Objective: To evaluate the effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in the promotion of distal limb wound defects healing in donkeys. Design: A randomized experimental design Animals: Twelve clinically healthy male donkeys, weighing, 130–230 kg and aged 4 –5 years were allocated into three groups(4 animals/each) and undergo a 6cm2 (2cm X 3cm) 2 wound defects on the dorsolateral surface of right metacarpal and metatarsal regions for each donkey. Control (group A): the wound defects   were left for spontaneous healing. In groups B and C, the wound defects were treated with either one application of PRF (B) or with three consecutive applications of PRF (a week interval) (C). Wound defects healing were evaluated clinically, histologically and immunohistochemically, in addition to gene expression patterns of angiogenic and myofibroblastic genes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), collagen type 3 α1 (COL3α1), and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF-7) and tissue growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) were performed. Results: The healing percentage of single and three PRF applications was significantly higher (P <0.05) (84.6%, and 93.7% respectively) than in control one (66.7%). The number of days needed for complete wound healing was considerably shorter in repeated PRF treated wound defects   (63.2±2.8) compared with single PRF and untreated wound defects   (71.6±3 and 86.3±3, respectively). Semi-quantitative evaluation of histological sections at 15 and 45 days post-operative showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in epithelization, PMNL, fibroblasts, tissue macrophages, neo-angiogenesis and new collagen scores in both PRF groups compared to control one. Qualitative analysis of immunohistochemical views of the wound defects showed a significant immunostaining difference against EGFR, VEGF, and TGFβ stain between both PRF treated groups and control one. Immunohistochemical analysis of cells stained for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), VEGF, and TGFβ at 15 and 45 days after interference was higher in both PRF treated groups compared to control one, but three PRF application showed the highest rates. The relative expression of FGF-7, TGFβ1, VEGF-A, and COL3α1 genes was higher in both PRF groups compared to control one, but the triple PRF group revealed the highest expression. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Application of PRF could improve the healing of distal limb wound defects in donkeys.


An efficient strategy for the general synthesis of 3-aryl substituted pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazines and pyrazolo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepin-6(4H)-ones has been developed using intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The hydrazonoyl chloride, the precursor of the cycloadduct, is accessed easily through a two-step reaction carried out in one-pot. It is then used without purification for the base induced formation of the nitrilimine, which undergoes subsequent in situ intramolecular cycloaddition with an alkyne to afford the desired product. The reaction protocol has also been applied in bis-heteroannulation and in the synthesis of uracil derivatives of biological interest. The operational simplicity of the process, the use of cheap starting materials, and the relatively short reaction times required make the process convenient and practical.


Green tea polyphenol, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), has a potent chemopreventive effects against various tumors, and epidemiologic studies have suggested that green tea consumption might be effective for reducing the incidence of certain cancers. We have reported that EGCG rapidly induces apoptosis of myeloid leukemic cells via modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in vitro and in vivo (Haematologica2005;90:317). In this study, we further examined the precise mechanism of EGCG-induced apoptosis and its relationship to the heme enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). EGCG inhibited cellular growth of various myeloid leukemic cells via induction of apoptosis in dose- and time-dependent manners. Interestingly, EGCG rapidly induced apoptosis in MPO-positive myeloid leukemic cell lines (HL-60, UF-1, NB4, Kasumi-1) and fresh myeloid leukemic cells from patients, whereas EGCG failed to induce apoptosis in MPO-negative leukemic cells (U937, THP-1, KG-1, K562). Pre-incubation of MPO-positive myeloid leukemic cells with the MPO-specific inhibitor, 4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide (50 μM), and the heme biosynthesis inhibitor, succinylacetone (0.5 mM), resulted in significant inhibition of intracellular MPO activity, ROS production, and induction of apoptosis after treatment with 50 μM EGCG. Pre-incubation of MPO-positive myeloid leukemic cells with anti-oxidant, catalase, completely suppressed EGCG-induced ROS production and apoptosis. These results indicate that EGCG-induced apoptosis is mediated through the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). To investigate the role of MPO in EGCG-induced apoptosis of leukemic cells, MPO-negative K562 cells were stably transfected with full length of MPO cDNA (K562/MPO cells). Marked interest, K562/MPO cells induced MPO activity, intracellular ROS production, and enhanced susceptibility of cells to EGCG-induced apoptosis compared to wild-type K562 cells. These results suggested that MPO positivity may be important to determine the sensitivity to EGCG-induced apoptosis, and MPO-derived ROS are involved in apoptosis in myeloid leukemic cells. MPO catalyzes the formation of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a powerful oxidant formed from Cl − and H 2 O 2 . Therefore, we next examined the relationship between EGCG-induced apoptosis and H 2 O 2 /MPO/halide system in MPO-positive HL-60 cells. Addition of HOCl scavengers, methionine (10 mM) and taurine (25 mM), inhibited EGCG-induced apoptosis in HL-60 and K562/MPO cells, but not wild-type K562 cells, suggesting that HOCl is the mediator of EGCG-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenger, thiourea, also inhibited EGCG-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. To determine which reactive oxygen species play a key role in EGCG-induced apoptosis mediated through MPO, we used novel fluorescence probes APF and HPF, which can detect selectively highly ROS (hROS). It is noteworthy that the fluorescence intensity of both APF- and HPF-loaded HL-60 cells significantly increased upon stimulation with EGCG, suggesting that EGCG generated hROS (•OH, ONOO − ) and OCl − , but not other ROS (H 2 O 2 , NO, O 2 − , 1 O 2 ) in HL-60 cells. Taken together, these results indicated that highly toxic ROS such as hydroxyl radical generated via H 2 O 2 /MPO/halide system induces apoptosis, and that it may be the direct mediator of EGCG-induced apoptosis in MPO-positive myeloid leukemic cells.


Continuous biodigestors filled with dairy cattle manure and operated at different hydraulic retention times, were used to determine the number of coliforms and the presence of helmints eggs and parasite larvae of ruminants and to analyze the total and volatile solid contents and the production and quality of the biogas produced. Twenty days of the retention time were sufficient to reduce the number of coliforms and eggs of ruminant parasites. Analysis of total and volatile solids and biogas production showed that the Chinese biodigester was more efficient at a hydraulic retention time of twenty days. It should be pointed out, however, that twenty days of hydraulic retention time were not sufficient to prevent the survival of larvae of ruminant parasites.


Two new dinuclear bimetallic complexes, [{PdCl(bipy)}{μ-(pyrazine)}{PtCl(bipy)}]Cl(ClO4) (1) (bipy is 2,2'-bipyridine) and [{PdCl(en)}{μ-(pyrazine)}{PtCl(en)}]Cl(ClO4) (2) (en is ethylenediamine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental microanalysis, IR, (1)H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The pKa values of the coordinated water molecules of the diaqua species were determined as well. Substitution reactions of complexes (1) and (2) with thiourea (Tu), l-methionine (l-Met), l-cysteine (l-Cys), l-histidine (l-His) and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) were studied under the pseudo-first order conditions as a function of nucleophile concentration and temperature. The order of reactivity of nucleophiles was: Tu > l-Met > l-Cys > l-His > 5'-GMP. Substitution reactions with Tu, l-Cys and l-His were followed by decomposition of bimetallic complexes to the corresponding substituted mononuclear complexes [Pd(N-N)(Nu)2] and [Pt(N-N)(Nu)2] (N-N = bipy, en), releasing the bridging ligand. However, the structures of starting bimetallic complexes were preserved during the reactions with l-Met and 5'-GMP. The absorption spectroscopic study of interactions of calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) with complexes (1), (2) and [{PdCl(bipy)}{μ-(NH2(CH2)6H2N)} {PtCl(bipy)}]Cl(ClO4) (3), has shown that all the complexes exhibit high intrinsic binding constants (Kb = 10(4)-10(5) M(-1)). DNA-ethidium bromide (DNA-EB) fluorescence was quenched after addition of complexes (1), (2) or (3), indicating displacement of intercalating EB by complexes. All complexes have shown good binding affinity to bovine serum albumin protein (BSA). Chemosensitivity of A375 (human melanoma) and HeLa (human cervical cancer) cell lines toward complexes (1), (2) and (3) was analyzed by SRB assay. Complex (1) displayed significant inhibitory effect on the growth of both cell lines.


