Immunization with radiation (γ)-attenuated Plasmodia sporozoites (γ-spz) confers sterile and long-lasting immunity against malaria liver-stage infection. In the P. berghei γ-spz model, protection is linked to liver CD8+ T cells that express an effector/memory (TEM) phenotype, (CD44hiCD45RBloCD62Llo ), and produce IFN-γ. However, neither the antigen presenting cells (APC) that activate these CD8+ TEM cells nor the site of their induction have been fully investigated. Because conventional (c)CD8α+ DC (a subset of CD11c+ DC) are considered the major inducers of CD8+ T cells, in this study we focused primarily on cCD8α+ DC from livers of mice immunized with Pb γ-spz and asked whether the cCD8α+ DC might be involved in the activation of CD8+ TEM cells. We demonstrate that multiple exposures of mice to Pb γ-spz lead to a progressive and nearly concurrent accumulation in the liver but not the spleen of both the CD11c+NK1.1− DC and CD8+ TEM cells. Upon adoptive transfer, liver CD11c+NK1.1− DC from Pb γ-spz-immunized mice induced protective immunity against sporozoite challenge. Moreover, in an in vitro system, liver cCD8α+ DC induced naïve CD8+ T cells to express the CD8+ TEM phenotype and to secrete IFN-γ. The in vitro induction of functional CD8+ TEM cells by cCD8α+ DC was inhibited by anti-MHC class I and anti-IL-12 mAbs. These data suggest that liver cCD8α+ DC present liver-stage antigens to activate CD8+ TEM cells, the pre-eminent effectors against pre-erythrocytic malaria. These results provide important implications towards a design of anti-malaria vaccines.


Colonizing germ-free (GF) zebrafish with specific bacterial species provides the possibility of understanding the influence on host biological processes including gene expression, development, immunity, and behavioral responses. It also enlightens our understanding on the host-microbe interactions within the physiological context of a living host. However, the responses of GF zebrafish to various colonization conditions such as bacterial concentrations, colonization time points, and exposure duration remain unclear. To address this issue, we explored the responses of GF zebrafish by using two bacterial species at varying concentrations, colonization time points and exposure duration. Therefore, we mono-associated GF zebrafish with Escherichia coli DH5α or Bacillus subtilis WB800N at concentrations ranging from 102 to 107 CFU/ml either at 3 day post fertilization (dpf) or 5 dpf for 24 or 48 h. We evaluated the responses of GF zebrafish by analyzing the survival rate, colonization efficiency, nutrients metabolism, intestinal cell proliferation, innate immunity, stress, and behavior responses by comparing it to conventionally raised zebrafish (CONR) and GF zebrafish. The results indicated that the final bacteria concentrations ranging from 102 to 104 CFU/ml did not cause any mortality when GF mono-associated larvae were exposed to either E. coli DH5α or B. subtilis WB800N at 3 or 5 dpf, while concentrations ranging from 106 to 107 CFU/ml increased the mortality, particularly for 5 dpf owing to the decrease in dissolved oxygen level. The E. coli DH5α mainly induced the expression of genes related to nutrients metabolism, cell proliferation and immunity, while B. subtilis WB800N mainly upregulated the expression of genes related to immunity and stress responses. Moreover, our data revealed that GF zebrafish showed higher levels of physical activity than CONR and the microbial colonization reduced the hyperactivity of GF zebrafish, suggesting colonization of bacteria affected behavior characteristics. This study provides useful information on bacterial colonization of GF zebrafish and the interaction between the host and microbiota.


Moderately elevated maternal cortisol levels late in gestation cause enlargement of the fetal sheep heart. We have used quantitative real-time PCR to examine expression of candidate genes in fetal hearts from mothers in whom cortisol levels were increased (by infusion of 1 mg cortisol.kg(-1).day(-1)) or decreased (by adrenalectomy and replacement to 0.5 mg cortisol.kg(-1).day(-1)) from 115 to 130 days gestation. Control ewes were not treated with steroid. Expression of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases 1 and 2 (11beta-HSD1 and -2), IGF I and II, IGF receptors 1 and 2 (IGF-1R and IGF-2R), endothelial nitric oxide synthase, VEGF, myotrophin, angiotensinogen, the angiotensin receptors 1 and 2 (AT1R and AT2R), and the angiotensin converting enzymes 1 and 2 were measured. MR mRNA abundance in fetal hearts was found to be similar to that in adult kidney and hippocampus. Although there were no significant changes in most genes, 11beta-HSD2 and IGF-1R expression were significantly decreased in the high cortisol group and 11beta-HSD2 expression negatively correlated to left ventricular wall thickness. There was also a significant change in the ratio of AT receptor expression, with increased AT2R and decreased AT1R in the high cortisol group. MR, GR, and 11beta-HSD1 immunoreactivity was found in cardiomyocytes and cardiac blood vessels in 126-128 day fetal sheep; in contrast 11beta-HSD2 staining was predominantly in blood vessels. These results indicate that cortisol could indeed act in the fetal heart to induce enlargement and suggest that the renin-angiotensin system may play a role.


Islamic criminal policy has progressive view on crime, guilty and victim, and it's based on Quran and Sunnah, so when researchers search in Islamic law they can find most powerful theories in criminology, but we don't see Islamic criminologist and Islamic criminology as independent branch of Islamic criminal law. It's come from Muslim Jurisconsult idea, because they emphasis on punishment and crime, so they don't think about reason of crime and socialization of guilty. When you think about punish the guilty, you don't think about "why he/she does that crime?"Though, we can't find some novel idea in Islamic jurisprudence such as environmental prevention, victimology, social defence and etc. Now I'm trying to educe Islamic criminology from Islamic rules and policy, so in this paper I'm trying to have comparative study on Islamic theories and legal theories.


Abstract Several studies have demonstrated that the presence of stressors during pregnancy induces adverse effects on the neuroendocrine system of the offspring later in life. In the present work, we investigated the effects of early programming on the male reproductive system, employing a prenatal stress (PS) paradigm. This study found that when pregnant dams were placed in a plastic restrainer three times a day during the last week of pregnancy, the offspring showed reduced anogenital distance and delayed testicular descent. Serum luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were decreased at postnatal day (PND) 28 and testosterone was decreased at PND 75. Increased testosterone plus dihydrotestosterone (T + DHT) concentrations correlated with increased testicular 5α Reductase-1 (5αR-1) mRNA expression at PND 28. Moreover, PS accelerated spermatogenesis at PND 35 and 60, and increased mean seminiferous tubule diameter in pubertal offspring and reduced Leydig cell number was observed at PND 35 and 60. PS offspring had increased androgen receptor (AR) mRNA level at PND 28, and at PND 35 had increased the numbers of Sertoli cells immunopositive for AR. Overall, the results confirm that stress during gestation can induce long-term effects on the male offspring reproductive system. Of particular interest is the pre-pubertal imbalance of circulating hormones that probably trigger accelerated testicular development, followed by an increase in total androgens and a decrease in testosterone concentration during adulthood. Exposure to an unfavourable intrauterine environment might prepare for harsh external conditions by triggering early puberty, increasing reproductive potential.


This study aims to understand the impact of learning strategies on students' ability to produce effective texts in English. Additionally, it seeks to identify the students' discursive and functional competencies by analyzing their relationship with the use of learning strategies. The study follows a basic design with a quantitative approach, utilizing a hypothetical-deductive method and adopting a non-experimental correlational descriptive approach within a positivist paradigm.The relationship between learning strategies and the production of texts in English was examined among university students. The findings indicate that 18.6% of the participants always employ learning strategies, while 44.3% use them quite often. A significant portion of the students (47.14%) frequently utilize cognitive and control strategies. Additionally, 32.9% of the students sometimes employ learning support strategies. Regarding discursive and functional competencies, 35.7% of students demonstrate a regular level in both,while 31.4% display a good level in both competencies. Encouragingly, 40% of the students achieve a good level in text production, and 24.3% reach an excellent level. These findings provide valuable insights for the design of educational strategies. This study contributes knowledge and validity to the teaching of English as a foreign language and text production in the university context. It holds significant value by enhancing students' English text production skills and preparing them to tackle communication challenges in diverse academic and professional settings.


The principles of mathematical modeling of optimal dose fields in contact radiotherapy (RT) of malignant tumors are investigated. The point dose additivity provides for presetting the permissible dose field in an irradiated organism as a system of linear limitations to doses in the control points (CP) distributed in the lesion focus and in healthy organs and tissues. It was shown as impossible to shape a dose field by linear limitations to doses in CP in using the RT contact methods with the irradiation sources being implanted into lesion focus. A mathematic interpretation was suggested for the task (with its solution by an iterative algorithm) of forming an optimal dose field in the lesion focus with implanted irradiation sources, which is based on maximizing the factor of dose-field homogeneity. It was further demonstrated that linear limitations, if added to the dose in healthy organs and tissues, make the task even more complicated if not insoluble. Finally, it is suggested to use the method of shaping an effective dose field by the iterative method with interactive visual optimization of the dose field.


