Migrant and seasonal workers are vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to poverty, inadequate knowledge of preventive strategies, and lack of access to health care. This study addresses the disparate impact of HIV among Hispanic and African American migrant workers in Immokalee, Florida, who use alcohol and other drugs. Through pilot testing to adapt the experimental and comparison interventions to these two distinct populations, research staff have learned the importance of (1) establishing and maintaining trust between outreach staff and the migrant community; (2) being aware of cultural nuances and practices that might create challenges to the research process, and the interaction of these factors with poverty; and (3) having flexibility in recruitment and intervention. As one of the first intervention studies in this population to use an experimental design and to focus on the social and contextual factors that contribute to risky behaviors, these lessons may provide guidance for future researchers.


In this paper, we address self-supervised representation learning from human skeletons for action recognition. Previous methods, which usually learn feature presentations from a single reconstruction task, may come across the overfitting problem, and the features are not generalizable for action recognition. Instead, we propose to integrate multiple tasks to learn more general representations in a self-supervised manner. To realize this goal, we integrate motion prediction, jigsaw puzzle recognition, and contrastive learning to learn skeleton features from different aspects. Skeleton dynamics can be modeled through motion prediction by predicting the future sequence. And temporal patterns, which are critical for action recognition, are learned through solving jigsaw puzzles. We further regularize the feature space by contrastive learning. Besides, we explore different training strategies to utilize the knowledge from self-supervised tasks for action recognition. We evaluate our multi-task self-supervised learning approach with action classifiers trained under different configurations, including unsupervised, semi-supervised and fully-supervised settings. Our experiments on the NW-UCLA, NTU RGB+D, and PKUMMD datasets show remarkable performance for action recognition, demonstrating the superiority of our method in learning more discriminative and general features. Our project website is available at https://langlandslin.github.io/projects/MSL/.


We used radioligand binding and studies of cell contraction to characterize muscarinic receptors on dispersed smooth muscle cells from rabbit proximal and distal colon. Cells obtained after serial incubations in collagenase were used to measure binding of tritiated quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB). AT 37 degrees C, specific [3H]QNB binding was saturable and linearly related to cell number. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to determine the affinity of [3H]QNB for its receptor. In the distal colon the Kd was 60 pM, and the mean number of receptors was 1.2 X 10(6)/cell. Compared with cells from the distal colon, cells from the proximal colon had a lower affinity (Kd = 337 pM) but similar numbers of receptors. The concentrations of the antagonists atropine, secovorine, and pirenzepine, which were required for inhibition of 50% [3H]QNB binding (IC50), were 8, 5, and 870 nM, respectively, suggesting that the receptors are of the M2-muscarinic subclass. Hill coefficients for these agents were 1.1, 0.9, and 1.1, suggesting binding to a single receptor. The IC50 for the muscarinic agonists bethanechol and oxotremorine were 80 and 0.57 microM, respectively. Hill coefficients were 0.67 for both, suggesting more complex interactions involving receptors of different affinities. In studies of cell contraction, bethanechol stimulated a dose-dependent decrease in cell length with half the maximal contraction occurring at 100 pM. These results suggest that 1) contraction is mediated by binding of bethanechol to M2-muscarinic receptors and that 2) there are a large number of spare receptors in colonic smooth muscle.


Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem cells (LSC), the likely source of relapsed disease, are capable of surviving current standard chemotherapy. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches specifically engineered to eradicate LSCs are critical for curing AML. We previously introduced a novel bioinformatics approach that harnessed publically available AML gene expression datasets and identified CD200 as significantly over-expressed in LSCs when compared to paired blast cells, as well as when compared to their normal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) counterparts (Fig 1A; Herbrich et al Blood. 2018; 130:3962). CD200 can identify AML cells with LSC activity in vivo (Ho et al Blood. 2016; 128:1705). Functionally, CD200 has been shown to have an immunosuppressive effect on macrophages (Hoek et al Science. 2000; 290:1768) and NK cells (Coles et al Leukemia. 2012; 26:2148), and correlates with a high prevalence of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Coles et al Leukemia. 2012; 26:2146). Additionally, CD200 has been implicated as a poor prognostic marker in AML (Damiani et al Oncotarget. 2015; 6:30212). To date, we have screened 40 primary AML patient samples by flow cytometry, 95% of which are positive for CD200.
 Methods: To study the functional role of CD200 in AML, we generated a CD200 overexpression model in the human OCI-AML3 cell line (with no basal expression) and characterized changes in proliferation, survival, and gene expression. To examine the immune function of CD200 in AML in vitro, we performed a series of mixed lymphocyte reactions with isolated effector immune cells and target isogenic AML cell lines to assess immune cell-mediated apoptosis, proliferation, and cytokine secretion. To understand the contribution of CD200 immune protection in a physiological setting, we developed a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-humanized mouse in which we tracked the engraftment and overall survival of the CD200+/- OCI-AML3 cells. Lastly, the utility of CD200-blockade using a fully humanized anti-CD200 monoclonal antibody (CD200-IgG1) was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.
 Results: In vitro, CD200+ AML significantly inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic enzymes from healthy PBMCs; a phenomenon that could be largely reversed by blocking the CD200/CD200R interaction with the CD200 antibody (Fig 1B). In vivo, OCI-AML3 CD200+/- cells showed no difference in engraftment, progression, and overall survival in immunodeficient NSG mice (Fig 1C). However, when mice were humanized using healthy PBMCs, CD200+ leukemia progressed rapidly, escaping T cell-mediated elimination, compared to CD200- control leukemic cells (Fig 1D). Cytokine production in PBMC-humanized mice was significantly compromised in those with CD200-expressing leukemia. Transcriptome analysis revealed that T cells from humanized mice exposed to CD200 expressing disease were metabolically quiescent. In humanized mice, CD200-IgG1 therapy eliminated CD200+ AML disease (Fig 1E). The novel CD200-IgG1 antibody also induced potent, specific NK cell-mediated antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and macrophage-mediated antibody dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP; Fig 1F).
 Conclusion: We have identified CD200 as a putative stem cell-specific immunomodulatory target that aids in establishing an immunosuppressive microenvironment by significantly suppressing cytokine secretion in response to AML. In a PBMC-humanized mouse model, the presence of cell-surface CD200 was sufficient to protect AML cells from immune-mediated clearance and could be reversed using a blocking anti-CD200 mAb. These findings indicate a utility of CD200 as a novel immune checkpoint target for the development of therapeutic strategies in AML.

