Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has several negative effects on the heart including increase in myocardial end-systolic stress, venous return and sympathetic activity, all potential stimuli of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. The impact of the severity of OSA on LV geometry is unknown. We hypothesized that OSA is related to concentric LV geometry. Methods One hundred and fifty-seven patients with suspected OSA underwent echocardiography, ambulatory 24-h blood pressure and ECG monitoring. On the basis of the severity of OSA, patients were divided into controls, mild OSA and moderate/severe OSA (apnea–hypopnea index <5, 5–15 and >15/h, respectively). Patients with LV hypertrophy were defined as LV mass at least 49.2 g/m2.7 for men and at least 46.7 for women. Relative wall thickness of at least 0.43 identified patients with concentric LV geometry. Results Patients with moderate/severe OSA (n = 86) had a higher body mass index and a higher prevalence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation than those (n = 51) with mild OSA and controls (n = 20). Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, LV mass and blood pressure did not differ between the groups. Relative wall thickness was positively related to apnea–hypopnea index (r = 0.30; P = 0.003) and the prevalence of concentric LV geometry was 20% in controls, 12% in mild OSA and 58% in moderate/severe OSA (P < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis concentric LV geometry was associated with moderate/severe OSA [odds ratio (OR) 7.6, P < 0.001], low stress-corrected midwall shortening (OR 3.38, P = 0.004), and higher body mass index (OR 1.09, P = 0.03). Conclusions Moderate/severe OSA is associated with high prevalence of concentric LV geometry. This increased prevalence may in part explain the increased rate of cardiovascular events in these patients.


This research paper tackles a developed method for Aspirin and Pyridoxine drugs determination in their pure forms and pharmaceutical formulations. It is based on the formation of nucleophilic substitution reaction between given drugs and 9-Chloroacridine forming a reddish orange colours. The products show maximum absorption at 532 nm and 534 nm for Aspirin and Pyridoxine respectively. The method was adhering to the Beer's law over concentration range 0.2-18 and 0.4-24 μg/ml with molar absorptivity values 1.1×10 and 7×10 l. mol. cm and average recovery 99.87% and 100.00 % for the given drugs respectively. No observed interferences appeared from the excipients commonly existed in pharmaceuticals. Successfully, application for both Aspirin and Pyridoxine was conducted in their pharmaceutical formulations. The continuous variations and the slope ratio of the products between Aspirin and pyridoxine hydrochloride were followed with 9-chloroacridine. The ratio of 1: 1 was obtained between the above two drugs and the reagent The stability constant of the products was 6.38 x 10 and 9.25 × 10 l / mol for both Aspirin and Pyridoxine Hydrochloride products respectively indicating the good stability of these products.


Background Essential tremor is characterized by several hyperkinetic movements, including arm and head tremors. We report another movement of the head in patients with essential tremor, which we term the "head snap." This was observed as a jerking motion of the head in some patients while they performed the finger–nose–finger maneuver. Methods We compared the prevalence of the head snap in essential tremor patients vs. Parkinson's disease patients. We also assessed the clinical correlates of the head snap. Results Ten (20%) of 50 essential tremor patients exhibited a head snap of any severity (rating ≥0.5) vs. 0 of 50 Parkinson's disease patients (p = 0.001). Patients with head snap had more severe arm tremor on Archimedes spiral drawings (p = 0.019) and were more likely to have head tremor (p = 0.03) than those without it. Conclusions This sign could be a useful aid in the clinical diagnosis of tremor.


Abstract:This article studies the essays of Michel de Montaigne in the context of the tradition of epideictic rhetoric from antiquity to the Renaissance, with particular attention to the humanist reception of Aristotle's Rhetoric. The focus of this attention is the relationship between epideictic and consensus, which proves to be more problematic than Aristotle seems to have anticipated. If we read Montaigne's essay "Des Cannibales" as a paradoxical encomium and compare it to Plutarch's declamation on the fortune of Alexander, we can see how epideictic works to undermine consensus and even to challenge the very impulse to conform to social and ethical norms.


The present numerical study has been accomplished remembering the true objective to explore the low Reynolds number flow with heat exchange behaviors inside a double lid driven square shaped cavity loaded with fluids such as air and water. Specifically, this work explores laminar, steady, incompressible mixed convection flow inside the cavity which has been done numerically by applying Finite Difference Method (FDM). In this analysis, top wall is treated as the heated wall and remaining walls are considered as cold walls. In addition, vertical side walls are moving at a relentless speed in its own particular plane along with the positive direction. Moreover, the numerical simulation is being conveyed out to observe the behavior of flow and thermal fields for variation of low Reynolds Number (Re), Richardson number (Ri) and Prandtl number(Pr). Also, the results have been validated through a comparison with other research works and a good agreement is observed. Also, results show that the above mentioned dimensionless parameters have significant effects on the flow and heat exchange attributes. Moreover, the effects of these parameters on average Nusselt number (Nu) have been analyzed and presented.
Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 66(2): 95-101, 2018 (July)


Urban and community forests are the trees and forests found in cities, towns, villages, and communities. This category of forest includes both forested stands and trees along streets, in residential lots, and parks. These trees within cities and communities provide many ecosystem services and values to both urban and rural populations.


ABSTRACT Mutations in BIG gene not only produce pleiotropic phenotypes of plant development but also impair plant adaptive responses under various stresses. However, the role of BIG gene in sugar signaling is not known. In this study, we first found that BIG deficiency significantly sensitized the sugar-induced anthocyanin accumulation and the sugar-inhibited primary root growth, suggesting BIG is an important component of the sugar signaling pathway. Then we found that big mutant plants had higher sugar levels compared with the wild type, indicating the involvement of BIG gene in regulating plant sugar homeostasis. Importantly, we also found that the relative ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) was greatly enhanced by BIG deficiency. Overall, our work expands the known functionality of BIG and reveals its role in regulating sugar response and C/N balance. It is likely that BIG connects nutrient, light, and hormone signaling networks for regulating plant development and adaptive responses.


executive summary:This article examines the Philippines' democracy under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and assesses the ramifications of democratic decline for the future of the U.S.-Philippines alliance under the next administration.main argument The anti-democratic policies of the Duterte administration have subverted institutional and societal checks on executive power, threatening the U.S.-Philippines alliance as an instrument of U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Duterte successfully reshaped domestic politics to augment his regime's influence over the legislature, judiciary, local governments, military, and economy, and openly sought to jettison the alliance for closer diplomatic and economic ties with China that would help him subvert domestic checks and balances on his administration. To repair and augment its alliance with the Philippines, the U.S. must recognize that the country's democratic decline is highly unlikely to reverse once Duterte leaves office and should transparently develop policies to incentivize the next administration and policymakers in the Philippines to roll back Duterte's anti-democratic policies.policy implications • If Duterte's successor continues to consolidate power domestically by weakening institutional checks on the administration's authority and coercing political opposition into silence or compliance, military cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines will falter and create new vulnerabilities threatening U.S. interests in the Pacific region.• The Biden administration should reconfigure U.S. security assistance under the schema of positive conditionality to discourage further efforts to undermine democratic governance and degrade human rights conditions from the next presidential administration in the Philippines. U.S. assistance should also be optimized to support the Philippines' military modernization while prioritizing economic and technical cooperation to mitigate the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, economic recession, and pervasive low-intensity conflict.• Whereas the application of sanctions on individuals responsible for supporting human rights violations can be a coercive tool of diplomacy in extremis, it is more important that the U.S. offer inducements for curtailing these violations through bilateral efforts to expand investments from U.S. companies to Philippine business, particularly through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.


After a thin film is deposited on a treatment surface of a wafer and the wafer is transferred out of a treatment chamber, a contact projection of a clamp is brought into contact with a susceptor to heat the clamp. Next, a wafer is disposed on the susceptor by elevating the clamp when the wafer, on which a thin film is not deposited, is transferred in. Thereafter, the clamp is brought into contact with the wafer and the wafer is stabilized to a predetermined temperature. Thereafter, a thin film is deposited on a treatment surface of the wafer.