The tsunami that struck Papua New Guinea on 17 July 1998 shortly after a Mw 7.0 earthquake (Figure 1) was one of the deadliest tsunamis in this century. At least 2,200 people died from this event, essentially destroying an entire generation in some communities. In the months following the tsunami, several international survey teams collected data in an attempt to better understand the cause of this event. Elevations of waterline marks and displaced debris measured by the first International Tsunami Survey Team (ITST; Kawata et al., 1999) indicated an average runup of 10 m occurring over a 25 km length of coastline in the vicinity of Sissano Lagoon (Figure 2). The maximum runup from this event was approximately 15 m. Tsunami runup heights of this size are commonly associated either with earthquakes of much larger magnitude or with "tsunami earthquakes" as defined by Kanamori (1972) and later discussed by Kanamori and Kikuchi (1993). Even for tsunami earthquakes, however, runup heights of 10-15 m seem only to occur for earthquakes Mw > 7.5. Because these runup heights appear anomalously high for a M 7 earthquake, other sources have been postulated for the tsunami, including a submarine landslide or mass flow. Earlier this year, the bathymetry north of Papua New Guinea was surveyed by the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) and the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). In a report describing the preliminary results from these cruises (Tappin et al. , 1999), bathymetric images are presented that show evidence both of a 40-km-long fault scarp and of collapse features within an approximately 10-km-wide bathymetric amphitheater (Figure 2). The report suggests that a landslide was the sole cause for the tsunami. In this paper, I revisit the common assumption that local tsunami runup scales directly with moment magnitude …


Abstract In this study, we estimate the ice mass changes, the ice elevation changes and the vertical displacements in Antarctica based on analysis of multi-geodetic datasets that involve the satellite gravimetry (GRACE), the satellite altimetry (ICESat) and the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). According to our estimates, the total mass change of the Antarctic ice sheet from GRACE data is −162.91 Gt/yr over the investigated period between April 2002 and June 2017. This value was obtained after applying the GIA correction of −98.12 Gt/yr derived from the ICE-5G model of the glacial iso-static adjustment. A more detailed analysis of mass balance changes for three individual drainage regions in Antarctica reveal that the mass loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet was at a rate of −143.11 Gt/yr. The mass loss of the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet was at a rate of −24.31 Gt/yr. The mass of the East Antarctic ice sheet increased at a rate of 5.29 Gt/yr during the investigated period. When integrated over the entire Antarctic ice sheet, average rates of ice elevation changes over the period from March 2003 to October 2009 derived from ICESat data represent the loss of total ice volume of −155.6 km3.The most prominent features in ice volume changes in Antarctica are characterized by a strong dynamic thinning and ice mass loss in the Amundsen Sea Embayment that is part of the West Antarctic ice sheet. In contrast, coastal regions between Dronning Maud Land and Enderby Land exhibit a minor ice increase, while a minor ice mass loss is observed in Wilkes Land. The vertical load displacement rates estimated from GRACE and GPS data relatively closely agree with the GIA model derived based on the ice-load history and the viscosity profile. For most sites, the GRACE signal appears to be in phase and has the same amplitude as that obtained from the GPS vertical motions while other sites exhibit some substantial differences possibly attributed to thermo-elastic deformations associated with surface temperature.


For all its geographical, cultural and political uniqueness, the definition of the Caucasus as a region is problematic. Geographers, geologists, political scientists, anthropologists and historians—all have disagreements between themselves and each other about such issues as what constitutes its borders, and what are the features of both its homogeneity and heterogeneity. Often, the use by representatives of one discipline of the conclusions and terminology from other disciplines in order to substantiate their positions complicates the problem even further. In any case, in general geographical terms the Caucasus is the territory between the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas, extending from the Kuma-Manych depression in the north to Georgia's and Armenia's borders with Turkey, and Azerbaijan's borders with Iran in the south. In physical-geological terms the Caucasus is predominantly a mountainous region which is shaped by the trajectories of the two mountain ranges, namely the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. The trajectory of the Greater Caucasus represents a diagonal stretching from the north-west to the southeast, while the trajectory of the Lesser Caucasus forms an ellipsoidal bow. At the Suram Passage the Lesser and Greater Caucasus practically merge. The Caucasus mountain range is divided lengthwise into the western Caucasus which stretches to Elbrus; the central Caucasus, which is between the Elbrus and Kazbek mountains; and the eastern Caucasus, which is to the east of the Kazbek.


This thesis concerns atomic data, and it's impact upon white dwarf model atmosphere calculations, and consequentially, the measurements made using such models. The thesis begins with a brief introduction to the history and properties of white dwarfs, the theory of radiative transfer, and the uses of white dwarfs in astronomy. A detailed spectroscopic survey of WD0501+524 (G191-B2B) is presented. 976 absorption features were detected, 947 of which have been successfully identified. ∼ 60% of the identified features were found to pertain to Fe and Ni iv-vi transitions. The potential consequences of using a limited atomic data set in model atmospheres are discussed, and other possible identifications to the unknown absorption features are queried. The Kurucz (1992) (Ku92) atomic database (containing ∼ 9, 000, 000 transitions) is supplemented by photoionisation (PI) cross section data from the Opacity Project for use in stellar atmosphere calculations. The more recent Kurucz (2011) (Ku11) database (containing ∼ 160, 000, 000 transitions) is not accompanied by PI cross section data. Calculations performed to create this data are described, and their effects on model atmosphere calculations are discussed. The Lyman/Balmer line problem, a discrepancy between the measured effective temperatures (Teff) from the Lyman/Balmer line series is considered. Teff and surface gravity (log g) measurements are made of 24 DA white dwarfs using model atmosphere grids utilising two atmospheric compositions, two Stark broadening tables, and the Ku92 and Ku11 atomic data sets. It is shown that the average opacity contributed by all metal species in the atmosphere drives the discrepancy between the measured Lyman/Balmer Teff . Analysis of Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) data for seven metal rich white dwarf stars is presented. Four model atmosphere grids were calculated using two atmospheric compositions (Preval et al. 2013; Barstow et al. 2003) and the Ku92 and Ku11 atomic datasets. Improved fits for wavelengths shortward of 230Å are obtained for all stars except WD0501+524, where significant discrepancies remain.


Beginning with cluster or grid computing, recent parallel computing environments are involved with more heterogeneity or irregularity. The heterogeneity comes not only from processor performances but also from network topology and communication performances. It is essential to take into account the heterogeneity to derive the maximum benefit from such computing environments. In this research, we show the impact of considering such heterogeneity based on molecular dynamics (MD) with spatial decomposition method. We coordinate with complicated communication patterns caused from spatial decomposition of irregular data by using a newly developed graph mapping method. Previous researches on graph mapping have dealt with network heterogeneity by weighted edge-cut. However, the cost function ignores interference between communications and it is not proper estimation of communication time. Meanwhile, our method considers per-link bandwidths for correct estimation of communication time. In our experiments, the mappings derived by the proposed method reduced the communication completion times up to 20% and up to 60% with relayed communication.


Narrowband interference reduces performance of present transmission systems, and will do so in the future to an even higher extent. The interference mainly hinders a correct data signal detection. But it may already have distorted the channel estimation, even for more carriers than the one, actually containing the carrier of the narrowband interferer. Therefore it is substantial to correctly detect the interferer power and its position in the frequency grid. This paper discusses an interference detection scheme in interaction with a preamble based channel estimation for the MB-OFDM standard. It covers the fact that due to large subcarrier channel power fluctuations, either detection probability is poor because of high thresholds, or reduced thresholds make rise to the false alarm probability.


It is well known that integration formulas of precision 2fc (2fc + 1) for a region in n-space which is a Cartesian product of intervals can be obtained from onedimensional Radau (Gauss) rules. The number of function evaluations in these product cubatures is (fc + 1) . In this paper, an algorithm is given for obtaining cubatures for hyperrectangles in n-space of precision 2fc, in many instances 2fc + 1, which uses (fc + l)(fc)" nodes. The weights and nodes of these new formulas are derived from one-dimensional generalized Radau rules.


BackgroundThere is a lack of quantitative evidence concerning United Kingdom veterans who access secondary mental health care. This is mainly due to a person's veteran status not being routinely collected when they enter the health care system.
Main AimThe study aimed to develop an NLP approach for identifying veterans accessing secondary mental health care services using National Health Service electronic health records.
MethodsVeterans were identified using the South London and Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM) case register – a database holding secondary mental health care electronic records for the South London and Maudsley National Health Service Trust of 300,000 patients. We developed two methods. An NLP and machine learning tool were developed to automatically evaluate personal history statements written by clinicians.
ResultsThis study showed that it was possible to identify veterans using the NLP and machine learning approach on a sub-set of 4,200 patients. The automatic machine learning method was able to identify 270 veterans representing an accuracy of 97.2%. It is estimated to take between 6 to 16 minutes to manually search patient history statements whereas the automatic machine learning method took only one minute to run.
ConclusionWe have shown that it is possible to identify veterans using NLP combined with machine learning. This work contributes towards the development of a more comprehensive picture of veterans who are accessing secondary mental health care services in the UK. It represents a first step in identifying veterans from one dataset and we hope that future research can inform the possibility of deploying the methods nationally. Despite our success in the current work, the tools are tailored to the SLaM dataset and future work is needed to develop a more agnostic framework.
FundingForces in Mind Trust


Abstract Sadonebria Ledoux & Roux, 2005 is one of the more diverse subgenera of the genus Nebria Latreille, 1802 in East Asia, and its taxonomy remains unrevised at the subgeneric and specific levels. In this paper, two new species of this subgenus are described from Japan. Nebria quinquelobata sp. n. is described from Mt. Myôkô and is externally similar to Nebria saeviens Bates, 1883, to which specimens of this new species previously had been assigned. Nebria yatsugatakensis sp. n. is described from the Yatsugatake Mountains and is externally similar to locally adjacent species that had been recognized as Nebria sadona Bates, 1883 and were recently revealed as separate species. Both new species are distinguished by morphological (the shape of the endophallus) and morphometric (geometric morphometrics of the pronotum and aedeagus) features. For Nebria yatsugatakensis, the morphology of all larval instars is described based on specimens reared from eggs laid by collected adults. These results, together with previous studies of the species-level taxonomy of Sadonebria and larval morphology of other Nebria subgenera, suggest (i) the utility of geometric morphometrics in species-level taxonomy; (ii) the importance of larval secondary setae in the subgeneric taxonomy of the genus Nebria; and (iii) the presence of further cryptic species in Sadonebria.