 Konopleva: Calithera: Research Funding; Kisoji: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Reata Pharmaceutical Inc.;: Patents & Royalties: patents and royalties with patent US 7,795,305 B2 on CDDO-compounds and combination therapies, licensed to Reata Pharmaceutical; Ablynx: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann La-Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Forty-Seven: Consultancy, Research Funding; Rafael Pharmaceutical: Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding.


Objectives. To expand voluntary active-learning opportunities for bachelor of pharmacy students enrolled in a third-year human physiology and pharmacology course and determine whether the additional course components improved learning outcomes. Design. Additional voluntary active-learning opportunities including a large-class tutorial, additional formative assessment, and an online discussion were added to the Respiratory Physiology Module of the course. Examination scores were compared with those from previous years. A questionnaire was administered to assess students' perception of the active-learning components. Assessment. Mean examination scores increased from 69.3% 6 24.4% in 2003 to 88.9% 6 13.4% in 2004 and 86.9% 6 17.6% in 2005, after the addition of the active-learning components. Students' overall perception of the value of the active-learning activities was positive. Summary. The addition of voluntary active-learning course components to a required pharmacy course resulted in improved student examination scores, and decreased failure rate, and were accomplished at low cost and with little additional staff time.


Hydroxyethyl substituted amineplatinum(II) and (IV) complexes are an interesting class of platinum based antitumour compounds due to their uncoordinated hydroxy groups. These hydroxy groups could play an important role in the mode of action of such complexes with respect to their ability to act as donor or acceptor for hydrogen bonds. Moreover, their chemistry in solution is of interest because it was found that there is the possibility of an intramolecular attack to form ethanolatoamine chelated species which are responsible for very stable monoadducts with 5'-GMP. Furthermore, there is the possibility of derivatisation at the OH site to form a new series of platinum compounds which may be used for a carrier mediated transport to tumour tissues. In this context a series of (N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethane-l,2-diamine)-platinum(II) complexes has been synthesised. During purification of one of the platinum based compounds, it was possible to isolate (SP-4-3)-R,S-(N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethane-l,2-diamine)malonatoplatinum(ll) and to resolve the structure by single crystal structure analysis. Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds have been found which may explain the spontaneous crystallisation of the cis-R,S isomer and the stabilisation of the boat conformation of the malonatoplatinum(II) six-membered ring.


In focusing on what may turn out to be the most dynamic issue in the Muslim world today, the panelists maintain that democratic reform will not be achieved until the acknowledged rights and responsibilities of women have been implemented


Hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic biomass results in the release of high-value chemicals that during industrial processing can be recovered with membrane technologies. To maintain an effective performance of the membranes used in the technological processing of biomass, their regular cleaning is essential. Although several guidelines may be found for membrane cleaning in the cases of organic fouling, the data for cleaning membranes fouled by hydrolyzed lignocellulosic biomass is limited. Current research is aimed to evaluate physical (air backpulse) and common cheap chemical membrane cleaning methods. The results showed that air backpulse alone had a minor (9%) effect on the membrane cleaning. The alternation of NaOH (1 %) solution with the NaClO (200 mg/L of Free chlorine) was the most effective approach for membrane cleaning. The cleaning effectiveness was 95.1 % for 50 nm membrane and 89 % for 200 nm membrane, indicating that membranes used for hydrolyzed lignocellulosic biomass filtration can be effectively cleaned using affordable and accessible chemicals.


