In mammals, changing day length modulates endocrine rhythms via nocturnal melatonin secretion. Studies of the pituitary pars tuberalis (PT) suggest that melatonin-regulated clock gene expression is critical to this process. Here, we considered whether clock gene rhythms continue in the PT in the absence of melatonin and whether the effects of melatonin on the expression of these genes are temporally gated. Soay sheep acclimated to long photoperiod (LP) were transferred to constant light for 24 h, suppressing endogenous melatonin secretion. Animals were infused with melatonin at 4-h intervals across the final 24 h, and killed 3 h after infusion. The expression of five clock genes (Per1, Per2, Cry1, Rev-erbalpha, and Bmal1) was measured by in situ hybridization. In sham-treated animals, PT expression of Per1, Per2, and Rev-erbalpha showed pronounced temporal variation despite the absence of melatonin, with peak times occurring earlier than predicted under LP. The time of peak Bmal1 expression remained LP-like, whereas Cry1 expression was continually low. Melatonin infusion induced Cry1 expression at all times and suppressed other genes, but only when they showed high expression in sham-treated animals. Hence, 3 h after melatonin treatment, clock gene profiles were driven to a similar state, irrespective of infusion time. In contrast to the PT, melatonin infusions had no clear effect on clock gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei. Our results provide the first example of acute sensitivity of multiple clock genes to one endocrine stimulus and suggest that rising melatonin levels may reset circadian rhythms in the PT, independently of previous phase.


ABSTRACT During inactivation of poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) by exposure to UV, hypochlorite, and heat (72°C), the infectivity of the virus was compared with that of its RNA. DEAE-dextran (1-mg/ml concentration in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium buffered with 0.05 M Tris, pH 7.4) was used to facilitate transfecting PV-1 RNA into FRhK-4 host cells. After interaction of PV-1 RNA with cell monolayer at room temperature (21 to 22°C) for 20 min, the monolayers were washed with 5 ml of Hanks balanced salt solution. The remainder of the procedure was the same as that for the conventional plaque technique, which was also used for quantifying the PV-1 whole-particle infectivity. Plaque formation by extracted RNA was approximately 100,000-fold less efficient than that by whole virions. The slopes of best-fit regression lines of inactivation curves for virion infectivity and RNA infectivity were compared to determine the target of inactivation. For UV and hypochlorite inactivation the slopes of inactivation curves of virion infectivity and RNA infectivity were not statistically different. However, the difference of slopes of inactivation curves of virion infectivity and RNA infectivity was statistically significant for thermal inactivation. The results of these experiments indicate that viral RNA is a primary target of UV and hypochlorite inactivations but that the sole target of thermal inactivation is the viral capsid.


Calcium-dependent conformational states of calmodulin (CaM) were probed by thrombin to determine quantitative differences in the susceptibility of two bonds: Arg37-Ser38 (R37-S38, near site I in the N-terminal domain) and Arg106-His107 (R106-H107, near site III in the C-terminal domain). Quantitative thrombin footprinting of a discontinuous equilibrium calcium titration of wild-type calmodulin showed that the R37-S38 bond of the apoprotein was cleaved at a barely detectable level while the R106-H107 bond was maximally susceptible. Calcium binding to sites III and IV monotonically protected R106-H107 from proteolysis; concomitantly, the susceptibility of R37-S38 increased. However, calcium binding to sites I and II protected R37-S38 from cleavage, yielding a peaked biphasic profile composed of equal and opposite transitions. Both bonds were fully protected when calmodulin was saturated with calcium. Susceptibility profiles resolved from the fractional abundance of primary cleavage products (peptides 1-37, 38-148, 1-106, 107-148) were interpreted as directly reflecting calcium-induced conformational changes in whole calmodulin; free energies of calcium binding and cooperativity were estimated. Secondary cleavage was never observed; both R37 and R106 were sites of thrombinolysis in whole calmodulin only. In studies of E140Q-CaM (having a mutation in site IV), the susceptibility of R37-S38 decreased monotonically. Thus, the biphasic character of cleavage of R37 in helix B was not intrinsic to that domain but depended on propagation of effects of calcium-induced changes in the C-terminal domain. The observed patterns of susceptibility indicated that partially saturated wild-type calmodulin adopts at least one intermediate conformation whose structure is determined by calcium-mediated interactions between the domains.


In order to investigate the magnitude,shape and scope of uniform region of space magnetic filed of Helmholtz coil,the magnetic field magnitude of finite element of axial section of Helmholtz coil is measured using FD-HM-I type Helmholtz magnetic field determinator and sensor probe of mili-teslameter with well-appointed high sensitivity equipped by FD-HM-I type Helmholtz magnetic field determinator,coordinate system is established with the center point of two-coil center link as origin of coordinate,the magnitude,shape and scope of uniform region of space magnetic filed of Helmholtz coil is obtained according to the symmetry of the coil.As the size of sensor probe of mili-teslameter is smaller,distinguishability is higher,therefore,the sensor is applied for measuring low intensity magnetic field in physics experiments,and there is higher accuracy,less errors using it to measure magnetic fields.


PD-1 and PD-L1 are crucial regulators of immunity expressed on the surface of T cells and tumour cells, respectively. Cancer cells frequently use PD-1/PD-L1 to evade immune detection; hence, blocking them exposes tumours to be attacked by activated T cells. The synergy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade with type I interferon (IFN) can improve cancer treatment efficacy. Type I IFN activates immune cells boosts antigen presentation and controls proliferation. In addition, type I IFN increases tumour cell sensitivity to the blockade. Combining the two therapies increases tumoral T cell infiltration and activation within tumours, and stimulate the generation of memory T cells, leading to prolonged patient survival. However, limitations include heterogeneous responses, the need for biomarkers to predict and monitor outcomes, and adverse effects and toxicity. Although treatment resistance remains an obstacle, the combined therapeutic efficacy of IFNα/β and PD-1/PD-L1 blockade demonstrated considerable benefits across a spectrum of cancer types, notably in melanoma. Overall, the phases I and II clinical trials have demonstrated safety and efficiency. In future, further investigations in clinical trials phases III and IV are essential to compare this combinatorial treatment with standard treatment and assess long-term side effects in patients.


In cats, a direct observation of the brain surface was made possible by fenestration. The pial vessels were observed by means of intravital incident-light microscopy. Particular attention was paid to blood pressure, blood pH, pCO2 and pO2. Mainly with diffuse vasodilation (hypotension) the capillaries stood out as a close network. Normally, interarterial anastomoses were rarer than intravenous ones. Arteriovenous anastomoses were not found. The interarterial blood column rarely came to a standstill, the intervenously this was observed frequently. Two kinds of intervenous anastomoses were found: short connections between veins running close to each other and long venules between vessels of different outflow systems.


This article will present mobbing in its different aspects and consequences with reference to its manifestations in sanitarian organizations and in nursing. It springs out from wish to inquire into a phenomenon which generates uncomfortableness and embarrassment; it springs out from wish to know what it is and because it frights; it springs out from wish to understand it, to defend oneselves against it and to keep out it. It springs out from curiosity to know if it is present in nursing and eventually how much is its entity. The cognitive research takes place in a Tuscan Sanitary Factory.


A study was conducted to explore what could and should be a reasonable response rate in academic studies. One hundred and forty-one papers which included 175 different studies were examined. They were published in the Academy of Management Journal, Human Relations, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Journal of International Business Studies in the years 1975, 1985, and 1995, covering about 200,000 respondents. The average response rate was 55.6 with a standard deviation of 19.7. Variations among the journals such as the year of publication and other variables were discussed. Most notable is the decline through the years (average 48.4, standard deviation of 20.1, in 1995), the lower level found in studies involving top management or organizational representatives (average 36.1, standard deviation of 13.3), and the predominance of North American studies. It is suggested that the average and standard deviation found in this study should be used as a norm for future studies, bearing in mind the specific reference group. It is also recommended that a distinction is made between surveys directed at individual participants and those targeting organizational representatives.


Background. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves exposing patients to elevated oxygen pressures and concentrations for the treatment of soft tissue degenerative diseases. As side effects, some patients experience cataract development and/or a significant increase in myopia. Subjects. Eight subjects participated in this project. All were receiving HBOT for health problems. Methods. For all subjects, acuities and refractive error corrections were measured before and after HBOT sessions at the beginning, midpoint, and end of therapy. For four subjects, A-scan ultrasound and corneal curvature measurements were also made before and after selected HBOT sessions. In addition, susceptibility to free radical damage and indicators of actual damage were measured by blood analyses. During the first half of HBOT therapy, four subjects took placebo tablets; during the second half, antioxidant supplements were given. Results. No subject showed significant acuity or refractive error changes produced by single HBOT sessions. Two of the 8 subjects showed significant increases in myopia over the 20 session course of HBOT. No corresponding changes were found in the ultrasound, corneal curvature, or blood analysis data. Discussion. Theoretically, the increases in myopia could have been caused by lenticular refractive index changes resulting from oxidative damage to lens proteins. However, the biochemical assays used in this project did not predict which subjects were susceptible to increased myopia, nor did they demonstrate elevated levels of free radical activity in a subject who did experience an increase in myopia.


The article deals with the problems of cracking in the structure of multilayered coatings under the conditions of stochastic loading process. A mathematical model has been proposed in order to predict the crack propagation velocity in the coating while taking the influence of interlayer interfaces into account. A technique for calculating the probability density distribution of the coating fracture (failure rate) has been developed. The probability of a change in the crack growth direction is compared with the experimental data that were obtained as a result of the studies focused on the pattern of cracking in the Zr,Nb-(Zr,Nb)N-(Zr,Nb,Al)N and Ti-TiN-(Ti,Cr,Al)N coatings under the conditions of the real stochastic loading of cutting tools during the turning. The influence of the crystalline structure of the coating on the cracking pattern has been studied. The investigation has found the significant effect of the crystalline structure of the coating layers on the cracking pattern.


