In recent years, there has been a growing interest of using Leak-Before-Break (LBB) concept in the refining industry. LBB methodology has been applied in the nuclear industry for decades, but generally for elimination of hardware for dynamic rupture control at the design stage. However, in the refining industry the purpose of the LBB application could be quite different than for the nuclear industry. In the refining industry the purpose of LBB is to show in-service leakage can be detected well ahead the potential for rupture allowing for ample time for safe replacement of piping.
 This paper explores conditions in which LBB can be applied to refinery piping. Initially, the analysis was conducted using a finite element model of a typical pipe system with its design boundary conditions under operating loadings, i.e., gravity, pressure, thermal and hanger loadings. The results with various circumferential crack sizes show a displacement-controlled manner (LBB is easy to satisfy) for the pipe system mainly due to higher secondary stresses, i.e., thermal loadings. However, the pipe system behaved in a load-controlled manner (LBB is harder to satisfy) when some of the boundary conditions were changed simulating a possible support failure and/or hanger failure. This paper investigates how boundary conditions can change a displacement-controlled LBB behavior to load-controlled LBB for a representative pipe system and the implications regarding leak rate detection capability. The effect of material's toughness reduction due to high-temperature hydrogen-attack (HTHA) damage was also included in these analyses. The procedure outlined here can be applied to a piping system to identify piping supports that are critical for inspection to demonstrate LBB, and the anticipated leak rate before reaching critical flaw size.


Sludges are stabilized to reduce pathogens, eliminate offensive odors and inhibit, reduce or eliminate the potential for putrification. In this study, stabilization of municipal wastewater sludge with and without earthworms (Eisenia fetida) was tested in a pilot study. The earthworms were fed at the optimum level of 0.75 kg-feed/kg-worm/day. Decomposition and stabilization of wastewater sludge occurred both in the presence and in the absence of earthworms during 9 weeks but the process was accelerated in their presence. Phosphorus content increased in the sludge with earthworms but decreased in it without them. Nitrogen content in the resulting vermicompost showed no difference with its quantity in the original substrate while it increased in the control treatment.


No sport has mattered more to Americans than baseball--and no team has had a greater impact on baseball than the New York Yankees. Now Neil Sullivan delivers a narrative worthy of his fabled subject, in this marvelous history of Yankee Stadium. Fans have a box-seat at the Stadium's first Opening Day: The stunning visual impact of the baseball's first true stadium, the festivities, the players (including Babe Ruth who christened the Stadium with its first home run), and the game in which the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1. The Stadium was immediately known as "The House That Ruth Built," but Sullivan takes us behind the scenes to meet the politicians, businessmen and fixers who were even more responsible for the Stadium than the Babe was: Colonel Jacob Ruppert, the beer baron and Tammany Hall insider who bought the Yankees and built the Stadium; Mayors like Jimmy Walker who reigned during the Yankees first Golden Age, John Lindsay who fought hard for liberal causes in the 1960s but even harder for a refurbished Stadium, and Rudy Giuliani, who has taken a hard-nosed approach to most welfare but who supports a stadium subsidy for the Yankees. Here too are the great seasons including the cross town World Series rivalries with the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sullivan looks at the legendary players like Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle as well as lesser lights like Jake Powell to see their impact beyond the diamond. Along the way, Sullivan uses the story of the Stadium to examine issues ranging from racial integration and urban renewal to the reasons why New York City, even during tough times, has come to adopt the Stadium as a public obligation. Neil Sullivan knows baseball and city politics and the connections between the two. In these pages, he tells how Yankee Stadium is not just the most revered venue in American sports, but also a part of urban history as compelling as the grandest baseball legend.


We present Unicoder, a universal language encoder that is insensitive to different languages. Given an arbitrary NLP task, a model can be trained with Unicoder using training data in one language and directly applied to inputs of the same task in other languages. Comparing to similar efforts such as Multilingual BERT and XLM , three new cross-lingual pre-training tasks are proposed, including cross-lingual word recovery, cross-lingual paraphrase classification and cross-lingual masked language model. These tasks help Unicoder learn the mappings among different languages from more perspectives. We also find that doing fine-tuning on multiple languages together can bring further improvement. Experiments are performed on two tasks: cross-lingual natural language inference (XNLI) and cross-lingual question answering (XQA), where XLM is our baseline. On XNLI, 1.8% averaged accuracy improvement (on 15 languages) is obtained. On XQA, which is a new cross-lingual dataset built by us, 5.5% averaged accuracy improvement (on French and German) is obtained.


OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of behavioral activation (BA) for depression has been firmly established, and training therapists in BA may be less time-intensive than for standard interventions. Because BA addresses problematic avoidance behaviors, BA holds promise as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We conducted a meta-analysis of both randomized controlled trials and uncontrolled studies involving the use of BA for the treatment of PTSD. Outcomes of interest were PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, and grief.

METHOD
Meta-analyses included published studies in which BA served as the primary form of treatment for PTSD symptoms, whether PTSD was a primary or secondary outcome. Analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta Analysis software with a random-effects model.

RESULTS
Eight studies (3 controlled, 5 uncontrolled) with a total sample size of 564 participants met final inclusion criteria. The primary analysis for controlled studies indicated a significant improvement in PTSD symptoms for BA compared with the case for wait-list control (Hedges's g = 1.484) and for uncontrolled (Hedges's g = 0.717) studies. Secondary analyses indicated improvement in anxiety, grief, and depression (Hedges's g ranging from 0.28 to 2.29). No significant difference in effectiveness was observed for BA versus 2 active treatment comparison conditions (cognitive processing therapy and Internet-guided exposure). Effect sizes were not moderated by treatment modality (in-person vs. remote delivery) or by use of completer versus intention-to-treat data.

CONCLUSIONS
BA appears to be effective for PTSD symptoms, but additional randomized controlled trials are needed to increase confidence in these findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).


In this paper a global vision scheme applied to a fast dynamic game – robot soccer is presented. The process of robots positions and orientations estimation is divided into two steps. In the first step, the Bayer format image is acquired from camera, then the RGB image is interpolated and pixels are classified into a finite number of classes. At the same time, a segmentation algorithm is used to find corresponding regions belonging to one of the classes. In the second step, all the regions are examined. Selection of the ones that are parts of the observed object is made by means of simple logic procedures. A data filtering is used to improve identified noisy data. The novelty is focused on the optimization of the image acquisition algorithm as well as the processing time needed to finish the estimation of possible object positions.


Evolutionary transitions of organisms between environments have long fascinated biologists but attention has focused almost exclusively on free-living organisms and challenges to achieve such transitions. This bias requires addressing because parasites are a major component of biodiversity. We address this imbalance by focusing on transitions of parasitic animals between marine and freshwater environments. We highlight parasite traits and processes that may influence transition likelihood (e.g. transmission mode, life cycle, host use), and consider mechanisms and directions of transitions. Evidence for transitions in deep time and at present are described, and transitions in our changing world are considered. We propose that environmental transitions may be facilitated for endoparasites because hosts reduce exposure to physiologically challenging environments and argue that adoption of an endoparasitic lifestyle entails an equivalent transitioning process as organisms switch from living in one environment (e.g. freshwater, seawater, or air) to living symbiotically within hosts. Environmental transitions of parasites have repeatedly resulted in novel forms and diversification, contributing to the tree of life. Recognising the potential processes underlying present-day and future environmental transitions is crucial in view of our changing world and the current biodiversity crisis.


Monitoring information and data flows in an organization is a difficult process. Information is often made up of several entities and quickly becomes obsolete. With current systems, monitoring and validating information is a daunting task, it involves not only implementing complex queries but also code changes, recompilations and reruns each time we add or change information. Active database systems have been created to support applications by detecting and responding to changes in databases. This includes support for specifying trigger systems to monitor changes and perform some data control tasks. However one of the problems with current trigger systems is their limited support for detecting and monitoring information and data flows in a dynamic and evolving environment. This paper addresses this limitation and a mechanism is presented in which triggers may be placed to monitor information and data flows in a dynamic workflow environment.


This paper describes a fast hand strength estimation mod-el for the game of Gin Rummy. The algorithm is computationally inexpensive, and it incorporates not only cards in the player's hand but also cards known to be in the opponent's hand, cards in the discard pile, and the current game stage. This algorithm is used in conjunction with counterfactual regret (CFR) minimization to develop a gin rummy bot. CFR strategies were developed for the knocking strategies. The hand strength estimation algorithm was used to select a discard that balances the goals of maximizing the utility of the player's hand and minimizing the likelihood that a card will be useful to the opponent. A study of the parameterization of this estimation algorithm demonstrates the soundness of approach as well as good performance under a wide range of parameter values.


Several theories about the development strategy formulated by the most conventional neo-classical economists much criticized. Fahim Khan including contemporary Islamic economic thinkers who criticize conventional economic development strategy with alternative bids from the Islamic economics perspective. Their thinking is exciting to examined substance and its correlation with the economic development of contemporary Islamic discourse that dominated the development of financial institutions/syariah banking. The creation of entrepreneurial opportunities made Fahim Khan as a keyword in the concept of criticizing conventional strategy and supporting the Islamic economic development strategy. Strategy opened and graced this productive creative independent businesses are deemed appropriate and supported by the Islamic economic system based on profit and loss sharing partnership (profit-loss sharing). The idea is to promote excellence banking system of sharing based on the conventional interest-based banking system in spurring economic development suplus to enliven the entrepreneurial workforce.