Iterated Bernstein polynomial approximations of degree n for continuous function which also use the values of the function at i/n, i = 0, 1, . . . , n, are proposed. The rate of convergence of the classic Bernstein polynomial approximations is significantly improved by the iterated Bernstein polynomial approximations without increasing the degree of the polynomials. The close form expression of the limiting iterated Bernstein polynomial approximation of degree n when the number of the iterations approaches infinity is obtained. The same idea applies to the q-Bernstein polynomials and the Szasz-Mirakyan approximation. The application to numerical integral approximations which gives surprisingly good results is also discussed. MSC: 41A10; 41A17; 41A25.


— We interpret a construction of geometric realisation by [Besser], [Grayson], and [Drinfeld] as constructing a space of maps from the interval to a simplicial set, in a certain formal sense, reminiscent of the Skorokhod space of semi-continuous functions; in particular, we show the geometric realisation functor factors through an endofunctor of a certain category. Our interpretation clarifies the explanation of [Drinfeld] "why geometric realization commutes with Cartesian products and why the geometric realization of a simplicial set [...] is equipped with an action of the group of orientation preserving homeomorphisms of the segment [0,1]".


This study focuses on the efficiency of the life insurance industry in Brunei and Malaysia. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to explore the contributions of technical and efficiency change to the growth of productivity in the Malaysian and Brunei life insurance industries by applying the generalized output-oriented Malmquist index for the year 2000-2005. The output-input data consists of a panel of 9 life insurance firms in Malaysia and 2 life insurance companies in Brunei that were chosen as the sample of the study. This study utilizes two inputs and two outputs, namely, commission and management as well as premium and net investment income, respectively. In the DEA technique, efficiency is measured by the Malmquist index. The Malmquist efficiency measures are decomposed into two components: the efficiency change and technical change index. Efficiency change is again decomposed into pure efficiency and scale efficiency. It is found that, on average, the TFP of the life insurance industry is mainly due to both efficiency and technical changes where the main source of the efficiency change is scale efficiency rather than pure efficiency.


Abstract This article takes stock of legal pluralist thinking in European private law. In which ways have existing theories brought forward our understanding of lawmaking in European private law? Central to that debate are the competing rationalities of EU internal market law, on the one hand, and national, juridical systems of private law on the other hand. An analysis of norms, processes, and actors involved in lawmaking in European private law reveals a field that has matured, but that is now at the threshold of a re-evaluation and potentially a transformation in lawmaking from ordered to strong legal pluralism, with a greater role for private regulation.


Singularly perturbed problems present inherent difficulty due to the presence of a thin boundary layer in its solution. To overcome this difficulty, we propose using deep operator networks (DeepONets), a method previously shown to be effective in approximating nonlinear operators between infinite-dimensional Banach spaces. In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time the application of DeepONets to one-dimensional singularly perturbed problems, achieving promising results that suggest their potential as a robust tool for solving this class of problems. We consider the convergence rate of the approximation error incurred by the operator networks in approximating the solution operator, and examine the generalization gap and empirical risk, all of which are shown to converge uniformly with respect to the perturbation parameter. By utilizing Shishkin mesh points as locations of the loss function, we conduct several numerical experiments that provide further support for the effectiveness of operator networks in capturing the singular boundary layer behavior.


A modern day forester in South Africa assumes a variety of roles that constantly challenge them to remain professionally relevant in a dynamic system including the continuously expanding number of stakeholders that cuts across political, social and economic boundaries. This study is important in understanding how a forester's job has shifted from simply managing trees and forests for timber to managing trees and forests to achieve the interests of various stakeholders and biological ecosystems that are influenced by industry. This research contributed to a global programme involving the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO). The programme addressed the needs of future employers and economic innovators in the field of forestry. A variety of data collection methods were used to complete this empirical research. The research strategy adopted was implementing case studies where students and academic experts from four tertiary institutions were interviewed. A sample of individuals from the forestry sector was also drawn for interviews. The findings from this research provided insight and perspective on the challenges facing tertiary education of foresters in South Africa, such as the subject of the disciplinarity of forestry as a profession as opposed to more interdisciplinary careers where in addition to modules that are grounded in the discipline, other types of natural sciences are also considered in curriculum design. The main conclusions drawn from this study are that a higher level of integration of social sciences in forestry curricula is pivotal to resolving some of the challenges facing the forestry sector, and that in light of programmes whose delivery process is severely restricted by budget constraints, solutions developed jointly between industry and tertiary institutions should be ongoing.


Medical emergencies causing unplanned hospital admission place considerable demands on acute healthcare services. Some patients can be assessed and treated through ambulatory pathways without inpatient admission, via same day emergency care (SDEC), potentially benefiting patients and reducing demands on inpatient services. There is currently considerable variation within acute medicine in aspects of SDEC delivery ranging from overall service design to patient selection methods. Scoring systems identifying patients likely to be successfully managed through SDEC services have been suggested, but evidence of utility in diverse populations is lacking. Specific scoring systems exist for some common medical problems, including cardiac chest pain and pulmonary embolism, but further research is needed to demonstrate how these are most effectively incorporated into SDEC services. This review defines SDEC and describes the variation in services nationally. It reviews the evidence for their clinical impact, tools to screen patients for SDEC and current gaps in our knowledge regarding service deployment.


