There is growing evidence of an increasingly complex and multifactorial aetiology of heart diseases.1 w1 It seems likely that the large geographic variations in cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality,w2 even though at least partly genetic in origin, are influenced by factors acting prenatally and in early life, or by a combination of factors present throughout the life course. Changes in fetal growth pattern have been related to adult disease risk,1 and there are many theories about the underlying mechanisms affecting cell division during critical periods of tissue development. The critical periods vary according to the tissue in question, and that is why there have been attempts to explore the timing of exposure in order to predict more specifically the adult disease risk.

This article examines: firstly the historical evolution of theories on childhood factors which have an influence in adulthood; secondly what is known today about the effect of early life factors on heart disease risk; and thirdly the specific problems in longitudinal studies which explore these factors and adult disease risk.

### Biological programming: a new theoretical model about the aetiology of heart disease

The dawn of modern epidemiology came after the second world war, first with ecological studies comparing CVD incidence and mortality, and subsequently multicentre cross sectional and follow up studies on CVD.w3 The studies showed that populations with high CVD mortality have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and that smoking and obesity are common among these populations.w4This led to the lifestyle model in understanding the aetiology of chronic diseases, where the key issues are health behaviour and the interaction between genes and an adverse environment in adult life. This was consequently followed by intervention programmes, which have significantly improved heart disease risk status in many countries.w3 However, lifestyle factors only explain part of the heart disease risk, which is why …


In most languages, individual words can be ambiguous between several different meanings, but through syntax and context
 the intended meaning of an ambiguous word usually becomes apparent. Many great ape gestures also have ambiguous meanings, which poses the
 problem of how individuals can interpret the signaller's intended meaning in specific instances. We tested the effects of sequence
 compositionality and situational context (including behavioural and interpersonal contexts) in wild bonobos (Pan paniscus)
 at Wamba, DRCongo. We found no effect on a gesture's meaning from its presence and position in sequence. However, two aspects of situational
 context did affect meaning: behaviour of the signaller immediately prior to gesturing, and relative age/sex of signaller and recipient. The
 intended meaning of ambiguous gestures was almost completely disambiguated by means of these aspects of context. Our findings suggest that
 the use of contextual information to interpret ambiguous signals predates the uniquely-human lineage and is not specific to language.


It is demonstrated that the motion and structure of rigidly moving objects can be completely determined from two monocular image sequences using only temporal matches. Three aspects of this scheme are useful: since stereo matching is not necessary, two cameras can view totally different parts of the rigid scene; as temporal disparity is usually significantly smaller than stereo disparity, matching needs only to deal with relatively small disparities; the recoverable scene structure is defined by the union of the fields of view of two cameras instead of the intersection, and so is much larger than that of a conventional stereo setup. Experiments with synthesized data and real world images are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of this scheme.<<ETX>>


This letter investigates an efficient design procedure integrating the Genetic Algorithm (GA) with the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) for the fast optimal design of Smart Antenna Arrays (SAA). The FDTD is used to analyze SAA with mutual coupling. Then, on the basis of the Maximal Signal to Noise Ratio (MSNR) criteria, the GA is applied to the optimization of weighting elements and structure of SAA. Finally, the effectiveness of the analysis is evaluated by experimental antenna arrays.


Glutaramide-containing polyketides are known as potent antitumoral and antimetastatic agents. However, the associated gene clusters have only been identified and studied in a few Streptomyces producers and sole Burkholderia gladioli symbiont. The new glutaramide-family polyketides, denominated sesbanimides D, E and F along with the previously known sesbanimide A and C, were isolated from two marine alphaproteobacteria Stappia indica PHM037 and Labrenzia aggregata PHM038. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on 1D and 2D homo and heteronuclear NMR analyses and ESI-MS spectrometry. All compounds exhibited strong antitumor activity in lung, breast and colorectal cancer cell lines. Subsequent whole genome sequencing and genome mining revealed the presence of the trans-AT PKS gene cluster responsible for the sesbanimide biosynthesis, described as sbn cluster, and the sesbanimide modular assembly is proposed. Interestingly, numerous homologous orphan gene clusters were localized in distantly related bacteria and used as comparative genomic assets for a more global characterization of sbn like-clusters. Strikingly, the modular architecture of downstream mixed type PKS/NRPS, SbnQ, revealed high similarity to PedH in pederin and Lab13 in labrenzin gene clusters, although those clusters are responsible for the production of structurally completely different molecules. The unexpected presence of SbnQ homologs in unrelated polyketide gene clusters across phylogenetically distant bacteria, raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary relationship between glutaramide-like and pederin-like pathways, as well as the functionality of their synthetic products. Significance Glutaramide-containing polyketides are still a largely understudied group of polyketides, produced mainly by the genera Streptomyces, with a great potential for antitumor drug production. Here, we describe genomes of two cultivable marine bacteria, Stappia indica PHM037 and Labrenzia aggregata PHM038, producers of the cytotoxic glutaramide-family polyketides sesbanimide A and C with chemical elucidation of newly identified analogs D, E and F. Genome mining revealed trans-AT PKS gene cluster responsible for sesbanimide biosynthesis. Although there are numerous homologous gene clusters present in remarkably different bacteria, this is the first time that the biosynthesis product has been reported. The comparative genome analysis reveals stunning, cryptic evolutionary relationship between sesbanimides, glutaramides from Streptomyces spp. and the pederin-family gene clusters.


The study of supply networks sustainability is a field with a long path behind. Nonetheless, most studies to date are focused on the environmental sub dimension of sustainability, while the social perspective in supply chain networks research still shows a potential for pioneering contributions. Moreover, from the development standpoint we have observed a paradigm shift advancing from a narrow concept of development, centered on purely economic dimensions, towards more refined issues such as inclusive business, shared value or poverty footprint, all of which are highly related to supply chain activities. In this paper we present a review of the current state of the art on social sustainability of supply chains and we identify the main existing trends in this field. After conducting this study, we can state that a new sphere of knowledge is emerging at the interface between sustainable supply chain networks and development research. The academic community is called to play an important dovetailing role in this scenario by advancing both conceptual and methodological contributions.


At present, the evaluation of voltage stability assessment experiences sizeable anxiety in the safe operation of power systems. This is due to the complications of a strain power system. With the snowballing of power demand by the consumers and also the restricted amount of power sources, therefore, the system has to perform at its maximum proficiency. Consequently, the noteworthy to discover the maximum ability boundary prior to voltage collapse should be undertaken. A preliminary warning can be perceived to evade the interruption of power system's capacity. This paper considered the implementation of real-time system monitoring methods that able to provide a timely warning in the power system before the voltage collapse occurred. Numerous types of line voltage stability indices (LVSI) are differentiated in this paper to resolve their effectuality to determine the weakest lines for the power system. The line voltage stability indices are assessed using the IEEE 9-Bus and IEEE 14-Bus Systems to validate their practicability. Besides that, this paper also introduced the implementation of real-time voltage stability monitoring by using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Results demonstrated that the calculated indices and the estimated indices by using ANN are practically relevant in predicting the manifestation of voltage collapse in the system. Therefore, essential actions can be taken by the operators in order to dodge voltage collapse incident from arising. © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of organizing committee of the International Conference on Sustainable Design, Engineering and Construction 2015.


The aim of this research was to verify the application of alginate in combination with Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions to produce a floating and prolonged release system for the oral administration of prednisolone. Hollow and floating gel-beads were designed using prilling/ionotropic gelation as the microencapsulation technique, zinc acetate in the gelling solution as the alginate external crosslinker, and calcium carbonate in the feed as the internal crosslinking agent able to generate gas when in contact with the acidic zinc acetate solution. To achieve this goal, drug/alginate solutions were opportunely combined with different amounts of calcium carbonate. The effect of the addition of calcium carbonate into the feed solution on buoyancy, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, size distribution, as well as in vitro drug release profile of the alginate particles was studied. Moreover, the ability of the floating beads to modulate in vivo the anti-inflammatory response was assayed using the carrageenan-induced acute oedema in rat paw. The proposed strategy allowed obtaining alginate beads with extremely high encapsulation efficiency values (up to 94%) and a very porous inner matrix conferring buoyancy in vitro in simulated gastric fluid up to 5 h. Moreover, in vivo, the best formulation, F4, resulted in the ability to prolong the anti-inflammatory effect up to 15 h compared with raw prednisolone.


aim To estimate the magnitude and determinants of cataract prevalence and cataract surgical coverage and to evaluate their role in visual disability in Oman. methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 11,413 subjects in Oman in 1997. The presence and stage of cataract was noted on the basis of the history and an examination. The patient's phakic, pseudophakic or aphakic status and visual status were determined. The prevalence of cataract and the cataract surgical coverage were estimated. A causal relation was assumed between a backlog of cataract and age, gender and area of residence. The Attributable Risk (AR) and Population Attributable Risk (PAR) for these factors were estimated. results The prevalence of cataract was 29.3/1000 (95% CI: 27.76 to 30.84). This was 4.97/1000 (95% CI: 3.68 to 6.26) for blinding cataract (vision <3/60). The cataract surgery services covered 70.18% (95% CI: 69.52 to 70.84) of the blinding cataracts and 28.76% (95% CI: 28.11 to 29.41) of all cataracts. The AR and PAR of female gender in the cataract backlog were 35.5% and 1.06%, respectively. The AR and PAR of the residents of 'Group B' regions were 40.5% and 1.26%, respectively. The AR and PAR of subjects 'less than 60 years old' were 55.6% and 1.66%, respectively. If the gaps in cataract surgery due to gender, regions and age groups were to be filled, the prevalence of cataract could be reduced by 1.06%, 1.21% and 1.66%, respectively. conclusion The health program should identify and address the barriers to cataract surgery among identified high-risk groups.


