Isolated tuberculous prostatic abscess is very unusual phenomenon especially in immunocompetent patient. We report an unusual presentation of tuberculous prostatic abscess in young, healthy, immunocompetent patient wherein the patient developed renal compromise due to tuberculous prostatic abscess. Introduction Isolated tuberculous prostatic abscess is very unsual phenomenon especially in immunocompetent patient [1]. We report an unusual presentation of tuberculous prostatic abscess in young, healthy, immunocompetent patient Case Summary A 43 year old non diabetic, non-hypertensive male patient presented with history of on and off low grade fever, frequency, dysuria, poor stream, sense of incomplete emptying and pyuria of 7 month duration. Urine-analysis revealed plenty of white blood cells, 15-20 red blood cells, and serum creatinine of 3.9mg/dl. Ultrasound abdomen revealed bilateral grade II renal parenchymal changes with increased postvoid residual volume of 290ml (prevoid volume of 330ml). Patient denied any history of tuberculosis treatment or contact. Urethral catheterization was not successful and patient denied suprapubic catheter placement. Urine culture was negative and on Retrograde urethrogram there was posterior urethral diverticulum noted (Figure 1). Figure 1: Retrograde Urethrogram showing prostatic urethral diverticulum. On Cystourethroscopy his anterior urethra was unhealthy, pale and membranous urethra was erythematous and congested (Figure 2A). There was a white fluffy abscess cavity involving whole of right lobe of prostate and extending up to left lobe and Citation: Vaddi SP, Babu DM, Khetavath SM, Reddy RKRV, Prasad DM (2021) An Unusual Presentation of Prostatic Tuberculous Abscess Obstructive Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) with Renal Compromise in an Immunocompetent Patient. J Urol Ren Dis 06: 1207. DOI: 10.29011/2575-7903.001207 2 Volume 06; Issue 01 J Urol Ren Dis, an open access journal ISSN: 2575-7903 bladder neck with undermined edges, and there was elevated bladder neck. Verumontanum was prominent and standing out because of sloughed off prostatic cavity (Figure 2B,C) . Biopsy specimens taken from prostatic abscess cavity (Figure 2D) and bladder and sent separately for histopathology, fungal stain and TB-PCR (tuberculous polymerase chain reaction test). Cystoscopy guided Foley catheterization was done. Urine for acid fast bacilli and malignant cytology were negative. Fungal stain and bacterial culture were negative but abscess cavity tissue for TB-PCR was positive. On histopathological examination there was necrotizing chronic granulomatous inflammation. Diagnosis of tuberculous prostatic abscess with spontaneous rupture into urethra was made and patient started on Anti -Tubercular Treatment (ATT). Per urethral catheter removed after 3 weeks. Patient completed 6 months of ATT and with a serum creatinine value of 1.6mg/dl at 6months of follow up. Figure 2: showing erythematous membranous urethra (A), prostatic abscess cavity (B), bladder neck elevation with undermined edges (C), and biopsy taken from abscess cavity. Discussion Tuberculous infection of the prostate can result from hematogenous seeding of the prostate at the time of initial primary tuberculous infection, or from urinary seeding after renal involvement or after intravesical bacillus CalmetteGuérin treatment for bladder carcinoma and commonly seen in immunocompromised patients [2,3]. Prostate tuberculosis involvement is usually asymptomatic and occur as an incidental histopathological finding after prostate surgery. Prostatic tuberculous cavities or abscesses may discharge into the surrounding tissues, or into urethra or forming sinuses or fistulae to the perineum or rectum [4]. Conclusion Isolated tuberculous prostatic abscess with rupture into urethra and presenting as voiding LUTS and renal compromise in immunocompetent patient is a rare phenomenon and always differential diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis should be kept in mind when LUTS not responding to initial treatment.


The numerical modeling of nanoscale electron devices needs the development of accurate and efficient numerical methods, in particular, for the numerical solution of the Schrödinger problem. If FEMs allow an accurate geometric representation of the device, they lead to a discrete counterpart of Schrödinger problem in terms of a computationally heavy generalized eigenvalue problem. Exploiting the geometric structure behind the Schrödinger problem, we will construct a numerically efficient discrete counterpart of it, yielding to a standard eigenvalue problem. We will also show how the two approaches are only partially akin to each other even when lumping is applied.


The primary weather forecast challenge at the Cape Canaveral Air Station and Kennedy Space Center is lightning. This paper describes a statistical approach that combines integrated precipitable water vapor (IPWV) data from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver site located at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) with other meteorological data to develop a new GPS lightning index. The goal of this effort is to increase the forecasting skill and lead time for prediction of a first strike at the KSC. Statistical regression methods are used to identify predictors that contribute skill in forecasting a lightning event. Four predictors were identified out of a field of 23 predictors that were tested, determined using data from the 1999 summer thunderstorm season. They are maximum electric field mill values, GPS IPWV, 9-h change in IPWV, andK index. The GPS lightning index is a binary logistic regression model made up of coefficients multiplying the four predictors. When time series of the GPS lightning index are plotted, a common pattern emerges several hours prior to a lightning event. Whenever the GPS lightning index falls to 0.7 or below, lightning occurs within the next 12.5 h. An index threshold value of 0.7 was determined from the data for lightning prediction. Forecasting time constraints based on KSC weather notification requirements were incorporated into the verification. Forecast verification results obtained by using a contingency table revealed a 26.2% decrease from the KSC's previous-season false alarm rates for a nonindependent period and a 13.2% decrease in false alarm rates for an independent test season using the GPS lightning index. In addition, the index improved the KSC desired lead time by nearly 10%. Although the lightning strike window of 12 h is long, the GPS lightning index provides useful guidance to the forecaster in preparing lighting forecasts, when combined with other resources such as radar and satellite data. Future testing of the GPS lightning index and the prospect of using the logistic regression approach in forecasting related weather hazards are discussed.


This paper investigates the performance of adaptive array antennas in digital handset systems by studying the minimum mean square error (MMSE) algorithm at 2 GHz. By calculating the spatial correlation between two different directions, we describe how significant enhancement in the capability of an antenna to reduce the effects of interference signals can be achieved when the handset is in use, even in the vicinity of a human operator in the talking position. The study shows that the adaptive array under consideration has substantial potential to reduce the relative power of interference signals in close proximity of a human operator.


Introduction: Klippel Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by the triad: (1) cutaneous capillary malformations; (2) soft tissue and bone hypertrophy; (3) multiple vascular malformations at arterial, venous and lymphatic level. KTS is associated with recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), that may lead to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and haemodynamical characteristics of 5 patients with CTEPH associated with KTS referred to our center between 1993 and 2010. Results: Four patients had a previous history of VTE. At diagnosis, 1 patient was in NYHA functional class (FC) II and 4 patients were in NYHA FC III. Pulmonary haemodynamics were: mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP)= 56.4±9.3 mmHg, cardiac index (CI)= 2.74±0.89 l/min/m 2 and total pulmonary resistance (TPR)= 20.2±12.4 Wood units. One patient had proximal CTEPH, underwent a pulmonary endarterectomy and normalized his pulmonary pressures after surgery. The other 4 patients had inoperable CTEPH due to distal lesions and were treated with specific pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapy. Two patients were clinically and haemodynamically improved by oral therapy with a mean reduction of 22% of the mPAP and 60% of the TPR after a mean follow-up of 50 months. One patient died after 34 months due to recurrent VTE complications and one patient needed a heart-lung transplantation after 15 years of follow up. Conclusion: CTEPH is a rare but severe complication of KTS. Careful monitoring of patients with KTS in a multidisciplinary setting is thus appropriate.


The Election Commission of India (ECI) as per Article 324(1) of the Constitution of India has been vested with the power of superintendence, direction and conduct of all elections for the Parliament; State Legislatures and elections for the offices of the President and Vice-President. It had recently issued the Broad Guidelines for Conduct of General/Bye Elections during COVID-19. These Guidelines looked impressive to read but to implement them remained a difficult task; a lot depended on how the Election Commission, State administration including the police and health personnel conducted and fulfilled their due responsibilities. Their co-operation in a synchronized way has resulted in a successful exercise of conducting election in a difficult time and fulfilling a necessary prerequisite for a democratic government enshrined in our Constitution.


How can we break down the psychological boundaries which impede people from engaging in the issue of climate change? This paper is focused on the opportunities afforded by the practice of data manifestation; the communication of quantitative information through objects, installations, and sensory experiences. Through an analysis of two data manifestation projects, a series of techniques are presented which address the boundaries that separate people from global climate change in the areas of scale, geography, time, and environmental philosophy. These projects convert data to a human (versus global) scale, transport data from far off lands into our spaces, bring the future consequences of climate change into our present, and disrupt the philosophical separation between the human and non-human world. Data manifestation is further considered in the context of the relevant psychology literature focused on psychological distance.


This article considers possible ways to reduce the time of air space survey by an onboard radar station in comparison with the known «classical» methods. The main direction of the proposals is related to the division of the entire sector of the airspace survey into severalrange zones. The division of the survey sector into three zones in accordance with the classification of the range of air-to-air missiles is justified. The calculation of the time of review of a given area of airspace for the proposed methods and comparison with the time of review of a similar zone with a needle beam, which showed the possibility of reducing the review time to two times, mainly when viewing the near and middle zones.The possibility of using different beams for radiating and receiving signals is considered.