Objective Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by pathological variants in the CYP21A2 gene. After a high prevalence of classic 21-OHD CAH in the Romani population was reported in the Republic of North Macedonia, we decided to estimate the prevalence of 21-OHD in Croatia and, if high, assess the possible causes and estimate the frequency of particular CYP21A2 variants. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Data from a Croatian 21-OHD genetic database was reviewed, and only Romani patients were included in the study. CYP21A2 genotyping was performed using allele-specific PCR, MLPA, and Sanger sequencing. Results According to a survey conducted in 2017, Croatia had 22,500 Romani people and six of them had a salt-wasting (SW) form of 21-OHD. All were homozygous for the c.IVS2-13A/C-G pathological variant in intron 2 and descended from consanguineous families belonging to different Romani tribes. The calculated prevalence of 21-OHD in Croatian Romani is 1:3,750, while in the Croatian general population, it is 1:18,000. Three of the six Romani patients originated from two neighboring villages in North-western Croatia (Slavonia County), as well as the seventh patient who is of mixed Romani/Croatian descent and heterozygous for the c.IVS2-13A/C-G pathological variant (not included in the prevalence calculation). Conclusion A high prevalence of SW 21-OHD in the Croatian Romani population caused by the homozygous cIVS2-13A/C-G pathological variant was found. In addition to isolation and consanguinity, other possible reasons could be the heterozygous advantage of the CYP21A2 gene pathological variant and the bottleneck effect as a result of the Romani Holocaust in World War II.


Hall (1978) has stimulated considerable controversy and empirical work on testing the permanent income hypothesis (PIH). Much of the empirical work is on the developed countries where opportunities for inter-temporal substitution are generally higher than in the developing countries. Therefore, it is expected that PIH would be valid for only a smaller proportion of consumers in the developing countries. This paper uses the extended framework of Campbell and Mankiw (1989) to estimate the proportion of consumers for whom PIH is valid in Fiji and Australia. Our results show that PIH consumers are about 40% higher in Australia than in Fiji.


Abstract This paper attempted to revisit the skin lines in forehead and glabellar area. Using PubMed, Scopus, and Google, papers describing skin tension lines of face were searched. Papers with illustrations or pictures of the facial lines were selected and reviewed. The studies of the skin lines in the forehead and glabellar area were analyzed. Langer used the term "cleavage of the cutis, anatomical lines." Over the forehead, he found a border zone of horizontal folds that were interrupted many times by the ascending folds coming from the flabella area. Cox used the terms "cleavage lines of the skin" and "lines of increased tension." In the glabellar area, cleavage lines were vertical and extended to the forehead. Rubin used the term "skin line." In the midline area over the nose, the skin wrinkled vertically. Kraissl used the term "normal wrinkle line." Above the nose, "curving vertical lines" were observed. Straith et al used the terms "normal tension line," and "Langer line." In the glabellar area, the horizontal lines from the upper eyelids became "curved vertically" until meeting the supra-brow horizontal line. Borges used the term "relaxed skin tension line." At the medial end of the eyebrow, his relaxed skin tension line ran obliquely upward and medially, to meet the contralateral line. Namikawa et al used the term "cleavage lines of the skin." It ran mediosuperiorly to inferolaterally, bordering the linea mediana anterior in glabellar area. Following the consensus of most authors, a curved vertical line following the glabellar frown is recommended for incisions for flaps or grafts.


A possibility is shown to normalize the suspension stability of donor long-term conserved blood when passing it through carbon adsorbents of a developed porous structure which are well compatible with blood. Relationship is established between a fall in the concentration of low-molecular acid products of metabolism as well as of conserved blood protein compounds due to interaction with the surface of carbon sorbents and an increase in electrophorectical erythrocyte mobility, and some decrease in aggregation and viscosity of blood.


ABSTRACT To date, Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for implementing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) have not been systematically investigated. Existing studies have derived their CSFs from different perspectives. However, it lacks scientifically developed and tested constructs that represent an integrative CRM philosophy. Through a detailed analysis of the literature, as well as adding new factors, this research identifies eight constructs for integrated CRM implementation in developing economies. The proposed CSFs are tested and validated through a sample of 162 Egyptian tourism organizations that utilize CRM systems, using Amos 19. The overall results from the empirical assessment were positive, reflecting the appropriateness of the proposed CSFs. This study is one of very few studies to provide an integrative perspective of CSFs for implementing CRM in the tourism sector and developing economies; it adds to the extremely limited number of empirical studies that have been conducted to investigate CRM implementation in developing countries.


Recent researches on the dynamic Smagorinsky's model of Germano et al. in the context of using finite difference method (FDM) on a turbulent channel flow have revealed the serious overestimation of mean velocity and streamwise turbulent intensity. The objective of our research here is to develop an isotropic eddy viscosity model that mitigates this problem, as an alternative to Smagorinsky's model. The procedure proposed by Yoshizawa et al. was utilized and a more consistent eddy viscosity model for the dynamic procedure was obtained. The proposed model was tested in plane turbulent channel flows at Reτ=180 and 590 normalized by the friction velocity and the channel half-width, and predicted better statistics than Smagorinsky's model. The new model was also found to be less sensitive to a discrete filtering operation than Smagorinsky's. The organized structures near the wall were also investigated and it was found that the overestimation of the eddy structures reproduced by Smagorinsky's model is clearly improved by the proposed model.


Although subjective well-being is considered important for nurses, the relationship between hope, self-efficacy, and subjective well-being among nurses has rarely been assessed. This study purposes to explore the relationships between hope, self-efficacy, and subjective well-being. The analysis relies on data from 1757 female nurses in 3 hospitals in China. Nurses completed a demographic form, General Self-efficacy Scale, Hope Scale, General Well-Being Schedule. A mediate model of the hypothesized relationships between the constructs was tested. Significant direct relationships of hope, self-efficacy, and subjective well-being were displayed. Mediation analyses reveal that the impact of self-efficacy on subjective well-being is partially mediated by two components of hope, agency and pathways. Hope was shown to be a key mediator for the relationships between self-efficacy and subjective well-being. These findings advance current understandings on the hopeful thinking in nurses.


Circular self test path (CSTP) is an attractive method for automatically transforming sequential circuits generated by automatic synthesis tools into BIST structures. The authors extend this method-making it more suitable for FSMs derived from synthesized control parts-and are integrating it into an industrial design flow supporting testable synthesis. The CSTP approach provides good results in terms of test length and fault coverage in large circuits. It requires substitution of all or some of the flip-flops in the circuit with special cells and their connection to constitute a circular chain. CSTP also has application in industrial environments, and several commercial CAE environments, such as that used by AT&T, now support CSTP as an approach for automatic introduction of BIST in circuits.


Gel chromatography and electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel show that urea in vitro induces aggregation of blood proteins, with their content unchanged. The aggregation does not depend on the fibrinogen available. Comparison of the data on the effect of urea, DS-Na and thermal denaturation on the protein aggregation suggests that the aggregation is induced by local conformation transformations in the structure of certain protein molecules. At the same time, the data obtained do not permit neglecting the role of denaturation in the aggregation.


Aeroacoustic characteristics of sirocco fan used in Over-The-Range (OTR) has been analyzed in this paper. A microwave hood combination over the gas range is short for the OTR. The flow phenomena of the double-sided sirocco fan was analyzed numerically and experimentally by using commercial code and three dimensional PIV for flow visualization. Also, microphone array is used in order to understand acoustic characteristics of OTR. Two dimensional unsteady flow and acoustic simulation is tried to qualitatively estimate the effects of tonal noise and broadband noise on the overall sound pressure level. It is found that tonal sound is generated from the strong interaction between the impeller and cutoff while broadband sound is generated from the strong secondary flows along the scroll surface. To reduce the noise level, the V-shape cut-off was applied to improve the sound quality by reducing tonal noise. So the peak noise at BPF (Blade Passing Frequency) was almost reduced. The shape of flow-guide to suppress the secondary flow over the scroll surface was carefully checked. It is found that this affects flow pattern at the fan exit and reduces the broad band noise. Through this numerical and experimental study, the sound pressure level was lowered by 4dBA compared to that of the previous fan at the operating point.


The demographic transition theory postulates that the reduction of the mortality of children under five years of age is followed by the reduction of fertility with delay. The worlds population was 5.2 billion in 1990 which is increasing at an annual rate of 90 million mainly in the developing countries. At the same rate of growth there will be 14 billion people by 2025. In view of the ticking population bomb the opinion can be submitted that high child mortality and repeated famines reduce the growth of population. The child survival hypothesis states that if child mortality is reduced then eventually fertility reduction follows with the net effect of lower growth of population. In populations living under low socioeconomic conditions other factors have also been observed. The question arises whether fertility reduction could be influenced by family planning. Bangladesh data have demonstrated that if not a single child died in a family then the average total fertility rate (TFR) was 2.6 children; when 1 child died the number was 4.7 children; 2 child deaths meant 6.2 children; and more than 3 child deaths boosted the TFR to 8.3 children. Lactational amenorrhea also plays a role in the reduction of population growth as in developing countries breast feeding averages 12-24 months. But recently there has been a decreasing trend in the length of breast feeding: from 32 months to 22 months in India and from 37 months to 24 months in Bangladesh. The replacement level fertility is 2.1 children which in Finland has already dropped below this level to 1.7 children similar to other Scandinavian countries. UN calculations show that in the developing countries 5% of budget expenditures is devoted to health care and 1.5% to family planning. If $5 billion would be expended instead of the present $3 billion the lives of 5 million children and 300000 mothers could be saved which would result in the drop of fertility by 27-35%.