The East African Rift (EAR) is a type locale for investigating the processes that drive continental rifting and breakup. The current kinematics of this ~5000 km long divergent plate boundary between the Nubia and Somalia plates is starting to be unraveled thanks to a recent augmentation of space geodetic data in Africa. Here we use a new data set combining episodic GPS measurements with continuous measurements on the Nubian, Somalian, and Antarctic plates, together with earthquake slip vector directions and geologic indicators along the Southwest Indian Ridge to update the present‐day kinematics of the EAR. We use geological and seismological data to determine the main rift faults and solve for rigid block rotations while accounting for elastic strain accumulation on locked active faults. We find that the data are best fit with a model that includes three microplates embedded within the EAR, between Nubia and Somalia (Victoria, Rovuma, and Lwandle), consistent with previous findings but with slower extension rates. We find that earthquake slip vectors provide information that is consistent with the GPS velocities and helps to significantly reduce uncertainties of plate angular velocity estimates. We also find that 3.16 Myr MORVEL average spreading rates along the Southwest Indian Ridge are systematically faster than prediction from GPS data alone. This likely indicates that outward displacement along the SWIR is larger than the default value used in the MORVEL plate motion model.


With the rapid development of the biopharmaceutical industry, an increasing number of new therapeutic protein products (TPPs) have been approved by the FDA and many others are under pre-clinical and clinical evaluation. A major limitation of biopharmaceuticals is their limited half-life when administered systemically. A one-time, implantable, sustained protein delivery device would be advantageous in order to improve the quality of life of patients. Hot melt extrusion (HME) is a mature technology that has been extensively used for a broad spectrum of applications in the polymer and pharmaceutical industry and has achieved success as evidenced by a variety of FDA-approved commercial products. These commercial products are mostly for sustained delivery of small molecule therapeutics, leaving a significant gap for HME formulation of therapeutic proteins. With the increasing need of sustained TPP delivery, HME shows promise as a downstream processing method due to its high efficiency and economic value. Several challenges remain for the application of HME in protein delivery. Progress of HME for protein delivery, challenges encountered, and potential solutions will be detailed in this review article. This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.


This paper presents stableKanren, a miniKanren extension with normal logic programming support under stable model semantics. MiniKanren is a relational programming solver implemented atop Scheme via shallow embedding, which means the predicate in each rule is encoded as a goal function directly. The solver utilizes the pattern matching macro in Scheme to transform the input goal function and form a static search stream through continuations to achieve the essential features, resolution and unification, in Prolog. However, the static stream only works on monotonic reasoning. Even though the core miniKanren is designed to be easily modified and extended with new features, none of the existing extensions support solving normal logic programs. Also, no normal logic program solvers are based on a functional programming language. We identify and categorize the roles of resolution and unification in top-down solving. And we realize that a dynamic search stream is needed to support non-monotonic reasoning. So we evolve both resolution and unification with new roles, and we exploit the advantages of using macros and continuations further to weave the information generated during runtime into future streams dynamically. We create multiple innovative macros to compile the normal logic program into a program with its complement form, obtain the domain of a variable under different contexts, and generate the new search stream during solving. And we use the coinductive resolution to handle the loop in the normal logic program. In future work, we plan to apply bottom-up optimization to improve our top-down system performance and support various input rules.


Cu nanowires and a nanoporous Ag matrix were fabricated through directional solidification and selective dissolution of Ag–Cu eutectic alloys. Ag-39.9at.%Cu eutectic alloys were directionally solidified at growth rates of 14, 25, and 34 μm/s at a temperature gradient of 10 K/cm. The Cu phase in the Ag matrix gradually changed from lamellar to fibrous with an increase in the growth rate. The Ag matrix phase was selectively dissolved, and Cu nanowires of 300–600 nm in diameter and tens of microns in length were prepared in 0.1 M borate buffer with a pH of 9.18 at a constant potential of 0.7 V (vs. SCE). The nanoporous Ag matrix was fabricated through selective dissolution of Cu fiber phase in 0.1 M acetate buffer with a pH of 6.0 at a constant potential of 0.5 V (vs. SCE). The diameter of Ag pores decreased with increasing growth rate. The diameter and depth of Ag pores increased when corrosion time was extended. The depth of the pores was 30 μm after 12 h.


BACKGROUND/AIMS
Nitric oxide has recently been shown to be a neurotransmitter in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves in the digestive tract. To clarify the significance of nitric oxide in the lower esophageal sphincter of patients with reflux esophagitis, we have investigated enteric nerve responses in lower esophageal sphincter specimens obtained from the patients with gastric cancer who had reflux esophagitis, using the normal lower esophageal sphincter as a control.

METHODOLOGY
Lower esophageal sphincter specimens were obtained from 6 patients who had gastric cancer with reflux esophagitis, and normal lower esophageal sphincter specimens were obtained from 12 patients who had gastric cancer without gastroesophageal reflux disease. A mechanograph was used to evaluate in vitro lower esophageal sphincter muscle responses to electrical field stimulation of the adrenergic and cholinergic nerves before and after treatment with various autonomic nerve blockers, and NG-nitro-L-arginine and L-arginine.

RESULTS
1) Cholinergic nerves were more dominant in the normal lower esophageal sphincter than in the lower esophageal sphincter with reflux esophagitis (p < 0.01); 2) non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves were significantly found to act more on the lower esophageal sphincter with reflux esophagitis than those in the normal lower esophageal sphincter (p < 0.01); 3) nitric oxide mediates the relaxation reaction via non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves in the normal lower esophageal sphincter and the lower esophageal sphincter with reflux esophagitis; 4) The relaxation reaction of nitric oxide was observed in the normal lower esophageal sphincter and increased in the lower esophageal sphincter with reflux esophagitis.

CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the cholinergic and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves play important roles in regulating contraction and relaxation of the human lower esophageal sphincter, and nitric oxide plays an important role in non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves of the human lower esophageal sphincter. In addition, a decrease of the action of cholinergic nerves and an increase of the action of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves by nitric oxide may be largely related to the low lower esophageal sphincter pressure observed in the patients with reflux esophagitis.


We propose a method for jointly estimating the 3D motion, 3D shape, and appearance of highly motion-blurred objects from a video. To this end, we model the blurred appearance of a fast moving object in a generative fashion by parametrizing its 3D position, rotation, velocity, acceleration, bounces, shape, and texture over the duration of a predefined time window spanning multiple frames. Using differentiable rendering, we are able to estimate all parameters by minimizing the pixel-wise reprojection error to the input video via backpropagating through a rendering pipeline that accounts for motion blur by averaging the graphics output over short time intervals. For that purpose, we also estimate the camera exposure gap time within the same optimization. To account for abrupt motion changes like bounces, we model the motion trajectory as a piece-wise polynomial, and we are able to estimate the specific time of the bounce at sub-frame accuracy. Experiments on established benchmark datasets demonstrate that our method outperforms previous methods for fast moving object deblurring and 3D reconstruction.


We determine the log-asymptotic decay rate of the negative exponential moments of the mass of sites visited by a random walk on an infinite graph which satisfies a two-sided sub-Gaussian estimate on its transition kernel. This provides a new method of proof of the correct decay rate for Cayley graphs of finitely generated groups with polynomial volume growth. This method also extend known results by determining this decay rate for certain graphs with fractal-like structure or with non-Alfors regular volume growth functions.


Barclays Africa and nine universities, including the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, National University of Science and Technology and the Universities of the Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pretoria, Western Cape, Witwatersrand, South Africa.


Cetacean surveys were conducted in the austral summer during World Ocean Circulation Experiment hydrolegs I8S and I9S in the southeastern Indian Ocean. The highest density of cetaceans occurred along the southern flank of the Kerguelen Plateau and northern edge of the Princess Elizabeth Trough, where the distribution of whales coincides with the mean positions of the Southern Front of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and southern water mass boundary (Southern Boundary) of the ACC. The topographic steerage of these features of the ACC around the southern edge of the Kerguelen Plateau brings shoaled, nutrient‐rich Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW) to higher latitude than in adjacent basins. The higher concentrations of cetaceans near the Kerguelen Plateau suggests that whales benefit from a cascade of trophic dynamics associated with the poleward extent of UCDW, the marginal ice edge zone, and the proximity of several oceanographic features: the high latitude penetration and close alignment of the Southern Front and Southern Boundary of the ACC; the unique poleward extent of the Southern Boundary as it is topographically steered around the plateau; the entrainment of macronutrients into the surface mixed layer near the Southern Boundary; isopycnal shoaling in cyclonic eddies; the presence of complex bathymetry; and the advection of a tongue of ice northward along the eastern side of the plateau. The association between these concurrent oceanographic features and whales suggests that the southeastern edge of the Kerguelen Plateau is a predictably productive foraging location for cetaceans and their prey.


Oral lichen planus is a common dermatologic disease of unknown etiology, with characteristic clinical manifestations from the skin and the oral mucosa as well. In our study we analyzed the observations in 228 patients with oral lichen planus. The location and the type of the oral lesions of this disease are discussed as well as the prevalence of age-sex and the incidence of the disease. The results of our findings can be summarized as following 1) The reticular type is the most common clinical form. 2) Buccal mucosa is the most frequent location. 3) Females are affected more frequently. 4) The most frequent age in which the disease appears is the 6th decade. The importance of these conclusions are compared and discussed with the findings of other authors.