Immunoglobulin heavy variable ( IGHV ) gene replacement is a RAG-mediated recombination event that modifies a rearranged IGHV-IGHD-IGHJ sequence by replacing the original IGHV with another IGHV . As the excision of the original IGHV occurs at a cryptic heptamer near the end of FR3 of the original IGHV , a trace ("footprint") remains embedded in the V-D ("N1") junction of the heavy complementarity-determining region 3 (HCDR3) sequence of the new rearrangement. Since IGHV -replaced antibody sequences are over-represented in several autoantibody-associated syndromes, it is assumed that the process is designed to eliminate unwanted antibody specificities, particularly those which are autoreactive. Because CLL antibodies/B cell receptors (BCRs) are often autoreactive, we sought to determine if IGHV replacement plays a significant role in the formation of these antibodies. To this end, we analyzed IGHV-IGHD-IGHJ rearrangements in a CLL sample set of 6,121 sequences and in another set of 3,326 sequences from normal B lymphocytes culled from the GenBank Database. Sequences without positional information for their IGHV match were eliminated, resulting in 6023 CLL and 3202 normal sequences. From among these, we looked for the presence of IGHV footprints in the N1 and N2 junctional regions. Sequences were processed by IMGT to determine the particular IGHV used as well as junctional N1, N2 sequences. The resulting junctional regions were analyzed using the Java-based VH Replacement Footprint Analyzer (V H RFA) program [Huang, L et al (2013) PLOS ONE] to identify footprints (≥5-mer) in the N1 and N2 regions. Various CLL subgroups based on ZAP-70 expression, CD38 expression, IGHV mutation status, BCR stereotypy, and genomic aberrations were also examined for differences in the presence of footprints. Comparison of CLL with normal sequences in the N1 regions revealed a slight yet significant difference in footprint frequency (12.62% versus 11.06%, respectively; P = 0.03). Comparison of IGHV -mutated (M) versus unmutated (U) subgroups of CLL also disclosed a significant difference in frequencies (M: 13.58%, U: 11.51%, P = 0.02). Using footprints in the N2 regions as an internal control, we found the frequency of ≥5-mer replacement footprint motifs to be significantly higher in N1 over N2 ( P = 1.1E-7), supporting the validity of this approach. Other comparisons led to a significant enrichment of footprint frequencies, such as 13.71% for the ZAP-70-negative group (P = 0.029), 13.36% for the CD38-negative group ( P = 0.013), and 14.70% for the 13q-deletion group (P = 0.016) compared with the normal group. Note, an overall comparison of stereotyped versus non-stereotyped cases revealed highly statistically significant differences in N1 footprint frequencies (9.4% for the 2084 cases having defined subsets vs 14.32% for the 3,939 cases without defined subsets; P = 2.7E-8). Focusing on stereotyped cases that exhibited evidence for IGHV replacement, we found significantly different footprint frequencies in the N1 region among different stereotyped subsets, even when restricting the comparison to subsets utilizing the same IGHV and belonging to the same mutational category (U-CLL or M-CLL). Relevant examples include differential frequencies among U-CLL, IGHV1-69 -expressing subsets #3, #5, #6, #7, and #59 (0 - 15.5%; P = 0.01) and M-CLL, IGHV4-34 -expressing subsets #4, #16, #29, and #201 (0 - 40.9%; P = 0.005). In summary, CLL had an elevated IGHV replacement rate compared to normal controls. In addition, M-CLL, ZAP-70-neg, CD38-neg and 13q del CLL subgroups were also elevated above normal controls. The most dramatic differences in IGHV replacement frequency were found between CLL non-stereotyped and stereotyped CLL cases, with an intriguing difference within stereotyped subgroups exhibiting the same IGHV where IGHV replacement varied by as much as 40-fold. Because higher levels of IGHV replacement are found in ZAP-70-neg, CD38-neg, 13q del CLL, and non-stereotyped cases that in general are less aggressive, the presence of IGHV replacement may pinpoint CLL clones whose precursor B cells had edited their BCRs away from autoreactivity and therefore antigen-drive. This conclusion suggests a differential role for autoantigen drive in certain stereotyped subsets: CLL subsets not exhibiting IGHV replacement appear to be more susceptible to antigen drive than those that do. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Autocorrelation measurements of picosecond optical pulses have been carried out using a quasiphase-matching channel waveguide in lithium niobate as the doubling element. The use of waveguides instead of bulk crystals can drastically reduce the demands on power level. A pulse duration of 12 ps was measured for pulses from a gain-switched AlGaAs laser diode with ion-bombarded facets.


During the last years, the production and studies concerning non–fiction cinema have experienced a great increase. However, there is no consensus about its definition and about the key features of this genre. This paper develops the proposal of Carl R: Plantinga on those issues, as it is explained mainly in his work Rhetoric and Representation in Non-Fiction Film. Following this starting point, the article investigates the philosophical roots of his work, and studies in depth the application of Charles S. Peirce's triadic classification of the sign. Finally, the paper tries to point out that the efficacy of the indexical condition of the non-fiction cinema as an key feature to define this genre is valid if it is linked to the two other sign's dimension, the iconic and the symbolic.


Conventional high-throughput immunosequencing methods profile TCR alpha (TRA) and/or TCR beta (TRB) repertoires, but do not enable pairing of the cognate subunits comprising functional TCRs. We developed a method called pairSEQ that can pair hundreds of thousands of TRA and TRB sequences in a single experiment. Our approach works by allocating random samples of T cells to a micro-titer plate, sequencing amplified cDNA from TRA and TRB genes, and DNA bar-coding the wells. Most TCR sequences uniquely identify clonal cell populations, so pairs can be assigned based on TRA and TRB sequences that occupy the same wells. To validate our method we identified cognate pairs from a sample of cells mixed from two people. The cross-sample pairs directly measure false pairing rates, which closely matched predictions from our statistical model. To show our method can be targeted to any clonal frequency range of interest, we designed a 3-plate experiment to capture pairs with repertoire frequencies from 0.5% to less than 1 in 10 million. These experiments yielded over 300,000 confident TCR pairs with one 96-well plate alone providing over 200,000 pairs. This technology is not restricted by material; in a single experiment we used this method to identify 6,349 TCR pairs from tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in 9 tumor samples. Our TCR pairing method is highly scalable, and should be broadly applicable to all somatically rearranged immune receptor loci, including immunoglobulins.


In order to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of mesalazine (5-ASA) in the prophylaxis of symptomatic relapses, of major complications and of microhemorrhagic phenomena in diverticular disease of the large intestine (MDC), prospective clinical study was conducted on patients with light-moderate symptomatic MDC under treatment with sulbactam-ampicillin 1.5 g/12 h i.m. and rifaximine 400 mg/12 h per os for 7 days. Follow-up period of 5 years with seriated checkups and laboratory and instrumentation controls. End points are represented by the relapse on inflammation and/or by the occurrence of major complications. On enrollment, 166 patients were randomized to receive mesalazine (Pentacol tablets--SOFAR S.p.A.) 400 mg b.i.d. per os for 8 weeks (81 patients; group M) or no supplementary treatment (85 patients; group C). After 4 years of follow-up, 44 patients dropped out of the study (9 because of major complications, 3 for massive hemorrhage, and 32 drop outs). Symptomatic relapses occurred in 51 patients (12 M; 39 C), while minor diverticular hemorrhages occurred in 43 patients (12 M; 31 C), with an estimated probability of remaining free respectively from symptomatic relapse (p=0.00005) and from microhemorrhagic phenomena (p=0.001) decisively in favor of the group treated with mesalazine. The duration of abdominal pain due to diverticolitis was also shorter in patients of group M (p=0.0002), while the incidence of major complications and side effects was comparable in the two groups. In conclusion, supplementary treatment with mesalazine in patients affected with MDC--at a follow-up limited to 48 months--proved to be well tolerated and effective in reducing the frequency of symptomatic relapses and microhemorrhagic phenomena and in reducing the duration of abdominal pain.


Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) presents as a primary form characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia(platelet count < 100 × 109/L) in the absence of other causes or disorders that may be associated with thrombocytopenia, or a secondary form in which immune thrombocytopenia develops in association with another disorder that is usually immune or infectious. The diagnosis of ITP is usually a diagnosis by exclusion based on a demonstration of peripheral thrombocytopenia, with a history, physical examination, and complete blood count that do not suggest another cause for the thrombocytopenia ITP may affect individuals of all ages, with peaks during childhood and middle aged. Pallor was the most common clinical manifestation of ITP. The pathogenesis of ITP is complex, involving alterations in humoral and cellular immunity. Thrombocytopenia is caused by antibodies that react with glycoproteins expressed on platelets and megakaryocytes (glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, Ib/IX and others), causing shortened survival of circulating platelets and impairing platelet production. Bone marrow examination done in most of the patients. Micronormoblastic erythropoiesis found to predominate. Megaloblastic erythropoiesis found in 20.3% cases. Megaloblastic erythropoiesisA finding which can be seen in vitamin B12 deficiency, Anti intrinsic factor or Anti gastric mural cell antibodies and may be associated with other disorders of autoimmunity, the most usual being autoimmune thyroid disorders, type I diabetes mellitus, hypoparathyroidism, Addison's disease, post-partum hypophyseal necrosis, ulcerative colitis and vitiligo. The aim of this study is to correlate Bone marrow aspiration findings and possibility of autoimmunity with Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).


Current image segmentation techniques usually require that the user tune several parameters in order to obtain maximum segmentation accuracy, a computationally inefficient approach, especially when a large number of images must be processed sequentially in daily practice. The use of evolving fuzzy systems for designing a method that automatically adjusts parameters to segment medical images according to the quality expectation of expert users has been proposed recently (Evolving fuzzy image segmentation EFIS). However, EFIS suffers from a few limitations when used in practice mainly due to some fixed parameters. For instance, EFIS depends on auto-detection of the object of interest for feature calculation, a task that is highly application-dependent. This shortcoming limits the applicability of EFIS, which was proposed with the ultimate goal of offering a generic but adjustable segmentation scheme. In this paper, a new version of EFIS is proposed to overcome these limitations. The new EFIS, called self-configuring EFIS (SC-EFIS), uses available training data to self-estimate the parameters that are fixed in EFIS. As well, the proposed SC-EFIS relies on a feature selection process that does not require auto-detection of an ROI. The proposed SC-EFIS was evaluated using the same segmentation algorithms and the same dataset as for EFIS. The results show that SC-EFIS can provide the same results as EFIS but with a higher level of automation.


In this paper, we describe an integrated strategy for planning, perception, state-estimation and action in complex mobile manipulation domains. The strategy is based on planning in the belief space of probability distribution over states. Our planning approach is based on hierarchical symbolic regression (pre-image back-chaining). We develop a vocabulary of fluents that describe sets of belief states, which are goals and subgoals in the planning process. We show that a relatively small set of symbolic operators lead to task-oriented perception in support of the manipulation goals.


ABSTRACT This study explores how Swedish teacher educators view individual, collegial, and organisational conditions framing the fulfilment of their dual didactical task, which is to use digital technology in a way that ensures student teachers graduate from teacher education (TE) with the professional digital competence (PDC) needed for their future working lives in a digitalised school. Using a purposive sampling approach, we used thematic coding to analyse 13 semistructured interviews with teacher educators representing 21 mandatory courses in educational science at one teacher education institution in Sweden. The findings cover aspects of the teacher educators' PDC, how to act as a digital role model for the student teachers, support in educational policy and assignments, and the possibilities for participating in continuous professional development (CPD) in PDC. This study demonstrates an urgent need to improve conditions for successful fulfilment of teacher educators' dual didactical task. For example, TE policy requires a strong focus on digital technology and PDC. CPD activities should be easy to access in order for teacher educators to develop their PDC. Moreover, leaders at the organisational level in TE institutions should acknowledge and place higher value on teacher educators' work to digitalise educational practices.


YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} bridges with widths ranging from 50 nm to 3 {micro}m were made using Electron Beam Lithography and Focused Ion Beam milling. The current voltage characteristics of the nanobridges show, under microwave irradiation, pronounced Shapiro steps up to the transition temperature. SQUIDs, using these nanobridges, have been made and flux to voltage modulation up to 85 K was observed, with a maximum modulation depth of 8 {micro}V at 77 K. An unusual temperature dependence of the modulation is observed, which can be explained by assuming an exponential spatial distribution of the superconducting properties near the edge of a superconductor.


Polymersomes are vesicles whose membranes comprise self‐assembled block copolymers. It has recently been shown that co‐encapsulating conjugated multiporphyrin dyes in a polymersome membrane with ferritin protein in the aqueous lumen confers photolability to the polymersome. In the present study, the photolability is shown to be extendable to vesicles containing dextran, an inert and inexpensive polysaccharide, as the luminal solute. How structural features of the polymersome/porphyrin/dextran composite affect its photoresponse is explored. Increasing dextran molecular weight, decreasing block copolymer molecular weight, and altering fluorophore‐membrane interactions results in increasing the photoresponsiveness of the polymersomes. Amphiphilic interactions of the luminal encapsulant with the membrane coupled with localized heat production in the hydrophobic bilayer likely cause differential thermal expansion in the membrane and the subsequent membrane rupture. This study suggests a general approach to impart photoresponsiveness to any biomimetic vesicle system without chemical modification, as well as a simple, bio‐inert method for constructing photosensitive carriers for controlled release of encapsulants.


One of important problems of modern education is education of a creative person. Sphere of the higher education lastly directed to from scientific world outlook of young people. In this article are shined creative and practical aspects of formation of research skills at pupils and students.


Having within the last few days visited, in company with Mr. Prestwich, the scenes of two recent discoveries of Flint Implements in gravel in the south of England, I think a few notes upon the subject may be of interest to this Society. The discoveries in question have taken place, the one on the seashore, about midway between Southampton and Gosport, where Implements have been found by Mr. James Brown, of Salisbury; and the other at Fisherton, near Salisbury, where they have been discovered by Dr. H. P. Blackmore, of that town.


We use two UK panel data sets to investigate skill-upgrading in the United Kingdom and how it has been affected by computerization. Census data reveals that most aggregate skill-upgrading is explained by within-firm rises in skill composition. Such upgrading is significantly related to computerization, a relation that is robust to different worker and computer types, endogeneity, human capital upgrading and other technology measures.


The short-lived, highly reactive NO radical arises in two ways: 1) a rapidly triggered process well suited for homeostatic fine-tuning of blood pressure and 2) a prolonged high-level production best suited for microbicidal activity. Roles in vascular "leakiness" and leukocyte extravasation are also emerging. Continued investigation may yield new therapies addressing individual facets of inflammation.


Transverse magnetic plane-wave scattering from finite rectangular grooves in a conducting plane is systematically analyzed with the overlapping T-block method. Multiple rectangular grooves are divided into several overlapping T-blocks to obtain the fast CPU time, simple applicability, and wide versatility. The field representations within T-blocks are expressed using the Green's function relation and mode-matching method. The scattered fields are obtained in simple closed forms including a fast-convergent integral.


From a cultural history and game theoretical perspective my work focuses on the relationship between the fantasy subculture, fantasy role-playing games and the daily life of their participants in the Netherlands. Main research themes are the construction of game/play space and identities. Within this context I elaborate in this paper on the usefulness of the term magic circle (Johan Huizinga). I will argue why in game research the current use of the term magic circle is problematic. We can understand the term differently when returning to the context in which Huizinga introduced the magic circle as ritual play-ground. According to him ritual is play and play is ritual. Referring back to his work Homo Ludens (1938) I will discuss the various relationships between role-play and ritual performance. I will argue that fantasy role-playing consists of collections of performances or ritual acts, in which players construct the game/play space, identities and meaning.


Lung cancer (LC) is still one of the most frequent cancers with a high related mortality. Their prognosis is directly proportional to the stage at the time of diagnosis. Seventy percent are currently diagnosed in advanced or locally advanced stage (higher than stage III), making a cure unlikely for the majority of patients. Developments in LC treatment are significant however they do not seem to be enough to reverse the current situation, at least, in a short period of time. Despite recent advances in treatment, primary prevention and early diagnosis appear to be the key to reduce the incidence and mortality of this disease. Many countries have developed LC screening programs based on the results of clinical trials published in recent years. The aim of this paper is to review the latest results of the NEderlands Leuvens Longkanker Screenings Onderzoek and compare them with the findings of the National Lung Screening Trial. We address the question whether it is necessary to continue discussing the evidence regarding LC screening. In both trials, there is a clear impact on LC mortality but, with a modest reduction in over all mortality. Undoubtedly, the benefit of screening can be expected to grow as low-dose computed tomographys are performed over longer periods of time.


A technique for refining the anchor modelling system introduced enhanced emotion detection system from speech. Anchor representation was then put on the speaker detection issue. Identification mistake transaction productivity uncovered that the anchor displaying system missed the mark supply of a state-of the-craftsmanship GMM-UBM framework. It had been more observed that its computational efficiency was exceptional to that specific of the GMMUBM. Correlation of the anchor product and GMM-UBM programs for speaker indexing uncovered an indistinguishable trade-off between point of interest versus review productivity and computational efficiency. A cascaded speaker indexing system was arranged that uses the anchor item program as the first stage and the GMM-UBM as the second stage. In that configuration, the anchor system diminished the data pressing on the GMM-UBM while to some degree lessening effectiveness in working parts of low review. The impact of the cascaded project was to join the peculiarities of both projects at the inconvenience of some decrease in both computational productivity and accuracy of recognition. For extensive chronicles, the detection effectiveness of the anchor program and the absence of computational productivity of the GMM-UBM project can keep their application to speaker indexing. The cascading system may give a handy treatment to the speaker indexing application.


This work is devoted to the modeling of space charge dominated particle beams in the paraxial approximation with several types of external focusing fields (uniform, periodic and alternating gradient). A solid mathematical background for numerical beam simulation is established. The Kapchinsky–Vladimirsky (KV) distribution which can be matched exactly or numerically to the focusing channel is first studied. Then the matched KV beam is used to approximately match arbitrary beams. Moreover, Waterbag and Maxwell–Boltzmann beams are studied to give analytical solution for code validation. Finally, numerical simulations are presented in different configurations.


Background PAH is a rare complication of SLE and the prevalence varies among the different studies and diagnostic method employed. The clinical course of PAH is asymptomatic until advanced stages and therefore has poor outcome (1). Objectives The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of PAH in a cohort of SLE patients and evaluate if Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and certain antibodies constitute risk factors for developing PAH. Methods Asymptomatic SLE patients (who fulfilled ACR criteria for SLE) were recruited in a rheumatology unit of a hospital in Barcelona, Spain. We assessed clinical features of SLE, presence of antiphospholipid syndrome, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary embolism, autoantibody profile and history of RP. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed to all SLE patients to estimate the pulmonary artery pressures. PAH was defined as systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) ≥36 mmHg according to current guidelines (2). Results 49 SLE patients were evaluated with TTE and none had PAH. We separated two groups according to sPAP ≤30 and sPAP between ≥31 to 35 mmHg; not finding any differences between the clinical features of the 2 groups. Conclusions PAH is a serious complication with very low prevalence in SLE patients. In our SLE cohort none of our patients developed PAH. Also, we failed to prove any association with RP in the group with higher sPAP. Finally, with our study we may conclude that routine screening with TTE in asymptomatic SLE patients is not justified due to the very low prevalence of PAH in our SLE population. References Sánchez O, Sitbon O, Jaïs X, Simonneau G, Humbert M. Immunosuppressive therapy in connective tissue diseases-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension. Chest 2006; 130:182-9. Galiè N, Torbicki A et al. Guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The Task Force on Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J. 2004; 25:2243-78. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Sequence alignment is a common and often repeated task in molecular biology. Typical alignment operations consist of finding similarities between a pair of sequences (pairwise sequence alignment) or a family of sequences (multiple sequence alignment). The need for speeding up this treatment comes from the rapid growth rate of biological sequence databases: every year their size increases by a factor of 1.5 to 2. In this paper, we present a new approach to high-performance biological sequence alignment based on commodity PC graphics hardware. Using modern graphics processing units (GPUs) for high-performance computing is facilitated by their enhanced programmability and motivated by their attractive price/performance ratio and incredible growth in speed. To derive an efficient mapping onto this type of architecture, we have reformulated dynamic-programming-based alignment algorithms as streaming algorithms in terms of computer graphics primitives. Our experimental results show that the GPU-based approach allows speedups of more than one order of magnitude with respect to optimized CPU implementations.


Abstract This article draws on a year of ethnography conducted among cis heterosexual couples in contemporary urban Lebanon in order to argue that, in the absence of a serious project of national reconciliation, intersectarian love, despite its short lifespan, constitutes restorative instances in post–civil war Lebanon. Intersectarian hetero desire emerges as a counter-discourse that threatens the masculinist foundations of the Lebanese state. By tracing the timeline of love in the life of Lebanese citizens, this article places personal narratives of "impossible" intersectarian love stories in conversation with queer temporality scholarship in order to recognize the political, albeit limited, potential of romantic love. Here, societal expectations of married life are replaced by an ephemeral unity that operates in contra to hegemonic interpretations of "man and wife."


