OBJECTIVES
We evaluated the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on hospital admissions for respiratory conditions associated with ambient particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or less in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in children aged 1 to 9 years in 12 California counties, from 2000 to 2005.

METHODS
We linked daily hospital admissions for respiratory conditions (acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, and asthma) to meteorological, air pollution, and census data.

RESULTS
In San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties, the admission rates for children associated with PM2.5 ranged from 1.03 to 1.07 for combined respiratory conditions and 1.03 to 1.08 for asthma in regions with lower SES. We observed 2 distinct patterns of the influence of the composite SES Townsend index. In lower-SES South Coast areas, PM2.5-associated hospital admission rates for all respiratory outcomes were predominantly positive whereas results in the Central Valley were variable, often tending toward the null.

CONCLUSIONS
These distinct patterns could be attributed to the heterogeneity of regional confounders as well as the seasonal variation of emission sources of PM2.5. Composite SES is one potential factor for increasing susceptibility to air pollution.


Ayvalik town is a traditional and urban formation that is of the outcome of centuries of optimization of material use, construction techniques and climate considerations, that the traces of the Greek architecture is seen. In this study, traditional building designs having various typology is evaluated. It is concerned with the layout of the buildings (orientation, climate, aspect ratio). This study is concerned with the layout of the buildings, such as building orientation, climate, aspect ratio, the proximity of houses (site planning), the air movement, the size-position of building openings, and the building facade (walls, construction materials, thickness, roof construction detailing).This paper evaluates specific vernacular dwelling types and their response to climate, based on passive design principles that could be adapted to current architectural practice in the area, in order to optimize the relationship between site, building and climate, in Ayvalik.


In this article, we assess the relative performance of factor models to forecast GDP growth in Portugal. A large dataset is compiled for the Portuguese economy and its usefulness for nowcasting and short-term forecasting is investigated. Since, in practice, one has to cope with diff erent publication lags and unbalanced data, we also address the real-time performance of such models.


Label-efficient and reliable semantic segmentation is essential for many real-life applications, especially for industrial settings with high visual diversity, such as waste sorting. In industrial waste sorting, one of the biggest challenges is the extreme diversity of the input stream depending on factors like the location of the sorting facility, the equipment available in the facility, and the time of year, all of which significantly impact the composition and visual appearance of the waste stream. These changes in the data are called ``visual domains'', and label-efficient adaptation of models to such domains is needed for successful semantic segmentation of industrial waste. To test the abilities of computer vision models on this task, we present the VisDA 2022 Challenge on Domain Adaptation for Industrial Waste Sorting. Our challenge incorporates a fully-annotated waste sorting dataset, ZeroWaste, collected from two real material recovery facilities in different locations and seasons, as well as a novel procedurally generated synthetic waste sorting dataset, SynthWaste. In this competition, we aim to answer two questions: 1) can we leverage domain adaptation techniques to minimize the domain gap? and 2) can synthetic data augmentation improve performance on this task and help adapt to changing data distributions? The results of the competition show that industrial waste detection poses a real domain adaptation problem, that domain generalization techniques such as augmentations, ensembling, etc., improve the overall performance on the unlabeled target domain examples, and that leveraging synthetic data effectively remains an open problem. See https://ai.bu.edu/visda-2022/


What factors drive governments' decisions to intervene in local conflicts within their borders? Communal conflict – that is, organized violence between non-state groups that are mobilized along a shared communal identity – kills thousands each year and severely impacts local livelihoods, at times threatening to spread and affect entire regions. Given the state's assumed monopoly over the legitimate use of force, we should expect the concerned governments to be critical actors of the overall effort to restore peace in cases of local communal conflict, but empirical evidence indicates that central states tend to only intervene in some cases but not in others. This phenomenon has so far been understudied and the variations in states' efforts to manage these conflicts remain unexplained. This article presents the first quantitative study of state intervention in communal conflicts. Building on existing scholarly work, I argue that state intervention is explained by a combination of strategic interests and state capacity, and that interests related to ethnic constituencies and land control play an important part in explaining governments' strategies. These propositions find support in a statistical analysis covering sub-Saharan Africa from 1989 to 2010.


Intrusive bodies associated with the polymetallic mineralization of the Cerro Leon deposit, area of Cerro Tranquilo anticline, Santa Cruz: Geophysical evidence. The geologic characteristics such as presence of basic to intermediate intrusive and subvolcanic bodies, and the mineraliza- tion with high sulfide content of the El Tranquilo anticline area are peculiar and poorly represented in the Deseado Massif. The Cerro Leon polymetallic deposit presents a geochemical and mineralogical signature that is different from the classic low sulfidation epithermal model, characteristic of the Deseado Massif. Aeromagnetic data from the El Tranquilo anticline area allow recognizing a subcircular anomaly that is interpreted as a buried intrusive body of approximately 9 km of diameter, which underlies the El Tranquilo Group and Roca Blanca Formation. Its depth is estimated in 1,400 m. This intrusive body generated the doming of El Tranquilo anticline, and its associated regional radial fractures. The presence of small intrusive and subvolcanic bodies or apophyses fed by the higher intrusive body, interpreted from magnetic anomalies of smaller dia- meter and higher gradient, are confirmed by drilling. The main veins of the Cerro Leon deposit are located on top of the buried intrusive and subvolcanic bodies. This, plus the high sulfide content and geochemical and mineralogical signature of the veins, suggests that the mineralization is genetically associated to the intrusive bodies and allows the use of this model as a prospecting tool for this type of deposits.


In this study, an experiment was carried out to study the process of stress adaptation in Lemna gibba L. grown under cadmium stress (0–20 mg Cd L ). The level of photosynthetic pigments and soluble proteins decreased only upon exposure to high Cd concentrations (for pigments 5 mg Cd L ; for soluble proteins 10 mg Cd L ). At the same time, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased with increasing Cd concentration. These results suggested an alleviation of stress that was presumably the result of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) as well as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), which increased linearly with increasing Cd levels. In addition, the proline content in L. gibba increased with increasing cadmium levels. These findings suggest that Lemna is equipped with an efficient antioxidant mechanism against Cd induced oxidative stress which protects the plant's photosynthetic machinery from damage.We also found that moderate Cd treatment (0.05–5 mg L 1 Cd) alleviated oxidative stress in plants, while the addition of higher amounts of Cd (10–20 mg L ) could cause an increasing generation of ROS, which was effectively scavenged by the antioxidative system. & 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


This thesis accompanies the folio of electroacoustic compositions, describing the reasons behind, and methods of realising, the compositions. Each approach is designed to create a musical structure that relates sound materials throughout the work in a meaningful way, with the final aim of presenting a memorable experience, enticing further listening. These relationships are explained by analysing the musical structure and by presenting sound examples on local and global scales. The methods by which we may perceive and remember sound information are important to the compositional processes. Detailed relationships achieved by using computer sound-transformation and mixing techniques are shown to provide scope for listeners to explore and react personally to the music, investigating the structure with different listening strategies. The significance of pitch in acousmatic music is shown to have an underlying and unifying structural role. Methods of unifying structure and capturing the listeners' attention over longer durations are investigated by considering sound-behaviour throughout the composition, and the listeners' perception of time in relation to different sound materials. The discussions suggest coherence not evident on a local scale. Composition of the work involving mixed media attempt to integrate the different parts such that the listener's attention focuses on the totality. Consideration of the differences between acousmatic, visual, and live aspects, affect the structural coordination between different media and the complete structure itself


Martin Buber's appreciation of Jewish ritual has often been misunderstood and criticized. His debate with Franz Rosenzweig over the difference between "law" and "commandment" sometimes suggests that he has rejected ritual practice altogether. That conclusion is unwarranted. This study investigates his understanding of rituals associated with what he calls "the idea of Zion" but which could more accurately be termed the "myth of Zion." Buber thinks of Zion as an ideal and task established by ancient Israel's encounter with divinity. Buber's treatment of that myth, of rituals such as the establishment of altars, the prayer for rain, and the mishnaic description of the Temple ceremony of the First Fruits show that he uses lessons taught by myths and rituals to initiate a new meeting with the divine through reflecting on group identity and its obligations and through recognizing the disjunction between reality and an ideal.


The Society is most grateful to all contributors (specialist groups, field units, museums, universities, developers and individuals) who have provided reports on groups, finds, excavations, field-surveys, and building analyses for 2007. We thank contributors for conforming to the house style; we can advise on content, but are unable to abstract from interim reports. Please note that in certain cases the National Grid Reference has been omitted to protect sites. Please notify the compilers if this information is to be withheld. For MB&I see below for the format and content of this revised section, and for contact details of the compilers.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa orbital infections have been described very rarely in patients with neutropenia after chemotherapy. We report the case of a woman with the unusual association of Sjögren's disease and myelodysplasia, who suffered from a Pseudomonas aeruginosa orbital phlegmon after chemotherapy for her myelodysplastic syndrome. Partial intestinal antibiotic decontamination with ciprofloxacine did not prevent the infection. She was treated successfully with intravenous ceftazidime, netilmicin and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The normalization of the granulocyte count seems to play a crucial role for recovery. We present the clinical and radiological findings, discuss the therapy and review the literature concerning ocular infections due to Pseudomonas. Other infections due to this germ in immunocompromised hosts are briefly reviewed.


