This paper lies within the integration of an eco-design method adapted to the Innovation structure at a car manufacturer. The environmental constraints in the automotive industry are more and more important (European emission standards for exhaust emissions, European directive on end-of life vehicles …). Eco-design is a new manner to design products related to the concept of sustainable development, which combines economy and ecology and put the environmental criterion alongside the classical criterions of design. The goal of this study is to identify the specifications of a strategy for integrating the dimension "Environment". This strategy is applied in the innovation process thanks to eco-design tools which are the learning vectors for an organization, and therefore support a learning process. This process is structured with the interactions between the management of firm, the environment department, and the design team. Therefore we first make a synthesis of the different classifications of eco-design tools and use two categories: diagnosis and improvement. Second, as our goal is the integration in the Innovation structure and within a design process, we analyze some design process models and highlight the RID (Research, Innovation structure, Development) concept. Third, the main practices of several car makers are synthetized and a focus on three of them (Volvo, Ford, and Volkswagen) is made; we link their strategies with the concept of RID. Finally in the fourth part, we propose a model of a strategy for integrating eco-design practices based on the three examples and supported by a learning process.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


Local validity studies rely on the assumption that validity estimates from one incumbent sample approximate validity for future applicant pools. We test this assumption using SAT scores and high school grades as predictors of first year college grade point average across multiple college applicant pools for over 100 schools. We present evidence for substantial absolute and rank order consistency in validity estimates. However, this consistency is far less than perfect, resulting in potentially meaningful utility differences over time. In addition, observed fluctuations are not fully explained by sampling error alone.


The proteins of the Inhibitor of Growth (ING) candidate tumor suppressor family are involved in multiple cellular functions such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and chromatin remodeling. ING5 is the new member of the family whose actual role in tumor suppression is not known. Here we show that ING5 overexpression in lung cancer A549 cells inhibited cell proliferation and invasiveness, while ING5 knockdown in lung cancer H1299 cells promoted cell aggressiveness. ING5 overexpression also abrogated tumor growth and invasive abilities of lung cancer cells in mouse xenograft models. Further study showed that ING5 overexpression inhibited EMT indicated by increase of E-cadherin and decrease of N-cadherin, Snail and slug at mRNA and protein levels, which was accompanied with morphological changes. cDNA microarray and subsequent qRT-PCR validation revealed that ING5 significantly downregulated expression of EMT (epithelial to mesenchymal transition)-inducing genes including CEACAM6, BMP2 and CDH11. Clinical study by tissue microarray showed that nuclear ING5 negatively correlated with clinical stages and lymph node metastasis of lung cancer. Furthermore, high level of nuclear ING5 was associated with a better prognosis. Taken together, these findings uncover an important role for ING5 as a potent tumor suppressor in lung cancer growth and metastasis.


Spread of the disease Alternaria leaf blight (Alternaria carthami) from infected safflower seed and stubble was studied at Biloela in central Queensland to determine the importance ofthese inoculum sources in the initiation of epidemics. Seed infection levels of 20-55% resulted in 1.4-2.0% emerged diseased seedlings in the field. Levels of 1.0% seed infection have previously caused severe disease outbreaks in commercial crops. Visual appraisal of seed health correlated highly with laboratory, glasshouse and field assessments of diseased seedlings. Glasshouse assessment of emerged diseased seedlings gave the best indication of expected disease incidence in the field. Seed germination in the laboratory correlated poorly with emergence in the glasshouse and the field. Incidence of A. carthami on seedlings following soil incorporation of diseased stubble in November 1977 diminished from 28% in May 1978 to 0% in September 1980. Burning of diseased stubble in November 1977 failed to eliminate the disease, but reduced the number of emerged disease seedlings by 66% in May 1978. Dusting of healthy seed with a fungicide increased total emergence, but it did not control the spread of the fungus from the infected stubble as emergence of diseased seedlings was also increased.


The transcription factor Yin Yang (YY) 1 is one of the most evolutionarily well-conserved DNA binding proteins that is ubiquitously expressed among different tissue types. YY1 functions as a critical regulator for a diverse set of genes, making its role in the cancerous environment elusive. Recent studies have demonstrated that clusters of YY1 binding sites are overrepresented in imprinted gene loci. These clustered binding sites may function as a molecular rheostat with respect to YY1 protein levels. YY1 levels were documented to be altered in various tumor tissues in conjunction with the transcriptional levels of the imprinted genes it regulates. This review highlights the unexplored mechanism through which fluctuations in YY1 protein levels alter the transcriptional status of imprinted genes containing clustered YY1 binding sites, which potentially could affect cancer development and/or progression.


3303 The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important player in the regulation of cell proliferation, growth, differentiation and survival. mTOR regulates both the activity of the 40S ribosomal protein S6 kinase and the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). This pathway also regulates the translation of mRNAs (e.g. cyclin D1) that are important for the G1/S transition. Inhibition of mTOR pathway increases the rate of turnover of cyclin D1. The cyclin D/CDKs phosphorylate pRb and release the E2Fs which mediate the transcription of proteins required for DNA synthesis, such as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). In a variety of cancers, including leukemia and lymphomas the Cyclin D-Cdk4,6/INK4/Rb/E2F pathway is deregulated and contributes to tumor development and also drug resistance towards antifolates. For example, inactivation of p16 and p15 genes, one of the most common genetic events in acute leukemia, is associated with increased DHFR expression and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute leukemia. Moreover, the PI3K/Akt/PTEN, the upstream regulators of mTOR pathway are also deregulated in leukemia and lymphomas. Mutations and hemizygous deletions of PTEN have been shown in some primary acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and many hematopoietic cell lines. Akt1 is also frequently translocated in leukemia and lymphoma. Expression of DHFR is regulated both at the transcriptional through the Rb pathway and at the translational levels. We therefore hypothesized that by inhibiting mTOR pathway DHFR levels would be downregulated due to accelerating cyclin D1 degradation or by reducing the levels of DHFR translation through attenuation of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. To test our hypothesis, four leukemic cell lines were used; namely CEM-S, K562, SKI-DLCL and HL60. The sensitivity of these cell lines against MTX and rapamycin was measured using the XTT assay. Briefly, in each well of a 96-well plate 4000 cells were plated in 300μL of medium containing the desired concentration of drug, and after 5 days, the XTT assay was performed according to standard protocols. After determining the IC50 values of each drug, the sensitivity of these leukemic cells against MTX in the presence of rapamycin at a concentration that corresponds to IC20 of these cell lines with rapamycin alone were determined. The addition of rapamycin sensitized the cells with lymphoblastic origin to MTX approximately 100-fold. We are currently measuring the levels of the proteins involved in the Rb pathway and the mTOR pathway to determine the mechanism of the observed sensitization. Our studies are also underway with combination studies using RAD001, which is a rapamycin analog that is being developed as an antiproliferative agent and other antifolates targeting DHFR and thymidylate synthase.


In this work, the mechanical and the self-healing behaviors of an ethylene-co-methacrylic acid ionomer were investigated in different testing conditions. The self-healing capability was explored by ballistic impact tests at low-velocity, midvelocity, and hypervelocity bullet speed; different experimental conditions such as sample thickness and bullet diameter were examined; in all impact tests, spherical projectiles were used. These experiments, in particular those at low and midspeed, allowed to define a critical ratio between sample thickness and bullet diameter below which full repair was not observed. After ballistic damage, the healing effi- ciency was evaluated by applying a pressure gradient through tested samples. Subsequently, morphology analysis of the affected areas was made observing all tested samples by scanning electron microscope. This analysis revealed different characteristic features of the damaged zones affected at different projectile speed. Stress-strain curves in uniaxial tension performed at different temperatures and strain rates revealed yield strength and postyield behavior significantly affected by these two parameters. A rise of temperature during high strain rate tests in the viscoplastic deformation region was also detected. This behavior has a strong influence on the self-repair- ing mechanism exhibited by the studied material during high-energy impact tests. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 000: 000-000, 2013


The use of contraceptive method to avoid pregnancy is a multifaceted phenomenon. Worldwide, 20 percent of married women of reproductive age are currently using periodic abstinence. To assess the knowledge and practice of periodic abstinence among currently married pregnant women, data were collected from the pregnant women attending the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. One thousand three hundred and thirty one (1331) currently married pregnant women were interviewed face-to-face. Approximately 29.3 percent of women were aware of the abstinence method, 11.5 percent women had history of using it. In-depth finding shows that 84.9 percent women did not have correct knowledge of fertile window of a menstrual cycle. Counseling about the correct fertile window of a menstrual cycle may increase the effectiveness of methods and hence reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancies.


Like other populations of developing countries, most of the populations of Ethiopia depend greatly on the use of traditional herbal medicines as the primary source of health care. However, these resources have been degraded throughout the country. Therefore, recording and documenting medicinal plants are essential for the future conservation of the species. Thus, the current study is related to this issue. Three hundred ninety-five informants participated in this study. The main data collection tools were semistructured interviews, discussions, and observation. The data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The quantitative methods (informant consensus factor, fidelity level) were used to analyze the level of homogeneity of the data, the agreements of informants, and the healing potential of medicinal plants. The ranking exercises (preference and direct matrix ranking) were used to quantify the most preferred and multipurpose medicinal plants. A statistical test was conducted using SPSS version 20 to test knowledge differences among the people. Following the analysis, 112 species of medicinal plants with 62 families were recorded. Most of the species were herbs, of which Fabaceae was the dominant family. Blood pressure and asthma were the most commonly reported human health problems. Most of the remedies were prepared from leaves, and most of them were prepared by pounding and were applied orally. Gastrointestinal diseases had the highest informant consensus. Five medicinal plants were recorded with the highest healing potential value for malaria, asthma, tapeworm, cough, and stomach ulcer. Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. was the most preferred medicinal plant in treating blood pressure. Trigonella foenum-graecum L. had the highest use value. The analysis results showed that local people showed significant knowledge differences (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the indigenous people have a wealth of indigenous herbal knowledge. Therefore, to sustain the wealth of indigenous knowledge of the districts, immediate and well-designed conservation practices of medicinal plants should be conducted.