Summary Wheat is one of the modern world's staple food sources. Its production requires good environmental conditions, which are not always available. However, agricultural practices may mitigate the effects of unfavorable weather or poor-quality soils. The influence of environmental and crop management variables on yield can be evaluated only based on representative long-term data collected on farms through well-prepared surveys.The authors of this work analyzed variation in winter wheat yield among 3868 fields in western and eastern Poland for 12 years, as dependent on both soil/weather and crop management factors, using the classification and regression tree (CART) method. The most important crop management deficiencies which may cause low wheat yields are insufficient use of fungicides, phosphorus deficiency, non-optimal date of sowing, poor quality of seeds, failure to apply herbicides, lack of crop rotation, and use of cultivars of unknown origin not suitable for the region. Environmental variables of great importance for the obtaining of high yields include large farm size (10 ha or larger) and good-quality soils with stable pH. This study makes it possible to propose strategies supporting more effective winter wheat production based on the identification of characteristics that are crucial for wheat cultivation in a given region.


Microgrids (MGs), referred to as next-generation power systems, are receiving considerable attention from both industry and academia. Integrated with distributed energy resources (DERs), energy storage systems, and a variety of loads, MGs function as a localized power grid that can be operated independently or connected to utility grids. With the rapid development of technology in communication networks, the framework of MGs tends to be more distributed, intelligent, and tightly integrated with networks. Applications of MGs can be found on the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, smart cities, and so on.


Abstract A coastal quasigeostrophic (QG) methodology is extended in an exploration of the mesoscale variability of the Rhodes Gyre region of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, given multiscale data taken as part of the POEM program. Standard objective analysis procedures are modified to include a coastal constraint that prohibits geostrophic flow normal to the coastline and imposes a characteristic nearshore variability in the coastal portion of the domain. Objectively analyzed fields are dynamically adjusted in short QG model integrations and then interpreted for the structure and characteristics of the subbasin scale flow system and the mesoscale. Two-week simulations are then performed to explore the stability of the subbasin scale flow, the dynamical balances, and the variabilities and interactions of the mesoscale. A matrix of simulation experiments is described to test the sensitivities to two variations in initial conditions, and three parameterizations of the bottom topography. An energy and vorticity...


In Canada, yield of short-season soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars has increased by approximately 0.5% per year since they were first cultivated in the early 1930s. Future yield gains may be dependent on an understanding of the changes made to soybean cultivars by breeding and selection. Our objective was to examine physiological differences associated with seed yield increase within a group of historical cultivars. At Ottawa. Ontario, we grew 14 cultivars representing seven decades of breeding and selection (1934-1992) in a randomized complete block design with four replications, across 4 years. Growth analysis provided data on leaf area and dry weight. Photosynthetic rate per leaf area was measured at several stages of development each year. Yield and harvest index were determined at maturity. The number of days to maturity and the total plant dry weight were not affected by the year of cultivar release. Seed yield, harvest index, and photosynthetic rate were found to have increased by 0.5% per year, while leaf area index decreased by 0.4% per year. The increase in seed yield with year of release was significantly correlated with an increase in harvest index, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance and a decrease in leaf area index. Today's cultivars are more efficient at producing and allocating carbon resources to seeds than were their predecessors.


In this paper, Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation(HILS) is developed for evaluating a motor control unit on the signal level interface, simultaneously implementing a dynamic model of electric motor in real-time. Using Rapid control prototyping(RCP) device to function as MCU, motor controller generates PWM signals to HIL simulator, which runs dynamic models of inverter and electric motor, and receives the sensor signals calculated from those models in that simulator. In addition, the various fault signals from HIL simulator is inserted to RCP. It is expected that HILS can be used in developing and evaluating the control algorithm for MCU on the electric motor simulation.


Ethnic conflicts may be triggered by factors such as geographical proximity, group identity, deliberate manipulation of negative perceptions by political leaders, competition of resources, weakness of political institution, and transitions to democracy. This paper enquires into how an ethnic conflict occurs as a result of actions or decisions made by either local or state / federal government in Nigeria. The main focus is the decision to implement the Sharia laws in Northern Nigeria, in particular, how it has led to bloody conflicts in the country. In-depth information materials gathered from informants were utilised to examine the scene of ethnic conflict in Nigeria. It was found that a number of violent events that had occurred in Nigeria was due to the manipulations of the constitutional law in a process of decision making by Muslims and Christian leaders and political elites that cannot fulfill the expectations of their respective ethnic groups. The consequences had been devastating in the forms of innumerous loss of lives, homes, destruction of properties and displacements. The economic consequences of the conflict were unequal distribution of resources among individuals, groups and regions within the nation. In conclusion, bad decision-making had led to ethnic conflicts in a highly charged ethnically polarised country such as Nigeria.


Traps for neutral atoms are briefly surveyed and compared with ion traps. Motivations for trapping atoms and ions are discussed. Fundamental restrictions on atom trap design and ways to circumvent them are presented. Methods for cooling trapped atoms and ions are compared and contrasted and differences in their low-temperature collective and collisional behaviors are noted.


Abstract:One of the dominant features of post-apocalyptic or Anthropocene culture is a 'this changes everything' sentiment regarding time. Whatever cultural differences the world may have been able to harbour up until the present, the current feeling of end-times focuses attention on the future. The overwhelming evidence for anthropogenic climate change seems to demand either that we think about humans as a historical agent at the level of the species or that we devalue the human to recognise a temporality beyond that of human concern. This essay questions that exclusive disjunction: it is possible to recognise both the thoroughly 'human' nature of the sense 'we' make of the world, while also striving to think beyond what has (up until now) counted as human temporality.


This research tests the impact of the nomination of designated market makers in various market conditions. We explore the effect of such announcements on three dimensions: liquidity, volatility, and returns. The findings suggest that, despite the positive contribution that these announcements make to a stock's liquidity and regardless of the market conditions or the preliquidity levels, they may increase the volatility that accompanies market trends in extreme market conditions. The results have important policy implications because they support the attitude of regulators who tend to postpone the introduction of new mechanisms for enhancing market efficiency during abnormal market conditions and wait for more conventional conditions. Furthermore, contrary to the general view, the results suggest that introducing market makers may not be a stabilizing mechanism. Therefore, regulators should examine alternative stabilizing mechanisms that account for extreme market conditions.


To determine whether myocardial dysfunction contributes to vascular collapse in anaphylactic shock, we examined left ventricular (LV) contractility, coronary blood flow, and myocardial lactate metabolism during antigen challenge in eight dogs that were sensitized to ragweed pollen extract (anaphylaxis group). Findings in the anaphylaxis group were contrasted to those in another group of dogs in which mean blood pressure was decreased to the same extent by arteriolar vasodilation with nitroprusside. The animals were examined under nonhypoxic conditions while anesthetized and ventilated. LV mechanics were examined with subendocardial crystals placed primarily along the anterior-posterior minor axis of the LV. During antigen challenge, a depression in LV contractility was observed in the anaphylaxis group as assessed by fractional dimensional shortening, stroke volume, and the slope of the end-systolic pressure-dimension relationship. During anaphylaxis, moreover, coronary vasodilation rather than coronary vasoconstriction was observed, and evidence of myocardial ischemia as assessed by altered myocardial lactate metabolism was not found. Our results indicate that depressed LV contractility occurs in anaphylactic shock. The results further suggest that the mechanism may be due to a direct effect of mediators of anaphylaxis on the myocardium to produce systolic dysfunction.


This study describes the cognitive structure adopted by small firms' owners and managers in the strategic management of their businesses. The influence of respondents' cognitive styles over strategic decisions was explored, as well as the role exerted by environmental turbulence on strategic choices. A careful exploration of Miles and Snow's (1978) taxonomy of strategic types and Kirton's (1976) Adaptation-Innovation theory suggested that a prospector strategy may be preferred by individuals whose psychological characteristics indicate an innovative behaviour. On the other hand, defensive strategies seem to be most attractive to individuals who prefer an adaptive cognitive style. The research method involved a set of nineteen interviews with small firms' owner-managers in two types of environemt: one highly dynamic and competitive in terms of techonlogy, and another less turbulent. An additional sample of fourteen entrepreneurs allowed a more detailed exploration of the association between environmental turbulence, cognitive style, and strategic choices. Results indicated that there are good reasons to believe that environmental turbulence is associated with strategic choices, while cognitive preferences do not seem to be associated with strategy formation.


Obesity is a condition triggered by many risk factors, but the main one is due to high calorie intake and low physical activity. Various studies have explored the relationship between obesity and metabolic complications, namely chronic degenerative disorders. In the condition of obesity, there are biochemical changes including chronic inflammation. This condition mainly occurs due to the load on the metabolic tissue due to weight gain and fat tissue dysfunction. These changes result in changes in the distribution of leukocytes, lymphocyte activity, and in general the immune defense system. The changes that occur include the occurrence of a chronic inflammatory process. Among the various inflammatory mediators, there are three mediators that play an important role in the regulation of the immune system due to obesity, namely TNF-α, IL-6, and adiponectin. In addition, the accumulation of free fatty acids in obesity can activate a cascade of a series of pro-inflammatory kinases, such as IkB kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, which triggers fatty tissue to release IL-6. Other effects include activation of the inflammasome, and hyperleptinemia. Leptin is then associated with cell survival, cytokine release, and chemotaxis. In addition, leptin can also be related to the proliferation of T cells.