Discusses the nature of stress in the context of problems with its definition and sources of confusion regarding its usefulness and specificity. Stress can be defined as a negative emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological, and behavioral changes that are directed toward adaptation either by manipulating the situation to alter the stressor or by accommodating its effects. Chronic stress is more complex than most definitions suggest and is clearly not limited to situations in which stressors persist for long periods of time. Responses may habituate before a stressor disappears or may persist long beyond the physical presence of the stressor. This latter case, in which chronic stress and associated biobehavioral changes outlast their original cause, is considered in light of research at Three Mile Island and among Vietnam veterans. The role of intrusive images of the stressor or uncontrollable thoughts about it in maintaining stress is explored.


An isothermally hardened iron with vermicular graphite represents a new group of heat-treated cast irons, which follows already proven and for its excellent properties widely used isothermally hardened iron with globular, respectively lamellar graphite (ADI – Austempered Ductile Iron, AGI – Austempered Grey Iron). This paper deals with the study of properties and the potential of application of this material in engineering. Use of isothermal heat treatment in the current production of vermicular cast iron provides a significant improvement of utility properties of manufactured parts, with minimal interference to the existing production


The Haiyuan fault is a major seismogenic fault on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan–Qinghai plateau. The 16 December 1920 Ms 8.5 Haiyuan, China, earthquake is the largest and most recent event along the eastern Haiyuan fault (the Haiyuan fault in the article). Because only a few near‐field seismic recordings are available, the rupture process remains unclear. To understand the source process and intensity distribution of the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake, we simulated the dynamic rupture and strong ground motion of said earthquake using the 3D curved‐grid finite‐difference method. Considering the differences in epicenter locations among various catalogs, we constructed two models with different source points. For each model, three versions with different fault geometries were investigated: one continuous fault model and two discontinuous fault models with different stepover widths (1.8 and 2.5 km, respectively). A dynamic rupture source model with a final slip distribution similar to that observed on the ground surface was found. The maximum displacement on the ground surface was ∼6.5  m. Based on the dynamic rupture model, we also simulated the strong ground motion and estimated the theoretical intensity distribution. The maximum value of the horizontal peak ground velocity occurs near Haiyuan County, where the intensity reaches XI. Without considering the site conditions, the intensity values in most regions, based on the dynamic scenarios, are smaller than the values from field investigation. In this work, we present physically based insights into the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake, which is important for understanding rupture processes and preventing seismic hazards on the northeastern boundary of the Tibetan plateau.


Abstract : Air Force Basic Doctrine Document 1 lists seven tenets, or "fundamental guiding truths," for airpower employment. The first of these is centralized control and decentralized execution. This tenet dictates that "air and space power must be controlled by an airman who maintains a broad strategic and/or theater perspective in prioritizing the use of limited air and space assets to attain the objectives of all U.S. forces in any contingency across the range of operations." This paper addresses the following questions regarding the information revolution's impact on this tenet: How does this impact the principle of centralized command and decentralized execution? Is this paradigm outmoded? Do we want or need the command and decision authority pushed down to the tactical unit level? Alternatively, will exceptionally talented and capable systems invite higher authority micro-management of tactical actions? How might such possible "decision up-creep" be mitigated? The information revolution, combined with either the political imperatives associated with limited conflicts or the threat posed by an emergent "niche competitor," will tend to lead U.S. airpower further away from the concept of centralized control and decentralized execution. This should be a conscious decision, however. As "a statement of officially sanctioned beliefs and warfighting principles that describe and guide the proper use of... forces in military operations EMPHASIS ADDED," doctrine and operational art are closely linked. Therefore, operational art should be an explicit factor in the decision. The author recommends several elements of operational leadership that the operational commander should explicitly consider in making such a decision.


Transport in GaN-based nanoscale devices is of supreme importance for various applications. While the transport in bulk and two-dimensional (2D) structures is relatively well understood, understanding one-dimensional (1D) transport is still at its nascent stage. More importantly, the nanoscale structures may not operate at an explicit dimension of 2D and 1D. The understanding of the transport becomes limited on such an occasion. Here, we investigate the evolution of low-field mobility in GaN-based nanostructures for increasing quantum confinement in a uniform framework. We have used a split-gate architecture to change the degree of quantum confinement electrostatically. The low-field mobility is experimentally determined, which is then matched using scattering theory. It is shown that acoustic phonon, polar optical phonon, and scattering from piezoelectric fields dominate these devices. Contrary to intuition, the piezoelectric fields play the most determining role in low-field regimes. In addition, the evolving density of states and 2D phonon confinement, in addition to electron confinement, lead to a non-monotonic change in mobility. A decrease in the number of states near conduction band minima tends to increase mobility by reducing the number of final scattering states for the electrons. A larger overlap between confined electrons and phonons aggravates scattering and reduces mobility. These two competing effects can lead to many possible values for mobility during device operation.


Vietnamese studies first emerged in Thailand during the Cold War period and developed into a vibrant field after the establishment of Thai-Vietnamese diplomatic relations and the end of the Cambodian conflict. Vietnam's accession to ASEAN in 1995 and preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community prior to 2015 also provided favorable conditions for the expansion of Vietnamese studies in Thai research and scholarship. However, the study of Vietnam in Thailand is often seen as a part of Southeast Asian studies and ASEAN studies. Research on Vietnam is typically carried out comparatively within a regional context, especially in comparison with Thailand, rather than for its own sake.