Introduction: NIVO is a fully human IgG4 programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor providing long-term survival with a favorable safety profile and QoL benefit, approved for previously treated advanced/metastatic NSCLC. Although the likelihood of benefit from NIVO appears correlated with PD-L1 expression in non-SQ NSCLC, pts without PD-L1 may also benefit; this trend is not seen in SQ NSCLC. As sHLA-G/E are immunosuppressive molecules, we hypothesized that baseline peripheral sHLA-G/E may be associated with NIVO outcomes. Methods: CheckMate 063 is a phase 2, single-arm study of NIVO in SQ NSCLC pts who progressed on/after prior platinum-based doublet chemotherapy (PT-DC). Of 117 pts treated, 50 had evaluable baseline serum and archived tumor samples. sHLA-G and -E serum levels ('low' defined as + and CD8 + T cells in tumor samples were evaluated by IHC. Results: Pts achieving PR or SD had lower baseline sHLA-G and -E (Table). Pts with longer OS had low sHLA-G and -E. Median OS was 8.6 vs 6.0 mo (HR 0.58 [0.31, 1.09]) in pts with low vs high sHLA-G, respectively; median OS was 13.6 vs 4.6 mo (HR 0.52 [95% CI 0.27, 0.97]) in pts with low vs high sHLA-E. Longest OS occurred in pts with both low sHLA-G and -E (n=14; median OS 15.1 mo [4.57, not reached]). No correlation was seen between baseline sHLA-G and -E levels (Spearman's r=0.18; P =0.22). High peripheral sHLA-G and -E were negatively correlated with CD3/CD8 + T-cell tumor microenvironment infiltration (CD3 + r=-0.39 and -0.26; CD8 + r=-0.40 and -0.24, respectively). sHLA-G and -E were not associated with smoking and ECOG performance status. Conclusion: Lower baseline sHLA-G and -E levels in NIVO pts with advanced, refractory SQ NSCLC were associated with improved OS. Further studies are warranted to determine if sHLA-G/E are prognostic or predictive biomarkers in SQ and non-SQ NSCLC. Citation Format: Vera Rebmann*, Wilfried E. Eberhardt*, Naiyer Rizvi, Scott J. Antonia, David Planchard, Federico Cappuzzo, Julien Mazieres, Gerard Zalcman, Herve Lena, Jurgen Wolf, Leora Horn, Thomas Stinchcombe, Grace Dy, Anne Blackwood-Chirchir, Chelsea Jin, William J. Geese, Suresh S. Ramalingam, *Authors contributed equally to the current work. Soluble HLA-G and -E (sHLA-G/E) as potential biomarkers of clinical outcomes in patients (pts) with advanced, refractory squamous (SQ) NSCLC treated with nivolumab (NIVO): CheckMate 063 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT126. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-CT126


New chemical synthesis methods for producing nano-sized iron oxides particles and producing biocompatible polymer coated nanoparticles in the solution has been investigated. A new particle processing device for making high performance nanomaterials as well as their applications in medicine has been developed by applying electrohydraulic technique for nanohomoganization. Biomedical application requires the biocompatible super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), which are stable and well dispersed in water at physiological pH or in physiological salinity. In order to obtain biocompatible SPIONs, particles of 10-15 nm size have been synthesized and these SPIONs have been coated with ascorbic acid. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer studies (VSM) were carried out to study the effect of phase transformations on the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles. The samples were analyzed by VSM at room temperatures to find the saturation magnetization. The ascorbic acid coated iron oxide nanoparticles were found to be well dispersed in water as they have a hydrophilic outer surface containing hydroxyl and amine groups. This hydrophilic outer surface is likely to enhance their bioactivity. Therefore they may become a very good drug carrier for biomedical applications.


ABSTRACT A fundamental assumption in the use and interpretation of microbial subtyping results for public health investigations is that isolates that appear to be related based on molecular subtyping data are expected to share commonalities with respect to their origin, history, and distribution. Critically, there is currently no approach for systematically assessing the underlying epidemiology of subtyping results. Our aim was to develop a method for directly quantifying the similarity between bacterial isolates using basic sampling metadata and to develop a framework for computing the epidemiological concordance of microbial typing results. We have developed an analytical model that summarizes the similarity of bacterial isolates using basic parameters typically provided in sampling records, using a novel framework (EpiQuant) developed in the R environment for statistical computing. We have applied the EpiQuant framework to a data set comprising 654 isolates of the enteric pathogen Campylobacter jejuni from Canadian surveillance data in order to examine the epidemiological concordance of clusters obtained by using two leading C. jejuni subtyping methods. The EpiQuant framework can be used to directly quantify the similarity of bacterial isolates based on basic sample metadata. These results can then be used to assess the concordance between microbial epidemiological and molecular data, facilitating the objective assessment of subtyping method performance and paving the way for the improved application of molecular subtyping data in investigations of infectious disease.


Recent results of the plasma confinement and the behavior of the edge plasma in the minimum-B regions of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror are described. In this experiment conducting plates are newly installed in the anchor-cells in order to improve the performance of plasma confinement. The conducting plates are fixed closely to the plasma surface where the cross-section of the plasma is flatly elongated in the anchor transition region. After conditioning the conducting plates, basic characteristics on the conducting plates are investigated. A fairly good symmetry between the two plates facing each other is found in the drain current and in the floating potential. The axial profiles of these measured data also show a symmetry with respect to the central-cell mid plane. The dependence of the resistance connecting the plates to the machine ground shows that the floating condition of the plates provides the better property of particle confinement. As the result of optimization of the heating and gas puffing systems a significant improvement of the plasma parameters is observed during potential formation. According to the increase of plug ECRH power, the central-cell line density and the diamagnetism increase and both parameters are nearly doubled at the ECRH power of 140 kW under the floating condition of the conducting plates.


Abstract A natural yellow and transparent crystal of Mn-bearing, Mg-rich gahnite (ZnAl2O4) from Nordmark (Sweden) was studied by electron microprobe, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and optical absorption spectroscopy. The empirical structural formula of the crystal, T(Zn0.52Mg0.34Mn2+0.08Al0.06)Σ1.00M(Al1.88Mn3+0.06Fe3+0.01Mg0.04Mn2+0.01)Σ2.00 O4, shows that Mn2+ and Mn3+ are almost completely ordered at the T and M sites, respectively. The electronic absorption spectrum of the spinel shows, in addition to a strong UV-absorption edge (O2--Mn3+ and O2--Fe3+ ligand-metal charge transfers) and two broad VIMn3+-bands, a set of relatively narrow absorption bands at energies comparable to those caused by spin-forbidden electron transitions in tetrahedrally coordinated Mn2+ in oxide spinel. However, the set of bands in the present spectrum is shifted to lower energies and they are intensified by approximately an order of magnitude compared to those recorded for spin-forbidden IVMn2+-bands in spinel. These characteristic differences in combination with the determined cation distribution in the present gahnite demonstrates that electronic transitions in exchange coupled IVMn2+-VIMn3+ pairs cause its color.


Despite decades of research on marine algae, there are still significant gaps in basic knowledge about chemical composition of these organisms, especially in tropical environments. In this study, the amino acid composition and contents of total nitrogen, phosphorus, lipid, carbohydrate and protein were determined in Asparagopsis taxiformis, Centroceras clavulatum, Chaetomorpha aerea, Sargassum filipendula and Spyridia hypnoides. The seaweeds showed low lipid contents (lower than 5.5% d.w. in all species) and were rich in carbohydrates (more than 16% d.w. in all seaweeds). The percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and protein varied widely among species, which red algae showed the highest con-centrations. The amino acid composition was similar among the seaweeds, which glutamic acid, aspartic acid and leu-cine as the most abundant. All species are poor in histidine. An average of 24.2% of the total nitrogen is non-proteinaceous. From data of total amino acid and total nitrogen, specific nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors were calculated for each species. The nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors calculated ranged from 4.51 to 5.21, with an overall average of 4.86. These findings show that the traditional conversion factor of 6.25 should be avoided for seaweeds, since it overestimates the actual protein content.


We report an interesting interaction between oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (oxi-MWCNTs), tetra n-heptylammonium bromide (ionic liquid) and total chromium ((Cr(VI)/Cr(III)) in this study. The interaction between the IL and oxidized MWCNTs primarily involves electrostatic affinity between the quaternary ammonium cation, and surface carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in oxi-MWCNTs. The IL-oxi-MWCNT adsorbent acts as a host in welcoming the incoming guest hydrochromate anions and several interesting interactions such as cation–π interactions, electrostatic interactions as well as anion–π interactions could be conceptualized in this process. The abundant oxygen-containing functional groups on the surfaces of oxi-MWCNTs play an important role in Cr(VI)/Cr(III) sorption. Characterization of the adsorbent was performed using various characterization techniques such as cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (13CPMAS-NMR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder-X-ray diffraction (Powder-XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy analysis (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) isotherm studies, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The capability of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Cr(VI) adsorption was extensively studied under different optimal parameters and the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 85.83 mg g−1 from a nonlinear Langmuir isotherm model. A kinetic study confirms a pseudo second order model and the process could be upgraded by column studies to a sample volume of 2000 mL. Effective regeneration of the adsorbent could be accomplished with sodium hydroxide and the potential of this novel adsorbent has been examined in the removal of Cr(VI)/Cr(III) from aqueous solutions.


Abstract The extracellular matrix (ECM) released by conidia of Pestalotia malicola when incubated on artificial and natural substrata was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated the presence of ECM beneath conidial appendages. Stains for non-specific esterase activity revealed that enzyme activity was initially present at the conidial appendages. Gelatin peel tests observed with light microscopy and SEM indicated that a strong initial spore adhesion occurs at the appendages flanking the conidium body. That the ECM was seen beneath firmly adhered conidial appendages suggests that it has a role in adhesion. Harvested ECM material from germinating conidia was deglycosylated and acetylated for GC/MS monosaccharide identification. Mole percent calculations show mannose to be the predominant monosaccharide present.