Mined lands are reclaimed so the land can be used for other purposes after mining. At the La Plata Mine in New Mexico, post-mining land uses include livestock grazing and providing wildlife habitat. The objective of this research was to evaluate use of seeded and volunteer shrubs by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and elk (Cervus canadensis) during the first opportune season, which occurred 7 years following reclamation. Twelve species of shrubs (10 planted and 2 volunteer) were found on 4 different topdressing treatments. Five branches of shrubs for each species were marked and lengths measured prior to and following the winter wildlife grazing season to determine amount of use. Greatest use by both deer and elk was on curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt.), followed in decreasing order by fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens [Pursh] Nutt.), rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus [Pall.] Britton), common winterfat (Ceratoides lanata [Pursh] Moq.), shadscale (A triplex confertifolia [Torr. and Frem.] Wats.) , antelope bit terbrush (Pursia tridentata [Pursh] DC.), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.), skunk bush sumac (Rhus trilobata Nutt.), Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma [Torr.]Little), fringed sagebrush (Artemisia frigida Willd.), service berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.), and pinyon pine (Pinus edulis Engelm.). The greatest shrub utilization was on the Jocity topdressing treatment, which is the name of the soil series from which the topdressing was obtained. The Jocity soil series was found on a flood plain site dominated by greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus [Hook.] Torr.). Other shrub utilization, in decreasing order of use, was on topdressing that was a mixture of Jocity and Atrac topdressing, spoil topdressing, and Atrac topdressing, which is a soil series found on an upland site dominated by big sagebrush.


Abstract. Three years have gone by since the 2002 Uruguayan economic crisis. Since then the economy has been undergoing a steady recovery process through which by 2005 the activity levels reached those prior to the 1999 recessive phase. The negative values of the output gap, values never seen before, began to close in an accelerated way despite the levels of capital investment registered since 2004. The gap's closure, together with the gradual reorientation of the monetary policy towards inflation targeting, makes necessary the re-estimation of the potential output and its impact evaluation. Due to its importance in the design of economic policy, the purpose of this paper is to bring the estimation of the Uruguay economy's potential output up to date. For this particular reason, a Cobb- Douglas production function has been applied by implementing updated series of the physical and human capital, the latter one being adjusted by quality and emigration. In an attempt of having a global view of the potential growth of the economy's leading sectors from 1997 onwards, a measuring exercise of the different output gaps was done. Based in these results and taking into consideration the generalized economic reactivation, an analysis of the existence of «bottle necks» is presented.


As the power of wind energy system increases, the control of their active and reactive power becomes increasingly more important from a system standpoint given that these are typical frequency and voltage control parameters. In this paper a family of wind energy systems with integrated active power transfer, reactive power compensation and voltage-conversion functionality is proposed. The proposed wind energy systems using solid state transformer (SST) can effectively suppress the voltage fluctuation caused by the transient nature of wind energy without additional reactive power compensator and as such may enable the large penetration of wind farm (WF) into the distribution system. To this end, a simulation study for WF driven by squirrel-cage induction generators is presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed system. In addition, a modular type high voltage and high power three-phase SST topology is presented for the proposed system, and its basic building block, which is a single-phase SST, is analyzed. The function of SST in the presented wind energy system is verified in a single-phase laboratory prototype with scaled down experiments.


The entrepreneurial process involves all the functions, activities, and actions associated with the perception of opportunities and the creation of the organizations to pursue these opportunities (cf. Key, Foo and Lim, 2002). Shane and Venkataraman (2000) introduced entrepreneurship as a nexus between the opportunity and entrepreneurial individuals. Thus, opportunities are an important part and central to the entrepreneurial process. Following Davidsson (2003) we here use the concept ''venture idea'' rather than ''opportunities''.

Venture ideas are ideas for new products or services or bundles; introducing new price/value relations; imitative entry and entering new markets (Davidsson, 2003). This implies that venture ideas are the core ideas of an entrepreneur about what to sell, how to sell, whom to sell and how an entrepreneur acquire or produce the product or service which he/she sells. Timmons (1994) states that the finding a good idea is the first step in the task of converting an entrepreneur's creativity in to an opportunity. Explaining the development of venture ideas or - as they are often called - 'opportunities' is regarded as a key research goal in entrepreneurship (Davidsson, Hunter and Klofsten, 2006). For example, since the ideas have differentiating effects on the discovery and exploitation processes as well as on profitability and potential market impact the identifying and selecting the right venture ideas for new businesses are among the most important abilities of a successful entrepreneur (Ardichvili, Cardozo and Ray, 2003)

Even though the opportunity, its recognition and exploitation have been extensively discussed and researched among researchers around the world (Bhave, 1994; Casson, 1982; Davidsson, 2003; Kirzner, 1973; Sarsvathy, Dew, Ramakrishna & Venkataraman, 2003; Shane, 2000; Shane & Venkataraman, 2000; Venkataraman,1997) there is a scarcity of research carried out on the characteristics of those opportunities and how such characteristics affect, e.g., firm performance , growth or survival. The importance of investigating such questions is exemplified by Samuelsson (2004), who found that the gestation process and its determinants were vastly different for innovative vs. imitative ventures.

In this research we investigate how three aspects of venture ideas affect the pace at which progress is made in the venture creation process. Bhave (1994) argues that the venture creation process is more complex or difficult for novel business ideas. For this reason we assess and estimate the effects of four aspects of newness: the procuct/service itself; the method for promotion and selling; the methods for producing or sourcing, and newness in terms what markets or customers are served or targeted. Shane (2000) demonstrated that prior knowledge of the founders is an important factor in venture development. Similarly, Sarasvathy's (2001) Effectuation Theory proposes a high degree of relatedness with founders' knowledge and means. Hence, we assess and estimate the effects of the degree of alignment of the venture ideas with the prior knowledge and skills of the founders as well as with the financial, physical and other resources they had access to. Further, since entrepreneurs operate in an environment of heterogeneous and uncertain, they have to change their original business ideas time to time (Davidsson, Hunter, Klofsten, 2006). Presumably, changes of the venture idea could either facilitate or complicate the gestation process. In order to explore this we also assess and estimate the effect of the extent of change of the business idea that have been made. We investigate this for the same four aspects as for which we assess newness.

Methodology/Key Propositions

For this study we will compare early findings from data collected through the CAUSEE. CAUSEE is a longitudinal study whose primary objective is to describe how new venture come into existence. Data was collected from a representative sample of some 25,000 households in Australia using random digit dialling (RDD) telephone survey interviews. Included in the study are the approximately 600 cases where the respondent is currently involved in a business start-up, and another 600 who are owners of an up-and-running firm started in the last three years, in both cases where the respondent is also willing to participate in the study. The unit of the analysis is the emerging venture, with the respondent acting as its spokesperson. The study methodology allows researchers to identify ventures in early stages of creation and to longitudinally follow their progression through data collection periods over time. Our measures of newness build on previous work by Dahlqvist (2007). Our adapted version was developed over two pre-tests with about 80 participants in each. The measures of relatedness and change were newly developed through the two rounds of pre-testing. The pace of progress in the venture creation process is assessed with the help of time-stamped gestation activities; a technique developed in the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED) (see Gartner et al., 2004).

Results and Implications

Data collection is under way at the time of this writing. The results will help develop better knowledge of the venture creation process and its success factors, enabling better theory as well as more adequate dissemination of practical advice through teaching and consultancy.


two parts is hardly justifiable, where, as this plant shows, intergradations exist. " JUEL,22 studying R. Bischofjii, found that the cells of the median dorsal region of the thallus are arranged according to the so-called Euriccia pattern, while the wings have the Ricciella pattern; the smallest air chambers being bounded by 6 cells and the largest by I5. He attributes the presence of the 4-sided air spaces of the middle region to the fact that the ventral cells grow a little more rapidly than do the dorsal cells. The increasingly larger air spaces of the wings are due to very unequal growth of the cells. This work is another example of how artificial and arbitrary distinctions frequently break down when the problem is attacked by an observer trained in morphological methods.-W. J. G. LAND.


Ragged schools provided a free education to impoverished children in the mid-nineteenth century. Inspired by religious fervour and presided over by Lord Shaftesbury, that figurehead of evangelical Anglicans, the schools taught the most destitute to read and write, as well as about the God who loved them. By 1870 the London schools alone recorded an average attendance of 32,231 children. The missionary aspect of the classroom shaped the recommended character of the teacher. Teachers were to be benevolent, while corporal punishment was discouraged. Teaching advice demonstrates that the classroom could prove difficult terrain and suggests that the respect of scholars was hard-won and highly valued. With children attending freely, it was necessary that they desired to return. The children were consumers whom teachers sought to please; their responses determined the success or failure of lessons. This article responds to recent scholarship that interprets the teachers as imposed and powerful agents. By focusing on advice given to teachers, it highlights both how the children were perceived and the impact evangelical theology had upon ideas regarding the teacher's character. Largely overlooked by church historians, the ragged school movement embodies the profound impact of evangelical Christians on popular education in the nineteenth century.