The DC power flow model is in widespread utilization in electricity-market applications and contingency analysis. The presented versions of this model can be classified into two categories: state-dependent, or Hot-Start, models and state-independent, or Cold-Start, models. A reasonable accuracy is reported in the literature regarding Hot-Start models as they take into account branch losses and bus voltages by using available base point. On the contrary, due to the absence of base point in Cold-Start models, branch losses must be either neglected or guessed (which is an uncertain precautionary measure), or evaluated by a cumbersome iteration process. In addition, the bus voltage profiles are inevitably considered to be flat. Hence, the accuracy of available Cold-Start models in different circumstances remains of great concern. This paper addresses this concern and unveils a new Cold-Start model that does not rely on a risky assumption. In other words, there will be no lossless or flat voltage profile assumption in the presented approach whereas the equations remain linear. Besides, the exact effect of the net reactive loads on phase angles is considered and, consequently, the reactive power balance equations are reflected in the model for the first time.


This essay situates the problem of twenty-first-century work in the global South—specifically, in South Africa—to challenge northern theories of the crisis of work. Addressing the break between Fordism and post-Fordism peculiar to the postcolonial context, it argues that new regimes of work should be understood in relation both to longer histories of colonial resistance to proletarianization (to the racisms of the shop floor) and to colonial Fordisms, as well as to the way these two factors inform the current expansion of informal employment. What practices and forms of life emerge from the precarity of informal economies and informal settlements? How are precarious modes of life connected to and informed by the steady dematerialization of the economy through financialization?


In the presence of multiscale dynamics in a reaction network, direct simulation methods become inefficient as they can only advance the system on the smallest scale. This work presents stochastic averaging techniques to accelerate computations for obtaining estimates of expected values and sensitivities with respect to the steady state distribution. A two-time-scale formulation is used to establish bounds on the bias induced by the averaging method. Further, this formulation provides a framework to create an accelerated "averaged" version of most single-scale sensitivity estimation methods. In particular, we propose the use of a centered ergodic likelihood ratio method for steady state estimation and show how one can adapt it to accelerated simulations of multiscale systems. Finally, we develop an adaptive "batch-means" stopping rule for determining when to terminate the micro-equilibration process.


looking back over the period following the Second World War, we have seen Japan attain the status of a world economic power, going through five phases of adaptation to become a formidable competitor in various product areas. These phases are: Large-scale absorption of technology imported from the United States and Europe A productivity drive of hitherto unseen dimensions A country-wide quality improvement programme A great degree of manufacturing flexibility Multinationality After successfully assimilating foreign technology and then achieving very high productivity and top quality, Japanese industries are now focusing on flexible manufacturing technologies. This means having the capability to adapt manufacturing in very short time to changing customer and market requirements. The key words are mechanisation, automation, robotisation and related systems. The world is going through a period of transition from fragmented markets to a more or less global one. Doing business in such an environment calls for unique characteristics of multinationality. To survive in highly competitive world, it is imperative for multinationals to acquire the finesse which will enable them to be identified with and integrate into the business environment or country in which business is being done. However, successful Japanese companies have been up until now, the real challenge they continue to face lies in becoming truly multinational. After this short historical introduction we can realise that together with the other some thousands of the studies in this topic, it is easy to discuss on Japanese management systems generally but that moment when we would try to find some indicators to evaluate the productivity of this KAIZEN based management systems or to compare them with the so called 'Western' system we must face the difficulties of the same. These problems originated from the differences between the cultural orientation and social value systems. The traditional appraisal system of the well-known financial indicators is not used at a great extent in our days on the field of corporate planning and evaluation but the majority of the significant firms try to introduce some kind of 'balanced score card' or 'performance prism' evaluation system. As we try to apply these up-to-date methods to a KAIZEN system the task will even be more difficult. Of course, our small researchig group – and in it's framework this study – should not undertake to try to evalute the so called 'original KAIZEN systems' owned, managed and developed in the 'authentic Japanese environment' but what we would try to do is to draw the attention of Hungarian small and medium size enterprises the advantages of applying KAIZEN elements in their work.


BACKGROUND
NSAID intolerance is not uncommon. Etoricoxib, a cox-2 inhibitor NSAID, has been shown to be a safe alternative in these patients. This study aims to determine the rate of NSAID intolerant patients who are able to tolerate etoricoxib without adverse reactions.

METHODS
This study analyzed charts and electronic databases of all patients referred to the allergy clinics of the National University Hospital and Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore from 2006-2011 for oral provocation tests to etoricoxib (cumulative dose of 120 mg), on the background of NSAID intolerance. Demographics, atopic comorbidities, history of chronic urticaria, inciting NSAID, onset and type of reaction, and provocation test outcomes were obtained.

RESULTS
A total of 74 patients (mean age 37; range: 16-72 years) underwent provocation tests to etoricoxib. Of these, 59% were female. Majority were Chinese (69%), followed by Malay (12%), Caucasian (8%), Indian (5%) and various other races (6%). Forty-six percent of the study population had atopic comorbidities, and 4% had concomitant chronic urticaria. Eighty percent of patients had a history of intolerance to 1 NSAID, while the rest (20%) had intolerance to multiple NSAIDS. Forty-one percent of patients had concomitant acetaminophen intolerance. Some of the patients had multiple symptoms on presentation, the most common of which were periorbital and facial edema (90%), breathing difficulties (26%) and urticaria (25%), with the onset of reaction occurring mostly within 30 minutes to 1 hour. Etoricoxib was tolerated in 95% of the patients. Subjects who reacted to the challenge all had mild reactions which resolved with antihistamines.

CONCLUSIONS
Etoricoxib is a safe alternative in NSAID intolerant patients. Nevertheless, it is advised that patients should undergo provocation tests to confirm tolerance.


Sequence comparison of Hoxd-13 among vertebrates revealed the presence of taxon-specific polyalanine tracts in amniotes. To investigate their function at the organismal level, we replaced the wild-type Hoxd-13 gene with one lacking the 15-residue polyalanine tract by using homologous recombination. Sesamoid bone formation in knock-in mice was different from that in the wild type; this was observed not only in the homozygotes but also in the heterozygotes. The present study provides the first direct evidence that taxon-specific homopolymeric amino acid repeats are involved in phenotypic diversification at the organismal level.


Gateway link is essential to connect HAPS platform to terrestrial based networks. This crucial link is incorporated in HAPS fixed service spectrum allocation in considerably high frequencies, renders the link for more attenuations by atmospheric gases, and rain effects, especially when the regional climate is not favorable. However, under the agenda item 1.20 of World Radio Conference-2012 (WRC-12) new HAPS allocation in the 5850-7075 MHz band is proposed. Although spectrum features are incomparably reliable, on the contrary, Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) uplink transmissions will have signal levels much higher than those in HAPS systems and have the potential for causing interference at the HAPS gateway receiver. In this article a key aspect of co-channel interference phenomena is investigated to facilitate optimum frequency sharing in the band in question. By proposing mitigation techniques and statistical method this generic prediction model enhances the capability of the HAPS spectrum sharing and provides flexibility in spectrum planning for different fixed services


Guided waves find their niche in cost‐effective damage identification in comparison with conventional nondestructive evaluation. Comprehensive research has been conducted since the 1980s, focusing on the detection of a wide variety of types of damage in metallic and composite structures. The main scope of this paper is to present a review of state‐of‐the‐art guided wave‐based approaches for damage identification in pipeline structures. Theoretical analyses of the interaction between linear and nonlinear guided waves and damage are addressed in detail. Numerical simulations and experimental studies of damage identification in pipeline structures using both linear and nonlinear guided waves are elaborated. Other issues including bends in pipes, effects of environmental and operational conditions on the performance of guided waves are another focus of this review. Future challenge in this field is summarised at the end of this review.


Let $T$ be a locally finite tree without vertices of degree $1$. We show that among the closed subgroups of $\text{Aut}(T)$ acting with a bounded number of orbits, the Chabauty-closure of the set of topologically simple groups is the set of groups without proper open subgroup of finite index. Moreover, if all vertices of $T$ have degree ${\geqslant}3$, then the set of isomorphism classes of topologically simple closed subgroups of $\text{Aut}(T)$ acting doubly transitively on $\unicode[STIX]{x2202}T$ carries a natural compact Hausdorff topology inherited from Chabauty. Some of our considerations are valid in the context of automorphism groups of locally finite connected graphs. Applications to Weyl-transitive automorphism groups of buildings are also presented.


Traditional multivariate quality control charts assume that quality characteristics follow a multivariate normal distribution. However, in many industrial applications the process distribution is not known, implying the need to construct a flexible control chart appropriate for real applications. A promising approach is to use support vector machines in statistical process control. This paper focuses on the application of the 'kernel‐distance‐based multivariate control chart', also known as the 'k‐chart', to a real industrial process, and its assessment by comparing it to Hotelling's T2 control chart, based on the number of out‐of‐control observations and on the Average Run Length. The industrial application showed that the k‐chart is sensitive to small shifts in mean vector and outperforms the T2 control chart in terms of Average Run Length. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


This article introduces and discusses issues in the design of user interfaces for visually impaired people in the domain of virtual communities. We begin by pointing out that collaborative virtual environments provide additional means for visually impaired people which may help to accomplish a better integration into existing communities and social activities. We give a short introduction to the way visually impaired people usually work with a PC and show how their method of information access differs to sighted people. We then take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of existing adaptations to operating systems. Based on this analysis we describe some requirements for user interfaces the usability for visually impaired people without losing the attractiveness and intuitiveness for the sighted. We finally describe a prototype of a special IRC-Client, called BIRC, and discuss its advantages and limitations.


