A number of age-related anatomical and physiological factors place the respiratory system of the neonate and young infant in a potentially vulnerable position during disease states. Maintenance of a lung volume necessary for effective gas exchange is compromised by the floppy chest wall, the relatively stiff lungs and the horizontal position of the body. Respiratory muscles are prone to fatigue in case of increased respiratory loads and fail to move the rib cage efficiently. Many signs of lower airway disease, observed during the physical examination of the young infant, can be related to these factors. Awareness of them helps in the interpretation of these symptoms in order to make the correct diagnosis and to initiate treatment.


Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is a myometrial stimulant, both PGF2α and its receptor are reported to increase towards parturition. With high PGF2α levels correlating with pre-term birth, especially those caused by infection. The mechanism by which PGF2α exerts its affects on uterine excitation-contraction coupling is unknown. The aim of this work was to describe the relationship between force and [Ca2+]i in pregnant rat myometrium and the effects of PGF2α on this relationship. The mechanism by which PGF2α exerts its affects was also investigated, focused on the role of Ca2+ entry mechanisms. PGF2α was examined on both longitudinal strips and isolated myocytes from pregnant Wistar rats. Strips were loaded with the Ca2+ sensitive indicator Indo-1AM and simultaneous recording of [Ca2+]i and force were made using a photometric system combined with force measurements, at a sampling rate of 1KHz to get good temporal resolution. Cells were isolated using Liberase Blendzyme 3, loaded with Fluo-4AM, and [Ca2+]i recorded using a Nipkow Disk based confocal imaging system. Pregnant myometrial tissue gave three contractility patterns in control conditions; two spontaneously active, giving either irregular contractions, or smooth phasic contractions, while the third was not spontaneously active but responsive to high-K+ stimulation. All contractions were preceded by a rise in [Ca2+]i which was dependent upon Ca2+ entry through VOCC, while synchronisation was dependent upon gap junctions. PGF2α increased myometrial contractility. In spontaneous tissue there were two responses; firstly an increase in amplitude, duration and frequency of phasic contraction while the second resulted in a tonic-like contraction which lasted for the duration of agonist application. On quiescent tissue, PGF2α resulted in the imitation of spontaneous activity, which ceased upon removal of the agonist. [Ca2+]i mirrored force in respect to frequency and duration, but PGF2α did not increase the amplitude of Ca2+ transient above that seen under normal spontaneous activity. The increase in amplitude of force induced by PGF2α is caused by an increase in the frequency of Ca2+ spikes within the Ca2+ spike burst. PGF2α resulted in the oscillatory release of Ca2+ from the SR in the form of propagating Ca2+ waves, initiated at one end of the cell. Re-admission of external Ca2+ resulted in activation of a nifedipine-resistance Ca2+ influx sensitive to La3+, which suggests that the stimulant action of PGF2α is associated with activation of a Ca2+-release Ca2+-entry coupling mechanism leading to opening of a SOCE pathway. In addition to this PGF2α increase both force and [Ca2+]i when applied in the presence of CPA and nifedipine, suggesting that PGF2α also works in part through a receptor operated and / or non-selective cation channels.


— Numerous underwater image enhancement schemes are being used for improving an image, which includes gray scale manipulation, filtering and Histogram Equalisation. Histogram Equalisation has become a popular technique because this method is simple and effective. Another significant technique in underwater image enhancement is Discrete cosine transform. Discrete cosine transform is a fast transform that has excellent compaction for highly correlated data. DCT gives good compromise between information package ability and computational complexity. In this paper underwater image enhancement is proposed based on discrete cosine transform and Unsharp Mask Filtering, which gives the significant results as compared to previous techniques.


The performance of two whole-body monitors in estimating the absorption of an oral dose of cyanocobalamin labelled with 57Co and 58Co was compared directly. Measurements were made on the same subjects using both monitors: (a) on the day of administration, when the variation in the counting rate was similar for the monitors; and (b) seven days later when the percentage absorption was estimated. Good agreement was obtained. Factors influencing the accuracy of the measurements are compared and discussed.


Most of the anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO2 + NO) are linked to burning of fossil fuels for energy production, transportation or industrial processes. However, biomass burning and in particular large wild fires in tropical and sub-tropical regions can also be important sources of nitrogen oxides, at least locally. Depending on the size of the fires, particles and gases are lifted into the free troposphere and even higher, increasing the atmospheric lifetime of NOx in these plumes and enabling long range transport.

The TROPOMI instrument on board of Sentinel 5 precursor (S5p) is a nadir viewing UV/vis imaging spectrometer launched in October 2017 and operationally providing data since July 2018. One of the main products that can be retrieved from TROPOMI spectra is tropospheric and total column NO2. Compared to previous UV/vis satellite instruments such as GOME, SCIAMACHY, GOME2 and OMI, TROPOMI has a higher spatial resolution of 3.5 x 5.5 km2. This reduced foot print size enables detection and evaluation of more localised sources such as individual fires and their plumes, and better separation of different contributions to the overall NO2 loading.

In this presentation, IUP-Bremen TROPOMI NO2 retrievals are evaluated for biomass burning signatures during 2018 and 2019, two years with very different burning seasons. The amounts and spatial distributions of NO2 from fires are compared between the two years and between different fire regions, and their impact on regions downwind of the sources is investigated.


A useful synthetic methodology was developed to synthesize and radiolabel a series of (E)-5-(2-[125I]iodovinyl)uracil nucleoside substrates for herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase (HSV-1 TK). (E)-5-(2-[125I]Iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine ([125I]IVDU, 10), (E)-5-(2-[125I]iodovinyl)-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine ([125I]IVFRU, 11), (E)-5-(2-[125I]iodovinyl)-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyarabinouridine ([125I]IVFAU, 12), and (E)-5-(2-[125I]iodovinyl)arabinouridine ([125I]IVAU, 13) were synthesized in 63-83% radiochemical yield by reaction of the unprotected (E)-5-(2-(trimethylsilyl)vinyl) precursors (6-9) with [125I]ICl. Cellular uptake of these labeled compounds (10-13) was evaluated in vitro. All compounds showed minimal uptake in the KBALB cell line. However, increased uptake was observed for all compounds in KBALB-STK cells which are transduced with a replication incompetent Moloney murine leukemia virus vector encoding the HSV-1 TK gene. The results indicate that uptake of these compounds in KBALB-STK cells is variable and highly dependent on the nature of the sugar 2'-substituent. When a fluoro (12) or a hydroxy (13) substituent is present in the arabinofuranosyl (up) configuration at the 2'-position, there is diminished cellular uptake in KBALB-STK cells relative to hydrogen (10) or fluorine (11) in the ribofuranosyl (down) configuration at the 2'-position. Our results indicate that radiolabeled IVFRU (11) is most promising for further in vivo studies.


The currently accepted first line treatment for epidermoid anal cancer is chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Tumour size and adjacent organ involvement are the key in the pretreatment assessment for T1–T4 tumours respectively. Residual or recurrent disease following initial CRT, is best treated by salvage anorectal excision. Pathological staging systems of resections were historically validated when surgery was the primary treatment and are therefore in need of revision. We propose a new pathological staging system for salvage anorectal excision specimens to allow improved prognostic guidelines postoperatively.


The wall-voltage loss in PDPs with four different types of protective layers, i.e., undoped MgO, Si-doped MgO, Sc-doped MgO, and MgCaO (15%) plasma, are compared. Using a two-electrode opposed-discharge-type PDP, the change in external panel voltage needed to get a new discharge is measured as a function of the waiting time from 5 μs to 50 ms, the number of sustain cycles (1-1024), and the sustain frequency. The results shows that the wall-voltage loss cannot only be caused by amplified exoemission but that dielectric relaxation effects might also play an important role.


Smart Card has complications with validation and transmission process. Therefore, by using peeping attack, the secret code was stolen and secret filming while entering Personal Identification Number at the ATM machine. We intend to develop an authentication system to banks that protects the asset of user's. The data of a user is to be ensured that secure and isolated from the data leakage and other attacks Therefore, we propose a system, where ATM machine will have a QR code in which the information's are encrypted corresponding to the ATM machine and a mobile application in the customer's mobile which will decrypt the encoded QR information and sends the information to the server and user's details are displayed in the ATM machine and transaction can be done. Now, the user securely enters information to transfer money without risk of peeping attack in Automated Teller Machine by just scanning the QR code at the ATM by mobile application. Here, both the encryption and decryption technique are carried out by using Triple DES Algorithm (Data Encryption Standard).


The aim of this work was to present the numerical simulation results determining the distributions of flow velocity and pressure in the individual channels of a plate heat exchanger . The simulations have been conducted by means of the Finite Volume Method (FVM) of numerical computation using the ANSYS CFX software. The computational model constituted spaces between 10 flat, straight flow type plates of the heat exchanger. The obtained results of numerical simulations confirm the presence of inhomogeneous flow conditions in the neighbouring channels between the plates. The computations enabled to point out the regions on the plates, in which insufficient flow can result in problems with their cleaning. The results of this work constitute the first part of a research leading to an assessment of cleaning conditions in plate heat exchangers.


