Characterizing the global maximum of weighted sum-rate (WSR) for the K-user Gaussian interference channel (GIC), with the interference treated as Gaussian noise, is a key problem in wireless communication. However, due to the users' mutual interference, this problem is in general non-convex and thus cannot be solved directly by conventional convex optimization techniques. In this paper, by jointly utilizing the monotonic optimization and rate profile techniques, we develop a new framework to obtain the globally optimal power control and/or beamforming solutions to WSR maximization problems for the GICs with single-antenna transmitters and single-antenna receivers (SISO), single-antenna transmitters and multi-antenna receivers (SIMO), or multi-antenna transmitters and single-antenna receivers (MISO). Different from prior work, this paper proposes to maximize the WSR in the achievable rate region of the GIC directly by exploiting the facts that the achievable rate region is a "normal" set and the users' WSR is a strictly increasing function over the rate region. Consequently, the WSR maximization is shown to be in the form of monotonic optimization over a normal set and thus can be solved globally optimally by the existing outer polyblock approximation algorithm. However, an essential step in the algorithm hinges on how to efficiently characterize the intersection point on the Pareto boundary of the achievable rate region with any prescribed "rate profile" vector. This paper shows that such a problem can be transformed into a sequence of signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) feasibility problems, which can be solved efficiently by applying existing techniques. Numerical results validate that the proposed algorithms can achieve the global WSR maximum for the SISO, SIMO or MISO GIC, which serves as a performance benchmark for other heuristic algorithms.


We present an analysis of the polarization of compact radio sources from six pointings of the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope at 350 MHz with 35% coverage in λ2. After correcting for the off-axis instrumental polarization with a simple analytical model, only a small number of 585 strong sources have significant polarizations at these wavelengths. The median depolarization ratio from 1.4 GHz for the strongest sources is <0.2, reinforcing the likelihood that radio galaxies are found in magnetized environments, even outside of rich clusters. Seven sources with significant 350 MHz polarization were selected for a more in-depth Faraday structure analysis. We fit the observed values Q/I and U/I as a function of λ2 using both a depolarizing screen and two-component models. We also performed rotation measure (RM) Synthesis/Clean and standard fitting of polarization angle versus λ2. We find that a single RM, as found using polarization angle fitting or simple screen models, commonly provides a poor fit when the solutions are translated back into Q, U space. Thus, although a single "characteristic" RM may be found using these techniques, the Faraday structure of the source may not be adequately represented. We also demonstrate that RM Synthesis may yield an erroneous Faraday structure in the presence of multiple, interfering RM components, even when cleaning of the Faraday spectrum is performed. We briefly explore the conditions under which RMs and Faraday structure results can be reliable. Many measurements in the literature do not meet these criteria; we discuss how these influence the resulting scientific conclusions and offer a prescription for obtaining reliable RMs.


Percutaneous trigeminal ganglion compression for the relief of trigeminal neuralgia is a technically simple, non-painful procedure, carried out under brief general anesthesia. The patients could tolerate well during the treatment. The operation successful rate is high, and the procedure can be repeated at the next day if the symptom was not relieved. The procedure, in the present, is the first choice for those trigeminal neuralgia patients who are poor medical risks, those who are above the age of 65, those with demyelinating disease, and those who are unwilling to accept the increased risk of a posterior fossa craniectomy. We have successfully performed this procedure for two recurrent trigeminal neuralgia patients without any surgical complication. We propose this surgical treatment algorithm for trigeminal neuralgia patients who are not able to tolerate the medical treatment.


EQUIPPING FAMILIES AT GRACE CROSSING CHURCH, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, TO PRACTICE DAILY FAMILY WORSHIP Kyle Jonathan Lewis, D.Min. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2015 Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Donald S. Whitney This project sought to develop the spiritual discipline of family worship at Grace Crossing Church, Louisville, Kentucky. Chapter 1 introduces Grace Crossing Church, Louisville, Kentucky, and gives a broad overview of the project. There were three goals for this project: help the families grow in their understanding of family worship, motivate families to practice family worship on a daily basis, with a minimum of at least five times per week, and encourage families to read Scripture, pray, sing, and have a time of biblical education. Chapter 2 gives biblical and theological support for family worship. Chapter 3 evaluates the historical and practical issues related to family worship. Chapter 4 gives a detailed description of how the project was carried out. Finally, Chapter 5 evaluates both the project and the results of the project.


The Emergence of Modern South Africa views economic conflict, specifically the interaction of the state, big business, and labor, as the central issue in the development of South Africa. Yudelman focuses on the labor-management conflict in the country's gold fields in the early decades of this century, a time and place critical to the development of the state. At that time government walked a tightrope between supporting big business (to ensure economic growth) and appeasing the workers (to remain in power). Yudelman demonstrates how a symbiotic alliance between the mining companies and the state successfully subjugated the workers, and points out that this unique relationship continues to this day, dominating every aspect of life in South Africa. David Yudelman's historical analysis and lengthy epilogue on the 1970s and 1980s shed light on today's economic unrest and those conflicts to come. His book also shows how the South African case provides early and important insights into the development of the state-business symbiosis in industrial societies everywhere.


Cerebral alveolar infestation (CAI) grows infiltratively sort of a metastatic tumor, inflicting nice hurt to the frame. it's doable to show mass lesions of CAI victimisation numerous imaging systems, however concerning the infiltrating proliferation active regions, it's tough to guage its actual vary victimisation standard resonance imaging (cMRI). This analysis targeted on nucleon resonance spectrographic analysis (1HMRS) techniques to search out the mass and infiltration zone of CAI. we tend to explored the marginal zone (MZ) of CAI nearly on the brink of the particular infiltrating scope, to supply reliable pictures for clinical functions, to beat shortcomings of cMRI, to formulate useful clinical surgical plans and assess prognosis.


Photolytically derived carbenes were first used by Westheimer's group (1) as labeling agents for proteins. The carbenes and the related nitrenes (2) are useful agents for labeling receptor sites on proteins where a primary, non-covalent complex can be formed between protein and label. Such complexes can subsequently be triggered by near-UV light to give a carbene or nitrene capable of reacting covalently with amino acid side chains. Diazoketone reagents have been used with myeloma proteins and antibodies (3, 4) and supplement the information given by other types of affinity reagents labeling residues present at or near the combining site (5–7).
 A γA myeloma protein (protein 460) derived from the mouse tumor line MOPC 460 binds menadione with a K° in the order of 104 l/mol. This myeloma protein also binds other haptens with higher binding constants elsewhere in the combining region (8). We have used an affinity label derived from menadione to study the primary and three-dimensional structure of immunoglobulin-combining sites.


A simple and economical process for producing amantadine hydrochloride (1) on a 250 g scale, an antiviral and anti-Parkinson drug, has been developed. Several methods for the preparation of 1 through intermediate N-(1-adamantyl)-acetamide (4) in four or three steps were reported. These procedures started with adamantine (2) or 1-bromoadamantane (3), acetonitrile, and sulfuric acid by using the Ritter-type reaction to obtain N-(1-adamantyl)-acetamide, which was deacetylated to afford 1-amino-adamantane (5) and then the salt formed with anhydrous HCl gives 1 with the overall yield of 1 being 50–58%. In this article, a two-step procedure for the synthesis of 1 from 1-bromadamantane (3) and formamide via N-(1-adamantyl)-formamide (6) in two steps with an overall yield of 88% was reported. In this procedure, the preparation of 6 from 3 is a key step with a yield of 94%, followed by the hydrolysis of 6 with an aq. solution of HCl to give 1 in high yield (93%). The procedure was also carried out under optimal conditions established to reduce the use of toxic reagents or solvents and was carried out in one pot to make it more environmentally friendly. The procedure can be considered as more suitable for the large-scale production of 1. The structures of product 1 and intermediate 6 were confirmed by IR, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR.


The hypothesis tested in the study suggests that mechanisms of the earlier described delayed or accelerated tumor progression may be regulated by the antiapoptotic and proapoptotic cellular programs activated in stress reactions of transformed cells to the host normal cellular environment. Therefore, spontaneously transformed hamster cell line STHE, its bcl‐2‐transduced line STHE‐Bcl‐2, and 64 of their descendant tumor cell variants naturally selected in two in vivo regimes (local tumor growth versus dissemination) were examined. The role of Bcl‐2 and the possible activation of endogenous death‐signaling Bax, Ras, and HSP90/HSP70 stress proteins in STHE (Bcl‐2+/−) tumor cell variants were studied in dynamics of in vivo tumor progression. The data demonstrate: (1) Immediate in vivo activation of Bax and of HSP90/HSP70 stress proteins in disseminated STHE cells on the background of accelerated tumor progression; (2) No immediate activation of Bax and the gradual downregulation of Bcl‐2 in STHE‐Bcl‐2 cells on the background of delayed tumor progression; (3) Alternative and mutually suppressive character of Bcl‐2 and Bax expression in both regimes of tumor progression; (4) In the later stages of tumor progression, the regular transit of the initial Bcl‐2 antiapoptotic, Bax‐suppressing program, and the delayed tumor progression towards Bcl‐2 loss, activation of Bax, and acceleration of tumor progression. Thus, the delay of tumor progression is apparently determined by the ability of Bcl‐2‐expressing tumor cells to extinguish the cell‐damaging environmental stress signals and Bax activation, while its acceleration correlates with Bcl‐2 loss, activation of proapoptotic Bax, and tumor cells damage. J. Cell. Biochem. 101:1148–1164, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Social microblogging services such as Twitter result in massive streams of georeferenced messages and geolocated status updates. This real-time source of information is invaluable for many application areas, in particular for disaster detection and response scenarios. Consequently, a considerable number of works has dealt with issues of their acquisition, analysis and visualization. Most of these works not only assume an appropriate percentage of georeferenced messages that allows for detecting relevant events for a specific region and time frame, but also that these geolocations are reasonably correct in representing places and times of the underlying spatio-temporal situation. In this paper, we review these two key assumption based on the results of applying a visual analytics approach to a dataset of georeferenced Tweets from Germany over eight months witnessing several large-scale flooding situations throughout the country. Our results confirm the potential of Twitter as a distributed 'social sensor' but at the same time highlight some caveats in interpreting immediate results. To overcome these limits we explore incorporating evidence from other data sources including further social media and mobile phone network metrics to detect, confirm and refine events with respect to location and time. We summarize the lessons learned from our initial analysis by proposing recommendations and outline possible future work directions.