This research is motivated by the skills of reading poetry is very low, students can not read poetry properly, the students have not dared to read poetry in front of the class with its own style and expression. issues that will be studied in the research of this class action is whether the audio-visual media can improve the skills of reading poetry Grade V SDN Rowosari 02 academic year 2011/2012. The hypothesis of this study is if the action using optimal audio-visual media in the learning process of poetry, the poetry reading skills of students of class V SDN Rowosari 02 of 2011/2012 will increase. Results of the first cycle of learning research shows that activity pramembaca process, while reading, and there are shortcomings pascamembaca among others seen in the stage pramembaca students have not been able to analyze the situation and audience, selecting text, dissect manuscripts and training; current stage readings students have not been able to appreciate the content of poetry, and performances; pascamembaca stage students have not been able to evaluate what is right and wrong. Results of the first cycle, the average value reached 6.31. In the second cycle there is an increase in the lan: pramembaca stage students can analyze the situation and audience, selecting text, dissect manuscripts and training; the current stage of reading students can appreciate and look quite good; pascamembaca stage students can evaluate the poems were read. Results of the second cycle, the average value increased to 6.92. Cycle III there is a significant increase, especially on the vocal aspect and appearance, while aspects of the interpretation of the students can appreciate good, although not perfect. Results of the third cycle of the average value increased to 7.49. Based on the three cycles of the above, the conclusion that there is an increase in the learning acquired reading poetry through audio-visual media. In the first cycle there is an increase of 6.34%, increased by 14.59% second cycle and third cycle increased by 21.10%. In this study, the researchers propose suggestions to teachers and readers of poetry to improve reading skills through audio-visual media by providing examples of good poetry readings and true.


Federated learning (FL) is a new distributed machine learning framework that can achieve reliably collaborative training without collecting users' private data. However, due to FL's frequent communication and average aggregation strategy, they experience challenges scaling to statistical diversity data and large-scale models. In this paper, we propose a personalized FL framework, named Tensor Decomposition based Personalized Federated learning (TDPFed), in which we design a novel tensorized local model with tensorized linear layers and convolutional layers to reduce the communication cost. TDPFed uses a bi-level loss function to decouple personalized model optimization from the global model learning by controlling the gap between the personalized model and the tensorized local model. Moreover, an effective distributed learning strategy and two different model aggregation strategies are well designed for the proposed TDPFed framework. Theoretical convergence analysis and thorough experiments demonstrate that our proposed TDPFed framework achieves state-of-the-art performance while reducing the communication cost.


OBJECTIVES
We evaluated the Bio-Rad (Irvine, CA) D-100 and the Sebia (Lisses, France) Capillarys 3 Tera for the measurement of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in venous blood samples.

METHODS
Whole-blood samples and control material were analyzed with the D-100 and Capillarys 3 Tera and compared with our routine method, HLC-723G7 (Tosoh, Tokyo, Japan). An evaluation protocol to test precision, trueness, linearity, carryover, and selectivity was set up according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The results were presented in National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program and International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) units.

RESULTS
Both systems showed excellent precision (total coefficients of variation <2%, IFCC) and bias (<0.3% or 3 mmol/mol). Linearity was demonstrated for HbA1c values from 3.8% (18 mmol/mol) to 18.5% (179 mmol/mol). Results were correlated with the routine method using Bland-Altman analysis, showing a mean difference of 0.33% or 3.6 mmol/mol for the D-100 and of 0.25% or 2.6 mmol/mol for the Capillarys 3 Tera vs HLC-723G7. None of the automated instruments were prone to interferences by labile HbA1c (≤10 g/L glucose), carbamylated hemoglobin (≤0.5 mmol/L potassium cyanate), hemoglobin variants, bilirubin (≤15 mg/dL), and triglycerides (≤3,360 mg/dL).

CONCLUSIONS
The Bio-Rad D-100 and the Sebia Capillarys 3 Tera instruments performed well for the determination of HbA1c in terms of quality criteria as well as for sample throughput.


ABSTRACT The productivity of cotton is lowest in India and far below that of the world average productivity. Suitable management practices like intercropping and judicious combination of organic and inorganic manures are considered as yield improvement technologies and can avoid environmental pollution. However, which intercrop is suitable for the study area and what combination of nutrients will perform better needs to be investiaged. With this background and to test-verify the same, field experiments were conducted on cotton with split plot design to evaluate cotton based intercropping system along with nutrient management practices for enhancing the cotton productivity. Five intercropping systems viz., sole cotton, cotton + onion, cotton + blackgram, cotton + greengram and cotton + lucerne were included in the main plot. The subplot consisted of combinations of inorganic and organic manures namely, 100% recommended inorganic nitrogen (N), 75% inorganic N + 25% N through poultry manure, 75% inorganic N + 25% N through sunnhemp, 75% inorganic N + 25% N through farm wastes, 75% inorganic N + 25% N through weed compost. The results revealed that sole cotton followed by cotton + blackgram intercropping and 75% inorganic N + 25% N through poultry manure recorded better growth and yield attributes, higher cotton yield during both the years. Cotton + onion resulted in the maximum cotton equivalent yield of 2396 kg ha−1 followed by cotton + blackgram (2240 kg ha−1). Better N use efficiency and post-harvest soil available N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) was also associated with cotton + blackgram intercropping and 75% inorganic N + 25% N through poultry manure. Benefit: cost (BC) ratios were also higher in the same treatment. It could be concluded from these results that the cotton productivity is higher under the sole crop of cotton, however, the cotton equivalent yield is significantly higher with intercropping and these treatments proved that soil fertility status can be sustained with integrated plant nutrient management practices and intercropping systems.


But what went ye out for to sec?
A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they which are
gorgeously apparalled, and live delicately, are in king's courts.
But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say unto you,
and much more than a prophet.

As always the passage to India has been more than a physical
pathway. More often it has been an intellectual journey or a spiritual odyssey. Walt Whitman in his poem rhapsodically celebrates the digging up of the Suez Canal as an opening of a new avenue for metaphysical quest and making the scriptures of India and the wisdom of its sages accessible to the West. E.M. Forster in his novel presents the mystique of the orient and the inscrutable complexity of its life through suggestive symbolism and unresolved experience that is beyond the range of ordinary comprehension or expression. Birds of passage have passed through India deriding it as an Area of Darkness or a Wounded Civilisation or even a Continent of Circe. But, there have been others, more serious minded perhaps, who have undertaken a pilgrimage to savour not only the sights and sounds of an exotic land but also study and unravel the arcane wisdom of the Vedas and the Upanishads, the Puranas and the Gita, and establish contact with the innumerable holy men and women who continue to perform not only astounding miracles but also preach the tenets and eternal verities of the perennial philosophy. Paul Brunton, Howard Murphet, Arthur Osborne and the pioneers who established the world headquarters of the Theosophical Society at Adyar near Madras bear testimony to the vibrant spiritual concerns that still condition the life of this ancient land.


An innovative digital solution to transform pipe fit-up operations had been developed. It relies on an algorithm providing a full batch of pipes compatibility analysis, and a smartphone app to be used in full autonomy by welding staff providing live fit-up outcomes. This results in optimized welding assembly operations.
 Providing pipe-end dimensional measurement and using pipe-end identification technology, the algorithm provides a deterministic analysis of the data to accurately predict the Hi-Lo resulting from all possible pipe-end combinations and then anticipate operational constraints.
 The developed app provides tailored recommendations to mitigate risks associated with Hi-Lo specification compliance (such as grouping, quarantine management or non-compatibilities identification) considering operational constraints such as quarantine capacity, welding line cycle time or even accessibility.
 During welding operations, no sequencing is required. By scanning two random pipes intended to be welded together, a smartphone app provides live recommendations on the pipe rotations to respect welding requirements. The solution also includes quarantine management, displaying real-time notifications to reintroduce pipes that have been segregated due to limited compatibility.
 This results in secured line pipe assembly workflow, improved weld quality and production time reduction.
 Innovation lies into bringing full autonomy: in the field, the solution is a simple mobile app to be used by the existing personnel. No additional workforce on-board is required. Additionally, compared to existing solutions, the developed tool brings a deterministic analysis instead of a probabilistic one, and does not require sequencing - thus removing the need for extensive pipe handling.


Drug combination therapy has gradually become a promising treatment strategy for complex or co-existing diseases. As drug-drug interactions (DDIs) may cause unexpected adverse drug reactions, DDI prediction is an important task in pharmacology and clinical applications. Recently, researchers have proposed several deep learning methods to predict DDIs. However, these methods mainly exploit the chemical or biological features of drugs, which is insufficient and limits the performances of DDI prediction. Here, we propose a new deep multimodal feature fusion framework for DDI prediction, DMFDDI, which fuses drug molecular graph, DDI network and the biochemical similarity features of drugs to predict DDIs. To fully extract drug molecular structure, we introduce an attention-gated graph neural network for capturing the global features of the molecular graph and the local features of each atom. A sparse graph convolution network is introduced to learn the topological structure information of the DDI network. In the multimodal feature fusion module, an attention mechanism is used to efficiently fuse different features. To validate the performance of DMFDDI, we compare it with 10 state-of-the-art methods. The comparison results demonstrate that DMFDDI achieves better performance in DDI prediction. Our method DMFDDI is implemented in Python using the Pytorch machine-learning library, and it is freely available at https://github.com/DHUDEBLab/DMFDDI.git.


Abstract An experiment, aimed at forecasting the formation and intensification of extra-tropical cyclones, was conducted from 4 January 1954 to 20 March 1954. The working hypothesis to be tested was formulated as follows: cyclonic development at sea level occurs when and where an area of positive vorticity advection in the upper troposphere becomes super-imposed upon a frontal zone at sea level. The experiment, which was conducted in connection with the routine operation of the U. S. Weather Bureau's District Forecast Center in Chicago, resulted in 97 verifiable forecasts. The verification indicated that the working hypothesis is useful.