We have studied the magneto-resistance (MR) control by use of a variation of the interparticle-coupling-form (IPCF) in half-metallic magnetite (Fe3O4) nano-particle sinter (MNPS). The average nano-particle size of the MNPS is 30nm and the measurements were carried out between 4K and 300K. The variation of the IPCF in the MNPS was performed by the heat treatment (HT) between 400°C and 800°C. The behavior of the MR and electrical resistance (ER) considerably changes at the HT temperature of around 600°C. Below around 600°C the ER indicates the variable-range-hopping conduction behavior in a wide temperature region, whereas above around 600°C the ER shows the indication of the Verwey transition near 110K like a bulk single crystal. We have considered that the electrical conduction switching in the MNPS occurs at the HT temperature of around 600°C. Namely, below around 600°C the ER is dominated by the grain-boundary conduction and above around 600°C the ER is determined by the inter-grain conduction. We have found that at room temperature the MR for the MNPS made at the HT temperature of 400°C shows approximately 20 times that of a bulk single crystal. The application of the magnetic field to grain-boundary conduction is considered to cause the large enhancement of the MR.


Published reports dealing with rotavirus infections in Turkey are very scarce. This study included 1099 consecutive paediatric patients with diarrhoea, who sought care at 3 hospitals in Ankara, Turkey between 1999 and 2002 and were investigated for the presence of rotavirus antigen in faeces. Rotavirus antigen was detected by an immunochromatographic test, Simple Rotavirus (Operon, Spain). Other clinical and laboratory data were extracted from patient journals. A total of 404 (36.8%) patients were positive for rotavirus antigen. Rotavirus antigen was more frequently detected in boys than girls (40.8 vs 31.8%) and in children younger than 2 y (62.7%). The proportion of rotavirus-positive children was higher in the winter season (49.6%; November to April) and the highest proportion was observed in December (55.4%). Rotavirus-associated diarrhoea had a more severe clinical presentation than non-rotaviral diarrhoea; 55.3% of all patients who required hospitalization were rotavirus-positive. The seasonal and epidemiological characteristics of rotavirus diarrhoea in Ankara were similar to those in the USA and Europe. For reliable nationwide information about the epidemiology of rotavirus-associated disease in Turkey, more individual studies and reliable official statistics of gastroenteritis cases are needed.


Aims India does not yet have an estimate of prevalence of autism and autistic traits in the general population. Estimates drawn from studies in UK and USA suggest that India could have more than 2 million people with ASC; this prevalence estimate has never been verified. There is a critical need to measure the prevalence of autism and the distribution of autistic traits in a general population sample in India. Method Schools from all socio-economic sectors were selected from 3 boroughs. Teachers filled in the Social Communication Disorder Checklist (SCDC), a 10-item initial screening measure for autism (Skuse et al., 1995), in English or Hindi or Bengali. Parents filled in the SCDC, followed by the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), a 40-item diagnostic tool (Rutter et al., 1999) – and the Autism Quotient – child version (AQ-C), a 50-item tool quantifying the distribution of autistic traits (Auyeung et al., 2009). Results SCDC: Teacher reports were obtained for 12764 children. 3.6% met the cut-off score of 9, with 3.8% meeting cutoff on English, 5.49% on Hindi and 1.29% on Bengali versions of the tool. Parent response rate for SCDC was 50.1%. 20.19% met cut off on SCDC parent report overall. 21.67% met cutoff on English, 10.24% on Hindi, and 20.11% on Bengali versions of the tool. Correlation between parent and teacher ratings were modest (r = 0.103, p < 0.001). SCQ: Of 2887 respondents 8.9% met the cut-off score of 15, overall. Specifically 9.64% met cut-off on English, 8.26% on Hindi, and 10.09% on Bengali versions of the tool. AQ-C: Of 2901 respondents 9.86% met the cut-off score of 76. Specifically, 9.48% met cutoff on English, 11.25% on Hindi and 8.67% on Bengali versions of the tool. Conclusions This is the first study providing data on the distribution of autistic symptoms in 12764 children in India. The results suggest over-reporting by parents in comparison to teachers, irrespective of language. This provides important directions for future epidemiological research into autism in India.


Traffic congestion has been a major problem on roads around the world. In addition, there is increase in volume of traffic vehicle density at a steady rate. Thus traffic on major roads has to be controlled to keep the traffic flowing at an acceptable rate. Several schemes for replacing the predominantly used Round Robin (RR) scheme for reducing congestion at traffic junctions have been proposed. Dynamic traffic control schemes adapt to the changing traffic by monitoring the state (such as the number queued up on each lane.). These need appropriate sensing and monitoring systems. In this paper a traffic monitoring and control system based on AMR (Anistropic Magneto Resistive) vehicle sensors, wireless sensor network and a proiritised Weighted Round Robin (WRR) scheduling technique, is developed.AMR sensors installed in road pavement detect the number of vehicles waiting in a traffic lane. The AMR sensors are connected to the master controller to form a ZigBee based sensor network. The master node consists of an ARM processor integrated with a ZigBee masternode. The traffic control algorithm is implemented at master node which is responsible for taking traffic signaling decision. It receives sensor data from all the lanes. A two level priority algorithm with weighted round robin scheduling, where first and second maximum weighted lane are to pass the signal is developed, To avoid starving the least loaded lanes, a cycle of normal round robin scheduling is performed after four rounds of proiritised weighted round robin schedule. The proposed algorithm is simulated and compared with the standard round robin algorithm. The developed algorithm decreases the average waiting time for a commuter while maintaining the average throughput up to average loads. The development traffic monitoring system is successfully demonstrated for a four lane junction.


A model of the electronic energy spectrum for the rhombohedral III-V-VI2 compounds (the ternary isoelectronic analogues of the bismuth-type semimetals and the IV-VI semiconductors) has been elaborated on the basis of the genesis of their crystalline structure from the simple cubic lattice as well as the derivation of the band spectrum from the atomic p states. Rhombohedral III-V-VI2 compounds are shown to be narrow-gap semiconductors, with two conduction and two valence bands located at Gamma - and L points of the Brillouin zone. The band structure of TlBiC2VI compounds has been found to be normal, while that of TlSbC2VI is inverted.


The radial permeability (gas and liquid) of the hybrid pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii [PEE] × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis [PCH]) was investigated for wood samples collected from 30 trees that were 19 years of age and represented various genotypes and stocking rates. The PEE × PCH hybrid is now a very important resource for the Australian forestry industry, producing logs used to manufacture a diverse array of wood products. The permeability of wood influences many important wood properties and industrial processes. For all data combined from all radial sampling positions, there was no significant effect of genotype and stocking rate on radial permeability. Both gas and liquid permeability increased from pith to bark positions within the tree. Conversely, resin content decreased from pith to bark positions. Gas and liquid permeability were significantly positively correlated, and a highly significant negative relationship was also found between permeability (gas and liquid) and resin content.


I explore how the increasing professionalisation of international development has enabled the expansion of the neoliberal agenda of development agencies and, at the same time, the co-optation of so-called ?alternative? approaches onto this agenda. The focus is on the key figure of the development ?expert? as an agent involved in consolidating unilinear notions of modernising progress. First, there is an examination of the post-war production of the development expert and the reproduction of systems of expertise and forms of authority that they articulate. Research with former UK colonial officers who worked in the post-independence development industry is subsequently drawn upon to exemplify the continuities and divergences from colonial rule to contemporary discourses of development. Then, there is a demonstration of the co-optation of potentially critical discourses, focusing upon the creation of professionals and the exclusive forms of knowledge that surround the practice of participatory development. Finally, in the conclusion, I argue that increasing professionalisation within the development industry supports the neoliberal development agenda and that there remains a need to identify how critical discourses can be effective within it.


BACKGROUND
Alendronate is a bisphosphonate that is approved to reduce bone loss in glucocorticoid treated patients. In this paper, we present a case of femoral fracture following the use of Alendronate.

CASE PRESENTATION
A- 46 year old woman who was a known case of hemolytic anemia has been treated by prednisolone (with different doses from 7.5 to 75 mg/day), calcium-D 500 mg/day and alendronate 70 mg/week for 3 years. Despite improvement of bone density, she experienced a low truama femoral shaft fracture.

CONCLUSION
This case shows a rare complication of treatment by alendronate. It may be needed to evaluate patients with long term usage of bisphosphonates for cortical thickness.


Invaluable data can at times be overlooked or not fully exploited when first collected. Striking conclusions can often be drawn on the basis of a specific analysis many years later. The Apollo 11 - 17 missions (1961-1972) provided detailed information on lunar basalts which make it possible to measure the iron grains in basalts from microphotographs of thin sections. Analysis of the average size of these grains (D) differed as a function of the age of these basalts dated between 3.9 and 3.4 billion years ago, revealed that D increased 1.5 fold, therefore the gravity acceleration g decreased 1.5 fold. The intriguing conclusion can only be that the size of the Moon increased, its mass decreased, or both these factors have changed.


We present a framework for a decision support tool (DST), which can be applied globally to assess the sources and significance of diffuse pollution without the need for detailed monitoring or modelling on a local basis. The DST will be built around an empirical loading model and global data sets that provide information on demography, land use, climate and terrain. The loading model will be reliant on the use of coefficients that will be derived from the global data sets to ensure that the DST is transferable to any region in the world. The loading model and the global data sets will be structured into a tiered spatial system, in which the world's landmasses are mapped into a grid. The top tier estimates loads for grid squares that are hundreds of kilometres across, and uses broad land use categories and corresponding coefficients to calculate the loads. The loads from each grid may be summed to produce loads for entire countries, continents or regional areas defined by geographic, political or economic boundaries. In contrast, the lower tiers estimate diffuse pollutant loads for smaller grid squares (smaller blocks of land) and are therefore designed to operate at the smaller catchment scale, and in areas where relatively more data are available. In these lower tiers, pollutant loads for each grid square will be estimated by characterising the squares into more defined land use types and using narrowly defined or specific coefficients.