Two novel algorithms for estimating turbulence power spectra from Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) data, the Refined sample and hold reconstruction (RR) and the Improved slot correlation (SC), have been tested on two test cases: grid turbulence and cylinder wake flow. The algorithms were developed by Nobach et al. (1998), and van Maanen et al (1999) as a follow up on a benchmark comparison of some 15 algorithms reported by Benedict et al (1998). They were tested on simulated data generated from a known input spectrum, which was then used as a reference for evaluation of the algorithms. In the present work, an experimental evaluation has been carried out, using reference spectra obtained with a Constant Temperature Anemometer (CTA), to evaluate spectra based on the RR, the SC and the traditional sample-and-hold reconstruction and resampling (S&H) algorithms. It is shown, that RR and SC produce correct spectra up to frequencies above the data rate, whereas S&H, produces low-pass filtered spectra with a cut-off frequency corresponding to the data rate divided by 2π, the so-called the particle rate filter effect first reported by Adrian and Yao (1987). They recommended that data rates of 20 times the highest frequency of interest should be used for S&H. The RR and SC thus have great relevance because they make it possible to obtain correct turbulence spectra at much lower data rates than with S&H. The practical implications of this are that less seeding is required, and that smaller lasers may be used. Since RR is much faster than SC, and they produce very similar results, Dantec's LDA software has been extended with an on-line implementation of the RR algorithm. The figure below compares the spectra obtained using CTA, and the RR, SC and S&H algorithms, for the cylinder wake flow. Fig. 1: Comparison of RR, SC and S&H LDA spectra with a reference CTA spectrum Cylinder wake turbulence, 4 kHz data rate 1.E-06 1.E-05 1.E-04 1.E-03 1.E-02 1.E-01 1.E+00 10 10


Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a fundamental requirement for life in multicellular organisms, including humans, and a mechanism to maintain homeostasis and prevent unwarranted cellular proliferations such as cancer. An antisense gene in HIV-1 (Hap) induces apoptosis in human cells. Apoptotic T cell death following HIV-1 infection leads to a compromised immune system and eventually AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). A review of several studies that focused on long-term survivors of HIV-1 reveals that these survivors had deletion-mutations in Hap. A subset of these survivors changed course and experienced CD4+ T cell death and progression to AIDS. These individuals had virus that regained Hap gene sequence that had previously been deleted. Analysis of the changes in the genetic sequences with in vivo progression of the revertant HIV-1 virus allowed identification of a specific region in Hap we are calling MORT. MORT, in Hap RNA forms a primary microRNA-like structure. Potential human mRNAs targeted by MORT mi/siRNAs include gene/RNA sequences of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), survivin, and apollon, along with many other human gene sites/RNAs. Thus MORT may be acting as an RNA antagonist to cellular IAPs thereby inducing apoptotic cell death. Surprisingly, additional potential MORT targets include viral sites in human SARS-CoV-2, including the protease, nsp5 RNA. Future uses for RNA therapy and a hypothesis for an HIV intrinsic mechanism utilizing MORT for viral anti-viral (or anti-microbial) and HIV anti-immune cell defense are proposed.


Introduction: A retrospective study to explore the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of Tuberculosis among Saudis, migrant workers from SAARC and other nations. The objective of this study is to study the prevalence and clinical features of Tuberculosis among Saudis & other migrant workers in central Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A Retrospective study was conducted based on the secondary data pertaining to the patients registered at Regional TB center in Buraidah Central Hospital from Jan 2005 to December 2009. Results: A total of 355 case records were included of which 187 cases are from Saudi Arabia and remaining 168 were from South Asian countries. Cough with expectoration, fever with evening rise, loss of appetite were the chief clinical presentations. Out of the total non Saudi patients, the Indonesian patients contribute to 74 (21%) followed by Indians 39 (11%), Nepalese 12 (3.4%), Philippines & Bangladesh with 9 cases each (2.5%), and Pakistan with 8 cases (2.3%). Among the total cases, there were 341 (96%) new cases, 12 (3.4%) relapse cases and 2 (0.6%) defaulters. Conclusion: Prevalence of TB among migrant is relatively high. Preventive measures for early diagnosis should be performed especially among migrant workers from countries with high-prevalence of Tuberculosis. SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases & HIV/AIDS; 2013; X(2); 21-26 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v10i2.9709


BACKGROUND
Eating disorders are as common in Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa-New Zealand, as they are in non-Māori; however, research has focused on the experiences of non-Māori. This paper will describe explanatory factors, treatment experiences and what helps with recovery for Māori.

METHODS
Kaupapa Māori research methodology informed the methods and analysis. Fifteen semi-structured interviews comprised thirteen Māori participants with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder) and two whānau (support network) members. A thematic analysis was undertaken by a first cycle of coding that used deductive structural coding to identify data describing participants' perceived causes of eating disorders, their experience of treatment and recovery. A second cycle of coding used inductive analysis with descriptive and pattern coding.

RESULTS
Three overarching themes were antecedents (cumulative exposure), treatment (a system of complexities) and recovery (resource empowerment). Antecedents comprised cumulative exposure to body and sporting ideals and adversity as causal factors of eating disorders. In the treatment theme, a system of complexities critiqued rural settings for generalised mental health services, allocation of Māori cultural support, the economic burden of treatment, culturally incongruent treatment (methods, values) and a weight-focused discharge criterion. Recovery (resource empowerment) found appropriate health information, self-determination and connection to Māori culture and whānau aspirations helped with recovery.

CONCLUSION
The diversity of birdcalls reminds us of the individuality of eating disorders. Health practitioners are reminded that just as the Tūī, Kākā and Kererū possess their own unique birdcalls, so do Māori with eating disorders and their whānau have their own experiences, needs and required treatment responses.


Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is the only vegetable crop of significance in the Malvaceae family and is common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Mutation induction has been accepted as a useful tool in plant breeding programs to provide maximum inheritable variability. During this study, the effect of chemical mutagen Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) at three levels, 0.175%, 0.350% and 0.525% and two soaking period, 18 and 24 h. studied for variation induction on agronomic traits of okra using factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. In the M2 generation, agronomic traits were recorded including plant height, pod number/plant, pod length, pod diameter, stem thickness, seed number/pod, pod weight, number of locules, 100 seed weight and seed yield/plant. Analysis of variance showed that EMS concentration was significant at the 5% level for pod length, stem thickness and seed yield/plant and was highly significant for plant height, number of locules and 100 seed weight at the 1% probability level. The interaction of dose×soaking duration were significant pod number/plant and seed yield/ plant at 5% level and the characteristic of 100 seed weight was significant at 1% probability level. Application of EMS mutation lead to increased plant height, pod number/plant, pod length, pod diameter, stem thickness, seed number/ pod, number of locules, seed yield/plant and decrease of seed weight in okra. These results demonstrating that EMS could greatly affect the most of studied characters in M2 generation which it would increase the efficiency of the breeding objectives.


Experimental investigations of the factors affecting the generation and accumulation of static charges due to oil flow in electrical equipment are introduced and discussed. The influence of oil temperature, flow rate, and type and frequency of electrical field energization on streaming electrification of fresh transformer oil (Diala-B) has been investigated by a closed oil cycle. In addition, comparisons between the calculated and the measured values of the relative streaming currents are introduced. A spinning disc system is also used to investigate factors that cannot be easily investigated by the closed cycle, e.g. moisture content, antistatic additives, and the material of which the rotating disc is made. The experiments have been carried out for both fresh and aged oil within the temperature range of 20 to 80 degrees C using rotating discs made of various materials. The type of rotating disc material causes evident quantitative and qualitative changes in the measured current. >


To investigate the effect of the surface properties of dispersed particles on the shear thickening behavior of their corresponding suspensions and further control this characteristic, three kinds of suspensions were prepared by mixing SiO2, SiO2–NH2, and SiO2–COOH microspheres with a poly(ethylene glycol) fluid medium, and their rheological behavior was analyzed carefully. Compared to the SiO2 microsphere suspension, the SiO2–NH2 and SiO2–COOH microsphere suspensions show a weaker thickening behavior and a greater critical shear rate due to the aggregation tendency caused primarily by the organic chains. Moreover, the rheological behavior of the three suspensions display different dependencies on the pH value, which is comprehensively determined by the interaction between the microspheres and the medium. Moreover, the critical shear stress of suspensions with different pH values could be predicted by the Wagner model, which basically proves that the interaction between the particles significantly influences the beginning of thickening. The thickening degree could be interpreted by friction theory. The critical volume fraction corresponding to the onset of discontinuous shear thickening is determined by the friction coefficient between the particles, which is greatly affected by the pH value.


Background Significant steps were done in creating new medications for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As RA seriously affects the patients' quality of life, the effectiveness of selected approaches is a primary concern for the National Health Insurance House (NHIH). Also being a chronic disease and having finite budgets it is important to find also the best results/costs approach. In case of first anti-TNF medication failure, options are prescribing a different anti-TNF or switching to Rituximab (RTX). Objectives Our objective was to identify the best results/costs ratio by comparing two RA therapeutic alternatives: (1) switch to RTX after first anti-TNF failure versus (2) switching after 2-3 anti-TNF failure. Methods Based on data from NHIH, we analysed clinical results and the corresponding costs for N=400 RA patients, within a longitudinal (2002-2011), observational, population-based, cohort study. All patients had an anti-TNF medication as first treatment stage for 2.5 years (average). In the second stage, 208 patients (Group 1) were switched to RTX after first anti-TNF failure, and 192 (Group 2) had one or two more anti-TNF before switched to RTX. We evaluated the clinical effectiveness of the 2 approaches using: DAS28 and EULAR response. For efficiency assessment we calculated in each set-up indicators like: average spending to obtain the treatment target (LDA or remission), average cost per decreased DAS28 point and duration of treatment versus target. Results In Group 1, after the first 2 RTX cycles (12 months) medium ΔDAS28 was - 3.36 (compared to its value before the RTX switch). Group 2 evidenced first development of resistance to the anti-TNF medication, medium ΔDAS28 was +0.26 and after switch to RTX, ΔDAS28 decreased in 12 months with – 2.72. By September 1st 2011 (four RTX cycles), 91% of Group 1 patients experienced LDA (36.1%) and remission (54.9%) vs. 80.8% of the patients in Group 2 (40.4% LDA, 40.4% remission). While the groups are comparable in size, with respect to the total expenditure for N=400 patients, Group 1 represents 38% while Group 2 is 62% of the total costs. In terms of treatment objectives 51% of the patients in Group 1 after 12 months achieved LDA or remission vs. 23.4% in Group 2. Considering the budget spent to obtain these results, NHIH spent in average 58% more per patient per DAS28 point with Group 2 vs. Group 1. Conclusions Switching on RTX after the first anti-TNF failure allows the achievement of a sooner and better EULAR response than RTX therapy after 2 or 3 anti TNF stages. DAS28 decreased consistently for all RTX patients, irrespective of their group, but those in Group 1 achieved a lowest value faster. RTX after first anti-TNF is clearly more efficient, the costs to obtain superior clinical response being almost half of those involved in the second therapeutic option. The savings could be used for higher number of RA treated patients with the same budget and shortening the RA patient's waiting list. The balance cost-benefits being in favour of initiating a RTX medication after the first anti-TNF therapy (follow NICE recommendation) this is our recommendation for NHIH. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


