which were considered as statistically significant. Results: X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy showed calcium concentration in mussel shell of 95% and concentration of Phosphate as 0.31%. Group B (Clinpro) presented statistically significantly higher (p-value 0.028) potential in enhancing the remineralisation than Group A: Mussel Shell Powder Extract (MSPE). The results of atomic analyses exhibited that quantitative amounts of Ca weight % and P weight % is statistically insignificant between both the groups. Group B (Clinpro) showed greatest ability in promoting remineralisation than Group A (mussel shell extract). Conclusion: Marine shells with 95% of calcium concentration can remineralise enamel surface lesion.


The mammary hyperplastic outgrowth (HOG) line C4, resulted from serial transplantation of a hyperplastic alveolar nodule which arose in a dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) treated mouse. The immortalized C4 outgrowth line, on transplantation into syngeneic mice, develops as preneoplastic, hyperplastic outgrowths and subsequently into malignant carcinomas after a long latent period (greater than 6 months). Treatment of mice carrying C4 HOG transplants with DMBA resulted in a reduced latent period for tumor development (less than 3 months) and an increased tumor incidence. DNA's from C4 HOGs and mammary carcinomas of untreated as well as DMBA-treated mice were analyzed for the presence of oncogenes by the NIH3T3 focus forming assay. Transforming H-ras genes were detected in two of 6 preneoplastic HOGs and 10 of 12 carcinomas from DMBA-treated mice. DNAs from neither the HOGs nor the tumors from untreated mice were positive in this assay. The H-ras locus was then directly examined in the 61st codon by in vitro amplification of each of the tissue DNAs using PCR. The location of the activating mutation was determined by hybridization of amplified DNA to mixed sequence oligonucleotide probes. The specific nature of the mutation was defined by RFLPs using XbaI, TaqI and Sau96I restriction enzymes. Six of the H-ras oncogenes in DMBA-promoted tumors were activated by commonly observed A to T transversions at the 61st codon, while five (including an additional tumor with H-ras oncogene revealed by PCR analysis) contained novel A to G transitions. The H-ras oncogene in one DMBA-treated HOG sample was activated by A to T while the second contained an A to G mutations, representative of both modes of mutational activation involved in this model of mammary tumorigenesis. In summary, DMBA-induced point mutated H-ras oncogenes appear to potentiate the progression of hyperplastic outgrowths (HOG) to mammary carcinomas.


Background: Temporal trends in the incidence of pediatric‐onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are controversial and a wide range of estimates have been reported worldwide. We conducted a systematic review of research describing the epidemiology of childhood‐onset IBD to assess changes in incidence rates over time and to evaluate international differences. Methods: The following electronic databases were searched for articles published 1950–2009: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane IBD/Functional Bowel Disorders Group Specialised Trial Register. All included studies reported incidence or prevalence of IBD, Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Two authors independently completed the data extraction form for each eligible study. Choropleth maps demonstrated the international incidence of IBD, CD, and UC. Incidence of CD and UC was graphed using data from studies reporting rates in multiple time periods. Results: The search yielded 2209 references and review resulted in 139 included studies from 32 countries. A wide range of incidence was reported internationally; however, rates of IBD were not described in most countries. Twenty‐eight studies (20.1%) used statistical analysis to assess trends over time, and 77.8% reported statistically significantly increased incidence of pediatric IBD. Of studies calculating statistical trends in CD incidence, 60% reported significantly increased incidence. Of similar UC studies, 20% reported significantly increased incidence. Conclusions: Globally rising rates of pediatric IBD (due primarily to the rising incidence of CD) was demonstrated in both developed and developing nations; however, most countries lack accurate estimates. Analyzing incidence trends may help identify specific environmental and genetic risk factors for pediatric IBD. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)


Resveratrol, which is a natural polyphenol found in grapes, berries, peanuts, and medicinal plants, has previously been reported to perform several biological functions, including inhibition of hepatic fibrosis. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major cellular source of matrix protein-secreting myofibroblasts, which are the major drivers of liver fibrogenesis. Numerous studies on the protective effects of resveratrol against liver fibrosis have focused on the inhibition of HSC activation. Although the underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated, the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis might be intimately related. The mouse HSC line JS1 was stimulated with resveratrol to assess the mechanism and relationship between autophagy and apoptosis. Resveratrol modulated JS1 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, resveratrol inhibited JS1 cell activation and induced autophagy and apoptosis. This antifibrotic effect was attenuated when autophagy was inhibited using chloroquine (CQ) or 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or when apoptosis was inhibited using Z-VAD-FMK. Furthermore, whether the Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways were associated with the resveratrol-mediated induction of autophagy and apoptosis in JS1 cells was examined. The SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 reversed autophagy, and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 reversed both autophagy and apoptosis induced by resveratrol. These findings suggest that the SIRT1 and JNK signaling pathways may be involved in the resveratrol-mediated inhibition of HSC activation by regulating autophagy and apoptosis. SIRT1 may be responsible for inducing autophagy, while JNK affects both autophagy and apoptosis. This study highlighted autophagy and apoptosis as therapeutic targets by which resveratrol can attenuate fibrosis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Resveratrol, which is a natural polyphenol found in grapes, berries, peanuts, and medicinal plants, has previously been reported to inhibit hepatic fibrosis. Since activated HSCs are the major drivers of liver fibrogenesis, many studies on the anti-hepatic fibrosis effects of resveratrol have focused on inhibiting HSC activation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on HSC activation and focused on the mechanism by which resveratrol modulated autophagy and apoptosis in JS1 cells, a mouse immortalized HSC line. It was shown that resveratrol inhibited HSC activation by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, and the mechanism may be associated with the SIRT1 and JNK signaling pathways. This study highlighted autophagy and apoptosis as therapeutic targets by which resveratrol can attenuate fibrosis. These findings may provide a new framework for understanding the mechanism by which resveratrol inhibits HSC activation.


The methodological systematization of data collection, compilation and aggregation of Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators has proved to be an important component in the formulation and evaluation of public poli-cies. Thus, the aim of this article is to present a methodology for the construction of the State Composite Innovation Indicator that allows evaluating the innovative performance of regional innovation systems. The procedures used were: research by bibliographic materi-als, adaptation of the methodology proposed by the European Innovation Scoreboard and calculation of the databases available in the Brazilian statistical system. The methodology of the State Composite Innovation Indicator revealed strengths and weaknesses in the dif-ferent dimensions of Brazilian regional innovation systems. Among them, in São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro, there were strength in human resources and research system, in the Amazon, on the other hand, there are weaknesses in these same dimensions and highlighting innovators and occupations.