Purpose Techniques for laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) are rapidly evolving. The entire procedure can be performed completely intracorporeally by pure laparoscopic techniques or by open-assisted laparoscopic techniques wherein the urinary diversion is constructed extracorporeally via a mini-laparotomy incision. We retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of these 2 techniques with focus on perioperative outcomes and associated morbidity. Materials and Methods Between December 1999 and March 2006, 54 patients underwent LRC for muscle invasive (n=35) or high risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (n=19). Mean follow-up was 25 months (range 1-66 months). Results There were 17 pure laparoscopic (Group I; 8 conduit/9 neobladder) and 37 openassisted laparoscopic (Group II; 18 conduit/19 neobladder) procedures. No significant differences were noted between the groups as regards patient age, comorbidities, and pathologic stage of malignancy. Group II was superior as regards operative time, blood loss, transfusion rate, time to oral intake, time to ambulation, and postoperative complications (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Anastomotic leak, bowel obstruction, or sepsis requiring re-exploration developed in 5 patients (29%) in group I and in 4 patients (11%) in group II. A "learning curve" was observed for both procedures, but was particularly steep for the pure laparoscopic technique and this approach was eventually abandoned.


Supervised learning of behavioural modes from body acceleration data has become a widely used research tool in Behavioural Ecology over the past decade. One of the primary usages of this tool is to estimate behavioural time budgets from the distribution of behaviours as predicted by the model. These serve as the key parameters to test predictions about the variation in animal behaviour. In this paper we show that the widespread computation of behavioural time budgets is biased, due to ignoring the classification model confusion probabilities. Next, we introduce the confusion matrix correction for time budgets—a simple correction method for adjusting the computed time budgets based on the model's confusion matrix. Finally, we show that the proposed correction is able to eliminate the bias, both theoretically and empirically in a series of data simulations on body acceleration data of a fossorial rodent species (Damaraland mole‐rat Fukomys damarensis). Our paper provides a simple implementation of the confusion matrix correction for time budgets, and we encourage researchers to use it to improve accuracy of behavioural time budget calculations.


ABSTRACT The main aim of this review was to evaluate the association between physical activity and retinopathy. Secondary aims included evaluating the association between sedentary behavior and retinopathy, and evaluating the association between physical activity/sedentary behavior on health outcomes among patients with existing retinopathy. Twenty-one articles met our criteria for inclusion in this review. Among the 19 studies evaluating the main aim (physical activity and retinopathy), 53% (n = 10/19) demonstrated evidence of a favorable (inverse) association between physical activity and retinopathy, 42% (n = 8/19) reported a null association physical activity and retinopathy, and 5% (n = 1/19) presented evidence for a detrimental association between physical activity and retinopathy. Regarding the secondary aims, one study demonstrated a detrimental association between sedentary behavior and retinopathy. Similarly, one study demonstrated that physical activity was protective against early mortality among those with mild retinopathy. This review identifies an 'indeterminate' association between physical activity and retinopathy. Too few studies evaluated the association between sedentary behavior and retinopathy or the effects of physical activity on health outcomes among those with existing retinopathy.


This study examines the retirement planfulness of men and women in dual-earner couples using data from the Ecology of Careers Study and structural equation modeling. It assesses whether each spouse plans independently, whether this is a gendered division of labor, whether both spouses' plans mutually influence each other, or whether decision making about retirement is an individual process for each member of a couple. The authors find that spouses' levels of retirement planfulness are positively related but in different ways depending on gender, cohort, and family circumstances. Perceived control (mastery), income adequacy, and workload all predict both husbands' and wives' planfulness. And husbands' planfulness tends to shape their wives' planfulness in the full sample. However, age cohort and family stage both moderate dual-earner couples' decision making about retirement. Younger couples (those in the trailing edge baby boom cohort) make plans independently, and in this younger cohort, only wives' planfulness can be modeled.


This paper presents an extremely compact circuit topology able to implement a two-input programmable gate on the basis of multi-threshold gate concept. The circuit consists of resonant tunnelling diodes (RTDs) and heterostructure field effect transistors (HFETs). We provide detailed analysis n circuit design and simulation of such a programmable gate.


Background: Appropriate cleaning and shaping and three-dimensional obturation of the root canal system lead to a successful endodontic treatment. To achieve this, complete knowledge of the internal anatomy of root canals is necessary. Therefore, this study evaluated the number and shape of mandibular premolar roots and canals and classified their Vertucci classification using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of an Iranian sample population. Materials and Methods: This in vivo study was performed on CBCT images of patients aged 20–70 years who had attended a dental radiology center in Isfahan. CBCT images were examined in coronal, sagittal, and especially axial dimensions. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Groups were compared using the Chi-square of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The level of significance was predetermined as 0.05. Results: In both first and second premolars, the most common classes were Type I followed by Type V. The Chi-square did not show significant differences between males and females in terms of Vertucci classes in the first (P = 0.305) or second premolar (P = 0.315). Conclusion: Since a thorough knowledge of root canal anatomy is necessary for successful root canal treatment and almost one out of ten mandibular premolars has additional canal in their root canal system, accurate evaluating of preoperative radiographs, taking CBCT images if necessary, and probing the root canal system with fine and precurved files should be done to negotiate the entire canal system.


The establishment of insulin receptor assays about 10 yr ago made it possible to study the regulatory role of the insulin receptor in a variety of physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions in man. Although it would be desirable to examine insulin receptors on muscle and liver cells, due to the ethical and technical limitations most clinical research in insulin receptor binding in man has been confined to accessible cell models, that is, fat and blood cells. The two major components of the receptor assay are (125I)-labeled insulin and isolated cells. Most iodoinsulin preparations used have differed with respect to purity, homogeneity, and distribution of (125I) within the molecule. This makes comparison of insulin binding data between laboratories difficult. Comparing monocytes, erythrocytes, and adipocytes as cell models each cell type possesses several limitations. The human adipocyte, however, has the advantage in that it allows simultaneous measurements of insulin receptor binding and biologic insulin effects under similar conditions of physiologic pH and temperature. Scatchard analysis has been widely used in the interpretation of insulin binding data. The assumptions and prerequisites required for the application of this mathematical approach are, however, not fulfilled. Furthermore, whether the nonlinear Scatchard plot is caused by multiple receptor classes or negative cooperativity in one homogeneous receptor class is an unsolved problem. In general there is a tendency to give values of total receptor concentration and affinity constants based on the negative cooperativity model. The informative value of these binding quantities is questionable, however, due to bias and lack of precision in data generation. Finally, generalization of insulin receptor results from one cell type to other insulin-binding tissues within the same individual should be avoided since the available literature suggests that the insulin receptor status and its changes seem to be tissue specific.


Abstract. Bedload particles entrained by rivers tends to disperse as they move downstream. In this paper, we use the erosion-deposition model of Charru et al. (2004) to describe the velocity and the spreading of a plume of tracer particles. We restrict our analysis to steady-state transport above a flat bed of uniform sediment. The transport of tracer particles is then controlled by downstream advection and particle exchange with the immobile bed. After a transitional regime dominated by initial conditions, the evolution of a plume of markers tends asymptotically towards classical advection-diffusion: its average position grows linearly with time, whereas it spreads like the square root of time.


beam, an integrated torque tube/spar member, and an aerodynamic fairing or rotor blade. The flexbeam is a laminated composite structure that reacts centrifugal loads and a majority of the bending loads of the rotor assembly. The flexbeam has a spanwise predetermined linear twist so that the pretwisted flexbeam is unstrained during specified forward flight conditions. The inte grated torque tube/spar member is formed as a continu ous, filament wound tubular composite structure having high torsional and bending stiffness that provides a continuous torsional load path and facilitates load cou pling between the rotor blade and the pretwisted flex beam. The spar segment of the functions as the primary structural member of the rotor blade subassembly and, is operative to react all bending, torsional, shear, and centrifugal dynamic loads of the rotor assembly. The torque tube segment reacts all torsional loads and some of the bending loads of the rotor assembly. The rotor blade is fabricated from a high modulus composite ma terial and has a high aerodynamic taper such that the tapered rotor blade has a low outboard mass, a high inboard stiffness, and a high chordwise frequency. The high chordwise frequency allows the rotor assembly to be operated over a weaker modal response zone. The tapered rotor blade includes a triangularly shaped trail ing edge segment that is responsive to the aerodynamic pressures encountered during operation of the shrouded counter-rotating rotors.


Introduction. Neonatal death is still alarming in low-income countries including Ethiopia, accounts 30 death per 1000 alive births. Birth trauma is the second most common contributing factors for the death. Nevertheless, there is no aggregate evidence on the prevalence and patterns of neonatal birth trauma in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence and patterns of neonatal birth trauma in Ethiopia. Methods. Searching databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Popline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINHAL (EBSCO), Google, Google Scholar, and lists of references were used to search literatures in Ethiopia. STATA version 14 was used for analysis, and the odds ratios of the outcome variable were determined using the random-effects model. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed by computing values for I2 and P-values. Also, sensitivity analysis and funnel plot were done to assess the stability of pooled values to outliers and publication bias. Results. A total of 6 studies with a sample size of 3663 were included in this study. The overall prevalence of neonatal birth trauma was 15% (95% CI: 13-16). Subgaleal hemorrhage (39%), cephalohematoma (27%), and caput succedaneum (24%) were the most common neonatal birth trauma in Ethiopia. Meta-analyses and sensitivity analyses showed the stability of the pooled odds ratios, and the funnel plots did not show publication bias. Conclusion. This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed a high prevalence of neonatal birth trauma in Ethiopia. Moreover, most of the neonatal birth injuries were severe and life-threatening that need medical attention to safe the neonates and its life long complications.