This report summarizes the discussions of the Microwave Source Working Group during the Advanced Accelerator Concepts Workshop held October 13-19, 1996 in the Granlibakken Conference Center at Lake Tahoe, California. Progress on rf sources being developed for linear colliders is reviewed. Possible choices for high-power rf sources at 34 GHz and 94 GHz for future colliders are examined. 27 refs.


1. We show that in the collinear N-body problem any simultaneous binary collision singularity (SBC) of L pairs of particles, with no other collisions, is C1 block-regularizable, that is, we show that near such an orbit there is a C1 diffeomorphism from collision and near collision orbits to ejection and near ejection orbits. 2. We also show that collision and ejection orbits form a real analytic submanifold in certain spatial variables that behaves like t13. 3. Finally we introduce a new method for blowing up the SBC singularity and replace it by a collision manifold in such a way that different SBC orbits correspond to different rest points on the collision manifold. Moreover, each collision restpoint is connected to the corresponding ejection restpoint by the flow on the collision manifold.


PURPOSES: This study is to analyze expected effect of a accident decrease when motorcycle safety inspection is introduced. METHODS : Based on the literature review of effect of 4-wheel vehicle inspection, probability of occurring accidents among defective motorcycles are calculated by using the number of estimated defective motorcycles and accidents resulting from defects of motorcycles. Then, the number of decreased accidents which is resulting from eliminating defects of motorcycles by safety inspection is estimated by using probability of occurring accidents among defective motorcycles. RESULTS : If the ratio of eliminating defects of motorcycles is 95% after motorcycle safety inspection, the effects of accident decrease of motorcycle safety inspection are analyzed from 2005 to 2008. As a result, 46,292 defective motorcycles are repaired and 1,376 accidents are prevented when the probability of occurring accidents among defective motorcycles is 2.97%. CONCLUSIONS : This study suggests the expected effect of motorcycle safety inspection is that the inspection can prevent 1,376 motorcycle accidents. However, the number of preventing motorcycle accidents are small, compared with the total number of motorcycle accidents because there are limitations to investigate the causes of defective motorcycle accidents. A more precise analysis of the expected effect of motorcycle inspection is possible when a systematic investigation of the causes of the accidents is implemented.


Re-observations with the H.E.S.S. telescope array of the very-high-energy (VHE) source HESS J1018-589 A coincident with the Fermi-LAT $\gamma$-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856 have resulted in a source detection significance of more than 9$\sigma$, and the detection of variability ($\chi^2$/$\nu$ of 238.3/155) in the emitted $\gamma$-ray flux. This variability confirms the association of HESS J1018-589 A with the high-energy $\gamma$-ray binary detected by Fermi-LAT, and also confirms the point-like source as a new very-high-energy binary system. The spectrum of HESS J1018-589 A is best fit with a power-law function with photon index $\Gamma = 2.20 \pm 0.14_{\rm stat} \pm 0.2_{\rm sys}$. Emission is detected up to ~20 TeV. The mean differential flux level is $(2.9 \pm 0.4)\times10^{-13}$ TeV$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ at 1 TeV, equivalent to ~1% of the flux from the Crab Nebula at the same energy. Variability is clearly detected in the night-by-night lightcurve. When folded on the orbital period of 16.58 days, the rebinned lightcurve peaks in phase with the observed X-ray and high-energy phaseograms. The fit of the H.E.S.S. phaseogram to a constant flux provides evidence of periodicity at the level of 3$\sigma$. The shape of the VHE phaseogram and measured spectrum suggest a low inclination, low eccentricity system with a modest impact from VHE $\gamma$-ray absorption due to pair production ($\tau$ < 1 at 300 GeV).


Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae cause severe human diseases in many endemic areas of the world. In order to identify the critical factors in determining host susceptibilities or resistance to SFG rickettsiosis, we characterized cellular immunity against R. conorii in highly susceptible C3H/HeN (C3H) mice, relatively susceptible BALB/c mice and highly resistant C57BL/6 (B6) mice. A dose of rickettsiae lethal to C3H mice is cleared by all wild type (WT) B6 and BALB/c mice in 4 days with survival. Compared to C3H mice, significantly higher expansion of natural killer (NK) cells was detected in WT B6 mice. Similar to the respective WT mice, all RAG−/− and IL-12p40−/− knockout mice on B6 background and SCID on BALB/c background survived, whereas BALB/c SCID mice with deficiency of NK cells died. These findings suggest that NK cells play a major role in the innate immunity, which is IL-12p40- independent in the resistant host. Protection against sublethal rickettsial infection in C3H mice was associated with a CD4+ Th1 cell response, the presence of greater quantities of inducible CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells and CTL than in B6 mice. These findings suggest that a cell-mediated Th1 immune response is critical for protection against rickettsial infection in the susceptible host and T regulatory cells may contribute to the outcome of rickettsial infection, most likely through balancing T cell mediated protective immunity and immunopathology.
 This work was supported by a grant (AI021242) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.


The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) recently undertook a scenario-building exercise to help anticipate and prepare for the global demographic, political, and technological forces that will shape the future of microfinance. The authors and a wide range of outside experts grappled with the potential impact of these forces in order to craft positive and negative scenarios for the year 2015 that might instruct the microfinance actors today. This focus note examines these forces and applies them to four scenarios. The note ends with broad recommendations for how the international community can prepare for and respond to these scenarios.


BACKGROUND
Breast tumor heterogeneity leads to phenotypic diversity, such as tumor-initiating and metastatic properties and drug sensitivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We found that a self-floating cell (SFC) culture enriches a drug-resistant subpopulation in a HER2-positive breast cancer cell line. SFCs were analyzed for cancer stem cell markers, gene expression profiles, and sensitivity for anticancer drugs.

RESULTS
SFCs expressed cancer stem cell markers, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity and elevated HER2 autophosphorylation. Gene expression profiles of SFCs showed a dramatic difference compared to those of parental or forced floating cells. SFCs also expressed CD133, a marker of drug resistance, and resisted cytotoxic drugs by drug efflux transporters. In contrast, HER2 kinase inhibitors efficiently reduced SFC viability.

CONCLUSION
SFCs enrich drug-resistant subpopulations even in vitro and might reflect the highly plastic nature of breast cancer cells even in vitro.


The unintended formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) may compromise the safety of drinking water. Since no specified DBPs have been found to be responsible for the overall adverse effects and over half of total organic halogen (TOX) remains unidentified, DBP mixture toxicity is gaining increasing interest as a potential indicator of how risky drinking water might be. In this study, a new approach to evaluating the toxicity of drinking water DBP mixtures was developed by combining freeze-drying or rotoevaporation pretreatment with an in vivo high-salinity-tolerance bioassay with the embryos of a marine polychaete Platynereis dumerilii. The DBP recoveries by freeze-drying or rotoevaporation were compared with those by commonly applied liquid-liquid-extraction (LLE). For drinking water subjected to typical disinfection processes (i.e., chlorination, chloramination, chlorine dioxide treatment, and ozonation with or without postchlorination), LLE led to the lowest TOX recovery (11-18%) and the loss of all inorganic DBPs, while freeze-drying and rotoevaporation recovered 28-58% and 35-61% of TOX, respectively, and effectively recovered 81-99% and 85-104% of inorganic DBPs, respectively. Thus, LLE caused an underestimation of the toxicity of DBP mixtures compared with freeze-drying and rotoevaporation. Besides, the comparative toxicity varied significantly for water samples pretreated with different methods due to the effect of inorganic DBPs and a synergistic effect of organic and inorganic DBPs. The new approach revealed that the bromide-rich source water disinfected with ozone caused the highest developmental toxicity, followed by those disinfected with chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and chloramine in that order.


The diagnosis of alopecia areata is usually straightforward, but its course is often unpredictable and the condition is certainly frustrating to treat. In the nineteenth century it was commonly confused with ringworm, partly because of inconsistencies in nomenclature and also because of inadequate mycological techniques. By 1900 most authorities had accepted that this form of alopecia was not an infection but otherwise found few areas of agreement about its cause. The "trophoneurotic" theory was sufficiently indefinite and adaptable to subsume later concepts such as reflex irritation, focal sepsis, and stress reactions. Clinical associations with alopecia areata have been known for many years. In particular, thyroid disease has been found in a variable proportion of patients (of both sexes and a wide age range) with the condition.1 2 Some studies, however, have failed to confirm this overlap.3-5 A family history of diabetes is more commonly given by patients with alopecia areata than by controls with psoriasis.2 Further associations are suggested by the established link between alopecia areata and vitiligo, which occurs in about 40% of patients with alopecia and about 1% of controls. Vitiligo is known to be associated with thyroid disease, pernicious anaemia, and diabetes mellitus.6 The search for autoantibodies in patients with alopecia areata has also given conflicting results. A general increase in autoantibodies7 and an increase restricted to antibodies to smooth muscle4 have both been reported. Even so, most authorities2 5 8 consider that quantitative estimates have failed to establish a significant or consistent rise in any autoantibody titre. In 1965 Wunderlich and Braun-Falco9 showed that patients with Down's syndrome had a raised incidence of alopecia areata,5 but none of their patients was over 8 years old. Among 1000 children and adults with Down's syndrome Du Vivier and Munro'0 found 60 cases of alopecia areata, of whom 25 had total or universal alopecia. In some of the girls and women affected antithyroid antibody titres were significantly increased as compared with controls. A recent American investigation1' has confirmed the high incidence of alopecia areata in patients with Down's syndrome. Immunological abnormalities, notably T-cell dysfunction, are known to be frequent in these patients. Among 214 examined 56*5% had atopic dermatitis, but the authors failed to comment on this observation-and the total proportion recorded as atopic might have been higher still if other atopic manifestations had