In this article, Fergus King examines the writings of St. Paul, particularly the letters to the Romans and the Galatians and the first letter to the Corinthians, in an attempt to discern Paul's attitude toward culture. Taking issue with H. R. Niebuhr's identification of Paul with his "Christ and culture in paradox" paradigm, King argues that Paul's--and by implication, Christians'-- attitude toward culture is--and should be--complex and flexible. Paul's criteria regarding the acceptability of such cultural practices as eating food offered to idols and Jewish circumcision are, first, soteriological and, second, pastoral. The question of the suitability of cultural practices for Christians is not an abstract one, but one that must be answered in the concrete context of Christian life: Does a cultural practice or value diminish faith in Christ? Does a practice or value place obstacles before one's own faith, or the faith of others? Rather than thinking in terms of a universally applicable principle, King suggests that the Christian attitude toward culture should be shaped in relation to human salvation and authentic community life.


Abstract We present the results of radiometric dating at Yalibirri Mindi Rockshelter located in the Weld Range, Mid West region, Western Australia. A sequence of three Pleistocene dates from charcoal found in association with flaked stone artefacts and with a basal date of 29,089 ± 132 years uncal. BP (D-AMS 009920) provides the first evidence for Pre-Last Glacial Maximum occupation of the inland Mid West. Sedimentological analyses strongly support the anthropogenic origin of the dated material. Despite hints that the occupation of this region probably dates back tens of thousands of years, until now there was no clear evidence for this. At the level of regional significance and as previously hypothesised, the greenstone ridges of the Mid West provide good potential for Pleistocene-aged rockshelter deposits and the possibility of researching crucial aspects of human adaptation to the western arid zone of Australia from ∼30,000 years ago including mobility, seasonality, technology, ochre use, selection of wood taxa for fire-making and intra- and inter-regional social networks.


4887 The insulin like growth factor (IGF)/IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) system, which includes IGF, IGF-1R, and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), plays an important role in the development of human malignancies. We previously reported that in the HT29 and SW837 human colon cancer cell lines EGCG, the major biologically active component of green tea, inhibits activation of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) EGFR, HER2, and HER3, and that this is associated with inhibition of multiple downstream signaling pathways (Shimizu, M., et al. Clin Cancer Res 11, 2005). Since IGF-1R is also a RTK, in this study we examined the effects of EGCG on the activity of IGF/IGF-1R system in human colon cancer and hepatoma cells. We found that the colon cancer cell line SW837 and the hepatoma cell line HepG2 express high levels of the IGF-1R protein, and that both cell lines display constitutive activation of this receptor. Treatment of both cell lines with EGCG caused a decrease in the phosphorylated (i.e., activated) form of the IGF-1R protein, a decrease in the levels of both IGF-1 protein and mRNA, and an increase in the levels of both IGFBP-3 protein and mRNA. When SW837 cells were treated with EGCG for a longer time, i. e., 96 hours, a very low concentration (1.0 μg/ml) of EGCG also caused inhibition of activation of the IGF-1R, a decrease in the IGF-1 protein, and an increase in the IGFBP-3 protein. EGCG also caused a decrease in the levels of mRNA that encode MMPs-7 and -9, proteins that proteolyze IGFBP-3. In addition, treatment with EGCG caused a transient increase in the expression of TGF-β2, an inducer of IGFBP-3 expression in SW837 cells. We also found that IGF-1 and IGF-2 stimulate the growth of HepG2 cells and EGCG caused a decrease in the phosphorylated forms of the ERK and Akt proteins which are downstream signaling molecules in the IGF/IGF1-R system. These findings suggest that EGCG can overcome the stimulatory effects of IGF on the IGF-1R dependent signaling pathway, thus expanding the roles of EGCG as an inhibitor of critical RTKs involved in cell proliferation. These results provide further evidence that EGCG may be useful in the chemoprevention or treatment of both colorectal and liver cancer.


Objectives Although polymorphisms of the catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) gene have been implicated in altered pain sensitivity, results concerning the association between COMT gene polymorphisms and FM are equivocal. We assessed the associations between COMT single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and FM risk and symptom severity. Methods In total, 409 FM patients and 423 controls were enrolled. Alleles and genotypes at five positions [rs6269 (A>G), rs4633 (C>T), rs4818 (C>G), rs4680 (C>G) and rs165599 (A>G)] in the COMT gene were genotyped from peripheral blood DNA. Results Alleles and genotypes of the rs4818 COMT gene polymorphism were significantly associated with increased susceptibility to FM. The rs4818 GG genotype was more strongly associated with FM compared to the CC genotype (OR =1.680, 95% CI: 1.057, 2.672, P=0.027). Although allele and genotype frequencies did not differ among groups, the rs4633 CT genotype was not associated with the presence of FM following adjustment for age and sex (OR =0.745; 95% CI: 0.558, 0.995; P=0.046). However, no association was observed between clinical measures and individual COMT SNPs. In haplotype analysis, there was a significant association between ACG haplotype and FM susceptibility sex (OR =2.960, 95% CI: 1.447, 6.056, P=0.003) and the number of tender points (P=0.046). Conclusions This large-scale study suggests that polymorphisms of the COMT gene may be associated with FM risk and pain sensitivity in Korean FM patients. However, our results differed to those of previous studies, suggesting ethnic variation in COMT gene polymorphisms in FM. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Distance learning and elearning claim to overcome the barriers of time and place. However, empirical studies show a relationship between student perceptions about management of study time, and the quality of their learningg. Students who drop out often relate this to lack of time for study. Students who pass courses also fall behind the study schedule and find workload on some courses much more than expected. Pedagogically desirable uses of learning technologies such as collaborative conferencing and synchronous virtual meetings can bring added time pressures rather than benefits for learning. Research is needed to explore how students use time for study and to compare their study workload practices with the expectations of educators and designers.


Autonomous mobile robots are being developed for numerous applications where long-term capabilities would be beneficial. However, most mobile robots have onboard power supplies in the form of batteries that last for a finite amount of time, in which case the robot becomes reliant on human intervention for extended usage. To achieve true long-term autonomy, the robot must be selfsustaining in its environment. We have developed a control architecture and an accompanying recharging mechanism which allows a robot to readily intervene its regular operation with autonomous recharging to stay alive. We demonstrate the efficacy of our system experimentally, by requiring the robot to serve as a sentry, monitoring our lab entrance for an extended period of time. The system is able to operate for long periods of time without operator intervention.


Preparation of an agreement has a great influence on economic success of both parties and on their behaviour in order to increase their profits and to protect themselves against possible loss. It is important to use technological innovations in construction contracting. Even when the construction contractor is selected and the price and work terms are negotiated, it's possible to choose at least several variants of agreements. The aim of this article is to develop a hierarchical model of criteria of a construction contraction agreement based on their functions. Construction contraction agreements can be concluded, evaluated and compared on the basis of this model. This model forms the basis of decision support system for analysis of construction contracts. Decision support system created on the basis of presented model can be very useful and helpful in construction contraction agreement and can be widely implemented in different construction sectors.


The so-called wetting-induced collapse is one of the most common problems associated with unsaturated soils. This paper applies the Modified Pastor-Zienkiewicz model (MPZ) to analyse the wetting behaviour of undisturbed specimens of an unsaturated air-fall volcanic (pyroclastic) soil originated from the explosive activity of the Somma-Vesuvius volcano (Southern Italy). Both standard oedometric tests, suction-controlled oedometeric tests and suction-controlled isotropic tests are considered. The results of the constitutive modelling show a satisfactory capability of the MPZ to simulate the variations of soil void ratio upon wetting, with negligible differences among the measured and the computed values.


[Objective] To know the application of suspension array in the nucleic acid detection.[Methods] Reviewed related theses.[Results] Suspension array is a new multifunctional biochip platform based on coding microsphere and flow cytometry technology.Integrated with the coding microspheres technology,laser technology,micro-fluid technology,fast signal processing and data analysis systems,it has many advantages such as the high-throughput,good reproducibility,high-sensitivity,high-accuracy,easy standardization.And it is able to carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis at the same time.[Conclusion] Because of its preponderance,suspension array has been applied widely in the field of nucleic acid detection.


The scope of this article is to identify intersections between gender socialization and intimate partner violence against women. It involves qualitative research in the mold of the topical life story. The study included 16 women who filed a police report in a Police Station for the Defense of Women in a city in the interior of São Paulo. For the interviews a semi-structured script that examined women from their childhood memories, family dynamics, relationship/marriage and post-marriage/marriage family dynamics was used. The patriarchal system as a societal order underpinned the socialization of these women who, because of the father's domination relations (patriarchy) and guided by the mother's model of submission, sought freedom in marriage/early unions with partners who repeated paternal behavior. Such family contexts may have influenced them in choosing potential aggressors. The results revealed that gender socialization reinforces gender inequalities and influences the behavior of men and women, thus pointing out the importance of highlighting this problem in different areas, especially in primary health care services, as a way to prevent intimate partner violence against women.