Over more than fifteen years of my Career in Neurosurgery I focused my efforts on the causation of surgical pathologies (biological bases). Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is embarrassing, that whatever the neurosurgeon does, still some end with big disability, the blindness. My vision is based on two, first, as the histopathology of brain parenchyma say presence of long standing water in extracellular spaces without trauma or toxins, the logic explanation for that is the chronic inflammatory process. The second base, I concentrated on the patient as a whole rather than on CNS only trying to discover the relation between this CNS inflammatory process and presence of any systemic disease which make this CNS impairment as a complication to it. By taking a strict history, systemic review and physical examination I concluded the presence of a chronic or sub-acute general disease which in my career it was chronic Brucellosis however (pre- PCR era in Iraq) serology is negative in most, for that anti Brucella trial treatment was adopted to result in a very high success rate in mild to moderate cases which are several tens in number, three severe cases who end with blindness then regained their full vision over the last ten years. Complete work up done to exclude other entities, fundus camera to register and follow optic disc edema or atrophy.


This Paper examines the impact of mergers and acquisitions on the remuneration of the CEOs in a large unbalanced panel of UK firms, over the period 1981-96. We find significant and substantial executive pay increases in excess of those generated by the growth in firm size consequent upon the merger. This is consistent with the view that mergers reveal information about the quality of management that is useful to the firm's remuneration committee. Executive pay is, however, nine times more sensitive to internal growth than to growth as a result of acquisition. Furthermore, there is some evidence that hostile transactions generate smaller pay effects than friendly deals, probably because they are followed, at some remove, by size-reducing divestments. When mergers are distinguished by their impact on shareholder wealth we find that CEOs engaging in 'bad' (ie wealth-reducing) acquisitions experience significantly lower remuneration than their counterparts whose deals meet with market approval. This result suggests that shareholder-principals have at least some success in penalising managers for unwarranted empire-building mergers.


. Refactoring is a set of code changes applied to improve the internal structure of a program, without altering its external behavior. With the rise of continuous integration and the awareness of the necessity of managing technical debt, refactoring has become even more popular in recent software builds. Recent studies indicate that developers often perform refactorings. If we consider all refactorings performed across all projects, this consists of the refactoring knowledge that represents a rich source of information that can be useful for both developers and practitioners to better understand how refactoring is being applied in practice. However, mining, processing, and extracting useful insights, from this plethora of refactorings, seems to be challenging. In this book chapter, we take a dive into how refactoring can be mined and preprocessed. We discuss all design concepts and structural metrics that can also be mined along with refactoring operations to understand their impact better. We further investigate the many practical challenges for such extraction. The volume, velocity, and variety of extracted data require careful planning. We outline the appropriate techniques from a large number of available technologies for such system implementation.


ClpAP, a typical energy-dependent protease, consists of a proteolytic component (ClpP) and a chaperone-like ATPase (ClpA). ClpP is composed of two apposed heptameric rings, whereas in the presence of ATP or ATPgammaS, ClpA is a single hexameric ring. Formation of ClpAP complexes involves a symmetry mismatch as sixfold ClpA stacks axially on one or both faces of sevenfold ClpP. We have analyzed these structures by cryo-electron microscopy. Our three-dimensional reconstruction of ClpA at 29-A resolution shows the monomer to be composed of two domains of similar size that, in the hexamer, form two tiers enclosing a large cavity. Cylindrical reconstruction of ClpAP reveals three compartments: the digestion chamber inside ClpP; a compartment between ClpP and ClpA; and the cavity inside ClpA. They are connected axially via narrow apertures, implying that substrate proteins should be unfolded to allow translocation into the digestion chamber. The cavity inside ClpA is structurally comparable to the "Anfinsen cage" of other chaperones and may play a role in the unfolding of substrates. A geometrical description of the symmetry mismatch was obtained by using our model of ClpA and the crystal structure of ClpP (Wang et al., 1997, Cell 91, 447-456) to identify the particular side views presented by both molecules in individual complexes. The interaction is characterized by a key pair of subunits, one of each protein. A small turn (8.6(o) = 2pi/42; equivalent to a 4-A shift) would transfer the key interaction to another pair of subunits. We propose that nucleotide hydrolysis results in rotation, facilitating the processive digestion of substrate proteins.


Church arranged in groups. A community heading from doctrine to meeting.
Religion has become fashionable again, which nobody had expected. However, its shape has changed, which is also true for churches which strongly emphasize their orthodox character. For a long time they have managed to limit the processes of modernisation by living up to traditional patterns which focus on preaching. This is still true, but it proves to be less and less adequate to cause a bond. The believer, being a person himself, with his own needs little by little moves to the centre of attention and this turns out to be at the cost of the doctrine. Because of this the character of the community has started to change. The solidarity which has long been self-evident and was found in a shared sense of faith asks for more activity to be achieved. The challenge with which the community is faced, is to find models which on the one hand justify the doctrine and the tradition linked with this, but on the other hand it must also find new ways which guarantee the continuity of the ecclesiastical organisation in a time when a bond with traditional institutes is no longer self evident. An example of such an intervention is the introduction of the small group, also called house-congregation, cell-group or 'mini-community'. In itself this phenomenon is not new, in a sense as old as the church itself because the church itself started as a church of small groups. Ecclesiastical history proves that the phenomenon has never disappeared. The conventicles from the time of the Further Reformation are a well-known example. With the introduction of a structure of groups this part of ecclesiastical history is often referred to in order to justify such an intervention. Besides attention is paid to the security which is characteristic for small groups which gives people the opportunity to have heart-to-heart talks, thus contributing to the growth of faith of its members. Besides small groups generate growth because the way to church-life via the small group can be found easier. In this context successes booked with this intervention in the United States are often referred to as good examples. However the question is if the assumptions which are the basis for such a choice are right. If this principle of organisation is widely introduced into churches which emphasize their orthodox character, the question is what this means for the church as a community. My study proves that the idea of small groups being a safe haven for members of the church, thus contributing to their growth, must be strongly detracted. Neither do small groups not or hardly contribute to growth of the church. On the contrary, small groups contribute to processes of internal secularisation, as my study proves. Secularisation is a complex idea – I will not deny this –, but something on which opinions do not differ is that a decline of the influence of what is transcendent most definitely contributes to secularisation. There are many different causes for this, but the much acclaimed security (which is so often said to be found in such small groups) has only resulted in the fact that topics for discussion increasingly deal with everyday affairs, rather than with matters of faith. A sacral meaning is emphatically given to the meeting of the believers in such small groups and consequently secular aspects are placed in the sacral domain. Because church councils strongly emphasize the importance of meeting fellow church members (hoping that a stronger of faith will be the consequence), the essence of the community belongs less to the field of the doctrine and more to the field of meeting. Because of this we see the movement turn round. It has always been a central idea that faith leads to the founding of community, now the idea is that that founding of community leads to faith. This is the reason why groups of faith develop from communities of doctrine into communities of meeting and this means that the doctrine is continually fading into the background.


A number of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been shown to be toxicants, and induce carcinogenic and immunotoxic effects. Since PAHs are often present in low concentrations and it may be difficult to determine them in complex matrices, it is therefore essential to use powerful analytical tools to separate and identify the analyses in the samples. In this paper, initially, a short description of the principles, instrumentation, and use of common extraction and analytical techniques for PAH pollutants and their metabolites will be made in light of the previously reported works and major reviews. Special attention will be given to the use of modern polarographic and voltammetric techniques on the mercury and different types of solid electrodes, together with their some practical applications. The main drawbacks and limitations of these methods will also be discussed.


Canonical and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations are used to study a system of spherical particles interacting via a discontinuous potential combining a repulsive square soft core and an attractive square well. This, so-called coresoftened (CS) potential fluid is known to have both a gas-liquid critical point and a liquid-liquid critical point separating high density liquid (HDL) and low density liquid (LDL) phases. First, the spatial correlations and thermodynamic properties of homogeneous and inhomogeneous CS fluid are investigated. Using open ensemble simulation we study an equilibrium distribution of the CS fluid between the homogeneous phase and the planar pores mimicking the real porous material. The bulk radial distribution function displays discontinuities at the distances coinciding with the ranges of the successive repulsive and attractive parts in the CS potential function. The density profiles of confined CS fluid show the shapes arising from the interplay among the steric effects and the competition between the repulsive and attractive parts of the CS potential. Then, the effective force between a pair of big colloidal spheres immersed in a sea of small spheres interacting via CS potential is explored. The big-small interactions are modeled as hard core pair potentials with attractive or repulsive Yukawa tail leading to the accumulation repulsion and depletion attraction between the two colloids, respectively. For this purpose we apply a special simulation technique based on a separate sampling of the contributions arising from the Yukawa tail and hard-core (collision) parts of the big-small interaction potential to the total force between the colloidal particles.


The relationships among stress, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation in late adolescents were examined in a group of college students. Multiple regression analysis indicated that both stress and self-esteem were significantly related to suicidal ideation; low self-esteem and stressful life events significantly predicted suicidal ideation. The hypothesis that self-esteem would moderate the effects of life stressors on suicidal ideation was supported at the .06 level. A significant minority of the sample indicated having thoughts severe enough to be classified as clinical suicidal ideation. In general, participants who had experienced negative life events in the 6 to 12 months prior to participating in the study had lower self-esteem than those who had similar stresses within the prior six months. However, the opposite was true for clinical suicidal ideators; those who experienced negative life stressors recently had lower self-esteem than those who experienced negative life events six months to a year in the past.


