The paper presents the trends of Georgian hazelnut market development and analyses the competitive advantages which will help Georgia to enter international hazelnut market using modern technologies. The history of hazelnut crop development and hazelnut varieties in Georgia are discussed. For hazelnut supply analysis trends in hazelnut production are considered, trends in export and import development is evaluated, domestic hazelnut market is studied and analysed based on expert interviews and initial accounting materials. In order to achieve and strengthen its position in international market, potential advantages and disadvantages of Georgian hazelnut are revealed, analysis of export and import possibilities of hazelnut is presented. Recommendations are developed based on the conclusions, which are made through identifying the key factors that hinder development of Georgian hazelnut market. Keywords—Hazelnut market, hazelnut export and import, competitiveness of hazelnut.


In this study, electrical conductive yarns were prepared by wet-spinning technique and a physically coating process. Carbon black (CB) was used to make the fiber gaining electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity and morphological characteristics of the developed conductive fibres were studied and compared. The results show that linear resistivity of the produced conductive yarns ranges from 1 to a few hundred kΩ per centimeter, mainly depending on processing technique and substrate fibers. It is also shown that the physically coating processes will not significantly affect the mechanical properties of the fibers and yarns. These conductive yarns are lightweight, durable, flexible, and cost competitive; and able to be crimped and subjected to textile processing without any difficulty.


Immunogenicity and property of antigens obtained from Trypanosoma gambiense-infected mouse blood (IMP) were examined. A strong vaccine effect against intravenous challenges with 3 x10(3) parasites given on study day 3, 5, or 14 (day 0 = immunization) was observed in mice immunized with a combination of IMP (2 mg protein/mouse) and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). But when the challenge was given on day 21 or 30, per cent survival in mice dropped to the 20- and 40-per cent level, respectively. Among fractioned components of IMP, IMP-1, IMP-2, and imp-3, by gel filtration with Sephadex G-200, all of the mice immunized with IMP-1 antigen alone or together with FCA and challenged on day 5 were able to conquer intraperitoneal challenges with 1 x10(2) parasites. Mice immunized with IMP-2 or IMP-3 died within 6 days after challenge. Moreover, protection efficacy shown by IMP-1p (144,000 xg sediment of IMP-1) antigen in mice was similar to that by IMP and IMP-1 antigens. IMP-3 yielded a single precipitin line against mouse anti-IMP serum by Ouchterlony double diffusion method but this response was eliminated when the antiserum was absorbed by IMP-1p. No precipitin line was identified between mouse anti-IMP serum and IMP-1 or IMP-2. From electron microscopic observations, elements of IMP-1 and IMP-1p are possibly corresponded to the fragments of filopodia of the parasites.


This study presents a series of shock-tube tests conducted on structural panels using ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) as the explosive. The characteristics of the blast waves propagating through the shock tube were analyzed by measuring the pressure generated at specific locations inside the shock tube. The extent of differences in blast pressure generated in a confined space, such as the shock tube, was compared to that predicted by the proposed method in the Unified Facilities Criteria 3-340-02 report. The target specimens of this study were plain reinforced concrete (RC), high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs), and composite panels. Polyurea-coated RC panels and steel plate grid structure-attached RC panels were used as composite panels to evaluate the effectiveness of the coating and structural damping methods on the enhancement of structural blast resistance. The tests were conducted with different ANFO charges, and the crack patterns and lengths on the rear surface of each panel were measured. Based on the measured results, discussions regarding the blast resistance capacities of each panel type are provided.


While the transference of charge is an essential aspect of every capacitance sensor, a relatively new form of sensor makes overt use of the principle of charge conservation first deduced by Watson in the 1740s. Updated to use a microcontroller, mosfet switches, fet‐input opamps and band gap references, the principle of charge transference can be used to create an extremely sensitive and stable device with unique properties that transcend those of more pedestrian capacitance sensors. Also known as "QT" sensors, charge transfer sensors can have a dynamic range spanning many decades with noise floors in the sub‐femtofarad regime, allowing differential resolutions of mere fractions of a femtofarad. Such sensors are proving to have unique applications considered heretofore impossible, while also proving themselves as replacements for much more expensive sensing systems using photoelectric, acoustic, RF, and optical imaging techniques.


The main objective of this paper is to review the status and performance of the Philippine livestock sector. This review provides discourse on the livestock subsector's performance over the years, and look into ways of bettering outputs and competitive advantages both within domestic commodity systems and beyond. Enhancing the performance of the Philippine agriculture sector remains a key input to economic growth and inclusivity. Focus of development interventions in recent years have been on crops, particularly on the major grain staples. Shifting attention to more competitive and higher value commodities like livestock would do much in enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, as well as MSMEs within the sector. While the subsector presents a glimmer of light in local agriculture, its industries are beset with production and marketing issues.


Graft rejection is a significant complication in cord blood transplantation (CBT), but little is known about the mechanism of rejection. In the present study, to investigate the potential role of T lymphocytes in graft rejection, we isolated a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone from a patient who developed graft rejection after CBT. A female patient received CBT from an unrelated male donor using a reduced-intensity preparative regimen consisting of 125 mg/m 2 fludarabine and 180 mg/m 2 melphalan. The infused total nuclear cell dose was 2.9 × 10 7 /kg. The patient was diagnosed as having graft rejection on day 28 based on the marrow hypoplasia, with complete loss of donor chimerism. The patient achieved primary engraftment after a second CBT. DNA typing of the HLA-A and B loci demonstrated that the recipient was A*1101/A*2402 and B*4404/B*5603, the first CBT donor was A*1101/A*2402 and B*1501/B*5603, and the second CBT donor was A*2402/A*3303 and B*4403/B*5101. We obtained the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) just after the development of graft rejection following CBT, cultured them in interleukin-2-containing media without stimulator cells for 14 days, and isolated two T lymphocyte clones by limiting dilution. One of the two clones, designated N19D8, lysed Epstein Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cells (B-LCL) from the donor, but failed to lyse B-LCL from the patient. Thus, we further investigated the N19D8 clone because it may have been involved in the immunological graft rejection. Flow cytometry and sex chromosome fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed that the N19D8 clone was CD3 + CD4−CD8 + T lymphocyte and originated from the patient. In a cytotoxicity assay for a panel of B-LCL derived from unrelated individuals, N19D8 CTL lysed all of five B-LCL lines from unrelated individuals that shared HLA-B*1501, which is the mismatch antigen in the first CBT, but it failed to lyse B-LCL from nine unrelated individuals without B*1501. To determine if the lack of recognition by N19D8 CTL was solely due to the absence of HLA-B*1501 gene expression, the patient's B-LCL were transfected with HLA-B*1501 cDNA and then employed as targets in cytotoxicity assays. The B*1501-transfected recipient's B-LCL were lysed almost as effectively as the first CBT donor's B-LCL. Furthermore, COS cells transfected with HLA-B*1501 cDNA alone stimulated interferon-γ production of N19D8 CTL. Thus, we concluded that the N19D8 CTL clone recognizes the mismatched HLA-B*1501 molecule as an alloantigen, but not a minor histocompatibility antigen presented by the HLA-B*1501 molecule such as an unidentified male-specific H-Y antigen. We next determined if the N19D8 clone was developed before transplantation, using nested PCR assays specific for the CTL clone's uniquely rearranged T cell receptor Vβ17 chain gene. PCR products were produced by amplification of DNA from pre-transplant as well as post-transplant PBMC. Additionally, the presence of microchimerism of B*15-positive cells in the pre-transplant PBMCs was confirmed by PCR assay specific for the HLA-B*15 . These data demonstrated that the N19D8 CTL clone developed in the patient before the first CBT. The present study demonstrated a potential role of pre-transplant CTLs in graft rejection following CBT. Further studies on mismatched HLA-specific CTLs should help determine the optimal strategy for overcoming graft rejection in CBT.


Isolation is a feature of teachers' classroom performance.
Teachers, while "in action", are isolated most of the time from
their colleagues, and might thus find it stressful when another
professional enters this space to observe their work, be it for
the sake of evaluation or professional development. Studies on
professional development programmes, however, suggest that
teachers benefit from analysing video recordings of their own
classes, not only when they analyse them themselves, but also
when analysing them in group settings. This brings two
potential sources of discomfort for the participants – having
their lesson videotaped and sharing this record of their work
with peers, thus breaking the aforementioned isolation. What is
more, when discussing video recordings of their peers' lessons,
they are forced to navigate carefully in a very complex social
setting. Video clubs (Sherin & van Es, 2009; collaborative
analysis of classroom videos) are a well-established form of
professional development that has been shown to develop
teachers' professional vision as well as influence their
classroom actions. It has also been shown that the discussions
in video clubs are not as straightforward as it would seem and
that they are influenced by the power relations and the
"politics" within the group. In our project, we worked with
practising teachers of English as foreign language that met
regularly in video clubs. Being aware of the specific nature of
this professional development programme, we sought to
understand how the teachers experienced the meetings and the
group dynamics. There were altogether 11 participants in three
groups that met five times during one year. One of the groups
was formed by colleagues from one school; the participants in
the other groups had not known each other. The data was
collected using three methods: email feedback from teachers
after each session (structured), video recording of the last
video club meeting in which the programme was reflected on, and
audio recordings of interviews with individual participants at
the very end of the programme (semi-structured). Thematic
analysis was used to analyse the data. The results suggest that
the teachers viewed the programme rather positively, with their
experience improving significantly over time. This was
especially important in the groups that had not known each
other, as it was often highlighted that the atmosphere became
more and more open and that the participants would appreciate
the programme being longer, as only towards its end did they
feel they can say everything. Providing and receiving feedback
was an important issue for the teachers, illustrating the fact
that not all what is noticed by the teachers is also discussed.
Interestingly enough, teachers in both groups were happy with
the setting (colleagues/strangers), providing arguments for why
they would not choose the other option. Further details will be
discussed during the presentation, together with the
implications for the organization of professional development
programmes.


