The Oxford Handbook of the Neurobiology of Pain represents a state of the art overview of the rapidly developing field of pain research. As populations age, the number of people in pain is growing dramatically, with half the population living with pain. The opioid crisis has highlighted this problem. The present volume is thus very timely, providing expert overviews of many complex topics in pain research that are likely to be of interest not just to pain researchers, but also to pain clinicians who are seeking new therapeutic opportunities to develop analgesics. Many of the topics covered are of interest to neuroscientists, as pain is one of the most amenable sensations for mechanistic dissection. The present volume covers all aspects of the topic, from a history of pain through invertebrate model systems to the human genetics of pain and functional imaging. Chapters include the role of ion channels, the opioid system, the immune and sympathetic systems, as well as the mechanisms that transform acute to chronic pain. Migraine and the interplay between sleep and pain are also discussed. New technology in the form of transgenic animals, chemogenetics, optogenetics, and proteomic analyses are providing significant advances in our research and are covered as well. Demystifying pain through an understanding of its fundamental biology, as outlined in this volume, is the most direct route to ameliorating this vast human problem.


Author(s): Ohtaki, Kenta | Advisor(s): Mecartney, Martha L | Abstract: Current technology ceramics for radiation environments rely on their intrinsic properties for damage tolerance, but the they can be further improved by designing the microstructure for use in applications for space, nuclear fission/fusion and nuclear waste environments. Interfaces are known to be sinks for point defects, which enhance radiation damage tolerance, and more disordered interfaces work better than clean interfaces. Heterointerfaces, or interfaces between dissimilar phases, are expected to have more disorder than grain boundaries in a single-phase system. In this study, radiation damage behavior of a multiphase ceramic material with heterointerfaces and submicron grains was systematically investigated and compared to single phase polycrystalline materials with grain boundaries. The multiphase composite survived a high fluence while single phase materials fractured. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed more efficient point defect annihilation in the multiphase system than in the single-phase system. This work shows that high radiation damage tolerance can be achieved without complicated careful grain boundary modification or ultra nano grain fabrication, which is difficult to scale up and unreliable at elevated temperatures.


Conventional wisdom holds that only one of the two strands in a microRNA (miRNA) precursor duplex is selected as the active guide strand. The complementary passenger strand is thought to be inactive. In triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), high levels of the miRNA guide strand called miR-17-5p inhibits ribosomal translation of tumor suppressor genes, such as programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) or phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). We hypothesized that knocking down the oncogenic microRNA (oncomiR) miR-17-5p might restore the expression levels of PDCD4 and PTEN tumor suppressor proteins, illustrating a route to oligonucleotide therapy of TNBC. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we previously reported that antisense DNA-LNA knockdown of miR-17-5p guide strand reduced PDCD4 and PTEN proteins in human MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells, instead of raising them. Bioinformatics analysis and folding energy calculations revealed that mRNA targets of the miR-17-5p guide strand, such as PDCD4 and PTEN, could also be regulated by the miR-17-3p passenger strand. Due to high sequence homology between the antisense molecules and the miR-17-3p passenger strand, as well as the excess binding sites for the passenger strand on the 3′UTR of PDCD4 and PTEN mRNAs, introducing a miR-17-3p DNA-LNA mimic to knockdown miR-17-5p reduced PDCD4 and PTEN protein expression, instead of raising them. Transfection of miR-17-5p or miR-17-3p RNA mimics into TNBC cells also reduced PDCD4 and PTEN protein levels. To test the hypothesis that miR-17-3p passenger strand can also modulate the same mRNA targets as miR-17-5p, we performed luciferase assays using reporter constructs harboring predicted miR-17-5p and/or miR-17-3p binding sites from the 3′UTR of PDCD4 and PTEN mRNAs. We found that the miR-17-5p mimic lowered the expression of luciferase vectors containing one predicted binding site from the PDCD4 or PTEN 3′UTR domains. However, the miR-17-3p mimic lowered the expression of luciferase vectors containing all four 3′UTR target sites of PDCD4, and two of the six predicted PTEN 3′UTR target sites. In addition, we used luciferase assays to test the hypothesis that antisense DNA-LNA against miR-17-5p mimicked passenger strand miR-17-3p. We found that anti-miR-17-5p DNA-LNA lowered the expression of luciferase reporter vectors containing two of the four predicted PDCD4 3′UTR target sites for miR-17-3p, and one of the six predicted PTEN 3′UTR target sites for miR-17-3p. From these results, we concluded that the miR-17-3p passenger strand might regulate the translation of PDCD4 and PTEN mRNAs, just like the miR-17-5p guide strand. Moreover, the antisense DNA-LNA against miR-17-5p guide strand mimicked the miR-17-3p passenger strand, effectively raising the miR-17-3p concentration in TNBC cells. Our results imply that therapeutic antisense sequences against miRNAs should be designed to target the miRNA strand with the greatest number of putative binding sites in the target mRNAs, while minimizing affinity for the minor strand. Supported by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Conflict of interest: pending PCT/US2015/015681 patent application licensed to Nikita RNA LLC. Citation Format: Yuan-Yuan Jin, Eric Wickstrom. Specific blocking of miR-17-5p guide strand in triple negative breast cancer cells, without amplifying passenger strand activity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2015 Oct 23-26; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B41.


1Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan; 2College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan Purpose: Transurethral procedures, including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and laser prostatectomy, are often linked to emergency room (ER) visits for postoperative bleeding. Although some studies have been conducted, the risk factors associated with these ER visits are not completely understood. This retrospective cohort study identified potential risk factors associated with ER visits for postoperative bleeding. Patients and Methods: Preoperative assessment data and operational and postoperational parameters recorded at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan between December 2015 and January 2017 for patients who underwent elective transurethral procedures were analyzed to identify potential risk factors. The primary endpoint was ER visits for gross hematuria within three months following operation, and the secondary endpoint was ER visits for blood clot-induced urinary retention (clot retention) within three months following operation. Results: A total of 665 patients who underwent elective transurethral procedures were enrolled. The transurethral procedures included monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (M-TURP), bipolar TURP (B-TURP), greenlight photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) and thulium laser transurethral vaporesection of the prostate (ThuVARP). Regarding ER visits for clot retention within three months, multivariable logistic regression revealed significantly lower rates of clot retention in patients who received B-TURP than in those who underwent ThuVARP (AOR, 0.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04–0.82, p = 0.027). Moreover, significantly higher clot retention was observed in patients who underwent two or more rounds of manual irrigation (AOR, 9.51; 95% CI, 1.66–54.43, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Multiple manual irrigations shortly after operation can be considered a novel predictor of postoperative clot retention-related ER visits. Among the transurethral procedures, ThuVARP was associated with a higher risk of clot retention-related ER visits than was B-TURP.


This article examines how botany was made attractive to broader audiences in France in the 1770s and 1780s. Two transitions significantly defined the nature of public participation: developing ideas about botanical amateurship, and expanding consumer culture. Although these have rarely been considered in relation to each other, both determined how the French public engaged with natural knowledge. Drawing evidence from commercial advertisements and books on botany and horticulture, this article considers the cultural resources used to engage readers, which implicitly defined who might botanise. This cultural construction of botany both reflected and actively determined its social place in eighteenth-century France.


Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA

Smad3 plays an important role in inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in multiple tissues, including the breast tissue. At late stages, Smad3 promotes breast cancer progression and metastasis. We previously showed that the proline-rich linker region of Smad3 is phosphorylated by several kinases, such as by CDKs and MAP kinases. We have mapped these phosphorylation sites. We show that mutation of the phosphorylation sites in the Smad3 linker region increases the ability of Smad3 to inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis. Interestingly, mutation of the Smad3 linker phosphorylation sites also increases the ability of Smad3 to activate genes that promote metastasis. Accordingly, mutation of the Smad3 linker phosphorylation sites markedly inhibits tumorigenicity but promotes metastasis of breast cancer cell lines. Using human breast cancer tissue microarrays, we further show that Smad3 linker phosphorylation is progressively reduced along breast cancer progression. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that Smad3 linker phosphorylation promotes tumorigenesis but inhibits metastasis. Our findings have important implications for cancer therapy.

Citation Format: Fang Liu, Wen Xie, Zhengxue Liu, Tanima Roy, Eunjin Bae, Lalage M. Wakefield, Seong-Jin Kim, Akira Ooshima, Michael Reiss, Isao Matsuura. Role of Smad3 linker phosphorylation in breast cancer progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4940. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4940


Photoinduced electron transfer processes in dye-semiconductor systems are studied employing a recently proposed method based on a model Hamiltonian where the parameters are determined by first-principles electronic structure calculations. The systems investigated include the molecules pyridine and perylene, which are anchored via phosphonic or carboxylic acid groups to a titanium dioxide nanocluster. The dynamics of the electron injection process is analyzed in some detail. Furthermore, the applicability of different rate theories to characterize the electron transfer dynamics is discussed.


This Memorandum describes recent scientific advances in the identification and characterization of cell receptors for viruses and their relevance to programmes for the prevention and control of viral diseases. These areas of anti-viral research provide an improved understanding of the mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and a rational basis for the development of anti-viral drugs, viral vaccines, and new diagnostic approaches and reagents. Advances in research to characterize the cellular receptors for human picornaviruses (including poliovirus, coxsackievirus and rhinovirus), influenza viruses, and reoviruses are reviewed.


Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in skin blood flow as a result of local heating tests in migraine patients during the interictal period, measured by laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDI). The aim of the study was also to estimate the correlations between the results of these tests and interleukin (IL)-8 levels. Twelve migraine patients during their interictal period were compared with twelve healthy control subjects. Only women were included in the study. Both groups were matched with regard of their age, body mass index and blood pressure. For the purpose of measuring cutaneous microvascular blood flow, heating (+44 °C) of the dorsal side of the palm as a response to the local LDI was used. IL-8 was measured in serum by ELISA method. The findings suggested that migraine patients have a cutaneous vasomotor dysfunction during the interictal period. The results showed a significant decrease in the initial peak of vasodilation and the second peak of vasodilation (plateau phase). Also there were significant changes observed in the length of the time interval required to reach the first and second vasodilation peak. It is known that migraine patients have a shorter time interval to reach the first perfusion peak (axonal reflex-mediated) and longer time interval to reach the second peak (endothelium-dependent). The results confirmed the correlation between proinflammatory chemokine IL-8 levels, and the time interval till the second peak of blood flow in all study subjects.


We present here a 2D model of photochemistry for computing the production and loss mechanisms of the O(1S) and O(1D) states, which are responsible for the emission lines at 577.7, 630, and 636.4 nm, in case of the comet 1P/Halley. The presence of O2 within cometary atmospheres, measured by the in situ Rosetta and Giotto missions, necessitates a revision of the usual photochemical models. Indeed, the photodissociation of molecular oxygen also leads to a significant production of oxygen in excited electronic states. In order to correctly model the solar ultraviolet (UV) flux absorption, we consider here a 2D configuration. While the green to red-doublet ratio is not affected by the solar UV flux absorption, estimates of the red-doublet and green lines emissions are, however, overestimated by a factor of 2 in the 1D model compared to the 2D model. Considering a spherical symmetry, emission maps can be deduced from the 2D model in order to be directly compared to ground and/or in situ observations.


Oxygen is an essential molecule for all cellular activities including growth. Either excessive or deficient oxygen supply to cells induces the various responses of the cells. In the field of pathophysiology, effects of blood flow restriction on various organs have been studied for the past ∼130 years. Subsequently, the roles of oxygen at subcellular level have been studied in vitro. Although a number of studies show that a low-intensity exercise (20∼50% of one repetition maximum) with a moderate tourniquet restriction of blood flow results in increases in muscular strength and size, the mechanisms for this muscular adaptation remain unclear. In particular, it is uncertain whether the low-intensity exercise with blood flow restriction using a tourniquet causes the hypoxia or hyperoxia in the muscle, and then what signals leading to muscular hypertrophy are activated inside and/ or outside the cells. Also, it is not well understood what side effects occur in addition to conferring the benefits of strength gains. The review summarizes recent studies on the muscular adaptations to oxygen environment and discusses the mechanisms that may be involved in the resistance exercise with restricted blood flow.


In a previous article (Brookes, 2003), it was suggested that a science devoted to the subjective data obtained in psychodynamic therapy would require classification of psyche, the object of study, as a hypothetical construct, a classic concept in the philosophy of psychological science. The present article argues for and outlines a necessarily new and unique scientific paradigm for psychodynamics by further suggesting (1) that positivistic science is not appropriate to the phenomenological data which psychodynamic concepts explain, (2) that retroductive inferences are preferable to inductive or deductive inferences in handling such data, (3) that the concept of meaning as scientific validation is more suitable to psychodynamic science than are the concepts of measurement and operational validation, and (4) that meaningful validation is best elaborated through the application of the concepts of erroneous meaning, of synchronicity, and of numinosity. These and other ideas are briefly described, and will be elaborated further in subsequent papers.


The integrity of cast-in-place foundation piles is a major concern in geotechnical engineering. In this study, distributed fibre optic sensing (DFOS) cables, embedded in a pile during concreting, are used to measure the changes in concrete curing temperature profile to infer concrete cover thickness through modelling of heat transfer processes within the concrete and adjacent ground. A field trial was conducted at a high-rise building construction site in London during the construction of a 51 m long test pile. DFOS cables were attached to the reinforcement cage of the pile at four different axial directions to obtain distributed temperature change data along the pile. The monitoring data shows a clear development of concrete hydration temperature with time and the pattern of the change varies due to small changes in concrete cover. A one-dimensional axisymmetric heat transfer finite element (FE) model is used to estimate the pile geometry with depth by back analysing the DFOS data. The results show that the estimated pile diameter varies with depth in the range between 1.40 and 1.56 m for this instrumented pile. This average pile diameter profile compares well to that obtained with the standard Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) method. A parametric study is conducted to examine the sensitivity of concrete and soil thermal properties on estimating the pile geometry.


3-Iodothyronamine (T1AM) is an endogenous compound with chemical features that are similar to thyroid hormone. T1AM has a carbon skeleton identical to that of T4 and contains a single carbon-iodine bond. Theoretically, T1AM could be produced from T4 by enzymatic decarboxylation and deiodination. Recent studies show that T1AM and higher iodinated thyronamines are subject to similar metabolic processing as iodothyronines such as T4, suggesting a biological linkage between iodothyronines and iodothyronamines. In addition, single doses of T1AM administered to rodents induce a hypometabolic state that in certain ways resembles hibernation and is opposite to the effects of excess T4. This review will discuss the latest developments on this recently discovered thyroid hormone derivative.


Surface laser upgrading techniques involving laser melting is becoming increasingly significant in industry. Such process generally aims at improving the surface properties, especially by enhancing the hardness of the surface layer, its resistance to wear and corrosion and/or its property gradients. Temperature rise inside the material and surface cooling rate are two important factors which affect the surface properties significantly. Consequently, investigation into heat transfer mechanism during laser melting process becomes necessary for surface upgrading. In the present study, heat transfer model, including conduction, melting and evaporation, based on electron kinetic theory is introduced for pulsed laser heating process. In the analysis, thermal properties are modified to include the nitrided compounds in the surface zone. Heat transfer medium is selected as plasma nitrided tool steel. A numerical method is employed to compute the temperature rise inside the material.


Lower-limb amputation affects the ambulation ability and quality of life of about 600,000 individuals in the United States alone1. Individuals with transfemoral amputation typically walk slower, expend more energy, and have a higher risk of falls than able-bodied individuals2. Ambulation activities such as climbing ramps or stairs or standing up from a seated position are much more difficult than for able-bodied persons. Advances in prosthetic technologies are needed to improve the ambulation ability of above-knee amputees.Passive knee prostheses are lightweight, robust, and quiet, but can only perform activities with dissipative dynamics. Powered prostheses3 overcome this limitation by motorizing the prosthetic joints throughout the entire day, thus enabling the achievement of more activities. However, the prosthesis actuator must then accommodate a wide range of speed and torque to support the various activities, plus provide power over the course of the entire day. Consequently, powered prostheses provide the ability to perform more tasks at the expense of substantial weight, noise, and battery life, which in turn affect their acceptability and clinical viability.To address these shortcomings, we propose a hybrid actuation design for prosthetic knees. The proposed hybrid actuation system uses a motor, transmission, and control only for those activities requiring net-positive mechanical energy, such as climbing on stairs and ramps or performing sit-to-stand transfers. For non-positive mechanical energy tasks, such as standing and walking, the motor and transmission are mechanically disconnected, and passive knee components are used alone, thus achieving improved joint dynamics, and avoiding any electrical energy consumption.Copyright © 2017 by ASME


On 8th November 2016 honorable prime minister of India took a phenomenal step by declaring that two highest denomination currency notes in India (500 rupee notes and 1000 rupee notes) will not remain legal tender. Demonetization decision coupled with government's initiative to make India a cashless economy is expected to bring a phenomenal transformation in the way people make payments and expected to increase inclination towards online payment. Among the various modes of online payments the mode gaining popularity during present time is E-wallets. In a nation such as India where larger part of clients still favors Cash-On-Delivery, it is difficult to fasten the pace of process of innovation diffusion such as digital wallets. This generates research interest to study the alacrity of people to use E-wallets and factors influencing the adoption of E-wallets including the factors refraining the usage of it, during the post demonetization period. This research paper is aimed at examining the adoption of E-wallets as a mode of payment in Ahmedabad City and to ascertain the factors encouraging and discouraging the usage of E-wallets during the post demonetization period. This paper also throws light on ancillary issues like impact of demonetization decision on preference for online payments, impact of various demographic factors on usage of E-wallets, problems faced by people while using E-wallets etc. The study is based on 318 valid responses received through a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed by using percentages, cross tabulation and statistical tools like ANOVA. Through this study we found that, E-wallet users give very high level of importance to attributes like security, privacy concerns and pricing (Fees). The major problems frequently encountered by the respondents while using E-wallet are long transaction time taken by E-wallet for processing the transaction, security breach and delayed payment. Demonetization drive of government of India has contributed immensely towards awareness, usage and acceptance of online payment.


The dynamics of biologically relevant molecules exposed to ionizing radiation contains many facets and spans several orders of magnitude in time and energy. In the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectral range, multi-electronic phenomena and bands of correlated states with inner-valence holes must be accounted for in addition to a plethora of vibrational modes and available dissociation channels. The ability to track changes in charge density and bond length during ultrafast reactions is an important endeavor toward more general abilities to simulate and control photochemical processes, possibly inspired by those that have evolved biologically. By using attosecond XUV pulses extending up to 35 eV and few-femtosecond near-infrared pulses, we have previously time-resolved correlated electronic dynamics and charge migration occurring in the biologically relevant molecule adenine after XUV-induced sudden ionization. Here, using additional experimental data, we comprehensively report on both electronic and vibrational dynamics of this nucleobase in an energy range little explored to date with high temporal resolution. The time-dependent yields of parent and fragment ions in the mass spectra are analyzed to extract exponential time constants and oscillation periods. Together with time-dependent density functional theory and ab-initio Green's function methods, we identify different vibrational and electronic processes. Beyond providing further insights into the XUV-induced dynamics of an important nucleobase, our work demonstrates that yields of specific dissociation outcomes can be influenced by sufficiently well-timed ultrashort pulses, therefore providing a new route for the control of the multi-electronic and dissociative dynamics of a DNA building block.