We extend here our prior work, which focused on equity decoupling (Hu and Black, 2006, 2007, 2008), by providing a systematic treatment of debt decoupling and an initial exploration of hybrid decoupling. Equity decoupling involves unbundling of economic, voting, and sometimes other rights customarily associated with shares, often in ways that may permit avoidance of disclosure and other obligations. We discuss a new U.S. court decision which will likely curtail the use of equity decoupling strategies to avoid large shareholder disclosure rules. Debt decoupling involving the unbundling of the economic rights, contractual control rights, and legal and other rights normally associated with debt, through credit derivatives and securitization. Corporations can have empty and hidden creditors, just as they can have empty and hidden shareholders. "Hybrid decoupling" across standard equity and debt categories is also possible. All forms of decoupling appear to be increasingly common. Debt decoupling can pose risks at the firm level for what can be termed "debt governance" -- the overall relationship between creditor and debtor, including creditors' exercise of contractual and legal rights with respect to firms and other borrowers. Widespread debt decoupling can also involve externalities and therefore create systemic financial risks; we explore those risks.For our related work on equity decoupling, see:Henry T. C. Hu & Bernard Black, Equity and Debt Decoupling and Empty Voting II: Importance and Extensions, 156 University of Pennsylvania Law Review 625-739 (2008), http://ssrn.com/abstract=1030721 Henry T. C. Hu & Bernard Black, Hedge Funds, Insiders, and the Decoupling of Economic and Voting Ownership: Empty Voting and Hidden (Morphable) Ownership, 13 Journal of Corporate Finance 343-367 (2007) (finance version of Hu and Black, 2006) (nearly final version), http://ssrn.com/abstract=874098Henry T. C. Hu & Bernard Black, The New Vote Buying: Empty Voting and Hidden (Morphable) Ownership, 79 Southern California Law Review 811-908 (2006), http://ssrn.com/abstract=904004


Brand switching is one of the interesting objects for study. Companies
need to know what motivates consumers to switch to products of competitors. The
purpose of this study is to test the influence of product attributes, the varietyseeking
and word of mouth to brand switching behavior of the decision on the
Hewlett-Packard (HP) laptop brand to the ASUS laptop brand. For independent
variables in this research consists of the product attributes (X1), need to find
variation (X2), and word of mouth (X3) and the dependent variable is brand
switching (Y).
The sample of 100 respondents in the area around the campus of the
University of Diponegoro in Tembalang taken using purposive sampling
techniques. Analysis using SPSS 11.5 which include validity test, reliability test,
classic assumption test, and test the goodness of fit through multiple linear
regression, F test, t test, and analysis of the coefficient of determination (R ²). The
analysis of regression equation is:
Y = 0,277 X1 + 0,186 X2 + 0,414 X3
Word of mouth showed the greatest regression coefficient so that it can
be concluded that these variables are the most important factors that influence
brand switching on Hewlett-Packard laptop brand to ASUS laptop brand. The
second most influential factor is the product attributes, and the last is the need to
find variation. Determinant coefficient (adjusted R2) of 0.520 or 52.0 percent
which illustrates that the model coefficient already meet the standards of the test.
The third independent variable in this study could explain 52.0 percent of the
variable displacement brand. While the remaining 48.0 percent is explained by
other variables outside of the three variables used in this study.


The ability to change arbitrary aspects of a text while leaving the core message intact could have a strong impact in fields like marketing and politics by enabling e.g. automatic optimization of message impact and personalized language adapted to the receiver's profile. In this paper we take a first step towards such a system by presenting an algorithm that can manipulate the sentiment of a text while preserving its semantics using disentangled representations. Validation is performed by examining trajectories in embedding space and analyzing transformed sentences for semantic preservation while expression of desired sentiment shift.


ABSTRACT
Change Order (CO) is a change of work in a construction project. CO is very difficult to avoid and if this change order occurs it can harm the project. In view of its relevance, the project for upgrading the road for the duyung road inspection (continued) has a high risk of change orders. This must be minimized from the beginning of the project work, one of which is by identifying the fundamental factors that cause change order on this project, using descriptive analysis methods. Based on literature review and interviews, this study identified 11 factors causing change order. Data that has been collected through questionnaires with a total of 50 respondents involved in this study. These respondents were all people who worked on the project. Each respondent was asked to express his opinion about frequency and the impact caused using a Likert scale 1-5. Two factors are classified as the most important factors causing change contract orders from the most dominant ones, namely physical conditions in the field (1) and changes in scope of work (2) and non-dominant factors, namely the problem of the supervisor consultant (1) and the problem of the contractor (2). This descriptive analysis also shows a positive and statistically significant correlation.
Keywords: Change Order, Project, Construction, Water Building, Descriptive Analysis


Aim Nodular gastritis is not a common clinical entity. We want to investigate the clinical manifestations of adult nodular gastritis in Taiwanese patients. Methods Patients over 18 years of age with varying degrees of discomfort and who had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) by an experienced endoscopist at Taipei Medical University Hospital from March 1, 1997 to February 28, 2005, were enrolled. A Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test was done for identification of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The clinical features of adult nodular gastritis were analyzed in this study. Results A total of 8,137 patients underwent 10,293 EGD examinations during this period, and nodular gastritis was diagnosed in 30 women and 13 men. The incidence of adult nodular gastritis was about 0.5% (43/8137). More female (69.7%) patients were affected. More than 40% of the patients had peptic ulcer disease and more than 80% complained of epigastralgia at presentation. A CLO test was positive in 88.4% of these patients. The gastric antrum was always affected (100%). Pathology always revealed intense inflammation and 60% had lymphoid follicular hyperplasia. Remission of the gastric antral nodularity after eradication of H. pylori was also found. Conclusion Adult nodular gastritis is a rare clinical entity in Taiwan. Careful endoscopic examination may be required. It has a strong association with H. pylori infection. H. pylori eradication may improve nodular gastritis.


On-screen gamepads are increasingly used as controllers for video games on distant screens, yet lack the typical tactile feedback known from hardware controllers. We conducted a comparative lab study to investigate four smartphone gamepads inspired by traditional game controllers and mobile game controls (directional buttons, directional pad, floating joystick, tilt control). The study consisted of both completing a formal control test as well as controlling two popular video games of different genres (Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros.). The results indicate that the directional buttons require the most attention of the user, however, work precisely for direction-restricted navigational tasks. Directional pad and joystick showed a similar performance, yet they encourage drifting and unintended operations when the user is focused on the remote screen. While currently unfamiliar to many users, the floating joystick can reduce the glances at the device. Tilt turned out to be not sufficiently precise and quick for the investigated tasks. The article concludes with derived design guidelines with easily realizable measures for typical contexts such as casual gaming at home or spontaneous gaming on public displays.


Face image quality can be defined as a measure of the utility of a face image to automatic face recognition. In this work, we propose (and compare) two methods for automatic face image quality based on target face quality values from (i) human assessments of face image quality (matcher-independent), and (ii) quality values computed from similarity scores (matcher-dependent). A support vector regression model trained on face features extracted using a deep convolutional neural network (ConvNet) is used to predict the quality of a face image. The proposed methods are evaluated on two unconstrained face image databases, LFW and IJB-A, which both contain facial variations with multiple quality factors. Evaluation of the proposed automatic face image quality measures shows we are able to reduce the FNMR at 1% FMR by at least 13% for two face matchers (a COTS matcher and a ConvNet matcher) by using the proposed face quality to select subsets of face images and video frames for matching templates (i.e., multiple faces per subject) in the IJB-A protocol. To our knowledge, this is the first work to utilize human assessments of face image quality in designing a predictor of unconstrained face quality that is shown to be effective in cross-database evaluation.


The process of protein folding is known to involve global motions in a cooperative affair; the structure of most of the protein sequences is gained or lost over a narrow range of temperature, denaturant, or pressure perturbations. At the same time, recent simulations and experiments reveal a complex structural landscape with a rich set of local motions and conformational changes. We couple experimental kinetic and thermodynamic measurements with specifically tailored analysis of simulation data to isolate local versus global folding probes. We find that local probes exhibit lower melting temperatures, smaller surface area changes, and faster kinetics compared to global ones. We also see that certain local probes of folding match the global behavior more closely than others. Our work highlights the importance of using multiple probes to fully characterize protein folding dynamics by theory and experiment.


Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is involved in cell multi-directional differentiation, but its role in osteoblast differentiation is still poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether and how NCAM regulates osteoblastic differentiation. We found that NCAM silencing inhibited osteoblast differentiation in pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. The function of NCAM was further confirmed in NCAM-deficient mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which also had a phenotype with reduced osteoblastic potential. Moreover, NCAM silencing induced decrease of Wnt/β-catenin and Akt activation. The Wnt inhibitor blocked osteoblast differentiation, and the Wnt activator recovered osteoblast differentiation in NCAM-silenced MC3T3-E1 cells. We lastly demonstrated that osteoblast differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells was inhibited by the PI3K-Akt inhibitor. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that NCAM silencing inhibited osteoblastic differentiation through inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways.