Following coronary artery bypass grafting repeat ischemia mandatory for reintervention occurs in 2 to 30% of cases, depending mainly on graft age. Selection of a suitable strategy for revascularisation--transcatheter angioplasty or reoperation--depends on various parameters including coronary morphology, left ventricular performance, comorbidity and availability of graft material. Catheter-based interventions on saphenous vein bypass grafts are feasible, but lower primary success rates and a higher incidence of restenosis--compared with native coronary arteries--have to be expected. Repeat coronary artery bypass graft operations are associated with a significantly higher perioperative morbidity and mortality, patency rates are lower and late clinical outcome is worse than in primary surgery. We report on a patient who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting 4 years ago revealing a high grade ostial stenosis in a jump-graft supplying RCA, LAD and Cx sequentially, making reintervention necessary. As a prerequisite serial balloon angioplasty of two native vessels was performed prior to ostial intervention. Intravascular-ultrasound guided directional coronary atherectomy was performed with good primary and long-term result. Our case demonstrates that, if all relevant clinical parameters and different therapeutic options are taken into account, complex transcatheter angioplasty procedures are feasible and associated with a reasonable amount of risk, thus avoiding repeat coronary artery bypass graft operations.


Under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a new-generation, platform-independent, and x86-compatible software package was developed for the analysis of scintigraphic renal dynamic imaging studies. It provides nuclear medicine professionals cost-free access to the most recent developments in the field. The software package is a step forward towards harmonization and standardization. Embedded functionalities render it a suitable tool for education, research, and for receiving distant expert's opinions. Another objective of this effort is to allow introducing clinically useful parameters of drainage, including normalized residual activity and outflow efficiency. Furthermore, it provides an effective teaching tool for young professionals who are being introduced to dynamic kidney studies by selected teaching case studies. The software facilitates a better understanding through practically approaching different variables and settings and their effect on the numerical results. An effort was made to introduce instruments of quality assurance at the various levels of the program's execution, including visual inspection and automatic detection and correction of patient's motion, automatic placement of regions of interest around the kidneys, cortical regions, and placement of reproducible background region on both primary dynamic and on postmicturition studies. The user can calculate the differential renal function through 2 independent methods, the integral or the Rutland-Patlak approaches. Standardized digital reports, storage and retrieval of regions of interest, and built-in database operations allow the generation and tracing of full image reports and of numerical outputs. The software package is undergoing quality assurance procedures to verify the accuracy and the interuser reproducibility with the final aim of launching the program for use by professionals and teaching institutions worldwide.


(57) Abstract: The present invention is bicyclic imidazo-3-yl of the general formula I in the form of its base or pharmaceutically acceptable salts - amines, as their preparation and the active substance, wherein claim 1, wherein at least one of the general formula bicyclic imidazo-3-yl represented by I according - amine relates to a medicament containing in the form of its base or pharmaceutically acceptable salt.


Explainable multi-hop question answering (QA) not only predicts answers but also identifies rationales, i. e. subsets of input sentences used to derive the answers. This problem has been extensively studied under the supervised setting, where both answer and rationale annotations are given. Because rationale annotations are expensive to collect and not always available, recent efforts have been devoted to developing methods that do not rely on supervision for rationales. However, such methods have limited capacities in modeling interactions between sentences, let alone reasoning across multiple documents. This work proposes a principled, probabilistic approach for training explainable multi-hop QA systems without rationale supervision. Our approach performs multi-hop reasoning by explicitly modeling rationales as sets, enabling the model to capture interactions between documents and sentences within a document. Experimental results show that our approach is more accurate at selecting rationales than the previous methods, while maintaining similar accuracy in predicting answers.


Objective To compare facial growth characteristics in patients with cleft palate who have undergone pharyngeal flap with those who had palatal lengthening or pharyngoplasty and to control subjects who have not had surgery for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). Design Matched retrospective cohort study. Setting Multidisciplinary cleft care center. Patients All patients with cleft palate who had undergone pharyngeal flap or pharyngoplasty/palatal lengthening for VPI were included. Patients with craniofacial syndromes or those who had undergone maxillary protraction were excluded. A control group did not undergo surgery for VPI. The three groups were matched based on cleft type and ages at VPI surgery and cephalogram. Main Outcome Measures Thirteen craniofacial measurements were evaluated on postoperative cephalograms using an analysis of variance with a Bonferroni adjustment for significant measures (α = 0.05). Results Seventy-two patients were included; mean ages at VPI surgery and postoperative cephalogram were 5 and 8 years, respectively. Twelve of thirteen craniofacial measures were not significantly different; notably, this included maxillary height and projection. Only gonial angle was found to differ significantly (P = .018) in that pharyngoplasty and pharyngeal flap yielded a smaller angle compared with that in control subjects. Conclusion Facial growth, and in particular maxillary growth, was not altered as expected after pharyngeal flap surgery. Pharyngeal flap appears to be equivalent to pharyngoplasty and palatal lengthening in that no significant effects on early facial growth were detected after surgery for VPI in this cohort of children with cleft palate.


Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations in lung adenocarcinoma have been previously associated with specific clinical characteristics and Computed Tomography (CT) patterns. However, associations among individual EGFR mutations have not been evaluated. We aim to differentiate if the most common EGFR mutations (exon 21 and 19) are related to specific clinical characteristics or CT patterns. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 5 databases were conducted with literature from January 2002 to July 2021. Eligible studies were of an experimental or observational design that included lung adenocarcinoma patients with confirmed EGFR exon mutations (21 and 19) and associated clinical characteristics and CT imaging patterns. Quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. The association between clinical and CT patterns and EGFR exon mutations 21 and 19 was evaluated using odds ratios (OR) and then pooled and analyzed with a fixed or random-effects model. This study follows the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 12 retrospective diagnostic accuracy studies were included. Pooled analysis showed that characteristics such as absence of smoking status (OR 1.29 [95% CI 0.97 - 1.70]), and female sex (OR 1.23 [95% CI 0.83 - 1.82]); and CT patterns such as Ground Glass Opacities (GGO) (OR 1.03 [95% CI 0.78 -1.34]), air bronchogram (OR 0.78 [95% CI 0.44 -1.39]), pleural retraction (OR 0.83 [95% CI 0.53 - 1.28]), and spiculation (OR 0.80 [95% CI 0.48 - 1.31]) were not significantly associated to a specific mutation. Specific EGFR exon 21 and 19 mutations cannot be differentiated through characteristics (absence of smoking status and female sex) or radiological patterns (GGO, air bronchogram, pleural retraction, and speculation). There is limited data to assess if early disease stage or vascular convergence aids in differentiating exon 21 from 19 mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.


Background Genital lesions lead patients to seek care in sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics. The old axiom "all genital lesions must be considered sexually acquired until proved to the contrary" is true today. A high level of suspicion of an STD must accompany examination of patients with genital lesions. Although other causes are also seen, we present a case of Zoon's balanitis in a patient with HIV infection. Methods A 40-year old, white male, sought attention for a genital lesion evolving over six months. He was on treatment with antiretrovirals, and underwent treatment with topic and systemic antifungal without improvement. He had multiple, well-delimited, moist red-orange lesions on the glans and foreskin. Some lesions had a face-to-face (kissing) disposition. Treponemal and non-treponemal serology was negative. With the hypothesis of plasmacytic balanitis, a biopsy was performed. Histopathologic examination demonstrated a lichenoid inflammation with an inflammatory infiltrate with plasmocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils. No vascular alteration was found. There was spongiosis and erosion of the epithelium. Results Zoon balanitis is a chronic, idiopathic, reactive balanoposthitis. It is believed to be associated with irritation in the context of a dysfunctional foreskin. It presents as well-circumscribed orange-redish moist lesions in the glands and foreskin, usually asymptomatic. HIV infection is an acknowledged risk factor for other STDs. Infectious causes such as candidiasis and syphilis are much more common and must be considered. Syphilitic lesions and Zoon balanitis share clinical and histopathological features including a slight thickening of the epidermis, parakeratosis, and patchy lichenoid infiltrates of lymphocytes and plasma cells, making their differential diagnosis complex, hence the need of always performing syphilis serology in such cases. Conclusion In spite of STD generally being the first hypothesis in patients with genital lesions, many causes must be considered, especially when atypical lesions are present or there is poor response to therapeutic measures. Disclosure No significant relationships.


Product quality is a major business dilemma in Pakistan. Organizations are dependent on Organization Development (OD) interventions to help them enhance their product quality to sustain in the global market. OD is a systematic organizational change process. The models of OD are helpful in designing state-of-the-art production systems to achieve the quality defined by customers. The current mixed methods explanatory sequential research study has tested a mediated model and investigated the impact of three structural OD interventions (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 & OHSAS 18001) on the product quality. Quantitative data from 146 manufacturing units, collected through a questionnaire, and qualitative data from five management systems experts are merged. Quantitative and qualitative findings show the positive and significant impact of ISO 9001:2015 on the product quality. The quantitative findings show the positive impacts of ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001 on the product quality. However, the qualitative findings reject any positive contribution of ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001 in product quality. The findings further revealed that the Integrated Management System (IMS), top management commitment and an effective monitoring system are essential strategies to make the systems more effective and efficient. The paper also discusses the compliant role of high performance corporate culture during the OD change process. The results have implications for corporate managers and management representatives


: It was shown that repeated administrations of valinomycin in doses of 1.0 and 0.01 gamma/gm to mice with Ehrlich ascitic tumors inhibited the ascite development. The radioautographic study using 3H-thimidine showed that 24 hours after the administration of valinomycin in doses of 0.1 and 0.01 gamma/gm transference of the cells into the phase of DNA synthesis was inhibited--inhibition of the tumor cell mitotic activity took place.