Abstract Diet and prey size relationships of Flathead Snakes (Tantilla gracilis) in the pine- hardwood forests of east Texas were determined on 68 individuals. Ninety-five percent of the snakes contained prey of which a large proportion was identifiable. Approximately 80% of the diet (by frequency) of T. gracilis consisted of coleopteran (beetle) larvae of the families Alleculidae, Elateridae, and Tenebrionidae. Other prey were centipedes and terrestrial snails. Correlation of prey size with snake size revealed a positive relationship, but accounts for little of the variation. Adults and juveniles ingested the same relative prey sizes with juvenile snakes predominately feeding on alleculid larvae and adults feeding on tenebrionid larvae. Larger snakes had a greater prey mass in their alimentary tracts; however, they did not consume significantly greater numbers of prey items. Direction of prey ingestion was primarily posterior first (72%). Because most of their prey have elongated bodies, it appears that T. gracilis responds to growth changes in body size by switching to different prey types. Choosing prey by size may be less important than prey shape for T. gracilis because of the morphological adaptations associated with a fossorial existence.


A scheme for spatial multimode quantum memory is developed such that spatial-temporal structure of a weak signal pulse can be stored and recalled via cavity-assisted off-resonant Raman interaction with a strong angular-modulated control field in an extended $\Lambda$-type atomic ensemble. It is shown that effective multimode storage is possible when the Raman coherence spatial grating involves wave vectors with different longitudinal components relative to the paraxial signal field. The possibilities of implementing the scheme in the solid-state materials are discussed.


Background— Chronic liver disease is a known risk factor for perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Very little data exist about such patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Our objective was to evaluate early and late clinical outcomes in a large cohort of patients with liver disease undergoing TAVR and to determine predictive factors of mortality among these patients. Methods and Results— This multicenter study collected data from 114 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent TAVR in 12 institutions. Perioperative and long-term outcomes were compared with a cohort of 1118 patients without liver disease after a propensity score–matching analysis (114 matched pairs). In-hospital mortality and vascular and bleeding complications were similar between matched groups. Acute kidney injury was more common in liver disease group (30.8% versus 13.5%; P=0.010). Although cardiovascular mortality was similar between groups (9.4% versus 6.5%; P=0.433) at 2-year follow-up, noncardiac mortality was higher in the liver group (26.4% versus 14.8%; P=0.034). Lower glomerular filtration rate (hazard ratio, 1.10, for each decrease of 5 mL/min in estimated glomerular filtration rate; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.17; P=0.005) and Child-Pugh class B or C (hazard ratio, 3.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.47–6.56; P=0.003) were the predictors of mortality in patients with chronic liver disease, with a mortality rate of 83.2% at 2-year follow-up in patients with both factors (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min and Child-Pugh B or C). Conclusions— These findings suggested that TAVR is a feasible treatment for severe aortic stenosis in patients with early-stage liver disease or as bridge therapy before a curative treatment of the hepatic condition. Patients with Child-Pugh class B-C, especially in combination with renal impairment, had a very low survival rate, and TAVR should be carefully considered to avoid a futile treatment. These results may contribute to improve the clinical decision-making process and management in patients with liver disease.


Employing smart materials in beautifying the urban environment from a sustainability perspective
Smart materials are that materials who have one or more properties that can be significantly altered in a control manner by external impetus, such as stress, temperature, moisture, pH, electric and magnetic field. Smartness can be describe by self-adaptability, self-sensing and self-repairing. These smart materials offers numerous of application in every field. Smart materials contribute to raising energy efficiency, while using high levels of environmental performance and controlling design surfaces. Smart materials contribute to achieving the use of renewable energy; passive solar self-heating, natural lighting,  and natural cooling.
With the development of material science, many new, high-quality and cost-efficient materials have come into use in various field of engineering. In the last five to ten decades, the materials became multifunctional and required the optimization of different characterization and properties. With the last evolution, the concept has been driving towards composite materials and recently, the next evolutionary step is being contemplated with the concept of smart materials. smart materials are new generation materials surpassing the conventional structural and functional materials. These materials possess adaptive capabilities to external stimuli, such as loads or environment, with inherent intelligence. The possibility of applying advanced technologies such as controlling kinematic and intelligent systems in designing urban elements to achieve greater environmental compatibility. The research problem stems from the need to monitor smart materials that can be used in beautifying the urban environment that can achieve sustainability considerations. The research aims to monitor and conclude considerations of employing smart materials in beautifying the urban environment from the perspective of sustainability.
Materials have become a fundamental pillar upon which all the different design specialties are based, including urban design with its various elements. The technologies associated with the development of materials have emerged as a result of the great development of information technology and nanotechnology and their incorporation into various areas of materials development, where materials can respond to environmental variables and usage variables in a fast and easy manner to meet human needs.Thus, smart materials are considered one of the most important materials in response to sustainability factors and the ability to implement sustainability considerations.
Design based on smart materials is a modern design approach to building and sustainable comprehensive development that seeks to reduce the social and environmental burden, which is applied to the entire life cycle of the urban environment, while achieving economic feasibility and encouraging sustainability at the local and global levels, especially with regard to environmental, societal and economic performance.
Problem statment
The research problem can be identified as follows: The global trend towards creating dynamic models that are compatible with the environmental and climatic characteristics of the urban environment, with efficiency in the use of materials, the possibility of disassembly and installation and functional design flexibility, created the need to monitor smart materials that can be used in beautifying the urban environment that can achieve sustainability considerations, while determining considerations throughout the design and operation stages.
Aims and objectives
The research aims to monitor and conclude considerations of employing smart materials in beautifying the urban environment from the perspective of sustainability.
Methodology
 The study follows a descriptive approach in presenting and analyzing the sustainable smart materials used in beautifying the urban environment.
Conclusions :
-           The life cycle of sustainable smart materials can be achieved through : reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources, reducing the environmental loads of waste and pollution, improving economic resource management, and the environmental and social performance that is greatly affected by the performance of smart materials. -       Sustainability considerations can be achieved in smart materials by employing smart materials that are compatible with the environmental characteristics of the urban environment through the following: - Efficiency in the use of smart materials to achieve the finishing of the urban environment in the best possible functional and environmental performance. -    Using smart materials from recyclable materials or reusable components. -          The use of smart materials with systems capable of dismantling, installing and extending in the future. -          Use of smart materials with ready-made systems and standard sections. -        The possibility of applying smart materials in controlling kinematic and intelligent systems when designing the urban environment to achieve greater environmental compatibility


Abstract Objective: The patient–provider partnership is important for effective asthma care and improved asthma control. Our descriptive study describes demographic differences associated with patient–provider asthma communications using Healthy People 2020 indicators. Methods: Using 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data, we examined provider assessments of asthma control at last healthcare visit for children and adults with current asthma; assessments included questions on frequency of asthma symptoms, use of quick-relief inhalers, and limitation of daily activities due to asthma. We calculated weighted prevalence and prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Overall, 3,684 (weighted prevalence = 7.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.0–7.6) NHIS respondents reported current asthma. Among persons with current asthma, 58% reported a routine asthma care visit in the past year. Provider assessments of asthma symptoms, quick-relief inhaler use, and activity limitations were reported by 55.4%, 59.1% and 41.5% of respondents, respectively. Non-Hispanic blacks (PR = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.03–1.20), Puerto Ricans (PR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.08–1.40), and Other-Hispanics (PR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.05–1.32) were asked more often than non-Hispanic whites about ≥1 of the asthma control indicators. Providers more frequently assessed asthma symptoms (PR = 1.20; CI = 1.10–1.30), quick-relief inhaler use (PR = 1.10; CI = 1.02–1.19), and activity limitations (PR = 1.25; CI = 1.11–1.41) in children than adults. Conclusions: Healthcare providers often discuss asthma control indicators with patients. Children and some racial and ethnic minorities were more frequently assessed on key asthma control indicators compared to adults and non-Hispanic whites, respectively. These findings may reflect provider efforts to target asthma control communications to populations with higher risk of morbidity.