Abstract The NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) has two coherent Doppler lidar systems that have been deployed on board research vessels to obtain data during several experiments. The instruments measure the wind velocity relative to the motion of the lidar; therefore, correction for the motion of the platform is required. This article gives a thorough analysis of the correction for lidar velocity measurements. The analysis is general enough to be applied to Doppler velocity measurements from all monostatic ship- and aircraftborne lidars and radars, and generalization to bistatic systems is achievable. The correction is demonstrated using miniature master-oscillator power-amplifier (mini-MOPA) Doppler velocity data obtained during the Rain in Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO) experiment.


Multi-user usability of collaborative virtual environments (VEs) require the consideration of users' socio-human needs. However, most investigations of the usability have focused on either the technologies involved or individual user experience. Few have examined the effect of interaction models on multi-user usability, by taking account the socio-human needs. Thus, we have undertaken a study on such effect for collaborative tasks, comparing two interaction models: first-come-first-serve (FCFS) and dynamic priority (DP). Departing largely from our previous verification of these models for conflict resolution, the current study assessed multi-user usability for achieving a collaborative goal in a quasi-practical scenario. Based on the ISO/IEC 25010:2011 standard on usability, our observations revealed that multiple users completed the collaborative tasks statistically more effective, efficient, and satisfactory under the DP model than under the FCFS model. These observations indicate a potential practicality of the DP model for multi-user VEs, in which experts perform collaborative tasks.


The objective of this paper is to investigate the existence and uniqueness of solutions to fourth order differential equations                                                           v(4) (x) + f (x, v(x)) = 0, x∈[a,b],satisfying the three-point non-homogeneous conditions                                                 v(a) = 0, v′(a) = 0, v′′(a) = 0, v′(b) −α v′(ζ ) = μ,where 0 ≤ a < ζ < b, the constants α, μ are real numbers and f : [a, b] × R → R is a continuous function. The framework for establishing the existence results is based on sharper estimates on the integral of the kernel to connect with fixed point theorems of Banach and Rus.


The development of mobile ad hoc systems have considerably emphasized the need for a better understanding of the factors that influence the systemspsila performance, i.e., mobility patterns, radio propagation, traffic characteristics and their interrelations. Depending on the context where the system is being used-whether at work, at home, or in some means of transportation-there will be various applications that provide benefit of using the system. These different applications in turn generate traffic with very heterogeneous characteristics. In addition, the radio propagation depends on the surrounding environment and the density of communicating nodes in the system and in other systems that compete for radio resources; hence the available data rates in the system are hard to ascertain. The uncertainty regarding both the traffic and the available data rates make it hard to evaluate the performance of the system. This uncertainty is due to the lack of deployed systems. We hence believe that research in mobile ad hoc networks has to couple theory and practice in a continuous feedback loop with experimentations running full-fledged applications. We show how this methodology has proved to be beneficial in order to overcome challenges and to determine main issues for future research in the context of our PodNet project. It has also allowed us to revisit assumptions and scepticism surrounding the feasibility of mobile ad hoc networks. PodNet is an architecture, instantiated in a prototype, that is dedicated to cooperative content distribution. It enables exchange of podcasts (for any kind of multimedia content) amongst mobile devices in a peer-to-peer fashion using IEEE 802.11 in ad hoc mode. PodNet has clear advantages over traditional content distribution approaches (e.g., newspapers, 3G) in terms of public availability, practicability, capacity, resilience to failures, and jamming.


Sphinx-4 is an open source HMM-based speech recognition system written in the JavaTM programming language. The design of the Sphinx-4 decoder incorporates several new features in response to current demands on HMM-based large vocabulary systems. Some new design aspects include graph construction for multilevel parallel decoding with multiple feature streams without the use of compound HMMs, the incorporation of a generalized search algorithm that subsumes Viterbi decoding as a special case, token stack decoding for efficient maintenance of multiple paths during search, design of a generalized language HMM graph from grammars and language models of multiple standard formats, that can potentially toggle between flat search structure, tree search structure, etc. This paper describes a few of these design aspects, and reports some preliminary performance measures for speed and accuracy.


Recently, the effect of solid inclusions on the sintering of ceramic powders has been explained in terms of a back-stress that opposes densification. Several analyses have been proposed to describe this problem. However, little quantitative information exists concerning the effect of reinforcement on microstructural evolution. This study compares the microstructural development of zirconia and mullite matrices in the presence of alumina platelets. The effect of platelet loading on density is similar for both composites. Quantitative stereological examinations reveal that the average grain size and pore size are finer for the zirconia-matrix composite. The platelet loading does not have any noticeable effect on the average grain size of the matrix in either composite. However, the average pore size increases as the volume fraction of platelets increases for both materials. Contiguity measurements have detected some aggregation of platelets in the zirconia-matrix composite.


