With the pervasive use of Facebook, users are exposed to others' information and are prone to make social comparison, as per the Social Comparison Theory, influencing their self-evaluation. This study hypothesized that teenagers make more upward social comparison with superior others, than downward, causing them to have lower state self-esteem. This study also posited that high public self-conscious teenagers, who are concerned about their self-portrayal, make more upward comparison, and experience lower state self-esteem. Further, this study posited that the positive association between upward comparison and lower state self-esteem increases by high public self-consciousness. The survey data was gathered from a purposive sample (N = 183) of students from five secondary schools. The results supported all the hypotheses: namely, a negative association between social comparison and state self-esteem; and the moderating role of high public self-consciousness in this association. Findings were discussed, implications, limitations and suggestions for future research stated.


In this contribution, we investigate the seasonal variation of multi-muon events observed by the NO 𝜈 A Near Detector (ND) at Fermilab, using the general-purpose Monte Carlo code FLUKA-CERN to simulate the transport and interaction of the air-shower particles in the atmosphere and other media. Our atmospheric model uses air densities for Winter and Summer averaged profiles calculated from the temperature and geopotential information at 37 pressure levels given by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) datasets in situ. Our FLUKA geometry model also includes a layered underground approximated to match the NO 𝜈 A ND and its location. We compare our simulation results with the measured seasonal flux modulation of multi-muon events by the NO 𝜈 A ND. For the first time, we were able to describe the multi-muon excess in Winter over Summer quantitatively and the dependence on the multi-muon event multiplicity as observed by NO 𝜈 A. Finally, we compare our results for the muon flux at the surface and detector level obtained from FLUKA simulations with the previous work from other authors based on CORSIKA simulations. We try to understand the reasons for the discrepancy by nearly a factor of four between the results of two Monte Carlo codes.


The assay of factor VIII, co-factor of Ristocetin (VIIIR:Co) is a relatively delicate procedure which is presently reserved to specialized laboratories. It requires the use of an aggregometer and a long and difficult preparation of human platelets. In parallel with this classical method, we have used a new, rapid, semi-quantitative slide test whose advantages are: simple technique and rapid answer (2 minutes), small volume of plasma required for the test (50 microliters) and the possibility of using citrated or heparinized plasma taken form a venous or capillary blood sample. Using this test, we have assayed factor VIII co-factor of ristocetin: in 31 hospitalized adults patients with no previous history of bleeding and no disturbance of haemostasis and in 18 patients with Willebrand's factor deficiency in comparison with the standard technique using aggregometry (Allain's method); - in 28 normal neonates, in comparison with the VIIIR:Ag factor assay (Laurell's technique), only because of the small sample volume available; - in 17 patients with various disease associated with an abnormality of the VIII complex in comparison with the assay of VIIIR:Ag and VIIIC. The results obtained in the normal adults show a satisfactory correlation between the two methods. The mean level of factor VIII:Co is 100 +/- 10 per cent (M +/- SD) with the semi-quantitative slide test and 109 +/- 20 per cent (M +/- SD) with the method taken as the reference. The correlation is also satisfactory for patients with a deficit of Willebrand's factor. The test performed on the neonates gives a mean value of 101 +/- 37 per cent (M +/- SD) with good correlation between the factor VIIIR:Ag and the factor VIIIR:Co.


Aggression is an intrinsic trait that organisms of almost all species, humans included, use to get access to food, shelter, and mating partners. To maximize fitness in the wild, an organism must vary the intensity of aggression toward the same or different stimuli. How much of this variation is genetic and how much is externally induced, is largely unknown but is likely to be a combination of both. Irrespective of the source, one of the principal physiological mechanisms altering the aggression intensity involves neuromodulation. Any change or variation in aggression intensity is most likely governed by a complex interaction of several neuromodulators acting via a meshwork of neural circuits. Resolving aggression-specific neural circuits in a mammalian model has proven challenging due to the highly complex nature of the mammalian brain. In that regard, the fruit fly model Drosophila melanogaster has provided insights into the circuit-driven mechanisms of aggression regulation and its underlying neuromodulatory basis. Despite morphological dissimilarities, the fly brain shares striking similarities with the mammalian brain in genes, neuromodulatory systems, and circuit-organization, making the findings from the fly model extremely valuable for understanding the fundamental circuit logic of human aggression. This review discusses our current understanding of how neuromodulators regulate aggression based on findings from the fruit fly model. We specifically focus on the roles of Serotonin (5-HT), Dopamine (DA), Octopamine (OA), Acetylcholine (ACTH), Sex Peptides (SP), Tachykinin (TK), Neuropeptide F (NPF), and Drosulfakinin (Dsk) in fruit fly male and female aggression.


BACKGROUND Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common malignant hyperplasia of the skin epithelium. However, cSCC progressing to giant squamous cell carcinoma of the popliteal fossa skin has not been reported. We used full-thickness skin graft from the lower left quadrant of the abdomen to reconstruct the popliteal fossa skin defect in our patient. CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of a progressively enlarged integumentary tumor located on her left popliteal fossa, which was surgically treated. The resultant defect (15 cm × 25 cm) was repaired using full-thickness skin graft from the lower left quadrant of the abdomen. CONCLUSION Full-thickness skin graft is a good choice to repair popliteal fossa defect.


EDITORIAL COMMENT": We accepted this paper for publication to warn readers that coitus‐induced tears to the posterior fornix of the vagina can involve peritoneum and bowel. The authors claim this injury is common in India and at our request provided the information that in 1995 they treated a total number of 7 patients with coitus‐induced vaginal tears in their hospital which has some 4,000 deliveries per year. The authors noted that the incidence of this injury is much higher than these figures would indicate because 'people do not like young girls being asked questions by male medical graduates and for this reason prefer to go to private hospitals for the problem of coital tears'. They stated that for Indians coital tears are relatively common and any obstetrician would see 4–5 cases every 1–2 years'. We have previously published information from Papua New Guinea describing 13 cases of laceration to the posterior fornix of the vagina from voluntary intercourse seen over a period of 3 years at the Port Moresby General Hospital (A), and 13 cases of women with coital injury admitted with haemorrhagic shock requiring resuscitation with blood transfusion seen over a period of 4 years from the Nehru Hospital (B). Anate (C) has reported the details of 36 cases of vaginal trauma due to intercourse seen over a 6‐year period in Nigeria. All of these papers stress the frequent involvement of the posterior fornix of the vagina in these coitus‐induced injuries.


Exercise-induced asthma (defined as a fall in PEF of at least 25% of the pre-exercise value) was studied in adult patients with uncomplicated asthma. This was found to occur in 22 out of 52 patients. Pre-exercise inhalation of disodium cromoglycate reduced the mean fall in PEF after maximal exercise from 50% of the pre-exercise value to 23% (open assessment in 11 cases). After submaximal exercise for eight minutes the reduction was from 18% to 10% (double-blind crossover study in 28 cases). It is concluded that disodium cromoglycate partly inhibits the increase of airways resistance after exercise in asthmatic patients.


Abstract Background: Tracheal intubation is a high-risk intervention for exposure to airborne infective pathogens, including the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). During the recent pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) was essential to protect staff during intubation but is recognized to make the practical conduct of anesthesia and intubation more difficult. In the early phase of the coronavirus pandemic, some simple alterations were made to the emergency anesthesia standard operating procedure (SOP) of a prehospital critical care service to attempt to maintain high intubation success rates despite the challenges posed by wearing PPE. This retrospective observational cohort study aims to compare first-pass intubation success rates before and after the introduction of PPE and an altered SOP. Methodology: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2019 through August 30, 2021. The retrospective analysis used prospectively collected data using prehospital electronic patient records. Anonymized data were held in Excel (v16.54) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (v28). Patient inclusion criteria were those of all ages who received a primary tracheal intubation attempt outside the hospital by critical care teams. March 27, 2020 was the date from which the SOP changed to mandatory COVID-19 SOP including Level 3 PPE – this date is used to separate the cohort groups. Results: Data were analyzed from 1,266 patients who received primary intubations by the service. The overall first-pass intubation success rate was 89.7% and the overall intubation success rate was 99.9%. There was no statistically significant difference in first-pass success rate between the two groups: 90.3% in the pre-COVID-19 group (n = 546) and 89.3% in the COVID-19 group (n = 720); Pearson chi-square 0.329; P = .566. In addition, there was no statistical difference in overall intubation success rate between groups: 99.8% in the pre-COVID-19 group and 100.0% in the COVID-19 group; Pearson chi-square 1.32; P = .251. Non-drug-assisted intubations were more than twice as likely to require multiple attempts in both the pre-COVID-19 group (n = 546; OR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.19-3.90; P = .01) and in the COVID-19 group (n = 720; OR = 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.1; P = <.001). Conclusion: This study presents simple changes to a prehospital intubation SOP in response to COVID-19 which included mandatory use of PPE, the first intubator always being the most experienced clinician, and routine first use of video laryngoscopy (VL). These changes allowed protection of the clinical team while successfully maintaining the first-pass and overall success rates for prehospital tracheal intubation.


The aim of the study was to evaluate the carcass characteristics, proximate composition, and sensorial attributes of meat from sheep fed diets in which buffelgrass silage replaced corn silage. Thirty-two intact male crossbred Santa Inês sheep with an average live weight of 20.09 ± 2.0 kg were housed in individual stalls and allotted at random to four treatments in which corn silage was replaced by buffelgrass silage at the levels of 0 (control), 33.3%, 66.6%, and 100%. After an adaption period of 10 days, the sheep were fed for an additional 61 days. Feed was offered ad libitum and corn silage comprised 60% of the diet for the control group. Carcass characteristics, non-carcass components and meat quality were evaluated. Hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield, true carcass yield, trimmings, fat weight, and mesenteric and omental fat weight were highest for the control group (P <0.05). Loin eye area had a quadratic response (P =0.02), with the largest areas being observed in animals fed the diet containing 66.6% buffelgrass silage. Liver weight (P <0.01), luminosity of the meat (P <0.05), and cooking loss (P <0.05) likewise had nonlinear responses to the concentration of buffelgrass silage in the diet. The treatments did not have significant negative influence on the nutritional and organoleptic characteristics of the meat.