Amido-bridged dinuclear cobalt(III) complexes with 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn) were synthesized from [Co(tacn)(O3SCF3)3] by treatment with potassium amide in liquid ammonia at 100 degrees C. Two isomeric triply bridged complexes, [(tacn)Co(mu-NH2)3Co(tacn)]3+ and [(tacn)Co(mu-NH2)2[mu-tacn(-H)]Co(NH3)]3+, were isolated as perchlorates, and the crystal structure of the perrhenate of the latter complex was determined by X-ray diffraction. In this compound a nitrogen atom (deprotonated) from one of the tacn ligands forms a third bridge together with two amido bridges. In 1.0 M (Na,H)ClO4 ([H+] 0.1-1.0 M) the two isomers undergo acid-accelerated amido bridge cleavage, as earlier found for chromium(III) analogues, in spite of the fact that such bridges are co-ordinatively saturated. The triamido-bridged isomer is in this acid medium in equilibrium with [(H2O)(tacn)Co(mu-NH2)2Co(tacn)(NH3)]4+. An isolated perchlorate of this complex appeared to be the salt of the trans-ammineaqua isomer as determined by X-ray diffraction. Equilibration from both sides fits the first-order rate constant dependence k(obs)=6.2(3) x 10(-5)[H+] + 2.1(2) x 10(-5)(s(-1)) at 40 degrees C. Prolonged treatment of the two triply bridged isomers in 1.0 M HClO4 at elevated temperature produces primarily triply bridged dinuclear species where one or two amido bridges have been replaced by hydroxo bridges.


The two sides of the contemporary debate over intellectual property agree that the law needs to strike a balance between providing sufficient incentive for creation and the freedom to make use of existing ideas. Michele Boldrin and David Levine, on the other hand, boldly declare in their recent work Against Intellectual Monopoly that they have arrived at conclusions that are at variance with both sides. In this commentary, I examine 1) their assertion that intellectual property should be viewed as an intellectual monopoly; 2) their claim to have mustered evidence and authorities showing that innovators and creators can be well protected in the absence of intellectual property law; and 3) their rhetorical practices throughout the book. I conclude that 1) their assertion that intellectual property constitutes an intellectual monopoly is itself a bad analogy and an example of the logical fallacy of hasty generalization; 2) the evidence and authorities they muster in support of their claim that innovators and creators can be well protected in the absence of intellectual property law are unpersuasive, as they actually tend to support the opposite conclusion; and 3) their book as a whole is an example of bad rhetorical argumentation.


AIM: The aim of the research was to find out the differences in the level of motor learning (ML) and general intelligence (IQ). The research sample included 120 boys and girls of primary school and grammar school aged 12-17 years and the subsequent identification of a possible relationship between the two indicators. METHODS: 120 students Elementary school (ES) and Secondary Grammar School (SGS) took part in testing the level of motor learning and intelligence (n = 120). We evaluated the level of ML in boys and girls in the demonstration of learned gymnastic elements. We used the intelligence test to determine the level of general intelligence [1]. RESULTS: The results did not show significant differences in the level of motor learning and intelligence between the genders in either age category. Correlation analysis confirmed a significant relationship between ML and IQ excluding the gender factor (r = -0.297). When gender was taken into account, the relationship was seen only in boys (r = -0.312). We note that we found a lower rate of ML in students with a higher level of intelligence. CONCLUSION: We assume the continuity of certain mental and motor processes, which is called motor intelligence. The results of our research did not show significant differences in the level of ML and IQ in both genders. Boys slightly dominated in ML, girls in IQ. This difference decreases with increasing age.


The costs of greenhouse gas emission reduction with abatement of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are investigated using the FUND model. The central policy scenario keeps anthropogenic radiative forcing below 4.5 Wm. If CO 2 emission reduction were the only possibility to meet this target, the net present value of consumption losses would be $45 trillion; with abatement of the other gases added, costs fall to $33 trillion. The bulk of these costs savings can be ascribed to reductions of nitrous oxide. Because nitrous oxide emission reduction is so much more important than methane emission reduction, the choice of equivalence metric between the greenhouse gases does not matter much. Sensitivity analyses show that the shape of the cost curves for CH 4 and N 2 O emission reductions matter, and that the inclusion of sulphate aerosols makes policy targets substantially harder to achieve. The costs of emission reduction vary greatly with the choice of stabilisation target. A target of 4.5 Wm-2 is not justified by our current knowledge of the damage costs of climate change.


Many closed-system pingos are underlain by sub-pingo water lenses, and the same is probably true of numerous open-system pingos. In the early growth stage the bending of the frozen overburden of a pingo by a sub-pingo water lens can be compared to the bending of a thin elastic plate. Although the assumptions of elastic plate theory do not apply fully to a growing pingo, because time-dependent plastic and creep deformation are involved, the application of elastic plate theory nevertheless helps to explain the peripheral normal faulting and spring flow of pingos, summit failure, the ease with which elongated pingos appear to collapse, and the changing roles played by the radius and overburden thickness of pingos from early growth to the cessation of growth.


Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze studies assessing the effectiveness of audiovisual (AV) interventions aimed at reducing anxiety in parents whose children are undergoing elective surgery. Methods: A comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases was performed. A narrative synthesis of findings and random-effects meta-analyses were used to summarize the results. Our primary outcome was parental anxiety. Secondary outcomes included children's preoperative anxiety and postoperative outcomes; parental satisfaction, knowledge, and need for anesthesia information. Risk of bias was appraised within and across studies. Results: Our search yielded 723 studies and 11 were included. A Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) of −0.53 (95% CI [−0.91, −0.15], p < .01) was found between parental anxiety scores in AV interventions and control groups. In terms of children's preoperative anxiety, there was a SMD of −0.59 (95% CI [−1.11, −0.07], p < .05) between children's anxiety scores in AV intervention and nonintervention participants. Furthermore, AV interventions were shown to shorten the recovery time for children undergoing surgery (SMD = −0.21; 95% CI [−0.39, −0.02], p = .03) but did not lead to improvements on other postoperative outcomes. Conclusions: These findings suggest that AV interventions have modest, positive effects on both parental and children's preoperative anxiety. Although a statistically significant medium size effect was detected, the clinical significance of this finding requires further exploration. Further research aimed at developing better AV interventions to help guide future practice is warranted.


Purpose
This paper aims to provide a critical reflection on the Great Resignation in the hospitality and tourism industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this paper reviews the causes and effects of the Great Resignation, addresses the labor shortage in this industry and proposes strategies that can help manage the challenges.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on a critical analysis of emerging phenomena, related literature and researchers' experiences and insights.