The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of providing education on increasing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of medical officers in solid medical waste management at the Regional General Hospital dr. Zainoel Abidin Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The research design used was a quasi experiment with the Wilcoxon comparison test. The research sample was the medical officer of dr. Zainoel Abidin Banda Aceh as many as 94 people who were divided into treatment and control groups. Knowledge, attitude, and the behavior of medical personnel was measured by interview using a questionnaire. The results showed that there was an effect of educational interventions on increasing the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of medical personnel in the management of medical solid waste in the treatment and control groups (p <0.05). The results of the Wilcoxon test between the treatment groups on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior before and after the educational intervention showed a significant difference (p = 0.000), whereas in the control group between before and after the educational intervention did not show a difference with the p-value of knowledge (p = 0.102); attitude and behavior (p = 0.157). In the control group, the level of knowledge, attitudes and behavior tends to remain at a sufficient level. The conclusion of this study shows that educational interventions can provide an increase in the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of medical personnel in implementing solid medical waste management at dr. Zainoel Abidin Banda Aceh.


The possibility of using the nutritionally versatile bacterium Pseudomonas cepacia to produce poly-β-hydroxyalkanoic acid was evaluated. Chemostat culture showed that growth of P. cepacia became nitrogen limited when the molar carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the medium fed into the fermentor was above 15. When grown under nitrogen limitation in batch culture with fructose as the sole source of carbon, P. cepacia accumulated poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) in excess of 50% of the dry weight of its biomass. In batch culture, almost no PHB was produced until the onset of nitrogen limitation. After this point, PHB was produced at a linear rate of 0.12 g liter−1 h−1 (from a constant value of 1.6 g of cellular protein liter−1). PHB produced by P. cepacia had a weight-average molecular weight of 5.37 × 105 g mol−1 and a polydispersivity index of 3.9. Poly(β-hydroxybutyric acid-β-hydroxyvaleric acid) copolymer was produced with a poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid-poly-β-hydroxyvaleric acid ratio of up to 30% by weight when propionic acid was added to the medium.


Abstract
 A bryozoan-dominated fauna that inhabited small caves underneath a carbonate hardground is here described from the Corryville Formation (Upper Ordovician, Katian) exposed near Washington, Mason County, Kentucky, USA. The dominant bryozoan, Stigmatella personata (a trepostome), is found both growing downwards from the cave ceilings and upwards on the exposed hardground surface above. Another trepostome, Monticulipora, is a minor component of the cave fauna. There are few discernible anatomical differences between the bryozoan colonies that grew upwards in presumably well-lit waters and those that grew downwards in the gloomy caves. The pendant, cave-dwelling S. personata in some cases appears to have longer zooecial tubes than its exposed equivalent. The colonies of S. personata are rounded mounds with multiple layers formed by self-overgrowth. The overgrowths in both downward and upward growing forms are marked by thin layers of sediment infilling the upper zooecial chambers in the older portion of the colony. We suggest that biofilms developed on patches of the colony where the zooids had died. Sediment adhered to these surfaces and the colony then overgrew the patches, trapping sediment within the skeleton. The bryozoan zoaria and the carbonate hardground are extensively bored by the cylindrical ichnogenus Trypanites that occasionally contain cylindrical calcite-filled tubes similar to "ghosts" of organic materials. Bioclaustrations are present in some of the bryozoan skeletons. This cave fauna is one of few submarine examples known from the Paleozoic. It supports the hypothesis that early cave-dwelling organisms were little differentiated from their exposed counterparts.


In this paper, we generalize the results of Ngô and Winkler [18, 20, 21] to the case of high order non-autonomous algebraic ODE with a birational parametrization of the corresponding algebraic hypersurface. First, we reduce the problem for finding rational general solutions of non-autonomous n− 1 (n > 2) order ODE to finding rational general solutions of an associated first order rational system of autonomous ODEs in n indeterminates based on the parametrization of hypersurface. Next, the correspondence of the rational general solutions between the original non-autonomous algebraic ODE and the associated system of autonomous ODEs is proved. Finally, a criterion is presented for existence of rational general solutions of the associated system of autonomous ODEs if the degree bound of its rational general solutions is given. Moreover, we give some nice properties of polynomial system of autonomous ODEs.


We introduce a stochastic approximation method for the solution of an ergodic Kullback-Leibler control problem. A Kullback-Leibler control problem is a Markov decision process on a finite state space in which the control cost is proportional to a Kullback-Leibler divergence of the controlled transition probabilities with respect to the uncontrolled transition probabilities. The algorithm discussed in this work allows for a sound theoretical analysis using the ODE method. In a numerical experiment the algorithm is shown to be comparable to the power method and the related Z-learning algorithm in terms of convergence speed. It may be used as the basis of a reinforcement learning style algorithm for Markov decision problems.


Although Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the most successful immunotherapy for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, approximately 30% of patients are unresponsive to treatment. New biomarkers are important to identify patients who will benefit most from BCG during a worldwide BCG shortage. Local immune cell subsets were measured on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of bladder cancer by immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs; CD68, CD163), B-lymphocytes (CD20) and T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8, GATA3, T-bet, FOXP3 and CD25). Cell densities in the lamina propria without invasion, at the invasive front if present, in the papillary tumor stroma, and in the neoplastic urothelium were calculated. Twenty-nine (72.5%) of 40 patients were classified as BCG responders after a mean follow-up of 35.3 months. A statistically significant association was observed for BCG failure with low density of CD4+ and GATA3+ T-cells, and increased expression of FOXP3+ and CD25+ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) as well as CD68+ and CD163+ TAMs. Survival analysis demonstrated prolonged recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with an increased count of CD4+ and GATA3+ T-cells. TAMs, Tregs and T-bet+ T-cells were inversely correlated with RFS. Thus, the tumor microenvironment seems to influence the therapeutic response to BCG, permitting an individualized treatment.


Agriculture remains as one of the important economic sectors in Malaysia which provides an employment for more than 1.6 million people. However, the growth of this sector may be hampered by a small-scale production, limited technological application, declining number of arable lands, environmental degradation due to climate change, rapid urbanization and aging farmers. In order to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, farmers are encouraged to fully utilise modern technologies in their farms. In this context, adoption of industrial revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) in agricultural sector could bring many benefits, especially in minimizing the production costs and improving the quality of the products. Thus, this review focuses on the adoption strategies of IR4.0 into agricultural sector in Malaysia. A suitability of enabling technologies such as IoT, autonomous robot, big data analytics and artificial intelligent which are pillars for IR4.0 are individually evaluated. The readiness of agricultural industry in Malaysia to embrace this new concept is also discussed. The review also investigates the potentials and possible challenges would be faced by the industry in embracing IR4.0. The recommendations are also provided for farmers, industrial players and policy makes to makes sure a smooth adoption of IR4.0 into agricultural sector in Malaysia.


RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess parameters for immediate decisions to optimize peripheral arterial angioplasties and prognostic factors with the help of a intravascular Doppler guide wire in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. METHODS: Measurements were done prior to and following angioplasty in 22 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease as additional therapy (stent insertion and tibial angioplasty) was performed. For stress assessment, adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) was given intra-arterially in the vessel periphery. Decisions to perform peripheral angioplasty or stent insertion were made according to morphologic parameters. Follow-up was performed by angiography, color-coded duplex ultrasound or judged by unequivocal improved clinical stage at follow up to 13 month. RESULTS: All but three patients showed an increase in maximal peak velocity (MPV) following angioplasty from 41.2 +/- 23 cm/sec to 67.7 +/- 26 cm/sec. After application of a vasodilator all flow parameters increased in every patient (mean = 61.0 +/- 23.4 cm/sec to 91.0 +/- 32.0 cm/sec). The most well suited parameter to decide stent insertion was the maximal peak velocity in rest. If extremities required peripheral angioplasty the increased flow following ATP application was a valuable parameter. A ratio of 1.9 was of positive prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS: The Doppler guide wire is a practical and valuable tool in assessing technical success after angioplasty of peripheral lesions, critical or tandem lesions. It is suitable for indication to stent insertion or tibial angioplasty and of prognostic value.


PURPOSE
In the etiology of pterygium abnormalities in tear functions have also been emphasized. In this study, tear function tests are evaluated in patients with pterygium.

METHODS
Schirmer's test 1, tear film break-up time and mucus fern patterns were evaluated in 70 eyes with pterygium and in 70 eyes of the age matched control group. Marginal tear films were also assessed.

RESULTS
Tear film break-up time was significantly reduced in the pterygium group. Mucus fern patterns and marginal tear films were found to be markedly abnormal in the eyes with pterygium, however, there was no significant difference in Schirmer's test 1.

CONCLUSION
Tear function tests disclosed disrupted tear film stability which is more likely to be due to the altered mucin. This change may either be the primary factor inducing pterygium formation or reflect an existing pathology in the cells lining the ocular surface.