Background: Nuclei located in the neutron-deficient Pb region have a complex structure, rapidly evolving as a function of neutron and proton numbers. The most famous example is 186Pb where the three lowest levels are 0 + states, the two excited 0+ states being located at low excitation energy around 600 keV. Coexisting structures with different properties are found in the neighboring nuclei. Many experiments have been performed over the last few years in which in-band and out-of-band γ-ray transition probabilities have been measured. Purpose: A detailed interpretation of experimental data requires the use of a method going beyond a mean-field approach that permits to determine spectra and transition probabilities. Such methods have already been applied to selected isotopes in this mass region. Our aim is to provide a systematic investigation of this mass region in order to determine how well experimental data can be understood using a state-of-the-art method for nuclear structure. Method: The starting point of our method is a set of mean-field wave functions generated with a constraint on the axial quadrupole moment and using a Skyrme energy density functional. Correlations beyond the mean field are introduced by projecting mean-field wave functions on angular-momentum and particle number and by mixing the symmetry-restored wave functions as a function of the axial quadrupole moment. Results: A detailed comparison with the available data is performed for energies, charge radii, spectroscopic quadrupole moments, and E0 and E2 transition probabilities for the isotopic chains of neutron deficient Hg, Pb, Po, and Rn. The connection between our results and the underlying mean field is also analyzed. Conclusions: Qualitative agreement with the data is obtained although our results indicate that the actual energy density functionals have to be improved further to achieve a quantitative agreement. © 2013 American Physical Society.


The present study investigates the effect of a cognitive-behaviollral treatment adherence intervention in the course of a criticism skills group training program. Self-monitoring, goal setting, corrective feedback, behavioural contract, procedures to enhance commitment and reinforcement were the techniques used in this intervention. Eighty-six 23-year-Dld volunteer university participants, 62.2% females who reported they had difficulty giving/receiving criticism, and who had a high fear of negative evaluation, were randomly assigned to the treatment condition with or without the adherence intervention or to a waiting list control condition. We found treatment program attendance increased and percentage dropouts reduced by a factor of approximately one half. People who worked on treatment adherence reported differentially improved cognitive antecedents (reduced criticism concerns) and consequences (higher selfesteem/ self-efficacy) and demonstrated better skills (videotape ratings of trained judges) in giving criticism to others. On the other hand, people in the adherence condition reported no differentially improved affective antecedents (fear of negative evaluation) nor cognitive/ affective consequences (self-esteem/self-efficacy) nor did any demonstrate differentially better skills in the way they received criticism. Our results were interpreted in terms of an optimal arousal/avoidance learning paradigm whereupon people's adherence activities facilitated arousal optimal to greater program attendance and outcome gains in the proactive task of giving but not the more reactive task of receiving criticism.


A flexible tubular thermosyphon was developed for the purpose of cooling a concentrated heat source. Designed to fold 180{degrees} for storage and unfold for operation, the thermosyphon is made of copper and uses water as the working fluid. Its integral flex-joint has several advantages over conventional flexible joints. A unique boiling enhancement improved the liquid-to-vapor phase change while minimizing the conduction-temperature drop from the tube wall to the fluid, and was found to perform better than a screen wick in the evaporator. A study of the power limits and of other working fluids was conducted with the HTPIPE computer code (Los Alamos). Power limits were calculated to be far in excess of what was needed, but experiments revealed that the limits were significantly lower. Water was predicted to be the best working fluid at the operational temperature range but this was not experimentally verified.


MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are postulated to play important roles in oncogenesis. Recently, extracellular miRNAs were detected in plasma or serum of diseased subjects. However, the role of circulating miRNAs in plasma/serum remains to be elucidated. In this study, the relative expressions of miR-155, miR-183, and miR-20a in esophageal tissue were found to be significantly associated with increased risk for esophageal cancer. The relative expressions of circulating miR-155 and miR-183 were significantly reduced in cancer patients. Circulating miR-155 showed significantly higher risk for esophageal cancer when adjusted by smoking status and alcohol use. Circulating miR-155 was found to have significant diagnostic value for esophageal cancer as evidenced by a receiver operating characteristic curve area of 66%. However, Pearson analysis showed no statistical correlation in the relative miRNAs expression between plasma and esophageal tissues, which suggested different origins of circulating miRNAs distinct from tumor cell miRNAs. In conclusion, results suggest that circulating miR-155 in plasma may serve as a reliable, novel, noninvasive biomarker for early diagnosis and detection of esophageal cancer.


AIM To assess delay in confirming hearing impairment in infants identified by universal neonatal screening and to investigate the causes. PATIENTS Infants identified from 25 199 babies screened from January 1992 to December 1997. METHODS A two stage transient evoked oto-acoustic emission test (TEOAE), with a threshold auditory brainstem response (ABR) recording undertaken on those who failed. The screen identified infants with a permanent congenital hearing impairment (PCHI) averaging 40 dBnHL or worse in the best ear. Those with less impairment were also ascertained. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the ABR test and measures of delay between identification and eventual diagnosis were analysed. RESULTS A targeted PCHI was found in 1.18/1000 neonates. The PPV of the ABR for confirming a targeted PCHI was 100% when the ABR threshold was ⩾ 80 dBnHL. Nine of 11 infants with this threshold had severe or profound permanent deafness. The delay from ABR to audiological certainty was about 1 month—diagnosis was confirmed around 3 months. There was uncertainty when the ABR was 40–80 dBnHL. The PPV was 60% and 8% when the ABR thresholds were 70 dBnHL and 50 dBnHL, respectively. 85 of 111 infants with ABR thresholds in this range had a temporary conductive impairment. Their early diagnosis depended upon the type and degree of hearing impairment and diagnosis was delayed to about 8 months in these infants. CONCLUSIONS Hearing impairments identified by universal screening are delayed in all but those with severe or profound bilateral PCHI. This delay can be reduced by applying in early infancy a battery of audiological tests and requires further exploration. Key messages Useful implementation of universal neonatal hearing screens depends on the ability to confirm both the type and degree of deafness in early infancy Screening may be relatively straightforward but audiological diagnosis at this age is not Severe or profound deafness can be identified in early infancy with minimal delay but moderate deafness is confirmed on average at 8 months Targeting moderate deafness in early infancy demands that audiological tests are developed to confirm a permanent hearing impairment in those identified by the screen


Education and enforcement have been two contrasting ways of managing clinical performance. Both are needed but recently health policy has placed greater emphasis on the latter, possibly to the detriment of the former. This paper examines the ways in which education and other formative aspects of clinical practice can be conducted. The boundary between education and enforcement involves a distinction between public and private space. Private space is the territory within which clinicians can review their performance and improve it from an educational perspective. The boundary between public and private space is fluid, particularly since the advent of systems to ensure clinicians' competence. The sensitive management of this boundary will determine whether the benefits of transparent clinical practice will be realized in terms of improved patient care.


Objectives: A selective and reproducible method has been optimised for evaluation of Apremilast in rabbit biological matrices by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Methods: The analytical technique was implemented to quantify the apremilast in rabbit plasma samples with Apremilast-D5 as deuterated internal standard. The chromatographic separation tuned with 10mM Ammonium Acetate Buffer (pH: 4.0): Methanol: Acetonitrile, (20:40:40%, v/v/v) using the CORTECS C18, 2.7 μ.m, 4.6 m.m X 150 m.m analytical column with analysis time four minutes. The flow of mobile phase through column is 0.5 m.L/min. The mass spectrometric ions of Apremilast and Apremilast-D5 obtained were m/z 461.5→257.1 and 466.5→257.1. Results: The curve indicates correlation coefficient (r2) was superior than 0.998 with linear range of 0.03-48.0 n.g/m.L. The developed method was tuned to apply efficaciously for analyzing the pharmacokinetic parameters of Apremilast in rabbit plasma samples. Conclusion: An accurate and reproducible novel method was fabricated for estimation of Apremilast in rabbit biological matrices by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS will be used for regular analysis and appropriate for therapeutic drug monitoring.


Objective The aim of the study was to identify additional factors that contributed to coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods We conducted integrative analysis on publicly available data from genome-wide association studies and quantitative trait locus studies by employing Mendelian randomization methods to examine the associations of gene expression in liver cells and circulating protein levels with LDL-C and CAD. Results We found that the mRNA expression levels of CELSR2, PSRC1, SORT1, SYPL2, RHD, RHCE, ANGPTL3, ATXN7L2, DNAH11, FADS3, ST3GAL4, NYNRIN, CETP, EFCAB13, and SPTLC3 were significantly associated with LDL-C. The expression levels of SORT1, PSRC1, and CELSR2 in liver cells were significantly associated with CAD. Higher expression levels of SORT1, PSRC1, and CELSR2 in the liver were significantly associated with lower circulating LDL-C levels and CAD risk. PSRC1 variants were strongly associated with SORT1, PSRC1, and CELSR2 gene expression in liver cells. Higher circulating granulin and apolipoprotein B levels, which were strongly affected by PSRC1 variants, were significantly associated with higher LDL-C levels and CAD risk, with odds ratios of 1.15 (1.10–1.19) and 1.45 (1.21–1.74), respectively. Conclusion This study showed that regulatory SNPs in PSRC1 may affect CAD risk by altering CELSR2, PSRC1, and SORT1 gene expression in liver cells and circulating granulins and apolipoprotein B proteins.


Background and aims: Current modern Medicine has below characters. –  Life medicalization – Over life medicalization and consequently over-diagnosis, over-testing, over-treatment –  Market Based Medicine –  Disease Mongering –  Wishful filling Medicine Due to above characters some of famous scientists, researchers and clinicians have been postulated remarkable deviance about validity of current research in life sciences and medical sciences. These famous scientists and researchers have emphasis about research wastes under shadow of medical Empire; Market based Medicine, Diseases Mongering. Methods: According the idea and of course evidences of this group of scientists and researchers, drug and Medical devices companies activities for has been leads to wishful filling Medicine. Results: Based on mentioned frame and structure for current modern Medicine, all and whole aspects of medicine, compulsory, obligatory and automatically are under obey of medical Empire including drug and medical devices company, private hospitals, medical insurances, physician benefits and so on. Consequently the nature of global health system and Medicine and albeit evidences about these health system and Medicine is not in the frame of patient benefits and values. Conclusion: Patients and societies in this frame of Medicine, has not human dignity because they are not patient. They are customers, and their trafficking and money for health system is more important than their health and values.