It is hard to fathom how much surgery has changed since the first issue of this journal in 1913. Many operations that were common then, and even a few years ago, are now rarely, if ever, performed. Complication rates have plummeted. Improvements in medicine and drug therapy have reduced the need for certain operations, such as peptic ulcer surgery, and technological improvements have altered the conduct of operations. The great surgeon and writer Richard Selzer has written of the 'Fellowship of the Knife', to which all surgeons belong1. This fellowship is arguably less apparent than it once was, as surgical specialization has diluted the sense of belonging. An ear surgeon and foot surgeon might feel as much connection to each other as their anatomical specialties. Yet, beyond the obvious differences in specialization, much still binds surgeons of all stripes. The Spanish poet Gabriel Garcia Lorca referred to the knife as a 'fish without scales' that penetrates deep into the flesh2. In his play, Blood Wedding, the knife is an ominous presence, an instrument of death. For surgeons, the knife serves to save, prolong or improve the quality of life. Mastery of the instrument is common to all surgeons. As essential as knowing how to use the knife is knowing when to wield it at all, deciding when to operate or when to let a more experienced surgeon operate. These are decisions with ethical implications, as they carry risks of harm to the patient. Trainees require an awareness of the limits of their competence, and trainers a 'feel' for when a particular trainee is ready to operate. The slim volume Good Surgical Practice, published by the Royal College of Surgeons, is a repository of ethical guidance, but it can too easily end up on a high shelf, gathering dust. It should be read through at least once a year3. Following its precepts should avoid unwelcome invitations to meet with a disciplinary panel. The booklet begins by stressing the critical importance of 'safe, timely and competent' surgery. Without sound technical knowledge, an operation can be neither safe nor competent. Learning from others in theatre, practising surgical techniques, attending courses, and keeping up-to-date with surgical developments in journals and conferences are not merely requirements to satisfy an end-of-year review. They fall under the twin ethical obligations to benefit patients (beneficence) and not to cause them net harm (nonmaleficence). Good Surgical Practice insists that surgeons recognize when they are unfit to work through 'fatigue or illness'. Even with the advent of the European Working Time Directive, some surgeons, through volunteering to fill gaps in the rota, work unsafe hours. Common sense alone dictates that a tired surgeon, however awake he or she may feel, poses a greater risk to patients than a fresh one. Lorca's perilous fish becomes harder to tame when its master is tired. Surgeons should heed the lessons of the airline industry, which has learnt about the perils of fatigued pilots after several fatal crashes. Airlines now have strictly regulated working hours for pilots. Neither a sense of team loyalty nor the carrots of extra pay and operative experience should distract trainee surgeons from their primary moral duty: the safety and well-being of the patient. All surgeons are tied together by the omnipresent risk of causing severe harm to the patient or, worse, losing the patient altogether. It is the fearful spectre in every operating theatre. If surgeons adhered too closely to the aphorism 'first, do no harm' (primum non nocere), they would never operate. More so than their colleagues in other specialties, surgeons often deliberately inflict harm in order to benefit the patient. Opening the belly or sawing open the skull invariably causes harm. Unpleasant side-effects are common. A more accurate though less catchy aphorism would be 'above all, do not harm more than succour' (primum non plus nocere quam succurrere)4. Thus, surgeons should balance likely harms with likely benefits. These are not only medical harms and benefits. Non-medical factors, such as quality of life, should be explored with the patient. This is a requirement of another key ethical principle: respect for patient autonomy. Balancing risks and benefits is particularly challenging with new surgical techniques, such as neurostimulation and laryngeal transplantation. The long-term risks are unclear. If the patient has capacity, high-quality consent is necessary. Any pressure to perform the procedure, perhaps arising from the prestige it will confer to the surgeon or institution, should not interfere with the surgical team's


The article enriches the discussion on the legal reasons and conditions fostering the viability of democratic constitutions by analyzing the rich experience of the Russian Constitution of 1993. Particular attention is paid to the concept of countermajoritarian institutions. The authors elaborate the idea that countermajoritarian institutions can play an important role in ensuring the viability (put in other terms, the proper balance between stability, adaptability, and dynamic development) of modern democratic constitutions as well as political regimes. The article presents evidence-based data showing that the President and the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation systematically acted as countermajoritarian institutions at the initial stage of the implementation of the "blueprint for the future" set down in the 1993 Russian Constitution. As a result of the activities of these institutions, strong legal frameworks were created that are necessary for the establishment of anew constitutional system of the Russian state and law. Today, the Russian Constitution of 1993 is one of the longest lasting democratic constitutions in the world (the average "life expectancy" of democratic constitutions adopted over the past 250 years is about seventeen years). The study of the countermajoritarian provisions in the 1993 Russian Constitution is of both theoretical and practical importance. In particular, the results of the study can be useful in creating efficient legal instruments for the maintenance of political stability and social development management both within sovereign states and within interstate communities.


A p-Ge laser at 170-200 /spl mu/m wavelengths in Voigt configuration using a regular permanent magnet is reported. Results are compared with those obtained using a Faraday-configured superconducting magnet. Emission is observed over a wider range of electric-field magnitude in Voigt configuration at a given magnetic field. Time-resolved emission studies reveal unusual pulse dynamics which depend on the magnitude and duration of the applied electric field. Spectral content, Gaussian-beam profiles, and polarization are essentially independent of these temporal effects. A significant repetition-rate increase is found using copper heat sinks. An increased emission-pulse delay with increasing initial-sample temperature and the temperature independence of the emission quench time are both explained by Joule heating of the laser medium. Lasing persists above 10 K, raising the possibility of a practical p-Ge laser without need for liquid helium as a coolant.


The main subject of the paper is the theory of accounting measurement as observed in its historical development. More notably, the research concerns theoretical concepts of such discipline, as developed by the Italian doctrine in a very specific age, that is, between the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, i.e. from the theorization of the "exchange value rule" to the theorization of the "historical cost principle". As it was impossible to examine the thought of the many scholars who gave their contribution, each one in his own way, to the development of this subject, we deemed it appropriate to focus our attention on those scholars who left their mark on the accounting history in the analyzed period. We will mention in particular such scholars as Francesco Villa, Giovanni Rossi, Fabio Besta, Gino Zappa, the latter seen in the early stage of his thinking. The analysis of the different theories devised by the above-mentioned masters, which cannot but be conducted within the limited length of this paper, led us to identify three logical steps in the evolution of the theories that have been developed on the subject in the considered phase. The results of the study can be summarized in the following considerations. In the second half of the nineteenth century, some of the best accounting experts, faced with the need to properly develop the problem of accounting measurement, thought it appropriate to rely on concepts that belonged to similar sciences, such as economics and real estate appraisal discipline, by blindly borrowing the theory of value from the former and the theory of valuation from the latter. During such age, everything hinged around the concept of "exchange value". At the dawn of the last century, the scholars' attitude tended to become more critical. Doctrine in particular began to wonder about a subject that was crucial to the theory of accounting measurement, notably the informative purposes from which such theory takes inspiration. At the same time, a first principle took shape, which is still the basis of the theory of accounting measurement, which might be called the finalistic principle of value, which lays down that different measurement criteria must be applied to different informative purposes. An alternative criterion to that of the "exchange value" thus makes its appearance on the scene of the accounting measurement, notably, the historical cost principle. With its introduction and above all with the relinquishment of the combination of economic cost that had been initially accepted by the doctrine and the later transition to the combination of manufacturing cost, the accounting world managed to get rid, once and for all, of economic and valuative assumptions, thus becoming independent in its accounting measurements. This is mainly due to the scholars' ability to learn precious lessons from the observation of the accounting scene of the time.


Traffic signalization is the basic way of communication between the road and the road user. Different groups of signs and labels comprise a complex information system based on regulations, different standards and norms. Since traffic information can be transmitted textually and graphically, it can be said that the basic characteristic of modern traffic signalization is the combination of graphic symbols and inscriptions. Different graphic symbols and inscriptions are incorporated into a unique visual communication system, which one of the main tasks is to provide users with safe movement on the network of roads and streets, and that the users know where they are and where to find their destination, in every moment. The focus of this paper is focused on the part of the traffic signalization that deals with graphic symbols - pictograms. Pictograms are graphically designed objects or items that are needed to more closely explain the indicated message. In traffic engineering, the use of pictograms is most significant in the area of road signage or tourist signalization, which in some way initiated the revision and extension of existing normative references used in their design and construction. The paper will present the current changes in the field of standardization of graphic symbols for general use on the international and national level, with the main goal is to familiarize the professional public with new possibilities and solutions in this field, as well as problems of domestic engineering practice in the use of these graphic code elements.


Evidence for the often-posited negative relation between ethnic diversity and various measures of social capital is burdened by difficulties measuring the levels of aggregation at which the indicators operate, the common use of cross-sectional data, and by the common omission of macro-level variables that plausibly confound the relation between ethnic diversity and social capital. To overcome these problems, this article studies social capital in Germany. Germany has a sizeable immigrant population and a considerable within-country variation in the extent to which government institutions and the labour market function. Districts also have different democratic histories. To explore to what extent social capital can be explained by ethnic diversity and institutional characteristics of districts in Germany, we combine data from the German Socioeconomic Panel, with relevant macro-level characteristics at the level of districts ('Kreise'). We use three-level multilevel regression analyses to study the 2003 data, and individual fixed effects panel regressions to study the consequences of changes between 2003 and 2008. Our findings indicate that ethnic diversity in districts has a negative effect on political participation. We find no evidence that ethnic diversity is related to other forms of social capital.


Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer and ubiquitous environmental contaminant. The potential health hazards, including teratogenicity, from exposure to DEHP may be related to the role of DEHP or its metabolites in the trans-activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Fetal essential fatty acid (EFA) homeostasis is controlled by directional transfer across the placenta through a highly regulated process, including PPAR activation. Using HRP-1 rat trophoblastic cells, the effects of DEHP and two of its metabolites, mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (MEHP) and 2-ethylhexanoic acid (EHA), on the mRNA and protein expression of the three known PPAR isoforms (alpha, beta, and gamma), fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1), plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm), and the heart cytoplasmic fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) were investigated. This study also investigated the functional effects of exposure on the uptake and transport of six long chain fatty acids (LCFAs): arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), oleic acid (OA), and stearic acid (SA). In the presence of DEHP, MEHP, and EHA, the expression of PPARalpha, PPARgamma, FATP1, and HFABP were up-regulated in a dose- and time- dependent manner, while PPARbeta and FABPpm demonstrated variable expression. The uptake rates of EFAs (AA, DHA, LA, ALA) increased significantly upon exposure, and the transport of AA (omega-6) and DHA (omega-3) were directionally induced. These results suggest that DEHP, MEHP, and EHA can influence EFA transfer across HRP-1 cells, implying that these compounds may alter placental EFA homeostasis and potentially result in abnormal fetal development.


This paper investigates eight suspension design factors used to support non-driven axles and their impact on suspension strain field. The particular suspensions are of a trailing arm and air spring design. These auxiliary suspensions are commonly added to give extra weight carrying capacity to medium and heavy commercial vehicles. Eight design factors were studied. From the investigation, the main factors and seven two-way interactions were ranked by their effect on the strain in the axle according to strain gage location and road test type. \ Two approaches were taken to study the impact of the design factors. The first approach was to develop computer code to model a two-degree of freedom (2DOF) bi-linear system. The design factors of the suspension that can be modeled in the simplified 2DOF system were input into the computer code using a full factorial design of experiment. The mathematical model uses road displacement input to predict the motions of the axle mass and the trailer mass, which is then converted into strain in the axle. The second approach was to lay strain gages on the axle and collect strain data while the vehicle is in motion. A fractional factorial design of experiment was used to decide which factors of the suspension design or combinations of factors had an effect on the strain field in the axle.


The use of an atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP-MALDI) source was employed with an atmospheric pressure ion mobility spectrometer (APIMS) and an orthogonal acceleration reflector time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) to analyze dipeptide and biogenic amine mixtures from a liquid glycerol 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix. Improved sensitivities were obtained by the addition of a localized electrical (corona) discharge in conjunction with the AP-MALDI source. Enhanced sample ionization efficiency created by this combination provided an overall elevation in signal intensity of approximately 1.3 orders in magnitude. Combinations of three dipeptides (Gly-Lys, Ala-Lys, and Val-Lys) and nine biogenic amines (dopamine, serotonin, B-phenylethylamine, tyramine, octopamine, histamine, tryptamine, spermidine, and spermine) were resolved in less than 18 ms. In many cases, reduced mobility constants (K(o)) were determined for these analytes for the first time. Ion mobility drift times, flight times, arbitrary signal intensities, and collision-induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation product signatures are reported for each of the samples.


The clinical and pathological features of 47 cases of multiple system atrophy (MSA) were analyzed. The mean age of onset was 56.7 (range 40 to approximately 76) years and mean survival was 5.7 (range 1.5 to approximately 12) years. Parkinsonism occurred in 31 cases. Helpful early points to the diagnosis included rigid-akinetic type, rapid progression, failure to respond to L-DOPA and other signs such as autoromic dysfunction, cerebellar ataxia and pyramidal signs, but these were not always present. T2 weighted MR images demonstrated decreased signal in the putamen and/or slit-hyperintensity in the outer margin of the putamen. These clinical and MRI findings are useful in the differential diagnosis between Parkinson's disease and MSA. Glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) were found in all 21 cases, but not in control brains. Several types of neuroral inclusion were also observed; large neuroral cytoplasmic, small neuroral cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions. GCIs were labeled by antiubiquitin, anti-alpha and beta-tubulin and antitau antibodies. Large neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) observed in the pontine nuclei were positive with only antiubiquitin antibody.


Massively parallel computers have been used to perform first principles spin dynamics (SD) simulations of the magnetic structure of /spl gamma/-FeMn (iron-manganese). The code uses a novel parallel approach to solve the Kohn-Sham equations obtained from density functional theory (DFT). This approach uses limited local communications avoiding the large global communications found in other DFT based methods. This allows our code to scale efficiently to very large processor counts and large system sizes. Computationally our method can be implemented using mainly BLAS3 routines which typically run at a very high percentage of peak speed on most computers. Our large scale quantum mechanical simulations using this method reveal new details of the orientational configuration of the magnetic moments of /spl gamma/-FeMn that are unobtainable by any other means. The understanding of the magnetic structure of /spl gamma/-FeMn is important in exchange bias, which involves the use of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer such as FeMn to pin the orientation of the magnetic moment of a proximate ferromagnetic (FM). Exchange bias is of fundamental importance in magnetic multilayer storage and read head devices. Here the equation of motion of first principles SD is used to perform relaxations of model magnetic structures to the true ground (equilibrium) state. Our code has achieved a maximum execution rate of 2.46 teraflops on the IBM SP at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) and 4.65 teraflops on the HP-Compaq machine at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC).


Deep-brain stimulation is currently the most effective surgical treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease. The relevant targets to date are the subthalamic nucleus and the globus pallidus internus, although the thalamus (ventralis intermedius nucleus) is preferred in tremor-dominant, aged Parkinson's disease patients. Long-term benefit in cardinal parkinsonian signs, motor fluctuations and dyskinesia has been reported in 5-year follow-up studies of subthalamic nucleus deep-brain stimulation. However, some psychiatric consequences have raised important issues and emphasized the need for an experienced deep-brain stimulation surgical team. This team should be multidisciplinary and involve movement disorder neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and psychiatrists. The recent observation that deep-brain stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus improves axial signs, possibly even in those less responsive to levodopa, brings new hope to the management of advanced Parkinson's disease.


Inter-School Collaborative Learning (ISCL) is a teaching method wherein pupils collaborate with pupils in other schools by using various online and offline communication tools. The instructional design model for ISCL was developed, which is based on an analysis of teachers' curriculum design and the communication process among pupils. For evaluating the ID model, three types of worksheets were developed: the planning worksheets, the reflection worksheets and the feedback worksheets which teachers used to consider learning objectives and the learning process based on the ID model for ISCL. In an experimental study, after 24 teachers used the worksheets to conduct their own ISCL plans, they confirmed the validity of the framework model and said that the procedure model had helped them to design their plans.


Chorismate synthase (EC 126.96.36.199) binds oxidized riboflavin-5'-phosphate mononucleotide (FMN) with a KD of 30 microM at 25 degrees C, but in the presence of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP), the KD decreases to ca. 20 nM. Similar effects occur with the substrate analogue (6R)-6-fluoro-EPSP (KD = 36 nM) and chorismate (KD = 540 nM). Fluorescence of oxidized FMN is slightly quenched in the presence of chorismate synthase. Addition of EPSP or the (6R)-6-fluoro analogue causes a shift of the fluorescence from 520 to 495 nm. Chorismate causes no shift in, but a quenching of, the fluorescence emission maximum. In the presence of EPSP, (6R)-6-fluoro-EPSP, or chorismate, the neutral flavinsemiquinone is generated. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) line width of the flavin radical is indicative of a neutral flavinsemiquinone. Frozen solution electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) of the radical with (6R)-6-fluoro-EPSP shows a number of proton ENDOR line pairs. The largest splitting is assigned to a hyperfine coupling to the methyl group beta-protons at position 8 of the isoalloxazine ring. The hyperfine-coupling (hfc) components have values of A perpendicular = 8.07 MHz and A parallel = 9.60 MHz, giving Aiso of 8.58 MHz, consistent with a neutral semiquinone form. The isotropic hfc coupling of the 8-methyl protons with (6R)-6-fluoro-EPSP decreases by about 0.5 MHz when chorismate is bound, indicating that the spin density distribution within the isoalloxazine ring system depends critically on the nature of the ligand. The redox potential of FMN in the presence of chorismate synthase was 95 mV more positive than that of free FMN (at pH 7.0), equivalent to a 1660-fold tighter binding of reduced FMN. The pH dependence of the redox potential of chorismate synthase-bound FMN exhibits a slope of -30 mV per pH unit between pH 6 and 9, indicating that the two-electron reduction of the flavin is associated with the uptake of one proton; this, and the UV-visible spectrum, is consistent with the reduced flavin being bound to chorismate synthase in its monoanionic form.


This project gave me the ability to combine the two different types of Senior Honors Projects, the research-based thesis paper and the creative endeavor. I started out doing research into the company New Detroit Resto-Mods, a local small business that specializes in the restoration of American muscle cars. I also performed research in the automotive restoration industry and the environment around the company. The creative aspect started when I began helping develop things that would aid the company in growing from a relatively small business based on a love and enthusiasm for classic American muscle into what has the potential to be a larger business that is able to serve a variety of customers.


Translanguaging, an umbrella term used to refer to pedagogical approaches that engage the learners' home languages as a resource, is praised for positive outcomes when its techniques are employed in teaching and learning in multilingual settings. This article examines the effects of translanguaging on learners' ability to reorganise texts after reading texts in isiXhosa as the learners' home language, and English as their first additional language. The study adopted a Solomon four-group quasi-experimental design in which there were four groups of participants, viz. two experimental groups and two control groups. Four Grade 4 rural schools comprising 215 learners aged between 9 and 12 years participated in the study. The results showed a positive correlation between the translanguaging techniques employed and learner performance in the ability to write summaries. However, learner performance improved less in English than it did in the home language. The study demonstrates that substantial gains can be obtained in reading development in elementary grades when translanguaging techniques are exploited. It, therefore, attempts to provide alternative means to address concerns about substandard reading abilities of African learners at elementary grades in South Africa.