Why do some autocracies democratize? A country's violent past has received little attention. We argue that genocide and politicide undermine democratization by binding the elites' supporters more tightly to the governing power, while cementing in-group/out-group animosities, and helping preserve the elites' status quo position within the state. We test this argument on a new dataset of government atrocity and democratization since 1900. These novel data allow us to capture many important instances of atrocity missed by others, and thus take a longer look at democratization and violence throughout history. We find that episodes of genocide and politicide are associated with a lower likelihood of democratization in both the short and long run. These effects are larger and more consistent than other common explanations for democratization. They also differ from the effects of non-genocidal civil war violence.


An "evolutionary" approach called the genetic algorithm (GA) was introduced for multimodal optimization in adaptive IIR filtering. However, the disadvantages of using such an algorithm are slow convergence and high computational complexity. Initiated by the merits and shortcomings of the gradient-based algorithms and the evolutionary algorithms, we developed a new hybrid search methodology in which the genetic-type search is embedded into gradient-descent algorithms (such as the LMS algorithm). The new algorithm has the characteristics of faster convergence, global search capability, less sensitivity to the choice of parameters, and simple implementation. The basic idea of the new algorithm is that the filter coefficients are evolved in a random manner once the filter is found to be stuck at a local minimum or to have a slow convergence rate. Only the fittest coefficient set survives and is adapted according to the gradient-descent algorithm until the next evolution. As the random perturbation will be subject to the stability constraint, the filter can always minimum in a stable manner and achieve a smaller error performance with a fast rate. The article reviews adaptive IIR filtering and discusses common learning algorithms for adaptive filtering. It then presents a new learning algorithm based on the genetic search approach and shows how it can help overcome the problems associated with gradient-based and GA algorithms.


Financial statement analysis has been used to assess a company's likelihood of financial distress - the probability that it will not be able to repay its debts. In the dissertation at hand, I provide two essays that add to the literature on the application of financial analysis to distressed firms. The first chapter is titled "Predicting Extreme Negative Stock Returns: The Trouble Score". This chapter examines the ability of accounting information to predict large negative stock returns. The Trouble Score addresses an important gap in the literature. Existing distress risk measures focus on predicting the most extreme negative events such as bankruptcy. However, such events are extremely rare and capture only the most financially distressed firms. There are many firms that experience financial distress but do not declare bankruptcy. By analyzing firms that experience a stock price decline of 50 percent or more, the T-Score enables researchers to capture extreme negative outcomes for corporate shareholders beyond commonly used financial distress measures such as bankruptcies and technical defaults.The second chapter is titled "Relative Informativeness of Top Executives' Trades in Financially Distressed Firms Compared to Financially Healthy Firms". This chapter examines the informativeness of trades by top executives in firms experiencing varying levels of financial distress. Open-market transactions become differentially costly for the top executives of firms in financial distress. If insiders in a financially distressed firm buy the firm's stock, they expose their financial capital and their human capital to the risks associated with the firm, thus making their trade differentially costly. It is conjectured that if the managers sell, they are subject to higher litigation risk. These differential costs increase the credibility and therefore the informativeness of the signal extracted from top executives' trades in financially distressed firms. Consistent with this, I find that there is a positive association between top executives' trades and future fundamental firm performance only in the presence of financial distress. In addition, these trades provide incremental information about the likelihood of survival over the existing distress risk measures. I find that the investors' reaction to the disclosure of top executives' purchases increases with the level of financial distress. The reaction is most negative following top executives' sales in the most financially distressed firms. Finally, I show that there is a delay in the price reaction following top executives' trades. A trading strategy that takes a long position in financially distressed firms in which insiders are net purchasers, earns future monthly abnormal profits of between 1.43 and 2.08 percent. This finding suggests that top executives' trades reveal information that can be used to distinguish financially distressed firms that have good future prospects.


The detection of individual ionized bubbles in H i 21-cm maps is one of the most promising, direct probes of the epoch of reionization (EoR). At least 1000 h of observation would be required for such a detection with either the currently functioning Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) or the upcoming Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). Considering the large investment for telescope time, it is essential to identify the 'optimal redshift' where the prospects of a detection are most favourable. We find that the optimal redshift is determined by a combination of instrument dependent factors and the evolution of the neutral fraction xH i. We find that the redshift range 8.1 ± 1.1 and 9.8 ± 1 are optimum for detecting ionized bubbles with the GMRT and MWA, respectively. The prospects of a detection, we find, are more favourable in a scenario with late reionization with xH i≈ 0.5 at z≈ 7.5 as compared to an early reionization model where xH i≈ 0.5 at z≈ 10. In the late reionization scenario, for both instruments a 3σ detection is possible for bubbles of comoving radius Rb≥ 30 Mpc with 1000 h of observation. Future observations will either lead to the detection of ionized bubbles, or in the event of non-detection, lead to constraints on the product xH iRγb for the observational volume, where γ= 1.5 and 2 for GMRT and MWA, respectively.


Mobile communication systems are moving towards the use of small cell technology to support low latency and high bandwidth applications. This trend is leading to higher operational costs as the number of base stations (BSs) to be managed will increase in proportion to the number of cells. The concept of a Self-Organizing Network (SON) has been proposed as a solution to reduce operational costs and quickly respond to customer needs. In this paper, we propose a SON solution that uses fuzzy logic to support self-configuration and self-optimization mechanisms. We define three fuzzy logic input metrics, four membership functions, and twenty-seven fuzzy rules to implement fuzzy logic controller of the solution. The solution is then validated in a mobile WiMAX simulation environment. Three different scenarios are simulated and the results are evaluated using different metrics. The results show that the proposed solution is efficient and improves the overall performance of a SON-based mobile WiMAX network.


Abstract Amidst global declines in elasmobranch populations resulting predominantly from overfishing, the need to gather data regarding shark ecology is greater than ever. Many species remain data deficient or at risk of going extinct before sufficient conservation measures can be applied. In this review, we summarise existing knowledge regarding the biology and ecology of the Pacific sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon longurio (Jordan & Hilbert, 1882), a small‐bodied carcharhinid shark found in coastal waters of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean that is of both commercial and ecological importance. We compare ecological parameters of this species with its closest extant relatives and identify major knowledge gaps and avenues for future research. In particular, additional studies investigating the behavioural and sensory ecology, as well as potential migratory patterns of the species are needed. Such studies will not only improve our understanding of R. longurio, but provide insight into the extent to which the numerous studies performed on a close relative—Rhizoprionodon terraenovae—provide an accurate representation of the biology and ecology of Rhizoprionodon and carcharhinids more generally.


Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) microspheres have been previously found to support the proliferation and differentiation of a variety of neuronal cells; however, to establish functional neural networks and tissue integration, the cells on the microspheres have to be connected. It was found that neurites bridged the microspheres but these connections were fragile. Thus, the neurons on PHBV microspheres (neuron–microspheres) were encapsulated in a laminin–collagen hydrogel to promote and protect the bridging formations. Bridges were found across the continuous surface between microspheres in contact (surface bridges), and in the gel space between microspheres (suspended bridges). This neuron–microsphere–hydrogel construct increased the proportion of bridge-forming neurites by 31% as compared to neuron–microspheres alone. Furthermore, the neuron–microsphere–hydrogel was found to increase the proportion of suspended bridges by 3.5 times. The surface bridges were subsequently verified to form from neurites extending across continuous surfaces, and thus packing microspheres closer to generate more continuous surfaces increased surface bridging by 70%. However, seeding cells into the gel space did not increase the proportion of suspended bridges but this still increased the overall proportion of bridges by 21%. Images of neurites in the gel space suggested that suspended bridges could have formed instead from neurites extending out of microsphere surfaces into the gel space. This is the first study to focus on neurite bridging and microspheres as scaffolds supported by hydrogel. Furthermore, a novel neurite guidance cue was found in the form of continuous surfaces.


Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases comprise a group of dominantly inherited pathology caused by an expansion of an unstable polyQ stretch which is presumed to form β-sheets. Similar to other amyloid pathologies, polyQ amyloidogenesis occurs via a nucleated polymerization mechanism, and proceeds through energetically unfavorable nucleus whose existence and structure are difficult to detect. Here, we use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent to assess the conformation of the polyQ stretch in the nucleus that initiates polyQ fibrillization. Comparison of the kinetic stability of various structures of polyQ peptide with a Q-length in the pathological range (Q40) revealed that steric zipper or nanotube-like structures (β-nanotube or β-pseudohelix) are not kinetically stable enough to serve as a template to initiate polyQ fibrillization as opposed to β-hairpin-based (β-sheet and β-sheetstack) or α-helical conformations. The selection of different structures of the polyQ stretch in the aggregation-initiating event may provide an alternative explanation for polyQ aggregate polymorphism.


Objective
To explore the clinical efficacy and indications of kyphoplasty with movement and secondary enlargement of balloon for the compression fracture of vertebral body with ruptured posterior wall.