The article is devoted to the development of global value chains within the regional economic integrations and to the successful experiences of these processes for the Eurasian integration. The development of production chains in the regional trade is possible under the conditions of the openness of the integration group for the international market and foreign direct capital, investment in the creation and development of the transportation systems, and the successive liberalization of tariff and customs restrictions. Using key economic indicators and trade data in terms of Trade in Value-Added (TiVA) produced by international organizations such as OECD, WTO and UNCTAD, the authors reveal the link between the trade policy and the involvement of countries in global value chains. The authors describe the opportunities of the development of production chains in the framework of Eurasian Economic Union, and what obstacles there are. For the analysis of openness of the Russian economy to the external market and assessing the involvement in global value chains the authors have also been used the elasticity of exports and imports. The article describes the industries in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, which relatively successfully involved in the global fragmentation of production. As a result of the analysis, the authors identify the main directions of improvement of the foreign economic regulation of the EEU countries for their active participation in global value chains while maintaining the priorities in the field of economic integration. The main of them are - development of the tax system, the coordination of macroeconomic and trade policies, elimination of non-tariff restrictions among participating countries. Improvement of customs regulation is impossible without the adoption of the customs code of the Eurasian economic union, which has to regulate the registration and control of imports to the single customs territory. The active development of intra-regional production linkages requires technological division of labor on the basic phases of product creation that, in turn, reduces commodity specialization in the mutual trade.


Repeatability of ultrasound-predicted percentage intramuscular fat was studied using observations from 144 head of cattle. Animals were scanned at an average age of 433-d by a certified technician. Each animal was scanned five times using two Aloka 500V machines. Percent intramuscular fat was then predicted by placing a box at two different positions within an image. Overall standard deviation of observations within an image was .5% and the within animal standard deviation of observations was estimated at .9%. The overall repeatability was .69. There were slight differences in repeatability when data were analyzed by machine (probe). Prediction of percentage intramuscular fat was more repeatable when boxes were placed in a "best" position rather than specifically between the 12th and 13th ribs. Evaluation of the effect of repeated measurements indicates that increasing the number of images per animal plays a significant role in reducing the standard error of prediction more so than taking more measurements within a single image.


OBJECTIVE
To screen for Vel- rare blood type donors and determine the frequency of SMIM1 c.64_80del allele in Yili Prefecture of Xinjiang, China.

METHODS
DNA pooling and PCR-sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) was conducted to screen individuals carrying the SMIM1 c.64_80del variant, and Sanger sequencing of SMIM1 exon 3 was carried out to verify the genotype of those with the variation. SMIM1 intron 2 was also sequenced to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may affect the expression of Vel antigen.

RESULTS
Among 3328 blood donors, 14 were identified as heterozygotes for the SMIM1 c.64_80del allele, its allele frequency was 0.21%; no homozygous SMIM1 c.64_80 deletions was found. For SNP rs1175550, all of the 14 individuals had an AA genotype, among whom 5 carried heterozygous 7111ins GCA variant in intron 2.

CONCLUSION
The allelic frequency of SMIM1 c.64_80del in Yili area is approximately 0.21%, which is reported for the first time.


This field study examines vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) small unmanned aerial system (SUAS) operations conducted as part of an 8‐day structural inspection task following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. From the observations of the 32 flights spread over 12 missions, four key findings are identified for concept of operations (CONOPS) and the next level of artificial intelligence for rotary‐wing SUASs operating in cluttered urban environments. These findings are (1) the minimum useful standoff distance from inspected structures is 2–5 m, (2) omnidirectional sensor capabilities are needed for obstacle avoidance, (3) global positioning system waypoint navigation is unnecessary, and (4) these operations require three operators for one SUAS. Based on the findings and other observations, a crewing organization and flight operations protocol for SUASs are proposed. Needed directions in research and development are also discussed. These recommendations are expected to contribute to the design of platforms, sensors, and artificial intelligence as well as facilitate the acceptance of SUASs in the workplace. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


The purpose of this work is to analyze theoretically the role of technical progress in economic growth. The theoretical framework chosen is the neoclassical theory. The main results are generated three in number. First, the theoretical analysis has evolve d over the past decades. Second, the evolution and produced by models of endogenous growth and compared to traditional neoclas sical growth model . Third, this trend is explained by advances in research in industrial economics in terms of analysis of the nat ure of competition.


Experiments involving modification of cast iron manufactured in China which is similar to Russian grades (SCh-18 – SCh-30) using the compositions based on a mixture of tungsten and titanium carbides were carried out. Nanodispersed carbide powders were obtained by means of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) in combination with preliminary mechanical activation (MA). The studied modifying agents were WС:TiС = 70:30 with protector metals: chromium (50/50, M1 modifying agent); chromium and copper (25/25/50, modifying agent M2) within the range of concentrations of the ceramic phase – 0.01-0.2%; the modifying agents were introduced into the casting mold and into foundry ladle. Two designs of casting molds were studied. The use of modifying agents for intra-mold modification may lead to an increase in the tensile strength up to 18.5%, relative corrosion stability in hydrochloric acid up to 58.8%. After modification in ladle, the strength of the samples increased to 25-29% only after storage for 3.5 months. The results provide evidence that the studies of grey cast iron modification by the agents containing nanodispersed ceramic phases (WС, TiС) should take into account not only the concentrations and composition of modifying agents but also various technological parameters (design, mold volume, method of introduction of the modifying agent etc.)


We study the five semiclassical laser equations in the mean-field limit for the simple model of two-level atoms with homogeneous broadening in a single-mode unidirectional ring cavity, taking into account detuning between atomic and cavity frequencies. Our analysis concentrates on the properties of the laser at and beyond the second thresh-old in the bad-cavity case. We first show that the position of the second threshold depends on the excitation mechanism: When the pump parameter is increased either adiabatically or abruptly, two different thresholds occur. The sequence of periodic and chaotic solutions beyond the second threshold is then discussed as a function of the detuning and the pump parameter.


Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate habitual leisure-time activities (physical and non-physical leisure activities) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and to determine any potential benefits of these activities on cognitive functions and emotional symptoms. Methods: Thirty-two patients with PD and 25 demographically-matched healthy controls participated in the present study. Neuropsychological tests (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Trail Making Test, Digit Span Test, Verbal Fluency Test, and Japanese Verbal Learning Test), assessment of emotional sym- ptoms, and interviews for confirmation of habitual leisure-time activities were conducted for all participants. Results: Patients with PD significantly showed the lower frequency of both physical and non-physical leisure activities than healthy controls. Compared to patients who engaged in physical leisure activities, patients who did not engage in such activities performed worse on the Trail Making Test (TMT-B, and TMT-B minus A). Moreover, patients who engaged in non-physical leisure activities were less apathetic than patients who did not engage in such activities. Conclusions: Our preliminary study shows that habitual leisure-time activities correlate with cognitive function and emotions in patients with PD. Reducing sedentary lifestyles and promoting habitual leisure-time activities may be helpful for preventing cognitive decline and apathy.


OBJECTIVE
To study the spasmolysisy activity constituents of the Radix Paeoniae alba and Radix et Rhizoma compound.

METHOD
The three effective compounds of Radix Paeoniae and Radix et Rhizoma were arrayed to eight groups by orthogonal design rat, serum samples were collected after administered in these groups, and these serum samples were used to carry out the experiments of serum pharmacology of spasmolysis. The inhibition ratios were assigned as pharmacodynamic variable X, the areas of characteristic peaks on HPLC fingerprints were assigned as variable Y, and the correlation of X and Y was studied in order to research the activity spasmolysisy compounds of effective constituents. Serum samples were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

RESULT
The correlation of fingerprints and pharmacology showed that four compounds were the main spasmolysisy activity compounds. The correlation parameter was greater than >0.4, whose value were 0.774, 0.678, 0.566 and 0.472 respectively, and their retention times were 8.03, 51.7, 54.59 and 72.43 min respectively. They were metabolites of effective compounds.

CONCLUSION
This study makes a valid approach for understanding the material foundation of TCM by establishing the correlation of fingerprints and pharmacology of activity compounds in vivo.


Objective The survival and clinicopathological significance of desmoglein 2 (DSG2) in various cancers is controversial. Thus, we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the preliminary prognostic value of DSG2. Methods Eligible studies were identified from databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus. Hand searches were also conducted in relevant bibliographies. We then extracted and pooled hazard ratio (HR) of overall survival (OS) and odds ratio (OR) of clinicopathological features. Results A total of 11 eligible studies containing 1,488 patients were included. Our results demonstrated that in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), high DSG2 expression is associated with poor OS. However, in digestive system cancer and female reproductive system cancer, there were no statistically significant associations between OS and DSG2. Conclusions Based on the findings of this study, high DSG2 expression is associated with worse prognosis in patients with NSCLC, and thus DSG2 expression could be a biomarker for prognosis in NSCLC.


The problem of estimating the communication channel affecting a signal, falls into the category of blind system identification. When only one version of the signal is available, this is particularly difficult problem. This paper presents a simple single-channel blind identification of channel impulse response which can be low-pass, band-pass or high-pass filter, etc with a FIR filter design in frequency domain. The proposed algorithm is tested with different type of input sources (such as random sequence and speech) using different kind of channels. It was shown that, the proposed algorithm sounds to be more effective for random sequences and can also be used in different application such as loudspeaker or telephone channel equalization.


Remote authentication is an important mechanism to control user access to remote systems and a password-based authentication is a preferable method. With advances in elliptic curve cryptography, Jia et al. (2006) proposed a remote user authentication scheme with a smart card. Their scheme utilized bilinear pairings and an elliptic curve El-Gamal encryption scheme to provide a secure authentication mechanism. However, we show that their scheme is vulnerable to our impersonation attack which any adversary can be authenticated successfully with probability 1 at no extra cost. We also suggest our provably secure improvement scheme which is verified to be more efficient from the point of computational complexity than the original scheme.