Limonium Mill. plants are typical recretohalophytes, as they withstand salt stress by secreting excess salt onto the leaf surface through salt glands. However, it's known little on the salinity thresholds of these plants and function of their salt glands in salt tolerance. Here, we investigated the salinity thresholds of salt tolerance of Limonium species L. aureum (Linn.) Hill, L. gmelinii (Willd.) Kuntze, L. otolepis (Schrenk) Kuntze, and L. sinuatum (L.) Mill under various concentrations of NaCl. The salinity thresholds of L. otolepis, L. aureum, L. sinuatum, and L. gmelinii were 300, 350, 400, and 420 mM NaCl, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that total dry weight, chlorophyll content, and intercellular CO2 concentration were highly positively correlated with the total fresh weights of all four Limonium species and could therefore be used as indicators of plant salt tolerance. Furthermore, as the salt gland density on the leaf surface increased, the rate of salt secretion per salt gland increased, allowing more Na+ to be secreted from the plant. Redundancy discriminant analysis indicated that salt gland density, Na+ content, and Na+ secretion rate per salt gland were positively correlated with salt concentration. These observations support the notion that salt glands play important roles in the adaptation of Limonium species to high-salinity conditions.


The article aims to examine the peculiarities of the financial mechanism of the transboundary natural resources management, which is very diversified all over the world and comprises: trust funds, ongoing revolving funds, public-private partnerships, public funding in member countries. Promoting the transboundary cooperation of natural resources management is characterized with frequent underfunding and resolving its mechanisms is not sufficient. The lack of transboundary management funding is reflected by weak results of institutional development of the transboundary regions in their entirity. The process of funding of the transboundary natural resources management should consist of four major steps to promote the development of the transboundary institutional mechanisms: the initiation process, institutional mechanism, program realization and investments within the common management of the transboundary natural resources. The article defines the following principles of the financial mechanism for transboundary natural resources management: the principle of the annual contribution of each member country to the Euroregion budget, the polluter-pays principle, the principle of fund receiving for the provision of services. On the grounds of the analysis of foreign experiences we offer two ways of creating specific funds to support the transboundary water resources management, such as: special financing fund and basin trust fund. The effective managing of the transboundary natural resources demands the presence of the local goverment institutions which may aid the cooperation between countries and realization of the common strategy and managing policy. The proper funding of the transboundary cooperation mechanisms and transboundary institutions, which manage these resources, should be performed steadily. Especially funding the creation and maintainance of the institutional mechanisms, building a potential, developing legal frameworks, managing (including monitoring of the data exchange and evaluation), and supporting the realization of common programs of optimalization of fair use of and protection of common transboundary natural resources. All the traditional and innovative financial mechanisms should be treated as options for balanced funding of the transboundary management institutions in order to promote the common transboundary management of natural resources and support implementing the regionally coordinated policy.


The breeding behaviour of male grey seals Halichoerus grypus of known age and weight was studied on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Branded males ranged in age from 8 to 16 years and although there was a positive relationship between age and weight, there was a large overlap between age classes. In general, there was an increase in length of tenure and rates of copulation with increasing male age but this was less marked among males between the ages of 13 and 16 years. Compared to older ones, males of 8 and 12 years were observed at more sites, travelled more extensively around the breeding colony, were transient more frequently and were unable to lie as close to females. There was no correlation between male body weight and either length of tenure or rates of copulation when males of age 8 (the smallest males) were excluded from the analysis. Most agonistic behaviour was made by larger, older males towards smaller, younger ones and appeared to be responsible for the short length of tenure and low reproductive rates of young bulls.


The first observation of the decay B0 -> D0bar K+ K- is reported from an analysis of 0.62 fb-1 of pp collision data collected with the LHCb detector. Its branching fraction is measured relative to that of the topologically similar decay B0 -> D0bar pi+ pi- to be BR(B0 -> D0bar K+ K-)/BR(B0 -> D0bar pi+ pi-) = 0.056+-0.011+-0.007, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The significance of the signal is 5.8 sigma. Evidence, with 3.8 sigma significance, for Bs -> D0bar K+ K- decays is also presented, with a relative branching fraction of BR(Bs -> D0bar K+ K-)/BR(B0 -> D0bar K+ K-) = 0.90+-0.27+-0.20.


In vivo and in vitro trials were conducted to test the efficacy of four aluminosilicates (AS) (Ethacal feed component, Novasil, Perlite, and Zeobrite) to sorb aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and alleviate aflatoxicosis in broiler chicks. Percentage sorption capacity of AS to radiolabeled AFB1 dissolved in methanol varied from 2 to 60%, whereas percentage sorption in intestinal contents varied from 0 to 40.0% according to type of AS tested. Intestinal contents alone sorbed 42% radiolabeled AFB1. Novasil and Zeobrite exhibited the highest rates of sorption (55 and 60%, respectively) in methanol. An in vivo study compared the four types of AS in combination with 0 or 2.5 ppm AFB1 fed to day-old chicks (two pens of six chicks per treatment) to 3 wk of age. Diet effects on body weight, liver lipid, bone ash, and serum Ca, P, Na, K, and Cl were measured. The AFB1 significantly decreased 2- and 3-wk body weight, and a significant interaction effect of AS and AFB1 on bird weight occurred at 2 and 3 wk of age. Three of the four AS tested alleviated the growth depression caused by AFB1. Liver lipids percentage was increased in the AFB1-treated chicks, but this effect was suppressed by three of the AS. Bone ash was not affected by AFB1 and was increased by Novasil and decreased by Ethacal. Ethacal, Novasil, Perlite, and Zeobrite all tended to decrease serum Cl, regardless of AFB1 treatment.


The dimensionless parameter ξ = M π/(16π F 2 π), whereFπ is the pion decay constant and Mπ is the pion mass, is expected to control the convergence of chiral p erturbation theory applicable to QCD. Here we demonstrate that a strongly coupled lattice gauge theory mo del with the same symmetries as two-flavor QCD but with a much lighterσ-resonance is different. Our model allows us to study efficie ntly the convergence of chiral perturbation theory as a function of ξ. We first confirm that the leading low energy constants appear ing in the chiral Lagrangian are the same when calculated from the p-regime and theǫ-regime as expected. However, ξ . 0.002 is necessary before 1-loop chiral perturbation theory pred icts the data within 1%. For ξ > 0.0035 the data begin to deviate dramatically from 1-loop chiral pe rturbation theory predictions. We argue that this qualitative change is due to the presence of a light σ-resonance in our model. Our findings may be useful for lattice QCD studies.


In the eastern Iran including Birjand and Greater Khorasan areas, a special traditional solid pie, locally called Majoon Birjandi (MB), is frequently abused by youngsters to induce a feel of high, special, euphoria, and energy. Cannabioid ingredients of this illicit solid lozenge are confirmed by clinical findings as well as positive urinary delta-q-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) test. Because of its solid nature, it is easily smuggled and stored for a long time. Due to its localized usage in the eastern Iran, diagnosis of MB abuse is not known to toxicologists even from other parts of this country. We would like to bring to the attention of the readers the effects and cannabioid composition of this concoction and present the potential recreational ingestion root of processed cannabis for the first time.


Despite the growing list of identified SARS-CoV-2 receptors, the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is still viewed as the main cell entry receptor mediating SARS-CoV-2 internalization. It has been reported that wild-type mice, like other rodent species of the Muridae family, cannot be infected with SARS-CoV-2 due to differences in their ACE2 receptors. On the other hand, the consensus heparin-binding motif of SARS-CoV-2's spike protein, PRRAR, enables the attachment to rodent heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), including syndecans, a transmembrane HSPG family with a well-established role in clathrin- and caveolin-independent endocytosis. As mammalian syndecans possess a relatively conserved structure, we analyzed the cellular uptake of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 particles in in vitro and in vivo mice models. Cellular studies revealed efficient uptake into murine cell lines with established syndecan-4 expression. After intravenous administration, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 was taken up by several organs in vivo and could also be detected in the brain. Internalized by various tissues, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 raised tissue TNF-α levels, especially in the heart, reflecting the onset of inflammation. Our studies on in vitro and in vivo mice models thus shed light on unknown details of SARS-CoV-2 internalization and help broaden the understanding of the molecular interactions of SARS-CoV-2.


In this work a numerical iterative method for solving the nonlinear Poisson equation has been developed with the use of the diffusion-equation (parabolic) finite difference schema, to describe semiconductor hetero-structures. Procedures to control the convergence and stability of the method are presented. The approach enables us to solve the nonlinear Poisson equation in a small number of iterations, regardless of the level of hetero-structure complexity, type of electrical contacts and passive dielectric layers. Some numerical results obtained by this method for nBn Hg1-xCdxTe hetero-structure infrared detectors with metal contacts are reported.


The biometric recognition plays a significant and a unique part in the applications that are based on the personal identification. This is because of the stability, irreplaceability and the uniqueness that is found in the biometric traits of the humans. Currently the deep learning techniques that are capable of strongly generalizing and automatically learning, with the enhanced accuracy is utilized for the biometric recognition to develop an efficient biometric system. But the poor noise removal abilities and the accuracy degradation caused due to the very small disturbances has made the conventional means of the deep learning that utilizes the convolutional neural network incompatible for the biometric recognition. So the capsule neural network replaces the CNN due to its high accuracy in the recognition and the classification, due to its learning capacities and the ability to be trained with the limited number of samples compared to the CNN (convolutional neural network). The frame work put forward in the paper utilizes the capsule network with the fuzzified image enhancement for the retina based biometric recognition as it is a highly secure and reliable basis of person identification as it is layered behind the eye and cannot be counterfeited. The method was tested with the dataset of face 95 database and the CASIA-Iris-Thousand, and was found to be 99% accurate with the error rate convergence of 0.3% to .5%


This paper analyses the impact of labour unions on the merger incentives of firms. We find that a horizontal merger takes place if there is some synergy effect. However, a vertical merger takes place only if the synergy effect is bigger than a certain size.