Engine downsizing is the use of a smaller engine in a vehicle that provides the power of a larger one. It is the result of car manufacturers attempting to provide more efficient vehicles by adding modern technologies, for instance, turbochargers, direct injection and variable camshaft. The smaller engine is also lighter and provides torque and power with similar performance to a much larger engine. However, the downsizing technique may lead to undesirable vibration effects on the driveline, such as structural damaging, vibration fatigue failure and extra noise. All these issues are related to natural frequencies investigation and they are often determined through the finite element method together with experimental tests during the product development phase. This work presents the finite element method limitation for natural frequencies determination of automotive components and a possible solution for this issue.


Abstract. Backward drift simulations can aid the interpretation of in situ monitoring data. Some trajectories, however, are sensitive to even small changes of the tracer release position. A corresponding spread of backward simulations implies convergence in the forward passage of time. Such uncertainty about the probed water body's origin complicates the interpretation of measurements. This study examines surface drift simulations in the German Bight (North Sea). Lines across which drift behaviour changes non-smoothly are obtained as ridges in the fields of the finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE), a parameter used in dynamical systems theory to identify Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS). Results are shown to closely resemble those obtained considering a) two-particle relative dispersion and b) the average divergence of Eulerian velocities that tracers experience. Structures observed in simulated sea surface temperature and salinity further corroborate the FTLE results.


Let G be a free Carnot group (i.e. a connected simply connected nilpotent stratified free Lie group) of step 2. In this paper, we prove that the variational functional generated by "intrinsic" Maxwell's equations in G is the Γ-limit of a sequence of classical (i.e. Euclidean) variational functionals associated with strongly anistropic dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability in the Euclidean space.


ABSTRACT Complexity and uncertainty influence opinions, beliefs, and decisions about health, safety, and other kinds of risk, as demonstrated in research on health, climate change, storm forecasts, pandemic disease, and in other domains. Drawing from this research, this article summarizes insights into how people understand and process uncertain or complex information and explores key oil spill and oil spill response-relevant issues regarding the communication of complexity and uncertainty—from the presentation of uncertainties around forecast parameters to the deployment of online oil spill response simulation tools. Recommended practices from this article include (a) to continue to develop and evaluate interactive Web-based oil spill response simulations to help users explore tradeoffs in response decisions, (b) to take how people simplify information into account in designing communications processes and products (and evaluate), (c) to provide numbers along with verbal probability descriptions, and (d) if using graphics, to communicate probability or uncertainty, using simple graphics and testing them, as effects may not be predictable and some kinds of graphics are easier to understand than others, depending on context, numeracy, and graphicacy.


Controlling the computational complexity to balance video quality and computation power consumption in motion estimation is a significant issue. This paper proposes a fast multi-path motion estimation algorithm for achieving computational complexity reduction as well as controllable computation. First, an enhanced interested diamond search pattern with search point reduction is proposed. In addition, the multi-path search concept is further combined in our proposal to search for the best matched block without suffering from the drawback of being trapped at the local minimum. Finally, by combining the adaptive threshold for early termination, the computation and coding performance can be adaptively controlled by our proposed algorithm to satisfy the various needs of video encoders. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm with the ability of computation control can give better performance than the diamond search and its multi-path combined algorithm.


CD4+ memory T cells play an important role in induction of autoimmunity and chronic inflammatory responses. However, regulatory mechanisms of CD4+ memory T cell-mediated inflammatory responses are poorly understood. Here we showed that apoptotic cell-treated dendritic cells inhibit development and differentiation of CD4+ effector and central memory T cells in vitro and in vivo. Simultaneously, i.v. transfer of apoptotic T cell-induced tolerogenic dendritic cells can block development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an inflammatory disease in central nervous system of C57BL/6J mouse. However, our results imply that it is effector memory CD4+ T cells, not central memory CD4+ T cells which play a major role in chronic inflammatory responses in mice with EAE. I.v. transfer of tolerogenic dendritic cells induced by apoptotic T cells leads to immune tolerance through specifically blocking development of CD4+ effector memory T cells compared with results of EAE control mice. Our results reveal a new mechanism of apoptotic cell-treated dendritic cell-mediated immune tolerance in vivo.


This study set out to examine dietary and body shape concerns of four age groups (12-18 yr) of British female adolescents in order to compare current findings with previous results. Although less than 4% were overweight as measured by standard tables, over 10 times this number considered themselves overweight. Approximately half desired to alter their weight and considered various ways of doing so. The subjects' shape related directly to the subjects' desire to alter body shape, particularly in the oldest group. These results are discussed in terms on the literature on the development of an idea of ideal body shape, increasing interest in exercise and previous research in the area.


ABSTRACT  The weakness of the CIE whiteness formula, the most widely used formula to characterize the whiteness of surface colors, has been well documented. It cannot characterize the whiteness under the illuminants other than CIE standard D65 and has a small whiteness boundary. A psychophysical experiment was carried out to investigate the whiteness boundary toward the blue-tint direction under 3000 and 6500 K illuminants with high violet radiations to excite the fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) and to cover a wide range of whiteness appearance. Sixty samples (that is, 30 paper and 30 fabric samples) were individually and simultaneously evaluated for whether the samples appeared white or not by the same group of human observers. The judgments made by the observers were significantly different between the two evaluations. When the samples were simultaneously evaluated, the samples needed to have higher whiteness values to be judged as white and there were large interobserver variations, which was speculated to be due to the variation in chromatic adaptation among the observers. Such a variation was likely caused by the wide range of whiteness appearance included in this experiment and each observer was adapted to the color of the whitest sample selected by him or her during the simultaneous evaluations.


Platinum electrodes with surface area ratios of four to one were used to detect and enumerate a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Linear relationships were established between inoculum size and detection time. End points for platinum electrodes were similar to those obtained with a platinum-reference electrode combination. Shape of the overall response curves and length of detection times for gram-positive organisms were markedly different than those for the majority of gram-negative species. Platinum electrodes are better than the platinum-reference electrode combination because of cost, ease of handling, and clearer definition of the end point.


Three restoring lines (Minghui 63, Ce 64 and Teqing) as female parents were crossed with herbicide-resistant transgenic cultivars (Bengal-Hu10 and Gulfmont) as male parents. Genetic analysis on generations of F-1, F-2 and BC1 indicated that the resistance to the herbicide (Liberty) was controlled by a single dominant nuclear gene. The resistance to the herbicide will work as a marker for the true hybrid from crossing with the male parent, but not for all other plants from either selfing, or intracrossing in female parent population. After the application of the herbicide, all plants except the true hybrid were eliminated. With the aid of this technology, the strict requirement of complete sterility for male sterile line in crops can be reduced. It will be beneficial not only for breeding new excellent male sterile lines, but also for commercializing, chemically induced male sterile system in crops.


The effect of renal transplantation on left ventricular function was evaluated in 14 patients with end-stage renal disease requiring maintenance hemodialysis. They had no apparent clinical evidence of heart disease. Ischemic heart disease was excluded by history, electrocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography. Echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography were recorded in the interdialytic periods. Sixty-four per cent of the patients had abnormal left ventricular function despite adequate hemodialysis. Left ventricular function was reassessed within the first two months after successful renal transplantation. All parameters improved shortly after the transplantation. Cardiac index increased by an average of 0.76 +/- 0.11/min/m2 (P less than 0.001), stroke volume by 23.9 +/- 0.5 ml (P less than 0.001), ejection fraction by 9.7 +/- 1.9% (P less than 0.001), mean normalized posterior wall velocity by 0.17 +/- 0.06 second-1 (P less than 0.01), mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening by 0.28 +/- 0.02 circle/second (P less than 0.001), and mitral valve diastolic closure rate by 17.2 +/- 2.3 mm/second (P less than 0.01). Our findings support the existence of a specific uremic cardiomyopathy which is a functional defect probably related to poorly dialyzed uremic toxins.


Viable models of modified gravity which satisfy both local as well as cosmological tests are investigated. It is demonstrated that some versions of such highly nonlinear models exhibit multiple de Sitter universe solutions, which often appear in pairs, one of them being stable and the other unstable. It is explicitly shown that, for some values of the parameters, it is possible to find several de Sitter spaces (as a rule, numerically); one of them may serve for the inflationary stage, while the other can be used for the description of the dark energy epoch. The numerical evolution of the effective equation of state parameter is also presented, showing that these models can be considered as natural candidates for the unification of early-time inflation with late-time acceleration through de Sitter critical points. Moreover, based on the de Sitter solutions, multiple Schwarzschild-de Sitter universes are constructed which might also appear at the (pre-)inflationary stage. Their thermodynamics are studied and free energies are compared.


During the past three decades, many firms in developing market have embarked retrenchment strategy in order to defend firm going concern from economy turbulence. Yet, this strategy is rarely investigated compared to another strategy like diversification. This is not to mention limited research investigating whether companies might manipulate their earnings through the retrenchment costs across ownership expropriation. As Malaysia offers unique background earnings management, corporate strategy and ownership structure, this study aims to answer intriguing yet interesting question: Do Malaysia's listed companies consider retrenchment costs when they manipulate earning across its ownership expropriation? Using 237 Malaysian listed companies over the period 2008-2013, this study found that retrenchment costs are used to manipulate earnings in companies. In addition, we find that ownership concentration do not significantly affects the earnings management of the firms.