Caves have generally been found to host phototrophic micro-organisms from various taxonomic groups, with cyanobacteria comprising an important group that have adapted to these stable and highly specific environments. A polyphasic study based on aspects of classical morphology and molecular data revealed two new monospecific genera from fresh material of Greek and Spanish caves. Both taxa are characterized by obligatory true branching (T-type, V-type and false branching), the presence of heterocysts, and reproduction by hormocysts and akinetes. They shared some similarities in their morphological characteristics as revealed by light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy, but phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the two phylotypes were different (89.8% similarity); this represents an example of shared morphology in genetically different strains of cave-adapted species. Phenotypic and genetic traits strongly support classification of the phylotypes as independent taxa in the order Stigonematales (the most differentiated and complicated group of cyanobacteria), family Loriellaceae Geitl 1925. Hence, the names Iphinoe spelaeobios Lamprinou and Pantazidou gen. nov., sp. nov. and Loriellopsis cavernicola Hernández-Mariné and Canals gen. nov., sp. nov. are proposed.


Recent studies have revealed an astonishing diversity of sex chromosomes in many vertebrate lineages, prompting questions about the mechanisms of sex chromosome turnover. While there is considerable population genetic theory about the evolutionary forces promoting sex chromosome replacement, this theory has not yet been integrated with our understanding of the molecular and developmental genetics of sex determination. Here, we review recent data to examine four questions about how the structure of gene networks influences the evolution of sex determination. We argue that patterns of epistasis, arising from the structure of genetic networks, may play an important role in regulating the rates and patterns of sex chromosome replacement.


Abstract This study investigates the determinants of crawfish consumption in South Louisiana using a generalized limited dependent variable model that accounts for both participation and consumption decisions. Income, Catholic, white, and household size increase the likelihood of crawfish consumption but not the conditional level of consumption. Education and employment status are among the other household characteristics that determine the conditional level of consumption.


In wireless communication, interference between two radio systems may occur when they operate at close frequency bands, sharing the same environment at the same time. Such systems coexist if both of them perform correctly in the presence of the other. To ensure their coexistence, Elec- tromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is used to specify rules within standardization bodies. According to current EMC standards, the radio spectrum has been divided into non-overlapping bands often with exclusive access. However, nowadays there is a prolif- eration of new digital systems sharing common frequency bands because the spectrum is a limited resource. Many of them are operating in unlicensed bands regulated by The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), for example the 2.45 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band. The frequency allocation is also changing with the emergence of digital systems and this is the case for white spaces in the broadcast television (TV) spectrum. To avoid high interference levels, it is necessary to consider some parameters related to signal variations, repre- senting more accurately the environment. Some techniques have been proposed in the literature to reduce interference levels but they are applied to specific sharing studies. Hence, we evaluate in this paper the impact of time-frequency considerations for radio coexistence. We show that EMC studies are more precise and more representative of the reality when additional parameters relevant to the time domain are taken into account in the analysis framework. We illustrate these concepts through a specific study case. We evaluate the results for different system parameters, first considering that both of them occupy the same band and then assuming that they use overlapping but non-equal frequency bands.


This study seeks to understand the convenience versus privacy risk debate that many consumers knowingly and unknowingly participate in every day, as well as the impacts of these information privacy and trust concerns on innovation adoption. We investigate the relationship between the motivation, perception, and intention-to-use of reputationaware applications, particularly regarding possible privacy threats. Our theoretical model presents a unique and novel interpretation of technology acceptance of reputation-aware systems that have high privacy risks. Specifically, we combine PMT and TAM to propose a three-factor technology adoption model to evaluate the risk, coping, and benefit calculus of technology adoption. We pose two research questions: (1) What are the factors influencing a user's assessment of the benefits and threats adopting reputation-aware applications?; and (2) Does a three-factor adoption model present greater predictive power to assess behavioral intentions? The results of our empirical evaluation reveal that behavioral intent regarding the adoption of reputation-aware applications can be predicted using a three-factor adoption model, with the findings significant and reliable across all three factors. Additionally, the results show that the conceptual model has improved predictive power over existing acceptance models in the context of reputation-aware applications. The TAM/TPB components were able to predict approximately 62% of the variance of behavioral intention, whereas the PMT and TPB model was able to predict 74% of the variance of behavioral intention.


Vaccination is one of the most effective ways of reducing childhood mortality. Despite global uptake of childhood vaccinations increasing, rates remain sub-optimal, meaning that vaccine-preventable diseases still pose a public health risk. A range of interventions to promote vaccine uptake have been developed, although this range has not specifically been reviewed in early childhood. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of parental interventions to improve early childhood (0–5 years) vaccine uptake. Twenty-eight controlled studies contributed to six separate meta-analyses evaluating aspects of parental reminders and education. All interventions were to some extent effective, although findings were generally heterogeneous and random effects models were estimated. Receiving both postal and telephone reminders was the most effective reminder-based intervention (RD = 0.1132; 95% CI = 0.033–0.193). Sub-group analyses suggested that educational interventions were more effective in lowand middle-income countries (RD = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.05–0.22) and when conducted through discussion (RD = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.02–0.21). Current evidence most supports the use of postal reminders as part of the standard management of childhood immunisations. Parents at high risk of noncompliance may benefit from recall strategies and/or discussion-based forums, however further research is needed to assess the appropriateness of these strategies. © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).


The increased ethnic diversity of the U.S. population and especially the rapid growth of Asian American markets make it critical to assess the importance of developing marketing strategies specifically targeted to these particular ethnic market segments. These circumstances naturally call for an investigation of differences and similarities among various segments within the market to examine whether undifferentiated or diferentiated target marketing is necessary to reach various Asian American subgroups. This study examined the decision-making patterns for purchasing social clothes of three major Asian American consumer groups (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean). Results showed that the three groups display distinct reference group influence, media influence, and store attribute importance and that these patterns differ depending on the level of acculturation. The findings also suggested implications for various marketing and advertising strategies aimed at the three Asian American consumer markets.


This article discusses the genetic linguistic classification of the South Slavic languages. It presents the formation of individual South Slavic geolects corresponding to language hierarchical gradation from original South Slavic. At an early stage, South Slavic split into West and East South Slavic; Slovenian and Central South Slavic developed from West South Slavic, and Macedonian and Bulgarian developed from East South Slavic. For each language, the article presents its defining characteristics that delimit it in relation to the neighboring languages and within the area, as well as the model of its linguogenesis.


Background: Our study investigated the effects of IOC2 index monitoring on remifentanil dosage during desflurane anesthesia. The objective of this study was to compare the intra-operative events and recovery characteristics between remifentanil adjusted by IOC2 monitoring guidelines versus remifentanil adjusted by clinical experience according to fluctuation in blood pressure and heart rate during desflurane anesthesia.
Methods: Total of 50 consecutive patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)  status I and II, aged 18-65 years, BMI 18-30 kg/m2 undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under desflurane anesthesia were enrolled. The patients were randomized and allocated into 2 groups, group T (Trial group=25) and group C (control group=25) using sealed envelope method. The infusion rate of remifentanil was adjusted according to IOC2 monitoring guideline between 30 to 50 in Group T whereas the infusion rate of remifentanil is adjusted by clinical experience according to fluctuation in blood pressure in group C. Remifentanil dose, adjustment frequency, infusion duration, intraoperative events, and quality of anesthetic recovery were compared between the two groups.
Results: Mean dose as well as the adjustment frequency of remifentanil was significantly higher in group T in compared with group C (0.1376±0.0268 vs 0.0956±0.0223 mcg/kg/min and 5.19±1.97vs1.7±0.57 times/surgery, P<0.05). IOC2 value at the time of skin incision, at the time of gall bladder resection and at the time of skin suture was significantly different between two groups (all P value <0.05). Although apparent differences in frequencies of hypotension, bradycardia, hypertension, the total number of patents with intraoperative events were not statistically different between two groups (all P > 0.05). Both groups had similar  voluntary eye opening time, extubation time, emergence agitation ,residual sedation  1 and 10 minutes after extubation, post-operative vomiting and NRS score (in PACU and 24 hours after extubation (all P > 0.05).
Conclusion: IOC2 data was significantly high when opioid adjusted by clinical experience. The dose of opioid used according to IOC2 (30-50) monitoring guideline utilized higher dose in compared with dose used by clinical experience however, the intraoperative hemodynamic  and recovery characteristics was unchanged. Hence, application of IOC2 monitoring might be beneficial to adjust the analgesic depth.


Energy demand and production need to be constantly matched in the power grid. The traditional paradigm to continuously adapt the production to the demand is challenged by the increasing penetration of more variable and less predictable energy sources, like solar photovoltaics and wind power. An alternative approach is the so called direct control of some inherently flexible electric loads to shape the demand. Direct control of deferrable loads presents analogies with flow admission control in telecommunication networks: a request for network resources (bandwidth or energy) can be delayed on the basis of the current network status in order to guarantee some performance metrics. In this paper we go beyond such an analogy, showing that usual teletraffic tools can be effectively used to control energy loads. In particular we propose a family of control schemes which can be easily tuned to achieve the desired trade-off among resources usage, control overhead and privacy leakage.


With reference to a classical address translation scheme supporting the notion of a paged virtual address space, and a program execution environment in which programs are allowed to have multiple concurrent threads of execution, we present a low-cost addition to the usual hardware inside the memory management unit aimed at supporting page protection at the thread level. The resulting protection system makes it possible to define several distinct protection domains within the boundaries of the same virtual space. Different threads of the same process can have different domains, and the access rights of a given thread can change dynamically as a consequence of actions of amplification and reduction of access privileges, so that at any given time the running thread is given the smallest set of access rights that is necessary for that thread at that time to carry out its job. Rather than protecting applications from software attacks of malicious code, our protection environment is aimed at limiting the consequences of programming errors, for instance, when an otherwise secure program is extended by the addition of unverified foreign code, e.g. a plugin that is prone to corrupt and even crash the main process, or a device driver executed in the same virtual space as the operating system kernel. We do not force the user to adhere to a specific protection model. Instead, our protection system features a set of hardware/software mechanisms that makes it possible to implement different protection paradigms at little effort.