Methods
A retrospective analysis was carried out on the data of 29 patients (10 males, 19 females; age range: 55-86 years old; mean age: 71 years old; 29 verte-bral bodies in total) who suffered from compression fracture of the thoracolumbar spine and below, and underwent kyphoplasty through the movement and secondary enlargement of balloon within the vertebral body and were followed up from January 2011 to November 2014. These patients had backache, accompanied by lowered support, limitation of movement, no symptom of nervous lesion on both lower extremities and no past history of balloon kyphoplasty. All fractured vertebral bodies were at T11 or below, including 1 case at T11, 4 cases T12, 11 cases L1, 9 cases L2 and 4 cases L3. The causes of injury included fall (19 cases), car accident (8 cases) and unknown reasons (2 cases). All patients underwent kyphoplasty with the movement and secondary enlargement of balloon within the vertebral body. Photos were taken immediately after the surgery, at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months, and these patients were assessed and analyzed in terms of vertebral height, Cobb angle, visual analogue score (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI).

Results
The operation time (including the formation and solidification of bone cement) of 29 patients was 40 to 65 min and the mean time was 55±7 min; the blood loss during operation was 2 to 15 ml and the mean blood loss was 5±2 ml; the injected volume of bone cement was 2.5-7.5 ml and the mean volume was 5.5±0.5 ml. Post-operative pain was relieved and ambulation was performed under the protection of lumbar orthosis brace. Statstical analysis was conducted on VAS, ODI, vertebral height and Cobb angle before operation and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after operation, showing statistically significant differences. X ray examination found that there was no alternation or displacement of bone cement location, and no change in vertebral morphology, the vertebral height and cobb angle remained the post-operative status, and posterior wall rupture of the vertebral body was recovered well. CT revealed that the morphology of bone cement was irregular and closely integrated with bone substance, and no cavity or fissure was seen.

Conclusion
Kyphoplasty with movement and secondary enlargement of balloon within the vertebral body has a good, definite clinical efficacy in treating compression vertebral fracture with incomplete posterior wall of the vertebral body without obvious displacement of fractured bone and symptom of nervous lesion on both lower extremities. This surgery is easy to operate, and has an immediate analgesic effect, which could recover vertebral height as well as reduce kyphosis deformity and improve patient's prognosis.

Key words:
Spinal fractures; Kyphoplasty; Treatment outcome


Power systems become large and complex, so the occurrence rates of a great deal of energy loss caused by faults become high. In this situation, the development of the efficient search system for high risk events of power systems is strongly required. Risk is defined as the product of energy loss and its occurrence rate, considering that the goal of power systems is the stable supply of power. This paper presents the offline search system which can search accurately and efficiently high risk events of power systems resulted from the loss of transient stability caused by natural disasters. It was applied to the model system composed of 3 generators and 9 buses. The results of application have clarified its effectiveness.


Tuberculosis control must be organized by establishing programmes that are then implemented rigorously. The aim is to eradicate tuberculosis by applying a set of treatment procedures. These include, in particular, the detection of infectious cases in symptomatic patients who present to health services and their rapid treatment with chemotherapy, which makes them non-infectious and ensures their full recovery. An essential part of the programme is the information system, which enables treatment results to be evaluated and the efficacy of the treatment to be monitored. The model of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) for low income countries has proved to be effective, and has been recognized as one of the most efficient health interventions. The eradication of tuberculosis is possible: tuberculosis has a slow endemic cycle and tuberculosis can be reduced faster than drug resistance can emerge. In addition, all the tools required for tuberculosis control are already available and HIV infection is not yet widespread in several of the countries where tuberculosis is prevalent. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need for the rigorous and standardized application of the methods we have developed.


1991 The contents of this paper are the author's sole responsibility. They do not necessarily represent the views of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies or any of its Members. This publication is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.


Global warming has the potential to increase soil respiration (RS), one of the major fluxes in the global carbon (C) cycle. RS consists of an autotrophic (RA) and a heterotrophic (RH) component. We combined a soil warming experiment with a trenching experiment to assess how RS, RA, and RH are affected. The experiment was conducted in a mature forest dominated by Norway spruce. The site is located in the Austrian Alps on dolomitic bedrock. We warmed the soil of undisturbed and trenched plots by means of heating cables 4 °C above ambient during the snow‐free seasons of 2005 and 2006. Soil warming increased the CO2 efflux from control plots (RS) by ∼45% during 2005 and ∼47% during 2006. The CO2 efflux from trenched plots (RH) increased by ∼39% during 2005 and ∼45% during 2006. Similar responses of RS and RH indicated that the autotrophic and heterotrophic components of RS responded equally to the temperature increase. Thirty‐five to forty percent or 1 t C ha−1 yr−1 of the overall annual increase in RS (2.8 t C ha−1 yr−1) was autotrophic. The remaining, heterotrophic part of soil respiration (1.8 t C ha−1 yr−1), represented the warming‐induced C loss from the soil. The autotrophic component showed a distinct seasonal pattern. Contribution of RA to RS was highest during summer. Seasonally derived Q10 values reflected this pattern and were correspondingly high (5.3–9.3). The autotrophic CO2 efflux increase due to the 4 °C warming implied a Q10 of 2.9. Hence, seasonally derived Q10 of RA did not solely reflect the seasonal soil temperature development.


I. INTRODUCTION TYPES OF LUNG ABSCESS Pulmonary suppuration, though long a matter of much clinical interest, remains one of the conditions of which the underlying etiologic factors are still in dispute. Several types of lung abscesses seem to occur, each of which may develop from quite different causes. With our present knowledge, classification from the pathologic point of view seems wisest. Aschner 1 groups the several types as follows: 1. Bronchiectasis. 2. Bronchiectatic abscess. 3. Suppurative pneumonitis. 4. Extrabronchial abscess. Among the more common clinical forms of lung abscess is that which is now recognized as developing subsequent to operation. This recent recognition emphasizes the importance of studying and classifying postoperative lung abscess as a separate clinical entity. The considerable proportion of such abscesses following the operation of tonsillectomy has led the otolaryngologists to study, report on and investigate this condition from both the clinical and laboratory sides. The majority


With the aim of performing Fourier transform spectroscopy in the soft X-ray region, we examined the feasibility of a conventional diffraction grating as a beam splitter in the wavelength range of 1–10 nm. The basic idea of the present research is that the divided positiveand negative-order diffraction beams can be used in X-ray interferometric experiments. We performed a beam-dividing test using a diffraction grating. The grating parameter was chosen by taking into account the geometrical restriction for the negative-order diffraction and the equivalent diffraction efficiency for both light orders. However, we could not detect the negative-order light by using the selected diffraction grating. Keyword: Soft X-ray interferometer, beam splitter, diffraction grating Background and Purpose Undulators have been utilized in third-generation light sources in worldwide synchrotron radiation facilities owing to their high brilliance in the short-wavelength region. Highly brilliant light sources allow the use of well-focused soft X-ray beams with high photon flux, which are necessary to operate soft X-ray grating monochromators at the maximum resolving power. As a result, the resolution of soft X-ray monochromators has been dramatically improved, making it possible carry out soft X-ray spectroscopic experiments with an excitation photon bandwidth narrower than the natural width of the inner-shell excited states . One of the motivations for improving soft X-ray spectrometers relates to the unique capabilities of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectroscopy, which is essentially unrestricted by the natural line width. RIXS projects target high-resolution spectroscopy combined with a bandwidth on the order of sub-meV to clarify various elemental excitations. Until now, monochromators using diffraction gratings have been utilized in soft X-ray spectroscopy and a number of monochromators have been designed over several decades. However, it appears that the theoretical maximum resolving power of a grating monochromator is insufficient for such high-resolution measurements . Therefore, to achieve a higher resolving power, an approach other than the traditional grating-based monochromator must be used. Interferometers are known to exceed grating monochromators in terms of their maximum resolving power. Therefore, interferometric techniques have long been utilized in infrared spectroscopy and, more recently, in the visible and near-UV regions . In the interferometer, the spectral resolution is determined by the difference in the number of waves in the two interfering beams passing an unequal route. This path difference is determined by the design of the mechanical system, and ordinarily, the moving mirror produces the path difference. Good performances are obtained by controlling the path difference, which is needed to achieve the required resolving power. For example, the expected resolving power for a 1.2 mm path difference is 1 × 10 at 0.6 nm (at oxygen K-edge). Furthermore, the next generation of synchrotron sources, known as "diffraction-limited storage rings," will produce fully coherent radiation in the soft X-ray region. The highly coherent flux makes it possible to apply interferometric techniques such as high-resolution spectroscopic measurements. Thus, it would be interesting to consider the possibility of achieving better resolution by introducing interferometers in the soft X-ray region. The main goal of our research is to develop a two-beam interferometer achieving Fourier transform spectroscopy to obtain higher resolution than that of the grating monochromator in the soft X-ray region. The basic operation of a Fourier transform spectrometer is to divide an incident beam into two parts and to recombine them coherently after introducing a phase delay. The Fourier transform of the resulting DOI : 10.18957/rr.4.2.336 SPring-8 Research Report Section C 337 interference pattern, as a function of the path-length difference, yields the energy spectrum of the incident beam. In the interferometric measurements, the beam splitter is a key component in the X-ray region. In practice, interferometry with X-rays is very difficult to execute because of the short wavelengths involved. Only recently have optical technologies advanced sufficiently to make the construction of an X-ray interferometer practical . In the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region, a wave-division-type beam splitter has been proposed and interferometric measurements have been conducted . However, interferometry in the soft X-ray region is significantly behind that in the UV and hard X-ray regions given the limitation of practical optics. In this research, we propose the use of a conventional diffraction grating as a beam splitter. In the present report, we describe the basic concept of the beam splitter and the result of our initial beam deviation measurements. Experimental Summary The basic idea of "the diffraction grating beam splitter" is explained in the schematic drawing shown in Figure 1. A general form of the grating equation for use with monochromators is given by 2dsin(α + β) = mλ, ・・・ (1) where λ is the wavelength of the incident light, and α and β are the angles between the incident and diffracted rays with respect to the grating normal vector, respectively. d is the glove number of the grating and m is an integer representing the order of interest (which can be either positive or negative). In a soft X-ray monochromator, it is necessary to have either positiveor negative-order light, but not both. Commonly, the positive-order light is used to obtain dispersive light, whereas the negative order light is rarely used. In other words, in spite of using the setup as a beam splitter, the separated beam is generally not used for measurement purposes. If we can handle these two splitting beams, we can apply them to interferometric experiments in the soft X-ray region. One of the advantages of this experimental setup is that a conventional grating can also be adapted for the beam splitter. Since we can use the grating not only for the conventional monochromator but also as an interferometer, it is unnecessary to develop novel optics for interferometric measurements. Figure 1: Schematic layout of diffraction grating beam splitter. When designing the diffraction grating for the beam splitter, there are two significant points for the determination of the grating parameter. The first point is a geometrical restriction to eject the negative-order light from the grating surface. Figure 2 shows the diffraction angle as a function of incident photon energy obtained for four different incident angles. For example, when we choose 83.5° as the incident angle, the diffraction angle becomes greater than 90° below 460 eV. In this situation, the negative-order light cannot be ejected from the grating surface. Figure 2 indicates that the available energy range for a beam splitter becomes narrower at the grazing incident layout. In the present beam-dividing measurement, we used 680 eV photons and the grating was mounted at 83.5° with respect to the incident photon beam. Figure 2: Diffraction angle of the grating simulated at four different incident angles. The groove density was fixed at 1200 l/mm. DOI : 10.18957/rr.4.2.336 SPring-8 Research Report Section C 338 The second point is the diffraction efficiency for each order of light. When a diffraction grating with a shallow groove for which the shadow effect can be ignored is used, the relative diffraction efficiency of laminar-type diffractive gratings is given by E(λ,m) = 4sin[πh(cosα + cosβ)/λ]/(mπ), ・・・ (2) where h denotes the groove depth . Figure 3 exhibits the simulated diffraction efficiency of the grating (Shimadzu Co.:30-001) at an incident angle of 83.5°. One characteristic feature indicated in Fig. 3 is that the diffraction efficiency differs for each order of light. In the lower-photon-energy region, the diffraction efficiency of the negative-order light is higher than that of the positive-order light. However, the diffraction efficiency of the negative-order light sharply decreases with increasing incident photon energy. The efficiency of both orders of the X-ray beam becomes equivalent at approximately 685 eV. This simulation suggests that this grating is unfavorable for use as a beam splitter because the energy region where equivalent diffraction efficiency is obtained is quite narrow. However, the diffraction efficiency can be optimized to be equivalent by choosing an appropriate number of grooves and depth; therefore, this problem is solvable. In this study, we used a commercially available grating, because we needed to assess the feasibility of our idea before producing a dedicated grating for the beam splitter. In the present preliminary measurement, we performed the beam division test at 680 eV using the abovementioned grating. Figure 3: Simulated diffraction efficiency for the grating used in the beam-dividing experiment. The grating parameters are summarized in Table 1. Table 1; Grating parameters