Lithography‐based additive manufacturing technology is a layered manufacturing approach where liquid photopolymerizable resins are solidified with ultraviolet, visible, or infrared light. Using a system based on digital mirror devices, photopolymers can be exposed selectively in order to build parts with defined geometries. By modifying the system with a rotating building platform, suspensions with a high solid loading of ceramic powders can be processed, despite the high viscosity of these resins. Depending on the field of application, various formulations were developed for fabricating customized ceramic parts made of alumina, tricalcium phosphate, or bioactive glasses, respectively. On the one hand the influence of the ceramic filler on the mechanical properties is characterized, on the other hand the good precision and the high surface quality of the process system is discussed. For alumina filled resins a solid loading of 50 vol% was used to obtain fully dense parts (>99% of theoretical density) with high fracture strength (biaxial strength of 516 MPa).


In this paper, a stacked SRAM chip module is presented and simulation results are demonstrated. A novel 3D integration process is presented and challenging issues are addressed. With this novel process, there's no need to do grinding/polishing of copper overburden after filling of TSV by copper electroplating. Copper microbumps will be formed directly on the active side in the filling of TSV by copper electroplating while the ones on the backside will be formed with backside releasing process. A test run is carried out with this novel process and a 4-layer stacked chip module is successfully fabricated.


Some studies of birds suggest that the development of the skeleton may invoke a constraint on the rate of postnatal growth. Other studies have shown that the eggshell is the major source of calcium for skeletal development of the embryo. To test whether avian growth rate is indeed associated with different patterns of skeletal development, we compared the degree of skeletal ossification of the long bones of the wing and the leg of one slowly growing precocial species (quail Coturnix japonica ) with that of two rapidly growing altricial species (starling Sturnus vulgaris and fieldfare Turdus pilaris ). The degree of skeletal ossification of the long bones of the wings and legs of lines of quails that had undergone long-term selection for high- and low-growth rate, respectively, also was compared with a non-selected control line. Next, the fine structure of the inner eggshell surface (mammillary layer) of both pre- and post-incubated eggs, i.e. before and after embryonic development/calcium removal was compared. The data show that the skeleton of the more rapidly growing species and lines was less ossified than that of the more slowly growing ones. This difference appeared to be associated with different rates of calcium removal from the eggshell. Removal was more extensive in eggs of quail than in eggs of starling and fieldfare, i.e. more extensive in shells with a high number of mammillary tips per unit of surface area than in shells with a lower number. It is therefore concluded that growth rate is of fundamental importance for the pattern of skeletal development. Moreover, the mammillary density varies between different bird species, it is suggested, in order to support the different rates of calcium removal by developing embryos.


The functionalized NiFe-LDH with photosensitized GQDs were synthesized through the hydrothermal route by differing the amount of GQDs solution and studied its efficacy towards the mineralization of textile dyes under visible light. The synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, DRUV-Vis, RAMAN, XPS, and BET. The combined effect of the hexagonal carbon lattice in GQD and open layered porous structure of NiFe-LDH nanosheets results in the contraction of the lattice. Different reactive and conventional dyes were taken as representative dyes to evaluate the activity of the as-synthesized photocatalysts. The enhanced electron absorption/donor effect between GQDs and NiFe-LDH, and the growth of oxygen-bridged Ni/Fe-C moieties enable the composite to exhibit better photocatalytic activity. Both photocatalytic activity and characterization results confirmed that the GQD@NiFe-LDH nanocomposite heterostructure synthesized at 160 oC by taking 10 ml of GQDs aqueous solution named GNFLDH10 has a higher degree of crystallinity and has the best photocatalytic efficiency compared to other reported visible light catalysts. Specifically, the above optimized GQD@NiFe-LDH photocatalyst is capable of photo-mineralizing 50 ppm of Reactive Green in 20 mins, Reactive Red in 20 mins, and Congo Red in 25 mins respectively following a direct Z-scheme mechanism with substantial reusability.


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

Tolfenamic acid (TA), a small molecule NSAID exhibits anti-cancer response in several malignancies. Recently we demonstrated for the first time that TA inhibits medulloblastoma (MB) cell proliferation and tumor growth in mice xenografts. Since MB requires intensive therapy that often causes long-term side-effects, we tested the efficacy of TA for enhancing the response of chemotherapy. Initial experiments were performed using MB cell lines, DAOY and D283 to test the anti-proliferative response of individual agents, TA, Irinotecan (IRI), Topotecan (TOPO), Temozolomide (TZM) and Doxorubicin (DOXO). Subsequently, the combination of TA with TOPO was tested using the optimized doses. DAOY and D283 cells were treated with DMSO or increasing concentrations of TA (5-50 μg/ml) or chemotherapeutic agents TOPO (10-500 nM), TZM (100-500 μM), IRI (0.5-5 μM) and DOXO (10-500 nM). Cell viability was measured at 24, 48, and 72 h post-treatment using CellTiter Glo kit and all agents caused a dose and time-dependent inhibition of cell viability. To assess the effect of combination therapy, MB cells were treated with optimized doses of TA (10 μg/ml) or TOPO (DAOY: 20 nM; D283: 25 nM) or both and the cell viability was measured at 48 h and 72 h post-treatment. The combination of TA and TOPO caused significantly higher inhibition when compared to either TA or TOPO alone confirming the efficacy of this combination therapy in pre-clinical models for MB. The effect on cell apoptosis was evaluated at 48 h post-treatment. Apoptotic cells were measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V-PE/7-AAD kit. The results showed a significant increase in the apoptotic fraction (annexin V positive) of both MB cell lines following the combination therapy when compared to individual treatment of TA or TOPO. These results were further supported by determining the activity of effector caspases. Consistent with Annexin V staining, combination therapy significantly upregulated caspase 3/7 levels when compared to individual treatment. DAOY and D283 were treated with DMSO or 10 or 20 µg/ml TA for 48 h. Whole cell lysates were prepared and the expression of Sp1, survivin and c-PARP was determined by Western blot analysis. TA inhibited both Sp1 and survivin in MB cell lines. Consistent with annexin V staining and caspase 3/7 results, TA augmented the PARP cleavage confirming the activation of apoptotic pathways. In order to evaluate the precise molecular markers/pathways associated with the beneficial (higher) efficacy of TA and TOPO combination therapy, we are conducting molecular profiling analysis. Overall, these results demonstrate that the combination of anti-cancer small molecule, TA and standard chemotherapeutic agents such as TOPO effectively inhibits MB cell growth. These preliminary results strongly demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed combination therapy in enhancing therapeutic response in pre-clinical models of MB.

Citation Format: Don Eslin, Umesh T. Sankpal, Chris M. Lee, Robert M. Sutphin, W. Paul Bowman, Jeffrey C. Murray, Riyaz Basha. Tolfenamic acid enhances the therapeutic efficacy of certain chemotherapeutic agents in medulloblastoma cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5431. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5431


Organoids and three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures allow the investigation of complex biological mechanisms and regulations in vitro, which previously was not possible in classical cell culture monolayers. Moreover, monolayer cell cultures are good in vitro model systems but do not represent the complex cellular differentiation processes and functions that rely on 3D structure. This has so far only been possible in animal experiments, which are laborious, time consuming, and hard to assess by optical techniques. Here we describe an assay to quantitatively determine the barrier integrity over time in living small intestinal mouse organoids. To validate our model, we applied interferon gamma (IFN-γ) as a positive control for barrier destruction and organoids derived from IFN-γ receptor 2 knock out mice as a negative control. The assay allowed us to determine the impact of IFN-γ on the intestinal barrier integrity and the IFN-γ induced degradation of the tight junction proteins claudin-2, -7, and -15. This assay could also be used to investigate the impact of chemical compounds, proteins, toxins, bacteria, or patient-derived probes on the intestinal barrier integrity.


Although the oral and parenteral administration of n-butylbiguanide in rabbits produces a hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic effect depending on the dose, the compound causes only a hypoglycemic response in normal as well as alloxan-diabetic rats (1). Clinical studies show a high incidence of gastrointestinal distress in patients as a remarkable side effect of the orally administered n-butylbiguanide (2). However, no pathohistological change in the gastrointestinal tract has been observed in rats after receiving the various doses of the compound for 6 months (1). Therefore, the anorexia and diarrhea of the diabetic patients treated with this compound are assumed to be functional in origin. Experimental studies on the distribution of hypoglycemic biguanides-14C by Kaneko (2), Wick et al. (3), Cohen et al. (4) and Beckmann (5) are consistent with each other in that biguanides distribute extensively to the gastrointestinal tract. The present experiments were designed to know the distribution of n-butylbiguanide-14C in tissues and the nature of urinary metabolites in mice.