Purpose of review The aim of this article is to present recent findings from epidemiological studies on the effects of dietary glycemic load and whole grain foods on systemic inflammation in diabetic patients and to postulate potential mechanisms. Recent findings Diets low in glycemic index/load or high in whole grain products have been associated with decreased concentrations of inflammatory markers and increased adiponectin levels among diabetic patients. These associations appear to be independent of body weight, glycemic control, and other cardiovascular risk factors. The protective effects of low glycemic load and high whole grains on systemic inflammation may be explained, in part, by reduction in hyperglycemia-induced overproduction of oxidative stress and by amelioration in insulin resistance, adiposity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Summary Diets low in glycemic load and high in whole grains may have a protective effect against systemic inflammation in diabetic patients. Such diets can be recommended to diabetic patients for the prevention of cardiovascular complications.


Na+/H+ antiporter plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating osmotic pressure and intracellular pH. It plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In Helicobacter pylori, whole genome sequencing has revealed the presence of two types of Na+/H+ antiporter. A gene (nhaA) homologous to the Na+/H+ antiporter of Escherichia coli has been investigated and its function has been analyzed. However, another gene homologous to the Na+/H+ antiporter of Enterococcus hirae (napA) is not yet known in detail. In this study, we investigated the function of this gene (napA in H. pylori). First, to confirm the genetic presence of napA in 20 H. pylori clinical isolates, PCR analysis was performed, and the napA gene was confirmed in all strains. The amount of Na+ extrusion was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the Na+ concentration was decreased in the wild-type strain compared to the napA mutant strain. In addition, there was a significant dose-dependent difference in CFU of Na+ concentration in the napA mutant strain compared to the wild-type strain. We examined whether the napA gene is related to motility using both wild-type and napA mutant strains. As a result, in the motility agar test, the bacterial motility observed in the wild-type strain was not observed in the napA mutant strain. However, no difference in flagellar proteins was observed by SDS-PAGE analysis. These results suggest that the napA gene of H. pylori may regulate homeostasis by extruding Na+ and may also regulate motility.


Background: Diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM-1) is associated with pancreatic beta-cell destruction, inflammatory processes, and cardiovascular disorders. C-reactive protein (CRP) and homocysteine are considered as inflammatory processes and cardiovascular disorder indicators that can be used for monitoring patients with DM-1. The present study aimed to compare the salivary levels of homocysteine and CRP of DM-1 patients with those of healthy people. Methods: In this case-control study, 82 patients participated, including 41 DM-1 patients (case group) and 41 healthy people (control group). The case and control groups were matched in terms of age, gender, and body mass index, and 5 mL of the saliva was collected from each participant. Then, the salivary levels of CRP and homocysteine were measured for each patient. Finally, several parameters were recorded for diabetic patients, including fasting blood glucose (FBS), 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hpp), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), as well as the duration of the disease and the type and amount of insulin injections. Eventually, data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The salivary CRP and homocysteine concentration had no significant difference between patients and controls (P>0.05). There was no significant correlation between the salivary level of homocysteine and CRP and FBS, 2hpp, HbA1c, albuminuria, duration of disease, type and amount of insulin injection (P<0.05). Conclusions: According to the results of the current study, the measurement of the salivary levels of CRP and homocysteine could not be helpful for monitoring patients with DM-1.


What are the benefits of biodiversity protection? Why should those benefits be estimated? When should they be estimated … now or across future generations? Where should the benefits be estimated … locally, nationally or internationally? And, of course, how can they be estimated, if at all? This sequence of questions forms the basis of this paper. The specific benefits associated with the provision of biodiversity protection are firstly defined. The role of benefit estimation in the process of making decisions regarding the future use of ecosystem resources is then briefly reviewed noting the importance of biodiversity benefits in that process. The "extent of the market" for biodiversity protection is considered with respect to the beneficiaries across both time and space. Some technical issues arising from the choice between alternative non-market benefit estimation techniques are analysed along with a discussion of the techniques' collective capabilities to perform the task. References to selected case study results, generated from recent applications of the Choice Modelling technique, are used to illustrate the arguments involved. As a conclusion, it is suggested that research effort should be directed to the task of benefit estimation to determine priorities for the protection of biodiversity.


The hydrozirconation reaction of 1-alkynyl sulfoxides or sulfones with Cp2Zr(H)Cl in THF at room temperature predominantly gave Z-beta-zirconated vinyl sulfoxides or sulfones with excellent regioselectivity. Compared with 1-alkynyl sulfoxides, the hydrozirconation reaction of 1-alkynyl sulfones exhibits great synthetic potential, leading to the efficient preparation of Z-beta-halovinyl sulfones, Z-beta-sulfonyl alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, and Z-beta-alkynyl vinyl sulfones. Although the reaction mechanisms are still not clear, the neighboring group participation of the sulfinyl or sulfonyl group may be playing an important role in this unique hydrozirconation reaction.