Facial expressions and speech movements can impose conflicting demands on articulators. For example, the lip spreading movement associated with smiling is incompatible with bilabial closures for /m/, /b/ or /p/. Anecdotal evidence suggests this conflict may resolve as labiodental stop variants (see http://phonetic-blog.blogspot.ca/2012/03/u.html), though this discussion has been controversial [Ladefoged & Maddieson 1996, p. 18]. The simplest model of coarticulation – one of unmediated superposition of muscle activations [Gick et al., 2013, POMA 060207] – predicts that the outcome of this conflict should be determined by summing opposing forces due to competing muscle activations. If so, varying degrees of smile and varying degrees of closure force (e.g., for different stop consonants) should be expected to produce distinct outputs. Previous work suggests that closures for /m/, /b/ and /p/ vary (increasingly) in both intraoral pressure [Lubker & Parris 1970, JASA 47: 625] and muscle force [Gick et al. 2012, JASA 131: 3345]. An experiment will be presented in which bilabial stops are produced under varying smile conditions. Preliminary results indicate that labiodental stop variants occur more frequently for lower-force stops under higher-force smile conditions, as predicted. Implications for models of coarticulation will be discussed. [Funding from NSERC].


Deposition technology of transparent conducting oxide (TCO) thin films is critical for high performance of optoelectronic devices. Solution-based fabrication methods can result in substantial cost reduction and enable broad applicability of the TCO thin films. Here we report a simple and highly effective solution process to fabricate indium-tin oxide (ITO) thin films with high uniformity, reproducibility, and scalability. The ITO films are highly transparent (90.2%) and conductive (ρ = 7.2 × 10(-4) Ω·cm) with the highest figure of merit (1.19 × 10(-2) Ω(-1)) among all the solution-processed ITO films reported to date. The high transparency and figure of merit, low sheet resistance (30 Ω/sq), and roughness (1.14 nm) are comparable with the benchmark properties of dc sputtering and can meet the requirements for most practical applications.


CMD-3 is the general purpose cryogenic magnetic detector for VEPP-2000 electron-positron collider, which is being commissioned at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (BINP, Novosibirsk, Russia). The main aspects of physical program of the experiment are precision measurements of hadronic cross sections, study of known and search for new vector mesons, study of the nand pproduction cross sections in the vicinity of the threshold and search for exotic hadrons in the region of center of mass energy below 2 GeV. This contribution gives a general design overview and a status of implementation of CMD-3 offline software for reconstruction, simulation, visualization and storage management. Software design standards for this project are object oriented programming techniques, C++ as a main language, Geant4 as an only simulation tool, Geant4 based detector geometry description, CLHEP library based primary generators, ROOT toolbox as a persistency manager and Scientific Linux as a main platform. The dedicated software development framework (Cmd3Fwk) was implemented in order to be the basic software integration solution and a high level persistency manager. The key features of the framework are modularity, dynamic data processing chain handling according to the XML configuration of reconstruction modules and on-demand data provisioning mechanisms.


In this work, Constructal Design and Genetic Algorithms are used to construct high conductivity paths connected to a heat sink and inserted in a square plate of low conductivity material with internal heat generation. The objective is propose a methodology that leads to minimize the maximum solid domain temperature. Total volume of the plate, amount of high thermal conductivity material and thermal ratio between high and low conductivities are fixed. The high conductive pathway forms found in this work greately resembles to the tree-forms found in nature, on which temperature is efficiently minimized by the application of the Genetic Algorithm and the Constructal Theory combined.


To rationally guide the improvement of isobutanol production, metabolic network and metabolic profiling analysis were performed to provide global and profound insights into cell metabolism of isobutanol-producing Bacillus subtilis. The metabolic flux distribution of strains with different isobutanol production capacity (BSUL03, BSUL04 and BSUL05) drops a hint of the importance of NADPH on isobutanol biosynthesis. Therefore, the redox pathways were redesigned in this study. To increase NADPH concentration, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase was inactivated (BSUL06) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was overexpressed (BSUL07) successively. As expected, NADPH pool size in BSUL07 was 4.4-fold higher than that in parental strain BSUL05. However, cell growth, isobutanol yield and production were decreased by 46%, 22%, and 80%, respectively. Metabolic profiling analysis suggested that the severely imbalanced redox status might be the primary reason. To solve this problem, gene udhA of Escherichia coli encoding transhydrogenase was further overexpressed (BSUL08), which not only well balanced the cellular ratio of NAD(P)H/NAD(P)+, but also increased NADH and ATP concentration. In addition, a straightforward engineering approach for improving NADPH concentrations was employed in BSUL05 by overexpressing exogenous gene pntAB and obtained BSUL09. The performance for isobutanol production by BSUL09 was poorer than BSUL08 but better than other engineered strains. Furthermore, in fed-batch fermentation the isobutanol production and yield of BSUL08 increased by 11% and 19%, up to the value of 6.12 g/L and 0.37 C-mol isobutanol/C-mol glucose (63% of the theoretical value), respectively, compared with parental strain BSUL05. These results demonstrated that model-driven complemented with metabolic profiling analysis could serve as a useful approach in the strain improvement for higher bio-productivity in further application.


The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of GAS8 antisense RNA 1 (GAS8-AS1) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). PcDNA3.1-GAS8-AS1 and si-GAS8-AS1, miR-135b-5p mimic and si-CCND2 were transfected into PTC cells. Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). QRT-PCR was used to determine expressions of GAS8-AS1, miR-135b-5p, and CCND2, and Western blot were detected protein level of CCND2. The miRNA target gene prediction site TargetScan was used to predict potential targets of GAS8-AS1 and miR-135b-5p. Cell cycle progression was analyzed by flow cytometry. We found that GAS8-AS1 was down-regulated in PTC cell lines and inhibited proliferation and cycle of PTC cell. GAS8-AS1 directly targets miR-135b-5p, and GAS8-AS1 could regulate a downstream target of miR-135b-5p, Cyclin G2 (CCNG2), in an miR-135b-5p-mediated manner. In addition, we also proved that overexpressed GAS8-AS1 inhibited tumor formation in vivo. GAS8-AS1 suppresses PTC cell growth through the miR-135b-5p/CCND2 axis.


Preventive Medicine Sir KENNETH COWAN, C.M.O., Department of Health for Scotland, gave the presidential address to the Section of Preventive Medicine, whose subject was epidemic influenza. He referred to the way epidemic diseases waxed and waned over the centuries, a periodicity which was nlot understood and whose full implications were not apparent even to-day. In the Western world the scope of the epidemiological method must now be widened to include mass disease or trauma. A combination of intensive epidemiological study with the application of public health methods could make a great impact on many conditions such as coronary disease and various forms of cancer which had become urgent public health problems. Dr. C. H. ANDREWES, F.R.S., opened the symposium on epidemic influenza. The recent epidemic had differed from many of its predecessors in the speed with which it had spread right across the world in six months and in its very good press, which had aroused more alarmn than its severity would justify. Influenza was able to afflict adults many times over because it attacked a mucous surface where antibodies from previous attacks were not readily available and because the virus kept changing its antigenic make-up.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the saliva microbial abundance and composition by 16s rRNA sequence during Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) eradication.

STUDY DESIGN
Descriptive study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY
Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from March 2019 to January 2020.

METHODOLOGY
The saliva microbial were analysed before and after the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy. A total of ten saliva samples (three groups) were enrolled in the study. The authors used the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) method and Welch's t-test for comparative analysis to identify which taxa could be significantly affected in three groups.

RESULTS
H.pylori 16S rRNA gene sequence was not detected in the ten saliva samples. The abundance of Prevotella_sp._oral_clone_P4PB_83_P2 from healthy adults was higher than H.pylori-positive patients. Moreover, after the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy, the diversity and richness of saliva bacteria reduced. Lautropia, Burkholderiales, uncultured bacterium, Burkholderiaceae, and Actinomyces were enriched in H.pylori-positive patient samples after the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy.

CONCLUSION
The diversity and richness of salivary microbiome were reduced in H.pylori-positive patient, and bismuth-containing quadruple therapy affected oral microbiota. Key Words: Helicobacter pylori, Saliva, Microbiota, RNA, Bismuth.


Different kinds of graphene (GN)/titania nanocomposites using graphene and P25 or Titanium (IV) n-butoxide (TBOT) as precursors were prepared with hydrothermal method. To investigate the differences of the photocatalytic properties of composites with various shapes of titanium dioxide (TiO2), three types of TiO2, including titanium nanotubes (TNT), titanium nanosheets (TNS) and titanium nanoparticles (TNP) were successfully prepared and combined with GN to form the composites. The prepared composites were confirmed by Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), etc. Photocatalytic activities of composites were carried out by the degradation of Reactive Black 5 (RBk5) and Norfloxacin (NFXC) under the radiation of UV lamp. Results indicate that the differences in the TiO2 morphology of the composites greatly influence the catalytic properties. In addition, the heterojunction between graphene and TiO2 also play an important role in the photocatalytic abilities of composites. In this study, it can be seen that the prepared composites exhibit higher photocatalytic activity including excellent adsorption capacity and photo-degradation ability than P25. The photocatalytic activity of GN–TNS is higher than that of GN–TiO2 and GN–TNT.


An estimation of the prevalence of epidermolysis bullosa was carried out in Japan. A questionnaire was sent by mail to the departments of dermatology and pediatrics in 644 main hospitals throughout Japan requesting confirmation of the number of epidermolysis bullosa cases experienced. The response rate was 63.0% or 406 hospitals. Based on the secondary questionnaire survey, we confirmed 393 cases of epidermolysis bullosa, and then divided them into the five following groups: "simplex" type 182 (48.2%), "junctional" type 23 (6.0%), "dominant dystrophic" type 72 (18.7%), "recessive dystrophic" type 109 (28.2%), unclassified 7 (1.8%). Using the respondent rate by geographic region and clinical department, the estimated prevalence of each type of epidermolysis bullosa was calculated as follows: "simplex" type 340-470 (0.29-0.40 per 100,000 population), "junctional" type 18-24 (0.015-0.020), "dominant dystrophic" type 130-180 (0.11-0.15) and "recessive dystrophic" type 180-250 (0.15-0.21). The total number of epidermolysis bullosa patients in Japan was estimated as being more than 670 in 1983.