Practical problems on target localisation and tracking arise in many military and civilian applications. This study investigates a problem on locating and tracking a manoeuvring target for a multistatic radar system. An approach that combines the interacting multiple model (IMM) method with variants of particle filters is implemented. The IMM method accounts for mode switching, whereas the particle filters account for non-linearity and/or non-Gaussianity in the dynamic system models for the posed problem. The approach consists of a constant velocity model, a constant acceleration model and a coordinated turn model. This work considers six combinations of extended Kalman filters (EKFs), unscented Kalman filters (UKFs) and particle filters for the models. A simulation study is carried out to evaluate the implemented IMM algorithm variants. Based on the test results obtained, IMM variants that use computationally efficient particle filters in the coordinated turn models, with EKFs and/or UKFs in the remaining models possess potential to achieve superior accuracy in state estimation for problems with significant non-linearity and/or non-Gaussianity.


Prime Ministers have long turned to a big vision when trying to shore up their stocks with voters or their own party. That usually means throwing their support behind big infrastructure projects, like fast trains or second airports. $75 billion has been committed to infrastructure in the 2017 budget over the next ten years - to build, among others things, the long-debated airport for Western Sydney, as well as an inland rail link between Melbourne and Brisbane. But should we be sceptical about the political commitment and financing for these new nation building projects? Infrastructure Projects Australia CEO, Brendan Lyon, says further detail is needed on both the Western Sydney airport and the inland rail. Lyon says the Commonwealth had limited options for sharing or exposing private investors to risk in the project. He says it was understandable the states were complaining about the infrastructure dollars allocated in the budget because most of the spending is "beyond the out years".


A feature selection technique is used to enhance the precipitation estimation from remotely sensed imagery using an artificial neural network (PERSIANN) and cloud classification system (CCS) method (PERSIANN-CCS) enriched by wavelet features. The feature selection technique includes a feature similarity selection method and a filter-based feature selection using genetic algorithm (FFSGA). It is employed in this study to find an optimal set of features where redundant and irrelevant features are removed. The entropy index fitness function is used to evaluate the feature subsets. The results show that using the feature selection technique not only improves the equitable threat score by almost 7% at some threshold values for the winter season, but also it extremely decreases the dimensionality. The bias also decreases in both the winter (January and February) and summer (June, July, and August) seasons.


This paper discusses Heinz Insu Fenkl's Memories of My Ghost Brother, a memoir and autobiographical novel of his childhood, which is set in the Kijichon in Bupyong of South Korea during the late 1960s and the 1970s. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the history of Korea-U.S relations created postcolonial shadows that hover over Fenkl's memoir. I read haunting appearance of ghosts in Fenkl's memoir as a metaphor to reveal what's been concealed is very much alive and present based on Avery F. Gordon's theorization of ghostliness as the remnant in the presence of the "unrememberable past" (Gordon 4). In particular, I read the misfortune of western princesses and mixed-race children in Fenkl's narrative as the embodiment of the unacknowledged and accumulated grief and losses as well as reminders of America's protracted military presence, violence and the dominance of South Korea since 1945. This paper also explores how Fenkl in his narrative serves as a shaman to mourn for his ghost brother and other lonely ghosts as the historical traumas that haunt the present and give voices, names, and histories to those who have been lost, adopted, and disavowed to make post-World War II Korean migration to America possible.


By measuring Raman scattering spectra of KTiOPO4(KTP) crystal with several configurations, we found the orientation of polarizability tensor in flux-grown KTP (KTPF) was perpendicular to the orientation of polarizability tensor in hydrothermally grown KTP (KTPH). Fluorescent and Raman spectra of KTP were measured from room temperature to 4.2K. The appearance of peaks at 135cm-1 and 800cm-1 at 77K and the temperature dependence of Raman spectrum lines are discussed.


In this paper it has been discussed the problems arise from the definition of miracle which take place in some religious and philosophical texts. The definitions particularly quoted from David Hume's texts and Islamic resources. The problems discussed in two titles. First problem is the possibility of miracle as a historical event. The other is the possibility of miracle as "the law of nature". Here we discussed particularly the "law" and the "violation of law".


When the light photons bounce off a moving mirror, they react with its atoms to be reflected, consequently, the photons change their velocity vector after each impact depending on the velocity vector of the mirror and thus of the atom. The Michelson-Morley experiment was the event that changed the modern science about "the light" by leading to Lorentz and Einstein's theories about time. I made the formulas of the Michelson-Morley experiment by considering the effects of the reflection on the light and The rate (percentage) of fringe shift calculated by the formulas which I demonstrated is perfectly null. As a result not all physics must be wrong ,but only a principle that Einstein and Lorentz stated by fixing the light speed for all observers, which makes us study light in a very difficult way. The formulas demonstrated in this work allow us to study the light as a normal wave and to understand easily all the other light effects without being obliged to use any relativity of the time.


Due to development of modern distribution systems, distributed generation (DG) has become more important. Since circuit breakers are not used in distribution systems, protection of these systems has raised some problems which are mostly due to malfunction of circuit breakers and lack of coordination between them. That is, if a fault occurs, some parts of the grid may be separated from the main grid which may not be faulted. In this paper, the division of power grid by disconnection of circuit breakers in the vicinity of fault is discussed. An algorithm for removing one-phase and three-phase faults is obtained and tested using PSCAD software. An adaptive method is also proposed which considers the effects of distributed generation and is independent of its rating, type and place. Keyword: Adaptive relay, ditributed generation, faulted area.


The research performed throughout this dissertation aims at implementing quantitative methods in order to assess economic and technological performances of firms, i.e. it tries to assess the impacts of the determinants of technological activity on the results of this activity. For this purpose, a representative sample of the most important R&D firms in the world is constituted. The micro-economic nature of the analysis, as well as its international dimension are two main features of this research at the empirical level. The second chapter illustrates the importance of R&D investments, patenting activities and other measures of technological activities performed by firms over the last 10 years. The third chapter describes the main features as well as the construction of the database. The raw data sample consists of comparable detailed micro-level data on 2676 large manufacturing firms from several countries. These firms have reported important R&D expenditures over the period 1980-1994. The fourth chapter explores the dynamic structure of the patent-R&D relationship by considering the number of patent applications as a function of present and lagged levels of R&D expenditures. R&D spillovers as well as technological and geographical opportunities are taken into account as additional determinants in order to explain patenting behaviours. The estimates are based on recently developed econometric techniques that deal with the discrete non-negative nature of the dependent patent variable as well as the simultaneity that can arise between the R&D decisions and patenting. The results show evidence of a rather contemporaneous impact of R&D activities on patenting. As far as R&D spillovers are concerned, these externalities have a significantly higher impact on patenting than own R&D. Furthermore, these effects appear to take more time, three years on average, to show up in patents. The fifth chapter explores the contribution of own stock of R&D capital to productivity performance of firms. To this end the usual productivity residual methodology is implemented. The empirical section presents a first set of results which replicate the analysis of previous studies and tries to assess the robustness of the findings with regard to the above issues. Then, further results, based on different sub samples of the data set, investigate to what extent the R&D contribution on productivity differs across firms of different industries and geographic areas or between small and large firms and low and high-tech firms. The last section explores more carefully the simultaneity issue. On the whole, the estimates indicate that R&D has a positive impact on productivity performances. Yet, this contribution is far from being homogeneous across the different dimensions of data or according to the various assumptions retained in the productivity model. The last empirical chapter goes deeper into the analysis of firms' productivity increases, by considering besides own R&D activities the impact of technological spillovers. The chapter begins by surveying the alternative ways proposed in the literature in order to asses the effect of R&D spillovers on productivity. The main findings reported by some studies at the micro level are then outlined. Then, the framework to formalize technological externalities and other technological determinants is exposed. This framework is based on a positioning of firms into a technological space using their patent distribution across technological fields. The question of whether the externalities generated by the technological and geographic neighbours are different on the recipient's productivity is also addressed by splitting the spillover variable into a local and national component. Then, alternative measures of technological proximity are examined. Some interesting observations emerge from the empirical results. First, the impact of spillovers on productivity increases is positive and much more important than the contribution of own R&D. Second, spillover effects are not the same according to whether they emanate from firms specialized in similar technological fields or firms more distant in the technological space. Finally, the magnitude and direction of these effects are radically different within and between the pillars of the Triad. While European firms do not appear to particularly benefit from both national and international sources of spillovers, US firms are mainly receptive to their national stock and Japanese firms take advantage from the international stock.


The third instar larva of Paussus siamensis Maruyama, 2016 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Paussini) from Thailand, belonging to the Paussus hystrix group (sensu Maruyama, 2016), is described and illustrated by using both light and scanning electron (SEM) microscopy. Unlike other Paussus larvae, this larva was found inside a self-dug hole, in a nest of Pheidole plagiaria ants. Behavioural observations, documented by pictures taken in the field, show a peculiar strategy of P. siamensis larva to exudate big drops of transparent liquid from the thorax, promptly sucked by worker host ants. Behaviour of Paussus larvae is still unknown, but, due to their structural homogeneity, we suspect that digging and supplying attractive substances can be widespread within this genus. The similarity between P. siamensis and P. kannegieteri larvae, both Indo-Malayan species and guests of the same ant, is in agreement with their recent placement in the subgenus Scaphipaussus Fowler (sensu Robertson & Moore, 2016).