This experiment was carried out duringthe two successive seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 aiming to study the effect of natural fertilizers namely mixed minerals ores; control, 200, 400 and 600 Kg/fed. (fed. = feddan =  0.420 hectares = 1.037 acres) and half recommended dose of NPK fertilizers and  the inoculation of mixed of bacteria namely (Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megatherium var Phosphaticum and Bacillus circulans) alone or with seaweed liquid extract , as well as, their interactions  on vegetative growth, yield, fixed oil (percentage & yield) and fixed oil components of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) plants. The highest values of all parameters were observed when the plants received the high rate of mixed minerals ores (600 kg /fed.). In regard to the inoculation  with bacteria alone or with seaweed liquid extract, it was noticed that all treatments led to a significant increase in plant height, branch number, shoot dry weight, capsules number, seed yield , fixed oil (percentage & yield). The highest values of these previous characters were obtained when the inoculation with bacteria plus seaweed liquid extract. Generally, the combined effect among mixed minerals ores, the inoculation with bacteria and seaweed liquid extract treatments on Nigella sativa L., plants parameters was statistically significant. In most cases, the addition of the high rate of mixed minerals ores (600 kg /fed.) plus the inoculation with bacteria plus seaweed liquid extract was the most effective treatment in increasing these parameters. Results of GC-MS analysis of fixed oil revealed that the main fatty acids offered were myristic acid, palmatic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and arachidic acid. The elevated percentages between the previous components were oleic acid followed by Stearic acid and arachidic acid. The treatments of mixed mineral ores and the inoculation with bacteria with seaweed liquid extract increased the former fatty acids in the fixed oil paralleled to untreated control.


Research on Cofiring of the Existing Coal Fired Power Plant with biomass in the form of sawdust with a mixture percentage of 5% was carried out with the main objective of pursuing the acceleration of the renewable energy mix target of 23% (Green Booster) by 2025, with minimal CAPEX costs if compared to building new hydro or solar PV plants. At the initial stage of the activity, testing and analysis of the effect of cofiring will be carried out on several main parameters of the Existing PLTU's performance, as well as its reliability. In addition, it is also at the same time to get an overview and evaluate if the cofiring plan will be implemented through technical operational evaluations, the cost of production from the aspect of fuel costs (component C) and exhaust emissions to the environment. From the results of monitoring the operating load at around 635 MW (gross) using 5% cofiring, it can be seen that critical points such as main steam temperature, main steam pressure, gas economizer outlet temperature, mill outlet temperature do not show a significant increase, meaning they are still within the operating limits, reasonable and safe. From the calculation of the cost of fuel, the coal price is IDR 594 per kg, and sawdust price of IDR 472 per kg (on site) using the SFC difference of 0.0077 kg/kwh, and the CF assumption of 80%, then with an average annual electricity production of 4,415,040,000 kwh/year, fuel savings of around IDR 35.32 billion per year will be obtained. Exhaust gas emissions to the environment for SO2 and NOx still meet the environmental quality standard requirements according to the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No.15 of 2019.


The prevalence of HIV in the UK has been estimated to be 1 in 1000 of the population. Surgeons are at particular risk of occupational transmission from infected blood. To determine the effect of HIV on surgical practice we sent a questionnaire to 681 general surgeons in England and Wales; 450 replied (66%). Of those who replied, 42% were aware of having operated on an HIV-infected patient at least once, and 28 had recognised self-injury in such circumstances; 79% attempted to identify HIV-infected patients preoperatively, though many depended on clinical suspicion alone, which is known to be unreliable. Of those who had operated on a seropositive patient, 90% reported taking special precautions to avoid blood contact and minimise sharps injuries for such cases. The majority wore double gloves, eye protection and fluid-resistant gowns, but only a minority reported changes in surgical technique. Half had made no changes in procedures or technique when operating on patients not identified as being at risk of HIV infection. Among a wide variety of comments made by the surgeons, the commonest was a call for facilitation of HIV testing prior to surgery. This survey indicates that surgery on HIV-infected patients is not restricted to specialist centres. We review the means of identifying HIV-infected patients, the precautions that can be taken to minimise HIV transmission during surgery, and the possible influences of HIV status on surgical decisions. We conclude that the prevalence of HIV among surgical patients is being underestimated at present, that several simple changes in surgical technique should be adopted generally, and that there is limited value in preoperative HIV testing, though this may become more useful in the foreseeable future.


Data forwarding schemes that use a single ACKbased retransmission mechanism are widely used to increase the packet delivery ratio in wireless sensor networks. However, these schemes may waste a considerable amount of energy for data transmissions, especially when the link quality is low for ACK transmissions. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-ACK-based data forwarding scheme to minimize the energy consumption for unnecessary data retransmissions. The next hop forwarder selection significantly affects the energy efficiency of communications. Hence, we also develop a new next hop forwarder selection metric, called effective energy consumption (EEC), which makes the proposed data forwarding scheme suitable for geographic routing protocols. Mathematical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that the proposed multi-ACK data forwarding scheme can save much energy and reduce the total amount of traffic load in the network. More specifically, the combination use of multi-ACK data forwarding and EEC metric increases the energy efficiency by 47.8% when node density is low, and 75.0% when node density is high, compared to the geographic forwarding protocols which use a well-known metric, PRR £ Distance.


The literature on the benefits and costs of financial globalization for developing countries has exploded in recent years, but along many disparate channels with a variety of apparently conflicting results. There is still little robust evidence of the growth benefits of broad capital account liberalization, but a number of recent papers in the finance literature report that equity market liberalizations do significantly boost growth. Similarly, evidence based on microeconomic (firm- or industry-level) data shows some benefits of financial integration and the distortionary effects of capital controls, but the macroeconomic evidence remains inconclusive. At the same time, some studies argue that financial globalization enhances macroeconomic stability in developing countries, but others argue the opposite. This paper attempts to provide a unified conceptual framework for organizing this vast and growing literature, particularly emphasizing recent approaches to measuring the catalytic and indirect benefits to financial globalization. Indeed, it argues that the indirect effects of financial globalization on financial sector development, institutions, governance, and macroeconomic stability are likely to be far more important than any direct impact via capital accumulation or portfolio diversification. This perspective explains the failure of research based on cross-country growth regressions to find the expected positive effects of financial globalization and points to newer approaches that are potentially more useful and convincing.


In the past, many papers have been presented which show that the coating of cutting tools often yields decreased wear rates and reduced coefficients of friction. Although different theories are proposed, covering areas such as hardness theory, diffusion barrier theory, thermal barrier theory, and reduced friction theory, most have not dealt with the question of how and why the coating of tool substrates with hard materials such as Titanium Nitride (TiN), Titanium Carbide (TiC) and Aluminium Oxide (Al203) transforms the performance and life of cutting tools. This project discusses the complex interrelationship that encompasses the thermal barrier function and the relatively low sliding friction coefficient of TiN on an undulating tool surface, and presents the result of an investigation into the cutting characteristics and performance of EDMed surface-modified carbide cutting tool inserts. The tool inserts were coated with TiN by the physical vapour deposition (PVD) method. PVD coating is also known as Ion-plating which is the general term of the coating method in which the film is created by attracting ionized metal vapour in this the metal was Titanium and ionized gas onto negatively biased substrate surface. Coating by PVD was chosen because it is done at a temperature of not more than 5000C whereas chemical Vapour Deposition CVD process is done at very high temperature of about 8500C and in two stages of heating up the substrates. The high temperatures involved in CVD affects the strength of the (tool) substrates. In this study, comparative cutting tests using TiN-coated control specimens with no EDM surface structures and TiN-coated EDMed tools with a crater-like surface topography were carried out on mild steel grade EN-3. Various cutting speeds were investigated, up to an increase of 40% of the tool manufacturer's recommended speed. Fifteen minutes of cutting were carried out for each insert at the speeds investigated. Conventional tool inserts normally have a tool life of approximately 15 minutes of cutting. After every five cuts (passes) microscopic pictures of the tool wear profiles were taken, in order to monitor the progressive wear on the rake face and on the flank of the insert. The power load was monitored for each cut taken using an on-board meter on the CNC machine to establish the amount of power needed for each stage of operation. The spindle drive for the machine is an 11 KW/hr motor. Results obtained confirmed the advantages of cutting at all speeds investigated using EDMed coated inserts, in terms of reduced tool wear and low power loads.

Moreover, the surface finish on the workpiece was consistently better for the EDMed inserts. The thesis discusses the relevance of the finite element method in the analysis of metal cutting processes, so that metal machinists can design, manufacture and deliver goods (tools) to the market quickly and on time without going through the hassle of trial and error approach for new products. Improvements in manufacturing technologies require better knowledge of modelling metal cutting processes. Technically the use of computational models has a great value in reducing or even eliminating the number of experiments traditionally used for tool design, process selection, machinability evaluation, and chip breakage investigations. In this work, much interest in theoretical and experimental investigations of metal machining were given special attention. Finite element analysis (FEA) was given priority in this study to predict tool wear and coating deformations during machining. Particular attention was devoted to the complicated mechanisms usually associated with metal cutting, such as interfacial friction; heat generated due to friction and severe strain in the cutting region, and high strain rates. It is therefore concluded that Roughened contact surface comprising of peaks and valleys coated with hard materials (TiN) provide wear-resisting properties as the coatings get entrapped in the valleys and help reduce friction at chip-tool interface. The contributions to knowledge:
a. Relates to a wear-resisting surface structure for application in contact surfaces and structures in metal cutting and forming tools with ability to give wear-resisting surface profile.
b. Provide technique for designing tool with roughened surface comprising of peaks and valleys covered in conformal coating with a material such as TiN, TiC etc which is wear-resisting structure with surface roughness profile compose of valleys which entrap residual coating material during wear thereby enabling the entrapped coating material to give improved wear resistance.
c. Provide knowledge for increased tool life through wear resistance, hardness and chemical stability at high temperatures because of reduced friction at the tool-chip and work-tool interfaces due to tool coating, which leads to reduced heat generation at the cutting zones.
d. Establishes that Undulating surface topographies on cutting tips tend to hold coating materials longer in the valleys, thus giving enhanced protection to the tool and the tool can cut faster by 40% and last 60% longer than conventional tools on the markets today.