One key aspect of centrifugal compressor performance is the stability range, in particular at lower than optimal mass flows. This paper focuses on the stability improvement of a turbocharger-relevant compressor stage equipped with a trimmed vaneless diffuser, incorporated into its interior volute. Evidence in the literature suggests that such a diffuser might increase the stall margin, especially for the high speed lines. As is the case with all supercharged internal combustion engines, this would lead to improved overall efficiency, operational flexibility and lower emissions. Using advanced RANS turbulence modeling, a batch of test cases was setup in order to assess the feasibility of the concept as well as its potential drawbacks. Spalart-Allmaras and k-ω SST models, both with rotation and curvature corrections, were benchmarked against the baseline experimental data. The new diffuser was compared with conventional diffuser pinching and shelving and the fully trimmed embodiment was found to be superior to all others. Stability was assessed through a number of user defined parameters, tailored to reveal the signs of flow instability even under steady state assumptions. In addition to monitoring the mass flow imbalance, individual loading of blade passages and radial force magnitude and orientation were also monitored. Stability was found to be increased with the degree of diffuser trimming, alas this came at an ever increasing pressure loss. Most entropy was found to be generated across the volute as the flow velocity was significantly higher than the baseline. Another aspect was the static pressure distortion across the outlet of the vaneless diffuser, which paradoxically is linked with higher stability. Hence, in order to maximize both stability and mitigate pressure losses, further optimization on the scroll area distribution will have to be carried out after considering the new scroll inlet angle and speed circumferential distributions.


This project investigates whether the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) of maritime business degree meet the specific employability requirements of the onshore sector of the maritime industry. It firstly identifies common employability skills embedded in the CLOs of maritime business degrees by undertaking a comparison of existing CLOs between universities. Secondly, it interviewed and surveyed senior managers in the onshore maritime sectors in Australia, the US and Canada to investigate current and future industry employability skills required for maritime business graduates. Thirdly, these industry-focused employability skills sets were used for developing a mapping tool to evaluate
alignment between the industry preferred employability skills sets and the universities' CLOs and curriculum. Strategies for improvement of the CLOs and curriculum of maritime business degrees are recommended to align with employer-identified future skills to enhance students' employability in the onshore maritime industry.


Retroperitoneal hernia is not a common condition, but it occurs with sufficient frequency to warrant a very careful study of its cause, the symptoms it may produce and its treatment. A critical analysis of the whole subject will be found in the monograph written by Sir Berkeley Moynihan entitled "On Retroperitoneal Hernia," a second edition of which was written in collaboration with Mr. J. F. Dobson in 1906. This work contains a very complete bibliography, and the author has narrated in detail many of the cases which have been recorded in the literature. The etiologic factor responsible for the production of this class of hernia has, in the vast majority of instances, been demonstrated to exist in the numerous peritoneal folds and fossae which are produced in the normal development of the intestinal tract and its serous covering. These folds and fossae are formed mainly in four distinct regions. They


>> Reliability of piping systems is essential to the safety of any important industrial facilities. During an earthquake, damage to the piping system can occur. It can also cause considerable economic losses and the loss of life following earthquakes. Traditionally, the study of the secondary system was less important than primary structure system, however it has recently been emerging as a key issue for the effective maintenance of the structural system and to help reduce nonstructural earthquake damage. The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate seismic design requirements and the seismic performance of gas and fire protection piping systems installed in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. In order to characterize the seismic behavior of the existing piping system in an official building, 10 simulated earthquakes and 9 recorded real earthquakes were applied to ground level and the building system by the newmark average acceleration time history method. The results developed by this research can be used for the improvement of new seismic code/regulatory guidelines of secondary systems as well as the improvement of seismic retrofitting or the strengthening of the current piping system.


A simple mechanical model of sound propagation in the human ear from the entrance to the ear canal up to the round window membrane is outlined. The model shows the outer, middle and inner ear as two waveguides connected by a lever mechanism. The case when a sound wave from a sound source at a given frequency and intensity goes into the ear is considered. The sound as a plane elastic wave in the air of the ear canal is partially reflected from the eardrum and after relocation by a lever of the ossicles; it runs as a plane elastic wave in the cochlea fluid to be finally damped at the round window membrane. The basilar membrane excited by the running sound wave in the cochlea is taken as a chain of separate fibers. The power of the sound reaching the ear is compared with the power of the sound carriers in the ear. As a result, simple rules for the amplitude of the stapes footplate as well as for the amplitude and pressure of the forced acoustic wave in the cochlea are obtained. The formulas for the amplitudes of the membrane of the round window and the basilar membrane are also shown. The results of calculations based on these rules were compared with the measurements made on temporal bone specimens. The tests were done for the level of the sound source intensity of 90 dB and a set of frequencies from the range of 400-10,000 Hz. The amplitudes of the stapes-footplate and the round window membrane were measured. A mean difference, between the calculated and the measured values, for the stapes-footplate reached 31%, and for the round window membrane, it was 21%. A ratio of the basilar membrane velocity to the stapes footplate velocity as a function of the frequencies was shown. The obtained graph was close to that got by others as a result of the measurements.


Previous studies have indicated that the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) can functionally interact with integrins thereby modulating integrin activity. We have previously demonstrated that treatment of fibroblasts with the uPAR ligand, P25, results in an increase in the activation of the β1 integrin and a 35-fold increase in fibronectin matrix assembly (Monaghan, E., Gueorguiev, V., Wilkins-Port, C., and McKeown-Longo, P. J. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 1400-1407). Experiments were conducted to address the mechanism of uPAR regulation of matrix assembly. Treatment of fibroblasts with P25 led to an increase in the activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and a colocalization of activated EGFR with β1 integrins in cell matrix contacts. The effects of P25 on matrix assembly and β1 integrin activation were inhibited by pretreatment with EGFR or Src kinase inhibitors, suggesting a role for both Src and EGFR in integrin activation by uPAR. Phosphorylation of EGFR in response to P25 occurred on Tyr-845, an Src-dependent phosphorylation site and was inhibited by PP2, the Src kinase inhibitor, consistent with Src kinase lying upstream of EGFR and integrin activation. Cells null for Src kinases also showed a loss of P25-induced matrix assembly, integrin activation, and EGFR phosphorylation. These P25-induced effects were restored following Src re-expression. The effects of P25 were specific for uPAR as enhanced matrix assembly by P25 was not seen in uPAR-/- cells, but was restored upon uPAR re-expression. These data provide evidence for a novel pathway of fibronectin matrix assembly through the uPAR-dependent sequential activation of Src kinase, EGFR, and β1 integrin.


PURPOSE
This article presents the feasibility and acceptability of the 4-week Ways to Enhance Children's Activities and Nutrition (WE CAN) program.

DESIGN AND METHOD
Mixed methods were utilized. Quantitative data were collected from Latina mothers using self-administered surveys.

RESULTS
The program was positively received, although attrition was a concern. Mothers were concerned about their children's weight and were receptive to being key role models for being more active, limiting screen time, buying less junk food, and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Findings provide nurses with knowledge on how mothers view appropriate nutrition and activity as important to their children's health.


Recovery has undoubtedly gained traction throughout the world, and much effort is going into the transformation of mental health policies and systems to achieve recovery-oriented outcomes. There is also a growing argument that emphasizes the interconnectedness of mental and somatic health dimensions, with one dimension affecting the state of the other, and the recovery vision has thus also begun to influence chronic physical illness management. As mental and physical health integration may include colocation, by which the mental health specialist sees patients with various physical health conditions in the same primary care setting, it has been suggested that this colocation could also be conceptual and, in fact, favored by the sharing of a common and global recovery vision for a genuine holistic and person-centered approach. A rapid review of literature was performed to inform the development of a series of workshops to train psychiatry residents and medical students to recovery. Although a plethora of writings exists on ways to transform existing practices to make them more recovery-oriented, not much is known about training techniques meant to inculcate recovery values and principles within the initial training of doctors and other professionals. Through this review, we could not find any faculty of medicine-based class with official institutional credentials specifically and explicitly meant to train future professionals to recovery. The University of Recovery emerged as a new approach to training, not only on recovery, but more importantly for training in recovery. In effect, at the 'with-no-walls' University of Recovery, professors learn from students and conversely through a 'flipped classes' approach by which patients and (future) providers experiment with recovery together, for example, with inversed role plays and other small group techniques of co-learning, as discussed in this paper.


Discrete-time Volterra models play an important role in many application areas. The main drawback of these models is their parametric complexity due to the huge number of their parameters, the kernel coefficients. Using the symmetry property of the Volterra kernels, these ones can be viewed as symmetric tensors. In this paper, we apply tensor decompositions (PARAFAC and HOSVD) for reducing the kernel parametric complexity. Using the PARAFAC decomposition, we also show that Volterra models can be viewed as Wiener models in parallel. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of tensor decompositions for reducing the parametric complexity of cubic Volterra models.


In Ephesians 5:21, Paul enjoins all Christians to live in mutual submission to each other out of reverence for Christ. In the verses that follow, Paul describes what this mutual submission should look like in practice. Some interpreters neglect the intimate connection which Eph 5:22–6:9 shares with the preceding verses in chapter 5. Indeed, the mutual submission of verse 21 is not only the conclusion of the 5:1–21 but is the foundation and title of 5:21–6:9. Failure to recognize this has led some to mock the very idea of mutual submission between husbands and wives. In the real world, this too often serves to justify unjust oppression and silencing of women within the Church. This paper attempts to correct these errors. It also examines these issues in the context of Maasai culture and the traditional Maasai value of enkanyit (honor, mutual respect). Proper exegesis of Ephesians 5 demonstrates that mutual submission provides the way for relational harmony between husbands and wives.


There are many kinds of method for flow rate measurement nowadays. And orifice flow meter is a most popular instrument of flow rate measurement in industry. But a value of measurement flow rate is in proportion to the square root of pressure difference. So this flow meter has narrow range-ability. And it is very difficult to get high accuracy in range of lower flow rate.The research about the flow meter in which the orifice area is a function of the differential pressure is reported in 1972 [1]. According to this study, the range-ability of flow meter has been improved over a range of 100: 1. But it has not been confirmed in detail the flow rate characteristics by experiments.In this time, we confirmed the flow rate characteristics of this flow meter experimentally. And we studied about the flow rate coefficient and the influence of fluid power upon its flow meter. In addition, we tried to clarify the principle of measurement about this flow meter.