Does public opinion influence Supreme Court confirmation politics? We present the first direct evidence that statelevel public opinion on whether a particular Supreme Court nominee should be confirmed affects the roll-call votes of senators. Using national polls and applying recent advances in opinion estimation, we produce state-of-the-art estimates of public support for the confirmation of 10 recent Supreme Court nominees in all 50 states. We find that greater home-state public support does significantly and strikingly increase the probability that a senator will vote to approve a nominee, even controlling for other predictors of roll-call voting. These results establish a systematic and powerful link between constituency opinion and voting on Supreme Court nominees. We connect this finding to larger debates on the role of majoritarianism and representation.


The thiobarbituric acid (ThA) reaction is commonly used to measure freeradical-mediated oxidative changes in lipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (1). It has been used to study circulating lipid peroxides in a wide variety of diseases (2). The assay is based on the reaction between ThA and the three-carbon compound malondialdehyde (MDA) during heating at acid pH to produce a chromogenic complex. Most of the MDA that is measured is produced during the acid-heating stage of the test, as a result of decomposition of non-volatile products of lipid peroxidation (1). TEA reactivity is influenced by several variables and, in addition, lipid peroxidation may occur in vitro during the test ithelf Experienced researchers in the free-radical field have cautioned that the test may give misleading results (3). However, there are theoretical objections to all of the alternative procedures that are currently available for investigating free-radical production in the clinical situation (4), and the TBA test has the merit of simplicity. Recently we set up an assay for plasma TBA reactivity (5), using 1,1,4,4-tetramethoxypropane (TMP), which hydrolyzes to MDA, as an external standard (6). Plasma or standard was heated to 100 #{176}C for 1 h with TBA at pH 3.5. The MDA-TBA complex was extracted into butan-1-ol, and fluerescence was recorded at 553 mu (excitation wavelength, 532 nm). The assay was linear over the range 200-1200 nmol of MDA per liter, and was sensitive, with a lower detection limit of 100 nmol/L. The between-batch CV for one normal plasma sample was 4.6% for a mean concn of 772 (SD 35 nxnollL, n = 7). However, analytical recovery of MDA added topl as TMP at three concentrations was poor (55 to 61%). MDA may have interacted with primary amino groups in the sample (7). Furthermore, investigation of the effect of heating time showed that whereas TEA reactivity of the TMP standard increased for up to 30 mm, then reached a plateau, that of plasma continued to increase during the 6 h of observation, at which time a yellow discoloration had developed. Therefore, there was no reliable "end-point" for MDA production for plasma. Concentrations in plasma samples collected on five occasions from two healthy fasting adults varied widely: Subject A, 5001240 ninol/L (mean 802 mnolJL); Subject B, 880-1320 nmol/L (mean 1032 nmol/L). Some ofthis variabffity might have reflected true day-to-day changes in lipid peroxidation. However, from our observations, it equally well might have reflected variable production and (or) availability of MDA during the heating stage of the test. The test was abandoned because of its uncertainty. Although methods incorporating "high-pressure" liquid chromatography may improve the specificity of the analysis of the TBA-MDA complex (8), most of the variability and artefact in the TBA test arises during the acidheating stage, which suggests that a new analytical approach is required (4). Perhaps methods based on enzymic determination of lipid peroxidation will prove to be more appropriate for plasma (9).


Abstract: Auditory brain stem responses were recorded in 10 eating disorder patients and 10 normal control subjects. Absolute latencies, interwave latencies, absolute amplitudes, and amplitude ratios were investigated. A nonsignificant difference was found between the eating disorder group and the normal control group as far as the absolute latencies and interwave latencies were concerned. But the eating disorder patients had significantly smaller amplitude ratios (HI/I, IV‐V/I) and absolute amplitude (V) than did the control subjects. These findings suggest that some dysfunction exists in the region of brain stem. It may be related with the pathophysiology in patients with eating disorder.


Obesity is associated with a decreased quality of life and is a risk factor for the development of other diseases. Furthermore, obesity is associated with a chronic inflammatory status that contributes to the development of metabolic dysfunction and metabolic syndrome. Acupuncture assists weight loss through the suppression of appetite and the reduction of the risk of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with dietary intervention on serum tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels and abdominal circumference. This study was a randomised, double-blind, controlled clinical trial involving 36 patients with obesity who were randomly divided into the following groups: catgut embedding method combined with dietary intervention (case group) and sham acupuncture combined with dietary intervention (control group). The results showed a significant difference in TNF-α levels before and after treatment within the case group and a significant difference in abdominal circumference change between the two groups. Acupoint catgut embedding combined with dietary intervention has significant effects on serum TNF-α levels and abdominal circumference in patients with obesity.


Gate-first self-aligned Ge nMOSFET and pMOSFET with metal gate and CVD HfO2 have been successfully fabricated, using a novel laser thermal process (LTP) S/D activation. Compared with conventional rapid thermal annealing (RTA) activation, LTP provides smaller S/D series resistance with shallower junction depth while maintaining good gate stack integrity. Much improved drive current is obtained on Ge nMOSFET. A high hole mobility (1.9times of universal Si/SiO2) is also achieved on Ge pMOSFET


Orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light has been extensively studied during the past two decades. Till now, it is a formidable challenge to dynamically manipulate OAM in fast switching speed, good beam quality and low power consumption. Here, an alternative strategy is proposed through the combination of the uniformly-aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) and the space-variant photo-patterned nematic liquid crystal. Owing to the excellent electro-optical properties of the adopted FLC, the high-performance electrical switching of OAM, especially, its helicity and the superposed state (i.e., the cylindrical vector beam), can be realized in good quality and high efficiency. The symmetric switching time is down to 120 µs even at a very low driving voltage of 1.7 V/µm. This supplies a practical and universal method towards high-frequency manipulation of OAM and other structured beams.


This paper addresses the dynamic output feedback guaranteed cost control problem of networked control systems (NCSs) with time-varying but bounded communication delays. A delay-dependent sufficient condition is derived for the existence of the dynamic output feedback guaranteed cost controllers, and the condition is formulated in terms of nonlinear matrix inequality. An iterative algorithm involving convex optimization is presented to design the desired controller with a suboptimal guaranteed cost. Numerical example is given to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed results


During the period between Oct. 1, 1993 and June 30, 1994 the authors inserted by the intracervical route in 32 primogravidae with unwanted pregnancies before abortion with pregnancies shorter than 8 weeks a hydrophil dilator Dilapan. After 12 hours the rod was removed under general anaesthesia and the pregnancy terminated by vacuum aspiration. In three instances after Dilapan insertion slight haemorrhage occurred which, however, did not call for removal of the rod. Apart from slight tenderness in the hypogastrium, similar as during menses, no side-effects were observed. In two instances during Dilapan extraction the rod was disrupted and the residue had to be removed by means of Kocher's forceps. In all patients the dilation of the cervical canal was sufficient for a 6 mm suction curette and further dilation of the cervix by means of metal dilators was not necessary. On examination after menstruation the patients did not report more massive bleeding nor febrile complications or residues. Based on the described results, the authors are of the opinion that gradual dilation of the cervix before abortion in the first trimester should be part of the procedure and all women who must face this situation should be given this opportunity.


Abstract : The objective of the research program was the synthesis and evaluation of organic polymers which on theoretical grounds might exhibit superconducting properties at or near room temperature. The report discusses research on the synthesis of a conjugated polymer chain that could be adequately characterized, and then on the attachment of dye molecules, as close as possible to this chain, without allowing cross conjugation. One approach was the synthesis and characterization of Schiffbase polymers with side-chain dye molecules. Considerable effort was devoted to the preparation of low molecular weight model compounds to define reaction conditions necessary for high polymer formation and to provide complete electronic spectra for the computational program. However, when efforts were made to combine the dye molecules and conjugated polymers, steric hindrance prevented the synthesis of the proposed polymers. In a second approach, efforts were made to avoid the problem of steric hindrance by synthesizing modified Schiff-base polymers from 2,5-dihydroxybenzoquinone and various substituted diamines. Polymers were prepared with and without attached dye groups and also as metal complexes; however, electrical testing of these materials indicated that they were insulators. Another approach included the synthesis of a conjugated spine of dehydrogenated poly-9-vinylanthracene with dye precursors attached through chloromethyl groups on the anthracene units. Electrical testing indicated that they were insulators. The final approach tried was the use of poly-4-chloropyridine as the conjugated chain and again the attachment of the dye precursor via a chloromethyl group. (Author)


: The study aimed at investigating the difficulties facing English language learners at University level in translating religious and legal texts. The study adopted the descriptive and experimental method. The sample consisted of twenty lecturers and one hundred University students from Batch (36). The tools of data collection which were used: two questionnaires the first one is directed to the students and the second one is directed to the lecturers, and a diagnostic test whose validity and reliability were verified. The results of the test show that the examine fail to communicate the messages in the religious and legal texts. The study revealed that the majority of the difficulties encountering English. Language learners at University level in translating religious and legal texts, were due to factors related to language (terms, concepts and structures) and factors un-related to language (the holiness of religious texts) and that students are to a large extent motivated to study the translation of religious and legal texts that are included in translation courses are inadequate. Group discussion and intensive practice are essential in teaching translation of these texts. The study recommended that teachers should familiarize students' with structures, terms and concepts of religious and legal text teachers should include many of these texts in translation's courses. Teachers should consider group discussion and intensive practice in teaching the translation of the mentioned texts.