Findings
The Great Resignation has presented unprecedented challenges for the hospitality and tourism industry. A closer examination reveals that the pandemic has served as a catalyst rather than a leading cause of this trend. Workforce issues are becoming increasingly complex under contemporary influences, including internal elements such as new explications at work and external factors like the gig economy and technology implementation.

Practical implications
This study provides practical implications on how Hospitality and Tourism practitioners can respond to the Great Resignation on micro, meso and macro levels. The practical implications revolve around employees' changing needs and preferences in the wave of Great Resignation, as well as the necessity for employers' reflection and improvement.

Originality/value
This study marks an initial attempt to provide a critical assessment of a contemporary issue involving the Great Resignation. This paper extends its discussion through an advanced analysis of the issue, offers suggestions to manage current obstacles related to labor issues in hospitality and tourism, and illuminates future research directions.


Focal seizure propagation is classically thought to be spatially contiguous. However, propagation through the epileptic network – a collection of disparate epileptic nodes – has been theorized. Here, we used a multielectrode array, wide field calcium imaging, and two-photon calcium imaging to study focal seizure propagation pathways in an acute rodent neocortical 4-aminopyridine model. Although ictal neuronal bursts did not propagation beyond a 2-3 mm region, they were associated with hemisphere-wide LFP fluctuations and parvalbumin-positive interneuron activity outside the seizure focus. Globally compromising this inhibitory response using bicuculline surface application resulted in classical contiguous propagation; whereas, focal bicuculline microinjection resulted in epileptic network formation with two physically disparate foci. Our study suggests both classical and epileptic network propagation could arise from inhibition defects without pre-existing pathological connectivity changes, and that preferred propagation pathways may result from variations in cortical topology.


This study aims to analyze the implementation of Islamic education management at Pondok Pesantren Qowiyyul Ulum Tahfiẕ Al-Qur'ȃn Surabaya. The study used qualitative research methods with a descriptive approach. The data collected were analyzed by content analysis, narrative analysis and discourse analysis. To describe the facts that occur in the field. Then the validity of the data is tested through the credibility test and transferability test. The results show that the implementation of Islamic education management at the Qowiyyul Ulum Tahfiẕ Al-Qur'ȃn Surabaya Islamic Boarding School has been running optimally and in accordance with the stages of management starting from planning by compiling programs according to needs. Organizing tailored to the duties and functions of each, and the implementation stage is carried out by all parties, as well as supervision carried out by the leadership of the Islamic boarding school. The obstacles in the implementation of Islamic education management are the lack of facilities and infrastructure, and the environmental conditions of the pesantren which are close to the localization area of the Kremil so that the implementation of the pesantren program is not optimal. While the supporting factors come from the guardians of students, alumni, sympathizers, and the community.


This paper presents the results of research on the effects of ENSO to extreme temperature in Vietnam [1] through the frequency deviation of the occurrence extreme temperatures during ENSO and non-ENSO seasons. The results demonstrate that in an El Nino winter, the frequency of absolute maximum temperature decreased over mountainous areas of the temperature in comparison to those under the influence of a non-ENSO winter. In summer, the effects of El Nino and La Nina generally led to a reduction in the frequency of maximum temperatures in comparison to the non-ENSO condition. For minimum temperatures, the effect of El Nino winter led to a decrease in the appearance of the temperatures, while the effect of La Nina led to an increase in the appearance of this characteristic. In contrast, the effects of El Nino and La Nina led to a reduction in the frequency of minimum temperatures during summer. Generally, in both El Nino and La Nina conditions, significant changes were observed in the distribution of frequency deviation with regard to both patterns and values of seasons, in which the South obviously exhibited more changes than the North.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31276/VJSTE.59(4).89


This paper deals with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) using Artificial Neural Network. The ANPR system includes steps like pre-processing, localization, character segmentation and character recognition. The developed system first detects the vehicle and then captures the vehicle image. The captured image is pre-processed in order to enhance it for further processing. In localization the license plate region is located and cropped from the complete image. In character segmentation images of individual alpha-numeric characters are extracted from the localized plate. In this paper, we proposed Neural Network based character recognition. Scaled Conjugate Gradient Backpropogation algorithm is used for training the neural network. This system is implemented in MATLAB R2014b. Keywords-Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), MATLAB. __________________________________________________*****_________________________________________________


The phospholipid components of Harder's glands of rats and mice were investigated. The content of phosphatidylcholine and of sphyngomyelin is notably less in the rat than in the mouse difference among the other components, being negligible. In the male rat the total phospholipid content is larger than in the female, while in mice the opposite is true. The presence of a large red fluorescent spot, which is not phospholipid, has been shown.


The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) with long life-span are top predators in marine ecosystem -and they could accumulate heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in their tissues, while the melon is a unique lipid-rich structure within the cetacean forehead that functions in the transmission of echolocation signals. To explore the baseline levels and the main characteristics of the components, the concentrations of vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were determined in the melon of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that this method was quite suitable for the determination of trace elements in the melon of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins with highly accuracy and precision, and the trace elements in melon existed individual differences. The average contents were in the order of Zn>As>Cu>Mn>Se>Hg>Cr>Ni>V>Pb>Cd. It is worth noting that the within (1.158 μg·g-1 ww), non-essential toxic trace element may cause toxic effect on the dolphins. Spearman correlation analysis showed positively significant correlations between As, Cd, Hg and body length, indicating that the concentrations of As, Cd, Hg may increase with age. Moreover, Cr and Ni were positively correlated (p<0.05), a significant negative correlation was observed between Mn and As (p<0.01), indicating that there are certain correlation among elements. In addition, the principal component analysis results showed that V, Mn, Ni, Se, Cu, Hg are the main characteristics of trace elements for melon. This study presents a reliable method for determination of the trace element analysis in cetacean melon, and this is the first study that reports the trance elements in the melon of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in PRE that could provide reasonable and effective information for its conservation work.


Two kinds of ordered ZnO/TiO2 heterostructures were fabricated via a facile approach. The architecture of the TiO2 substrate could be controlled by alternating the filling forms of the template, and the morphology of the secondary ZnO nanostructure could be further tuned by adjusting the parameters of the hydrothermal reaction. Then two different morphologies of ZnO/TiO2 heteroarchitectures with ZnO nanorods and nanoplates growing on TiO2 shells and bowls were successfully achieved, respectively.


Purpose: Gamma spectrometer systems are complex instruments, and the quality of the numerical results they provide strongly depends on their reliable calibration. In this study, it was aimed to determine the full-energy peak efficiencies of a 40% p-type High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector for point source, Marinelli beaker, and cylindrical container geometries in the 200-1500 keV energy range. Methods: The efficiency calibration of the HPGe gamma spectrometry system was performed using certified calibration sources. Efficiency values were determined using the gamma ray spectrum acquired for every calibration source. Results: Two different efficiency curves, at the linear scale and logarithmic scale-fitting, experimental efficiencies were plotted. The functions and parameters that fitted the efficiency curves were obtained by a computer program. Conclusion: The photopeak efficiencies decrease as energy increases and the observed efficiency curves were closely with similar studies.