Abstract. This article explores the question of how scientific information can improve local agronomic management using concepts of uncertainty classification and uncertainty management. Information and data on local management of soil fertility based on a local classification system of soil quality were collected from a small watershed in Cauca (Colombia). The analyses suggest that farmers hold local knowledge about soils at two levels. The first is based on empirical observations and refers to local knowledge about soils and landscape, which shows that the classes identified in the local soil quality classification are consistent with results obtained using measured soil parameters. At the second level, farmers have some awareness of ecological processes and the appropriate use of relationships between key soil characteristics and management options. It is argued that local knowledge is not sufficient to cope with uncertainty introduced by a rapidly changing agriculture, including, for example, increasing land pressure, unpredictable market forces and climate change. We have suggested how scientific knowledge can contribute to the solution, based on an analysis that relates Cohen's (Heuristic reasoning about uncertainty: an artificial intelligence approach. Pitman London, 1985) and Rowe's (Risk Analysis 14, 743–750, 1994) uncertainty concepts to local knowledge.


We study the effect of non-magnetic Zn$^{2+}$ (spin-$0$) and magnetic Ni$^{2+}$ (spin-$1$) impurities on the ground state and low-lying excitations of the quasi-one-dimensional spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet Sr$_{2}$CuO$_{3}$ using inelastic neutron scattering, specific heat and bulk magnetization measurements. We show that 1 \% Ni$^{2+}$ doping in Sr$_2$CuO$_3$ results in a sizable spin gap in the spinon excitations, analogous to the case of Ni-doped SrCuO$_2$ previously reported [ref. 1]. However, a similar level of Zn$^{2+}$ doping in SrCuO$_2$, investigated here for comparison, did not reveal any signs of a spin gap. Magnetic ordering temperature was found to be suppressed in the presence of both Zn$^{2+}$ and Ni$^{2+}$ impurities, however, the rate of suppression due to Ni$^{2+}$ was found to be much more pronounced than for Zn$^{2+}$. Effect of magnetic field on the ordering temperature is investigated. We found that with increasing magnetic field, not only the magnetic ordering temperature gradually increases but the size of specific heat anomaly associated with the magnetic ordering also progressively enhances, which can be qualitatively understood as due to the field induced suppression of quantum fluctuations.


Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) consist of a large number of small and low cost sensor nodes powered by small batteries and equipped with various sensing devices. Usually, for many applications, once a WSN is deployed, probably in an inhospitable terrain, it is expected to gather the required data for quite some time, say for years. Since each sensor node has limited energy, these nodes are usually put to sleep to conserve energy, and this helps to prolong the network lifetime. There are two major approaches to sleep scheduling of sensor nodes, viz. (i) random (ii) synchronized. Any sleep scheduling scheme has to ensure that data can always be routed from source to sink. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for sleep scheduling of sensor nodes using a tree and an energy aware routing protocol which is integrated with the proposed sleep scheduling scheme. The tree is rooted at the sink node. The internal nodes of the tree remain awake and the leaf nodes are made to sleep. This provides an assured path from any node to the sink node. The tree is periodically reconstructed considering the remaining energy of each node with a view to balance energy consumption of nodes, and remove any failed nodes from the tree. The proposed approach also considerably reduces average energy consumption rate of each node as we are able to put more number of nodes to sleep in comparison to other approaches. Additional fault-tolerance is provided by keeping two paths from each node towards the sink. Extensive simulation studies of the proposed routing protocol has been carried out using Castalia simulator, and its performance has been compared with that of a routing protocol, called GSP, which incorporates sleep scheduling using random approach. The simulation results show that the proposed approach has longer network lifetime in comparison to that provided by GSP, and the energy consumption of nodes is also balanced.


VAGOTOMY with pyloroplasty has markedly altered our attitude toward duodenal ulcer disease. This highly effective operation with its minimal mortality and morbidity permits new leniency in the criteria for operative intervention. Patients, surgeons, and referring physicians no longer need express reluctance relative to the harsh experience of subtotal gastrectomy. Yet greater benefits would accrue if a parallel alteration in criteria and attitude were permitted in the care of patients withgastriculcer disease; for the results of conservative therapy in these patients is infrequently rewarded by permanent control of the diathesis, and occult carcinoma remains an additional significant factor. Furthermore, the gastric ulcer patient is frequently elderly and infirm—adverse factors of great surgical import. Vagotomy and pyloroplasty will be welcomed by all if proved effective in gastric ulcer control. Material Fifty-five patients have undergone pyloroplasty with or without vagotomy for "benign" gastric ulcers (Table 1). Ulcerating lesions suspect for carcinoma


Activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) by agonist ligands is mediated by a transition from an inactive to active receptor conformation. We describe a novel single-molecule assay that monitors activation-linked conformational transitions in individual GPCR molecules in real-time. The receptor is site-specifically labeled with a Cy3 fluorescence probe at the end of trans-membrane helix 6 and reconstituted in phospholipid nanodiscs tethered to a microscope slide. Individual receptor molecules are then monitored over time by single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, revealing spontaneous transitions between inactive and active-like conformations. The assay provides information on the equilibrium distribution of inactive and active receptor conformations and the rate constants for conformational exchange. The experiments can be performed in the absence of ligands, revealing the spontaneous conformational transitions responsible for basal signaling activity, or in the presence of agonist or inverse agonist ligands, revealing how the ligands alter the dynamics of the receptor to either stimulate or repress signaling activity. The resulting mechanistic information is useful for the design of improved GPCR-targeting drugs. The single-molecule assay is described in the context of the β2 adrenergic receptor, but can be extended to a variety of GPCRs.


We report on a teaching experiment carried on in some high schools of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Starting with a two-hours talk on Artificial Intelligence and games proposed two years ago, the project went on with a short course on modeling with Answer Set Programming for students last year. In the current third year a course addressed to (high school) teachers has been organized. The aim is to prepare with them didactical material for their students to be used in the following years in the same schools, and possibly in other schools, without the need of lectures held by an external logic programming expert.


Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber coatings based on conductive polypyrrole films were prepared for the electrochemical extraction and desorption of ionic analytes. Simple preparation of each of the PPY extraction coatings on a platinum wire was possible with a constant potential method, but more importantly, cycling of the film between oxidation and reduction potentials facilitated the extraction and desorption of ionic analytes. The analytes were desorbed into a sample aliquot of water and were determined by flow injection analysis using a mass spectrometer. The fiber coatings and the developed electrochemical SPME method were found to be stable and reproducible (RSD < 5%; N = 5) and could be extended to several cations and anions, confirming the versatility of the approach. Preconcentration of the analyte on the fiber was also possible by repeating the processes to increase the amount of analyte extracted.


The highly efficient synthesis of the enantioenriched spiroindolines by iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic dearomatization and reduction is presented. Spiroindolines containing three contiguous stereogenic centers were obtained with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. In addition, a chiral tryptamine derivative could be easily accessed in good yield with excellent ee value through an unprecedented dearomatization/retro-Mannich/hydrolysis cascade reaction of an indole derivative.


We report on the discovery in the LOFAR Multifrequency Snapshot Sky Survey (MSSS) of a giant radio galaxy (GRG) with a projected size of 2.56±0.07 Mpc projected on the sky. It is associated with the galaxy triplet UGC 9555, within which one is identified as a broad-line galaxy in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) at a redshift of 0.05453±1×10?5, and with a velocity dispersion of 215.86±6.34 km/s. From archival radio observations we see that this galaxy hosts a compact flat-spectrum radio source, and we conclude that it is the active galactic nucleus (AGN) responsible for generating the radio lobes. The radio luminosity distribution of the jets, and the broad-line classification of the host AGN, indicate this GRG is orientated well out of the plane of the sky, making its physical size one of the largest known for any GRG. Analysis of the infrared data suggests that the host is a lenticular type galaxy with a large stellar mass (log M/M?=11.56±0.12), and a moderate star formation rate (1.2±0.3 M?/year). Spatially smoothing the SDSS images shows the system around UGC 9555 to be significantly disturbed, with a prominent extension to the south-east. Overall, the evidence suggests this host galaxy has undergone one or more recent moderate merger events and is also experiencing tidal interactions with surrounding galaxies, which have caused the star formation and provided the supply of gas to trigger and fuel the Mpc-scale radio lobes. © 2017 Phys.org