This LibGuide is designed to provide an overview of resources for students in the information technology degree programs at the School of Information. This page contains a list of IT related journals


Synergistic cytotoxicity between FUra and etoposide was determined in Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) cells by clonogenic assay. With the same exposure condition, chasing the time course of DNA strand breaks and repair by DNA unwinding assay. DNA repair in the exposure sequence of etoposide prior to FUra was remarkably delayed more than that by etoposide alone. There was a little overlap in normal tissue toxicity of UFT and etoposide since 65% of the full dosages of the two agents can be used in combination and main toxicities (suppression of body weight, decrease in WBC and damage of intestinal mucosa) were dispersed with dependence on the schedule of administration. Moreover, this combined treatment with the most tolerated dose resulted in the highest survival effect on 3LL-bearing mice than each agent alone. These data suggest that combination chemotherapy of UFT with etoposide show high antitumor activity and low host toxicity, and will be clinically useful.


The digestive process and intestinal protein absorption are influenced by a variety of factors. Due to their numerous health advantages, including potential favorable effects on protein digestion and absorption, probiotics have gained increased attention in recent years. Probiotics can control the intestinal microflora, which in turn affects the intestinal bacteria responsible for proteolysis. Additionally, certain probiotics can release exoenzymes that aid in the digestion of proteins and others can stimulate the host's digestive protease and peptidase activity. By boosting transport and enhancing the epithelium's capacity for absorption, probiotics can also improve the absorption of tiny peptides and amino acids as well as lessen detrimental protein fermentation, which lowers the toxicity of metabolites. The present study explored the production of enzymes by Bacillus paranthracis strain MHDS3, a probiotic candidate isolated from Pellaea calomelanos. Bacillus paranthracis displayed enzyme activities of amylase (31,788.59 IU), cellulase (4487.486 IU), and pectinase (13.98986 IU) through submerged fermentation. The CAZyme analysis of B. paranthracis revealed 16 CAZyme gene clusters associated with cellulose, amylase, and pectinase activity. Thus, B. paranthracis is a promising probiotic strain that can produce enzymes with biotechnological applications.


For decades, the Kitāb al-Talḫīṣ, a pharmacological dictionary composed by the Jewish biblical lexicographer and exegete Abū l-Walīd Marwān Ibn Ǧanāḥ (ca. 980–1040), was thought to be lost. Even its discovery in 1979 by Fuat Sezgin, who gave a brief outline of the text preserved in an Istanbul manuscript, went entirely unnoticed by the scholarly community until 2010, when Fabian Käs gave a preliminary account of the work in his masterful concordance of the minerals in Arabic pharmacognosy. During a recent study trip to the Süleymaniye Library in Istanbul, the present writer was able to examine at first hand the work preserved in MS Aya Sofia 3603. A physical description of the work and its purpose, as set out in Ibn Ǧanāḥ's introduction, are presented, followed by a characterization of the author's methodology. More than just a glossary, Ibn Ǧanāḥ's Talḫīṣ, written in the adab style, draws on multiple medical, botanical and even literary and philosophical sources. Ibn Ǧanāḥ's concept of an independent medical dictionary may have been inspired by his earlier composition of the Kitāb al-uṣūl, the Book of Roots, a bilingual biblical dictionary. Significant details of the classical Greek and Arab sources upon which Ibn Ǧanāḥ drew are discussed, along with his relation to the Qayrawān school and his exchanges with his contemporaries in al-Andalus. Of particular interest is an Arabic quote from Isaac Israeli's Book of Elements. A list of quotations in the works of later authorities is included in an attempt to gauge the work's influence. In conclusion, the originality of this composition is highlighted, as well as the possibility of a specifically Jewish contribution to the discipline of pharmacognosy.


During a journey, motor vehicles are subjected to different types of irregularities in the pavement. Some of these irregularities are introduced for a specific purpose over a stretch of road to slow down the vehicle at certain road points. However, the influence of installed speed bumps reveals certain additional effects which must be deeply analyzed to ensure vehicle and pedestrian safety. In some cases, it has been found that even when driving over transverse bands at a speed below the legal limit, the vehicle is damaged or tires lose grip with the pavement, precluding any kind of braking or turning maneuvers. Such phenomena indicate that either this element is not properly sized or the location is not appropriate, becoming counterproductive for traffic safety. In order to analyze the influence of these irregularities on the different components of the vehicle and its occupants, a simulation program with MatlabTM has been developed. The validated developed tool takes into account several aspects of the vehicle dynamics, bump geometry, and vehicle speed. The proposed tool provides the best possible information to establish a set of guidelines for the proper design and installation of speed bumps in different roads.


Background Patients with Multiple myeloma (MM) with a 17p deletion (del17p) have a poor outcome, often presenting with aggressive disease and short response duration with current therapies. We studied the clinical features of patients with del17p, either at diagnosis or at relapse, treatment responses and potential risk factors for acquisition of this abnormality.

Patients and methods We reviewed all plasma cell FISH tests performed in patients with MM during 2004-2011, in order to identify patients with a del17p/ monosomy 17. If the abnormality was identified on FISH testing at any time before the diagnosis of MM or within 3 months of diagnosis, the patient was considered to have a del17p at diagnosis. For patients with del17p identified beyond three months, we identified 1-2 controls for each patient, who had FISH performed at the same duration after diagnosis but did not have a del17p/ monosomy 17.

Results We identified 264 patients with MM, who had a del17p detected by FISH at some time during the disease course. The median age at MM diagnosis was 61.5 years and 60% were male. The median follow up from diagnosis was 5.4 years with 124 (47%) alive at last follow up. One hundred twenty three had del17p at diagnosis, 95 had unknown 17p status at diagnosis, and 46 had a FISH with no del17p at diagnosis. The median overall survival from diagnosis for the entire cohort was 5.5 years; for the three groups median survival was 3.1, 5.8 and 6.3 years respectively (P<0.01) (Figure 1). Similarly, the OS from the time of detection of del17p for the three groups respectively were 3.4, 1.9 and 1.9 years, respectively (P<0.01) (Figure 2). In the group of patients with del17p observed beyond three months from diagnosis, the median time to detection of the abnormality was 42 (3-166) months.

Given the similar outcomes, the latter two groups were considered together as acquired del17p (n=141). This group of patients was then compared to a control population of 271 patients. The median OS from diagnosis and from the date of the FISH testing for the acquired del17p patients was 5.8 and 1.9 years respectively, compared with 7.5 and 2.8 years respectively for the control patients (P =50%, or PCLI >= 3% at baseline predicted for increased risk of acquiring del17p. There was no relationship between use of novel agents in the first line of therapy or use of SCT as part of initial therapy and the development of del17p. Overall, 75% of patients with an acquired del17p had one of the three features, compared with 47% of patients who did not acquire a del17p. Finally, we also examined the impact of the proportion of cells with del17p. The median proportion of PCs with 17p deletion was 86% (range 9-100%). Patients with >80% cells with del17p had an inferior survival compared to the rest (1.9 vs. 2.8 years, p=0.01).

![Figure][1]

Conclusions The presence of del17p at diagnosis or acquisition anytime during the disease course is associated with poor overall survival. Patients with high-risk features at diagnosis such as high-risk translocations and highly proliferative disease have a higher risk of developing del17p during the course of disease, which may in part explain the poor prognosis seen in patients with these high-risk features. The proportion of PCs with del 17p appears to impact the prognostic value of this abnormality.

Disclosures: Kumar: Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding.

 [1]: pending:yes


Melioidosis is a tropical disease caused by infection with the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Most cases present as an acute febrile illness with severe pneumonia and sepsis. Sub-acute and late onset disease can also occur Melioidosis has been diagnosed among travellers who contracted the disease while staying in endemic areas during the rainy season. We report a case of travel-associated B. pseudomallei cutaneous infection in a febrile 90-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus, with early stage manifestations of an isolated inoculation lesion. A 32 weeks' treatment with oral amoxicillin-clavulanate and doxycycline combination regimen led to resolution of the lesion and lack of relapse over fifteen months of follow-up. Melioidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unusual subacute cutaneous lesions in a febrile patients returning from endemic areas, as successful management largely depends on early diagnosis and specific long-term suppressive antimicrobial therapy at an early stage of the course of the disease.


Abstract Preconception care (PCC) is a preventive strategy for maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and utilisation of PCC services. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at a teaching hospital. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to extract information. A total of 450 participants responded; 44.2% (190/450) were aware, 31.7% (143/450) had good knowledge, while only 10.3% (46/450) received PCC. Health care providers were the main source of information (77.9%). There was statistically significant correlation between awareness and participants' level of education (p < .001) and residence (p < .001), as well as between utilisation and education (p < .001), and information from doctors (p < .001). There was a low level of awareness and poor utilisation of PCC, underpinning the need to scale up health education, establishment of functional PCC clinics and formulation of evidence-based guidelines to improve uptake and pregnancy outcome. Impact statement What is already known on the subject of the paper? PCC has been known in high-income countries as a prevention-based strategy, which aims at improving obstetric outcomes. However, the level of utilisation in low-income countries like Nigeria is either unknown or far too low. What do this study add? This work has provided local data on PCC; clearly indicating that the awareness and utilisation of PCC services in Abakaliki, Nigeria is very low when compared with other regions of the world, and this was influenced by the socio-demographic factors – particularly education and place of residence (for awareness), and level of education and information from health care providers (for utilisation), thus suggesting that enlightenment and improvement in social infrastructures could improve awareness, access and utilisation of PCC. What are the implications for clinical practice and/or further research? The implications of these findings in low resource settings like ours will include introducing interventions to scaling up health education, universal establishment of functional PCC units and formulation of evidence-based guidelines aimed at improving the uptake of PCC and pregnancy outcome. Further research will also be needed in future to assess the impact of such interventions and how to sustain potential benefits.