There has been a shift from use of less expensive human basal insulins to costlier analog basal insulins for type 2 diabetes since the early 2000s. It is not known whether this trend has been uniform across patient groups or if these newer insulins are associated with improved outcomes in a nationwide sample. We performed statistical analyses using six consecutive cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles between 2005 and 2016 to determine patient characteristics and glycemic management associated with use of analog compared to human basal insulin. NHANES respondents were included if they had a diagnosis of diabetes, reported currently taking basal insulin, and did not meet criteria for type 1 diabetes. Demographic factors (age, sex, race), socioeconomic factors (educational attainment, health insurance status), and NHANES cycle were included in a logistic regression model predicting use of analog versus human basal insulin; subsequently all variables were included in models predicting HbA1c. Between NHANES cycles 2005-2006 and 2015-2016, 723 participants met inclusion criteria. Basal insulin use increased from 9.6% to 17.2% among respondents with type 2 diabetes. Among basal insulin users, analog basal insulin use rose from 58% in 2005-2006 to 88% in 2015-2016. Compared to non-Hispanic white respondents, African American respondents were less likely to report use of analog basal insulin (aOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.24-0.74), as were Hispanic respondents (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30-0.96), after adjusting for age, sex, education, and health insurance status. Older age and having health insurance, but not type of basal insulin, correlated with achievement of HbA1c goals. The use of analog or human basal insulin is associated with race and ethnicity, but not with other demographic and socioeconomic measures. Increased use of analog basal insulins in the United States between 2005-2016 was not associated with improved glycemic control. Disclosure S. Cromer: Employee; Spouse/Partner; Johnson & Johnson. D.J. Wexler: Other Relationship; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. P. Kazemian: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (T32DK007028)


In a wireless sensor network (WSN), reducing the energy consumption of battery-powered sensor nodes is key to extending their operating duration before battery replacement is required. Message bundling can save on the energy consumption of sensor nodes by reducing the number of message transmissions. However, bundling a large number of messages could increase not only the end-to-end delays and message transmission intervals, but also the packet error rate (PER). End-to-end delays are critical in delay-sensitive applications, such as factory monitoring and disaster prevention. Message transmission intervals affect time synchronization accuracy when bundling includes synchronization messages, while an increased PER results in more message retransmissions and, thereby, consumes more energy. To address these issues, this paper proposes an optimal message bundling scheme based on an objective function for the total energy consumption of a WSN, which also takes into account the effects of packet retransmissions and, thereby, strikes the optimal balance between the number of bundled messages and the number of retransmissions given a link quality. The proposed optimal bundling is formulated as an integer nonlinear programming problem and solved using a self-adaptive global-best harmony search (SGHS) algorithm. The experimental results, based on the Cooja emulator of Contiki-NG, demonstrate that the proposed optimal bundling scheme saves up to 51.8% and 8.8% of the total energy consumption with respect to the baseline of no bundling and the state-of-the-art integer linear programming model, respectively.


Previous studies on cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors and enzyme induction led to the classification of steroids as inducers (optimal or sub-optimal), antagonists, or inactive steroids, with respect to their activity as glucocorticoids. The receptor was postulated to exist in allosteric equilibrium between two conformational states, one "active" and the other "inactive". Steroids behaved as inducers (optimal or sub-optimal), antagonists, or inactive steroids depending on their relative affinity for the active and inactive conformational state of the receptor. Another possible model would invoke multiple binding sites on a single receptor with interactions between the binding sites depending upon the particular steroid bound. To test this latter possibility, an experimental technique was developed to measure the rate of dissociation of tritiated dexamethasone ([3H]DM) or tritiated aldosterone ([3H]A) from the glucocorticoid receptor of rat liver or kidney cytosol. The dissociation of the [3H]DM-receptor at 25 C was not due to irreversible denaturation, and minimal recombination of the receptor with [3H]DM occurred. Progesterone and a number of other steroids consistently and significantly increased the dissociation rate of [3H]DM-receptor complexes in both liver and kidney cytosol. An identical effect was seen with hepatic glucocorticoid receptors labelled with [3H]A, like dexamethasone an optimal inducer. All steroids which enhanced glucocorticoid-receptor dissociation were either antagonists or sub-optimal inducers. Thus, it is postulated that glucocorticoid receptors have at least two classes of binding sites, and that occupation of the second site increases the dissociation rate of agonists from glucocorticoid receptors.


Growth regulatory factors (GRF) are plant-specific transcription factors that play pivotal roles in growth and various abiotic stresses regulation. However, adaptive evolution of GRF gene family in land plants are still being elucidated. Here, we performed the evolutionary and expression analysis of GRF gene family from seven representative species. Extensive phylogenetic analyses and gene structure analysis revealed that the number of genes, QLQ domain and WRC domain identified in higher plants was significantly greater than those identified in lower plants. Besides, dispersed duplication and WGD/segmental duplication effectively promoted expansion of the GRF gene family. The expression patterns of GRF gene family and target genes were found in multiple floral organs and abundant in actively growing tissues. They were also found to be particularly expressed in response to various abiotic stresses, with stress-related elements in promoters, implying potential roles in floral development and abiotic stress. Our analysis in GRF gene family interaction network indicated the similar results that GRFs resist to abiotic stresses with the cooperation of other transcription factors like GIFs. This study provides insights into evolution in the GRF gene family, together with expression patterns valuable for future functional researches of plant abiotic stress biology.


The optimal values of the parameters of the McEliece public-key cryptosystem are computed. It is shown that use of these values improves the cryptoanalytic complexity of the system and decreases its data expansion. It is shown that the likelihood of the existence of more than one trapdoor in the system is very small. >


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the protective and curative effects of prophylactic administration of pulmonary surfactant (PS) on neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS).

METHODS
One hundred neonates aged 0.5 h after birth, with the gestational age < 32 w, birth weight < 1500 g, and number of gastric, stable microbubble < or = 7/mm(2) by gastric stable microbubble test (SMT), but without clinical or radiological manifestations of RDS at the admission, were randomly divided into 2 equal groups: prophylactic group (PG), receiving curosurf, a product of PS, immediately after admission; and non-prophylactic group (N-PG), receiving curosurf only after development of RDS.

RESULTS
One hour after the administration of PS, the PaO(2), a/APO(2), pH, and PaO(2) of the PG group were 86.2 mm Hg +/- 8.1 mm Hg, 0.30 +/- 0.04, 7.38 +/- 0.06, and 178 +/- 37, all significantly higher than those of the non-PG group (all P < 0.01), and the PaCO(2) of the PG group was 37.3 mm Hg +/- 9.8 mm Hg, significantly lower than that of the non-PG group (53.6 mm Hg +/- 11.1 mm Hg, P < 0.01). In comparison with the level before the administration of PS (0.75 +/- 0.06), the level of FiO(2) of the 47 pediatric patients receiving mechanical ventilation decreased after the administration of curosurf time-dependently, e.g., was 0.50 +/- 0.09, 0.34 +/- 0.06, and 0.25 +/- 0.07 8, 48, and 96 hours after the administration. In comparison with the level before the administration of curosurf 9.0 +/- 1.0 cm H2O, the level of mean airway pressure (MAP) decreased time-dependently after the administration, e.g., were 7.5 +/- 0.8 and 6.0 +/- 0.3 48 and 96 hours after the administration (all P < 0.01). Compared with that before the administration of curosurf (3.02 +/- 0.2), the X-ray chest score decreased time-dependently after the administration of curosurf, e.g., were 1.89 +/- 0.34, 1.82 +/- 0.33, and 1.17 +/- 0.42 6, 12, and 72 hours after the administration (all P < 0.01). The RDS rate of the PG group was 30%, significantly lower than that of the non-PG group (P < 0.01). The severe case rate of the PG group was 20%, significantly lower than that of the N-PG group (53%, P = 0.01). The mortally of the PG group was 0, significantly lower than that of the non-PG group (P < 0.05). The total times of supplemental oxygen administration, assisted ventilation and hospitalization of the 47 patients with RDS in the PG group were significantly shortened compared with the RDS patients in the N-PG group [(3.6 +/- 1.7) d vs. (5.9 +/- 3.6) d, P < 0.05; (8.6 +/- 5.5 d vs. (14.1 +/- 6.2) d, P < 0.01; and (20.5 +/- 10.0) d vs. (32.8 +/- 17.8) d, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
Prophylactic administration of PS to the preterm neonates with high risk of RDS effectively decreases the incidence of RDS, development of severe cases and mortality, shorten the disease course, the duration of supplemental oxygen administration and assisted ventilation, thus decreasing the potential morbidity associated with long-term oxygen supplement and assisted ventilation.


All global optimization methods trying to select the best model for a given task have to face the problem of the bias introduced during learning by several factors (e.g., overfitting problems or local minima) which may lead to poor generalization. Multiple models can reduce this problem by combining the results of a population of differently trained networks. Unfortunately, nonlinear adaptive systems like multilayer perceptrons cannot be integrated in the parameter (weight) space. Therefore, a key issue in the development of efficient network ensembles is the trade-off between performance improvement and the required resource overhead with respect to standard optimal model selection techniques. In this work several approaches to the design of multiple multilayer perceptrons classifiers are compared, and their robustness to some implementation constraints is evaluated.<<ETX>>


This paper deals with an automatic rotor optimum design strategy based on torque/volume for a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM). The focus of this paper is the design relative to the torque/volume on the basis of each rated watt according to the rotor diameters of an SynRM. The coupled finite elements analysis and sequential unconstrained minimization technique have been used to evaluate design solutions. The proposed procedure allows us to define the rotor geometric design function according to the rotor diameter and rated watt starting from an existing motor or a preliminary design.


Plantations have many advantages when compared to natural or semi-natural forests, such as shortening production cycles, the production of wood with specific characteristics, and near-market production concentrations. The intensive development of this form of industrial wood production is practiced all over the world. The wood industry in Poland struggles in recent years, with a large shortage of wood. The deficit of wood has been accumulated for several years and is steadily increasing. One of the possibilities to change this trend can be development of fast-growing trees plantations. The main aim of this study was to determine the potential of land in Poland, which could be used for the cultivation of fast-growing trees plantations. The analyses took into account the area and marginal agricultural land. The potential plantation land areas were determined for poplar cultivar "Hybrid 275" and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.). The results show a possibility to generate a considerable area that can be developed into plantations of fast-growing trees in Poland. According to the analyses carried out for the purpose of this study, with only 5% use of the sown area and 5% use of forest lands, as well as the boscage (wooded land and bushy land), it is possible to obtain approximately 0.6 MM ha of land for fast-growing tree plantations. In the case of planting 50% of these lands with larch and 50% with poplar, and if a 50% capacity of the plantation is assumed, it will be possible to obtain nearly 6 MM m3 of wood per year.