Abstract As part of ongoing work to obtain a reliable estimate of the total ice volume of Svalbard glaciers and their potential contribution to sea-level rise, we present here volume calculations, with detailed error estimates, for ten glaciers on western Nordenskiöld Land, central Spitsbergen, Svalbard. The volume estimates are based upon a dense net of GPR-retrieved ice thickness data collected over several field campaigns spanning the period 1999-2012. The total area and volume of the ensemble are 116.06 ± 4.53 km2 and 10.439 ±0.373 km3, respectively, while the individual areas, volumes and average ice thickness lie within 2.6-50.4 km2, 0.08-5.54 km3 and 29-108 m, respectively. Volume/area scaling relationships overestimate the total volume of these glaciers by up to 35% with respect to our calculation. On the basis of the pattern of scattering in the radargrams, we also analyse the hydrothermal structure of these glaciers. Nine of the ten are polythermal, while only one is entirely cold.


In this paper we reformulate the 3D reconstruction of deformable surfaces from monocular video sequences as a labeling problem. We solve simultaneously for the assignment of feature points to multiple local deformation models and the fitting of models to points to minimize a geometric cost, subject to a spatial constraint that neighboring points should also belong to the same model. Piecewise reconstruction methods rely on features shared between models to enforce global consistency on the 3D surface. To account for this overlap between regions, we consider a super-set of the classic labeling problem in which a set of labels, instead of a single one, is assigned to each variable. We propose a mathematical formulation of this new model and show how it can be efficiently optimized with a variant of α-expansion. We demonstrate how this framework can be applied to Non-Rigid Structure from Motion and leads to simpler explanations of the same data. Compared to existing methods run on the same data, our approach has up to half the reconstruction error, and is more robust to over-fitting and outliers.


Introduction The role of antitumour necrosis factor agents, in particular infliximab in ulcerative colitis (UC) has been well established. More recently adalimumab, a fully humanized antitumour necrosis factor &agr; monoclonal antibody, was licensed for refractory moderately active UC in 2012. Available outcome data for adalimumab from routine clinical practice is limited. Aims To evaluate the clinical response and remission to adalimumab in a cohort of UC patients. Methods Patients with UC treated with adalimumab were identified from our inflammatory bowel disease database from 2007. A retrospective chart review was undertaken. Demographic and clinical data were recorded including a Mayo score and C-reactive protein (CRP) where available. All patients received standard induction subcutaneous therapy (160/80/40 mg) followed by a maintenance dose of 40 mg fortnightly. Clinical and biochemical response was assessed at 6 and 12 months. Clinical response was defined by a reduction in Mayo score more than or equal to 3, whereas clinical remission was defined by a total score of 2 or less. Dose adjustments and adverse events were also noted. Results In all, 52 patients were identified. Of these, 65% (n=34) were male and the mean age was 45 years (range 23–72 years). A total of 65% (n=34) had left sided disease, 31% (n=16) pancolitis and 4% (n=2) proctitis. The majority commenced adalimumab due to a loss of response to immunomodulator therapy (n=45, 87%), whereas the remaining 13% (n=7) had loss of response or been intolerant to infliximab. The mean disease duration was 8 years (1–29 years). At baseline 85% (n=44) had moderate disease and 15% (n=8) had mild disease. The baseline mean CRP was 13.5 mg/l (range 1–82 mg/l) and the mean Mayo score was 6 (range 4–10). The mean duration of treatment was 18.5 months (range 4–95 months). Follow-up data was available in 46 (88%) and 37 (71%) patients at 6 and 12 months. Overall there was a statistically significant improvement in mean partial Mayo score on follow-up; 6 months=2 [P=0.0001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.99–4.55], 12 months=2 (P=0.0001, 95% CI 2.74–4.46). While 65% (n=34) and 52% (n=27) had a clinical response at 6 and 12 months, respectively, 52% (n=27) and 42% (n=22) were in remission. Overall mean CRP normalized at 6 months (P=0.002, 95% CI 3.31–15.1). Of note 25% (n=13) required dose escalation during follow-up, while treatment was discontinued by seven patients, five (71%) due to a loss of response, the remaining two (29%) due to an adverse event. Conclusion Our study shows adalimumab is an effective and safe long-term therapy for moderately active UC refractory to other treatments. While this data is encouraging, further work is required on patient selection and to determine the impact of treatment on both natural history and quality of life.


Introduction: TNF-α inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy both as monotherapy and in combination with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the treatment of chronic inflammatory immune-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, and may be administered off-label to treat disseminated granuloma annulare systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. There are several TNF-α inhibitors available for clinical use including infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, certolizumab pegol and etanercept. Areas covered: infliximab and adalimumab can induce the development of anti-infliximab (anti-IFX) and anti-adalimumab (anti-ADA) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this review, we discuss the impact of anti-IFX and anti-ADA mAbs upon efficacy and safety of these biological agents. Expert opinion: IgG/IgE neutralizing antibodies against infliximab and adalimumab decrease the possibility of achieving a minimal disease activity state or clinical remission, decrease drug survival, increase the need for doctors to prescribe a higher drug dosage and, finally, favor the occurrence of adverse events. Concomitant administration of DMARDs such as methotrexate or leflunomide prevents the development of neutralizing Abs against infliximab and adalimumab.