The amplitude and phase noises of a dual-frequency vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (DF-VECSEL) operating at telecom wavelength are theoretically and experimentally investigated in detail. In particular, the spectral behavior of the correlation between the intensity noises of the two modes of the DF-VECSEL is measured. Moreover, the correlation between the phase noise of the radio-frequency beat note generated by optical mixing of the two laser modes with the intensity noises of the two modes is investigated. All these spectral behaviors of noise correlations are analyzed for two different values of the nonlinear coupling between the laser modes. We find that to describe the spectral behavior of noise correlations between the laser modes, it is of utmost importance to have precise knowledge about the spectral behavior of the pump noise, which is the dominant source of noise in the frequency range of interest (10 kHz to 35 MHz). Moreover, it is found that the noise correlation also depends on how the spatially separated laser modes of the DF-VECSEL intercept the noise from a multimode fiber-coupled laser diode used for pumping both the laser modes. To this aim, a specific experiment is reported which aims at measuring the correlations between different spatial regions of the pump beam. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with a theoretical model based on modified rate equations


Viruses rely on the host translation machinery to synthesize their own proteins. Consequently, they have evolved varied mechanisms to co-opt host translation for their survival. SARS-CoV-2 relies on a non-structural protein, NSP1, for shutting down host translation. Despite this, it is currently unknown how viral proteins and host factors critical for viral replication can escape a global shutdown of host translation. Here, using a novel FACS-based assay called MeTAFlow, we report a dose-dependent reduction in both nascent protein synthesis and mRNA abundance in cells expressing NSP1. We perform RNA-Seq and matched ribosome profiling experiments to identify gene-specific changes both at the mRNA expression and translation level. We discover a functionally-coherent subset of human genes preferentially translated in the context of NSP1 expression. These genes include the translation machinery components, RNA binding proteins, and others important for viral pathogenicity. Importantly, we also uncover potential mechanisms of preferential translation through the presence of shared sites for specific RNA binding proteins and a remarkable enrichment for 5′ terminal oligo-pyrimidine tracts. Collectively, the present study suggests fine tuning of host gene expression and translation by NSP1 despite its global repressive effect on host protein synthesis.


Surra is one of the fatal diseases of the horse caused by Trypanosoma evansi. The disease is characterized by fever, progressive emaciation, anemia, subcutaneous edema, nervous signs, and death. To know the epidemiological status of surra in horses, retrospective information was retrieved by scrutinizing the data bank of the Veterinary Clinical Complex, JAU, Junagadh for three years (2013-15) covering 633 equine cases. According to symptoms, the incidence of surra was 10.64% (28/263) among medicinal cases, of which 57.14% (16/28) had shown signs of hemoprotozoon disease and 50.00% (8/16) were confirmed to have Trypanosoma evansi on blood smear examinations. Overall the clinical prevalence of T. evansi was 2.52% of the total equine cases (16/633). The age-wise incidence was higher in adult horses (68.75%) followed by yearling (25.00%) and foal (6.25%). The breed-wise incidence of T. evansi was higher in Kathiawari breed (68.75%) followed in descending order in non-descript (18.75 %) and Marwari breed (12.50%). The incidence was higher in female (68.75%) than the male. The season-wise prevalence rate of T. evansi was higher in monsoon (July-October) (75.00%) than winter season (25.00%), while no case was observed in summer.


Fifty Years of Urban Modeling: Macro-Statics to Micro-Dynamics.- Complexity: The Integrating Framework for Models of Urban and Regional Systems.- Ontogeny and Ontology in Complex Systems Modeling.- A Model for Asystematic Mobility in Urban Space.- Preliminary Results of a Multi-Agent Traffic Simulation for Berlin.- Hybrid Geographical Models of Urban Spatial Structure and Behavior.- Two Complexities and a Few Models.- Cities as Evolutionary Systems in Random Media.- Grilling the Grid: a Non-Ultimate (nor Objective) Report on the Configurational Approach to Urban Phenomena.- Validating and Calibrating Integrated Cellular Automata Based Models of Land Use Change.- Fractal Geometry for Measuring and Modeling Urban Patterns.- The Dynamics of Complex Urban Systems: Theory and Application of the STASA-Model Within the Scatter Project.- Study of Urban Developers' Behavior in a Game Environment.- Self-Organization and Optimization of Pedestrian and Vehicle Traffic in Urban Environments.- Multidimensional Events in Multilevel Systems.- The Simulation of Spatial Change: What Relation Between Knowledge and Modeling? A Proposal and Its Application.- A Structural-Cognitive Approach to Urban Simulation Models.- The Socio-Spatial Dynamics of Systems of Cities and Innovation Processes: a Multi-Level Model.- The Great Return of Large Scale Urban Models: Revival or 'Renaissance'?-The Multi-Agent Simulation of the Economic and Spatial Dynamics of a Poli-Necleated Urban Area.- Modeling the Micro-Dynamics of Urban Systems with Continuum Valued Cellular Automata.- Multiplicative Processes and City Sizes.- The Fundamental Features and Encountered Challenge of China's Urbanization.- Introduction to Simulating Methodology of Urban Systems.


PRU Fee, an idle lease in the Midway Sunset Field has been a site of a U.S. DOE-sponsored Class III project. A geologic and stratigraphic model of the site was constructed using logs and core data. Geostatistical approach was used in generating reservoir images. Reservoir simulations were performed to study the effectiveness of various processes and to examine the sensitivity of parameters. The study showed that oil can be recovered economically from the lease using conventional steam flood technology provided the injectors are completed an optimum distance above the oil water contact. Simulations also showed that it was possible to recover additional oil by appropriately placing horizontal producers later in the life of the flood.


The era that we live in can be regarded as the era of the knowledge society. It is everyone's right and obligation to find their place in the area of knowledge and in the modern and traditional relation systems. Are the chances of getting into this situation given to all social groups? Can the shrinking Hungarian society afford to give up helping the Romany population to catch up, especially as they are a demographically very active group of society? In our opinion the answer is no, and as a part of the Romany popula¬tion expresses their needs to join the modernisation process, it is certainly well worth looking for the tools that will support their efforts to catch up. In establish¬ing the conditions of general development life-long learning may become a useful measure, which can become a tool in assisting the changes of individuals' habits and closing the gap between Romany groups and the rest of society. Are the conditions of "prescience" and "prediction" given in the Romany soci¬ety? In the research geared to analyse the preconditions of life-long learning we attempted to reveal the social and individual factors that will help the Romany society to dedicate their existence to 'prescience' and 'prediction' more effi¬ciently.


PURPOSE
To evaluate goblet cell density (GCD) on conjunctiva and cornea in patients with ocular chemical burns by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and impression cytology (IC) and to explore the correlation between two methods.

METHODS
Fifty-four patients (58 eyes) with chemical burn were enrolled in the study. LSCM was applied to identify the goblet cells on conjunctiva and cornea under in vivo conditions, and GCD was analyzed with the customized software. Impression cytology was then performed, and the biopsy specimens were stained to visualize goblet cells in vitro and to measure the density. Statistical software was used to analyze the correlation between GCD taken by two methods.

RESULTS
Conjunctival goblet cells could be discriminated in 55 eyes and 57 eyes by in vivo LSCM and IC. They could be identified on the cornea in nine eyes and eight eyes by two methods. The positive rate of two methods had no significant difference. GCDs on conjunctiva measured by in vivo LSCM and IC were 136 +/- 79 cells/mm(2) and 121 +/- 66 cells/mm(2). Median GCDs on cornea detected by two methods were 30 cells/mm(2) and 23 cells/mm(2), respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the GCDs on conjunctiva measured by these two methods as well as the GCDs on cornea.

CONCLUSIONS
GCD decreased in patients with chemical burns. A positive correlation was found between GCD measured by in vivo LSCM and IC after chemical burns. In vivo LSCM was a promising device to study goblet cells in vivo under pathologic conditions.


Pick's disease is characterized neuropathologically by distinct τ‐immunoreactive intraneuronal inclusions known as Pick bodies and by insoluble τ proteins with predominantly three microtubule‐binding repeat τ isoforms. However, recent immunohistochemical studies showed that the antibody specific for exon 10, which encodes the fourth microtubule‐binding repeat, detected other τ lesions in Pick's disease. To better define the spectrum of τ pathology in Pick's disease, we used biochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural techniques to analyze the τ isoform composition in 14 Pick's disease brains. Western blot analysis showed that both three and four microtubule‐binding repeat pathological τ isoforms are present in gray and white matter of various brain regions. Using phosphorylation‐dependent anti‐τ antibodies, we show that major τ phosphoepitopes are present in sarcosyl‐insoluble gray and white matter regions of Pick's disease brains. Also, for the first time to our knowledge, we demonstrated that isoforms with four microtubule‐binding repeat τ isoforms are present in Pick bodies from selected brains. Isolated τ filaments were straight or twisted and formed by three microtubule‐binding repeat or four microtubule‐binding repeat τ isoforms. Major τ phosphorylation–dependent and exon 10–specific epitopes were present in filaments. Therefore, Pick's disease is characterized by an accumulations of Pick bodies in the hippocampal region and cortex as well as the presence of three and four microtubule‐binding repeat τ pathology in both cortical gray and white matter that distinguish this tauopathy from other neurodegenerative disorders.