The 4-strand combi caster at SMS-II of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd commissioned in 2003, was designed to produce two beam blank section sizes, two bloom sizes and four sizes of rounds. As demand increased and the product range extended, caster productivity, casting speeds and product quality did not meet the necessary standards needed. Lechler assessed the secondary cooling system and designed and installed an air-mist system to replace the existing water-only system for the beam blank sizes. Significant gains in productivity and quality have been achieved. The strands will now be converted for use with blooms and rounds.


Primordial black holes have been considered attractive dark matter candidates, whereas some of the predictions rely heavily on the near-horizon physics that remains to be tested experimentally. As a concrete alternative, thermal 2-2-holes closely resemble black holes without event horizons. Being a probable endpoint of gravitational collapse, they provide a solution to the information loss problem but also naturally result in stable remnants. Previously, we have considered primordial 2-2-hole remnants as dark matter. Owing to the strong constraints from a novel phenomenon associated with remnant mergers, only small remnants with mass approximate to the Planck mass can constitute all dark matter. In this paper, we examine the scenario in which the majority of dark matter consists of particles produced by the evaporation of primordial 2-2-holes, whereas the remnant contribution is secondary. The products with sufficiently light mass may contribute to the number of relativistic degrees of freedom in the early universe, which we also calculate. Moreover, 2-2-hole evaporation can produce particles that are responsible for the baryon asymmetry. We observe that baryogenesis through direct B-violating decays or through leptogenesis can both be realized. Overall, the viable parameter space for the Planck remnant scenario is similar to that of primordial black holes with Planck remnants. However, heavier remnants result in different predictions, and the viable parameter space remains large even when the remnant abundance is small.


A microcontroller control system of PIC18F4520 for the control of soil moisture and sunlight illumination of a vertical garden is designed and implemented in this work. The sensors of the implemented control system including the Zinc-Copper battery and the photodiode are selected from the conventional low-cost soil tester. The input resistance of the receiver circuit is designed to be as low as possible to keep the weak signals of the measured moisture and illumination from noise interference. The embedded functions of the micro-controller such as the analog-digital conversion, the low power precision timer and the sleep mode, are key factors in this application.


One can't notice that the contemporary creativity, like innovation, has become the word-key, contemporary mantra, which often referenced (misused) in public discourse, particularly strongly affects the social imagination (imaginaries) as well as reality at the beginning of the XXI century. Direct result of this unprecedented popularity is the growing interest in many scientific disciplines, each of which within its semantic field defines this concept in its own way (different context), which obviously leads to growing confusion or ambiguity (of terminology). What's more, within so called colloquial discourse we often have to deal with inaccuracy or inconsistency in building the discourse, absorbance of different meanings and ways of understanding the creativity, without taking into account the existing differences between them, which further obscures more than brightens the entire discourse and impede the agreement. Meanwhile, the meaning of the term of creativity, rarely, if ever, is subjected to broader (public) discussion or deeper reflection this article is the excerpt from broader my publication (polish monograph) upon the reflection on defining and understanding the concept of creativity [Kasza 2016] which basically relates to the on-going dispute between the culture, art, and economics in refers to different ways (contexts) of its defining or understanding. The fundamental in its essence dispute, that applies to both ideological issues (different values) as well as political ones (different interests)is crucial not only for understanding the current mechanisms of creating values in postmodern culture, art, economy or management at the beginning of the XXI century, but also for future scenarios and/or their development strategies.


Empirical research about child sexual abuse image viewers has increased in recent years, especially regarding those who may also abuse: the so-called dual offenders. Scientific literature shows that child sexual abuse image viewers and dual offenders are dissimilar regarding psychosocial and criminological characteristics. On this basis, we present this article based on a literature review of the main studies addressing this topic in order to provide the key characteristics which discriminate between both groups, and those child sexual abuse offenders who act offline. Having evidence-based differential profiles can be a useful tool for helping legal psychologists manage the risk of a child pornography offender deciding to abuse a child.


Trametes versicolor laccase papers were prepared, and their suitability was tested for anticounterfeiting and oxygen indicator concepts in packaging applications. Laccase was coated and printed onto paper with a flexographic ink base, a sulfo polyester resin, Hydro‐Rez 1100D (HZ1100D). Laccase remains active on paper with flexographic ink HZ1100D after printing with flexographic press. Colour change of papers was observed when 2,2‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) solution was applied to the paper. A strong colour change to dark green was obtained on the papers prepared by coating or printing of laccase with HZ1100D onto EUCA paper. EUCA paper appeared to be well suited for laccase‐based indicator applications because it remained rough even after ink deposition, allowing rapid absorption of ABTS solution. Finally, the indicators demonstrated to work as oxygen indicators in a package. Indicator colour was changed when oxygen was leaked to the package. As a conclusion, the laccase papers described here would be well suited for various indicator applications and could be produced using flexographic printing, allowing large scale manufacturing. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


It has previously been suggested that some tumours may elaborate substances which can suppress the functional activity of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. We have investigated the effects of secreted products from the colorectal cancer cell line LoVo on the pattern of expression of T lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cell phenotype and activation antigens during in vitro treatment of mixed populations of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2). Tumour cell line products inhibited the proliferation of cells expressing the NK cell antigen CD56 and of cells expressing the CD8 T cell subset antigen. Increased expression of the IL-2 receptor alpha chain component CD25, and the activation associated antigens CD71 and HLA-DR induced by rhIL-2 was inhibited by the presence of tumour cell products. Enhanced cytotoxic activity against standard target. cell lines Daudi and K562 induced by treatment with rhIL-2 was diminished by tumour cell supernatants. These mechanisms may contribute to the resistance of some tumours to immune response modulation treatment regimens which depend upon induction of lymphokine activation responses by rhIL-2.


BackgroundForeign body ingestion is common in children. Ingestion of multiple magnetic foreign bodies poses a significant risk of complications as they are unlikely to pass spontaneously. Case presentationWe present our interesting case of a 5 Year old girl, complaining of right iliac fossa pain not relieved with paracetamol, associated with 2 episodes of vomiting and one episode of loose bowel motion. Abdominal examination revealed tender right iliac fossa with weak rebound and mild guarding with no rigidity. WBC was 16.9, with 12.68 neutrophils, with normal urea, creatinine, amylase, CRP and liver function tests. Patient was admitted for suspected appendicitis versus gastroenteritis. Abdominal ultrasound showed free fluid in the pelvis, appendix was not seen and there was a mass in the right iliac fossa. The patient was started on intravenous co-amoxiclav and diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a normal appendix with free fluid in pelvis. The omentum was stuck to terminal ileum with two necrotic patches and a perforation in the terminal ileum with magnetic foreign bodies protruding from the perforation site.There was no peritoneal contamination. Laparotomy was performed via right lower transverse incision with resection & anastomosis of necrotic perforated bowel segment and removal of three magnetic foreign bodies from the terminal ileum. Patient had smooth postoperative recovery. ConclusionThe Ingestion of multiple magnets, or a magnet with a metallic object should be considered an impending surgical emergency as it is unlikely to pass spontaneously and complications are more likely. There are no reports where more than one magnet was passed spontaneously. The possibility of foreign body ingestion should always be considered in a young child presenting with abdominal symptoms. Early intervention is indicated if the history, clinical findings and imaging are suggestive of multiple magnetic ingestion to prevent serious life threatening complications.


OF THE THESIS Predictors of High Risk Sexual Behaviors in Deported Male Mexican Migrants by Elizabeth Ko Lampley Master of Public Health with a Concentration in Health Promotion San Diego State University, 2012 Deported Mexican migrants are a disadvantaged population with unique risk factors for HIV infection. Studies suggest that Mexican migrants frequently engage in sexual risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex and a high number of sexual partners. A previous study using similar methods and study population to those described in this paper found rates of HIV to be lower in Mexican migrants than the general United State's (US) population. However the relatively high prevalence of HIV risk behaviors among Mexican migrants could result in the rapid spread of HIV, once the virus is introduced into this population. In order to design and implement effective prevention efforts, the determinants of sexual risk behavior in this population must first be identified. The purpose of this paper is to assess the relative contribution to variance in sexual risk behaviors by individual and environmental factors selected on the basis of the Behavioral Ecological Model. Data were collected from a sample of deported Mexican migrants selected on the basis of a probability sampling design from August to November 2009. Analyses were conducted on 353 male participants who (1) had been in the US for at least 24 hours during the 12 months prior to the interview, and (2) reported having sex during that time in the US. Backwards step-wise multiple linear regression models were used to test the association for 20 independent variables that would account for the most variance in the high risk sexual behavior index with the most parsimonious model. The final model included eight independent variables: age, marital status, level of education, English speaking, self-reported level of HIV risk, sex while under the influence of illicit drugs in the last 12 months in the US, condom use social norms, and sex partner social norms. The model explained 14.4% of the variance in high risk sexual behavior. Findings suggest that self-reported level of HIV risk was the strongest predictor of high risk sexual behavior while in the US. Results were partially explained by the BEM, but additional research is necessary to explain a higher proportion of the variance in sexual risk behavior in order to design risk reduction interventions.