Over the last few decades world securities markets have become significantly more sophisticated in terms of how securities are traded as well as the variety of securities traded. My hypothesis is that the ability of securities regulators to take enforcement action against market abuse has not kept pace with the level of sophistication of the markets and, in particular, the way in which trading can take place across borders and the manner in which market related information can spread rapidly across the world. I argue that that regulators need to do more to protect the integrity of the markets by improving their efforts to initiate action against market abuse. Furthermore, given the global nature of the problem I argue that the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) should be more proactive in coordinating the activities of securities regulators in this regard. I commence with an analysis of why the integrity of securities markets is critical to the economy of a country and why it is necessary for regulators to enforce laws prohibiting market abuse in order to protect market integrity. I then move on to identify the changes to securities markets, the regulatory responses to these changes, trends in the types of market abuse which is taking place across borders and how those responsible for taking enforcement action against such market abuse have responded. Finally I consider IOSCO, its history, how its role has evolved, its impact to date and how IOSCO could build upon its success in terms of improving the enforcement outcomes of securities regulators in relation to market abuse. I conclude that the transformation of the markets have presented opportunities to engage in market abuse across borders and that, while some positive steps have been taken to address this issue, more could be achieved. Finally I discuss and make recommendations about what might be done to improve the ability of securities regulators to take successful enforcement action.


PURPOSE: To evaluate if the presence of right bundle branch block (RBBB), without structural myocardial abnormalities (SMA) can generate fragmented potentials (FP) and spectral turbulence on signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG). METHODS: Twelve children with atrial septal defect (ASD) and incomplete right bundle branch block (IRBBB without SMA (group I) were compared to 17 children with post-operative tetralogy of Fallot (TF) with CRBBB, all with SMA, 5 with ventricular premature beats and 2 with sustained ventricular tachycardia (group II). All had SAECG on time (TD) and frequency domain (FD) with 5 variables analysed. RESULTS: All patients of group I had normal variables, in contrast with group II which presented abnormal variables suggesting FP and ST. CONCLUSION: In ASD without SMA, the isolated IRBBB did not generate FP and ST.


Background Durable tumor regression can be achieved in Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients by immunotherapeutic approaches, such as allogeneic stem cell transplantation and donor lymphocyte infusion. However, the low rate of patients, who reach a sustained remission, impedes the success of this therapeutic approach. Currently, much emphasis is placed on the role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor cell immune escape. We previously described that different accessory cells of the microenvironment significantly inhibited the lysis of MM cell lines by T cells in a cell-cell contact dependent manner. Further analysis revealed that this immune escape could be attributed to the induction of a cell adhesion-mediated immune resistance (CAM-IR) of MM against T cell lysis in vitro. Further in vitro studies identified up-regulation of survivin in the MM cells as one of the potential mechanisms of immune resistance. Moreover, co-culture with YM155, a small molecule survivin suppressant, could abrogate accessory cell induced resistance in vitro.

Methods and Results We investigated the influence of a human bone marrow microenvironment on the anti tumor activity of T cell therapy in a human-mouse hybrid model (Groen et al. Blood 2012). Immune-deficient RAG2-/- γc-/- -mice were implanted subcutaneously either with uncoated scaffolds or scaffolds coated with human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), which generates a human bone marrow environment. Luciferase transduced MM cell line UM9 injected directly in both types of scaffolds grew into MM tumors and were treated with Myeloma reactive minor Histocompatibility antigen specific T cell clones. The T cells induced effective anti-myeloma responses against tumors developed in the uncoated scaffolds. In contrast, and consistent with the in vitro results, no anti-tumor effect was observed in the MSC coated scaffolds. Thus confirming in vivo a microenvironment induced resistance of MM cells to T cell kill. We next investigated if the resistance could be abrogated by combination therapy with T cells and YM155.To this end, mice with tumors in human MSC coated scaffolds were treated with T cells alone, YM155 alone, or the combination of both. YM155- nor T cell-monotherapy induced tumor regression on evaluation of tumor growth based on bioluminescent signal. Moreover, the combination of YM155 with T cells demonstrated a substantial anti-tumor effect.

Conclusion YM155 treatment can sensitize myeloma cells to T cell mediated anti-tumor effects and more importantly can overcome microenvironment-mediated resistance of MM cells to T cell treatment. These findings support further development of CAM-IR modulating agents in combination with immune therapy.

Disclosures: Minnema: Janssen Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria. Lokhorst: Genmab A/S: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Johnson-Cilag: Honoraria; Mudipharma: Honoraria.


Cocaine binds to the dopamine transporter (DAT) in the striatum to regulate cocaine reward and seeking behavior. Zinc (Zn2+) also binds to the DAT, but the in vivo relevance of this interaction is unknown. We found that cocaine abuse in humans correlated with low postmortem striatal Zn2+ content. In mice, cocaine decreased striatal vesicular Zn2+ and increased striatal synaptic Zn2+ concentrations and Zn2+ uptake. Striatal synaptic Zn2+ increased cocaine's in vivo potency at the DAT and was required for cocaine-induced DAT upregulation. Finally, genetic or dietary Zn2+ manipulations modulated cocaine locomotor sensitization, conditioned place preference, self-administration, and reinstatement. These findings reveal new insights into cocaine's pharmacological mechanism of action and indicate that Zn2+ can serve as a critical environmentally derived regulator of human cocaine addiction.


Although important from software performance perspective, the behavior of memory caches is not captured by the common approaches to modeling of software performance, where the software performance models tend to treat operation durations as constants despite the fact that the operations compete for memory caches. Incorporating memory cache models into software performance models is hindered by the fact that existing cache models do not provide information about timings and penalties, but only about hits and misses. The paper outlines the relationship of cache events and cache timings on a real computer architecture, indicating that the existing practice of modeling cache miss penalties as constants is not sufficient to model software performance faithfully.


Abstract

As uses of X-ray increases for diagnostic purposes, the necessity for dentists to have adequate knowledge about prescribing radiographs also increases. This will cause correct diagnosis and reduces the radiation to the patient. The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the knowledge of dentists from Isfahan about prescribing radiographs.
For this research a question form was designed and filled by 230 dentists, which were chosen randomly.T-test analysis was used. The results showed that the dentists' knowledge about prescribing panoramic and periapical and bitewing radiographs was good, about occlusal and about growth and development assessment was moderate and about in highrisk and normal patients and periodontal caries patient and CT and MRI was poor.There was no difference between knowledge of female and male dentists.
There was no difference between knowledge of general dentists, residents and specialists about prescription panoramic, periapical, bitewing, growth and development assessment and caries, but the knowledge of residents was better than general dentists about prescription occlusal radiographs. About CT andMRI the knowledge of specialists and residents were higher than general dentists. About prescription radiography for periodontal patient knowledge of specialists were higher than general dentists and residents.

Key words. Dentists, Correct prescription, Radiography.

Address. Dr. Mojde Mehdizade (Assistatn professor), Department of radiology, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IRAN. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com

Journal of Isfahan Dental School 2005; 1(2): 76-78.


Abstract Background Suboptimal child growth and development are significant problems in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Maternal resources for care may help to improve growth and development. This study examined the association of maternal resources for care on child length, motor development and language development of children 12–23.9 months old. Methods We used baseline data from the Alive & Thrive household surveys collected in Bangladesh (n = 803) and Vietnam (n = 635). Resources for care were represented by maternal education, knowledge, height, well‐nourishment, mental well‐being, decision‐making, employment, support in chores and perceived support. The regression analyses were adjusted for household wealth and other covariates on households, children and parents and accounted for geographical clustering. Results Maternal height (Bangladesh β = 0.150 p < 0.001, Vietnam β = 0.156 p < 0.001), well‐nourishment (Vietnam β = 0.882 p = 0.007) and mental well‐being (Bangladesh β = 0.0649 p = 0.008, Vietnam β = 0.0742 p = 0.039) were associated with child length. Well‐nourishment (Vietnam β = 0.670 p = 0.042) and support in chores (Bangladesh β = 0.0983 p = 0.021) were associated with child motor development. Mental well‐being (Vietnam β = 0.0735 p = 0.013), decision‐making autonomy (Bangladesh β = 0.0886 p = 0.029) and perceived support (Vietnam β = 0.445 p = 0.003) were associated with child language development. Conclusion Maternal height, well‐nourishment, mental well‐being, decision‐making, support in chores and perceived social support were associated with child outcomes. Interventions that help to improve resources among mothers have potential to foster child growth and development.


Preface. List of abbreviations. 1 The World Grows Old. 2 Health and Social Care for Elderly People in the UK. 3 Special Features of Medicine in the Elderly. 4 Old Age Psychiatry. 5 Falls and Immobility. 6 Bones, Muscles and Joints. 7 Stroke Made Simple. 8 Other Diseases of the Nervous System. 9 Cardiovascular Disorders. 10 Respiratory Disease. 11 Gastrointestinal Disease and Nutrition. 12 Disorders of Homeostasis and Metabolism. 13 Genitourinary Disease. 14 Blood and Bone Marrow. 15 Eyes, Ears and Skin. 16 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Medical Care of Elderly people. 17 Palliative care. Appendices. 1 Standards for Long-term Care. 2 The Barthel Scale. 3 CAGE Questionnaire for Alcohol Problems. 4 The Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT). 5 The Geriatric Depression Score (GDS). 6 Fitness to Fly. 7 Respiratory Function in the Elderly. 8 Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Index


Objectives: We aimed to describe the treatment outcome of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients and identify factors associated with poor treatment outcome. Method: We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of patients with smear and/or culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis who were treated between 2005 and 2011 in Kocaeli Tuberculosis Dispanseria, Turkey. Exclusion critera were as follows: patients who transferred out , younger than 18 years and whose medical charts were not obtained. Patients were categorised as having succesful ( cured or treatment completed) or poor teratment outcome (treatment default, treatment failure, death). Logistic regretion analises were used to evaluate risk factors for poor outcome . Results: Of 738 bacteriologically comfirmed pulmonary patients (258 female (35%), and 480 male (65%)), 683 (92.6%) had succesful teratment outcome and 55 (7.4%) had poor teratment outcome. Of those with a poor outcome 29 (3.9%)had teratment default, 18(2.4%) died and 8 (1.1%) failured and. Mean age of patients was 39.97 years. Factors associated with treatment outcomes were age, comorbidity, education, retreatment. Gender, rural residence, cavity on radiography, smear positivity, culture positivity, DOTS, occupation group weren9t associated with poor treatment. Conclusion: Age >65 years, comorbidity, low education, drug resistance were factors associated with unsuccesful treatment outcomes.