Scaling laws for ion temperature gradient driven turbulence in magnetized toroidal plasmas are derived and compared with direct numerical simulations. Predicted dependences of turbulence fluctuation amplitudes, spatial scales, and resulting heat fluxes on temperature gradient and magnetic field line pitch are found to agree with numerical results in both the driving and inertial ranges. Evidence is provided to support the critical balance conjecture that parallel streaming and nonlinear perpendicular decorrelation times are comparable at all spatial scales, leading to a scaling relationship between parallel and perpendicular spatial scales. This indicates that even strongly magnetized plasma turbulence is intrinsically three dimensional.


Sixteen bacterial isolates were obtained from insecticide treated tomato, brinjal maize and ground nut rhizospheric soils by enriching Mineral Salt Medium broth with supplement of chlorpyrifos, Phorate source. These isolates were characterized on the basis of cell morphology, cultural and biochemical properties. Among the eight chlorpyrifos degrading bacterial isolates, CDB-1isolate utilized the more pesticide. Among the eight phorate degrading bacterial isolates, the Phorate degrading bacteria (PDB)-1 isolate utilized the pesticide (Phorate) effectively. Degrading efficiency of isolates was determined by measuring the chlorpyrifos, phorate residual concentrations at intervals using Gas chromatographic method. Among the molecular diversity of 16 organophosphorus pesticide degrading isolates viz., chlorpyrifos degrading isolates 8, phorate degrading isolates 8 were also studied by PCR-RAPD technique. CDB7 shows separate lane with 26 per cent similarity compared to other isolates. CDB5 isolate shows 29 per cent similar when compared with other samples. CDB3 and CDB4 reveal same genetic relatedness according to dendrogram. CDB2 and CDB6 showed 54 percent similarity and CDB1 shows 41 percent similarity. CDB3 and CDB4 isolates are more or less similar in the genome and functional properties. Whereas, CDB7 isolate was highly diverse among other isolates.. PDB5 and PDB6 showed 55 per cent similar in coefficient scale. Whereas PDB2 and PDB3 revealed 75 per cent relatedness. The other isolates, PDB1, PDB7 and PDB4 shows 64–66 per cent similar. The PDB8 was highly diverse from remaining other seven isolates. PDB2 and PDB3 showed similar genome and functional properties.


Objective: We seek to understand the definition of marine genetic resources and marine biological resources, placing it in the historical context of narratives of international law of the sea. We seek to look into the content of common heritage of mankind towards MGRs. We seek to analyze the international legal framework of extraction and use of MGRs while securing easy access to them in accordance with the concept of common heritage of mankind. We seek to investigate the international legal regulation of biopiracy in legal research. The authors consider the importance of necessity to fulfil the lack of the universal definition of biopiracy in relation to MGRs in International Law of the Sea.Methodology: The research uses general scientific and special cognitive techniques wherein legal analysis and synthesis, systemic, formal-legal, comparative-legal, historical-legal and dialectical methods are applied.Results: We found out that for the first time ever, the legal protection of the intangible MGR heritage belonging to indigenous peoples and local communities is going to be universally fixed by maritime law.  The law will also establish a special mechanism to control the concerned parties' access to this knowledge. The traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples falls within the definition of intangible cultural heritage. This fact raises a question about an overlap between the future Agreement and the Convention for the Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Though the sphere that is going to be regulated by the future Agreement is very specific, many of its provisions build upon the previously adopted international legal instruments like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the IOC Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology. Moreover, the scope of the Agreement might overlap with the scope of other international instruments, which have nothing to do with marine law, marine ecology, and marine biodiversity, e.g. the Convention for the Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage.  All the aforementioned aspects should trigger further studies of the legal framework of marine genetic and biological resources. The authors came to the conclusion to extend the concept of the common heritage of mankind to marine genetic resources and we found out the fact that the lack of international legal regulation of the extraction and use of marine genetic resources while securing facilitated access to them in accordance with the concept of the common heritage of mankind, which may lead to an increase in the commission of acts of biopiracy.Contributions: Following a review of the content, we raised possible problems, strategies, suggestions and guidelines for the marine genetic resources and biopiracy.The authors conclude that the implication of the principle of the common heritage of mankind to MGRs may further generate conflicts of law because it is impossible to imply this principle to the high seas. On top of it, the simplified access to MGRs together with the lack of protection of intellectual rights to MGRs and genetic information may result in the overexploitation of marine and oceanic resources as well as the spread of biopiracy. We also point out that it is necessary to find a balance between the freedoms of the high seas, the safeguard of MGRs, and the protection of intellectual property rights to genetic information or marine biotechnologies. The researches considered the distinction between the concepts of marine biological and marine genetic resources and revealed the problems of international legal regulation of the use of marine genetic resources. The authors conclude that generalization of the international legal framework for regulating the use of marine genetic resources needs legal improvement. The authors encourage the complement to the international legal regulation of the universal definition of marine genetic resources and biopiracy.


The color patterns of the 31 species illustrated here represent 30 species known from the Gatun Formation, and one that is new to the formation. These illustrations show the usefulness of ultra-violet light to distinguish morphologically similar forms, fossil and Recent.


Background Previous reports found that a preincision urethral plate (UP) width <8 mm increased the occurrence of urethroplasty complications (UCs) in tubularized incised plate (TIP) hypospadias repair. However, is the classification of the UP width based on an 8 mm cut-off value to predict the outcome of TIP urethroplasty objective enough or universally applicable? The purpose of our study was to assess the effect of the UP width on the outcomes of TIP hypospadias repair in the Eastern population we served. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent TIP hypospadias repair by the same surgeon between August 2013 and December 2019 in our hospital. Data were collected, including demographics, intrinsic parameters of the penis, surgical parameters and subsequent surgical outcomes. The data were analyzed and the cut-off value of the UP width was calculated using a receiving-operator curve. Results Primary TIP urethroplasty was carried out in 116 patients with a mean age of 35.89±29.40 months. The meatal location was distal in 49 patients, midshaft in 56 patients and proximal in 11 patients. The mean glans width was 12.28±1.36 mm, the mean UP width was 5.74±1.37 mm, the mean neourethral length was 1.96±1.32 cm, and the mean operation duration was 87.52±11.47 min. During a median follow-up of 42 (range: 6 to 80) months, UCs developed in 12 patients, and the UP width was significantly related to the occurrence of UCs (P=0.014). According to the 6 mm cut-off value of the UP width by the receiver operating characteristic curve, patients were divided into two groups. Group A (UP width ≥6 mm) included 69 patients, and Group B (UP width <6 mm), 47 patients. UCs occurred in 3 patients in Group A vs. 9 patients in Group B, P=0.010. Conclusions UP width is a potential risk factor for UCs after TIP hypospadias repair. Using this technique with an UP width ≥6 mm is sufficient to result in a good outcome of hypospadias repair.