Despite considerable interest in the role of spatial intelligence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) achievement, little is known about the ontogenetic origins of individual differences in spatial aptitude or their relation to later accomplishments in STEM disciplines. The current study provides evidence that spatial processes present in infancy predict interindividual variation in both spatial and mathematical competence later in development. Using a longitudinal design, we found that children's performance on a brief visuospatial change-detection task administered between 6 and 13 months of age was related to their spatial aptitude (i.e., mental-transformation skill) and mastery of symbolic-math concepts at 4 years of age, even when we controlled for general cognitive abilities and spatial memory. These results suggest that nascent spatial processes present in the first year of life not only act as precursors to later spatial intelligence but also predict math achievement during childhood.


A novel technique has been devised that permits a length of cable to be measured in place and its transfer characteristic monitored as motion occurs. The scheme is to measure the cable in transmission as a member of a pair and to infer the characteristic of the cable from a set of three pair-wise measurements, in analogy to the well-known three-antenna technique. From the resulting knowledge of the signal cable's characteristic one can correct the measured data to account for the changes in the cable through which the signal of interest was passed.


Rainfall is a vital phenomenon that contributes in the success of sugar industry season. The ability to determine the amount of precipitation in sugarcane areas enhances the profitability of the season. Different types of climate indices and attributes are usually applied to model rainfall forecasting systems. In this paper, we present a novel genetic algorithm based feature selection approach to determine which climate indices and attributes are most significant for rainfall forecasting in sugarcane areas. The most significant features are features that return the highest accuracy for rainfall forecasting through artificial neural networks. The approach is evaluated on real-world data that contain different weather forecasting features. A set that contains maximum temperature values and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) has proven to be the best combination among the other models with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.027 in November. An Average RMSE of 0.0638 for the genetic algorithm based forecasts was recorded. The proposed model was compared to other models and the proposed model revealed higher accuracy in forecasting monthly rainfall.


ABSTRACT Zhang, Q., 2020. Rethink the relationship between environmental regulations and green technology innovation in coastal cities. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 481-484. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Environmental regulation is an important external constraint that affects the short-term effect and long-term mechanism of sustainable development in coastal cities. Technological innovation is the key of solving the contradiction between environmental pollution and economic growth. Based on Porter's hypothesis theory, relevant literatures are reviewed and relationship between environmental regulation and green technological innovation is re-examined. This paper constructs an evolutionary game model, explores characteristics of government and enterprises' behavior and their influencing factors, and analyzes evolutionary laws of both participants of the game and the evolutionary equilibrium state under different situations according to the replication dynamic equation. Environmental regulation affects enterprises' decision-making on green technology, and technological level reacts on the adjustment of environmental regulation policies. There is a synergy relationship between environmental regulation and green innovation.


The ECG and EMG module is designed to implement two modules ECG and EMG into one unit. In addition, ECG and EMG module is built to be more efficient in the use of components because of its modules in one unit. For discussion will be divided into two discussions, one is about the making of EMG hardware and software modules. In making a module that uses EMG signals derived from muscle. The signals were detected on the skin surface is very low at the millivolt range, so that should also be strengthened several times. Characteristics of the EMG signal has a frequency range between 20 Hz - 500Hz and voltage range between 0.4 mV to 5 mV. In addition, EMG has a character unlike the ECG signal in the form of a wave pattern, but this signal is random and very messy, so take a few kinds of filters such as notch filter circuit with cut-off frequency of 50 Hz, Low Pass Filter with cutoff frequency of 500 Hz , and High Pass Filter 20 Hz, to filter the noise carried by reinforcement signals. So that the resulting EMG signal from this circuit a more perfect without the noise interference. Then the ADC converts the signal into digital data. Last will be sent to a PC using a USB to serial cable 232 to see the results it looks. The result is that the tool is already having an almost near the same range with BIOPACK MP-30 with the percentage of error for the measurement of peak peakto amounted to 26.67% while for the high percentage of the amplitude measurement error is 11.94%. Keyword : Modul EMG, Elektromyograph, Filter 500 Hz dan 20Hz, ADC, USB to Serial 232


Cytokines and cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) play important roles in inflammatory glomerular diseases, and both platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta inhibit cytokine-induced NO production. In this study, we demonstrated that a selective endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist, BQ-485 (Hexahydro-1H-azepinylcarbonyl-Leu-D-Trp-D-Trp-OH), reversed the inhibitory effect of platelet-derived growth factor on cytokine-induced NO production, but not that of transforming growth factor-beta. Our findings suggest a difference between the inhibitory mechanisms of platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta on cytokine-induced NO production.


A film of ~40 layers of partially oriented photosystem I (PSI) complexes isolated from the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae formed on the conducting glass through electrodeposition was investigated by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. The experiments were performed at a range of electric potentials applied to the film and at different compositions of electrolyte solution being in contact with the film. The amount of immobilized proteins supporting light-induced charge separation (active PSI) ranged from ~10%, in the absence of any reducing agents (redox compounds or low potential), to ~20% when ascorbate and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol were added, and to ~35% when the high negative potential was additionally applied. The origin of the large fraction of permanently inactive PSI (65–90%) was unclear. Both reducing agents increased the subpopulation of active PSI complexes, with the neutral P700 primary electron donor, by reducing significant fractions of the photo-oxidized P700 species. The efficiencies of light-induced charge separation in the PSI film (10–35%) did not translate into an equally effective generation of photocurrent, whose internal quantum efficiency reached the maximal value of 0.47% at the lowest potentials. This mismatch indicates that the vast majority of the charge-separated states in multilayered PSI complexes underwent charge recombination.


Graduate students intending to pursue an academic career in the sciences have much to gain by learning to teach science, but often have limited training opportunities. In response to this need, we designed a 1-semester course, Learning Design in Science Education, in which students receive formal training in pedagogical theory with role model demonstration of current best practices in active learning. Building from previous descriptions of similar courses, we added a practical experience for the students to utilize their new skills to design and teach a mini science course at the end of the semester. Additionally, students developed a teaching portfolio, complete with a personal teaching statement, syllabus, course materials, and evaluations from peers and faculty. Overall, the course was well-received by the students and there are early indications that students benefited from their participation in the course. In this manuscript we present the design and outcomes of the course, faculty and student perceptions, and thoughts on improvements for future semesters and its potential for use by others.


Are cues from party leaders so important that they can cause individuals to change their own issue positions to align with the party's position? Recent work on the importance of party cues suggests they do, especially given the literature on partisanship as a strong and persistent group identity. However, in this paper we test the limits of those partisan cues. Using a unique two-wave panel survey design we find that the effect of party cues is moderated by the prior level of importance individuals place on an issue. We find that when a person believes an issue area to be more important, party cues are less likely to move that citizen's position, particularly when the cue goes against partisan ideological norms. Our results show evidence that an individual's own issue positions—at least the important ones—can be resilient in the face of party cues.