This paper contributes with the first validation of swarm cognition as a useful framework for the design of autonomous robots controllers. The proposed model is built upon the authors' previous work validated on a simulated robot performing local navigation on a two-dimensional deterministic world. Based on the ant foraging metaphor and motivated by the multiple covert attention hypothesis, the model consists of a set of simple virtual agents inhabiting the robot's visual input, searching in a collectively coordinated way for obstacles. Parsimonious and accurate visual attention, operating on a by-need basis, is attained by making the activity of these agents modulated by the robot's action selection process. A by-product of the system is the maintenance of active, parallel and sparse spatial working memories. In short, the model exhibits the self-organisation of a relevant set of features composing a cognitive system. To show its robustness, the model is extended in this paper to handle the challenges of physical off-road robots equipped with noisy stereoscopic vision sensors. Furthermore, an extensive aggregate of biological arguments sustaining the model is provided. Experimental results show the ability of the model to robustly control the robot on a local navigation task, with less than 1% of the robot's visual input being analysed. Hence, with this system the computational cost of perception is considerably reduced, thus fostering robot miniaturisation and energetic efficiency. This confirms the advantages of using a swarm-based system, operating in an intricate way with action selection, to judiciously control visual attention and maintain sparse spatial memories, constituting a basic form of swarm cognition.


Introduction: The practice of chewing of betel quid is deep-rooted age-old traditions of most Asian countries including Bhutan. Health is an integral part of happy living and healthcare providers are generally looked up to as role models for healthier living. This paper focuses on the prevalence of ex-betel quid chewers and correlates of successful cessation of betel quid chewing amonghealthcare professionals in Thimphu, Bhutan.
Methods: Data for this study was collected from six healthcare centres within Thimphu, during June – July 2016, using self-administered questionnaire. 478 questionnaires were handed over to the healthcare  professionals, and 391 (82%) were returned. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package for social science version 21.0.
Results: The prevalence of ex-betel quid chewers was 16.9%. More than half (51.5%) of the ex-chewers discontinued chewing betel quid because of fear of the ill effects of chewing it. About 29% gave up chewing betel quid because of healthrelated problems. Betel quid chewing was first sourced either with a friend or a parent (59.1%, 24.2% respectively). Number of family members chewing betel quid, smoking and drinking status were significantly associated with quitting of betel quid chewing.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that family and health risk behaviours such as drinking and smoking were significant correlates of quitting betel quid chewing. Hence, effective public health awareness could be targeted to both individual and their family members to enable them to quit betel quid chewing.


Background and Objectives:To evaluate the feasibility and the short- and mid-term follow-up outcomes of endovascular stent-graft implantation in patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection were evaluated. An aortogram was performed imme- diately after the procedure and a follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan was performed within one week, between 3 and 6 months, and annually thereafter. Clinical status was also evaluated at the same time. Results:En- dovascular stent-graft implantation at the target site was successful in 27 patients (96.4%). There were primary endoleaks in 6 patients and one case of procedure failure owing to migration of the stent-graft; and no procedure- related mortality. The number of patients with early complications requiring treatment was 2 (2/27, 4%). Fourteen patients experienced postimplantation syndrome (14/27, 52%). The average follow-up period was 22.1±17.5 months. Complete resolution or thrombosis of the false lumen was achieved in 14 patients and partial thrombosis was achieved in 10 patients. Operative treatments were required in three patients due to a progressing dissection or new dissection. There were no deaths and no instances of aneurysm or aortic rupture during the follow-up period. Conclusion:Endovascular stent-graft implantation for Stanford type B aortic dissection is a feasible, safe, and effective treatment modality. All patients who underwent surgery had a persisting leak. Therefore, regular eva- luation of the aortic dissection and management of endoleaks were crucial for a favorable outcome in endovascular


The protective antithrombotic effects of piyavit, a novel pharmacological preparation from the medicinal leech, its water extract concentrated and diluted 1600-fold, the piyavit fraction containing leech prostanoids and highly purified destabilase, epsilon-(gamma-Glu)-Lys-isopeptidase isolated from the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis), have been studied. All the preparations under study inhibited clot formation in rat mesanterium arterioles stimulated by laser energy, contained leech prostanoids immunoenzymatically identified as 6-keto-PgF1 alpha and inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP. The putative mechanism of their antithrombotic effect is discussed.


Through human exploration the extraterrestrial space becomes more and more the subject of an anthropological debate. Regarding the rationality of moral actions related to space exploration, the purpose of this article is to compare two moral approaches: generalism and particularism. Moral generalism claims that the rational authority of morality is founded on the affirmation that a moral principle exists in order to ensure that a moral reason in a particular case is automatically a reason in all future particular cases. If its mere application determines the moral statute of any conceivable action then it should be capable of functioning as an action guide in any new case. Unfortunately, ethical-regulative presumptions cannot explain the moral statute of any new action and especially cannot provide guidance in exceptional cases. This is precisely the peculiarity of the action of exploring. Instead, ethical particularism provides us with an alternative epistemological position: instead of conforming to a series of principles, our actions are justified by those moral aspects of a situation which are self-evident, aspects which do not possess the same moral importance in each new situation that may arise. Because of the multitude of morally relevant aspects of environmental action, in order to tackle complicated or completely new ethical issues we are more in need of actual moral discernment than of ethical-regulative presumptions. This kind of approach is more adapted to the extremely complex and unpredictable (from a normative and evaluative standpoint) character of the exploration and exploitation of outer space.


The aim of this paper is to show the impact of European Union programs on the activities of the Third Polish Republic's Parliament in the field of sport in the years 2004-2007.
The Republic of Poland joined the European Union (EU) on 1 May 2004. Since then, it has been co-creating the image of sport in Europe. All activities undertaken by the Polish Parliament in the development of sport after this event were related to programs in the European Union.
During the period covered in this paper, the institutions involved in sport in the European Union included the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Court of Justice.
One year after Poland's accession to the European Union, elections were held for the fifth term of the Polish Sejm (2005-2007). The representatives of the Polish Parliament, during meetings of the Physical Culture and Sport Committee, repeatedly pointed to the possibility of adapting EU programs and their use in the development of sport in Poland. The material presented by the Ministry of Sport and the Office of the European Integration Committee in Warsaw informed about the following programs (mainly investment ones): Sport in the structures of the European Union and European Union Programs for the development of sport, implemented between 2004 and 2006.
 The most important issues raised by the Committee were those contained in the two most important documents: White Paper on Sport and Independent European Sport Review.
As a result of the work of the Parliament of the Republic of Poland during the fifth term of office (2005-2007) in cooperation with the Ministry of Sport and the Parliamentary Physical Culture and Sport Committee, a plan for co-financing projects for the construction, extension or modernization of sports infrastructure under the EU structural programs and the INTERREG III A and EQUAL Community Initiatives was developed.
The effect of Poland's membership in the EU in that period was a gradual elimination of infrastructural negligence and undertaking activities related to the activation of local communities in the area of education and sport. Poland's membership in the EU so far has brought positive results: increased accessibility of sport thanks to the development of regional infrastructure co-financed by the EU funds and the enrichment of the program offer by supporting projects related to the organization of extracurricular sports activities for children and young people. The positive effects of membership in the field of sport are still being perceived by selected groups and society as a whole.


Abstract To study the cardiovascular load and strain in logging, oxygen consumption was measured with portable equipment in 15 loggers at work both in the autumn and the winter. In addition, heart rate was measured telemetrically in six loggers in the winter. The mean age of the loggers was 34 years; they used a power-saw and were paid on a piecerate basis. When the logger worked at his own pace at a range of tasks the oxygen consumption was 1.9 ± 0.3 1/min (mean ± S.D.) in both seasons. This corresponded to 49 ± 7% of the maximal oxygen consumption obtained in a treadmill exercise test. Oxygen consumption during bunching of wood (2.2 ± 0.3 1/min) was higher than that of either felling or limbing and bucking in both seasons. The heart rate in logging was 123 ± 4 beats/min in the winter, which corresponded to 66% of the maximal heart rate in the exercise test. The heart rate was higher in bunching than in other working phases. The wages, the daily output of wood produced by the loggers and the type of wood...


Two potential mechanisms in detection of a 60-Hz electric field by albino rats were examined: field-induced movement of the vibrissae and field-induced vibration of the skin. Specifically, the experiment tested field detection in a moving stream of air designed to mask field-induced movement of the skin, fur, and vibrissae. Rats were trained to detect electric fields and were then tested at field intensities from 0-25 kV/m rms. As previously reported, rats demonstrate unmistakable behavioral evidence of field detection at all intensities above 7.5 kV/m. After establishing detection in still air, field detection was re-examined in moving air (average air velocity approximately 2.8-6.8 m/s). The primary result is that the wind produced no change in detection at field intensities above threshold (> 7.5 kV/m). Indeed, at these intensities detection was virtually identical in still and moving air. A secondary finding is that moving air produced statistically significant (P < .05) but apparently contradictory effects on detection when the field intensity was below threshold. On no-field trials the wind lowered scores (i.e., fewer presses on the field-off lever); however, on subthreshold field trials, the wind actually increased detection scores (i.e., more presses on the field-on lever). While this no-field and subthreshold field result is interesting and deserves further study, we place primary emphasis on the finding that, if the field was detectable in still air, it was also detectable in moving air. This result leads us to believe that movement of the vibrissae, fur, or skin is not likely to be the main mechanism of electric-field detection in our subjects.


For over 300 years, from the early fifteenth to the mideighteenth century, the Medici family was one of the most important dynasties in Italy. As wealthy bankers, patrons of the arts, and as the rulers of Florence throughout most of this period, the leading members of this family have attracted the attention of historians, political theorists, and students of Italian culture. The Medici family has also been the subject of medico-historical interest, as many of its most prominent figures were known to have suffered from debilitating illnesses throughout their lives. There were two lines of the Medici family, descended from the two sons of Giovanni di Bicci (1360–1429). The progenitor of the senior (primogenito) line was the Cosimo il Vecchio (1389–1464), a line that died out in the early sixteenth century. Cosimo's younger brother Lorenzo (1395–1440) founded the cadet branch, which continued until the eighteenth century and from which the Grand Dukes of Tuscany came. Although the diseases of the males in the family are better known, the illnesses of the Medici women have been less studied.