As a commercial entertainment sector, the film industry in Australia presents an economically viable commodity, with AU$1087.5 million worth of box office revenue being made in 2009 (Screen Australia, http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/wcboadmission.html, 2010). With such a significant audience to entertain, it is unsurprising that film provides an ideal avenue for the communication of music. Music is an important element in the feature film, being used to set a scene, emphasize a plot development or incite a given emotion from the viewer. Feature film music ranges from specifically composed score to pre-recorded popular music licensed into the film. Increasingly, the latter is being used in feature films – impacting on the budgets, marketing and sound personnel of a film in a myriad of ways (see Smith, The Sounds of Commerce, New York: Columbia University Press, 1998). Of these sound personnel, the music supervisor is arguably impacted upon the most, and this can be attributed to the music supervisor's role to ensure all music within the film soundtrack is cleared and used in accordance within the legal rights of the licensor. However, the music supervisor in the Australian film context extends far beyond such clearances, with such personnel deciding which tracks are selected for the film and even suggesting certain pieces to the director – thus playing a creative collaborative role in the production. This area of communication in the Australian feature film industry is largely overlooked or marginalized in academic research (see Coyle, Reel Tracks, Eastleigh: John Libbey, 2005, for some tentative research). This interdisciplinary paper contributes findings from interviews conducted by the author with Australian music supervisors throughout the period 2007–2009. It charts both formal and informal networks and communication modes between film and music industry personnel working within the Australian entertainment industry to show the complexity of industrial practices in the contemporary period.


Using multicast delivery to multiple receivers reduces the aggregate bandwidth required from the network compared to using unicast delivery to each receiver. However, multicast is not yet widely deployed in the Internet. One reason is the lack of incentive to use multicast delivery. To encourage the use of multicast delivery, we define a new bandwidth-allocation policy, called LogRD, taking into account the number of downstream receivers. This policy gives more bandwidth to a multicast flow as compared to a unicast flow that shares the same bottleneck, without starving the unicast flows, however. The LogRD policy also provides an answer to the question on how to treat a multicast flow compared to a unicast flow sharing the same bottleneck. We investigate three bandwidth-allocation policies for multicast flows and evaluate their impact on both receiver satisfaction and fairness using a simple analytical study and a comprehensive set of simulations. The policy that allocates the available bandwidth as a logarithmic function of the number of receivers downstream of the bottleneck achieves the best tradeoff between receiver satisfaction and fairness.


The majority of volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits at the east end of the Paleoproterozoic Flin Flon "greenstone" belt occur in the 1.89 Ga Snow Lake arc assemblage. VMS deposits in this isotopically juvenile oceanic arc sequence are hosted within a 6 km thick monoclinal section that records in its stratigraphy and geochemistry a temporal evolution in arc development from primitive, through mature, to arc rift. VMS deposits occur in both the primitive and mature arc sequences and are interpreted to be products of arc extension and accompanying anomolously high heat flow, fracturing, and fluid circulation. Boninites, low-Ti tholeiites, and isotopically juvenile rhyolite flows, a rock association that has been attributed in both modern and Phanerozoic arcs to high-temperature hydrous melting of refractory mantle sources in an extensional and (or) pro to-arc environment, forms the primitive arc. Indication that the mature arc also underwent extension includes voluminous volcaniclastic detritus (from fault scarps?), prominent synvolcanic dykes, isotopically juvenile rhyolite flows, and the fact that the mature arc is stratigraphically overlain by arc-rift basalts with MORB-like geochemistry. Interpretation of VMS deposits at Snow Lake as products of an extensional geodynamic setting suggests that the traditional Flin Flon Belt exploration model, invoking "pluton-generated" convective seawater, be augmented by the search for evidence of rifting. Economically significant rock associations at Snow Lake include geochemically primitive refractory mafic magmas (e.g., boninites), isotopically juvenile felsic magmas, bimodal basalt–rhyolite sequences, and arc-rift basalts.


The aim of the study is to analyze the influence of ownership structure on earnings smoothing practices in companies listed on B3. The analysis considered multivariate linear regression for a sample of 203 observations, with data referring to the period 2016-2021. The results indicated that the greater presence of international and institutional investors are factors that mitigate earnings smoothing practices. In turn, ownership concentration, government ownership and growth in the number of shareholders in the stock market did not prove to be determinants of income smoothing. The results suggest that the low participation of institutional and international investors may make it necessary to use additional corporate governance mechanisms.


There has been analyzed the 1965-2015 time-series of shallow ( 60 km), during the 1977-1990 time interval, succeeded to trigger a subsequent enhancement of that shallow seismicity: presumably, by episodically unblocking channels along which high-pressure/ultra-high-pressure rocks were ascending, in a discontinuous process of exhumation, by the present time. Yet even in periods when only moderate shocks (Mw<6) occurred at intermediate-depth in Vrancea region, focal mechanisms of shallow earthquakes, as well as vertical GPS displacements, were still consistent with an ongoing up-flow of exhuming material; consequently, by taking into account that no waves generated by a strong earthquake could have been then involved in unblocking exhumation channels, it was suggested that in those periods, the exhuming material ascent should have proceeded more unrestricted. Overall considered, since the hypothesized exhuming pathways presumably followed the contacts between the tectonic plates which are juxtaposed in that region, such distinctions noticed in terms of shallow earthquakes generation could be related to the strength of the coupling between the involved plates.


Based on H-cell measurements, gold (Au) is one of the most selective catalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to CO. To ensure a high dispersion, typically Au small nanoparticles (NPs) are used as catalyst. However, the preparation of small Au NPs based on conventional synthesis methods often requires the use of surfactants such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Here, we present a systematic evaluation of the performance of laser-generated, surfactant-free Au NPs for the CO2RR in a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setup and compare the results to investigations in an H-cell configuration. The GDE setup supplies a continuous CO2 stream at the electrode−electrolyte interface to circumvent CO2 mass transport limitations encountered in conventional H-cells. We investigate the influence of the catalyst loading and the effect of PVP. Comparing the two screening methods, i.e. GDE and H-cell measurements, it is shown that the performance of the same catalyst can be substantially different in the two environments. In the GDE setup without liquid electrolyte-catalyst interface a higher reaction rate, but lower faradaic efficiendy is determined. Independent of the setup, the presence of PVP favours the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), however, in the GDE setup PVP is more detrimental for the performance than in the H-cell.


DLR's experimental airborne SAR E-SAR is well-known in Europe and beyond. It is a versatile system operating
in four major radar frequency bands, one of them being the P-band starting at 300MHz. While the DLR is successfully
operating the P-band E-SAR under operational conditions for a couple of years now after having finished the
development of a new antenna, not much has been published so far about the performance of the system. In this
paper the design of the P-band radar sub-system is reviewed and results of a performance analysis are presented.


Problem Hand luggage has become increasingly popular over checked baggage. As a result, one in five of KLM's flights has a hand luggage surplus, where the amount of hand luggage that appears at the gate exceeds the limited stowage capacity of the airplane. The only way to deal with a hand luggage surplus is by gate checking: stowing hand luggage in the cargo hold minutes before departure. Gate checking leads to unsatisfied passengers and delays costing an estimated €1.5MM. Direction A strategy of preventing hand luggage surpluses was pursued. It was analysed how hand luggage inflows (the amount of hand luggage per passenger) could be minimized, how hand luggage outflows (checking hand luggage voluntarily and checking oversized hand luggage involluntarily) could be maximized and how the stowage capacity of KLM's fleet could be maximized. Solutions A variety of solutions and recommendations were formulated. Most importantly: Decrease hand luggage inflows, by offering passengers to choose either checked baggage or hand luggage. Maximize hand luggage outflows by implementing a fair way of enforcement, where oversized hand luggage has to be checked, but only against a fee when it is also overweight. Prevent futile gate checks, by implementing a tool that accurately predict the size of any hand luggage surplus.


Spoken language 'grammatical error correction' (GEC) is an important mechanism to help learners of a foreign language, here English, improve their spoken grammar. GEC is challenging for non-native spoken language due to interruptions from disfluent speech events such as repetitions and false starts and issues in strictly defining what is acceptable in spoken language. Furthermore there is little labelled data to train models. One way to mitigate the impact of speech events is to use a disfluency detection (DD) model. Removing the detected disfluencies converts the speech transcript to be closer to written language, which has significantly more labelled training data. This paper considers two types of approaches to leveraging DD models to boost spoken GEC performance. One is sequential, a separately trained DD model acts as a pre-processing module providing a more structured input to the GEC model. The second approach is to train DD and GEC models in an end-to-end fashion, simultaneously optimising both modules. Embeddings enable endto-end models to have a richer information flow. Experimental results show that DD effectively regulates GEC input; endto-end training works well when fine-tuned on limited labelled in-domain data; and improving DD by incorporating acoustic information helps improve spoken GEC.