Purpose: This study was performed to assess the usefulness of non-anatomical repair for irreparable large and massive rotator cuff tears by the arthroscopic margin convergence technique. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients were followed up more than 1 year after non-anatomical repair for irreparable large and massive rotator cuff tears using the arthroscopic margin convergence technique. The clinical evaluation was performed according to the KSS score, the UCLA score and the Visual analogue scale (VAS). The measurement of the acromio-humeral distance was performed using the shoulder anterior-posterior radiographs. The measurement of fatty degeneration and the healing status was performed using the shoulder MRI after 6 months. Results: Among twenty-two patients, follow up MRI was performed in eleven cases. Three cases were well healed, four cases were partial healed and another four cases were re-torn. The KSS and UCLA scores had significantly improved from a preoperative average of 45.0±8.014 and 10.8±2.302 points to 77.1±10.151 and 30.0±1.521 points, respectively, and the pain VAS had decreased from a preoperative average of 7.7±0.616 points to 3.0±1.021 points at the last follow up. Less favorable results were obtained when the patient had a grade of fatty degeneration higher than grade 3 on the preoperative MRI. Conclusion: Non-anatomical repair for irreparable large and massive rotator cuff tears by the arthroscopic margin convergence technique showed good functional results. It seems to be one of the effective treatment methods for irreparable large and massive rotator cuff tears.


Well preserved tree remains have been discovered in glaciomarine clay of the Late Wisconsinan Presumpscot Formation at Portland, Maine. Logs, branches, cones, and needles occurred, just above the contact between the clay and underlying gravel deposit. They were the first tree remains to be found in the Presumpscot Formation. The radiocarbon ages of the logs vary considerably, but their true age is believed to be between 12,000 and 12,500 years. Specimens from the Portland locality are described in detail in the present study. The logs and needles have been identified as spruce, and the associated cones indicate that the species is white spruce, (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). The concentration and degree of preservation of the remains suggest a local source - possibly the nearby hills that were above sea level in late-glacial time. The occurrence of the spruce logs in Portland also indicates that trees may have colonized southwestern coastal Maine very soon after the retreat of Late Wisconsinan glacial ice from this area.


We present our personal operative technique in exposing and repairing obstetric brachial plexus (obp) lesions. This technical description of the operative procedure and the strategic choice for the neurotisations are analysed with special regards on the follow-up of these patients (always performed by the surgeon), the histological quality of the proximal root stumps used for cable grafting, and the general reconstruction principles established in international workshops. We would like to encourage debate on these detailed considerations wherever they could affect the functional outcome.


Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by inflammatory back pain and enthesis. MicroRNA (miRNA) are an abundant class of small RNA that can play an important role in gene regulation and participate in many physiological and pathological process[1]. According to the microarray results previously, our group found that the expression levels of miR-17–5p, miR-27a, miR-29a and miR-126–3p were higher in AS group than in healthy group. Moreover, the expression levels of miR-17–5p downregulated significantly after regular etanercept treatment, while the other 3 microRNAs slightly upregulated. Another study also reported elevated miR-29a expression in PBMCs of patients with AS[3], while no further study on investigating the treatment effect on miRNA expression. Objectives To investigate the expression level of the four miRNAs mentioned before in AS and healthy controls. The changes of microRNAs expressions after regular therapies are also the focus of our study. Methods We initially validated the expression levels of miR-17–5p, miR-27a, miR-29a, miR-126–3p in the PBMCs of AS (n=99) and healthy controls (n=39) using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Patients with AS were divided into 4 groups according to their different therapies, including 12-week Celecoxib/Etanercept /combination therapy and 24-week rh TNFR:Fc therapy (n=16, n=23, n=22 and n=38 respectively). Fold change for each reaction was calculated as 2 − ΔΔCt. Results Significantly higher expression of the four miRNAs (miR-17–5p, miR-27a, miR-29a and miR-126–3p) were observed in AS (ΔCt value: 4.40±2.02, 6.75±1.58, 1.52±1.12 and 2.34±1.58, p<0.001, respectively) than in healthy controls (ΔCt value: 6.15±1.41, 8.05±0.86, 4.29±1.16, and 4.17±1.01, p<0.001, respectively). The corresponding fold changes were 3.34 (0.61–18.37), 2.47 (0.71–8.59), 6.82 (2.24–20.79) and 3.55 (0.96–13.06). Moreover, expressions of miRNAs were dramatically downregulated after 24-week etanercept therapy except miR-29a (p=0.013, p=0.043, p=0.025 and p=0.262 respectively). A 12-week celebrax therapy or combination therapy can significantly reduce the expression level of miR-126–3p (p=0.006 and p=0.016). There were no significant difference between AS patients before and after treatment in miR-17–5p, miR-27a as well as miR-29a. Conclusions We validated the 4 elevated miRNAs expression in PBMCs of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Different treatments can reduce the expression of microRNAs to some extent. References Huang Y, Shen XJ, Zou Q, Wang SP, Tang SM, Zhang GZ. Biological functions of microRNAs: a review[J]. Journal of physiology and biochemistry. 2011,67(1):129–39. Lv Q, Li Q, Zhang P, Jiang Y, Wang X, Wei Q, et al. Disorders of MicroRNAs in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: As Novel Biomarkers of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Provocative Therapeutic Targets[J]. BioMed research international. 2015,2015:504208. Huang J, Song G, Yin Z, Luo X, Ye Z. Elevated miR-29a expression is not correlated with disease activity index in PBMCs of patients with ankylosing spondylitis[J]. Modern rheumatology/the Japan Rheumatism Association. 2014,24(2):331–4. Acknowledgement This study was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China. Disclosure of Interest X. Li Grant/research support from: The National Natural Science Foundation of China, Q. Li Grant/research support from: The National Natural Science Foundation of China, J. Gu Grant/research support from: The National Natural Science Foundation of China


The relationship between dietary intake of vitamin K, fat, plasma vitamin K concentrations and anticoagulation response to warfarin within individuals, as well as the contribution of dietary vitamin K to differences in warfarin dose requirements between individuals were investigated in 53 patients on warfarin therapy who had stably controlled anticoagulation. Each patient completed a dietary record of all foods consumed on a daily basis for 4 weeks. Each week a blood sample was taken for measurement of the international normalized ratio (INR), plasma vitamin K, triglycerides and warfarin enantiomer concentrations. The patients' genotype for CYP2C9 was also determined. Regression analysis of the data showed that, for each increase of 100 μg in the daily dietary intake of vitamin K averaged over 4 d, the INR was reduced by 0·2. There was no correlation between warfarin daily dose and average daily dietary vitamin K intake when calculated over 28 d. The regression model for warfarin dose showed that, while dietary vitamin K had no effect, CYP2C9 genotype (P = 2%) and age (P < 1%) significantly contributed to inter‐patient variability in warfarin dose requirements. A consistent intake of vitamin K could reduce intrapatient variability in anticoagulation response and thus improve the safety of warfarin therapy.


Vibrio vulnificus is a rare cause of necrotising fasciitis. The organism can be found in warm, shallow coastal waters, as well as on shellfish, such as crab, and also filter-feeding molluscs, such as oysters, clams, and scallops. In the USA, it is the leading cause of shellfish related deaths. In individuals with major underlying illnesses, such as liver disease, diabetes mellitus, malignancy, alcoholism, haemochromatosis or chronic renal disease, the organism can lead to a fulminant course with a high degree of mortality. Early antimicrobial treatment and timely surgical interventions can be potentially life preserving in serious infections with V vulnificus. We report a case of an elderly patient with end stage renal disease on haemodialysis who developed necrotising fasciitis with V vulnificus following a puncture injury while cleaning crabs.


We describe a class of completely integrable G-invariant magnetic geodesic flows on (co)adjoint orbits of a compact connected Lie group G with magnetic field given by the Kirillov-Konstant 2-form.


This is a follow-up study on two series of patients who had their Achilles tendons lengthened. Metal markers were inserted and it was found that the distance between them increased for up to 6 months after surgery.


Many plants interact with carnivores as an indirect defence against herbivores. The release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the secretion of extrafloral nectar (EFN) are induced by insect feeding, a response that is mediated by the plant hormone, jasmonic acid. Although VOCs mainly attract predatory mites and parasitic wasps, while EFN mainly attracts ants, many more animal-plant interactions are influenced by these two traits. Other traits involved in defensive tritrophic interactions are cellular food bodies and domatia, which serve the nutrition and housing of predators. They are not known to respond to herbivory, while food body production can be induced by the presence of the mutualists. Interactions among the different defensive traits, and between them and other biotic and abiotic factors exist on the genetic, physiological, and ecological levels, but so far remain understudied. Indirect defences are increasingly being discussed as an environmentally-friendly crop protection strategy, but much more knowledge on their fitness effects under certain environmental conditions is required before we can understand their ecological and evolutionary relevance, and before tritrophic interactions can serve as a reliable tool in agronomy.


Background and Purpose Spinal vascular malformations (SVMs) are aggressive diseases that may lead to neurological deficit due to spinal venous engorgement or secondary to hemorrhage.The endovascular treatment of such SVMs may be challenging with a significant risk of failure and/or a risk of severe neurological complications in case of spinal cord vascular supplies compromising. The precise understanding of the angio-architecture of SVMs is of tremendous importance to reduce the risk of treatment failure and the treatment-related complication risk.4D DSA (Siemens Healthcare) is a recently developed technology that has shown its potential for a better understanding of brain AVMs.The purpose of our study was to evaluate the potential of 4D DSA in spinal vascular malformations' exploration. Material and methods Four consecutive patients (3 males, 1 female, mean age: 49±17 y) with 5 spinal vascular malformations (spinal dural arteriovenous fistula [sDAVF]: n =2, spinal pial arteriovenous fistula [sPAVF]: n = 1 and spinal arteriovenous malformations [sAVMS]: n = 1; one patient had 2 synchronous pial fistulas) had a spinal DSA including 4D DSA acquiiqisition.All the spinal DSA acquisitions were performed under general anesthesia. 4D DSA acquisitions were acquired with the protocol: '12sDSA Dyna4D Neuro'. 12 ml of Iodixanol 320 mg of I/ml were injected via a 5F catheter at 1 ml/s during the 12s of the 4D DSA acquisition. The following criteria were evaluated in consensus by two reviewers:- overall quality of the acquisition- number of arterial feeders- location of the primary shunt point- venous drainage pattern: ascending, descending or both. Results In 4/5 of the cases (2 dural AV fistulas; 2 pial AV fistulas), the quality of the acquisition was graded good or fair. Satisfactory concordance between 4D DSA and the selective microcatheterization was observed in these 4 cases for the number of arterial feeders, the location of the shunt point and the venous drainage pattern. In one case of cervical spine AVM, the 4D DSA quality was graded poor and the angio-architecture could not be satisfactorily analysed. Conclusion 4D DSA acquisition may be helpful for a better understanding of spinal vascular malformations' angio-architecture. Larger series are warranted to confirm these first promising results. Disclosures F. Clarençon: 2; C; Balt, Artedrone, Penumbra. S. Lenck: None. E. Shotar: None. A. Boch: None. K. Premat: None. J. Chiras: None. N. Sourour: 2; C; Medtronic.