Abstract Three closely related issues that affect drought estimation in regions with limited precipitation data are addressed by investigating methods for filling missing daily precipitation data, handling short-term records, and deriving drought information for unsampled locations. The analysis yields three general conclusions: 1) it is better to conduct spatial interpolation prior to calculating drought index values, 2) using weather stations with moderate lengths of records (usually at least 10 years) improves the spatial–temporal characterization of drought, and 3) alternative precipitation sources of the National Weather Service multisensor precipitation rainfall estimates and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite monthly rainfall product (3B43) do not outperform spatially interpolated daily precipitation data in most regions, except in the western United States where the TRMM-based precipitation data work better than the spatially interpolated values for drought monitoring.


We study the design of split keyboards for fast text entry with two thumbs on mobile touchscreen devices. The layout of KALQ was determined through first studying how users should grip a device with two hands. We then assigned letters to keys computationally, using a model of two-thumb tapping. KALQ minimizes thumb travel distance and maximizes alternation between thumbs. An error correction algorithm was added to help address linguistic and motor errors. Users reached a rate of 37 words per minute (with a 5% error rate) after a training program.


Objective: To evaluate the clinical application of cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) in diagnosing the crown-root angulation of impacted maxillary tooth.Methods: Thirteen patients with maxillary impacted tooth,whose crown-root angle could not be judged by panoramic radiographs and occlusal films,were scanned by CBCT and then the images were taken three-dimensional reconstruction to locate the impacted tooth,detect the presence of crown-root angulation,measure the crown-root angle and ratio.Then the results of measurement were analyzed and discussed.Results: Among the 13 maxillary impacted tooth cases,10 were diagnosed as crown-root angulation,of whom the angles of 6 cases were between 120°~150°,those in 4 cases were between 150°~180°,90°~120°,60°~90° respectively;besides,the crown-root ratio was between 1∶1.5~1∶1 in 7 cases,1∶1~1∶0.5 in 5 cases and 1∶2~1∶1.5 in 1 case.Conclusion: CBCT can definitely diagnose the crown-root angle of impacted maxillary tooth,which provides important clinical significance for making treatment plans.


Summary. The effects of various organic amendments, fertilisers and fenamiphos on the growth of tomatoes were compared in pots containing soil naturally infested with the plant parasitic nematodes Meloidogyne javanica, Paratrichodorus sp. and Criconemella xenoplax and free living nematodes. Organic amendments (at 3.2-14 t Dry Matter/ha, or 10,270 l molasses/ha) were added to the soil six weeks before transplanting tomato cv. Grosse Lisse. Soils amended with grassy weed residues, barley residues, lucerne pellets, molasses, two commercial organic fertilisers, or with complete fertiliser stimulated stem growth of tomato plants. Root growth was stimulated in plants grown in soil amended with molasses; this was correlated with an increased root gall index, but M. javanica densities in soil and roots were not elevated. Root gall index was also increased in plants grown with complete fertiliser. Fruit yield was stimulated in plants grown in soil amended or treated with grassy weed residues, lucerne pellets, complete fertiliser or fenamiphos; yields were 740% higher in plants grown in soil amended with grassy weed residues than in plants grown in unamended soil with an equivalent rate of urea. Shredded paper and potato peel caused N deficiency and poor growth, and sudden collapse was observed in plants growing in soil amended with potato peel, due to infection of stem bases by Pythium sp. Pea straw was resistant to breakdown, and inhibited plant growth. Lucerne pellets, a pig manure-based organic fertiliser, and fenamiphos reduced densities of M. javanica in soil; lucerne pellets, composted green waste and fenamiphos reduced densities of M. javanica on tomato roots. Densities of Paratrichodorus sp. were reduced in soil amended with all solid organic materials, or with molasses. Criconemella xenoplax densities remained low in all treatments. Of soil amendments and treatments that did not inhibit plant growth, only grassy weed residues, lucerne pellets and poultry manure maintained elevated densities of freeliving nematodes in soil up to harvest. Grassy weed residues and lucerne pellets have potential for stimulating tomato growth, and/or reducing M. javanica densities, while increasing densities of free-living nematodes.


Author(s): McKuin, Brandi L | Advisor(s): Campbell, J. Elliott | Abstract: Consumer demand for sustainably sourced seafood has given rise to eco-label initiatives such as the Marine Stewardship Council and consumer advocacy groups such as Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. The sustainability metrics of these groups include bycatch avoidance (with a particular emphasis on protected species) and stock abundance but have yet to include the climate impact of seafood production activities. The literature related to the sustainability of seafood generally reflects the emphasis of these eco-label initiatives with an abundance of studies related to stock assessment and eco-system effects of bycatch but comparatively few studies dedicated to the life-cycle assessment of seafood production activities. The dearth of seafood life-cycle assessments that have been conducted are narrowly focused on greenhouse gas emissions during fishing activities. Although greenhouse gas emissions of fishing activities is important, these studies have overlooked the climate implications of several policies (current and proposed) that may influence the sustainability of seafood. First, policy aimed at improving air quality by reducing the sulfur levels in marine fuels may impact the sustainability of seafood because fishing vessels are heavily reliant on diesel fuel and are known to be high emitters of short-lived climate forcing pollutants (including black carbon, sulfur oxides, and organic carbon). Furthermore, as seafood is a globally traded commodity that is typically shipped as freight on large container vessels, the importance of fuel quality in seafood life-cycle assessments may not be limited to the fishing phase of the seafood supply chain. Second, the consumer-driven policy of major retailers to only source seafood caught with highly selective fishing gears—in order to avoid the collateral damage of bycatch—may influence the sustainability of seafood because these gear types may require more fuel per fish caught compared with less selective gear types. Third, it has been argued that a proposed policy to ban fishing the high seas would allow the high seas to serve as an ecological bank. However, this proposal could impact the sustainability of seafood because fishermen may use less fuel by fishing in coastal areas. Furthermore, restricting fishing activities to coastal areas would mean that fishermen would be subject to more stringent fuel sulfur laws in regions where emission control laws have been enacted. Despite the potential benefits of these policies—improved air quality, reduced bycatch, and improved stock abundance—the climate impact of these sustainable fishing practices is largely unknown. This dissertation seeks to study the climate impact of these practices so as to broaden the discourse surrounding sustainable fishing practices.This work is divided in three research efforts. First, this research investigates the role of fishing vessels in the context of global shipping inventories. It develops a global inventory of fuel consumption and emissions of short-lived climate forcing pollutants of fishing vessels. A first-order global and Arctic estimate for the emissions and climate forcing of combined long-lived climate forcing (i.e. well mixed-greenhouse gases) and short-lived climate forcing emissions from fisheries using recently published plume-sampling data from an ensemble of ships is developed. Second, this research evaluates the climate impact of current and proposed policies (fuel quality policy to improve air quality, consumer-driven retailer policy to source seafood from highly selective fishing gears, and the proposed ban of fishing the high seas) in the context of U.S. tuna fisheries. A first-order climate forcing assessment of fishing activities of selected U.S. tuna fleets was conducted and the results were compared to land-based protein sources. Third, this research investigates the role of short-lived climate forcing pollutants upstream of the fishing phase of the seafood supply chain. A life-cycle assessment model was developed that includes fishing, processing, and the transport of two Alaskan pollock seafood products. Short-lived climate forcing pollutants were added to an existing model of battered-and-breaded white-fish fillets. Furthermore, a first-order assessment of a pollock surimi product, crab-flavored sticks (i.e. imitation crab), was compared to climate forcing associated with battered-and-breaded pollock fillets.


The Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) was developed in English-speaking cultures with the aim of measuring attitudes towards death. This measure consists of 32 items, grouped into five factors (Fear of Death, Avoidance of Death, Neutral Acceptance, Approach Acceptance, and Escape Acceptance). The DAP-R was translated and adapted to Spanish (DAP-RSp), and the psychometric properties were analyzed accross a general sample. The face validity was evaluated by 20 experts in palliative care. N = 417 (X = 39.06 years) took part in the validation. DAP-RSp showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.67 for Neutral Acceptance to 0.95 for Escape a Acceptance, and 0.88 for the total), a multitrait scaling analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis reproduced the five dimensions of the original scale. The Spanish version of the DAP-R can be used as a valid scale to assess attitudes towards death in Spanish speaking population.


To compress, access, visualize and analyze large 3D point clouds, they are often converted to Digital Surface Models, either as raster grids or Triangulated Irregular Networks. This paper proposes an approach, which works directly on the points as they were recorded during data capture. There is usually a strong correlation between successively recorded points. This correlation is used to compress the point clouds using wavelet transforms. The characteristics of wavelet coefficients are used to access areas of progressively higher resolution and quality. The detail coefficients can also be used for 3D analysis and reconstruction.


The structural proteins of mature LPP-1 particles and the patterns of protein synthesis after LPP-1 infection have been examined by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. Structural proteins account for 35% of the LPP-1 genome, and proteins that would require about 65% of the total coding capacity have been detected after infection. The major head proteins have molecular weights of 39,000 and 13,000, whereas the major tail protein is an 80,000-molecular-weight species. Host protein synthesis is depressed soon after infection and appears to be entirely shut off by 5 hr. Three classes of viral proteins are distinguished in infected cells, based on their time course of synthesis and their presence in mature virions.


Quantum instanton (QI) approximation is recently proposed for the evaluations of the chemical reaction rate constants with use of full dimensional potential energy surfaces. Its strategy is to use the instanton mechanism and to approximate time-dependent quantum dynamics to the imaginary time propagation of the quantities of partition function. It thus incorporates the properties of the instanton idea and the quantum effect of partition function and can be applied to chemical reactions of complex systems. In this paper, we present the QI approach and its applications to several complex systems mainly done by us. The concrete systems include, (1) the reaction of , (2) the reaction of , (3) H diffusion on Ni(100) surface; and (4) surface-subsurface transport and interior migration for H/Ni. Available experimental and other theoretical data are also presented for the purpose of comparison.