Progressing beyond the productivity of present-day languages appears to require using domain-specific knowledge. Domain-specific languages and libraries (DSLs) proliferate, but most optimizations and language features have limited portability because each language's semantics are related closely to its domain. We explain how any DSL compiler can use a domain-independent AI planner to implement algorithm composition as a language feature. Our notion of composition addresses a common DSL problem: good library designers tend to minimize redundancy by including only fundamental procedures that users must chain together into call sequences. Novice users are confounded by not knowing an appropriate sequence to achieve their goal. Composition allows the programmer to define and call an abstract algorithm (AA) like a procedure. The compiler replaces an AA call with a sequence of library calls, while considering the calling context. Because AI planners compute a sequence of operations to reach a goal state, the compiler can implement composition by analyzing the calling context to provide the planner's initial state. Nevertheless, mapping composition onto planning is not straightforward because applying planning to software requires extensions to classical planning, and procedure specifications may be incomplete when expressed in a planning language. Compositions may not be provably correct, so our approach mitigates semantic incompleteness with unobtrusive programmer-compiler interaction. This tradeoff is key to making composition a practical and natural feature of otherwise imperative languages, whose users eschew complex logical specifications. Compositions satisfying an AA may not be equal in performance, memory usage, or precision and require selection of a preferred solution. We examine language design and implementation issues, and we perform a case study on the BioPerl bioinformatics library.


Infection of legume roots or stems with soil bacteria of the Rhizobiaceae results in the formation of nodules that become symbiotic nitrogen-fixing organs. Within the infected cells of these nodules, bacteria are enveloped in a membrane of plant origin, called the peribacteroid membrane (PBM), and divide and differentiate to form nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. The organelle-like structure comprised of PBM and bacteroids is termed the symbiosome, and is the basic nitrogen-fixing unit of the nodule. The major exchange of nutrients between the symbiotic partners is reduced carbon from the plant, to fuel nitrogenase activity in the bacteroid, and fixed nitrogen from the bacteroid, which is assimilated in the plant cytoplasm. However, many other metabolites are also exchanged. The metabolic interaction between the plant and the bacteroids is regulated by a series of transporters and channels on the PBM and the bacteroid membrane, and these form the focus of this review.


Adipose tissue is a readily available source of multipotent adult stem cells for use in tissue engineering/regenerative medicine. Various growth factors have been used to stimulate acquisition of endothelial characteristics by adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC). Herein, we study the growth and endothelial differentiation potential of ADSC seeded onto a porous polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold. The objective of this study is to demonstrate that PCL is a good material to be used as a scaffold to support reconstruction of new endothelial tissue using adipose stem cells. We found that undifferentiated ADSC adhere and grow on PCL. We show that, after culture in endothelial differentiation medium, ADSC were positive to LDL uptake and expressed molecular markers characteristic of endothelial cells (CD31; eNOS and vWF). In addition, our study defines the time required for the differentiation of ADSC directly onto PCL. This study suggests that PCL can be used as a scaffold to generate endothelial tissue in vitro. PLC has excellent mechanical properties and a slow degradation rate. Moreover, based on our results, we propose that PCL could be used to graft scaffolds coated with endothelial cells derived from ADSC stem cells. Endothelial cells-coated PCL could find several applications to replace damaged area of the body; for example, a possible use could be the generation of vascular grafts.


ABSTRACT Aluminum (Al) alloys have been widely used in the transportation industry. However, most high-strength Al alloys to date have limited mechanical strength, on the order of a few hundred MPa, which is much lower than the flow stress of high-strength steels. In this study, we show the fabrication of nanocrystalline Al alloys with high-density growth twins enabled by a few atomic percent of Co solute. In situ uniaxial compression tests show that the flow stress of Al–Co solid solution alloys exceeds 1.5 GPa, while good work hardening capability is maintained. This study provides a new perspective on the design of high-strength Al alloys for various applications. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT IMPACT STATEMENT The flow stress of Al–Co alloys with high-density growth twins exceeds 1.5 GPa, while maintaining good work hardening capability. The twins are stabilized by Co impurities based on DFT calculations.


BACKGROUND
Although disparities in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation are well documented, the role of community-level distress is poorly understood. This study evaluated the relationship between community-level distress and CR participation, access to CR facilities, and clinical outcomes.

METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted on a 100% sample of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing inpatient coronary revascularization between July 2016 and December 2018. Community-level distress was defined using the Distressed Community Index quintile at the beneficiary zip code level, with the first and fifth quintiles representing prosperous and distressed communities, respectively. Outpatient claims were used to identify any CR use within 1 year of discharge. Beneficiary and CR facility zip codes were used to describe access to CR facilities. Adjusted logistic regression models evaluated the association between Distressed Community Index quintiles, CR use, and clinical outcomes, including one-year mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and acute myocardial infarction hospitalization.

RESULTS
A total of 414 730 beneficiaries were identified, with 96 929 (23.4%) located in the first and 67 900 (16.4%) in the fifth quintiles, respectively. Any CR use was lower for beneficiaries in distressed compared with prosperous communities (26.0% versus 46.1%, P<0.001), which was significant after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.40-0.42]). A total of 98 458 (23.7%) beneficiaries had a CR facility within their zip code, which increased from 16.3% in prosperous communities to 26.6% in distressed communities. Any CR use was associated with absolute reductions in mortality (-6.8% [95% CI, -7.0% to -6.7%]), all-cause hospitalization (-5.9% [95% CI, -6.3% to -5.6%]), and acute myocardial infarction hospitalization (-1.3% [95% CI, -1.5% to -1.1%]), which were similar across each Distressed Community Index quintiles.

CONCLUSIONS
Although community-level distress was associated with lower CR participation, the clinical benefits were universally received. Addressing barriers to CR in distressed communities should be considered a significant priority to improve survival after coronary revascularization and reduce disparities.


BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY
Factors related to changes of QT dispersion (QTd) after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with aortic stenosis were analyzed.

METHODS
The prospective group comprised 121 consecutive patients (45 women, 76 men; mean age 58 +/- 11 years; range: 24-77 years) with significant aortic valve stenosis. Data (clinical, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic) were collected before and at least 16 months after AVR. QTd was measured in the standard ECG.

RESULTS
Before AVR, the mean QTd was 60 +/- 24 ms (QT(max) 424 +/- 40 ms). QTd was > 50 ms in 68% of patients, and > 70 ms in 30%. During postoperative follow up the mean QTd was 54 +/- 19 ms (QT(max) 368 +/- 36 ms) for all patients, and was > 50 ms in 58% of cases and > 70 ms in 13%. Postoperatively, QTd was decreased to < 70 ms in 27% of patients with a normalized left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and in 27% of those without any clinically significant reduction in left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. In the multivariate analysis, QTd reduction was weakly related to the reduction in LV wall thickness (p = 0.09) and LVMI (p = 0.05). The reduction in QTd was more related to changes in T-wave amplitude in lead V5 (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION
Following AVR for aortic stenosis, a decrease in QTd was observed, notably among patients with QTd > 70 ms. This reduction was only weakly related to the degree of reduction in cardiac hypertrophy, but a more important relationship was observed with changes in T-wave amplitude. These findings suggest that a reduction in QTd after AVR is reflective of changes in electrical function rather than structural remodeling.


The Kingdom of Sambas from historical perspectives existed before the conquest Majapahit. In authentic existence it had looked when it became a vassal state of Majapahit since the 14th century until the second half of the mid-17th century. Even so, the islamization of the region for that matter has already started since 1407 M, marked by the establishment of the Chinese Muslim community Hanafi. However the process of islamization in Sambas could not be released from the role of Muslim Chinese traders, later Muslim traders also involve India and Arabia. However, in the 15th century, the development of Islam is still confined to port until the centers in small towns that became central to the economy and the more established in the 16th century. The islamization is getting intensive and the integration of Islamic values in social governance when a political marriage between Raden Sulaiman (from Brunei) and Mas Ayu Bungsu (of the Old Sambas). The Sultanate of Sambas in the next period (1630 M) the more significant contributions to the development of Islam in Sambas.


Background of the Report: On April 24 2001 the European Commission appointed the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE). In his welcome message President Prodi requested the Group to give an Opinion on the ethical aspects of patents resulting from research into stem cells. In response to this request, the Group announced at its first meeting on May 29 2001 that the next opinion to be issued would deal with the use of human stem cells and the patentability of the inventions deriving from such research. This report was developed in response to the request of the Group to provide them with the current information and documentation with regard to patents for human stem cell research. Ever since 1988, when the first proposal for a European Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions was laid down, patents on 'living' material received much public attention, because of the delicate question to which extent 'life' and 'living material' is appropriable by way of patents. Since 1998, when human pluripotent stem cells were first isolated, the patent issue gained growing interest in civil society again, because of the legal and ethical implications patents on human stem cells entail. In view of the increasingly explosive nature of this issue, there is an urgent need for intense discussion of the emerging questions. Scope of the report: The present report starts with a brief overview of stem cell technology in order to assist the reader in understanding the key events in stem cell technology and the subject matter for which patent protection is claimed (Part I). The report then describes the current patent practice (Part II) and the state of patent legislation with regard to human stem cell technology (Part III). Much of the progress made to date in stem cell technology was dependent on animal models and understandings gained from mouse models and mouse stem cell research. However, this report will mainly focus on the patent practice and patent framework for human stem cell technology. The report ends by devoting substantial attention to some questions that remain unsettled and offering some routes for reflection (Part IV). Aim and approach of the report: It has been the aim of the report to provide relevant information with regard to the current patent granting policy - both in Europe and in the US - and the patent law framework in Europe. Relevant and up to date information with regard to patent policy and patent legislation on human stem cell research was gathered in order to enable the EGE to gain insight in this complex and delicate issue and to enable the EGE to elaborate a well-founded opinion. The author wishes to emphasise that the guiding thought while carrying out this study was to provide the EGE with the necessary prior information and to offer relevant data. It was not the author's intent to put her personal opinion in the forefront. This results in a report where one can often read that certain developments 'appear' to be inconsistent, or certain interpretations 'seem' to be awkward. This equally results in a study where no position is taken with regard to the patentability of human stem cell research, but where arguments are developed to substantiate a possible decision. Or where various routes of reflections are developed in order to accommodate current patent law to the specific characteristics of human stem cell research, taking into account the public concerns with regard to biotech patenting. Several approaches were taken to obtain relevant information for this report. Various scientific experts in stem cell research were interviewed. A thorough examination of both European and US patent databases was conducted. An extensive review of former and current European patent legislation and case law was carried out. The majority of the patents involved emanates from research in academic laboratories, but many patents were also found from private pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The report aimed at including both academic and private research and subsequent patenting, and was not limited to either government or private funded research.