The three-dimensional computer images of the alignment of collagen III fibrils at epithelial-mesen-chymal interfaces during critical stages of submandibular gland morphogenesis in the 12- to 13-day-old mouse embryos were reconstructed from serial paraffin sections stained with an anti-collagen III antibody. The computer program used for processing section data was Cosmozone 2S, which required only a personal computer and a coordinate digitizer interfaced to the computer graphics system. The mid 12-day gland with a round lobule showed a rather randomly scattered distribution of the collagen on the surfaces of the lobule and stalk. The interface at the joining portion of the lobule and stalk showed a significant accumula-tion. In the late 12-day gland with signs of cleft initiation, a specific accumulation of the collagen was clearly seen on basal epithelial surface in shallow clefts. This tendency was much more evident as cleft formation proceeded. The images reconstructed from both frontal and transverse section data of the 13-day gland indicated that epithelial surface of the cleft was surrounded by continuous collagen bundles, suggesting the involvement of the collagen during the epithelial branching.


Background: The tissue engineering has recently shown a significant progress in the fields of membranes and biosynthetic materials. Advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) contains functional molecules that have newly shown great interest in regenerative therapies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of A-PRF on the adhesion of gingival fibroblast cells and osteosarcoma cells to different membranes. Materials and Methods: In this experimental in vitro study, three collagen, alloderm, and mucograft membranes were studied, which were cut into four 5 mm × 5 mm pieces and placed in the bottom of a 24-well culture medium. One milliliter of A-PRF was added to two wells from each group and the other two wells remained without A-PRF. The gingival fibroblasts and osteosarcoma cells were individually added to each well. The cell adhesion was studied using an electron microscope after 24 h. The data were analyzed by independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and least significant difference test. Results: In the presence of A-PRF, there was a significant higher osteoblast adhesion to collagen membrane compared to alloderm and mucograft membranes (P < 0.001). In the absence of A-PRF, adhesion of osteoblasts to collagen membrane was significantly higher than alloderm and mucograft (P = 0.019). Moreover, in the presence of A-PRF, fibroblast adhesion to collagen membrane was significantly higher than alloderm and mucograft membranes (P < 0.001). Furthermore, in the absence of A-PRF, no significant difference was found among the study groups (P = 0.830). Conclusion: A-PRF was effective on fibroblast adhesion to the collagen membrane, which is similar to its absence. A-PRF was also found to be very effective on the adhesion of fibroblast cells to the collagen membrane, and in its absence, even less adhesion was observed compared to the other membranes. The presence or absence of A-PRF showed no significant differences in both cells' adhesion for alloderm and mucograft membranes.


The problem of testing self-timed circuits generated by an automatic synthesis system is studied. Two-phase transition signaling is assumed and the circuits are targeted for an asynchronous macromodule based implementation. The partitioning of the circuits into control blocks, function blocks, and predicate (conditional) blocks, originally conceived for synthesis purposes, is found to be very elegant and appropriate for test generations. The problem of data dependent control flow is solved by introducing a new macromodule called SCANSELECT (SELECT with scan). Algorithms for test generation are based on the Petri-net like representation of the physical circuit. The techniques are illustrated on the high-level synthesis system called SHILPA being developed by the authors. An important contribution of the paper is the technique to test both datapath and control parts of self-timed circuits on a unified framework by adapting existing algorithms for testing synchronous circuits.<<ETX>>


Introduction: The immune response to cerebral ischemia is a major contributor to stroke pathobiology in which microglia play a crucial role. Microglia are present in the classical M1 pro-inflammatory and the alternative M2 anti-inflammatory microglia. The Nur77 is a member of orphan nuclear receptor family, has been implicated in the regulation of macrophage M1/M2 polarization. However, the function of Nur77 in microglia and stroke pathology has not been studied yet. We investigated the role of Nur77 in modulating microglial M1/M2 polarization and improve brain injury. Methods: Wild type and Nur77 -/- mice were subjected to right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Behavior test, infarction volume, inflammation factors, and microglial phenotypes were determined at 1d, 3d, 7d after MCAO. In vitro , wild type and Nur77 -/- microglia were simulated with conditional medium of oxygen glucose deprivation neuron. M1/M2 markers were measured at different time points. To explore mechanisms, proteomics analysis was conducted. Then we induced a lentivirus into the microglial cells for abrogation of Nur77 downstream protein in Nur77 -/- microglia. Results: Nur77 expression in ipsilateral peri-infarction is markedly decreased. Nur77 deficiency enlarged infarction size, exacerbated sensorimotor and cognitive function, increased the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (COX-2, TNFα), and decreased anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-4, IL-10) at 3d and 7d after MCAO. Nur77 -/- mice present more CD16 + Iba-1 + and CD86 + Iba-1 + M1 microglia and less CD206 + Iba-1 + M2 microglia than wild type mice. In vitro conditional medium treated Nur77 -/- primary microglia express more pro-inflammation mediators and less anti-inflammation factors. LPS-treated Nur77 -/- and wild type microglia was used for mass spectrometry and we found that Nur77 down-regulate the expression of dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2), which promote release of proinflammation mediators in microglia. After knockdown of DOCK2 in Nur77 -/- microglia, up-regulated pro-inflammation mediators in Nur77 -/- microglia have been reversed. Conclusions: Nur77 protects against ischemic brain injury by promoting M2 polarization, which probably be mediated by DOCK2-dependent pathway.


Opioids (e.g. morphine) are affordable, effective interventions for cancer-related pain. However, equity of access to this key medication remains a global challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to explore views of palliative care providers and public-representatives about opioid analgesia access in two States in India. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Transcribed audio-recordings were subjected to thematic analysis using a Framework Approach. Palliative care providers and public-representatives were purposively sampled from services reporting consistent opioid availability and prescribing (≥4kg per annum) from Karnataka and Kerala. Twenty participants (doctors (10), nurses (4), pharmacists (2), service managers (2) and public-representatives (2) were interviewed. Three themes were identified: 1) Attitudes and awareness: opioid treatments are perceived as end-of-life (last days/weeks) interventions; fears of addiction and misunderstanding of pain management goals limit access. 2) Expected and unexpected inequities: patients/carers from lower socioeconomic strata accept doctor recommendations if opioids are affordable, more educated patients/families have reservations about opioids, delay access and perceive expensive medicines as better. Non-palliative care specialist doctors have negative entrenched views and require specialist training. 3) Experiential learning–positive experiences can positively alter attitudes (e.g., participants in Kerala report improved attitudes, awareness and understanding influenced by exposure and community awareness, but experience can also reinforce perceptions as end-of-life care. Entrenched negative views are reinforced by poor experiences while positive experiences improve attitudes. To promote access, opioid prescribing must be needs-based rather than prognosis-based. Addressing the lack of training for non-palliative care workforce would help overcome a major barrier.


Today's growth in the volume of wireless devices coupled with the promise of supporting data-intensive 5G-&-beyond use cases is driving the industry to deploy more millimeter-wave (mmWave) base stations (BSs). Although mmWave cellular systems can carry a larger volume of traffic, dense deployment, in turn, increases the BS installation and maintenance cost, which has been largely ignored in their utilization. In this paper, we present an approach to the problem of mmWave BS deployment in urban environments by minimizing BS deployment cost subject to BS association and user equipment (UE) outage constraints. By exploiting the macro diversity, which enables each UE to be associated with multiple BSs, we derive an expression for UE outage that integrates physical blockage, UE access-limited blockage, and signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) outage into its expression. The minimum-cost BS deployment problem is then formulated as integer non-linear programming (INP). The combinatorial nature of the problem motivates the pursuit of the optimal solution by decomposing the original problem into the two separable subproblems, i.e., cell coverage optimization and minimum subset selection subproblems. We provide the optimal solution and theoretical justifications for each subproblem. The simulation results demonstrating UE outage guarantees of the proposed method are presented. Interestingly, the proposed method produces a unique distribution of the macro-diversity orders over the network that is distinct from other benchmarks.


The adsorption on TiO2 surface of two dipeptides AE (L-alanine-L-glutamic acid) and AK (L-alanine-L-lysine), that are 'building blocks' of the more complex self-complementary amphiphilic oligopeptides and are therefore a good model in the interpretation of the complex peptide spectra, has been investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The chemical structure and composition of thin films of both dipeptides on TiO2 were investigated by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). Theoretical ab-initio calculations (ΔSCF) were also performed to simulate the spectra allowing a direct comparison between experiment and theory.


Oxidation of organic compounds by various oxidising agents, using certain selective catalysts is of considerable academic and industrial importance. Study, in my thesis; entitled "Kinetic study of some redox processes in solution" has been performed keeping both applications of chemical kinetics in mind. Work in the thesis has been divided into two parts.

 Part-A
In this part of the thesis contains study of the oxidation of benzyl alcohol, 2-phenyl ethanol and 2-methyl cyclohexanol by cerium(IV) sulphate in aqueous sulphuric acid medium catalyzed by iridium(III) chloride from the kinetic point of view. Study was performed at 360 nm wavelength (on Spectronic-20D) at which cerium (IV) absorbs strongly.
Various Thermodynamic parameters viz. activation energy, free energy of activation and entropy of activation were also calculated. On the basis of experimental findings probable mechanism is also suggested. Final rate law based on proposed mechanism confirms our experimental findings.