During tumorigenesis, macrophages are recruited by tumors and orientated towards a pro-tumoral phenotype. One of the main anti-tumoral immunotherapy consists of their re-polarization in an anti-tumoral phenotype. We have demonstrated that the inhibition of proprotein convertase 1/3 combined with TLR4 activation in macrophages is a promising strategy. These macrophages display pro-inflammatory and anti-tumoral phenotypes. A hallmark is a stronger activation of the pro-inflammatory NFKB pathway. We believe that this can be explained by a modification of TLR4 expression at the cell surface or MYD88 cleavage since it exhibits a potential cleavage site for proprotein convertases. We tested these hypotheses through immunofluorescence and Western blot experiments. A proteomics study was also performed to test the sensitivity of these macrophages to IL-10. We demonstrated that these macrophages treated with LPS showed a quicker re-expression of TLR4 at the cell surface. The level of MYD88 was also higher when TLR4 was internalized. Moreover, these macrophages were resistant to the pro-tumoral effect of IL-10 and still produced pro-inflammatory factors. This established that the sensitivity to anti-inflammatory molecules and the length of TLR4 desensitization were reduced in these macrophages. Therefore, during antitumoral immunotherapy, a repeated stimulation of TLR4 may reactivate PC1/3 inhibited macrophages even in an anti-inflammatory environment.


Several reports have indicated that T cells bearing gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR) are major effector cells in mucosal immunity of the murine intestinal tract. In humans, abnormal distribution of gamma delta + T cells has also been found in inflammatory bowel diseases. We studied TCR heterodimer expressions in lymphocytes infiltrating the peripheral airways in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), because DPB is histologically characterized by chronic inflammation in bronchioles and could be a model for investigation of the significance of gamma delta + T cells in persistent inflammation of the human respiratory tract. Open lung biopsy specimens were obtained from 7 patients and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 9 patients. Immunohistochemically, we detected alpha beta and gamma delta TCR by avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase method, utilizing BMA 031 and TCR delta 1 monoclonal antibody, respectively, PBL were analyzed by flow cytometry. Histological analysis revealed that DPB lesions mainly involved the bronchiolar walls with marked infiltration of small round cells. Many T cells were distributed in the submucosal area, although few T cells infiltrated the epithelium. Most of the T cells in the bronchioles expressed alpha beta TCR (98.7%), whereas only 1.3% expressed gamma delta TCR. There was no significant difference in the percentage of gamma delta + T cells in PBL between DPB and age- and sex-matched controls (6.7% vs. 9.1%). These results suggest that the increase of T cells bearing alpha beta TCR played a major role. However, the possibility that the decrease of T cells bearing gamma delta TCR caused reduced mucosal defense against external antigens, leading to persistent inflammation of the lower respiratory tracts in DPB, is not excluded.


With the ever-growing popularity of the field of NLP, the demand for datasets in low resourced-languages follows suit. Following a previously established framework, in this paper, we present the UNER dataset, a multilingual and hierarchical parallel corpus annotated for named-entities. We describe in detail the developed procedure necessary to create this type of dataset in any language available on Wikipedia with DBpedia information. The three-step procedure extracts entities from Wikipedia articles, links them to DBpedia, and maps the DBpedia sets of classes to the UNER labels. This is followed by a post-processing procedure that significantly increases the number of identified entities in the final results. The paper concludes with a statistical and qualitative analysis of the resulting dataset.


Breast cancer brain metastases (BCBMs) are the second most frequent secondary central nervous system metastases following those associated with non-small-cell lung cancer. It is increasingly evident that BCBM arises as a function of the biology of the primary tumor and the metastatic niche, which combine to create a unique microenvironment in the brain impacting both metastatic colonization and therapeutic response. Clinical outcomes are improving for BCBM patients as a result of modern combinatorial therapies, challenging the traditionally nihilistic approach to this patient subgroup. This review will focus on the breast cancer subtypes with the highest incidence of BCBM-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, and triple-negative (estrogen receptor [ER]-negative, progesterone receptor [PR]-negative, and HER2-negative) breast cancer (TNBC)-and will characterize differences in the clinical behavior of brain metastases that arise from these different subtypes. We will also highlight some of the recent preclinical studies that may shed light on the biological mechanisms and mediators underlying brain metastases. Finally, we will review published and current prospective trials of systemic therapies specifically for BCBM, including novel pathway-specific therapies.


The development and expansion of communication technology in the field of information technology (IT) have changed the method and culture of communication, mediating communication among people. In particular, since social network service (SNS) has the attributes of information delivery and processing, it has a more powerful dissipating effect and influence than other existing communication methods. The role of users in SNS is important because it has the communication structure of producer-consumer, which consists of sharing, connection and participation of users. In this line, the purpose of this study is to investigate the intention for continued use of SNS by user ability. In order to explain the motivation and behavior for continued use of SNS by users, this study employed the motivation theory and post-adaptation model. The study applied `media literacy` to the characteristics of SNS media and environment and expanded it into the concept of `SNS literacy` to identify the moderating effect by user ability. Referred to as `user`s ability that is required to use SNS,` the SNS literacy was verified for its moderating effect with the three sub-dimensions: `technical accessing ability,` `understanding ability` and `creative ability.` The major findings of this study are as follows. First, the perceived usefulness and playfulness were found to have a significant effect on the intention for continued use of SNS, showing the same result with previous studies on technology acceptance. In other words, usefulness and playfulness are variables with an explanatory power in the SNS environment as well. Second, the conceptualization of SNS literacy with accessing ability, understanding ability and creative ability was found to be valid. Third, it was verified that there was a significant difference in the SNS literacy between perceived usefulness and continued use, indicating that users with higher ability respond sensitively to usefulness and affect continued behavior. The moderating effect of SNS literacy was also verified in the relationship between perceived playfulness and intention for continued use. The results above confirm the difference in post-adaptation behavior of individuals, and are expected to provide several implications.


A general model of decentralized stochastic control called partial history sharing information structure is presented. In this model, at each step the controllers share part of their observation and control history with each other. This general model subsumes several existing models of information sharing as special cases. Based on the information commonly known to all the controllers, the decentralized problem is reformulated as an equivalent centralized problem from the perspective of a coordinator. The coordinator knows the common information and selects prescriptions that map each controller's local information to its control actions. The optimal control problem at the coordinator is shown to be a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) which is solved using techniques from Markov decision theory. This approach provides 1) structural results for optimal strategies and 2) a dynamic program for obtaining optimal strategies for all controllers in the original decentralized problem. Thus, this approach unifies the various ad-hoc approaches taken in the literature. In addition, the structural results on optimal control strategies obtained by the proposed approach cannot be obtained by the existing generic approach (the person-by-person approach) for obtaining structural results in decentralized problems; and the dynamic program obtained by the proposed approach is simpler than that obtained by the existing generic approach (the designer's approach) for obtaining dynamic programs in decentralized problems.


Since the 1930s, realist cinema has maintained a consistent but ever-diversifying
presence within the heart of British film culture. The broad term of social realism has
come to represent numerous examples of films that reflect a range of social
environments and issues, in a manner that rejects the artifice and escapism of more
classically-oriented narrative models. Yet, there has been a tendency to view such films
in the context of what they have to tell us about the issues and themes they invoke,
rather than what they say about their art. When we think of the New Wave in France, or
Neo-Realism in Italy we think of film movements which reflected their subjects with
veracity and conviction, but we also see their products as cultural entities which
encourage interpretation on the terms of their authorship, and which demand readings on
the basis of their form. We are invited to read the films as we would approach a poem or
a painting, as artefacts of social and artistic worth. Despite the continued prevalence of
social realism in British cinema, there is no comparable compulsion in our own critical
culture. This study seeks to address this imbalance.
Beginning with the documentary movement of the 1930s and the realist cinema of
wartime, I chart the history and progression of social realism in Britain, covering a wide
range of directors such as Ken Loach, Mike Leigh, Alan Clarke and Shane Meadows
and a number of film cycles, such as Free Cinema and the British New Wave.
The key focus of my analysis lies on the aesthetic and formal constitution of the mode. I
seek to highlight hitherto unrealised depths within the textual parameters of British social realism in order to propose its deserved status as a genuine and progressive
national art cinema.


Immunological phenomena occurring in the mucosa of the middle ear and Eustachian tube were investigated following tubal obstruction in squirrel monkeys which produced middle ear effusions. Although there are many variations among specimens, in general all classes of immunoglobulin producing plasma cells have shown an increase in number and/or an increase in intensity of fluorescence. IgG and IgA-producing plasma cells were more prominent than those producing other immunoglobulins. These findings support the concept that the middle ear and Eustachian tube in monkeys as in humans is protected by an immunodefense system.


High hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic diversity impacts infectivity/pathogenicity, influencing chronic liver disease progression associated with fibrosis degrees and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV core protein is crucial in cell-growth regulation and host-gene expression. Liver fibrosis is accelerated by unknown mechanisms in human immunodeficiency virus-1- (HIV-1-) coinfected individuals. We aimed to study whether well-defined HCV-1a core polymorphisms and genetic heterogeneity are related to fibrosis in a highly homogeneous group of interferon-treated HIV-HCV-coinfected patients. Genetic heterogeneity was weighed by Faith's phylogenetic diversity (PD), which has been little studied in HCV. Eighteen HCV/HIV-coinfected patients presenting different liver fibrosis stages before anti-HCV treatment-initiation were recruited. Sampling at baseline and during and after treatment was performed up to 72 weeks. At inter/intrahost level, HCV-1a populations were studied using molecular cloning and Sanger sequencing. Over 400 complete HCV-1a core sequences encompassing 573 positions of C were obtained. Amino acid substitutions found previously at positions 70 and 91 of HCV-1b core region were not observed. However, HCV genetic heterogeneity was higher in mild than in severe fibrosis cases. These results suggest a potential utility of PD as a virus-related factor associated with chronic hepatitis C progression. These observations should be reassessed in larger cohorts to corroborate our findings and assess other potential covariates.