Summary form only given. In this talk we will describe an architecture and an associated MAC protocol that eliminates the need for slotting and synchronization, uses one tunable transceiver per optical terminal (OT), yet results in efficient bandwidth utilization. We will also describe the potential application of this technology for providing bandwidth on demand in access networks and as a general purpose, high-performance, network technology.


We define a sparse Hermitian lattice Dirac matrix H coupling 2n+1 Dirac fermions. When 2n fermions are integrated out the induced action for the last fermion is a rational approximation to the Hermitian overlap Dirac operator. We provide rigorous bounds on the condition number of H and compare them to bounds for the higher dimensional Dirac operator of domain wall fermions. Our main conclusion is that overlap fermions should be taken seriously as a practical alternative to domain wall fermions in the context of numerical QCD. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.


In this article I tried to give teachers some suggestions on how to use in didactical activities a very interesting support: the Intel QX3 Computer Microscope. The In-tel QX3 Computer Microscope contains no eyepieces, and images must be viewed through the accompanying software on the host computer that controls the mi-croscope. Construction materials used in the assembly of the microscope are typi-cal of those found in many modern toys. The ease of use in lighting and recording images is its main strengths and the time lapse photography is an especially desir-able feature. The microscope has excellent potential as an educational toy.


Studies were conducted in a glass-sided laboratory soil bin. Soil deformation patterns were analysed for failure angle, soil wedges and forward rupture and surcharge profiles. They were also observed for purposes of correlation with the corresponding soil reactions. Forward rupture profiles were determined by using two parallel scales and a measuring scale while soil surcharge profiles were determined with the use of a three-way coordinate measuring system. Soil reactions (horizontal and vertical) from two identical tines (glass-sided and central) were measured by L-shaped force transducers while a ten-turn potentiometer recorded the forward speed. The data was amplified, logged and transferred to a computer for saving and further processing. Observed cyclic variations in the force-time curves of the soil reactions were analysed in terms of wave length, peak  to trough ratio and amplitude. The behaviour and magnitudes of forces caused by flat rigid tines (inclined at an angle of 50 deg. to the horizontal soil surface measured in a clockwise direction) in loam soil below the liquid limit were studied using a glass-sided soil bin. The tines were moved in the soil bin in a quasi-static condition and the deformation observed through the glass. Three moisture content levels (5.2%, 21% and 33.5% (d.b.)) were used. The results under the above conditions indicated that soil reactions (horizontal and vertical) were cyclic in nature and in phase as observed from  the force-time curves and matched quite well with the soil deformation characteristics. Soil force magnitudes for 5.2% and 21% moisture contents were basically the same in all aspects while those for 33.5% were relatively higher but with dying off cyclicity. Correlation of these observations with previous research showed that soil moisture content has a strong effect on force deformation and force characteristics


The current study explored the effect of intramuscular injection of vitamin B12 (VB12) in early-lactation dairy cows on subsequent low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella cheese quality and VB12 levels during cheese processing and storage. Twenty-four peripartum dairy cows were blocked based on parity and milk yield and randomly assigned into 2 treatments: basal diet (CON) and basal diet with an intramuscular injection of 10 mg of VB12 per cow per week (VB12). Raw milk was collected to determine VB12 content and then used to make low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella cheese 8 wk after injection. The VB12 content of raw milk and cheese was determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. We found that VB12 content was significantly increased in milk (15.43 vs. 3.30 ng/mL) and fresh cheese (3.72 ng/g vs. undetectable) from the VB12 group compared with the CON group. However, approximately 70% of VB12 was lost in the whey during cheese making, and no VB12 was detectable in either cheese treatment after 8 wk of storage. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in fat and protein contents in the cheese between the 2 groups. For cheese color, the b* value increased and the a* value decreased slightly in fresh VB12 cheese (P < 0.05). Functional properties of stretchability, flowability, and meltability of VB12 cheese were initially comparable to that of CON cheese (P > 0.05), but higher flowability and meltability was observed in VB12 cheese after 8 wk of storage (P < 0.01). In summary, intramuscular injection of VB12 in early-lactation dairy cows increases the content of VB12 in milk and fresh cheese with no adverse effect on cheese quality, but substantial VB12 is lost during cheesemaking and declines rapidly during storage.


A life-cycle Inventory (LCI) for Southeast oriented strandboard (OSB) manufacturing was conducted by surveying four OSB manufacturing plants in the Southeast. The survey responses were returned for 1999 production data and represented approximately 18% of OSB production in the survey region. All LCI data presented herein were based on a standard production unit of 0.88 m 3 OSB panel product (1000 ft 2 , 3/8-inch basis). Southeastern OSB requires 771.6 kg (1701 lb, oven-dry basis) of roundwood raw material input. 545.7 kg (1203 lb) of this input ends in final OSB product, giving a total wood recovery of 71%. The remaining wood input ends as wood residue for fuel, wood residues sold as co-products, and wood waste sent to the landfill. On-site energy requirements for southeastern OSB are 5261 MJ (4.99 million BTU). Heat energy is the largest energy need, 89.6% of which is generated from combustion of wood residues. 182 kWh (655 MJ heat equivalent) of electricity is required for processing OSB. The highest use of fossil fuel (natural gas) is used to reduce VOC emissions in the emission control process at 465 MJ (4.4 million BTU). Considering the carbon cycle for on-site OSB production for a unit of product, OSB requires 396 kg (873 lb) of carbon from wood raw material. Other carbon input is utilized in the form of resins/wax (11.4 kg/25 lb) and fuels (12.3kg/27 lb). OSB holds 290 kg (640 lb or 69% of total carbon input) carbon. A small percentage of carbon (4%) is held in the form of co-products (e.g. mulch and wood residues). The remainder of carbon is released back to nature in the form of non-fossil CO 2 (24%), fossil CO 2 (3%), VOCs and other emissions (0.4%).


AbstractOur study sought to review our experience from biportal to uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) major lung resection. Lessons we learned from the evolution regarding technical aspects were also discussed.We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent VATS lobectomy or segmentectomies in Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, during January 2012 and December 2014. Patient clinical profiles, surgical indications and procedures, postoperative course, and oncological parameters were analyzed and compared between the biportal and uniportal groups.A total of 121 patients were enrolled in this study with median follow-up of 19.5 ± 11.6 months for all patients and 22.5 ± 11.5 months for primary lung cancer patients. Operation time (146.1 ± 31.9–158.7 ± 40.5 minutes; P = 0.077), chest drainage time (3.8 ± 3.3–4.4 ± 2.4 days; P = 0.309), conversion to thoracotomy rate (2.2%–2.6%; P = 0.889), and complication rate (15.6%–19.7%; P = 0.564) were equal between the groups, whereas blood loss (96.7 ± 193.2–263.6 ± 367; P = 0.006) was lower in the uniportal group. For lung cancer cases, there were no statistical differences in the histology, cancer staging, mediastinal lymph node dissection stations, numbers of dissected N1, N2, and overall lymph nodes between uniportal and biportal groups.Our preliminary data showed that uniportal VATS anatomical lung resection is as feasible, equally safe, and of comparative oncological clearance efficacy to biportal VATS.


The purpose of this paper sets forth the various hazards of vacant rooms. By analyzing the phenomena of the Housing and relevant data, the paper demonstrates the urban and town housing in China is not in short supply in the aggregate and the discrepancy between housing supply and demand is due to the real estate market speculation and investment which have led to the massive housing vacancy. These vacant houses waste a lot of resources, impact the life of other inhabitants, impede the developing process of the city's livability, distort the relationship between the supply and demand in the real estate market, and push up the house prices. Therefore, the reduction of vacant housing is more important than the implementation of green building, this conclusion, and vacant housing hazards and data are where the innovation of this article.


1197 Treatment with intravesical interferon (IFN) protein is associated with a response rate below 20% in the treatment of urologic tumors. IFN is regarded as a weakly antiangiogenic agent and its inhibition of angiogenesis is attributed to either the frequency, mode of administration or lack of IFN sensitivity through clonal selection of variant cells with aberrant downstream signaling network. Adenovirus-delivery of IFN (Ad-IFN) may be the best approach to using IFN as intravesical treatment for urologic cancer since it can deliver a continuously highly active protein. We treated various bladder cancer cells with Ad-IFN or with recombinant IFN (rIFN) and monitored its effects on production of angiogenic factors bFGF, VEGF, and MMP-9 using real-time RT-PCR or immunofluorescence staining followed by confocal microscopy and ELISA. In addition to demonstrate that AdIFN is biologically active, we costained 253JB-V cells for IFN and phosphorylated STAT-2 (phSTAT), a downstream signaling molecule in the IFNa pathway. At a 50 MOI of AdIFN we could demonstrate 100% nuclear phSTAT in cells producing IFN and 60% in cells adjacent to IFN-positive cells, as opposed to less than 10% nuclear phSTAT in b-gal-positive cells (treated with 50 MOI of Adb-gal as a control). Interestingly, AdIFN-infected 253JB-V cells displayed downregulation of VEGF, bFGF, and MMP9 mRNAs, morphological changes, and reduced intracellular and secreted proangiogenic factors. In contrast, the addition of up to 106 IU of rIFN showed a slight increase in VEGF mRNA expression and secretion in 235JB-V cells with no effect on bFGF or MMP9 mRNAs. To identify signals induced by AdIFN that would explain its antiangiogenic effect, we used the transcription factor array approach, which allows identification of a large panel of IFN-induced or repressed transcription factors. AdIFN directly or indirectly induced the release of AP-1, AP-2, SP-1, NFkB and c-myb transcription factors (TFs) from their DNA-bound state. These TFs are known to be involved in initiating and/or maintaining proangiogenic signals. Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis through gene therapy using an adequate and prolonged dose of immunomodulators such as IFN represents an attractive and promising approach to the treatment of bladder cancer. The bladder is the best model for evaluating gene therapy because of its relative isolation in the body, which allows the use of high IFN concentrations, such as those obtained through adenovirus-mediated gene transfer and expression.