Herbicide resistance is the genetic capacity of a weed population to survive an herbicide treatment that, under normal use conditions, would effectively control the resistant weed population. Weeds have been evolving in conventional crop cultivars worldwide from selection pressure placed on them from repeated use of herbicides. In this chapter, we intend to explain the biochemical and molecular basis of herbicide resistance in weeds. On the other hand, herbicide resistance can be a useful tool so that weed scientists can use as important approach to control and manage weeds. There are several strategies for the production of HR crops by genetic engineering and the methods used in this process will be discussed in this chapter.


Background The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is facing large challenges in managing environmental chemicals with increasingly complex requirements for assessing risk that push the limits of our current approaches. To address some of these challenges, the National Research Council (NRC) developed a new vision for toxicity testing. Although the report focused only on toxicity testing, it recognized that exposure science will play a crucial role in a new risk-based framework. Objective In this commentary we expand on the important role of exposure science in a fully integrated system for risk assessment. We also elaborate on the exposure research needed to achieve this vision. Discussion Exposure science, when applied in an integrated systems approach for risk assessment, can be used to inform and prioritize toxicity testing, describe risks, and verify the outcomes of testing. Exposure research in several areas will be needed to achieve the NRC vision. For example, models are needed to screen chemicals based on exposure. Exposure, dose–response, and biological pathway models must be developed and linked. Advanced computational approaches are required for dose reconstruction. Monitoring methods are needed that easily measure exposure, internal dose, susceptibility, and biological outcome. Finally, population monitoring studies are needed to interpret toxicity test results in terms of real-world risk. Conclusion This commentary is a call for the exposure community to step up to the challenge by developing a predictive science with the knowledge and tools for moving into the 21st century.


This is the first report on a rapid green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using red algae (Laurencia papillosa). The green synthesis of eco-friendly nanoparticles is of a great interest in Nanoscience for biomedical applications and specifically for clinical diagnostic applications. GNPs especially nanoprism represents a new advanced tool to study cell function and useful in optoelectronics, in developing a drug delivery system to control plant virus diseases and in nanomedicine. Conventional physical and chemical methods have been developed for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles, but these methods are expensive and require the use of toxic and aggressive chemicals. In this paper it is demonstrated that a rapid, low coast and ecofriendly method for synthesis of gold nanosphere and its conversion into gold nanoprism has been developed. The method involves using water solvent extract of Laurencia papillosa as a reducing agent. Nanoscopy analysis revealed that the nanoprism and other different morphologies were obtained just by varying the concentration molarity of tetrachloauric acid (HAuCl4), keeping the concentration of pure algal extract (PAE) constant. The best concentration of AuCl4 was 5 mM and best concentration of the red algae extract was at 0.05 g/ml. The functional groups responsible for conversion of nanospheres into nanoprism were NH and OH groups found in the contents of the red algae extract. The as-synthesized gold nanoprisms were characterized by several physicochemical techniques. The nanoprisms are single crystalline, whose basal plates surface are atomically flat "111" planes. We anticipate our results to be a starting point for more applications in medicine and industrial technology.


Einstein. A Biography. By Jürgen Neffe. Translated from the German () by Shelley Frisch. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2007. 487 pp. $30, C$37.95. ISBN 9780374146641. Polity, London. £25. ISBN 9780745642208. Einstein. His Life and Universe. By Walter Isaacson. Simon and Schuster, New York, 2007. 718 pp., illus. $32, C$38.99. ISBN 9780743264730. £25. ISBN 9781847370488. These best-selling recent biographies of Einstein draw on recently uncovered documentary evidence.


This paper describes the basic concept of the decomposition and aggregation method. It shows the feasibility of the method and its advantages when applied, particularly to large scale systems. This method is extensively used in solving problems related to control engineering, economics, optimization and stability. This paper also illustrates specifically the application of the method of decomposition and aggregation in the analysis of dynamic systems. It is divided into two important parts, namely; the decomposition part which involves breaking up a large system into subsystems and the aggregation part which is obtained through a reformulation of the Liapunov's second method (direct method). The relation between the decomposition and the aggregation methods is also shown. The procedure for checking the stability based on this concept is also outlined. For further illustration, an example of a dynamic system has been included. It shows how the system is decomposed and aggregated to suit the requirement for stability analysis.


A theoretical model is presented for the low-frequency magnetoelectric (ME) effect in three-layered magnetostrictive-piezoelectric laminates. The model considers both the laminate finite size and the detection circuitry loading (closed-circuit conditions). The model development is based on a system of electroelasticity and magnetoelasticity equations and takes into account the boundary conditions at the inner and outer surfaces of the laminate. An averaging method is used to estimate the effective parameters of the laminate materials. The ME voltage coefficient for transverse fields is obtained theoretically. The obtained solution allows us to set up the laminate equivalent electrical circuits and to find their electrical parameters in terms of the physical properties of the laminate and its geometry.


CuInSe2 (CIS) films with good crystalline quality were synthesized by electrodeposition followed by annealing in Se vapor at 530 °C. The morphology, composition, crystal structure, optical and electrical properties of the CIS films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, and admittance spectroscopy. The results revealed that the annealed CIS films had chalcopyrite structure and consisted of relatively large grains in the range of 500–1000 nm and single grain of films extend usually through the whole film thickness. The band gap of CIS films was 0.98 eV and carrier concentration was in the order of 1016 cm−3 after etching the Cu-Se compounds on the film surface. Solar cells with the structure of AZO/i-ZnO/CdS/CIS/Mo/glass were fabricated. Current density vs. voltage test under standard reported condition showed the solar cells with an area of 0.2 cm2 had a conversion efficiency of 0.96%. The underlying physics was also discussed.


In this paper, we study handwriting idiosyncrasy in terms of its structural eccentricity. In this study, our approach is to find idiosyncratic handwritten text components and model the idiosyncrasy analysis task as a machine learning problem supervised by human cognition. We employ the Inception network for this purpose. The experiments are performed on two publicly available databases and an in-house database of Bengali offline handwritten samples. On these samples, subjective opinion scores of handwriting idiosyncrasy are collected from handwriting experts. We have analyzed the handwriting idiosyncrasy on this corpus which comprises the perceptive ground-truth opinion. We also investigate the effect of idiosyncratic text on writer identification by using the SqueezeNet. The performance of our system is promising.


Introduction: NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) is a safe and effective once-daily (QD) inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist for the maintenance treatment of COPD.

Methods: This is a pooled analysis of the GL ycopyrronium bromide in C O PD air W ays clinical studies (GLOW1 and 2) which assessed the efficacy of NVA237 50µg QD vs placebo (PBO) and open-label tiotropium 18 μg QD (TIO) over 26 to 52 wks in COPD patients. Results include exacerbations, symptoms (transition dyspnea index [TDI]) and Health Status (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ]).

Results: 1854 patients were analyzed (NVA237=1059, TIO=267, PBO=528). NVA237 statistically significantly prolonged the time to first moderate/severe exacerbation vs PBO (Wk 26: hazard ratio [HR] 0.64; Wk 52: HR 0.67, both p<0.001), which was comparable to TIO (Wk 26: HR 0.70, p=0.026; Wk 52: HR 0.61, both p<0.001). NVA237 had a statistically significantly lower rate of moderate/severe exacerbations vs PBO (Wk 26: rate ratio [RR] 0.66; Wk 52: RR 0.66; both p<0.005), while TIO was not significantly different from PBO (Wk 26; RR 0.74, p=0.085 and Wk 52: RR 0.80, p=0.179). Treatment difference in TDI total score was significant for NVA237 (Wk 26: 0.93 and Wk 52: 0.57) and TIO (Wk 26: 1.05 and Wk 52: 0.66) vs PBO, all p<0.05. SGRQ score (LS Mean [SE]) was significant for NVA237 (Wk 26; -3.07 [0.683] and Wk 52; -3.32 [1.004]; p<0.001) and TIO (Wk 26; -2.43 [1.014] and Wk 52; -2.84 [1.155]; p<0.05) vs PBO.

Conclusion: NVA237 once daily significantly reduced COPD exacerbations and improved symptoms vs PBO over 52 wks. Overall, the effects of NVA237 were similar to tiotropium.


During the COVID‐19 pandemic, physical distancing is necessary to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. To compensate for the lack of social encounters, people have been advised to connect with others via digital communication channels. Drawing on a psychological framework combined with assumptions from communication science, we therefore investigated whether technology‐mediated communication can actually meet individuals' social needs to foster compliance with distancing measures and whether there are differences between distinct communication channels. Based on an online survey (N = 301) during the first national lockdown in Germany, we found that the impact of audio‐visual communication is limited. Instead, the data showed that text‐based communication indirectly fostered willingness to adhere to physical distancing through the pathway of increased feelings of social support and life satisfaction. Three follow‐up surveys (N = 180) revealed that while feelings of social support increased, people's technology‐based communication and willingness to adhere to distancing measures decreased. Our results challenge the assumption that audio‐visual communication compensates for lack of physical contact more effectively than text‐based communication. This study highlights the potential of text‐based communication to increase feelings of social support, which may be particularly important during a pandemic.