Human multiple myeloma (MM) xenografts have been difficult to establish in athymic mice. We examined the feasibility of establishing human MM xenograft growth in SCID mice following subcutaneous (sc) injection of 1-2 x 10(7) cells from the human plasma cell dyscrasia (PCD) cell lines RPMI 8226 and ARH-77. SC tumors emerged in 67% (6/9) of RPMI 8226- and 6 of 6 ARH-77-injected mice after a latency period of 9-54 days, and reached 19-35 mm in diameter before the mice were sacrificed. RPMI 8226 and ARH-77 primary tumor DNA hybridized positively with the human genome probe Alul-(Blur8), confirming successful engraftment of the human MM cell lines. The RPMI 8226 xenografts comprised predominantly of plasmacytoid cells that expressed the relevant cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (cIg) light chain isotype. Xenografted RPMI 8226 cells also expressed CD10 (CALLA; 44% reactive cells), CD38 (OKTIO; 69%), CD5 (49%), and reacted with the MM monoclonal antibody MM4 (39%). Human MM growth appeared to be localized subcutaneously for both RPMI 8226 and ARH-77 xenografts. There were no detectable metastatic foci in kidney, brain, heart, or bone marrow. Whereas diffuse plasma cell infiltrates were observed in spleen, GI tract, and lung biopsies of tumor-bearing mice, these infiltrates were of host origin according to immunophenotyping and DNA analyses. Neither the originating RPMI 8226 line nor its SCID mouse xenograft expressed Epstein Barr virus (EBV) genome sequences. These observations indicate that both EBV- (RPMI 8226) and EBV+ (ARH-77) cell lines can be successfully propagated in SCID mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Despite the fact that mortality from cardiovascular diseases has declined considerably
over the last decades, it still represents the leading cause of mortality and
morbidity in industrialized countries. Most clinical manifestations of cardiovascular
disease share the underlying pathophysiological process of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a diseased state of the intima and media of medium to large sized
arteries characterized by focal plaques preferentially located in areas of low shear.
It is assumed that plaques origin from fatty streaks that are initiated by oxidation of
low density lipoprotein. Formation of fatty streaks may also follow initial injury
from a wide range of agents including toxins, viral infections and intraluminal
devices such as catheters. The subsequent inflammatory reactions induce smooth
muscle proliferation by growth factor production from a wide range of cells
including platelets, endothelial cells, macrophages, and other smooth muscle cells.
The development of fatty streaks may already commence early in childhood and
progress over a period of decades to become atherosclerotic plaques which contain
lipid-filled foam cells, extracellular lipid and a layer of smooth muscle cells just
beneath the endothelium.' Plaque growth is mediated by the proliferation of smooth
muscle cells and extracellular connective tissue elements such as collagen, elastin,
and proteoglycans. Growth factors derived from the interaction between platelets
and the underlying artery wall further stimulates this process. This process will
lead to the formation of a fibrolipid plaque that constitutes a core of extracellular
lipid separated from the media by smooth muscle cells and covered and separated
from the lumen by a thick cap of collagen-rich fibrous tissue containing smooth
muscle cells. Surrounding the lipid core are lipid-filled foam cells. Elevated
coronary plaques may cause clinical symptoms when the plaque size is sufficient to
obstruct the normal bloodflow, usually when it occupies more than 40 percent of the original cross-sectional area of the lumen. As the result of a dynamic interplay
between plaque vulnerability, possibly mediated through a process of inflammation,
and external stresses the atherosclerotic plaque surface may eventually rupture.


BACKGROUND
Ischemic encephalopathy is a common clinical disease. The main treatment goal is to achieve vascular recanalization. However, after vascular recanalization, the reperfusion of fresh blood can change local cell metabolism, thus adversely affecting cell structure and function, which can result in reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVES
To explore the effect of matrine intervention of different concentrations on JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and brain protection in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into a blank control group (20 rats), a model group (80 rats) and a sham group (20 rats). In the model group, the middle cerebral artery was occluded with suture method to establish cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model rats, which were subdivided into cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group, and 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg matrine groups, with 20 rats in each group. Indicators including neurological function score, brain infarct size, brain water content, lactic dehydrogenase activity, protein expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3, as well as superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content were evaluated.

RESULTS
Compared with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group, all the indicators were significantly improved in the 3 matrine treatment groups in a dose-dependent manner, and protein expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in the brain tissue and brain cell apoptosis rate were decreased with the increase of matrine concentration (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Matrine can significantly ameliorate the neurological function and brain edema of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and improve superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and lactic dehydrogenase levels in the brain tissue and brain cell apoptosis rate. The mechanism of matrine may be related to the inhibition of abnormal JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway activation.


Advancement in wireless technology helps to resolve day to day problems in human life and also serves as a life saving application in numerous situations. Its intervention in vehicle offers a priceless opportunity to improve assistance in traffic systems by providing information regarding current traffic environment. VANET (Vehicular Adhoc Network) a, smart network formed by the vehicles provides vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to road side communication which leads to a plethora of automotive applications. For better communication the network should ensure safety and security from different kind of vulnerabilities. Due to open access environment it is vulnerable to different attacks and threats. This paper provides a brief idea about VANET environment, routing protocols and routing attack in VANET eventually a framework which helps in performance assessment of routing protocols under attack is also proposed.


In this paper, new bounding strategies are presented to improve confidence interval estimation for system reliability based on component level reliability, and associated uncertainty data. Research efforts have been focused on two interdependent areas: 1) development & improvement of analytical approaches for quantifying the uncertainty associated with the system reliability estimate when data regarding component reliability is available; and 2) based on these analytical approaches, generating statistical inference methods that can be used to make accurate estimations about the reliability of a system. The analytical approach presented relies on a recursive rationale that can be applied to obtain the variance associated with the system reliability estimate, provided the system can be decomposed into a series-parallel configuration. The bounding procedure is independent of parametric assumptions regarding component time to failure, and can be applied whenever component reliability data are available. To assess the validity of the proposed procedure, three test cases have been analyzed. For each case, Monte-Carlo simulation has been used to generate component failure data, based on nominal component reliability values. Based on these simulated data, lower bounds have been constructed, and then compared against nominal system reliability to generate an expected confidence level. The results obtained exhibit a significant improvement in the accuracy of the confidence intervals for the system reliability when compared with existing approximation methods. The procedure described is effective, relatively simple, and widely applicable.


A novel electrochemiluminescent (ECL) signal tag of Au nanoparticles capped by 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid-thiosemicarbazide functionalized C60 nanocomposites (AuNPs/TSC-PTC/C60NPs) was developed for thrombin (TB) aptasensor construction based on the peroxydisulfate/oxygen (S2O8(2-)/O2) system. For signal tag fabrication, the C60 nanoparticles (C60NPs) were prepared and then coated with 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA) by π-π stacking interactions. Afterwards, thiosemicarbazide (TSC) was linked with PTCA functionalized C60NPs via amidation for further assembling Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). Finally, detection aptamer of thrombin (TBA 2) was labeled on the ECL signal amplification tag of AuNPs/TSC-PTC/C60NPs. Herein, TSC, with the active groups of -NH2 and -SH, was selected and introduced into the ECL S2O8(2-)/O2 system for the first time, which could not only offer the active groups of -SH to absorb AuNPs for TBA 2 anchoring but also remarkably enhance the ECL signal of the S2O8(2-)/O2 system by the formation of TSC-PTC/C60NPs for signal amplification. Meanwhile, the sensing interface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified by AuNPs/graphene (AuNPs/GR) nanocomposites with the large specific surface area and the active sites, followed by immobilization of thiol-terminated thrombin capture aptamer (TBA 1). With the formation of the sandwich-type structure of TBA 1, TB, and TBA 2 signal probes, a desirable enhanced ECL signal was measured in the testing buffer of an S2O8(2-)/O2 solution for detecting TB. The aptasensor exhibited a good linear relationship for TB detection in the range of 1 × 10(-5)-10 nM with a detection limit of 3.3 fM.


Green dietary education emphasized environmental protection and humanity being conducted in middle schools. To develop effective green dietary education program for adolescents, the factors that affected their green dietary practices has been identified. This study aims to identify psychological factors that drive green dietary practices and effect of dietary education that targets middle school students. Data was collected twice from 242 middle school students in Daegu using a self-administered questionnaire in March and June, 2014. There were significant differences in school achievement, economic level and allowance a month (p<0.05) in the green dietary practices and efficacy of students. Three areas (environment, health and traditional, and appreciation & consideration) which were subgroups of green dietary practices were associated with factors such as family relations, peer relationships, self-competence of self-esteem (p<0.05), and positive and negative feelings of happiness (p<0.001). Green dietary practices efficacy was significantly affected by family relations, peer relationships, self-competence of self-esteem (p<0.05), and positive feeling, negative feeling, and negative relationships of happiness (p<0.001). After green dietary education, interests in green dietary, green dietary practices score, the score of health and environment factors of green dietary practices efficacy significantly higher than before education (p<0.05), but all the factors of self-esteem and happiness did not have any significant changes. This study suggests that green dietary education programs for middle school students could account for psychological factors such as self-esteem, happiness according to gender, school records, economic level and allowance a month to be effective.