[B]ecause I am a Catholic, and no Catholic has ever been elected President, the real issues in this campaign have been obscured--perhaps deliberately, in some quarters less responsible than this. So it is apparently necessary for me to state once again--not what kind of church I believe in, for that should be important only to me--but what kind of America I believe in. John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1960 (1) Fifty years ago, Senator John F. Kennedy, a Democrat from Massachusetts and a lifelong Roman Catholic, accepted an invitation from the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, a group of Protestant, predominantly Southern Baptist clergymen, to address what was then called "the Catholic Question" in American politics: could an adherent to the Roman Catholic religion be elected president of the United States? At a distance of fifty years, the very question may seem antiquated and distasteful--a whiff of a bigotry now overcome, not least as a result of Kennedy's well chosen words, as well as his exemplary performance as the first Catholic president of the United States. Today, some 161 members of Congress are Catholics--30.1% of the federal legislature--despite an adult American population that is only 23.9% Catholic. (2) Catholics are even more heavily represented among U.S. governors. Twenty-one governors, or forty-two percent of the total, are Catholics. (3) Evidently, Americans trust Catholics to be their representatives and executives even more than they do most other religions. Most remarkably of all, fully two-thirds of the U.S. Supreme Court justices are Catholics, while not a single justice is a member of a Protestant denomination. (4) Vice President Joe Biden is a Catholic. (5) So are former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (6) and the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry. (7) The Catholicism of these leaders has not been an issue, at least not in the way it was an issue for John F. Kennedy, and before him for Al Smith, the Democratic party's candidate for President in 1928. (8) Then, the fear was that Catholic officeholders might be too obedient to the teachings of their Church. (9) Today, to the extent the Catholicism of a candidate is even noticed, it is more likely that people wonder how these public figures can square their professed Catholicism with their evident lack of agreement with much that the Church teaches. (10) Pelosi, Biden, and Kerry, for example, are ardent supporters of the freedom to have an abortion, which the Church regards as an evil. (11) Of course, a lot has changed since 1960. The nation has changed. Americans today are more religiously diverse (12) and more tolerant at least in some ways. (13) The great religious divide has shifted from Protestant/Catholic to secular/religious. (14) Today there may be more tension between more and less observant or orthodox believers within religious denominations than there is between those denominations. Catholic doctrine has changed. Just a few years after Kennedy gave his speech, the great council at Vatican II largely adopted American notions of religious freedom and church-state separation, (15) thus putting to rest one of the most vexing issues facing Catholic candidates like Kennedy. And Catholic Americans have changed. For the worse as well as for the better, Catholics have come to resemble Protestants. When Kennedy spoke, Catholics attended church more often than Protestants did. (16) Now those rates are about the same. (17) And Catholics now pay about as much attention to church teachings as Protestants do. Recent polls by the Pew Research Center have shown that Catholic attitudes toward such issues as abortion and homosexuality differ hardly at all from the general population. (18) In fact, according to Gallup polls, today conservative and evangelical Protestants are more likely to agree with many Catholic teachings than Catholics are. (19) So we are in a different world than the one facing John F. …


We study the problem of retrieval with instructions, where users of a retrieval system explicitly describe their intent along with their queries. We aim to develop a general-purpose task-aware retrieval system using multi-task instruction tuning, which can follow human-written instructions to find the best documents for a given query. We introduce the first large-scale collection of approximately 40 retrieval datasets with instructions, BERRI, and present TART, a multi-task retrieval system trained on BERRI with instructions. TART shows strong capabilities to adapt to a new retrieval task via instructions and advances the state of the art on two zero-shot retrieval benchmarks, BEIR and LOTTE, outperforming models up to three times larger. We further introduce a new evaluation setup, X^2-Retrieval to better reflect real-world scenarios, where diverse domains and tasks are pooled and a system needs to find documents aligning users' intents. In this setup, TART significantly outperforms competitive baselines, further demonstrating the effectiveness of guiding retrieval with instructions.


We address the problem of suggesting who to add as an additional recipient (i.e. cc, or carbon copy) for an email under composition. We address the problem using graphical models for words in the body and subject line of the email as well as the recipients given so far on the email. The problem of cc prediction is closely related to the problem of expert finding in an organization. We show that graphical models present a variety of solutions to these problems. We present results using naively structured models and introduce a powerful new modeling tool: plated factor graphs.


The objective of this case report is to illustrate the influence of socio‐psychological background on behavior in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). A comparative analysis was undertaken of two suicide cases with AD in the USA and Japan. Both cases were in the early stages of AD. They succeeded in suicide even with their disturbed executive functions, because they felt deprived of their dignity for different reasons according to their socio‐cultural background. Early stage AD patients may retain the behavior and intellectual functions associated with their dignity and desire. Since dignity and desire are very cultural concerns, socio‐psychological background should be cautiously considered when dealing with the emotional problems of AD patients.


Evidence based medicine and narrative based medicine rarely meet, and they may conflict, 1 2 but in clinical care they are complementary.3–5 Some attempts to integrate the two approaches have not considered the doctor's story, which is often critical to understanding a case. 6 7

This paper tries to bridge gaps between a patient's and doctor's narratives and the evidence. It is the story of a patient in our practice (see box) who has produced written narratives about her illness and shared them with her family physician (SR). We use the narratives to decide on the best evidence based treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after corrected tetralogy of Fallot.

We searched Medline between December 1999 and May 2000 with the keywords atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal), tetralogy of Fallot, atrial arrhythmia, anticoagulation, primary care, family medicine, general practice, and ambulatory medicine. We also searched http://www.goldenhour.co.il/ (an Israeli website that includes evidence based medicine).

We found no important evidence on the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation plus tetralogy of Fallot. Our discussion is based on the evidence available on paroxysmal atrial fibrillation alone.

Risk factors for thromboembolism in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation are cumulative.8–13 In patients without risk factors who are not treated for thromboembolism, the annual risk of stroke is about 1%. For patients at low risk of thromboembolism, aspirin or no drug is recommended. 8 11–14 The presence of one risk factor puts patients at moderate risk of thromboembolism (2-5% annual risk of stroke), and the treatment recommendation is aspirin or warfarin. Patients at high risk—with a 6-12% annual risk of stroke—should be given warfarin. Articles based in primary care lean towards less aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.15–18

#### Case history

A 56 year old married …


Load testing was performed on a one-third scale model steel fiber reinforced concrete post-tensioned flat plate. The specimen had nine 10ft x 10ft x 3in. bays along with a 2ft-6in. overhang. Distributed loading was applied with a whiffle tree loading system at each bay and overhang section. Throughout the test, crack widths, crack locations, deflections, concrete strains, and reinforcing bar strains were monitored. The post-tensioned flat plate was designed to just meet the maximum allowable stress requirements of ACI 318. Minimal quantities of hairline cracks were observed after stressing the slab, and up through service-level loads, the cracks grew slightly in length and width. The slab behaved elastically through service-level loading. As factored-level loading was approached, the slab began to behave inelastically as indicated by both the loaddeflection plots and the load-strain plots. A total ultimate load of 282psf (174psf of applied load) was reached when concrete crushing occurred. A 0.20in. wide full-length crack was observed running on the bottom surface of the slab between column lines 1 and 2, and a full-length crack was observed at column line 2 on the top surface of the slab. These two cracks were the leading contributors to the slab's failure. The performance of the SFRC post-tensioned flat plate indicated that considerations should be made to remove requirements for negative moment reinforcement in post-tensioned flat plates when SFRC is used. Also, the requirements for positive moment reinforcement should be modified. Additionally, the SFRC posttensioned flat plate exhibited excellent levels of ductility. More experimentation should be conducted to determine if the maximum tensile stress in ACI 318 can be increased for post-tensioned flat plates with SFRC.


Considerable interest in renewable energy has increased in recent years due to the concerns raised over the environmental impact of conventional energy sources and their price volatility. In particular, wind power has enjoyed a dramatic global growth in installed capacity over the past few decades. Nowadays, the advancement of wind turbine industry represents a challenge for several engineering areas, including materials science, computer science, aerodynamics, analytical design and analysis methods, testing and monitoring, and power electronics. In particular, the technological improvement of wind turbines is currently tied to the use of advanced design methodologies, allowing the designers to develop new and more efficient design concepts. Integrating mathematical optimization techniques into the multidisciplinary design of wind turbines constitutes a promising way to enhance the profitability of these devices. In the literature, wind turbine design optimization is typically performed deterministically.
Deterministic optimizations do not consider any degree of randomness affecting the inputs of the system under consideration, and result, therefore, in an unique set of outputs. However, given the stochastic nature of the wind and the uncertainties associated, for instance, with wind turbine operating conditions or geometric tolerances, deterministically optimized designs may be inefficient. Therefore, one of the ways to further improve the design of modern wind turbines is to take into account the aforementioned sources of uncertainty in the optimization process, achieving robust configurations with minimal performance sensitivity to factors causing variability.

The research work presented in this thesis deals with the development of a novel integrated multidisciplinary design framework for the robust aeroservoelastic design optimization of multi-megawatt horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) rotors, accounting for the stochastic variability related to the input variables. The design system is based on a multidisciplinary analysis module integrating several simulations tools needed to characterize the aeroservoelastic behavior of wind turbines, and determine their economical performance by means of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The reported design framework is portable and modular in that any of its analysis modules can be replaced with counterparts of user-selected fidelity. The presented technology is applied to the design of a 5-MW HAWT rotor to be used at sites of wind power density class from 3 to 7, where the mean wind speed at 50 m above the ground ranges from 6.4 to 11.9 m/s. Assuming the mean wind speed to vary stochastically in such range, the rotor design is optimized by minimizing the mean and standard deviation of the LCOE. Airfoil shapes, spanwise distributions of blade chord and twist, internal structural layup and rotor speed are optimized concurrently, subject to an extensive set of structural and aeroelastic constraints. The effectiveness of the multidisciplinary and robust design framework is demonstrated by showing that the probabilistically designed turbine achieves more favorable probabilistic performance than those of the initial baseline turbine and a turbine designed deterministically.


gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been identified in axon terminals innervating neurons of the supraoptic nucleus and has been shown to inhibit the electrical activity of supraoptic neurons when applied iontophoretically. This study examines the effects of GABA and GABA antagonists on vasopressin (VP) release from organ-cultured explants of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS). The GABA antagonists bicuculline and picrotoxin stimulated VP release in a concentration-dependent manner. These observations suggest that VP release by HNS explants is tonically inhibited by GABA. Exposure of HNS explants to GABA (10(-8)-10(-3) M) did not consistently alter basal VP release. This was true even when penicillin, which can block GABA-activated chloride channels, was omitted from the medium. Similarly, nipecotic acid, an agent that potentiates GABA activity by inhibiting GABA uptake, did not alter basal VP release; stimulation of VP release by acetylcholine and increases in osmolality was not diminished by the addition of 10(-5) M GABA. The failure of exogenous GABA to modify basal and stimulated VP release suggests that GABAergic inhibition of VP release is maximally activated by endogenously released GABA in cultured HNS explants. This is consistent with evidence for a local source of GABA in the supraoptic nucleus and suggests that one role of GABA in the regulation of VP release is that of a potent local inhibitory neurotransmitter.