Total epicuticular wax content in immature fruits of ten ber genotypes and mature leaves of 3 genotypes varying in their ploidy levels and reaction to powdery mildew (PM) caused by Oidium erysiphoides f. zizhyphi was investigated. Quantitative variations were observed, the wax content being high in diploid resistant genotypes except Gull than the tetraploid susceptible ones. Similarly Seedless an octaploid immune genotype had higher leaf waxes than Darakhi-I ( resistant) and Kadaka (susceptible). However its fruits had lower wax content as that of Illaichi, another octaploid susceptible genotype. Thus the pattern of quantitative variation observed for wax content between the resistant and susceptible genotypes of ber suggest that wax may not be the only factor imparting resistance to powdery mildew disease.


February 2008 The text contains selected news from the Wais rode Bird park and the Vogel park Wais rode Foundation. This text is made available to multiple Magazines and Newsletters worldwide. Editors are welcomed to use the whole text or selected portions or to translate the text into their respective languages. The Walsrode Birdpark will not carry any responsibility for alterations to the texts. Gulls In 2007 the first attempts to setup a real gulkolony in one of the large flight aviaries in the Crane-section started. Eleven Greyheaded Gulls (Larus cirrocephalus) and two Mediterranean Gulls (Larus melanocephalus) were placed together. Both are tropical and subtropical gull species both with classic colony based breeding behaviour originating from Africa but with their distributions separated by the Sahara. Grey-headed Gull In the past we were reluctant to keep too large groups of gulls on display due to the high degree of waste and corrosive excretes produced by gulls. However the increased attractiveness of the aviary through the liveliness of the birds and the fact that the birds are allowed to live out their natural behaviour certainly outweighs this problem. In return we have to accept the fact that some boulders contain white blotches that are difficult to remove in the realisation that this is as much a part of life in a gull-colony as the loud calls and the lively intrigues between pairs. We had fairly high hopes that breeding in the group would equally increase with the larger group of birds, the first eggs were also laid early but shortly thereafter went missing and later further clutches disappeared without a trace. It was speculated that the problems might have been caused by a weasel but to rule out that the gulls were not stealing each others eggs the colony were carefully observed. To our surprise the culprits proved to be the two young Siberian Cranes (Grus /eucogeranus) sharing the exhibit the cranes would take daily swims to the gull colony and systematically "sweep" the grounds for fresh eggs. In the end we only managed to secure a few eggs before the end of the breeding season, however now that the problem has been recognized we will make the necessary adjustments for the 2008 season. The concept of a gulkolony proved popular with visitors and gulls alike. Congo-Peafowl The pair of Conqo-Peafowl (Afropavocongensis) on exhibit at the Pheasantry exemplarily reared a domestic chicken in 2007. The pair has been allocated restrictive breeding status from the EEP studbook in the past and as such was not allowed to rear its own chicks due to the risks related to inbreeding. In order to give the pair enrichment we would let them have chicken eggs to rear, this also keeps the pair fit for the case that they might foster the young from another pair of ConqoPeafowl or another species. The most recent edition of the studbook however takes into consideration that there are now only very few founders left and that it is unlikely that new bloodlines from the wild will be available. As a result the pair has been allowed to breed for the coming years and we now hope they will produce fertile eggs and hopefully healthy chicks. A number of problems pursue the captive populations of Conqo-Peafowl all likely to be related to inbreeding issues including poor feather, poor fertility and a tendency to metabolic bone disease in chicks. A recent diagnosis of diabetes type A in a male Conqo-Peafowl at Walsrode is likely to be a new problem as this is the first time this mainly inheritable disease has been diagnosed in a Conqo-Peafowl Guineafowl With the Crested Guineafowl (Guttera p. pucherani (granti) ) there were quite a few chicks in 2007. The birds kept by Walsrode can all be traced back to imports made from Kenya in the 1960ies. They were originally identified as Guttera eduardi granti but later the taxonomy was reviewed and they were renamed to Guttera pucherani granti. Meanwhile another review is prevailing which does not recognize this subspecies as valid and includes this taxon in Guttera pucherani pucherani. However the birds in Walsrode consistently present the black collar that is supposed to be diagnostic for the "Granti's". If this collar represents a colour morph, an intergraded population between two subspecies or if it is in fact its own distinctive geographical variation still unknown, it is obvious though that the Guineafowl as a group are taxonomically poorly understood by scientists. Crested Guineafowl are fairly social birds living in small groups of up to 10 birds throughout the year defending territory and rearing offspring together.


Long-wave theories generally neglegt service activities and service innovations. Nevertheless Schumpeter's analyses provide us with very suggestive concepts. It provides in particular a large and open definition of innovation. Moreover it enables us to ask following questions : What is the place of service activities and of their innovations in the long-waves ? May we interpret de-industrialization tendancies of developed economies as a process of destruction of old industrial structures and of their replacement by new service firms, respective to the schumpeterian mechanism of creative destruction ? Is the schumpeterian entrepreneurial function involved in service activities and isn't the entrepreneurial function of industrial firms itself partly shared with some special service activities namely consultancy activities ?


We propose a new method of solving a class of mean-field (MF) models, which is based on the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) principle with additional constraints included. Next, we show equivalence of our method when applied to the Gutzwiller approximation (GA), with the mean-field slave-boson (SB) formalism (on the example of the single-band Hubbard model). This equivalence provides thus an alternative justification of the results obtained within the SB approach which, however, contains ad hoc assumptions to position it in agreement with GA. Our approach implies that all predictions of the MF SB method can be obtained in a simpler, transparent, and controllable manner within GA when supplemented with the statistical-consistency conditions. We call the method as the Statistically-consistent Gutzwiller Approximation (SGA). Explicitly, the present formulation does not require introducing the condensed amplitudes of auxiliary Bose fields, which do not have a direct physical meaning and do not appear in the present formulation. Although the results of SGA are in the present case equivalent to SB, one can improve them further by utilizing more advanced schemes of calculating averages beyond the standard GA. To illustrate our approach, as well as to outline its advantages over alternative treatments of GA, we select the case of almost localized Fermi liquid (ALFL) in two dimensions and analyze it in detail within the tight-binding approximation. We also comment on significance of our method for describing correlated fermions. Namely, the reasoning used here can be applied to the corresponding MF treatment of the multiband Hubbard, the periodic Anderson, the $t-J$, and the $t-J-U$ models. In this manner our method may be applied for strongly correlated electron systems, optical lattices, and other related situations.


Background: An exposure study in Quebec showed that apprentices in welding profession have a high level of exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) during the whole training period.This is of increasing importance as evidence suggests that UFP may contribute to adverse respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. We evaluated how well existing empirical models for welding fumes estimate exposure to UFP among welding apprentices.

Methods: We used an existing exposure database of 136 UFP measurements from two welding vocational schools in Quebec. We used three exposure models for inhalable dusts and fumes, respirable dusts and fumes, and total particulate matter to estimate UFP exposure among apprentice welders from Quebec. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the estimated exposure to welding fumes based on the three models and measured UFP concentrations.

Results: Low correlation coefficients were found between the measured UFP concentrations and the estimated welding fumes concentrations from the three exposure models that ranged from 0.11 to 0.22. Correlations coefficients between the estimates of the three models were markedly higher and ranged from 0.41 to 0.74.

Conclusions: Current empirical models for exposure to welding fumes are insufficient for predicting exposure to UFP among welding apprentices. More UFP measurements are needed to derive UFP-specific empirical models. These models will be crucial for controlling exposure and to assess association of exposure to UFP and respiratory health effects.


The shallow-marine Carmel Formation (Middle Jurassic) in central Utah hosts low-diversity trace fossil assemblages, including Arenicolites, Chondrites, Gyrochorte, Lockeia, Planolites, Protovirgularia, Rosselia, Scalarituba, Skolithos, Taenidium, and Teichichnus. Non specialized ichnotaxa with a remarkably small burrow size dominate the assemblages. The amount of bioturbation is lower than expected in comparison with modern shallow-marine carbonate environments. These ichnological features also are significantly different from those of other Jurassic shallow-marine carbonates. The trace fossils represent an environmentally stressed benthic community in a marginal marine, restricted setting, with salinities above normal marine and with depletion of oxygen in pore waters.


We present a simple yet effective method, which is based on power series expansion, for computing exact binomial moments that can be in turn used to compute steady-state probability distributions as well as the noise in linear or nonlinear biochemical reaction networks. When the method is applied to representative reaction networks such as the ON-OFF models of gene expression, gene models of promoter progression, gene auto-regulatory models, and common signaling motifs, the exact formulae for computing the intensities of noise in the species of interest or steady-state distributions are analytically given. Interestingly, we find that positive (negative) feedback does not enlarge (reduce) noise as claimed in previous works but has a counter-intuitive effect and that the multi-OFF (or ON) mechanism always attenuates the noise in contrast to the common ON-OFF mechanism and can modulate the noise to the lowest level independently of the mRNA mean. Except for its power in deriving analytical expressions for distributions and noise, our method is programmable and has apparent advantages in reducing computational cost.