BackgroundBiomarker identification is one of the major goals of functional genomics and translational medicine research. The advent of NGS lead to a constant and exponential increase of large datasets that have the potential of providing the means for novel biomarker identification for the early diagnosis of complex diseases and/or for patient/disease stratification. Once a biomarker has been identified, a validation study is necessary to assess its value. A study design that considers its appropriateness and cost-effectiveness is paramount. The calculation of a sample size is a challenge that needs to be addressed.MethodsThe workflow of our tool, termed PowerTools, is based on based on the method described by Blaise et al., (2016) [1]. For a given number of input data sets, a simulation step with the random multivariate normal distribution including correlation is considered. As a next step, datasets of variable sizes are generated by random selection of samples. Based on the outcome variable, either classification or regression modes are available. For binary classification ANOVA and linear regression test can be performed and then performance matrices can be evaluated.ResultsWe developed an online framework to streamline power calculations to aid future omics study designs within a translational medicine research context. We make our code freely available on GitHub [2] and we have provided a web interface that can be accessed at online [3].ConclusionsPowerTools offers the potential for designing appropriate and cost-effective subsequent omics study designs.


ABSTRACT I report on the unusual behavior of an adult House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) leading recently fledged young back to the nest for two consecutive nights. The ambient temperature reached below 0°C during both nights. Despite disadvantages associated with remaining in the nest, this observation suggests that adult birds may assess trade-offs between perceived risks versus the benefits of engaging in other activities, in this case roosting communally for thermoregulation.


Dental traumatic injuries are widespread in the population and are a frequent pathology among children and teenagers. Dentists and especially pediatric dentists are commonly confronted with managing dental crown root fractures on a regular basis. Fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) have been used as an alternative to conventional space maintainers in pediatric dentistry. We present here a case of a 11-year-old boy with oblique crown root fracture, treated by placing extracted natural crown with FRC as space maintainer.


Crustal evolution processes in intraoceanic arcs, including crustal accretion and rifting, have been long discussed. To examine crustal evolution in the Izu‐Bonin intraoceanic island arc, we conducted an active‐source wide‐angle seismic study along a north‐south profile (500 km long) within a possible paleoarc in the rear arc (i.e., the Nishi‐shichito ridge) about 150 km west of the present‐day volcanic front. In this study, the seismic velocity and reflectivity images are obtained using the wide‐angle seismic data. For the seismic velocity imaging, we applied refraction tomography in which 93,535 picks were used. The overall root‐mean‐square (rms) misfit calculated from the initial model of the refraction tomography was 483.1 ms, and those calculated from the final model were reduced to 66.7 ms. The resultant seismic image shows marked variations of crustal thickness along the seismic profile: thin crust (10–15 km thick) in the northern part, three discrete thick crustal segments (20–25 km thick) in the central part, and a moderately thick crust (∼15 km thick) in the southern part. These variations are mainly attributed to thickness variations of the middle crust having seismic velocity of 6.0–6.8 km/s. This variation of crustal thickness does not correlate with seafloor topography, which is characterized by post‐Miocene across‐arc seamount chains. It does correlate well with crustal variations observed along the present‐day volcanic front of the Izu‐Bonin arc. These findings suggest that the magmatic activity that created the across‐arc seamount chains had little effect on the rear‐arc crust and that the main part of the rear‐arc crust was created before the rear arc separated from the volcanic front. By correlating the structural variations along the rear arc (i.e., the variation of the average seismic velocity as well as the thickness of the middle crust) and those along the present‐day volcanic front, we found that the direction of rifting to separate the rear arc (paleoarc) from the present‐day volcanic front was north‐northeast.


Seaweed is important for human beings as food. From an ecological viewpoint, it also occupies a substantial position as the primary producer in the marine food chain and as a nursery for many marine animals. Fundamental biological features are in great diversity in seaweed. The composition of photosynthetic pigments is distinct among three major groups of seaweed; green, brown and red algae. There is also a wide range of life history patterns including the isomorphic and heteromorphic alternation of haploid gametophyte/diploid sporophyte found in all groups of seaweed. In order to understand how seaweed vegetation is constructed, it is important to know how the algae live in the seashore environment, coexisting with a variety of other organisms. In this talk, I present interesting examples of research concerning the biological interactions occurring at the cell-to-cell level in three consecutive stages of the life history of seaweed: (1) spore attachment and germination, (2) vegetative growth and morphogenesis, and (3) sexual reproduction. Topics include several earlier and recent studies, for example, the inhibition of spore attachment by medium conditioned with parent thallus, trace morphogenetic substance inducing single-layer, blade-like thallus in the green alga Monostroma, and physiological mechanisms that support the sexual recognition of gametes during fertilization in the external environment.


Small gas foil bearings (FBs) with shaft diameter below 25 mm can find many applications in air compressors for fuel cells, electrical turbo chargers, small unmanned air vehicles, turbo alternators, etc. These small machines are characterized by very light load to the radial FBs, and thus rotordynamics stability is more challenging than load capacity. However, a main challenge of gas foil thrust bearings (GFTBs) is how to increase the load capacity, and the challenge remains the same regardless of the size. In previous publications on experimental studies on GFTBs, the measured load capacity is well below the prediction due to challenges in testing as well as manufacturing of GFTBs. Difficulty in achieving the design load capacity often leads to increasing the bearing size in actual applications with penalty of higher power loss. This paper presents design feature of a novel GFTB with outer diameter of 38 mm and static performance up to 155 krpm under external load of 75 N using a high-speed test rig. The 38 mm GFTB presented in this paper is a three-layered structure for easy design and manufacturing, and the unique design feature allows easy scale down and scale up to different sizes. Reynolds equations for compressible gas and the two-dimensional thin plate model were adopted for fluid–structure interaction simulation to predict load capacity and power loss of the GFTB. The predicted power loss and load capacity agree well with the measurements.


Residual chlorhexidine concentrations were measured after application of a single dose on the skin of 22 healthy volunteers. Dosage by high-pressure liquid chromatography in the skin cleansers revealed that the residual concentrations were higher than chlorhexidine MICs for most organisms of the resident skin flora and some responsible for hand-borne infections, even 24 h after application.


Background: It is unclear if traditional histopathology and noninvasive blood-based tests are sufficiently accurate to detect cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of these tests compared with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and tissue polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases was performed from inception through January 2016 for observational studies comparing diagnostic tests for CMV reactivation in inflammatory bowel disease. IHC and tissue PCR were considered reference standards and were used to evaluate the accuracy of blood-based tests and hematoxylin and eosin histopathology. Weighted summary estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using bivariate analysis. Results: Nine studies examined the accuracy of blood-based tests for predicting colonic CMV reactivation: 5 studies by pp65 antigenemia and 4 studies by blood PCR. The overall sensitivity was 50.8% (95% CI, 19.9–81.6), the specificity was 99.9% (95% CI, 99–100), and the positive predictive value was 83.8% (95% CI, 58.6–95.0). The sensitivities of pp65 and blood PCR were 39.7% (95% CI, 27.4–52.1) and 60.0% (95% CI, 46.5–73.5), respectively. Nine studies examined the sensitivity of histopathology. The overall sensitivity was 12.5% (95% CI, 3.6–21.4), 34.6% by IHC (95% CI, 13.8–55.4), and 4.7% by tissue PCR (95% CI, 1.2–17.1). Conclusions: Although blood-based tests seem to predict colonic CMV reactivation, they are insensitive tests. Similarly, histopathology has poor sensitivity for detecting colonic CMV. In agreement with current guidelines, these tests should not replace IHC or tissue PCR for detecting CMV reactivation in inflammatory bowel disease.