Increased exposure to radiation is one physiological stressor associated with spaceflight. While known to alter normal physiological function, how radiation affects metabolism of administered medications is unclear. Crew health could be affected if the actions of medications used in spaceflight deviated from expectations formed during terrestrial medication use. Three different doses of gamma radiation (50 mGy – 6.05 Gy) and a sham were administered to groups of 6 mice each, and after various intervals of recovery time, liver gene expression was measured with RT‐qPCR arrays for drug metabolism and DNA repair enzymes. Results indicated ~65 genes of the 190 tested were significantly affected by at least one of the radiation doses. Many of the affected genes are involved in the metabolism of drugs with hydrophobic or steroid‐like structures, maintenance of redox homeostasis and repair of DNA damage. Most affected genes returned to near control expression levels by 7 days post‐treatment. With 6 Gy exposure, metallothionein expression was 132‐fold more than control at the 4 hr time point, and fell at each later time point (11‐fold at 24 hrs, and 8‐fold at 7 days). In contrast, Cyp17a1 showed a 4‐fold elevation at 4 hrs after exposure and remained constant for 7 days.


INTRODUCTION Tickamyer (2000) conceptualizes space in three ways: As place--a specific locale comprising a hybrid of biography and topography (Hall, Lashua, & Coffey, 2006); as relational units developed to organize our ideas of place including comparing between them; and as scale--the size of these relational units used to make comparisons. By comparing places using different relational unit's inequalities between locations operating at a variety of scales can be identified. The term 'inequality' in this case (as used in this paper) refers simply to the spatial dispersion of a distribution, following precedents set by Litchfield (1999) and Kokko et al. (1999). Why do we give precedence to inequality resulting from gender, race or class but fail to give equal consideration to spatial categories (Tickamyer, 2000; Dorling, 2011)"type" : "article-journal", "volume" : "29"}, "uris" : ["http://www.mendeley.com/ documents/?uuid=3e5680c8-4445-45d0-bad6-e9e2fd2d160a" ] }], "mendeley" : {"manualFormatting" : "(Tickamyer, 2000; Dorling, 2011? The achievement of sustainable rural development implicitly depends on the spatial distribution of social, economic, and environmental goods and services that are needed to maintain, reinforce, or improve the vitality of rural areas. The need to understand inequalities in the distribution of environmental conditions across different social groups is highlighted in the UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy (HM Government, 2005) and plays a key role in the work of the Environment Agency and other government bodies (Warburton, 2006; Coleman and Duarte-Davidson, 2007; Defra 2008). There is a growing recognition that to achieve real improvements in rural conditions it is not sufficient simply to consider levels of poverty and environmental quality. The gaps between rich and poor, and between good and bad are at least as important (Boyce, 2007; Hills et al., 2009; Wilkinson and Pickett, 2009). However, there is little research to date that investigates specifically rural inequalities from the necessary interdisciplinary perspective. A society can be considered well-ordered when designed to advance the good of its residents and effectively regulated by a shared public conception of what is considered just. The challenge in identifying concepts of justice is whether they are based on the actual distributions of resources or instead derived from normative principles of what should or could be (Jasso & P.H. Rossi, 1977). That is to identify whether the unequal distribution of a resource only identifies a difference in location or rather implies unfairness or injustice (Le Grand, 1991). The use of participatory geographic information system (PGIS) methods offers the potential to investigate, in a spatial framework, how actual distributions of resources interact with resident's normative principles of a fair or just allocation of goods and services (Dorling, 2010; Soja, 2010). This paper reports on the findings from a project that attempted to look at concepts of place across relational units at different scales to identify both quantitatively and qualitatively the distribution, magnitude and effect of spatial inequalities on rural residents of England in the 21 st Century. This research is used to illustrate the development of novel mixed method approaches incorporating the use of PGIS techniques to help identify perceptions of injustice that may be applicable in a wider range of contexts, places and communities. A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF INEQUALITIES The Social and Environmental Inequalities in Rural Areas (SEIRA) project (www.sei.se/relu/seira) was organized in interlinked phases. Initially, spatial datasets of social, economic and environmental conditions in rural England were derived from existing national datasets and then this information was used to identify and measure inequalities quantitatively. Rural England was identified according to the official UK government rural-urban definition (Bibby and Shepherd (2004)) which was based on population density and linked to settlement morphology. …


Abstract The restoration of the Baroque cathedral of Kalocsa was led by Ernő Foerk between 1907 and 1912. During these years the facades of the church were renewed, a Neo-Baroque ambulatory was added, and excavations were carried out within the sanctuary and in front of the south facade. Based on these excavations, Ernő Foerk published theoretical reconstructions of the first and second medieval cathedrals and criticised the results of the previous research, conducted by Imre Henszlmann. Foerk, being also a scholar of the history of architecture, based his results on analogies. This paper intends to point out the elements which are outdated in the reconstruction of Foerk and his methodology that is still relevant.


This study discusses a dynamic endeavour to form national character in citizenship education through a chronological exploration of the experiences of Japan and Indonesia within two dimensions: administration and curriculum. Nationalization, localization and internationalization perspectives
 were applied. Despite their striking differences in national character, both countries have envisioned a role for nationalism in their citizenship education curricula since the earliest stages. Given Indonesia's heterogeneity, national character has transitioned over time from an independent-spiritual
 period to development and consolidation, democratic/local initiative, and religious-patriotism/national standardized. Japan's more homogeneous national character has transitioned over a longer duration from a westernized/modernized period to Confucian/emperor-centred, democratic and
 peace building, public oriented, and love for country and region/re-patriotism. National character has changed dynamically according to national goals and priorities, reflecting the countries' respective historical backgrounds. These aspects resulted in the unique national character
 of each country's citizenship education, specifically concerning globalization.


This paper describes pathological abnormalities visible on the skin of mummies in the British Museum, London, and the photographic methods used to record their appearances. Although the mummification process limits the clinical information available, features compatible with eczema were identified for only the second time in mummified remains.


We address the task of active learning in the context of semantic segmentation and show that self-consistency can be a powerful source of self-supervision to greatly improve the performance of a data-driven model with access to only a small amount of labeled data. Self-consistency uses the simple observation that the results of semantic segmentation for a specific image should not change under transformations like horizontal flipping (i.e., the results should only be flipped). In other words, the output of a model should be consistent under equivariant transformations. The self-supervisory signal of self-consistency is particularly helpful during active learning since the model is prone to overfitting when there is only a small amount of labeled training data. In our proposed active learning framework, we iteratively extract small image patches that need to be labeled, by selecting image patches that have high uncertainty (high entropy) under equivariant transformations. We enforce pixel-wise self-consistency between the outputs of segmentation network for each image and its transformation (horizontally flipped) to utilize the rich self-supervisory information and reduce the uncertainty of the network. In this way, we are able to find the image patches over which the current model struggles the most to classify. By iteratively training over these difficult image patches, our experiments show that our active learning approach reaches $\sim96\%$ of the top performance of a model trained on all data, by using only $12\%$ of the total data on benchmark semantic segmentation datasets (e.g., CamVid and Cityscapes).


Measurements acquired from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Pelican research aircraft during the second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE 2) are analyzed to derive values for the dry (RH = 40%) aerosol number-to-volume ratio in the submicron size range. This ratio is found to be relatively constant, with a mean value of 168±21 μm−3, in agreement with previous studies elsewhere. The impact of ambient relative humidity (RH) on the dry number-to-volume is also quantified and a procedure for estimating the dry from the ambient ratio established. Finally, the feasibility of a remote retrieval of the aerosol number concentration in the submicron size range, essentially the cloud condensation nucleus concentration active at a nominal 0.2% supersaturation, is partially assessed.