The majority of fixed shading devices are installed in the exterior of a building in order to dissipate the heat absorbing from the sun and to prevent the direct sunlight. In designing external shading devices for windows, many requirements must be considered simultaneously ; solar geometry, optimum energy performance, multi-purpose usage and design factors etc.. In order to satisfy these requirements, we suggests the folding shading device and its optimum design methodology. Also we analyzed the thermal performance using the IES-VE program according to various operating modes and compared with existing shading devices. The results show that proposed device reduce about 1.90~22.40% in cooling load and about 1.09-24.22% in heating load in comparison with existing ones.


Opened to the public last September, the Houghton-le-Spring Primary Care Centre in Sunderland, designed by P+HS Architects in conjunction with NHS South of Tyne & Wear for use by the Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, was the UK's first ever large healthcare building to achieve a BREEAM 'Outstanding' rating at the final stage--for best practice in sustainable design and environmental performance for buildings. One of the key elements that enabled the centre to reach this environmental milestone--it also achieved a BREEAM 'Outstanding' at the design stage--was a low carbon natural ventilation system designed by Cambridge University spin-off, Breathing Buildings. HEJ editor Jonathan Baillie reports.


We report a novel synthesis method for the preparation of polypropylene/layered double hydroxide (PP/LDH) nanocomposites, in which LDH nanosheets, [Mg2Al(OH)6](DDS)·2H2O (Mg–Al–DDS), were prepared using a one-step reverse microemulsion method. PP/LDH nanocomposites were prepared by direct mixing of the obtained LDH nanosheets with PP in xylene at 140 °C. Loadings of the LDH in PP of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 wt% were investigated. The results indicate that the LDH nanosheets were highly dispersed in PP and this dramatically improves the performance of the nanocomposites at very low LDH loadings (e.g. 1.0 wt%). In particular, the thermal stability, melting transition, recrystallisation behavior, and rheological properties of the PP/LDH nanocomposites were evaluated. The thermal stability (T0.5) of the pure PP was increased from 336 to 384 °C by 1.0 wt% addition of the Mg–Al–DDS nanosheets. At 1.0 wt% loading the melting temperature (Tm) and the recrystallisation temperature (Tc) of PP were also increased by 2.5 and 6.7 °C respectively. The nanocomposites showed decreased G′ and G′′ when the LDH nanoplatetet loading is low (<2.0 wt%). With 0–2.0 wt% of LDHs, both G′ and G′′ decreased with the increase of LDH loading. While on increasing the LDH loading from 2.0 wt% to 16.0 wt% both the storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G′′) gradually increased. At a 16.0 wt% LDH loading, the rheological response changes and the elastic solid-like behavior is observed, with only a limited reduction in G′ at low frequency. For the PP/LDH nanocomposites containing 0.5–4.0 wt% LDH, tan δ decreases monotonously with increasing frequency (w). Above 8.0 wt% LDH loading, tan δ starts to show three different stages: rubbery, viscoelastic and a glassy state. These results demonstrate that the reverse microemulsion method is a simple and efficient approach for the one-step synthesis of LDH nanosheets for use in the synthesis of polymer/LDH nanocomposites with enhanced thermal, rheological and mechanical properties.


of biomedical study of the immune system physiology both in healthy and diseased states. Some aspects of autoimmunity draws our attention to the fact that it is not always associated with pathology. For instance, autoimmune reactions are highly useful in clearing off the excess, unwanted or aged tissues from the body. Also, generation of autoimmunity occurs after the exposure to the non-self antigen that is structurally similar to the self, aided by the stimulatory molecules like the cytokines. Thus, a narrow margin differentiates immunity from auto-immunity as already discussed. Hence, finding answers for how the physiologic immunity turns to pathologic autoimmunity always remains a question of intense interest. However, this margin could be cut down only if the physiology of the immune system is better understood. The individual chapters included in this book will cover all the possible aspects of immunology and pathologies associated with it. The authors have taken strenuous effort in elaborating the concepts that are lucid and will be of reader's interest.


This study compared leukocyte esterase dipsticks (LED) and endocervical Gram stains (EGS) as surrogates for culture diagnosis of gonococcal and chlamydial cervicitis in 495 STD clinic patients. Overall, gonorrhea prevalence was 15.7%; chlamydia prevalence (in the subgroup that was tested) was 17.8%. In diagnosing gonorrhea, LED and EGS performed similarly, with sensitivities of 68% and 76%, respectively, and identical specificities of 44%. In diagnosing gonococcal or chlamydial cervicitis, LED and EGS sensitivities fell to 48% and 47%, respectively, whereas specificities increased to 55% and 75%. These data suggest that, although both tests are imperfect surrogates for gonococcal and chlamydial culture, LED sacrifices little in sensitivity compared with EGS. Because LED does not require ancillary supplies, equipment, electricity, or trained personnel, its use may be feasible when Gram-stain diagnosis is impossible. Modifications of LED technology and specimen preparation should be sought to improve LED performance.


Objective: Blood pressure (BP) levels have tendency to seasonal (winter [W] vs. summer [S]) variability but some aspects of this problem are not studied yet. The aim of our study was to evaluate seasonal and monthly variability of clinical and ambulatory BP (ABP) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and high normal BP (HNBP) in S and W in two regions of the Russian Federation with different climate. Design and method: We included patients from the general population who visited ambulatory clinics in Ivanovo (I) and Saratov (S) for various reasons. The main inclusion criteria were clinical BP (CBP) <160/100 mmHg without or on regular antihypertensive drugs intake (ADI) or CBP = 130/85–139/89 mmHg without ADI. The CBP measurements was performed by automatic tonometer (OMRON 705 IT). The ABP monitoring (ABPM) was performed with the BPLab device (Nizny Novgorod, Russia) twice in each patient: in W (Dec-Feb 2012–2014) and in S (Jun-Aug 2012–2014). The interval between ABPMs was 6 months ± 10 days. The selection criteria for ABPM records were the quality adequate for sophisticated analyses: duration >24 h, absence of data gaps >1 h, >55 readings per 24 h. Results: In total, 1630 patients were included: 720 in I and 910 in S. The patients of I (the region with lower average ambient temperature compared to S) had higher mean systolic CBP (CSBP) in W than in S (134.4 ± 13.2 mmHg and 129.7 ± 12.6 mmHg, respectively, p < 0.0001). The CSBP in patients of S was also higher in W (128.9 ± 14.3 mmHg) than in S (125.0 ± 16.0 mmHg, p < 0.0001). Monthly averages of CBP/ABP and ambient temperature were not related in S and W. Figure. No caption available. Conclusions: The seasonal variability of CBP/ABP parameters in patients with AH and HNBP corresponds to the general trend - BP is higher in W than in S. The ambient temperature is not influence on CBP/ABP of patients from two investigated cohort.


This article aims to identify the concepts of Competitive Intelligence according to the approach of the main authors referenced to characterize their conceptual currents and their research areas. In order to do so, a bibliometric study was carried out in IC, from 2005 to 2015, during which time the CI began to establish itself as the main information provider in organizations. The data were collected in the international journals of the Web of Science. The compiled articles were processed through the Bibexcel Software, generating a matrix of citations and co-citations, which processed, resulted in exploratory factorial analysis, allowing to relate the main classical or seminal authors in the theme, as well as the main currents that they defend. It is the main conclusion that all the approaches of the identified chains, be it in marketing, knowledge management, business, technology, among others, allow organizations a better strategic structuring. It was also possible to identify the current authors who continue to publish, based on their research, on the classic themes as well as the evolutions of the conceptual approaches. As for the theoretical contribution, it is emphasized that in fact, there is little research on the theoretical foundations of competitive intelligence, revealing important areas such as maturity of use of intelligence in organizations and theory of intelligence processes.


In this paper, a message authentication and integrity protection scheme based on optically generated chaos is proposed. The introduced protocol relies physically on the dependence of chaos synchronization on the phase experienced by the delayed portion of the optical field inside the external cavity. The protocol's security is analytically evaluated, considering data modification and impersonation attack scenarios, and issues related to the practical implementation of the scheme are investigated.


This paper provides an opportunity to share experiences and perceptions of the first 5 years of a degree programme for professional dancers. A partnership developed in the mid-1990s between the UK's Birmingham Royal Ballet and the University of Birmingham, Westhill (now School of Education), to provide a part-time, post-experience, flexible study programme for full-time Company dancers. This is the first 'company customised' higher education programme to dovetail studies around rehearsal, performance and touring schedules. Methodology is based on a narrative by the author, informed by ongoing internal and external evaluations, in-depth interviews with dancers and Company managers, documentation and secondary sources. Outcomes indicate that the programme has made a positive difference to the Company, to the dancers and to the wider education and dance/arts world.


Understanding crowd behaviors in a large social event is crucial for event management. Passive WiFi sensing, by collecting WiFi probe requests sent from mobile devices, provides a better way to monitor crowds compared with people counters and cameras in terms of free interference, larger coverage, lower cost, and more information on people's movement. In the existing studies, however, not enough attention has been paid to the thorough analysis and mining of collected data. Especially, the power of machine learning has not been fully exploited. In this article, therefore, we propose a comprehensive data analysis framework to fully analyze the collected probe requests to extract three types of patterns related to crowd behaviors in a large social event, with the help of statistics, visualization, and unsupervised machine learning. First, trajectories of the mobile devices are extracted from probe requests and analyzed to reveal the spatial patterns of the crowds' movement. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering is adopted to find the interconnections between different locations. Next, $k$ -means and $k$ -shape clustering algorithms are applied to extract temporal visiting patterns of the crowds by days and locations, respectively. Finally, by combining with time, trajectories are transformed into spatiotemporal patterns, which reveal how trajectory duration changes over the length and how the overall trends of crowd movement change over time. The proposed data analysis framework is fully demonstrated using real-world data collected in a large social event. Results show that one can extract comprehensive patterns from data collected by a network of passive WiFi sensors.