We present an analysis of the energy and frequency dependence of the Fourier time lags of the hectoHertz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) and of the QPOs at the frequency at which the power density spectrum shows a break in the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53, using a large data set obtained with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. We found that: (i) For the break frequency QPO: for low frequencies, in general the time lag is positive, but it is decreasing with increasing frequency, reaching zero lag at 20 Hz. Between 20 and 35 Hz there is a small fluctuation around zero, from where the time lags become positive again and increase slightly above zero up to 65 Hz. (ii) For the hHz QPO: we see that when the frequency is 100 Hz the time lag is negative, but it increases to zero already at 110 Hz, being consistent with this value up to 130 Hz from where it increases to 0.5 msec at around 140 Hz. From 140 Hz the time lag decreases sharply, being strongly negative for hHz greater than 220 Hz. We compare these lags with our previous results for the lags of the kiloHertz QPOs in this same source and discuss possible scenarios for producing the lags in this system in the context of reflection off the accretion disc or (up-)down-scattering in a hot medium close to the neutron star.


If you'd rather schedule a root canal than speak in front of an audience, you're in good company. Sir Winston Churchill, a master of oratory, is known to have said, "There are only a few things in life from which I derive intense pleasure--speaking is not one of them!" Still, Churchill overcame a lisp and the lack of a university education to lead England for nine crucial years. Your own goals may not include leading a nation at war, but if you are going to do some public speaking you will want the full attention of your audience. You will need to earn their confidence to get your points across so they learn what you intend them to. To do this, you must take the time to prepare your presentation. GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY WANT First, make sure you know your audience. Learn who the decision makers are. What are their needs and concerns? Their hot buttons? Find out what motivates them and how they make decisions. When possible, ask someone who will be present about what the important topics and concerns are. Let your contact know your goal is to make the presentation as informative as possible. Find out what your audience already thinks about the topic. For example, if your talk is about building a personal financial planning practice, experts may let you know that CPAs are concerned about potential liability exposure. Determine the common ground you share with your audience. If you are a CPA in practice speaking to managing partners, share war stories. Appeal to their intelligence and emotions--you will have to reach both to make your presentation work. Know your purpose. Choose the burning issue, the key point. What do you want the audience to do or think after they have listened to you? Integrate your purpose with what you know the audience needs to ensure your theme is on target. State your strategic ideas and support them. MAP IT OUT When you prepare your presentation, remember to divide your time into three blocks of 20%, 70% and 10%. Use the first segment of your presentation as an introduction that will grab your audience's attention. Preview your presentation's highlights in order. If you have not been introduced, introduce yourself and explain how your credentials make you an expert on your subject. Open strong! Use a question, a statistic or a quotation from someone your audience recognizes and respects. You can make a promise or a prediction, or offer a relevant anecdote to enliven your message. * Use 70% of your time on the main body of the presentation. Always split this segment into distinct parts (the problems experienced by lack of staff, the recommendation to hire new staff, the positive results you anticipate); put these parts into logical order and offer convincing support for each. * Leave 10% of the time for your conclusion. Support your purpose with a new idea--don't repeat yourself--and tell your audience what to do to make it happen. Use the three-part rule as a general guide, whether your presentation is 10 minutes or one hour long. If you can choose the amount of time you have, keep the presentation short and to the point. Take to heart the wisdom of Mark Twain: "A sermon loses its power after 20 minutes." BE PREPARED If you plan to use visual aids, such as a Power Point presentation, keep them simple. Ask yourself how your visuals support or strengthen your purpose. Don't use slides that simply repeat what you are saying. A picture or graphic works vastly better than a visual composed of text. As an anonymous orator aptly said, "A presentation is not an essay on its hind legs." * Keep in mind the 6 x 6 rule. No more than six words across or six lines down for slides or Power Point presentations! You don't want your audience to be reading too much information while you are speaking. * Don't overdo. Consider the hapless manager who arrived for his presentation for the CEO with two bags full of transparencies. …


The incorporation of cage-like silsesquioxanes (SQ) to form polymers has demonstrated property enhancements in areas such as: thermal and mechanical characteristics, flame retardance, dielectric properties, and oxidative resistance. However, with most of hybrids investigated, the attached SQs are pendant with respect to the reaction site, thus mechanical performance did not take full advantage about the rigid nature of SQ core. A recently developed class of these nano-structured, cage-like silsesquioxanes, formally known as double decker silsesquioxanes (DDSQ), offers the opportunity to form hybrids with the SQ cage as the bridge between multiple reaction sites. This advancement provided a unique opportunity to form networks with Si-O core connecting those reaction junctions, which may positively affect the mechanical performance on thermosetting polymers. It was discovered during the capping reaction, these functionalized DDSQs generate cis and trans isomers with respect to the 3D Si-O core. In addition meta- and para- functional groups may be used to form hybrid reacting monomer mixture containing six different isomers. Depending on the relative ratio of isomers in the mixture, viscosity can be well controlled with no effect on the reaction mechanism and kinetics. Therefore, it is expect to improve the processing of high temperature oligoimide resins while improve thermoxidative stability (TOS) of organic networks. Synthesis details, different methods of incorporating DDSQ mixtures and their TOS performance were presented.


The oxidation of UO2 powder and ceramic has been studied in the (Li–Na–K)2CO3 eutectic melt containing added potassium chlorate between 723 and 873 K. Complete oxidation of the powder could be achieved at 723 K and with KClO3:UO2 mole ratios between 0.25 and 0.3. Potassium monouranate was formed in the reaction and no chlorine was liberated. Although 723 K is some 50 K above the starting temperature for decomposition of KClO3 in air, tests showed that in the ternary carbonate eutectic less than 10% had decomposed in the first 30 min. Comparison with the oxidation of UO2 by KNO3, the previous best known oxidant under similar conditions, showed that the efficiency of KClO3 as an oxidising agent for UO2 powder was greater at 723 K. KClO3 was also better than KNO3 for the oxidation of ceramic UO2 at 723 K, but the reaction was not complete at this temperature, even at KClO3:UO2 mole ratios up to 3.8. Attempts to achieve complete reaction by increasing the temperature were unsuccessful because the KClO3 now decomposed too rapidly.


In this paper, the fractional-order mathematical model and the fractional-order state-space averaging model of the Buck–Boost converter in continuous conduction mode (CCM) are established based on the fractional calculus and the Adomian decomposition method. Some dynamical properties of the current-mode controlled fractional-order Buck– Boost converter are analysed. The simulation is accomplished by using SIMULINK. Numerical simulations are presented to verify the analytical results and we find that bifurcation points will be moved backward as and vary. At the same time, the simulation results show that the converter goes through different routes to chaos.


The Green Bank Telescope Monitor and Control software group adopted object-oriented design techniques as implemented in C++. The OO approach has led to a fairly coherent software system and a fair amount of module (class) reuse. Many devices (front-ends, spectrometers, LO's, etc.) share the same software structure, and implementing new devices in the latter part of the project has been relatively easy, as is to be hoped with an OO design. One disadvantage of a long design phase is that it is hard to evaluate progress and to have much sense for how the design satisfies the real user needs. The OO process is only as good at the requirement specifications, and the process has had to deal with continually emerging requirements all though the analysis, design, and implementation phases. Large and medium scale tests of the system in the midst of the implementation phase have required quite a bit of time and coordination effort. This has tended to inhibit progress evaluations.


INTRODUCTION
Cutaneous or umbilical endometriosis is a rare entity that is often overlooked because of chronic abdominal pain. We present a case of umbilical hernia that presented to the general surgeons due to chronic abdominal pain and nodule in the umbilicus, which was clinically diagnosed as umbilical papilloma.

CASE PRESENTATION
A 48-year old multiparous Caucasian woman presented with painful nodule in the umbilicus for two and half years. The nodule was excised and the histopathological diagnosis was umbilicus endometriosis.

CONCLUSION
Umbilical endometriosis is a very rare disease but should be considered as a differential diagnosis in women presenting with umbilical swelling.


For the simulation of soft tissue deformation Finite ElementMethod (FEM) has been the technique which achieves most physicallyrealistic behaviour. However to provide stable force feedback,high refresh rates are needed which makes the use of FEMnon-trivial.To solve the challenge of the compromise between speed and realism,asynchronous regions which solves different parts of the modelwith different frequencies and different resolutions are used. Thelocal neighbourhood of the contact is solved with higher frequencyand resolution while the more remote regions are solved with lowerfrequency and resolutions. Different solution methods, implicit andexplicit, can be used to solve different regions and the size of theregions can be adapted depending on the strain to maximize theefficiency.


All nominal species of European Helicopsyche are critically assessed. A neotype for H. shuttleworthi Siebold, 1856, the type species of Helicopsyche, is designated which fixes the name as a valid senior synonym of H. revelieri McLachlan, 1884 and H. corsica Vaillant, 1953. The senior synonym Helicopsyche helicifex (Allen, 1857) is suggested to replace H. sericea Hagen, 1864 and H. lusitanica McLachlan, 1884, and the senior synonym Helicopsyche crispata (Benoit, 1857) to replace H. agglutinans (Tassinari, 1858) and H. sperata McLachlan, 1876. Helicopsyche fannii Rougemont, 1879 is a nomen nudum. The females of Helicopsyche helicifex and H. megalochari Malicky, 1974 are described for the first time. The first keys to males and females of the European Helicopsyche are presented.


The trajectories of heavy particles (ρparticle/ρfluid>>1) are simulated in a two-dimensional free vortex flow. The results show that heavy particles, even with small diameters, cannot properly trace the fluid and develop a centrifugal motion. This behaviour leads to a rapid depletion of particles in the vortex core, which, in seed-dependent measurements such as particle image velocimetry (PIV) or laser Doppler velocimetry, produces a marked increase in measurement errors. Some examples are given and the evolution of the local concentration of particles is simulated. Synthetic images have been generated using the information about its motion in a two-dimensional free vortex flow. A wing-tip vortex is simulated, showing good agreement with experimental results present in the literature. Standard PIV measurements have been performed over the synthetic images, showing the effect of core depletion of particles on the incidence of erroneous measurements.