In September 2003, Owen Fennema retired as Editor-in-Chief of IFT Peer-Reviewed Journals. In that issue, Owen's editorial reviewed progress of IFT's peer-reviewed journals under his leadership. That much had been accomplished between 1999 and 2003 under his watch cannot be denied. When Owen took the reins in 1999, he set out 5 main objectives: (1) provide IFT members an outlet for long reviews, short reviews, books, and original research; (2) reduce accept/reject decision timespan from 1 year to less than 60 days; (3) improve the general quality of the work that was accepted; (4) treat sections of JFS much like individual journals, each with a Scientific Editor, and eventually achieve their actual separation; and (5) achieve smooth-running electronic submission and publication. Needless to say, each of these objectives was accomplished in that short 4-year span with one exception: the sections of JFS did not metamorphose into separate journals. So what did Daryl Lund see as his main objectives when he assumed the position of Editor-in-Chief? In the same September 2003 issue of JFS (Volume 68, issue 7, page viii), I stated, "One role of the Institute of Food Technologists as the professional society for food science and technology is to provide its membership and others with peer-reviewed publications that are recognized for excellence, relevance, and timeliness." That was pretty vague without specificity of how this was going to be accomplished. So, how has this commitment manifested itself in IFT's peer-reviewed journals? To be sure we have advanced the work of Owen by (1) continually reducing the time from submission to final decision (now less that 58 days on average), (2) posting and making available accepted manuscript immediately after final proofing, (3) drawing attention to the journal through a redesign and adding a cover picture, (4) engaging a publishing house (Wiley-Blackwell) as a copublisher to streamline production and marketing, (5) adding 3 new sections to cover the field of food science and technology, (6) enrolling Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (CRFSFS) into Thompson-Reuters' Citation Index (to generate an impact factor), (6) encouraging the divisions of IFT to adopt IFT journals as their own (like the Education Division and Journal of Food Science Education, JFSE), (7) increasing the rejection rate (now around 70%) so that the best food science and technology papers are in JFS, (8) moving to a 12-month electronic, online release schedule and quarterly print schedule for JFS, (9) providing free access to JFSE and CRFSFS, (10) eliminating page charges for IFT members, (11) increasing impact factor for JFS from around 1.0 to 1.733 in 2010, and (12) most importantly, appointing people into critical roles of Scientific Editor and Associate Editor for the sections of JFS and the editorships of JFSE and CRFSFS. Can it be almost 9 years ago that we began this quest? Can it be that I have had the privilege of serving IFT as Editor-in-Chief, working with a most remarkable young woman, Amanda Ferguson, who nearly single handedly elevated the workflow and daily responsibilities to a new level of excellence in any journal, having the support of staff like Barbara Bryd Keenan, Jerry Bowman, and Bob Swientek and the Board of Directors, and finally, having the support of a group of dedicated colleagues as SEs and AEs for the journals? Not only can it be, it was! Now it is time to turn over this thriving enterprise of which I am so proud to a new Editor-in-Chief. I have known Allen Foegeding for a very long time and have had the pleasure of working with him while he served as an Associate Editor in the Food Chemistry section of JFS, and more recently as the Scientific Editor of the Food Chemistry section. He is an excellent food scientist, has high principles of scientific integrity, is dedicated to elevating the quality of the IFT journals, and knows how to work with and motivate people. Following this editorial, Allen lays out his vision for IFT's peer-reviewed journals as he takes the helm. I have absolutely no doubt that the trajectory for excellence, relevance, and timeliness for IFT's journals will continue the upward trend under his leadership. Allen, I wish you well in this undertaking. Have fun; it has been my pleasure!


Now a days, there are number of cab services providers which are confusing the client with number of similar kind of service options. That's why there is a need of selecting a quality service from a set of given services. It motivates us to design an approach which is efficient in providing the effective service after the data analysis of real time data developed and collected through Amazon Web Services. This paper aims at analyzing a mathematical model that is used to predict the most efficient output of a dataset of a model using Artificial Neural Network. The proposed mathematical model is made and applied on a database of real time cab services developed using Amazon Web Services to predict the effective web service. We have analyzed the real time dataset using Rapidminer. The Analysis is done on the bases of the threshold and root mean square error values obtained. We are proposing the methodology which is highly competent and accurate in obtaining the results.


Increasing populations combined with decreasing developable plots are leading to higher real estate prices. Communities are attempting to address these higher prices by increasing the number of residential units per acre. One way to increase the supply is to use fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) to build larger and taller structures. However, as FRTW is increasingly being used, substitute products that do not meet the definition of FRTW in the building codes are also being increasingly used. How does one distinguish the two? By relying on knowing how FRTW is manufactured, where it can be used, and on building code requirements, responsible parties will better understand why FRTW is different from these products and how to verify that only code-compliant, chemically impregnated FRTW is used in larger, taller structures.


Background Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterized by elevated pressure in pulmonary arteries. This study was performed to explore the critical miRNAs and genes affecting the pathogenesis of CTEPH. Methods GSE56914 dataset (10 CTEPH whole blood samples and 10 control samples) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Using limma package, the differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were acquired. After miRNA-target pairs were obtained using miRWalk2.0 tool, a miRNA-target regulatory network was built by Cytoscape software. Using DAVID tool, significantly enriched pathways involving the target genes were identified. Moreover, the protein–protein interaction network and transcription factor-target regulatory network were built by the Cytoscape software. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) experiments and luciferase assay were conducted to validate miRNA/gene expression and miRNA–target regulatory relationship, respectively. Results There were 25 DE-miRNAs (8 up-regulated and 17 down-regulated) between CTEPH and control groups. The target genes of has-let-7b-3p, has-miR-17-5p, has-miR-3202, has-miR-106b-5p, and has-miR-665 were enriched in multiple pathways such as "Insulin secretion". qRT-PCR analysis confirmed upregulation of hsa-miR-3202, hsa-miR-665, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) as well as downregulation of hsa-let-7b-3p, hsa-miR-17-5p, and hsa-miR-106b-5p. Luciferase assay indicated that MMP2 was negatively mediated by hsa-miR-106b-5p. Conclusions These miRNAs and genes were associated with the pathogenesis of CTEPH. Besides, hsa-miR-106b-5p was involved in the development of CTEPH via targeting MMP2.


In this study, we explore the social construction of the monarch butterfly as a conservation icon in order to understand how the butterfly has come to be endowed with the power to shape public conversations and potentially alter policy and practice. Our analysis is guided by the sociological concepts of coproduction and boundary objects, which reveal how this butterfly has animated and sustained conversations across diverse organizational boundaries. We find that engagement with narratives of beauty, natural wonder, scientific discovery, conservation imperatives, and civic duty has allowed the monarch to enroll actors in a broad network that gives rise to surprising, emergent properties. These properties make the monarch a powerful communication vehicle and a potent ally in environmental politics. Our analysis of the historical and contemporary construction of the monarch as an icon contributes to ongoing efforts to bring resources from critical social science to bear on the strengthening of science-policy–practice interfaces.


Psychological experiments demonstrate that repeated pairings of a cue and a consumption good eventually create cue-based complementarities: the presence of the cue raises the marginal utility derived from consumption. In this paper, such dynamic preferences are embedded in a rational choice model. Behavior that arises from this model is characterized by endogenous cue sensitivities, costly cue-management, commitment, and cue-based spikes in impatience. The model is used to understand addictive/habit-forming behaviors and marketing. The model explains why preferences change rapidly from moment to moment, why temptations should sometimes be avoided, and how firms package and position goods.


Background and Objective: Routine cross-matched blood preparation preoperatively without transfusion can lead to a costly waste of resources. A 12-month report from our blood bank demonstrated an inappropriate use of preoperative blood order with the blood cross-match to transfusion (C/T) ratio of 2.08 (62,300/29,893 units). This study aims to determine the efficiency of blood ordering in elective breast surgery before implementation of a blood order guideline. Methods: Consecutive elective breast surgery  from January to December 2011 were identified retrospectively using an electronic management information system of Srinagarind hospital. Patients transfused pre-operatively were excluded. Pre-operative cross-match status and blood transfusion data for each patient were identified from the medical and anesthetic records. Cross-match to transfusion (C/T) ratio and blood usage parameters (transfusion probability;%T and  transfusion index; Ti) were calculated. Results: There were 195 patients undergone breast surgery. 233 units of pack red blood cell were prepared for   185 cases. Only 8 units of the prepared blood were used for the 6 patients.  The total expense for the blood preparation was 63,720 baht, while the expense of  the actual transfused blood was 2,160 baht. T he C/T ratio was 29.1.  The calculated transfusion probability (%T) and Ti were 3.24 and 0.04 respectively. Conclusion: This study shows the over-ordering blood for elective breast surgery and cannot justify performing a routine pre-operative cross-match. Blood should be typed and screened preoperatively and cross-matched only when clinically indicated to minimize inappropriate request and  expenditure, and to improve blood stock management. Keyword: Routine cross-matched preoperatively, elective breast surgery


Background: Dysmenorrhea is one of the common complaints in women. Globally, the reported prevalence rate is 90%. Sometimes the pain intensity is so severe that it may depict labour contractions. Hence, it greatly affects the productivity of women and causes socioeconomic lose. To subside such pain, over the counter medications are widely used, regardless of its systemic side effects. This study was conducted to estimate the extent to which women are affected with dysmenorrhea and to compare the effectiveness of Taping and Hydrotherapy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
Methodology: A survey-based quasi experimental single blinded, two- stage study with pre-test and post-test design was conducted. Fifty menstruating women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea of grade 2 or 3 between the age group of 15 to 25 years were recruited and divided into two groups with 25 females in each group. Females with any severe co-morbidity, abdominal surgery within past 2 years, intrauterine contraceptive devices, any skin lesions (scar, cyst or erosions) or who have recently conceived were excluded from the study sample. Females in taping group received treatment 2 days prior to menstruation which then continued till the first day of cycle. The hydrotherapy group was treated with 30 minutes session for 2 days a week, during non-menstruating phase. Data was collected using a Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) and Verbal Multidimensional Scoring System (VMSS) to estimate the frequency of dysmenorrhea, specifically primary dysmenorrhea in our society. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was completed before and after the intervention. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 22.0.
Results: The survey revealed 92.4% of women were suffering from dysmenorrhea out of which 64% were primary dysmenorrheic. A significant decline was observed in Pain Rating Index (PRI) before and after intervention i.e. the mean PRI prior to the intervention was 29.53±2.53 for the taping group and 29.4±3.18 for the hydrotherapy group while after intervention it decreased up to 4.33±0.61 in taping and 4.26±0.7 in hydrotherapy group. Whereas, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) means before intervention were 8.53±1.06 and 8.73±1.03 for taping and hydrotherapy group respectively. Which then decreased to 3.93±1.03 and 5.2±1.52 for the two groups. The mean Present Pain Intensity (PPI) scores were 4.33±0.61 in taping and 4.26±0.7 in hydrotherapy group and reduced to 1.66±0.81 and 2.26±1.57.
Conclusion: The study findings proclaimed that taping technique was found more effective in decreasing the painful cramps in women with primary dysmenorrhea as compared to the hydrotherapy.