In 2014 the number of contractors in Indonesia reached about 142,000 companies with total
employment of about 7.28 million people and the value of the construction sector reached Rp
826.62 trillion. The number of small and medium qualified contractors are more than 99% with
total employment of about 92.35 %. However, the market share of small and medium qualified
contractors only reach about 15% of the market share of national construction. So it is not
balanced when compared with the big number of qualified contractors only about 1% of
companies and 7.65 % of employments, but its market share will reach 85 % of the market
share of national construction. Therefore it needs attention and improvement efforts by all of
stakeholders. This research aims to analyze the relationship parameters of project management
competencies, resources and capabilities, strategic decisions, performance and sustainability of
the company to increase the competitiveness of small and medium qualified contractors in
Indonesia. The data collected through questionnaires Likert scale (1-5) to 134 respondents at
13 provinces in Indonesia by the methods of stratified sampling, purposive sampling and
proportional sampling. The data, further, are analyzed using SPSS and SEM-Smart PLS
software. The analyzing data research are validated using direct observation to some small and
medium qualified constructors in Surabaya. The result from this research sums up that the
parameter analyzed parallel in gives positive and significant influence to the improvement of
competitiveness of small and medium qualified contractor in Indonesia, those are in 1) project
management competency influences the resources and capabilities, and influences the strategic
decision making, 2) the resources and capabilities and strategic decision making influence the
performance, 3) the performance directly influences the sustainability and indirectly influences
but not significant on the competitiveness 4) the sustainability influences the competitiveness
Keywords : resources, performance, strategy, sustainability, competitiveness, small-medium
contractors.


Introduction Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition, which constitutes up to 50% of Gastroenterology outpatient referrals. Many pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available with variable results. Hypnotherapy is generally reserved for refractory IBS patients. Although there is ample evidence to show the effectiveness of Gut-directed Hypnotherapy (GDH), there are only few studies to support other forms of hypnotherapy especially general hypnotherapy. Aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of different types of hypnotherapy on refractory IBS patients treated in our institution, a tertiary referral centre. Methods In our institution, an experienced hypnotherapist assesses refractory IBS patients. Based on their symptoms, patients receive either general hypnotherapy (GH), GDH or both. All patients score their IBS symptoms on IBS Symptom Score sheet [0–10 Likert scale, minimum score 0, maximum 60] first at the baseline (Pre-hypnotherapy score) and then at the end of the hypnotherapy (Immediate Post-hypnotherapy score). Patients also complete Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) score sheet before and after hypnotherapy. We analysed the data of all patients treated with hypnotherapy between February 2009 and December 2011. Follow-up questionnaires were sent to all patients in the post at variable periods after the completion of hypnotherapy to score their current symptoms (Long-term Post-hypnotherapy score). Parametric methods were used for statistical analysis. Results During the study period, 34 patients (n=34, females 29, mean age 41.5) received hypnotherapy (GH=15, GDH=8, both =11). Average number of hypnotherapy sessions was 4.7 (range 3–6, 1 h/week). Seventeen (50%) patients returned their follow-up questionnaires. Mean duration between the last session of hypnotherapy and completion of the follow-up questionnaire was 16 months (range 5–32). Abstract PWE-063 table 1 shows the main results.Abstract PWE-063 Table 1 Changes in HAD scores & IBS Symptom Scores [mean±SD] before and after hypnotherapy Pre-hypnotherapy score Immediate post-hypnotherapy score p Value* Long-term post-hypnotherapy score p Value* All patients (n=34) 32.14±11.72 14.97±10.95 p 19.7±12.25 (n=17) p=0.0009 HAD score (n=22) 23.27±9.39 16.42±10.15 p=0.025 – – General hypnotherapy (GH) (n=15) 26.13±18.37 11±9.28 p 17.37±8.37 (n=8) p=0.026 Gut- directed (GDH) ± GH (n=19) 36.89±11.98 18.1±11.37 p 21.77±15.13 (n=9) p=0.0081 Conclusion Our study suggests that treatment of refractory IBS patients with general hypnotherapy, either alone or in combination with gut-directed hypnotherapy is effective both in short and long term. These results need to be confirmed in prospective randomised controlled studies directly comparing general hypnotherapy against gut-directed hypnotherapy. Competing interests None declared.


Symptoms of pollen allergy in springtime in Middle and Northern Europe are mainly caused by pollen grains of birch, hazel and alder. The aim of the present study was the pollen fall comparison of the mentioned taxa in Lublin (Poland) and Skien (Norway). These sites are located approximately 1,200 km away apart by air. The pollen monitoring was carried out by gravimetric method in 1999-2000. The start and end of pollen seasons were defined by the 90% method. The beginning of pollen seasons for Corylus and Betula were observed 1-3 weeks earlier in Lublin than in Skien, but pollen grains of Alnus appeared simultaneously in both towns. In 1999, annual totals of Alnus, Corylus and Betula pollen grains were considerably less numerous in Skien than in Lublin. No important differences were observed among the pollen fall amounts of the mentioned taxa in 2000. The maximum values of pollen grains were defined in different terms. The results of investigations differed as regards the years compared as well as the sites.


Mucormycosis is an infection caused by one of several types of mold. Invasive mucormycosis is the most aggressive, rapidly progressive fungal infection. The disease is characterized by high attributable mortality. The early and accurate diagnosis of invasive mucormycosis determines the choice of an adequate therapeutic policy, by improving the prognosis of the disease. The method of choice for diagnosing pulmonary mucormycosis is computed tomography that allows accurate determination of the location and extent of the lesion, the state of the lung parenchyma, and the presence of concomitant complications. The paper describes a clinical case of damage to the lung and skin in invasive mucormycosis in a 28-year-old woman with aplastic anemia. The case is of interest due to a larger number of immunocompromised patients, especially those susceptible to the disease.


PURPOSE
This study was designed to determine if hepatic arterial therapy with floxuridine (F), mitomycin, and carmustine (BCNU) (FMB) is superior to hepatic arterial therapy with F alone in previously treated patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Ninety-five patients were randomized to intrahepatic FMB versus intrahepatic F. All patients had tumor progression after systemic chemotherapy (either therapeutic or adjuvant).

RESULTS
There was no significant difference in response rate (47% FMB v 33% F; P = .17). Median survival was similar in the two groups, 19.1 months for the FMB group compared with 14.0 months for the F group (P = .23). The overall median survival was 16.8 months. In patients who received prior adjuvant therapy, there was no difference between the two groups, but response rate was high in both (50% FMB v 62% F). The response rate for all patients who had received only prior adjuvant therapy versus all those who had received prior therapy for metastatic disease was 57% and 35%, respectively (P = .066). In the subset of patients whose disease had progressed with prior systemic chemotherapy, the response rate to FMB was greater than that to F (47% v 23%; P = .035).

CONCLUSION
The overall partial response rate of 39% and the overall survival of 16.8 months from initiation of intrahepatitis therapy show that hepatic arterial therapy is a reasonable treatment option for patients whose tumor does not respond to systemic therapy or whose disease progresses after adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer.


A new algorithm for determining the switching time and final time for the minimum-time control of a second-order system is described. We show that if there is only one switch in the bang-bang control, then the switching time and final time are related through an affine mapping. This mapping is determined by the system dynamics, the initial and target states, and the control bounds on the control input. The resulting time-optimal controller is easy to design and implement, making it suitable for online implementation. Since the algorithm also produces the final time, it becomes feasible to optimize the switching sequence over a collection of states to be visited so as to minimize the total visiting time.


Television audience-participation programs are systems of social interaction involving both audiences and performers. Three modes of interaction-personal, parasocial, and vicarious-are found in these systems, and the action can be analyzed in terms of the attribution, assignment, or forcing of status by the participants. It then becomes apparent that both audience and performers exert control over one another's responses, a process which conventional methods of content analysis fail to take into account.


People with motion-impairments can often have difficulty with accurate control of standard pointing devices for computer input. The nature of the difficulties may vary, so to be most effective, methods of assisting cursor control must be suited to each user's needs. The work presented here involves a study of cursor trajectories as a means of assessing the requirements of motion-impaired computer users. A new cursor characteristic is proposed that attempts to capture difficulties with moving the cursor in a smooth trajectory. A study was conducted to see if haptic tunnels could improve performance in "point and click" tasks. Results indicate that the tunnels reduced times to target for those users identified by the new characteristic as having the most difficulty moving in a smooth trajectory. This suggests that cursor characteristics have potential applications in performing assessments of a user's cursor control capabilities which can then be used to determine appropriate methods of assistance.


Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have exciting medical potential, especially those that are genetically modified. Non-viral methods for genetic modification present several advantages over viral methods, and hence, such methods have been optimized for MSCs from a variety of species. Although equine MSCs have great importance, prior to this study, effective non-viral transfection parameters for these cells had not been determined. Here both chemical and physical transfection methods were optimized for equine MSCs, using red fluorescent protein as a reporter gene. Chemical reagents were optimized for reagent-to-DNA ratio, transfection solution plating volume, and cell density. Additionally, ideal voltage, cell concentration, DNA concentration, buffer, and pulse number settings were discovered for electroporation. The method resulting in highest gene expression was electroporation with one 30-msec pulse at 170 volts in Opti-Mem buffer. This technique resulted in transfection of 54% of the cell population, a percentage that is on the higher end of nonviral MSC transfection efficiencies. The transfection parameters determined in this study will undoubtedly be useful to all researchers who wish to genetically modify equine MSCs.