 Part-B
In this part of the thesis contains oxidation of p-chlorobenzaldehyde, p-nitro benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, p-methoxy benzyl alcohol, p-xylene and p-nitro toluene by cerium(IV) sulphate in aqueous acetic acid medium catalyzed by iridium(III) chloride from the synthetic point of view. Obtained products were identified by functional group analysis, thin layer chromatographic technique, formation of derivatives and by their IR and 1H-NMR spectral analysis.

As all the reactions and reaction products are well studied from the kinetic and mechanistic point of view, therefore, we have tried to find out conditions for getting the maximum yield under most economical conditions.

It may be pointed out that the present system is highly eco-friendly as the aqueous part contains only the traces of iridium (III) chloride (in the range of 10^-6 mmol) and acetic acid and hydrochloric acid. Acetic acid may be removed by distillation while hydrochloric acid was not present in such a quantity to damage the atmosphere.

 References

Shriner, R. L., Hermann, C. K. F., Morill, T.C., Curtin, D.Y., Fuson, R.C. "The systematic identification of organic compound." 7th ed. John Wiley & Sons 1998.

Forniss, B.S., Antony, J., Peter, H., Smith, W.J., Tatchel, A. R. "Vogel's text book of practical organic chemistry". Vth Edition, Reprinted 1996, Longman Group, UK Ltd.

Pavia, D. L., Lampan, G. M., Kriz, G. S., Engel, R. G. "An Introduction to Organic laboratory techniques - A microscale approach" Saunders College Publishing & H. B. College Publishers, USA, 1995.


The Harish-Chandra homomorphism for the higher congruence spherical functions algebra of Chevalley groups over p-adic fiealds is given in the case of the Levi-component of a (rational)parabolic subgroup. It is a generalization for the Harish-Chandra homomorphism for the higher congurence spherical functions algebra of the groups CLn over p-adic field in the same case.


In this paper we focus on the problem of assigning uncertainties to single-point predictions. We introduce a cost function that encodes the trade-off between accuracy and reliability in probabilistic forecast. We derive analytic formula for the case of forecasts of continuous scalar variables expressed in terms of Gaussian distributions. The Accuracy-Reliability cost function can be used to empirically estimate the variance in heteroskedastic regression problems (input dependent noise), by solving a two-objective optimization problem. The simple philosophy behind this strategy is that predictions based on the estimated variances should be both accurate and reliable (i.e. statistical consistent with observations). We show several examples with synthetic data, where the underlying hidden noise function can be accurately recovered, both in one and multi-dimensional problems. The practical implementation of the method has been done using a Neural Network and, in the one-dimensional case, with a simple polynomial fit.


When ovarian mitochondria from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (POS) were incubated with [7-3H]17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone and [4-14C]-17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 11beta-hydroxylated metabolites were obtained. The mitochondria, prepared from pooled, frozen, polycystic ovarian tissue of 5 patients, converted [7-3H]17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone to 3beta, 11beta, 17alpha--trihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (yield 0.065%) and to 3beta, 17alpha-dihydroxy-5-pregnene-11,20-dione (0.22%), while [4-14C]17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone was converted to 21-deoxycortisol (0.1%). Incubation of mitochondria, prepared from 4 pooled samples of frozen, normal ovarian tissue, yielded no evidence of 11beta-hydroxylation of either of the substrates. Mitochondria obtained from fresh, polycystic ovarian tissue of a single patient with POS converted [7-3H]17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone to 3beta,17alpha-dihydroxy-5-pregnene-11,20-dione (2.1%) and [4-14C]17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone to 21-deoxycortisol (0.1%). When the same mitochondrial preparation was incubated simultaneously with [7-3H]17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone and [4-14C]11-deoxycortisol, it converted 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone to 3beta,17alpha-dihydroxy-5-pregnene-11,20-dione (1.9%), but no 11beta-hydroxylated derivatives of 11-deoxycortisol were found. These results demonstrate that ovaries of patients with POS contain an 11beta-hydroxylase active towards C-21-deoxysteroids but inert to C-21-hydroxysteroids such as 11-deoxycortisol.


OBJECTIVE
Assessment of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and estimation of correlation of ED with metabolic parameters: low HDL, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity, systolic blood pressure and with inflammatory-hemostatic parameters: CRP and fibrinogen.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
42 patients (age 60.0 +/- 8.5 years) with diagnosed type 2 diabetes and CAD were randomly included in a cross sectional study. B-mode ultrasound system with a linear transducer 7.5 MHz was used for evaluation of flow mediated vasodilation in brachial artery (FMV). FMV was presented as the percentage increase in brachial artery diameter, within 30 s after limb ischemia, previously provoked by cuff inflation. Percentage value up to 10% was defined as ED.

RESULTS
Bivariate linear correlation model presented significant correlation between plasma fibrinogen and FMV percentage, with r -0.47, p < 0.01. Presence of ED correlates linearly with plasma level of HDL < 1.03 mmol/L (r -0.35, p < 0.03). Multivariate analysis using Backward Wald model presented fibrinogen (OR 3.14, 95% CI 0.87-11.28) and low HDL (OR 5.16, 95% CI 0.53-60.39) as factors correlated with the presence of endothelial dysfunction.

CONCLUSION
These results presented plasma fibrinogen level and low HDL < 1.03 mmol/L as factors, independently correlated to the presence of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (Tab. 8, Fig. 1, Ref. 25). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.


Whereas the predominance of arterial circulation in the nourishment of liver tumors has been well established, the portal circulation also appears to play a significant role under some circumstances. Studies were performed on Sprague‐Dawley rats with Walker carcinosarcomas implanted in the liver, and vascularity was identified by portal and arterial injection of pigmented silicone rubber (Microfil, Canton Bio Medical Products, Boulder, CO). Experimental groups consisted of animals with hepatic artery ligation at time of tumor implant with Microfil injection 3 or 7 days later, and animals with hepatic artery ligation 3 or 7 days after tumor implantation with immediate Microfil injection. In all groups, portal filling of tumor microcirculation was identified. Histologic examination of tumors in control animals randomly demonstrated portally injected Microfil in vessels within the substance of the tumors. These studies confirm earlier experiments demonstrating a portal component in the microcirculation of liver tumors, and justify attempts to use the portal circulation in anticancer therapy.


Richard Jeffrey and Michael Goldstein have both introduced systematic approaches to the structure of opinion changes. For both approaches there are theorems which indicate great generality and width of scope. The main questions addressed here will be to what extent the basic forms of representation are intertranslatable, and how we can conceive of such programs in general.


Structural transformation involves moving the economy away from a set of assets based on primary products exploited by unskilled labor toward knowledge-based assets exploited by skilled labor. The term technological capabilities refers to these knowledge-based assets—the technical, organizational and managerial skills necessary to achieve international levels of efficiency and quality. The objective of this working paper is to measure and assess the technological capabilities of local firms in the apparel export industry in Madagascar, as a first step before analyzing and explaining how firms have achieved these capabilities. In doing so, it uses original data generated from a firm-level survey specifically designed to measure technological capabilities based on strategically selected indicators across different categories of capabilities in apparel exports. Despite difficult country-specific conditions, particularly related to political instability, local apparel exporting firms have built significant levels of technological capabilities but segmented along ethnic and product lines. The specific types of international linkages played an important role in capability building, particularly the specific niche and higher value product specialization that comes with a particular set of buyers and related global value chain dynamics as well as the more embedded types of foreign investment due to diaspora linkages with local firms and regional production strategies.


This study examined the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on memory in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type. It was hypothesized that, in the early stage of the illness, electrical stimulation could activate the affected cortical regions by stimulating the neurotransmitter systems projecting to these areas. The results reveal that electrical stimulation improves the verbal long-term memory in these patients. Moreover, verbal fluency improves more in patients who received electrical stimulation than in patients who received control treatment. However, electrical stimulation does not influence the visual long-term memory of the patients, nor does it affect their verbal and nonverbal short-term memory. Underlying theoretical mechanisms are discussed.


Introduction: KPT-330 is an oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) that binds covalently to XPO1 at Cys528 resulting in its irreversible inactivation. The nuclear export of over 200 proteins with specific nuclear export sequences (NES) is mediated via XPO1. Amongst the client proteins are many tumor suppressor and growth regulatory proteins (e.g., FOXO, IκB, pRb, p53, p73, p21, and p27). Methods: KPT-330 was tested against the PPTP9s in vitro cell line panel at concentrations ranging from 1.0 nM to 10.0 μM using the PPTP9s standard 96 hour exposure period. It was tested against the PPTP solid tumor xenografts using a dose of 10 mg/kg administered by the oral route thrice weekly (M-W-F) for 4 weeks with a total treatment/observation period of 6 weeks. Results: The median relative IC50 (rIC50) value for the PPTP cell lines was 125 nM, with a range from 13 nM to greater than 10 μM. There were no significant differences in rIC50 values by histotype, although there was a trend for greater sensitivity for the Ewing sarcoma cell lines (median rIC50 = 57 nM) and lesser sensitvity for the neuroblastoma cell lines (median rIC50 = 235 nM). Most cell lines showed Relative I/O% values between -75% and -100%, consistent with a prominent cytotoxic effect for KPT-330. KPT-330 was well tolerated in vivo. It induced significant differences in EFS distribution compared to control in 29 of 37 (78%) solid tumor xenografts and in 5 of 8 (63%) ALL xenografts. For those xenografts with a significant difference in EFS distribution between treated and control groups, an EFS T/C value of greater than 2.0 indicates a substantial agent effect in slowing tumor growth. KPT-330 induced this level of effect in 11 of 32 (34%) solid tumor xenografts, most frequently for the Wilms tumor (2 of 3) and the Ewing sarcoma (4 of 5) panels. Objective responses were observed in 3 of 38 (4%) solid tumor xenografts, including a maintained complete response (MCR) for a Wilms tumor xenograft, a CR for a medulloblastoma xenograft, and a CR for a slow-growing ependymoma xenograft. For the ALL panel, 2 of 8 (25%) xenografts achieved either CR (ALL-8, T-cell ALL) or MCR (ALL-19, B-precursor ALL). Conclusions: KPT-330 shows potent in vitro activity against many PPTP cell lines, consistent with the activation of multiple tumor suppressor proteins across diverse tumor genotypes. KPT-330 shows tumor regressing activity against selected PPTP solid tumor and ALL xenografts, and shows tumor growth inhibition for a larger number of models. Defining the relationship between KPT-330 systemic exposure in mice and humans will be important in assessing the clinical relevance of the PPTP in vivo results. Planned PD testing may identify biomarkers associated with response of pediatric preclinical models to KPT-330. KPT-330 is in phase 1 clinical trials in adults with advanced solid or hematological malignancies (NCT01607905 and NCT01607892). (Supported by NCI NO1-CM-42216) Citation Format: Peter Houghton, Min Kang, Patrick Reynolds, Richard Gorlick, Anders Kolb, John Maris, Stephen Keir, Hernan Carol, Richard Lock, Catherine Billups, Raushan Kurmasheva, Yosef Landesman, Sharon Shacham, Michael Kauffman, Malcolm A. Smith. Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP) stage 1 evaluation of the XPO1/CRM1 inhibitor KPT-330. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-354. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-354