Since long the main interest of psychiatric clinical research has been the determination of character-changes in Janz' typus of the sleep-epileptic, who shows a specific inclination to what is low down, and therefrom calls him and ties him up. Smerdjakoff is this epileptic-prototype. He is linked to what is low down. His height is only pseudo-height. His crisis consists mainly in the threat of being dragged away from the height he claims, i.e. when he deteriorates to mediocracy. Then sadism in its typical aggression shows up--which converts the epileptic in one of the most dangerous psychotic persons.


The Interactive Learning Technology Laboratory of the State University of New York at Oswego has developed a Tablet PC-based, ink-input enabled learning utility that will aid students in learning the UML syntax as well as teachers in critiquing UML diagrams designed by students. This is intended to enhance the learning and teaching experience regarding UML using non-traditional interfaces. As a merely ink-based application, SketchUML is a novel approach in penbased user interfaces. As such, the usability of it has not been assessed. This study addresses the question of usability of non-hybrid, ink-only, non-traditional interfaces by conducting usability tests. The collected data shows that ink-only interfaces facilitate learning in non-expert users and do not hinder the usability and learnability of these interfaces and allow for an enhanced learning experience.


This paper describes the tests and measurements made during the final commissioning with beams of the ALICE Silicon Pixel Detector (SPD) in the first year of operation and the optimization of its performance. The ALICE Silicon Pixel Detector (SPD) is the innermost detector of the ALICE experiment and therefore plays a key role for vertexing and tracking. It consists of two cylindrical layers of pixel detectors, with a total of ∼ 107 pixels. The detector provides a prompt trigger signal that contributes to the first level trigger decision in ALICE. The trigger signal has been extensively used in the first trigger level of the ALICE experiment for recording data of proton-proton collisions at energies of 900 GeV, 2.36 TeV and 7 TeV.


A technique has been developed to design a maximum efficiency reliable pressure vessel of given geometry and service life. The technique for ensuring reliability of the minimum weight vessel relies on the application of linear elastic fracture mechanics and fracture mechanics concepts. The resultant design incorporates potential fatigue and stress corrosion crack extension during service of a worst case initial flaw. Maximum stress for safe life is specified by the design technique, thereby minimizing weight. Ratios of pressure and toughness parameters are employed to avoid arbitrary specification of design stress level which would lead to a suboptimum design.


today to read documents having different extension, a user need to install different application which can open those documents. Let's take an example if a user wants to view a word document than there should be MS Office installed on his/her own PC. In addition, to view PDF file, there must be Adobe PDF Reader installed. Similar is the case with Multimedia files. We need to again install different software applications. Now just for viewing all these files, installing all such application would be hectic and cumbersome task as it utilizes many PC resources like hard disk space, CPU memory etc. In addition, if a user subscribed to a licensed version of this software/application than there is large cost involved in it. Keeping all the above said problems in mind, we decided to build such an application that would include all these applications. The Global File Reader will be combination of Notepad, MS Word, Web Browser, Image Viewer, Media Player and Adobe PDF Reader. Using Global File Reader, a user will be able to view all different, most common file formats. The main USP of Global File Reader is that it can open almost all the types of documents and multimedia files under it. The tabbed feature allows you to open different files retaining or without closing the previous one. The Global File Reader is one man show i.e. what all different applications, text editors, media players do, it does all. It is integration or consolidation of all different applications. Keywords— GFR (Global file reader); MS word; Adobe PDF reader; Web Browser; MDI (Multiple Document Interface)


The Brook rearrangement of simple, chiral tertiary benzylic α-hydroxysilanes is presented. The rearrangement followed by proton trapping is enantiospecific and proceeds with inversion of configuration at the carbon center. Importantly, the [1,2]-Brook rearrangement can be followed by trapping of methyl or allyl electrophiles even in the protic environment, although with minimal retention of chirality.


Abstract Two different genotypes of Pinus massoniana seedlings (aluminum-resistant FJ5 and aluminum-sensitive GD20) were used, the effects of different exogenous malic acid (0.00, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, 0.16 mmol·L−1) on the growth attributes of P. massoniana seedlings treated by the Al3+ concentration of 0.8 mmol·L−1 were studied, to provide a basis for the growth in acidified soil. In our experiment, the seedling growth was inhibited by Al3+ treatment. After treatment with a low concentration of exogenous malic acid, the activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaves were enhanced, the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O2−·), malondialdehyde (MDA) and osmotic adjustment substances were reduced accordingly. GD20 exhibited more severe changes compared with FJ5. The larger ones of the contribution rates of the indices in principal component analysis were H2O2, Glutathione Reductase (GR). These results indicated that Al3+ with high concentration inhibits the growth of P. massoniana. Malic acid could effectively alleviate the toxicity, and the mitigation effect on the aluminum-sensitive species, which genotype is more sensitive to the response of Al3+ toxicity, was more effective than that on the aluminum-resistant. How to select and cultivate more resistant species, by using the main parameter (H2O2 and GR), is worthy in further study.


We demonstrated a reproducible and accurate way for adjusting wavelength of mismatched twin-core filters over few hundred nanometers from the same fibre design. The wavelength control together with strength control by fibre length adjustment allows complex filter profiles to be implemented by cascading. These filters are highly stable to changes in temperature and strain.


Incorporating site-specific microbial processes may improve models of carbon (C) and nutrient cycling across terrestrial ecosystems. To better understand the concentrations and stoichiometry of C, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in soil microbial biomass, we compiled and analyzed the existing published data on microbial C, N and P in soils spanning the global range of land-use types (forest, grassland, paddy, upland and orchard) and soil types based on Harmonized World Soil Database (FAO/IIASA/ISRIC/ISSCAS/JRC, 2012). It was found that the microbial stoichiometry had some flexibility under various environmental conditions. Flooded paddy soil had the highest C:N ratio of soil microbes among the global land-use types while C:P and N:P ratios highlighted the differences between forest and grassland, following upland field, and paddy or orchard fields. Agricultural soils (except paddy) had significantly lower C, N and P concentrations in soil microbial biomass than natural land-use, indicating large anthropogenic effects (e.g., land management). The spatial patterns of microbial-C and nutrient ratios differed considerably among soil types. For global microbial C:N ratio, the geometric mean varied from maximum 12.7 for Phaeozems to minimum 5.8 for Podzols. The microbial N:P ratio for Andosols was significantly higher than other soils. The consistency of this pattern in plant-soil-microbe ecosystems supports that P is often the major limiting element for Andosols. Meanwhile, higher concentrations of microbial-N and P may relate to high soil water contents, i.e., low permeability soils of Gleysols and Fluvisols. In this study, we provide more reliable parameters to determine soil microbial properties especially in agricultural land-use, i.e., Andosols mainly used for upland fields and Fluvisols used for paddy fields, as there are no existing data available.


Chemical sensors for cells, viruses and enzymes based on QCMs and SAWs were developed for applications in medicine, biotechnology and biological warfare control. Soft-lithography is a tool for patterning polymer films on the transducers by a self-organisation process around the biological analytes. Fast sensor responses within a few minutes enable us to characterize biological particles even in a complex matrix as plant sap or blood. Thus, the geometry and surface properties of the resulting pits are decisive for e.g. the selective re-inclusion of cells and their mass sensitive detection. Furthermore even blood groups and the different serotypes of e.g. rhino viruses can be distinguished.


How to reduce the energy consumption and also have better living environment is the critical issue of ventilation solutions in the sustainable building view. Taiwan is located in subtropical region, and the situation is very typical hot and humid living environment. The design strategies for the sustainable buildings were not only aimed to lower the temperature and reduce the moisture in summer, but also the ventilated strategies ought to be in connection with the different weather conditions. It is great beneficial on utilizing the natural ventilation, driven by the natural forces such as wind-power and gravity (stack effect), to save the energy consumption of air conditioning and to maintain healthy indoor-environment. This study tried to conduct the solutions of natural ventilation strategy in the new experimental building, which was built for the research of sustainable living in Taiwan. Four different types of natural ventilation systems were taken to be installed in eight rooms with the same characteristics, including room volume, openings, shapes, furniture and bathroom. The wind tower with stack effect, large openings with proper porous screen, elevated floor with thin and thick local marbles and the opening shutters to control wind direction were the ventilation variables in the experimental building. Room temperature, relative humidity, indoor wind velocity and IAQ factors were all measured for at least one week to monitor long term data and adjust the variations of microclimate influences. The CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) techniques were also used to be the visualization of numerical calculations, and compared with the measured results. The questionnaire and living diary were all taken down after the daily living to analyze the psychological and physiological perspectives. Results show the better natural ventilated situations firstly depended on the all year round wind direction, outdoor air quality and the building design. There should be different solutions in summertime and wintertime, which were more flexible and controllable to adjust comprehensive situations. Furthermore, thermal comfort was the second concerned issue decided the ventilation rate and ventilation efficiency in different season. In comparison with ISO 7730 and ASHRAE standard 55-2004, people usual live in high temperature and humidity level appear to stand higher thermal level than people live in frigid region. Therefore, the natural ventilation system should follow up the thermal comfort to decide, and to be carefully control in health aspects for IAQ issues. According to one year monitoring, conclusions can be conducted as the whole flooring displacement ventilation system with the mass cooling effect is the most suitable and effective ventilation strategy. The transom openings are also needed to be the air outlet, which can be opened in different season.


Summary The Upshaw Schulman syndrome (MIM #274150) is a hereditary deficiency of the von Willebrand factor cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) due to homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the ADAMTS13 gene. Patients are prone to bouts of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. However, disease manifestation needs a second trigger event. Pregnancy is a known risk factor for TTP. Patients with USS may manifest during pregnancy and the postpartum period or relapse with a TTP bout. Before plasma therapy mortality for both the mother and the fetus was high, but even nowadays when plasma is delivered, therapy is challenging, still bearing a high risk for miscarriage or long term sequelae for the mother. In this report on pregnancies in three mothers with USS, plasma therapy was increased in frequency and amount given with regard to platelet count or ADAMTS13 activity, thus leading to a successful outcome.