Emotional stresses chronically activate the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and have been associated with the progression and recurrence of breast cancer, as well as with reduced survival of breast cancer patients. We observed that isoproterenol (ISO), a β1/2 adrenergic receptor (βAR) agonist used to mimic sympathetic activation, induced the expression of Vegfa in mouse bone in vivo and in osteoblast cultures in vitro. Because VEGF is pro-angiogenic, and tumor cells depend on the vasculature to form distant metastases, we hypothesized that SNS chronic activation may increase bone marrow vascular density via an effect on β2AR-expressing osteoblasts, thus promoting the possibility of metastatic breast cancer establishment in the skeleton. To address this question, we measured the formation of CD31+ vessels in femurs in vivo by histomorphometric analyses, following daily ISO treatment of adult mice for 6 weeks. Vessel number was significantly increased by ISO treatment in WT mouse femurs, and this effect was blunted in mice lacking the β2AR. Further supporting our hypothesis, we found that the conditioned media (CM) from MC3T3 osteoblasts treated with ISO augmented blood vessel formation in an ex vivo metatarsal assay as compared to the CM of PBS-treated osteoblasts. Lastly, the CM of ISO-treated MC3T3 osteoblasts promoted primary bone endothelial cell tube formation, and inhibition of Vegf:Vegfr2 interaction with the antibody mcr84 reduced this formation. These results suggest that the effect of chronic stress on metastatic breast cancer cell establishment in the skeleton may be mediated in part due to changes in the bone microenvironment, specifically an increase in osteoblastic VEGF that changes host bone marrow vascular density. Citation Format: Patrick L. Mulcrone, J. Preston Campbell, Ana Lia Anbinder, Julie A. Sterling, Florent Elefteriou. Sympathetic activation alters the bone vasculature: implication for osteotropic breast cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2682.


To enhance the data security in network communications, this paper presents a dual-field elliptic curve cryptographic processor (DECP) supporting all finite field operations and elliptic curve (EC) functions. Based on the fast radix-4 unified division algorithm, the execution time can be significantly reduced by a factor of three. By exploiting the hardware sharing and the ladder selection techniques, the proposed 160-bit and 256-bit DECP can have competitive execution cycle with only 0.29mm2 and 0.45mm2 silicon area in 90nm CMOS technology. In addition, the operating frequency in dual field can be increased by applying the data-path separation method and the degree checker. Our proposed DECP is over 2∼6 times better in area-time product than relative works.


Poverty is a crucial problem that is being faced by all nations in the world, including Indonesia. This condition will certainly disrupt national development and stability. Therefore, what is needed now is a solution that can help overcome the problems. The poverty is defined as the inability of a person to fulfill his basic needs because of his powerlessness in accessing or mastering economic resources. The inequality of economic development is one of the causes of poverty. Welfare is a condition that is a hope for every citizen. But in reality not all citizens can easily get welfare. The empowerment of productive zakat funds has a very large role in the business mustahiq, because of the limitation to increase capital in its business, so that zakat funds become one of the solutions to advance business mustahiq. Productive zakat has the specificity of being channeled to the production business of mustahiq. Productive businesses carried out by mustahiq with capital from productive zakat. His efforts are expected to be able to continue to grow, so that being able to raise the economic level of mustahiq so that achieving prosperity can even become muzakki. Keywords: Zakat, Mustahiq, Zakat Empowerment


In recent years, there has been significant global growth in the use of entrepreneurship education (EE), predominantly in higher education. Producing entrepreneurs and developing entrepreneurial capabilities is now considered an economic priority and teaching high-impact entrepreneurship has become an important role for universities (Office of the Chief Scientist, 2015). It has been argued that EE should begin as early as possible (World Economic Forum, 2009) and that reshaping education and training policies will help narrow the widening skills students require in an ever-evolving global economy (World Economic Forum, 2016, p. 24). EE programs can assist students in developing the crucial enterprise skills that 21st-century employers are seeking, including creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork (FYA, 2016; Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority [QCAA], 2015). There is thus a need for more Australian studies investigating EE at the secondary school level. Australia currently has no widely implemented entrepreneurship programs offered by schools. There are, however, a small number of national programs run by external providers and implemented in schools, including the Club Kidpreneur Challenge, aimed at upper primary students (Club Kidpreneur Foundation, 2017) and the secondary-themed $20 Boss program (FYA, 2017).
Given this contextual background, this study addresses the central research question: What are the key elements of externally provided EE programs? After examination of the literature, self-efficacy, knowledge and student experience were identified as playing key roles in the success of EE programs. Therefore, the three sub-questions that guided the collection and analysis of the data were: (1) Are there changes in students' self-efficacy after participating in externally provided EE programs? (2) Are there changes in students' knowledge after participating in externally provided EE programs? (3) How do students describe their experiences in externally provided EE programs? The results were then used to inform the identification and discussion of the key design elements used in externally provided EE programs and to propose an EE program model. These design elements included: pedagogical approach (delivery mode), knowledge (content) experiences, topics, learning outcomes, supporting materials and timeframe. Two cases are examined in this study using a mixed method approach – the first is the $20 Boss Program offered to Year 10 students, an in-class, teacher-delivered approach designed by FYA. The second case is the GLO@Logan Entrepreneurial Innovation Challenge, a 3-day initiative conducted by Griffith University at its Logan campus for Year 9 students. Exciting avenues for the development of secondary school EE programs arise from the findings presented in this thesis. As a study positioned within the secondary school context, this thesis has implications for teaching, learning, and research as it demonstrates that student self-efficacy and learning outcomes can be improved through EE via the integration of pedagogical approaches such as PBL. Past literature suggests PBL helps reduce classroom hierarchical barriers, resulting in students taking ownership of their learning (Huq & Gilbert, 2017). Given that students' value of entrepreneurship increased following both case studies, it could be argued that exposure to EE – no matter the duration of the program – can have a positive impact on students' knowledge and attitudes. Additionally, students were more confident in presenting to others and managing budgets after partaking in $20 Boss.
Given the importance of EE, and particularly 21st-century enterprise skills more generally, it is clear that there is a need for the informed design of EE programs, within and outside of school. The application of this research serves as a pilot study for wider research into EE approaches at a secondary school level. Importantly, this thesis makes recommendations about what salient elements of the EE programs examined can be advanced as essential elements of future EE programs at the secondary school level. In advancing these salient elements of EE programs, this thesis serves as a stepping stone in reshaping the secondary curriculum to help prepare the next generation for the 21st-century workforce and beyond.


Channel charting is a recently proposed framework that applies dimensionality reduction to channel state information (CSI) in wireless systems with the goal of associating a pseudo-position to each mobile user in a low-dimensional space: the channel chart. Channel charting summarizes the entire CSI dataset in a self-supervised manner, which opens up a range of applications that are tied to user location. In this article, we introduce the theoretical underpinnings of channel charting and present an overview of recent algorithmic developments and experimental results obtained in the field. We furthermore discuss concrete application examples of channel charting to network- and user-related applications, and we provide a perspective on future developments and challenges as well as the role of channel charting in next-generation wireless networks.


The use of power-law lubricant in a rheostatic thrust bearing with a variable film thickness is considered. It is found that for maximum load capacity the film thickness function is a step function. In this case a relation between film thickness ratio and step radius is obtained. For a constant film thickness, the load capacity increases as n, the flow behaviour index decreases. However in the case of stepped bearing the maximum load capacity can increase or decrease with respect to n depending on the film thickness ratio.


Context Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections constitute a major global health problem. About 60,000 and 350,000 deaths occur as the results of HBV and HCV infections, respectively. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are leading causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which are considered as the third cancer-associated cause of deaths worldwide. Iran suffers from the same problem but to a lesser extent as it is considered as a low endemic area for HBV and HCV infections and also as a low incidence area of HCC. This study was conducted to assess and provide a clear picture about epidemiology of HBV and HCV infections in Iran and worldwide, with the consequence on HCC distribution all over the world including Iran, and to analyze current literature regarding the modes of transmission and risk factors of HBV and HCV infections. Evidence Acquisition In this review, we performed electronic and manual searches on available databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and the Iranian databases such as IranMedex. We also performed a Google search to find related articles. Results HBV and HCV infections are the most common risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma. The epidemiology of HCC usually follows that of HBV and HCV infections. With the introduction of HBV national vaccine in Iran and worldwide, there is a noticeable effect on reduction in HBV prevalence in most countries, and we expect that HCV will replace HBV as a major risk factor of HCC in Iran and worldwide. Alcohol plays a minor role as a risk factor for cirrhosis and HCC in Iran, Asia, and Africa, despite its noticeable role in Europe and the USA. Conclusions Vaccination against HBV remains the most effective approach against HBV infection with consequence decrease in HBV-related HCC. There is a need to improve the awareness about epidemiology of HBV and HCV infections, modes of transmission, and their complications, specifically HCC among population.


Coherent population trapping resonances in cesium vapor can be used to determine DC flux densities in the range from 1 μT to 1 mT with typically 3·10−5 relative uncertainty. For fields modulated at a few kHz, we find sensitivities of below 10 pT within 0.5 s integration time. From the signal-to-noise ratio the sensitivity can be extrapolated to 500 fT/√Hz. A quantitative understanding of the lineshape allows to detect DC fields of several nT even when the Zeeman components of the resonance are not resolved.


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