Late Quaternary pollen, plant macrofossils, and insect fossils were studied from sites along three rivers in the foothills north of the Alaska Range in Denali National Park and Preserve. The aim was to carry out a reconnaissance of late Quaternary organic sediments in the region, emphasizing the mid-Wisconsin, or Boutellier interstadial interval. Samples of probable early-to mid-Boutellier age (ca. 60 000 to 40 000 B.P.) from Unit 2 at the Toklat High Bluffs site indicate open boreal woodland with dense alder shrub vegetation. Organic Unit 1 at the Foraker River Slump site indicates open taiga with shrubs of probable Boutellier age. Fossil evidence from the youngest horizon in this unit indicates graminoid tundra environments, marking the transition from interstadial to late Wisconsin glacial environments. Early Holocene samples from the Foraker exposures suggest birch shrub tundra; coniferous forest apparently became established only after 6500 B.P. Local variations in forest composition at the Foraker and Sushana sites were probably the result of disturbances, such as fire. Key words: Late Quaternary environments, Denali National Park, Alaska, pollen, insect fossils


Space‐time event data are often subject to deficiencies in: (1) locational accuracy; (2), temporal accuracy; and (3) completeness. This work explores how these failings in the quality of input data may affect the results of global space‐time interaction tests. While previous work has partially investigated the impact of locational inaccuracy on the results of these tests, more work remains. The impacts of temporal inaccuracy and incomplete data reporting on the results of these tests remain completely unexplored. This study examines the influence of these problems individually and collectively, using a series of simulations. Findings demonstrate that even in cases of slight inaccuracy or underreporting, the consequences on results are potentially severe. Although the study is couched in terms of data inaccuracy, its relevance to situations where inaccuracy is replaced with uncertainty is self‐evident.


Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC

Background and aim. We have recently shown tumor cell to endothelial cell communication and the induction of endothelial cell migration via exosomes (Umezu et al., Oncogene 2012). The aim of this study was to clarify whether hypoxia promotes angiogenic activity through tumor exosomes.

Experimental procedures. We used the human leukemia cell line K562 as exosome-generating cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as exosome target cells. Exosomes derived from K562 cells cultured under normoxic (20%) or hypoxic (1%) condition for 24h were isolated using Exoquick (System Bioscience) and quantitated by nano-particle analysis as well as immunoblotting for the exosomal protein CD63. These exosomes were added to HUVECs cultured on Matrigel for the validation of angiogenic activity, such as tube formation assay. Cellular and exosomal miRNAs responding to hypoxia were analyzed using TaqMan low-density miRNA array (TLDA, Applied Biosystems).

Results. The exosomes derived from K562 cells cultured under hypoxic condition enhanced tube formation of HUVECs. Culture under hypoxic condition for 24h affected neither the tumor cell growth nor the amount of exosome secreted into the culture medium, while culture under the same condition induced the up-regulation of HIF-1α expression. The exosomes derived from K562 cells cultured under hypoxic condition for 24h (K562-1%O2-exosomes) markedly enhanced the tube formation of HUVECs compared with the exosomes obtained from K562 cells cultured under normoxic condition (K562-20%O2-exosomes), indicating that K562-1%O2-exosomes potentially included angiogenic factors. Cellular and exosomal miRNA profiling of K562 cells cultured under hypoxic condition. Using TLDA, we profiled the expression of cellular and exosomal miRNAs and observed a fold change of >1.5 under hypoxic condition compared with normoxic condition. We found that a subset of miRNAs, including miR-210, was significantly elevated under hypoxic condition in both cells and exosomes. The exosomal miRNAs derived from K562 cells cultured under hypoxic condition reduced the expression of Ephrin-A3 in HUVECs. We next examined the expression of Ephrin-A3 (EFNA3), an antiangiogenic factor, since miR-210 targets EFNA3. We demonstrated that EFNA3 expression was inhibited when HUVECs were exposed to hypoxic condition for 24h. Similarly, EFNA3 expression was drastically reduced by the addition of K562-1%O2-exosomes into HUVECs.

Conclusions. We demonstrated that tumor cells and their exosomes have altered miRNA profiles under hypoxic condition. Although exosomes contain various molecular constituents, such as proteins and mRNAs, altered exosomal compartments under hypoxic condition, including miR-210, affect antiangiogenic factors. Our results suggest the possibility that exosomal miRNA derived from tumor cells cultured under hypoxic condition may partly affect angiogenic activity in endothelial cells.

Citation Format: Tomohiro Umezu, Hiroko Tadokoro, Kazuma Ohyashiki, Junko H. Ohyashiki. Hypoxia modulates tumor exosomes, which function as mediators of angiogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2305. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2305


An excess of thyroid hormone (TH) leads to a mix of deleterious (increased heart rate, muscle wasting and osteoporosis) and beneficial effects (reduced serum cholesterol and lipoprotein A and weight loss). All of these actions are mediated by nuclear thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), however, genetic evidence suggests that different TR isoforms do not contribute equally to individual TH effects. Thus, TR isoform selective activators could mimic the beneficial aspects of TH excess while avoiding the harmful effects. This article reviews new selective TR activators, their mechanism of action (they work by targeting the TR-β isoform) and their actions in animal models. It is clear that these compounds represent a promising new avenue for the treatment of lipid disorders and obesity.


In few fields of medicine has recent progress been as fast and exciting as in the area of mitochondrial diseases. Although the clinical manifestations of mitochondrial dysfunction are extremely variable, biochemical and genetic classification of these disorders is now possible and recent advances in morphologic analysis and genetic testing aid in the identification of patients. What makes these diseases uniquely interesting from a genetic point of view is the fact that mitochondria contain their own DNA, which has distinct genetic properties. It is in the area of mitochondrial DNA defects that there has been extraordinary progress in the past few years, and a new chapter of human genetics, "mitochondrial genetics," has opened up and is becoming increasingly important in the differential diagnosis and in genetic counseling.


Impulse buying   is mportant to be  managed    particularly on  retail competitive marketing practice. The research purpose is to analyze the influence of store atmosphere, sales promotion on impulse buying where   positive emotion is treated as mediation factor. To establish that purpose, survey is conducted where the unit analysis is Alfamart's customer. Sample is chosen in quota way as many as 100 customers. The analytical method used is Partial Least Square (PLS). The results showed that store atmosphere has an effect on positive emotion, sales promotion influence positive emotion, and positive emotion influence impulse buying. Store atmosphere and sales promotion also indirectly affect impulse buying where the mediation factor is    positive emotion. In practice,  sales promotion is well conducted by the employee which  created employee-customer relation and emotion as well.  Hence, in order to sustain impulse buying practice, store atmosphere should be managed in an interesting way as well as sales promotion. Sales promotion however has important role, where the role of the employee is not only manage transaction,  but encouraging consumer to buy more through their own emotion. In doing so, employee should be encouraged, pushed to manage sales promotion in order to sustain  impulse buying.  Hence future research relate with the role of technology and employee as the basis of retailer to build competitiveness over their competitors.


This paper discusses the design of an application for the analysis on items using quantitative method with the classical approach as a media evaluation for teachers in determining the quality of questions in an exam or a test. The classical approach is the process of examining each item in the test based on the students' answers for calculating the Difficulty Index (Dif I) and the Discrimination Index (DI) of each question. The Difficulty Index is the ratio between the number of students who answered an item (or a question) correctly and the total number of students who participated in the test. The Discrimination Index is a measure of how well an item (or a question) is able to distinguish between clever students and students who are less clever. The data used in this research was obtained from class VII SMPN 10 (Junior High School) Makassar, especially on math (subject). The data includes math questions that have been tested, the answers given bythe students of class VII, and the data about the students. The results of the item analysis will provide information whether a question can be accepted, corrected or to be rejected. The application generated from this research is expected to be able to offer assistance for the teacher in performing item analysis. The results of the analysis can be used to help teachers in compiling more qualified questions in the future.


The behavior of lithium ion diffusion from an electrolyte into a polycrystalline layered cathode has been studied using molecular dynamics computer simulations. Lithium silicate glass was the model solid electrolyte whilethe cathode was a nanocrystalline vanadia with amorphous V 2 O 5 intergranular films (IGF) between the crystals. Nanosized V 2 O 5 crystals were aligned with their (001) planes parallel to electrolyte/cathode interface, rotated 90° from each other around this interface's normal in order to present two different orientations between the crystal planes for lithium intercalation via the amorphous vanadia IGF. A series of nanocrystalline vanadia cathodes with different IGF thicknesses was simulated to examine the effects of the IGF thickness on lithium transport into the cathodes. Results showed preferential diffusion of Li from the electrolyte into the amorphous vanadia IGF, with some of those Li diffusing into the crystalline V 2 O 5 from the IGF. Results also showed easier lithium diffusion from the IGF into the V 2 O 5 crystal along the (010) direction than along the (100) direction. Additionally, an optimum IGF thickness of 2.5-3.0 nm is suggested as being neither too thick to decrease the capacity of the cathode nor too thin to impede the transport of lithium from glassy electrolyte into the cathode.