Various psychological disorders, such as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, share cognitive avoidance as one of the main mechanisms underlying symptom severity and maintenance. A valid and reliable measure that covers a broad array of cognitive avoidance strategies is therefore instrumental, though currently greedily missing. The Questionnaire d'Évitement Cognitif (QEC) was developed as a comprehensive instrument measuring five cognitive avoidance strategies. The current study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ-NL) in three samples (N sample 1 = 607; N sample 2 = 357; N sample 3 = 448). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized five-factor structure of the CAQ-NL. Reliability analysis showed good to excellent internal consistency for the CAQ-NL and its five subscales. Furthermore, Multi-Group CFA revealed that the CAQ-NL demonstrated configural and metric invariance across the three samples. Convergent validity of the CAQ-NL was supported by substantial correlations with brooding, with more cognitive avoidance being related to more brooding. In addition, cognitive avoidance was negatively associated with psychological well-being and positively with symptoms of depression and anxiety, which corroborates the instrument's concurrent validity. Moreover, the CAQ-NL was predictive of depressive symptoms six months later, supporting its predictive validity. In sum, results of the present study provide support for the validity and reliability of the CAQ-NL.


PBL is a constructivist instructional strategy whose disciplinary vehicle, called scenario, includes an ill structured problem that mirrors real-world problems. PBL-scenario is the circumstance or context where a problem is situated and is tackled by the students. The proper scenario is the most critical aspect of effective problem-based learning. A modified rubric to be used to rate seven essential elements to PBL scenarios is shown. These elements include: problem structure, authenticity, curricular and learner relevance, ways and means, thinking requirement and potential solutions. Finally, an evaluation example of particular scenario applied to a High School Chemistry course is presented.


This paper describes our preliminary investigations for deriving and characterizing coarse-level textural regions present in the lung field on chest radiographs using unsupervised grow-cut (UGC), a cellular automaton based unsupervised segmentation technique. The segmentation has been performed on a publicly available data set of chest radiographs. The algorithm is useful for this application because it automatically converges to a natural segmentation of the image from random seed points using low-level image features such as pixel intensity values and texture features. Our goal is to develop a portable screening system for early detection of lung diseases for use in remote areas in developing countries. This involves developing automated algorithms for screening x-rays as normal/abnormal with a high degree of sensitivity, and identifying lung disease patterns on chest x-rays. Automatically deriving and quantitatively characterizing abnormal regions present in the lung field is the first step toward this goal. Therefore, region-based features such as geometrical and pixel-value measurements were derived from the segmented lung fields. In the future, feature selection and classification will be performed to identify pathological conditions such as pulmonary tuberculosis on chest radiographs. Shape-based features will also be incorporated to account for occlusions of the lung field and by other anatomical structures such as the heart and diaphragm.


Purpose Reports state that scan results for as many as 25% of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma will convert to iodine-131 (I-131) negative over time with positive thyroglobulin levels. Tl-201, positron emission tomography (PET), and sestamibi or tetrofosmin have all helped to identify I-131–negative thyroid carcinomas. The authors have identified a case of reversal of I-131 findings from negative to positive after short-term thyroxine withdrawal combined with treatment with recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH). Materials and Methods The authors obtained multiple I-131 whole-body scans with 4-week thyroid hormone withdrawal, post–I-131 therapy scans, nonthyroid withdrawal Tl-201 chloride whole-body tumor images, and finally combined 2.5-week thyroid hormone withdrawal and rhTSH-stimulation I-131 whole-body scans before and after therapy. Results The authors examined one patient during a period of 9 years whose I-131 whole-body scan results were at first positive and then became negative. After a combination of rhTSH stimulation and thyroid hormone withdrawal, the results changed again to I-131 positive. Conclusions This is the first known case in which I-131 findings changed from negative to positive. A combination of rhTSH stimulation and nearly adequate withdrawal may help convert more I-131–negative whole-body scans to positive.


Abstract Two years of climate data from a transect of three surface meteorological stations on the windward slopes of Mauna Loa, Hawaii, are analyzed. The stations constitute a transect between 700 and 1640 m through the wet, montane rain forest zone below the trade-wind inversion. Data are compared with previous short-term measurements for the area, and previously unreported climate elements such as photosynthetically active radiation and soil temperature are presented. While absolute values vary between the sites, annual and diurnal climate patterns for the sites are remarkably similar, despite the altitudinal range involved and the close proximity of the trade-wind inversion level to the upper station.


The current trend of the Ecuadorian higher education is continuous improvement, leading to the preparation of men for life. In this regard, the academic models should consider the epistemological understanding trends in Latin America and globally, to make relevant institutions universities. To do this, the changes to be operated have to integrate the transition from disciplinary knowledge, inter and transdisciplinary, uniformity of actors and areas of application of knowledge, heterogeneity, circuit production closed and decontextualized knowledge, open circuits and application contexts. Faced with this challenge the academic direction of the design UTMach Improvement project, the results of their progress are presented from the analysis of the challenges and perspectives front to respond to the imperative of Ecuadorian higher education to the curriculum transformation their academic programs.


PURPOSE
To psychophysically investigate adaptation in human corneas using the Belmonte pneumatic esthesiometer.

METHODS
Twenty, 8, and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in the mechanical, cool, and chemical experiments, respectively. Thresholds were estimated using an ascending method of limits and three intensities (subthreshold, threshold, and suprathreshold, in random order) were each presented 10 or 20 times, and subjects scaled the intensity of the stimuli (0-4 [no stimulus to very intense stimulus]). Friedman nonparametric ANOVA was used to analyze the rating data.

RESULTS
There was measurable adaptation with both mechanical and cool stimuli. For both suprathreshold mechanical and cool stimuli, the earlier stimuli were rated more intensely than subsequent stimuli (both P < 0.05). However, this was not the case for subthreshold and threshold mechanical and cool stimuli (all P > 0.05). Paradoxically, for the chemical stimuli, there was adaptation to threshold stimuli (P = 0.03) but no adaptation for subthreshold and suprathreshold stimuli (P = 0.19 and 0.11, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
Both mechanical (mechanosensory or polymodal) and cold receptors on human corneas show adaptation to repeated suprathreshold stimuli with a reduction in perceived intensity after multiple exposures to the same physical stimulus intensity. This is in accord with the results found in electrophysiological and psychophysical experiments of somatosensation elsewhere in the body (and in other animals). The response to chemical stimuli was different, and this might reflect proximal and distal neural or stimulus-specific effects.


The study aimed to provide estimates of the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of unintentional injury among school-going adolescents in Malaysia. Cross-sectional data from the Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) included 21,699 students (predominantly ≤13 to ≥17 years) that were selected by a two-stage cluster sample design to represent all secondary school students in Forms 1 to 5. The percentage of school children reporting one or more serious injuries in the past year was 34.9%, 42.1% of boys and 27.8% of girls. The two major causes of the most serious injury were "fall" (9.9%) and motor vehicle accident or being hit by a motor vehicle (5.4%), and the most frequent type of injury sustained was cut, puncture, or stab wound (6.2%) and a broken bone or dislocated joint (4.2%). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, sociodemographic factors (being male and low socioeconomic status), substance use (tobacco and cannabis use), frequent soft drink consumption, attending physical education classes three or more times a week, other risky behavior (truancy, ever having had sex, being bullied), psychological distress, and lack of parental or guardian bonding were associated with annual injury prevalence. Several factors were identified, which could be included in injury prevention promotion programs among secondary school children.


The lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) as measured by [13H]thymidine incorporation is equally inhibited by 10(-5) to 10(-4) M concentrations of delta8, and delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), their 11-hydroxymetabolites, cannabidiol, cannabinol, cannabichromene, cannabicyclol. A similar inhibiting effect is produced by olivetol, which has the structure of the C ring common to all of these cannabinoids and their metabolites that accumulate in tissues. THC inhibits intracellular and intramolecular incorporation of thymidine, uridine, and leucine. This inhibition can be observed within 15 min after addition of THC to the culture medium. The cytotoxicity of THC is a function of the concentration of serum in the culture medium. The higher the concentration of serum, the more the cells are protected against the toxicity of THC. The cytotoxicity of THC is reversible by washing, after the cells have been incubated for 24 hr with the drug. Lymphocytes incubated with THC or olivetol present a significantly larger number of hypodiploid cells and a significant increase in segregational errors of chromosomes. The inhibitory effect of THC on macromolecular synthesis might be mediated by an alteration of the plasma membrane by the drug.


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A popular argument supporting functionalism has been what is commonly called the "multiple realizability" argument. One version of this argument uses thought experiments designed to show that minds could be composed of different types of material. This article offers a metaphilosophical analysis of this argument and shows that it fails to provide a strong case for functionalism. The multiple realizability argument is best understood as an inference-to-the-best-explanation argument, whereby a functionalist account of our mental concepts serves to explain our multiple realizability intuitions. I show that the argument is inadequate because alternative accounts of our mental concepts exist that provide equally plausible explanations for these intuitions. Moreover, in the case of our qualia concepts, a nonfunctionalist account explains several other intuitions that functionalism cannot explain. Thus, despite its popularity, the intuition-based version of the multiple realizability argument is a poor reason for accepting functionalism.