It is worthwhile to note that using natural products today has shown to be an effective strategy for attaining the therapeutic goal with the highest impact and the fewest drawbacks. In Saudi Arabia, date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is considered the principal fruit owing to its abundance and incredible nutritional benefits in fighting various diseases. The main objective of the study is to exploit the natural products as well as the nanotechnology approach to obtain great benefits in managing disorders. The present investigation focused on using the powder form of date palm extract (DPE) of Khalas cultivar and incorporates it into a nanolipid formulation such as a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) prepared with palm oil. Using the quality by design (QbD) methodology, the most optimized formula was chosen based on the number of assigned parameters. For more appropriate topical application, the optimized DP-NLC was combined with a pre-formulated hydrogel base forming the DP-NLC-hydrogel. The developed DP-NLC-hydrogel was evaluated for various physical properties including pH, viscosity, spreadability, and extrudability. Additionally, the in vitro release of the formulation as well as its stability upon storage under two different conditions of room temperature and refrigerator were investigated. Eventually, different bacterial strains were utilized to test the antibacterial efficacy of the developed formulation. The optimized DP-NLC showed proper particle size (266.9 nm) and in vitro release 77.9%. The prepared DP-NLC-hydrogel showed acceptable physical properties for topical formulation, mainly, pH 6.05, viscosity 9410 cP, spreadability 57.6 mm, extrudability 84.5 (g/cm2), and in vitro release 42.4%. Following three months storage under two distinct conditions, the formula exhibited good stability. Finally, the antibacterial activity of the developed DP-NLC-hydrogel was evaluated and proved to be efficient against various bacterial strains.


Pre-synchronization strategies with prolonged exposure to exogenous progesterone have the potential to alter estrus expression and improve fertility in replacement beef heifers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the estrus response and pregnancy rate of beef heifers enrolled in two fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI) protocols. A total of 306 heifers (14 ± 2 months of age; 372 ± 24 kg body weight [BW]) at three locations were enrolled in the study. Within location, heifers were stratified by age and BW and randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) PG-CIDR54 (n = 152), heifers were administered prostaglandin F2α (PGF; 25 mg) and a controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) insert (Day -14), an injection of GnRH [100 μg (Day -7)], PGF injection and CIDR removal (Day 0), and a second injection of GnRH concurrently with TAI 54 ± 2 h later (Day 2); 2) 7-day CO-Synch+CIDR (CTRL; n = 154), heifers were administered GnRH (100 μg) and a CIDR insert (Day -7), PGF (25 mg) injection and CIDR removal (Day 0), and a second injection of GnRH concurrently with TAI 54 ± 2 h later (Day 2). All heifers received an estrus alert patch on Day 0 and were evaluated for patch activation at TAI on Day 2. Pregnancy was diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography between 35 and 55 days after TAI. The percentage of heifers exhibiting estrus between Day 0 and 2 was greater (P < 0.01) in PG-CIDR54 compared with CTRL (77.0 and 39.6%, respectively). In addition, pregnancy rate to TAI tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for PG-CIDR54 compared with CTRL (48.0 and 38.3%, respectively). We conclude that beef heifers enrolled in the PG-CIDR54 protocol had increased estrus expression and tended to have greater pregnancy rate when compared with heifers enrolled in the 7-day CO-Synch+CIDR protocol.


An encephalopathy may occur following treatment of chronic pulmonary failure and is manifested by multifocal seizures, mild focal motor signs, and coma. The encephalopathy seems to be a multifactorial illness resulting from cerebral ischemica and hypoxia. The more important factors appear to be cerebral alkalosis, administration of aminophyline, and associated hypotension.


Background

The R1441G mutation in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene results in late-onset Parkinson's disease (PD). Peripheral inflammation and gut microbiota are closely associated with the pathogenesis of PD. Chronic periodontitis is a common type of peripheral inflammation, which is associated with PD. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), the most common bacterium causing chronic periodontitis, can cause alteration of gut microbiota. It is not known whether Pg-induced dysbiosis plays a role in the pathophysiology of PD.
Methods

In this study, live Pg were orally administrated to animals, three times a week for one month. Pg-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. The effects of oral Pg administration on the gut and brain were evaluated through behaviors, morphology, and cytokine expression.
Results

Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra were reduced and activated microglial cells were increased in R1441G mice given oral Pg. In addition, an increase in mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) as well as protein level of α-synuclein together with a decrease in zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) were detected in the colon in Pg-treated R1441G mice. Furthermore, serum interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and brain IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) were increased in Pg-treated R1441G mice.
Conclusions

These findings suggest that LRRK2 causes gut leakage and further mediates peripheral IL-17A response in Pg-treated animals. We, thus, put forward the hypothesis that IL-17A in the serum may result in activation of the IL-17A-IL-17RA axis that aggravates dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons and provokes microglial activation in LRRK2 R1441G mice.


PREVIOUS reports in the literature have suggested that children with significant congenital heart defects, especially of the cyanotic types, may have delayed motor development and a higher than expected incidence of mental subnormality.1-3Two of the factors that have been considered to affect the mental development of these children have been the hemodynamic severity of the lesion and environmental deprivation due to physical incapacity.1-3 This study was designed not only to assess the roles of the hemodynamic abnormality of the defect and environment, but also to evaluate other factors that may make a crucial contribution to the mental status of these children. In this study of children with congenital heart disease, the hypothesis that there is an association among small head circumference, mental subnormality, and growth failure was tested.4The study also evaluated the reliability of using motor-development milestones to predict ultimate mental development in children with


We study a free scalar field $\phi$ in a fixed curved background spacetime subject to a higher derivative field equation of the form $F(\Box)\phi =0$, where $F$ is a polynomial of the form $F(\Box)= \prod_i (\Box-m_i^2)$ and all masses $m_i$ are distinct and real. Using an auxiliary field method to simplify the calculations, we obtain expressions for the Belinfante-Rosenfeld symmetric energy-momentum tensor and compare it with the canonical energy-momentum tensor when the background is Minkowski spacetime. We also obtain the conserved symplectic current necessary for quantisation and briefly discuss the issue of negative energy versus negative norm and its relation to Reflection Positivity in Euclidean treatments. We study, without assuming spherical symmetry, the possible existence of finite energy static solutions of the scalar equations, in static or stationary background geometries. Subject to various assumptions on the potential, we establish non-existence results including a no-scalar-hair theorem for static black holes. We consider Pais-Uhlenbeck field theories in a cosmological de Sitter background, and show how the Hubble friction may eliminate what would otherwise be unstable behaviour when interactions are included.


The recent global increase in argileh use represents the modern renaissance of an old public health threat and a new tobacco epidemic. This study examined argileh smoking knowledge and attitudes in a sample of university students in Beirut as determinants of argileh smoking. Data were collected cross-sectionally through self-administered questionnaires from 416 students at the American University of Beirut through stratified cluster sampling. The proportion of ever-smokers in this study was 43%, compared with the 30% reported 4 years ago. A total of 28.3% of the surveyed students were current argileh smokers, and the average initiation age was 16 years. Compared with argileh smokers, significantly greater proportions of nonsmokers had positive attitudes about argileh banning and more accurate knowledge about argileh. Argileh smoking among Lebanese young is on the rise. Students demonstrated partial knowledge and moderate to favorable attitudes concerning argileh smoking. Possible public health interventions are discussed in light of the social and cultural context of argileh use to neutralize this emerging global public health threat.


High-Tc superconducting polycrystalline Bi-2223 undoped sample (A0) and 5wt.% Ag-doped sample (A5) have been prepared by solid-state reaction method at 8550C with sintering time of 8 days. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) results shown that the major phase of these samples is Bi-2223. The volume ratio of Bi-2223 phase observed to be increased from 78% for undoped sample (A0) to 95% for 5wt.% Ag-doped sample (A5). The enhancement of the onset of high-Tc superconductivity (Tc,onset = 112.5 K) in silver doping sample was observed by DC-resistivity measurements. From the AC-susceptibility measurements combined with Bean critical state model, the temperature dependent parabolic law of inter-granular or matrix critical current density (Jcm) was fitted. Some Jcm values were estimated from these parabolic laws. The results showed that 5wt% Ag-doping can make the Bi-2223 sample with nearly double critical current density.


We present a case of 64-year-old man with primary central nervous system lymphoma that mimicked encephalitis on enhanced MRI and F-FDG PET/CT imaging. The initial and follow-up MRI showed gradually spread high-intensity patches with nonenhancement in cortices and subcortices, while the F-FDG imaging observed mild and inhomogeneous uptake in the corresponding cerebral area particularly in the splenium of corpus callosum. This case indicates that atypical primary central nervous system lymphoma should be noted in differential diagnosis of cerebral disseminated lesions with nonenhancement in MRI or with obscure uptake of F-FDG in PET imaging (especially involving the midline of the brain).