This study suggests that agents able to enhance the activity of β-arrestin-1 in AgRP neurons may be useful as antidiabetic drugs. β-Arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 have emerged as important signaling molecules that modulate glucose fluxes in several peripheral tissues. The potential roles of neuronally expressed β-arrestins in regulating glucose homeostasis remain unknown. We here report that mice lacking β-arrestin-1 (barr1) selectively in AgRP neurons displayed impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity when consuming an obesogenic diet, while mice overexpressing barr1 selectively in AgRP neurons were protected against obesity-associated metabolic impairments. Additional physiological, biochemical, and electrophysiological data indicated that the presence of barr1 is essential for insulin-mediated hyperpolarization of AgRP neurons. As a result, barr1 expressed by AgRP neurons regulates efferent neuronal pathways that suppress hepatic glucose production and promote lipolysis in adipose tissue. Mice lacking β-arrestin-2 (barr2) selectively in AgRP neurons showed no substantial metabolic phenotypes. Our data suggest that agents able to enhance the activity of barr1 in AgRP neurons may prove beneficial as antidiabetic drugs.


Title of thesis: DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF A DUCTED COAXIAL ROTOR IN HOVER AND FORWARD FLIGHT Timothy Edward Lee, Master of Science, 2010 Thesis directed by: Professor J. Gordon Leishman Department of Aerospace Engineering A ducted contra-rotating coaxial rotor system was designed and tested to assess its potential use as a micro aerial vehicle (MAV). Performance measurements (thrust and power) of the system in hover and forward flight were obtained. The influence of several design parameters (rotor spacing, duct inlet shape, position of rotors within the duct, and tip clearance) on performance was determined. Performance measurements of the unducted coaxial rotor, as well as the unducted/ducted single rotor configurations, were also obtained to give a performance baseline for the ducted coaxial rotor. The aerodynamic characteristics of the isolated duct were assessed from loads measurement and surface flow visualization. While the net system performance of operating the coaxial rotor within the confines of a duct was not always improved, the ducted coaxial rotor concept is still attractive for a MAV based on total attainable thrust for a given rotor size and other operational benefits. DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF A DUCTED COAXIAL ROTOR IN HOVER AND FORWARD FLIGHT by Timothy Edward Lee Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science 2010 Advisory Committee: Professor J. Gordon Leishman, Chair/Advisor Professor Roberto Celi Associate Professor James Baeder


Efficient and regiospecific 6-exo, 7-endo, 7-exo, and even 8-endo amidyl radical cyclizations can be accomplished by the direct reactions of unsaturated N-H amides if they bear a vinylic halogen (Cl, Br, I) substituent. This remarkable halogen-substitution effect could be rationalized in terms of lone pair-lone pair electron repulsion between the N radical and the vinylic halogen atom, in addition to the well-known steric and radical-stabilizing effect.


Exchange coupling is quantified in lanthanide (Ln) single-molecule magnets (SMMs) containing a bridging N(2)(3-) radical ligand and between [Cp*(2)Yb](+) and bipy(•-) in Cp*(2)Yb(bipy), where Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl and bipy is 2,2'-bipyridyl. In the case of these lanthanide SMMs, the magnitude of exchange coupling between the Ln ion and the bridging N(2)(3-), 2J, is very similar to the barrier to magnetic relaxation, U(eff). A molecular version of the Hubbard model is applied to systems in which unpaired electrons on magnetic metal ions have direct overlap with unpaired electrons residing on ligands. The Hubbard model explicitly addresses electron correlation, which is essential for understanding the magnetic behavior of these complexes. This model is applied quantitatively to Cp*(2)Yb(bipy) to explain its very strong exchange coupling, 2J = -0.11 eV (-920 cm(-1)). The model is also used to explain the presence of strong exchange coupling in Ln SMMs in which the lanthanide spins are coupled via bridging N(2)(3-) radical ligands. The results suggest that increasing the magnetic coupling in lanthanide clusters could lead to an increase in the blocking temperatures of exchange-coupled lanthanide SMMs, suggesting routes to rational design of future lanthanide SMMs.


Unilateral laterothoracic exanthem (ULE) is relatively rare self-limited pediatric skin inflammatory disease; its etiology still remains unknown. The diagnosis can be established due to specific clinical findings: presence of spotted and papular rash on one side of the body, more often in the axillary or inguinal area with possible generalization. This article presents the clinical case of ULE in the girl (4 years 8 months), it shows the dynamics of exanthematous syndrome at this pathology on different stages of the disease course.


Kokoro from provitamin A (PVA) maize genotypes, produced through conventional breeding, was studied to improve the indigenous white maize-based snack deficient in provitamin A carotenoid commonly consumed in South-western Nigeria. The chemical composition, carotenoid retention, and acceptability of Kokoro from three PVA maize genotypes and one landrace yellow maize variety (control) were estimated. Chemical composition showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in parameters with high crude fat content (23.21–32.11%). The sensory evaluation result revealed that Kokoro from DT STR SYN2-Y (control) was the most acceptable, while among the PVA Kokoro, PVA SYN HGBC1 was acceptable. The pre-processing for the estimated carotenoids (μg g−1); lutein, zeaxanthin, total β-carotene, and PVA in maize genotypes ranged from 10.38 to 12.87, 6.03 to 10.97, 3.83 to 6.18, and 5.96 to 8.43, while after processing to Kokoro, total β-carotene ranged from 1.47 to 3.10 μg g−1 and total PVA content 2.43–4.00 μg g−1. The carotenoid retention in Kokoro from PVA maize genotypes ranged from zeaxanthin 5.89–8.39%; lutein 2.74–4.45%; total β-carotene 38.24–66.14%, and total PVA 37.98–67.05%. Degradation of carotenoid was observed due to the unit operations in the processing method that led to the exposure of the food matrix to direct sunlight, heat, light, metals, and oxygen resulting in the formation of cis-isomers and loss of provitamin A quantity. The maize genotype PVASYNHGBC0 had the highest PVA value and carotenoid retention after processing. The study observed that PVA retention of Kokoro was genotype-dependent, and genotype PVASYNHGBC0 (Provitamin A maize HGA cycle zero) retained the highest carotenoid content. Also, PVASYNHGBC0 (for all the servings' size; 100 and 150 g) in all age groups had the highest percentage contribution of vitamin A to the recommended daily allowance. However, further improvement in the carotenoid content of maize genotypes is needed to enable the production of nutritious Kokoro with higher vitamin A percentage contribution and retinol equivalent.


'Synaesthesia and the arts' considers the link between synaesthesia, art, and creativity, discussing some key questions: is there an intrinsic beauty in the artwork created by synaesthetes that could make it inherently attractive to all people? Are synaesthetes able to tap into aesthetic beauty in some kind of privileged way? Are synaesthetes more creative than the average person, and do they engage more often in artistic pursuits? It discusses the diagnostic test for synaesthesia and why it is that some people incorrectly claim to have synaesthesia and why others do not report it. Having synaesthesia does bring a creative streak to the personality, and synaesthetes are significantly more likely to follow artistic careers than the average person.


ABSTRACT In the early twentieth century, Swedish priests went to England for pastoral studies. There they met the influential leaders of the Oxford Movement and were inspired by them. They discovered a Catholic, but not Roman Catholic, worship and High Church spirituality. They read Charles Gore, E.B. Pusey and others. Their great discovery was the eucharistic worship and its sacramentally orientated liturgy and the world-wide Catholic Church, a catholicity they recognised in the Church of Sweden. However, when they wanted to use their experience and visions in Sweden, they were accused of being 'English importations' of something strange and un-Swedish. This essay shows not only that this was not the case, but how they rejected such nationalist criticism. The Oxford Movement inspired them to dig in the Swedish field and there they found the Church's common treasures − the Catholicity they had, which gave a concrete form to worship and parish life. For Gunnar Rosendal, the influential High Church pioneer in Sweden from the 1930s, this was absolutely fundamental.


Objectives:To estimate and compare the all-cause mortality rates among HIV-1-infected, HIV-2-infected, and uninfected women and to assess the predictive value of baseline plasma viral load (PVL) and CD4 cell percentage (CD4%) for mortality. Design:Cohort study. Methods:At presentation to antenatal clinics in The Gambia in 1993-1995, pregnant women were screened for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2. Seropositive subjects and a similar number of seronegative controls were enrolled, and baseline PVL and CD4% were measured. Participants were visited regularly by field-workers until 18 months after delivery and again 4-7 years later. Results:Thirty-two of 101 women infected with HIV-1, 23 of 243 infected with HIV-2, and 9 of 468 seronegative women died during a median follow-up of 6.9 years. The mortality rate was 56 deaths per 1000 person years of observation (pyo) for HIV-1-infected, 16 deaths per 1000 pyo for HIV-2-infected, and 3.1 deaths per 1000 pyo for HIV-uninfected women. After 8 years of follow-up, >50% of HIV-1-infected women were still alive. In multivariate analysis, a 1-log increase of HIV-1 PVL was associated with a 1.8-fold higher rate of mortality (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-3.4). In HIV-2 infection, women with a high PVL (>10,000 copies/mL) had an 8.7-fold (95% CI, 2.8-28) higher rate of mortality than did those with a low PVL (<1000 copies/mL). A 10% decrease in CD4% was associated with higher mortality rates among HIV-1-infected (1.6-fold; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3) and HIV-2-infected (1.5-fold; 95% CI, 1.0-2.3) subjects. Discussion:Survival of HIV-1-infected women in The Gambia is similar to that in industrialized countries before the introduction of antiretroviral treatment. Survival of HIV-2-infected women is much better. However, women with high PVLs die as quickly as their HIV-1-infected counterparts.