Endothelin (ET) receptor antagonism is a potential therapeutic intervention in the treatment of vascular diseases. To elucidate the mechanism of antagonist-ET receptor complex formation, the interactions of four chemically distinct antagonists were investigated using a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches. By site-specific mutagenesis we previously demonstrated that Tyr129 in the second transmembrane domain was critical for high-affinity, subtype-selective binding to the A subtype of ET (ETA) receptors [Krystek et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 12383-12386]. Affinities of the constrained cyclic pentapeptide BQ-123, the pyrimidinylbenzenesulfonamide bosentan, the indancarboxlic acid SB 209670, and the naphthalenesulfonamide BMS-182874 were decreased 20-1000-fold in Tyr129Ala, Tyr129Ser, and Tyr129His ETA receptor mutants. Substitution of Tyr129 with Phe or Trp did not alter the high-affinity binding of BQ-123, bosentan, or SB 209670. BMS-182874 binding affinity was decreased 10-fold in Tyr129Phe and Tyr129trp ET receptors. These data indicate a role of aromatic interactions in the binding of these antagonists to ETA receptors an, in the case of BMS-182874, also suggested a hydrogen bond with the tyrosine hydroxyl. This hypothesis was supported by structure-activity data with analogs of BMS-182874 that varied the C-5 dimethylamino substituent on the naphthalene ring. Mutation of Asp126 and Asp133 also altered binding of BMS-182874 and C-5 analogs. In all cases, naphthalenesulfonamide binding was more severely affected by mutation of Asp133 than by mutation of Asp126. Phosphoinositide hydrolysis and extracellular acidification rate studies demonstrated the importance of Tyr129 to ETA-mediated signal transduction. On the basis of these data, two plausible models of the docked conformation of BMS-182874 in the ETA receptor are proposed as a starting point for further delineation of interactions that underlie antagonist-ETA receptor complex formation.


Blind signature is the concept to ensure anonymity of e-coins. Untracebility and unlinkability are two main properties of real coins, which require mimicking electronically. Whenever a user is permitted to spend an e-coin, he is in need to fulfill above requirements of blind signature. This paper proposes a proxy blind signature scheme with which a proxy is able to make proxy blind signature which verifier is able to verify in a way similar to proxy signature schemes.


Port Community Systems have become a staple technological platform used to exchange information between the public and private agents and entities involved in ship and cargo services within seaports. In this paper, the theoretical background of the Port Community System is provided, emphasizing the importance of its implementation, and stakeholder collaboration. Different models of introducing an integrated Port Community System in seaports are analysed using literature review and actual cases in some of the most prominent seaports.


This paper investigates a distribution channel consisting of a manufacturer and a retailer under a cooperative program, where the manufacturer determines the national advertising and quality improving effort, while the retailer decides the local promotion effort and may undertake parts of the costs of national advertising and quality improving of the manufacturer. It is assumed that the manufacturer's national advertising and quality improving efforts positively affect the brand goodwill and reference price, whereas the retailer's local promotion effort damages them. Three scenarios of the non-cooperative and cooperative scenarios in the decentralized supply chain, and the centralized supply chain scenario, are analyzed. The corresponding equilibrium strategies and profits are obtained and compared, which shows that the cooperative program can achieve payoff-Pareto-improving, but cannot coordinate completely the supply chain. Furthermore, a revenue sharing contract combined with two-subsidy policy is designed to coordinate the decentralized supply chain. Numerical simulation and sensitivity analysis of the coordinating results on the key system parameters are provided to verify the effectiveness of the contract, and some managerial insights are provided.


The paper illustrates the impact of using two fundamentally different Monte Carlo simulation techniques to predict interruption-frequency indexes of bulk electric power systems. The two Monte Carlo simulation techniques designated as the sequential (state-duration sampling) and nonsequential (state sampling) methods are utilised. Two test systems designated as the Roy Billinton test system (RBTS) and the IEEE-reliability test system (IEEE-RTS) are used, and the results with respect to annualised and annual reliability indexes obtained using both techniques are demonstrated. The impacts of failure state transitions and chronology on frequency-index calculations are investigated and discussed. The results show that the approximate frequency index obtained using the nonsequential technique could provide either a high estimate or a low estimate of the more accurate frequency indexes obtained using the sequential technique, depending on the factors included in the calculation.


In order to determine the pressure rise due to fault arcs in electrical installations, the portion of energy heating the surrounding gas of the fault arc has to be known. The ratio of the portion of energy to the electrical energy, the thermal transfer coefficient, well known in literature as k/sub p/-factor, is adopted here. This paper presents a theoretical approach to calculate the thermal transfer coefficient k/sub p/ and to determine the pressure rise in an electrical installation. It is based on the solution of the fundamental hydro- and thermodynamic conservation equations taking into account melting and evaporation of metals as well as chemical reactions with the surrounding gas of the fault arc. The results for closed arc chambers show that factors such as the kinds of insulating gas and of electrode material, the size of the test vessel, and the gas density considerably influence the thermal transfer coefficient and thus the pressure rise. Furthermore it is demonstrated, with an example of a short-circuit in a compact medium-voltage station with heavy metal evaporation, that the mathematical approach is a reliable tool to assess the development of pressure.


This study demonstrates the critical role of glucose metabolism in resistance to MAPK inhibition in KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer, uncovering a potential therapeutic approach for treating this aggressive disease. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is almost universally lethal. A critical unmet need exists to explore essential susceptibilities in PDAC and to identify druggable targets to improve PDAC treatment. KRAS mutations dominate the genetic landscape of PDAC and lead to activation of multiple downstream pathways and cellular processes. Here, we investigated the requirement of these pathways for tumor maintenance using an inducible KrasG12D-driven PDAC mouse model (iKras model), identifying that RAF-MEK-MAPK signaling is the major effector for oncogenic KRAS-mediated tumor maintenance. However, consistent with previous studies, MEK inhibition had minimal therapeutic effect as a single agent for PDAC in vitro and in vivo. Although MEK inhibition partially downregulated transcription of glycolysis genes, it failed to suppress glycolytic flux in PDAC cells, which is a major metabolic effector of oncogenic KRAS. Accordingly, an in vivo genetic screen identified multiple glycolysis genes as potential targets that may sensitize tumor cells to MEK inhibition. Inhibition of glucose metabolism with low-dose 2-deoxyglucose in combination with a MEK inhibitor induced apoptosis in KrasG12D-driven PDAC cells in vitro. The combination also inhibited xenograft PDAC tumor growth and prolonged overall survival in a genetically engineered PDAC mouse model. Molecular and metabolic analyses indicated that co-targeting glycolysis and MAPK signaling results in apoptosis via induction of lethal endoplasmic reticulum stress. Together, our work suggests that combined inhibition of glycolysis and the MAPK pathway may serve as an effective approach to target KRAS-driven PDAC. Significance: This study demonstrates the critical role of glucose metabolism in resistance to MAPK inhibition in KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer, uncovering a potential therapeutic approach for treating this aggressive disease.


We study the efficiency at maximum power of two coupled heat engines, using thermoelectric generators (TEGs) as engines. Assuming that the heat and electric charge fluxes in the TEGs are strongly coupled, we simulate numerically the dependence of the behavior of the global system on the electrical load resistance of each generator in order to obtain the working condition that permits maximization of the output power. It turns out that this condition is not unique. We derive a simple analytic expression giving the relation between the electrical load resistance of each generator permitting output power maximization. We then focus on the efficiency at maximum power (EMP) of the whole system to demonstrate that the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency may not always be recovered: The EMP varies with the specific working conditions of each generator but remains in the range predicted by irreversible thermodynamics theory. We discuss our results in light of nonideal Carnot engine behavior.


This chapter will present historical data on the most significant African populations in Latin America, beginning with the areas in which the largest and linguistically most important concentrations were found during colonial times. These are the regions for which the greatest amount of written descriptions of Africans' speech is available. Africans in colonial Peru African slaves and their descendants were found in Peru from the earliest colonial periods to well into postcolonial independence, but the demographic distribution and geographical location varied across time, as did the interaction with speakers of Spanish. The use of African slaves had already been authorized for other areas of Spanish America, to replace dwindling indigenous workers, and African slaves were carried to the highland mines of Bolivia and Peru. Few demographic traces remain of these first African arrivals for several reasons. Nearly all were adult males, who were deprived of opportunities for procreation. Mortality rates were extremely high; the combination of altitude, cold temperatures, inadequate nourishment and harsh working conditions ravaged the slave population. At the same time, more stable nuclei of Africans began arriving in Cuzco and other developing colonial centers such as La Paz. As in other colonial towns, African slaves worked as domestic servants and artisans' assistants, living patterns which were conducive to learning Spanish, and to leaving some linguistic and cultural legacy.


Upper motor neuron lesion in adults is usually associated with spasticity and "extensor toe sign" on plantar stimulation (extensor plantar response). There are various methods of eliciting this sign including the classic method by Babinski. Other methods produce this response when the area of reflexogenic zone is increased due to upper motor neuron lesion. There are varying reports of Babinski positivity in spastic cerebral palsy. This study was undertaken to assess the sensitivity of different methods of eliciting "extensor toe sign." An attempt has also been made to correlate the severity of spasticity with the combined "extensor toe sign" positivity by various methods and with the increase in reflexogenic zone. Eighty-one children with spastic cerebral palsy were examined. Twelve had hemiplegia; therefore, a total of 150 limbs were tested. "Extensor toe sign" was elicited by 12 different methods in each patient. The sensitivity of each method was calculated and compared with each other one. The assessment of spasticity was done using the Ashworth Tone Scale. The severity of spasticity was correlated with "extensor toe sign" positivity using various methods. Classic Babinski reflex was positive in 75% of cases, whereas Gonda-Allen sign was positive in 90% of cases followed by Allen-Cleckley (82%), Chaddock (74%), and Cornell (54%). All other signs had sensitivity of less than 30%. There was no increase in sensitivity after combining them. There was significant negative correlation between the spasticity and the combined "extensor toe sign" positivity (by all the methods). This study, therefore, suggests that the majority of patients with spastic cerebral palsy have positive "extensor toe sign." The Gonda-Allen method is more sensitive than the classic Babinski method. A positive "extensor toe sign" is negatively correlated to the degree of spasticity. (J Child Neurol 1998;13:216-220).