Particles within an ultrasonic standing wave experience an acoustic force causing the particles to
move to certain positions within the acoustic field. This phenomenon can be used to manipulate
particles and so provides a means to separate, concentrate or trap particles, cells or spores. The
work described is applied to a micro-engineered flow-through device for processing small samples
and incorporates a fluid filled chamber of depth typically between 100 and 200?m, and therefore
approaches microfluidic dimensions. The successful design and subsequent performance of such
devices rely on the predictability of particle trajectories which are influenced predominantly by
acoustic and fluid flow fields. Therefore, the majority of this research seeks an understanding of
the nature of these fields and, in turn, reliable simulation of particle trajectories.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling is used to develop a robust 2-dimensional
model of the device's microchannels and is used to predict the presence of eddy regions, associated
with the etch fabrication techniques, which are likely to disrupt the separation process. Based on
a geometric study, simulations and subsequent test results on a fabricated device have revealed
geometric modifications which minimise these eddy flows and promote the existence of laminar
flow within the main channel of the device.
Finite element analysis (FEA) provides a method to investigate the 2-dimensional characteristics
of the acoustic field and reveals variations in acoustic pressure across the width of the device,
giving rise to lateral radiation forces frequently reported in similar ultrasonic devices. This work
investigates acoustic enclosure modes in 2 or 3-dimensions as a possible cause of these lateral
variations, with modelled results matching well with experiment.
A particle force model has also been developed which predicts the motion of particles through
the device, and by which concentration and separation performance may be calculated. This tool is
used to investigate acoustic design, operating conditions and separation performance for both the
micro-engineered device and a device based on a quarter-wavelength, providing valuable insight
into various trends observed.
The novelty in this work is the application of macro-scale numerical techniques to microengineered
ultrasonic particle manipulators and the execution of an extensive analysis of the design
and operation of such devices. These analyses have demonstrated, and therefore have explained,
various phenomena associated with the fluid and acoustic fields, and how they influence particle
separation performance. The development of similar devices can be aided by the use of the
numerical simulation methods featured throughout this thesis.


The effects of foliar applications of simulated acid rain (pH 5-6, 40, 30 and 2 0) were observed for seedlings of four deciduous tree species native to the eastern United States, Liriodendron tulipifera L., Platanus occidentalis L., hiquidambar styracifitia L,, and Robinia pseudo-acacia L, Dan:iage occurred only at pH 2*0. Liriodendron was least damaged, Platanus the most. For Liriodendron and Platanus, older leaves showed more damage than younger ones, whereas for Robinia the opposite was true. No age effect was noted for Liquidamhar. Height growth was reduced at pH 2 0 in Platanus and Robinia, and less so in Liquidambar. Total biomass was significantly reduced at pH 2 0 for Platanus and Liquidamhar, resulting mainly from reduction in stem and root hiomass. Leaf biomass was not greatly affected in any of the species. Photosynthetic rates in Platanus were reduced after exposure to rain of pH 2-0, and were the result of changes in mesophyll conductance to COg, as stomata! conductances were not affected. In Liquidamhar, stomatal conductances to water vapour were lowered after exposure to rain of pH 2 0, Results show that under greenhouse conditions only rain of extremely low pH causes foliar damage and growth reductions. Lowered rates of photosynthesis in Piatarms may have contributed to the observed reductions in growth.


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

The development of HER2 targeting agents such as trastuzumab and lapatinib represents one of the greatest achievements in clinical oncology demonstrating the effectiveness of molecularly targeted therapeutics (2). Despite the clinical benefits of trastuzumab in improving progression free and overall survival, majority of patients demonstrate "intrinsic" resistance or develop "acquired" resistance within one-to-two years.

Although inactivation of the PTEN gene has been implicated in the development of resistance to the HER2 targeting antibody trastuzumab, the mechanisms mediating this resistance remain to be investigated. We generated trastuzumab resistant cells by knocking down PTEN expression in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cell lines and demonstrated that development of trastuzumab resistance in these cells is mediated by activation of an IL6 inflammatory feedback loop leading to expansion of breast cancer stem cell (CSC) population. We and others previously demonstrated that cytokines including IL6 and IL8 regulates breast cancer stem cell self-renewal. Furthermore, elevated serum levels of these cytokines in breast cancer patients strongly correlated with metastatic disease and therapeutic resistance. We therefore hypothesized that activation of IL6 feedback loop may mediate trastuzumab resistance. Utilizing these models, we demonstrated that long term trastuzumab treatment generates highly enriched CSCs which display an EMT phenotype secreting over 100-fold more IL6 than parental cells. Recombinant IL6 or conditioned medium from high-IL6 secreting cells resulted in trastuzumab resistance in parental PTEN wild type cells expanding CSCs with EMT phenotype characterized by the CD44+/CD24- expression and EMT gene signature.

An IL6 receptor antibody interrupted this inflammatory feedback loop reducing the cancer stem cell population resulting in decreased tumor growth and metastasis in mouse xenographs. These studies have important clinical implications demonstrating that trastuzumab resistance may be mediated by an IL-6 inflammatory loop and suggest that blocking this loop represents a novel strategy to overcome trastuzumab resistance.

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Citation Format: April L. Davis, Hasan Korkaya, Maria Ouzounova, Fayaz Malik, Gwangil Kim, Ahmed A. Quraishi, Suling Liu, Shawn G. Clouthier, Max S. Wicha. IL6 feedback loop regulates breast cancer stem cells which mediate trastuzumab resistance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3736. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3736


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to calculate regional contents in the exports of the major regional blocs to the world, Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP), and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), respectively, to find the backward trade linkages between them instead of normal forward linkages.

Design/methodology/approach

To calculate "a region" content in intermediate and value-added exports, this paper uses OECD's inter-country input-output table (ICIOT), and tries to decompose the contents of trade. Using the information of ICIOT, Koopman et al. (2014) and Wang et al. (2013) decompose gross exports of a country's exports.

Findings

TPP is a loosely tied bloc featured by openness to the Asia-Pacific region. Trade linkages between members are stronger in RCEP than those in TPP, particularly in the trade of intermediate goods. Trades in RCEP are closely connected to exports to TPP, but the opposite direction is not clear.

Research limitations/implications

First of all, the recent base year of the data on value added in trade is 2011, which can be regarded as a little bit out of date. Therefore, it should be cautious in interpreting the results in that it may not reflect the characteristics of current trade. Second, this paper uses ICOIT instead of world input-output table.

Practical implications

A large portion of trades in RCEP and TPP is triggered by a global production network (fragmentation, vertical specialization), different from traditional trade focusing on inter-industry trade or competition between countries. Thus, the formation of TPP or RCEP is predicted to stimulate trade of the other instead of discriminating nonmember countries.

Social implications

In particular, the authors have special concern in the backward linkages between RCEP and TPP, the distinct characteristics of the two regional blocs and, finally, major countries' preferences of the one over the other and industrial conflicts toward TPP or RCEP even in an economy.

Originality/value

Although this paper uses the approach by Baldwin and Lopez-Gonzalez, this paper is the first research on the analysis of the export contents in major trading blocs in the Asia-Pacific region.


BACKGROUND
One of the worst complications in thyroid surgery is bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, which can lead to transient or definitive tracheotomy.

METHODS
We implemented a strict standard operative procedure beginning in January 2010 and modified our operative procedure. In all patients undergoing bilateral operation, we begin with the largest side or with the cancerous/suspicious side without dissecting the contralateral side. If the intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) signal is lost after stimulation of the vagus nerve at the end of the first side, we stop the procedure after the unilateral lobectomy, even if the recurrent nerve is anatomically intact and regardless of malignancy. If the IONM signal is lost, serial laryngoscopies are performed until recovery or definitive recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is demonstrated. We report here our results in patients with loss of the IONM signal after lobectomy and discuss the medical implications for benign and malignant thyroid conditions.

RESULTS
Since January 2010, the operation has been stopped at the first side in 9 out of 220 planned bilateral thyroidectomies. There were five benign thyroid conditions and four thyroid cancers, including three papillary thyroid cancers and one bilateral medullary thyroid cancer in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia 2a. In two patients, it was a false-positive IONM loss. One of these two patients had the other lobe removed at day 3. In seven patients the laryngoscopy demonstrated total or partial laryngeal nerve palsy at day 1, but the recurrent nerve function recovered fully in all patients between 1 and 4 months postoperatively. All cancer patients were operated on the other side within 3 days to 3 months; one patient with a benign condition is being followed conservatively. One of the eight re-operated patients had transient recurrent nerve palsy postoperatively.

CONCLUSION
In our opinion, the systematic use of IONM and the change in operative strategy will lead to an almost 0% rate of bilateral laryngeal nerve palsy, at least in benign thyroid conditions. A loss of signal after the first side should prompt a halt in the procedure, even in cases of malignancies.


Genetic abnormalities of proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes have been demonstrated to be changes that are frequently involved in esophageal cancer pathogenesis. However, hypermethylation of CpG islands, an epigenetic event, is coming more and more into focus in carcinogenesis of the esophagus. Recent studies have proved that promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes is frequently observed in esophageal carcinomas and seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of this tumor type. In this review, we will discuss current research on genes that are hypermethylated in human esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions of the esophagus. We will also discuss the potential use of hypermethylated genes as targets for detection, prognosis and treatment of esophageal cancer.


This chapter introduces the basic principles of the law of contract as they apply to contracts of employment. It focuses on three issues in particular. First we look at how contracts are formed in the context of an employment relationship and at the conditions that need to be in place if a contract of employment is to be enforceable in a court. We then go on to discuss how employers can go about lawfully varying the terms of contracts by using flexibility clauses and other approaches. Finally we discuss the need to provide employees with written particulars of their employment soon after they start working in a new job.