Reports an error in "Functional architecture of visual emotion recognition ability: A latent variable approach" by Gary J. Lewis, Carmen E. Lefevre and Andrew W. Young (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2016[May], Vol 145[5], 589-602). In the article, there were several errors in Table 5. The correlations between the AQ-10 and both the supramodal and face-specific latent ability factors were set as positive. They should have been negative. The correct values are shown in the table provided. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2016-13445-001.) Emotion recognition has been a focus of considerable attention for several decades. However, despite this interest, the underlying structure of individual differences in emotion recognition ability has been largely overlooked and thus is poorly understood. For example, limited knowledge exists concerning whether recognition ability for one emotion (e.g., disgust) generalizes to other emotions (e.g., anger, fear). Furthermore, it is unclear whether emotion recognition ability generalizes across modalities, such that those who are good at recognizing emotions from the face, for example, are also good at identifying emotions from nonfacial cues (such as cues conveyed via the body). The primary goal of the current set of studies was to address these questions through establishing the structure of individual differences in visual emotion recognition ability. In three independent samples (Study 1: n = 640; Study 2: n = 389; Study 3: n = 303), we observed that the ability to recognize visually presented emotions is based on different sources of variation: a supramodal emotion-general factor, supramodal emotion-specific factors, and face- and within-modality emotion-specific factors. In addition, we found evidence that general intelligence and alexithymia were associated with supramodal emotion recognition ability. Autism-like traits, empathic concern, and alexithymia were independently associated with face-specific emotion recognition ability. These results (a) provide a platform for further individual differences research on emotion recognition ability, (b) indicate that differentiating levels within the architecture of emotion recognition ability is of high importance, and (c) show that the capacity to understand expressions of emotion in others is linked to broader affective and cognitive processes. (PsycINFO Database Record


In general, the inverse problem of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is treated using a deterministic algorithm to find a model of subsurface resistivity that can numerically match the apparent resistivity data acquired at the ground surface and has a smooth distribution that has been introduced as prior information. In this paper, we propose a new deep learning algorithm for processing the 3-D reconstruction of ERT. This approach relies on the approximation of the inverse operator considered as a nonlinear function linking the section of apparent resistivity as input and the underground distribution of electrical resistivity as output. This approximation is performed with a large amount of known data to obtain an accurate generalization of the inverse operator by identifying during the learning process a set of parameters assigned to the neural networks. To train the network, the subsurface resistivity models are theoretically generated by a geostatistical anisotropic Gaussian generator, and their corresponding apparent resistivity by solving numerically 3-D Poisson's equation. These data are formed in a way to have the same size and trained on the convolutional neural networks with SegNet architecture containing a three-level encoder and decoder network ending with a regression layer. The encoders including the convolutional, max-pooling and nonlinear activation operations are sequentially performed to extract the main features of input data in lower resolution maps. On the other side, the decoders are dedicated to upsampling operations in concatenating with feature maps transferred from encoders to compensate the loss of resolution. The tool has been successfully validated on different synthetic cases and with particular attention to how data quality in terms of resolution and noise affects the effectiveness of the approach.


The purpose of the present research is to conduct a quantitative analysis of Chinese classical music and then compare it with Western European classical music. The results obtained under the comparative analysis of samples using the Student's t-test for independent variables have shown that there is a significant difference between the studied music types. In this case, the present study presupposed analyzing a total number of 18 musical scores. Mathematical analysis facilitated forming 12 samples from independent variables that characterized the length of the studied excerpts, compassed the number of repetitions, the initial interval, and the number of unique intervals. Despite a significant contribution of European classical music to Chinese music, it suggests that Western European music is more complex than Chinese classical music. Accordingly, the results obtained can be useful in the field of musicology and music theory.


This study compares the cognitive processing of expert and novice typists, and examines how automaticity affects the level of semantic processing. Subjects typed three passages then took a recognition test. Would experts, who routinely apply automaticity while typing, do better at recognizing the sentences they typed than novices, or would novices who spend more time and effort with the text do better? Is typing mainly guided by the orthographic structure of text? Is the text mentally processed for semantic content? The results indicate that novices had slightly better recognition for the sentences they typed than experts. They were also quicker to recognize verbatim sentences and they had a higher frequency of choosing them over decoys. Novices were also better at differentiating semantically similar sentences from those that contradicted the meaning of the sentences they typed. These findings suggest that although automaticity may minimize demands on working memory, it does not necessarily lead to deeper semantic processing. Typing demands attention to the orthographic structure of the text and semantic information is processed incidentally.


We read with interest the recent correspondence by Wilson et all observing an apparent increase in the prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 infection among women attending a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic in Oxford. The high proportion of type 1 isolates in genital herpes in Sheffield has been a consistent finding since it was first reported in 1982.2 We have also noted a difference between the general practitioner (GP) referred and self referred groups in the viral isolates from first episode genital herpes.3 Among the 128 women who attended with first episode HSV infection between January 1989 and January 1991, 79 patients (61-7%) had already visited their GP with their current complaint prior to the GUM attendance. Of these, 44 patients (55 7%) had type 1 isolates as compared with only 17 (34.7%) of the 49 self referred patients. The ratio of self referred:GP referred patients in terms of the type ofHSV isolated was 1:2-6 for type 1 and 1:1 for type 2; the difference between the two groups is significant (X2 = 5.34, p < 001). The two groups were similar in terms of age and history of recent partner change, although a higher proportion of the self referred group had experienced previous episodes of other sexually transmitted diseases. We wonder whether the apparent increase in HSV-1 isolates reported from several UK centres may relate in part to a greater willingness of the GPs to refer women to GUM clinics because of their heightened awareness of the need for comprehensive STD-screening, counselling and education, and sexual contact management. If so, differences between clinics in both the proportion of GP referrals and the HSV-1:HSV-2 ratio amongst women with first episode genital herpes may relate as much to the acceptibility of local GUM services as to real geographical differences in the epidemiology of genital herpes. A NAGESWARAN RN SHEN G R KINGHORN Department of Genitounnary Medicine, Directorate ofCommunicable Diseases, Royal HaIlamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2_TF, UK R PATEL Department ofGUM, Royal South Hants Hospital, Graham Road, Southampton S09 4PE, UK


In this letter, we propose a new unsupervised machine learning technique for a multi-dimensional modulator that can autonomously learn key exploitable features from significant variations of multi-dimensional wireless propagation parameters, followed by a real-time prediction of the best multi-dimensional modulation mode to be used for the next resilient transmission. The proposed method aims to embrace the potential of the unsupervised $K$ -means clustering into the physical layer of non-coherent multi-dimensional transmission. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can outperform the benchmarks at a cost of simple offline training.


To clarify the molecular and clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal serrated lesions, we assessed the DNA methylation of cancer-associated genes in a cohort of BRAF-mutant precancerous lesions from 94 individuals. We then compared those results with the lesions' clinicopathological features, especially colorectal subsites. The lesions included hyperplastic polyps (n = 16), traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) (n = 15), TSAs with sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) (n = 6), SSAs (n = 49) and SSAs with dysplasia (n = 16). The prevalence of lesions exhibiting the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) was lower in the sigmoid colon and rectum than in other bowel subsites, including the cecum, ascending, transverse and descending colon. In addition, several cancer-associated genes showed higher methylation levels within lesions in the proximal to sigmoid colon than in the sigmoid colon and rectum. These results indicate that the methylation status of lesions with BRAF mutation is strongly associated with their location, histological findings and neoplastic pathways. By contrast, no difference in aberrant DNA methylation was observed in normal-appearing background colonic mucosa along the bowel subsites, which may indicate the absence of an epigenetic field defect.


Operation of organic electronic and optoelectronic devices relies on charge transport properties of active layer materials. The magnitude of charge carrier mobility, a key efficiency metrics of charge transport properties, is determined by the chemical structure of molecular units and their crystallographic packing motifs, as well as strongly depends on the film fabrication approaches that produce films with different degrees of anisotropy and structural order. Probed by the time-of-flight and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction techniques, bulk charge carrier transport, molecular packing, and film morphology in different structural phases of push-pull type organic semiconductor, 7,7'-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-silolo[3,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl)bis(6-fluoro-4-(5'-hexyl-[2,2'-bithiophen]-5yl)benzo[c][1,2,5] thiadiazole), one of the most efficient small-molecule photovoltaic materials to-date, are described herein. In the isotropic phase, the material is ambipolar with high mobilities for a fluid state. The electron and hole mobilities at the phase onset at 210.78 °C are 1.0 × 10(-3) cm(2)/(V s) and 6.5 × 10(-4) cm(2)/(V s), respectively. Analysis of the temperature and electric field dependences of the mobilities in the framework of Gaussian disorder formalism suggests larger energetic and positional disorder for electron transport sites. Below 210 °C, crystallization into a polycrystalline film with a triclinic unit cell symmetry and high degree of anisotropy leads to a 10-fold increase of hole mobility. The mobility is limited by the charge transfer along the direction of branched alkyl side chains. Below 90 °C, faster cooling rates produce even higher hole mobilities up to 2 × 10(-2) cm(2)/(V s) at 25 °C because of the more isotropic orientations of crystalline domains. These properties facilitate in understanding efficient material performance in photovoltaic devices and will guide further development of materials and devices.


The review gives a general account of the results of numerous studies on the simplest atomic and radical reactions which are experimentally found to follow third-order kinetics. A large number of experimental results, arranged systematically in tables and graphs, are quoted and discussed. The principal characteristics of the properties of the reactions of this class (negative temperature dependence of the rate constant, different efficiencies of third bodies, relation between the efficiency and structure, etc.) are analysed. The possible interpretation of these processes on the basis of the simplest theoretical postulates — kinetic collision theory, theory of absolute reaction rates, and other equilibrium theories — are considered. The bibliography includes 203 references.