In 1955 when 2 of us (S.J. and J.T.) saw a patient with cutaneous eruption which clinically suggested verruca plana but which had a pathologic picture that had not been seen previously by several dermatopathologists to whom sections were sent, we did not think too much of it until one of us (H. M.), who was one of the dermatopathologists who had studied the histopathologic sections from our case, found another person with the same pathologic picture. Report of Cases Case 1.— This 27-year-old male student from Bagdad, Iraq, was seen by us (S.J. and J.T.) in February, 1955, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics for a skin condition which had been present for at least 17 years. The patient described the early lesions as being oval, slightly pigmented, and localized to the dorsum of the hands. Throughout pubescence new lesions appeared on the neck, face, arms, and


A traditional group of port industry plants which operate in seaports, including the biggest Polish seaports, is made up of the plants importing cheap raw materials by sea. With a direct access to sea transport they use the so-called "scale effect". Since the commencement of the system transformation in Poland these plants have been undergoing organizational, proprietary and functional alterations. One of the most important directions of these changes has been an increase in the importance of services in the functioning of the plants. What is manifest in the case of the fertilizer companies from Police, Gdansk and Szczecin is that they have been developing their services in order to meet both their individual and external entities' needs, although their industrial operations are still predominant. However, the remaining plants situated in the Polish seaports and analyzed in this article have changed their business activity from industrial operations to services. They have gradually abandoned production and replaced the handling which was carried out solely to meet their individual needs with the development of services provided to external customers and new merchandise. This process has been taking place in relation to the Baltchem, the Siarkopol Gdansk and the formerly operational Huta Szczecin. It is
reasonable to predict that in the future the Polish port industry sector will exhibit growing tendencies towards the increasing importance of:
- services complimentary to industrial operations,
- services provided to external entities,
- situation in which external investors, primarily in the services sector, will oper-
ate on the port land which is not used by the ports in order to meet their individual needs,
- replacing industrial operations with services.


In this work we present a new segmentation method named Smart Cage
Active Contours (SCAC) that combines a parametrized active contour
framework named Cage Active Contours (CAC), based on a ne trans-
formations, with Active Shape Models (ASM). Our method e ectively
restricts the shapes the evolving contours can take without the need of
the training images to be manually landmarked. We apply our method to
segment the caudate nuclei subcortical structure of a set of 40 subjects in
magnetic resonance brain images, with promising results.


We examine the X-ray and infrared properties of galaxies and AGNs in the 9 square degree Bootes field, using data from the Chandra XBootes and Spitzer IRAC Shallow Surveys, as well as optical spectroscopy from the AGES survey. A sample of ~30,000 objects are detected in all four IRAC bands, of which ~2,000 are associated with X-ray sources. We also study X-ray fainter sources using stacking techniques, and find that X-ray fluxes are highest for objects with IRAC colors that are known to be characteristic of AGNs. Because these are shallow, wide-field surveys, they probe the bright end of the AGNluminosity function out to spectroscopic redshifts as high as z=3-4. We can use this multiwavelength dataset to explore the properties and redshift evolution of a large sample of luminous active galaxies.


Context. The Galactic center is the closest region where we can study star formation under extreme physical conditions like those in high-redshift galaxies. Aims. We measure the temperature of the dense gas in the central molecular zone (CMZ) and examine what drives it. Methods. We mapped the inner 300 pc of the CMZ in the temperature-sensitive J = 3-2 para-formaldehyde (p-H2CO) transitions. We used the 3(2,1)-2(2,0)/3(0,3)-2(0,2) line ratio to determine the gas temperature in n similar to 10(4) - 10(5) cm(-3) gas. We have produced temperature maps and cubes with 30 0 0 and 1 km s(-1) resolution and published all data in FITS form. Results. Dense gas temperatures in the Galactic center range from similar to 60 K to > 100 K in selected regions. The highest gas temperatures T-G > 100 K are observed around the Sgr B2 cores, in the extended Sgr B2 cloud, the 20 km s(-1) and 50 km s(-1) clouds, and in "The Brick" (G0.253 + 0.016). We infer an upper limit on the cosmic ray ionization rate zeta(CR) < 10(-14) s(-1). Conclusions. The dense molecular gas temperature of the region around our Galactic center is similar to values found in the central regions of other galaxies, in particular starburst systems. The gas temperature is uniformly higher than the dust temperature, confirming that dust is a coolant in the dense gas. Turbulent heating can readily explain the observed temperatures given the observed line widths. Cosmic rays cannot explain the observed variation in gas temperatures, so CMZ dense gas temperatures are not dominated by cosmic ray heating. The gas temperatures previously observed to be high in the inner similar to 75 pc are confirmed to be high in the entire CMZ.


Proximity labeling (PL) with genetically-targeted promiscuous enzymes has emerged as a powerful tool for unbiased proteome discovery. By combining the spatiotemporal specificity of PL with methods for functional protein enrichment, it should be possible to map specific protein subclasses within distinct compartments of living cells. Here we demonstrate this capability for RNA binding proteins (RBPs), by combining peroxidase-based PL with organic-aqueous phase separation of crosslinked protein-RNA complexes ("APEX-PS"). We validated APEX-PS by mapping nuclear RBPs, then applied it to uncover the RBPomes of two unpurifiable subcompartments - the nucleolus and the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). At the OMM, we discovered the RBP SYNJ2BP, which retains specific nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNAs during translation stress, to promote their local translation and import of protein products into the mitochondrion during stress recovery. APEX-PS is a versatile tool for compartment-specific RBP discovery and expands the scope of PL to functional protein mapping. Graphic Abstract


We perform an experimental investigation of the synthesis of complex materials using the Laserdiode heated floating zone method (L-FZ). We will briefly introduce the Infrared-heated floating zone method of bulk crystal growth and then delve into recent advances in using a Laser-diode heated floating zone method. We demonstrate L-FZ for the growth of large high-quality single crystalline samples of of the n=2 Ruddlesden–Popper homologous series RE2SrAl2O7, RE = Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy with physically interesting properties (e.g spin-ice) as well as the incongruently melting stuffed-tridymite type oxide BaCoSiO4. We conclude with a summary of the results and future research directions in automating crystal growth, which will open access into the synthesis and characterization of previously unstudied class of materials such as refractory complex oxides and alloys.


An ultra-fast analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) technique, called semi-flash, is presented. The main feature of this technique is the fact that a comparator is needed for each bit wanted, i.e. N bits require N comparators. In flash, N bits require 2/sup N/ comparators and an encoding stage. The conversion rate of the proposed converter is compatible with flash. The resulting circuit has a bipolar NPN transistor and is small enough to be included in the MSI category. >


Nanoporous cobalt thin films were deposited on anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes at room temperature using pulsed laser deposition. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the nanoporous cobalt thin films retained the monodisperse pore size and high porosity of the anodized aluminum oxide substrates. Temperature- and field-dependent magnetic data obtained between 10 K and 350 K showed large hysteresis behavior in these materials. The increase of coercivity values was larger for nanoporous cobalt thin films than for multilayered cobalt/alumina thin films. The average diameter of the cobalt nanograins in the nanoporous cobalt thin films was estimated to be approsimately 5 nm for blocking temperatures near room temperature. These results suggest that pulsed laser deposition may be used to fabricate nanoporous magnetic materials with unusual properties for biosensing, drug delivery, data storage, and other technological applications.


Emerging data on the role of the tissue renin-angiotensin system are redefining our understanding of the pathophysiology of hypertension and other vascular disorders. Although the tissue renin-angiotensin system is quiescent after birth, it can be reactivated in response to tissue injury. Recent evidence suggests that this system is involved in maladaptive changes such as ventricular and vascular remodeling, alterations in renal function, and atherosclerosis. With increased recognition of the role of angiotensin II in these processes, new therapeutic opportunities are emerging. Blockade of angiotensin II will likely prove more effective than other vasodilator therapies in the setting of congestive heart failure and after acute myocardial infarction.


The present paper deals with a preliminary X-ray study of the isomorphous series of organo-metallic compounds formed by combining a fourth-group clement with four phenyl radicals, the resulting compounds being the tetraphenyls of carbon, silicon, germanium, tin and lead [C (C6H5)4, etc.]. The simpler isomorphous organo-metallic compounds seemed of interest for the following reasons : (i) If the compounds of any one series, when examined by the methods of X-ray crystallography, are found to be truly isomorphous— that is, to belong to the same space group and to have unit cells of similar size— then the only variable in passing from one member to the next is the grouping element. The effect, therefore, of this part of the molecule on the intensity of the reflected X-rays can be studied, (ii) By choosing substances having one or more metal atoms in the molecule, comparatively large differences in scattering power of various parts of the molecule can be obtained. For example, the numbers of electrons in the various parts of a molecule of lead tetraphenyl Pb(C6H5)4 are as follows: whole molecule (246), lead atom (82), carbon atom (6), hydrogen atom (1) and phenyl radical (41). (iii) By choosing the simpler compounds ( e. g ., of the type M R n ) in which all the valencies of the grouping element (M) are occupied by groups (R) all alike, and not too complex, a molecule of high symmetry might be expected. A note must be made of the meaning here of simpler compounds . It would at first appear that the range of choice was very wide, but if the work is restricted to organic compounds which are stable solids in air at ordinary temperatures, many of the simpler series are eliminated, as some or all of their members are gases, liquids or unstable solids. Apart, however, from the experimental difficulties in working with these very simple compounds, there is another objection bearing on (i). It was there stated that if all the members of a series belonged to the same space group, then only one variable was altered in passing from one to another member of the series. This statement is not strictly true, for the difference in the size of the grouping atom causes a change in the dimensions of the unit cell, and may also change the relative arrangement of the parts of the molecule. This change may well be quite large if very simple radicals are attached to the grouping atom. If, however, fairly large radicals are attached, then the fractional change in size of the molecule accompanying the change made in the scattering power of one of its parts can be made fairly small, and a fair approximation to the varying of only one variable can be reached.