Herbal medicines are respected for its medicinal values through generations. Areca catechu is commonly called as betel nut belonging to the family Arecaceae. Phytochemicals are the non-nutritive substances that protect the plant and human beings from diseases when consumed. In the present investigation, the aqueous extract of Areca catechu nut was analysed for the varieties of phytochemicals and the total tannin content was also quantified. The presence of saponin, flavonoid, tannin, phenol, steroid, alkaloid and protein were recorded in the aqueous extract of Areca catechu nut whereas acid and triterpenoid recorded their absence. Total tannin content was found to be 95.3 mg TE/g. Hence, it is proposed that Areca catechu nut may possess medicinal properties against human diseases.


The Indian monsoon is always considered to be a large-scale process that has a profound impact on the agriculture and economic conditions of India. The present study addresses the role of South Asian High (SAH) and subtropical westerly jet (STJ) on the onset and withdrawal of Indian monsoon. For this purpose, we have utilized the output of the Regional Climate Model (RegCM v4.6) and reanalysis ERA5 pressure level data for 24 years (1982–2005) of study. We begin our analysis with the evaluation of Tibetan Plateau (TP) heating and its connection with different atmospheric factors during the seasonal transition of monsoon is perused. We have further tried to decipher the link between SAH and inter-annual variability of monsoon. Our analysis shows the efficiency of the model in simulating inter-annual variability of monsoon onset and withdrawal features. The days of onset and withdrawal simulated by the model have a similar mid-latitude connection as that obtained from the reanalysis data. The vertical structure of the Hadley cell and the horizontal position of SAH have been produced realistically during the transition of the monsoon. We found that the change in meridional position of STJ has a significant impact on phase-shifting of arrival and departure of monsoon. This repositioning of STJ in a meridional direction is strongly correlated to the upper-level high developed over the eastern periphery of the western pacific which is an important component of monsoon flow over the Bay of Bengal. Thus the zonal position of SAH is observed to have direct implications on the onset and withdrawal dates of India.


The increasing number of horizontal wells being drilled, together with the continuing development and use of screen completions has resulted in increasing reliance on formation damage testing to select the appropriate drilling fluid and/or clean up technique. The selection of fluids for drilling and completing such wells is critical as damage, either to the formation or to the completion can result in impaired production and substantial loss of revenue to the operator. Mechanisms of damage are not well understood and methods for determining the type and extent of damage potential are not standardised. In a previous paper (SPE 38154)' we reported on the initial phases of the development of a recommended practice for formation damage testing. Laboratory evaluation of the methodology developed was reported and the results of this evaluation confirmed that tighter controls of the testing variables would be required if acceptable levels of repeatability and reproducibility were to be obtained. In this paper, the results of a more extensive laboratory study, based on a refined recommended practice for the determination of return permeability are reported. Several key areas have been identified in which strict control is required if results obtained are to be compared with others. This is believed to be the largest single comparative study of return permeability testing ever conducted in terms of the number of different laboratories involved. By standardising the test materials and the testing procedures as far as possible, indications of repeatability and reproducibility of results have been obtained and, where differences have been observed, an attempt has been made to determine whether these are due to inadequacies of the procedures or to differences in the equipment being used.


This note examines some pedagogical strategies for the formation of students who read the Bible both confessionally and critically. Some students in both church-related and secular colleges and universities enter courses with confessional views of the Bible that inspire a literal interpretation of the text, what the author calls a flat reading. Teachers struggle to lead students to a more nuanced view of the text in a way that is both sensitive to the students' development and academically responsible. The author indicates how he approaches this challenge through: (1) a discussion of texts that have been used to enable students to see the nature of the biblical text and to transform their understanding of it; (2) a description of techniques and exercises that work toward the same goal; and (3) reflection on the application of sociological research on group change in the transformation of individuals.


The cellular uptake of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) may be enhanced by the use of carriers such as cationic liposomes or lipoplexes, but little is known about the intracellular fate and subcellular trafficking of these systems in target cells. In this study, we report on the cellular uptake and biodistribution of ODNs in the presence and absence of optimised self-assembled cationic lipoplexes using the C6 glioma cell line as an in vitro model. Biotin or radiolabelled 15-mer phosphorothioate (PS) ODNs were synthesised and their cellular uptake and subcellular biodistribution characterised in the presence and absence of an optimised cationic lipoplex delivery system using studies ranging from cellular association, cellular efflux and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ultrastructural studies clearly showed PS ODNs in the absence of liposomal delivery to be sequestered within endosomal and lysosomal vesicular bodies indicative of endocytic uptake. ODNs were also visible, to a lesser extent, in the nucleus and cytoplasm. By employing DOSPA (2'-(1",2"-dioleoyloxypropyldimethyl-ammonium bromide)-N-ethyl-6-amidospermine tetra trifluoroacetic acid) and DOPE (dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine) complex in a 3 : 1 ratio, as a delivery system for ODNs at a optimal lipid/DNA charge ratio of 1 : 1, the level of ODN cellular association was significantly increased by approximately 10-12 fold with a concomitant change in subcellular distribution of PS ODN. TEM studies indicated enhanced penetration of ODN within the cytosol and the cell nucleus with reduced presence in vesicular compartments. Efflux studies confirmed that cationic lipoplexes promoted entry of ODNs into 'deeper' cellular compartments, consistent with endosomal release. Optimised cationic lipoplexes improved cellular delivery of ODNs by enhancing cell association, uptake and by favourably modulating the intracellular trafficking and distribution of ODNs into non-vesicular compartments including the cytosol and nucleus.


In the beef cattle system, liver abscesses are the most common liver abnormality and are the leading cause for condemnations at slaughter. Virginiamycin (VM) has been used to prevent sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) and subsequently control liver abscess incidence. This study observed the interrelationship between VM inclusion (240 mg/hd/d), ruminal pH dynamics, and hepatic blood metabolites over a 150-d feeding trial. Housed in a Calan gate system, 120 Angus crossbred steers (291 ± 28 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments: no VM (T000); VM for the last 50 d (T001); VM for the last 100 d (T011); VM for the first 50 d (T100); VM for the first 100 d (T110); and VM for 150 d (T111). Steers were orally administered 2 indwelling smaXtec rumen pH and temperature recording boluses on d -4 and d 84. On d -7, 28, 56, 84, 112 and 140, blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture and all plasma samples were analyzed for concentrations of albumin, alkaline phosphatase, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and total protein using an automated blood analyzer (Carysta High Volume Chemistry Analyzer; Zoetis). Haptoglobin (HPT) was measured following a colorimetric method based on peroxidase activity. Data were analyzed using a random coefficients model with the pen as a random effect and animals within treatment as the subject. Results indicated that VM did not convalesce hepatic function (P > 0.05), but HPT had increased concentrations on d 84 for VM excluded treatments (42.75 vs. 93.25 mg/L). Comparatively, T111 tended to have less time under pH 5.8 (2.50 h/d) when compared with T001, T100, and T000 (5.27; 4.94; and 4.23 h/d, respectively; P = 0.107). Therefore, VM should be fed from the growing phase to slaughter to capture the full potential of the product on animal health status.


Increasing evidence has revealed the incidence of cancer augments with aging, which could be attributed to a multitude of age-associated changes including the dysregulation of the immune system. Although many reports demonstrate the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies in numerous preclinical studies, most experiments have been performed in young animals. Studies from our group and others show that cancer immunotherapy could be ineffective in old mice, even though the same therapeutic treatment works efficiently in young mice. Given that cancer occurs mostly in the elderly, we should take age-associated immune dysregulation into consideration to achieve the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic interventions in the old. Understanding both age-related and tumor-related immune alterations might be equally important in improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy. This article reviews a number of age-associated immune alterations with specific attention given to the impact on antitumor responses, and also discusses possible strategies for optimization of immunotherapeutic interventions in the elderly.


Background: Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) are at an increased risk of developing a de novo malignant neoplasm compared to the general population. The primary contributor to skin cancer in all patients is sun exposure. Objective: In this study, we aim to ascertain both OTR skin cancer awareness and photoprotection practices. Methods: A questionnaire-based study of Saskatchewan transplant recipients. Results: Nearly all respondents were aware that sun exposure is the best-known cause of skin cancer and that as an OTR, they are at increased risk of skin cancer (99.3% and 90.5%, respectively). Approximately half of respondents reported wearing a hat regularly, sun avoidance between 10 am and 3 pm, or wearing sunscreen regularly (53.7%, 33.1%, and 47.9%, respectively). Conclusion: Many OTRs are not engaging in photoprotection. Further intervention, which may include access to a dermatologist, is necessary to ensure ORTs do not experience undue morbidity and mortality secondary to skin cancer.


Motivation A key benefit of long-read nanopore sequencing technology is the ability to detect modified DNA bases, such as 5-methylcytosine. Tools for effective visualization of data generated by this platform to assess changes in methylation profiles between samples from different experimental groups remains a challenge. Results To make visualization of methylation changes more straightforward, we developed the R/Bioconductor package NanoMethViz. Our software can handle methylation calls generated from a range of different methylation callers and manages large datasets using a compressed data format. To fully explore the methylation patterns in a dataset, NanoMethViz allows plotting of data at various resolutions. At the sample-level, we use multidimensional scaling to look at the relationships between methylation profiles in an unsupervised way. We visualize methylation profiles of classes of features such as genes or CpG islands by scaling them to relative positions and aggregating their profiles. At the finest resolution, we visualize methylation patterns across individual reads along the genome using the spaghetti plot, allowing users to explore particular genes or genomic regions of interest. In summary, our software makes the handling of methylation signal more convenient, expands upon the visualization options for nanopore data and works seamlessly with existing methylation analysis tools available in the Bioconductor project. Our software is available at https://bioconductor.org/packages/NanoMethViz.