A review of the entrepreneurship literature suggests that differences among entrepreneurs and among their ventures are as great as the variation between entrepreneurs and nonentrepreneurs and between new firms and established firms. A framework for describing new venture creation integrates four major perspectives in entrepreneurship: characteristics of the individual(s) who start the venture, the organization which they create, the environment surrounding the new venture, and the process by which the new venture is started.


The silica modified carbon paste electrode (SMCPE) was applied to the voltammetric detection of copper(II) at trace level after its accumulation under open‐circuit conditions. As demonstrated by cyclic voltammetric experiments, silica particles displayed an attractive ability to efficiently preconcentrate trace copper(II) from ammonia solution, according to a combined acid‐base and complexation reaction: 2 (SiOH) + Cu(NH3)urn:x-wiley:10400397:media:ELAN1140090910:tex2gif-stack-1 ⇌ (SiO)2Cu(NH3)2 + 2 NHurn:x-wiley:10400397:media:ELAN1140090910:tex2gif-stack-2. The analytical procedure involved four successive steps: the preconcentration during a given period of time at open circuit in the ammoniated analyte solution, the medium exchange of the electrode (washed with water) to a pure electrolyte solution (0.1 M HNO3), a 30 s electrolysis for reducing the accumulated CuII species, and the square wave voltammetric determination. Experimental parameters affecting either the uptake of copper(II) or its voltammetric detection at SMCPE were explored, including the solution pH and ionic strength, the ammonia concentration in the preconcentration medium, the preconcentration time, the deposition potential and duration, the anodic stripping scan mode or the silica loading into the paste. A detection limit of 2 × 10−9 M has been achieved after 10 min preconcentration (from a 0.5 M NH3 medium), as determined for a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3, and a linear calibration plot was obtained in the 5 × 10−9 M to 5 × 10−6 M concentration range. The relative standard deviation (n = 8) for the determination of a 5 × 10−7 M Cu11 sample was 8%.


Cognitive abilities, personality, motivation, knowledge, behavior, emotions, development factors are essential for teachers. The purpose of this study is to provide capacity-building strategies to encourage teacher innovation through personal activities and the external work environment. This study was directed in a descriptive way based on the 2018 UKG scores, which were obtained from the NPD Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemdikbud) website. Our analysis shows that innovative teacher work behavior can be a reference and valuable contribution to improving teacher competency both in terms of pedagogical and professional abilities. Teachers must work in a climate fostering creativity and innovation to ensure a globally competitive educational output.


The growth of managed care and dental management service organizations has led to much debate over the quality of dental care delivered to patients. Quality of care is certainly an overused expression. The problem is that there is a lack of consensus on what defines quality dentistry. Recent research appears to be limited to a few outcome studies to determine the most effective treatment protocols. This article will present an uncommon perspective on whether or not there exists a difference in the quality of dentistry delivered to managed care patients versus fee-for-service patients.


How to model the time-harmonic electromagnetic behavior of possibly damaged fiber-reinforced composite laminates is considered within full-wave and approximated frameworks. This involves so-called super-cell concepts, but also encompasses a variety of first-order models, notably homogenization. Once sound approaches set up, and validated at frequencies from MHz to THz, depending on materials and geometries, with testing as possible by FEM, we focus onto imaging. Emphasis is mostly limited to pin-pointing several missing fibers in the laminate, a number of methodologies being proposed. The latter go from rather straightforward MUSIC-like imaging to sparsity-constrained iterative solutions, those involving to care for the aforementioned sparsity resulting from lack of a few fibers. Very near to more far-field scattered field data in the reflection mode are assumed to be collected in different configurations of potential pratical interest. Particular emphasis is also put on the idea of super-localization as possibly associated to resonances exhibited within the laminate at frequencies such that probing wavelengths are about the fiber radii, while enhancement of resolution is to proceed from low-frequency testing involving to go from the small-scale models to large-scale models.


BACKGROUND: Skin lesions in neonatal period range from transient self-limiting conditions to serious dermatoses requiring specific therapies. They can cause significant psychological distress to parents. The awareness of the fact that most of these conditions are benign and transient is important so that parents can be reassured. Since studies on neonatal dermatoses are limited, this study has been planned to know the spectrum of cutaneous lesions in neonates, both physiological and pathological. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All neonates <28 days old, attending KLEs Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Belgaum, were recruited into the study. Newborns admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were excluded from the study. A written informed consent was obtained from the mother. The study design was nonrandomized cross-sectional study. A sample size calculation was done using the Chi-square test. Analysis of data was performed by STATA 11.2. An Ethical Committee clearance was obtained before the start of the study. RESULTS: One hundred and four neonates were enrolled in the study, out of which 49 (47%) neonates were male and 55 (53%) were female. Fifty-one (49%) neonates were born through normal vaginal delivery and 53 (51%) by cesarean section. Three (2.88%) neonates were born preterm, 5 (4.81%) post-term, and 96 (92.31%) neonates were born at term. Ninty-nine (95%) had physiological changes and 5 (5%) had pathological changes. The most common physiological change observed was mongolian spot in 34 (33%) of neonates followed by erythema toxicum neonatorum in 27 (26%) neonates and physiological desquamation in 21 (20%). Other less common physiological skin changes observed were milia, miliaria, hypertrichosis lanuginosa, vernix caseosa, and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. Pathological skin changes were observed in only five neonates, out of which one had bullous impetigo, one had birth trauma, 1 had furunculosis, 1 had intertrigo, and 1 was a collodion baby. CONCLUSION: Skin changes in newborn are very common. However, majority are physiological and transient requiring no treatment.


Methylenedianiline (DAPM) rapidly injures biliary epithelial cells (BEC) in vivo. Prior to evident BEC injury, biliary glucose and inorganic phosphate appreciably rise, which could stem from loosened tight junctions (TJ). Concurrently, ultrastructural abnormalities in BEC mitochondria of DAPM-treated animals are observed, suggesting other impairments. Our objective was to develop an in vitro BEC model to assess the time course of impairments in TJ integrity, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial function following DAPM exposure. We exposed monolayers of primary, polarized rat BEC to bile collected from rats prior to (Basal Bile) or after oral treatment (DAPM-Bile) with 50 mg DAPM/kg. DAPM-Bile collected during 0-60 min (1st Hr) and during 61-120 min (2nd Hr) after treatment was pooled from four to six rats. When monolayers were exposed to 1st Hr DAPM-Bile for 120 min, metabolic activity (XTT assay) decreased approximately 75%, and transepithelial resistance decreased approximately 16% in agreement with an approximately 65% increase in leakage of a glucose analog, methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (AMG), from apical to basolateral media. By 60 min, AMG uptake was decreased approximately 40%. Mitochondrial function was very rapidly compromised, with approximately 120% increases in the green-to-red fluorescence ratio of JC-1 (mitochondrial membrane potential dye) at 15 min and approximately 55% decreases in ATP levels at 30 min. This sequence of events indicates that DAPM impairs BEC mitochondria prior to impairments in glucose uptake or TJ integrity. Thus, our in vitro primary rat BEC/bile exposure model mimics in vivo observations and yields basic information about the time course of events that occur during DAPM-induced injury.


It is known that the Harderian gland of male Syrian hamster synthesizes a much smaller amount of porphyrins than the gland of the female and that castration greatly increases this synthesis. We have studied in this experimental model the behavior of the different classes of secretory cells and their role in the synthesis of porphyrins, attempting to clarify the participation of these compounds in the cell damage leading to the formation of clear cells previously described in the gland of females. We have also investigated the mechanism underlying the death of these secretory cells after porphyrin accumulation (necrosis vs apoptosis). To achieve this, we have utilized the following techniques: (a) morphometrical; (b) ultrastructural; (c) biochemical (fluorescence spectrophotometry); and (d) molecular (DNA nick-end labeling in methacrylate sections and dot blot analysis). The glands from male hamsters (serving as control) present a very low rate of damaged cells that progressively rises after castration. This rise runs parallel to that of porphyrin synthesis, porphyrin deposits, and the decrease of Type II secretory cells. The damage and subsequent death of the secretory cells in the gland is produced by the deposit of porphyrins in the mitochondrial membrane. This porphyrin accumulation leads to a complete mitochondrial destruction that finally results in cell death and its secretion into the lumen. We finally conclude that this event is not a physiological cell death (apoptosis) but the consequence of the toxic accumulation of porphyrins (necrosis).


Autonomic dysfunction is a serious complication of diabetes and can lead to cardiovascular abnormalities and premature death. It was recently proposed that autonomic dysfunction is triggered by oxidation‐mediated inactivation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), impairing synaptic transmission in sympathetic ganglia and resulting in autonomic failure. We investigated whether the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its role in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) could be contributing to the events that initiate sympathetic malfunction under high glucose conditions. Using biochemical, live imaging and electrophysiological tools we demonstrated that exposure of sympathetic neurons to high glucose increases RAGE expression and oxidative markers, and that incubation with RAGE ligands (e.g. AGEs, S100 and HMGB1) mimics both ROS elevation and nAChR inactivation. In contrast, co‐treatment with either antioxidants or an anti‐RAGE IgG prevented the inactivation of nAChRs. Lastly, a role for RAGE in this context was corroborated by the lack of sensitivity of sympathetic neurons from RAGE knock‐out mice to high glucose. These data define a pivotal role for RAGE in initiating the events associated with exposure of sympathetic neurons to high glucose, and strongly support RAGE signaling as a potential therapeutic target in the autonomic complications associated with diabetes.