Objective There is a need for reliable serological assays to determine accurate estimates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence. Most single target antigen assays have shown some limitations in Africa. To assess the performance of a multi-antigen assay, we evaluated a commercially available SARS-CoV-2 Multi-Antigen IgG assay for human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nigeria. Methods Validation of the xMAP SARS-CoV-2 Multi-Antigen IgG assay was carried out using well-characterized SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reactive positive (97) and pre-COVID-19 pandemic (86) plasma panels. Cross-reactivity was assessed using pre-COVID-19 pandemic plasma specimens (213) from the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS). Results The overall sensitivity of the xMAP SARS-CoV-2 Multi-Antigen IgG assay was 75.3% [95% CI: 65.8%– 82.8%] and specificity was 99.0% [95% CI: 96.8%– 99.7%]. The sensitivity estimate increased to 83.3% [95% CI: 70.4%– 91.3%] for specimens >14 days post-confirmation of diagnosis. However, using the NAIIS pre-pandemic specimens, the false positivity rate was 1.4% (3/213). Conclusions Our results showed overall lower sensitivity and a comparable specificity with the manufacturer's validation. There appears to be less cross-reactivity with NAIIS pre-pandemic COVID-19 specimens using the xMAP SARS-CoV-2 Multi-Antigen IgG assay. In-country SARS-CoV-2 serology assay validation can help guide the best choice of assays in Africa.


This in vitro study aimed to design a method for the objective evaluation of carious dentin using numerical values. This study also investigated the relationship between the color of carious dentin stained with a caries detector dye using this objective method and the rate of bacterial detection as detected by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In 15 molars with occlusal dentin caries and three extracted sound molars, dentin was removed in multiple steps with 300 microm removed each step. Before and after every removal, images of a color-matching sticker and carious surfaces stained with a caries detector dye were acquired simultaneously using a CCD camera and dentinal tissue samples were removed with a round bur. Next, corrected L*, a* and b* values of the carious surfaces (CIE 1976 L*a*b* color system) were calculated from the color changes of the stickers in the images. In addition, bacterial DNA in the dentinal tissue was detected by PCR. From evaluations of the receiver operating characteristic curves for the L*, a* and b* values, the L* value was determined to be a more useful parameter than a* or b* for detecting bacterial infection using the caries detector dye. The bacterial detection rates of carious dentin decreased as the L* values of carious dentin stained with the dye increased. When the L* values were more than 60, the dentin had no bacterial infection. This study clarified the relationship between the colors of lesions stained with a caries detector dye and the rates of bacterial detection.


To the Editor. —I am very interested in the report by Harper et al, 1 published in the January 1987 issue of theArchives, concerning treatment for gastroesophageal reflux-induced asthma. I also agree with their conclusion that an antireflux treatment may improve asthmatic and/or reflux symptoms in asthmatic patients associated with gastroesophageal reflux-triggered bronchoconstriction. I recently encountered a 61-year-old man in Japan with nonallergic asthma and a sliding hiatal hernia. The patient was admitted to my division because of a wheezing attack with dyspnea, abdominal fullness during asthma attack, inveterate hiccups, and sour and acid regurgitation. An upper gastrointestinal tract roentgenogram study had revealed a sliding hiatal hernia when the patient was admitted to my division complaining of wheezing attack six years before. In spite of treatment with 500 mg of theophylline, 150 μg of procaterol (β 2 -stimulant), and 10 mg of prednisolone for about one month, the wheezing


During the course of screening new T-H-2 region congenic strains of mice constructed from the C57BL/6 and B6-H-2k strains, a new cell surface polymorphism, designated dtc-1, was identified by cell-mediated lympholysis techniques. The dtc-1 antigen can be found on both Con A- and LPS-stimulated lymphoblasts, peritoneal macrophages, and SV40-transformed mouse embryo fibroblasts. Lysis of dtc-1+ targets by CTL is H-2Dk restricted. All inbred strains tested are dtc-1+, with the exception of the B6-H-2k strain, which is dtc-1-, and several congenic strains directly derived from B6-H-2k. Because B6/Boy and AKR/Boy, the parents of the B6-H-2k strain, are dtc-1+, the dtc-1- phenotype may be the result of mutation in the locus specifying the cell surface molecule that carries this antigen. Segregation analysis of the dtc-1+/dtc-1- polymorphism demonstrated that this locus is not linked to T or H-2. The dtc-1 antigen thus identifies yet another cell surface polymorphism and adds another immunologically defined genetic marker to the murine genome. Furthermore, the dtc-1 system indicates the need for reevaluation and restandardization of congenic strains of mice derived from the B6-H-2k congenic strain.


OBJECTIVE
Depression and chronic pain are major problems in American veterans, yet there is limited long-term research examining how they relate to one another in this population. This study examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and pain in U.S. veterans aged 50+.

METHODS
This study used data on veterans from the 2002-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 4,302), a large-scale observational study of Americans aged 50+. Measures included a short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and two items assessing the presence and degree of pain. Analyses included random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM).

RESULTS
In the RI-CLPM, there were roughly equivalent cross-lagged effects between depressive symptoms and pain. There was also evidence that depressive symptoms and pain have a trait-like component and that these trait-like characteristics are associated.

CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that depressive symptoms and pain in veterans are stable characteristics in American veterans over 50. There appear to be reciprocal effects between the two, whereby deviations in one's typical depressive symptoms predict subsequent deviations in one's pain level and vice-versa; however, the size of these effects is very small. These findings suggest that clinicians should treat both depressive symptoms and pain, rather than assume that treatment benefits in one domain will lead to major benefits in another.


This paper represents the second part of a study of semi-geostrophic (SG) geophysical fluid dynamics. SG dynamics shares certain attractive properties with the better known and more widely used quasi-geostrophic (QG) model, but is also a good prototype for balanced models that are more accurate than QG dynamics. The development of such balanced models is an area of great current interest. The goal of the present work is to extend a central body of QG theory, concerning the evolution of disturbances to prescribed basic states, to SG dynamics. Part 1 was based on the pseudomomentum; Part 2 is based on the pseudoenergy. A pseudoenergy invariant is a conserved quantity, of second order in disturbance amplitude relative to a prescribed steady basic state, which is related to the time symmetry of the system. We derive such an invariant for the semi-geostrophic equations, and use it to obtain: (i) a linear stability theorem analogous to Arnol'd's 'first theorem'; and (ii) a small-amplitude local conservation law for the invariant, obeying the group-velocity property in the WKB limit. The results are analogous to their quasi-geostrophic forms, and reduce to those forms in the limit of small Rossby number. The results are derived for both the f-plane Boussinesq form of semi-geostrophic dynamics, and its extension to β-plane compressible flow by Magnusdottir & Schubert. Novel features particular to semi-geostrophic dynamics include apparently unnoticed lateral boundary stability criteria. Unlike the boundary stability criteria found in the first part of this study, however, these boundary criteria do not necessarily preclude the construction of provably stable basic states. The interior semi-geostrophic dynamics has an underlying Hamiltonian structure, which guarantees that symmetries in the system correspond naturally to the system's invariants. This is an important motivation for the theoretical approach used in this study. The connection between symmetries and conservation laws is made explicit using Noether's theorem applied to the Eulerian form of the Hamiltonian description of the interior dynamics.


The application of user terminals with multiple antenna inputs for use with the global navigation satellite systems like Global Positioning System (GPS) and Galileo has attracted more and more attention in the past years. Multiple antennas may be spread over the user platform and provide signals required for the platform attitude estimation or may be arranged in an antenna array to be used together with array processing algorithms for improving signal reception, e.g., for multi-path and interference mitigation. In order to generate signals for testing of receivers with multiple antenna inputs and corresponding receiver algorithms in a laboratory environment, a unique hardware signal simulation tool for wavefront simulation has been developed. The signals for a number of antenna elements are first generated in a flexible user defined geometry as digital signals in baseband and then mixed up to individual RF-outputs. This paper describes the principle functionality of the system and addresses some calibration issues. Measurement setups and results of data processing with simulated signals for different applications are shown and discussed.


Surgical site infections are the most common and serious concern in health care settings. Currently, systemic administration of prophylactic antibiotics or local disinfecting treatment is prescribed after surgical procedures. However, prolonged use of antibiotics may pose adverse side-effects, bacterial resistance as well as hospitalization's cost. Recently, the use of nanomaterials with peroxidase enzyme-mimic activity has drawn higher consideration due to their high antibacterial potential and minimum biotoxicity. Hemin is a high active molecule and also the active source of many biological enzymes, such as peroxidase, which could efficiently catalyze a various biochemical reactions. However, the insolubility of hemin makes it easy to aggregate and lose its catalytic ability. Here, we designed a well-dispersed hemin/graphdiyne (GDY) nanocomposite (GDY-Hemin) with high peroxidase activity. GDY-Hemin can decompose hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to generate highly-toxic hydroxyl radicals that impair bacterial cell membrane and ultimately leading to bacteria death in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results reveal that GDY-Hemin has good biocompatibility and is suitable for wound infection treatment in vivo.


We estimate the curvature of the demand curve for a wide range of products. We use an extension of Deaton and Muellbauer's Almost Ideal Demand System and scanner data from a large euro area retailer. We find evidence that the overall price elasticity of demand is higher for price increases than for price decreases. However, the overall degree of curvature is one to two orders of magnitude smaller than the value economists usually impose. This suggests that the shape of the demand curve is unlikely to be the only source of real price rigidity.


Development zones have been playing an increasingly important role over the 30 years of development in national economy so it is of great significance to evaluate the operating efficiency and innovation efficiency of development zones. Based on the panel data from 2008 to 2014, the author has evaluated the dynamic efficiency of 27 provincial capitals' development zones adopting DEA approach. The research has found that the operating efficiency of China's development zones remains on an ideal level but there is development imbalance among different regions; the development zones have higher innovation efficiency while R&D activities are in need of further improvement; development zones face greater urgency to improve their operating efficiency; in the end, the article has proposed some relative policy suggestions.