As HIV is quickly becoming one of the world deadliest viruses, one of the biggest problem in curing AIDS is as HIV can easily develop resistance against the provided drugs. HAART (Highly active antiretroviral therapy) is the only one hope for the AIDS patients till now, which can increase the survival period of the AIDS patient by sustaining the viral load below 50 copies/ml. in blood serum, in which we use combination of three to five drugs targeting different stages of replication cycle of HIV. HIV-protease inhibitors are the indispensable part of this therapy. There is a great need of screening of anti-HIV agents from chemical as well as natural resources. But this process is not so easy because it needs huge amount of money for required chemicals, as well as highly sophisticated labs. Here we have developed a substitute of this problem unto some extent, i.e." Pepsin Assay", it is a substitute of HIVprotease, both of them belongs to same Aspartyl family of enzyme & share same signature sequence at the active site. So we hope that development of this assay will enhance the screening programme of HIV-protease inhibitors.


In a previous work [1] it was shown that by considering the quantum nature of the gravitational field mediator, it is possible to introduce the momentum energy of the graviton into the Einstein equations as an effective cosmological constant. The Compton Mass Dark Energy (CMaDE) model proposes that this momentum can be interpreted as dark energy, with a Compton wavelength given by the size of the observable universe RH, implying that the dark energy varies depending on this size. The main result of this previous work is the existence of an effective cosmological constant Λ = 2π2/λ2 that varies very slowly, being λ = (c/H0)RH the graviton Compton wavelength. In the present work we use that the dark energy density rate is given by ΩΛ = 2π2/3/RH2 , it only has the curvature Ωk as a free constant and depends exclusively on the radiation rate Ωr. Using Ωr = 9.54×10−5, the theoretical prediction for a flat universe of the dark energy rate is ΩΛ = 0.6922. We perform a general study for a non-flat universe, using the Planck data and a modified version of the CLASS code we find an excellent concordance with the Cosmic Microwave Background and Mass Power Spectrum profiles, provided that the Hubble parameter today is H0 = 72.6 km/s/Mpc for an universe with curvature Ωk = −0.003. We conclude that the CMaDE model provides a natural explanation for the accelerated expansion and the coincidence problem of the universe.


INTRODUCTION
Spatio-temporal indicators of injury are essential for the study of neuropathological processes and for developing therapeutic approaches for stroke.

OBJECTIVE
This study sought to optimize the techniques of two cerebral ischemia models (focal and global) and to comparatively evaluate the progression of brain damage by analyzing markers of neurodegeneration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Wistar rats were subjected to temporary occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (t-MCAO) or four-vessel occlusion (4-VO), and surgical time, survival rate and neurological recovery were comparatively evaluated. Triphenyl tetrazolium was used to determine the distribution of the infarction, and Fluoro-Jade B was used as a marker of neurodegeneration. Astroglial immunoreactivity was assessed with an anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody, and an anti-AT-8 antibody was used to detect hyperphosphorylated tau protein at 24, 48 and 72 hours post-ischemia.

RESULTS
The cerebral ischemia models employed (t-MCAO and 4-VO) required less surgical time and presented less of a death risk compared to those in previous studies. In the focal model, Fluoro-Jadepositive cells and reactive astrocytes were observed in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus at 24 hours post-ischemia. In the global model, we observed Fluoro-Jade-positive cells at 24 hours, and a significant increase in the reactivity of GFAP was observed at 72 hours in the cortex and at 48 hours in the hippocampus. The immunoreactivity of hyperphosphorylated tau protein increased progressively, reaching a maximum at 72 hours post-ischemia in both models.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that in the t-MCAO and 4-VO ischemia models, the expression of Fluoro-Jade and GFAP indicates early neurodegeneration at 24 hours post-insult. In contrast, the immunoreactivity of the hyperphosphorylated tau protein marker (AT-8) progressively increases until 72 hours post-insult, which suggests that the progression of excitotoxicity and alteration of enzymes involves the phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins.


Improving the efficiency of P use by pigs is especially important for lactating sows, whose metabolic requirements for P and Ca are high. The effect of a sp. phytase on lactating sow performance and nutrient digestibility was investigated using the combined data set for 6 studies. Treatments included a nutritionally adequate positive control diet (PC), a negative control diet (NC; with an average reduction of 0.16% available phosphorous and 0.15% Ca vs. PC), and NC supplemented with a sp. phytase at 250, 500, 1,000 or 2,000 phytase unit (FTU)/kg, respectively. Phosphorus and Ca deficiency in the NC resulted in significantly higher BW loss compared with the PC. All phytase treatments maintained BW loss at the same level as the PC. Increasing doses of phytase significantly ( < 0.05) reduced sow BW loss and increased energy intake, with improvements most apparent in sows older than parity 5. The positive effects on BW and energy intake were not observed in first-parity sows. This may be a consequence of fewer first parity sows in the data set. The apparent total tract digestibility of DM, OM, and CP were not affected by phytase supplementation. Digestible P and Ca were significantly improved (linear, < 0.0001; quadratic, < 0.0001) by increasing the dose of phytase supplementation. Significantly lower apparent total tract digestibility of energy, Ca, and P was found in the NC treatment vs. the PC treatment, whereas no significant differences were found between phytase treatment and the PC treatment. In conclusion, phytase supplementation at a level of 250 FTU/kg can replace 0.16% available phosphorous and 0.15% Ca; however, increasing the phytase dose can further reduce BW loss in sows fed P- and Ca- deficient diets.


The first four contributions of this edited volume cover timely questions of the method and theory of historical research, the macro layers of research tendencies that also guide family history. The article by Tamara Hareven comes closest in its reference to family history. She examines the impact of family research on the reorientation of historical research in general away from older statistical approaches. As part of social history (p. 36f.) modern family history especially focuses on transitional phases, short-lived social "ad hoc institutions" in their transitoriness and the coexistence of various life and work styles. Peter Laslett, along with Mitterauer one of the shapers of early family history research, uses his concept of a "historical sociology" to probe nonfamily or antifamily counterproposals for the traditional family. He discusses their new significance against the background of the ever increasing rates of illegitimacy (in Scandinavia over 50 percent, in England and France 33 percent) (pp. 53—56). He sees here the possibility, even danger, of a "structural-normative change" (p. 54). Interesting correspondences emerge between his findings and comparative articles (at the end of this volume) on Japan and Europe (see below). Both Jiirgen Kocka and Hans Medick, two antagonists in their discussion of micromacro approaches, attempt to build bridges from their respective viewpoints. Kocka situates the history of family and household structures within a general understanding of social history as the history of society (Gesellschaftsgeschichte). Mitterauer, according to Kocka, exposed a central structure of society through his work. Kocka pleads for opening up GeseUschaftsgeschichte in the direction of cultural history that asks, in addition to and within structures, for meaning and action, explanation and decision-making as genuine examples of people's freedom of action, thereby supplementing and widening structural history. Based on the work of E. P. Thompson, Hans Medick, the classical micro-historian, develops the project of a social history of life as it is actually lived {pmxisnah). According to him, it was Thompson's aim to show the meaningfulness (Wertbezug) of human action to history, that is, to take culture seriously as an actiondirecting mental structure (pp. 77-79). The following contributions move within this relationship of historical structural and actionist approaches that is increasingly directed more toward reciprocal cooperation than controversy.


Nonylphenol (NP) is a typical environmental endocrine disruptor with low concentration and high toxicity, μg/L level of NP is enough to interfere with the sex differentiation of many aquatic organisms and affect the population dynamic balance. The mechanism and pathway of NP degradation in aqueous solution by strong ionization dielectric barrier discharge were studied. The results showed that the degradation rate of NP can reach 95.2% in 60 min when the flow rate of O3 is 5 L/min and the input voltage is 3.8 kV. Based on the electron spin resonance (ESR) results and the detection of O3, a large amount of hydroxyl radical (·OH) and O3 were verified. In addition, the ability of DBD method to degrade NP was also tested. The intermediate products were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and the degradation pathway was speculated.


Based upon the
theoretical research and educational practice on school organizational climate
at home and abroad, the structural factors of organizational climate in
universities were theoretically conceived. The deep interview and self-report
questionnaires were adopted, and by using the analyses of exploring factors and
of verifying factors, the results show that organizational climate in
universities had four dimensions, i.e., administrative climate, teaching
climate, learning climate and interpersonal climate, with a total of 16
sub-factors. Results show that the scale of organizational climate in
university has good reliability and construct validity. It can be used as
assessment tools of organization climate in the university.


ABSTRACTGene editing using CRISPR-Cas9 provides potential for novel ways of genetic pest control by improving gene drives. Like all pest control strategies, gene drives are not hazard-free. Difficulties involved in the containment of gene drives may restrict their use and require international agreements before release of approved types. Ecological risk assessment of gene drives designed to control agricultural pests should be conducted before their deployment. Public support will be crucial for the implementation of gene drives for pest control. Natural and social scientists need to work together to design ways to include the public in the decision-making process. The present commentary provides some thoughts on some of the issues one should consider when contemplating using gene drives in the management of agricultural pests.