A numerical study is reported of flow and heat transfer in the separated and reattached flows created by an abrupt pipe expansion. In the study attention has been given primarily to the development of turbulence near-wall models based on the wall function. An efficient numerical method is also employed for the computation of high-velocity flows. The computed results are compared with experimental data obtained earlier. Generally better results are obtained by employing the present near-wall models, and among them the three-layer model is superior to the two-layer one.


PURPOSE
The clinical and economic value of screening for Kras mutations as predictors of response to cetuximab and panitumumab are reviewed.

SUMMARY
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors cetuximab and panitumumab are agents currently used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Cetuximab is approved in combination with irinotecan for second-line therapy or as a single agent in the third-line setting, and panitumumab is approved as a single agent for third-line therapy. Historically, response rates to EGFR inhibitors have been low; therefore, predictors of response or lack of response have been highly sought after. Mutations in the Kras oncogene, which encodes for the RAS protein located downstream from EGFR, have been associated with poor response to EGFR inhibitor therapy. Numerous studies have confirmed a Kras mutation frequency in approximately 40% of all metastatic colorectal cancers, as well as an associated lack of response to EGFR inhibitor therapy. Screening for Kras mutations before selecting a therapy may be clinically beneficial by avoiding the cost and toxicity of ineffective therapy. A simple breakeven analysis using a group of 100 hypothetical patients with metastatic colorectal cancer revealed that cost savings will be achieved if screening can be conducted for less than $3460 per patient, regardless of which EGFR inhibitor is used.

CONCLUSION
Mutations in the Kras oncogene are associated with a poor response to EGFR inhibitor therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer. Implementing routine Kras screening and limiting the use of EGFR inhibitors to patients with wild-type (not mutated) Kras may have the potential for cost savings.


Consider the following scenario: Robert Smith R Barr is head nurse at a neonatal intensive care unit at a major teaching hospital; Joanne Johnston is the clinical director of the neonatology service. Both have been following closely the changing attitudes and published data on pain and stress in infants.1 They believe that the formerly widely held assumptions that infants do not experience pain and do not benefit from analgesia are wrong. They now believe that premature infants not only have the neurological capability to experience pain, but that they may be hypersensitive to nociceptive stimuli,2 3 and may remember pain experiences.4 They are aware of the classic study by Anand and colleagues5 and others since6 7supporting the idea that infants undergoing major painful operations will have better outcomes if given analgesics during surgery. Indeed, they have been active in a campaign to educate their colleagues that infants experience pain the way adults do. Many of their colleagues do not subscribe to this belief, which may partly explain why infants and children receive less analgesia for the same procedures than do adults.8-13 Finally, they have instituted measures for "individualised, developmentally focused intensive care," where nursery routines and practices are organised to be as consistent as possible with the developmental strengths and vulnerabilities of premature infants.14

In pursuit of these aims, however, they have been trying to address the following question. What should be taken as evidence that the infant is in pain or stressed? This applies to premature infants undergoing repeated minor procedures some of which are painful and many of which are stressful, who are often recovering from major surgical procedures, and who may have chronic indwelling catheters, intravenous lines, etc. They recognise this poses a dilemma for several reasons. First, infants …


The authors discuss three algorithms related to the blending of a single scene from multiple frames acquired from a space-variant sensor. Given a series of space-variant contour-based scenes with different fixation points, they show how to fuse these into a single multiscan view, which incorporates the information present in the individual scans. They demonstrate an (attentional) algorithm which recursively examines the current knowledge of the scene in order best to choose the next fixation point in terms of focusing attention on regions of maximum boundary curvature. They discuss a simple metric for evaluating convergence over a scan path. This may be used to compare the performance of various attentional algorithms. They discuss their work in light of both machine and biological vision. >


This brief reports spiking and bursting in numerical simulations of the resistive-capacitive-inductive shunted Josephson junction model. Regular spiking, intrinsic bursting, and fast spiking, which are usually seen in the mammalian neocortex, are observed in the junction dynamics under external dc bias. The junction voltage is amplitude and frequency modulated when forced by weaker sinusoidal forcing of frequency much lower than the junction resonant frequency. For stronger forcing, bursting is observed. The autonomous junction also shows bursting in the high inductive regime. Bifurcation scenarios of bursting are discussed for both autonomous and nonautonomous cases


Aroniaberry (Aronia mitschurinii) produces small pome fruits that possess health promoting compounds. Management practices for orchards are lacking, since aroniaberry is a relatively new crop. Pruning is an important cultural practice to optimize fruit yield in orchards. The response of an established aroniaberry orchard to pruning was evaluated over three years (2020 to 2022). Pruning treatments were as follows: 1) renewal pruning (removal of shoots to the base) only in year 1; 2) renewal pruning in year 1 + thinning to 18 shoots in year 2; 3) renewal pruning in year 1 + thinning to 9 shoots in year 2; and 4) no-pruning (control). In response to renewal pruning, plants grew uniformly and vigorously, producing 28 new vegetative primary shoots with an average length of 66 cm by the end of the first growing season. Limited flowering and fruiting occurred in the second season for plants receiving pruning treatments. Fruit yield on pruned plants was significantly less than for unpruned controls. In season 2, increased thinning of renewal-pruned plants negatively affected the number of inflorescences per plant, but positively affected individual fruit fresh weight and fruit °Brix:titratable acidity ratios. Fruits from all treatments had similar monomeric anthocyanins, total phenolics and mineral content. In season 3, flower production and predicted fruit yield from pruned plants and unpruned controls were similar, even though pruned plants were substantially smaller. In the third season, there were no longer any differences between renewed + thinned plants and those that received only renewal pruning, making shoot thinning an unnecessary practice. The results of this study demonstrate that renewal pruning can be an effective way to manage and rejuvenate an aging aroniaberry orchard.


When asked to explain their solutions to a problem, children often gesture and, at times, these gestures convey information that is different from the information conveyed in speech. Children who produce these gesture-speech "mismatches" on a particular task have been found to profit from instruction on that task. We have recently found that some children produce gesture-speech mismatches when identifying numbers at the cusp of their knowledge, for example, a child incorrectly labels a set of two objects with the word "three" and simultaneously holds up two fingers. These mismatches differ from previously studied mismatches (where the information conveyed in gesture has the potential to be integrated with the information conveyed in speech) in that the gestured response contradicts the spoken response. Here, we ask whether these contradictory number mismatches predict which learners will profit from number-word instruction. We used the Give-a-Number task to measure number knowledge in 47 children (Mage  = 4.1 years, SD = 0.58), and used the What's on this Card task to assess whether children produced gesture-speech mismatches above their knower level. Children who were early in their number learning trajectories ("one-knowers" and "two-knowers") were then randomly assigned, within knower level, to one of two training conditions: a Counting condition in which children practiced counting objects; or an Enriched Number Talk condition containing counting, labeling set sizes, spatial alignment of neighboring sets, and comparison of these sets. Controlling for counting ability, we found that children were more likely to learn the meaning of new number words in the Enriched Number Talk condition than in the Counting condition, but only if they had produced gesture-speech mismatches at pretest. The findings suggest that numerical gesture-speech mismatches are a reliable signal that a child is ready to profit from rich number instruction and provide evidence, for the first time, that cardinal number gestures have a role to play in number-learning.