This study explores the use of the Dirichlet Variational Autoencoder (DirVAE) for learning disentangled latent representations of chest X-ray (CXR) images. Our working hypothesis is that distributional sparsity, as facilitated by the Dirichlet prior, will encourage disentangled feature learning for the complex task of multi-label classification of CXR images. The DirVAE is trained using CXR images from the CheXpert database, and the predictive capacity of multi-modal latent representations learned by DirVAE models is investigated through implementation of an auxiliary multi-label classification task, with a view to enforce separation of latent factors according to class-specific features. The predictive performance and explainability of the latent space learned using the DirVAE were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed, respectively, and compared with a standard Gaussian prior-VAE (GVAE). We introduce a new approach for explainable multi-label classification in which we conduct gradient-guided latent traversals for each class of interest. Study findings indicate that the DirVAE is able to disentangle latent factors into class-specific visual features, a property not afforded by the GVAE, and achieve a marginal increase in predictive performance relative to GVAE. We generate visual examples to show that our explainability method, when applied to the trained DirVAE, is able to highlight regions in CXR images that are clinically relevant to the class(es) of interest and additionally, can identify cases where classification relies on spurious feature correlations.


We present a thermodynamic model for the phase equilibria of gases and brines, which couples Henry's Law with the Soave–Redlich–Kwong equation of state to reproduce experimental data. In this communication we focus on the H2S H2O NaCl system.


Chuaynkern Y, Nurngsomsri P, Chuaynkern C, Duengkae P, Karaphan S. 2018. Short Communication: Cyrtodactylus elok Dring, 1979 (Sauria, Gekkonidae): A first country record for Thailand. Biodiversitas 19: 2111-2117. The present work reports a new country record for Thailand of the bent-toed gecko Cyrtodactylus elok Dring, 1979 based on a single specimen which was collected from Hala‒Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Narathiwat Province (southern Thailand). The Thai specimen shows morphological characters similar to C. elok as follows: 12-14 supralabials, 10-11 infralabials, seven tubercles across midbody, 49 ventral scales, enlarged femoral scales absent, tubercles on forelimbs absent, ventrolateral fold poorly defined, and large tubercles of dorsolateral caudal rows. The species was previously known from the discovery made in Malaysia. This addition brings the number of Thai prehensile-tailed species to three. Morphological and distributional maps are provided.


A2 influenza inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion the in vitro antibody-forming cell (AFC) response of CBA mouse spleen cells to sheep erythrocytes. The greatest amount of inhibition occurred if virus was added to the splenocytes on the day the cells were placed in culture. Inoculation of spleen cells with influenza on day 3 of culture or immediately before assay on day 4 had no effect on the AFC response. Experiments indicated that the inhibition could be transferred by adding viable, infected cells to uninfected spleen cultures. The origin of the cells that caused the suppression of AFC was not resolved; however, the data suggest that infected B or T cells were not solely responsible for the inhibition. Although infectious virus was most effective, inactivated influenza preparations also suppressed the AFC response. The possible in vivo significance of influenza's inhibitory effect on antibody synthesis is discussed.


We investigate the pressure distribution with depth in regions undergoing horizontal shortening and experiencing crustal thickening both analytically and numerically. Our results show that, in a convergent tectonic setting, pressure can be considerably higher than lithostatic (the pressure resulting from the weight of the overburden). Increases in pressure with respect to lithostatic conditions result from both the contribution of horizontal stresses and the flexural vertical loads, the latter generated by the deflection of the upper crust and of the mantle because of the presence of topographic relief and a root, respectively. The contribution of horizontal stresses is particularly relevant to the upper crust and uppermost mantle, where rocks are thought to deform brittlely. In these domains, pressure gradients twice lithostatic can be achieved. The contribution of horizontal stresses is less important in the ductile domains as differential stresses are progressively relaxed; nevertheless, the effects are still noteworthy especially close to the brittle–ductile transition. Flexural vertical loads generated by the deflection of the upper crust and lithospheric mantle are relevant for rocks of the weaker lower crust. As a result of the combination of the two mechanisms, the pressure gradient varies vertically through the lithosphere, ranging from negative (inverted) gradients to gradients up to several times the lithostatic gradient. The pressure values range from one to two times the lithostatic values (1ρgz to 2ρgz).


BACKGROUND
For the diagnosis of thyroid disease, measurement of "free hormone" is generally accepted as an appropriate measure. However, valid assays measuring the free fraction of thyroxine (FT4) ideally must perform without bias, despite large variations in the concentrations and affinities of serum T4-binding proteins in the population. Several approaches have been taken to overcome such bias, and these have created considerable controversy in the field over the past decade.

APPROACH
This review, from both a historical and an analytical standpoint, charts the progress made over more than 30 years in improvements to the performance of assays in common use for the measurement of FT4 in serum or plasma. It reexamines the theory behind early approaches to such assays [for example, the free thyroxine index (FTI) method], that preceded more accurate, two-step immunoassays or one-step analog techniques. It evaluates the continuous refinements to the latter assays that by now have largely supplanted the FTI approach and where the deficiencies that so exercised clinical chemists in the past have been virtually eliminated in the leading assays.

CONTENT
The basic Mass Action theory underpinning all such methods is discussed by assessing how far each particular approach obeys the criteria the theory imposes. In this, it is not the intention of the review to dissect individual commercial or academic assays, but rather to give guidance where appropriate as to how any assay said to measure FT4 can be conveniently evaluated by those intending to use it. Examples are given where inappropriate tests may wrongly imply assay invalidity by misinterpreting how FT4 assays work.

SUMMARY
Detailed knowledge of the underlying theory is essential when devising tests for direct FT4 assays, to ensure that such tests do not overstep the practical limits of assay validity.


We developed an ambulatory bruxism recording system that analyzes sleep stage. This system enables us to measure sleep bruxism activities in each sleep stage on an electromyographic and auditory basis at home. The purpose of this study was to examine the usability of this recording system. Six volunteers with self-awareness of sleep bruxism were recruited. They were instructed to operate the recording system by themselves and they recorded their bruxism activities at home. Afterward, they were asked to answer the questionnaire on the usability and the influence of the device on sleep. Data recordings were carried out in 3 to 5 nights per subject. All subjects could easily operate this system. Two subjects, however, failed to record in some nights. They reported problems of the sensors falling off from the skin. There was no complaint on disturbance of sleep due to the measurement. Although no interference to sleep was observed, our ambulatory recording system caused some technical difficulty in a few subjects. More detailed operation manual and simplified software seemed to be necessary.


The strategic importance of FMCG SME's supply chains makes it paramount that their performances are measured. Performance measurement in the context of on-time delivery is of high importance to SME's. SME's compete with large companies within the FMCG sector, as such gaining a competitive advantage is an extremely difficult task for these small and medium companies.There is an everincreasing interest toward the field of supply chain management and much attention has been deemed towards the importance of information sharing in gaining competitive advantage for SMEs. The integration of the chain both internally and externally through information sharing ( visibility) can lead to increase supply chain performance such as on-time delivery, therefore increasing competitive advantage for the SME's. The study aim to develop a conceptual framework and a model to evaluate the impact of visibility tools usage in FMCG SME's. This research highlights some visibility tools such as ERP systems, Sage software that influences the level of information shared among the parties within the SME supply chain.This research examined the potential of information technology based tools and visibility factors and aims to provide factors that may influence the sharing of information between suppliers and customers along the supply chain, thus meeting on time delivery schedules. This research employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches, with regression and correlation tests also conducted. Two questionnaires were administered, one at the case study company, the other at 100 SME's across London, 63 valid questionnaires were received and analyzed using SPSS software (manufactured by IBM, version 20). The findings of this research revealed that having shared values among SME's influenced the level of information that is shared and thus the level of visibility achieved within the supply chain. Further, it was revealed that large companies are able to utilize more in depth IT based systems, while small and medium sized companies had a tendency to utilize informal means for their visibility tools. In addition, the analysis of the research model indicated that supplier lead time and supplier chain reliability greatly influenced the ICT infrastructure of a FMCG SME. The model analysis also indicated that the delivery lead time influenced on-time delivery. In addition supply chain responsiveness was found to explain 30.9% of the variances found in supply chain visibility.


Abstract. High resolution satellite imaging is considered as the outstanding applicant to extract the Earth's surface information. Extraction of a feature of an image is very difficult due to having to find the appropriate image segmentation techniques and combine different methods to detect the Region of Interest (ROI) most effectively. This paper proposes techniques to classify objects in the satellite image by using image processing methods on high-resolution satellite images. The systems to identify the ROI focus on forests, urban and agriculture areas. The proposed system is based on histograms of the image to classify objects using thresholding. The thresholding is performed by considering the behaviour of the histogram mapping to a particular region in the satellite image. The proposed model is based on histogram segmentation and morphology techniques. There are five main steps supporting each other; Histogram classification, Histogram segmentation, Morphological dilation, Morphological fill image area and holes and ROI management. The methods to detect the ROI of the satellite images based on histogram classification have been studied, implemented and tested. The algorithm is be able to detect the area of forests, urban and agriculture separately. The image segmentation methods can detect the ROI and reduce the size of the original image by discarding the unnecessary parts.