Commercial versions of a stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis (SCKAFO) have emerged to improve gait over conventional knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs), which lock the knee in full extension in individuals with quadriceps muscle weakness. A new electromechanical SCKAFO was recently designed to address the functional, structural, and cost limitations of these commercial SCKAFOs. This paper presents an evaluation of the new SCKAFO conducted to determine its functional and clinical effectiveness during gait. Three healthy adults (100% male; age, 35.3plusmn19.7y) and three KAFO users with knee extensor weakness in at least one limb (100% male; mean age, 56.3plusnm;4.0y) participated in the study. The SCKAFO had a minimal effect, as desired, on the kinematics of the able-bodied subjects. KAFO users had a mean increase in knee flexion of 21.1deg (sd=8.2) during swing, and a greater total knee range of motion when walking with the new SCKAFO compared to their prescribed KAFO. Two KAFO users experienced a reduction in pelvic obliquity and hip abduction angle abnormalities when walking with the SCKAFO compared to their prescribed KAFO


This study primarily aims to identify unique theories and specific uses of theories in the library and information science (LIS) domain. It provides a comprehensive list of the theories used in LIS journal articles indexed by Scopus (an abstract and citation database) from 1970–2021. It expands on the most common theories and highlights the areas and purposes for which used theories in the LIS domain. Our goal is to demonstrate the usages and applications of various borrowed theories from complementary disciplines in the LIS domain. A systematical methodology is applied, following a few open-source AI-based software packages (such as ASReview, and OpenRefine), to analyse the theories against different parameters, keeping in mind the drawbacks of the previous studies. The study's findings show that the LIS domain's theoretical foundations are understudied. Researchers mainly borrowed theories from social sciences such as sociology, psychology, and management studies to solidify their domain. The paper provides a clear road map for the theoretical development of LIS research. And the resulting outputs may help policymakers, academicians, and researchers, irrespective of disciplines in general and information science in particular, understand the foundations and theoretical and methodological trends of theories that may lead to a better understanding of the theories before their selection and applications.


ABSTRACT From warning sirens to loud booms in the sky; from tweaked radio playlists to the silence of a military funeral, sound is central to the civilian experience of wartime in Israel. Drawing upon public discourse among Jewish-Israelis during periods of armed conflict with Hamas militants in Gaza during 2012 and 2014, this article explores practices of civilian listening and sounding during times of national emergency. More than just making the ears prick, wartime sounds are implicated in an assemblage of bodily action: stimulating the body to move, prompting vocal responses and serving as a focal point for conversation. Recent work in ethnomusicology has sought to theorise soundscapes and listening practices during wartime – yet most work to date has focused on combatants. Building on previous literature in sound studies and on civil preparedness, in this article I focus on wartime regimes of civilian listening, arguing that embodied listening and sounding practices index a reconfiguration of the relationship between the state and its citizens, characterised by mutually co-constructed vigilance, and articulating consensual models of disciplined citizenship that help to sustain collective resilience, yet which also reinforce ethnonational divisions in society and bolster neoliberal practices of securitisation.


This paper describes the design and implementation of a smart task framework for automating intranet Web services integration through a mediated ontology. The semantic relationships between the Web Services interfaces and the mediated ontology are registered and maintained, so the platform can take over most of the complex corresponding efforts that were accomplished manually, such as searching, combining, and executing the right services. We adapted Web services to wrap various existing systems into a general RMI format, utilized ontology to define and to integrate diverse functionalities semantically, and took advantage of workflow engine to enable a task-oriented office environment. The design rationale, related works, system architecture, and an application scenario are presented.


In a previous paper, simple analytic expressions describing internal conical refraction were derived. That analysis is extended in this paper to describe the effects of optical activity or Faraday rotation on conical refraction. By use of a similar analysis, the generally elliptical-wave modes to which the incident wave bundle couples were determined and the Poynting vector associated with each mode was found. From the variation of the Poynting vector with wave position, the structure of the cone and the irradiance variation within it were determined. The calculations are compared with published experimental results. From this analysis, we infer a variation of the position of the dark spaces in polarized light with polarization, which is not indicated by previous work.


OBJECTIVE
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an important nosocomial pathogen and a therapeutic challenge. A ten-year review of episodes of bacteraemia due to S. maltophilia was undertaken in light of reports of an increasing frequency of infection.

METHODS
A retrospective analysis of bloodstream infections due toS. maltophilia at a tertiary care hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Cases were identified via microbiology laboratory reports, and relevant clinical data were collected from the medical record of each patient.

RESULTS
Eighty per cent of these 45 episodes were nosocomial. The most common characteristics in cases of bacteraemia were the presence of an indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) (38/45, 84%) and previous antibiotic therapy (33/45, 73%). There were 8 deaths (8/44, 18%) within 7 days of bacteraemia. A significant correlation was found between deaths and a failure to remove the CVC (P = 0.01) or treat with appropriate antimicrobials (P = 0.01). Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that isolates were most sensitive to sulphamethoxazole (80%), chloramphenicol (75.5%) and ceftazidime (64.5%).

CONCLUSIONS
S. maltophilia is an important pathogen especially in the highly compromised host. Isolation of this organism from a blood culture should prompt a careful review of the patient with particular emphasis on removal of indwelling CVCs and commencement of appropriate antibiotic therapy.


Background:
 Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts persisting in the bone marrow (BM) after chemotherapy are key drivers of AML relapse and chemotherapy refractoriness. The hypoxic microenvironment of the BM is known to protect these cells, however the mechanisms behind this chemoresistance are not well understood.
 We have previously shown that AML cell lines cultured under hypoxia upregulate autophagy. Blocking autophagy with lysosome-based autophagy inhibitor Bafilomycin A1 (Baf A1) was shown to target LSCs in colony formation (CF) assays and in vivo serial transplants in NSG mice. Another autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) also demonstrated anti-LSC effects in CF assays. The clinical development of Baf A1 and CQ has been limited due to poor pharmacokinetics and toxicity. Lys05 is a promising CQ derivative with increased potency and therapeutic potential.
 Recent studies have shown that LSCs have an increased reliance on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as well as mitophagy, the autophagic degradation of damaged mitochondria. Hypoxia has also been demonstrated to increase mitophagy in certain cell types through upregulation of BNIP3. We hypothesized that AML cells cultured under hypoxia would have an increased reliance on mitophagy for mitochondrial homeostasis and survival. Treatment with autophagy inhibitors would be expected to block mitophagy and induce AML cell death specifically under hypoxia.
 Methods:
 Human AML cells (MOLM13) were cultured under hypoxia (1% O2) or normoxia (21% O2). NSG mice were inoculated with luciferase expressing MOLM13-BLIV & treated with vehicle (DMSO) or Lys05 (40 mg/kg) IP for 18 days. Tumor burden was assessed by bioluminescence. CF assays were established with AML patient cells in the presence of vehicle or Lys05 in MethoCult under normoxia/hypoxia and counted on day 13. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry was used to measure apoptosis. OXPHOS was assessed with a Seahorse XFe96 using the Mitochondrial Stress Test. Mitochondrial mass was measured by flow cytometry using MITO-ID Green. BNIP3 & PINK1 protein expression was visualized via western blot.
 Results:
 Treatment with Lys05 decreased in vivo tumor burden significantly in NSG mice systemically engrafted with human AML cells. We also saw a marked decrease in the number of CF-units in primary AML patient samples treated with Lys05 which was further enhanced under hypoxia. Treatment of AML cell lines with CQ and Lys05 also enhanced apoptosis under hypoxia as compared to normoxia. Baf A1, however, showed equal amounts of apoptosis in normoxia and hypoxia (Fig. 1A).
 While Baf A1, CQ, and Lys05 all inhibit autophagy through deacidification of the lysosome, Baf A1 has been shown to induce additional effects on mitochondria, inducing uncoupling of OXPHOS and depolarization. We therefore examined the autophagy inhibitors' effect on mitochondrial function. At 24 hours, Baf A1 caused a significant decrease in basal and maximal respiration under both hypoxia and normoxia. CQ and Lys05, however, only showed a significant decrease in OXPHOS under hypoxia, with no effect on mitochondrial function under normoxia.
 We postulated that this effect arose from increased mitophagy under hypoxia. BNIP3 expression levels were enhanced under hypoxia in MOLM13 cells at 24- 48 hours. If mitophagy is constitutively occurring, blocking this process would cause an increase in the number of mitochondria. As expected, the number of mitochondria increased when treated with Lys05 or CQ under hypoxia, but not under normoxia, suggesting that mitophagy is occurring only under hypoxic conditions. Baf A1 caused an increase in mitochondria under both hypoxia and normoxia, suggesting that Baf A1 can both induce mitophagy and block mitochondrial degradation. We further confirmed this was due to mitophagy by assessing expression of the mitophagy protein PINK1. In normoxia, Baf A1 showed an almost 2-fold increase in PINK1 compared to the vehicle whereas CQ did not (Fig. 1B).
 Conclusion:
 We have identified a class of autophagy inhibitors that displays enhanced efficacy in AML cells under hypoxic conditions that reflect the BM microenvironment. This is due in part to their ability to target AML cellular reliance on mitophagy. These results provide the rationale for the further clinical development of Lys05 or other lysosome-based autophagy inhibitors as a novel means of targeting minimal residual disease in AML therapy.