The cylindrical Couette flow of a rarefied gas from macro- to micro-scales, in the case where the inner cylinder is rotating whereas the outer cylinder is at rest, is extensively investigated by direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) code incorporated with a Volume-CAD software. The generalized soft sphere (GSS) model is applied to an intermolecular collision calculation. The diffuse reflection model and Cercignani-Lampis-Lord (CLL) model are used to model the molecule-surface interaction by considering the accommodation coefficients on inner cylinder (ACI hereafter) and outer cylinder (ACO hereafter) separately. The contents in this paper include following three aspects: I the flow field characteristics and force and torque on inner cylinder for eccentric Couette flow between different scales with same non-dimensional parameters (accommodation coefficients, eccentricity-clearance ratio, Knudsen number and Reynolds number) are compared; the flow field characteristics for different scales are same; with the increase of the scale, the total force on the inner cylinder increases slightly, while the torque is proportional to the scale; II the velocity profiles in concentric Couette flow under different non-dimensional parameters are studied; the result shows that the phenomenon of inverted velocity profile in the concentric Couette flow is only induced by a smooth outer cylinder; the non-dimensional tangential velocity, as well as its gradient is high at low Reynolds number; the Knudsen number has great impact on the tangential velocity profile, and the velocity profile may not be inverted in the case of low Knudsen number; III the flow field characteristics in eccentric Couette flow under different non-dimensional parameters are obtained; the recirculation zone may not appear when Knudsen number is high; the position of its center may be different depending on Reynolds number; with the increase of Reynolds number, the compressibility effect becomes important; stratified distribution of the density becomes obvious at low Knudsen number.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


In this paper, techniques have been developed to determine multiphase boundaries of solvent(s)/heavy oil mixtures at high pressures and elevated temperatures in pressure-temperature (P-T), enthalpy-temperature (H-T), and pressure-enthalpy (P-H) phase diagrams, respectively. Theoretically, the Peng-Robinson equation of state (PR EOS) incorporated with a new alpha function as well as the previously developed enthalpy calculation algorithm are used to predict the multiphase boundaries of the solvent(s)/heavy oil systems by characterizing the heavy oil as a single pseudocomponent. The PR EOS associated with the newly developed alpha function is found to be accurate in reproducing the experimentally measured VL1L2 (V represents the vapour phase, L1 denotes the high density hydrocarbon-rich liquid phase, and L2 refers to the low density CO2 liquid phase) three-phase boundary pressures with an overall absolute average relative deviation (AARD) of 2.01% and maximum average relative deviation (MARD) of 3.54%, respectively. In addition, the VL1L2 three-phase boundaries are expanded and tended to move toward the region with higher temperatures and lower pressures in the P-T phase diagram with the addition of either C3H8 or n-C4H10 to CO2/heavy oil systems compared to those of only CO2 exists in heavy oil systems. The enthalpy changes rapidly with variation of temperature in both H-T and P-H phase diagrams within the three-phase region. Either two-phase (VL1) or three-phase (VL1L2) isenthalpic flash calculations can be performed straightly to determine phase fractions and compositions together with system temperature without conducting the stability analysis for a provided solvent(s)/heavy oil mixture at a constant enthalpy and pressure with the constructed H-T phase diagram.


Curcuma longa Linn. and Cratoxylum formosum have
been consumed as the Thai traditional medicine for curing liver diseases. However,
biological effects from a combination of C. longa and C. formosum have not
been investigated.

This study focused to investigate the effects of combined extracts on
anti-liver cancer activity, anti-Hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity and alteration of
miRNA expression, including their effects on p53 and NF-κB protein expressions.

The cytotoxicity effects of hot water extract on liver cancer cells were
examined by using the MTT assay. Annexin V assay and Western blot analysis
were conducted to investigate the effects of plant extracts on the apoptosis pathway
and cellular protein expressions. Finally, the expression of HBV genes and
miRNA expressions were evaluated by using a quantitative real-time PCR.

The cell viability assay indicated that 400 μg/mL of combined C. longa
and C. formosum extracts significantly inhibited different liver cancer cell lines
without affecting a normal cell (Vero). The combined extracts could induce liver
cancer cell death via the apoptosis pathway by up-regulating p53 expression
while down-regulating NF-κB expression. Moreover, 150 μg/mL of the combined
extract specifically suppressed HBx gene expression in liver cancer cells
that stably express HBV proteins. However, 150 μg/mL of the combined extract
had no effect on miR-34a and miR-199a/b expressions.

This study firstly reported anti-liver cancer and anti-HBV activities
of the combined C. longa and C. formosum extracts.


Cardanic motion profiles are a special case of the general epicycloids, hypocycloids, epitrochoids, and hypotrochoids. Under certain geometric constraints, circles, ellipses, and straight lines can be generated. In this paper we explore the use of the geared Cardan mechanism as a component generating metamorphic effects, or equivalent topology changes, in planar linkages by capitalizing on this change from linear to circular motion. The concept of instantaneous Grashof criterion in these mechanisms is also explored. The theory is detailed and example applications are described.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


Background Recent studies have highlighted important phenotypic, genetic, and treatment differences between PR3- and MPO-ANCA+ ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients1,2. No study has evaluated differences in body mass index (BMI) between the PR3- and MPO-ANCA+ AAV subtypes. Objectives We sought to evaluate whether differences in BMI exist between patients with active PR3-ANCA+ and MPO-ANCA+ AAV using data from the Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (RAVE) trial3. Methods We analyzed AAV patients who were either anti-proteinase 3 (PR3) antibody+ or anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibody+ from the Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (RAVE) trial. In univariate analyses, we compared the BMI/weight of PR3- and MPO-ANCA+ AAV patients at enrollment, using linear regression to adjust for age, gender, glucocorticoids prior to enrollment, relapsing disease at baseline, and baseline disease activity. We used an analysis of response profile to evaluate trends in BMI and weight by ANCA type, adjusted for the above confounders as well as cumulative steroid dosing during the trial and flares during the trial. Results Three fourths of the patients were PR3+ (147, 75%). PR3-ANCA+ patients had a higher BMI at baseline compared to MPO-ANCA+ patients (29.6±6.6 vs. 27.2 ± 5.3; P=0.01); the same was true for weight differences (89.3 ±22kg vs. 77.2 ± 16.0kg, respectively, P<0.001). A significantly greater proportion of PR3-ANCA+ patients (42%) were obese compared to MPO-ANCA+ patients (24%, P=0.04). Among those with a new diagnosis of AAV at enrollment (N=96), PR3-ANCA+ patients had a significantly higher BMI (29.2 ± 6.2) compared to MPO-ANCA+ patients (26.8 ± 4.9, P=0.04). In multivariate linear regression analyses, these differences (PR3-ANCA + BMI 2.1 kg/m2 (±1.1) higher than MPO-ANCA+ patients) remained significant (P=0.047 for BMI and 0.04 for weight, respectively) after accounting for confounders. The difference in weight between PR3-ANCA+ and MPO-ANCA+ patients remained stable during the study (P=0.3). Conclusions PR3-ANCA+ patients have a significantly higher BMI than MPO-ANCA+ patients, even after adjustment for important potential confounders. Our findings may have important implications for our understanding of AAV pathogenesis, its relationship to metabolic pathways, and the management of AAV. References Rahmattulla C, Mooyaart AL, van Hooven D, et al. Genetic variants in ANCA-associated vasculitis: A meta-analysis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-207601. Hilhorst M, van Paassen P, Tervaert JW, Limburg Renal Registry. Proteinase 3-ANCA vasculitis versus myeloperoxidase-ANCA vasculitis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;26(10):2314–2327. Stone JH, Merkel PA, Spiera R, et al. Rituximab versus cyclophosphamide for ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(3):221–232. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Background: Upregulation of PI3K activity is a common molecular mechanism involved in resistance to AIs. S08 is a potent, orally bioavailable, pan-PI3K inhibitor. S09 is a potent, orally bioavailable inhibitor of PI3K which also possesses mTOR inhibitory activity. Both compounds exhibit robust PI3K and ERK pathway inhibition in paired human tumor biopsy samples from phase 1 studies (Edelman G, et al . ASCO 2010; Brana I, et al . ASCO 2010). Methods: This ongoing, open-label, multicenter, phase 1/2 study (NCT01082068) was designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of L in combination with either S08 (Arm 1) or S09 (Arm 2). Eligible female patients (pts) were ≥18 yrs, ECOG PS 0–1, with advanced or recurrent HR+/HER2− BC whose disease is refractory to nonsteroidal AIs. Phase 1 used an ascending 3+3 dose-escalation design and pts were accrued to each arm until no more than 1/3 pts or ≥33% of 3–6 pts at a given dose level experienced a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) during the first 28-day cycle. Pts were alternately assigned to Arm 1 or Arm 2 and received 2.5 mg L PO (qd) in combination with different dose levels of either S08 (Arm 1; starting dose 200 mg tablets, PO, qd) or S09 (Arm 2; starting dose of 30 mg capsules, PO, bid). After reaching a preliminary maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for each combination, pts will accrue to the phase 2 portion of the study. A two-stage design will be used evaluate the phase 2 co-primary endpoints of ORR and PFS. Each arm will be evaluated independently and no formal comparisons between arms are planned. Results: As of June 1 st 2011, 17 pts were enrolled to Arm 1 (8 pts) or Arm 2 (9 pts). Median age was 54 yrs. Based on preliminary data, the adverse event profile in both arms were similar to those reported in the single agent phase I studies for S08 and S09 respectively. SAEs reported in Arm 1 (2 subjects) included 2 cases of Gr1 pneumothorax and 1 Gr4 pneumonitis; in Arm 2 (2 subjects) included Gr4 lumbar pain and Gr4 elevation of ALT and AST. No DLTs were reported in Arm 1 while one DLT (Gr3 skin rash) was reported in Arm 2 at a dose level of S09 50 mg bid (table 1). Arm 1 dosing data from S08 400 mg qd + L 2.5 mg qd dose level (maximum dose level allowed per protocol) will be completed by August 2011. For Arm 2, the MTD was S09 50 mg bid + L 2.5 mg, qd. Discussion. Both S08 and S09 can be combined with L, and maximal doses for both combinations were established. Additional safety, PK and efficacy data will be presented from phase 1. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-17-09.


In 1968 the American physician Lawrence G. van Loon published the text of the so-called Tawagonshi Treaty. This treaty, allegedly drawn up in 1613 between Dutch traders and Iroquois tribal leaders, is by some considered to be the first treaty made between Europeans and Native Americans. Others, however, believe it to be a fake. In this article we try to establish at what date the text was written, using linguistic analysis. Our conclusion is that the anachronisms and anglicisms in the Tawagonshi Treaty demonstrate without doubt that the text was forged in the twentieth century. Although it is plausible that Van Loon was the forger, we have only circumstantial evidence for this but no direct proof.


Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a 92 kDa zinc-dependant endopeptidase that degrades components of the extracellular matrix. Increased expression of MMP-9 is implicated in many pathological conditions including metastatic cancer, multiple sclerosis, and atherosclerosis. Although it has been widely noted that interferon-β (IFNβ) downregulates both the basal and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced MMP-9 expression at the transcriptional level, the molecular mechanism of this repression is poorly understood. In the present study we identify a novel mechanism for repression of MMP-9 transcription by IFNβ in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. Using reporter assays with promoter deletion constructs we show that IFNβ's inhibitory effects require a region of the promoter between −154 and −72, which contains an AP-1 binding site. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies indicate that IFNβ increases histone deacetylase (HDAC)-1 recruitment to the MMP-9 promoter and reduces histone H3 acetylation, in addition to reduced NF-κB recruitment. ChIP analysis shows that IFNβ induced HDAC1 recruitment to the MMP-9 promoter and IFNβ mediated transcriptional repression is lost when the AP-1 binding site is inactivated by a point mutation. Altogether, our results establish that the repression of MMP-9 transcription in response to IFNβ occurs by the recruitment of HDAC1 via the proximal AP-1 binding site.


Abstract Understanding the stresses on the scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) and its interaction with synovial fluid pressure could be vital to improve wrist treatment for various wrist conditions such as arthritis, sprains and tendonitis. This study investigated the interaction between the intra-articular pressure, specifically the synovial fluid pressure change and the SLIL stresses in a computational model during wrist radioulnar deviation (RUD). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were used to acquire the anatomical model of the carpal bones and ligament, while the kinematics of scaphoid and lunate were obtained through dynamic computerized tomography (CT) scans. A two-way fluid–structure interaction (FSI) was used to model the dynamics between the scaphoid and lunate, the SLIL, and the synovial fluid. The synovial fluid pressure change was found to be small (−4.86 to 3.23 Pa) and close to that simulated in a previous work without the SLIL (−1.68 to 2.64 Pa). Furthermore, peaks of maximum fluid pressure were found to trail the peaks of ligament stress. Therefore, it is suggested that the influence of synovial fluid pressure on the ligament in the SLIL model is negligible and simulations of the scapholunate joint could forego fluid-structure interactions. Future studies can instead explore other structures in the carpus that can possibly contribute to the ligament stresses. Clinically, treatments can be targeted at these areas to help prevent or slow the progression of ligament injuries into serious consequences like the degenerative joint disease.


Abstract. A major concern in groundwater exploration is to determine a precise location of the groundwater resources. The geospatial technology such as UAV mapping, precise GPS surveying and GIS data management could be integrated with other geospatial information to augment the groundwater exploration. The aim of this research project is to support groundwater exploration at UTM, Johor Bahru campus by employing the geospatial approach. In doing so, the aerial photo captured by using UAV and GPS will be utilised to support geology and geophysics data collection. Subsequently, subsurface information such as lithology, stratigraphy and geological structures have been used to form the subsurface profile. Afterward, development of the groundwater geospatial database had commenced by using a GIS approach. It is expected that by integration of geospatial technology in groundwater exploration works will help to identify the location of potential groundwater zone in the study area.


The sixteen-bit well-known port number is often overlooked as a network identifier in Internet communications. Its purpose at the most fundamental level is only to demultiplex flows of traffic. Several unintended uses of the port number evolved from associating services with a list of well-known port numbers. This thesis documents those unintended consequences in an effort to describe the port number's influence on Internet players from ISPs to application developers and individual users. Proposals and examples of moving away from well-known port numbers to randomly assigned ones are then presented, with analysis of impacts on the political and economic systems on which Internet communication is dependent. Thesis Supervisor: David D. Clark Senior Research Scientist


In the paper there was presented investigation methodology of power consumption by disc refiner which worked on an industrial scale. In the article there was presented the structure of qualitative and energetic model, which described beating process of waste-paper stock in disc refiner. The author has chosen the basic parameters of this process, which can be obtained during investigations on an industrial scale.


In this experiment, we investigated the performance of two types of heat sink, swagedand extruded-type, used in the inverter of industrial electricity generator. The swaged-type heat sink has 62 fins, and the extruded-type has 38 fins having the same dimension as that of the swaged-type. But the extruded-type heat sink maintains the same heat transfer area by the laterally waved surface which has 1 mm in radius. As a result, the swagedand extruded-type heat sinks released 71% and 64% of the heat incoming to the heat sink, respectively. The other incoming heat were naturally convected and radiated to the ambient. In spite of 40% decrease in number of fins, the heat release performance of the extruded-type heat sink was lowered only 7% than that of the swaged-type. We believe that, this shows the increment of effective heat transfer area by the laterally waved surface of fins and the better heat transfer property of the extruded-type heat sink. Keywords—Solar Inverter, Heat Sink, Forced Convection, Heat Transfer, Performance Evaluation.


On the basis of the reasoning of social support theory, the authors examine the macro effect of social support on anomie at the individual level. Data from international surveys have documented wide variation in anomie across nations, but to what extent this variation among nations can be contributed to structural characteristics has not been explored before. Using hierarchical linear modeling techniques to sort out the effects of structural context and personal characteristics on anomie across 31 European and North American nations, the authors test the hypothesis that variation in social support at the national level is inversely related to individuals' sense of anomie. The study results support the hypothesis that structural characteristics of a nation, such as social support and population growth, influence individuals' sense of anomie. At the individual level, the results are consistent with Merton's predictions about anomie and the reasoning of social support theory. Policy implication is discussed within the limitations of data.


Abstract 8-Oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine, 8-Oxoguanine, 8 -Hydroxyguanine, Base Modification, DNA Oxidative Damage The influence of 2′-deoxyguanosine (dG) oxidation at the C-8 position on N-glycosidic bond stability was in vestigated. A kinetic analysis of dG and 8-oxo-2′-deoxy-guanosine (8-oxodG) depurination reactions was carried out in water solutions at pH ranging from 2 to 7.4 and temperature of 100 °C. The results indicate that N-glyco sidic bond of 8-oxodG is significantly more stable in comparison with dG at any pH applied. At pH 5.1 hydrolysis rate of dG is 4.5-fold higher than that for 8-oxodG. The chemical stability of the modified nucleo side in oxidatively damaged DNA is one of important factors contributing to its mutagenic potential. Results of our experiments indicate that 8-oxodG, potentially mutagenic and carcinogenic nucleoside, is hardly suscep tible to spontaneous depurination and its removal from cellular DNA depends mostly on the activity of DNA repair enzymes.


Servomotor uses feedback controller to control either the speed or the position or both. This paper discusses the performance comparisons of a modified genetic algorithm, named as the semi-parallel operation genetic algorithm (SPOGA) and the conventional genetic algorithm (GA), in optimizing the I/O scale factors, membership functions, and rules of a hybrid-fuzzy controller. Singleton fuzzification is used as a fuzzifier with seven membership functions for both input and output of the controller, whilst center of average is used as a defuzzifier. A 21-bit-30-population is used in SPOGA for both I/O scales and for membership functions. Two control modes are applied in cascaded: position and speed. Both the simulation and practical experiment results show that fuzzy-logic parallel integral controller (FLIC) with SPOGA-optimized is better as compared to FLIC with GA-optimized and also the non-optimized FLIC, FLC, and PI in terms of performance and the reduction of the number of test runs for the optimization.


There is an accepted approach to calculation of the neutrino flavor density-matrix in the halo of a supernova, in which neutrino amplitudes, not cross-sections, need to be followed carefully in the region above the region of frequent scatterings. The same reasoning and techniques, applied to the evolution of neutrino flavors and energy distributions in the early universe in the era of neutrino decoupling, leads to radical changes in the prediction of the effects of the neutrino-neutrino interaction.
Predictions for the production of sterile neutrinos, should they exist, will also be changed.


Background: Dentists often encounter patients with worn dentures that still feel comfortable even though the patients have lost the supporting tissue heights due to physiological and pathological resorption. Loss of denture retention, stability, and occlusal vertical dimension are most often caused by alveolar bone resorption. Dentures that are loose because of poor adaption to the supporting tissues should be relined. Chair-side procedures provide immediate resolution, avoiding the edentulous period of time accompanying laboratory relines. Case Report: A 70-year-old male edentulous patient came to the Prosthodontic Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Trisakti University, Jakarta, Indonesia. The patient had been wearing the upper and lower dentures for approximately eight years. The patient had alveolar ridge resorption, which causes loss of retention, stability and vertical dimension. After the problems were thoroughly diagnosed and corrected, a chair-side denture relining with an open-mouth technique was used. Conclusion: Direct relining in a single visit helped the complete denture to regain its retentiveness, allowing for prolonged the use of the worn denture. It also adjusted occlusal vertical dimension to improve the occlusal support and esthetics.


With increasing energy price and concern on environmental impacts, more attention has been paid to refrigeration and heat pump systems. Several regulations have already been applied on the choice of refrigerants and the search for more energy efficient system solutions has been intensified. Due to these reasons, CO2 as an environmental benign natural refrigerant has attracted great interest since 1990s. Due to its low critical temperature (31.1 o C) and high critical pressure(73.8 bar), CO2 refrigeration cycle works as a transcritical cycle, which means part of the cycle is located in supercritical region, where the temperature is independent of the pressure. Depending on the heat sink fluid temperature profile the temperature glide of CO2 in the supercritical region makes it possible for the CO2 refrigeration cycle to have less irreversibility in a heat recovery process than traditional refrigeration cycles. A new CO2 refrigeration/heat pump test rig is built at the division of Applied Thermodynamics and Refrigeration to investigate CO2 refrigeration/heat pump systems. With the newly built test rig following main tasks were performed in this thesis work, Overall system performance on various imposed operating conditions. Second law analysis of the system by exergy and entropy balance methods Basic components testing, namely the heat exchangers and the compressor. Uncertainty analysis.


This paper provides a framework for understanding the risks to borrowers and lenders in capital markets. We begin with a description of a capital markets in a domestic context. This allows us to focus on two key imperfections which lie at the heart of all financial systems: imperfect information, and the difficulty of making credible commitments for repayment. In the international context, these problems tend to be exacerbated. There are also two sources of risk in international borrowing that are absent in a purely domestic context: the risk that sovereign borrowers will default, and the risk of macroeconomic instability that stems from the impact of net capital flows on the monetary system.