Considerable taxonomic confusion exists regarding many species of Cantharellus. Several taxa have been classified in either Cantharellus or Craterellus depending on which morphological characters were emphasised. Recent phylogenetic studies based on sequence analyses suggest that some species now classified in Cantharellus should be in Craterellus. We extracted DNA from dried herbarium specimens and amplified, sequenced and cladistically analysed approximately 650 bp of the 5' end of the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA gene. Our data confirm earlier results and provide molecular evidence for the classification of additional Cantharellus species (Ca. ignicolor and Ca. lutescens) within Craterellus. Furthermore, the data enable us to predict that all Leptocantharellus-like species currently classified within Cantharellus are more accurately classified within Craterellus. The species complexes of Cr. tubaeformis and Cr. cornucopioides were also investigated. These analyses did not support the monophyly of Ca. tubaeformis but the hypothesis that colour varieties of Cr. cornucopioides represent separate species was rejected.


Background: Pregabalin is a novel drug used as an adjunct to multimodal analgesia for reducing post-operative pain. We aimed to compare the efficacy and side effects of two different pre-emptive doses of pregabalin (75 mg vs. 150 mg) for attenuation of postoperative pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective randomized study where 70 patients planned for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) were enrolled and received a pre-emptive dose of oral pregabalin. Group A received 75 mg and Group B received 150 mg of Pregabalin (PGB) 1 hour before surgery. Assessment of static and dynamic pain was done at 0, 0-4, 4-8, 8-12, 12-16, 16-24 hours post-surgery using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Score. Adverse effects like postoperative nausea and vomiting (0-6 hr), headache, sedation, and respiratory depression (0-24 hr) were assessed at regular intervals. Results: There was no significant difference in static and dynamic pain perception at different timed intervals between the two groups. Even the total analgesic requirement in both groups was comparable. The incidence of Postoperative Nausea Vomiting (PONV) (p-value 0.04 ) and headache (P-value 0.034) were statistically significant in Group B when compared to Group A. Conclusion: Preemptive PGB (75 mg) had a lesser incidence of PONV and headache. Therefore, from our results, we can conclude that a lower dose of PGB has lesser adverse effects, although the analgesic effects are comparable.


This paper sought to investigate determinants of farmers' compliance with coffee eco-certification standards in Mt. Kenya region. Socio-economic, institutional and farm factors were analyzed and the binary logistic regression model was used to predict factors enhancing compliance. The findings show that perception of benefits, coffee as the main source of income, annual coffee production, and the number of times a farmer sprayed annually; were the main drivers of compliance. The findings point towards a growing concern that certification projects focus on 'progressive' farmers rather than seek to uplift and integrate 'weak' farmers. This calls for concerted efforts among all key stakeholders to enhance inclusivity and participation.


To utilize germplasm resources effectively in breeding it is necessary to characterize and evaluate genotypes for desirable traits. In the case of factors related to grain yield under drought, it must be determined whether simply measured morphological or physiological characters can be used to identify genotypes worthy of further evaluation. To that end, 4300 durum wheat (L. var. durum) genotypes were studied under rainfed conditions on a Swinton loam soil (Aridic Haploborall) at Swift Current, SK, Canada. Heading date, visual scores of leaf rolling, leaf size, glaucousness, maturity, agronomic suitability, and residual (cuticular) transpiration rate (Rt) of excised leaves were measured in 1984. Selected subsets of genotypes were studied further in 1985 through 1987. Superior agronomic score in 1984, a dry season, was most effective for selection of genotypes with high grain-yield potential in 1985 (very dry), but not in 1986 (above average precipitation). Mean yield of genotypes selected on the basis of agronomic score and on agronomic score plus heading date was 18 and 27% greater (P < 0.01), respectively, than the mean of the unselected population. Elimination of genotypes with high Rt was associated with improved yield potential in 1985, while low Rt was associated with low yield potential in 1986. Screening for Rt was not worthwhile, given that most of the high-Rt genotypes could be effectively eliminated on the basis of poor agronomic score. Glaucousness was not a useful selection criterion since ≈93% of the genotypes were glaucous. It was concluded that visual rating of germplasm collections under dry growing conditions would be an effective means of identifying genotypes worthy of further study.


Atrial flutter is an uncommon arrhythmia in children. The presenting features and treatment responses of two fetuses and six children with atrial flutter were presented. Two patients were diagnosed prenatally at 31 and 35 weeks' gestation. One patient was successfully controlled in utero by maternal administration of digoxin and the other by direct current cardioversion after delivery. Two fetuses and 2 of 6 children had normal cardiac structure by echocardiogram. Three patients had right atrial enlargement due to atrial primun septal defect, secundum atrial septal defect with primary pulmonary hypertension, and endomyocardial fibrosis. One patient developed atrial flutter with sinus node dysfunction after surgical correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Four cases presented as atrial flutter with regular atrioventricular conduction (2:1 or 3:1 conduction) while the remainder presented with irregular atrioventricular conduction. Heart failure was presented in two patients and improved after the arrhythmias were controlled. Successful termination of atrial flutter was accomplished by using DC cardioversion in 4 patients and one patient converted to normal sinus rhythm following combination of digoxin and amiodarone administration. Digoxin was administered for one year as the prophylactic medication in six patients. None had recurrence of atrial flutter during the follow-up period of one to four years. Two patients required chronic digoxin and amiodarone therapy. We concluded that atrial flutter in fetuses and early childhood carries a good prognosis. Acute treatment with direct current cardioversion is sufficient in most patients, combination of digoxin and amiodarone may be an alternative therapy to convert atrial flutter.


You're no idiot, of course. You read the classifieds every day, call your career counselors by their first names, and even help your friends write winning resumes. But when it comes to composing a fantastic cover letter, you feel like someone just slammed the job-opportunity door on your foot. Don't give up yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Cover Letter shows you how to write a cover letter taht convinces employers to call you for an interview. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:


The magnetism of solid solution Yi1−xLaxCo9Si4 between strongly enhanced Pauli paramagnetic LaCo9Si4 and weakly ferromagnetic YCo9Si4 has been investigated. The Curie temperature TC in the ferromagnetic region and the metamagnetic transition field HM in the paramagnetic region change continuously against x and approach zero at the same composition x ≊ 0.15, suggesting the presence of a critical point from spontaneous to field-induced ferromagnetism.


A new universal binary code for the positive integers is proposed as a modified version of M. Wang's (see ibid., vol.34, p.324-6, Mar. 1988) flag encoding scheme. The codeword length of the new scheme is shorter than Wang's, on an average, for large initial segments of the positive integers. The performance of the new scheme is also compared with that of other universal schemes. Furthermore, it is shown that an asymptotically optimal code can be achieved by modifying the new flag scheme such that the flag length varies dynamically. >


Triacylglycerol (TG) is the major form of stored energy in eukaryotic organisms and is synthesized by two distinct acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzymes, DGAT1 and DGAT2. Both DGAT enzymes reside in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but DGAT2 also co-localizes with mitochondria and lipid droplets. In this report, we demonstrate that murine DGAT2 is part of a multimeric complex consisting of several DGAT2 subunits. We also identified the region of DGAT2 responsible for its localization to the ER. A DGAT2 mutant lacking both its transmembrane domains, although still associated with membranes, was absent from the ER and instead localized to mitochondria. Unexpectedly, this mutant was still active and capable of interacting with lipid droplets to promote TG storage. Additional experiments indicated that the ER targeting signal was present in the first transmembrane domain (TMD1) of DGAT2. When fused to a fluorescent reporter, TMD1, but not TMD2, was sufficient to target mCherry to the ER. Finally, the interaction of DGAT2 with lipid droplets was dependent on the C terminus of DGAT2. DGAT2 mutants, in which regions of the C terminus were either truncated or specific regions were deleted, failed to co-localize with lipid droplets when cells were oleate loaded to stimulate TG synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that DGAT2 is capable of catalyzing TG synthesis and promote its storage in cytosolic lipid droplets independent of its localization in the ER.


Mental illnesses are prevalent worldwide, especially in the underdeveloped countries of the South Asian region, particularly in women, where they largely remain unaddressed. Evidence from the South Asian region indicates that there is a high burden of mental disorders in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. Mental health problems during pregnancy and in the postpartum period are twice as common in LMICs as compared to HICs. Interventions delivered by community health workers (CHWs) in many health delivery and promotive initiatives have played a vital role in improving mental health. CHW-based interventions are cost-effective, efficient and acceptable for the local people and can strengthen the overall health system. This review aimed to explore integration of maternal mental health into existing maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) programs so that delivery of mental health interventions can be done alongside MNCH interventions. Integrating maternal mental health programmes into existing MNCH programs and using digital platforms for expanding their delivery through CHWs, lay counsellors, and other frontline health workers can prove to be a promising strategy. Even though mHealth platforms for addressing a variety of health issues have been widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of digital platforms for addressing maternal mental health issues remains inadequate.


The aim of our study was to review the outcome of hip screening ultrasound scan in high risk babies for further evaluation


The evolution of the western Mediterranean basin is considered. The Provence basin results from the Oligocene migration of Corsica and Sardinia southeastwards. The North African basin was created by the dislocation of an 'internal zone plate' by the mechanism invoked by Karig. Lower or middle Miocene squeezing of the internal zones against the North African platform caused ejection of the flysch nappes.