Method of finite elements (FEM) is used in calculating tasks of hydrodynamics and heat transfer tasks. The essence of the method consists in the approximate solution of a variational task. To formulate this task a functional concept is used. The type of a functional is different for different tasks and is selected through a special choice. Currently FEM is widely used in calculating the strength and in solving tasks of heat transfer in solids. However, it can be applied in calculating the flow of liquids and gases. There are also methods that combine elements of the finite volumes and finite elements methods. The combination of these methods make it possible to use a wide range of computational meshes ( tetragonal meshes, pyramidal meshes, prismatic meshes, polyhedral meshes) what is necessary for solving tasks with complex geometry. This approach is used by CFD packages Ansys CFX, Ansys Fluent, Star-CD, Star-CCM +, Comsol and others. The method and the analysis of 2D mesh were carried out, using a method of final elements in ANSYS Meshing for heat exchangers with an inline arrangement of tubes in banks and with their curvilinear arrangement in compact banks of tubes of a new design. Particular features were considered and the algorithm of making up a mesh was developed for tasks of hydraulic and gas dynamics and thermal mass transfer. The most optimum and qualitative meshes for CFD models were chosen


The study was conducted at the primary school farm in Rabbah zone during in 2016/2017 season, To evaluate the response of onion plant (Allium cepaL) in the characteristics of vegetative growth and the bulb onion in addition to the total yield. to different types of farm residues (palm residues, Peanut Peels, cooked tea leaves). An investigation was a randomized complete block design in three replications. The obtained results of experiment showed that: Application of fertilize by cooked tea leaves were significantly better in of the studied characters (plants height and Leaves Area) with rate increased to 47.15% and 93.4% respectively, than control treatment. Followed by T1 and then T3. Peanut Peels treatment gave the largest number of tubular blades in the plant(12.33), the diameter of the bulb neck(13.48mm) and bulb Length(7.35cm) than other treatments. Followed by T2 and then T3. cooked tea leaves plants gave highest diameter of bulb(5.42cm), highest bulb weight(66g) and yield(20.85 t/ha) in the season. where Achieving with T1(18.35t/ha) significantly increase in the yield total in comparison with other treatments


This case study explored sociocultural forces that influenced three 10th grade public high school biology teachers' instructional goals, instructional acts, and identity narratives related to the teaching of evolution. Primary data included field observations of classroom instruction and teacher interviews. Secondary data included informal conversations with students, interviews with department chairs, and interviews with a Southern minister. Data were coded and analyzed resulting in categories and themes which provided insights into the sociocultural influences that gave shape to the teaching of evolution for three teachers in this southeastern state. Findings included: (a) changes in teaching identities as the teachers sought legitimacy for teaching evolution through dependency on the textbook as the authoritative knowledge, (b) socioculturally embedded lived experiences and the perceived teaching identity of each teacher that created idiosyncratic positionings related to decisions about teaching evolution, and (c) the complicatory influence of the state standards, the graduation exit examination, and teacher autonomy on teachers' decisions related to the teaching of evolution. This study revealed practical relationships between what actual practices occur when teachers include or exclude evolution within the curriculum and the liabilities and benefits of teacher autonomy related to controversial topics such as evolutionary theory. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 762–790, 2009


The rates of DNA synthesis during the cell-division cycle were measured in Myxococcus xanthus growing in three different media permitting a twofold variation in doubling time. In all three media, simple DNA cycles were observed. Synthesis of DNA occurred during 85% of the cell-division cycle, independent of generation time, from 5 to 11 h. Cells were observed to contain one bacterial nucleoid at birth that later divided synchronously midway through the cell cycle. Nucleoid segregation appeared to begin before chromosome replication was completed. The DNA content of exponential-phase bacteria was determined to be about 20 +/- 3 X 10(-9) microgram per cell; newborn bacteria contained about 14 +/- 2 X 10(-9) microgram of DNA per cell. Exponential-phase bacteria showed about a 50% increase in DNA in the presence of chloramphenicol (50 microgram/ml). The number of randomly segregating chromosomes present in exponential-phase bacteria was determined by following the fate of prelabeled DNA during outgrowth in nonradioactive media. The results are consistent with a model in which cells are born with exactly one complete unreplicated chromosome. The molecular weight of such a chromosome is about 8.4 +/- 1.2 X 10(9).


Background and aim: Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) accounts for 40% of nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients. P.aeruginosa is the third most common pathogen causing hospital acquired CAUTI. As there is paucity of literature about the pathogenesis of UTIs caused by P.aeruginosa , this study was undertaken with an aim to assess and correlate biofilm formation with antibiotic resistance in P.aeruginosa isolated from catheterized urine samples. Materials and Methods: 53 isolates of P.aeruginosa obtained from urine of patients with signs and symptoms of CAUTI following semi-quantitative culture on Mac Conkey agar were studied. Bacterial identification was based on colony morphology and standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Extended spectrum β-lactamase and metallo-β-lactamase production were detected by phenotypic disc confirmatory test and imipenem-EDTA double disk synergy test respectively. Biofilm formation was studied by microtitre plate assay. Results: Of the 53 isolates, 56.6% and 32.1% of were strong and moderate biofilm producers respectively. Among these 72.3% (24/47) were multidrug resistant which was statistically significant compared to weak/non-biofilm producers (P<0.001). MDR bacteria belonged to 5 different resistotypes. 21 (39.6%) and 11 (20.8%) isolates were ESBL and MBL producers respectively. Conclusion: This is one of the very few studies that has correlated the biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance in uropathogenic P.aeruginosa isolated from cases of CAUTI. Multi drug resistance was found to be significantly higher among the strong biofilm producers than the non-producers which implies that antibiotics should be chosen based on invitro antibiotic resistance patterns.


It is now time for a comprehensive treatise to look at the whole field of electrochemistry. The present treatise was conceived in 1974, and the earliest invitations to authors for contributions were made in 1975. The completion of the early volumes has been delayed by various factors. There has been no attempt to make each article emphasize the most recent situation at the expense of an overall statement of the modern view. This treatise is not a collection of articles from Recent Advances in Electrochemistry or Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry. It is an attempt at making a mature statement about the present position in the vast area of what is best looked at as a new interdisciplinary field. Texas A & M University J. O'M. Bockris University of Ottawa B. E. Conway Case Western Reserve University Ernest Yeager Texas A & M University Ralph E. White Preface to Volume 8 Experimental methods in electrochemistry are becoming more diverse. This volume describes many of the new techniques that are being used as well as some of the well-established techniques. It begins with two chapters (1 and 2) on electronic instrumentation and methods for utilization of microcomputers for experimental data acquisition and reduction. Next, two chapters (3 and 4) on classical methods of electrochemical analysis are presented: ion selective electrodes and polarography.


Prior knowledge has been shown to facilitate both supervised and unsupervised category learning, but questions remain about how this facilitation occurs. This article describes two experiments that investigate the effects of prior knowledge on unsupervised learning, using the exemplar-memory task of Clapper and Bower (2002). Experiment 1 demonstrates that prior knowledge facilitates learning in this task, as expected, and that this facilitation extends to both knowledge-relevant and knowledge-irrelevant features of the new categories. Experiment 2 shows that knowledge facilitates learning not only by increasing the probability that people will discover separate categories, but also by making the features of different categories seem less interchangeable, thereby reducing interference and confusion among them. Taken together, these experiments demonstrate that prior knowledge has multiple effects on unsupervised learning and suggests that the exemplar-memory task may provide a useful procedure for disentangling and investigating these effects.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting sleeping patterns among hospitalized elderly. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted. Participants were 121 hospitalized elderly in a hospital located in a county. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Almost a half of hospitalized elderly in this study suffer from sleep disturbances. As results of univariate analyses, physical symptoms, anxiety, depression, and environmental factors disturbed sleep among hospitalized elderly. However, the result of stepwise multiple regression analysis identified that anxiety and environmental factors were significant predictors of sleeping patterns for hospitalized elderly and these two factors accounted 32.5% of variance of sleeping patterns among hospitalized elderly. Conclusion: Sleep assessment should be conducted on admission to identify sleep difficulties and thereby to improve quality of nursing care. Nurses and other health care personnels should make efforts to decrease anxiety and to eliminate environmental barriers of sleep among hospitalized elderly. Educational programs for nursing staff that offer information about sleep and sleep promoting interventions for the elderly patients are critical. Moreover, sleep promotion intervention program should be developed, applied and evaluated.


OBJECTIVE
Although there is a paucity of data, environmental factors such as smoking, alcohol, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are believed to be important in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia. We aimed to evaluate, in outpatients presenting for endoscopy, the role of environmental factors in functional dyspepsia.

METHODS
A consecutive sample of 73 patients with functional dyspepsia completed a validated questionnaire prior to endoscopy. The comparison group consisted of outpatients attending for endoscopy who did not have functional dyspepsia (n = 658). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between functional dyspepsia and potential risk factors adjusting for age, gender, socioeconomic status, general health, and irritable bowel syndrome.

RESULTS
Smoking, alcohol, aspirin, non-aspirin NSAIDs, and acetaminophen were not associated with functional dyspepsia. Patients were significantly less likely to have functional dyspepsia if they were current or past smokers, and there was a trend for patients to be less likely to have functional dyspepsia if they took NSAIDs regularly. When patients with functional dyspepsia were classified into symptom subgroups, the environmental factors were not found to be associated with ulcer-like dyspepsia (vs. nonspecific dyspepsia or organic disease).

CONCLUSIONS
Smoking, alcohol, and NSAIDs are not associated with an increased risk of functional dyspepsia in outpatients presenting for endoscopy.


Network design problems involve constructing edges in a transportation or supply chain network to minimize construction and daily operational costs. We study a data-driven version of network design where operational costs are uncertain and estimated using historical data. This problem is notoriously computationally challenging, and instances with as few as fifty nodes cannot be solved to optimality by current decomposition techniques. Accordingly, we propose a stochastic variant of Benders decomposition that mitigates the high computational cost of generating each cut by sampling a subset of the data at each iteration and nonetheless generates deterministically valid cuts (as opposed to the probabilistically valid cuts frequently proposed in the stochastic optimization literature) via a dual averaging technique. We implement both single-cut and multi-cut variants of this Benders decomposition algorithm, as well as a k-cut variant that uses clustering of the historical scenarios. On instances with 100-200 nodes, our algorithm achieves 4-5% optimality gaps, compared with 13-16% for deterministic Benders schemes, and scales to instances with 700 nodes and 50 commodities within hours. Beyond network design, our strategy could be adapted to generic two-stage stochastic mixed-integer optimization problems where second-stage costs are estimated via a sample average.