The wetting contact angle was measured for water drops settled on the surface of pressed discs of kaolinite, alumina, bentonite, marble, montmorillonite, and quartzite immersed in hexane, octane, dodecane, cis-decalin, and air. Minimum and maximum values of the contact angle were obtained for the given systems of solid-water drop-hydrocarbon, depending on the manner of disc preparation. Using both minimum (θmin) and maximum (θmax) values of the contact angle, values of the dispersion component (γsd) of surface free energy of these solids were calculated from the equation which was derived on the basis of an equilibrium state of the system solid-water drop-hycrocarbon for two different hydrocarbons. The values of γsd for kaolinite, alumina, bentonite, marble, montmorillonite, and quartzite obtained from θmin are 83.5, 98.1, 98.9, 80.2, 95.9, and 89.7 mJ/m2, and from θmax are 73.1, 85.0, 84.4, 75.8, 85.5, and 75.5 mJ/m2. These values for marble and quartzite are similar to those in the literature (marble = 67.7 mJ/m2; quartzite = 71.3 and 76.0 mJ/m2). The values of the dispersion components of surface free energy for marble and quartzite covered with a water film (γsfd) were found to be: 41.8, 36.9; 49.2, 42.5; 49.6, 42.2; 40.2, 38.1; 48.1, 42.8; and 44.9, 38.0 mJ/m2, respectively. Values of γsfd for kaolinite, bentonite, and montmorillonite agreed well with those obtained from hydrocarbon adsorption isotherms determined by differential thermal analysis (35.5, 36.5, and 37.4 mJ/m2).Using values of γsfd and contact angles measured in the system solid-water drop-air, the nondispersion component of the surface free energy of solids with adsorbed water film (γsfn) was calculated from the modified Young equation. The values of γsfn for kaolinite and quartzite are as follows: 55.8, 69.0; 85.6, 94.0; 52.1, 75.0; 64.7, 68.9; 54.9,71.3; and 59.2,74.4 mJ/m2. The values of the nondispersion components determined for kaolinite, bentonite, and montmorillonite agreed well with those obtained by differential thermal analysis (67.6, 78.3, and 65.5 mJ/m2, respectively). Further, based on the assumption that the adsorbed water film decreased the surface free energy of these solids by the value of the work of spreading wetting, the nondispersion component (γsn) of the surface free energy of the solids was calculated to be: 86.9,129.6; 169.5, 187.7; 67.1, 144.8; 117.5, 129.3; 83.0, 135.7 and 100.2, 143.4 mJ/m2. These calculated values of the nondispersion component of marble and quartzite surface free energy agree with those obtained from adsorption isotherms determined by chromatographic and differential thermal analysis (marble = 103.8, 106.4; quartzite = 112, 115, 153.6 mJ/m2).


Hydroforming process of tube parts is widely used in many industries due to the virtues of weight reduction and high strength and stiffness. The exhaust pipe hydroforming process is investigated systemically combining FE simulation with experiments. The FE simulation model for hydroforming process is established after solving several key technologies based on the ABAQUS software, and the validation is carried out compared with experiments. And then, the effects of process parameters on forming quality are studied by using the FE simulation model. The optional process parameters are obtained based on the simulation model and orthogonal experimental analysis. Finally, three typical loading paths are proposed and tested, and the guidance for loading paths is given. Based on these developments, the exhaust pipes are manufactured by hydroforming in a short period at low cost.


Two approaches for decreasing diesel hydrocarbon group-type separation times by normal phase supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) are compared. Short (10-15 cm) columns with small 3 microm diameter packing are compared with monolithic Chromolith bare silica columns under high carbon dioxide flow rates approaching 5 ml min(-1). Elution times are reduced up to 13-fold on a 10 cm Chromolith column and 7-fold on the short packed columns compared with conventional length columns run at typical flow rates. Short packed columns, with their higher surface area and retention characteristics, offer higher resolutions compared with Chromolith columns. Diesel samples are separated into saturates, mono-, di-, tri-, and polyaromatics in as little as 2 min on a 10 cm packed silica column. Diesel group-type results on a 15 cm titania-silica coupled column compare favorably with results from longer columns.


Diffraction contrast tomography is a near-field diffraction-based imaging technique that provides high-resolution grain maps of polycrystalline materials simultaneously with the orientation and average elastic strain tensor components of the individual grains with an accuracy of a few times 10−4. Recent improvements that have been introduced into the data analysis are described. The ability to process data from arbitrary detector positions allows for optimization of the experimental setup for higher spatial or strain resolution, including high Bragg angles (0 < 2θ < 180°). The geometry refinement, grain indexing and strain analysis are based on Friedel pairs of diffraction spots and can handle thousands of grains in single- or multiphase materials. The grain reconstruction is performed with a simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique using three-dimensional oblique angle projections and GPU acceleration. The improvements are demonstrated with the following experimental examples: (1) uranium oxide mapped at high spatial resolution (300 nm voxel size); (2) combined grain mapping and section topography at high Bragg angles of an Al–Li alloy; (3) ferrite and austenite crystals in a dual-phase steel; (4) grain mapping and elastic strains of a commercially pure titanium sample containing 1755 grains.


The article treats as significant the formal coincidence between Kant's presentation of the science of metaphysics in the "Architectonic of Pure Reason" chapter of the first Critique and Alexander Baumgarten's presentation of the same in the Metaphysica. From his comments on Baumgarten in the metaphysics lectures, the article shows that for Kant metaphysics in its traditional form lacked completeness and systematic order. Kant fits completeness into his architectonic plan of a scientific metaphysics by converting Baumgartian ontology into an "analytic of the understanding"; Kant achieves the systematicity by modeling a rational "idea of the form of the whole" after Baumgarten's tree-like ordering of the special sciences of metaphysics. Thus, Kant realizes the completeness and systematicity in a theoretical presentation of the science of metaphysics that he


By considering literature review, the management mechanisms of Taiwan Occupational Safety and Health Management System, and local regulations, the study proposes dimensions for the analysis of overall safety performance in the semiconductor industry, establishes three principal factors and 25 safety performance dimensions, and develops a questionnaire on safety performance. Three Taiwan semiconductor plants were selected as the subject for the quantitative analysis of the questionnaire and the current safety performance of the semiconductor industry was thoroughly investigated. The study extensively discusses a case study of three semiconductor plants showing highly significant differences in their "technical factor," "organizational factor," and "human factor" through an analysis of variance of safety performance. From the analysis, it was determined that 22 safety performance dimensions, with the exceptions of "self‐inspection," "emergency response," and "safety audit," demonstrate significant differences. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 33: 166–171, 2014


Bovine mastitis is still a costly issue in dairy farms, besides public health aspects considering the pathogen transmission to humans. Its multiple etiology with a high number of pathogens involved, demands a rigorous control program for monitoring and milk quality control, based on diagnostic actions and epidemiological vigilance regarding parameters which indirectly are associated with the occurrence of mastitis in dairy herds, as the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and Somatic Cell Count (SCC/mL of milk), of individual milk samples obtained from each cow, and from bulk tank which also allows the Total Bacteria Count (TBC), usually related to the incidence of mastitis, especially in subclinical cases. It is important to reinforce the microbiological milk exam, also to stress the importance of the milking process as a critical point, and to determine risk factors for mastitis. Based on these aspects, this review is presented with the aim to obtain high quality milk products, compromising the personal enrolled in milk production to be conscious that milk quality depends on all, inclusive the consumers which are the final element in the milk production chain.


The susceptibility to cannabis dependency results from the influence of numerous factors such as social, genetic, as well as epigenetic factors. Many studies have attempted to discover a molecular basis for this disease. However, our study aimed at evaluating the connection between altered methylation of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) promoter CpG sites and cannabis dependency. In the cases of some DNA sequences, including the DAT1 gene region, their methylation status in blood cells may reflect a systemic modulation in the whole organism. Consequently, we isolated the DNA from the peripheral blood cells from a group of 201 cannabis-dependent patients and 285 controls who were healthy volunteers and who were matched for age and sex. The DNA was subjected to bisulfite conversion and sequencing. Our analysis revealed no statistical differences in the general methylation status of the DAT1 gene promoter CpG island between the patients and controls. Yet, the analysis of individual CpG sites where methylation occurred indicated significant differences. These sites are known to be bound by transcription factors (e.g., SP1, p53, PAX5, or GR), which, apart from other functions, were shown to play a role in the development of the nervous system. Therefore, DAT1 gene promoter methylation studies may provide important insight into the mechanism of cannabis dependency.


Consumerism has been linked to recycling and pollution over a substantial period leading to a surge of research interest of the past 20 years. Most of this interest has focused on South East Asian countries, namely India and Indonesia, considered as having one of the most polluted capitals in the world. This therefore prompts the present study which reviewed literature on the impact of consumerism, recycling and pollution from Southeast Asia during the 1999 to 2019. The study adopted a qualitative approach in which grey literature was utilised in conjunction with industry secondary data on consumerism, recycling and pollution from selected South East Asian countries. Literature was obtained from popular databases that included Science direct, Emerald and Ebsco host. Common themes were identified, and recurring tends were noted. Numerous findings were recorded, however it stood-out that the impact of pollution across South East Asia is a challenge that continuous regardless of the efforts from the global community. In conclusion, an overall assessment was provided and further research suggestions on consumerism, recycling and pollution were proposed.