Two techniques for simulating lung nodules in nodule detection studies were evaluated. In one technique, radiographs were obtained with plastic beads placed on the surface of a chest phantom to simulate lung nodules. In the second technique, the same plastic beads were radiographed against a uniform background, and their radiographic images were then superimposed photographically onto a radiograph of the same chest phantom. Nodule detection rates determined by four different film readers were significantly different for films prepared by the two different techniques. The differences in detection rates are explained by differences in nodule contrast due to film sensitometric characteristics and scattered radiation effects. Photographic superpositioning does not mimic these effects accurately, as they affect clinical chest films. For this reason, it is suggested that nodule simulation films prepared by the photographic superpositioning technique cannot be used to predict nodule detection rates for clinical chest radiography. Other aspects of lung nodule simulation techniques also are discussed.


This paper explores rural poverty through a relational lens, arguing that new spatial patterns of poverty stemming from global economic transformations call for a relational approach; one that draws attention to the importance of global integration while recognizing that places are absorbed differently and unevenly into circuits of capital accumulation. The spread of neoliberalism has reconfigured rural spaces, and the production of poverty knowledge reinforces this uneven spatiality. We address recent literature extending the critical analysis of poverty and welfare in the Global North to the production of poverty knowledge and development practice globally. We examine the various technologies of power that ask the subjects of rural poverty to be empowered, moral, and market-oriented subjects. This attention to how rural poverty is governed and how rural subjects are inserted into the project of development highlights the distinct role of rural spaces in relation to poverty studies. We emphasize the spatially and temporally disjointed ways in which rural spaces and subjectivities are reconfigured, calling for greater attention to ethnographic accounts of the lived experiences of poverty. We argue for a reconsideration the "global rural" in processes of uneven development.


Dielectric elastomers are being developed for use in actuators, sensors and generators to be used in various applications, such as artificial eye lids, pressure sensors and human motion energy generators. In order to obtain maximum efficiency, the devices are operated at high electrical fields. This increases the likelihood for electrical breakdown significantly. Hence, for many applications the performance of the dielectric elastomers is limited by this risk of failure, which is triggered by several factors. Amongst others thermal effects may strongly influence the electrical breakdown strength . In this study, we model the electrothermal breakdown in thin PDMS based dielectric elastomers in order to evaluate the thermal mechanisms behind the electrical failures. The objective is to predict the operation range of PDMS based dielectric elastomers with respect to the temperature at given electric field. We performed numerical analysis with a quasi-steady state approximation to predict thermal runaway of dielectric elastomer films. We also studied experimentally the effect of temperature on dielectric properties of different PDMS dielectric elastomers. Different films with different percentages of silica and permittivity enhancing filler were selected for the measurements. From the modeling based on the fitting of experimental data, it is found that the electrothermal breakdown of the materials is strongly influenced by the increase in both dielectric permittivity and conductivity.


The focus of the current contribution is on the development of the unified geometrical formulation of contact algorithms in a covariant form for various geometrical situations of contacting bodies leading to contact pairs: surface-to-surface, line-to-surface, point-to-surface, line-to-line, point-to-line, point-to-point. The construction of the corresponding computational contact algorithms are considered in accordance with the geometry of contact bodies in a covariant form. These forms can be easily discredited within finite element methods independently of order of approximation and, therefore, the result is straightforwardly applied within iso-geometric finite element methods. This approach is recently became known as geometrically exact theory of contact interaction [10]. Application for contact between bodies with iso- and anisotropic surface, for contact between cables and curvilinear beams as well as recent development for contact between cables and bodies is straightforward. Recent developments include the improvement of the curve-to-surface (deformable) contact algorithm.


OBJECTIVE
We performed color Doppler imaging of the right lower quadrant in children with acute appendicitis to characterize the imaging findings indicative of appendiceal perforation and to determine the value of this technique in diagnosing appendiceal abscesses.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Forty-seven children with surgically proven appendicitis underwent color Doppler sonography of the right lower quadrant as an adjunct to gray-scale sonography. At pathologic examination, 27 patients had nonperforating appendicitis and 20 patients had perforating appendicitis. In the latter group, seven patients had abscesses and 10 had phlegmon. The color Doppler sonograms were evaluated for the presence or absence of appendiceal hyperemia, hyperemic periappendiceal or pelvic fluid collections, and hyperemic soft tissues in the right lower quadrant.

RESULTS
Color Doppler sonography showed appendiceal hyperemia in 21 (78%) of the 27 patients with nonperforating appendicitis and in eight (40%) of the 20 patients with perforating appendicitis. The hyperemia was scattered in 14 (67%) of the 21 patients without perforation and in six (75%) of the eight patients with perforation. The remaining patients with blood flow identifiable on color Doppler sonography had focal appendiceal hyperemia. For seven (35%) of the 20 patients with perforating appendicitis, color Doppler examination showed hyperemic, loculated periappendiceal or pelvic fluid collections, subsequently proved to be abscesses at surgery. No patient with nonperforating appendicitis had a hyperemic, loculated periappendiceal or pelvic fluid collection. Ten patients with perforating appendicitis displayed increased color Doppler signal in the adjacent right-lower-quadrant bowel loops and soft tissues, indicating phlegmon or peritonitis.

CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that the best color Doppler sonographic predictors of appendiceal perforation are a hyperemic periappendiceal or pelvic fluid collection and periappendiceal soft-tissue hyperemia. A hyperemic, loculated fluid collection appears specific for the diagnosis of abscess.


Most favoured nation (MFN) clauses, extending the benefits of the most favoured nation to the treaty partner, have existed since at least the 11th century. From the 18th century on, MFN clauses were frequently included in trade agreements. The widespread use of the MFN principle has furthered the equal treatment of nations and created prosperity and peace. In the multilateral framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the MFN principle is a cornerstone, with only few exceptions to it. This article reviews the development of the MFN clause in major trade agreements in relation to historical events from 1648 onwards. The aim of this study is to determine what the consequences of protectionism, measured by unequal treatment of trading partners and protectionist policies has been in the past.


The presence of ophiolite complexes in NE and E Africa has been documented using Landsat, field and geochemical studies. This has led to the recognition of five ophiolite belts. These ophiolite belts represent sutures marking the position of island arcs and could be traced to Saudi Arabia on a pre-Red Sea drift reconstruction. Most of the ophiolites are dismembered, their mode of occurrence varies widely resulting in different structural relationships. The Yubdo complex in Western Ethiopia is formed of harzburgite which grades into dunites and pyroxenitic units, a cumulate sequence of ultramafic and gabbroic rocks and sheeted dykes. The Baragoi complex in Kenya is formed of tectonised ultramafics with dunite and chromite pods, a cumulate sequence of ultramatic and gabbroic units and a dyke unit. Trace element data of the Baragoi complex shows a transitional MORB to IAT affinity, and the presence of boninites suggest a supra- subduction setting, while data from the Adola- Moyale belt (S Ethiopia- NE Kenya) indicate an island-arc and MORB geochemistry, which developed in a back-arc setting. The chromites of Baragoi and Moyale have high Cr2O3 which follow an ophiolitic trend.
Major and trace element data for granitoids from W Ethiopia, S Ethiopia- NE Kenya and central Kenya indicate three geochemically distinct granitoid groups: volcanic are granitoids, crustal melt granitoids and within-plate granitoids. Calc-alkaline rocks predominate in W Ethiopia, whereas the proportion of crustal melts appear to increase going further south in S Ethiopia/ NE Kenya and central Kenya. Diorites form about 10 percent of Precambrian outcrop in NE Sudan, while further south diorites are almost insignificant. Only in NE Sudan, W Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia do diorites feature prominently. However the lack of extensive cats-alkaline volcanic rocks, could simply reflect relatively narrow oceans and insufficient subduction of oceanic crust to produce large quantities of calc-alkaline melts, while the increase in the proportion of crustal melt granitoids in the southern part of the Mozambique belt indicates crustal thickening due to continent-continent collision.
This study shows that the major lineaments identified in the Horn of Africa trend 010 ± 100, 055-065° and 145-165°. The 010 ± 10° and 145-165° trending lineaments form conjugate sets, while a later deformation episode reactivated 145-165° (NW-SE) trending lineaments and caused 055-0650 (NE-SW) lineaments. Two deformation mechanisms most likely controlled the growth of the major fault zones. Structural and metamorphic evidence suggests that crustal shortening was severe in S Sudan, Kenya and SE Ethiopia as compared to Saudi Arabia, NE Sudan and N and W Ethiopia due to oblique collision from the southeast causing stacking of crustal blocks along NW trending faults.
Regional geologic, tectonic and geochemical studies suggest rifting c. 1200 Ma which subsequently led to the development of intraoceanic arcs and associated marginal basins in the north and narrow basins within the sialic basement gneisses further south in Kenya and Tanzania. This was followed by continent- continent collision which led to accretion of island arcs by mild collision from the northeast in Saudi Arabia and NE Sudan and severe crustal shortening In S Sudan, Kenya and SE Ethiopia as compared to Saudi Arabia, NE Sudan and N and W Ethiopia due to oblique collision from the southeast.


Despite the growing recognition of the contribution that indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) can make to contemporary 'western' science-based natural resource management (NRM), integration of the two knowledge systems has not reached its full potential in Australia. One explanation is that there is an implicit requirement for IEK to be validated by western scientific knowledge (SK), which has stalled its application and perpetuated the primacy of SK over IEK. Consequently, there is little experience of IEK validation, indigenous peoples' perspectives of the process, and no formal frameworks to achieve mutual and equitable validation of both IEK and SK. In this paper we assess the opportunities and limitations of validation processes using a case study of traditional fishing poisons for invasive fish management in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of Australia. The study was conducted within a coresearch approach between the Aboriginal holders of the IEK, who are among the paper's authors, and science-based biologists. We jointly carried out scientific laboratory trials that demonstrated that fishing poisons are effective at immobilizing invasive tilapia. Retrospective interviews with indigenous coresearchers showed that they did not find the experience of validation disrespectful, but instead empowering and necessary for their IEK to be understood and appreciated by scientists and included in NRM. Based on our experiences and knowledge of socialization theory we present a framework for the potential future design of collaborative validation processes to facilitate the integration of IEK into mainstream NRM, and the acceptance of SK within indigenous communities in Australia.