National Cancer Center Research Institute has about 200 researchers. Most of them are engaged in studies of molecular biology. Before the introduction of Local Area Network system(LAN) , each division in our institute had their own genetic analysis system working independently. As we integrated LAN and connected it to the internet by joining TISN, we planned to make a total system for genetic analysis. Our concept was to make a system so that all researchers can use updated versions of database and analyze their data by supercomputers, easily . We thought it is hard for all researchers to use UNIX commands to perform their searches and retrievals to the database . So, our system is consisted with PC-9801 or Macintosh based system. It uses daily-updated database from NCBI to search by PC-9801 or macintosh programs. It includes gopher system to retrieve required sequence from database, and connection to mail-servers at many places to perform homology searches using supercomputers. As we are maintaining a gopher server in our institute , we are now making a gopher interface to many databases to retrieve and search data easily . We are performing many services not only to the researchers in our institute but also to the researchers outside our institute. 水島 洋 、口野 嘉幸:国 立がんセ ンター研究所 生物物理部 〒104東 京都 中央区築地5-1-1


The kinship theory of genomic imprinting predicts that imprinted genes have effects on asymmetric kin (relatives with different degrees of matrilineal and patrilineal relatedness). The most important interaction with such a relative is a child's interaction with its mother. Therefore, the study of imprinted genes and their phenotypic effects promises to provide insights into the evolution of mother–child relations. Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS) is caused by the absence of expression of genes at 15q11–q13 that are normally expressed only when paternally derived. The kinship theory predicts that children with PWS will fail to express behaviors that have increased mothers' costs of child‐rearing. Our analysis focuses on aspects of the PWS phenotype that affect appetite and feeding. Immediately after birth, children with PWS have little appetite and are usually unable to suckle, but at some stage (usually within the first 2 years) they develop a voracious appetite and an obsession with food. We conjecture that this change in appetite reflects evolutionary forces associated with weaning. Immediately after birth, when a child is completely dependent on the breast, poor appetite reduced maternal costs. However, once a child was able to consume supplemental foods, maternal costs would have been reduced by children with increased, nonfastidious appetites. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 15:320–329, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The article's goal is to assess the rate of acidification of the Black sea upper layer in XX century using historical data since 1924. It is shown that statistically significant century-scale acidification cannot be extracted, while decadal-scale reduction of pH has been really observing in 1960's and between 1980 and 2000 in spite of high noise level and intense interannual pH variability. The rate of acidification for these periods reached 0.4 (0.2) pH units per decade at the surface (10 m depth). Such high level of acidification of the Black sea upper layer is mostly due not to the rise of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, but to natural quasi-periodical decadal-scale intensification of upward motions in the subsurface layer of the Black sea transporting the water with low-pH to the surface. Rough assessment of recent century-scale rate of acidification of the surface Black sea layer shows that its likely magnitude lies in the range -0.1 to -0.5 pH units per 100 years.


A suitable vacuum pump system used in plasma or RIE‐mode dry etching of Al and Al alloys with CCl4/Cl2 enables to operate without LN2 cold traps. A Roots pump plus rotary vane pump combination, both using inert fluid lubricant, pumps and exhausts all occurring volatile products. Condensing solid AlCl3 is quantitatively removed from the backing pump sealing fluid by means of a high speed, main stream oil purification system via an Al2O3 deep bed filter. Maintenance of the pump system is limited to just changing the Al2O3 filter elements, each time after etching of 4000 4 in. wafers. No decomposition of the sealing fluid could be observed. Any fluid remaining when exchanging the filter elements can practically be recovered by centrifuging.


To commemorate the milestone of Lionel Train Company's 100th anniversary comes an updated second edition of ALL ABOARD!, the marvelous story of Joshua Lionel Cowen and the toy trains he created. Originally published in 1981, ALL ABOARD! brings back the classic electric trains for all those who remember them. The Santa Fe came in gleaming silver and shiny red. The New York Central was gray and white. World War I models carried seige guns, a 1957 engine came in pink for girls. There were Pullmans and steam locomotives, Lehigh Valley coal cars, lumber cars, and a design from 1964 that carried radioactive waste and the Mercury capsule. A&E Network named Lionel trains a "Top Ten Toy" of the century-#4 specifically. But the story of Lionel trains is far from over. Co-owned by rock star Neil Young, who bought the company because of his autistic son's love for the trains, the Lionel Train Company is stronger than ever, and is evolving with the times by employing remote control, sound chips, and other technical innovations. With 32 all-new pages and scores of colorful illustrations from the archives of Lionel catalogs, ALL ABOARD! is the definitive collector's book on the subject.


Adder circuits have many applications in addition, multiplication, division, and in address calculation. Carry Look Ahead Adder is one of the most efficient adder since it can conserve the time of propagating the carry bits. In this paper we have discussed the review of design of an Integrated Circuit(IC) layout for different bits of Carry Look Ahead Adder using full custom method with 90nm scaling. The layout will be designed by using an open source software namely Electric-9.07 VLSI EDA tool. In order to produce the layout, the basic knowledge of fabrication process and IC design rule check is necessary. The layout will undergo Design Rule Check set by the Electric VLSI tool to check for any Design Rule Error. Both layout and schematic circuit of CLA were then going to simulate through LVS (Layout Versus Schematic) to ensure they both are identical. LT Spice will be used as a simulator to carry out the simulation work and verifying the validity of the circuit function.


The Ets factor Fli1 is implicated as a key modulator of lupus disease expression. Over-expressing Fli1 in healthy mice, results in the development of an autoimmune kidney disease similar to that observed in lupus. Lowering the global levels of Fli1 in two lupus mouse models significantly improved kidney disease and prolonged survival. We recently demonstrated that lowering the global levels of Fli1 in MRL/lpr lupus mice (Fli1+/-) reduced T cell activation and IL-4 production. This was likely a result of decreased glycosphingolipid (GSL) metabolism, specifically decreased Neuraminidase1 (Neu1) expression and activity and decreased levels of the GSL lactosylceramide (LacCer) in the Fli1+/- T cells. GSLs are a heterogeneous class of lipids in the sphingolipid family that play a role in the regulation of cellular processes. Neu1 is an enzyme that mediates the GSL catabolic pathway. Here we demonstrate that MRL/lpr Fli1+/- T cells have significantly decreased: 1) levels of CXCR3 message, 2) percentage that are CXCR3+, 3) migration to the kidney and 4) renal Neu1 and LacCer levels, which we showed are significantly elevated in nephritic mice and humans with lupus. IHC staining shows that increased LacCer levels co-localize with T cells in the glomeruli. Together, our data demonstrate that reducing Fli1 levels in lupus T cells partially normalizes GSL metabolism in the kidney that is likely due in part to a reduction in T cell activation and migration to the kidney.


The purpose of this study is to adapt and pilot test a group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model which has been proven to be effective in treating depression in Puerto Rican adolescents, to treat depressive symptoms and improve glycemic control in adolescents with diabetes. Eleven adolescents aged 13-16 participated in a 12 session group CBT intervention. Indicators of outcome effects (depressive and anxious symptomatology, self-esteem, hopelessness, diabetes self-efficacy, self-care and glycemic control) were assessed pre and post therapy using self-report instruments and a measure of glycosilated hemoglobin. Depressive symptomatology, self-concept and diabetes self-efficacy significantly improved after the intervention, and reductions in anxious symptoms and hopelessness were also observed. There were no significant changes in glycemic control or self-care behaviors. The findings of this pilot study suggest that group CBT is a feasible intervention for adolescents with diabetes and depressive symptomatology. However, further research is needed in developing interventions that improve self-care and glycemic control.


Introduction/Background Many factors for recurrence have been described in patients with early cervical cancer (ECC). Lymph node involvement is considered the main prognostic factor. Different factors had been associated for risk to involvement lymph pelvic nodes and also with recurrences: FIGO stage, lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI), tumor grade and size of primary tumor. We studied different risk factors to involvement lymph pelvic node and to recurrence in our population. Methodology We retrospectively analysed 85 patients with ECC treated between 2004–2018. Inclusion criteria: patients with ECC (stage IA1–IIA). Exclusion criteria: insufficient follow-up (<6 months), not node stage evaluation and neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. No patients with stage FIGO IA had recurrences, so no included in analyse. Simple logistic regression analyses were performed, expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). P values were significance <0.05. Survival data were analysed using Kaplan-Meier-curves and log-rank-test. Results The univariate analysis revealed a relationship between tumor size and risk of recurrences (OR 8,37; 95% CI 2,24–40,8; p 0,003). No relationship was revealed with the others variables with recurrences and any variables had relationship with the risk of pelvis node metastasis. There was no statistically significant difference in disease-free survival relative to analyzed prognostic factors in ECC stages, except for tumor size (p<0,001 Log-Rank). Conclusion We don't found risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis. Only tumor size is a prognosis factor and have impact in progression-free survival. We don't found relation between other factors described previously like stage, node metastasis, LVSI and recurrences. Size is a significant and major prognostic factor in cervical cancer, regardless of the type of treatment utilized. The new FIGO staging 2018 system for cervical cancer with the inclusion of size ³ 20 mm for Stage IB2 cancers better reflects survival and overall prognosis. Disclosure Nothing to disclose. Abstract EP365 Table 1 Univariate analysis of predictive factors of pelvic nodes mestastasis Variable Ora IC 95% P Age ≤45/>45 1/1,32 0,41–4,66 0,65 B.M.I ≤25/>25 1/1,01 0,96–1,06 0,66 Tumor size <20 mm/≥20 mm 1/1,3 0,36–4,36 0,67 Lymphovascular space involvement Yes/Non 1/3,01 0,83–12,46 0,103 Abstract EP365 Table 2 Univariate analysis of predictive factors of recurrence Abstract EP365 Figure 1 Survival curves for recurrences, in patients with tumor size <20 mm and ≥20 mm