Coupling gear, especially in a gearbox, either a shift sleeve or on a wheel gear whose teeth are arranged in the bottom of a cylindrical base (12) about the rotation axis, are elongated in direction axial and are provided at its coupling end a contour cover descending from the bottom of the tooth (1) to the top of the tooth (2) having an edge (5) rounded, wherein the curvature radius of the roof edge increases from the bottom of the tooth (1) to the top of the tooth (2) according to a given function.


Over the past decades, rapid technological advancements and changes in electrical consumption behaviors have drastically increased the demand on the power grid. In order to cope with future demand increases as well as to provide a more robust and efficient way of delivering and distributing electricity, developing smart grid has become an urgent global priority. Smart grid is a term referring to the next-generation power grid in which the electricity distribution and management are upgraded by incorporating advanced two-way communications and pervasive computing capabilities for improved control, efficiency, reliability, and safety. A communication infrastructure is an essential part of the success of the emerging smart grid. Furthermore, a scalable and pervasive communication infrastructure is crucial in both construction and operation of a smart grid.


PURPOSE: To determine clinical and demographic risk factors for corneal transplantation in keratoconus patients. DESIGN: Case control study. METHODS: setting: Tertiary referral center. study population: All keratoconic eyes present-ing to the Duke University Eye Center from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2002. observation procedure and outcome measures: Cases were defined as eyes undergoing transplantation during the study period for keratoconus. Controls were defined as eyes that did not undergo transplantation. Cases were compared with controls to determine clinical and demographic risk factors for corneal transplantation. RESULTS: A total of 131 eyes with keratoconus were studied; 59 cases were compared with 72 controls. Groups were similar with respect to sex and race. Significant univariate risk factors for corneal transplantation were best-corrected vision worse than 20/40 (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 9.8), cylinder 10.0 diopters (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 12.4), and average keratometry 55 diopters (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.4 to 21.9). In multivariate analysis, age 30 or younger conferred a sevenfold increased risk of transplantation compared with ages of more than 40 (OR 7.7 for ages 21 to 30 and OR 25.8 for ages ≤ 20). Multivariate analysis also showed duration of disease 5 years or less and steep average keratometry as significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: A subset of young keratoconic patients with high keratometry values may represent an underrecognized risk group for corneal transplantation. Best-corrected visual acuity worse than 20/40 at presentation and astigmatism are other clinical indicators of increased risk of corneal transplantation in keratoconus patients.


ABSTRACT Objectives: The objectives of this study were to report baseline, preseason data for the Child-SCAT3, stratified by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) status, and examine group differences in Child-SCAT3 performance between children with and without ADHD. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Young male hockey players (n = 304), aged 8–12 years, were administered the Child-SCAT3 during pre-season. Child-SCAT3 measures included a 20-item symptom scale, a Standardised Assessment of Concussion Child Version (SAC-C), a modified Balance Error Scoring System (m-BESS), a tandem gait task, and a coordination test. Results: Children with ADHD (n = 20) endorsed significantly more symptoms (d = 0.95) and greater symptom severity (d = 1.13) compared to children without ADHD. No statistically significant differences were found between groups on Child-SCAT3 measures of cognitive or physical functioning (e.g. balance and coordination). Conclusions: ADHD should be considered when interpreting Child-SCAT3 scores, especially symptom reporting, in the context of concussion assessment. Better understanding of symptom reporting in uninjured child athletes with ADHD can inform the clinical interpretation of symptoms at baseline and following an actual or suspected concussion. Normative data for the Child-SCAT3 that is not stratified by or otherwise accounts for ADHD status should be used with caution when appraising performance of children with ADHD.


Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that use an aqueous electrolyte have been developed. Cells with LiMn2O4 and VO2(B) as electrodes and 5 M LiNO3 in water as the electrolyte provide a fundamentally safe and cost-effective technology that can compete with nickelcadmium and lead-acid batteries on the basis of stored energy per unit of weight.


The rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe primed a variety of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Given these NPIs, whether the SIR parameters followed a Bayesian learning, a random walk pattern or other type of learning with evolving epidemiological data over time has implications for policy learning literature. Using a sample of UK country specific data and also for 168 countries and 51,083 country-date observations (January 1, 2020 to January 9, 2021), we estimate a SIR model with time-varying β and γ parameters in three context of a dynamic panel vector autoregressive model. Although learning does not seem to be taking place, and despite the absence of evidence of governments' learning from the past, most policy measures are effective in reducing the values of the β and γ parameters. We also provide estimates of time-varying β and γ that can be used widely, and we develop novel testing procedures for testing for Bayesian learning.


Describes the timewheel group communication system, which has been designed for a timed asynchronous distributed system model. All protocols in the timewheel group communication system have been designed to be fail-aware in the sense that a process can detect, at any point in time, whether any of its properties is violated. Although these protocols have been designed to operate in an asynchronous distributed computing environment, they provide timeliness properties. The timewheel group communication system provides nine group communication semantics that a user can dynamically choose from while broadcasting an update. This system provides high throughput, fast delivery and stability times, uses a small number of messages per update broadcast, and evenly distributes the processing load among group members.