 Guzman: Samus Therapeutics: Patents & Royalties: intellectual rights to the PU-FITC assay; SeqRx: Consultancy; Cellectis: Research Funding. Wang:Pfizer: Other: Advisory role, Speakers Bureau; Stemline: Other: Advisory role, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi: Other: Advisory role; Amgen: Other: Advisory role; Agios: Other: Advisory role; Abbvie: Other: Advisory role; Kite: Other: Advisory role; Jazz: Other: Advisory role; Astellas: Other: Advisory role, Speakers Bureau; celyad: Other: Advisory role.


This very welcome bibliography-a by-product of Index medicus-was produced in the National Library of Medicine's Historical Division. Its citations were retrieved from the computer into which indexers now regularly feed information culled from the medical periodical literature. What a far remove this is from the Index's early days, almost ninety years ago, when only the unnatural faith of a publisher saved it from extinction. The Bibliography will appear annually and then in quinquennial cumulations. It will, incidentally, serve as a complement to the Weilcome Institute's Current Work in the History of Medicine. Wisely in this first issue the editors have made no attempt to apply value-judgments in selecting their citations, on the principle that most historians are capable of making up their own minds. Nevertheless, one can foresee that this policy, if pursued in the cumulations, will lead to confusion in the minds of many users simply because the core of good material will be in danger of submersion under a mass of derivative and mediocre articles. Perhaps this hazard might be reduced, when that time comes, by the introduction of many more subject headings of greater specificity than those used in this volume.


Timely processing of farm products is important to prevent post-harvest losses and ensure food quality. Several processing, operation have been mechanized in the production line of yam products such as parboiling, drying, pulverizing, etc. But peeling, which is the removal of the outer layer of the yam, is one of the major problems of yam processing both for small and large scale consumption. This idea is receiving attention from design engineers in Nigeria being the largest producer of yam in the world. A power operated machine is developed which has two components harnessed together for peeling and slicing of yam in a pilot poundo yam flour process plant. It consists of an electric motor, the peeling chamber fitted with peeler, auger shaft to transport the yam, idle roller for clamping and aligning the yam along its course. The slicing unit and the protective hood carry the loading bay and inspection slot. The machine peels the yam at relatively high angular velocity of the rotary peeling brush. The slicer was positioned at the outlet of the feeder with high rotating speed. Machine capacity was influenced by moisture content of tubers and variations in length and diameter. Results show that auger speed resulted in higher peeling efficiencies at various peripheral speeds of the peeling brush. The design capacity of the machine is 114kg of yam per hour while the average efficiency is 91% and functional efficiency 87.86%. Adoption of this yam peeling and slicing machine would promote timely processing of fresh tubers, reduces labor input, increase productivity and hence the income of the local processors. KeywordsYam Peeling; Yam Slicing; Yam Process Plant


The design and parameters of a new electrostatic micromotor with high energy output are described. The motor is created by means of microelectronic technology. Its operation is based on the electromechanic energy conversion during the electrostatic rolling of the metallic films (petals) on the ferroelectric film surface. The mathematical simulation of the main characteristics of the rolling process is carried out. The experimentally measured parameters of the petal step micromotors are shown. The motor operation and its efficiency are investigated.


Objective: To examine injury and concussion rates, mechanisms, locations, and types of injury in Canadian high school male rugby. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: High school male rugby. Participants: A total of 429 high school players (2018: n = 225, 2019: n = 256) were recruited from 12 teams in 7 schools in Calgary, Canada. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Injury surveillance included baseline questionnaires, weekly exposure, and injury reports. Injuries included those requiring medical attention, resulted in time loss and/or inability to complete a session. Concussion was defined as per the fifth Consensus on Concussion in Sport, and all players with a suspected concussion were referred to a study sport medicine physician. Results: A total of 134 injuries were captured, leading to an injury incidence rate (IR) of 57.9/1000 hours [95% confidence intervals (CIs): 45.4-73.8]. Median time loss was 6 days (range: 0-90). Injuries to the head were the most common (40%), followed by shoulder (12%) and ankle (10%). The concussion IR was 22.0/1000 hours (95% CIs: 15.9-30.4), which was the most common injury type (38%), followed by sprain (20%) and strain (15%). Sixty-five percent of injuries occurred in the tackle (ball carrier 35%, tackler 30%) and 76% of concussions (ball carrier 41%, tackler 35%). Conclusions: The rate of injury and concussion in Canadian youth high school male rugby is high, with tackle-related injuries and concussions the most common. Given this, there is a critical need for implementation of prevention strategies, in particular targeting concussion and the tackle event (eg, neuromuscular, tackle training, and law changes).


Aims: To evaluate wettability of flexible denture base martial after immersion in saliva, artificial saliva, chlorhexidine and sodium hypochlorite for 7 days period of time. Materials and methods: sixty rectangular shape sample of flexible denture base martial were prepared with one surface polished and another surface unpolished. These samples were stored in the previously mentioned four solutions in addition to the distilled water as a control group for 1 day and 7 days. Contact angle (parameter of wettability) were measured on both surfaces after each storage periods (1day and 7 days). The statistical analysis to the data was performed using ANOVA and Duncan Multiple Range Test. Results: The results revealed that the wettability of unpolished flexible denture base material is significantly more than the polished surface. Sodium hypochlorite had significantly decrease the wettability of polished surfaces. Periods of storage had significant effect only on the wettability of polished surfaces rather than unpolished surfaces. Conclusions: Wettability of unpolished surface of flexible material is better than the wettability of the polished surface. The storage periods have no effect on the wettability of unpolished surface. Disinfectant solutions that have oxidizing effect (sodium hypochlorite) has a worsening effect on the wettability of flexible denture base materials.


Magnetic nanoparticles of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) have been synthesized by co-precipitation method with various synthesis temperature and concentration of NaOH. The structural characteristics and particle size of CoFe2O4 were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), its showed that nanoparticles well crystallized with various grain size which depend on synthesis parameters. The grain sizes estimated using the Scherrer formula were found that the grain size increased with increasing temperature synthesis and decreasing concentration of NaOH. Magnetic characterization of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles was investigated by using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). Sample with various concentration of NaOH showed that coercivity was decrease with the decrease of particle size. In other hand, samples with various synthesis temperature found that sample with smallest grain size have high coersivity. The saturation magnetization increase when crystallinity increase. Based on the results, it can be concluded that magnetic characterization of CoFe2O4 was influenced by grain size and crystallinity.


The Steady State Superconducting Tokamak (SST-1) is currently being refurbished in a mission mode at the Institute for Plasma Research with an ultimate objective of producing the first plasma in early 2012. Since January 2009, under the SST-1 Mission mandate, a broad spectrum of refurbishment activities have been initiated and pursued on several subsystems of SST-1. Developing sub-nano-ohm leak-tight joints in the magnet winding packs, developing single-phased LN2-cooled thermal shields, developing supercritical-helium-cooled 5-K thermal shields for magnet cases, ensuring thermal and electrical isolations between various subsystems of SST-1, testing of each of the SST-1 toroidal field (TF) magnets at 4.5 K with nominal currents, testing each of the modules and octants of the SST-1 machine shell in representative experimentally simulated scenarios, augmentation and reliability establishment of the SST-1 vacuum vessel baking system, time synchronizations among various heterogeneous subsystems of SST-1, large data-storage scenarios, and integrated engineering testing of the first phase of the plasma diagnostics are some of the major refurbishment activities. Presently, the SST-1 device integration is in full swing. The cold test of the assembled SST-1 TF and poloidal field magnets began in December 2011. Following the successful testing of the SST-1 superconducting magnet system and engineering validations of the machine shell, the first plasmas will be attempted in SST-1. The first plasma will be ~ 100-kA limiter assisted with the available volt-seconds and could possibly be assisted by ECCD/LHCD.


We would like to congratulate the authors for their important contribution on micro-ultrasound, a promising new high-resolution imaging system for prostate cancer. The outcomes of this well designed retrospective study need to be interpreted with an understanding of some challenges of prostate cancer imaging, like variation of imaging quality in different areas of the prostate, effect of MRI performance on diagnostic outcomes and benchmarking. Patient selection and prostate size may influence the findings of these analyses. In patients undergoing repeat biopsies, anterior are more common. The anterior prostate and larger prostates are a challenge for all imaging techniques, in that ultrasound resolution is influenced by the wave length and depth of ultrasound penetration. The reported negative predictive value of mpMRI for clinically significant prostate cancer of 66% is lower than commonly reported in the literature. The quality of MRI targeted biopsies heavily depends on the quality of the MRI reading. In a comparison to another technique, quality control methods (eg double reading) ought to be applied Finally, benchmarking to allow insight into the false-negative rate of a diagnostic technique is often cumbersome. Correlation with state-of-the-art comparators, like comprehensive prostate mapping biopsy or prostatectomy specimen, would not be feasible in this scenario. To make a distinct statement of the quality of the described diagnostic technique, outcomes should be assessed in a homogenous cohort, using quality assurance and recognized benchmarking. This will require further formalized prospective research.


This paper presents a digitalized concept for teaching control theory as minor subject with an integrated approach for lectures, exercises and practical sessions and first results of the implementation at the department of electrical engineering at the OTH Regensburg. The concept uses activating methods like blended learning and possibilities of digitalization of teaching implementing Just in Time Teaching and Peer Instruction. The base of the new concept is the idea of constructive alignment. Furthermore this paper presents the feedback of the students along with an accompanying scientific research over several semesters. The data obtained from the presented module are compared with the data from other blended learning approaches in Germany.


Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a complex disorder with multisystem involvement. Although we used to believe that an association between CF and food allergies is rare and more frequently a false diagnostic, in the late years, as food allergies' prevalence is rising, the association between these two disorders is becoming more common. Aim the aim of the study was to determine food allergy prevalence in cystic fibrosis patients treated at the Mother and Child Care Institute 'Alessandrescu-Rusescu' between 2011–2016. Method we conducted a five years retrospective study between 2011–2016 on 68 cystic fibrosis patients. Age of CF diagnostic was between 2 months and 10 years. We followed the cases with poor nutritional status despite PERT and proton pump inhibitors therapy and the association with cutaneous manifestations. We performed allergen specific IgE antibody test (lactalbumin, casein, beta lactoglobulin, egg, carrot, soya, nut, peanut, wheat, bovine serum albumin). Results 8 out of 68 CF patients treated in our centre had food allergies, with a 11,76% prevalence. 6 of them have milk protein allergy, 1 with egg white allergy and 1 patient with multiple allergies (milk protein, egg, wheat, peanuts). Conclusion it is important to further investigate possible comorbidities in CF patients with poor nutritional status and persistent digestive symptomatology despite adequate nutrition and adherence to PERT therapy. Food allergies seem to be one of the most frequent associations, surpassing celiac disease. Treatment conduct and nutritional recovery in these cases represent a milestone even for experienced clinicians.


Compared to a long-stator linear synchronous motor (LLSM), a long-stator doubly fed linear motor (DFLM) exhibits two distinct advantages for high-speed maglev application: 1) it has two additional degrees of freedom with both the frequency and the phase angle of the mover to improve its control accuracy and dynamic responses and 2) it can use the slip power to feed the mover contactlessly and directly. In order to achieve the propulsion, the levitation, and the contactless power transfer through the common air-gap magnetic field, the "quasi-synchronous operation (QSO)" principle of the DFLM is proposed for high-speed maglev train. Based on the DFLM modeling and distinctive constraint analysis for high-speed maglev application, the performance evaluation of the DFLM is further investigated. To validate the feasibility of the DFLM application for high-speed maglev train, a unit DFLM prototype is designed and tested, and the corresponding simulation studies of the QSO control structure are provided with the comparison to the LLSM system.


We describe ongoing work that models conflict-free replicated data types (CRDTs) from a coalgebraic point of view. CRDTs are data structures designed for replication across multiple physical locations in a distributed system. We show how to model a CRDT at the local replica level using a novel coalgebraic semantics for CRDTs. We believe this is the first step towards presenting a unified theory for specifying and verifying CRDTs and replicated state machines. As a case study, we consider emulation of CRDTs in terms of coalgebra. 2012 ACM


A facile, general, and efficient approach to prepare hydrophilic hollow molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) microparticles with photo- and thermoresponsive template binding and release behaviors in aqueous media is described, which includes the preparation of uniform "living" silica submicrospheres bearing surface atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)-initiating groups (i.e., alkyl halide groups) via a one-pot sol-gel method, their subsequent grafting of azobenzene (azo)-containing MIP shell and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PNIPAAm-b-PHEMA) brushes via successive surface-initiated ATRP, and final removal of the silica core. The successful synthesis of such hydrophilic hollow MIP microparticles was confirmed with SEM, FT-IR, water dispersion stability, and static contact angle studies. They proved to show apparently higher template binding capacities than the corresponding solid ones and obvious photo- and thermoresponsive template binding properties in aqueous solutions. Moreover, their pronounced light- and temperature-controlled template release in aqueous media was also demonstrated. In particular, the introduction of PNIPAAm-b-PHEMA brushes onto hollow MIP microparticles imparted them with high surface hydrophilicity both below and above the lower critical solution temperature of PNIPAAm, which paves the way for their applications in such areas as controlled drug/chemical delivery and smart bioanalysis.


The gene nagC encodes the repressor for the nag regulon. A point mutation within the gene, which confers a super-repressor phenotype and makes the repressor insensitive to the inducer, N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate, has been characterized. The mutation is semi-dominant since heterozygous diploids have reduced growth rates on glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine compared to the wild-type strain.


In this paper, an 8-bit envelope modulator as part of a digital polar transmitter for Bluetooth and WLAN is demonstrated. The modulator performs digital-to-analog conversion, up-mixing and power amplification, allowing for an area-efficient, fully-integrated transmitter architecture. The circuit delivers 24.8 dBm peak-power and 16.7 dBm WLAN OFDM power with a mean EVM of 2.7% at 2 GHz. The measured peak-power drain efficiency is 51% while the efficiency for OFDM is 24%. In Bluetooth EDR mode a 19.7 dBm signal with 5%-rms, 13%-peak EVM, and 26% drain efficiency has been measured. The circuit is fabricated in CMOS 65 nm with 50 Aring thick-oxide devices and 2.5 V power supply.


In this study, Ti-Mo-Si ternary alloy ingots were prepared by the addition of Si (0.252.0mass%) to Ti-10Mo alloy scraps in order to produce the raw materials for titanium carbonitride composites. To investigate the effects of Si addition, the prepared alloys were subjected to hardness, tensile strength, grain size, and phase analyses. The Si-added alloys showed no major changes in their O, N, and C impurity contents. Their hardness increased remarkably in proportion to an increase in the Si content, from 435Hv to 601Hv at 2.0mass%. The tensile strength increased with Si addition up to a maximum of 1.0mass%, reaching 883MPa, but after this peak, it decreased sharply because of the brittleness that arose by the formation of titanium silicide. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.M2014285]


ABSTRACT The "classical" nuclear protein import pathway depends on importin α and importin β. Importin α binds nuclear localization signal (NLS)-bearing proteins and functions as an adapter to access the importin β-dependent import pathway. In humans, only one importin β is known to interact with importin α, while six α importins have been described. Various experimental approaches provided evidence that several substrates are transported specifically by particular α importins. Whether the NLS is sufficient to mediate importin α specificity is unclear. To address this question, we exchanged the NLSs of two well-characterized import substrates, the seven-bladed propeller protein RCC1, preferentially transported into the nucleus by importin α3, and the less specifically imported substrate nucleoplasmin. In vitro binding studies and nuclear import assays revealed that both NLS and protein context contribute to the specificity of importin α binding and transport.


In order to study the determining factors of productive efficiency of milk replacement at Loma de Candelaria´s productive farm, 7 units were chosen, making them coincide with those where the Siboney de Cuba developing females traffics from the artificial breeding until their first delivery. In every unit was carried out a diagnose instrument in correspondence to BUNT methodology, that they allowed to characterize which considered the variables which characterized the behaviour of the technological process of the zootechnical flow of the herd object of the research, Contingency´s analysis was carried out, which allowed to discriminate the most influencing factors in the productive process, and it was also analyzed the pro-quo forces as to conform a DAFO matrix for the females developing flow. As a result, it was found that herd´s productivity rates is conditioned by two major factors which explain more than 70 per cent of the total variance: they are the agro-technical activities and feeding throughout growing stages; besides the fact that in the organization the work with the female for replacement is found in the reorientation quadrant, with an adaptative position. As a conclusion, the main difficulties in every stage where the Siboney de Cuba female designated for replacement in the productive Unit, can be reverted since the reformulation of work objectives in order to improve the amount and quality of the grasses and forages, as well as the manipulation and quality of the feeding balance supported in the systematic and progressive introduction of science, innovation and technological findings applied to the productive process as such.


A 26 kd protein reactive with antiserum to the transactivator tat of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV‐1) has been detected in virus producing cells. The 26 kd protein is shown to be a tripartite fusion protein including coding sequences of the tat, envelope (env) and regulator of virion expression (rev) genes. Fusion of these coding sequences occurs by use of a previously undescribed exon within env. This 26 kd protein, designated tnv, has tat but no rev activity detectable with the assay used. The existence of other less abundant tat and rev related proteins in HIV‐1 producing cells is also noted.


In this paper, a new wastewater treatment technology, sequencing biofilm batch reactor and its characters are introduced. The situation of wastewater treatment by using SBBR is generalized. The advantage of SBBR is discussed. It points out that SBBR have a good foreground in the wastewater treatment of medium and small paper mills in China.


We show that it is possible to confine light in a volume of order 10-3 cubic wavelengths using only dielectric material. Low-index (air) cavities are simulated in high-index rod-connected diamond photonic crystals. These cavities show long storage times (Q-factors >106) even at the lowest volumes. Fabrication of such structures could open a new field of photon-level interactions.


This report is a terminal evaluation of the first phase (2017-2019) of the Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency Global Coordination Platform (CBIT GCP), implemented jointly by UNEP and UNDP and executed by UNDP and the UNEP DTU Partnership. The project had the following objective: Establish an online platform supporting countries to understand and implement the transparency framework of the Paris Agreement.
The platform will both provide development partners with an overview of existing initiatives to coordinate support efficiently and countries with knowledge and information forums for sharing best practices. CBIT GCP had three components: i) Enhanced coordination and best practice sharing for transparency practitioners through the establishment of a web-based coordination platform (executed by the UNEP DTU Partnership), ii) Information sharing enhanced through regional and global meetings (executed by UNDP), and iii) Needs and gaps identified for enhancing transparency systems and CBIT coordination (executed by UNDP). The evaluation sought to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency) and determine outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the project, including their sustainability. The evaluation had two primary purposes: i) to provide evidence of results
to meet accountability requirements, and ii) to promote operational improvement, learning and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UNEP, UNDP and signatories to the Paris Agreement (forward-looking and practicable recommendations will be provided for the second phase of CBIT GCP).