One of the main tasks of a teacher is conducting learning effective and engaging for students. To realize that is certainly a teacher should have specific strategies. Like wise with the task to create a creative article on the students. Creative article is one of the tips to train students to explore ideas and instill love to read and write. And so it should be socialized early start elementary school level. This research, used qualitative research with multicase studies and the objects in two primary schools: MIN Rejotangan and SDN 1 Rejotangan Tulungagung. As a result, creative writing strategies developed by applying the media and a variety of learning methods with regard KD being discussed. Keywords: Strategy, Creative Writing, Elementary School


Voltage disturbances in power systems are caused by various events such as faults or control actions. It is important to accurately identify them for fast remedial response and damage prevention. Recently, data mining techniques have been applied in power system research, usually from the perspective of the entire system. The analyzed data include measurements from transmission buses, substations, and other major components in the network. This big data analysis is useful and enables powerful insight but studies on small, local areas of the larger system needs to be explored further. By focusing on single components such as generators, we can provide concrete and detailed insights to individual operators. For instance, direct impact on the local area can be studied after an event - allowing for better understanding of its propagation effects throughout the entire system. This provides "zoomed-in" situational awareness on a single component and its local area, aiding in event detection and protection efforts. In this paper, we use localized data to classify generator control actions based on voltage dip information measured at generator terminals and at neighboring buses. We perform root cause analysis using the measurement data. By using single-level one dimensional wavelet decomposition and Support Vector Machine methodologies, we have developed an algorithm, Generator Control Action Classification (GCAC) that examines the voltage disturbances and classifies the cause as a certain control action at a particular bus. The method is tested on simulated data from power system simulation software, PowerWorld, and training and testing data is obtained using PowerWorld case studies. The impact of training data availability from different generators while classifying different generator control actions is also studied. Promising results of high accuracy are achieved and discussed.


Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC

Carboplatin and docetaxel are two standard chemotherapeutics used to treat ovarian cancer. Patients often exhibit resistance to single agent therapy, and dual agent therapy was developed to overcome this resistance. However, resistance still commonly occurs in dual agent therapy. It is known that specific changes in gene expression occur in single agent resistance, but it is not known whether resistance to combined chemotherapy involves novel gene expression changes or if resistance is only the sum of changes seen in single agent resistant cells.

Using the chemotherapy-naive A2780 ovarian cancer cell line, we have generated three resistant cell lines including carboplatin and docetaxel single agent resistant lines (A2780CBN, and A2780DXL respectively), and a carboplatin/docetaxel dual resistant line (A2780CBNDXL) by exposing A2780 cells to increasing concentrations of drug until a dose is reached where resistance could no longer be developed. The A2780 parent line was co-cultured alongside selection to control for gene expression changes due to continuous culture and not drug resistance. The concentration of drug at which 50% of cells die (IC50) was measured for reach resistant cell line using a clonogenic assay. Cells were cultured in varying drug concentrations and plated in methylcellulose. Colonies were counted and normalized to the no drug control. The IC50 was calculated as a 50% survival fraction plotted against the log of drug (M). The IC50 of A2780CBN is 8×10−5M, 13-fold more resistant than the parent line. The IC50 of A2780DXL is 3×10−7M, 5000-fold more resistant than the parent line. The IC50 of A2780CBNDXL is 1×10−5M for carboplatin and 1×10−8M for docetaxel, 1000-fold more resistant than the parent line. This dual resistance may be caused by a synergistic effect of carboplatin with docetaxel leading to increased sensitivity of the co-cultured control to combination treatment. Total RNA was isolated from A2780DXL and its co-cultured counterpart and hybridized to Agilent 4×44k total human genome arrays to study gene expression. Agilent Feature Extraction software was used to scan the arrays and Partek Genomics suite was used to find statistical significance. A total of 1827 gene expression changes occurred, with 1061 genes up regulated and 766 genes down regulated in the resistant line. Signal intensity differences ≥ 2-fold and P ≤ 0.01 were considered significantly changed. Up regulated genes include ABCB4 (141) and ABCB1 (34) that encode two drug transporters implicated in taxane resistance. Down regulated genes include TUBB2B (−16), a beta-tubulin encoding gene, and growth factor receptors PDGFRB (−10), and PDGFRA (−8). Microarray analysis will also be performed on the A2780CBN and A2780CBNDXL lines. Gene expression changes associated with dual drug resistance may be used to develop clinically relevant biomarkers for carboplatin/docetaxel resistance in ovarian cancer.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2559.


A numerical study has been carried out for laminar double-diffusive mixed convection in a two-dimensional vented square cavity with discrete heat and contaminant sources applied on the bottom wall. An external air flow enters the cavity through an opening located at the bottom of the left vertical wall and exits from an opening located at the three different positions of the opposite wall. The developed mathematical model is governed by the two-dimensional continuity, momentum, energy, and concentration equations. The governing equations, written in non-dimensional form are solved by using Galerkin finite element method with triangular grid discretization system. The Reynolds number is fixed at 100 and the working fluid is considered as air. Numerical simulations are carried out for different combinations of the thermal Grashof numbers and results are presented in terms of streamlines, temperature and concentration distributions. The results indicate that the average Nusselt and Sherwood numbers on the heat and contaminant sources strongly depend on the positioning of the exit opening. Keywords: double diusive mixed convection, vented cavity, finite element DOI = 10.3329/cerb.v13i1.2512 Chemical Engineering Research Bulletin 13 (2009) 17-24


The purpose of the present study was to explore the role and mechanism of extracellular ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73) in human colorectal cancer growth. Firstly, CD73 expression was detected in colorectal cancer cell lines both at the mRNA and protein levels. Secondly, recombinant CD73 interference and overexpression lentiviruses were used, respectively. Colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to investigate the impact of CD73 on colorectal cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. Then, adenosine and CD73 enzyme activity inhibitor (APCP) were used to study the effect of CD73 on Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and β-catenin/cyclin D1 signaling pathways. Finally, a human colorectal cancer transplantation nude mouse model was used to observe the effect of CD73 on tumor growth in vivo. As the results showed, CD73 was highly expressed in the colorectal cancer cell lines. CD73 promoted colorectal cancer cell proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. CD73 activated EGFR and the β-catenin/cyclin D1 signaling pathways through its enzyme and non-enzyme activities. All of the results confirmed that CD73 promotes the growth of human colorectal cancer cells through EGFR and the β-catenin/cyclin D1 signaling pathway. CD73 may be used as a valuable biomarker of colorectal cancer.


Patients with cardiovascular comorbidity are less tolerant to cardiotoxic drugs and should be treated with reduced doses to prevent cardiotoxicity. However, the safe‐equivalent dose of antitumor drugs in patients with cardiovascular disease/risk is difficult to predict because they are usually excluded from clinical trials as a result of ethical considerations. In this study, a translational quantitative system pharmacology‐pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic (QSP‐PK‐PD) model was developed based on preclinical study to predict the safe‐equivalence dose of doxorubicin in patients with or without cardiovascular disease. Virtual clinical trials were conducted to validate the translational QSP‐PK‐PD model. The model replicated several experimental and clinical observations: the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was reduced and the left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (LVEDV) was elevated in systolic dysfunction rats, the LVEF was preserved and LVEDV reduced in diastolic dysfunction rats, and patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease were more vulnerable to doxorubicin‐induced cardiac dysfunction than cardiovascular healthy patients. A parameter sensitivity analysis showed that doxorubicin‐induced cardiovascular dysfunction was mainly determined by the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes to cardiotoxic drugs and the baseline value of LVEDV, reflected in LVEF change percentage from the baseline. Blood pressure was the least sensitive factor affecting doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity.


Article history: Received on: 08/02/2017 Accepted on: 17/05/2017 Available online: 30/07/2017 Acute cerebrovascular accidents belong to leading causes of disability and death worldwide, in Ukraine in particular. Hence, proper medical-and-pharmaceutical aid is crucial for the positive outcomes. Our clinicalepidemiological analysis of inpatient medical records showed that ACVA occurred in 77.6% of male and 76.0% of female patients aged 50 and over. Cerebral infarction was diagnosed in 50.3% of patients, 44.3% – sequelae of cerebrovascular disease, and 8.7% – cerebral hemorrhage. Hypertension was the prevalent concomitant disorder, with the rate of 82.0% of cases. The content-, frequency-, ABC, ATC/DDD, DU 90% analyses, and generalization allowed establish the trends, amounts and structure of drug consumption. Among 198 of drugs, the max specific weight belonged to those effecting on cardiovascular system (29.8%). We identified 8 most frequently prescribed drugs. High rates of consumption were typical for 3 drugs. The 90% of consumed DDDs accounted for 45 drugs. Atorvastatin, Dexamethasone, and Enoxaparin were characterized by high numbers of DDDs per 100 bed-days. Consumption of antihypertensive, anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents intended for basic and specific therapy, and secondary prevention of ACVA, equaled 58.0% of the total DDDs' number. Results of the research may act as a background for rational drug prescribing for patients with ACVA.