Multi-modal learning has become increasingly popular due to its ability to leverage information from different data sources (e.g., text and images) to improve the model performance. Recently, CLIP has emerged as an effective approach that employs vision-language contrastive pretraining to learn joint image and text representations and exhibits remarkable performance in zero-shot learning and text-guided natural image generation. Despite the huge practical success of CLIP, its theoretical understanding remains elusive. In this paper, we formally study transferrable representation learning underlying CLIP and demonstrate how features from different modalities get aligned. We also analyze its zero-shot transfer performance on the downstream tasks. Inspired by our analysis, we propose a new CLIP-type approach, which achieves better performance than CLIP and other state-of-the-art methods on benchmark datasets.


How consumers perceives Korean heritage is the most essential motivation to purchase traditional products. This study investigates if there is a difference in the value perception of traditional culture on preferences for and the long-term relationship of Hanboks. It also investigates differences in the preference and consumption behavior of Hanboks depending on the degree of experience for Hanbok. For this research purpose, data were collected from 745 residents between the ages of 20-60 in the Seoul and metropolitan areas through online and offline surveys. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and path analysis, using the SPSS-WIN 20.0, AMOS 20.0 program. The value recognition toward traditional culture derived aesthetic and symbolic factors. The result of grouping according to the experience of the Hanbok indicated that the two groups of traditional cultural values influenced preferences for Hanboks. In the middle group, only the symbolic value had a significant influence on the preference of Hanbok. It was found that the less experienced group had no traditional culture value factor which had a significant effect on the preferences for Hanboks. Based on the results of this study, it is expected to be used as basic data to establish a marketing strategy to increase the preferences for traditional culture such as Hanboks by increas-ing various traditional culture experiences as well as Hanboks.


This study aims to determine the differences in the performance of shares of SOEs and Non-SOEs companies that conduct IPOs on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the period 2010-2014 based on short-term underpricing and long-term underperformance. Sampling is done by using purposive sampling technique. Data analysis techniques used the independent sample parametric test and the non-parametric difference test mann whitney u test. The results showed that there were no differences in the performance of shares of SOE and Non-SOE companies conducting IPOs on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the 2010-2014 period based on short-term underpricing. This means that in the short term investments in shares of Non-BUMN companies are more profitable for investors and are detrimental to the company because the funds obtained are less. But in testing based on long-term underperformance, the results of the study showed that there were differences in the performance of the shares of SOE and Non-SOE companies conducting IPOs on the IDX for the 2010-2014 period. This shows that BUMN companies have better performance than Non-BUMN companies, because government ownership gives more value and can operate in various sectors.


Home literacy experiences and observed parent and child behaviors during shared book reading were investigated in preschool-age children with hearing loss and with typical hearing to examine the relationships between those factors and children's language skills. The methods involved parent-reported home literacy experiences and videotaped parent-child dyads during shared book reading. Children's language skills were tested using the Preschool Language Scale-4. The results indicated significant differences between groups for home literacy experiences and observed parent and child behaviors. Parents of children with hearing loss were found to read more frequently to their children than parents of children with typical hearing, yet scored lower for literacy strategies and teaching techniques compared to parents of children with typical hearing. Children with hearing loss scored lower in interactive reading behaviors compared to children with typical hearing. For children with hearing loss, frequency of book reading and child interactive reading behaviors were strong predictive factors for children's language skills. These results suggest that families of children with hearing loss would benefit from professional support as they read storybooks to their children. Similarly, children with hearing loss should be encouraged to be more interactive during shared book reading.


BACKGROUND
Despite providing tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine (TTCV) to infants and reproductive-age women, Uganda reports one of the highest incidences of non-neonatal tetanus (non-NT). Prompted by unusual epidemiologic trends among reported non-NT cases, we conducted a retrospective record review to see whether these data reflected true disease burden.

METHODS
We analysed nationally reported non-NT cases during 2012-2017. We visited 26 facilities (14 hospitals, 12 health centres) reporting high numbers of non-NT cases (n = 20) or zero cases (n = 6). We identified non-NT cases in facility registers during 1 January 2016-30 June 2017; the identified case records were abstracted.

RESULTS
During 2012-2017, a total of 24 518 non-NT cases were reported and 74% were ≥5 years old. The average annual incidence was 3.43 per 100 000 population based on inpatient admissions. Among 482 non-NT inpatient cases reported during 1 January 2016-30 June 2017 from hospitals visited, 342 (71%) were identified in facility registers, despite missing register data (21%). Males comprised 283 (83%) of identified cases and 60% were ≥15 years old. Of 145 cases with detailed records, 134 (92%) were clinically confirmed tetanus; among these, the case-fatality ratio (CFR) was 54%. Fourteen cases were identified at two hospitals reporting zero cases. Among >4000 outpatient cases reported from health centres visited, only 3 cases were identified; the remainder were data errors.

CONCLUSIONS
A substantial number of non-NT cases and deaths occur in Uganda. The high CFR and high non-NT burden among men and older children indicate the need for TTCV booster doses across the life course to all individuals as well as improved coverage with the TTCV primary series. The observed data errors indicate the need for data quality improvement activities.


Located at about 30km north-west of Akita City, a colony of the Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) has been maintained at the foot of Mt. Honzan in Oga Peninsula. It is surrounded by a natural 24.8ha cedar (Criptomeria japonica) forest of about 215 trees, approximately 150 years old. We made a distribution map of cedar trees and marked every tree, and their nest sites were indicated. The population size of Grey Herons in this colony was estimated to be about 390 in 1980 and 400 in 1981. All-day observations were done to investigate their feeding behavior. Departure and return to and from the colony were frequent both in the morning and the evening. The dropped foods, dead-nestlings and adult birds were eaten by mice and unknown middle-sized mammals, and decomposed by many insects. The Grey Heron colony has existed very long time, and big old cedar trees are gradually dying year by year. As the result, the whole colony is forced to move toward the north of the forest.


By a first-instance decision adopted on 16 July 2008, the Czech Office for the Protection of Competition fined Eeske Drahy, the incumbent railway operator, CZK 270 million (approx. EUR 11 million)…


Initial results with intravaginal cultures (IVC) of human oocytes are reported. Up to 5 oocytes are harvested by follicular puncture guided by transvaginal sonography. Together with washed spermatocytes (final concentration 0.1 to 0.15 x 10(6)/tube) these are transferred to a plastic capsule filled with Menezzo B2 medium. After air-tight closure the capsule is placed into the patient's vagina and left in situ for 48 to 52 hours. Capsule loss is prevented by plugging the vagina with a tampon of appropriate size. In the first 15 females undergoing IVC fertilization was obtained in 56% of cases. Three intact pregnancies were recorded after embryo transfer. Of these, 2 occurred in the group of patients with tubal infertility and one in the group with tubal infertility and an additional andrologic abnormality. Our results and the reports by others suggest that IVC may well facilitate the technique of IVF. Potentially detrimental effects of light exposure and temperature variations on the gametes during conventional IVF are minimized. The more active involvement of the patients is an added psychological benefit.


Chagas disease is associated with several immunological alterations. Although resistance against infection with Trypanosoma cruzi has been shown to be influenced by the immune system, its participation in the development of the disease remains unclear. In this regard, cytokines play a fundamental role since they are involved in the regulation of hemopoiesis, lymphopoiesis and affect the function of all cell types involved in an immune response. Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) has been extensively involved as a protective lymphokine against T. cruzi. Macrophages activated by IFN-gamma result in the release of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). On the other hand, interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) are able to down-regulate the intracellular control of T. cruzi infection by IFN-gamma-activated macrophages, to inhibit NO release and to down-regulate the activity of the TH1 subset of cells (IFN-gamma producers). While TNF-alpha has been implicated in the resistance as well as in the generation of tissue damage, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) are associated with a variety of alterations in endothelial cell function which may be responsible for the microvascular spasm seen in chagasic myocardiopathy. Several cytokines, including IFN-gamma, IL-1 alpha, IL-6 and TNF-alpha have been shown to modulate the expression of adhesion molecules which participate in inflammatory process by recruitment of lymphocytes into inflammatory sites, contributing to the progression of the local inflammatory reaction in chagasic cardiomyopathy. Thus, it has been shown that acute infection with different strains of T. cruzi induced enhanced expression of ICAM-1 not only on infiltrating leukocytes but also on sarcolemma of cardiocytes and paralleled the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Experimental infection with T. cruzi induces cytokine production which in time modulates the resistance against the parasite and probably the development of chronic Chagas disease. Therefore, it can be postulated that an alteration in quantity and/or quality of cytokine production may be the cause of chronic Chagas disease.


There exists ample evidence that granulopoiesis is an actively controlled process. The observation of cyclical granulopoiesis in chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) suggests that control is deranged rather than abolished in this disorder. Analysis of the kinetics of granulopoiesis in CGL may provide some insight into the nature of the derangement. To facilitate analysis, a mathematical model of the granulopoietic control system is proposed and examined using computer simulation. With model parameters initially chosen to represent normal granulopoiesis, the minimal changes necessary to represent granulopoiesis in CGL were investigated. This analysis indicates that two separate changes seem to be required: (1) the granulocyte maturation time must be increased and (2) the precursor input to the granulocytic pathway of development must also be increased. A causal association between delayed maturation and rising precursor input is suggested, and some possible mechanisms of association are proposed.