Introduction Electoral Rules and Party Strategy Demographics and Policy Party Factions Party Organization Political Structure and Bureaucratic Incentives Bureaucratic Manipulation Political Structure and Judicial Incentives Judicial Manipulation Conclusion: Political Markets and Electoral Change Notes Reference Index


The deformation history of the Neoproterozoic Central African Orogenic Belt in southern Cameroon is well recorded in the low- to high-grade rocks outcropping in the area around Yaounde. The fabrics in these rocks are con- sistent with two main ductile deformation events D1 and D2 .D 1 predated emplacement of calc-alkaline dioritic bodies and caused the formation of nappes that resulted in high-pressure granulite metamorphism of soft sediments. A strong overprinting of these nappes during D2 symmetric extension, probably associated with large-scale foliation boudinage and (or) gneissic doming and intense magmatic underplating, gave rise to regional flat-lying fabrics. The latter were further buckled by D3 and D4 folding phases defining a vertical constriction occurring with a major east-west to NW- SE shortening direction. The corresponding F3 and F4 folds trend north-south to NE-SW and east-west to NW-SE, respectively, and represent the main regional strain patterns. Based on the east-west to NW-SE maximum shortening orientation indicated by F3 folds, it is proposed that the nappe-stacking phase D 1 occurred in the same direction. The deformation history in the area can thus be described as corresponding principally to alternating east-west to NW-SE contractions and north-south to NE-SW orogenic-parallel extensions. At the regional scale, this could be due to the Transaharan east-west collisional system.


The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift in the delivery of patient care, with telehealth rapidly scaled to facilitate access to care while reducing risks of COVID-19 transmission. In this paper, we present an overview of key findings regarding telehealth use from a large program of work examining the impact of the pandemic on general practice activity in Australia. Our findings demonstrate the pivotal role telehealth played in enabling patient access to care during the first two years of the pandemic. Importantly, however, we identified several facets of telehealth use including equitable access, workflow and infrastructure, and adequate funding, which require attention to optimise telehealth services in practice.


Cefepime has been examined for stability, potential liberation of degradation products and compatibility with other drugs under conditions mimicking its potential use by continuous infusion in cystic fibrosis and intensive care patients (5-12% w/v solutions; temperatures from 20 to 37 degrees C; 1 h contact at 25 degrees C with other drugs frequently co-administered by intravenous route to these types of patients). Ceftazidime was used as a comparator based on a previous normative study with this antibiotic for the same indications. Based on a limit of max. 10% degradation, cefepime can be considered stable for a maximum of 24 h at 25 degrees C, but for only approximately 14 h at 30 degrees C, and for <10 h at 37 degrees C. Cefepime released so far unidentified degradation products if maintained at >30 degrees C for >12 h as shown from a marked increase in pH and from the development of a strong red-purple colour. Incompatibilities were observed with erythromycin, propofol, midazolam, phenytoin, piritramide, theophylline, nicardipine, N-acetylcysteine and a concentrated solution of dobutamine. We conclude that: (i) cefepime cannot be used safely by continuous infusion if containers are kept for more than a few hours at 37 degrees C (as will be the case for cystic fibrosis patients if using portable pumps carried under clothes); (ii) caution must be exercised in intensive care patients if the temperature and co-administration of other drugs is not kept under tight control. The nature and safety of the cefepime degradation products need to be studied further.


The last decade has seen a veritable resurgence of the theme of habit in philosophical and critical debates. While for decades the preference had been accorded to either the active forces of will and desire or the contingency and abruptness of the Event, thinkers have recently come back to habit from different paths and perspectives (Bennett et al.; Sparrow and Hutchinson; Carlisle). The polarization of attention around the theme of habit almost seems to mirror the veritable explosion of the discourse on habit which took place about two centuries ago. Even though the philosophical reflection on habit can be traced at least as far back as Aristotle it was at the end of the eighteenth century and in the early nineteenth century that the theme of habit, as asserted in the entry habitude of the Encyclopedie Philosophique Universelle, became "a new philosophical challenge" as an effect of "the refusal of innate ideas; the sensualist project deriving the modes of understanding from experience (generally exterior experience); the refusal, finally, of Hume's category of causality and its reduction to pure habit" (1108; my translation). In France, habit was an extremely popular theme among spiritualist or proto-spiritualist philosophers such as Maine de Biran and Ravaisson, who considered it the bridge between spirit and matter. In Germany, Hegel tackled the problem of habit in The Philosophy of Right, making it the basis of custom on which a true ethical life is grounded. In Italy, reprehensible antisocial habits fell under the magnifying glass of the Turin positivist school and became a pivotal part of Lombroso's analysis of the criminal mind. In the English speaking world, Samuel Butler (1835-1902) was probably the most original contributor to the debate on habit in the second part of the nineteenth century. He used the notion of habit to challenge Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, conceiving habit as the channel through which unconscious memory can be passed down from one generation to the next, preserved in the experience of the species and its determination to evolve into more complex forms (see Willey). Samuel Butler's theories have been widely disregarded among professional philosophers, because of his idiosyncratic and counter-intuitive use of the notion of habit and due to the fact that his arguments have often been seen as amateurish. Nonetheless, several leading twentieth-century thinkers, such as Gregory Bateson and Gilles Deleuze, have repeatedly extolled the visionary power of Butler's ideas and admitted their debts towards them. Moreover, Butler's theories of habit were influential among several modernist writers, such as H. G. Wells, Virginia Woolf, Valery Larbaud, and E. M. Forster and they contributed both to these authors' understanding of the crisis of modern subjectivity and to their attention for the representation of habitual behavior and the everyday. In this paper I intend to demonstrate how Butler's theory of habit--in particular as it is presented in his seminal work Life and Habit--once it is disentangled from the anti-Darwinian debates on the theory of evolution from which it first emerged, can offer a considerable contribution to the contemporary philosophical debate and allow a better understanding of the history of the idea of habit at the turn of the century. Moreover, I intend to show how the import of these ideas was promptly acknowledge by several modernist writers, who turned to Butler in an effort to investigate the habitual side of life through their characters. In doing so, they were moved by the belief that the modern ethos, as well as the modern idea of subjectivity, could find their proper mode of expression precisely in that previously neglected dimension of life. Butler's theory of habit stems from the heated late nineteenth-century debate concerning Darwinism and the theory of evolution. Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (Willey 70 and ff.) had a pivotal influence on Butler's life and thought, determining his abandonment of the Christian faith and his conversion to agnosticism. …


Abstract The validity, reliability and factor structure of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Behaviour Checklist-Revised (ASDBC-R) were measured in a sample of 140 boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) aged between 6 and 18 years. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was satisfactory and the ASDBC-R significantly correlated with the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Factor analysis of the ASDBC-R revealed a five-factor solution, which included all of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ASD but with considerable overlap across criteria and factors. Agreement between ASDBC-R factors and SRS subscales was significant for three ASDBC-R factors but only marginal for the remaining two factors. Results indicated that the ASDBC-R could be used to develop targeted behavioural treatment plans for children with ASD across a range of settings, thus improving the development of individualised interventions for children with ASD.


Abstract Data documenting the occurrence of epiphytic bryophytes in the urban forests of the Wroclaw city were collected and reported for the first time. Research was carried out in 2015-2016, in forest areas situated within the city administrative boundaries, to find whether some epiphytic species reported from the Wroclaw environs in the 19th century and presently considered to be primeval forest relicts occur in urban forests. The survey was carried out using the established network of 50 study plots randomly scattered within the urban forested areas. In total 42 species (4 liverworts and 38 mosses) were recorded on 467 trees; three of them are primeval forest relicts. In this paper, the host-tree preferences, distribution in the individual forests, relative frequency, abundance and exposure to compass directions of the studied taxa are analysed. Of the species described, only 17 are obligatory epiphytes, while 22 of them are character forest species. However, 82% of the latter were noted on a small number of tree trunks. Two moss taxa, Hypnum cupressiforme and Platygyrium repens, were most frequently found (on 76 and 50% of the trees, respectively). Among the species recorded in the studied area, there are five that have been showing some expansive tendencies in Europe in recent decades. The potential ability of these species to spread in urban areas is discussed in relation to their general ecological requirements.


We characterize the "best" model geometries for the class of virtually free groups, and we show that there is a countable infinity of distinct "best" model geometries in an appropriate sense–these are the maximally symmetric trees. The first theorem gives several equivalent conditions on a bounded valence, cocompact tree T without valence 1 vertices saying that T is maximally symmetric. The second theorem gives general constructions for maximally symmetric trees, showing for instance that every virtually free group has a maximally symmetric tree for a model geometry.


We investigate X-ray binary (XRB) luminosity function (XLF) scaling relations for Chandra-detected populations of low-mass XRBs (LMXBs) within the footprints of 24 early-type galaxies. Our sample includes Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope observed galaxies at Mpc that have estimates of the globular cluster (GC) specific frequency (SN) reported in the literature. As such, we are able to directly classify X-ray-detected sources as being coincident with unrelated background/foreground objects, GCs, or sources that are within the fields of the galaxy targets. We model the GC and field LMXB population XLFs for all galaxies separately and then construct global models characterizing how the LMXB XLFs vary with galaxy stellar mass and SN. We find that our field LMXB XLF models require a component that scales with SN and has a shape consistent with that found for the GC LMXB XLF. We take this to indicate that GCs are "seeding" the galactic field LMXB population, through the ejection of GC LMXBs and/or the diffusion of the GCs in the galactic fields themselves. However, we also find that an important LMXB XLF component is required for all galaxies that scales with stellar mass, implying that a substantial population of LMXBs are formed "in situ," which dominates the LMXB population emission for galaxies with SN ≲ 2. For the first time, we provide a framework quantifying how directly associated GC LMXBs, GC-seeded LMXBs, and in situ LMXBs contribute to LMXB XLFs in the broader early-type galaxy population.