Glioblastoma cells produce and release high amounts of glutamate into the extracellular milieu and subsequently can trigger seizure in patients. Tumor-associated microglia/macrophages (TAMs), consisting of both parenchymal microglia and monocytes-derived macrophages (MDMs) recruited from the blood, are known to populate up to 1/3 of the glioblastoma tumor environment and exhibit an alternative, tumor-promoting and supporting phenotype. However, it is unknown how TAMs respond to the excess extracellular glutamate in the glioblastoma microenvironment. We investigated the expressions of genes related to glutamate transport and metabolism in human TAMs freshly isolated from glioblastoma resections. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed (i) significant increases in the expressions of GRIA2 (GluA2 or AMPA receptor 2), SLC1A2 (EAAT2), SLC1A3 (EAAT1), (ii) a near-significant decrease in the expression of SLC7A11 (cystine-glutamate antiporter xCT) and (iii) a remarkable increase in GLUL expression (glutamine synthetase) in these cells compared to adult primary human microglia. TAMs co-cultured with glioblastoma cells also exhibited a similar glutamatergic profile as freshly isolated TAMs except for a slight increase in SLC7A11 expression. We next analyzed these genes expressions in cultured human MDMs derived from peripheral blood monocytes for comparison. In contrast, MDMs co-cultured with glioblastoma cells compared to MDMs co-cultured with normal astrocytes exhibited decreased expressions in the tested genes except for GLUL. This is the first study to demonstrate transcriptional changes in glutamatergic signaling of TAMs in a glioblastoma microenvironment, and the findings here suggest that TAMs and MDMs might potentially elicit different cellular responses in the presence of excess extracellular glutamate.


This article presents a study of the effect of water glass and its introduction on the hydration of Portland cement and its properties in plastic and solid states. The introduction of sodium water glass into the mixing water extends the setting time of Portland cement by 35%, while introduction into the cement paste reduces it by 24.4%; for potassium water glass, the respective values are 10.8% and 10.8%. The introduction of sodium water glass into the mixing water decreases its consistency by 17.6%; its introduction into the cement paste reduces its consistency by 97%. Based on microcalorimetric studies and using the modelling method, mechanisms of the processes occurring in the cement paste, for various methods of introducing water glass admixtures, and their influence on the properties of cement are proposed. The important implications of the obtained results are that, using various methods for introducing admixtures of water glass, it is possible to regulate the setting of cement slurries within significant limits that are important during their transportation.


How far has humankind come in the last 50, 20 or even 10 years in achieving the goal of freeing people from what Mandela called "the prison of poverty"? In the year 2006, it is estimated that 1.3 billion people world-wide still live in absolute poverty. Most are in developing countries, but poverty also reaches into industrialized regions, such as North America and Europe. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the Member States of the United Nations strive to address critical poverty issues and solve some of the most pressing problems within the next decade. But will they be successful? Are citizens in donor countries fatigued by endless calls to arms? Is there really light at the end of the long, dark tunnel of inequality? Why have we not yet resolved the key problems? And have any poverty alleviation solutions of the past really worked?


For pt.I see ibid., vol.37, no.3, p.252-66 (1990). Modeling potential distribution in the myocardium treated as a periodic structure implies that activation from high-current stimulation with extracellular electrodes is caused by the spatially oscillating components of the transmembrane potential. This hypothesis is tested by comparing the results of the model with experimental data. The conductivity, fiber orientation, extent of the region, location of the pacing site, and stimulus strength determined from experiments are components of the model used to predict the distributions of potential, potential gradient, and transmembrane potential throughout the region. Assuming that a specific value of the transmembrane potential is necessary and sufficient to activate fully repolarized myocardium, the model provides an analytical relation between large-scale field parameters, such as gradient and current density, and small-scale parameters, such as transmembrane potential.<<ETX>>


Introduction/Background In patients with endometrial cancer after surgery adjuvant therapy is frequently administered. In general, indication for adjuvant treatment is established based on clinical pathologic parameters such as patients age, depth of infiltration and pathologic grading. However, although survival has improved, there are still patients over and under treated. Currently, an ongoing prospective trial evaluates risk stratification of patients and treatment modification according to molecular profiling of tumor tissue. This retrospective analysis was performed to investigate, whether molecular profiling of tumor tissue has implication on and is feasible in daily routine. Methodology This study included all patients with primary endometrioid endometrial cancer treated at Medical University Vienna between 2017 and 2018. In addition to conventional pathologic analysis, tumor samples were molecular pathologically analyzed. Molecular pathologic evaluation included analysis for micro satellite instability, gen sequencing of 161 different genes, advanced analysis for lymph vascular space invasion and L1CAM analysis. Patients were then stratified into 4 risk groups as previously described. Results In total 43 patients were included into this analysis. In 37 cases risk stratification was possible. Microsatellite instability, mutation in the POLE gene locus, and TP53 mutations were described in 5 (11.6%), 3 (7%), und 3 (7%) cases respectively. In 8 (18.6%) cases molecular profiling would have had an impact on adjuvant treatment. In three cases additional treatment would have been suggested while in five cases molecular profiling would have suggested to restrain from adjuvant treatment. Conclusion Molecular profiling is feasible in daily routine, and did not delay therapy. In this small group of patients molecular profiling of tumor tissue would have changed adjuvant treatment in roughly 20% of patients. The current results underline the importance of the PORTEC-4a study that investigates risk stratification of patients according to molecular profiling. Disclosure RS Travel expenses: Amgen, Pharma Mar, Roche SP Consultant AstraZeneca, Celgene, MSD, PharmaMar, Roche,Roche Diagnostics, Meda Pharma, Tesaro, Vifor Pharma, outside the submitted work. CG Consultant: AstraZeneca, Celgene, MSD, PharmaMar, Roche, Tesaro, Vifor Pharma Speaker: Amgen, AstraZeneca, MSD, PharmaMar, Roche, Tesaro Direct research funding: Meda Pharma, Roche Diagnostics AR Research grants: Roche Honoraria as a speaker and for advisory boards: Amgen, Astra Zeneca, MSD, Pharma Mar, Roche, Tesaro, Vifor Pharma Travel expenses: Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Pharma Mar, Roche, Tesaro.


Abstract Little is known about the susceptibility to acute myeloid leukemia. We aim to search non-protein coding regions of key hematopoiesis transcription factors for genetic variations associated with acute myeloid leukemia susceptibility. We genotyped SNPs of RUNX1 P1 promoter, P2 promoter, +23 enhancer, intron 5.2 enhancer, PU.1 promoter, CEBPA promoter, and CEBPE promoter from acute myeloid leukemia patients and healthy controls. Rs2249650 and rs2268276 at RUNX1 intron 5.2 enhancer were found to be associated with acute myeloid leukemia susceptibility. Artificial reporters containing different rs2249650 and rs2268276 alleles showed differential activities in the K562 cell line, a human immortalized myeloid leukemia line. Rs2249650 contributes to reporter activities more than rs2268276. Gel shift assay is consistent with the luciferase assay. Supershift assay indicated that one potential binding protein was PU.1. To sum up, rs2268276 and especially rs2249650 may be qualified as new acute myeloid leukemia susceptibility-associated SNPs.


Tarsal tunnel syndrome is defined as a compressive neuropathy of the posterior tibial nerve in the tarsal canal. A neurilemoma is an uncommon, benign, encapsulated neoplasm derived from Schwann cells. We present a case of tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by this rare space-occupying lesion.


Among 31 pregnant women with first-trimester bleeding, all were found on sonographic study to have subchorionic hemorrhage with a living fetus. Twenty-six went on to normal term pregnancies. Two had premature labor at 31 and 32 weeks. Three had first-trimester missed abortions. No correlation was found between volume of subchorionic bleeding and prognosis. The prognosis of the pregnancy in this group of 31 women with first-trimester bleeding and sonographic evidence of subchorionic hemorrhage and fetal cardiac activity was 80% favorable.


The APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like) gene family of cytidine deaminases includes evolutionarily conserved genes that play important roles in DNA repair and mRNA editing. Activity of at least two APOBEC family members, APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B, can lead to kataegis, a mutagenic process in cancer cells that generates clusters of closely spaced, single strand specific C->T DNA substitutions. APOBEC mutagenesis has a characteristic signature, most commonly represented by the 5'-Tp(C->T)pW-3' sequence motif, with additional substitutions also reported. This hypermutation signature and high mRNA expression of APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B have been associated with several cancer types. Most previous studies of APOBEC signatures have examined tumor sequence data from clinical samples, for which limited or no information about drug response was available. We investigated the presence of the mutational signature and mRNA expression patterns of the APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B genes in extensively characterized cell lines, in order to identify those cell lines that carry mutations generated by kataegis, with the aim of establishing associations between the APOBEC mutational signature, individual cancer types, and the patterns of sensitivity to antitumor agents. For this purpose, we analyzed whole exome sequencing (WES) data and mRNA expression of the APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B genes in two resources with extensive drug response data: the NCI-60 cell line panel, which includes 59 human cancer cell lines representing 9 cancer types and drug response information for thousands of anticancer agents, and the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), which provides WES, whole genome, and RNA-seq sequence information on hundreds of cancer cell lines and drug response data to over 200 agents. We analyzed WES data of 325 CCLE cell lines and 59 NCI-60 cell lines, with variants identified using GATK pipeline and Varscan2 software. The variants in each cell line were filtered to remove common polymorphisms in dbSNP and 1000 Genome Project databases. We searched the discovered variants for the presence of APOBEC signatures, 5'-Tp(C->AGT)pN-3', 5'-Tp(C->AGT)pD-3', and 5'-Tp(C->AGT)pW-3' in closely spaced (1000 and 10,000 bp) windows that appeared on the same DNA strand. We will discuss the use of optimal filters for detecting APOBEC mutational signatures and will present the analyses of associations between APOBEC signatures, mutational load of the tumor cell lines, APOBEC gene expression, and chemosensitivity to treatment. These results contribute to additional characterization of available cell lines by providing information about specific mutational signatures in different categories of cancer. Our findings may assist with identifying antitumor agents that would be appropriate for treatment of cancer cells with specific signature patterns generated by APOBEC mutagenesis. Citation Format: Suleyman Vural, Julia Krushkal, Richard Simon. Analysis of APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B mutational signatures using next-generation sequencing data from cancer cell lines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2590. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2590