A good driver-vehicle interface needs two functions: (a) how to effectively prevent traffic crash and (b) how to record event data precisely for facilitating the traffic crash investigation after accident. This study is to explore how to realize high-performance collision warning system (CWS), providing the precaution against traffic crash in transit. An embedded adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) built in XScale-NAV270 platform was employed to realize collision warning system and we also installed motor vehicle event data recorder (MVEDR). Finally, simulation and verification of the proposed approach were successfully done to achieve better accuracy and more effectiveness on warning operation and event data record to motor vehicle.


Following a tough childhood in south London, Mustafa Shiyanbola has made a successful career in nursing. He is now using his personal experience to mentor others.


Case series show that hypokalemia following initiation of diuretic therapy occurs in most patients within 2 to 8 weeks. However, no studies are available that adequately predict the risk of this complex and multifactorial condition. Patients taking diuretics should have a potassium level checked in the first 2 to 8 weeks after initiating therapy. Mild hypokalemia (3.1 to 3.4 mmol/L) may be transient, so a repeat measurement may be considered before initiating potassium replacement. Dietary sodium restriction may also help to conserve potassium, because this will decrease urinary flow rate and potassium loss. The frequency with which to check potassium levels should be guided by the patients' underlying clinical conditions and dietary potassium and sodium intake. (Grade of Recommendation: C, based on case series)


"Super-exponential" methods (SEMs) are attractive algorithms for solving blind signal separation problems. Conventional SEMs are so sensitive to Gaussian noise that they cannot work in a noisy environment. To overcome this drawback, we proposed a new SEM , which does not utilise second-order statistics but only higher-order cumulants. Hence, the proposed SEM becomes robust to Gaussian noise (RSEM). In this paper, mixed signals in a noisy environment are separated in the frequency domain using an adaptive version of RSEM (ARSEM). After separation, noise components are reduced with a speech enhancement technique. We show the results of this simulation and experiment, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method


The oxidative folding of proteins consists of conformational folding and disulfide-bond reactions. These two processes are coupled significantly in folding-coupled regeneration steps, in which a single chemical reaction (the "forward" reaction) converts a conformationally unstable precursor species into a conformationally stable, disulfide-protected successor species. Two limiting-case mechanisms for folding-coupled regeneration steps are described. In the folded-precursor mechanism, the precursor species is preferentially folded at the moment of the forward reaction. The (transient) native structure increases the effective concentrations of the reactive thiol and disulfide groups, thus favoring the forward reaction. By contrast, in the quasi-stochastic mechanism, the forward reaction occurs quasi-stochastically in an unfolded precursor; i.e., reactive groups encounter each other with a probability determined primarily by loop entropy, albeit modified by conformational biases in the unfolded state. The resulting successor species is initially unfolded, and its folding competes with backward chemical reactions to the unfolded precursors. The folded-precursor and quasi-stochastic mechanisms may be distinguished experimentally by the dependence of their kinetics on factors affecting the rates of thiol--disulfide exchange and conformational (un)folding. Experimental data and structural and biochemical arguments suggest that the quasi-stochastic mechanism is more plausible than the folded-precursor mechanism for most proteins.


Background Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a prognostic marker of aggressive rheumatoid arthritis (RA); effective disease control may be more difficult in RF positive (+) patients (pts). Some biologic DMARDs have differential response rates based on RF status. Thus, there remains a clinical interest in understanding its impact on clinical response across biologic therapies. Furthermore, a better understanding of the impact of disease duration on clinical outcomes is warranted, particularly in pts who have failed several DMARD therapies. Objectives To describe the long-term efficacy and safety of ADA in pts with active RA categorized on the basis of RF status and baseline (BL) disease duration. Methods DE020 was a long-term, multicenter, open-label continuation study of ADA in pts with active RA despite DMARD therapy. This post hoc analysis included observed data through 10 yrs of treatment. Pts were categorized separately on the basis of RF status [negative (-), +] and BL disease duration (≤2 yrs, >2 yrs). Clinical and functional responses were assessed at Yr 10 as the percentages of pts satisfying ACR20/50/70 response criteria, DAS28 (CRP) low-disease activity [LDA, ≤3.2] and remission (<2.6) criteria, and normal physical function (HAQ-DI <0.5). Safety was assessed for the subgroups in terms of adverse events (AEs) for all pts exposed to ADA. Results The majority of pts were RF(+) (73%) with disease duration >2 yrs (86%). Pts had active disease at BL, irrespective of RF status or disease duration [mean DAS28(CRP) =5.7 for both RF(-) and (+), and 5.8 (≤2 yrs) and 5.7 (>2 yrs)]. RF status did not appear to influence clinical or functional outcomes following 10 yrs of ADA treatment (Table). In contrast and as expected, shorter BL disease duration was associated with greater proportions of pts achieving the more stringent clinical and functional responses, a finding that was most apparent with the proportion having normal function (HAQ-DI <0.5, 61%) at Yr 10. AEs were comparable across the different subgroups and consistent with the known safety profile of TNF inhibitors. Discontinuations due to loss of efficacy were low and comparable across the subgroups. Table 1. Subgroup analysis of outcomes following 10 years of ADA therapy RF(–) RF(+) ≤2 yrs >2 yrs Completed 10 years, n/N (%) 77/228 (34) 209/618 (34) 38/118 (32) 248/727 (34) ACR20, % 78 79 81 78 ACR50, % 63 52 72 53 ACR70, % 34 32 47 31 DAS28(CRP) ≤3.2, % 74 70 84 69 DAS28(CRP) <2.6, % 64 55 68 56 HAQ-DI <0.5, % 45 41 61 40 Discontinuation for adverse event, % 25 22 19 24 Conclusions Long-term ADA treatment reduced disease activity and improved overall quality of life in RA pts with an inadequate response to DMARD therapy. In the overall pt population, RF status did not appear to influence the extent of response to treatment with ADA; however, pts with shorter BL disease duration achieved more robust outcomes in greater proportions, underscoring the need to treat pts as early as possible to prevent irreversible damage and loss of function. Disclosure of Interest D. Furst Grant/Research support from: Amgen, Janssen, Roche, UCB, Consultant for: Amgen, Janssen, Roche, UCB, M. Weinblatt Grant/Research support from: Abbott, Consultant for: Abbott, A. Kavanaugh Consultant for: Abbott, C. Birbara: None Declared, H. Kupper Shareholder of: Abbott, Employee of: Abbott, K. Obermeyer Shareholder of: Abbott, Employee of: Abbott, F. Faccin Shareholder of: Abbott, Employee of: Abbott


Blacks have been documented to have low vitamin D levels. We thus examined whether total cancer incidence and mortality rates differ between Blacks and Whites in a population of male health professionals, and particularly for digestive system cancers (oral, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and colorectum), which have been most consistently linked to poor vitamin D status. Second, we examined whether Blacks might be more susceptible to these cancers if they concurrently had other risk factors for hypovitaminosis D. In the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, from 1986 to 2002, 99 of 481 Black men and 7,019 of 43,468 White men were diagnosed with cancer. Adjusting for multiple dietary, lifestyle, and medical risk factors, using Cox modeling, Black men were at higher risk of total cancer incidence [relative risk (RR), 1.32; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.08-1.61; P = 0.007] and total cancer mortality (RR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.40-2.56; P < 0.0001) and especially digestive system cancer mortality (RR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.35-3.70). Compared with Whites with relatively few risk factors for hypovitaminosis D, Blacks also with few risk factors for hypovitaminosis D were not at appreciably higher risk of total cancer incidence (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.60-1.51) or mortality (RR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.91-2.62), but Black men with additional risk factors for poorer vitamin D status had a much higher cancer incidence (RR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.16-2.11) and mortality risk (RR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.57-3.28). This pattern was even more pronounced for digestive system cancer. Our results suggest that the high frequency of hypovitaminosis D in Blacks may be an important, and easily modifiable, contributor to their higher risk of cancer incidence and mortality. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(12):2467–72)


inv(16)(p13q22) Gbanding (left) Courtesy Jean-Luc Lai and Alain Vanderhaegen; Rbanding center bottom: Courtesy Christiane Charrin, center top and FISH (top right) -Courtesy Pascale Cornillet-Lefebvre and Stephanie Struski; FISH (bottom right) Courtesy Hossein Mossafa; commercial FISH probes, split in the inv(16). t(16;16)(p13;q22) G-banding Courtesy Diane H. Norback, Eric B. Johnson, and Sara Morrison-Delap, UW Cytogenetic Services.


We present a computational framework for the grounding and semantic interpretation of dynamic visuo-spatial imagery consisting of video and eye-tracking data. Driven by cognitive film studies and visual perception research, we demonstrate key technological capabilities aimed at investigating attention & recipient effects vis-a-vis the motion picture; this encompasses high-level analysis of subject's visual fixation patterns and correlating this with (deep) semantic analysis of the dynamic visual data (e.g., fixation on movie characters, influence of cinematographic devices such as cuts). The framework and its application as a general AI-based assistive technology platform --integrating vision & KR-- for cognitive film studies is highlighted.


The objective of this paper is not simply to present an historical overview of Einstein's cosmological considerations, but to discuss the central role they played in shaping the paradigm of relativistic cosmology. This, we'll show, was a result of both his actions and, perhaps more importantly, his inactions. Accordingly, discussion won't simply be restricted to Einstein's considerations, as we'll analyse relevant contributions to the relativistic expansion paradigm during the approximately twenty years following Slipher's first redshift measurements in 1912. Our aim is to shed some light on why we think some of the things we do, with the idea that a better understanding of the reasoning that fundamentally influenced the common idea of our expanding universe might help to resolve some of the significant problems that modern cosmology now faces; and we eventually use this knowledge to probe the foundations of the standard model. Much of the information we present, including many of the historical details, we expect will be news to modern practitioners.