Solid-phase chemistry is a category of analytical techniques characterized by three features: dry reagents fixed on or in an inert carrier; they are transformed into a liquid state of reactivity solely by fluid from the sample, movement of fluid in the carrier happens through capillary surface forces. A number of industrial laboratories have adapted these technologies to a majority of parameters of blood or serum respectively. The most frequently used measuring devices are new developed reflectometers; in one system (Ektachem) disposable ion selective electrodes have been newly developed in addition. The most important systems on the market are Ektachem (Kodak), Reflotron (Boehringer, Mannheim) and Seralyzer (Ames). These systems differ with respect to the construction of the reagent carriers and of the reflectometers. Solid-phase chemistry has the following advantages over the conventional analytical techniques: The sample volume is small, and the instrumentation is not complicated. The reagents are ready for use, and one system permits the use of whole blood without centrifugation. In this way it is possible to perform decentralized analyses at the patient's bedside, or in the physician's office. The disadvantages are the complete dependency of the user on the manufacturer with respect to the methodology and the quality of the reagents and instrumentation, the relative high price of the test-elements, and the limited possibility for the processing of long series. Additional problems are associated with quality control and drug interference. Nevertheless it can be expected that in the future increasing numbers of clinical chemical analyses will be performed by solid-phase chemistry, especially in general practice.


A novel electrochemical hybridization biosensor protocol without using an external indicator is described. The oxidation signals of adenine and guanine from calf thymus double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and calf thymus single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) was studied by using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at carbon paste electrode (CPE). The oxidation signals of adenine and guanine obtained from the ssDNA modified CPE was higher than that from the dsDNA modified CPE due to the accessible unbound adenine and guanine bases. The electrochemical determination of hybridization between native capture DNA probe and target oligonucleotides and polynucleotides such as poly[G], poly[C], poly[I] and poly[A], poly[T] were also accomplished. The dependence of the peak heights of guanine and adenine signals on the number of the respective bases in oligonucleotides was observed by means of DPV. The dependence of the guanine signal upon the concentration of the target and the noncomplementary DNA sequences was also observed. The use of the intrinsic DNA electrochemical signals for monitoring hybridization events offers several advantages over the common use of carcinogenic external indicators and expensive inosine substituted capture DNA probes, such as a shorter assay time and cost-effective procedure. Performance characteristics of the biosensor are described, along with future prospects.


Some 50 years ago, Muller described hypercholesterolemia, xanthomas, and coronary heart disease as symptoms of a genetic disorder. In the 1930s, other important discoveries concerning inborn errors of metabolism were made in Norway. Folling described phenylketonuria, and Refsum examined his first patients with heredopathia atactica polyneuritiformis (phytanic acid storage disease). Several other inborn errors of metabolism have been discovered in Norway: familial lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency, methylmalonic acidemia, beta-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase deficiency, pyroglutamic aciduria, and N-acetyl aspartic aciduria. Metabolic and biochemical studies in these patients have revealed new and important metabolic pathways. Studies on patients with inborn errors not first described in Norway have also given important information on key enzymes in metabolic pathways. Thus, studies on patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis and those with Zellweger's syndrome have revealed the normal metabolic route for conversion of cholesterol to bile acids. The discoveries and the clinical and biochemical research in former days were mostly good examples of serendipity combined with excellent clinical alertness. In more recent years, several of the discoveries have resulted from systematic biochemical screening of urine, plasma, or other body fluids from patients with unusual clinical syndromes.


In the present study the effect of ozone therapy on hydrofluoric acid (HFA) related eye burn was investigated in rats. A Total 20 healthy male Wistar albino rats (weighing 250 - 300 g with the age of 16 weeks) were used. They were divided into groups (experimental and control groups) of 10 rats being housed individually and fed ad libitum. The HFA (2.00%) burn was created in all animals. The ozonized (20.00 µg O3 mL-1) bi-distilled water was applied as a drop (10.00 µL each drop) every 8 hr for 7 days in the experimental group. At the same time, 0.90% NaCl was applied as drop (10.00 µL each drop) every 8 hr for 7 days in the control group. In the experimental group, intensive inflammation, angiogenesis, epithelial damage and stromal edema were detected in one animal. Epithelial vascularization and stromal edema were seen in four animals. In control group, only two animals' corneal structures were normal. Inflammation, angiogenesis, epithelial damage, fibrosis, epithelial vascularization and stromal edema were detected in the rest. As a result of this study, it was observed that local usage of ozone therapy had a positive effect on the healing of corneal burns caused by HFA. It was concluded that more ozone-related studies should be done to enlighten the subject.


The challenge now is to harness this information and understanding into clinical care. As a clinician, I care for an aging population of adults with complex congenital cardiovascular defects. Below, I outline four critical areas that desperately need translation of basic cardiovascular research into solutions for major clinical problems. I frame my expectations for the future in terms of the final common pathologic pathways of congenital cardiovascular malformations and clinical applications of emerging technology. Arrhythmias are a chronic problem among patients with congenital cardiovascular defects. Many patients with intrinsic and secondary damage to the sinus and/or atrioventricular (a/v) nodes are now treated with electronic pacemakers. In the future, I anticipate that transplantation of biologic pacemakers into the sinus and a/v node will reduce the need for electronic devices. Biologic pacemakers— derived from pacemaker cells and transplanted into appropriate regions of the heart—would reduce the current need for frequent replacements of the battery and pacemaker packs. Myocardial failure occurs in many patients as the stressed or damaged myocardium is replaced with scar tissue. Currently, we rely on medications to tune the cardiovascular system, reduce myocardial work, and increase cardiac output. For patients who are no longer responsive to medical therapy, heart transplantation is the treatment of last resort. Fetal myocyte transplantation is a promising approach for repairing the myocardium. Embryonic myocytes respond to increased stress with hyperplasia rather than with hypertrophy. Therefore, the goal would be to graft embryonic myocytes to the myocardium where they could proliferate and replace damaged or scarred myocardium. Pulmonary hypertension is a chronic late complication of high pulmonary artery pressure and flow. Increased wall strain in the pulmonary vascular bed results in medial hypertrophy, reduction of cross-sectional area, and a marked increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. Current medical therapy relies solely on calcium channel blockers, which provide short-term relief from this ongoing complication. Our increased understanding of developmental mechanisms may provide new molecular tools to remodel blood vessel walls, decreasing vascular resistance and, consequently, pulmonary artery pressure. Valve (a/v or semilunar) failure occurs in many patients with congenital cardiovascular malformations. Current treatment involves surgical replacement with a mechanical or tissue valve. Yet, these valves have a finite life expectancy, resulting in periodic re-replacement. Biomaterial valves are a composite of cells and plastic substrate and hold great promise for tissue compatibility and extended durability. The use of such biomaterial valves seeded with cell lines derived from a patient's own tissue would circumvent many of the problems that result from current replacement valves. These four areas provide new applications for translating advances in our understanding of cardiovascular development into improvements in the health of our patients. The challenge for both the basic scientist and clinician will be in realizing the fruits of past research labors to impact future clinical care and to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from the ongoing effects of congenital cardiovascular malformations. During the past 40 years, the field of cardiovascular development has progressed from classic descriptive embryology to cell biology, bioengineering, and the developmental genetics of the heart and blood vessels. An information explosion, stimulated by Connie Weinstein, a series of RFAs and SCOR grants, and the annual Weinstein cardiovascular development meetings, has increased dramatically our understanding of normal and abnormal cardiovascular development.


Mindfulness as a current topic of academic inquiry derives from two main historical roots: (1) Eastern contemplative psychology embedded in meditation (Germer, 2005; Gunaratana, 2002; Kabat-Zinn, 2011); and (2)Western social psychology (E. J. Langer, 1989). From both a contemplative and a social-psychological perspective, mindfulness concerns freeing oneself frommisperceptions, thinking patterns, and selfimposed limitations that impede creativity, clear seeing, and optimal mental and physical health. Moreover, from both the Eastern and Western view, every individual has the intrinsic capacity to be mindful, and with intention and practice, mindfulness can garner strength and stability. In this sense, the greatest potential of mindfulness may emerge when one consciously decides to pursue mindfulness not as just a "tool" in the proverbial toolbox, but as a way of seeing oneself and the world, or a conscious way of being and interacting (Kabat-Zinn, 2005). In the contemplative tradition, the fundamental shift in perspective associated with mindfulness is called Beginner's Mind (Suzuki, 2010); this refers to the meditation practice of remaining open, curious, unattached, and mentally flexible. Hence, meditation practice offers a traditional method for cultivating the core qualities of mindfulness. In Western societies, mindfulness meditation is now taught—using the skills of Beginner's Mind—as a way to relieve suffering associated with stress, pain, and illness (Kabat-Zinn, 1982, 1990, 2011). Jon Kabat-Zinn described the fundamental shift in perspective that comes about through mindfulness meditation practice as an


The major shortcoming of image-guided navigational systems is the use of presurgically acquired image data, which does not account for intraoperative changes in brain morphology. The occurrence of these surgically induced volumetric deformations, or "brain shift", has been well established. Maximum measurements for surface and midline shifts were reported. There is no detailed analysis, however, of the changes occurring throughout the entire surgery. Intraoperative MRI provides a unique opportunity to obtain serial imaging data and characterize the time course of brain deformations during surgery. Methods: The vertically open-configuration intraoperative fluoroscope system permits access to the operative field and allows multiple intraoperative image updates without the need of moving the patient. We developed volumetric display software, the "3D Slicer", which allows quantitative analysis of degree and direction of brain shift. On twenty-five patients, four or more volumetric intraoperative image acquisitions were extensively evaluated. Results: Serial acquisitions allow a comprehensive sequential description of the direction and magnitude of intraoperative deformations. Brain shift occurs at various surgical stages and at different regions. Surface shift occurs throughout surgery and is mainly due to gravity. Subsurface shift occurs during resection involving collapse of the resection cavity and intraparenchymal changes that are difficult to model. Conclusions: Brain shift is a continuous dynamic process, which evolves differently in distinct brain regions. Therefore only serial imaging or continuous data acquisition provide consistently accurate image guidance. Furthermore only serial intraoperative fluoroscope provides an accurate basis for the computational analysis of brain deformations, which might lead to an understanding, and eventually simulation of "brain shift" for intraoperative guidance.