A strain of Byssochlamys nivea cultivated in a liquid medium (Saccharose: 50 g: NaNo3: 2 g; KH2PO4: 1 g; KCL: 0.5 g; MgSO4, 7H2O: 0.5 g; water to 1000 ml) produces, at 24 degrees C, an antibiotic substance which appears after several days of growth (10-12 days). Among 43 strains of Bacteria Gram (minus) belonging to 10 genera none was resistant. The most was susceptible, save Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Moraxella glucidolytica. On the the great bulk of the Bacteria (Gram +) tested was little influenced, except certain strains of Bacillus. The filtrate is ineffectual against Mycobacteria and Fungi (yeast or mould) at the concentration used. This substance seemed to be different of those produced by Byssochlamys fluva (byssochlamic acid) and by some species of Paecilomyces (P. varioti, P. persicinus, P. elegans, P. variabilis, P. fusidioides).


BACKGROUND
Prenatal exposure to the persistent environmental pollutant and model Ah receptor agonist, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), has been shown to permanently suppress postnatal cell-mediated immunity. More recently, skewing of select adult T and B cell responses toward enhanced inflammation has also been described in C57BL/6 mice after prenatal TCDD. This raises questions about adverse postnatal immune consequences of prenatal TCDD in animals genetically predisposed to inappropriate inflammatory responses.

METHODS
Lupus-prone SNF(1) mice were exposed to 0, 40, or 80 µg/kg TCDD on gestation day (gd) 12 and examined at 36 weeks-of-age for immunomodulatory effects that correlated with worsened lupus pathology.

RESULTS
Bone marrow pro- and large pre-B cells were decreased by prenatal TCDD, in both adult male and female mice, as were pre- and immature B cells. Splenic CD23(-) CD1(hi) and CD19(+) CD5(+) B cells were increased in males, as were B220(hi) B cells in females, further suggesting persistent disruption of B cell lymphopoiesis by prenatal TCDD. Female mice displayed decreased IL-10 production by ConA-activated splenocytes, while males underproduced IL-4. Autoreactive CD4(+) Vβ17a(+) spleen T cells were increased in both sexes by 80 µg/kg TCDD. Male mice but not females showed increased anti-ds DNA and cardiolipin autoantibody levels.

CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal TCDD augmented the hallmark indicators of SLE progression in the lupus-prone SNF(1) mice, including renal immune complex deposition, glomerulonephritis, and mesangial proliferation. Prenatal TCDD therefore caused persistent modulation of the postnatal immune response, and exacerbated inflammatory disease, in lupus-like autoimmune SNF(1) mice.


The interest in hot‐melt extrusion (HME) as a drug delivery technology for the production of glass solutions is growing rapidly. HME glass solutions have a tendency to recrystallize during storage and also typically have a very dense structure, restricting the ingress of dissolution fluid and retarding drug release. In this study, we have used HME to manufacture glass solutions containing celecoxib (CX) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and have assessed the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a pore‐forming agent to enhance drug release. Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed the formation of glass solutions following extrusion. All extrudates exhibited a single glass transition temperature (Tg), positioned between the Tg values of CX and PVP. The instability of glass solutions is a significant problem during storage. Stabilization may be improved through the appropriate choice of excipient to facilitate drug–polymer interactions. The Gordon–Taylor equation showed that the Tg values of all extrudates expected on ideal mixing were lower than those observed experimentally. This may be indicative of drug–polymer interactions that decrease free volume and elevate the Tg. Molecular interactions between CX and PVP were further confirmed using Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Storage stability of the extrudates was shown to be dependent on drug loading. Samples containing a higher CX loading were less stable, which we ascribed to decreased Tg and hence increased mobility within the drug–polymer matrix. The solubility of CX was improved through the formulation of extruded glass solutions, but release rate was relatively slow. Exposure of extrudates to scCO2 had no effect on the solid‐state properties of CX but did produce a highly porous structure. The drug‐release rate from extrudates after scCO2 exposure was significantly higher.


Summarizing and editing binary phenetic data before further analysis are an accepted practice. The microbiologist tabulates basic information about a strain by feature matrix and uses this information as an aid in editing that matrix. Interactive computer technology can be used to aid in this process. Advantages of such computer-aided matrix editing include (i) preliminary analysis of the data, (ii) automation of routine operations, (iii) reduced costs of subsequent analyses, and (iv) improved results of subsequent analyses. The reduced costs and improved results are demonstrated by running a cluster analysis program on data before and after editing.


Siladenoserinols A and H were found to show moderate inhibitory activity toward p53-Hdm2 interactions. Our total synthesis allowed us to further examine their bioactivities, which revealed that (i) siladenoserinols A and H were not cytotoxic against cancer cell lines and (ii) siladenoserinol A and its desulfamate analogue exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA. Our studies demonstrate that siladenoserinols are a promising new class of bactericidal Gram-positive antibiotics without hemolytic activity.


Inflammation is a common factor of pathologies such as obesity, type 2 diabetes or neurodegenerative diseases. Chronic inflammation is considered part of the pathogenic mechanisms of different disorders associated with aging. Interestingly, peripheral inflammation and the associated metabolic alterations not only facilitate insulin resistance and diabetes but also neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the identification of novel pathways, common to the development of these diseases, which modulate the immune response and signaling is key. It will provide highly relevant information to advance our knowledge of the multifactorial process of aging, and to establish new biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets to counteract the underlying chronic inflammatory processes. One novel pathway that regulates peripheral and central immune responses is triggered by the cytokines pleiotrophin (PTN) and midkine (MK), which bind its receptor, Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (RPTP) β/ζ, and inactivate its phosphatase activity. In this review, we compile a growing body of knowledge suggesting that PTN and MK modulate the immune response and/or inflammation in different pathologies characterized by peripheral inflammation associated with insulin resistance, such as aging, and in central disorders characterized by overt neuroinflammation, such as neurodegenerative diseases and endotoxemia. Evidence strongly suggests that regulation of the PTN and MK signaling pathways may provide new therapeutic opportunities particularly in those neurological disorders characterized by increased PTN and/or MK cerebral levels and neuroinflammation. Importantly, we discuss existing therapeutics, and others being developed, that modulate these signaling pathways, and their potential use in pathologies characterized by overt neuroinflammation.


Nasal mucociliary function was studied in 21 healthy subjects before, during and after penicillin administration. No change in the mucociliary function occurred during penicillin treatment. Nor was any difference observed between men and women or between smokers and non-smokers. On the other hand, the measurements revealed a significantly smaller intra-individual than inter-individual variation. As the epithelia of nasal cavity and Eustachian tube are morphologically of the same type it is concluded that the increased incidence of serous otitis media which has been observed after the introduction of penicillin in the treatment of acute otitis media can scarcely be due to an inhibitory effect of penicillin on the mucociliary function of the Eustachian tube.


Luther, directly opposing the naturalism of Aristotelian natural philosophy, held that unusual events were often worked directly by either God or the devil, not by natural forces. His ideas were taken up and defended in a more philosophical way by authors like Joachim Camerarius and Caspar Peucer. At the university of Wittenberg, they deeply influenced the teaching of natural philosophy. The field most affected was meteorology (traditionally the explanation of Aristotle's Meteorologia), which obtained a prominent place. Meteorological text-books emphasised the final causes of the phenomena they described; not just their place in the general economy of nature, but also their function in warning and punishing sinners. Moreover, they emphasised that many phenomena people had observed were overstepping their natural limits and as such could not be explained naturally. The text-books, however, did not fully break away from the tradition of commentaries to Aristotle's Meteorologia, which emphasised naturalism. Only topics not discussed in this tradition were unambiguously explained as miraculous.


The root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, is an obligate parasite that causes significant damage to a broad range of host plants. Infection is associated with secretion of proteins surrounded by proliferating cells. Many parasites are known to secrete effectors that interfere with plant innate immunity, enabling infection to occur; they can also release pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs, e.g., flagellin) that trigger basal immunity through the nematode stylet into the plant cell. This leads to suppression of innate immunity and reprogramming of plant cells to form a feeding structure containing multinucleate giant cells. Effectors have generally been discovered using genetics or bioinformatics, but M. incognita is non-sexual and its genome sequence has not yet been reported. To partially overcome these limitations, we have used mass spectrometry to directly identify 486 proteins secreted by M. incognita. These proteins contain at least segmental sequence identity to those found in our 3 reference databases (published nematode proteins; unpublished M. incognita ESTs; published plant proteins). Several secreted proteins are homologous to plant proteins, which they may mimic, and they contain domains that suggest known effector functions (e.g., regulating the plant cell cycle or growth). Others have regulatory domains that could reprogram cells. Using in situ hybridization we observed that most secreted proteins were produced by the subventral glands, but we found that phasmids also secreted proteins. We annotated the functions of the secreted proteins and classified them according to roles they may play in the development of root knot disease. Our results show that parasite secretomes can be partially characterized without cognate genomic DNA sequence. We observed that the M. incognita secretome overlaps the reported secretome of mammalian parasitic nematodes (e.g., Brugia malayi), suggesting a common parasitic behavior and a possible conservation of function between metazoan parasites of plants and animals.