In previous years, many studies have been conducted on grid computing, in which users and resource providers organize various virtual organizations (VOs) to share resources and services. A VO organizes other sub-VOs for the purpose of achieving the VO goal, which forms the hierarchical VO environment. In this paper, we model and formalize the resource allocation problem in hierarchical VOs. Resource providers and VOs agree upon the VO resource sharing policy, such as resource sharing amount and resource usage cost for VOs. We provide the resource allocation scheme of a VO resource broker to minimize the total cost in order to meet a user's job deadline. In addition, we deal with several cost adjustment methods in resource providers to utilize their resources efficiently in hierarchical VOs


With liberalization of European market, many high head power plants in Switzerland increase their potential generation to remain competitive. The existing surge tanks have to be modified to keep the flow management constant. A relevant way to limit the time of mass oscillation is to increase head losses at the entrance of a surge tank with an orifice. This study focuses on the influencing parameters of head losses at the entrance of an existing surge tank by a variation of geometry and position between this surge tank and the headrace tunnel. Then, the temporal evolution of head losses is evaluated under unsteady conditions during an emptying of the surge tank.


Adaptive immune responses depend upon recognition by lymphocytes-T of short polypeptide sequences bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Since endogenous intracellular proteins can be presented to the immune system in this way, any tumor-specific structure may function as a potentially tumor-specific antigen. Fusion proteins arising as a result of chromosomal translocations provide good candidates for novel tumor-specific antigens recognizable by the host immune system. Recent molecular cloning data have demonstrated the existence of mRNAs encoding several different potential tumor-specific fusion proteins in both acute and chronic leukemias, and analysis of a number of these sequences suggests the presence of a newly defined amino acid motif associated with MHC-binding and T cell recognition. Preliminary data suggest the possibility of generating in vitro lymphocyte-T responses to synthetic peptides representing the chimeric sequences. It remains to be seen whether tumor cells themselves can be recognized by lymphocytes-T in vitro and in vivo, and, if so, how leukemia cells escape such immune surveillance in vivo.


The changes in the characteristic antiferromagnetic properties of chromium produced by allowing with small quantities of platinum (less than 3 at.%) have been studied by neutron diffraction intensity measurements in the vicinity of the (100) magnetic peak as a function of temperature for a series of polycrystalline powders. The results indicate that dilute additions of Pt increase the Neel temperature TN and decrease Tco and Tsf. At concentrations beyond about 0.6 at.% Pt a state is produced which is commensurate at all temperatures below TN. This behaviour can be understood in terms of current theories if it is assumed that Pt contributes its excess d electrons to a common band.


Stereophonic acoustic echo cancellation remains one of the challenging areas for tele/video-conferencing applications. However, the existence of high interchannel coherence between the two input signals for such systems leads to considerable degradation in misalignment convergence of the adaptive filters. We propose a new algorithm for improving the convergence performance and steady-state misalignment by considering robustness to the source position in the transmission room. We achieve this by exploiting the inherent decorrelating properties of selective-tap adaptive filtering as well as employing a variable clipping threshold for the unselected taps. Simulation results using colored noise and speech signals show an improvement over existing algorithms both in terms of convergence rate as well as steady-state normalized misalignment.


Using the continual transformation technique [3] and the augmented penalty function method, the typical optimal control problem with various constraints proposed in the paper [2] has been converted to a new equivalent optimal control problem with no constraint. This enables the application of Pontryagin 's maximum principle. Further, by means of the conjugate gradient method an example of the calculation is shown and the corresponding program is developed. A satisfactory optimal diffusion factor distribution has been obtained.


Activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA), 5'nucleotidase (5'NT), xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) and levels of thiobarbituric acid reagent substances (TBARS) were measured in 10 cancerous and 10 noncancerous human prostate tissues. Decreased activities of DNA turnover enzymes (ADA and 5'NT), increased activities of GSH-Px and CAT, and unchanged activities of SOD and XO were observed in cancerous prostate tissues compared with those of noncancerous ones. TBARS levels were found to be higher in cancerous tissues than noncancerous ones. In correlation analysis, mostly positive correlations were established between enzyme activities of the cancerous tissues, whereas no meaningful correlations were found between enzyme activities of the noncancerous tissues except for a positive correlation between XO and SOD. The results indicate that the activities of DNA turnover enzymes were reduced, which was possibly an attempt to lower the rate of purine catabolism, and the activities of GSH-Px and CAT enzymes were increased, probably in response to increased free radical stress occurring in cancerous prostate tissues. Increased concentrations of TBARS suggested oxidant stress and thus accelerated peroxidative reactions in the cancerous tissues, even though antioxidant defense mechanisms were activated. These findings suggest that enzymatic antioxidant systems of cancerous prostate tissues cannot sufficiently eliminate oxidant factors and prevent cellular peroxidative reactions occurring during the carcinogenic process.


Gliomas are invasive cancers that resist all forms of attempted therapy, but immunotherapy has improved survival for some patients. We present evidence that another level of complexity may also contribute to lack of responses by the lymphocytes towards gliomas. Atomic force microscopy of four different glioma types: human U251 and rat T9 and F98 glioma cells, including freshly isolated human GBM neurosphere cultures (containing "stem cell-like cells'), revealed a complex surface topography with numerous microvilli and filopodia. These structures were not found on other cell types. Electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy of glioma cells confirmed that microvilli are present. U251 cells with microvilli resisted the cytolytic actions of different human effector cells, (lymphokine-activated killer cells, γδ T cells, conventional cytolytic T lymphocytes, [CTL], and chimeric antigen receptor redirected T cells) better than their non-microvilli expressing counterparts. Killer cells released perforin which was detected within the glioma's microvilli/ filopodia, indicating these structures can receive the cytolytic effector molecules, but cytotoxicity is suboptimal. Transfection of fascin siRNA into U251 cells prevented the microvilli from forming and allowed cytolytic cells to kill these adherent cells just as well as the non-attached glioma cells. These microvilli play multiple roles in glioma biology, such as invasion and resistance to lymphocyte-mediated killing.


Economy of Russia in April 2013 was more clearly demonstrating stagnation. In this regard, the lack of funds was aggravated and as a result, federal agencies are again searching for resources, which is gradually shifting from the proposals on the use of public reserves for investment purposes (the position of Ministry of Economic Development of Russia) to the search of new sources of budget replenishment (Russian Ministry of Finance position). Last month, the economic situation was discussed at many representative meetings of the government.