An ideal vaccine for allergen-specific immunotherapy of type I allergies should display reduced mediator-releasing capacity, induce maturation of APC, and modify the disease-eliciting Th2-dominated allergen-specific response to a more physiological response. We have previously shown that rSbsC-Bet v 1, the recombinant fusion protein of a bacterial surface (S-layer) protein of Geobacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 12980 and the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, exhibited reduced allergenicity and induced IFN-γ and IL-10 synthesis in Bet v 1-specific Th2 clones. In this study, we characterized the effects of rSbsC-Bet v 1 on immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mdDC) and the consequences for the polarization of naive CD4+ T lymphocytes isolated from the blood of birch pollen-allergic patients. mdDC responded to rSbsC-Bet v 1 with a significant up-regulation of costimulatory molecules, functional maturation, and the synthesis of IL-10 and IL-12. mdDC matured with rSbsC-Bet v 1 induced the differentiation of naive T cells into IFN-γ-producing cells. This effect was IL-12 dependent. In parallel, a substantial number of naive T cells developed into IL-10-producing CD25+Foxp3+CLTA-4+ cells capable of active suppression. Thus, rSbsC-Bet v 1 showed immune stimulatory capacity on DC, which then promoted the simultaneous differentiation of Th0/Th1 cells and regulatory T cells. These data further support that the concept of conjugating allergens to bacterial agents is a promising approach to improve vaccines for specific immunotherapy of atopic allergies.


Abstract A hypersilicic Cl-bearing mica was synthesized at 4 GPa and 1200-1250 °C, close to the solidus of the join diopside-jadeite-KCl, in association with diopside-jadeite pyroxene, K-rich aluminosilicate glass and/or sanidine and (K,Na)Cl. The mica shows a negative correlation between tetrahedral Si and octahedral (Al + Mg), suggesting an Al-celadonitic substitution (Si + VIAl + VI □ = IVAl + VIMg) and a chemical formula: K1.01(Mg2.45Al0.19□ 0.35)Σ=3(Si3.52Al0.48)Σ=4O10[(OH,O)1.66Cl0.34)]Σ=2. The presence of hydroxyl was confirmed by OH stretching modes at 3734 and 3606 cm-1 in the Raman spectra. Singlecrystal X-ray diffraction data provide the unit-cell parameters (space group C2/m, 1M polytype): a = 5.299(4), b = 9.167(3), c = 10.226(3) Å, β =100.06(4)°, V = 489.1(4) Å3. The structure refinement shows the presence of vacancies on the octahedral sites (15% for M1 and 6.5% for M2). Chlorine occupies a position about 0.5 Å from O4 with partial occupancy (0.39 apfu). Crystal-chemical mechanisms seem to govern chlorine incorporation in mica, since a large A site is necessary to locate the anion in the structure. A large A site results when the six-tetrahedra ring is hexagonal and the tetrahedral rotation angle α is 0°. Such a geometry is achieved either by increasing the annite component in biotite or by increasing the hypersilicic character of phlogopite through the Al-celadonite substitution. The present Si-rich mica shows a partial dioctahedral character due to the Al-celadonite substitution, which lowers the α angle and expands its stability field at high pressure. High aK₂O conditions, like in potassium-rich brine or potassic carbonatitic melts, increase the Alceladonite component in the phlogopite solid solution, explaining the association of Si-rich micas with inclusions of potassic liquids in kimberlitic diamonds.


Phosphorus is ubiquitous for its essential function in plant growth. Phosphate-bearing rocks include phosphorites and rocks that host phosphate mineral. Phosphorites, rocks containing ≥18 % phosphorus-pentoxide (P2O5), are essential sources of phosphorus. Due to the vast application of phosphorites in the manufacture of fertilisers and industrial products, the study of phosphate bearing rocks is crucial. This article examines the mineral component and structure of phosphate-bearing rocks in the Eastern Dahomey Basin, Southwestern Nigeria. Eleven pulverised samples of phosphatic rocks were analysed, employing a microscope, for petrographic studies. Three major types of phosphorites exist in the Eastern Dahomey Basin: Granular (which are composed of oolitic and pelletal structures), Nodular (which comprises cylindrical, rectangular, ellipsoidal shapes), and the vesicular (which either have coarse or fine forms) varieties. The phosphorites contain fluorapatite (as the dominant mineral), calcite, quartz, and glauconite. Generally, the phosphorites are fossiliferous (lamellibranches, echinoderms, shell, and bone fragments are observable). The phosphatic limestones are micrite (allochems) hosting collophane (specks of fine-textured fluorapatite) and glauconite. While fluorapatite occurs in the phosphatic claystone, it is glauconitic, just as the gypsum. The results of the petrographic analysis indicated the influence of seawater in the deposition of the phosphate-bearing rocks in an oxic environment.


Long-life education has become a phenomenon in world of education, and many adults pursue their study while working in order to compete with the demands of today's life in upgrading their education levels. In adopting a new lifestyle by becoming students, these students also need to face new stress in their liwes. The study is to snd out the enwironmental stress factors among part-time students. Five dependant variables are used for each of the factors and the respondents responded by ranking the variables. Questionnaire is used and distributed to the respondents which are 80 part time students from 5 universities, UNIMAS, UiTM, OUM, UPM and USM. This paper will also discuss how environment affects stress among part –time students in Sarawak. The environment factors which are discussed are the size, the conditions in term of noise and safety, pollutions, the quality of air and the potential of natural disasters in the house they are living and the surroundings. The signiscance of the study is to illustrate the highest stressors in part time adult students.
Keywords: Part-time students; environmental stress; stressors
eISSN 2514-7528 © 2017 The Author. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.


The selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) to 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) is one of the rapidly growing research area due to having its own importance in the fuel technology. We report a new heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of HMF to DFF in aqeous medium using a carbon soot deposited on magnetite (Fe3O4@C). Further, the potentiality of our catalyst has also been realized in direct production of DFF from biomass (using either fructose or glucose) with high conversions via two consecutive steps.


Here we provide a primer for correctly selecting and implementing optoelectronic characterization techniques on semiconductor nanocrystal solids and choosing the appropriate models with which to interpret the data. We discuss the two most fundamental device architectures incorporating a solid composed of solution-processed semiconductor nanocrystals: the metal–semiconductor–metal diode and the heterojunction diode, and the broad classes of techniques that can be used to analyse them including quasi-static (e.g. current–voltage), harmonic (e.g. admittance spectroscopy), and transient measurements. We then separately address the models that are commonly applied to understand the semiconductor behaviour including the Shockley diode equation and capacitance-based analyses such as Mott–Schottky and Shockley–Read–Hall models and potential pitfalls in their application. We additionally highlight methods to extract the density and position of trap states, located in the band gap of these semiconductors and which play an important role in device performance. Due to its interest as an absorptive material for third generation solar cells, we discuss the techniques and analysis in the context of PbS nanocrystal solids and provide reference values for this material throughout the text.


Background In the 1990s, the mercury-based preservative thimerosal was used in most pediatric vaccines. Although there are currently only two thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) recommended for pediatric use, parental perceptions that vaccines pose safety concerns are affecting vaccination rates, particularly in light of the much expanded and more complex schedule in place today. Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the safety of pediatric vaccine schedules in a non-human primate model. Methods We administered vaccines to six groups of infant male rhesus macaques (n = 12–16/group) using a standardized thimerosal dose where appropriate. Study groups included the recommended 1990s Pediatric vaccine schedule, an accelerated 1990s Primate schedule with or without the measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine, the MMR vaccine only, and the expanded 2008 schedule. We administered saline injections to age-matched control animals (n = 16). Infant development was assessed from birth to 12 months of age by examining the acquisition of neonatal reflexes, the development of object concept permanence (OCP), computerized tests of discrimination learning, and infant social behavior. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, multilevel modeling, and survival analyses, where appropriate. Results We observed no group differences in the acquisition of OCP. During discrimination learning, animals receiving TCVs had improved performance on reversal testing, although some of these same animals showed poorer performance in subsequent learning-set testing. Analysis of social and nonsocial behaviors identified few instances of negative behaviors across the entire infancy period. Although some group differences in specific behaviors were reported at 2 months of age, by 12 months all infants, irrespective of vaccination status, had developed the typical repertoire of macaque behaviors. Conclusions This comprehensive 5-year case–control study, which closely examined the effects of pediatric vaccines on early primate development, provided no consistent evidence of neurodevelopmental deficits or aberrant behavior in vaccinated animals. Citation Curtis B, Liberato N, Rulien M, Morrisroe K, Kenney C, Yutuc V, Ferrier C, Marti CN, Mandell D, Burbacher TM, Sackett GP, Hewitson L. 2015. Examination of the safety of pediatric vaccine schedules in a non-human primate model: assessments of neurodevelopment, learning, and social behavior. Environ Health Perspect 123:579–589; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408257


The paper deals with the simulation of batch crystallization processes and their crystal size distribution controllability by temperature control. The dynamic of crystallization processes under consideration is governed by hyperbolic partial differential equations. We propose simulating the processes of one size variable using the method of characteristics. It turns out that the method of characteristics has no numerical diffusion as compared to the finite difference method. Given a desired crystal size distribution, we investigate its reachability from the null initial condition (i.e. without seeding) by controlling the temperature. Some checkable criterion is established to determine if a desired crystal size distribution is reachable. When it is reachable, an admissible temperature control is constructed to steer the states to the desired distribution in finite time. Our construction is developed based on the discretized model and applied for the original model described by partial differential equations. To ensure a desirable distribution to be reached, we add an output feedback control law to correct possible errors given rise to by uncertainty of parameters.


Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) is organically grown in Switzerland primarily for the flowers, which are used for the production of candies. In June of 2006 in a commercial orchard in Knonau, Switzerland, leaves prematurely turned yellow and dropped off. Other symptoms included weak growth of new twigs in the spring and wilting of leaves during the hotter temperatures of summer. Chlamydospores of Chalara elegans Nag Raj & Kendrick (synonym Thielaviopsis basicola (Berk. & Broome) Ferr.) (1) were found on fine roots of 4-year-old trees. In 2004, similar aboveground symptoms had been observed in two elderberry orchards in Emmental, Switzerland, but no causal organism was detected at that time. All three orchards were planted during 2002 with plants obtained from the same nursery. The pathogenicity of C. elegans on black elderberry was confirmed at the Agroscope Changins Wädenswil ACW Research Center in Conthey. Black elderberry seedlings were produced from seeds collected from a healthy plant in the fall of 2007. Seeds were placed on wet filter paper in petri dishes and incubated at 1°C for 6 months. Germinated seeds were transplanted in seed trays filled with steam-sterilized peat substrate and maintained in a greenhouse at 16 to 22°C. In the spring of 2008, a strain of C. elegans was recovered from carrot on potato dextrose agar (PDA) for artificial inoculation of elderberry. Mycelium edges of the isolate were transferred on two pieces of PDA to a clay/V8 medium. The medium consisted of 50 ml of expanded clay granules and 20 ml of clarified V8 juice in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks that had been autoclaved for 30 min. C. elegans cultures were incubated in darkness at 24°C for 1 month. Sandy loam soil with a pH of 7.4 (soil/water; 1:1 (wt/vol)) was autoclaved twice for 45 min with a 1-day interval. Plastic pots (0.5 liter) were first filled with 300 ml of sterile soil. Twenty milliliters of C. elegans inoculum were then added and covered with 100 ml of sterile soil. One black elderberry seedling with two true leaves fully expanded (3 to 5 cm high) was transplanted into each of five pots with inoculated clay granules and noninoculated clay granules. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 18 to 25°C and watered with tap water. Inoculated and control pots were kept in two separate trays to avoid cross contamination by drainage water. After 2 months, inoculated plants were approximately half the size of control plants. Approximately 75% of the inoculated roots were brown because of the occurrence of chlamydospores of C. elegans, which was reisolated on PDA. To my knowledge, this is the first report of C. elegans on roots of black elderberry. References: (1) K. H. Domsch et al. Compendium of Soil Fungi. Vol. 1. IHW-Verlag, Eching, Germany, 1993.


Theory of mind and individual preferences are important determinants in social decision making. The current study examined in a large sample whether being a cooperative preference type is related with better theory of mind skills. Furthermore, by testing adolescents and adults, we examined the impact of age on this relation. Theory of mind is measured in a Public Goods Game. Results indicate that the cooperative type predicted other players. preference types more accurately in the first round of the Public Goods Game. Regarding age differences, cooperative adults estimated the behavior of players of the same type better than cooperative adolescents. Adolescents show lower cooperation levels and a slower adaption of behavior than adults indicating ongoing development of theory of mind in adolescence.


Artificial intelligence (AI) applications have introduced transformative possibilities within geohazard analysis, particularly concerning the assessment of rock slope instabilities. This study delves into the amalgamation of AI and empirical techniques to attain highly precise outcomes in the evaluation of slope stability. Specifically, our primary objective is to propose innovative and efficient methods by investigating the integration of AI within the well-regarded Qslope system, renowned for its efficacy in analyzing rock slope stability. Given the complexities inherent in rock characteristics, particularly in coastal regions, the Qslope system necessitates adjustments and harmonization with other geomechanical methodologies. Uncertainties prevalent in rock engineering, compounded by water-related factors, warrant meticulous consideration during all calculations. To address these complexities, we present a novel approach through the infusion of fuzzy set theory into the Qslope classification, leveraging fuzziness to effectively quantify and accommodate uncertainties. Our approach employs a sophisticated fuzzy algorithm encompassing six inputs, three outputs, and 756 fuzzy rules, thereby enabling a robust assessment of rock slope stability in coastal regions. The implementation of this method capitalizes on the high-level programming language Python, enhancing computational efficiency. To validate the potency of our AI-based approach, we conducted preliminary tests on slope instabilities within coastal zones, indicating a promising initial direction. The results underwent thorough evaluation, affirming the precision and dependability of the proposed method. However, it is crucial to emphasize that this work represents a first attempt to apply AI to the evaluation of rock slope stability. Our findings underscore a high degree of concurrence and expeditious stability assessment, vital for timely and effective hazard mitigation. Nonetheless, we acknowledge that the reliability of this innovative method must be established through broader applications across diverse scenarios. The proposed AI-based approach's effectiveness is validated through a preliminary survey on a slope instability case within a coastal region, and its potential merits must be substantiated through broader validation efforts.


The presence of abnormal ovarian ratios of myo-inositol (MI) to D-chiro-inositol (DCI) is a recurrent feature in PCOS. Available evidence suggests that MI and DCI may modulate steroid biosynthesis, likely in an opposite manner. Specifically, MI seems to induce estrogen production, while DCI has a role in the synthesis of androgens. Elevated insulin levels, generally associated with PCOS, alter the physiological MI/DCI ratio, increasing MI-to-DCI conversion through activation of a specific epimerase enzyme. DCI directly increases testosterone biosynthesis in thecal cells and reduces its conversion to estradiol by downregulating aromatase enzyme in granulosa cells. This manuscript reviews the literature that supports the connection between altered MI/DCI ratios and pathological steroidogenesis observed in PCOS women. Furthermore, it discusses the application of inositol-based treatment protocols in managing PCOS symptoms and improving the quality of patients' life.


DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) is characterized by aplasia or hypoplasia of the thymus and parathyroid glands, cardiac defects and anomaly face. This syndrome is usually associated with hypocalcemia resulting from hypoparathyroidism. In most cases the initial symptom is tetany caused by hypocalcemia within 24-48 hours after birth, with symptoms by immune abnormality appearing later. We report a woman who passed with no symptoms before age 18 and was diagnosed DiGeorge syndrome by tetany with developing auto-immune thyroid disease (Graves' disease). She had surgery for intraventricular septal defect at age 3, hypoparathyroidism, decrease of T cells in peripheral blood and the deletion of the 22nd chromosome long arm (22q11.2). It is supposed that abnormalities of immune function of this case are not complete as indicated by complicating of Graves' disease, and contributing to her long-term survival.


Art education as a distinct academic discipline is relatively recent and closely related to the growth of specialist teacher qualification programmes in university education departments. Opportunities for art teachers to engage in research were first provided in advanced diploma courses and specialist masters programmes set up in university education departments. Later these were followed by specialist doctoral degrees. Since the majority of such programmes are located in education departments, research training has tended to be social science based. Recently there has been a flurry of publications by art and art education specialists devoted to explaining and extolling the idea of art practice as an alternative paradigm. This article analyses and discusses this development and the status of research in the specialist field, drawing on the author's recent experience of carrying out two systematic reviews of studies in art education. It examines strengths and weaknesses in the two research paradigms and suggests ways forward for improving training in art education research.


We investigated the neuroprotective effects of deca nano-graphene oxide (daNGO) against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y and in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced Parkinsonian rat model. An MTT assay was performed to measure cell viability in vitro in the presence of 6-OHDA and/or daNGO. The intracellular ROS level was quantified using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. daNGO showed neuroprotective effects against 6-OHDA-induced toxicity and also displayed ROS scavenging properties. We then tested the protective effects of daNGO against 6-OHDA induced toxicity in a rat model. Stepping tests showed that the akinesia symptoms were improved in the daNGO group compared to the control group. Moreover, in an apomorphine-induced rotation test, the number of net contralateral rotations was decreased in the daNGO group compared to the control group. By immunofluorescent staining, the animals in the daNGO group had more tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells than the controls. By anti-Iba1 staining, 6-OHDA induced microglial activation showed a significantly decrease in the daNGO group, indicating that the neuroprotective effects of graphene resulted from anti-inflammation. In conclusion, nano-graphene oxide has neuroprotective effects against the neurotoxin induced by 6-OHDA on dopaminergic neurons.


Facing trends in industrial manufacturing adaptability of manufacturing systems increase its importance in design and application resulting in a claim for decentralized control and distributed intelligence. This type of control requires a new design methodology with respect to up to now used design approaches. Current control system description and specification technologies are only limited useable for distributed control systems design and methodologies reflecting distributed intelligence. Within this paper with GAIA-UML a description technology will be given fitting well to the description of distributed control systems and distributed intelligence, enabling a new way of control system design for distributed control systems based on enriching control system design pattern by application case related information, and, finally, enabling an automatic control code generation.


This guide will help you plan and deliver a well-organized presentation that is entertaining and educational for your audience. A 4-H demonstration is a great way for you to share your passion and teach others about your 4-H food-related project work. Written by Geralyn Sachs, and published by the UF/IFAS Extension Florida 4-H Youth Development Program, June 2023.


Kondo tunneling reveals hidden SO(n) dynamical symmetries of evenly occupied quantum dots. As is exemplified for an experimentally realizable triple quantum dot in parallel geometry, the possible values n=3,4,5,7 can be easily tuned by gate voltages. Following construction of the corresponding o(n) algebras, scaling equations are derived and Kondo temperatures are calculated. The symmetry group for a magnetic field induced anisotropic Kondo tunneling is SU(2) or SO(4).