Intestinal morphology and regulation of nutrient transportation genes during the embryonic and early life of chicks influence their body weight and feed conversion ratio through the growing period. The intestine development can be monitored by measuring villus morphology and enzymatic activity and determining the expression of nutrient transporters genes. With the increasing importance of gut development and health in broiler production, considerable research has been directed towards factors affecting intestine development. Thus, this article reviews (1) intestinal development during embryogenesis, and (2) maternal factors, in ovo administration, and incubation conditions that influence intestinal development during embryogenesis. Conclusively, (1) chicks from heavier eggs may have a better-developed intestine than chicks from younger ones, (2) in ovo supplementation with amino acids, minerals, vitamins or a combination of several probiotics and prebiotics stimulates intestine development and increases the expression of intestine mucosal-related genes and (3) the long storage period, improper incubation temperature and imbalanced ventilation can negatively influence intestinal morphology and nutrient transporters gene expression. Finally, understanding the intestine development during embryonic life will enable us to enhance the productivity of broilers.


And high yield, high purity useful as a pharmaceutical or medicament sulfoxide production of gastric acid secretion inhibitors, anti-ulcer claim intermediate at the same time provides a safe production method. Thioether (I) in the presence of an acid anhydride or a metal catalyst, and a production method N- halo succinimide or a thioether (I) of the sulfoxide (II) oxidizing the borate in the presence of a base, imide, 1,3-dihalo a method for producing sulfoxide (II) oxidizing the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin or dikeulroroyi SOCCIA press salt. (R Pyridine derivatives, sulfoxides, thioethers, acid anhydrides, metal catalyst, the oxidation reaction


In order to study the performances of electric field (or electric potential gradient) distribution along the stator end-winding stress grading system of the high voltage (HV) machines, a newly setup was firstly designed to measure the electroluminescent performances of silicon carbide (SiC) based stress grading coating (SGT) normally used in HV electric machine in this paper. Two kinds of test specimens were prepared, which consisted of simulated stator bars and standard correcting bars. The simulated stator bar was made to simulate the end-winding insulation system of actual large generator stator bar, and the standard correcting bar was used to obtain the relationship between the electroluminescent performance and electric stress on SiC grading coating or tape as a correcting reference. The fitting curve between the electroluminescent intensity per unit length (or area) of each SGT with the applied voltage gradient was measured by using a photomultiplier (PMT) probe (or sensor). Under the applied AC voltage, the non-contact scanning measurements of electroluminescent intensities along the SGT of simulated stator bar were carried out. This newly proposed non-contact method of electric field measurement in paper should be adequate to optimize end-winding stress grading system of the HV machines.


Summary
1Organisms facing variation in food quality maintain elemental composition within limited bounds. Such stoichiometric homeostasis has often been considered a species-specific parameter, but stoichiometry can also vary intraspecifically across life stages, sexes and sizes. In colonial organisms with overlapping generations, stoichiometric variation among stages could lead to flexibility in colony-level elemental composition due to changes in internal demography.
2We examine how the balance of energy (sucrose) and nutrients (prey) affects growth rate and carbon : nitrogen : phosphorus (C : N : P) homeostasis in a eusocial insect, the pavement ant Tetramorium caespitum.
3Colony growth depended heavily on prey availability. However, sucrose scarcity led to higher worker mortality and production of smaller workers, suggesting sucrose availability will affect colony-level performance in a competitive environment.
4In contrast, C : N : P stoichiometry of larvae, pupae, and workers varied mostly with sucrose availability. Biomass P content within life stages was lower in colonies receiving less access to sucrose. We suggest this difference arose primarily from shifts in individual ant mass coupled with negative P-body mass relationships.
5Life stages differed considerably in elemental composition, and resource conditions affected colony stage structure. Nevertheless, variation in colony-level stoichiometry primarily reflected compositional differences within stages rather than shifts in internal demography.


The aims of this research is improve stability and sensitivity of silver nanoparticles (NPP) immobilizatied on filter paper. Silver nanoparticles synthesized by reducing the ascorbic acid using a chemical reduction method. Immobilization NPP on filter paper is done with the technique of immobilization (immunosystem) is the process of molecular bonding reagent in supporting materials, so physically bound NPP the surface of filter paper is composed of cellulose fibers. The results obtained for the stability of immobilization NPP on filter paper can be last up to stable 60-daywhile liquid NPP stability can only last for 30 days. To maintained the stability ofimmobilization on filter paper is saved in a closed box. For the determination of sensitivity of immobilization NPP in the filter paper test is performed against the mercury (II) ion with each different concentrations. The results obtained for sensitivity of immobilization NPP on the filter paper is analyzed in digital image can be detect mercury (II) ion until the concentration of ppb. The results of measurement Limit of Detection (LOD) or limit the smallest NPP can detect mercury (II) ion is under 0.863 ppb, while liquid NPP able to detect only concentration 1.448 ppb.. The results of this research NPP immobilization on filter paper can be an alternative to increasingstability and sensitivity of NPP compared with liquid NPP, and can be applied into the colourimetry indicator is inexpensive and practical to analysis of mercury (II) ion in the digital image.


The Rey - Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test assess visual-construction abilility, visual memory and executive function. Three different methods are traditionally used to track and to record the strokes during the production of the complex figure: single pen, switching felt pens and flowcharts. The Inkling™ is an instrument which attributes are to track, to record and to save the information of every stroke depicted in a standard piece of paper. The purpose of the study is to examine the advantages and disadvantages of using the Inkling™ in the ROCF test. 66 ROCF performances were analyzed from subjects aged 6 to 86 years old. Each subject performed the ROCF test twice; first with pen switching method without flowcharts and later with the Inkling™ or viceversa. The comparison of the performances evidenced 5 characteristics: Four subjects distracted by the color of the felt pens, three subjects interfered by the switching of the felt pens, three subjects which performance was facilitated by the colors of the felt pens, nine subjects with unclear score for Fragmentation and fourteen subjects with unclear score for Planning. The advantages that the Inkling™ showed were compensation for the process of flowcharts, avoid interference, and reduce the burden of unclear scoring for Fragmentation and Planning.


Abstract Context. A main goal of conservation is to mitigate anthropogenic impacts on natural ecosystems, thus conservation tools themselves should not negatively affect target species. Predator-exclusion cages are effectively used to reduce predation of turtle nests; however, their effects on nest environment and developing hatchlings have not been examined. Aims. Our study had the following four goals: (1) to examine effects of cages on the nest environment, (2) determine whether nest caging affects proxies for hatchling fitness, (3) evaluate whether nest predators preferentially interact with certain cage types, and (4) assess the cost-effectiveness of different nest caging designs. Methods. In 2010 and 2011 in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, painted turtle (Chrysemys picta; n = 93) and snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina; n = 91) nests were assigned to one of three treatments (wooden-sided cages, above- and below-ground wire cages) or a control (no nest cage) and outfitted with a data logger to record incubation temperature. After emergence, hatching success and proxies of hatchling fitness were measured. Key results. Nest temperature, hatching success, frequency of hatchling deformities and locomotor performance did not differ among cage treatments. However, hatchling body condition differed among treatments; wooden-sided and below-ground cages had the most positive influence on body condition in painted and snapping turtles, respectively. Predator interactions did not differ among treatments, and wooden-sided cages were the most inexpensive to construct. Conclusions. Nest cages did not alter the nest environment from natural conditions but did alter hatchling body condition, and nest caging affected species differently. Implications. Nest cages are known to reduce nest depredation, and our data indicated that, in general, nest cages also do not affect the nest environment or proxies for hatchling fitness. Thus, our findings indicated that cages are effective conservation tools that do not present secondary deleterious effects on potential recruitment.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of high-molecular weight (MW) dextran macromolecules on low-flow ischemia and reperfusion of the large colon in horses.

DESIGN
Horses subjected to low-flow ischemia and reperfusion of the large colon were treated with either 0.9 NaCl (group 1, n = 6) or high-MW dextran (group 2, n = 6) solutions.

ANIMALS
12 adults horses.

PROCEDURE
Horses were subjected to 3 hours' low-flow ischemia followed by 3 hours' reperfusion. A dose of either 0.9% NaCl or a 6% solution of high-MW (250,000) dextran (10 ml/kg of body weight) was administered i.v., 30 minutes prior to reperfusion. Hemodynamic variables were recorded at 30-minute intervals. Systemic arterial and colonic venous blood were collected for determination of PCV, plasma total protein, and whole blood lactate concentrations, and for blood gas and oximetry analyses. Histologic examination of large-colon biopsy specimens was performed.

RESULTS
Mean arterial pressure was greater in group-2 horses, compared with group-1 horses, from 3 to 3.25 hours, but there were no significant differences between groups for any of the other hemodynamic variables. Compared with baseline values, colonic blood flow was significantly lower from 0.5 to 3 hours and was significantly greater from 3.25 to 6 hours. Arterial and colonic venous PCV were significantly lower than baseline values from 3 to 3.25 hours, and at 3 hours, respectively, in group-2 horses. These values were significantly lower in group-2 horses, from 3 to 6 and 3 to 5 hours, respectively. There was significant mucosal necrosis, hemorrhage, edema, and neutrophil infiltration in horses of both groups; however, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS
High-MW dextran did not protect the colonic mucosa from low-flow ischemia and reperfusion; there were no deleterious effects on colonic mucosa or on systemic hemodynamic or metabolic variables.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Reperfusion with high-MW dextran solution probably would not protect the large colon from ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with large-colon volvulus.