Robertson's comprehensive study of the ultrastructure of cell membranes and membranous cell organelles (Robertson, 1957) demonstrated that many cytoplasmic membranes have basically a similar appearance. The appearance of these membranes when cut in cross-section and seen in the electron microscope is two dark lines about 20 A thick, separated by a less dense space of about 35 A. Conceiving of these membranes as universal in cells, Robertson called them "unit membranes." Robertson reported unit membranes in the plasma membranes of many types of cells, in the membranes of the nuclear envelope, in the vesicles of the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, and in mitochondria. Numerous other investigators have also reported density patterns similar to Robertson's unit membrane. Recently, however, Suganuma (1961) has shown clearly with the electron microscope that the plasma membrane of Staphylococcus aureus displays in sections a density pattern characterized by a single layer about 50 A thick. Karrer (1960) has reported that the membranes of the cisternae of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in the lung phagocytes are composed of a narrow, single-layered membrane unlike the unit membrane (Karrer, 1960). The present study reports another example of a variant from the unit membrane appearance. This variant is seen by electron microscopy in the envelope of certain pepsinogen granules from the "chief cells" in the human stomach. Although the fine structure of gastric mucosa has been studied by several other investigators (Challice et al., 1957; Dalton, 1951; Hally, 1959; Helander and Ekholm, 1959; Kurosumi et al., 1958; Lawn, 1960; Sedar, 1955, 1959; and Vial and Orrego, 1960), the envelope of the pepsinogen granule has been clearly visualized only by Helander and Ekholm. Tissue for the present study was obtained by peroral passage of a biopsy instrument (Brandborg et al., 1955) into the stomach of human subjects without anesthesia. Biopsies of the full thickness of the mucosa were obtained. They were fixed in collidine-buffered OsO4 (Bennett and Lufl, 1959) and embedded in Epon resin (Luff, 1961). The uhrathin sections were stained with lead hydroxide (Watson, 1958) and examined with a modified RCA EMU-2A electron microscope. Cells were identified by criteria developed in a previous study (Lillibridge, 1960). Distribution of membrane densities were evaluated with a modified Kipp and Zonen densitometer (Bennett et al., 1953). The secretion granules in human pepsiniferous (chief) cells appear in electron micrographs of thin sections as pale, homogeneous, oval structures enclosed by a membrane. These granules range in diameter from a/~ to 3 microns. The smaller granules which are less than about 1 micron across usually are enveloped in a typical unit membrane. The larger granules have a thin, single-layered membrane which occasionally appears not to enclose the granules completely (Fig. 1). Since measurements of the width of membranes with calipers give data which depend in considerable degree on photographic factors such as grain and contrast, the membranes in this study were measured by a densitometer. Fig. 2 illustrates two adjacent pepsinogen granules, one large, one small, each enclosed by differing membranes. Densitometric tracings from these membranes were taken at the sites indicated by the arrows. The tracings taken across each membrane were superimposed and are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The tracings across the membrane of the smaller granule (labeled A in Figs. 1 and 2), show two peaks of density with an average peak-to-peak distance on the tracings of about 50 A (Fig. 3). The over-all width is about 80 A. This is characteristic of tracings of typical unit membranes. In addition, tracings from membranes of the smaller granules show subsidiary peaks of density superimposed on the two main peaks and in the intervening trough. In contrast, tracings across the membrane of the larger granule (labeled B in Figs. 1 and 2) display a single peak having an over-all width of about 50 A (Fig. 4). The single-layered appearance of the membranes enclosing the larger gran-


Background and Aims: As midwives are in frequent contact with pregnant mothers, they may play a key role in their oral health care (OHC). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational program on Tehran University of Medical Sciences midwifery students' knowledge and preparedness on OHC in pregnant mothers. Materials and Methods: The midwifery third year students of central campus (n=29) were randomly selected as intervention group and their counterparts in Hemmat campus (n=33) as control. Students in both groups were asked to fill in a questionnaire included 8 demographic question and 18 OHC knowledge and one question on their preparedness to implement OHC. Then the educational intervention was implemented using lecture, demonstration of the correct methods of brushing and flossing on the models and role play method. The followup questionnaire was delivered 3 months later. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test, T-test, Chi-Square test, ANOVA and Regression by SPSS software. Results: The mean OHC in pregnancy knowledge score in intervention and control group were 26.7 and 24.8 at baseline which were changed into 48.5 and 29.1, respectively (P<0.001). Among the students 52.6% in the intervention group and 36.4% in the control group reported very high preparedness to implement OHC in pregnancy. These figures were 68.2% and 41.7% in the post-test. Conclusion: The promising findings of this educational intervention comprising of both student and teachercentered methods speak for possibility of improving these students knowledge and preparedness and implies on the necessity to incorporate the related course in midwifery education.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to evaluate to what extent Agatston scores may be derived from CT coronary angiography (CTA) examinations, compared with traditional unenhanced CT calcium scores.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty patients with a CT calcium score-Agatston score of zero and 50 patients with a CT calcium score-Agatston score of 1 or greater whose CT calcium scores had been calculated and who had undergone CTA using volumetric 320-MDCT were included. Agatston scores were obtained at 3.0-mm slices for CT calcium score and CTA. Method agreement, interobserver agreement, and diagnostic performance of CTA for detecting coronary calcium were evaluated.

RESULTS
Of 50 patients with a positive CT calcium score-Agatston score, coronary artery calcium was detected with CTA in 43 patients by observer 1 (mean CTA score, 102 ± 202; mean CT calcium score, 254 ± 501) and in 46 patients by observer 2 (mean CTA score, 94 ± 147; mean CT calcium score, 272 ± 531). Of the 50 patients with a CT calcium score-Agatston score of zero, 49 (98%, observer 1) and 50 (100%, observer 2) had a zero score with CTA as well. An intraclass correlation of 0.78 and 0.62 was found between CT calcium score and CTA (p < 0.01), whereas higher Agatston scores were underestimated with CTA. For observer 1, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy for detection of coronary calcium with CTA were 86%, 98%, 98%, 88%, and 92%, respectively, and the corresponding values for observer 2 were 92%, 100%, 100%, 93%, and 96%, respectively. Interobserver agreement was 0.996 for CT calcium score and 0.93 for CTA.

CONCLUSION
Coronary artery calcium can be detected on CTA images with high accuracy. The Agatston calcium score derived from CTA images shows good correlation with unenhanced CT calcium score and is highly reproducible. However, higher Agatston scores are systematically underestimated when derived from CTA images.


Abstract : Three single crystal faceplates were to be integrated into Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) envelopes with the intent of evaluating the light output from Ce:YAG (Green), modified Ce:GD, YAG (Orange), CE:BEL (Blue). These CRT's were to be mounted in the projection test bed developed under Contract N61339-90-C-0047 and furnished G.F.P. to Trident International, Inc. for use and delivery during this contract. Three 3 inch diameter Ce:YAG faceplates were supplied as GFP from previous contract N61339-90-C-0047. One of these three was to be used for construction of a CRT, the remaining two were to be used for coating test. During the processing of the CRT's one of the crystals was destroyed. The other two single crystal faceplates were incorporated in test CRT's. An additional Ce:Gd, YAG (Red shifted green) faceplate of 1.5 inches diameter and two Ce:BEL (Blue) crystals of 0.75 inch diameter were obtained from Allied Signal, Inc, by Trident. Investigations were made to provide optimum optical coupling of the CRT light output into a projection lens. Index matching heat dissipation fluids were used. A wide angle lens was selected and supplied by the contractor.


ABSTRACT Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an estuarine bacterium that is the leading cause of shellfish-associated cases of bacterial gastroenteritis in the United States. Our laboratory developed a real-time multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of the thermolabile hemolysin (tlh), thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), and thermostable-related hemolysin (trh) genes of V. parahaemolyticus. The tlh gene is a species-specific marker, while the tdh and trh genes are pathogenicity markers. An internal amplification control (IAC) was incorporated to ensure PCR integrity and eliminate false-negative reporting. The assay was tested for specificity against >150 strains representing eight bacterial species. Only V. parahaemolyticus strains possessing the appropriate target genes generated a fluorescent signal, except for a late tdh signal generated by three strains of V. hollisae. The multiplex assay detected <10 CFU/reaction of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in the presence of >104 CFU/reaction of total V. parahaemolyticus bacteria. The real-time PCR assay was utilized with a most-probable-number format, and its results were compared to standard V. parahaemolyticus isolation methodology during an environmental survey of Alaskan oysters. The IAC was occasionally inhibited by the oyster matrix, and this usually corresponded to negative results for V. parahaemolyticus targets. V. parahaemolyticus tlh, tdh, and trh were detected in 44, 44, and 52% of the oyster samples, respectively. V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from 33% of the samples, and tdh+ and trh+ strains were isolated from 19 and 26%, respectively. These results demonstrate the utility of the real-time PCR assay in environmental surveys and its possible application to outbreak investigations for the detection of total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus.


The aim of the paper is to describe the natural and cultural resources of Boti community for tourism development in Boti Village in Timor Island, Indonesia. Boti has been known as the last kingdom in Timor Island and has visited by tourist to enjoy community live and green landscape in semi arid region in Timor Island. The Boti community has indigenous belief called halaika , and community daily life was organized and managed by a king called Usif . The basic philosophy of community who live in Boti was implemented in house structure, arrangement and philosophy ( sonaf, ume kbubu, lopo ), farming activity, and many daily activities. The uniqueness of Boti's nature and culture has potentiality to be developed as tourism attractions. The local wisdoms of local community in Boti influence the sustainable uses of resources, in which it is produces green and beauty forest landscape in Boti area. Eco-tourism seems to be potential form of tourism in Boti villages. Keywords : Boti Village, ecotourism, indigenous community, local wisdom.