oore's law [1], proven by more than four decades of experience, describes the well-known phenomenon that, for a given price point, commercially available computational capacity doubles every 18 months. This increasing computational capacity is used by application software to provide improved functional capabilities, to respond to increasing numbers of service requests with shorter response times, and to support more efficient operations (better fuel efficiency, reduced system failures and down time, and increased productivity). Studies of embedded system trends demonstrate that the size of software in embedded systems also grows exponentially, doubling in size every 18-36 months, depending on the industry [2, 3]. Many of today's typical embedded real-time systems are comprised of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lines of code. Rather than develop all of the code required for each new product release from scratch, the majority of today's software growth results from integration of third-party software components and the melding of independently developed software systems into larger integrated systems offering the combined capabilities of each individual part. This article discusses the use of the real-time Java language as an enabling technology to greatly reduce the efforts associated with developing and maintaining reusable real-time software components. The discussion also addresses the need to integrate within real-time systems certain components that were not originally developed with the rigor or discipline typical of real-time software. These non-real-time software components can be successfully deployed within real-time systems as long as systems are carefully constructed to assure that less disciplined components do not steal resources from the allotments for real-time components or compromise the timely execution of them. The correctness of a real-time system depends not only on delivering correct computational results, but also on delivering these results at the correct time. If results are delivered too early or too late, the real-time system is operating incorrectly. It is the software developer's responsibility to assure that the system operates correctly. Real-time software can be divided into two broad categories: hard real-time and soft real-time. Hard real-time systems are developed according to the most stringent and conservative practices [4]. The resource needs of each hard real-time component are determined through careful theoretical analysis of the worst-case central processing unit (CPU) time and memory consumption along every worst-case path though the code. On modern CPU architectures, this results in very conservative use of computing resources. Soft real-time systems comply with real-time constraints using empirical …


Research into academic mobility or study abroad has identified six categories of learning outcome: academic, cultural, intercultural, linguistic, personal and professional. A few studies have also shown that study abroad has lasting effects on the individual. The present questionnaire study involved 32 students who had undertaken a work placement in Francophone Africa as part of a UK degree in French since the mid-1980s. The closed and open questions explored gender, ethnicity, religion, accommodation, language use and gain, links with home, social networks, learning outcomes and subsequent employment. Some findings echo earlier studies, others are context-specific, but the enduring impact of study abroad on attitudes and employment is amply confirmed.


In the past few decades, there has been increased attention and concern towards the potential damaging effects of industrial pollutants on the global eco-system. To combat these effects, countries have enacted their own environmental regulatory laws and standards.  However removal of the pollutants at the source and keeping the product standards according to the regulatory compliance level becomes a major concern for the manufacturing sector, particularly to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). Focus of this study is on Indian Pharmaceutical Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (PSMEs), aimed at identifying and prioritizing the reasons, nature and magnitude of vulnerable regulatory issues to environmental compliance.  Stratified random sampling design is adopted for data and prioritization of the issues arising out of compliance measure is done using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The study and related reviews brings out the relevance of strategic interventions from government, regulatory organizations and industry associations for improving the sustainable business environment of SMEs.


Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related with metabolic syndrome may influence cancer. Our study aimed to replicate association studies of 30 selected polymorphisms pertaining to 21 genes and cancer phenotypes in Japanese elderly population. All polymorphisms were determined by genotyping on the samples collected from 1503 consecutive autopsy cases registered in the Japanese SNPs for geriatric research (JGSNP) data base. Current study consisted of 807 (54%) males and 696 (46%) females with a mean age of 80.3 ± 8.9 years. Number of males with cancer was 520 (57%) and females 398 (43%) in total of 918 (61%) cancer present cases and 585 (39%) controls without cancer. Our pathological cancer phenotypes consisted of gastric cancer (n=178), lung cancer (n=163), colorectal (n=137) and others. Our results indicated that rs1800470 (P10L) located TGFβI gene has significant association with overall cancer (CT: CC adjusted odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.386 (1.017 – 1.888), p=0.007, TT: CC adjusted OR (95% CI)=1.438 (1.106 – 1.870), p=0.039, CT + TT: CC, adjusted OR (95% CI)=1.421 (1.111 – 1.816), p=0.005), and also with lung cancer ( CT + TT: CC adjusted OR (95% CI)=1.562 (1.024 – 2.383), p=0.039) in all subjects. We also found rs2243250 located in IL4 gene is associated with elevated risk of acute leukemia (TT + CT: CC adjusted OR (95% CI)=2.286 (1.243 – 4.206), p = 0.008). Furthermore, rs2077647 on ESRI gene was associated with decreased risk of acute leukemia (GG + AG: AA, adjusted OR (95% CI)=0.516 (0.319 – 0.835), p=0.007). We found that rs1800470, rs2243250 and rs2077647 polymorphisms may influence cancer in Japanese elderly population. Our study warrants further confirmations with larger samples.


Introduction: Bcl-2 is an oncogene which inhibits apoptosis. The overexpression of Bcl-2 may play an important role in predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer. Aim: To evaluate the expression of Bcl-2 oncoprotein with clinicopathological variables in colorectal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Thirty resected specimens of colorectal carcinomas which included ten cases each of carcinomas in stages I, II and III were selected for the study. The Bcl-2 immunostaining pattern was correlated with the patient's age, gender, site, size, grade, nodal status and pathological stage. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 75 years with 12 males and 18 females. The sizes of the tumours ranged from 1.5 to 9cms.Twelve cases were right sided and 18 cases were left sided. Twelve cases were low grade and 18 were high grade. Lymph nodes were positive in ten out of the thirty cases. Bcl-2 was positive in 56% of the cases. The Bcl-2 expression was 65% in stages I and II carcinomas and only 40% in stage III carcinomas. However, there was no statistically significant correlation with the clinicopathological variables. Conclusion: Analysis of Bcl-2 protein expression may have a potential use in the management of colorectal cancer.


Public health consultations are a fundamental part of public health policy design and implementation. However, one cannot assume that these consultations will automatically be inclusive, that their inputs will indeed influence policy makers, and that this will lead to progress towards UHC. Assessing how public consultations can be more inclusive and influential for stronger results needs to be part of the consultation design. This commentary offers some suggestions on how to do so.


Silicon wafers as semiconductors are essential components of integrated circuits in electronic devices. For this reason, modification of the silicon surface is an important factor in the manufacturing of new hybrid materials applied in micro- and nanoelectronics. Herein, copolymer brushes of hydrophilic poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) and hydrophobic poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA) were grafted from silicon wafers via simplified electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (seATRP) according to a surface-initiated approach. The syntheses of PHEA-b-PtBA copolymers were carried out with diminished catalytic complex concentration (successively 25 and 6 ppm of Cu). In order to optimize the reaction condition, the effect of the addition of a supporting electrolyte was investigated. A controlled increase in PHEA brush thickness was confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Various other parameters including contact angles and free surface energy (FSE) for the modified silicon wafer were presented. Furthermore, the effect of the presence of a sacrificial initiator in solution on the thickness of the grafted brushes was reported. Successfully fabricated inorganic–organic hybrid nanomaterials show potential application in biomedicine and microelectronics devices, e.g., biosensors.


Inorganic farming is the norm in most areas of Bangladesh today, especially at croplands near Bangladesh's capital - Dhaka. However, several recent studies have shown that such practices cause soil degradation overtime, consequently leading to long-term harm to the environment and economic profits. This long-term cost is often avoided by most farmers as inorganic farming is believed to fetch increased productivity/monetary gains, than its environmentally friendly, organic counterpart: the primary aim of this research was to find out the validity of this belief. The research used literature review and analysis of primary data collected about input costs, returns, crop yields, environmental effects, etc., from sixty respondents (mostly farmers and consumers involved in both types of farming), using one-on-one structured interviews, and three focus group discussions at the selected areas of Savar, Sreenagar and Rupganj, focusing primarily on two popular crops – tomato and corn; graphical and tabular analyses were conducted using MS Excel to propose interpretations and record findings. Keeping all other things constant and internalizing environmental externalities, while organic farming was found to produce around 50% and 33% less tomatoes and corns in net terms, respectively, than inorganic farming, the input costs and returns from one cycle of production were found to be lower (50%) and higher (around 200USD), respectively. Hence, from a long-run perspective, organic farming was concluded as the more cost-effective choice both in economic and environmental terms, given that the Dhaka market for organic products are managed better by the producers, consumers and government, alike.
Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.6(2): 289-299, August 2019


Chromosome number, C-value and cell volume studies were carried out on three species of the genus Channa, viz., C. punctatus, C. striatus and C. gachua. The chromosome number, karyotypic structure and DNA content per cell along with cell volume are reported and described. A series of chromosomal rearrangements are established in three different karyotypes along with polyploidy. Both pericentric inversion and Robertsonian fusion played a major role in chromosome rearrangements. The nuclear DNA content of these three species is within 19-29% of the present-day placental mammals, and is thus lower than the median amount for fishes in general and teleosts in particular. Their lower DNA content suggests that the three species of the family Channidae are highly specialized, and this is supported by their known morphologic, reproductive, behavioural and ecological characteristics.

The evolutionary significance of these chromosomal rearrangements, their origin and their mode of establishment are discussed. A probable phylogenetic model based on karyotype, C-value and chromosomal rearrangements of the genus is presented.


At a hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, three strains of Legionella pneumophila were detectable based on plasmid content, while the isolates collected at another hospital in Halifax had no plasmids. Genomic DNA was digested with BssHII, SalI, and SpeI and subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). We found no relationship between plasmid profile and PFGE pattern.


In this study, an efficient method of designing laminate composite radar absorbing structures (RAS) is proposed with consideration given to the structural shape so as to improve aircraft stealth performance. The calculation of the radar cross section (RCS) should be decreased to enhance the efficiency of the stochastic optimization when designing an RAS. In the proposed method, RAS are optimized to match up the input impedance of the minimal RCS, which is obtained by using physical optics and the transmission line theory. Single and double layer dielectric RAS for aircraft wings are employed as numerical examples and designed using the proposed method, RCS minimization and reflection coefficient minimization. The availability of the proposed method is assessed by comparing the similarity of the results and computation time with other design methods. According to the results, the proposed method produces the same results as the stochastic optimization, which adopts the RCS as the objective function, and can improve RAS design efficiency by reducing the number of RCS analyses.


NLRP6 is a member of the Nod-like receptor (NLR) family, whose members are involved in the recognition of microbes and/or tissue injury. NLRP6 was previously shown to regulate IL-18 secretion and is important for protecting mice against chemically-induced colitis and colitis-associated colon cancer. However, the cellular mechanisms by which NLRP6 reduces susceptibility to colonic inflammation remain unclear. Here, we determined that NLRP6 expression is specifically upregulated in Ly6Chi inflammatory monocytes that infiltrate into the colon during dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammation. Adoptive transfer of WT Ly6Chi inflammatory monocytes into Nlrp6−/− mice was sufficient to protect them from mortality, significantly reducing intestinal permeability and damage. NLRP6-deficient inflammatory monocytes were specifically defective in TNFα production, which was important for reducing DSS-induced mortality and dependent on autocrine IL-18 signaling by inflammatory monocytes. Our data reveal a previously unappreciated role for NLRP6 in inflammatory monocytes, which are recruited during colitis to promote barrier function and limit bacteria-driven inflammation. This study also highlights the importance of early cytokine responses, particularly NLRP6-dependent and IL-18-dependent TNFα production, in preventing chronic dysregulated inflammation that occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.


This article provides an overview of the controversy surrounding openness in adoptions practice and discusses the open options which many adoption agencies are currently offering adoptive and birth parents. The findings of an exploratory study which examine the impact of traditional, semi-open and fully-disclosed adoptions on adoptive and birth parents are presented. The risks and benefits of each type of adoption are described and policy and practice implications are discussed.


Recei+ed Ma*. 27, i997 ABSTRACT In an avtomatic inspection system, the improvement of image quality has a close relation with the detecting device and the inspected object. It is difficult to determine the relation among the detecting lens, the surface roughness, and the reflectance of inspected object by analytics or measuring methods. In this paper, the reflection characteristic of the inspected object in an automatic inspection system is studied by means of Monte Carlo (MC) method. The theoretical analysis and simulation results reveal as follows: if the inspected objects have the same reflectance and the same surface roughness, the number and the standard deviation of photon bundles are related to the radius of the lens and the shape of inspected object. A change in the specular reflectance has greater influence on the number of reflected photon bundles than that of the diffuse reflectance. However, with the increase of the surface roughness, the photon bundles received by the lens decrease, and the influence of the specular reflectance on the number of reflected photon bundles becomes similar in number to the diffuse reflectance.


Glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) is a metabolic oncogene that links glycine metabolism with tumorigenesis. In humans, GLDC is part of a multienzyme complex (which includes the lipoyl-containing H-protein) that couples the decarboxylation of glycine to the biosynthesis of serine. Details of the GLDC-catalyzed glycine decarboxylation reaction are critical to drug development but remain elusive. This is the first report on the mechanism of the GLDC-catalyzed reaction and shows that GLDC is an unusual PLP-containing α-amino acid decarboxylase that removes carbon dioxide from the glycine substrate without releasing the expected amine (methylamine, a metabolic precursor of toxic formaldehyde) as a product. In an unusual decarboxylation mechanism, the resulting aminomethyl moiety is instead transferred to an accessory H-protein. This study defines the role of H-protein in GLDC-catalyzed glycine decarboxylation. (1) H-Protein is not required for glycine decarboxylation but, instead, is required for the release of the aminomethyl moiety from the quinonoid adduct. (2) Glycine decarboxylation is reversible and presumably proceeds through a stable quinonoid intermediate. (3) The physiological product of glycine decarboxylation is H-protein-S-aminomethyl dihydrolipoyllysine and not methylamine (in the absence of H-protein, the aminomethyl moiety remains as a quinonoid adduct). Mechanistic insights obtained from this study will inform future efforts for targeted anticancer therapeutic development.


Despite backing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), capital flight from Brazil in 1998 prompted the government to jettison its pegged currency stabilization program and float the real on January 15, 1999, becoming another casualty of the volatile international capital markets. Brazil adjusted to its financial crisis faster than expected, which is considered over. This report provides a final summary of Brazil's financial crisis and related IMF assistance in support of Congressional interest in various aspects of the 1990s global financial turmoil. It will not be updated.


Background: High quality of care is necessary for improving health care outcomes. To achieve quality of care, health care providers need to provide person-centerd-care. Through working in multi professional teams, having the woman at the center, enables provision of care with high quality and with less complications for mother and child. Given this, it is of importance to investigate how midwives as part of such multi professional team experience teamwork at a laborward.
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate midwives' experience of teamwork in a laborward.
Method: Qualitative method is used. Two focus group discussions, with six midwives were conducted at a maternity ward at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Data was analyzed with inductive content analysis.
Result: The study showed that teamwork was based on communication, knowledge, reflection and professional approach. Teamwork was situationbased were external factors such as workload mattered. Teamwork was created jointly and was dependent on each members uniqe competence and knowledge, by supporting and inviting each other.
Conclusion: In order to create the best possible condition for creating high quality of care, effective teamwork is essential. Effective teamwork is created when team members have a professional and supportive approach to each other. If a clear communication is used, knowledge can be shared and the teamwork improves. It is of great importance that all team members understand their own and each other's role in the team and invite each other to be an active member. Reconciliations should be done continuously through the work pass and time for reflection should be set off after each work session. Further studies on implemention of teamwork are needed and how other professional groups look at teamwork.
Keywords: Teamwork, collaboration, quality of care, childbirth, midwife and person-centered care.


ABSTRACT
 Human rights instruments exist to respond to serious dangers that human beings routinely face, what Henry Shue terms 'standard threats.' According to Shue's influential account of the structure of a moral right, these threats are 'the targets of the social guarantees for the enjoyment of … a right.' They are 'common, or ordinary, and serious but remediable.' Yet for individuals who struggle daily against serious, remediable threats that are common to their peer group, but do not routinely threaten mainstream society, this oversight has enormous implications for their security, subsistence, freedom, and dignity. This paper examines the three elements of Shue's standard threat. It concludes by making the case that if we are to deploy this element of the structure of moral rights to justify social guarantees of protection, and to craft them in a way that takes proper account of human diversity, then we must ask: Standard for whom?


Elevated miR‐31 expression is associated with poor outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC). Whether the prognostic information is independent of known molecular subgroups and gene expression‐based consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) is currently unknown. To investigate this, we analyzed nearly 2000 CRC biopsies and preclinical models. The expression of miR‐31‐5p and its host transcript, long noncoding RNA MIR31HG, was strongly correlated (Spearman's ρ > 0.80). MIR31HG outlier expression was observed in 158/1265 (12%) of pCRCs and was associated with depletion of CMS2‐canonical subgroup (odds ratio = 0.21 [0.11–0.35]) and shorter relapse‐free survival (RFS) in multivariable analysis (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.2 [1.6–3.0]). For stage II disease, 5‐year RFS for patients with MIR31HG outlier status was 49% compared to 77% for those with normal‐like expression. MIR31HG outlier status was associated with inferior outcome also within clinical high risk groups and within the poor prognostic CMS4‐mesenchymal gene expression subtype specifically. Preclinical models with MIR31HG outlier expression were characterized by reduced expression of MYC targets as well as elevated epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, TNF‐α/NFκB, TGF‐β, and IFN‐α/γ gene expression signatures, indicating cancer cell‐intrinsic properties resembling the CMS4 subgroup—associations which were recapitulated in patient biopsies. Moreover, the prognostic value of MIR31HG outlier status was independent of cytotoxic T lymphocyte and fibroblast infiltration. We here present evidence that MIR31HG expression provides clinical stratification beyond major gene expression phenotypes and tumor immune and stromal cell infiltration and propose a model where increased expression is an indicator of a cellular state conferring intrinsic invasive and/or immuno‐evasive capabilities.


Safety aspects in children's garments are matter of serious concern, and so proper attention is required to minimize the risk involved in its practical use. Review of each and every component attached to the children's garment, which may cause potential risk, needs to be carefully done so that all the safety issues are addressed adequately. The chapter first highlights the importance of reviewing the safety issues in children's apparel. The chapter then discusses the safety aspects of different components used in different merchandise items for children, with specific case studies. Flammability requirements of children's apparel are also highlighted.


In the twenty-first century, the healthcare industry faces ever-changing economic, social, political and technology challenges. Costs are rising, funding is diminishing, human and fiscal resources are becoming scarcer, customer-expectations are rising, the complexity of disease is increasing and technology is becoming more complex. These trends have a massive impact on every aspect of hospital operations and the Emergency Department is no exception. Overcrowding in the Emergency Department (ED) in hospitals has become a growing problem in many developed countries around the world. ED overcrowding has a direct effect on patient-care, including compromised patient-safety, increased length-of-stay, increased mortality and morbidity-rates and increased costs. Healthcare policy-makers and hospital and ED administrators are being forced to search for ways to improve the capacity of EDs by better utilisation of existing resources and creating more efficient systems to overcome this problem.Throughout the past few decades, there has been an increasing trend of using numerous systems-analysis tools and techniques which have come from manufacturing and other service industries to address the various issues in healthcare and EDs. Among those tools Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) is a powerful tool to improve the efficiency and capacity in dynamic and complex systems. Use of these tools to address the overcrowding problem in EDs has been patchy; specific aspects of issues have been studied but no attempt has been made to deploy DES or any other systems-analysis tool in a strategic and holistic manner.The aim of this research is to develop a modelling-based framework to manage the overcrowding problem in EDs. The research identified the causes of overcrowding in EDs and developed a decisions-framework with the long-term, medium-term and short-tem decisions in EDs that related to the overcrowding problem. Finally, it identified the best possible systems-analysis tools to support those decisions to overcome the overcrowding problem in EDs. This research could help the healthcare policy-makers, managers, systems-engineers as well as the researchers and consultants who are interesting in the Emergency Department operational management.